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SUNDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10453 May 14, 2017 Sha’baan 18, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Barshim wins in Shanghai Hack attacks In brief wreak havoc

QATAR | Offi cial Emir to patronise Doha Forum opening across world HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will patronise AFP officer at the Helsinki-based cyber this morning the opening of the London security company F-Secure, told 17th edition of the Doha Forum, AFP that the attack was “the big- which will be held under the gest ransomware outbreak in his- theme “Development, Stability and yber security experts scrambled tory”, saying that 130,000 systems Refugee Crisis” at the Sheraton yesterday to contain the impact in more than 100 countries had been Doha Hotel. Cof an unprecedented global cy- affected. berattack that hit Russia’s banks, Brit- He said Russia and India were hit QATAR | Reaction ish hospitals, FedEx and European car particularly hard, largely because tech factories. giant Microsoft’s older Windows XP Shooting attack in The hunt was on for the culprits be- operating software was still widely Qatif condemned hind the assault, which was being de- used there. Qatar has strongly condemned the Mutaz Barshim of Qatar competes in the high jump event during the Shanghai Diamond League athletics meeting in Shanghai scribed as the biggest-ever cyber ran- US software fi rm Symantec said the shooting attack in Al-Masoura district yesterday. The Rio Olympics silver medallist leapt 2.33m to win the event ahead of China’s Yu Wang and Ukraine’s Andriy som attack. majority of organisations aff ected were in Qatif, which killed two people and Protsenko who managed 2.3 and 2.27m respectively. Barshim had delighted home fans in Qatar a week ago by winning the State agencies and major companies in Europe, and the attack was believed injured several others. In a statement, high jump at the Doha Diamond League meet. around the world were left reeling by to be indiscriminate. the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs the attacks which blocked access to The ransomware spreads through aff irmed Qatar’s solidarity with the fi les and demanded ransom money, corporate networks, “without user in- sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and forcing shutdowns of computer sys- teraction, by exploiting a known vul- support for all measures it takes to tems. nerability in Microsoft Windows,” it maintain its security and stability. It “The recent attack is at an unprece- said. reiterated Qatar’s firm stance against Relief for Wakrah, Wukair commuters dented level and will require a complex The attacks apparently exploited violence and terrorism regardless international investigation to identify a fl aw exposed in documents leaked of motives and reasons. The he Public Works Author- completed by May-end. heading from the west of Barwa Village the culprits,” said Europol, Europe’s from the US National Security Agency Organisation of Islamic Co-operation ity (Ashghal) has announced As part of Phase 1, Barwa-Al Mashaf to Al Wakrah, Al Wukair and Al Mashaf policing agency. (NSA). (OIC) also condemned the terrorist Tthe opening of Phase I of the Road has been opened from Al Wakrah - has also been opened. The attacks used ransomware, which In the United States, package deliv- attack. Barwa-Al Mashaf Road development and Al Mashaf towards F-Ring Road. The phase has been completed in a locks users’ fi les unless they pay the at- ery group FedEx acknowledged it had project, giving commuters travelling It also includes the opening of a newly “record time of three months only”, tackers a designated sum in the virtual been hit by malware and said it was AMERICA | Politics to and from Al Wakrah, Al Wukair built road with two lanes heading from Ashghal has said. Bitcoin currency. “implementing remediation steps as and neighbouring areas something to the intersection north of the Al Wak- The second phase of the project will Images appeared on victims’ screens quickly as possible.” Trump to move quickly cheer about. rah Hospital Roundabout to just before include building a roundabout at the demanding payment of $300 (275 eu- French carmaker Renault was forced to name new FBI boss The road connects the Al Wakrah, the intersection of Barwa-Al Mashaf entrance of Barwa Village to facilitate ros) in Bitcoin, saying: “Ooops, your to stop production at sites in France, President Donald Trump said Al Wukair and Al Mashaf areas and ex- Road with Ras Bu Fontas Street, Ash- entry and exit to and from Al Wakrah. fi les have been encrypted!” Slovenia and Romania, saying the yesterday he will move quickly to tends from the Barwa Village Rounda- ghal explained in a press statement. The road, linking the Al Wakrah Club Payment is demanded within three measure was aimed at stopping the vi- nominate a new FBI director, after bout up to F-Ring Road and Doha. Also, the lane turning right onto F- Roundabout with the beginning of days or the price is doubled, and if none rus from spreading. he sparked a political firestorm by Further relief is in store for motor- Ring Road has been widened to cater to the newly built road that connects to is received within seven days the fi les Japanese carmaker Nissan’s plant in firing the man investigating possible ists living and working in these areas growing traffi c in the area. Barwa-Al Mashaf Road, will also be will be deleted, according to the screen Sunderland, northeast England, was collusion between Russia and the as the authority has said work on the Further, the stretch in the other widened to two lanes. message. attacked but production shuts on Sat- Trump presidential campaign. Page 16 second phase of the project will be direction of Barwa-Al Mashaf Road - To Page 8 Mikko Hypponen, chief research urdays in any case. Page 17 Gulf Times 2 Sunday, May 14, 2017 QATAR

Sudan president arrives

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir arrived in Doha yesterday evening to attend the 2017 Doha Forum, which begins today. The Sudanese president and his accompanying delegation were welcomed at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, Qatar’s ambassador to Sudan, Rashid bin Abdulrahman al-Nuaimi, and Sudan’s ambassador to Qatar, Fath al-Rahman Ali. Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Somalia, Hassan Ali Khayre, and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri also arrived in Doha yesterday to attend the 2017 Doha Forum. The Somali prime minister and the Lebanese prime minister were welcomed at Hamad International Airport by Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs HE Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi.

RAF to inaugurate largest city to house Syrian orphans in Turkey

QNA the Arab and Islamic re- nent basis and receive edu- open gymnasiums, mosque, Doha gion. cation and all the services social halls, an integrated The RAF City has a total they need. health centre, green spaces built-up area of more than More than 5,000 orphans along with service rooms heikh Thani Bin Ab- 68,000 square metres. It will benefi t of education, and markets. dullah Foundation for has been constructed at a health, sports and social The RAF Foundation SHumanitarian Serv- total cost of QR71mn do- services provided by the has laid the cornerstone ices (RAF) and the IHH Hu- nated by philanthropists in City, it said, noting that it of the project in the city of manitarian Relief Founda- Qatar. would be a unique model of Rihaniyah in southeastern tion, its partner in Turkey, RAF said in a press release care, rehabilitation and ca- Turkey’s Hatay Province on will open on Thursday the yesterday that about 6,000 pacity-building of orphans July 2, 2015, correspond- RAF City for Human Devel- orphans from the Syrian to be leaders in the future. ing with World Orphan Day, opment in the Turkish City refugees in Turkey will ben- The project is designed and within the framework of of Rihaniyah to serve as the efi t from the City’s facilities, as an integrated city with a protocol signed with the largest project to provide while 990 orphans will re- 55 residential villas in addi- Ministry of Family and So- care for Syrian orphans in side in the City on perma- tion to schools, closed and cial Policies in Turkey.

Gulf Times 4 Sunday, May 14, 2017 QATAR

Armenian president arrives in Doha today

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will al-Thani will meet the Armenian president Training arrive in Doha today on an off icial visit to at the Emiri Diwan tomorrow to discuss the country. bilateral relations and the means to enhance workshops HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad them. on heat Qatar-US military ties discussed HE the Chief of Staff , Major General Ghanim Talks during the meeting dealt with the exhaustion bin Shaheen al-Ghanim, has met US Joint military relations between Qatar and the Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Joseph United States and means of enhancing and Dunford, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. promoting them. he Ministry of Pub- lic Health (MoPH) Twill conduct, from tomorrow, a number of training workshops on heat exhaustion for health and safety supervisors in diff er- ent companies. The workshops will be held in co-operation with the Ministry of Administra- tive Development, Labour and Social Aff airs, Hamad Medical Corporation and Qatar Petroleum. The initiative is aimed at spreading awareness of relevant issues among the entities concerned to intro- duce them to the symptoms of heat exhaustion and how to avoid them. It is also part of the MoPH’s keenness to care for the health of workers in dif- ferent sectors, according to a press statement.

FM meets UN co-ordinator for Mideast peace

HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday met the United Nations Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov, who is currently visiting the country to participate in the 17th Doha Forum. The meeting dealt with developments of the Middle- East peace process and the two sides exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of joint interest. The Foreign Minister said that peace and stability in the Middle-East depends on the Palestinian issue.

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, May 14, 2017 QATAR

Mohamed Albinali speaking at the event. WISH promotes mental health among Somalis

he World Innovation Summit for Shida aims to raise awareness among and their families, as well as represent- Health (WISH) recently spon- Qatar’s Somali community about the atives of other nationalities. Tsored Shida, the fourth Annual causes of direct and indirect mental Attending dignitaries included Has- Forum of the Somali Community in illnesses among Somalis living around san bin Abdullah al-Ghanim, Qatar’s Qatar, organised by Weyak, a Doha- the world and highlight how to avoid former minister of justice and deputy based voluntary organisation work- these issues. chairperson of Weyak; Hussein Os- ing to foster understanding of mental Sultana Afdhal, partnerships and out- man, deputy health minister of Soma- health issues with outreach activities. reach manager of WISH, said: “We con- lia; and Galma Mukhe Boru, ambassa- Weyak partnered with Hersare tinue to support events like Shida that dor of Kenya. Foundation, a Somali NGO support- work to address social isolation and oth- Mohamed Albinali, executive direc- ing vulnerable and neglected people in er signifi cant challenges faced by people tor of Weyak, said: “Our association’s Somalia and the Horn of Africa, to host with mental health issues. The Somali mission is to spread awareness about Shida. demographic includes one of the highest mental health.We are happy and proud Shida is the result of an agreement refugee populations in the world. to organise Shida for the Somali com- between WISH and Weyak, estab- “When considered in the context of munity in Qatar with our partners lishing a co-operative framework to the trauma of war, issues such as dis- WISH and Hersare Foundation.” raise awareness of mental health in placement, substance abuse, and men- Several speakers with unique edu- Qatar. The collaboration allows the tal illnesses combine to create some cation and career backgrounds gave two organisations to exchange ideas uniquely challenging problems that thought provoking talks that addressed and information on mental health is- the people of Somalia have to endure topics like ‘khat’ addiction in Somalia sues across various media platforms, on a day-to-day basis.” and the challenges faced by people including websites and social media, The event was attended by a large with physical disabilities and those ex- through community events. number of Qatar’s Somali residents periencing mental illness.

Gulf Times 8 Sunday, May 14, 2017 QATAR

FM meets Malaysian counterpart Minor traffi c changes to facilitate new fl yover on Industrial Area Road

he Public Works Au- a grade-separated inter- ously used the U-turn on thority (Ashghal) has change that will replace the Industrial Area Road (be- Tannounced it will former Al Watan Rounda- tween Al Kassarat Street and implement minor traffi c bout and enable free-fl ow- Al Watan Roundabout) will changes in the Umm Al Se- ing movement between need to continue straight neem area to open a 150m Salwa Road, the Industrial for a short distance and turn fl yover on Industrial Area Area, Industrial Area Road around at the roundabout on Road from tomorrow. and East Industrial Street. Al Kassarat Street. The fl yover, which is be- The entire interchange is Road users who previ- ing delivered as part of expected to be complete in ously used the roundabout Ashghal’s Rawdat Al Khail June, Ashghal has said. on East Industrial Street Street extension project, is To enable fi nishing works (near Bu Samra Street) will located at the intersection on the East Street 33 Inter- need to continue straight for of East Industrial Street and change, Ashghal will make a short distance to the next Industrial Area Road and slight modifi cations to the roundabout and perform a will provide motorists with surrounding roads for the U-turn to head back to their a free-fl owing road connec- next month. required destination. tion from Al Kassarat Street As shown on the attached Ashghal has said there HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday to Naslat Al Maa Street, the map, the existing U-turns and the roundabout on East towards Salwa Road for a will be no reduction in the met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Anifah Aman, who was making an authority has said in a press on East Industrial Street Industrial Street (near Bu short distance before per- number of lanes on Indus- official visit to Qatar. The meeting dealt with bilateral relations and the means statement. (towards Salwa Road) and Samra Street) have been forming a U-turn under- trial Area Road and East In- to enhance them, as well as discussing the latest developments in the region, The fl yover forms a key Industrial Area Road (be- closed. neath the bridge at Street 23 dustrial Street and request- particularly in Syria. component of the new tween Al Kassarat Street Road users who previous- and returning to the existing ed all road users to abide East Street 33 Interchange, and Al Watan Roundabout) ly used the U-turn on East road layout at East Street 33 by the speed limit, which is Industrial Street (towards Interchange and continuing 50km/h, and follow newly Salwa Road) have been ad- towards their destination. implemented traffi c road vised to continue straight Road users who previ- signs to ensure their safety. Relief for commuters

From Page 1 pected that sections of Al n addition, the road Wakrah Bypass Expressway linking the Al Wakra and Al Wukair Bypass will IHospital Roundabout be opened. with the same point at the The opening of the two beginning of the newly built bypass roads will signifi - road will be widened to in- cantly contribute to en- clude two lanes, as shown hancing traffi c fl ow for on the attached map. residents of Al Wakrah and Work on this phase of the surrounding areas and pro- project will be completed vide several options to go in the end of this month, Ash- Mohamed Arqoub al-Khaldi. and out of these areas. ghal has said. It could be recalled that Head of Roads and In- opened or are about to open commuters had complained frastructure for Areas in to traffi c, will form an alter- of severe traffi c congestion Doha South, Mohamed Ar- native for Al Wakrah Main last month in and around Al qoub al-Khaldi, said: “The Road – which will reduce Wakrah, particularly at the project aims to ease traffi c traffi c congestion in the area entry and exit point, lead- fl ow in both directions be- and provide another en- ing to long delays. While tween Al Wakrah, Al Wu- trance and exit to and from the situation has improved kair, Al Mashaf and Doha. the Al Wakrah, Al Wukair since then, some problems Barwa-Al Mashaf Road, and Al Mashaf areas. still persist due to large- along with other parts of Al-Khaldi said that in the scale infrastructure works, surrounding roads that have next two months, it is ex- say commuters.

WISE Prize for Education Committee meets in Doha

he World Innovation tor, Education Development tion Committee to Doha. Summit for Educa- Institute, Qatar; Dr Stefanos “Together they bring a Ttion (WISE)’s Com- Gialamas, president, Amer- deep understanding of edu- mittee for WISE Prize for ican Community Schools cation issues to the task of Education met in Doha re- of Athens; Dr Allan Good- creating a shortlist of can- cently to prepare a shortlist man, president and CEO, didates for the WISE Prize. of candidates to be present- Institute of International In accomplishing this, they ed to the WISE Prize Jury, Education, the US; Dr Mary have built a collegial con- which would make their Joy Pigozzi, executive direc- sensus that refl ects the best fi nal selection of the 2017 tor, Educate A Child, a pro- values of the prize and for Laureate. gramme under Education education leadership.” The Laureate will be an- Above All, Qatar; Asif Saleh, The WISE Summit, an in- nounced at the WISE 2017 senior director of strategy, itiative of Qatar Foundation Summit in Doha this No- communications and em- for Education, Science and vember. powerment of BRAC and Community Development, The WISE Prize for Edu- BRAC International, Bang- will take place in Doha from cation recognises an indi- ladesh; and Claudio Sas- November 14 to 16 under vidual or team for an out- saki, co-founder and CEO, the theme “Co-exist, Co- standing contribution to Geekie, Brazil. create: Learning to Live and education at any level. It The committee reached Work Together”. aims to raise the status of a consensus and produced In related events, two of education and is fi rmly es- a shortlist of names, which the WISE Prize Committee tablished as a source of en- will now go forward to the members led separate ses- couragement and inspira- WISE Prize for Education sions in Doha. In collabora- tion for all who devote their Jury for the selection of the tion with Qatar Business In- lives to empowering others 2017 Laureate. cubation Centre, Sassaki led through education. Stavros N Yiannouka, a master class and discus- The WISE Prize Commit- CEO, WISE, said: “The WISE sion on fi nancial sustain- tee, composed of six promi- Prize for Education Laure- ability with entrepreneurs. nent international educa- ates are an inspiration for all Dr Gialamas hosted a tion experts, led a rigorous who dedicate themselves to master class for local prin- evaluation of the nomina- education as the best invest- cipals and school leaders tions. ment a society can make in from private and independ- The members of the com- its people. It’s my honour to ent schools in Qatar, titled mittee are Sheikha Noof welcome the members of the “Academic Leadership for al-Thani, executive direc- 2017 WISE Prize for Educa- the 21st Century”. Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 9 QATAR ABP holds 16th graduation ceremony

he Academic Bridge Pro- ing and providing her with a gramme (ABP) held its 16th full sponsorship to study in TGraduation Ceremony in Qatar, as well as her father, the presence of HE Sheikha Hind ABP faculty and staff , her bint Hamad al-Thani, vice-chair- high school principal and person and CEO of Qatar Founda- teacher in Cambodia and tion (QF), ABP faculty, staff and her fi rst Qatari friend, Al parents. Anoud, for helping her on Some 142 students graduated this journey. during the event, which was held Mohamed al-Otbey, who at the Qatar National Convention graduated from the ABP in Centre. 2008 and now works in Oc- The ABP is a centre of QF that cidental Qatar, gave the key- operates under its Pre-University note speech. Education section. Dr Mark Newmark, as- The Class of 2017 brings the sistant director of academic total number of ABP graduates to aff airs, and Moza al-Boain- more than 2,700. More than 80% in, assistant director of stu- of the graduating Class of 2017 are dent services, recognised Qataris and the remaining 20% students on their special come from 17 nationalities. Girls achievements. account for 75% of students at the This year’s valedictorian ABP this year. was Qatari student Maryam Around 66% of this year’s al-Badr, who was fi rst in the Dr Bryan Lewallen speaking at graduating class have been ac- class academically. the ceremony. cepted to one or more of Hamad HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani along with other dignitaries at the ceremony. Bin Khalifa University’s partner universities. Some graduates will in universities in the Gulf. Dr Bryan Lewallen, director of Khemara Chhorn, an ABP stu- After a year at the ABP, Chhorn also enrol at Qatar University or “Overall, more than 80% of the ABP, welcomed the gather- dent with outstanding academic succeeded in getting accepted to one of the other colleges or uni- the 2017 graduates will eventu- ing and gave his comments on the performance who came to study Georgetown University – School versities in Qatar. Around 30% ally gain admission to a university; Class of 2017. This was followed at the ABP from a village in Cam- of Foreign Service in Qatar. of the class will be admitted to a this has been the pattern for the by a welcome speech on behalf bodia, spoke about her “Refl ec- She concluded by thanking HE university in the UK, Canada, or past several years,” according to a of the Class of 2017 by Sara al- tions on the 2016-2017 School Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad the US. Several others will enrol press statement from the ABP. Hemaidi. Year”. bin Khalifa al-Thani for encourag-

Some of the graduates of ABP Class of 2017.

Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 11 QATAR

Diabetics cautioned to seek medical advice International Nurses before undertaking fast during Ramadan

amad Medical Corporation (HMC) is cautioning in- Day marked at HMC dividuals with diabetes to seek medical advice before Hfasting. amad Medical Corporation (HMC) has celebrated According to Prof Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, chairman of International Nurses Day to recognise the vital role Internal Medicine at HMC, fasting among patients with Type Hnurses play in healthcare. 1 diabetes, and among those with Type 2 diabetes who have International Nurses Day is observed around the world inadequately managed blood glucose levels, can have many on May 12 in celebration of the anniversary of Florence risks, including dangerously low or high blood glucose levels, Nightingale’s birth. diabetic ketoacidosis and blood clots. Widely considered as the founder of modern nursing, “If you are planning to fast and you have diabetes, it is Florence Nightingale spent her life promoting the estab- important to speak to your diabetes healthcare team before lishment and development of the profession. Ramadan begins. For some people with diabetes, fasting can “As the largest component of the healthcare workforce, be dangerous. Your diabetes care team will advise you on nurses have constant interaction with our patients and whether it is safe for you to fast. If you are able to fast, they their families, and have a tremendous impact on the pa- will advise you on how to manage your condition, including tient experience. Nurses are key members of the multi- providing advice on necessary modifi cations to your diet, ex- disciplinary care teams that serve our patients and their ercise and medication routines as well as guidance on when families,” said Dr Badriya al-Lenjawi, executive director of it might be necessary to break your fast,” said Prof Abou- nursing, Corporate Nursing and Midwifery Department. Samra. “Today’s nurses are highly-skilled leaders, with ad- The fall of blood sugar (below 70mg/dl) may lead to severe Prof Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra vanced degrees, who are playing an integral role in the hypoglycaemia and loss of consciousness. High blood glu- transformation of healthcare in Qatar. It is important that cose (above 200 mg/dl) may lead to severe hyperglycemia, been experiencing hyperglycemia in the weeks leading up to we encourage Qatar’s younger generation, in particular, to dehydration and diabetic ketoacidosis, particularly in Type Ramadan. seek a career in nursing. The nursing profession represents 1 diabetics. While fasting is not recommended for all diabetics, many a great opportunity for Qataris to exhibit noble values and “When the body’s cells don’t get enough glucose, the body individuals with diabetes are able to safely fast. to become respected leaders,” added Dr al-Lenjawi. burns fat for energy and this causes waste products called ke- However, Prof Abou-Samra stresses that it is important Pauline Cadampog, a staff nurse at Rumailah Hospital’s tones. Ketones can make the blood acidic and this can be fa- to get medical advice prior to making any changes to diet or Long Term Care Unit, said: “Being a nurse means making Dr Badriya al-Lenjawi tal. Diabetic ketoacidosis signs and symptoms often develop medication routines. “If you are diabetic and fasting during a diff erence to someone’s life. For me, it means being the quickly, sometimes within 24 hours. For some individuals, Ramadan, we recommend checking your blood sugar levels hands of a patient who can’t grasp or walking for someone An event at Hamad General Hospital saw more than a diabetic ketoacidosis can be their fi rst symptom of diabetes. frequently. It should be checked at least four times daily dur- who is wheelchair bound. At the end of the day, I want to hundred nurses from that hospital recognised for long- Common symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include exces- ing fasting, for example at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. If any know that I have done a good deed.” term service, with each having served more than 25 years sive thirst, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, abdom- of these tests show signs of hypoglycemia, it is necessary to In acknowledgement of the day, a number of events were at HMC. inal pain, weakness or fatigue and fruity-scented breath,” break the fast. Your physician or diabetes educator can pro- held across HMC’s network of hospitals, including events With more than 8,500 men and women working as nurs- added Prof Abou-Samra. vide more details about controlling blood sugar levels and organised by the Home Healthcare Services, Heart Hospi- es in its hospitals and clinics, nurses form the largest group Individuals with Type 1 diabetes who choose to fast are at a can help you understand when it would be necessary to break tal and the National Center for Cancer Care and Research. of staff at HMC. higher risk of developing ketoacidosis, especially if they have your fast,” said Prof Abou-Samra. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, May 14, 2017 QATAR Commercial Tamuq names STEM Bank begins Educator of the Year summer hanaaz Howell, a Year 6 teacher at Al Maha Acad- campaign Semy for Girls, was named the 2017 Engineering Leaders STEM Educator of the Year by ommercial Bank has Texas A&M University at Qa- launched a summer tar (Tamuq) and Maersk Oil Ccampaign with special Qatar during a ceremony that rates and discounts on travel recognised some of Qatar’s top and vehicle accessories. science teachers. The campaign was designed Howell received a cash prize to cater to customer needs of QR20,000. during the summer period, in- Second place went to Noha cluding helping customers pay Mohsen Mohamed Helmi Farid for special family vacations, from Alkawthar Independ- buying a new car or to meet ent Secondary School, while other fi nancial commitments. the runners-up were Ban Na- For a limited period only, jimaldeen Abdullah from Al Commercial Bank custom- Bayan Educational Complex ers can enjoy attractive per- for Girls, Mallika Raja from Al- sonal loans rates starting Arqam Academy for Girls and from 5.25% per annum with Hessa Ismail Faraj from Roda the added benefi t of a special Commercial Bank’s West Bay Bint Mohammed Independent discount on a holiday package headquarters. Secondary School for Girls. Winners of the STEM Educator Award with Tamuq and Maersk Oil Qatar off icials. from Qatar Airways Holidays. “I am extremely excited about Commercial Bank custom- penditure through the sum- winning such a prize and more In being nominated for the pants who work in teams and use pletions and student confi dence, said, “Texas A&M University at ers can also enjoy competi- mer months, which combines importantly being part of it. I award, Howell was described as their skills to research, discuss which have had a positive impact Qatar is cultivating the future tive vehicle loans rates start- competitive rates for personal really appreciate being recog- charismatic, creative, confi dent and share their fi ndings. Howell on their results. engineering leaders Qatar will ing from 2.70% fl at and same and vehicle with market lead- nised today for all the hard work and knowledgeable. Her col- said she is able to gauge how well The award is part of the Dhia: need to drive its development to day approvals combined with ing turnaround times on all I do in off ering the young stu- leagues, students and students’ her students understand their Engineering Leaders partnership meet the goals of Qatar National a gift voucher worth QR1,000 fi nancing. dents these new techniques and parents praised her use of tech- lessons and track their perform- between Tamuq and Maersk Oil Vision 2030. It is critical to have from Titanium and a spe- “As well as competitive knowledge in learning their sub- nology in the classroom and her ance more eff ectively, which in Qatar. Dhia: Engineering Leaders outstanding educators in Qa- cial one-year comprehensive pricing on personal and vehi- jects because they are the future willingness to take on new chal- turn allows her to develop tasks supports the development of Qa- tar’s schools to guide students to motor insurance rate from cle loans, Commercial Bank leaders,” Howell said. lenges in imparting instructions that cater to her students’ needs tar’s knowledge-based economy STEM majors and prepare them Massoun Insurance Services. delivers the best customer The STEM Educator of the to students and creating an ex- and personalised targets. through outreach programmes to for success in higher education. Amit Sah, EGM, consumer experience with market lead- Year award recognises teaching cellent classroom environment. Since introducing this alter- inspire young people in Qatar to “The teachers we recognise banking, said: “Commercial ing turnaround times on all excellence in math and science, In her submission essay, How- native way of learning, she said take up science, technology, en- here today are shaping Qatar’s Bank is pleased to announce fi nancing, dedicated bank- and encourages educators to in- ell said the learning process in her students have shown almost gineering and math in school and future by helping to build ca- its exciting new summer cam- ing support 24 hours a day, struct and inspire students in her classroom is inquiry-based, immediate change in terms of university. pacity and skills in science and paign to support customers in and a package of additional these subjects in innovative ways. with students as active partici- engagement, assignment com- Tamuq dean César O Malavé engineering.” fi nancing any additional ex- benefi ts.”

