QATAR | Page 24 SPORT | Page 3 Bale regrets racing

INDEX back from DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 3-8, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 REGION 9 BUSINESS 1-6, 11, 12 City caught up in ankle injury 21,029.47 10,063.64 49.47 ARAB WORLD 9 CLASSIFIED 7-10 -50.81 -48.75 -0.33 INTERNATIONAL 10–21 SPORTS 1–8 hot, dusty weather -0.24% -0.48% -0.66 % Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10470 May 31, 2017 Ramadan 5, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Lekhwiya out Qatar, US Parents stress on In brief strategic ties E the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman call for Hal-Thani held yesterday a tel- ephone conversation with US Secre- QATAR | Offi cial tary of State Rex Tillerson. Emir to visit The two sides stressed that they will follow up on the outcomes of the Kuwait today meeting held between HH the Emir Within the framework of fraternal ‘aff ordable’ Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani visits of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim and US President Donald Trump, bin Hamad al-Thani during the holy which took place on the sidelines of month of Ramadan every year, His the Riyadh Summit in Saudi Arabia. Highness will visit the sisterly State The meeting discussed enhancing of Kuwait today. During the visit, the strategic bilateral co-operation in HH the Emir will meet with the Emir nurseries political, economic, security, and mil- of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad itary fi elds to achieve mutual interests. al-Jaber al-Sabah. By Joseph Varghese Meanwhile, offi cials from nurseries The Foreign Minister and the US O HH the Emir exchanged Ramadan Staff Reporter and daycare centres welcomed the au- Secretary of State focused on Syria, greetings with Deputy Prime thorities’ move, saying it would lead to Libya, and Palestine, and possible Minister for Cabinet Aff airs of Oman the provision of quality care for infants solutions that could prevent the de- Fahad bin Mahmood al-Said during arents have reiterated the need in the country. They stressed that the Action during the AFC Champions League match between Lekhwiya and Persepolis terioration of crises in the region. a telephone call the Emir received for “aff ordable” nurseries in the unlicensed nurseries did not provide held at the Al Sadd Stadium. The Qatari team were knocked out of the tournament They also discussed counter-ter- yesterday. Pcountry even as they welcomed many of the basic amenities required after a 1-0 loss to the Iranian side in the second leg of this Round of 16 tie. rorism eff orts and facing the chal- the authorities’ tough stance on such for children. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil lenges threatening peace and security. QATAR | Gesture facilities that run without licences. “We have spent a lot of money es- This comes in the wake of a notice tablishing a daycare centre, provid- Emir pardons prisoners issued by the Ministry of Administra- ing all necessary facilities for children. on occasion of Ramadan tive Development, Labour and Social But many others off er daycare services HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Aff airs, which warns of legal action without these facilities. However, many Hamad al-Thani issued an Emiri against those who operate such facili- people still go to them as their fees are gesture pardoning a number of ties without the due permits. The no- comparatively lower than ours. The QA ‘stopover package’ lifts prisoners on the occasion of the tice was published in the local media government move will help stop such holy month of Ramadan. yesterday. practices,” a nursery manager said. Asked for their views on the matter, Another expatriate said the pos- ARAB WORLD | Crisis some parents argued that most of the sibility of legal action should act as Doha’s hotel occupancy rate existing nurseries were beyond their a strong deterrent for those provid- UN launches $75mn reach and this prevented many expa- ing unlicensed daycare facilities as atar Airways’ one-night free on-year in April 2017, EY said. stays and complimentary transit visas. appeal for Libya triate families from earning a double any shortcoming on their part could stay for transit passengers “The increase in Doha’s hospitality The off er with QTA has been The United Nations yesterday income as they did not have any place have serious consequences. At the Qwishing stopover gave tre- market could be a result of Qatar Air- launched by Qatar Airways’ newly cre- launched a $75.5mn appeal to where they could keep their children same time, he stressed that all chil- mendous boost to Qatar’s hospitality ways’ new off er for transit travellers ated destination management compa- tackle a swelling humanitarian and during working hours. dren should be able to benefi t from the sector in April this year, according to who are eligible for a free one-night ny, Discover Qatar, and is “one of many migration crisis in Libya. The UN’s “Alternatively, some families, where activities carried out at nurseries as Ernst and Young (EY), a global con- hotel stay if they choose to layover,” it new initiatives that will be launched High Commissioner for Refugees both parents work but who cannot af- these could play a key role in a child’s sultant. said. over the coming months to generate (UNHCR) said the funds would go ford to send their kids to a full-fl edged overall development. Doha’s hospitality market witnessed Qatar Airways, in partnership with awareness of, and visits to, Qatar”. It is toward providing essential services nursery, send their children to people In its notice yesterday, the ministry an increase in average occupancy from Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), had designed to kick off the newly launched for displaced people, refugees and they know personally as the cost in- cited provisions mentioned in laws is- 65.6% in April 2016 to 74% in April launched a stopover package off ering campaign, +Qatar, from QTA and is asylum-seekers. volved is relatively low. It is possible sued in 2014 and 2004. The directive 2017; even as the city hotels’ ADR (av- transit passengers the opportunity to aimed at supporting the growing de- that these people are running a facil- was issued in view of the health and erage daily rate) dropped 7.3% year- discover Doha with free luxury hotel mand for tourism in Qatar. RAMADAN THOUGHT ity similar to a nursery but without the safety risks for children that might re- O mankind! Eat of that which is necessary permits,” said one of them. sult from the practice of running unli- lawful and good on the earth, Agreeing that the government censed nurseries. and follow not the footsteps of stance would pave the way for bet- All those who do not abide by the Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is to ter care for children and help stop rules - as well as their subordinates you an open enemy. the spread of illegal nurseries in the and employees - will be liable to legal (Qur’an 2: 168) country, a parent said: “These estab- prosecution as stipulated in Law No 1 lishments lack most of the facilities of 2014 regulating nursery schools or Prayer times needed for children but they are eco- the Penal Code issued in Law No 11 of Fajr....3.16 Zuhr....11.31 Asr....2.56 nomical and can be aff orded by most 2004 and its amendments, according Maghrib.....6.22 Isha.....7.52 people. At the same time, fees at most to the ministry notice. of the existing nurseries are too high It could be recalled that after the Fasting times - which many people cannot aff ord Villaggio fi re in 2012, a committee had Iftar today ...... 6.22pm here. This is the real problem and the made 11 recommendations that in- Imsak tomorrow...... 3.06am authorities concerned should fi nd a cluded certain provisions on govern- way to solve it.” ing childcare facilities. Sidra cardiologist pioneers new heart valve surgery

rof Ziyad M Hijazi, chair of the Department of Paediatrics and Pthe director of the Sidra Car- diac Programme at Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) recently per- formed and oversaw four pioneering surgeries on congenital heart defects (CHD) patients in Qatar, with a new proprietary heart valve. Prof Hijazi has been the global prin- cipal investigator for a consortium of international cardiac interventionists to evaluate a new heart valve – the Ve- nus P-valve. Manufactured by Venus Medtech Inc, the P-valve is seeking to address the needs of a large majority of CHD Prof Hijazi (fourth left) with HMC team after a successful heart valve implantation. patients who are unable to benefi t from existing minimally-invasive valve im- His major area of interest, is in the This is the fi rst time that the im- plantations and have to undergo open- development of techniques, catheters, plantation with the valve has been heart surgery. devices and valves to help treat or cure done in the country after successful Qatar-based patients, ranging from congenital and structural cardiac dis- evaluations in other parts of the world. ages 14 to 40, received the Venus P- ease without open-heart surgery. “The Ministry of Public Health in Valve implantations at Hamad General “Clinical research is a key part of our Qatar granted Sidra the rights to bring Hospital. remit at Sidra. this innovation to Qatar,” Prof Hijazi The operations were performed As surgeons and physicians we are said. jointly by Prof Hijazi and Dr Qi-Ling committed to ensuring that we never Peter Morris, CEO of Sidra ,said: Cao from Sidra and Dr Hesham al- stop researching new treatment and “Sidra has a fi rm commitment towards Saloos, an interventional cardiologist technologies that can save lives and innovation – one of our organisation’s from Hamad Medical Corp. ease the care and treatment of our pa- core values. Our interventionists like Prof Hijazi, an interventional car- tients,” Prof Hijazi said. Prof Hijazi are leading the way, by diologist, is a pioneer and specialist in “The Venus P-valve implantations bringing new treatments and method- treating congenital and structural heart were a truly pioneering procedure for ologies that improve the treatment and disease in both children and adults. CHD patients in Qatar. outcomes for our patients.”

Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 3 QATAR

QRCS campaign helps 25,000 vulnerable people Tips on importance As the holy month of Ramadan began, Qatar Red Crescent of taking Suhoor meal (QRCS) commenced its annual Kidney patients Ramadan campaign, which involves a series of social and any people fasting be- charitable activities for the lieve that not eating benefit of more than 25,000 Mfor Suhoor is the right vulnerable people in Qatar. thing to do to lose weight. How- Among the projects implemented ever, the Primary Health Care by QRCS’s volunteering and local urged caution Corporation (PHCC) experts development division are Awaser point out that Suhoor helps sus- (Zakatul-Fitr cash aid for 1,000, tain the fast the following day totalling QR553,500), Cordiality without fatigue, exhaustion and Iftar (Iftar meals and meal hunger. vouchers for 1,984 beneficiaries, Numbers of nutritionists Modhi al-Hajri, nutrition specialist, costing QR85,000), and Eid highlight the importance of re- PHCC. Clothing (vouchers and cash during Ramadan plenishing, during Fotoor and aid for 500 Syrian and Yemeni Suhoor, the energy lost through- bread, cheese and dairy, olive oil families - roughly 2,500 people - to atients with chronic kid- risks associated with fasting. cian and dietitian to ensure restrict the amount of high out the long hours of fasting. in moderate quantities, vegeta- purchase clothes for their children, ney disease (CKD) are “Kidney disease patients they have a plan to avoid com- potassium foods eaten (dates PHCC nutrition specialist, bles, milk and healthy fat foods. amounting to QR635,500. Purged to observe caution may choose to fast but they plications while fasting. This - no more than three a day, ba- Modhi al-Hajri said: “When the It is suggested to eat fruits, es- Other programmes include purchase if fasting during Ramadan, as should take into consideration includes discussing the im- nanas, apricots, fi gs, tomatoes, fast is broken at Iftar, one must pecially those rich in fi bre, such of kid’s stuff for 165 orphans of 33 abstaining from food and water the condition of their kidneys portance of maintaining a kid- lentils); eat less food which is ensure that the right type of food as peaches, apples, bananas, families (QR37,500), school vouchers for long periods increases the before fasting. For instance, ney-friendly diet while fast- high in phosphorus such as is consumed, preferably in small or two dates, which supply the for 1,000 students to purchase risk of dehydration. there are diff erent types of kid- ing.” beans, nuts, dairy products portions at a time. Heavy meals body with natural sugar and do stationery (QR200,000), food The month of Ramadan holds ney disease and the severity of Dr Ghazi Dararkeh, HMC’s and carbonated beverages; de- are to be avoided as it may take not lead to weight gain. vouchers for 350 families - around religious and social signifi cance the disease can diff er. Those clinical dietitian supervisor lay Suhoor meal to Fajr time; a toll on your digestive system. Relying on fruit juices is not 1,750 people - to purchase their food for Muslims and certain cat- patients suff ering from acute at Al Khor Hosptial, said kid- consume suffi cient amounts of Choosing instead healthy and recommended as it leads to a supplies (QR207,000), and in-kind egories of people, including kidney failure are advised not ney patients should not skip protein and consume slow-di- light meals such as nourishing drop-in sugar levels which even- aid donated by Qatar’s Central those who are sick, are exempt- to fast until they are fully re- the Suhoor meal. “It is impor- gesting, fi bre-rich foods, such soups and drinking lots of fl uids tually leads to sugar cravings the Tenders Committee (CTC) for 900 ed from fasting. However, many covered because fasting may tant that patients with kidney as whole-wheat bread, salads, is highly recommended.” following day. Soft drinks have families - 4,500 people. patients with chronic diseases cause further damage to their disease eat more calories than and cooked vegetables. “A balanced and varied Suhoor to be limited as well. still choose to fast despite their kidneys,” he cautioned. individuals without kidney dis- The Ministry of Public should provide the body with all For people who are neither health condition. Dr Hamdi noted that those ease.” Health, HMC and the Primary the essential nutrients. Drinking overweight nor suff ering from Ministry denies Dr Ahmed Hamdi, consult- with stages three or higher kid- Dr Dararkeh has provid- Health Care Corporation have water half an hour before starting diabetes, desserts are not harm- ant at Hamad General Hospi- ney disease are at greater risk of ed CKD patients certain tips partnered again this year to Suhoor is advised to avoid stom- ful during Suhoor, but should change in Ramadan tal’s Emergency Department, further renal failure if they fast, which include: eat three meals provide the public with infor- ach bloating,” she explained. be consumed moderately, at the working hours said patients with kidney dis- as their kidneys do not retain (Iftar, midnight, and Suhoor) mation about common health Al-Hajri also specifi ed that end of the meal. “Eating Kunafa, ease can fast but should be normal levels of fl uid. and two snacks in between; issues through their Ramadan Suhoor meal should consist of Manaqeish, or croissant once a The Ministry of Administrative mindful of the severity of their “Patients who intend to fast avoid salty foods to help con- Health website www.hamad. whole starch necessary for the week is acceptable for healthy Development, Labour and Social condition and the potential should consult their physi- trol blood pressure and thirst; qa/ramadanhealth. body, including whole wheat people,” added al-Hajri. Aff airs denied reports about the amendment in working hours during the holy month of Ramadan, which suggests that the employees have the opportunity to choose the time that suits them, Ooredoo volunteers distribute water under the condition of completing five hours of daily work. The Ministry aff irmed its commitment to the Circular and dates along Doha Corniche No (2) of 2017 issued by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and o kick off its 2017 Ra- units across the company, were ‘Hand-In-Hand’. Ooredoo has not only give back to those who Minister of State for Cabinet madan corporate social stationed at the end of the Cor- a host of important community need it most, but will encourage Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Tresponsibility (CSR) ac- niche near West Bay to distrib- initiatives planned this holy everyone to get involved in any Zaid al-Mahmoud, on off icial tivities, Ooredoo volunteers ute the gifts at sunset. month, which the company way they can to truly join in the working hours of civil servants surprised people walking along Ooredoo said in a statement hopes to inspire customers “to spirit of the holy month.” during the holy month, being five Doha’s Corniche yesterday with that “this act of kindness is the join in with the good deeds.” Customers can follow Oore- hours a day, starting 9am to 2pm, a special gift of water and dates offi cial launch of the company’s Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, doo’s Ramadan Hand-in-Hand while government service centres to break their fast for Iftar. 2017 Ramadan CSR campaign,” community and public relations campaign via its Facebook, In- start from 9am to 1 pm and from The volunteers, who repre- which, this year, will be com- director at Ooredoo Qatar, said: stagram, or Twitter page and A volunteer from Ooredoo hands over a pack of dates and water to a 1pm to 5pm. sented some of the business municated under the theme of “This year, our activities will the hashtag #ShareAMoment. motorist. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 QATAR Diplomatic Institute celebrates 650 government school staff graduation of its 11th class terminated QNA institute had established 11 foun- Doha dational programmes to provide trainees with all the skills they n offi cial source at the the terminated number of need to understand international Ministry of Education employees. he Diplomatic Institute relations and the procedures for Aand Higher Education Besides, around 100 of the at the Ministry of Foreign interacting with countries, or- has said that 650 employees terminated expatriate employ- TAff airs has celebrated the ganisations, and international have been terminated from ees have ended their service graduation of its 11th class, con- authorities. various government schools term after reaching the legal sisting of 31 trainees. Al-Shaibi added that another across the country. retirement age. In addition, Secretary-General of the Min- goal was to familiarise the train- Local Arabic daily Arrayah some of the terminated em- istry of Foreign Aff airs Ahmed ees with multilateral diplomacy, reported yesterday that the ployees were only hired on bin Hassan al-Hammadi said and the skills of writing diplo- official pointed out that the temporary basis. He said that during a speech he gave to mark macy-related reports. Ministry of Administrative most of the jobs that would be the occasion, that the training Hessa al-Sulaiti then gave a Development, Labour and occupied by Qataris are mainly had many benefi ts for all train- speech on behalf of the graduates Social Affairs has provid- administrative jobs such as ees, whether they worked at and expressed her appreciation to ed the Ministry of Educa- social workers, supervisor of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs’ HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh tion with lists of the Qatari school bus for girls, storehouse headquarters, or in diplomatic Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- candidates to occupy some keeper, and administrative su- missions. Thani for his unconditional sup- administrative jobs at the pervisor. He stressed that a diplo- that a good diplomat must also be He added that achieving a high The Secretary-General then port to young employees. public schools from those The offi cial stressed that the mat must focus on developing fl uent in Classical Arabic, since it status for a country cannot come provided an overview on how She then pledged that the 11th that had been interviewed. termination is happening now a number of qualities, the most is their mother tongue. without hard work that develops the Qatari embassies operated class of the Diplomatic Institute The source also pointed out to provide an opportunity for important of which are honesty, This must not however prevent people capable of carrying out abroad. will work diligently for the State that most of the terminated those aff ected to look for other discipline, respect as well as good diplomats from learning new the vision of the wise leadership For her part, Assistant Director of Qatar under the wise lead- jobs are of administrative jobs, besides hiring replace- time-management abilities. languages, the secretary-general in all that relates to the State of of the Diplomatic Institute Nadia ership of HH the Emir Sheikh nature, while academic jobs ments in preparation for the The Secretary-General said maintained. Qatar’s foreign policy. Ahmed al-Shaibi said that the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. accounted for only 15% of new school year.

Five jailed for burglary

A Doha Criminal Court has deportation in addition to a fine of 2,052 births reported in April sentenced five expatriate men to QR200,000 for illicit drug dealing 15 deaths in traffi c three years in jail and subsequent and consumption. deportation for burgling several Local Arabic daily Arrayah has By Ramesh Mathew 0.5% more than the previous month’s population houses. Local Arabic daily Al reported that the defendant was accidents in April Staff Reporter of 2,659,000. At the end of April 2016, the coun- Sharq reported yesterday that convicted of keeping about 1.8kg, try’s population was 2,559,000. the defendants were convicted of of the illicit drug marijuana inside The report has also said there was a 25.7% rise breaking into a number of houses his room. However, the defendant s many as 15 lives were March, the fi gure fell to 6,599 here were 2,052 births, including 508 Qa- in the country’s electricity consumption in April and stealing cash and jewellery. denied the charges before the lost in road traffi c ac- last month. taris, in the country in the month of April compared to the previous month. The power utili- One of the victims returned to court and insisted that he had Acidents across Qatar in Similarly, there was a 4.6% T2017, according to a Ministry of Develop- sation reached 3,191Gwh last month. his house from a trip abroad to kept it for his personal use and April 2017, according to fi gures fall in the number of traffi c ment Planning & statistics report released yester- The total electricity generation in April 2017 find the kitchen door broken and not for the purpose of trade. released by the Ministry of De- violations in April compared to day. was 3,396Gwh. The fi gure was 2,990Gwh in pre- some gold jewellery stolen from The policeman who took velopment Planning & Statis- the previous month. In March, In April 2016, there were 1,960 births, includ- vious April. his bedroom in addition to a sum part in the search operations tics (MDPS) yesterday. the number of violations were ing 485 Qataris. The report said there were 178 There was a 2% fall in the water consumption in of QR6,000. Police investigations testified that when he searched The ministry report has also 163,538. However, the fi g- deaths in April, including 58 Qataris. There were April compared to the previous month. The water pointed to a group of five, who the room of the defendant he said compared to March, there ure came down to 155,963 last 193 deaths in the country in April 2017, including consumption last month was 43,874 cubic metres. used to break into homes while found marijuana hidden there. was a 2.4% rise in the number month. 47 Qataris. The MDPS has reported there were 282 The report also said 618 building permits were owners and tenants were outside Another policeman, who was of traffi c cases registered in The report has pointed out marriage contracts in April while 89 divorces were issued in the municipalities across the country last the country. The investigations also part of the operation, told April. While there were 497 that though was an increase also reported. month. The fi gure showed a 7.3% fall compared to also confirmed a number of other the court that he found some cases in March, the fi gure went in the number of ‘Red Signal’ Compared to the fi gures of April 2016, there the previous month. However, Al Wakrah, Umm thefts conducted by them. small amounts of the illicit drug up to 509 last month. violations in April compared was a 4.5% increase in the country’s population Slal, Al Khor, Al Thakhira and Al Sheehaniya mu- z A Doha Criminal Court has hidden in the vehicle that the However, compared to to the previous month, last in April. The number of residents in Qatar stood nicipalities showed increase in the number of per- sentenced an expatriate man to defendant used to drive for his March, there was a 15% fall month witnessed a fall in the at 2,675,000 at the end of last month, which was mits during the one month period. three years in jail and subsequent employer’s family. in the total number of new number of ‘Radar’ violations. vehicles registered in April. However, the numbers were While 7,823 new vehicles not mentioned in the MDPS were added to the road in report. Ministry issues road safety tips Airline alert on for Ramadan fraudulent contest

he Ministry of Interior (MoI) has listed atar Airways has is- said in a statement on social several dos and don’ts for motorists dur- sued a public informa- media yesterday. “Please note Ting the holy month of Ramadan. Qtion alert pertaining to that this is not an offi cial Qa- “Driving during Ramadan, especially at a ‘fraudulent competition’. “It tar Airways competition, and daytime, requires extra alertness and concen- has come to our attention that participating may compromise tration as fasting may affect some motorists,” members of the public are be- your personal info.” The airline the MoI said in a post on social media, provid- ing encouraged to participate stressed that all Qatar Airways ing some vital tips for safe driving during this in a fraudulent sweepstakes to offi cial competitions are an- period. win Qatar Airways travel tick- nounced on its offi cial social People should avoid driving if they are tired ets after sharing it on Face- media channels and the qa- or drowsy as this will save their lives and that book,” the Doha-based carrier tarairways.com website. of others, the advisory states. They should also be patient while in a traffi c jam and co- operate with other mo- torists, road users and security personnel. The advisory asks motorists to avoid random park- ing in front of mosques and other public places as this may block traf- fi c. “Be extra cautious while driving at Iftar time,” the MoI says, ad- vising people to avoid any last-minute rush while going home or any other place for Iftar. “Start early and reach safely,” it adds. Motorists have also been advised to ensure that they get proper rest and sleep. In addition to the points mentioned above, all other traf- fi c rules and safety in- structions should also be followed, the MoI points out. Measures such as fastening the seatbelt, not engaging with mobile devices, stick- ing to the speed limit, maintaining lane dis- cipline, slowing down while approaching crosswalks and leav- ing a safe distance between vehicles are key factors in ensuring road safety, the advi- sory says. “We also remind you not to park in the slots reserved for people with special needs and not to cut into traffic lines from side lanes,” it adds.

Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 RAMADAN

Act on your faith ome of our Muslim brothers and a car to take him where he needed to intentions on their own are signifi cant sisters glow with excitement as go, without air- conditioning, without and worthy; rather, we meant to say that Sthey fi nd themselves facing yet a cellphone, without e-mail, without only when coupled with deeds can in- another Ramadan. Their faces are shin- even three square meals. And we can’t tentions signify true faith. ing and there isn’t a hint of fatigue or make the excuse that the Prophet, sal- The actions of worship that make hunger in their eyes. They relentlessly lallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and his Com- Islam a way of life are also the ones come to the masjid night after night, panions were special and they were that make it a matter of faith, not just a without a worry at all about the next chosen by Allah. Yes, the Prophet, salla- mental or emotional attachment. It is a day’s Fajr (dawn) alarm clock. llaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was chosen, but belief that encompasses the entire being But, then there are those of us who he was a man and was made to toil and and therefore requires the entire being’s sheepishly drag our feet to the masjid work hard (harder than any man today) involvement. We can spend the rest of only a few nights, wondering what all as he was an example to all of us now; It our days convincing ourselves that Allah the commotion is about. We aren’t real- can be done, and it must be done. Even knows what is in our hearts (certainly ly feeling it. We are not getting that all- by the busiest of men (and the noblest), He does), but He also prescribed for us over tingly feeling that these other peo- life’s trials did not overtake worship of a clear set of rules that we are supposed ple seem to be getting from this blessed Allah. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi to follow. Prayer and fasting are among month. Nor are we seeking the benefi ts wa sallam, knew this and explained those. Imagine if we had a paper due in of the nighttime prayer and any other this to us; When he was asked: “What school and we told our teacher that we good deeds done in this sacred month. deed is most beloved by Allah?” He an- decided not to do the paper because we Instead, we are usually the ones who swered: “To off er each prayer as soon as felt that we understood the material well barely off er our fi ve daily prayers, and it is due.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] enough just by reading the textbook and hardly ever make them on time. But it Some of us believe, with all our heart, attending the lectures. In other words, is not because we don’t believe in Allah that as long as Allah Knows what is in the teacher should just trust that we or don’t have faith in the religion or any- our hearts, that is all that should matter, know our stuff and should just take our thing like that. Nah! It is just because we even if we can’t manage to off er prayer word for it. It is kind of the same thing. are so busy with our lives, jobs, schools or fast, as prescribed. They think that Allah is testing us and we are telling and everything else that sometimes it is what Islam is all about; Intention. As Him, by not off ering prayer or fasting, is really hard to manage the grades and long as their intentions are good, what that we would rather not take His tests, work and all these “rituals” that take does it matter if they miss a prayer or but we understand the material. How up time. But do we really think that we two, or a fast or two? is that possible? If in our hearts we re- are all that busy? Are we busier than the Should this be the case, we would end ally believe in Him, then we should be Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, up with a handful of philosophies but willing and able to simultaneously show and his Companions ? Think about it. no true faith. For the diff erence between with our bodies, minds, and spirits the We may work or go to school for 10 or philosophy and religion is the action that power and strength of our faith. even 12 hours daily, we cram in there the supports that religion. A person with a Luckily, Allah is Most Merciful and gym, shopping, eating, TV and sleep, heart full of love for Allah but doesn’t Forgiving; so let this Ramadan be our and there is no time left. So, what did practically demonstrate that love is like springboard to start acting on our faith. they do over 1,400 years ago? A typical a rosebud that never blooms. It never Article source: http://www.is- man was a shepherd, a warrior, a mer- blossoms and comes to its full potential. lamweb.net/emainpage/ chant, a farmer, and worker, etc, and all Such a rosebud is still beautiful, but it in a day. He would do everything by his hasn’t yet reached the beauty that Allah own hands, in the blazing sun, without intended for it. This is not to deny that Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 7 QATAR AZF organises event for staff spire Zone Foundation (AZF) held its third Employee Engage- Ament Event at Aspire Dome re- cently under the theme “Together We Can”. The one-day event saw the partici- pation of more than 1,000 employees from AZF and its member organisations Aspire Academy, Aspetar, and Aspire Logistics. The event saw the employees come together to take part in a range of rec- reational group activities aimed at re- inforcing teamwork and honing leader- ship skills, which were all developed in line with AZF’s six “Aspire” way values: Accountability, Synergy & Teamwork, Professionalism, Integration, Respect, and Excellence. Some of the event’s activities at Aspire Dome. In a press statement, AZF said the event formed part of its Fayez initiative, gistics director general Abdulla Nasser social responsibility (CSR) programme, which was launched in December 2014 al-Naimi, Aspetar acting director gen- included food basket donations or- to provide support and motivation to all eral Dr Mohamed Ghaith al-Kuwari, ganised in co-operation with the Eid AZF employees. and Aspire Academy deputy director Charity Foundation, a money donation “This is to enhance their perform- general Ali Salem Afi fa. campaign held in co-operation with ance as well as to increase their pro- Al-Suwaidi said: “Aspire Zone Foun- RAF Foundation, and an awareness ductivity and workplace achievements. dation’s Fayez initiative demonstrates campaign about organ donation organ- This event highlights AZF’s ongoing the organisation’s unwavering com- ised in co-operation with Qatar Organ eff orts to realise its vision of becom- mitment to Qatar’s National Vision, Donation Centre (Hiba). ing the reference for sports excellence which emphasises the well-being of “The Fayez initiative is a continua- worldwide by 2020,” the statement human capital to aid the country’s eco- tion of AZF’s eff orts to become a sport- noted. nomic diversifi cation towards a knowl- ing hub and the preferred business A number of AZF senior manage- edge-based economy.” destination for the world’s best talent ment attended the event and took part AZF also launched a range of internal across a variety of disciplines. As such, in a range of activities with colleagues, fundraising initiatives at the event in the organisation embraces the pivotal including AZF president Hilal Jeham solidarity with people in need. role it plays in supporting its employees al-Kuwari, AZF chief executive Mo- The initiatives, which form part of and the wider communities in Qatar,” hamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi, Aspire Lo- the organisation’s ongoing corporate the AZF statement added.

