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Tuesday 9 April 2019 | 4 Sha'baan 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 7856 | 2 Riyals New Ooredoo tv

Google, Android, Android TV, Chromecast and other related marks Your hero for family entertainment and logos are trademarks of Google LLC. Qatar files lawsuit Prime Minister meets IPU President against currency manipulators QNA A lawsuit was filed Qatar but also to domestic and DOHA against Banque international investors. Their actions were deliber- The State of Qatar yesterday Havilland in London ately designed (and intended) to announced that it has filed legal for its role in force Qatar to take measures to proceedings in New York and designing a plan counter this financial market London taking actions against to attack Qatar's manipulation. The defendants financial institutions that in the New York legal action engaged in manipulation of the currency and its directed their manipulative Qatari Riyal, bonds issued by the financial markets. conduct at New York by among State of Qatar, and related It also named other things, submitting fraud- financial instruments, the Vladimir Bolelyy, ulent quotes to foreign exchange Government Communications platforms based in New York, to Office said in a statement an individual at the manipulate New York-based yesterday. bank as defendant. indices, and disrupt financial Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Gabriela Cuevas Barron, on the occasion A lawsuit was filed against Suits against First markets in New York, where sig- Banque Havilland in London for nificant Qatari assets are held of convening the 140th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Doha. They reviewed its role in designing a plan to Abu Dhabi Bank and and many investors in Qatar are a number of issues of mutual concern, especially in terms of cooperation in the parliamentary and attack Qatar's currency and its Samba Bank filed in located. As a result of the legislative fields, and ways of developing and strengthening it. financial markets. It also names New York. Defendants manipulative as a defendant the individual at conduct, the State of Qatar, and Banque Havilland, Vladimir many investors suffered harm Bolelyy, who was responsible for the State of Qatar and took a in New York, the statement preparing the plan to attack number of actions designed to added. Trump brands Iran’s Revolutionary Qatar's financial markets. In damage Qatar, its economy, and The manipulation involved addition, a separate lawsuit was its residents. As a result, Qatar a number of financial institu- Guards a terrorist organisation filed in New York against two initiated a number of legal pro- tions, two of whom are already financial institutions that ceedings before the International named as defendants in the legal REUTERS Iran immediately con- political system, controlling large engaged in financial market Court of Justice, International action in New York, and the State WASHINGTON demned the decision as an illegal swathes of the economy and the manipulation, First Abu Dhabi Civil Aviation Organisation and may bring additional actions act prompted by Tehran’s armed forces. Bank and Samba Bank, the World Trade Organisation, the against other bad actors in due US President Donald Trump regional influence and “success The IRGC’s involvement in statement added. statement said. course. yesterday branded Iran’s elite in fighting against Islamic State,” Iran’s banking and shipping It said that the filing of the In July 2018, the Interna- This financial market manip- Islamic Revolutionary Guard according to state television. industries could complicate lawsuits follows an investigation tional Court of Justice issued a ulation violated all norms of Corps a terrorist organisation, Tensions between the two matters with US allies, including into market manipulation ruling indicating provisional accepted conduct and will not an unprecedented step that countries have grown since the European Union, which is announced by Qatar in measures in favour of Qataris be allowed to go unchecked. raises the spectre of retaliation Trump pulled the United States setting up a new mechanism to December 2017, and represent who been discriminated by UAE While the financial market from Tehran in an increasingly out of a 2015 nuclear deal with facilitate payments for Iranian the first legal actions that the cohesive measures, it noted. manipulation failed in its efforts tense Middle East. Tehran last May and reimposed exports. State has brought based on the The statement said that the to undermine confidence in the It is the first time the United sanctions that had crippled Iran’s It was not immediately clear findings of that investigation. actions undertaken by the Qatari Riyal and Qatar, it none- States has formally labelled economy. Trump said the accord how yesterday’s move would The investigation is continuing entities that Qatar has now sued theless caused economic losses another country’s military a ter- did not address Iran’s ballistic impact Europe’s trade ties with and the State may bring actions were illegal and were designed and Qatar is compelled to take rorist group. missile activity or what he saw Iran. against other bad actors in due to destabilise Qatar's currency the actions necessary to call to “The IRGC is the Iranian gov- as its malign influence in the Those who do business with course. and financial markets in order account the financial institutions ernment’s primary means of region. the Guards could now receive up In June 2017, UAE, Saudi to undermine confidence in that engaged in illegal market directing and implementing its The IRGC is Iran’s most pow- to 20 years in prison and be barred Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt Qatar's economy and, by doing manipulation, the statement global terrorist campaign,” erful security organisation and from entering or doing business in imposed an illegal blockade on so, to cause damage not just to underlined. Trump said in a statement. has a huge influence in its the United States. `P10 Parliamentarians stress need to curb fake news Doha to host 8th Global

SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA Warming Conference QNA The parliamentarians from DOHA Six international around the world have stressed journals have been the need of legislation to monitor Doha will host the 8th Conference on contracted to publish social media to limit the dissem- Global Warming, organised by Qatar ination of lies and fabricated University with the support of the high-quality scientific news through these platforms. Qatar National Research Fund, which papers, which will During a debate by the will be held from April 22 to 25. be presented to the Standing Committee on The conference, which is conference, on a large Democracy and Human Rights attended by more than 170 on the sidelines of the 140th researchers and lecturers from the scale in special editions. Assembly of the Inter-Parlia- world’s leading universities, aims mentary Union (IPU), they to develop a better understanding unanimously agreed on the of global warming by promoting need to deal with fake news research and related studies in through effective legislation partnership with many interested the conference at the College of while protecting the freedom academic and industrial sectors to Engineering at Qatar University of press and expression. shape the future of this field and have confirmed that six interna- They also suggested the develop related research. tional journals have been con- establishment of an international A panel discussion by the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights on the third The conference will include tracted to publish high-quality sci- body to address the new chal- day of the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/ plenary sessions and keynote lec- entific papers, which will be pre- lenge as individual countries THE PENINSULA tures on energy, environment, sented to the conference, on a large could not provide solutions to materials, sustainable development scale in special editions. counter the phenomenon of fake figures in a way that is not use of media for citizen previous years, aiming to and industrial waste, as well as the Conference Chair Rahul news and other cyber crimes. easily verifiable. engagement approved in 2013 reduce the risks of uncontrolled development of the gas, oil and Bhosale said that this event has They noted that it is difficult The session also discussed and freedom of expression and flow of information on social petrochemical industry, providing been successfully organized since to distinguish between the previous IPU resolutions from the right to receive information media sites. greater opportunities for exchange 2008 in different parts of the world correct and fabricated news recent years which included approved in 2009. The majority of speakers in of technical information, presen- adding that the organizing com- because of the software and democracy in the digital era They also discussed the the meeting supported the need tation of new policies and scien- mittee started working on a large modern technologies that and the threats it causes to actions taken by their to take the necessary measures tific progress to promote sus- scale to promote success, especially publish news and videos and privacy and individual rights respective countries and the to meet the challenge posed by tainable development. in terms of developing its technical falsely attribute them to public approved in 2015, as well as the measures adopted during the the new media. `P2 The organisers of and social content. 02 HOME TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019

Qatar, UN Counter-Terrorism Office discuss Shura Council welcomes aspects of mutual cooperation dignitaries attending IPU

QNA its pride in hosting the State of defines the records of the DOHA Qatar for this important inter- auditors, the conditions and pro- national historic event, which cedures of registration in the The Shura Council held reaffirms the prominent position records, the rights and duties of yesterday its regular weekly of the State of Qatar and its the auditors, the disciplinary session under the chairmanship effective and influential role in responsibility of the auditors and of the Deputy Speaker of the the regional and international the violations and penalties to Shura Council, H E Mohammed arenas under the wise leadership be imposed on the violators. bin Abdullah Al Sulaiti. of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin The Council decided to refer At the outset of the meeting, Hamad Al Thani. the draft law to the Financial and the Shura Council welcomed The Shura Council expressed Economic Affairs Committee to Their Excellencies heads of par- the hope that the meetings of the study it and submit a report liaments and national, legislative 140th General Assembly of the thereon to the Council. and federal councils, national Inter-Parliamentary Union The Shura Council also dis- assemblies, parliamentarians, would be a success and come out cussed a draft law amending elders and heads of the delega- with results that contribute to some provisions of Law No. (15) tions members of the Inter-Par- realizing the ambitions and aspi- of 2010 on the prohibition of liamentary Union, who are con- rations of the peoples of the workers’ gatherings within the vening in Doha currently within world in peace, development residential areas of families. the framework of the 140th and progress. The Shura Council decided Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al General Assembly of the Inter- The Shura Council then dis- to refer it to the Services and Othman Fakhro yesterday met with the Undersecretary-General of the United Nations Office of Parliamentary Union (IPU) and cussed a draft law regulating the Public Utilities Committee to its associated meetings. auditing profession. The draft study and report thereon to the Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov, who is visiting the country. During the meeting, they The Shura Council expressed law, which includes (57) articles, Council. discussed aspects of mutual cooperation and means of supporting and developing them. Shura Council Deputy Speaker meets IPU, Tunisian Parliament officials

QNA head of foreign relations at National Security, Sergey DOHA Tunisia’s Assembly of the Rakhmanov, and Vice- Representatives of the Chairperson of the The Deputy Speaker of the People Mohammed Saidan. Standing Committee of the Shura Council, H E They discussed parlia- National People’s Congress Mohammed bin Abdullah mentary relations of the People’s Republic of Al Sulaiti, met yesterday between the Shura China, Shen Yueyue. with the President of Inter- Council and Tunisia’s During the two Parliamentary Union’s Assembly of the Repre- meetings, the parlia- (IPU) Committee to sentatives of the People, mentary relations between Promote Respect for Inter- and ways of boosting the Shura Council, the national Humanitarian them. In addition, They Belarusian National Law Nurhayati Ali. reviewed the issues on the Assembly and the National During the meeting, agenda of the 140th IPU People’s Congress of the they discussed enhancing General Assembly cur- People’s Republic of China the relations between the rently in session in Doha. were discussed along ways Shura Council and the The Deputy Speaker of supporting and devel- Committee in the also met with Chairman of oping them, in addition to framework of cooperation the Standing Committee of reviewing the issues on the between the Council and the Council of the Republic agenda of the ongoing the IPU. of the National Assembly 140th General Assembly of Also, the Deputy of the Republic of Belarus the Inter-Parliamentary The Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, H E Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Sulaiti, with the dignitaries, yesterday. Speaker met with assistant for Foreign Affairs and Union in Doha. Parliamentarians stress need to curb fake news FROM PAGE 1 Member of the National Assembly of Internet related legislation by non-gov- Dr. Abdullah Al Amri, member of the a source of concern for countries and “Freedom of expression is an Kuwait. ernmental organizations would Consultative Council of Oman, said that peoples. inherent human right and one of the He called for cooperation between undermine the authority of the State. the false and misleading news on social During the session, some members national principles which cannot be countries and social media companies He stressed the need of legislation media had become one of serious threats propose an establishment of an inter- undermined. But we warn of chaos from to achieve the required balance between involving all countries. to international peace and security. national body to monitor social plat- the publishing and broadcasting of reducing misleading and fake content For his part, member of the Iraqi The session hosted experts in tech- forms and to take punitive measures materials without restrictions or condi- and ensuring freedom of expression. parliament stressed the need of nology and new media and how they against violators, while some called for tions that fall within the limits of A member of the Gabon Parliament imposing sanctions on the promoters of work, and possible measures to reduce more cooperation between countries deception,” said Ali Al Daqbaashi, said that the idea of talking about hate speech. the risks of false news that are becoming because it is cross-border crime. MME, US Embassy organise workshop on air quality QNA of Municipality and Environment Eng. participants will be briefed on the DOHA Ahmed Mohammed Al Sada said in expertise and techniques used in air his speech that Qatar’s interest in the quality management in California and The Ministry of Municipality and Envi- environment and its sustainability in discuss possible areas of cooperation ronment, represented by the Environ- general and air quality in particular in this area. He hoped that the discus- mental Monitoring Department coincides with the global interest in sions and exchange of ideas will better opened yesterday a workshop in this regard, and this is clearly reflected improve air quality management in cooperation with the US Embassy in in Qatar’s National Vision 2030 in Qatar. Doha, on monitoring air quality. terms of protecting the environment During the two-day workshop, the The workshop aims to enhance for future generations and it is the Chief Executive Officer and Air Pol- the Qatari partnership with different duty of the Ministry as a responsible lution Control Officer of California countries, with the aim of exchanging authority in the state to always strive Jack Broadbent, will discuss possible experiences in the environmental field to develop capabilities and benefit areas of cooperation between the two and within the framework of bilateral from the experience of others in sides and exchange experiences and agreements. maintaining and improving air ideas on possible means to improve The Assistant Undersecretary for quality, he said. air quality management and identify Environmental Affairs at the Ministry Al Sada added that the best practices for best results. QRCS implements relief programme in Papua New Guinea QNA/DOHA persons, received household hygiene containers from the port. “This kits, water buckets, cooking pots, jer- donation was made by the State of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) rycans, and blankets. In preparation Qatar, through QFFD, for the benefit has completed a relief intervention to for the coming monsoon season, a of earthquake victims in Hela last help the victims of earthquakes and stockpile of relief items was stored at year, and the people affected by floods floods in Papua New Guinea, with ICRC warehouses, to ensure timely early in January 2019. We hope to funding from Qatar Fund for Devel- response. continue working closely with opment (QFFD). QRCS Head of Disaster Prepar- PNGRCS,” Ejjeh added. The project was coordinated with edness, Subhi Fahid Ejjeh, said, “The Pinu disaster chairman, Kevau Ao, Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society partnership started last year in Sep- commended the joint work by (PNGRCS) and the International Com- tember, with a memorandum of PNGRCS and QRCS to bring relief to mittee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It was understanding (MoU) signed between his village. “I was surprised to see that designed to alleviate the suffering of PNGRCS and QRCS to help the vul- the hygiene kits had all the necessary those affected by the earthquake, by nerable people whose lives were items for both men and women. We providing shelter, water, and sani- affected by disasters”. are very happy for these contributions tation aid for Pinu village, Gabadi Ejjeh expressed QRCSs thanks to to our living standards. Such Kairuku Hiri District, Central the Government of Papua New Guinea assistance was quite useful and met Province. and the National Disaster Office for the needs of the affected population,” A total of 200 families, or 1,200 facilitating the release of relief he stated. TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 HOME 03 Shura Council Speaker meets parliamentary heads

QNA Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, on the currently held in Doha. During the DOHA sidelines of the 140th IPU meeting, they discussed the Assembly currently held in Doha. existing parliamentary relations The Speaker of the Shura Council, During the meeting they dis- between the State of Qatar and H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid cussed the existing parliamentary the Islamic Republic of Iran and Al Mahmoud, who is also the Pres- relations between the State of ways to boost and develop them. ident of 140th Assembly of the Qatar and the other states and The meeting also reviewed topics Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) ways to boost and develop them. on the assembly agenda. met separately with the President The meeting also reviewed topics The meeting was attended by of the Consultative Council of the on the assembly agenda. the Head of the Qatari-Iranian Sultanate of Oman, Sheikh Khalid The Shura Council Speaker Parliamentary Friendship Com- bin Hilal Al Maawali; the Speaker and President of the 140th IPU mittee, Rashid bin Hamad Al of the National Assembly of the Assembly also met with the Meadadi, the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait, Marzouq bin Ali Speaker of the Consultative Islamic Republic of Iran to Qatar, Al Ghanim; and the Chairwoman Assembly of the Islamic Republic Mohamed Ali Sobhani, and a of the National Assembly of the of Iran, Ali Larijani, on the side- number of Shura Council Socialist Republic of Vietnam, lines of the 140th IPU Assembly members.

QNA mentary Union (IPU) , met sepa- of the Palestinian Liberation countries were discussed along European countries, Canada, discussed the parliamentary DOHA rately with the Speaker of the Movement, Azzam Al Ahmad; on ways of enhancing them, in Australia and New Zealand in the relations between the State of National People’s Assembly of the sidelines of the ongoing addition to reviewing the topics Inter-Parliamentary Union, Qatar and the Twelve Plus The Speaker of the Shura the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, meetings of the IPU General on the agenda of the General Duarte Pacheco, the head of the Group along means of sup- Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Cipriano Cassama; the Speaker Assembly in Doha. Assembly. Portuguese delegation, on the porting and developing them, in bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, who is of the Georgia’s House of Repre- During the meetings, the par- The Speaker of the Shura sidelines of the ongoing meetings addition to reviewing the topics also the President of 140th sentatives, Irakli Kobakhidze; liamentary relations between the Council also met with the Chair of the IPU General Assembly. on the agenda of the General Assembly of the Inter-Parlia- Head of the parliamentary bloc State of Qatar and each of these of the Twelve Plus Group, During the meeting, they Assembly.

