QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 1 Dahlan slams UAE for mixing National Museum politics to off er rare look into Qatar’s past with sport published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11159 April 20, 2019 Sha’baan 15, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Family Day Festival at Al Udeid Air Base Central market to ARAB WORLD | Confl ict 46 Palestinians injured in Israeli attack get year-round At least 46 Palestinians, including medics and journalists, were injured yesterday when Israeli occupation forces attacked hundreds of sale yard for protesters taking part in the weekly Great March of Return protests at Gaza border, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency. The occupation forces fired live bullets local products and rubber-coated steel rounds at the protesters. A child was directly O Over 75 local farms expected to benefit from new yard hit by a teargas canister in his head, and his condition was described as he Doha Central Market is set The proposed sale yard is described critical. Page 3 to get a year-round, air-condi- as a part of a comprehensive project, Ttioned sale yard for local agri- launched more than two years ago, to AMERICA | Politics cultural products with the Ministry of renovate the whole area of the Doha Municipality and Environment (MME) Central Market. Democrats in bid for all preparing to off er a tender in this re- The project further aims at develop- Russia probe evidence gard. ing the area into a sophisticated mod- Congressional Democrats yesterday Al Udeid Air Base organised yesterday the second edition of the Family Day Festival for off icers and members of the Qatar A source at the MME has told local ern market with high quality services. took legal action to get hold of Amiri Air Force and members of friendly allied forces working at the Air Base, in the presence of the Commander of the Arabic daily Arrayah that the proposed The source pointed out that the pro- all of US Special Counsel Robert Amiri Air Force Major General Mubarak al-Kumait al-Khayareen and Commander of US Air Central Command Lt Gen Joseph yard would be the sixth such facility posed sale yard at the Doha Central Mueller’s evidence from his inquiry Guastella. Page 2 across Qatar. Market is also in response to popu- into Russian meddling in the 2016 The currently operational seasonal lar demand that fi rst emerged almost election, as the probe’s findings yards are at Al Mazrouah, Al Wakrah, Al seven years ago with the opening of the hit President Donald Trump’s poll Khor and Al Thakhira, Al Sheehaniyah fi rst yard and the considerable success ratings. The number of Americans and Al Shamal. of the initiative. who approve of Trump dropped by 3 The new yard is expected to be ready The proposed sale yard for local agri- percentage points to the lowest level for operation during the next season cultural products is expected to enable of the year following the release of a Sudan protest leaders to with an area much larger than all the Doha residents to buy fresh vegetables, redacted version of Mueller’s report previously opened yards. fruits,fi sh, poultry, eggs and other prod- on Thursday, according to a Reuters/ More than 75 local farms are expect- ucts and provide local farmers a good op- Ipsos online opinion poll. Page 5 ed to benefi t from the new yard. portunity to reach out to more customers. unveil civilian ruling body The yards for local agricultural prod- However, details of the full devel- BRITAIN | Unrest ucts are a part of the MME’s interest to opment project of the Doha Central Journalist shot dead AFP council,” Ahmed al-Rabia, a leader of for free elections in two years with par- promote marketing platforms for lo- Market have not been determined yet Khartoum the umbrella group of unions for doc- ticipation from all parties,” Dahab said. cal agriculture products to further en- because there is a number of diff erent in Northern Ireland tors, engineers and teachers, said. “The military should stay away from hance production in such an important entities involved in the issue, Arrayah A journalist was shot dead during Yesterday marked four months to the political life.” sector for food security in the country. added. riots in Northern Ireland in what udanese protest leaders have an- day since the government tripled the Activists on Thursday mobilised police yesterday were treating as nounced plans to unveil a civilian price of bread, sparking the fi rst pro- huge crowds through social media to a terrorist incident following the Sbody to take over from the rul- tests which escalated into widespread keep up the pressure on the military latest upsurge in violence to shake ing military council as demonstrators rallies demanding Bashir’s departure. council, now led by General Abdel Fat- the troubled region. “Lyra McKee thronged yesterday outside army head- Access roads were packed, with tah al-Burhan, to cede power. was murdered during orchestrated quarters. crowds fl ocking the huge square out- “Power to civilians, power to ci- violence in Creggan” in the city of The military council, which took side army headquarters to off er the Fri- vilians,” protesters chanted through Derry, also known as Londonderry, power after ousting longtime leader day prayers. Thursday night. police chief Mark Hamilton said. Omar al-Bashir on April 11, has so “This government should be a repre- “I won’t leave until Burhan transfers Page 8 far resisted calls from protesters to sentative of all the people and their as- power to a civilian government,” said quickly make way for a civilian ad- pirations,” said prominent cleric Sheikh Wali Aldeen, who has camped outside EUROPE | Investigation ministration. Mater Younis as he addressed thou- the complex since the day Bashir fell. The Sudanese Professionals Asso- sands of protesters. Following Bashir’s ouster, demon- Turkey arrests two ciation, which has been spearheading “It should include all Sudanese peo- strations targeted General Awad Ibn suspected UAE spies the protests, said in a statement that it ple and shouldn’t exclude anyone.” Ouf, the fi rst head of the military coun- Turkey has arrested two men would name members of the council at Protester Yasser Dahab said all who cil, seen by protesters as a tool of the old suspected of spying for the United a news conference at 1700 GMT tomor- had committed crimes against the Su- regime. Arab Emirates and is probing row outside the army complex, to which danese people be put on trial. Ibn Ouf stepped down in less than 24 whether they are tied to Saudi foreign diplomats are also invited. He said he wanted to see a civilian hours and was replaced by Burhan, who journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, “We are demanding that this civilian council with a prime minister and a so far has appeased protesters by lift- Anadolu state news agency said council, which will have representa- government led by technocrats. ing a night-time curfew and vowing to The proposed yard for local agricultural products at the Doha Central Market will be yesterday. Page 9 tives of the army, replace the military “This government can then prepare “uproot” Bashir’s circle. the sixth such facility across Qatar. Thyroid cancer conference opens with 1,500 delegates

By Joseph Varghese rise in thyroid cancer cases in Qatar. problems of thyroid gland, methods of Staff Reporter The conference will discuss the latest self-examination and medical consul- developments in the treatment of thy- tation for skin care for people with thy- roid cancer, the second highest preva- roid cancer. bout 1,500 delegates are attend- lent cancer among women in Qatar, he Another workshop today will fo- ing the Qatar International Thy- said. cus on people living with thyroid can- Aroid Cancer Conference, which “In the last fi ve years, we have no- cer. The topics to be covered include opened yesterday under the patronage ticed that the onset of thyroid can- medical advice required at a stage af- of HE the Prime Minister and Interior cer has been on the rise roughly 20% ter treatment, yoga exercises for thy- Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser per year. From 51 cases in 2015, it has roid health to reduce stress, detection bin Khalifa al-Thani. jumped into 110 in 2018. This is very methods, and free medical tests and The opening ceremony of the two- alarming and we need to know why this consultations for thyroid gland. day event, organised by Qatar Cancer is happening,” noted Dr Sheikh Khalid. According to the Qatar National Society (QCS) at Ritz-Carlton Doha, “More than 50% of the cases are be- Cancer Registry, thyroid cancer has was attended by HE the Minister of Ad- low the age of 35. This conference will gone up from the ninth most com- ministrative Development, Labour and set guidelines and fi nd out ways to get Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani Guests attending the opening ceremony of Qatar International Thyroid Cancer mon cancer across all nationalities and Social Aff airs Yousef bin Mohamed al- to the reasons of it. It will also create speaking at the opening ceremony. Conference. PICTURES: Nasar K Moideen genders and the third most common Othman Fakhro, and number of other a more direct, selective and effi cient cancer among females of all nation- dignitaries and offi cials. programmes to tackle it - in terms of ‘Present Standards and New Perspec- Several leading officials and phy- ternational conference. alities in Qatar in 2014 to the sixth most Speaking at the opening ceremony, awareness, early detection and preven- tives’, has participants and speakers sicians from the Ministry of Public The opening session was followed common cancer across all nationalities QCS chairman Dr Sheikh Khalid bin tion and treatments as well,” explained from various countries such as Austria, Health, Hamad Medical Corporation by a workshop which targeted the pub- and genders and second most common Jabor al-Thani, highlighted the impor- the offi cial. Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, India and as well as other organisations in Qa- lic and included an awareness session cancer among females of all nationali- tance of the conference as well as the The conference under the theme other parts of the world. tar are also participating in this in- about the available services in Qatar for ties in Qatar in 2015. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, April 20, 2019 QATAR

Al Udeid Air Base holds QC inks pact for legal aid Family Day Festival l Udeid Air Base organ- families to entertain, meet and ised yesterday the sec- promote the spirit of love and Aond edition of the Fam- familiarity among them. ily Day Festival for offi cers and He added that this event members of the Qatar Amiri Air brings together the families Force and members of friendly of the Qatari Air Base mem- on humanitarian cases allied forces working in the air bers with the families of base, in the presence of Amiri friendly forces to exchange atar Charity (QC) has manitarian cases with no fees, country, to achieve its develop- Air Force Commander Major cultures and introduce the signed an agreement in addition to any other le- mental and humanitarian goals”, General Mubarak al-Kumait country’s heritage, customs Qwith the Qatar Lawyers gal consultations and services while also praising the associa- al-Khayareen and US Air Cen- and traditions, adding that Association to enhance co- agreed upon by both parties and tion for its community service. tral Command Commander Lt this year more than 1,000 operation and partnership for transferred by QC. For his part, al-Nuaimi ap- Gen Joseph Guastella. men, women and children are community service in Qatar. Further, the two parties agreed plauded Qatar Charity for its The festival included a va- participating. The pact was signed by to share relevant experiences role in the charitable, humani- riety of events including Arda, Brigadier Fahd al-Arik said Yousif bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, and information through meet- tarian and developmental fi eld. cartoon characters and popu- that this edition of the festi- chief executive offi cer, Qatar ings, visits and communication. “We have the honour to co- lar games. It also included the val is held at a date other than Charity, and Rashid bin Nasser Speaking at the signing cer- operate with Qatar Charity in activities of camel and horse the one originally scheduled al-Nuaimi, chairman of the emony, al-Kuwari said: “We are every good work to serve the riding, shooting and archery, which coincides with the Qa- association’s board. pleased with this co-operation community,” he said, noting that drawing henna, handicrafts tar National Day celebrations, Under the deal, the two par- and partnership with the Qatar there would be greater co-oper- and traditional and popular but the next edition will be ties agreed to undertake a se- Lawyers Association and look for- ation in the future through many foods, in addition to an exhi- on its original date, praising ries of humanitarian initiatives, ward to establishing solid founda- humanitarian initiatives. bition of old cars and marine the constructive co-operation which will be agreed upon, to tions for collaboration to serve the In a statement following the tools. between the Air Base and Al benefi t the community in order community in Qatar and address signing, Jathnan Mohamed al- Al Udeid Air Base Com- Shaqab, Katara - the Cultural to achieve the comprehensive humanitarian issues worldwide.” Hajri, board member of the Qa- Yousif bin Ahmed al-Kuwari and Rashid bin Nasser al-Nuaimi at the mander Brigadier (Pilot) Fa- Village, Qatar Shooting and vision of development envisaged He stressed QC’s “continuous tar Lawyers Association, consid- signing ceremony. had Abdul Wahid Ibrahim al- Archery Association and the in Qatar National Vision 2030, eff orts to co-operate, collaborate ered the pact “very important, as Arik said that the festival was Department of Public Parks QC said in a statement. and co-ordinate with various it aims to strengthen co-opera- agreed that QC - after a care- cannot aff ord the services of a a great opportunity for the of the Ministry of Municipal- The two parties also agreed governmental and private bod- tion between the two parties on ful study - would nominate a counsel to be defended and pro- families of offi cers and mem- ity and the Environment for that the association would pro- ies, as well as civil society organ- the humanitarian side”. number of humanitarian cases vided with free legal aid by the bers of the Qatar Armed Forces their great eff orts to make this vide legal advice in some hu- isations within and outside the According to al-Hajri, both for the benefi t of persons who Qatar Lawyers Association. and friendly forces and their festival a success. (QNA) Abandoned vehicles, equipment removed QU conference focuses on use of zebrafi sh as research tool

atar University’s (QU) Biomedical Research QCentre (BRC) recently concluded a fi ve-day confer- ence and workshop, titled ‘Current and Emerging Trends in Zebrafi sh Research’, which involved both theoretical lec- tures by renowned experts in the fi eld and hands-on practi- cal sessions to train interested researchers. The conference was organ- ised in co-operation with Se- deer Medical, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar Na- tional Research Fund and Al- Obeidly Trading Technology. The conference featured more than 100 attendees, in- cluding speakers from places A session of the conference. Al Shamal Municipality’s General Control Section, in co-operation with the security authorities concerned, outside Qatar, such Turkey, Ja- has conducted an intensive inspection campaign to detect abandoned vehicles and equipment within pan, the US, the UK, Germany, brafi sh are similar to human and opened an advanced route its jurisdiction. The campaign resulted in the removal of seven abandoned vehicles, two portable cabins, Singapore and Spain, in addi- genes and have a unique ability in biomedical sciences, which two trailers, a boat and another cabin, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment said in a statement. tion to speakers from various to regenerate damaged cells and has led researchers to a rare op- These were in addition to other abandoned items such as an old water tank and electric generators. All sectors in Qatar. tissues.” portunity to diagnose and treat the abandoned items were removed after warning notices were placed on them for two consecutive days The aim of the programme Zebrafi sh hosts a slew of many human diseases, fore- regarding their removal. held at QU was to focus on advantages, which make it most among them cardiovas- the utilisation of the zebrafi sh an important scientifi c tool. cular and other diseases. Heart model in a variety of research Such advantages include low disease is still a serious threat to investigations, and to introduce experimental cost, transpar- human life everywhere, and it is this relatively new animal mod- ent embryos, external devel- a major cause of death of mil- el to students, academicians, opment and a high fecundity, lions in the world, including the researchers and healthcare making them suitable for large- Gulf and Qatar.” practitioners in the nation, the scale genetic screening, the In 2014, QU set up a zebrafi sh university said in a statement. statement explains. facility at the BRC, which is The workshop also provided Being a vertebrate model, currently managed by Dr Hu- a platform for establishing new zebrafi sh have been shown to seyin Cagatay Yalcin, Dr Fatiha collaborations. exhibit physiological responses M Benslimane and Dr Ghey- Prof Mariam al-Maadeed, that are similar to humans, such ath Nasrallah, who have been Prof Mariam al-Maadeed QU vice-president for Re- as after exposure to medicinal working in the zebrafi sh facility speaking at the event. search and Graduate Stud- drugs, including hormones, since its establishment. They ies, said, “Zebrafi sh is a small, cancer drugs and environment run what is considered a multi- exploited the zebrafi sh em- beautiful and unique creature, pollutants, including pesticides disciplinary service lab that bryo model to investigate the which has a number of excep- and heavy metals. supports researchers from in- toxicity of some novel chemi- tional attributes, making it a Prof al-Maadeed added, side and outside QU to conduct cal compounds and nanopar- vital topic in medical scientifi c “Research on zebrafi sh has pro- their experimental works. ticles that potentially have research. The genes of the ze- vided us with impressive results In this laboratory, they have bioapplications. Challenge 22 win provides a platform to showcase Arab innovation: entrepreneur

ntrepreneur Mohamed In addition to winning Challenge al-Kilany says winning 22, SnapGoal was a fi nalist in the EChallenge 22 has provided MIT Arab Startup Competition and Participants of the course with off icials. a platform to showcase Arab in- the World Summit Awards. novation to the world – and it’s According to al-Kilany, the an opportunity he’s determined boost his company has received to capitalise on. since winning the award 18 Al-Kilany, a Palestinian- months ago has been both in- HMC hosts interactive training Jordanian, is the chief executive valuable – and multifaceted. offi cer and founder of SnapGoal. “To be working with the or- He was speaking at the end of a ganisation in charge of arrang- course on pelvic fractures week-long Challenge 22 win- ing the 2022 World Cup was a ners’ visit to Doha. Mohamed al-Kilany and his team won the SC’s flagship innovation very important moment,” he ex- he Orthopaedic Depart- Dr Mohamed al-Ateeq, Bone Dr Ghalib Ahmed, senior He and his team had won the award in 2017. plained. “The exposure is some- ment at Hamad General and Joint Centre director and consultant at HMC, said the Supreme Committee for Deliv- thing we are very grateful for. THospital and the Bone chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at course’s scientifi c programme ery & Legacy’s (SC) fl agship in- “After winning Challenge 22, chance to really take our ideas to “Everybody respects the fact and Joint Centre recently or- HMC, said fractures of the pel- was developed by local experts novation award with SnapGoal, the dream became bigger and I the next level. I appreciate these that we have such a credible part- ganised the fi rst Qatar Ca- vis and acetabular were among as well as representatives from an innovative social media plat- felt our responsibility also be- opportunities more than words ner in the SC, and they know that daveric Pelvis and Acetabular the most serious injuries treat- renowned orthopaedic trauma form, in 2017. came bigger,” he said. “This can express. That’s why I work we are serious about what we do – Trauma course. ed by orthopaedic surgeons. units in the US and Europe. It has been a busy time for the feeling has been reinforced af- day and night to make this dream and that we know how to take this The course included practi- “The pelvis when injured “We had the privilege of hav- entrepreneur. SnapGoal was re- ter meeting with the secretary- come true.” prototype and turn it into some- cal sessions at Aspetar’s Ca- can become a potential source ing six international faculty to cently selected among 10 other general, who said we need our Inspired by Snapchat, thing meaningful in the future.” daveric Lab, with the event of long-term disability and share their knowledge and sur- startups for the Techween ac- young talented people from the SnapGoal is a social media plat- Winning Challenge 22 teams being the fi rst hands-on work- may even be life-threatening. gical skills with the attendees,” celeration programme in Oman, region to be the engine for the form for football fans, allowing each received a $15,000 cash shop with cadaveric dissec- Often the result of a traumatic said Dr Ahmed, adding, “One while they were also voted as one World Cup. them to view and post photo- prize and benefi t from expert tion to be organised by Hamad incident such as a motor vehi- of the ultimate goals of the Or- the most exciting 22 SportsTech “I fi rmly agree with him. We graphs and videos up to 15 sec- inputs from business leaders Medical Corporation (HMC). cle accident or a bad fall, pelvic thopaedic Department is to pro- startups worldwide by Sport- need to match these talents with onds long. It’s the fi rst social app across the region. In addition, The two-day course in- and acetabular fractures re- vide educational opportunities sTech Qatar, sc.qa reported. opportunities. It is a wonder- for football enthusiasts in the they are also eligible to receive cluded theoretical interactive quire rapid and precise treat- through conferences and work- Al-Kilany said winning Chal- ful thing that organisations like Middle East, helping fans in the $100,000 in funding to develop sessions on the management ment and, in some cases, one shops like this one and to help lenge 22 brought a great degree of the SC are there to help open region share their passion for the their idea to the proof of concept of pelvic and acetabular (hip or more surgical procedures,” expand the knowledge base and opportunity, but also responsibility. the door and provide a unique sport, the report states. stage. socket) fractures. said Dr al-Ateeq. surgical skills of our staff .” Gulf Times Saturday, April 20, 2019 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

White House Troops strike Gaza reveals Trump after cross-border fi re talk with Haftar

AFP Reuters At least seven people had been Jerusalem West Palm Beach, Fla. killed as of Tuesday, a day after Trump’s call to Haftar. The cur- rent death toll is not known. srael yesterday struck Ha- he White House said yes- At least 2,000 people protest- mas targets in the Gaza Strip terday that President ed on Tripoli’s central Martyrs’ Iwith tank and aircraft fi re TDonald Trump spoke by Square yesterday against Haftar after troops were shot at on the phone earlier in the week and and his off ensive. Israeli side of the border, the discussed “ongoing counter- Some protesters criticised army said. terrorism eff orts” with Libyan Trump’s call to the commander. The Israeli military said in a commander Khalifa Haftar, “The call has no meaning but statement that “no injuries to leader of a military assault on we will respond to it,” said Ab- soldiers were reported” after its the capital Tripoli in opposition delrizaq Musheirib, a protester. troops came under fi re. to the internationally recognised Ahmed Mismari, spokesman Palestinian security sources government. for Haftar’s Libyan National in Hamas-ruled Gaza said that In Libya yesterday, two chil- Army (LNA), said Trump’s call the Israeli strikes hit Hamas dren were killed by shelling in showed the pivotal role of the military observation posts at the southern Tripoli suburb of LNA in fi ghting terrorism, Sky three locations along the fron- Qaser Ben Ghasher, residents News Arabia reported. tier. said. On Thursday, both the Unit- They said there were no re- Offi cials could not immedi- ed States and Russia said they ports of Palestinian casualties. ately reached for comment. could not support a UN Security Palestinians in Gaza have for A White House statement said Council resolution calling for a more than a year gathered at that in the phone call on Mon- ceasefi re in Libya at this time. least weekly along the border day, Trump “recognised Field Also on Thursday, mortar for often-violent protests, call- Marshal Haftar’s signifi cant role bombs crashed down on a sub- ing on Israel to end its blockade in fi ghting terrorism and secur- urb of Tripoli, almost hitting of the enclave. ing Libya’s oil resources, and the a clinic, after two weeks of an The Israeli statement did not two discussed a shared vision off ensive by Haftar’s eastern say if there were mass protests for Libya’s transition to a stable, troops on the capital. taking place at the time of yes- democratic political system”. Russia objects to the Brit- terday’s incident. It was unclear why the White ish-drafted resolution blaming The Palestinian health min- House waited several days to an- Haftar for the latest fl are-up in istry in Gaza later said in a nounce the phone call. violence when his LNA advanced statement that 15 people were Europe and the Gulf have been to the outskirts of Tripoli earlier wounded by Israeli fi re during divided over a push by Haftar’s this month, diplomats said. border demonstrations, includ- Palestinians react to teargas canisters fired by Israeli forces during clashes following a demonstration by the border fence, east of forces to seize Tripoli. The United States did not ing “two paramedics and one Gaza City, yesterday. Acting US Defense Secretary give a reason for its decision journalist”. It gave no further Patrick Shanahan said “a mili- not to support the draft resolu- information. enclave, part of an Egyptian- ment. Among measures to help adding an appeal to UN envoy only other gateway to the outside tary solution is not what Libya tion, which would also call on At least 264 Palestinians in brokered truce with Israel. Gazans was a plan to resume Nickolay Mladenov. world. On April 1, Israel expanded needs.” He said he supported countries with infl uence over Gaza have been killed by Israeli After a severe fl are-up between blocked aid through a UN cash “We call on the United Na- the fi shing zone around Gaza, in- Haftar’s “role in counter-terror- the warring parties to ensure forces since the protests began. Israel and Hamas last month the for work programme. tions and Mr Mladenov to ac- creasing it in one area to the larg- ism” and that Washington need- compliance and for uncondi- The majority were killed dur- ceasefi re was hammered out Khalil al-Haya, deputy head celerate the implementation.” est distance in years, in what Ha- ed Haftar’s “support in building tional humanitarian aid access ing clashes, with others hit by amid fears of escalation. of the Hamas political bureau Two million Palestinians live mas offi cials said was the first step democratic stability there in the in Libya. tank fi re or air strikes. Two Is- Hamas said the truce would in Gaza, said yesterday that the in Gaza, crammed between Israel, in implementing its “understand- region.” The country has been gripped raeli soldiers have been killed see Israel ease its crippling alternative plan was stalled at Egypt and the Mediterranean. ings” with the Jewish state. Asked whether Trump con- by anarchy since Muammar over the same period. blockade of the strip in ex- the UN. Israel, which has fought three “The understandings are in tacted him before calling Haftar, Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. Hamas yesterday called on change for quiet. “The pace of the implemen- wars with Hamas, has blockaded place,” al-Haya said. “Some of Shanahan said the Pentagon White House national securi- the UN to speed up a plan to Israel has not publicly com- tation of the United Nations the enclave for more than a dec- them are going well, such as and the White House “are well- ty adviser John Bolton also spoke funnel aid into the Palestinian mented on the reported agree- mechanisms is slow,” he said, ade, and Egypt often closes Gaza’s fi shing.” aligned on Libya.” recently to Haftar.

