BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Duhail aim to bounce back aft er Commercial Bank scores double win at surrendering Asian Banker’s awards QSL title

published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11147 April 8, 2019 Sha’baan 3, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir meets Speaker of Kuwait Assembly Amir meets Iranian Speaker Al-Mahmoud is elected president of 140th IPU Assembly

QNA Doha

E the Advisory Council Speaker His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday met the Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid of the Consultative Assembly of Iran Ali Larijani and his accompanying delegation, at Hal-Mahmoud was unanimously His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Marzouq Ali his Amiri Diwan off ice, on the sidelines of the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary elected as president of the 140th Assem- al-Ghanim and accompanying delegation, yesterday at his off ice at the Amiri Diwan, on the sidelines of the 140th General Union (IPU). At the outset of the meeting, the Iranian Speaker conveyed the greetings bly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Doha. During the meeting, the Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly of the Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani, (IPU) and its accompanying meetings by conveyed the greetings of the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah to the Amir and his wishes for wishing the Amir health and happiness and to the Qatari people further progress and the union’s governing council. health and happiness and progress and prosperity for the Qatari people. The Amir conveyed his greetings to the Amir of prosperity. The Amir reciprocated his greetings to the Supreme Leader and the Iranian The council’s meeting, which was Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, wishing him health and wellness and the Kuwaiti people further progress president, wishing them health and to the Iranian people further progress and prosperity. held yesterday, saw the attendance of and prosperity. During the meeting, they reviewed the relations between Qatar and Kuwait, especially in the legislative and During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between Qatar and Iran, especially IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron, parliamentary fields. Page 5 in the legislative and parliamentary fields. IPU Secretary-General Martin Chun- gong, and parliament speakers. The participants approved adding the parliament of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the membership of the IPU for the fi rst time. The meeting began with a minute’s ‘Blockading states deny silence for the Tutsi victims of vio- Education alone can lence in Rwanda, especially as yester- day marked the International Day of themselves chance to Refl ection on the Genocide in the Af- rican country. They also adopted the agenda and talk to rest of the world’ the briefi ng minutes for the Geneva lead to just societies session that took place last October. Afterwards, the Advisory Council z Parliamentarians urged to raise their voice against violators By Joey Aguilar Speaker was elected to preside over the Staff Reporter current assembly. of international law and human rights The Speaker of the House of Assem- bly of St Vincent and the Grenadines z Doha IPU meet represents an important step to enhance he countries blockading Qatar Jomo Sanga Thomas noted that IPU co-operation among states and establish international law – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bah- represents an important platform for Train, and Egypt – have denied the world’s parliaments, where they themselves the chance not only “to can discuss enhancing co-operation QNA not respecting human rights and the tioned the US President recognising Is- talk to their Qatari cousins” but also with each other. Page 5 Doha rule of law, stressing that parliamen- rael’s sovereignty over the Golan, which to the rest of the world by failing to tarians should not be silent about such he said requires the censure of the in- participate in the Inter-Parliamenta- violations. ternational community. He pointed to ry Union (IPU) Assembly in Doha, an number of leading parliamen- They said parliaments should pro- a number of violations that aff ect some MP in the UK, has said. tarians participating in the In- mote the cause of education which is countries and attempts to impoverish “It is far better to have a dialogue Nigel Evans at the 140th IPU Assembly Ater-Parliamentary Union (IPU) the best tool to create just and equi- their people and push them to take to amongst countries, it (blockade) in Doha. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar General Assembly and its associated table societies where the rule of law is the streets, as in the Middle East, and should be the very last resort,” Ni- sessions have underlined the impor- respected, paving the way for interna- Venezuela in Latin America. The waves gel Evans, who has been an MP for shame” since it denied the four block- tance of education, which they said will tional peace and development. of refugees witnessed by some regions 27 years, said on the sidelines of the ading countries to have a dialogue and eventually lead to more just and equita- Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of and countries have a direct link to such 140th IPU Assembly yesterday. the chance to participate in what he de- ble societies by eradicating ignorance. the State Duma of the Russian Federa- interventions, he said. The event, taking place at the scribed as “a brilliant conference.” In their speeches at the session, tion, said many countries in today’s “We know who was behind the crea- Sheraton Doha until April 10, brings “Isolationism is not a clever policy “Parliaments as platforms to enhance world are being ignored, violated and tion of the so-called terrorist state ISIS together parliamentarians from vari- and I do think that they ought to be education for peace, security and the besieged, which requires parliamen- in Syria , which sought to overthrow the ous parts of the world under one roof looking at ways of bringing themselves rule of law”, they criticised the policies tarians to discuss these issues and not regime,” he said adding that the policy to discuss an array of issues and fi nd together in order to sort out the prob- HE Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid of some countries in terms of violating to remain silent. of non-intervention must be the norm ways to resolve them. lems of the diff erences and that is where al-Mahmoud international law, creating chaos and Referring to such violations, he men- in international relations. To Page 7 Evans stressed that “the blockade is a you make progress,” he said.To Page 6 Fighting rages near Tripoli as UN fails to reach truce

Reuters military officials deny this. It gave no details. Tripoli/Benghazi At least one warplane carried out an Forces allied to the Tripoli govern- air strike in the area, a resident said. ment meanwhile announced their own “The air force took part for the fi rst operation called “Volcano of Anger” to astern Libyan forces carried out time in the military operations,” said defend the capital, a spokesman said, air strikes on the southern part LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari. “It without giving details. Eof Tripoli yesterday and made conducted a very successful operation The off ensive has taken the United progress towards the city centre, resi- to secure the airport road (to city cen- Nations by surprise, undermining dents said, escalating an operation to tre),” he added. plans to fi nd agreement on a road map take the capital as the United Nations The LNA moved up north from on for elections to resolve the protracted failed to achieve a truce. the road from former airport in the instability in Libya. The Libyan National Army (LNA) district of Khalat Furgan, coming some Lawless since Gaddafi was toppled by force of Khalifa Haftar, which backs a 11km from the city centre, a resident rebels backed by Nato air strikes, Libya parallel administration in the east, last said, adding he could see the troops as has become the transit point hundreds week launched an advance on Tripoli in Spokesman for the Libyan forces of the forces loyal to the Tripoli government of thousands of migrants trekking the west, home to the internationally Government of National Accord (GNA) withdrew. across the Sahara with the objective of recognised government. Mohamed Gnounou holds a press The UN mission to Libya (UNSMIL) Libyan National Army (LNA) members, commanded by Khalifa Haftar, head out of reaching Europe across the Mediterra- The off ensive intensifi es a power conference in the capital Tripoli, yesterday. called yesterday for a truce for two Benghazi to reinforce the troops advancing to Tripoli, in Benghazi, Libya, yesterday. nean Sea. struggle that has fractured the oil and hours in southern Tripoli to evacu- Haftar, 75, casts himself as a foe gas producer since the 2011 overthrow outskirts of the capital on Friday ate civilians and wounded, it said in a evening, one UN offi cial said. of US forces supporting the US Africa of extremism but is viewed by oppo- of Muammar Gaddafi . and says it took the former inter- statement without giving details. In another sign of the situation Command evacuated Libya for security nents as a new dictator in the mould The LNA reached the southern national airport, though the Tripoli But the truce was not observed by worsening on the ground, a contingent reasons, a US statement said. of Gaddafi. Gulf Times 2 Monday, April 8, 2019 QATAR

Qatar-Vietnam ties reviewed Attorney-general meets Gambian speaker Kahramaa checks cooling plant at Mall of Qatar

QNA Doha

delegation of the District Cooling Services De- Apartment of Qatar Gen- eral Electricity and Water Cor- poration (Kahramaa) recently checked the district cooling plant located at the Mall of Qa- tar. The purpose of the visit was to see the functionality of the plant and adopted regulations in line with the prevailing guidelines. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi yesterday met the Prime The delegation followed up the Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs of Vietnam Pham Binh Minh, during his visit as part of the functioning of the plant that delegation participating in the meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union hosted by Doha. During HE the Attorney-General, Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri, yesterday met the Speaker of the Parliament of provides the mall with central the meeting they discussed bilateral relations between Qatar and Vietnam and ways to develop the Gambia Mariam Jack-Denton. During the meeting, which was attended by the Gambian Minister cooling services embedded with them. In addition, they discussed topics of common interest. The meeting was attended by the of Foreign Aff airs Mamadou Tangara, the two sides exchanged views on a number of issues of the cooling capacity of 17,500 ambassador of Vietnam to Qatar Nguyen Dinh and off icials from the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. common concern and ways to strengthen co-operation between the two countries. tonnes. By organising and monitor- ing district cooling services, the Corporation aims at saving electricity and potable water, sustaining water resources, pre- serving environment and using all new technologies of district Crucial role of women in nation building underlined cooling services to be in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030. By Joey Aguilar annual graduation ceremony, cies rather than gender on Qatar, she noted, has become Kahramaa emphasises the Staff Reporter which honoured 118 Qataris who what we can bring to the or- a hub for education and research importance of ensuring wa- completed one of three (either ganisations,” she added. in the region with QF hosting ter security in the state, using the Executive, Government, or QF deputy director Maha al- many prestigious international Treated Sewage Effl uent (TSE) he growing number of Rising leaders) programmes. Rumaihi, who graduated from universities, which off er dif- and fi nding other alternatives Qatari women who take Al-Noami said she finds it QLC’s 12-month executive lead- ferent courses – “and such op- of potable water replacing it Tleadership positions in inspiring to see herself and ers programme, shares the same portunities are open to men and with TSE and making manda- public and private sectors in the co-graduates walk on the view saying that the country and women.” tory the use of it at all opera- country underlines the crucial footprints of Her Highness its leadership recognise the im- “Many Qatari women now tional District Cooling Plants/ role of women in nation build- Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, portance of women in the work- are either masters or doctor- Stations and supporting under- ing, a graduate of Qatar Leader- Chairperson of Qatar Foun- force. ate degree holders, so that is construction plants to ensure ship Centre (QLC) has said. dation for Education, Science In taking these courses, she why we see them occupy not timely implementation of the “It is very rewarding to see and Community Development said many Qatari women acquire just any position but leadership regulation. Qatari female leaders in diff er- (QF), and “two other strong new skills that reinforce existing roles. I work in QF and many Implementing district cool- ent sectors and we have a great female leaders” - HE Sheikha ones, ensuring all work to imple- of our leaders are women,” the ing system in residential and example of female leadership Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin ment strategic plans aimed at QF deputy director said. “They commercial projects contrib- that empower not only Qatari Khalifa al-Thani, Chairperson Maha al-Rumaihi Afraa al-Noami achieving Qatar’s National Vi- want to contribute in nation utes in saving electricity con- females and those in the region of Qatar Museums; and HE sion 2030. building and they know that sumption by 30-40% and de- but internationally as well,” Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al- great leaders empowering us,” “Coming from a sports in- Al-Rumaihi said Qatar is elite Qatar needs them more than salinated water by 98% through Josoor Institute executive di- Thani, Vice Chairperson and al-Noami stressed, citing the dustry myself, there are equal in the region in empowering before.” using TSE. It also cuts carbon rector Afraa al-Noami told Gulf CEO of QF – who are leading numerous opportunities the Qa- opportunities out there for women as it provides free educa- “This emphasises the coun- emissions by reducing con- Times. prestigious organisations in tar government provides for its male and female, in the end, I tion for both gender and oppor- try’s vision for women and pro- sumption of the natural gas that She was speaking on the side- the country. citizens to further enhance their think the senior managements tunities to study either abroad or tecting women’s rights,” al-Ru- is needed in electricity produc- lines of QLC’s recently-held “It’s an honour to have such career for free. will be looking at competen- inside the country. maihi added. tion. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 3 QATAR

OFFICIAL Qatar takes part in Rwanda genocide commemoration

QNA Kigali Amir issues atar participated yester- instruments day in commemorating of ratification Qthe 25th anniversary of the genocide of the Tutsi tribes in Rwanda, in which about 1mn His Highness the Amir Sheikh people were shot to death. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Qatar was represented by HE yesterday issued the following the Minister of State Dr Hamad instruments of ratification: bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari. 1. An instrument of ratification The Minister of State met the approving the ratification of a President of Rwanda Paul Kag- memorandum of understanding ame and conveyed to him the (MoU) to co-operate in the sports greetings of His Highness the field between the governments Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad of Qatar and Cote d’Ivoire signed al-Thani and his wishes for the in Abidjan on December 23, 2017. development of relations be- 2. An instrument of ratification tween Qatar and Rwanda. For approving the ratification of an his part, President Kagame con- MoU to co-operate in the culture veyed to Dr al-Kuwari his greet- field between the governments ings to the Amir and wished the of Qatar and Cote d’Ivoire signed relations between the two coun- HE the Minister of State Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari attending the ceremony to commemorate the 25th anniversary HE the Minister of State Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz in Abidjan on December 23, 2017. tries further progress. Page 9 of the Rwandan genocide. al-Kuwari with President Paul Kagame. 3. An instrument of ratification approving the ratification of an MoU to co-operate in the youth sector between the governments of Qatar and Cote d’Ivoire signed in Abidjan on December 23, 2017. 4. An instrument of ratification approving a draft agreement on encouraging and protecting mutual investments between the governments of Qatar and Qatar Visa Centres open Somalia signed in Doha on December 13, 2018. 5. An instrument of ratification approving a draft agreement on economic, trade and technical co-operation between the governments of Qatar and Somalia signed in Doha on in seven Indian cities December 13, 2018. he Ministry of Interior Amir issues (MoI) has opened all seven Locations of QVCs in India two laws on TQatar Visa Centres (QVC) in Indian cities, as had been pre- zNew Delhi: Unit No 2, lower Telangana land transport viously announced. ground floor, Parsvnath Mall, Ak- z Kolkata: Bengal Intelligent Park, The recent opening of QVCs shardham Metro Station, Akshard- Gamma Building, first floor, Block His Highness the Amir Sheikh in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, ham, New Delhi - 110092 EP and GP, Sector V, Salt Lake Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chen- z Mumbai: Hallmark Business Electronics Complex, Kolkata - yesterday Law No (8) of 2019 on nai and Kochi will facilitate and Plaza, Sant Dyaneshwar Marg, 700091, West Bengal the regulation of road transport simplify the recruitment and Near Gurunanak Hospital, z Lucknow: BBD Viraj Towers, and Law No (9) for the year 2019 work visa procedures for Indian Bandra East, Mumbai - 400051, second floor, TC G/1A - V/3, Vib- on road transport of hazardous expatriates travelling to Qatar Maharashtra huti Khand, Shaheed Path, Gomti substances. for work before their arrival in z Chennai: Shyamala Towers, first Nagar, Lucknow - 226010, Uttar The two laws will be Qatar, the MoI has said in a press floor, East Wing, 136 Arcot Road, Pradesh implemented from the date of statement. Saligramam, Chennai - 600093 z Kochi: Door No 38/4111/D, issue and published in the Off icial The total number of QVCs z Hyderabad: ground floor, South ground floor, National Pearl Star Gazette. opened has now reached 12 Wing (Krishe Block), Krishe Sap- Building, near Changampuzha across four countries. Previous- phire Building, Hitech City Road, Park Metro Station, Edappally, Decrees issued ly, QVCs had been opened in Sri Madhapur, Hyderabad - 500081, Kochi - 682024, Kerala. Lanka (1), Pakistan (2) and Bang- His Highness the Amir Sheikh ladesh (2). Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued Eight more centres will be pointment date no earlier than Information on appointment the following decrees yesterday: opened in Indonesia, Nepal, the 15 minutes before the sched- scheduling, requirements and 1. Decree No 17 of 2019 ratifying a Philippines and Tunisia, taking uled time. steps is available in English, memorandum of understanding the total to 20 across eight coun- Off icials at the opening of one of the QVCs in India. At the reception, the iden- Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, Tamil, to co-operate in the health field tries. tity of applicant is verified, re- Telugu and Malayalam at between the governments of Major General Abdullah Salim Major al-Mohannadi said expatriates’ and employers’ or app, Metrash2. The recruit- quired documents are checked http://www.qatarvisacenter. Qatar and Somalia signed in al-Ali, adviser at the offi ce of HE these centres would help speed rights. The QVCs will help avoid ment procedures are the same and a token is issued. Once the com Doha on May 14, 2018. the Minister of Interior; Major up the provision of various cases of an employee returning as before, but have been trans- token number is called, appli- The QVCs have been set up 2. Decree No 18 of 2019 ratifying Abdullah Khalifa al-Mohanna- services by the authorities con- in case of ineligibility and will ferred from Qatar to the expa- cants are required to digitally and operated in co-operation an air services agreement di, director of the Visa Support cerned in Qatar for expatriates, also enable employees to start triates’ own countries. The em- sign their work contract, enrol with the Ministry of Adminis- between the governments of Services (VSS) Department at noting that India is the fourth working at the earliest once they ployer has to pay all recruitment biometric data and undergo the trative Development, Labour Qatar and Somalia signed in the General Directorate of Pass- country to have QVCs. arrive Qatar,” he explained, add- fees in Qatar to let the worker required medical checkup, in- and Social Aff airs, Ministry of Doha on March 18, 2015. ports, MoI; Captain Nasser al- “QVCs provide expatriates ing the new step has been initi- follow up on further procedures cluding blood tests, X-ray and Foreign Aff airs and Ministry of 3. Decree No 19 of 2019 ratifying Khalaf, head of the Visa Section; with a wide range of services, ated by the Qatar government through QVCs. visual assessments along with Public Health. the accession of Qatar to the and Captain Khalid al-Nomani, including fi ngerprinting, bio- in a bid to ensure the protection Applicants need to get a visa physical examinations. Appli- The services will be available 1988 Protocol to the International head of the Technical Studies metric data recording, medical and safety of expatriates coming reference number from the MoI cants will be able to track the from Monday to Friday, 8.30am Convention on Load Lines, 1966. Section at VSS, and government examinations and employment to Qatar for work. and can then book an appoint- status online or through their to 5pm, and customers can con- The decrees are eff ective starting offi cials from India attended the contract signing before their de- The employer has to start the ment by visiting www.qa- employer in Qatar. tact QVCs by telephone at 00 91 from their date of issue and are opening ceremonies held in the parture to Qatar. Besides, they initial registration through the tarvisacenter.com. They have Multilingual information 44 6133 1333 or e-mail at info. to be published in the off icial diff erent cities. ensure the protection of both MoI website (www.moi.gov.qa) to visit the QVC on the ap- services are available at QVCs. [email protected] gazette.

President of National Service Academy meets Nato official Al Wakra Hospital is HMC’s second-busiest facility

ith more than 30,000 “The rotation at Al Wakra patients treated at Hospital has provided me with WAl Wakra Hospital’s the opportunity to implement emergency department each what I learned during my aca- month, and upwards of 20,000 demic years in a clinical setting. patients cared for by the hos- HMC has given me the perfect pital’s various outpatient de- atmosphere to ease myself into partments, Al Wakra Hospital is the clinical environment and Hamad Medical Corporation’s to improve my skills under the (HMC) second busiest hospital. guidance of competent physi- Dr Sabah Alkadhi, medical di- cians,” said al-Mohannadi. rector of Al Wakra Hospital, said Both al-Jaber and al-Mohan- the general hospital was designed, nadi are part of the inaugural built, and staff ed with the chang- general medicine class from Qa- ing needs and expectations of the tar University’s medical college, growing community in the coun- graduating in 2021. try’s southern region in mind. He Dr Sabah Adnan Alkadhi Mohamed al-Jaber Fatima al-Mohannadi Opened in 2012, Al Wakra HE the president of National Service Academy Staff Major noted the importance of commu- Hospital is one of HMC’s larg- General Saeed Hamad al-Nuaimi met the commander of the nity-based hospitals in helping to lence, becoming the fi rst hospital future healthcare needs of the ple,” said al-Jaber. est facilities and is spread across Military Partnerships Directorate (MPD) of Nato, Major General improve access to specialised care in the Middle East to receive this country’s population. Mohamed Fatima al-Mohannadi, also a more than 300,000sqm. With Odd Egil Pedersen, during a visit of the latter to the acad- and in turn the health of the popu- award. In the last year, we have in- al-Jaber, a fourth-year medical fourth-year medical student at over 325 beds, including 234 emy. Following the meeting, HE Major General Saeed Hamad lation. troduced a number of new servic- student at CMED, is currently CMED, is currently completing general and acute patient beds al-Nuaimi briefed the guest on the activities of the academy “Al Wakra Hospital is now es and clinics, including a robotic completing the fi nal month of her clinical rotation at Al Wakra and more than 90 critical care during a tour of its facilities. HMC’s second-busiest hospital. surgery service for general surgery his fourteen-week rotation at Al Hospital. She said the rotation beds for high-dependency and We provide a full range of diag- and urology. These services are Wakra Hospital. has allowed her to gain impor- burns patients, the hospital also nostic and treatment services helping to reduce waiting times “This rotation has allowed tant hands-on experience inter- has 77 observation and daycare for outpatients and inpatients and improve access to important me to bring what I learned in acting with patients. beds. Qatari, French air force commanders meet in the growing communities of care services. And we are continu- the classroom to real-life medi- Al Wakrah, Mesaieed, and the ing to focus on the future needs cal situations. I feel confi dent in Commander of the Amiri Air Defence Forces, Major General (Pilot) South Doha Airport area, pre- of our patients and are currently my ability to communicate with Hamad Mubarak al-Dawai al-Nabit, yesterday met the French venting these patients from hav- hosting our fi rst group of residents and examine patients. Every day Commander of Defence and Air Operations, Lieutenant General Jean- ing to travel to Doha for much of from Qatar University’s College of I am interpreting the informa- Christophe, and his accompanying delegation during their off icial their hospital care,” explained Dr Medicine,” added Dr Alkadhi. tion I acquired during my class- visit to Qatar. During the meeting, issues of common concern were Alkadhi. Earlier this year 46 fourth- room studies and using this as a discussed. “Al Wakra Hospital is home to year medical students from roadmap to reach an accurate di- Qatar’s only dedicated Burns Unit, Qatar University’s College of agnosis for the health concerns the region’s fi rst specialised Uri- Medicine (CMED), including 19 of real patients, all under the Nepal prime minister meets Qatar’s envoy nary Stone Centre, and the coun- Qatari nationals, began a clini- supervision and guidance of ex- try’s fi rst dental clinic for patients cal rotation at HMC’s Al Wak- perienced doctors. I am grateful Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli met the ambassador of Qatar with special needs. Our Hernia rah and Al Khor Hospitals. The for this experience and the op- Yousuf Mohamed al-Hail in Kathmandu yesterday. During the meeting, Surgery Centre has been accred- rotation is part of a partnership portunity to use what I learned they discussed bilateral relations, means of boosting them, and issues ited by the Surgery Review Corpo- between HMC and Qatar Uni- during my pre-clinical years to of common concern. ration as a Hernia Centre of Excel- versity designed to help meet the help enrich the lives of real peo- HMC’s Al Wakra Hospital Gulf Times 4 Monday, April 8, 2019 QATAR

Ooredoo accepting Doha Bank names winners of debit card for online service payment

‘Gold Rush Cards Campaign’ oredoo announced yesterday that cus- oha Bank hosted a mega after they had increased their in card transactions during the Otomers can now pay raffl e draw in February purchases using Doha Bank’s promotion period. This dynamic for Ooredoo bills or subscrip- Dand announced 104 lucky payment cards. Credit and debit outcome demonstrates that our tions, recharge their Hala heavily in its self-service fea- winners of its ‘Gold Rush Cards card received an entry against exciting campaign has resonated lines, and purchase devices tures over the past few years Campaign.’ Held for its debit and each spend of QR500, while the with our customers and the raf- via the eShop online with a as part of the company’s dig- credit cardholders with a total same amount spent at travel or fl e draw will further reinforce debit card. ital vision and with the new prize of 7kg of gold, the three- hotel merchants or internation- our commitment to off ering Previously, only customers update customers can top up month campaign came to a close ally off ered them three chances. them rewarding experiences. with a Qatar issued credit card via the app or website, pay on January 31. Meanwhile, card transactions “We will continue to ex- could make payments online bills via the app or website and The campaign enabled Doha at jewellery merchants fetched the plore new ways to provide our via the website or Ooredoo purchase devices or acces- Bank’s customers to enter the highest number of chances where cardholders with products and App but thanks to this new sories via the eShop and pay raffl e draw by using their credit customers received fi ve chances solutions that exceed their ex- update, anyone in Qatar with with a debit card. or debit cards for purchases dur- to the draw against their QR500 pectations, thereby promoting a Qatar issued debit card can Customers can use the card ing the campaign period, which spend. Furthermore, customers cashless and digital transactions make easy payments 24/7 to top up their services like began on November 1, 2018. The who applied for a new Doha Bank that will contribute to Qatar’s online. Hala and Dawli, as well as data fi rst winner of the lucky draw, credit card automatically earned transition into a burgeoning dig- Ooredoo said it has invested recharge. which took place on February two chances to enter the draw. ital economy.” 27, walked away with 1kg of gold, Dr R Seetharaman, chief In addition to lucky draw while the next fi ve winners re- executive offi cer, Doha Bank entries, the Gold Rush Cards ceived 250 grams of gold and 98 Group, said, “At Doha Bank, we Campaign enabled Doha Bank’s winners took home 50 grams of are thrilled that our Gold Rush cardholders to take advantage of gold. Cards Campaign has concluded six-month instalment plans at no Beauty entrepreneur Customers increased their with tremendous success as fee for travel, hotel, international odds of winning the gold prizes refl ected in the signifi cant rise and jewellery spends. Gold bar from Doha Bank’s ‘Gold Rush Cards Campaign.’ visits Galeries Lafayette Rolls Cullinan QDA launches fifth eauty entrepreneur personally and the brand’s lat- model recalled for diabetes course Anastasia Soare visited est Riviera Palette was exclu- software error Sidra Medicine to host epilepsy for educators Bthe new Galeries Lafay- sively signed by Anastasia and ette Doha store in 21 High St, made available for the general The Ministry of Commerce Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), Katara - the Cultural Village, public, Ali Bin Ali Holding said and Industry, in collaboration workshop for school nurses a member of Qatar Foundation, recently, much to the delight in a statement. with Alfardan Automobiles, has has launched its fifth diabetes of makeup lovers in Qatar. Speaking about the visit, announced the recall of Rolls- education course for healthcare The chief executive offi cer Galeries Lafayette Doha gen- Royce Cullinan model of 2018 over idra Medicine will host lepsy. The workshops are also same opportunities at school providers. and founder of Anastasia Bev- eral manager David Miller sunroof software malfunction. free workshops on April open to healthcare providers as any other student. We en- The course which runs until erly Hills, which is renowned said, “At Galeries Lafayette, The recall campaign comes within S10 as part of Epilepsy interested in epilepsy among courage schools in Qatar to August 2019 is delivered by the for its beauty products, visited we try to make the retail ex- the framework of the ministry’s Awareness Day for school school age children as well as send their nurses and caregiv- Canadian Michener Institute for the brand’s counter in Galeries perience come alive. Interac- continuous eff orts to protect nurses and caregivers. primary care nurses. ers to the three hour work- Education at the University Health Lafayette Doha and conducted tion with the brands and their consumers and ensure that car The Arabic session will be Epilepsy is a condition that shops. They have been de- Network. a special makeup training class creators is part of our ‘retail- dealers follow up on vehicle held from 8am to 11am while aff ects the brain and causes signed to ensure that school This year, 28 healthcare for her staff members. tainment’ philosophy and we defects and repairs. the English session will be repeated seizures. As a result, nurses are given the right professionals from the public A beauty pioneer, creative are delighted to bring that The ministry said that it will co- from 12 noon to 3pm at the cells in the brain get disrupted information about students and private sectors in Qatar have visionary and powerhouse en- spirit to Qatar.” ordinate with the dealer to follow Sidra Auditorium in the main during a seizure causing the with epilepsy who are under enrolled in the course, which trepreneur, Anastasia also de- Anastasia launched her up on the maintenance and repair hospital. body to behave in an unusual their care and supervision. includes workshops and lectures livered an inspirational speech namesake brand with a Bev- works and will communicate with Organised by the paediatric way. Each child will have diff erent at QDA, as well as online teaching and said: “Makeup has this in- erly Hills fl agship salon in customers to ensure that the neurology division at Sidra Workshop organiser and needs and we have a segment sessions and discussions with credible, transformative pow- 1997 and the company’s fi rst necessary repairs are carried out. Medicine, the workshops are attending physician in neu- related to instructions on giv- experts in Canada. At the end of er to boost confi dence, inspire product line in 2000. Ever The ministry urges all customers aimed at educating school rology, Dr Rana al-Shami, ing appropriate fi rst aid or the six-month course, participants creativity and be personal to since, it has become one of to report any violations to its nurses and caregivers about said, “Children with epilepsy emergency medicine if they will sit a final exam and receive a each and every user. Creat- the fastest-growing brands Consumer Protection and Anti- caring for students with epi- should be able to enjoy the have a seizure at school.” certificate. ing products that resonate in the global beauty industry. Commercial Fraud Department. Dr Abdulla al-Hamaq, executive with you, become integrated Her audience spans the globe director, QDA, said, “The goal of into your routines and into and comprises many of its Porsche 911 Carrera the programme is to improve your lives has always been the most famous faces, who rely models recalled the skills of the participants who reason I do this.” on her unique vision of indi- are currently off ering education Anatasia’s fans were thrilled vidual beauty to amplify their The Ministry of Commerce and services to people living with at the opportunity to meet her own, the statement adds. Industry, in collaboration with Porsche diabetes in Qatar. Centre Doha Al Boraq Automobiles, “QDA strives to enhance the has announced the recall of three quality of care delivered to Porsche 911 Carrera models of 2018 – people with diabetes through 2019, over a potential defect that may building the capacity of the require the re-installation of screws on medical education team. We side airbag sensors. are very pleased to collaborate The recall campaign comes within with the experts in the field the framework of the ministry’s of diabetes education at the continuous eff orts to protect Michener Institute of Education consumers and ensure that car to provide an International dealers follow up on vehicle Diabetes Federation-accredited defects and repairs. course. This course will off er The ministry said that it will a world-class certification coordinate with the dealer to program to diabetes educators follow up on the maintenance and in Qatar” repair works and will communicate To date, over 190 healthcare with customers to ensure that the professionals have benefited from necessary repairs are carried out. Sidra Medicine’s Neurology and EEG team courses off ered by QDA. Anastasia Soare during her visit to Galeries Lafayette Doha.

CRA attends summit on Information Society Forum

high-level Qatari delegation policy sessions, ministerial round- participate in international semi- nual gathering of the ‘ICT for headed by Communications tables, and more than 100 work- nars, conferences, and forums with development’ community. ARegulatory Authority (CRA) shops on various topics, including the aim of enhancing partnerships More than 30 international or- president Ali al-Mannai is attend- artifi cial intelligence and data pri- and staying up-to-date with the lat- ganisations and unions are co-or- ing the ‘World Summit on the In- vacy, blockchain and data protec- est developments and international ganising WSIS 2019, including the formation Society (WSIS) Forum tion, the role of information and best practices in the fi eld of ICTs. International Telecommunication 2019’, which will run until April 12 in communications technology (ICT) This would provide additional Union (ITU), the Universal Postal Geneva, Switzerland. in academia, cybersecurity and ar- valuable inputs during CRA’s de- Union (UPU), the United Nations The forum is being held under the tifi cial intelligence, smart cities, and velopment of innovative regulatory Educational, Scientifi c and Cultur- theme ‘Information and Commu- fi fth generation (5G) technologies. frameworks, which ensures ICT al Organisation (Unesco), and the nication Technologies for achiev- An exhibition will also be held on sector progress for the benefi t of United Nations International Chil- ing the sustainable development the sidelines of the forum along- consumers and stakeholders in the dren’s Emergency Fund (Unicef), goals’. The core aim of the forum is side a WSIS Prizes ceremony, state of Qatar, and ensure contrib- among others. to align the UN Sustainable Devel- which aims to provide recognition uting to the achievement of sus- More than 3,000 participants opment Goals (SDGs) that cover a to the projects that succeeded in tainable development goals 2030 on will attend the forum from over wide range of social and economic implementing development-ori- both local and global levels. 150 countries around the world, development issues worldwide with ented strategies that leverage the This year WSIS Forum is cel- representing multi-stakeholders WSIS Action Lines to accelerate the power of ICTs as an enabler of the ebrating the 10th anniversary of including government, civil soci- achievement of the SDGs. development. its establishment, an event that ety, private sector, academia, and The forum will include high-level The CRA ensures to attend and represents the world’s largest an- international organisations.

