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QNB’s H1 profi t up 7% year-on-year Goal is to make our nation to QR7.1bn proud: Qatar athletes published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10877 July 12, 2018 Shawwal 28, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Sheikh Joaan visits Majlis Qatar Land for 6 new In brief private schools

QATAR | Reaction Explosion in Pakistan’s allotted to meet Peshawar condemned Qatar has voiced its strong condemnation of the explosion that targeted an election rally in the city rising demand of Peshawar in Pakistan, causing deaths and injuries. Qatar also condemned the attack targeting O New schools to provide ings, educational coupons for Qa- the urban education directorate in HE the President of Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani visited yesterday Majlis Qatar, which is tari students and other benefi ts. This the Afghan city of Jalalabad, which organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) in Moscow on the sidelines of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. 8,000 additional seats would eventually lead towards reduced left a number of people dead. In a Sheikh Joaan was welcomed by a number of SC off icials and briefed about the facilities and activities of Majlis Qatar, which in two years private school fees, he opined. statement yesterday the Ministry resembles “Bayt Al Shaar”, the traditional tent common throughout the Arab world and which serves as the inspiration for the He stressed that the Ministry of of Foreign Aff airs aff irmed Qatar’s 60,000-seat 2022 FIFA World Cup venue Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City. By Ayman Adly Education and Higher Education will full solidarity with the Afghan Staff Reporter continue its eff orts to advance private government in all measures taken education in the country through the to maintain security and stability. implementation of the ministry’s plan Earlier, Qatar expressed its strong he Ministry of Education and for 2017- 2022 aimed at building a high condemnation of an attack that Higher Education signed yes- quality education system at an interna- targeted a checkpoint in Iraq’s FIFA takes legal action in Saudi Tterday six contracts to lease gov- tional level that enhances the values of Kirkuk which caused a number ernment land for the construction and the Qatari society and calls for toler- of deaths. In separate statements operation of six private schools in the ance and the respect of other cultures. issued yesterday, the ministry country. He said that the private educa- reiterated Qatar’s firm stance Arabia to stop pirate channel The contracts were signed with the tion sector in the country comprises rejecting violence and terrorism six national companies that won the 281 private schools and kindergartens regardless of the motives and DPA BeoutQ has been streaming games It is not known whether FIFA presi- tenders that had been off ered by the teaching 25 diff erent curricula, cater- causes. Moscow from Russia in Saudi Arabia, using dent Gianni Infantino talked about the Technical Committee to Stimulate Pri- ing to 190,644 students from diff erent beIN’s signal and that of other World issue with Saudi Crown Prince Mo- vate Sector Participation in Economic nationalities. These schools employ QATAR | Diplomacy Cup rights holders. hamed bin Salman al-Saud when the Development Projects that pertain to 11,269 teachers from various national- ootball’s international govern- Not only FIFA but also UEFA and two sat together at the opening match the Ministerial Group to Stimulate Pri- ities with investors from diff erent parts Committee for peace in ing body FIFA said yesterday it is beIN have called the practice illegal. on June 14 between Russia and Saudi vate Sector Participation in Economic of the world. Darfur meets in Doha Ftaking legal action against pirate Qatar 2022 organising committee Arabia. Development Projects headed by HE Speaking on the sidelines, Tariq Ab- The 13th meeting for the committee broadcaster beoutQ, which continues deputy secretary-general Nasser al- There had been speculation whether the Prime Minister and Minister of In- dullah al-Abdullah, adviser to HE the on following up the implementation to broadcast illegally from the World Khater said that fi rm action was need- the ruling body was weighing its op- terior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Minister of Education and Higher for of the Doha Document for Peace Cup in Russia as part of a major re- ed on an issue which highlights how tions around a 25-billion-dollar off er Khalifa al-Thani. Private Schools Aff airs, pointed out in Darfur (DDPD) kicked off gional diplomatic and economic spat. regional politics are hitting sport. for a revamped Club World Cup and a Mohamed Melfi al-Hajri, Director of that the new six schools would cover yesterday, under the chairmanship The move came after organisers of “Everybody should take a stand, all global Nations League. The investors Joint Services Department at the Min- the educational stages from kindergar- of ambassador Dr Mutlaq bin the next World Cup in Qatar urged fi rm broadcasters, even if they have not been have not been revealed but are said to istry of Education and Higher Educa- ten to Class 12 (pre-university).” They Majed al-Qahtani, the minister of action on the issue. aff ected, should take a stand. All fed- be from Japan and Saudi Arabia. tion, signed the contracts on behalf also provide parents with diversifi ed foreign aff airs’ special envoy for “FIFA has engaged counsel to take erations should take a stand,” al-Khater Qatar has made great strides in re- of HE the Minister of Education and educational options as fi ve of them counterterrorism and mediation of legal action in Saudi Arabia and is told international media in Moscow. cent years, not only in media but also Higher Education Dr Mohamed Ab- follow the British curriculum and one conflict resolution. In his opening working alongside other sports rights “Any infringement on any broad- in sport, with the World Cup being the dulwahid al-Hammadi. The companies the Indian curriculum. When accom- speech the ambassador said the owners that have also been aff ected to caster’s rights that they paid a lot of highlight of eff orts that include host- that won the bids are Taallum Group, plished, the new schools are expected DDPD which was finalised at the All protect its interest,” football’s ruling money for ... We should not forget ing the 2006 Asian Games and landing Doha British School, Al Sraiya Trading to provide more than 8,000 seats to Darfur Stakeholders Conference in body said in a statement. that, for all federations, TV is bread world championships in sports includ- and Contracting (ASTC) British School meet the increasing demand for private May 2011, has received full support “FIFA urges the authorities of Saudi and butter. I think there should be a ing athletics and swimming. of Qatar, Sharaka Holdings Sherborne education in the country.” from the international community Arabia and of the diff erent countries very unifi ed and fi rm stand on this.” Just how seriously Saudi Arabia is Qatar School for Girls, Dar Al Salam He said the new schools are expected represented by the United Nations, where these illegal activities have been According to a report on the insid- taking the broadcast issue is also seen Education Company, and Kings Col- to be functional in two years from the African Union, Arab League, observed to support us in the fi ght efootball portal, beoutQ launched af- in another dispute around beoutQ lege Doha. date of signing of the contracts. The Organisation of Islamic Co-operation against piracy.” ter the blockade began in 2017, saying broadcasting illegally from Wimble- Speaking on behalf of HE the Minis- population density in the country was and European Union. In compliance Qatar-based beIN Media Group has it was a Colombian and Cuban ven- don and other tennis events for which ter of Education and Higher Education, taken into consideration for the alloca- with the DDPD, the Sudanese the Middle East and North Africa rights ture, but it is reportedly linked to Saudi beIN holds the rights. al-Hajri said private sector is a partner tion of the plots for these schools. government signed agreements to broadcast from the current tourna- companies. In a statement on the Wimble- of the educational system in Qatar. The offi cial said the ministry was with a number of movements in ment in Russia but as part of the dip- BeoutQ’s channels are broadcast us- don website last week, tennis bodies Accordingly, the country has provided very keen that the new schools of- Darfur, in addition to several relevant lomatic and trade bans placed on Qatar ing satellite frequencies on Arabsat, an called for the “immediate closure of many incentives to encourage the pri- fer modern educational experiences declarations and protocols. Page 5 by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the intergovernmental satellite operator the illegal Saudi Arabian-based pira- vate sector to invest in education, in- through high quality facilities that also United Arab Emirates beIN broadcasts headquartered in the Saudi capital of cy operation, ‘beoutQ’,” and spoke of cluding customs exception, free water focus on the safety and security of stu- QATAR | Solidarity are no longer allowed in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh. “industrial-scale illegal piracy”. and electricity, land and school build- dents. To Page 9 Qatar welcomes move on Crescent oil region Qatar welcomed yesterday the return of the Crescent oil region to the management of the National Oil Corp (NOC) of the Libyan National Mandzukic sends Croatia into World Cup fi nal Accord Government. The Ministry of Foreign Aff airs said in a statement yesterday that the move came in Reuters kick into the top corner. solidarity with the eff orts of the Moscow It was his fi rst goal for his country, international community, which England’s 12th of the tournament and unanimously agreed on the need to ninth from a set-piece, but they should respect the legitimate institutions ario Mandzukic scored in have added more from open play as authorised to manage the Crescent. the 109th minute as Croatia they revelled in the space they were be- The statement reiterated Qatar’s Mcame from behind to beat ing given in the fi rst half. support for the Libyan people and England 2-1 after extra time yesterday Harry Kane shot weakly at Danijel the aff irmation of their right to own and reach their fi rst World Cup fi nal, Subasic when through, then forced the and invest their country’s wealth where they will face France on Sunday, rebound against a post and Raheem according to their interests and the and send the Balkan nation into rap- Sterling was a constant thorn in the interests of future generations. tures. Croatia defence, though again his fi nal England, appearing in their fi rst ball was too often astray. EUROPE | Nato summit semi-fi nal since 1990, had looked on The best chance for a second goal, course for their fi rst fi nal since 1966 however, was wasted by an unmarked Trump demands double as they led through Kieran Trippier’s Jesse Lingard when he curled wide defence spending fi fth-minute free kick and totally dom- when a goal looked certain. Croatia had US President Donald Trump shocked inated the opening half. been desperately poor but started to allies at a fraught Nato summit Croatia, in their fi rst semi since 1998, get a foothold in the game as the match yesterday by suddenly demanding levelled through Ivan Perisic after 68 rolled past the hour mark and Luka Mo- that members double their defence minutes and then looked the more dan- dric’s infl uence grew. spending commitments. Trump’s gerous side. England paid the price for those surprise demand came after he It stayed level at 90 minutes, mean- early misses when Perisic showed great clashed with Chancellor Angela ing Croatia faced extra time for the determination to get in front of Kyle Merkel, calling Germany a “captive” third successive game, having got past Walker to meet a curling Sime Vrsaljko of Russia because of its gas links Denmark and Russia on penalties. cross and though his boot was arguably and singling out Berlin for failing to But just when it looked as if they high, Walker was stooping and there pay its way. The summit in Brussels would become the fi rst team to appear were few complaints. is shaping up as the alliance’s most in three shootouts at a single World Perisic should have added another diff icult in years, against a backdrop Cup Mandzukic struck with a well- three minutes later when ragged de- of deepening transatlantic tensions taken low shot. fending presented him with a great in fields ranging from trade to England had got off to a flying start shooting chance but he cannoned the Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates. Croatia will meet France in the World Cup final energy and defence. Page 16 when Trippier curled a superb free ball against a post. Sport Pages 1-4 on Sunday. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, July 12, 2018 QATAR Cabinet lauds HIA hosts private tour for Shafallah Centre result of Amir’s amad International Airport (HIA) has con- Hducted an engaging visit for children with special needs from Shafallah Centre, one of Qatar Foundation for visit to France Social Work (QFSW)’s affi liated His Highness the Amir at the open- for rescue, relief and humanitarian centres. QNA ing of the 46th ordinary session of assistance. Visitors aged eight to 12 years Doha the Advisory Council and decided 4. The Cabinet took the neces- visited HIA and enjoyed a tour that the designated authorities sary measures to ratify the memo- of the facilities and other en- he Cabinet’s regular meet- shall take the necessary steps to fol- randum of understanding (MoU) tertaining activities, stemming ing, chaired by HE the Prime low up on the implementation of for co-operation between Qatar from the partnership between TMinister Sheikh Abdullah these programmes. Media Corporation and Iraqi Media HIA and Shafallah announced bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani The Cabinet then took the nec- Network. earlier. The joint eff ort is aimed yesterday welcomed the outcome essary measures to issue the fol- 5. The Cabinet approved the draft at providing additional serv- of the offi cial visit of His Highness lowing draft laws, after reviewing MoU on co-operation in the fi elds ices to passengers with special the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad the recommendations of the Advi- of youth and sports between the needs. al-Thani to France from July 5 to 7. sory Council: governments of Qatar and Cabinet In addition to touring HIA’s Following the meeting at the 1. The fi rst draft law was amend- of Ministers of Ukraine. retail and dining outlets, the Amiri Diwan yesterday, HE the Min- ing some provisions of Law No 21 6. The Cabinet approved to hold Shafallah children enjoyed ad- ister of Justice and Acting Minister for the year 2015 regulating the en- an economic forum on the sidelines miring the airport’s outstanding of State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Has- try and exit of expatriates and their of the fi rst session of the Qatari- art collection featuring iconic Snapshots from the tour. san Lahdan Saqr al-Mohannadi said residence in the country. Ukrainian Joint Commission on pieces from both local and inter- that the meeting stressed that the 2. The second draft law focused Economic, Trade and Technical nationally renowned artists, in- outcome of the Amir’s visit was suc- on amending some provisions of Co-operation (Doha, Sept 30 to Oct cluding the bright yellow Lamp cessful due to the important discus- Law No 1 of 2016 on the organisa- 2, 2018). Bear by Urs Fischer, Small Lie sions that he held with French Pres- tion of sports clubs. The Cabinet reviewed and took by KAWS, and HIA’s latest eye- ident Emmanuel Macron and Prime 3. The third draft law was on the the necessary measures on the fol- catching addition, Cosmos. Minister Edouard Philippe. promotion of competitiveness of lowing: Amal Abdullatif al-Mannai, The Cabinet members also national products and the control 1. On the report submitted by HE CEO of QFSW and acting CEO praised the meeting for promot- of harmful practices in interna- the Prime Minister on the entre- at Shafallah Centre, said: “Ha- ing close bilateral co-operation on tional trade. preneurship programme and the mad International Airport’s various regional and international 4. The fourth draft law was on memorandum of HE the Minister of initiative demonstrates that the issues as well as the agreements Road Transport of Hazardous Sub- Administrative Development La- right steps are being taken to- signed, which they described as an stances. bour and Social Aff airs on the same wards inclusivity in Qatar as our important positive development in 5. The fi fth draft law centred matter. members were invited to enjoy the strategic relations between the around regulating land transport. 2. On the report of HE the Minis- and experience HIA’s wonder- two friendly countries. The Cabinet then approved and ter of Economy and Commerce re- ful facilities. By working closely They added that the deals will ratifi ed the following: garding his draft decision to deter- with HIA, we are committed to move the two sides to a new stage of 1. The Cabinet approved its draft mine the procedures of establishing helping improve the airport’s constructive co-operation, mutual decision to amend the regulation commercial companies and the is- services and facilities for those understanding and co-ordination of some units which consist of the suance of licences required using a requiring additional assistance.” We are committed to develop- passengers with special needs, statement notes. for the benefi t of their people and Ministry of Transport and Com- single-window system. Badr Mohamed al-Meer, chief ing HIA to refl ect an inclusive according to a press statement. Special handling lounges are for the benefi t of peace, security munications and appointing its 3. On the report of HE the Min- operating offi cer at HIA, added: society.” HIA’s infrastructure and available within the terminal, and stability in the region and the specialisation. ister of Economy and Commerce on “At HIA, we are committed to The tour follows the sign- support services cater to pas- off ering comfortable seating world. 2. The Cabinet approved the sug- the results of sixth meeting of Qa- off ering comprehensive sup- ing of a partnership between sengers requiring additional and trained attendants for the Later, the Cabinet discussed the gestion of the Ministry of Transport tari-Iranian Joint Economic Com- port services for all passengers, HIA and Shafallah Centre, an- assistance. Barrier-free ac- comfort of passengers who re- subjects on schedule and made the and Communications regarding the mission (Doha April, 2018). regardless of their needs. We are nounced earlier this month. cess, dedicated facilities and a quire special assistance. Airport following decisions: national programme to facilitate air 4. On the report of HE the Min- proud to host Shafallah Centre’s The joint eff ort, formalised network of elevators, escala- ground staff members have been The Council reviewed the pro- transport. ister of Development Planning and members for tours and activities with the signing of a memoran- tors, ramps and walkways are trained on the basics of handling grammes set by the relevant min- 3. The Cabinet also approved the Statistics on the fi rst quarterly up- as we strengthen our inclusivity dum of understanding, is aimed designed to improve and sim- and assisting customers with istries in implementation of the di- membership of Qatar Red Crescent date for the Second National Devel- and work towards making HIA a at providing more comprehen- plify the travel experience for special needs by subject experts rectives contained in the speech of Society to the standing committee opment Strategy (2018-2022). special needs-friendly airport. sive services and support to special needs passengers, the from Shafallah Centre.

Gulf Times 4 Thursday, July 12, 2018 QATAR

Mercedes Benz GLE-Class 2016 model recalled

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce lowed up on vehicle defects and repairs. The (MEC), in collaboration with Nasser Bin Kha- MEC will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow led Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes-Benz up on maintenance and repair works and vehicles in Qatar, has announced a recall of communicate with customers to ensure that Ooredoo is offi cial sponsor the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class model of 2016 the necessary repairs are carried out. It has because the windshield firewall damping may urged customers to report violations to its have been produced outside factory specifi- Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial cations. In a statement yesterday, the ministry Fraud Department through the call centre: said the recall campaign came within the 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @ framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar and its of charity match in Russia consumers and ensure that car dealers fol- mobile app for Android and iOS: MEC_Qatar

oredoo has an- tive lifestyle and back the nounced that it is next-generation of sporting Othe offi cial sponsor stars.” of the ‘Save the Dream Leg- Save the Dream execu- ends Match’ that will take tive director Massimiliano place at Majlis Qatar, which Montanari added, “We was organised as part of the would like to extend spe- FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia cial and heartfelt thanks to celebrations. Ooredoo for the continuous The Majlis Qatar is a tem- support to our mission. porary two-storey structure “We have organised to- built in Gorky Central Park gether this Football Leg- and includes entertainment ends Match at Majlis Qatar, zones, as well as a place for a great opportunity brought Qatar to broadcast live cov- to us by Qatar’s Supreme erage of the football. Committee for Delivery As the offi cial sponsor, & Legacy, not to entertain Ooredoo will provide sup- but to send, from Moscow port for the upcoming ‘Save during the World Cup, a the Dream Legends Match’, powerful message on the which will take place from role of sport to empower 3pm to 6pm tomorrow. The most underprivileged chil- charity match will include dren and to strengthen the a host of famous faces and bridge, worldwide, between sporting legends and aims mega events and sport at the to spread the message of grassroots level.” hope and opportunities to Ooredoo customers can children through sport. watch full live coverage of Save the Dream is a glo- the 2018 FIFA World Cup bal charity that implements via the new beIN 2018 FIFA and promotes activities to World Cup Package on Save the Dream is a global charity that implements and promotes activities to empower empower youth through Ooredoo tv. youth through safe access to sport and to its educational and social values. safe access to sport and to its educational and social values. Through these ac- tivities, Save the Dream aims to develop skills, instil ethics and promote social innovation, among others. Ooredoo Qatar PR and Corporate Communications director Manar Khalifa al- Muraikhi said, “Ooredoo is de- lighted to be supporting Majlis Qatar in Russia and promoting the amazing legends match with Save the Dream. “We believe in spon- soring sporting activities, both internationally and at home in Qatar, to inspire our customers to live an ac- Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 5 QATAR

Panel reviews draft law on Committee for peace in workers’ fund

QNA Doha

he Advisory Council’s Le- Darfur meets in Doha gal and Legislative Aff airs TCommittee held a meeting QNA on the document that resulted yesterday as part of the council’s Doha from these talks to achieve 46th regular session under the peace, security, stability and chairmanship of its acting rap- development in the five Darfur porteur Rashid bin Hamad al- he 13th meeting for the states. Maadhadi. committee on following They appreciated the com- The committee continued the Tup the implementation of mitment of Qatar to continue its review of the draft law on estab- the Doha Document for Peace in eff orts to complete and enforce lishing a workers’ support and Darfur (DDPD) kicked off yester- the peace process in Darfur and insurance fund and decided to day, under the chairmanship of facilitate the return of displaced raise its recommendations on the ambassador Dr Mutlaq bin Ma- persons to their villages and the matter to the Advisory Council. jed al-Qahtani, the minister of integration of combatants into The meeting was attended by foreign aff airs’ special envoy for civilian life. HE the Minister of Administra- counterterrorism and mediation The representative of Arab tive Development, Labour and of confl ict resolution. League stressed that these de- Social Aff airs, Dr Issa Saad al- In his opening speech the am- velopments provided by the Jafali al-Nuaimi, where he re- bassador said the DDPD which broad support for the Doha sponded to the inquiries of the was fi nalised at the All Darfur Peace Document are important members on the draft law. Stakeholders Conference in May incentives for the speedy com- Meanwhile, the Internal and 2011, has received full support pletion of the implementation of External Aff airs Committee of the from the international commu- the remaining provisions of this Advisory Council yesterday held nity represented by the United document . its regular weekly meeting during Nations, African Union, Arab Ambassador Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, the minister of foreign aff airs’ special envoy for counterterrorism and mediation of conflict In addition, the Arab League its 46th ordinary session chaired League, Organisation of Islamic resolution, chairing the 13th meeting for the committee on following up the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur. is currently working with the by its Rapporteur Abdullah bin Co-operation and European PICTURE: Jayan Orma Sudanese government to hold a Fahad bin Ghorab al-Marri. Union. In compliance with the conference for the development The committee discussed the DDPD, the Sudanese govern- need to commit to implement- port until peace, security and nese government’s initiative of implemented. of Sudan, which will include a suff ering of children of Qatari ment signed agreements with a ing the provisions of DDPD and stability in Darfur prevail. He collecting illegal weapons in or- Mamabolo touched on the con- centre on the reintegration of women who were divorced by number of movements in Darfur, to the execution of the develop- expressed hope that the meeting der to curb its spread and help in tribution of UNAMID in the peace combatants into civilian life, in or are widows of citizens of the in addition to several relevant ment projects in Darfur. There is and joint eff orts would result in achieving peace and stability. process in Darfur, saying it is cur- addition to existing co-opera- blockading countries. declarations and protocols. also a dire need for larger contri- the desired outcome of achiev- In his report, which was ap- rently in the phase of exiting from tion in the area of development The committee decided to Ambassador al-Qahtani said butions from the international ing peace and sustainable devel- proved by the meeting, Mam- most of the areas in Darfur. He and recovery issues and address- raise its recommendations on the security continues to be an ob- community, to calling upon all opment in Darfur. abolo reviewed the signifi cant urged for further eff orts to over- ing the issue of external debt. matter to the Advisory Council. stacle with diff erent provisions parties concerned to commit For his part, Jeremiah Kings- progress made by the document, come this phase and reach com- Head of the Liberation and of DDPD, highlighting that the themselves to a cessation of hos- ley Mamabolo, the joint special including the launch of the Unit- prehensive peace in Darfur and Justice Party Tijani Sissi that Real estate weapons collection programme tilities and direct negotiations representative and head of the ed Nations Fund for Recovery Sudan and in supporting develop- the peace document is the most and the provisions on disarma- and to admitting that peaceful United Nations Mission in Dar- Reconstruction and Develop- ment for its people. comprehensive, thanking Qatar transactions ment, demobilisation and re- political settlement alone can fur (UNAMID), expressed his ment in Darfur (UNDF) in 2012. Meanwhile, the representa- for its persistence in following The trading volume of registered integration are very important. ensure sustainable peace and deep appreciation for the eff orts He also spoke about the Suda- tives of the Sudanese govern- up the implementation of the real estates between July 1 to July The ambassador said the development for the people of of His Highness the Amir of Qa- nese government’s approval of a ment and parties who signed peace document. 5 at the Ministry of Justice’s real document is not open for new Darfur, the ambassador added. tar, government and people and number of disarmament, recon- the Doha Peace Document in He said that the implementa- estate registration department negotiations, as it has become a Al-Qahtani also expressed ap- its commitment to implement- ciliation and security arrange- Darfur and the Arab League tion of the document had led to stood at QR1,945,088,153. reality that represents the people preciation to those who helped ing the DDPD. ments as well as the return of praised the important and ac- many achievements, including The department’s weekly report of Darfur which include the civil in the implementation of the He called on the movements displaced people and refugees, tive role played by His High- an improvement in the security said that the trading included society and refugees adding that DDPD 10 years after the start that did not sign the document and reconstruction. He noted ness the Amir of Qatar, the situation and the return of dis- empty lands, residential units, it has also become part of the of the Doha process for peace to join it as the basis for any ne- that all of these projects need government and the people placed persons, as well as the multipurpose buildings, empty Sudanese constitution. in Darfur, stressing that Qatar gotiations. additional support, including in launching the Darfur peace progress of Sudan’s regional and multipurpose lands, residential Al-Qahtani said it is of dire continues its eff orts and sup- He also pointed to the Suda- from abroad, in order to be fully negotiations, and following up foreign relations. complex and building. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, July 12, 2018 QATAR WISH forums to discuss 9 global healthcare topics

By Joseph Varghese rum led by Paul Farmer, chief ex- and recommendations for imple- how to achieve universal health- ber of the House of Lords, UK is Staff Reporter ecutive of Mind, a leading mental menting design. It is chaired by care provision for such popula- spearheading the forum. health charity working in England Aaron Sklar, co-founder of Pre- tions. Mukesh Kapila, professor The report on the Role of the and Wales, will clearly defi ne the scribe Design and vice-president of Global Health and Humani- private sector in healthcare dis- orld Innovation Summit terms anxiety and depression, of Brand Experience at Giant tarian Aff airs at the University of cusses how to create more eff ec- for Health (WISH) 2018 investigate the scale of the issue, Creative Strategy. Manchester, heads this forum. tive, mass-scale collaborations Wwill have nine forums and then look at what can be done The Eye health forum, chaired The WISH forum on Islamic between public and private sec- and each one will present a re- to prevent anxiety and depression by Prof Peng Khaw, director of the ethics and palliative care will pro- tor for the delivery of healthcare port that tackles a pressing global taking hold of people. National Institute for Health Re- vide an overview of the practice services needed for universal healthcare challenge, it has been The Data science and artifi cial search Biomedical Research Cen- of palliative care in Qatar and the healthcare. It is headed by David announced. intelligence forum chaired by Prof tre in Ophthalmology at Moor- Arabian Gulf and compares it to Nicholson, who provides advice The nine forums are as fol- Aziz Sheikh, director of the Usher fi elds Eye Hospital, highlights the Western context. Dr Moham- and guidance to both governments lows: Anxiety and depression, Institute of Population Health strategies and programmes that ed Ghaly, professor of Islam and and individual organisations in- Data science and artifi cial intel- Sciences and Informatics at the have been used to reduce the bur- Biomedical Ethics at the Research terested in improving health and ligence, Design in health, Eye University of Edinburgh, sets out den of eye disease through service Centre for Islamic Legislation & healthcare. health, Healthcare in confl ict set- a path of increasing data-enable- delivery, education and training. It Ethics at Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- The Viral hepatitis forum focus- tings, Islamic ethics and palliative ment that health systems might also highlights recent technologi- versity, is heading the forum. es on high-level inputs critical to care, Nursing and universal health follow, with case studies outlin- cal developments impacting eye The report on Nursing and uni- achieving hepatitis C elimination coverage, Role of private sector in ing how individual systems have health, and explore some emerg- versal healthcare describes how by 2030 and proposes an invest- healthcare and Viral hepatitis. addressed some of the challenges. ing technologies that have the po- strengthening nursing and mid- ment case providing recommen- Each forum topic is chaired by The WISH forum on Design tential to impact eye health in the wifery as part of the wider health dations on how governments and a world-leading expert and sup- in health covers the areas of de- future. workforce will enable the rapid, global donors can maximise their ported by a team of senior leaders scribing models and methods of The Healthcare in confl ict set- high-quality and cost-eff ective investments to achieve viral hepa- from academia, research, industry design; application of design to tings forum report is on health- scaling up of universal health titis elimination. Margaret Hel- and policy. infectious disease, non-commu- care for confl ict aff ected popula- coverage and Lord Nigel Crisp an lard, deputy director of the Burnet The Anxiety and depression fo- nicable disease, and access to care; tions with the central question of independent crossbench mem- Institute, is the chair of the forum.

