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Saturday 20 April 2019 | 15 Sha'baan 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 7867 | 2 Riyals

The big Ooredoo Your home internet will now be Supernet boost up to 5x faster for FREE! Terms & conditions apply Turkey arrests Move to check two suspected of spying rising cases of for UAE thyroid cancer QNA & AGENCIES ISTANBUL FAZEENA SALEEM The two-day THE PENINSULA conference has Turkey yesterday arrested two alleged intelligence operatives With the onset of thyroid cancer gathered local, working on behalf of the United on the rise in the country espe- regional and Arab Emirates, Anadolu Agency cially among young people, local international speakers reported judicial sources as and international experts and more than saying. gathered here to discuss According to Anadolu, the methods to check the spread of 1,200 healthcare suspects were arrested as part disease. professionals. of a probe by Istanbul prose- The Thyroid Cancer Con- cutors of alleged spying by the ference under the patronage of Gulf state. Prime Minister and Interior Chairman of the Cancer Society, The suspects were later Minister H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor Al Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al referred to court on charges of Nasser Al Thani began yes- Thani during the opening of the Othman Fakhro (second left); Chairman of Qatar Cancer Society, Dr Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani political and military espionage, terday in the presence of Min- conference. “Another alarming and Austrian Ambassador to Qatar, Dr Willy Kempel, and other dignitaries and officials, during the it added. ister of Administrative Devel- fact is that 50% of the patients opening session of the Thyroid Cancer Conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel yesterday. The two suspects confessed opment, Labour and Social diagnosed with thyroid cancer PIC: BAHER AMIN/THE PENINSULA to spying on Arab nationals for Affairs H E Yousef Mohammed are under the age of 35 years. the UAE, and is investigating Al Othman Fakhro at the Ritz- Yet we have to find the reasons gathered local, regional and treatable forms of cancer. will aim to find the reasons whether the arrival in Turkey Carlton Doha. behind this,” he added. international speakers and more A study conducted by the behind the rise in the number of one of them was related to “The conference is very The opening session which than 1,200 healthcare Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) of patients diagnosed with the murder of Saudi journalist important as we have found that discussed the epidemiology of professionals. shows that the number of thyroid cancer. Jamal Khashoggi, a senior the newly diagnosed thyroid thyroid cancer in Qatar was Thyroid cancer occurs when thyroid cancer cases diagnosed “We will find more effective Turkish official said yesterday, cancer cases have increased by attended by the Austrian abnormal cells within the in 2015 was 51, it was 66 cases methods to prevent, early reports Reuters. 20% from 2017 to 2018. Over the Ambassador, Dr Willy Kempel, thyroid gland grow in an uncon- in 2016, then it increased to 92 detection, and create One of the two men arrived past five years it has increased and several other dignitaries. trolled way. If it is caught early, in 2017 and 110 in 2018. Dr Al awareness among the public,” in Turkey in October 2018, days by more than 100%,” said The two-day conference has thyroid cancer is one of the most Thani said that the conference said Al Thani. `P2 after Khashoggi was murdered inside Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, the official said, adding the other had arrived Al Udeid Air Base holds second edition of Family Day Festival later to help his colleague with the workload. QNA families to entertain, meet and “We are investigating DOHA promote the spirit of love and whether the primary individ- familiarity among them. ual’s arrival in Turkey was Al Udeid Air Base organised He added that this event, which related to the Jamal Khashoggi yesterday the second edition of the the Air Base is keen to organise murder,” said the official, Family Day Festival for officers and every year, brings together the adding the person had been members of the Qatar Amiri Air families of the Qatari Air Base monitored for six months Force and members of friendly allied members with the families of before the arrests in Istanbul on forces working in the Air Base, in the friendly forces to exchange cul- Monday. presence of Commander of the Amiri tures and introduce the country’s “It is possible that there was Air Force, H E Major General heritage, customs and traditions, an attempt to collect infor- Mubarak Al Kumait Al Khayareen adding that this year more than mation about Arabs, including and Commander of US Air Central 1,000 men, women and children political dissidents, living in Command Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella. are participating. Turkey.” The festival included a variety Brigadier Fahd Al Arik said that A Turkish court ruled yes- of events including Al Arda, cartoon this edition of the festival is held at terday evening to keep the two characters and popular games. It a date other than the one originally suspects in custody on interna- also included the activities of camel scheduled which coincides with the tional, political and military and horse riding, shooting and Qatar National Day celebrations, espionage charges, state- archery, drawing henna, handi- but the next edition will be on its owned Anadolu news agency crafts and traditional and popular original date, praising the con- reported. foods, in addition to an exhibition structive cooperation between the State broadcaster TRT of old cars and marine tools. Air Base and Al Shaqab, the Cul- Haber published photos of the Commander of Al Udeid Air tural Village Foundation— Katara, two suspects in custody, Base Brigadier (Pilot) Fahad Abdul Qatar Shooting & Archery Associ- standing in front of the Turkish Wahid Ibrahim Al Arik said that ation and the Department of Public flag. They also released photo- this festival is a great opportunity Parks of the Ministry of Munici- graphs, apparently taken pre- for the families of officers and pality and the Environment for viously and covertly, of the two members of the Qatar Armed their great efforts to make this fes- men walking down a street Events as part of Family Day Festival organised by Al Udeid Air Base. Forces and friendly forces and their tival a success. together.

46 Palestinians injured in attack by Israeli Democrats make legal bid for full Mueller report forces at Gaza border REUTERS and the underlying evidence consistent US intelligence gathering and active Trump, who has repeatedly called WASHINGTON with past practice. The redactions criminal cases as well as potentially the Mueller probe a political witch QNA/GAZA appear to be significant. We have so damaging information about peripheral hunt, lashed out again on Friday. Congressional Democrats yesterday far seen none of the actual evidence players who were not charged. “Statements are made about me by At least 46 Palestinians, including medics took legal action to see all of US Special that the Special Counsel developed to Democratic leaders played down certain people in the Crazy Mueller and journalists, were injured yesterday Counsel Robert Mueller’s evidence make this case,” Nadler said in a talk of impeachment of Trump just 18 Report...which are fabricated & totally when Israeli occupation forces attacked from his inquiry into Russian inter- statement. months before the 2020 presidential untrue,” Trump wrote on Twitter. He hundreds of protesters taking part in the ference in the 2016 election, with an The report provided extensive election, even as some prominent seemed to be referring to former White weekly Great March of Return protests eye to using the probe’s findings against details on Trump’s efforts to thwart members of the party’s progressive House counsel Don McGahn who was at Gaza border, according to the Pales- President Donald Trump. Mueller’s investigation, giving Demo- wing, notably US Representative Alex- cited in the report as having annoyed tinian Wafa news agency. US House of Representatives Judi- crats plenty of political ammunition andria Ocasio-Cortez, promised to Trump by taking notes of his conver- The occupation forces fired live ciary Committee Chairman Jerrold against the Republican president but push the idea. sations with the president. bullets and rubber-coated steel rounds at Nadler, a Democrat, issued a subpoena no consensus on how to use it. Former FBI director Mueller also Meanwhile, the number of Amer- the protesters who gathered at many to the Justice Department for Attorney The 448-page document painted concluded in his report that there was icans who approve of President Donald encampments along the border, injuring 46 General William Barr to hand over the a clear picture of how Trump tried to not enough evidence to establish that Trump dropped by 3 percentage points Palestinians, including five medics and four full report by Mueller by May 1, saying hinder the probe. It did not conclude Trump’s campaign engaged in a to the lowest level of the year following journalists. A child was directly hit by a he cannot accept a redacted version that he had committed the crime of criminal conspiracy with Moscow to the release of a special counsel report teargas canister on the head,and his con- released on Thursday that “leaves most obstruction of justice, although it did sway the 2016 election, a finding that detailing Russian interference in the dition was critical. Some of the wounded of Congress in the dark.” not exonerate him. has been was known since late March last U.S. presidential election, according were moved to hospital and others were “My committee needs and is The report blacked out details when Barr released a summary of to an exclusive Reuters/Ipsos public treated in the field hospitals. entitled to the full version of the report about secret grand jury information, Mueller’s conclusions. opinion poll. `P4 &11 02 HOME SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 Embassy of Bangladesh observes Mujibnagar Day THE PENINSULA The Ambassador of Bangladesh, Ashud Ahmed, DOHA informed that Bangladesh would touch upon The Embassy of Bangladesh has two important milestones in the next two years. observed the historic ‘Mujib- In 2020, Bangladesh will observe the 100th nagar Day’ at the Embassy birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation premises. and will also mark the golden jubilee of the The significance of Mujib- nagar Day (April 17) in the independence of Bangladesh. national history of Bangladesh is associated with the oath taking ceremony of the first gov- Exile’ was strategically signif- Minister of Bangladesh given on ernment of the People’s Republic icant in advancing the inde- the day were read out. of Bangladesh. pendence of Bangladesh. The Ambassador of Bang- The Father of the Nation The programme began with ladesh, Ashud Ahmed, paid The Ambassador of Bangladesh, Ashud Ahmed, speaks during the event, which was organised by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur recitation from the Holy Quran tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Embassy of Bangladesh to mark the ‘Mujibnagar Day’, at the Embassy premises. Rahman was made the president and special prayer was offered Mujibur Rahman, four national of the ‘Government in Exile’. for the salvation of the departed leaders and the martyrs for their Since then, the place where the soul of all martyrs including the great contribution to the inde- anniversary of the Father of the the coming years through their community members to enhance oath taking ceremony took place Father of the Nation and his pendence of Bangladesh. Nation and will mark the golden participations at the pro- people to people contacts for the was renamed as Mujibnagar family members. He informed that Bang- jubilee of the independence of grammes surrounding two mega benefits of both Bangladesh and after the name of Bangabandhu This followed the screening ladesh would touch upon two Bangladesh. events and project the history, Qatar. The attendees included Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the of a video documentary on the important milestones in the next He called on the Bangladesh rich culture and tradition of Embassy officials, community day has been observed as Mujib- Mujibnagar Government. The two years. In 2020, Bangladesh community living in Qatar to Bangladesh in the host society. members and members of the nagar Day. The ‘Government in messages of President and Prime will observe the 100th birth celebrate the two milestones in He also urged upon the print and electronic media.

Move to check QU event hones up entrepreneurial skills of students rising cases of THE PENINSULA 252 course project related to instrumental in their academic to use innovative learning so that they could use the data thyroid cancer DOHA inventing ideas for new busi- success. It also equips them with methods to enhance students’ to improve the quality of their FROM PAGE 1 nesses in Qatar; applying English the functional knowledge to communicative abilities in products or services. A compe- Qatar University’s (QU) Foun- language skills learned become successful entrepre- English and promote their entre- tition held for the best project dation Program Department of throughout the course. neurs in the future.” preneurial spirits.” with each poster evaluated by The Thyroid Cancer Con- English (FPDE) along with the Dr Hezam Al Awah, director Benjamin Kohler, Course Over 350 students, 300 FPDE and CFE members. The ference is organised by QCS in Center for Entrepreneurship of the programme, said, “This Lead of the ENGL 252 English for females and 50 males, have par- top three projects for female and collaboration with the Ministry (CFE) recently held the 5th exhi- event aims to create a learning Business Communication course, ticipated where they exhibited male students were awarded tro- of Public Health, Hamad bition titled “The Entrepreneurial environment for QU students to said, “This exhibition is an 90 business ideas on posters for phies and prizes offered by Doha Medical Corporation (HMC), Showcase Event”. promote their entrepreneurial opportunity for the QU com- the public and presented their Bank during the event’s final cer- Qatar Doctor’s Society and The event is a demonstration potentials and team working.” munity to find out how the Foun- new business ideas in English. emony. Students took photos Qatar Austrian Medical Team. of the works of the students of He added, “This event also helps dation Program Department of Furthermore, students surveyed together and celebrated their The conference is the QU College of Business and students acquire higher order English is working closely with potential customers about the successes with their course developed by the Vice- Economics (CBE) on the ENGL thinking skills which are the Center for Entrepreneurship feasibility of their business ideas instructors and classmates. Chairman of QCS and the Director of Surgery Department and Chief Medical Staff at Al Ahli Hospital in Qatar, Dr Abdul 20 global experts to speak at Azeem Hussain; Head of the Thyroid Unit at HMC, Chairman IIA’s 5th national conference of Medical Association at Qatar and Chairman of Surgical THE PENINSULA Oncology at HMC, Dr Mohamed DOHA Salem Jaber Al Hassan; and Sur- gical Oncology Chair at The Institute of Internal Auditors Sigmund Freud University Qatar (IIA) is all set to host the Vienna and Austrian lead of the 6th National Conference from Qatar Austrian Medical Team, April 28-29 at Hilton Doha. Prof. Harald Rosen. The conference with the Participants of the con- theme “Taking the lead” ference will learn about several endeavours to identify how issues related to thyroid cancer audit through its disciplined including identifying the appro- approach and objectivity will priate evidence-base antici- assist Companies and the state patory guidance of thyroid of Qatar in reaching the first cancer prevention for their pillar of Human development Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed patients; identifying the appro- under the Qatar National Vision bin Saud Al Thani, President of priate evidence-base early 2030. the State Audit Bureau. detection practices of thyroid Sheikh Bandar bin cancer; interpreting the findings Dr. Reena Annie Chacko, a pediatric dentist from the Asian Medical Center Qatar, examines the teeth Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, about 300 participants at the of the thyroid nuclear medicine of children at the health awareness programme organised by FCC. President of the State Audit conference and workshops. We and histological diagnostic Bureau, will deliver the keynote are thankful to the major studies and identifying the address as a part of the opening sponsors, Qatar National Bank, ongoing care and survivorship ceremony. The Minister of Qatar Rail., KPMG, Protiviti, FCC raises oral awareness among kids plan for the differentiated Finance, H E Ali Shereef Al Pricewaterhouse Coopers, thyroid cancer. Emadi, will be the guest of Muntajat and others,” said THE PENINSULA teeth, and encouraging them to healthy,” motivating kids to honour. Hassan Al Mulla, President. DOHA take healthy diets and conduct brush their teeth and avoid the QISH’s Autism “The country has developed “National Conference is the dental checkups on a regular food that is harmful to their a compelling vision and is ded- premier event for internal The Friends Cultural Center basis. teeth. Awareness icated to achieving the goals set auditors who want to hear pow- (FCC), a community devel- Dr. Reena Annie Chacko, a Saleela Majeed, General- out under the four broad pillars erful keynotes and international opment centre of Qatar Charity pediatric dentist from the Asian Secretary for FCC Women’s Walkathon of Qatar National Vision. IIA presenters representing the (QC), organised a health Medical Center, Qatar, took wing, said “This year we take a THE PENINSULA Qatar is committed to assist in global internal audit profession. awareness programme for part in this oral health pledge to take the attention of DOHA this goal achievement. The con- There are a number of sessions children from Asian expatriate awareness programme, pro- parents all over Doha to the ference is enriched by twenty on today’s current issues and communities to promote oral viding free dental checkups for importance of oral hygiene of The Qatar Institute for Speech international speakers over two trends, industry best practices health among kids. the participating children. She their kids in cooperation with and Hearing (QISH) recently days covering five workshops seeking to address common The event was attended by also had a session for kids on Asian Medical Centre”, noting organised its 4th Annual Autism and ten individual presentations. challenges, and knowledge- around 100 children, their oral health and hygiene, giving that such programme would Awareness Walkathon at Al The attendees are expected to sharing opportunities. The parents, FCC members, dentist, tips to maintain healthy gums, raise health and oral awareness Bidda Park. imbibe the necessary knowledge overall experience enhances and guests. The programme teeth and mouth. At the among children. At the end of This year’s walkathon was and skills that can be practiced professional development, pro- aimed at educating children awareness programme, the the programme, a cooking a demonstration of QISH’s will in their respective workplaces,” vides engaging peer-to-peer about the importance of a doctor said, “The mouth is the session was held to create to help individuals with autism Christain Adonis, Conference networking, affords access to healthy life, teaching them how mirror of a body, so it is very culinary interest and promote by inviting Qatari Society to Chairman said. “We expect key sponsors, and much more. to take care of and brush their essential to keep our teeth healthy food habits in children. raise the slogan ‘Help increase understanding and acceptance’. Many persons from Qatari society extended their support QU workshop introduces ‘zebrafish model’ research to QISH. Chairman Sheikh Jassim bin Thamir Al Thani THE PENINSULA Care Corporation (PHCC), Qatar model to students, academi- to regenerate damaged cells inaugurated the event. Repre- DOHA National Research Fund (QNRF) cians, researchers and health and tissues.” Prof. Mariam Al sentatives from the Ministry of and Al Obeidly Trading Tech- care practitioners in the nation. Maadeed, added, “Research on Interior, Fahad Ali Al Naimi, Qatar University’s (QU) nology W.L.L. The workshop also provided a zebrafish has provided us with Majid Al Malikhi, Sawad Al Biomedical Research Center The conference boasted platform for establishing new impressive results, and has Dahab, and Qatar Society for (BRC) concluded yesterday a more than 100 attendees collaborations. opened an advanced route in Rehabilitation; Special Needs 5-day conference and including speakers from QU Vice-President for biomedical sciences, which led Centres attended. Autistic workshop entitled “Current and outside Qatar such as Turkey, Research and Graduate Studies, researchers to a rare oppor- children and parents, teachers Emerging Trends in Zebrafish Japan, US, UK, Germany, Sin- Prof. Mariam Al Maadeed (pic- tunity to diagnose and treat and students from Bhavans Research,” which involved both gapore and Spain, in addition tured), spoke at the conference many human diseases, Public School, Shantiniketan theoretical lectures from to speakers from various saying, “Zebrafish is a small, foremost among them cardio- Indian School, Ideal Indian renowned experts in the field sectors in Qatar. beautiful and unique creature, vascular and other diseases. School, MES Indian School, as well as hands-on practical The aim of the programme which has a number of excep- Heart disease is still a serious Noble International School, sessions to train interested held in QU was to focus on the tional attributes, making it a threat to human life every- Olive International School, Birla researchers. utilisation of the zebrafish vital topic in medical scientific where, and it is a major cause Public School, Philippine Inter- The conference was model in a variety of research research. The genes of the of death of millions in the national School, Rajagiri Public organised in cooperation with investigations, and to introduce zebrafish are similar to human world, including the Gulf and School, Family Cultural Centre, Sedeer Medical, Primary Health this relatively new animal genes and have a unique ability Qatar.” VAQ, Venom Strikers attended. SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 HOME / MIDDLE EAST 03 Qatar-Azerbaijan ties growing stronger