IAP honours four staff members

bn Ajayan Project (IAP) sented with a certifi cate of has awarded the Em- achievement and a special Iployee of the Month gift. honour for March to four “The Employee of the staff members, it was an- Month programme rec- nounced yesterday. ognises staff members They are Nabile Lachhab who demonstrate out- (plumber at Asian City), standing contributions Sambarani Satish (electri- to our customers through The ‘Employee of the Month’ winners with IAP off icials. cian at Plaza Mall), Sheik their work and exhibit a Jakaul (cleaner helper at positive and supportive and all recipients of the bin Ajayan al-Ahbabi, IAP are happy to recognise ex- Salwa Project), and Jotham attitude,” according to a monthly award in the year, chairman and CEO, said: ceptional behaviour and Denis Mwakudua (security statement. become eligible for the Em- “They work hard, and as a performance,and it is really offi cer at Plaza). Four staff members each ployee of the Year award. facility team their job can valuable to us to make them Each winner was pre- month receives the award Mohamed bin Mahdi stressful sometimes. We feel appreciated.” Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 5 QATAR Advisory Council Amir meets Oman’s Consultative Council president Speaker presides over 140th IPU General Assembly

QNA ment of teachers and students. Doha This is a boost towards achiev- ing the goals of the fourth ob- jective of the 2030 Sustainable E the Speaker of the Development agenda and Qatar Shura Council Ahmed National Vision 2030. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the President of the Consultative Council of Oman, Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal Hbin Abdullah bin Zaid al- It also put Qatar in an advanced al-Maawali, and his delegation yesterday at his off ice at the Amiri Diwan, on the sidelines of the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Mahmoud yesterday chaired the position in the fi eld of education, Union (IPU) in Doha. At the outset of the meeting, the Omani Consultative Council president conveyed the greetings of Sultan Qaboos bin 140th Assembly of the Inter-Par- quality of mathematics and sci- Said, wishing the Amir health and happiness and further progress and prosperity to the Qatari people. For his part, the Amir entrusted liamentary Union (IPU) in Doha. ence, and the use of Internet Omani Consultative Council president to convey his greetings to Sultan Qaboos bin Said, wishing him health and to the Omani people The assembly is discussing technology in schools according further progress and prosperity. During the meeting, they reviewed the close relations between Qatar and Oman especially in the parliaments as platforms to en- to the Global Competitiveness legislative and parliamentary fields. hance education for peace, secu- HE the Speaker of the Advisory Report of the World Economic rity and the rule of law. Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Forum (WEC). The session was attended IPU Zaid al-Mahmoud addressing Al-Mahmoud discussed the importance of concerted eff orts ing fathers of the UN and the IPU their peoples and can strengthen ans’ role in the interest of peoples’ President Gabriela Cuevas Bar- the Inter-Parliamentary Union speech given on Saturday by His to achieve peace and security had understood that multilater- UN’s work and other interna- access to education regardless of ron, IPU Secretary-General Mar- General Assembly in Doha Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim through education. alism was the only way to meet tional institutions in order for it to age, gender and race all by making tin Chungong, parliament speak- yesterday. bin Hamad al-Thani, in which In a televised message to the the challenges that were becom- become more transparent. education for all, boys and girls, ers and heads of participating he discussed the education ini- plenary session, Garces said that ing more and more certain day by She highlighted the parlia- men and women, the poor and the delegations. wars and extremist ideas prevail, tiatives made by the State of Qatar the issues dealt with at the current day, as climate change requires mentarians ability to positively rich, and for developing and de- Al-Mahmoud expressed his by calling for racial, sectarian su- not just on a national and regional session of the General Assembly multilateral action. infl uence their governments to veloped countries alike. thanks and appreciation for the premacy as well as genocide and level, but around the world in co- of the Inter-Parliamentary Union She warned that collective ac- ensure that international deci- Barron also highlighted the im- high confi dence shown by the exclusion of others. operation with the designated are of great importance and re- tion or multilateralism are cur- sions that contribute to develop- portance of instilling the culture of IPU Governing Council in him He pointed out that addressing United Nations agencies. quire cooperation at all levels to rently being subjected to fi erce ment and others are implement- gender equality in new generations after they unanimously elected this vital issue represents the ba- Al-Mahmoud expressed the translate the promises into reality attacks, with countries that want ed through legislation adoption by teaching these values in schools him as president of the 140th As- sis and root of the current chal- hope that upcoming meetings through the work of parliamen- to undermine internationally- or the allocating resources that and through practice because it is sembly of the IPU, stressing the lenges facing the world. can help lay out a plan that all tarians who have the responsibil- recognised borders and some lead to achieving sustainable de- diffi cult to change mindsets when importance of cooperation to en- Al-Mahmoud stressed that just member parliaments can then ity to communicate the voice of who have lost faith in the ability velopment goals. children become adults. sure the success of these impor- focusing on expanding the provi- help implement and discuss its peoples to governments. of such organisations to promote IPU President Gabriela Cuevas She also touched on national tant meetings. sion of education is no longer suf- progress in upcoming meetings. In this context, she stressed the and improve human life. Barron touched on the impor- values through education which He pointed out that the choice fi cient, if it can’t be linked to val- He also hoped that this year’s importance of working at all levels, Garces said that in order to tance of choosing education as a should not lead to nationalistic of this year’s subject, parliaments ues of love and tolerance. assembly can succeed in helping whether local, national or region- face such a threat, the logic of main topic for the general assem- tendencies which is hostile to the as platforms to enhance educa- He highlighted that parlia- people of the world have a more al or international, where these force-based policies must be bly and the parliamentarians’ other or to extremism, as everyone tion for peace, security and the mentarians have a role to play in prosperous future and the help the meetings move local and regional overcome, parliaments must re- role in promoting it for peace, in their countries are citizens and rule of law, for discussion comes that regard, by promoting edu- world enjoy peace and security. eff orts to international eff orts, spond to these challenges and security and sovereignty. all peoples are citizens of this world. at a time of increasing calls for cation that celebrates diversity, Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign bringing together all stakehold- real partnerships should exist to She said that parliament mem- She added that anti-Semitism paying special interest to the whether cultural, religious, or Aff airs and President of the 73rd ers to come up with clear visions benefi t the people. bers play a major role in address- must be rejected by teaching quality of education. ideological. Ordinary Session of the United about the future, especially on the She reaffi rmed the role of par- ing the issue of education in a equality among human beings. He stressed the decisive and He pointed out that the State Nations General Assembly Maria theme of this session which is pro- liamentarians in promoting mul- rapidly changing world with in- She added that education is an eff ective role of the IPU in dis- of Qatar has focused on educa- Fernanda Espinosa Garces hailed moting education for peace and tilateralism and opposing the fl uences around the world that important way to solve the prob- seminating science and sound tion, thanks to unlimited sup- the work of the IPU General As- security and the rule of law. idea that such pluralism threat- create many challenges, the most lems and challenges of the world knowledge and correcting cor- port from the country’s lead- sembly and the presence of hun- Garces noted the importance ens national sovereignty while it important of which is to make and to promote and achieve sus- rupt concepts that threaten the ership in terms of curriculum dreds of parliamentarians from of multilateral action and said actually strengthens it. education inclusive and oppor- tainability through the use of principles of peace, security and development, the use of new around the world at an interna- that, after half a century and She added that parliaments can tunity-driven. advanced models of education in the rule of law at a time when technologies in the develop- tional forum that underlines the several global wars, the found- co-operate on issues common to She reaffi rmed parliamentari- several countries. Gulf Times 6 Monday, April 8, 2019 QATAR PM meets speakers participating in IPU General Assembly

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday met at the Sheraton Hotel with several parliament speakers participating in the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union hosted by Doha. The prime minister met the Speaker of the Shura Council of Oman Sheikh Khalid bin Hilal al-Maawali, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Jordan Atef Youssef Tarawneh, Speaker of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President of the Senate of Nigeria Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq Mohamed Rikan Hadeed al-Halbousi, and the Chairman of the Assembly of Representatives in the Republic of Tajikistan Shukurjon Zuhurov. The meetings focused on reviewing co-operation between Qatar and the aforementioned countries, and ways to enhance them.

Lawmakers Use of mercenaries undermines peace, seek suitable says draft resolution solutions for from IPU panel QNA number of deaths from armed ligion, and that among other ist armed groups such as ISIS. Doha confl ict rose by 356%, while things. Most of these measures have the number of deaths from The panel turned the spot- been taken in accordance terrorism rose by 353%. light on children and young with UN Security Council he Inter-Parliamentary They noted that the Unit- people who have become the Resolution 2178 of 2014. Union’s (IPU) Com- ed Nations and its member main recruiting target for ter- The two rapporteurs all the people Tmittee on Peace and states are fi ghting terrorism rorists. stressed on the importance International Security yester- and armed confl icts by ad- of rejecting the use of merce- QNA parliamentary experience of Qatar time for parliament speakers of ma- day discussed a draft resolu- dressing mercenaries issues, Rapporteur asks if the naries as a way to undermine Doha began long ago, highlighting the Ad- jor countries to take part, which re- tion that would not accept the such as private military con- United Nations has peace, regional and interna- visory Council’s major role on na- fl ect their keenness to come to Qatar. use of mercenaries as a way to tractors and foreign terrorist any real intention of tional security, or violate hu- tional and international issues. The Al-Mahmoud expressed his de- undermine peace and abuse fi ghters. providing protection to man rights. E the Advisory Council council’s eff orts have been praised light about this appreciation and the human rights. The UN Charter stresses the Palestinian victims The Jordanian rapporteur Speaker Ahmed bin Abdullah by many parliamentarians, he added. participation of the representatives Rapporteurs of the com- the importance of commit- also highlighted the rise of Hbin Zaid al-Mahmoud yester- Al-Mahmoud also referenced the of the people of the world, who came mittee Khalid Bakkar of ment to full sovereignty, po- With the development of state terrorism and whether day welcomed his election as presi- remarks made by the president of to see the major steps taken by Qatar Jordan and B Tarasyuk of litical independence, terri- technology, recruiting meth- there was a real will to fi ght dent of 140th Assembly of the Inter- the Latin American and Caribbean taken on the path to sustainable de- Ukraine stressed that the big- torial integrity of states, the ods are becoming increasing- off that development. Parliamentary Union (IPU), stressing Parliament, who said that this year’s velopment and progress. gest threats are terrorism and right of peoples to self-de- ly complex, and so the fi ght He highlighted that some that the more important concern is participation is the highest he has He highlighted Qatar’s role in confl icts as they undermine termination, the non-use of against recruitment and its countries now encroaching how to contribute in solving problems seen since he fi rst participated in the choosing the discussion theme for peace, security, sovereignty force or threat in internation- methods must be strength- international resolutions, and providing suitable conditions for meetings back in 1978. He said that this year which focuses on enhanc- and territorial integrity of al relations, non-interference ened at the national and in- such as the Israeli occupa- people who need support. such presence refl ects Qatar’s strong ing education to establish peace, se- states. in the internal aff airs of states ternational levels. tion’s practices against wom- He said that the union represents parliamentary presence. curity, and the rule of law. The past 20 years have wit- and the promotion of respect They said that since 2013, en and children. the will of the people, highlighting that Al-Mahmoud noted that Qatari He highlighted that education was nessed an increase in casual- for human rights for human some 50 countries around the He questioned whether the the number of participants reached a women have become members of the the foundation for development, ties as a result of both armed and fundamental freedoms world have enacted laws and UN has any real intention of record for previous meetings, refl ect- Advisory Council, highlighting the noting that the State of Qatar’s wise confl icts and terrorist attacks. for all without distinction as regulations to prevent their providing protection to the ing the confi dence of the international large number of competent members, policies chose that route with the From 2011 to 2014, the to race, sex, language, or re- citizens from joining extrem- Palestinian victims. community in Qatar and the leader- including Reem al-Mansoori, who was goal of mobilising the international ship of His Highness the Amir Sheikh voted president of the 29th session of community to help advance educa- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. the Forum of Women Parliamentarians. tion in order to address many of the Al-Mahmoud recalled that the He pointed out that it is the fi rst great problems facing the world. Young Parliamentarians discuss ‘Blockading states deny themselves youth role in formulating policy chance to talk to rest of the world’ QNA young people aged 30 are 2.2% of parlia- They stressed the importance of for- Doha mentarians, up 0.3% from 2016. mulating strategies and national visions From Page 1 man rights, among others. freely about the most important is- This refl ected a slight improvement in to encourage young people to engage in “No organisation in the world (like sues of the day. the overall share of young people in par- parliaments and give them greater op- “Shutting yourself off , as if we are IPU) brings MPs together from every The second day of the conference he Forum of Young Parliamen- liaments around the world. portunities in the electoral lists of politi- not talking, is not great.” part of the world,” Evans stressed, saw a panel discussion on “Ending tarians, meeting on the side- The results also indicate that just over cal parties and entities, while consider- Citing the case of Argentina and adding that the US is the only coun- poverty through access to renewable Tlines of the 140th assembly of 30% of the world’s parliaments (with its ing the share of women members in these Britain, he noted that the two coun- try that refuses to participate in the energies and inclusive public poli- the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), two chambers) have no deputies under lists as well. tries which were at war in the 1980s, conference. cies: How can parliaments help?” focused on youth participation in par- the age of 30, and about three per cent of The Forum heard national experiences are now sitting in the same room at “I think they are the losers, when taking place, as well as debates and liaments and the role they can play in those councils have no members under and practices in enhancing youth par- the conference and having healthy I meet American politicians, I tell committee meetings. policymaking. the age of 40. ticipation in parliamentary life, while conversations. them that you have created a vacu- “Some countries get to hear for the Forum president Maureen Arua dis- Seventy-six per cent of the upper others put forward proposals to raise “It brings us together. Now we’re um in this organisation and it is be- fi rst time about what is going on in cussed the outcomes of a study conduct- councils Parliaments do not include participation rates by raising awareness in a room chatting about every other ing fi lled by some powers,” he said. some part of the world,” Evans said, ed by the IPU on the progress made by members under the age of 30. and developing political culture among issue because we have common is- Evans said no other organisation citing the agenda of this year’s IPU. youth in terms of contributing to policy About 76% of the upper councils of young people, and revising laws that do sue.” globally that brings many parlia- “Whether it is the way we do de- making, and the challenges facing this Parliaments do not include members un- not allow people under the age of 30 to The IPU, he noted, serves as a mentarians together from such a mocracy, the way they are tackling progress. der the age of 30. run for parliament. platform for parliamentarians to diverse number of countries with climate change, the way that we are It included stats on parliament mem- Youth parliamentarians in the forum The Forum of Young Parliamentarians voice out freely their concerns and diff erent backgrounds, ideologies, trying to use the Sustainable Devel- bers who are below 45, 40, and 30 years pointed out that the countries of the also discussed its work plan and activi- issues, which are of vital importance religions, thoughts, customs, and opment Goals into eradicating pov- of age around the world. world have a long way to go to enhance ties for 2018-2019 aimed at supporting throughout the world such as cli- histories that allows them the op- erty, we all do it in a diff erent ways,” According to the study, which covered the role of young people in political and youth participation in parliamentary mate change , democracy, and hu- portunity to say what they want he added. 202 parliamentarians in 150 countries, parliamentary life. life.

British MP lauds Qatar for bringing together lawmakers from around the world

IPU serves as an important talks with other delegates. on April 6 and runs until April and the facilities are superb. Shera- announced it is ready to host very civilised way,” Evans noted. general debate on “Parliaments as platform for discussions “We are superbly grateful to 10, have started tackling several ton is actually ideal of what we do, the conference days after it was “Within the Middle East and platforms to enhance education for and bilateral exchanges the Qatari government and His issues of vital importance: climate you got a number of what they call cancelled in Buenos Aires in within Africa they do things diff er- peace, security and the rule of law”, Highness the Amir for stepping change, democracy, and human presidential rooms,” he said. “Along Argentina. ently to us, and even within Europe, Standing Committee on Peace and By Joey Aguilar in to ensure that our conference rights, among others. the way we were able to have bilat- The agenda, he said it was aimed and the only major country that International Security, and various Staff Reporter did take place,” Nigel Evans, Evans thanked Qatar providing erals with diff erent countries such mainly at facilitating dialogue with is not represented here is the US,” presentations, including the start of an MP for 27 years under the one-of-its-kind facilities such as as Ukrain and Armenia.” diff erent countries from various he said. “In the 1980s they decided drafting resolution on “The role of Conservative Party, told report- “a high-grade hotel” like Sheraton “Just Argentina and we’ve got regions. to leave because they were fed up fair and free trade and investment A British Member of Parliament ers on the sidelines of the 140th Doha for the delegates to meet, lots of bilaterals where we can talk “We had a bilateral with the being criticised by countries within in achieving the Sustainable Devel- (MP) has lauded Qatar and its Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) hold panel discussions and meet- about issues that are of common North Koreans, and we were actual- this orgs.” opment Goals, especially regarding leadership for bringing parliamen- Assembly at Sheraton Doha ings, and have bilateral talks on the concerns to us,” the British MP ly quite surprised they were blond Some of the items yester- economic equality, sustainable tarians together in Doha to discuss yesterday. sidelines. added. talking, they were diplomatic, and day included a forum of Young infrastructure, industrialisation and global issues and hold bilateral The conference, which opened “Incredibly courteous people According to Evans, Qatar we discussed the major issues in a Parliamentarians of the IPU, a innovation.” Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 7 QATAR FM meets Iraqi official UN offi cial praises Qatar’s counter-terrorism eff orts

QNA tem and to enhance co-ordination Doha and coherence among the entities of the Global Counter-Terrorism Co-ordination (Former Counter- nder-Secretary-General Terrorism Implementation Task of the UN Counter-Ter- Force), to ensure the balanced Urorism Offi ce, Vladimir implementation of the four pillars Ivanovich Voronkov, has praised of the United Nations counter- the support provided by Qatar terrorism strategy, to strengthen to the United Nations Offi ce of the provision of UN assistance Counter-Terrorism. to member states in capacity- He made the remarks at a building in counter-terrorism, to meeting of the Committee on improve visibility, advocacy and Peace and International Security resource mobilisation for United to discuss a draft resolution on HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Nations counter-terrorism ef- the inadmissibility of the use of Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday with the forts and, ensuring that due prior- mercenaries as means of under- Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism ity is given to counter-terrorism HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman mining peace and violation of Off ice Vladimir Voronkov on the sidelines of the 140th General across the United Nations system, al-Thani met yesterday with the Council of Representatives’ Speaker of the Republic of Iraq human rights, which was part of Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Doha. and that the important work in Mohamed al-Halbousi, on the sidelines of the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in the 140th Assembly of the Inter- preventing violent extremism is Doha. During the meeting they discussed bilateral relations and means to develop them. Parliamentary Union. sports fi eld will contribute to tance of co-operation with par- fi rmly rooted in the strategy. The Under-Secretary-Gener- prevention of violent intolerance. liamentarians to implement the He pointed out that the UN al of the UN Counter-Terrorism Voronkov reviewed the role documents emanating from the Offi ce aims to establish close Offi ce thanked Qatar for provid- played by the United Nations United Nations and the Security relations with Security Council ing strong support to the United Offi ce of Counter-Terrorism in Council in relation to countering bodies, member states, and to Nations Offi ce of Counter-Ter- this area, saying that the offi ce, terrorism, stressing the impor- strengthen existing and devel- rorism saying there is close co- although just two years old, had tance of parliaments around the oping new partnerships through Key role of education in operation between Qatar and the achieve considerable progress in world in promoting these eff orts regular travel and attendance at UN Offi ce in this area. its eff orts, explaining that there and enacting national legislation counter-terrorism meetings. He also praised Qatar’s ac- were 38 sections of the United to combat terrorism. Member of the Advisory tive contribution to eff orts of Nations concerned with this area. He reviewed the main tasks of Council, Mohamed bin Ali al- promoting peace stressed preventing violent intolerance, However, the establishment of the Counter-Terrorism Offi ce, Hanzab, said that Qatar plays pointing to the role played by the Offi ce has contributed to the saying that it was to lead coun- an important and pivotal role in sport in this regard. He said that consolidation of United Nations ter-terrorism eff orts through the combating terrorism and sup- QNA ing chaos and not respecting in the Middle East and in Ven- Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA eff orts in this regard. mandate given by the General As- porting regional and interna- Doha human rights and the rule of ezuela. He pointed out that the World Cup and its eff orts in the He also stressed the impor- sembly of the United Nations sys- tional peace and stability. law, stressing that parliamen- waves of asylum seekers and tarians should not be silent displacement witnessed by number of parliaments about such violations. some regions and countries of participating in the Chairman of the State Duma the world have a direct link to AInter-Parliamentary of the Russian Federation Vy- such interventions. Education alone can lead to just societies Union (IPU) General Assembly acheslav Volodin said that Volodin further added that and the related meetings high- many countries today are being we know who was behind the lighted the importance of edu- ignored, violated and besieged, establishment of the so-called From Page 1 He pointed out that dialogue, peace, security and the rule of Larijani criticised what he cation in promoting nations, which requires parliamentar- terrorist state in Syria “ISIS”, cooperation and lack of feeling of law,” Larijani pointed out that se- called the economic terrorism disseminating knowledge and ians to discuss these issues and which sought to overthrow the Volodin stressed the impor- superiority are the qualities that curity and peace could not be es- practised by the US adminis- fi ghting ignorance as the cor- not to stand silent. regime, so the policy of non- tance of the 140th IPU General distinguish educated people. tablished without the rule of law. tration against his country, in- nerstone of all aspects of life, He reviewed many examples intervention must be the norm Assembly and the related meet- The Speaker of Iran’s Islamic He reviewed the great chal- dicating that this constituted a development and sustainable to violate the resolutions of in international relations. ings being held in Doha, praising Consultative Assembly Ali Lari- lenges in the area of the rule of component of despair and loss growth, which requires the de- international legitimacy, in- The chairman of the State the arrangements made for the jani said the meetings of the IPU law, peace and security, viola- of hope and isolation at the same velopment of the educational cluding the recognition by the Duma of the Russian Federation meetings and the hospitality and General Assembly being held in tions of human rights and ethnic time for this administration. system for more just and equi- US president of Israel’s sover- stressed the great importance goodwill received by the partici- Qatar represent an important and cleansing, as in Al Quds and oc- He said the Zionist attacks table societies. eignty over the Golan, which of the 140th IPU General As- pating delegations. eff ective step to enhance co-op- cupied Palestine, as well as the against Al Aqsa and Al Quds Al In their speeches to the ses- requires the international com- sembly and the related meet- The Duma chairman noted the eration between states and their challenge of terrorism and hate Sharif, ethnic cleansing, inhuman sion, “Parliaments as platforms munity to criticise this policy. ings currently held in Doha, important role played by parlia- parliaments and to establish se- speech, leading to the adoption of and illegal expansionist measures, to enhance education for peace, He pointed to a number of praising in this regard the ar- mentarians in achieving the goals curity and international law. aggressive, expansionist and un- double standards, and the ma- security and the rule of law”, violations that aff ect some rangements and organisation of of the international community Speaking at the General As- fair policies and the imposition of lignant approach to combating they criticised the policies of countries and attempts to im- the meetings and the hospital- in security, peace, the rule of law, sembly’s general debate on the double and unilateral standards terrorism refl ect a fl agrant viola- some countries in terms of vio- poverish their people and push ity and goodwill received by the peaceful coexistence and non-in- theme of “Parliaments as plat- by many states, which threaten tion of international law and the lating international law, creat- them to take to the streets, as participating delegations. terference in the aff airs of others. forms to enhance education for international peace and security. extraction of the US-Israeli policy. IPU president highlights evolving Top researcher shines spotlight on scenarios in global education neurotechnology

By Joseph Varghese countries,” exhorted Barron. By Joseph Varghese nitive aspects. He highlighted Staff Reporter “We should come out of the Staff Reporter fi ve areas of study that will barriers that prevent the peo- help understand brain and the ple from having education. The humanity in a big way. he education scenar- values that we want to see in the renowned researcher “Brain studies are focusing io around the globe is world and in the generations to discussed yesterday at on personal identity, free will, Tchanging in many ways come, should be incorporated Athe 140th Inter-Parlia- mental privacy, use of tech- and countries are adopting new in the present education,” ex- mentary Union Assembly the nology for augmenting cog- models, the Inter-Parliamentary plained the IPU president. eff orts by scientists to read the nitive process and inclusive- Union (IPU) president told a ses- According to the offi cial, one brain better as well as studies ness. These studies will help in sion of the 140th IPU assembly important value that education to augment the cognitive ca- fi nding more about how brain yesterday at Sheraton Doha. should ensure is gender parity. pabilities of the human beings. should be protected. The study Starting the general debate on “We are living in a more inclu- “A revolution is going on in will also guarantee protection ‘Parliament as platforms to en- sive world where the gender of a brain projects in the last three for humanity against several bi- hance education for peace, se- person should not be an obstacle to four years. There are several ases,” explained the offi cial. curity and the rule of law,’ Gabri- for any opportunities,” she high- eff orts to read human brain Regarding the computer ela Cuevas Barron said that the lighted. The offi cial also pointed better. Another technological chip that can be implanted in world is facing several challenges HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council and president of IPU Assembly, Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al- out that it was the responsibility revolution, Artifi cial Intelli- the human brain, Dr Yuste said in providing inclusive education. Mahmoud, IPU president Gabriela Cuevas Barron, secretary-general of the IPU, Martin Chungong, and the of each one to take care of the gence (AI) is happening along that a new technology is being Speaking on the occasion, under-secretary-general for the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Off ice, Vladimir Voronkov along with environment. with it. The neurotechnology developed and will be intro- HE the Speaker of the Advisory other off icials yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil “This planet is not just for along with AI is changing the duced very soon. Council and the President of us alone. We should make sure world,” said Dr Rafael Yuste, Dr Yuste described that the the IPU assembly, Ahmed bin the major concerns of the world. to education by providing qual- education is one very important that the planet should be a sus- a researcher, Brain Research new developments will hap- Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud Education is based on the concept ity education to its younger subject in focus. No one should tainable one. It should exist for through Advancing Innovative pen at global level helping the highlighted the growing impor- of love, co-existence and toler- generation through great in- be left behind in education. We generations to come. We should Neurotechnologies Initiative, entire humanity. “The out- tance for the need to promote ance. We have to make education vestment, modern curriculum should look for education for uphold natural values with full told a session. comes will help humanity in a education. the biggest value of basic human as well as the establishment of all: Education for boys and girls, responsibility and education “We scientists do not be- big way and make everyone act “Education should promote rights,” stressed al-Mahmoud. world-class institutions. for women and men, for the systems should play a greater long to any particular country for new human rights. Educa- the ideas of peace, security and Al-Mahmoud also highlighted “There are several changes rich and the poor and the de- role in those responsibilities,” alone. We work for the hu- tion is entering into the most the rule of law. It should address the importance Qatar has given going around the world and veloped and the non-developed added the offi cial. manity which is our country. exciting times in the history. It Technology and science are could lead to new humanism,” giving ground breaking ideas. he said. These are used for the benefi t “It could provide better in- of humanity,” noted Dr Yuste. sights to several topics. This According to the researcher, will also lead to new percep- Call for gender parity in education, focus on youth studies are going on in several tions on human rights,” he areas about brain and its cog- added.

By Joseph Varghese Kihika, president of the Forum the youth with the right skills Staff Reporter of Women Parliamentarians, Dutch proposal approved as agenda topic and capabilities. There must be IPU. enough opportunities for the Parliamentarians’ delegation tours Doha “About a third of the develop- The IPU 140 General Assembly decided to put the Dutch proposal youth especially for the young ome parliamentary offi - ing countries have not achieved regarding financial support to the hurricane-hit Malawi, Mozambique women in the labour markets. A delegation of 200 parliamentarians, in town for the 140th cials highlighted the need gender parity in education. En- and Zimbabwe. More policies and practices are Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly, toured yesterday the Sfor gender parity in edu- rolment, especially of girl stu- The proposal was approved by 1,011 votes, which are more than two necessary to ensure gender parity various educational, tourist and heritage sites of Doha. cation as well as addressing the dents in primary education in thirds of the IPU members. Accordingly, it was approved as an ad- in all the areas. There could also be Their tour covered Qatar National Museum and Qatar Founda- needs of the young population many developing countries is ditional topic on the IPU 140 agenda to be discussed today. incentives for the private sector to tion for Education, Science and Community Development to get with priority, during a general still way behind. We must en- However, the proposal regarding the protection of the Palestinian invest in education,” said Kihika. a closer look on the massive development being made in Qatar debate at the 140th Inter-Parlia- sure primary school education people and rejection of the Israeli sovereignty on Jerusalem and M Osuru, president of the Fo- in all fields. mentary Union ( IPU) assembly for all the boys and girls. We Golan Heights got only 491 votes, which disqualified it from being rum of Young Parliamentarians The delegation was accompanied by HE Fahd Mubarak al- yesterday. must make sure that education put on the IPU 140 agenda. The statues and rules of the IPU stipulate of the IPU highlighted that ac- Khayareen, Secretary-General of the Shura Council. “About half of the popula- reaches to the least privileged that the proposed topic should have two-third majority votes by the cess to education is high on the He stressed that Qatar’s original Arabic heritage has amazed the tion of the world is under 30 sections of the societies,” ex- member states to be approved as an additional topic on the agenda agenda of the young parliamen- delegations taking part at the IPU 140 Assembly in Doha. In the years. Despite this proportion, plained Kihika. of the General Assembly. tarians. meantime, a number of the visiting parliamentarians stressed young people’s rights are rarely According to the offi cial, “Education is the best way to that Qatar has become a distinguished and unique beacon of prioritised in several countries peace, security and rule of law achieve peace. It must update us light in the region. They also highly appreciated the wonderful in the world. This must change are more than ever important achieve these goals. More oppor- empowered with the right skills for the needs of tomorrow and architectural design of Qatar National Museum and sophisti- and young people must be given and relevant in the present world tunities and actions are needed and capabilities. must ensure gender parity,” she cated educational system in the country. more opportunities,” noted, S and education is the best tool to to make sure that everyone gets “Education is the tool to equip said. Gulf Times 8 Monday, April 8, 2019 REGION/ARAB WORLD Starved infants, wounded women crowd Syrian hospitals after IS defeat

Reuters Hasaka, Syria

he paramedics’ log at al-Hol camp in eastern Syria lists the injuries and ail- Tments of infants rushed from the bat- tlefi eld to its crowded, dirty clinic: malnour- ishment, stunted growth, broken leg. Those in critical need — mostly emaciated babies born in war to the wives of dead Is- lamic State militants — are taken to the near- est hospital, a bumpy two-hour drive away. Other people cram into a waiting room Sudanese protesters gather for a second day outside the military headquarters in Khartoum, yesterday. with a tin roof in a growing queue for basic medical treatment. At the hospital, staff have had to build two portacabins on the roof that serve as a make- shift ward for the treatment of malnourished babies, crammed sometimes two or three to Sudanese protesters a cot. A child, who suff ers from malnourishment, cries at a hospital in Hasaka, northeastern Syria. Lower fl oors are fi lled with teenagers missing limbs and women with shrapnel and children, IS supporters and other civilians their mothers gave the hospital — Ali Az- bullet wounds. trapped by the militants in the enclave. erbaijani, Ali al-Uzbeki, Mohamed Skramo, a hold second day of sit-in The exodus during intense fi ghting of more Those who evacuated in recent weeks have Norwegian name. than 60,000 people from Islamic State’s fi nal strained healthcare in Kurdish-run areas of Many who remained in Baghouz until the redoubt of Baghouz is overwhelming medical eastern Syria beyond capacity. end of the fi ghting were die-hard supporters Reuters Electricity was later restored in also gathered in Khartoum’s staff in eastern Syria who struggle to cope at In the clinic at al-Hol, which is hosting of Islamic State. Khartoum some areas. Since the sit-in be- Burri neighbourhood yester- the camp and ill-equipped hospitals. more than 70,000 people displaced by vio- A number of European countries have re- gan on Saturday, security forces day. where they blocked several Scores of people, mostly children, have lence, many people wore crude casts. fused to take back citizens who joined IS, have fi red tear gas several times main roads, witnesses said. died on the 150-mile (240km) journey to al- One woman said she did not have enough putting additional strain on local authorities housands of protesters in an attempt to clear the protest- On Saturday at least one Hol or soon after arriving, aid groups say. painkillers for a wound to her hand — a long to deal with prisoners and patients. held a sit-in outside Su- ers, but thousands remained. person died during protests in “My son has a dislocated hip. He needs an metal rod from the explosion that wounded “Children from the camp are arriving night Tdanese President Omar Apparently emboldened by Omdurman, across the Nile operation urgently,” said Umm Mohamed, her and killed three relatives was still lodged and day. We currently have more than 70 ba- al-Bashir’s residence in central the success of similar but much from Khartoum, state news a veiled 33-year-old woman holding an ex- in her knuckle. bies being treated for malnutrition,” a nurse Khartoum yesterday, having larger protests in Algeria, which agency SUNA said without pressionless six-month-old boy at the camp. “I just want an X-ray at the hospital,” she in the ward said. camped there overnight after forced ailing President Ab- providing detail on the cause “Medics keep saying they have more ur- said, giving her name as Umm Ahmed. She and other hospital staff declined to be the biggest demonstration in delaziz Boutefl ika to step down of death. The person killed gent cases to deal with — wounds and shrap- But local hospitals can take only the most named or for the hospital to be identifi ed, months of protests against his last week, Sudanese activists was a laboratory doctor who nel injuries.” severe cases. fearing reprisals for treating the children of 30-year rule, witnesses said. called for Saturday’s protests. succumbed to his injuries, ac- In the waiting area, dozens of people who In one room at the hospital in the nearby IS fi ghters. There have been sustained The demonstrations marked cording to a statement from an mostly left Baghouz during a brief truce last town of Hasaka, 19-year-old Baraa al-Kurdi, “Most cases are treated and then returned protests against Bashir and his the anniversary of the 1985 opposition doctors’ commit- month, arranged for civilians and surren- the wife of a Syrian Islamic State member, lay to the camp. A few have died. We’re doing out National Congress Party since military coup that overthrew tee. Medical staff have played a dering militants to evacuate, sit on wooden motionless next to a boy with third-degree best but had limited resources even before Dec 19. Security forces have president Jaafar Nimeiri after prominent role in the protests. benches or the concrete fl oor. burns covering his head. this infl ux.” fi red tear gas, stun grenades mass protests against his rule. SUNA said other civil- Children in wheelchairs watch while ba- “I was hit in the head by shrapnel,” Kurdi More than 200 people have died on their and live bullets to disperse pro- The protesters urged the ians and police offi cers were bies scream as they are bandaged or given said quietly. “We were next to a car packed way to al-Hol or after arriving in the camp testers and dozens have been military to side with them once wounded on Saturday in Om- injections. with ammunition and explosives, including in recent months, according to the Interna- killed during demonstrations. more in their bid to push Bashir durman, the scene of protests U.S.-backed forces declared the defeat suicide belts ready for fi ghters to use. “My tional Rescue Committee. Bashir has refused to step out of power. late into the evening that sub- in March of Islamic State’s self-proclaimed husband was killed. My daughter is one month It said this week that around 30 to 50 cases down, saying that his op- Apart from Bashir’s resi- sided by yesterday morning. caliphate — the territory it once held in Iraq old — she’s upstairs in the babies’ ward.” every day were referred to local hospitals. ponents need to seek power dence, the compound — the The sit-in outside the com- and Syria — after militants were driven out Kurdi’s daughter was one of the few non- “We get 30 ambulances arriving each day,” through the ballot box. most heavily-guarded in Su- pound appeared to mirror 2011 of the village of Baghouz where they made a foreign infants in the ward. a local health offi cial said, also declining to be Sudan suff ered a total power dan — also houses the defence Arab Spring protests, in which months-long last stand. Others, many blond or with Asian features, named. blackout yesterday, the ministry ministry and the headquarters demonstrators in Cairo and The intense bombardment and fi ghting to lay quietly in their cots with cheekbones “There’s aid from international organisa- of water resources, irrigation and of the powerful National In- other Arab capitals camped out dislodge the Sunni Islamist extremist group showing and eyes sunken into their sockets tions for those from Baghouz. They’re mostly electricity said without giving an telligence and Security Serv- in public squares for days to de- cost countless lives and wounded many more from malnutrition. foreign. We can barely provide healthcare for explanation for the outage. ice. Thousands of protesters mand a change in rule. people, including the wives of fi ghters, their The patients’ register listed the names our own.”

