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Saturday 13 April 2019 | 8 Sha'baan 1440 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 24 | Number 7860 | 2 Riyals partners & 80+ privileges Qatar Farms Program Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs meets French FM helps sell over 4,000 tonnes of vegetables

SANAULLAH ATAULLAH Another initiative of the THE PENINSULA Ministry of Municipality and The Director of Agriculture Affairs Environment, ‘Premium Department at the Ministry of Munici- Qatar Farms Program’ is also pality and Environment (MME), Yusuf running parallel at major Khalid Al Khulaifi, has said that ‘Qatar commercial outlets which Farms Program’ has emerged as the largest platform for marketing local vege- offers certified premium tables by selling over 4,000 tonnes of local vegetables in boxes. vegetables in the last five months. The Ministry of Municipality and Envi- ronment in cooperation with the Ministry that program ran during March and April of Commerce and Industry had launched 2018 on experimental basis and was the program last year. implemented in December 2018. He said “Under the initiative, fresh vegetables that the study period includes March, April from 140 local farms are being showcased and December 2018 and January, Feb- at a number of major commercial outlets ruary 2019. like Lulu Hypermarkets, Family Food Premium quality local vegetables Center (FFC), Carrefour among many also attracted big number of customers. more,” Yusuf Khalid Al Khulaifi told The Under ‘Premium Qatar Farms Program’ Peninsula at a recent event. over 3,740 tonnes of premium quality Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met in Paris He said that another initiative of the vegetables were sold out at the outlets with the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Jean-Yves Le Drian. They discussed bilateral Ministry of Municipality and Environment, from December 2016 to February 2019, relations and means of supporting and developing them, in addition to a number of topics of mutual interest. They ‘Premium Qatar Farms Program’ is also according to a data released by the Min- also discussed the Declaration of Intent on the establishment of a strategic dialogue between the two countries running parallel at major commercial istry of Municipality and Environment. signed in February that includes defence & security, health, education, culture, sports, economy & investment and the outlets which offers certified premium Both the programs enable local farms fight against terrorism and extremism. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs also met President local vegetables in boxes. to supply their produce to commercial of the Senate of the French Republic, Gerard Larcher, and a number of members of the Senate. Al Khulaifi said that under Qatar outlets without middlemen. The initia- Farms Program the vegetables are being tives aim at proving reasonable prices to showcased in loose form giving option to local farmers for their investments and the customers to buy as much as they handwork by offering farm fresh vege- want. tables to the customers at competitive “Qatar Farms Program helped market prices. The good yield also encourages Head of Sudan's Military a total of 4,750 tonnes of local vegetables local farms to increase their products. since its launch last year,” he said, adding The winter vegetable markets also attracted huge cus- Transition Council resigns tomers. A total of 128 farms are showcasing QNA & ANATOLIA the armed forces. threatened,” Abdelsalam said. “We call fresh vegetables at the DOHA/KHARTOUM Meanwhile, a two-year transitional on our partners in the international markets operating Al period planned by the Sudanese military community to support peaceful tran- Mazrouah, Al Khor-Al The head of Sudan's Military Tran- following its removal of longtime Pres- sition in the country in a way that Dakhira, Al Wakra, Al sition Council, General Awad ident Omar Hassan Al Bashir could be would help open the path to stability Shamal during Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf, has shortened, Sudan’s UN charge d’affairs and prosperity.” weekend from announced his resignation and the said yesterday. The Sudanese military on Thursday Thursday to Saturday. appointment of Lieutenant General Yasir Abdelsalam did not elab- announced the removal of al-Bashir, The Ministry of Abdel Fattah Adelrahman Burhan, orate on what conditions would who has ruled Sudan since 1989, fol- Municipality and Envi- according to Sudan News Agency. facilitate the easing of the military’s lowing months of popular protests ronment organises General Awad Ibn Auf was quoted timeframe while addressing against his rule. various festival like yesterday as saying: "I, the head of the reporters at the UN’s New York It also announced the imposition of flower, honey, dates, Military Council, announce I am giving headquarters after a Security a two-year transitional phase to be dairy at the facilities of up the post," adding he took the Council meeting. But he said the overseen by the transitional council run winter vegetable decision to open the way for a new events following Al Bashir’s ouster by the military. The Sudanese Profes- markets to attract cus- stage. are “a domestic matter” dependent sional Association yesterday called on tomers in a bid to He pointed out that the rest of the on “the will of the Sudanese people.” the council to immediately relinquish Farm fresh vegetables are showcased at a commercial increase the sale of procedures will be in accordance “Any democratic process requires executive authority to a civilian gov- outlet under Qatar Farms Program. local vegetables. with the systems and procedures of time and that should not be ernment. `P4 April Festival at Waqif & Al Wakrah souqs concludes with big turnout QNA/THE PENINSULA group of Russian artistes who that there were no problems or DOHA entertained the crowd with their difficulties faced during the strength, balance and flexibility organization of the festival. The April festival hosted at Souq on beam and metal wheel. In Souq Al Wakrah, Russian Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah Children played various skill circus performances saw great concluded yesterday amid great games such as Archery, Balloon public attendance, with tickets turnout from the public. Pop, Air Gun, Mini Golf, Bowling, sold out even before its launch. In a statement yesterday, Mini Golf, Hit the Basket, Bas- Its shows ranged from aerobatic Mohammed Al Salem, Director of ketball as well and Virtual and acrobatic shows to amazing Souq Waqif, said the April Fes- Reality. In a first, the Abdul Aziz animal shows. tival succeeded in achieving the Nasser Theater presented the Visitors to Souq Al Wakrah’s goals set for it by the festival com- ‘Snow White’ show which was April Festival also enjoyed over mittee of the Private Engineering well received by families. a dozen skill games at the venue. Office, pointing out that during Falcons and miniature dhows The director of Souq Al the festival thousands of people on display provided traditional feel Wakra praised the efforts of the gathered in venues designated by to the festival, in addition to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry Souq Waqif for the festival and traditional board game of damah of Health, security personnel, designed to respond to the which a number of locals were heritage police and organizers requirements of all families. seen playing at the venue. who were available in every The western arena of Souq The festive atmosphere also corner of the Souq to ensure the Waqif was filled with large extended to Souq Waqif’s alleys safety of visitors. The festival, crowds, watching the African with parades featuring different April Festival activities held at Souq Waqif, recently. PIC: BAHER AMIN/THE PENINSULA which kicked off on April 5 was circus performances by artistes artistes from different countries supervised by the Private Engi- from Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania wearing colourful costumes efforts made by the organizing Talking to Qatar News seen a large turnout estimated neering Office’s festival com- and Ivory Coast who captivated while some played instruments committee of the festival to guide Agency (QNA), Director of Souq at more than 80,000 visitors, as mittee and was aimed at stimu- the audience with breathtaking to the delight of visitors. the public to the venues of events Al Wakrah, Khalid Saif Al all the facilities were booked lating the tourism industry in two balancing acts. There was also a Al Salem also praised the and maintain the organization. Suwaidi, said that the festival has without exception, highlighting of the leading touristic spots. 02 HOME SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019

OFFICIAL NEWS Pakistan National Assembly Speaker lauds PWF’s efforts Qatar condemns THE PENINSULA models in Pakistan, especially in explosion in Pakistan DOHA the rural areas. He also sought partnership with Qatar Foun- DOHA: The State of Qatar Asad Qaisar, Speaker of the dation for the above has expressed its strong National Assembly of Pakistan, programme. condemnation and denun- visited the Al Ahsan school PWF senior members, Said ciation of the explosion that campus and also the educational Gul, Israr Malazia, Riyaz Ahmad took place in a local market model set by Pakistan Welfare Bakali and a number of com- in the city of Quetta in the Forum (PWF). munity representatives were West of Pakistan, leaving a Ahmad Hussain, President of present. They discussed the edu- number of people killed. PWF, explained the concept cational needs of the community The Ministry of Foreign behind the initiative and collab- in Pakistan and Qatar. Affairs renewed, in a state- oration between Education The speaker assured his full ment released yesterday, Above All, Ministry of Education support for further and better the State of Qatar’s position and Qatar Charity to bring communication to make sure of rejecting violence and socially and economically that those concerns can be terrorism, regardless of the deprived segment of the society understood and resolved. Asad Qaisar, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, with officials and other community motivations and reasons. back to school. Qaiser, who was He visited Al Ahsan school members during a discussion as part of his visit to the Al Ahsan school campus. The statement expressed heading a parliamentary dele- campus and lauded the facilities the State of Qatar’s condo- gation to the 140th Assembly of and efforts. As many as 350 stu- lences to the families of the the Inter-Parliamentary Union to bring more kids back to main- reality. Once complete, it will further development of country,” dents are undergoing bridge pro- victims, the government, (IPU) took place in Doha, appre- stream education. “The efforts cater to the needs of youth, who said Hussain. gramme at the school and further and people of Pakistan. ciated the role of PWF to build a are also going on to make the pass out high school and add to Asad Qaisar expressed the 100 students are in the process model which can be replicated vocational training institution, a technical workforce for the need to have similar educational of enrolment.