Talking to The Peninsula, Kamran F. Bayramov, areas to deepen existing ties and 140th Assembly of Inter-Parlia- Deputy of Milli Majlis (Parliament of Azerbaijan), expand bilateral cooperation in mentary Union (IPU), he said that said that Qatar-Azerbaijan relations were different sectors.” it reflected important role of He said that the past Qatar in international arena. continuously growing since both the countries meetings of the joint committee “I express Azerbaijan’s par- established diplomatic ties in 1994. “Both the had been very successful in liamentary delegation’s gratitude nations always enjoyed excellent ties.” which many issues were dis- to government of Qatar and the cussed and a number of areas of Shura Council for hosting and mutual cooperation were organising such a successful identified. Assembly. It also shows Qatar’s IRFAN BUKHARI THE PENINSULA parliamentarian said that high- He said that there existed a position as a reliable partner of level bilateral visits had lot of potential for expanding international organisations.” enhanced cooperation between cooperation in agriculture, He said that the theme of Kamran F. Bayramov, Deputy of the two states. tourism, infrastructure devel- 140th Assembly was also very Milli Majlis (Parliament of He said that both the coun- opment sectors. “There is also important that would help par- Azerbaijan) and Member of tries had signed a number of huge potential for bilateral liamentarians to addresses the Regional Affairs Committee, has bilateral agreements which pro- investments as well both the challenges being faced by the said that Qatar-Azerbaijan ties vided a solid base to expand countries can enhance cooper- world. He said that the parlia- are strengthening with the bilateral ties. “We have agree- ation in oil and gas sector.” mentarians from different coun- Kamran F. Bayramov, Deputy of Milli Majlis (Parliament of Azerbaijan) passage of time on solid grounds ments on youth and sports; He said that Doha and Baku tries also had a chance to learn at the recently hosted 140th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union of bilateral pacts. culture; civil aviation etc. and were connected with directed from the experiences of Qatar in He said that Qatar- these agreements show the level (IPU) in Doha. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA flights therefore tourism could the field of education. Azerbaijan relations were con- of cooperation between the two be further promoted by He said that his meetings tinuously growing since both the countries,” he added. have the Qatar-Azerbaijan Joint cooperation, he said that after increasing the frequency of with the members of Qatar’s countries established diplomatic Bayramov said that the visit Intergovernmental Trade-Eco- the formation of the joint com- direct flights. “Both Azerbaijan Shura Council were very pro- ties in 1994. “Both the nations of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin nomic and Technical Committee mittee, Azerbaijan and Qatar had and Qatar are becoming ductive. He said Qatar- always enjoyed excellent ties.” Hamad Al Thani to Azerbaijan in that shows both countries’ joint another strong base for deep- favourite destination for tourists Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary Talking to The Peninsula on 2016 was very important that commitment to developing ening and enhancing relations therefore more flights needed to friendship group was very active the sidelines of recently hosted gave a significant boost to bilateral relations.” in any field. facilitate tourists from both and working to promote parlia- 140th Assembly of Inter-Parlia- bilateral ties. To a question about potential “Our perspectives are clear sides.” mentary cooperation between mentary Union (IPU) in Doha, the “Now both the countries areas to bolster future bilateral and we have the resources and Regarding Qatar’s hosting of the two countries. Nearly 350 MME to review, update environment report irregular THE PENINSULA concerned with the ministries, and review of the level of envi- participating parties were able pointing out that all this is based migrants held DOHA bodies and institutions in the ronmental performance and to identify the strengths and on the use of environmental state, in addition to the trends in order to protect the weaknesses each according to indicators based on accurate across Turkey The Ministry of Municipalities competent departments of the environment and its resources its competence, and determine data in all sections of the report. and Environment (MME), repre- ministry. and sustainability. what can be updated for a period Qassimi noted that they will ANATOLIA sented by the Department of The Director of Monitoring He pointed out that the draft of not less than four years. have a high-quality version of ANKARA Monitoring and Environmental and Environmental Laboratory, project ‘State of the Environment He added that the task of this the report that will meet inter- Laboratory, held on Wednesday Hassan Ali Qassimi, said the State in Qatar’ was started in 2017, col- team is to review, amend and national standards and the At least 344 irregular migrants a preparatory meeting for the of the Environment Report is lecting the required data and update the draft of this report to requirements of decision were held across Turkey expanded working group to considered one of the most obtaining it from various ensure the updated data until makers, stakeholders and the yesterday, according to multiple review, amend and update the important reports prepared by quarters, noting that previous 2018 and for a period of about community in a comprehensive security sources. State of the Environment Report the competent authority in the work resulted in a preliminary four years earlier, in order to report that will be the first-of- In the northwestern Edirne in Qatar, with the participation country through a compre- draft for a specific period, while assess the trends of the state of its-kind on the state of the envi- province — bordering Greece of representatives of 26 bodies hensive scientific assessment Wednesday’s meeting with the the environment in the country, ronment in Qatar. and Bulgaria — gendarmerie forces held 19 irregular migrants, said a source on con- dition of anonymity due to Role of community restrictions on speaking to the media. Separately, the Coast Guard police in security held 23 irregular migrants on a rubber boat off the coast of awareness highlighted Edirne’s Enez district. In another northwestern province THE PENINSULA achieve social security from its Kirklareli, gendarmerie forces DOHA comprehensive perspective. nabbed 30 irregular migrants. The seminar focuses on the Meanwhile, 21 irregular The Police College held a interactive role of the civil migrants were held by the seminar in collaboration with society with the security services police in the northwestern the Community Policing in the field of community Tekirdag province. Department under the title awareness and protection from Some 52 irregular migrants, ‘Police and Society: Safety and the spread of destructive ideas who were trying to cross Qatar’s AFC Cup goal scoring hero, Almoez Ali, and Qatar National Football team members playing Security are Responsibility of and prevention of crime, Greece, were held by the with children as part of a charity event organised by Qatar Charity to mark Arab Orphan Day at the All’, aimed at identifying the reviewing various activities of Turkish Coast Guard off the Aspire Park in Doha yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA objectives and duties of the the Police College and the Com- coast of Canakkale in the community police and its role munity Policing Department in Aegean region. In another in spreading security awareness. the consolidation of the concepts Canakkale operation, 19 The event is being held of community police, he added. irregular migrants aboard QC brings attention to under the patronage of the For his part, Col. Sultan rubber boats were rescued by Prime Minister and Interior Min- Mohammed Al Kaabi, Director the Turkish Coast Guard when ister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin of the Community Policing a boat broke down off the coast Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. Department, said: “Through the of Ayvacik district. hardships of orphans The Director-General of seminar, we seek to strengthen The Coast Guard also held Public Security Staff Major the close integrated relationship 59 irregular migrants on a SIDI MOHAMED global humanitarian project Qatar Charity for its efforts of General Saad bin Jassim Al Khu- between the police services and rubber boat in the Aegean THE PENINSULA focusing on the needs of orphans sponsoring orphans hoping that laifi attended the opening event. the society in all its segments.” province of Izmir. and children. It was founded in all these efforts to continue to The two-day event is The first session of the In another operation, 95 Qatar Charity (QC) marked Arab 2013 by Qatar Charity. reach out more orphans around attended by representatives of seminar was chaired by Brig- irregular migrants — who Orphan Day yesterday by organ- To draw attention to the the world who are in need of a number of General Directo- adier General Dr Mohammed reportedly entered Turkey ille- ising a mass festival at Aspire hardships of orphans around the such help. rates and departments of the Abdullah Al Mahna Al Marri, gally — held in the Mediter- Park in order to raise awareness world, football stars from Qatar An official of Qatar Charity Ministry of the Interior, Qatar Director General of the Police ranean Osmaniye province. about the hardship of orphans National Team also participated said that the organisation will University and the Protection College. Lt. Col. Hussain Aman Separately, police arrested around the world. in the event and played a match organise several other events in and Social Rehabilitation Center Al Ali, Assistant Director of the 26 irregular migrants in the The event also aimed to with “Future Leaders” team that the month of Ramadan, (Aman). Community Police Department central Nigde province during encourage donations for the affiliated with Qatar Charity. including the challenge of At the opening of the presented his paper on “Tools regular patrols. purpose of sponsoring and sup- The festival included a group Rofaqa and many other events. seminar, Brigadier Dr. for Achieving Social Security - Two people were also porting orphans. It was attended of entertaining, colouring, sports, He also pointed out that the Mohammed Abdullah Al Mahna From an Islamic Life arrested over the suspicion of by over 1,000 people. Qatar cultural activities in addition to programme was successful and Al Marri said that this seminar Perspective”. human smugglers. Charity, through its initiative performing arts, handcrafts, it was attended by a large aimed at identifying the objec- The second paper was pre- All of the migrants were ‘Rofaqa’, succeeded in spon- games, competitions, and gifts. number of people, expressing his tives and duties of the com- sented by Lt. Col. Jaber later referred to provincial soring 150,000 orphans around A large group of children, adults, confidence that Qatar Charity munity police and its role in Mohammed Odaiba, Assistant migration directorates. Turkey the world by the end of last year social media figures and sports would achieve the targeted spreading security awareness Director of Traffic Awareness has been the main route for ref- and now it aims to sponsor over stars participated in the event. number of a ‘biggest family’ of that contributes to the reduction Department entitled “The ugees trying to cross to Europe, 50,000 orphans by the end of The participants enjoyed the orphans, which is 200,000, in a of crime and the stability of the Impact of Traffic Awareness on especially since the beginning next year. ‘Rofaqa’ initative is a festive atmosphere and thanked short time. society as well as the tools to Achieving Road Safety.” of the civil war in Syria. New books by NU-Q faculty document dynamic period in media THE PENINSULA Northwestern Univeristy-Qatar topics and beyond,” said Everette case studies on marketing in the shaped marketing communi- understanding Arab culture and DOHA (NU-Q), faculty. E Dennis, Dean and CEO. pan-Arab market — both cation solutions created for local society through the analysis of “These books document a Ilhem Allagui, a strategic regional and global brands — and global brands, said Allagui. real-life occurrences that shape Media issues in the Middle East, transformative and dynamic communication professor at including Procter & Gamble, A professor of communi- Arab societal structures and including the digitisation of period in the media, particularly NU-Q, has authored Advertising Olay, Vimto, and MTV Arabia. cation who is also an expert on experiences. regional advertising and under- the Middle East. As a leading in MENA Goes Digital. The book “Advertising in MENA goes Arab television and pro- Animation, which was edited standing the media and culture media and communication explores the evolution of adver- digital sheds light on the evolving gramming, Joe Khalil, is a co- by NU-Q Communication Pro- in the region, along with and a school in the region, it is imper- tising practices as agencies adopt advertising industry in relation editor of Culture, Time and fessor Scott Curtis, features a col- study of the evolution of ative for our faculty, and students a more digitalised approach and to its contextual environment. Publics in the Arab World: Media, lection of essays that provide a American animation, are the alike, engage in intellectual steer away from more traditional The book explores the ways Public Space and Temporality, succinct history of animation subjects of three new books that inquiry and contribute to liter- outreach efforts to social media communication technologies, which provides readers with a from its beginnings to the present have been written and edited by ature and research on these and the web. Her book analyses social media and mobile have new way of exploring and day. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 Sudan protest leaders to unveil civilian ruling body