Ministry announces recall of certain 2016 models of Peugeot vehicles

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in The MEC will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on collaboration with Almana Motors Company, has announced the maintenance and repair works and communicate with the recall of Peugeot 2008, 208, 301, and 308 models of 2016 customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. over the possible non-compliance of an electrical relay’s The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its internal component. Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework through the following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@ of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 QATAR Qatar Airways to off er Iftar boxes on select fl ights

atar Airways has said passengers Gassim, Hofuf, Jeddah, Kuwait, Khartoum, who fast during the holy month of Luxor, Muscat, Medina, Mashad, Najaf, Ras QRamadan will be off ered an Iftar Al Khaimah, Riyadh, Salalah, Sulaymani- meal box “infused with a traditional Middle yah, Sharjah, Shiraz, Taif and Yanbu. Eastern twist” to break their fast. Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar al-Baker The airline’s Iftar boxes feature a “creative- said: “This year, we continue our tradition ly-designed” Ramadan Kareem logo extend- of off ering our passengers a delicious way to ing best wishes to all passengers during the break their fast while fl ying. The holy month holy month, it has said in a press statement. of Ramadan is an important period for a vast Qatar Airways First and Business Class number of our passengers, and we continue passengers travelling on selected fl ights will to off er them the high standards of service be off ered Iftar boxes containing a chicken they have become accustomed to. or vegetarian sandwich wrap, hummus, cru- “We invite our passengers to embrace this dités, mini Arabic bread, mixed nuts, bakl- special time of year by enjoying our special ava, dates, an Alpen fruit and nut bar, fresh Iftar boxes. On behalf of Qatar Airways, we laban and water. extend to all warmest wishes for a Ramadan Passengers travelling in Economy Class Kareem.” will be off ered an Iftar meal box containing As the Qatar Airways cabin crew will The Jaguar F PACE and Land Rover’s all-new Discovery. a vegetarian sandwich wrap, Walker biscuit, make an on-board announcement and serve dried fruits, dates, mixed nuts, fresh laban Iftar boxes at the appropriate time during and water. the fl ight, customers will not have to calcu- This year’s Iftar boxes will be distrib- late the time. uted on Qatar Airways fl ights to Abu Dhabi, Qatar Airways has a fl eet of 199 aircraft Abha, Amman, Alexandria, Bahrain, Basra, fl ying to more than 150 key business and lei- Ramadan off ers from Alfardan Baghdad, Cairo, Dammam, Dubai, Erbil, sure destinations across six continents. on Jaguar, Land Rover models

n the occasion of the holy unrivalled dynamics and everyday and light full-size SUV architecture, tinuously off er our customers the month of Ramadan, Al- versatility. delivering comfort and adaptability. best customer service and prod- Ofardan Premier Motors Developed using Jaguar’s Light- Powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s ucts, this year’s newly introduced Company, the exclusive retailer of weight Aluminium Architecture, effi cient range of turbo and super- Ramadan off ers will allow our loyal Jaguar Land Rover in the State of the F-PACE combines purity of charged engines, the Discovery is and prospective customers to take Qatar, has introduced a host of of- line, surface and proportion with also paired with a smooth and re- advantage of outstanding off ers on fers for customers. F-TYPE-inspired features such as sponsive ZF eight-speed automatic their favourite vehicles.” The bundle of exclusive deals in- the powerful rear haunches, fend- gearbox. These exclusive off ers are now clude off ers on both Jaguar and Land er vents and distinctive tail light The full-sized, three row seven- available at all Alfardan Premier Rover’s current line-up including graphics. seat Discovery has, according to Motors showrooms across Qatar. the Jaguar F-PACE, a performance Also on off er this Ramadan, Land Land Rover’s chief design offi cer More information on these off ers crossover designed and engineered Rover’s all-new Discovery boasts Gerry McGovern, “revolutionised can be had or a test drive booked at a to off er the agility, responsiveness unbeatable capability and versatil- the Discovery DNA to create a high- Jaguar Land Rover showroom from and refi nement. ity, while combining British desir- ly desirable, extremely versatile and Saturday to Thursday from 10am Scooping up the World Car of ability with an unstoppable spirit of hugely capable premium SUV”. until 12.30pm and from 8.30pm Year and World Car Design of the adventure. Rabih Ataya, general manager for until midnight and on Fridays from Year titles at the 2017 World Car The fi fth-generation model ben- Alfardan Premier Motors said: “In 8.30pm until midnight during Ra- The customised Qatar Airways’ Iftar meal boxes. Awards, the Jaguar F-PACE delivers efi ts from Land Rover’s strong, safe line with our commitment to con- madan.

Bose unveils new sound system

ose Store, represented by Darwish Technology, the Btechnological arm of Dar- wish Holding, has announced the launch of its ‘best Bluetooth speakers ever’ — the new Sound- Link Revolve and SoundLink Re- volve+. “With true omni-directional The new Bose performance, and an entirely SoundLink Revolve new acoustic design, Revolve Bluetooth speaker Qgym off ers a customised Ramadan Fitness Programme. speakers spread deep, jaw-drop- ping sound in every direction — from a seamless aluminium Qgym develops customised design,” it was explained in a statement yesterday. The SoundLink Revolve and SoundLink Revolve+ Blue- Ramadan fitness regimen tooth speakers will be available beginning of June 2017 at Bose store located in Lagoona Mall – West Bay, fi rst fl oor. gym elite personal trainer Henson Hinds has cus- “Bose engineers started from a clean-sheet to redefi ne tomised a Ramadan Fitness Programme for 30 days the relationship between size, sound, and battery-power. Q‘to help all fi tness enthusiasts complete their train- An entirely new acoustic package was developed fi rst, then ing in the most healthy and eff ective way.’ matched with the cylindrical shape it required, and a single- “Combining proper exercise with a healthy diet, will al- piece aluminium enclosure. low the body to transform at a faster and healthier rate,” it “Set in the middle of the room, a corner, or anywhere in was explained in a statement yesterday. between, Both new Revolve models feature an IPX4-rating to “While it is certainly a challenge to train on an empty withstand spills, rain, and pool splashes; and rugged durabil- stomach, fasting in Ramadan has its many benefi ts, one ity to survive dings, drops, and bumps. of which is spiritual nourishment. It is an opportunity for self-refl ection and turning one’s focus inwards. The act of fasting is practised to remind us of how the less fortunate are suff ering and to reinforce our values of humanity. “It has also been a misconception that one must stop training during this period. As long as one is equipped with the proper fi tness programme during Ramadan, perform- ing daily exercise routines should not be a challenge. “In fact, a common fat-burning strategy employed by athletes, bodybuilders, and fi tness enthusiasts is to perform cardiovascular exercise on an empty stomach, also known as fasted cardio. This style of fat loss was made popular by Phil Phillips in his book Body of Life, stating that performing 20 minutes of aerobic exercise after a fast has greater eff ects on fat loss than an hour of cardio,” the Qgym statement added.

Emirates’ new first class to be unveiled in November

mirates’ new fi rst class will be Eshowcased at the Dubai Air Show in No- vember, the airline said yesterday. Making its debut onboard a Boeing 777-300ER, Emirates’ new fi rst class cabin will An Emirates-Boeing-777-300ER feature some six private suites laid out in a 1-1-1 layout, compared to the existing eight private suites in a 1-2-1 layout on its existing 777 fl eet. In addition to the entirely redesigned fi rst class product, Emirates’ new Boeing 777-300ER will also boast of a range of other new features in the business and economy class cabins. Emirates will announce the destinations where the new Boeing 777-300ER is to be deployed in due course. Sir Tim Clark, president, Emirates Airline said: “Our products and services across cabin classes are continually improved and enhanced. But what our customers will see on Emirates’ new 777s starting from November will be a much bigger revamp that takes our onboard experience to the next level. “All cabins will sport a totally fresh new look. We are ex- cited to showcase the results of years of planning and de- velopment invested into our new First Class off ering, and our overall Emirates 777 experience.” Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 9 REGION/ARAB WORLD

US-backed As Yemen faces famine, UN works to avert attack on food port

fi ghters Reuters The United Nations has O’Brien told the UN Security The coalition has said it was compromise to avoid the “hor- for Yemen was only a quarter United Nations warned the alliance fi ghting Council, urging all UN member determined to help Yemen’s rifi c scenario” of military action funded. Iran-aligned Houthis against states to help keep the port open government retake all areas moving to the port. “Yemen is not facing a advance any attempt to extend the war and operating. held by Houthi militia, includ- However, he noted the drought. If there was no quarter of Yemen’s peo- to Hodeidah, a vital Red Sea aid “Yemen now has the igno- ing Hodeidah port, but would Houthis and the allied General confl ict...a famine would cer- ple are on the brink of delivery point where some 80% miny of being the world’s larg- ensure alternative entry routes People’s Congress, the party of tainly be avoidable and avert- outside Afamine, parents are mar- of Yemen’s food imports arrive. est food security crisis with for badly needed food and med- former President Ali Abdullah ed,” he said. rying off young daughters so “An attack on Hodeidah is more than 17mn people who are icine. Saleh, did not meet with him “Families are increasing- someone else can care for them not in the interest of any party, food insecure, 6.8mn of whom UN Yemen envoy Ismail Ould in the capital Sanaa to discuss a ly marrying off their young Raqqa and cholera cases are escalat- as it will directly and irrevoca- are one step away from famine. Cheikh Ahmed told the Secu- possible agreement that he had daughters to have someone else ing, UN offi cials warned yester- bly drive the Yemeni popula- Crisis is not coming, it is not rity Council yesterday he had proposed. to care for them, and often use day as they work to avert a coa- tion further into starvation and even looming, it is here today,” made clear to the parties to the O’Brien said a $2.1bn hu- the dowry to pay for basic ne- AFP lition attack on a key port. famine,” UN aid chief Stephen he said. confl ict that they must reach a manitarian strategy and plan cessities.” Beirut

US-backed battalion of Syrian fi ghters edged Acloser to the outskirts of the Islamic State group strong- hold of Raqqa yesterday, a spokesman for the unit and a monitor said. Blasts kill 27 as Iraq security “Our forces are 400 metres from Al-Mishleb”, a neighbour- hood in the eastern outskirts of Raqqa city, said Syrian Elite Forces spokesman Mohamed Khaled Shaker. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of forces battle IS in Mosul the Syrian Observatory for Hu- man Rights monitor, said the AFP on the blood-stained ground. Mosul, adding that forces have advance came after heavy air Baghdad In the second attack, a suicide permission to “take more time strikes from the US-led coalition bomber blew up a bomb-rigged to spare the infrastructure and fi ghting IS. vehicle near the country’s main keep the civilians safe”. The coalition has been back- uicide bombings claimed pension offi ce, which is close to Mohsen said IS was mainly ing a Kurdish-Arab alliance, the by the Islamic State group one of the principal bridges over relying on “snipers and suicide Syrian Democratic Forces, which Skilled at least 27 people in the River Tigris, said the Bagh- bombers” to target Iraqi forces, in November launched an off en- Baghdad, offi cials said yester- dad Operations Command. as it is running low on mortar sive to capture Raqqa city from day, as Iraqi forces fi ght to re- The attack killed at least 11 rounds and explosives after los- the militants. take the last militant-held areas people and wounded at least 40, ing sites it previously used to Shaker said yesterday that his in Mosul. offi cials said. produce them. battalion was not part of the SDF In the deadlier of the two at- The bombings in Baghdad “There are 50 to 100 fi ghters but “an independent group with- tacks, a suicide bomber deto- come as Iraqi forces fi ght to moving from one building to in the international coalition” nated an explosives-rigged retake the last IS-held areas another” in Al Shifaa, he said. that acted “in co-ordination and vehicle at a popular ice cream of Mosul, a city that was the The United Nations has co-operation” with the alliance shop at around midnight (2100 militant group’s most emblem- warned that up to 200,000 ci- as part of the Raqqa operation. GMT Monday), killing at least atic stronghold. Iraqi forces are vilians who are believed to re- The SDF have approached 16 people and wounding 75. more than seven months into a main in IS-held areas of the Raqqa from the north and the The bomber struck just days massive operation to recapture city are in grave danger and that west, but are still far from after the start of Ramadan, dur- the city from IS, and have al- large numbers could fl ee. launching an assault on the city. ing which Iraqis often stay out ready taken back its whole east- “We are deeply concerned late shopping or socialising af- ern side and much of the west. that right now, in the last fi nal ter breaking their daily fast. Three neighbourhoods north stages of the campaign to retake IS issued statements claiming of Mosul’s Old City — Al Shifaa, Mosul, that the civilians...in Iran’s vetting body blast at the Al-Faqma ice cream Al Saha and Al Zinjili — are now (IS) areas are probably at graver certifies Rouhani’s shop and a later attack, saying the target of a broad assault by risk now than at any other stage re-election both were suicide car bomb- Iraqi soldiers, police and special of the campaign,” said Lise ings targeting members of Iraq’s forces that was launched last Grande, the UN humanitarian Iran’s election watchdog certified Shia majority. Iraqis gather at the site of a car bomb explosion near Baghdad’s Al-Shuhada Bridge yesterday. week. co-ordinator for Iraq. President Hassan Rouhani’s re- Haidar Hussein, a 22-year- Yesterday, an Iraqi army of- She said the UN estimates election as fair yesterday, dismiss- old who was wounded in the and then the truck exploded, friends. “Many people were on Images posted on social me- fi cer said security forces were there are between 180,000 and ing claims by the defeated hard- blast, was sitting with friends Hussein said. the ground, including women dia showed the devastating im- proceeding slowly in Al Shifaa 200,000 civilians in militant- line candidate who had asked at a small coff ee shop near Al- The blast spread rubble eve- and children, and the screams pact of the attack, which ripped in a bid to protect infrastruc- held areas of Mosul, the major- for investigation into alleged Faqma. rywhere, sparked a fi re and of the women and children got through the crowded area ture. ity of them in the Old City — a widespread fraud. “The Guardian A police captain tried to pre- threw Hussein to the ground, louder,” he said. Among the around the ice cream shop in “The problem is that it is a warren of closely spaced build- Council confirmed today in a vent a small white pickup truck injuring his arm and leg. dead was Hussein’s 22-year-old the Karrada district of central neighbourhood with four or fi ve ings and narrow streets that has letter the results of the 12th presi- from approaching the area, but After checking himself for friend Karar, who left behind Baghdad. One picture showed hospitals,” Brigadier General posed a signifi cant challenge to dential election in Iran,” Salman the driver kept going forward wounds, he began to look for his two wives and three children. ice cream cups scattered Shakir Kadhim Mohsen said in Iraqi forces. Samani, the spokesman of the interior ministry, was quoted as saying by the state media. Rou- TENSION hani easily secured re-election Two Saudi cops hurt after explosion for a second term in the May 19 vote, winning more than 57% of Sudan bans Egyptian imports: state media Two policemen were wounded when a bomb exploded in Awamiya the vote. His main challenger, in eastern Saudi Arabia, state news agency SPA reported yesterday. hardline judge Ebrahim Raisi, Monday’s attack was the second in two weeks targeting security received 38%. Raisi has accused AFP Ties between Khartoum and san Saleh has issued an order Hassan Saleh’s order comes forces deployed to guard workers busy razing the old part of the Rouhani of inappropriately using Khartoum Cairo have deteriorated in re- banning Egyptian agricultural just days after Bashir hinted in town, known as Al-Musawara, which authorities say has been used state media and government cent months after Sudanese and animal products, and im- a speech that Egyptian author- by armed fugitives to escape arrest. SPA quoted an interior ministry off ices for campaign purposes. President Omar al-Bashir ac- porting of seeds from Egypt,” ities were supporting rebels spokesman as saying that an improvised explosive device went off He also protested against the udan yesterday banned im- cused Egyptian intelligence the offi cial Suna news agency fi ghting Sudanese government on Monday morning outside the old quarter of Awamiya, wounding procedure, accusing the interior ports of Egyptian agricul- services of supporting opposi- reported. troops in Darfur. two police off icers. They were both taken to a hospital and authori- ministry of not sending enough Stural and animal products, tion fi gures fi ghting his troops “The order also bans Suda- “The Sudanese army has ties had begun an investigation, the agency said. The ministry said ballot papers to cities and villages state media reported, delivering in the country’s confl ict zones nese businessmen from using captured several Egyptian ar- on May 16 a soldier was killed and five others were wounded when where he had the most support. a fresh blow to already tense ties like Darfur. Egyptian territories for im- moured vehicles in recent armed men fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their patrol in Awa- between the two neighbours. “Prime Minister Bakri Has- porting goods into Sudan.” fi ghting in Darfur,” Bashir said. miya after authorities began razing the old town. Russia ‘convinced’ Damascus Putin, Saudi prince praise not behind chemical attack

AFP where Washington believes the Damascus suburb of Ghouta dialogue on oil and Syria attack was launched. that left hundreds dead Paris In an interview with AFP late crossed a “red line” drawn Reuters ation by another nine months last month, Assad, a longstand- by then US president Barack Dubai/Moscow until March 2018. Both Mos- ussian President ing Moscow ally, dismissed the Obama. cow and Riyadh said that co- Vladimir Putin, in an in- allegation as “100% fabrica- The massacre led to an in- operation would last beyond Rterview published yes- tion”. Asked about Macron’s ternational accord under ussia and Saudi Ara- the current agreement as both terday, said he was “convinced” assertion that use of chemi- which Assad agreed to hand bia hailed their growing countries are still trying to the Syrian government was not cal weapons in Syria would be over Syria’s entire chemical Rpartnership in oil mar- find ways to co-exist with US behind an alleged chemical at- considered a “red line”, Putin weapons arsenal. kets and dialogue on Syria yes- shale oil producers, who are tack in the country last month replied, “I agree.” But since then, dozens of terday. not part of the global output that killed dozens. Macron had also said Mon- other attacks have been re- Russian President Vladimir reduction deals. In an interview with the on- day that France would respond corded, though responsibility Putin heaped praise on Deputy As a part of yesterday’s talks, line news feed of the conserva- immediately to any use of these has often been difficult to as- Crown Prince Mohamed bin the Public Investment Fund of tive French daily Le Figaro, arms.The Russian leader add- sess. Salman, who looks after the Saudi Arabia signed a memo- Putin added that he agreed ed that Macron had agreed Last week an official at UN kingdom’s defence and energy. randum of understanding with with his French counterpart with him that “this issue headquarters in New York said It was the second meeting the Russian Direct Investment Emmanuel Macron that use of should be placed in a wider the UN was working to obtain between the two men over the Fund to explore an opportunity chemical weapons was a “red context.” security assurances needed to past year following a break- to join a consortium of inves- line”. He said the international dispatch an international team through meeting in China, tors in a Moscow real estate “According to our informa- community should “establish of experts to Khan Sheikhun. where Putin and Prince Mo- project. tion, there is no proof of the use a joint policy” to address the Russia has criticised the hamed showed the fi rst signs The Russian fund also said of chemical weapons by (Syrian use of chemical weapons by Organisation for the Prohi- the world’s two biggest oil ex- in a statement both parties are President Bashar al-) Assad,” “anyone, any force... bition of Chemical Weapons porters could clinch a deal to evaluating more projects, in- he said. and make a response that (OPCW) for not sending ex- prop up oil prices. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Saudi Deputy cluding in retail, real estate, “We are convinced he did not would render the use of chem- perts to the site, instead ana- Non-Opec Russia had long Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohamed bin Salman during alternative energy projects, do so,” Putin told Figaro Live, a ical weapons simply impossi- lysing samples gathered from opposed any co-operation in a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, yesterday. transportation and logistics in- day after meeting with Macron ble.” “various sources”. reducing oil output in tandem frastructure. in Versailles. A report by French intelli- The Russian defence min- with Opec, where Saudi Arabia “The relations between Sau- “The most important thing “We are grateful to you for Several Western countries gence services said the April istry said Syria’s military has is de facto leader. di Arabia and Russia are going is that we are succeeding in your ideas and the joint work including France have accused 4 attack bore the “signature” said it is ready to halt fire The oil price plunge in the through one of their best mo- building a solid foundation to between Opec and the coun- Assad’s government of carry- of the Syrian government, ac- around the site if experts are last two years has overstretched ments ever,” Prince Mohamed stabilise oil markets and en- tries which are not part of the ing out the April 4 attack on cusing it of possessing chemi- sent in to conduct a probe. the budgets of both producers, told Putin. ergy prices,” Prince Mohamed cartel,” Putin told Prince Mo- the rebel-held town of Khan cal weapons in violation of Last year reports by UN and making joint cuts more likely, “We have a lot of common said. hamed. Sheikhun that was reported to commitments made in 2013. OPCW investigators conclud- especially with Russia facing a ground. As far as our disagree- Last December, Russia and “We support political con- have killed 88 people, including Since the start of the Syrian ed that Damascus had carried presidential election next year ments are concerned, we have 10 other non-Opec nations tacts, contacts between defence 31 children. conflict in March 2011, Da- out three chlorine attacks and and Saudi Arabia requiring a clear mechanism of how to agreed to join Opec’s out- ministries. We work together US President Donald Trump mascus has been repeatedly that the Islamic State group higher prices for economic re- overcome them.We are moving put cuts for the first time in on sorting out diffi cult situa- ordered air strikes three days accused of using chemical was behind a mustard gas at- forms and the listing of its en- forward quickly and in a posi- 15 years. Last week Moscow tions, including in Syria,” Putin later on the Syrian air base from weapons. A 2013 attack in the tack. ergy giant Aramco. tive way,” he added. agreed to extend its co-oper- said. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 AFRICA Opposition sues Zuma, ministers over corruption

DPA “state capture” by the Guptas in Novem- Johannesburg ber, calling for a judicial inquiry. Zuma initially rejected the report, but his African National Congress (ANC) outh Africa’s main opposition par- party gave a green light to the inquiry at a ty yesterday sued President Jacob weekend conference. SZuma and 11 other people over cor- The “Zuptagate” scandal has done ruption and infl uence-peddling by the enormous damage to Zuma and the party, wealthy Gupta business family. with calls mounting on the president to The broadcaster eNCA said the Demo- resign. cratic Alliance (DA) fi led charges against The DA fi led the charges after media re- Pro-Biafra demonstrators march yesterday in the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian civil war. Zuma and his son Duduzane Zuma; the ports quoted e-mails from Gupta affi liates brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta; Fi- allegedly revealing that the brothers had nance Minister Malusi Gigaba and three hosted cabinet ministers and directors of other cabinet ministers; two directors of state-owned companies on luxury trips to Gupta-linked companies and a former their home in Dubai. executive of the state electrical utility Es- They allegedly even planned to help kom. Zuma set up a second home in Dubai — re- The brothers of Indian origin are sus- ports the president denied. pected of obtaining lucrative state con- The e-mails “show the extent of the rot Biafra shuts down tracts and even infl uencing ministerial within the government,” the DA said in a appointments thanks to their friendship statement. with Zuma. The president and the Guptas Zuma also faces a no-confi dence vote deny wrongdoing. in parliament and court action by the sec- Former anti-graft watchdog Thuli Ma- ond-largest opposition party Economic on vow anniversary donsela released a report on the so-called Freedom Fighters (EFF) to impeach him.

By Celia Lebur, AFP Biafra. It’s our land. That’s why we “We urge the Nigerian security ernment that we are angry. There’s Onitsha, Nigeria all sit at home today.” agencies to conduct themselves in a no hope here for our children,” said In Aba, 150km south by road from manner that will ensure public or- Chuks, a 43-year-old taxi driver in Ghana president vows justice Onitsha, churches had on Sunday der without resorting to force,” he Aba. hops, schools and businesses urged followers to stay at home as a added. “I’m double graduated and I were shut yesterday in south- peaceful protest. Amnesty said security forces had couldn’t fi nd a decent job. I have to for soldier lynched by mob Seast Nigeria, 50 years to the The leader of the Indigenous arrested more than 100 members of work as a driver to feed my family.” day since the declaration of an inde- People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, pro-Biafran separatist groups in the Support for secession has in- pendent republic of Biafra sparked a Nnamdi Kanu, told AFP his aim was run-up to yesterday’s anniversary. creased since the arrest in late 2015 AFP Military spokesman Colonel Eric Ag- brutal civil war. for “civil disobedience” to force a Nigerian Army spokesman Colo- of IPOB leader Kanu, who is cur- Accra grey-Quarshie confi rmed the death of In Onitsha, the economic hub referendum on self-determination. nel Sagir Musa said in a statement rently on trial in Abuja charged with Captain Mahama, who served with the 5th of Anambra state on the banks of Local people said the closures that security had been increased treasonable felony. infantry battalion of the Ghana Army. the River Niger, most markets were were either to commemorate the an- across the southeast in places seen A court ordered his release on bail hana’s President Nana Akufo-Ad- “Initial report indicates the offi cer was closed and the streets were largely niversary in support or because of as “real or potential fl ashpoints”. in April. do said yesterday the killers of a lynched by locals of Denkyira-Obuasi in empty of people and traffi c. widespread fears of violence. “The aim is to proactively check- Kanu, who is in his 40s, told AFP Gsoldier who was lynched by a mob the Central Region whilst he was jogging Separatist sentiment persists in Nigerian police last week denounced mate possible security breaches in in an interview that his time in pris- while out running would be brought to at about 8.30am (0830 GMT)...under cir- the region, which is dominated by “planned protests and order of market view of sordid/divisive utterances on gave him the chance to refl ect and justice for this “heinous crime”. cumstances yet to be verifi ed,” he said in a the Igbo people, and the main pro- closures” and warned it would “deal and in some cases blatant actions by plot out the quickest possible path to Captain Maxwell Mahama died on statement. Biafran independence group has decisively” with any breach of the secessionist agitators,” he added. independence. Monday when he was attacked in the Up- “The offi cer was the detachment com- called on supporters to stay at home. peace or unlawful protest. Calls for independence never dis- “The mission and the values of per Denkyira district, some 80km from the mander of our troops on operational du- “No work today, we are Biafran, Last year, demonstrations mark- appeared even after the 30-month IPOB are very simple: to restore Bia- central city of Kumasi. ties in the general area,” he added. we are not Nigerians,” said Ebere ing the declaration of Biafran inde- civil war, which left more than one fra, to make sure Biafra comes by According to local media, residents be- “A high-powered fact-fi nding team led Ichukwu Eli, one of the few people pendence turned bloody. mn dead, most of them Igbos, mainly whatever means possible,” he said. lieved he was an armed robber as he was by the Chief of the Army Staff is proceed- to venture outside, where there was Amnesty International said the from starvation and disease. “We have chosen the track of wearing sports clothing and carrying a ing to the scene of the incident to ascertain a visible security presence. military gunned down more than 60 Many people accuse the govern- peaceful agitation, non-violence, pistol. the facts of the case.” “No violence, it is a peaceful sit at people. ment of failing to invest in the south- persuasion, logic, reason, argument. Akufo-Addo extended his condolences Aggrey-Quarshie told AFP a platoon of home. We are protesting peacefully,” Since August 2015, more than 150 east since the end of the war in 1970, We are going to deploy all of that to to the soldier’s family in a series of tweets. about 30 soldiers has been sent to the area the 47-year-old told AFP. people have been killed in pro-Biafra blighting development. make sure we get Biafra.” “I assure them that the perpetrators of to keep the peace. A woman who gave her name only protests, said Amnesty’s Nigeria di- Some see it as a punishment for He added: “Our ultimate goal is this heinous crime will be arrested and Reports in Ghana said the soldier had as Justine said: “The market is closed rector Osai Ojigho. the confl ict. freedom, referendum is the path we dealt with in accordance with the laws of been deployed to fi ght illegal gold mining today. I’m just going home to stay Nigeria’s government denies the “Most people here will follow the have chosen to take to get Biafra... our country,” he added. “No-one involved known as “galamsey”, which the govern- with my children. We want our one claim. instructions. We want to show gov- There is no alternative.” in his murder will go free.” ment has pledged to stamp out.