The Speaker of the Shura Council, Parliament Speakers discuss cooperation H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, who is also the Pres- to strengthen legislative institutions ident of 140th Assembly of IPU, met with the Under-Secretary-General QNA institutions and supporting their the development of the legislative of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, DOHA supervisory and diplomatic roles. institutions’ roles, and the per- Vladimir Voronkov, on the sidelines The Speaker of the Shura formance of the tasks of law leg- of the IPU meetings currently in The heads of parliaments partic- Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah islation and supervision over session in Doha. ipating in the meetings of the bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, who is also management, as well as their sig- During the meeting, they dis- 140th General Assembly of the IPU the President of the 140th General nificant contribution to diplomacy cussed the relations between the held a meeting, the first of this Assembly of the IPU, delivered a and foreign relations. He stressed State of Qatar and the United kind in the history of the Union, speech in which he welcomed all the need to provide all resources Nations, especially in the field of in which the speakers of councils the participants who accepted the and promote the role of media and combating terrorism. The two sides from all over the world took part, invitation to attend the meetings social media to keep pace with the also reviewed the topics on the to discuss cooperation and of the IPU as well as to attend this work of the legislative councils agenda of the General Assembly. exchange of experiences and all first-ever meeting. The Speaker and inform the public opinion of means of strengthening legislative of the Shura Council highlighted their work and functions. Shura Council Speaker for launching global campaign to assist cyclone-hit African countries

THE PENINSULA Zimbabwe and Malawi affected protect the planet and the world the participating countries in over- DOHA by cyclone Idai. environment, including the Paris coming the catastrophic effects of Al Mahmoud said that the Convention, and work to reduce cyclone Idai. The Speaker of the Shura Council, emergency item had been adopted global warming and emissions in The 140th Assembly of the IPU H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid by the General Assembly on the atmosphere, including the and Related Meetings continued Al Mahmoud, who is also President Sunday that called for urgent carbon dioxide. its discussion on the role of the of 140th Assembly of the IPU, has international action to help the For their part, the represent- parliaments in promoting edu- called for launching of a global three African countries hit by the atives of the three affected coun- cation for peace, security, rule of campaign to help the governments cyclone recently. tries explained in detail the dev- law, facing conflicts that are based of three cyclone-hit African coun- Speaking on behalf of the State astation caused by the cyclone and on hate. The participants said that tries. of Qatar and not as the President the emergency needs of their parliaments play a vital role in The 140th General Assembly of the General Assembly of the countries and their vision of how building peace, security and sta- of the IPU resumed its proceedings IPU, the Speaker of the Shura to deal with and overcome its bility in the world and in pre- yesterday in which discussions on Council expressed Qatar’s deep effects with the help of friends, venting the escalation of violence the role of the parliaments in pro- condolences and solidarity with The Speaker of the Shura Council, H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid partners and the international by promoting education opportu- moting education for peace, three countries and their peoples. Al Mahmoud, who is also the President of 140th Assembly of the community. They noted that many nities for all to build healthy, security, rule of law continued as He also called for the launch of a Inter-Parliamentary Union, at the meeting, yesterday. citizens in the three countries have willing and sustainable societies. well as emergency item on global campaign to help the gov- died, in addition to the displaced They said societies suffer great humanitarian assistance to African ernments of the three countries to much human and material environmental sanitation and and refugees, including large loss due to conflicts and spread of countries of Mozambique, Zim- overcome the plight and to meet damage in the three countries. clean drinking water. numbers of children and women, hatred, reflected in the economic babwe and Malawi affected by the needs of their citizens. The speakers expressed their The speakers also referred to a matter which requires actions. indicators of countries with con- Cyclone Idai was also discussed. The Speaker of the Shura solidarity with these countries and climate change that causes such The representatives of States flict. They said these conflicts have Al Mahmoud chaired the Council gave the floor to the rep- with the victims of the cyclone and disasters, and the importance of and organisations expressed their resulted in losses estimated at $14 meeting of the General Assembly resentatives of the countries and called for mobilising international recognising its risks. They also thanks to the IPU for discussing trillion, or about 12 percent of to discuss the emergency item on organisations that asked to talk support to provide them with called on the countries, especially this disaster and expressed their world GDP in 2016, reflecting the humanitarian assistance to the about this emergency item on the assistance, especially in the fields the industrial ones, to abide by the gratitude for the sympathy, con- magnitude of the tragedy in those African countries of Mozambique, humanitarian catastrophe that left of shelter, food, health, international conventions that tributions and support shown by communities. 04 HOME TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 Minister meets Swedish parliamentary delegation ‘We are not participants, Qatar is our own country’

SIDI MOHAMED THE PENINSULA

Secretary of the National Assembly of Kuwait, Ouda Al Ruwaie, has said that the Inter-Parlia- mentary Union (IPU) Assembly and meetings are important for all participating countries, and Qatar has succeeded in hosting and organising the Assembly as per expectations. Speaking to The Peninsula on the sideline of the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and related meetings, Al Ruwaie further said: “We are in Qatar but we are not participants; we consider ourselves in our own country.” These parliamentary meetings are being held for the first time in a Gulf Arab country and many Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman important topics have been discussed in relation Fakhro, yesterday met with First Deputy Speaker of the Swedish House of Representatives, Asa Lindestam, to many issues, whether peace or education or the and a number of members of the House participating in the ongoing meetings of the General Assembly fight against terrorism and others.” of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Doha. They discussed aspects of mutual cooperation and means He said that the Kuwaiti parliamentary dele- of supporting and developing them. gation had played a major role in coordination Secretary of the National Assembly of Kuwait, Ouda Al between the GCC, Arab and Islamic parliaments Ruwaie, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the for the inclusion of a number of emergency items 140th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union at the that are under discussion. Al Ruwaie noted that Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel there are also issues of sustainable development, Attorney-General meets Speaker of Moroccan House yesterday. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT/THE PENINSULA education, women empowerment, respect for reli- gions and minorities rights which would be dis- cussed during parliamentary meetings. “It is an important meeting because it is being “We support the discussion on common issues held for the first time in a Gulf Arab country. The that all countries are facing as it an international presence of delegations from 162 countries and the parliament with 162 member states,” he added. participation of 2271 delegates including 80 Speakers is a testament to Qatar’s success in terms of interna- tional partnership,” he said. In a press statement, Al Ajmi noted that this con- ference is being held for the first time in a Gulf Arab county and we wish more success to Qatar. Commenting on the speech of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the opening of the 140th Assembly of the IPU, the Ambassador said: “It was a comprehensive speech especially his rejection of the American declaration of annex- ation of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights to Israel, which are most important issues for us as Arab countries.” “Also all the issues discussed by the Assembly and related meetings are important for all countries Attorney-General, H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, met yesterday with the Speaker of House of Councilors at of the world. I hope the Assembly will come out with the Moroccan Parliament, Hakim Benchamach and First Vice-President of the House of Representatives a statement reflecting the hopes of Arab and Islamic at the Moroccan Parliament, Abdelaziz El Omari. They exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual peoples on issues that concern them,” he said. interest and means of enhancing cooperation between the two countries. Regarding brotherly relations between two Hafeez bin Mohammed Al Ajmi brotherly countries, the Ambassador said: “ there is an active participation of the State of Kuwait with a Kuwait Speaker meets Ministry of Foreign Affairs official ‘Successful IPU Assembly proves high level parliamentary delegation headed by Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait Marzouq QNA Assembly of the Inter-Parlia- Ministry of Foreign Affairs reit- world’s confidence on Qatar’ Ali Al Ghanim in the IPU Assembly.” DOHA mentary Union (IPU) meetings, erated the appreciation of the The Ambassador further said: “We are happy of currently in session in Doha State of Qatar for firm the stands Ambassador of Kuwait to Qatar, Hafeez bin Marzouq Ali Al Ghanim’s speech at the session of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Discussions during the of the State of Kuwait, its Mohammed Al Ajmi, said that Qatar’s hosting of General Assembly of the IPU on theme ‘Parliaments Speaker Marzooq Ali Al Ghanim meeting dealt with relations brotherly people and the Kuwaiti the 140th session of the General Assembly of the as platforms for the promotion of education for peace, met yesterday with Spokes- between the two countries and National Assembly towards the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) demonstrates security and the rule of law’, when the Speaker said person of the Ministry of Foreign brotherly peoples and means of Arab and Islamic nations issues, the confidence of the international community in that he was addressing the Assembly from Qatar, Affairs Lulwa Al Khater, on the boosting them. at the heart of which is the Pal- the capacity of the State of Qatar to prepare and one of the six pearls that make bright Gulf sidelines of the 140th General HE the Spokesperson of the estinian issue. organize important international conferences. necklaces.” Parliamentarians can play crucial role in transition to green economy: UN official

SACHIN KUMAR Senior Legal Officer, United are subsidies for polluting tech- other innovative processes (the policies which promote a green THE PENINSULA Nations Environment Programme, nologies and industries, par- principle of efficiency). At more economy. United Nations Environment liament can remove these sub- advanced stages of development, The green economy is an As decision makers and opinion Programme told The Peninsula. sidies and see that subsidies are the green economy also seeks to indispensable pathway to meet the leaders, parliamentarians can play “Parliamentarians can create used of other better purposes,” she ensure that efficiency gains inter-related economic, social and a decisive role in the transition to requirements for green pro- added. She explained green throughout the economy are not environmental objectives of sus- the green economy in their curement because governments economy looks beyond the tradi- nullified by exceeding levels of tainable development. At its core, respective countries, said a senior are usually the biggest consumer tional model of systematic eco- consumption and production. this economic model calls for a re- UN official. “There several things in a country. So if a country nomic growth to one in which eco- The transition to a green think of the very meaning of that parliaments can do (to move decides that it wants to go green nomic development maximizes economy can advance the global human development and progress towards green economy). Exer- then by requiring government to human well-being within a low sustainable development agenda as something more than material cising their law making power purchase services and equipment carbon, resource efficient and by providing a pathway to poverty accumulation, important as this they can ensure that there is more that are green then you start the socially inclusive economy. eradication and supporting the measure may be. investment into technologies that revolution of supporting the green based on sharing, circularity, col- The green economy seeks to implementation of the Sustainable When fully applied, the green promote green economy they can economy,” she added. laboration, solidarity, resilience, drastically reduce waste and limit Development Goals. economy can lead to a more equi- ensure that investment into An inclusive green economy opportunity, and the resources and energy that go Many countries are taking, or table social order, a more fulfilling research and development for is low carbon, efficient and clean interdependence. into consumption and production, have already taken, steps to lifestyle, and a more symbiotic green technologies,” Mario in production, but also inclusive “Parliaments can also examine particularly through the devel- reform their legal and governance relationship between people and Socorro Manguiat (pictured), in consumption and outcomes, what subsidies are in place. If there opment of new technologies and structures to incorporate laws and nature. Secretaries-General of National Parliaments meet QNA The task of the Assembly is to study the practices and promoting joint action and some DOHA working methods of various parliaments, propose special issues and developments related to measures to improve these approaches and ensure parliamentary work, including the use The Assembly of Secretaries-General cooperation between the interests of these parliaments, of modern technologies, information of the National Parliaments held its and advise the Inter-Parliamentary Union on some issues technology and electronic services as first meeting yesterday as part of the within its competence if the Union so requests. auxiliaries in the work of 140th General Assembly of the Inter- parliaments. Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently The Assembly of Secretaries- being held in Doha to discuss a Inter-Parliamentary Union on some of the National Parliaments included General of the National Parliaments number of issues on the agenda of the issues within its competence if the important topics, practical and is scheduled to continue its three-day IPU General Assembly. Union so requests. research papers, valuable discussions, meetings within the framework of the The Assembly of Secretaries- At the beginning of the meeting dialogues and meetings that would 140th General Assembly of the Inter- General of National Parliaments is an yesterday, Secretary-General of the enrich the debate and serve as a useful Parliamentary Union. advisory body to the Inter-Parlia- Shura Council H E Fahd bin Mubarak resource for the deliberations of the The Secretaries will address the mentary Union to facilitate commu- Al-Khayarin, spoke about the impor- participating members. role of their parliaments and review nication between the Secretaries- tance of convening the General He reviewed the experience of their various experiences in parlia- General of the Parliament, whether Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary the Shura Council in the State of Qatar, mentary work, as well as regional and members of the Union or others. Union, noting that the State of Qatar which dates back to 1972, and talked international cooperation and the The task of the Assembly is to attaches great importance to the about its functions, structure and importance of training programs, in study the practices and working work and joint parliamentary coop- composition of committees. addition to addressing the issues methods of the various parliaments, eration, within the framework of A number of secretaries-general related to the drafting of legislation propose special measures to improve joint cooperation and from several national parliaments and laws as well as the formulation these approaches and ensure coop- coordination. around the world also spoke about of the draft agenda for their next eration between the interests of these He said that the agenda of the the experience of their parliaments meeting to be held in Belgrade, Serbia parliaments, and advise the Conference of the Secretaries-General and the role of Parliament in in October. TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 HOME 05 Bangladesh Speaker calls for parliamentary friendship group SANAULLAH ATAULLAH arrival in Doha on April 5. THE PENINSULA “I extended invitation to the Speaker of Shura Council of Qatar to Speaker of Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad visit Bangladesh with his esteemed del- (National Parliament), Shirin Sharmin egation,” said Chaudhury. Speaking about women empowerment which was Chaudhury, has said that parlia- Speaking about women empow- on the agenda of discussion for the 140th Assembly mentary friendship group between erment which was on the agenda of of the IPU and Related Meetings, Chaudhury said: Qatar and Bangladesh is likely to be discussion for the 140th Assembly of formed in near future to enhance the IPU and Related Meetings, “If we create appropriate atmosphere and equal parliamentary cooperation between Chaudhury said: opportunities for women at work then we can have two countries. “If we create appropriate atmos- “I have had a meeting with Speaker phere and equal opportunities for more women in career and professions, which will of the Shura Council H E Ahmed bin women at work then we can have more contribute to better building of society and nation.” Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud and women in career and professions, which shared with him the idea of forming will contribute to better building of “The opening ceremony was share with everybody else about women parliamentary friendship group for society and nation.” splendid. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin empowerment in our country.” more interaction, exchanges of visits She said that the challenge was to Hamad Al Thani greeted us and the She said that the Prime Minister of Speaker of Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad of parliamentarians between both create an enabling environment for heads of the Parliamentary Delegations Bangladesh who has been elected to (Parliament) Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury brotherly countries,” said Shirin women where they could continue their were honoured with an opportunity to that position four times, is a woman. “I Sharmin Chaudhury. professional endeavours as the women meet H H the Amir before the inaugural have been elected to the parliament Speaking to The Peninsula on the have big responsibility towards their Chaudhury. session which was a great opportunity thrice. Our opposition leader and sidelines of the 140th Assembly of the families and children. She said that Doha is a beautiful for me to convey best wishes from my deputy leader of the House are also Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), “I would like to congratulate Qatar city. “We are really enjoying our stay Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed and women,” she added. Chaudhury said that she was very for hosting this important event which and having very important delibera- people of Bangladesh.” She said that women are at very happy on being received by H E the covers parliaments around the globe, tions, interactions and meetings during The Speaker said: “Bangladesh has important leadership positions holding Speaker of the Shura Council on her its members and speakers,” said the last three days.” a very unique story to tell the world and apex constitutional positions. Parliamentarians highlight role of free trade in achieving economic equality

SACHIN KUMAR realization of the principle of chain by creating an environment THE PENINSULA equality among all participating supporting SMEs and building countries. their human, technical and The Standing Committee on The draft resolution seeks to financial capabilities so that they Sustainable Development, Finance encourage parliaments to take can understand policies and proc- and Trade discussed the role of fair measures to ensure free and fair esses in global supply chains and and free trade in achieving trade and investment by reviewing respond to these profitable economic equality, sustainable national and global policies to requirements. infrastructure, industrialisation ensure equity, and calls for strong During the meeting, parlia- and innovation. and growing investment in infra- ments were invited to support the During a plenary meeting held structure to stimulate economic participation of SMEs in interna- The Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade, discussing the role of fair within the framework of the 140th growth to address unemployment, tional trade through measures and free trade. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA General Assembly of the Inter- improve social welfare and reduce aimed at reducing trade barriers Parliamentary Union (IPU) and poverty. across countries, enhancing the that the interests of women, youth arrangements and commitments public-private partnership. associated meetings, parliamen- During the session, parlia- role of foreign direct investment and vulnerable communities are with the objectives of sustainable Parliaments were invited to tarians stressed on the need to ments were called upon to pay as a means for SMEs to access integrated into the development development. take action that would contribute encourage Small and Medium particular attention to the allo- international markets and and implementation of the Gov- The session stressed the to the strengthening of trade facil- Enterprises (SMEs). cation of foreign direct investment increasing access of SMEs to ernment’s trade and industrial pol- importance of focusing on the itation infrastructure, together During the meeting new pro- in specific sectors to ensure an market information. icies to achieve equality, fairness current and future trade and with the implementation of trade posals were incorporated and equitable distribution of resources Parliaments were urged to use and justice. investment system, and taking into facilitation measures to develop included on some of the draft res- in all economic fields, and legislative and political frame- It was also stressed that par- consideration principles and trade-related infrastructure, as olution, as well as the adoption of They were urged parliaments works based on fundamental prin- liaments should be actively mechanisms through which free well as the strengthening of pro- certain items and the deletion of to enact relevant legislation and ciples of human rights, decent involved in the process of consid- and fair trade can support the ductive capacities aimed at other items, in order to reach the policy frameworks to enable SMEs work, sustainable development ering trade arrangements and rec- achievement of sustainable devel- increasing the competitiveness of best formula and guarantee the to enter the international supply and good governance to ensure onciling these national opment goals, and strengthening products in export markets.