AFP The Sudanese Professionals Association, which KHARTOUM has been spearheading the protests, said that it would name members of the council at a news Sudanese protest leaders have conference at 1700 GMT tomorrow outside the announced plans to unveil a civilian body to take over from army complex, to which foreign diplomats are the ruling military council as also invited. demonstrators thronged Friday outside army headquarters. Ahmed Al Rabia, a leader of the exclude anyone.” The military council, which umbrella group of unions for Protester Yasser Dahab said took power after ousting longtime doctors, engineers and teachers, all who had committed crimes leader Omar Hassan Al Bashir on said. Yesterday marked four against the Sudanese people be April 11, has so far resisted calls months to the day since the gov- put on trial. He said he wanted from protesters to quickly make ernment tripled the price of bread, to see a civilian council with a way for a civilian sparking the first protests which prime minister and a government adminstration. escalated into widespread rallies led by technocrats. The Sudanese Professionals demanding Bashir’s departure. “This government can then Association, which has been Access roads were packed, prepare for free elections in two spearheading the protests, said with crowds flocking the huge years with participation from all in a statement that it would name square outside army head- parties,” Dahab said. “The mil- Sudanese perform Friday prayer outside of the army headquarters in Khartoum, as they continue members of the council at a news quarters to offer the weekly itary should stay away from demonstrations demanding a civilian government. conference at 1700 GMT Muslim prayers. political life.” tomorrow outside the army “This government should be Activists on Thursday mobi- complex, to which foreign dip- a representative of all the people lised huge crowds through social protesters chanted through since the day Bashir fell. Fol- Ouf stepped down in less than lomats are also invited. and their aspirations,” said prom- media to keep up the pressure on Thursday night. lowing Bashir’s ouster, demon- 24 hours and was replaced by “We are demanding that this inent cleric Sheikh Mater Younis the military council, now led by “I won’t leave until Burhan strations targeted General Awad Burhan, who so far has appeased civilian council, which will have as he addressed thousands of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, transfers power to a civilian gov- Ibn Ouf, the first head of the mil- protesters by lifting a night-time representatives of the army, protesters. “It should include all to cede power. “Power to ernment,” said Wali Aldeen, who itary council, seen by protestors curfew and vowing to “uproot” replace the military council,” Sudanese people and shouldn’t civilians, power to civilians,” has camped outside the complex as a tool of the old regime. Ibn Bashir’s circle. Abu Dhabi crown prince entangled by Mueller report AP in America’s 2016 election. stemming from his mysterious UAE, a federation of seven been on a blitz of meetings with a president they personally DUBAI Abu Dhabi Crown Prince role in a 2017 meeting between sheikhdoms on the Arabian American officials, showing the knew,” said Ryan Bohl, an Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al a Trump associate and a Russian Peninsula, to insert itself as a importance they still place on analyst with the Austin, Texas- One of the most powerful leaders Nahyan, believed to be the middleman for Vladimir Putin in middleman in contacts between their relationship with him even based private intelligence firm in the United Arab Emirates has Emirates’ day-to-day ruler, is the the Seychelles, stands out from Trump’s campaign and Russia. as faces opposition. Stratfor. “They didn’t take into found himself entangled in only world leader included in otherwise glancing references to However, the report’s release “The Emiratis saw an oppor- account that other institutions, special counsel Robert Mueller’s Mueller’s cast-of-characters the wider Mideast. comes as the UAE backs Trump’s tunity for a do-over with the like the military, the State report on US President Donald index near the end of the 448- But left unsaid — or possibly maximalist policies against Iran Americans with a new, Department, Congress, would Trump and Russian interference page report. His inclusion, redacted — is what motivated the and as Emirati officials have incoming administration with all have an opinion too.” Algeria protesters keep up pressure

AP post office to the Audin square protesters. Belaiz was one of ALGIERS and adjacent streets were three figures in the interim gov- crammed with protesters. In a ernment whose removal has Hundreds of thousands of peaceful atmosphere, the pro- been demanded by pro- protesters in Algeria demonstrated testers - mostly youngsters - democracy protesters. They are for a ninth straight Friday against shouted slogans including seen as part of the discredited the country’s leadership amid calls “Down with the System!” or “You regime of Bouteflika, who for the departure of the powerful ate the country, you bunch of resigned April 2 after six weeks military’s chief of staff. thieves.” Some vented their of nationwide demonstrations With police forces deployed anger, while others took selfies. calling for an end to his two- across the city, protesters Conversations about the ongoing decade rule. The new council gathered in the morning at the political transition took place in president is Kamel Feniche, a main post office in Algiers - the a sea of people and Algerian magistrate. Grande Poste - which has been flags. Belaiz’s departure has not a landmark during the weeks of Earlier this week, interim helped calm protesters. An Asso- Houthis claim shooting down drone protests that have already forced President Abdelkader Bensalah ciated Press reporter covering former president Abdelaziz appointed a new head of Alge- Friday’s demonstrations heard The wreckage of a drone aircraft that Houthis say they shot down near the northwestern city of Saada, Bouteflika to stand down. ria’s Constitutional Council after protesters criticizing Gen. Yemen, yesterday. According to the Houthi forces, they shot the drone after it was seen circling their By the end of the afternoon, the former chief, Tayeb Belaiz, Ahmed Gaid Salah, the military’s positions near the Saudi border with the Sa’ada Governorate the boulevard joining the main quit under pressure from chief of staff.

Iraq parliament Trump speaks with Libya to host regional warlord Haftar: White House rivals in Baghdad

AFP Haftar launched an offensive on April 4 AFP/ BAGHDAD WASHINGTON to seize Tripoli, a move that threatened to plunge the north African country into even Iraq will host senior officials President Donald Trump spoke this deeper turmoil. from neighbouring countries week with Khalifa Haftar, the Libyan Haftar, seen by his allies Egypt and including regional arch-rivals warlord fighting to capture the capital the United Arab Emirates as a bulwark Saudi Arabia and Iran today, Tripoli, the White House said against Islamists, has declared he wants as it carves out a role as a yesterday. to seize the capital, now controlled by mediator in the deeply divided Trump and Haftar spoke on Monday a UN-recognized government and an region. “to discuss ongoing counterterrorism array of militias. The one-day summit will efforts and the need to achieve peace The military commander backs a bring together parliament and stability in Libya,” according to the rival administration based in eastern heads from Turkey, Saudi White House press office. Libya that is refusing to recognize the Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and The statement said that Trump “rec- authority of the Tripoli government. A Kuwait, a parliamentary ognized Field Marshal Haftar’s signif- British bid at the UN Security Council to spokesman said. Iran, one of icant role in fighting terrorism and demand a ceasefire in Libya was opposed Iraq’s closest allies but a fierce securing Libya’s oil resources.” on Thursday by Russia and the United foe of Saudi Arabia, will be rep- In their phone call, “the two dis- States. resented by a “senior official,” cussed a shared vision for Libya’s tran- Russia insisted on having no crit- the spokesman said. sition to a stable, democratic political icism of Haftar in the proposed reso- The conference will be system.” lution while the United States said it hosted by Iraq’s youngest-ever The White House did not say why it wanted more time to consider the situ- speaker of parliament delayed giving news of the phone call. ation, diplomats said. Mohammed Al Halbusi, 38.

Zimbabwe tycoon pushes for prices in Rand as bread costs soar BLOOMBERG annual inflation rate has risen to its dollar as a currency of settlement for HARARE highest levels since a hyperinflation rand imports,” Masiyiwa is quoted as episode in 2008. writing. Zimbabwean businessman Strive Masiyiwa, whose Econet is one of Masiyiwa said if every business in Masiyiwa wants the country to start the biggest companies in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe quoted goods and services pricing its goods in rand instead of was reacting to news that the price of in rand for their customers, “it would RTGS dollars, a move that could bread almost doubled to RTGS$3.50 go some way to eliminating the dollar introduce some price stability, from $2 this week. arbitrage.” ZimLive website reported, citing a “The people who pay for a lot of He said this was not the same Facebook post. goods are Zimbabweans living in thing as joining a rand monetary area, The Southern African nation on South Africa, through their remit- or customs union, which is a more February 22 introduced the new cur- tances. The cost structure — labor and complex process. This one can be rency, which has since weakened goods — in Zimbabwe is distorted by done “overnight, and even about 18 percent versus the dollar. The the arbitrage of the United States voluntarily.” SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 ASIA 05