Turkey slams Netanyahu’s More than 40 zoo animals evacuated from Gaza Strip remarks on settlements AFP der an Israeli blockade for more said he could no longer aff ord Rafah than 10 years. the upkeep for the animals. The animals were not in great Israel’s permission was also AFP votes just before the Israeli gen- shape, but were stable enough to received for the mission. Istanbul eral elections cannot and will not ore than 40 animals, be transported to a reserve in Jor- He said it was the biggest change this fact.” including fi ve lions, dan, some 300 kilometres from such mission carried out by Netanyahu’s comments came Mwere evacuated from the Palestinian enclave, said Four Paws and intensive ne- urkey yesterday condemned just days before the closely squalid conditions in a Gaza Martin Bauer, spokesman for the gotiations were required. The what it called Benjamin fought polls tomorrow and was Strip zoo yesterday to be taken Vienna-based welfare group. zoo received attention recently TNetanyahu’s “irresponsi- widely seen as an appeal to right- to Jordan, an animal welfare The animals were sedated to when the owner revealed he had ble” remarks after the Israeli leader wing voters, who do not believe group said. be put in cages for the transfer declawed one of its lions so cus- said he planned to annex settle- in the feasibility of a peace agree- Thin and weakened, the 43 through Israel. Two of the li- tomers could pay to play with ments in the occupied West Bank ment with the Palestinians. animals, including a wolf and ons would eventually be sent to her. In January, four lion cubs if he wins upcoming elections. “Yet another example of monkeys, had been living in South Africa. A Palestinian worker carries a Heron (Egretta Intermedia) at a zoo died of cold in the zoo. “West Bank is Palestinian ter- how Netanyahu uses electoral “terrible conditions,” said the Four Paws was supposed to in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, during the evacuation by “Four The Gaza Strip suff ers from a ritory occupied by Israel in viola- politics to justify occupation Four Paws association, which move ahead with the transfer Paws” from the enclave to relocate to Jordan, yesterday. lack of infrastructure, includ- tion of int’l law,” Foreign Minister and undermine the two-state organised the transfer. in late March, but the organisa- ing a severe electricity shortage. Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twit- solution,” said Ibrahim Kalin, The Rafah zoo in the south- tion could not enter the enclave violence between Gaza fi ghters the support of the authorities in Israel and Palestinian fi ghters in ter. “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s spokesman of Turkish President ern Gaza Strip is the oldest in since the crossing was closed and Israel. Gaza, run by movement Hamas, the strip have fought three wars irresponsible statement to seek Recep Tayyip Erdogan. the enclave, which has been un- that week due to a fl are-up of Bauer said the mission had and of the zoo’s owner, who has since 2008. Flood-hit Iran getting no fi nancial aid Iraq asked to demand US troop withdrawal from overseas ‘due to US sanctions’ AFP cial trip to Iran, also met Saturday Tehran with President Hassan Rouhani, who visited Iraq last month. Reuters Iranian Foreign Minister Mo- Baghdad is under pressure from Geneva hamed Javad Zarif said last week ran’s supreme leader Aya- Washington to limit ties with its that US sanctions — reimposed after tollah Ali Khamenei has neighbour, particularly after the Washington quit a 2015 nuclear deal Icalled on Iraq to demand US United States withdrew from the S sanctions have prevented between Iran and six world powers — troops leave “as soon as possi- Iran nuclear deal last year and hit the Iranian Red Crescent were impeding aid eff orts to flood- ble”, warning that Washington is Tehran with sanctions. Iran has Ufrom obtaining any foreign stricken towns and villages. plotting to remove the govern- close but complicated ties with fi nancial aid to assist victims of “Blocked equipment includes ment in Baghdad. Iraq, with signifi cant infl uence fl ooding that has killed at least 70 relief choppers: This isn’t just eco- The remarks came during a among its political groups. people and inundated some 1,900 nomic warfare; it’s economic terror- visit to Tehran on Saturday by The two countries fought a communities, the group said yester- ism,” he said on Twitter. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel bloody war from 1980 to 1988 and day. The fl ood disaster, arising from Mahdi, whose country is under Tehran’s infl uence in Baghdad US Secretary of State Mike Pom- exceptionally heavy rainfall since pressure from the United States grew after the 2003 US-led inva- peo said last week that Washington March 19, has left aid agencies strug- to distance itself from Iran. sion of Iraq toppled the govern- was ready to help via the Red Cross gling to cope and seen 86,000 people “You should take actions to ment of Saddam Hussein. and Red Crescent, but accused Iran’s moved to emergency shelters. make sure the Americans with- Iran was the fi rst country to re- clerical establishment of “misman- The government has told citizens, draw their troops from Iraq as spond to Iraqi calls for help after agement in urban planning and in and especially fl ood-aff ected farm- soon as possible because wher- Islamic State group militants cap- emergency preparedness”. ers, that all losses will be compen- ever they have had an enduring tured Mosul in 2014 and threat- “No foreign cash help has been sated. presence, forcing them out has ened to overrun Baghdad and given to the Iranian Red Crescent so- Iran’s state budget is already become problematic,” Khamenei Kirkuk. ciety. With attention to the inhuman stretched under US sanctions on en- told Abdel Mahdi. Tehran dispatched “military American sanctions, there is no way ergy and banking sectors that have “The current government and advisers” and equipment along to send this cash assistance,” the Red halved its oil exports and restricted parliament in Iraq and the po- with the Islamic Revolutionary Crescent said in a statement. access to some revenues abroad. litical fi gures are not what the US Guard Corps (IRGC) elite Qods It said the group had received Iran acted on Saturday to evacuate desires; they plot to remove them Force commander Qasem So- some non-fi nancial help from more towns and villages threatened from the political scene of Iraq,” he leimani to prevent IS militants abroad which had been distributed by fl oods after continued rain in the said, according to his offi cial web- from approaching its western to fl ood victims. southwest. Men clear away mud following floods in the Iranian city of Mamulan in Lorestan province, yesterday. site. Abdel Mahdi, on his fi rst offi - borders. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 9 AFRICA Farmers and nomads take to violence in drought-hit Chad

AFP north of the sprawling country. bloodshed is particularly acute, When water sources start droppings fertilise the soil. later. The established ways have “The herds all belong to the Abeche, Chad Last year, the hospital treated rooted in a bitter drought and running low, they return south, And farmers and herders mu- broken down,” said another dis- same people: colonels, generals, more than 100 patients with population pressure sharpening from about the end of June. tually benefi t from trading with trict chief. people in politics,” explained a bullet wounds. rivalry over access to land. Local chief Abderahim Dahab, each other for food. Saleh Yacoub, who is head of village elder sitting on his mat he chief medical offi cer at In a territory where almost The vicious circle of attack and who supervises 136 villages in Historian Mahamat Saleh Ya- the ENS college of higher edu- with a glass of tea. Adre hospital takes a rou- everyone seems to have a gun - retribution is running full tilt. his traditional leadership role, coub said two factors explained cation in Abeche, near Adre, “We have had meetings, we Ttine phone call: a patient a legacy of rebellions launched Admissions in Adre rise said the modern-day bloodshed the breakdown between the two said the second cause was a write letters to the deputy pre- has been admitted with gunshot from eastern Chad and of the sharply during “times of ten- contrasted with long-estab- communities. population increase - “as much fect (district administrator), the wounds and needs emergency brutal confl ict in Sudan’s Dar- sion”, a source at the local hos- lished cohabitation. The fi rst is a drought that has among people as among live- prefect himself, but get nothing surgery. fur - squabbles over grazing land pital said. “Movement of livestock has gripped the Sahel since the 1970s stock”. back,” he protested. A dusty town in eastern and trampled crops swiftly lead Those times mirror the sea- always happened peacefully, for and seems to be worsening. Herds are getting larger, “The population has no power Chad, once part of the proud to violence. sons. decades,” he said. Everyone who spoke to AFP straining the fragile ecological against them.” Ouaddai empire, Adre is caught Such disputes are tragically At the end of the rainy season, Migratory herders benefi t agreed that the key issue is a lack resources of the Ouaddai. Many cattlemen are members up in a mounting conflict be- familiar in many parts of Africa. in December and January, herd- from pasture on which to feed of water. The rivalry has “become in- of the Zaghawa ethnic group, tween local farmers and no- But in arid eastern Chad, ers drive their beasts northwards their animals, and farmers ben- “The herders are now coming tertwined with ethnic prob- who come from the northeast of madic camel herders from the near the border with Sudan, the into the Sahel. efi t from the animals, whose earlier in the year and going back lems”, added Yacoub. the giant country. Flood-ravaged Zimbabwe now faces severe water shortage

Reuters slides and forcing people from Harare their homes. But elsewhere in Zimbabwe, weak rains this season have left s eastern Zimbabwe water reservoirs low in parts of struggles with the after- the country, reducing produc- Amath of fl oods that have tion of hydropower from Lake killed nearly 270 people and de- Kariba - a major energy source stroyed homes and roads, other for Zimbabwe and neighbouring parts of Zimbabwe are facing a Zambia - and water available to very diff erent crisis: too little families and farmers. water. “The capacity of our lakes is Lake Chivero, the main source very low with two of our dams, of water for the capital Harare, is Seke and Harava going dry at 7% at just 60% of its usual capac- (capacity). We can no longer ex- From left: African Union chief Moussa Faki, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, his wife Jeannette and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker light a ity at this time of year, following tract water from them,” said Kun- remembrance flame for the 25th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, yesterday. poor rains, said Richard Kuny- yadini, the Harare city offi cial. adini, Harare City Council’s wa- “Until we get more water ter manager. or rains, we must rely on Lake The city’s two other dams, Chivero but that is not enough - Harava and Seke, are just 7% full, hence the rationing,” he said. he said. Between last October and For residents such as Letwin February, the level of Lake Ka- Bhamusi, 43, that means water is riba fell by over 3m, the Zim- now arriving through the pipes babwe River Authority said in a Rwanda ‘a family again’, only once a week, under a new statement, forcing cutbacks in water rationing schedule put in power generation. place in early March by Harare’s Meanwhile, offi cials feared authorities. some reservoirs in eastern Zim- Water rationing is nothing babwe could burst after heavy new in Harare - but it more com- rain and runoff . monly begins months later, resi- “The cyclone has aff ected our says President Kagame dents say. dams in a negative manner. Most Shortages, they say, hit the of them cannot withstand the AFP assassination of president Juve- us better and more united than backs for some in the audience, French President Emmanuel poor - who cannot aff ord to dig highest water levels beyond their Kigali nal Habyarimana, a Hutu. ever before,” Kagame said. with crying, shaking, scream- Macron is not attending, but private wells - hardest. capacity,” Mutasa Tatenda, a cli- Some were shot; most were “The fi ghting spirit is alive ing and fainting amid otherwise expressed his “solidarity with The cutbacks mean Bhamusi mate change scientist with the beaten or hacked by machetes. in us. What happened here will quiet vigils. the Rwandan people and his can’t water her garden, a source Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, resident Paul Kagame “In 1994, there was no hope, never happen again.” For many survivors, forgive- compassion to the victims and of vegetables for her family, and Water, Climate and Rural Reset- said yesterday that Rwan- only darkness. Today, light radi- The killings lasted until Kag- ness remains diffi cult when the their families” in a statement must now spend valuable time tlement, told the Thomson Reu- Pdans had become a family ates from this place. How did it ame, then 36, led the mainly Tutsi bodies of their loved ones have yesterday. each day looking for alternative ters Foundation. again, 25 years after more than happen? Rwanda became a fam- Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) not been found and many killers The statement said Macron sources of water. He said the uneven distribu- 800,000 people were slaugh- ily once again,” Kagame said. into Kigali on July 4, ending the are still free. would like to make April 7 a “We are only in March. At this tion of rainfall in Zimbabwe was tered in a genocide that shocked “The arms of our people, in- slaughter and taking control of A quarter of a century on, “day of commemoration of the rate, we might soon never see aff ecting everything from farm- the world. tertwined, constitute the pil- the devastated country. the east African nation has re- genocide” in France, without a drop of water in our homes,” ing and households to power Kagame lit a remembrance lars of our nation. We hold each Kagame, now 61 and who has covered economically, but the giving further details. the resident of Hatcliff e, a high- production, manufacturing and fl ame at the Kigali Genocide other up. Our bodies and minds been in power ever since, is lead- trauma still casts a dark shadow. At the ceremony, France is density suburb of Harare, com- recreation. Memorial, where more than bear amputations and scars, but ing the memorial to the dead. Kagame has kept an au- represented by Herve Berville, plained bitterly. Chipinge District Administra- 250,000 victims are believed none of us is alone. Together, we Kagame will later preside thoritarian hold as he steers a 29-year old Rwandan-born Climate change is bringing tor William Mashava said ero- to be buried, mainly from the have woven the tattered threads over a vigil at the country’s the small, landlocked nation member of parliament in Paris. more weather extremes around sion following heavy rains had minority Tutsi people, as the of our unity into a new tapes- main football ground. through economic recovery. Rwanda has accused France the world, and Zimbabwe this fi lled three dams in the district country began its annual 100 try,” he said. The Amahoro National Sta- Growth in 2018 was a heady of being complicit in the geno- year is suff ering from opposite with silt, threatening ongoing days of mourning that coincide Kagame was speaking at the dium - whose name means 7.2%, according to the African cide through its support for the crises at once: deadly fl ooding problems even after the fl ooding with the length of the slaughter. Kigali Convention Centre, a “peace” in Rwanda’s Kinyar- Development Bank (AfDB). Hutu-led government and of and bitter drought. crisis abates. They are only some of those dome-shaped auditorium in the wanda language - was used by Some 10 leaders are expected helping perpetrators escape. In far eastern Zimbabwe, Cy- Mutasa warned that warm- killed by the genocidal Hutu centre of the capital, a modern the UN during the genocide to pay their respects, mostly Paris has consistently denied clone Idai, which blasted ashore ing temperatures, and changes forces, members of the old army building emblematic of the re- to protect thousands of Tutsis from nations across the conti- complicity in the bloodshed, in Mozambique, has pounded in precipitation as a result of and militia forces called the generation of Rwanda. from being massacred on the nent. though former president Nico- Chimanimani and Chipinge dis- climate change are aff ecting “Interahamwe”, that began their “Our people have carried an streets outside. Former colonial ruler Bel- las Sarkozy in 2010 acknowl- tricts and parts of Masvingo dis- the country’s water supply and bloody campaign of death on immense weight with little or In past years, ceremonies gium is sending Prime Minister edged France had made “serious trict, causing fl ooding and mud- quality. April 7, 1994, the day after the no complaint. This has made have triggered painful fl ash- Charles Michel. errors of judgement”. Ethiopians bid farewell to Three killed in Nigeria slain rapper Nipsey Hussle suicide bomb attacks AFP residents, has been repeatedly AFP who bridged his American up- Angeles who attended the me- Kano, Nigeria targeted by Boko Haram suicide Addis Ababa bringing with his roots in the morial in Addis Ababa. attacks, said resident Gremah Horn of Africa. “When he fi rst came out, we Umar. “When we heard there’s an were all so excited. To know hree people died and more The area houses a sprawling ith poems and Eritrean rapper out there, we there was a habesha rapper out than 30 injured in a twin camp for thousands of people speeches, Ethiopians were fans before we heard his there defi nitely sparked some Tsuicide blast in the north- displaced by Boko Haram vio- Whave held an emotion- music,” said Ambaye Michael pride,” she said, using a common eastern Nigerian city of Maidug- lence. al farewell for murdered rapper Tesfay, who eulogised Hussle term to describe people from the uri, militia sources and residents The attacks there were largely Nipsey Hussle, whose roots in at the event held in a darkened Horn of Africa. told AFP yesterday. blamed on the Boko Haram fac- neighbouring Eritrea won him parking lot. Hussle embraced his Eritrean Two female bombers late Sat- tion loyal to longtime leader admirers in both countries. “He was an icon for us.” heritage, visiting the country urday detonated their explosives Abubakar Shekau, notorious for Known for his Grammy- Before his 2018 debut album last year and telling state media, among a crowd in Muna Dalti suicide attacks on civilian tar- nominated debut album, Hussle Victory Lap scored a Grammy “More than anything I am proud on the outskirts of the city, the gets including schools, mosques was shot dead last week in front nomination for Best Rap Album, of being Eritrean.” birthplace of the Boko Haram and motor parks. of the clothing store he owned Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, The relationship between extremist group Another faction affi liated to in the US city of Los Angeles, had won the attention of rap fans Ethiopia and Eritrea has often “They came around 8pm the Islamic State focuses on at- whose violence-plagued neigh- from both Ethiopia and Eritrea been tortuous, and the coun- (1900 GMT) and detonated their tacks against military targets. bourhoods he had tried to revi- for his embrace of his father’s tries were not on speaking terms suicide vests,” Umar Ari, a local Boko Haram’s decade-long talise. Eritrean heritage. for years following a 1998-2000 militia leader, said. violence has killed 27,000 people On Friday, 29-year-old Eric Eritrea was a province of Ethi- border war that ground into “They killed three people and in the northeast and displaced Holder pleaded not guilty to opia until 1993, when it voted for stalemate. seriously injured 33 others,” said another 1.8mn from their homes, murder and attempted mur- independence after a decades- That ended with the signing of Ari, who was involved in the creating a dire humanitarian cri- der over the shooting that also long independence struggle, but a peace agreement last year that evacuation of victims. sis. wounded two other men. both countries still have close restored ties between the neigh- Residents gathered yesterday The confl ict has spread to At the Saturday evening me- cultural and family ties. bours. morning for the funeral of the neighbouring Niger, Chad and morial in the Ethiopian capital “It’s just really tragic what The frosty relations did little Residents are seen walking in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, three victims. Cameroon, prompting a regional Addis Ababa, Hussle was re- happened,” said Tezeta Solo- to dampen Ethiopians’ pride in yesterday, a day after a double suicide attack, that killed at least The scene of the bombings, military response to combat the membered as a rare entertainer mon, an Ethiopian living in Los Hussle’s success. three people and wounded more than 30. a popular night time venue for militant group. Gulf Times 10 Monday, April 8, 2019 AMERICA

NY county measles outbreak spotlights vaccine religious exemptions

By Catherine Triomphe, AFP County to cooperate with health have been exposed to the ultra- nated minors from schools and cinations for school-age children stressing that his federation, like about my religious beliefs, your Haverstraw, New York authorities and alert them to any contagious virus. public places for 30 days. but grants exemptions on both other Jewish organisations, en- religious beliefs,” she said, as she new cases of disease. Those exposed are then con- Several public health special- medical and religious grounds. courages vaccination. walked out of a kosher super- In 27 years of practising medi- tacted to ensure they have been ists saluted the county’s deci- In Rockland County, the lo- “It’s shocking that these market in Monsey, the epicentre atricia Schnabel Ruppert, cine, Ruppert said, this is “one of immunised, and if they haven’t sion. But a dozen parents of cal Jewish community repre- things that I didn’t worry about of the county’s Orthodox com- the health commissioner of the most challenging health cri- been, they are then vaccinated. public-school students sued the sents about one-third of county with my kids because they could munity. Pan outlying New York sub- ses I have had to deal with.” Dozens of free vaccination county, arguing that the meas- inhabitants, including a large be vaccinated — all of a sudden Against this background, some urban county, is feeling “over- As of this weekend, measles clinics have been organised ure was disproportionate to the number of Orthodox Jews. parents have to worry about their New York state lawmakers this whelmed.” — offi cially eliminated from the around the county — including danger, particularly as there have That fact places this com- children getting life-threatening week proposed a law to end vac- Since October she has been United States in 2000 — had one Friday in the town of Haver- been no deaths to date. munity at the heart of the vac- diseases,” Siepser said. cination exemptions. waging an uphill fi ght to quell struck 167 people in this county straw — with 17,654 doses of vac- Last week, they obtained a cination debate, raising the risk “It’s like the clock has been “I think it’s a great idea,” said one of the worst US measles out- along the Hudson River, includ- cine administered to date. partial victory: a judge issued an of fuelling anti-Semitism, said turned back — it’s crazy!” Ruppert, the health commis- breaks in 20 years. ing nine new cases this week. The objective is to raise the injunction requiring county offi - Gary Siepser, president of the Several Orthodox mothers sioner. Among her daily battles: hav- Among the six regional out- vaccination rate from the current cials to drop the ban against any Jewish Foundation of Rockland questioned this week by AFP But the judge’s decision on Fri- ing to constantly repeat that the breaks of measles reported by the 72%, Ruppert said. A 95% vacci- child with a “religious exemp- County. lashed out at the anti-vaccine day in favour of the anti-vaccine vaccine does not cause other Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nation rate is considered neces- tion,” at least until April 19. He emphasizes that there are parents. forces complicates an already diseases, that it does not lead to the leading public health institute sary to prevent epidemics. “Religious exemption” for anti-vaccine proponents both One of them was Cindy Scher, diffi cult debate. autism, and that the practice of in the US, Rockland County’s is the On Today, county executives many county residents, the in the Jewish community and mother of four children aged “This is a country that has an using fetal tissue to produce the most concentrated. will meet with legal and health words have become central to elsewhere who invoke religion seven to 17, all of whom have been interesting relationship with reli- vaccine ended decades ago. And yet the county has not professionals to identify more the debate over the resurgence of to justify themselves — but are vaccinated. gion, the country was founded by Pushing back against such skimped in throwing resources at possible new strategies to tackle measles and the rise of the anti- motivated simply by their anti- “It’s really scary out there,” people seeking some kind of reli- “junk science” absorbs a good the problem. the outbreak. vaccine movement. vaccine convictions. she said. “We all share the same gious liberties,” Siepser said. “The deal of her energy as she works Since October, each case has It comes after the county took Like most American states — all “You will not fi nd rabbis citing roads, we share the same stores, question becomes at what point to educate and persuade the been systematically investigated the unprecedented measure on but three, including California — Jewish law to say people should we all have to interact with each one person’s freedom ends and 300,000 residents of Rockland to determine how many people March 26 of banning unvacci- New York requires a series of vac- not be vaccinated,” he said, other. We can’t just be concerned another person’s rights begin.”

Trump WH says ‘never’ AG under pressure to release on release of tax returns evidence clearing Trump By Doina Chiacu, Reuters Washington

By Paul Hanley, AFP Washington resident Donald Trump’s tax returns will never be Phanded over to Democratic wo weeks after he cleared Presi- lawmakers, White House Chief dent Donald Trump in the Russia of Staff Mick Mulvaney said yes- Tmeddling investigation, Attorney terday, defying an eff ort in Con- General Bill Barr faces mounting pres- gress to learn more about the real sure to show the full evidence behind estate mogul’s personal fi nances. his decision. Asked on Fox News Sunday if Allegations last week that the US congressional Democrats will Justice chief played down serious evi- succeed in obtaining the Re- dence of illegal obstruction by Trump publican president’s tax returns, in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s fi - Mulvaney said: “No, never. Nor nal report are fuelling demands that he should they.” release the entire, unexpurgated docu- He dismissed an eff ort to ob- ment to Congress. tain the returns, launched on “He is a biased person,” Jerry Nadler, Wednesday by US House of chairman of the House Judiciary Com- Representatives tax committee mittee, said of Barr in an interview yes- chairman Richard Neal, as a po- terday on CBS’s Face the Nation. litical ploy from Democrats who “He’s a biased defender of the ad- will never stop attacking Trump. ministration, and he’s entitled to be a “Democrats are demanding defender of the administration, but he that the IRS turn over the docu- is not entitled to withhold the evidence ments. That is not going to hap- from Congress,” Nadler said. pen, and they know it. This is a News reports, citing unnamed mem- political stunt,” Mulvaney said. bers of Mueller’s staff , said Barr ignored Democrats countered that the summaries that Mueller’s team pre- Neal’s request to the Treasury De- pared for public release, and instead is- partment for Trump’s returns is sued his own on March 24, in which he grounded in law and a needed in- peremptorily cleared the president of quiry, given Trump’s refusal to dis- any wrongdoing. close his tax records and to divest And Barr now says he will not release himself of his business interests. key evidence given to Mueller’s grand “This is a legitimate author- jury, a special panel used by prosecutors ity that the Congress has. This in politically sensitive cases. president, by the way, is the least Democrats suspect the evidence transparent president that we’ve could be damning to the president — had in half a century,” Demo- setting up a legal and political show- cratic Representative Dan Kil- down. Activists participate in a ‘Release the Report’ rally in Times Square in New York City. dee, a tax committee member, Acting White House chief of staff told ABC’s This Week. Mick Mulvaney said yesterday that Barr put the Russia probe behind him and in the 2016 election, and that there was an unsolicited legal memo to the Justice cases, Mueller used the panel of citi- Democratic Representative alone will decide what to release, and he look to 2020 for re-election. insuffi cient evidence to charge Trump Department and White House strongly zens to develop and hear the evidence Ben Ray Lujan noted that presi- bridled at the Democrats’ demands. Trump, who declared a “complete with obstruction. criticising the Mueller investigation and depose key witnesses behind closed dents for decades have volun- “If we give the Democrats all 400 and total exoneration” when Barr an- Yet Barr also conceded that Muel- and its impingement on the president’s doors. tarily released their income tax pages unredacted, that’s not going to nounced Mueller’s conclusions, said ler did compile evidence of obstruc- prerogatives. Grand-jury evidence is usually kept returns. be the end of the inquiry. And they’re this week that Democrats “are fi ghting tion, and quoted the special counsel as Then a Washington corporate attor- secret by law unless a prosecutor ulti- “This is not political, as our going to want another thousand pages hard to keep the Witch Hunt alive.” saying that “while this report does not ney, Barr declared — without knowledge mately decides to level charges in the Republican colleagues are mak- that went into making that,” he said on “This is the highest level of Presiden- conclude that the president committed of the internal work of the Russia probe case. ing it out to be,” he told Fox News Fox News Sunday. “This is a show by the tial Harassment in the history of our a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” — that “Mueller’s obstruction theory is Democrats argue that Congress, in Sunday. Democrats.” Country!” he tweeted. Suspicions are deep among Demo- fatally misconceived” and based on “a its constitutional responsibility to en- An attorney for Trump on Fri- The Democrat-led House Judiciary Tomorrow, members of Congress crats that Barr took advantage of his po- novel and legally unsupportable reading force the law against the president, has day blasted House Democrats’ Committee this week prepared to sub- might get their fi rst chance to press sition to clear Trump and now wants to of the law.” the right to review any evidence against request for six years of Trump’s poena the full report, a move Barr and Barr in public about the Mueller report, keep the most damaging parts of the re- The memo came to light in December him of wrongdoing, even that of a grand personal and business returns as the White House will almost certainly when he appears before the House Ap- port secret to protect the White House. only after Trump had sacked Sessions jury. “a misguided attempt” to politi- contest. propriations Committee in a hearing Trump chose the veteran Republican and chosen Barr to replace him. On Friday, the Justice Department, cize the tax laws, accusing law- On Thursday, Nadler demanded that nominally focused on the Justice De- lawyer to lead the Justice Department So far, Barr has held fi rm to his stance commenting on a fresh ruling in a case makers of harassment and inter- Barr turn over all communications be- partment budget. after fi ring his predecessor Jeff Ses- that he will release this month more on grand-jury secrecy, signalled its ference in IRS audits. tween his offi ce and Mueller’s, follow- In his four-page summation of the sions, whom the president resented for of the Mueller report, but a version stance against that. In a statement that mapped out ing the reports that Mueller’s staff were 22-month investigation on March 24, recusing himself from oversight of the stripped of evidence and of testimony “The Department of Justice will con- the legal battlefi eld ahead, Trump unhappy with the way Barr presented Barr said that Mueller found no evi- Russia probe. given to Mueller’s grand jury. tinue to defend the long-established lawyer William Consovoy said their conclusions. dence of collusion between Trump’s In June 2018, with Sessions’s job al- The grand jury material is essential. tradition of protecting grand jury infor- the request fi led by Neal fl outs At stake is the president’s ability to campaign and the Russian government ready known to be imperilled, Barr sent As often done in such high-profi le mation,” said spokeswoman Kelly Laco. “constitutional constraints.” Snake ‘boyfriend’ leads hunters to largest python in Florida Everglades