Workshop trains QU celebrates achievements on CHS Day national cadres for global review THE PENINSULA Prof. Al Thani thanked the DOHA valued partners from Aspetar, of human rights Hamad Medical Corporation Qatar University (QU) College of (HMC), the Ministry of Public QNA Health Sciences (CHS) recently Health, Qatar Diabetes Associ- DOHA held the CHS Day to celebrate its ation (QDA), Qatar Foundation remarkable achievements for the (QF) and Primary Health Care The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ last academic year 2017-18, with Corporation (PHCC) for their Department of Human Rights many of its partners, students generous contributions in sup- concluded on Thursday a and faculty members. porting the students during their workshop at the ministry’s The ceremony was attended practical training. headquarters on the universal by Qatar University’s President The event also included a periodic review mechanism on Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham, as special ceremony where 141 stu- human rights. well as several QU Vice-Presi- dents were honoured for being It was in cooperation with dents and Deans of QU Health part of the Dean’s List in the past the Geneva Institute for Human Colleges, including CHS Dean academic year. Additionally, 83 Rights, and the UN Human and Director of the QU Bio- students from biomedical Rights Training and Documen- medical Research Center (BRC) science, human nutrition and tation Centre for South-West Prof. Asma Al Thani. public health programmes took Asia and the Arab Region. Rep- The celebration was also part in a white coat ceremony resentatives of different minis- attended by CHS faculty, stu- which signifies and celebrates tries, institutions, and civil dents, as well as representatives the entering of their first stage of society organisations took part of the college’s partners and clinical practice to their The President of Qatar University, Dr Hassan Al Derham, with students during the white coat ceremony. in the event. several Qatari public and social respective degrees. Director of the Department media figures. Certificates of The college also celebrated and CHS for their remarkable was done mostly due to the hard faculty and students, whether in of Human Rights of the Ministry appreciation were distributed the successful passing of 15 Bio- achievements that established a work and persistence of its ded- theoretical or clinical practice. I of Foreign Affairs Ambassador with CHS partners to 195 clinical medical Sciences graduates of standardized curriculum with icated faculty and also thank our valued preceptors Faisal Al Henzab said that the preceptors and field practice the American Society for Clinical great aspirations to keep in pace administration. and supervisors for their efforts workshop, which was organised supervisors of three CHS pro- Pathology (ASCP) Board of Cer- with the latest development in The Dean of CHS Dr Asma and support of our students within the framework of the grammes, namely, biomedical tification (BOC) exam. health education as offered by Al-Thani, said: “Today we cele- during the 2018-2019 academic state’s preparations for dis- science, human nutrition and QU President Dr Hassan Al the most prestigious institutions brate and appreciate the year. It was a year full of cussing its third periodic report public health. Derham commended QU Health worldwide. An achievement that amazing achievements of our incredible accomplishments.” before the Universal Periodic Review’s working group in May, achieved the desired goals, and enriched the knowledge and Filipino folkloric culture of the participants. He stressed that everyone will work to harness what was learned during the two-day dance group to workshop to serve the State of Qatar, adding they will do more work and training courses on perform at Katara several topics during the coming period. RAYNALD C RIVERA The Ramon Obusan Director of the UN Human THE PENINSULA Folkloric Group Rights Training and Documen- (ROFG) will perform tation Centre for South-West Internationally acclaimed in a show entitled Asia and the Arab Region Dr Filipino dance company Abdel Salam Sidahmed praised founded by the late National “Indayog ng Pilipinas: the partnership between the UN Artist of the Philippines, Ramon A Showcase of Human Rights Training and A. Obusan is set to take centre- Philippine Folkloric Documentation Centre for stage tomorrow at 7pm at Katara South-West Asia and the Arab Drama Theatre. Dances” presented Region, the Ministry of Foreign The Ramon Obusan Folk- by the Philippine Affairs’ Department of Human loric Group (ROFG) will perform Embassy in Rights, and the Geneva Institute The Dean of GU-Q, Dr Ahmad Dallal, during the ‘Dean’s Reception for Honors Students’, an event to in a show entitled “Indayog ng for Human Rights in the imple- recognise the highest levels of academic achievement for the Spring 2018 and Fall 2018 semesters. cooperation with Pilipinas: A Showcase of Phil- mentation of this workshop, ippine Folkloric Dances” pre- the Cultural Village and stressed his aspiration to sented by the Philippine Foundation – Katara. continue cooperation with the GU-Q honours top students Embassy in cooperation with the Ministry on issues of common Cultural Village Foundation workshop on “Basic and Fun- concern, and on following up – Katara. damentals of Philippine Folk the implementation of other THE PENINSULA awarded for a GPA of 3.7 and and Assistant Dean for Cur- One of the leading resident Dance” to be conducted by training activities. DOHA above. ricular and Academic Advising, dance companies of the Cultural ROFG on Monday. The free-of- Executive Director of The Dean of GU-Q, Dr. Dr Christine Schiwietz, took Center of the Philippines (CCP), charge workshop to be held at Geneva Institute for Human Georgetown University in Qatar Ahmad Dallal, said, “GU-Q con- part in recognising the students the group founded in 1972 has the Rehearsal Room of Katara Rights Nizar Abdelkader said (GU-Q) recently hosted the tinues to attract and enroll top at the Dean’s Reception which been preserving and perpetu- Building 16 is open to partici- that the workshop contributed Dean’s Reception for Honors tier students from Qatar and began with a congratulatory ating Philippine traditions pants ages eight years old and to the training of national Students to recognise the around the world, and we are speech from the Dean. Hon- through decades focusing on above. cadres on the universal periodic highest levels of academic proud to see these driven and orees were awarded certificates music and dance. This is not the first time a review mechanism on human achievement for the Spring 2018 dedicated students take on the of recognition. Boasting over a thousand Filipino dance group will rights, hailing the partnership and Fall 2018 semesters. challenge of our rigorous cur- Academic Honors are also performances in the Philippines perform in Katara. In 2016, the between the implementing The event celebrated out- riculum, and succeed. Truly totaled over the course of a four and abroad, the group has acclaimed Bayanihan Dancers parties of the workshop, standing students ranging from these award winners exemplify year education to determine the carved its own niche in the represented the Philippines at stressing it is the beginning of first year to graduating seniors. the strengths of a liberal arts winners of the traditional Latin world of dance as forerunner of the inaugural Cultural Diversity future cooperation between the Every semester, Academic education and the best of Honors, the highest marks of Philippine folk dance performed Festival organised by Katara and Geneva Institute for Human Honors are earned based on a Georgetown.” distinction for a university’s closest to the original. For the the Unesco Office in Doha, while Rights and the Ministry of student’s grade point average The winning students are all graduating class. These include past decades, it has documented Ballet Philippines featured in Foreign Affairs’ Department of (GPA) for that semester. And pursuing a Bachelor of Science the honorary Latin titles of and performed the rituals of “Master Pieces: Celebrating the Human Rights. Head of the once every academic year, in Foreign Service degree, an summa cum laude, magna cum more than 50 ethno-linguistic Tapestry of Filipino Culture and human rights treaties section Honors earned over the pre- interdisciplinary undergraduate laude, and cum laude. groups in the Philippines. Friendship” in 2015. of the Ministry Hanadi El Shafei vious semesters are recognized program offered in four majors Although not a part of the It has highlighted the Among other world-class thanked the Geneva Institute at a campus reception. and built on an international Dean’s reception, hard-working authenticity of the movements Filipino artistes that staged per- for Human Rights and the UN Academic Honors are affairs curriculum rooted in the students who earn an honorable and costumes of Filipino ethno- formances in Katara were the Human Rights Training and printed on all official tran- study of economics, political standing of either 3.5 or above linguistic groups through its out- Orchestra of the Filipino Youth Documentation Centre for scripts, with First Honors indi- science, history, philosophy, in the course of their semester standing full-length dance in October last year and concert South-West Asia and the Arab cating the highest level of theology, the humanities, and of studies are placed on the works. Meanwhile, the Phil- pianist Dr. Raul Sunico and Region and called for continued achievement and requiring a other disciplines. Dean’s List, an academic desig- ippine Embassy has announced Jesper Mercado and soprano partnership with the grade point average of 3.9 and Associate Professor at nation that is also reflected in it is inviting Filipino dance Stefanie Quintin in May of the Department of Human Rights above, and Second Honors GU-Q, Dr Daniel Westbrook, official university transcripts. enthusiasts to a free dance same year. of the Ministry in the future. SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 HOME / MIDDLE EAST 03 Popularity of Korean culture flourishing RAYNALD C RIVERA THE PENINSULA While the popularity of Korean culture in Qatar is very much evident in capacity crowds Popularity of Korean culture and thronging the shows organised by the Korean popular culture in Qatar has been Embassy, some enthusiasts are taking their in the upswing with young interest to a new level through organisations. people not only interested in Korean pop music (K-pop) and dramas (K-drama) but also “K-Pop and K-Drama have We took the concept and make Korean language and culture in become so popular these days a smaller version to entertain general. especially the group BTS, but our both Qatari and expatriate par- While the popularity of club aims to also spread the ticipants,” explained Al Kudsi. Korean culture in Qatar is very culture not only the K-Pop and The activity, which was sup- much evident in capacity crowds K-Drama,” said Dana AlKudsi, ported by the Korean Embassy, thronging the shows organised Public Relations and Finance involved games which at the by the Korean Embassy, some Director. same time promoted awareness enthusiasts are taking their “We’ll share our passion for of Korean culture to the interest to a new level through anything Korean, not only K-Pop participants. organisations. and K-drama because there are On their plans, Al Kudsi said, “Korean culture is very some people who love Korean “We have so many goals, many popular here especially among food and the culture in general,” ideas. In the near future we plan young people that’s why we added Noor. to have events in the embassy decided to start this club,” Heba Yesterday, the group and in places where more people Noor, Chairman of the newly organised at Hangul Nihongo can come, such as cooking class established Annyeong Korea Center its first activity called and Korean movie night.” Social Club, told local media. “Running Man Day,” a fun team “Our goal is to connect eve- Noor along with three other competition based on the inter- ryone who loves everything FROM LEFT: Heba Noor, Chairman of Annyeong Korea Social Club; Dana Al Kudsi, Public Relations and friends who met while studying nationally popular Korean about Korea together and share Finance Director; Leena Sobeh, Graphic Design and Social Media Marketing Director, and Noora Taha, Korean language in Doha variety show. our thoughts,” she added. Event Planning Director, during the ‘Running Man Day’ event at Hangul Nihongo Center yesterday. founded the club to connect “Running Man is a very Since its establishment, the PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA other people with penchant for famous variety show in Korea group is already gaining popu- everything Korean to know more and both young and old who love larity with an increasing social media platforms. them to a tour of Korea which amazing. We visited so many about and promote the culture Korea know this show, that’s number of followers in AlKudsi and her friends’ she described as memorable. places and met so many people. through events and activities. why we decided to start with this. Instagram as well as in other interest in Korean culture had led “The whole ten days was so It was fun,” she said.