Vodafone Qatar Mwani handles more cargo in June reintroduces Red Postpaid plans

Vodafone Qatar has reintroduced its popular service for Red Postpaid plans customers that allows the use of all their local in-plan data in 20 countries for free, the company has announced. With Vodafone Global Data, “travelling the world is a breeze” as customers can roam on any network without restrictions. “No activation is required. All a customer needs to do is use the Internet like they are at home and their in-plan Vodafone Global Data will take care of the rest,” Vodafone Qatar has said in a statement. Red gives customers the “ideal fix for a major travel nuisance” that aff ects more than one-third (36%) of people, according to Vodafone research - “excessive mobile phone bills when travelling”. Vodafone Global Data is available in the following countries where Vodafone operates: the UK, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Australia, India, Romania, Czech Republic, Ireland, South Africa, Malta, Netherlands, Greece, New Zealand, Albania and Ghana. “Vodafone Qatar has proudly been the first to bring several innovations to the market, which includes worry-free roaming with Global Data. We truly believe in travel freedom, and with Vodafone Global Data, Red customers can experience the global power of Vodafone,” said Vodafone Qatar commercial director Diego Camberos. Around 2,500 ships, more than 66,000 tourists, 640,000 containers, 665,000 tonnes of cargo and up to 636,000 heads of livestock Earlier this year, Vodafone Qatar was rated were received at Mwani Qatar Ports during the first half of 2018, the company tweeted yesterday. Mwani Qatar had also recently as a Premium Operator for their roaming informed that its ports handled 164,080 tonnes of general cargo last month, an increase of 121,128 tonnes from May’s figure of 42,952 services by the GSMA Association for the tonnes, as well as 440 vessels. second year in a row. CRA attends 18th Global Symposium for Regulators

high-level delegation from Qatar regulatory challenges and opportunities’. headed by Mohamed Ali al-Mannai, The GSR also includes high-level panel Apresident of the Communications discussions about digital transformation, Regulatory Authority (CRA), is partici- digital identity and protecting personal pating in the 18th Global Symposium for data. This is in addition to the Regional Reg- Regulators (GSR) in Geneva, Switzerland. ulatory Associations meeting and the Chief The four-day symposium, held under the Regulatory Offi cials meeting. theme ‘New Regulatory Frontiers’, is wit- “The ICT sector on a global level is evolv- nessing the participation of more than 600 ing at incredible speed. In line with this, professionals and around 100 speakers from CRA participates in events like GSR, which around the world. The event concludes today. serves as an opportunity to exchange ideas The GSR is an annual event organised by and experiences with other regulators, pol- the International Telecommunication Un- icy and decision makers, industry experts ion (ITU), connecting ITU-D sector mem- and stakeholders around the world, which bers, administrations of ITU member states, will help the ICT sector evolve in Qatar,” national regulatory authorities, regional al-Mannai said. and international organisations and ITU- On the sidelines of the symposium, he affi liated academic and research institutes. has held high-level meetings with Houlin The symposium is hosting interactive Zhao, secretary-general of the ITU; François panel discussions and presentations on Rancy, director, ITU Radiocommunication thematic events around the ‘Global Dia- Bureau; and Brahima Sanou, director of logue on Artifi cial Intelligence, Internet the ITU Telecommunication Development of Things and Cybersecurity – Policy and Bureau.

Barwa subsidiary signs contract termination with QP Barwa Real Estate Company has announced Petroleum, according to a statement posted that its fully owned subsidiary, Qatar Real on QSE website. Estate Investments Company Alaqaria, The contract termination and discharge has signed contract termination and releases will result in Alaqaria to receive discharge release for financial leasing QR670mn, which will entail an increase in agreements, related to real estate projects, the balance of cash and bank balances of with Qatar Petroleum that Alaqaria has Barwa Real Estate Group. It will support the been constructing to be leased to Qatar investing activities of the Group. (QNA) Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 7 QATAR

Corn and vegetable product recalled for likely contamination

The Joint Committee on Human Food Control has announced the withdrawal of “frozen Over 680 treated for corn and vegetable” product originating from Hungary and Belgium and produced by Green Yard, known as Pinguin, as a precautionary measure for possible contamination with Listeria bacteria, following an Dr Farouq al-Rawi international notification. foodborne illnesses In a statement yesterday, the ith more than 680 pa- Dr al-Rawi says it is usually foodborne illnesses spike dur- children, the elderly, pregnant Foods eaten raw are a com- can be a major cause of food committee explained that it tients treated at Ha- not a serious medical condition ing the summer barbecue season, women and people with chronic mon source of food poisoning poisoning in children, noting was clear that the product was Wmad Medical Corpora- and can be treated with over- underscoring the need to be care- illnesses or compromised im- because they don’t go through that parents who pack their distributed in limited quantities, and tion’s (HMC) Al Wakra Hospital the-counter medication, hy- ful about storing, preparing and mune systems, such as those the cooking process, which kills child’s lunch should take spe- was completely withdrawn by the emergency department in May dration and rest. Most cases will serving foods. Dr al-Rawi recom- with diabetes, AIDS, or can- most foodborne pathogens. cial care to ensure the lunchbox competent authorities from outlets in and June for symptoms related resolve within three to fi ve days, mends cleaning BBQs before each cer, are most at risk of becom- Abou-Nada says food temper- is properly cleaned. She also cooperation with the distributor and to foodborne illnesses, Dr Farouq but Dr al-Rawi says severe food use and washing the grill with hot ing severely ill as a result of ate can be a major cause of food- recommends choosing foods that the quantities was reserved. al-Rawi, consultant of emer- poisoning may require hospi- water and soap. He says raw food contracting a foodborne illness. borne illness, with foods that wisely, avoiding those that pose The statement also confirmed gency medicine, has said cases talisation and hydration with should be kept refrigerated at all “The best way to prevent food are not refrigerated properly, the highest contamination risk, that samples were taken from the of food poisoning tend to spike intravenous fl uids. times, never coming into contact poisoning is to handle your food not kept hot enough, or left at such as lunch meats and may- product for laboratory testing in the during the summer months. “Staying hydrated, eating with cooked food. carefully and to avoid eating any room temperature for too long onnaise, and instead selecting laboratories of the Ministry of Public “Food poisoning is a sudden a bland, low-fat diet and get- “Raw meat, poultry and sea- foods that may have been im- being among the most common options that don’t have to stay Health to ensure its safety, pointing illness with symptoms occur- ting plenty of rest is the rec- food should be securely wrapped properly prepared. Always wash causes of food poisoning. hot or cold. She says insulated out that good cooking is suff icient to ring a short time after eating or ommended treatment for food and stored at the bottom of a your hands before cooking or eat- “Food handlers can contami- lunchboxes are also a good op- eliminate this type of bacteria. drinking something contami- poisoning. While over-the- cooler or refrigerator so their ing and make sure that your food nate food if they are ill, if they tion if packing at-risk items. The joint committee called upon nated, spoiled or toxic. Com- counter medications can help juices won’t contaminate already is properly sealed and stored. don’t wash their hands suffi - Abou-Nada has also encour- all consumers who purchased the mon symptoms such as stomach control diarrhoea and suppress prepared foods or raw produce. Anything that comes into con- ciently after using the bathroom, aged parents to teach children product not to consume it and cramps, nausea, vomiting and nausea, we don’t recommend When using a BBQ, foods should tact with raw products, includ- or if they have a cut or sore on about the importance of good return it to the outlet from which diarrhoea usually occur within using these medications. The be cooked thoroughly and served ing countertops, cooking or eat- their hands. Cross-contamina- hand hygiene by washing their the purchase was made, adding 72 hours. Around 5% of the body uses vomiting and diar- immediately after cooking, or ing utensils, linens and your own tion of food can happen if the hands with soap and water be- that If the product is consumed, and 37,000 patients we cared for at rhoea to rid the system of toxins cooled quickly,” said Dr al-Rawi. hands, should be sanitised before same knives and cutting board fore and after eating. She says if any symptoms such as nausea, the Al Wakra emergency depart- and these medications could Hadeel Abou-Nada, clini- prepare other foods. When eating is used for raw meat, poultry, parents should encourage chil- fever and intestinal disorder after 3 ment during May and June were mask the severity of an illness,” cal dietician at Hamad Gen- canned food, ensure it has been or fi sh and uncooked fruits or dren not to share eating uten- to 5 days of consumption are noted, treated for food poisoning or said Dr al-Rawi. eral Hospital, said while anyone properly canned and is not ex- vegetables,” said Abou-Nada. sils and to drink from their own patient should head to health gastroenteritis,” said Dr al-Rawi. He added that incidents of can get food poisoning, young pired,” added Abou-Nada. She adds that packed lunches water bottles and cups. centre urgently. (QNA) QC implements health projects in Somalia atar Charity (QC) has im- tions aim to contribute to im- project in Yakhshid district of northern end of Yakhchid dis- in an impoverished neighbour- plemented a number of proving health services in such Mogadishu, which was opened trict, where more than 150,000 hood, where around 93,000 Qhealth projects in Somalia countries,” the statement notes. in May and is run by medical col- people live. people live, most of whom can- during the fi rst half of 2018. Qatar Charity implements lege students of Mogadishu Uni- Also, QC has built a dispensa- not aff ord the cost of private The implementation has come various health and medical versity to provide basic services ry in the Wadjer neighbourhood hospitals. as part of its development in- projects in Somalia, such as to the poor and displaced in the of capital Mogadishu, which was Qatar Charity is also work- tervention in the fi eld of health, building health clinics, organis- region. opened at the end of last month. ing on the construction of many which is based on the integration ing medical caravans for disas- The 600sq m clinic consists The 300sq m dispensary con- health centres and clinics. The of the curative and preventive as- ter relief and providing fi rst aid, of 11 rooms, a waiting area, an sisting of six rooms and a wait- Elesha Biyaha dispensary is ex- pects, QC has said in a statement. giving priority to the neediest outpatient clinic, a maternity ing area provides primary health pected to be opened soon in Part of QC’s health intervention in Somalia. QC’s health interventions fo- areas and people. room, patient rooms, a pharma- services and maternity services Lower Shabelle region, which is cus on countries that lack suf- The organisation implements cy, a doctor’s room and a labora- as well as nutrition services for a heavily populated area where Middle Shabelle during the sec- the displaced. Each convoy is ex- fi cient primary health care serv- these health projects in co-or- tory. It provides health services, children under the age of fi ve. there is no public hospital that ond half of this year until the pected to provide medical services ices and suff er from the spread dination with the Somali Min- medical consultations and free According to a statement of provides the required health beginning of next year. and consultations for 80 people, in of infectious and endemic dis- istry of Health and Mogadishu medicines to patients. The clinic the CESVI offi ce in Somalia, services to the local people. In July and August, medical con- addition to holding regular meet- eases and high mortality rates, University. operates at its maximum capac- every day, as many as 120 peo- Other fi ve multi-service cen- voys will be despatched to camps ings with the displaced to provide especially child and maternal During the current year, QC ity and receives daily more than ple will benefi t from the services tres will be constructed in Kis- in capital Mogadishu, which will instructions on public health and mortality. “QC’s interven- has implemented the Shifa clinic 80 cases, as it is located at the of the dispensary as it is located mayo, Baidoa, Dusamareb and provide free health services for health education. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, July 12, 2018 QATAR Safari draw held Jaidah division hosts customer appreciation event in Doha aidah Group’s Independent After- sale of nearly 1.5mn batteries in Qa- in the Qatari automotive battery busi- market (IAM) Division has held its tar. This wouldn’t have been possible ness. Our goal is to reach the 2mn unit The fourth draw of Safari Group’s ‘Win 10 Nissan Patrol Car Promotion’ for two winners has been held at Safari Mall, Jannual ACDelco Maintenance Free without the support of our loyal cus- milestone in the near future with the Abu Hamour. The draw was conducted in the presence of an off icial from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and (MF) batteries customer appreciation tomers, our experienced professional support of our customers and sup- Safari management members. The winners are Qatari citizen Ahmed Abdul Hamdan (coupon No 4071735) and Indian event. sales team and our supplier. I would plier.” citizen Basheer Komminikandiyil (coupon No 3426397), each to receive a brand-new Nissan Patrol, Safari Group has ACDelco is the leading maintenance like to thank everyone who contributed An award ceremony for the top fi ve said in a statement. free battery in the automotive industry to this great success and for making customers was held, and they were and retains the highest market share ACDelco achieve the highest mar- given appreciation awards. in the Qatari market, Jaidah Group has ket share. We have been successfully The customers honoured at the said in a statement. able to handle all issues caused by the event were Marhaba International The annual event was attended by blockade, providing a high-quality Trading & Transport Co, Ali Interna- 140 loyal customers and representa- brand that has strong aftermarket sup- tional Trading Est, Falcon Trading Est, tives from Jaidah Group IAM Division. port for our customers.” Khalid Saif Auto Spare Parts and Doha QIB and Mastercard off er cash prizes to During the event, customers were Zeki Bagran, director of the Inde- Motors & Trading. given special off ers in order to extend pendent Aftermarket Division at Jai- ACDelco is the leading supplier of support to all loyal ACDelco battery dah Group, added: “We would like to GM Original Equipment replacement cardholders travelling this summer customers. thank our customers for their ongoing parts in the automotive industry and Jaidah Automotive’s K T Rao, man- support and our supplier for proving also in the Qatari market. ager of Automotive Wholesale, wel- a quality product that enables us to ACDelco also provides high-quality atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has mer is an exciting time for our custom- comed the attendees in a speech and win the trust of our clients, therefore parts for all major vehicles and indus- teamed up with MasterCard to ers, fi lled with shopping, travel and said: “We are proud of achieving the reaching this tremendous milestone trial equipment. Qlaunch a summer promotion, entertainment. We want to extend our titled ‘Win Weekly with QIB Mas- appreciation for our customers’ loyalty tercard Cards’, with a grand prize of to the QIB Mastercard by rewarding QR100,000. them with cash prizes, especially dur- The promotion runs from the begin- ing the summer months that are ac- ning of July until the end of September. companied by additional expenses.” Customers can take advantage of QIB and Mastercard will reward a extra rewards this summer, with every total of 12 winners and one grand prize transaction of QR500 spent overseas winner. entitling them to enter the draw for a To be eligible for the prize draw, cus- chance to win prizes, the bank has said will get the chance to win QR10,000 tomers need to use QIB’s Mastercard in a statement. weekly, while one grand prize winner debit card outside Qatar. Customers who use their QIB Mas- will get QR100,000 at the end of the The draws will be conducted in the tercard debit card for a minimum campaign. presence of representatives from Mas- transaction of QR500 – excluding D Anand, general manager of QIB terCard on the QIB premises along with ATM transactions – outside Qatar Personal Banking Group, said: “Sum- Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

Participants from the ACDelco Maintenance Free batteries customer appreciation event pose for a commemorative photo. Bridgestone distributor pushes safer motoring at Woqod promotional events

amal Trading and Distribution, received Bridgestone gifts when they alongside superior grip and braking re- a subsidiary of Aamal Com- posted a picture on their Instagram or sponse in all conditions. Apany and exclusive distribu- Facebook account using the hashtag “Our long partnership with Bridge- tor of Bridgestone tyres in Qatar since #CheckedbyBridgestone. stone has given us the ability to provide 1971, has said it has been running the The #CheckedbyBridgestone cam- our customers with the tyres that they successful #CheckedbyBridgestone paign is in line with Bridgestone’s mis- deserve, therefore gaining the trust of awareness campaign in collaboration sion of ‘Serving Society with Superior the Qatari market. I would like to thank with Woqod (Qatar Fuel). Quality’ to help improve mobility and Woqod for providing us with the ven- To promote road safety, Bridge- safe transportation across Qatar for ues for our promotion which were a big stone’s tyre safety campaign, individual motorists and the society at part of our campaign’s success”. #CheckedbyBridgestone, invited mo- large, according to a press statement. Berna Akinci, general manager — mar- torists to take advantage of a free tyre Syed Rashid Hassan, general manag- keting at Bridgestone MEA, added: “Our check whenever they had their car er of Aamal Trading and Distribution, hectic day-to-day lives mean that tyre washed at selected Woqod petrol sta- said: “It’s been our pleasure to have maintenance can become an afterthought tions throughout Qatar. run this campaign as promoting safety despite its importance. Our latest cam- The tyre check-up included a check is such an integral part of our core val- paign provides a timely reminder and a on pressure, tread depth and wear, as ues. We are committed to guarantee- welcome incentive to put maintenance well as an electronic diagnosis and a ing our customers’ safety on the roads at the top of people’s minds, especially battery check. and to providing them with tyres that at this time of year when rising tempera- After the free tyre check, customers meet the highest quality standards, tures put added strain on vehicles.”

The campaign invited motorists to take advantage of a free tyre check whenever they had their car washed at selected Woqod petrol stations. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 9 QATAR Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid sets lap record at Losail

ith a time of 02:24:12 plug-in models, across three with the Panamera segments. Fast forward to the Al-Hajri and senior ministry off icials are seen with the representatives of the winning companies yesterday. WTurbo S E-Hybrid, present day and electrifi cation Porsche has achieved the fastest continues to form a crucial part completion of a lap for a luxury of its product off ering, with the four-door hybrid saloon at the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid as Losail International Circuit. proof of what electric technol- Land for 6 new private schools allotted The record in Qatar is part of ogy represents for the brand. a wider programme, achieving The electric motor provides six benchmark times for this extra boost to the V8, four-litre From Page 1 now vacant. “They can use them school seats are available at pri- model category on six race- twin turbo combustion engine, at low cost and improve their vate schools, this would eventu- tracks within the wider region enabling the luxury saloon to Al-Abdullah said the ministry services. Besides, the Ministry ally create a balance and could of the Middle East, India and complete a 100km/h sprint in is well-aware of the high demand is set invite tenders for fi ve new lead to reduced fees due to the South Africa, it has been an- just 3.4 seconds and off ers ex- for seats in private and com- land plots for building private available multiple options. The nounced. traordinary tractive force at munity schools, especially the schools.” ministry is working on this cur- The Stuttgart-based manu- higher speeds. Delivering a top Indian community, and works Al-Abdullah said the ministry rently.” facturer put its performance speed of 310km/h, the Pan- seriously to resolve the issue by is working through a fi ve year Representatives of the wining credentials to the test and once amera Turbo S E-Hybrid sets providing more support through plan (2017- 2022) that aims at companies expressed their ap- again reinforced the benefi ts of unparalleled benchmarks in its off ering potential investors low- increasing the number and types preciation for the government’s transferring technology devel- class, the statement notes. cost land for building schools. In of private schools in the country gesture and said that it would oped on the track to road-legal The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. Performance, comfort and addition, he said the Ministry is with focus on quality education. certainly refl ect positively on the models. As a descendent of effi ciency form a perfect three- set to invite bids to lease out four “Based on the mechanism of educational system in the coun- the successful 919 Hybrid race benchmark lap time for hybrid has an unrivalled heritage of way combination in the Panam- of its school buildings that are demand and supply, when more try. car, the Panamera Turbo S E- saloon models off ered Porsche setting lap records on some era Turbo S E-Hybrid. It starts Hybrid is the fastest and most a unique opportunity to bring to of the world’s most famous in the purely electric ‘E-Power’ fuel-effi cient Panamera to date life our Performance Electrifi ed race tracks; so, to now add mode as standard, and the four- and forms an important part campaign – a communication the Losail International Cir- door sports car drives locally of the brand’s E-Performance platform that demonstrates cuit to that list is an impres- over a distance of up to 50km strategy, according to a press how the combination of an sive accolade. We often talk with zero emissions. When a Deal to enhance humanitarian law co-operation statement. electric motor and combustion about the pedigree of Porsche specifi c pressure point is passed Piloted by Porsche testing engine results in the delivery of sports cars as well as the im- on the accelerator pedal, or and development driver Lars impressive power. pressive output of the brand’s when the battery charge level QNA HE Undersecretary of the on the optimal application of in- Kern, a standard production “The Panamera Turbo S E- hybrid models. This newly set drops below a minimum value, Kuwait Ministry of Justice and Presi- ternational humanitarian law by version of the four-door sports Hybrid was also chosen for this lap time is, therefore, the per- the Panamera switches to ‘Hy- dent of the National Committee raising awareness of this impor- car took on the challenge of activity because it bridges our fect example of performance brid Auto’ mode, at which point for International Humanitarian tant law, training and raising the setting a record lap time at the 70-year history of sports car in- promises brought to life. the power of both the combus- he National Committee for Law Sultan bin Abdullah al-Su- capacities of all target groups, Losail International Circuit, lo- novation, to our future of sporty “I would like to encourage all tion engine and electric motor, International Humanitar- waidi said in a statement to Qa- including civil and military edu- cated in the north of Doha. mobility. To further demon- sports car enthusiasts in Qatar are made available. Tian Law of the Ministry of tar News Agency (QNA) that the cational institutions, proposing The lap record was set using strate the model’s outstanding to visit us at Porsche Centre in Members of the public can Justice signed yesterday a memo- MoU comes within the frame- new legislative texts or introduc- standard road tyres, on a circuit credentials, we took it to a total order to experience the incred- experience the fastest luxury randum of understanding with work of maintaining close rela- ing amendments to existing laws, that boasts of a combination of of six high-profi le racetracks ible lap using the virtual reality four-door hybrid saloon in ac- the International Committee of tions and fruitful co-operation in order to harmonise with inter- 16 medium- and high-speed across the region, with expecta- set-up we have installed.” tion as it set records via vir- the Red Cross (ICRC), the regional and exchange of experiences national humanitarian law con- corners, and a main straight tions surpassed at every turn.” Porsche has continuously tual reality by visiting Porsche mission for the GCC states based with regional and international ventions, and to provide guid- measuring just over 1km. Salman Jassem al-Darwish, been at the forefront of advanc- Centre Doha, or visit www. in Kuwait, in order to enhance co- committees concerned with the ance for the interpretation of Markus Peter, marketing di- chairman and CEO of Porsche ing hybrid sports cars. In 2014, porsche.com/middle-east/ operation between the two sides international humanitarian law. humanitarian norms in order to rector at Porsche Middle East Centre Doha Al Boraq Auto- the Stuttgart-based manufac- aboutporsche/e-performance and exchange experiences in in- Al-Suwaidi noted that the better protect victims of armed and Africa, said: “Setting the mobiles Co, said: “Porsche turer was the fi rst to off er three to watch a video of the lap. ternational humanitarian law. MoU refl ects Qatar’s keenness confl ict. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, July 12, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD Velayati hails Syria widens assault in ‘strategic’ ties southwest, hits IS pocket with Russia Reuters before Putin talks Amman/Beirut

Reuters Velayati was scheduled to he Syrian government Beirut meet Putin today and would widened its off ensive to discuss ways to confront US Trecover the southwest policy in the Middle East re- yesterday, extending it to an en- top adviser to Iran’s Su- gion. clave held by Islamic State-af- preme Leader Ayatollah “A frank dialogue with fi liated fi ghters as Russian war- AAli Khamenei hailed his Russian leaders at the highest planes targeted the area, a war country’s “strategic relation- levels and exchanging views monitor said. ship” with Russia yesterday can lead to the views of the The bombardment targeted during a visit to Moscow, part two countries moving closer the Yarmouk Basin, which bor- of a diplomatic off ensive by and help in finding ways to ders the Israeli-occupied Golan Tehran as it braces for renewed increase stability and secu- Heights and Jordan, and which US sanctions. rity in the region and con- is held by the Islamic State-affi l- Ali Akbar Velayati, who front the improper policies of iated Khalid Ibn al-Walid Army. is due to meet President America and its allies,” Amir- President Bashar al-Assad Vladimir Putin, also took a Abdollahian, a former deputy is seeking to recover the entire swipe at US President Donald foreign minister, said yester- southwestern corner of Syria in Trump, saying his “unreli- day, according to state media. an off ensive that got underway able” actions made Tehran’s A US State Department last month and has so far recov- close ties with Moscow all the official said this month that ered swathes of territory from more necessary. Washington’s goal was to get rebels fi ghting under the Free The United States pulled out as many countries as possi- Syrian Army (FSA) banner. of a multinational deal in May ble down to zero Iranian oil The Britain-based Syrian Ob- to lift sanctions against Iran in imports. servatory for Human Rights said return for curbs to its nuclear However, Secretary of yesterday’s air strikes marked programme. State Mike Pompeo said on the fi rst Russian strikes on the A picture taken yesterday, shows a school heavily damaged during air strikes by Syrian regime forces in the rebel-held town of Nawa, about 30 Washington says it will re- Tuesday the United States Yarmouk basin area in the war. kilometres north of Deraa in southern Syria. impose sanctions and has told might consider requests from It also said FSA rebels were other countries to halt all im- some countries to be ex- simultaneously battling the IS- over demands tabled during a ports of Iranian oil from Nov 4 empted from sanctions. affi liated militants. meeting on Tuesday, including or face US fi nancial measures. Apart from the United Government helicopters had safe passage to the rebel-held “The relationship between States, the other signatories also dropped barrel bombs on north for those who wish to Iran and the Russian Federa- to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal the area - containers fi lled with leave, rebels said. tion is a strategic relationship — Russia, China, Germany, explosive material, it said. The Russians told opposition and in recent years the collec- France and Britain — have Assad has so far recovered mediators at the meeting they tive bilateral and regional re- said they still support the ac- swathes of Deraa province in would discuss the proposals lations have expanded,” Iran’s cord. the southwest from FSA rebels, with Damascus, an opposition ISNA news agency quoted But European firms are re- many of whom have been forced official said in a voice message Velayati as saying on arrival in luctant to risk far-reaching into surrender agreements me- sent to the Deraa rebels and Moscow. US financial penalties they diated by Russian offi cers. heard by Reuters. He said he would deliver would face for doing business The United States, which once The rebels had asked the messages to Putin from Iran’s in Iran. armed the southern FSA rebels, Russians to block further Supreme Leader and President Israeli Prime Minister Ben- told them at the start of the at- ground advances by govern- Hassan Rouhani and that they jamin Netanyahu, who views tack not to expect its interven- ment forces towards their be- would discuss the “very sensi- Iran as Israel’s arch-enemy tion. sieged enclave in Deraa city, tive” global situation. and strongly backs Trump’s The Syrian government earlier which in 2011 was the scene of Velayati cited Russian and decision to quit the nuclear this week took control of a stra- the first major anti-Assad pro- Iranian co-operation in Syr- deal, was also visiting Mos- tegically vital strip of the border tests that spiralled into the war. ia, where they both support cow yesterday. Asked about from FSA rebels in Deraa prov- With critical help from Rus- President Bashar al-Assad’s Netanyahu’s visit, Velayati ince, denying them any access to sia and Iran, Assad has recov- Displaced Syrians from the Deraa province come back to their hometown in Bosra, southwestern Syria. forces in the seven-year Syrian said: “His presence or ab- the Jordanian frontier that was ered control of most of Syria civil war. “Only a strategic and sence in Russia has no effect once an opposition lifeline. from rebels seeking to topple side his grasp. A military media west Deraa province agreed preparing to enter the nearby long-term relationship (with on our strategic mission in Rebels holed up in a besieged him and Islamic State mili- unit run by Hezbollah, which yesterday to a “reconciliation” village of Yadouda after insur- Russia) can continue this co- Moscow.”Israel is concerned enclave of Deraa city are waiting tants, though the north and a fights alongside Damascus, with the state. gents there also agreed to settle operation,” said Velayati, who that Iran is establishing a mili- to hear back from the Russians chunk of the east remain out- said the rebel town of Tafas in It said army soldiers were with the government. was also due to meet Russian tary presence in neighbouring Energy Minister Alexander Syria and it has attacked Ira- Novak in Moscow. nian targets there. Velayati, who is also ex- Amir-Abollahian said Israel shoots down drone in airspace pected to visit China in the Netanyahu was likely to ask for Israel shot down a Syrian drone The drone, which had also near future, described Trump Putin’s help to push Iran’s mil- that penetrated its airspace yes- overflown Jordan and appeared UNSC likely to vote this week as an “unreliable individual... itary advisers out of Syria but terday, Prime Minister Benjamin to have been unarmed and with relation to international added that this was an issue Netanyahu said, highlighting designed for surveillance, was law who necessitates more and that could only be decided be- an escalation of volatility near downed near the Sea of Galilee on South Sudan arms embargo more co-operation (between tween Tehran and Damascus. the frontier which Netanyahu at the foothills of the Golan Iran and Russia)”. Trump and Putin are ex- discussed in Moscow with Da- Heights, said Israeli military Hossein Amir-Abdollahi- pected to discuss Iran’s re- mascus’s biggest ally. spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel AFP country, now in its fi fth year posed on South Sudan. an, a special adviser on inter- gional role and the Syrian con- “A drone penetrated from Jonathan Conricus. United Nations of a war where targeted ethnic In the Security Council sev- national affairs to the speaker fl ict at a summit in Helsinki Syria’s territory to Israel’s terri- “We are still looking into why killings, gang rapes and other eral countries, including Rus- of Iran’s parliament, said next Monday. tory several hours ago. It was it crossed — whether it was on atrocities have occurred. sia, China, and Ethiopia, are successfully shot down. And I a military mission and crossed he UN Security Council An early draft resolution, not keen to strengthen the would like to point out that we on purpose, or it strayed,” he is expected to vote this seen Tuesday by AFP, under- sanctions so as not to jeopard- will be preventing any attempts said, while adding that the latter Tweek on imposing an lines “a deep concern” of the ise mediation led by the East At least 11 dead in Iran bus collision with tanker to violate our air or land border,” scenario was “not common”. arms embargo against South Security Council “in the face of African regional organisation Netanyahu said yesterday as he Israel has been on high alert Sudan, a US proposal which the failure of South Sudanese IGAD, and which led to Satur- At least 11 people died The IRNA news agency said met President Vladimir Putin. as Damascus forces advance follows a power-sharing agree- leaders to end hostilities and day’s agreement on the ground. yesterday when a fuel tanker four bus passengers and It was the second time in less on rebels in the vicinity of the ment between warring leaders. fl agrant violations.” Under that deal, rebel leader collided with a bus in western three passers-by were also than three weeks Israel says it Golan, much of which Israel The United States is South The draft US text would es- Riek Machar would return to Iran, state media reported. injured in an “enormous ex- fired a Patriot missile at a drone captured from Syria in 1967 and Sudan’s biggest aid provider, tablish an arms embargo for his position as vice-president, The vehicles crashed shortly plosion” following the collision. that flew across the frontier. annexed in a move not recog- and was a major backer of its South Sudan until May 31, pending further negotiations. after midnight (1900 GMT Local authorities have de- Tension has increased at the nised internationally. 2011 independence from Su- 2019. It allows UN member In contrast, the United States Tuesday) in Sanandaj, the clared three days of mourning border as President Bashar Israel worries that Assad could dan. states to destroy or neutralise and European allies stress the capital of Iran’s Kurdistan in the province, it said. al-Assad’s forces have pressed let his Iranian and Hezbollah But patience from South Su- any cargo of weapons prohib- fragility of the agreement and province, around 400 kilome- While its roads are in gener- towards it with an assault allies gain a foothold near Israeli dan’s foreign allies has worn ited under the embargo. deem it necessary to maintain tres west of Tehran, according ally good shape, Iran has a against rebels. lines. out after countless failed ef- The document would also maximum pressure to advance to state television. poor record on traff ic safety. forts to bring peace to the renew for a year sanctions im- towards peace, diplomats say. Iraq’s wetland wildlife threatened by low water levels