More Al Meera branches added Emirates to introduce to Nojoom HBKU Press, Nature Masterclasses programme third daily service to Ooredoo has announced that its Nojoom loyalty programme host workshop for researchers added 14 more Al Meera branches Brisbane from Dec 1 to its partner network where members will be able to redeem amad Bin Khalifa Uni- and earn Nojoom points. versity Press (HBKU mirates will introduce ice to Melbourne from a B777- Al Meera became a Nojoom HPress) and Nature Mas- a third daily service to 300ER to an A380 operation partner in 2014 and has since terclasses, a service of Nature EBrisbane, Australia from from March 25, 2018, allowing enabled 20 of its popular Research, hosted a joint work- December 1, complement- passengers to travel aboard branches to be eligible for shop titled ‘Elements of Ex- ing the Dubai-based airline’s Emirates’ A380 on all three Nojoom members. With this ceptional Published Research existing two daily services. daily fl ights between Mel- latest announcement, Nojoom Papers’ recently at Hamad Bin The direct service, to be bourne and Dubai. members will be able to enjoy Khalifa University. operated on a B777-200LR Australia is a popular desti- shopping at 34 Al Meera branches The event was yet another aircraft with eight seats in nation for international trav- across Qatar and continue to be initiative targeting researchers fi rst class, 42 in business and ellers with its diverse cities rewarded. in Qatar in an eff ort to further 216 in economy will increase and coastal lifestyle. The 14 new branches include support their contribution to capacity on the route by 3,724 Brisbane is renowned for Abu Nakhla, Rawdat Al Khail, the global exchange of infor- seats a week, inbound and its thriving culture and is the Shamal, Dahl Al Hamam, Onaiza2, mation and the dissemination outbound between Brisbane major international gateway Al Gharrafa, Shahaniya, Barwa of their work in the commu- and Dubai. to the Gold Coast, a tourist Mesaimeer, Barwa Sailiya, Bu nity and beyond, according to a This will give passen- hot spot and host of the Gold Sidra, Mamoura, Sailiya North statement. gers in the United Kingdom, Coast 2018 Commonwealth (Al Miarad), Umm Salal Ali, and HBKU Press regularly hosts France and North America Games. Wakrah (East). such initiatives as a part of its “greater access” to Australia From a cargo perspec- Ooredoo and Al Meera are also commitment to help develop with just one stop in Dubai tive, the 777-200LR off ers 14 off ering all members double the academic and literary land- as part of Emirates’ global tonnes of cargo capacity in Nojoom points for their purchases scape of the local and regional route network, which in- the bellyhold. Popular goods at these branches until May 20. community. cludes over 150 destinations expected to be transported on Every Ooredoo customer with a “With this workshop, HBKU in more than 80 countries these services include fresh Qatar ID can enrol into Nojoom, Press aims to support local re- and territories. meat and vegetables, as well as which enables members to earn searchers by providing them Flights EK434 and EK435 pharmaceuticals. Nojoom points each time they with the knowledge they need The workshop in progress. operate nonstop between Du- Emirates off ers “generous” spend on an Ooredoo service or to get their work published by bai and Brisbane and onwards baggage allowances, with shop at selected earn partners. a world-class publishing house pants developed strategies to rials, who have a combined 20+ Dr Noora al-Kaabi, assist- to Auckland, New Zealand, up to 35kg in economy, 40kg With Al Meera, members have founded on international best structure and edit manuscripts, years of experience in editorial ant programme director of the while fl ights EK432 and EK433 in business and 50kg in fi rst the choice to earn Nojoom points practices, excellence and inno- improve fi gure presentation and experience, led the workshop of Community Medicine Residen- operate between Dubai and class. on their purchases or to redeem vation,” explained Dr Alwaleed how to put this into practice. around 30 participants. cy Programme at the Primary Brisbane via Singapore. Emirates currently operates vouchers starting at QR50 up to Alkhaja, senior editor at HBKU Using examples submitted by Dr Stoddart highlighted the Healthcare Centre and the sen- Additionally, with code- 77 fl ights a week to Australia QR2,000 to complete all of their Press. the participants, the editors also positive reception of the par- ior medical manager and hos- share partner Qantas, Emir- from Dubai, with fl ights to shopping needs. The full-day workshop ca- performed a ‘live edit’ where ticipants throughout the work- pital research offi cer at Hamad ates off ers services to Sin- Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Redemptions can be made tered to researchers who are they dissected and examined an shop, saying: “The participants General Hospital, came to the gapore twice daily from Adelaide and Sydney. The ad- following Nojoom’s redemption beginning to publish their work abstract to the group. were keen to get the most out workshop in the hope to further Brisbane. dition of this service will bring channels by logging into their in scientifi c journals. It focused Dr Pep Pàmies, chief editor at of the day and kept (Dr Pep Pà- her skills in writing research The news comes as Emir- this number, including Qantas account at www.ooredoo.qa/ on the writing process and Nature Biomedical Engineering, mies) and I ‘on our toes’ by ask- papers and to gain the knowl- ates announced it would be operated fl ights, to 98 fl ights a nojoom or by downloading the what to include in each section and Dr Alison Stoddart, chief ing some insightful questions edge and skills to apply to her upgauging its third daily serv- week to Australia from Dubai. Ooredoo app. of the paper whereby partici- editor at Nature Reviews Mate- and making useful comments.” responsibilities at work. Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 13 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD

Workers’ hospitals in Industrial Area, Shamal and Mesaieed

hospital will be opened Mohamed, head of Occupa- shortly in the Industrial tional Health Dr Mohamed Ali AArea to cater to the grow- al-Hajjaj, assistant director at ing health requirements of the the MADLSA Jaber al-Marri, Lt country’s migrant workers, Dr Fahad Mohamed al-Sulaiti from Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al- the Directorate of Traffi c, Lt Fa- Thani, director of Public Health dhik al-Saudi from Community at the Ministry of Public Health, Policing, Lt Khamis al-Murakhi has said. from the Human Rights Depart- Speaking at the International ment, deputy chief of the Indian Labour Day celebrations organ- mission R K Singh and QNB’s ised by the Indian embassy and Abdulla Arbabi . A garba dance at the event. Indian Community Benevolent While terming the Indians as a Forum (ICBF) at Asian Town “very friendly group”, Dr Sheikh on Friday, the top health of- Mohamed recalled his long as- fi cial hoped the new hospital sociation with the expatriate would enhance medical access Dignitaries and officials during the event at Asian Town on Friday. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam community and recalled their to foreign workers in the com- contribution for the develop- ing years. At the meeting, representa- another sponsor in the country. large numbers to attend the In- ment of Qatar over the last sev- Dr Sheikh Mohamed also tives of various departments of Similarly, an MoI offi cial in- ternational Labour Day celebra- eral decades. informed that similar medi- the Ministry of Interior (MoI) formed the gathering about the tions. The offi cial also said Indians cal facilities would be estab- and Ministry of Administrative provisions in the country’s law One of the highlights of the were “very hardworking and lished both in the northern and Development, Labour and So- that prohibits employers from meeting was the participation disciplined people,” who have southern areas of the country, cial Aff airs (MADLSA) were also keeping the passports of their of many senior Qatari offi cials, all along respected the laws of A view of the large gathering at the programme. in Madinat Al Shamal and Me- present. employees. The penalty for the representing various ministries. the land and loved Qatar as their saieed, respectively. This is be- A MADLSA offi cial said work- illegal retention of passport is Indian ambassador P Kumaran own country. the public meeting. A number lathur thanked QNB for the lib- ing done as a large number of ers who completed two years now up to QR25,000. was the chief guest and chaired A colourful cultural fi esta, of individuals and forums enter- eral fi nancial assistance. He also workers are currently staying in with their sponsor would have Many Indian and other South the meeting. featuring a host of musical tained the audience. praised Doha Bank and others for these places. no problem returning to work for Asian expatriates turned up in The guests included Dr Sheikh shows and folk dances followed ICBF president Davis Edaka- their sponsorship. Govt in deal with rebels to evacuate AFP Some had wanted to go to Damascus Eastern Ghouta, an opposi- tion stronghold outside Da- mascus city, instead of Idlib yria’s government has province, a rebel-held area reached a deal with in northwest Syria. Srebels in the Qabun Earlier yesterday, govern- neighbourhood of Damas- ment forces had advanced cus for the evacuation of inside Qabun, expanding opposition fi ghters, Syrian their control to 80% of the state media and a monitor district, the Britain-based said yesterday. Observatory said. The deal comes after The Qabun agreement similar evacuations from comes after similar deals neighbouring rebel-held Da- to evacuate neighbouring mascus districts and a gov- Barzeh and Tishrin districts. ernment advance in Qabun. On Friday, upwards of “Military operations 1,200 people, more than halted in Qabun district half of them rebels, left this afternoon after the or- Barzeh and Tishrin for Idlib. ganisations announced their The evacuation of Barzeh acceptance of a deal and the began on Monday and con- departure of their remaining tinued Friday, when depar- members from the neigh- tures from Tishrin began bourhood,” state news agen- after an agreement was cy SANA reported yesterday. reached. The Syrian Observatory The evacuations are the for Human Rights monitor latest in a string of simi- also reported that rebels lar deals between the gov- in the district had agreed a ernment and rebels under deal to evacuate, but said it which opposition fi ghters was not yet clear where the are granted safe passage in fi ghters would go. exchange for surrendering. Earlier talks on a deal to The government touts allow the regime to retake the deals as the best way to the neighbourhood in ex- end the six-year war, but change for safe passage of rebels say they are forced opposition fi ghters faltered into the agreements by re- over the rebels’ destination. gime fi re and siege.

Minority leader backs Rouhani

AFP Tehran

leading fi gure of Iran’s minority Sun- Anis endorsed moder- ate President Hassan Rou- hani yesterday ahead of this week’s election, despite the Iranian President and government’s “shortcom- presidential candidate ings”. Hassan Rouhani, along with Religious leader Molavi current vice-president and Abdol Hamid said “the at- presidential candidate Eshaq mosphere for Sunnis has Jahangiri (right), attend a been a little more relaxed” campaign rally in Tehran. since Rouhani took power in 2013, and that most would ment, despite its problems support him in Friday’s and weaknesses, has had election. more strong points, and we Abdol Hamid repeated hope if the current govern- calls for greater Sunni rep- ment takes offi ce again, it resentation in local and na- will do more to resolve those tional government. problems and shortcom- “The Sunni community ings,” he said in comments believes that this govern- carried by his website.

DEFENCE US nears $100bn arms deal for Saudi The United States is close to completing a series of arms deals for Saudi Arabia totalling more than $100bn, a senior White House off icial said, a week ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Riyadh. The off icial, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the arms package could end up surpassing more than $300bn over a decade to help Saudi Arabia boost its defensive capabilities. “We are in the final stages of a series of deals,” the off icial said. The package is be- ing developed to coincide with Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia. Trump leaves for the kingdom on May 19, the first stop on his maiden international trip. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, May 14, 2017 ARAB WORLD 17 mummies discovered in central Egypt

AFP Touna el-Gabal

gyptian archaeologists have discovered 17 mum- Emies in desert catacombs in Minya province, an “unprec- edented” fi nd for the area south of Cairo, the antiquities ministry announced yesterday. Archaeologists found the non-royal mummies in a series of corridors after following the trail of burial shafts in the Tou- na-Gabal district of the central Egyptian province, the ministry said in a statement. Along with the mummies, they found a golden sheet and two papyri in Demotic — an an- cient Egyptian script — as well as a number of sarcophogi made of limestone and clay. There were also animal and Journalists gather outside catacombs in the Touna el-Gabal district bird coffi ns, the ministry said. of the Minya province, in central Egypt, where archaeologists But the mummies have not yet discovered non-royal mummies. Mummies lying in catacombs following their discovery in the Touna el-Gabal district of the Minya province, in central Egypt. been dated. The ministry said they be- Ptolemy. The discovery of the found in central Egypt with so animal cemetery. “The discovery reporters to the southern city of series of militant attacks. “An- monument of the Seven Wonders longed to the Late Period, which non-royal mummies is consid- many mummies”. is still at its beginning,” Antiqui- Luxor to unveil eight mummies tiquities are the soft power that of the Ancient World — and its spanned almost 300 years up to ered unprecedented because it It could herald even more dis- ties Minister Khaled al-Enany discovered in a 3,500-year-old distinguishes Egypt,” Enany ancient pharaonic temples and Alexander the Great’s conquest is the fi rst such fi nd in the area, coveries in the area, he said. told reporters. tomb belonging to a nobleman. said. “News of antiquities are the relics. of Egypt in 332 BC. offi cials said at the site. The discovery was “impor- It was the second discovery of For the cash-strapped Egyp- things that attract the world to But a popular uprising in 2011 But a spokeswoman said they Egyptologist Salah al-Kholi tant, unprecedented,” Mohamed mummies announced with much tian government, the discover- Egypt.” that overthrew veteran strong- could also date from the Ptole- told a news conference held near Hamza, director of excavations fanfare by the government in less ies are a boon from the country’s Millions of tourists visited man Hosni Mubarak ushered in maic Dynasty, founded by Al- the desert site that the discovery for Cairo University said. than a month. glorious past as it struggles to Egypt every year to see its Giza years of unrest that battered the exander the Great’s general was “the fi rst human necropolis The site is close to an ancient In April, the ministry invited attract tourists scared off by a Pyramids — the only surviving economy and drove away tourists. Jordanian shot dead Palestinians vote in West Bank polls after stabbing offi cer AFP has a say” but also that those part in a democratic event”. Ramallah elected “assume the responsi- The Palestinian high court AFP full name as Mohamed Abdullah bility given to them”, said Rami ruled in October that the mu- Jerusalem Salim al-Kassaji. Nazal, a UN employee who vot- nicipal elections should be “The Israeli government, alestinians in the occu- ed in Ramallah, the seat of the held only in the West Bank which is the occupying force, pied West Bank voted in Palestinian Authority. because the judiciary in Gaza Jordanian man stabbed bears responsibility for the Pmunicipal elections yes- Samir Beshari, a mechanic did not have the necessary and wounded an Israeli shooting of a Jordanian citizen in terday. leaning on a walking stick as he “guarantees” in place — a de- Aoffi cer in annexed east Je- occupied east Jerusalem which The West Bank and Gaza have exited a polling station in cen- cision denounced by Hamas as rusalem yesterday before being led to his martyrdom,” govern- not participated in an election tral Ramallah, said his choice “political”. Subsequent efforts shot dead, police said. ment spokesman Mohamed together since 2006, when Ha- “wasn’t just political”, as above to hold the polls in both ter- The officer was taken to Momani said in a statement. mas swept Palestinian parlia- all he believed “the winners ritories simultaneously were hospital with “moderate” in- “The government denounces mentary polls. should look after the city and all unsuccessful as the two par- juries after the attack in the this heinous crime... and has Voting for around 300 mu- its inhabitants”. ties failed to bridge their dif- walled Old City, police spokes- asked Israel to provide full de- nicipal councils opened at More than a million Pal- ferences. woman Luba Samri said in a tails about it,” he added. 7:00am (0400 GMT) at doz- estinians were registered to Palestinian Prime Minister statement. A wave of unrest that broke ens of schools across the West choose from among 4,400 Rami Hamdallah accused Ha- Police identifi ed the assailant out in October 2015 has claimed Bank, which has been occupied candidates in a vote that was mas yesterday of sole respon- as Mohamed Skaji, a 57-year- the lives of 263 Palestinians, 41 by Israel for half a century. seen as yet another sign that sibility for blocking the elec- old Jordanian who the statement Israelis, two Americans, two Hanna Nasser, chairman of reconciliation may be a long tion in Gaza where he said it said had “entered Israel a few Jordanians, an Eritrean, a the Palestinian election com- way off. maintains a rival government days ago”. Sudanese and a Briton, accord- mission, said many of the con- Even so, “municipal elec- that supports “separation”. They said he brandished a ing to an AFP count. tenders were from Fatah, while tions are better than noth- Abbas, whose term was knife and stabbed the policeman Most of the Palestinians killed in some villages “clans and ing” in a country where “the meant to end in 2009 but who in one of the alleys of the Old were carrying out knife, gun or families” had decided on the situation is unlike anywhere has remained in office, re- City before the wounded offi cer, car-ramming attacks, the Israeli candidate lists. else in the world”, said Zina mains their leader in the eyes who had just come off duty, shot authorities say. Hamas did not present any Masri, who voted before going of the world. him dead. Others were shot dead during candidate lists of its own, say- A Palestinian woman casts her ballot during the municipal elections in to work. He met US President Don- Two Israeli passers-by tried protests or clashes, while some ing the vote would only add to the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. Amjad Mustafa, the man- ald Trump in Washington on to help the policeman, police were killed in Israeli air strikes divisions. ager of a software shop in his May 4 and is expected to do added. The Jordanian govern- on the Gaza Strip. Polls were due to close at Fatah and unaffi liated candi- they did in 2012 polls boycotted thirties, said the vote was “an so again when Trump travels ment denounced the “crime” of The violence has subsided in 7:00pm and fi nal results are ex- dates close to Abbas were ex- by Hamas. event not to be missed” after to the Middle East later this the death of its citizen, giving his recent months. pected today. pected to win the most seats, as “It’s important that everyone “a long time since we last took month. Red carpet for Gaza fi lm festival minus the stars

AFP tinian director Raed Andoni’s Gaza City Ghost Hunting, winner of best documentary at the Berlin In- ternational Film Festival earlier aza doesn’t have much this year. space for cultural events It focuses on Israeli prison in- G— there is no proper cin- terrogation techniques and its ema in the entire enclave — but screening came with hundreds this weekend the city’s port has of Palestinians in Israeli jails on been transformed into a venue hunger strike for nearly a month for outdoor screenings. in protest over their conditions. The Red Carpet Festival show- This year also marks the 100th cases fi lms focusing on human anniversary of the Balfour Dec- rights issues and aims to provide laration, the letter in which the Palestinians, many of them un- British government committed employed, with a rare opportu- itself to the establishment of a nity to explore their dreams, or Jewish national home in Pales- at least practise a little escapism. tine. Festival spokesman Saad True to its name, the festi- Abu Ramadan said that the red val’s organisers have laid out a carpet was 100 metres long to 100-metre long red carpet. commemorate the anniversary But there are no celebrities, A Palestinian leads a donkey-kart on the red carpet during a film festival and that parts of the text had it’s for the thousands of ordinary showcasing films focusing on human rights, in Gaza City.been inscribed on it. Palestinians walk on the red carpet during a film festival showcasing films focusing on human rights, in Gaza City. Gazans turning out to watch the Palestinians despise the doc- fi lms. show that there is an alternative devastated Gaza since 2008. ument, saying it gave away their been under Israeli blockade for side world. Instead of the “stere- ian refugee who has been living “The children and poor peo- to the catwalks and glamour of This year for the fi rst time, all independence. “People walked a decade.“There is no cinema in otype” of violence and destruc- in Gaza for four years, attended a ple are walking on the carpet,” its French counterpart, Saworki of the festival’s entries are be- on the carpet and trampled on Gaza,” she said. “I watch fi lms at tion, it showed that “in Gaza screening with his wife. organiser Saad al-Saworki said said. ing screened simultaneously in (British foreign minister Arthur) the festival because of the block- young people have creativity and “We, as Syrian refugees, share proudly at Friday’s opening The maiden event was or- Ramallah in the West Bank and Balfour’s promise,” Abu Ram- ade and the closed borders, the love of life.” the pain of the Palestinian refu- night. “They are far more impor- ganised by Palestinian director in the Israeli city of Haifa. adan said. unemployment and the electric- “Our message to the Pales- gees,” he said. tant than the carpet.” Khalil al-Muzain in 2015 in the Around 40 fi lms by Palestin- Tamara Matar, a 21-year-old ity crisis we have to endure.” tinian leadership in Gaza and Mohamed, 27, walked down The festival, which is in its rubble of homes destroyed by ian and foreign directors are be- law student, said the festival Youth activist Asad al-Safta- the West Bank — we want free- the red carpet with his sick fa- third year, coincides with the the Israeli army in the most re- ing screened over fi ve days. gave her a chance to “feel free” wi, 25, said the festival helped dom, we want a cinema in Gaza,” ther in a wheelchair. “I want to Cannes Film Festival and aims to cent of the three wars that have The opening fi lm was Pales- in the tiny enclave which has change Gaza’s image in the out- Saftawi said. Rif Kassem, a Syr- feel like I am at Cannes,” he said. Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 15 AFRICA