Guardian News and Media ploded, studies have shown, while several from the same area in recent months Miami species of rabbits and foxes have all but in partnership with the US Geological disappeared. Survey. Snake hunters have captured what they Experts believes tens of thousands The record-breaking python outweighs say is the largest python ever found in of the snakes are currently slithering a female captured in Big Cypress in De- the swamps of the Florida Everglades: a through Everglades waterways. cember 2017 by snake hunter Jason Leon, pregnant female 5.2m long and weighing “All of the python work at Big Cypress which measured 5.2m and weighed 63.5, 63.5kg. is focused on controlling this invasive according to the Miami Herald. The team from the Big Cypress National species, which poses significant threats to Agencies responsible for managing the Preserve posted news of their record- native wildlife,” Everglades stage regular public python setting catch in a Facebook post that also the researchers wrote in the post. hunts and last year recorded their 1,000th noted the giant reptile was carrying 73 They also said the record-breaking kill, by a hunter who bagged more than eggs. python was snared after its position was 100. Environmentalists have been strug- given away by a boyfriend — a so-called Other eff orts to remove pythons have gling to find ways to eradicate Burmese Judas snake. proved less successful. pythons, a non-native species, from the “Using male pythons with radio trans- Everglades National Park scientists 1.5mn acre wilderness since the 1980s, mitters allows the team to track the male trained a beagle puppy named Python when some were released into the wild as to locate breeding females,” they said. Pete to sniff out the snakes, but had to overgrown pets. “The team not only removes the inva- abandon the venture when Pete wilted in Others escaped from a breeding facility sive snakes, but collects data for research, the heat of the Florida summer. wrecked by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. develop new removal tools and learn how In 2017, two renowned snake catchers Populations of raccoons, opossums the pythons are using the preserve.” from India’s mountain-dwelling Irula tribe and bobcats have fallen by between 88% They said their teams had been able to bagged only 33 pythons after chanting Big Cypress National Preserve volunteers pose with the 5.2m long female python. (Photo courtesy: Big Cypress National and 99% as the python population has ex- remove several other breeding females across the Everglades for two months. Preserve/Facebook) Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 11 ASIA Maldives ex-leader makes comeback with poll win

AFP years of strongman rule, politi- party – the Progressive Party “You desired to reform the Election offi cials estimated Malé cal crises and corruption scan- of Maldives – fi nished in third. general well-being of the na- the fi nal turnout to be 80%, less dals miring the government and The remaining seats were col- tion... Hopefully we will succeed than the September presidential judiciary. lected by minor parties and in fulfi lling your wishes.” election but a record for a parlia- he former Maldives presi- “Our foremost duty is to bring independents. Nasheed also vowed to trans- mentary poll. The offi cial fi nal dent yesterday vowed peace to the government,” Nash- Nasheed was barred from form the Maldives, a popular results are expected later. Tsweeping reforms and eed told supporters in the capital running in the presidential honeymoon destination home to President Solih, who has an end to government corrup- Male yesterday. election but his former deputy, 340,000 Sunni Muslims, into a promised to investigate corrup- Former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed tion after leading his party to Provisional results from the President Ibrahim Mohamed parliamentary democracy. tion allegations against Yameen, a record landslide victory just Elections Commission showed Solih, emerged triumphant An executive presidential sys- thanked voters for delivering “a was a fugitive in exile. motivated and unjustifi ed. fi ve months since returning Nasheed’s party won 68 seats with over Yameen. tem was adopted under political huge majority” for the MDP. Nasheed was sentenced to 13 The Maldives was on the verge from exile. the Jamhooree Party a distant The former leader declared reforms in 2008, when dictator “While we celebrate, we must years prison in 2015 but left the of being slapped with Western- Mohamed Nasheed, 51, made second, securing just seven. the days of “Rolex watches and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom stood also not forget the immense Maldives a year later, after being led sanctions before Solih won a dramatic return to the top of The party of former strong- Kohinoor are over”, referring down after 30 years in power. challenges that lie ahead of us,” granted prison leave for medical the presidential election on a the national parliament, with man president Abudulla Yameen to high-profi le scandals in the Two of Gayoom’s children he said in a statement. treatment in Britain. pledge to end corruption in the his Maldivian Democratic Par- trailed with only four. Maldives where MPs have al- contested this poll, but only one Election commissioner The charges were dropped by country, best known for its lux- ty (MDP) securing more than Nasheed’s comprehensive legedly been bought with luxury was successful in winning a seat. Ahmed Shareef told reporters the Supreme Court after Solih ury tourism. two-thirds in the 87-member victory was another rebuke for gifts, including gems. As the results trickled in Sat- there had been no complaints of toppled Yameen, with judges Nasheed has also opposed assembly. his arch-rival Yameen, who was “The parliament you have urday, and Nasheed’s victory irregularities in the run up to the saying there was no basis for the heavy borrowing from China Nasheed promised to use dumped in a shock election de- elected today possesses integ- was clearly within grasp, the vote, during balloting or at the charges. under Yameen’s administration, his party’s mandate to usher in feat in September under a cloud rity,” said Nasheed, who won a dogged political veteran de- count. International rights groups accusing the former strongman a new era of stability and de- of corruption and embezzlement seat in the People’s Majlis, or clared the Maldives was heading The thumping MDP victory had decried the terrorism con- of mortgaging the island para- mocracy in the Indian Ocean allegations. parliament representing a con- for “a golden yellow dawn”. Yel- caps a remarkable comeback for viction, imposed while Yameen dise to Beijing for infrastructure archipelago as it emerges from Yameen did not run, but his stituency in the capital Male. low is the colour of his party. Nasheed, who until November was in power, as politically projects. Manipulation suspicions mount in Thailand’s post-coup election

Reuters ty that seeks to keep junta leader However, opposition fi gures need 376 votes for their potential Yingcheep Atchanont, project Bangkok Prayuth Chan-ocha in power as say they are being targeted. candidate. manager at legal-monitoring an elected prime minister. Thanathorn Juangroongru- Still, days after the March 24 group iLaw. The leading opposition Pheu angkit, the leader of the youth- vote, the “democratic front” Palang Pracharat has repeat- hailand’s fi rst general Thai party, made up of loy- oriented Future Forward Party claimed through its own calcu- edly said it reaps no benefi ts election since a 2014 army alists to army-ousted prime which did surprisingly well in lations that it would gain at least from the constitution. Tcoup has been touted by minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the vote, was charged on Sat- 255 House seats – not be enough Sonthirat Sontijirawong, the the ruling military junta as a re- sees the delays and legal ac- urday with sedition on a junta to form a government but po- Palang Pracharat secretary-gen- turn to democratic rule, but two tions as an attempt to deny the complaint dating back to 2015 tentially allowing it to block eral, has said the party would be- weeks after the vote, results are “democratic front” enough – a case that could see his party the military-backed party from gin talks to form the next govern- still unclear and allegations of seats in the House needed to disbanded. having free rein. ment only after the king’s offi cial manipulation are mounting. block the main junta-linked Online campaigns have also Last week, however, the elec- coronation on May 4-6. Since the March 24 vote, fi g- party from unrestrained cast Thanathorn as anti-monar- tion commission indicated the The election comes after ures linked to a “democratic lawmaking power. chy, a serious crime in Thailand, complex formula to calculate nearly 15 years of turmoil, during King Maha Vajiralongkorn front” of opposition parties say “After the election... the ma- where the monarchy is revered allocation of the 150 “party list” which confl icts between sup- they have come under increas- jority of the people feels a sense without question. seats will round up decimals to porters of ousted former premier ing pressure from police and the of hopelessness and distrust Thanathorn denies being give seats to 11 small parties al- Thaksin and his establishment military. for the election process,” said against the monarchy and all though their popular votes did opponents manifested in street The Election Commission Pheu Thai’s secretary-general, charges against him. not meet a previously described protests, violent clashes, and has also indicated it would use a Phumtham Wechayachai. “It’s the establishment’s de- threshold required to earn two military coups. complex allocation formula for The Election Commission’s sire to stir hatred, fear, and even one seat. On the eve of the vote, King Thailand “This is an irregularity that Maha Vajiralongkorn made an 150 “party seats” in the House secretary-general, Jaroongwit mistrust among the people, of Representatives in a way that Phumma, said the body is not creating legitimacy for the mili- refl ects an eff ort to block the unexpected statement, recall- would likely dilute the opposi- helping the pro-military party. tary to take over and stay on,” democratic front from forming ing a comment made by his late tion alliance’s seats in the 500- “The election commission is Thanathorn said last week. the next government,” said Pheu father on the need to put “good seat lower house. neutral and adheres to the law. The rules of the election were Thai’s spokeswoman Ladawan people” in power and to prevent begins rituals Wongsriwong. “bad people from... creating The Election Commission has We don’t take sides or help one written in the 2017. Among the said it won’t announce even pro- particular party,” Jaroongwit new provisions is that the Sen- Widening the list would cut chaos.” visional winners of the 150 party said. ate, the 250-seat upper house seats from top popular vote get- Six days later, the king re- seats until May 9, saying it needs Palang Pracharat said it does of parliament appointed by the ters and could reduce seats for voked royal decorations that had time to order by-elections and not gain any advantages over junta, must approve the prime Future Forward from around been awarded to Thaksin, citing for king’s 87 to 80, potentially hurting his 2008 corruption conviction vote recounts as well as to dis- opposition parties. minister in a combined vote with qualify candidates who broke “It’s completely false to say the House, which previously the democratic front’s claim of and for fl eeing the country to election laws. that the election commis- solely voted on the premier. House majority. escape prison. But critics say the time gap al- sion is helping Palang Pra- That means the junta-backed “It’s an abnormal election The military also stripped lows the military-royalist estab- charat. This is an attempt to party and its allies have to gain from the outset. It’s a game Thaksin of a pre-cadet school’s coronation where the junta wrote the rules achievement award as well as lishment to manipulate results discredit us,” the party’s dep- only 126 seats in the House to and disqualify opponents of the uty spokesman Thanakorn install Prayuth as prime minis- and appointed the referee, who deleting his name from the next month pro-army Palang Pracharat par- Wangboonkongchana said. ter, while the opposition would is also acting abnormally,” said school’s hall of fame.

Reuters the Chakri dynasty. Bangkok Saturday was Chakri Day in Rohingya rights Thailand, which observes the beginning of the dynasty. hailand has begun ritu- King Vajiralongkorn holds als for the coronation of the title Rama X, or the 10th group says air TKing Maha Vajiralong- king of the Chakri dynasty. korn next month, with offi - The waters were collect- cials collecting water in cere- ed simultaneously between monies across the country for 11:52am to 12:38pm on Satur- strike kills 20 use in purifi cation rites. day – times deemed especially The elaborate coronation auspicious in Thai astrol- IANS ing that only six Rohingyas were for King Vajiralongkorn will ogy – by senior offi cials from Dhaka killed because they are work- take place over three days, more than a 100 water sources ing with a terrorist group,” said from May 4 to 6, in the capi- across 76 Thai provinces. ARSPH. tal Bangkok with many Bud- The ceremony was broad- Rohingya rights group “This is completely false in- dhist and Brahmin rituals per- cast on all Thai television in Bangladesh yesterday formation,” it said, adding that formed in the month leading channels. Asaid at least 20 people it was evidence that the military up to the event. The water, stored in tradi- were killed and 50 were injured continues “to take every oppor- The 66-year-old King Vaji- tional vases, will be blessed in during an air strike on April 3 by tunity to clear all Rohingya from ralongkorn became Thailand’s Buddhist ceremonies at major the Myanmar Army on members their homeland and complete constitutional monarch fol- temples around the country BGB personnel carrying assault rifles disembark for deployment on Saint Martin’s island, near the border of the ethnic group in Rakhine the genocide that they started lowing the death of his father, on April 8 to 9, before being with Myanmar, yesterday. state, contradicting the govern- 40 years ago”. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, combined in another conse- ment version of the incident. The Myanmar Army con- in 2016 following a 70-year cration rite at Wat Suthat, one The Arakan Rohingya Soci- fi rmed the death of six Rohingya, reign. of Bangkok’s oldest temples, ety for Peace and Human Rights who according to the military, His coronation was delayed on April 18. (ARSPH) said innocent Rohingya collaborated with the rebels of until after the mourning pe- Vajiralongkorn is the second BGB deployed at island near Myanmar villagers were gathering bamboo the Arakan Army (AA), during riod for Bhumibol, who was child of King Bhumibol and in streams near Phon Nyo Leke an air strike against a bastion cremated in October 2017. Queen Sirikit’s four children when Myanmar military heli- of insurgents in the west of the Reverence for the monarch, and their only son. AFP The BGB said the troop de- the Southeast Asian country. copters fl ew low overhead and country. who is also the sworn patron of He was educated at private Dhaka ployment was part of “regular He was also summoned in Oc- shot at ordinary Rohingya mak- The UN, which accuses the Buddhism in Thailand, is cen- schools in Britain and Austral- activities” to ensure border pro- tober last year, after a Myanmar ing rafts in the river, reports Efe armed forces of “intentional tral to traditional Thai culture. ia before attending the Royal tection and curb drug traffi cking. government website depicted news. genocide” for the operation For most Thais, the corona- Military College Duntroon in angladesh yesterday de- But the force’s lieutenant the island as within Myanmar’s “At least 20 people were killed against the Rohingya, indicated tion will be the fi rst in their Canberra. ployed heavily-armed colonel, Sarker Mohammed territory. and over 50 were injured. Many this week its “deep concern” lifetimes. According to the offi cial bi- Bborder guards to an island Mustafi zur Rahman, said it was Ties between the neighbours people had arms and legs blown about the recent clashes. The water gathered on Sat- ography, he is a qualifi ed heli- near its southern border with the fi rst time since 1997 their have soured since the Myanmar off by the bombs,” the ARSPH Most refugees live under harsh urday will be used for ablution copter and fi ghter pilot, who Myanmar for the fi rst time in 20 men had landed there. military launched a crackdown said in a statement. conditions in Bangladesh’s Cox’s of the king in the purifi cation saw action against communist years, offi cials said. “After more than 20 years we on the Rohingya minority in Ra- Headed by former school Bazar area, near the Myanmar and anointment ceremonies insurgents in Thailand in the Border Guard Bangladesh felt we should deploy,” he said. khine, a troubled western state teacher Mohammed Mohibul- border, that has become the big- on May 4 before the crowning 1970s. He holds the honorary (BGB) distributed images show- The deployment comes just bordering Bangladesh. lah, the ARSPH was formed by gest refugee camp in the world. ritual. military ranks of general, ad- ing dozens of troops carrying as- two months after Bangladesh’s The operation has forced Rohingya following the exo- Myanmar does not recognise The use of water is based miral and air chief marshal. sault rifl es disembarking at Saint foreign ministry summoned some 740,000 Rohingya Mus- dus in 2017 to champion the the Rohingyas, a mostly Muslim on a Brahmin tradition that Vajiralongkorn has spent a Martin’s island, a small island in Myanmar’s ambassador in Dha- lims into Bangladesh since Au- cause of the persecuted Muslim minority, as its citizens and con- dates back to the 18th cen- signifi cant amount of his adult the Bay of Bengal that has caused ka to protest the inclusion of gust 2017, transforming parts community. siders them Bangladeshi immi- tury coronation ceremo- life abroad, mostly in Germa- diplomatic tensions between the Saint Martin inside their terri- near the border into the world’s “The genocidal military is- grants, although Dhaka has also nies, since the founding of ny where he has a home. neighbours. tory in some maps printed inside largest refugee camp. sued a statement on April 5, say- treated them as foreigners. Gulf Times 12 Monday, April 8, 2019 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Poll mania in Indonesia Taiwan demonstrators protest mayor’s China-friendly visit

DPA clear moves towards independ- Yesterday’s Kaohsiung rally, Taipei ence. The People’s Republic has themed ‘Rejecting One Country, integrated the former European Two Systems’ and ‘Building a colonies of Hong Kong and new country,’ was attended by up housands of residents of Macau under its so-called ‘One to 5,000 demonstrators, includ- Taiwan’s southern me- Country, Two Systems’ prin- ing citizens, university students, Ttropolis Kaohsiung took ciple, which allows the cities to rights activists, and political to the streets yesterday to pro- have a limited amount of free- fi gures of diff erent parties, ac- test their newly elected mayor’s dom not possible in mainland cording to the organiser Taiwan seemingly China-friendly visit China; Beijing’s plan is to inte- Citizen Front. Responding to the to a pro-Beijing offi ce in the grate Taiwan in the same way. demonstration, Mayor Han said semi-autonomous city of Hong Lin Fei-fan, a prominent de- yesterday that he respects diverse Kong. mocracy activist leading stu- opinions in society. Mayor Han Kuo-yu of the dent protests in March 2014, Last week, Han told Kaohsi- China-friendly opposition Chi- said that, in Hong Kong, Han ung city councillors that he op- nese Nationalist Party (KMT), intended to confuse the interna- posed the ‘One Country, Two inaugurated in December, vis- tional community. Systems’ principle, stressing ited southern China last month “Han wanted to create a false that his visit to China resulted in to sell agricultural products. On image that Taiwanese people orders worth 3.8bn Taiwan dol- March 22, he secretly visited the support the ‘One Country, Two lars (US $123mn). People’s Republic’s liaison offi ce Systems’ principle set by China,” Taiwan has had its own gov- in Hong Kong, sparking criti- Lin told to the crowd. In January, ernment since 1949, when the Indonesia’s presidential candidate Joko Widodo laughs as his running mate for the upcoming election Ma’ruf Amin gestures at a carnival cism. President Tsai Ing-wen said that Chinese Nationalists fl ed there during his campaign rally in Tangerang, Banten province, Indonesia, yesterday. Some 192mn Indonesians are set to cast a ballot on April Beijing claims sovereignty Taiwan will never accept China’s after losing a civil war to the 17 in the world’s third-biggest democracy, with a record 245,000 candidates vying for positions from the presidency and parliamentary over self-governing Taiwan and plan to apply the ‘One Country, Communists. Beijing considers seats all the way down to local council jobs. has threatened to retake the Two Systems’ principle to the the democracy part of its terri- island by force if it makes any island. tory. Singapore’s ‘fake news’ laws upset technology giants

AFP the ultra-modern city. “As the also be appealed to the courts. of regional news site New Nara- Singapore most far-reaching legislation K Shanmugam, law and home tif, said most people do not have of its kind to date, this level of aff airs minister, said in a Face- the resources or will to fi ght the overreach poses signifi cant risks book post that “the proposed law government. ech giants have reacted to freedom of expression and targets false statements of fact “Even if you are convinced with horror after Sin- speech,” said the Asia Internet — not opinions, not criticisms. that your Facebook post is in the Tgapore proposed laws Coalition, an industry asso- “Ultimately, disagreement over right, how many average Singa- against “fake news” allowing au- ciation whose members include truth and falsity will be decided poreans would appeal to the min- thorities to order the removal of Facebook, Google and Twitter. by the courts”. ister, and then spend thousands content and impose hefty fi nes, Simon Milner, Facebook’s vice Google, Facebook and Twitter of dollars to hire a lawyer and fi le in what critics say is an assault president of public policy in have their Asia headquarters in an application in the court?” she on free speech. Asia-Pacifi c, said the social me- Singapore, a city of 5.6mn which told AFP. Human Rights Watch The government unveiled a dia giant was concerned about is popular with expats as it is de- has described the bill as “sweep- bill last week containing tough potentially being compelled to veloped, safe and effi cient. ingly broad” while critics note measures, including powers for remove content. But there were already signs Singapore already has tough laws ministers to order social media “Giving people a place to ex- of tensions with tech compa- against sedition, defamation and sites like Facebook to put warn- press themselves freely and safe- nies as the government prepared disturbing racial harmony, that ings next to posts authorities ly is important to us and we have to unveil the laws. During par- can be used to police the web. believe to be false and in extreme a responsibility to handle any liamentary hearings last year But it is not yet clear how the cases take them down. government request to remove about tackling online falsehoods, legislation — which is likely to If an action is deemed mali- alleged misinformation carefully Google and Facebook urged the pass easily through the ruling cious and damaging to Singa- and thoughtfully,” he said in a government not to introduce new party-dominated parliament — pore’s interests, companies could statement. laws. will be used in practice, and some be hit with fi nes of up to Sg$1mn The Internet is a relatively free In November, Facebook re- believe authorities will wield it ($740,000). Individuals could space in Singapore and there are fused a request to remove an ar- cautiously. “I think that the gov- face jail terms of up to 10 years. some local alternative news sites, ticle linking Singapore to a fi nan- ernment will be very careful in Authorities in the tightly-con- which are typically more critical cial scandal in Malaysia which their implementation of the law,” trolled country — long criticised of the authorities than the tradi- the government said was untrue said Professor Ang Peng Hwa, for restricting civil liberties — tional, pro-government newspa- — prompting the law ministry from the Wee Kim Wee School of insist the measures are necessary pers and TV. to say the fi rm “cannot be relied Communication and Informa- to stop the circulation of false- Singapore is among several upon to fi lter falsehoods”. Crit- tion in Singapore. hoods which could sow divisions countries pushing legislation to ics say one of the most worrying “I think, in general, there’s in the multi-ethnic city-state. fi ght fake news, and the govern- aspects of the new legislation a very high level of trust in the But press freedom groups ment stressed ordering “cor- is that it is up to authorities to government and its institutions condemned the proposals, say- rections” to be placed alongside decide what is false and what is by foreign entities, and so I don’t ing they could stifl e online dis- falsehoods would be the primary not. While authorities insist de- see them... being too trigger- cussion, as did tech companies response, rather than jail or fi nes. cisions can be appealed, Kirsten happy about the implementation which have big investments in A government decision can Han, the Singapore-based editor of this bill.” Dutch adventurer Wiebe Wakker outside the Petronas Twin Towers, on his electric car journey from the Netherlands to Australia, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. China’s virtual reality arcades Dutchman ends ‘world’s longest electric car journey’ in Australia aim for real-world success AFP the Netherlands to Australia sustainable mobility,” Wakker Sydney took just over three years and said. “If one man can drive to was funded by public donations the other side of the world in an AFP reality and virtual-reality indus- been lumped into that favoured and cities in China have declared from around the world, includ- electric car, then EVs (electric Shanghai tries are excited about China. class, benefi ting from a slew of themselves incubator zones that Dutchman completed an ing electricity to charge the Ban- vehicles) should defi nitely be vi- “Chinese growth in the next preferential policies. Chen Wei, are integrating VR into research, epic 95,000km journey dit, food and a place to sleep. able for daily use.” fi ve years could see it dominate manager of Shanghai VR arcade manufacturing, education and Aby electric car in Syd- Wakker drove across a variety Wakker said before the car hen Jiuxiao puts on virtu- AR/VR long-term — and not by Machouse said VR was likely to other spheres, luring in capital, ney yesterday in a bid to prove of countries and environments was modifi ed, it would have al-reality goggles and is a small margin,” Silicon Valley avoid the fate of mobile video according to Chinese reports. the viability of such vehicles in including Turkey, Iran, India, used 6,785 litres of petrol to Cimmediately transported consultancy Digi-Capital said in games in China. Seekers VR, which is based in tackling climate change. Myanmar, Malaysia and Indo- complete the journey. to a snow-covered ski slope, down a report last year. “China has the He cites the relatively high cost the eastern city of Wenzhou and Wiebe Wakker drove his ret- nesia, with the route determined The modifi ed vehicle can which she slaloms without ever potential to take more than $1 of of arcade play — up to 70 yuan owns a franchised chain of 200 rofi tted station wagon nick- by the off ers he received on his travel 200km on a single charge, leaving Shanghai. “I felt weight- every $5 spent” in the industry ($10) or more for a 15-minute arcades in more than 70 cities named ‘The Blue Bandit’ across website. “I wanted to change with Wakker saying he spent just less skiing down the mountain,” globally by 2022, it added. game — and of setting up home across China, is working with the 33 countries in what he said was people’s opinions and inspire US$300 on electricity, much of Chen, 25, gushes after re-emerg- One key factor is China’s gov- systems. “It’s hard for minors to Wenzhou government to establish the world’s longest-ever jour- people to start driving electric it in the remote desert Outback ing in the material world. ernment. Tens of millions of get addicted,” he said. a college focused on educating ney by electric car. The trip from by showing the advantages of of Australia. “The scenery around me was Chinese have become obsessive The nascent VR games in- students about VR and using the so authentic,” she adds. players of mobile video games, dustry suff ers from a shortage technology in lessons. Chen, a hospitality worker, said causing concern that China was of high-quality games, however. “There is no dominant com- Sanctions delay plans for North Korea beach resort she ventured into one of Shang- raising a generation of myopic At Shanghai’s VR+ Amusement petitor in the VR industry since it hai’s VR arcades due to word youngsters addicted to battle Park, a new game lands only once is so immature, and we will bring North Korea has again pushed back the construction end-date of a massive beach resort — a move of mouth from her tech-savvy games. every three months, offi cials there more and more opportunity,” said analysts say shows the regime is struggling from international sanctions imposed over its nuclear friends. Authorities imposed curbs said. Seekers VR’s CEO Belle Chen. weapons programmes. The eastern seaside strip, known as the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area, China had an estimated 3,000 last year on the number of new Firms such as Tencent remain The expected wide-scale adop- is intended as a centrepiece of the isolated country’s nascent tourism industry as Pyongyang seeks to VR arcades in 2016, and the mar- game releases and playing time hesitant to dive in to the arcade tion in China of ultra-fast 5G develop its economy despite the tough economic measures. ket was forecast to grow 13-fold for youths, rattling the industry scene until the sector reaches networks is expected to further The site’s construction has been closely overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, and was initially scheduled to between then and 2021 to amount and shaving billions off the mar- critical mass, analysts explained. boost VR development, and foster open this April, to mark the birthday anniversary of the country’s founder Kim Il-sung. But in a recent visit to 5.25bn yuan ($782mn), accord- ket value of big players including But the company, along with fel- growth in areas such as education to the site, Kim delayed the finish date for the second time, ordering construction to be completed by the ing to a joint report by iResearch gaming giant Tencent. But the low Chinese giants Alibaba and and training, said Chen Wei. same time next year, the North’s off icial Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported yesterday. Consulting Group and Greenlight government is pushing hard for Baidu, is investing in virtual on- He said: “There is no better way The decision, would allow the workers “to perfectly finish it so that our people would fully enjoy Insights. Add in the profi ts to be China to become a world leader line shopping and VR entertain- to learn skills, and at a lower cost, themselves in the impeccable tourist area from the sea-bathing season next year”, KCNA quoted Kim made from headsets, equipment, in next-generation technologies ment, all of which could trickle than VR. Even though VR is still as saying. The plan was first pushed back last August when Kim extended the project by six months to games and other products, and including artifi cial intelligence down into gaming. educating users about what it is, it October 2019. The isolated North is under several sets of sanctions for its weapons programmes which it’s little wonder that augmented- and autonomous vehicles. VR has Already a number of towns could explode someday.” analysts say has hampered eff orts to secure materials needed to finish the vast beach complex. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 13 BRITAIN

Mum weeps as medicinal cannabis for epileptic daughter seized

Guardian News and Media despite changes in the law. tempt to challenge what she she had been “passed from pillar the best thing for my daughter. side-effects. “Whilst the NHS conceded practical changes need London Campaigner Emma Appleby said were the UK’s unjust laws to post” trying to access it in the To have the medicine taken in and the medical professions are to be clinician-led. fl ew to the UK from Holland on helped pressure the government UK. This prompted her to secure this way is deeply upsetting. having arguments over what The law in the UK was changed Saturday carrying three months’ into legalising medical cannabis. a prescription in Rotterdam after “But I will fi ght to get it back constitutes evidence, my child last November to make access to he mother of a nine- worth of cannabis oil, valued at She had the medicine returned her request for an import licence and fi ght so that other parents in is suffering every day,” she said. medical cannabis legal, but par- year-old girl with severe £4,500, for her daughter Teagan, within a week after her son Bil- on compassionate grounds was the same situation as me don’t “I am at my wits’ end.” ents have been struggling to se- Tepilepsy wept as she had who has a rare chromosomal dis- ly’s seizures returned and he was refused. have to go through this.” Appleby has met the Health cure prescriptions, in part due an illegal supply of medical order as well as Lennox-Gastaut admitted to hospital. “I’m devastated. I’ve always On Friday, she said that a Secretary, Matt Hancock, who to reluctance within the medical cannabis confiscated by cus- syndrome, which causes up to Appleby, from Aylesham near tried to do the right thing. I’ve succession of pharmaceuti- told her at a meeting in West- community, with the Royal Col- toms officials after entering 300 seizures a day. Dover, said she was “devastated” jumped through all the hoops cal drugs and diets had failed minster in March that he under- lege of Physicians and the British the UK with the potentially It follows a similar course of that she was not allowed to en- but ended up being passed from to alleviate her daughter’s stood the frustration and pain Paediatric Neurology Associa- life-saving medication that action by Charlotte Caldwell ter the UK with the appropriate pillar to post and being met with symptoms, with a number of among families and recognised tion largely discouraging use of her daughter cannot access, last year, whose audacious at- medicine for her child, adding a fl at ‘no’,” she said. “All I want is the medicines causing severe something has to change, but he the medicine.

Long delay could deal No-deal Brexit fatal blow to Tories: next week would minister

Guardian News and Media not be so grim, London

heresa May has been warned that a long delay Tto Brexit could deal a fatal blow to the Conservatives, with says Leadsom one minister claiming that par- ticipating in the European elec- Guardian News and Media “quite a positive and hopeful not an advocate for no deal, but tions would be a “suicide note” London one”, little was achieved. it would not be nearly as bad as for the party. “The sad thing is at the mo- many like to think it would be.” The Education Minister Na- ment we haven’t seen, overall, In her video posted yesterday dhim Zahawi told BBC Radio no-deal Brexit at the end any real changes to the deal, but on social media, fi lmed at her 4’s Today programme: “I think of next week would be we’re hopeful that will change in Chequers country retreat, May it’s important that parliament A“not nearly as grim” as coming days and we are willing to conceded her own Brexit deal acts quickly now to decide what many believe, one of Theresa continue the talks as we know the seemed doomed as it had been re- it is in favour of. We need to do May’s senior ministers has said, government are,” she told BBC jected by MPs three times. “Right that quickly because I think go- as both the government and La- One’s The Andrew Marr Show. now, as things stand, I can’t see ing into the EU elections for the bour indicated that cross-party “But we are currently waiting them accepting it,” she said. Conservative party, or indeed talks to resolve the situation re- for the government to come back Given this, May said she was for the Labour party, and telling mained deadlocked. to us now to state whether they talking to Labour – despite disa- our constituents why we haven’t Andrea Leadsom, the Com- are prepared to move on any of greements in many other areas. been able to deliver Brexit I think mons leader, said preparations their red lines.” “Can we fi nd a way through this would be an existential threat. would mitigate many adverse Speaking later on the same that ensures that we can get “I would go further and say it eff ects of no deal. She also said show, Leadsom indicated that it a good deal and a deal agreed would be the suicide note of the the idea of a departure extension was up to Labour to accept the through parliament?” she said. Conservative party.” long enough to require the UK customs “arrangement” already “It’ll mean compromise on Zahawi said that if Labour and to hold European elections was in May’s three-times-rejected both sides but I believe that de- the government failed to fi nd a “utterly unacceptable”. deal, and that she and other livering Brexit is the most im- joint approach, then MPs should Her comments came as May Brexiter members of May’s min- portant thing for us.” be forced to fi nd a compromise used a video statement to talk isterial team could not accept a Under the plan for the talks, through a preferential voting up the hopes for ongoing cross- full customs union. if Labour and the government system to fi nd a solution before party Brexit negotiations with “There are various diff er- cannot agree a consensus then the European elections. Labour, saying “compromise on ent types of arrangements, and MPs could be asked to vote on Hopes of fi nding a Brexit deal both sides” could still deliver a those discussions are still ongo- various options, with the choice with cross-party support faded solution. ing,” Leadsom said, calling May’s seen as binding. after Labour claimed May had There is currently very lit- existing customs plan “an excel- But Long-Bailey said Labour failed to off er “real change or tle sign that May will travel to lent proposal”. had heard nothing about how compromise” during ongoing next week’s emergency Euro- Asked whether May could this could happen. “We haven’t talks. pean council summit with the agree to a full customs union, had any discussions really as to Labour issued a statement coherent plan the EU says will Leadsom indicated not. “My what a next stage would be, and urging May to come forward be necessary to grant the UK a expectation – and I’m not party the government hasn’t con- with “genuine changes” so her further delay to Brexit, which is to the discussions – is that the fi rmed whether they want to deal could fi nally win support in currently scheduled to happen prime minister will only seek to adopt that approach or look at parliament. on Friday. agree those things that still con- more fl exible approaches.” The Chancellor, Philip Ham- At the end of last week Labour stitute Brexit.” There has been Amid the impasse, the time- mond, has denied the govern- said the talks called by May with speculation that MPs could force table ahead of Friday’s Brexit ment has any “red lines” in the Jeremy Corbyn and his team had a vote to revoke Article 50 en- deadline is tightening greatly, talks. achieved very little as the prime tirely if the EU refuses another with time seemingly too short to At a meeting of EU fi nance minister seemed unwilling to Brexit delay this week and a no- allow a process of government- ministers in Bucharest on Sat- compromise on any of her Brexit deal departure looms on Friday. sanctioned indicative votes by urday morning, Hammond said: red lines, notably on Labour’s Leadsom said she would never MPs before May goes to Brussels “We should be open to listen key demand for a post-Brexit agree to this, and that no deal on Wednesday afternoon. to suggestions that others have customs union with the EU. would be manageable. May could instead travel com- made. Some people in the La- The shadow business secre- “It’s not nearly as grim as pelled by parliament to seek a bour party are making other tary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, who many would advocate,” she said. longer extension to Article 50 suggestions to us; of course we was among the Labour delega- “The civil service have done an than the new June 30 date she have to be prepared to discuss Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at church, as Brexit turmoil continues, near High Wycombe, Britain tion, said yesterday that while amazing job of ensuring that has sought, and which the EU them”. yesterday. the mood of the talks had been we minimise the problems. I’m has previously refused.