Reuters and their way of life and distance Chibayish Marshes, Iraq from Iraq’s cities have kept them on the fringes of society. The lack of water is in part ozens of water buff alo in caused by the low priority given Iraq’s southeastern wet- to agriculture by the central gov- Dlands have died because ernment and decades of mis- of low water levels in the marsh- management of water resources. es, threatening the livelihoods of Corruption and climate a community of marsh dwellers change also play a role. that has made the area its home For many the impact has been for millennia. devastating. “Water became Water levels in the marshes scarce and boats stopped coming have fallen a third from their to the area and after that our an- peak at 1.30 metres. imals started to lose weight and Just as important, water salin- Iraqi children play on a boat in the Chibayish Marshes in Nassiriya. then die. We gave them medi- ity has nearly doubled, said Raad cine, but in vain,” said Ahmed Habib, head of the Chibayish the marshland was reclaimed. prevent excessive use of the Sabah, a resident who has a herd Organisation for Environmental More than 30 water buff alo Euphrates water,” Habib said. of 500 animals. Tourism. have died in the past month and Iraq’s marsh Arabs live amid “They return home to lay on The development is just the many more are threatened with a fl at landscape of water and straw and die. We often slaugh- latest blow to a part of the coun- disease as the water level falls, grasses near the border with ter them and we have to burn try that has suff ered decades of according to Iraqi environmen- Iran. animals we fi nd dead in the wa- misfortune and neglect. talists and health offi cials who The area is thought to be the ter....We have lost a large number Saddam Hussein accused the have launched a vaccination site of the Biblical Garden of of our animals,” Sabah said. Marsh Arabs of treachery dur- campaign. Eden and Unesco named it a The marshlands, which are fed ing the 1980-1988 war with Iran “This can cause a great harm,” world heritage site in 2016. by the Tigris and Euphrates riv- and later drained the marshes to he said. “The state has to fi nd a The inhabitants use wooden ers, are a spawning ground for fl ush out rebels. solution through water-sharing pirogues with outboard mo- Gulf fi sheries and home to bird Many residents fl ed, but after agreements with neighbouring tors to navigate waterways that species and wildfowl migrating Veterinary doctors inoculate water buff aloes in Iraq’s Chibayish Marshes in Nassiriya. his overthrow in 2003, some of countries to... stretch from horizon to horizon between Siberia and Africa. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 11 AFRICA

Mum and Vaccination campaign stepdad charged over missing albino boy

AFP Blantyre

he mother and stepfa- ther of a missing albino Tboy were charged with kidnapping and “intent to mur- der” by Malawi police yesterday, along with three other relatives. Twelve-year-old James Kach- ingwe disappeared fi ve days ago after he failed to return to his home in the south-eastern Pha- lombe district, following the country’s independence day cel- ebrations. Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said that the other suspects arrested include an aunt and two uncles. “Since we have not estab- lished whether the boy is alive or dead, we have charged them with conspiracy, kidnapping and ab- ducting with intent to murder,” A nurse (right) talks with mothers at their home with polio vaccines after the launching ceremony of the five-day polio vaccination campaign in high risk counties, targeting about 2mn children under five- he said. years-old, in Kajiado, Kenya, yesterday. Kadadzera said police are working hard “to end this bar- baric act of terrorising people with albinism in Malawi”. Ma- lawi, one of the world’s poorest and most aid-dependent coun- tries, has experienced a spike in violent attacks on people with albinism over the past four years. In many cases those with albi- nism are targeted for their body Uganda cops disperse protest parts to be used in witchcraft. The genetic hereditary dis- order causes a partial or total absence of pigmentation in the skin, hair and eyes — as a result albinos often experience eye against social media taxes problems and have a heightened risk of skin cancer. In a June 28 report, rights Reuters ment revenue and fi nance pub- ecom fi rms’ customers. Mobile blocked access to Facebook, tors had failed to seek police senger, WhatsApp and many group Amnesty International Kampala lic infrastructure. Money is a cell phone-borne Twitter and WhatsApp dur- clearance for the protest. others. Opponents of the tax said that since November 2014 A crowd of about 200 peo- service popular in Uganda and ing the last general election Ugandan public order man- including Amnesty Inter- there have been 148 crimes re- ple wearing red T-shirts and across East Africa and is used in 2016, a move used by other agement law requires organis- national have said the tax is ported against people with al- olice in Uganda fi red tear- shouting “Power! Power” as to transmit cash between indi- entrenched rulers in Africa in ers of protests to seek police a move to limit voices criti- binism that have claimed at gas yesterday to disperse a they marched through down- viduals and eff ect payments for response to grassroots move- permission which is often de- cal of long ruling Museveni least 21 lives. Just 30% of those Psmall crowd of protesters town Kampala was dispersed goods and services. ments against them. nied. Under the new tax laws on the platforms, disguised attacks have been properly in- demonstrating against new tax- after police tried to arrest an Relations between govern- Patrick Onyango, deputy every online Ugandan has to as a measure to increase pub- vestigated, according to offi cial es including a levy on access to independent lawmaker critical ments and social media com- spokesman for Police told Reu- pay 200 shillings ($0.0532) lic revenues. Some Ugandans statistics, with only one murder social media platforms, a police of President Yoweri Museveni, a panies are widely watched in ters security forces used teargas daily to be able to have access have also said the tax on mo- and one attempted murder case spokesman told Reuters. Reuters witness said. Africa, where rapidly growing to break up the demonstration. on so called over the top (OTT) bile money will render use of successfully prosecuted. Starting with the 2018/19 Two of the new taxes, one mobile Internet connection is “We used teargas to disperse platforms. the service costly, deter cus- Of the 600 cases of violence (July-June) fi nancial year, the on access to social media and a hailed by human rights groups their illegal demonstration and The OTTs targeted by the tomers and kill jobs. against albinos in 28 African government introduced several second on transactions on Mo- as an essential tool of political we have also arrested three pro- new tax include Facebook, The service employs thou- countries, Malawi accounted for new taxes and hiked existing bile Money, have both stoked and economic development. testers,” he said. Twitter, Google Hangouts, sands who work as agents on nearly a third. ones to try to increase govern- widespread outrage from tel- The Ugandan government Onyango said the demonstra- YouTube, Skype, Yahoo Mes- behalf of the telecom firms. Suspected cattle thieves Zimbabwe opposition takes to ‘kill 26’ in north Nigeria

AFP Sokoto state police spokes- streets in vote-rigging warning Kano woman Cordelia Nwawe said: “Three communities in Zamfara and two villages close to Rabah AFP to take note of the opposition’s wenty-six people were were completely burnt.” Full de- Harare concerns, saying the turnout for killed in two days of vio- tails were “sketchy”, she added. the protest was a sign that “the Tlence blamed on cattle Farming and herding commu- election is not clean”. Thirty- thieves in northern Nigeria, the nities in Zamfara have for years imbabwe’s main opposi- year-old unemployed security National Emergency Manage- been terrorised by cattle thieves tion vowed yesterday to guard Cosmas Chaparadza, said ment Agency said yesterday. and kidnappers who raid villag- Zpress on with demands that “we want electoral reforms Bandits on motorcycles at- es, steal cows, abduct residents for fair elections as thousands for a free and fair election”. tacked several villages on both for ransom and burn homes. took to the streets to petition “Mnangagwa said he will give sides of the border between The attacks have prompted the electoral commission with a us a free and fair election but at Sokoto and Zamfara states on villages to form local militia for slew of grievances. the moment, the election will Monday and Tuesday, shooting protection however they, too, are The country goes to historic not be free and fair. There are no residents, burning homes and accused of carrying out extra- polls — the fi rst without long- reforms that have been done,” stealing cows. judicial killings of suspected time ruler Robert Mugabe — on added Chaparadza. “At the moment, 26 dead bod- bandits. July 30 to elect a president, leg- “We want a proper voters ies have been recovered from But that in turn leads to re- islators and municipal council- roll, a free and fair election. We the attacks,” NEMA spokesman prisals. lors. are tired of ZANU-PF machina- Suleiman Kadir said. “The toll In April, troops were deployed Movement for Democratic tions,” said Rebecca Amon, 39, may rise with the latest attack to Zamfara to fi ght the gangs Change’s (MDC) leader Nelson a housewife and mother of two. from yesterday (Tuesday).” while the police outlawed the Chamisa, 40, and President The 5.6mn-strong electoral Two of the aff ected villages civilian militia in an attempt to Mnangagwa, 75, who replaced list of people eligible to cast were in the Rabah district of stop the tit-for-tat killings. Mugabe and is favoured by the ballots is expected to be a ma- Sokoto, he said, adding that It was not immediately clear military, are the frontrunners in jor focus for foreign observ- more than 1,000 people had whether the latest attacks were a crowded race of 23 presiden- ers deployed to the country in been made homeless and trav- connected with the face-off be- tial contenders. an eff ort to ensure the vote’s elled to the town of Gandi. tween the bandits and vigilantes. “Our agenda is very clear. We credibility. For the fi rst time in Kidnapping and cattle rus- Last week the police recov- do not go into an election which 16 years, Zimbabwe will allow tling gangs operate just over the ered the bodies of 41 suspected we do not know how it is run. the election to be monitored by state border, he added. bandits with their throats slit in We must agree how this elec- Main opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance supporters led by Nelson Western observers notably from The violence was “not uncon- a forest and nearby river in the tion will be run,” Chamisa told Chamisa march for electoral reforms to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in the streets of the the European Union, the Com- nected”, he said. Zurmi area of Zamfara. several thousand supporters capital Harare, yesterday. monwealth and American pro- after handing a petition to the democracy groups. Zimbabwe Electoral Commis- “We are prepared to be im- that the list is fl awed. town Harare. Many carried Manipulating the voter roll Local elections in Cameroon postponed sion. prisoned for this cause. We are It has also called for trans- placards some of which read has been one of the strategies “We will not compromise tired of having stolen elections.” parency in the printing of ballot “no to vote rigging”, “no reform, used to fi x results in past elec- Local elections in Cameroon have been pushed back a year without on the issue of the ballot. This President Mnangagwa, who papers. no elections” and “we demand tions under Mugabe who was explanation, according to a statement read out on state radio yester- is the last demonstration we took over from ousted long- At least 10,000 MDC sup- transparency in the printing of forced to resign following a brief day. “The mandate of municipal councillors has been extended for a are having,” Chamisa told the time ruler Robert Mugabe in porters sporting the party’s red ballot papers”. military takeover eight months period of 12 months from October 15, 2018,” said the decree signed crowd, on their second protest November, has promised to de- berets, hats, caps and T-shirts “This is a people’s demon- ago. by President Paul Biya, who has been in power for 35 years. The elec- march in a month to the elec- liver free, fair and credible polls. with a portrait of its young stration for a free and fair elec- The electoral commission has tions were supposed to be held before the end of the year, in parallel toral commission. “Next time But the electoral register has leader Chamisa, danced to mu- tion. refuted opposition allegations. with presidential and legislative elections. No reason was given for we will not go back home.” long been a contentious feature sic at the start of the march. Ours is a just cause,” Douglas Commission chair Priscilla the delay. Legislative elections were also postponed earlier this Tendai Biti, former fi nance of Zimbabwe’s elections, fuel- Supporters fl ashed red cards Mwonzora, the party’s secre- Chigumba said members of the month after Biya said that holding all three votes in the same period minister and an opposition ling accusations of vote rigging — used by football referees to tary general, told protesters. public were free to inspect the would be “diff icult” due to “overlapping electoral operations”. One of leader working in an elector- in previous polls. expel players from the fi eld — Outspoken cleric and politi- voters’ roll at the commission’s Africa’s longest serving leaders, the 85-year-old Biya could run for yet al alliance against the ruling A new voters’ roll has been and blew whistles as Chamisa cal activist Evan Mawarire, who offi ces and raise concerns or another presidential term in an election scheduled for October. ZANU PF party said: “We are compiled for the upcoming handed a petition to electoral was arrested under Mugabe’s make recommendations where prepared to die for this cause. polls, but the MDC has alleged commission offi cials in down- rule, called on foreign observers necessary. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, July 12, 2018 AMERICA

CHARGED MOURNED JUSTICE TARGETTED DIPLOMACY Second man arrested over RIP: World’s Ugliest Dog TSA screeners win immunity Facebook removes ‘treason’ Diplomats’ illnesses in Florida murder of rapper passes away at age 9 from flier abuse claims as users’ tag for interests Cuba vex State Dept

Florida police have charged a second suspect Zsa Zsa’s 15 minutes in the limelight are over: Fliers may have a tough time recovering Facebook has removed “treason” as a keyword US off icials are still investigating health problems with first-degree murder in the shooting death the copiously drooling English bulldog named damages for invasive screenings at US to identify its users’ interests for advertisers, it at the US embassy in Cuba, and do not know who of up-and-coming rapper XXXTentacion in the World’s Ugliest Dog just weeks ago has died. airport security checkpoints, after a federal said yesterday, after Danish state broadcaster or what was behind the mysterious illnesses, which June, off icials said yesterday. Suspect Michael The nine-year-old canine died in her sleep on appeals court said yesterday screeners DR revealed its existence. In an article published began in 2016 and have aff ected 26 Americans. Boatwright, 22, was already in police custody Tuesday morning, owner Megan Brainard of are immune from claims under a federal yesterday, DR cited experts expressing concerns “We don’t know who is responsible and we don’t on unrelated charges when off icials charged Anoka, Minnesota told US media. “I’m in shock law governing assaults, false arrests and that the tag — that Facebook called an “interest know what is responsible for this,” Kenneth Merten, him for an alleged role in killing XXXTentacion, still,” Brainard told CNN sister network HLN. “I other abuses. In a 2-1 vote, the 3rd US category” — could be used by intelligence Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary whose real name is Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, haven’t even processed her winning and fame.” Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia services in authoritarian regimes to identify for Western Hemisphere Aff airs, told a House while he was leaving a car and boat dealership in The dog won the ugliness title at a contest last said Transportation Security Administration people considered subversive. A spokesman for of Representatives Foreign Aff airs Committee Deerfield Beach, about 64km north of Miami, on month in Petaluma, California. Brainard told CNN (TSA) screeners are shielded by government the company said the tag was removed last week. hearing. The administration of President Donald June 18. XXXTentacion’s hit Sad, rose to No 1 on then that the dog slobbered a lot because it had sovereign immunity from liability under “‘Treason’ was included as a category given its Trump, which has partly rolled back a detente with the Billboard Hot 100 charts following his death. trouble keeping its tongue in its mouth. Its upper the Federal Tort Claims Act because they historical significance. Given it’s an illegal activity, Cuba, responded to the health problems by sharply Investigators said Boatwright had been arrested teeth were almost horizontal and it also had a do not function as “investigative or law we’ve removed it as an interest category,” a reducing staff in Havana and in October expelled 15 July 5 on unrelated drug charges. pronounced underbite. enforcement officers.” Facebook spokesman said in an e-mail to Reuters. Cuban diplomats.

Newborn baby killed, dozens injured by N Dakota tornado

Reuters New York

tornado killed a seven-day-old baby and injured more than two dozen people when it ripped through a trailer park Ain North Dakota and forecasters warned that parts of the Midwestern United States could face more twisters. The tornado, with wind speeds around 204kph, hit a trailer home park on Tuesday in the southwest part of Watford City, North Dakota, about 290km northwest of Bismarck, destroying many mobile homes, the National Weather Service said. A male baby was severely injured when the storm hit his fam- ily’s home and later died in hospital, the McKenzie County Sher- iff ’s Offi ce said in a statement late on Tuesday. The offi ce did not identify the baby. NWS weather forecaster Marc Chenard warned that tornadoes could hit portions of central and northern Minnesota and por- tions of western Wisconsin. “There’s a threat of a few tornadoes and potential of large hail and a threat of fl ash fl ooding for the same areas mainly from this evening into early on Thursday,” Chenard said. About 28 trailer park residents were also injured when the storm hit Watford City. They were taken to McKenzie County Hospital, with at least three being transported by aircraft and six listed in critical condi- tion, the sheriff ’s offi ce said in a statement. A representative from the McKenzie County Sheriff ’s offi ce did not immediately respond to requests for comment yesterday. Severe wind threats will shift south by today and threats of storms will then impact portions of southern Minnesota, north- ern Iowa and central Wisconsin. Chenard said that the storm has moved out of the North Dakota area. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum visited Watford City on Tuesday to survey areas hit by the tornado. He met with local offi cials and people who were displaced by the storm and were staying in local shelters, the governor’s offi ce said in a statement. Firefighters battle the Griff ith fire at Griff ith Park near the historic Griff ith Observatory and the iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The NWS rated the North Dakota tornado an EF-2, the second- strongest on the fi ve-step Enhanced Fujita scale.

Former Apple worker charged with stealing self-driving car trade secrets

S authorities have charged a former Apple Inc employee Brush fi re prompts LA with stealing trade secrets, accusing him of downloading Ua blueprint related to a self-driving car to a personal laptop before trying to fl ee the country for China, according to a criminal complaint fi led in federal court. The complaint said the former employee, Xiaolang Zhang, dis- closed intentions to work for a Chinese self-driving car startup and booked a last-minute fl ight to China after downloading the observatory evacuation plan for a circuit board for the self-driving car. Authorities arrested Zhang on July 7 at the San Jose airport after Reuters the fl ames under control about 90 Authorities, however, decided It was the third time the ob- Providing a real-life backdrop he passed through a security checkpoint. Los Angeles minutes later, fi re offi cials said. to evacuate the site “out of an servatory was evacuated in the for various Hollywood movies “We’re working with authorities on this matter and will do every- No injuries were reported from abundance of caution,” Hum- past two months because of a ranging from Rebel Without a thing possible to make sure this individual and any other individuals the fi re, which followed a week- phrey said. fi re, Gutierrez said, adding that Cause to La La Land, Griffi th Park involved are held accountable for their actions,” Apple said in a state- he landmark Griffi th Ob- end heat wave that baked Los A pall of smoke from the blaze he overheard one park ranger say was the scene of a 1933 wildfi re ment. Tamara Crepet, a lawyer provisionally appointed to represent servatory, a popular tour- Angeles and much of the rest was visible throughout much of the to another that the latest blaze that killed 29 people, ranking Zhang, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Tist attraction in the hills of Southern California, caus- surrounding metropolitan area. appeared to have been ignited by as the single deadliest blaze on FBI also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. overlooking Los Angeles, was ing widespread power outages About 600 to 700 visitors and a careless smoker. record in California. The criminal complaint said Zhang was hired to develop soft- evacuated on Tuesday due to a and contributing to a destructive staff were in the building at the Humphrey said the cause of The 4,300-acre park and ob- ware and hardware for Apple’s autonomous vehicle project, where brush fi re that scorched a nearby wildfi re in Santa Barbara County. time of the evacuation, observa- the fi re was under investigation. servatory are both named for he designed and tested circuit boards to analyse sensor data. swath of the surrounding park, The fi re in Griffi th Park burned tory museum guide Juan Gutier- The observatory, dedicated to Griffi th J Griffi th, an investor and XMotors said in a statement yesterday that it is “highly con- authorities said. to within a quarter-mile of the rez told Reuters by telephone. astronomy for public viewing developer who donated much of cerned” and that “there is no indication that (Zhang) has ever The blaze erupted shortly af- observatory but never posed a di- Gutierrez said he saw fl ames and education rather than re- the land to the city of Los An- communicated any sensitive information from Apple to XMotors.” ter 2pm and charred 10 acres of rect threat to the building, which burning “pretty close” to out- search, was opened in 1935 and geles in the late 1890s before he It added that it terminated Zhang’s employment and is current- drought-parched chaparral and is situated on the southern slope door restrooms located near the draws about 1.5mn visitors a year was tried, convicted and sent to ly cooperating with US authorities to gather more details on the grass on the slopes of Griffi th Park of Mount Hollywood, according parking lot outside the main ob- to Griffi th Park, one of the larg- prison for shooting his wife in case. The complaint did not state whether the chip was intended at the edge of the observatory to city fi re department spokes- servatory entrance and along a est municipal parks in the United the eye. Left blind and disfi gured, for self-driving cars. grounds before fi refi ghters brought man Brian Humphrey. road leading up to the site. States. she divorced him. Trump pick Kavanaugh may face contentious cases soon

Reuters induced abortions. The justices a 17-year-old illegal immigrant Trump’s party keep control of the Washington in May opted not to intervene in detained in Texas by US authori- US House of Representatives and a case challenging that law, wait- ties from immediately obtaining various state legislatures. ing instead for lower courts to an abortion. Kennedy previously kept his resident Donald Trump’s rule, but it could return to them On immigration, litigation is conservative colleagues from Supreme Court nominee in the future. continuing over Trump’s plan to closing the door to litigation in Pmay not have to wait too Other abortion-related cases rescind a program created un- federal court challenging parti- long for controversial cases if he could reach the court within two der Democratic former president san gerrymandering. is confi rmed to the job, with dis- years. These involve laws ban- Barack Obama that protected from The partisan gerrymandering putes involving abortion, immi- ning abortions at early stages of deportation hundreds of thousands case most likely to return to the gration and voting rights possibly pregnancies, including Iowa’s of young immigrants brought to the Supreme Court involves claims heading toward the justices soon. prohibition after a fetal heartbeat United States illegally as children. that Republican legislators in Republicans are hoping Brett is detected. Lower courts blocked Trump’s plan North Carolina manipulated the Kavanaugh, the conservative US There is litigation arising from to scrap the program. boundaries of the state’s 13 US appeals court judge selected on plans by certain states includ- Congress has failed to agree on House districts to ensure lopsid- Monday by Trump to replace re- ing Louisiana and Kansas to stop a plan to replace it. ed wins for the party. tiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, reimbursements under the Med- Kavanaugh could have to deal Attorney Paul Smith of the will be confi rmed by the Senate icaid insurance program for the with cases involving a practice Campaign Legal Center, which before the next Supreme Court poor for Planned Parenthood, a called partisan gerrymandering represents the North Carolina term opens in October. national abortion provider. in which state legislators redraw plaintiff s, said they had been There are no blockbusters There also are challenges to electoral maps to try to cement focused on trying to convince among the 38 cases already on state laws imposing diffi cult- their own party in power. Kennedy to rule in their favour, the docket for the justices, but to-meet regulations on abortion In June, the justices avoided a and now will try to convince they could add disputes on con- providers such as having formal broad ruling on whether parti- Chief Justice John Roberts, seen troversial issues being appealed ties, called admitting privileges, san gerrymandering violates the as the next-most-moderate of from lower courts. at a local hospital. constitutional rights of voters the conservative justices. Legal battles are developing Kavanaugh’s judicial record and whether federal judges can Smith viewed Kavanaugh as over state laws restricting abor- on abortion is thin, although last intervene to rectify it. likely voting with the court’s tion including one in Arkansas year he was on a panel of judges Democrats have said Republi- most conservative justices to re- Judge Brett Kavanaugh stands with members of the Senate Page programme at the US Capitol yesterday. that eff ectively bans medication- that issued an order preventing can gerrymandering has helped ject gerrymandering challenges. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 13 ASIA

