BUSINESSBUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Knockout berth at stake as Al Rayyan Lift ing of North Field clash with moratorium to help boost Qatar growth Al Ain published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10789 April 15, 2018 Rajab 29, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Moroccan princess arrives Qatar urges FIFA talks In brief on 48-team World Cup Qatar,” said a spokesperson for Qatar’s ter handed to Gianni Infantino. QATAR | Diplomacy AFP Doha Supreme Committee for Delivery & The FIFA president has called the Emir returns home Legacy in a statement. proposal a “very interesting idea” and “Regardless of the outcome - we promised to look into it. aft er ending US visit atar World Cup organisers have are confi dent in our ability to deliver a The Qatar tournament will be His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim told FIFA it was “important” successful World Cup in 2022.” played over 28 days to accommodate bin Hamad al-Thani returned to Qto hold talks before any fi nal Qatar was responding to a re- the switch to playing the tournament Doha yesterday from the United decision was taken to expand the 2022 quest by the South American Foot- in November and December. By con- States after concluding a one-week tournament to 48 teams. ball Confederation (CONMEBOL), trast, the World Cup in Russia this year visit during which he met President In the fi rst response by the Gulf na- which on April 12 at its congress will be played over 32 days. Donald Trump, off icials and business tion since the shock news that FIFA is formally asked FIFA to introduce Qatar, which is spending billions on executives, and discussed a range looking at bringing forward its plan the plan to expand team numbers in the fi rst World Cup to be staged in the of issues of joint interest that will to increase the number of World Cup time for Qatar. Middle East, is currently only planning contribute to enhancing strategic teams by four years, Qatar also said it Football’s governing body had al- to use eight venues in 2022. Russia will relations between the two countries. was confi dent it could still deliver a ready agreed to enlarge the tournament use 12. “successful” tournament, regardless from the current 32 teams - which is If indeed the 48-team World Cup is QATAR | Statistics of the fi nal decision. how many are currently scheduled to okayed for Qatar, it will mean an ad- “Before any decision is taken it is play in Qatar - for the 2026 tourna- ditional 16 matches and will result in a 93,973 visitors used free important that discussions are held ment. longer tournament with the possibility visa facility in March on the operations and logistics of an CONMEBOL president Alejandro of some matches being held in neigh- A total of 93,973 visitors entered increase in size of the tournament in Dominguez made the request in a let- bouring countries. Qatar by using the visa-free facility in March, which marked a 30.3% increase from February when 72,110 people had availed of the facility, according to figures issued by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) yesterday. Qatar backs strikes against Syrian sites Page 6 QNA ternational community to protect the and the relevant Security Council reso- Doha Syrian people and to strip the regime lutions, meeting the legitimate aspira- of internationally prohibited weapons. tions of the brotherly Syrian people . Holding the Syrian regime fully A report from Riyadh adds: The Gulf atar has expressed its support responsible for the use of chemi- Co-operation Council (GCC) yester- for the US, British and French cal weapons against the civilians in day expressed its support for the joint Qmilitary operations against Douma, the statement called on the missile strike carried out by the United specifi c military targets used by the Security Council to shoulder its re- States, Britain and France against Syr- Syrian regime in launching attacks on sponsibilities to stop the crimes of the ian military installations in response to innocent civilians. regime and its use of internationally the use of chemical weapons in Douma The Foreign Ministry said in a state- prohibited weapons, and to bring the in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta. ment yesterday that the continued perpetrators of those crimes to inter- Earlier yesterday, the US, Britain and Princess Lalla Hasna, sister of King Mohamed VI of Morocco, arrived in Doha use by the Syrian regime of chemical national justice. France carried out a co-ordinated mili- yesterday to attend the off icial inauguration of Qatar National Library, slated for weapons against the civilians, and its The statement reiterated the support tary strike against specifi c targets in tomorrow. Princess Lalla Hasna was welcomed upon arrival by HE Sheikha Al disregard for the humanitarian and of Qatar for all international eff orts Syria in the wake of the chemical attack Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums Board of legal consequences of such crimes, aimed at reaching a political solution in the Eastern Ghouta city of Douma. Trustees. Page 24 requires immediate action by the in- based on the 2012 Geneva Statement Page 11 Gulf Times 2 Sunday, April 15, 2018 QATAR Minister visits exhibition in

South Carolina HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani and other dignitaries at the exhibition. E the Minister of Econ- omy and Commerce HSheikh Ahmed bin Jas- sim bin Mohamed al-Thani yes- terday visited, in Charleston, South Carolina, the second edi- tion of the exhibition accom- panying the ongoing economic roadshow in the US. The minister, accompanied by Mohamed Barakat, executive di- rector of the US-Qatar Business Council, toured various sections of the exhibition, which was inaugurated yesterday. He was briefed on the vari- ous pavilions and entities taking part in the exhibition, including the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), Supreme Committee for Delivery & Leg- acy, Doha Film Institute and Qatar Foundation for Educa- tion, Science and Community Development, among others. In addition, some US com- panies that have key projects in Qatar are also taking part in HE Sheikh Ahmed during his tour of the exhibition. the event, Occidental Petro- leum, Boeing, ExxonMobil and Qatar and its heritage and cul- economic and investment part- of Qatar, particularly in terms ConocoPhillips. ture, in addition to introducing nership with the US, as it is a of major development projects The minister stressed that the the country’s capabilities and part of the economic roadshow to achieve Qatar National Vi- event plays an important role in economic competitiveness in the visiting four US cities in its fi rst sion 2030 and projects related to enhancing communication with region, besides promoting Qa- phase - Miami, Washington, DC, Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA the local communities in the tar as a safe and reliable invest- Charleston and Raleigh,” he said World Cup. American cities covered by the ment destination, according to a on the sidelines of the event. The fi rst edition of the exhi- roadshow. statement by the MEC. The exhibition aims to high- bition was organised at Miami, He explained that the exhibi- “This exhibition embodies light Qatari culture and herit- Florida, while the third will be tion sheds light on the history of Qatar’s keenness to establish age and the economic strength held in Raleigh, North Carolina. Various aspects of Qatari heritage and culture are highlighted at the event. Bani Hajer interchange opened ‘Siege has had no eff ect on Ashghal projects’ By Ramesh Mathew lanes in each direction for a dis- Staff Reporter tance of 2.4km between Gharra- senior Public Works Au- fat Al Rayyan interchange and Al thority (Ashghal) has Wajbah Bridge, covering a total Aexpressed satisfaction at he Public Works Author- of 5.5km on Khalifa Avenue fol- the pace of implementation of ity (Ashghal) has opened lowing the opening of 3.1km of vital segments of Expressway TBani Hajer interchange, the carriageway from west of the projects despite the ongoing which will provide free-fl owing Tilted Interchange and Ghar- siege of the country. traffi c between Doha, Dukhan, rafat Al Rayyan interchange in Speaking to the media yester- Bani Hajer and Al Rayyan. December last year. day, Ashghal Expressway depart- The interchange is part of the Ashghal has said the opening ment manager Youssef al-Emadi Yousef al-Emadi, manager, nearly QR7bn Khalifa Avenue of these vital sections “remark- reiterated that the blockade has Expressway department, Ashghal. project. ably enhances” traffi c move- had no eff ect on the progress of The feeder was inaugurated by ment, especially between Doha infrastructure projects imple- Brigadier Mohamed Mari- Ashghal’s Expressway Depart- and Dukhan. mented by the authority. fi ya, the Ministry of Interior’s ment manager Youssef al-Emadi Also, the construction of a “Ashghal has been working Traffi c Engineering and Safety and the Ministry of Interior’s 1.3km fl yover and underpass was hard for the last several months Department manager, said the Traffi c Engineering and Safety accomplished to connect traf- to maintain the pace of works new interchange would enhance Department manager Brigadier fi c heading from Al Rayyan Road Senior off icials, along with workers involved in the project, at the opening of the Bani Hajer Interchange yesterday. and ensured the supply of ad- traffi c in the area, providing free Mohamed Marifi ya in the pres- towards Dukhan Road. equate quantities of alternative movement leading to and from ence of a number of Ashghal staff Two right ramps, one for re- The authority, meanwhile, local materials for the smooth Doha, Dukhan, Bani Hajer and members, project engineers and ceiving commuters from Doha stressed that the opening of a construction of projects. For Al Rayyan. It will provide easy workers. to Bani Hajer via Khalifa Avenue 3.1km section of the main car- instance, the Bani Hajer In- access to Al Gharafa, Al Wajbah With the opening of the and the other for travellers com- riageway of Khalifa Avenue, to terchange has been completed and nearby vital businesses. multi-level interchange in Bani ing from Bani Hajer to Dukhan stretch from the west of Tilted using Qatari-made materials. The Bani Hajer Underpass, Hajer, temporary diversions will via Al Shahama Street, have also Interchange to the east of Bani Approximately 35,000sq m of which is part of the Khalifa Av- be removed and traffi c will be been opened. Hajer Interchange, has alleviat- concrete, 19,000 tonnes of as- enue project with two lanes in shifted onto permanent routes Two more loops connect- ed congestion on the main road phalt and 6,000 tonnes of re- each direction accommodating via the new junction. It will ing Bani Hajer Underpass, too, as well as inforced steel were used in the up to 4,000 vehicles per hour, help reduce transit time in the were opened, to link traffi c from local approaches in Al Gharafa construction,” he added. was opened in the fi rst week of area signifi cantly, according to Dukhan to Bani Hajer and from and Bani Hajer, thereby im- As for the Bani Hajer Inter- February. Ashghal. Bani Hajer to Doha. proving traffi c movement for change, al-Emadi said the new Ashghal also installed all nec- The authorities said the pre- The opened section includes the benefi t of residents of junction will improve traffi c essary utility works, including vious Bani Hajer roundabout’s a right turn to exit commuters such places. movement and connectivity drainage systems as well as lights complete conversion into a coming from Al Rayyan Road to Ashghal has also opened Al there as it will serve congested and signage, to ensure the safety three-level interchange will en- Khalifa Avenue in the direction Wajbah Bridge after upgrading and populated areas such as Bani of road users. sure free traffi c movement of ap- towards Doha. the old bridge from two lanes to Hajer and Al Rayyan along with The underpass is a vital point, proximately 1,500 vehicles per “However, the opening of an- three. the key establishments like Qa- catering to the residents of Bani hour. The intersection has be- other three routes was delayed: The Khalifa Avenue project tar Foundation’s Education City, Hajer and Al Rayyan and con- come a key access point for three the fi rst one is a fl yover that al- runs from the Al Wajbah Palace The interchange will provide free-flowing traff ic between Doha, which are visited by thousands necting Al Shahama Street in major arteries of Khalifa Avenue, lows traffi c from Doha towards interchange (west) to the Tilted Dukhan, Bani Hajer and Al Rayyan. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam of people every day. Bani Hajer with Al Rayyan Dukhan Road and Al Rayyan Al Rayyan, the second is a road Interchange (east) and along The senior offi cial informed Al Jadeed Street in Al Rayyan. Road along with the residential linking traffi c from Dukhan to- Al Gharafa Road from Al Rayy- construction of approximately sides seven major free-fl owing that about 68% of the Khalifa Road users from Al Shahama areas around. wards Al Rayyan, and the third an Street (south) to Thani bin 11.6km of dual carriageway with interchanges, service roads and Avenue works have been com- Street now have direct access to The Khalifa Avenue carriage- one is the Camel Bridge,” Ash- Jassim Street (north). four lanes in each direction, re- auxiliary lanes along sections of pleted and the project will be Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street and way saw the opening of four ghal said in a statement. The project includes the placing a three-lane road, be- the road. fully open to traffi c by late-2018. Al Rayyan, and vice-versa. Met offi ce predicts rain again from this evening

he chances of rain are There is a chance of scattered likely off shore, too, along with cies and Risks, along with rain expected to resume this rain both inshore and off shore, high seas. emergency teams from various Tevening, the Qatar Met which may become thundery The wind speed may go up to municipalities, drained out more department has said. at times in some areas. The rain 25 knots inshore and 22 knots than 1.5mn gallons of rainwa- The spell of ‘unsettled weath- will be accompanied by strong off shore during thundershowers, ter that had accumulated in er’ is likely to continue until winds, which may attain a speed with the sea level rising to 7ft at diff erent parts of the country. Wednesday. of 30kt, causing rising dust and times. The work was carried out The Met department has urged high waves up to 8ft. The temperature in Doha is in 375 batches. people to be cautious and check In general, the rainfall is ex- expected to range from 24-33C Safar Mubarak al-Shafi , weather conditions before ventur- pected to range from light to today. chairman of the committee, fol- ing into the sea during this period, moderate, while temperatures The Met department has ad- lowing the recent spell of show- in view of the expected conditions. will be around their average lev- vised people to follow latest up- ers, rain emergency teams in all In a report yesterday, the de- els for this time of the year, hov- dates through its offi cial social municipalities exerted the nec- partment said “unsettled weath- ering between 25C and 35C, the media accounts. essary eff orts and used all re- er conditions” are expected to report states. Rainwater removed: The quired equipment and tankers to return to the country from this Today’s detailed forecast says Ministry of Municipality and remove rainwater from diff erent evening until Wednesday due to thundery rain is expected in Environment (MME) yester- places. They also addressed all the “passage of an upper-level the country along with strong day said its Joint Committee of water-related reports, the MME low-pressure system”. winds. Similar conditions are Combating Rainwater Emergen- said in a statement. Tankers engaged in removing rainwater from a street. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 3 QATAR Top-notch exhibitors set to attend Cityscape Qatar Ethics Week aims to create awareness of professional ethics and pportunities to invest in players as well as illustrated an Iyimaya Muhendislik Insaat AS, FIFA World Cup. Exhibitor United Villaggio Mall, Paramount Tower, ethical behaviour in the workplace. Qatar’s real-estate mar- increase in size and attendance, Richland Consultants Inc from Development Company (UDC) Al Asmakh Lusail 1 - Fox Hills, and Oket will take centre stage according to a statement by the the US and real-estate companies will launch Giardino Village’s Regency Residence - Viva Bahriya Texas A&M at Qatar holds at Cityscape Qatar this year, es- organisers. from Georgia, Cyprus and Paki- low-rise building plots, which are 7, among others. pecially as momentum builds Exhibitors at Cityscape Qa- stan. available for private development, Lamias Finanos, marketing sixth annual ethics week behind new and existing projects tar will have the opportunity to With expected visitor numbers plus independent villa plots and manager of Just Real Estate, said from the country’s major devel- showcase their projects and serv- of more than 7,000 across the UDC’s completed villas. they will showcase new local and Texas A&M at Qatar (Tamuq) the special importance Texas opers, the organisers have said. ices to global real-estate investors four-day event, Cityscape Qatar UDC senior logistics and qual- international residential proper- recently hosted its sixth annual A&M places on it through its own Cityscape Qatar 2018, in its and fi nanciers, developers across 2018 will bring together the real- ity control manager Elias Massaad ties. Ethics Week, with the goal of core values and its Honor Code, seventh edition, will open its all asset classes, architects and estate community from around said, “We will also be utilising “Our focus for Cityscape 2018 creating awareness about profes- which aim to hold Aggies to a doors from April 22 to 25 at the urban planners, consultants and the globe to enhance and support Cityscape as a platform to high- will be on the launch of Baywalk sional ethics and the significance high code of ethics and personal Doha Exhibition and Convention representatives from investment the growth of the industry under light the exciting sales and leasing on The Pearl-Qatar. Furthermore, of ethical behaviour in the work- conduct. Students and faculty Centre with an opportunity for and economic agencies and cities. Qatar National Vision 2030, while off ers on our completed projects we are extremely pleased to be place and life in general. deliberated about its merits and leading local, regional and inter- Astad, Cityscape Qatar’s stra- enabling all participants to see in various precincts of The Pearl- showcasing our prestigious THE The week’s events were application. Mechanical engineer- national exhibitors to meet and tegic project management part- Qatar’s future and the opportuni- Qatar. e18hteen commercial building organised by The Initiative in ing prof Dr Eyad Masad said, “If build relationships with many ner, Just Real Estate, Place Ven- ties arising from 2022 FIFA World The focus will be on Al-Mu- (winner of the 2018 best commer- Professional Ethics (TIPE) and you cheat, in 20 years you will home buyers, investors and senior dome and Msheireb Properties Cup, the statement notes. tahidah Towers, located on the cial high rise in Qatar) in Lusail supported by the Council of know you do not deserve your executives involved in the design will be among the top local com- Several projects that will be dis- beachfront precinct of Viva City. Debating Engineers, a Tamuq [Aggie] ring. Looking back, that’s and construction of public and panies exhibiting. cussed and highlighted through- Bahriya, and now in phase three “Additionally, we will also be student organisation. TIPE is sup- what’s going to hurt the most. private real-estate developments They will be joined by regional out the exhibition, some of which of sales.” showcasing some of our exciting ported by Qapco. Protect yourself now from this in Qatar and internationally. and international heavyweights will be part of Qatar National Vi- Carole Sabbagah of Place Ven- international properties, includ- Collectively more than 250 feeling 20 years from now. The Cityscape Qatar 2018, the pre- Mirage International Property sion 2030, include the Qatar Rail dome said they are excited to ing Buyukyali in Turkey, and in- students, faculty and staff from pressure you think you are in mier event for the real-estate Consultants, Qatar Rail Devel- project, the hospitality industry showcase a unique range of luxury novative new development in one Tamuq and other campuses in college will increase by orders of industry in Qatar, has garnered opment Programme, as well as and the state-of-the-art stadi- properties, including Place Ven- of the world’s most cosmopolitan Education City participated in magnitude in the workplace.” huge interest from chief industry Turkish companies Istihale and ums being developed for the 2022 dome, which is opening in 2019, cities,” Finanos said. Ethics Week events this year. The The student-faculty debate saw week featured activities included the faculty team of Dr Michael an interactive discussion on Schuller, Raelene Gibson and Dr Delegation from Higer bus company visits Mowasalat academic integrity and the Aggie Phillip Gray compete against a Honor Code, an ethics bowl, a team of students from across film screening and discussion Education City. The teams Mowasalat chairman Nasser bin Mohammed since the latter was chosen as the off icial and a faculty and student debate debated whether it’s wise to ban al-Malki and managing director and CEO transport provider for the 2006 Asian Games. in which students participated research that extends human life Khaled Nasser al-Hail recently received and Mowasalat is the national land transport serv- from campuses across Education indefinitely. hosted a delegation from Higer Bus Company ices provider that meets all transport needs of City. Dr Hassan Bashir, associate The students argued for the ban, of China. Higer managing director Huang Qatar – from public and school transportation professor in the Liberal Arts Pro- saying that it will only benefit Shuping, regional manager Xi Wen, sales man- to major events and contractual services. gramme and founding director the 1% as most healthcare is ager Wu Rong and service engineer Fu Cong The company is preparing to enhance its fleet of TIPE, said, “Ethics Week high- reserved for the lucky few nowa- were part of the delegation, Mowasalat said in of vehicles, operations, drivers and manage- lights the importance of ethics days anyway. Faculty argued a statement. ment in addition to adopt the best training in daily life with events geared against the ban, referencing the The visit is part of a series of mutual visits programmes that incorporate the latest as a way to engage students foolishness in banning research between the two parties, reinforcing the technologies and innovations in transport and make them play a key role and not considering how life 12-year-long business relationship between field, with skilled engineers and technicians in in what they get out of it. We has drastically improved for all the two companies. It was an opportunity to servicing the vehicles and providing technical teach ethical practices that are because of similarly themed discuss some of the main issues and future support. the backbone of the engineering research. projects and the possible means to develop Mowasalat is expanding with the aim to profession and complement the Tamuq dean Dr Cesar Octavio common areas of business for mutual benefit, achieve successful delivery of the 2022 FIFA Aggie core values of excellence, Malave said, “Ethics is vital to the statement notes. World Cup and also in meeting the transport integrity, leadership, loyalty, the engineering industry and Higer is one of the major bus suppliers to Qa- ministry’s vision to comply with Smart City respect and selfless service.” something Texas A&M at Qatar tar and one of the main partners of Mowasalat mobility solutions, the statement adds. Mowasalat and Higer off icials mark the occasion. Ethics Week began with a discus- strives to instil in future Aggie sion on academic integrity and engineers.” VCUarts Qatar to host South Korean artist’s ‘Transition’ exhibition

irginia Commonwealth Uni- spatial surfaces, such as construction artists to fl ourish beyond creativity versity School of the Arts in sites and scaff olding structures, Kang and as well as take their passion to the VQatar (VCUarts Qatar) Artist in leverages architectural imagery with next level. Residence Leekyung Kang will present mixed media. She has recently been “The contributions we bring to the an exhibition titled ‘Transition in Un- seeking to uncover the unseen space, fi eld of art and design has made a tre- known Territory; Panic Architecture’ which is present, but never fully re- mendous impact by uncovering new at the Art 29 Gallery, W Doha Hotel, vealed. ways to advance our mission, educate on April 17. Kang says her work “is about cre- our students and progress our work The opening reception will take ating the illusion of dimensions by locally, regionally and internationally,” place at 6pm that day. The exhibition capturing the unseen space that ex- said Donald N Baker, executive dean of is free and open to the public and will ists between the second and third VCUarts Qatar. run until May 7. dimensions in architecture through Art 29 has been established to in- Kang, who is originally from South traditional mediums and digital in- spire and nurture creativity by show- Korea, focuses on pictorial elements stallations.” casing the works of emerging local, in her work, usually in an architectural “When I was walking down the regional and international artists. It context with a linear perspective, with street, I suddenly wondered what has previously featured prominent the gradual transformation of three- lies underneath me? I am standing on Qatari names, including Ahmed bin dimensional forms that challenge the the surface of ‘reality’. That is, on the Majed al-Maadheed, the artist be- perception of space. street or ground. However, when my hind the iconic ‘Tamim Al Majd’ por- She has participated in several resi- imagination turns to the subterranean trait; Abdulwahed al-Mawlawi; Lulu dencies in the US, Middle East and space, I imagine a layered thickness, an M, who is a self-taught artist rec- South Korea and her work has been ex- accumulated mapping of endless his- ognised for her minimalist abstract hibited in New York, Providence, and tories, time, spaces, transitions, and so compositions; and Fahad al-Obaidly Boston. on. Beneath me exists compressed lay- regularly addressing issues of ‘iden- Kang, a graduate of Rhode Island ers of life, of which we may, or may not tity crisis’ in his work. The gallery School of Design, has been navigating be aware,” she said. has also played host to the works of the structural framework and ‘bone/ “We are very proud of the success VCUarts Qatar students. skeleton’ of infrastructure in urban of our Artist in Residency programme. Art 29 is open every day from 9am landscapes since 2014. By exploring This initiative creates a platform for to 6pm.