Nerve agent victim ‘meets Prince William spends Russia’s envoy in London’ three weeks with spies AFP The prince, who has a military London background, began the second- AFP city of Salisbury, fell ill on June British prosecutors in Sep- ment at the Secret Intelligence London 30 last year. tember issued arrest warrants Service (SIS) — better known as Authorities determined they for two alleged offi cers of Rus- he name’s Windsor. Wil- MI6 — whose spies work around had been exposed to Novichok, sia’s military intelligence serv- liam Windsor. As one of the the world gathering information British man poisoned a military-grade nerve agent ice, known as the GRU. Tmost recognisable public and furthering British interests. along with his part- developed by the Soviet Union But the Kremlin has repeat- fi gures in the world, Prince Wil- William, 36, “got to see fi rst- A ner with a nerve agent, during the latter days of the edly denounced the accusa- liam would not make as eff ective hand how SIS helps the UK iden- amid an assassination attempt Cold War. tions as “unacceptable.” a 007 as legendary fi ctional spy tify and exploit opportunities as on a Russian ex-spy in Eng- The poison was contained “The ambassador kept say- James Bond. well as navigate risks to its na- land blamed on Moscow, met in a perfume bottle that Row- ing the substance defi nitely But that did not stop the heir tional security, military eff ective- its top UK envoy, according to ley had found in Salisbury and wasn’t the novichok they had to the British throne spending ness and economy,” Kensington reports. given to Sturgess. made because if it was it would the last three weeks working with Palace said. Charlie Rowley, 45, whose She died eight days later but have killed everyone,” Rowley the security services, including in The father-of-three then partner Dawn Sturgess died af- after two weeks in an induced told the Mirror. Bond’s own foreign intelligence switched over to the Security ter exposure to the toxin, held a coma, he was discharged from “He (Yakovenko) kept on unit MI6. The Duke of Cambridge Service — MI5 — to observe how 90-minute meeting with Am- hospital. saying the British won’t talk ended the top-secret attachment counter-terrorism teams conduct bassador Alexander Yakovenko It followed former Russian to him so he can’t tell us any- — which also included a week with investigations, including surveil- at Russia’s embassy in London, double agent Sergei Skripal thing that he hasn’t read in the domestic intelligence service MI5 lance. The duke fi nished his foray the Sunday Mirror said. and his daughter Yulia be- media, so he can only give his and cybersecurity agency GCHQ into spycraft at the communica- “I went along to ask them ing left in critical condition view.” — on Saturday, according to Ken- tions monitoring agency GCHQ in ‘why did your country kill my after they were targeted with A Russian TV station also sington Palace. Cheltenham. girlfriend?’” he told the tabloid Novichok in Salisbury three reported the meeting, saying “Spending time inside our se- There he spent time “with newspaper. months earlier. Rowley was eager for answers curity and intelligence agencies, those using cutting-edge technol- “But I didn’t really get any The pair survived and have that Britain had failed to pro- understanding more about the vi- ogy, technical ingenuity and wide- answers. I just got Russian made full recoveries, according vide. tal contribution they make to our ranging partnerships to identify, propaganda,” Rowley added, to authorities. Yakovenko gave him a book national security, was a truly hum- analyse and disrupt threats,” the saying Yakovenko’s explana- Western allies accused Rus- on the “unanswered ques- bling experience,” William said in a palace added. tions of Russian innocence in sian President Vladimir Putin tions” concerning the events in statement. GCHQ’s head of counter-ter- the plot were “ridiculous”. of being ultimately responsi- Salisbury and a tour of Russia’s “These agencies are full of peo- rorism operations, whose name Rowley and Sturgess, a ble for the poisoning, which grand west London embassy ple from everyday backgrounds was given only as David, said the 44-year-old mother-of-three sparked dozens of diplomatic on one of its most exclusive doing the most extraordinary work prince had worked “exceptionally children, who lived near the expulsions by both sides. streets, it added. Prince William: goes undercover to keep us safe.” hard to embed himself in the team”. Gulf Times 14 Monday, April 8, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

NHS patients’ cancer scans cancelled after supplier problems

Guardian News and Media rence of prostate cancer. Without “This causes major stress and more eff ective tracer.” NHS England unnecessary stress they’re causing UCLH had off ered him a PMSA PSMA scans for a limited period.” London it the scans cannot go ahead. anxiety for these men, leaving told the Guardian that problems patients through a lack of reason- scan as an alternative, privately Prostate cancer is the most The worries surrounding its some with little choice but to pay with the supply of choline had been able forward planning to ensure for £2,200, but after the Guardian common cancer in men. About availability come as waiting times around £1,500 for a scan which resolved. essential tracers are reliable, easily contacted the hospital it off ered one in eight men will be diagnosed oncerns have been raised for cancer patients in England are uses PSMA tracers as an alterna- But Richard Taylor, from west available, and – if a batch fails – an him the same scan the next day on with the disease at some point in that problems related to at a record high, with almost one tive to choline. These scans are London, who is going through a alternative is quickly available. the NHS. their lives, according to Prostate Cthe supply of a substance in four patients not starting treat- currently only available privately, cancer diagnosis for the third time “When you hear there are likely A UCLH spokeswoman said: Cancer UK. used to screen for cancerous cells ment within the two-month target with some men even travelling in two years, initially had a scan at to be lengthy delays in getting “It is well-known that choline is Dr Wai Lup Wong, the chair of is causing delays for NHS patients period. abroad to get access. University College London Hospi- a scan, you feel like not coming a fragile tracer and its produc- the NHS England cancer diag- in England, with many exposed to Karen Stalbow, the head of poli- “NHS providers must take im- tal (UCLH) scheduled for the end of out from under the duvet in the tion can be relatively unreliable, nostics clinical reference group, repeated cancellation of scans at cy, knowledge and impact at Pros- mediate action to ensure that PET- April, more than three weeks after morning, as your worst fears may leading to unpredictable short- said: “There is not a shortage of short notice. tate Cancer UK, said: “Some men CT scans are available to all men his appointment with his oncologist be realised in the near future by term cancellations. We have choline … however, some patient Choline is a radiotracer injected are facing lengthy delays in con- with suspected prostate cancer re- – which should precede it – because the cancer spreading in the time it been working constructively scans were delayed last year when into patients an hour before PET- fi rming their prognosis, as scans currence, starting fi rst with restor- of unavailability of choline. takes the NHS to put measures in with NHS England to address a supplier experienced diffi culties CT scans, predominately when are repeatedly cancelled at short ing the supply of choline and then Taylor said: “Someone in the place that your treatment may rea- the choline production issues whilst refurbishing one of its pro- patients are feared to have a recur- notice due to the shortage. progressing the commissioning of a NHS should be ashamed of the sonably progress.” and they recently agreed to fund duction sites.” Javid defends ‘Hat Walk’ removal of words ‘European Union’ from passports

Guardian News and Media a passport that includes the words London ‘European Union’, or a passport that does not. “You will not be issued with a ajid Javid has defended the passport that includes the words issuing of British passports ‘European Union’ after the UK has Swithout the words European left the EU. Union on the front cover despite “There will be no diff erence the Brexit delay. The burgundy for British citizens whether they passports were introduced from are using a passport that includes March 30, the day after Britain was the words ‘European Union’ or expected to leave the EU. a passport that does not include The home secretary said the the words ‘European Union’. Both move was “sensible and effi cient” designs will be equally valid for because some passport centres travel. had run out of the previous design. The spokesman added that “in The government started issu- order to use leftover stock and ing British passports without the achieve best value for the taxpayer, words “European Union” from passports that include the words March 30 even though the UK still ‘European Union’ will continue to remains a full member of the bloc. be issued for a short period” after Participants pose for photographs as they take part in a ‘Hat Walk’ during the London Hat Week in the capital yesterday. It removed the two words from the March 30 when the new design passport covers issued this week passports came in. on the working assumption that The Home Offi ce said the inclu- Brexit day would have been 29 sion of the words “European Union” March. was part of the policy of the EU but The move angered those apply- was not legally binding, and con- ing for new passports who were sumers who receive the new-look hoping to hold on to an emblem of passports in the coming months EU membership. have nothing to worry about. “They Susan Hindle Barone, who are perfectly legal,” it said. was one of the fi rst to receive the The decision to revive the old blue Car Wash app reveals 1,000 new-look passports, said: “I was British passport became an em- shocked because we haven’t left blem of the government’s promise the EU yet. I assumed we would to “take back control” after the 2017 get the same old passport. It’s not election despite the loss of Theresa so much about that but it’s the fi rst May’s majority. tangible sign of us leaving the EU.” The then immigration minister, potential slavery cases In response to a tweet from Bar- Brandon Lewis, said he was de- one, Catherine Sutherland said: “I lighted to return to the “iconic” Thomson Reuters Foundation The app — with at least 8,225 activists said the government 136,000 modern slaves, accord- slaves — mostly men lured from don’t understand how the Home blue and gold design, which came London downloads to-date — allows rather than the public must take ing to the Global Slavery Index Eastern Europe then trapped in Offi ce can do this while still in the into use almost 100 years ago. He drivers to enter their loca- responsibility for combating la- by rights group Walk Free Foun- debt bondage, forced to work EU though.” said he knew many Remain vot- tion then fl ick through a series bour exploitation at car washes. dation — a fi gure 10 times high- in unsafe conditions, stripped On Friday, the Home Offi ce is- ers who still had an “attachment ritish drivers uncovered of slavery indicators such as “This kind of public aware- er than a government estimate of documents and subjected to sued a statement saying the re- for” and spoke fondly of the blue almost 1,000 potential whether the car wash only ac- ness can be positive, although from 2013. threats, abuse and violence. moval of the words “European passport. Dark blue passports are Bcases of modern slavery cepts cash, workers living on there can be some downsides in While forced labour is rife Car washes are one of the Union” was part of a two-stage scheduled to be issued from the at car washes in fi ve months us- site or if some of them seem that the public isn’t trained in among Britain’s building sites, most common cause of con- redesign process that would cul- end of this year. ing the “Safe Car Wash App” yet fearful. the way that public offi cials are,” nail bars, factories and farms, cerns for callers to Britain’s minate in the old blue British pass- Javid said: “It’s true that some less than a fi fth called the anti- If the answers indicate a high said Caroline Robinson, director car wash slavery has grown slavery helpline — accounting ports being reissued from “late passport centres have run through slavery helpline to report their chance of slavery, users are di- of Focus on Labour Exploitation over the past decade with un- for more than 550 calls last year 2019”. “Burgundy passports that their stock of UK passports with concerns, the creators of the app rected to Britain’s helpline. But (FLEX), a charity. regulated businesses sprouting compared with about 200 in no longer include the words ‘Eu- EU headers, and have started tran- said yesterday. only 18 % of people who were “The anonymity of an app is up nationwide, according to 2017, according to Justine Cur- ropean Union’ on the front cover sitioning to those without. It’s The free mobile-phone app asked to call the service between more appealing to people than a charities and anti-slavery of- rell of the charity Unseen that will be introduced from 30 March sensible and effi cient manage- was launched by the Church of June and December last year — phonecall,” she told the Thomson ficials. runs the service. 2019,” it said. ment. England and the Catholic Church 126 users — did so, according to Reuters Foundation. “If people A parliamentary probe was “I think what it suggests is “Passports that include the “There shouldn’t be any sur- in England and Wales last June a study of the app. are uncertain..which is under- set up in April last year to inves- that whenever we highlight a words ‘European Union’ will con- prises that almost three years amid growing concerns that some The Clewer Initiative — the standable for a member of the tigate modern slavery in Brit- particular issue and it’s more in tinue to be issued for a short pe- after the country voted to leave, of the estimated 18,000 hand car Church of England’s anti-slav- public, they might not be certain ain’s hand car washes. the public conscience, there’s riod after this date. You will not ukhomeoffi ce is getting on with washes operating around the ery arm — described the number enough to make a phone call.” Thousands of workers in more chance that people will be able to choose whether you get implementing that decision.” country are exploiting workers. of calls as “disappointing” while Britain is home to at least car washes are believed to be pick up the phone,” Currell said.

Celebrations Eighth ATM ripped Man confesses to from wall in N Ireland killing girlfriend Daily Mail Photographs on their social me- London dia accounts showed the young Guardian News and Media Police believe the series of ate fi nancial harm to the busi- couple enjoying themselves on Belfast thefts is linked to gang crime. ness targeted, but they have un- trips across the world. Last year Police Service of Northern Ire- derstandably caused fear in the maths graduate has ad- alone they visited the Greek island land detective inspector Richard community and impacted upon mitted murdering the of Santorini, Belgium, Morocco, olice are appealing for in- Thornton said: “Unfortunately, a vital service many local people Abeautiful and talented Lithuania, Sweden and Denmark. formation after a cash ma- the public and the business com- rely on. girlfriend he travelled the world In 2017, they went backpacking for Pchine was stolen in Dun- munity are waking to the news “We are doing all we can to with. six months in South America and given yesterday, the eighth such that another ATM machine has catch the people responsible – Joe Atkinson, 25, was living the US and Devey Waterhouse also robbery in Northern Ireland this been stolen; that another busi- it is a key priority for us – how- with university sweetheart Pop- enjoyed trips to Australia, Thai- year. ness has been targeted by these ever, I want to reiterate that the py Devey Waterhouse, 24, in a land and Indonesia. A digger, believed to be stolen brazen thieves. key to stopping these crimes Leeds fl at when she was stabbed The couple met while study- from a construction site nearby, “The theft from the fi lling sta- and getting ahead of these to death. ing mathematics at Nottingham was used to rip the ATM from tion on Feeny Road was reported criminals is information from Devey Waterhouse had a Mas- University and both graduated the wall of a garage in Co Derry, to us just before 4.30am. On this the public. ter’s degree in statistics and was with fi rst-class honours degrees. leaving substantial damage to the occasion, the digger was not “We need people to report an- working as an analyst with book- Devey Waterhouse, who grew building. In other similar rob- set alight and was located at the ything suspicious, including see- makers William Hill when she up in Frome, Somerset, stayed on beries, the digger has been set on scene.” The digger was found at ing any unusual activity or peo- was killed. to do her Master’s degree before fi re but in this case it was not. the scene. ple in areas close to ATMs. For Atkinson, of Leeds, was due moving to Leeds with Atkinson CCTV footage shows three Northern Irish police have set example, if you hear machinery to go on trial later this year after in 2017. men in balaclavas attacking the up a specialist team of detectives late at night or in the early hours initially pleading not guilty to Paramedics responding to a shop in the early hours of yester- to investigate the thefts, the last please let us know. If you see any murder, but appeared at Leeds 999 call attended the block of fl ats day morning. of which took place on Wednes- cars being driven in a suspicious Crown Court to plead guilty. where they lived shortly before The men are seen lowering the day in Castleblayney. manner close to where ATMs are Tearful relatives of Atkinson and 9am on December 14 last year. stolen ATM into a van in a theft Thornton warned that the at- located, please let us know. Members of the Cambridge men’s boat crew throw their Devey Waterhouse were in court Devey Waterhouse was pro- that takes just four minutes. The tacks have stoked fear in the local “No matter how insignifi cant cox, Matthew Holland, into the River Thames as they to hear him change his plea. nounced dead at the scene after Citroen Berlingo is then seen community and local businesses. you think it is, call us and we will celebrate their win in the 165th annual men’s boat race He will be sentenced on Friday. suff ering ‘head and neck trauma’. driving off with the cash machine “As in all of these ATM thefts, investigate. It could be key to between Oxford University and Cambridge University on The motive and circumstances An inquest was told she had been protruding out of the top of the the actions of these criminals catching the criminals responsi- the River Thames in London yesterday. of the murder have not yet been stabbed. Atkinson was arrested van, which has its roof cut off . have not only caused immedi- ble.” revealed. at the fl at. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 15 EUROPE

Seven convicted in French ‘Air Cocaine’ smuggling trial AKP to seek recount

AFP part in the smuggling operation Aix-en-Provence, France but claimed he was in fact an “infi ltrated agent”. Dominican police found the French court has sen- drugs packed into 26 suitcases of all Istanbul ballots tenced seven people im- onboard a Falcon 50 jet as it was Aplicated in a drug smug- about to fl y from the Domini- AFP/Reuters benefi t from cash funnelled via gling operation to up to 18 years can beach resort of Punta Cana Istanbul charitable foundations. in prison each, with two ex-air to Saint-Tropez in March 2013. Yesterday he urged the elec- force pilots getting six-year While out on bail, Fauret toral board to remember that terms. and Odos managed to fl ee the urkish President Recep “you have a historic responsibil- Pascal Fauret and Bruno Dominican Republic to French Tayyip Erdogan’s party ity – 82mn Turks have their eyes Odos had fl ed the Dominican territory in the Caribbean in Tsaid yesterday that it is fi xed on you”. Republic following a raid on the mysterious circumstances, but demanding a recount of all bal- “Take the right decision, the private jet they were to fl y to were re-arrested upon their re- lots cast in Istanbul, the coun- one which will reassure” voters,” Saint-Tropez, southern France, turn to the French mainland in try’s economic capital, during he said. but were re-arrested in France November 2015. last week’s mayoral election after AKP spokesman Celik rejected in November 2015. They, along with two pas- an opposition candidate claimed what he termed such “hollow In what has become known sengers, were found guilty in a slender win. conjectures” and said appealing as the “Air Cocaine” case, absentia and sentenced to 20 The vice-president of the results was “natural”. Fauret and Odos were accused years in jail for drug-traffi cking Justice and Development Party After Yavuz’s revelation that along with seven other de- in the Dominican Republic in (AKP), Ali Ihsan Yavuz, made the the party was calling for all the fendants of trying to smuggle 2015. demand for a recount going be- Istanbul districts to be recount- 680kg (1,500 pounds) of the On Friday, fi ve French mag- yond one already under way. ed, CHP offi cial Mahmut Tanal drug out of the country. istrates deliberated for 11 hours The AKP won most votes na- tweeted that “by multiplying Two were acquitted follow- before handing down the ver- tionwide in the March 31 elec- their appeals ... the AKP is wast- ing a seven-week trial. dict. tion, but results showed the rul- ing time and energy and the time Ringleader Ali Bouchareb “It’s a scandal! It’s political! ing party lost Ankara and was of Istanbul inhabitants”. was sentenced to 18 years in There is no justice...” screamed also narrowly defeated in Istan- While the provincial election prison, while his right-hand people close to the defendants bul, in what would be one of their board probes Istanbul and Anka- man, Frank Colin, got 12 years. as the verdict was announced. worst setbacks in a decade and a ra’s poll outcome, further appeals Only Bouchareb was held in Former customs agent Fran- half in power. could follow across the board. detention during the trial while cois-Xavier Manchet was sen- “Today, we are going to take Many opposition groups do the other eight got bail. tenced to fi ve years in jail and our case to the provincial branch This file photo taken on March 31 shows an electoral off icial preparing the ballots during the local not believe in the statutory neu- Colin was the only defend- barred from working again as a of the YSK (supreme election elections in Istanbul. The ruling AK party has said it will demand a recount of all ballots cast in Istanbul trality of electoral authorities – ant who had admitted to taking civil servant. board) to recount all the votes during the mayoral election won by an opposition candidate. A recount is already under way in several of and have pointed, for example, from all the (Istanbul) districts,” Istanbul’s 39 districts. that none of several appeals by said Yavuz. the pro-Kurdish HDP party fol- 131kg of cocaine found along coast “We chose the path to elimi- matter which party is declared simple individual error”. lot with support of other anti- lowing the election was success- nate numerical mistakes. But it’s the winner. Pro-government media had Erdogan factions. ful. More than 300 police off icers backed by two helicopters yesterday not over,” he told reporters in tel- Losing Istanbul, home to already taken up that theme Imamoglu’s margin was some Speaking shortly after Yavuz mounted a massive search along Romania’s Black Sea coast after evised comments yesterday. around one in fi ve Turks, would in recent days, denouncing 25,000 votes but Yavuz said that announced the AKP’s latest ap- 131kg (286 pounds) of cocaine washed ashore, police said. Electoral authorities are al- be a blow to Erdogan, who built what they termed a “ballot box following a recount of 78% of peal, Imamoglu said it was time Police spokesman Georgian Dragan told AFP that 14 boats and ready conducting a recount in his political career as mayor of putsch” and a “plot”. void ballots, it had shrunk to less for the party to accept defeat. several frogmen were also involved in the search operation for more scores of districts in Ankara and the city before becoming prime Analysts put the AKP’s poor than 16,500. He also promised “to recon- packets of the drug, which began arriving ashore on Friday. in Istanbul, where tallies showed minister and later president. showing in Istanbul and An- Both candidates received more cile this city” and to work closely Romania’s organised crime unit urged local residents not to open the opposition CHP candidate Most of the ballots currently kara primarily down to the poor than 4mnvotes. with the president. packets appearing on the beach “whose contents could put their Ekrem Imamoglu just edged out being recounted are those which health of the economy, as Turkey Imamoglu, now styling him- “I understand the feeling of lives in danger”. the AKP, represented by political were listed as void in the March endures its fi rst recession in a self as mayor, accuses the AKP defeat of the people who de- On March 20, more than a tonne of cocaine packed into 36 plastic heavyweight and former prime 31 poll. decade, 20% infl ation, a slump in of trying to play for time with its manded a recount,” Imamoglu bags apparently from the same shipment were found in a boat that minister Binali Yildirim. AKP vice-president Yavuz of- the value of the lira and jobless- demands to revisit the results as said. “You managed this city for capsized in the Danube delta. On Saturday, party spokesman fered a trenchant criticism of the ness of 13.5%. a means of ensuring the spotlight 25 years. Two Serbians were arrested in connection with that discovery. Omer Celik insisted that the AKP count, complaining of “fl agrant Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate is not turned in its stewardship It is not easy, you lost. But de- Around 200 more kilos were plucked out of the Black Sea last would accept recount results in irregularities” and “organised for the main opposition social of the municipal budget amid mocracy is like that – democracy Tuesday, police said. Istanbul as well as Ankara, no abuse – something going beyond democratic CHP, topped the bal- allegations that AKP supporters is not a one-way path.”

Final round of Ukrainian Winter is ending presidential poll Mayor set for April 21 of Latvian Ukraine’s election commission has off icially set the second and final round of presidential capital elections for April 21 after comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy emerged as the clear winner of suspended the first round of voting. Zelenskiy, a 41-year-old famous for playing a fictional president Reuters in a popular television show, will Riga take on 53-year-old incumbent President Petro Poroshenko. Both candidates support a pro- atvia’s government has Western position for the Eastern suspended Riga mayor European country. LNils Usakovs, who is also The first round of voting had a the opposition’s main candidate 62.8% turnout. in next month’s European Par- Zelenskiy, a dark horse candidate liament elections, on suspicion who has never held political of misusing more than $20mn of off ice, has distinguished himself public funds. from a political establishment Usakovs, the leader of the pro- that has struggled with Russian Harmony party, denied corruption. any wrongdoing and said he Poroshenko has appeared slow would appeal. in enacting expected reforms “This is absolutely a pure, during his five-year term, as his clear political decision,” Usakovs government struggled with a pro- told reporters. Russian separatist rebellion in The environmental protection Ukraine’s easternmost regions. ministry, which oversees Latvia’s A diff icult campaign is expected local authorities, said that, as for both candidates as more mayor, Usakovs had failed in his than 50% of Ukrainians did not duty to ensure that public funds vote for either of them in the first were properly spent, including round of voting. €18.4mn ($20.66mn) related to The 30mn eligible voters had the municipality’s public trans- 39 candidates to choose from in A snowboarder takes part yesterday in the comic competition ‘Californication 9.0’ as he jumps into the ice water to mark the end of winter, at an entertainment centre port authority. the first round – the most in the near the town of Logoisk, Belarus. “The decision is about good country’s history. governance in the public sector,” the environmental protection minister, Juris Puce, told report- ers. In December last year, Latvia’s anti-corruption agency, KNAB, Serb spies jailed for journalist’s murder No independence for detained seven people on suspi- cion of corruption at Riga’s traf- fi c authority over the purchase AFP leader the same year, and Milan ethnic Albanian population in crimes trial for his role during Catalonia: Sanchez of new trams, trolleybuses and Belgrade Radonjic, who was in charge of Kosovo. the 1990s wars in Croatia, Bos- buses. Belgrade’s intelligence branch, At the time, he was the edi- nia and Kosovo. At the end of January, KNAB Beta news agency reported on tor and owner of Dnevni Tel- More than a decade later, in- AFP dependence and the Spanish agents also searched Usakovs’s Serbian court has sen- Friday. egraf and Evropljanin, two of the dependent journalists are again Madrid constitution in Catalonia will offi ce and home in connection tenced four former in- The court also gave terms of leading independent publica- facing threats and pressure in not be violated – that will not with the procurement deal. Atelligence offi cers to 20 years to former intelligence tions in the country. Serbia, whose current president, happen,” he added. Usakovs told reporters on Fri- decades in prison for the 1999 offi cers Ratko Romic and fugi- His family has accused Mi- Aleksander Vucic, is accused of here will be no inde- Sanchez’s speech came after day that he had not been notifi ed assassination of journalist tive Miroslav Kurak, who was losevic, who was notorious for burgeoning authoritarianism. pendence for Catalonia, the socialists’ leader in Cata- by KNAB that he was suspected Slavko Curuvija, a fi erce critic of sentenced in absentia. eff orts to cripple critical media, Last year, seven Serbian jour- Tnor a referendum on the lonia, Miquel Iceta, said in a of any crime. late strongman Slobodan Milo- The four men were found of personally ordering the as- nalists were physically attacked question if the socialists are newspaper interview that 65% Usakovs is the fi rst mayor of sevic. guilty of having “on the orders sassination. and nearly 100 other media staff returned to power, Spanish of Catalans wanted independ- Riga of Russian descent. Reporters Without Borders of an unknown person killed “The justice system must were threatened or put under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ence and that “democracy He has tried to rebrand Har- welcomed the “historic deci- the journalist Slavko Curuvija”, continue its eff orts and con- pressure, according to the Inde- told supporters yesterday. must fi nd a mechanism to en- mony as a Western-style Social sion”, calling it the fi rst sentenc- Judge Snezana Jovanovic was demn all those involved, in- pendent Association of Journal- “No is no,” Sanchez told able it”. Democratic Party, toning down ing by a Serbian court in recent quoted by Beta as saying. cluding the person who ordered ists. a Socialist Party meeting at Iceta’s remarks, to a Basque the links to Russia and focusing history over the murder of a Curuvija was shot dead 14 Slavko Curujiva’s murder,” Reporters Without Borders Zaragoza, in the northeast re- newspaper in late March, have on issues as education and social journalist. times in front of his home in Pauline Ades-Mevel, who leads dropped the Balkan state 10 gion of Aragon, ahead of the been heavily-criticised by the inequality. The heaviest sentences of 30 central Belgrade in April 1999, RSF’s EU and Balkan portfolio, spots in its 2018 Press Free- April 28 legislative elections. right-wing opposition Peo- The Social Democratic Party years were given to former se- during the North Atlantic Trea- said in a statement. dom index, citing an “alarming “If there is a socialist gov- ple’s Party and led to allega- severed its offi cial co-operation cret police chief Radomir Mark- ty Organisation (Nato) bombing Milosevic died in 2006 in number of attacks on journal- ernment, there will be no in- tions that Sanchez is preparing agreement with Russian Presi- ovic, who is already serving time campaign against Serbia aimed a prison cell while awaiting a ists” as well as “collusion be- dependence in Catalonia, there a deal with Catalonia’s separa- dent Vladimir Putin’s United for the killing of an opposition at stopping its crackdown on the verdict in a United Nations war tween politicians and media”. will be no referendum for in- tists. Russia Party in 2017. Gulf Times 16 Monday, April 8, 2019 EUROPE Far-right parties kick EU on fake news off election campaigns

By Mathieu Foulkes, AFP Berlin alert ahead of ight-wing populist parties are gearing up to campaign Rfor European Parliament elections next month, but policy diff erences and the Brexit drama threaten their dream to “unite the right”. Many fear the May 26 vote will European polls be a wake-up call for Brussels on the reality that Europe’s anti- By Cédric Simon, AFP Service (EEAS), the Commis- immigration and blood-and-soil Brussels sion’s foreign aff airs arm, has a patriotic forces have moved from team of around 15, to detect and the fringes to the mainstream. analyse misinformation cam- Once considered outsiders, This picture taken on January 28, 2016 shows Salvini (right), Le Pen, ill Russian trolls, paigns targeting the EU. they could now end up with one and Austrian far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache giving a thumbs American social media Their website, “EU vs disin- fi fth or more of the seats, allow- up at the end of the ‘Europe of Nations and Freedom’ meeting in Wgiants and opportun- formation” (https://euvsdisinfo. ing them to shift the tone of po- Milan. istic fake news merchants com- eu/), claims credit for refuting litical discourse and make a claim bine to poison Europe’s political more than 5,000 items of fake for legitimacy. the start of a new Europe,” said a vini’s League favours an EU-wide landscape ahead of May’s conti- news, mainly related to Russia. Key players are Marine Le Pen’s spokesman for Salvini. redistribution of asylum-seekers nent-wide election? But the unit’s resources remain National Rally (NR) in France and So far, Europe’s right-wing while others demand an outright Brussels fears that online dis- modest. the Italian League of Matteo Sal- nationalists have been divided stop to immigration. information will fuel the populist And, as Paul Butcher of think vini, who is hosting a meeting of into three blocs and a tangled On relations with Russia, wave offi cials believe skewed the tank European Policy Centre like-minded right-wing groups web of alliances in the legisla- Salvini has praised President Brexit referendum and carried observes, involving state intelli- in Milan today. ture that moves between seats in Vladimir Putin, a view not shared Donald Trump all the way to the gence services or ministries like In the EU’s top economy, the Brussels and the French city of by Poland’s governing party. White House. the EEAS in the campaign can be Alternative for Germany (AfD) Strasbourg. The AfD’s top candidate Joerg “There are external anti-Euro- counterproductive. has become the biggest oppo- They are the Europe of Nations Meuthen said that he expects big pean forces, which are seeking – This fuels suspicions of cen- sition party by railing against and Freedom (ENF) group, which gains for nationalist parties but openly or secretly – to infl uence sorship and plays “into narratives Chancellor Angela Merkel and includes the RN and League, the that they will have trouble form- the democratic choices of Euro- of censorship and a culture war her 2015 decision to allow a mass European Conservatives and Re- ing a “patriotic alliance” with a peans,” EU leader Donald Tusk between ‘the establishment’ and infl ux of asylum seekers. formists (ECR), and the Europe common agenda. warned recently. ‘the people’”, he said, in a recent The AfD launched its election of Freedom and Direct Democ- There are also strategic delib- This was, he claimed, also “the report. programme in the southwestern racy (EFDD). erations. case with Brexit and a number of Better than state-led counter- city of Off enburg on Saturday, The dream of Salvini – and of Hungary’s Prime Minister election campaigns across Eu- propaganda, he said, “structural calling for “a Europe of father- Steve Bannon, the former adviser Viktor Orban has voiced admi- rope”. resistance to disinformation can lands” and opposing the EU’s to US President Donald Trump ration for Salvini but was con- Between May 23 and 26, Euro- be built up through the eff orts of immigration, fi nancial and cli- – has been to unite the disparate sidered unlikely to come to the pean voters will go to the polls to civil society, NGOs and the pri- mate policies. patriotic forces and form an “in- Milan meeting given his Fidesz choose around 700 MEPs to sit vate sector”. “This European campaign ternational of nationalists”. party still belongs to the centre- in the Strasbourg EU parliament European authorities have in- is a campaign about identity,” However, so far such eff orts right European People’s party and oversee continent-wide leg- creased calls for online platforms said Party co-leader Alexander have met with only limited suc- (EPP) group, despite its tempo- islation. to be more accountable for the Gauland. cess, in part because the parties’ rary suspension. In the fi nal weeks of the cam- content they push in front of mil- “The European Union is not nationalist focus runs counter to Meanwhile, most parties have paign, offi cials are on alert fear- Tusk: There are external anti-European forces, which are seeking – lions of eyeballs. a state, it doesn’t need a parlia- a multi-national approach. also toned down their anti-EU ing that opponents – including openly or secretly – to influence the democratic choices of While some member states, ment,” he added. Another problem for the rhetoric as the Brexit debacle has Moscow – will attempt to spread Europeans. such as France, have decided Despite fi nancial scandals the groups has been that, despite made the prospect of leaving the fake news, amplifi ed by viral so- to legislate, the Commission is AfD enjoys the support of 10% their shared dislike for immigra- bloc look far less appealing. cial media. strategy to divide and weaken the scourge” that “intrudes into the talking to Internet giants. of voters, according to opinion tion, multiculturalism, the left Le Pen renounced a “Frexit” This could in turn boost sup- West,” he warned, in December. lives of our citizens and infl u- Late last year Facebook, Goog- polls, with its popularity highest and the EU, they remain divided after the 2017 presidential elec- port for various populist insur- Public trust in national and EU ences our opinions and decision- le and Twitter signed a code of in the former East Germany. on other key issues. tion and her disastrous debates gent parties, deepen existing institutions and in the so-called making”. best practice with the Brussels Today in Milan, Italian Deputy On economic policy, the AfD against Emmanuel Macron, divisions in the electorate and mainstream media is already low, In response to the perceived authorities – “a world fi rst”, ac- Prime Minister Salvini will follow and their Scandinavian allies while Germany’s AfD has down- undermine faith in democracy or and web-users seeking cash from threat, the EU Commission has cording to Gabriel. up and gather allies from across tend to believe in the market graded a “Dexit” scenario to a EU institutions. advertising clicks have found a drawn up guidelines for member Under the code, the indus- Europe to try to lay the foun- economy, while the French RN “last resort”. Some go as far as to call the market for fake news. states, calling on them to support try committed to transparency dations for a future hard-right favours a more protectionist and Still, the potential of the far- phenomenon a state-led attack. Add to this state-led covert quality journalism or to work in political advertising, to close grouping in the now 751-member statist approach. right must not be underestimat- “There is strong evidence propaganda and the viral eff ect of with independent fact-checkers. false accounts and to “demon- European Parliament. While Italy’s League, Poland’s ed, said Sven Hutten, political pointing to Russia as a primary US-based media platforms like In March, it also set up an etise misinformation providers” Salvini and Le Pen also agreed PiS and Hungary’s Fidesz high- scientist at Berlin’s Free Univer- source of disinformation in Eu- Facebook, Twitter and Google’s “early warning system”, so capi- – to stop paid adverts on suspect to call another meeting in May, light Europe’s Christian cultural sity. rope,” said EU Commission vice- YouTube and you have a recipe tals can share information on sites. after they met in Paris on Friday, roots, the RN has shied away He warned that such groups president and former Estonian for disruption. “co-ordinated attempts by for- The initiative has produced a NR source said. from taking a similar stance in a target “15% to 30% of the popu- premier Andrus Ansip. Mariya Gabriel, EU commis- eign actors to manipulate” the results, but the fi rewall of truth “The leaders are considering a country where the majority is in lation” and that at the moment “Disinformation is part of sioner for the digital econo- democratic debate in real time. is far from impregnable, as the common manifesto to close the favour of secularism. “the populist right is fi ghting for Russia’s military doctrine and its my, brands this a an “invisible The European External Action Commission itself admits. electoral campaign and announce And even on immigration, Sal- unity and to build a single bloc”.