Nato hails Tur- ‘Govts should promote women’s role in politics’ key’s pivotal SACHIN KUMAR THE PENINSULA role

The world has made significant in Middle East progress in the field of women empowerment in the past, but ANATOLIA there is still a lot of distance ANTALYA, TURKEY remains to be covered. Govern- ments can play a crucial role in A top Nato official yesterday strengthening the role of women praised Turkey’s hospitality in politics, say two women towards refugees and hard parliamentarians from Bhutan, work in the Middle East. who were in Doha to participate “I pay tribute particularly in IPU Assembly and Related to the Turkish role in providing meetings. refuge of millions of people “Already we have reached to who have been displaced by the this level of women represen- terror conflict in Syria,” tation and this is commendable. Madeleine Moon, head of the Dil Maya Rai and Sonam Pelzom (right), members of the Parliament from Bhutan. PIC: SALIM MATRAMKOT / THE PENINSULA It shows that there have been Nato Parliament Assembly, told efforts from all stakeholders, but a meeting in the Mediterranean still we have room to accom- coming forward. Sometime just Bhutan through democracy clubs Doha last week, witnessing huge first visit to any country in the Antalya province. modate more,” Dil Maya Rai, awareness and education do not in school. participation of middle east and I am amazed by Moon said Turkey “sees Member of Parliament from work. We have to create con- “This is to engage and teach parliamentarians. the development here. People in itself as a bridge between Bhutan, told The Peninsula. ducive environment for women the students about their roles and A total of 80 parliament Qatar are kind and helpful,” said Europe and Middle East” which “Compared to some countries to participate,” said Sonam responsibilities in a democratic speakers took part in this year’s Dil Maya Rai. gives it a “leading role in pro- the representation of women in Pelzom, Member of Parliament society. Bhutan’s election com- meeting, and 40 deputy Sonam said Bhutan’s moting security and stability” politics is very less in many from Bhutan. “For women they mission also introduced ‘The speakers. There were also 2,200 measure of development is Gross in the Mideast and North Africa countries. The governments have more physical barriers. Bhutan Children’s parliament’ members of parliaments that National Happiness (GNH) rather region. should give more incentives to Mentally we can do equally like with the aim of helping young represented another 46,000 than the Gross Domestic Product Moon stressed there would women candidates to women men but physically as you start Bhutanese understand the inner around the world that came to where national happiness is pri- be “an international refugee candidates,” she added. campaigning and do you start working of a democracy,” said Qatar looking for a better future oritised over economic growth. crisis without the remarkable Capacity building is another going to remote areas, that is the Sonam. “The Bhutan children’s for peace, stability, and the rule Since 2010, the Bhutanese edu- generosity and hospitality important enabler in women time we need more support,” she parliament meet twice yearly, of law. The parliamentarians cation system has put emphasis which Turkey has shown to the empowerment and countries can added. She said that democracy bringing Bhutanese youth said that IPU meetings are great on value education through our Syrian people.” She also said learn from each other in this in Bhutan is young with the first together to discuss issues of platform for deepening demo- own unique approach known as Turkey is often “at the fore- field, said another multiparty election held as common concern and submit cratic systems across the world educating for Gross National front” of the challenges parliamentarian. recent as 2008. To support the their proceedings to the Par- and praised Qatar for hosting a Happiness. The Gross National emerging in the Mideast, adding “We should make women democratic transition, Bhutan liament of Bhutan,” she added. successful IPU meetings. Happiness values and principles that Nato shows solidarity with more aware about their rights. has introduced a democratic The 140th IPU Assembly and “The arrangements for these are infused in school curriculum Turkey by providing critical We should tell them benefits of political culture for youth of Related Meetings concluded in meetings were perfect. It was my at all levels. support and assistance. “I want to take the oppor- tunity to thank the Turkish gov- Yemen President returns home ernment and parliament for Students explore educational & their contributions to Nato and for a rare parliament session the Nato Parliamentary Assembly,” she added. professional options at ABP fair AP Yemeni city of Sayoun yes- Osman Askin Bak, the head SANA’A terday, where the House of Rep- of the Turkish delegation to the THE PENINSULA with their peers and with the The one-day fair was resentatives is due to convene assembly, said Turkey is the DOHA participating organisations. attended by 500 male Yemeni government officials say today for the first time since the third-biggest country in the “We in the Academic Bridge and female students President Abed Rabbo Mansour war started. The war pits Houthi region supporting Nato with its The Academic Bridge Program Program work to improve the from Qatari high Hadi has returned home from rebels against Hadi’s gov- personnel numbering nearly (ABP), under the umbrella of the students’ skills in English, Math, Saudi Arabia to attend a rare ernment, backed by a Saudi-led 2,000. Pre-University Education, a Science and Computer Studies, schools, and ABP session of parliament and elect coalition. Parliament has been “Syrian children are our member of Qatar Foundation, in addition to providing some students. a speaker. divided into three blocs: One children,” he said. organised the ‘All Qatar Univer- activities and events that assist The officials say Hadi’s pres- with Houthis, a second with “We want them to forget sities Fair’, attended by local in building and developing the Mellon University in Qatar, idential plane departed from Hadi, and a third in opposition difficult scenes and prepare governmental companies’ and personal skills of students, in Georgetown University in Qatar, Riyadh and landed in the eastern to the two. them for a beautiful future.” organisations. order to increase their opportu- Northwestern University in The one-day fair was nities for being admitted into any Qatar, Texas A&M University at attended by 500 male and university at Education City or Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth female students from Qatari high any distinguished university University School of the Arts in ‘Saudi alliance makes Khashoggi issue tough’ schools, and ABP students. abroad.” Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine- WASHINGTON reporters. “It’s been a struggle.” Senate approved that measure This fair took place on Abdulaziz Al Qattan, an ABP Qatar. Other participating uni- BLOOMBERG The Senate passed a non- in March. Tuesday, and it aimed to provide student, said, “I was really versities included the University binding resolution in December The Trump administration male and female students with amazed at the number of uni- of Aberdeen in Qatar, City The US alliance with Saudi putting responsibility for has already imposed sanctions the opportunity to explore the versities and organisations that College in Qatar, Community Arabia has made it difficult for Khashoggi’s killing on Crown on Saudis accused of educational and professional participated. Many students face College of Qatar, Northumbria Congress to find the right way to Prince Mohammed bin Salman, involvement in the killing of options available within Qatar, some difficulties in gaining University in Qatar, Qatar Aer- respond to the murder six but the House, then under Khashoggi at the Saudi Con- and facilitate communication admission into universities and onautical College, Qatar Uni- months ago of columnist and Republican control, didn’t take sulate in Istanbul. Earlier this with the companies and the foundations that grant scholar- versity, College of the North government critic Jamal up the measure. week, the State Department said Universities. ships. Therefore, what the ABP Atlantic - Qatar, Stenden Uni- Khashoggi, Senate Majority This year, a bipartisan group it would deny entry to 16 Saudis Dr Bryan Lewallen, ABP has achieved by gathering these versity in Qatar, and University Leader Mitch McConnell said. of senators including Lindsey “over their roles” in the murder. Director, inaugurated the fair various universities and organ- of Calgary in Qatar. Some of the “What clearly happened is Graham of South Carolina, an But the US hasn’t targeted the and welcomed the visitors, said, isations provides a good oppor- companies and governmental outrageous and unacceptable. ally of President Donald Trump, crown prince, who has strongly “We are proud to be the main tunity for students to save time.” organizations that attended were On the other hand, Saudi Arabia have backed legislation to denied playing any role in the sponsor of this fair, because it Participants in the fair Hamad Medical Corporation, is an important ally against the punish the kingdom. Earlier this episode. gives students the opportunity included the Academic Bridge Qatar Airways, QF member Iranians, so it is a difficult month, the House voted to direct McConnell said Khashoggi’s to become familiar with the pos- Program, QF member Hamad Qatar Career Development problem to figure out exactly the the president to withdraw US killing has overshadowed the sible academic and professional Bin Khalifa University, and QF Center, Qatar National Bank, and most appropriate response,” the support for the Saudi-led cam- progress that Saudi Arabia has options, and to communicate partner universities Carnegie Qatar Petroleum. Kentucky Republican told paign in Yemen’s civil war. The made. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 Sudan: Military council pledges civilian govt amid protests AGENCIES The head of the by General Omar Zain Al KHARTOUM military council’s Abideen, appeared aimed at political committee, reassuring demonstrators who Sudan’s ruling military council went back into the streets to yesterday promised a new Lieutenant General warn against imposing army rule civilian government, a day after Omar Zain Al Abdin, after Bashir’s ouster. the armed forces remove Pres- said the council would But the main protest group ident Omar Hassan Al Bashir, but dismissed the pledge, saying the the gesture was immediately never extradite Omar military council was “not rejected by protest leaders. Hassan Al Bashir or capable of creating change”. In The council said it expects a any other Sudanese a statement, the Sudanese Pro- pre-election transition period it citizen. fessionals Association (SPA) announced on Thursday to last restated its demand for power two years at most, or much less to be handed immediately to “a if chaos can be avoided. told the Security Council in New transitional civilian The head of the military York that this could be shortened government”. council’s political committee, “depending on developments on Bashir, 75, had faced 16 weeks Lieutenant General Omar Zain the ground and agreements of demonstrations sparked by Al Abdin, confirmed that a day between stakeholders”. rising food costs, high unem- after he was deposed, Bashir The military council warned ployment and increasing Sudanese military officers and demonstrators ride atop a military tanker in Khartoum, Sudan, yesterday. remained in custody. it would tolerate no breaches of repression during his three The army takeover brought security, after protesters defied decades of autocratic rule. to an end 30 years of rule by a night-time curfew following Protesters have held mass council as the “same old faces” have taken it and won’t leave participation within the Bashir, one of Africa’s longest Bashir’s Thursday fall, keeping demonstrations for four months from the regime which led the until victory is achieved,” said one government”. serving leaders. up their sit-outside the army demanding Bashir’s overthrow, country into multiple conflicts protester who gave his name as The European Union urged But Abdin said the council headquarters. defying repeated deadly along with worsening poverty Abu Obeida. the army to carry out a “swift” would never extradite him or Thousands of men and attempts by riot police and the and social inequality. “We broke the curfew. We handover to civilian rule. any other Sudanese citizen. women, dressed in white, also feared intelligence services to Thursday’s announcement will continue doing it until we The African Union decried The International Criminal braved the searing Sudanese crush them. meant “we have not achieved have a civilian transitional Bashir’s military overthrow, Court (ICC) has a longstanding heat yesterday to offer prayers But when his removal was anything”, said one protester who government.” saying it was “not the appropriate arrest warrant against Bashir outside the sprawling complex, finally announced on Thursday gave his name only as Adel. Multiple world powers have response to the challenges facing for suspected genocide and war witnesses said. The imam in an address to the nation, by Protesters at the sit-in said made calls for a peaceful Sudan and the aspirations of its crimes. leading the prayers was draped Defence Minister Awad Ibnouf, their quarrel was with the com- transition. people”. The military council had in the Sudanese flag. it was met not with joy but anger. manders who had led the coup, Washington urged the mil- Most shops and offices were announced a two-year transition Yesterday’s announcement Protest leaders have dis- not the rank and file. itary council “to exercise restraint closed on Friday, a day of prayer period, but Sudan’s UN envoy of a future civilian government missed the transitional military “This is now our square. We and to allow space for civilian and rest in Sudan. Israeli soldiers shoot dead Gaza teenager SDF hands over 200 Daesh militants to Iraqi authorities REUTERS responding with riot dispersal goods and people in and out of killed by a Palestinian sniper. GAZA means. Gaza and expand the breadth of Last month’s anniversary ANATOLIA/ANBAR, IRAQ Tensions rose after a rocket Mediterranean waters where rally was smaller than expected, Israeli troops shot dead a Pales- fired from Gaza wounded seven Gazans can fish. despite concerns that the event, Two-hundred Daesh militants detained in Syria were handed tinian teenager taking part in Israelis north of Tel Aviv on The protesters are during which four Palestinians over to the Iraqi authorities yesterday, according to a local security protests along the Gaza border March 25. Israel mounted a demanding an end to a were killed, would see a major source. Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Iraqi Police Captain Ahmed yesterday, Palestinian health offi- wave of air strikes following blockade imposed on Gaza by escalation. al-Delimi said the terrorists were handed over by the so-called cials said, the first fatality since that attack on targets it said Israel and Egypt, and want Pal- Israel seized Gaza in the 1967 Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is closely affiliated with the Gazans marked the one-year belonged to Hamas, the Islamist estinians to have the right to Middle East War and pulled out PKK terrorist group. anniversary of the weekly demon- group which rules the coastal return to land from which their its troops and settlers in 2005. It According to al-Delimi, the handover took place in the city of Al strations in March. enclave. families fled or were forced to says its blockade is necessary to Qaim in Iraq’s western Anbar province near the Syrian border. “This The Israeli military said The cross-border violence flee during Israel’s founding in stop weapons reaching Hamas, is the fourth batch of terrorists that Iraq has received from the SDF,” about 7,400 Palestinians massed immediately played into Israel’s 1948. which has fought three wars with the police captain said, putting the total number of Daesh terrorists along the frontier, some election campaign, which con- Israel rejects any such return, Israel. to have been handed over at 680 to date. throwing rocks, and that there cluded earlier this week with saying it would eliminate its Israel’s use of lethal force at In late 2017, officials in Baghdad declared that Daesh’s military were several attempts to Prime Minister Benjamin Jewish majority. the border protests has drawn presence in Iraq had been all but destroyed following a three-year approach the fence into Israel. Netanyahu heading toward a More than 200 Gazans have censure from the United Nations war with the notorious terrorist group. The Palestinian Health Min- record fifth term in office. been killed by Israeli troops since and human rights groups. UN istry said a 15-year-old boy died But Egyptian mediators the ‘Great March of Return’ investigators in February said Moroccan court sentences Swiss national after being shot by Israeli intervened to avoid further esca- started on March 30 last year, Israeli forces might be guilty of to 10 years on terrorism charges gunfire. An Israeli army lation by persuading Israel to lift according to Gaza health offi- war crimes for using excessive spokesman said the troops were restrictions on the movement of cials. An Israeli soldier was also force. REUTERS/RABAT

A Moroccan court has sentenced a Swiss national to 10 years in East Libyan prison on terrorism charges over links to the suspects in the killing of two Scandinavian women near Marrakech in December, the state warplanes news agency MAP said yesterday. Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren hit Tripoli govt Ueland, 28, from Norway were found dead on December 17 near positions the village of Imlil in the Atlas Mountains. The 33-year-old man sentenced on Thursday was identified by Moroccan media only as REUTERS Nicolas P. Media said he also holds British citizenship. TRIPOLI Arrested on December 29 in Marrakech, he was tried on charges of “forming a gang to plot and commit terrorist acts aiming at seri- Eastern Libyan forces bogged ously undermining state security, intentionally helping the perpe- down in street battles in a push trators of terrorist acts, training people to join terrorist organisa- to seize the capital Tripoli tions and apologia for terrorism,” MAP said. deployed warplanes yesterday to hit several government posi- Suspected extremists abduct two tions, as more civilians fled fighting. Cuban doctors in Kenya More than 1,000 people AP/NAIROBI gathered in central Tripoli to demand that Khalifa Haftar stop Suspected Islamist militants abducted two Cuban doctors in an the advance of his Libyan ambush that killed a police bodyguard in northern Kenya near the National Army (LNA) on the Somali border, officials said. coastal city of about 1.2 million It was the second abduction of a foreigner in five months likely people. carried out by the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab extremist group, Haftar launched the cam- which is based in Somalia. paign a week ago, in the latest Smoke plume rising from an air strike behind a tank and pickup trucks mounted with turrets belonging The gunmen may have taken the doctors into Somalia, police conflict in a cycle of anarchy to forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA), during clashes in the suburb of Wadi spokesman Charlse Owino said. He said the doctors’ driver had since the 2011 overthrow of dic- Rabie about 30km south of the capital Tripoli, yesterday. been detained to help with investigations. tator Muammar Gaddafi. The doctors were ambushed as they headed to work, said David But forces loyal to Prime Ohito, communications director for the Mandera county government. Minister Fayez al-Serraj’s inter- Saudis gave Haftar millions of dollars: Report Gov. Ali Roba said the gunmen’s vehicle blocked the doctors’ vehicle nationally recognised gov- “and opened fire at their bodyguards, killing one instantly.” Al Shabab ernment have so far kept them ANATOLIA turmoil since 2011, when a bloody German Institute for International was suspected, the governor said. at bay, with fierce fighting WASHINGTON Nato-backed uprising led to the and Security Affairs told the A police official identified the doctors as Dr Assel Herera Correa, round a disused former airport ouster and death of Muammar Journal. “The last few months, a general physician, and Dr Landy Rodriguez, a surgeon. about 11km from the centre. Just days prior to Libyan military Gaddafi after four decades in pretty much everyone jumped on Yesterday, an LNA war- commander Khalifa Haftar’s power. Since then, Libya’s stark the Haftar train.” DR Congo army massacres 36 plane bombed the camp of a offensive to seize Tripoli, Saudi political divisions have yielded The newspaper noted while force allied to Serraj in Zuwara, Arabia pledged to give tens of two rival seats of power: a UN- the U.S. and EU have tried to con- Burundian rebels in 3-day operation west of Tripoli towards the millions of dollars for the oper- backed government in Tripoli and vince Haftar to avoid conflict, Tunisian border, an LNA mil- ation, the Wall Street Journal a rival government based in the other governments have sup- QNA/KINSHASA itary source and residents said. reported yesterday. east, in the cities of Bayda and ported him through supplying Zuwara is near the Mellitah The offer came during a visit Tobruk, with Haftar in charge. weapons and funds, to advance The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army said that it had killed 36 oil and gas plant, jointly by Haftar to Saudi Arabia, one of Foreign powers have his goal to consolidate power in Burundian rebels in a three-day operation in the east of the country, operated by Italy’s ENI and state many that the general had with cemented the role of the military the country. “Foreign contacts -- according to media reports. oil firm NOC, which supplies foreign dignitaries in the run up commander in the future of Libya, even to encourage peace -- have Three soldiers were killed and four were injured in the oper- Italy with gas through the to his military campaign on April despite the US and European secured the status of the Libyan ation which targeted “positions of Burundian rebels, said provincial Greenstream pipeline. 4, according to the newspaper. Union calling for Haftar to avoid warlord,” the Journal said. army spokesperson Captain Dieudonne Kasereka. An LNA warplane also During his visit, Haftar met with military conflict. Haftar accepted the funds Troops overran rebel positions and seized several weapons of attacked the only partly-func- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed “Haftar would not be a player from Riyadh, the Journal said various calibres, ammunition and much communication material, tioning airport in Tripoli, Mitiga, Bin Salman, Saudi’s intelligence today without the foreign support citing Saudi officials, with one said Kasereka. DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, who took where anti-aircraft opened fire chief and interior minister. he has received,” Wolfram telling the newspaper, “we were office three months ago, has pledged to address the militia violence in response, witnesses said. Libya has remained beset by Lacher, a Libya expert at the quite generous.” that persists in the region. SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 ASIA 05 Indian parties hit by TV and funding clampdown AFP While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his NEW DELHI opposition rival Rahul Gandhi returned to India’s Supreme Court yesterday the campaign trail, the country’s top court ordered parties to name anon- gave parties seven weeks to name people ymous donors behind tens of millions of dollars in funding as who have bought “electoral bonds” in recent hostilities intensified in the months. country’s mega-election. The order came ahead of the Modi’s government, which intro- ordered NaMo TV, which is second round of voting and after duced the bonds in 2017, sponsored by the BJP, to submit the election watchdog called for opposed naming donors. The all of its content for approval. a clampdown on Prime Minister ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Under Indian election rules, Narendra Modi’s personal tele- (BJP) is the biggest beneficiary any content deemed campaign vision channel, saying it of the bonds, according to the material — including adverts, breached campaign rules. Association for Democratic films and even social media— While Modi and his oppo- Reforms (ADR), one of the needs permission from the inde- sition rival Rahul Gandhi groups behind the case. pendent watchdog. returned to the campaign trail, More than $150m in bonds NaMo TV shows 24-hour Message to voters the country’s top court gave were bought in 2018, according programmes on Modi rallies, Artist Basavaraj poses with his bottle art creation of placing framed portraits of Indian Prime Minister parties seven weeks to name to the Factly Indian data jour- speeches, and even rap songs Narendra Modi (left), and Indian National Congress president Rahul Gandhi along with a message people who have bought “elec- nalism portal. and dance routines devoted to toral bonds” in recent months. Experts estimate that at least the normally austere leader. It to voters to cast their votes, in narrow necked glass jars, in Bangalore yesterday. India’s gargantuan Rival parties are said to be the same amount was bought in was being broadcast as normal election, the biggest in history, began on April 11. spending up to $7bn on the the months ahead of the election. yesterday. election, which started on According to the ADR, the The order was the commis- Thursday and runs through to BJP — the world’s biggest sion’s second blow to the Modi May 19, and funding sources political party — received about campaign in 48 hours, after it Man beaten to death over dead bull have come under the spotlight. $150 million in total donations postponed the release of a flat- The bonds — bought for in 2018, of which more than half tering movie about the 68-year- IANS cutting a dead bull at Jurum They were rushed to a local hos- between $15 and $140,000 and came from anonymous sources. old prime minister until after RANCHI village under Dumri police pital, where Lakra succumbed then given to a designated party Congress brought in about $30 voting finishes. station on Wednesday night. to his injuries. The three injured — are controversial because they million and about 60 percent Producers of the film One person died and three were Suspecting the animal to be a persons have been identified as are anonymous. was anonymous. insisted they had no links to the severely injured after being cow, the villagers surrounded Peter Kerketta (50), Janwarius India’s election commission The prime minister, who BJP. But the commission said the attacked by a mob on suspicion the four men and started Minz (42) and Baliyusis Tirkey and watchdog groups which won a landslide in 2014 and is film “PM Narendra Modi”, which of cow slaughter in Jharkhand’s thrashing them. (60). took the case to the Supreme considered frontrunner in this tells of the Hindu nationalist Gumla district, police said All four, who were seriously DIG Amol V Homkar has Court said the bonds should be race, faced increased pressure leader’s ascent from selling tea yesterday. injured, were later taken to the constituted a Special Investi- ended because of the risk of after the election commission at a train station to prime min- According to the police, a police station, where the con- gation Team (SIT) to probe the businesses making secret con- said his NaMo TV breached cam- ister, could not be released group of people from Jairagi dition of one, identified as incident, but no arrests have tributions to influence decisions. paign rules. The commission during the election. village spotted four people Prakash Lakra, 55, deteriorated. been made so far. BJP chief vows to throw illegal immigrants into Bay of Bengal Assam records 78.23% polling REUTERS “termites”, a description he also them into the Bay of Bengal,” he security threat. The comments statement. It demanded an NEW DELHI used last September, when he said, referring to illegal immi- from Shah, the right-hand man of apology from Shah. in first phase; drew condemnation from rights grants from neighbouring Modi, drew criticism from the A BJP spokesman declined The head of Indian Prime groups. The US State Department Muslim-majority Bangladesh. main opposition Congress party to comment on the speech. Con- 78.19% in Sikkim Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling also noted the remark in its Shah nevertheless reiterated as well as minority groups. On gress spokesman Sanjay Jha said Hindu nationalist party took his annual human rights report. the BJP’s stance on giving citi- Twitter, some users likened his Shah’s remarks were a deliberate IANS/GUWAHATI invective against illegal Muslim “Infiltrators are like termites zenship to Hindus, Buddhists, speech to a suggestion of ethnic attempt to polarise voters along immigrants to a new level this in the soil of Bengal,” Shah said Jains and Sikhs from Bangladesh cleansing. sectarian lines. The first phase of polling for the week as the general election at a rally in the eastern state of and Pakistan. India is already “The statement is a direct “The political business model Lok Sabha elections in Assam kicked off, promising to throw West Bengal, as voting in India’s working on deporting an esti- attack on the identity and of the BJP is to raise the com- on Thursday recorded an them into the Bay of Bengal. 