Leekyung Kang Gulf Times 4 Sunday, April 15, 2018 QATAR HBKU, Qatar Shell to host public lecture on corrosion management

Dr Abitha Ramesh n a three-part collaborative se- with the hope of contributing to a larly relevant to the Pearl Gas-to- ries designed to bridge the gap better, more sustainable future for Liquids plant, marine corrosion pre- Ibetween academia and indus- the next generation. As such, we vention and corrosion monitoring of try, Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s seek to promote a greater under- sour gas pipelines. (HBKU) College of Science and En- standing of the topics we present The public event will also provide gineering and Qatar Shell will con- through the college’s lectures, guests with an industry expert’s clude the Joint Sustainability Re- seminars and symposia. perspective on eff orts that are under search Seminars on April 18 for this “Our upcoming lecture, which way to preserve and protect the en- academic year. is held jointly with our partners at vironment by targeting sustainable The fi nal lecture will be deliv- Qatar Shell, will foster an even more growth in the energy and water sec- ered by Dr Abitha Ramesh, and Dr important discussion that tors. Further, it will present visitors Nick Laycock, and will focus on is essentially linked to our with an opportunity to network with material and corrosion challenges country’s future.” subject matter experts. in gas production and processing. Attendees will learn more about Dr Ramesh and Dr Laycock, Cor- The one-hour session will be corrosion management at Qatar’s rosion R&D leads for QSTRC and held at the Liberal Arts and Science Pearl off shore and onshore gas fa- Qatar Shell, respectively, will be de- Building in Education City, and is cilities, and receive an overview of livering the corrosion management open to the wider public, students, the Materials and Corrosion re- seminar. staff and faculty members. search programme at the Qatar Shell Dr Ramesh is a well-established Dr Mounir Hamdi, dean of CSE, Research and Technology Centre expert in this fi eld, while Dr Laycock said, “As academics, it is a core aim (QSRTC). has over 20 years of experience, six of to encourage knowledge-sharing The latter deliberation is particu- which have been spent at Qatar Shell. Dr Nick Laycock

Kahramaa to confer sustainability fi lm project awards on April 18 atar General Elec- tainable future. Through students. There will be a tricity and Water Tarsheed, Kahramaa aims to fi rst, second, and third place QCorporation (Kah- reduce electricity and water winner for each group. ramaa) has announced that consumption in the country. Candidates can work in- all the winners of Tarsheed With this new develop- dividually or in teams to competitions, includ- ment, the dates of the com- produce a 30 to 60 second ing the sustainability fi lm petition have been revised video in English or Arabic. project competition, will be with submission deadline videos should be focused honoured at the National set for April 16. Shortlist- on the topic of ‘water and Programme for Conserva- ed candidates will be an- energy conservation’ or ‘a tion and Energy Effi ciency nounced on April 17 and the sustainable lifestyle.’ Win- (Tarsheed) sixth annual winners will be named and ners are eligible to win celebration on April 18. honoured on April 18. diff erent high-tech prizes. The competition, an Due to popular demand, For this inaugural com- initiative of Tarsheed, in the sustainability fi lm petition, the entries will be co-operation with Cono- project competition is now judged by ConocoPhillips, coPhillips’ Global Wa- open to anyone, or any team Kahramaa, and QGBC rep- ter Sustainability Center of up to three members. resentatives. On May 7, the (GWSC) and Qatar Green Candidates can enter one fi rst, second, and third place Building Council (QGBC), of three categories: univer- winners of each category will aims to raise awareness and sity students, high school be recognised at a special showcase the community’s students, and independ- awards ceremony at Qatar diverse viewpoints on a sus- ent contributors, or non- National Library. (QNA) Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 5 QATAR Ooredoo launches 3G services in Palestine

oredoo Group, as part of its group- Owide network modernisation programme and its strategy to enhance customers’ digital experi- ence, has announced that its operating company in Palestine, Wataniya Mobile, has successfully launched 3G services in West Bank and is already seeing “strong demand on the service”. This comes as part of the company’s “heavy invest- ment in building world- class networks across its footprint, giving a greater range of opportunities to people to access employ- ment, education and en- tertainment wherever they are”, Ooredoo said in a statement. Wataniya Mobile’s cus- An event organised at the launch of 3G services. tomers are now enjoying high-quality voice calls and ability to generate growth “Delivering the best Fund and adviser to the Internet access, video calls in the years to come, as we possible network President of Palestine; Dr and mobile TV via their continue to deliver on our in terms of speed, Allam Mousa, Minister of smartphones, using the promise to help Palestine reliability, and Telecommunications and company’s fastest 3G net- and its people connect to a accessibility is Information Technology; work in the West Bank. better future.” fundamental to our Mohamed Abou Ramadan, Ooredoo Group chief ex- Wataniya Mobile CEO vision of enriching chairman of Wataniya Mo- ecutive offi cer (CEO) Sheikh Dr Durgham Maraee said, people’s lives” bile; and Maraee, attended Saud bin Nasser al-Thani “The launch of 3G services the launch event. said, “We are proud to have in the West Bank will en- Following the new serv- This milestone comes successfully launched 3G able Wataniya Mobile to ice launch, many Palestine- shortly after the company services in the West Bank. better profi t from great op- based organisations sam- launched its operations in This company milestone portunities in Palestine and pled attitudes and opinions the Gaza Strip, providing will enable us to substan- capture growth in a country towards the new technology the residents of Gaza with tially enhance our custom- with lower penetration rates via their social media plat- an alternative option for ers’ digital experience, ena- and a younger population forms. Polls results show that advanced communications bling them to truly enjoy the compared to neighbouring Wataniya Mobile is the pre- services directly through internet and its benefi ts and countries. ferred operator for the larger its shops and authorised giving them access to a host “With this launch, Wa- majority of residents, dem- dealers in the Strip. of new opportunities for taniya Mobile will also gain onstrating the company’s As it continues to focus development. signifi cant competitive market leadership. on its core mission to make “Delivering the best pos- advantage, positioning it- Refl ecting the impor- the Internet accessible and sible network in terms of self for further develop- tance of the service launch, enjoyable for everyone, speed, reliability, and ac- ment. Moving forward, we government offi cials and Ooredoo Group had re- cessibility is fundamental to are going to capitalise on senior Wataniya Mobile ex- cently rolled out 4G+ across our vision of enriching peo- our growing infrastructure ecutives, including Dr Mo- 200 townships in Myanmar, ple’s lives. We are very con- to deliver a diff erentiated hamed Mustafa, chairman enriching the digital lives of fi dent in Wataniya Mobile’s customer service.” of the Palestine Investment more than 15mn people. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, April 15, 2018 QATAR More visitors use visa-free facility total of 93,973 visitors entered Qa- port (HIA) reached 867,241 last month, tar by using the visa-free facility in while 189,212 passengers used e-gates to AMarch, which marked a 30.3% in- enter or exit. crease from February when 72,110 people The report included electronic transac- had availed of the facility, according to a sta- tion statistics implemented through the MoI tistical report issued by the Ministry of Inte- website and the Metrash2 application, which rior (MoI) yesterday. jumped to more than 1,885,000 transac- The report also showed that the number tions, during the fi rst quarter of this year. of passengers (arrivals and departures) The total number of services that the pub- passing through Hamad International Air- lic can access through Metrash2 and the MoI

website is over 350, refl ecting the sig- number of transactions amounted to nifi cant benefi ts that the eServices have 1,653,733 transactions. achieved for the public, the offi cial Qa- In the Elderly and Persons with Dis- tar News Agency reported. abilities section, 778 treatments were According to the fi gures, the number completed during March, while the of subscribers of Metrash2 application number of cases exempted from fees for reached 417,723 by the end of March, some services provided to this category, while the total number of services im- along with retirees, reached 1067. plemented through the application As for the Passports Department, the reached 679,833. total number of transactions executed The enquiries about the services during March reached 32,621 transac- carried out through the application in tions, up 54.8% compared to February the same period amounted to nearly this year. 2mn inquiries, while the volume of eS- The total number of transactions ervices carried out through the Minis- submitted to the public through the try of the interior site was 205,205,806 Department of Expatriates Aff airs dur- services. ing the month of March this year, 79, The Al Rayan Service Center was the 408 transactions, a rise of (4%) for the largest in terms of the number of trans- month of February of the same year. actions completed by 27.2% of the total The services provided to the public services performed in these centres, in addition to the transactions of reg- followed by the Wakrah Center (12.4%), istering the establishment, which rose Mesaimeer Center (11.5%). to 4,463 transactions and an increase The monthly statistics of transac- of 19.1% compared to last February, re- tions achieved through the General Di- fl ecting the momentum of commercial rectorate of Passports during the month activity which the Ministry of Interior of March, a signifi cant increase in the attaches great importance. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 7 QATAR

South African ambassador Faizel Moosa speaks at the memorial service. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar South Africans in Doha pay tribute to Winnie Mandela

By Joey Aguilar rican ambassador Faizel Moosa in loved country but also “the mes- Staff Reporter his speech, highlighting her con- sage and life they represented.” tribution to the struggle for libera- The memorial service saw tion from the apartheid regime. Tembisa Fakude, a well-known embers of the South The envoy also cited the lady local South African political African community in activist’s years of sacrifi ces during analyst at Al Jazeera Centre for MDoha paid tribute to their fi ght for freedom and her re- Studies and Research, and San- Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, lentless eff orts to campaign for the dra Phoma, a South African com- prominent anti-apartheid ac- release of her husband from jail. munity leader who works at the tivist and former wife of Nelson However, Moosa noted that Sidra Hospital, sharing the life of Mandela who passed away earlier South Africa still has a “long way ‘Mama Winnie’ with the guests. this month, in a memorial service to go” in terms of real freedom. Swaziland ambassador Fezile at the embassy on Thursday. “We are still struggling on Dlamini and Cuban ambassador The programme was attended economic freedom and Winnie Eumelio Caballero Rodriguez by ambassadors of other coun- Mandela was a proponent for the also lauded the accomplishments tries as well. advancement of economic free- of Mama Winnie as they shared Madikizela-Mandela or ‘Mama dom,” Moosa said. their personal experiences with Winnie’ as she was aff ectionately “Radical economic transfor- the Mandelas. called, was honoured in a funer- mation, the land issue, and free Rodriguez and his wife, who al ceremony in the township of education, so those were her met Mama Winnie personally Soweto in Johannesburg yesterday brainchild we try to get imple- when he was ambassador of Cuba by a large number of people. mented back in South Africa.” to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Members of the South African community led by Ambassador Faizel Moosa and guests pay homage to Winnie Mandela at the ceremony at the “Mama Winnie carried the fl ag He added that the embassy is said they had “the privilege of embassy. and gave the commands, she was planning to hold an annual memo- appreciating her great values as our commander-in-chief, we rial lecture in a number of educa- a woman of strong character and “The political and social activist occasions and suff ered exile in the nie was not only the courageous from the opprobrious apartheid knew Nelson Mandela was in pris- tional institutions in Qatar soon, at the same time as a sweet and who was Winnie Mandela led strikes village of Brandford for eight years,” and unwavering champion of regime, but she also became a on but Mama Winnie was behind focusing not only on the Mandela friendly person, a great friend of of black workers, went through pris- the envoy noted. the struggle of the South Afri- source of inspiration for millions us fi ghting,” recounted South Af- family’s contribution to their be- the Cuban people”. on twice, was tortured on numerous Rodriguez stressed that Win- can people for their liberation of women around the world. Gulf Times 8 Sunday, April 15, 2018 QATAR

Romania trade mission to hold two seminars Weight loss surgery not always

he Romanian embassy Q-East Software, Siveco, Tel- has announced that lence and TGS Software. Tthe government of Ro- It will also feature the best option for obesity: doctor mania, in partnership with chairman of the Romanian the private sector, is organis- Association for Information he Hamad Medi- tal, says many people view ing a trade mission to Doha Technology and Communi- cal Corporation’s weight loss surgery as the today and tomorrow. cations, and representatives TDepartment of Di- solution to obesity but he The trade mission is fo- from the Ministry of Busi- etetics and Nutrition re- cautions it isn’t always the cused on the information ness Environment, Com- ceived more than 2,000 best option. technology and communica- merce and Entrepreneurship. patients last year seeking “Obesity is one of the tions (IT&C) sector, in line The trade mission’s pro- weight loss support, the major public health prob- with the Romanian govern- gramme includes two semi- HMC said yesterday. lems facing our population ment’s “demarches to en- nars. The fi rst of these will be The department of- and can leave a person sus- hance co-operation between held at 9am today at W Doha fers a variety of services, ceptible to cardiovascular Romania and Qatar”, the em- Hotel, organised by the Min- including a medically- and non-communicable bassy has said in a statement. istry of Transport and Com- supervised weight loss diseases such as diabetes. The Romanian delegation munications. The second programme for patients More than this, it can se- includes key persons from 11 seminar will take place at 11am seeking to achieve a verely damage a person’s IT&C leading Romanian com- tomorrow, organised by Qatar healthier lifestyle and quality of life, physically panies: 4 E Software, BitDe- Chamber at its headquarters. weight. and emotionally, so it is fender, GreenSoft, Imprezzio The embassy has said in- Dr Yousuf al-Maslam- not diffi cult to understand Global, Ingenios.ro, Kuantero, terested specialists are wel- ani, medical director at why many patients seek out Next Planet, Online Services, come to attend. Hamad General Hospi- weight loss surgery. How- ever, surgery is not always Dr Yousuf al-Maslamani Zohair Ali al-Arabi the best solution and many patients have had success to reduce the incidence than 10% of their body programmes are calorie- role of nutrition and lifestyle with non-surgical options,” of obesity in Qatar. Noora weight. The overall success based and follow the Qatar modifi cations as a strategy said Dr al-Maslamani. al-Jaff ali, head dietitian at rate for the programme was Dietary Guidelines devel- for weight loss are also dis- Bariatric surgery is the HMC’s Department of Di- 90%,” said al-Jaff ali. oped by the Ministry of cussed. term used to refer to a series etetics and Nutrition, said She added that although Public Health. In keeping Zohair Ali al-Arabi, a of weight loss procedures the programme – which the programme has now with the guidelines, we senior clinical dietitian at that reduce an individual’s was funded by Qatar’s Aca- ended, HMC’s Department focus on nutritional plan- HMC, says obesity is a com- food intake by decreasing the demic Health System – tar- of Dietetics and Nutrition ning and physical activity plex problem that the De- size of their stomach, caus- geted patients who could off ers patients an individu- as part of a healthy life- partment of Dietetics and ing them to lose weight. The benefi t from professional alised approach to weight style. Individual face-to- Nutrition is also attempting procedures have become in- weight loss support and ad- loss, which includes medi- face counselling is a major to address proactively by creasingly popular in recent vice. She said the main ob- cal, nutritional, behavioural part of what we do. To be hosting community-based years but Dr al-Maslamani jective was for participants and fi tness counselling and successful, it is important lectures and awareness says lifestyle changes that in- to lose 10% of their body support. that each plan is tailored to events. He says representa- corporate healthy eating and weight over the course of Al-Jaffali said patients the needs of each patient tives from his department physical activity can allow the six-month programme. are referred to the serv- and includes reasonable visit local schools, univer- many patients to lose weight “The programme includ- ice from across HMC as goals, planning for obsta- sities, businesses and other without having to resort to ed 500 participants, aged well as primary healthcare cles, and managing stress,” organisations throughout surgery. He cited the now- between 18 and 65 years. clinics. said al-Jaffali. the year and participate concluded Smart Weight Group participants all had “We hold two clinics per She added that all patients in events such as Qatar Na- programme as an example. a body mass index of more day. Part of our function who seek support from the tional Sport Day to raise In 2015, HMC and Qatar than 30. Through simple at the Department of Di- department undergo a com- awareness about the role University launched the lifestyle modifi cations, etetics and Nutrition is to prehensive evaluation. In of nutrition and physical weight management pro- most programme partici- help patients make dietary addition to examining the activity as part of a healthy gramme, Smart Weight, pants were able to lose more and lifestyle changes. Our patient’s physical health, the lifestyle.

25,000 families benefit from QC’s medical centre in Attock

Qatar Charity (QC) has said more than 25,000 families have benefited from Al Jaber Medical Centre in Pakistan’s Attock, which was set up with a donation from a Qatari philanthropist. The centre, inaugurated last year by QC, functions round the clock to provide “high- quality healthcare services” to beneficiaries, the charity has said in a statement. The facility, which was built at a total cost of QR438,400, is located in Attock in Pakistan’s Punjab region and consists of two floors. The first floor includes a patient waiting area, reception hall and medical exami- nation rooms, while the second floor has rooms for gynaecology, pharmacy and laboratory. The centre has advanced medical equipment such as an X-ray machine, ultrasound machine, obstetrics and gynaecology equipment, surgical instruments and other necessary equipment, the statement notes. Al Jaber Medical Centre is located in an area where people, particularly women, have severely suffered from shortage of healthcare services and could not access medical treatment because of poverty, QC pointed out. Qatar Charity established the centre in response to their needs, contributing to humanitarian and develop- ment eff orts in Pakistan, the statement noted. “Qatar Charity attaches great importance to the health sector, taking into account people’s needs. It aims at supporting local development in Pakistan, particularly the health sector, education, water and sanitation, etc,” said Amin Abdul-Rahman, the director of QC’s off ice in Pakistan. The centre “seeks to provide high-quality general medical and gynaecological services at a subsidised cost as well as emergency services throughout the week, and services for the poor and general public”. It also works to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate in Attock by providing “services close to the popula- tion in a timely manner”. The diabetes and ophthalmol- ogy clinics, as well as the diagnostic laboratory at the centre, have “brought about a value-addition to the region and helped reduce diabetes and eye problems”, the state- ment adds. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 9 QATAR Auto Class Cars to celebrate MG brand’s return to Qatar

uto Class Cars, a subsidi- ary of Nasser Bin Khaled AHolding and the author- ised distributor of MG Motor in Qatar, is celebrating the return of the brand to the country in a special ceremony on April 18 in the Auto Class showroom at Salwa Road. SAIC Motor, the parent com- pany of MG, and Auto Class Cars earlier announced the re- turn of the MG brand to Qatar after signing a new partnership A line-up of MG vehicles. agreement. At the launch, the company known for its quality and ef- East, the MG RX5 and MG ZS, Fortune Global 500 list for the will reveal a line-up of new ficiency of service. and is set to introduce further 13th consecutive year, ranking 2018 MG sedan and SUVs that “MG, a British car maker es- models to the line up later this #41 overall and 7th amongst will be available directly for tablished in 1924 is renowned year. all global automakers – its sale, it was announced in a globally for its historic models, “MG is benefiting from highest ever ranking. Auto Syed Zuhair Naqvi (centre) receiving the ISO certifications from Saravanan Marichamy (second from statement. awards and achievements. The heavy investment from its Class Cars is also the author- right) along with DicoTech off icials, Fatima Hassan, Obaeda Baleed and Razvan Tesu. “Auto Class Cars has a wide brand has recently launched parent company, SAIC Motor, ised distributor of Maxus, also automotive knowledge, and is two new models in the Middle which was listed in the 2017 a part of SAIC Motor.

DicoTech Qatar attains Promoting mental health awareness at the workplace global certifi cations series of mental health awareness The training covers topics such as well-be- noted: “There are a number of risk and pro- workshops has been held as part of the ing in the workplace, positive psychology and tective factors attached to our mental health ANational Mental Health Programme the science of happiness as well as maintain- and wellbeing. Knowing these can help us icoTech Qatar was “We have implemented our the highest quality of services (NMHP), promoting and managing mental ing mental well-being at work and reducing maintain our mental health and well-being recently awarded integrated quality, health and in the most efficient manner health and well-being in the workplace. stress. It also provides information on how at work. In order to maintain a healthy work/ Dthe ISO 9001: 2015, safety and environmental possible. In addition, once This is in line with the Qatar National and where to access services and support in life balance, the training addresses workplace ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS management system (QH- we have implemented SAP in Mental Health Strategy and the Ministry of Qatar, the statement noted. factors such as anxiety and stress. 18001:2007 certifications SEMS) using ISO 9001:2015, the next few weeks, we will Public Health (MoPH)’s ‘Healthy Workplace Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, “People often worry that if they talk about in the field of quality, envi- ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS further streamline our proc- Programme’. Training sessions have been director of the Public Health Department, stress they will be seen as weak or not capable of ronment and occupational 18001:2007 as a framework esses from A to Z, allowing us delivered in Arabic and English to over 1,000 MoPH, explained the importance of employ- doing their job. However, stress is not a weakness health and safety manage- that allows our organisation to focus on continuous devel- clinical and non-clinical staff groups drawn ers engaging in constructive dialogue with em- and it is very common for people to experience ment systems from SGS, a to improve our quality, health opment of best practices and from a wide range of government and non- ployees. stress at work. Speaking up early about stress Switzerland-based certifica- and safety and environmental enhanced services to the sat- government organisations, the MoPH has said “Increasingly, there is a realisation that provides the opportunity to prevent it from be- tion body, accredited by the practices in order to satisfy isfaction of our clients.” in a statement. any well-functioning society depends on a coming worse which is helpful for both the in- International Organisation the needs and expectations of Present on the occasion The initiative addresses ‘Mental health healthy workforce, and therefore protecting dividual employee and their workplace.” The for Standardisation (ISO). our customers, stakeholders were Saravanan Marichamy, and well-being awareness at work’, ‘Mental our employees’ mental health is fundamen- MoPH said it “would encourage organisations DicoTech Qatar is a 100% and interested parties,” said SGS business development health and well-being at work champions’ tal to establishing a cohesive and productive to engage in proactive eff orts to raise awareness Qatar-based company spe- DicoTech managing director manager, along with Dico- and ‘Managing mental health at work’. society. We encourage all employers to con- about mental health and well-being in their cialising in various construc- Syed Zuhair Naqvi. Tech officials Fatima Hassan, Training sessions have been ongoing for sider how they can support mental health workplace”. If an organisation would like to fi nd tion services and IT services, He said: “We are very proud executive director; Obaeda the last four years, providing participants and well-being within their organisation and out more about the mental health training re- catering to the oil & gas, com- of this achievement, which Baleed, general manager and with introductory knowledge about mental engage in dialogue with their staff ,” he said. sources available, it can contact the National mercial and industrial sec- reflects our team’s dedication Razvan Tesu, technical sales health and tools and techniques to support Susan Clelland, acting executive director Mental Health Programme (mentalhealth@ tors. to providing our clients with engineer. resilience in the workplace. of the National Mental Health Programme, moph.gov.qa) at the MoPH. Gulf Times 10 Sunday, April 15, 2018 QATAR GMC supports Qatar’s Al Adaid Desert Challenge

MC has off ered support to the Al Adaid Desert GChallenge (AADC), billed as the “most challenging cycling event in Qatar”, as part of its ‘Like A Pro’ campaign. In association with its Qa- tar partner Mannai Automotive Group, GMC — a leading truck and SUV manufacturer — was for the second year the offi cial automotive sponsor for AADC last month. The event was a “perfect opportunity” to promote GMC’s ‘Like A Pro’ campaign, which is evolving out of its, ‘We Are Professional Grade’ position- ing in the Middle East, according to a press statement. The campaign celebrates GMC vehicles and customers who “passionately live life to a higher standard”. GMC Sierra vehicles were provided for the logistics during AADC and provided GMC weekend drives to three lucky draw winners. Participants in the event. GMC Sierra vehicles were provided for the logistics during AADC. “We are delighted that GMC was again sponsoring and aligned just like the competitors in the Al GMC has been present in the the second time it was featured 100 runners taking part in the France’s Sophie Giovane. In an Andrej Filip thanked all the com- with this tough event. It under- Adaid Desert Challenge, have ex- Middle East for over 93 years and in the International Cycling Un- 26km event. The event saw last interview with GMC, the top rid- petitors for attending, and making lined our ‘Like A Pro’ campaign ceptional standards and are dedi- has taken its brand messaging in ion calendar. Marked as a UCI C3 year’s men’s winner Eric Dekker ers were asked what kind of advice it another high-standard sports perfectly: doing the ordinary in cated people whose passions drive a new direction, marking a “key Cross Country point to point race, from the Netherlands retain his they could give to people who as- event. “Every year, the compe- the most extraordinary way — them on. moment in its ongoing develop- it covered 40km of desert track title, ahead of New Zealand’s Ro- pire to be a pro. tition gets fi ercer and the com- which these competitors excel “At Mannai, just as in the GMC ment”, the statement noted. from Sealine to Qatar’s Inland Sea man Van Udden and France’s Fre- Winner Dekker said it was im- petitors dig in and excel. We were at,” said Mahmoud Skhiri, Mannai campaign ‘We Are Professional The AADC is the “most chal- (Khor Al Adaid). Now in its second deric Gombert. portant to strike a balance be- again delighted to have GMC as a Automotive’s general sales man- Grade’, we strive to get everything lenging cycling event” on Qatar’s year, the AADC saw an additional The women’s event was won tween work and sport, and to excel valued partner in the event, along ager. He added, “Our customers, right fi rst time, every time.” off -road cycling calendar and for marathon race, with more than by Finland’s Pia Sundstedt from at a discipline. AADC race director with other sponsors,” he added. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 11 REGION/ARAB WORLD

The US Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey fires a Tomahawk land attack missile, yesterday. A Syrian firefighter is seen inside the destroyed Scientific Research Centre in Damascus, yesterday. US claims air strikes crippled Syria chemical weapons programme