The participants at the workshop organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the sidelines of its meetings. Qatar shares experience in maternal, newborn and child health programs

QNA top five in annual prosperity and child healthcare. DOHA index, which topped by Sin- Gabriela stressed that if gapore, followed by Luxem- countries do not allocate the At a workshop organised by the bourg, Japan and Switzerland. appropriate budgets for health Inter-Parliamentary Union on Al Mansouri pointed to some aspects, people will be vul- the sidelines of its meetings in health institutions that play an nerable to diseases and their Doha, the State of Qatar important role in ensuring public life as well as devel- yesterday outlined its experience maternal, newborn and newborn opment plans will be in developing the health sector health, such as the Sidra Med- disrupted. and focused on various icine and other institutions oper- The IPU President reviewed maternal, newborn and child ating in the healthcare system in a number of statistics on health programs. the country, highlighting various maternal and child health, indi- The workshop was held in programs and initiatives in this cating that around 38 women cooperation with the World regard. worldwide die every day during Health Organization (WHO). During the workshop, Pres- childbirth and that 99 per cent Reem Bint Mohammed Al Man- ident of the IPU Gabriela Cuevas of women deaths worldwide are souri, Member of the Shura Barron drew attention to the in poor regions because of poor Council and Chairperson of the Union’s plans and programs to health care. Women Parliamentarians push various countries to For their part, participants Forum, presented Qatar’s vision develop programs, funds and in the a workshop on maternal, on maternal and child health and allocations to improve maternal, newborn and child health reviewed the efforts made by the newborn and child health. reviewed their country’s plans Ministry of Public Health and She said maternal and child and highlighted figures related medical institutions in Qatar. health was an urgent issue of to maternal, child and neonatal She stressed that wise lead- great concern to the IPU, noting mortality. ership in Qatar pays great that, to this end, the Union has In the field of legislation, attention to the health sector in strong partnerships with the Chairperson of the National general and maternal and child WHO and with the United Council of Namibia Margaret health in particular as the Nations. Williams reviewed the efforts mainstay of building the country. She added that they have an made by her country, while a She added that Qatar spent important agenda for maternal member of the Senate in Mexico, $6.33bn on healthcare in the past and child health, hoping for deci- reviewed a number of legislative year, becoming the only country sions that countries will issues relating to maternal and in the region ranked among the implement to improve maternal child health in her country. 06 HOME TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019

Qatar, Philippines discuss ways to boost ties

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, being welcomed by the Vietnamese Embassy officials and community members during her visit to the Vietnam Embassy on Sunday. PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA Vietnam National Assembly Chairwoman

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, Teodoro L Locsin, met yesterday with lauds efforts of embassy and community the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Philippines, Ali bin Ibrahim Al Malki. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways of developing them, in addition to matters of mutual interest. RAYNALD C RIVERA Vietnam Ambassador remarkably developed by THE PENINSULA Nguyen Dinh Thao said leaders of the two countries. the visit of Ngan to Prominent in bilateral relations Vietnam’s National Assembly Qatar was important in 2018 was Qatar Airways’ Instant fee cashback by sending Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim launch of direct flights con- Ngan has lauded the efforts of since it came just a necting Doha and Da Nang. This money globally with Ooredoo Money the Vietnamese Embassy and the year after Qatar and event is of great significance for contributions of the Vietnamese Vietnam celebrated the development of Da Nang in THE PENINSULA Also, existing Ooredoo all across Qatar, through any community in boosting the rela- the 25th anniversary particular and the Central region DOHA Money cusomters will get a Ooredoo Shops or partner tions between Vietnam and of Vietnam in general. Through instant cashback of QR5 if they outlets or even transfer money Qatar. of the establishment traffic connections, economic, Ooredoo announced yesterday send money 60 days after their directly from any bank account Speaking at a meeting with of diplomatic ties. He trade and investment sectors will that Ooredoo Money customers last international money in Qatar to their wallet. the Vietnamese Embassy staff was optimistic her be the priorities of the two sides who send money for the first transfer transaction using As well as instant money and representatives of the Viet- in the future,” said the ambas- time using existing Ooredoo Oroedoo Money. transfer to 200 countries with namese community at the visit would contribute sador. Since its establishment in Money International Money The new offer has been MoneyGram, Ooredoo Money embassy on Sunday, Ngan to further bolstering 2008, the Vietnamese embassy Transfer partners MoneyGram, designed to encourage more customers can also send money encouraged the community to the relations between has been trying its best in pro- Aldar Exchange or Ooredoo people to use Ooredoo’s secure, to any international bank abide by the local laws and reg- the two countries. moting the relations between the Exchange will enjoy up to a instant money transfer services accounts via Aldar or Ooredoo ulations as well as expressed two countries. QR25 instant fee cashback with MoneyGram. Exchange in selected countries. hope that the community would There are about 1,400 Viet- reward. To send money, Ooredoo Ooredoo Money can also be used continue to maintain solidarity organised and facilitating her namese residents in Qatar rep- Any Ooredoo customer who customers must register for an to send money locally to any and help each other in times of comfortable stay. resented by the Vietnamese subscribes to Ooredoo Money Ooredoo Wallet via the USSD mobile wallet or QNB bank need. Vietnam Ambassador Community Liaison Board, and sends money using an inter- menu (*140#) or the “Ooredoo account, recharge a Hala mobile On her second time visiting Nguyen Dinh Thao said the visit which includes 10 members who national money transfer option Money” app. account, pay Shahry bills, pur- Qatar, Ngan admired the of Ngan to Qatar was important have been trying their best to for the first time will enjoy The Ooredoo Money app is chase data and Dawli cards, pay progress that had taken place since it came just a year after provide help and assistance to instant cashback of up to QR15 available via the Apple App DPS School fees, and much since her first visit in 2009 with Qatar and Vietnam celebrated Vietnamese people in Qatar in of their transaction fee. Cus- Store and Google Play store and more. the rise of new beautiful the 25th anniversary of the times of need, he said. tomers will also enjoy a QR5 has seven language options It can also be used to buildings adding to Doha’s mag- establishment of diplomatic Over the past year, the Viet- instant cashback each for the (Arabic, English, Hindi, recharge international prepaid nificent skyline. ties. He was optimistic her visit namese Community Liaison Board second and third transactions Malayalam, Bengali, Tagalog mobile numbers in over 100 The National Assembly in would contribute to further has closely cooperated with the respectively. and Nepali). countries, purchase data Doha to attend the 140th bolstering the relations Embassy to organise many activ- This will enable Ooredoo Customers can deposit bundles or even pay DTH/other Assembly of the Inter-Parlia- between the two countries. ities to celebrate the 25th anni- Money customers to try the money into their mobile wallet bills in selected countries mentary Union (IPU) being “During the past years, the versary of the establishment of service for free in most of the from any of over 200 Ooredoo including India, Bangladesh, the hosted in Qatar for the first time political relations between the diplomatic relations between countries. Self-Service Machines (SSMs) Philippines etc. which she praised for being well two countries have been Vietnam and Qatar, he added. Qatar Airways launches new BRIC’s amenity kits collection THE PENINSULA The new collection of transforms it into a contem- entertainment. Our new line of DOHA porary cross-body bag, enabling BRIC’s amenity bags is of such BRIC’s amenity kits passengers to continue using high quality that they can be used Qatar Airways has revealed its includes designs and their unique BRIC’s amenity kit over and over again and for the new line of luxurious amenity contents created for as a fashion accessory. This kit first time, our female passengers kits for passengers in its First both male and female comes in two colours, black with in first class can enjoy turning Class and Business Class cabins. red trim and red with pink trim. their amenity kits into cross- Created by BRIC’s, the celebrity- passengers and The attractive First Class men’s body bags. favoured premier luxury travel features all natural kit comes in two colours, With our men’s kits doubling brand, the new amenity kits will Castello Monte Vibiano mustard yellow with navy trim up as washbags too, we are be distributed to passengers in Vecchio skin care and navy with green trim and further demonstrating our com- First and Business Class on long- can be reused as a washbag for mitment to providing superior, haul and ultra-long-haul flights. products. years to come. innovative products for our The new collection of BRIC’s Qatar Airways Senior Vice passengers.” amenity kits includes designs anti-ageing moisturiser in President Marketing and Cor- The airline’s new range of and contents created for both Business Class, with Night porate Communications, Salam amenity kits comes in a variety male and female passengers and Recovery Cream included in the Al Shawa, said: “We aim to of colours for male and female BRIC’s mustard-navy men’s kits. features all natural Castello First Class kits. Socks, eye- provide a superior service to all passengers – black, green, Monte Vibiano Vecchio skin care shades and earplugs complete of our passengers – from the mustard yellow, navy and red – products. The range includes lip the range, with the addition of a and hairbrush in First Class. versatile First Class female kit comfort of their seat, to the food with more colours to be added balm, hydrating facial mist and BRIC’s signature spectacle pouch For the first time, the contains an adjustable strap that they are served, to their in-flight in the future. Kahramaa to hold 7th annual celebrations of Tarsheed on April 15 QNA launch of a number of com- 18 percenr, reducing carbon DOHA petitions, including two com- emissions by 10.2 million petitions for students: the best tonnes, reducing natural gas Qatar General Electricity & story writing competition and consumption by 265,000 Water Corporation (Kahramaa) the best graduation project for million cubic feet, and helped will hold its 7th annual cele- energy efficiency competi- save QR5bn. brations of the National tions, in addition to five com- According to the second Program for Conservation and petitions related to different national strategy 2018-2022, Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed) sectors in the country, the best Tarsheed Program started on April 15. sustainable building design Phase II in 2017, which aims to During the celebration, competition, the best poster reduce electricity consumption Kahramaa will announce the design competition, con- by 8 percent and water 15 winners of Tarsheed compe- serving buildings competition, percent by 2022, and reducing tition, which launched this year the best renewable energy ini- harmful carbon emissions by 7 7 competitions, in the tiative competitions and the percent, improving and imple- framework of its keenness to best performance award for menting regulations and spec- spread public awareness and district cooling system ifications for all electrical and cultural and societal values of competitions. water devices and connections, IIS wins patriotic song contest rationalisation and con- Since its launch until the and providing technical The Ideal Indian School team members who secured first position in the Patriotic Song Competition sumption efficiency among the end of 2017, Tarsheed Program support to a number of projects organised by QMASS, a socio-cultural organisation in connection with the Republic Day of India, posing members of society. has succeeded in reducing per in the country to produce The national program capita consumption of elec- 500-700 MW of renewable for a picture. Principal Syed Shoukath Ali congratulated the team on their glorious victory. 'Tarsheed' announced the tricity by 17 percent, water by energy by 2022. TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 HOME 07 HBKU to explore arbitration of Human Rights disputes

THE PENINSULA Professor Ratner’s including territorial disputes, counter- DOHA teachings and researches terrorism strategies, ethnic conflict, state focus on public and corporate duties regarding foreign The College of Law and Public Policy international law and a investment, and accountability for (CLPP) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University human rights violations. (HBKU) will host a colloquium, Arbi- range of legal challenges He began his legal career as an trating Business and Human Rights including territorial attorney-adviser in the Office of the Disputes: A New Way Forward, on April disputes, counter- Legal Adviser at the United States 17. Guest speaker, Steven R Ratner, the Department of State, and has advised Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of terrorism strategies, governments, NGOs, and international Law at the University of Michigan Law ethnic conflict, state and organisations on numerous international School, will lead the colloquium, which corporate duties regarding law issues. aims to highlight the efforts of the foreign investment, and CLPP takes a multidisciplinary Business and Human Rights Arbitration approach to legal education, equipping Working Group of the Center for Inter- accountability for human its students with the skills to navigate national Legal Cooperation (CILC) in The rights violations. complex civil law, common law and Hague. Sharia’h systems. Steven R Ratner (centre), the Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of Law at the The working group, of which Ratner The college’s Juris Doctor (JD) University of Michigan Law School, will lead the colloquium on April 17 at Minaretein. is a member, provides an avenue for international partners and build capacity program is the first and only graduate dispute resolution involving business and knowledge in Qatar and the region, law degree of its kind in the region. The and human rights issues. It seeks to fill Susan L Karamanian, dean of CLPP, said, session, providing attendees with an while ensuring an inclusive, high-quality colloquium will take place on the judicial remedy gap set forth in the “Professor Ratner’s wealth of expertise opportunity to glean valuable infor- research and education ecosystem.” Wednesday, April 17, from 4pm to 6pm United Nations Guiding Principles on in the area of corporate accountability mation on this developing branch of the Professor Ratner’s teachings and at Conference Room 1, Minaretein Business and Human Rights. for human right violations will law. HBKU continuously seeks oppor- research focus on public international (College of Islamic Studies Building) in Speaking ahead of the event, Dr undoubtedly contribute to an insightful tunities to leverage synergies with key law and a range of legal challenges Education City. HMC’s ambulance service provides Public urged to be cautious of heatstroke faster approach for 8th consecutive year FAZEENA SALEEM involves cooling the body down,” heat exhaustion, they should THE PENINSULA he told media persons. cool the body down right away THE PENINSULA Heatstroke is a condition to avoid getting heatstroke,” he DOHA With the temperatures are rising caused by your body over- said. and the summer season is fast heating, usually as a result of “To cool the body down one The average time for Hamad approaching, people have been prolonged exposure to or can spray oneself with cool Medical Corporation’s (HMC) urged to be cautious of heat- physical exertion in high tem- water and then sit in front of a Ambulance Service to respond to stroke. peratures, which needs imme- fan; move into the shade, or go emergency calls in Qatar is faster Heatstroke is a condition diate attention. into an air-conditioned building than the target set by Qatar’s first which requires emergency High body temperature, or car; take a cool shower or National Health Strategy in 2011. treatment. People are also likely altered mental state or bath; drink water or a sports In 2018, HMC’s Ambulance to get heat cramps and heat behaviour, change in sweating, drink. Take off any extra Service responded to approxi- exhaustion, if exposed to the hot nausea and vomiting, flushed clothing; and put a cold pack or mately 115,000 priority 1 calls — sun without a protection. skin, rapid breathing, racing cool cloth on the neck or armpit,” the most urgent category of calls Though these conditions are heart rate and headache are he added. and reached the emergency site not as serious as heat stroke, symptoms of a heatstroke. Dr Esmail also insisted that In 2018, HMC’s Ambulance Service responded to 115,000 in an average time of 7 minutes they can lead to heatstroke if Dr Esmail also said that children should not be left alone priority 1 calls. within Doha and 8.2 minutes in they are not treated, said Dr people should look out for in a car or in an outdoor activity, rural areas of Qatar. Khalid Zahraldin Mohamed symptoms of heat cramps or during the hot weather. Brendon Morris, Executive an increase in the number of calls follow all instructions and give Esmail, Pediatric Pulmnology heat exhaustion. “Heat cramps “Children should always be Director of HMC’s Ambulance received by the service year on way to ambulances. Consultant at Hamad Medical cause painful muscle cramps. accompanied by an adult and Service, highlighted the impor- year. In recent years the Ambu- “This is the third time we have Corporation (HMC). Heat exhaustion can cause head- should wear less clothes. If the tance of ambulance teams arriving lance Service has expanded the run the campaign and it is vital “Heat stroke is common aches, dizziness, nausea, or vom- family observes something like in time to provide what is often LifeFlight Service, introduced a that we continue to remind during summer and is a medical iting. It can also make you thirsty fast breathing they should seek lifesaving care. new state-of-the-art ambulance members of the public of the emergency. If this happens one or tired. medical intervention. Children “In a medical emergency, fleet and built dispatch points importance of following the should call the ambulance. The If anybody present should always be kept hydrated,” every second counts. When some- around the country. These steps ‘Know the 5’ instructions,” said Ali main treatment of heatstroke symptoms of heat cramps or he added. one’s life is in the balance it is vital have enabled the service to reach Darwish, Assistant Executive that our paramedics are able to patients quickly, regardless of Director of the Ambulance get to them as fast as possible and their location. Service. begin administering medical This week the Ambulance “The campaign asks the public treatment,” said Morris. Service relaunched its ‘Know the to ‘Help us help you’, as the actions “The National Health Strategy 5 to save a life’ national awareness of the person calling 999 are 2011-2016 set clear response time campaign, aimed at educating the essential in enabling us to respond targets for the Ambulance Service public about the key actions to as quickly as we do. By following and I am incredibly proud that we take when calling an ambulance each and every one of the ‘Know have consistently met, and even in an emergency situation. the 5’ instructions, our ambulance exceeded, these targets for the The campaign’s ‘Know the 5 teams have all the information past eight years,” he said. to save a life’ messages are: dial they need to get to the scene as These impressive response 999 immediately, know your quickly as possible,” added times have been achieved despite location, answer all questions, Darwish. 08 VIEWS TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 How far can Haftar get ESTABLISHED IN 1996 with his Tripoli offensive? CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR YOUSSEF CHERIF MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED AL JAZEERA [email protected] n April 4, Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar announced in DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR a voice recording circulated MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI Oonline that he was launching [email protected] a military campaign to take over the capital, Tripoli. His media office then released a video purporting to show tens of armoured vehicles bearing the emblems of Haftar’s “Libyan National Army” (LNA) heading towards the Libyan capital. Tripoli would fall in 48 EDITORIAL hours, his forces declared. The Tripoli-based and UN-recog- Libyans queue outside a bank in central Tripoli’s Al Andalus district, yesterday. nised Government of National Accord (GNA) seemed taken by surprise. It In January, his forces launched an bin Zayed paid to Egypt, where he met Promoting education scrambled to mobilise various militias operation to take over major oilfields Egyptian President Abdel Fattah backing it to defend the capital and in the south and by the end of the el-Sisi. It is quite unlikely that Haftar’s he world is facing many challenges in providing quality eventually launched airs attacks month were able to enter Sabha, the closest allies were not informed about and inclusive education. The importance of education against Haftar’s forces. largest city in southern Libya. Having the planned operation. Tin disseminating knowledge and fighting ignorance Despite the severity of the situation established control, at least nominally, The timid response by the interna- as the cornerstone of all aspects of life, development and and the risk of another bloody esca- over two-thirds of Libya, Haftar tional community to his offensive on sustainable growth, was highlighted at the 140th General lation in the years-long Libyan conflict, turned his gaze on Tripolitania Tripoli - which was launched as UN Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related the response of the international com- (western Libya) and the capital Tripoli. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meetings currently under way in Doha. Qatar has focused munity was rather weak. The United With a UN-led national conference was visiting the Libyan capital - shows on education, thanks to unlimited support from the coun- Kingdom called an emergency Security scheduled for mid-April, Haftar has- that many countries consider Haftar as try’s leadership in terms of curriculum development and Council meeting on Friday night, which tened to maximise his territorial gains the solution for Libya, not just the UAE, the use of new technologies in the development of teachers resulted in a statement calling on and hence his leverage over his oppo- Egypt and Saudi Arabia. and students. Haftar to “halt all military advances”, nents at the GNA. At the same time, the Haftar is also hoping to capitalise Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, giving a after Russia and France insisted on ongoing civil unrest in Algeria gave on the increasing discontent among speech at the opening of the 140th Assembly of the IPU, minimal pressure on the LNA. Mean- him a rare window of opportunity to the civilian population in western said: “Education in our time has become a social right that while, the US pulled out some of its launch a military operation. Libya. The situation inside Tripoli - as has turned into an integral part of human rights, and has troops stationed in Libya. Worried about the Libyan conflict in other Libyan cities - has been been included in the Goal 4 of the 2030 Sustainable Devel- As the GNA announced a “counter- spilling over into its territory, the steadily deteriorating. Crime, inse- opment Goals. Investing in quality education is one of the offensive” on Algerian leadership has been pressing curity and corruption have been on most important elements of building the economy, advancing Sunday, the for a political solution in Libya and has the rise. societies, and achieving growth and prosperity. But igno- situation in hosted several meetings between The capital is divided between dif- rance is one of the most important obstacles to people’s the country Libyan actors. For Algiers, the GNA and ferent militias, and the GNA is itself growth and renaissance. remains the Islamist forces in Libya have to be weak and corrupt. As nostalgia for the “Qatar has paid special tense. With included in any conflict settlement to Gaddafi era has crept in, Haftar has attention to international coop- The Tripoli-based conflicting ensure the stability of the country. It tried to project himself as a military eration in the field of education and UN-recognised reports has perceived Haftar’s zero-sum games strongman who could unite the and provided development Government of coming from as dangerous and potentially destabil- country and bring back stability and support to some developing National Accord both sides, ising. Moreover, in its status of North order. This self-styled image as Libya’s countries in various regions of and what Africa’s hegemon, Algiers sees his Arab saviour has been promoted by a The importance the world, as well as interna- (GNA) seemed appears to be allies - Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia massive propaganda machine largely of education in tional organizations operating taken by surprise. a massive - as geopolitical foes. backed by the UAE. disseminating in this field. Our country has also It scrambled to battle of mis- Given Algeria’s political and mil- The situation on the ground is knowledge and launched numerous initiatives mobilise various information itary clout in the region, Haftar had changing rapidly and is rather unpre- in the field of supporting and raging on, it avoided moving close to Algerian dictable, but at this point, there are at fighting ignorance promoting education in collab- militias backing it to is very dif- borders and kept open communi- least three possible scenarios for what as the cornerstone oration with national and global defend the capital ficult to judge cation channels with the Algerian happens next in Libya. of all aspects of partners such as the initiatives: and eventually what is really leadership until a few months ago. The First, the Tripoli offensive can life, development “Educate a Child”, the World going on on purge that Algeria’s security and mil- become a protracted conflict similar to Innovation Summit for Edu- launched airs the ground. itary apparatus went through in mid- the one that Benghazi witnessed, and sustainable cation (WISE), and other attacks against At this 2018 and the uprising which erupted which lasted three years. This would growth, was initiatives.” Haftar’s forces. point, what is in February 2019 against President take a heavy toll on the civilian popu- highlighted at the Speaker of the Shura Council clear is that Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s rule gave Haftar lation and infrastructure, and would H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Haftar has a unique opportunity to launch his spoil Haftar’s hopes to enter the 140th General Zaid Al Mahmoud said the received enough international backing expansionist military campaign, capital as a popular and much- Assembly of the choice of this year’s subject — to press on with his operation and its without much backlash from Algiers. awaited saviour. IPU and related parliaments as platforms to outcome will be determined by what Haftar probably also received the Second, a quick victory is also not meetings currently enhance education for peace, happens in the coming weeks. green light from his foreign backers. It out of the question and it would very security and the rule of law — An LNA operation to take over is no secret that Egypt, the United Arab much depend on whether Haftar is under way in Doha. for discussion comes at a time Tripoli was always just a question of Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Jordan, able to win over enough militias that of increasing calls for paying time. After securing full control over and increasingly Russia and France, would join his forces and help him special interest to the quality of education. The Speaker Benghazi in eastern Libya in 2017, have been providing the LNA with mil- take control of Tripoli without a fierce stressed that just focusing on expanding the provision of over the past year, Haftar has steadily itary and political support. fight. He has been conducting negotia- education is no longer sufficient, if it can’t be linked to values pressed on to expand the territories In late March, Haftar travelled to tions with a number of militia leaders of love and tolerance. The Speaker highlighted that parlia- under his control, while also engaging Riyadh to meet Saudi King Salman, already - a strategy that had helped mentarians have a role to play in that regard, by promoting in talks with the GNA sponsored by which roughly coincided with a visit him make quick territorial gains in his education that celebrates diversity, whether cultural, reli- various foreign actors. Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed campaign in southern Libya. gious, or ideological. IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron said parliament members play a major role in addressing the issue of edu- cation in a rapidly changing world, the most important of which is to make education inclusive and opportunity- Border ‘emergency’: The problem Trump can’t fix driven. She also highlighted the importance of instilling the culture of gender equality in new generations by teaching AFP The number of migrants arriving in stiff political and legal barriers, these values in schools and through practice. families, and as unaccompanied including his own courts. Education is one of main pillars of a progressive society he resignation of Homeland children, has also soared, straining He has demanded billions of and has the power to make this world a better place for out Security Secretary Kirstjen facilities to house and process them. dollars to build a wall along the border, future generations. Nielsen underscored the failure Several have died while in US custody. but Congress has refused to fund it. In Tof President Donald Trump to Most are from Guatemala, El Sal- response he declared a national emer- halt uncontrolled immigration, one of vador and Honduras, and they often gency to divert funds from military the key promises of his presidency. cross the US border from Mexico in projects, but now faces legal challenges More than two years after he took groups numbering more than 100. to that. office, tens of thousands of mostly Once over the border they turn them- Trump wants Mexico to halt trans- QUOTE OF THE DAY Central Americans flood across the selves in to US officials and request iting migrants, but action by the southern US border each month, asylum, citing poverty and violence Mexican government has been limited. Our common requesting asylum so that they cannot back home. US and international laws Last week he threatened to shut border with Turkey immediately be sent back home. guarantee that if a person crosses the down border ports to pressure Mexico is protected well, Trump wants his officials to take a border into the country and requests economically to act. But US business tougher stance, but is stymied by US asylum, their case must be reviewed by and politicians from both parties told because our reciprocal laws protecting migrants and a Con- an immigration judge. Trump that would damage the US agreements are being gress unwilling to change them. That means the migrants can stay economy as well. implemented. In the first six months after Trump inside the US until their case is heard. According to news reports, Nielsen However, there are took office in January 2017, the US Currently the backlog for immigration resigned Sunday after opposing border patrol apprehended about cases is nearing 900,000 with wait- Trump’s push to restart a former policy problems with our [EU] 20,000 undocumented migrants each times around two years. Released to separate migrant children from their partner Greece. month, the lowest level in years. inside the United States to wait, most families, which he believes was a Since then the numbers have migrants are never seen again. strong deterrent to crossing the border. Boyko Borisov steadily increased. In the six months to Trump has sought ways to deter That policy has been ruled illegal in Bulgarian Prime Minister February, apprehensions topped migrants against the strong pull of US courts and labelled a human rights 60,000 a month, and March could have better jobs and security that the US violation by US and international rights neared 100,000, officials say. offers, but he has been frustrated by activities. TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 OPINION 09 Indonesia’s front line in the war on fake news