First lady to visit ailing Buhari igeria’s fi rst lady left for London yesterday to join President Muhammadu Buhari, who has been in Chibok girls will not return to Nthe British capital receiving treatment for an un- disclosed illness. Aisha Buhari’s offi ce released a brief statement saying home town for joining school she was going to Britain to “spend some time” with her 74-year-old husband. “Her Excellency will spend some time with her hus- AFP ceiving medical and psycho- were released in early May, band President Muhammadu Buhari who is presently Abuja social treatment at the Wom- arrived to the ceremony in on medical vacation,” said a statement, which included en Aff airs Centre, located on buses with their handlers photographs of her boarding a plane, dressed in an all- the outskirts of the capital. looking relaxed and happy. white outfi t. he rescued Chibok “They are not going back Once inside the facility, “She (Aisha Buhari) expressed her appreciation to girls will not be go- to Chibok school but other they started singing songs the millions of Nigerians who have been praying for his Ting back to their rural schools within Nigeria,” Al- in Hausa, the dominant lan- quick and safe return.” home town to complete their hassan said about the res- guage in the country’s north. Buhari left Abuja for London on May 7 for a “follow- schooling, Nigeria’s minister cued girls. The Islamist militants up medical consultation” after spending nearly two for women said yesterday. “But if anyone wants to go seized 276 schoolgirls from months in Britain being treated for what he described as Speaking at a ceremony back to their parents we will the remote northeast Nige- one of the worst illnesses of his life. welcoming 82 newly rescued allow them to go, we are not rian town of Chibok in April His health is being watched closely as a previous pres- girls to a government reha- keeping them here without 2014, triggering global con- ident, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, died in offi ce in 2010 after bilitation facility in Abuja, their consent or that of their demnation and drawing at- receiving treatment abroad for a longstanding but un- Aisha Alhassan said all the parents,” Alhassan said. tention to the bloody Boko disclosed illness. girls will be heading back to “If anyone wants to go Haram insurgency. Yar’Adua’s absence triggered months of political tur- class in September, without back today we can arrange Fifty-seven escaped in the moil. specifying where. for their parents to come and immediate aftermath. The Nigerian presidency has insisted that despite There are a total of 106 res- take her home but they are Of the 219 who did not Buhari’s sickness there is no political vacuum as Vice- Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Aisha Alhassan (second right) cued Chibok girls that were happy being here and learn- manage to fl ee, 106 have ei- President Yemi Osinbajo had formally been given powers shakes hands with newly-rescued Chibok school girls upon arrival for rehabilitation at kidnapped by Boko Haram ing what they are learning.” ther been released or found, as acting president. the Women Development Centre in Abuja. jihadists in 2014 who are re- The 82 Chibok girls, who leaving 113 still missing. Tough times for SA town blighted by mine closure

By Philippe Alfroy, AFP “I started looking at the letter, Also left behind was an open- “We’re in a ‘no man’s land’. The that is not able to step up into “It is really a huge challenge clout but three mine companies Carletonville, South Africa I was taken aback. I realised that air mine dump, which now means government says there’s nothing that role, particularly when there because when it comes to food, linked to Blyvoor are now the the mine was placed under provi- that even the slightest breath it can do for us. It’s very painful is a premature and sudden clo- everyone here is living on his subject of a criminal lawsuit over sional liquidation.” of wind covers the town with a because no one seems to care,” sure like in Blyvoor,” she said. own. We live on jackals, mon- their environmental records. t the end of a narrow road For more than 60 years, Bly- cloud of toxic dust. said residents’ spokesman Pule In 2015 and 2016, 40,000 peo- keys, cats — unless we get some- For the fi rst time the state is stands the dilapidated vooruitzicht sat on one of South Armed gangs also do battle Molefe, 38. ple in the mining sector lost their one to assist us with food,” said participating in the action against Ahusk of a golf clubhouse, Africa’s richest gold deposits. to control the abandoned mine “It’s like we are abandoned here. jobs — one tenth of the industry’s the men’s representative, Elpideo them — and prosecutors have de- now overrun with tall weeds and But a diminishing return on in- shafts, which they exploit illegal- All we need is for the government total head count. Mutemba. cided to take the case forward. creepers. vestment prompted the owner to ly using casual untrained miners to step in and take over and man- In Kroondal, near to the capital The mine owner, Sibanye Gold, Mariette Lieff erink, executive It stands as a reminder of bet- shut the mine, throwing all 1,700 known locally as “zama zamas”. age and protect what’s there.” Pretoria, some 4,000 workers at is seeking an expulsion order to director at the Federation for a ter times for the once booming workers out of a job — and leav- Four years on from the mine’s The town’s predicament is not a platinum mine were laid off fol- evict what it calls “squatters” — Sustainable Environment, said mining town of Blyvooruitzicht, ing the site to looters and decay. closure and the situation in the uncommon in South Africa. lowing a strike. but until a decision is made it has the case could mean that mine an hour’s drive southwest of Jo- “Things started to fall apart,” town has deteriorated dramatically. The ruinous and abrupt clo- Because they did not agree to a continued to supply the site with directors are held criminally li- hannesburg. said Rammusa. “We’re just struggling to get sures of mines, which have pro- deal signed by their union, they electricity and water as a good- able. Joseph Rammusa, 53, was The newly unemployed staff something to eat, to get water vided the majority of the coun- received no compensation. will gesture. Joseph Rammusa, who is proud to have been the club’s did not receive any redundancy from the municipality. Same try’s wealth, have increased in For seven years, a hardcore of The head of DRD Gold, Niel keenly awaiting the outcome of president — its last, because in pay because of a dispute between with electricity (and) we’re bat- recent years as commodity prices holdouts have occupied a build- Pretorius, said that “it can’t be the case, is also holding onto the 2013, the once-prosperous town two mine operators — DRD Gold tling even to get our children to have fl uctuated unpredictably. ing on the site of the Kroondal expected of corporations to fi x hope that there could be an unex- suff ered a dramatic reversal of and Village Main Reef. school,” said Elliot Matshoba, Michael Clements, from Law- mine in the hope of securing a what they didn’t break,” blaming pected future lying ahead. fortune. The town of 6,000 people was 51, a former safety offi cer at the yers for Human Rights (LHR) payout, with some 200 people the situation in Blyvoor on the “The company has started “I was called to come in the even threatened with the discon- mine. which has investigated the im- living in abject squalor. trade unions that he accused of working to open the mine again,” offi ce, I was given a letter that nection of its water and elec- The outlook for the environ- pact of mine closure, said that Tuberculosis is rife in the “irresponsible behaviour”. said Rammusa.”Not everybody needed to be printed urgently,” tricity supplies, which had both ment is not much better — taps “communities are simply left in men’s sleeping quarters and The mining companies have will be employed but at least said Rammusa, a former clerk at previously been paid for by the only run intermittently and sew- a vacuum”. many of them have contracted long been considered untouch- those being employed will bring the town’s mine. mining company. age fl ows through the streets. “You have local government the disease. able because of their economic life in the village.” Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 11 AMERICAS

RIGHTS AVIATION INTERNET TERROR LEGAL Cleveland police fire off icer US says no announcement Group linked to NSA leaks Grande, Bieber, Perry to top Court restricts patent owners’ who shot 12-year-old boy planned on laptop ban says will release more data concert for blast victims right to block resale of goods

Cleveland police yesterday fired the officer The Department of Homeland Security does A group that published hacking tools that security Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry will The US Supreme Court has made it harder for who fatally shot a 12-year-old boy two years not plan to announce an expansion of a ban experts believe were stolen from the US National headline a concert in Manchester, England, on manufacturers and drug companies to control ago after mistaking the boy’s toy gun for a real on laptops in airline cabins this week after Security Agency said it plans to sell a new batch Sunday to benefit victims of the suicide bombing how their products are used or resold, ruling one. Tamir Rice was playing in a park with a Secretary John Kelly spoke to European off icials of stolen code in July to customers willing to at Grande’s May 22 concert there, organisers against printer company Lexmark International pellet gun in November 2014, when officers yesterday, a spokesman said. spokesman, David pay more than $22,000. The Shadow Brokers announced yesterday. American artists Miley Inc in a patent dispute over its ink cartridges. Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback Lapan, confirmed that Kelly was speaking to group said that it has not yet determined what Cyrus, Pharrell Williams and Usher will also The court said that Lexington, Kentucky-based drove up in a patrol car, responding to an European Home Aff airs Commissioner Dimitris files will be in the collection. It has previously perform at the June 4 concert, along with Britain’s Lexmark, which holds patents on ink cartridge emergency call. Loehmann was fired and Avramopoulos and Transport Commissioner said it has access to tools for hacking into web Coldplay, One Direction singer Niall Horan and the technology, relinquished its intellectual property Garmback, who drove the police car, was Violeta Bulc yesterday. “This is part of our mobile handsets and Microsoft Corp’s Windows Manchester-based band Take That. The benefit rights once it sold them to the public. The suspended for 10 days. City officials said they ongoing engagement with various stakeholders 10 operating system, web browsers and network will take place at the Old Traff ord cricket ground. decision came in a dispute between Lexmark had found no evidence that either officer on this issue,” Lapan saie. Kelly told Fox News routers. It is not clear whether the group actually Proceeds will benefit victims of last week’s suicide and Impression Products Inc, a small business violated police procedures. Instead, the two Sunday over the weekend that he “might” ban possesses those tools, or would make good on bombing at Grande’s show at another venue in based in Charleston, West Virginia that buys were disciplined for other violations that laptops from cabins on all international flights its promise to release them. Security researchers the northern English city, the Manchester Arena. empty Lexmark cartridges from consumers and surfaced during the two-year investigation. both into and out of the United States. have urged taking the threat seriously. Islamic State claimed credit for the bombing, then resells refurbished cartridges to the public. Goldman ‘did buy’ Venezuela govt bonds

Reuters Venezuela is in crisis. We agree that Caracas life there has to get better, and we made the investment in part because we believe it will.” The statement did oldman Sachs Group Inc has not include the price of the bonds or confi rmed it bought Ven- the amount purchased. Gezuelan bonds after being With Venezuela’s ineffi cient excoriated by the country’s oppo- state-led economic model strug- sition for fi nancing the embattled gling under lower oil prices, Ma- government of President Nicolas duro’s unpopular government has Maduro, who is facing sustained become ever more dependent on fi - protests. nancial deals or asset sales to bring The president of the opposition- in coveted foreign exchange. led Congress accused the bank of Many economists say the only fi nancing “dictatorship” after the way to improve the country’s situ- Wall Street Journal reported Gold- ation is to scrap price and currency man had bought $2.8bn in bonds is- control systems that have hobbled sued by state oil company PDVSA at the private sector. Maduro’s crit- a steep discount. ics have for two months been stag- “We bought these bonds, which ing street protests, which have left were issued in 2014, on the second- nearly 60 people dead, to demand ary market from a broker and did not that he hold early elections. Maduro interact with the Venezuelan gov- says the protests are a violent ef- ernment,” Goldman wrote in a state- fort to overthrow his government, ment late on Monday. and insists the country is victim of “We recognise that the situation an “economic war” supported by Opposition activists clash with the police as they block the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas during a demonstration against President Nicolas Maduro’s government. is complex and evolving and that Washington. Spelling Bee Top aide to president champs fi nd success after Trump steps down President Trump is months, gave no reason for is my opinion that many of the Other potential staff changes bus at the Republican National considering wider staff leaving. leaks coming out of the White could be in the works, according Committee. changes Trump, who returned to House are fabricated lies made to Axios, including fewer on- Priebus and White House ad- defeat Washington on Saturday after a up by the #FakeNews media,” camera news briefi ngs by Sean viser Steve Bannon have been Reuters nine-day trip to the Middle East Trump wrote in a series of Twit- Spicer, the White House press laying the groundwork for the Washington and Europe, has been expected ter posts on Sunday. secretary. new “war room”. Reuters a biology degree after just three to shake up staff to tackle the Dubke resigned on May 18 Trump will also take more Controversy over the Russia Washington years at Yale University and is distracting fi restorm over inves- though he has not set a last day questions directly from the me- issue deepened after Trump fi red applying to medical school. senior aide to President tigations into alleged Russian on the job, according to Axios dia, Axios reported. FBI Director James Comey ear- She envisions practising Donald Trump is leaving meddling in the 2016 presiden- News, which fi rst reported his Conway said the White House lier this month, leading to allega- hree past winners of the patients as well as launch- Athe job, the White House tial election and communication departure. will continue to bring in Cabinet tions by critics that the president Scripps National Spell- ing a broadcast career cover- said yesterday, as the president between Russia and Trump’s Dubke told Politico yesterday secretaries and other top offi cials sought to hamper the agency’s Ting Bee say losing was ing medical stories. Defeat has considers wider staff changes campaign. he expected to go back to Black to handle news briefi ngs on top- probe into the matter. the secret to their success. fanned the competitive fi res amid growing political fallout He plans to bring in new aides Rock Group, his communications ics in their patch. Moscow has denied US intel- Early defeats spurred an in- within, all three past winners over probes into Russia and his to the White House, adding ex- and public aff airs fi rm. Conway also dismissed per- ligence agencies’ conclusion that ner competitive streak that said in separate interviews. presidential campaign. perienced political profession- Dubke, who was brought into sistent speculation that Spicer, it meddled in the campaign to try they used to eventually seize “The competition is not with White House Communica- als including a former campaign the White House in March as who has been pilloried on TV to tilt the election in Trump’s fa- the title, said champions from other spellers but with your- tions Director Mike Dubke manager, according to adminis- head of the offi ce that runs press comedy shows since Trump took vour. 1985, 1999 and 2010. self,” Lala told Reuters. “I don’t confirmed reports he had re- tration offi cials and persons close and other public relations is- offi ce on January 20, was on his The president has denied any The 2017 national spelling think that besting other people signed, saying in a statement, to Trump. sues, wanted to stay on through way out. She said he would be collusion, repeatedly denouncing bee winner will be crowned to- is quite as motivating for me.” “It has been my great honor to The Republican president has Trump’s fi rst foreign trip to en- back at the podium to brief re- the probes as an eff ort by Demo- morrow. Natarajan, who is chief med- serve President Trump and this also repeatedly expressed frus- sure a smooth transition, senior porters on Tuesday. crats to explain Hillary Clinton’s “Those were tough losses but ical offi cer at Seasons Hospice administration.” Dubke, who tration with internal leaks com- White House adviser Kellyanne Spicer worked with White upset defeat in the White House they also made me dig deeper & Palliative Care, the nation’s had been in the job just three ing from the White House. “It Conway told Fox News. House chief of staff Reince Prie- race. and work harder,” said Balu Na- largest privately owned hospice tarajan, 45, who fl amed out on provider, agreed he has been the national stage in 1983 and his own fi ercest rival. 1984. He won the next year at “Some people love to win. age 13 and is now a sports med- Some people want to keep icine doctor in Chicago. pushing to be their best. I am Nupur Lala, 32, still remem- the latter,” he said. Natarajan won the title for Former dictator Noriega dies at 83 bers the word that tripped her up in 1998: commination, correctly spelling ‘milieu’, Lala which ironically means the act for ‘logorrhea’ and Veeramani Reuters laundering and cocaine smug- family should have the right to neighbourhood, Noriega was from murder to racketeering and of threatening divine vengeance. for ‘stromuhr’, after their op- Panama City gling, in which he worked with bury the former leader in peace. raised by a family friend. drug-running. She took the title in 1999 at 14. ponents had stumbled. traffi ckers like Colombian Pablo Ezra Angel, Noriega’s law- A poor but intelligent youth, With US offi cials in the know, “It was one of the really And how do the world’s best Escobar. yer, said the former strongman’s his options were limited until a Noriega had formed “the hemi- healthy moments in my life. Any spellers handle errors in emails, ormer Panamanian dictator He was initially sentenced in three daughters would not issue half-brother helped him join the sphere’s fi rst narcokleptocracy,” hubris that I had was eliminated classroom lessons, or even ro- Manuel Noriega, who spied the United States in 1992, but any public statements. military. a US Senate subcommittee report at that point,” said Lala, headed mantic love letters? Do they Ffor the United States before was serving a sentence for mur- Most Panamanians had gone Noriega became head of mili- said, calling him “the best exam- for a 2018 medical school degree point out corrections or suff er his drug traffi cking and brutality der in Panama when he died. to bed by the time the announce- tary intelligence under Omar ple in recent US foreign policy with a focus in neurology after in silence? triggered a US invasion to oust Noriega was let out of prison ment was made close to midnight Torrijos — who had seized power of how a foreign leader is able to conducting research at Univer- “I don’t hesitate,” Natarajan him in 1989, has died aged 83. under house arrest in January to in the isthmus nation, so local re- in a 1968 coup — and oversaw the manipulate the United States to sity of Texas MD Anderson Can- said. “It drives me crazy.” President Juan Carlos Varela have an operation to remove a action was initially muted. army’s corrupt off -book deals, the detriment of our own inter- cer Center in Houston. But Lala and Veeramani hold announced Noriega’s death late brain tumour. “With the death of Mr Nori- and ran the secret police force. ests”. For 2010 winner Anamika their tongues. “I don’t want to on Monday, saying it marked the The surgery went ahead in ega, one chapter of our history is Torrijos died in 1981, and as After his capture, Noriega tried Veeramani, losing in front of a be obnoxious. Nobody wants to closing of a chapter in the Central early March, but he suff ered a closed, and another opens, one ruler in his own right Noriega to turn the tables on the United worldwide audience on live tele- be that kid,” Veeramani said. American country’s history. haemorrhage, underwent a sec- in which we must ensure that we hit the headlines as his relations States, saying it had worked hand vision in 2009 was a seminal les- This week, 291 whizzes ages Noriega, who ruled Panama ond operation, and had been in a don’t repeat the previous era,” with Washington turned sour, in glove with him. son in handling life’s challenges. Natarajan, a married father from 1983 to 1989, was a long- coma ever since. said Augusto Yañez, a 46-year- culminating in Washington Writing on Twitter, journal- “In the spelling bee, you re- of boys 8 and 11, said his elder time collaborator of the Central A Panamanian government of- old lawyer in Panama City.”We sending nearly 28,000 troops to ist Jon Lee Anderson said Nori- ally learn how to deal with fail- child just missed competing in Intelligence Agency and a useful fi cial, speaking on condition of went through some diffi cult seize Panama City and capture ega told him in an interview last ure. And dealing with those the national bee this year, com- US ally in a region that was prone anonymity, said Noriega died at times, and now it’s time to move him in a house-to-house hunt. year that he had made a mistake things gracefully is really im- ing in second in a countywide to leftist insurgencies. around 11pm local time in a Pan- forward.” Noriega spent the remainder in challenging the United States. portant to living a good life,” spelling competition. The invasion ordered by Presi- ama City hospital after his con- Born less than a mile from the of his life in custody between the According to Anderson, No- said Veeramani, 21. If losing really is the key to dent George H W Bush brought dition suddenly worsened. US-controlled Panama Canal United States, France and Pan- riega said: “I wouldn’t do that She graduated last week with winning, that may be great news. an end to his career of money- President Varela said Noriega’s Zone in a tough Panama City ama for a host of crimes ranging again.” Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 ASEAN Myanmar army probes suspect civilian deaths

AFP Since handing over power to Yangon a quasi-civilian government in 2011 the army has been work- ing to spruce up its image as the yanmar’s military said country opens up to foreign visi- yesterday it was prob- tors and investors. Ming whether troops Last year seven soldiers were killed three civilians in the coun- sentenced to fi ve years of hard try’s violence-wracked north- labour for killing villagers during east after their bodies were found an interrogation, in a rare show buried near an army post riddled of military accountability. with bullets. The probe announcement The corpses of the three men comes the day after the end of were discovered about three peace talks between the govern- miles away from northeast ment, army and dozens of ethnic of military command in Mai insurgent groups. Khaung village in Kachin State, The talks, chaired by new ci- where thousands of people have vilian de facto leader Aung San been displaced by recent fi ght- Suu Kyi, ended with a peacemeal ing. agreement on some aspects of a Local activists and media re- new federal state but no substan- ported the men had been tor- tial moves toward a nationwide tured and stabbed before they ceasefi re. were killed, citing local offi cials. Fighting in Myanmar’s border- “Responsible authorities lands has reached its worst point started investigating on May in decades in recent months, 29 whether soldiers from mili- sending tens of thousands fl ee- tary command were involved in ing their homes in Kachin and the case,” the offi ce of the com- neighbouring Shan State. Officials and family members stand next to patients undergoing kidney dialysis in an intensive care unit at hospital in the northern city of Hoa Binh late on Monday. mander-in-chief said in a state- The army’s announcement ment. of an investigation also comes Kachin activist Khon Ja said days after a video showing men the men were from nearby in- in military uniforms viciously ternally displaced person (IDP) beating and threatening to kill camps run by Christians. handcuff ed detainees sparked “They were last seen arrested outrage on social media. by (the) Tatmadaw,” she said, us- The footage shows several men ing another name for Myanmar’s dressed in army uniform kick- Stunned Vietnam reels army. ing and beating three handcuff ed The military ran Myanmar for men, asking whether they belong 50 brutal years, rife with rights to the Ta’ang National Liberation abuses, including against the Army ethnic armed group. many ethnic minorities that have An offi cial from the TNLA told been battling the state since in- AFP the video was fi rst recorded dependence in 1948. a year ago. from dialysis deaths

By Tran Thi Minh Ha, AFP All medical equipment and drugs in the transferred to a hospital in Hanoi, and been paid $660, offi cials said earlier. Hoa Binh, Vietnam kidney care department have been sealed Hoa Binh Province General Hospital said Hospitals in Vietnam are both private- off at the state-run hospital and both police it would no longer receive kidney patients ly-owned and state-run, though govern- and Health Ministry offi cials said yesterday while the investigation is under way. ment facilities tend to have lower quality UN rights council names ietnamese health offi cials were a criminal investigation had been launched. The hospital, about 80km west of Hanoi, of care, especially in rural areas. scrambling for answers yesterday School teacher Nguyen Thi Bich Nguy- was packed with ailing patients waiting to Medical complications in hospitals are Vafter seven people died while re- en went in for the routine procedure be- be moved yesterday, shaken by the news. frequently reported in Vietnam, often in- team to probe abuses ceiving dialysis, as survivors recounted fore things went awry. “The remaining patients were really volving one or two victims. horror stories from the country’s worst “She became itchy all over her body, lucky...all of them were in shock,” said In December, a seven-year-old girl medical disaster in recent years. Eleven she had a stomachache and vomited,” her Quang, whose cousin had come for dialy- died in southern Ca Mau province after AFP khine, or even be permitted to people are being treated after the inci- husband Le Tien Dung told AFP while sis before the treatments were called off being injected with antibiotics to treat a Geneva land in Myanmar. dent, including one in critical condition. waiting anxiously at the hospital, where Monday. respiratory ailment. Speaking in Brussels earlier “I would like to apologise to fami- police guarded the intensive care unit. A doctor who cared for the patients That same month, two patients were this month, Suu Kyi made clear lies and the whole community, we are Nguyen, 47, remains in critical condi- overnight recalled a “nightmare” as he killed after receiving anaesthesia in a pri- he UN rights council yes- that her government had “disas- very surprised at this rare incident,” said tion, after another patient in critical care struggled to keep the victims alive. vate hospital in Hanoi. terday named a three-per- sociated” itself from the resolu- Truong Quy Duong, director of Hoa Binh died overnight. “It’s a huge loss. I feel pain as if I had About 6mn people suff er from kidney Tson team to probe alleged tion setting up the probe, calling Province General Hospital where the in- “My biggest hope is that my wife will lost members of my own family,” said disease in the country of 93mn, according atrocities against Myanmar’s it out of touch “with what is ac- cident took place on Monday, according overcome this,” Dung said. doctor Hoang Cong Tinh. to fi gures on the Health Ministry’s offi cial Rohingya Muslims, a key step in tually happening on the ground.” to a clip on state media. Offi cials said 10 survivors have been Relatives of the seven victims have online mouthpiece. an investigation already rejected The north of Rakhine state by the country’s government. has been under lockdown since The Geneva-based human October, when the military rights council voted in March to launched a campaign to hunt create a Myanmar fact-fi nding down Rohingya militants who Active volcano mission, in a politically sensitive staged deadly attacks on police UK scribe held over fl ak jacket plates move that faced fi erce resistance posts. Mount Sinabung from the civilian-led govern- Some 100,000 people from the volcano spews ment of Aung San Suu Kyi. Muslim minority were displaced thick volcanic ash Reuters deems gas masks and ballis- were required for the safety gear. The mission was ordered to by the violence, most of them yesterday, as seen Bangkok tic vests are war weapons and “The plates were loose and “urgently” investigate abuses fl eeing to Bangladesh. from the town of need a licence. were taken as check-in bag- reportedly committed by the An earlier UN rights offi ce re- Brastagi in Karo, In August 2015, a Hong Kong gage, as we have done before security forces, particularly in port based on testimony from North Sumatra British journalist was photojournalist was arrested many times,” Witulski said, Rakhine state where troops have Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh province, charged yesterday with at the same airport for carry- adding that he and Cheng had been accused of raping, torturing said Myanmar’s security forces Indonesia. Aarms possession after ing body armour and a helmet. travelled to Iraq and Afghani- and murdering members of the may be guilty of crimes against Sinabung roared being arrested at a Thai air- Charges were later dropped. stan several times carrying Rohingya community. humanity. back to life in port for checking in fl ak jacket Cheng was carrying three plates, without being stopped Decorated Indian lawyer and Myanmar has rebuff ed those 2010 for the plates and gas masks, standard gas masks and four plates for by Thai authorities. women’s rights campaigner, In- charges and has refused to allow in- first time in 400 equipment for media heading safety vests, said Somchart The Foreign Correspondents’ dira Jaising, Sri Lanka’s former ternational observers into the area. years and after into war zones and other hos- Maneerat, a police investigator. Club of Thailand urged Thai human rights chief Radhika Coo- The rights council called on another period of tile environments. “He faces a charge of unli- authorities to drop the charge maraswamy and Christopher Do- the government to give inves- inactivity, erupted Anthony Cheng, 46, and censed possession of war weap- against Cheng, saying it has minic Sidoti, a prominent human tigators “full, unrestricted and once more in 2013 German freelance journalist ons,” Somchart told Reuters, off ered to work with the gov- rights advocate from Australia, unmonitored access to all ar- and has remained Florian Witulski were detained adding that he faced up to fi ve ernment to allow journalists to were appointed to lead the probe. eas”. Matthew Smith, who heads highly active at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi years in prison if found guilty. carry protective equipment. The group is scheduled to the Fortify Rights watchdog in since. Airport on Monday, before Cheng was released yester- “Under the present imple- meet soon in Geneva to chart a Bangkok which closely tracks the they could board a fl ight to Iraq day on bail of 100,000 baht mentation of the 1987 law, they work plan, a rights council state- Rakhine situation, told AFP the via Turkey for an assignment ($2,930). Witulski, 31, too was are presented with an invidious ment said. government had “no defensible for China-based broadcaster released yesterday. choice: break Thai law or in- But it is not yet clear if they reason to not co-operate with CCTV English. Witulski told Reuters the men crease the risk to life and limb,” will be granted access to Ra- this mission.” Thailand’s Arms Control Act were not aware that licences the body said in a statement.