CONFLICT Apartments of Palestinian destroyed Israeli forces destroyed two apartments in the occupied West Bank Thousands seek radical yesterday that housed the family of a Palestinian fighter accused of Yemen risks ‘massive killing an Israeli woman in February, the army said. Soldiers surrounded the apartment block in the flashpoint southern city of Hebron beginning reform in Algeria late on Thursday. They then destroyed the two apartments that were home to the family of Arafat Irfaiya, 29, with the use of heavy construc- tion equipment in the early hours of the morning. Some clashes broke resurgence’ of cholera Reuters Protesters gathered anew out between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces during the operation, Algiers in city centres around Algeria AFP journalists reported. The murder of Ori Ansbacher, 19, reportedly demanding root-and-branch stabbed multiple times, triggered shock and anger in Israel. Her body AFP reforms — including political was found on February 7 in a forest southeast of Jerusalem and Irfaiya Khokha undreds of thousands of pluralism and crackdowns on was arrested two days later in a raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah. demonstrators returned corruption and cronyism, wit- Hto Algeria’s streets yes- nesses said. xfam has warned that terday to press demands for Numbers later surged after DIPLOMACY war-torn Yemen risks sweeping democratic change prayers yesterday. Arab ministers meet to discuss ‘deal’ Oa “massive resurgence” well beyond former President There was no official count of cholera, with around 195,000 Abdelaziz Boutefl ika’s resigna- but Reuters reporters at the The Arab League said Arab foreign ministers will meet tomorrow in suspected cases of the disease tion, chanting “we do what we scene estimated the number of Cairo to discuss the latest updates on the Palestinian cause and the me- recorded so far this year. want”, witnesses said. demonstrators in the hundreds dia reports about the imminent announcement of the so-called “Deal of “Fears that the world’s worst The march was peaceful, like of thousands as on previous the Century”, QNA reported. President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas will cholera outbreak could be set most of the demonstrations in Fridays since the extraordinary brief Arab foreign ministers on Palestinian position regarding this deal, for a massive resurgence are the country over the last two mass dissent erupted on Feb 22. and to mobilise the Arab position in the face of these developments. In growing,” the relief organisa- months. “We will not give up our de- a statement yesterday, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League tion said Thursday. But an 18-year old who was in- mands,” said Mourad Hamini, ambassador Hossam Zaki said that the public picture is not reassuring, It said aid agencies were A Yemeni child receives treatment for cholera at a hospital in the jured during last week’s protest standing outside his coffee regardless of the truth of what is being said in the media regarding the struggling to reach suspected Khokha district of the western province of Hodeidah, yesterday. in Algiers, when clashes broke shop, where thousands of pro- deal. He explained that the Palestinian side requested this meeting so cases. In a statement, Oxfam out, died yesterday of injuries to testers were waving Algerian that Abbas would brief the Arab foreign ministers on the latest. pointed to “fi ghting and re- Qassem Suleiman had brought third of this year’s cases. the head, Ennahar TV said. flags. straints on access, including his son Alaa for tests after a se- The spike, which comes two It said police were investigat- The crowd later chanted: checkpoints and permit re- rious case of diarrhoea. years after Yemen suff ered its ing the death, adding that he “This is our country and we do DIALOGUE quirements imposed by the Doctor Wadah al-Tiri said worst cholera outbreak, was could have been beaten or fallen what we want!” Assad urges progress on Idlib deal warring parties”, and warned that several patients had been concentrated in six governo- from a truck. Protesters also called for Ab- the coming rainy season was transferred to Aden while oth- rates including in the Red Sea Parliament named an interim delkader Bensalah, head of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday called for progress on a likely to accelerate the spread of ers had been treated at the port of Hodeidah and Sanaa president and a July 4 election upper house of parliament, to stalled buff er zone deal around militant-dominated Idlib region ahead the disease. Khokha centre. province, both combat zones, date was set in a transition en- quit as caretaker president and of fresh talks aimed at ending his country’s eight-year war. Assad The water-borne bacte- He said a tent was to be set up it said. dorsed by Algeria’s powerful for Noureddine Bedoui to stand met envoy Alexander Lavrentiev from key ally Russia in Damascus rial infection has claimed more for suspected cases. The doctor Yemen’s confl ict, which military. down as interim prime minis- to discuss the negotiations due April 25-26 in Kazakhstan. Iran and than 3,000 lives in Yemen since said Yemen badly needed inter- pits rebels against a regional But Boutefl ika’s exit on April ter. “They must go. Russia are the major supporters of the Syrian regime, and along the outbreak began in 2016, ac- national aid to combat the epi- pro-government alliance led 2 failed to satisfy many Alge- The B’s must go,” one ban- with rebel backer Turkey have sponsored repeated rounds of talks in cording to Oxfam. demic. The UN’s humanitarian by Saudi Arabia, has left some rians who want to topple the ner read, referring to Bensalah, the Central Asian nation. Moscow and Ankara in September inked a At a medical centre for the co-ordination offi ce OCHA said 10,000 people dead since 2015 entire elite that has dominated Bedoui and Moad Bouchareb, buff er zone deal to prevent a massive regime off ensive on the Idlib displaced in the government- last month that children under and pushed millions to the the country since independence head of the ruling National region, near the Turkish border. held western town of Khokha, the age of fi ve make up nearly a brink of famine. from France in 1962. Liberation Front (FLN) party. Saudi sisters in Georgia hope to move to third country for safety

Thomson Reuters Foundation where Saudi Arabians cannot cousins, uncles — anybody can girls as prisoners of abusive families can face very grave bul at the beginning of April. After an attempt to get a Tbilisi visit without a visa. come here,” said Wafa. families. The sisters are not consequences,” said Suad In a tweet, Maha said she visa for Australia failed due to “We are not safe here and we “We are a big shame for my the first Saudi women to seek Abu-Dayyeh, Middle East had to leave her son behind passport issues, they took to need to leave as soon as pos- country, for my family, for refuge outside their homeland consultant for women’s rights which was “devastating” but Twitter to appeal for help, they wo runaway Saudi sis- sible,” they told the Thomson all,” said Maha, referring to which is one of the world’s group Equality Now. she had no other option. said.Saudi Arabia denied it had ters said yesterday they Reuters Foundation from their their escape and appearance most gender-segregated na- “They are in danger of being Upon arriving in Turkey, suspended the sisters’ pass- Thave applied for asylum shared Twitter account @Geor- in social media videos without tions. locked at home for the rest of the sisters made their way to ports. The country’s embassy in Georgia but still feared they giaSisters. wearing headscarves. their lives, severely punished, Georgia by land, fearing their in Tbilisi did not immediately could be reached by their family Georgian authorities placed On Thursday, Georgia’s in- “We hope that in the and may even be killed.” father could find them in Tur- reply to a further request for and forced back to the kingdom. them in a safehouse guarded terior ministry said there were future will live a real life Earlier this year a Saudi teen key using Absher, a Saudi Ara- comment. Immigration authorities in by police but the sisters said no relatives in the country who without fear or repression holed up in a Thai airport hotel bian government app allowing The sisters said Georgian the former Soviet republic of- they feared revenge from rela- posed a danger to two women. in a safe country, to escape her family and won men to monitor and control authorities have been treating fered the siblings assistance and tives whom they accused of The case is the latest to draw where we can choose asylum in Canada. female relatives’ travel. them well but they hoped they security on Thursday, days af- beating and abusing them, attention to Saudi Arabia’s what we want to do and In March, two other Saudi They bought a flight to Be- would be allowed to move on. ter the two made international posting photos of bruises and strict social rules, which force try everything that is sisters who spent six months larus — another visa-free des- “We hope that in the future headlines by pleading online for scratches on social media. women to obtain the permis- possible and natural hiding in Hong Kong were tination for Saudis — via Am- will live a real life without fear protection. The Thomson Reuters Foun- sion of a male “guardian” if for women to do” granted humanitarian visas to sterdam hoping to seek asylum or repression in a safe country, But the sisters, identifi ed as dation could not immediately they want to work, marry or travel to a third country. in transit, but airport staff in where we can choose what we Maha al-Subaie, 28, and Wafa contact the al-Subaie family. travel. “Women and girls in Saudi The al-Subaie sisters said Tbilisi grew suspicious of their want to do and try everything al-Subaie, 25, said they would “We can’t live a normal life. Human rights groups say the Arabia who attempt to flee they evaded family monitoring convoluted travel plan and did that is possible and natural for rather move to another country My brothers, my big family, system can trap women and from the control of their and flew from Riyadh to Istan- not let them leave, they said. women to do,” said Maha. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, April 20, 2019 AFRICA Nigeria’s former Pride of lions top judge in appeal on graft conviction

AFP member of his legal team said. elections in February. Lagos “The appellant is urging the The move prompted claims Court of Appeal to hold that the Buhari was trying to manipulate CCT lacked the jurisdiction to the judiciary. igeria’s former most sen- hear the charge and that the tri- A request to remove the chief ior judge who was found bunal ought to have recused it- justice normally has to be ap- Nguilty of graft charges self from the trial,” he said. proved with a two-thirds major- has appealed his conviction, his Onnoghen wants the appeal ity of the Senate, but the head of lawyers said yesterday. court to set aside all the orders state did not follow that process. Former chief justice Walter made by the tribunal in the judg- As head of the Supreme Court, Onnoghen was banned from ment, including that for assets Onnoghen could have ruled on holding offi ce for 10 years by an forfeiture, he added. any disputes relating to the elec- ethics court on Thursday in a No date has been fi xed for tion, which saw Buhari, of the case the opposition said was po- hearing the appeal. All Progressives Congress (APC), litically motivated. After Thursday’s ruling, On- win a second term of offi ce. Onnoghen was tried for fail- noghen’s lawyer Okon Efut said Atiku Abubakar of the main A pride of lions is seen at a game reserve adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. ing to divulge cash in fi ve foreign the process had not been fair. opposition Peoples Democratic bank accounts in contravention He decried what he called the Party (PDP) who lost to Buhari, of rules governing the declara- “unconstitutional” suspension has launched a legal challenge to tion of assets by public offi cials. of the judge in January, claim- the result. The Code of Conduct Tribu- ing it was the fi rst step in what But the presidency defended nal (CCT)also ordered the sei- he said was a “premeditated” the conviction of the former zure of the funds in the accounts decision. “Judgment had been chief judge in a statement late 13 dead in SA after church wall collapses since the embattled judge could passed before today,” Efut said. Thursday, saying the anti-cor- not justify how he acquired the “Justice has not been done ruption war was “all encom- money. today but it will be done tomor- passing and is not designed to Reuters church wall collapsed on them for treatment, KwaZulu-Natal investigations,” said McKenzie. “In a notice of appeal fi led at row — if not by the tribunal or by persecute anyone for political or Johannesburg late on Thursday following Emergency Medical Services Pictures of the scene on the the Registry of the CCT, shortly our court, justice will be done by other reasons.” days of heavy rains and strong spokesperson Robert McKenzie emergency services’ Twitter after the judgment, Onnoghen God,” he added. It added: “The rule of law winds, emergency services said said. page showed bricks and piles of raised 16 grounds on which he Onnoghen was suspended would lose its meaning and va- hirteen people were yesterday. “There was a strong storm at debris strewn across the church faulted the decision and urged from his post as the country’s lidity if only the weak, the poor killed in a south-eastern At least 29 people with in- the time but we can’t be totally fl oor, with pipes and pillars the Court of Appeal to set it aside top judge by President Muha- and powerless are punished for Tprovince of South Africa juries ranging from serious to sure why the wall collapsed un- hanging from higher parts of and discharge and acquit him,” a madu Buhari just weeks before their violations of the law.” during an Easter service after a minor were taken to hospital til the police are done with their the building.

11 dead in Cameroon Boko Haram attack Sentence against exiled Boko Haram fighters torched a Ebola worker killed at village in Cameroon’s troubled Far North Region overnight and opposition chief scrapped killed 11 civilians in their sleep, security sources said yesterday. “Boko Haram made an incursion hospital in eastern Congo AFP he stayed two years beyond his at night in the Tchakamari area. Kinshasa constitutional maximum term The toll is 11,” a source close to in offi ce. security services in the area said, AFP in a tweet.“My colleagues the rural area of Mangina, but ance within communities to He handed on to opposition confirming a report from a mem- Butembo and I are grieving over the then switched to the town of preventative measures, care court in DR Congo has leader Felix Tshisekedi in the ber of a local self-defence militia. loss of this courageous col- Beni. facilities and safe burials. scrapped a three-year jail country’s fi rst peaceful political It was the deadliest Boko Haram league who was saving lives Local organisations say On March 9, an attack on a Aterm against opposition transition since independence raid in recent months in Cam- health worker fi ghting to end #Ebola.We are out- the number of Ebola deaths treatment centre at Butemo leader Moise Katumbi, enabling from Belgium in 1960. eroon. The bodies were “charred”, an Ebola outbreak in raged by the attack. is rising.An updated toll by left a policeman dead and a him to return home from self- Katumbi, a wealthy business- the source close to security ADR Congo was killed Health workers are #No- the health ministry, issued health worker wounded. imposed exile in Belgium, his man born to a Greek business- services said, adding that the at- yesterday in an attack on a tATarget.” on Wednesday, said there had It was the third attack lawyer said yesterday. man father and a Congolese tackers had burnt the village. hospital in the eastern city of Police said the casualty been 843 deaths. on the centre, according to The decision by the Court of mother, tried to return last Au- The dead included both children Butembo, the World Health was a Cameroonian doctor WHO data from April 9 mayor Sylvain Kanyamanda Cassation — the supreme court gust to fi le his bid for the De- and the aged and the fire began Organisation (WHO) said. who had been taking part in put the number of confirmed Mbusa. On February 24, a of appeal — overturns a sen- cember presidential elections. at around 10pm and lasted until The attack is the latest in a meeting of an anti-Ebola or probable cases at 1,186, of treatment centre in Katwa tence for alleged property fraud, But he was prevented at the about 1am yesterday. a string of assaults on teams team when the hospital was which 751 had been fatal. was set ablaze. “opening the way for his return,” Zambian border from crossing The Boko Haram conflict began grappling with a near nine- attacked by a rebel group. The outbreak is the second On April 12, the WHO’s attorney Joseph Mukendi said. into the DRC. Candidates have in 2009 in neighbouring Nigeria month-old Ebola outbreak The DR Congo declared a deadliest on record, after the Emergency Committee, in One of the Democratic Re- to be physically in DR Congo to and has killed more than 27,000 that has claimed almost 850 tenth outbreak of Ebola in 40 epidemic that struck West a new review of the out- public of Congo’s political heav- submit their election applica- people and left 1.8mn homeless lives. years last August in north- Africa in 2014-16, which break, determined that the yweights, Katumbi, 54, left the tion. in the country’s northeast. “The @WHO family lost a eastern North Kivu province killed more than 11,300 peo- situation did not constitute country in 2016 after falling out Katumbi and fellow opposi- The violence has spilled into dear colleague in the hospital before the virus spread into ple. a “public health emergency with the then president, Joseph tion heavyweight Jean-Pierre neighbouring Niger, Chad and attack in Butembo, #DRC, the neighbouring Ituri re- The effort to roll back the of international concern,” a Kabila. Bemba, who was also barred Cameroon. today,” WHO chief Tedros gion. The epicentre of the disease has been hampered status that initiates a major Kabila stood down in January from running, backed opposi- Adhanom Ghebreyesus said outbreak was first located in by fighting but also by resist- global response. after 18 years in power in which tion candidate Martin Fayulu. Mali struggles to disarm militia suspected of massacre

Reuters said Corinne Dufka, Human Forcibly disarming Dan Na ment’s request. The government Dakar Rights Watch’s West Africa Ambassagou “could provoke a denies this. director.”It’s now threatening rebellion that will not be so eas- “We have always collaborated the very authority of the state.” ily contained”, he said. well with the Malian army and hortly after rolling into Western governments, in- The shaky footage provided authorities,” Guenguere said, the central Malian town of cluding former colonial power by Guenguere purports to show “but now we are starting to be- SKoro to detain a leader of France and the United States, are dozens of people, some wear- come a little disappointed.” an ethnic militia suspected of alarmed by the rise of militant ing fl oppy brown caps sported Militant attacks have multi- massacring about 160 villagers, groups linked to Al Qaeda and by Dogon hunters, yelling and plied in the region, spilling into a pickup truck of army soldiers Islamic State in West Africa’s gesticulating at the soldiers as neighbouring Burkina Faso and was swarmed by hostile resi- lawless Sahel region. they climb onto the back of the Niger despite the deployment dents. They have deployed thou- pickup and drive off . of thousands of French soldiers Video provided to Reuters by sands of elite troops there to Reuters could not independ- to go after militants who briefl y a senior member of the Dan Na make sure it does not become a ently authenticate the video. seized northern Mali in 2012. Ambassagou militia appears to new hardline haven following But Moulaye Guindo, mayor The militants are adept at show the troops beating a retreat the losses infl icted on the groups of the nearby town of Bankass, exploiting ethnic division, of- amid a hail of rocks and angry in the Middle East. confi rmed that soldiers had tried ten siding with semi-nomadic chants. Governments across the Sahel to arrest the militia leader in Fulani pastoralists in confl icts The episode last weekend, have also tacitly outsourced part Koro and withdrew when resi- with more settled farming peo- which was confi rmed by a lo- of the fi ght against militants to dents protested. ples such as the Dogon over land cal mayor, was an embarrassing local self-defence groups, many The government denies it co- rights. blow to the state’s authority in of them intent chiefl y on settling ordinates with any militia. The massacre of the Fulani vil- central Mali, where insurgents ethnic scores. Security Minister Salife Traore lagers followed a deadly assault have been capitalising on spiral- However, the killings of the told parliament this month that by militants on an army post that ling communal confl icts to re- villagers on March 23, Mali’s some groups “thought they killed at least 23 soldiers, also in cruit new members and extend worst ethnic bloodletting in liv- needed to fi ll in for the state”. Re- central Mali, an attack claimed their reach. ing memory, show what can go searchers such as Human Rights by an Al Qaeda affi liate. Government and army wrong when governments turn Watch also say there is no proof So far, authorities have made spokespeople did not respond to a blind eye to vigilante groups in of formal collaboration between fi ve arrests. repeated requests for comment order to repel militants. Mali’s government and militias It was unclear if the attempt about the incident in Koro. Mali’s President Ibrahim Bou- but, at the very least, there ap- to apprehend militia leader Ma- Mali’s prime minister and his bacar Keita had ordered the Dan Villagers are seen following the March 23 attack by militiamen that killed about 160 Fulani people, in pear to be understandings that madou Guindo on Saturday was entire government resigned on Na Ambassagou — an anti-mili- Ogossagou Village, Mali. allow fi ghters to openly man related. Thursday after legislators dis- tant, ethnic Dogon group — dis- checkpoints and defy bans on “The events playing out in cussed bringing a motion of no banded after suspected members en and children smouldering in under its jurisdiction. “When there are two people motorcycles. the centre of our country have confi dence because of the mas- stormed the two villages, Ogos- their homes. Dan Na Ambassagou denies who are in confl ict...you can’t Guenguere, however, told Re- reached an unacceptable di- sacre and a failure to disarm mi- sagou and Welingara, inhabited The United Nations has sent involvement in the killings and take the weapon from one and uters that Dan Na Ambassagou mension that cries out to us all,” litias or beat back militants. mainly by Fulani herders. rights experts to investigate the is refusing to lay down weapons leave the other with his,” a senior had provided guides for army President Keita said in a speech “The government’s fail- Most of the deaths occurred killings. it says it needs to defend Dogon militia member, Marcelin Guen- operations and secured polling on Tuesday, saying new meas- ure to...rein in militia groups in Ogossagou, where gunmen The International Criminal farmers against militants, whose guere, told Reuters on Wednes- places during last year’s presi- ures to counter militia violence is now coming home to roost,” left the charred bodies of wom- Court said the crimes could fall ranks consist largely of Fulanis. day. dential election at the govern- were being implemented. Gulf Times Saturday, April 20, 2019 5 AMERICAS