small army of “hoax busters” Prabowo Subianto. Both are hit daily inent voice of Islamic hardliners. in Indonesia is trying to hold with false reports and doctored head- “What scares me is when hoaxes the line against a swarm of lines circulated by fans, detractors are mixed with hate speech because fake news that threatens to and for-hire fake news fabricators they often use false information to A Despite the huge sway millions of voters as the world’s known as buzzers. spread animosity along on ethnic, third-biggest democracy heads to the Misinformation emerged in the racial and religious lines,” said Ferdi- volume of fake news, polls. 2014 election, which Widodo won, nandus Setu, spokesman for Indone- pollsters say that MOSES OMPUSUNGGU While many countries fret about said Ari Nurcahyo, a political analyst sia’s communication and information AFP the explosion of online falsehoods, at the Para Syndicate think tank. ministry. The ministry created an 80 among committed observers say Indonesia’s enormous “Now it’s much more difficult to person, around-the-clock fact- supporters of either social media audience — and low contain so the effect is more checking team to debunk hoaxes and presidential candidate, levels of digital literacy —make its destructive, not only for the candi- other fake news, with officials false stories make little April 17 polls particularly vulnerable. dates but also for society,” he said. announcing the results at regular A whopping 130 million people — “If it’s not dealt with properly press briefings. difference either way about half the population — spend an then we’ll have serious issues even Joining the offensive are hun- in terms of their voting average of over three hours daily on after the election.” dreds of volunteers at the NGO choice. social media, one of the highest rates Fears are growing that fake news Mafindo, which is among two dozen A whopping 130 globally. is cracking open social and religious organisations that belong to a unique million people — about Analysts say much of what they fault lines in the Southeast Asian digital verification coalition called half the population — are reading about the 245,000 candi- nation of 260 million, which has sig- CekFakta — linked to Indonesia’s top banned political advertisements spend an average of dates, who are standing for every- nificant ethnic and religious minor- news outlets. from outside Indonesia ahead of thing from the presidency to local leg- ities, including Hindus, Christians and Widodo, who still leads Subianto the polls, and shut hundreds of over three hours daily islative seats, is untrue. Buddhists. by a wide margin, has blamed false accounts and pages linked to a on social media, one The online battle is particularly Indonesia’s reputation for reli- information for hurting his chances in group accused of spreading hate of the highest rates fierce over the reputations of Pres- gious tolerance has already been vote-rich West Java, the Muslim speech and false claims. globally. ident Joko Widodo, who is running for tested in recent years by extremist majority country’s most populous Police have also cracked down, re-election, and his challenger violence and the increasingly prom- province. Online, Widodo haters say rounding up freelance fakers and he is selling off the country to China members of the Muslim Cyber and other foreign interests. Army (MCA), a cluster of loosely Or they claim he is a communist, connected groups that attack the intent on banning the daily call to government and stoke religious prayer and legalising gay marriage -- extremism on social media. unpopular moves that the practising Despite a string of arrests, Muslim has never advocated. online trolls are still trying to But Subianto also has online confuse with claims like boxes of detractors who air falsehoods such as cash were found inside a crashed that the retired general wore smart helicopter carrying a political can- glasses to give him an unfair edge didate, suggesting she was corrupt. during televised presidential debates. Photos of the downed heli- “Both sides are playing with copter — which were real — were rumours, altering facts and data,” said accompanied by false stories about Syamsuddin Haris, a political analyst the money. at the Indonesia Sciences Institute. “Many people can tell when a Despite the huge volume of fake photo or video has been doctored, news, pollsters say that among com- but the problem is when they’re mitted supporters of either presi- real but the accompanying nar- dential candidate, false stories make rative is false,” said Mafindo co- little difference either way in terms of founder Aribowo Sasmito. their voting choice. The real target — and the places the hoaxes can make a difference -- is the undecided voters which are esti- mated to number as much as 15 percent of the huge electorate and maybe enough to tip the balance. Indonesians participating in a campaign rally calling for clean elections in support of presidential and vice-presidential Facebook, which has a fact D-RING ROAD candidates Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno, in Jakarta. checking partnership with , has POST BOX: 3488 DOHA - QATAR [email protected] t’s hard to cross a plaza or park in all four strains of dengue were circu- who has studied the Venezuelan crisis. metropolitan South America lating countrywide. Venezuela’s per “For malaria, you draw blood and without running into “The Lib- person funding for populations at risk look for parasites under the micro- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE erator” Simon Bolivar, sword of contracting malaria was the lowest scope. When you have a virus and TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 I don’t know what it is or does, and FAX: +974 4455 7758 raised atop a bronze horse. But who in the Americas after Peru and French remembers Arnoldo Gabaldon? The Guiana. So depleted is primary care have no cheap, quick way to diagnose, Venezuelan epidemiologist fought that pregnant Venezuelans prefer then you’re completely unprepared.” MANAGING EDITOR MAC MARGOLIS malaria with maps, field laboratories, risking their lives and fleeing the Boli- Dealing with viruses like dengue is TEL: 4462 7505 BLOOMBERG quinine and armies of door-to-door varian republic to giving birth at home. especially vexing. Spread by highly But when such migrants travel, adaptable mosquitoes that breed in DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR they also carry ills that Venezuela’s still clean water, bite by day and TEL: 4455 7769 neighbors thought they’d beaten. After flourish in crowded quarters, dengue logging just one case of measles travels well and is wondrously LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743 between 2008 and 2015, Brazil adapted to chaotic urban Latin Venezuela’s health crisis is reported more than 10,000 infections America. Six epidemics hit Venezuela BUSINESS NEWS SECTION last year. Most patients bore D8 gen- from 2007 to 2016, compared with TEL: 4462 7535 the hemisphere’s problem otype measles, the dominant strain four epidemics in the previous 16 circulating in Venezuela. The Vene- years, according to a recent study in SPORT NEWS SECTION zuela epidemic has also been linked to The Lancet Infectious Diseases. TEL: 4455 7745 outbreaks in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela’s statistical blackout fumigators, making Venezuela a Ecuador and Peru. and chronic underreporting of infec- ONLINE SECTION pioneer in eradicating malaria in The World Health Organization tions also mean that the country’s TEL: 4462 7501 densely populated areas. reckoned that a Venezuelan malaria accelerating outbreaks point to a [email protected] Gabaldon would be sweating in outbreak was responsible for 84 wider threat. “Mosquitoes move a percent of the increase in infections in couple of hundred meters over their his bed netting today. Half a century PUBLIC RELATIONS the Americas in 2017. Venezuela alone lifetime. But people travel hundreds of on, Venezuela is a hothouse for TEL: 4455 7613 kicked in 53 percent of all reported kilometers if they’re walking, thou- malaria again, but also communicable [email protected] miseries from HIV/AIDS to Zika. For- cases regionally in 2016 and 2017. sands if they travel by boat, bus or plane,” said Donald Shepard, a health gotten diseases such as diphtheria and “The human exodus has become a ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT economist at Brandeis University’s measles rage. Leprosy, tuberculosis disease exodus. Contagion is one of TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 and typhoid fever are back, alongside our most prolific exports,” Venezuelan Heller School. FAX: 4455 7870 emerging mosquito-borne viruses, infectious disease pathologist Alberto What’s worse is that many people [email protected] such as dengue, Zika and chikun- Paniz-Mondolfi, a member of the - including most of those infected with gunya. New HIV infections jumped 24 Venezuelan National Academy of dengue and up to 80 percent with CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT percent from 2010 to 2016. Medicine, told me. Like many of his malaria - carry disease but do not fall TEL: 4455 7857 Now the worst humanitarian crisis colleagues working in precarious con- ill. “When people move they take bugs [email protected] in the Americas risks becoming a ditions, Paniz-Mondolfi improvises. with them, even if they don’t know it,” hemispheric emergency, as nearly 3 To speak to me, he had to go to a clinic said Duane Gubler, an expert on SUBSCRIPTION & million Venezuelan refugees and in central Venezuela powered by emerging infectious diseases, and DISTRIBUTION migrants ferry their pathogens across natural gas, a safeguard in a country emeritus professor at Duke-NUS TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 The World Health the continent. pockmarked by blackouts. Medical School, Singapore. “Viruses FAX: 44557819 Venezuela’s failing health is no sur- Fortunately, Venezuela’s mutate as they pass through humans, [email protected] Organization prise: The disastrous Nicolas Maduro neighbors are better prepared to deal sometimes increasing the fitness of reckoned that government has made the economy with dangerous outbreaks. In recent the virus and creating epidemic a Venezuelan and national infrastructure a shambles. decades, many have made strides in potential.” Serial blackouts and scarce supplies fighting debilitating and lethal dis- Not surprisingly, dengue and All thoughts and views malaria outbreak have devastated hospitals, where eases. But Venezuela’s collapse has malaria are flaring on the Colombian was responsible nursing staff are forced to ventilate also left health professionals in the border, a no-man’s land where expressed in these columns for 84 percent of intubated patients manually and to dark; the Ministry of Health stopped outlaws lurk, wildcat miners dig for are those of the writers, the increase in reuse disposable surgical gloves. A publishing its once-respected health gold and then take their winnings and not of the newspaper. third of Venezuelan physicians have bulletin in 2016. For Venezuela’s contagions back home, and holdout infections in the left the country since 2014, according neighbors, that disappearance makes guerrillas from the Revolutionary Americas in 2017. to the Venezuelan Medical Federation. evaluating and treating refugees a Armed Forces of Colombia and the All correspondence Venezuela alone Add to that the toll of global human deadly guessing game. National Liberation Army roam. “It’s a regarding Views and kicked in 53 percent folly: Severe droughts likely linked to “We see cases of encephalitic hard place to work if you’re a phy- Opinion pages should be disruptive climate change have forced disease on the Brazilian border that sician or health worker,” said Martin sent to editor-in-chief of all reported cases Venezuelans to store water at home, a appear to be viral, but no one knows Llewellyn, who studies vector-borne regionally in 2016 perfect swarm for aedes aegypti, the for sure,” said Aileen Chang, an arbo- diseases at Glasgow University. “It’s office or mailed to the and 2017. mosquito that spreads dengue, chikun- virus researcher at the George Wash- an open sore right on a critical [email protected] gunya, yellow fever and Zika. By 2016, ington University School of Medicine, border.” 10 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 Air strikes halt Tripoli flights; thousands flee AFP At least 35 people powers to back or oppose a TRIPOLI have been killed in sometimes bewildering array of groups. Haftar’s controversial A warplane carried out an air fighting since Haftar’s and surprise offensive on Tripoli, strike yesterday against the forces launched launched last week, has forced Libyan capital’s only functioning their assault on interested parties to lay their airport and halted all flights, Thursday, Libya’s unity cards on the table about what aviation authorities said, as they believe is the best way to fighting raged for control of government said, restore order in the north African Tripoli. while the UN says country. Thousands were also thousands have been On one side of the struggle is reported by the United Nations displaced. Haftar, the military commander to be fleeing the capital city in and strongman of eastern Libya. the face of Haftar’s surprise And on the other Fayez Al Sarraj, assault which has left dozens armed groups since the Nato- who leads the United Nations- Planes are pictured at Mitiga International Airport in Libya’s capital Tripoli after it was closed following dead. A security source at Mitiga backed overthrow of dictator endorsed Government of an air strike, yesterday. airport east of the city said no Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. National Accord, which has side had yet claimed responsi- Haftar, a former Gaddafi mil- control of Tripoli. said. On the other side of the ostensibly played the role of arguing Paris had from 2015 bility for the raid, which hit a itary chief, has emerged as a The key allies of Khalifa are fight, the UN-backed Sarraj gov- mediator between Haftar and “endorsed Haftar to demonstrate runway without causing major player, his self-styled the United Arab Emirates, Egypt ernment retains substantial Sarraj, organising two meetings French commitment to the fight casualties. Libyan National Army (LNA) and increasingly Saudi Arabia. support from Italy, which has between the Libyan rival leaders, against radical Islamists.” At least 35 people have been backing an administration in the “The fighting in Libya has close ties with and strong eco- one in July 2017 and the other in French involvement in Libya killed in fighting since Haftar’s country’s east in opposition to turned into a proxy war between nomic interests in its former May 2018. But in reality the under President Emmanuel forces launched their assault on the UN-backed government Gulf rivals,” according to James colony. French position is less clear, and Macron has caused tensions in Thursday, Libya’s unity gov- based in Tripoli. Dorsey, a senior fellow at the S. “Historically, the Italians Paris — which maintains close the past with Italy, which has his- ernment said. The civil aviation The capital’s main airport Rajaratnam School of Interna- have always maintained very ties with Cairo, Riyadh and Abu torically been the lead European authority decided “to suspend was destroyed in fighting in 2014. tional Studies in Singapore. good relations with Tripoli,” said Dhabi — has been accused of power in the country. aerial traffic until further notice” Mitiga airport is on a former mil- Neil Partrick, a Middle East Ali Bensaad, professor at the favouring Haftar’s side in the “France and Italy are on the to Mitiga airport, said itary base on the city’s eastern out- specialist based in Britain, said French Institute of Geopolitics, power struggle. “France is no same wavelength,” French Mohammed Gniwa, a spokesman skirts, and it was forced to close that Haftar has had the support pointing to Italy’s interests in longer playing the role of Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le for national carrier Libyan Air- several times because of clashes of Egypt and the United Arab Libyan energy reserves through mediator,” said Bensaad. “Its Drian claimed on Saturday. lines. An airport source, who did between militias last year. Emirates from the outset while its oil firm ENI. strategic alliance with the Gulf Meanwhile, Russia has been want to be named, confirmed the The offensive by Haftar on recently Saudi Arabia began The support of Rome, a countries is pushing it to mould seen as an enthusiastic supporter closure. Tripoli has thrown into sharp openly backing him as well. colonial power in the early 20th its geopolitical strategies.” of Haftar, hosting meetings with There has been heavy relief the divisions between Previously Riyadh had been century, also has a lot to do with In July 2016, France him in Moscow. But since his fighting near Tripoli since the world powers over how to end “discretely backing” Haftar while its “priority (of) ending the flow announced the death of three offensive, Moscow has in public forces of military strongman the chaos that has riven Libya publicly professing political of migrants” coming from Libya, soldiers in a helicopter accident at least distanced itself from the Khalifa Haftar launched an since the 2011. support for the UN-backed gov- said Arturo Varvelli, head of the in Libya, where they had been military strongman, with the assault aimed at taking the Over the last years, com- ernment in Tripoli. North Africa Program at the supporting Haftar’s forces during Kremlin calling “on all sides to capital. Oil-rich Libya has been peting factions and militias have But the strongman was Italian Institute for International an intelligence-gathering reject actions that could provoke rocked by violent power sprouted up controlling different invited to visit Riyadh in March Political Studies in Milan. mission. “The French position is bloodshed in battle and the struggles between an array of parts of Libya, leaving foreign in a show of support, Partrick For its part, France has ambiguous,” said Varvelli, deaths of civilians”. Netanyahu, Gantz make final pitch ahead of vote Iran declares US ‘state AFP Netanyahu’s Likud and Gantz’s hopes for a two-state solution Netanyahu’s pledge an “irre- sponsor of terrorism’ JERUSALEM Blue and White a similar number with the Palestinians. sponsible” bid for right-wing of seats in the 120-seat In an interview on Sunday, votes. AFP/TEHRAN Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin parliament. Netanyahu said US President He says he favours a “glo- Netanyahu sought to energise Under those polls, both Donald Trump, who is expected bally backed peace agreement” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council yesterday declared the supporters on the eve of today’s would fall far short of an outright to release his long-awaited deal that sees Israel hold on to the United States a “state sponsor of terrorism” and US forces in the elections with warnings and majority and would need to pull for Israeli-Palestinian peace large settlement blocs in the region “terrorist groups”, state media said. controversial promises, while his together a coalition. sometime after the election, was West Bank and maintain security In a statement carried by the official news agency Irna, it said the centrist challenger urged voters If polling trends hold, aware of his plans. control over the territory. move was in response to the United States designating Iran’s Islamic to tell the premier the country Netanyahu would be best placed Netanyahu said he planned Gantz has also highlighted Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a “terrorist organisation”. The council has had enough. to build an alliance thanks to to apply sovereignty gradually, his security credentials while slammed Washington’s move as an “illegal and foolish act”. The general election — in smaller right-wing parties close and that he did not differentiate saying he will heal divisions he In response, it “declares that it considers the regime of the USA which Netanyahu is seeking to to him. But there have been between Israel’s large West Bank accuses Netanyahu of a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ and ‘the Central Command of America, extend his 13 years in office despite repeated warnings about opinion settlement blocs and the isolated exacerbating. known as CENTCOM’ and all forces related to it ‘terrorist groups’,” corruption allegations against him polls’ historical unreliability and ones located deep in the territory “There’s a need for change the statement said. Part of America’s vast military presence around — is expected to be close, as ex- the fact that many voters say on land the Palestinians see as and an opportunity for change,” the globe, CENTCOM’s area of command covers multiple war zones military chief Benny Gantz poses they remain undecided. part of a future state. Gantz told Israel’s army radio . and hotspots including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and the Gulf. a serious challenge. Netanyahu’s claims that “Who else can do this? Who “Israel needs to choose a Iran’s top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif had earlier urged The two men spent the cam- Likud may lose were widely seen can do this? Come on. Honestly,” direction of unification, con- President Hassan Rouhani to place CENTCOM forces on Tehran’s paign’s final hours exhorting as a way to encourage his base Netanyahu said, making the case nection and hope—or of list of terror groups, his ministry said. Zarif blasted the US move on voters with two different strat- to turn out. Netanyahu has made as he has throughout the cam- extremity.” Twitter, saying it was timed to support Israeli Prime Minister Ben- egies: Netanyahu repeatedly last-minute appeals to the right, paign that he is Israel’s essential The two were also engaging jamin Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary election in the warned that his Likud was at risk issuing a deeply controversial statesman. in typical pre-election cam- Jewish state. “A(nother) misguided election-eve gift to Netanyahu. of losing, while Gantz made the pledge to annex settlements in “Who can stand in front of paigning, including Gantz riding A(nother) dangerous US misadventure in the region,” he wrote. case that Israel was on the verge the occupied West Bank. the world? Who can stand in a motorcycle to his rally on The US decision came as part of already far-reaching attempts of historic change. If done on a large-scale, front of the American Congress? Sunday and Netanyahu visiting to undermine the Iranian government. President Donald Trump The truth was more compli- applying Israeli sovereignty Who can move public opinion in Jerusalem’s main market said the “unprecedented” move “recognises the reality that Iran is cated, with opinion polls giving there could extinguish remaining that direction?” Gantz has called yesterday. not only a State Sponsor of Terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.” Students among 11 civilians dead SA court okays Mozambique in Sana’a: UN ex-minister’s extradited to US AFP/JOHANNESBURG AFP/SANA’A A South African court ruled yesterday that a Mozambican ex-finance The United Nations called minister held since December on a US arrest warrant can be extra- yesterday for an investigation dited to either the United States or his home country. Michael Chang, into the deaths of 11 civilians 63, was arrested at Johannesburg’s main airport on December 29 over including students in Yemen’s alleged involvement in fraudulent loans to Mozambican state firms capital, where rebels accused worth $2bn. Magistrate William Schutte ruled that “there is evidence a Saudi-led coalition of carrying that Manuel Chang has committed the crimes he is charged with and out a deadly air strike. that all conditions are met so he can be tried in the United States”. Scores more civilians were wounded in Sanaa on Sunday, Seven dead in Sudan protests according to a statement released by the UN that did not AFP/KHARTOUM specify the cause of the casualties. Sudan’s interior minister said yesterday that seven protesters had Civil defence crews and locals conducting search and rescue works after a ballistic missile dropped A reporter on the ground died, including six in the state of Khartoum, when security forces near a school at the de-escalation zone ‘Jisr Al Shughur district of Idlib, Syria, yesterday. said the injuries appeared to be dispersed several anti-government demonstrations held since April the result of an explosion near 6. “While the demonstrations were being dispersed seven citizens a school in the city. The coa- died, six of them in Khartoum and one in central Darfur,” Bushara lition, which regularly carries Russia and Turkey to jointly patrol Idlib Juma told parliament, adding that about 10,000 protesters had out air strikes against the rebels, rallied in front of the military headquarters in the capital on Saturday. denied conducting any raids on AGENCIES Putin and his Turkish coun- missile systems to Turkey,” he Sanaa on Sunday. MOSCOW terpart discussed a missile deal said. “There are other promising New Palestinian govt in days Five students were among slammed by the US as well as projects on the agenda related the dead, according to the UN, Russia and Turkey will jointly closer military cooperation. to the supply of modern Russian AFP/RAMALLAH whose humanitarian coordi- patrol Syria’s Idlib province, The two sides must military products to Turkey,” nator for Yemen, Lise Grande, Russian President Vladimir Putin “strengthen cooperation in the Putin added. Palestinian prime minister-designate Mohammad Shtayyeh will voiced alarm at the “terrible, said after talks with Turkish military-technical sphere,” Putin Nato member Turkey’s announce the make-up of his new government in the coming days, senseless deaths and injuries”. President Tayyip Erdogan in told Erdogan as they met in the missile deal has tested its already Palestinian officials said. Shtayyeh has until April 14 to form a new “Every effort must be made Moscow yesterday. Kremlin. soured relations with Wash- government which is expected to exclude all supporters of Hamas, to understand the circum- “We are basically entering “These regard first of all the ington. The US has put a freeze longtime rival to the Fatah movement of both Shtayyeh and Pales- stances that led to this tragedy,” joint patrolling, at least patrolling completion of the contract to on its joint F-35 fighter jet pro- tinian president Mahmoud Abbas. Analysts say real decision-making she said. from two sides,” Putin said. supply S-400 anti-aircraft gramme with Turkey in protest. power remains with 84-year-old Abbas, in power since 2005. TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 ASIA 11