Uproar over Dutch Tycoon rail ‘victim fashion’ at heart warning campaign of spying

AFP the head of Dutch rail operator scandal The Hague NS Marjan Rintel told ANP news agency, while drivers and politi- cians were also highly critical. arrested campaign by the Dutch ProRail, which manages railway infrastructure Dutch track infrastructure, Aoperator to shock young launched the campaign on AFP people into responsible behav- Thursday, showing replicas of Madrid iour near rail tracks using ripped badly ripped garments – some clothes to symbolise the man- missing an entire shirt sleeve or gled garb of victims hit by trains trouser leg. fugitive Polish “multi- unleashed uproar over the week- Other photos show shredded millionaire” at the heart end. shoes and dresses. These handout photos released by ProRail show replicas of torn Aof an eavesdropping Operator ProRail said it used ProRail says that the shocking clothing, worn by people killed and injured in railway accidents in scandal that contributed to the the controversial images to show images are necessary “to wake the Netherlands, as part of a campaign to encourage young people ruling Civic Platform liberals the potential consequences of young people up and give them to be safer around railways. losing elections in 2015 has been straying too close to railway a shake”. arrested in Spain, police said. lines. The company said: “Sadly, Deaths on and around Dutch tion being fi xed on their smart- Marek Falenta was sentenced But their “Victim Fashion – bad things still happen too often railtracks have steadily increased phones. to two-and-a-half years in pris- created by accident” strapline, on and around railtracks because in recent years, doubling from While Rintel notably said he on in Poland in December 2016 accompanying ripped clothing of lack of attention and reck- six in 2016, to 12 in 2017, and 17 felt the nature of the campaign “Everyone favours less dan- organised is unduly harsh for for setting up an eavesdropping was widely branded as shocking. lessness.” last year with minors among the went too far, the minister of in- gerous behaviour around rail- drivers (notably those who have system in swanky restaurants in “I have expressed our sur- It added it had “deliberately” fatalities. frastructure, Stientje van Veld- way tracks. And communication witnessed accidents) and the Warsaw that saw waiters record prise, displeasure and horror set out to shock in a campaign ProRail said many accidents hoven, was slightly more meas- on this subject is important. relatives of those killed on the conversations between busi- to the management of ProRail,” aimed at 12- to 18-year-olds. are down to people’s atten- ured in his criticism. But the campaign as it has been tracks,” the minister said. nesspeople and politicians. That led to a major scandal that erupted in 2014 with media publishing extracts of incrimi- nating conversations including Poland’s then foreign minister Opera cast ‘asked to say they identify as African-American’ who allegedly slammed War- saw’s alliance with the United States as “worthless”. By Shaun Walker stipulates the opera should only asked to sign a paper with the Programmes on sale in the The debate has also become grandparents was ‘white’, do you The scandal contributed to Guardian News & Media be performed by a black cast. following text: “I, the under- foyer had a red notice embla- part of the culture wars over lib- think it would be right if he per- the ruling Civic Platform losing The show is back for another signed, hereby state that Afri- zoned on them, which stated: eralism, a dirty word in Prime formed in Porgy and Bess?”; and, in 2015 to the conservative op- run of six performances, the fi rst can-American origin and iden- “The manner in which this pro- Minister Viktor Orban’s nation- “Would you remain calm if you position Law and Justice party he Hungarian State Opera of which was performed on April tity are an inseparable part of my duction of Porgy and Bess is be- alist Hungary. paid for a product displayed in now in power. has come up with a dubi- 5. identity. ing produced is unauthorised The general director of the the shop window, but the shop While not identifying him by Tous way round a stipula- Hungarian media have specu- “Because of this I am espe- and is contrary to the require- Hungarian State Opera, Szil- assistant informed you that you name, Spanish police said in a tion that George Gershwin’s op- lated that the opera house may cially glad to be able to perform ments for the presentation of veszter Okovacs, declined to cannot buy it because you are statement that they and some era Porgy and Bess be performed be using illicitly made photo- in George Gershwin’s opera, the work.” comment on the alleged request not black?’” of their Polish counterparts had by an all-black cast: it is alleg- copies of the scores that were Porgy and Bess.” The opera house’s contention to singers, referring the Guard- The opera house was also in arrested a “multi-millionaire” edly asking its white, Hungar- rented for the original perform- The source told Index that is that in a country such as Hun- ian to answers he gave to Index, the news last year when it can- wanted by Warsaw in a luxury ian singers to sign a paper saying ances last year, as they do not most singers had signed the gary, enforcing the all-black cast which were in fact a series of celled 15 performances of the apartment in the eastern seaside that they identify as African- have permission to play the paper and that while the man- rule essentially makes the work his own questions about black musical Billy Elliot, after right- town of Cullera. American. show with a non-black cast. agement saw it as a joke, some impossible to perform. identity. wing media launched a cam- Poland’s Interior Minister The company fi rst put on the The Hungarian website Index people were worried that not That justifi cation has won They included: “What col- paign against the production, Joachim Brudzinski confi rmed opera a year ago, leading to a spat reported that before the April 5 signing it could aff ect their fu- sympathy among many Hun- our is ‘black’ on the Pantone claiming it could “turn children in a tweet that the man arrested with the Gershwin estate, which performance, singers had been ture at the opera house. garians. scale?”; “One of Barack Obama’s gay”. was Falenta, a businessman. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 17 INDIA

Facebook under fi re for physical verifi cation of user for his post

IANS was recently visited by a Face- landing at his home for inquiring its best to curb misinformation. Facebook, Duggal said, can at To be approved by Facebook, The world’s largest democracy New Delhi book representative for the veri- about a post. According to legal experts, best discontinue a page, group one needs to have a residency in goes to polls from April 11 and the fi cation process related to the “It was a shocker for me. How physically verifying a user is un- or delete the post, or remove the India and the verifi cation proc- social media giant is scrambling content the user had posted. come a social media platform does precedented and called for tough user from its platform as it has ess takes around four to fi ve days, for solutions which are few. acebook, facing the elec- “It was like the cops com- that to a user? What about a user’s action against the social media done in the past. says the company which has Over 200 fake Facebook tion heat in India and un- ing to your door for passport privacy? I have never heard of any platform. When it comes to those who close to 30 crore users in India. groups and pages with more than Fable to stop misinformation verifi cation. The Facebook rep- such incident anywhere. Was this “This action, if true, clearly want to run political ads on Fa- But physical verifi cation of a one lakh followers are currently and fake news circulating on its resentative asked me to prove at the behest of the government?” infringes upon the privacy of a cebook, the company checks the user is gross violation and unwar- infl uencing the group members platforms, is busy doing some- my credentials by asking for my asked the user. IANS sent a couple user. Sending a representative to residency of advertisers either by ranted under the ambit of the In- and followers with biased politi- thing never heard of: Sending its Aadhaar card and other docu- of mails to Facebook for their ver- physically verify a user is a bla- physical verifi cation (by sending formation Technology Act, 2000. cal content, say social media ex- representatives to users’ home ments to understand if I am the sion but to no avail. tant invasion of his or her privacy someone to the address provided) “In such a scenario, the user perts. to verify if the post with politi- one who had posted the political This kind of behaviour has space. Only the state can act like or by sending a code in the post. can sue Facebook and even the Facebook-owned WhatsApp cal content was actually written content,” the person who did not not been seen or reported earlier this under proper laws,” Pavan Facebook has partnered with government for allowing such is another platform where more by them. wish to be named told IANS. even at the global level as several Duggal, India’s top cyber law ex- external agencies for physical activities under its nose that in- than 87,000 groups are targeting IANS has contacted one such The user was left stunned to countries have gone through the pert and a senior Supreme Court verifi cation of the location of the fringes on the privacy of a user,” millions with political messag- Facebook user in New Delhi who see a Facebook representative elections with Facebook trying lawyer, told IANS. advertisers. Duggal noted. ing. Enforcement Jallianwala Bagh massacre anniversary actions must be neutral, EC tells govt

IANS not charge any interest,” Gandhi New Delhi said in a Facebook post. The Congress, in its recently- released manifesto for the 2019 he Election Commis- polls, promised autonomy to sion yesterday told the universities, adequate funds, Tcentral government that reservations and student rights all enforcement actions to curb to gain popularity among the electoral malpractices should be young voters. But, it did not neutral, impartial and non-dis- mention anything regarding stu- criminatory and demanded that dent loans. Chief Electoral Offi cers (CEOs) The latest announcement is should be informed about the indicatively targeted at the mid- use of illicit money for electoral dle class, which has the highest purposes. volume of student loans. It is also Visitors gather near the Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs’ Memorial ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar yesterday. The Amritsar massacre, The development comes in sync with the claims of the also known as the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, took place on April 13, 1919, when British Indian Army soldiers on the direct orders of their British off icers opened fire on an against the backdrop of Income manifesto that India needs more unarmed gathering killing at least 379 men, women and children, according to off icial records. Tax Department teams yester- universities. day carrying out raids at over “Congress promises to es- 50 places in Indore and Bho- tablish more public universi- pal, including the residence of ties in the country, especially in Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s under-served areas. We promise aide Praveen Kakkar, and in New to restore the autonomy of col- Delhi. leges and universities,” said the In a letter to the Revenue Secre- manifesto. tary, the Commission said use of The manifesto also promised money power with the intention that it will separate organisations I-T raids on Kamal Nath’s of infl uencing voter behaviour was to ensure the regulation, grading the biggest challenge for conduct- and funding of colleges and uni- ing free, fair, ethical and credible versities. “We will provide the elections, thus undermining the University Grants Commission very fabric of the democracy. or its successor with suffi cient Saying all enforcement agen- funds to make liberal grants to aides raise political storm cies must be working under the colleges and universities, based administrative control of the De- on need and merit,” it said. IANS 100 days in office and the Lok forcement Directorate (ED) over Kakkar had earlier served as Himachal Pradesh chief minis- partment of Revenue, the Com- zThe Bharatiya Janata Party Bhopal Sabha elections would ensure commissions paid in the Agus- the OSD to former federal min- ter Virbhadra Singh during his mission said it would “strongly yesterday drafted a team of 52 the people bid goodbye to his taWestland VVIP chopper case. ister Kantilal Bhuria during the daughter’s wedding. advise” that all enforcement ac- magicians to crisscross all the 26 party.” Kamal Nath’s nephew Ratul Congress regime. His family is Congress spokesperson K K tions during the election period Lok Sabha constituencies in Gu- re-dawn raids at the However, Mishra did not re- Puri, questioned by the ED a associated with several busi- Tiwari said yesterday’s raids should be “absolutely neutral, jarat to campaign for the party, homes and offi ces of veal how he arrived at the fi g- couple of days ago, accepted the nesses, including hospital- showed that government agen- impartial and non-discrimina- backed up by an equal number PMadhya Pradesh Chief ures mid-way through the raids. action without any fuss. He said ity. The police said the searches cies were being misused for po- tory”. of digital LED raths (chariots) Minister Kamal Nath’s aides and Searches were conducted on he had no link whatsoever with were conducted in Goa also. litical reasons. But the top BJP “Further, in case of suspected which were set rolling with a relatives yesterday have raised a at least 50 premises in Delhi and the AgustaWestland deal. Even Raids were also being car- leadership would not succeed in use of such illicit money for elec- message to elect Prime Minister political storm in the state. Madhya Pradesh against people Kamal Nath was unruffl ed by ried out against a Kolkata-based demoralising the state govern- toral purposes, the CEOs should Narendra Modi again. While Kamal Nath main- linked to Kamal Nath. the questioning. businessman, Paras Mal Lodha. ment, he added. be kept suitably informed during “Phir ek baar, Modi sarkar” is tained a stoic silence on the Raids were also carried out Former police offi cer Kakkar Kamal Nath has several busi- “The Congress would take the MCC (Model Code of Con- the theme of the campaign which day’s developments, one of his at Kamal Nath’s former OSD and Miglani had resigned from nesses in Kolkata. appropriate action at the ap- duct) period,” the letter said. will focus on creating awareness former offi cers on special duty Praveen Kakkar’s residences in their posts after the Lok Sabha Govind Singh, minister for propriate time to deal with such z Congress president Rahul about the works undertaken by (OSD), Bhupendra Gupta, said Indore and Delhi’s Green Park. polls were announced. General Administration in misadventure. This bunch of Gandhi yesterday announced Modi’s government. the raids were obviously politi- Premises of another former Kakkar’s residence in Indore’s the Madhya Pradesh govern- thieves should not try to teach that his party will waive off in- According to state BJP spokes- cally motivated and that their OSD of Kamal Nath, Rajendra Vijay Nagar was searched by 15 ment, said the actions refl ected us political conduct,” Tiwari terest on education loans issued person and former legislator timings could only recoil on the Miglaani, in Madhya Pradesh police offi cers from Delhi who character of Prime Minister said. before March 31, 2019 if it comes Bharat Pandya, two teams of Bharatiya Janata Party. were also searched. landed there at about 3am. The Narendra Modi and the Rash- Meanwhile, Kamal Nath’s to power after the Lok Sabha magicians each would travel BJP leaders, quite predictably, The homes of executives offi cers claimed to have recov- triya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), offi ce said the chief minister elections. through rural areas in all the 26 expressed happiness over the working for Moser Bayer, the ered some incriminating docu- which can’t tolerate those who would continue to co-operate He also promised to introduce constituencies and highlight, shock value of the action. maker of computer peripherals, ments, which were being scru- oppose them. with the agencies. the single-window system for through various ways of enter- Former minister and BJP owned by Kamal Nath’s broth- tinised, sources linked to the He said one classic example of It was the fi rst time that the education loans. tainment, the “people-oriented leader Narottam Mishra al- er-in-law, were also targeted. Indore police said. The state po- the Modi government’s vindic- tax offi cers were accompanied “Till the time the student has works and schemes of the BJP leged that “one person had Reports suggested the raids lice were reportedly kept in the tive nature was when its offi cials by Central Reserve Police Force not landed a job, the banks will government”. earned Rs100 crore through his were linked to leaks by the En- dark about the raids. searched the premises of former troopers. Orders for armoured cars rise ahead of mother of all elections

AFP other VIP clients in the 1980s and even longer for the permis- to the jungles of the country’s in- starts on April 11 and spans nearly Jalandhar when an armed insurgency was sion needed to put the car on the terior, creating risky conditions six weeks, with 900mn people raging in Punjab. road. for party offi cials and their can- eligible to cast ballots - security “This one is the mother of all But for some, it is a price worth didates on the hustings. is again a central concern for the he mechanics retrofi tting elections,” he told AFP, as sparks paying. Twenty-fi ve Congress politi- monumental poll. cars with blast-resistant fl ew from welding equipment on “Success and jealousy knock cians were murdered in an am- In trouble spots, candidates Tdoors and bulletproof the factory fl oor. at you together,” said one Punjabi bush on their convoy in 2013 by are escorted by police as they windshields in a Punjab garage “Like all big events, there are state lawmaker who last year had Maoist rebels in Chhattisgarh, as drum up support. have been fl at out of late - elec- bigger risks involved and leaders his SUV armour-plated. the restive central state prepared But former Delhi police chief tions are looming, and politics want to ensure they are safe. We He declined to be named. for regional elections. Maxwell Pereira said the over- can be a dangerous game in India. have been working on orders for “You can’t even trust your Even in regions free of rebel whelming majority of politicians In the past, prime ministers months.” friends, forget about enemies. uprisings, feuds between politi- never faced any danger, and it were assassinated, political mo- It was not just political can- I can’t compromise on my safe- cal rivals can turn deadly. was the state’s responsibility to torcades ambushed and party of- didates keen to bullet and ty.” In February a regional law- ensure protection for at-risk of- fi cials attacked, and some candi- blast-proof their cars but party India has a history of political maker in West Bengal was shot fi cials. dates aren’t taking any chances. bookkeepers and backroom violence, with particular blood- dead by unidentifi ed gunmen in “Only police should make a Orders for specialised ar- heavyweights too, he added. shed around election time as the country’s east. call on whether they require per- moured cars have been piling At least seven rival companies competition intensifi es between More than two dozen political sonal protection or armoured up at Sunchit Sobti’s factory in contacted by AFP, in northern the country’s hundreds of reg- fi gures from warring parties have cars, after assessing if there is a Jalandhar, where his crew have Punjab, neighbouring Haryana istered parties, who fi eld thou- been killed in Kerala in the past credible threat,” Pereria told AFP. already retrofi tted four SUVs for and also Maharashtra state, have Mechanics work to make an SUV bulletproof at the Laggar Industries sands of candidates at state and three years. That is not stopping candi- political bigwigs since the up- also experienced a spike in elec- workshop on the outskirts of Jalandhar. national polls. Sometimes politicians them- dates from taking matters into coming poll - the biggest election tion-related orders for armour- More than 100 politicians or selves have violent records, with their own hands and turning in history - was announced a few plated vehicles. Mahindra, and Tata Motors also cle, costing anywhere between party offi cials were murdered two dozen winning candidates in their cars into tanks as polling weeks ago. The market for such cars in off er a small range of pre-made $7,000 and $70,000. in 2016 alone, the latest fi gures the last general election in 2014 day draws near. It’s a pattern that repeats itself India is worth $150mn a year and armoured vehicles for civilian It can take weeks to bolster a from India’s National Crime possessing murder or attempted “We want our customers and every election season, said Sobti, growing by double digits, indus- use. car with imported ballistic glass Records Bureau show. murder charges. leaders to be safe,” said Narind- whose father started supplying try representatives said. The outlay is considerable and steel plates able to withstand Armed insurgencies simmer in As campaigning gets under er Singh, a mechanic at Sobti’s armoured cars for politicians and Companies like Mahindra & for reinforcing a private vehi- grenade fragments and gunfi re, at least nine states, from Kashmir way for the 2019 contest - voting workshop in Punjab. Gulf Times 18 Monday, April 8, 2019 INDIA Nizamabad to create history with 12 EVMs in each booth

IANS fi rst constituency in the coun- Corporation of India Limited Offi cials said arrangements complained that they were yet to record 186 symbols including a wanted to register their protest Hyderabad try to see polling with EVMs for (ECIL) to supply 26,820 EVMs, would be made for the smooth be allotted the symbols. symbol for None Of The Above over the failure of the state and such a large number of candi- 2,240 control units and 2,600 conduct of polling in all 1,778 They urged Chief Electoral Of- (NOTA) option. central governments to ensure dates. Voter-Verifi ed Paper Audit polling stations and they have fi cer (CEO) Rajat Kumar to post- The farmers argue that the them higher remunerative prices izamabad in Telangana Among the candidates are 178 Trails (VVPAT). set up a model polling station pone the polling as it would take polling process can’t be com- and address other issues. is all set to create history farmers who entered the race to With just three days left, elec- in the town to create awareness a few days for them to popularise pleted smoothly as it would take After scrutiny and withdrawal Nin India’s parliamentary highlight the demand for remu- tion authorities and engineers among voters about the polling these symbols among voters. four-fi ve minutes for every voter of nominations, 185 candidates elections with polling to be con- nerative prices for their produce. are racing against time to make system. Some farmers have also ap- to locate the symbol of the can- remained in the race. ducted with 12 big-sized elec- It was thought the Election fool-proof arrangements. Engineers of ECIL and Bharat proached the High Court seek- didate of his choice and press the Telangana Chief Minister K tronic voting machines in every Commission (EC) would opt for Each polling station will Electronics Limited (BEL) were ing postponement of the polls button. Chandrashekhar Rao’s daughter polling booth as the voters have ballot papers as an EVM can ac- have 12 EVMs, all connected busy checking the EVMs and to enable them to campaign and The constituency, with over K Kavitha is seeking re-election to choose from a whopping 185 commodate a maximum of only to a single control unit and a conducting mock-polling. educate people about their re- 15 lakh voters, attracted national from the constituency. The candidates. 64 names. VVPAT. These EVMS will be However, EVMs alone are not spective symbols. Their petition attention with over 200 can- Congress Party’s Madhu Yashki Nizamabad, going to polls The poll panel, however, de- arranged in ‘L’ shape with each likely to solve the problem in is likely to come up for hearing didates fi ling nominations. A Goud and the Bharatiya Janata along with 16 other Lok Sabha cided against the use of ballot machine carrying a maximum conducting the polls as the farm- today. majority of them were turmeric Party’s D Arvind are the other seats on April 11, will become the paper and ordered Electronics of 16 names. ers, contesting as independents, The authorities are allotting a and red sorghum farmers, who major contestants. Modi and Yogi both must go, says Mayawati at alliance rally

IANS potent challenger to the BJP, he Deoband, Uttar Pradesh said: “This coalition is to provide a new prime minister.” Yadav slammed the Congress, saying ahujan Samaj Party supre- the party does not want change. mo Mayawati, Samajwadi The SP chief raised questions BParty leader Akhilesh Ya- about the promises made by the dav and Rashtriya Lok Dal’s chief Modi government in the last Lok Ajit Singh yesterday declared war Sabha battle and accused the on both the Bharatiya Janata Par- prime minister of speaking lies. ty and the Congress saying they “In the last Lok Sabha elec- were two sides of the same coin. tions he (Modi) was a chaiwala Addressing their fi rst joint (tea boy) and now he is a chowki- rally in Uttar Pradesh, the three dar (watchman).” RLD’s Ajit leaders particularly warned Singh called the BJP “anti-farm- Muslims against supporting er” and alleged that it had come the Congress, alleging that the to power by creating communal grand old party would only end tensions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to supporters during a campaign rally in Cooch Behar in West Bengal yesterday. up splitting anti-BJP votes in the “The BJP has done nothing in Lok Sabha elections. the last fi ve years. Today even Mayawati and Yadav were the farmers are saying that their sharing a common public plat- crops are being gobbled up by form for the fi rst time in years. Modi and Yogi. But the situation Speaking fi rst at the Jamiya is changing and the ouster of the Tobbiya Medical College ground, BJP is a certainty now.” former chief minister Mayawati BSP’s Fazlur Rahman is con- was at her aggressive best as she testing the election from the BJP, Congress sharpen said that removing Prime Minis- Saharanpur Lok Sabha constitu- ter Narendra Modi alone was not ency, which will go to the polls in enough and that Uttar Pradesh the fi rst phase on April 11. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath The BJP swept the 2014 Lok must also go. Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, “Our gathbandhan (alliance) winning a staggering 71 of the 80 is winning and the BJP is going, seats. An ally won another two. attacks as vote nears provided they don’t tamper with The Congress won two seats and the Electronic Voting Machines the Samajwadi Party fi ve. The Agencies polling showing support for him kill them,” he told a huge crowd criticism of the Congress chief. Congress spokesman Anand (EVMs),” Mayawati said, adding BSP drew a blank. New Delhi is higher now than in 2014 when in the battleground state of Congress also unveiled its Sharma. that the voters would end the In other election-related the BJP won an outright major- 90mn. theme song, a Bollywood-in- “We advise Narendra Modi “drama of chowkidari”. news, the Election Commission ity. The BJP also released a cam- spired number by one of the fi lm not to doubt the intelligence Modi had not fulfi lled even said yesterday that Malayalam he Bharatiya Janata Party A survey by the New Delhi- paign song yesterday and tel- industry’s superstar composers, of the people of this country,” one-fourth of the promises he actor Suresh Gopi, the BJP can- and the main opposition based Centre for the Study of evision commercials, including Javed Akhtar. Sharma told reporters in New made in the 2014 Lok Sabha bat- didate in the Thrissur Lok Sabha TCongress put the fi nish- Developing Societies found 43% some promoting the Pakistan The track – released with the Delhi. tle that brought him to power, constituency, violated the model ing touches to their election of respondents wanted Modi strikes. slogan ‘Ab Hoga Nyay’ (Now, “They remember what you she said. The prime minister had code of conduct by seeking votes campaigns yesterday, sharpen- back as leader, compared to just The party’s slogan is “Phir Ek There Will Be Justice) – rein- promised in 2014. He should also failed to protect the borders, in the name of religion. ing their attacks before voting 24% for Gandhi. Baar Modi Sarkar” (Modi once forces the party’s campaign speak about the real issues.” she added, citing increasing in- After Thrissur District Col- begins next week in the biggest The poll of 10,010 respond- more). message that Modi has misman- Gandhi has also targeted Modi stances of terrorism in Jammu lector T V Anupama on Saturday election in history. ents, conducted in the last week “The fi rst theme of our cam- aged the economy for struggling on corruption, suggesting he has and Kashmir. served a notice to the Rajya Sab- There are 900mn people eli- of March and published on Fri- paign will be ‘Kaam Karne Waali farmers, unemployed youth and misled the public over the Rafale Mayawati did not spare the ha member for his Friday speech gible to vote in the poll, which day, found support for Modi was Sarkaar’ (A government that ordinary families. fi ghter jet deal to benefi t a bil- Congress either, calling its elec- in an election campaign in which starts on Thursday and lasts buoyed in part because of India’s works). Our second theme will ‘Nyay’ is the acronym of its lionaire friend. tion manifesto ‘hawa-hawai’ he allegedly sought votes in the nearly six weeks, with results to airstrikes on Pakistan in Febru- be ‘Imaandar Sarkaar’ (Honest minimum income guarantee “Your karma is about to catch (just air). name of the Sabarimala temple, be announced on May 23. ary. government). Our third theme scheme – Nyuntam Aay Yojana up with you,” Gandhi posted on Akhilesh Yadav said that both Kerala’s Chief Electoral Offi cer Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked up on the theme will be ‘Bade Faisle Lene Waali – under which the party has Twitter yesterday, challenging the BJP and the Congress pur- (CEO) Tikka Ram Meena said he Modi is seeking a second term in West Bengal yesterday, telling Sarkaar’ (A decisive government promised to give Rs72,000 a year Modi to a debate on graft. sued the same policies. approved the collector’s move. but faces opposition from Con- supporters that before he took that takes big decisions),” Fi- to the 20% of India’s poorest. But the same poll by the Del- “Not a single vote should be This irked both Gopi and the gress Party chief Rahul Gandhi, offi ce in 2014 the government nance Minister Arun Jaitley said “We are seeking justice or hi-based think tank found Con- divided. Both these parties are BJP. who is urging voters to look at ignored advice from the army adding that these sub-themes ‘Nyay’ against injustices com- gress had not gained traction the same. There is not much dif- BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan the prime minister’s economic about striking India’s foes. would combine the larger theme mitted in the past four years. over the issue, and voters were ference between them.” accused the collector of trying to record and turf him out. “Now the situation has of “Modi once more”. Those who promised ‘Acche not broadly aware of Gandhi’s Speaking on the alliance, appease Chief Minister Pinarayi But Congress faces a formi- changed entirely. We now enter Other material also alluded to Din’ (good days) only deliv- income guarantee scheme, a sig- which has emerged as the most Vijayan. dable opponent in Modi, with the homes of our enemies and dynasty politics - a thinly-veiled ered ‘Anyay’ (injustice),” said nature election pledge. PM has done nothing for ‘No alliance with AAP us, say sanitation workers in Haryana, Punjab’ IANS These two conditions were New Delhi decided on Saturday at a meet- Reuters ise to eradicate by this year the and demanded government help ing between AAP chief Arvind Mumbai practice of manual scavenging. workers fi nd jobs that give them Kejriwal and senior party lead- “(Modi) has done nothing for us dignity. he Congress yesterday ers Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia in the past fi ve years,” Wilson said. Most sanitation workers fi nd ruled out an alliance with and Gopal Rai. ive sanitation workers, all India has laws banning the it diffi cult to get other work be- TDelhi’s ruling Aam Aad- Congress president Rahul from the lowest rung of hiring of manual scavengers, but cause of caste-based barriers, mi Party (AAP) in Haryana and Gandhi on Saturday discussed FIndia’s caste system, were they have not been properly en- while many operate without for- Punjab and said it was yet to de- the issue with senior party lead- chosen in late February to meet forced, mostly due to diffi culty mal contracts and are unaware of cide on a tie-up with the party in ers, including Delhi Congress a very important guest: Prime collecting evidence and apathy the terms of their employment, a the national capital for the up- president and former chief min- Minister Narendra Modi. by successive governments. study by US-based advisory fi rm coming Lok Sabha elections. ister Sheila Dikshit. As cameras fl ashed, Modi pro- While government estimates Dalberg shows. “There is no alliance talk with In other developments, ceeded to wash the feet of the peg the number of manual scav- The workers whose feet Modi AAP or any other party either in former Jammu and Kashmir workers, one by one, using water engers at anywhere between washed in February are not sat- Haryana or in Punjab. We will chief minister and National and his hands, a gesture intended 14,000 and 31,000, the SKA says isfi ed with their jobs and want an soon announce our candidates Conference (NC) president Fa- to honour staff who clean toilets at the fi gure is closer to 770,000, end to manual scavenging, they for the two states,” Congress rooq Abdullah alleged that the the Kumbh Mela, a massive reli- with nearly 1,800 sewer cleaners told the Indian Express newspa- spokesperson Randeep Singh central government knew about gious gathering in north India. asphyxiating to death in the last per last month. Surjewala told reporters. the terror attack in Pulwama, But sanitation workers, scores decade. One said he was grateful for the Surjewala also said the Con- Jammu and Kashmir, but al- of whom die each year from The community has little honour, calling Modi a great man. gress has not yet reached a deci- lowed it to happen so Prime asphyxiation while removing political power and Modi re- But, he added: “There is no sion on forging an alliance with Minister Narendra Modi could waste from underground drains, mains the front-runner to win diff erence in our lives. We were the AAP in Delhi. win the elections. have had enough, said Bezwada the election, but critics point to doing this cleaning work before The AAP had said that it will “It is their (the government’s) Wilson, the head of the Safai their condition as another ex- too, we continue to do it.” enter into an alliance with the mistake. They knew that the at- Karmachari Andolan (SKA), or ample of lofty promises undone More than 90% of latrine Congress in Delhi only if the tack was going to happen. Where Sanitation Workers’ Movement. and the empty symbolism of cleaners are women, and all Supporters of Trinamool Congress party drive a vehicle decorated main opposition party agreed for did the explosives come from? Ahead of general elections that washing their feet. sanitation workers are Dalits, the with the portrait of West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo a similar arrangement in Harya- Modi had to win the elections, begin on Thursday, the workers Wilson has launched a hash- social group at the bottom of In- Mamata Banerjee and her party colours, in Falakata in the eastern na and backed its demand for full so he did this ‘karnama’ (misad- are reminding Modi of his prom- tag #StopKillingUs on Twitter dia’s caste system. state yesterday. statehood to Delhi. venture),” said Abdullah. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 19 LATIN AMERICA

Anti-Maduro Venezuelan migrants fear expulsion from Bolivia

Reuters leader Nicolas Maduro. by Cuba, the Communist-party- fear of reprisals. “It was determined that these statement called on the Boliv- grants have sought refuge in La Paz Police last month arrested over led Caribbean nation that they “I’m a little afraid of being citizens have no legal occupation ian government to “stop pros- Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, a dozen Venezuelans identifi ed as blame for stoking Venezuela’s expelled, because they already or economic activity for their ecuting and arbitrarily expelling Argentina and Brazil. having led anti-Maduro protests humanitarian crisis. expelled Venezuelans,” Nelson, stay in the country,” the state- Venezuelan refugees who need “In Venezuela I am a civil en- ozens of Venezuelans in front of the Cuban embassy in The protests brought them to a 43-year-old civil engineer, told ment said. “They confessed to international protection”. gineer. I worked for many years who fl ed to Bolivia over the Bolivian capital La Paz. the attention of local police, who Reuters. being involved in conspiracy and Last year, at least 3.4mn Ven- as a bus and food truck driver. Drecent months to escape Bolivia’s leftist President Evo arrested 14 protest leaders, pro- He asked that his last name participating in political activi- ezuelans left their country as it But now there is no work, food, economic and political unrest at Morales is an ally of both Havana testers and human rights groups not be used to avoid what he said ties that aff ect public order, in faced high infl ation, recession security, medicine,” Nelson said. home say they fear being deport- and Maduro. said. Six of them have been de- were likely reprisals. exchange for money,” it added. and acute food and medicine “The point came for us to either ed from one of the few countries The protesters had demanded ported and eight were released, The Bolivian government is- Erika Guevara Rosas, the shortages, according to data die of hunger, literally, in Ven- in the region that still supports the end of what they called in- according to the Bolivian gov- sued a statement to explain the Americas director for Amnesty from the Organisation of Ameri- ezuela or leave the country with the government of Venezuelan terference in Venezuelan aff airs ernment. Five fl ed to Peru for detention of Venezuelan migrants. International, last month in a can States. Most of the immi- my wife and daughter.”