Over 81 percent Modi’s rating voting in second slides but Rahul’s phase in Bengal IANS not picking up KOLKATA West Bengal’s Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Raiganj parlia- IANS In an all India survey mentary constituencies recorded NEW DELHI carried out on April 81.68 per cent voting in the 18 with a sample size second phase on Thursday, an The approval rating of Prime of 11,074, the net official said yesterday. Minister Narendra Modi has satisfaction level with With a total of 7,68,565 dropped around 17 points in the Prime Minister men, 7,28,565 women and 1 over a month but there is still no ‘other’ category voters, Jalpaiguri good news for the Congress as had dropped to 46.92 recorded 86.44 per cent votes, satisfaction of voters with Rahul — a drop of 16.55 — said Additional Chief Electoral Gandhi has not shown any sign from the peak in his Officer Sanjay Basu here. of improvements, according to popularity witnessed There were 6,42,583 men, the latest findings of CVOTER- on March 7 when the 6,15,432 women and four third IANS tracker. net satisfaction level gender voters in Darjeeling, and In an all India survey carried 6,40,581 men, 6,33,099 women out on April 18 with a sample with him was 63.47. and four other category voters size of 11,074, the net satisfaction in Raiganj. “Bypolls to the Dar- level with the Prime Minister 17 per cent then said they were jeelinga Assembly constituency Air pollution had dropped to 46.92 — a drop not happy with him. will be held on May 19 and the A farmer looks on as he burns straw stubble on his field on the outskirts of Faridabad, in the northern of 16.55 — from the peak in his Modi had gained from the air counting will be done on May Indian state of Haryana. Stubble burning in Haryana and neighbouring Punjab have intensified in popularity witnessed on March strike on Balakot terrorist camp 23,” Basu said. The bypoll was 7 when the net satisfaction level on February 26. But there has necessitated after MLA Amar last 10 years, reports say. with him was 63.47. been a constant decline since. Singh Rai resigned to contest The voters were asked if On the other hand, Rahul the Lok Sabha poll on a Tri- they were “very satisfied”, “sat- Gandhi has struggled to get namool Congress ticket. isfied to some extent” and “not numbers in his favour as net sat- He said the notification will SpiceJet hires over 100 Jet satisfied with the PM at all”. isfaction level with him was only be issued on April 22. The last On April 18, in the second 6.82 on April 18. Only 25.78 per date of filing of nominations is phase of polling, 50.65 per cent cent said they are very much April 29 and the scrutiny will respondents said they were very satisfied with Congress pres- be done on April 30. The last Airways pilots, cabin crew much satisfied with Modi, while ident but 40.64 said they were date for withdrawal of candi- 26.13 per cent said they were not not satisfied at all. dature is May 2. Basu said the REUTERS push its management for which pledged to add 27 planes satisfied at all. His net satisfaction rating news of rigging in poll station NEW DELHI answers about their future after over the next two weeks to help But on March 7, 55.72 per has remained below 10 points 191 in Raiganj constituency’s the airline shut down all flight to fill in the slots left vacant by cent of respondents had said since February 28 and showing Goalpokhor was completely India’s SpiceJet Ltd said operations on Wednesday Jet’s grounding, said that it is they were very satisfied and only no improvement. untrue and baseless. yesterday it will prioritise hiring having failed to secure new making all possible efforts to employees of Jet Airways Ltd funding from its lenders. minimise passenger who are losing their jobs after Jet Airways has lost many inconvenience. the crisis-hit Indian airline employees as the crisis unfolded. The government plans to Congress spokeswoman quits in halted all flight operations indef- About 400 pilots have moved to form a committee to temporarily initely this week. other airlines, leaving Jet with allocate takeoff and landing slots “We have already provided about 1,300 pilots, a senior Jet left vacant by the grounding of middle of Indian election, joins Sena jobs to more than 100 pilots, pilot told Reuters. About 40 Jet’s flights, a senior official said more than 200 cabin crew and engineers have also left, a senior on Thursday. Local airlines REUTERS “not valued” in the party and she more than 200 technical and engineer said. including InterGlobe Aviation MUMBAI had “reached the end of the airport staff,” said Ajay Singh, Lenders, led by State Bank Ltd and state-run Air India are road”. She said the male party chairman and managing director Of India, say they are hopeful of likely to benefit. A spokeswoman for India’s main members she accused of misbe- of SpiceJet. “We will do more.” a successful bidding process for Air India on Thursday opposition Congress party quit haviour were reinstated this Hundreds of Jet Airways Jet. The carrier is saddled with offered special fares to pas- yesterday and joined a group week after being suspended. employees protested in Delhi about $1.2 billion in debt. sengers stranded in international allied with Prime Minister A senior Congress source, and Mumbai on Thursday to Low cost carrier SpiceJet, routes due to Jet’s grounding. Narendra Modi’s ruling party, who declined to be identified, complaining that misbehaviour defended the party’s decision to towards her by male Congress lift the members’ suspension Man amputates members was ignored. after “due procedure”. Indians urged to leave finger after voting The resignation of Priyanka Another top Congress Chaturvedi (pictured), a regular buoyed in part by Modi’s tough official, Randeep Surjewala, Tripoli immediately for wrong party on prime-time TV debates, is an stand against old rival Pakistan, asked by reporters about embarrassing setback for Con- despite concerns about farm Chaturvedi’s departure, said he IANS Organization (WHO) said on AFP/NEW DELHI gress in the middle of a general incomes and a lack of jobs. wished people who looked for NEW DELHI Friday that 213 people have been election, and again raises the India’s staggered general career progression well. killed and 1,009 others injured An Indian man chopped off his contentious issue of the election began on April 11 and “Every time a member of the External Affairs Minister Sushma in the fighting between the UN- index finger in desperation treatment of women in India. will end on May 19. Votes will be Congress family, every single Swaraj yesterday called upon backed Libyan government and after voting for the wrong party “A serious incident and mis- counted on May 23. worker who leaves, it’s a matter relatives of Indians residing in the east-based Army in and in the country’s national behaviour against me by certain A #MeToo movement in of pain for us,” he said. Tripoli to ask them to leave the around Tripoli. election. Pawan Kumar became party members while I was on India gathered momentum last Neither Chaturvedi nor the Libyan capital immediately, The Army, led by Khalifa confused by the symbols on the official duty for the party has year with numerous complaints party have given details about saying the situation there is fast Haftar, has been leading a mil- electronic voting machine and been ignored under the guise of of sexual harassment and other the behaviour of the men. deteriorating. itary campaign since early April voted for Prime Minister all hands needed for elections,” sexual misconduct levelled However, Chaturvedi told “Even after massive evacu- to take over Tripoli where the Narendra Modi’s party instead Chaturvedi wrote in the letter to against prominent journalists, Gandhi in her letter that party ation from Libya and the travel UN-backed government is of its regional rival in Uttar Congress President Rahul actors, movie directors, come- members were not behaving in ban, there are over 500 Indian based. Pradesh state on Thursday, his Gandhi, and posted on Twitter. dians and others. The Congress the way he urged men to. nationals in Tripoli. The situ- Libya has been struggling to brother said. Chaturvedi told a news con- in its election manifesto has “What saddens me is that ation in Tripoli is deteriorating make a democratic transition Distraught, the 25-year- ference she had joined Shiv promised measures to improve despite the safety, dignity, fast. Presently, flights are oper- amid insecurity and chaos ever old Kumar went home and Sena, a Hindu nationalist group the safety and security of empowerment of women being ational. Please ask your relatives since the fall of Muammar Gadd- chopped off his finger with a allied with Modi’s Bharatiya women, provide more job promoted by the party and has and friends to leave Tripoli afi’s regime in 2011. meat cleaver. Even though Janata Party (BJP). Her resig- opportunities for them and been your call to action the same immediately. We will not be able India had earlier evacuated votes are cast electronically at nation is another problem for the increase gender equality. is not reflected in the action of to evacuate them later,” she its entire contingent of 15 Central polling stations, the index former ruling Congress party, Chaturvedi said in her res- some of the members of the tweeted. Reserve Police Force personnel finger of every voter is marked which is facing a confident BJP, ignation letter her services were party,” she wrote. The World Health who were deployed in Tripoli. with indelible ink after they cast ballots, to make sure they do not vote again. “He was very happy that Bangladesh girl burned to death on teacher’s order: Police he was voting for the first time ever,” Kumar’s brother Kailash AFP deal”. Iqbal said at least five of Chandra said by phone. “But DHAKA those under arrest, including once he realised his mistake, three of Rafi’s classmates, had he was so distraught that he A schoolgirl was burned to death tied her up with a scarf before chopped off his inked finger.” in Bangladesh on the orders of her setting her on fire. head teacher after she reported “The plan was to pass the Congress leader him for sexually harassing her, incident off as a suicide. But it fell police said yesterday. through after Rafi managed to Hardik Patel The death of 19-year-old come downstairs while on fire slapped at rally Nusrat Jahan Rafi last week because the scarf burnt and freed sparked protests across the her hands and feet,” he said. IANS/AHMEDABAD South Asian nation, with the Rafi suffered burns to 80 percent prime minister promising to of her body and died in hospital Firebrand Patidar leader prosecute all those involved. on April 10. But she recorded a Hardik Patel was slapped at a Rafi was lured to the rooftop video before her death, repeating public meeting in Gujarat’s of the seminary she attended her allegations against the prin- Surendranagar district by a where her attackers asked her cipal. Rafi’s brother Mahmudul man who alleged Patel was to withdraw the sexual har- Hasan Noman said people close playing politics with the senti- assment complaint she had filed to the principal had also put ments of the community. with police. pressure on the family to withdraw Patel was addressing an When she refused, she was the case against him. election rally at Baldana village doused in kerosene and set on “They told us that it was a con- when a man identified as Tarun fire. Police said that one of the spiracy against him and that it was Gajjar from Kadi town in north Bangladeshi women hold banners and photographs of schoolgirl Nusrat Jahan Rafi at a protest in 18 people arrested in connection fabricated,” he said. The case has Gujarat climbed up the stage Dhaka recently. with her death had accused the caused outrage in Bangladesh, and slapped him. He was later school’s principal of ordering the with Prime Minister Sheikh overpowered by Congress attack. The teacher “told them she refused”, senior police super- Rafi had gone to police in late shows the local police station Hasina vowing that “none of the workers who thrashed him to put pressure on Rafi to intendent Mohammad Iqbal, who March to report the sexual har- chief registering her complaint culprits will be spared legal and took him away from the withdraw the case or kill her if is leading the investigation, said. assment, and a leaked video but dismissing it as “not a big action.” venue. 06 HOME SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 ASIA 07 Imran hints at further cabinet changes REUTERS “I want to tell all my ministers that whoever is Khan said during a speech in the Umar has been leading nego- cricket metaphors, Khan, who ISLAMABAD northern region of Orakzai. tiations with the IMF but faced led Pakistan’s cricket team to not useful for my country, I will change them Shaikh, who served as criticism over a worsening eco- World Cup triumph in 1992, said Pakistani Prime Minister Imran and bring that minister who is useful for my finance minister from 2010-2013 nomic outlook on his watch, with such changes were part of good Khan said yesterday that he country,” Khan said during a speech in the under the opposition Pakistan inflation at a five-year high and leadership. would not hesitate to make more northern region of Orakzai. People’s Party when it was in the rupee currency down about “The captain has one changes to his cabinet if required power, has been appointed as 35 percent since December 2017. objective and that is to get the a day after a major reshuffle that “Adviser on Finance” but will be The central bank last month team to win. The prime minister saw the appointment of a new heading the finance ministry cut growth estimates, forecasting also has one objective and I have finance minister and nine other Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in a balance of payments crisis and once again. the economy to expand 3.5 to 4 only one objective, to help my ministerial switches. renamed role to steer the country ease ballooning current account In Pakistan’ it is common for percent in the 12 months to the people win, to help them rise,” The cabinet shakeup, which out of worsening economic and fiscal deficits. financial experts to be given the end of June, well short of a gov- he said. comes eight months after Khan turmoil. Pakistan is on the brink “I want to tell all my min- title of “adviser”, rather than ernment target of 6.2 percent. “For this, I have the changed took office, included the of signing up for its 13th Interna- isters that whoever is not useful federal minister, to head the The IMF paints a gloomier the batting order in my team and replacement of Finance Minister tional Monetary Fund (IMF) for my country, I will change finance ministry when they are picture, predicting growth of 2.9 I will do this again in the future.” Asad Umar, who has been a close bailout since the late 1980s in a them and bring that minister not a sitting member of percent in 2019 and 2.8 percent (Reporting by Saad Sayeed; ally to Khan for many years, with bid to stave off a who is useful for my country,” parliament. next year. In a speech laden with Editing by Nick Macfie) Canadian model withdraws Punjab CM directs to resolve issues of complaint, says she overseas Pakistanis feels safe in Pakistan INTERNEWS LAHORE INTERNEWS my help is unwanted. I pray ISLAMABAD intellect prevails and we women Punjab Chief Minister Sardar can work together to bring Usman Buzdar Khan has Canadian model Asoomii Jay change.” directed to resolve the who had alleged she was Thank you again to the problems of overseas Paki- harassed by two men in police of Pakistan and Imran stanis. Islamabad has reportedly with- Khans new initiative Pakistan During a surprised visit to drawn her case against the Citizen Portal which helped me Overseas Pakistanis Com- offenders. make this report, Jay added. mission Punjab office in Lahore In a video message, Jay said Earlier this week the yesterday, he said overseas she has identified the men who Canadian national was harassed Pakistanis are our assets and harassed her; however, she and forced to take refuge in a the government will take all wishes to withdraw her plea shopping mall in Islamabad. measures to protect their rights. filed against them. Expressing She later released a video in Richard Harris, Australian member of the Thai cave rescue team, shakes hands with Thailand’s gratitude in the way the matter which she recounted the Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, after receiving the Member of the Most Admirable Order of the was handled; Jay said the swift incident and said she faced a lot China sentences action taken by the Pakistani of backlash from the public, Direkgunabhorn award at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. authorities acts as a testament blaming her for the attire with military veterans to the fact that Pakistan is a some also saying that she has for protesting peace-loving country. not been integrated enough to Thailand King confers awards on two “I have dropped all charges earn any respect. AP after I received a sincere apology “Rather than blaming a Australian divers for rescue of cave boys BEIJING because I truly believe in the woman for being harassed, let’s concept of “it takes a village to discuss the real issue: lack of REUTERS complex in the northern Chan-ocha in their first trip back Chinese courts announced raise a child” when I found out men being held accountable for BANGKOK province of Chiang Rai when a to Thailand since the rescue. multiple-year prison sentences these boys were young and their their harassment,” she said. rainy season downpour flooded They will travel to Chiang yesterday for more than three families were being tormented, A first information report Two Australian cave divers who the tunnels. A 17-day effort to Rai and return to the Tham dozen military veterans who I understood their parents will was filed at the Sihala station were instrumental in the rescue rescue them gripped the world. Luang cave on Monday to meet protested over the lack of deal with them at home for over the alleged harassment Jay last year of 12 Thai boys and their Richard Harris and Craig the boys and their coach. “That’s benefits, saying the former bringing shame,” she said. faced while visiting the capital soccer coach from a flooded Challen were members of the really exciting for us to go and soldiers had disrupted social She continued, “The abuse I city. According to the FIR, two cave received yesterday a royal main rescue team, made up of see them and make sure they’re order in a bid to further their continue to get from some men men had persistently harassed honour from King Maha Vaji- 13 foreign divers and five Thai well and see how they’re doing own interests. and women is appalling. Rather Jay and then forced her cab to ralongkorn in a ceremony in navy divers, that brought the after the rescue,” Harris said. The announcements from than using my platform and the stop in the middle of the road Bangkok. boys and their coach out to Harris, a physician specialising the courts in the eastern prov- women using their voice and and asked her to sit in their car. The “Wild Boars” soccer safety. They received the Most in anaesthesia, was responsible inces of Shandong and Jiangsu experience and us working They then proceeded to chase team, aged between 11 and 16, Admirable Order of the Direk- for sedating the boys before they follow repeated demonstrations together for the future of our around her car and consistently and their 25-year-old coach gunabhorn at Bangkok’s Gov- were brought out one-by-one by veterans of various ages who daughters in Pakistan, they want inquired the driver about the became trapped on June 23 ernment House before meeting on a rescue stretcher through say they haven’t been ade- to also silence me and telling me woman’s destination. while exploring the cave Prime Minister Prayuth flooded tunnels. quately compensated for their service. Veterans have long been organising quietly, but in recent years have staged Pompeo dismisses N Korea’s rejection as US negotiator attention-getting protests outside government offices and AP it dismantles its nuclear weapons sanctions since Trump’s second said, insisting that he and his “He’s made that commitment to the defence ministry’s head- WASHINGTON and ballistic missile programmes. summit with North Korean special envoy for North Korea President Trump multiple times, quarters in Beijing that Pompeo’s refusal to step leader Kim Jong Un ended Stephen Biegun would remain he’s made it to me personally prompted the government to The Secretary of State Mike down and the joint US-Japanese without any agreement in late on the job. half a dozen times and I am con- establish a Ministry of Veterans Pompeo yesterday rejected a pledge made at a meeting of their February, and the North has “President Trump is obvi- vinced we still have a real oppor- Affairs last year. The 47 sen- North Korean demand that he foreign and defence ministers at warned it may not return to the ously in charge of the overall tunity to achieve that outcome tenced to up to six years had be replaced as President Donald the State Department threw table without immediate sanc- effort, but it will be my team and and our diplomatic team will been involved in protests last Trump’s top negotiator, as the more uncertainty over the pos- tions relief. special representative Biegun continue to remain in the lead.” year that involved hundreds of United States and Japan vowed sible resumption of stalled denu- “Nothing changed, we’re who will continue to lead the US Pompeo’s comments were his former soldiers. China’s Com- to continue to enforce tough clearisation talks. The talks have continuing to work. I’m still in efforts to achieve what Chairman first response to the North munist Party restricts public sanctions on North Korea until been at an impasse over charge of the team,” Pompeo Kim committed to do,” he said. Korean demand. demonstrations. Tiny Japanese baby ready to go home Australian father rescues AP toddler from dingo’s jaws TOKYO AFP of his head, and for minor cuts A tiny Japanese baby who SYDNEY to his scalp, Du-Toit said. weighed just 258 grams when He was taken by helicopter he was born five months ago is A father rescued his son from a to a nearby hospital for further going home from the hospital. dingo’s jaws after the infant was treatment. The attack is the third Ryusuke Sekino was shown dragged from a campervan at this year on World Heritage- on Japanese TV yesterday an Australian tourist island, listed Fraser Island, the world’s sitting in his mother’s arms, authorities said yesterday, in the largest sand island and a popular looking somberly around at third such attack this year. tourist destination. media cameras. Paramedics said the family Two dingoes were put down His mother, Toshiko Sekino, was on a remote part of Fraser in March after a French mother told reporters she was worried Island off the Queensland coast and son were mauled on the and cried a lot at first because late on Thursday when the island. In January, a six-year- he was so fragile and had trans- parents heard their child crying. old boy was mauled by the parent skin. She said she now “The parents awoke with the native animal after as he ran up is able to breastfeed him and is toddler crying and heard the a dune on the island. looking forward to taking him crying getting further away from Authorities have warned home today and giving him a the campervan,” Fraser Island visitors in the past that dingoes bath there. paramedic Ben Du-Toit said. are wild animals and need to be The University of Iowa “The dad got out of the treated with caution. keeps a Tiniest Babies Registry, campervan to investigate and Native to Australia, dingoes which shows the previous found the dingo dragging the came under the spotlight with smallest surviving boy weighed toddler away from the camp- the disappearance of baby 268 grams when he was born ervan. He also spotted several Azaria Chamberlain at Uluru, or last year in Japan. A German other dingoes in the... immediate Ayers Rock, in 1980 for which Six-month-old Ryusuke Sekiya (centre) with his parents one day before his scheduled discharge from girl born in 2015 weighed 252 vicinity. her mother Lindy was convicted a hospital at Azumino, Nagano prefecture, in Japan yesterday. grams. “He immediately ran up and of murder and her father, “There have been diffi- grabbed his son and chased Michael, of being an accessory. culties in the treatment drips,” Dr. Takehiko Hiroma of is healthy now and weighs born. “I can really feel his some of the dingoes off.” The The convictions were over- because, immediately after his Nagano Children’s Hospital was 3.37kg, Kyodo reported. Jap- weight now. He used to be so boy, reported 14 months old, turned in 1988 after the chance birth, his blood vessels were too quoted as saying by Kyodo anese media said he measured light,” his mother said on Fuji was treated for two deep cuts to find of a piece of Azaria’s thin to administer intravenous News service. He said the baby 22cm in length when he was TV news. the top of his neck near the back clothing near a dingo lair. 08 VIEWS SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 Indonesia’s ‘smooth’ polls a ESTABLISHED IN 1996 beacon in sea of strongmen CHAIRMAN HARRY PEARL SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI AFP