Congress says Modi pledges to invest no word on jobs, black money in $1.4trn in infrastructure BJP manifesto AFP BJP’s election IANS NEW DELHI would be spent during the next manifesto promises five-year term if it wins. It NEW DELHI metro trains for 50 promised metro trains for 50 Indian Prime Minister Narendra cities and to double the national Tearing into the Bharatiya Modi yesterday vowed to spend cities and to double highway network. Janata Party’s (BJP) election more than $1.4 trillion on new the national highway On top of the rural devel- manifesto for the Lok Sabha infrastructure over five years to network. opment, each farmer would get polls, the Congress yesterday create much-needed jobs and to an annual handout of Rs6,000. said important issues like jobs, pursue his nationalist agenda if Thousands of farmers have killed GST, black money and demon- he wins an election that starts temple in place of a mosque themselves in recent years etisation were missing from the this week. demolished by mobs in the city because of crippling debts. whole announcement exercise. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata of Ayodhya in 1992. The party set 75 targets - Congress spokesperson Party (BJP) also promised “Nationalism is our inspi- divided between the economy Randeep Surjewala said the BJP $300bn for the country’s hard- ration and inclusion and good and its long-standing aim to leaders - including Prime Min- pressed farmers and rural devel- governance is our mantra,” the transform society - to be reached ister Narendra Modi, party opment as it went all out to stop Prime Minister said at the man- by 2022 when India marks its President Amit Shah and Min- voters being tempted by oppo- ifesto launch. 75th anniversary of the end of isters Arun Jaitley and Sushma sition parties in the world’s Modi remains popular in British colonial rule. Swaraj - did not speak even a Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents the Bharatiya Janata Party’s biggest election that runs from India, but his government has “It (the manifesto) is multi- single word on those issues. election manifesto in New Delhi, yesterday. Thursday until May 19. come under fire over its handling layered and multi-dimensional He said the BJP should start The BJP’s big-spending man- of the fast-growing economy, because our society is very packing as people would reject ifesto made a new pledge to particularly the failure to create diverse. We can’t have a one- national security. Home Minister The BJP has long supported its false promises and throw the scrap a law that gives special jobs for the millions of youths size-fits-all kind of policy,” Modi Rajnath Singh said Indian ending Kashmir’s special status, party out of power. privileges - such as preventing coming on the labour market said. While the BJP promises also security forces would be given but its proposal is currently Surjewala also questioned outsiders from buying property each year and the severe debts included lower taxes for the “a free hand” to rein in extremist before the Supreme Court. the BJP-led government on its - to residents of Jammu and hitting farmers. middle-classes and more health violence. The vow to scrap a con- Last week, the Congress earlier promises made in 2014 Kashmir. Facing criticism from the facilities, the Prime Minister has stitutional amendment providing manifesto promised a Rs72,000 elections. “You promised two Modi’s party also said it was opposition Congress party, the built his reputation over the past special rights to Kashmir could payment to each of India’s crore jobs every year, which committed to building a grand BJP said more than $1.4 trillion five years as being a hawk on also spike tension in Kashmir. poorest 250 million families. translates to 10 crore jobs in five years. In reality, during these five years, number of jobs have actually reduced by 4.7 crore. UK High Court rejects Mallya’s plea against extradition And it’s not something that I am saying, but what has been said IANS 5. Mallya has five days for an oral Westminster Magistrates Court, Kingfisher Airlines but he has him. The proceedings are on by the government’s own NSSO LONDON/NEW DELHI submission, said sources in New on December 10, 2018, gave the repeatedly denied fleeing the before a special court in Mumbai (National Sample Survey Delhi. go-ahead for his extradition. country, saying he is ready to pay under the Fugitive Economic Organisation) data,” he said. In a fresh win for India, the Mallya, wanted by India in Westminster Magistrates’ back the money he owed to the Offenders Act. The Congress leader added United Kingdom High Court has the Rs9,000 crore Kingfisher Court Chief Magistrate, Judge Indian banks. The Enforcement Directorate that while the BJP had promised rejected fugitive businessman Airlines loan default case and Emma Arbuthnot had then sent India had in late 2017 filed had also moved the Special Pre- to bring back Rs80 lakh crore Vijay Mallya’s written submission charges of fraud, money laun- Mallya’s case to Home Secretary extradition proceedings against vention of Money-Laundering Act in black money and deposit for permission to appeal against dering and violation of Foreign Sajid Javed, who had also cleared Mallya which he contested. He is Court last year to declare Mallya Rs15 lakh in each Indian’s bank his extradition order passed by Exchange Management Act the extradition in February. currently out on bail in London. a “fugitive economic offender” account, “in reality, Lalit Modi, a Westminster magistrate’s (FEMA) brought by the Central Mallya, 63, left India on March A consortium of 13 banks, led by and confiscate all his properties, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and court. Bureau of Investigation and the 2, 2016 after defaulting on loans the State Bank of India (SBI), has estimated at more than Rs12,000 Vijay Mallya looted Rs1 lakh The submission was rejected Enforcement Directorate, had amounting to Rs9,000 crore he been preparing to initiate loan crore, making it the first such case crore of the taxpayers’ money by Justice William Davis on April moved the High Court after the had taken for his now-defunct recovery proceedings against of its kind under the new law. and fled the country right under Modi’s nose”. He also questioned how the Expedition to BJP intends to double farmers’ Radar images prove Pakistan F-16 shot down: IAF income considering that at the remeasure current rate of agricultural AFP shot down. India and displaying radar Kapoor said further “credible growth of 2.9 percent, it would Everest height NEW DELHI India lost an MiG-21 Bison in images he said proved the information and evidence” take 28 years. “Modi also the aerial skirmish and its pilot Pakistan jet was struck and backed this version of events but promised to turn India into an AFP India’s Air Force yesterday was captured by Pakistan and crashed. could not be released due to con- economic power. But in the last KATHMANDU presented what it called “irref- later returned. “There is no doubt that two fidentiality concerns. five years, he has buried the utable evidence” that it downed But India has long main- aircraft went down in the aerial It comes just days after country under debt,” Surjewala Nepal is sending a team of a Pakistan fighter jet in February, tained that its pilot first fired on engagement on 27 February Foreign Policy magazine cited said, adding that the BJP-ruled government-appointed as the regional foes offer an F-16, sending the damaged 2019,” Kapoor said yesterday, two unnamed senior US defence government borrowed over climbers up Mount Everest to competing narratives over what jet crashing into Pakistan- reading from a prepared officials who said that US per- Rs27 lakh crore between 2014 remeasure its height, officials happened in the dogfight. administered Kashmir - some- statement. sonnel recently conducted a and 2018. said yesterday, hoping to quash Pakistan has repeatedly thing Islamabad says never India’s Air Force “has irref- count of Pakistan’s F-16s and The BJP manifesto pledged persistent speculation that the denied that it lost an F-16 over happened. utable evidence of not only the found none missing. zero tolerance towards ter- world’s tallest mountain has the skies in Kashmir while a US In a press conference, Air fact that F-16 was used” on the The magazine quoted one of rorism, promised pension for shrunk. magazine, citing top defence Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor day of the dogfight, but that it the officials as saying that small and marginal farmers and Four government surveyors officials, has also cast doubt on repeated this assertion, reading was shot down by the Indian jet, Pakistan invited the US to phys- 33 percent reservation for will depart on Wednesday for India’s assertion that a jet was out the evidence gathered by he added. ically count its F-16 fleet. women in Parliament. Everest, which lies on the Himalayan range straddling the border of Nepal and China. Its official height is 8,848 EU urges Colombo not to end metres (29,029 feet), first recorded by an Indian survey moratorium on death penalty in 1954. Numerous other teams AP have measured the peak, COLOMBO “The death penalty is an although the 1954 height unacceptable denial of human remains the widely accepted dignity and integrity,” the EU figure. The European Union (EU) is said. But a heated debate erupted urging Sri Lanka not to end its Sirisena has said that tough in the aftermath of a massive four-decade moratorium on the law enforcement is necessary to earthquake in Nepal in 2015, death penalty, saying capital curb crime and maintain order. with suggestions the powerful punishment is not an effective Prison authorities have tremor had knocked height off deterrent to counter illicit drugs begun interviews to recruit two the lofty peak. and related crimes. hangmen as two people previ- Nepal’s Survey Department Yesterday’s statement from ously recruited quit without exe- commissioned a team of sur- the EU comes a week after Sri cuting anyone. veyors in 2017 to prepare for an Lankan President Maithripala Rights groups including Everest expedition in the hope Sirisena announced that dates Amnesty International have crit- of putting the matter to rest. have been set for the country’s icized the move by Sirisena, who “We are sending a team first executions in 43 years amid has modelled his country’s drug because there were questions rising alarm over drug-related fight after the Philippines. regarding the height of Everest crimes. Sirisena visited the Philip- after the earthquake,” the expe- Sri Lanka last executed a pines in January and praised dition’s co-ordinator from the prisoner in 1976. Currently, 1,299 President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug Survey Department, Susheel prisoners are on death row, crackdown as “an example to Dangol, said. Reinforcements to prevent landslides including 48 convicted of drug the world.” Four government surveyors offences. Thousands of suspects have Rohingya refugees construct reinforcements to prevent landslides ahead of the monsoon season at have spent two years fine Drug trafficking is a capital been killed since Duterte took tuning their methodology for a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, yesterday. offence in Sri Lanka, where office in 2016, and rights measuring the peak, collecting authorities have intensified a groups have denounced the readings from the ground and crackdown on narcotics to deter killings as extra-judicial training for the extreme condi- AgustaWestland: Sushen sent to judicial custody smugglers from using the Indian executions. tions they will encounter at the Ocean island nation as a transit Last week, Sri Lankan top of the world. IANS Enforcement Directorate (ED) kickbacks, was controlled point for distribution in the police publicly destroyed They will ascend the NEW DELHI custody. He was arrested on among others by Gupta. region. 770kg of drugs seized in 2016 treacherous mountain armed March 26, a day after the court According to the ED, Saxena While acknowledging that and 2017. Police have seized with advanced equipment to A Delhi court yesterday allowed Rajiv Saxena, a Dubai- developed the global corporate combatting the proliferation of 731kg of heroin, 1kg of cocaine collect the remaining data to remanded Sushen Mohan Gupta, based businessman and another structure that laundered money drugs is a serious challenge for and 1,607 kg of marijuana so derive the true height of the an alleged middleman in the alleged middleman in the deal, for payment to politicians, countries around the world, and far this year. peak. “It will not be easy to Rs3,600-crore AgustaWestland to become an approver. bureaucrats and Indian Air Force that action to counter the illicit Marijuana is the most work in that terrain, but we are VVIP chopper deal case, to Saxena in his disclosure officials to influence the contract drug trade is important and nec- widely used illegal drug in Sri confident our mission will be judicial custody till April 20. statement submitted to the ED for supplying 12 VVIP choppers essary, the EU said “the evidence Lanka, followed by heroin and successful,” said the expedi- Gupta was presented before revealed that Interstellar Tech- in favour of AgustaWestland, the does not support the argument cocaine. Drug-related arrests tion’s leader and chief surveyor, Special Judge Arvind Kumar on nologies, a company that Rome-based helicopter design that the death penalty is an rose 2 percent in 2017 from the Khim Lal Gautam. the expiry of his two-day received AgustaWestland and manufacturing company. effective deterrent.” previous year to 81,156. 12 ASIA TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019