Cambodia wielding ‘courts of injustice’

AFP Since then the authorities have em- manipulation of the criminal justice Phnom Penh barked on what Amnesty described system to serve political goals and si- as “a systematic campaign, using the lence people whose views the govern- criminal justice system to harass and ment refuses to tolerate,” she said. ambodia’s government has intimidate” opponents. Sok Eysan, a spokesman for ruling ramped up use of the courts to In a report titled “Courts of Injus- Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), de- Charass political activists and rights tice”, the group said at least 27 Cam- nied the report’s allegations and said defenders ahead of elections, Amnesty bodian human rights defenders and it was peddling a “Cold War ideology”. International said yesterday, warning the political activists are currently behind Amnesty has always viewed the gov- climate of fear was likely to get worse. bars on trumped-up charges. ernment as the “enemy”, he said. Millions of Cambodians will head to Hundreds of others are subject to “They have been attacking us and the ballot box on Sunday for local polls criminal proceedings “as part of a con- painting colours on the ruling party across more than 1,600 communes certed attempt” to crush any public since the beginning.” — an early litmus test for next year’s criticism. Sunday’s election is a bellwether for crunch general elections. As a result a large proportion of the opposition eff orts to unseat Hun Sen The impoverished Southeast Asian political opposition and human rights after three decades. kingdom has been run for more than community “live under the threat of Sebastian Strangio, an expert on 32 years by strongman prime minister immediate imprisonment”, the report Cambodian politics, told AFP Hun Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest said. Sen’s party “risks losing control of a serving leaders. Champa Patel, Amnesty’s director lower level of government that they But in 2013 his ruling party suff ered in the region, said Hun Sen’s govern- have controlled since the fall of the a surprise setback when the opposition ment has paid “much lip-service” to Khmer Rouge in 1979”. Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) the judiciary’s independence. Hun Sen has historically eschewed made huge gains and nearly won. “But the evidence reveals a cynical campaigning himself. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 13 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

CRACKDOWN CRIME INVESTIGATION SCANDAL REFORM Australia to strip convicted Sudanese mother gets 20 DNA test brings decades Daughter of South Korea’s Japan lawmakers pushing paedophiles of passports years for killing three kids old murder case to an end ‘Rasputin’ to return home for women on the throne

Convicted paedophiles will have their passports A Sudanese refugee in Melbourne who drove the The killer of a six-year-old girl raped and mur- The daughter of the woman at the centre of a Some Japanese lawmakers are wondering cancelled to prevent them travelling overseas to family car into a lake with four of her children, dered 33 years ago would have gotten away if corruption scandal that led to the ousting of whether they should push legislation allowing off end again under tough new laws. Legislation will killing three of them, has been sentenced to 20 it was not for DNA technology. Instead, a court South Korea’s president will return home today women to ascend the throne amid a shortage be introduced this month making it illegal for reg- years in jail. Akon Guode, 37, came to Australia ruled yesterday he will face sentencing in Sep- from Denmark. Chung Yoo-ra, 20, will be “im- of potential future emperors, according to media istered off enders to leave or attempt to leave the after fleeing the civil war in Sudan, where she was tember. Gregory Keith Davies, now 74, appeared mediately put into custody” when she arrives reports. Lawmakers are in the midst of considering country. “The new laws will prohibit registered child raped after witnessing her husband’s murder. before the Victorian Supreme Court after pleading at Incheon airport after being extradited. The a one-time rule change that would allow Emperor sex off enders from leaving Australia or holding She drove with four of her seven children in the guilty a day earlier to raping and murdering Kylie ministry sent five off icials to Denmark on Monday Akihito, 83, to abdicate, as he has indicated he Australian passports,” Foreign Minister Julie Bishop car into a lake in Wyndham Vale in April 2015, Maybury in November 1984. The retiree admitted to accompany her home, he said. Chung is the wants to do. Should the emperor step aside, Crown said. “Last year alone, almost 800 registered child killing a 16-month-old toddler and 4-year-old twins. to the sexual assault and murder on the first day only child of Choi Soon-sil, the close confidante of Prince Naruhito would become emperor. But, after sex off enders travelled overseas from Australia.” Goude pleaded guilty in January. Supreme Court of pre-trial committal hearing, ending a three-dec- former President Park Geun-hye. Choi – nick- that, the succession becomes messier. Naruhito’s She said many of them were in breach of obliga- Judge Lex Lasry sentenced Guode to a maximum ades-long mystery. Maybury went missing after named “Rasputin” for her close influence over daughter, Princess Toshi, is not in line for the Chry- tions to notify police that they were travelling, with imprisonment of 26 years. Guode’s visa also has going to nearby shops to buy sugar. Her dead the then-president – is one of the figures in the santhemum Throne because women are barred half of them considered as having medium-high or been cancelled, and she faces deportation once body was found in a gutter the next day. She had influence-peddling scandal that sparked huge from heading Japan’s royalty. That would put very-high risk of reoff ending. her prison sentence is over. been raped and suff ocated. street protests demanding Park’s ousting. Naruhito’s nephew, Prince Hisahito, next in line. North Korea says ballistic missile test successful

AFP Seoul

orth Korea said yester- Kim Jong-un inspecting a test-fire of a ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea. day its test-fi ring of a Nprecision-guided ballis- US bombers fl y near N Korea aft er missile launch South Korean President Moon tic missile was a success, a day Jae-in about the latest launch. after the projectile landed in wa- Two US B-1B bombers flew off US planes were involved, citing “Prime Minister Abe said dia- ters provocatively close to Japan. the coast of North Korea hours military sources. The show of logue for the sake of dialogue is The North’s leader Kim Jong-un after the reclusive regime con- military might comes after the meaningless and it is necessary had supervised the launch of ducted its latest test of a short- US recently sent the Navy air- now to put pressure on North the “new-type precision-guid- range ballistic missile this week. craft carrier USS Ronald Reagan Korea,” a Japanese foreign minis- ed ballistic rocket”, the offi cial State-run media in the North to carry out patrols near the try statement quoted him as say- KCNA news agency reported. yesterday described the pres- Korean peninsula. ing. “He also said China’s role is It was the third missile test ence of the US warplanes as a A ballistic missile launched extremely important.” by the nuclear-armed regime in “grave military provocation” that early Monday by the North flew But China has made it clear less than three weeks, defying was a practice drill for dropping 450km from the eastern coastal that the push for talks — and not UN sanctions warnings and US a nuclear bomb on the country. city of Wonsan and landed in more sanctions — is its priority. threats of possible military ac- The South Korean Ministry of the Sea of Japan, according to On Monday it pleaded again for tion. The ballistic rocket fl ew to- Defence confirmed the partici- South Korean and US authori- dialogue. “We hope that related ward the east sky where the day pation of B-1B bombers in joint ties. Pyongyang called the mis- parties can remain calm and re- broke and correctly hit a planned drills on Monday. South Korean sile test — its ninth so far this strained, ease the tension on the target point ... after fl ying over radio station KBS reported two year— a success. peninsula, and bring the penin- the middle shooting range,” sula issue into the right track KCNA said. A test-fire of a ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea. of peaceful dialogue again,” the South Korea’s military has Kim as saying. It added that the month of what analysts said was Chinese foreign ministry said. said the Scud-type missile trav- condemnation from US Presi- was aimed at testing a weapon it said. “Whenever news of our projectile was showcased for the its longest-range rocket yet, Several rounds of UN sanctions elled eastward for 450km. Japan dent Donald Trump who said it “capable of making ultra-preci- valuable victory is broadcast ... fi rst time last month as part of the UN Security Council vowed have done little to stop the iso- said it believed it had fallen into showed “disrespect” for neigh- sion strike on the enemies’ ob- the Yankees would be very much Pyongyang’s annual military pa- to push all countries to tighten lated regime from pushing ahead its exclusive economic zone, ex- bouring China, the North’s sole jects at any area”, the North Ko- worried about it and the gang- rade to mark the 105th birth an- sanctions against Pyongyang. with its ambition to develop an tending 200 nautical miles from major ally, which has sought to rean report said. “It also verifi ed sters of the south Korean puppet niversary of the regime’s founder Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo intercontinental ballistic missile the coast. ease tensions over Pyongyang’s ultra-precision guidance cor- army would be dispirited more Kim Il-sung. Following North Abe called for “strong action” (ICBM) that can deliver a nuclear The missile test triggered swift weapons programme. The launch rectness in the re-entry section,” and more,” the report quoted Korea’s test-fi ring earlier this during telephone talks with warhead to the continental US.

Australian Pole position gunman accused S Korea’s Moon of killing cop shot dead orders probe into in standoff A gunman suspected of killing an Australian police off icer has been THAAD additions shot dead west of Brisbane, bring- ing a tense 21-hour-long siege to an end, a top police off icer said Reuters yesterday. Tony Wright, assistant Seoul police commissioner of the state of Queensland, said the male engaged in a firefight with police outh Korean President Moon Jae-in has ordered a probe af- as he exited the building where he ter the Defence Ministry failed to inform him that four more was holed up overnight. Slaunchers for the controversial US THAAD anti-missile sys- “The police returned fire and the tem had been brought into the country, his spokesman said yester- male person has been shot and day. declared deceased at the scene,” The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system bat- Wright told reporters. The 40-year- tery was initially deployed in March in the southeastern region old suspect allegedly shot dead a of Seongju with just two of its maximum load of six launchers to senior constable, Brett Forte, dur- counter a growing North Korean missile threat. ing a traff ic stop after being asked During his successful campaign for the May 9 presidential elec- to pull over on Monday afternoon tion, Moon had called for a parliamentary review of the system, in the Lockyer Valley, 100km west whose deployment has also infuriated China, North Korea’s lone of Brisbane. The man then van- major ally. “President Moon said it was very shocking” to hear the ished into nearby bushland near four additional launchers had been installed without being report- Seventeen Mile. ed to the new government or to the public, presidential spokesman A plane’s trail and the moon can be seen behind a Pelican, Australia’s largest flying bird, as it cleans itself atop a street light on an autumn The police were eventually able to Yoon Young-chan told a media briefi ng. day in the northern beaches suburb of Narrabeen in Sydney, Australia. track him down and contain him Moon had campaigned on a more moderate approach to at a rural property in Lockyer Park. Pyongyang, calling for engagement even as the reclusive state pur- sues nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes in defi ance of UN Security Council resolutions and threats of more sanctions. The US military in South Korea did not have immediate comment on Moon’s comments. The South Korean military also did not im- mediately comment. Tokyo’s female governor takes on old-boy network Moon’s order of a probe into the THAAD launchers came amid signs of easing tensions between major trading partners South Ko- rea and China. Reuters minister says her sights are set crack in Abe’s ruling bloc by tying among metropolitan employees. South Korea’s Jeju Air said yesterday China has approved a plan Tokyo fi rmly on a July 2 Tokyo met- up with the Komeito party, the Topping her long-term priori- to double its fl ights to the Chinese city of Weihai from June 2. ropolitan assembly poll, where LDP’s junior national-level part- ties is designing a vision for Tokyo China has been incensed over the THAAD deployment, fearing it she’s targeting a majority for her ner, for the local poll. after 2025, when its population of could give the US military the capability of seeing into its own mis- okyo Governor Yuriko fl edgling “Tokyo Citizens First” After nearly a year in offi ce, about 13.7mn will start shrinking, sile systems, and could open the door to a wider deployment of the Koike is challenging Ja- party and its allies. her support ratings are still above said Koike, wearing a scarf in her system, possibly in Japan and elsewhere, military analysts say. Tpan’s old-boy network in Koike, in an interview, com- 60%, prompting defections from signature colour of green. China has denied it had discriminated against South Korean the capital, where she thrashed a pared herself to French President a struggling opposition Demo- Koike has a record of challeng- companies, which have faced product boycotts and bans on Chi- ruling party rival to win her post Emmanuel Macron, whose elec- cratic Party and from the LDP. “If ing Japan’s male-dominated pol- nese tourists visiting South Korea. and now aims to lead reform- tion marked a meteoric rise and her party wins the Tokyo Metro- itics and urged the Kasumigaseki A Korean-Chinese joint drama ‘My Goddess, My Mom’ starring minded candidates to victory in a whose party now needs a major- politan Assembly election by a Country Club, the golf venue in South Korean actress Lee Da-hae, whose broadcast had been in- city-wide July election. ity in June parliamentary elec- landslide, the next goal will surely the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, to ad- defi nitely delayed in China, was told by its Chinese partner recent- A popular former TV announc- tions so he can carry out reforms. be national politics,” said Akihisa mit women as full members. ly that it will soon be aired, according to JS Pictures, Lee’s agent. er who speaks Arabic and English, “I am doing the same —trying to Nagashima, a lower house mem- She stepped down after 55 days An offi cial at South Korean tour agency Mode Tour told Reuters it Koike is the leader of a mega- increase the new assembly mem- ber of parliament from Tokyo as defence minister in 2007 fol- hoped China may lift a ban on selling trips to South Korea, which metropolis with an economy big- bers who aspire to reform,” she who recently bolted the main op- lowing a furore over her attempt had been in place since March 15, as early as the second week of ger than Holland’s and a budget said. “Even if a (new) top leader is position Democratic Party. to replace the ministry’s top bu- June. Although there have been no offi cial orders from the Chinese on par with Sweden’s – and her chosen, reforms will not progress Koike brushed such specula- reaucrat. government to lift the ban, a few Chinese travel agencies have sent reformist image has some politi- if the legislature does not change.” tion aside. “I am concentrating Allies said her judgment was Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike inquiries about package tours, he said. cians betting she could become Koike, who has made good gov- on the single matter of what to vindicated when Takemasa Mori- makes a speech for candidates However, Lotte Group has yet to reopen any of the 74 retail stores Japan’s fi rst female premier in a ernance a key policy plank after do for Tokyo,” she said, adding ya, also forced to step down, was from her Tokyo Citizens First party in China it was forced to close in March after the group allowed few years. her two predecessors quit over any sign she was eyeing national convicted of taking bribes from ahead of a metropolitan assembly South Korea to install the THAAD system on land it owned. For now, the former defence scandals, has already caused a politics would sap motivation defence contractors. election in Tokyo, Japan. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 BRITAIN

BA fl ights restored but questions remain after IT meltdown

Reuters self as “the world’s favourite air- and Gatwick yesterday, it was British Airways,” May said. row Terminal 5 building is likely “British Airways’ IT failure power surge was so strong that London line” suff ered a public relations left with work to do in the longer London-listed shares in BA’s to tarnish its image. over the weekend is clearly a PR it also rendered the back-up sys- disaster after it had to cancel all term to restore its reputation af- parent company IAG fell when “This will certainly damage nightmare and will take a real tems ineff ective. The fi rm said a fl ights from London’s Heathrow ter a long weekend of chaos and the stock market reopened. their reputation,” said Angharad focus in terms of handling cus- supply issue at a data centre near ritish Airways fl ights were and Gatwick airports on Satur- frustration for passengers. BA said it was launching a Griffi ths, a travel agent who was tomers’ complaints and com- Heathrow sparked the surge. back in the skies yester- day. Prime Minister Theresa May thorough investigation to un- at Heathrow picking up a tour pensations claims in order to re- Scottish and Southern Elec- Bday but the company faced It blamed a power surge that weighed in on the issue on the derstand what happened and group from Lisbon. “I’ve nev- build trust and confi dence with tricity Networks, which man- increasing pressure over its re- knocked out its computer sys- campaign trial ahead of the June make sure there was no repeat. er had a good experience with the public,” said Mark Simpson, ages the electricity distribution sponse to the huge IT failure that tem, disrupting fl ight opera- 8 national election. BA had already come under fi re them, even before this.” analyst at Goodbody. network in Harmondsworth left 75,000 passengers stranded tions, call centres and its web- “It is up to them to sort their for charging extra for food and Like other European full- He estimated the cost of the just north of Heathrow airport, over a holiday weekend and dealt site. IT out and to ensure that they’re baggage and the sight of strand- service airlines, BA is facing in- outage at 82mn euros ($91.6mn). said its network in the area was a major blow to its reputation. Although BA was running a able to provide the services that ed passengers trying to sleep on creased competition from budg- BA chief executive Alex Cruz running as normal on Saturday BA, which once marketed it- full schedule from Heathrow people expect them to provide as the fl oor of its gleaming Heath- et rivals Ryanair and easyJet. had said on Monday that the morning. Zookeeper killed by tiger loved her job, says mother

Guardian News and Media passion for the animals in her care London was exceptional, though her fa- vourites were undoubtedly the cheetahs, which she would refer to zookeeper killed by a ti- as her pride and joy. ger on Monday has been “I feel privileged to have known Adescribed as the “shining Rosa and been able to call her a light” of the Cambridgeshire zoo friend. She will be greatly missed, where she worked. not just by me, but by everyone Rosa King, 33, died at Hamerton who came to know her. The only Zoo Park near Huntingdon after a consolation I can take from the tiger entered the enclosure where tragic events is that Rosa is now she was working. reunited with her beloved Ares the King had worked at the zoo for cheetah, and Blizzard and Lady- about 14 years, her mother And- belle, her beloved tigers.” Police watch as commuters arrive at Manchester Victoria railway station yesterday. The station reopened yesterday for the first time since the carnage in which 22 people rea said. “She wouldn’t have done Jeff Knott, 32, from Cambridge- were killed. anything else; it’s what she has shire, was visiting the zoo on always done. It’s what she has al- Monday. He said staff had been a ways loved.” A friend said she was real credit during the evacuation. a lovely lady who was passionate “We had been in the zoo since about animals. about 10.30am and heard or seen Garry Chisholm, a wildlife nothing until asked to leave about photographer in his spare time 11.45am,” he said. “Staff were very who knew King through visiting calm and professional. All visi- the zoo, said: “Rosa wasn’t just tors around us were leaving in a Bomber was a petty a keeper at Hamerton Zoo – she very calm manner – no running, was Hamerton Zoo. She was the shouting or anything similar.” absolute central point of it, the fo- Police said King’s death was cal point of it. She was the shining “not believed to be suspicious” light of it. It revolved around her.” and that the tiger involved was Police and the Magpas air am- “believed to be fi ne”. bulance service were called to the Steve Backshall, host of the BBC criminal, reveal police attraction at 11.15am on Monday nature programme Deadly 60, and visitors were asked to leave the told Radio 4’s Today programme: AFP questions grew over whether station as service resumed. and parents waiting to meet chester on Monday. “We are just site. The zoo remained closed yes- “Protocols about how tigers are Manchester intelligence services missed any “I think it will take a long time their children. trying to make sure we capture terday while an investigation was dealt with in captivity are incred- vital clues. to get back to normal. There’s The Islamic State group everything that he has discard- conducted. ibly stringent, because this is a “I am not privy to what the still a weird feeling, you know, claimed responsibility for the ed so we can then see what the The zoo said: “We are sorry but very large and always potentially he police yesterday re- security service did or didn’t armed police, a lot of unease,” attack. Abedi, a Manchester- signifi cance is. our staff are too distressed to speak dangerous animal. vealed the Manchester know about the individual at said 59-year-old David Keys as born university dropout of Lib- Britain’s terror threat level directly to the media as one of our “When they’re fed, when their Tsuicide bomber’s petty this time,” Hopkins said, fol- he got off a train. yan origin, reportedly fought was raised to maximum in the colleagues was killed yesterday enclosure is cleaned, the animals criminal past as the train station lowing a report in the Mail on Sharon Glyn, 48, said she in the Libyan confl ict to top- wake of the attack but lowered morning. This appears to be a freak are always taken away into a sepa- next to the scene of last week’s Sunday that US authorities had felt “goosebumps” as her train ple former dictator Muammar again over the weekend, while accident. rate enclosure and clearly some- attack reopened for the fi rst previously warned the MI5 in- pulled into the station, while Gaddafi . armed soldiers deployed to as- “A full investigation is currently thing has gone wrong with that time since the carnage at a pop telligence service about Abedi. 29-year-old Andrew Shivas His brother and father have sist police patrols were being under way and we hope that more process.” concert that left 22 people dead. As the investigation contin- said: “Can’t let them win.” been arrested in Libya, where pulled back. details can be announced as soon Tigers experience an “artifi cial Police said 22-year-old ued, Manchester-born Oasis The station is connected to authorities say the two brothers Prime Minister Theresa May as possible. At no point during the situation” in captivity, he said. “In bomber Salman Abedi had ap- frontman Liam Gallagher made the Manchester Arena, one of were both IS militants. has come under heavy criticism incident did any animals escape the wild they’ll have enormous peared in police records over his solo debut yesterday with Europe’s biggest indoor ven- Fourteen more people are be- for drastic cuts in police num- their enclosures and at no point home ranges, they’ll very rarely theft, receiving stolen goods a charity concert, the latest in ues, by a covered space that was ing held in Britain and police bers during her time as interior was public safety aff ected in any come into contact with other and assault in 2012 but was a fl ood of tributes in Britain’s the scene of Monday’s blast, in have released a security camera minister, as campaigning re- way. tigers. In captivity, quite often never fl agged up for any radical third-largest city for the victims which 116 people were also in- image of Abedi carrying a large sumed ahead of a general elec- “All our thoughts and sym- they’ll be kept in relatively small views. of last Monday’s attack. jured. blue suitcase, appealing for any tion next week. pathies are with our colleagues, enclosures with other tigers, and “He was known to the police “We Will Remember You”, Most of the victims were information about where Abedi May has said that while over- friends and families at this dread- there’s no doubt that can cause for some relatively minor mat- read signs accompanied by heart young people attending a con- might have been with it. all numbers of offi cers have gone ful time.” artifi cial stresses within that en- ters,” Manchester police chief images and surrounded by fl oral cert by US pop idol Ariana Police were seen searching down, budgets for counter-ter- Chisholm, 59, said of King: “Her closed population.” Ian Hopkins told BBC radio, as tributes at Manchester Victoria Grande which had just fi nished, through a rubbish tip near Man- rorism policing have risen. Beko issues safety Rolf Harris walks free Rail works to leave thousands sleepless alert for tumble dryers London Evening Standard It warns of further weekend London closures later in the year. Indus- try sources say this could mean Guardian News and Media Beko and Blomberg 8kg and 9kg her death, held at Birmingham a further month-long shutdown London capacity dryers sold between May coroner’s court in August, heard housands of residents of the line — though NR refused and November 2012 and carrying that the model was responsible living close to the Gos- to confi rm or deny the claim, the model numbers DCU9330W, for 20 other fi res but the manu- Tpel Oak and Barking line calling it “speculation at this anufacturer Beko has is- DCU9330R, DCU8230, DSC85W facturer had not yet launched a were warned yesterday to expect point.” sued a safety alert for and TKF8439A. Beko has urged voluntary repair programme. The eight consecutive weekends of Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Mthousands of tumble owners to stop using their ma- Turkish-owned company said at sleepless nights because of late- Democrat member of the Lon- dryers over concerns they could chines immediately and discon- the time that the fi re that killed running work on the £130mn don Assembly and leader of the burst into fl ames, including one nect them as a precaution. Moloney was a tragic but isolated upgrade. all-party transport committee, model found to have caused a blaze In an statement on its web- incident. Starting this coming weekend, called on NR to “come clean” that killed a mother-of-two. site, Beko said: “As a responsible Beko said yesterday the fault in engineers will begin work at 1am over future line closures. The company said it would be manufacturer, we have decided her dryer was separate from the on either Saturdays or Sundays She said: “Passengers were recalling fi ve models, including the to proactively contact the owners problem identifi ed in the safety and won’t fi nish until 4am on the promised a year ago the upgrade DCS85W – responsible for at least of these condenser tumble dryers alert. following Mondays. work would be fi nally completed 20 blazes as well as the death in to off er a free of charge in-home “Moloney’s death was a tragic In addition to the noisy, fl ood- by the end of June 2017. NR is still February 2016 of Mishell Moloney. check and to modify aff ected and isolated incident. As stated lit work installing overhead pow- not providing details about the The move comes fi ve years af- products to remove any poten- by the coroner at the inquest, the er lines, construction workers expected full closure of the line ter Beko announced a recall on its tial risk. This is completely free of source of the fi re within the tum- will use specialist vehicles that that will be necessary to com- smaller 6kg and 7kg capacity dry- charge and will take no longer than ble dryer was most likely the print- sound a piercing horn every time plete the electrifi cation work. ers thought to have caused a string 30 minutes. ed control board. The component they move. “Both residents living close to of other fi res. The alert also comes “We would like to apologise for in this repair programme was ex- In a letter to neighbours, Net- the line and passengers have al- amid growing concern about the any inconvenience that this causes cluded by forensics experts as the work Rail warns “disturbance is ready suff ered enough. It is time fi re risks of tumble dryers and oth- you and we want to reassure you cause so is therefore unrelated.” unavoidable, but we will make NR came clean and gave peo- er domestic white goods. that we are doing our very best to The London fi re brigade esti- every eff ort to minimise every ple advanced notice of the full Beko said 3,450 of its condenser resolve this matter as quickly and mates there is one fi re caused by unnecessary noise.” schedule of works necessary.” tumble dryers could pose a fi re risk effi ciently as possible.” white goods every day in the capi- Australian entertainer Rolf Harris leaves Southwark The letter, from Paul Lennon, The tri-funded project be- owing to an overheating compo- Moloney, 49, was killed in a tal. The Local Government Asso- Crown Court in London yesterday. Harris had been NR’s community relations man- tween the department for trans- nent. The manufacturer has begun blaze at her home in Rubery, Bir- ciation, which represents all fi re accused of four counts of indecent assault between ager for London and the South- port, Transport for London and a voluntary repair programme “as mingham, caused by a defective authorities, said there were three 1971 and 1983. He was found not guilty of the charges, East, said staff have been briefed NR has been beset with prob- a precautionary measure”. printed control board in a Beko fi res a day caused by tumble dryers with prosecutors saying they would not seek a retrial. on “working responsibly” to lems, as revealed by the Evening The safety notice involves fi ve DSC85W dryer. The inquest into in England and Wales. keep the noise down. Standard in February. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 15 BRITAIN/IRELAND

VERDICT OFFBEAT LAW AND ORDER DECISION TRIAL Four men jailed for Sales boom for song Police detain man after Bird flu restrictions to Husband admits traff icking Polish workers attacking prime minister explosion in Malvern be removed in N Ireland killing wife in sleep

A court yesterday jailed four men for their A song labelling Prime Minister Theresa May a A 20-year-old man is being questioned by police Bird flu restrictions in Northern Ireland are A man has admitted killing his wife of 25 years involvement in traff icking Polish workers into liar has shot to the top of music sales charts in after an explosion in a Worcestershire town led to be removed. A ban on poultry shows while she slept. Asghar Buksh, 55, repeatedly the UK, tricking them into low-paid jobs and Britain, mocking her “strong and stable” motto to homes being evacuated. Police yesterday said and gatherings will also be lifted today. The struck mother-of-six Nasreen Buksh over the head taking their wages, prosecutors said. The four ahead of the June 8 national election. Liar liar that the blast was not being linked to terrorism measures were introduced in December 2016 with a heavy blunt object which has never been men, Sabastian Mandzik, 40, Robert Majewski, GE2017 by Captain SKA now tops Amazon’s listing but was a suspected case of “misadventure, to address the risk posed by the disease to found. He admitted culpable homicide on the 45, Pawel Majewski, 27, and Seweryn Szymt, 20, for songs downloaded in Britain, and stands at albeit with a criminal element”. Nobody was the poultry sector. It can be transferred from basis of diminished responsibility after saying he were convicted at Newcastle Crown Court for No.2 in Apple’s iTunes UK chart, despite receiving hurt and no damage caused. The explosion wild birds to commercial flocks through had no recollection of the killing at Dixon Avenue, transporting people for exploitation, conspiring to no airplay from radio stations. Hitting out at the took place in Pound Bank Road in the spa town contamination of feed or water. But the Food Glasgow, on 24 September last year. Buksh will force people into labour and conspiring to conceal austerity policies of the Conservative Party, the at about 9.50pm on Monday. Police entered Standards Agency said there was little risk to be sentenced on June 27. The High Court in criminal property. The sentences ranged from five song stitches together samples of May’s speeches a house in nearby Langland Avenue, a street consumers. Several wild birds here were found Glasgow heard that 43-year-old Nasreen Buksh to 12 years imprisonment. The Crown Prosecution with choruses of “She’s a liar liar, no you can’t of red-brick houses, where they discovered a to have died from the disease. But there were died after being struck on the head at least five Service (CPS) said the men were part of a people trust her”. Captain SKA, a London-based band led suspicious substance. A cordon was put in place no cases in farmed birds. In Britain, 12 cases times. Pathologists told the court that the lack of traff icking ring that preyed on vulnerable Poles and by producer Jake Painter, is aiming for the No 1 and homes evacuated as explosives experts of H5N8 were confirmed in commercial flocks, defensive injuries and the position of her body falsely promised them well-paid jobs in England. spot in Britain’s off icial Top 40 chart. investigated the scene. leading to a cull of birds. suggested she was assaulted as she slept.