39-day general election started. mated 40,000 Rohingya Muslims integrity of the nation as a munal temperature, keep it at a average 78.23 per cent of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “A Bharatiya Janata Party living in the country after fleeing secular state,” the Kerala boil, and to keep India in a per- polling, election department President Amit Shah referred government will pick up infil- Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Christian Forum, a group from manent religious divide,” Jha officials said yesterday. such illegal immigrants as trators one by one and throw New Delhi considers them a the southern state, said in a said. While Kaliabor constit- uency recorded the highest - 82.09 per cent - polling, Tezpur recorded 79.15 per cent. The Jet Airways extends Jorhat Lok Sabha constituency came third by recording 77.49 international cancellations per cent polling, while Dibrugarh recorded 77.26 per AFP related to Jet Airways” and “take cent voting. The Lakhimpur MUMBAI necessary steps to minimise pas- constituency recorded 74.81 per senger inconvenience and ensure cent polling, the officials said. India’s Jet Airways extended a their safety”. Sikkim recorded an overall suspension of all of its interna- Jet was until recently India’s polling percentage of 78.19 for its tional flights until Monday, the second-biggest airline by 32-seat Legislative Assembly and latest blow to the debt-stricken market share but is close to single Lok Sabha constituency carrier as it battles to stay afloat. going under with debts of more with women voters outnum- The development yesterday than $1bn. bering men in the North district, came after the government said The Mumbai-based carrier the Election Commission said. it would investigate Jet’s ability has been forced to ground the to continue flying as lenders majority of its fleet after months Congress fields Scindia desperately seek a buyer to keep of defaulting on loans and strug- the beleaguered airline running. gling to pay lessors and staff. from Guna, Tewari A collapse would deal a blow It told the Bombay Stock from Anandpur Sahib to Prime Minister Narendra Exchange Thursday that it had Modi’s pro-business reputation grounded 10 more planes due IANS/NEW DELHI as Indians vote in a mega six- to non-payment. week-long election that started The airline is believed to The Congress yesterday Thursday. A Jet Airways source now be operating just 16 planes released a list of party candi- said that all of Jet’s international out of a fleet of 119. That is below dates for Lok Sabha polls flights out of and into India until the 20 required by Indian avi- fielding party general secretary Monday had been cancelled, ation regulators to fly overseas. Jallianwala Bagh commemoration Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna extending a series of cancella- Thousands of customers and former union minister tions announced on Thursday. have been stranded in recent School students hold Indian national flag as they pay tribute to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre martyrs’ Manish Tewari from Anandpur Aviation minister Suresh weeks after hundreds of flights on the eve of the 100th anniversary, in Amritsar, yesterday. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, took Sahib. The list has seven candi- Prabhu tweeted yesterday that his were cancelled, in some cases place on April 13, 1919, when British Indian soldiers opened fire on an unarmed gathering killing at dates, including Rigzin Spalbar ministry would “review issues with little or no notice least 379 men, women and children, according to official records. from Ladhakh. Sri Lanka’s wartime defence chief to give up US citizenship NatGeo to set up weather stations on Everest REUTERS Soon after his return from But a possible obstacle to his Lasantha Wickrematunga, filed IANS/KATHMANDU COLOMBO a trip to the US, Gotabaya, who political ambitions could prove a complaint for damages on has citizenship of both the to be lawsuits filed by activists April 4 in the same US District The National Geographic Society will set up automatic weather Sri Lanka’s controversial United States and Sri Lanka, seeking compensation for his Court in California for allegedly stations on Mount Everest as part of its multi-year, partnered initi- former defence secretary told reporters he had begun alleged role in the civil war. instigating and authorising the ative to increase understanding of extreme environmental condi- Gotabaya Rajapaksa has the process with US Gotabaya has rejected the extrajudicial killing of her tions, the media reported yesterday. launched legal proceedings to authorities. accusations, ascribing a political father. According to Nepal government officials involved in issuing renounce his US citizenship, he “I went to the U.S. to initiate motive to them. “I have been in the US more permits for the scientific research, NatGeo has been permitted to said yesterday, ahead of a the legal process to renounce my The South Africa-based than ten times. But these people install five automatic weather stations at different elevations along probable candidacy in a pres- US citizenship. I have done it International Truth and Justice never asked me for compen- the climbing route and on the “roof of the world”, reports The Hima- idential election. successfully,” said Gotabaya, Project, in partnership with U.S. sation. So this is done ahead of layan Times. It has also been issued permits for on-site meteoro- Gotabaya, brother of former who was welcomed home by law firm Hausfeld filed a civil the presidential poll,” said logical experiments. president Mahinda Rajapaksa, hundreds of supporters gathered case in California this week Gotabaya. Bishnu Prasad Shrestha, Under-Secretary at the Department of oversaw the crushing of Tamil at the airport. against Gotabaya on behalf of a Gotabaya and his brother National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, said the NatGeo team Tiger rebels a decade ago, but His spokesman, Milinda Tamil torture survivor. Mahinda have rejected calls for had already left for the Everest expedition to carry out research on has faced accusations of war Rajapaksha, said Gotabaya was In a separate case, Ahimsa an international probe into weather, atmospheric conditions and changing climate by placing crimes, including extra judicial considering plans to run for Wickrematunga, the daughter alleged war crimes in the final weather stations in the high altitude areas to gather data for the killings. president later this year. of murdered investigative editor phase of the 26-year war. improvement of large-scale climate and weather models. 06 HOME SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 ASIA 07 20 dead in Quetta market bomb blast AGENCIES The blast took place Mandokhel, said. “We have QUETTA, PAKISTAN at Hazar Ganji, a fruit found his head and other body parts.” No group immediately A suicide bomb ripped through and vegetable market claimed responsibility. an outdoor Pakistani market on the outskirts of Hazaras have been fre- yesterday, killing at least 20 Quetta. Eight of the quently targeted by Taliban and people, half of them ethnic dead belonged to the Islamic State militants and other Hazaras, officials said, in an Sunni Muslim militant groups in attack apparently aimed at Hazara community. both Pakistan and Afghanistan. minority Shia Muslims. The bomber seemed They have been heavily targeted Some 48 people were to be disguised as in Afghanistan in attacks claimed wounded in the blast in the one of the labourers by an affiliate of Islamic State. southwestern city of Quetta, Yesterday’s bloodshed came capital of resource-rich Balu- when he exploded his two days after authorities freed chistan province, officials said. device. Ramzan Mengal, a top leader of Baluchistan is the focus of a banned sectarian group, the $57bn China Pakistan Eco- Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Cheema nomic Corridor, a transport and Cheema said, adding that one said. Mengal had been detained energy link planned between paramilitary official from a for three months under mainte- western China and Pakistan’s squad deployed to guard the nance of public order regula- southern deepwater port of community at the market was tions, he said. Gwadar. The attack came after also killed. The LeJ has worked both a lull of at least a year in violence He initially said that the with Al Qaeda and Islamic State against the mainly Shiah Hazara explosive device was hidden in Pakistan and has claimed minority in the province, though between sacks of potatoes, but, several coordinated attacks in Police officials inspect the site of a bomb blast at a fruit market in Quetta, yesterday. there have been isolated later, he and the provincial home Baluchistan against what it terms shootings. minister, Zia Langove, told a Shi’ite heretics. The blast took place at Hazar news conference that a suicide Ethnic Baluch separatists are prompting security forces to (Hazaras) have suffered many official of rights group Amnesty Ganji, a fruit and vegetable bomber exploded his device also battling what they call unfair escort Hazara buses to the such tragedies over several International, said in a statement. market on the outskirts of among the people in the market. exploitation of the province’s gas market. The same practice was years. Each time there are Khan himself “strongly con- Quetta. “The bomber seemed to be and other resources. followed on Friday, but the blast promises that more will be done demned” the attack. “I have Eight of the dead belong to disguised as one of the labourers In 2013, three bombings took place in the market. to protect them, and each time asked for an immediate inquiry the Hazara community, Quetta when he exploded his device,” killed more than 200 people in “Targeted for their religion those promises have failed to & increased security for the ppl,” city police chief Abdul Razzaq another police official, Bahram Hazara neighbourhoods, by sectarian armed groups, materialise,” Omar Waraich, an he said in a Tweet. ICJ judges reject 12 Abu Sayyaf militants dead Afghanistan probe in clashes

AP admissible before the Court.” The AP BRUSSELS decision comes a month after US ZAMBOANGA Secretary of State Mike Pompeo In a decision decried as a said Washington would revoke Philippine troops killed 12 Abu “devastating blow for victims,” or deny visas to ICC staff seeking Sayyaf militants in clashes as International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes they pressed an offensive in a judges yesterday rejected a and other abuses committed by southern province where the request by the court’s prose- US forces in Afghanistan or else- extremists have been blamed cutor to open an investigation where. Bensouda’s US visa for the deadly bombing of a into war crimes and crimes already has been revoked. Roman Catholic cathedral, the against humanity in Afghanistan Her request to open an military said yesterday. and alleged crimes by US forces investigation said there is infor- The 12 militants were killed linked to the conflict. mation that members of the US in four separate clashes on In a lengthy written ruling, military and intelligence Thursday in mountainous judges said an investigation agencies “committed acts of Patikul town in Sulu province. This file picture shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with Workers Party of Korea politburo standing “would not serve the interests torture, cruel treatment, out- The bodies of two of the slain committee member Choe Ryong Hae at an event at the Rungnado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. of justice” because an investi- rages upon personal dignity, militants were retrieved and gation and prosecution are abuse and violence against con- several army scout rangers unlikely to be successful as flict-related detainees in were wounded, the military’s those targeted, including the Afghanistan and other locations, Kim gains more power in leadership shuffle Western Mindanao Command United States, Afghan author- principally in the 2003-2004 said. ities and the Taliban, are not period.” She also said that the AFP top-ranking reshuffle that ana- the now-91-year-old who held In the initial and largest expected to cooperate, the court Taliban and other insurgent SEOUL lysts said further cemented Kim’s the position of the North’s head clash, troops battled about 120 said in a statement. groups have killed more than already unshakeable grip on of state — an almost entirely cer- militants led by Hajan Saw- The decision does 17,000 civilians since 2009, North Korea has replaced its power. Kim also acquired a new emonial role — for almost 20 adjaan and Radullan Sahiron acknowledge that the November including some 7,000 targeted long-serving head of state with title, and now becomes “the years, was replaced by Choe near the village of Panglayahan. 