US Centcom Four arrested in crackdown on dollar hoarding commander INTERNEWS LAHORE/RAWALPINDI director Muhammad Waqar The FIA action brought rate of dollar in the open market. first raid was conducted at TT and calls on Imran Abbasi directed the authorities to down dollar’s rate Officials said the action would DD Currency Exchange in The Federal Investigation Agency take strict action against those in the open market. continue till the end of dollar Islamabad that was dealing in INTERNEWS (FIA) of Pakistan has arrested four involved in the illegal practice. hoarding. foreign exchange without licence ISLAMABAD people in Lahore and Islamabad As per the government, Officials said the Federal Minister for Infor- from the State Bank of Pakistan. and seized foreign currency dollars were hoarded to make action would continue mation and Broadcasting Fawad The sources said the FIA team Incoming Commander of the worth more than Rs40m in a rupee weaker in market and the till the end of dollar Chaudhry, a couple of days back, also seized Rs4,0 61,250, 33,295 United States Central Command crackdown on dollar hoarding action had caused artificial had announced on Twitter that UAE Dirham, $3, 800, 2,500 (US Centcom) General Kenneth and speculative currency trade. demand of dollar and an increase hoarding. ‘a full-fledged operation against pound sterling, AUD300, F McKenzie Jr called on Prime The action was taken in line in its rate artificially. dollar hoarding and speculative QAR300, 1,805 Euro and 1,610 Minister Imran Khan at the PM with the government’s drive The FIA Punjab zone had con- possession from DD Exchange in currency trade’ would be Saudi Riyals during the raids. House in Islamabad yesterday. against dollar hoarding, money stituted six different teams, which the city and arrested three people, launched by the FIA as panic had The FIA team arrested The two dignitaries dis- laundering, hawala/hundi and conducted raids simultaneously identified as Hassan, Ghulam started appearing in foreign cur- Shahnawaz Khan and confiscated cussed the Pak-US relations illegal speculation regarding at all money exchanges in dif- Ghaus and Omar Dar. A criminal rency markets after the dollar receipts, record registers and a and the ongoing Afghan peace devaluation of Pakistani ferent areas of Lahore and case was also registered against rate reached Rs148 in open computer used in illegal sale and talks, among other matters. currency. inspected their records. their two branches. Further trading on Friday. An FIA team purchase of foreign currency. An General McKenzie Jr, who According to a news release, The teams took currency investigation in the case is under conducted similar raids against FIR was also registered against took over as head of the US FIA Punjab Zone-I Lahore worth millions of rupees into way. The FIA action decreased dollar hoarding in Islamabad. The him. Centcom last month after General Joseph Votel’s retirement, also led a delegation that met with Chief of Army Hamza gets pre-arrest Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa yesterday, the Inter-Services Public Relations bail until April 17 said. INTERNEWS The two top commanders LAHORE means. The lawyer added that discussed the geo-strategic arrest warrants in the Ramzan environment and regional Sugar Mills and the SaafPani security. The discussion also The Lahore High Court (LHC) Company cases had not yet been included Afghanistan and the yesterday granted Punjab issued. recent standoff between the Assembly Opposition Leader The PML-N leader’s legal Pakistani and Indian Hamza Shehbaz pre-arrest bail counsel Advocate Azam Nazir militaries. till April 17 and restrained the Tarar told the court that Hamza National Accountability Bureau had been granted bail by the (NAB) from arresting him in LHC in the Ramzan Sugar Mills cases pertaining to ownership case, and added that the high NZ names top of assets beyond means. court had ordered that a 10-day The High Court also ordered notice be given prior to his him to pay surety bonds worth arrest. According to Tarar, the judge to head Rs10m and issued a notice to 10-day time period had been NAB seeking its reply on the given so that they could secure Christchurch plea. bail from the appropriate forum. A NAB team seeking He said that NAB had raided attacks probe Hamza’s arrest was embroiled Hamza’s house without a AFP in a nearly five-hour-long warning, and added that the WELLINGTON standoff with his private security PML-N leader wanted to secure and supporters at his family’s pre-arrest bail so that he can New Zealand Prime Minister Security personnel walk around the cars carrying former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and his Model Town residence on Sat- appear before NAB. Jacinda Ardern yesterday sister Faryal Talpur as they leave the accountability court after a hearing in Islamabad, yesterday. urday. It was the second day in During the proceedings, named a Supreme Court judge a row that the NAB had NAB’s lawyer said that the to lead an inquiry into the approached his residence for his Supreme Court had given a massacre last month of 50 Zardari appears before accountability court arrest. verdict which said the Account- worshippers at two The stalemate ended once ability Bureau was not required Christchurch mosques. INTERNEWS ISLAMABAD his sister Faryal Talpur. money gathered from various the LHC restrained the bureau to give a 10-day notice. He “The government will Zardari’s close aide Hussain kickbacks, commissions and from arresting the PML-N leader added that illegal transactions ensure no stone is left unturned Lawai was arrested in July last bribes. and granted him protective bail had taken place in Hamza’s as we examine as quickly as Former Pakistani President Asif year in connection with the The case was earlier being until April 8. accounts. possible how the March 15 Ali Zardari appeared before an probe. heard in a banking court in Hamza Shahbaz was repre- “The purpose of the arrest is attack happened, what could accountability court in The former President’s other Karachi but had been shifted to sented by Advocate Amjad to ensure that the record does have been done to stop it and Islamabad in a money-laun- close aide and Omni Group an accountability court in Pervez before the two-judge not disappear at the behest of how we can keep New Zea- dering case yesterday. Chairman Anwar Majeed and his Islamabad upon an appeal by the bench. A team of the bureau’s Hamza,” he said, adding that the landers safe,” Ardern said. During yesterday’s hearing son, Abdul Ghani, were arrested National Accountability Bureau legal experts were also in the PML-N leader’s bail request The Royal Commission of the case, two of the accused by the FIA in August 2018. (NAB). courtroom. should be rejected. Justice Malik probe, the most powerful in the case requested the court Over 20 ‘benami’ accounts Zardari, Talpur and other The court asked NAB’s Shahzad Ahmad Khan said that judicial inquiry available under that they be allowed to testify as at some private banks were accused nominated in the case lawyer which case the bureau detailed arguments would be New Zealand law, will be led by witnesses. opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 appeared before the court amid wanted to arrest the PML-N heard later. Supreme Court Judge William The Federal Investigation from where transactions worth tight security, with at least 1,650 leader in, to which he replied On Saturday, an accounta- Young and report its findings Agency (FIA) is investigating 32 billions of rupees were made, security officials deployed within that there are a total of three bility court had dismissed an by December 10, she said. people in relation to money according to sources. and around the judicial complex cases against Hamza and they application by NAB seeking Australian Brenton Tarrant, laundering from fictitious bank The amount, according to to avoid any untoward situation wanted to arrest him in the case police assistance for Hamza’s 28, a self-avowed white accounts, including Zardari and FIA sources, is said to be black during the hearing. pertaining to assets beyond arrest. supremacist, has been charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 of attempted murder over the mosque attacks. Ardern said 12 Afghan troops die in the probe, due to begin hearing evidence on May 13, would play a critical role in ensuring “such fresh Taliban attacks an attack never happens again”. AFP were striking Taliban positions, The inquiry will involve KABUL he said. “They have suffered consultation with the Muslim heavy casualties.” community and look into Taliban fighters have killed 12 The Defence Ministry last whether New Zealand counter- security personnel in the last 48 week said Afghan forces had terror agencies placed an “inap- hours in ongoing fighting in made a “tactical retreat” from a propriate concentration” of Afghanistan’s western province number of checkpoints in the resources in tracking Islamist of Badghis, the Defence Ministry district to “avoid civilian militants while neglecting the said yesterday. casualties”. threat from far-right In the latest assault on Abdul Aziz Beg, the head of extremism. Afghan forces - who have faced the Badghis Provincial Council, It will probe Tarrant’s activ- devastating losses in recent had described the situation as ities before the attack, including years - Taliban fighters last “critical” and called for how he obtained a gun licence, week smashed through gov- reinforcements. weapons and ammunition, and ernment lines near the city of The Taliban said they had his use of social media, Ardern Bala Murghab, seizing several conducted a coordinated attack said. Tarrant live-streamed his checkpoints. on a series of government attack and published a lengthy “It is with great sadness we checkpoints, killing 12 security manifesto online before announce that during these personnel. launching his rampage. operations, eight Afghan The militants launched their What knowledge intelli- National Army and four police assault ahead of a widely gence agencies had of his activ- who fought with bravery and expected spring offensive. Russian ships on goodwill visit to Manila ities and whether any laws courage accepted martyrdom,” They typically declare a new impeded the gathering and the Defence Ministry said in a fighting season as winter snows A Philippine Navy band plays as the Russian anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs prepares to dock sharing of information by the statement. melt, and have in the past sought at the international port in Manila, yesterday. Russian anti-submarine ships Admiral Tributs and agencies will also be part of the Another 10 soldiers and 24 to gain control of district centres Vinogradov, including the sea tanker Irkut, are on a goodwill visit to Manila. inquiry, she said. police were wounded in the and target government operation that killed “99 Taliban facilities. terrorists,” it added. The clash started as Zalmay Clearance operations con- Khalilzad, the US envoy tasked Pakistan-India meeting on Kartarpur corridor next week tinue in the district, officials said, with forging a peace deal with ANATOLIA proposal for a technical meeting briefing that India has requested a border corridor that will provide and security forces helped Red the Taliban, was in Afghanistan, ISLAMABAD on 16 April,” said Mohammad for a meeting of technical experts visa-free access to Indian Sikh Cross workers evacuate the where he spoke with national Faisal, spokesman for Pakistan’s on April 15 or 16 at zero point of pilgrims to visit their holy sites in bodies of Taliban fighters that leaders and stakeholders. Pakistan yesterday accepted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Kartarpur sahib and they are con- Pakistan. However, on March 29, had been left on battlefields. Taliban spokesman Zabi- Indian proposal to hold a meeting tweet. sidering Indian request the Indian Ministry of External Jamshid Shahabi, the hullah Mujahid said the new on proposed Kartarpur border “We expect positivity from favourability. Affairs said that India has shared spokesman for the Badghis Gov- round of peace talks was set to corridor between the two coun- India so that the corridor The meeting, which Pakistan concerns and sought clarification ernor, said that fighting con- begin on April 14. In January, tries on April 16, an official said. becomes reality for 550th cele- said was jointly agreed on by both on reports that controversial ele- tinued near the district’s main President Ashraf Ghani said “Continuing with #Pakistan’s brations,” Faisal added. sides, was previously slated to be ments have been appointed by marketplace. 45,000 security forces had been spirit of constructing engagement, On Thursday, Faisal told held on April 2 to discuss issues Pakistan to a committee to be Afghan and US-led aircraft killed since September 2014. we have agreed to the Indian reporters during his weekly related to a proposed opening of associated with the corridor. TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 EUROPE 13 Deadlock keeps Brexit hanging in balance REUTERS May heads to Berlin “The PM wants us to be able to LONDON agree with the opposition as soon and Paris today to as possible.” Britain’s exit from the European meet Chancellor She said May wanted Britain Union hung in the balance Angela Merkel and to have an independent trading yesterday as Prime Minister President Emmanuel policy - something hard to rec- Theresa May tried to coax the oncile with Labour’s demand for Labour Party into agreeing a Macron and will be membership of a customs union divorce deal, two days before an phoning other leaders - and that both sides would need emergency EU summit where before setting out the to compromise. she will try to delay the April 12 case for another delay The deputy political editor of departure. the Telegraph newspaper, Steven Brexit has already been at tomorrow’s EU Swinford, said Labour and the delayed once but May is asking summit in Brussels. Conservative government were the EU for yet more time as she still discussing both a customs courts veteran socialist Jeremy union and the idea of holding a Corbyn, whose Labour Party that it did. Labour’s Brexit point confirmatory referendum on any wants to keep Britain more man, Keir Starmer, said May’s deal they agree. The 2016 refer- closely tied to the bloc after government had so far not endum revealed a United Brexit. changed its position on Brexit Kingdom divided over much May heads to Berlin and Paris and so no way forward had been more than EU membership, and today to meet Chancellor Angela agreed. “Both us and the gov- has sparked impassioned debate Merkel and President Emmanuel ernment have approached this about everything from secession Macron and will be phoning in the spirit of trying to find a and immigration to capitalism, other leaders before setting out way forward. We haven’t found empire and what it means to be the case for another delay at that yet. We will continue to do British. Anti-Brexit demonstrators from Yorkshire demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in central tomorrow’s EU summit in that,” Starmer said. Yet, more than a week after London yesterday. Brussels. “The ball is in the govern- Britain was originally supposed Nearly three years after the ment’s court,” he added. “We to have left the EU, nothing is decide tomorrow whether to is due to leave the EU on Friday, a delay to granting May’s request United Kingdom shocked the need to see what they come back resolved as the weakest leader grant May, who has asked for a without a deal to cushion the or pushing for a longer world by voting by 52 percent to with and, when they do, we will in a generation battles to get a postponement until June 30, a economic shock. While the EU is postponement. 48 to leave the EU, May warned take a collective position on divorce deal ratified by a dead- further delay. The decision can not expected to trigger such a The EU’s chief Brexit nego- that Brexit might never happen, that.” May’s spokeswoman said locked parliament. be vetoed by any of the other 27 potentially disorderly no-deal tiator, Michel Barnier, met Prime but said that she would do eve- she hoped further formal talks EU leaders, fatigued by the member states. Without an exit, diplomats said all options Minister Leo Varadkar in Ireland rything possible to make sure could take place later, adding: serpentine Brexit crisis, must extension, the United Kingdom were on the table - from refusing yesterday.