Labour leader fails May blasts to provide cost of key policy Corbyn on

Guardian News and Media London Brexit as poll eremy Corbyn appeared to forget the cost of a key La- Jbour childcare pledge when asked repeatedly to provide the fi gure during a tense interview on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. The Labour leader apparently lead narrows tried to look up the policy on an iPad and in a hard copy of the Agencies about the party’s social care to be making it up as they go Labour manifesto, according to London policy. along.” the presenter Emma Barnett, There have been reports of When May called the snap who also said he had received a splits in the prime minister’s election in April, hoping for a phone call in the studio while rime Minister Theresa inner circle over the deci- stronger mandate for the EU he struggled to remember the May yesterday attacked sion to make the controver- talks, the Conservatives had a cost of universal provision of 30 Popposition leader Jeremy sial policy the centrepiece of lead of more than 20 points over hours of free childcare a week for Corbyn for being unprepared the party’s manifesto. Unlike Labour. all children aged two to four. for Brexit, as her Conservative at events in the early days of But this has fallen back in Asked how much the provi- party’s poll lead narrowed fur- the campaign, the bright blue recent weeks since Labour pre- sion would cost, Corbyn paused ther ahead of next week’s elec- backdrop to May’s speech sented its leftist agenda, and and then replied: “Er, it will ob- tion. prominently included her after a row over May’s plans for viously cost a lot to do so, we ac- May said that while she was party’s name, urging voters elderly social care that could cept that.” ready for negotiations set to to back “Theresa May and the see many people forced to pay “I assume you have the fi g- start 11 days after the June 8 Conservatives”. more. ures?” Barnett asked. vote, the Labour leader would A new Survation poll for ITV “Yes I do,” Corbyn said. “The “fi nd himself alone in the ne- “Only one of us has the television put Labour up three point I’m trying to make is we’re gotiating chamber of the Euro- determination to deliver points in a week on 37 %, while making it universal … to make pean Union”. the will of the people and the Conservatives were un- sure every child gets it and those Both politicians endured a make Brexit happen. And changed on 43%. who get free places will continue bruising television grilling on only one of us has the plan The smaller Liberal Demo- to get them, those who have to Monday, with May coming un- to make Brexit a success” crats were on 8%. pay won’t, and we’ll collect the der fi re from audience members May yesterday repeated her money through taxation, mainly over cuts to public services, in- The prime minister’s speech Brexit negotiating goals, in- corporate taxation.” cluding police — an emotive is- to Tory activists also touched cluding withdrawing Britain When Barnett asked again for sue following last week’s Man- on many of the running themes from Europe’s single market in the spending fi gure, Corbyn said chester bombing. of her campaign, renewing the order to control immigration he would “give the fi gure in a In a speech in Wolverhamp- pledge to “put government at from the continent, and ending moment”. ton yesterday, the prime min- the service of ordinary working the jurisdiction of the European Barnett then said: “(You are) ister sought to pivot the debate people”. Court of Justice. logging into your iPad here, you’ve back to Brexit. “I am prepared. I She repeatedly drove home And she confi rmed once announced a major policy and you am ready to go. Jeremy Corbyn the idea that she will negotiate again she would rather walk don’t know how much it will cost.” is not,” said May. on Britain’s behalf during the away than accept a bad deal — “Can I give you the exact fi g- “Prepared to take the diffi cult forthcoming negotiations. “I saying Corbyn’s refusal to do ure in a moment?” Corbyn said decisions that leadership de- am prepared; I am ready to go. so means “accepting any terms, again. Barnett then described the mands. Prepared to do what is Jeremy Corbyn is not.” however unreasonable”. Labour leader fl icking through necessary to protect and defend She described Brexit as the Critics have warned that the hard copy of his manifesto our country. one fundamental, defi ning is- leaving the EU without a new and said he had received a phone “Only one of us has the de- sue of the election, and claimed trade deal in place could cause call while in the Radio 4 studio. termination to deliver the will the Labour leader had “lurched significant harm to Britain’s “Can we come back to that in of the people and make Brexit chaotically from half-baked economy — a position re- a moment? I want to give you an happen. And only one of us has plan to half-baked plan”, with peated by Labour after May’s accurate fi gure,” he said. the plan to make Brexit a suc- seven diff erent Brexit plans in speech. The Labour leader denied his cess.” nine months. “In this election, it is vital campaign was being run hap- May’s renewed onslaught “Everything depends on that the government is not giv- hazardly, citing the recent move on Corbyn’s judgment and and will be defined by the en a blank cheque for a chaotic, in opinion polls in Labour’s fa- character came as polls sug- outcome of these next five extreme Brexit that would leave vour. “My offi ce is not run cha- Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a general election campaign event in Wolverhampton, gest the Conservatives’ lead years,” she said, adding, “this our economy... worse off ,” law- otically at all.” central England, yesterday. is narrowing, amid concerns is no time for a weak leader maker Chuka Umunna said. Scottish nationalists to Top sculptor’s studio seek independence vote proposal sparks row London Evening Standard owned this ground fl oor fl at for London 10 years. It will clearly aff ect Reuters The SNP would ensure that election in Scotland, the Con- the light coming in. If someone Perth, Scotland Scotland’s voice was heard, servatives will take some seats builds upwards, you have the sky Sturgeon said, and the party from them by sticking to practi- urner prize-winning blocked out and feel enclosed.” would push for Scotland to stay cally one policy — opposing in- sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor A local resident, who wanted he Scottish National Party in the single market even as Brit- dependence. Thas come under fi re from to remain anonymous, said: “It will push for a new refer- ain leaves it. The Conservatives says that south London residents who will make (my fl at) so dark and Tendum on independence But SNP proposals along those the SNP’s answer to any issue is claim plans to extend his studio be so domineering that it will as an alternative to Brexit, party lines, presented in December, always independence, and they will leave them feeling like they feel like we’re living in a prison. leader Nicola Sturgeon said yes- were rejected by May’s govern- are using Brexit as an excuse to are “living in a prison”. “Right now, I have nine win- terday, as the SNP digs its heels ment. The SNP’s policy docu- try to further their cause. Kapoor — who co-designed dows at the back of my fl at and I in on an issue that may cost her ment said there was no “rational “Strip away the bluster and the Orbit Tower in the Queen can see the sky from six of them. party support in the June 8 elec- argument” for leaving the single it’s written down in black and Elizabeth Olympic Park — wants If they do this extension, I think tion. market. white — (Sturgeon) wants to to build an extra offi ce fl oor I’ll be able to see a slice of the sky “There is just too much at Scots rejected independence drag Scotland back to another above his workspace on Farmers from only two.” stake for Brexit simply to be by a 10-point margin in 2014, referendum by as early as next Road in Camberwell, a converted More than 130 people have imposed on Scotland, no mat- and polls show support has not autumn,” Scottish Conserva- dairy factory. backed an online petition titled ter how damaging it turns out shifted since then. tives leader Ruth Davidson said Documents submitted with “Stop Anish Kapoor stealing our to be,” Sturgeon, who is also fi rst But Sturgeon says a new in a statement.. the application to Southwark light and colour!” to call for a minister of the devolved Scottish choice should be off ered because The SNP argues that Brexit is a council say the space is needed public consultation. government, told a launch of the Scottish voters voted last year to game-changer. to “expand the applicants’ ca- A number of locals have also SNP’s policy off er to voters. remain in the EU, while the UK “At the end of the Brexit proc- pacity to produce work”. raised concerns on the planning Prime Minister Theresa May as a whole voted to leave The ess — not now, but when the However, opponents claim portal of Southwark’s website, has rejected the SNP’s demand SNP is the dominant party rep- terms of the deal are known — that the additional storey, clad with one writing: “An artist for a new choice on secession, resenting Scotland in the British Scotland must have a choice in corrugated aluminium, will who works with light and col- saying that with Britain about parliament, with 54 of 59 seats. about our future; a choice be- prevent light from reaching the our should know how depriving to leave the European Union this It also runs the devolved Scot- tween following the UK down houses opposite, impinge on the people of sunlight and daylight is not the time for another vote, tish government, which has au- the Brexit path or becoming an privacy of occupants and over- is not a good thing.” without saying when that time thority over health, education independent country,” Sturgeon shadow their gardens. Documents fi led with South- might be. and transport and some portion said, adding that the Scottish Nicholas Abrahams, a fi lm- wark council show that a shadow Sturgeon wants a new choice of taxes. parliament had already backed Scottish First Minister and leader of the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon, maker who owns a property on assessment has been carried out to be off ered when it is clear Polls appear to show that the devolved government to have speaks as she unveils the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) Camberwell New Road, told as part of the application. Howev- what Brexit means. while the SNP will easily win the that choice. election manifesto in Perth, south-east Scotland, yesterday. the Evening Standard: “I’ve er, residents dispute its accuracy. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 EUROPE

Serbia’s PM Vucic Merkel stresses US ties resigns to take over following Trump tweet presidency Reuters/AFP was just a rough patch. endorse a global climate change “The United States is older cally been very important for us “Donald Trump makes clear Reuters Berlin Trump took to Twitter early accord. and bigger than the current con- and will remain so in future,” she with his tweet that he views Belgrade in the day in the United States On Sunday, Merkel showed fl ict,” he said, adding that rela- said. Germany as a political oppo- to attack Germany, a day af- the gravity of her concern about tions would improve. However, Martin Schulz, nent.” S President Don- ter Chancellor Angela Merkel Washington’s dependability un- “It is inappropriate that we leader of Gabriel’s centre-left In Rome, Italian Prime Min- erbia’s Prime Minister ald Trump has called ramped up her doubts about the der Trump when she warned, at are now communicating with Social Democrats, was less ister Paolo Gentiloni said after Aleksandar Vucic stepped UGermany’s trade and reliability of Washington as an an election campaign event in a each other between a beer tent emollient earlier in the day when meeting his Canadian coun- Sdown yesterday, a day be- spending policies “very bad”, ally. packed Bavarian beer tent – that and Twitter,” he said in Berlin. he told reporters Trump was terpart Justin Trudeau that he fore he assumes the country’s intensifying a row between the “We have a MASSIVE trade the times when Europe could Merkel had already begun fi - “the destroyer of all Western agreed with Merkel that Europe presidency which he won in a long-time allies and immediate- defi cit with Germany, plus they fully rely on others were “over to nessing her message on Mon- values”. needed to forge its own path. decisive election victory last ly earning himself the moniker pay FAR LESS than they should a certain extent”. day, stressing that she was a He added that the US presi- “This takes nothing away month. “destroyer of Western values” on NATO & military. Very bad Those comments, which “convinced trans-Atlanticist”, a dent was undermining the from the importance of our He announced this in a brief from a leading German politi- for U.S. This will change,” caused shock in Washington, message that she repeated after peaceful co-operation of na- trans-Atlantic ties and our alli- letter of resignation sent to par- cian. Trump tweeted. vented Europe’s frustration with a meeting with visiting Indian tions based on mutual respect ance with the United States. But liament and will take the oath of As the war of words threat- The tit-for-tat dispute es- Trump on climate policy in par- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tolerance. the importance we put on these offi ce today to succeed outgoing ened to spin out of control, Mer- calated rapidly after Trump, ticular. in Berlin. “One must stand in the way of ties cannot mean that we aban- head of state Tomislav Nikolic. kel and other senior German at back-to-back summits last And while German politicians “That’s of huge importance such a man with his ideology of don fundamental principles Vucic, who is also head of the politicians stressed the impor- week, criticised major North sided with Merkel, Foreign Min- and in no way directed against rearmament,” Schulz added. such as our commitment to fi ght ruling conservative Serbian Pro- tance of Germany’s Atlantic ties, Atlantic Treaty Organisation ister Sigmar Gabriel signalled any other relationships and cer- Thomas Oppermann, head of climate change and in favour of gressive Party, is moving to a with Foreign Minister Sigmar (Nato) allies over their lack of that it was time for cooler heads tainly not against the trans-At- the Social Democrats’ parlia- open societies and free trade,” largely ceremonial post, but he Gabriel suggesting that the spat military spending and refused to to prevail. lantic ties, which have histori- mentary group, told reporters: he said. is expected to wield considerable power through his control of the Progressives and their allies in the coalition government. Until the appointment of the new prime minister, which is Some ‘minor’ migrants expected by mid-June, Serbia’s Spanish taxis go on strike Foreign Minister and First Dep- uty-Prime Minister Ivica Dacic may be adults: Sweden will serve as the caretaker head of the government. Yesterday Vucic told Reuters AFP Of the 581 fi rst exams car- against ride-hailing fi rms Global Markets Forum that he Stockholm ried out by the National Board will strive to boost economic of Forensic Medicine at the re- ties among the countries in the quest of the Migration Agency, AFP region, most of which are still Swedish government 76% “suggest that the person Madrid recovering from armed confl icts agency said yesterday is 18 years or older”. of 1990s, with an ultimate goal Athat medical examina- “The medical opinion does of joining the European Union. tions suggest that some asy- not determine the person’s ex- housands of Spanish taxis To join the EU, Serbia, Bosnia, lum-seekers in Sweden who act age, but rather provides an went on strike in Madrid Montenegro, Macedonia Alba- claim to be minors could be 18 estimate of whether the person Tand Barcelona yesterday nia, and Kosovo must undertake or older. is over or under the age of 18,” to protest against ride-hailing deep reforms, some of which Age is a crucial factor for the forensic board said. companies such as Uber and may take decades. asylum-seekers: if they submit The far-right Sweden Dem- Cabify. Vucic said that until that hap- their asylum application before ocrats posted a video of one of In the seaside city of Barce- pens, the region should create a they turn 18, they are entitled its deputies telling parliament lona, a draw for tourists, taxi regional economic alliance. to schooling and their chances in 2011 that “in many cases” drivers stopped work for a full “That will mean a unique of receiving a residency permit migrants “lie about their age”. 24 hours while those in the market of 20mn people which are much higher. According to the migration Spanish capital went on strike will become one of the most im- But many of the young mi- agency, asylum-seekers who for 12 hours and protested in the portant markets on the conti- grants are not in possession lie about their age do not rep- streets. nent,” he said in Belgrade. of documents certifying their resent the majority of appli- At Madrid’s main Atocha train In addition, he said, “it will date of birth. cants. station, they let off fi recrackers economically strengthen our In early May, Sweden re- “If all unaccompanied mi- and shouted “taxis united, never position regarding the EU”. sumed medical examinations nors had undergone a medical defeated” while hapless travel- Vucic also said he would try to aimed at determining the age age evaluation then the results lers stood by. renew talks about normalising of migrants who have sought would like have been diff erent,” Jara and her mother Isabel relations with Kosovo, Serbia’s asylum since February 1, hav- Daniel Salehi, a manager at the had just come back from a trip former southern province which ing stopped similar tests in agency, told the Swedish news and were going to take public is predominantly ethnic Alba- 2015 due to a lack of means. agency TT. transport instead of a planned nian and declared independence The medical exam is used He said that the outcome cab. in 2008, following a bloody war in cases where the Swedish would show an opposite trend “It’s going to take one hour for and Nato bombing of the-then Migration Agency has doubts – that most unaccompanied a trip that would take 10 min- Yugoslavia in 1999. about a person’s age, and it is minors are indeed under the utes in a taxi,” said Jara, adding With the backing its tradi- voluntary. age of 18. she had used Uber before and tional ally Russia, as well as But the application of an Of the more than 45,000 un- criticising taxis, which she said several other countries, Serbia asylum-seeker who refuses to accompanied minors who have were “really expensive”. remains fi rmly opposed to Kos- be examined may be viewed applied for asylum in Sweden Taxi drivers complain that ovo’s independence. less favourably. since early 2014, 57% are Af- Uber-type services are endan- Doctors determine the prob- ghans, 12% are Syrians, and gering their jobs and that ride- able age using dental X-rays 8% are Somali and Eritrean, hailing companies are not im- Woman held after and a MRI exam of the knee respectively. plementing existing rules. joints. The vast majority are boys. Spanish regulations stipulate running over five there should be a quota of one li- people with car censed vehicle from companies like US-based Uber or Spain’s A woman who ran over five Cabify for every 30 taxis. people with her car in Rome But taxis counter that the has been arrested after testing Man fi ned over Paris quota is currently one for seven positive for drugs, Italian police taxis, prompting Spain’s trans- said yesterday. port ministry to pledge to work The incident took place shortly terror attacks footage towards implementing the rule. before 8pm (1800 GMT) on Uber does not employ drivers Monday at a crossroads in the or own vehicles, but instead re- Monteverde-Portuense area, AFP madi, was found guilty of “di- lies on private contractors with southwest of the city centre. Paris vulging security images to an their own cars, allowing them to Taxi drivers march as one of their number waves a flag during a strike action held between Atocha train As well as testing positive for unauthorised person”, among run their own businesses. station to Neptuno Square in Madrid. illegal substances, the 43-year-old other charges. It claims it is a service provid- woman was found with a dose French court has or- Several sources said the er, connecting passengers with hundreds of hours of training. now take turns driving the cab breaking the law with its Uber- of cocaine, and more of the drug dered the manager of Daily Mail had paid Mohamadi these freelance drivers directly “We’re getting less business, 16 hours a day to make enough Pop service that enabled unreg- was found in her home, police Aa Paris pizzeria to pay €50,000 for the footage, and and cheaply. and we have to work way more money. ulated drivers to drive for money said in a statement. fi nes and damages totalling French television channel Ca- However, critics and compet- hours,” said David Parrilla, a Uber has had a tough ride in using their own cars. She was driving without a licence, €20,000 ($22,400) for provid- nal+ aired secretly fi lmed foot- itors around the world say that protester who said he had paid Spain, where it was forced out The US company is now op- since it had been revoked in ing footage of the November age of the negotiation taking this allows it to dodge costly €150,000 ($170,000) for a taxi of the country in 2014 by legal erating a limited a version of February 2016, police said. 2015 terror attacks to a British place. regulations such as stringent licence in Madrid, where there pressure and taxi protests. its UberX service that uses li- According to the Ansa news tabloid. Mohamadi had denied mak- licensing requirements for taxi are some 15,700 taxis. A Spanish judge ruled in De- censed, professional drivers in- agency, the woman ran over five Just fi ve days after the at- ing any money from the foot- drivers, who have to undergo He added that he and his wife cember 2014 that Uber risked stead of amateurs. people after jumping a red light. tacks that killed 130 people age, but one of the co-de- across the French capital, Brit- fendants admitted to receiving ain’s Daily Mail showed gut- €6,000. wrenching images of terrifi ed Two young men and a young customers at Cosa Nostra piz- woman pressed charges in the zeria diving for cover as bullets case after recognising them- Man guilty of libel over Facebook ‘likes’: Swiss court whizzed through the air. selves in the images. None of the diners inside lost Mohamadi was ordered to their lives as an Islamic State pay a fi ne of €10,000, while he AFP tion group he heads, Verein ge- those exchanges, a lawyer for Kessler had been convicted (Kessler’s) honour”, it added. (IS) militant raked the premis- and two co-defendants were Geneva gen Tierfabriken (Against Animal one of the defendants, Amr Ab- under Switzerland’s anti-racism The court slapped the man es with gunfi re, although fi ve jointly ordered to pay €6,000 Factories), of racism and anti- delaziz, told AFP. law nearly two decades ago, re- with a 4,000-Swiss-franc people perished in the street to each of fi ve civil plaintiff s – Semitism in Facebook posts. Several people have already ceiving a brief prison sentence ($4,100) conditional fi ne. outside. €5,000 for pain and suff ering n a landmark ruling, a Swiss But the court also took issue been convicted in the case, for comparing Jewish ritual Even though a verdict from a The manager, Dimitri Moha- and €1,000 for court costs. court has fi ned a man for with the man’s decision to hit mainly for specifi c comments slaughter methods with Nazi lower regional court holds less I“liking” comments on Face- the “Like” button under several they made, but it appears the practices. sway than Switzerland’s higher book accusing an animal rights comments from third parties man convicted on Monday was But the Zurich judge ruled on national courts, the lawyer cau- Teenaged attack plot suspect held activist of being a “racist” and an about Kessler that were deemed the fi rst to be sanctioned merely Monday that the defendant had tioned that it could “have a large “anti-Semite”. infl ammatory, and commented for “liking” comments made by failed to prove that the comments impact”. German police have detained a 17-year-old who a spokesman for the In the fi rst case of its kind in and linked to some of them. others. he had “liked” on Facebook were The courts, he said, need to interior ministry in the state of Brandenburg has said was a Syrian Switzerland, the Zurich dis- The comments were made in In its statement, the court said true. clarify whether hitting a “Like” planning a suicide attack in Berlin, citing a report by DPA. trict court on Monday faulted a 2015 during heated discussions it did not matter that the com- At the same time, by “liking” button on social media should be “I can confirm that,” the spokesman said, referring to the report. 45-year-old man for hitting the on a range of Facebook groups ments had not originated from the comments, the man had dis- given the same weight as other However, Brandenburg police said they had not yet found evidence “Like” button under what the about which animal welfare the defendant, whose name was seminated them to his list of forms of speech more commonly that the suspect, who was arrested in the Uckermark region judge deemed defamatory com- groups should be permitted to not given. Facebook contacts, and “thus cited in defamation cases. northeast of Berlin, was planning an attack. ments on the social media site. take part in a large vegan street “By clicking the ‘Like’ button, made them accessible to a large “If the courts want to pros- “The Syrian nationality and concrete attack plans could not so far According to a court state- festival, Swiss daily Tages An- the defendant clearly endorsed number of people”, the court ecute people for ‘Likes’ on Face- be confirmed. The investigations continue,” Brandenburg police ment sent to AFP yesterday, the zeiger reported. the unseemly content and made statement said. book, we could easily need to tri- tweeted. “According to evidence, he joined jihad and said goodbye defendant had accused Erwin Kessler has sued more than a it his own,” the court statement His actions should thus be ple the number of judges in this to family members.” Kessler and the animal protec- dozen people who took part in said. considered as an “aff ront to country,” he said. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 17 INDIA Ban on foreign funds may hurt health programmes: offi cials

Reuters that its domestic funds would “They are important part- The cancellation of PHFI’s provides to the health system. it works with federal and state Those attempts to infl uence, New Delhi only help it run operations until ners. They have several impor- licence on April 10 is signifi - Foreign funding licences allow governments “on their request, the government said, violated June. tant projects on the ground with cant because it supports sev- organisations working in India to on projects aligned with their India’s foreign funding rules. Aff ected programmes includ- states,” Swaminathan said. eral federal and state health receive donations from abroad. priorities”. The PHFI denied it had lob- ndia’s ban on foreign fund- ed those on eliminating black Since Narendra Modi was departments and counts senior Without one, a group like In cancelling PHFI’s licence, bied anyone but said it did take ing for the Public Health fever, HIV prevention, tobacco elected prime minister in May government offi cials among its PHFI, which receives about 65% the federal home ministry said part in information campaigns IFoundation of India (PHFI), control and universal health 2014, India has cancelled the members, unlike most chari- of its money from foreign sourc- the group had engaged in “diver- on the dangers of tobacco use a non-profi t group backed by the coverage, PHFI wrote in the let- foreign funding licences of more ties which have no government es, would struggle to stay afl oat. sion of funds” and not declared on the instructions of the health Bill & Melinda Gates Founda- ter. than 9,000 foreign-funded links. About a third of the roughly certain foreign receipts. ministry. tion, may damage some govern- PHFI activities such as train- non-governmental organisa- The PHFI has fi led a request $30mn foreign contributions Such violations, the ministry All PHFI activities were “ful- ment health programmes, ac- ing health workers for govern- tions (NGOs) and sacked dozens with the government for rein- PHFI received in 2015-16 came said, were “detrimental to public ly aligned to national health cording to the group and a health ment programmes and research of government consultants who statement of its licence. from the Gates Foundation, ac- interest”. goals and serve (the) national ministry offi cial. into non-communicable diseas- were paid by global aid agencies. Swaminathan, who is a mem- cording to a document seen by It also said the group used for- interest,” said PHFI head K Sri- In a letter to the health minis- es could be hurt by the funding Some of Modi’s supporters ber of some PHFI committees Reuters. eign contributions to “lobby” nath Reddy, who is also a pro- try dated May 3, the non-profi t ban, said Soumya Swaminathan, have targeted PHFI and other in her capacity as a ministry of- An India spokeswoman for the media, parliamentarians and fessor at the Harvard School said many of its programmes secretary of the department of groups they say favour foreign fi cial, said the health secretary foundation, which was founded government on policy aimed at of Public Health and former linked to the ministry were in health research in the federal companies and act against In- had written to Modi’s offi ce, giv- by Microsoft founder Bill Gates controlling tobacco consump- president of the World Heart “suspended animation” and health ministry. dia’s interests. ing details about what the PHFI and his wife Melinda, said that tion. Federation. Court stays ban on sale of cattle for slaughter