Boys were sedated and Thai boys wave to the world stretchered from cave AFP framed by the jagged cave Chiang Rai overhead. Junta leader Prayut Chan- The 12 boys rescued from a O-Cha on Tuesday said the Thai cave were sedated and boys had been given a “minor passed on stretchers along the tranquilliser” to prevent anxiety in fi rst video since rescue twisting, narrow passageways during the complex extraction of the Tham Luang complex, a bid. Reuters rescuer said yesterday as the But he had denied they were Chiang Rai first footage emerged of an knocked out for an operation astonishing mission. the chief of the rescue had The video of the rescue was dubbed “mission impossible”. he fi rst video of the Thai released by authorities who had The rescue was fraught with boys rescued from a until late yesterday closely guarded danger, a point underscored Tfl ooded cave after 17 days the details of the seemingly last Friday by the death of a was released yesterday, showing unprecedented operation. retired Thai Navy SEAL diver as them smiling and waving from Thai authorities have been coy he ran out of air in the flooded their hospital beds, looking thin on how a group of boys, many cave complex. but fi ne after an ordeal that has of whom could not swim and Then, with the final divers gripped the world. none with diving experience, slowly exiting the cave on The last group of the 12-mem- could have navigated the Tuesday, the pumps suddenly ber “Wild Boars” soccer team treacherous narrow and failed pushing the water level and their coach was brought out submerged passageways of up towards head height in a of the Tham Luang cave, near the Tham Luang complex, even previously wadeable section of the border with Myanmar, on with expert diving support. the cave. Tuesday night, safely ending a After days of mounting “If you didn’t use the water dangerous rescue and evoking speculation, a former Thai pump in that location, you international relief and joy. Navy SEAL diver broke the could only come out with Rescue mission chief Narong- silence, revealing the boys were an oxygen tank,” ex-SEAL sak Osottanakorn told a news sleeping or partially-conscious Commander Chaiyananta said. conference the boys were just as they were passed from diver- That left 20 or so divers being children when they got A screen grab shows boys rescued from the Thai cave wearing mask and resting in a hospital in Chiang Rai yesterday. to-diver through the cave. scrambling to flee the rising lost and no one was to blame. “Some of them were asleep, waters, he said, explaining they “We don’t see the children as director Chaiwetch Thanapaisal ern province of Chiang Rai after sion was successful because of co- people showing their support for some of them were wiggling narrowly made it out time. at fault or as heroes. They are told the news conference. They soccer practice on June 23 and operation from everyone,” he said. the hundreds of rescuers, including their fingers... (as if) groggy, Rescuers had weighed up children being children, it was would then need to recuperate at were trapped when a rainy season “For SEALs, this is what we were divers from around the world, who but they were breathing,” several options to save the an accident,” Narongsak said. home for 30 days, he said. downpour fl ooded tunnels. trained for. The navy has a motto: helped to get the boys out. Commander Chaiyananta boys, including keeping them in A video of the boys in hospital Parents of the fi rst eight boys They were lost for nine days ‘We don’t abandon the people’. The fate of the boys has even Peeranarong said. the cave through the months- was shown at the news confer- freed have been able to visit them before British rescue divers dis- Offi cial help came from Britain, resonated as far as Russia, where “My job was to transfer them long monsoon season. ence. Some of them, wearing but had to wear protective suits covered them on July 2, sitting on the United States, Japan, Laos, soccer’s World Cup is reaching its along,” he said, adding the But they were prodded into surgical masks, lay on their beds. and stand 2m (7ft) away as a pre- a ledge in a half-fl ooded chamber. Myanmar, China and Australia, a fi nal stages. Players from France “boys were wrapped up in the dangerous task of bringing Some sat and made the “peace caution. Authorities are worried Getting them out – which in- government document showed. and England welcomed news of stretchers already when they the team through submerged sign” gesture for the camera. about the possibility of infec- volved teaching boys as young There were volunteers from Den- the rescue and sent their best were being transferred” and chambers and claustrophobic None of the boys was heard tions picked up in the cave. as 11 who were not strong swim- mark, Germany, Belgium, Cana- wishes to the “Wild Boars” on were monitored at regular passages as oxygen levels in speaking in the clips shown at Thongchai Lertwilairattana- mers to dive through narrow, da, Ukraine and Finland. Twitter. intervals by doctors posted the cave plummeted and rains the news conference. pong, a health department in- submerged passages – proved a Narongsak said about half of “This victory goes to the he- along the kilometres-long menaced. The 12 boys and their soc- spector, earlier told reporters one monumental challenge. the 13 foreign divers on the crack roes of the day, well done boys, escape route. The group were taken out in cer coach lost an average of 2kg from the last group rescued on A former member of Thailand’s team of 18 who rescued the boys you are so strong,” French mid- He did not say if the coach, the three batches by a team of 13 (4.4lb) during their ordeal but Tuesday had a lung infection and navy SEAL unit died during a mis- were British. The other fi ve on fi elder Paul Pogba tweeted after only adult with the boys for international divers flanked were generally in good condition they were all given vaccinations sion in the cave on Friday. the team were Thai navy SEAL his team beat Belgium 1-0 on nine days before they found, by the Thai Navy SEALs, who and showed no signs of stress, a for rabies and tetanus. Narongsak, giving details of divers. Tuesday to reach the fi nal. was able to dive and walk out greeted each successful rescue senior health offi cial said earlier. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan- the rescue, said falling oxygen The rescue has dominated Manchester City and England unaided. with a “Hooyah” on their After being brought out of the ocha asked that the boys be given levels inside the cave complex front-page headlines in Thailand defender Kyle Walker said he Footage released by the Thai Facebook page. cave, one by one beginning on time to recover. had added a sense of urgency. and beyond for days. wanted to send shirts to the boys. Navy SEALs showed foreign That sign off quickly turned Sunday, they were taken by heli- “The important thing is... The commander of the navy “Hooyah! Mission accom- “Amazing news that all of the and Thai divers using pulleys, into a hashtag shared across copter to hospital in the town of personal space,” Prayuth told re- SEAL unit that oversaw the res- plished,” read one headline, ech- Thai kids are out of the cave safe- ropes and rubber piping to social media, where luminaries Chiang Rai, about 70km (45 miles) porters. “The best way is not to cue, Rear Admiral Apakorn Yuu- oing the rallying cry of the SEAL ly!” Walker tweeted. haul stretchers bearing two of business, politics and sport away, to stay in quarantine. bother them and let them study.” kongkaew, hailed the interna- unit. A Google search on Tuesday of the barely moving young extended their best wishes to The boys would have to stay in The group ventured into the tional eff ort. The hashtag #Hooyah was huge- for the words “Thai cave rescue” footballers to safety, their exit the team and the rescuers. hospital for up to 10 days, hospital vast cave complex in the north- “We are not heroes. This mis- ly popular on social media with revealed 359mn results. Coach Ek the unlikely stateless hero of cave drama 50 dead in Nepal AFP He was the only adult with apologising to the parents, and alongside him – Dul, Mark process has begun to try to get Chutinaro who roomed with his Mae Sai the boys when they entered vowing to take “the very best and Tee – the founder of the them nationality. namesake as a novice. the cave on June 23 until they care of the kids.” Wild Boars club Nopparat There are hopes the boys’ “We would trek to the jun- fl oods were found nine days later The touching note won the Khanthavong said. ordeal will lead to a change of gle, he would always bring a chooled as a monk and by British divers on a muddy hearts of the Thai public – a “To get nationality is the big- policy. thumb-sized parcel of chilli now hailed a hero, football bank deep inside the cave group to which he is yet to of- gest hope for the boys... in the Coach Ek, who is ethnic Tai paste and sticky rice and we DPA Scoach Ekkapol Chanta- complex. fi cially belong. past these boys have problems Lue, is yet to give his version of would stay there for a cou- Kathmandu wong is one of several stateless As he awaited his turn to un- The UN refugee agency says travelling to play matches out- the remarkable events of the last ple of days,” he recalled of his members of the “Wild Boars”, a dertake the dangerous exit from Thailand is home to around side of Chiang Rai,” he added, few weeks. friend. team whose survival after days the Tham Luang complex, Thais 480,000 stateless people. because of travel restrictions A novice monk for several As a football coach he is re- loods and landslides trig- trapped in a fl ooded Thai cave on the outside celebrated him Many are from nomadic hill that accompany their lack of years from the age of 10, Ek left garded as a generous and pa- gered by monsoon rains in fi xated a country that does not as a modest, devout and duty- tribes and other ethnic groups status. the Buddhist clergy before be- tient teacher willing to help FNepal have killed at least recognise them as citizens. bound member of the Mae Sai who have for centuries lived Without passports they are coming a full monk in order to even the least skilled kids. 50 people and injured 20 others Coach Ek, the 25-year-old community. around Mae Sai, the heart of the unlikely to be able to take up the look after his grandmother in But as a citizen of nowhere he in the last two weeks, offi cials who was among the last to “From all the parents, please “Golden Triangle” – a lawless invite from Manchester United Mae Sai. cannot yet gain his full coaching said yesterday. emerge from the cave on Tues- take care of all the children. wedge of land bisecting Thai- FC to visit next season. Later he became a coach with qualifi cations. The extreme weather has af- day, has been lauded for keeping Don’t blame yourself,” said a land, Myanmar, Laos and China. “They also can’t become pro- the Wild Boars. “He is stateless. No nation- fected 36 of Nepal’s 77 districts, the young footballers – aged 11- letter to him from the boys’ rel- Among the stateless are fessional football players be- He is fond of meditation, ality. No country,” added Wild said Ram Krishna Subedi, a 16 – calm as starvation loomed atives released July 7. Ek and three of the boys who cause they don’t have the (cor- trekking and the outdoor life, Boars’ founder Nopparat. spokesman of the home ministry. in the dark. In reply he scrawled a note were trapped in the cave rect) status,” he said, adding the according to monk Ekkapol Nine people were reported miss- ing and infrastructure, including bridges and roads, was damaged, First Nepal-India he added. “The government has mobi- broad gauge rail lised military and police person- Military blames ethnic likely in Dec Lanka to hang drug criminals nel and other emergency workers to the sites. We have also ordered Nepal plans to operate AFP sentences,” Rajitha Senaratne on shunning this cruel and them to fi nd an alternative where groups for stalled talks its first ever broad-gauge Colombo said. irreversible punishment,” the roads and bridges have been passenger railway service Sri Lanka has commuted London-based rights group damaged,” he said. from Janakpur town to Indian Sri Lanka announced death sentences for serious said in a statement. Subedi said the authorities AFP discipline, problems can hap- border town Jayanagar in yesterday it would start crimes to life in prison since But Sri Lankan authorities say have distributed relief materi- Naypyidaw, Myanmar pen,” he said. Bihar starting December, a hanging drug criminals, 1976, when the last execution a tougher approach is needed als such as tents, mattresses and The six-day peace talks are senior Nepalese rail off icial ending a near-half century took place. to combat what they say is an blankets to communities. an attempt by Suu Kyi, who has said. moratorium on capital Senaratne said there were 19 increase in drug-related crime. The country’s low-lying yanmar military of- came to power in 2016 after This is a section of 69km punishment. drug off enders whose death Senaratne cited a case this southern plains have been fi cials yesterday said landslide elections, to bring Nepal-India cross border Sri Lankan President sentences had been commuted week where a convicted drug worst-hit. Mstalled peace talks more ethnic groups into a railway line from Jayanagar Maithripala Sirisena told the to life. It was not clear if they dealer, whose death sentence Several highways, including a were “drowning” the country, ceasefi re accord. to Nepal’s southeastern cabinet he “was ready to sign would be hanged under the was commuted to life, had major highway connecting the blaming ethnic armed groups Ten groups are now signed region. The other five cross- the death warrants” of repeat government’s policy shift. arranged the import of 100kg capital Kathmandu with the rest for the fi ghting that continues up but at least seven, including border railway lines between drug off enders and deploy the Amnesty International (220 pounds) of heroin from of the country, have been ob- to rage in the country’s north- some of the largest and most in- the two neighbours are either military to tackle drug crime, a responded swiftly urging behind bars. structed due to the landslides, ern borderlands. fl uential, are holding out, with being constructed or are on government spokesman said Colombo not to press ahead. The government has not spelt local media reported yesterday. Civilian leader Aung San Suu Suu Kyi saying Wednesday they the drawing board, Xinhua Wednesday. “Sri Lanka must pull back from out how it will deploy troops, The monsoon season in Nepal, Kyi has said that making peace is were “always welcome” to join. news agency reported. “From now on, we will hang any plans to implement the but in the past they have been which lasts from July to Septem- a top priority for her administra- Progress has been hampered There was earlier a narrow drug off enders without death penalty and preserve its used to reinforce local police ber, causes disastrous landslides tion, but she shares power with by continued clashes between gauge Janakpur-Jaynagar commuting their death longstanding positive record in riot control. and fl ooding every year, killing the military, which has fought the powerful military and line in the past but that hundreds of people. ethnic insurgencies for decades. armed insurgents fi ghting for service came to a halt At the start of a third round more autonomy in northern around five years ago after of Suu Kyi-led peace talks in Kachin and Shan States. renovation and upgrading the capital Naypyidaw yester- The grinding confl icts play works began. day, Myanmar’s commander- out away from the more prom- Prakash Bhakta Upadhyay, in-chief Min Aung Hlaing inent global headlines gener- senior divisional engineer Australian apologises to Cambodia PM ahead of trial suggested ethnic groups were ated by violence in the coun- at Nepal’s Department of responsible for the stalled try’s west, where the army has Railway (DoR) told Xinhua Reuters rested last June after he was “These statements were made Sen’s government brought to peace process that he said was driven out some 700,000 Ro- that they planned to take rail Phnom Penh photographed fl ying a drone from a place of foreign naivety Cambodia. “drowning our country”. hingya Muslims since August. carriages on a lease from above a political rally organised and ignorance about the com- Ricketson’s defence lawyer “I would like to urge you to More than a third of Myan- India shortly to start the by the now-dissolved opposi- plexities and diffi culties of gov- Peung Yok Hiep confi rmed the wipe out the civil armed con- mar’s townships are aff ected operations. ailed Australian fi lmmaker tion Cambodia National Rescue erning Cambodia,” Ricketson authenticity of the letter to Reu- fl icts that hinder the develop- by unresolved confl ict, ac- Under the wet lease, Nepal James Ricketson has apolo- Party (CNRP). said. ters and said it would be fi led ment of the country,” he said. cording to a 2017 report from will hire Indian crew members Jgised for disrespectful com- In a letter to Hun Sen, which “I sincerely regret having in court later ahead of a trial Defence Minister Sein Win the Asia Foundation. to operate the service as ments about Cambodia’s long was published in full in the made any disrespectful com- scheduled for July 16. said that ethnic militias were Some of the fi ercest clashes are the Himalayan country does serving Prime Minister Hun Khmer Times newspaper yester- ments and I unreservedly apolo- Ricketson’s arrest came amid not doing enough to staunch happening in Myanmar’s north- not have necessary human Sen ahead of a trial in which he day, Ricketson off ered his “sin- gise in this regards to yourself a wider crackdown on freedom ongoing confl ict, saying they ernmost Kachin State, where resources to operate the stands accused of espionage and cerest apologies” for statements and your government,” he said. of expression by the government “need to control their people.” more than 100,000 people have broad gauge railway service, faces 10 years in jail if convicted. to local media that were “dis- Ricketson said that he now of Hun Sen, who has ruled for 33 “If their people have no been displaced by violence. according to DoR. James Ricketson, 69, was ar- ruptive and ill-informed.” realised how much stability Hun years. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, July 12, 2018 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Najib says personal freedom violated

Reuters Kuala Lumpur

alaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak Msaid yesterday that au- thorities had infringed on his personal freedoms by freezing his bank account. Najib was arrested and charged in Malaysia last week with abuse of power and crimi- nal breach of trust related to an alleged transfer of 42mn ringgit ($10.4mn) into his personal bank account from SRC International, a former unit of state fund 1MDB. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released af- ter posting bail. Najib has consistently denied A family member of missing people watches search and rescue operations at a any wrongdoing in relation to landslide site caused by a heavy rain in Kumano Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, 1MDB. western Japan, yesterday. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits a shelter for people aff ected by the recent flooding in Mabi, Okayama prefecture. Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which is leading the investigation into 1MDB, froze more than 400 bank accounts last week as part of an investigation into alleged misappropriation of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a fund founded by Najib. Abe visits fl ood disaster It said it believed the ac- counts were linked to the mis- appropriation and misuse of 1MDB funds. Najib said his children and grandchildren’s bank accounts, also frozen last week, have since been released. zone and promises help But his account remained frozen, he said in a statement Reuters gymnasium fl oor in one centre, over a cronyism scandal earlier on his Facebook page. Kumano plastic bags of belongings piled this year. The account was used only to around them and bedding fold- His government pledged an receive his salary and pension ed off to the side. initial $4bn towards recovery as a public official, and had rime Minister Shinzo Abe Portable fans turned slowly on Tuesday, and a later special “nothing to do with matters re- visited fl ood-stricken as children cried. budget if needed. lating to the investigation con- Pparts of Japan yesterday Abe, who cancelled an over- Offi cials turned to social me- ducted with the authorities”, as the death toll from the worst seas trip to deal with the disas- dia to warn of the additional he said. “The undue conduct weather disaster in 36 years ter, was criticised after a photo- danger of food-borne illnesses, of the relevant agency and the reached 176 and health con- graph posted on Twitter showed urging people to wash their timing of the freezing of my ac- cerns rose amid scorching heat Abe and his defence minister at hands and take other measures count is uncalled for,” he said. and the threat of new fl oods. a party with lawmakers just as against food poisoning. “Why is my personal liberty Torrential rain caused fl oods the rains intensifi ed. Evacuation orders were is- been circumvented when the and triggered landslides in After observing the damage sued for 25 households in the court had already granted me western Japan last week, bring- from a helicopter fl ying over city of Fukuyama after cracks bail pending trial and the fact ing death and destruction to Okayama, one of the hardest- were found in a reservoir. that I have complied with my neighbourhoods built decades hit areas, Abe visited a crowded Water accumulating behind bail conditions?” ago near steep mountain slopes. evacuation centre. He crouched piles of debris blocking riv- The MACC did not imme- At least 176 people were down on the fl oor to speak with ers also posed a danger after diately respond to a request killed, the government said, people, many of them elderly, a swollen river rushed into a seeking comment.Najib said with dozens missing in Japan’s and asked about their health. Fukuyama residential area on freezing his account had made worst weather disaster since He clasped one man’s hands Monday, prompting more evac- it hard for him to pay bills and 1982. as they spoke. uation orders. perform his role as the head of In Kumano, a mountainside Later he told reporters the The intensifying heat was ex- his family. “Like any other citi- community in Hiroshima pre- government would do every- pected to trigger thunderstorms zen I deserve to be given access fecture that was hit by a land- thing it could to help the survi- yesterday, with authorities to my personal freedom until slide last week, Ken Kirioka vors. warning new landslides could my trial is completed,” he said. anxiously watched rescuers “We’ll cut through all the bu- be set off on mountainsides sat- Najib and his family have toiling through mud, sand and reaucracy to secure the goods urated with water. come under intense public smashed houses to fi nd the people need for their lives, to Japanese media yesterday scrutiny since he lost an elec- missing, including his 76-year- Evacuees rest at Okada elementary school, which acts as an evacuation centre, in Mabi town in improve life in the evacuation focused on the timing of evacu- tion on May 9 to his former old father, Katsuharu. Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. centres — such as air condi- ation orders issued in the hard- mentor-turned-foe, Mahathir “He is old and has a heart tioners as the hot days continue hit Mabi district of Kurashiki Mohamad, who reopened do- condition. I prepared myself for does not talk much,” Kirioka in a search for bodies, helped by devastated areas in Okayama — and then secure temporary city just minutes before a levee mestic investigations into the worst when I heard about said, adding he would stay until sniff er dogs. and Hiroshima prefectures, housing and the other things broke and water poured into the 1MDB as one of his first acts as the landslide on Friday night,” his father was found. “It would In some cases only the foun- attention turned to prevent- people need to rebuild their residential area. prime minister. he said, pointing at a pile of mud be too bad for him if a family dation of homes remained as ing heat-stroke among rescue lives,” he said. A number of the dead in Mabi Last week, Najib filed law- and rubble where he said his fa- member were not around”. Res- they cut through debris with workers and in evacuation cen- Abe is up for re-election as were found in their homes, suits against three top officials ther was buried. cuers working under a scorch- chain saws. tres where thousands of people party leader in September and suggesting they did not have involved in the 1MDB probe, in “He is an old-fashioned fa- ing sun combed through heaps With temperatures of 33 de- have sought shelter. has seen his popularity ratings enough time to fl ee, media re- a bid to quell public criticism ther who is hard-headed and of wood and thickly caked mud grees Celsius or higher in the People sat on thin mats on a edge back up after taking a hit ports said. over his alleged role in the case.

Marriott, Alibaba trial facial recognition at China hotels Cave-diving Aussie doctor Chinese guests at Marriott ‘Clear evidence of need’ in International, the world’s largest mourns father’s death hotel chain, may soon be able to check in with a quick scan of their facial features. The chain will Reuters to deal with what actually hap- work in a joint venture with Chi- pened overnight,” Pearce add- North Korea: UN aid chief Sydney nese e-commerce giant Alibaba ed. “You’ve given your all and Group to test facial recognition then you fi nd out the sad news AFP called for $111mn in aid to help check-ins at two China hotels this he father of a cave-diving about your father, who’s your Seoul improve nutrition, health and month, the firms said yesterday, Australian doctor died best mate. That’s really, really sanitation in the North but the with ambitions for a global rollout Tyesterday, shortly af- tough.” Yesterday, Harris de- programme remains 90% un- later. China is spearheading ter his son played a key role in clined to comment to the Aus- he United Nations’ hu- derfunded. the use of facial recognition for rescuing a boys’ soccer team tralian newspaper in Thailand. manitarian chief said The North has a fragile everything from helping control trapped in a cave for two weeks Australian police told Reu- Tyesterday he had seen economy and has long strug- major live events to ordering in northern Thailand. ters Harris had declined to “clear evidence” of need in gled to feed its people, and is fast-food, but also bolstering a Anaesthetist Richard Har- speak to media and directed North Korea — where one fi fth under multiple layers of UN growing domestic surveillance ris, who did the fi nal medical requests for comment to the of children are malnourished — Security Council sanctions system that has raised fears checks of the 12 trapped boys country’s foreign aff airs de- during a rare trip. over a series of nuclear and among human rights activists of and their coach, was among partment, which did not imme- Mark Lowcock’s visit to the missile tests staged in viola- privacy being invaded. the divers who successfully diately respond to queries. The impoverished, isolated country tion of UN resolutions. The joint venture said the new ended on Tuesday a mission “Wild Boars,” aged between 11 this week is the fi rst such trip NGOs have told AFP that technology would help guests that had gripped the attention and 16, and their 25-year-old by a UN under-secretary for the enforcement of sanctions jump queues and cut the check- of the world. “Early this morn- coach were trapped on June 23 humanitarian aff airs and emer- has hampered their opera- in process to less than a minute, ing Harry’s father passed away while exploring a cave complex gency relief co-ordinator since tions. compared to at least three here in Adelaide...after they’d in the province of Chiang Rai 2011. The food situation has im- minutes at a normal counter. all come out of the cave,” said when a downpour fl ooded the “More than half of children in proved in recent years, partly Chinese guests will need to scan Andrew Pearce, of rescue serv- passageways. rural areas...have no clean wa- North Korea’s Minister of Health Jang Jun-sang meets with the due to reforms in agriculture their IDs, take a photo and input ice MedSTAR in the Australian British divers found them, ter,” he said in a video posted on United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Aff airs and increasing trade at state- contact details on an automated city, where Harris, also known hungry and huddled in dark- Twitter. “Something like 20% and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Mark Lowcock in sanctioned private markets, machine, the firms said. as Harry, is a specialist. ness on a muddy bank in a partly of the children in the country Pyongyang, yesterday. but the nation remains vulner- The device will then dispense “It was a complete, unex- fl ooded chamber several kilo- have malnutrition.” able to natural disasters while room key cards after verifying pected shock,” Pearce, the or- metres inside it, on Monday last One hospital he visited had the country’s 25mn popula- fi ves are 20% higher in the medical services remain poor in identities and booking informa- ganisation’s clinical services week. Harris played a pivotal 140 patients with tuberculosis tion need humanitarian assist- countryside than in towns, it many regions. tion. The pilot will roll out at two director, told reporters. role in the rescue eff ort mount- but had drugs for only 40 of ance, the UN said, also noting said, adding a shortage of fund- Lowcock yesterday met with Marriott hotels in Hangzhou He gave no cause of death or ed after days of strategising how them, Lowcock added, saying: “disparities” in access to basic ing had forced it to stop nutri- the North’s health minister Jang and Sanya on the tropical island the age of Harris’ father, Jim. to get the boys out, assessing “There’s a very clear humani- health services between rural tion support to kindergartens Jun-sang, Pyongyang’s offi cial province of Hainan. “Harry put the mission their fi tness for the perilous tarian need.” and urban areas. since November 2017. KCNA news agency said with- fi rst...now he’s having to come journey back to the outside. About 10.6mn people among Mortality rates for under- The UN earlier this year out elaborating further. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 15 BRITAIN/IRELAND

MAINTENANCE DEFENCE TREND CRIME LAW AND ORDER UK ‘wants leading role in Public trust in charities Shots fired, bombs thrown Raiders on moped rip next-generation fighter jet’ falls, reveals survey in N Ireland violence Rolex from man’s arm

Britain wants to maintain a leadership position in The British public places less trust in charities than Shots were fired at police while youths threw Terrified customers dived for cover as knife- fighter jet technology and will not take a subsidiary in the average person in the street, regulators more than a dozen petrol bombs in overnight wielding moped bandits pulled up at a pub’s role to France and Germany as they develop a said, following a year in which sex abuse scandals violence in Northern Ireland’s Derry city, police front garden and ripped a £25,000 Rolex from next-generation warplane, the country’s air chief rocked the sector. Nearly half the respondents said yesterday. The petrol bombs were thrown a drinker’s wrist. The victim, whose father had said. Britain is considering its future air combat in a survey said their trust in charities had fallen, from the Catholic-dominated Bogside area bought him the watch as a gift, was with friends strategy, and the government said in February it compared to a third in 2016 and less than a fifth towards the mainly Protestant Fountain estate, at The Vineyard in Upper Street, Islington, when will provide a update in summer. “We have world in 2014, according to the Charity Commission. in an escalation of violence that began over the the pair burst through the front gates. He was leading capabilities. We are going to define what The body, which regulates charities in England weekend, Police Service Northern Ireland reported. threatened with an eight-inch knife by the pillion we want to do in the future,” Air Chief Marshal and Wales, said rebuilding trust would depend on “For a fourth consecutive night police off icers dealt passenger in a hi-vis jacket, who demanded Stephen Hillier, chief of staff of the Royal Air Force, behavioural change. “We consider it unsatisfactory with violence and disorder,” chief inspector Neil he hand over the 18-carat gold watch. One Workers replace glass panes on the clock face said. Hillier noted Britain had played a key role that charities are trusted less than the average man Beck said. “Around 16 petrol bombs and five paint customer said: “The man in the hi-vis jacket with of Queen Elizabeth tower, commonly known as in development of the Eurofighter Typhoon and or woman in the street,” it said in a report, adding bombs were thrown from the Bogside area into the the knife ripped the watch off a man … Drinkers Big Ben on the Houses of Parliament, in central Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35.”What we’re not going that trust was key to the public’s willingness to Fountain and shots were fired at police close to our in the pub feared a terrorist knife attack and ran London, yesterday. to do is follow where other nations go,” he said. become long-term supporters. city’s walls,” Beck said. to hide and blockaded the toilets.” Police offi cer Harry and Meghan in Dublin disciplined for comments caught on tape