Former Romanian leader to face UK plan steps up global crackdown on social media crimes against AP material without stifling free will be open for public comment signalled they are willing to take the government may also seek LONDON speech, the British proposal for three months before the gov- on the tech companies to block the power to fine individual humanity trial reflects a push by some coun- ernment publishes draft harmful content and prevent company directors and prevent The UK unveiled plans yesterday tries — particularly in Europe but legislation. extremists from using the companies from operating in the AP to vastly increase government also Australia and New Zealand “No one in the world has Internet to fan the flames of UK. BUCHAREST oversight of social media — to give regulators more power. done this before, and it’s hatred. Criticism of social media companies, with a first-of-its- The British plans would important that we get it right,” Britain will consider sites has grown amid concerns Former Romanian President kind watchdog that could fine create a statutory “duty of care” Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright imposing financial penalties that extremists are using them Ion Iliescu is to be tried for executives or even ban for social media companies such told the BBC. similar to those in the European to recruit young people, pedo- crimes against humanity for his companies if they fail to block as Facebook and Twitter to While the United States has Union’s General Data Protection philes are using the technology role in the country’s bloody content such as terrorist propa- protect people who use their largely relied on market forces Regulation, which permit fines to groom victims and young 1989 anti-communist uprising. ganda or images of child abuse. sites. The plan, which includes to regulate content in a country of up to 4% of a company’s people are sharing dangerous Prosecutor General As concerns mount globally an independent regulator funded where free speech is revered, annual worldwide revenue, information about self-harm and Augustin Lazar announced yes- over how to monitor Internet by a levy on Internet companies, governments in Europe have Wright said. In extreme cases, suicide. terday that the investigations are complete and the files doc- umenting the events of 30 years ago, commonly referred to as French PM sees tax cuts as the Revolution File, will be sub- mitted to a court of law. He called the completion of the process “paying a debt of solution to ‘yellow vest’ anger honour to history and our country.” AFP vest” protests, so called for the offence,” Philippe added. “The Iliescu to face trial, along PARIS fluorescent vests worn by dem- need for change is so radical that with Gelu Voican-Voiculescu, onstrators, began in small-town any conservatism, any feebleness a former vice-premier, and The French government must France in mid-November, ini- would be unforgiveable in my former Air Force Chief Iosif Rus. implement bold tax cuts in tially over fuel taxes before spi- view.” Macron is expected to The charges refer to a five- response to the “yellow vest” ralling into a nation-wide revolt announce his conclusions in a day period when Iliescu seized protests, Prime Minister Edouard against President Emmanuel major speech in the next fort- power after former Communist Philippe argued yesterday as he Macron. night, with the “Great National leader Nicolae Ceausescu fled revealed the results of a major The 41-year-old came to Debate” billed as a watershed French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe delivers a speech during Bucharest on December 22, public consultation on the crisis. power in May 2017 promising moment in his nearly two-year- the presentation of the “Great National Debate” findings, called to 1989. Ceausescu and his wife Giving the first conclusions pro-business reforms and tax old presidency. quell the anger of French “yellow vests” movement, at the Grand were summarily tried and exe- of a “Great National Debate” cuts for companies and investors Though he is known to Palais in Paris, France, yesterday. cuted on December 25. Some which was launched in January, to encourage job creation, favour further tax cuts too, he 1,100 people died during the Philippe said that French citizens earning him a reputation as a has ruled them out without country has the highest taxation 56.8 percent of GDP, according revolt. Romanian President had expressed “an enormous “president of the rich.” Philippe, reductions in public spending -- rate in the world, according to to the OECD. Klaus Iohannis saluted the exasperation” over the country’s a centre-right fiscal hawk who which could prove hugely con- the Paris-based Organisation for The “Great National Debate” announcement, saying that tax burden, which is the highest has previously called for tax cuts troversial. Successive French Economic Cooperation and has involved 10,000 meetings in “finalising the judicial investi- in the world. and reductions in public leaders have faced street protests Development, with taxes equiv- community halls around the gation into the Revolution “The debates show us very spending, said the government every time they attempted to alent to 46.2 percent of its gross country, around two million events, 30 years since Com- clearly which way to go. We need needed to go further. trim France’s vast public sector, domestic product (GDP). online contributions and has munism collapsed, is a nec- to lower taxes, and lower them “We have reached a point underlining the difficult bal- French public spending is the seen Macron appear at local essary act and honours our more quickly,” Philippe who told where hesitating would be worse ancing act ahead for France’s second-highest in the world after events for nearly 100 hours in heroes.” an audience in Paris. The “yellow than an error, it would be an youngest ever president. The Finland and is the equivalent of total. Russian officials agree to free ‘whale jail’ animals Polish teachers go on strike

AFP over pay, cancelling classes MOSCOW AP said some 80% percent of Russian officials said yesterday they will WARSAW schools were closed yesterday. work towards freeing all orca and beluga Preliminary figures from other whales from a notorious facility in the east Teachers in Poland went on an regions showed that up to 90% of the country, after a visit by US-based indefinite nationwide strike of schools were affected in some marine mammal advocates. yesterday to demand higher pay, areas, although Education Min- Nearly 100 whales captured for sale to after days of talks with the istry figures said that 48.5% of aquariums have been kept in small pens for government failed to meet the schools nationwide were on months in what the media has nicknamed a demands of a majority of strike at noon. There are almost “whale jail” in the Russian Far East, as the teachers unions. 400,000 schoolteachers in campaign to release them gathered strength The strike by school and kin- Poland and some 4.5 million and went global. dergarten teachers is the first school students. Kremlin-backed Far Eastern governor such widespread action by The go-ahead for the protest Oleg Kozhemyako yesterday announced that Poland’s chronically underpaid was given by the main teachers he has “made a decision to free the animals educators since 1993, when unions, the ZNP, after last-ditch into the wild,” after meeting noted environ- matriculation exams for high talks with the government failed. mentalists and campaigners Jean-Michel school graduation had to be can- Only the small pro-government A view shows a facility, where nearly 100 whales including orcas and beluga whales are Cousteau and Charles Vinick who visited the celled in many schools. Solidarity union accepted the held in cages, during a visit of scientists representing explorer and founder of the Ocean facility last week. It comes at a sensitive time, government’s proposals and was “Our goal is to release all of them,” said Futures Society Jean-Michel Cousteau in a bay near the Sea of Japan port of Nakhodka just days before crucial end-of- not on strike. The teachers were a joint statement by Kozhemyako, Cousteau in Primorsky Region, Russia, yesterday. school exams in primary and partly spurred into action by and Vinick. Cousteau, the son of celebrated middle schools, and weeks their anger that the government French ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, is Cousteau said by phone from Vladivostok them,” he said. He said dolphinariums should ahead of this year’s matricu- as part of its election campaign the founder of the US-based Ocean Futures that he believed “many of the animals will move away from using marine mammals lation exams and elections to the has offered financial boosts to Society, while Charles Vinick heads the be released” but that it will take time to and instead use technology to “connect the European Parliament that are families, businesses and, most Whale Sanctuary Project and has worked on identify the right decision for each animal. public to the ocean through 3D projections” key for the right-wing gov- recently, to farmers, but not to rehabilitation of captive orcas in the past. “If some are sick we will take care of as well as encourage seeing them in the wild. ernment. Warsaw city officials the education sector. 14 AMERICAS TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 Trump orders removing Secret Service chief

AGENCIES However, Kirstjen WASHINGTON Nielsen said yesterday she still shares US President Donald Trump has ordered the firing of the US President Donald Secret Service Director, CNN Trump’s goal of reported yesterday, one day after securing the border, a the resignation of another top national security official, day after she resigned Homeland Security Secretary as homeland security Kirstjen Nielsen. secretary amid Trump instructed his acting Trump’s frustration chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to fire Secret Service Director Ran- and bitterness over dolph Alles (pictured), CNN a spike in Central reported, citing multiple admin- American migration. istration officials. One official described the firings as “a near- systematic purge” at the border with Mexico. Customs and Border Protection US President Donald Trump talks to reporters as former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Department of Homeland Trump, seeking re-election Commissioner Kevin McAleenan Kirstjen Nielsen (right) looks on at a signing ceremony for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Security. in 2020, has taken a hard line would be taking over as acting The White House did not toward immigration since head of the department. The Agency Act in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC, US, yesterday. immediately respond to a becoming president in January decision to name a top immi- request for comment. 2017, and the issue may be a gration officer to the post reflects they toured a section of newly have impeded our ability to fully resignation, thanking the pres- One official described the central theme in next year’s Trump’s priority for the rebuilt barriers, Nielsen was at secure America’s borders and ident “for the tremendous oppor- firings to CNN as “a near-sys- election. sprawling department founded Trump’s side, introducing him to which have contributed to tunity to serve this country.” tematic purge” at the Department However, Kirstjen Nielsen to combat terrorism following local officials. She returned to discord in our nation’s dis- Nielsen had grown increas- of Homeland Security. said yesterday she still shares the Sept. 11 attacks. Washington afterward as Trump course.” Nielsen told reporters ingly frustrated by what she saw The Secret Service director President Donald Trump’s goal Nielsen had travelled to the continued on a fundraising trip outside her Alexandria, Virginia as a lack of support from other reports to the director of of securing the border, a day US-Mexico border on Friday with to California and Nevada. home yesterday that she con- departments and increased med- Homeland Security. after she resigned as Homeland Trump to participate in a round- But on Sunday, she wrote in tinues to support the president’s dling by Trump aides on difficult Nielsen, who oversaw Security secretary amid Trump’s table with border officers and her resignation letter that “it is goal of securing the border. immigration issues, according to Trump’s bitterly contested immi- frustration and bitterness over a local law enforcement. There she the right time for me to step “I will continue to support all three people familiar with details gration policies during her spike in Central American echoed Trump’s comments on aside.” She wrote that she hoped efforts to address the humani- of her resignation. They spoke tumultuous 16-month tenure, migration. the situation at the border, “the next secretary will have the tarian and security crisis on the on condition of anonymity resigned on Sunday amid a surge Trump announced on though she ducked out of the support of Congress and the border,” she said in her first because they were not in the number of migrants at the Sunday in a tweet that US room while Trump spoke. As courts in fixing the laws which public remarks since the surprise authorised to discuss the matter.

Trump urges Uganda to find Brazil army shoots family driving to baby shower AFP kidnappers of RIO DE JANEIRO engagement,” the military said military, the military statement see a legitimate defence for the 31. Former President Michel in a statement. The soldiers said. Police also have launched number of shots.” In its Temer took the drastic step of freed US tourist Brazilian soldiers opened fire patrolling the northern district an investigation into the statement, the military said it placing Rio security in the on a family driving to a baby of Guadalupe apparently incident, homicide police was committed to “trans- hands of the military, citing the AP shower in Rio de Janeiro, mistook the white car as spokesman Leonardo Salgado parency and legal parameters police force’s inability to control KAMPALA, UGANDA riddling their vehicle with more belonging to criminals, G1 told G1. imposed by the rule of law on heavily armed drug gangs. than 80 bullets and killing one reported, citing police. “Everything indicates that the legitimate use of force by Army patrols had already United States President Donald of the occupants, reports said Five people were inside the the military really confused the its members” and opposed been used in the impoverished Trump yesterday urged Uganda yesterday. vehicle, including a seven-year- vehicle for a vehicle of robbers,” “excesses or abuses that may favelas but the military inter- to find the kidnappers of an Ten army personnel have old boy, who was unhurt. Salgado said. No weapons were be committed when carrying vention saw generals replace American tourist who has been been arrested over Sunday’s The soliders had been on found in the car, which out their activities.” civilian authorities in top freed, amid conflicting reports incident, which also wounded the look-out for a car-load of belonged to “a normal family The military’s central role security jobs, as well as an over whether a ransom was two others, on suspicion of criminals during a regular who ended up being victims of in Rio de Janeiro state security increase in the use of soldiers paid for her release. “failure to comply with rules of patrol of the area secured by the the military,” he added. “I don’t officially ended on December to back up police. Kim Endicott was released by her abductors over the weekend and will be turned over to the US ambassador yes- Mexico to receive UN help Ottawa: Foreign terday, Ugandan police said. Endicott and her Ugandan interference in driver were both safe, after the in missing students case five-day ordeal during which 2019 election they were taken from Queen AP Elizabeth National Park across MEXICO CITY very likely the border to Congo, according to Ugandan authorities. Trump Mexico has signed an agreement with the United Nations’ REUTERS pressed Uganda’s government top human rights official for technical assistance in its latest OTTAWA to capture the culprits, tweeting: attempt to determine what happened to 43 missing students. “Uganda must find the kid- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle It is very likely that foreign nappers of the American Bachelet called the case of the students from the teacher’s actors will try to meddle in Tourist and guide before people college in Ayotzinapa “paradigmatic.” The former Chilean Canada’s October federal will feel safe in going there. president said yesterday that Mexico’s government is obli- election, with the focus on Bring them to justice openly gated to find the truth and that the process would be an political parties, voters and and quickly!” Over the weekend opportunity to make deep changes to its justice system. candidates, Canada’s electronic Trump tweeted that he was Police seized the students in Iguala, Guerrero, in 2014 signals spy agency said pleased the tourist and guide and allegedly handed them to a drug gang. Mexican Foreign yesterday. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, embraces had been released. Ugandan Secretary Marcelo Ebrard says the case is a priority for the The Communications the relative of a missing Ayotzinapa student after signing an agreement on police spokesman Fred Enanga government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Security Establishment (CSE) said that he did not believe a the provision of guidance and technical assistance in the Ayotzinapa case who created a truth commission to re-investigate the case did not mention any specific ransom had been paid. in Mexico City yesterday. in January. threat from Russia. US intelligence officials and the governments of some European Union countries have Jury selected to hear murder US presidential candidate accused Russia of interfering in their elections in recent trial of ex-Minneapolis officer calls Netanyahu ‘racist’ years, allegations denied by Moscow. AP officer. The jurors’ names were ANATOLIA a far-right racist party in order “It is very likely that MINNEAPOLIS not revealed in court. Six of the WASHINGTON to maintain his hold on power.” Canadian voters will encounter jurors are people of colour, “I don’t think that Benjamin foreign cyber interference A jury of 12 men and four including two Filipino men, an Democratic 2020 presidential Netanyahu represents the true ahead of, and during, the 2019 women was seated yesterday to Ethiopian man and a Pakistani hopeful Beto O’Rourke will of the Israeli people or the general election,” said the CSE, hear the trial of a former Minne- woman. Noor is Somali (pictured) has taken a major best interests of the US-Israel which noted democratic gov- apolis police officer who fatally American; Damond was white. swipe at Israeli premier relationship or any path to ernments around the world shot an unarmed woman who Twelve of those selected will end Benjamin Netanyahu, calling peace for the people of the Pal- were experiencing more cyber called 911 to report a possible up deciding the case while four him a “racist” for forging a estinian Authority, the Gaza attacks. rape near her home. will be alternates. The 12 jurors political alliance with a far-right Strip and the State of Israel,” he Canadian Foreign Minister Mohamed Noor, 33, is who will deliberate will be Jewish political party ahead of said. Netanyahu has stirred con- Chrystia Freeland said last charged with murder and man- picked at the trial’s conclusion. general elections. troversy for forming an elec- week she was “very concerned” slaughter in the 2017 death of One woman who was picked as O’Rourke made the com- toral alliance between his Likud by possible Russian inter- Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a a juror had an emotional ments on Sunday while on the Party’s ruling bloc and the far- ference in the vote and said dual citizen of Australia and the reaction to the case last week campaign trail in Iowa. right Jewish Power (Otzma the American Jewish there “have probably already US who was shot when she and was asked to think over the While saying the US-Israel Yehudit) Party ahead of Tues- Committee. been efforts by malign foreign approached his squad car. weekend about whether she relationship “is one of the most day’s parliamentary election. “The views of Otzma actors to disrupt our After a week of questioning could serve on the jury. She said important relationships” the US Netanyahu’s electoral Yehudit are reprehensible. They democracy”. and paring down an original yesterday she had some anxiety has, O’Rourke argued it “must gambit provoked an exceed- do not reflect the core values CSE said it was unlikely a pool of 75 people, the jury about the responsibility. be able to transcend a prime ingly-rare rebuke from the that are the very foundation of foreign cyber campaign would finalised yesterday includes a “There’s a huge life-altering minister who is racist as he staunchly pro-Israel AIPAC lob- the State of Israel. The party be as major as the one Russian firefighter and paramedic, an decision that everyone’s con- warns about Arabs coming to bying group, calling Otzma might conceivably gain enough actors launched against the ob-gyn, a civil engineer, a fronted with and that’s over- the polls, who wants to defy any Yehudit “racist and reprehen- votes to enter the next Knesset 2016 US election, in part grocery store manager, a res- whelming a little bit,” she said. prospect for peace as he sible” and throwing its support and potentially even become because public awareness of taurant host, a carpenter and a Still, she said she could put her threatens to annex the West behind an also-rare statement part of the governing coalition,” the potential threats was now Homeland Security immigration emotions aside and serve. Bank, and who has sided with on domestic Israeli politics from the committee said. much greater. TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019 HOME 15 NU-Q students recognised at annual awards ceremony Qatar Charity forum to THE PENINSULA The Media and Research DOHA Showcase and Awards end tomorrow recognise student work At an annual ceremony to recognise the across a variety of THE PENINSULA academic work of NU-Q students, docu- DOHA mentaries about the worth of the Lebanese disciplines in journalism, Lira, fiction films on the internal struggles communication, and Qatar Charity’s (QC) annual of women with Afro hair, investigative research. The nominees are forum for its overseas offices is articles on the segregation of migrant determined by NU-Q faculty ongoing, with 108 participants workers were recognised. An interview representing its field offices with Northwestern alumnus and producer and then judged by a panel worldwide. of the Hollywood musical La La Land of judges from the local The forum, which began Jordan Horowitz, took centre stage. community. under the theme “The Chal- The Media and Research Showcase lenges of Governance and Risk and Awards recognise student work across Management in Charitable a variety of disciplines in journalism, com- E Dennis, dean and CEO. Work”, will conclude tomorrow. munication, and research. The nominees This year, 14 students were awarded The forum aims at creating are determined by NU-Q faculty and then for media and research projects they pro- harmony between head- judged by a panel of judges from the local duced that tackled a number of important quarters and its overseas community. The nominated works are social, cultural, and political issues. offices, enhancing the capabil- Student Hassan Al Jahni won awards for creative writing and strategic communication. showcased during a poster session and Hassan Al Jahni, who won awards for ities of its staff serving in the media showcase, then awarded later that creative writing and strategic communi- field, developing the work envi- same day at a gala dinner and cation said that winning the awards “was (mystical man) may have the power she Cannes Film Festival’s short film corner; ronment, and strengthening the ceremony. highly motivating for me, especially as I needs to stop her grandmother from having a documentary broadcast by the role of field offices in net- “Every year, the Media and Research near the end of my years as an under- dying.” Al Jazeera network, and being published working and coordinating at the Showcase turns our building into a cre- graduate and look forward to joining the The judges this year were invited from in Northwestern University’s Research local, governmental, UN and ative enterprise showcasing the work workforce,” said Al Jahni. “I was especially leading media organisations. Journal. international levels. It also aims done by our students that illustrates in the proud of Emsahar – my first fully- Previous student winners have also Students submit their work in ten cat- at presenting the modern work best possible way their achievements in developed script that is now in the pre- received regional and international rec- egories, with judges selected for each cat- systems, which was prepared research, journalism, strategic commu- production stage. It is a fictional tale about ognition for their work, including being egory to make the final selection of the by its headquarters. nication, and filmmaking,” said Everette a young girl who believes an Emsahar selected as a judges’ favourite at the winning project in each. Free medical check-up by QIC Group & QLM Life & Medical Insurance gets huge response