Agencies bulls, bullocks, buff aloes, calves Chennai and camels. Kerala, West Bengal, Meghalaya and Puducherry – four jurisdic- he Madras High Court tions that allowed cow slaughter yesterday temporarily – have said they will resist the ban. Tsuspended a ban imposed Meanwhile, exporters were by Prime Minister Narendra Mo- scrambling to assure global cli- di’s government on the sale of ents like Zara and Giorgio Arm- cattle for slaughter, dealing the ani their shipments would arrive fi rst legal blow to the controver- despite the government crack- sial measure. down on cattle slaughter which The government last week threatens the lucrative leather prohibited the sale and purchase industry. of cows – an animal considered The government move has sacred for Hindus – for slaughter startled major fashion labels across India. who buy billions of dollars worth Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other leaders welcome BJP veteran L K Advani at a Lucknow guest house before the court ruling. The sudden ruling sparked of leather from India every year protests against what many saw to make high-end shoes, hand- as an overreach by the Bharatiya bags and jackets. Janata Party (BJP). Some states “They’re calling and writ- where cow slaughter is legal ing e-mails and asking what the vowed to fi ght the decree. consequences of this will be, and The Madras High Court I don’t know what to tell them,” stayed the federal ban yesterday, said Mohamed Zia Nafees, becoming the fi rst jurisdiction to whose Kolkata-based business Advani, Joshi, Bharti mount a successful challenge. sells fi nished leather to Zara and “The court ruled that the or- Marks & Spencer for shoes. der be put in abeyance for four The controversial ruling eff ec- weeks and asked the central and tively chokes off India’s supply state governments to reply to the of beef and leather, and industry petition fi led by my client,” Aj- groups and some states where mal Khan, a lawyer for the peti- cow slaughter has previously charged in Babri case tioners, said. been permitted have vowed to The petitioners from Tamil fi ght the decree. Agencies read out the charges against A lower court had dropped the to demolish the structure. and it remains hugely divisive. Nadu objected to the ban, saying “My family has been working Lucknow them. charges brought by the CBI, but The Supreme Court has given Some BJP leaders, including it infringed on their right to eat with Radley and Armani for the “The court has invoked an the Supreme Court last month the court a deadline of two years Bharti, want a temple built on what they choose. last few decades and now they’re additional charge of criminal ruled they should be tried. to complete its trial in the case, the ruins of the razed mosque Beef and buff alo meat is a asking us if we can fulfi l our court yesterday charged conspiracy against them. They “The court dismissed appli- which has dragged on for years. – an idea that horrifi es Uttar common delicacy in some south commitments to them,” Imran top Bharatiya Janata will all now face a joint trial,” cations by the leaders to dis- Investigators have already Pradesh’s signifi cant Muslim and northeastern Indian states Ahmed Khan from the Council AParty leaders L K Advani, prosecution lawyer R K Yadav charge them from trial, saying been rebuked by court for the minority. but taboo in most of India. for Leather Exports said. Murli Manohar Joshi and federal told reporters. there was enough evidence on delay in trial. The BJP won Uttar Pradesh Some states organised “beef “The industry is in panic Water Minister Uma Bharti with The trio denied any involve- record against them,” BJP patriarch Advani, 89, who in a landslide election in March, fests” to protest the ban. mode at the moment. We have criminal conspiracy over the ment in the demolition of the Prashant Singh Atal, one of led a movement for the temple, and appointed fi rebrand priest Organisers in Kerala killed been handed a death certifi cate destruction of the Babri mosque mosque, but the court ruled the lawyers for the defendants, was India’s deputy prime min- Yogi Adityanath as chief min- a calf, triggering outrage and by the ruling Modi government.” in 1992 that triggered deadly re- there was “enough evidence said. ister between 2002-2004. ister. counter rallies by BJP supporters Industry fi gures said the lat- ligious riots. on record” to bring charges of “All the leaders were present Domestic media had specu- The trial of senior BJP leaders where cows were adorned with est decree ran counter to Modi’s The trio were accused of in- criminal conspiracy. in court today. The trial will lated on him being nominated for will raise fresh questions about fl owers. goal of creating jobs and luring citing a Hindu mob to destroy They were granted bail. be held on a daily basis from the upcoming presidential polls. Hindu nationalism within Mo- The slaughter of cows, as well foreign investment, and said re- the 16th century mosque in Ay- Before the ruling, Bharti said Wednesday,” he said. The destruction of the di’s party at a time when critics as the possession or consump- tailers could look next door if the odhya in Uttar Pradesh, which she did not consider herself a If convicted, the leaders mosque has fuelled numerous accuse his supporters of trying tion of beef, is banned in most disruption continued. ignited a wave of religious vio- criminal and saw no conspir- could face a jail term between riots across India between Hin- to marginalise minority groups but not all states. Neighbouring Bangladesh and lence across India. acy behind the razing of the three to seven years, Atal said. dus and Muslims that has left and redefi ne India as a Hindu Some impose up to life im- Pakistan – both major garment Advani, Joshi and Bharti were mosque. Advani and others are already thousands dead. nation. prisonment for infringements. producers – are mainly Muslim among 12 present at the special “It was an open movement being tried in a separate case for Many Hindus believe the Yesterday, Adityanath met The new federal ban aff ected and cow slaughter is not an is- Central Bureau of Investigation there was no conspiracy,” she making infl ammatory speeches mosque was only built after the three accused outside the not just the trade in cows but sue. court in Lucknow as the judge told reporters. that allegedly incited zealots the destruction of a temple, court in a sign of support. Will co-operate on probe Monsoon arrives of Air India deals: minister in Kerala, NE India IANS maining parts of south Ara- Thiruvananthapuram bian Sea, Lakshadweep area Agencies caused losses at the state carrier, Minister of State for Civil Avi- and Kerala, some parts of New Delhi the CBI has alleged. ation Jayant Sinha said several central Arabian Sea, coastal The second case pertains to options have been discussed by he southwest mon- and south interior Karnataka, Air India’s decision to lease air- the airline’s management. soon has arrived over some more parts of Tamil ndia’s civil aviation minis- planes while the acquisition of He said a decision on the fu- TKerala and parts of Nadu, southwest, west cen- try said yesterday it would the new aircraft was underway, ture of Air India will be made northeastern states, the In- tral and east central Bay of Ico-operate with a federal in- “without due consideration, soon and will be based on the ob- dian Meteorological Depart- Bengal, most parts of north- quiry into alleged irregularities proper route study and market- jective of making it into a more ment announced yesterday, east Bay of Bengal and some in the purchase of 111 planes by ing or price strategy”, according profi table and viable entity. as the southern state re- more parts of north-eastern state-run carrier Air India and to a CBI statement. Sinha’s comments comes days ceived widespread rainfall states during next four days. its merger with Indian Airlines. The third case alleges that the after Finance Minister Arun Jait- since Monday. IMD offi cial A S Sudevan The Central Bureau of Investi- national carrier gave up profi t- ley said the central government The monsoon has advanced said though it was sunny in the gation has fi led three cases against able routes and fl ight timings to was considering exiting Air India. into some parts of Nagaland, morning here for a while, there Air India and launched an inves- private and foreign airlines, thus “There are many private airlines Manipur, Mizoram and Aru- are other indicators that are tigation into what it termed “un- causing “a huge loss to the na- like Jet Airways, IndiGo, GoAir. If nachal Pradesh, the IMD said. taken into consideration when known offi cials” at the ministry. tional carrier”. 86% of the aviation market can be “Widespread rainfall oc- announcing the onset of the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok The federal agency is also prob- handled by the private sector, then curred over Kerala during the monsoon. Gajapathi Raju said the ministry ing the 2011 merger of Air India 100% can also be handled by the past two days. A total of 78% “In the past two days the would co-operate with the CBI and its domestic sister airline In- private sector,” Jaitley said. monitoring stations for mon- rainfall was quite heavy in sev- investigation. The three cases dian Airlines, alleging it caused a India is one of the wold’s fast- soon onset over Kerala have eral districts of the state and relate to decisions and deals “loss to the national exchequer”. est growing airline markets but reported rainfall for the last 48 it touched 11mm. The forecast made under the previous Con- Raju also said several options the once-dominant Air India hours,” the weather offi ce said for the coming four days indi- gress Party-led government. and alternatives were available – hit by delayed and cancelled in a statement. cate good rainfall. It’s a good Air India bought 111 aircraft to restore the fi nancial health of fl ights and a generally poor The statement said that beginning and indications are for about Rs700bn ($10.8bn), a Air India. According to the min- service record – has lost market conditions were favourable that this time Kerala will get a transaction that benefi ted for- ister, NITI Aayog has already share to new private players, es- Men use a plastic sheet to cover from rain as they walk along a road for further advance of the very good monsoon,” Sudevan eign aircraft manufacturers and submitted several suggestions. pecially low-cost carriers. in Kochi, Kerala yesterday. southwest monsoon into re- said. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 INDIA

PEOPLE JUDICIARY INVESTIGATION SPACE CRACKDOWN Telugu film director Court bans former IAF chief SC dismisses Rajasthan’s India to launch satellite UP anti-Romeo squad Dasari Narayana dead from travelling abroad plea against civic off icial using its heaviest rocket huge success: off icial

Well-known Telugu film director and former The Delhi High Court yesterday put on hold a lower The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed the India will launch communication satellite GSAT- The Uttar Pradesh government yesterday released federal minister of state for coal Dasari Narayana court’s order allowing former Indian Air Force chief Rajasthan government’s appeal challenging the 19 on June 5 using its heaviest rocket which figures which claimed that the anti-Romeo squads Rao died in Hyderabad yesterday. He was 75. S P Tyagi to travel abroad. Tyagi is an accused in state high court’s anticipatory bail to Jodhpur has a capacity to lift a four-tonne satellite in the state were a “huge success”. An off icial Rao, who holds the Guinness Book of Records the AgustaWestland chopper deal case. Justice I Development Authority’s former chairman to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), the statement said that in a little more than two months, for directing 125 films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi, S Mehta stayed the trial court’s May 24 order that Rajendra Singh Solanki and three others in cases Indian space agency said yesterday. According over 338,000 people have been warned to behave died at a private hospital. The National Award- permitted Tyagi to travel to Indonesia. Tyagi and of alleged corruption. Upholding the Rajasthan to Indian Space Research Organisation and not to repeat “mistakes” like eve-teasing, winning director had produced 50 other films. two others were allegedly involved in irregularities High Court order granting anticipatory bail, (ISRO), the geosynchronous satellite launch passing lewd comments and engaging in obscene He had been in and out of hospital for some time in the purchase of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from the vacation bench of Justice A K Sikri and vehicle - Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) will be launched acts in public places. A total of 538 cases were filed and had undergone surgery for infection in the Britain-based AgustaWestland. The Central Bureau Justice Deepak Gupta said Solanki would stay on June 5 at 5.28pm. The rocket in its first and legal action has been initiated against 1,264 lungs and kidneys earlier this year. Rao, who of Investigation has alleged that Tyagi, who headed away from Rajasthan for six months after his developmental flight will carry communication people, an off icial said. These actions, he stated, was a minister in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet, the IAF from 2004 to 2007, and the other accused release. However, Solanki, being the leader of the satellite GSAT-19 weighing 3,136kg as it blasts were taken against people at malls, markets, outside was also charge-sheeted in the coal scam. Some received kickbacks from AgustaWestland and opposition in Jodhpur Municipal Corporation, off from the second launch pad at the rocket schools, colleges and educational institutions, bus of his famous films include Premabhishekam, helped the manufacturer win the $530mn contract. would be allowed to come to the city during port in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The and railway stations. About 742,000 people were Megha Sandesham, Osey Ramulamma and Tata The 12 choppers were for the Communication the session of the civic body. The court noted GSLV-MK III-D1 is a three-stage vehicle with two questioned. The state government, the off icial Manavadu. Rao had planned to make a biopic on Squadron of the IAF for ferrying the president, the that Solanki was in jail for over 20 days and has solid motor strap-ons, a liquid propellant core said, has, however cautioned the police and the late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. prime minister and other VVIPs. already undergone custodial interrogation. stage and a cryogenic stage (C25). anti-Romeo squads not to harass innocent people.

Bihar Class 12 results see drastic fall Merkel: India in pass rate

IANS Patna is a partner

early 70% students of Science stream and N76% of Arts who took the Class 12 exams of the Bihar School Examination Board have of highest failed - thanks to strict measures against cheating, according to results announced yesterday. The only silver lining was that 73.76% students appearing in the Commerce stream exams passed. importance The Science stream, which saw only 30.11% students pass, Modi praises German “We are all connected with one Britain, which is set to leave saw an average of 44.66% marks chancellor’s ‘vision’, urges another,” Modi said. “Democracy the EU by 2019, wants to boost scored. climate action and diversity are the pillars of a trade with India, the world’s Last year, when the new rules values-based global order.” fastest-growing major economy, against cheating were not in AFP He added that “the interna- which is meanwhile also trying to place, the state board exams Berlin tional community really needs revive stalled, decade-old trade saw 67.06% Science students the chancellor’s vision in terms talks with the EU. pass, while the Arts stream saw of the great challenges,” also in- Modi and Merkel led a joint 80.87% students pass. rime Minister Narendra cluding terrorism. cabinet meeting grouping for- Khushbu Kumari of the Si- Modi said yesterday that Merkel, who will host a G20 eign, economy, environment and multala Awasiya Vidyalaya in Pfailing to act on climate summit of the biggest developed other ministers in their fourth Maoist-aff ected Jamui district change would be “morally crimi- and emerging economies in July, intergovernmental consultations topped in the Science stream. nal” and voiced strong sup- has long cultivated strategic re- - a format Germany has only She got 431 out of 500 marks, or port for the “vision” of German lations with India, the world’s with a few countries, also includ- 86.2%. Chancellor Angela Merkel. biggest democracy and the rival ing China, Israel and France. Ganesh Kumar of Samastipur His comments came as Merkel Asian power to China, whose Both sides signed agreements district topped in the Commerce is emerging as the world leader Prime Minister Li Keqiang will in fi elds from sustainable urban stream, scoring 413 out of 500 most openly at odds with US also visit Berlin this week. development to vocational jobs marks - 82.6%. President Donald Trump, saying Last Sunday - after a G7 sum- training, digital technology and “It is a historical result of the days ago that Europe could no mit in which Trump and the other railway safety and agreed on Class 12 exams in many ways. longer completely rely on tradi- six Western powers again sparred German development aid and The pass percentage may have tional ally the United States and on climate, defence funding and investments worth around €1bn drastically fallen in Science and needed to fi nd its own way. other key issues - Merkel said ($1.1bn) a year. Commerce streams this year, but Modi, on a Berlin visit kicking Europe could no longer com- Germany is India’s largest the exam was free from cheat- off a four-nation Europe tour, pletely rely on traditional allies trading partner in the EU, and ing,” board chairman Anand pledged India’s commitment to the United States and Britain in more than 1,600 German com- Kishore said here. democracy and a strong Euro- the age of Trump and Brexit. panies with over 400,000 em- He said for the fi rst time the pean Union, and argued that fail- Standing beside Modi, Merkel ployees operate on the subcon- board code was used with answer ing to act against global warm- said “India with its 1.25bn people tinent. sheets to ensure no unfair means ing would be “a morally criminal is a partner and of highest im- Two-way trade has more than were adopted during evaluation act”. portance” and that “to work to- tripled over the past decade to and it was easy to identify the “We do not have the right gether with such a diverse coun- over €17bn ($19bn), of which answer sheets once uploaded. to despoil the environment for try” also off ered opportunities German exports make up almost About 1.26mn students ap- future generations,” he said in for German businesses. €10bn. peared in the exams this year. Hindi, at a joint press conference She stressed that diplomacy Modi wrote before his trip that A senior offi cial of the board with Merkel. is not a zero-sum game and that “India and Germany are large de- said the drastic fall in pass rate Many of Modi’s comments while Berlin was building strong mocracies, major economies and vindicated their bid to conduct contrasted sharply with posi- ties with the rising Asian powers, important players in regional and a cheating-free exam this time. tions of Trump, who has denied transatlantic ties remained “of global aff airs”. This year, CCTV cameras were climate change, criticised the paramount importance”. “Our strategic partnership is installed at the entrance of ex- EU, predicted more countries Modi’s tour also leads him to based on democratic values,” he amination halls and videography will leave the EU and spoken out Spain, France and Russia - but wrote in a Facebook entry, con- was conducted through the du- German Chancellor Angela Merkel shakes hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of the against free trade while pushing not to former colonial power trasting India with the one-party ration of the examination. Brandenburg Gate in Berlin yesterday. an “America First” policy. Britain. state China. Signs of Hindutva in new law on cattle trading

obody saw it coming, even The Yogi’s repeated assurance in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, as cattle carcasses litter. That, in provide sustenance to its owner the so-called left-liberals that nobody will touch licensed Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat. fact, is the kind of cruelty not even in death. The meat and leather Nand armchair critics who abattoirs and the fact that the un- The new law is sure to spread this an animal should suff er. industry directly/indirectly em- masquerade as intelligentsia. Ex- licensed ones were indeed a health Delhi Diary mobocracy to other states. If the government had been ploys close to 45mn Indians. Mo- cept for vague threats that the hazard put paid to the protests. So The ostensible reason for the sincerely worried about the health di’s promise of providing a million Constitution and institutions - licence was the crux of the issue. By A K B Krishnan new law is to prevent unhealthy of the cattle, and by extension jobs a month has remained a pipe social, religious, academic, legal, If something needs to be banned, and diseased animals from being health of Indians who eat its meat, dream till date. If anything more etc - will be under threat in the take the licence route and ban Gulf Times Correspondent sold for slaughter. From now on then the ministry should have jobs are lost in a day now than at Narendra Modi regime, there was it. If there is no rule covering a cattle that are to be slaughtered opened special markets in every any time in the past fi ve years. no specifi c input as to how things business activity that needs to be would have to be sourced directly district for the animals that are With the new law set to take ef- will pan out in the long run. The banned, then make a new rule and Aren’t they animals too? Don’t number, about 75mn, is traded from the breeders or farm houses. meant for slaughter. These mar- fect in three months, the number latest rule to emanate from the ban it. ask, Big Brother knows better! annually. So you can imagine the One worthy bureaucrat, ably sec- kets can be equipped with testing of unemployed can only increase. Ministry of Environment, Forests Cow is holy for many Hindus Cattle buyers will now have volume of paperwork. Bureaucrats onded by BJP spokesperson Sam- procedure to declare whether an By enacting the law Modi is and Climate Change removes any though millions of Hindus do eat to give an undertaking that the are rubbing their hands in glee be- bit Patra, even had the temerity to animal, once slaughtered, is fi t for stepping on the states’ toes as such vagueness and spells out beef without any qualms. But animals are not for slaughter and cause the more the paperwork, the describe the law as the new “farm consumption. An animal found well, for slaughter of animals is a clearly the direction in which the Modi’s men decided that eat- market committees will have to more possibilities of making some to fork” concept without realising unfi t for slaughter could either be state subject and cannot be dic- Modi government wants to take ing of beef must be curtailed, if check the buyers’ credentials extra money for themselves. Does that unlike a pumpkin or tomato, sent back to the farm or to shelters tated by the centre. Kerala, West India. not altogether banned. How to and keep records of sale for six Modi or his minions care? Did I a buff alo has to go through a se- run by the government or NGOs Bengal, Mizoram, Puducherry When newly-appointed Ut- do that? A ban on killing of cows months. The committee shall hear someone say the Modi regime ries of changes/process before it is involved in animal welfare. and Tamil Nadu have already pro- tar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi for food would not go down well ensure that no person shall bring is all about less government and ready for the fork. But that’s hard work and not tested and their ranks are going to Adityanath cracked down on il- not just with Indians but with a young animal to the market. It more governance? It is indeed true that a large exactly what the agenda dictates. grow. When he took offi ce Modi legal abattoirs in the state, much the international community as a will also keep a record of the name When so much documenta- number of emaciated and sickly So make it as diffi cult as possible had promised decentralisation noise was raised that the move whole because the agenda would and address of the purchaser and tion is required, there is bound to cows are brought to the market. for the owner to sell the animal and federalism in a big way. But will render thousands of people, then be out in the open. Any law procure his identity proof. It will be forgeries. In fact, a small scale How they reached that stage is and make it nearly impossible for three years seem a long time ago mainly Muslims, jobless. Many exclusively targeting cows would further verify that the purchaser forgery industry is waiting to go perhaps not the concern of the anyone to buy one for slaughter. and promise of that vintage can be knew that the protest would fi z- also be seen in similar light. So is an agriculturist. on stream. And then there is the government that swears in the Till now more than 10mn heads easily forgotten. zle out because the ban was on il- the entire family of cattle - cows, After buying a cattle head, a festering problem of cow vigi- name of cow. The average produc- of cattle are slaughtered in India This law is bad economically, legal slaughter houses that mostly calves, bulls, bullocks, buff aloes, trader must make fi ve copies of lantes. Modi has time and again tive life span of India’s milch cat- annually. Bovine meat represents sociologically, constitutionally, did their business in highly un- steers, heifers and even camels - proof of sale and submit them at decried such vigilantism but the tle is eight years. At the end of this 60% of all meat production in the even environmentally. Most of all, hygienic conditions and that the was brought into the gamut. the local revenue offi ce, veteri- environment ministry has made period, most dairy farmers take country. Beef exports alone fetch it is bad for the animal. It is good licensed ones had nothing to fear. Ministry mandarins were asked nary doctor in the district of the sure that their tribe will increase. the cattle to the markets where close to $5bn a year and another for vigilante goons and the inspec- Yet, given the Yogi’s background to fi nd a way and they promptly purchaser, animal market com- Cow vigilantes will start check- they are sold for slaughter. If these $7bn comes in by way of export tor/offi cer who wants to make a as a dyed-in-the-wool Hindu ac- dusted off a 57-year-old act on mittee, apart from one each for ing every animal and every vehi- farmers are not allowed to do so, of raw hide. Some the world’s quick buck on the sly. The agenda tivist who considers the cow holy, prevention of cruelty to animals seller and buyer. cle that transports it. Naturally they will simply abandon these biggest names in the footwear in- is to change the eating habits of In- the protesters garnered some and put in extra clauses to stipu- According to Grain Report, their interest is not protection of useless cattle which will then eat dustry are dependent on Indian dians in the long run in conform- sympathy on the ground that the late that animal markets would the global agricultural informa- cow. Far from it most of these are whatever it gets, including plas- leather for their famous brands. ity with Hindu practices. But its chief minister’s real agenda could henceforth be banned from sell- tion network, India had 301.6mn paid goons of political parties that tic, become major traffi c hazards It’s not just meat and skin that’s proponents will most likely end up be something other than health of ing cattle for slaughter. Why only heads of cattle in 2016. Conserva- want to create an atmosphere of and eventually die a dog’s death. valuable in cattle. From hoof to eating crow because bad laws will meat eaters. cattle and not goat or chicken? tive estimates put a fourth of this fear. So far they have succeeded An environmental disaster awaits horn, from bone to blood, cattle not sustain in democracy. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Gunmen kill aide Karachi residents protest of former Afghan power cuts during Iftar warlord Reuters the load-shedding would persist for Reuters Karachi/Peshawar two to three weeks more. It is now back Peshawar to eight to 10 hours a day in some parts of Karachi. rotesters in Pakistan’s largest Murad Ali Shah, chief minister of unmen in northwest- city set tyres ablaze yesterday the southeastern province of Sindh ern Pakistan yesterday Pafter power cuts disrupted a tra- and a member of the opposition Pa- Ggunned down the former ditional pre-dawn meal – Iftar – dur- kistan People’s Party (PPP), blamed secretary to Gulbuddin Hekmat- ing the holy month of Ramadan, police Sharif’s government. yar, an Afghan warlord turned said, a day after two protesters in an- “This is the atrocity the federal gov- insurgent who signed a peace other city were shot dead. ernment is doing with us,” Shah told deal with the government in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came reporters in Karachi, the provincial Kabul, offi cials said. to power four years ago promising to capital. Hekmatyar’s Hizb-i-Islami end scheduled blackouts – known as Sharif called an emergency meeting party identifi ed the slain man as “load-shedding” – that have plagued of a cabinet energy panel yesterday to Mohammad Fareed and blamed daily life for years, hobbling the econ- discuss the power outages. “elements against peace” for the omy and deterring foreign investment. In a statement, the prime minis- killing. Higher power generation has helped ter’s offi ce said the meeting focused Fareed was returning home ease load shedding in many areas in on “urgent measures” to reduce power from a mosque in the Taj Abad recent months, but technical break- cuts during Ramadan, which coincides area of Peshawar when the gun- downs in the past week have boosted this year with summer temperatures men opened fi re, Peshawar police the frequency and length of blackouts, forecast in some regions at around 40 offi cer Shaid Ahmad said sparking anger during the blistering degrees Celsius (104°F). “He died in the spot and the late summer months. On Monday, two demonstrators assailants made their good es- Protests erupted yesterday in the were killed in another protest against cape on motorcycles,” the offi cer southern port city of Karachi after electricity shortages in the northwest- said. electricity was cut during the pre- ern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, The victim also went by used dawn feast Muslims hold before reportedly when police fi red to the names Haji Fareed Salaam they begin fasting from daybreak to disperse crowds. and Naqeeb Mohammad, he sunset. One of those killed was shot by po- added. Some protesters tried to attack and lice and later died in hospital in the No group immediately claimed set fi re to an offi ce of the city’s main Malakand district, said Humayun responsibility for the attack. power provider, K-Electric, said police Khan, the provincial representative of Hekmatyar returned last offi cer Khadim Ali. the PPP. month to Kabul, the city his forc- A transmission line had tripped due Both deaths were being inves- es bombarded during the 1990s to high humidity, K-Electric said on tigated, said the district’s deputy People cool off with water from water lines after they punctured them in protest against the power outages in their area in civil war, under a peace deal with social network Twitter, adding that commissioner, Zafa Ali Shah. Karachi yesterday. Kabul signed last year and urged Taliban insurgents to follow his example. Local Pakistani media and two Hizb-i-Islami members said Fareed was a relative by marriage to Hekmatyar. Banned outfi ts operate Hizb-i-Islamai spokesman Qareeb Ur Rahman Sayeed con- fi rmed Farid was Hekmatyar’s former secretary and a senior party member. openly on social media SEVEN MILITANTS KILLED IN AIR STRIKE: Seven militants, including a Tali- Internews vestigation, the names of all Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e- the more common updates fea- ban commander, were yesterday Islamabad banned outfi ts — including Mohammadi, Jamat-ul-Ahrar, ture photos, videos and memes killed in an air strike targeting a acronyms and small variations 313 Brigade, Shia outfi ts and shared to explain and elaborate Taliban hideout in Kunduz prov- in spelling — were searched on a host of Baloch separatist on the outfi t’s ideology; provide ince of Afghanistan. hey exist in plain sight, Facebook to fi nd pages, groups organisations. updates on recent or ongoing “Acting upon intelligence re- just one search and one and user profi les that publicly An examination of some user events and on-ground activity; ports, the security forces struck Tclick away from any ‘liked’ a banned outfi t. profi les linked to these banned and encourage private contact a Taliban hideout in Mullah of Pakistan’s 25mn Facebook The biggest outfi ts on the outfi ts indicates open support and recruitment of motivated Qali area of Dasht-e-Archi dis- users. social network, in order of size, of sectarian and extremist ide- Facebook users. trict in the morning. Notorious An investigation carried out are Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat ology. A few of these profi les In general, the Facebook commander Mullah Ismael was across Pakistan in April has (ASWJ) with 200 pages and have also publicly ‘liked’ pages updates were in Urdu or Ro- also among the dead,” Xinhua revealed that 41 of 64 banned groups, Jeay Sindh Muttah- and groups related to weapons man Urdu rather than Eng- news agency quoted district outfi ts are present on Facebook ida Mahaz (JSMM) with 160, use and training. lish, suggesting the con- governor Nasrudin Nazari as in the form of hundreds of pag- Sipah-e-Sahaba (SSP) with While some of the Face- tent was primarily for local saying. es, groups and individual user 148, Balochistan Students Or- book pages and groups claim consumption. A very small Ismael was commanding Tali- Hussain Nawaz, centre arrives to appear before the Joint Investigation profi les. ganisation Azaad (BSO-A) with to be ‘offi cial’ representatives number were in Sindhi or Ba- ban fi ghters in Dasht-e-Archi Team (JIT) formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the Sharif’s Outfi ts’ network, both inter- 54 and Sipah-i-Muhammad of the outfi ts, others appear lochi, also indicating a niche and neighbouring Chardara, he family off shore firms and properties linked with the Panama leaks, in connected and public, is a mix with 45. to be managed by members target audience. said. Islamabad yesterday. of Sunni and Shia sectarian or Other banned outfi ts which and supporters in ideological Invariably, most of the Face- His death could deal a major terrorism outfi ts, global ter- exist on Facebook at a small- agreement. book pages and groups glorify blow to the armed insurgents in rorism organisations operating er scale include Lashkar- The content shared on their existing leaders or those killed Kunduz and the neighbouring in Pakistan, and separatists in e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Tehreek- forums is varied. Although while some banned outfi ts also Baghlan and Takhar provinces. Balochistan and Sindh. e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), there are occasional posts in the campaign for the release of The group has not Hussain Nawaz For the purpose of this in- Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat, form of text or status updates, their activists or leaders. commented yet. Two airline appears before employees detained on probe team human Rise in habitual criminals traff icking

Internews hrs, at the offi ce of the JIT, The charges Islamabad Federal Judicial Academy... due to low conviction rate along with relevant record/ At least two PIA employees documents/material for re- have been caught he Joint Investigation cording of statement/exami- red-handed at Benazir Internews cases since 2008 and all cases are tivities due to low conviction increased tremendously in the city. Team (JIT) has issued nation by the JIT as specifi ed International Airport for Lahore under trial. rate. They fearlessly move on Retired sessions judge Javaid Tsummons to Hussain in the previous summon dated attempting to send three Al-Faisal Town resident Baba city roads to rob people of their Rashid Mahboobi highlights Nawaz, the son of Prime Min- May 5, 2017.” Afghan women to London (name changed) is wanted in 84 valuables, including vehicles. various loopholes in the present ister Nawaz Sharif, blaming At the end, the summons on fake documents, hehanshah (name changed) criminal cases by Lahore police. The police record shows the criminal justice system, hold- him of coming without rel- warned Hussain saying: “You Internews reports from was 18 years old when the Most of them were registered accused in criminal cases either ing them responsible for what is evant record and refusing to are advised that failure to Islamabad. SLower Mall police in La- under Section 392 of Pakistan get bail or are declared pro- going on right from reportable answer questions when he comply with summons may According to media reports, hore lodged the fi rst theft case Penal Code. He has been accused claimed off enders as they be- crime to the trial of the accused. appeared before the JIT on entail penal consequences as all these Afghan women got against him. He got bail but was of snatching 42 cars, including lieve that the complications in “The loopholes exist in all May 28. per relevant laws.” their boarding passes of again booked by the same po- vans. the criminal justice system can’t three major areas, including The summons maintained Meanwhile, Hussain main- Kabul from Benazir airport lice station in another case of hold them for a long period in police investigation, prosecu- that Hussain appeared before tained that he was not provid- and after security clearance keeping an illegal weapon. He The police record shows jails — most of them have spent tion and courts,” Mahboobi said, the JIT without any relevant ed with enough time to travel from FIA they took their obtained bail in this case too. the accused in criminal an average one to seven months adding that conviction in crimi- record and even refused to and get prepared to appear be- bogus documents in The same year, 16 more cases cases either get bail or in jails after arrests. nal cases depends upon produc- answer the questions raised fore the JIT on May 25. respect of UK and were were lodged against Shehanshah are declared proclaimed The police record pertaining to tion of evidence, witnesses and by the JIT’s members stat- He raised various points, waiting to board London- in diff erent police stations of the off enders as they believe reportable crime in 2016 shows cross-examination. ing: “You appeared before JIT including non-specifi cation bound PIA Flight PK-785 provincial capital. that the complications in that 37 criminals were wanted in He said there was no security without any record and also of relevant record required instead of flying back to Now he is 31-years old and the criminal justice system more than 50 cases each, 458 in system for the witnesses when refused to answer any of the of him by the JIT and short Kabul. the number of criminal cases can’t hold them for a long 20 criminal cases lodged against they appeared in the courts questions put forth by the JIT timeframe to get prepared and In the meantime, on against him were 92 till 2016, but period in jails each of them and 2,610 accused against hardened criminals and on the pretext that the matter compile record before his ap- suspicion, FIA off icials he could not be convicted in any wanted in three or more cases in some initial hearings they is subjudice as you have fi led a pearance to the JIT. checked their documents case. The Lahore police were also registered against them. abandoned the cases to avoid petition before the apex court Hussain appeared before and found them fake. The police record shows that in search of Badshah (name One of the major reasons be- risks. This benefi t the accused. and requested for another the JIT on May 28 for almost FIA took all three Afghan in nine cases he was on bail changed) of Mianwali who is hind this sorry state of aff airs is The retired judge said the lack date.” two hours to record his state- women into their custody while in the rest of the cases he wanted in 72 cases. said to be the low conviction rate of centralised crime data base of Underlining the fact that ment after he was summoned and started an investigation. was under trial in various courts According to the police record, for reportable heinous crimes, the accused in the police depart- the JIT has limited time of 60 by the probe body. He was ex- Initial investigation revealed of Lahore, Narowal (his home he was infamous for stealing/ including robbery, dacoity and ment was also one of the major days to complete its investi- pected to submit the relevant two PIA employees Naseem town) and some other districts snatching motorbikes. theft. factors that went in the accused gation into the Panama leaks record with the JIT yesterday. and Israr found involved in of Punjab. According to the FIRs lodged Faulty prosecution is said to favour. “The judicial offi cers case in line with the directives He also made a request to this scam. The crime history of the ac- against him, Badshah has stolen/ be the major issue due to which have no access to the central- of the Supreme Court, it said the JIT that it should ensure FIA also took these two cused says he was accused of snatched 67 motorbikes from hardened criminals manage ised data base of criminals be- “Despite paucity of time and only one subject “strictly rel- PIA employees into their snatching 27 cars and eight various areas of Lahore. their escape from punishment. ing presented by the police in the your non-cooperation during evant” to be taken up at a time custody. motorbikes. The record shows there three Poor crime prevention and de- courts,” he said. the proceedings, yet in the in- with prior intimation ‘in the FIA said that all three Afghan Same is the case with six other criminals who are wanted in tection are other major causes “A judicial offi cer can give an terest of justice, you are, here- interests of justice’, so that he women who wanted to fly such criminals who are wanted cases ranging from 72 to 87, by behind high crime rate in the appropriate punishment once he is by, once again called upon to can dig out available material to London through bogus to police in heinous crimes. diff erent police stations. city of nearly 20mn popula- facilitated by the police as well as appear before the JIT on Tues- beforehand and prepare for a documents hailed from the Kala (name changed) of Sher- An investigation shows that tion. The offi cial data shows the prosecutors with complete crime day, the May 30, 2017, at 1100 ‘meaningful session’. same family. akot, Lahore, faces 91 criminal off enders resume criminal ac- number of repeat off enders has history of the accused,” he said. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Congress expands money laundering laws to include casinos