Alberta’s new PM Democrats push for all to drop carbon tax

AFP Russia probe evidence Ottawa Reuters of the party’s progressive wing, the American people will make a Washington most notably US Representa- judgment,” Hoyer told CNN. he new conservative lead- tive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Only two US presidents have er of Canada’s oil-rich promised to push the idea. been impeached: Bill Clinton TAlberta province said on ongressional Democrats Former Federal Bureau of In- on charges of perjury and ob- Wednesday that he will nix its took legal action yester- vestigation (FBI) director Muel- struction of justice in 1998 and carbon tax, opening up a new Cday to see all of US Spe- ler also concluded there was not Andrew Johnson in 1868 for fi r- battlefront with liberal Prime cial Counsel Robert Mueller’s enough evidence to establish ing his secretary of war in the Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of evidence from his inquiry into that Trump’s campaign engaged tumultuous aftermath of the October national elections. Russian interference in the 2016 in a criminal conspiracy with American Civil War. The move could put Canada’s election, with an eye to using the Moscow to sway the 2016 elec- Both were acquitted by the climate target out of reach, while probe’s fi ndings against Presi- tion, a fi nding that has been was Senate and stayed in offi ce. saddling the federal government dent Donald Trump. known since late March when In 1974, a House committee with a controversial pipeline US House of Representatives Barr released a summary of what approved articles of impeach- project it bought last year as part Judiciary Committee Chairman he described as Mueller’s princi- ment against President Richard of a deal with the previous Al- Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat, is- ple conclusions. Nixon over the Watergate scan- berta government to cap its oil sued a subpoena to the Justice Trump, who has repeatedly dal but he resigned before the sands emissions. Department for Attorney Gen- called the Mueller probe a politi- full House voted on impeach- The vast oil region in north- eral William Barr to hand over cal witch hunt, lashed out again ment. ern Alberta contains the world’s the full report by Mueller by May yesterday. Short of attempting impeach- third largest oil reserve and is 1, saying that he cannot accept “Statements are made about ment, Democratic lawmakers the single largest polluter in the a redacted version released on me by certain people in the can use the details of Mueller’s country. Thursday that “leaves most of Crazy Mueller Report...which report to fuel several inquir- “So bill number one in that Congress in the dark”. are fabricated & totally untrue,” ies already underway by con- legislature session will be the “My committee needs and is Trump wrote on Twitter. gressional committees into the carbon tax repeal act,” Jason entitled to the full version of the He seemed to be referring to An illustration shows a Game of Thrones-styled montage from Trump’s Twitter page in Washington, DC. Russia allegations, Trump’s Kenney told a press conference. report and the underlying evi- former White House counsel Trump, backed by his attorney general, declared himself fully vindicated in the investigation into businesses and alleged abuse of His United Conservative Party dence consistent with past prac- Don McGahn who was cited in Russian election meddling and alleged collusion with his campaign, before the long-awaited full probe power by the president. won 63 out of 87 seats in local tice. The redactions appear to be the report as having annoyed report was made public. ‘Game Over,’ Trump tweeted, using a Game of Thrones-style montage that Half a dozen former Trump elections, unseating Trudeau signifi cant. We have so far seen Trump by taking notes of his pictured him standing in dramatic fog. aides, including former 2016 ally Rachel Notley’s New Demo- none of the actual evidence that conversations with the presi- campaign chairman Paul Mana- crats. the Special Counsel developed dent. and a Russian under wraps, and Clinton and boost Trump, the section of the report to suit their fort, were charged by Mueller’s Scheduled to be sworn in on to make this case,” Nadler said in “Watch out for people that possibly dangled a pardon to a Kremlin’s preferred candidate. anti-Trump agenda. offi ce or convicted of crimes April 30, Kenney said he had a a statement. take so-called ‘notes’, when the former adviser. Russia said yesterday that “There seems to be some con- during his 22-month-long in- “respectful conversation” about The report provided exten- notes never existed until need- White House spokesman the report did not contain any fusion...This isn’t a matter of vestigation. the need to reverse Alberta’s en- sive details on Trump’s eff orts ed,” Trump wrote. “It was not Hogan Gidley said the Trump evidence it had meddled in the legal interpretation; it’s reading The Mueller inquiry spawned ergy slump with Trudeau, who to thwart Mueller’s investiga- necessary for me to respond to administration was not con- election. comprehension,” Collins wrote a number of other criminal called to congratulate him on his tion, giving Democrats plenty statements made in the ‘Report’ cerned about attempts by the “We, as before, do not ac- on Twitter. “The report doesn’t probes by federal prosecutors in win. of political ammunition against about me, some of which are Democrats to look further into cept such allegations,” Krem- say Congress should investigate New York and elsewhere. He said he particularly pressed the Republican president but no total (expletive) & only given to whether Trump committed a lin spokesman Dmitry Peskov obstruction now. It says Con- Prosecutors are looking into the prime minister to get started consensus on how to use it. make the other person look good crime by obstructing justice. stated. gress can make laws about ob- hush money payments made to soon on construction of the The 448-page document (or me to look bad).” “We have no concerns, no One paragraph in the report struction under Article I pow- two women who said they had Trans Mountain pipeline expan- painted a clear picture of how Phone conversations between worries whatsoever, because is at the heart of whether Muel- ers.” sex with Trump, the fi nances of sion project to move Alberta oil Trump tried to hinder the probe. the president and McGahn in we already know how the book ler intended Congress to pursue Nadler told reporters on the president’s inaugural com- to the Pacifi c coast for shipping It did not conclude that he June 2017 were a central part of ends: no collusion,” Gidley told further action against Trump, Thursday that Mueller probably mittee and other matters unre- to new overseas markets. had committed the crime of ob- Mueller’s depiction of Trump Fox News. who could not be charged by the wrote the report with the intent lated to Trump. Trudeau’s government bought struction of justice, although it as trying to derail the Russia in- Representative Doug Collins, special counsel under a long- of providing Congress a road A survey conducted from the Trans Mountain project last did not exonerate him. quiry. the top Republican on the House standing Justice Department map for future action against the Thursday afternoon to yester- August, eff ectively nationalis- The report blacked out details The report said Trump told Judiciary Committee, said that policy not to indict a sitting president, but the Democratic day morning, the fi rst national ing it, in exchange for Alberta about secret grand jury informa- McGahn to instruct the Justice the Democrats’ subpoena “is president. congressman said it was too ear- survey to measure the response adopting a carbon tax and cap- tion, US intelligence gathering Department to fi re Mueller. wildly overbroad” and would “The conclusion that Con- ly to talk about impeachment. from the American public after ping its oil sands emissions. and active criminal cases as well McGahn did not carry out the jeopardise a grand jury’s inves- gress may apply the obstruction House Democratic leader the release of the Mueller Re- But its construction has con- as potentially damaging infor- order. tigations. laws to the President’s corrupt Steny Hoyer on Thursday ad- port, found that 37% of adults tinued to be delayed by protests mation about peripheral players In analysing whether Trump The Mueller inquiry laid bare exercise of the powers of offi ce vised against an immediate at- in the US approved of Trump’s and legal challenges. who were not charged. obstructed justice, Mueller re- what US intelligence agencies accords with our constitutional tempt to impeach Trump. performance in offi ce, down Meanwhile, without Alberta Democratic leaders played vealed details about how the have described as a Russian system of checks and balances “Based on what we have seen from 40% in a similar poll con- tackling its emissions, Canada down talk of impeachment of president tried to fi re him and campaign of hacking and prop- and the principle that no person to date, going forward on im- ducted on April 15 and matching faces a herculean task of meeting Trump just 18 months before the limit his investigation, kept de- aganda to sow discord in the is above the law,” Mueller wrote. peachment is not worthwhile the lowest level of the year. its Paris climate target of reduc- 2020 presidential election, even tails of a June 2016 meeting be- United States, denigrate 2016 Republican Collins said Dem- at this point. Very frankly, there ing CO2 emissions by 30% from as some prominent members tween senior campaign offi cials Democratic candidate Hillary ocrats had misconstrued that is an election in 18 months and „ See Page 14 2005 levels by 2030.

Judge upholds New York City’s measles vaccination order

Reuters dren from Orthodox Jewish communities in New York the borough of Brooklyn. Another 222 cases have been diagnosed elsewhere in New York state, mostly in Brooklyn judge has ruled against a a predominantly ultra-Orthodox Jewish group of parents who challenged neighbourhood of Rockland County, north- ANew York City’s recently imposed west of Manhattan. mandatory measles vaccination order, re- The New York outbreaks are part of a jecting their arguments that the city’s pub- larger resurgence of measles across the lic health authority had exceeded its au- country, with at least 555 cases confi rmed thority. in 20 states, according to the US Centres for In a six-page decision rendered hours af- Disease Control and Prevention. ter a hearing on the matter, Judge Lawrence Health experts say that the virus, which Knipel denied the parents’ petition seeking can cause severe complications and even to lift the vaccination order, imposed last death, has spread mostly among school- week to stem the worst measles outbreak to age children whose parents declined to get hit the city since 1991. them vaccinated. The judge sided with municipal health Most profess philosophical or religious offi cials who defended the order as a rare reasons or cite concerns – debunked by but necessary step to contain a surge in the medical science – that the three-way mea- highly contagious disease that has infected sles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine may at least 329 people so far, most of them chil- cause autism.

New York caps climate emissions from buildings

New York’s skyline is getting a green 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, which makeover under a bill adopted on Thursday cause global warming. that imposes massive cuts to the planet- Transportation came second. warming greenhouse gases the city’s high Most emissions from buildings in the United rises and other large buildings emit. States come from the burning of fossil fuels If signed into law by the mayor of the United like oil and gas for heating, cooling and the States’ largest city, the measure will mandate powering of other equipment, according to that buildings that are over 25,000sq feet the US Green Building Council. (2,300sq m) in area cut greenhouse gas The bill is the first of its kind worldwide emissions by 40% by 2030, relative to 2005 to require buildings cut and maintain levels. their emissions below certain levels, said Buildings are New York’s top emitter of Adam Roberts, director of policy with the greenhouse gases, according to a 2016 American Institute of Architects New York, mayoral report, accounting for more than an architecture group.

Court upholds California ‘sanctuary state’ bill

A US appeals court on Thursday upheld government’s immigration enforcement a California “sanctuary state” bill that eff orts,” said Judge Milan Smith in the ruling. blocks state and local law enforcement “California has the right, pursuant to the from working with federal immigration anti-commandeering rule, to refrain from authorities. assisting with federal eff orts,” he added, The three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit referring to the 10th amendment of the US Court of Appeals, headquartered in San constitution, which says that powers not Francisco, unanimously ruled to uphold delegated to the federal government are Senate Bill 54, which prohibits police and given to the states or the people. sheriff s from collaborating with immigration The decision upheld a July 2018 ruling authorities. appealed by the administration of US “SB 54 may well frustrate the federal President Donald Trump. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, April 20, 2019 ASIA

3 jailed over Bangladesh ‘girl burned to live streaming of monkey slaughter death on teacher’s order’ uthorities in central Vi- etnam have jailed three AFP late March to report the sexual in Bangladesh, with Prime Min- Amen for live streaming Dhaka harassment, and a leaked video ister Sheikh Hasina vowing that the slaughter and eating of an shows the local police station “none of the culprits will be endangered monkey, state media chief registering her complaint spared legal action.” reported yesterday. schoolgirl was burned but dismissing it as “not a A police offi cial said that they Phan Van Hoi, 33, and Thai to death in Bangladesh big deal”. had also arrested the ruling Dinh Quy, 58, were each sen- Aon the orders of her Iqbal said at least fi ve of those party’s local chapter head, over tenced to spend a year in prison head teacher after she reported under arrest, including three of allegations he advised one of the and Thai Kim Hong, 51, received him for sexually harassing her, Rafi ’s classmates, had tied her prime suspects to fl ee. a 15-month sentence in a trial police said yesterday. up with a scarf before setting Scores of protesters from in Ha Tinh province’s Huong The death of 19-year-old her on fi re. campaign group Student Com- Khe District People’s Court on Nusrat Jahan Rafi last week “The plan was to pass the munity Against Rape and Sexual Wednesday for “violating regu- sparked protests across the incident off as a suicide. But Violence rallied in central Dha- lations on the protection of pre- South Asian nation, with the it fell through after Rafi man- ka yesterday demanding a ju- cious and rare wild animals,” the prime minister promising to aged to come downstairs while dicial probe into the role of the Vnexpress news site reported. prosecute all those involved. on fi re because the scarf burnt police in the killing. Three other men, Phan Trong Rafi was lured to the rooftop and freed her hands and feet,” “Police are not guilty of neg- Son, 45, Thai Vinh Quang, 59, of the seminary she attended he said. ligence but are rather involved and Thai Van Sang, 41, received where her attackers asked her Rafi suff ered burns to 80% of in the murder of Nusrat. The suspended one-year sentences. to withdraw the sexual harass- her body and died in hospital on (sexual harassment complaint) The case began in Novem- ment complaint she had fi led April 10. was fi led on March 27, but po- ber when Hoi live streamed the with police. But she recorded a video be- lice took no prompt action,” group of men killing a monkey When she refused, she was fore her death, repeating her al- the group’s convener Shibly that Son had sold to Hong and doused in kerosene and set on legations against the principal. Hasan said, according to the eating its raw brain. fi re. “The teacher touched me, online edition of the Daily Star Some people in Vietnam be- Police said yesterday that one I will fi ght this crime till my newspaper. lieve eating the animal’s brain of the 18 people arrested in con- last breath,” she said. She also Rights groups say the number imparts intelligence. nection with her death had ac- identifi ed some of her attackers. of rape and sexual assault cases The video clip went viral cused the school’s principal of Rafi ’s brother Mahmudul has increased in Bangladesh be- Women hold placards and photographs of schoolgirl Nusrat Jahan Rafi at a protest rally in Dhaka, following on Facebook and local media, ordering the attack. Hasan Noman said people cause authorities have failed to her murder by being set on fire after she had reported a sexual assault. sparking protests in Vietnam. The teacher “told them to put close to the principal had also prosecute attackers. The clip was then removed but pressure on Rafi to withdraw the put pressure on the family to “The horrifying murder of director at Human Rights Watch sure that they can safely seek a children under the age of 18 not before being downloaded by case or kill her if she refused”, withdraw the case against him. a brave woman who sought (HRW), said in a statement. legal remedy and be protected have been abused in the country numerous people. senior police superintend- “They told us that it was a justice shows how badly the “Rafi ’s death highlights the from retaliation,” she added. since April 2. Authorities determined that the ent Mohammed Iqbal, who is conspiracy against him and that Bangladesh government has need for the Bangladesh gov- The local Manusher Jonno Another eight have been sub- monkey was an endangered red- leading the investigation, said. it was fabricated,” he said. failed victims of sexual assault,” ernment to take survivors of Foundation, a non-govern- jected to attempted or sexual shanked douc and put the men under Rafi had gone to police in The case has caused outrage Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia sexual assault seriously and en- mental group, says at least 39 harassment, the groups says. house arrest in December. (DPA) US-Thai pair in ‘sea home’ case urged to fi ght charge

Reuters ture is in its 200-mile exclusive waters beyond the bounds of “The two of them present Bangkok economic zone. any national laws. neither a danger to Thai sover- “I urge them to get a lawyer But the Thai navy raided eignty nor the shipping routes,” to fi ght this case,” Supoj Rod- their home this week and au- the group said. senior Thai government ruang Na Nongkhai, the deputy thorities revoked Elwartowski’s An offi cial at the US embassy offi cial yesterday urged provincial governor of Phuket, visa and charged them. in Bangkok said it was provid- Aa US man and a Thai said. Elwartowski and Supra- ing appropriate assistance to woman on the run from a pos- He said the two were believed nee were not available for Elwartowski, who had engaged sible death sentence for build- to be in hiding in Thailand. comment. a lawyer. ing an off -shore “sea home” to They have been charged un- A group of entrepreneurs In a video posted last fi ght the charge in court. der a law on the violation of called Ocean Builders, which month detailing the rais- The two, Chad Elwartowski sovereignty, which stipulates funded the construction of the ing of his prototype fl oating and his partner Supranee punishment of life in prison or fl oating home, said the two had home, Elwartowski said 20 Thepdet, have been accused death. done nothing wrong. more similar houses would of violating Thai sovereignty “Thailand will proceed with The group said in a statement be up for sale to forge a com- Richard Harris, Australian member of the Thai cave rescue team, shakes hands with Thailand’s Prime Minister by raising a small cabin on top everything according to the law. the home was in a so-called munity. Prayuth Chan-ocha, next to Craig Challen after receiving the Member of the Most Admirable Order of the of a big, weighted spar in what We are not threatening them,” contiguous zone of 12-24 nau- “I’m looking forward to the Direkgunabhorn award at the Government House in Bangkok yesterday. they say are international Supoj said. tical miles, where very limited good rules that people create waters, 14 nautical miles off The pair are part of a “sea- Thai regulations applied, and as a community, and coming the west-coast Thai island of steading” movement that ad- they had no intention of set- up with smarter systems as op- Phuket. vocates the building of fl oating ting up any independent state posed to the systems they have Two Australian divers But Thailand says the struc- communities in international or “micro nation”. already,” he said. receive Thai honour Nepal launches fi rst satellite Reuters experts from various countries they’re doing after the rescue,” Bangkok volunteering to help. Harris said. IANS The satellite, developed by told The Kathmandu Post. satellites in the future.” Richard Harris and Craig Harris, a physician specialis- Kathmandu two Nepalis at Japan’s Ky- The images and data will On Thursday, Prime Minister Challen were members of the ing in anaesthesia, was respon- ushu Institute of Technol- be sent by the satellite to K P Sharma Oli said in a tweet: wo Australian cave divers main rescue team, made up of 13 sible for sedating the boys before ogy, bears the Nepal fl ag and the ground station at NAST, “Though a humble beginning, who were instrumental in foreign divers and fi ve Thai navy they were brought out one- epal’s fi rst satellite the NAST logo. Similar satel- which is currently under with the launching of Nepa- Tthe rescue last year of 12 divers, that brought the boys and by-one on a rescue stretcher has been launched lites from Japan and Sri Lanka construction. liSat-1 Nepal has entered the Thai boys and their soccer coach their coach out to safety. through fl ooded tunnels. Ninto space, which will were also launched along- “The ground station will be Space-Era. I wish to congratu- from a fl ooded cave received They received the Most Ad- The pair were in Janu- soon start rotating around the side NepaliSat-1, reports The ready before our satellite starts late all those scientists and in- yesterday a royal honour from mirable Order of the Direkguna- ary named Australians of the Earth’s orbit to collect infor- Kathmandu Post. rotating,” said Dhungel. stitutions that were involved King Maha Vajiralongkorn in a bhorn at Bangkok’s Government Year, one of Australia’s highest mation about the country’s to- According to the NAST, the Offi cials at NAST said that right from the development to ceremony in Bangkok. House before meeting Prime honours. pography and Earth’s magnetic satellite is equipped with a 5MP the satellite will allow them to its launching thereby enhanc- The “Wild Boars” soccer Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in King Vajiralongkorn has con- fi eld, offi cials have said. camera to capture Nepal’s to- learn the process of sending and ing the prestige of our country.” team, aged between 11 and 16, their fi rst trip back to Thailand ferred various honours on 187 The NepaliSat-1 was pography and a magnetometer receiving data and information The total cost from develop- and their 25-year-old coach be- since the rescue. people in connection with the launched at 2.31am on Wednes- to collect data related to the to and from space. ing the satellite to launching it came trapped on June 23 while They will travel to Chiang Rai rescue, 113 of them foreigners day from the Virginia-based Earth’s magnetic fi eld. “The satellite will remain in and constructing the ground exploring the cave complex in and return to the Tham Luang including Tesla Inc Chief Ex- station of the National Aero- “The satellite will fi rst reach the Earth’s orbit for a year dur- station was said to be Rs20mn the northern province of Chiang cave on Monday to meet the boys ecutive Elon Musk, who were in- nautics and Space Adminis- the International Space Sta- ing which the satellite will be ($179,915). Rai when a rainy season down- and their coach. volved in the eff ort, according to tration (Nasa) in the US, ac- tion. It will then start rotat- closely studied,” said Dhungel. A group of four engineering pour fl ooded the tunnels. “That’s really exciting for us the Royal Gazette in March. cording to authorities at the ing around the earth after a “Since it is a learning phase, the graduates were also working to A 17-day eff ort to rescue to go and see them and make A former Thai navy diver died Nepal Academy of Science and month,” NAST spokesper- study of the satellite will help us launch another Nepali satellite them gripped the world with sure they’re well and see how during the rescue. Technology (NAST). son Suresh Kumar Dhungel in developing more advanced ‘Nepal PQ-1’ in 2020.

Rakhine rebels vow fi ght with Myanmar army All set for flute kites festival

AFP country’s poorest states. The rebel leader was speaking The presence of the AA lead- Panghsang With the region under strict in Panghsang, home to the Unit- er in Panghsang will do little to lockdown, it is diffi cult to get a ed Wa State Army, a normally dilute that perception – despite precise death toll, though the reclusive group who this week vociferous denials by the Wa. akhine rebels locked in military has confi rmed over 20 invited journalists and other Rakhine in the west – one of a vicious fi ght with My- of its security forces have been ethnic leaders to commemorate the poorest states in Myanmar Ranmar’s army will not killed by the AA since January. 30 years of autonomy. – has long been a tinderbox of “get peace by praying”, its com- Speaking to reporters from The China-backed Wa have complex ethnic and religious mander said as he vowed his the safety of the Wa region of a long-standing ceasefi re with divides. forces will fi ght on despite be- eastern Shan State, which bor- Myanmar, which has so far al- Fighting has spread across ing outnumbered and under ders China, AA chief Tun Myat lowed them to operate from a Rakhine and into neighbour- aerial assault. Naing said his forces have no semi-autonomous zone. ing Chin state, displacing The increasingly bloody bat- intention of giving up their Experts allege the well- more than 20,000 civilians of tle in western Rakhine state is armed struggle. armed Wa, who have a various ethnicities, while res- between the Myanmar military “We are not the ones to give 25,000-strong standing army, idents in the temple-studded and the Arakan Army (AA), up. We have to fi ght the war,” off er training and equipment town of Mrauk U, the ancient which claims to be fi ghting for said the bespectacled major- to several other rebel groups Rakhine capital, have reported Traditional flute-kites are kept in a temple’s courtyard before the start of a centuries-old flute kites more autonomy for ethnic Ra- general. “We will not get peace as leverage against Myanmar’s fi ghter jets streaking across festival at the Ba Duong Noi village in Hanoi yesterday. khine Buddhists in one of the by praying.” central state. the skies. Gulf Times Saturday, April 20, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Fukushima owner to allow overseas staff to work on disaster cleanup