THE PENINSULA free Dental Consultation, X- DOHA Ray and 20% Discount on follow up services. The free medical check-up Speaking at the event, organised by QIC Group’s Salem Al Mannai, Deputy Group Health & Life insurance entity President & CEO of QIC Group QLM Life & Medical Insurance stated, “We are deeply humbled Company in celebration of the by the overwhelming response World Health Day garnered we have received by organising overwhelming success. this free medical checkup. Initiated now for the third Many have expressed deep consecutive year, both appreciation for this initiative nationals and residents alike as they learnt about their The champions and runners-up of QUDL National Award at the function. benefitted from the free health conditions such as Blood medical check-up services that Sugar level, Blood Pressure etc. were made available at various Deputy Group President & CEO which otherwise would have Georgetown wins QUDL National Champion Award medical centres, clinics and of QIC Group, Salem Al Mannai. remained undiagnosed.” hospitals across Qatar. He further added, “We hope THE PENINSULA The two event featured 16 runner-up award went to Qatar At Abeer Medical Centers The free medical tests that that through their participation DOHA teams represented by Carnegie University. Also the award located at Abu Hamour & were available at Asian Medical at this event individuals will Mellon University in Qatar, winners of the league that con- Industrial Area branches, par- Center were Internal Medicine increase their awareness about QatarDebate, a member of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa University, sisted of 4 league tournaments ticipants opted for checking Consultation, GP Consultation, their health condition and will Foundation, recently organised Qatar University, Northwestern throughout October 2018 and Lipid profile i.e. LDL Choles- Total Cholesterol, Urine take necessary steps prescribed the Qatar Universities Debate University Qatar, and Geor- February 2019 were also hon- terol (Bad Cholesterol), HDL Analysis, Random Blood Sugar, by doctors to prevent the onset League National (QUDL) in getown University in Qatar, oured. Qatar University was Cholesterol (Good Cholesterol), Body Mass Index and a 25% dis- of lifestyle diseases such as English, at Al Multaqa, with a Texas A&M University Qatar, and named as the best university. VLDL, Triglycerides, Total Cho- count on follow up services. high Blood Pressure, Blood total number of 16 participating Weill Cornell Medical College in Participants also received lesterol, Blood Sugar Fasting, The free medical tests Sugar, Lipid Profiles which are teams from seven institutions. Qatar. certificates of participation and Creatinine - Serum (Kidney available at New Al Rabeeh rampant in the population The participants debated around QUDL National Award was the top 10 speakers received cer- Function), ALT (Liver Function Dental Center — Aziziyah today. I firmly believe that by five motions during the tour- awarded to Georgetown Uni- tificates and medals for their Test), Blood Pressure, BMI Branch were Dental Consul- maintaining a healthy and an nament. versity in Qatar and the debate participation. (Assess Body Fat), Physician tation, X-Ray, 20% Discount on active lifestyle, we will be suc- Consultation and Dental follow up services. At Al Rabeeh cessful in building robust and Consultation. Dental Center — Muntazah healthier communities in At Allevia Medical Center, Branch, participants availed Qatar.” QCS to hold workshops on thyroid cancer participants availed free THE PENINSULA number of topics. The first health to reduce stress. Methods Internal Medicine Consultation, DOHA workshop, which will be held on of detection of injury to families Pediatrics Consultation, April 19, will target the public of people who living with thyroid Obstetrics & Gynecology Con- Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) will and includes awareness session cancer. sultation, ENT Consultation, BP, host several workshops on the about thyroid cancer, the Thyroid cancer conference BMI, Blood Sugar, and Total sidelines of the Thyroid Cancer available services in Qatar will organise by QCS at The Ritz- Cholesterol. Whilst at Al Safa Conference on April 19 and 20. regarding of thyroid gland, Carlton, in cooperation with Medical Polyclinic participants Awareness workshops will be methods of self-examination of Ministry of Public Health, Hamad availed free GP Consultation, held under the theme ‘thyroid thyroid cancer and medical con- Medical Corporation, Qatar Doc- Dermatology Consultation, vitality’ to coincide with the sultation for skin care for people tor’s Society, and Qatar Austrian Dental Consultation, Temper- thyroid cancer awareness month with thyroid cancer. Medical Team. ature, Pulse, Respiratory Rate, — April. The second workshop, which Thyroid Cancer Conference BP, BMI, Blood Sugar, Total Thyroid cancer is one of will be held on April 20, targets is a global platform more than Cholesterol (only for above 35 the most common cancers in people who living with thyroid gathering 1,000 specialist and an years old), Skin Analysis, PFT, Qatar ranking second among cancer and presents many topics expert in various areas and more Eye Checkup (Screening), X-ray women according to Qatar as the most important infor- than 20 top national and inter- if advised by the doctor, and People taking part in the free medical check-up organised by QIC National Cancer Registry mation and medical advice national experts and Speakers , 25% discount on dental Group & QLM Life & Medical Insurance. (QNCR, 2015). required at a stage after 18 Sessions healthcare profes- procedures. Workshops will include a treatment, yoga for thyroid sionals . Chevrolet Tahoe RST wins ‘Best Performance Full Size SUV’ award THE PENINSULA Chevrolet Tahoe RST is differ- DOHA entiated with its aftermarket cues, which give it a decidedly In its latest series of achieve- more aggressive street per- ments, the Chevrolet Tahoe RST formance appearance. Ensuring was named the ‘Best an imposing stance to com- Performance Full Size SUV’ for plement the design enhance- 2019 by the Arab Motors Middle ments, the Tahoe sits on East team. The award was exclusive 22-inch wheels. received in Qatar last month. Commenting on the award, Powered by a 6.2L V8 engine Samer Al Salem, General Sales coupled with a 10-speed trans- Manager, at Jaidah Automotive The Chevrolet team members pose for a group photo. mission, the Tahoe RST delivers said: “It is a great honour to a powerful 420 HP and a 624 Nm receive this award for one Chev- torque. rolet’s most iconic performance most performance oriented extremely proud to add this performance SUV trucks. Its in the large SUV segment. Its added power is enhanced vehicles yet, particularly from a Tahoe yet. award to its long list of achieve- exceptional styling is backed by The Tahoe RST is designed with tuned suspension and prestigious publication such as The Tahoe RST has already ments in our market.” equally impressive performance, for customers who want a street reigned in with high per- Arab Motors Middle East. With proven to be popular in Qatar The Tahoe RST is a true tes- all the while retaining the performance look and increased formance brakes by Brembo. its street-performance look and since its introduction in tament to Chevrolet’s com- presence, and capability that performance without sacrificing The award-winning increased power, the RST is the December 2018, and we are mitment to produce cutting-edge make the Tahoe a firm favourite capability or refinement. 16 MORNING BREAK TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019

PRAYER TIMINGS Commander of Amiri Guard meets Pakistan Ambassador Spacewalking FAJR 04. 00 AM SHOROOK 05. 18 AM astronauts tackle battery, cable work ZUHR 11. 36 AM MAGHRIB 05. 56 PM ASR 03. 05 PM ISHA 07. 26 PM AP/CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA

Spacewalking astronauts tackled battery and WEATHER TODAY cable work outside the International Space Station yesterday. It was the third spacewalk in just 2 ½ weeks for the space station crew. Nasa astronaut Anne McClain and Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques hustled through their part in battery swap- outs that began last month. “All right, you rock,” Mission Control radioed. Next up: laying cable outside the 250-mile-high outpost to provide a backup power circuit for the station’s Canadian-made robot arm and expand wireless communications. The ongoing battery work involves re- installing two old batteries. One of six new lithium-ion batteries did not work, so McClain had to remove an adapter plate she put in. Last week, flight controllers used the space station’s robot arm to remove the failed Commander of the Amiri Guard, H E Major General Hazza bin Khalil Al Shahwani, met yesterday with the battery along with an associated charging Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the State of Qatar, Syed Ahsan Raza Shah. The meeting device. Working remotely, the controllers also reviewed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them, promoting the prospects of mutual cooperation, installed a spare charging device and one of as well as issues of joint interest. the old batteries made of nickel hydrogen. The second outdated battery will go in - robotically - later this week. Nasa said it will send up another new o o Al Thawadi highlights power battery, although it’s uncertain when. Until 25 C 32 C then, this combination of old and new bat- Minimum Maximum teries is expected to work fine, according to of football at Jordan Forum managers. McClain has now logged two Partly cloudy to cloudy with chance of scat- spacewalks and Saint-Jacques one. Their six- QNA tered rain maybe thundery at times by night. month mission began in December. AMMAN The next spacewalk will be next month

HIGH TIDE 05:57 –19:38 LOW TIDE 01:58 – 13:54 by the two Russians on board. Two other Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department The Secretary-General of Americans round out the six-person crew. the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Galaxy S10 fooled by user’s (SC) Hassan Al Thawadi highlighted the potential 3D printed fingerprint impact of mega sporting events on young people IANS/SEOUL across the region, including the FIFA World It is apparently easy to fool the ultrasonic Cup, during the World fingerprint scanner in Samsung’s latest Galaxy Economic Forum on the S10 as a user posted on Imgur that he able to Middle East and North unlock the smartphone with a 3D print of his Africa in Jordan. fingerprint. Speaking on a panel The Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Notably, the new Galaxy S10’s fingerprint session titled ‘Radicali- Hassan Al Thawadi (left), during the World Economic Forum on the Middle East scanner uses an ultrasonic sensor and doesn’t sation: Lessons from the and North Africa in Amman, Jordan. rely on a capacitive fingerprint scanner that’s Past’, Al Thawadi said been used in other versions of the phone. The global events such as the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is supposed to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 had the He added: “Qatar’s hosting of one of the top 100 Arab start-ups. be more difficult to spoof. potential to address the spread of the FIFA World Cup - for the first Meanwhile, Generation Amazing has “The user took a picture of his fingerprint radicalisation, rising unemployment time in the Arab world - is an reached more than 250,000 bene- on a wineglass, processed it in Photoshop, and the marginalisation of unprecedented opportunity for this ficiaries across the region and Asia, and made a model using 3ds Max that allowed communities. region. Accordingly, we have made using football as a tool for positive him to extrude the lines in the picture into a “Mega-events, such as the FIFA a conscious effort from day one to social development. And the Josoor 3D version. World Cup Qatar 2022, can play an ensure that it is a tournament that Institute, an academic centre for “After a 13-minute print (and three important and often not recognised everyone in the region can benefit sports and events professionals, has attempts with some tweaks), he was able to role in providing the platforms nec- from, and have launched several helped to upskill more than 3,000 print out a version of his fingerprint that essary for youth to unleash their legacy programmes to support this, people since its launch. Held under fooled the phone’s sensor,” The Verge potential, showcase their talent and including Challenge 22, Generation the theme “Building New Platforms reported late on Sunday. achieve their goals and aspira- Amazing and the Josoor Institute. for Cooperation”, this year’s forum This is not the first time that such an tions,” said Al Thawadi. The Challenge 22 innovation focused on ensuring the region and instance has been reported. Al Thawadi went on to reiterate award is giving young entrepreneurs global economy enters a new phase Police officers used a 3D print in 2016 Qatar’s vision for the tournament the chance to develop businesses of globalisation. More than 1,000 to get into a murder victim’s phone, while as being one for the benefit of the which could boost Qatar 2022. One leaders from government, business a cybersecurity firm used a $150 face mask entire region and an accelerator for of the winners, ViaVii, was named and civil society participated in the to defeat Apple’s FaceID on an iPhone X in the positive development of society. by the World Economic Forum as forum. 2017. Electrical brain stimulation can boost ‘Goldfinger’ memory function in older people Bond girl Nadja Regin REUTERS/LONDON The study involved 42 younger adults aged 20 to 29 and 42 older adults aged dead at 87 Electrical brain stimulation using a non- 60 to 76, who were all assessed for their invasive cap can help boost older people’s performance in a working-memory task. IANS/LOS ANGELES mental scores to those of people 20 to 30 Working memory refers to information years younger, according to a study. retained temporarily for use in imme- Actress Nadja Regin, The research, published in the journal diate tasks such as reasoning and making who starred in two Nature Neuroscience, found that age- decisions. Without brain stimulation, the James Bond films “From related decline in working memory can older people were slower and less Russia with Love” and be reversed by stimulating two key brain accurate than the younger ones. “Goldfinger”, has died. areas at a specific rhythm. This was because the younger ones She was 87. Movie The findings are early and only relate had higher levels of interaction and syn- bosses paid tribute to to healthy volunteers at this stage, but chronisation of certain brain wave Nadja with a statement could point to new ways to boost brain rhythms, the researchers said - suggesting on Twitter yesterday, function in people with age-related cog- that targeting these types of rhythms in reports mirror.co.uk. nitive decline such as dementia and the older people’s brains might help their “We are very sorry Alzheimer’s patients. function. to learn that Nadja Using a technique known as electro- While receiving active brain stimu- Regin has passed away encephalography (EEG) to monitor brain lation, older adults improved their at the age of 87. Nadja activity and a another called transcranial working-memory test scores to the levels appeared in two Bond alternating-current stimulation (tACS), of the younger people. The effect lasted for Burning of snowman films, ‘From Russia with the scientists stimulated the brains of a at least 50 minutes after the stimulation A combination photo shows the Boeoegg, a snowman made of wadding and filled with Love’ and ‘Goldfinger’. group of young and old people and were was given, said Robert Reinhart, a firecrackers, burning in a bonfire in the Sechselaeuten square in Zurich, Switzerland, yesterday. Our thoughts are with able to modulate the brainwave interac- researcher at Boston University in the Every year, at 6pm on a Monday in April, a snowman is set on fire on Zurich’s Sechselaeuten. her family and friends at tions linked to their working memory. United States who co-led the study. this sad time.” She also appeared in several British TV shows in the 1960s including More dolphins die in Aegean Sea; group suspects navy drills “The Avengers”, “Danger Man” and “The AP be linked to massive Turkish naval Anastassia Miliou, said that 15 is country’s largest ever — that made sometimes fatal consequences — Saint”. ATHENS exercises in the area. Fifteen dead a worryingly high number com- constant use of sonar and prac- to escape the din. After several But she was best dolphins have washed up on the pared to “one or two” in the same ticed with live ammunition. mass beachings of whales, Nato, known for her role as The Aegean Sea has seen a “very eastern island of Samos and other period last year. The group said The deafening noise of sonar, to which both Turkey and Greece the mistress of Kerim unusual” spike in dolphin deaths parts of Greece’s Aegean coastline while it’s still unclear what caused used by warships to detect enemy belong, has adopted a code of Bey in “From Russia over the past few weeks, a Greek since late February, according to the deaths, the spike follows the submarines, can injure dolphins conduct for using sonar that is with Love”, which marine conservation group said the Archipelagos Institute. Feb. 27-March 8 Turkish “Blue and whales, driving them to surface designed to better protect marine starred Sean Connery as yesterday, adding that the rise could Its head of research, Homeland” exercises — the too fast or beach themselves — with mammals. the spy James Bond.