Reuters ical and biological weapons, a Washington/Beirut GCC backs joint strike on military installations chemical weapons storage site near the city of Homs, and an- Erdogan welcomes move against Assad regime The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) yesterday expressed its support for other site near Homs that stored Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday was a “political solution,” the source added. estern powers said the joint missile strike carried out early this morning by the United States, chemical weapons equipment welcomed Western strikes against Syrian leader The Turkish leader also emphasised the impor- yesterday their mis- Britain and France against Syrian military installations in response to the and housed a command post. Bashar al-Assad’s regime as “appropriate” in retalia- tance of de-escalating the tension in the region. Wsile attacks struck at use of chemical weapon in bombing the city of Douma in Syria’s Eastern The Pentagon said there had tion for Damascus’ “inhumane” attacks. Turkey is a vocal critic of Assad’s regime in Damas- the heart of Syria’s chemical Ghouta. The GCC considered the missile strike to be a direct message to been chemical weapons agents “We consider this operation as appropriate,” Er- cus and backed rebels fighting for his ouster. weapons programme, but the the Syrian regime that the countries of the world would not tolerate its at one of the targets, and that the dogan told a meeting of his ruling party in Istanbul. In recent months, however, it has closely worked restrained assault appeared un- continuation of the use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians and strikes had signifi cantly crippled With the latest operation, he said: “The regime with Russia for a political solution in Syria even likely to shift the course of the its continuing violations of international law. Syria’s ability to produce such has seen that its mounting attacks in recent days though Moscow remains a chief ally of the regime. seven-year-old civil war. In a statement yesterday, the Council stressed the need to stop the war weapons. against dissidents...will not be left unanswered.” Erdogan also had an “exchange of views” over The United States, France and crimes committed in Syria and end the suff ering of the Syrian people UN Secretary General Anto- The United States, Britain and France carried out a the US-led strikes, in a phone call with Russian Britain launched 105 missiles after years of devastating war, calling on the United Nations to push the nio Guterres urged all Security wave of pre-dawn strikes against the Assad regime President Vladimir Putin late yesterday, the Turkish overnight in retaliation for a sus- political process to end the Syrian crisis.— QNA Council members to exercise re- Saturday in response to a suspected chemical presidential source said. The two leaders “reaf- pected poison gas attack in Syria straint and avoid escalation in weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians on firmed their determination to exert joint eff orts a week ago, targeting what the Syria, but said allegations of April 7. Erdogan said he had a “sleepless night” as to reduce tensions on the ground in Syria and to Pentagon said were three chemi- and he could not guarantee that ports of casualties. chemical weapons use demand he monitored all the developments. “It is not possi- find a political solution to the problem,” the source cal weapons facilities including Syria would be unable to con- Russia had promised to re- an investigation. ble for us to approve the situation encountered by added. They agreed to “stay in close touch on both a research and development in duct a chemical attack in the spond to any attack on its ally, Syrian state media called the (Syrian) babies as a result of the use of chemicals bilateral and regional issues.” Damascus’ Barzeh district and future. but the Pentagon said no Russian attack a “fl agrant violation of in- weapons,” he said. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said two installations near Homs. In New York, US ambassador air defence systems were used. ternational law”. Iran’s Supreme “Whoever the perpetrators they should pay a the strikes had not been launched via Turkey’s The bombing was the big- to the United Nations, Nikki Ha- Syria fi red 40 unguided sur- Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei price.” Erdogan held a telephone conversation with southern Incirlik air base. gest intervention by Western ley, said at an emergency meet- face to air missiles — but only called it a crime and the Western British Prime Minister Theresa May and French “Turkey was informed ahead of the attack,” he countries against Syrian Presi- ing of the UN Security Coun- after the Western strikes had leaders criminals. President Emmanuel Macron following the strikes. wrote on Twitter. “The Incirlik base was not used in dent Bashar al-Assad and his cil that Trump told her that if ended, the Pentagon said. Inspectors from the global The Turkish leader told the two leaders his country the attack.” superpower ally Russia, but the Syria uses poisonous gas again, “We are confi dent that all of chemical weapons watchdog “clearly condemned” the use of chemical weapons, In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said the three countries said the strikes “the United States is locked and our missiles reached their tar- OPCW were due to try to visit a Turkish presidential source said. US-led operation “has eased humanity’s conscience were limited to Syria’s chemi- loaded.” gets,” McKenzie said. Douma later to inspect the site He said the only way to long-lasting peace in Syria in the face of” the suspected chemical attack. cal weapons capabilities and not At the United Nations, Russia The Western countries said of the suspected gas attack. aimed at toppling Assad or in- said the US-led strikes would the strikes were aimed at pre- Moscow condemned the tervening in the civil war. complicate UN eff orts to broker venting more Syrian chemical Western states for refusing to The Western countries were power at a time when Assad is Mattis said the United States The air attack, denounced a political solution to the confl ict weapons attacks after a suspect- wait for their findings. at pains to avoid further escala- in his strongest position since had conclusive evidence that by Damascus and its allies as in Syria. ed poison gas attack in Douma Russia, whose relations with tion, including any unexpected the war’s early months. chlorine gas had been used in an illegal act of aggression, was Russian Foreign Minister Ser- on April 7 killed up to 75 people. the West have deteriorated to conflict with their superpower Although the Western coun- the April 7 attack. unlikely to alter the course of a gei Lavrov said earlier yesterday They concluded Assad’s gov- levels of Cold War-era hostil- rival Russia. tries have all said for seven Evidence that the nerve multi-sided war that has killed that the strikes were “unaccept- ernment was to blame for gas- ity, has denied any gas attack French Defence Minister years that Assad must leave agent sarin was also used was at least half a million people. able and lawless.” sing the Damascus suburb. took place in Douma and even Florence Parly said the Rus- power, they held back in the inconclusive, he said. “We believe that by hitting Syria released video of the British Prime Minister There- accused Britain of staging it to sians “were warned before- past from striking his govern- Syria agreed in 2013 to give Barzeh in particular we’ve at- wreckage of a bombed-out re- sa May described the strike as whip up anti-Russian hysteria. hand”, to avert conflict. ment, lacking a wider strategy up its chemical weapons after tacked the heart of the Syrian search lab, but also of Assad ar- “limited and targeted”, with no However, Syria and its allies Dmitry Belik, a Russian to defeat him. a nerve gas attack killed hun- chemicals weapon programme,” riving at work as usual, with the intention of toppling Assad or also made clear that they con- member of parliament who was The combined US, British dreds of people in Douma. Lieutenant General Kenneth caption “Morning of resilience”. intervening more widely in the sidered the attack a one-off, in Damascus and witnessed the and French assault involved Damascus is still permit- McKenzie said at the Pentagon. Ten hours after the missiles hit, war. unlikely to do meaningful harm strikes, told Reuters: “The at- more missiles, but appears ted to have chlorine for civil- US President Donald Trump smoke was still rising from the US Defence Secretary Jim to Assad. tack was more of a psychologi- to have struck more limited ian use, although its use as a called the operation a success on remains of fi ve destroyed build- Mattis called the strikes a “one- A senior official in a regional cal nature rather than practical. targets, than a similar strike weapon is banned. Allegations Twitter and proclaimed: “Mis- ings of the Syrian Scientifi c Re- time shot.” alliance that backs Damascus Luckily there are no substantial Trump ordered a year ago in re- of Assad’s chlorine use have sion accomplished.” search Centre in Barzeh, where Washington described its tar- told Reuters the sites that were losses or damages.” taliation for an earlier suspect- been frequent during the war However, McKenzie acknowl- a Syrian employee said medical gets as a centre near Damascus targeted had been evacuated The Western intervention ed chemical weapons attack. although, unlike nerve agents, edged elements of Syria’s chem- components were developed. for the research, development, days ago thanks to a warning has virtually no chance of al- That strike had effectively no chlorine did not produce mass ical weapons programme remain There were no immediate re- production and testing of chem- from Russia. tering the military balance of impact on the war. casualties as seen last week. Russia fails in UN bid to Four Palestinian fi ghters Kuwait dead in Gaza explosion Airways to condemn US-led attack Reuters in the Gaza Strip since March resume Gaza 30, when Palestinians began protests along the border area Reuters and Britain defended their with Israel. Beirut fl ights United Nations military action as legal during he Palestinian Islamic Israeli troops have shot the Security Council meeting. Jihad group said four of dead 31 Gaza Palestinians and “We are confident that we Tits members were killed wounded hundreds since the Reuters Russian bid for the have crippled Syria’s chemi- in an apparent accidental blast protests began, drawing inter- Dubai United Nations Security cal weapons programme. We in the Gaza Strip yesterday. national criticism of their le- ACouncil to condemn US, are prepared to sustain this The group said in a state- thal tactics. British and French air strikes on pressure, if the Syrian regime ment that it was “mourning The border area remained iddle East carrier Ku- Syria over a suspected chemical is foolish enough to test our its fi ghters who were martyred largely quiet yesterday. wait Airways said yes- weapons attack failed yester- will,” US ambassador to the during preparations”. It usually Protesters have set up tent- Mterday it would resume day after only China and Bolivia United Nations Nikki Haley employs those terms to refer to ed camps near the frontier as all fl ights to Beirut today after joined Russia to vote in favour said. casualties caused by the acci- a protest dubbed “The Great a three-day suspension due to of a draft resolution. “If the Syrian regime uses dental detonation of weapons March of Return” — evoking warnings about fl ying close to The 15-member council met this poison gas again, the or explosives used in attacks a longtime call for refugees to Lebanese airspace. yesterday, at Russia’s request, United States is locked and against Israel. regain ancestral homes in what In a statement carried by the the fi fth time it has met on Syria Russian ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, loaded,” Haley said. The Gaza Health Ministry is now Israel — moved into its state news agency KUNA, the since a suspected deadly poison watches members of the United Nations Security Council vote During an address to the Se- confi rmed four fatalities in the third week. Israel has declared company said “the reasons that gas attack in the Syrian town of against a Russian resolution condemning ‘aggression’ against Syria curity Council, UN Secretary- incident.Medics at the scene in a no-go zone close to the Gaza caused the suspension have re- Douma a week ago. by the US and its allies during an emergency meeting at the UN General Antonio Guterres urged the Rafah area said the explo- border fence. moved.” The United States, France headquarters in New York, yesterday. all states “to show restraint in sion was caused by Israel. Israel withdrew its troops Cyprus authorities made and Britain fi red 105 missiles these dangerous circumstances But an Israeli military and settlers from Gaza in 2005. the warning on Thursday, the overnight in retaliation, target- He accused the United States, cal weapons watchdog are in and to avoid any acts that could spokesman said the army was The Palestinian enclave is company said, following an an- ing Syria’s chemical weapons France and Britain of “demon- Syria and were due to start their escalate matters and worsen the not involved. “Contrary to re- ruled by the Hamas movement. nouncement two days earlier programme. strating a blatant disregard for inquiry into the suspected toxic suff ering of the Syrian people.” ports currently circulating I Citing security concerns, Is- from Europe’s air traffi c control “Why didn’t you wait for the international law.” gas attack. Eight countries voted against can tell you that the IDF (Israel rael maintains a naval blockade agency. outcome of the investigation “I hope hot heads will cool Russia and Syria have said the Russian-drafted text yes- Defence Forces) is not aware of the coastal territory, keeping The agency had asked carriers you called for?” Russian UN down and that will be it,” he told there was no evidence of a terday, while Peru, Kazakhstan, of any IDF fi re in the area sur- tight restrictions on the move- fl ying over the eastern Mediter- ambassador Vassily Nebenzia reporters. International inves- chemical weapons attack. Ethiopia and Equatorial Guinea rounding Rafah,” the spokes- ment of Palestinians and goods ranean to exercise caution due to said after the vote. tigators from the global chemi- The United States, France abstained. man said. Violence has fl ared across the frontier. air strikes into Syria. Gulf Times 12 Sunday, April 15, 2018 AFRICA

Vigils, marches, prayers held on anniversary of Chibok kidnap

AFP told AFP: “We are praying for Chibok, Nigeria every Nigerian who is in the cus- tody of Boko Haram. “Let the government do its arents of the missing Chi- best to see that every Nigerian bok schoolgirls yesterday citizen in the hands of Boko Har- Pmarked the fourth anniver- am is released during this year.” sary of their daughters’ kidnapping Buhari, who is seeking re- by Boko Haram, renewing calls for election next year, told the Chi- their release and thousands of oth- bok girls’ parents their daughters ers seized in the bloody confl ict in “will never be forgotten or aban- northeast Nigeria. doned to their fate”. Mothers and fathers were The former military ruler has among several thousand people repeatedly claimed Boko Haram who marched to the Government was virtually defeated but while Girls Secondary School, where there have been clear army gains, 276 girls were abducted on the security threats remain. evening of April 14, 2014. In February, fi ghters loyal to a Fifty-seven escaped in the im- Boko Haram faction headed by South African military personnel bring in the coff in of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to Orlando Stadium for the funeral ceremony in Soweto yesterday. mediate aftermath and four years Abu Mus’ab al-Barnawi seized on, 112 are still being held — a 112 schoolgirls and one boy from global symbol of the Islamist in- the town of Dapchi, in Yobe state. surgency that has devastated the One hundred and seven were region. returned in mid-March. Parents whose daughters have Five reportedly died, while one been released wore white tab- girl — the only Christian in the ards over their clothes at the group — is still being held. two-hour ceremony, while those Buhari said the return of so ‘Mama’ Mandela is laid whose daughters are still being many students from Dapchi held wore black. and Chibok “should give confi - Hannatu Daudu, whose daugh- dence that all hope is not lost” ter Saratu, is among the captives and showed the government was told the crowd: “Our only prayer “doing its very best”. is for our girls to be released and Some Dapchi parents were in returned to us. We need to know Chibok yesterday in a show of to rest in South Africa if they are alive or dead. If they solidarity. are alive, let them come back to Buhari said there had been AFP son Mandela’s) memory alive,” said a followed moments after by heavy rains Foreign dignitaries at the funeral in- us. If they are dead, let us know so “unexpected setbacks” in talks Soweto teary Zenani. that drenched mourners and the funeral clude the leaders of Namibia, Swaziland we can at least pray for them and because of infi ghting within “South Africa, and indeed the world, procession as it drove out to a cemetery and the Republic of Congo, as well as then overcome this grief. It is bet- Boko Haram. holds men and women to diff erent stand- 40km away. American civil rights activist Jesse Jack- ter to know if our daughters are But he added: “We will con- outh Africans yesterday turned out ards of morality.” Mourners broke into another liberation son and international supermodel Naomi dead than being left in suspense. tinue to persist, and the parents in thousands to bid fi nal goodbyes She added that “praising her now that song chanting in Xhosa: “this is the Win- Campbell. This adds to our grief.” should please not give up.” Sto anti-apartheid icon and Nelson she is gone shows what hypocrites you are.” nie we know”. Her “steely leadership...gave strength The Chibok ceremony, which Unicef said this week more Mandela’s former wife Winnie Mandela “They robbed my mother of her right- The ceremony concluded 10 days of na- to us all. She taught us not to be limited in included Christian and Muslim than 1,000 children had been who was laid to rest with full state hon- ful legacy during her lifetime,” she said tional mourning during which time hun- our thoughts,” said Campbell. prayers, was one of a number of verifi ed as abducted in north- ours. of Winnie, who she praised for taking on dreds of thousands of South Africans have The township of Soweto is hugely sym- vigils and protests to mark the east Nigeria since 2013, although Mourners fi lled the 37,500-seater Or- “one of the most powerful and evil re- paid tribute to the “Mother of the Nation” bolic in South Africa as it became a cruci- four-year anniversary of the ab- the real fi gure is estimated to be lando Stadium in the township of Soweto gimes of the past century”. at her Soweto home and elsewhere. ble of black resistance against white mi- duction across Nigeria. much higher. where Winnie lived and erupted into loud South Africa’s President Cyril Ram- Winnie Mandela, who died in Johan- nority rule, which ended with elections Nigeria’s president in 2014, Amnesty International’s Ni- cheers as the casket carrying her remains aphosa, who took offi ce two months ago, nesburg aged 81 on April 2 after a long ill- in 1994. Goodluck Jonathan, was heavily geria director, Osai Ojigho, said was wheeled in. off ered an apology for the country’s fail- ness, has been celebrated for helping keep Winnie Mandela’s husband became criticised for his response to the the Chibok abduction was a The casket draped with South Africa’s ure to honour Winnie for her contribu- Nelson Mandela’s dream of a non-racial the fi rst black president of democratic Chibok abduction but the man small part of a bigger issue. national colours was placed in the middle tion to the liberation of the country. South Africa alive while he was behind South Africa, but she refused to follow who replaced him, Muhammadu The government needed to de- of the stadium in front of a stage, decked “I’m sorry Mama that your organisa- bars for 27 years. many other struggle-era politicians who Buhari, has had more success. liver “meaningful action on be- in white and yellow fl owers. tion (ANC) delayed in according you its “She was one of the most profound moved from townships like Soweto to Since 2016, 107 girls have been half of all these victims of Boko Mourners dressed in the colours of the honour. I’m sorry that we delayed this leaders of the ANC,” said 53-year-old formerly white-only suburbs after the found, released or escaped as Haram’s crimes” and “far more ruling African National Congress (ANC), much, to this point,” he said in an eulogy. mourner Brian Magqaza. end of apartheid. part of a government deal with support must also be provided as well those of the radical opposition Firebrand opposition politician Ju- “She fought from beginning to the end. Instead she remained embedded in the Boko Haram and the administra- for past victims”, she added. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), sang lius Malema, who was expelled from the Go well Mama.” community where she met Nelson Man- tion has said back-channel talks The International Crisis “there’s no-one like Winnie”, an adapted ANC, but who remained close to Winnie, Former South African presidents Jacob dela at a bus stop in 1957. are ongoing for further releases Group meanwhile said the copy- popular liberation struggle song. said “she died a revolutionary...she never Zuma and Thabo Mbeki also attended the Her body was buried at a privately run and a possible end to the wider cat abduction in Dapchi showed In a moving, yet fi ery eulogy, her sold out”. funeral. Mourners booed when the pres- graveyard in Johannesburg’s upmarket confl ict. more needed to be done to pro- daughter slammed her mother’s critics. As soon as speeches drew to a close, ence of scandal-tainted Zuma was pub- Fourways suburb where two of her great- Yakubu Nkeki, the head of the tect schoolchildren in the restive “It was my mother who kept his (Nel- stormy clouds formed over the stadium, licly acknowledged. grand children are also buried. Chibok girls parents association, region.

In Kenyan refugee camp, hope of new life in US fades and suicide rate rises

By Maggie Fick, Reuters resettlement process and thought one day Suicide is taboo and illegal in many Kakuma, Kenya they would benefi t are now experiencing African countries, including Somalia severe emotional distress,” Kalatu said. and Kenya. “People say, ‘Now I’m hopeless. Why Most families declined to speak to nives. Wire. Battery acid. Rat should I live?’” Reuters directly, or indirectly through poison. Rope. All are items Under the US refugee resettlement the IRC, the only aid group providing Kwhich aid workers say they have programme created in 1980, hundreds health services at Kakuma. confi scated from refugees in the Kaku- of thousands of people from around the Despair is also growing in the Dadaab ma camp in northern Kenya in the last world have been admitted to the United camp in eastern Kenya, where most of few months because of fears they might States. the 235,000 refugees are from Somalia, use them to kill themselves. The programme was halted for four aid groups say. Nine refugees have committed sui- months last year and Washington said The IRC, which runs the camp’s larg- cide in the dusty, sprawling camp since in January it was tightening vetting of est hospital and provides mental health early 2017, compared to three in 2016, nationals of 11 countries which it said services, said the number of cases of Alex Kalatu, a mental health offi cer and posed high security risks including So- depression at Dadaab had almost dou- psychologist for US aid group Interna- malia, South Sudan and Sudan. bled from 2016 to 2017. tional Rescue Committee (IRC), told The applications of more than Another aid group, medical charity Reuters at the camp. 14,400 refugees from Somalia alone are Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), told Doctors did not comment on the rea- now on hold. Reuters it conducted more than 5,500 sons for the suicides. Like refugees from South Sudan and psychological consultations at its clin- Conditions in the camp, a temporary Sudan, they are afraid to return to their ics in Dadaab in 2017, an 11.4% increase home for 185,000 refugees from Soma- homeland because it is mired in civil from 2016. lia, South Sudan and other states hit war. Depression was one of the most by war in East and Central Africa, are Supporters of the overhaul say the common mental health conditions harsh. programme has for decades not target- treated, it said. Rows of thatched or aluminium-roof ed the refugees who are most in need. MSF’s Dadaab fi eld coordinator, Al- huts provide little respite from blister- “Resettlement should only be for fred Davies Jr, said the increase in pa- ing year-round heat. people who are genuinely stuck, who tients with mental health problems Plots are cordoned off by trash- cannot go home and cannot stay where cannot be directly attributed to the strewn fences of thorns. they are,” said Joshua Meservey, Africa US resettlement policy changes, but Aid groups say the mood has dete- analyst at the Heritage Foundation, a confusion over the new policies was a riorated at Kakuma, close to the border conservative US think-tank. source of stress. with South Sudan, since Washington Asked about the reports of grow- “Many are confused, caught up in Children jump rope as they play at the Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya. started getting tougher on immigration. ing mental health problems among a limbo due to the uncertainty of their The United States is one of the main refugees in Kenyan camps, a US State future,” he said. Somali language which some of them Dadaab camp, was not included in the Since the overhaul of the resettle- providers of aid and has overwhelm- Department spokeswoman said: “The Kenya’s Red Cross did not respond to use to describe a condition that is the application she fi led before they mar- ment programme began, thousands ingly been the main destination for Department of State has provided a request for comment but British aid opposite of homesick: the longing to ried, but she said they often spoke of have had their medical clearances and those who are resettled. long-standing, generous support for group Save the Children also said the leave. how he would one day follow her to the admissions approvals expire, accord- The US fl ag is emblazoned on school the refugee response in Kenya and glo- mood at the Dadaab camp had deterio- Halima Abdi Mohammed, a 30-year- United States. ing to the UN Refugee Agency (UN- walls, on sacks of food aid and on metal bally. This includes programmes that rated. old refugee from Somalia at the Kaku- She woke in their mud-walled home HCR). cans of vegetable oil that refugees use support the health of refugees, includ- Caleb Odhiambo, who runs Save the ma camp, applied for resettlement in last October to fi nd Moussa had hanged All others are “currently on hold in to build makeshift walls and tables. ing mental health.” Children’s education and child pro- 2013, before she married. himself from the roof. the US pipeline”, pending clarifi cation US President Donald Trump, who Kalatu rides around the Kakuma tection programmes in the camp, said She completed one of the fi nal steps, He had become depressed, she said, from Washington on the new vetting took offi ce in January 2017, has put a camp on a motorcycle to see patients some refugees had already withdrawn medical checks, just before Trump took when they lost hope of being resettled guidelines, it said. cap of 45,000 on the number of refu- too despondent to visit him. their children from school and were offi ce. “The checks expired, we did them in the United States. At the Kakuma camp, Kalatu has giv- gees who can be admitted to the United He treated 46 refugees with what he waiting to be a booked on a fl ight to the again, they expired, and then we heard Because suicide is illegal in Kenya, en up telling his patients to hold on to States this year. called suicidal thoughts at the camp in United States when they were told their there’s no more going to the US,” she said there is no police report to verify the their dreams. The 2016 limit set by his predecessor, 2017, a rise from 13 in 2016. cases had been put on hold. quietly, her hands clasped in her lap. cause of death and family and neigh- “Not any more”, he said. “I just try to Barack Obama, was 110,000. Cases of depression more than dou- He said some refugees complain they Her husband Moussa, who taught bours in the camp hid the suicide from help them cope and promise that I will “Many people here who were in the US bled last year, he said. are suff ering from “bufi s”, a term in the English at a primary school in the the police. walk this path with them.” Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 13 AMERICAS

BRIDGE RUN CHURCH SHAME CRUDE CRISIS CRIME INVESTIGATION Pope to meet Chile abuse Venezuela oil minister set Woman who drove family Guatemala arrests thwarted victims later this month to reform energy sector off cliff was drunk by information leaks

Pope Francis plans to meet three victims of President Nicolas Maduro has decreed extra A woman believed to have intentionally driven Guatemalan prosecutors and the United clerical sexual abuse from Chile at the end of powers to his oil czar Manuel Quevedo to try and her wife and children off a cliff in the US state of Nations-backed Commission against Impunity in April in the Vatican. The meeting is scheduled to halt sliding crude output in crisis-hit Venezuela, California was legally drunk, the local sheriff ’s Guatemala (CICIG) on Friday said they had suff ered take place during the last weekend of the month which has sunk to its lowest level since the off ice said. A vehicle owned by the couple — information leaks that thwarted three planned at the Vatican guest house where the Pope lives, 1950s. Struggling with a deep economic Sarah and Jennifer Hart, both 38 — was found arrests in a corruption scandal investigation. Since a spokeswoman for the Holy See said yesterday, recession, failed socialist policies, debt default, at the bottom of a cliff that overlooks the 2015, CICIG investigations have helped Guatemala confirming media reports. The Pope begged for and US financial sanctions, Venezuela’s crude Pacific Ocean in California’s Mendocino County send dozens of public off icials and businesspeople forgiveness for his handling of abuse cases in a production slipped to 1.586 mn barrels per day on March 26. Their bodies and those of three to prison, including former president Otto Perez An aerial photo provided by the Florida Keys letter published on Wednesday. The testimonies in February, according to Opec. Maduro’s decree, of their children were recovered, while their Molina and his vice president Roxana Baldetti. On News Bureau of some of the 1,500 runners collected by a Vatican investigator in February seen by Reuters, gives Quevedo, a major general, other three children are missing and feared Friday, police and prosecutors were ready to arrest reaching the top of the Florida Keys Overseas speak “without additives or sweeteners, about powers to “create, annul or modify” deals dead. “Preliminary results showed Jennifer seven people linked to a Social Security corruption Highway’s longest bridge during the Seven many crucified lives and I confess that this involving state energy company PDVSA and its Hart had a.102 BAC (blood alcohol content),” scandal, but four were out of the country and Mile Bridge Run yesterday near Marathon, causes me pain and shame,” the Pope said in the subsidiaries. It was not immediately clear what the Mendocino County Sheriff ’s Off ice said on three were alerted ahead of time with phone calls, Florida. letter to the Chilean Bishops’ Conference. that might mean for PDVSA’s joint ventures. Friday. the CICIG said. After walkouts, US teachers eye Powerful elections for school funding gains