Guardian News and Media Derrick Campbell, the IOPC’s London regional director commissioner, said: “We are conscious of the im- pact on public confi dence in polic- West Midlands police of- ing such an incident can have. The fi cer has been given a fi nal remarks made were inappropriate Awritten warning after he and the offi cer who made them has was fi lmed telling a black man: been sanctioned accordingly after “You’d be the fi rst one I’d shoot if the force agreed with the fi ndings I had a gun.” of our investigation.” The video, which was recorded The footage shows offi cers talk- on a mobile phone while police ing to a man, named locally as Jack searched a property in Coventry Chambers, 24. One offi cer asks on August 24 in 2017, also showed Chambers why he did not open the the offi cer asking a man if he was door to let the police in, to which “going to go Black Lives Matter” he replies: “Because I was half on the patrol team. The video was asleep ... I didn’t know who you later posted on Facebook. was and you were climbing up the Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, visit the Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Following an investigation, window like thieves.” Chambers the Independent Offi ce for Police then says: “Police? That’s even Conduct (IOPC) found that the worse. I’ve been seeing all kinds of offi cer who made the remarks had videos, I have.” a case to answer for misconduct. One offi cer is then heard to say: A misconduct meeting on June 8 “You’re going to go Black Lives resulted in the offi cer being given a Matter on us, are ya?” Chambers fi nal written warning. replies: “Yeah” and laughter is heard. “The offi cer told our The offi cer then responds: “You investigator that he would be the fi rst one I would More ministers ready to regretted making the shoot if I had a gun, defi nitely.” comments and, while he The offi cer appears unaware accepted they had been that the exchange is being record- unprofessional and clumsy, ed. he had not meant them Chief inspector Yvonne Bru- to be racist, off ensive or ton, from West Midlands Police’s threatening” professional standards team, said: quit over Brexit, PM told “It is important to WMP that the The IOPC said: “The offi cer told public have full confi dence in our London Evening Standard Former leader William Hague only so much that you can give Lord Hague warned the talks. He said “the European our investigator that he regretted offi cers who are expected to be London intervened, with a warning to in a negotiation.” right-wingers that wrecking Union could be fl exible too” af- making the comments and, while sensitive to the needs of the di- right-wingers that they could Ex-minister Mark Francois the Chequers blueprint could ter May softened her red lines. he accepted they had been unpro- verse communities we serve. The unwittingly reverse Britain’s said Tories had “real concerns” “endanger everything they have “I think we are now entering fessional and clumsy, he had not offi cer in question got it wrong on ory warfare over Brexit exit from the EU if they attempt about the direction of Brexit. been trying to achieve”. The into that space,” he told Irish meant them to be racist, off ensive this occasion and has apologised was stepped up yester- to unseat May. But Andrea Two vice-chairs of the Con- peer, who led the campaign to MPs. or threatening.” for his actions.” Tday with new claims by Jenkyns, the Brexiteer who quit servatives, Ben Bradley and save the pound, said the conse- Crawley MP Henry Smith Another offi cer was found to In March, the daughter of a rebels that two or more Cabi- as a ministerial aide to oppose Maria Caulfi eld, resigned on quence could be a second refer- posted his football invitation have a case to answer for not chal- man who was shot by West Mid- net ministers are ready to resign a soft exit in May, said right- Tuesday in protest at the Cheq- endum or a Labour government from Chief Whip Julian Smith lenging the comments made by lands police when he was alleg- if Theresa May gives further wingers would not back down uers accord masterminded by — either of which could lead to on Twitter, with the caption: his colleague. He was dealt with edly unarmed launched a petition ground to the EU. as they aimed to “put country May. Brexit being cancelled. “Seeing as the prime minister through management action. The calling for a public inquiry into The tensions deepened with fi rst”. They followed former Cabi- “There is a whole range of isn’t bringing Brexit home I’m IOPC found there was no evidence the “unjust treatment of black open displays of disobedience She told the BBC: “I think net ministers Boris Johnson scenarios in which they get no concerned attending would be that two other offi cers present had males” by the police and the judi- and disrespect for the prime if the prime minister makes and David Davis in saying it was Brexit, or an indefi nitely de- a bad omen for football coming heard the comments. cial system. minister — with one back- further concessions with the not acceptable. Backbencher layed Brexit, or a change of home... I’ll pass.” The investigation by the po- Sharif Cousins, a former gang bencher even snubbing an in- EU then there will no doubt be Andrew Bridgen sent a let- government or a second refer- The chief whip was praised lice watchdog included reviewing member and youth charity worker, vitation from the chief whip to more resignations from Brex- ter of no-confi dence in May to endum,” he said. The Chequers by soft Brexiteers for sending a footage from the incident, taking was shot in the chest by police on join colleagues watching yes- iteers in the Cabinet, from jun- the chairman of the backbench plan got a boost when Ireland’s courteous reply off ering to let statements from witnesses and July 26 in 2017. The IOPC has yet to terday’s England semi-fi nal on ior ministers to PPSs (parlia- 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wel- Smith give his invitation to a interviewing the offi cers present. publish its report into the incident. a big screen at No 10. mentary aides) because there is Brady. comed it as a chance to unclog constituent. Facebook faces £500,000 Trump protest Novichok victim fi ne over data breach speaks to police London Evening Standard be contaminated with the nerve London agent. Any contact offi cers have AFP Facebook has admitted that ing regulators to fi ne companies with Charlie will be done in close London up to 87mn users may have had up to 20mn euros ($24mn) or 4% consultation with the hospital their data hijacked by British con- of annual global turnover. olice have now spoken to and his doctors.” sultancy fi rm Cambridge Ana- But the IOC said because of the Novichok poisoning vic- It is not believed Rowley was ritain’s data regulator has lytica, which was working for US timing of the incidents involved in Ptim Charlie Rowley after he well enough to give details of said it will fi ne Facebook half President Donald Trump’s 2016 its inquiry, the penalties were lim- regained consciousness in hospi- how they were poisoned. Met- Ba million pounds for failing campaign. Cambridge Analytica, ited to those available under previ- tal, Scotland Yard said yesterday. ropolitan Police assistant com- to protect users’ data, in an inquiry which denies the accusations, has ous legislation. The next phase of Counter-terrorism detectives missioner Neil Basu said it was into whether personal information since fi led for voluntary bankrupt- the ICO’s work is expected to be are trying to trace the source of “implausible” that the Skripal had been misused by campaigns cy in the US and Britain. concluded by the end of October. the nerve agent that caused Row- attack and the poisoning of Stur- on both sides of Britain’s 2016 EU “We are at a crossroads. Trust “As we have said before, we ley, 45, and his partner Dawn gess and Rowley were not linked. referendum. and confi dence in the integrity of should have done more to inves- Sturgess, 44, to become critically He said: “I would need a foren- An investigation by the infor- our democratic processes risk be- tigate claims about Cambridge ill at his home in Amesbury on sic link to be defi nitive, but this mation commissioner’s offi ce ing disrupted because the average Analytica and take action in 2015,” June 30. Sturgess died on Sunday. is a very rare substance banned (ICO) has focused on the social voter has little idea of what is going Erin Egan, chief privacy offi cer at Rowley has made further by the international community media giant since earlier this year, on behind the scenes,” information Facebook, said. progress and is no longer in a and for there to be two separate when evidence emerged that an commissioner Elizabeth Denham “We have been working closely critical condition, Salisbury Dis- distinct incidents in one, small app had been used to harvest the said in the statement. with the ICO in their investigation trict Hospital’s director of nurs- county is implausible to say the data of tens of millions of Face- “New technologies that use data of Cambridge Analytica, just as we ing, Lorna Wilkinson, said yes- least.” book users worldwide. analytics to micro-target people have with authorities in the US and terday. A counter-terrorism inves- In a progress report early yester- give campaign groups the ability other countries. We’re reviewing Police believe the couple han- tigation has been launched into day the watchdog said it plans to to connect with individual voters. the report and will respond to the dled a container of the poison the poisoning. issue Facebook with the maximum But this cannot be at the expense ICO soon.” used in the attempted assassina- Basu said: “I would love to be fi ne available to it for breaches of of transparency, fairness and The British fi ne comes as Face- tion of former Russian spy Sergei able to say how we have identi- the Data Protection Act. compliance with the law.” In May, book faces a potential hefty com- Skripal and his daughter Yulia in fi ed and caught those respon- “The ICO’s investigation con- Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg pensation bill in Australia, where Salisbury in March. sible and how we are absolutely cluded that Facebook contravened apologised to the European Parlia- litigation funder IMF Bentham A Met spokesman said: “Offi c- certain there are no traces of the law by failing to safeguard peo- ment for the “harm” caused by a said it had lodged a complaint with Activists inflate a giant balloon depicting US President ers have spoken briefl y to Char- nerve agent left anywhere in the ple’s information,” it said, adding huge breach of users’ data and by a regulators over the Cambridge Donald Trump as an orange baby in north London lie and will be looking to further county. The brutal reality, how- that the company had “failed to failure to crack down on fake news. Analytica breech — thought to af- ahead of a demonstration in London to coincide with speak with him in coming days ever, is that I cannot off er you be transparent about how people’s The EU in May launched strict fect some 300,000 users in Aus- the visit of the US president. as they continue to try and es- any such assurances or guaran- data was harvested by others”. new data-protection laws allow- tralia. tablish how he and Dawn came to tees at this time.” Gulf Times 16 Thursday, July 12, 2018 EUROPE

JUSTICE REFUGEE ANTI-SEMITISM EU COMMITMENT DOCK DENIAL Turkey jails mine bosses Lithuania grants asylum to Thessaloniki Holocaust Top court orders Spain to Salvini wants ‘guarantees’ over 2014 disaster anti-Kremlin journalist memorial vandalised take in more refugees before migrants land

A Turkish court yesterday handed jail terms of Lithuania yesterday granted political asylum to anti- A Holocaust memorial was vandalised in Greece’s Spain’s Supreme Court has ordered Madrid Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Salvini yesterday up to 22 years to five top managers convicted Kremlin journalist Yevgeni Titov, the latest Russian to second largest city Thessaloniki, off icials said to take in more refugees after ruling it had called for “guarantees” before allowing an Italian of negligence over Turkey’s worst ever mining receive refugee status in the Baltic EU state in recent yesterday, the third anti-Semitic incident since not honoured its EU commitment to accept coastguard ship with more than 60 migrants on disaster, which claimed hundreds of lives. The years. “The migration department has granted him May. Blue paint was spattered on the memorial least 16,000 asylum-seekers from Italy and board to dock. Some of the 67 migrants on the accident in May 2014 killed 301 people when one asylum, namely refugee status”, the department’s remembering thousands of Jews deported by Greece, it announced yesterday. “More than ‘Diciotti’ (Eighteen) vessel are believed to have of the pits of the Soma mine became engulfed chief Evelina Gudzinskaite told AFP. Titov, 41, said he the Nazis during World War II, and a symbol six months after the deadline expired, a report revolted on a previous boat over fears they could be by flames and carbon monoxide gas, trapping saw “strange people” following him and received spelling out “Christ the Victor” left on one of the by (Spain’s) Office for asylum and refugees returned to Libya. The sailors on that ship had locked 800 miners working inside. Relatives and the death threats after writing articles about corruption monument’s plaques. A police source said this recognises that the current track record with themselves in the control room and called for help at opposition denounced yesterday’s verdicts — involved in the construction of a bridge connecting symbol is popular with Greek and Serb Orthodox respect to its final obligations is below 13%,” the Rome-based rescue centre. “For the moment, no handed out on negligence rather than murder annexed Crimea to mainland Russia. “The latest nationalist hardliners. The incident was reported the court said in a ruling dated July 9 but port” for Diciotti, Salvini told journalists, adding that convictions. The court in the western Turkish incident happened on January 1 when I received a on Tuesday. The monument was erected in 2014 released yesterday. As a result, Spain must any “perpetrators of threats or aggression will not town of Akhisar jailed the former CEO of the message from Russia on my Lithuanian cell phone on the grounds of Aristotle University to highlight “continue the procedure” to take in refugees, end up in the hotel but in prison”. According to press Soma mine, Can Gurkan, for 15 years, the state- claiming that this is my last year and that I will be that the university was built on the city’s Jewish the court added, but stopped short of fining reports, the coastguard vessel could nevertheless run Anadolu news agency said. killed for my pro-Ukrainian stance,” Titov told AFP. cemetery after it was razed by the Nazis. the government in Madrid. dock at the Sicilian port of Trapani.

Sale of Trump demands Nato allies guillotine divides double defence spending France By Fiachra Gibbons, AFP By Damon Wake, AFP and to the the alliance’s founding com- Paris Brussels mitment that an attack on one member is an attack on them all — with no men- tion of the 4%. 150-year-old guillotine S President Donald Trump yes- Trump arrived on the back of a bar- with “a few dents on the terday shocked allies at a fraught rage of criticism of Europe on issues Ablade” was sold in Paris UNato summit by suddenly de- ranging from trade to energy and above yesterday despite protests from manding that members double their all his claims that the continent free- auction regulators. defence spending commitments. loads on the back of America for its de- The 3m tall instrument of ex- Trump’s surprise demand came af- fence. ecution which was used to dis- ter he clashed with Chancellor Angela He then set the tone for the day with a patch criminals in France until Merkel, calling Germany a “captive” of blistering attack on key ally Germany at 1977 was bought by a French mil- Russia because of its gas links and sin- a breakfast meeting with Nato chief Jens lionaire for 8,008 euros ($9,400). gling out Berlin for failing to pay its way. Stoltenberg. The Drouot auction house in- The summit in Brussels is shaping up “Germany is a captive of Russia be- sisted that the model was built as as the alliance’s most diffi cult in years, cause it is getting so much of its energy a replica and has never been used against a backdrop of deepening trans- from Russia,” Trump said, taking par- to behead anyone, although it atlantic tensions in fi elds ranging from ticular aim at the proposed Nord Stream did once feature in a museum of trade to energy and defence. II gas pipeline, which he has previously torture in the French capital. Nato allies agreed at their Wales criticised. The sale of guillotines has summit in 2014 to try to spend 2% of “Everybody’s talking about it all over been highly controversial in GDP on defence within 10 years, but the the world, they’re saying we’re paying France where the death penalty White House said Trump suggested that you billions of dollars to protect you but was only abolished in 1981, with was not enough. you’re paying billions of dollars to Rus- the French auction watchdog al- “During the president’s remarks to- sia.” ready objecting to the sale. day at the Nato summit he suggested Merkel, who grew up in commu- “They should not be selling that countries not only meet their com- nist East Germany, shot back that she this guillotine,” a spokesman mitment of 2% of their GDP on defence knew what it meant to be under Kremlin told the Parisien newspaper. spending, but that they increase it to domination and Germany had the right “Objects like the clothes of 4%,” White House spokeswoman Sarah to make its own policy choices. people who were deported to the Sanders said. “I myself have also experienced a part (Nazi death) camps and instru- “The president raised this same issue of Germany being controlled by the So- ments of torture are sensitive.” when he was at Nato last year. President viet Union,” she said. That did not, however, stop Trump wants to see our allies share “I am very glad that we are united to- (Front row, from left) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel, Nato Secretary-General another going for 220,000 eu- more of the burden and at a very mini- day in freedom as the Federal Republic Jens Stoltenberg, US President Donald Trump, Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, Estonia’s Prime Minister Juri Ratas and ros in the same saleroom in 2011 mum meet their already stated obliga- of Germany and that we can therefore other Nato heads of state watch a helicopter flyover after a family photo for the Nato summit in Brussels yesterday. when US pop star Lady Gaga was tions.” also make our own independent poli- reportedly among the bidders. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev cies and make our own independent Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, about the threat from Russia, but with EU shut out US business while expect- The replica apparatus, which confi rmed that Trump had made the decisions.” spends just 1.24%, compared with 3.5% the row between Merkel and Trump and ing America to defend it. dates from the mid-19th century, demand and asked what it meant for The pair later met for a one-on-one for the US. the new spending demand mean it may EU President Donald Tusk stepped up went after two minutes of bidding the future of the alliance that has been meeting and while Trump insisted they Stoltenberg acknowledged that prove diffi cult to paper over the cracks. to the fi ght with his own salvo against yesterday to Christophe Fevrier, a the bedrock of European security for 70 had a “very very good relationship”, Trump had expressed himself in “very The mercurial tycoon said before leav- Trump on Tuesday, telling him to “ap- maverick French industrialist. years. their frosty body language suggested direct language” but insisted that away ing Washington that his meeting in Hel- preciate your allies” and reminding him Guillotines, sometimes “Nato is not a stock exchange where otherwise. from the fi ery rhetoric the allies all sinki with Russian President Vladimir Washington that Europe had come to its known as the national razor (Le you can buy security. Nato is an alliance Merkel said she welcomed the chance agree on fundamental issues: the need Putin on Monday “may be the easiest” aid following the 9/11 attacks. Rasoir National) or the ‘Patriotic of sovereign countries united by strate- to have an “exchange of views” with to boost Nato’s resilience, fi ght ter- part of his European tour, which also European diplomats fear a repeat Shortener’ (La Raccourcisseuse gic targets and common values,” he told Trump. ror and share the cost of defence more includes a trip to Britain, where the gov- of last month’s divisive G7 in Canada, Patriotique) in French, were fi rst reporters. Trump has long complained that equally. ernment is in crisis over Brexit. when Trump clashed with his West- adopted as a “humane” alterna- All 29 Nato leaders including Trump European Nato members do not pay Nato offi cials and diplomats will try Trump ramped up his rhetoric ahead ern allies before meeting North Korean tive to hanging, when many of backed a joint statement committing enough for their own defence, singling to promote an image of unity at the of the talks, explicitly linking Nato with dictator Kim Jong-un at a summit and the condemned had long, linger- themselves to greater “burden sharing” out Germany for particular criticism. summit in the face of growing unease the transatlantic trade row by saying the praising him as “very talented”. ing deaths on the scaff old. For Putin, Helsinki talks with Trump Bastille Day rehearsal a win before he even sits down

By Andrew Osborn, Reuters But in Russia, where the political system is resolve the diff erences that have led to pain- Moscow obsessed with hierarchy, status and displays ful US sanctions. of raw power, Putin has “already got his vic- A survey by state pollster VTsIOM pub- tory,” said Andrey Kortunov, head of RIAC, a lished earlier this week showed that more than or US President Donald Trump, a sum- foreign policy think-tank close to the Foreign half of 1,600 Russian adults polled predicted mit with Vladimir Putin risks a politi- Ministry. the summit would yield no tangible results. Fcal backlash at home and abroad. “It allows him to make his point that But for Russian politicians who erupted For the Russian president, however, the Russia is not isolated, that Russia is a great in applause on learning that Trump won the fact the summit is even happening is already power, and to some extent can even claim an US election in hopes of rapprochement only a big geopolitical win. Despite Russia’s semi- equal status with the United States, at least to see ties worsen, Helsinki off ers a precious pariah status among some Americans and in the security fi eld,” said Kortunov. opportunity for a possible thaw in relations. US allies, the Kremlin has long been try- Expectations are high in Russia that Putin, Hard-liners saw a rare visit to Moscow this ing to arrange a summit, betting that Putin with more than 18 years of global experience, month of a delegation of Republican law- and Trump will get on well and stop a sharp will have the edge on Trump, who had not makers as proof the tide is turning. downwards spiral in bilateral ties. held elected offi ce before he was inaugurated “Six months ago we suggested to them (the While nobody on either side expects big last year. The two men have met twice before lawmakers) that we communicate by Skype. breakthroughs, including on US sanctions, at other events and spoken by phone at least For them it was political suicide, but now the summit is seen by Moscow as US recog- eight times. it’s not,” pro-Putin lawmaker Vyacheslav nition of Russia’s status as a great power and Vitaly Tretyakov, a political author, de- Nikonov, the grandson of Stalin’s foreign an overdue US realisation that its interests scribed Trump on state TV on the day the minister, told state TV this month. must be taken into account. summit was agreed as “a neophyte in world Nikonov said Trump was now strong “The fact that a Putin-Trump meeting will politics” to whom Putin could explain Rus- enough to pursue his own agenda. happen says only one thing: that for all its hys- sian thinking and why Russia was right to “It’s one of the signs that the wind is teria, the United States is not able to isolate or annex Crimea. blowing in our sails, thanks in large part to ignore Russia,” said Alexei Pushkov, a promi- Sergei Mironov, a senior lawmaker from Trump,” he said.”I don’t remember any pro- nent Russian senator from the ruling United the pro-Kremlin Just Russia party, said Russian (US) presidents, but I want to re- Russia party. “It took a long time for Washing- in another political talk show that Putin mind you that he (Trump) is one of the most ton to get that idea, but it got there in the end.” would definitely have the upper hand in pro-Russian politicians at the moment in the Western grievances over Russia’s annexa- Helsinki. United States.” tion of Crimea, its backing of pro-Russian “Vladimir Putin will give a real master Kremlin-backed media have stressed the separatists in Ukraine and its support for class to the inexperienced politician Donald importance of the summit taking place on Syria’s Bashar al-Assad haven’t gone away. Trump,” he said. neutral territory to ensure Trump is not seen Other accusations, denied by Moscow, For older Russians, the summit venue — as having the upper hand. include that it meddled in US and European Helsinki — reinforces Putin’s narrative by Dmitry Kiselyov, presenter of Russia’s politics, supplied the weapon that shot down evoking memories of Cold War show-downs main weekly TV news show Vesti Nedeli, said a passenger plane in 2014 over Ukraine and between the Soviet Union and the United Moscow had seen how Trump had received tried to kill a former Russian spy in Britain States at a time when Moscow was the capital other leaders on home soil, showing footage with a nerve agent. of a real superpower. of Trump holding Japanese Prime Minister Kremlin critics at home and abroad see While ties with China, India and the Eu- Shinzo Abe’s hand in a vice-like grip, brush- Trump’s decision to grant Putin a summit ropean Union may be even more important ing dandruff off French President Emmanuel against that backdrop as conferring interna- in economic terms, Russian politicians still Macron’s shoulder and glowering next to tional legitimacy and status on Putin, some- measure their own country’s soft and hard German Chancellor Angela Merkel. thing they say he doesn’t deserve given the power globally against that of the United “On neutral territory everyone will be Soldiers from the Foreign Legion march down the Champs Elysees in Paris during a rehearsal lack of meaningful change in Russia’s poli- States. calmer,” Kiselyov, who is close to the Krem- yesterday of the annual Bastille Day military parade. cies internationally. Nobody in Russia expects the summit to lin, said in a report on the subject. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 17

INDIA

HEALTH SCARE CONTROVERSY OFFBEAT RULING SUPPORT Mid-day meal lands 26 Mohanlal’s stand on Congress recommends Ex-off icer gets seven-year Omar Abdullah defends schoolchildren in hospital Dileep fails to cut ice Modi for Guinness record jail for naval war room leak IAS off icer facing action

As many as 26 students of a government The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) The Congress in Goa has formally written to A special court in New Delhi yesterday sentenced Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister school here were hospitalised after eating their yesterday said it did not agree with Malayalam the Guinness World Records (GWR) to include former naval off icer, Captain Salam Singh Rathore, Omar Abdullah yesterday came out in mid-day meal prompting the Delhi government superstar Mohanlal’s explanation for revoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name in to seven years of rigorous imprisonment in the defence of Shah Faesal, the IAS off icer to order inspection of all mid-day meal kitchens the suspension of actor Dileep, an accused in the the book for “setting a record of travelling 2005 naval war room leak case. Central Bureau who faces disciplinary action for his posts in the city. Police have registered charges after actress kidnap case, from AMMA. At a meeting abroad”, a party leader said yesterday. “We of Investigation special judge Sanjay Kumar on social media. The state administration a formal complaint was received from the of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes are overwhelmed and extremely happy to Aggarwal announced the sentence on Rathore, department served a notice to the 2010 Indian school. A police off icer said the 26 students of (AMMA) last month, after Mohanlal took over suggest the name of India’s Prime Minister 63, who was on July 7 convicted under Section Administrative Service exam topper after the classes VI to VIII fell sick after having the meal as its new president, Dileep’s suspension was Narendra Modi who has set the world record. 3(1)(c) of the Off icial Secrets Act for possessing department of personnel and trainings (DoPT) at their school in Narela area of north Delhi. revoked. The WCC expressed resentment over He has correctly used the resources of India secret defence documents. A case was registered asked the state to initiate action against Faesal The students were then rushed to Satyawadi the development and four of its supporters and set the record of making 41 trips to 52 in March 2006 over the leak of about 7,000 pages who is presently in the US pursuing a post Raja Harish Chandra Hospital. “Early symptoms resigned from AMMA. Mohanlal claimed there countries in four years. He has already spent of defence information of a sensitive nature from graduate course at the Harvard University. The included abdominal pain, dizziness and was no vested interest in revoking Dileep’s Rs3.55bn,” read a letter by Goa Congress the naval war room and the Indian Air Force off icer has been frankly voicing his views on vomiting,” the off icer said. “We have initiated suspension and the decision was taken as not general secretary Sankalp Amonkar to the headquarters, on a reference from the defence various social issues in the country which a an inquiry to find out if it was negligence on even a single member was opposed to the move GWR off icials in the United Kingdom, which ministry after separate inquiries by both the government servant is not permitted to do as part of the school or the food caterer.” in the annual general body meeting. was sent through a registered post. service. per the rules quoted by the DoPT. Kerala court Home improvement dismisses bail plea of priests accused of rape

By Ashraf Padanna in a bid to buy time. Thiruvananthapuram The investigators had last week recorded a magisterial statement of the complainant strengthening he Kerala High Court yes- the prosecution’s case. terday rejected the antici- The court is yet to pronounce Tpatory bail pleas of three its judgement on the petition of priests facing rape charges. another defendant, Fr Johnson P. The court, which examined the Mathew, against his arrest. police case diary, observed that The police have booked the the priests’ custodial interroga- priests under provisions of the tion was vital for taking the probe Indian criminal law attracting life forward. imprisonment. Fr Job Mathew, Fr Jaise K The complainant claims Fr George and Fr Soni Varghese had Varghese, 42, had sexually as- moved court against the criminal saulted her when she was a minor. investigation branch of the po- After her marriage, she confessed lice which had charged them with this to Fr Job Mathew in 2009. rape. Fr Mathew, 40, who then al- The counsel for the priests told legedly blackmailed her into sex A house in Uppal Bhupa village on the outskirts of Jalandhar, Punjab, boasts of a concrete aircraft-shaped extension. Numerous homeowners in the state have decorated the court that the trio were ready threatening to reveal the con- their roof with elaborate concrete sculptures ranging from army tanks to airplanes, from footballers to weightlifters - sometimes but not always to disguise the standard to surrender. However, the coun- fessional secret, is the fi rst de- roof water tanks - to show off the interests of the owner. sel pleaded for a release on bail fendant in the case. After this, the same day, which the court according to the complainant’s rejected. statement, she met Fr George, The court ruled that the charg- who was her classmate in col- es against the priests were seri- lege, to complain about the mat- ous and an early relief would ad- ter. However, she claims, he too versely aff ect the progress of the turned predator. investigation. Also accused is Fr Johnson V Justice R Vijayaraghavan also Mathew, whom the woman ap- observed that the probe was at a proached for a psychological Restore Taj or demolish it, preliminary stage and therefore counselling. All the priests were granting of bail was not possible. known to each other. A senior priest said the church The woman claims the priests had no objections to the clergy took her to luxury hotels and undergoing the due judicial proc- homes and continued their re- ess and it was ready to defrock lationship until her husband Supreme Court tells govt them if proved guilty. chanced upon her bank account “We are co-operating with the statement containing details of IANS Mahal and said it was “sheer leth- more than what we have. If you Mahal along with time-frame and the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) – investigation as we have noth- a luxury hotel booking at Kochi. New Delhi argy” on the part of the authori- had looked after it, your foreign responsibility and accountability a 10,400sq km area spread over ing to hide,” said Fr M O John, the The priests, however, reject the ties. exchange problem would have of the departments concerned. the districts of Agra, Firozabad, priest trustee of the Malankara allegations stating these were be- “There is absolutely no willing- been solved. During the hearing, the bench Mathura, Hathras and Etah in Ut- Orthodox church to which the ing made “solely at the instance he Supreme Court yes- ness to protect the Taj. Pristine “Do you realise the loss caused said that there was a report of the tar Pradesh and Bharatpur in Ra- three belong. of the political pressures exerted terday came down heavily beauty of Taj Mahal has to be pro- to the country due to your apa- Parliamentary Standing Commit- jasthan – to explain the violation “Neither will we protect them by certain vested interests to de- Ton the centre and the Ar- tected. You can shut down the Taj thy?,” observed the bench. tee, which dealt with the eff ects of its orders prohibiting expansion nor allow them to fl ee the law. Our rive political mileage”. chaeological Survey of India (ASI) Mahal or demolish it. Restore it if The Uttar Pradesh government of pollution on Taj Mahal, but the of industrial units in the zone. stand is obvious, and we trust the They argue that even if the al- for not being able to protect the you want or demolish it if it has to had earlier told the bench that it authorities had not bothered to The Uttar Pradesh government judicial system of the country,” he legations were presumed correct, iconic Taj Mahal, asking to “shut be demolished,” said the bench. would place before the court a take appropriate steps on the is- had said it was also trying to take stressed. the ‘aff air’ was entirely consen- it down” or “demolish or restore” The court said the Taj Mahal draft vision document on protec- sue. care of the environment around Inspector general S Sreejith, sual. the Mughal structure. is more beautiful than the Eiff el tion and preservation of the Taj The central government sub- the structure so that the historic who heads the probe, had earlier The church, which does not The apex court was unhappy Tower and could have solved the Mahal that was built by Emperor mitted that the Indian Institute monument could be there for an- met the church’s supreme head, impose a celibacy vow on the as the Uttar Pradesh government country’s foreign exchange prob- Shah Jahan in memory of his be- of Technology, Kanpur was con- other 400 years and not just for a Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, bishops, have suspended fi ve had failed to come out with a vi- lem. loved wife Mumtaz Mahal. ducting an assessment of air pol- generation. and apprised him of the develop- priests in the scandal, belonging sion document to protect the Taj “There is the Eiff el Tower in Saying it would hear the case lution level in and around the Taj The court has been hearing a ments. to two diff erent dioceses – Niran- Mahal. Paris. Perhaps it is nothing com- next on July 31 on a day-to-day Mahal and Taj Trapezium Zone plea fi led by environmentalist M Reports suggest the priests, am and Thumpamon. A bench of justice Madan B pared to Taj Mahal. Our Taj Ma- basis, the bench told the central (TTZ) and the report would be C Mehta seeking protection of the who are absconding, might However, the woman stated Lokur and justice Deepak was hal is more beautiful. 80mn go to government to furnish full details given within four months. Taj from the ill-eff ects of pollut- move the supreme court chal- to the police that only four were upset with the authorities for not watch Eiff el Tower which looks of the steps taken and action it in- The court also sought personal ing gases and deforestation in and lenging the lower court verdict guilty of exploiting her. taking any step to preserve the Taj like a TV Tower. This is eight times tends to take for protecting the Taj appearance of the chairman of around the area.