2017 request from Prosecutor killings. a close aide to leader Kim Jong supreme representative of all the Ryong Hae, the state-run KCNA Four militants were killed and Fatou Bensouda to open a probe Sima Samar, chairperson of Un, promoting a man who was Korean people” — a newly- said. As the new president of the the rest withdrew and were “establishes a reasonable basis Afghanistan’s Independent placed on a US sanctions list last created role that observers say Supreme People’s Assembly, chased by troops, military offi- to consider that crimes within the Human Rights Commission who year for alleged human rights makes him more like a modern Choe is technically head of state, cials said. ICC jurisdiction have been com- lobbied strongly for the inves- abuses, state media said national leader, on a par with although real power in North Among those killed was mitted in Afghanistan and that tigation, said the decision was a yesterday. other country’s presidents and Korea is wielded by Kim and his Julie Ikit, an aide of Sahiron, potential cases would be disappointment for victims. The move came as part of a prime ministers. Kim Yong Nam, immediate family. who is on the US list of wanted terrorists for his involvement in past ransom kidnappings and Australia opposes death penalty terrorist attacks, Sulu’s military Malaysia revives China-backed spokesman Lt. Col. Gerald as Assange supporters march Monfort said. rail link, cost cut by a third AP extradition plans had “nothing Accidents leave AP Minister Mahathir Mohamad on the country’s financial SYDNEY to do with Australia,” and that KUALA LUMPUR suspended the project after his position,” the statement said. Assange would receive only 46 dead in a election last May. In Beijing, Malaysian chief Australia said yesterday it would standard assistance from Aus- Malaysia’s government said The prime minister’s office negotiator Daim Zainuddin told oppose the death penalty for tralian consular officials. The day in Thailand yesterday that it has decided to said in a statement that the con- Malaysian media that the rail Julian Assange if he’s extradited 47-year-old would have to face resume a China-backed rail link struction cost of the first two link will be 40km shorter at to the US, as protesters in the consequences of any breach ANATOLIA project, after the Chinese phases of the project will be cut 648km but will remain a double- Sydney called for his release and of the law in foreign jurisdic- ANKARA contractor agreed to cut the to 44bn ringgit, down from the track line. Daim was quoted by Australia’s journalists’ union tions, Morrison said. construction cost by one-third. original cost of 65.5bn ringgit. the New Straits Times news- voiced its strong support for him. Foreign Minister Marise At least 46 people were killed The deal follows months of It welcomed the signing of a paper as saying the cost savings The Australian WikiLeaks Payne responded to fears from in hundreds of road accidents vacillating over the East Coast supplementary agreement was a “big achievement.” The founder was arrested on Assange’s supporters over his in Thailand, as the New Year Rail Link, which connects Malay- between Malaysia Rail Link lower cost also means the gov- Thursday in London’s Ecua- possible punishment in the US, holiday week begins in the sia’s west coast to eastern rural Sendirian Berhad and state- ernment can save in terms of dorian Embassy and the judge saying Australia is “completely country, local media reported states and is a key part of China’s owned China Communications interest on a lower loan, he said. found him guilty of breaching opposed to the death penalty.” yesterday. Belt and Road infrastructure ini- Construction Company Ltd. to He said the agreement will his bail conditions. He faces a She said UK had sought assur- According to daily Bangkok tiative. It should also help bolster revive the project. “This bolster bilateral relations and US charge of conspiring to reveal ances from the US that Assange Post, around 468 road accidents ties between China and Malaysia reduction will surely benefit encourage more Chinese com- government secrets. Prime Min- would not be exposed to death were reported on Thursday in that were strained when Prime Malaysia and lighten the burden panies to invest in Malaysia. ister Scott Morrison said any penalty if he was extradited. which 46 people were killed and 482 others got injured across the Buddhist-majority country. Thailand celebrates ‘Scared’ Muslims avoid Christchurch mosques a month after attacks Songkran — Thai New Year’s national holiday — on April 13 AFP 28-year-old Australian, Brenton Daniel Nicholas Tuapawa, and had nothing against Muslims. to a drastic reduction in the every year, with the extension CHRISTCHURCH Tarrant, a self-avowed white who pleaded guilty in court yes- “It’s just because it’s been in number of services later this of holiday period until April 15. supremacist, has been charged terday to acting in a manner the news and in my head,” he month on Anzac Day, a national The holiday period is usually Four weeks on from the New with 50 counts of murder and 39 “likely to cause violence,” said said. Abdelhalim said many day of remembrance to com- termed as “seven dangerous Zealand mosques massacre, the of attempted murder after he did not realise what he had Muslims who wanted to return memorate New Zealanders and days” of Songkran holiday Christchurch Muslim community opening fire at the Linwood and done until police showed him a to the mosques “are having flash- Australians who served in wars travel because of the road was struggling to get worshippers Al Noor mosques on March 15. video of him yelling abusive backs and that’s not good.” New and peacekeeping operations. accidents. to overcome their fears and The Muslim community was comments including “all Muslims Zealand police have issued a In Auckland, only 26 will According to the Bangkok return to Friday prayers. further shaken this week when are terrorists”. statement saying the national take place — down from nearly Post, Thai Transport Minister “They are still very scared,” a 33-year-old man, wearing a “I can’t believe this is actually threat level “remains high” a 90 last year — which the city’s Arkhom Termpittayapaisith Linwood mosque Imam Ibrahim t-shirt emblazoned with the me,” he told reporters after being month after the slaughter, even police commander Karyn yesterday said the most Abdelhalim said. “Normally we name of US President Donald remanded on bail until July 31 for though the gunman is thought to Malthus said would make it common causes of accidents would expect around 100, but Trump, shouted abuse at wor- sentencing. Tuapawa said he suf- have acted alone. easier for police to maintain were drunk driving (34.6%), fol- now it’s about 30.” A shippers at the Al Noor mosque. fered from mental health issues The security fears have led public safety. lowed by speeding (26.9%). 08 VIEWS SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 How the left also dehumanises ESTABLISHED IN 1996 Palestinians in Gaza CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected] SUSAN ABULHAWA ACTING MANAGING EDITOR AL JAZEERA MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected] long the political spectrum, from the far left to extreme right, and spanning racial and DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Aethnic lines, nearly everyone MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI who has something to say about pro- [email protected] testers in Gaza seems to fail the task of recognising Palestinian humanity. If it’s coming from the right, the nar- rative is of terrorists, rockets and Hamas, a legitimate Palestinian resistance fully cemented as the Boog- Palestinian paramedics carrying an injured protester during a demonstration near ieman in the western imagination. EDITORIAL From the left, the stories are the the border between Israel and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. stuff of legends, portraying unfath- omable Palestinian heroism, courage than fear, despair, want, and impo- phenomenon around reactions in the and “sumud”, an Arabic word roman- tence to do anything. Maybe a young United States when Black Americans Best and Busiest ticised in English to convey epic Pales- man with nothing to lose, someone rise up and do not perfectly conform tinian steadfastness. already bled of his rightful life, “peaceful” and “nonviolent” protest, amad International Airport has not only won pres- At both ends of the spectrum, attempting a single moment of dignity despite the centuries of denigration tigious global awards in recent months for its best defenceless Palestinians are larger in defiance, knowing, and maybe and marginalisation they have Hservices but has also become the busiest aviation than life, unlike other humans, either hoping, it would be his last. And endured. hub of the region. superhumanly posing a threat to maybe this is what the soldier saw, It does not help that even some According to recently released figures, Hamad Inter- highly armed soldiers several football and chose instead to add the trauma of Palestinians reinforce this notion by national Airport (HIA) served a total of 9.16 million pas- fields away, or displaying supernatural amputated limbs to a tortured man dismissing Hamas or downplaying any sengers in the first quarter of 2019. In the same time, HIA courage and fearlessness before near- feebly raising a small rock with no will form of armed resistance as outliers in has also handled 56,573 aircraft movements and 505,581 certain death. The latter narrative, or energy to even throw it. an otherwise ideal and tidy protest of a tonnes of cargo in total. which manages to sentimentalise Maybe his motivation was nation- preternaturally strong and valiant HIA served 3.2 million passengers in January, 2.8 unspeakable misery is so enticing that alism. Maybe it was the hope of oppressed people. million in February and 3.15 million in March, which even Palestinians have taken up this securing money for his family fol- Gaza is a death camp includes passengers arriving, departing and transferring framing. lowing his martyrdom or injury. But the truth must be said, and the through Qatar’s airport, signifying a 5.07 percent increase Nothing to lose Maybe he thought his death would truth is abysmally ugly and bleak. from the previous year. Just days ago, I watched a video of give his people an inch towards There is nothing for the world to The airport also handled 19,458 aircraft movements a young man who was shot in the legs. liberty. Maybe it was the only thing left romanticise in Gaza. Nothing to ide- in January, 17,563 movements in February and 19,552 He limps along, falls and gets up, only for him to do. We cannot know what is alise. Gaza is a death camp. Death and movements in March, which includes total number of air- to be shot in the hearts of those who put their suppression technology is “the Jewish craft take-offs and landings at the airport marking an again. The bodies between bullets and despair. Nation’s” single greatest export and 8.27 percent increase from the first quarter of 2018. scene repeats But we can be sure that their motiva- Gaza is the human laboratory where Commenting on the closure of the first quarter, Eng. over five or tions are painfully human. There is Israeli arms manufacturers fine-tune Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at six bullets nothing godlike to see or fetishise. their wares on the bodies, psyches and Hamad International Airport, before the Reductive analyses spirits of Palestinians. It is a wretched said: “The strong start to 2019 Israel has turned man cannot There is no doubting the courage existence that spares none of the two illustrates HIA’s accelerated Gaza, once a get up again required to stand up to hateful, mur- million prisoners in that concentration and sustained growth. As we great city at the and others derous Israelis, but narratives that camp. continue to witness this steady intersection of come to imbue Palestinians with mythical Israel has turned Gaza, once a growth, we are committed evacuate him. bravery are harmful. They propose an great city at the intersection of trade According to more than ever to empower trade across three The headline otherworldly ability to withstand what across three continents, into a black recently released our passengers and continue continents, into a and com- no human should be forced to with- hole of dreams. Gaza is hope’s coffin, figures, Hamad to provide them with a black hole of dreams. ments stand, and they obscure the very an incinerator of human potential, and International seamless and hassle-free Gaza is hope’s coffin, extolled the human and very dark reality of life in extinguisher of promise. People can journey at the airport.” “brave young Gaza, which has led to rates of suicide barely breathe in Gaza. They cannot Airport (HIA) Last month, Qatar’s avi- an incinerator of man” who never before seen in Palestinian work, cannot leave, cannot study, served a total ation hub was ranked as the human potential, continued to society. cannot build, cannot heal. By all of 9.16 million Fourth Best Airport in the and extinguisher of stand up to Individuals in Gaza have different accounts, the tiny strip is unlivable, lit- passengers in World at the Skytrax World his oppressor reasons for joining the Great March of erally unfit to sustain life. Nearly 100 Airport Awards 2019. HIA had promise. People can despite being Return, but the