Anger at corruption Cuba newsprint shortage sparks concern over economy growth

AFP sorb the shock of Soviet collapse Havana in the early 1990s. Cubans suff ered shortages of food and fuel and the emergence he newsprint short- of diseases linked to malnutrition. ages which forced Cuba’s Thousands fl ed, if they could. TCommunist daily to run For long since, the country has a trimmed-down edition on relied on medical and teaching Friday would pass off as a sim- services supplied to countries ple supply glitch in most other like Brazil and, in particular, countries, but in Havana they Venezuela, in return for cheap oil carry chilling memories of the imports. not-so-distant past. But trade with Caracas has The last time the government plummeted as sanctions-struck cut back on newspapers because Venezuela’s economic crisis of a lack of newsprint was in the deepens. Tourism has been a early 1990s, when Fidel Castro bright spot but that has suff ered ushered in a “Special Period” after hurricane damage and a of drastic belt-tightening in the new US sanctions squeeze. Demonstrators attend a protest against corruption and in favour of the “Car Wash” corruption investigation, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. wake of the collapse of his main “For three years, Cuba has sponsor, the Soviet Union. been trying to off set the impact Today, the Caribbean state is of the slump in trade with Ven- facing diffi culties once again, ezuela and the rise in tourism, with US President Donald private activity and foreign in- Trump — who has lashed out at vestment projects have helped Cuba for its support of Vene- cushion the economic shock,” zuela’s socialist regime — deter- said Pavel Vidal, a Cuban econo- mined to tighten Washington’s mist at the Javeriana University six-decade trade embargo. in Colombia. Bolsonaro struggles in fi rst Meagre growth of 1.2% is not “But the measures and threats enough to cover the needs of an of the Trump administration are island nation that imports 80% posing obstacles to these three of what it eats. factors that have helped keep the Amid shortages, the govern- economy afl oat.” ment is being forced to ration Cuba recently defaulted on a basics like fl our, cooking oil and portion of its debt to Brazil, a big 100 days as Brazil leader chicken, leading to long lines supplier of poultry. At the end of outside stores. 2018, Havana had accumulated AFP 100 days in offi ce on Wednes- up with violence and industri- Jackson, an economist at Lon- and his government will just Tania, a 49-year-old nurse, short-term debt of $1.5bn, ac- Rio de Janeiro day, analysts say the euphoria of al-scale graft. don-based Capital Economics. drift along until 2022.” has come to buy rice at a Havana cording to former economy min- his October victory that ended But Bolsonaro, who was better “His lack of governing expe- Bolsonaro has scored some grocery store but she’s going ister Jose Luis Rodriguez. decades of centre-left rule is known for making insults rather rience, showing up in deterio- wins since his January 1 inau- away empty-handed. “There is a level of debt that ince taking power on a evaporating. than policy during his decades rating relations with Congress, guration, including the relaxa- “It’s like that with every- we will not be able to pay (in pledge to trash corrupt “It wouldn’t be an under- as a congressman, is fi nding that and his struggles to keep his co- tion of gun ownership laws and thing. Sometimes you look for 2019) and that’s aff ecting the S“old politics,” Brazilian statement to say that the presi- his uncompromising style and alition together seem to have led the sale of concessions to 12 a product and you can fi nd it in smooth running of the econo- President Jair Bolsonaro’s fi rst dent’s performance to date penchant for Twitter are not to a paralysis in policymaking.” airports, which was seen as test one place, then you go some- my,” the current portfolio-hold- months have been marred by has been disappointing,” said working in Congress where he Bolsonaro appears to have of foreign-investor confi dence where else and you can’t get it,” er Alejandro Gil said. chaos and blunders that have Thomaz Favaro of the political lacks a ruling-party majority to adopted a more conciliatory tone in his ability to privatise state- she said, summing up the aver- In Havana, 90-year-old Le- eroded support for the far-right risk consultancy Control Risks. push through legislation. in recent days, holding meetings owned companies. age Cuban’s daily struggle to fi ll andro Lopez has seen it all before leader and put the brakes on his “There was a misperception His signature policy to with the leaders of several par- But more contentious poli- their shopping basket. and isn’t overly concerned, ex- reforms. that he was coming in with a overhaul Brazil’s unsustain- ties. He may have fi nally accept- cies are going to be tough to “What’s happening now pressing confi dence in President The brash ex-army captain — very strong support base and I able pension system, which he ed the “give and take” of Brazil- push through the lower house doesn’t look like the Special Pe- Miguel Diaz-Canel — elected in nicknamed the “Trump of the think we’re now beginning to has warned would bankrupt ian politics, said David Fleischer, of Congress where Bolsonaro’s riod, because at that time it was 2018, the fi rst of a new breed of tropics” for his admiration of see that maybe that support the country if changes are not a political science professor at ultraconservative Social Liberal really a disaster,” she said. leaders born after the revolution. the US president — is struggling wasn’t strong.” adopted, has stalled following a the University of Brasilia. Party only holds around 10% of Suddenly deprived of its big “Diaz-Canel is trying to to make good on his key election Condemned by opponents as spat with key political allies and “It’s a make or break,” the 513 seats. brother in Moscow — responsi- strengthen the economy so promises to kick-start Latin racist, sexist and homophobic raised doubts about his ability Fleischer warned. That means he is relying on ble for 85% of Havana’s foreign where he can reduce costs, we America’s biggest economy and before the ballot, Bolsonaro’s to do the job. If the pension reform bill fails ad-hoc alliances with lawmak- trade — the economy on the reduce them, so much the bet- stamp out corruption. message of toughness and an “Over the last few weeks we’ve then Bolsonaro “doesn’t get any ers in various parties who are Caribbean archipelago ground to ter. I do not think it will hurt the As Bolsonaro prepares to end to business-as-usual poli- really seen the side people feared tax reform, which is another part of his evangelical, pro- a standstill as it struggled to ab- news.” mark the symbolic milestone of tics resonated with voters fed about Bolsonaro,” said William important thing on the table, agribusiness, pro-gun base. No plan to expel Assange Bridge collapse ‘to from embassy: Ecuador hit grain shipments’ Reuters The number of casualties was Sao Paulo unclear. Kory Melby, an agri- Reuters sange if he left the embassy. but Assange fears he could be business consultant based in the Quito Ecuador “categorically rejects extradited to face charges in the city of Goiania, said the bridge the fake news that have circulat- US, where federal prosecutors art of a bridge over the was on the main route connect- ed recently on social networks, are investigating WikiLeaks. Moju River in Brazil’s Para ing Brazil’s farm country to its cuador’s government said many spread by an organisation Ecuador last year established Pstate collapsed on Satur- northern ports. it rejected reports that it linked to Julian Assange, about new rules for Assange’s behaviour day, potentially aff ecting ship- “It will probably take years for Ewould imminently expel an imminent termination of the while in the embassy, which re- ment of grains such as soybeans that bridge to be rebuilt,” he said Wikileaks founder Julian As- diplomatic aslyum granted to quired him to pay his medical bills and corn through northern by telephone. sange from its London embassy, him since 2012,” it said. and clean up after his pet cat. ports, local authorities and an The consultant noted the where he has lived in asylum for He challenged the rules in lo- agribusiness consultant said. bridge was located some 50km nearly seven years. “By releasing information cal and international tribunals, The bridge fell after it was hit from Belem, capital of Para state, Assange was “prepared” for that distorts the truth, arguing they violated his human by a boat, Governor Helder Bar- where three major grain loaders expulsion from the building, (Assange) and his rights. balho said on Twitter, where he operate, including Archer Dan- a British friend of his said on associates express once Both courts ruled against him. also posted videos of a large sec- iels Midland Co, Bunge and Hid- Tuesday, after Ecuador’s Presi- again their ingratitude and Last month, the Inter-Amer- tion of the bridge in the water. rovias do Brasil SA. dent Lenin Moreno said he had disrespect to Ecuador” ican Commission on Human He said this was not the fi rst The companies did not im- “repeatedly violated” the terms Rights, which is linked to the Or- time such an accident had oc- mediately reply to requests for of his asylum. The ministry said it reserved ganisation of American States, curred. comment. Moreno accused Assange of the right to terminate asylum rejected Assange’s request that According to the offi cial Melby said barge traffi c would harming Ecuador’s relations with when it considered it justifi ed. Ecuador ease the conditions it Agência Brasil news agency, two not be aff ected on the Tocantins other countries by intervening in “By releasing information that has imposed on his residence in vehicles were crossing the bridge and Amazon rivers, which use their politics and said he did not distorts the truth, (Assange) and the London embassy. at the time of the collision. river ports including Vila do have the right to “hack private ac- his associates express once again Assange says Ecuador is seek- “At the moment, our prior- Conde and Barcarena. counts or phones.” WikiLeaks said their ingratitude and disrespect ing to end his asylum and is ity is searching for victims and Some 10% to 20% of the soy Moreno’s remarks were in retribu- to Ecuador,” it said. putting pressure on him by iso- giving complete support to their grown in Brazil’s centre west is tion for WikiLeaks having reported Assange took refuge in the lating him from visitors and spy- families,” Barbalho was quoted delivered by road at those ports, on corruption accusations against embassy in 2012 to avoid being ing on him. as saying in a statement from he said. Moreno, who denies wrongdoing. extradited to Sweden, where au- Ecuador has said its treat- Para’s state news agency. Willians Ribeiro, a supervisor In a statement, Ecuador’s thorities wanted to question him ment of Assange was in line with According to rescue workers, at Vila do Conde, told Reuters foreign ministry denied it had as part of a sexual assault inves- international law, but that his no crew or documents from the road traffi c to that port would be reached an agreement with the tigation. situation “cannot be extended A boat approaches the damaged bridge over the Moju River in boat that collided against the aff ected but there were alterna- British government to jail As- That probe was later dropped, indefi nitely.” Acara, Para state, Brazil. bridge were found on the scene. tive routes. Gulf Times 20 Monday, April 8, 2019 PAKISTAN

KP govt seeks Pakistan has intelligence $120mn loan for of new attack: Qureshi tourism

Reuters/Internews plicit in such attacks on India. what evidence Pakistan had or The Indian air force had dis- Internews Karachi/Islamabad A suicide car bombing by how he could be so specifi c with played pieces of a missile that it Islamabad Pakistan-based militants Pul- the timing, but he said Prime said was fi red by a Pakistani F-16 wama, in Indian-administered Minister Imran Khan had agreed before it was downed. akistan has “reliable intel- Kashmir, killed at least 40 In- to share the information with Satellite images showing lit- s part of Prime Minis- ligence” that India will at- dian paramilitary police on Feb- the country. tle sign of damage have also ter Imran Khan’s reform Ptack again this month, its ruary 14. The minister said that Paki- cast doubt on the success of Aagenda, the Khyber Pa- foreign minister said, drawing The risk of confl ict rose dra- stan acted in a mature and re- Indian air strikes on a camp of khtunkhwa government has condemnation from New Delhi matically on February 27, when sponsible manner after the In- the Jaish-e-Mohamed militant sought fi nancing of $120mn which described the claim as ir- India launched an air strike on dian actions on February 26, and group in northwestern Pakistan. from the World Bank to im- responsible. what it said was a militant train- made sincere eff orts to deesca- The standoff led Pakistan to prove tourism-enabling in- Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s ing base inside Pakistan. late the situation. close its airspace but most com- frastructure, enhance tourism comments came after tensions The following day, Pakistan Qureshi said that Pakistan will mercial air traffi c has since re- assets, and strengthen destina- over a February standoff be- shot down an Indian fi ghter jet act responsibly for peace in the sumed and major airports have tion management for sustain- tween the two countries had ap- and captured its pilot, who was world. opened. able tourism development in the peared to ease. later released. Prime Minister Khan has As strains between the two province. He said yesterday that an at- Earlier yesterday, Pakistan blamed India’s ruling Bharatiya neighbours apparently eased, A World Bank team is current- tack could take place between summoned the Indian deputy Janata Party (BJP) for “whipping Pakistan said on Friday that it ly evaluating the project, and April 16 and 20, adding that Pa- high commissioner to protest up war hysteria” over claims would release 360 Indian pris- it is expected that after getting kistan had told the fi ve perma- against any “misadventure”, that India shot down a Paki- oners this month. Qureshi: We have reliable intelligence that India is planning a new the loan from the World Bank’s nent members of the UN Secu- Pakistani Foreign Offi ce spokes- stani plane during the February The fi rst hundred were re- attack on Pakistan. As per our information this could take place soft loan window, International rity Council of its concerns. man Mohamrd Faisal said in a standoff . leased yesterday (see report). between April 16 and 20. Development Association (IDA), “India rejects the irresponsi- tweet. the project will be launched dur- ble and preposterous statement “We have reliable intelligence ing the next fi scal year. by the foreign minister of Pa- that India is planning a new at- The bank is expected to ap- kistan with a clear objective of tack on Pakistan. As per our in- prove the loan for the project, whipping up war hysteria in the formation this could take place estimated to cost $127 million, region,” a spokesman for India’s between April 16 and 20,” Min- next month. Foreign Offi ce said in a state- ister Qureshi told reporters in his In line with the reform agen- ment. “This public gimmick hometown of Multan. da, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appears to be a call to Pakistan- He said that in order to justify government has put economic based terrorists to undertake a its military action against Paki- revitalisation, job creation and terror attack in India.” stan and to increase diplomatic tourism destination develop- The Foreign Offi ce said that pressure against it, a new drama ment at the centre of its devel- India reserved the right to re- can be created in Indian-admin- opment roadmap. spond fi rmly and decisively to istered Kashmir on the pattern To achieve these objectives, any cross border militant attack, of Pulwama. including through its Integrated accusing Pakistan of being com- Qureshi did not elaborate on Tourism Development Project (KITE), the provincial gov- ernment had approached WB through the federal government for assistance. Authorities to release The proposed project will support activities to overcome infrastructure bottlenecks at 360 Indian prisoners popular sites in Kalam and Gal- yat, encourage higher tourist spending through the develop- Reuters He said that the prisoners ment of quality tourism prod- Karachi would be released in four batch- ucts in Chitral while lifting visi- es. tors’ pressure off the valleys that Due to the rocky relations host the indigenous people of akistan will release 360 between the two sides, prison- Kalash, and equip the authori- Indian prisoners this ers who have completed their ties with the tools for visitors Pmonth, the Foreign Of- jail terms often languish in each management and environmen- fi ce said on Friday, as the nu- other’s jails for months, if not tal preservation, including in clear-armed neighbours scale years, afterwards. Naran. back from a confrontation that According to the lists ex- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) prompted world powers to urge changed by both sides in Janu- is endowed with natural re- restraint. ary, there are 347 Pakistani Indian fishermen show their travelling cards while waiting yesterday at a railway station in Karachi, after they were released from the Malir sources shaped by Hindukush “Pakistan has decided that prisoners in Indian jails, 249 of Jail. Yesterday Pakistan released 100 Indian fishermen, held for trespassing into its territorial waters, off icials said. Indian and Pakistani and Himalayas mountains, with 360 Indian prisoners –355 fi sh- whom are what the spokesman fishermen are frequently detained for illegal fishing since the Arabian Sea border is not clearly defined and many boats lack the technology stunning alpine landscapes, ermen and fi ve civilians – who described as civilians, and 98 to fix their precise location. wildlife, lush forests and numer- have completed their term of fi shermen. ous glacial lakes. sentence, will be released,” Mo- There are 537 Indian prisoners ciprocate this,” the spokesman “These are 100 Indian fi sher- largest charity, the Edhi Foun- “They are going to Lahore It boasts historical and reli- hamed Faisal, spokesman for in Pakistani jails, 483 of whom said. men released from jail as a good- dation, told Reuters at Karachi’s from where they will be released giously signifi cant sites cover- Pakistan’s Foreign Offi ce, told are fi shermen. Yesterday the fi rst 100 Indian will gesture by Pakistan,” Saad Cantonment Railway Station into India across the Wagha bor- ing over 2,000 years of Buddhist, reporters. “We hope that India will re- fi shermen were released. Edhi, an offi cial with Pakistan’s yesterday. der crossing,” he added. Muslim, and Christian histories.

PTI govt’s fi rst tax amnesty scheme ‘ready for launch’ Gotham actor reveals

Internews people who have not declared holding any public offi ce since her love for legendary Islamabad their assets.” the year 2000 from availing of Pakistan will also get clear- the tax amnesty scheme, in an ance of the tax amnesty scheme attempt to address concern that singer Abida Parveen he Pakistan Tehreek-e- from the FATF, which is currently former heads of government and Insaf (PTI) government reviewing Pakistan’s legislation state can avail the assets “whit- Thas almost fi nalised its and administration from the per- ening” package. Internews Pinkett Smith for introducing fi rst tax amnesty scheme, to pro- spective of anti-money launder- The scheme is not meant to Islamabad them to the song. vide people with the means to le- ing and terror fi nancing. off er amnesty to public offi ce “OMG so beautiful, I don’t gitimise all kinds of off shore and Under the proposed scheme, holders who have piled up money even know what they are say- onshore undeclared assets, at the the government will off er three through corruption and other il- ho knew US actor ing yet I feel so emotional. rates of between 5% and 10%. “slabs” for declaring all kinds legal means. Jada Pinkett Smith Thank you for sharing,” one Prime Minister Imran Khan of assets, both off shore and on- In the last scheme, the limit Wwould be a fan of user wrote. would approve the new tax am- shore. was fi xed for the year 2008. legendary Sufi singer Abida Another one wrote: “Wow nesty scheme today, a senior fi - The proposed “slabs” are 5%, One deviation from past Parveen and Qawaal maestro this is amazing. I’m so thankful nance division offi cial said. 7.5% and 10%, for “whitening” of schemes proposed in the new Rahat Fateh Ali Khan?” that you posted this. Such an “After the prime minister’s the assets, though they could be amnesty package is that those The Gotham actor expressed uplifting gift to my soul.” formal approval, a summary will changed before cabinet approval, who “whiten” their money will her fondness in an Instagram Other also expressed similar be sent to the cabinet for approv- Finance Minister Umar: We have suff icient data now regarding all the source said. be required to fi le a tax return. post for the two legends. views and said that despite not al,” he added. such people (non-tax filers) from various sources. Moreover, the rates will also However, these people will be “Abida Parveen and Rahat understand what the singers The next cabinet meeting vary in cases of repatriation of given one-time complete immu- Fateh Ali Khan are two of my are saying, the song sounded scheduled for April 16 is expected work to crack down on those ernment had almost fi nalised the assets to Pakistan and in cases of nity from tax authorities. favourite vocalist of Sufi mu- romantic. “Thank you for this. to take up the summary. who are not fi ling tax returns and draft law of amnesty to be imple- non-repatriation of foreign as- It is not clear whether other sic. Major plug. Healing power.” This move coincides with the those who did not exist on the tax mented by April 16. sets. probing authorities, such as the “This song is called Chaap Another one thanked the ac- implementation of the Benami roll. “We are considering whether However, it is not yet clear Federal Investigation Agency Tilak and you can go on tor and said the song was really Act in March, in line with its ef- “We have suffi cient data now the scheme will be implemented whether the government would (FIA) and the National Account- YouTube to check out the lyr- amazing. “I’m glad Sufi and forts to document the economy regarding all such people from through a presidential ordinance link the scheme with the repa- ability Bureau (NAB), will also be ics. They are beautiful,” Pinkett South Asian music is reaching – allowing tax offi cials to confi s- various sources,” Umar said, or laid before the parliament for triation of wealth. barred from investigating cases Smith wrote. so many audiences.” cate whole properties, expensive adding that the crackdown would implementation,” the sources In the last scheme by the PML- of such people. The duo had collaborated Locals also took to the sec- vehicles and bank accounts reg- be launched a day after the tax said. N government, the link was not In the last scheme, complete for the song for Coke Studio’s tion and recommended that istered with fi ctitious individu- amnesty scheme ends. The most likely decision is to made with repatriation of assets. exemption was given from all season seven in 2014, with the Pinkett Smith listen to Nusrat als. “I am confi dent that more implement the scheme through The scope of the scheme was probing agencies, and there was song becoming one of the big- Fateh Ali Khan. The new tax amnesty scheme people will come under the tax a presidential ordinance, said expanded this time with inclu- also no provision for people to fi le gest hits the programme has Another one said: “Yay Jada! also coincides with a new global net now,” he said, adding his gov- one source while explaining that sion of all kinds of movable, im- their tax returns. produced. I speak for most, if not all South anti-tax evasion scheme that is ernment had received 1.8mn re- the passage of a money bill from movable assets, tangible and in- The FBR estimates that it will The lyrics is from a poem by Asians, we love this song!” operational under a multilateral turns this year. the parliament could take several tangible and bank accounts. be able to generate between Rs- Amir Khusro. Pinkett Smith is married tax convention on the avoidance In the next two years, the tar- days. Offi cial estimates of 20% to 300bn and Rs400bn through the Of course, fans were left to Hollywood superstar Will of double taxation and recom- get was to take this number up to Moreover, people also want the 40% of total bank accounts in the amnesty scheme, a claim which mesmerised and thanked Smith. mendations of Financial Action 5mn. scheme at the earliest as delays country are mandated. is not substantiated because the Task Force (FATF). In the past fi ve years, the pre- may lead to uncertainty. “We have already made past scheme shows poor com- Finance Minister Asad Umar vious Pakistan Muslim League The government wanted to of- amendments in Section 165A of pliance in terms of documenta- PIA doubles baggage charges on domestic fl ights said that the scheme is being de- – Nawaz (PML-N) government fer the amnesty scheme to people the income tax ordinance to ask tion and raising tax on untaxed signed in a fashion to document had off ered four tax amnesty before going into the Interna- banks about the mandated bank money. Flagship carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has raised its bag- the economy. schemes to people. tional Monetary Fund (IMF) pro- accounts details,” an offi cial said. They further suggest that the gage fees, nearly doubling it. “We have several representa- The last amnesty scheme of gramme. Similarly, the benami proper- tax statutory period of fi ve years Starting from April 1, the PIA has fixed charges of Rs5,000 on extra tions from all quarters, asking for the PML-N government was de- “The IMF is not in favour of ties, bank accounts, undeclared for probing past cases should luggage amounting to more than 20kg on domestic flights. a one-time relaxation for those signed in a fashion to encourage any amnesty scheme,” a senior duty paid vehicles, and jewellery be abolished and the penalty of The new increase means the airline is now charging Rs250/kg for bag- who have not declared their as- people to declare their assets, but tax offi cial said. “We will share will also be covered in the pro- non-disclosure after the am- gage in excess of 20kg. sets,” he said. avoided documentation. the scheme with the IMF after posed scheme. nesty is announced be raised to The previous charges were less than Rs100/kg. The minister also said that the Offi cial sources privy to the cabinet approval, to apprise them Under the proposed scheme, 300% along with fi ve years of The new charges come as fuel costs surge, a PIA spokesperson said. government had done its home- development said that the gov- by giving last chance to those the government will bar all those imprisonment. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES

Military Plan for bigger motorcycle dares groups to licence plates suspended debate By Glee Jalea By Catherine S Valente Manila Times Manila Times he Armed Forces of the resident Rodrigo Duterte Philippines yesterday hit has announced the sus- Tback at militant groups Ppension of a law requiring under the Makabayan bloc, dar- bigger motorcycle licence plates ing them to a television debate and imposing stiff fi nes, follow- over the latter’s supposed links ing an intervention by Senator to communist rebels. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade behalf of motorists. Jr, the military’s deputy chief Ejercito said Duterte’s deci- of staff for civil-military op- sion, announced before mo- erations, was responding to torcycle enthusiasts at the 25th pronouncements of Senate can- National Federation of Motor- didate Neri Colmenares and of cycle Clubs of the Philippines’ Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Car- National Motorcycle Conven- los Zarate, accusing the military tion in Iloilo City, showed that of “setting up” attacks against the chief executive was a “lis- their group and the National Un- tening president.” ion of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), “For me, it’s more like an im- think tank IBON Foundation, primatur for the conduct of a Gabriela women’s group, rights thorough study and discussion group Karapatan and labour among stakeholders to fully group Kilusang Mayo Uno. understand the law, with the “Makabayan, take the chal- end view of coming up with a lenge. See who are propagandis- common formula to assure the ing. Let’s see who is on the side safety of riders while the law’s of truth. On Monday, choose anti-criminality objective is be- your TV station. That’s how ing achieved,” Ejercito said. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito: key role Motorcycle riders have heaved a sigh of relief after President Rodrigo Duterte, announced he would simple it is,” Parlade said in a text Ejercito said prior to the suspend the law for bigger licence plates and stiff er fines. message. president’s announcement, he criminality of the president to the police and military. “We have treated you activists gave Duterte — himself a mo- succeed,” Ejercito said. He noted, however, that in be punished by a jail term of tice for themselves. How do we Human Rights. Transportation too well for too long. We don’t torcycle enthusiast — an over- In his remarks on Saturday, other countries, “There are no six months and one day to six do justice to these people?” agencies were looking into al- attack and maltreat activists and view of motorists’ reaction to Duterte said he would talk to plate numbers in front, only at years, or a fi ne of not less than He pointed out that motor- ternatives to make plates visible even capture NPA (New People’s Republic Act (RA) 11235 or the the Land Transportation Offi ce the back.” Duterte also said the P50,000, but not more than cycles had become “crime ma- from at least 15 metres away, an Army) members as you claim,” “Motorcycle Crime Prevention (LTO) and Sen.Richard Gordon, law’s prescribed fi ne of between P100,000 or both. chines” — used for killing or- offi cial from the Toll Regulatory he added. Act,” which the senator said had author of the Act. P50,000 to P100,000 for those Motorcycle drivers’ groups dinary people, media workers, Board (TRB) said yesterday. Parlade said former Bayan become “a source of complaint “I will try to convince the caught without the bigger li- have raised a howl over the law, lawyers, judges, justices, politi- TRB spokesman Bert Su- Muna Rep. Saturnino “Satur” and confusion among motorcy- LTO to maybe hang onto it, I will cence plates was “too high.” saying its requirements were cians and even military and po- ansing said at the “Balitaan sa Ocampo was aware about this. cle groups.” suspend it for the meantime, “Maybe as compromise, I’m discriminatory and might place lice personnel. Maynila” forum: “We are still Ocampo, he claimed, was “With me was motorcycle because it is not good. It is dan- willing to lower it to P10,000 to riders at risk. The Philippine National Po- studying how to make identifi - “surprised” after fi nding out legend, and the president’s very gerous to place another gadget, P15,000,” the president added. They claimed that bigger lice has reported that of the to- cation of plates from the front that NPA members captured in good friend, Butch Chase. We because the plate number has The law, signed by Duterte on front plates might be detached tal of 28,409 crimes committed side in such a way that it would Batangas were being fed fried gave the president a situationer sharp corners,” Duterte said. March 8, requires motorcycles at high speeds or if there was a by motorcycle-riding individu- not cause obstruction.” chicken and ice cream for des- and the sentiments of the riders “Instead, increase the size of to have bigger, colour-coded strong wind, and might cause als from 2010 to 2017, 46% or Suansing, however, backed sert. in general towards the recently the rear plate by one-fourth so number plates readable from injury. 13,062 involved fi rearms. the president’s decision to sus- “They were brainwashed to signed law. The president lis- that the number will be more the front, back and side of the Gordon said he would explain “And out of over 4,000 pend the requirement for mo- believe the [Philippine] Army tened to us attentively,” he said. visible. The rear is more impor- motorcycle from a distance of at the objective of the law to the motorcycle-riding crimes or torcycles to have larger and col- will skin them alive when cap- “He is a listening president. tant,” he added. least 15 metres. president, adding, “I’m only incidents in 2016, only eight our-coded licence plates. tured and it didn’t happen. Since The motorcycle community, The president explained that A person who drives a mo- defending people getting killed cases (0.18%) were solved,” said “As far as the plates are con- then, these former rebels have like the rest of the Filipino peo- he signed the measure into law torcycle without a number plate by riding-in-tandem assassins. Gordon, chairman of the Sen- cerned, I agree with him,” Su- been helping the government ple, wants the campaign against upon the recommendation of or a readable number plate will They can no longer seek jus- ate Committee on Justice and ansing said. win over the NPA,” Parlade said. Duterte slams drug Crackdown against illegal posters war campaign critics

By Ralph Villanueva “No amount of cuss words or Manila Times delusional statements can deny his accountability for extraju- dicial killings and numerous resident Rodrigo Duterte other rights violations because slammed anew critics of he is on record in countless oc- Phis rhetoric against drug casions on his orders inciting suspects, saying they had no and justifying these crimes,” right to control his speech. Duterte: silencing critics she added. Last week, Duterte “The human rights (groups) said his drug war was a “fail- listening, it is my pleasure to tile?” he added. ure” and that the drug situation repeat the warning. If you (drug In a text message to Manila in the country had worsened. traders) destroy the Republic of Times, Karapatan Secretary The death toll on suspected the Philippines, I will destroy General Cristina Palabay said drug personalities since Presi- you and if you make our sons that Duterte was “delusional” dent Duterte was elected in and daughters inutile, I will kill for uttering such statements. 2016 stood at 5,176, according you. Simple as that,” he said “He deliberately fails to rec- to the February 2019 update of during the 25th National Fed- ognise that he is mandated and the government’s “Real Num- eration of the Motorcycle Clubs obliged to respect, promote and bers PH” information cam- of the Philippines Annual Na- protect the human rights of paign. tional Convention in Iloilo City. Filipinos under the Philippine The number came from the “Human rights groups said, Constitution and international 119,841 operations conducted it is not allowed. I am tasked human rights agreements,” since July 2016. with keeping order here in my Palabay said. The fi gure was much lower country then you will ruin it Palabay said Duterte could than the 12,000 to 27,000 fatal- Personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways dismantle campaign posters on an electric post in Manila. The Commission with… in the name of human not dodge accountability for ities claimed by human rights on Elections had warned politicians to take down illegal posters or face charges. rights, you will make us inu- his actions through curses. groups.