Reuters Voting separately, the House of Rep- one of the amended bill authors in the Asian gambling hub and its casinos country will not be “used as a money current scope of the anti-money laun- Manila resentatives and Senate passed on third lower house. The approved measure last year raked in 149bn pesos in gross laundering site for the proceeds of any dering legislation and a strict bank and fi nal readings similar bills expand- requires any casino transactions worth gaming revenue, data from the gam- unlawful activity”. secrecy law have made it diffi cult for ing the existing anti-money launder- 5mn pesos ($100,500) to be reported to ing regulator showed. Japanese gaming Both bills were passed on the sec- authorities to track the Bangladesh he Philippine Congress yester- ing act to improve the legal framework an anti-money laundering agency, in- magnate Kazuo Okada is set to launch a ond to last day of the regular session money trail and identify the perpetra- day approved an amendment to against dirty money, making it compli- cluding accumulated bets, Sato added. $2.4bn casino in Manila in July. of Congress, beating the June deadline tors. Ta money laundering law to cover ant with global standards. Amending the law had been an up- The main proponent of the bill in imposed by the Asia Pacifi c Group on Bangladesh’s central bank has re- gambling, a move aimed at plugging “We should move to be more trans- hill battle because of fi erce lobbying the upper house, Senator Francis Es- Money Laundering, a regional body trieved just under a fi fth of the stolen loopholes that allowed $81mn stolen parent by amending the law to protect by the gaming industry, according to cudero, said Internet and ship-based with 41 member countries, for the $81mn funds. President Rodrigo Du- from Bangladesh to pass through ca- our casinos from money laundering by lawmakers. casinos were also covered under the Philippines to strengthen its laws. terte is expected to sign the measure sinos. crime syndicates,” said Josephine Sato, The Philippines has emerged as an amended version to ensure that the The exclusion of casinos from the into law next month. Govt warns militants Fear and confusion as in south to surrender Philippine AFP Marawi

hilippine authorities city burns yesterday warned mili- Ptants occupying parts of AFP using sniper fi re to deadly eff ect a southern city to surrender Marawi from key structures and build- or die, as attack helicopters ings. pounded the gunmen’s strong- Helicopters also fl y regularly holds where up to 2,000 resi- our hungry chickens over the areas being held by the dents were feared trapped. clawed at rubbish in a de- militants and fi re rockets, even More than 100 people have Fserted street that smelt with civilians known to be in been confi rmed killed in the of corpses as military helicop- nearby buildings. confl ict, which began last week ters skimmed the rooftops fi r- At a key city crossing, where when gunmen waving black ing rockets while one of the local police chief Asadil’s unit fl ags of the Islamic State (IS) Philippines’ most beautiful city took shelter from the sun on the group rampaged through Ma- burned. side of buildings while manning rawi. Marawi, a lakeshore city of a checkpoint on Monday, the President Rodrigo Duterte minarets that is the centre of streets were empty except for declared martial law across the culture for the Muslim commu- the four scrawny chickens. entire southern region of Mind- nity, is nearly empty after gun- Shops nearby were boarded anao, home to roughly 20mn men wielding black fl ags of the up, with glass facades riddled people, in response to the crisis Islamic State (IS) group went on with bullet holes. as he warned that local militant a rampage last week. A truck with a smashed wind- groups were uniting behind IS Despite a relentless military shield and blown-out tyres and becoming a major security campaign, an unknown number blocked the road a block away. threat. of gunmen remain held up in Before the fi ghting, Marawi But the militants, initially pockets of the city and holding had a population of 200,000 estimated by the nation’s de- hostages, while up to 2,000 resi- people, more than 90% of whom fence chief to number just 100, dents are trapped. were Muslim. withstood eight days of intense “These guys know how to It is one of the few dominantly air assaults and street-to-street fi ght. It looks like they have had Islamic cities left in the southern combat, prompting the govern- some training,” Marawi city po- Philippine region of Mindanao. ment’s threats yesterday. lice chief Parson Asadil said in Since the fi ghting began “We call on the remaining grudging acknowledgement as neighbouring towns and cities terrorists to surrender while he manned a checkpoint. have been swamped with fl eeing there is an opportunity,” mili- At least one of his men had Marawi residents, some having tary spokesman Brigadier- Philippine Marines aim their weapons towards the stronghold of the Maute group in Marawi City, southern Philippines, yesterday. been killed and fi ve are missing, walked two days from mountain General Restituto Padilla said. he said. villages to skirt the fi ghting. “For the terrorists, not sur- Cross voiced alarm they would on social media yesterday in The offi cial death toll is 19 ci- At multiple military and po- rendering will mean their sure be caught in the bombing raids which he repeated the militants’ vilians, 17 soldiers, three police lice checkpoints outside of the death.” or crossfi re. demands to withdraw, although and 65 militants. city there were long lines while Padilla also said the surren- “The risks and the vulner- it was unclear when the foot- It is almost certain to rise. security forces cross-checked der call was aimed at limiting abilities of the people inside age was fi lmed and its veracity A police commando told re- residents’ faces against the mug the loss of more lives and prop- Marawi are rising every day,” could not be immediately veri- porters in Marawi he suspected shots of known terror suspects erty. ICRC spokeswoman Lany Dela fi ed. the still off -limits public market printed on large posters. Up to 2,000 residents were Cruz said. Clashes yesterday appeared was full of dead bodies. Some residents had nothing trapped in areas held by the The militants also took a to be as intense as previous “The area smells bad,” said but the clothes on their backs as militants, according to the lo- priest and up to 14 other people days, according to an AFP re- the commando, Hamid Balimb- they walked into crowded evac- cal government, and the Inter- hostage at the start of the crisis. porter who followed security ingan. “We still can’t penetrate uation centres. national Committee of the Red A video of the priest appeared forces who had to run from mil- the area and that’s why we’re us- “We are angry at them,” itants’ sniper fi re coming from ing helicopter gunships on them mother-of-six Sunay Macu- nearby buildings. (gunmen).” Those trapped are in din, 28, said, referring to the Duterte cancels trip to Japan amid fighting Military helicopters fi red danger of being hit by rockets or militants as she and her children rockets repeatedly on that part getting caught in the crossfi re of and her elderly grandmother sat Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has cancelled a trip to Japan of the city yesterday morning, the battles, while a lack of elec- on the fl oor of a gymnasium- next week to oversee the military’s off ensive against militants in and and black smoke rose from the tricity, water, food and medi- turned-emergency shelter in around a southern city, the foreign minister said yesterday. buildings that were apparently People stand on a roadside as billowing smoke is seen at the site of cal care could be just as deadly, nearby Pantar town. Duterte was supposed to travel to Tokyo to address an international hit. fighting between government soldiers and Maute group in Marawi according to the International “This would not have hap- conference and meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but the two govern- The militants had killed at City, southern Philippines. Committee of the Red Cross. pened to us if the gunmen had ments agreed “there will be a better time” for the leaders to meet. least 19 civilians, while 20 secu- “It really is a terrible situa- not come to our village.” “In light of recent developments in Marawi City and Mindanao, rity forces and 65 gunmen had ernment’s list of most-wanted militants had been planning a tion,” ICRC’s deputy head of the Another resident expressed the president needs to personally oversee the situation to ensure died, according to the military. terrorists. major attack on Marawi, one Philippine delegation, Martin bewilderment at the reported the safety and security of our people,” Foreign Minister Alan Peter The violence began when He was being protected in of the few Islamic cities in the Thalmann, said in Marawi. goals of the gunmen: imposing Cayetano said. dozens of gunmen went on a Marawi by the local Maute Philippines with a population of His team has been in con- a brutal form of rule such as that Duterte declared martial law in the southern region of Mindanao after rampage in response to an at- group, which has pledged alle- 200,000 people, armed forces tact with the trapped people via seen by IS in Iraq and Syria, with militants who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement tempt by security forces to ar- giance to IS. chief General Eduardo Ano said. phone. anyone not sharing their ideol- went on a rampage following an attempt to arrest a local leader of the rest Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran The gunmen were being He said they were planning to “Sick people have already died ogy regarded as the enemy. international terrorist network. “We are optimistic that once the security Filipino militant regarded as the backed by foreign fi ghters, in- launch the assault to coincide because they couldn’t get out. “They are supposed to be part issues in Mindanao will have been settled, and the local rebellion in Mind- local leader of IS. cluding Malaysians, Indone- with Ramadan, which began There are elderly in there.” of our tribe, they are supposed anao fully addressed, the visit of President Duterte can be rescheduled,” Hapilon, a senior member sians and Singaporeans, au- on the weekend, but the raid on The military campaign in- to be our kin, but even we don’t Cayetano said. of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for- thorities said. Hapilon triggered them to at- volves dangerous house-to- understand what their cause is,” ransom gang, is on the US gov- Hapilon, the Maute and other tack earlier, according to Ano. house combat with the gunmen the man said. ‘Dinosaur’ jeepneys face an uncertain future

AFP Taking inspiration from the pean emission standards or solar Manila American jeeps left behind after and electric vehicles with GPS the war, the jeepney is a Filipino and possibly a ride-hailing app. invention, where a roof has been But at eight pesos (16 cents) eter Dallos shouts above added and inside there are two per journey, jeepneys are the sole the rumble of his smoke- parallel benches. aff ordable option for many. Pbelching engine urging They can carry more than “It’s the only and the most passengers to clamber quickly 20 people at a time, but run on convenient way. I can’t ride a on to his dilapidated red jeepney. cheap diesel and are heavy pol- taxi because that’s super expen- Such scenes may soon disap- luters, while the drivers are no- sive,” medical student Maria Al- pear from Manila’s gridlocked torious for violating traffi c rules. cid said en route to school. streets as authorities move to “Our ineffi cient dinosaur, the For low fares, passengers pay phase out the Philippines’ iconic (jeepney), must now be relegated the price of bumping their heads World War II-era minibuses, to the museum. It is dirty, inef- on the ceiling, inching their but- citing pollution and safety con- fi cient, unhealthy,” said Finance tocks into seats, and clinging to cerns. Demonstrating jeepney drivers displaying a streamer against the phase Secretary Carlos Dominguez. the roof while standing on the Dubbed ‘jeepneys’ and once Jeepneys are seen as an enforcer manages traff ic at a busy street in Manila. out of the vehicle in Manila. The government vows to help tiny step at the back. hailed as the ‘King of the Road’ owners sell old jeepneys and ac- And yet for those who grew up they are a cultural symbol in the years or older will be taken off a row of squished passengers my job. I will be forced to go hours a day for 20 years to pro- cess loans to buy new models riding jeepneys, there is a lot of Philippines to rival New York’s the streets by 2020 and replaced fanning themselves in the sum- home to my province, become a vide for his jobless wife, seven while requiring drivers to under- aff ection for the vehicles. yellow taxis — and for decades with a more environment- mer heat. bystander and starve,” he added. kids and three grandchildren go safety training, though critics They are famed for their they provided cheap and regular friendly version. “This is like my wife. My jeep- The government admits the who live in an upland farming question the cost of this. psychedelic designs featuring transport for millions. Dallos, 55, slaps the steering ney and I are together every day. plan will be hard to implement, province where he has no land Authorities say commuters everything from Mickey Mouse But under a government mod- wheel as his slipper-clad foot I know what ails it, what I need aff ecting a micro-industry of to till. deserve a better alternative. to the Virgin Mary and in prov- ernisation programme, vehi- stomps on the gas while he hands to do,” Dallos said. poor drivers and owners. He earns around 500 pesos They are designing units with inces even carry people, animals cles of this type that are aged 15 over change that is passed down “I’m angry because I will lose Dallos has been working 14 ($10) a day. engines compliant with Euro- and crops on roofs. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Five dead as cyclone hits Bangladesh AFP dated by a storm surge reaching Community leaders said there Dhaka 4ft (1.3m). had been no attempt to evacuate Some of the worst damage undocumented Rohingya, al- was at the camps housing the though those with offi cial refu- yclone Mora battered 300,000 Rohingya refugees liv- gee status were alerted about the Bangladesh yesterday, ing in Cox’s Bazar, many of them dangers. Ckilling fi ve people, dam- in fl imsy huts. Abdul Salam, a Rohingya aging thousands of homes and The local head of the Interna- community leader, said around ripping through a camp hous- tional Organisation for Migra- 20,000 homes had been dam- ing thousands of Rohingya tion, which co-ordinates relief aged and some residents injured. refugees. for the refugees, said the bulk of “In some places, almost eve- Authorities said they evacu- the homes at one camp had their ry shanty house made of tin, Villagers evacuate to cyclone shelters on the coast in Cox’s Bazar district yesterday. ated nearly 600,000 people roofs blown off . bamboo and plastics has been from vulnerable areas before “We’re already in the fi eld. fl attened,” he added. Cyclone Mora comes days af- of whom are undocumented. vessels and suspended fl ights to million to fl ee their homes. the storm hit the coastal district At Kutupalong camp, which Cox’s Bazar has for years been ter heavy rains in Sri Lanka killed “Nobody came to alert or and from airports in Chittagong In 2007 Cyclone Sidr killed of Cox’s Bazar early yesterday, I am visiting now, some 60- home to hundreds of thousands at least 193 people, many of them evacuate us. When the storm and Cox’s Bazar. nearly 4,000 people and caused bringing winds of up to 135km 70% of the plastic roofs have of Rohingya, a stateless minority buried under landslides, and came we rushed to local schools The weather department damage worth billions of dollars. (84 miles) per hour. been blown away. Some mud living mostly in Myanmar. brought the worst fl ooding the to take shelter,” he said. said the cyclone lost power as In neighbouring India, the Disaster management author- walls have collapsed,” Sanjukta Their numbers have swelled island has seen in 14 years. However Abul Hashim, a it headed into the Rangamati National Disaster Management ities said fi ve people had been Sahany said by phone. since a brutal crackdown last South Asia is frequently spokesman for the disaster man- hill district and turned into a Authority advised fi shermen in killed, four of them crushed by “Rohingya people have al- October by the Myanmar mili- hit by fl ooding in the summer agement department, said the depression, bringing rain. the eastern coastal state of West falling trees in the area. It was ready started repairing their tary sent 70,000 fl eeing across with the arrival of the annual authorities only evacuated the Bangladesh is routinely hit Bengal bordering Bangladesh to not immediately clear how the houses.” the border into Bangladesh. monsoon rains. most vulnerable from low-lying between April and December by stay in port. fi fth person died. Kutupalong houses nearly Away from the camps, au- Mohammad Anam, a Ro- coastal areas. severe storms that cause deaths Weather authorities warned Authorities in Cox’s Bazar said 14,000 registered refugees, al- thorities had evacuated nearly hingya who fl ed to Bangladesh “Rohingya live in hilly areas. and widespread damage. of strong winds and heavy rain at least 17,000 homes, excluding though many more recent ar- 600,000 people to cyclone shel- last year after an outbreak of There is no chance for these areas In May last year, Cyclone across much of northeast India, the Rohingya shelters, had been rivals who lack offi cial refugee ters, schools and offi ces after violence in Myanmar, said there to be inundated by storm surge,” Roanu hit the southern coast although the cyclone was ex- damaged in the district, with status are also said to be living raising the highest number 10 had been no attempt to evacuate he said. of Bangladesh, leaving 20 peo- pected to weaken as it crossed many low-lying villages inun- there. weather danger alert. the minority community, many Authorities called in all fi shing ple dead and forcing half a the country. Lanka appeals for help in clean-up Pilot dead in

AFP been restored but an area just Colombo outside Colombo was still without piped water. Nepal army Government spokesman Ra- ri Lanka appealed yester- jitha Senaratne said many vic- day for volunteers to help tims had started moving back Swith a massive clean-up into their homes as fl oodwaters after landslides and fl oods left receded but authorities re- plane crash at least 193 dead and tens of mained concerned about the thousands without safe drinking spread of disease. water. “We have started sending AFP “The pilot died as he was The government sought help additional doctors, nurses and Kathmandu being taken to the hospi- to purify wells contaminated medical supplies to prevent any tal. The other two are being by the fl oods, the worst in 14 outbreak of diseases such as rat treated,” police offi cial Sudam years after record rainfall in the fever (leptospirosis) and diar- Nepal army plane Rawal said. island’s southwest. rhoea,” said Senaratne, who is crashed yesterday, kill- The accident comes three The Disaster Management also health minister. Aing the pilot and injur- days after a cargo aircraft Centre said nearly 600,000 peo- “We could also have a dengue ing the two other crew mem- crashed at an airport near ple had been forced from their outbreak in about two weeks. bers on board, a local offi cial Mount Everest, killing the pi- homes. More than 1,300 houses We are very conscious of that. said. lot and the co-pilot. were completely destroyed in Additional medical teams will be The Poland-made Sky- Nepal has a poor air safe- landslides, while nearly 7,000 checking on mosquito breeding truck overturned and caught ty record, which is largely suff ered structural damage, ac- grounds as well.” fi re after it overshot the run- blamed on inadequate main- cording to offi cial fi gures. The military has deployed way after attempting to land, tenance, inexperienced pilots Water Supply Minister Rauf more service personnel in ad- said Devendra Lamichanne, and poor management. Hakeem said 40% of those af- dition to the thousands already chief district offi cer for Bajura Two deadly plane crashes fected had no access to piped involved in distributing food where the accident occurred. last year claimed at least 25 drinking water, and there was and other essentials to fl ood vic- It was carrying food sup- lives, the fi rst when a pas- an urgent need to purify con- tims in the districts of Kalutara, Army personnel distribute food to flood victims in Molkawa in the district of Kalutara yesterday. plies to the remote far west of senger plane slammed into taminated wells in fl ood-hit Ratnapura, Galle and Matara. the Himalayan nation, where a mountainside and the sec- areas. Sri Lanka has experienced killed and 10,000 homes de- that we will not purchase any Australia, Japan and Singa- road access is poor. ond when a small aircraft He said 400 people had vol- scattered showers in many parts stroyed after a similarly powerful cars for ministers or the gov- pore were among the other na- Poor weather forced the crash-landed killing the two unteered so far for a major in the past 24 hours but fl ood monsoon. ernment this year in view of the tions rushing to donate infl atable pilot to divert, but conditions pilots. clean-up of wells and appealed waters are rapidly receding, The government announced natural disaster,” Senaratne said. boats and other aid. were said to be good in Bajura Despite the risks, air travel for donations of water pumps. offi cials said. yesterday it would cut back A third aid ship was expected The UN was donating wa- and it is unclear why the plane is popular in Nepal, which has “Our workers have volun- In addition to the offi cial spending on new vehicles to to arrive from India later yes- ter containers, water purifi ca- crashed. a limited road network. teered to join a major (well) death toll of 193, another 94 save money as Colombo sought terday, Senaratne said, adding tion tablets and tarpaulins while Rescuers put out the fl ames All Nepal airlines are clean-up,” the minister told people were listed as missing as international assistance for the that three ships from China and the World Health Organisation and pulled out those inside - banned from fl ying to the Eu- reporters in Colombo. He said of yesterday afternoon. clean-up. another from Pakistan were also will support medical teams in even cutting into the plane to ropean Union because their fl ooded pumping stations had In May 2003 250 people were “The cabinet decided today expected in Colombo this week. aff ected areas. remove one. poor safety standards. Gold smuggling in Bangladesh at record high

By Sam Jahan, AFP stepped up, barely a day passes More than 100 people - most- The country has imposed Dhaka without another seizure. ly Bangladeshi migrant work- strict quotas and huge customs Detectives last week discov- ers - have been arrested since duties on gold, eff ectively chok- ered 13 stone-sized gold tablets 2014 for gold smuggling at the ing off legal bullion imports for angladesh detectives hit hidden in the wig of a 45-year- country’s three international fl ourishing jewellery outlets. the jackpot when they man as he passed through Dha- airports, police say. The BJS has repeatedly called Bstopped Mohammad Belal ka’s international airport. Khan said smuggling net- on the government to allow at Chittagong airport carrying works often included air host- the bulk import of bullion at some surprising excess baggage. “Hiding gold bars in esses, airport ground staff and reasonable rates. Under questioning, the electronic appliances, cleaners and corrupt security Khan said a “sizeable amount” 37-year-old admitted he had a wheelchairs or in personnel. of smuggled gold was sold to lo- dozen chunks of gold weighing toys has become old “They have a huge network cal jewellers. 1.4kg, or three pounds, stashed tactics. Now they are involving a lot of people,” he Detectives and customs inside his body. increasingly using said. agents recently seized nearly Gold smuggling in Bangladesh their body to carry Despite heightened vigilance half a tonne of gold from out- is at a record high, offi cials say, gold” plenty of gold is fi nding its way lets of one of Bangladesh’s big- with the country emerging as a onto the black market, Khan gest jewellers after the com- major route into neighbouring Smugglers are increasingly said. pany failed to provide import India, which has slapped high resorting to more drastic meth- An aide to Prime Minister documents. taxes on gold imports. ods to evade detection, offi cials Sheikh Hasina last year told the The jewellers’ association said Authorities have seized 1.1 say. Bangladesh Jewellers Samitee it sources its gold from individu- tonnes of the precious metal at “Hiding gold bars in elec- (BJS), a lobby group represent- als pawning personal items, an airports in the past three years - tronic appliances, wheelchairs ing local jewellery shops, that explanation detectives reject. Gold jewellery displayed for sale at a shop in Dhaka. an unprecedented haul. or in toys has become old tactics. authorities could only expect to “We don’t buy gold from the Investigators believe it is the Now they are increasingly using detect 10% of the gold smuggled black market,” association’s of gold - saying most of the bul- chief economist of Bangladesh’s other illicit trade near the border, tip of a golden iceberg. They their body to carry gold,” Moinul through its porous borders. president Gangacharan Malakar lion smuggled into Bangladesh, central bank. including livestock smuggled say it is bought by jewellers or Khan, Bangladesh’s customs in- Bangladesh - a low-lying na- said. mostly from the Gulf, was des- “This is a dangerous, power- illegally from India. smuggled into India, the world’s telligence chief, said. tion on the Bay of Bengal - does “The raids are conspiracies to tined for the Indian market. ful and politically-backed gold “Bangladesh is an obvi- biggest buyer of gold, and is also “We give them a lungi (cloth not have any gold mines of its destroy a vital industry which Huge taxes on gold imports mafi a. They don’t leave any evi- ous transit point of many illicit bankrolling a booming trade in worn by men around the waist) own and relies on imports to employs 2.2mn people.” into India have fuelled a smug- dence, and play with blood mon- transactions, such as drug trade, drugs and illegal cattle. and a polythene bag, ask them to fashion rings and other treasures Malakar pointed the fi nger at gling industry at the leaky border, ey,” he said. human traffi cking and cattle As monitoring has been defecate and there comes gold. for its booming middle class. India - the world’s largest buyer said Mustofa K Mujeri, former Khan said gold was fi nancing smuggling,” Mujeri said. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Jobs in the age of