prevailing analyses are percent of the water is undrinkable. the first quarter also been ranked as a five-star barely breathe in hit multiple reductive, often coupling epic Pales- Youth unemployment is so high that it of 2019. In the Airport and was honoured Gaza. They cannot times in his tinian bravery with non-violent makes more sense to measure same time, HIA with the title of ‘Best Airport work, cannot leave, legs. resistance, because western imaginary employment, which stands at a in the Middle East’ for the fifth As a Pal- cannot abide armed resistance, no pathetic 30 percent. has also handled year in a row and ‘Best Staff cannot study, cannot estinian matter how enduring or merciless the Approximately 80 percent of the 56,573 aircraft Service in the Middle East’ for build, cannot heal. mother, I saw violence inflicted on them. The kind of population lives below the poverty movements and the fourth year in a row. By all accounts, the something heroism that is connected with guns is line. Most residents get just a few 505,581 tonnes of The 2019 World Airport tiny strip is unlivable, else in that the exclusive purview of western sol- hours of electricity every day. The Awards by Skytrax were based man, young diers. The only moral resistance sewage system has collapsed. The cargo in total. on nominations from millions literally unfit to enough to be available for the oppressed in the healthcare system has been stretched of passengers across more sustain life. my son. western psyche is exclusively non- to its breaking point and hospitals are than 500 participating airports worldwide, making them Maybe he violent. This means that the case for closing for lack of vital supplies and one of largest passenger interaction survey awards in the was utterly Palestinian liberty and dignity col- fuel, which Israel often prevents Pal- world. divested of hope and robbed of the lapses the minute we fly an incendiary estinians from buying or even In January this year, HIA was declared the second best will to live a life encased in the bar- kite or fire a rocket towards a state receiving from donors. This ineffable airport in the world for On-Time Performance (OTP) baric, malicious, and creative savagery that has been eviscerating Palestinian misery is intentional. Israel designed according to OAG’s Punctuality League report. As per OAG, of Israel’s siege on Gaza. A young man society and Palestinian bodies for and made it. And the world allows it to the leading global provider of digital flight information who has probably known little more decades. We see the same persist. HIA ranked second in the major airports category (from 20 to 30 million) departing seats per annum) with 85.4 percent of its flights operating on time. Microsoft’s work with Chinese military university raises eyebrows The Punctuality League is based on 58 million flight records using full-year data from 2017 to create a ranking AFP “The new methods and technol- work,” he said Thursday. of the best OTP for the world’s largest airlines and air- ogies described in their joint papers The growing concerns around ports. HIA newly joined the top 20 airports in the ‘Major icrosoft has been collabo- could very well be contributing to human rights violations in Xinjiang Airports’ category within the Punctuality League this year, rating with researchers China’s crackdown on minorities in have also added pressure to US firms which is recognised as the world’s definitive measurement linked to a Chinese mil- Xinjiang, for which they are using with business in the region, where of on-time performance. Mitary-backed university on facial recognition technology,” said some one million Uighurs and other artificial intelligence, elevating con- Helena Legarda, a research associate mostly Muslim Turkic language- cerns that US firms are contributing to at the Mercator Institute for China speaking minorities are held in re- China’s high-tech surveillance and Studies, who focuses on China’s education camps, according to a UN censorship apparatus. foreign and security policies. panel of experts. Over the past year, researchers at “Many of these advanced technol- In February, US biotechnology QUOTE OF THE DAY Microsoft Research Asia in Beijing ogies are dual-use, so they could also manufacturer Thermo Fisher have co-authored at least three papers contribute to the PLA’s (People’s Lib- announced it would stop selling We can forgive, but with scholars affiliated with China’s eration Army’s) modernisation and equipment used to create a DNA we cannot forget. That National University of Defence Tech- informatisation drive, helping the database of the Uighur minority to quote is mine. Those nology (NUDT), which is overseen by Chinese military move closer to the China. That same month, a security the Central Military Commission. The 2049 goal of being a world-class mil- researcher exposed a massive that forget their past research covers a number of AI topics, itary,” she added. database compiled by Chinese tech are sentenced not to such as face analysis and machine In an email, a Microsoft firm SenseNets, which stored the per- have a future. Actions reading, which enables computers to spokesman said that the company’s sonal information and tracked the are needed for the parse and understand online text. researchers “conduct fundamental locations of 2.6 million people in Xin- While it is not unusual for US and research with leading scholars and jiang. At the time of the data leak, Holocaust not to be Chinese scholars to conduct joint experts from around the world to Microsoft was listed as one of repeated. research, Microsoft’s work with the advance our understanding of SenseNets’ partners. The company military-backed NUDT comes amid technology.” declined to comment. Jair Bolsonaro increasing scrutiny around China-US In each case, the research “fully But experts have also stressed Brazilian President academic partnerships, as well as complies with US and local laws” and that, in the case of NUDT, Microsoft’s China’s high-tech surveillance drive in is published to “ensure transparency co-published work is open and pub- the northwest region of Xinjiang. so everyone can benefit from our licly accessible. SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 OPINION 09 WikiLeaks founder unlikely to be extradited soon

he battle between WikiLeaks like an Al Qaida operative. Tempers at conspiracy to hack into a US gov- Russian hackers hurt Hillary Clin- founder Julian Assange and the top eventually cooled - Palin ernment computer. ton’s presidential election the American government would later apologize to Assange after For a while, Assange gravitated to campaign. was always going to be epic, he began publishing material about the Frontline Club in London, the con- But if Assange had hoped for T vivial journalists’ hangout where he involving concepts like free speech, US Democrats. As a candidate, Pres- leniency from America’s new pres- journalists’ rights, national interests, ident Donald Trump startled many dropped one media bombshell after ident, he would soon be disap- even treason. Americans by repeatedly praising another in collaboration with the pointed. Twitter messages between RAPHAEL SATTER As Assange settles in to his first WikiLeaks. Guardian newspaper and other media WikiLeaks and Trump’s eldest son, AP night in British custody, his allies and But in the US intelligence com- outlets. But staying in Britain, a close Donald Jr., showed the group lob- enemies alike are gearing up for what munity, the rage against Assange lin- ally of the United States, was risky. bying him to get his father to promises to be a long, dogged legal gered. On the sidelines of a conference In a fateful move, Assange decided suggest that Australia appoint its slog, not only over his possible extra- a few years ago, a former senior to scope out Sweden, a country with native son Assange to be its ambas- dition to the US but over how US National Security Agency official told powerful press protections and where sador to the US. courts should view his actions, which an Associated Press journalist that all he had already located some of Instead, the Trump adminis- sharply cleave public opinion. he wanted was a couple of minutes WikiLeaks’ servers. The expedition tration promoted him to public Yet in a way, Assange has been alone with Assange in a dark alley, would prove to be a disaster. enemy; in a 2017 speech, then-CIA fighting this battle for much of the grasping his hands together as if he Two women he stayed with there director Mike Pompeo described past decade. The struggle has taken were crushing a man’s windpipe. would soon go to the police with alle- WikiLeaks as a “hostile non-state him through a “mansion arrest” in the Assange seemed to sense that the gations of sexual assault and rape. The intelligence agency.” English countryside; a dramatic release of the diplomatic cables, prosecution nearly tore WikiLeaks Meanwhile, Assange wasn’t escape into the Ecuadorian Embassy which also enraged and embarrassed apart and threated the upcoming pub- getting much more satisfaction in London; a multimillion-pound U.K. other countries around the world, lication the US diplomatic cables. from his Latin American host, police siege of the embassy that has were the point of no return. With Sweden out of the question which was increasingly embar- strained government coffers; and It’s often forgotten that Assange and “Cablegate” sure to enrage the rassed by its houseguest’s publica- even a bizarre attempt to turn him once traveled easily to the United States, Americans further, Assange looked to tions. The government of Ecuador into a Moscow-based diplomat. appearing at the National Press Club in Moscow. A document published by the tried all kinds of creative solutions As Assange settles Whatever happens now, one thing Washington on April 2010 to present AP last year showed he considered the to break the embassy impasse, in to his first night in is clear: Assange, who was dragged “Collateral Murder,” the title he chose idea of getting a Russian visa through including an abortive attempt to British custody, his out of the embassy and arrested for the camera footage that captured his friend and sometimes WikiLeaks send Assange to Russia under dip- Thursday by British police after American helicopter pilots laughing as collaborator, Israel Shamir. lomatic cover. When it became allies and enemies Ecuador withdrew his political they fired at a crowd of civilians they Assange would eventually get the clear that the WikiLeaks founder alike are gearing up for asylum, is not going anywhere soon. mistook for Iraqi insurgents. visa, Shamir said later, but it came wasn’t leaving - and that he what promises to be Extradition to the United States could Shortly after his visit, his source several weeks too late. Sweden had wouldn’t curb his publications to a long, dogged legal take years more. for the video - an American Army already applied for an Interpol Red suit Ecuador’s diplomatic interests Assange’s saga kicked off in intelligence analyst now named Notice, something akin to an interna- - the government looked for a way slog, not only over his November 2010, when his publication Chelsea Manning - would be arrested tional arrest warrant, making travel to wash its hands of him. possible extradition to of 250,000 confidential US diplomatic after an ill-advised online confession. all but impossible. That left Assange Tensions had been building for the US but over how cables that month left American offi- Assange dropped out of sight, likely little choice but to turn himself in on more than a year, but the Thursday US courts should view cialdom apoplectic. Joe Biden, aware that the government now had Dec. 7, 2010, to British authorities. morning raid in London was still a then-US vice president, compared spools of conversations between him Things only got more surreal from surprise. WikiLeaks had issued one his actions, which Assange to a “high-tech terrorist.” and Manning, including the one that there. Assange was granted bail at the of its periodic warnings that sharply cleave public Sarah Palin, the former Republican now forms the centerpiece of the country mansion of Frontline’s Assange was at risk, but at a opinion. vice presidential candidate, called for Justice Department’s newly unveiled founder, Vaughan Smith, receiving a Wednesday press conference, his him to be hunted down by US troops indictment against Assange for stream of well-heeled and rebellious longtime lieutenant, Kristinn Hraf- visitors in rural Norfolk while his nsson, told journalists that London legal battle against extradition Assange’s eviction from the went all the way to Britain’s Supreme embassy had been averted. Court. When that court finally turned It’s not clear what comes next, him down, Assange dyed his hair, but it will almost certainly be popped in colored contacts and complicated. skipped bail, fleeing to the Ecuadorian Embassy. From there, he carried on as before, albeit in a more constricted space. When the AP visited him in 2012, he occupied a back room in the embassy scattered with laptops, some D-RING ROAD marked “Do not connect to the POST BOX: 3488 internet.” When discussing an DOHA - QATAR upcoming leak, Assange took a [email protected] reporter into the corridor between his office and the bathroom, speaking in a whisper in a bid to baffle the high- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE tech surveillance thought to be TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 deployed against him. FAX: +974 4455 7758 The embassy stalemate dragged on for years, costing the British gov- MANAGING EDITOR ernment millions in policing costs. TEL: 4462 7505 But it didn’t stop Assange from publishing new material, notably in DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 2016, when his disclosure of US Dem- 4455 7769 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is carried by Metropolitan Police officers during his arrest in London. ocratic Party documents stolen by LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743 