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ndonesia pulled off a complex yet DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI peaceful election across its vast — [email protected] and ethnically diverse — island Iterritory this week, cementing its place as a democratic beacon in a sea ACTING MANAGING EDITOR of authoritarian governments, analysts MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED say. But the world’s biggest Muslim- [email protected] majority nation still faces a spike in militants and myriad other challenges. On Wednesday, the sprawling DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Southeast Asian archipelago saw as MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI many as 190 million voters cast ballots [email protected] to elect a new president, parliamen- tarians and local legislators, in a one-day contest with a record 245,000 candidates. Preliminary results appeared to hand a second term to President Joko Widodo, but he held off declaring victory pending EDITORIAL official results next month. However, his rival ex-general Prabowo Subianto — who has strong Always ready to help ties to the Suharto dictatorship that collapsed in 1998 — insisted he won, atar as always has come forward to help the humanity and vowed to challenge the results. in distress. This time, the country has taken the lead He did the same, unsuccessfully, Qin helping thousands of victims of tropical cyclone after losing to Widodo in 2014 and Idai that severely-hit many African countries including there is little to suggest Subianto will Mozambique. Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has win this latest fight. announced the provision of an urgent humanitarian Despite the lingering uncertainty, assistance to 100,000 victims, in addition to providing direct Indonesia’s democratic feat still stands food assistance to 12,076 residents of the affected area, as in stark contrast to strongman govern- Indonesian President Joko Widodo (centre) greeting supporters after the country’s part of the State of Qatar’s solidarity with the friendly ments in the Philippines and Cam- general election in Jakarta. Republic of Mozambique that was devastated by a cyclone. bodia, authori- QFFD, in coordination with the Standing Committee for tarian Vietnam demands for better governance,” she in its second-biggest city Surabaya -- Rescue, Relief and Humanitarian Assistance, have sent a and Laos, added. amid a growing gulf in society relief aircraft to the affected areas, to deliver 32 tonnes of Myanmar’s Still, Welsh was sharply critical of between moderate and hardline relief supplies including medicine, food, baby milk, tents, stumbling Widodo’s rights records, and there are Muslims. and other relief materials. post-junta doubts about whether the 57-year-old “Both candidates exploited Islam During recently held 140th Assembly of Inter-Parlia- The sprawling steps and a will use his political capital to safe- as campaign issues,” said Made mentary Union (IPU), Speaker of the Shura Council, H E Southeast Asian chaotic guard two decades of democratic Supriatma, a visiting fellow at Sin- Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, who was also archipelago saw election in progress that some fear is being gapore-based think tank Yusof Ishak President of 140th Assembly of the IPU, had called for as many as 190 Thailand, its undermined. Institute. launching of a global campaign to help the governments of first since a “My prediction over the next five “This religious war surely will have three cyclone-hit African countries. million voters cast 2014 coup. years is that we will continue to see a some effects in political debates in Speaking on behalf of the State of Qatar, the Speaker of ballots to elect a “In a slow erosion of democratic quality,” Indonesia in the years to come.” the Shura Council had expressed new president, region that is said Marcus Mietzner, an associate Widodo’s choice of conservative Qatar’s deep condolences and not inclined professor at the Australian National cleric Ma’ruf Amin as his running mate solidarity with three countries parliamentarians towards University. — in part to neutralise attacks on his and their peoples. He had also and local legislators, democracy, “(But) not a full push into authori- own religious credentials — has stirred called for the launch of a global in a one-day where author- tarianism,” he added. fears about how minorities will fare campaign to help the govern- contest with a itarianism is Widodo himself has been accused over the next five years. QFFD, in ments of the three countries to on the rise, of creeping authoritarianism following Transgender people have been coordination with overcome the plight and to meet record 245,000 Indonesia’s arrests of opposition campaigners subject to abuse and arrest, while a the Standing the needs of their citizens. candidates. democracy under a controversial electronic defa- Christian woman was jailed for blas- Committee for The 140th General Assembly really has mation law, while a decree during his phemy after complaining about the of the IPU had also unanimously weight -- even tenure allowed Jakarta to ban mass volume of a mosque’s loudspeaker. Rescue, Relief adopted the emergency reso- if it is turning more conservative,” said organisations. “Military sector reform is a must, and Humanitarian lution on humanitarian Christine Cabasset at the Bangkok- Others have raised concerns about so is the protection of minorities and Assistance, have assistance to cyclone-hit African based Research Institute on Contem- the renewed influence of the military, tackling intolerance and extremists,” sent a relief aircraft countries including Mozambique, porary Southeast Asia. which is eyeing more civilian gov- said Yohanes Sulaiman, a political Zimbabwe, and Malawi. In a nod to voter participation, one ernment positions in the country of analyst at the Universitas Jenderal to the affected The General Assembly reso- reputable pollster recorded 82 percent 260 million -- home to hundreds of Achmad Yani. areas, to deliver lution had called on parliamen- turnout in this week’s polls, the highest ethnic groups and languages. Indone- Some also see traces of Indone- 32 tonnes of relief tarians to urge their governments since 2004 legislative elections, local sia’s reputation for religious tolerance sia’s long collapsed dictatorship in the to support urgent United Nations media reported. has also been tested by increasingly current, corruption-riddled system. supplies including appeals for Mozambique, Malawi, “People are voting and making a vocal hardline Islamists, who were “It is hard to root out,” said medicine, food, and Zimbabwe in accordance difference. Indonesians have emboldened after their calls to pros- Supriatma. “All political parties are baby milk, tents, with the values of the interna- embraced their own electoral power, ecute Jakarta’s Christian governor for dominated by old players, both and other relief tional organisation and to con- especially younger voters,” said blasphemy saw him jailed in 2017. nationally and regionally.” tribute appropriately by ensuring Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asia expert A years-long struggle with But there is little appetite for any- materials. that adequate human and at John Cabot University in Rome. extremism was underlined last year by thing but another smooth power financial resources are allocated “This bodes well for greater suicide bombings at several churches transition. to the concerned countries. Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has always been at the forefront of providing assistance to people suffering any kind of hardship due to some natural disaster, war or any other situation. Recently, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) also laid the foundation Democracy armed — and eroded stone during an official ceremony for a cancer treatment centre project under the patronage of Roch Marc Christian THE WASHINGTON POST democratic norms in both countries, economy. Though he did undertake Kaboré, President of the Republic of Burkina Faso. and the strengthening of religious several reforms, he avoided needed Last month, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) had extremists. action on labor and land regulations, launched two new development projects in West Darfur ere’s some cheering news Widodo won his first election with with predictable results: Unem- State, with funding from Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). for those worried about the strong support from the tenth of ployment has risen to the highest rate Under the project, a couple of model services complexes state of democracy: An esti- Indonesians who are not Muslim. One in 45 years. are to be established in the villages of Sisi (Kerenek District) mated 1.1 billion people - or of his closest allies was Basuki Meanwhile, Hindu chauvinism H has grown steadily during Modi’s and Abu Suruj (Sirba District). The plots of land were handed 15 percent of the Earth’s population - Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, an over to the contractors, to start immediately the construction voted or will be voting this month and ethnic Chinese Christian who was term - there have been scores of hate works in the two complexes. In 2014, a similar model services next in elections in India and Indo- governor of Jakarta. Yet in Wednes- attacks on Muslims, most of which complex was established in the village of Arara, Beida Dis- nesia, the world’s second- and day’s vote, Widodo’s vice-presidential have gone unpunished - and the trict, West Darfur. fourth-most- populous countries, running mate was Maruf Amin, a mil- election campaign of the ruling respectively. In each, campaigns for itant Muslim cleric who successfully Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, has national leaders have been compet- campaigned for Purnama to be jailed leaned heavily on crude sectarian itive and the balloting is expected to on trumped-up blasphemy charges. appeals. Modi has derided Rahul be broadly free and fair. Amin advocates the imposition of Gandhi, the leader of the rival Con- QUOTE OF THE DAY Though the outcomes cannot be sharia law in Indonesia and favors the gress party, for allegedly running predicted with surety - another good persecution of gay people. away from Hindu districts to those We must focus on thing - the betting is that the result That’s not the only shift Widodo where “the majority is a minority.” our main agenda, will be the reelection of two incum- has undertaken. He also has Journalists critical of the government primarily the economy bents, Indian Prime Minister appointed retired generals from the have been pressured and intimidated. Narendra Modi and Indonesian Pres- powerful military to senior gov- India, like Indonesia, remains far and security, leaving ident Joko Widodo, who are widely ernment positions and last year freer than most of its neighbors and the election debates regarded as competent, personally oversaw the suppression of peaceful thus a natural partner of the United behind. It is the time to uncorrupt and dedicated to rallies by opposition activists. Civil States. But India and Indonesia have shake hands, hug each improving the lives of the poor. society and human rights groups that not been immune to the currents of Unfortunately, that’s not all the once supported his presidency called populism and nationalism chal- other and strengthen two leaders have in common. Though on their supporters to cast blank lenging liberalism in the West. We our unity. both were elected in 2014 on ballots in this election. can hope that, if reelected, Modi and reformist platforms, Modi and Modi has always been an Widodo will ratchet back their Recep Tayyip Erdogan Widodo have since turned to nation- adherent of Hindu nationalism, but rhetoric and restrain their more Turkish President alism and sectarianism to retain many who voted for him in 2014 extreme followers. For now, their support. The result has been a trou- hoped he would set aside sectarian drift toward intolerance reflects a bling erosion of tolerance and other issues and focus on improving the global tide. SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 OPINION 09 How Mueller’s decision on obstruction helped save Trump

he US Attorney General report contained disturbing evidence Congress has powers to check a pres- Under US law, it is a crime to decided that President Donald of wrongdoing by Trump that could ident. At least half a dozen legal attempt “to influence, obstruct or Trump did not obstruct a fuel congressional investigations. experts said the special counsel impede the due administration of Tprobe into whether his cam- Some legal experts echoed that intended Congress to take up the justice.” To prove obstruction, paign colluded with Russia, but some view. They said the evidence should matter. prosecutors must show an indi- legal experts said prosecutors laid out have given prosecutors a strong basis “There is a wink, and a nod, and vidual acted with a “corrupt” or a wealth of evidence to the contrary for bringing an obstruction case another wink to Congress that I have improper motive - a specific intent JAN WOLFE & NOELEEN WALDER and that they intended to leave that against Trump, but Mueller demurred a lot of evidence and now the ball is in to impede an investigation. REUTERS determination to Congress. because a longstanding Department your court,” said Jessica Levinson, a Obstruction of justice is often Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s of Justice policy against indicting a professor at Loyola Law School in Los coupled with some underlying report revealed new details about sitting president. Angeles. wrongful act that is being covered Trump’s attempts to impede his Jens Ohlin, a law professor at House Democrats took that view up, legal experts said. investigation on Thursday. They Cornell University, said the evidence as well. In a joint statement, the House With a sitting president, the included how the president tried to laid out by the Mueller report was chairs said “the Special Counsel issue takes on additional complica- fire Mueller and limit his investi- “really exhaustive in terms of the undoubtedly anticipated” the Con- tions. A Justice department policy gation, kept details of a June 2016 number of incidents and how severe gress must assess the evidence. dating back to the Watergate meeting between senior campaign they are.” In his report, Mueller But Republican Congressman scandal in the early 1970s advises officials and a Russian under wraps, focused on a series of actions, Doug Collins disputed that Mueller against indicting a sitting president. and possibly dangled a pardon to a including Trump’s conduct toward intended for Congress to decide on The US Constitution is silent on former adviser. law enforcement officials and wit- the view. the question. Democrats said on Thursday the nesses. At one point, Mueller says the “The report doesn’t say Congress In his report, Mueller said he should investigate obstruction now. It “accepted” the department’s legal says Congress can make laws about opinion and was unable to come to obstruction,” Collins tweeted. a conclusion about whether there A spokesman for Mueller declined was enough evidence to charge to comment. Trump with obstruction. Trump’s legal team called the The president’s actions and report “a total victory” for the intent “presents difficult issues that president. prevent us from conclusively deter- “If they thought they had an mining that no criminal conduct obstruction case they would have occurred,” Mueller wrote. made it. They did not,” said Jay But Mueller added that his Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, in an report “also does not exonerate” interview. Trump of the crime. It is unclear whether the Demo- In reaching his decision not to crats will push on Congressional charge Trump, Barr said the pres- censure. And even if the House votes ident had been “frustrated and to impeach, it is highly unlikely the angered” by a belief that the probe Republican controlled Senate would was undermining his presidency. convict Trump. Despite this, Trump did not Attorney General William Barr, a deprive Mueller of documents and Trump appointee, defended the pres- witnesses needed to complete the ident in a press conference Thursday investigation, Barr said. by saying there was insufficient evi- “Apart from whether the acts dence to bring an obstruction case were obstructive, this evidence of against Trump. non-corrupt motives weights In an earlier letter to lawmakers, heavily against any allegation that Barr said the case was also under- the president had a corrupt intent mined by Mueller’s finding that the to obstruct the investigation,” he Trump campaign did not conspire said. A cardboard cutout of US Attorney-General William Barr is seen as protesters holding signs which read “Barr Coverup,” with Russians to interfere in the following the release of the Mueller report. election.