Reuters co, has held discussions with the on the decades-long decom- was taking steps to limit worker skilled workers” can stay up to excessive hours, violence and 2016 that the cost of disman- Tokyo many sub-contractors working missioning of the Fukushima abuses. Japan, long resistant fi ve years but cannot bring fami- sexual harassment. Three re- tling Fukushima, decontaminat- on the site to ensure any over- station, which was wrecked by to immigration, is opening its lies. actors at Fukushima had melt- ing the aff ected areas and paying seas staff working under the new an earthquake and tsunami that doors to more foreign workers A second category of visas, downs in the 2011 disaster, compensation would amount to okyo Electric Power plans arrangements have a full under- devastated northeastern Japan under a law that went into eff ect limited to the construction and which also knocked out power 21.5tn yen ($192bn), around 20% to allow overseas workers standing of radiation safety and in 2011. this month. shipbuilding industries, allows and cooling at the nuclear sta- of the country’s annual budget. Tcoming to Japan under a the necessary language skills, A Reuters investigation in The law allows about 345,000 workers to bring their families tion. Tepco has struggled for more new visa programme to work on the spokeswoman said. 2013 found widespread labour blue-collar workers to enter Ja- and be eligible to stay longer. The disaster forced 160,000 than eight years with rising lev- the cleanup of its wrecked Fuku- Around 4,000 workers are abuses at Fukushima, includ- pan over fi ve years in 14 sectors, An older programme that people to evacuate areas near els of contaminated water that shima nuclear power station on the site every day, she said. ing workers who said their pay such as construction and nurs- allows workers in on “techni- the Fukushima plant. Many of comes from its jerry-rigged north of Tokyo, a spokeswoman Tepco has been criticised by the was skimmed and who spoke of ing care, which face acute labour cal trainee” visas has long been them will never return to the cooling system for the melted said yesterday. United Nations over possible scant scrutiny of working con- shortages. dogged with cases of abuses, in- most contaminated areas. Ja- reactor cores, in addition to The company, known as Tep- exploitation of those working ditions. Tepco said at the time it One category of “specifi ed cluding low and unpaid wages, pan’s government estimated in power failures and water leaks. Nothing’s changed, Subianto defiant still in charge of N Korea nuclear talks: Pompeo every country to do so.” The Reuters Moscow eyes role in N Korea Washington North Korean foreign ministry offi cial in charge of US aff airs With Russia’s Vladimir Putin “Russia needs some sort of said on Thursday that North ecretary of State Mike set for his first talks with North control over the situation on Korea no longer wanted to deal Pompeo said US diplo- Korean leader Kim Jong-un the Korean peninsula. Recent with Pompeo and he should be Smatic eff orts will continue this month, Moscow is eyeing a events have pushed out almost replaced in talks by someone toward the goal of denuclearisa- major role in yet another global everyone apart from North Ko- more mature. tion of North Korea, a day after flashpoint. The situation on rea and the US, and of course That statement came hours a North Korean offi cial said it no the Korean peninsula seemed nobody likes that,” he said. after North Korea it announced longer wanted to deal with him to be stabilising after a historic Russia has been inviting Kim for its fi rst weapons test since a in talks. meeting between Kim and US talks since last year but he was second summit between Trump “Nothing has changed. We’ll President Donald Trump last unwilling to spend time and and North Korea leader Kim continue to work to negotiate; year, at which they both backed resources on the trip because Jong-un broke down in Febru- still in charge of the team. de-nuclearisation. Moscow was not a major player, ary. President Trump’s obviously But a second round of talks Lankov said. But now Kim is Experts said the North Ko- in charge of the overall eff ort, ended in failure and Pyongyang looking for all the allies he can rean statement appeared aimed but it’ll be my team,” Pompeo this week said it was testing get “because (the second round at dividing Trump from senior told reporters in Washington. weapons again. Now Putin, of US talks) were a failure, and offi cials in the hope of exacting He added that US diplomats who has long expressed his he was not able to achieve the concessions, particularly relief led by Special Representa- readiness to meet with Kim, things he was counting on.” from punishing sanctions. tive for North Korea Stephen is gearing up to play a bigger Moscow has relatively good Kim warned last week that Biegun would continue eff orts role in nuclear negotiations relations with the reclusive the summit breakdown risked to achieve North Korea’s de- with Moscow’s Cold War-era regime, though these have reviving tensions and said he nuclearisation, which he said ally, with which it shares a short deteriorated from Soviet-era was only interested in meet- North Korean leader Kim Jong- border. Russia’s main interest in highs. Putin has expressed tacit ing Trump again if Washington un committed to last June. the summit is to remind other support for Pyongyang, saying showed more fl exibility. “I am convinced we will have players “that it exists and that last year that “it seems counter- He gave a year-end deadline a real opportunity to achieve it has economic and political productive if we demand eve- for a change in attitude. that outcome,” Pompeo said at a potential” in the region, Andrei rything from the North Korean Trump has said he is open to joint news conference after talks Lankov of Seoul’s Kookmin side and in response they are another summit with Kim, but with Japan’s foreign and defence University told AFP. given nothing”. his national security adviser, ministers. In answer to a ques- John Bolton, told Bloomberg tion, Pompeo said he believed it News on Wednesday there fi rst Indonesia’s presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto delivers a speech to supporters who gathered was possible to maintain diplo- demanding. “We will continue related programs and facilities,” needed to be “a real indication outside his home after Friday prayers in Jakarta. Indonesia’s presidential challenger yesterday matic engagement with North to press North Korea to aban- Pompeo said. “We will con- from North Korea that they’ve slammed pollsters as untrustworthy and said they should move to Antarctica so they could “lie to Korea even without providing don all of its weapons of mass tinue to enforce all sanctions made the strategic decision to the penguins”, as he refused to concede defeat in this week’s general election. the sanctions relief it had been destruction, ballistic missiles on North Korea and encourage give up nuclear weapons.”

China invites N Korea to Belt and Road summit Australian father rescues

AFP Beijing toddler from dingo’s jaws

hina said yesterday lead- AFP investigate and found the dingo son were mauled on the island. In ers from 37 nations and Sydney dragging the toddler away from January, a six-year-old boy was CNorth Korean represent- the campervan. He also spotted mauled by the native animal after atives will attend a summit for several other dingoes in the ... as he ran up a dune on the island. its Belt and Road Initiative next father rescued his son immediate vicinity. “He immedi- Authorities have warned visitors week as it hit back at criticism of from a dingo’s jaws after ately ran up and grabbed his son in the past that dingoes are wild the massive trade infrastructure Athe infant was dragged and chased some of the dingoes animals and need to be treated project. from a campervan at an Austral- off .” with caution. Chinese President Xi Jin- ian tourist island, authorities The boy, reported 14 months Native to Australia, dingoes ping’s pet project is a $1tn pro- said yesterday, in the third such old, was treated for two deep cuts came under the spotlight with gramme that includes maritime, attack this year. to the top of his neck near the the disappearance of baby Azaria rail and road projects in Asia, Paramedics said the family was back of his head, and for minor Chamberlain at Uluru, or Ay- Africa and Europe. on a remote part of Fraser Island cuts to his scalp, Du-Toit said. ers Rock, in 1980 for which her The Belt and Road Initiative off the Queensland coast late He was taken by helicopter to a mother Lindy was convicted of has divided Europe, and Wash- Thursday when the parents heard nearby hospital for further treat- murder and her father, Michael, ington has called it a “vanity their child crying. ment. The attack is the third this of being an accessory. project”, but a growing number “The parents awoke with the year on World Heritage-listed The convictions were over- of nations are signing up de- toddler crying and heard the cry- Fraser Island, the world’s largest turned in 1988 after the chance spite warnings about debt and ing getting further away from the sand island and a popular tourist fi nd of a piece of Azaria’s cloth- opaque deals that favour Chi- A man walks past a flower installation set up for the upcoming Belt and Road Forum in front of the Chinese campervan,” Fraser Island para- destination. ing near a dingo lair. A court rul- nese fi rms. Foreign Ministry in Beijing. medic Ben Du-Toit said. “The Two dingoes were put down in ing in 2012 found that a dingo Italy became the fi rst G7 dad got out of the campervan to March after a French mother and snatched their baby from a tent. member to join the scheme this ern leaders calling the projects month and will be among the 37 “debt traps”. Last year, Sri Lan- nations represented at the lead- ka had to give a 99-year lease to Malaysia revives massive China-backed project er level at the April 25-27 sum- China on a deep sea port after it mit in Beijing, Chinese foreign was unable to repay loans for the Malaysia will revive a $34bn Chi- Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s later sold to a joint venture between minister Wang Yi said at a press $1.4bn project. nese-backed transport and property off ice. There were some changes to a Malaysian firm and state-owned briefi ng. But Wang hit back at criti- development that was abandoned the original plan, including 10,000 company China Railway Engineer- Most other nations on the cism, saying that those who are in 2017, the prime minister said units of aff ordable housing, and a ing Corp. It will resume with the list have traditionally warm ties are unable to do something well yesterday, adding the project would “People’s Park”, it said. same contractors, who own a 60% with Beijing, including most should not prevent others from contribute to Beijing’s global infra- The project was originally launched stake while the government owns of Southeast Asia and eastern doing it. structure drive. The announcement in 2011 under the government of the rest. European countries that were “This sort of mentality is un- came after the countries agreed this ex-leader Najib Razak, but was Bandar Malaysia and the revived former members of the Soviet constructive and not helpful to month to resume work on a previ- abandoned in 2017 during his rail link, which will run from Malay- bloc. The United States has said others,” Wang said. While some ously suspended railway project in administration due to a dispute sia’s east to west coast, “should be it will not be sending a high- see the project as a geopolitical Malaysia, and is the latest sign of about payments. Najib lost power viewed within the larger context of level delegation. Wang said that China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a press conference powerplay, Beijing has insisted improving ties after a rocky period. at historic elections last year, and fostering and cementing long-term “China’s neighbour North Ko- briefing on the Belt and Road summit in Beijing yesterday. that the Belt and Road is open The 140-bn ringgit ($34bn) Bandar has since been slapped with dozens bilateral relations between Malaysia rea” will be sending a delegation. to everybody. “I want to empha- Malaysia development in Kuala of charges over his alleged role in and China,” the statement said. The “This is very normal because from participating,” he said. He this month, would participate. sise that this sort of partnership Lumpur is expected to attract finan- looting state fund 1MDB. projects will “be a significant contri- it is an economic co-operation did not say whether leader Kim There has been growing con- is not a geopolitical tool, but a cial institutions and companies, and The Bandar Malaysia project was bution to the Belt and Road Initiative initiative... but (no countries) Jong-un, who will meet Presi- cern over China’s Belt and Road platform for co-operation,” he will be an interchange for a number initially backed by the scandal-hit which Malaysia expects to be able have the right to prevent others dent Vladimir Putin in Russia ambitions, with many west- added. of rail lines, said a statement from state fund, but a major stake was to tap on,” it added. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, April 20, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

One in fi ve teachers ‘using own money for school supplies’

Guardian News and Media said they paid for resources such over the past year, with most outside the school gates. Another reported: “I’ve always to be good, I need to purchase But the department for edu- London as paper or books used in their paying for food, while 29% pur- Several teachers reported reg- had supplies for those who don’t; those things that are missing or cation (DfE) maintained that lessons at least once a week, with chased toiletries and 23% said ularly paying for breakfast for I was brought up on benefi ts so I run out.” Another reported: “All spending on schools in England half of those saying they did so they bought clothing or shoes. pupils who had eaten nothing know what it’s like. However, it departmental budgets have been was at record levels, with an ad- ne in fi ve teachers are “several times a week”. “Teachers once again are being since the previous day’s school used to be just one or two chil- frozen and all the stock rooms ditional £1.3bn going into core spending their own mon- The responses show an educa- left to pick up the pieces of failed lunch, with some buying winter dren in a class of 30. I now have are empty. Basic resources are schools funding this year and in Oey on classroom supplies, tion system struggling to func- education, social and econom- coats for those without. fi ve in a class of 20.” rationed out at the beginning of 2019-20. while nearly half say they buy tion without basic supplies, with ic policies,” said Chris Keates, “In the community I serve, One teacher estimated that each term and once they are gone “We recognise the budgeting food, clothes and even soap for one teacher stating: “We soon NASUWT’s general secretary, as there is high poverty and many she had voluntarily spent £5,000 there is no more unless you pur- challenges schools face and have poor pupils, according to a report will be unable to teach unless we the union prepared for the start students don’t have the basics: on classroom supplies in recent chase them yourself.” Analysis introduced a wide range of prac- charting the eff ects of austerity fund it ourselves.” of its annual conference. shampoo, toothpaste and shower years, including pencils, scissors by the Institute for Fiscal Stud- tical support to help schools and on schools. At the same time, 45% of the The details supplied by teach- gel. Many teachers in the school and glue. “Schools are increas- ies found that spending per pupil head teachers, to help schools Among the more than 4,300 teachers told the union they had ers reveal a harrowing array of that I work in provide as much as ingly funding only basic con- in England’s state schools fell by make the most of every pound on teachers who responded to the also spent their own money buy- issues involving poverty and the they can for students,” said one sumables and if I want my lessons 8% in real terms between 2009- non-staff costs,” a DfE spokes- NASUWT education union, 20% ing basic necessities for pupils eff ects of austerity inside and teacher. to go smoothly and for behaviour 10 and 2017-18. person said.

Star rallies activists Journalist at climate change protest shot dead

Reuters London during Derry ilm star Emma Thompson joined climate change ac- Ftivists in central London yesterday to read poetry praising Earth’s bounties, part of a series of protests which have caused transport snarl-ups in the British rioting: police capital. Organisers Extinction Rebel- AFP the Belfast Telegraph, said she authorities will ascertain the ex- lion have called for non-violent Derry, United Kingdom saw McKee get hurt. act circumstances of this tragic civil disobedience to force the “I was standing beside this event,” he said. government to reduce net green- young woman when she fell be- Visiting US House of Repre- house gas emissions to zero by journalist was shot dead side a police Land Rover in Creg- sentatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi 2025 and stop what they call a during riots in Northern gan #Derry. I called an ambu- joined in a minute’s silence for global climate crisis. AIreland in what police were lance for her but police put her McKee, saying it was “especially The protests did not cause yesterday treating as a terror- in the back of their vehicle and poignant”, being held on Good travel disruption yesterday dur- ist incident following the latest rushed her to hospital where she Friday. ing one of Britain’s main holiday upsurge in violence to shake the died. Just 29 years old. Sick to my The violence came in the run- weekends, but police said they troubled region. stomach tonight,” she tweeted. up to the Easter weekend, when have arrested more than 570 peo- “Lyra McKee was murdered Thursday’s unrest raised mem- Republicans opposed to the Brit- ple so far this week. during orchestrated violence in ories of past decades of violence ish presence in Northern Ireland Extinction Rebellion has Creggan on Thursday night,” as- in Northern Ireland. mark the anniversary of a 1916 blocked several locations in cen- sistant chief constable Mark uprising against British rule. tral London this week after stag- Hamilton said in a statement. A car-bombing and the hijack- ing a semi-nude protest in parlia- McKee, 29, had earlier posted ing of two vans in Londonderry ment earlier this month. an image that appeared to be from earlier this year were also blamed “Our planet is in serious trou- the riots in the Creggan housing on a dissident paramilitary group. ble,” Thompson told reporters. estate in the city of Londonderry, Michelle O’Neill, the deputy “We are here in this island of also known as Derry, accompa- leader of Irish republican party sanity and it makes me so happy nied by the words “Derry tonight. Sinn Fein, condemned the killing. to be able to join you all and to Absolute madness.” “My heart goes out to the fam- add my voice to the young people Images of the unrest posted on ily of the young woman shot dead here who have inspired a whole social media showed a car and van by so-called dissidents,” she new movement,” said Thompson, ablaze and hooded individuals McKee had written for wrote on Twitter. one of Britain’s most acclaimed throwing petrol bombs and fi re- The Atlantic magazine and “This was an attack on the actresses who has won two Acad- works at police vehicles. Buzzfeed News and was community, an attack on the emy awards. “A single gunman fi red shots in named by Forbes Magazine peace process and an attack on She was one of several actors a residential area of the city and in 2016 as one of their “30 the Good Friday Agreement,” the who read poems celebrating the as a result wounded McKee,” said under 30” outstanding peace deal that largely brought an beauty of nature from a pink boat Hamilton, adding that police be- fi gures in media end to violence on the island ex- lodged by the protesters at Ox- lieved the gunman was a “violent actly 21 years ago, she added, call- ford Circus in central London. dissident republican”. Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo ing for calm. The protesters formed a human “We are treating this as a ter- Varadkar warned that “we cannot Arlene Foster, leader of the chain around the boat, which of- rorist incident and we have allow those who want to propa- Democratic Union Party, which is fi cials say has been locked to the launched a murder enquiry,” he gate violence, fear and hate to in favour of Britain’s presence in ground, making it extremely dif- added. drag us back to the past”. Northern Ireland, described the fi cult for police to remove. McKee had written for The His British counterpart Theresa death as “heartbreaking news”. Thompson’s appearance fol- Atlantic magazine and Buzzfeed May said the killing was “shock- “A senseless act. A family lowed a demonstration near Hea- News and was named by Forbes ing and truly senseless”. has been torn apart. Those who throw Airport earlier, where a Magazine in 2016 as one of their In Brussels, a European Com- brought guns onto our streets in group of around a dozen teenag- “30 under 30” outstanding fi g- mission spokesman condemned the 70s, 80s & 90s were wrong. It ers held a banner alongside a busy Actress Emma Thompson gestures as she joins climate change activists occupying the road junction at ures in media, according to her the “terrible incident”. is equally wrong in 2019. No one road which read: “Are we the last Oxford Circus in central London yesterday. literary agent Janklow & Nesbit. “We condemn such violence, wants to go back,” she wrote on generation?” Leona O’Neill, a reporter with and we are confi dent that the UK Twitter.

Special treat Man wins payout from Teachers die in buggy son’s football club

Daily Mail tute” during fi ve-a-side matches crash on Greek island and also accused him of “indi- London rectly blaming (the 10-year-old) Guardian News and Media wonderful times of love and joy Catholic primary school in Vaux- for the team performance”. London together. hall. The school’s headteacher, football club has been or- The man, who asked not to be Tim Dainty, principal at Ark Catherine Davis, said Milly was a dered to pay £3,000 com- named, added that it was ‘un- Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton, “much loved teacher and member Apensation to a 10-year-old equal treatment’ and that he ributes have been paid to where Toby taught history, paid of staff ”. boy who was substituted during a was upset he had been excluded a “devoted” young Brit- tribute to the couple. “Everyone The couple, from south Lon- match. from a team WhatsApp group. Tish couple who died while here is deeply saddened by the don, married in August 2017 His father sued Winnersh Coaches at the club had also on holiday on the Greek island of tragic loss,” he said. and pictures on their Facebook Rangers claiming his son suff ered broken promises of a place in the Santorini when the buggy they “Understandably, this news pages show them enjoying life emotional harm and was a victim side made to his son, the father were driving plunged 200 metres has come as a real shock to us all together. In one snap the pair of racism. claimed. into a ravine. and so we will be working with are both wearing England shirts Directors at the amateur club in The father took his son back Teachers Milly and Toby Savill counsellors to support those celebrating the team’s success in Berkshire say the fi rst they knew to training at the beginning of – both in their twenties – died in staff and students who require it last summer’s World Cup with of any complaint by the family the new season, before suddenly the accident, according to local at this diffi cult time.” He added: crowds at Borough Market, south was when a letter arrived from the removing him from the team in media reports. “Toby joined our school in Sep- London. local county court. September and accused the club They were using the hired bug- tember 2018 as a newly qualifi ed Toby’s brother Jacob Savill paid They were stunned to learn of victimising him. gy to explore the 567-metre tall teacher of history and quickly tribute on Twitter by sharing a that the club had been ordered to Club secretary Phil Chick said Profi tis Ilias mountain, the high- established himself as a very picture of the couple, writing: pay £3,000 compensation after a Winnersh Rangers were disap- est point on the island, which has dedicated and passionate edu- “On Sunday, my best friend died judge found in the father’s favour. pointed to lose the player and a monastery at its peak. cator. alongside his beautiful wife. We They said they had not known conducted two investigations Steve Coulson, father of “His enthusiasm was infec- are crushed with inconceivable about the case and so had not alongside Berkshire FA, who 25-year-old Milly, said the cou- tious. He had a very strong rela- pain.” One friend replied: “Milly been able to defend the action but cleared the club of any off ences. ple were “utterly devoted to one tionship with his students and and Toby were so precious to us will challenge the ruling. The boy’s father had initially another” and that their families was extremely well-respected by and two of our most treasured The details of the allegations reported the club to the local were devastated at their deaths. his fellow staff members. He will friends. We will miss them terri- put before Reading County Court council’s child protection depart- Coulson, vicar of St Mark’s be greatly missed by one and all.” bly and can only imagine the im- are not known because the full ment, alleging the youngster had church in Kennington, south Santorini, in the southern mense pain your families will be judgment has yet to be released. suff ered emotional abuse and London, added: “Their families Aegean Sea, is popular with holi- experiencing.” A black capped squirrel monkey is fed treats from a But the boy’s father, a shop- racism, he said. They were not are so proud of them, and al- daymakers. The island, popular with holi- papier-mache Easter egg during a photo-call at ZSL London keeper originally from Syria, said informed about the court case though devastated, we are com- Milly, who studied at Durham daymakers, is in the southern Zoo in London. the team’s coach had been “un- which ended with the order for forted by having shared so many University, taught at St Anne’s Aegean Sea. fairly selecting his son for substi- damages. Gulf Times Saturday, April 20, 2019 9 EUROPE Turkey arrests suspected UAE spies, investigating Khashoggi link

Reuters Turkey in October 2018, days af- about Arabs, including political men walking down a street to- The Saudi public prosecutor As part of the counter-in- said, calling it an “airtight” case. Ankara ter Khashoggi was murdered in- dissidents, living in Turkey.” gether. has indicted 11 suspects, includ- telligence investigation, Turk- “They also confessed to have side Saudi Arabia’s consulate in A Turkish court ruled yester- Khashoggi, a Washington Post ing fi ve who could face the death ish offi cials seized an encrypted been employed by the UAE’s in- Istanbul, the offi cial said, adding day evening to keep the two sus- columnist and critic of Saudi penalty on charges of ordering computer located in a hidden telligence services.” urkey has arrested two the other had arrived later to help pects in custody on international, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Sal- and committing the crime. compartment at what the offi cial The suspected spies said they suspects who confessed his colleague with the workload. political and military espionage man, was killed in the consulate A representative of the UAE’s told Reuters was the spy ring’s had recruited informants and Tto spying on Arab nation- “We are investigating whether charges, state-owned Anadolu on October 2 by a team of Saudi foreign ministry could not im- base in Istanbul. paid them for information, the als for the United Arab Emirates, the primary individual’s arrival in news agency reported. operatives, provoking an inter- mediately be reached for com- The offi cial, who requested offi cial added. and is investigating whether the Turkey was related to the Jamal State broadcaster TRT Haber national outcry. ment at the weekend. anonymity, said statements by Turkish President Recep Tayy- arrival in Turkey of one of them Khashoggi murder,” said the of- published photos of the two The US Central Intelligence A spokesman for Turkey’s in- the detained men suggested their ip Erdogan has urged the United was related to the murder of Sau- fi cial, adding the person had been suspects in custody, standing in Agency (CIA) and some West- terior ministry declined to com- intelligence operation targeted States to put its weight behind di journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a monitored for six months before front of the Turkish fl ag. ern countries believe the crown ment. political exiles and students. the investigation into the killing senior Turkish offi cial said yes- the arrests in Istanbul on Mon- They also released photo- prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto An Istanbul police spokesman “We have extensive evidence of Khashoggi and not to set the terday. day. “It is possible that there was graphs, apparently taken previ- ruler, ordered the killing, which confi rmed it was involved in the of the individuals’ covert activi- matter aside because of its ties One of the two men arrived in an attempt to collect information ously and covertly, of the two Saudi offi cials deny. operation. ties on Turkish soil,” the offi cial with Riyadh.