Top court reserves verdict 15 dead in monsoon in ISRO espionage case fl oods, landslides AFP Piyush Kumar said. IANS pay compensation to the sci- espionage case by the Kerala Po- New Delhi The arrival of the monsoon, New Delhi entist. lice and other agencies. which lasts roughly from June to However, additional solicitor Narayanan, who fi led a suit September, is heralded by mil- general Vikramjit Banerjee, who seeking Rs10mn in damages, t least 15 people died in lions of farmers but the relent- he Supreme Court yes- appeared for the investigating was paid a compensation of fl oods and landslides in less rain wreaks death and de- terday reserved its ver- agency, wondered how the CBI around Rs1.1mn. Athe country yesterday, of- struction every year. Tdict on a petition by could be asked to pay compen- The former scientist told fi cials said, pushing the death toll Already 34 people in Assam former ISRO senior scientist, sation when there wasn’t even court he was seeking a fresh from the annual monsoon rains have been killed since May. S Nambi Narayanan, seeking a a single allegation against the probe as he wanted to know the pounding the country closer to Nearly 2,000 others have probe for being allegedly falsely department. motive behind the case which 200. been forced from their homes by implicated in an espionage case Narayanan asked the court to caused a 15-year delay in the de- Landslides swept at least nine fl oodwaters. by the Kerala Police and other order a court-monitored inves- velopment of cryogenic engine, people to their deaths in Manipur In Maharashtra, 62 people have agencies. tigation into the entire case. resulting in a loss of billions of in the remote and hilly northeast, died since June due to fl ooding and Narayanan had moved the The Kerala government had dollars to the country. said the state’s Chief Minister landslides, said the state’s revenue top court challenging the Kerala decided against the recommen- Having studied at the Prince- Nongthombam Biren. minister Chandrakant Patil. High Court judgement uphold- dation by the probe agency to ton University and worked with “I am deeply saddened to know Another close to 60 deaths have ing the state government’s deci- take action against the offi cers National Aeronautics and Space that nine precious life were lost been recorded in the country’s far sion not to take action against allegedly involved in framing Administration (NASA), Naray- due to landslide at three places south in Kerala since the monsoon the offi cials who had falsely im- Narayanan and a single judge anan came to India to work with in Tamenglong headquarter,” he hit the mainland, offi cials said. plicated him in the case. bench of the Kerala High Court Indian Space Research Organi- wrote on Twitter. At least six others were report- Reserving the order, the had ruled against the state de- sation (ISRO), refusing the of- Eight of the victims were chil- ed dead in Gujarat this week fol- bench of chief justice Dipak cision. The single judge’s order fer of US citizenship, his lawyer dren, including several from one lowing days of heavy showers. Misra, justice A M Khanwilkar was however reversed by the di- said. family, local media reported. Monsoon rain has also pound- and justice D Y Chandrachud vision bench. Narayanan earlier told the Separately, six people were ed Mumbai since the weekend, asked all parties including the Narayanan then moved the court that it was his dream that killed in fl oods and landslides in causing fl oods that have inter- petitioner, the Central Bureau of Supreme Court against the or- India becomes a space power. Uttarakhand, offi cials there said rupted transport services and Investigation (CBI) and others der of the division bench. Lawyer C Unikrishnan said yesterday. stranded thousands. to fi le their written submissions The top court had during the Narayanan was working on a Four members of one family The fi nancial capital fl oods within a week. hearing of the matter on May cryogenic engine when he was were swept away by a landslide every year, but in 2005 more than During the course of the 8 indicated it may increase the arrested on November 30, 1994, A deadly landslide hit a remote area in Manipur’s Tamenglong and two others drowned in a 1,000 people died when around hearing, the bench indicated to compensation to Narayanan, in a fabricated case and jailed for district, some 160kms from the state capital Imphal. Nine people river swollen by heavy rain, state 950 millimetres (37 inches) of rain the CBI that it may be asked to who was falsely implicated in an 50 days. died in the tragedy. emergency department offi cial fell on Mumbai in just 24 hours. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, July 12, 2018 INDIA

POLITICS ENVIRONMENT LAW AND ORDER MILITANCY LEGAL Ex-Gujarat BJP lawmaker Concern over Delhi Seer externed from Two Maoist guerrillas Civic off icials summoned Kalsaria joins Congress groundwater depletion Hyderabad for six months killed in Chhattisgarh over Delhi illegal buildings

Former Gujarat BJP MLA Kanu Kalsaria, who The Supreme Court yesterday slammed the The Hyderabad police yesterday externed a Two Maoist guerrillas were killed and a The Supreme Court yesterday sought the had successfully spearheaded a huge public central and Delhi governments for blaming Hindu religious leader from the city for six Reserve Police Force (RPF) soldier seriously presence of deputy commissioners of Delhi’s agitation against a Nirma cement plant in the each other but doing nothing to reduce water months for allegedly making provocative injured during a shootout in Sukma district south, west and central zones for not complying state’s Mahuva, yesterday evening joined the consumption and preservation of groundwater. statements against other communities. Sri of Chhattisgarh, police said yesterday. Sukma with its order to seal unauthorised constructions. Congress party after a meeting with party The court said groundwater depletion is a Peetham Swami Paripoornananda, who was superintendent of police Abhishek Meena said The court also summoned chairman of the president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. Kalsaria, serious problem in the capital and asked the under house arrest for the last two days, that an RPF team from Chintagufa police station Special Task Force (STF), constituted to monitor who is a social activist and a surgeon, drifted centre for immediate, intermediate and long- was picked up by police early yesterday and was on a routine patrol during a downpour on issues relating to unauthorised constructions away from the BJP while running the agitation term measures to check its depletion. The taken out of the city limits. Sources said he Tuesday evening when Maoists triggered a in Delhi, to appear before it on July 18. The against the cement factory because of the “pro- bench took note of a NITI Aayog report which would be dropped at his ashram in Kakinada landmine blast in a forested area near Minpa monitoring committee alleged non-co-operation capitalist” regime of Narendra Modi as the chief said that various authorities were passing the town in Andhra Pradesh. The move came village, injuring one soldier. In the ensuing by the civic agencies in a report filed before the minister and now as the prime minister. “I have buck and shying away from their responsibility. two days after Telangana Police externed gunfight, Maoists Hukka and Uika were killed bench. The bench took into note a media report been fighting social causes but needed the right The report said there was over-exploitation film critic Kathi Mahesh from Hyderabad for and two guns seized from the site. Hukka was submitted by the committee, as per which Union political strength to do it more eff ectively. I feel of groundwater in several cities, especially six months for hurting religious sentiments said to be an area commander of the Maoists. Urban Aff airs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had I can do through the Congress party,” he told Delhi, The court warned there would be no of Hindus through his alleged derogatory Meena said injured soldier, Hurra, was airlifted to rapped the off icials for carrying out the drive media persons after meeting Gandhi. groundwater in Delhi by 2021. comments. Raipur hospital for treatment. without using “common sense”.

Commando killed in PM’s speech at Kashmir gunfi ght farmer’s rally IANS Srinagar

n army commando was killed and another injured Ain a gunfi ght with mili- full of white tants in a forested area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, army offi cials said. The offi cials said sepoy Mukul Meena of 3 Para Regiment was killed in the battle that was still raging till late in the evening in lies: Congress Sadu Ganga forest area of the north Kashmir mountainous district. IANS With the increase in cost factoring coated urea was an initiative of The operation was launched New Delhi in the current infl ation the MSP UPA in 2011, the Congress asked in the forest area on Tuesday announced is C2+15% for paddy, the premier why he did not men- following information about a C2+20% for ragi and C2+19% on tion the PM’s crop insurance group of militants hiding there. laiming that Prime Min- moong etc. scheme. In a separate incident, a six- ister Narendra Modi’s “This is confi rmed by agricul- Meanwhile Modi said the Con- year-old boy was killed and four Cfarmers’ rally in Punjab’s ture scientist M S Swaminathan gress and its allies were losing others injured yesterday in an ac- Malout was an “epic fl op”, the himself, who has drafted the Swa- sleep as his government was tak- cidental explosion in south Kash- Congress yesterday termed him minathan report on the basis of ing many initiatives to improve mir’s Shopian district, police the “emperor of lies and king of which Modi made huge promises the status of farmers across the said. The blast occurred when a rhetoric” as his speech was “laced to the farmers of Cost+50% prof- country. group of boys was fi ddling with with white lies”. it,” she added. Addressing the rally Modi said: some explosives in Memander The party also said the stark re- Countering Modi’s claims, “The Congress is losing sleep over village. ality is that the Modi government the Congress said he had stated farmers getting their dues from Saliq succumbed to his injuries has betrayed the farmers in last that soil health cards were issued our government. The Congress in the hospital while four others four years on the solemn promise by his government, though the sat on all demands of farmers for were being treated. Police said of Cost+50% profi t to them, and programme was started in 2009 years. They (Congress and its al- the exact cause of the explosion it will raise the issue of farmers in under UPA (United Progressive lies) are unable to comprehend was being ascertained. the monsoon session of Parlia- Alliance) government and 50mn what is happening now. They Meanwhile, life across the ment. cards were distributed by 2012 cannot accept the fact that the Kashmir Valley was adversely af- Congress spokesperson Priya- itself. farmers of this country will get fected by a separatist called pro- nka Chaturvedi said: “It is time The Congress said that while good sleep now. test shutdown against the “con- Modi faced the stark reality... the Modi claimed that 9,000 soil ex- “Our government is trying tinuing killings of civilians by the poor response of the farmers to amination centres have been ap- to restore the respect given to security forces”. his speech yesterday is a clear in- proved by his government against farmers and soldiers. We have Separatist leaders Syed Ali dicator of Modi losing grip on the 40-50 soil testing labs by the increased the farmers’ income Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar narrative.” “Modi’s fi rst farmer Congress, the UPA had in fact es- by 1.5 times. We will try to dou- Farooq were placed under house rally in Punjab after announc- tablished 1,141 soil testing labs. ble it by 2022,” the prime minis- arrest while Yasin Malik, the ing the MSP (minimum support Also noting that the neem- ter said. chairman of Jammu and Kashmir price) was an epic fl op. There were Liberation Front (JKLF), contin- no farmers in the rally, neither the Rahul, Muslim intellectuals discuss public policy ued to remain in preventive de- rented crowd, nor their own BJP tention in Srinagar. workers were impressed by his Congress president Rahul Gandhi university intellectuals met Rahul The shutdown was called after speech laced with white lies,” she yesterday met Muslim intellectu- Gandhi and discussed public two militants and two civilians said. als as part of party’s outreach policy with him,” party leader were killed and over 20 protesters Terming Modi the “emperor of to various sections ahead of the Salman Khurshid said. On Gandhi injured during a gunfi ght in Sho- lies and king of rhetoric,” whose 2019 Lok Sabha election. Those meeting selective intellectuals, pian on Tuesday. “lies are becoming popular across who met Gandhi to give their Congress spokesperson Priyanka A man died of shock after be- the world”, she said: “Modi in his feedback on various issues and Chaturvedi said: “Prime Minister ing misinformed that his son, speech came up with a whole set discuss “public policy” included Narendra Modi is selective when Zeenat, who recently joined of lies and cons to mislead the M S Farooqui, Amir Mohamed, he chooses to meet his corporate militant ranks, was trapped at the farmers and the nation. He came Irfan Habib, Syeda Hameed, Ilyas friends but refuses to meet the gunbattle site. up with the cost price which var- Malik, Rakhshanda Jalil, Junaid farmers who protest at Jantar While Mohamed Ishaq Naikoo ies from the Commission of Agri- Rehman, Farah Naqvi and others. Mantar in Delhi. This is a wrong died of cardiac arrest, a youth, cultural Cost and Prices (CACP) Congress minority department comparison but I would only want Tamsheel Ahmad Khan, died at 2018-19 report. chairman Nadeem Javed was to say that the Congress believes a hospital after receiving bullet “If you take into account also present at the meeting. “A in development for all, inclusion injury during clashes with the the CACP data, the promise of number of lawyers, historians and of all, and equality for all.” security forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ‘Kisan Kalyan Rally in Malout of Punjab’s Muktsar district yesterday. MSP+50% is far from the truth. Modi govt obstructing BJP lawmaker charged with rape

AFP assaulting her in June 2017 at his Delhi projects: Kejriwal home in Unnao district in Uttar New Delhi Pradesh. IANS ment approved doorstep ration would have to get police permis- Police in the notoriously law- New Delhi delivery scheme but Sisodia said sion. This is a huge setback for nvestigators yesterday less state refused to take action that the offi cer rejected it by women safety,” he said. charged a politician from when her family reported the saying that he will ask the law Kejriwal added that the licens- IPrime Minister Narendra rape. Her father, who kept pursu- he row over who controls department fi rst. “They are just ing process will only increase Modi’s party with raping a teen- ing her case, was detained by po- Delhi’s bureaucracy esca- rotating the fi les to cause hin- corruption. “What will police ager whose plight was ignored by lice and severely beaten. Tlated yesterday as Chief drance in the elected govern- see before giving CCTV licence? police until she tried to set herself He later died from his injuries. Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ment’s work. On what basis will police give li- alight. In April, nearly a year after her Deputy Chief Minister Manish “The big question that arises is cence? It will only increase brib- The Central Bureau of Inves- assault, the girl tried to set herself Sisodia launched a full attack if the Delhi government is taking ery. It’s a huge blow to women’s tigation charged Kuldeep Singh on fi re outside the home of Uttar against the Centre for not letting a step in stopping black market- safety because all existing cam- Sengar with the 2017 rape of a Pradesh leader, and BJP stalwart, the city government implement ing in ration delivery, then why is eras in Delhi will have to be re- 16-year-old girl, whose father Yogi Adityanath. some major schemes by pressu- the central government, through moved till they obtain a licence was later beaten in custody alleg- The chief minister ordered an rising the offi cers. their offi cers, trying to stop it,” and all new CCTVs will have to edly by Sengar’s brother and later investigation into the crime and “The Delhi government’s he asked. wait for a licence,” he tweeted. died. the case was handed over to fed- scheme of doorstep ration deliv- He also mentioned the pro- Kejriwal, yesterday also ap- The sense of impunity enjoyed eral investigators. ery and CCTV installation have posal where people working on a proached Union Home Minis- by Sengar, a powerful Bharatiya The CBI last week charged Sen- been left in a limbo,” Sisodia said, contractual basis would be given ter Rajnath Singh and told him Janata Party (BJP) state lawmaker, gar’s brother Atul Singh Sengar, adding, “even though we have 20% bonus and how the offi cers, how the lieutenant governor and and his brother sparked revulsion and four others, with the murder decision-making powers, the despite ministers’ approval of the Centre were “twisting the orders and protests across the country of the girl’s father. offi cers who implement these project, rejected the decision. of the Supreme Court.” “Singh demanding justice. The girl’s ordeal went public projects are under the central Sisodia also said the govern- said he will discuss the matter Sengar, who like his brother as the country was reeling from government, which is deliber- ment’s CCTV installation project with his offi cers and meet me was not charged until the crime the rape and murder of a nomadic ately causing obstruction in our had again hit a snag due to rec- again on July 16,” Kejriwal said made national headlines, had Muslim girl in Jammu and Kash- work”. ommendations made by lieuten- after the meeting. smiled and bragged on television mir whose attackers were defend- “In a way, BJP (central gov- ant governor’s committee which Last week, the Supreme Court that he and his family would be ed by local BJP fi gures. ernment) is saying that you have mandates permission from po- held that the executive power of proven innocent. The two crimes underscored been given the powers to take lice before installation. the Centre is limited to only land, But CBI spokesman Abhishek the country’s atrocious record on decisions, keep taking those de- “According to the recommen- public order, and police, while Dayal said Sengar had been for- rape and protesters took to city cisions, but we won’t implement dations by the lieutenant gen- the elected government of Delhi Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrives to attend a special mally charged with rape, criminal streets in numbers not seen since it,” he said. eral’s committee, anyone who enjoys powers on all other sub- show of Disney’s Aladdin – the Broadway style musical at the conspiracy and child sex off ences. the 2012 gang-rape and murder of On July 6, the Delhi govern- wants to install CCTV cameras jects, including “services”. Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in New Delhi yesterday. The victim accused Sengar of a student in Delhi. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 19 LATIN AMERICA Nicaraguans Chile president in Panama fear return to civil war past

AFP 48-year-old mathematics teacher Masaya Gomez refl ects on how the revo- lutionary fi ght served not to oust a dictator but, he says, merely re- hen still just 16, Alvaro place one with another. Gomez fought with “The Ortega-Murillo family Wrevolutionary forces is doing the same as Somoza,” he against a US-backed dictatorship said, referring to Vice President during the Nicaraguan civil war. Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s wife. He lost comrades and a leg after he The Somoza family created a was hit by a grenade fi red from a dynasty that ruled Nicaragua for rocket-propelled launcher. 43 years. But nothing during a decade- “I get so angry because we’re long war prepared him for the pain fi ghting for the revolution — while caused by the death of his son in they give the order to kill the chil- April, three days after protests dren and grandchildren of those broke out against the leader of who carried Daniel to power in 1979 that revolution, President Daniel and fought to keep him there.” Ortega. The Nicaraguan revolution They started out of anger over didn’t end with the exile of So- planned pension reforms but since moza, who was later assassinated then the protests have mush- in Paraguay, as Sandinistas spent a roomed into a broad campaign decade battling US-backed right- against Ortega himself, who is ac- wing counter-revolutionaries cused of acting like a dictator. known as the Contras. Some 250 people have been “I’m crippled from the war and Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera (second right) and his Panamanian counterpart Juan Carlos Varela (right) wave during a visit to the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama. killed in violence that has sparked I feel useless,” said Gomez, who fears of a return to the dark days of described himself as a Sandinista the 1970s and 80s. “not a Danielista and even less a Among the victims was Murillista”. Gomez’s 23-year-old son, also “Since my son’s death I’ve felt named Alvaro. powerless and courageous in see- “I’ve been told that they grabbed ing so many deaths and not be- him, beat him and shot him in the ing able to do anything in such an chest. He was already dead when imbalanced war. They (Ortega’s they arrested him,” Gomez said as forces) have weapons; the young- Jailed GE chief ‘helped fi rm his voice cracked. sters have stones and cement.” The “It was the police. When I was feeling of the past coming back to told, it didn’t aff ect me because I haunt the present is palpable in thought my son was at work. I went Monimbo. to the morgue to see. It was him.” Angela Aleman, 69, says her His son worked in a factory and mother was shot and several rela- partake in medical cartel’ was studying fi nance. He died at a tives imprisoned and tortured by barricade near his home in Mon- Somoza during the war. “Now I Reuters That fi rm, Oscar Iskin, then specify which one, and added part in the cartel fi rst as the head and GE to provide medical imbo, a suburb of the opposition live with fear as my children are in Sao Paulo passed varying percentages of that GE is not the target of the of the Philips Healthcare opera- equipment at infl ated prices at stronghold of Masaya. the trenches,” she said. the bribes to government of- investigation. tion in Latin America from 2004 least until the end of 2014, pros- Anti-government protesters set Trillo says Nicaraguans are suf- fi cials to fi x prices for medical Alexandre Lopes, a lawyer for until the end of 2010, when an ecutors said. up barricades all across the country fering from “clear symptoms of eneral Electric Co’s equipment and other products, Miguel Iskin, the CEO of the internal whistleblower told The National Traumatol- but armed forces and hooded pro- post-traumatic stress” such as in- chief executive for Latin prosecutors assert. supply fi rm, denied the allega- Philips’ compliance offi ce about ogy Institute said they could not government paramilitaries, backed somnia, nightmares, hypersensi- GAmerica took part in a “The situation takes on an tions of price-fi xing and passing the fraud and he was fi red after comment, referring questions to by snipers, were sent in to clear the tivity, evasion and fear that weren’t medical equipment price-fi xing even greater gravity given that of bribes, and said the company an internal probe. the federal health ministry. barricades and break-up protests, treated after the war and have led to scheme while at the conglom- even after the internal investi- had improved the quality of care His fi ring and the internal The health ministry did not resulting in a heavy death toll. an “exodus” in recent weeks. erate, making it a member of an gation (at Philips) that resulted available to the general popula- probe at Philips have not been respond to requests for com- Monimbo is one area where the There is alarm that the country international healthcare car- in Speranzini’s departure from tion. previously reported. ment. protesters have held fi rm and the might descend into a repeat of the tel, according to allegations in a the company, he joined another Reuters was unable to locate a Philips spokesman Steve According to prosecutors, barricades remain, though the lo- “disappearances, arbitrary impris- document fi led by federal pros- company in the health sector lawyer for Speranzini. Klink said they have been in- Romero also testifi ed that GE cal community is practically be- onment, torture and that children ecutors. (GE) in which he continued car- There are no lawyers listed formed by the Brazilian authori- was part of what he called an sieged. disappear only to reappear dead,” The executive, Daurio Sper- rying out illicit practices relative in the government documents, ties that the latest arrests are “international bidding club,” One notice near Gomez’s house, that marked the Somoza dynasty, anzini Jr., was one of 20 people to government contracts,” the and GE declined to comment on part of an investigation into the which included other multina- placed by hooded protesters, in- said the sociologist. jailed last week in what pros- document states. anything related to the executive medical device industry in Bra- tional health companies such as forms people that “the trenches Gomez for one is already tor- ecutors say was an arrangement The documents cited “ro- still listed on LinkedIn as an em- zil. “Philips in Brazil, as well as Philips. close at 6pm.” mented by his nightmares. among multinational companies bust evidence” that Speranzini ployee. other companies in the country, Lawyers for Romero did not Monimbo was once a hotbed of “I dream about my son: I seem Philips, Johnson & Johnson, and “participated in the crimes of Prosecutors declined to com- are subjects of the investigation. immediately return a call seek- the Sandinista National Liberation him at work, I see him studying, I several others. corruption, fraudulent bid- ment beyond what was in the We believe that any allegation ing comment. Front resistance movement that want to see him get married, have They say the scheme involved ding, and forming a criminal document, or elaborate on against Philips relates to a pe- Informants in criminal inves- ousted the US-backed dictator a family, but this government...” he bribing government health offi - organisation,” adding, “there is whether they had contacted GE riod that was many years ago,” tigations in Brazil are barred by Anastasio Somoza in 1979, result- said, unable to fi nish his sentence, cials, in return for help in infl at- also evidence that he attempted and whether they were delving he said. law from talking to the press. ing in Ortega assuming power. consumed by pain. ing prices for an array of medical to cover-up the crimes so that into its conduct as a target. Two months after being dis- The investigation, code- Almost 40 years on, revolution- He sees himself ringing his son, gear such as magnetic resonance regulating bodies would not fi nd They said in their fi ling in Rio missed by Philips, Speranzini named “Operation Resonance,” ary sentiments remain strong in talking to him, listening to him, imaging machines and pros- out.” de Janeiro that their investiga- was hired by GE Healthcare and is the latest outgrowth of Bra- the area but Ortega — who served visiting him at his home 200 me- thetics. In response to questions from tion is ongoing and that they climbed the company ladder, zil’s unprecedented four years from 1979 to 1990, and was re- ters away. While those arrests and the Reuters, GE spokeswoman Jen- think it will involve more com- becoming a vice president in of graft inquiries that have sent elected president in 2007 and has He sees them walking together general allegations were widely nifer Erickson said GE is “cur- panies, more arrests and the un- Milwaukee before being named scores of powerful politicians been in power ever since — is now — him with diffi culty — through reported last week, a close exami- rently not aware of any improper covering of more fraud. as GE’s chief executive offi cer and businessmen to prison and public enemy number one. his beloved cobbled streets of nation by Reuters of a 362-page conduct involving GE Health- It was unclear from the docu- for Latin America in January. rocked the nation’s elite, who “There’s a lot of fear that history Monimbo. court document fi led with a Rio care and are committed to co- ment whether prosecutors be- GE did not comment on Sper- enjoyed impunity in how they is repeating itself. It’s demoralising,” At times he sits silently, tears de Janeiro judge to gain approval operating with authorities to the lieve GE had been participating anzini’s hiring. carried out their business. sociologist Adriana Trillos said. and sweat trickling down his to carry out arrest and search extent we are contacted.” in the cartel before Speranzini’s Cesar Romero – the former The inquiry is tied to a long- “People are expressing fear re- cheeks, a blackboard visible over warrants shows that prosecutors At the time of Speranzini’s arrival at the company, but the No 2 offi cial at the Rio de Janeiro running corruption scheme lated to the existing danger, but his shoulder with square root cal- also argue that GE was part of the arrest on July 4, GE in a state- document asserts that he was state health secretariat – states attributed to jailed former Rio also of a return to the situation culations chalked on it that he group of companies that allegedly ment said that the allegations central to GE’s involvement once in his plea bargain testimony state governor Sergio Cabral that caused so much trauma dur- teaches to local children he hopes funnelled bribes through a po- refer to a period in which the he was there. that Speranzini won contracts that snatched $100mn from ing the war.” will one day live a future free of litically connected local medical executive was leading a differ- Federal prosecutors said in the from Brazil’s National Trauma- public coffers, prosecutors Sitting in his sweaty front room, fear and suff ering. supply fi rm. ent company, though did not document that Speranzini took tology Institute while at Philips said. Eight wolf cubs star $9.5bn damages ruling attraction at Mexico zoo against Chevron upheld AFP tium, and has refused to pay the Quito settlement on the grounds that it AFP The litter contained six males America. It is endangered partly was the result of fraud and bribes. Mexico City and two females. because of poaching and habitat Chevron spokesman James The mother, named Pearl, took loss, but mainly due to system- cuador’s highest court up- Craig said that the upholding of refuge in the den a week before atic killing of the animals out of held in a ruling a $9.5bn the damages award “is consist- ight Mexican wolf cubs — giving birth, while father Yol- the belief they carry rabies and Edamages award against ent with the pattern of denial a jumbo-size litter — have tic protected them and provided attack livestock. oil giant Chevron over decades of justice, fraud and corruption Edelighted conservation- food with help from his seven “There are only 350 of them of pollution that harmed indig- against Chevron in Ecuador.” ists fretting over the endangered fi rst-born off spring, which are a in the world. That’s all,” said enous people. Pablo Fajardo, a lawyer for the species once common along the year old. Juan Manuel Lechuga, who But the decision by the Consti- plaintiff s, who include indig- US-Mexico border. “When we saw Pearl outside works for the zoo directorate of tutional Court is largely symbolic enous people, said Chevron can- Of course, they are really cute: and skinnier, we knew they had the Mexico City government. because Chevron now owns no not appeal the court’s decision. with not-quite-pointy ears, been born,” said Felipe Flores, Since 1989, a total of 156 cubs assets in Ecuador, meaning the As Chevron holds no assets in spindly legs, brown-and-black caretaker of the wolf family for have been born in the city’s country will have to keep pressing Ecuador, the plaintiff s have tried in fur coats and hazel eyes. the past two years. zoos, he said. its case in foreign courts. vain to sue the company in the US, Normally, litters of this kind The birth was not fi lmed so as For centuries these wolves In a ruling dated June 27 and re- Argentina, Brazil and Canada in or- of wolf — Canis lupus baileyi — to make it as natural as possible. have wandered through the leased now, the court said “there is der to have Chevron assets seized. max out at four. Experts hope to release them into countryside of Arizona, New no violation of the constitutional Although their case is now still So this is the biggest litter born the wild some day. Flores de- Mexico and Texas and in the Si- rights” of Chevron in throwing alive only in Canada, Fajardo said in a Mexico City zoo since a US- scribed the young wolves as early erra Madre mountains across the out its appeal of a lower Supreme “there is no turning back.” “It Mexican programme to boost the achievers. border in Mexico. Court ruling against it in 2013. might take us a bit longer in for- population of the species began “They came out of the den af- They were venerated by indig- Chevron was sentenced in Ec- eign courts, but Chevron must in the 1980s, the environment ter three-and-a-half weeks. The enous peoples for their complex uador over environmental dam- pay. It cannot act like a fugitive ministry said. smallest ones attract the most social links, skills in group hunt- age blamed on Texaco, which from justice forever,” he said. They were born at Los Coy- attention because they are the ing and distinctive kind of howl. Chevron acquired in 2001, in this The plaintiff s argued that otes Zoo in Mexico City in most playful and adventurous,” City authorities let people vote country’s rainforest during oil spills of toxic chemicals during April. Flores said while standing out- on the internet to choose indig- operations from 1964 to 1990. oil drilling operations contami- The cubs were born inside a side the 3,700 square meter wolf enous names for the cubs. They Chevron did not deny that nated groundwater and soil in in- tunnel-like den, with no human enclosure, which is not open to include Arihue (Has a Soul), pollution had occurred. digenous communities that were witnesses, in a wooded area of the public. Game (I Love Her), Muchari (Lit- But the company blamed it home to 30,000 people in the the zoo, boosting their family The Mexican wolf is the tle Kid), Bimori (Mist) and Ka- The three-month-old Mexican wolves are seen at the Coyotes Zoo on state-run Petroecuador, with eastern provinces of Sucumbios from nine to 17 members. smallest sub-species in North nimi (Happy). in Mexico City. which Texaco worked in a consor- and Orellana. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, July 12, 2018 PAKISTAN