Reuters spring storm Oklahoma City igh school physics teacher Craig Hoxie fi led to run for Oklahoma’s HHouse of Representatives on Friday, a day after the end of a two-week teacher walkout that had pressed lawmakers for school funding. roars across “A week ago, I would have told you I wasn’t going to do it,” said the 48-year-old Army veteran who has worked in public schools for 18 years, as he drove to the state elec- tion board offi ce to submit his paperwork to become a Democratic candidate in this fall’s election. central US “There is a funding crisis with all public services in our state.” Reuters “Falling and blowing snow The system was also forecast Teachers and parents in Oklahoma, West Milwaukee with strong winds and poor vis- to create a mix of snow and ice Virginia, Kentucky and Arizona have staged ibilities are likely. This will lead that is likely to topple power collective actions in recent weeks, seeking to whiteout conditions, making lines and trees, causing power higher wages and education spending. powerful spring storm travel extremely dangerous. Do outages in the upper Midwest. They say years of budget reductions have swept across the US not travel,” it said. On Friday, the system pro- decimated public school systems in favor of AMidwest and Plains yes- Ice and snow covered road- duced 10 reports of tornadoes in tax cuts. terday, bringing heavy snow and ways across the region, forcing Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, Protests in those Republican-dominated high winds that halted travel several interstate highways to the weather service said. states have encouraged teachers unions and and disrupted power supplies remain closed early yesterday. Four people were injured and Democratic candidates who will try to capi- following tornadoes that in- The storm was expected to 160 buildings damaged in a pos- talize on the outrage to score electoral victo- jured four people in the south of dump almost a foot of snow in sible tornado in northwest Ar- ries. the country. northern Wisconsin and Michi- kansas, local media reported. In November’s mid-term elections, 36 South Dakota, Minnesota, Ne- gan and cause wind gusts of About 115,000 custom- governorships and thousands of state legis- braska and Kansas were bearing 105kph and unseasonably cold ers in the Texas, Louisiana and lative seats will be up for grabs. the brunt of the storm with bliz- temperatures in Texas, the NWS Arkansas while an additional “This transcends what has traditionally zard-like conditions, heavy snow said. 12,000 were without power in been viewed as blue states and red states,” falls and gusts of 80kph expect- It could break April snowfall Michigan yesterday morning, said Randi Weingarten, president of the ed through today, the National records in parts of the northern the website Poweroutage.us re- American Federation of Teachers, which Teachers rally outside the state capitol during a teacher walkout to demand higher pay and Weather Service (NWS) said. Midwest, Weather.com said. ported. boasts 1.7mn members. more funding for education in Oklahoma City earlier this month. “The deprivation has gotten so great that people are taking the risk to escalate their ac- committees to support pro-education candi- has sensed a shift this year as people have tivism.” dates, while members will go door-to-door. grown fed up with budget cuts. The union, typically aligned with the “We have to change and try something dif- “Education in particular was just being Democratic Party, has targeted a number of ferent,” she said of teachers choosing to run fl ushed down the toilet,” she said. Police probe arrest of African Americans key states with plans to mobilize in state- for offi ce themselves. The Democratic Legislative Campaign house, gubernatorial and congressional elec- Several Republican incumbents facing Committee, which focuses on statehouse tions this fall. challenges from teacher candidates did not races nationwide, said more than 50 educa- he Philadelphia Police pair have done nothing wrong, who posted video of the arrest, Nationwide, progressive causes have seen respond to calls for comment. tors are running in other states. Department is investi- that they are allowed to be there, said she was told later on Thurs- a surge of enthusiasm since Republican Pres- Sheri Guyse, 42, a parent with two children The group said the 26 states in which Re- Tgating an incident cap- and that the offi cers are only try- day that the two men, both real ident Donald Trump’s election. in Oklahoma public schools who participated publicans control both the legislature and the tured on widely circulated vid- ing to remove them because they estate brokers, were released Protesters have rallied on issues as wide in the walkout, pledged that come November, governorship have seen an average 5% cut in eos this week in which offi cers are black, which an offi cer denies. without charge. ranging as gun control, gender equality, sci- she would remember whose side lawmakers education spending over the last decade. arrested two black men as they “Does anyone else in this She said staff at the Starbucks ence and immigrants’ rights. were on. In response, David James, a spokesman for sat in a Starbucks coff ee shop place think this is ridiculous?” called police because the two The Oklahoma walkout demonstrated the “A few of their demands were met, and of the Republican State Leadership Commit- and other patrons objected that the white man asks. men had not ordered anything power of collective action to infl uence Re- course that’s a step in the right direction, but tee, which supports that party in statehouse the men were doing nothing Other customers can be heard while waiting for a friend to ar- publican lawmakers, as well as its limits. the only thing I’m feeling really good about races, said, “It is sad and appalling for the wrong and appeared to be tar- agreeing with him. rive. She said white customers The legislature boosted annual education today is that there’s a big election in Novem- Democrats to be coordinating a national pro- geted merely for their race. The Philadelphia Police De- were “wondering why it’s never funding by about $450mn and raised teacher ber where a lot of these legislators will lose test eff ort with their longtime faculty room Cellphone footage that on- partment said on Friday evening happened to us when we do the pay by an average of about $6,100, yet those their jobs,” she said. friends in the teachers unions to push a polit- lookers fi lmed of Thursday’s that an internal investigation was same thing.” The identity of the fi gures remained short of the teachers’ de- A number of teachers have already won ical agenda in the classroom, at the expense incident shows the two men sit- underway and it would not com- two arrested men was not im- mands. special legislative elections as Democrats in of the nation’s students.” ting quietly at a table and talk- ment until that was complete. mediately clear and they could The state’s largest union, the Oklahoma the last two years. John Waldron, a social studies teacher, ran ing for several minutes to police Starbucks Corp said in a post not be reached for comment. Education Association (OEA), declared vic- Karen Gaddis, a retired teacher who ran on unsuccessfully for state Senate in Oklahoma offi cers who have apparently on Twitter that it was aware police Police departments across the tory and turned its attention to the fall elec- a largely pro-education platform, captured a in 2016. been called to the store. removed two “guests” from one United States have come under tions to continue the fi ght for more funding. seat near Tulsa that had been in Republican He is running again as a Democrat in 2018, They are then put in handcuff s of its Philadelphia stores and that criticism for repeated instances At least a dozen Oklahoma teachers are hands for more than 20 years. this time for the state House of Representa- and marched out. Other cus- it was also investigating, with the of killing unarmed black men seeking offi ce. “Things have gotten so bad out here, we’re tives, and said the walkout gives him confi - tomers, including a middle-aged help of police and customers, what in recent years, which activists In remarks to the Tulsa County Democratic like a third-world country,”” Gaddis said in a dence this campaign will unfold diff erently. white man, try to intervene. led to this “unfortunate result.” blame on racial biases in the Party on Friday, OEA president Alicia Priest phone interview. “We’ve turned a whole generation of Okla- The white man tells police the Melissa DePino, an author criminal justice system. said local union chapters would form election She fi rst ran and lost in 2016, but said she homans into political activists now,” he said.

Americas leaders open summit by weighing in on US strikes in Syria

Reuters Peru, a non-permanent mem- Lima ber of the United Nations securi- ty council, called for moderation from all parties involved and said anadian Prime Minister it backed a “political solution,” Justin Trudeau yester- according to a statement from Cday backed air strikes on the foreign ministry. Syria’s chemical weapons pro- Argentine President Mauricio gram by the United States and its Macri also called for the inter- allies, but Argentina, Brazil and national community to seek to Peru at a summit in Lima voiced avoid fl aming tensions further caution about escalating military and to work “in the framework of action. existing international commit- Addressing regional leaders at ments.” the Summit of the Americas in The offi cial theme of the Sum- Peru, Trudeau and several other mit of the Americas is the fi ght leaders across the Western Hem- against corruption. isphere condemned the use of Many countries in attendance chemical weapons. are also expected to condemn a “Those responsible must be pending election in Venezuela. brought to justice,” Trudeau said But Syria, China and trade in a plenary session. loomed over the talks yesterday But Washington’s retaliatory as Washington seeks to advance strikes drew pleas for caution the agenda of US President Don- from Latin American countries. ald Trump, which is widely un- “There’s deep concern in Bra- popular in the region. zil with the escalation of military Trump canceled his attend- confl ict in Syria. It’s time to fi nd ance at the summit to focus on permanent solutions based in the Syria. international law to a war that US Vice President Mike has been going for far too long Pence, who is fi lling in for him, and ended too many lives,” Bra- is expected to discuss Syria in zilian President Michel Temer his speech and in meetings with Heads of states pose for a family photo at the VIII Summit of the Americas in Lima yesterday. said in the plenary. heads of state. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, April 15, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Friendship Art Festival

Kim Yo-jong, younger sister of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, greeting a Chinese art troupe led by Song Tao (centre Kim Yo-jong holds dialogue with Song Tao, the head of the China’s Communist Party’s International Department leading right), head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China, upon their arrival in Pyongyang. a Chinese art troupe to North Korea for the April Spring Friendship Art Festival. 70 fl eeing Rohingya Cambodian prime minister tells youth get on perilous boat to ‘look at Syria’

AFP 1985 after the fall of the Khmer CPP is likely to sail through Angkor Wat Rouge, an ultra-Maoist move- July’s election mostly unop- ment whose policies contrib- posed, the long-term viability uted to the deaths of roughly a of CPP rule hinges on the par- journey to Malaysia ambodian leader Hun quarter of the population in the ty’s ability to win the support Sen urged thousands late 1970s. of Cambodia’s young genera- Reuters passengers faced deprivation of food, water, tions and aid agencies have said. The refu- Cof young supporters A former Khmer Rouge cadre tion.” Kuala Lumpur and physical space as well as the risk of cap- gees have reported killings, rape and arson yesterday to help the country who defected, he has portrayed Friday’s event was held at sizing. on a large scale. The United States and the avoid a fate similar to Syria’s as himself and his party as saviors 12th century Bayon temple to The boat left Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine United Nations have described the situation he looks to assure victory in a of the country, and throughout mark the start of festivals to boat carrying 70 Rohingya Muslims state, in the early hours of Thursday, after as ethnic cleansing. future vote despite the absence the 1980s and 1990s he led the ring in the Cambodian New set out for Malaysia from Myanmar being initially stopped by authorities, said Myanmar has denied nearly all allega- of a viable opposition. fi ght against his former com- Year. A this week, two sources and a rights two sources with knowledge of the matter, tions. The UN refugee agency has said con- The prime minister has rades in a grinding civil war. Some who attended were group, the latest to embark on a dangerous who asked not to be identifi ed because the ditions in Myanmar were not ready for the tightened his grip on dissent He has often justifi ed his hesitant to talk about the elec- sea journey. topic is a sensitive one. Seventy people were Rohingya refugees to return. Myanmar has ahead of the July poll by back- long-standing rule in Cam- tion but seemed to absorb Hun The vessel will be the second to arrive in on the boat, both the sources said. Weath- said it is ready to receive the refugees, with ing the dissolution of the op- bodia by warning of a repeat Sen’s message. “We are afraid Malaysia this month as the Rohingya fl ee er conditions or pushbacks by authorities one of its ministers this week telling refugees position Cambodia National of the unrest and pointing to of a civil war. We don’t want Myanmar’s Rakhine state before the onset of could carry the boat into Thai or Indonesian in Bangladesh to set aside the past and pre- Rescue Party last year follow- modern confl ict in the Middle it again in our country,” said the monsoon season in May brings storms at waters, one source said. pare to “go back to your own residences”. ing the arrest of its leader Kem East in the aftermath of the 26-year-old Pon Thon. sea that could endanger their lives. A Myanmar government spokesman did Some refugees have said they fear going Sokha on treason charges. Arab Spring. Event spokesman Som Ra- “The boat should arrive in Malaysian wa- not immediately respond to telephone calls back due to persecution. Tens of thousands Speaking at the ancient Though victory in July’s tana said the event was not ters in the next week, assuming it doesn’t from Reuters to seek comment. of Rohingya fl ed Myanmar by sea following Angkor complex in Siem Reap vote is all but assured, the rul- political and described it as a come under distress or make landfall in Last month, Indonesian fi shermen res- an outbreak of sectarian violence in Rakhine at an event organised by the ing Cambodian People’s Party “platform for youth to partici- Thailand,” said Matthew Smith, co-founder cued at least fi ve Rohingya Muslims off the in 2012. ruling party-linked Union of party is leaving no stone un- pate, to love culture and to pre- of Fortify Rights, adding that the group had island of Sumatra, with media saying fi ve That exodus peaked in 2015, when an Youth Federations of Cam- turned, rallying the youth vote serve and develop the coun- received reports of the boat’s departure on more had died at sea. Since August, near- estimated 25,000 people fl ed across the bodia, Hun Sen dredged up that the opposition capitalised try’s rich culture.” Cambodia’s April 12. ly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fl ed a Andaman Sea for Thailand, Malaysia and the country’s violent past and on in 2013 when it won a chunk most visited site has served as “This is a tremendously dangerous jour- brutal military crackdown in Myanmar to Indonesia, many drowning in unsafe and urged the youth to help main- of seats in parliament that have the backdrop to ruling party ney,” Smith told Reuters, adding that the neighbouring Bangladesh, the United Na- overloaded boats. tain the “hard-won peace.” now been redistributed to oth- activities in the past. “Look at Syria, is that country er parties. In December, thousands of able to organise things for hap- “Hun Sen needs Cambodia’s monks joined Hun Sen for a Japan marks anniversary of deadly twin earthquakes piness when it is being torn youth,” said Sebastian Stran- ceremony in Angkor Wat that apart by war?” gio, author of a book about the lauded “political stability” af- Hun Sen rose to power in strongman. “Even though the ter the CNRP was dissolved. Japan observed the 200 people who died after aftershocks, according some 38,100 residents still evacuation for one year second anniversary their health deteriorated to the Meteorological live in temporary housing, and seven months” after his of twin powerful due to prolonged Agency. About 3,000 compared with 47,732 the house was demolished by earthquakes in the evacuations. people were injured in the year before, the Kumamoto the quakes. southern prefecture of A magnitude-6.5 quake quakes and more than prefectural government Hagimoto and his family Kumamoto yesterday, rocked Kumamoto on 200,000 houses were said. Mitsuo Hagimoto, moved into a new house in which left 50 people dead the night of April 14 2016 damaged or destroyed, an 87-year-old resident in November. “I did not think and tens of thousands and, 28 hours later, the the government said. the town of Mashiki, was I would be able to live homeless. Memorial same region was struck Kumamoto Castle, a major quoted by Kyodo News after losing everything,” services will be held for by a magnitude-7.3 quake. tourist destination, was agency as saying, “I could he recalled.”But now those who were killed in Over the next year, it was heavily damaged by the not help but feel loneliness we’re able to be back and the quakes and more than rattled by about 4,300 quakes. Two years later, and insecurity during happy.”

Only blooms at North Korean fl ower show

AFP his son and successor Kim Jong- Pyongyang il lie in state. But by far the most common centrepiece was a model of Man- hen nuclear-armed gyongdae, the thatched cottage North Korea put on outside Pyongyang where the Wa fl ower show last founder was born in 1912 and now year to celebrate the birthday of hallowed ground. Mangyongdae its founder Kim Il-sung, scale was “said to be the home town of model rockets were on display. all of our people in their hearts”, But taking pride of place at the said guide Ri Jin-ju, 25. national security ministry stand As ever, the main display came this year was a plant with a record from the Guard Command, the Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, and his wife Bun Rany dance on stage during an opening 49 blooms. military unit tasked with ensur- ceremony for the Khmer New Year at Bayon temple at the Angkor complex in Siem Reap province. Pyongyang is on a charm of- ing the personal security of Kim fensive accompanying the sud- Jong-un and other top leaders, den diplomatic rapprochement where a Mangyongdae model was on the peninsula, with a summit A photographer takes photos at the 20th ‘Kimilsungia’ festival flower surrounded by 1,800 fl owers. US inspects Vanuatu wharf ahead of military exercise due later this month between show in Pyongyang. It was obliquely labelled as leader Kim Jong-un and the simply coming from “the army The United States has tension with the United States support vessel in the exercise,” South’s President Moon Jae-in. trip since inheriting power to tens of thousands of the purple unit of Kim Song Dok” – the conducted a survey of a over China’s activity in the he said. Vanuatu, about After making rapid strides meet Chinese President Xi Jin- orchids named after the North’s Guard’s vice commander. Origi- Chinese-funded wharf in South China Sea. 2,000km east of northern in its weapons programmes last ping. founder by the then Indonesian nally the Kimilsungia had only Vanuatu ahead of a military US Marine Corps Lieutenant Australia, was home to a key year, when intercontinental bal- Not a single weapon could be leader Sukarno in 1965. The fi ve to seven fl owers per stem, but exercise by US forces planned Colonel Curtis L Hill told US Navy base during World listic missile launches and its seen depicted among the 80-odd ministry of environmental pro- selective breeding has raised that for the South Pacific later this Reuters by e-mail that a War II that helped beat back most powerful nuclear blast to stands at the 20th Kimilsungia tection off ered a bucolic scene of to 10 to 15, and the national secu- year, the US Marine Corps said small contingent of Marines the Japanese army as it date earned it several new sets Festival in Pyongyang on Friday, goats, cattle and deer grazing in rity ministry’s record-breaking yesterday. from 1 Marine Expeditionary advanced through the Pacific of UN Security Council sanc- mostly set up by ministries and an orchard nestled in a river val- specimen had 49 fl owers on four The wharf had been the subject Force based in California had toward Australia. There is tions, Pyongyang does not want other North Korean organisa- ley, just along from the chemical stems. of reports in Australia’s Fairfax conducted a site survey in heightened interest in the anything to spoil the atmosphere tions. The event is part of the industry ministry’s plastic fi sh in Ri pointed to the festival’s Media that China wanted to preparation for the exercise wharf in Luganville town now that talks are at hand. Kim annual commemorations for the a bubbling cylinder. theme “Kimilsungias in full establish a permanent military that US forces will hold. because it could be big enough is expected to meet US President anniversary of the birth of Kim The Rodong Sinmun newspa- bloom with yearning for our base in the Pacific island nation. “The site survey was conducted to allow warships to dock at it. Donald Trump soon, and last Jong-un’s grandfather Kim Il- per had a model of the Kumsusan leader” to explain the absence of Both Vanuatu and China denied due to the likely participation Its primary use is to cater for month he made his fi rst overseas sung on April 15, and features Memorial Palace, where Kim and any show of weaponry. the report amid heightened of a Military Sealift Command cargo vessels and ferries. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 15 BRITAIN House brand May faces backlash for pesto studied bypassing MPs on Syria By Patrick Greenfield AFP and defence advice, she con- Vince Cable, leader of the Guardian News & Media London cluded that it was “right and le- Liberal Democrats, the fourth- gal” to take military action. biggest party in parliament, ac- Deploying the armed forces cused May of “riding the coat- n investigation into su- ritish Prime Minister is a prerogative power, meaning tails of an erratic US president”. permarket own-brand Theresa May faced a back- the prime minister can launch “It shows a weak government Apesto has found that Blash from the domestic action without backing from putting short term political ex- bamboo fi bres, potato fl akes opposition after launching mili- MPs. pediency before democracy and and nut fl our are being used as tary strikes yesterday on Syria However, after the Conserva- in so doing further diminishing cheaper alternatives to tradi- without consulting parliament. tives entered offi ce in 2010, the the standing of Britain in the tional ingredients. As the Conservative leader government suggested that world,” Cable said. Pesto, which is tradition- explained her rationale for the since the 2003 vote on the war in Before yesterday’s attacks, ally made from basil, pine nuts, airstrikes, opposition parties Iraq, a convention had emerged Kenneth Clarke, the Conserva- parmesan, olive oil – and some- claimed that the attacks were le- that MPs should have a say, ex- tive former fi nance minister, in- times lemon juice and garlic – gally dubious, risked escalating cept in cases of emergency. sisted that failing to consult MPs has become a staple food in the confl ict, and should have been In attacks alongside US and fi rst would be “a very retrograde UK. approved by lawmakers. French allies yesterday, four step” that made parliamentary However, a Which? investi- The shadow of the 2003 in- British Tornado jets fi red Storm accountability “pathetic”. gation into pesto sold by Asda, vasion of Iraq still lingers in the Shadow missiles at a Syrian mil- However, there was some Co-op, M&S, Morrisons, Sains- corridors of Britain’s parlia- itary base suspected of holding support for May. bury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose ment, when MPs backed then- chemical weapons ingredients. The centre-right Conserva- found that supermarket own- prime minister Tony Blair in The strikes at 0100 GMT were tives rely on the support of the labels used cashew nuts instead joining US military action. 15 miles (24km) west of Homs. Democratic Unionist Party of pine nuts, sunfl ower oil in- “Bombs won’t save lives or Scottish First Minister Nicola (DUP), Northern Ireland’s big- stead of olive oil and cheaper bring about peace,” said Jeremy Sturgeon said that Syria’s use of gest party, for a majority in par- grana padano cheese instead of Corbyn, the veteran leftist lead- chemical weapons could not be liament. parmesan to cut costs. er of the main opposition Labour tolerated but questioned wheth- DUP leader Arlene Foster said The analysis found the most Party. “This legally questionable May: as PM, she has the prerogative power to deploy the armed forces without backing from MPs. er the strikes would halt their that she had spoken to May and authentic and traditional pes- action risks escalating further use or contribute to ending the the airstrikes were “limited but tos were the Asda Extra Special ... an already devastating con- Often when the British gov- ish government taking military lowing an alleged chemical civil war. proportionate and justifi ed”. Genovese Basil Pesto, costing fl ict. Theresa May should have ernment decides on military ac- action. weapons attack on the rebel- “This action risks not just Nigel Dodds, the DUP’s leader £1.39, and the Waitrose 1 Pesto sought parliamentary approval, tion, the opposition off ers its full David Cameron, who was held town of Douma on April further escalating the civil war in parliament, said that May had alla Genovese, priced at £2.70. not trailed after Donald Trump.” support. prime minister in 2013, tweeted 9 was condemned by several in Syria but also a dangerous the full authority required to All standard supermarket Stop the War, a pacifi st coali- However, that has been less yesterday: “As we have seen in British opposition parties who escalation of international ten- carry out the strikes. pestos, with the exception of tion once chaired by Corbyn, has the case in recent years. the past, inaction has its conse- wanted parliament recalled. sions,” said the leader of the left- “We reject any suggestion Waitrose, used thickeners such called a demonstration outside British MPs voted down tak- quences.” It does not sit again until to- wing Scottish National Party, that she was not entitled to do as potato fl akes, bamboo fi bres the British parliament tomorrow ing military action against Da- Lawmakers backed action in morrow, when May will face the third-biggest force in the so,” he said. and nut fl ower; Sainsbury’s, to protest the strikes. mascus in 2013, in what was Iraq in 2014, and again in Syria MPs’ questions on the strikes. British parliament. Tom Tugendhat, the Con- Tesco and Co-op recipes also The group said that it widely viewed as an assertion in 2015, strictly limiting strikes May held an emergency cabi- “There must be urgent confi r- servative chairman of parlia- contained sugar, while Tesco “strongly condemned” the ac- of parliamentary sovereignty on in both countries to targets of net meeting on Thursday to mation from the prime minister ment’s foreign aff airs scrutiny lists water as an ingredient of its tion and accused May of “sanc- the use of force. the Islamic State (IS) extremist discuss a potential military re- that there will be no further ac- committee and a former army standard pesto. tioning killing” at US President It was the fi rst time parlia- group. sponse. tion ... without a full parliamen- offi cer, said that May had “taken Premium pesto recipes, ad- Donald Trump’s behest. ment had voted against a Brit- The rush to swift action fol- After hearing legal, security tary debate,” she stressed. the correct decision”. vertised as “pesto alla Gen- ovese”, must contain the tradi- tional quartet of basil, olive oil, pine nuts and parmesan, but some supermarkets added extra ingredients: sugar, vegetable fi - bres and bamboo were all added PM among cabinet members to Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco Pesto alla Genovese reci- pes. Nikki Stopford, director of re- search at Which?, said: “Pesto earning money as landlords has become a staple food in the UK but our research shows that many shoppers may be getting Senior politicians such Hunt has amended the regis- erties Ltd with his wife, Lucia state’s position at the heart of more than they bargain for when as Theresa May and Boris ter, which now shows that he has Guo which have since bought Theresa May’s government.” it comes to the pesto they are Johnson make thousands of a half share of a holiday home seven fl ats in Alexandra Wharf, Guardian inquiries have es- buying – and not necessarily in pounds a year renting out in Italy, a half share in an offi ce a redevelopment project on the tablished that the fl ats were de- a good way. property building in Hammersmith, and Southampton waterfront worth veloped by a property company “Our advice is not to assume seven recently-acquired apart- £40mn. owned by a Conservative donor. that all pesto contains the same By Rob Davies, Caelainn Barr ments in Southampton. When the registration docu- The 82-fl at luxury block was traditional ingredients. Check and Rajeev Syal Theresa May and Philip Ham- ments were fi led in September developed by Nicolas James Johnson: also owns and rents out property. the ingredients list if authentic- Guardian News & Media mond, who both live in Downing 2017, only his wife was named, Group, a south coast property ity is important to you, or if you Street, rent out their personal constituting a breach of regula- company owned and chaired by ror made by his accountant and and parliamentary declarations, are trying to avoid certain con- homes in central London. tions. businessman and Conservative since corrected. the Cabinet Offi ce are clear that tents, such as added sugar.” ine cabinet ministers, Communities and Housing He also breached the Compa- donor Nicolas James Roach. A spokeswoman for Hunt said: there has been no breach of the including the prime Secretary Sajid Javid also rents nies Act, which requires anyone Roach has made more than “The owner of the development ministerial code.” Nminister, are making out property, while Chris Gray- with more than 25% control of a £50,000 in donations to Hunt’s is a long-standing acquaint- A Downing Street spokes- more than £10,000 a year by ling, the transport secretary, company to be declared “a per- South West Surrey constitu- ance. Jeremy paid standard mar- man said: “Jeremy has rightly Two boys arrested acting as landlords, a Guardian rents out two properties, ac- son with signifi cant control”. ency offi ce since 2011, mostly in ket rates which would have been apologised for an administrative after teen is shot analysis has found. cording to the register. The act was introduced by the form of the complimentary available to anyone else making oversight, and as the Cabinet Following Jeremy Hunt’s fail- Foreign Secretary Boris John- David Cameron’s government in venue hire. an equivalent purchase.” Offi ce have made clear there has Two boys aged 16 and 14 have ure to declare the purchase of son, International Trade Secre- 2015 to tackle money laundering Hunt and Roach were pic- According to the property gi- been no breach of the ministerial been arrested in connection with seven luxury fl ats that he subse- tary Liam Fox, minister without and came into force the follow- tured together in 2011 at a party ant Savills, each fl at in the de- code. We consider the matter the shooting of a teenage boy in quently rented out, an analysis portfolio Brandon Lewis – who ing year. to launch a velopment is worth between closed.” Manchester. of the parliamentary register of is also the Conservative party Kathryn Hudson, parlia- £60mn hotel partly developed £450,000 and £1mn. Dr Alex May, the academic The victim is being treated for MPs’ interests shows eight other chairman – and the Welsh min- ment’s commissioner for stand- by Roachs’ company in Guild- The spokeswoman blamed who spotted Hunt’s omissions multiple gunshot wounds after members of the cabinet own ister Alun Cairns also own and ards, received a complaint about ford, which is in Hunt’s Surrey Hunt’s accountant for mistakes and whose e-mail on March 28 being attacked in Newton Heath property that is rented out for a rent out a property, according to Hunt on Friday and will consider constituency. in the Companies House’ docu- prompted a change to Hunt’s about 5.15pm on Friday. fi ve-fi gure annual sum. the register. it early next week, a spokesper- The referral to parliamentary ments. Companies House fi ling, told Greater Manchester police were The health secretary was There is no suggestion that son said. standards comes because House “These were honest admin- the Guardian that the health called to reports of shots being forced to make an embarrass- the ministers are in breach of the Labour said that Hunt’s ac- of Commons regulations require istrative mistakes, which have secretary’s offi ce only admitted fired near Scotland Hall Road ing apology on Friday after it ministerial code. tions represented a “serious all MPs to register any holding already been rectifi ed,” she said. wrongdoing after he went public and found a male with “serious emerged that he had failed to Hunt’s declared property in- breach”. larger than 15% within 28 days. “Jeremy’s accountant made an with the information on Friday. injuries”. declare a business interest with terests are comfortably larger Shadow cabinet offi ce min- Hunt failed to register for fi ve error in the Companies House “There is a lack of scrutiny Police have issued an appeal for both Companies House and the than any of the other ministers ister Jon Trickett said: “This is months. fi ling, which was a genuine over- from Companies House,” he information in relation to the parliamentary register of MPs’ listed. simply unacceptable and espe- He says the omission was sight. said. “It allows people to break incident. interests. He set up Mare Pond Prop- cially so given the secretary of an honest administrative er- “With respect to ministerial the law, sometimes unwittingly.” Substantial minority of Britons believe multiculturalism has failed