Mamasapano massacre Climate change ‘will end sea row’ suspect held in Cotabato

By Bernadette E Tamayo ed reefs in the South China Sea and Manila Times exposes the foolishness of taking and weaponising them,” he said. Manila Times Cotabato City, a police report President Rodrigo Duterte on Manila said. oreign Aff airs Secretary Thursday warned China not to touch Police said the apprehen- Teodoro Locsin Jr yester- Pagasa (Thitu) Island in the South sion of the suspect was carried Fday claimed rising sea levels China Sea (West Philippine Sea), ne of the suspects out by virtue of an arrest war- brought about by climate change where hundreds of Chinese vessels behind the encoun- rant issued on January 25, 2017 would eventually wipe out structures have massed. Oter in Mamasapano in by Judge Alandrex Betoya of and artifi cial islands built by China The president issued the warning Maguindanao that killed 44 Branch 15 of the Cotabato City in the contested Kalayaan (Spratly) following reports from the Armed elite policemen in 2015 was Regional Trial Court. island group. Forces of the Philippines that hun- arrested by the Philippine Na- The order stemmed from the He made the remark on Twitter dreds of Chinese coast guard and tional Police (PNP) in Cotabato massacre of 44 members of the in response to a news article on the fi shing vessels had “swarmed” the City over the weekend, two Special Action Force (SAF) in prospects of fl oating cities amid ris- Manila-held Pagasa Island. years after a warrant was issued Mamasapano in January 2015 ing sea levels in Antarctica due to cli- The military’s Western Command for his arrest. by extremists while serving an mate change. said the vessels were part of China’s The Criminal Investigation arrest warrant against terror- “Rising sea levels will wipe out the maritime militia. and Detection Group (CIDG) ist Zulkifli Abdhir in the same issue of disputed reeds in the South Chinese Ambassador to the Phil- in the Autonomous Region in town. Police said the case of China/West Philippine Sea. And ippines Zhao Jinhua, however, said Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Esmail was not recommended good riddance,” Locsin said. the Chinese vessels seen near the is- led by the Cotabato City police, for bail and the arrest was also “At the UN (United Nations) Se- land were not armed. arrested Tamano Esmail Sabpa under the PNP’s nationwide curity Council I said the Philippines The Philippines had fi led a diplo- or Tamano Sabpa Esmael on “Oplan Pagtugis.” would not regret climate change and matic protest with Beijing over the Saturday at 2 pm at the park- Authorities also recovered an rising sea level if it covers the disput- matter. Foreign Aff airs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. ing area of a regional hospital in identification card. Gulf Times 22 Monday, April 8, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor 08 - 04 -2019 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 NMoQ refl ects Qatar’s origins and modernity

The recent opening of the iconic new National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has marked one of the most signifi cant cultural occasions in the country’s history. This is best illustrated through the words of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums Board of Trustees. As she stated, the opening of the NMoQ comes at a historic moment after a decade of hard work that helped to build a lot of relationships and friendships with people in Qatar and in many parts of the world. Visitors to the NMoQ will be making a China deserves recognition journey through the history of Qatar from ancient times to the modern era, refl ecting its diversity and vitality and openness to the world as the chairperson explained. “The pieces and antiques from ancient times come together with modern collections that are becoming more for its achievements glamorous and sophisticated in the spectacular interactive galleries that we envisioned with HE Sheikha Amna bint By Andrew Sheng and Xiao Geng At these gatherings, top offi cials from trade confl icts, rising isolationism, announced their intention to reduce Abdulaziz bin Jassim al-Thani, director of the National Hong Kong China’s State Council, including key surging anti-immigrant sentiment, the tax and social-security burden Museum of Qatar, and her team, as well as Qatar Museums ministers and the premier, create and calls for massive increases in for business by another CN¥2tn, and detailed reports, identifying the social spending, based on concepts like to increase the fi scal defi cit by 0.2 Trustees, members and experts from many universities in n Washington, DC, a bipartisan challenges China faces, as well as a modern monetary theory. percentage points of GDP, to 2.8%, Qatar and beyond,” HE Sheikha Al Mayassa pointed out. consensus about China has blueprint for continued reform and For China, these developments imply in order to counter the threat of True to her words, the NMoQ refl ects Qatar’s origins and emerged: the United States is opening up. a more hostile external environment. protectionism-driven global defl ation. modernity. The stunning building, designed by French Ifacing a trade-manipulating, The results are shared with delegates With the growth already slowing, Moreover, the NPC adopted a new authoritarian intellectual-property attending the meetings and broadcast policymakers at the NPC and CPPCC foreign investment law that will reduce architect Jean Nouvel, houses the renovated palace of thief that represents a strategic threat to live to thousands of offi cial delegates focused on how to ensure economic, barriers to market entry by foreign Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim al-Thani. the US and its allies and deserves to be and Chinese and foreign reporters. fi nancial, and social stability while entities and improve substantially the The roots of the Qatari punished. But the consensus is wrong. These gatherings thus represent an reviving dynamism. protection of intellectual property people are deep in history. In fact, China deserves recognition, if important window into evolving Despite the challenges China faces rights. “The opening of not appreciation, for its achievements. Chinese policymaking and governance. – including a high debt-to-GDP While many in the West sacrifi ce “But our country is still a In recent decades, China has made At the most recent NPC and CPPCC, ratio and volatile stock markets – the homo economicus to appease homo the NMoQ comes young country, so it is not unprecedented contributions to global Chinese policymakers weighed country’s leaders have proved adept politicus, China’s leaders are trying to surprising, when building economic growth and green innovation, the backlash against the standard at securing progress toward these satisfy both. They know that neglecting at a historic our national museum, to lifting more than 800mn people out of neoliberal economic model, based goals. Consumer price index inflation the needs of homo politicus could lead poverty since it began its “reform and on free movement of goods, capital, stands at 2.1%. Last year, 13.6 million to social instability and fragmentation. moment” fl y away from the models opening up” in the late 1970s. China – information, and sometimes labour. urban jobs were added, underpinning But they also know that they must of old museums, and to and the world – owes this success to the The advanced economies and the an unemployment rate of just 5%, respond to internal pressures and build a monument speaking in the language of the present authorities’ experimental approach to international institutions they lead and over 18,000 new businesses rapidly evolving external conditions in and the future,” HE Sheikha Al Mayassa noted. In the same policymaking, characterised by trial and have long assumed that expanding were launched every day, on average. ways that make good economic sense. error and constant adaptation. these freedoms naturally leads to better China’s international trade and Not every decision will turn out to context, she pointed out that the international museums of Contrary to popular belief in the outcomes for all. payment position is largely balanced. be the right one. But in China, when the 19th century used to house strategic collections. “We West, where democratic elections But the neoliberal model has had This is the result of a comprehensive mistakes are made, adjustments follow. believe that the museums of the 21st century depend on a are typically regarded as essential grave unintended consequences, and ever-evolving strategy aimed at While this form of accountability is not more creative way, turning from just a place to store holdings to holding governments responsible such as environmental degradation, improving the quality of life and work, perfect, it has produced a track record for their policies, China’s approach rising inequality, and the emergence reducing poverty, lowering the tax and that is exceptional by any standard. – and exhibits to a platform to build relations and open the supports accountability. Indeed, the of monopolies (especially in the tech regulatory burden for small private Project Syndicate horizons of dialogue, adding that visitors will fi nd this vision evidence shows that policymaking is sector). On a more emotional level, businesses, and championing green, applied in the National Museum of Qatar in a number of responsive to feedback from both the globalisation and openness has fuelled innovative, open, and sustainable z Andrew Sheng is Distinguished spaces such as garden and educational halls and museum Chinese people and the international cultural insecurity. As frustration with growth. For example, last year, China Fellow of the Asia Global Institute community, with leaders correcting the advanced economies’ approach has reduced its average tariff rate from at the University of Hong Kong and programmes designed for all categories and cultures.” mistakes and updating outdated grown, so has mistrust of the experts 9.8% in 2017 to 7.5%; opened another a member of the UNEP Advisory HE Sheikha Al Mayassa also pointed out that the measures as they gain new information. and elites who championed it. 4,100km of high-speed railways; Council on Sustainable Finance. Xiao emphasis has been placed on the preparation of teachers Such adaptation is supported by In response to these anxieties, granted permanent urban residency Geng, President of the Hong Kong to use the museum to teach all subjects including two annual meetings that have been rational homo economicus has to 14mn workers from rural areas; Institution for International Finance, is held in Beijing every March since 1998: morphed into emotional homo politicus and implemented tax and fee cuts a professor at Peking University HSBC mathematics, history and geography. That the visionaries the National People’s Congress (NPC) – an agent susceptible to the sirens of that reduced business costs by some Business School and at the University behind the NMoQ have succeeded in their path-breaking and the Chinese People’s Political nationalism, tribalism, protectionism, CN¥1.3tn ($193bn). of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Business and eff orts was evident on the fi rst day of public entry. Crowds Consultative Conference (CPPCC). and populism. The result is escalating The Chinese authorities have now Economics. of delighted visitors streamed in to the museum, with many staying for several hours to take in the multitude of experiences, sights and sounds on off er. The reaction from the public clearly indicated that the many months of painstaking work and precise planning had been a huge success as visitors were hugely complimentary about the living experience represented across the museum’s 11 galleries full of movement, sound and colour. Right from the opening day, Qatari and expatriate residents have been able to immerse themselves in the museum’s unique, encompassing environments, each of which tells its part of the story of Qatar through a special combination of architectural space, music, poetry, oral histories, evocative aromas, archaeological and heritage objects, commissioned artworks, monumentally scaled art fi lms, and more. In short, NMoQ has added yet another feather to Qatar’s crown of achievements.

To Advertise [email protected] Display 44466621 44418811 Classified 44466609 44418811 Subscription [email protected]

© 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved File photo of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addressing delegates during the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Gulf Times Monday, April 8, 2019 23 COMMENT What if zero interest rates are the new normal?

By Adair Turner grew from 50% to 170% of GDP and and confi dence; and, in October, Tokyo adequate growth seemed attainable Japan will implement a long-planned only if debt grew far more rapidly than sales tax increase which threatens to nominal GDP. slow consumption growth. Eurozone ver since major central banks After the crisis, loan growth turned growth, too, is slowing in the face of cut short-term interest rates negative and remained depressed declining external demand. close to zero in autumn 2008, for many years, not because an So we are back to facing the same Eand subsequently purchased impaired fi nancial system lacked the question as in 2016: What to do if huge volumes of bonds as part of capital to extend credit, but because stagnation threatens when interest their quantitative easing operations, overleveraged households and rates are already close to zero? Among economists have debated about when companies were determined to pay the proposed answers are variants and how fast the “exit” from these down debt even if interest rates were of monetary fi nance. Proponents of unorthodox monetary policies would zero. The same pattern was observed in “modern monetary theory” argue that be. Japan in the 1990s. money-fi nanced fi scal expenditure But, a decade later, developed- In this environment, large-scale should be the normal mechanism for economy interest rates are stuck far fiscal stimulus was the only way managing nominal demand: and the below pre-crisis levels and likely to to achieve even anaemic growth. “Green New Deal” presents monetary remain so. Germany’s ten-year bond Britain’s public-finance deficit grew fi nance as one option for fi nancing yield of -0.02% (as of March 23) to 10.1% of GDP in 2009, the US socially and environmentally desirable signals market expectations that the deficit ballooned to 12.17%, and even investment. European Central Bank will maintain the eurozone’s increased to 6.3%. The valid insight behind these zero policy rates not just until 2020 But the inevitable rise in public debt propositions – that governments (the offi cial ECB forward guidance) but led many governments to conclude and central banks together can to 2030. Japanese bond yields imply that these large deficits must soon be always create nominal demand – was zero or negative interest rates for even curtailed. Fiscal austerity, combined explained by Milton Friedman in an longer. And while ten-year yields with continued private deleveraging, important 1948 essay. But it is vital in the United States and the United led to inflation rates stuck below also to understand that excessive Kingdom are just above 1% and 2.4%, target, disappointing growth in monetary fi nance is hugely harmful, respectively, both of these suggest real wages, and a populist political and it is dangerous to view it as a minimal or no increases in policy rates backlash. costless route to solving long-term for another decade. By 2016, it seemed that challenges, rather than a demand- The 2008 fi nancial crisis may have governments and central banks were management tool for use in exceptional inaugurated a full quarter-century of “out of ammunition,” monetary circumstances. dramatically lower interest rates. In or fiscal, and economists debated Faced with slow growth, political this new normal, still more unorthodox whether any policies could avoid US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) hold a news conference for their discontent, and large inherited debt policies – including forms of monetary secular stagnation when interest proposed “Green New Deal” to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years, at the US Capitol in Washington, in burdens, monetary fi nance cannot be fi nance – may in some countries be rates were already zero and public this February 7, 2019 file picture. The “Green New Deal” presents monetary finance as one option for financing socially and a taboo option. In Japan, permanent needed to maintain reasonable growth. debt levels were already high. Some, environmentally desirable investment. monetary fi nance is already occurring, The fi nancial crisis occurred in 2008 including me, broke the ultimate even though the central bank denies because defi cient regulation allowed policy taboo and suggested that we of global growth and infl ation had risen 5.0% in 2019: China’s grew from below The global economy recovered because it. The challenge is to ensure that it huge risks to develop within the might need to consider monetary signifi cantly, and central banks and 1% in 2014 to over 4%, and Japan’s the world’s three largest economies is used only within disciplines such fi nancial system itself. But the depth of finance of increased fiscal deficits. markets were again focused on the long remained around 4%, abandoning rejected the idea that high public debt as Bernanke proposed, rather than the subsequent recession, and the long Former Federal Reserve Chairman anticipated “exit” from unorthodox previous plans for a reduction to burdens made further fi scal expansion assuming that pre-crisis normality period of slow growth that followed, Ben Bernanke argued that as long policies. It is vital to understand what zero by 2020. And while the US fi scal impossible. will return any time soon. – Project was the result not of continued as the quantity of such finance was drove this sudden improvement. expansion was fi nanced by bond sales But the impact of that stimulus Syndicate fi nancial system fragility, but of the determined by independent central The answer is simple: massive to the private sector, in China the has faded. US growth is slowing excessive leverage in the real economy banks, useful stimulus could be fi scal expansion, which in two major central bank indirectly fi nanced large as the one-off impact of President z Adair Turner, Chairman of the that had developed over the previous achieved without excessive inflation. economies was partly or wholly bond purchases by commercial banks, Donald Trump’s tax cuts wears off ; Institute for New Economic Thinking half-century. Between 1950 and 2007, Just two years after the gloomy fi nanced by central bank money. The while in Japan, the entire net increase China is struggling to curb excessive and former Chairman of the UK advanced economies’ private-sector 2016 nadir, however, the skies seemed US fi scal defi cit rose from 3.9% of GDP in public debt is fi nanced by central leverage and manage the impact of Financial Services Authority, is Chair of debt (households and companies) dramatically clearer. By 2018, forecasts in 2015 to 4.7% in 2018 and a projected bank purchases of government bonds. Trump’s tariff increases on exports the Energy Transitions Commission.

Three-day forecast

Springtime for nationalism? TODAY Maximum Temperature : 320c Minimum Temperature : 240c By Bill Emmott (M5S), which came to power in June usually through the scope of bilateral way to think about it will not be as an London 2018 as the senior partner in Italy’s relations with the United States and/or anti-EU phenomenon. TUESDAY governing coalition, but has since lost China, rather than multilateralism. A rebalancing of power toward the Maximum Temperature : 310c a string of regional elections, halving Similar issues are in play in the run- nationalist right would represent a Minimum Temperature : 240c s populism still on the rise? That its vote from a year earlier. That decline up to Indonesia’s April 17 presidential changing view of the EU, but not an WEDNESDAY question will be looming over does not refl ect voters’ disillusionment election, where the incumbent, President outright Brexit-style rejection of it. It Maximum Temperature : 280c elections in Israel, India, Indonesia, with M5S’s populist policy proposals; Joko Widodo (“Jokowi”), and his rival, would augur a further shift away from Minimum Temperature : 230c the Philippines, Spain, and the after all, it has succeeded in Prabowo Subianto, can both be described integration, and toward a more ad hoc I Fisherman's forecast European Union over the next two implementing its promised basic as “populists.” The diff erence is that intergovernmental approach for tackling months. Yet it will be misplaced, for the income for jobseekers. Rather, M5S’s while Jokowi is running on his fi ve-year issues related to immigration and the WARNING record of leadership in both Indonesia rule of law. The scope for top-down Inshore : Expected thundery rain real contest is between nationalism and participation in the coalition has been at some places at first internationalism. overshadowed by the strong nationalist and Southeast Asia generally, Prabowo is policies issued from Brussels would be Offshore : Expected thunder rain To be sure, the nationalist- rhetoric of its governing partner, the positioning himself more as a Duterte- signifi cantly narrowed. And as individual associated with strong internationalist division is being right-wing League party. style nationalist, as he did in 2014. EU member states began to pursue their wind and high sea WEATHER prized open by populists themselves, Now, consider Indian Prime Minister In Europe, the politics are diff erent, own policies toward Russia, Libya, and Inshore : Cloudy with chance of particularly US President Donald Narendra Modi, Philippine President but the key divisions are strikingly other third countries, there would be a light rain at first at some Trump, whose instinctive disdain for Rodrigo Duterte, and that consummate similar. The terms populist and broad retreat from eff orts to negotiate places becomes partly cloudy later and slight international laws and institutions survivor, Israeli Prime Minister euroskeptic do not truly capture the common foreign and security policies. dust at times has long been clear. But it is also Binyamin Netanyahu. Unlike M5S, all rise of far-right parties such as Vox in So, forget populism. The real Offshore : P cloudy to cloudy being exploited by more mainstream three campaigned as populists but have Spain, the Freedom Party of Austria, and contest in elections this year, as well with chance of scat- tered rain maybe politicians, including some in that governed as tough-guy nationalists. In the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) as in the US presidential election in thundery at times. most multilateral of institutions, the elections on April 9 (Israel), April 11- in Germany; nor are they suffi cient for 2020, will be between nationalism WIND European Union, which is experiencing May 19 (India), and May 13 (Philippines), understanding the policies of Hungarian and internationalism. Amid rising Inshore : Northerly-Northwester- ly 08-18/24 KT a profound change in its internal it is that nationalist approach that will Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and geopolitical tensions, increased Offshrore : Northeasterly-South- political dynamics. be tested. Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) migration fl ows, and the lingering easterly 08-18/28 KT The term populism merely describes Modi, Duterte, and Netanyahu have party. stresses of past fi nancial crises, the Visibility : 4-8 KM a campaigning technique used by each used fear – of terrorist attacks To be sure, these parties are all question is whether appeals to a rules- Offshore : 3-5/9 FT based international order can still win insurgent politicians of all stripes. from Pakistan, drug cartels, and Hamas nationalist, conservative, and generally Around the region Hence, its power as a political epithet rockets, respectively – and appeals to opposed to immigration. But with voters’ hearts and calm their fears. In Weather has diminished with use, especially in national pride. Their stated goal is to constant reference to “law and order,” the absence of US leadership to lend that Weather tomorrow Max/min the years since the Brexit referendum strengthen the nation-state against they are exploiting cultural rather than idea credibility, the answer is anyone’s today Max/min P Cloudy 30/17 and Trump’s election. Once in power, threats foreign and domestic, through military or geostrategic fears. Hence, guess. – Project Syndicate Baghdad P Cloudy 29/15 P Cloudy 28/21 populists still have to govern to voters’ both economic and political means. should the far-right make signifi cant Kuwait CityM Sunny 30/22 Cloudy 29/23 liking, or else risk defeat at the next They have little regard for international gains in Spain’s general election z Bill Emmott, a former editor in chief Manama P Cloudy 28/22 P Cloudy 32/27 election. institutions or laws, and if they consider this April, and then in the European of The Economist, is the author of The Muscat P Cloudy 33/28 M Sunny 21/11 Consider the Five Star Movement the international context at all, it is Parliament elections in May, the right Fate of the West. Tehran P Cloudy 19/11

Live issues Hospital staff errors spread bacteria

units at their hospital. Half of the in Infection Control and Hospital to better observe donning and doffi ng By Carolyn Crist Around the world Reuters Health doctors and nurses had received formal Epidemiology, they found that more methods and potential errors of various training in the use of personal protective than a third of the healthcare workers healthcare workers.” Weather Weather equipment for the Ebola virus within acquired a multidrug-resistant Simple interventions are needed that today Max/min tomorrow Max/min ealthcare workers car- the previous year, and 90% had received organism during a patient encounter. reinforce the preferred order of doffi ng, Athens Rain 16/11 S Showers 18/12 ing for infectious patients “donning and doffi ng” training within Notably, four healthcare workers had which could reduce contamination, he Beirut Sunny 22/16 M Sunny 22/16 sometimes make mistakes the previous fi ve years. it on their hands, four had it on their said. Removing gloves and gowns together Bangkok P Cloudy 36/29 M Sunny 36/29 Hwhen removing personal During the study, the workers oversaw clothes or jewellery, three had it on their as a unit, for instance, seemed most Berlin M Sunny 18/03 M Sunny 12/01 protective garments, resulting in con- 95 patients with contact precautions for stethoscope, and two had it on their helpful in preventing self-contamination. Cairo P Cloudy 31/19 Sunny 29/14 tamination of clothes or equipment methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus in-hospital mobile phones. About 70% “While we need more research Cape Town P Cloudy 20/17 P Cloudy 23/16 with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a aureus, or MRSA, as well as vancomycin- of environmental sites had organisms, to better understand potential Colombo M Sunny 32/26 M Sunny 32/26 small study shows. resistant Enterococci and multidrug- especially items that were close to transmission risk, we can also focus Dhaka S T Storms 31/23 S T Storms 29/23 “No one is perfect and inadvertent resistant gram-negative bacilli. patients such as blood pressure cuff s, on strategies to assist healthcare Hong Kong P Cloudy 25/22 M Sunny 24/22 healthcare worker contamination The research team collected 6,000 call buttons and bed rails. workers with properly removing gowns Istanbul S T Storms 20/11 Cloudy 17/11 with multi-drug resistant organisms samples from 5,000 sites around the Overall, 49 workers, or 39%, made and gloves,” said Sarah Krein of the Jakarta S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/25 can occur and may be a key step in ICUs, including items that had touched multiple doffi ng errors and were more University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Karachi M Sunny 33/24 P Cloudy 33/24 the spread of potential pathogens in the patient’s body and environmental likely to have contaminated clothes Krein, who wasn’t involved with this London S Showers 16/08 Showers 12/07 healthcare settings,” said lead study surfaces such as blood pressure cuff s, after a patient interaction. For instance, study, has researched infectious agent Manila P Cloudy 36/27 P Cloudy 35/28 author Dr Koh Okamoto of Rush call buttons and sinks. They also tested all four healthcare workers with hand transmission precautions in hospitals. Moscow Showers 12/07 Showers 14/07 University Medical Centre in Chicago. the healthcare workers’ hands, gloves contamination made errors while For example, signs or cues inside New Delhi P Cloudy 36/23 M Sunny 38/24 “The more we understand how and and gowns before and after patient removing their gowns and gloves. In patient rooms could remind healthcare New York Cloudy 24/13 Cloudy 15/08 why contamination happens, the better interactions. In addition, they watched particular, hand contamination was 10 workers of the proper procedures for Paris Cloudy 17/07 P Cloudy 17/07 prepared we are to help healthcare workers the “doffi ng,” or removal process, times higher when gloves were removed removing gowns and gloves, she said. Sao Paulo Showers 22/18 Showers 21/17 avoid it,” he told Reuters Health by e-mail. and recorded errors based on Centre before gowns. Some researchers are also working on Seoul M Sunny 16/03 S Showers 14/05 Over a six-month period, Okamoto of Disease Control and Prevention “Our study occurred in a real-world a gown redesign that would use colour Singapore S T Storms 33/26 T Storm 32/26 and colleagues observed 125 healthcare guidelines, which recommends busy ICU setting where the rush of coding to better identify the outside of Sydney M Sunny 29/19 S T Storms 23/14 workers, including 83 nurses and 24 removing gowns and gloves together. crisis care makes simple slip-ups more the gown, so workers can more carefully Tokyo Cloudy 16/09 Clear 17/07 doctors, in four adult intensive care According to a report published likely,” Okamoto said. “This allowed us remove it, roll it up and dispose it. Gulf Times 24 Monday, April 8, 2019 QATAR QU forum to focus on digital innovations in

HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti inaugurating the exhibition on the sidelines of QU Digital education Innovation Forum as other dignitaries look on. n the presence of HE the bring technology and industry our capacity to do more and how relations,” he stated. “We need eff ort from all disciplines and keenness to achieve its national He hoped that the participants Minister of Transport and leaders together to share ideas we can volunteer in the service to stop for a moment and ques- extensive research and studies. I vision to transform Qatar into a through the various sessions can ICommunications Jassim Seif and insights on new technology of education to make the future tion where are we headed? What believe the QU Digital Innovation knowledge economy, which re- reach concrete results that en- Ahmed al-Sulaiti, Qatar Univer- trends and their impact on edu- brighter.” are the implications of using Forum is an important fi rst step quires a radical change in strate- hance the positive aspects of this sity (QU) president Dr Hassan cation. The forum also provides “Digital innovation is a part of such solutions in our everyday for this.” gies, plans and goals. “digital innovation.” al-Derham and the Ministry of the university community a plat- our lives, with its many benefi ts lives? More importantly, we need QU through its strategic plan College of the North Atlantic QU, in participation with the Education and Higher Educa- form to explore the latest tech- and also its many challenges. to ask, how we can use digital in- 2018-2022, provides six key – Qatar’s vice-president (fi nance computer technology company tion undersecretary Dr Ibrahim nological developments related We are in a stage where there novations to build a knowledge goals, including seven key strat- and administration) Dr Salem Dell, is also hosting an exhibition bin Saleh al-Nuaimi launched to education. are many solutions provided by economy to achieve sustainable egies, that includes a digital al-Naemi observed that QU’s or- on the sidelines of the event, fea- the QU Digital Innovation Forum In his speech during the event, technology, in various ways such development in line with the Qa- transformation strategy, and a ganisation of the forum was vital turing a number of leading insti- yesterday. Dr al-Derham said, “The organi- as in education, business, per- tar National Visions 2030. Such leadership and innovation strat- because of the importance of the tutions in the fi eld. HE al-Sulaiti The two-day forum aims to sation of this forum enhances sonal lives and even our social questions require a concerted egy. This is in line with the state’s issues and ideas being discussed. opened the exhibition. Qatar Airways’ Al Darb programme holds recruitment drive at Al Hazm

atar Airways’ Al Darb programme, the airline’s QQatarisation initiative, held its recruitment event for nationals at Al Hazm in Doha on April 3. The one-day event invited young nationals to meet with Qatar Airways’ recruitment staff and learn more about the airline’s Al Darb programme. Meaning ‘The Pathway’ in Arabic, the Al Darb programme A rain-soaked road in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam invites young nationals to ex- plore the many diff erent employ- ment opportunities available at Qatar Airways Group, including the National Scholarships pro- More rain expected, says Met gramme, Cadet Pilot programme and Aircraft Maintenance Engi- neering programme, the airline hundershowers are ex- pected in these places and there recording 25C. The maximum said in a statement. pected in some places in is a chance of scattered rain, went up to 38C in Shehaimiya, Tthe early hours of today, which may become thundery at 36C in Dukhan and Abu Samra, Programmes are tailored the Qatar Met department has times. The sea level, meanwhile, 35C in Umm Bab, Batna and so that young nationals said. The weather offi ce has may rise to 9ft. Inshore areas other places, 34C in Sheehaniya can choose their own also issued a marine warning for will see cloudy conditions to- and Turayna, and 31C in Doha career paths and thundery rain, strong winds and day and there is a chance of rain and the Qatar University area. identify development The Al Darb recruitment initiative at Al Hazm. high seas today. in some places at fi rst. Partly The Met department had on opportunities, gaining cloudy conditions will prevail Saturday said in a report that experience in a culturally Qatar Airways senior vice- ployer of choice for nationals.” airline, Qatar Airways was named The skies are expected to later and slight dust is also ex- unsettled weather conditions diverse organisation president — Human Resources The Al Darb Qatarisation pro- ‘World’s Best Business Class’ by become cloudy at times, pected occasionally. were likely to aff ect the coun- Nabeela Fakhri said, “At Qatar gramme, a government initiative the 2018 World Airline awards, especially in the evening Parts of the country received try until the weekend due to the Programmes are tailored so Airways, we believe that you that aligns with Qatar National managed by international air and at night, and there some rain yesterday, too, includ- extension of a low-pressure sys- that young nationals can choose make the most of yourself when Vision 2030, includes a variety of transport rating organisation is a chance of scattered ing Doha. Meanwhile, the mini- tem over the region. their own career paths and iden- you work somewhere that makes modules — from integrating new Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best rain of variable intensity mum temperature is expected to The skies are expected to be- tify development opportunities, the most of you. joiners into the world of avia- Business Class Seat’, ‘Best Airline – which may be thundery be 21C in Dukhan and Abu Samra come cloudy at times, especially gaining experience in a cultur- “Our Al Darb programme con- tion to developing high-calibre in the Middle East’, and ‘World’s at times today, followed by 22C in Al Khor in the evening and at night, ally diverse organisation. The Al tinues to be tremendously suc- students into future professional Best First Class Airline Lounge’. and Ruwais, 23C in Wakrah and and there is a chance of scat- Darb programme enables stu- cessful in providing nationals airline pilots. Qatar Airways also won two The detailed forecast says Mesaieed, and 24C in Doha. The tered rain of variable intensity – dents and graduates to work on with the opportunity to work for It provides fi nancial and aca- awards at the Linkedin Talent northeasterly-southeasterly maximum, on the other hand, will which may be thundery at times. real projects, preparing them for one of the world’s leading air- demic support to nationals Awards 2018: ‘Best Employer winds will blow at 8-18 knots range from 26C in Ruwais to 33C The department urged people to a successful career at Qatar Air- lines, choosing their own career studying at home and overseas. Brand’ and ‘Best Recruiter’. The off shore and reach a high of 28 in Al Khor, with Doha expected to be cautious and avoid going to ways Group. The diversity of the path along the way. Students are provided with as- airline currently operates a mod- knots during thundershowers see a high of 32C. sea in view of the expected con- initiative allows nationals to ex- “As the national carrier of Qa- sistance during their studies and, ern fl eet of more than 250 aircraft before becoming northwesterly Yesterday, the minimum tem- ditions, and also follow the lat- plore diff erent career paths that tar, we are very pleased to have upon completion, join Qatar Air- via its hub, Hamad International by the evening. perature was 21C in Abu Samra est updates through its offi cial meet their interests, the state- taken part in the initiative at Al ways as Graduate Developees. Airport, to more than 160 desti- Cloudy conditions are ex- and Sheehaniya, with Doha social media accounts. ment notes. Hazm, as we seek to be the em- A multiple-award-winning nations worldwide.

Medina Centrale Spring Festival at The Pearl-Qatar concludes

United Development Company (UDC), the master developer of The Pearl-Qatar and Gewan Islands, concluded Medina Centrale Spring Festival yesterday. The outdoor event, which ran from April 4 to 7, featured a variety of entertaining programmes that attracted thousands of children and families to the most lively and dynamic community in the heart of The Pearl-Qatar. Throughout the four-day festival, retail outlets in Medina Centrale welcomed the high influx of residents and visitors who spent quality time between festival activities and the variety of retail and dining off erings that give Medina Centrale its casual feel. Visiting families specifically commended the mesmerising flower tunnel structure, which was erected especially for the event, in addition to the roaming parades, stage performances, graff iti artists, and caricaturists. Meanwhile, children were treated to fun train rides, mascot shows, remote-control car racing, face painting, and drawing activities at a dedicated area that featured a playground and a host of workshops.