Born free! Mutinous soldiers cut off Bouake Reuters fi red into air to disperse a group them former rebels who helped Abidjan of residents that had gathered bring President Alassane Ouat- to protest against the uprising, tara to power — bonuses of 5mn sending people fl eeing home. CFA francs ($8,371) each as part utinous soldiers in Shops were shuttered and the of a deal to end the January mu- Ivory Coast yester- streets were largely empty. tiny. Mday shot two people “We do not want to negoti- On Thursday, following a and cut off access to the second ate with anyone,” said Sergeant meeting with authorities in largest city, Bouake, as a na- Seydou Kone, one of the lead- Abidjan, a spokesman for the tionwide revolt over demands ers of the uprising, speaking by group said they would forego for bonus payments extended phone from Bouake. “We’re also demands for remaining bonus- into a second day despite gov- ready to fi ght if we are attacked. es of 7mn francs. ernment warnings of harsh We have nothing to lose.” But that decision was reject- A rhino and its calf walk through the grass of Nairobi National Park in Kenya. punishment. In a statement on state tel- ed by some of the soldiers. The revolt began in Bouake on evision late on Friday, Chief “We want our 7mn and that’s Friday before spreading quickly, of Staff General Sekou Toure it,” said Kone. following a similar pattern to threatened the soldiers with Bouake residents said shops a mutiny by the same group in severe disciplinary sanctions if remained closed as soldiers January that paralysed parts of they did not end the revolt. fi red weapons in the air and pa- Ivory Coast and marred its im- Ivory Coast’s defence minis- trolled the streets in cars. age as a post-war success story. ter and government spokesman Mutineers also took control Mutineers seized control of were not reachable for com- of the northern city of Odienne Boko Haram ‘commander’ the national military headquar- ment yesterday. and there was sporadic gunfi re ters and defence ministry in the The soldiers were promised in Daloa, the main cocoa grow- centre of the commercial capi- bonus payments by the govern- ing hub in southwestern Ivory tal Abidjan on Friday. ment after the January mutiny Coast, which is the world’s top They stepped up the pressure but it has struggled to disburse producer of the chocolate in- threatens to bomb Abuja yesterday, blocking roads out of the money following a budget gredient. Bouake, the epicentre of Janu- crunch caused by the collapse in Kone said the mutineers were DPA are sitting in Sambisa Forest, a Boko One of the girls says they were in north-eastern Borno state, the ary’s uprising, and protesting in the price of cocoa, Ivory Coast’s also active in Man near the Lagos Haram stronghold from where the not forced to marry Boko Haram National Emergency Manage- several other locations, includ- main export. western border with Liberia, army has claimed to have ejected fi ghters, and calls on her par- ment Agency said. ing the northern city of Korhogo, Ivory Coast has emerged as and Bondoukou in the east. the radical Islamist group. ents to join her so they can go to Two of them, who were be- where two men on a motorcycle one of the world’s fastest grow- “Perhaps the government man presenting himself as “In the coming days you will heaven. lieved to be male, were intercept- were shot as they tried to force ing economies following a dec- is tired of this, but they must a Boko Haram commander receive bombs in Abuja, by the “Whether you like it or not, ed by security guards. their way through a roadblock ade-long political crisis ended sit down and talk,” said retired Ahas threatened to bomb grace of God,” the man says. the religion of God will grow. If They then detonated their ex- manned by the mutineers. by a 2011 civil war. gendarme Valentin Sokoure, the Nigerian capital Abuja on a He also says the government you refuse, you can die with your plosives, killing themselves and “They shot at them. They were But deep divisions persist, speaking near the military video seen by DPA. released more than fi ve Boko sorrows,” she says. one of the guards. wounded and transported to the particularly in a military as- headquarters in Abidjan where The video was posted on Haram commanders in exchange The army dismissed the two The third, female bomber de- hospital,” said witness Amadou sembled from former rebel and the barricades had been re- YouTube yesterday by the news for 82 girls who were freed a week videos as propaganda and asked stroyed the wall of a church on Yeo, adding that the two men had loyalist combatants. moved yesterday morning. “I outlet Sahara Reporters, which ago after more than three years that the threats be disregarded. the university premises in an ex- been shot in the legs. The government has already just want the government to said it had been obtained by jour- in captivity. They were among “The terrorists have lost touch plosion which killed her. Also in Korhogo, soldiers paid 8,400 soldiers — most of negotiate with the mutineers.” nalist Ahmad Salkida. about 270 kidnapped from a with current realities. It was Boko Haram, which has been The video, the authenticity school in the town of Chibok in aimed at seeking relevance and active in north-eastern Nigeria of which could not be verifi ed, April 2014. attention,” army spokesman Sani since 2009, wants to create a fun- AU chief: Addressing climate change could be key to peace shows fi ve men dressed in mili- On another video obtained by Usman said. damentalist state in the country, tary fatigue sitting in a clearing in Salkida and posted on the Sahara “We will not relent in our de- as well as in bordering regions of ackling climate change it is the continent that suff ers pia, Kenya and Somalia are at a forest. They clutch assault rifl es Reporters website, a male voice termined eff orts of clearing the Cameroon, Chad and Niger. in Africa could help re- most,” he said. risk of hunger due to recurring while one holds a pole carrying a presents four girls as some of the remnants of the Boko Haram ter- The group has kidnapped Tsolve multiple problems Mahamat, the former foreign droughts, the UN Food and Agri- black fl ag. Chibok girls who refused to re- rorists,” the statement said. thousands of other women and ravaging the continent, from minister of Chad, was chosen culture Organization (FAO) says. One of the men, whom Salkida turn to their parents. The girls are Three suicide bombers mean- children in recent years, forcing drought to refugees and vio- to chair the 55-member, Addis Eastern and southern Af- on Twitter identifi ed as com- covered with full-length black while attempted to gain entry them into sexual slavery or into lence, the head of the African Ababa-based organisation in rica were particularly hard hit mander Shuaibu Moni, says they veils and carry assault rifl es. into the University of Maiduguri marriages with its fi ghters. Union has said. January. in 2016 by the El Nino weather The mix of global warming In Africa’s arid Sahel region, pattern that brought cata- with economic woes and political south of the Sahara, he said, strophic heavy rainfall, fl ash confl icts keeps peace from taking drought and desertifi caiton, fl ooding and landslides. hold, said Moussa Faki Mahamat, along with a very young popu- “We want to solve the dilem- the Union’s new chairman, at lation prone to immigrate allow ma, the irony of the situation in Congo fi nds 2 Ebola cases 19 die in Kenya Chatham House, an internation- problems such as terrorism and the sense that we have a conti- al think tank in London. traffi cking to “thrive.” nent that is potentially rich and “There is a link between cli- Yet Africa’s huge youth pop- yet people are very poor,” Ma- Reuters and a moto-taxi driver who transported road accident mate change and prosperity, as ulation could provide a “demo- hamat said. Kinshasa the patient to the health care facility,” it well as peace, on the continent,” graphic dividend” benefi ting “Africa has not been able to said, adding that the taxi driver had died. Mahamat said in French with an the region, so long as young create and realise the prosper- In addition, two more people in the AFP interpreter. people could be encouraged not ity that it was looking for, and ealth experts have identifi ed two area have been identifi ed as suspected Nairobi “Africa is among the least to leave, he said. above all Africa is marginalised more suspected cases of Ebola in cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the to- polluting continents, and yet About 12mn people in Ethio- on the international fi eld.” HDemocratic Republic of Congo, tal number of cases to 11, WHO’s Congo a day after the government declared an spokesman Eugene Kabambi told Reuters. t least 19 people were killed in a crash be- outbreak of the disease that has killed one Three of them have died of fever. tween a bus and two trucks early yesterday man, the UN health agency said yesterday. The worst outbreak of Ebola killed more Ain Kenya, police said. The accident comes Government and World Health Organi- than 11,300 people in the West African just weeks after another collision killed dozens in Green thumb! zation (WHO) offi cials reached a remote countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Li- Kenya, which has notoriously dangerous roads. Entrepreneur area of Bas-Uele province in northeastern beria and infected more than 28,000. “We had a bad accident this morning where and farmer Congo near the border with Central Afri- It peaked in late 2014 causing global we lost 18 people on the spot,” police com- Kofoworola can Republic on Saturday for a fi eld inves- alarm but active virus transmission ended mander Hassan Barua told journalists at the Durosimi-Etti tigation, WHO said. last year. scene. Another passenger died in hospital. (right) works in her Experts say to prevent the spread of the The latest Ebola outbreak is Congo’s Police said the bus hit two trucks while try- greenhouse farm virus they must quickly track down, test, eighth, the most of any country. ing to overtake in the village of Gilgil, around in Ikorodu on the isolate and treat suspected cases. The deadly hemorrhagic fever was fi rst 120km northwest of Nairobi. outskirt of Nigeria’s They also need to protect health work- detected in its dense tropical forests in Several other people are still in hospital, in- commercial capital ers and educate the population about hy- 1976 and named after the nearby river cluding the drivers of the trucks involved in the Lagos. giene measures. Ebola. accident, police said. “The fi rst case and possibly the index That experience helped Congolese au- Kenyan police estimate around 3,000 peo- case, a 39-year-old male, presented onset thorities respond eff ectively to an out- ple die each year on the country’s roads while of symptoms on April 22 and died on ar- break in 2014 that killed dozens of people. the World Health Organisation puts the fi gure rival at the health facility,” a WHO state- The GAVI global vaccine alliance said at four times that amount, at around 12,000 ment said. on Friday some 300,000 emergency doses deaths. “Two contacts of this case are being in- of an Ebola vaccine developed by Merck At least 26 people were killed in April in vestigated: a person who took care of him could be available in case of a large-scale head-on collision between a bus and a truck on during transport to the health care facility, outbreak and that it stood ready to support a highway between Nairobi and the country’s he has since developed similar symptoms, the Congo government on the matter. second-largest city Mombasa. Angola feels pressure of DR Congo refugees

By Daniel Garelo Pensador, no sign of abating. Patrice Ilunga And according to the UN, the thing behind, in the hands of the camps and are particularly vul- 1,000km between Luanda and will be able to successfully stem AFP managed to reach Mussungue unrest has forced more than a rebels,” he said. nerable to diarrhoea, fever and the aff ected region, the mission the fl ow — and even less capable Dundo, Angola with his children after four days million people out of their homes. And he’s now worried about malaria. has proved to be a logistical chal- of improving the situation on the of walking — exhausted, but alive. Last weekend, Angolan se- what the future might hold, on “We only have two doctors lenge. ground. “We fl ed under very tough curity forces evacuated 1,400 top of the hardship he has already here for more than 4,000 refu- “Here we only have two doc- “We have welcomed them undreds of people from conditions,” he said. Congolese from the border zone suff ered. “Angola is the closest gees,” said Francois Kamabo of tors from MSF Spain who were in to save their lives, but that’s all Democratic Republic of “The situation was so terri- — including several injured refu- safe place but we are here with the UN children’s fund, Unicef. Luanda for the yellow fever epi- that we are able to do. We need HCongo’s central Kasai ble that there were mothers who gees — who were taken to An- nothing,” he said. “Children die because of a lack demic,” said an MSF representa- the support of the international region have been pouring into were sending their children alone golan camps, the UN’s refugee Refugees have been arriving in of medication or food, the hy- tive. community,” said a local offi cial, neighbouring Angola every day in boats in the hope that the An- agency (UNHCR) said. Mussungue exhausted by days of giene conditions are very bad,” “We came here to help but speaking on condition of ano- for more than a month to escape golans would save them.” To escape the atrocities, walking, hungry and often with he said, adding that as many as 12 we don’t have our kit. We’ve re- nymity. violence plaguing their homes. Since last August, the prov- Michael Manguvu said he had no injuries. people are often forced to share a quested help but it’s slow com- “We don’t have any medicine, Some 20,000 people who have inces at the heart of Congo have choice but to fl ee with his entire The fi rst refugees to cross single kilo of rice. ing,” he said. no food, no clothing, nothing at fl ed are now in or around three been engulfed by clashes follow- family in the hope of reaching the border found shelter in di- UNHCR, MSF (Doctors With- Earlier this month, two planes all,” said Claude Mavuya, 34, one holding camps in Dundo in An- ing an uprising by those loyal to Congo’s oil-rich southern neigh- lapidated buildings, while others out Borders) and others have chartered by UNHCR delivered of the refugees in the Mussungue gola’s far north, living in increas- Kamwina Nsapu, a local chief bour. stay under plastic sheeting — and scrambled teams from the Angolan emergency items including blan- camp. ingly dire conditions, according who was killed by security forces. “It was not easy to leave. It was some sleep in the open air. capital Luanda to the area of the kets, mosquito nets and humani- “If the Angolan government to the UN. The violence has already the country where we had our Children make up more than camps to help the new arrivals. tarian rations to Luanda. can’t welcome us, then foreign And the fl ow of refugees shows claimed hundreds of lives. family, but we had to leave every- one third of the migrants in the But with a distance of some It seems unlikely that Angola aid must be mobilised.” Gulf Times 16 Sunday, May 14, 2017 AMERICA

LEGAL UMBRELLA SQUARE CRIME EMPLOYMENT AFTER DARK Engineer in Amtrak crash Four shot dead at Ohio Microsoft re-releases charged with manslaughter nursing home security update

The engineer in a deadly 2015 Amtrak train A police chief in a Ohio town, on the job for just Microsoft has re-released security updates crash in Philadelphia has been charged with three weeks, was among four people fatally for older versions of its Windows platforms to involuntary manslaughter, Pennsylvania shot on Friday morning at a nursing home, counter cyber attacks. In a blog post, the US tech Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a off icials said. Steven Eric Disario, 36, was killed giant recalled that it had published an update statement on Friday, even though local after responding to a shooting in Kirkersville, in March to address the weakness exploited prosecutors had cleared the engineer of criminal Ohio. Disario was shot after seeing the shooter in Friday’s attacks. “Those who have Windows wrongdoing earlier in the week. In addition who was holding two people hostage behind Update enabled are protected against attacks on to eight counts of involuntary manslaughter, the nursing home. The hostages ran when the this vulnerability,” the company said. “For those former Amtrak engineer Brandon Bostian shooter fired and they were not harmed. Local organisations who have not we suggest you was charged with one count of causing or media, citing law enforcement off icials, reported immediately deploy Microsoft Security Bulletin A Lights Out concert at The Knitting Factory risking a catastrophe and numerous counts of that two female nursing home employees and MS17-010.” The so-called “Wannacry” virus in Brooklyn New York. Lights Out wants to be reckless endangerment, according to Shapiro’s People walk in the rain at Times Square, New the shooter were later found dead inside the notably attacks Windows XP, which in principle a sensory experience by cutting out the visual statement. York yesterday. facility by other off icers. has not been supported by Microsoft since 2014. sense to bring all the focus back to the sound.

Immigrant leaves First lady at military event church with stay of deportation

Reuters not to immigrants in general. Denver The acting director of Immi- gration and Customs Enforce- ment (ICE), Thomas Homan, Mexican mother of notifi ed Congress last week four who moved into his agency would stop grant- Aa Denver church three ing stays of deportation in re- months ago to dodge depor- sponse to lawmakers’ private tation left her sanctuary on bills. Friday because immigration Instead, the agency would offi cials promised she could only honour such requests remain in the United States for from certain key congressional two years. committee leaders. Jeanette Vizguerra, who Thirty immigrants named came to the United States 20 in private bills before ICE’s re- years ago without authori- vised policy went into eff ect on sation and worked as janitor May 5 were “grandfathered” before owning a moving com- in, including Vizguerra, who pany, was named by Time mag- received a stay of deportation azine as one of the 100 most until March 15, 2019, ICE said infl uential people of 2017 last in a statement. month after she sought refuge Vizguerra received fi ve pre- at a church. vious stays because she was She also has been an advo- the victim of an unspecifi ed cate for immigrants. violent crime and has a pend- “It’s a special day for me be- ing visa application, according cause I will be able to celebrate to the law fi rm representing Mother’s Day (on Sunday) with her. She was convicted of two my children and my grandchil- misdemeanours — using falsi- dren,” Vizguerra, 45, said in fi ed documents and illegally Spanish at a news conference re-entering the United States First lady Melania Trump applauds the United States Army Chorus during a “celebration of military mothers” event at the White House in Washington. after leaving the First Baptist after her mother’s funeral in Church. Mexico. Three of Vizguerra’s chil- Immigration offi cials re- dren were born in the United jected Vizguerra’s request for States. a stay of deportation on Febru- Her oldest daughter, a Mexi- ary 15 and that day she moved can national, is an adult who into First Unitarian Society lives in the United States with church. a work permit under Deferred When it underwent renova- Action for Childhood Arrivals tion, supporters shuttled her to (DACA), a federal programme First Baptist. for illegal immigrants who en- Representative Jared Polis in Fast decision on new tered the country as children. a statement said he was grate- Senator Michael Bennet of ful Vizguerra will be “aff orded Colorado introduced legisla- more time in the US” but he tion in March seeking to shield criticised ICE for scaling back Vizguerra from deportation. its compliance with private It was a so-called “private bills on behalf of individual bill” applying only to her and immigrants. FBI director: Trump President Trump appears set to make a Cornyn, the number two Republican in rapid selection for a new chief the Senate, served as Texas attorney gen- eral before his election to the Senate in Plaint against VW AFP 2002. Garcia served as assistant secretary Washington for Immigration and Customs Enforce- ment and US attorney under former presi- over practices at plant dent George W Bush. resident Donald Trump said yester- Fisher headed the Justice Department’s day he would act quickly to appoint criminal division, also under Bush. Other Reuters resent only a portion of the Pa new FBI director following his candidates include former New York po- Detroit plant’s workers after it nar- controversial dismissal earlier this week of lice commissioner Raymond Kelly, former rowly lost a February 2014 James Comey — a move that was still re- Republican senator Kelly Ayotte, and election to represent all hourly verberating around Washington. South Carolina Congressman Trey Gowdy, he US National Labor workers at the plant. Trump’s administration — embroiled in a former federal prosecutor who headed Relations Board has fi led The NLRB complaint states a deepening crisis over the sacking and its the Benghazi investigation in the House. Tan unfair labour practic- that issues like working hours shifting explanation of events — is inter- Trump’s nominee must be confi rmed es complaint against Volkswa- and conditions of employment viewing the fi rst candidates for the post, in the Senate, where Democrats and gen AG for hiking health insur- are “mandatory subjects for US media reported. some Republicans have fi ercely criticised ance premiums and changing the purposes of collective bar- “We can make a fast decision,” Trump Comey’s fi ring, which came on Tuesday. working hours of a group of gaining”. told reporters aboard Air Force One before FBI directors are appointed for a 10-year skilled workers who voted for In an e-mailed statement, fl ying to southern Virginia, where he de- California police motorcycles with rifle mounts are seen outside the White House. term. union representation in 2015. VW spokesman Scott Wilson livered his fi rst commencement address as The president is reported to have asked The complaint is part of a said: “We fundamentally disa- president at Liberty University, an evan- Yesterday, Attorney General Jeff Ses- closely scrutinised as Trump faces an ava- Comey whether he could be loyal to him lengthy battle over the NLRB’s gree with the decision to sepa- gelical Christian school. sions and his deputy Rod Rosenstein were lanche of criticism for fi ring Comey, the during a dinner meeting in February recognition of the vote by rate” the skilled workers from The White House has provided no interviewing acting FBI director Andrew man in charge of a criminal probe into his shortly after his inauguration. roughly 160 skilled workers the rest and “will continue our set timeline for the process of replacing McCabe, Texas Senator John Cornyn, campaign’s possible ties to Russia. Comey promised only that he could be at VW’s Chattanooga plant in eff ort to allow everyone to vote Comey. former federal prosecutor Michael Garcia The 49-year-old McCabe, a career FBI honest, The New York Times reported. Tennessee to be represented as one group on the matter of Asked if the decision or an announce- and former assistant attorney general Al- agent, has taken part in a number of high- Trump denied that account in a Fox News by the United Auto Workers union representation”. ment could take place before he leaves for ice Fisher, The New York Times reported, profi le investigations, including probes interview on Friday. union. In an affi davit provide by the Saudi Arabia, Trump said: “Even that is citing a source familiar with the meetings. into the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 Addressing the graduating students at The German automaker has UAW, a worker at the plant said possible. I think the process is going to go They may also speak to at least one more and the attacks against US installations in Liberty University yesterday, Trump ap- argued against allowing a small that the company has “refused quickly.” candidate: Adam Lee, who heads the FBI’s Benghazi, Libya in 2012. peared to defend his leadership, saying group within the plant to have to bargain with the Union “They’ve been vetted over their lifetime, offi ce in Richmond, Virginia, according to McCabe contradicted Trump this week, that doing “what is right” requires a will- union representation, main- over” the changes. essentially,” he said of the candidates, de- Fox News. telling lawmakers that Comey enjoyed ingness to “face criticism from those who taining that all 1,500 hourly The UAW has never been scribing them as “very well-known, highly They are among a dozen candidates be- widespread support among the FBI’s rank lack the same courage”. workers should be treated as able to win an organising vote respected, really talented people,” before ing considered for the job. and fi le, and that the probe into alleged “Nothing is easier or more pathetic than one unit. at a foreign-owned auto as- adding: “And that’s what we want for the The choice of a new FBI director seen as Russian meddling in the election was a being a critic,” he said, “because they are The union sought to rep- sembly plant in the US south. FBI.” independent from the White House will be “highly signifi cant investigation”. people that can’t get the job done”.

Accident at plutonium-handling facility puts focus on ageing nuclear facilities

Reuters you wait to deal with this problem, the more dan- In 2016, Frank Klotz, head of the National Nu- 300 shuttered, contaminated and deteriorating rounded by homes and businesses near California’s Seattle gerous it becomes,” said Alvarez, a senior scholar at clear Security Administration, an Energy Depart- sites. Six years later it found that fewer than 60 had Bay Area. the Institute for Policy Studies, where he focuses ment agency overseeing maintenance of nuclear been cleaned up. Problems have also been identifi ed at active fa- on nuclear energy and disarmament. warheads, warned Congress about risks posed by A 2015 Energy Department audit said delays in cilities including the Savannah River Site, a nuclear he collapse of a tunnel used to store radioac- No radiation was released during Tuesday’s ageing facilities. Decontaminating and demolish- cleaning contaminated facilities “expose the De- reservation in South Carolina. tive waste at one of the most contaminated incident at a plutonium-handling facility in the ing the Energy Department’s shuttered facilities partment, its employees and the public to ever- A 2015 report by the Defence Nuclear Facilities TUS nuclear sites has raised concerns among Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state, will cost $32bn, it said in a 2016 report. It also noted increasing levels of risk.” Safety Board found “severe” erosion in concrete watchdog groups and others who study the coun- but thousands of workers were ordered to take cov- a $6bn maintenance backlog. In the 1940s the US Risks identifi ed at the sites included leaking walls of an exhaust tunnel used to prevent release try’s nuclear facilities because many are ageing and er and some were evacuated as a precaution. government built Hanford and other complexes to roofs carrying radioactivity into groundwater, roof of radioactive air. fraught with problems. The state of facilities in the US nuclear network produce plutonium and uranium for atomic bombs. collapses and electrical fi res that could release ra- A 2016 Energy Department audit of one of the “They’re fi ghting a losing battle to keep these has been detailed by the Department of Energy, “That was an era when the defence mission took dioactive particles. United States’ main uranium handling facilities, plants from falling apart,” said Robert Alvarez, a Government Accountability Offi ce and Defence priority over everything else,” said Edwin Lyman, a A 2014 Energy Department audit noted a high the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, former policy adviser at the US Department of En- Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. They have noted senior scientist at the Union of Concerned Scien- risk of fi re and groundwater contamination at the Tennessee, warned that “intense precipitation or ergy who was charged with making an inventory of eroding walls, leaking roofs, and risks of electrical tists. “We’re dealing with the legacy of that.” shuttered Heavy Element Facility at Lawrence snow” could collapse parts its roof, possibly caus- nuclear sites under President Clinton. “The longer fi res and groundwater contamination. A 2009 Energy Department survey found nearly Livermore National Laboratory, which is sur- ing an accident involving radioactivity. Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 17 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Asia assesses Surf’s up! ransomware cyber assault

Reuters An offi cial said it wasn’t yet encrypted data on the comput- Singapore clear whether the hospital, ers, demanding payments of which he declined to name, had $300 to $600 to restore access. been hit by the ransomware or Security researchers said they ome hospitals, schools some other malware. observed some victims paying and universities in Asia Two hospitals in Jakarta were via the digital currency bitcoin, Swere hit by a global cyber hit, according to Semuel Pan- though they did not know what attack which infected tens of gerapan, a director general at percentage had given in to the thousands of computers in Eu- Indonesia’s Communication extortionists. rope and the United States, but and Information Ministry. Offi cials in the Philippines offi cials and researchers said He said offi cials were at- and Singapore said there were the extent of any damage may tempting to localise the infect- no reports of breaches of criti- not yet be known. ed server to prevent the mal- cal infrastructure. China’s offi cial news agency ware from spreading. New Zealand and Australia Xinhua said secondary schools One of Vietnam’s leading an- reported no impact on any or- and universities were hit, but tivirus software companies said ganisations. did not say how many or iden- dozens of people had reported Two factors may account for tify them. infections. the limited reports of damage in Sun Yat-sen University said “This number may increase Asia. it received a large number of as people return to work next The worm began to spread in virus complaints on Friday, the week. A large number of com- Europe on Friday, by which time Surfers hold their sufboards during sunset at Kuta beach near Denpasar, on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali. Chinese fi nancial magazine puters will be turned back on it was already early evening in Caixin reported yesterday, cit- and may be targets,” said Vu many Asian countries. ing a notice circulated by the Ngoc Son, vice president of The worm spreads most effi - university’s IT department. Bkav Anti Malware. ciently through organisational William Saito, cyber security He declined to identify who networks, not home com- adviser to the Japanese cabinet had been infected. None were puters, said Vikram Thakur, and trade ministry, said some of customers of the company. principal research manager at the country’s institutions were Cyber extortionists tricked Symantec. N Korea says dialogue with aff ected but declined to elabo- victims into opening mali- That means offi cials will need rate. cious malware attachments to to wait until tomorrow, when South Korea’s Yonhap news spam e-mails that appeared to business resumes, to gauge the agency said one of Seoul’s uni- contain invoices, job off ers, se- impact on Japan, said Saito. versity hospitals had been af- curity warnings and other le- “In Japan, things could likely US under ‘right conditions’ fected. gitimate fi les. The ransomware emerge on Monday,” he said.