Erdogan slams Ukraine poll rivals clash media over negative ahead of Sunday’s vote coverage AFP The rivals appeared together changed insults and underwent for separate talks last week. AFP Kyiv on stage and opened the debate drug tests at Zelenskiy’s insist- The main risks associated Istanbul on a positive note by shaking ence. with a Zelenskiy presidency are hands before quickly launching A survey by the Rating poll- “policy incoherence stemming comedian tipped to take mutual attacks. ster released on Thursday from inexperience” and “undue resident Recep Tayyip Er- over Ukraine’s presiden- “I am not a politician,” said showed Zelenskiy winning 73% infl uence from oligarchs or Rus- dogan has criticised West- Acy and his incumbent ri- Zelenskiy, who spoke fi rst. “I of the vote against 27% for Po- sians”, a former Western diplo- Pern media coverage of the val went head-to-head in a bit- am just a simple person who has roshenko. mat told AFP. country’s economy after a Fi- ter stadium debate yesterday, as come to break down this system. Supporters credit Poroshenko In a startling development on nancial Times report questioned campaigning reached its grand I am the result of your mistakes – who took power after a popu- Thursday, a Kyiv court ruled that the central bank’s management fi nale before a weekend vote. and promises.” lar uprising in 2014 – with im- the Poroshenko government’s of foreign currency reserves. Polls show Volodymyr Zel- Poroshenko, 53, attacked the plementing economic reforms, 2016 decision to nationalise the Turkey’s economy has slipped enskiy, a 41-year-old stand-up inexperience of the untested rebuilding the army, securing an country’s biggest lender as part into its fi rst recession in a dec- comic with no political experi- Zelenskiy, questioning his abil- Orthodox Church independent of a reform drive was illegal. ade after a currency crisis last ence, handily defeating Presi- ity to serve as commander-in- of Russia and winning visa-free PrivatBank was owned at the year battered the lira, leaving dent Petro Poroshenko in a sec- chief. travel to Europe. time by Igor Kolomoysky, a ty- foreign investors jittery over the ond-round of voting tomorrow. “We only have a beautiful and However, he won just over half coon who controls the channel government’s policies to manage The showman’s bid started as bright sweet wrapper in which of Zelenskiy’s vote share in the Poroshenko and Zelenskiy during the debate held at the Olimpiyskiy that broadcasts several of Zelen- growth. a long shot but he leapfrogged everyone can fi nd what he is fi rst round of the election last stadium in Kyiv. skiy’s shows. The Financial Times on establishment candidates amid looking for,” said an emotional month. Poroshenko warned that Wednesday reported that the frustration over corruption, Poroshenko. The stakes are high for the also due to be held in October. Thursday that it would be limit- Ukraine risked defaulting on its central bank had bolstered its economic trouble and a confl ict He said Zelenskiy had over the country of 45mn people seen as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry ing Russian exports of coal, oil debt if the bank were handed foreign reserves with short-term with Moscow-backed insur- past few years avoided active- a buff er between the European Peskov said earlier yesterday and petrochemicals that Ukraine back to the tycoon after his gov- lending in what analysts worried gents in the country’s east. duty military service and added Union and Russia. that his team would record the relies on. ernment spent nearly $6bn on was a way to overstate its buff er Several thousand spectators he would not be able to stand up Ukraine is mired in a smoul- debate so that Putin could watch The West is closely watching recapitalising the lender. against any new lira crisis. attended the fi rst and only pol- to Russian President Vladimir dering war with Moscow- when he is free. the race amid concern that a new The EU, the United States Last month, the lira fell nearly icy head-to-head of the extraor- Putin. backed separatists in the in- “We will watch it for sure,” he government might undo years of and the International Monetary 6% in one day because of in- dinary campaign that took place The debate brought to a close dustrial east, a confl ict that has said. reforms. Fund (IMF) said in co-ordinated vestor concerns over foreign in Kyiv’s Olympic Stadium amid a race that at times descended claimed 13,000 lives. In a new attempt to squeeze French President Emmanuel statements that they are closely reserves as well as worries the beefed-up security. into farce as the candidates ex- A parliamentary election is Kyiv, Moscow announced on Macron hosted both candidates monitoring the situation. government had turned to unor- thodox ways to shore up the cur- rency before March 31 elections. “Unfortunately, some quar- ters in the West, using all their media tools, are trying to say Activists denounce ‘republic of polluters’ our economy has collapsed,” Erdogan told a business forum. “Let them write what they want, AFP/Reuters write the headlines they want. Paris The Financial Times writes some things. But the situation in my country is clear.” undreds of French ac- The Turkish leader has in the tivists staged a sit-in past attacked Western media Hyesterday outside top coverage on the country’s econ- energy companies in Paris, de- omy. scribing France as the “republic Last month, he blamed cur- of polluters”, as part of a inter- rency fl uctuations on a Western national civil disobedience cam- plot led by the United States to paign on climate change. weaken Turkey. Some 2,000 environmental The Financial Times story said activists in total assembled at it had calculated Turkey’s for- the La Defense business dis- eign reserves were much lower trict in a bid to block access to than the $28.1bn offi cially re- the headquarters of energy gi- ported in April if the short-term ant Total, electricity fi rm EDF borrowing was stripped out of as well as bank Societe Generale the calculation. and France’s ministry for eco- In a response to the FT, the logical transition. central bank acknowledged Protesters rallied around the short-term operations may im- slogan, “Block the Republic of pact reserve fi gures, though Polluters”, and held banners it said its accounting was in bearing the face of President Climate change activists sit compliance with international Emmanuel Macron and the in front of a poster depicting standards. message, “Macron, President of French President Emmanuel polluters”. Macron with the words ‘Macron Some lay on the ground, in President of the polluters’, while Germany cancels what they said was an action they block the entrance of the symbolising a “climate crime Total company’s headquarters Easter bonfires scene”. yesterday in La Defense, near Police pepper-sprayed one Paris. Traditional Easter bonfires group blocking the bank’s main have been cancelled in eastern entrance in a sit-down protest. A student holding a placard Germany due to the high risk of Some demonstrators taped reading ‘The less we produce wildfires. themselves together while oth- plastic, the more we love Gathering around a bonfire to ers cuff ed themselves with plas- environment’ takes part in celebrate the end of winter is tic ties to metal poles to make the ‘Fridays For Future’ rally in a popular custom in parts of it harder for police to dislodge Piazza del Popolo in Rome. northern Europe, but Germany’s them. eastern region is suff ering from Employees in business suits ‘Not here for selfies’, teen activist tells political world drought, and several state milled around outside. authorities have put the danger “I just want to get inside and Thunberg speaks during the student protest action in Piazza del Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg rebuked the not take weeks, this will not take months, this will at the highest alert levels. on with my work,” one frustrat- Popolo, Rome. ruling classes yesterday at a demonstration in Italy, take years,” she added. The drought has had ed bank employee said. insisting youths fighting for climate justice were not Italy’s populist government – the first in Western consequences for fields and The demonstration, a joint nounce the policy of Macron and relies heavily on nuclear and fodder for self-complacent selfies. Europe – has a poor record on the environment, forests, as crops withered and initiative of ANV-COP21, show that politics in France hap- hydropower plants to generate “We children are not sacrificing our education and with the hard-right, pro-business League battling several wildfires broke out last Greenpeace and Les Amis de la pens here and not at the minis- electricity, said 96% of its power our childhood for the adults and politicians to tell the Five-Star Movement (M5S) over a series of large- year, especially in the north- Terre, comes at the end of the try,” Cecile Marchand, of Les was carbon dioxide-free. us what they consider is politically possible in the scale infrastructure projects. eastern state Brandenburg. “International Week of Rebel- Amis de la Terre, told the crowd. He said EDF was committed society they have created,” the 16-year-old told League head Matteo Salvini, Italy’s interior minister, In one such fire in August, around lion” launched by Extinction However, in a message on to curbing its total carbon foot- crowds gathered in Rome. voted against the Paris Agreement on fighting 3,000 firefighters battled the Rebellion, the climate change Twitter, France’s Minister for print by 40% by 2030. “We have not taken to the streets for them to take climate change in 2016. flames south of Berlin for days. pressure group using civil diso- Ecological Transition Francois A window was broken at the selfies with us, and tell us that they really, really And the anti-establishment M5S has angered Local authorities in Brandenburg bedience to demand action over de Rugy said the activists had Societe Generale tower and tear admire what we do. its base by breaking several electoral promises, cancelled bonfires this weekend climate change from politicians “got the enemy wrong ... we are gas canisters were briefl y de- “We children are doing this to wake the adults up,” including pledges to close the vast and heavily in smaller communities such as and governments worldwide. acting!” ployed by police taking up po- she told the crowd of 5,000 youngsters, some of polluting Ilva steel plant, or stop construction of a Luebben and Fuerstenberg, as Clement Senechal of Green- Total chief executive Patrick sitions inside the building, ac- whom were holding up placards warning “Climate gas pipeline from Albania. well as the state capital Potsdam. peace, told AFP that the protest Pouyanne meanwhile defended cording to an AFP photographer. Change = Human Extinction” and “Time is Running Thunberg addressed the Italian Senate on Thursday In the neighbouring state of outside Total was symbolic as the strategy of the energy giant, Paris was in 2015 the venue Out”. after meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saxony, at least four towns nixed the company was the “factory of saying that the main demand of for the United Nations Climate “In the last six months, millions of schoolchildren, Wednesday. their plans for fear of sparking climate change”. the population was to have “ac- Change Conference (COP21) not least in Italy, have been school striking for the “Politicians in Italy love to welcome celebrities, as a fire. The French multinational cess to more energy, aff ordable which forged a historic agree- climate. But nothing has changed. they did (with Thunberg on Thursday), but when Saxony-Anhalt, another state ranks among the world’s top 20 energy and that this energy is ment on limiting climate change. “There is no political change whatsoever in sight,” it comes down to the facts, we have yet to see in eastern Germany, saw CO2-emitting companies. clean”. However activists doubt the Thunberg said. any action,” WWF representative Domenico Aiello communities call off celebration “We have come out to de- A spokesman for EDF, which commitments will be met. “That is why we must prepare ourselves. This will lamented. plans. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, April 20, 2019 INDIA LATIN AMERICA

LAW AND ORDER VERDICT ASSAULT OFFBEAT LEGAL Rohit Shekhar Tiwari BJP legislator gets Hardik Patel slapped by Man amputates finger after RailYatri’s operations ‘died an unnatural death’ life for murder BJP worker at poll rally voting for wrong party unauthorised: court

Three days after Rohit Shekhar Tiwari’s Ashok Chandel, the BJP MLA from Uttar Firebrand Patidar leader Hardik Patel was A man chopped off his index finger in The Delhi High Court has ruled the operations mysterious death at his south Delhi residence, Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, was yesterday yesterday slapped at a public meeting in desperation after voting for the wrong party of RailYatri, a mobile application for train-travel an autopsy report has suggested it was an sentenced to life imprisonment after he was Surendranagar district in Gujarat by a man in the election. Pawan Kumar said he became bookings, is unauthorised. The application is “unnatural death”. “The autopsy report of found guilty in a 22-year-old murder case. who alleged Patel was playing politics with confused by the symbols on the electronic backed by Nandan Nelikani, Omidyar Network, Tiwari, 40, suggests it is an unnatural death Chandel was sentenced by the Allahabad High the sentiments of the community. Patel was voting machine and voted for Prime Minister Helion Ventures, and other well-known angel due to smothering. Other contradictions were Court for his involvement in the murder of five addressing an election rally at Baldana village Narendra Modi’s party instead of the Bahujan investors, and it uses deep-analytics technology also found,” a police off icer said. Rohit Shekhar people on January 26, 1997. The court also when a man identified as Tarun Gajjar from Samaj Partyin Uttar Pradesh. Distraught, Kumar to make prediction regarding train bookings. Tiwari had won a paternity suit against the sentenced 10 others to life imprisonment. Rajiv Kadi town in north Gujarat climbed up the went home and chopped off his finger with a The travel app provides comprehensive former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Shukla, the victim’s family member, said: “Three stage and slapped him. An angry Gajjar was meat cleaver. A video showed Kumar holding information about trains, passenger amenities Uttarakhand, late Narayan Dutt Tiwari. Rohit people from my family – elder brothers Rajesh heard saying that 14 Patidar youngsters had up his hand with a bandage over the missing at stations, platforms and the speed of the train, was declared “brought dead” by the Max Shukla and Rakesh Shukla and nephew Ganesh been killed in 2015 during Patel’s agitation for appendage. “I wanted to vote for elephant in addition to personalised alerts. The Indian Hospital on Wednesday after his mother took – were killed along with our security guards Ved reservations to the community but now the but it went to flower,” he says on the video. “I Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation him there in an ambulance. A Crime Branch Prakash Nayak and Shrikant Pandey.” He said he latter was playing politics over it. Gajjar is a BJP went home and chopped off my finger with the has deactivated the access credentials of off icer said they have registered a case of approached the high court after a lower court worker and is known to be close to Gujarat’s cleaver,” said Kumar. He said no pressure had Retail Service Providers who had forged an murder in this connection. acquitted the accused. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel. been put on him over his vote. association with the travel app.

Switching sides Mulayam Singh real leader of poor: Mayawati

IANS liance with Samajwadi Party. “I Mainpuri (Uttar Pradesh) have already explained that some decisions are taken in larger na- tional interests. We have also ormer Uttar Pradesh chief done the same.” ministers Mulayam Singh Mayawati insisted that the FYadav and Mayawati yes- Bharatiya Janata Party had fared terday erased 24 years of bitter poorly in the fi rst two rounds of hostilities and shared the same the staggered Lok Sabha elections platform in Mainpuri where the and vowed to oust the Modi gov- Bahujan Samaj Party president ernment. took on Prime Minister Narendra Targeting the Congress too, Modi while the Samajwdi Party the BSP leader called its NYAY patriarch declared that this will scheme “a gimmick”. be his last election. “The Congress remained in The two leaders sat side by side power at the Centre for over 60 even as the crowds lustily cheered years but they did not work and the alliance. Mulayam Singh Ya- they were thrown out. And now dav introduced Mayawati to Sa- to get votes of the poor they are majwadi Party workers and asked promising money to them. This them to touch her feet to show will also not get them votes.” Former Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi attends a press conference with Shiv Sena leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray after joining Shiv Sena, their respect. In his brief speech, Mualayam in Mumbai yesterday. In her speech, Mayawati said Singh Yadav welcomed the BSP that Mulayam Singh Yadav was leader and asked party workers to a genuine backward caste leader treat Mayawati with respect be- who had united various caste cause she had come to campaign groups. for him. “He is not a fake OBC leader He also asked the people to like Prime Minister Narendra ensure his victory with a greater Modi who claims to be a OBC majority than ever before. leader but has done nothing for “I am not going to speak much OBCs and Dalits,” she said. because you all have heard me Thakur sorry as Karkare Mayawati asked people to rec- many times,” he said. ognise the genuine leaders of their Mualayam Singh said this will caste and ensure their victory. be his last election and so urged “Ensure the victory of Mu- the people to help him win with a layam Singh Yadav. His son record margin. Akhilesh Yadav is carrying for- Akhilesh Yadav, speaking for ward his father’s legacy,” she add- himself and his father Mulayam remark sparks furore ed, referring to the other former Singh Yadav, accused Modi of Uttar Pradesh chief minister who fooling the electorate. He said IANS versial remarks. ties such as the Congress and the comment, he said: “That woman place now,” he tweeted. too later took on Modi. Modi presented himself as a Bhopal/New Delhi At a public meeting in Bhopal Aam Aadmi Party, who demand- cannot be sane. No person in MIM president Asaduddin In her speech, Mayawati said: ‘chaiwala’ (tea-boy) in the 2014 yesterday, Thakur, recounting ed the BJP apologise. their sane mind can think or talk Owaisi also questioned the BJP “You must ensure a historic win Lok Sabha battle and was now the episode of her arrest and The Indian Police Service As- like that, and that too about a for Thakur’s comment. for Mulayam Singh Yadav.” She calling himself a ‘chowkidar’. JP’s Bhopal Lok Sabha interrogation in the Malegaon sociation also condemned her police offi cer who sacrifi ced his “Karkare died fi ghting people said the ‘drama’ of the prime The Samajwadi Party and the candidate Sadhvi Pragya case, said she was in a Mumbai remarks. life for the nation.” He also dis- not very diff erent from yourself. minister on the ‘chowkidar’ BSP fi rst entered into an alliance BSingh Thakur, who jail and the head of the probe Congress leader Sanjay Jha missed “the BJP’s subsequent He didn’t die because a terror (guard) issue would not have the in 1993 and formed a government sparked a controversy yester- had called Karkare and said she accused Thakur of mocking attempt to alienate itself from accused ‘felt bad’ and ‘cursed’ desired impact on voters now. She in Uttar Pradesh. day by saying that Mumbai ATS should be released as there was Karkare’s death. “I live in Mum- the controversial remarks by him. The man died fi ghting to blasted the Modi government for After the 1995 State Guest chief Hemant Karkare had died no evidence against her. But bai. We saw 26/11 at close quar- calling them Thakur’s personal protect our rights to vote and betraying the people by making House incident in which Maya- during the 26/11 terror attack Thakur claimed that Karkare ters. ATS chief Hemant Karkare opinion.” elect a government. How dare false promises, including giving wati and her supporters were held due to “her curse”, apologised continued to grill her and in a stood up to save us from terror- The AAP said the nation is BJP insult our martyrs like this?” Rs1.5mn to all Indians. captive for almost 30 hours by for her remark and termed him a fi t of rage she told him he was ists. He was killed by them. BJP proud of Karkare who laid down he asked. She stated that if the SP-BSP- Samajwadi Party leaders, the two “martyr”. cursed. candidate from Bhopal Pragya his life fi ghting against the ter- In a tweet from its official RLD alliance came to power, she parties severed all ties. Thakur, an accused in the Within a month-and-a-half Singh Thakur mocks his death,” rorists during the 26/11 attack. handle, the IPS (Central) As- would ensure fi nancial assistance Mayawati, after the Mulayam 2008 Malegaon blast case, said he fell victim to terrorist bullets, Jha said in a tweet. “BJP must apologise for insult- sociation said: “Ashok Chakra for the poor. government was dismissed in Ut- she was taking back her remarks Thakur then told the rally. Punjab Chief Minister Ama- ing Hemant Karkare.” awardee late Hemant Karkare, The BSP leader taunted the tar Pradesh and she was ‘rescued’ as she “felt that the enemies of The statement by Thakur, who rinder Singh lashed out at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal IPS, made the supreme sacri- prime minister for terming the al- from the Guest house, had sworn the country are being benefi ted” had joined the BJP on Wednes- Thakur for insulting a decorated called the comments “disgrace- fice fighting terrorists. Those liance as ‘liquor’ and said the BJP that she would never have any from it. day and was hours later named dead police offi cer and accused ful” and said her comment needs of us in uniform condemn the was intoxicated with power and truck with the Samajwadi Party. “It was my personal pain. its candidate against former her of dragging the current na- to be condemned in strongest insulting statement made by had to be voted out. Later, she became chief minis- I take back my statement and Madhya Pradesh chief minis- tionalism discourse to a new low. terms. a candidate and demand that She said several questions were ter with BJP support in 1995. The apologise,” she told reporters ter Digvijaya Singh in Bhopal, In a hard-hitting reaction to “BJP is showing its true col- sacrifices of all our martyrs be being raised about her party’s al- government lasted four months. hours after she made the contro- drew fl ak from opposition par- the “sickening and repulsive” ours and it must be shown its respected.” 227 candidates vie for 20 PM’s rating slides ‘but Lok Sabha seats in Kerala Rahul fails to improve’ IANS 26.13% said they were not satis- New Delhi fi ed at all. IANS cratic Alliance (NDA) has become 12 seats, the Left eight while the But on March 7, 55.72% of re- Thiruvananthapuram a force to reckon with, at least in BJP drew a blank. It only managed spondents had said they were very a handful of constituencies in the to fi nish a close second in Thiru- he approval rating of satisfi ed and only 17% then said state, thanks to the Sabarimala is- vananthapuram, while in the rest Prime Minister Narendra they were not happy with him. record 227 candidates sue. of the constituencies it fi nished a TModi has dropped around will fi ght it out for the 20 The Supreme Court (SC) on distant third. 17 points in over a month but The net satisfaction level ALok Sabha seats in Kerala, September 28, 2018, had ruled This time though, there’s a there is still no good news for with the prime minister which go to the polls in the third that women of all age groups twist in the electoral plot with the the Congress as satisfaction of had dropped to 46.92% - a phase of polling on April 23. should be allowed to pray at the unexpected arrival of Congress voters with Rahul Gandhi has drop of 16.55% - from the A total of 25,408,711 voters, Sabarimala temple, thereby strik- president Rahul Gandhi, who has not shown any sign of improve- peak in his popularity including 13,111,189 women, ing down the temple tradition. sprang a surprise by announc- ments, according to the lat- witnessed on March 7 12,297,403 men and 119 belonging While the right wing parties ing his candidature from the est fi ndings of CVOTER-IANS when the net satisfaction to the ‘other’ gender, will exercise were up in arms over the top court Wayanad Lok Sabha seat besides tracker. level with him was 63.47%. their franchise in 24,970 polling verdict, the ruling Pinarayi Vijay- contesting from his traditional In an all India survey carried stations spread across 14 districts. an government decided to abide constituency in Amethi, Uttar out on April 18 with a sample size Modi had gained from the air Even though sitting parliamen- by the apex court ruling. The Ker- Pradesh. of 11,074, the net satisfaction strike on Balakot on February 26. tarians have contested the polls in ala Police even facilitated the visit Incidentally, Wayanad has the level with the prime minister But there has been a constant de- the past, this time a record nine of two women to the Sabarimala highest number of candidates, 20, had dropped to 46.92% – a drop cline since. sitting MPs – six from the Left temple. while the Alathur reserved seat of 16.55% – from the peak in his On the other hand, Rahul Gan- and three from the Congress – While the saff ron party has has the least, six. popularity witnessed on March dhi has struggled to get numbers have been named candidates for been raking up the Sabarimala Like in 2014, Thiruvanan- 7 when the net satisfaction level in his favour as net satisfaction the Lok Sabha elections. issue, Prime Minsiter Narendra thapuram will witness the ‘mother with him was 63.47%. level with him was only 6.82% The contest in Kerala in the Modi said at a public rally here on of all poll battles’ with sitting The voters were asked if they on April 18. Only 25.78% said past has primarily been between Thursday that the BJP will go for Congress MP Shashi Tharoor eye- were “very satisfi ed”, “satisfi ed they are very much satisfi ed with two traditional rivals – the rul- ‘constitutional support’ to protect ing a hat-trick of wins. Tharoor to some extent” and “not satis- Congress president but 40.64% ing CPI-M-led Left Democratic the faith, culture and tradition of is pitted against former Mizoram fi ed with the PM at all”. said they were not satisfi ed at all. Front (LDF) and the Congress-led the people if it returned to power governor Kummanam Rajasekha- On April 18, in the second His net satisfaction rating has United Democratic Front (UDF). after the Lok Sabha elections. ran of the BJP and LDF candidate Congress party president Rahul Gandhi attends a political rally phase of polling, 50.65% re- remained below 10 points since But of late, the Bharatiya Janata In the 2014 general elections, C Divakaran, who’s a sitting CPI at Bajipura village near Bardoli, some 300kms from Ahmedabad spondents said they were very February 28 and showing no im- Party-led (BJP) National Demo- the Congress-led UDF had won MLA and former state minister. yesterday. Gujarat will go to the polls on April 23. much satisfi ed with Modi, while provement. Gulf Times Saturday, April 20, 2019 11 LATIN AMERICA Cubans steeled Caracas gathering to resist latest US sanctions