By Mark Townsend Anti-Muslim campaigners denied entry to the United Kingdom at border among Remain voters and Liberal hospitals and schools. Exiting the EU and healthcare Guardian News & Media Democrat supporters. More than one-third of all re- are now considered more signifi - Two prominent anti-Muslim campaigners have been was arranged by Generation Identity United Kingdom “Broadly, the reality is that spondents see Islam as a threat to cant. denied entry into the UK ahead of a conference held and Ireland (GI UK), which has emerged over the past multiculturalism has been an the British way of life, fractional- Campaigners said that a far ifty years after Enoch Pow- by Britain’s newest and most active far-right group. few months as the domestic branch of an expanding uneven success – leaving some ly more than the proportion who right conference held in London ell’s notorious “Rivers of Martin Sellner, from Austria, and the Hungarian Abel far-right network active in 13 countries. areas of Britain more integrated view the Muslim faith and the yesterday refl ected a surge in Is- FBlood” speech, a large mi- Bodi were due to attend the private Generation Iden- Campaigners say that GI UK has adopted a diff erent than others,” said Lowles. British way of life as compatible. lamophobia. nority of Britons appears to be- tity conference in London yesterday. approach to other anti-Muslim groups such as the A Gallup poll conducted weeks The vast majority of respond- The event was organised by lieve that multiculturalism has They were detained at Stansted airport – the second English Defence League (EDL), with a primarily young after the 1968 speech found ents – 81% – said that they felt Generation Identity United failed and diff erent communities time in a month that Sellner, the leader of Generation and tech-savvy membership. 74% of the British population happy in their communities and Kingdom and Ireland (GI UK), a generally live separate lives. Identity, has been prevented from entering the UK by It remains relatively small: GI UK has just 7,445 fol- agreed with the “Rivers of Blood” almost one-third of people said group that has emerged in recent A YouGov poll of 5,200 people border off icials. lowers on Twitter and its first major demonstration, speech, in which Powell strongly that they or a family member has months as the domestic branch to be released today and com- Sellner, 29, was also the ringleader behind a con- held in Hyde Park in London last month, attracted 40 criticised levels of immigration been in relationship with some- of an expanding far-right net- missioned by anti-fascist group troversial “Defend Europe” campaign last summer, people. to Britain, particularly from the one of a diff erent ethnicity to work active in 13 countries. Hope Not Hate, found that 43% responsible for targeting boats attempting to rescue A report released yesterday by Hope Not Hate Commonwealth. themselves. Campaigners say that GI UK predicted relationships between migrants in the Mediterranean. claimed GI UK’s potential belied its size. Powell said that he was “fi lled A majority of people – 59% – has adopted a diff erent approach diff erent UK communities will Lauren Southern, a prominent Generation Identity “GI UK and Ireland does pose a threat that needs to be with foreboding – like the Ro- believe that having a wide variety to other recent anti-Muslim deteriorate over the next few activist who was refused entry to the UK at the border understood, not least to make sure it fails to grow as man, I seem to see the River Tiber of cultures and backgrounds is groups such as the English De- years compared to 14% who feel last month, confirmed the latest developments. its counterparts on the continent have done,” it said. foaming with much blood”. part of British culture, a propor- fence League (EDL) with its things will improve. She tweeted: “Martin Sellner has been detained as “It has the potential to set new expected norms for The YouGov survey found that tion that has steadily increased membership being primarily More than two-thirds of Con- well as Hungarian identitarian Abel Bodi who were young far-right activists and standards for branding 40% felt his warning has proved since Hope Not Hate fi rst posed young, organised and tech-sav- servative Leave voters said they scheduled to attend a private conference in the UK.” and professionalism.” – By Mark Townsend/Guardian well-founded – compared to the question in 2011, when 49% vy. believed multiculturalism wasn’t The event, being held at a closely guarded location, News & Media 41% of respondents who believe of people agreed with the state- “Its message is even more toxic working. Powell’s gloomy view of race re- ment. than groups like the EDL, push- Nick Lowles, chief executive lations was wrong. The survey also suggested that ing extreme anti-Muslim preju- of Hope Not Hate, said: “There paigners to mobilise – the anni- The YouGov poll does of- scribing Britain as a successful A narrow majority – of 51% – immigration has become a less dice and ideas such as racial sep- is clearly much work to do. Pow- versary of the speech must do the fer grounds for optimism, with multicultural society, although are concerned that immigration prominent issue following the EU aratism and repatriation,” said ell’s speech led anti-racism cam- same.” almost half of respondents de- that sentiment is mostly shared was increasing the pressure on referendum. Joe Mulhall of Hope Not Hate. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, April 15, 2018 EUROPE

Slovenia to hold polls on June 3

Slovenian President Borut Pahor has dissolved the national parliament and scheduled early elections for June 3. OPCW is manipulating Prime Minister Miro Cerar resigned in March after the Supreme Court annulled the results of a referendum on his administration’s showcase project, a €1bn ($1.2bn) rail upgrade billed as crucial for development and economic Skripal probe: Moscow growth. The June election will be the AFP/Reuters Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the protection of the population second Cerar’s Modern Centre Moscow the OPCW had sent the Skripals’ against nuclear, biological and Party has contested since its biomedical samples to Swiss ex- chemical threats and dangers lo- founding. perts who found they contained cated in the Swiss town of Spiez. Four years ago, it won the largest oscow has accused traces of the nerve agent BZ used It is known as the Spiez Labo- vote share of 35% shortly after it the chemical weapons by the West. ratory. was formed. Mwatchdog of manipu- “We, as you understand, have Lavrov also said that the Swiss More than 20 parties and lating the results of its probe into abilities to receive confi dential experts had found that the Skri- coalitions have already the poisoning of a former Rus- information. And as this infor- pals’ samples contained traces of confirmed that they will run in sian spy, saying that his samples mation concerns questions of A-234 – one of the nerve agents the elections and attempt to clear had traces of a nerve agent used life and death, we won’t keep of the Novichok group – “in its the parliamentary threshold by by the West. this information secret,” the original form” and in consider- capturing at least 4% of the vote. The United Kingdom says that Russian foreign minister re- able quantities. Early opinion polls indicated that former double agent Sergei Skri- marked. Lavrov cast doubt on that a newcomer may again upset pal and his daughter Yulia were “According to the results of conclusion, saying that a big the established players, with the last month targeted with a nerve the examination, the samples dose of that substance would party of Marjan Sarec, an actor agent of the Novichok family had traces of toxic chemical BZ have killed the Skripals. and the former mayor of Kamnik, which was developed in the So- and its precursors,” Lavrov said, He said that the claim was capturing a significant amount viet Union. citing what he said was “confi - “extremely suspicious” because of votes. The attack shredded ties be- dential information”. the highly volatile A-234 nerve He was the runner-up in October tween Russia and Britain and “BZ is a nerve agent that tem- agent could not have been found presidential elections. led to a severe crisis in relations porarily incapacitates a person,” at the scene in large quantities Slovenia was the first former between Moscow and the West Lavrov said, adding that the given that more than two weeks Yugoslav republic to join the including a huge wave of tit-for- chemical was used by the mili- had passed between the attack European Union in 2004 and tat diplomatic expulsions. tary of the United States, Britain and the collection of the sam- is a part of its single-currency The Organisation for the and other members of the North ples. eurozone. Prohibition of Chemical Weap- Atlantic Treaty Organisation “Taking into account its (A- ons (OPCW) has said that it (Nato). 234) high volatility, the issue of confi rmed “the fi ndings of the “Russia and the USSR never Lavrov: Russia and the USSR never developed such chemical substances. identifi cation of this poisoning Eiff el Tower open United Kingdom relating to the developed such chemical sub- substance in its initial state and identity of the toxic chemical” stances,” he said. “In this regard, from the Spiez Laboratory was of Soviet Socialist Republics. be interesting to hear those ex- in high concentration by spe- again after strike without naming the substance we are asking the OPCW why completely omitted from the fi - “And of course, if the OPCW planations too.” cialists at the Spiez (research) involved. the information which refl ected nal document.” decides to deny that it used the Lavrov appeared to be refer- centre seems to be very suspi- The Eiff el Tower in Paris reopened Yesterday Russian Foreign the conclusions of specialists The USSR refers to the Union Spiez Laboratory then it would ring to the Swiss institute for cious,” Lavrov said. at 1.30pm (1130 GMT) yesterday after a day-and-a-half closure due to strike action by security staff , the management company said. Meanwhile, only one in three scheduled high-speed TGV trains German minister dismisses union demand and regional rail services were running, on the sixth day of a strike against government reform Reuters Seehofer, the federal govern- week’s labour actions to 150,000. ary that amounted to a roughly plans. Berlin ment’s top negotiator in the talks, Verdi leader Frank Bsirske 4% rise per year for 2018 and 2019. Railway workers have been on underscored the importance of said last week that he expected a Infl ation edged up to 1.5% in strike two days out of every public sector workers and agrees breakthrough in the third round of March. five since last week and plan to erman Interior Minister that it is “self-evident” that they talks that will begin today in Pots- Germany, Europe’s biggest continue the action until the end Horst Seehofer said yes- should benefi t from the country’s dam, near Berlin. economy, is in solid shape, with of June. Gterday that he would press economic growth. He said that public sector work- buoyant tax revenues and a record They object to government plans for “reasonable results” in the However, he said Verdi’s de- ers should benefi t from surging budget surplus. to introduce competition on the next round of pay talks with more mand is unreasonable. German tax revenues. Falling unemployment, infl a- rail network and abolish their than two million public sector “It is and remains clear that the The federal government and tion-busting pay rises and low civil servant-like employment workers, but he rejected the Verdi union demand for a 6% increase municipalities have rejected the borrowing costs are fuelling a status – guaranteeing a job for union’s demand for a six percent is too high for one year,” he said union’s demands, but the head consumer-led upswing. life and early retirement – for new increase. in a statement issued by his min- of the VKA association of local The European Central Bank recruits. Wage talks are due to resume istry. “We will continue the ne- employer organisations last week (ECB) is keeping a close eye on the President Emmanuel Macron after 150,000 public sector em- gotiations in such a way that we said he expected an agreement German pay talks for any sign that said on Thursday that he was ployees staged warning strikes can quickly achieve reasonable to emerge from the next round of wage growth is picking up, po- determined to “go all the way” and walkouts last week that left results.” talks. tentially lifting infl ation and giv- with his reform plans. thousands stranded at airports, Verdi said that 17,000 peo- In the industrial sector, 3.9mn ing the ECB added leeway to start The National Assembly, where and hit hospitals, childcare cen- ple participated in walkouts on workers agreed on a pay and fl ex- winding down its massive stimu- Seehofer: It is and remains clear that the union demand for a Macron’s centrist party has a tres and waste depots. Friday, bringing the total for the ible working hours deal in Febru- lus programme. 6% increase is too high for one year. large overall majority, is due to vote on the law setting out the changes on Tuesday.

51 foreigners held Hungarians stage anti-government protest in Budapest over links to IS

AFP He has been in power since In the crosshairs in particu- election campaign was marked Turkish police in Istanbul Budapest 2010 and according to critics has lar will be groups funded by by “intimidating and xenopho- detained 51 foreign nationals curbed judicial independence, Hungarian-born US billion- bic rhetoric, media bias and yesterday, all alleged to have links muzzled the press and rigged the aire George Soros, whom Orban opaque campaign fi nancing”. to the Islamic State (IS) extremist ens of thousands of electoral system. says wants to undermine Europe There was also “a pervasive group, the state-run Anadolu Hungarians thronged Campaigning hard against the though mass immigration. overlap of state and ruling party news agency reported. TBudapest yesterday in “poison” of immigration, Or- Images of Soros, 87, were resources”, the OSCE said in a Police carried out a number anger at strongman Prime Min- ban’s overwhelming victory saw plastered on billboards in the preliminary report. of simultaneous raids against ister Viktor Orban’s crushing re- his Fidesz party secure around election campaign and Orban The fi ndings were derided by the suspected IS militants, who election victory. half the vote. depicted opposition fi gures run- Orban as “political”. were preparing for an attack, The crowd, around 100,000 This means Fidesz with small ning in the election as “Soros With 99% of votes counted, according to Anadolu. strong according to organis- junior coalition partner the candidates”. Fidesz is far ahead of the na- Police seized documents ers and AFP reporters, marched Christian Democrats will have On Thursday a list of some tionalist Jobbik party (19%) in and digital material allegedly through the city centre to parlia- 134 seats in the 199-seat legisla- 200 “Soros enemies” was also second place and a Socialist-led belonging to the extremist group. ment for a rally under the motto ture, a two-thirds majority. published in a pro-government centre-left alliance (12%). Separately yesterday, police “We are the majority”. This will allow Orban, who magazine owned by a close Or- But the result has been dis- in Turkey’s Hatay province, on “We want to live in a state of with Poland’s like-minded gov- ban ally. puted by civil society groups and the border with Syria, arrested law, where checks and balances People attend a protest in Budapest against Orban government. ernment has regularly clashed Several Western ambassa- opposition parties, who say Or- an alleged senior IS militant, are present. We want to live in with Brussels, to steamroll leg- dors criticised the list, with the ban does not represent the ma- according to Hurriyet daily. a real democracy,” said protest Many of the demonstrators, a non-partisan public media islation through parliament. US embassy in Budapest said it jority of Hungarians. Ankara had put a bounty of 1mn organiser Viktor Gyetvai, 20, a most of whom were young, service, fresh elections and for Already he has readied legis- condemned an “attempt to in- Alleged irregularities were re- liras ($244,000) out for Mehmet student. “If the demands are not were chanting “democracy” and the opposition to unite. lation that will make life harder timidate these citizens”. ported at some polling stations Abitoglu, the report said. met then we cannot live in this holding Hungarian and Euro- Orban, 54, secured a third for civil society groups oper- Organisation for Security and last Sunday as well as an IT sys- Ankara blames IS for several country, this is our last chance to pean Union fl ags. straight term in the election last ating in the central European Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) tem outage at the National Elec- attacks in the country in 2015 and do something for this country.” They demanded a recount, Sunday. country of 10mn people. observers said this week that the tions Offi ce. 2016. Oscar-winning director Milos Forman dies at 86

AFP “He passed away quietly, surrounded the Prague Spring, Forman moved to the exander. “Milos loved life. I will miss his Prague by his family and his closest people,” she United States via France. laughter.” said. His career overseas started with Tak- “No one combined masterful story- In an obituary on Twitter, Hollywood ing Off in 1971, followed by One Flew telling with extraordinary images like scar-winning Czech-born fi lm actor Antonio Banderas labelled the ci- Over the Cuckoo’s Nest four years later, Milos,” tweeted British actor Cary El- director Milos Forman, known gar-smoking director a “genius of cin- which brought him his fi rst “best direc- wes. Ofor One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s ematography”. tor” Oscar. “He was my dad’s best friend and we Nest and Amadeus, has died aged 86, his “Milos Forman has left us. Genius of An American citizen since 1977, the both looked up to him,” Czech director agents told AFP yesterday. cinematography and master in the por- father-of-four returned to still-Com- David Ondricek, the son of Forman’s “I heard from (Forman’s wife) Mar- trayal of the human condition. RIP,” the munist Prague in 1983 to fi lm Amadeus, cameraman Miroslav Ondricek, told the tina Forman early this morning, letting Desperado star said. which earned him a second Oscar for website of the Czech broadsheet daily me know Milos passed away at Danbury Born in the town of Caslav east of best director and won eight out of 11 Dnes. Hospital near his home in Warren, Con- Prague on February 18, 1932, Forman nominations. “He had a beautiful character and necticut,” his agent Dennis Aspland lost both parents in Nazi concentration “Milos Forman was ... a master fi lm- fantastic energy. People wanted to be said. camps. maker – no one better at capturing near him, he was a fabulous story-teller “I can confi rm the news,” added the In the 1960s, he joined the New Wave small unrepeatable moments of human and a kind man,” Ondricek added. director’s Czech agent Radka Kadle- of fi lmmakers standing up to the Com- behaviour,” tweeted Forman’s screen- Gilles Jacob, former director of the cova, as Forman’s offi cial Facebook page munist regime in what was then Czech- writer Larry Karaszewski. Cannes Film Festival, said that Forman displayed a black square in the place of oslovakia, making himself famous with “We made two movies together and had loved “beer, tennis, Cannes”. his profi le picture, complete with the Black Peter, Loves of a Blonde and The every day spent with him was a unique He said: ‘Tell the truth, that’s all’,” dates of birth and death. Firemen’s Ball. adventure,” said Karaszewski, who Jacob tweeted. The Czech news agency CTK quoted Shortly before the 1968 Soviet-led wrote the screenplays for Forman’s The Forman’s other fi lms include Hair Czech-born US director Milos Forman poses during a photocall after being Martina Forman as saying her husband occupation of Czechoslovakia, which People vs Larry Flynt (1996) and Man on (1979), Ragtime (1981), Valmont (1989), awarded for his contribution to cinema during the second edition of the Lum- died on Friday after a short illness. put an end to a liberal period known as the Moon (1999) together with Scott Al- and Goya’s Ghosts (2006). iere 2010 Film Festival in Lyon, eastern France. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 17

INDIA Delhi man takes on top hospital over wife’s death

Agencies medical negligence as a major case was registered against the evening, Ghai termed it as a rou- hospital chains in the country, Medical Council of India (MCI). Ghai said he had studied almost New Delhi development in his quest for doctors on February 20, 2018 tine matter and not a setback for he was shocked that government But that decision proved futile, every Supreme Court ruling on justice. after a medical board confi rmed him. authorities, including medical as the matter was transferred to cases pertaining to medical neg- The New Delhi had com- medical negligence. “There are directives of the offi cials, refused to act against the State Medical Council where ligence. he husband of a 51-year plained to the authorities Gurugram police arrested Supreme Court regarding the doctors even after he fi led a re- it is pending over the last two- “I have consulted senior old woman who died at a against four doctors of Fortis cardiologist Dr Suryanarayan arrest of medicos and these have port against them. and-a-half months. lawyers and medical experts in Tleading Gurugram hospi- hospital for delaying medication Murthy and emergency offi cer to be followed,” said Ghai. “What is the point of having “Despite obstacles, I will fi ght the matter and am confident tal in May last year, has said that for his wife and not following Dr Vajja Nagaraju on Friday. He is also waiting for the such large institutions and au- to the end and approach the that justice will be done,” he he would fi ght till the end to get protocol, which he claimed led They were held after the police police to file the charge-sheet thorities when they can’t take highest court in the country till said. closure in the case. to her death. gathered evidence of negligence and record his statement in the action against errant doctors I get the doctors punished,” he “The matter is sub judice. We Mukesh Ghai, however, Ghai’s wife Seema died on on their part. case. even in open and shut cases like said. are providing complete support termed the arrest of two doc- May 12, 2017 at the Hospital af- Although the two doctors Ghai said in the course of his mine?” he said. Prior to approaching the to the authorities concerned,” a tors of Fortis Hospital for ter suff ering cardiac arrest. A were granted bail later in the fi ght against one of the biggest He said he had approached the medical board and authorities, hospital spokesperson said. Govt plans to monitor TV viewership through chips

Agencies meaningfully compare and verify New Delhi data. “The I&B Ministry feels that viewership fi gures for every he federal Ministry of In- channel will be more authentic formation and Broadcast- through this method (tracking Ting wants to know what viewership through a chip). This viewers are watching on televi- will help advertisers as well as the sion and has proposed installing Directorate of Advertising and a chip in the new set-top boxes Visual Publicity (DAVP) to spend used by digital satellite service their advertising expenditure providers to give them the low- wisely and only those channels down, an offi cial said on Friday. which are widely watched will get The proposal to monitor pat- promoted,” the offi cial said. BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar reacts as he leaves a court after he was arrested on Friday in A woman holds a placard at a protest in Srinagar yesterday over the terns, sent to the Telecom Regula- BARC, on its part, said in a connection with the rape of a teenager, in Lucknow, yesterday. gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kashmir. tory Authority of India (TRAI) for statement: “We operate within its comments, has been mooted the regulatory framework as as the ministry is circumspect mandated by the ministry guide- about the viewership data collated lines. We also meet regularly with by Broadcast Audience Research offi cials of the ministry and TRAI Council (BARC) - a television au- to brief them and provide status dience measurement agency. report on our operations.” Cable or direct-to-home Another reason behind the service operators do not have in- proposal is that the ministry feels Lawmaker accused of formation on how subscribers the viewership of Doordarshan is consume content, though BARC, under reported and the new tool through its BAR-O-meters, col- will help “DD get a boost”. lects data directly from channels Referring to the BARC mecha- by watermarking the audio. nism, the offi cial said the agency According to an offi cial who measures viewership by install- did not want to be identifi ed, the ing 30,000 people meters, which rape sent to CBI custody ministry wants to use set-top are soldered to the TV’s mother boxes with a chip as it feels BARC board. He said there were con- Agencies the girl to the legislator has also claiming no action had been porters at his daily press briefi ng lines after Hindu radical groups almost functions like a monopoly. cerns about the genuineness of Lucknow been arrested. Three cases have taken in the rape case that took in New York on Friday. in the Jammu area protested the “There are no alternatives (to the assessment done through been fi led against the legislator place in 2017. “We very much hope that the arrest of the accused, who are BARC). It also doesn’t reveal how volunteers. under various sections of the Later that day, her father was authorities will bring the perpe- Hindus, and local lawyers tried it arrives at the fi gures, the meth- In response, BARC said its data Lucknow court yesterday Indian Penal Code and the Pro- picked up by the police and al- trators to justice so they can be to stop police from fi ling charg- odology applied, or the area sur- collection and reporting meth- sent a Bharatiya Janata tection of Children from Sexual legedly beaten up in custody held accountable for the murder es. veyed,” the offi cial said. odology was arrived at after con- Aparty legislator to seven Off ences (Pocso) Act. by the legislator’s brother Atul of this young girl,” Dujjaric said Several local BJP leaders and He added that the ministry sultations and consensus with days’ police custody after he was Earlier, the victim, who along Singh and his aides, following while responding to a question at least two ministers in the discussed the possibility of pro- I&B Ministry and TRAI and the arrested for allegedly raping a with her mother and uncle, were which he died in hospital. about the secretary general’s re- Jammu and Kashmir coalition curing about 300 people meters detailed methodology was avail- teenager. brought to Lucknow under tight Meanwhile, Jammu and Kash- sponse to the rape and murder of government with the regional and randomly installing them to able on their website. The council The Central Bureau of Inves- security in the morning, under- mir Chief Minister Mehbooba the girl. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) verify the veracity of BARC data, added: “We will be happy to again tigation (CBI) sought a 14-day went tests at the Ram Manohar Mufti yesterday sacked four po- A special team of the Jammu were part of the protests. but found the number too small to meet and address their queries.” remand of BJP legislator Kuldeep Lohia hospital. licemen accused in the rape and and Kashmir police has arrested Forests Minister Lal Singh and Singh Sengar but the court only The victim later told reporters murder of an eight-year-old girl eight people including a cou- Industries Minister Chandar allowed a week-long remand. that Prime Minister Narendra in Kathua district. ple of policemen who have been Prakash Ganga were forced to Woman liberated from child marriage The agency earlier got Sengar’s Modi’s statement on Thursday The chief minister also wrote charged with destroying evi- resign after they had joined the medical examination done here. that the guilty will be brought to the chief justice of Jammu dence. The incident made head- Jammu protest. Sengar, the lawmaker from to book was very reassuring and and Kashmir High Court, seek- Kriti Bharti and revealed her pre- Unnao’s Bangamau, however that she now hoped that justice ing a fast track court to conclude IANS Ex-bank offi cer charged for off ensive post Jaipur dicament. continued to claim that he was will be done in her case. She also within 90 days the trial in the With Bharti’s help, she gained innocent and told reporters be- said that the arrest of the legisla- case that has caused outrage, courage to stand up against the fore he was taken to the court tor was a positive development. including by the UN secretary Police in Kerala yesterday said into a future human bomb and n yet another case of child evil. Later, the trust offi cials that he had full faith in God and She also thanked the media general. they have registered a case grown up to be a terrorist. It marriage annulment in Rajas- counselled Mamta’s parents and the judiciary. and the CBI for taking up her The girl belonging to a no- against a former bank off icer caused a huge outcry with many Ithan, Mamta Bishnoi, who was they agreed to annul her mar- He is accused of raping the battle that so far was a “lonely madic Muslim community was for off ensive social media posts writing to the bank against married at the tender age of 8, was riage. However, her in-laws did 17-year-old girl and conspiring and losing battle”. allegedly raped by six men who, against the eight-year-old Kathua Nandakumar. The bank on Friday yesterday released after 13 years of not agree, and continuously to kill her father, who died of in- However, her uncle accused according to police, held her rape and murder victim. The said his services were terminated torment, by a family court. threatened Mamta and family. juries he sustained during a bru- the Unnao administration of captive in a village temple in former Kotak Mahindra Bank on Wednesday due to poor per- Mamta, now 21, long remained Mamta then fi led a petition tal assault in police custody by conniving to save the legislator. the Kathua for a week. She was off icer, Vishnu Nandakumar, formance. It also condemned its clueless of her marriage and was in the family court, where Judge Sengar’s brother and some aides. The victim was later taken to drugged, repeatedly raped and was sacked on Wednesday former employee’s social media only told about it a few years Rekha Bhargava ordered annul- Sengar was arrested by the the CBI’s zonal offi ce where a bludgeoned to death. for posting the comments, a post. “Since he has been charged back. ment of the child marriage. CBI on Friday after a day-long detailed statement from her is “I think we’ve seen the media police off icer said. In his post in under a non-bailable off ence, he She had a chance to attend “I am studying now. I am now interrogation. He was also con- likely to be recorded. reports of this horrifi c case, of Malayalam, Nandakumar justi- will be arrested. The probe has an orientation camp organised free from the clutches of child fronted with some facts by the The girl tried to set herself the abuse and the murder of a fied the killing of the girl. He said begun and appropriate actions against child marriage by Saarthi marriage and will pursue my agency. ablaze outside Uttar Pradesh young girl,” UN Secretary Gen- it was good that she was killed will follow,” said the police off icer Trust where she happened to dreams. I want to become a doc- A woman, identifi ed as Shashi Chief Minister Yogi Adity- eral Antonio Guterres’ spokes- otherwise she would have turned on condition of anonymity. meet its trustee, psychologist tor.” Singh, who is accused of taking anath’s residence last Sunday, man Stephane Dujarric told re- India off ers China soybean amid trade war with US