Reuters Japan favours Aegis Ashore over THAAD Korea but it would have to “cease Seoul all its illegal activities and ag- Japan is leaning towards choos- because they are not authorised gressive behaviour in the region.” ing the Aegis Ashore missile- to speak to media on the topic. “We have been clear over the More human bones recovered senior North Korean diplo- defence system over another An Aegis Ashore unit costs past twenty years that we seek mat who handles relations advanced system called Terminal about 70bn to 80bn yen ($618mn nothing but a stable and eco- Awith the United States said High Altitude Area Defence to $706mn), while a THAAD unit nomically prosperous Korean from sunken South Korean ferry yesterday that Pyongyang would (THAAD), government and ruling costs more than 100bn yen, the peninsula,” the spokesman said have dialogue with the US admin- party sources have said. sources said. in an email. istration if conditions were right, Faced with North Korea’s rapid Also, the introduction of Choe was in Norway for so- AFP “Bones were recovered today Sifting through silt and de- South Korea’s Yonhap news agen- missile and nuclear development, Aegis Ashore would help reduce called Track Two talks with Seoul from the fourth deck near the bris piled up inside the hull, cy reported. and its threats, Japan has been the burden of round-the-clock former US government offi cials, stern,” the maritime ministry workers have been retrieving Choe Son Hui, North Korea’s looking into introducing a new vigilance shouldered by Japanese according to Japanese media, the said in a statement. bones every day since Wednes- foreign ministry director general missile-defence layer — either warships equipped with the Aegis latest in a series of such meet- ore suspected human Forensic experts have sent day when suspected human for US aff airs, made the comment the THAAD or the Aegis Ashore, system, they said. ings. bones have been re- the bones for DNA tests, the bones were found inside the to reporters in Beijing as she was a land-based version of the Aegis The government will make a A source with knowledge of Mcovered from South statement added. The results wreck for the fi rst time. travelling home from Norway, system developed for war ships. final decision on the new system the latest meeting said at least Korea’s sunken Sewol ferry, of- will be known in a month. Last week, a diver combing the Yonhap said. Lockheed Martin Corp makes in coming months, after sending, one former US government offi - fi cials said yesterday, part of a One of the country’s worst- sea bed where the ferry had been “We’ll have dialogue if the both systems. possibly this month, an inspection cial took part but the US admin- search that began when the ship ever maritime disasters, the lying found a bone fragment be- conditions are there,” she told re- The government now favours team to Hawaii, where US forces istration was not involved. was salvaged in March. sinking of the Sewol dealt a lieved to be from a human shin. porters when asked if the North the Aegis Ashore system as it operate Aegis Ashore test facili- South Korea’s Moon, elected The 6,800-ton vessel sank crushing blow to now-ousted Investigations concluded was preparing to hold talks with comes with a wider coverage area, ties, they said. this week on a platform of a mod- off the country’s southwestern president Park Geun-Hye. the disaster was the result of the Trump administration, ac- which would mean fewer units Japan’s ruling Liberal Demo- erate approach to North Korea, coast three years ago, claim- Nine of the victims’ bodies numerous human factors, in- cording to Yonhap. needed to protect Japan, and it is cratic Party in March urged Prime has said he would be willing to ing more than 300 lives, mostly have yet to be recovered. cluding an illegal redesign, an When asked if North Korea was also cheaper, three government Minister Shinzo Abe’s government go to Pyongyang under the right high school students on an ex- Raising it in one piece was a overloaded cargo bay and inex- also getting ready to talk with the and two ruling party sources said. to consider acquiring the capabil- circumstances and said dialogue cursion. key demand of their families. perienced crew. new government in South Korea, The sources, who spoke this ity to hit enemy bases and to beef must be used in parallel with of liberal President Moon Jae-in, week, declined to be identified up missile defence. sanctions to resolve the problem Choe said: “We’ll see.” over North Korea’s weapons. The comments by Choe, North Korea has conducted who is a veteran member of the warned in an interview with Re- Trump later said he would be fi ve nuclear tests in defi ance of Shared wheels North’s team of nuclear negotia- uters in late April that a “major, “honoured” to meet the North’s UN and US sanctions and is also tors, came amid stepped up in- major confl ict” with the North leader, Kim Jong-un, under the developing long-range missiles ternational eff orts to press North was possible, but he would prefer right conditions. to deliver atomic weapons. Korea and ease tension over its a diplomatic outcome to the dis- A US State Department It says it needs such weapons pursuit of nuclear arms. pute over its nuclear and missile spokesman said the United States to defend itself against US ag- US President Donald Trump programmes. remains open to talks with North gression.

China provinces gear up for infrastructure investment as Xi pushes development hinese provinces are gear- frastructure investment abroad. within the province, mainly on Another senior offi cial from the ing up for more invest- While China’s outbound in- infrastructure. southern province of Guangxi, Cment in railways and ports vestment appears to be a key That includes a new $870mn bordering Vietnam, said yesterday at home to expand international focus of the new Silk Road ini- railway to connect China’s man- upgrading existing infrastructure trade in response to President tiative, some Chinese provinces ufacturing powerhouse Yiwu and to improve transportation speed Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt and seen as strategic to the plans said port city Ningbo, connecting the “in all directions” within China is Road initiative, government of- they are also ramping up infra- province’s sea ports with conti- a key focus for the province. fi cials said yesterday. structure investment. nental ports, said Li Xuezhong, “We can only play a bigger role Leaders from 29 countries will Offi cials from the Chinese director of the provincial offi ce in the Belt and Road initiative if attend the Belt and Road forum province of Zhejiang, an affl u- of the National Development and we do a good job in building trans- in Beijing today and tomorrow, an ent coastal province in eastern Reform Commission (NDRC). portation infrastructure to help event orchestrated to promote Xi’s China, said it is planning new “Once completed, that would (China’s) western region develop,” Children use an Ofo’s shared bike at a residential area for migrant workers in a village on the vision of expanding links between Belt and Road-related projects be very benefi cial for improv- Zhang Xiaoqin, vice governor of outskirts of Beijing. Asia, Africa and Europe under- worth 123bn yuan ($17.8bn), and ing the global logistic system,” Li Guangxi said at a separate briefi ng pinned by billions of dollars in in- about half of that would be spent said in a briefi ng. to the media. New Zealanders crave for seasonal feijoas fruit

Guardian News and Media fi es description, which is “rather and it is surprisingly versatile, name recognition — hence the New Zealand community in Aus- nearly 300 likes, 400 comments But the real measure of feijoas’ Wellington challenging” for Pole to Pole, appropriate in baking, confec- marketing copy. tralia as to where the green gold and more than 500 shares. — sorry, Zeijoas’ — success will the company “on a mission to tionery, chutney, smoothies, sal- Pole to Pole, based in New Zea- can be found is very good, and Todd Abrahams, the managing be whether they are embraced by promote NZ Feijoas around the ads and even alcohol. land’s Bay of Plenty region, ex- made more urgent by time pres- director of Pole to Pole and direc- people who did not grow up with o most New Zealanders, world”. In New Zealand, where they port Zeijoa-brand feijoas around sure: once ripe, they don’t last tor of the grower-owned Zeijoa them. imagining life without fei- They give it a go anyway, in a have been embraced with a zeal the world. long. brand formed in 2014, says Aus- Abrahams says there has been Tjoas is almost unthinkable. guide for growers to “marketing that obliterates their South Its target market is clear: New “There are feijoas on the tralia is a great market, despite a good response in Australia, Sin- Yes, this is marketing copy, but as your fruit”. American origins, they crop up in Zealand has one of the larg- ground on my ride to work in Syd- its “stringent” requirements on gapore and Malaysia and small with all the best marketing copy, “Many liken them to guavas or everything. est diasporas of any country in ney, yet to spy the tree,” tweeted imported fruits. shipments have been trialled in it is also true. quince, but their complex fl avour Mostly, though, they are eaten the world, with an estimated a friend, new to Australia, with a “There’s a lot of expat Kiwis the US and Japan. Pole to Pole is At this time of year, these also brings to mind strawberries like kiwifruit, another foreign 600,000 citizens in Australia picture of some small sad fruits there that can tell their friends,” also working on the Middle East, small, smooth green fruits are and pineapple, with a pear-like fruit inextricably linked to New alone. on the verge of the road. he says. particularly Dubai. plentiful in New Zealand, traded gritty texture, and a hint of mint.” Zealand: sliced open and scooped Forget about not being able to It was his fi rst feijoa season For many, feijoas are the stuff The lack of recognition is a by the bucket for next to noth- The best indication of their out with a spoon. vote, or the university fees hike: out of New Zealand — always the of childhood memories, Abra- barrier, he says, but not an insur- ing and infusing everything from taste is their powerful and dis- Feijoas are technically “avail- New Zealanders never feel less hardest. hams says. mountable one. chocolate to crumbles, ice-cream tinctive fragrance, which Wiki- able” in Australia, but invariably at home in Australia than for the “Where is the source? Think “A lot of people joke they don’t “To get consumers to walk in to vodka with their distinctive, pedia says “strongly” resembles in small quantities at exorbitant three months of the year friends they’re rolling down the hill.” like paying for them because and pick it off the shelf, that’s soapy-citrus fl avour. that of the chemical methyl ben- prices at boutique grocers. and family back home are experi- A recent photo posted by Zei- you’d fob them from your neigh- a challenge, because they don’t Physically they are unassum- zoate. Like dragonfruit or any other encing peak feijoa fatigue. joa to Facebook of crates of the bours. Literally, at this time of know what they’re buying. But ing, a little like oval limes of a As this might suggest, a little “exotic fruit” that no one knows As a result of this scarcity, things being shipped to Coles year, in the upper North Island, these things take time. Other darker green, but their taste de- feijoa goes a long way in fl avour, what to do with, they have low intelligence-sharing within the supermarkets in Australia drew they’re falling on to the streets.” fruits have done it.” Gulf Times 18 Sunday, May 14, 2017 BRITAIN

May promises right Garden party to delete teenage social media posts

The Evening Standard make Britain the best place London in the world to start and run a digital business, and the safest place in the world for people to eople will be able to have be online.” Under the plans, so- their embarrassing teen- cial media fi rms will also have Page social media posts to take action to stop search deleted under a “right to in- terms directing users to inap- nocence” plan announced by propriate sites. Theresa May ahead of the elec- It is hoped the move will stop tion. children accidentally stum- Under widespread reforms bling on porn, with some adult to curb the dangers of the cy- channels featuring x-rated berworld, the prime minster videos that have titles which said sites like Facebook would play on the names of well- be forced to wipe the records of known fi lms and characters. users before they turned 18 on The measure would also in- request. clude hate speech and other Web giants will also be warned sites that could be harmful to they face penalties if they fail to youngsters. do more to stop children access- Age restrictions on apps to ing harmful content. stop young children accessing May said the internet had damaging content will also be brought “signifi cant new risks” expanded. as well as a wealth of opportu- Firms will be told to intro- nities. duce a “comply or explain” Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wave as they host with Britain’s Prince Harry a Special Garden Party at She said: “We want social me- system that means they take Buckingham Palace in central London. They are hosting a special party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace to honour children of those who have died serving in dia companies to do more to help down content that has been the Armed Forces. redress the balance and will take complained about or explain action to make sure they do. the reason behind why they “These measures will help have not.

Parents told off after tweeting SAT answers Tories on course for

The Evening Standard useful info? How is it even London maths? DfE @educationgovuk @mattthr Hi, can you please arents have been rep- remove the tweet referring to rimanded online by the SATs? We’re trying to maintain ‘massive majority’ PDepartment for Educa- the confi dentiality & integrity tion for tweeting answers from of ongoing tests. The Tories under Premier May look document had some “incredibly strong” their children’s SATs exams. The DfE told him: “Hi, can likely to sweep the elections ideas that were popular among voters. Millions of primary school you please remove the tweet The deputy leader also dismissed re- pupils are in the process of tak- referring to SATs? We’re trying Guardian News and Media ports of a fractious atmosphere at La- ing national curriculum tests, to maintain the confi dentiality London bour’s “clause V meeting”, where the known as SATs, prompting of- & integrity of ongoing tests.” shadow cabinet and national executive fi cials to fl ood social media in a But the father hit back: committee nailed down a fi nal version of bid to clamp down on cheating. “Happy to, once you remove om Watson has urged voters to back the manifesto. The DfE’s offi cial Twitter ac- such absurd and pointless their local Labour MP in order to “I read our media brief and it said that count warned against publish- questions from your tests.” Tavoid a “Margaret Thatcher-style” Emily Thornberry [the shadow foreign ing answers as some key stage Another user complained landslide that would make it diffi cult to hold secretary] was reported to have stormed two students are still due to sit that a word which had many the Conservatives to account. out of the clause V meeting and that my assessments. spellings was too ambiguous to Labour’s deputy leader said the party team were furious. It wrote: “Some children will have formed part of his daugh- had a “mountain to climb” over the four It bears very little resemblance to the be taking the KS2 tests next ter’s spelling test. weeks until the general election and was meeting I was at, which was incredibly week using timetable varia- Grab68 @Grab68 lagging behind in the polls with all income good-natured,” he said. tions. Please help us to keep #SATs spelling test yes- groups, including working-class voters. Watson said the shadow chancel- the test content secure. Thank terday for my daughter. Spell “I’ve run a lot of byelections and elec- The leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, with campaign lor, John McDonnell, had explained how you.” ‘coarse’.Teacher (very broad tions in my time for the Labour party and I supporters on the promenade in Lowestoft. the policies were fully costed and that he The plea followed a series Irish accent) didn’t specify know what it is like. would bring forward specifi c tax proposals of interventions against dis- what coarse/course. It is going be very, very diffi cult to turn former prime minister’s 140- and 100- sort”. In Wales, Watson — who travelled to during the election campaign. gruntled parents who had aired DfE @educationgovuk the poll numbers around, but we are de- seat landslide victories in 1983 and 1987. eight constituencies on Labour’s red bat- Asked about the claim by Labour MP concerns about questions in @Grab68 Hi, can you please termined to do it,” Watson said in an inter- “A Conservative government with a tle bus emblazoned with the slogan “For Ben Bradshaw that the manifesto was ir- their children’s’ tests. remove the tweet referring to view with the Guardian. 100 majority … It will be very hard for the many, not the few” — admitted voters relevant because Labour had no chance Journalist Matt Thrower SATs? Trying to maintain the The shadow cabinet minister said there them to be held to account in the House of had raised questions about leadership, but of victory, Watson praised the MP for his used Twitter to query whether confi dentiality & integrity of were some “terrifi cally exciting” ideas in Commons. It means there won’t be usual insisted that was not new. “He does come long record in standing up for his Exeter a part of his daughter’s maths the tests. the manifesto drawn up by Jeremy Cor- checks and balances of democracy... all up on the doorstep, Jeremy, but so did Ed constituency but said Bradshaw was “of- paper was relevant, only to re- When asked by the offi cial byn’s inner team, which was leaked to those things go out the window. Miliband, so did Gordon Brown, so did ten outspoken”. ceive an offi cial rebuttal. account to remove details of newspapers this week. “You end up with governance by There- Tony Blair,” he said. “He often swims against the tide and Matt Thrower @mattthr the question, he responded Watson said he hoped to become the sa May without much accountability — He acknowledged Labour’s eye-wa- that is why he is his own man,” he added. My 11 yr old missed a with a fi rm “no”. He said: “I culture, media and sport secretary on and I don’t think anybody wants that.” tering electoral challenge and urged vot- Watson said the manifesto was all #SATS2017 question today think SATs are cruel and un- 9 June, adding that he would try to put The comments came as May turned up ers to consider that “a lot of local MPs are about taking back power — and control. she didn’t know M in Roman necessary and cause stress for Rupert Murdoch’s bid for Sky on hold the dial in personal attacks on Corbyn, us- running on a good track record”. He also Asked if Labour was adopting the slogan numerals = 1000. How is that children.” while the second part of the Leveson in- ing a speech in the Labour stronghold of claimed that the idea of the Tories as the of the Brexit campaign, he said: “The Vote quiry into journalistic ethics took place. North Shields to attack what she described party of the working classes was “the big- Leave people used ‘take back control’ for But, speaking during a tour of marginal as “economically disastrous socialist” gest myth perpetuated by London-based a reason, because there are millions of seats in Wales, he also warned of what policies. marketeers”. people in the country who feel powerless, could be looming if Labour failed to dra- Meanwhile, Corbyn tried to defl ect Tory “We’ve got to show it is a myth,” he said. who feel that government is not listening matically shift the political picture in just attacks over the question of national se- “Labour are low in the polls in all catego- to them.” Varsity accused of under four weeks. curity by insisting he was “not a pacifi st” ries — we’ve got a lot to do, we’ve got to Having campaigned against phone “If we get to 8 June and [Theresa May] during a speech at the Chatham House convince people we are serious about gov- hacking, Watson made clear that if he be- still commands the lead in the polls that thinktank in London. ernment … We’ve got to try.” came culture secretary he would want to clearout of academics she had at the start of the election, she The Labour leader said he accepted Watson hit back at the suggestion that start the second part of the Leveson in- will command a Margaret Thatcher-style military action was sometimes necessary, Corbyn’s leaked election blueprint had quiry into the relationship between jour- majority,” said Watson, referring to the but insisted it must be “a genuine last re- triggered anger among MPs, saying the nalists and the police. Guardian News and Media the planned redundancies. London Martyn Moss, UCU regional offi cial for the north-west, said early assessments of the plans he University of Man- suggested the university want- chester has been ac- ed to get rid of more expensive, Tcused of planning a senior academics.”I think they “clearout” of experienced aca- want to shake it up and have a Cobra meet called amid cyber chaos demics in order to replace them clearout,” he said. with cheaper, junior teaching “The whole question of The Evening Standard cyber security, adding: “So far, all we have has been properly backed up, which has staff , after it announced plans them bringing in a signifi cant London seen is patients inconvenienced, some been in most cases, work can continue as to cut 171 jobs. number of early years academ- hospitals, some doctors making changes normal because the patient data can be Britain’s largest university ics at a similar time raises real to their daily life. downloaded and people can continue with said the prospect of Brexit had questions about the genuine- he home secretary is to chair a “But the fact is no data has yet been ac- their work.” created uncertainty in the high- ness of the redundancies and meeting of the emergency Cobra cessed and the NHS are brilliantly manag- Four London hospitals hit by hackers in er education sector and the cuts whether they would be fair Tcommittee amid warnings that cha- ing to weave through this disruption.” cyber attack on NHS Four London hos- were designed to “secure future dismissals.” os wreaked by a global ransomware attack Rudd is due to chair a meeting of the pitals aff ected by the attack continued to fi nancial sustainability”. A spokesman for the univer- was “unprecedented”. A global cyber at- Government’s emergency Cobra meeting face problems yesterday morning. But the University and Col- sity confi rmed it was planning tack, using hacking tools believed to have in Whitehall at 2.30pm. There will be no outpatient appoint- lege Union (UCU), which rep- to recruit more than 100 junior been developed by the US National Secu- The Royal London Hospital. The Home Secretary told BBC Breakfast ments at The Royal London, St Bartholow- resents lecturers and research- academics, but did not com- rity Agency has infected tens of thousands she could not confi rm that all NHS fi les are mew’s, Whipps Cross or Newham, as Barts ers, argued that Manchester’s ment on the allegation that the of computers in nearly 100 countries, dis- gone to and where it’s been opened”. It has backed up. Health NHS Trust continued to deal with fi nances were in good health appointments would fi ll gaps rupting the NHS and FedEx among other aff ected 45 NHS organisations, Rudd said, She said: “I hope the answer is yes, that the major incident. and suggested the move had left by redundancies. organisations. including London hospitals run by Barts is the instructions that everybody has re- In statement, the Trust said: “We are come in response to the new Manchester is the latest Cyber extortionists tricked victims into Health NHS Trust. ceived in the past. continuing to deal with a major IT disrup- teaching excellence framework higher education institution to opening malicious malware attachments She added: “Windows XP is not a good That is good cyber defence, but I expect, tion and we are sorry for any delays expe- (TEF), which will allow univer- announce mass job cuts, with to spam emails that appeared to contain platform for keeping your data as secure and we will fi nd out over the next few days rienced at our hospitals. We have activated sities with the best teaching to many citing the uncertainty invoices, job off ers, security warnings and as the modern ones, because you can’t if there are any holes in that.” our major incident plan to make sure we raise fees. caused by Brexit as a contribu- other legitimate fi les. The ransomware en- download the eff ective patches and anti- Rudd added: “There may be lessons to can maintain the safety and welfare of pa- In an e-mail sent to staff , the tory factor. crypted data on the computers, demand- virus software for defending against vi- learn from this but the most important tients. university said that despite the This week alone it was re- ing bitcoin payments to restore access. ruses. thing now is to disrupt the attack, let’s “Ambulances are being diverted to job cuts, it would continue to ported that 150 jobs were at On Saturday, the European Union’s “CQC (Care Quality Commission) does come back to afterwards whether there are nearby hospitals and we are sorry that we make “strategic investments”, risk at Aberystwyth Univer- law enforcement agency Europol said the do cyber checks on the NHS trusts, on hos- lessons to be learned.” have had to cancel some routine appoint- including the creation of more sity, while Bangor University havoc unleashed by the attack was “at an pitals when they do their visits, and they She later told Sky News: “It is disap- ments. than 100 new, early-career ac- warned unions that cuts were unprecedented level”. will be advising NHS trusts to move to pointing that they have been running “There will be no outpatient appoint- ademic appointments. to come and the University of Home Secretary Amber Rudd told BBC modernise their platforms and I think that Windows XP — I know that the secretary ments at our hospitals on Saturday May 13. The faculties of arts, lan- Sunderland said compulsory Radio 4’s Today programme the virus had after this experience, I would expect them of state for health has instructed them not All patients who have their appointment guages, biology, medicine and redundancies were probable as not been targeted at the NHS, saying the all to move forward with modernising.” to and most have moved off it.” cancelled will be contacted as soon as pos- business most vulnerable to part of its cost-cutting drive. attack “feels random in terms of where it’s Rudd said the UK was a world leader in Rudd added: “Where the patient data sible to reschedule.” Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 19 EUROPE

Critical Azeri media Macron meets supporters websites blocked ahead of his inauguration