AFP against Cuba are justifi ed by the Havana island nation’s support for so- cialist ally Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan president whose re- he United States may have election last year has been re- announced a raft of meas- jected by the US and more than Tures that could hamper 50 countries. investment in Cuba in a bid to On Havana’s iconic Malecon ramp up pressure on the com- promenade there are few signs of munist government, but in Ha- the impending problems. vana life is trundling along with Unconcerned tourists mean- the usual serenity. der in search of a 1950s convert- The peace is only broken by ible or pristine beaches. Cuba the mention of US President expects to welcome 5mn tourists Donald Trump’s name. “It’s a this year. constant threat, I think Trump It has thrown all its eggs into is a complicated person who the tourism basket in a bid to likes to hold the people in an iron boost the economy, investing grip. That’s his way,” said Mer- in luxury hotels in partnership cedes Martinez, an 85-year-old with European companies such teacher. as France’s Accor or Span’s Me- Washington on Wednesday lia — which runs the Habana announced new restrictions on Libre. US travel and remittances to the Several European Union com- Caribbean island nation, and panies could fi nd themselves gave the green light to lawsuits impacted by the US measures, in US courts against companies which come into eff ect on May 2. operating in properties seized The EU originally helped block since the late Fidel Castro’s the US measures from entering communist revolution in 1959. into force more than 20 years ago That brought a stern rebuke when the Helms-Burton Act was from Havana and criticism from fi rst passed by the US Congress the EU — Cuba’s largest foreign in 1996. investor. The provision had been sys- “These were legally national- tematically suspended by US ised,” said Cuba’s Foreign Minis- presidents every six months ter Bruno Rodriguez in reference since then. Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country’s rightful interim ruler, takes part in a gathering with supporters in to the seized properties. The EU has warned the US Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. Trump’s National Security it would be “obliged to use all Advisor John Bolton said on means at its disposal...to pro- Wednesday that the US would tect its interests” and could get bar Americans from travelling to the World Trade Organisation Cuba except to visit family, re- involved. versing the loosening of restric- Alberto Navarro, the EU’s tions under Barack Obama that ambassador in Havana, says the had started to open the cash- measures are a deliberate at- strapped island to US tourism. tempt to scare away potential Remittances sent to Cuba will investors in Cuba. be limited to just $1,000 per “It’s so that a company says: Nicaragua prisoner quarter per individual. fi ne, instead of investing in “These new measures will Cuba, I’m going to invest in help steer American dollars away Punta Cana (in the Dominican from the Cuban regime,” said Republic),” he said. Bolton. Rodriguez accused the US of Many Cubans rely on such in- “an attack against Internation- ternational transfers to supple- al Law and the sovereignty of reveals torture ordeal ment their earnings. #Cuba & third States” in a tweet Cuba is in desperate need on Wednesday. AFP deal brokered between the main for having treated injured dem- of the “constant cries of horror” ing hit in the stomach, or by the of capital to boost a stutter- Although he insisted Cuba Managua opposition alliance and the onstrators and was sentenced to let out by fellow prisoners. use of tear gas in the prisoners’ ing economy. It attracted only would manage “without los- government to restart stalled 18 years for “terrorism,” among “The only thing we could do cells,” he told AFP. $2bn in investments in 2017, ing sleep, with total calmness, peace talks, a year after protests a dozen alleged crimes. was ask God to end this torture,” Montenegro claims inmates well short of the $5bn needed to enthusiasm and the knowledge ne Nicaraguan guard against President Daniel Or- “My only weapons (were) a he said. were also beaten at the La Es- spark growth. Cubans’ primary that we’re on the right path — pinned his hand to a ta- tega’s government broke out in fl ag, and a T-shirt with an op- Hundreds of demonstrators peranza women’s prison in the concern is a shortage of food, ex- we’ll tackle whatever diffi culty.” Oble with his knee while Nicaragua. position slogan,” Rojas said bit- — men and women — found Managua suburbs. acerbated in no small part by US Fighting off US intervention another ripped out a nail with a Four months of brutal crack- terly. themselves imprisoned in the Elsewhere, male prisoners sanctions fi rst applied in 1962. in its internal aff airs is nothing pair of pliers. down by authorities left 325 His testimony matches those dark and dank underground were punished for singing the The latest US measures won’t new for Cuba, which repelled an Opposition supporter Lenin people dead and another 800 of many other opposition sup- cells of El Chipote. national anthem, which has be- help and could hit the tourism invasion in 1961. Rojas, recently released from locked up. porters who suff ered beatings, It was the same prison used come a rallying cry for the op- industry hard. Martinez’s grandfather took prison to house arrest, says he “The beatings got ever more solitary confi nement, threats, by the Anastasio Somoza dic- position. The Habana Libre hotel in the part in the movement to gain screamed in pain. brutal to the point that I asked rape and other forms of mis- tatorship before the US-backed Despite peace talks that be- central Vedado neighbourhood independence from the Spanish The 36-year-old says his cry them to kill me, to put a bullet treatment, according to a report leader was toppled in 1979, gan at the end of February — of the capital is a case in point. Crown in 1895 and her father in was heard throughout the El in me, rather than continuing compiled by the UN High Com- when the former leftist guerrilla though suspended for the last Formerly the Havana Hilton, Castro’s 1959 revolution. Chipote prison in Nicaragua’s to torture me. They were an- mission for Human Rights. Ortega fi rst assumed power. two weeks — there is no end in it was nationalised during the She herself took part in activi- capital, Managua. noyed at not getting a reply to Like other released prisoners The Independent Perma- sight to Nicaragua’s political revolution and could be subject ties during the 1962 Cuban mis- But his torturers weren’t fi n- their questions...an inspector confi ned to house arrest, Rojas nent Human Rights Commis- crisis. to a claim in US courts. sile crisis while her generation ished. “They started hitting me said they were going to throw says he’s “not free.” sion regularly receives com- The opposition accuses Or- However, locals say Trump’s rode the economic bumps of the again. They left me almost un- all of us — the arrested demon- Armed pro-government plaints about mistreatment tega — and his wife Vice Presi- measures won’t bring the coun- 1990s sparked by the collapse of conscious, they put me back in strators — into the crater of the groups regularly go to his house suffered by imprisoned op- dent Rosario Murillo — of rights try to its knees. the Soviet Union. that same position, and ripped Masaya volcano.” to intimidate him. position supporters, says Julio abuses and authoritarian rule. “That’s not going to happen, “We’re not afraid, we’re unit- out two more nails,” said the That’s an active volcano He also claims to have suf- Montenegro a legal consultant But the 73-year-old leader here everyone helps each other. ed, but we’re not willing to fi ght father-of-four, showing his 20km south of Managua. It fered insomnia since his release for the NGO. refuses to consider the opposi- We’re not going to let anything like little children,” she said. mutilated fi ngers. emits huge amounts of sulphur from prison, as well as reacting “We know about torture cas- tion’s key demand: to step down go,” said housewife Iris Lara. “What does he (Trump) hope to He was one of 235 prison- dioxide. aggressively when awakened. es, for example, where someone and bring forward presidential Trump says the measures gain from all this?” ers freed last month as part of a Rojas was arrested last July He is haunted by the memory was hung by their feet while be- elections slated for 2021.

Thousands attend Judge orders arrest of Garcia’s funeral Ecuador ex-minister Reuters Patino, an economist who Reuters tique that his prosecution was po- Quito called on supporters to carry Lima litically motivated. out “combative resistance” A pugnacious politician con- against Moreno in October sidered one of Latin America’s judge in Ecuador has 2018, fl ed the country by road housands of Peruvians said best orators, Garcia had long been ordered former foreign on Wednesday, the attorney goodbye in Lima to ex-pres- dogged by graft allegations that he Aminister Ricardo Patino general’s offi ce said in a state- Tident Alan Garcia — who brushed off as baseless political be held in pre-trial deten- ment. killed himself this week — in the smears. tion on a so-called instigation “The attorney general’s second of three days of national But prosecutors investigating charge, the attorney general’s office began a criminal proc- mourning declared by President Brazilian builder Odebrecht gath- offi ce said, but the ex-offi cial’s ess against Patino for the al- Martin Vizcarra. ered enough evidence to secure whereabouts are unknown. leged crime of instigation,” Garcia shot himself in the head on a judicial order this week to hold The administration of Presi- the office said. “(Patino) had Wednesday to avoid arrest in con- Garcia in pre-trial detention while dent Lenin Moreno has said given a speech in which he nection with alleged bribes from they prepared charges against him, that Patino, who served as for- instigated people to take over Brazilian builder Odebrecht, in the prompting the ex-president’s sui- eign minister under the previ- public institutions and close most dramatic turn yet in Latin cide. ous government of president roads.” America’s largest graft scandal. The investigation in Peru had Rafael Correa, is connected to “The judge accepted the re- Friends, allies and leaders across picked up speed in recent months, WikiLeaks. quest of the attorney general’s the political spectrum paid hom- with a judge ordering another Moreno stripped WikiLeaks offi ce, ordered pre-trial deten- age to Garcia at the headquarters former president, Pedro Pablo Kuc- founder Julian Assange of his tion and asked for the release of his APRA party, one of Latin zynski, to jail before trial in connec- diplomatic asylum last week. of an Interpol red notice,” the America’s oldest political parties, tion with the company last week. Assange was given refuge in offi ce said. and one which twice helped usher The scandal had already touched the London embassy in 2012 It was not possible to reach Garcia to the presidency. the highest levels of Peru’s ruling by Correa, but Moreno has Patino immediately for com- Vizcarra ordered fl ags to be political class. accused WikiLeaks and As- ment. fl own at half mast at the country’s Ex-president Alejandro Toledo sange of violating his privacy He has previously denied the Congress and other public build- is fi ghting extradition from the by publishing private family allegations. ings to honour the ex-President US after a Peruvian judge ordered photographs. Patino is also under inves- and former lawmaker. him jailed in 2017, while another WikiLeaks has denied those tigation for having supposed Despite that, some of Garcia’s former leader, Ollanta Humala, allegations, arguing that ties to alleged Swedish hacker most tenacious allies cried out spent nine months in pre-trial de- Moreno was attempting to de- Ola Bini, who was arrested last “Vizcarra is a murderer,” at the tention before he was released last fl ect attention from corruption week, the attorney general’s wake, a nod to Garcia’s recent cri- year on appeal. Friends and family carry the coff in with the remains of Peru’s former president Alan Garcia in Lima, Peru. allegations against him. offi ce has said. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, April 20, 2019 PAKISTAN

Umar still listed as fi nance minister in Cabinet Division’s new notifi cation A day after major reshuff ling in the federal cabinet Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) days before 2018 elections after of Pakistan, an updated list of federal ministers, quitting the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has been ministers of state and advisers and special assistants appointed special assistant to the prime minister on to the prime minister was issued yesterday – however, information and broadcasting. Asad Umar was still listed as holding the portfolio of The PTI government also appointed its first full-fledged Finance, Revenue and Economic Aff airs. interior minister – retired Brigadier Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Prime minister Umar had announced on Thursday that he was step- who had taken oath as minister for parliamentary af- ping down as finance minister after he “convinced the fairs earlier this month, was named interior minister. prime minister” that he did not want to remain a part The induction of Shah, a former Intelligence Bureau of the cabinet. (IB) chief, however, had already sparked contro- “As part of a cabinet reshuff le, [the] prime minister versy for the opposition in general and for the PPP desired that I take the energy minister portfolio instead in particular, because before her assassination in of finance,” he had said. “However, I have obtained his December 2007, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto consent to not take any cabinet position.” had claimed that he was among the people who had hints at further The notification, listing the cabinet members’ names hatched a conspiracy to kill her. as on “19th April, 2019”, makes no mention of Dr Abdul Meanwhile, Shehryar Afridi was made minister for Hafeez Shaikh, who was named as the adviser to the states and frontier regions, the portfolio which was PM while political analysts and journalists were still previously held by Ali Amin Gandapur. analysing the possible causes of Umar’s removal in Another major change in the cabinet was that of the middle of the negotiations with the International minister for petroleum and natural resources Ghulam Monetary Fund. Sarwar Khan, who has now been given the charge of It is yet to be confirmed whether Umar has off icially the aviation division. cabinet changes submitted a resignation and if it has been accepted. However, sources say that Sarwar Khan has declined While the prime minister has the prerogative to real- the portfolio of aviation minister. Opposition terms Asad title of “adviser”, rather than fed- locate his cabinet and appoint new special assistants Sarwar Khan is allegedly upset that his ministry has Umar’s resignation failure of eral minister, to head the fi nance with the status of ministers of state, he cannot accept been changed, the sources said. government policies ministry when they are not a sit- resignations of federal ministers or appoint new advis- The aviation division was earlier functioning under ting member of parliament. ers. Mohamed Mian Soomro, who also holds the portfolio Reuters/Internews Umar has been leading nego- According to Rules of Business 1973, the premier has to of privatisation. Islamabad tiations with the IMF but faced advise the president regarding the resignation of Umar Nadeem Babar, who is currently the chairman of the criticism over a worsening eco- and the appointment of Shaikh as the finance adviser Task Force on Energy, has been made the prime minis- nomic outlook on his watch, with with the status of a federal minister – which will then ter’s special assistant on petroleum division. rime Minister Imran Khan infl ation at a fi ve-year high and be approved by the president. Health Minister Amir Mehmood Kiyani, who had also said yesterday that he the rupee currency down about The absence of Umar and Shaikh’s names from the been in hot water due to a recent controversy over Pwould not hesitate to make 35% since December 2017. Cabinet Division’s list could, therefore, likely be due to increase in prices of medicines, has also been removed more changes to his cabinet if The central bank last month the pending approvals by the president. from his position – although no off icial announcement required, a day after a major re- cut growth estimates, forecast- Prime Minister Khan, in major changes to his cabinet in this regard has yet been made. shuffl e that saw the appointment ing the economy to expand 3.5% on Thursday, removed a few big shots from key posi- Former minister for science and technology Azam of a replacement for the fi nance to 4% in the 12 months to the end tions – including Federal Minister for Information Fa- Swati has made a comeback and has been appointed minister and nine other ministe- of June, well short of a govern- wad Chaudhry – and handed over important portfolios as minister for parliamentary aff airs; his name, how- rial switches. ment target of 6.2%. to newcomers. ever, was also missing from yesterday’s list. The cabinet shake-up, which The IMF paints a gloomier pic- Chaudhry, who only three days ago had “categorically” Swati had to resign last year when he was accused of comes eight months after Khan ture, predicting growth of 2.9% rejected reports about any changes in the federal using his political influence in getting the Islamabad took offi ce, included the replace- in 2019 and 2.8% next year. cabinet, has now been given the portfolio of science police chief transferred for releasing his neighbours, ment of Finance Minister Asad In a speech laden with cricket Prime Minister Khan: I want to tell all my ministers that whoever is not and technology. who had been arrested by police on his complaint that Umar, who has been a close ally metaphors, Khan, who led Paki- useful for my country, I will change them and bring that minister who Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan, who joined the Khan’s Pakistan they had trespassed on his farmhouse. to Khan for many years, with Ab- stan’s cricket team to World Cup is useful for my country. dul Hafeez Sheikh in a renamed triumph in 1992, said that such role to steer the country out of changes are part of good leader- saying that the process would off ered him a collective crisis human rights committee, said ment, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief JI secretary general Liaqat Ba- worsening economic turmoil. ship. complete after resignation of the resolution formula in the form of that perhaps the prime minister Senator Sirajul Haq said that loch said that Prime Minister Pakistan is on the brink of “The captain has one objec- prime minister. Charter of Economy, which the was unhappy over Umar’s role in from the very fi rst day, questions Khan had himself introduced a signing up for its 13th Interna- tive, and that is to get the team to The PPP says it will be wrong premier could not comprehend negotiations with the IMF, which were being raised on the compe- concept that the team leader is tional Monetary Fund (IMF) bail- win. The prime minister also has to say that Umar has resigned, “because of his ego”. had been going on for the past tence of the government which responsible for the team’s failure. out since the late 1980s in a bid to one objective, and I have only one claiming that the fi nance min- “Had (Prime Minister) Khan eight months. had neither a vision nor a strong Therefore, he said, in princi- stave off a balance of payments objective, to help my people win, ister has been “sacked” after prioritised the country over his Bhutto Zardari said that the team to run the country. ple, Khan should accept the re- crisis and ease ballooning current to help them rise,” he said. “For his failure to negotiate a bailout prestige to accept that off er, this people of Pakistan had been The performance of the gov- sponsibility of his government’s account and fi scal defi cits. this, I have the changed the bat- package with the IMF. disastrous crisis could have been drowning in the “tsunami of ernment till now, he said, proved failure. “I want to tell all my ministers ting order in my team and I will Leader of the Opposition in the avoided,” said the opposition price-hikes” since Khan’s Paki- that it did not know its goal. PML-N spokesperson Mar- that whoever is not useful for my do this again in the future.” National Assembly and PML-N leader, warning that “if Imran stan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as- Haq said that with the open- riyum Aurangzeb in a separate country, I will change them and Pakistan’s major opposition president Shehbaz Sharif, who is Khan continues to waste time sumed power in August last year. ing batsman of the government statement said that the actual bring that minister who is useful parties have termed Umar’s res- currently in London, in a state- feeding his ego and arrogance, He said that the government’s team returning to the pavilion, cause of Pakistan’s economic for my country,” Khan said dur- ignation an undeniable admis- ment issued by the party in Is- the entire country will pay the economic policy was “direction- the whole government team was woes was not Umar, but Prime ing a speech in the northern re- sion of the failure of the govern- lamabad, recalled that he had most disastrous price”. less”, and that no eff ort was made under pressure. Minister Khan. gion of Orakzai. ment’s economic policies. warned that Pakistan’s economy Similarly, talking informally by the government to build con- He said that neither the tax net She pledged that those re- Sheikh, who served as fi nance The main opposition Pakistan was being held hostage by “one with journalists at the Parlia- sensus on economic issues. had been widened nor the target sponsible for this “economic minister from 2010-2013 under Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- man’s egocentricity, arrogance ment House, PPP chairman Bila- “After eight months, the gov- of taxes achieved and there had terrorism” against the country the opposition Pakistan Peoples N) has even called for the resig- and stubbornness”. wal Bhutto Zardari “felicitated” ernment has fi nally admitted the been a fall of Rs230bn in the tax would be held accountable at all Party (PPP) when it was in power, nation of the prime minister for “Imran Khan should give up the nation over Umar’s resigna- fact that its economic policies collection. cost. has been appointed as “Adviser “plunging” the country into a his stubbornness and arrogance tion and expressed the hope that were a complete failure, and that Haq said the government had Aurangzeb said that instead of on Finance”, but will be heading severe economic crisis. to focus on the country’s econ- the situation would improve. the people were not getting any not provided any relief to the “throwing Umar under the bus”, the fi nance ministry once again. The other major opposition, omy,” Sharif advised while com- The PPP chairman, who had relief,” the PPP chairman pointed people despite heavy fi nancial Khan should have “manned up” In Pakistan it is common for the PPP, has termed Umar’s menting on the situation. arrived in the Parliament House out. assistance from friendly coun- to take responsibility for his fail- fi nancial experts to be given the resignation only a “beginning”, He reminded Khan that he had to preside over a meeting of the In his reaction to the develop- tries. ure and resign.

Apex court Fas-Hum-able PTI disassociates orders itself from seven completion sub-organisations of metro Internews He said that in the new con- Islamabad stitution, all the wings and sub-organisations of the PTI project are mentioned, and it had he ruling Pakistan Te- been decided that all other hreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has organisations and bodies not Internews Tdisassociated itself from mentioned in the party’s con- Islamabad seven sub-organisations func- stitution would automatically tioning in various parts of the become unconstitutional after world, declaring them “extra- implementation of the consti- he Supreme Court of Pa- constitutional bodies”. tution. kistan has ordered three According to a “circular” A party dissident and one of Tconstruction companies issued with the signature of its founding members, Akbar involved in the Lahore Orange party’s central secretary gen- S Babar, had fi led a petition in Line Metro Train Project to sub- Models present creations on Thursday, the eral Arshad Dad, these bodies the ECP, alleging that the for- mit guarantees of Rs10mn each, first day of the ‘Hum Showcase’ Fashion Week have been functioning in Saudi eign accounts of the PTI used warning them that if the project in Karachi, by fashion brand Image (above), Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab to collect funds had been con- was not completed by May 20, designer Zonia Anwaar (right), Zaheer Abbas Emirates (UAE), and (Holland) cealed from the annual audit the court take possession of their (left), and fashion brand 9 Lines (below). the Netherlands. reports submitted to the com- guarantees. The circular, a copy of which mission. A two-member bench of the was released to the media by He alleged in his petition apex court headed by Justice the party, says that these seven that the party had received Gulzar Ahmed expressed dis- bodies “have no association money from Middle East coun- pleasure over the delay in the with the PTI and are not recog- tries through illegal channels. project while hearing a case re- nised by the party”. The case was fi led on No- garding the completion of the The bodies which have been vember 14, 2014, by Babar after project. declared “extra-constitution- he developed diff erences with During the hearing, Justice al” by the PTI are: the Paki- the PTI leadership over alleged Ahmed remarked that if con- stan Youth Council Middle internal corruption and abuse tractors do not work, they should East (Saudi Arabia), the Paki- of laws on political funding. be “picked up and thrown away” stan Insafi an Forum in Qatar, On April 1, 2015, after scru- or put in jail. the PTI Junoon Group in the tinising PTI’s annual audit re- The court also expressed dis- UAE, the Dubai PTI Kashmir ports, the ECP had ruled that pleasure with project director Chapter, the PTI Welfare Wing the party had failed to disclose Fazal Haleem. in Saudi Arabia, the PTI Hol- the sources and details of for- Justice Ahmed remarked that land Chapter, and the Pakistan eign funds received. the project director was being Youth Council in Lahore. However, instead of sub- blackmailed by construction A spokesman for the party, mitting the accounts, the PTI companies, which is why the when contacted for reasons challenged the ECP’s jurisdic- work had been delayed. behind the move, said that the tion to scrutinise its accounts. The Supreme Court bench decision had been taken after On October 8, 2015, a fi ve- said that Justice (retired) Jam- the leadership received reports member bench of the ECP is- shed or Justice Abdul Sattar As- Pakistan ready to respond to any misadventure, miscalculation: military chief that the offi cials associated sued a detailed order saying ghar should be made the head of with these organisations were that only the commission was the technical committee on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) has to focus on this sector for its benefit and Indian occupation,” Hayat added. “The United “misusing” the party’s forum the right constitutional forum project. chairman General Zubair Mahmood Hayat defence. Nations human rights report has brought to and they were found involved to scrutinise the accounts of They added that if the current has said that Pakistan’s armed forces are Islamophobia is rising across the world, the light the atrocities (suff ered) by Kashmiris. in some activities which were political parties, without any head, Justice Zahid Hussain, ready to respond to any “misadventure” or general said, pointing out that Pakistan is the Thousands have lost their lives.” against the party’s basic poli- time bar. wanted to continue in his role, “miscalculation”, and have the capability to second biggest Islamic country in the world, On the Afghan conflict, the general said that cies. On November 26, 2015, the the Punjab government should respond befittingly, and will do so. and Islamic countries are facing various there is no military solution. Responding to a question, PTI challenged the ECP order look into it. Addressing the Pakistan Summit in issues. Pakistan wants peace to be established in the spokesman denied that in the Islamabad High Court, While adjourning the hearing Islamabad, General Hayat said that in today’s Until peace is established in the Middle East, Afghanistan, for no terrorist network to exist any of these bodies had been which fi nally remanded the of the case for two weeks, the world, the axis of power is changing globally, the threat to the holy places will remain. there, and for Afghan land to not be used as a involved in the foreign fund- case back to the ECP on Febru- court ordered that quality check and new powers are rising. “(So long as) the Kashmir issue is not base to launch attacks against Islamabad. ing case currently being heard ary 15. mechanisms be ensured for the Countries across the world are engaged in resolved, it will continue to be a flashpoint “We support the dialogue process to by the Election Commission of The case is still pending be- project. the trade of military equipment, and Pakistan of this region. Kashmiris have rejected the establish peace there,” Hayat said. Pakistan (ECP). fore the ECP. Gulf Times Saturday, April 20, 2019 13 PHILIPPINES Most Filipinos Illegal drug seizure support suit against Xi on sea dispute