f voters in Ukraine elect tele- president. However, he also might the Russian people to question their vision star Volodymyr Zelensky avoid becoming the disaster that own system. president, as seems almost Poroshenko supporters fear or the Zelensky’s critics question his ties D-RING ROAD certain, that should please the gift that the Kremlin hopes will to oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, owner POST BOX: 3488 I of the television station that broad- Kremlin, which made clear its dislike return Ukraine to Russia’s orbit. DOHA - QATAR for incumbent Petro Poroshenko. Why might Moscow end up casts “Servant of the People.” Zel- [email protected] Recall, however, celebrations in disappointed? ensky denies he is Kolomoisky’s STEVEN PIFER Moscow in November 2016 when First, Zelensky is no dummy. He’s puppet. While that relationship THE WASHINGTON POST Donald Trump unexpectedly won. built a successful business empire. In remains murky, there presumably EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE Zelensky could disappoint the Rus- a recent conversation I had in Kiev, a would be a check in place. As finance TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 senior Ukrainian official appointed minister, Danylyuk was no friend of FAX: +974 4455 7758 by Poroshenko questioned how Zel- Kolomoisky, having helped nation- ensky might govern but conceded alize the bank co-owned by the oli- MANAGING EDITOR that he is “talented and smart.” He garch after charges of financial irreg- TEL: 4462 7505 may not be as prone to manipulation ularities. (That fight is still playing out How Ukraine’s as Putin would want. in the courts.) DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Second, Zelensky has not actually In any case, Kolomoisky provides TEL: 4455 7769 comedian-candidate could outlined any foreign policy views no comfort to Moscow. He has strong that would please the Kremlin. He anti-Russian credentials. He spent a LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743 blames Russia for the war, calls on year as governor of Dnipro, holding disappoint the Kremlin Moscow to return both Crimea and that oblast in line when many feared BUSINESS NEWS SECTION the Donbass, and says he will pursue it might fall victim to the Russian- TEL: 4462 7535 Ukraine’s course of integration into inspired violence that began in the Europe, including joining the Donbass. SPORT NEWS SECTION sians in the same way that Trump has European Union and Nato. He might Fourth, presidential authority is TEL: 4455 7745 failed to deliver hoped-for changes mean it. not unlimited. The president shares in US policy toward Moscow. As for dealing with Moscow, Zel- power with the Rada (parliament), ONLINE SECTION Zelensky, a political neophyte ensky and close associates say he is which has its own elections in TEL: 4462 7501 who plays a teacher unexpectedly ready to sit down with Putin, but only October, and a prime minister [email protected] elected president in the TV show after working out an approach with appointed by the Rada. The prime “Servant of the People,” handily won Ukraine’s Western partners. He minister selects most cabinet PUBLIC RELATIONS wants to add the United States and ministers. the first round of the election March TEL: 4455 7613 Britain to the current “Normandy” The Rada will continue to support 31. Polls suggest he will beat the [email protected] president in the runoff by as many as negotiating format of France, Ukraine’s pro-European course and oppose anything that looks advanta- 30 points. Germany, Ukraine and Russia that ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT geous to Moscow. In February, Rada Poroshenko’s supporters hold out seeks to find a settlement to the con- TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 members voted 334-17 to amend the hope, albeit faint. They dismiss Zel- flict in the Donbass. FAX: 4455 7870 ensky’s first-round victory as an Third, Zelensky asserts that he Constitution to fix membership in the [email protected] emotional protest vote and note that will give priority to the anti-cor- European Union and Nato as the the electorate faces a stark choice in ruption fight as well as build a country’s strategic objectives. CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT the runoff: Poroshenko, who has a stronger, open economy - the issues Moreover, the majority of TEL: 4455 7857 Ukrainians favor the pro-European Zelensky remains proven if not always popular record, that drew voters to him. He has on [email protected] or Zelensky, whom they argue is his team proven reformers such as course. The government’s decision in unproven. He might beholden to an oligarch and would Olexander Danylyuk and Aivaras late 2013 to delay signing an associ- SUBSCRIPTION & lead Ukraine down be shark chum for Vladimir Putin. Abromavicius, who as ministers ation agreement with the European DISTRIBUTION a road filled with If he wins, Zelensky would implemented some of the most sig- Union brought hundreds of thou- TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 nificant reforms made during Poro- sands into the streets and triggered pitfalls. But he become president at a time when FAX: 44557819 Ukraine struggles with two major shenko’s presidency. the Maidan Revolution. A recent poll [email protected] also could adopt challenges. First, despite a burst of Corruption weakens the showed 58 percent are in favor of policies that would reform after the 2014 Maidan Revo- Ukrainian state, and Russia exploits joining the European Union as strengthen the lution, the economy underperforms that. If Zelensky can curb corruption, opposed to 22 percent against. The and remains mired in corruption. including the outsized political numbers favoring Nato membership All thoughts and views country internally, Ukraine is among the poorest coun- influence of the country’s oligarchs, were 46 percent to 30 percent. This is continue its course tries in Europe. Second, Ukraine has he will cut Russian levers of one unintended - but hugely signif- expressed in these columns toward Europe, and entered year six of a low-intensity influence. icant - consequence of Putin’s are those of the writers, stand up to Russia. but still very real war with Russia. Likewise, if advisers such as Dan- aggression against Ukraine. not of the newspaper. Some 13,000 people have died in the ylyuk and Abromavicius can help Yes, Zelensky remains unproven. Moscow then would ongoing conflict in the Donbass him improve the economy, establish He might lead Ukraine down a road have to decide region in eastern Ukraine. real courts, draw foreign investment filled with pitfalls. But he also could All correspondence whether it wants Zelensky has no policy track and increase growth, that will bolster adopt policies that would strengthen regarding Views and to continue its ugly, record. During the campaign, he Ukraine’s overall resilience. Putin the country internally, continue its Opinion pages should be avoided detailed platform proposals, and the Kremlin hardly want as a course toward Europe, and stand up sent to editor-in-chief undeclared war or media interviews or political rallies, next-door neighbor a Ukraine that to Russia. Moscow then would have whether it is time preferring instead to let his TV beats corruption and expands its to decide whether it wants to con- office or mailed to the for a settlement. persona define his image. He could economy, all while abiding by demo- tinue its ugly, undeclared war or [email protected] make mistakes - huge mistakes - as cratic norms; that could well cause whether it is time for a settlement. 10 EUROPE SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019