AFP AFP mense responsibility.” Hollande, Macron is due to take establishment fi gures, including which Macron was involved. litical landscape is, Alain Juppe, Baku Paris Macron has promised to re- oath this morning in a ceremony one-time conservative favourite Among the names were also a moderate conservative ex- fresh France’s parliament and that starts at 10am (0800 GMT). Francois Fillon. 24 defecting MPs from the out- prime minister, angrily denied his party – La Republique En Around 1,500 police offi cers Unpopular Hollande was the going Socialists and on Friday on Twitter reports that he had court in Azerbaijan on rench President-elect Em- Marche (REM, Republic on the will be deployed near the presi- fi rst to bow to the rebellious the party reached out to moder- struck a government deal with Friday approved the gov- manuel Macron met party Move) – unveiled 428 out of its dential palace located in the mood in December as he became ate conservatives. Macron. Aernment’s request to Fsupporters yesterday on 577 candidates this week. heart of Paris and the nearby the fi rst sitting president not to “There is a group among The “There is obviously no Juppe/ block websites of a US-funded the eve of his inauguration and Half of them have never held Champs Elysees and other roads seek re-election in the French Republicans (France’s conserva- Macron deal!!!!” Juppe said on broadcaster and several news told candidates contesting key elected offi ce, including a retired will be blocked off . fi fth republic, founded in 1958. tives) ... saying ‘we want to be his Twitter account. outlets critical of the country’s parliamentary elections next female bullfi ghter and a star Macron won after one of the On Thursday, a row broke out useful to the country, but we do RTL radio had minutes earlier strongman President Ilham Ali- month that they had an “im- mathematician, and half of them most unpredictable elections with centrist ally Francois Bay- not want to ‘Macronise’ our- reported that there was such a yev. mense responsibility”. are women. in modern history marked by rou whose MoDem party, which selves,” Macron’s head of candi- deal and that conservative Ed- The Baku district court backed The 39-year-old, who beat The pro-Europe centrist had scandal, repeated surprises and backed Macron in the presiden- date selection Arnaud Leroy said ouard Philippe, a lawmaker and the claim of the ministry of far-right candidate Marine Le pledged to bring about a “revo- a last-minute hacking attack. tial election, protested that they on BFM TV, naming a number of mayor of Le Havre, would be- transport and communications Pen in a second round vote last lution” in French politics that Hundreds of thousands of were underrepresented in the leading fi gures among The Re- come prime minister. that Radio Free Europe/Radio week, was received “trium- will inject fresh faces into the e-mails and documents stolen election candidates list. publicans. Philippe and Richard Ferrand, Liberty’s Azerbaijani branch, phantly” according to tweets by stale political landscape and end from his campaign were dumped Bayrou said late on Friday “We, being responsible peo- secretary general of Macron’s Radio Azadlyg, poses a “threat those attending the meeting. the pattern of power alternating online, leading Macron to call however that a “solid and bal- ple, are open to discussions. I am REM party, have been touted to the legitimate interests of the “You are the new faces of between traditional parties. it an attempt at “democratic anced” agreement had been not closing any doors,” he said. over the past few days by French state and society”. French politics,” they quoted A former economy minister destabilisation”. reached after day-long talks be- In a sign of how sensitive the media as possible prime minis- The court, held in normal him as saying. “You have an im- to outgoing President Francois The election saw voters eject tween offi cials of both parties in reconstructing of the French po- ters. open session, also blocked Inter- net-based Azerbaijan Saati TV, Turan TV, and Meidan TV. The outlets’ lawyers con- demned the ruling as unlawful and unfounded. Catholic Church gets “The verdict violates inter- national legal norms,” lawyer Samed Ragimov told AFP. “No its youngest saints publication referred to in the Azerbaijani authorities’ lawsuit contained a breach of laws and Reuters of the children dressed in the public interests.” Fatima, Portugal traditional peasant garb of the Earlier in April, Ganimat Za- times hung from the church hid, the director of Turan TV that is now the focal point of denounced legal action against ope Francis gave the the sanctuary visited by about online media as “a move against Catholic Church two of 7mn people each year. freedom of speech”. Pits youngest saints yes- The story of Fatima’s shep- Oil-rich Azerbaijan has faced terday, canonising shepherd herd children has captivated strong international criticism siblings believed to have seen Catholics since their fi rst re- for stepping up pressure on dis- the Madonna 100 years ago in ported vision on May 13, 1917. sent and opposition media since a Portuguese town that is now The church believes the Aliyev’s election for a third term a major pilgrimage site. Madonna gave three children in 2013. Hundreds of thousands of – Francisco and Jacinta Marto Aliyev, 55, fi ercely denies any people, many of whom slept and their older cousin Lucia rights abuses. outdoors to hold their places, Dos Santos – three messages, The tightly-controlled ex- broke into applause as the the so-called secrets of Fatima. Soviet republic ranked 162 in the leader of the world’s 1.2bn Dos Santos became a nun 2017 World Press Freedom Index Catholics proclaimed the sib- and died in 2005 at the age of released in April by media advo- lings – Francisco and Jacinta 97, and eff orts are underway to cacy group Reporters Without Marto – the newest of the make her a saint as well. Borders. church’s saints. The fi rst two secrets were The advocacy group said that The two died at the ages of revealed soon and concerned a independent journalists and 10 and nine years, within three vision of hell, seen by believers bloggers “are thrown in prison years of the 1917 apparitions, as a prediction of the outbreak if they do not fi rst yield to har- making them the youngest of World War II, a warning that assment, beatings, blackmail, or saints of the church who were Russia would “spread her er- bribes”. not martyrs. rors” in the world, and a need Aliyev took over in 2003 after The Virgin of Fatima is ven- for general conversion to God the death of his father Heydar erated by Catholics around the and prayer. Aliyev, a former KGB offi cer and world, a following underscored The “third secret” intrigued communist-era leader who had by the many national fl ags the world for more than three- ruled Azerbaijan with an iron fi st Medics and rescue workers are seen at the scene of the bus crash near the southwestern holiday town of Marmaris. fl uttering in the huge crowd, quarters of a century, inspir- since 1993. estimated at more than half a ing books and cults convinced million. that it predicted the end of the Marie Chantal, 57, a life- world. Journalist turned long devotee, travelled more In 2000, the Vatican said it At least 23 killed in Turkey bus crash than 9,000km (6,000 miles) was a prediction of the 1981 politician attacked from the island of Reunion in assassination attempt on pope the Indian Ocean to attend the John Paul on May 13, the same A prominent Kosovo journalist AFP His deputy Kamil Koten said that an investigation was under The Hurriyet newspaper ceremony. day of the fi rst reported appa- who this week joined a political Istanbul that the bus plunged through a way. quoted Marmaris mayor Ali “I am very emotional be- rition in 1917. party she had long criticised was crash barrier and fell about 15m “The bus’s brakes may have Acar as indicating an “error by cause this Pope is truly merci- Gracinda, 57, slept outside beaten up yesterday in a car park (50’) on to a lower road, smash- malfunctioned,” he said. the driver”, without giving fur- ful and close to the people and during the chill night in Fatima close to her apartment, police t least 23 people died and ing a car with its three occu- Television images showed the ther details. I think he will bring us many to hold her place near the front said. 11 more were seriously pants. yellow bus lying on its side and Other media outlets reported good things,” she said. of the crowd. Arbana Xharra was the editor- Ainjured yesterday when a “If we count these three bodies wrapped up in cloth lined that the bus left from the west- In the homily of a huge out- “It was not a great sacrifi ce in-chief of daily newspaper Zeri bus carrying women and chil- deaths, the number of the dead up next to it. ern city of Izmir carrying only door Mass, Francis prayed that ... it is very important for me before joining the Democratic dren plunged off a cliff near the rises to 23,” the state-run Ana- Turkish President Recep women and children who were the Madonna would protect and for the church,” said Viei- Party of Kosovo (PDK), the southwestern Turkish sea resort dolu news agency quoted him as Tayyip Erdogan, currently on on a trip for Mothers’ Day, cel- the most vulnerable members ra, who had travelled from her country’s largest party. of Marmaris. saying. a visit to China, said that he ebrated in Turkey today. of society, “especially the sick home 250km north of Fatima Sources close to the party “Sadly, we have had 20 fatali- The accident occurred near was “extremely pained” by the Marmaris is one of the coun- and the disabled, prisoners and in central Portugal. have said she plans to stand in ties and 11 other seriously in- the Sakar Pass on a steep wind- tragedy and instructed local try’s main resorts on the Medi- the unemployed, the poor and “This Pope is diff erent in parliamentary elections next jured,” said Amir Cicek, the gov- ing road fi lled with hairpin authorities to take measures to terranean, and a popular week- the abandoned”. everything, I like him a lot. He month. ernor of Mugla province, calling bends. ensure that “such tragedies” do end destination for many Turks Two huge tapestries made is closer to us, the people,” she Xharra was known for articles it a “horrible accident”. Cicek told NTV television not recur. as temperatures climb. from century-old photographs said. that accused off icials in the PDK and other parties of corruption and nepotism. When she joined the party, saying she wanted to serve citizens and remain a critical voice within the PDK, she was condemned by Italy leads the pack at Eurovision some colleagues and opposition supporters. “The victim was transported to Reuters/AFP metres away in the east, against Russia has vowed that Sam- the hospital and her condition is Kiev Russian-backed separatists, oilova will compete in 2018, stable,” police said in a statement, after its Crimean Tatar entry putting Ukraine in a tricky di- without giving more details. Jamala won the competition last lemma over whether to partici- No one has been arrested yet. taly and Portugal were the year. pate alongside her. frontrunners going into last On Kiev’s Independence After the Kiev event opened, it Inight’s fi nal of the Eurovi- Square, a billboard went up emerged that the Bulgarian con- Migrants held with sion Song Contest, an annual listing nine Ukrainian soldiers testant, Kostov, had also per- song and dance fest – held in killed this month, with the slo- formed in annexed Crimea. false passports Kiev this year – whose global gan: “This is the price we paid The singer, who has appeared Gabbani performs during the audience topped 200mn people for every single day we lived in on a Russian television talent first semi-final rehearsal for the Greek police have detained last year. peace.” show, was allowed to stay be- Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev. several migrants for trying Italian Francesco Gabbani is “This was put up for Eurovi- cause he was only 14 at the time. to cross into Europe on fake leading the pack with a number, sion, to remind guests that not He will appear in the fi nal. Left: Kostov of Bulgaria passports. viewed nearly 114mn times on all is well in Ukraine,” said a Gabbani faced questions at a performing the song Beautiful A woman from Cameroon YouTube, that mixes Buddhist spokeswoman for Ukraine crisis news conference on Friday about Mess during the second and two men from Syria were imagery with a dancing ape, and media centre. the pressures of being favourite. semi-final of the Eurovision arrested after presenting the he explains as poking fun at the The elephant in the room at “Without any off ence, but it Song Contest 2017. false documents at an airport on West’s superfi cial embrace of Saturday’s contest is Russia, has been the biggest pressure for the island of Corfu, police said eastern culture. which is boycotting the event me that I have been asked this Eurovision, recognised by Guin- styles in the song My Friend. “And yes, there is a war going yesterday. Vying for fi rst place is Portu- after Ukraine barred Moscow’s question (about being favourite) ness World Records as the long- Romania is fi elding a duo that on, but it’s further, further out,” Migrants carrying false passports gal’s Salvador Sobral, perform- contestant Yuliya Samoilova zillions of times,” he said, speak- est-running annual TV music combines rap and yodelling. said Stephanie Novak, a visit- have previously been caught in ing a jazz-style ballad written by from entering the country – a ing through an offi cial transla- competition. Ukraine has won the compe- ing fan from Australia. “And I airports in the cities of Heraklion sister Luisa. symptom of the countries’ toxic tor. “But beside that, I want to It began in 1956 with just sev- tition twice, including last year think isn’t it the whole point of and Chania on Crete, and other According to the bookmak- relations after Russia’s annexa- be very honest about this – you en countries. Ireland have won with a song about the mass de- Eurovision to help bring Europe islands in the Aegean Sea. ers, third favourite is Bulgaria’s tion of Crimea in 2014. embrace this experience of Eu- the most times – seven in all – portation of Tatars from Crimea together? What could be better False passports are provided by Kristian Kostov, the youngest Both countries ignored pleas rovision with the aim of living a following by Sweden. by Josef Stalin. than bringing Europe to a coun- human traff ickers in many cases, entrant at 17. from organisers, the European great adventure and not neces- Other hopefuls this year in- More than 10,000 have try that is being so aff ected by and cost between €1,500 and Ukraine is hosting the com- Broadcasting Union, and Russia sarily thinking of the fi rst or sec- clude Jacques Houdek, known been killed in the war between war at the moment and to show €3,000 ($1,640-$3,280), police petition while the country is has refused to air the contest, ond place.” as “Mr Voice” in Croatia, who Ukraine and pro-Russian fi ght- them what a beautiful country said. fi ghting a war, hundreds of kilo- forcing fans to watch online. This is the 62nd edition of blends pop and operatic singing ers that erupted in 2014. it is.” Gulf Times 20 Sunday, May 14, 2017 INDIA

GESTURE EDUCATION POLITICS DIPLOMACY TOURISM Actor gifts 25 flats to No bags on Saturdays Paswan questions Bihar Abbas coming on Hop-on-hop-off bus families of Sukma martyrs in UP govt schools CM’s silence on Lalu four-day India visit service launched

In a warm philanthropic gesture, Bollywood In a bid to take the load off students, the Bharatiya Federal minister Ram Vilas Paswan yesterday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will Goa yesterday launched a unique hop-on-hop-off actor Vivek Oberoi has decided to donate Janata Party government in Uttar Pradesh has questioned the silence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish arrive in New Delhi today on a four-day state bus service for tourists, with a fleet of open-roof 25 flats to the families of troopers killed decided that Saturdays will be a “no bag day” in all Kumar on Rashtriya Janata dal chief Lalu Prasad visit, it is reliably learnt. This will be his third double-decker and single-decker buses plying in last month’s Maoist attacks in Sukma. government-run primary and secondary schools, Yadav’s alleged land deals worth Rs10bn and dared state visit. It comes after President Pranab through popular hotspots in Panaji and adjoining While four flats have already been allotted, an off icial said. Students will engage in “joyful him to take action against his ally. Paswan, who is Mukherjee visited Palestine in October 2015 and coastal areas. Goa Tourism Development another 21 are being reserved in a housing activities” and there will be eff orts to enhance a chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), an ally of the External Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit Corporation chairman Nilesh Cabral said the complex constructed by his company, Karrm positive relationship between the students and Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, in January 2016. According to sources, Abbas service would off er tourists a unique experience Infrastructures Pvt Ltd, at their Thane project. teachers on this day, the off icial said yesterday. said in Patna that Nitish Kumar should break his will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister of enjoying the natural architectural hotspots of The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), The approval was given by Deputy Chief Minister silence and prove his credibility by taking action Ziad Abu Amr, Foreign Minister Riad Malki, Goa from open-roof buses. “Right now, we have whose troopers died in the attack, expressed Dinesh Sharma, who is also the education against Yadav and his family members. “Why is Diplomatic Adviser Majdi Khaldi, presidency four buses in our fleet, which will cover Panaji “gratitude” to the actor for his gesture. Oberoi minister. Co-education will also be encouraged in Nitish Kumar silent and not taking action against spokesperson Nabil Aburdeineh and Palestine’s and the adjoining areas. Soon the fleet will be made the off er in a letter to the CRPF last these institutions. Education Department off icials Lalu despite knowing everything?” Paswan said. chief judge Mahmoud Habbash. Abbas will call extended by 15 more buses and more circuits will week, but details of the allotted flats were not met on Friday and decided that the power of This is the first time that after the BJP, its ally LJP on Mukherjee and hold bilateral talks with Prime be created all over Goa,” Cabral said. “The hop-on- immediately available. However, the location is settling disputes in management committees has directly attacked Yadav and targeted Nitish Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, the sources hop-off circuit currently includes places of tourist likely to be Shahapur area in Thane where KIPL will no longer rest with the manager of the Kumar for ignoring serious charges against the said. Vice President Hamid Ansari and Swaraj are interest in Panaji, like Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula cliff , is launching a mega-aff ordable housing project. school but with the registrar of such societies. former Bihar chief minister and his family. also expected to call on the visiting dignitary. the Miramar beach and other areas,” he said.

BJP seeks AFSPA in Kejriwal has Kannur after murder of RSS activist no moral right

IANS Kannur, Kerala to continue he Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday demanded the Timposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AF- SPA) in Kannur, a day after a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist was hacked to death. in power: BJP Chief Minister Pinarayi Vi- jayan brushed aside the killing, Manoj Tiwari makes fresh they getting the work because in power, and it must resign so terming it a one-off incident. corruption allegations Kejriwal was sitting here as the that the people’s faith is restored On Friday evening, Biju, 30, against AAP government chief minister?” Tiwari asked. in the government and democ- was hacked to death at Payyanur “Kejriwal must answer all racy. in Kannur, the hot spot of politi- IANS these questions,” the BJP leader On May 9, Delhi’s Anti-Cor- cal murders. New Delhi said. ruption Branch (ACB) registered The state BJP leadership has three cases against Kejriwal’s accused activists of the rul- deceased brother-in-law, and ing Communist Party of India he Bharatiya Janata Party senior PWD offi cers in connec- (Marxist) of the murder, which yesterday fl agged a new tion with alleged corruption of the party has denied. A dawn- Tissue against Delhi Chief Rs100mn. to-dusk shutdown was observed Minister Arvind Kejriwal, al- Meanwhile Sharma, on the in Kannur district yesterday. leging corruption in the Public fourth day of his hunger strike, BJP’s lone legislator O Rajag- Works Department (PWD) and warned that the AAP will resort opal and a team of party lead- demanded that he resign on to “new drama” to distract at- ers yesterday met Governor P grounds of morality. “Kejriwal now must come tention from the “foreign trips Sathasivam and asked for the BJP Delhi president Manoj out of his home and answer controversy”. Armed Forces (Special Powers) Tiwari showed a letter from an as he is the chief minister “Fourth day of satyagraha - Act to be imposed in Kannur. “assistant engineer” to Delhi and all this corruption What new drama will be done Rajagopal said: “Today the police in which the offi cial al- is being done on his to distract attention from the Kerala police have become an leged he has been getting life instructions and life threats question of foreign trips,” Mishra outfi t of the CPM and miserably threats. are being given to offi cials” asked in a tweet. failed to protect the lives and “In his letter to the Assist- Also yesterday, police de- property of citizens. ant Commissioner of Police, “It is for all these answers tained AAP legislator Sanjeev “The police are always linked Nangloi, regarding a complaint that Kapil Mishra is sitting on Jha for trying to “break public to the leaders of the CPM, who on April 1, 2016, the engineer a dharna. Please go beyond the peace” after he tried to hold a direct them. The only way peace alleged that while on inspec- dharna politics,” Tiwari said re- counter hunger strike outside can return to Kannur is with im- tion in Peeragarhi area of Delhi ferring to a hunger strike by the the house of Mishra. plementation of the AFSPA,” he he saw three persons breaking sacked Delhi minister who was “We have detained Sanjeev told reporters in Thiruvanan- a concrete drain built by the also suspended from the ruling Jha, as he attempted to break the thapuram. PWD,” Tiwari said at a press Aam Aadmi Party after he made public peace,” a senior police of- The police have registered a conference. corruption allegation against fi cial said. case against seven people over the “In his complaint, the en- Kejriwal. In related developments, Ke- crime. They said the murder of gineer said he asked the three “Kejriwal now must come out jriwal expressed shock and urged Biju was carried out by a gang of men not to break the drain but of his home and answer as he is federal Home Minister Rajnath four suspects, who came in a car. he received a call from a person the chief minister and all this Singh to act a day after AAP Biju along with his friend was called Vinay Kumar of Renu corruption is being done on his leader Ashish Khetan allegedly driving a two-wheeler, when the Construction who told him instructions and life threats are received a death threat. car knocked them down and he not to disturb the three men,” being given to offi cials,” Tiwari “Extremely shocking. Ashish was hacked to death. Tiwari said, adding that the alleged. Khetan receives death threat. The victim, who was out on company belonged to Kejri- “Why is Kejriwal or any of his Hope Rajnath Singh ji will take bail, was an accused in the July wal’s brother-in-law, Surender ministers not answering, where action,” Kejriwal tweeted. 2016 murder of CPM worker Kumar Bansal, who died last is the morality now?” In a tweet, Khetan posted a Dhanaraj. week. The BJP leader said the AAP letter in which he claimed he Vijayan who arrived in Kan- “The engineer said the man on government in Delhi was “loot- was threatened by right-wing nur yesterday told reporters that the phone gave him life threats,” ing” the money of the city’s tax- forces. things appeared to be calm fol- he said. payers. He said he received the letter lowing an all-party meeting that BJP youth wing activists conduct a signature campaign against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in New “Was the brother-in-law of Tiwari said the AAP govern- on Friday night and it warned his discussed political rivalries. Delhi yesterday. Kejriwal from the mafi a? Were ment has no morality left to stay “killing is imminent”.

W Bengal civic polls a crucial Uncle held over mystery test for all political parties death of Tripura student

IANS amination and forensic reports, IANS trict and Kalimpong in Kalim- of Mamata Banerjee,” Deb said, Agartala poison was found in the 16-year- Kolkata pong district. Besides, Raiganj alluding to the chief minister’s old girl’s body. municipality in North Dinajpur repeated trips to the hills and Since April 10, when the district, Domkal in Murshidabad the development projects and fter a month-long stu- Women’s Polytechnic student he ruling Trinamool Con- and Pujali in South 24 Parganas sops she has announced for the dents’ protest, Tripura died mysteriously at Govind gress’ capability to con- are also up for grabs. region. Apolice on Friday night Ballabh Pant Government Med- Ttinue its electoral suc- The Trinamool is a principal The hills have not witnessed arrested a trader in connection ical College and Hospital, stu- cesses and the Bharatiya Janata force in all the areas, and is hop- a local election in the past fi ve with the mysterious death of his dent wings of the ruling Com- Party’s bid to become the main ing to break the Gorkha Janmukti years. niece and polytechnic student munist Party of India (Marxist), opposition force would be tested Morcha’s stranglehold in the GJM chief Bimal Gurung, Anwara Chowdhury, offi cials the Trinamool Congress, the amid a revival of the Gorkha- hills by tying up with the Gorkha however, accused the state gov- said yesterday. Congress and the Bharatiya Ja- land demand in the hills as seven National Liberation Front. ernment of not providing the “After receiving the postmor- nata Party had been agitating to West Bengal civic bodies hold State Tourism Minister and necessary funds for develop- tem examination and forensic press for the arrest of the cul- elections today. Trinamool Congress leader from ment. reports of Anwara Chowdhury, prits. The elections to the munici- north Bengal, Gautam Deb, was “The state government is we immediately arrested Noor The unrelenting students’ palities spread across fi ve dis- confi dent of an impressive show talking about development here. Mohamed on suspicion of his protest forced the authorities tricts in northern, central and in the hills. I ask where is the development involvement in the death of the to exhume the girl’s body from the southern tip of the state “We will win in Kurseong. We and where is the money sanc- student,” West Tripura district a burial ground and conduct would provide a peek into the will also perform fairly well in tioned for the hills,” he asked. police chief Abhijit Saptarshi autopsy and forensic examina- minds of voters in the small Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Peo- To strike an emotive cord said. tion. towns and pose a challenge for ple want to know why the GJM among the people, the GJM has Mohamed, a contractor and Student leaders have de- the Left Front and the Congress could not carry out necessary revived the call for a separate trader, was presented in the manded stern action against the to revive their fortunes in the development in the hills despite Gorkhaland and tried to turn the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s doctors of the medical college. backdrop of recent electoral re- being in power for so long. polls into a Gorkhaland vs Bengal court, which remanded him in They have also demanded that sults where they lost ground to “There was a fear psychosis issue. two-day police custody. Mohamed’s wife and his daugh- the BJP. among the people. Most of the In Domkal, the Trinamool is Saptarshi said the state gov- ter be arrested over Anwara’s The polls would be held for local body elections were un- up against an undeclared seat ernment yesterday handed over death. four municipalities in the north- contested for many years. People adjustment between the Con- the case to the Criminal Investi- Trinamool Congress Chatra ern Bengal hills - Darjeeling, could not come out to vote in- gress and the Communist Party gation Department. Parishad leader Viki Prashad has Kurseong and Mirik Notifi ed dependently. The situation has of India (Marxist) which leads Election off icials leave for their respective polling booths with The police chief said that ac- demanded that the case be tried Area Authority in Darjeeling dis- changed under the leadership the opposition Left Front. EVMs from Darjeeling ahead of municipal elections, yesterday. cording to the postmortem ex- in a fast-track court. Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 21 INDIA

Kochi metro makes history by hiring transgender workers

By Vidhi Doshi bers of the hijra community, who for Kochi Metro Rail, said the every day - on their way to work, cause Kochi metro is recog- “I hope it will be in all the they don’t have any qualifi cations. Mumbai will start working behind ticket new appointments were part of for example.” nising us.” newspapers and on TV channels You need to have some level of ed- counters and on housekeep- a wider initiative to make the The new recruits have already Vincy will start work on a ticket and other companies will take ucation to get a front-end job but ing teams before the end of this trains more inclusive. “We want had training in customer care counter in a couple of weeks, and notice of it and start hiring trans many of these people have been hey used to beg on India’s month. the metro to be not just a means and taken classes in confi dence is thrilled: “Trans people don’t people.” denied that opportunity.” train network, but this The new jobs are an unprece- of transport, but also a livelihood improvement. get work, not even in big multina- The lack of employment op- The palm-lined, tourist Tmonth, for the fi rst time, dented initiative in India, where improvement project,” she said. “Kochi metro is the first tional companies, IT fi rms, not in portunities for trans people, hotspot of Kerala is much more transgender women will have the trans and third gender com- “People don’t interact with company in India to accept us. government jobs, nothing. Even Rashmi said, happens for rea- liberal and has a higher standard proper jobs, serving passengers munity is mocked and isolated. trans people. They live separate- It is a huge achievement for when we do get jobs, we are often sons other than prejudice. of education than many Indian and selling tickets in Kerala’s Though trans women have been ly from society, they are not giv- us,” said Vincy, one of those made fun of. If I work in an offi ce, “A lot of them have criminal states, said Rashmi. She added Kochi city. given jobs in the past, the major- en jobs, their rights are not re- newly employed by Kochi the other workers for example records because they have no that she hoped the company In an eff ort to integrate trans ity have to resort to begging to spected. We want to bring them metro. “I feel very comfort- will make fun of how I walk like choice but to do sex work. Plus would soon bring more trans re- people into Indian society, Ko- survive. into the mainstream by ensuring able there. The other workers a woman. I will be the laughing many of them have never had the cruits on to the staff . -Guardian chi’s metro has hired 23 mem- Rashmi C R, spokeswoman that people interact with them know how to respect me be- stock,” she said. opportunity to go to school, so News and Media India rules out participation in China summit