PPP slams Thousands attend funeral of ‘pre-poll rigging’

Reuters politician killed by Taliban Islamabad

AFP The bombing came hours af- group, claimed responsibility he party of slain former Peshawar ter Pakistan’s military spokes- for the attack in a statement. prime minister Benazir man said there were security He said the militants “have al- TBhutto yesterday decried threats ahead of the national ready declared a war” on the ANP what it called “pre-poll rigging” housands fl ocked to the elections. and called on the public to keep ahead of Pakistan’s July 25 elec- funeral yesterday of a Bomb disposal chief Shafqat away from them, “or you will be tion, saying the reopening of Tpolitician killed by a Tal- Malik said that the suicide responsible for your own loss”. a criminal case against its co- iban suicide bomber in north- bomber – who he said was Peshawar is considered a chairman was politically moti- western Pakistan’s Peshawar, around 16 years old – had 8kg gateway to Pakistan’s troubled vated. hours after the explosion left (18 pounds) of explosives and semi-autonomous tribal regions, The Pakistan People’s Party 20 dead in the fi rst major attack 3kg of pellets, ball bearings and where many militant groups – (PPP) also said men identify- ahead of July 25 polls. other shrapnel on his body. including Al Qaeda – operated ing themselves as military offi c- A senior police offi cial esti- Peshawar lawyers went on until the government launched ers had pressured some of their mated that 30,000 people at- strike yesterday to protest and operations to oust them. candidates to switch affi liation to tended the funeral of the local mourn the death of Haroon, The attack comes weeks af- a “King’s party”, a common eu- leader of the Awami National who was also a barrister. ter the TTP’s leader Maulana phemism for one favoured by the Party (ANP), Haroon Bilour, Bilour was one of the ANP’s Fazlullah was killed in a drone powerful military. was among those killed in the election candidates and be- strike in Afghanistan in what The PPP’s allegations, which attack late Tuesday during an longed to an infl uential politi- the Pakistani army called a come after similar complaints election rally. cal family in the Khyber-Pa- “positive development”. made by former prime minister Party workers cried and khtunkhwa province, of which Militants have targeted poli- Nawaz Sharif, marked its fi rst hugged, while others looked on in Peshawar is the capital. ticians, religious gatherings, open criticism of the electoral shock as funeral prayers were said. His father Bashir Bilour, one security forces and even schools process. Markets were also closed of the ANP’s top leaders, was in Peshawar. A federal investigation agency across the bustling frontier hub also killed by a suicide bomber But security across Pakistan, this week summoned PPP co- near the Afghan border out of in 2012. including in Peshawar, has dra- chairman Asif Ali Zardari for respect for those killed in the Police said the bomber struck matically improved since gov- questioning in a money laun- attack. when Bilour was about to ad- ernment and military opera- dering case allegedly involv- The ANP has been targeted dress some 200 supporters. tions in recent years. ing Rs35bn ($350mn). Zardari is by Islamist militants in the past Mohammad Khorasani, Analysts warn however that the widower of two-time prime over its vocal opposition to ex- spokesman for the Tehreek-e- Pakistan has yet to tackle the People carry the coff ins of blast victims, who were killed in a suicide bombing at an election rally, during minister Bhutto, who died in a tremist groups like the Taliban. Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant root causes of extremism. their funeral in Peshawar yesterday. 2007 suicide attack while cam- paigning. The PPP decried the money laundering investigation as po- litical, saying the case was three years old. “It has been dragged out of Authorities plan to arrest cold storage two weeks before an election as a clear case of politi- cal victimisation and can be clas- sifi ed as pre-poll rigging,” the PPP statement said. ex-PM at Lahore airport It also named people who identifi ed themselves as mili- tary offi cers and who had been Internews Federal Investigation Agency from Lahore by bureau offi cials Nawaz Sharif and Maryam “pressuring our party members Islamabad and Islamabad’s chief commis- and they would be brought to Nawaz are currently in London and supporters to switch to the sioner. Islamabad to shift them to the and scheduled to return to Pa- King’s party”. “The provincial government Adiala jail. kistan tomorrow, a week after The PPP’s statement did not ormer prime minister Na- of Punjab and NAB will act ac- Answering to a question, he the accountability court sen- specifi cally name the “King’s waz Sharif and his daugh- cording to the law,” the interior said there was no need to pro- tenced them to 10 and seven party”. Fter Maryam Nawaz will be secretary said, indicating that duce them before the Account- years imprisonment, respec- arrested on their arrival at La- the deposed prime minister and ability Court of Islamabad as tively, in the Avenfi eld proper- hore airport from where they his daughter would be taken the court had already convicted ties case. Sharif and Maryam will be taken to Islamabad by into custody on their arrival at them in the Avenfi eld proper- have also been fi ned £8mn and helicopter so that they can be Lahore airport. ties case. £2mn, respectively. sent to Adiala jail for imprison- However, the secretary did A source said it was decided Recently, the former prime Thousands ment. not confi rm that the Pakistan during the meeting that Sharif minister said in a media talk Meanwhile, the National Ac- Muslim League-Nawaz (PML- and Maryam would be taken to that he and his daughter would countability Bureau (NAB) has N) leaders would be taken to Is- Islamabad through a helicopter land in Lahore and decide their of postal Nawaz Sharif, left, and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, right, attend written a letter to the interior lamabad in a chopper. “It is yet soon after their arrest. future strategy after their ar- a UK PMLN Party Workers Convention meeting with supporters in ministry, asking it to send a re- to be decided how they will be It has also been learnt that rival in the country. London yesterday. quest to Interpol for the arrest taken to the capital,” he said. the Punjab government had Although Sharif’s political votes ‘lost’ of Sharif’s sons Hassan Nawaz In reply to a question about imposed Section 144, prohibit- party – the Pakistan Muslim and Hussain Nawaz and former media reports that the names ing assembly of more than four League-Nawaz – has come un- fi nance minister Ishaq Dar, who of Sharif and Maryam had been persons – throughout the prov- der severe criticism and pres- Internews are also facing NAB references placed on the exit control list ince. The law has already been sure after he was declared guilty Karachi and presently staying in Lon- (ECL), the secretary said it was enforced in Islamabad. in the Avenfi eld reference, po- Sharif heading don. only a speculation as no such The meeting also reviewed litical analysts believe that once The decision to arrest Sharif action had been taken so far. security measures to be taken Sharif returns to the country, undreds of thousands of and Maryam at Allama Iqbal “The names of accused are in the capital when Sharif and his presence will defi nitely cast people who have been International Airport on their placed on the ECL by a special Maryam will be brought there impact on the general elections Hassigned duties to con- arrival from London tomorrow committee of the cabinet and to send them to the Adiala jail, scheduled for July 25. duct the upcoming elections back to Pakistan was taken at a meeting chaired it has not met so far for putting where the former’s son-in-law NAB had on Sunday arrest- cannot cast their personal votes by interior secretary Yousaf the Sharifs’ names on the list,” Safdar has already been impris- ed Safdar in Rawalpindi and on the day of the elections as Naseem Khokhar and attended he said. oned. sent him to the jail as he had they have failed to apply for the by the chief secretary of Pun- When contacted, a senior The meeting considered de- also been sentenced by the ac- facility of postal ballots. jab, inspector general of Punjab offi cial of NAB, who did not ployment of Rangers to main- countability court to one-year Not only the polling staff but despite sentence police, NAB’s director general want to be named, said Sharif tain law and order in the federal imprisonment in the Avenfi eld also thousands of prison in- Lahore, director general of the and Maryam would be arrested capital. properties reference. mates, people with disabilities and government employees de- AFP Mayfair district, one man held a ployed far away from their home London placard reading: “Leave democ- constituencies would not be able racy alone”. to cast their votes because they Attendees chanted “Nawaz Fresh survey predicts hung parliament were not aware of the Election ormer prime minister Na- Sharif, We Love You!” as he con- Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) waz Sharif yesterday said cluded his speech. A new survey on the between June 13 and July 04 Development work and the performance of PML-N’s facility. Fhe would return to Pakistan Sharif was sentenced by a upcoming elections shows of 3,735 respondents from all performance are key reasons of government at federal level “The election staff and in- this week despite being sentenced court in Islamabad last week PML-N and PTI in neck and across Pakistan. Around 72% Shahbaz’s popularity whereas (57%) as well as in Punjab (76%) mates could cast their votes in absentia to 10 years in prison over the purchase of high-end neck fight without any clear responded. Imran has endeared the public and PTI’s in KP (64%). through postal ballots. July 10 by a corruption court there. properties in London. winner thus portraying There is a consensus among through his slogan of change Shahbaz Sharif is ahead was the last day for submitting “Despite seeing the bars of He was ousted from his third a scenario of a hung the pollsters in Pakistan and honesty. of Imran Khan when their applications for it before the re- prison in front of my eyes, I am term as prime minister by the parliament, as the majority that 35% vote is a minimum As for as the public perception approval rate is separately turning offi cers. However, a few going to Pakistan,” he told a con- Supreme Court last year follow- of the population believes threshold to determine of the country’s future is judged as a person and as the people sent their forms for cast- ference of his Pakistan Muslim ing a corruption investigation Pakistan is heading in the which party takes a lead in concerned, only 35% thought future prime minister. ing their votes,” said a senior ECP League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and banned from politics for life wrong direction, Internews countrywide elections and it is heading in the right When the respondents were offi cer. in London. but remains a powerful symbol reports from Islamabad. right now there is none. direction in comparison to 64% given a choice of six political In the Sindh province alone, “Put Nawaz Sharif in prison for his ruling party. However, the number of However, the PTI has gained who gave the opinion in the figures to see how much are 206,663 polling staff will be de- for life, send him to the gallows Usman Khan, PML-N’s co- respondents who expressed popularity from 27% in negative. they liked, Shahbaz Sharif ployed to perform duties. but you will have to answer the ordinator in Britain, said that the intention to vote this time November 2017 to 29% in July Most of the pessimists were scored 62%, Imran Khan 53%, Apart from the polling staff , questions that the people of Pa- Sharif’s case “was manipulated has increased from 76% cent in 2018 whereas the PML-N has found in Sindh (75%) followed Nawaz Sharif 47%, Shahid personnel of police and army will kistan are asking and they will by the judiciary and the estab- 2013 to 82% in 2018. lost from 37% to 32% in the by Punjab (61%), KP (59%) and Khaqan Abbasi 41%, Maryam also be deployed at each poll- stop only after getting answers,” lishment in Pakistan”. If the elections are held today, corresponding period and the Balochistan (58%). Nawaz 40% and Bilawal Bhutto ing station to provide security. he said to cheering from sup- Khan said Sharif would leave 32% population has shown PPP’s position has remained the Comparing their thinking with 38%. All these personnel of the army, porters. London on Thursday and arrive the intention to vote for same (13%). that reflected in a survey of After a couple of other paramilitary force and police will Sharif also alluded to the pow- in Lahore in Pakistan at around the PML-N, 29% for PTI and Interestingly, Shahbaz Sharif November last year, pessimism questions, the respondents apparently not be able to cast er of Pakistan’s security estab- 0600 or 0700 GMT. 13% for PPP, according to a has scored the highest has increased by 1% in July were separately asked about their votes in the elections. lishment, saying: “There was a “We are expecting a large countrywide survey conducted approval among six political this year and mostly rooted in Shahbaz Sharif and Imran The ECP had also approved the time when we used to say a state crowd to welcome him,” he said. by the Institute of Public figures surveyed. Imran Khan, top three concerns: corruption Khan as future prime minister: facility of postal ballots for peo- within a state, now it’s a state Khan said he hoped Sharif Opinion Research (IPOR) in Nawaz Sharif, Shahid Khaqan (20%), high inflation (18%) and 56% voted for Shahbaz and ple with disabilities. However, above the state”. would be allowed to speak to his collaboration with an American Abbasi, Maryam Nawaz and unemployment (10%). 37% against him. Likewise, due to lack of awareness, many At the conference, held in the supporters in Pakistan “before firm, Global Strategic Partners. Bilawal Bhutto follow him in These concerns are in contrast 46% were for Imran Khan 44% people with disabilities could not ballroom of the Grosvenor House he surrenders himself to the au- The survey was carried out terms of popularity ranking. with their satisfaction about against him. apply for it. hotel in central London’s plush thorities”. Commenting on the situation, community-based Inclusive De- velopment Network Pakistan in- ternational coordinator Ghulam Imran Khan’s biopic set for release this year Films invited for Oscar consideration Nabi Nizamani said the ECP tried Kaptaan, a biopic on cricket around in 2011. We conducted a accident before the polls,” the The Pakistani Academy Selection sixth consecutive submission It includes aspects surrounding to exclude people with disabili- legend Imran Khan, will finally workshop that year to translate Wajood actor added. Imtiaz said Committee has invited local from Pakistan. the film’s initial release, ties from voting by off ering them release this year. The movie has the vision into a film. Filming the scope of the film was limited filmmakers to submit their Once the entries are received, advertisement, dialogues, the procedure of postal ballots. been in the works for over six commenced a year later,” Imtiaz, to the formative years of Khan’s entries for Oscar consideration the committee will choose one language and creative control. When the ECP was contacted years. A trailer of the film was who plays the role of Khan’s first political innings, the crises he under the ‘Foreign Language of them as Pakistan’s off icial A foreign language film is to give its version on the mat- first unveiled in 2013. wife Jemima Goldsmith, said. surmounted and his marriage to Film Award’ category for the submission for the ‘Foreign defined as a feature-length ter, a spokesperson claimed that Saeeda Imtiaz and Abdul Mannan, “The film was originally slated Goldsmith. “The film is complete. upcoming 91st Academy Awards. Language Film Award’ and will motion picture produced the commission had issued a who essay titular roles in the for a 2013 release, right before All we need to do is hire a They have been asked to send announce it by September 2018. outside the United States of release on July 2 to inform the movie, spoke on this account. general elections. The release director to reshoot and edit some their films for consideration by There is an eligibility criterion for America with a predominantly public about the postal ballot “The idea of Kaptaan came got stalled after Khan met an sequences.” August 20, and this will be the films to qualify for consideration. non-English dialogue track. procedure. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 21 PHILIPPINES

Gunmen President urged to be more kill fourth local offi cial in assertive in sea dispute a week By Dempsey Reyes colonel Plaridel Abaya; retired Manila Times colonel Niceto Festin; retired commodore Carlos Agustin; re- Reuters tired colonel Mariano Santiago, Manila group of retired generals brother of former military chief and admirals urged the Dionisio Santiago; retired vice ARodrigo Duterte admin- admiral Emilio Marayag; and wo motorcycle-borne istration yesterday to employ retired colonel Alejandro Flores, gunmen yesterday killed “more assertive” methods in among others. The group also Tthe vice mayor of a south- protecting the country’s rights counts former military chiefs ern Philippine town, the fourth over the disputed West Philip- Alexander Yano, Victor Ibrado local offi cial assassinated in a pine Sea (South China Sea). and Renato de Villa. week, including one President In a news conference in San Farolan said the re-supply Rodrigo Duterte said may have Juan, retired major general Ra- missions of the Philippine Navy had links to illegal drugs. mon Farolan, a former com- in Ayungin Shoal and fi sher- The attack took to 16 the manding general of the Philip- men’s activities in Scarbor- number of mayors and vice pine Air Force, said the group ough should be peaceful, which mayors killed since Duterte un- wanted a peaceful resolution to means no harassment from leashed his deadly anti-narcot- the dispute with Beijing. China. “We read that there are ics campaign when he came to But the government should (Philippine) Coast Guard ves- power in 2016, media said. assert and maintain national sels that have been turned over “We’re still investigating the sovereignty and rights over the to the government and per- motive for the killing,” said Al- disputed waters. “Perhaps, a haps, they could be utilised in lan Nazaro, police chief of Zam- more assertive method can be this eff ort to escort our fellow boanga City, after yesterday’s applied here,” Farolan told re- A group of retired senior off icers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, which formed themselves into Filipinos in the disputed areas,” attack on Al Rashid Mohamed porters. “It’s not a question of an advocacy group that promotes and increases awareness of national interests, link arms during a press conference at the Club Filipino in he said. He said the incidents Ali, vice mayor of the town of being satisfi ed (with the gov- San Juan City, yesterday. in Ayungin and Scarborough Sapa-sapa in the southernmost ernment’s response) but it’s a shoals were events that “should province of Tawi-Tawi. question of making sure that sion in Ayungin (Second Tho- Defence Secretary Delfin pursuing a softer stance on the Advocacy Group for Nation- not happen again.” A relative was driving Ali in our rights are not being violat- mas) Shoal. Palace spokesman Lorenzana had mentioned China, despite a 2016 victory in al Interests (AGNI), is composed “The decision, of course, his vehicle when the gunmen ed,” he added. Harry Roque Jr has dismissed that the harassment of Navy a United Nations-backed arbi- of retired senior military offi cers we will leave it to the national opened fi re, he added. Chinese coast guard person- reports on the harassment of personnel in Ayungin was an tration court, which invalidated of the Armed Forces. The mem- government. What we are say- Three mayors, who were on nel have harassed Filipino fi sh- fishermen, saying the Chinese “isolated case.” Beijing’s nine-dash-line claim bers are Farolan; retired lieu- ing is that there is a need to Duterte’s watchlist of local of- ermen in Scarborough (Pana- coast guard were replacing the In exchange for more eco- over nearly the entire South tenant general Edilberto Adan, ensure that our rights are pro- fi cials suspected to have drug tag) Shoal and Philippine Navy catch with noodles, cigarettes nomic assistance and trade, China Sea. former deputy chief of staff tected (in the West Philippine links, had been killed in two personnel on a re-supply mis- and bottled water. President Rodrigo Duterte is Farolan said the group, called of the Armed Forces; retired Sea),” Farolan stressed. years. Pangasinan eyes more taxes VP is ‘incompetent’ as after coal plant is ready a replacement: Duterte By Jaime G Aquino sistently ranked fourth among the 10 richest towns Manila Times/Sual in the country. Arcinue said that aside from assuring residents Manila Times these voices of dissent are not via a quo warranto petition. of a stable and adequate supply of electricity, an- Manila consolidated. I want to ensure Robredo also disclosed on he mayor of this town has said the munici- other power plant would encourage more business that such voice is united, and Tuesday that she had reached out pality expects to collect more than P800mn enterprises to set up branches in Sual or consider that is the role I want to take,” to Sereno about a possible 2019 Ta year in real property taxes once the $2bn the town as primary location of their ventures. resident Rodrigo Du- Robredo said in a news confer- Senate run. But Sereno remains coal-fi red power plant to be constructed by a Ko- terte has said he would ence. undecided, she said. rean company becomes operational. Mayor Roberto Arcinue has said that Pnot resign and allow Vice “There are ongoing consulta- “We were able to talk length- Mayor Roberto Arcinue told Manila Times aside from tax revenues, the plant with a President Maria Leonor “Leni” tions and we are threshing out ily for the fi rst time recently, and that aside from tax revenues, the plant with a 1,000-megawatt capacity would generate Robredo to succeed him, calling the terms of uniting the opposi- I told her that there are people 1,000-megawatt capacity would generate more more than a thousand jobs for locals as well as her “incompetent.” tion. We in the opposition need who are nominating her in the than a thousand jobs for the locals as well as reduce reduce the cost of electricity for households “She becomes president? to be united so we can be heard, opposition’s Senate slate. But the cost of electricity for households. Look, I will not resign because so we can send the message, so she is yet to decide on it. She had Construction of the plant by the Korean Electric He added that construction of the second coal- it will make her president. My Robredo: facing criticism that message can be understood,” a lot of questions. I was able to Power Corp. (Kepco), the biggest power supplier in fi red power plant is in line with the Duterte govern- resignation is addressed to the Robredo added. provide the answers to some of South Korea will start before the year ends. ment’s thrust to ensure that the country has suf- people so they can choose who- willing to lead a united opposi- The vice president, chairman her queries, but not all,” Robredo The project has already been endorsed by The fi cient energy to avert another power crisis owing ever they want. I don’t think tion two years after assuming of the Liberal Party (LP), also said. Malacanang on Tuesday Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) to the rapid increase in population and the infl ux of she can ever be ready to govern offi ce. said forming a united opposition said the move of Robredo was which declared the town of Sual as the future en- investors. my country. Reason? Incompe- Robredo said a number of should include fi elding a united “hardly surprising,” being the ergy city of Pangasinan. “You open the Philippines to all power players, I tence,” Duterte told reporters groups who shared her causes slate for the 2019 polls. highest elected member of the Arcinue said the revenue from the plant will be guarantee you the electricity will become cheaper,” after a speaking engagement in and advocacies had reached out Rep. Antonio Tinio of Alliance Liberal Party. used for livelihood assistance to residents, schol- President Rodrigo Duterte said as he inaugurated Pampanga. to her. of Concerned Teachers party- “The Palace believes that arship grants, additional subsidies for farm imple- several coal-fi red power plants in Visayas and Duterte reversed himself af- “Aside from political par- list welcomed Robredo’s posi- an active opposition has a vital ments and irrigation works as well as fund the con- Mindanao, the latest of which was the 405-mega- ter saying last week he was will- ties, there are other move- tion, noting that the Makabayan role to play in a healthy, well- struction of farm-to-market roads, classrooms and watt coal-fi red power plant in Misamis Oriental. ing to step down as president ments that share similar causes bloc of militant lawmakers was functioning democracy,” Palace health centres. The president stressed that there should be no once a new constitution was in such as fi ghting dictatorship already a member of the Move- spokesman Harry Roque Jr said. The plant, which will be operated by the Seoul- problem with coal-powered plants contributing to place, and that Robredo could and policies that I don’t agree ment Against Tyranny, which “Having said this, we expect based company, will be the second coal-fi red power pollution because of the advent of new technolo- replace him. with, namely: extrajudicial protests extrajudicial and drug- that the opposition movement plant Sual is hosting. gies used in this new coal-fi red power plant which Duterte said of Robredo: killings and the anti-loitering war killings, human rights viola- would promote responsible and The mayor said that hosting the fi rst power plant, is considered as “high effi ciency (45 percent) low “She is not capable of running drive which both aff ect the poor tions and charter change, as well constructive debate to push the which was built in 1995, has brought progress to emission (HELE)” that substantially cuts gas emis- a country like this – the Philip- badly, the federalism caravan as the Coalition for Justice that national conversation to a high- the town. From a fi fth class municipality, Sual was sion by 30% compared to its predecessors that had pines.” that uses government funds but opposed the removal of Maria er level of political maturity,” classifi ed as a fi rst class municipality and has con- effi ciency rating of only 33%. Earlier Robredo said she was does not address poverty. But Lourdes Sereno as chief justice Roque said. Boracay reopening ‘to depend on co-operation of stakeholders’