French interior Journalist shot dead in N Ireland unrest minister warns AFP “We are treating this of yellow-vest DERRY, UNITED KINGDOM as a terrorist incident riots today and we have launched A journalist was shot dead during a murder enquiry,” riots in Northern Ireland in what REUTERS police yesterday were treating Police chief Mark PARIS as a terrorist incident following Hamilton said. Police the latest upsurge in violence to later said that they The French interior minister shake the troubled region. were hunting for more warned yesterday that violence “Lyra McKee was murdered could flare up on the 23rd Sat- during orchestrated violence in than one person. urday of yellow-vest protests, Creggan” in the city of Derry, also as authorities banned marches known as Londonderry, police launched a murder enquiry,” he around the fire-gutted Notre- chief Mark Hamilton said. added. Police later said that they Dame cathedral. Republican political party were hunting for more than one The warning comes after Saoradh said a “republican vol- person. Some officials blamed weeks of relative calm, with the unteer” was trying to “defend Thursday’s unrest on the “New marches attracting declining people” from the police when the IRA”, a republican paramilitary numbers as yellow-vest pro- shot was fired that “accidentally” group opposed to the shift testers waited for President hit McKee. towards non-violent tactics to Emmanuel Macron’s expected McKee, 29, had earlier posted bring about a united Ireland. response to their various an image from the riots, accom- The Saoradh party denies demands which include lower panied by the words “Derry claims it is the political wing of taxes and more government tonight. Absolute madness.” the New IRA. services. Images of the unrest posted on McKee had written for The Christophe Castaner, the social media showed a car and Atlantic magazine and Buzzfeed interior minister, said domestic People attend a vigil at Guildhall for the 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead, in van ablaze and hooded indi- News and was named by Forbes intelligence services had Londonderry, Northern Ireland, yesterday. viduals throwing petrol bombs Magazine in 2016 as one of their informed him of a potential and fireworks at police vehicles. “30 under 30” outstanding return of rioters intent on Saoradh said “heavily figures, according to her literary “This was an act of fear. This run-up to the Easter weekend, by so-called dissidents,” she wreaking havoc in Paris, Tou- armed” police went in to agent Janklow & Nesbit. was an act of hate. This was an when Republicans opposed to wrote on Twitter. louse, Montpellier and Bor- Creggan “to attack republicans Her partner Sara Canning act of cowardice. Those who the British presence in Northern “This was an attack on the deaux, in a repeat of violent in advance of upcoming Easter paid tribute, saying “our hopes carried it out do not share the Ireland mark the anniversary community, an attack on the protests on March 16. Rising Commemorations.” “The and dreams and all of her values of our nation, nor our of a 1916 uprising against peace process.” Arlene Foster, That day, hooded gangs inevitable reaction to such an amazing potential was snuffed Republic,” he said. British rule. leader of the Democratic Union ransacked stores on Paris’s incursion was resistance from out by this single barbaric act.” British counterpart Theresa A car-bombing and the Party, which is in favour of Brit- famed Champs-Elysees avenue, the youth of Creggan,” added Thursday’s unrest raised May said the killing was hijacking of two vans in London- ain’s presence in Northern set fire to a bank and forced the statement. memories of past decades of vio- “shocking and truly senseless”. derry earlier this year were also Ireland, described the death as Macron to cut short a ski trip in Police chief Hamilton said “a lence in Northern Ireland. Visiting US House of Repre- blamed on the New IRA. “heartbreaking news”. the Pyrenees. single gunman fired shots in a “We cannot allow those who sentatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi Michelle O’Neill, the deputy “Those who brought guns “The rioters will be back residential area of the city and want to propagate violence, fear joined in a minute’s silence, leader of Irish republican party onto our streets in the 70s, 80s tomorrow,” Castaner told a as a result wounded Ms McKee. and hate to drag us back to the saying it was “especially Sinn Fein, condemned the killing. & 90s were wrong. It is equally press conference. “Their pro- “We are treating this as a ter- past,” said Ireland’s Prime Min- poignant” on Good Friday. “My heart goes out to the family wrong in 2019. No one wants to claimed aim: a repeat of March rorist incident and we have ister Leo Varadkar. The violence erupted in the of the young woman shot dead go back,” she wrote on Twitter. 16,” he said. “The rioters have visibly not been moved by what happened at Notre-Dame.” Vladivostok Castaner said that planned Feuding within Italian coalition intensifies marches that would have come near the medieval church on the prepares to REUTERS adviser to League leader Matteo threatening to bring down the in the interests of Italians. central island on the Seine river ROME Salvini, was placed under inves- government... I’m really Thoughts of a government had been banned, while one host Kim tigation for allegedly accepting stunned,” 5-Star leader Luigi Di crisis can only to be found in march from Saint-Denis, north of Italy’s coalition partners clashed bribes to promote the interests of Maio wrote on Facebook. Di Maio’s head,” he said. Paris, to Jussieu university on the AFP angrily yesterday over mutual renewable energy companies. In comments that further The two parties forged an Left Bank, had been authorised. VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA allegations of corruption, with Siri, who serves as an under- inflamed tensions, Di Maio said unexpected alliance last May fol- The catastrophic fire at relations between the League secretary in the transport min- his party had seen Siri in the past lowing an inconclusive national Notre-Dame cathedral on North Korean leader Kim Jong and 5-Star Movement at their istry, denied the accusations, but trying to introduce measures that vote. While they govern together, Monday prompted an outpouring Un is expected in Russia’s far- lowest ebb since they formed a when news of the probe leaked, were “a bit controversial”. they remain bitter ballot-box of national sorrow and a rush by eastern port Vladivostok in the government last May. Transport Minister Danilo “We remember them. When adversaries and tensions rich families and corporations to coming days, according to The anti-establishment Toninelli, who is a 5-Star they landed on our desk they between the two have always pledge around €1bn ($1.12bn) for reports that have prompted 5-Star accused its far-right ally member, stripped him of his gov- seemed strange and we stopped risen ahead of any elections. its reconstruction. excitement and concern among of threatening to bring down the ernment responsibilities. them.... Without us, who knows However, party sources said That has angered some local residents. government. The League angrily The unilateral move angered what would have happened,” Di the latest blowout was the worst yellow-vest protesters, who After weeks of speculation, denied the charge, but party the League and led to furious Maio wrote, without giving any yet, with the League seething have expressed disgust at the the Kremlin announced that sources acknowledged the row recriminations between the two details. While Siri made no over the decision to strip Siri of fact their five-month old Kim will visit Russia to hold his was taking a heavy toll on their parties, highlighting how their immediate comment, Salvini his government powers until the movement, which started as first talks with President partnership. relations are deteriorating in the responded with a brief, sharply graft probe is concluded. an anti-fuel tax protest last Vladimir Putin in late April. It The coalition was thrown into run-up to next month’s European worded statement. “The atmosphere between us year, has not received the gave no details on a date or turmoil on Thursday when Union parliamentary election. “The League wants to has never been so bad,” a senior same generous donations by place, citing “security reasons.” Armando Siri, an economic “...Even today the League is govern well and for a long time League source said. France’s elite. Russian media were quick to report preparations were underway for the summit to take place in Vladivostok, home Notre-Dame paintings to Moscow’s Pacific Fleet. The port lies only about 130km from Russia’s short removed amid border with North Korea. This proximity is no doubt important lead pollution fears for Kim, who is rumoured to travel aboard his armoured AFP restoration, where experts will train. The 35-year-old will be PARIS repair relatively minor damage following in the footsteps of his caused by smoke or water father Kim Jong Il, who met the French art experts headed into the before storing the paintings until newly elected Putin in Vladi- stricken Notre-Dame cathedral they can be returned. vostok in 2002. in Paris to remove all the But as the latest phase of The far eastern city rarely remaining paintings yesterday salvage work took place, a French sees major international events, despite warnings from an envi- charity warned about the possible and some locals are happy for the ronmental group that the site health impact from the fire. The city to be in the spotlight. “Any could be a toxic health threat. Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) visit is good, whether it’s an Officials from the culture organisation said that around 300 enemy or a friend,” said Danil, a ministry were allowed into the tonnes of lead from the roof and student at Vladivostok’s Far 850-year-old landmark to begin steeple had melted in Monday Eastern Federal University, billed retrieving the artworks after fire night’s fire, which according to by the media as a possible venue service officials declared the officials had reached 800 degrees for the summit. He welcomed the scorched structure safe enough Celsius (1,470F) at its peak. talks, saying “you can only make to go inside. “The cathedral has been decisions through dialogue and Firefighters and engineering reduced to the state of toxic Ukraine’s President and presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko (left), at a policy debate with his communication.” experts have been working on the waste,” the association said in a rival, comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy, at the National Sports Complex Olimpiyskiy stadium in Kiev. Nadezhda, a native of the fragile landmark since a devas- statement, calling on French city, said it will be a global event tating blaze on Monday night, authorities to detoxify the tonnes and “will be a boost for devel- erecting scaffolding and other of rubble, ash and waste water opment in our city.” Authorities Ukraine vote rivals clash in stadium debate wooden supports to stop any of produced by firefighters. “Before this week were busy cleaning the stonework collapsing. launching a competition for the garbage near railways leading to AFP Sunday. Several thousand spec- your mistakes and promises.” “The paintings inside the design of a new steeple, we should the city, Russian media reported. KIEV tators attended the first and only 53-year-old Poroshenko attacked cathedral have been saved from launch a competition to decon- “The depressing view from policy head-to-head of the the inexperience of the untested the flames and can now be taken taminate what at the moment, the train window does not give A comedian tipped to take over extraordinary campaign that took Zelensky, questioning his ability to down and transported to safe alas, can be considered an indus- a positive impression to guests Ukraine’s presidency and his place in Kiev’s Olympic Stadium serve as commander-in-chief. areas,” France’s Culture Minister trial wasteland,” it added. of Vladivostok arriving by train,” incumbent rival went head-to- amid beefed-up security. “We only have a beautiful Franck Riester said at the scene Monitoring service Airparif said an official from the local branch head in a bitter stadium debate The rivals appeared together and bright sweet wrapper in yesterday. “All of the paintings will it did not monitor lead levels in real- of Russian Railways said. yesterday, as campaigning on stage and opened the debate which everyone can find what be removed today,” Riester added. time but it has sent its filters to be Nadezhda said she was reached its grand finale before on a positive note by shaking he is looking for,” said an emo- As firefighters inspected the analysed in a laboratory. There was “absolutely not afraid of (North a weekend vote. hands before quickly launching tional Poroshenko. top of the fragile southern facade, no immediate reaction from French Korea’s) nuclear program” and Polls show Volodymyr Zel- mutual attacks. “I am not a pol- He said Zelensky had over art experts began carrying out authorities to the claims by Robin would like to see the country. ensky, a 41-year-old standup itician,” said Zelensky, who the past few years avoided paintings from the cathedral in des Bois. Lead pollution can cause North Korea said this week comic with no political expe- spoke first. “I am just a simple active-duty military service and protective white film and loading neurological defects for humans, it was testing nuclear weapons rience, handily defeating Pres- person who has come to break added he would not be able to them into trucks. especially children, as well as after a round of talks with the ident Petro Poroshenko in a down this system,” he said. stand up to Russian President The artworks were taken to nervous system and kidney US ended in failure. second-round of voting on “I am the result of Vladimir Putin. the Louvre museum, a centre of problems. SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11 In divided America, Mueller report hardens the most strident REUTERS Counsel Robert Mueller on his things, which is basically fish 61, said in a suburb of Las Vegas. James Stratton, 65, of Clear- millions of his own dollars FLORIDA/LAS VEGAS inquiry into Russia’s role in the wrapper,” said Michael O’Brien, After Attorney-General water, Florida, caught snippets directing pressure at Congress 2016 election landed in a stri- formerly a service technician William Barr released his four- of the news about the report to impeach Trump, said while he After months as volunteer dently divided America: One side who now works on houses. His page summary of the Mueller from conservative commentators thinks the contents of the report activists demanding that Pres- convinced Trump acted wife, who a day earlier delivered report late last month, Americans Rush Limbaugh and Sean implicate the president, he ident Donald Trump be improperly, the other adamant a can of “impeaches” peaches to were dug in on their views. Hannity. He looked up Barr’s acknowledges the findings alone impeached, Eileen and Michael that the investigation was a polit- a lawmaker, looked up with a Nearly half of all Americans news conference, held Thursday are unlikely to convince Amer- O’Brien sat on their couch on ically driven farce. quizzical expression. “It’s still believe Trump worked with morning before the report was icans to change their minds. Thursday, cracked open a laptop Mueller built an extensive worthless,” he explained. “You Russia to interfere in the 2016 released online, on YouTube. “I think the only way to get and began to read the 448-page case that Trump committed can use it to wrap fish.” presidential election, despite the “Nobody on our side is going voters to notice is to directly pub- special counsel report that lib- obstruction of justice but stopped Lee Mueller and his wife, report’s saying no collusion had to change,” the Republican pres- licize, televised hearings,” Steyer erals have dreamed would make short of concluding he had com- Michele Mueller, no relation to occurred, according to a Reuters/ ident of the local Tampa Bay said. “We’re all for public hearings impeachment a reality. mitted a crime, though he did not Robert Mueller, also paused to Ipsos poll conducted shortly after Trump Club said in a phone so the American people can see “Hmm, seems like there’s a exonerate the president. read through the special coun- the Barr summary was released. interview, adding that liberals and can react themselves.” lot of gray area here,” said Eileen For those like the O’Briens sel’s report. They printed out the Among those familiar with will grow tired of hearing pre- In Florida, Margo Hammond, O’Brien, 65, of Clearwater, who have been pining for table of contents for both Barr’s summary, only 9 percent dictions about Trump’s downfall 69, who considers herself an inde- Florida, reading aloud a line impeachment, the report renewed volumes along with the executive said it had changed their thinking that never materialize. pendent voter, gleaned highlights about the findings falling short a resolve to oust the president. For summaries. about Trump’s ties to Russia, the For the most invested, by toggling through the coverage of a criminal case. “Legally those who want to see the pres- “I view the Mueller report as poll found. Ahead of Thursday’s though, Mueller’s report offered of MSNBC, CNN and Fox News. wrong and morally wrong are ident reelected, there was a sense being one battle in a war against release of the Mueller report, hope for further investigation, She was unimpressed with Barr. two different things.” of vindication. the United States of America’s Trump ramped up his insistence but by Democrats in Congress “It’s kind of an insult to the The release of the long- “The White House is going to founding principles and against that he was the victim, not the this time. Tom Steyer, a bil- American people that we can’t anticipated report by Special put out their own version of Donald Trump,” Michele Mueller, perpetrator, of crimes. lionaire activist who has spent decide for ourselves,” she said. Trump slams ‘fabricated’ testimony in report AFP “Statements are made yesterday, as he prepared for a WASHINGTON about me by certain long Easter weekend at his people in the Crazy Florida golf resort, insisting that US President Donald Trump yes- Mueller Report, in he had done nothing wrong. terday dismissed unfavorable “Because I never agreed to testimony in the Mueller report itself written by 18 testify, it was not necessary for me on Russian election interference Angry Democrat Trump to respond to statements made in as “fabricated” and labelled the Haters, which are the ‘Report’ about me, some of document “crazy”. fabricated & totally which are total untrue & only “Statements are made about given to make the other person me by certain people in the Crazy untrue,” the President look good (or me to look bad),” Mueller Report, in itself written by tweeted. Trump added, repeating his 18 Angry Democrat Trump Haters, description of the investigation as which are fabricated & totally concluded there was insufficient an “Illegally Started Hoax”. untrue,” the President tweeted. evidence to charge the president Mueller said in his report that A 400-page document out- with obstruction. Trump’s “efforts to influence the lining the findings of Special Mueller, however, noted that investigation were mostly unsuc- Counsel Robert Mueller’s while he was following Justice cessful, but that is largely US President Donald Trump greets supporters after arriving on Air Force One at the Palm Beach 22-month investigation, made Department policy in not because the persons who sur- International Airport to spend Easter weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. public on Thursday, cleared charging Trump, the evidence he rounded the president declined Trump of criminal conspiracy gathered “does not exonerate” to carry out orders or accede to but left open whether he had the Republican president. his requests”. about the infamous 2016 Trump obstruction issue and the White in a joint statement. obstructed justice. Trump initially celebrated The episodes of potential Tower meeting between Rus- House’s cooperation with the Eric Swalwell, a California Mueller’s report recounts 10 the publication of the report — wrongdoing, which will now be sians and senior campaign investigation. congressman, called for Barr’s episodes involving the president which landed as the United examined by the Democrat-led officials. “There are at least four signif- resignation while several others and potential obstruction of the States dives into the ferment of House of Representatives, Democrats, meanwhile, have icant ways that Barr has misled the berated him. They accused Barr investigation. a bitter presidential campaign — include the firing of FBI chief demanded action against Barr, public on the contents of the of suggesting publicly and falsely After reviewing the doc- saying at the White House that James Comey, Trump’s efforts to arguing that Mueller’s report Mueller report,” Senate Demo- that Mueller had not intended for ument, Attorney General Bill Barr he was “having a good day”. But remove Mueller and his attempts undercut some of the attorney cratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Congress to resolve the and his deputy Rod Rosenstein he was in a more defensive mood to prevent disclosure of emails general’s key claims about the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said obstruction issue. Emma Thompson, Man who carried fuel cans weeping teenagers join climate into NY cathedral charged protest in London REUTERS As Lamparello turned to leave REUTERS NEW YORK the cathedral, police said, petrol LONDON spilled from the cans he was car- A 37-year-old man who entered rying, causing cathedral staff to Film star Emma Thompson New York’s famed St. Patrick’s alert police officers stationed joined climate change activists Cathedral carrying two full outside the church. in central London yesterday to petrol cans, lighter fluid and Lamparello told police he read poetry praising Earth’s lighters was charged with was taking a short cut through bounties, part of a series of pro- attempted arson, police said. the cathedral to get to Madison tests which have caused Wednesday’s incident Avenue from Fifth Avenue to transport snarl-ups in the occurred two days after a massive return to his van, which had run British capital. fire severely damaged the Notre- out of petrol, according to John Organisers Extinction Dame Cathedral in Paris, causing Miller, deputy commissioner of Rebellion have called for non- global shock and sorrow. intelligence and counterter- violent civil disobedience to A New York City Police rorism for the NYPD. force the British government to Department official said Marc When police checked the reduce net greenhouse gas Lamparello, a New Jersey res- vehicle they found it was not out emissions to zero by 2025 and ident, was charged with second- of fuel, at which point the man stop what they call a global degree attempted arson, second- was arrested, Miller said. climate crisis. degree reckless endangerment “An individual walking into The protests did not cause and trespassing after he entered an iconic location like St. travel disruption yesterday Tribute to bus crash victims the Roman Catholic cathedral Patrick’s Cathedral carrying during one of Britain’s main in midtown Manhattan just over four gallons of petrol, two A woman stands at the place where a tourist bus crashed on Thursday, on the Portuguese island of holiday weekends, but police before 8pm on Wednesday and bottles of lighter fluid and Madeira, in Canico. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo attended a mass yesterday in tribute to said they have arrested more was confronted by a security lighters, is something we would than 570 people so far this week. 29 German tourists who died when their bus tumbled down a slope and crashed into a house on guard. It was not immediately have grave concern over,” Extinction Rebellion has the tourist island of Madeira. clear if Lamparello had a lawyer. Miller told reporters. blocked several locations in central London this week. “Our planet is in serious trouble,” Thompson said. “We are here in this island North Macedonia holds presidential vote tomorrow of sanity and it makes me so happy to be able to join you all AFP declared that it wanted to be called ordinary people struggle to share percent, according to the The candidate of the ruling and to add my voice to the SKOPJE Macedonia, over the objections of their enthusiasm. national statistics agency. Social Democrats (SDSM) Stevo young people here who have Greece, which has a northern Skopje hopes to open Many voters, called to choose Pendarovski, 56, insists on a EU inspired a whole new North Macedonia holds the first province of the same name. accession talks with the EU in among three candidates, will agenda. “Voting Stevo Pen- movement,” said Thompson, round of its presidential election Prime Minister Zoran Zaev June — but analysts say the coun- want to “send a message to those darovski means voting for a one of Britain’s most acclaimed tomorrow, the country’s first and his Greek counterpart Alexis try’s 1.8 million-strong electorate who do not want to hear it,” said European education, European actresses who has won two vote under a new name as it Tsipras last June reached a deal are more concerned with bread- political analyst Arsim Zekolli. wages, a European standard of Academy awards. struggles with enduring eco- to add “North” to Macedonia’s and-butter issues. “Citizens feel manipulated by living,” PM Zaev said. Thompson’s appearance nomic problems, cronyism and name, ending the 27-year “I hear only about Nato, the everyone and are dissatisfied,” If Pendarovski loses, or if the followed a demonstration near corruption. dispute. The agreement was European Union and this name said Meri Jordanovska, an inves- turnout is lower than the 40 Heathrow Airport earlier, The vote for the largely cer- finalised in January after a long story,” sighed Vera Smajlovska, a tigative reporter. “We cannot percent required for the vote to where a group of around a emonial post comes less than political battle and fierce oppo- Skopje hairdresser. “No one cares continue to serve them the story be valid, Zaev would suffer a dozen teenagers, some as three months after a deal with sition from nationalists on both about the way people live. They of EU and Nato forever,” she said. body blow. young as 13 and 14, held a Athens on Skopje’s name change sides of the border. care only about power, what Even among those who have Pendarovski’s challengers banner alongside a busy road came into force, ending a In exchange for the name remains to be grabbed in this poor accepted the name change, many are the right-wing Gordana Sil- which read: “Are we the last decades-long identity dispute change, Athens said it would stop country,” the 47-year-old said. have done so reluctantly, con- janovska-Davkova, backed by generation?” Some of the teen- between the neighbours. thwarting North Macedonia’s bid The average monthly salary vinced by the promises of rap- the main opposition VMRO- agers wept and hugged each The spat was sparked by the to join Nato and the European in North Macedonia is €400 prochement with the EU — a shift DPMNE party, and Blerim Reka other, although they were far country’s independence from Union. While European leaders ($450), and the official unem- they hope will bring prosperity representing ethnic Albanian outnumbered by police. Yugoslavia in 1991, when it celebrated the name deal, ployment rate exceeds 20 and strengthen the rule of law. minority. 12 AMERICAS / CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019