IANS On Friday, Chinese Foreign New Delhi Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Indian scholars were coming for the event. ndia yesterday ruled out India’s non-participation participation in China’s comes as the top leadership of Imega One Belt One Road Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives summit, citing its objections and Myanmar are attending, to the $46bn China-Pakistan while Bangladesh and Nepal Economic Corridor that passes are sending high-level del- through Pakistan-adminis- egations. Bhutan is not at- tered Kashmir. tending. In a statement a day ahead On Friday, Nepal offi cially of the launch of the two-day inked a deal with China on summit in Beijing, India said OBOR for development of that “guided by our principled cross-border connectivity. position in the matter, we have China’s Foreign Minis- been urging China to engage in try has said that 29 heads a meaningful dialogue on its of state, including Russian connectivity initiative, ‘One President Vladimir Putin, will Belt, One Road’ which was later attend the meeting. They will renamed as ‘Belt and Road Ini- be among the 1,500 or so Chi- tiative’. We are awaiting a posi- nese and foreign delegates at tive response from the Chinese the event. side. Among India’s neighbours, “Regarding the so-called Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz ‘China-Pakistan Economic Sharif has arrived along with Activists take part in a rally at India Gate yesterday held to remember army off icer Ummer Faiyaz who was abducted and killed in Kashmir while on leave for a wedding. Corridor’, which is being pro- four chief ministers, while Sri jected as the fl agship project Lankan Premier Ranil Wick- of the BRI/OBOR, the inter- remesinghe is also attending. national community is well Countries like the US, Japan, aware of India’s position. No South Korea and France have country can accept a project decided to send offi cial repre- that ignores its core concerns sentations for the meeting. on sovereignty and territorial The OBOR project is inspired Two civilians killed in integrity.” by the Silk Road, the trading Last week, Defence and Fi- route of the 16th-18th centu- nance Minister Arun Jaitley ries between Europe and Asia. had said that India had “serious It is proposed to be a vast net- reservations” about China’s work of sea and land routes - massive connectivity project comprising railway lines, roads, that aims to build a trade and ports and other infrastructure Kashmir border shelling infrastructure network linking - across several countries. Ac- Asia with Europe and Africa. cording to reports, China is Agencies Mehta blamed Pakistan’s army The latest incident comes only ers of three local militants re- Lt Ummer’s dastardly murder “I have no hesitation in say- said to be spending $1tn on it. Srinagar for initiating “indiscriminate days after two people were killed sponsible for the offi cer’s kid- will be brought to justice. The ing that we have serious res- The project was introduced by fi ring” from 07.15am yesterday. in cross-border fi ring in Kash- napping and murder. GOC announced renaming of ervations about it because of President Xi Jinping in 2013 “The Indian army posts are mir, one on each side of India The army yesterday said a an army school in the area as sovereignty issues,” he had and is seen as his signature for- retaliating strongly and eff ec- and Pakistan. school had been renamed after ‘Lt said. eign policy eff ort. eavy shelling killed tively. The fi ring is presently on,” The killings come amid an up- Fayaz and his family handed over Ummer Fayaz Goodwill two people, including a Mehta said in a statement. surge in violence in the stated, a cheque for Rs7.5mn. School’,” he added. Hteenager, in Jammu and Scores of families have report- where rebels opposed to Indian The cheque was from the Meanwhile, a Lashkar-e- Senior cleric removes red beacon Kashmir yesterday, an offi cial edly migrated to safer places rule have repeatedly attacked Army Group Insurance Fund, Taiba module in the Chenab Val- said, in the latest deadly skirmish from fi ve villages near the LoC, government forces and banks in apart from another cheque for ley area of Jammu region, set up Two days after openly defying Extension & Library Services along the heavily militarised de- while authorities have called recent weeks. Rs100,000 from his regiment. with the aim of reviving militan- the central government’s order Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury facto border with Pakistan. for an indefi nite shutdown of all On Wednesday suspected “Major General B S Raju, the cy in the area, has been busted, and stating that he would termed Barkati as an RSS agent The victims, a 13-year-old schools in three Rajouri towns. rebels abducted and killed a mil- General Officer Command- police said. keep using the red beacon on for “providing ammunition to girl and a 51-year-old man, were Chief Minister Mehbooba itary offi cer who was home on ing of the Victor Force, visited Five people have been arrested his vehicle, Maulana Noor-ur the RSS” by constantly making killed when mortar bombs hit Mufti regretted the loss of lives leave for a wedding in Shopian the bereaved family members and arms seized, police sources Rehman Barkati, the Shahi controversial statements. Barkati parts of Rajouri district on the in the shelling and said that war district. in Kulgam district and assured said. Imam of Kolkata’s Tipu Sultan had openly claimed two days Line of Control (LoC). will not resolve anything. Lieutenant Ummer Fayaz’s them that the army stands by The development came fol- Masjid, yesterday claimed he ago that he would not follow the “Two people have been killed Talking to reporters, she said: bullet-riddled body was found them and will always be ready lowing an attack in Doda district has removed the beacon from Centre’s order of removing the by mortar shells,” Shahid Iqbal “Confl icts and war will not on May 10 at Harmen. to help,” Defence Ministry last week, during which two spe- his car. “I have removed the red beacon and indicated that Choudhary, deputy commis- resolve anything. We always The offi cer, from Rajputana spokesman Colonel Rajesh Ka- cial police offi cers (SPOs) were beacon,” a visibly annoyed he has the consent of state Chief sioner of Rajouri, said, adding maintain that India and Pakistan Rifl es, joined the army in De- lia said. injured with one subsequently Barkati told reporters. Earlier in Minister Mamata Banerjee in the three others were injured. should work together for peace cember last year. “The GOC assured the fam- succumbing to his injuries, the the day, the state Mass Education matter. Defence spokesman Manish and not for confrontation.” Police have since issued post- ily that those responsible for sources said. Two arrested over brutal Highway reopens Gas stations put off gang-rape and murder protest, to attend talks IANS tra alone, with 225 in Mumbai, Mumbai said Lodh. IANS Her body was found on the The two men arrested have been The FAMPEDA move was in Chandigarh outskirts of Rohtak town, 70km identifi ed as Sumit and Vikas. support of CIPD’s call on various from New Delhi, early on Friday. Police said Sumit was a neigh- etrol stations in eight demands with the oil companies, Police offi cials said forensic bour of the victim in Sonepat states across the country including a hike in dealer margins n a savage gang-rape remi- experts have disclosed that the and had been stalking her. He Pwhich had announced a which have not been revised since niscent of the 2012 Nirbhaya victim was sexually assaulted was pressuring her to marry him weekly ‘holiday’ from May 14 2011, and other long-pending is- Iincident, a young woman and her body was badly muti- but she had refused. and work on a single shift from sues, he added. The CIPD claims from Haryana’s Sonepat district lated. Stray dogs had bitten off Police offi cials alleged that tomorrow, called off their pro- to have 25,000 members. was abducted and brutally raped parts of the body. Sumit planned the gang-rape posed agitation yesterday, an of- “Next Wednesday, we have and murdered, with her head and S K Dhattarwal, head of the and murder to teach her a lesson. fi cial statement said. been called to discuss our agree- face smashed with a blunt object Department of Forensic Medi- Expressing deep shock and Federation of All Maharash- ment with the OMCs of Novem- and crushed under the wheels of cine at the Post Graduate In- outrage, Gandhi hoped that the tra Petrol Dealers Association ber last year and related issue. So a vehicle. stitute of Medical Sciences Haryana government would take (FAMPEDA) president Uday till then, we have decided to post- Two men, including her (PGIMS) in Rohtak, said that the action against the perpetrators. Lodh said in view of a review pone our agitation,” Lodh said. neighbour who was stalking her, postmortem examination of the “This savage and bone chilling meeting called on May 17 by oil He reiterated that the petrol have been arrested. body indicated sexual assault, incident has shocked the con- marketing companies it has been pumps are currently operating Congress president Sonia mutilation and murder. science of the nation, reminding decided to postpone the agita- on extremely low margins, sell- Gandhi has expressed “deep Police were told that the vic- each one of us about the crying tion. ing high-tech unleaded petrol/ shock” over the rape. tim’s head and face were smashed need of revisiting the important The Consortium of Indian diesel products in which the The incident comes days after with a hard object and crushed issue of women’s safety and se- Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) along evaporation rate is very high the Supreme Court upheld the under the wheels of a vehicle. curity,” she said. with FAMPEDA was planning to leading to huge losses and other death sentence of four accused This, according to the police, was A mentally unstable Nepalese launch the ‘Cost Cutting Mod- outstanding issues. in the December 16, 2012 Nirb- done to hide her identity. woman was brutally gang-raped ule’ in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Besides there are concerns haya gang-rape. The Haryana police have and murdered by seven men in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, like paying a certain amount of The Haryana woman, aged launched an investigation into the Rohtak district in February 2015. Vehicles pass through the 434km-long Srinagar-Leh Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and minimum salary to the staff ers at around 22 years, went missing on brutal gang-rape and murder. The The accused were awarded the highway which had remained closed for more than four Haryana, citing low margins. each petrol pump, which has be- May 9, according to a complaint arrested men were being interro- death penalty by a local court in months, after it was reopened on May 12. The move would have aff ected come unaff ordable owing to the fi led by her family. gated, a police offi cer said. December 2015. 4,500 gas stations in Maharash- low operating margins, he said. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, May 14, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

Caribbean nations First Colombian rebels miff ed over complete disarmament negative AFP said in a statement. “With this be destroyed. rebel group, reached a deal after Prize for his peace eff orts despite earlier stage. The group is ac- US label Bogota event, a continuous process be- The arms were all supposed to four years of negotiations in the the referendum setback. cused of continuing kidnappings gins to certify the Farc members have been handed over by May 1, Cuban capital. Under the deal Herminsul despite the negotiations. who are making the transition but the UN said there were de- Voters rejected it by a narrow Arellan Barajas, one of the men The ELN has an estimated AFP group of Colombian Farc to civilian life after laying down lays because some Farc members margin in a referendum last Oc- convicted for a Farc bombing 1,500 fi ghters, compared with Georgetown rebels have become the their arms.” were late arriving at the agreed tober. that killed 36 people in Bogota in the Farc’s 7,000. Afi rst to formally complete The Farc is disarming under demobilisation zones. Colombia’s President Juan 2003, was released from prison The Colombian confl ict a disarmament process under a UN supervision as part of last Some 7,000 Farc fi ghters are Manuel Santos and Farc leaders on parole on Friday, a source erupted in 1964 when the Farc he 15-nation Caribbean peace accord designed to end a year’s accord, which the govern- assembling at 26 such points in then drafted a new version of in the penitentiary service told and ELN took up arms for rural Community (CARICOM) half-century-old confl ict, Unit- ment says will eff ectively end a Colombia. the accord and the government AFP. land rights. Tis angry at the United ed Nations monitors have said. 53-year civil confl ict. Under the accord, the UN is pushed it through Congress de- The government in February It drew in various rebel and States for labelling virtually all “A fi rst group of 12 members The accord calls for the Farc supposed to use the metal from spite resistance from critics. opened negotiations with the paramilitary forces and drug members of the regional trade of the Farc received today from to be allowed to transform into a the destroyed Farc weapons to Opponents said the deal was last active rebel force, the Na- gangs as well as state forces. bloc as money laundering juris- the UN mission a certifi cate of political party. build monuments to peace. too lenient on Farc members tional Liberation Army (ELN), in The confl ict has left at least dictions and plans to mount a completion of individual disar- Under the agreement, all the The government and the Farc, since it off ered some of them re- the hope of sealing a “complete 260,000 people dead and dis- stiff lobbying eff ort in Washing- mament, which allows them to Farc’s weapons are supposed to formally known as the Revo- duced penalties for crimes com- peace”. placed more than 7mn, accord- ton, its leader said on Friday. formally begin their reintegra- be taken away by the United Na- lutionary Armed Forces of Co- mitted during the confl ict. The government’s negotia- ing to the authorities. CARICOM secretary general tion into civilian life,” the UN tions by the end of this month to lombia and the country’s biggest Santos won a Nobel Peace tions with the ELN are at a much Irwin La Rocque said the United States’s listing 14 member states in its 2016 International Narcot- ics Control Strategy (INCS) Re- port could have devastating ef- fects on the region. Most of the countries have Protesting pensioners clash economies heavily dependent on tourism and fi nancial services such as off shore banking and economic citizenships. “I think these unilateral with police in Venezuela blacklistings are not helping anything,” he said, adding that “there ought to be some discus- AFP Right: An opposition activist sion and transparency on how Caracas wears a ‘gas mask’ made out of these lists are arrived at”. a bottle of drinking water during La Rocque spoke to AFP af- the protest against the ter the issue was discussed by lderly protesters braved government in Caracas. CARICOM trade ministers at pepper spray in scuffl es a two-day meeting in Guyana, Ewith riot police on Fri- Below: Elderly opposition on the northeast coast of South day as they marched in the lat- supporters cover their faces America. est anti-government protests in after being pepper sprayed He said that when CARICOM Venezuela. while confronting riot security foreign ministers meet in Barba- With wheelchairs and walk- forces during a rally in Caracas. dos next month, they would pre- ing sticks or on their feet shout- pare the groundwork to intensify ing and waving their fi sts, some regional lobbying eff orts that 2,000 demonstrators challenged individual member states have police who blocked their way in already begun in Washington. central Caracas and fi red pepper The only CARICOM member spray to deter them. state not blacklisted by Wash- “We do not want a dictator- ington was Montserrat, a British ship, we want to grow old with overseas territory. dignity, medicine, food and La Rocque insisted that CARI- freedom,” said Lourdes Parra, COM members comply with in- 77, wrapped in a red, yellow and ternational norms for fi ghting blue Venezuelan fl ag. money laundering. Defying calls for early elec- “And all of a sudden we see tions, President Nicolas Maduro these unilateral blacklistings. also rallied elderly supporters, This is not the way to do it,” he who yelled slogans in support said. of him and his late predecessor In recent years, a number of Hugo Chavez. US commercial banks have cut “With Chavez and Maduro, relationships with some banks the grandparents are safe,” they across the Caribbean in an ef- yelled in a crowd in front of the fort to reduce the risk of being presidential palace. exposed to movement of dirty The demo drew attention to money across borders, as part of the suff ering of Venezuelans, the global fi ght against money particularly the elderly, in an laundering and terror fi nancing. economic crisis that has caused Listed as “major money laun- shortages of food and medicine dering countries” in the INCS in the oil-rich country. An opposition supporter in a wheelchair carries a sign with a report are Antigua and Barbuda, Carlos Rivas, 67, stood in the Venezuela’s constitution glued to it, reading ‘Do not change it, obey the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, front line of the demo with emp- it!’ while rallying on Friday against President Maduro in Caracas. Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, ty medicine boxes. Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Ne- “I have no medication and my The next day the government Elected in 2013, Maduro is re- vis, St Lucia, St Vincent and pension doesn’t buy me any- fi red minister Antonieta Capo- sisting pressure for an early vote, the Grenadines, Suriname, and thing,” he told AFP. rale, the offi cial journal said. calling the crisis a US-backed 3% of the medicines and sup- tion have accused each other of “Nothing and no one will hold Trinidad and Tobago. On Wednesday the health Wednesday’s data referred to conspiracy. plies they need to operate nor- sending armed groups to stir up us back. We will succeed in neu- Other Caribbean territories ministry released data showing 2016, but Caporale took over as His opponents have branded mally. violence in the protests. tralising this ambush,” he vowed and countries also labelled as deaths of infants under the age health minister only in January him a dictator. Deadly unrest broke out on The death toll from the unrest late on Thursday, referring to the money launderers in the US re- of one soared by 30% in 2016 this year. A collapse in prices for Ven- April 1. hit 38 on Wednesday, when a protests. “Venezuela demands port are Aruba, the British Vir- and deaths of women linked to Hospitals and protesters are ezuela’s crucial oil exports has Security forces have fi red tear 27-year-old male was shot dead that the rioting and the coup gin Islands, the Cayman Islands, childbirth by 65%. complaining of severe short- left the country short of cash gas and water cannons at pro- in a protest in Caracas, the gov- d’etat stop.” Cuba, Curacao, the Dominican Cases of malaria also rose by ages of medical supplies from an to import medicine and basic testers who have hurled stones, ernment said. The opposition called for Republic, and Saint Maarten. 76% to 240,000, even though economic crisis that has fuelled goods. petrol bombs and excrement in Maduro has accused the op- protesters across the country to Also listed are Canada, the the disease was said to have been opposition demands for early The Venezuelan Medical Fed- response. position of mounting an “armed come out in processions of vehi- Netherlands, Spain, and the eradicated in the country. elections. eration says hospitals have only The government and opposi- insurgency” and a “coup”. cles this weekend. United Kingdom.

Jailed Lula aides say they funnelled Curacao cash to foreign election campaigns offi cers rescue AFP were funnelled to businessmen dered through a slush fund dent Ricardo Martinelli, who is Rio de Janeiro and politicians. known as “Box 2” and that Bra- wanted on corruption charges in In videotaped testimony re- zilian construction giants Ode- his own country and now lives in migrants leased on Friday by Brazil’s Su- brecht and Andrade Gutierrez Miami. op aides to former Brazil- preme Court, Moura said that – both at the heart of the Car Moura said Martinelli, who ian presidents Luiz Inacio in 2012 Nicolas Maduro, then Wash scandal – had contributed was president from 2009 to Reuters TLula da Silva and Dilma vice-president and now presi- $7mn and $2mn respectively to 2014, gave her half a million dol- Willemstad Rousseff say they ferried mil- dent of Venezuela, personally help the re-election of the late lars in “operating costs” while lions of dollars in cash to fi nance handed her suitcases stuff ed Socialist leader. she was working in Panama on presidential election campaigns with a total of $10mn in cash to Moura said it was Lula, a left- behalf of the man he wanted to oastguards from the Car- in Venezuela, El Salvador and help the re-election campaign wing icon who ruled from 2003 succeed him in power. ibbean island of Curacao Panama, according to testimony of his mentor Hugo Chavez, who to 2010 but who is currently on Santana and Moura were both Crescued 26 Venezuelans made public on Friday. won the election but died short- trial on numerous counts of cor- sentenced last February to eight stranded on nearby Little Cura- Joao Santana, a former treas- ly thereafter of cancer. ruption, who pushed the couple years for money laundering in cao on Friday, in the latest case urer for the former presidents’ “Maduro paid me almost to help regional allies, including connection with the Car Wash of migrants fl eeing an economic Venezuelans wait in boats after being rescued by coastguards in Workers Party, was known as weekly in his own offi ce and El Salvador’s leftist Mauricio scandal, and are now collabo- and social crisis at home. Willemstad, Curacao. the “maker of presidents” for delivered the money himself, Funes in 2009. rating with prosecutors to re- As millions of Venezuelans his success as a campaign strat- sometimes in the Mirafl ores She said that the $3mn they duce their sentences. suff er food shortages, medicine island about 30km southeast of trying to enter by sea. egist. palace” of the president, said were given to help in El Salva- In their videotaped testi- scarcity, political turmoil and Curacao. Most are normally deported. He was jailed this year on Moura in her statement. dor – “a country at the end of mony, they said both Lula and soaring crime, some are leaving They were hungry and dehy- Migrants pay fi shermen to corruption charges in Brazil’s She said that on one day alone, the world with war, earthquakes his successor Rousseff – who to nearby islands and bordering drated, with some showing cuts transport them to Curacao, as largest ever corruption probe, Maduro handed her $800,000 and no money” was provided was herself impeached for ac- countries. on their hands and feet, he add- well as neighbouring Aruba, be- known as Operation Car Wash. and provided her with an ar- by Odebrecht, whose former counting irregularities last year Traffi ckers brought the 18 ed. “Many times they say that cause of their proximity to Ven- He and his wife Monica Moura moured car for her own security director has himself been jailed – were fully aware of the ille- men, seven women and one the situation is alarming in Vene- ezuela. are serving eight-year sentences which looked like it belonged to for corruption in the Car Wash gal campaign fi nancing of their teenager to mainland Curacao, zuela, that they do not have food, To avoid detection, passengers for their part in the scandal, in “an American rock star”. case. Workers Party. coastguard spokesman Roderick that they come for a better life.” often disembark a few metres which billions of dollars from Moura said the money for The couple also worked for Lawyers for Lula dismissed Gouverneur said in an interview. Since January, Curacao has de- from land to swim the last leg, the state oil company Petrobras Chavez’s campaign was laun- former Panamanian presi- the accusations as “lies”. Little Curacao is a tiny tourist tained at least 100 Venezuelans witnesses have said. Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Ten killed near Pakistan, China sign China ‘Belt and major agreements Road’ project Reuters Islamabad in Baluchistan

akistan signed new deals Reuters campaign against the cen- with China yesterday Quetta, Pakistan tral government for decades, Pworth nearly $500mn demanding a greater share ahead of Beijing’s international of the gas-rich region’s re- forum on its “Silk Road” trade en labourers were sources. and infrastructure initiative for gunned down in south- Security offi cials have said Asia, Africa and Europe, the Pa- Twestern Pakistan yes- previously that militants try- kistani government said. terday while working on link ing to disrupt construction on The memorandums of under- roads to connect outlying the “economic corridor” have standing add to $57bn already towns to the country’s $57bn killed 44 workers since 2014, pledged for the China-Pakistan Chinese “Belt and Road” ini- all of whom were Pakistani. Economic Corridor (CPEC), a tiative, security offi cials con- Pakistan’s military created network of rail, road and energy fi rmed. an army division in 2015, be- infrastructure that is part of The attack on the Pakistani lieved to number more than the wider Chinese project also labourers took place some 10,000 troops, specifi cally to known as One Belt-One Road. 20km from the emerging port protect CPEC projects and The deals came as Pakistani city of Gwadar in Baluchistan Chinese workers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif province that forms the south- The men killed and wound- met Chinese President Xi Jin- ern hub of the China-Pakistan ed yesterday had been working ping ahead of the Beijing summit Economic Corridor (CPEC). for the provincial government expected to be attended by lead- “All the labourers were shot at two separate construction ers from at least 29 countries to at close range,” said senior lev- sites on three kilometres apart promote Xi’s vision of expanding ies offi cial Mohamed Zareef, along the same road. trade links. adding that the shooters were Two labourers wounded in Delegates in Beijing will hold travelling on a motorcycle. the shootings were taken to a series of sessions today to dis- The levies are a paramilitary hospital where one of them cuss the plan in more detail, in- force that oversees security in died from his injuries, Zareef cluding trade and fi nance. Baluchistan where police ju- said. Proposed in 2013 by Xi, the risdiction is limited to major The roads the labourers were project is broad on ambition but urban centres. working on are not specifi c still short on specifi cs. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif talks with China’s President Xi Jinping (R), ahead of the Belt and Road Forum, in Beijing yesterday. Gwadar’s deep-water port CPEC-funded projects, but Pakistan has been a fl agship is the exit point for a planned they are part of a network of country and one of the most route from China’s far-west- connecting roads that are part enthusiastic supporters of the ern Xinjiang region to the Ara- of the corridor. One Belt-One Road initiative, in bian Sea. No group has admitted re- part because many projects are Nadeem Javaid, who advises sponsibility for the shootings for power plants to alleviate the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s but past attacks in the region country’s decade-long energy- government and works closely have been carried out by sepa- shortage crisis that sees frequent on the CPEC programme, said ratists who view construction blackouts. earlier in the week that the projects as a means to take over “China-Pakistan Economic Gwadar-Xinjiang corridor their land. Corridor is a core component of should be operational from The shootings come a day your visionary initiative of the June next year. after a suicide bomber target- “One Belt-One Road,” Sharif He said Pakistan expects up ting a Pakistani senator killed told Xi when they met at the to 4% of global trade to pass 26 people and injured 40, Bal- Great Hall of China on Satur- through it by 2020. uchistan Home Minister Sar- day, according to the Associated Baluchistan, however, has fraz Bugti said. Press of Pakistan. long faced security concerns. Friday’s attack was claimed Xi called for a swift comple- Separatist militants in by Islamic State via its Amaq tion of projects involving Gwa- the province have waged a news agency. dar Port and special economic China’s Premier Li Keqiang and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shakes hands with China’s and industrial parks along the Sharif attend a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in President Xi Jinping, ahead of the Belt and Road Forum, in Beijing Bank of China to operate in Pakistan corridor, state Xinhua news Beijing yesterday. yesterday. service reported. The signing ceremony was highway system. ment of Havelian Dry Port. as a crucial factor for sustain- OBOR forum. Pakistan’s central bank has Pakistan Economic Corridor witnessed by Prime Minister China says that between 2014 Three agreements related able development of Asia and Chief ministers of Punjab, granted government-run (CPEC) related projects by Nawaz Sharif and Chinese Pre- and 2016, its businesses signed to economic and technical co- beyond, it added. Khyber Paktunkhwa, Balo- Bank of China a licence to leveraging on its experience mier Li Keqiang. projects worth $304.9bn in Belt operation worth 3.4bn yuan for The Pakistan side conveyed chistan and Sindh were also operate in the country to ease and global technology Among the 3.4bn RMB and Road countries. Gwadar port and East Bay ex- that China’s strategic policies present in the meetings. the financial requirements of platform,” the central bank ($493mn) in deals Sharif’s offi ce Some of the projects could be pressway. in the region were for peace and The composition of his dele- Chinese-led “Belt and Road” said in a statement. said were signed yesterday were: in development for years. Federal ministers, adviser on prosperity. gation to China, particularly the projects, the central bank said The statement outlined the „ Two co-operation agree- Some countries are wary of foreign aff airs and chief minis- Sharif voiced gratitude for presence of four Chief Ministers, yesterday. Bank of China’s ambitions ments worth 2.3bn RMB the debt burden that the Chinese ters of all four provinces were China’s support for the launch is testimony to the broad-based China has pledged to invest to become one of Pakistan’s ($333mn) for an airport in the fi nancing could create. also present on the occasion. of the $46bn China-Pakistan Pakistan-China friendship, some $57bn in Pakistan’s leading financial institutions southwestern town of Gwadar, Pakistan, however, has ex- Sharif also reaffi rmed Paki- Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Sharif was quoted as saying. rail, road and energy by opening branches in major site of a deep-water port that is pressed an optimistic view, with stan’s commitment for comple- said: “The CPEC presents a great “Sharif told the Chinese pres- infrastructure through its cities across the country. to provide an outlet to the Ara- the government’s chief econo- tion of early harvest projects un- opportunity for strengthening ident that presence of all chief vast modern-day “Silk Road” It said the Bank of China bian Sea from the far western mist telling Reuters this week der CPEC. regional economy.” minister in the meetings refl ects network of trade routes will first bring in $50mn Chinese province of Xinjiang. that the repayments will peak at Sharif also held meetings with The two sides discussed national harmony that pre- linking Asia with Europe and to meet minimum capital „ Establishment of the Have- around $5bn in 2022, but will be Chinese President Xi Jinping and progress on CPEC — an impor- vails in Pakistan with regard to Africa. requirements. lian Dry Port in Pakistan. more than off set by transit fees assured that Islamabad will fully tant part of Chinese President the country’s relationship with “The Bank of China aims Off icials expect a huge uptick „ Agreement on economic charged on the new transport support Beijing’s OBOR initia- Xi Jinping’s One Belt, One Road China,” the news agency quoted to provide diff erential and in trade between the two and technical co-operation corridor. tive, Associated Press of Paki- vision. sources as saying. specialised banking services countries once Pakistan’s (1.1bn RMB) ($160mn) for the An MoU was also signed on stan (APP) reported. Sharif in his statement Sharif said China was Paki- to eff ectively serve the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar is East Bay Expressway linking upgradation of the main railway The meeting focused on intra- also congratulated Premier stan’s “strategic partner” which financing needs of China functional. Gwadar to Pakistan’s existing line track ML-I and establish- regional trade and connectivity Li Keqiang on hosting the has always stood by the country.