IANS port a lot of agricultural products American companies to transfer economies of Asia have seemed to We now give them multiple three- Beijing probably to the tune of $20bn or their technology to China’s fi rms. ignore these protectionist noises month visas. If you could make more,” Kumar said. Beijing was quick to fi re back by and have continued to grow at a this possible for our investors, it “And I was noticing that there imposing taxes on 106 US prod- very high rate of speed with China will really help in taking this in- n the wake of a raging US-Chi- were some tariff s that were issued ucts. growing at 6.8 and India growing vestment forward from Indian in- na trade war, India yesterday on farmers from Iowa and Ohio The wrangling has worried the 7-7.2%,” Kumar added. vestors who are very keen to come Ioff ered to export soybean and etc. Maybe India can substitute for world, which is witnessing a slug- The dialogue was attended by to China,” Kumar said. other agriculture products to Bei- something like soybeans and sugar gish economic growth. the delegation of China’s National “Dangal has been a great success jing, which has slapped retaliatory if we could have access to those ex- In March, US President Donald Development Reforms Commis- in China and if that is so we would tariff s on American products. ports with all the due quality con- Trump had threatened India with sion. like to expose the Chinese popula- India also slammed the US for siderations for that you might have retaliatory tariff s if New Delhi did Kumar said that India and China tion to some more Indian movies. its “protectionist” trade policies, on our farmers. That might be very not lower taxes on American prod- need to work for a better economic So if there can be liberalisation of saying the “unseemly” practice useful,” Kumar said referring to the ucts. climate for “our investors and en- entertainment and if you can ex- has hurt the world’s economic re- US-China trade war. “There is for the fi rst time a cy- trepreneurs.” pand working groups from current covery. China and the US – the world’s clical and synchronised recovery “We both have to do ease of fi ve to two more: one on culture At the 5th India-China Strate- two largest economies – are locked in the world economy happening doing business so that our pro- which includes entertainment; the gic Economic Dialogue in Beijing, in an ugly trade spat with both after a very long time. But this is cedures, red tape, and non-tariff other one could be one on phar- Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajeev sides hitting back at each other by actually marred and disrupted barriers get sorted out so that in- maceuticals because we import a Kumar said that Beijing and New imposing slapping economic tar- by some unseemly protectionist vestors from both the countries in lot of your pharmaceuticals APIs.” Delhi were unruffl ed by the “pro- iff s. noises that are coming out of the their respective fi elds get the in- “The time has come for those tectionist noises” and could well In the fi rst week of April, the US Atlantic basin, North America, vestment opportunities,” he said. APIs to be used in some formula- be the important anchor for the announced tariff s worth $50bn on and Europe,” Kumar said in an ob- “We have liberalised as you tion that could be re-exported to world economy. Chinese products which, it said, lique reference to China. know all the business visa regimes China with all the FDA regulations “We have noticed that you im- was the result of Beijing forcing the “But thankfully the emerging for the Chinese investors to come. of China and our highest quality.” Gulf Times 18 Sunday, April 15, 2018 INDIA

INVESTIGATION PROTEST TRAGEDY CONTROVERSY CRIME Singer injured in gun Cauvery dispute claims Boy dies after being hit Explain comment on Man who allegedly killed attack in Chandigarh life of Vaiko’s relative by school bus, driver held Modi, Thomas told wife over dowry arrested

Popular Punjabi singer Parmish Verma was shot Saravana Suresh, a nephew of Tamil Nadu A 12-year-old boy died and a 10-year-old was The Kerala unit of the Congress Party A 32-year-old man was arrested for allegedly and injured, police said in Chandigarh yesterday, politician Vaiko who had set himself on fire injured after a school bus hit them while they yesterday sought an explanation from senior killing his wife yesterday after her parents did adding they were searching for two gangsters over the Cauvery water dispute, died yesterday. were playing near their house in New Delhi party leader K V Thomas after news reports not fulfil his demand for a further Rs800,000 who claimed responsibility for the attack. The Suresh set himself afire in Virudhunagar after on Friday evening, police said yesterday. The spoke of him praising Prime Minister Narendra in dowry, police said. The man was identified Gaal Ni Kadni singer was shot late on Friday he was upset over the Cauvery water dispute. driver of the bus has been arrested. The dead Modi’s administration. Thomas said he was as Hari Om, who lived in a rented apartment when he was heading home from Chandigarh’s He was taken to a Madurai hospital with serious was identified as Rahul, 12, and the injured, misquoted. Thomas, a former central minister in Gurugram, and the victim as Laxmi. “After Elante Mall in his SUV with a friend. Police said burns. In a statement on Friday, Vaiko, the chief Jagdeesh, 10, was stable, police said. The who represents the Ernakulam Lok Sabha heated arguments, Hari Om strangulated Laxmi. a car followed the SUV from Chandigarh. It of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam incident happened around 5.30pm on Friday constituency, hailed the prime minister at an He was arrested under the charges of murder stopped in front of the SUV and a man opened party appealed to people to refrain from when the boys were playing near their house event on Friday. The reports quoted Thomas and other off ences and was sent to jail under fire on him. Though Verma and his friend were harming themselves in similar manner. He said in Vivekananda Camp, a slum cluster falling in as saying: “Modi is a good administrator who judicial custody,” police off icer Ravinder Kumar injured in the attack, they managed get away in Suresh had listened to his speech against Prime the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri. Driver is able to convince others of his actions.” said. According to the complaint filed by Laxmi’s the SUV. Verma later called up a senior police Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chennai on Rashem Pal, 57, reversed the bus near the Camp The reports said that Thomas felt more father Balwant Singh, Hari Om, who did nothing off icer of Mohali district for help. The two were Thursday and had been feeling disturbed ever and then moved forward, hitting the boys, the comfortable dealing with Modi than the for his livelihood, would often quarrel with his admitted to a private hospital in Mohali. since. police said. leaders in his own party. daughter. Shun path of violence, PM urges youth in Maoist areas

IANS smooth functioning of schools ty (BSP) chief Mayawati lashed Bijapur, Chhattisgarh and construction of roads, Modi out at Modi and said his words appealed to the people of Chhat- and the acts of his Bharatiya Ja- tisgarh to follow the path of de- nata Party about Dalit welfare rime Minister Narendra velopment. and respect for Ambedkar was a Modi yesterday appealed He also appealed to the peo- sham. Pto the Maoist youth to ple from the backward districts The four-time Uttar Pradesh shun their guns and join the to join a mass movement with chief minister also charged Chief mainstream for development in a diff erent approach laced with Minister Yogi Adityanath with which the government would information technology for the “abject failure” in maintaining protect their rights. transformation. law and order in the northern “I would like to ask the youth Modi said over 100 districts state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils a book Health Atlas after inaugurating a health and wellness centre to mark the launch of on the path of violence that the in the country including Chat- “Both Modi and Yogi have Ayushman Bharat Yojana, in Bijapur in Chattisgarh yesterday. Also seen are Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, and federal Health Constitution takes care of your tisgarh’s Bijapur remained back- done nothing for the oppressed, Minister J P Nadda. rights. It is the government’s ward even after 70 years of inde- marginalised and the Dalits and duty to protect your rights. You pendence. they are only paying lip service need not pick arms and destroy to the cause of these sections of your lives,” Modi said while ad- “Atrocities on the Dalits the society,” she said. dressing a function on the oc- have increased under This double standards - of casion of Dr Babasaheb Ambed- the watch of the BJP launching schemes and nam- Internet services suspended in kar’s birth anniversary when governments” ing buildings and monuments he launched the “Ayushman in the name of Ambedkar while Bharat” in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. “If the district administra- remaining silent on atrocities on Under the scheme, he inau- tion, the public representatives Dalits - would neither be toler- four Punjab districts after clashes gurated the fi rst of the 150,000 and the people join hands in a ated nor accepted, the BSP su- health and wellness centre the mass movement, then unprec- premo said. government aims to set up by edented results can be achieved. “Atrocities on the Dalits have IANS as a precautionary measure to at the crossing which was op- istered by police on that day. If 2022 that will focus on on com- There will be no change with the increased under the watch of the Chandigarh check rumour mongering on so- posed by the other. any evidence is found only then prehensive primary healthcare old ways. If we have new targets, BJP governments,” she said. cial media. Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Palta will action be taken against for preventive, promotive and we need new ways,” Modi said. Accusing the BJP govern- Sources in the police said that was beaten up allegedly by the culprits and the innocent will curative care. He said the government was ments of diluting the provisions nternet services were sus- shots were allegedly fi red during Dalits during the clash. Senior be released. An IAS officer, an Modi said people behind the working with a diff erent ap- of the SC/ST Act, she said many pended in four districts of the clash, which also witnessed police personnel along with ad- IPS officer and a public repre- violent activities were from out- proach on the 115 backward innocent people were being IPunjab yesterday after ten- some stone throwing. Taking a ditional forces have been de- sentative will be members of side the state and it was they who districts, which are labelled as charged falsely for rioting and sion gripped the industrial town serious note of the clash between ployed in the town following the this committee,” he said while were responsible for the death of “aspirational and ambitious dis- under other sections of the IPC of Phagwara following clashes the Dalits and “upper caste men”, clash. addressing the Dr Bhim Rao local youths. tricts”. for the violence that took place between the Hindu and Dalit Singh said: “We will not spare The chief ministe appealed Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations “None of their chiefs is from “Each district faces its own in the country during the April 2 groups over a poster of Babasa- the culprits.” to the people to maintain peace at Kurukshetra, 100km from your area. They have come from challenges, and therefore, a dif- “Bharat Bandh”. heb B R Ambedkar. “Will not allow Punjab’s peace and harmony and warned of Chandigarh. outside your state. If you read ferent strategy is required in “If your heart is clear and you The Punjab police yesterday to be destroyed at any cost. My “stringent action against anyone The Haryana police had ar- their names, surnames, you will each case,” he said. actually want welfare of the Dal- remained on high alert in Phag- government will bear all ex- found disturbing the law and or- rested over 100 people for the understand who they are. They Modi said the issue of region- its, rather than waiting for the wara town following the clash. penses for treatment of all those der in the state”. violent incidents related to the do not die. They hide safely in al imbalance can be achieved Supreme Court on the matter Tension prevailed in the indus- injured in the incident,” he said. Meanwhile, the Haryana gov- protest. the jungles. They send your chil- through various types of con- pertaining to the SC/ST Act, you trial town, around 130km from The chief minister asked the ernment said it would set up a More than 80 police offi cers, dren in front to face the bullet. nectivity through road, railway, should convene a meeting of the Chandigarh yesterday following Ludhiana district administra- three-member review commit- offi cials and eight civilians were Would you leave your children air and information technology. cabinet and issue an ordinance,” the clash that started late Fri- tion to ensure the best treatment tee to fi nd out the facts about the injured and 24 government and behind such people,” the prime The prime minister said the Mayawati said in Lucknow. day over putting up a poster of for Yashwant Kumar Bobby, re- involvement of people in pro- 60 private vehicles suff ered mi- minister said. Dalit icon was instrumental in She also accused Modi’s gov- Ambedkar at the Goal Chowk. ported to be seriously injured in tests during the one-day shut- nor damages. “The government is duty- getting people from backward ernment of not pleading for Chief Minister Amarinder the clash and undergoing treat- down called by Scheduled Castes Protests and incidents of vio- bound to ensure school educa- class their rights. the SC/ST Act case forcefully Singh ordered the suspension of ment at DMC Hospital in Ludhi- organisations on April 2, Chief lence in Haryana were reported tion to children and remunera- “A person from a backward enough in the top court and mobile Internet services in Ka- ana. Minister Manohar Lal Khattar from Bhiwani, Rohtak, Kaithal, tion to agriculture produce,” he class like me could become the added this showed they were not purthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur Trouble arose on the eve of said yesterday. Ambala, Yamunanagar, Hisar, said. prime minister because of Dr honest towards welfare of the and Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Ambedkar Jayanti when one “The committee will con- Jind, Sirsa and some other plac- Stating that the security per- Babsaheb Ambedkar,” he said. Dalits, who have been oppressed Nagar (Nawanshahr) districts group tried to put up the poster duct a review of all cases reg- es. sonnel risk their lives for the However, Bahujan Samaj Par- for years.

Naidu to observe fast over Casteism breaks social special status to Andhra harmony, says Kovind IANS at the UN in 2016, the president New Delhi said that Ambedkar, like Mar- IANS The second half of the budget Lashing out both at the BJP tin Luther King Junior, is an in- Amaravati session was washed out due to and the opposition parties YSR spiring fi gure for all humanity. protests by various parties in- Congress and Congress, Naidu resident Ram Nath Kovind “There is need to do justice to his cluding the TDP, which sought appealed to the people to ensure yesterday said the country legacy,” he said. ndhra Pradesh Chief to move a no-confi dence motion the victory of TDP on all 25 Lok Pshould be free of casteism Kovind said the book that he Minister N Chandrababu against the government after Sabha seats in the state. “To- which disturbs the country’s so- had been presented with was a ANaidu will observe a day- pulling out of the Bharatiya Ja- morrow, the government at the cial harmony, which is essential slim volume but was an acces- long fast on April 20 to protest nata Party-led National Demo- Centre will be decided by TDP,” not only for economic develop- sible resource to understand the central government’s refusal cratic Alliance (NDA). he said. ment but for all kinds of happi- Ambedkar, covering his life and to grant special category status Naidu’s decision to sit on fast He recalled that the TDP ness and peace. several dimensions of his ideas to the state. came amid an ongoing protest played a key role in govern- “We have to get rid of and personality, including how The Telugu Desam Party by various political parties in the ment formation at the Centre casteism as it breaks the social Prime Minister Narendra Modi (TDP) president will stage the state against the Centre for not in the past. “We played a key harmony of the country,” the had been inspired by Ambed- protest on his 68th birthday fulfi lling its promises. role in the National Front, president said at the launch of kar’s life and message. to put pressure on the central At a meeting in Guntur dis- United Front and NDA-1,” he book Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: He expressed the hope that government to fulfi l all com- trict yesterday, Naidu said there said. Vyakti Nahin Sankalp at Rash- the thoughts compiled in the mitments made at the time of would be no compromise on the The chief minister was trapati Bhawan here. The book book would reach more citi- bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh state’s rights. speaking at a meeting at Sa- was released by Vice President zens and motivate them to in 2014. He also announced that a khamuru in Guntur district Venkaiah Naidu. work together in peace and His announcement yesterday massive public meeting would after unveiling the model of Dr Targeting politics of selfi sh- harmony. came close on the heels of Prime be organised at Tirupati on April B RAmbedkar memorial park, ness over its harmful trend of Earlier in the day Kovind vis- Minister Narendra Modi’s day- 30 with the slogan “save the proposed to be built at a cost of creating battlefi elds in the so- ited Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow, long hunger strike on April 12 state from betrayal and conspir- Rs1bn on 20 acres. Naidu said ciety, the president said people the birthplace of Ambedkar, and to protest disruption of parlia- acy”, recalling that it was in the a 125ft tall statue of Ambedkar must work with the mindset of garlanded his statue in the pres- ment. same temple that four years ago, will come up in the proposed “don’t break but integrate the ence of Madhya Pradesh Gover- “Is it not the central govern- Modi, as the prime ministerial park, which will also have a relations”. nor Anandiben Patel, Chief Min- ment which is responsible for candidate, had promised special research centre. He vowed President Ram Nath Kovind pays tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar Expressing happiness that ister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and parliament not functioning status but did not fulfi l it after to complete the project in 18 on his 127th birth anniversary, at his memorial in Mhow, Madhya that Ambedkar’s 125th birth an- federal Social Justice Minister smoothly,” asked Naidu. coming to power. months. Pradesh, yesterday. niversary was commemorated Thawar Chand Gehlot. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 19 PAKISTAN

Jurisdiction of Supreme Court now Parties likely to be invited covers Fata

Internews Islamabad for talks on caretaker PM

Internews senior PML-N leaders suggest the provinces have not yet taken space for ‘other institutions’ to he Senate has passed the Islamabad that the party’s leadership has place, as the initial focus on dis- intervene. Supreme Court and Pe- decided to engage other political cussions between the govern- In case the leader of the House Tshawar High Court (Ex- parties and seek their respective ment and opposition would be and leader of the opposition in tension of Jurisdiction to Feder- rime Minister Shahid nominations for the caretaker for a caretaker prime minister, National Assembly fail to agree ally Administered Tribal Areas) Khaqan Abbasi is expected premier role as part of political to be followed by discussions on on the caretaker premiership, Bill 2018, aimed at bringing the Pto convene a meeting of bargaining. caretaker chief ministers. the matter would constitution- people of tribal areas into na- parliamentary political parties, According to relevant sources, The formal process for choos- ally land before National Assem- tional mainstream in accordance including the opposition forces, the PML-N has focused its ef- ing the caretaker premier start- bly Speaker, who would form an with their wishes and aspira- to discuss the issue of the care- forts to negotiate with the ruling ed on Wednesday following a eight-member parliamentary tions. taker premiership. parties in those provinces where meeting between Abbasi and committee comprising Assem- The bill was tabled by Minis- The caretaker prime minister it wants to get its nominations Opposition Leader Khurshid bly members and Senators from ter for States and Frontier Re- is constitutionally appointed considered for chief minister. Shah, in which the names of po- ruling and opposition parties to gions Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir following the consensus be- Similarly, the leader of the tential candidates were report- pick a candidate. Baloch, which was passed by the tween leader of the house in house and leader of the oppo- edly discussed. The Election Commission of House yesterday. National Assembly (the prime sition choose caretaker chief The names of former chief Pakistan (ECP) would appoint “In order to bring the peo- minister) and leader of the op- ministers in the respective prov- justices of Pakistanm includ- a candidate as caretaker pre- ple of the Federally Adminis- position in Assembly. inces. ing Nasirul Mulk, Anwar Za- Abbasi: wants to include other political parties in the process. mier, the way it did in 2013 when tered Tribal Areas (Fata) into the According to sources, the rul- “There is mixed arrangement heer Jamali, Jawad S Khawaja Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was ap- mainstream in accordance with ing Pakistan Muslim League – at the provinces … we need to and Mian Shakirullah Jan were Shamshad Akhtar and Dr Ishrat prime minister in 2013. pointed, following the failure of their wishes and aspirations, it Nawaz (PML-N) party is will- accommodate parliamentary discussed during Abbasi-Shah Hussain, former caretaker pre- A source in the PML-N who the government and opposition is necessary that the jurisdiction ing to take other political forces forces at the centre in order to meeting, sources privy to the mier Justice Mir Hazar Khan enjoys a close association with failed to agree on a candidate. of the Supreme Court and Pe- onboard, including the Pakistan be accommodated in the prov- matter said. Khoso, and former Supreme Abbasi said that the premier According to sources, no can- shawar High Court be extended Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to fi nal- inces,” a well-placed source in Apart from these, the two Court judge Justice (r) Nasir stressed upon reaching con- didate has been shortlisted for to such areas for safeguarding ise a candidate for caretaker pre- the PML-N said. sides also discussed other pos- Aslam Zahid, according to reli- sensus during his meeting with caretaker premier yet, since Ab- their rights and providing them miership. He said that the discussions sibilities, including former able sources. Shah, and added that the po- basi wants to include other po- proper administration of justice Informal discussions with on caretaker arrangements in governors of the State Bank Dr Khoso was also the caretaker litical parties should not leave litical parties in the process. in accordance with the constitu- tion,” said the bill. The National Assembly had already passed the Bill. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fa- zlur (JUI-F) Senator Maulana Transgender news anchor Malik Terms fi nalised Atta-ur-Rehman walked out and did not participate in the voting. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Sherry Rehman, said challenges conservative barriers for scrutiny of PTI that more would be done to grant basic rights to the people of the Fata. Reuters on the streets or sing and dance Senator Javed Abbasi said the Lahore at private parties to earn a liv- foreign funding credit of granting rights to the ing. Fata goes to former prime min- Some also turn to prostitution ister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan arvia Malik made to make ends meet. Internews Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- headlines when she Malik says that she was dis- Islamabad N) government. Mdebuted last month owned by her family when she He said that this bill will pave on a private television channel was 16, following years of being way for speedy justice to people in Pakistan, becoming the con- forced to dress and act like a boy. he Election Commis- as no other party during the last servative country’s fi rst trans- She sought a diff erent route sion of Pakistan (ECP) 70 years considered about it. gender news anchor. for herself, so she trained and Tis set to start scrutinis- Senator Azam Khan Swati said Opinions are mixed about then found work as a makeup ing foreign funding received by that passage of this bill is a his- the 21-year-old who appears artist to fund her journalism de- the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf toric moment and a step forward regularly on the Kohenoor News gree at Punjab University. (PTI) next week. to bring the people of the Fata channel in Lahore, capital of Through her connections in According to the terms of into the mainstream. Pakistan’s eastern province of the beauty industry, she landed Marvia Malik chats with colleagues before a news broadcast at the reference (ToR) for the audit, Senator Mushahid Hussain Punjab, but Malik says she has a modelling job. Kohenoor News channel in Lahore. fi nalised yesterday, a special Sayed said that granting rights to achieved her childhood dream. The story of her life, and her committee will conduct the the people of the Fata was prom- “I thought that our transgen- demeanour, impressed the se- after her fi rst appearance, on “This new transgender thing scrutiny of the party’s foreign ised by the Quaid-e-Azam Mu- der community was lagging be- lection panel at Kohenoor News, March 23. is the infl uence of Western cul- funding in the presence of Imran Khan: his party is hammad Ali Jinnah, who assured hind in education and jobs, and which hired her as a trainee an- Recent legislation has made ture, and this is totally wrong,” petitioner Akbar S Babar, the alleged to have received them provision of basic rights in they are not strong enough po- chor. clear that transgender individu- said Ayaz Khan, a resident of respondent PTI, and lawyers funding from prohibited Pakistan. litically,” she said. “So I wanted Kohenoor chief executive Ju- als in Pakistan are guaranteed all the southern commercial hub of from both sides. sources. Senator Muzaff ar Hussain to do something for my com- naid Mehmood Ansari says that the citizens’ rights enshrined in Karachi. Besides the law ministry di- Shah termed the bill as a historic munity.” he had apprehensions about its constitution, with national Trans Action Pakistan, a rector general, who heads the of Political Parties Rules, 2002, one which granted the much Many transgender individu- Malik going on air, but his wor- identity cards providing for a campaign group, estimates committee, other members and the directions contained in needed rights to Fata people af- als in Pakistan live in seclud- ries were put to rest by social category of “third gender”. there are at least 500,000 trans- are Audit Defence Services di- the Supreme Court’s judgment ter 70 years. ed communities and have no media praise for his eff orts to However, not all Pakistanis gender people among Pakistan’s rector general Masood Akhtar passed on December 15, 2017, Senator Siraj-ul-Haq said choice but to resort to begging promote transgender people are so accepting. population of 208mn. Sherwanee and Air Force ac- on a petition fi led by Hanif Ab- that while “70 years of tyranny” counts controller Muhammad basi against Imran Khan,” it have ended, there remains more Faheem. says. work to be done for the people. This is the fi rst time that The committee, under the representatives of the defence ToR, will complete the scruti- establishment have been co- ny process within 30 days and Bill on smuggling Third novel by Fatima Bhutto out in October opted by the ECP to carry out submit its report to the com- the fi nancial audit of a political mission. of migrants passes party for alleged illegal foreign Yesterday, the law ministry Internews by Penguin India this October.” funding and other fi nancial ir- director general shared the ToR The National Assembly has Islamabad In a recent interview, the au- regularities. relating to the foreign funding approved the Prevention of thor told the Times of India: The ECP’s previous scrutiny case with the petitioner and Smuggling of Migrants Bill 2018, “Penguin India has been my committee, which was formed his legal counsel, Badar Iqbal imposing imprisonment of up to fter her best-selling de- ‘home’ for the past 10 years and after the March 12 order, could Chaudhry, along with the PTI five years on perpetrators and a but novel The Shadow of I am thrilled that my new novel not meet as both external representatives. penalty of Rs500,000. Athe Crescent Moon, and – a book very close to my heart members refused to partici- The special committee has The bill was moved by her second book Songs of Blood – will be published by them this pate. been constituted by the ECP to Parliamentary Secretary for and Sword, writer and poet Fa- October.” “The committee shall con- audit allegations of PTI’s for- Interior Afzal Khan Dhandla. tima Bhutto is all set to come out According to Penguin India, duct scrutiny of the party’s eign funding from prohibited The house also rejected a with a new book in October. the upcoming novel delves into fi nancial statements and other and illegal sources. few amendments moved by Titled The Runaways, this burning questions about the underlying accounting records Speaking to the media, opposition members. will be her third novel, spanning modern Muslim identity in a for the last fi ve years from the former PTI central vice-pres- The Federal Investigation Agency from Karachi to the nightlife of Bhutto: her third book would be titled The Runaways. world afl ame with violence. objected accounts i.e. 2009 ident Akbar S Babar said that (FIA) or other agencies may London, from the dockyards of From the slums of Karachi to to 2013 to fi nd the defects and almost three-and-a-half years especially be empowered by the Portsmouth to the deserts of granddaughter of former prime Bhutto took to Twitter and life in Portsmouth, the story fol- omissions in the disclosure after the foreign funding case government through notification Mosul. minister Zulfi qar Ali Bhutto. expressed: “I am very happy lows three individuals who cross of funds and their sources re- was fi led, there was light at the in off icial gazette and shall be She is daughter of Murtaza Her latest work of fi ction will that The Runaways, my new paths in the middle of a desert, ceived from abroad,” according end of the tunnel. responsible for investigation of Bhutto, niece of former prime be published by Penguin Ran- novel, will be published fi rst in forcing them to make diffi cult to the ToR. He said the detailed scrutiny off ences under this bill. minister Benazir Bhutto and dom House India. Pakistan, India, and the region decisions. “The committee shall as- of PTI accounts would con- sess and evaluate the cred- clusively prove all his allega- ibility and reliability of the tions and “lay bare before the information provided by the people of Pakistan the massive complainant about the alleged scale on which PTI received il- foreign funding. legal funding from prohibited Last serving MNA who signed 1973 Constitution retires “The committee shall iden- sources”. tify the prohibited funds in the Babar expressed the hope light of allegations contained in that the PTI would allow the Internews lawmaker to take the fl oor and Pakistan for Constituency NA- alliance of other political parties, He pointed out that former the complaint in terms of Sec- committee to complete its task Islamabad speak in reference to Constitu- 48 (Jhang-III) in the 1970 general Qamar said that despite martial ruler General (retd) Pervez tion 6 of the Political Parties within a month as ordered by tion Day, which is celebrated on election. law, the constitution could not be Musharraf was not tried under Order of 2002, read with Rule 6 the ECP. April 10 to mark the drafting of In 1977 he was re-elected on abolished as even dictators knew Article 6 of the Constitution de- he last serving MNA a constitution based on the fun- a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) it could not be reconstituted. spite abrogating it. (member of the National damental ideological principles ticket and again in the 1988 gen- He added that the country’s The house saw some drama as Provinces outpace the Centre in TAssembly) who signed the of the Islamic Republic while en- eral elections. direction may be changed if all Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Shi- 1973 Constitution of Pakistan shrining the rights and duties of He secured seat in 1990 and political parties united: “There reen Mazari was not given the funding allocation for uplift schemes has bid farewell to politics. the nation towards the country. 1993 as well. is talk to roll-back amendments fl oor to speak. During a session at the as- “I am delighted to be the lone However, Sultan could not re- carried out by the parliament.” Speaker Sadiq instead allowed Out of the total proposed national development outlay of Rs1,763bn sembly yesterday, ruling party lawmaker in the current national tain his seat in elections of 1997, Referring to the top court’s Maulana Ameer Zaman to speak, to be presented to Annual Plan Co-ordination Committee (APCC) Pakistan Muslim League – Na- assembly to be bestowed with the 2002, and 2008. judgment in the Article 62 case, following which Mazari point- meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow, the provinces have waz (PML-N) MNA Muhammad honour to sign the constitution,” In 2013, the veteran politician he demanded that the parliament ed out the quorum leading to a outpaced the Centre by allocating increased resources of Rs263bn Nazeer Sultan announced his re- Sultan told the House. “This is was re-elected as MNA under the should be entrusted to decide headcount. for development schemes in an election year. tirement. the end of my political career as PML-N ticket in the constitu- period of disqualifi cation as no When the proceedings re- The federal government has allocated Rs750bn, including Rs105bn Giving an accolade to the only I announce retirement.” ency of NA-90. other institution had the power sumed, it was prorogued for in- as bloc allocation for development, while the provinces earmarked serving parliamentarian with the “My son will be contesting During the session, PPP leader to add even one word to the con- defi nite period as quorum was Rs1,013bn for annual development programmes (ADPs) for the next honour of having his name on the elections in the upcoming gen- Syed Naveed Qamar proposed stitution. found incomplete on recounting. budget 2018-19. constitution document, Speaker eral elections in my place,” he that the House should mark Con- The PML-N’s Captain (Rtd) Despite being declared as pri- The provinces’ share on development expenditures outpaced the Sardar Ayaz Sadiq remarked that added. stitution Day with a discussion. Muhammad Safdar Awan also vate member day for Business Centre with massive margin of Rs263bn for the first time in the the House was not pleased with Sultan was fi rst elected to the Recalling that PPP founder spoke on the occasion, stress- Advisory Committee, not a sin- country’s history, mainly due to increased share of provinces in the Sultan’s decision to retire. lower house of the parliament as Zulfi qar Ali Bhutto had crafted ing that the 1973 constitution gle item appearing on the agenda NFC (National Finance Commission) Award and 18th constitutional He then invited the veteran a candidate of Jamiat Ulema-e- the constitution along with an strengthened the federation. was taken up. amendments. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, April 15, 2018 PHILIPPINES