Joe Biden to announce US SERVICES NOTICE presidential run next week USED CONTAINERS MR. BHIM PURI (Sales & Rentals) NEPAL NATIONAL, One of the people ARMSTRONG PASSPORT NO. 08200756 cautioned that the New & Used Containers - Sales/Rental (Certified & Uncertified) QATAR ID NO. 27852416446 plans could change, Mobile: 557 80 396 (Steve) E-mail: [email protected] www.iescoqatar.com. given the former The above said person is leaving Qatar for good on Delaware senator’s WAREHOUSE FOR RENT fits and starts around 30/04/2019. Anybody who has WOKEER INDUSTRIAL AREA any claim against him should con- previous presidential tact us on the following numbers campaigns. Available Sizes: 358/415/510/830/1340 Sqm. Mobile: 660 02 704 (Steve) within 2 days from the date of E-mail: [email protected] this advertisement. We will not be BLOOMBERG responsible for any claim whatso- WASHINGTON WATER TANK CLEANING ever after the above said date. Contact: 55508534 Former Vice-President Joe Biden AL MUTWASSIT CLEANING & PEST CONTROL is making preparations to enter Kharaba st, Behind white Mosque. the Democratic presidential Fax: 443679 99 - GSM. 55875920/55860432 CHANGE OF NAME campaign with a possible CAPITAL CLEANING COMPANY announcement as soon as next Former US Vice-President Joe Biden speaks at a rally organised Wednesday, according to three Cleaning Water Tanks & Pest Control. by UFCW Union members to support Stop and Shop employees GSM: 55565328/ 33189899 Tel: 44582257 I, Faisel Dilawari Abdullatif Dilawari, people familiar with his plans. E-mail: [email protected] holder of Pakistan Passport One of the people cautioned on strike throughout the region in Dorchester, Massachusetts. that the plans could change, No. CX7790291 given the former Delaware sen- raising money. He would enter for the Democratic nomination in (Qatar ID No. 27658600472) ator’s fits and starts around pre- the race as the front-runner with 1988 and 2008 ended quickly, hereby change my name to vious presidential campaigns. only Vermont Senator Bernie Biden will be able to draw on the Biden, 76, is tentatively Sanders threatening that status. good will generated by serving as FAISEL AL BALOSHI ABDUL aiming to get into the race with His long deliberation and the Vice-President to Barack Obama, the release of a video uncertainty about whether he who remains very popular among LATIF DILAWARI. announcing his candidacy, would run has kept many major Democrats. according to the people, who Democratic fundraisers and But he also would have plenty Any objection, please contact the asked for anonymity to discuss donors on the sideline. of liabilities, including his age — private conversations. Biden would offer a coun- four years older than Trump — Biden’s spokesman, Bill terpoint in the race to Sanders, and a sense from some that he’s days from the publication of this notice. Russo, declined to comment on who’s running on a populist pro- out of touch with the Democratic the plan, which was first gressive platform and has a solid electorate, especially younger reported by the Atlantic. People core of left-leaning activists voters. After a career as a six-term around Biden have said for behind him. Biden long has senator from Delaware, Biden has I, Adina Elaine Smith, months that while he’s been all but pitched himself as champion of compiled a record of stances that holder of USA Passport certain to run, they would be the working class — he was are unpopular with many of the reluctant to say so with complete spotted filming a video at his party’s core voters. No. 514051373 confidence until he actually makes childhood home in Scranton, He’s also had to confront (Qatar ID No. 27484000631) the announcement. Pennsylvania, this month — and complaints from women who hereby change my name to He’s spent the first quarter his allies believe he can win back came forward last month saying of the year weighing his final some of the white Rust Belt they were uncomfortable with the ADINA ELAINE SMITH REED. decision on his third White voters who migrated to Pres- way Biden touched them at public House bid as 18 other would-be ident Donald Trump in the 2016 events. None of the women Democratic nominees have election. described the encounters as Any objection, please contact the already begun campaigning and Though his two previous tries assault or harassment. days from the publication of this notice. Second wave of twisters in US South turn deadly; I, Lanuyanger Imkongchuba, storm pushes east holder of India Passport No. S9832258 REUTERS (Qatar ID No. 27835632164) NEW YORK hereby change my name to A second wave of tornadoes LANUYANGER TZUDIR. and thunderstorms to hit the US South and Midwest this week turned deadly with three people Any objection, please contact the reported killed, as the storms pushed eastward yesterday, days from the publication of this notice. officials said. One person was killed after a tree fell on his vehicle in Neshoba County, Mississippi. A second death was reported in St. Clair County, Mississippi, after a tree fell on a home, according to AccuWeather. A third death was reported in the Wattsville community, north of Pell City, Alabama, the National Guaido addressing supporters Weather Service reported, after a tree fell on a home. Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed Interim President The deaths come in the Juan Guaido, addressing supporters during a meeting at Chacao wake of at least five people, neighbourhood in Caracas yesterday. including three children, who were killed last weekend in a storm system that drove more than three dozen tornadoes Freed Nicaraguan across the US South. Communities in central Texas and western Louisiana, prisoner tells of torture already hit by flash floods and twisters in the first round last AFP to restart stalled peace talks, a year weekend, were hit once more MANAGUA after protests against President by high winds, twisters, egg- Daniel Ortega’s government broke sized hail and intense rain on One Nicaraguan guard pinned out in Nicaragua. Thursday and yesterday, his hand to a table with his knee Four months of brutal according to AccuWeather and while another ripped out a nail crackdown by authorities left the NWS. with a pair of pliers. Opposition 325 people dead and another In the latest storm system, supporter Lenin Rojas, recently 800 locked up. “The beatings got multiple possible tornadoes hit released from prison to house ever more brutal to the point southwest and central Missis- arrest, says he screamed in pain. that I asked them to kill me, to sippi early yesterday, the NWS The 36-year-old says his cry put a bullet in me, rather than said, but the damage will have was heard throughout the El continuing to torture me. to be surveyed before confir- Chipote prison in Nicaragua’s “They were annoyed at not mation of twisters. capital, Managua. But his tor- getting a reply to their questions... “We’re still under some turers weren’t finished. an inspector said they were going severe storm warnings, tornado “They started hitting me to throw all of us — the arrested watches and flood warnings again. They left me almost demonstrators — into the crater into this morning and the unconscious, they put me back of the Masaya volcano.” That’s an afternoon across a broad swipe in that same position, and ripped active volcano 20km south of of the US,” said NWS meteor- out two more nails,” said the Managua. It emits huge amounts ologist Bob Oravec. father of four, showing his muti- of sulphur dioxide. Rojas was “The severe thunderstorms lated fingers. arrested last July for having will impact the deep South and He was one of 235 prisoners treated injured demonstrators southeastern US, through freed last month as part of a deal and was sentenced to 18 years Georgia and the Florida pan- brokered between the main oppo- for “terrorism,” among a dozen handle, before it heads up the sition alliance and the government alleged crimes. Atlantic Coast,” he said. 20 MORNING BREAK SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS Athens installs FAJR 03. 48 AM Alexander the SHOROOK 05. 07 AM Great statue after ZUHR 11. 33 AM MAGHRIB 06. 01 PM 27-year delay ASR 03. 02 PM ISHA 07. 31 PM AFP ATHENS WEATHER TODAY Athens yesterday installed its first Alexander the Great statue, a project mired in bureaucratic delays for nearly three decades. The 3,50-metre (11.5-foot) equestrian statue of a young Alexander, cast in bronze, was erected in central Athens opposite a statue of Lord Byron. According to the city of Athens, it was completed in 1972 and acquired by the state in 1992, at a time of intense nationalist feeling over a bitter name dispute with the newly- independent former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis insisted yesterday that the move had “nothing” to do An aerial view of tulip fields near the city of Creil, in The Netherlands, yesterday. with the Macedonia dispute. “The decision to erect the statue was taken in 2015. This is a mark of the delays of Greek bureaucracy,” Kaminis said. Dutch tulip forecast: Brilliant, o o The fourth-century BC warrior 24 C 38 C king, born in today’s northern Greek region of Macedonia, is with a chance of record tourists Minimum Maximum a hero figure to Greeks. REUTERS Thundery rain expected at places from fields and Keukenhof flower show in The Signs and barricades — now printed AMSTERDAM evening. Hague top many “must see” lists. in Chinese and English — saying “Enjoy While flower lovers and the photo- the Flowers, Respect Our Pride” have

HIGH TIDE 04:33 –17:34 LOW TIDE 12:14 – 00:00 As spring flower fields around the Neth- graphs they share on social media are gone up at the edge of many fields. Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department erlands burst into bloom, painting the free advertising for the country’s They illustrate the concept that countryside with dazzling swathes of red, tourism, cut flower and bulb industries, taking photos at the edge of a field is white, and blue, a modern day tulip it isn’t all a bed of roses. okay, but actually walking among the bubble may be forming: Tourists. “That has a downside,” Vranken said. flowers to take pictures ruins them. More than a million foreign sight- “Farmers are having increasing damage Meanwhile, farmers in less-pro- seers are expected to visit this country to their fields from tourists taking moted areas of the country sense an of 17 million people this weekend, a photos.” Foreign and Dutch tourists alike opportunity. record, the Dutch Tourism Bureau said. have learned to use “Flower Radar” web- In Creil, northwest of Amsterdam, Director Jos Vranken said he expects sites to identify where fields are in one enterprising group has set up a them to spend €300m — a boon for the bloom, especially in the main bulb- “Tulip Experience” complete with des- national economy. Many are attracted growing centre known as the “Bollen- ignated selfie area, hundreds of tulip to the country’s museums and other cul- streek” along the coast between Haarlem varieties on display, helicopter tours, tural offerings, but in April, the flower and Leiden. food, and bouncy castles for kids. Chinese barber turns heads with his scalp sculptures REUTERS Since completing his first hair the People’s Republic of China. chains on how to sculpt basic patterns SHAOXING, CHINA sculpting piece in 2015, Wang has “Serving the people is my motto,” Shi on to clients’ heads. steadily gained a loyal following. beamed, quoting the former Chinese The rest of the time, when not Wang Jianfeng is no ordinary barber. His work has become so popular leader himself. “I feel like the image running his barbershop business, The 39-year-old from Shaoxing in that clients have travelled from neigh- of the renminbi note is sculpted on my Wang does hair art for around 8 to 10 eastern China specialises in sculpting bouring provinces and cities to get head,” Shi added, laughing to himself. clients each month. images of famous faces on to the backs their hair sculpted by Wang. Another of Wang’s regulars, Clients are charged 200 yuan of his clients’ heads. “It’s a form of art,” Wang said. “It 28-year-old Zhai Rubin, was visibly ($30) for each piece of hair art which From the likes of former Chinese comes from life but it is also beyond delighted to be getting a cut of one of is the same price as a normal haircut leader Mao Zedong to KFC’s Colonel life.” Shi Like, a 30-year-old delivery his idols — former England soccer at Wang’s barbershop. A single hair Sanders, to film stars such as Bruce Lee worker, is one of Wang’s regulars player David Beckham. Having Beck- art cut takes Wang roughly an hour and Jean Reno, Wang can do them all. whose previous hair art designs of ham’s image on his head “means that to complete and grows out after Inspired by a video he saw online choice include one of Salvador Dali’s I can be fashionable as him”, said Zhai. around a week. of renowned US hair artist Rob Ferrel, distinctive moustache. Wang spends two weeks each “I hope hair sculpting can be con- who creates portraits of celebrities on When Reuters visited Wang’s bar- month on the road, giving lessons sidered as a normal haircut and his clients’ scalps, Wang wanted to do bershop, Shi opted for Chairman Mao around the country to barbers and hair accepted by more hair stylists and cus- the same for Chinese men. to celebrate the 70th anniversary of stylists at major high street salon tomers,” Wang said.

K-pop sensation US ‘House of Horrors’ parents jailed for torture BTS first Korean

AFP inhumane” actions. They were act to top UK’s RIVERSIDE given credit for an early album chart admission of guilt that spared A California couple were handed their children the pain of testi- AFP life sentences yesterday after fying against them at trial. LONDON admitting to imprisoning and Turpin, an aerospace torturing 12 of their 13 children engineer, had registered as the K-pop sensation BTS scored in a grisly “House of Horrors” principal of their purported another record yesterday, case that shocked the world. home school program set up becoming the first Korean act David Allen Turpin, 57, and through the California to top Britain’s album chart. his wife Louise Anna Turpin, 50, Department of Education. But The floppy-haired seven- had pleaded guilty to 14 felony prosecutors said the enterprise piece’s latest album “Map of the counts — including cruelty, false was bogus, and accused Turpin soul: Persona” went straight in imprisonment, child abuse and of lying on forms filed with the at number one, days after their torture of their children aged state. Sheriff’s Deputy Manuel single “Boy With Luv” broke the three to 30 — and will serve at Campos testified in a preliminary YouTube record for the most least 25 years before they are eli- Louise (left) and Daivd Turpin (second right), who pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts for the abuse hearing about his interview with views in 24 hours with 74.6 gible for parole. over several decades of their 13 children, speak with their attorneys in court in Riverside, California. the initial escapee, recalling how million hits. In an emotionally wrenching the girl’s hair was filthy and her The track is also the band’s hearing, several of the children children came into court. lings never took baths. them with paddles. Since their skin was caked with dirt. first ever British Top 15 single, professed continued love for “My parents took my whole “They chain us up if we do rescue, the children have been He said the girl admitted charting at number 13 yes- their parents, who lived in the life from me, but now I’m taking things we’re not supposed to,” in the care of child and adult pro- “being scared to death” about terday. The band, known for city of Perris, 112km southeast of my life back,” one of the couple’s she said. “Sometimes, my sisters tective services. fleeing but felt desperate to get out their boyish good looks and Los Angeles. daughters said, while a son said wake up and start crying The Turpins moved from and leapt from an open window. meticulously choreographed “I never intended for any he still loved his parents and had (because of the pain).” An officer Texas to California in 2010. Campos said the teenager had dance moves, will play two harm to come to my children. I’m forgiven them. who interviewed the teen after Investigators have said it is been planning an escape for two sold out nights at London’s sorry if I’ve done anything to According to excerpts of the her escape said she was so ema- unclear what prompted the years and was ultimately able to iconic Wembley Stadium, on cause them harm,” David Turpin initial emergency call released ciated that he first thought she abuse. Turpin professed his love procure a mobile phone discarded June 1 and 2. told the court in the nearby city during court proceedings, the was a child. He said the girl for the youngsters before the by her older brother. Earlier this year the septet, of Riverside, via a statement read escaped girl told the dispatcher described being forced to sleep sentence was pronounced, while She used it to snap pictures whose name is short for Bangtan out by his attorney. two of her siblings were chained 20 hours a day and in the middle his wife read her own statement, of her younger sisters — all of Sonyeondan, which translates as The case came to light last to beds so tightly that their skin of the night eating a combination apologizing to her children and whom were severely malnour- Bulletproof Boy Scouts, became year when one of the children, was bruised. of lunch and dinner that most adding: “I only want the best for ished — chained to beds. The the first K-pop band to top the aged 17, escaped through a She struggled to tell the often consisted of peanut butter them. Their happiness is very girl’s only exercise was pacing US album charts. window from the couple’s home operator her home address, sandwiches, chips and micro- important to me.” back and forth in the room she Some 800,000 tourists and called the emergency saying: “I’ve never been out. I waved food. Superior Court Judge shared with her two younger were believed to have chosen services. Both Turpins fought don’t go out much.” She told One of the older children also Bernard Schwartz told the sisters, according to the deputy. South Korea as their destination back tears throughout the responding officers that the told investigators that the couple Turpins their children’s lives had District Attorney Mike Hestrin last year because of BTS — hearing, with Louise visually house was so dirty she couldn’t would lock him and his siblings been permanently altered, by said the victims were allowed to more than seven percent of the trembling as two of her own breathe and that she and her sib- in cages as punishment and beat their “selfish, cruel and shower only once a year. total visitors to the country.