Jadhav case to be Pak team to investigate ex-army offi cer’s disappearance Agencies country in connection with a cial team — so as to forward the where the Pakistani went miss- According to the reports, Islamabad job opportunity, The Nation same to the concerned authori- ing. Zahir had retired as Colonel in pursued forcefully: reported. ties of Nepal — is under consid- The team will also ascertain 2014 and one Mark Thomson According to sources, a team eration,” they added. the frequency of movements had called him to Lumbini based Pakistani team will comprising government offi - Mohamed Habib Zahir disap- across the border with India. on his personal details posted by soon be visiting Nepal cials from the Ministry of Inte- peared from Lumbini near Ne- It is likely that a team from him on a website. Pakistan’s AG A to probe the disap- rior will proceed to Nepal to ex- pal’s border with India. National Counter Terrorism There had been a corre- pearance of a former Pakistan amine the facts fi rst-hand, take The government of Pakistan Authority (NACTA) would be spondence between the two. army officer who was last the statement of Javed Ansari, had approached the Nepalese constituted to visit Nepal, the Thomson had called him to Agencies mir, the Dawn report said. seen in Lumbini in April, and the host and airline offi cials/ government for mutual legal daily said. Nepal for and interview and had Islamabad He said it was necessary to keep whose family alleges he has hotel management to assess as assistance and arrangement for Zahir had arrived in Nepal to h imself sent an air ticket for all measures and options con- been abducted by Indian in- to who arranged his bookings the visit of the team from Paki- reportedly for an interview for a him. fi dential so that the “other side telligence agencies, a media and the like. stan to Nepal. United Nations job. India is believed to have en- set of recommendations might not know the strategy being report said. The Ministry of Foreign Af- The team will seek any other According to reports, Za- trapped and kidnapped Zahir has been sent to the Prime devised”. Ausaf is expected to lead Col (Retd) Habib Zahir was fairs has asked the Interior Min- information from fellow pas- hir arrived in Nepal via an Air from Kathmandu to make it a AMinister’s Offi ce and the the Pakistan side before the ICJ. allegedly kidnapped by Indian istry to nominate a team in this sengers or any other person Arabia fl ight (Call Sign WY case of having apprehended an Foreign Offi ce, strategising how intelligence agencies from an regard, offi cial sources told The concerned and also take state- 344), with the passport no. “ISI spy” and equate it with the to plead Pakistan’s point of view “We have sent our area bordering Nepal and In- Nation. ments of the police offi cer in- AJ5122964, for a UN job inter- case of Indian “spy” Kulbhush- tomorrow before the Interna- recommendations to the dia after he was invited to the “The composition of the spe- charge of the city/town from view in Nepal. an Jadhav, The Nation said. tional Court of Justice (ICJ) on Prime Minister’s Offi ce and the conviction of alleged Indian the Foreign Offi ce” spy Kulbhushan Jadhav. Jadhav was sentenced to death But he did not rule out the by a Pakistani military court on possibility of engaging some- espionage charges and earlier one from abroad, saying the Two Taliban leaders killed in Afghanistan airstrike this week, the ICJ at the Hague endeavour would be to hire the in the Netherlands suspended best minds on internation- the death sentence. al law to advance Pakistan’s Agencies specifi c intelligence inputs in Taliban militants and destroy- in Uruzgan within the past 24 McMaster at a White House on “We have sent our recom- standpoint. Kabul Musa Qala district, killing Us- ing three vehicles, it said. hours, the statement added. Friday briefi ng on Trump’s up- mendations to the Prime Min- However, he acknowledged tad Toor Jan and Fidda Moham- Furthermore, three militants Meanwhile, according to coming trip to the Middle East ister’s Offi ce and the Foreign that time was short since the ed and three militants’ vehicles were killed and eight injured in a an administration offi cial, US and Europe. Offi ce,” Attorney General Ashtar hearing would begin tomorrow. wo local Taliban lead- were also destroyed following separate operation in surround- President Donald Trump has He added that Trump will Ausaf told Dawn on Friday. Islamabad said the Indian ers were killed when the the raid,” the ministry said in a ing areas of Tirin Kot, capital not yet made a decision on discuss the issue with allies Ausaf said a robust reply move (to approach ICJ in Jadhav TAfghan air force struck statement posted on its offi cial of neighbouring Uruzgan prov- whether to send additional at the North Atlantic Treaty would be advanced by Pakistan case) was an attempt to divert a militants’ hideout in restive Facebook page. ince, Xinhua news agency re- American troops to Afghani- Organisation (Nato) summit in a forceful manner, refuting attention from “state-spon- southern Helmand province, In addition, the army per- ported. stan. in Brussels and Group 7 (G7) all allegations levelled against it sored terrorism in Pakistan” and the Defence Ministry said yes- sonnel conducted a cordon and The army bomb disposal “The president wants to hear meeting in Sicily, Italy, later this and also pointing out atrocities that it was analysing the ICJ’s terday. search operation in neighbour- teams also found and defused 28 from our allies as well,” said month, Xinhua news agency re- India was committing in Kash- authority in the matter. “The strike was conducted on ing Marja district, capturing 10 roadside bombs and landmines National Security Adviser HR ported. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, May 14, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Duterte’s net worth Manila, Beijing to open up 14%

By Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino Manila Times sea talks next week: envoy

resident Rodrigo Duterte AFP Santa Romana said the has reported a modest 14% Manila Duterte administration was Phike in net worth since as- putting the South China Sea suming offi ce last year. dispute on a separate track Duterte’s latest statement of he Philippines and China while pursuing economic and assets, liabilities and net worth will open bilateral talks diplomatic relations with Chi- (SALN) showed that his net Ton their dispute over the na, adding that previously bi- worth grew to P27.43mn at the South China Sea next week, lateral ties had been “frozen” end of 2016, from P24.08mn as Manila’s ambassador to Beijing because the territorial row had of June 30, 2016. said yesterday. taken centre stage. The growth in the president’s Philippine President Ro- “To put it on a separate track net worth came from cash on drigo Duterte has sought to is not to abandon or give up but hand and in banks, which in- deepen relations with China rather to compartmentalise it,” creased by P3,148,768.40. despite its extensive island- he said. Duterte reported assets total- building in disputed parts of Duterte has sought closer ties ling P28,428,862.44, including the South China Sea, in the with China and Russia while a Volkswagen sedan acquired in hopes of securing billions of distancing the Philippines from 1978 for P40,000; a Toyota Rav4 dollars’ worth of investments its traditional ally, the United acquired in 1996 for P800,000; from Beijing. States. cash of P18,453,862.44; house- “We will inaugurate the bilat- Last month, he alarmed ob- hold appliances and furniture eral consultative mechanism on servers when he issued a chair- worth P350,000; jewellery issues of particular concern to man’s statement, after hosting worth P300,000; investments each side. This is where the sen- the Association of Southeast worth P3mn; and “other per- sitive issues will be discussed,” Asian Nations (Asean) sum- sonal properties” worth P1mn. ambassador Jose “Chito” Santa mit, which took a soft stance The president also listed seven Romana said in Beijing in com- towards Chinese actions in the residential lots and two houses ments aired by ABS-CBN tel- South China Sea. in Davao City, and properties evision. The statement merely took under the name of daughter Ve- Santa Romana made the note of “concerns expressed by ronica including a residential lot, comments ahead of Duterte’s some leaders over recent devel- two houses, and two agricultural arrival in Beijing to attend the opments in the area”. lots, also in Davao City. One Belt, One Road summit It also ignored an interna- Duterte disclosed P1mn in li- today and tomorrow — a pet tional tribunal ruling last year abilities—a loan from campaign project of Chinese President Xi which said China’s claims to donor Samuel Uy. Jinping. most of the sea were unlawful. Under Section 8 of Republic “The fi rst session will be In this picture made available by the South China Morning Post, Kristine Gonzaga Demeterio (centre-left) sings a song to President Rodrigo Leaders from nearly 30 na- Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and next week but this will be a Duterte during his visit to Hong Kong yesterday. tions are attending next week’s Ethical Standards for Public Of- session that will continue on a forum in Beijing, which will fi cials and Employees), public twice-yearly basis, a chance to from several regional states in- phasised the importance of ing for anything, no conditions. China. I am friends with Xi showcase Xi’s grand plan to offi cials or employees must ac- exchange views on the South cluding the Philippines, Brunei, economic ties with China in a They just want to help. They Jinping,” he said, adding that revive ancient Silk Road trade complish a statement under oath China Sea issue,” he said. Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. meeting with members of the have so much money,” he told China would import fruit from routes by bankrolling rail, showing their assets, liabilities China claims nearly all of the During a stopover in Hong Filipino community. the gathering of around 1,000 the Philippines and invest in maritime and road projects and net worth and fi nancial and strategically vital waterway, Kong on the way to Beijing “China in all good faith wants people at a city hotel. building bridges across Manila’s across Asia, Europe and Af- business interests as of year-end. despite partial counter-claims yesterday, Duterte himself em- to help us. And they are not ask- “I am on friendly terms with main river. rica. Govt eyes gains from China’s Soldier seeks acquittal in transgender murder case plan for infrastructure build-up By Jomar Canlas defence cannot be justifi ably Manila Times appreciated where it is not only uncorroborated by independent By Catherine S Valente “Healthy and robust eco- grids across Asia, Africa and hoping that world leaders at- tween our two sides,” Duterte and competent evidence, but Manila Times nomic exchanges are key to Europe. tending the forum “will have said. Ties between Manila and oseph Scott Pemberton has also extremely doubtful by it- achieving the goal. It is our hope Spanning 65 countries and productive dialogues that will Beijing were strained under asked the Court of Appeals self. Self-defence, like alibi, is a that many initiatives, including accounting for two-thirds of enlighten us on the gaps that the administration of Duterte’s Jto acquit him on the killing of defence which can easily be con- or the second time, Presi- OBOR (One Belt One Road), can the world’s population and a need to be addressed.” predecessor, Benigno Aquino, 26-year-old Filipino transgen- cocted as it is in this case,” the dent Rodrigo Duterte will be part of these wider exchang- third of GDP, the Chinese ini- “I would like to listen to after the Philippines asserted its der Jeff rey “Jennifer” Laude. appeals court had said. Fvisit China, this time to es,” he added. tiative is intended to increase the views of many countries maritime claims on the disput- In his motion for reconsidera- It said the only reason Laude attend the Beijing-led “One Leaders from 28 countries, trade fl ows and boost long-term around the table…We also ed West Philippine Sea (South tion before the appeals court, the was attacked by Pemberton was Belt, One Road” summit, which including Duterte and Presi- regional economic growth. would want to learn from the China Sea). American lance corporal reiter- the latter’s discovery that Laude he said would boost co-opera- dent Vladimir Putin of Russia, For Duterte, the Belt and development experiences of But Duterte has overhauled ated that he merely acted in was not biologically female. tion and connectivity between are set to join the forum. The Road Initiative, which calls other participant countries, the Philippines’ diplomatic re- self-defence. However, Pemberton’s motion Beijing and Manila. most prominent attendee from for infrastructure connectiv- particularly with the opportu- lations since taking offi ce by The US soldier argued that the claimed that the appeals court In an interview with China’s the West will be Prime Minister ity, complements the Philippine nities off ered by the OBOR to courting China to fund his am- appeals court “committed grave relied on “cherry-picked evi- offi cial news agency Xinhua, Paolo Gentiloni of Italy. government’s development enhance economic growth and bitious infrastructure projects error in exempting the prosecu- dence to sustain the conviction Duterte has said developing Other Western nations, in- plan for 2017 to 2022. address global economic chal- while distancing himself from tion from proving that the crime and completely ignored all con- countries like the Philippines cluding the United States, will The Philippine government lenges,” he said. Washington, Manila’s tradi- of homicide was committed trary evidence.” need connectivity with other be represented by offi cials of recently unveiled “Duterten- Duterte, chairman of this tional ally and Beijing’s strate- beyond reasonable doubt and “This honourable court found nations in the region “to de- lower standing. Washington is omics,” an economic strategy year’s Association of South- gic rival. shifting the burden on Pember- credence in the testimonies (of velop a healthy economy and sending a delegation led by Eric to transform the Philippines east Asian Nations, thanked The Philippine President also ton to prove his innocence.” three prosecution witnesses) inclusive growth.” Branstad, senior White House into an upper middle-income China for its continued support maintained that he would not The appeals court had ruled only insofar as they are unfa- “I understand the Belt and adviser. Britain, Germany and economy by 2022 and close to a for the Asean community, in- raise just yet before China the that the Olongapo City Regional vourable to Pemberton. The Road Initiative is primarily an France are to be represented by high-income one by 2040. cluding pushing for Asean-led arbitration award won by the Trial Court committed no error court disregarded such portions economic undertaking that fi nance offi cials. “It (China’s Belt and Road initiatives to promote connec- Philippines from a UN-backed of judgment in sending Pember- of their testimonies that are will build these connections “One Belt, One Road” is Initiative) is in line with my tivity. “We are optimistic that tribunal in July 2016. ton to jail for up to 10 years for consistent with Pemberton’s in- among the countries, and result Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration’s golden age of OBOR will further contribute Duterte admitted that there homicide. nocence,” it said. in mutual benefi t that includes landmark programme to in- infrastructure of increased in- to the enhancement of Asean- are still some challenges in the “We thus fi nd Pemberton’s It also said the court failed increased trade and market ac- vest billions of dollars in in- vestments on infrastructure China co-operation, as it paves relations between Beijing and defence of an impending grave to recognise his surrender as a cess,” the president was quoted frastructure projects includ- projects,” Duterte said. the way for more mutually ben- Manila, which includes the danger more imaginary than “mitigating circumstance at the as saying. ing railways, ports and power The president said he was efi cial economic activities be- South China Sea. real… Indeed, a plea of self- earliest possible opportunity.”

REQUEST Smoked chicken! Plea to declare Call to halt additional UN off icial ‘persona non grata’ coal-fi red plants Anti-crime advocates have asked President Rodrigo Duterte to declare the United Nations special By Ernie B Esconde and GN Power Plant) which uses rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, Balanga City/Manila Times coal; Refi nery Solid Fuel Fired Agnes Callamard, persona non Power Plant (Rsff pp) that uses grata for being unfair to and biased coal and petcoke, a fuel oil waste against the administration, Manila ataan Bishop Ruperto product; and Panasia Power Plant Times reported. In a letter to the Santos yesterday called for that runs on diesel and fuel oil. president, the Volunteers Against Ba stop to the construction He said the Bataan Oil Refi nery, Crime and Corruption (VACC) of additional power plants in the that has been operating in the claimed the unannounced visit of province that use fossil fuels like province for more than 50 years, Callamard to the Philippines last coal and petroleum products, supports the fuel needs of Pana- week disqualifies her as an impartial citing the severe impact on the sia and in part that of Rsff pp. rapporteur or investigator. Dante environment. GN Power Plant is in Marive- Jimenez, chairman of the VACC, The call was made through a les town while the others, in- said the organisation of crime vic- pastoral letter which is to be read cluding the Bataan Oil Refi nery tims had observed closely the state- in the parishes in Bataan that are in Limay, mostly adjacent to ments and actions of the former Santos calls the stand, constitu- barangay Lamao. The parishes Amnesty International off icial tion and road map of the Diocese in Limay and nearby villages in regarding the anti-drug campaign of Balanga concerning the envi- Mariveles – Sisiman and Alas- of the government. ronment. Asin – have conducted studies He claimed the UN rapporteur had On Friday, anti-coal activ- on the eff ects of the coal-fi red arrived at conclusions based on ists belonging to the Coal Free plants to health and the environ- hearsay and polluted sources. Bataan Movement, Limay Con- ment from October to December “A chance for a talk with VACC cerned Citizens, and the Kilu- 2016. victims of heinous crime committed sang Pambansang Demokratiko “The parishioners called our by criminals high on drugs would held a protest rally in Barangay attention as they were experi- have cleared her biases against the Lamao, Limay town denouncing encing diffi culty in breathing. drive of the law enforcement agen- the continued operation of the More children were affl icted cies of the Philippine government,” coal-fi red plants. with asthma, fi sh were found Jimenez added. Santos pointed out that the dead while more plants and trees However, he said, the UN special province has already two power have withered and died,” the A man blows cigarette smoke on his fighting cock at the backyard of his house in Paranaque city, Metro Manila, yesterday. rapporteur instead displayed her plants (San Miguel Global Power bishop said. “blatant biases and unfairness.” Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Lankan airline to Nepal votes in local polls add new Indian to strengthen democracy cities to its By Annabel Symington, AFP Many of the nearly 50,000 network Kathmandu people vying for 13,556 seats in today’s polls are shunning the main political parties to run as IANS epal holds its fi rst local independents or as candidates New Delhi/Colombo elections in two decades for new reformist parties. Ntoday hoping to cement “It couldn’t get any worse. a fraught transition to democ- The gap between society and riLankan Airlines, the na- racy and fi ll an institutional government couldn’t get any tional carrier of the is- void that has seen corruption wider,” George Varughese, Ne- Sland nation, will add three fl ourish. pal representative for the Asia southern India cities – Hydera- The last local representatives Foundation think-tank, said. bad, Coimbatore and Visakhap- were elected in 1997 and their Varughese said the elections atnam – to its network from July, mandates lapsed after their could “undermine the current a statement said yesterday. fi ve-year terms expired at the political dominance of the main According to the statement, height of the brutal Maoist in- three parties.” the fl ights will commence surgency. In Kathmandu, 21-year-old from July 8. After a 2006 peace deal end- Ranju Darshana, whose party “The introduction of these ed a confl ict in which 16,000 name, Bibeksheel Nepali, trans- new routes, along with the people died, the impoverished lates as the “party for rational scheduled frequency increases Himalayan nation began a Nepalis” is running for mayor. in its Delhi and Mumbai serv- rocky transition from a Hindu Also hoping to snatch the ices, will see SriLankan operat- monarchy to a secular fed- votes of people fed up with the ing over 120 fl ights a week to 14 eral republic, which has seen graft-ridden system, is a party cities, thus becoming the carrier the country go through nine recently set up by a former chief that serves the highest number governments. editor of the BBC’s Nepali serv- of points in India,” the airline In the vacuum left at the local ice, Rabindra Mishra, who left said. level, graft has become a way of journalism pledging to clean up Currently, the airline serves life. Nepal is ranked one of the the political quagmire. key Indian cities such as New most corrupt countries in South Both are expected grab votes Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ben- Asia. from the main parties, but galuru, Tiruchirappalli, Trivan- Bureaucrats appointed on neither is likely to win. drum, Kochi, Madurai, Varanasi the basis of allegiance to polit- Under a new 2015 constitu- and Bodh Gaya, and will intro- ical parties fi lled local govern- tion, local elections followed duce four additional frequencies ment positions, and spawned by provincial and national elec- to its daily services from Delhi a shadow industry of brokers tions have to be held by Janu- and Mumbai in July. who earned fees for every- ary 2018 – the fi nal step in the Residents gather to receive their voter identity cards in Kathmandu yesterday ahead of forthcoming local elections in the Himalayan nation. The statement said the new thing from getting citizenship drawn-out peace process. routes will be serviced by Airbus documents to registering a The charter gives local gov- local level,” said Varughese. parties – from bottom to top. countries in Transparency In- well-connected get richer. 320/321 aircraft. marriage. ernments to be elected today But not everyone is It will legitimise them in the ternational’s global corruption Polls open at 7am (0115 GMT) “These new routes are intro- When Mahananda Timilsina a large degree of autonomy in optimistic. system,” she said. perception index. today in three provinces, with duced with the aim of provid- decided to extend his house, how they spend allocated funds. Anti-corruption activist Bhusal added that low wages The watchdog’s survey found 283 local municipalities vot- ing passengers with added con- getting permission took Observers say the measure Sharada Bhusal said the polls for local level offi cials was part that in Nepal political parties ing for candidates for seven venience, seamless travel and months of work and involved will help undermine the deeply would only cement the current of the problem – the best paid and public offi cials were con- positions. easy onward connectivity from hefty bribes. ingrained rent-seeking culture. corrupt system, particularly in get less than $250 a month. sidered the most graft-ridden The vote has been split into Colombo,” it said. “If there were elected repre- “The allocation of funds rural communities. “They are almost in a situa- institutions – viewed as corrupt two phases because of the threat SriLankan Airlines is a mem- sentatives at the local level, the will be tailored to suit the local “It is the same so-called lead- tion where they are forced to be by 90% and 85% of people. of unrest in the southern plains ber of the Oneworld airline alli- civil servants wouldn’t dare to needs, rather than tailored to ers who will contest in the elec- corrupt to feed themselves,” she Bhusal says the system leaves bordering India. The remain- ance, being the fi rst airline from ask for bribes from us,” said the the centre. And tailored by peo- tion as well. It will strengthen said. ordinary Nepalese without ba- ing four provinces will vote on the Indian sub-continent to join 35-year-old. ple who are accountable at the the foundation of the political Nepal ranks 131 out of 176 sic services, while the politically June 14. any global airline alliance. Six Indian climbers reach Everest Bangladeshi

AFP “Six members from our team ing to Transcend Adventures’ snowfall and unusually cold the way for the fi rst summit of Kathmandu reached the summit this morn- facebook page. temperatures have forced most the season. ing, the fi rst of the season,” con- “We have 23 in our team and teams to delay their summit The season has already been hit IS fi ghter fi rmed Satish Kumar from Tran- 19 are sponsored by the govern- attempts. by two deaths – experienced Swiss ix Indian climbers reached scend Adventures, the operator ment. They are between 19-29 Nearly 750 climbers are waiting climber Ueli Steck who died late the top of Mount Everest organising the climb. years old from low income fami- to ascend the 8,850m (29,035ft) April while on an acclimatisation Syesterday, the fi rst group to Some members of the team are lies. They have been training for peak from the Nepal side, and an- climb and 85-year-old Min Bahadur summit the world’s highest peak from low income backgrounds one and a half years,” team leader other 300 on the Tibet side. Sherchan who died while attempt- killed in Iraq this season. and had been sponsored by the Shekhar Babu said. On the busier south side, a ing to reclaim his title as the world’s The team reached the peak state government of Andhra The busy spring climbing team of highly skilled rope fi xers oldest person to summit Everest. from the northern Tibet side of Pradesh, in southeastern India. season on Everest runs from are still waiting for a period of Last year fi ve people lost their IANS Bangladeshi IS fi ghter, Gazi the mountain yesterday morn- The fi rst member of the group late April to May when a narrow good weather to lay the ropes to lives on the world’s highest peak, Dhaka Kamrus Salam Sohan, met ing, with the fi rst climber sum- to reach the peak was Nagaraju window of good weather opens the summit. while 443 successfully summit- him in Raqqa, Syria between miting at 8:20am (0020 GMT) Sundarana whose parents are allowing climbers to reach the A group of Sherpa climbers ed from the Nepal side and an- April and May 2015. and the rest of the group follow- day labourers, followed by son of top of the world. fi xed ropes to the peak on the other 197 made it to the top from he Islamic State group Sohan, a former Desco en- ing shortly after. a fi sherman, Satya Rao, accord- But so far high winds, fresh north side on Thursday, paving the north side in Tibet. has released the photo gineer, returned home in mid- Tof a Bangladeshi youth May 2015. Upon his arrest in who was killed fi ghting for the Dhaka, Sohan told investiga- terror outfi t in Iraq, a media tors that Taz had been work- report said. ing as a physiotherapist at a Envoy joins road safety drive The photo was of Taz Rah- hospital in Raqqa. man, who was from Moham- Taz was the son-in-law of Glitch grounds madpur in Dhaka, Dhaka Abdul Mannan, who leads the Tribune reported. Islamic Society of Northern The photo, published early Finland, and also the second on Thursday in Arabic Nashir in command of the local Social channel on Telegram and later Democratic Party. one of Modi’s in At-Tamkin Bangla website, According to a close friend identifi es him as Abu Ismail of Taz, who requested ano- al-Bengali. nymity, he met Taz in Cyprus The photo statement does in 2000 and left for Finland not contain the time of his with his Latvian wife in 2011. choppers death, but Swedish-Bangla- They were separated the deshi journalist Tasneem Kha- following year. lil told the Dhaka Tribune that Taz got married to the Agencies tral town of Hatton lost their he had possibly been killed in daughter of Mannan of Olu- Colombo roofs when the helicopters Iraq earlier this month. lu city. Later he got close to landed at two grounds in the A close family source con- some Jamaat-e-Islami men area and at least one woman fi rmed his identity to the including Abdus Salam. helicopter, which was injured, local media Dhaka Tribune. “Taz’s wife may have trav- was part of Indi- reported. “Taz Rahman was active in elled to Syria with him. They Aan Prime Minister Modi wrapped up his Sri the Finnish jihadi/Islamist had a small child,” a source Narendra Modi’s entourage Lanka visit on Friday during Danish ambassador to Bangladesh Mikael Hemniti Winther (extreme right) leads a motorbike rally to promote scene until 2013/2014 before close to Taz told the Dhaka on his two-day Sri Lanka which he took part in the In- road safety awareness in Dhaka yesterday. Behind him is his wife Ratanawadee Winther riding a bike. Winther migrating to Syria,” Tasneem Tribune, but could not con- visit, remains grounded in ternational Vesak Day celebra- is the chairperson of AIP Foundation Thailand, an international non-government organisation which works for added. fi rm the information. Taz Kandy after it developed a tions and addressed Indian- promotion of road safety. The rally was arranged by BRAC to observe UN Global Road Safety Week. He was last seen in Finland also co-owned a halal shop in technical problem, a media origin Tamils. in January 2015, while another Finland. report said quoting offi cials He addressed the Tamils yesterday. of Indian origin in Dickoya The Mi-17 helicopter town in the tea growing Cen- is grounded at the As- tral Province of Sri Lanka and giriya grounds after it inaugurated a Rs1.5bn super- failed to take off on Friday speciality hospital built with Nepal still to work out how to profi t from S Asia satellite when Modi departed in his India’s assistance. special fl ight. Modi was the chief guest Sri Lankan Air Force has at the inauguration of the IANS the satellite and that Nepal was of external aff airs, the commu- hailed the gesture as a new face of A senior diplomat at the In- helped identify the fault with UN-recognised 14th Inter- Kathmandu eager to benefi t from it. nication satellite aims to provide co-operation in space for com- dian embassy in Kathmandu the helicopter which awaits national Vesak Day meant to The Nepali side, however, has yet participating countries television mon good of the neighbourhood. noted that Nepal would get two spare parts from India, offi - mark the birth, enlighten- to fi gure out what exactly it wants services and communications On the occasion, Nepal’s Prime transponders on this satellite, cials said. ment and passing away of epal is yet to work out from the satellite and how to get it. technology for bank ATMs and e- Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and India would provide neces- A fl eet of helicopters Lord Buddha. how to reap benefi ts The Himalayan Times quoted governance, and may even serve stressed on taking the best possible sary training and orientation, were used for Modi’s travel Modi arrived in Sri Lanka Nfrom the South Asia Sat- Bhrigu Dhunga, who heads the as a backup for cellular networks, benefi ts from the satellite services, the Himalayan Times said. from Colombo to Dikoya, at the invitation of President ellite that India launched as a South Asia division of Nepal’s especially in places where the ter- as it would help provide communi- India has already proposed to Kandy and from there back Sirisena. This was his sec- ‘gift to its neighbours’ on May 5, ministry of foreign aff airs, as restrial connectivity is weak. cation services in the mountainous impart training to Nepali engi- to Colombo International ond visit to the Indian Ocean a media report said. saying, “We are yet to decide Soon after the launch of SAS, and hilly regions of Nepal. neers at ISRO headquarters in airport to return home on island nation as prime Nepal and India had signed a which services we’ll use and leaders of the six benefi ting na- The Indian side has off ered to pro- Bengaluru, but the Nepali side Friday. minister after his visit in MoU in March 2016, stating no what will be its modality.” tions in a video conference with vide at least one transponder with a is yet to respond to the proposal, Several houses in the cen- March 2015. objection to the launching of According to India’s ministry Prime Minister Narendra Modi bandwidth of 24,000 to 36,000MHz. the daily said. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, May 14, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Taking the fi ght to cancer,