Making a splash Palace evades comment on Sereno’s statement

Manila Times Manila

alacanang yesterday said it would not involve Mitself on the supposed discovery of the Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. In a statement, Palace spokes- man Harry Roque said the issue should be handled by the Supreme Court (SC), which is hearing the quo warranto petition fi led against Sereno. “The alleged discovery of missing SALNs should be ad- dressed by the SC, the latter being A man makes a big splash as he rides a jet ski at the Caliraya lake in Laguna. The man-made lake has become a popular destination for tourists who prefer water sports and fishing. the tribunal hearing the quo war- ranto petition,” Roque said. Roque made the statement after Sereno’s counsel, Jojo Lacanilao, said the Chief Justice “recently” recovered 11 of her SALNs. “She recently retrieved her 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 SALNs from the UP (University of the Tourist arrivals to stay at 7.5mn Philippines) Law Centre,” Laca- nilao said. Solicitor General Jose Calida downplayed the discovery. “Today, Sereno again attempt- ed to mislead the Filipino people. Sereno claims to have recovered ‘despite Boracay shutdown’ eight of her SALNs. Except for her 1989 SALN, assuming it is not Agencies Teo noted that the DOT land. Duterte described the a fabrication, those Sereno sup- Manila has monitored rebookings by island as a “cesspool.” posedly ‘recovered’ were the same tourists from Boracay to other The DOT chief said there submitted by the OSG (Offi ce of destinations in the Philippines was nothing to hide from in- the Solicitor General) to Supreme he Department of Tour- such as Bohol, Cebu and Pala- ternational stakeholders re- Court,” Calida posted on Twitter. ism’s (DOT) target of wan. garding Boracay’s closure. T7.5mn for the country’s Likewise, the DOT chief “I will be telling the real tourist arrivals for 2018 would said there were tourists who score,” Teo said. not be adjusted despite Bo- have rebooked their trips six “Remember Thailand, they racay’s closure, Tourism Sec- months later after the closure also closed an island,” she said. retary Wanda Teo said yester- would be lifted. Teo was referring to the clo- Father shot day. President Rodrigo Duterte sure of Koh Tachai island in “We will work on it. The tar- had ordered the resort island’s Thailand due to overcrowding get will still be the same, it’s six-month closure follow- and degradation of natural re- dead after still 7.5mn,” Teo told report- ing a recommendation from sources and the environment. ers in an interview, Philippine the DOT, the Department of A report by the Bangkok Daily Inquirer reported. Environment and Natural Re- Post in 2016 quoted the direc- fatal stabbing “Let’s not think that there sources and the Department of tor general of the Department will be no more tourism when the Interior and Local Govern- of National Parks, Wildlife and Boracay is closed. Actually, ment. Plants Conservation as saying of two sons there are still a lot of DOT The closure was ordered to that the island had to be closed products that we can offer,” give way for rehabilitation ef- “before the damage is beyond the DOT chief said. forts on the 1,032-hectare is- repair.” Tourism secretary Wanda Teo answers questions during a press conference in Manila, yesterday. DPA Manila

42-year-old father in the Philippines yesterday Govt decision on Astabbed to death his two Senator urges OFWs to sons after having an argument with his wife who was overseas, deaths after report police said. The suspect, identifi ed as Ariston Nacion, was later shot invest in retirement plan By Catherine S Valente “The president though is still dead by police offi cers who Manila Times waiting for the report of the NBI rushed to his home in the Manila on the matter,” the Palace offi cial suburban city of Taguig, police By Bernadette E Tamayo to work abroad in order to give have enough savings when Security System),” the sena- added. The draft report released said. Manila Times them a good life,” the senator they decide to return home,” tor said. alacanang has as- by the Senate blue ribbon panel Neighbours told investigators said. “This is why we encour- Angara said. A national survey on finan- sured the public that found that the procurement of they heard Nacion arguing with age our OFWs to save and in- Under PERA law, upon cial inclusion conducted by MPresident Rodrigo P3.5bn worth of dengue vaccine his wife over the telephone be- enator Juan Edgardo vest their earnings here in the reaching retirement at the age the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi- Duterte would give the Sen- Dengvaxia was done with “un- fore turning his rage on his sons, Angara yesterday urged country so they can secure a of 55, all payments or distribu- nas (BSP) showed that only ate report on the Dengvaxia due haste.” aged 13 and six years old, police Soverseas Filipino workers comfortable retirement and be tions will be tax-exempt. This 11% of Filipinos save for re- controversy “much weight” in The committee also empha- said. (OFWs) to invest their earnings with their families.” can be either in lump sum, a tirement or old age. terms of crafting the govern- sised in its report that former The bodies of the two boys in a Personal Equity Retirement pension for a definite period, Angara noted that PERA will ment’s future course of action. president Benigno Aquino, were found in the garage of the Account (PERA), the country’s The PERA Law or Republic or for a lifetime. help and encourage Filipinos In a statement, Palace former Health chief Janette rented house, with multiple stab fi rst voluntary retirement ac- Act 9505 is a voluntary Early withdrawals are al- save up for their “sunset years spokesman Harry Roque Jr. Garin, and former Budget secre- wounds. count with tax incentives. and personal account lowed, if the investor has or for emergency medical sit- said Duterte would also wait for tary Florencio Abad were “pri- The suspect tried to stab po- The PERA Law or Republic specifi cally for retirement made contributions for at uations.” the fi ndings of the investiga- mary conspirators” in the pur- lice offi cers who responded to Act 9505 is a voluntary and where OFWs can invest up least five years but will be As of last year, the BSP tion conducted by the National chase of Dengvaxia. the incident, prompting the law personal account specifically to P200,000 annually subject to a penalty—except has accredited Banco de Oro Bureau of Investigation (NBI) “Aquino, Garin, Abad, and enforcers to shoot him. for retirement where OFWs in cases when the individual is (BDO) and Bank of the Philip- on the discredited anti-dengue other offi cials are primary con- The mother of the suspect, can invest up to P200,000 an- Even if the OFW is abroad, totally disabled due to an acci- pine Islands (BPI) as PERA in- mass vaccination programme of spirators and must be held Rosario Nacion, said the family nually. his or her spouse and children dent or hospitalisation. stitutional administrators. the Aquino administration. criminally liable… and must be was shocked at what had hap- Non-OFWs can only make can open a PERA account on “PERA investments have PERA investments prod- “That’s a report created by prosecuted for all the tragedy, pened. a maximum contribution of behalf of the OFW, he said. higher returns because it is a ucts include unit investment a powerful committee of a co- damage and possible deaths re- “We don’t know that he and P100,000 annually, said An- “It is true the most impor- tax-free investment income. trust funds, share of stock of equal branch of government sulting from the Dengvaxia his wife were having problems, gara, one of the authors of tant investment of our OFWs PERA supplements the social mutual funds, insurance pen- that will be given much weight mass vaccination programme,” so we are surprised that this PERA. is the education of their chil- pension Filipinos can get from sion products, government by the Executive when it decides the Senate Blue Ribbon chair- happened,” she told investiga- “Our OFWs sacrifice a lot in dren. PERA will be helpful SSS (Social Security System) securities, and other financial its next course of action on the man, Sen. Richard Gordon, told tors. “We didn’t know he could leaving their families behind to ensure that our OFWs will or GSIS (Government Service products. issue,” Roque said. a news conference on April 11. do such a thing.” Firearms ban takes eff ect ahead of elections

By William Depasupil man, yesterday said the national 2017, states, “During the elec- and possess fi rearms during the offi cers, persons who are under Day; and not otherwise disquali- consanguinity or affinity to any Manila Times gun ban would take eff ect at tion period, no person shall bear, election period. The Comelec, the Witness Protection Pro- fi ed by law. Jimenez pointed out incumbent, elected national 12:01 am of April 14. carry or transport fi rearms or however, said, “When in the pos- gramme, etc, are considered as though that only qualified vot- official or to any incumbent “The Comelec is duty-bound other deadly weapons in pub- session of fi rearms, the deputised high-risk individuals.” ers who are between 18 and 24 regional, provincial, city, mu- ll permits to carry fi re- to strictly implement the fi re- lic places, including any build- law enforcement offi cer must be All applications/requirements years old are allowed to run in nicipal or barangay official in arms are suspended arms ban,” Jimenez added. ing, street, park, private vehicle in full uniform showing clearly for gun ban exemptions shall be the SK polls. the locality where they are run- Astarting today with the Comelec checkpoints, he said, or public conveyance, even if and legibly his name, rank and se- fi led with the Committee on the He reminded candidates for ning. start of the 37-day election pe- will also be established across licensed to carry the same, un- rial number, which shall remain Ban on Firearms and Security the youth polls that that they For the barangay elections, riod for the synchronised Baran- the country to enforce the pro- less authorised in writing by the visible at all times, and in the ac- Personnel at the Comelec main need to declare under oath that one should be at least 18 years gay (Village) and Sangguniang hibition. commission.” tual performance of his election offi ce, 8th Floor, Palacio del they are not related within the of age on or before the day of Kabataan (SK or Youth Council) Aside from the ban on the Exempted from the gun ban duty in the specifi c area designat- Gobernador Building in Intra- second degree by affinity or the elections; and must be a elections on May 14. bearing, carrying and transport- are regular members of the ed by the commission.” muros, Manila. consanguinity to any incum- resident of the Philippines for Also, the seven-day fi ling of ing of fi rearms and other deadly Philippine National Police, the According to Jimenez, the poll Qualifi ed to vote in the SK bent, elected national or local at least one year and living in certifi cates of candidacy (CoC) weapons, the availment or en- Armed Forces of the Philip- body may issue gun ban exemp- polls are duly registered Fili- officials as provided for under the village where he/she in- for barangay and SK candidates gagement of the services of se- pines and other law enforcement tions to other qualifi ed individu- pino citizens who are at least 15 Republic Act (RA) 10742 or the tends to vote, for at least six also commences today and will curity personnel or bodyguards agencies of the government that als, “who by nature of their offi - but not more than 30 years of SK Reform Act of 2015. months immediately preced- end on April 20. is also strictly prohibited. are duly deputised in writing by cial duties, profession, business age on the day of the elections; RA 10742 states that can- ing the barangay elections; and James Jimenez, Commission Comelec Resolution 10197, the Comelec for election duty or occupation, such as but not a resident in the barangay for didates should not be related should not otherwise be dis- on Elections (Comelec) spokes- promulgated on September 14, and may be authorised to carry limited to cashiers, disbursing at least six months on Election within the second degree of qualified by law. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Lanka PM: New Year’s resolution is army releases land in to build a better Bangladesh Jaff na Agencies Dhaka Agencies Colombo et the New Year bring us success so that we can Lrealise ‘Shonar Bangla’ n line with the government’s or ‘Golden Bangladesh’ dreamt policy of releasing civilian of by the Father of the Nation, Iland used by security forces said Prime Minister Sheikh in Jaff na, the Sri Lanka army re- Hasina after exchanging New leased a record 683 acres of land Year’s greetings with the party in Jaff na to original owners. activists at the Ganabhaban on The army handed over the land the fi rst day of the Bangla New in Thelippalai divisional secre- Year. tariat area to 964 legal owners on The prime minister quoted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Friday. from the speeches of her fa- According to the army, it has ther, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mu- then-ruling BNP had attempt- been releasing the land for the jibur Rahman, saying: “We are ed to block. A national commit- past couple of months following Bangalis, Bangla is our nation, tee had been formed, chaired by an initiative taken by the army Bangla is our language. Our poet Sufi a Kamal, to organise itself. It has however not ne- Bangladesh is a state based on the New Year celebration, she cessitated either the removal or language. We speak in Bangla, said. shifting of any security forma- think in Bangla, laugh in Bangla The BNP had tried to halt the tion operating in the said chunk and cry in Bangla.” celebrations and bring the New of the land in Thelippalai, under The prime minister said that Year under a ‘shroud of reli- the Palaly army area. she has resolved to translate the gion’, Hasina said. The Friday’s release was the dream of her father into reality. “Even we could not believe biggest chunk of land handed “We will build the country that such obstacles would come over to the Jaff na public on a sin- the Father of the Nation envi- in the year 1400. The main gle day. “It adds a historic chap- sioned - a Bangladesh without programme was to be held at ter to the government’s ongoing hunger and without poverty. Suhrawardy Udyan and Kha- projects of reconciliation and This is my New Year’s resolu- leda Zia said we could not enter ethnic harmony,” the army said. tion.” the grounds. But Bangalis have The event was organised joint- Hasina called on everyone never backed down from an ob- ly by the ministry of national to be vigilant and ensure that stacle. We overcame them and, integration and reconciliation, no group that would hurt the alongside poet Sufi a Kamal, the ministry of prison reforms, Bangla language or Bangla cul- entered Suhrawardy Udyan and Revellers attend a rally in celebration of the Bengali New Year or ‘Pohela Boishakh’ in Dhaka yesterday. The Bengali calendar or Bangla rehabilitation, resettlement and ture ever came to power. held the event.” calendar is a traditional solar calendar and the year begins on Pohela Boishakh, which falls on April 14 in Bangladesh. religious aff airs and district sec- “Let no evil power that aims “They were trying to turn retariat for Jaff na as a New Year to harm our heritage, our lan- Bangladesh into something “They do not understand hela Baishakh. celebrates equally. It was part of The prime minister remind- gift to the people of area. guage, our culture or our exist- completely diff erent,” Hasina Rabindranath Tagore. They do “We all celebrate this festival our combined heritage to fi nish ed the audience of the Pahela The area army commander ence come to power.” reminisced. “These people, not understand Nazrul Islam,” together, regardless of language off last year’s calculations and Baishakh allowance that was formally handed over documents The prime minister spoke of who came to power illegally, she said, alluding to the BNP. or creed. The Bangla New Year begin business anew; to open started last year, saying that now pertaining to the release of land the Bangla New Year 1400 cel- tried to rebuild Bangladesh in The prime minister spoke of is for Bangalis. Hindu, Buddhist, our fresh, new ledgers and set off everyone in Bangladesh could symbolically to the district sec- ebrations, which she said the their image.” the all-embracing nature of Pa- Christian, Muslim – everyone on a new journey.” celebrate the holiday. retary who was present there. UN, Bangladesh agree to safe and voluntary Rohingya repatriation

IANS state since the end of August earlier episodes of sectarian mar imposed on returning refu- tion to their legal status and Geneva after a wave of persecution violence. gees to present offi cial identity citizenship, security and their and violence that the UN de- The UNHCR thanked Bang- documents, which they have ability to enjoy basic rights at scribed as an attempt at “ethnic ladesh for its hospitality, pro- always been denied. home in Rakhine state” before he UN Refugee Agen- cleansing”. tection and assistance to those The Rohingya minority has considering returning. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli cy has said that it had The agreement focused on refugees. been historically segregated in The UNHCR also demanded Treached an agreement the “safe, voluntary, and dig- In November, Myanmar and Buddhist majority Myanmar. that the restrictions on the with the Bangladeshi govern- nifi ed returns” of Rohingya, Bangladesh agreed on the re- The UNHCR was engag- movement of internally dis- ment for the voluntary repa- which will only take place “once patriation of Rohingya refu- ing in talks and coordinating placed people living in camps triation of Rohingya refugees conditions in Myanmar were gees with a view to starting the with Bangladesh and Myan- in the central townships of Ra- Nepal committed who have fl ed organised at- conducive”, according to a UN- process two months later. The mar separately. The agency, khine state be lifted. tacks by the security forces in HCR statement cited by Efe repatriation did not begin as which is responsible for the Such measures “would help Myanmar. news. planned due to the lack of safety operation of camps host- demonstrate to refugees that More than 670,000 Ro- Before the exodus, Bang- guarantees for those willing to ing hundreds of thousands the Government of Myanmar is to developing hingya, mainly Muslim mi- ladesh was already hosting return. of Rohingyas in Bangladesh, committed to a sustainable so- nority living in Myanmar, fl ed 200,000 Rohingya refugees One of the main points raised said the refugees must “see lution” to the problems faced by close ties with the northwestern Rakhine who had arrived there during was the condition that Myan- concrete progress in rela- Rohingyas, the agency said. Lanka to meter 3-wheel taxis neighbours: PM from May Lanka aims for $2.5bn in FDI in 2018

IANS progressive and pro-develop- All three-wheeler taxis IANS According to the ministry, between the Sri Lankan gov- the environment for doing Kathmandu ment government with the end operating in Sri Lanka will Colombo last year’s record of $1.9bn in ernment and China Merchants business, reduce red tape and of political transition last year. be fitted with meters after foreign direct investments was Port Holdings, Xinhua news introduce progressive legisla- Oli said a country does not April 30, an off icial has four times what was achieved agency reported. tion as the reasons for the rise epal government is de- become big or small compared said. ri Lanka is aiming to at- in 2016 and topped the previous The fi nance ministry added in FDIs. termined to develop to other countries on the basis of Sri Lankan National Council tract $2.5bn in foreign biggest high of $1.7bn in 2014. that the highest foreign direct It further said the target for Nclose relations with shape, demography or economy for Road Safety chairman Sdirect investments (FDIs) The $1.9bn for 2017 included investment infl ows in 2017 2018 had been set at an ambi- neighbouring countries, friendly but instead on the subject of Sisira Kodagoda told in 2018 after reaching $1.9bn in the $300mn that came as part came from China. tious $2.5b and the goal was to nations and the international sovereignty. Xinhua that some three- 2017, the fi nance ministry has of the payment over the Ham- The ministry praised eff orts double foreign direct invest- community keeping its national Eradicating poverty, illiteracy, wheeler taxis had been said. bantota harbour deal signed by the government to improve ments to $5b by 2020. interest in focus, Prime Minister unemployment and providing metered, but many taxis K P Sharma Oli said yesterday. basic health care services to the had not yet been metered. Addressing the nation from people are the main objectives of He said the operators of the banks of the scenic Rara lake the Nepal government, Oli said. three-wheeler taxi services in Mugu district on Baishakh, “The present government should issue a printed Trail to Mt Everest the Nepalese New Year, Oli said would come forward in a ruth- bill to their passengers his government has been pro- less and non-compromising indicating the fare and the vided with an “unprecedented manner against corruption and distance from April 30. opportunity” for economic de- that necessary laws and struc- The chairman added velopment and prosperity of tural reformation will be made that a six-month grace Nepal. for it,” he said, adding that cor- period would be given The prime minister also wished ruption eradicates social values to the operators to get good health and prosperity to the and beliefs towards democracy. adjusted to the new countrymen on the beginning of Oli reached the Rara lake to requirements. Nepal’s New Year 2075. declare the Nepali Year 2075 as According to the chairman, “History has provided us with the Karnali Rara Toursim Year, a traff ic police have been an unprecedented opportunity campaign that aims at creating instructed to arrest any for economic development and economic and job opportuni- three-wheeler drivers who prosperity. We had problems ties by increasing tourist infl ow don’t give the passenger before us and a duty to resolve 10-fold to 500,000 individuals the bill. them. The people have given us in one of the poorest and most Currently, there are around the mandate to address those remote regions of Nepal. 750,000 operating three- problems,” he said. The decision to observe the wheelers as taxis in Sri He expressed the determina- Nepali New Year as Rara-Karnali Lanka. tion to develop close ties with Visit Year-2075 was taken dur- Sri Lankan Tourism neighbouring countries, friendly ing the cabinet meeting of Kar- Development Minister nations and the international nali Province on March 10. John Amaratunga said community by keeping the na- Chief Minister of the Karnali this would be a wise move tional interest at the focal point. province government, Mahendra for the benefit of tourists Stating that year 2074 stood Bahadur Shahi, had handed the visiting Sri Lanka. out as an important year for po- decisions of the cabinet to Oli on “We also want to ensure litical achievement, he added Friday, seeking fi nancial support hassle-free travel for that the country received pro- for the holistic development of tourists in Sri Lanka,” the Nepali people and tourist trekkers walk through Ghat village, some 140km northeast of Kathmandu, yesterday. Ghat village is on the trail to Mt Everest. people, democratic, patriotic, the province. Minister told Xinhua. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, April 15, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES IMF hails Qatar’s economic strength and resilience