By Eireene Jairee Gomez Manila Times

nvironment Secretary Roy Cimatu yesterday said the Eearly reopening of Boracay would depend on collaboration among the owners of the estab- lishments aff ected by the road widening in the island and the crackdown on illegal sewerage connections. He said their co-operation is crucial during the six-month re- habilitation deadline President Rodrigo Duterte has set. “This can be done if business owners strictly heed the orders and regulations set by Boracay’s interagency task force,” Cimatu added. The interagency task force is composed of the Depart- ments of Environment and Nat- ural Resources (DENR), Tourism (DoT), Public Works and High- ways (DWPH), and Interior and Local Government (DILG). File photo shows tourists standing beside a sand castle on the island of Boracay. Right: Another file photo shows a sewage pipe along Bulabog beach as residents transport garbage bags on a boat from a Over the weekend, Cimatu construction site on the island of Boracay. visited Boracay to check on the progress of the rehabilitation route of the circumferential road main road so that they can fi nish properties along the island’s fa- easement does not only apply of coliform in the waters. Two a cesspool” and the white beach is works. He said that one com- being constructed as an alter- everything they need to do for mous White Beach. Meanwhile, to ground fl oors but also to up- months after its closure, DENR already clean. pany has committed to demolish nate passage to the main road for the road widening,” Cimatu said. Cimatu also hailed the decision per ones, to give way to electric has reported a signifi cant im- President Rodrigo Duterte is- its property that encroaches on vehicles bringing logistics into The demolition of the hotel of several establishments along posts and power lines that would provement in the water quality sued Proclamation 475 placing the road. the island. started on Tuesday. the main road to demolish por- need to be moved or erected dur- while the DPWH said the demoli- Boracay under a state of calamity According to the DENR, the “We could have destroyed it The low-rise, 12-room Stel- tions of their buildings with ing the road widening. tion for the road widening project for six months because of envi- Stellar Hotel Boracay along Bu- before, but we gave them due lar Hotel is a subsidiary of the “overhang” or fl oors protrud- Cimatu also reiterated the need is 95% complete. ronmental issues hounding the is- labog Beach, agreed to tear down process. Now we can complete Astoria chain of luxury hotels ing over the easement require- to remove illegal settlers along Last week, Cimatu also de- land, including the lack of a proper the property that sits along the the road network and close the that owns two high-end resort ment. He clarifi ed that the road wetlands, to reduce the level clared that Boracay is “no longer sewerage system. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, July 12, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka 12-07-2018 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 The week Brexit got real: Britain turns pragmatic A week ago Britain had strict red lines on Brexit, pro-EU lawmakers were “traitors” and the plan for Britain’s future ties with the European Union after leaving the bloc were a jumble of platitudes and overweening ambition. Fast-forward a few days and Brexit hardliners are on the defensive, while the government is showing a willingness to compromise and outlining a more pragmatic vision for a country half-in, half-out of the European Union. “The momentum and the situation call for ruthless realism. Dreaming of a world that had turned out Time running out diff erently is not enough,” former Conservative leader William Hague, an infl uential voice in the party, wrote in The Daily Telegraph. Prime Minister Theresa May, who campaigned to stay in the European Union in the 2016 referendum, has tried to balance moderates and hardliners in her party ever for Brexiteers since coming to power two years ago at a time of political upheaval. She was forced to show humility again after calling By Gwynne Dyer to “polishing a turd”, then came round Conservative members of parliament Britain still does not have a realistic Washington, DC to supporting them for about 36 hours, secretly want a very soft Brexit or no negotiating position. an early general election in June last year only to lose and fi nally resigned, saying that they Brexit at all – but May dares not test This preposterous situation is almost her party’s majority after a wooden performance on the would reduce the UK to a “vassal state” that assumption. entirely due to the civil war within campaign trail. ven with Donald Trump with the “status of a colony” of the EU. So, horrifi ed by the prospect of a the Conservative Party between the A year later, commentators said recent events show she scheduled for a brief visit to the Yet at no point in the discussion did Labour government led by Jeremy Brexit faction the rest. The only reason has fi rmly chosen the moderate side with a plan for Brexit, United Kingdom this week amid either of them off er a coherent counter- Corbyn (who is regularly portrayed that there was a referendum at all was by the right-wing media as a Lenin in because former prime minister David to be fully detailed today, that envisages close regulatory Emassive protests, it’s still ‘all proposal. Brexit, all of the time’ in the sceptred And what is all this Sturm und waiting), the Conservatives are doomed Cameron thought that a decisive alignment with the EU to isle – and the long struggle over the Drang about? A negotiating position, to cling desperately to power even defeat in a referendum would shut the allow unhindered trade nature of the deal that will defi ne devised by May with great diffi culty though they can probably never deliver Brexiteers up and end that war. He “The momentum in goods. Britain’s relationship with the European two years after the referendum that a successful Brexit. And the time is miscalculated. “Mrs May has Union post-exit allegedly reached a yielded 52% support for an undefi ned running out. The Brexiteers spun a fantasy of turning point last weekend. ‘Brexit’, which could never be accepted The United Kingdom will be leaving an oppressive EU that was the cause and the situation recognised that the only “They had nothing else to off er. They by the European Union. Its sole virtue the European Union on March 29 of of all Britain’s troubles and sold it to pragmatic approach to had no Plan B. She faced them down,” was that it seemed possible to unite next year whether there is a deal that the nostalgic older generation, the call for ruthless decoupling from the said a senior government offi cial about the ‘Leave’ and ‘Remain’ factions of maintains most of its current trade with unemployed and underemployed who realism” EU is a softer version of the hard-line Brexiteers after Prime the Conservative Party behind it. But the EU or not. In practice, the deadline were looking for somebody to blame, Brexit,” the Financial Minister Theresa May got them to the unity imposed by May broke down for an agreement is next October, since and sundry nationalists of all colours. sign up to a so-called ‘soft Brexit’ at before the weekend was over. time must be allowed for 27 other EU They narrowly won the referendum Times said in an editorial. a crisis cabinet meeting last Friday. All four of the great offi ces of state members to ratify the deal. If there is no with the help of a rabidly nationalist The plan has unleashed a rebellion by Brexit hardliners But the armistice between the ‘Leave’ – prime minister, chancellor (fi nance deal, the UK simply ‘crashes out’, and right-wing press, spending well beyond who fear it may prevent Britain from concluding free- and ‘Remain’ factions in her fractious minister), foreign secretary and home chaos ensues. the legal limits in the campaign – and, it trade agreements with third countries and eff ectively turn Conservative Party lasted less than 48 secretary (interior minister) – are The volume of trade in goods and now appears, with considerable support the country into a “vassal state” or “colony” of the EU. hours. now held by Conservative politicians services between the United Kingdom from Russia. (The biggest contributor On Sunday morning hard-line who voted Remain in the referendum. and the rest of the EU is so great, and to the Brexit campaign, mega-rich It prompted the resignation of Foreign Secretary Boris Brexiteer David Davis, the ludicrously Yet they are unable to persuade their the preparation for documenting the investor Arron Banks, met the Russian Johnson and Brexit Minister David Davis, as well as several titled Secretary of State for Exiting the party to accept even a ‘soft Brexit’ that safety and origins of goods and collecting ambassador at least eleven times during other Conservative Party fi gures, but analysts say that European Union, reneged on his short- preserves Britain’s existing access to its customs on them so scanty, that the new the run-up to the referendum and the May has been able to face down the rebellion so far. lived support for May’s negotiating biggest trading partner, the EU. border would simply freeze up. subsequent two months.) In the pro-Conservative Spectator magazine, Brendan goals and resigned in protest. Then The Brexiteers’ power lies in their That would cause great diffi culty for There’s still a chance that reason will Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson implicit threat to stage a revolt that many European enterprises, but for prevail before the UK crashes out of the O’Neill wrote that there had been “a Remainer coup” — a followed suit, claiming that May’s plan overthrows May, fatally splits the Britain it would be a catastrophe. As an EU, of course. But the odds are no better reference to Johnson’s replacement Jeremy Hunt, who also meant “the (Brexit) dream is dying, Conservative Party, and precipitates an example, two-fi fths of the components than even. supported staying in the EU but says he has now changed suff ocated by needless self-doubt.” early election that brings the Labour for cars built in the UK are sourced his mind. The sheer fecklessness of the ‘Brexit Party to power. They may not really from elsewhere in the EU. Yet most of zGwynne Dyer’s new book is Growing “Brexit will be softened, which is to say undermined: dream’ is epitomised by Johnson, who have the numbers to do that – it’s the time available for negotiating a soft Pains: The Future of Democracy (and turned from a passionate cry for democratic independence fi rst compared May’s negotiating plans widely assumed that a majority of the Brexit has already been wasted, and Work). into a bureaucratic exercise of pursuing slow-motion semi-divergence from the EU while actually kind of staying in,” O’Neill wrote. A lot will depend on how the proposals are received in Brussels but the initial signs have been encouraging. “If the UK is able to relax some of its red lines, then the European Union should be fl exible too,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told a session of the Irish parliament. “I think perhaps we are now entering into that space,” he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking at the Western Balkans summit in London on Tuesday, said it was a “good thing” that there was a British proposal on the table. “What we want to do now is to bring the negotiating progress forward,” she said. Commentators have observed a new fi rmness shown by May in the negotiations and her increasingly overt challenge to the “Brexiteers” to try to take her down.

To Advertise [email protected] Display 44466621 44418811 Classified 44466609 44418811 Subscription [email protected] In this file photo taken on November 28, 2016, British Prime Minister Theresa May (R) sits with members of her cabinet British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Brexit Minister) David Davis (L) and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in the Cabinet Room inside 10 Downing Street in central London. British Foreign © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Secretary Boris Johnson has resigned, Downing Street said in a statement on July 9, 2018, hours after Brexit minister David Davis stepped down. Gulf Times Thursday, July 12, 2018 23 COMMENT Building blocks for ‘Fortress Europe’

Reuters groups say Europe is on its way to because he was not authorised to speak Brussels ceding its right to claim leadership on about the matter publicly. humanitarian issues rooted in its own Meanwhile, the political mood in World War Two experience. Europe is increasingly turning against eals on migration agreed “I am worried that international migrants. in the European Union and humanitarian law is increasingly Italian new Interior Minister Germany may end up more being treated as an annoyance,” Matteo Salvini’s use of the hashtag Dabout rhetoric than reality Eugenio Ambrosi, the EU envoy for UN #stoptheinvasion on Twitter would but they indicate a shift toward a migration agency IOM, told Reuters. have been considered beyond the “Fortress Europe” way of thinking “One would think that the pale for a member of a serving EU that could pose the bloc’s biggest experience of the fi rst half of the 20th government just a few years ago. existential threat yet. century should have taught us all a In 2015, Hungarian Prime Minister The deal in Germany to process lesson.” Viktor Orban was widely criticised for migrants in police facilities within EU diplomats and offi cials worry contravening EU laws when he built a 48 hours on its southern border that member states are fi ghting and fence on his southern border. with Austria followed an agreement even hardening their positions just as But now his other idea — presented reached the previous Friday in they need to be unifi ed to face Britain’s back in 2016 as “Africa hotspots” Brussels to try to review asylum departure from the union next year where the EU would handle all refugees requests in camps around the and tensions with US President Donald and migrants in Africa before bringing Mediterranean, including Africa, Trump and Russia. over only those who win asylum — is and share responsibility for migrants Migration is playing an oversized back in the latest EU agreement, with rescued at sea. role in European domestic politics, too. only some revisions. Critics immediately slammed the A showdown between German One thing EU leaders have two pacts as unworkable and possibly Chancellor Angela Merkel and her succeeded in doing so far is preventing against EU law on the right to seek conservative southern partner the collapse of the cherished asylum. threatened to topple her coalition Schengen travel zone that feeds jobs Most north African countries have government though she appears safe and businesses across the bloc by already refused to host such sites for now. guaranteeing control-free movement because of potential security risks, “It is my deep conviction that the of people and goods. among other things. migration question decides whether The threat to Schengen is real, To make the German plan work, Europe will last,” German Chancellor however, as several countries including Berlin will need to secure bilateral Angela Merkel told the German Austria, Germany and France have agreements with the EU states parliament last week. already introduced some emergency where migrants first applied A big part of the problem is that border checks since 2015. for asylum to take them back if the EU has failed to distribute evenly The current discussions about necessary. among its population of 500mn what the German-Austrian border — and Berlin says 14 countries have agreed UN data shows is fewer than 2mn new Vienna’s threat to restrict its own to start negotiations but pacts will be arrivals since 2014, partly because border — shows how easily one diffi cult to agree with those it needs countries like Poland and Hungary country’s move could trigger a chain most, Italy and Austria, where the refuse to take part. The political mood in Europe is increasingly turning against migrants. reaction. governments hold a tough anti- That has exacerbated Physically re-erecting dividing lines immigration line. disproportionate pressure on southern official line. “But the spirit of shows, nowhere near the more than a diplomats and officials say. inside Europe could deal a mortal blow Austria has said it may be forced countries like Greece or Italy. consensus is gone. Everyone is going million arrivals in 2015. “For all the talk of the harsh new to what backers praise as the most in turn to protect its own southern Three years later, the problem has it alone.” The 1,480 people who have perished measures, most of it is either more of successful peace project in Europe borders, such as those it shares with still not been resolved. The issue is coming to a head just in the sea this year compares to some what we have been doing for the last since World War Two, coming after Italy and Slovenia, to stop migrants “We used to be in the business of as migration numbers to Europe are 3,700 deaths recorded for the whole three years, or very diffi cult and time- the wounds caused by Britain’s vote to transiting from the south. helping each other out,” said one actually tailing off . of 2015. consuming to do, like signifi cantly leave. With Italy and Malta both denying senior EU diplomat who asked not Only about 46,100 refugees and In fact the agreement made in raising the number of people we sent “If Schengen falls apart, this is it. entry to rescue ships in recent days, to be named because his comments migrants have made the dangerous Brussels may be worth less than back, or contradictory,” said one EU There will no longer be an EU as we pushing the vessels to Spain, rights differed from his government’s sea crossing so far this year, UN data the paper it is written on, EU diplomat, who asked not to be named have known it,” said an EU offi cial.

Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric taints social schemes Three-day forecast t’s hard to imagine the city of Los group, to provide integration services. and recruitment to jihadi violence, to do valuable community work. TODAY Angeles turning down nearly half It would also provide $30,000 to though it was later broadened to Despite serious misgivings about this Maximum Temperature : 430c a million dollars for worthwhile the group Not in Our Town to help include violent groups of diff ering president, the city and the state should Minimum Temperature : 330c social service programmes communities develop strategies to ideologies, including white work with the Trump administration FRIDAY I Maximum Temperature : 420c such as mental health counselling, counter white supremacist activity. supremacists and far-right extremists. when it’s mutually benefi cial and leadership training and refugee And $75,000 would go the Cross Much of the early funding went to doesn’t reduce protections for human Minimum Temperature : 330c assistance. Yet the City Council has Cultural Expressions Community law enforcement agencies, sowing and civil rights or equality. SATURDAY been debating for six months whether Counselling Centre, which provides concerns that the programme was With this grant, Los Angeles is Maximum Temperature : 420c to accept a $425,000 grant from the culturally appropriate counselling and conducting surveillance of Muslim- presented with the opportunity to Minimum Temperature : 340c mental health treatment in a range of Americans under the veneer of use federal dollars to address the root US Department of Homeland Security Fisherman's forecast to fund such services, amid concerns languages. community partnerships. causes that can drive individuals that the eff orts will stigmatise and But the council has yet to approve Those concerns have only been to violence, including alienation, WARNING target Muslims. the grant. Civil liberties and Muslim- heightened by President Trump’s hopelessness and mental health Inshore : Nil Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Offi ce American groups are vehemently demonisation of Muslims, from his problems. The need for social Offshore : Nil of Public Safety was awarded opposed, saying LA should not accept retweeting of anti-Muslim videos services in general often outstrips the competitive grant by DHS’s money from or partner with DHS in to his bigoted campaign proposal the supply, and few resources WEATHER Inshore : Misty at places at first Countering Violent Extremism light of President Trump’s policies and to impose a “total and complete may be available for families or becomes hot and rela- programme last year. The mayor’s rhetoric targeting Muslims. shutdown of Muslims entering friends of those who are being tively humid daytime, offi ce developed a reasonable plan The grant is part of a strategy the United States.” Last year his pulled toward violent extremist humid by night. to divvy up the money among local adopted not by Trump, but by the administration fl oated the idea of groups. This community-based, Offshore : Misty at times community groups to provide Obama administration in 2011 revamping the Countering Violent proactive approach to preventing counselling, workshops and education to develop community-oriented Extremism programme to focus radicalisation contrasts sharply with WIND Inshore : Northwesterly-North- to address the conditions that can lead approaches to prevent the recruitment exclusively on Islamic extremism and policies increasing favoured by the easterly 05-15 KT to violence. and radicalisation of potential leave out the right-wing groups. The Trump administration that promote a The goal, the mayor’s offi ce said, terrorists. The theory, which has found DHS later rescinded a $400,000 grant reactive, law enforcement approach. Offshrore : Mainly Northeasterly- is to provide social services that some support from researchers around that had been awarded to Life After This won’t be the last time city Southeasterly 03-12 KT combat hate and bias in all forms, the world, is that families, friends, Hate, a group that works to combat leaders grapple with whether Visibility : 4-8 KM/ 3 KM including white supremacy, bullying religious leaders and community white supremacist and far-right to partner with the Trump and Islamophobia along with Islamic members can help recognise the violence – an especially galling step administration. If Los Angeles can Offshore : 1-3 FT after the deadly violence at a white ensure the grant-funded programmes extremism, without the involvement early signs of radicalisation and Around the region of law enforcement agencies. intervene before a crime or violence is nationalist rally in Charlottesville. broadly address the conditions that Weather In ordinary times, these committed. So, yes, there are reasons to be wary fuel terrorism and do it in a way that Weather tomorrow Max/min investments probably wouldn’t be But the Countering Violent of the administration’s intentions in respects communities and protects today Max/min Sunny 44/28 controversial. The grant, for example, Extremism programme has been awarding these funds. civil rights – as Garcetti’s offi ce says Baghdad Cloudy 46/30 Sunny 47/34 would provide $45,000 to the Tiyya controversial from the beginning. At Nevertheless, Los Angeles shouldn’t it’s doing – then there’s no reason to Kuwait City Sunny 48/35 Sunny 41/33 Foundation, an Orange County-based fi rst, the programme was narrowly reject the grant out of hand – not when turn down the money. – Tribune News Manama Sunny 42/33 Sunny 38/32 refugee and immigrant assistance focused on preventing radicalisation the money presents an opportunity Service Muscat Sunny 38/32 Tehran Sunny 38/26 Sunny 38/26 Live issues Babies given solid food sooner sleep better

QNA frequently and had far fewer serious London sleep problems than those who were exclusively breastfed until about six Around the world months. Weather Weather study by King’s College The National Health Service today Max/min tomorrow Max/min London and St George’s (NHS) in UK and World Health Athens Sunny 34/23 Sunny 36/24 University of London has Organisation currently advise to Beirut Sunny 29/24 Sunny 29/26 Afound that babies introduced wait until around six months before Bangkok T Storm 30/26 T Storm 30/26 to solid foods early, slept longer, woke introducing solid foods, but these Berlin Rain 21/16 P Cloudy 27/14 less frequently at night and suff ered guidelines are currently under Cairo P Cloudy 36/24 Sunny 37/25 fewer serious sleep problems, than review. Cape Town Rain 14/09 Rain 13/08 those exclusively breastfed for around Despite the offi cial advice, 75% of Colombo T Storm 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 the fi rst six months of life. British mothers introduced solid food Dhaka T Storm 33/27 S T Storms 33/27 Offi cial advice is to breastfeed before fi ve months, with a quarter Hong Kong S T Storms 29/25 T Storm 27/25 exclusively for the fi rst six months of (26%) citing infant night time waking Istanbul Sunny 30/22 Sunny 31/23 life. as the reason for their decision, Jakarta P Cloudy 33/24 P Cloudy 33/24 In the study, in JAMA Pediatrics, according to the Infant Feeding Survey Karachi Cloudy 32/28 M Cloudy 32/28 giving solids earlier than six months of 2010. London P Cloudy 26/16 S Showers 26/16 had benefi ts for mum and baby. Prof Gideon Lack from King’s Manila T Storm 29/25 T Storm 28/25 The study, by King’s College, College, London, said: “The results of Moscow P Cloudy 26/15 P Cloudy 26/16 London, and St George’s, University this research support the widely held New Delhi S T Storms 34/28 T Storm 32/27 of London, surveyed 1,303 three- parental view that early introduction New York P Cloudy 29/20 M Sunny 29/21 month-olds, and divided them into of solids improves sleep.”While the Paris P Cloudy 27/17 P Cloudy 28/17 two groups. offi cial guidance is that starting solid Sao Paulo P Cloudy 18/08 P Cloudy 23/11 One group was solely breastfed for foods won’t make babies more likely Seoul M Cloudy 29/23 S Showers 29/22 six months, the other group was given to sleep through the night, this study Singapore S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 30/26 solid foods in addition to breast milk questionnaires every month until their The study showed that infants in suggests that this advice needs to be Sydney P Cloudy 17/06 M Sunny 16/06 from the age of three months. baby was 12 months old, and then every the group who ate solids as well as re-examined in light of the evidence Tokyo Cloudy 30/26 Cloudy 35/25 Parents then fi lled in online 3 months until they were three years old. breast milk slept longer, woke less we have gathered.” Gulf Times 24 Thursday, July 12, 2018 QATAR Mathaf project redefi nes cultural narratives, collective memories

By Joey Aguilar only trying to make sense of this boys and girls across the Arabian contemplate the past, the present making, typography and draw- Staff Reporter change, but are also looking to be Gulf to highlight this challenging and the future. ing, which evolved into multiple part of it by redefi ning existing topic. “The memories of these sto- mixed media installations. cultural narratives,” Mathaf di- She also deconstructs its forms ries are fragments torn out of a The artist’s recent exhibi- atar Museums (QM) rector Abdellah Karroum said in to redefi ne cultural narratives, book and are reconstructed to a tions include her participation opened the newest edi- a press statement. off ering a symbolic experience in much larger scale to emphasise in Contemporary Art Qatar in Qtion of its Project Space, “Mathaf is proud to collabo- a space in which the past and the their impact and importance in Berlin (2017-18); the 20/20/20 at titled ‘Bouthayna Al-Muftah: rate with a talented artist like al- present intersect. today’s local culture.” VCUarts Qatar’s Gallery, Doha, Echoes’, yesterday at Mathaf: Bouthayna and off er her a crea- “The mirror encapsulates this The exhibition, curated by Qatar (2017); Currents organised Arab Museum of Modern Art in tive platform to experiment with whole concept of the viewer lit- Fatma Mostafawi, also curator by EMERGEAST gallery (2017); Doha, showcasing the unique new ideas and push the bounda- erally being placed in my own at Mathaf, employs diff erent ar- Here, There, Al Riwaq Art Space, works of emerging Qatari artist ries of what is known and of what thoughts, and watching the ex- tistic media, including drawing, Doha, Qatar (2014); and the Mini Bouthayna al-Muftah. can be,” Karroum added. perience unfolds, as if from an- printmaking and installation, all Art Exhibition, Katara Visual The exhibition, running un- The project, presented by QM other time or planet,” al-Muftah coming together to archive col- Arts Centre, Doha, Qatar (2013). til September 10, presents the under the leadership of its chair- said. lective memories and personal QM noted that Project Space is artist’s ongoing research on the person, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa “This is my memory, and this encounters, as well as interro- dedicated to new tendencies in recollection of memories and a bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, is where I invite the audience to gate the relationship between artistic production and emerging refl ection on the rapid social and evokes shared local memories see themselves captured in this traditional collective stories and curatorial practices, according to cultural changes that have taken and questions current local cul- moment of time to pause for contemporary artistic expres- QM. place in the country over the past tural practices visibly infl uenced thought, refl ection and dialogue. sion. It is one of several QM initia- few decades. by technology and a growing “It is my aspiration to take A Bachelor of Arts gradu- tives that push the boundaries of “Qatar has seen an incred- sense of individualism. these stories and transform them ate from Virginia Common- traditional museums and create ible transformation over the past Al-Muftah contextualises to a non pragmatic way of expres- wealth School of the Arts in ideal environments for knowl- Qatari artist Bouthayna al-Muftah showcases her work at Project few years. This has created a new the lyrical ‘tag ‘tag ‘tagya, a tra- sion, which evokes the thoughts Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) in 2010, edge production, dialogue and Space at Mathaf. generation of artists who are not ditional group game played by of the viewers and invites them to al-Muftah focused on print- creativity.

‘Artist in Residence’ exhibition from July 17

Qatar Museums (QM) will host the third annual ‘Artist in Residence’ exhibition at the Fire Station from July 17 to October 1. Presented as a dialogue between art and artist, the exhibition will showcase the works of some of the most promising young artists in Qatar. This year’s edition, titled ‘Dual Inspirations,’ is presented as a conversation between two artists sharing their perspectives on the same topic. The exhibition will provide visitors with a thorough understanding of what the 18 artists have experienced during their residency and the ways in which it has enriched their craft. Simultaneously, ‘Contrapuntal: Artist in Residence Inspired by Modern Arab Art’ examines how the past can be studied and used to explore and express contemporary culture. The exhibition features selected artworks from Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art that were used as an inspiration by some of the Fire Station’s artists in residency. Under the visionary guidance of QM chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Fire Station has become the hub for Doha’s flourishing art scene in recent years.

Youth Panel members travel to Russia for World Cup observation experience

ix members of the Supreme Com- children with Down Syndrome. Fatima al-Naimi, a member of the dele- mittee for Delivery & Legacy (SC)’s Downside Up organised for one of gation, said: “This observation trip was in- SYouth Panel have completed an ed- its members to be a mascot during the formative, inspirational and invigorating. ucational trip to Russia to witness fi rst- opening game of Russia’s tournament. Meeting organisations such as Down- hand how host cities have engaged young Irina Menshenina, general director of side Up, Plekhanov University and FIFA people in their quest to host a memorable Syndrome of Love, a subsidiary of Down- Foundation allowed us to gather advice and inclusive FIFA World Cup. side Up, said: “We are excited about hav- on what made their initiatives success- The group, comprising two members ing an opportunity to raise the issue of ful, the challenges they encountered, and from each of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 inclusivity, both in Russia and globally, their tips for overcoming them. Youth Panel cohorts, visited Moscow and consider the World Cup as the per- “The trip was inspirational as it al- during the group stage of the 2018 FIFA fect arena to demonstrate the capacity of lowed us to visualise the plethora of op- World Cup and attended the Portugal people with Down syndrome. portunities that the FIFA World Cup pro- versus Morocco encounter at Luzhniki Our young people have played a key vided for the youth of the host country Stadium, according to a report on sc.qa role during the tournament by working and beyond. Established in 2015 by the SC, the Youth at the FIFA Foundation Festival and con- It was especially useful to me as a uni- Panel provides Qatar’s next generation of tributing as volunteers.” versity student as it illustrated the many sport and cultural enthusiasts the oppor- Youth Panel members also took part in functional areas that my peers and I could tunity to become part of 2022 FIFA World a workshop with the Volunteer Centre at help lead and operate to contribute to this Cup planning. Plekanov University, where they learned legacy that would soon be held in and In Moscow, the group met with organi- about the 2018 FIFA World Cup volunteer contributed to by my own country. It truly sations involved in formulating a role for programme. was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” youth to play a crucial part in the success They heard that Russian universities The visit concluded with observational of the tournament, including local NGO were being used as volunteer centres visits to the Moscow’s FIFA Fan Fest, the The group, comprising two members from each of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Youth Panel cohorts, visited Moscow during Downside Up – a group committed to across the country in order to support FIFA Foundation Festival and a cultural the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. improving the quality of life for Russian more than 30,000 participants. tour of Moscow’s major landmarks.