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar other diseases essential [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), By Princess Dina Mired developing world has the same chance lessons of taxation are appropriately Commission on Ending Childhood 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Amman/Jordan to be cured as a child with cancer in a shared, as well as lessons on plain Obesity. Fax 44350474 developed country. packaging so member states can make It is this breadth and depth of As we speak, a child in Africa with informed judgment calls. Nishtar’s international experience still ALL Leukemia has 10% chance for a It’s not only tobacco control; at tackling the global epidemic of remember cure, whilst his/her counterpart in with the proportion of people that heart disease, diabetes and cancer the moment the developed world has 90% cure are overweight and obese going up - amongst many other attributes Ithat the rate. This is totally unacceptable. The across the world, the WHO has a key - qualifi es her for the critically doctor told us chance for a cure should not be an role to play in bringing stakeholders important position of Director- GULF TIMES that our son had accident of geography. together and spreading lessons across General World Health Organisation. “cancer.” That As a former Director-General of the world. For example, the soda tax Nishtar is the only candidate six-letter word the King Hussein Cancer Foundation in Mexico has reduced consumption that has looked at health challenges packed an emotional punch and we for 15 years, I have worked in Jordan of sugary drinks and Jamaica has through virtually every lens and were hit by a combination of shock, and campaigned around the world launched a public exercise programme has the all-round experience as an sadness, helplessness, confusion and for better prevention and treatment to raise physical activity. internationally respected medical Hack attack calls to cancer. As president-elect for Next month, WHO member states doctor, civil society leader, former mostly fear. Fear that we could lose our most precious. My husband and I kept the Union of International Cancer will elect a new WHO Director- cabinet minister, thought leader, and asking ourselves, why did this happen Control (UICC), I am dedicated to General who has the opportunity technical expert, making her uniquely to our family? What did we do wrong? reducing the global cancer burden, to drive action on NCDs around the positioned to lead in the “SDG era” for greater data How did we miss the symptoms? promoting greater equity, and world: to take on the tobacco and and tackle the multi-faceted health After the initial shock subsided, integrating cancer control into food industries and hold countries problems that the world now faces. we switched to action to help save the world health and development to account in their delivery of the Nishtar has garnered unprecedented our little boy. In Jordan at the time agenda. Comprised of over 1,000 global NCD targets. They must also support from women around the world security globally (1997) there was no quality cancer organisations from 162 countries, ensure that the next Director-General through her women’s declaration and treatment, so we were lucky to be able we’re the largest cancer-fighting understands, identifi es with and she would be the fi rst leader from the to aff ord the life-saving opportunity organisation in the world. prioritises the situations of women WHO EMRO region and a country The cyberattacks that swept the world and crippled for treatment in the UK and later in According to the World Health and mothers around the world - that falls within the Organisation of thousands of computers on Friday highlight the risk to the US. Organisation (WHO), three quarters particularly those in the less wealthy Islamic Co-operation. data security within the global system and reinforces the With God’s grace and quality of all NCD deaths (28mn), and the regions of the world, where care is As someone who has been touched treatment, our son beat ALL majority of premature deaths (82%), equally as crucial but far more diffi cult by cancer, and who has witnessed need for cyber security to be at the heart of government leukaemia and survived. I know we occur in low- and middle-income to access. fi rst-hand the inequity of cancer planning. were lucky to have the opportunity countries. This is already a global All three candidates are outstanding care and other NCDs, especially in The attacks came in the form of ransomware, a to save him and we are thankful every pandemic and we have much work to individuals with impeccable track developing world, I am determined to technique used by hackers that locks users’ fi les unless day for the gift of his cancer-free do to make sure that everyone has the records working in global health. One do all I can to combat this diseases. I status. However, millions of parents access to a cure. candidate stands out, and that is Dr urge all governments to step up and they pay the attackers a designated sum in the virtual who love their children as much as we A critical component will be how Sania Nishtar whom I have known vote for the right leader to fi ght the currency Bitcoin. do are not able to perform a parents’ WHO steps up to tackle cancer and professionally and personally for leading global disease killers. The scope of the attacks was not immediately clear, sacred duty of being able to protect other non-communicable diseases. some time. She has been a formidable but some analysts have reported that dozens of countries and save their children. On smoking in particular, the evidence leader combating NCDs for the z Princess Dina Mired from Jordan is As a mother of a cancer survivor, I is clear that increased taxation is one last 20 years - from being the fi rst a global advocate for cancer and other had been aff ected, with the malware linked to attacks on plan to work tirelessly to help reduce of the most eff ective ways to reduce female cardiologist in Pakistan and NCDs. She writes this comment in her hospitals in Britain as well as the Spanish telecom giant the global burden of childhood smoking and related disease. It is working with patients on prevention individual capacity and not on behalf Telefonica and the US delivery fi rm FedEx. cancer and ensure that a child in the important for the WHO to ensure and treatment to chairing the WHO of any organisation. The US Department of Homeland Security’s computer emergency response team said it was aware of ransomware infections “in several countries around the world. The British government already confi rmed that it was an international attack and that a number of countries and organisations have been aff ected. The problem appeared to have begun on Friday morning when hospitals in the UK were crippled by a large-scale cyberattack, which forced operations to be cancelled and ambulances to be diverted. Security experts are still trying to get their arms around this global problem. According to Alan Woodward, a professor of computing at the University of Surrey, this particular malware emerged in February, and it has one purpose: “to extort money in return for releasing the data it has encrypted.” And that’s not even the worst of it. Woodward warned there are two problems. “First, there is no Security experts guarantee the criminals will release your data,” are still trying he said, “and second, to get their arms even if you do have your data released, there is no around this guarantee the criminals won’t repeat the global problem exercise.” Woodward said the malware “acts as a ‘worm.’” “Once inside a network it seeks out and aff ects any susceptible computer it can fi nd on the network,” he said. “The only sensible way to tackle it is to ‘pull the plug’ King Hussein Cancer Foundation so that it can’t spread any more until you can isolate the aff ected machines and work out a remediation plan.” Cyber experts have warned that all countries are the targets of phishing, a fraudulent practice of sending e-mails pretending to be from reputable companies to Tackling Qatar’s urban development challenges induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. Qatar needs closer limited walkability, poor air quality municipalities, private sector partners QGBC, for instance, was recently The phishing attack is also on the increase over the and ineffi cient public transportation and public sector institutions. This awarded the right to host Urban smartphones as mobile phones are a key target of the public and private sector network, are some of the main is what is required to ensure these Thinkers Campus (UTC) in Doha as cyber hackers, of late. engagement to achieve challenges the government expect to challenges are identifi ed and tackled in part of its mission to raise awareness about sustainable living in Qatar. Hence, it is the interest of everyone that they keep their sustainable urban tackle as part of its long-term urban a sustainable manner. Internet-connected devices well protected against all development strategy. Successfully Qatar’s public sector needs to UTC is part of the World Urban development tackling these challenges through an identify practical solutions to engage Campaign (WUC), an initiative of such attacks. eff ective public and private sector the private sector from the outset of UN-Habitat, which aims to raise Regardless of the origin of the attacks, the situation stakeholder engagement will have a urban planning policy development. awareness of the UN’s ‘New Urban confi rms how important it is to maintain resilience of By Engineer Hamoda Yousef, unique opportunity to drive Qatar to Government agencies’ work can be Agenda’ across emerging cities. Head of Communications at QGBC become a regional role model. speeded up if these stakeholders are The Campus will bring together the national critical infrastructure, including in telecom, Qatar has committed itself to more closely involved. Policies devised leading Urban thinkers, government aviation, and banking and public health sectors. achieving the United Nations’ in isolation, and which the private decision-makers, members of The authorities need to be clear about what has atar’s urban Sustainable Development Goals sector will struggle to implement will the private sectors, members of happened worldwide on Friday and what measures they development (UN SDGs) as part of its ongoing not achieve their targets. academia, students, designers and ought to take either to eliminate or reduce threats to the is a relatively development within the framework Most importantly, it is vital for the consultants to gauge Doha’s current Qyoung of the Qatar National Vision 2030. stakeholders to ensure members of urban development potential and the global computer system. experience with the An important testament to this the wider community are consulted way forward for a sustainable and Certainly, digital revolution has transformed the fi rst substantial urban commitment is the appointment on a regular basis. Personal benefi t intelligent Doha city. way we live and work but we have to be ready for the settlement appearing of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, is an aspect that needs to be strongly Professional events, such as the vulnerabilities it brings too. in the 1940s. Ninety- Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, as conveyed to all members of the Urban Thinkers Campus and QGBC’s nine per cent of Qatar’s one of the global advocates for UN community, and how an individual in-house trainings are complementary population currently live in cities. The SDGs. can benefi t from these eff orts for to the more public outreach campaigns country has taken signifi cant steps From an international perspective, sustainability. A huge behaviour such as the No Paper Day campaign towards creating a more sustainable there has been several eff orts to change and support from the and the Green Life loyalty programme. To Advertise and improved urban infrastructure. tackle the rapid increase of urban community is required for meaningful These activities allow members of the We have seen this happen as major population and exponential negative urban development to take place, and community in Qatar to learn, benefi t [email protected] neighbourhoods, such as Msheireb impact the urban development the gap between government, the and contribute to the sustainability Display Downtown Doha, Education City, is imposing on the environment. private sector and individual members agenda. Policy, academia and Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Katara and Lusail City, have come In light of the UN SDGs and UN- of the community must be bridged. the personal application of to life. These major projects, may Habitat’s “New Urban Agenda”, Qatar Green Building Council’s sustainability are complementary to Classified seem few in number, but are leading tackling Qatar’s urban development (QGBC) various initiatives including each other. The bones of the policy Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 developments which have started to challenges requires a cohesive technical events, training and and government are essential to the reshape Qatar’s urban landscape. cross-sectoral engagement strategy. education programs, public events, accomplishment of a sustainable Subscription Doha’s urban life, despite the recent We should work on establishing and outreach campaigns, provide city, but these are pointless if they [email protected] progress, faces major challenges. The comprehensive stakeholder co- eff ective ways for members of the do not see an application in the daily increase of waste production, the ordination, eff ective public awareness public to learn about sustainability, lives of people. Bridging this gap lack of regular recycling schemes, as and closer community engagement. get involved, have their voices heard, is of fundamental importance, and 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved well as an increased consumption of Closer co-ordination among the key and make the necessary behaviour this is a vital part of QGBC’s role in water and electricity, urban sprawling, urban development parties, such as changes for a sustainable future. Qatar. Gulf Times Sunday, May 14, 2017 27 COMMENT The wages of wage fear

By Bill Emmott caused household demand to remain London depressed or grow only sluggishly, thereby deterring businesses from investing. In the US, low wages at the f all else fails, try the previously bottom end of the labour market have unthinkable. It is not a bad discouraged millions of working- principle for economic policy in age individuals from even seeking Ithe best of times. Today, it may employment. That certainly can help be just what is needed: many Western to reduce the offi cial unemployment countries – certainly the United rate, but it does little for the economy. States, Japan, and Germany, probably The US federal minimum wage of the United Kingdom, and soon much $7.25 per hour is one-third lower in of the rest of the eurozone – should real (infl ation-adjusted) terms than it pursue direct government intervention was at its peak in 1968. Japan’s average in wage bargaining, especially for the statutory minimum wage of ¥823 lowest earners. ($7.40) per hour is barely higher. Even Japan has spent the last 15 years where the authorities have taken steps struggling with slow growth, anaemic to raise minimum wages – the UK household demand (especially among since last year, as well as US states like poorer families), and rising inequality California and New York, which are and poverty. Similar conditions now targeting a $15 hourly minimum wage prevail in the US as well; indeed, by 2020 – they are not moving fast or they helped Donald Trump to be far enough. Japan is raising its minimum elected president, by creating a wage only slightly faster than infl ation. suffi ciently large group of what he Inequality remains the scourge of quite reasonably called “forgotten our era, with the bargaining power of Americans.” And before Trump’s the lowest-skilled workers severely victory, such conditions spurred the undermined by automation and UK’s so-called “left behind” to vote developing-country competition. for Brexit. If “forgotten” groups are not to Without a sharp increase in wages be permanently left behind and – mainly statutory minimum wages – alienated, governments must take populism will continue to thrive, and bolder action. most Western economies will remain In the 1960s, Japan’s “income saddled with slow growth. Inequality doubling” plan helped it to develop a not just of income and wealth, but consumer economy. Perhaps the time also of perceived political voice and “rise of the robots” and the growing The main reason why governments But it is time to take courage. Fiscal Wage intervention is virtually the only has come to introduce a “minimum- infl uence, will continue to grow. And power of automation, more generally, are leery of intervening in wage setting policy – cutting taxes or raising public option left. wage doubling” plan, implemented the temptation to pursue shortsighted to destroy jobs? Don’t I believe in is the memory of the failed wage and spending – is too constrained by high Moreover, the risks of raising the over a few years, thus giving business solutions – such as closing borders market solutions? price controls during the period of government debt to be much use in minimum wage are probably not as the chance to adjust. For leaders who and implementing protectionism – The answer to all three questions is high infl ation in the 1970s – controls stimulating demand, and attempts great as they have been made out to be have received the fi nancial support of will become irresistible. “yes.” But policies need to be tailored that gave rise to large and troublesome to use it to redistribute resources – at least not now. To be sure, there are the very rich and the electoral support Yet the suggestion that to conditions, and they need to refl ect distortions. But a second, more from rich to poor have created their times when such wage increases can of those left behind, such a plan would governments should act directly to choices between the competing current reason relates to lobbying own problems. Monetary policy – in risk killing employment. But today is seem to be a political winner. Any raise the price of lower-skilled labour interests of diff erent groups. (Indeed, from businesses, which argue that particular, the vast money-printing not one of those times: countries like interest, President Trump? – Project is likely to be met with sharp intakes that is the whole point of politics.) corporate competitiveness depends on “quantitative easing” programmes the US, Japan, Germany, and the UK Syndicate of breath and sotto voce comments And current conditions, together cheap labour. Governments also have pursued by central banks in recent are at virtually full employment. that I must be mad. Don’t I know that with the interests of the “left behind,” their own self-interest to consider: years – has run out of space, too, with The risk in these countries is not zBill Emmott, a former editor-in-chief higher minimum wages risk causing indicate that the once-unthinkable the public sector often employs a lot of price infl ation ticking up and central- the risk of rising unemployment, of The Economist, is Chairman of the unemployment? Haven’t I heard of the has become essential, if not inevitable. minimum-wage earners. bank balance sheets a record size. but stagnating wages, which has Wake Up Foundation.

Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Education ‘victim’ over students due to the overlapping The traffi c moves at a snail’s pace as dirt road they often end up having fl at High: 40 C infl uence of private tuitions. one approaches the Barwa Village. tyres. Low : 30 C Inshore: Hot daytime with slight dust of private tuition But the biggest victim in this whole The jam builds up because the road Last year, a construction company and scattered clouds. episode is education itself. Education narrows down from three to two lanes did the road markings but still there is Dear Sir, is not business and should never be. near the old Barwa Village signal no further progress. Knowledge is to be shared and not and the Hamad Airport interchange, I request the authorities to build MONDAY There are many illogical and hoarded up like money. where it joins the G-Ring Road. This this road on a priority basis. High: 39 C diffi cult traditions that have become Education is a selfl ess pursuit problem has started after the opening Low: 28 C deep-rooted weeds in our society. where a teacher aims at the holistic of G-Ring Road and the subsequent (Name and address supplied) Sunny I fear private tuition is one such development of a student. On the closure of the Barwa Village traffi c practice that is widely found in the contrary, tuitions have reinforced the signal. Indian community. As an expert put concept of marketing education to We know that the authorities are Please send us TUESDAY it, it may be because “in our system, make money. It has taken the gleam tirelessly working to improve the High: 40 C unfortunately, marks speak’’. off teaching as a noble profession. I traffi c situation but I humbly request your letters Low: 28 C There are several reasons to bring an hope that parents will listen to their them to look into this bottleneck and Sunny end to this system which is supposed children and take better decisions. fi nd a solution to the morning traffi c By e-mail to complement school education. Let us all realise that education is not woes of commuters. [email protected] Apart from the confusion resulting about marks and grades alone but Fishermen’s forecast Fax 44350474 from being taught diff erent methods equipping people with the skills for a Irfan Quadri OFFSHORE DOHA and loss of time for personal study, better social life. Wakrah Or Post Wind: SE-NW 05-14 KT several students are forced to go Letters to the Editor Waves: 1-3/4 Feet to tuition centres by their parents. Reegana Doulath INSHORE DOHA Gulf Times Wind: NW-NE 05-15/18 KT Though tuitions do help many (e-mail address provided) Plea to build Waves: 1-2 Feet students, it conveys the message that Wukair road P O Box 2888 private lessons are better than what is Doha, Qatar Around the region taught in classrooms. Traff ic bottleneck on Weather Weather tomorrow Tuitions also cause indiscipline Dear Sir, All letters, which are subject today Max/min Max/min among students who think they can Wakrah-Doha road Abu Dhabi Sunny 38/28 Sunny 38/29 learn at the tuition centre whatever Though the initial steps to build to editing, should have the Baghdad Sunny 39/24 Sunny 42/25 Dubai Sunny 38/27 Sunny 38/27 has been missed in the classrooms. Dear Sir, Street No 364 in Zone 91, Al Wukair name of the writer, address Kuwait City Sunny 41/27 Sunny 41/28 There are also instances of teachers were taken about a couple of years ago, and phone number. The Manama Sunny 38/27 Sunny 39/28 sharing tips and bits of useful This letter is to bring to the notice nothing has been done until now. This writer’s name and address Muscat P Cloudy 37/31 Sunny 38/30 information at tuition centres so as to of authorities the problems faced by is causing problems for the residents Riyadh M Sunny 40/27 Sunny 41/27 attract students. However, teachers motorists who travel from Wakrah of the area. As they are forced to drive may be withheld by request. Tehran Sunny 31/19 M Sunny 32/19 feel insecure about their infl uence to Doha during the morning hours. their vehicles on the rough and rocky

Live issues Energy drinks ‘dangerous for heart patients’

QNA Canberra

rinking just two energy drinks can cause cardiac arrest in patients who Around the world Dhave an undiagnosed heart Weather Weather condition, an Australian study warns. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min The long QT syndrome (LQTS) Athens Sunny 34/19 M Sunny 30/17 condition aff ects 1 in 2,000 people and Beirut Sunny 29/24 Sunny 28/21 Bangkok S T Storms 32/27 S T Storms 32/27 can cause a rapid, irregular heartbeat Berlin S T Storms 22/11 S Showers 21/11 that can sometimes be fatal. Cairo Sunny 40/22 Sunny 40/21 “The potential cardiovascular Cape Town Sunny 24/12 Sunny 28/13 risk of energy drinks continues Colombo S T Storms 31/26 T Storms 31/27 T Storms 34/27 to emerge as an important public Dhaka 33/26 T Storms Hong Kong S T Storms 27/25 S Showers 27/23 health issue,” said lead investigator Istanbul M Sunny 26/14 P Cloudy 19/12 Christopher Semsarian, a professor Jakarta P Cloudy 32/25 P Cloudy 33/25 at the University of Sydney in Karachi Sunny 34/28 Sunny 35/28 Australia. London P Cloudy 18/09 S Showers 18/14 Manila P Cloudy 37/27 P Cloudy 38/27 Previous research has shown that Moscow P Cloudy 13/02 P Cloudy 16/06 energy drinks can cause serious heart New Delhi Sunny 44/29 Sunny 44/29 problems in people without genetic consuming an energy drink or a non- Two of the three participants had defi brillator for recurrent fainting. New York S Showers 19/11 Cloudy 19/12 heart disease, but the researchers said energy drink. sharp increases in blood. “Some individual patients may be Paris Rain 20/10 M Cloudy 23/14 Sao Paulo M Cloudy P Cloudy 22/14 this is the fi rst study to examine the After consuming an energy drink, These patients all had a family at a higher risk. We therefore suggest 24/17 Seoul Sunny 22/11 P Cloudy 20/11 potential threat to people with LQTS. three of the patients (12.5%) had history of sudden cardiac death. caution in allowing the consumption Singapore S T Storms 31/26 M Cloudy 31/26 The study included 24 people with dangerous QT prolongation — when Two of them had previously of energy drinks in young patients Sydney Showers 18/14 Showers 17/13 hereditary LQTS, aged 16 to 50, who heart muscle takes longer than normal experienced severe symptoms and with LQTS,” Semsarian said in a Tokyo Cloudy 22/17 Cloudy 22/15 were assessed for 90 minutes after to recharge between beats. received an implantable cardioverter- journal news release. Gulf Times 28 Sunday, May 14, 2017 QATAR Qatar Airways, HIA successfully conduct ‘Delta Oryx’ exercise atar Airways and Hamad Right: A military helicopter International Airport participating in ‘Delta Oryx 2017’. Q(HIA) have successfully concluded this year’s emergency Below: Al-Meer with the HIA exercise on Thursday, which was team and others who took part dubbed “Delta Oryx 2017”. in ‘Delta Oryx 2017’. The full-scale emergency ex- ercise, which is conducted by the Hamad International Airport every two years to test the ac- tivation and functionality of its emergency facilities, was held in co-ordination with 28 govern- ment agencies, stakeholders and partners including Qatar Coast- guard, Internal Security Forces, Qatar Navy, and the Qatar Emiri Air Force. According to Qatar Airways, the emergency simulation con- sisted of a crash site in the sea adjacent to the airport. “The planned emergency simulation is an annual proce- dure at Qatar Airways, initiated as a means of testing emergency facilities, in addition to ensuring that our staff are well-prepared dously successful, simulated Badr Mohamed al-Meer said: ganisation (ICAO), airports are to handle and deal with the situ- emergency exercise,” he added. “We at HIA strive for excellence required to hold an emergency ation in the most eff ective man- The exercise also tested spe- in everything we do, includ- exercise every two years to fulfi l ner,” Qatar Airways said. Al-Baker with member of the Qatar Airways Group Emergency Management Team. cialised forces’ arrangements for ing our preparedness in a crisis, their licensing requirements. “Delta Oryx 2017” incorpo- rescue at sea and Hamad Medical which is why this exercise, being As an airport directly located rated the use of a 30-seater mock three military helicopters, fi ve emergency simulation aimed to “On behalf of Qatar Airways, Corporation’s emergency activa- HIA’s third full-scale exercise, beside the sea, HIA is also re- aircraft, two Qatar Airways air- airport safety and security vehi- challenge our employees, who I would like to thank all the gov- tion of all public hospitals and simulated an aircraft incident at quired by ICAO international craft chutes, 170 volunteer pas- cles, and 10 Mowasalat buses. responded with the upmost pro- ernment agencies, stakeholders, selected primary healthcare fa- sea, not within the confi nes of regulations to ensure adequate sengers, 60 volunteer family Qatar Airways Group chief ex- fessionalism and sense of duty, partners, specialised forces, vol- cilities. the airport.” emergency procedures are in members and friends, 39 dum- ecutive Akbar al-Baker said: “We refl ecting our high standards of unteers and lastly our employees On the HIA’s successful com- In accordance with the re- place in the event that occupants mies to display casualties, 40 are very proud of the success safety and security at Qatar Air- for co-ordinating and delivering pletion of the emergency exer- quirements established by the are to be rescued from an aircraft ambulance response vehicles, of ‘Delta Oryx 2017’. This year’s ways.” this year’s complex, yet tremen- cise, HIA chief operating offi cer International Civil Aviation Or- that has crashed into the sea.