Qatar’s economic strength and resilience have yet again come in for praise from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said the country’s strategic plans to diversify its economy away from oil and gas are bearing fruits. At a recent meeting with a high-level Qatari delegation led by HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani in Washington, DC, IMF deputy director general Tao Zhang praised the economic policies pursued by Qatar and its success in South Korea and the tackling economic crises that plagued the global economy. The IMF offi cial noted that Qatar has adopted “ambitious strategic plans” to diversify its economy away from oil and gas by increasing the non-oil sector’s contribution to the macro economy and reducing reliance on hydrocarbon revenues. end of US credibility He touched upon the economic reforms carried out by Qatar recently and compared that with the global economic settled agreements, why should any growth and that of the developed and developing economies. By Anne O Krueger aluminium would undoubtedly have its annual steel exports to the US and Washington, DC negative eff ects on the US economy. A facing a punishing 25% tariff on all of its country bother negotiating with the The presentation also addressed the performance of the few US steel and aluminium jobs might steel exports. US? banking system during the siege, which proved strong, and be saved, but far more would be lost in As for the US, the KORUS revisions South Korean leaders spent a lot of the fi nancial effi ciency against geopolitical fl uctuations. he US-South Korea alliance industries using those metals as inputs, mean that foreign exporters of goods domestic political capital negotiating In its latest report has been one of the most which employ ten times more workers. made with steel will gain a competitive the KORUS, and they were willing dramatic geopolitical success The Trump administration’s stated advantage over domestic producers, to do that because they trusted the Foreign exchange on Qatar, IMF said the stories of the post-war years. objective in pursuing protectionist who will have to pay more for their US to act in good faith. They now economic, fi nancial T But US President Donald Trump now policies is to reduce the US trade defi cit. steel. As a result, some US producers find themselves having agreed to a reserves remained impact from the seems determined to do away with the But a current-account defi cit (the will move overseas, others will raise contract in which the other party illegal blockade on the economic and strategic benefi ts of that trade defi cit plus the services balance) prices and lose market share, and still forced them to accept terms that were broadly stable at longstanding relationship. refl ects the diff erence between saving others will simply go out of business. never negotiated. country by a quartet of In the 1950s, a war-ravaged South and investment. Thus, reducing it These are all losses for America. For US steel-exporting allies like around $38bn in Arab nations is fading. Korea had Asia’s third-lowest per capita would require macroeconomic policies Moreover, both countries will face South Korea and Japan, the fact that Qatar’s banking income, highest infl ation, and slowest to reduce domestic expenditures the additional bureaucratic burden of the Trump administration is justifying February system has recovered rate of growth. But the authorities and increase domestic savings. managing their steel trade. The South its tariff s in the name of “national from initial outfl ows implemented far-reaching reforms Protectionism won’t help with that. Korean government will need to allocate security” adds insult to injury. in the early 1960s, and, over the next A few weeks after unveiling the quotas among its steel producers; and After all, the Trump administration and the economy is expected to grow 2.6% this year, the IMF three decades, it became an industrial tariff s, the Trump administration US customs offi cials will have to check recently declared North Korea to be said in a report last month citing formal consultations with powerhouse with a standard of living announced that it had “renegotiated” all steel imports from South Korea to America’s top strategic threat, and it Qatar. that qualifi ed it for membership in the the KORUS. In exchange for an ensure that they are within the 70% is now working with the South Korean Bank assets in Qatar expanded to $378.9bn growing 9.1% OECD, the club of rich countries. Much exemption from the tariff s, South Korea limit and were not transshipped. government to hold a summit with y-o-y in February. of this success was due to a shift from agreed to reduce its steel exports to the US customs offi cials will also have North Korea’s leader this May. foreign-aid dependency to export-led US to 70% of 2015-17 levels, postpone a to inspect all other shipments from If Trump really does care Deposits from the non-resident and private sector growth. phase-out of the 25% US tariff on small other countries to determine which are about national security or US remained stable in February. In the mid-2000s, South Korea and trucks for 20 years (from 2021), and exempt and which are subject to the competitiveness, then his actions are Bank deposit growth was 6% y-o-y in February, while the United States began exploring increase its annual limit on US-made 25% tariff . According to The Economist, utterly incomprehensible. They will credit growth stood at 7.4%, driven by lending to the public closer trade ties, and in March 2012, automobile imports from 25,000 to the Trump administration expects to lead to severe costs for the US economy the Korean-United States Free Trade 50,000. spend 24,000 worker hours processing and the rules-based multilateral trade sector, which grew 12.6% y-o-y. Agreement entered into force. By The second and third items are 4,500 exemption requests. And that system, and to the loss of US credibility Qatar’s gross domestic product (GDP) is set to grow 2.6% most measures, the KORUS has essentially irrelevant. South Korea does does not even include the paperwork long after he is gone. – Project this year and then average 2.7% during 2019-23, bolstered been a success. Yet, after taking not currently export small trucks to necessary for determining the origin Syndicate by Doha’s moves to increase liquefi ed natural gas production office, Trump denounced it as a the US. In fact, imported cars represent and exemption status of each shipment capacity by about 30%, IMF noted. “horrible deal,” and insisted that it be just 15% of domestic car sales, with US to the US indefi nitely into the future. zAnne O Krueger, a former World Bank renegotiated. imports amounting to just 1%. This is This is precisely the kind of managed chief economist and former fi rst deputy Qatar’s fi scal defi cit is estimated to have narrowed to about More recently, Trump announced largely because South Koreans simply and discriminatory trade arrangement managing director of the International 6% of gross domestic product in 2017 from 9.2% in 2016, the import tariff s of 25% on steel and don’t choose American cars. that the US did so much to eliminate Monetary Fund, is Senior Research IMF said. 10% on aluminium, and indicated Still, it is clear that the South Koreans over the past half-century. But Trump Professor of International Economics at The country’s foreign exchange reserves with the Qatar that exemptions would be granted to were forced to accede to these changes, has not just struck a blow against the School of Advanced International US trade partners on a case-by-case even though they negotiated the KORUS open multilateral trade. Worse, he has Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Central Bank remained broadly stable at around $38bn in basis. Putting aside Trump’s additional in good faith and have stuck to its terms. also destroyed America’s negotiating and Senior Fellow at the Center for February, equating to six months of import cover, QNB announcements of trade actions Trump’s “renegotiation” gave South credibility. If a US president can so International Development, Stanford data showed. This, obviously, points to a comfortable forex targeting China, tariff s on steel and Korea a non-choice between limiting easily force one-sided amendments to University. position for Qatar. The country’s current account surplus widened to 6.4% of GDP in the fourth quarter (Q4) in line with higher oil prices while the fi nancial account defi cit narrowed, a result of prudent fi nancial planning and discipline. Stressing that the direction of the energy and water price reforms is appropriate, the IMF said, “Gradually reducing energy subsidies (water and electricity), while putting in place robust mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population is important.” Highlighting that Qatar’s medium-term fi nancial outlook is expected to remain broadly favourable; IMF stressed while the implementation of the public investment programmes and the ease in the pace of fi scal consolidation would help support growth, the continuation of the diplomatic tensions could weigh on the confi dence.

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The Korean-United States Free Trade Agreement entered into force in March 2012. By most measures, the KORUS has been a success. Yet, Trump denounced it as a “hor- © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved rible deal,” and insisted that it be renegotiated. Gulf Times Sunday, April 15, 2018 23 COMMENT China’s bold energy vision

By Jeff rey D Sachs far-fl ung as Argentina and Egypt to Beijing work together to realise the vision of globally interconnected clean energy. China is taking several further steps. he boldest plan to achieve the GEIDCO is mobilising research and targets set by the 2015 Paris development on several key technology climate agreement comes challenges, such as large-scale energy Tfrom China. The Paris accord storage, superconductivity in power commits the world’s governments to transmission, and artifi cial intelligence keeping global warming to well below to manage large interconnected 2C (35.6F) relative to the pre-industrial power systems. GEIDCO is also level. This can be accomplished mainly proposing new international technical by shifting the world’s primary energy standards so that countries’ power sources from carbon-based fossil fuels grids can fi t together in a seamless (coal, oil, and natural gas) to zero- global system. And China is investing carbon, renewable (wind, solar, hydro, heavily in R&D on low-cost renewable geothermal, ocean, biomass), and energy generation, such as advanced nuclear energy by the year 2050. China’s photovoltaics, and end-uses, such as Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) high-performance electric vehicles. off ers a breathtaking vision of how to The United States and the European achieve this energy transformation. Union should be engaging in the same Few governments appreciate the kind of energy problem-solving, and scale of this transformation. Climate both should be co-operating with scientists speak of the “carbon budget” China and others to accelerate the – the total amount of carbon dioxide transformation to zero-carbon energy. that humanity can emit in the coming Regrettably, under President Donald years while still keeping global warming Trump, the US government and its to under 2º. Current estimates put regulatory agencies are entirely in the the mid-point estimate of the world’s The world’s largest carbon market launched in China recently. If wielded wisely, it could help the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases hit the goals set under hands of the fossil-fuel lobby, while carbon budget at around 600bn tonnes. the Paris accord and avoid catastrophic climate change. the EU bickers with its coal-producing Humanity currently emits around 40bn member states about how and when to tonnes of CO2 per year, implying that Today’s ships, heavy trucks, and A key step is to bring zero-carbon Now China proposes to help solar energy reaching photovoltaic phase out coal. the world has only until mid-century or airplanes run on petroleum products energy to the population centres that connect the entire world with a UHV panels. Likewise, wind fl uctuates in China’s proposed global energy even sooner to phase out fossil fuels and as well; in the future, they will need to need it. This is where China’s grand global grid. In most of the world, as in strength. By linking these intermittent interconnection – based on move entirely to zero-emission sources run on synthetic fuels produced with vision comes in. In recent years, China China, the highest concentrations of sources together, the energy renewables, UHV transmission, and of primary energy. recycled CO2 and renewable energy, or has faced the energy-transformation renewable energy (such as the sunniest fl uctuations can be smoothed. When an AI-enabled smart grid – thus Here’s what needs to be done. Today’s with hydrogen produced by renewable challenge domestically. China’s best and windiest places) are far from clouds diminish solar energy in one represents the boldest and most electricity is largely generated by burning energy. And the fossil fuels that power supplies of renewable energy (especially where people live. Solar power must region, solar or wind power can be inspiring global initiative by any coal and natural gas; these thermal today’s industrial processes, such wind and solar power) are in Western be carried from deserts to population used from elsewhere. government to achieve the goals of power plants need to be phased out and as steel production, will have to be China, while most of China’s population centres. The potential for wind power Thinking big, China has created an the Paris climate agreement. It is a replaced by electricity generated by replaced by electricity. and energy demand are concentrated on is often highest in remote places as impressive organisation – the Global strategy fit for the unprecedented solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, and other The short answer, therefore, is the the Pacifi c (eastern) seaboard. China has well, including off shore. Tremendous Energy Interconnection Development scale of the energy transformation non-carbon sources. Today’s buildings massive use of zero-carbon energy, been solving this problem by building hydroelectric potential can be found and Co-operation Organisation facing our generation. – Project are heated mostly by boilers, radiators, especially renewable energy such as a massive distribution grid based on on distant rivers fl owing through (GEIDCO) – to bring together national Syndicate and furnaces fuelled by heating oil and wind and solar power, in the form ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission, unpopulated mountain regions. governments, grid operators, academic natural gas; these need to be replaced by of electricity. The world has enough which minimises heat loss along the way. The logic behind China’s proposal institutions, development banks, and zJeff rey D Sachs, University Professor buildings heated by electricity. Today’s zero-carbon energy sources to power Long-distance UHV transmission is of a globally connected grid is that United Nations agencies to launch at Columbia University, is Director vehicles run on petroleum products; the entire global economy – indeed to effi cient and economical, and China has renewable energy is intermittent. The the global renewable energy grid. At of Columbia’s Centre for Sustainable these need to be replaced by electric power a global economy much larger made major strides in developing this sun shines only during the day, and its global meeting in March, GEIDCO Development and the UN Sustainable vehicles. than today’s. technology. even then, cloud cover disrupts the gathered delegates from countries as Development Solutions Network.

How should the crypto-rich spend their money? Three-day forecast their wealth for humanitarian causes. the so-called Robin Hood Tax under In East Africa, local innovators have TODAY By Serufusa Sekidde Maximum Temperature : 330c London Based partly on my advice, they consideration in the United Kingdom, turned to cryptocurrency systems began investing tens of millions which would place a tiny tariff on such as BitPesa to support cross- Minimum Temperature : 240c of dollars to improve healthcare fi nancial transactions to help pay for border transactions. Even the United MONDAY n February, Forbes published its infrastructure. Initial allocations poverty-alleviation programs and Nations World Food Programme has Maximum Temperature : 300c fi rst-ever list of cryptocurrencies’ were modest; but, over time, their climate-change initiatives. used cryptocurrency to send money to Minimum Temperature : 240c richest people. The top 10 donations helped fund healthcare Third, support digital-literacy refugees in Jordan. TUESDAY were each worth around $1bn, reforms elsewhere in Africa. While projects in emerging markets. In many To be sure, cryptocurrencies’ Maximum Temperature : 320c I Minimum Temperature : 230c while the wealthiest – an American these investments were a small poor countries, healthcare systems nouveau riche are not obligated to fraction of the overall need, the suff er from insecure patient records, fund social causes with their wealth; blockchain innovator named Chris Fisherman's forecast Larsen – was estimated to be worth impact on health outcomes has been a loophole that cryptocurrency it’s their money, after all. But history $8bn. According to the magazine’s signifi cant. technologies could help close. often is unkind to megarich wealth WARNING Investments in digital solutions would hoarders. In January, Laurence Inshore : Expected thundery rain editor, the best way to pull digital The wealthiest cryptocurrency associated with sudden currencies out from the shadows and holders could easily pick up where also help improve health outcomes Fink, the chief executive of the $6tn strong wind “into the adolescence of a legitimate the oil sector’s richest left off . And, and streamline data-based decision- investment firm BlackRock, told Offshore : Expected thunder rain asset class” is to shine a light on the for those on the Forbes list looking making. business leaders that if they wanted associated with strong wind and high sea at benefi ciaries. for ideas about how to engage in And, fi nally, fund projects that his continued support, they must times. Once that happens, the newly healthcare-related philanthropy, here improve the management of health- do more than generate profits; they WEATHER famous cryptocurrency billionaires, are four options: care fi nances. Cryptocurrency must also serve a “social purpose” by Inshore : Partly cloudy to cloudy with chance of like so many before them, will want First, simply commit to giving. This billionaires owe their fortunes to making “a positive contribution to scattered rain, maybe to be seen to be doing good, not just could be accomplished by joining Bill the security of their transactions; society.” thundery at places at doing well. And, one of the best Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, health care in the developing world, Cryptocurrencies’ richest people times. philanthropic causes to support is and many others who have donated at which is plagued by high levels of would be in good company if they WIND healthcare in developing countries. least half of their personal wealth to institutionalised corruption, could pledged to use a portion of their Inshore : Northwesterly-North- A few years ago, when I was working social causes, including global health. benefi t from similar controls. wealth to improve the lives of the less easterly 05-15/25 KT Offshrore : Northwesterly-North- as a private healthcare strategy Or their pledges could be more in line Simply put, there is no better place fortunate. And, in my experience, easterly 05-15/22 KT at consultant, I advised high-net-worth with those of the global soccer stars to direct cryptocurrency philanthropy there is no better way to do the most places during thundery. individuals and their companies who have vowed to give at least 1% of than health-care projects in the Global good with wealth than by spending it in South Sudan, the Gambia, and their salaries to charity. Either way, a South, where digital-currency trading on health care in the developing world. Visibility : 4-8 KM / 3 KM – Project Syndicate Tanzania on the best ways to give commitment to generosity is critical. is expanding faster than anywhere Around the region back to the communities where their Second, advocate for a transaction else. In Venezuela, where the national Weather businesses operated. These investors tax on digital-currency trading, and currency is in freefall, bitcoin zSerufusa Sekidde is Director of Weather tomorrow Max/min – nearly all of whom had profi ted push to use the revenue to fi nance has become the leading “parallel Policy and Partnerships (AMR) at today Max/min Sunny 28/14 handsomely from the oil industry – healthcare projects in the developing currency” to pay for basic goods and GlaxoSmithKline, and a 2015 Aspen Baghdad P Cloudy 28/16 S T Storms 31/19 faced intense social pressure to use world. Such a tax could be modelled on services – including medical bills. New Voices fellow. Kuwait City Sunny 31/22 Manama M Sunny 31/23 M Sunny 30/23 Muscat Sunny 32/26 M Sunny 33/28 Tehran P Cloudy 18/09 Rain 12/07 Live issues Headlines making you anxious? Delay reading them

By Oliver Burkeman organisation, can aff ord. New York You can aff ord it, though. Which is why one excellent way to stay calm but well-informed, I’ve found, is to t’s a rare week, these days, that you consume the news a day or three later don’t encounter some new, extreme than everyone else. Print is one way to Around the world plan for staying sane in a world do this. But it works online, too: more Weather Weather Iof insanity-inducing headlines. and more, I fi nd myself promiscuously today Max/min tomorrow Max/min People used to recommend one device- cruising the web, saving umpteen Athens P Cloudy 27/14 Cloudy 22/11 free day a week, or the occasional articles in a “read later” app (in my case Beirut M Sunny 22/17 Sunny 23/18 “digital detox” retreat. But in recent Evernote, though you could use your Bangkok P Cloudy 36/28 S T Storms 34/27 months we’ve heard from the journalist browser’s bookmarks). By the time I Berlin P Cloudy 22/09 P Cloudy 22/09 who switched to a print-only news diet; read them, the time fi lter has worked its Cairo Sunny 35/19 Sunny 35/22 the writer who’s lived tech-free since magic: a small proportion of them stand Cape Town Sunny 25/16 P Cloudy 26/16 2016 (his handwritten article for this out as truly compelling. It’s an imperfect Colombo T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 paper was typed in by an editor) – and system, since of course you have to Dhaka M Sunny 36/24 M Sunny 37/24 Erik Hagerman, an Ohio man profi led become aware of a story to clip it in the Hong Kong Rain 24/22 Showers 23/21 in the New York Times, who lives on fi rst place. But it soon gets easier to tell Istanbul Sunny 19/08 P Cloudy 19/09 an animal farm with no access to news, yourself not to dwell on it till later. Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 T Storm 33/25 and who pumps white noise into his There’s a trick to staying calm but well-informed: take your time catching up with After I’d done this for a while, it Karachi Sunny 36/25 Sunny 36/24 ears when he visits his local cafe, so he the news. struck me that it’s essentially what I’d London S Showers 14/08 P Cloudy 14/08 can’t overhear stray updates. One day, been doing for years with especially Manila P Cloudy 34/26 P Cloudy 34/25 as the commentator Jeet Heer noted, that the real cause of headline anxiety Britain. Yet the rest won’t. Once, it persistent personal worries: I’d make Moscow Sunny 17/03 M Cloudy 18/07 such schemes may go too far, leaving isn’t learning about worrisome was the media’s job to sift stories of an entry in my calendar two or three New Delhi M Sunny 38/25 M Sunny 39/24 Hagerman and his ilk in the position of new developments. Rather, it’s not lasting signifi cance from the rest; weeks from today, and resolve not New York Showers 08/04 Rain 14/06 those Japanese soldiers who fought the knowing which new developments will today, any publication that sat on a to fret about the matter till then. In Paris M Cloudy 19/08 P Cloudy 18/08 second world until the 1970s. When prove to have been worth worrying story for a week, to see if it had legs, almost every case, by the time the Sao Paulo T Storms 21/17 Cloudy 21/16 Trump gets impeached or defeated, or about. Of the 45 troubling things you would get screamed at for suppressing date rolled around, the issue seemed Seoul P Cloudy 16/04 Sunny 18/05 dies of a Doritos overdose, how will they saw on Twitter this morning, two the truth. The passage of time is absurd. Everyone tells you to live in the Singapore T Storm 31/26 T Storm 32/26 ever fi nd out? or three may prove to be signs of the the best fi lter for determining what moment – but there’s much to be said Sydney M Sunny 25/17 Sunny 28/18 Still, as I grapple with this problem rise of fascism/the destruction of the matters. But being late is the one thing for putting the moment off for a few Tokyo Rain 25/17 Clear 20/12 myself, I’m increasingly convinced environment/the collapse of Brexit no social network, or modern news days. - Guardian News and Media Gulf Times 24 Sunday, April 15, 2018 QATAR NFL star Tom Brady tours Museum of Islamic Art

ive-time American foot- the Middle East, Spain and In- ball Super Bowl champion dia. Brady also toured MIA’s FTom Brady has toured popular ‘Powder and Damask’ Doha’s landmark Museum of Is- exhibition, which showcases lamic Art this weekend. Islamic arms and armour from Brady is visiting Doha in his the private collection of Fadel capacity as Best Buddies global al-Mansoori. ambassador. He will join the Su- The exhibition includes both preme Committee for Delivery edged weapons and fi rearms, & Legacy (SC), Qatar Museums displaying a range of objects (QM) and Best Buddies partici- from the 17th to the 19th centu- pants in Qatar at Khalifa Inter- ry produced primarily in greater national Stadium today to offi - Turkey, Iran and India. cially launch a new partnership Designed by world-renowned to incorporate individuals with architect I M Pei, the MIA build- intellectual and developmental ing has become an icon. Stand- disabilities (IDD) in the organi- ing apart on the waters of the sation of the 2022 FIFA World Corniche, it draws infl uence Cup in Qatar and QM initiatives. from traditional Islamic archi- Brady was welcomed to tecture. The building is made MIA by QM’s Chairperson, HE from limestone, which captures Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad hourly changes in light and bin Khalifa al-Thani, and MIA shade. director Dr Julia Gonnella, who MIA is also home to IDAM, introduced him to the museum’s an award-winning, Michelin- spectacular Permanent Collec- starred restaurant created by tion representing the Islamic art chef Alain Ducasse, which host- from the 7th to the 19th century, ed Brady for a lunch featuring featuring manuscripts, ceram- refi ned Mediterranean cuisine ics, metal, glass, ivory, textiles, with a touch of Arabian infl u- wood and precious stones from ence. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani with Tom Brady during the tour.

Sheikha Al Mayassa welcomes Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco ahead of QNL inauguration

E Sheikha Al Mayassa is further proof of the strong and VI of Morocco to Qatar for a visit cals and special collections, as bint Hamad bin Khalifa lasting ties between Qatar and to explore bilateral relations be- well as the QNL Heritage Library. Hal-Thani yesterday wel- Morocco, the statement notes. tween the two countries and It has “proven to be hugely comed Princess Lalla Hasna of Only last month, HE the Prime opportunities to strengthen and popular” with members of the Morocco to Qatar, ahead of the Minister and Interior Minister develop them further. community looking to access offi cial inauguration of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Taking place this week, the books and other media, use National Library (QNL). Long Khalifa al-Thani travelled to Mo- offi cial inauguration ceremony QNL’s creative and collabora- interested in social and cultural rocco for a series of meetings to of QNL will also see a full range tive facilities, such as the Writing activities, the princess will join develop closer commercial links. of exhibitions and services Center, Innovation Stations and a large number of dignitaries, of- At the time, HE the Prime launched. study rooms, the statement adds. fi cials and VIPs invited to attend Minister highlighted the strong The opening of the QNL build- HE Sheikha Al Mayassa and Prin- the offi cial inauguration of QNL, commitment on the part of both ing has been a landmark achieve- cess Lalla Hasna will also explore Qatar Museums said in a state- countries to strengthen bilateral ment for the cultural and educa- opportunities to strengthen col- ment. co-operation and develop stra- tion landscape in Qatar. laboration and partnerships re- The inauguration will be tegic partnerships. In November Designed by renowned Dutch lated to educational initiatives, marked by an exclusive, grand last year, His Highness the Emir architect Rem Koolhaas, the li- including preserving cultural and opening ceremony taking place Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- brary gives residents access to artistic heritage, sharing knowl- Sheikha Al Mayassa receives Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco. tomorrow. Princess Hasna’s visit Thani welcomed King Mohamed more than 1mn books, periodi- edge and encouraging creativity. Many faces of Qatar Rail works

Qatar Rail recently posted images on its Twitter page of diff erent works being carried out on its projects. While one picture shows elevators being installed at the interchange level between the Metro and Tram sections of the Lusail station, another is about power and control cabling/termination work moving ahead for the chiller units of the Qatar University station’s air-conditioning system. A third picture is about external architectural fit-out works taking place simultaneously from the grade to roof level; these include such as roof, glass facade, lattice mesh installation and station cladding framing works, Qatar Rail has said.