By Catherine S Valente international tribunal’s atten- Meanwhile, the SWS said Manila Times tion to Chinese offi cials’ alleged net agreement with the survey crimes against the Philippines statement was “very strong” and Filipino fi shermen in the regardless of trust or distrust ost Filipinos believe West Philippine Sea. in China as a country. that a case fi led by Del Rosario and Morales ar- “It was very strong +34 Mformer Philippine of- gued that the ICC had juris- among those with much trust fi cials against Chinese President diction over the “atrociously in China, very strong +30 Xi Jinping before the Interna- inhumane actions” of Chinese among those undecided with tional Criminal Court (ICC) offi cials in the contested water- their trust, and very strong +33 should tell the world that China way as it occurred “within Phil- among those with little trust in should leave the disputed South ippine territory.” China,” it added. China Sea (West Philippine Sea), The West Philippine Sea is the On April 16, the SWS re- according to the latest Social country’s exclusive economic ported its latest survey results Weather Stations (SWS) survey. zone in the disputed South Chi- showed that of the four spe- The poll, conducted from na Sea, resource-rich waters, cific countries tested for pub- Off icials of the Bureau of Customs unwrap a package that contained illegal drugs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Authorities March 28 to 29 among 1,440 which Beijing claims in near en- lic trust, China obtained the discovered shabu, ecstasy and marijuana from several parcels to be distributed through courier firms. adults nationwide, found that tirety citing historical rights. lowest net trust of neutral -6, 49% of Filipino adults agreed President Rodrigo Duterte compared to the United States with the case fi led by former earlier expressed confidence with very good +60, Japan with Foreign Aff airs secretary Albert that the filing of the commu- good +34 and Australia with del Rosario and former ombuds- nication against Xi would not good +33. man Conchita Carpio Morales affect the improved relations The polling firm said net against Xi for Beijing’s suppos- between China and the Philip- agreement was highest in Met- edly aggressive militarisation of pines. “No I’m sure they (would ro Manila at very strong +43, Duterte wants to ‘meet halfway’ the contested waters. not). The Philippines is a dem- followed by Balance Luzon also “The suit fi led in the ICC by ocratic country and anybody at very strong +39, Mindanao Albert del Rosario and Conchita can bring a suit against any- at moderately strong +23 and Carpio Morales, former offi cials body,” the president said, when the Visayas at also moderately with China on disputed islands of the PH (Philippine) govern- asked if the filing of the com- strong +18.Net agreement with ment, against Chinese President munication would jeopardise the statement was also highest Xi Jinping for wrongful destruc- the relationship between the in class ABC at very strong +42, By Bernadette E Tamayo way. Like, for our fi shermen and Foreign Aff airs Secretary Te- rations for the country. tion of the livelihood of Filipino two countries. followed by class D or the masa Manila Times their move to surround the Pa- odoro Locsin Jr yesterday said “You’re right. But it must be fi shermen shows the world that Del Rosario was the top (masses) also at very strong gasa,” he said. China’s reclamation activities said that while the US poured China should leave the islands it Philippine diplomat when the +33 and class E at moderately Duterte warned China not to and militarisation of the South military hardware into other has occupied in the West Philip- country filed an arbitration strong +23. hina and the Philippines touch Pagasa Island because the China Sea were aimed at the countries like Pakistan, and pine Sea,” the SWS said, quoting case against China’s expansive By education, it was high- should “meet halfway” Philippines had soldiers there. United States and not directed not to mention Europe — which the survey’s test statement. claims in the South China Sea est among college graduates at Con the South China Sea “Do not surround it because I at the Philippines. won’t fi ght for itself, it gave us Only 17% disagreed with the before the The Hague-based very strong +45, followed by (West Philippine Sea) issue, have soldiers there. I am warn- “Nope, it is aimed at the US,” next to nothing but one gutted statement, while 28% were un- Permanent Court of Arbitra- high school graduates at also President Rodrigo Duterte said ing, not threatening them. Locsin said on Twitter in reply boat,” Locsin said. decided, equivalent to a net tion. very strong +37, elementary following reports of stepped up But it could precipitate trou- to a netizen’s view that China’s On the other hand, he added, agreement score of +32, classi- In July 2016, the arbitral graduates at moderately strong Chinese activity on the disput- ble there. If a soldier dies, even reclamation of islands and at- he would not let the Philippines fi ed by the SWS as “very strong.” court ruled in favour of the +26 and non-elementary grad- ed islands. one, that will be trouble,” he olls in the disputed sea would go to war with China over the As for those in disagreement, Philippines, invalidating Chi- uates at also moderately strong There were reports that hun- said. serve as deterrence for weaker harvesting of giant clams by 7% said they strongly disagreed na’s extensive claims to the +17. dreds of Chinese vessels were The president added that he countries, not the US. Chinese fi shers in the South and 10% somewhat disagreed. South China Sea. The survey, conducted using seen near Pagasa (Thitu) Island could not fi ght China for now In another tweet, he added, China Sea. A signifi cant portion, mean- Duterte, however, has re- face-to-face interviews, had a and Kota (Loaita) Island in the because no foreign country “In the UN, I said the Philip- “We had no idea there were while, remained undecided at peatedly refused to invoke the sampling error margin of + or past month. This week, there would be able to help the Phil- pines looks to climate change clams there and really I will 28%.Two days before the Philip- arbitral ruling and instead opt- — 2.6% for national percent- was a report that the Chinese ippines. and the melting of the ice caps not let this country go down to pine government’s exit from the ed to seek a peaceful engage- ages, and + or -5% each for Bal- were also harvesting taklobo, or Duterte said he doubted that to raise sea levels and swallow war and lose a useful economic ICC took eff ect on March 15, del ment with Beijing with regard ance Luzon, Metro Manila, the giant clams, at the disputed Pa- America would unleash a nu- the disputed maritime features partner just over environmen- Rosario and Morales called the to the long-standing sea row. Visayas and Mindanao. natag (Scarborough) Shoal. clear war against China for the that are giving China delusions tal concerns for a world I care Speaking at the campaign sake of the Philippines. of grandeur and aggravation to nothing about.I care only for rally of the ruling PDP-Laban He reiterated that the mari- us.” my people,” he said. party in Batangas City, Duterte time situation started during China took control of most Locsin’s remark did not sit again slammed his critics, who the Aquino administration. parts of the disputed areas in well with one netizen, who said are saying the country should “There was a standoff then. the South China Sea in 2015 that his statement was an in- Philippines marks Good Friday confront China for its activities. The ships of China came and through reclamation works sult to National Artist Edgardo He, however, said that while we yielded. America asked for and construction of military Gomez, who devoted his life the country would still stay on a settlement so there will be no facilities on reefs and islets be- to educating Filipinos about Reuters really nailed, and it was for me a great event to see it the safe side of China, the Chi- trouble. It told us to withdraw. ing claimed by both Manila and the value of the country’s coral Cutud live,” said German tourist Johann Tenken. nese should not make any move Both countries agreed. We Beijing. reefs. Devotees, including 58-year old Ruben Enaje that would trigger trouble. withdrew, but China did not In May 2018, China deployed To which Locsin replied: who has performed the act 33 times, believe their “These idiots, they want me leave. That is what happened missiles in some of the islets “Good for him, but I am not go- undreds of tourists watched in shock as ac- penance will lead to blessings. to confront China. If I do that, there,” Duterte said. and reefs being claimed by the ing down as ‘the clam and coral tors dressed as Roman soldiers hammered Enaje was among the four people who were there will be a massacre. Their “Go back to the time of then- Philippines such as the Kagit- guy.’ And well deserved it is. My Hfour-inch nails through the hands and feet nailed to crosses in the village, including a woman airplanes can reach Manila in 14 President Benigno Aquino. The ingan (Fiery Cross) Reef, Zamo- concern is local: What is ours of a Filipino into a wooden cross for the 33rd time taking part for the 17th time. minutes. They can bomb us to standoff happened during his ra (Subi) Reef and Panganiban as national territory and under during Good Friday. Millions were praying and fasting ahead of the the heavens. time. They asked the Philip- (Mischief) Reef — all within the international law of which The The gory display of devotion, which the Roman Easter weekend. We cannot oppose them, pines to retreat. Philippines’ exclusive econom- Hague decision is now an indel- Catholic Church in the Philippines looks down Five other Filipinos were nailed to crosses in two simply,” according to the presi- China agreed, but they did ic zone. ible part.” upon, draws tourists to the province of Pampanga, other villages in Pampanga. dent. “So, we can only tell sto- not honour it. That’s the prob- The Department of Foreign “We protested, but I refused north of the capital, year after year as barefoot pen- “At the end of the day, you have to respect the ries for now. But there will be a lem. Then they blame me. I will Aff airs chief agreed with the to get into scuba gear and wrap itents also whip themselves as a form of penance. people doing this because that’s devotion,” said time, and I will tell China now not go into a war, they will just suggestion of one Twitter user my arms around clams. By the “I thought they wouldn’t be nailed but they were Filipino tourist Bianca Yao. that they should also meet half- kill my policemen,” he added. for the country to make prepa- way, I hate clams,” Locsin said. Locsin backs military modernisation Precaution urged against cyber attacks By Bernadette E Tamayo Central Intelligence Agency de- said in recovering the Huangy- Manila Times feated the United Socialist So- an Island from Philippine con- viet Region (USSR, now Russia). trol, China resorted to “cab- By Lisbet K Esmael cur during long breaks when Every country can speak what- bage strategy.” Manila Times there’s minimal staffi ng in of- oreign Aff airs Secretary ever is on its mind. What it says The China Daily published fi ces,” he said in a statement. Teodoro Locsin Jr said should not determine foreign an English version of the inter- “The use of strong pass- FChina’s policy in the con- policy but it should inform the view. he country’s privacy words is essential in protect- tested Spratly Islands in the national budgetary process that “We have begun to take watchdog urged public ing personal information from South China Sea (West Philip- we gotta stop throwing money measures to seal and control Tand private offi ces to malicious intentions. One pine Sea or WPS) should compel at poverty and throw it at weap- the areas around the Huangyan heighten their data protection precaution that PICs, PIPs the Philippine government to in- onry,” Locsin said. Island, seal and control con- to avoid cyber attacks espe- and DPOs should do during vest more on military moderni- Lacson agreed with Locsin’s tinuously up till now. Over a cially during holidays. the long break is password- sation. view that the Philippine military year period since then, there protect or encrypt fi les and He made the remark after must be modernised. “Agree, have been fishermen in the in- “The use of strong databases on servers, comput- Sen. Panfi lo Lacson called his except that what they said a few side. Our fishermen are often passwords is essential ers, and other devices in their attention to an article pub- years ago is exactly how they are there because there is lot of fish in protecting personal organisation. If necessary, lished in a Chinese newspaper conducting manoeuvres in WPS. there. Fishermen go there in information from malicious change passwords,” Liboro in 2013 which elaborated China’s I’m no expert in foreign policy large ships and then sail small intentions. One precaution added. “cabbage strategy” in seizing but I feel it is my duty to inform boats in the lagoon to fish. that PICs, PIPs and DPOs To enhance data security, Huangyan Island or Panatag and help,” he said. They can have shelter in the la- should do during the long organisations were advised to Shoal from the Philippines. Asked by Manila Times to fur- goon when there is a typhoon,” break is password-protect “place non-mission critical In the article, a Chinese mili- ther elaborate on his tweet, Lac- he said. or encrypt files...” systems offl ine; ensure system tary expert boasted of the so- son, in a text message, said, “As “The fi shermen conduct nor- activities are recorded and se- called cabbage strategy to re- every Filipino who has informa- Foreign Aff airs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. mal production there. In the area National Privacy Commis- cured; back up fi les; log out all cover Huangyan Islands, which tion, old and current about the around the island, fi shing ad- sion (NPC) Commissioner Ray- accounts in computers; make he said was “illegally occupied” conditions obtaining in the WPS stead of offi cially bringing it to policy,” he added. ministration ships and marine mund Enriquez Liboro warned sure that operating systems by the Philippines. particularly those pertaining to the attention of SFA (Secretary “After all, it is our sover- surveillance ships are conduct- personal information control- are updated; and intrusion de- Huangyan Island is known our islands that are under threat of Foreign Aff airs) Locsin, I used eignty and territorial integrity ing normal patrols while in the lers (PICs), personal informa- tection systems are in place.” as Scarborough Shoal or Pana- from Chinese intrusion or inva- Twitter for maximum dissemi- that are at stake. We should not outer ring there are navy war- tion processors (PIPs), and data The NPC also urged offi ces tag Shoal, which the Philippines sion, I believe I must share the nation because other like-mind- hesitate as it is our solemn duty ships. The island is thus wrapped protection offi cers on the possi- to lock all physical documents claims to be part of its territo- same to all Filipinos who care to ed netizens who have similar to report whatever information layer by layer like a cabbage. As ble spike in cyber attacks. in cabinets and to prepare re- rial waters. “It is a free world know.” information can think, shape or we have,” he said. a result, a cabbage strategy has “Digital and physical break- covery plans to mitigate the now after the United States’ CIA “That is the reason why in- infl uence our country’s foreign Maj. Gen. Zhang Zhaozhong taken shape,” Zhang added. ins are more likely to oc- impact of an attack. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, April 20, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor The IMF is fuelling an K T Chacko Production Editor Amjad Khan Argentine crisis – again P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] By Hector R Torres 44350478 (News), Buenos Aires

44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) rgentina fi rst needed to bor- row from the International 44350474 Monetary Fund back in 1958. facebook.com/gulftimes AIn the six decades since, the country has signed 22 agreements with twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar the Fund. Most were subsequently derailed or ended in failure. Despite his pro-business credentials, Argentina’s current president, Mauricio Macri, has joined this parade of GULF TIMES disappointment. In little more than three years, his government has signed two agreements with the IMF. And recent developments suggest that ‘Game Over’ for Trump Argentina’s troubled history with the Fund may be about to repeat itself. The latest chapter began in June 2018, when the country was running fi scal but Democrats vow and current-account defi cits equivalent to a combined 11% of GDP. Investors became wary of Argentine bonds, more investigations forcing the Macri government to rush to Argentinian Economy Minister Nicolas Dujovne (centre), talks during a press conference next to Argentinian Production and the Fund for help. Work Minister, Dante Sica (left), and Argentinian Health and Social Development Minister, Carolina Stanley. President Mauricio With the strong backing of the United Macri announced anti-inflationary measures to reactivate the economy in recession-hit Argentina. A triumphant President Donald Trump on Thursday proclaimed States, Argentina was soon given a “Game Over” for his critics following the long awaited publication $50 bn IMF loan to use over the next are restless, and not only because payments), and to rolling over 70% of renegotiate Argentina’s current IMF of the Mueller report, which cleared him of colluding with Russia. three years. The government pretended former President Cristina Fernandez all maturities and interest payments on agreement. And ensuring a stable peso Not so fast, replied prominent Democrats — as they vowed to that this was just a “precautionary” de Kirchner is leading the polls. public debt in pesos. The government may not even be possible, given that a continue investigating the Republican president over what they programme: Argentina would keep the They know that by front-loading is successfully meeting both daily auction of $60mn will not give said was “dishonest” and “immoral” conduct revealed by the two- money in its back pocket to reassure the IMF’s fi nancial support into his conditions, and is currently rolling the government enough ammunition to year-long Russia probe. private investors. current term in offi ce, Macri has also over 100% of interest and public debt prevent spikes in the foreign-exchange After a 22-month probe on Russian interference in the 2016 Only two months later, however, bunched Argentina’s future repayment maturing in pesos, exceeding this market. Finally, the more debt Argentina owes presidential election, Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded Macri admitted that Argentina needed obligations to the Fund. And because year’s target. even more than $50bn – and right away. the IMF has preferred-creditor status, The government therefore has no to a privileged creditor such as the IMF, Trump’s team did not conspire with Moscow. In IMF jargon, the deal had to be “front- it will be fi rst in line to be repaid. So budgetary need to use the IMF’s dollars the harder it will be to convince private, But while Trump has declared victory and cast himself as fully loaded.” if Argentina does not have enough to buy pesos. Rather, the authorities – “non-privileged” investors to roll over exonerated — the report made clear investigators did not share that At this point, Macri’s friendship dollars after 2020 to repay all its with the Fund’s endorsement – will use their claims and continue fi nancing the conclusion when it comes to the charge of obstruction of justice. with US President Donald Trump (they creditors, private investors could be the money to keep the peso’s exchange country in 2020 and thereafter. It is a fi nding Democrats have seized on. knew each other from the world of real forced to restructure their claims rate stable until the elections later Sadly, history may be about to repeat “Donald Trump has spent his entire presidency engaged in a estate) paid off . The Fund agreed – at a loss. Investors therefore have a this year, thereby increasing Macri’s itself. In October 2001, about 60 nonstop campaign of obstruction, intimidation, and abuse of albeit reluctantly – to top up the loan narrow window of opportunity to leave chances of re-election. days before it defaulted on its debts, power,” said Democratic party chairman Tom Perez. “No one is with an additional $7bn, bringing it to Argentina, and they may use it soon. The IMF should not support this, Argentina borrowed $8bn from the above the law.” $57bn. Moreover, about 90% of the full The government argues that the for several reasons. For starters, Fund. Most of this money was used to With their newly acquired majority in the House of amount, or $51.2bn, would be disbursed Treasury will need to sell the $9.6bn in by endorsing such folly and false buy pesos from institutional investors Representatives, Democrats now have the power to launch before Argentina’s next presidential the domestic market to cover peso- arguments, the IMF will jeopardise leaving the country. The IMF is about election in late 2019. denominated budgetary expenses. eff orts (including by me) to normalise to make the same mistake again. It investigations, summon witnesses and subpoena documents. This is the IMF’s largest-ever loan Although borrowing dollars from the relations between Argentina and the should not expect a diff erent outcome. The president’s actions to a country, and Argentina’s ailing Fund to buy pesos seems unusual, the Fund. Furthermore, the dollars that the – Project Syndicate “Trump wanted are “deeply alarming” and economy badly needs the fi nancial IMF has agreed. At the same time, the government sells to prop up the peso “unquestionably dishonest, support. On April 15, the Fund sent a government has been allowed to use this year will be badly needed by the Hector R Torres, a senior fellow with nothing unethical, immoral and $9.6bn instalment. But rather than the Fund’s money only in homeopathic next administration to service maturing the Centre for International Governance unpatriotic,” said Adam Schiff , using this money to build up its foreign- doses of up to $60mn per day, through debt and interest payments in 2020. Innovation’s International Law more than to the Democratic chairman of the exchange reserves or buy back debt, the central bank and in public auctions. Having $9.6bn – rather than the Research Programme, was previously powerful House Intelligence the Macri government will instead buy This makes no sense. Under its IMF equivalent amount of depreciated pesos Executive Director for Argentina at shut down Committee. Argentine pesos. agreement, the government committed – would put the next government in the International Monetary Fund and “Even in its incomplete Unsurprisingly, Argentina’s risk to running a zero-defi cit primary a slightly more comfortable position a staff member at the World Trade the Mueller form, the Mueller report premium has soared. Investors budget balance (before interest if, as seems inevitable, it needs to Organisation. outlines disturbing evidence investigation” that President Trump engaged in obstruction of justice” added chair of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler. Both have reached the same conclusion: “The responsibility now falls to Congress to hold the President accountable for his actions.” The same holds true for Senator Bernie Sanders, the frontrunner The monetisation of garbage for the Democratic nomination for president. “It is clear that Donald Trump wanted nothing more than to shut down the Mueller investigation,” he said. “While we have more By Stephen Nwaloziri detail from today’s report than before, Congress must continue its Berea, Kentucky investigation into Trump’s conduct and any foreign attempts to infl uence our election.” s a child growing up in Lagos, As part of these investigations, Democrats have called on Mueller Nigeria, in the late 1990s, to testify before the House of Representatives by May 23. I remember women roam- The Trump administration has announced it would not oppose that. ing through my community Attorney General Bill Barr, who has come under heavy fi re by A and chanting in Yoruba, “onigo de o! Democrats for how he managed the publication of the report, will Anra bata rubber ati ayo t’on jo.” This face Congress on May 2. translates as “The bottle peddler is After the report’s release, some lawmakers from the party’s left here! We buy rubber sandals and leaky wing have once again waved the threat of impeachment. (aluminium) pots.” Some families would But the Democratic party’s leaders have once again clearly separate their waste, because they could dismissed this option. give some of it to these women for cash. Even if the House of Representatives were to embark on such a There are far fewer of these peddlers nowadays, perhaps because bottling path, it would likely be doomed to fail in the Republican-controlled companies are no longer recycling the Senate where a two-thirds majority is required to remove a sitting bottles that the women gather. But a president. large-scale eff ort along these lines to Former Democratic president Bill Clinton was acquitted from his monetise waste in Lagos, if properly co- own impeachment proceedings in this fashion in 1999. ordinated and funded, could potentially Eighteen months out from presidential and congressional have a huge impact on the city’s garbage elections, the opposition must be careful in how it navigates the problem. And what works in Lagos choppy waters of the Russia investigation. could hold lessons for many other cities The probe has spanned more than half of Trump’s presidency – and not only in the developing world. without aff ecting his base. In Lagos, action is urgently needed. The president enjoys a 90% approval rating among Republicans. The city has a population of about 22mn and, as the World Bank has On the other side of the aisle, some 20 Democrats are vying for highlighted, is heavily polluted. their party’s nomination. Especially in poorer areas, residents In Lagos, action is urgently needed. The city has a population of about 22mn and, as the World Bank has highlighted, is heavily These candidates exercised caution in reacting to the report, who can’t aff ord to pay for waste polluted. posting one or two tweets before pivoting to the core issues of their collection come out in the dead of campaigns and the subjects that are priorities for voters: health night to dump their garbage on the from cars to state-run commuter buses names, especially if a reward program plates and cutlery, and by recycling. insurance, rising inequality, education and student debt. streets or in the water. As a result, the because they cannot aff ord the cost of is involved. No bottling companies The fi lm has inspired other groups and It was a formula which paid dividends in November 2018 city’s slums are littered with paper, fuel. If poorer people in particular could currently have recycle-for-reward small businesses in the community, midterms when they retook the House after eight years of household waste, and plastics. receive bus tickets for their waste, life programmes in the Makoko community such as Berea Coff ee and Tea, to be Republican rule. By outsourcing most of the actual would be easier for everyone. There of Lagos, where I grew up. Introducing more sustainable. Similarly creative and waste collection and management to would be less garbage on the streets, such schemes would certainly help to locally relevant approaches would work some 375 private companies, the Lagos roads would be less clogged, and people cut the amount of plastic waste that is well almost anywhere. Waste Management Authority, an arm wouldn’t need to wait for waste trucks generated or discarded. That includes Lagos, where the waste To Advertise of the Lagos State government, has to get rid of their rubbish. In addition, Lastly, campaigns to raise problem hits the poor particularly hard. helped to reduce waste signifi cantly. households would be more likely to environmental awareness would To address it, we should create the [email protected] But much more can, and must, be done. separate waste if the city gave food encourage better waste management. right incentives, as the bottle peddlers Display Unless people are given incentives to stamps or fruit to those that recycled a By showcasing ordinary citizens being in my part of the city did two decades monetise their garbage and minimise certain amount of metal, clean plastic, mindful of waste and their environment ago. Monetising waste will encourage 44466621 44418811 the amount that reaches landfi lls, the or oil waste, for example. in everyday life, such eff orts can inspire poorer communities to participate, pollution problem will continue to Second, Lagos could reduce its others to do the same. and awareness campaigns can help to Classified fester. Three options in particular look plastic waste by working more closely My current work in Berea, Kentucky, show just how easy it is to be green. The 44466609 44418811 promising. with bottling companies and other at The Greenie Project, a non-profi t result will be a cleaner, more liveable For starters, Lagos could introduce manufacturers. This could involve student initiative which I started, city that serves as an example for others Subscription a green-exchange programme like the public-private partnerships that shows how environmental awareness to follow. – Project Syndicate one established in the city of Curitiba require each company to operate a can spread. Our fi lm “The Carlbergs” [email protected] in Brazil. There, residents bring their recycling centre where consumers can chronicles a local family that hosts huge Stephen Nwaloziri, founder of waste to designated local centres in bring used plastics. Citizens will feel contra-dance events in their home in a The Greenie Project, is a programme exchange for bus tickets or food. Many motivated to recycle their plastic waste sustainable way – by using silverware associate at the Berea College Forestry © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved workers in Lagos are already switching at centres bearing recognisable brand and ceramic plates instead of disposable Outreach Center. Gulf Times Saturday, April 20, 2019 15 COMMENT We don’t need a bigger particle collider