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] artifi cial intelligence Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) The human brain may be Fax 44350474 the “most complex object in the known universe,” but, as a species, we are not always collectively GULF TIMES very smart. Best-selling science fi ction writers have long predicted that China’s rising debt we will one day invent the mountain deserves to machines that destroy us By Simon Johnson and Jonathan Ruane be a global concern Washington, DC he world has no shortage of A surprise cut in China’s debt rating by Moody’s pressing issues. There are could be a turning point for the world’s second-largest 1.6bn people living in acute economy. Here are some of the worrying factors. Tpoverty; an estimated 780mn adults are illiterate. Serious problems Government-led stimulus has been a key driver are not confi ned to the developing of China’s economic growth since late 2008. Along world: “deaths of despair,” for with that, the country has also built up a mountain of example, are raising mortality among white males in the United States. Even debt at nearly 300% of gross domestic product (GDP) when advanced economies grow, compared with around 140% before the global fi nancial they are not lifting all boats. Higher- crisis. income groups thrive while lower- Driven by low interest rates, the major driver of income households and minority groups are consistently left behind. China’s credit growth has been household debt, And now some analysts suggest that expanding by an average of 19% a year since 2011. At new forms of computer programming this pace, it could more than double the current level will compound these developments, and potentially be 70% of GDP by 2020 versus 30% in as algorithms, robots, and self-driving cars destroy middle-class jobs and 2013. worsen inequality. Even the summary The banking sector has ballooned, too, with wealth term for this technology, Artifi cial management products tripling to $3.8tn as they off er Intelligence, sounds ominous. The higher yields. The rapid unwinding of trades funded human brain may be the “most complex object in the known with margin debt fuelled the $5tn equity market slump universe,” but, as a species, we are in 2015 as well. not always collectively very smart. The trillion dollar Belt and Road (also known as Best-selling science fiction writers Silk Road) plan, the centrepiece of a soft-power push have long predicted that we will one Recent breakthroughs in AI-related technologies do off er enormous potential for positive advances in a range of day invent the machines that destroy applications from transportation to education and drug discovery. championed by President Xi Jinping, also raises fears. us. More than $250bn in China’s overseas investments The technology needed to create that what is simple for us is hard boxes,” you cannot simply read the of powerful monopolies, in order failed between 2005 and 2015, according to the China this dystopian future is not even on for even the most sophisticated AI; code to analyse what is happening to promote technological progress Global Investment Tracker, a database maintained by the horizon. But recent breakthroughs conversely, AI often can do easily what or to check if there is a hidden bias. in a way that does not leave a large in AI-related technologies do off er we regard as diffi cult. Most humans When interpretability is important number of people behind. This the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage enormous potential for positive can walk, manipulate objects, and – for example, in many medical requires improving access to all Foundation. advances in a range of applications understand complex language from an applications – you need a trained forms of education – and at low or Slowing growth in China’s $10tn-plus economy has from transportation to education and early age, never paying much attention human in the decision-making loop. zero cost. drug discovery. Used wisely, this boost to the amount of computation and Of course, this is just the state of With developed economies’ raised concerns that years of risky lending could lead in our computational abilities can energy needed to perform these technology today – and high rates of competitors, including China, to a disaster worse than the US sub-prime collapse. help the planet and some of its most tasks. Smart machines can perform investment may quickly change what investing heavily in AI, policymakers Growth fell to 6.9% in 2015, the weakest pace since vulnerable citizens. mathematical calculations far is possible. But the nature of work should be increasing support for 1990. The economy expanded 6.7% in 2016, within We can now fi nd new patterns that exceeding a human’s capabilities, but will also change. Jobs today look very basic research and ensuring that are not readily evident to the human they cannot easily climb stairs, open a diff erent from jobs 50 or even 20 years their countries have the physical the government’s expectations, though the pace was observer – and this already suggests door, and turn a valve. Or kick a soccer ago. and human resources they need to the slowest in a quarter ways to lower energy consumption ball. And new computer algorithms will invent and manufacture everything of a century. Moody’s and carbon dioxide emissions. We can Second, today’s algorithms are take time to penetrate the economy connected with this major new general The major expects growth to increase productivity in our factories becoming very good at pattern fully. Data-rich sectors such as digital purpose technology. slow to around 5% in and reduce food waste. More broadly, recognition when they are provided media and e-commerce have just We should not underestimate driver of China’s we can improve prediction far beyond with large data sets – fi nding objects begun to unleash the capabilities AI humans’ abilities to infl ict damage on coming years, saying the the ability of conventional computers. in YouTube videos or detecting credit has created. The multitude of narrow their community, their environment, credit growth economy will, however, Think of the myriad activities in which card fraud – but they are much less AI applications that could aff ect and even the entire planet. remain robust and the a one-second warning would be useful eff ective with unusual circumstances jobs in sectors such as healthcare, Apocalyptic fi ction writers may one has been or even lifesaving. that do not fi t the usual pattern, or education, and construction will take day be proved correct. But, for now, likelihood of a hard And yet the fear remains: Won’t simply when the data are scarce or much longer to spread. In fact, this we have a powerful new tool for household debt landing is slim. The these same improvements entail a bit “noisy.” To handle such cases, may come just in time – an ageing enabling all people to live better lives. government is targeting giving up all of our jobs – or most of you need a skilled person, with his or population in developed economies We should use it wisely. – Project GDP growth of around 6.5% this year. our good jobs? In fact, there are three her experience, intuition, and social implies a smaller workforce – and Syndicate reasons why the jobs apocalypse is on awareness. greater need for personal care services The fi rst hints of China’s economic performance this hold. Third, the latest systems cannot – in the coming decades. zSimon Johnson and Jonathan Ruane month suggest that a slowdown is taking hold. First, Moravec’s paradox applies. explain what they have done or why Public policy decisions will shape teach the Global Business of Artifi cial China has vowed to lower debt levels by rolling out Hans Moravec and other computer they are recommending a particular the AI era. We need opportunity Intelligence and Robotics at MIT’s steps such as debt-to-equity swaps, reforming state- scientists pointed out in the 1980s course of action. In these “black and competition, not the growth Sloan School of Management. owned enterprises and reducing excess industrial capacity. Regulators have also issued a fl urry of measures to clamp down on the shadow banking sector while the central bank has cautiously raised short-term We need a world environmental criminal court interest rates. It’s clear, for sure, from the signals emanating By Phyllis Omido stand up to polluters are paying with Despite the murders of Berta and environment and threaten residents’ from the country that China’s leaders know what the Nairobi their lives. A Global Witness report Isidro and so many others, I did health and livelihoods. documented 185 killings across 16 not fully recognise the danger of As stories like Berta’s, Isidro’s, and problems brought about by the country’s economic countries in 2015 alone. That is almost challenging a powerful government- mine demonstrate, we can no longer maturation are. But it’s not clear how far they are he announcement of the double the number of journalists killed backed operation. Soon, I received rely on state bodies, such as national willing to go to fi x the system, or let it fi x itself. A lack winners of this year’s that year. a chilling phone call warning me law enforcement, to ensure this of trust in China’s opaque economic data and a dearth Goldman Environmental My own experience highlights to watch over my son carefully. outcome, much less to investigate and of communication about policy decisions are not TPrize is an opportunity to the dangers facing environmental Environmental activists within the prosecute crimes against the planet celebrate activist leaders. But it is also crusaders. For eight years, my community were attacked, their and those who fi ght for it. That is helping, too. a moment to recognise just how much community in rural Kenya, Owino houses surrounded by thugs wielding why the world needs an independent, It’s tricky to get a clear picture of what’s happening courage their eff orts (and those of a Uhuru, has been exposed to toxic lead machetes. The son of a close ally was internationally recognised legal body in any fast-changing country. But everyone - from great many others) can demand. poisoning caused by the operations of abducted – and, fortunately, later to which communities and activists When my dear friend Berta Caceres a state-licensed smelter. The World released – by unidentifi ed men. can turn to address environmental investors to central bankers and executives - has plenty and I won the prize in 2015, Berta said Health Organisation’s measure of You might expect that the state crimes. of compelling reasons to strain to understand China’s in her acceptance speech, “I have lead poisoning is fi ve micrograms would protect its citizens from such The appointment in March 2012 of economy. given my life for the service of mother per deciliter. The highest lead level tactics, if not from being poisoned the fi rst-ever UN special rapporteur How China’s economy (which, guided by right earth.” Not long after, Berta was recorded in Owino Uhuru was 420 in the fi rst place. We broke no laws; on human rights and the environment assassinated in Honduras. Her story micrograms per decilitre. In the highly on the contrary, we have been was a positive step. But we need a policies, is still on rack to be the world’s largest) is tragic, but not unique. Indeed, just publicised contamination case in upholding Kenya’s constitution, system with teeth. Twenty years ago, fares is no longer an internal issue, but one with dire months later, Isidro Baldenegro Lopez, Flint, Michigan, the readings were 35 which guarantees citizens’ rights to the International Criminal Court was consequences for the whole world. another Goldman Environmental Prize micrograms per decilitre. a safe and healthy environment. But established to prosecute war crimes recipient, was shot dead. When my community found perhaps we should not be surprised and crimes against humanity. A There has never been a out that we were being poisoned, by the state’s behaviour. After all, in similar court should do the same for more dangerous time to be an we fought back. We wrote letters 2015, Kenya’s government voted in the crimes against the environment and To Advertise environmental activist. Consider to the government and organised UN General Assembly, along with just its defenders. the violence unleashed against the peaceful protests. With the support 13 others, against a United Nations Silencing the voices fighting to [email protected] environmental defenders protesting of my community, I founded the resolution calling for the protection of uphold environmental laws and Display the Dakota Access Pipeline in the Center for Justice, Governance, human-rights defenders. regulations is self-defeating. People Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 United States. Police were accused and Environmental Action (CJGEA) Nature provides enough for and the planet are dying. Those of using excessive force to try to to hold the state and corporations everyone’s needs, but not for who are fighting to prevent those Classified disperse members of the Standing accountable for ensuring a clean and everyone’s greed. As natural resources deaths deserve protection, not to Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Rock Sioux Tribe and their supporters, healthy environment. become scarcer, Africa’s lush, become further casualties. – Project who argued that the project would In February 2016, the CJGEA went mineral-rich lands are becoming Syndicate Subscription contaminate water and damage sacred to court against six state agencies more lucrative for investors seeking [email protected] burial sites. and two corporate entities. Nothing to maximise profi ts. But, while zPhyllis Omido, a Kenyan Fortunately, no one was killed happened. One year later, when we governments should welcome environmental activist and a winner during those protests. But elsewhere, published public notices in local opportunities for economic growth of the 2015 Goldman Environmental 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved in more fragile democracies, newspapers of our intention to sue the and job creation, they should not Prize, is a 2017 Aspen New Voices environmental campaigners who two corporations, all hell broke loose. allow companies to damage the Fellow. Gulf Times Wednesday, May 31, 2017 23 COMMENT Taming News Corp’s toxic culture

While board members harassment, while at least 20 more works closely with her father in the privately accused him of some kind of White House, is also close to the have come and gone, the workplace harassment. Murdochs. lax attitude to oversight Those accusations got him forced Until the election, she served as a out of Fox News last year. trustee of the trust fund established and accountability One person who eagerly followed for Murdoch’s youngest children, remains as entrenched as Ailes’s example is Bill O’Reilly. administering nearly $300mn in During O’Reilly’s 21 years at Fox shares in 21st Century Fox and News ever News, the network’s biggest star and Corp (both spinoff s of the original its parent company paid fi ve women News Corp) on their behalf. By Lucy P Marcus a total of $13mn to drop litigation or News Corp has shown us who and London remain publicly silent about their what it really is. sexual-harassment allegations against It is an organisation that wields him. massive power and infl uence, which it hen someone tells Two of those settlements came after has no qualms about using. you who they are,” O’Reilly’s own departure. It has hacked people’s phones with counsels the novelist The corporate culture that enabled reckless abandon. WMaya Angelou, “believe Ailes and O’Reilly to behave as they It has stuck by employees who them the fi rst time.” The same advice did was apparent even during their behave in unethical ways, while applies to companies. exit. punishing their victims. Yet, though Rupert Murdoch’s News Both were forced out only after they Most important, even after a major Corp has been telling us about itself became liabilities. scandal, it has always reverted to for years, many, from board members In O’Reilly’s case, Fox News acted business as usual as soon as public to regulators, have been eff ectively only after sponsors, worried about attention has waned. covering their ears. their own reputations, pulled their It is time for us to believe what Consider Fox News, a News Corp advertisements from his show, The News Corp is saying. subsidiary. O’Reilly Factor. More to the point, it is time for Despite the racist and sexist And the massive exit packages they The company has long prioritised profit over ethics, treasuring the men who bring in the money, however badly they those in a position to rein it in to messages that have been a staple received – $40mn for Ailes and up behave – or however flagrantly they violate the rights or dignity of their less lucrative colleagues. believe what News Corp is saying of Fox News’s reporting and to $25mn for O’Reilly – far exceeded – beginning with the independent commentary since the network the settlements quietly paid to their example of poor corporate It is about detecting and addressing minister and the chancellor of the British media regulator Ofcom, which was launched in 1996, it took more victims, who were forced out of the governance. problems aff ecting all of those exchequer. is now deciding whether the company, than 20 lawsuits alleging racial and company long before their harassers After the hacking scandal erupted, who interact with the organisation That is more than any other UK and the Murdoch family that runs it, sexual discrimination to bring real were. the board was uncritically supportive including, for example, the family of media organisation, and it doesn’t is fi t to proceed with its acquisition recognition to the problem. The problem pervades News Corp. of Murdoch. Seth Rich, the murder victim around include informal gatherings, dinner of Sky. The unsurprising truth is that the The long-serving editor of Though Murdoch stepped down as whom Fox News host Sean Hannity parties, and events surrounding high- News Corp should serve as a company has long prioritised profi t the United Kingdom-based Sun News Corp’s CEO in 2015, he remains has spun a bizarre – and thoroughly level meetings. cautionary tale for regulators, over ethics, treasuring the men who newspaper was recently dismissed Executive Chairman. refuted – conspiracy theory. Likewise, in the United States, independent board members, and bring in the money, however badly for a column making a racist Not much has changed since then. Given News Corp’s far-reaching Murdoch apparently speaks with investors alike. they behave – or however fl agrantly comparison between a soccer player While board members have come infl uence, the failure of its board is all President Donald Trump himself on a When dealing with major they violate the rights or dignity of and a gorilla. and gone (it now includes José María the more consequential. regular basis. companies and the sometimes- their less lucrative colleagues. In 2011, employees of the UK tabloid Aznar, a former prime minister of News Corp senior executives have When UK politician Michael Gove formidable fi gures who run them, During his 20-year tenure, News of the World were accused of Spain, and Kelly Ayotte, a recently long enjoyed extraordinary access to and German journalist Kai Diekmann vigilant and rigorous oversight is vital. Roger Ailes, the former CEO of Fox engaging in phone hacking, police defeated US senator), the lax attitude the UK government. conducted the first post-election For companies like News Corp, it News, fostered an environment bribery, and exercising improper to oversight and accountability In one 18-month period – from interview by a foreign newspaper seems clear that root-and-branch rife with bullying, harassment, and infl uence. remains as entrenched as ever. April 2015 to September 2016 – News with then-President-Elect Trump, change will not happen otherwise.– misconduct. News Corp’s board of directors, News Corp’s board apparently fails Corp leaders, including Murdoch Murdoch was in the room, though Project Syndicate And, apparently, he led by example: which at the time of the hacking to grasp that corporate governance himself, had some 20 offi cial that detail went unreported for some before he died earlier this month, ten scandal included venture capitalist is not just about protecting the meetings with senior government time. zLucy P Marcus is CEO of Marcus women publicly accused him of sexual Thomas Perkins was a textbook company’s bottom line. representatives, including the prime Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, who Venture Consulting. Weather report Clinton the Third? Chelsea courts limelight Three-day forecast TODAY High: 43 C By Jennie Matthew/ AFP cry for female opposition to Trump’s dollar apartment in Manhattan Republican administration. opposite Madison Square Park. Low : 33 C New York Inshore: Hot daytime with blowin Published by Penguin Random No other US former fi rst child is so dust to dusty at places at times. House, pre-orders made the book a prominent, but Chelsea saturation has helsea Clinton, the 37-year- number one best-seller on Amazon’s also provoked a bitter backlash, even old only child of Bill and list of women biographies for children. among publications with little love for THURSDAY Hillary Clinton, is fuelling “I’m far more focused on what we Trump. High: 40 C speculation that she could do to protect and advance progress “Please, God, Stop Chelsea Low: 32 C C Cloudy one day run for offi ce – honing her than what happened last year,” Clinton Clinton From Whatever She Is Twitter profi le, publishing a new book told NBC’s Today Show yesterday, Doing,” ran the headline on a and becoming increasingly vocal in when asked how the family had dealt stinging slap down from Vanity Fair the wake of her mother’s presidential with her mother’s loss to Trump six in April, warning “the last thing the FRIDAY defeat. months ago. left needs is the third iteration of a High: 40 C Gone is the publicity-shy former “I don’t know if that’s just in my failed political dynasty.” Low: 31 C fi rst daughter with bouncy curls DNA or if it’s trying to live up to the “Unkind as it is to say, reading Cloudy – replaced by a tireless liberal example that my parents have always anything by Chelsea Clinton – tweets, campaigner, who last year criss- set for me that we always look toward interviews, books – is best compared crossed the country to tell Americans the future.” to taking in spoonfuls of plain oatmeal Fishermen’s forecast why they should elect her mother the Of her tweets – to which The that, periodically, conceal a toenail OFFSHORE DOHA fi rst US woman commander-in-chief. New York Times in March devoted clipping,” the magazine wrote. Wind: NW 20-30/40 KT Her mother’s loss at the polls to a more than 1,000 words dissecting Critics say, that like her mother, she Waves: 8-10/14 Feet billionaire former reality star has only her “sarcastic and feisty online struggles to connect with ordinary INSHORE DOHA Chelsea: liberal campaigner Wind: NW 18-30/45 KT seemed to fuel Clinton’s ire. personality” – she told NBC: “We all voters and she has been mocked for Waves: 2-4/5 Feet She deluges her 1.7mn followers picture book for children called She have a responsibility to not stay silent saying of her time working in fi nance: on Twitter with outrage about Persisted about 13 diverse US women now. I think we have to speak up.” “I was curious if I could care about Around the region Donald Trump’s administration, who “changed the world.” A school girl during her father’s (money) on some fundamental level, Weather Weather and thoughts on everything from Her mother makes only a cameo 1993-2001 presidency, Chelsea went and I couldn’t.” today Max/min tomorrow Max/min World Menstrual Hygiene Day to appearance but included in the line-up on to earn degrees from Stanford, Yet the Trump election has left Abu Dhabi Sunny 37/30 Sunny 37/31 child marriage, as the media devotes are Oprah Winfrey, deaf and blind Oxford and Columbia University, Democrats still searching for a clear Baghdad Sunny 38/22 Sunny 36/22 Dubai Sunny 41/28 Sunny champion Helen Keller, former slave before stints on Wall Street and as an leader. 39/28 column inches to whether she will Kuwait City Cloudy 44/30 Cloudy 41/29 run for office. Harriet Tubman, the fi rst American NBC “special correspondent” on a “Right now most Democrats are Manama Cloudy 38/32 Cloudy 36/31 Chelsea’s offi cial line is she’s not - woman in space Sally Ride and reported $600,000 salary. looking for new candidates with new Muscat Sunny 39/34 Sunny 39/33 but in true politician style, she often Olympic sprint champion Florence Today vice president of the Clinton ideas, but Chelsea Clinton has always Riyadh Sunny 43/28 Sunny 42/27 couches those denials with caveats Griffi th Joyner. family foundation, and an adjunct been bright and capable,” political Tehran Sunny 35/22 Sunny 34/20 such as “right now, no.” The title was inspired by a assistant professor of health policy analyst and veteran of Democratic That speculation returned to the phrase used to silence left-leaning and management at Columbia campaigns, Jamal Simmons, told AFP. fore yesterday with the publication of Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren University, she and husband Marc “She can succeed at whatever goal her third book – a 28-page hardback – an expression adopted as a rallying Mezvinsky live in a multi-million- she sets her mind to,” he said. Live issues Should I use cotton buds to clean my ears?

Everyone – even American Academy of Otolaryngology not to put anything smaller than your – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, elbow into your ear, but a study of healthcare professionals – state that cotton buds should not be 141 health professionals found that will have done it at some used for cleaning ears. more than 90% stuck cotton buds, Buds don’t remove wax so much as matchsticks and even safety pins in Around the world point. But it’s dangerous push it down the ear canal so that it their ears to clean them. About 1 in Weather Weather – and, thanks to the ear’s impacts on the ear drum. And there 10 injured their ears, cutting the ear today Max/min tomorrow Max/min is no need to remove wax anyway – it canal or perforating the eardrum. Athens Sunny 28/17 Sunny 31/19 self-cleaning mechanism, protects our ears from infection and Even more dangerous is ear candling; Beirut Sunny 24/20 Sunny 23/20 Bangkok P Cloudy P Cloudy 33/27 damage, has antibacterial properties, putting a hollow candle into the 32/27 unnecessary Berlin P Cloudy 23/08 Sunny 23/08 and traps dust and dirt in the ear canal, ear that is burning at one end risks Cairo Sunny 37/20 Sunny 33/18 thereby stopping it from reaching serious injuries such as hearing loss, Cape Town Sunny 21/12 M Sunny 21/11 the more delicate eardrum. This ear canal burns and hair fi res. Don’t Colombo T Storms 29/26 T Storms 29/26 By Luisa Dillner T Storms 32/26 self-cleansing includes a conveyor do it. Dhaka 32/27 T Storms Guardian News and Media Hong Kong S T Storms 29/28 S T Storms 29/27 belt mechanism by which old wax is If you are unlucky enough to have Istanbul Sunny 24/17 P Cloudy 25/18 shunted out of the ear canal to the Don’t do it! One in 10 people injures wax blocking your ear then check Jakarta S T Storms 31/25 S T Storms 31/25 ho doesn’t enjoy opening of the ear by the movement of their ears sticking inappropriate things the diagnosis at your doctors. You Karachi Sunny 34/28 P Cloudy 36/28 sticking a cotton bud the jaw through eating or talking. The into them. will need eardrops to soften the wax. London Showers 22/12 M Sunny 24/12 Manila S T Storms 34/24 S T Storms 34/28 in their ear? To twist old, dry wax fl akes off or gets washed Studies show that both the water- Moscow S Showers 21/13 S Showers 17/07 gently, pull it out and off in the shower. Wax is made in the a sense of the ear having a plug in and oil-based ones work – saline New Delhi M Sunny 39/28 P Cloudy 39/28 W New York P Cloudy M Sunny 24/14 examine the white tip turned to outer third of the ear canal, so when it, hearing loss or ringing in the is less likely than oil to irritate the 24/16 yellow? Q-tips were part of many it is seen piled up against the eardrum ears. However, one in 20 adults do ear. If the wax won’t shift you may Paris M Sunny 25/14 M Sunny 27/16 Sao Paulo P Cloudy P Cloudy 24/17 it is often because we have shoved it make more wax and or can’t get rid need irrigation or a trained person 23/17 childhoods. The Q-tips website has Seoul M Cloudy 28/18 P Cloudy 26/13 users sharing how they use buds to down there ourselves. The bottom of it; hearing-aid users often have to remove it with an instrument. Singapore S T Storms 30/27 P Cloudy 31/27 clean not only ears but toilet cisterns line is that most ears do not need to be accumulated wax, for instance. But As for your ear buds, stick to the Sydney Cloudy 15/09 Sunny 16/09 and pistols. Which is just as well, as cleaned, except on the outside. cotton buds will still only make things manufacturers’ suggested arts and Tokyo Clear 27/21 Rain 24/19 guidelines released last week by the Impacted wax can cause earache, worse. Medical students are taught crafts uses. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, May 31, 2017 QATAR City caught up in hot, dusty, windy weather iff erent parts of Qatar, including Doha, experi- Denced a hot, windy and dusty Tuesday and similar con- ditions are expected today as well. The temperature rose to 47C in Al Rayyan and 46C in Doha and other places as people had to cope with a combination of scorching conditions, strong winds and low The West Bay skyline shrouded in dust. PICTURE: Jayan Orma visibility due to dust. In particular, those using highways were warned to be ex- tra careful as visibility dropped sharply at a number of places. The Qatar Met department also advised people to avoid expo- sure to direct sunlight in view of the rising mercury level. In Doha and surrounding areas, too, the strong northwesterly winds Sand swirling across a road yesterday. PICTURE: Ram Chand caused blowing dust at a number of places. also likely in off shore areas. The drop to 2km or less. It is likely to On its part, the weather offi ce wind (northwesterly) speed will be dusty in off shore areas as well. issued alerts on its social media be 18-30 knots inshore, reach- A maximum temperature of channels, advising people to be ing a high of 45 knots at times 43C is likely in Doha, Mesaieed cautious in the prevailing con- in some places during the day and Wakrah today, followed by ditions to ensure their safety. It and decreasing to 15-25 knots 42C in Al Khor. also re-issued a list, prepared in by night. Off shore, the wind Yesterday, a maximum of 47C co-ordination with the Ministry (northwesterly) speed will range was recorded in Al Rayyan, 46C of Public Health, of safety pre- from 20-30 knots, going up to in Doha (airport area), Qatar cautions to be followed during 40 knots in some areas occasion- University area, Al Khor, Wakrah, dusty conditions. ally, while the sea level may rise Mesaieed and Turayna, and 44C In its forecast for today, the to 14ft. in Sheehaniya, Batna and Karana. Met department has said strong The detailed forecast also Recently, the Met department winds are once again expected in states that it will be hot during had said northwesterly windy most areas today along with poor the daytime inshore and dusty conditions — locally called ‘Al- visibility. conditions will prevail in some Bawarih’ — were expected to last Windy conditions, high seas areas at times. until this weekend — especially and poor visibility due to dust are Visibility, meanwhile, may from Tuesday until Thursday. Windy and dusty conditions prevailed around the country yesterday. PICTURE: Ram Chand MEC inspection campaign Fishermen wait for restrictions to end, weather to improve

By Ramesh Mathew fi shermen revealed that most of view of the conditions.“Winds Staff Reporter them had docked their vessels, in the off shore areas are rela- especially the smaller ones, in tively strong now. Also, with the diff erent jetties and were wait- period of seasonal restrictions ost fi shing vessels in ing for seasonal restrictions to about to get over, no one wants the country are now get over. to venture out for fi shing activi- Mberthed as they wait ties now,” said the ‘captain’ of a for the annual two-month sea- Off shore areas have been vessel berthed in Doha. sonal restrictions to be lifted as experiencing windy Some fi shermen, meanwhile, well as the weather to improve, conditions over the past said the demand for fi sh was it is learnt. few days expected to be “relatively low” These boats have completed during the fi rst fortnight of Ra- their monthly quota of 12 days Some of them also said the madan as compared to that of of fi shing activity, as stipulated prevailing weather conditions meat. So, there could be a mar- by the authorities during this were also not conducive for ginal fall in the retail price of period, and are now docked at their activities. Off shore areas some of the sought-after varie- The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has conducted a sudden inspection campaign on the fruits and vegetables outlets fi shing jetties in Doha, Wakrah, have been experiencing windy ties over the next week or so. at various places in the country, in order to exercise tighter control on the local retail market. The campaign resulted in issuing Al Khor, Dukhan and Shamal. conditions and high waves over “However, after the fi rst 14 four violation reports for not posting price tags and proper information labels on the products on display, which violated article no Every year, fi shing activities in the past few days, and this spell days, the demand for fi sh usu- 7 of law no 8 for 2008 on consumer protection. The violating outlets were issued violation reports in addition to a fine of QR6,000 the country are regulated be- is expected to continue until ally shoots up and there would for the violation. Meanwhile, MEC stressed that it would continue the inspection campaigns to protect the rights of consumers and tween April 1 and May 31 during this weekend. The weather of- certainly be more buyers,” said implement the stipulations of the related laws and regulations. the fi sh breeding season. fi ce has also advised people to a fi sh stall operator at a hyper- Interactions with with some avoid venturing into the sea in market in the city.

New underpass on Rawdat Al Khail Mada certifi es MoFA website as accessible for the disabled Street to be opened tomorrow A new underpass as part of the East Street 33 Interchange on its Rawdat ada Assistive Technol- the Ministry of Transport and Al Khail Street Extension project (Doha -Industrial Area road) will be ogy Centre has awarded Communications. opened tomorrow (June 1). The new one-km underpass is located at the Mits e-Accessibility cer- Maha al-Mansouri, CEO intersection of East Industrial Street and Industrial Area Road and will tifi cation to Qatar’s Ministry of of Mada, said: “We value this provide three lanes in each direction. Combined with the flyover which Foreign Aff airs (MoFA) as the partnership with the Ministry recently opened at the same interchange, road users will benefit from latter’s website is now accessible of Foreign Aff airs and their ef- free flow of traff ic between Doha and the Industrial Area. to Persons with Disabilities, al- forts towards meeting the global Ashghal is in the final stages of the construction of an at-grade lows for ease of use and follows standards for e-Accessibility. signalised intersection which will enable multiple traff ic flow the Web Content Accessibility The website is now accessible for movements. The signalised intersection is the final phase of the East Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2.0 AA). Persons with Disabilities and a Street 33 Interchange, scheduled to be completed in July 2017. Until This step “helps unlock poten- plan will be put in place in order then, some at-grade traff ic movements will be restricted. Road users are tials for Persons with Disabilities to ensure continuous access to advised to follow diversion signage and routes (as shown on the map), and empowers them in all as- all of the ministry’s digital plat- and abide by the 50kph speed limit to ensure their safety. pects of their lives”, according to forms.” a press statement. Dr Saif Mohamed al-Kuwari, The partnership is part of director of the Information Tech- Mada’s “eff orts to promote and nology Department at MoFA, activate e-Accessibility policies thanked the Mada Centre man- based on the centre’s belief that agement and team for its sup- Persons with Disabilities have port. In order to achieve the best the right to access digital con- results, Mada Centre launched tent”. an integrated programme called Also, this is one of the most ‘e-Accessibility to Websites’ important provisions of the UN in early-2017. The programme Convention when it comes to the MoFA and Mada off icials mark the occasion. aimed to support access services rights of Persons with Disabili- on government websites and ca- ties, and “one of the pillars of the with a number of government in- workshops to illustrate how to designers working on the devel- pacity building. national policy that focuses on stitutions, including MoFA, who design accessible websites and opment of government websites The programme courses are digital accessibility”, the state- would raise awareness on the applications, which followed and mobile applications in Qatar. extended over a year and held in ment notes. concept of e-Accessibility. The global standards. These are all in line with inter- co-ordination and co-operation At the beginning of 2017, Mada centre also organised a series of These workshops were also national standards and Qatar’s with government agencies in the Centre announced partnerships training courses and specialised conducted for developers and e-Accessibility Policy, issued by country.