By Sabine Hossenfelder measure more precisely the most recent in a long series of Frankfurt properties of already-known particle-physics experiments particles, and, because it would – including all previous reach slightly higher collision- experiments carried out since etween Lake Geneva energies than the LHC, it could the Standard Model was and the Swiss Jura, bring forth new discoveries. But completed in the 1970s – that more than 100m (328ft) physicists currently have no have produced null results. Far Bbelow the surface, lies a reason to believe that a larger from providing evidence of circular tunnel, 27km (17 miles) collider would produce evidence unifi ed forces or new symmetries in circumference, containing of anything that is not already in or particles, these endeavours superconducting magnets that the Standard Model. Discovering taught physicists to invent accelerate protons almost to the any additional new particles particles that are more diffi cult speed of light. At four locations might require energies a billion to measure. in the tunnel, the protons are times higher than what the next Yes, null results are also made to collide. Particle physi- collider would produce. results. They can rule out cists observe these collisions, in Moreover, particle accelerators hypotheses. But if you need to an eff ort to learn what matter are very expensive. The colliders develop a new theory, they are is made of and what holds it (both linear and circular) for not very useful. A null result together. which physicists in China and identifi es a dead end, of which The Large Hadron Collider Japan and at CERN have put there can be a huge number. To (LHC), operated by the European forward proposals would cost make progress in understanding Organisation for Nuclear some $10-20bn each, and take the foundations of physics, Research (CERN), is the largest 20-30 years to build. While we need results that point to a particle collider ever built and certain technological advances path forward. A larger collider was the source of grand hopes could bring down costs, these probably will not provide that. when it was launched in 2008. have not yet occurred. There are research areas that Some predicted it would fi nd the Of course, high costs may be are currently more likely to yield particles that comprise “dark justifi ed if there were a good actual results at a lower cost, matter,” which astrophysicists chance that the investment such as astrophysical studies of believe constitutes 85% of would yield major benefi ts dark matter and experiments all matter in the universe. to society. And past research probing the quantisation of Others expected the LHC to in the foundations of physics gravity. These are the areas deliver evidence of new natural has undoubtedly benefi ted physicists should focus on right symmetries or additional humankind massively. In the last now. dimensions of space, or to help century, research breakthroughs If technological breakthroughs explain “dark energy” (which have enabled the development make colliders more aff ordable, supposedly causes the observed of all modern electronic devices or other experiments deliver accelerated expansion of the (transistors, microchips, reasons to think that a larger universe). lasers, LEDs, digital cameras, collider will show physicists None of this has happened. and soon maybe quantum new particles, it might be worth The LHC did enable the computers) and medical imaging building one. But that could be discovery of one new elementary methods (X-rays, ultrasound, 20, 50, or 100 years from now. particle, the Higgs boson – the spectroscopy, magnetic CERN’s Large Hadron Collider in 2015. (Image: Maximilen Brice/CERN) Until then, we should invest last missing particle predicted resonance, positron emission in more promising research. – (in the 1960s) in the Standard tomography, and electron tunnel confront unsolved problems, methods of particle physicists prepare, as they do now, we need In the last 40 years, this Project Syndicate Model of particle physics. But microscopes). and further progress could result have not: they still rely on to be more scrupulous in our is exactly what has been that was in 2012, and no new But there is no reason to in new advances, especially in serendipitous discoveries. investments. Otherwise, budgets happening. The LHC confi rmed Sabine Hossenfelder is a particles have been found since. believe that a larger collider quantum theory (the basis of That works when exploratory can quickly be drained by costly one reliable prediction: the research fellow at the Frankfurt Would building another, larger would pay off . The problem is modern computer technology). experiments are diverse and experiments that deliver null Higgs boson. That’s it. And Institute for Advanced Studies. collider change that? not that physicists do not have The problem, instead, lies in numerous. But when new results, such as observations that when it comes to eff ects that She is the author of Lost in Proponents of a new collider more foundational work to do. their approach. experiments cost billions of confi rm existing theories, rather the Standard Model does not Math: How Beauty Leads Physics say that a larger collider could Their most robust theories still Physics has changed, but the dollars and take decades to than support new hypotheses. predict, the LHC is only the Astray. LEGAL HELPLINE Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 380c Objection to tax department’s assessment Minimum Temperature : 240c SUNDAY Maximum Temperature : 320c Minimum Temperature : 240c By Dr Nizar Kochery for preventive detention of the suspect. given false statement before the Terminating worker Doha In some cases, the Public Prosecu- prosecution and the prosecution MONDAY tion may, instead of the preventive has transferred the case to court. while on leave Maximum Temperature : 350c detention and in other misdemeanours I got the notification from the Minimum Temperature : 240c Question: We have paid the tax punishable by imprisonment, issue court on the hearing date. As per Q: I am on annual leave for three Fisherman's forecast within the time limit after com- an order prohibiting the suspect from law, is there any chance of legal weeks and have requested the pleting the auditing as per the leaving residence or the country; or action against witnesses who company management for exten- WARNING Inshore : Thundery rain ex- accounting standards. We have putting the suspect under the surveil- gave false information? Pleas sion of leave. In response, the pected at places from been informed by the tax depart- lance of the police; or demand the advise. company has issued termination evening ment that there is diff erence in the suspect appear before the police head- letter. Is it legal to terminate an Offshore : Expected thunder rain amount calculated. Upon verifi ca- quarters at specifi c times; or prohibit- IW, Doha employee while he or she is on on some places later associated with strong tion, we did not fi nd any miscal- ing the suspect from attending certain leave? The company has also not wind and high sea culations. In such a case, how can places or prohibiting the suspect from According to Article 172 of Qatar penal paid any benefi ts. Please advise. WEATHER we fi le an objection against the practising specifi ed activities. laws, any person, being a witness Inshore : Relatively hot daytime with scattered clouds fi ndings of the tax department be- In all cases, the suspect may be precau- who, after taking the oath before a NS, Doha and chance of light rain. fore they proceed with any further tionary imprisoned if he has no perma- judicial or investigative authorities, Offshore : P Cloudy with chance action? Please advise. nent and known place of residence in gives false testimonies or withholds all A: Article 85 of the Labour law pro- of scattered rain on some places maybe Qatar and the crime was a misdemean- or some of the information of which hibits the employer from terminating thundery later. AS, Doha our punishable by imprisonment. he is aware regarding the facts of the the employment contract or notify- WIND case concerning which his testimony ing the worker of the termination Inshore : Northwesterly-North- easterly 05-15/22 KT Answer: According to Article 28 of is being made, shall be punished with thereof during any of his periods of Offshrore : Northwesterly - North- the Tax Laws, the taxpayer may object Punishment for imprisonment for a term not exceed- leave. Moreover, the employer may easterly 08-18/22 KT the tax assessment decision within 30 false testimony ing three years and a fi ne not exceed- not notify the worker of the termi- Visibility : 4 - 8/3 KM days from the date of its notifi cation by ing QR10,000. The same provisions nation of the contract if the notice Offshore : 3 -5/7 FT a registered letter to the department. shall apply to any person instructed period expires during any of such Around the region The objection shall be submitted to the Q: A false case was filed against by judicial or investigative authorities periods of leave. Weather Weather department and the submission of the me before the police station. The to work as an expert or translator and today tomorrow Max/min objection shall result in the suspension complainant also brought some deliberately commits an act of misrep- Please send your questions to Max/min Baghdad Sunny M Sunny 28/12 of the execution of the assessment de- witness against me. They have resentation. [email protected] 24/13 Sunny 29/20 cision. If the taxpayer fails to submit an Kuwait CityM Sunny 32/20 Sunny 29/23 objection within the period mentioned Manama Sunny 31/24 M Sunny 34/28 above, the assessment decision shall Muscat Sunny 32/27 LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR Sunny 18/10 become fi nal and the tax shall become Tehran S Showers 18/08 due. In 60 days, the department shall According to Article 300 of Crimi- the court at time of the trial, and such settle the objection and elapse of the nal Procedure Code, the Court shall facts or documents establishes the said period with no response from consider appeal for the part of the innocence of the convicted person, the department shall be treated as an judgment related to the reasons on or change the legal description of the implicit refusal of the same. which cassation is based. If the appeal crime to another crime carrying a re- If taxpayer does not accept the de- is not fi led by the Public Prosecution, duced penalty than the convicted one. partment’s decision on the objection, the Court shall decide only for the In the fi rst four cases mentioned in an appeal may be submitted within 30 party who fi led the appeal, unless the Article 304, the Public Prosecutor, days from the date of notifi cation of reasons on which cassation is based the convicted person, or his legal the department’s decision on the ob- are connected to others convicted representative if he lacks capacity jection or from the elapse of the period with him. In such situation, the Court or is missing, or his relatives up to provided for to settle the objection shall also decide for others, even if the fourth degree or spouse after his with no response made, as the case they did not submit an appeal. death shall have the right to request may be before the tax appeal commit- The Public Prosecutor may, at any reconsideration of the judgment. If tee as provided under Article 31 of the time, fi le appeal before the cassa- the requester is a person other than Around the world Tax Laws. tion court in favour of the law in fi nal the Public Prosecution, he shall sub- Weather Weather judgments in which the opponents mit a request to the Public Prosecu- today Max/min tomorrow Max/min missed the time of appeal, or waived tion stating the judgment requested Athens P Cloudy 17/07 M Sunny 17/08 Keeping a person their right to appeal, or submitted to be reconsidered, the reasons upon Beirut P Cloudy 18/12 Rain 15/13 in police custody an appeal which was adjudged as which it is based, and the supporting Bangkok P Cloudy 38/29 Sunny 38/30 inadmissible, whichever court is- documents. Berlin M Sunny 21/06 Sunny 21/07 sued these judgments, if the appeal The right to request reconsideration Cairo Sunny 24/13 Sunny 24/12 Q: Do the police take a person in is based on a violation of the law, or provided in Article 304 (5) shall be Cape Town S Showers 18/14 Cloudy 20/14 custody immediately on fi ling a mistake in the application or inter- fact against another person, and the for the Public Prosecutor, whether by Colombo T Storm 30/26 S T Storms 30/26 complaint with proper evidence? pretation of the law. This appeal shall two judgments are contradictory in a own accord or upon the request of the Dhaka P Cloudy 33/24 M Sunny 33/25 We have fi led a complaint against a be submitted by an announcement to way in which acquittal of one of the convicted person or his legal repre- Hong Kong T Storm 28/22 I T Storms 28/26 person for cheating. In what cases, be signed by the Public Prosecutor, convicted persons can be concluded; sentative. If the request is reasonable, Istanbul S Showers 10/07 P Cloudy 13/05 the police can keep a person in and shall be considered after notify- (3) If one of the witnesses or experts prosecution shall submit it, with the Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 custody? Please advise. ing the parties. In such a case, the ap- is convicted of giving false testimony necessary investigations, to the Court Karachi Sunny 31/24 Sunny 31/24 peal shall not result in any prejudice in accordance with the Penal Code, of Cassation. London Sunny 23/08 Sunny 23/09 LS, Doha to the convicted person. or forging a document submitted The appeal of the decision issued Manila P Cloudy 37/26 M Sunny 37/27 As per Article 304, the conclusive during the trial, and such testimony by the Public Prosecution or on the Moscow Cloudy 14/03 M Sunny 16/05 A: As per Article 110 of criminal proce- judgments of penalty or procedure or expert’s report or forged document judgment issued by the Court of New Delhi M Sunny 34/22 Sunny 37/23 dure law, after the interrogation of the may be reconsidered upon request in has infl uenced the judgment; (4) If Cassation as to acceptance or refusal New York Rain 18/12 M Cloudy 18/12 suspect, if suffi cient evidence is found the following cases: (1) If the defend- the judgment is based on another of the request shall not be accepted Paris Sunny 25/11 M Sunny 25/11 attributing the crime or if there are ant is convicted of murder and then judgment issued from another court for any reason. The Public Prosecu- Sao Paulo M Sunny 29/17 M Cloudy 31/18 chances of him leaving the country and the person claimed to have been and such judgment was cancelled; tion shall notify the opponents with Seoul Cloudy 20/09 Cloudy 21/08 the incident is a felony or a misde- murdered is found to be alive; (2) If a or (5) If, after the issuance of judg- the date fi xed for hearing the request Singapore T Storm 31/27 S T Storms 31/27 meanour punishable by imprisonment person is adjudged on a fact, then an- ment, new facts emerge or documents before the Court of Cassation at least Sydney P Cloudy 23/17 P Cloudy 24/17 for a period exceeding six months, the other judgment is issued on the same submitted which were unknown to seven days before. Tokyo Clear 21/10 Clear 22/10 Public Prosecution may issue an order Gulf Times 16 Saturday, April 20, 2019 QATAR

The skeleton of a dugong or sea cow. Just beneath it are dugong bone fossils over 20mn years old. A whale shark overlooking throngs of visitors at the museum. PICTURES: Jayan Orma NMoQ off ers rare look into

Qatar’s past A hammerhead shark and other marine life. A sand cat and its young.

By Peter Alagos of life, particularly in Qatar. The A staff at the museum estimat- Business Reporter museum is a timely and wonder- ed that there are more than 1,000 ful addition to the modern facili- replicas of mammals, reptiles, ties of the country, and knowing and insects, as well as the fossils useums are doorways to Qatar’s history makes me appre- on display at the ‘Formation of the past. Once opened ciate this place, which my fam- Qatar.’ Mthey provide glimpses ily and I consider as our second An Asian expatriate said: “The of history and how life began. home,” said Carlos, who has been replicas are very lifelike that at The National Museum of Qa- residing here for the past seven fi rst glance, I thought one of them tar (NMoQ) is one such portal years. would jump at me. My children through time. An excerpt from an earlier were also happy to see them, es- The NMoQ, which was for- statement from NMoQ aptly de- pecially the fossils; I hope their mally inaugurated by His High- scribes ‘The Formation of Qatar’ school would organise a tour one ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin as “… a journey through time, of these days because not only are Hamad al-Thani on March 27, exploring the geological and these replicas a sight to see, but opened its doors to the public the biological evolution of the Qatar they are also very educational and very next day. peninsula. The story told in this a fun way for kids to learn about As soon as visitors tour the Some red foxes and gazelle. gallery begins more than 700mn history and Qatar’s deep past.” galleries, they are treated to a years ago.” Another visitor told Gulf Times journey of sights and sound, as ‘Life in Qatar’, and ‘The Modern ing galleries: ‘The Formation of “The gallery off ers an interac- that visiting the NMoQ was a Replica of the Qataraspis deprofundis, a 400mn-year-old species of well as larger-than-life replicas History of Qatar’; within these Qatar’, ‘Qatar’s National Envi- tive exploration of the complex “very special experience,” espe- armour-plated fish. of living and non-living things chapters are 11 galleries. While ronment’, and ‘The Archeology geological processes that created cially for her son who “dreams found in Qatar’s rich and diverse all chapters boast of stunning of Qatar’. the peninsula. Fossils of plants of becoming an archaeologist portunity to get a fi rsthand look quent the museum, specifi cally landscape. visuals, visitors are left in awe of “I haven’t been to other gal- and animals on display represent someday.” at prehistoric specimens that this gallery because of the strong The NMoQ is organised in the replicas found inside ‘Begin- leries but this is a splendid start seven time periods of Qatar in the “I am glad there is a place in people only see in books or in interest it evoked from my child,” three chapters: ‘Beginnings’, nings’, which features the follow- for a tour of the early beginnings distant past.” Qatar that off ers children the op- documentaries. We intend to fre- she added. Work on to complete remaining sections of Al Khor Road

he Public Works Author- Al Shamal Road. “Ashghal was ity (Ashghal) has deliv- committed to fi nish all road Tered 80% of the Al Khor works without any delay,” the Road project and is now work- statement noted. ing to complete the rest. The authority also high- The remaining works include lighted the future benefi ts to be the construction of 34km of an delivered upon completion of Olympic cycle track on one side the project, including provid- of the carriageway and 33km of ing links to several key areas and shared paths for pedestrians establishments in the country. and cyclists on the other side, These are as follows: as well as the construction of Q Al Khor Road and Al Shamal 42 pedestrian and cycle under- Road: Al Khor Road connects passes, the authority said in a to several main roads that are statement recently. linked to the parallel Al Shamal Ashghal had on Monday in- Road, such as Al Khor, Sima- augurated the main carriageway isma and Al Majd roads as well and three vital interchanges as Al Turfa Street. These con- of Al Khor Road, which would nections off er a variety of op- enable motorists to travel from tions for road users to travel be- Al Khor to Doha in around 20 tween the northern and eastern minutes. Upgrade works on Al areas in addition to the western Khor Road started in the last and southern areas via Al Majd quarter of 2016 and has 80% of Road. the work has been carried out. Q Al Khor Expressway and Al A large section of road prepara- Majd Road: The opening of Al tion works has been completed, Majd Road in February this year including 11.5mn cubic m of has signifi cantly contributed to fi lling and compacting works, linking traffi c coming from Al 2.24mn tonnes of asphalting Khor Road and vice-versa, es- and 580,000 cubic m of con- pecially that Al Majd Road in- creting as well as 10.87mn cubic tersects with all other arterial m of excavation works, accord- roads in the country such as Al ing to Ashghal. Shamal Road, Dukhan Road, Infrastructure development Salwa Road and Mesaieed work has also been completed Road. Q Sports facilities: Al Khor the Al Daayen Service Complex within the scope of the project. Therefore, residents of Doha Road is a major link to a number and Lusail Reserves. This includes some 127km of and the eastern parts of the of 2022 FIFA World Cup stadi- Q Leisure facilities: The newly rainwater and sewage water country are now able to use ums. It provides direct connec- opened road will provide en- drainage lines to prevent water Doha Expressway to access all tions to the Lusail and Al Bayt hanced traffi c fl ow to a number accumulation during the rainy external areas by bypassing the stadiums and also facilitates ac- of recreational and tourist des- season, work along 105km to centre of Doha. Residents of cess to the Al Rayyan and Edu- tinations such as Katara, Sima- extend the pipeline for the irri- West Bay, Lusail and the sur- cation City stadiums through isma beach, Al Farkiya beach gation and treated water treat- rounding areas can easily access its connection with Al Majd and the Al Daayen Celebration ment network and 160km of Al Wakrah and Al Wukair and Road. Additionally, the new Hall Complex. electricity and telecommunica- vice-versa using Al Majd Road road facilitates access to the Si- Q Educational institutions: tions networks. and the new Al Khor Road. maisma and Al Khor youth cen- Several educational institu- The authority stressed that it Q Residential areas: Al Khor tres, Al Khor Sports Club, Lusail tions will benefit from the was able to deliver 80% of the Road, along with Al Khor, serves Sports Complex and Doha Golf opening of Al Khor Road. The project in “record time” despite more than 20 residential areas Club. road facilitates access to some the challenges faced during the such as Simaisma, Umm Qarn, Q Economic facilities: Al Khor of the most prestigious edu- construction. Tinbak, Wadi Al Banat, Rawdat Road will serve a number of cational institutions in the The construction of Al Khor Al Hamama, Legtaifi ya, Lusail, economic and vital facilities in country, such as Qatar Uni- Road required the full closure of The Pearl-Qatar and Al Turfa. places such as Ras Laff an, Lusail versity, Community College of 9km of the road from Simaisma The new road also facilitates City, The Pearl-Qatar and West Qatar, Qatar Leadership Acad- Interchange to Qatar University access to Mesaieed and Dukhan Bay, covering business and vital emy, Doha Institute for Grad- Street for a period of 18 months, through its intersection with Al facilities as well as hotels. Fur- uate Studies and College of the with traffi c being diverted to Majd Road. ther, it will facilitate access to North Atlantic-Qatar.