n early December, a flotilla of two complicated by President Donald between placating hawkish voices at BUSINESS NEWS SECTION dozen Chinese fishing boats and Trump’s trade war, such confronta- home and further antagonizing his TEL: 4462 7535 escort warships sailed to the dis- tions are now clearly drawing in the unravelling relationship with Beijing. puted Filipino-occupied reef of United States. Last week, the US Navy Nationalist Filipino voices, meanwhile SPORT NEWS SECTION I - as well as much of the country’s Thitu. By the end of the month, Beijing announced it was sending the assault TEL: 4455 7745 had almost 100 vessels in and around ship USS Wasp - essentially a small national security establishment - have the archipelago, sparking an initially aircraft carrier operating 20 F-35B been pushing him relentlessly towards ONLINE SECTION PETER APPS largely hidden confrontation that could Joint Strike Fighters and a Marine a tougher line. TEL: 4462 7501 REUTERS yet spark outright war. Expeditionary Force - to exercise with The current face-off began when [email protected] the Filipino Navy. On March 1, US Sec- the Philippines stepped up con- retary of State Mike Pompeo warned struction of its own island military PUBLIC RELATIONS any Chinese attack on Filipino forces outpost, albeit on a much smaller level TEL: 4455 7613 than China’s giant island-building else- or civilian vessels would trigger a US [email protected] China goes unconventional military response under a 1951 mutual where in the region. With over half the defence treaty. world’s fishing fleet, Beijing has more ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT The current confrontation with than enough vessels to swarm an area. in escalating South China TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 the Philippines suggests Beijing’s Satellite footage from the Asia FAX: 4455 7870 face-off with its neighbours is Maritime Transparency Initiative, part [email protected] Sea face-off reaching a new and potentially more of the Center for Strategic and interna- volatile stage. China has spent the tional Studies in Washington DC, CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT intervening time building a network shows the flotilla almost always sup- TEL: 4455 7857 of sometimes vast reclaimed outposts ported by one or more Chinese war- [email protected] When China’s People’s Liberation on some of the most contentious ships or Coast Guard vessels, usually Army Navy turns 70 in October, the islands. Now, however, Beijing is keeping their distance several miles SUBSCRIPTION & celebrations will centre on its largest, becoming much more assertive right further from any of the disputed DISTRIBUTION highest profile warships - particularly up to territory held by other nations, islands. Their message appears clear - When China’s People’s TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 its pair of aircraft carriers, set to be the both with conventional military force that if the Philippines chose to follow FAX: 4 Liberation Army Navy 4557819 first of many. High-tech sabre-rattling and “civilian” vessels such as its Indonesia or Vietnam in firing warning [email protected] turns 70 in October, the is clearly at the heart of Beijing’s fishing fleet. shots at Chinese fishing vessels or celebrations will centre on strategy to dominate its immediate This has also demonstrated how seizing them in disputed waters, they its largest, highest profile neighbourhood, with jets and warships complex the political dynamics of such would be risking an immediate mil- warships - particularly its particularly aggressive around Tai- a face-off can be. Filipino President itary clash. All thoughts and views wan’s borders in the last six months. Rodrigo Duterte had been considered How far either side is truly willing pair of aircraft carriers, expressed in these columns set to be the first of many. What the confrontation with the one of the closest regional leaders to to go remains extremely unclear. Philippines demonstrates, however, is China, with Beijing much less likely While Duterte has said war with China are those of the writers, High-tech sabre-rattling that such conventional naval posturing than the United States to criticize his would be “suicidal”, he’s also warned not of the newspaper. is clearly at the heart is complemented by something much government’s often brutal crackdown he would send the Filipino military to of Beijing’s strategy to less conventional: the hundreds if not on suspected drug dealers that has left confront China if it did not “lay off” its dominate its immediate thousands of small fishing and other thousands dead. Chinese investment in islands. Still, it remains likely Beijing All correspondence neighbourhood, with jets vessels of China’s “maritime militia”. the Philippines has increased sharply will maintain the status quo, frequently regarding Views and and warships particularly Usually unarmed, albeit increasingly under his administration, including or continually maintaining large flo- Opinion pages should be aggressive around escorted by Chinese warships and purchases of major strategic com- tillas around both Thitu, scene of the sent to editor-in-chief Coast Guard cutters, they have become mercial port infrastructure. current dispute, as well as Scarborough Taiwan’s borders in the office or mailed to the last six months. more assertive by the month. Throughout this most recent crisis, Shoal, where a similar face-off took With US-Chinese relations already Duterte has walked an awkward path place in 2012. [email protected] 10 EUROPE SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019

Sweden charges Former UKIP leader Farage launches Brexit Party 3 cops over fatal shooting of Down’s ANATOLIA Nigel Farage said syndrome man LONDON at the party launch that he wants REUTERS STOCKHOLM As the turmoil over Brexit now a “democratic seems likely to last through this fall, the former leader of now- revolution” in British Sweden’s Prosecution Authority far-right UK Independence Party politics and its “first charged three police officers over (UKIP) yesterday launched a new task” is to “change the fatal shooting of a 20-year venture, the Brexit Party. politics”. old with Down’s syndrome and Nigel Farage said at the party autism in August last year in a launch that he wants a “demo- case that has raised concerns cratic revolution” in British pol- it would be no more Mr. Nice Guy over the use of deadly force. itics and its “first task” is to and I mean it,” he said. Eric Torell, who had the “change politics”. On BBC radio earlier, Farage mental age of a three year-old, The party launch came said: “In terms of policy, there’s died in a hail of bullets after shortly after Prime Minister no difference [from UKIP], but sneaking out of his home in Theresa May agreed with the EU in terms of personnel there is a Stockholm in the middle of the for a longer Brexit extension, vast difference.” night to play. now due at the end of October, He said: “UKIP did struggle Police fired 25 shots at Torell which means the UK will take to get enough good people into in a residential courtyard part in European Parliament it but unfortunately what it’s believing a toy pistol he was car- elections set for May 23-26. chosen to do is allow the far right rying was a real weapon. Torell, Farage said the Brexit Party to join it and take it over and I’m was hit three times. Two of the has 70 candidates and that the afraid the brand is now tar- shots, including the one that European elections are the “first nished.” On Twitter, UKIP leader killed him, hit him in the back. step.” “This party is not here just Gerard Batten rejected Farage’s “I have decided that the British politician and Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage (second right), poses for photos with supporters to fight the European elections,” claim that there was no policy police who have been charged who flew in from Spain to attend the launch of The Brexit Party’s European Parliament election he said. “This party is not just to difference between UKIP and the for the shooting did not follow express our anger — 23 May is Brexit Party, calling it “a lie.” campaign in Coventry, central England, yesterday. the procedures they should the first step of the Brexit Party,” “UKIP has a manifesto and pol- have done and had they done he added. icies. Farage’s party is just a a hotbed for the British far-right screening for migrants from the manifesto said. so, they would have realized “We will change politics for vehicle for him,” he said. under its latest leader, Gerard Islamic countries, and plans to The sharper shift to the far- that Eric - the victim - was not good.” Farage, a leading figure Conservative Brexiteer MP Batten. The party has taken a big scrap a swathe of equality and right of Farage’s former party a threat,” prosecutor Martin in the Leave campaign before the Jacob Rees-Mogg’s sister Annun- leap into becoming a racist far- anti-racism laws in the UK. came last year with the presi- Tiden told reporters. 2016 referendum, said he was ziate Rees-Mogg is among the right movement with an mani- “UKIP would introduce the dency of Batten, who allied Two officers were charged “angry, but this is not a negative new party’s candidates for the festo full of anti-Islamic plans. separation of prisoners or prisons himself with former EDL leader with misconduct and one with emotion, this is a positive May elections. The so-called “interim man- exclusively for Islamic prisoners Tommy Robinson after taking causing another person’s death. emotion”. “I said that if I did Since last year, Britain’s ifesto” contained plans for all- who promote extremism or try to over the leadership from Henry Tiden said the police were come back into the political fray once-populist UKIP has become Muslim prisons, enhanced convert non-Islamic prisoners,” Bolton in April. justified in opening fire at Torell, who did not respond when asked to put down his Young people, gun, but that they should have Dutch doctor ‘fathered 49 children’ in IVF scandal stopped firing when Torell children rally turned away from them. AFP “The results confirm serious family to court to force them to mother,” he told the NRC paper. Torell’s death caused a in UK against THE HAGUE suspicions that Karbaat used his release Karbaat’s DNA profile, “She really wanted a child public outcry and raised ques- own sperm at his clinic,” Defence which was kept locked in a safe. and could not have one with my tions over the use of deadly climate change A Dutch doctor at the centre of for Children added. The contro- The Karbaat family’s lawyers parental father,” he said. force by Swedish police. an IVF scandal fathered at least versial case became public after had argued that their clients’ right The Defence for Children “I hope that we get clarity ANATOLIA 49 children, an organisation rep- a Dutch court ruled in February to privacy had to be respected. added it was likely that Karbaat about what happened, how it LONDON resenting parents and children that the results of Karbaat’s DNA “However, with the judges sired even more donor children could go so wrong and that they born through his now-closed test should be made available to agreeing to the paternity test, the than the 49 revealed yesterday. change the way police are Tens of thousands of young clinic said yesterday. parents and children to conduct judge placed the children’s rights “Sperm belonging to the late trained because this can’t be people and children took to the Jan Karbaat, who died in 2017, their own comparisons. above those of Karbaat and his doctor was also distributed to allowed to happen,” Torell’s main squares and roads across is the father of 49 children born Before his death, aged 89, family,” Defence for Children other clinics,” Dutch news mother told news agency TT. Britain yesterday to protest after women visited his Rotterdam Karbaat reportedly admitted to advisor Iara de Witte said. agency ANP quoted the organi- Officers have shot and government policies and urge clinic where he used his own having fathered about 60 children “Now, after years of uncer- sation as saying. killed an average of one person action to tackle global climate sperm instead of sperm from a in his time at the discredited clinic tainty the plaintiffs can finally The organisation has per year over the last 20 years, change. chosen donor to inseminate them, which closed in 2009 amid reports close a chapter and start appealed to anybody who may according to police statistics. Protesters marched through Defence for Children said. of irregularities. processing the fact that they are suspect that Karbaat was their But numbers have been London’s busiest roads and Par- Results of DNA tests con- Karbaat later also admitted one of Karbaat’s many donor father to apply to a Dutch increasing with six people shot liament Square with signs and ducted Friday at a hospital in the to mixing sperm from various descendants,” De Witte said. database for DNA matching. to death in 2018 and an average banners and shouted environ- southeastern city of Nijmegen donors and issuing fraudulent One of the children, Eric Applicants can apply in writing of 3.2 over the last five years. mentalist slogans. “showed that 49 children in the donor documentation, the Dutch Lever, recently told the NRC to an official body called the In the United States, 992 A big poster reading “Green case are direct descendants of daily newspaper NRC reported. newspaper he was “not angry FIOM, which maintains a DNA people were shot dead by police New Deal” was carried by a the late Karbaat,” the organi- The group of suspected with Karbaat.” “I don’t get the database to match children con- in 2018, according to the Wash- group of hundreds of young sation said in a statement. “Karbaat children” dragged his feeling that he cheated my ceived via anonymous donors. ington Post’s database. people who briefly disrupted traffic on central Oxford Street. Similar protests were also held in other major cities in the UK, Ukraine presidential rivals court and in various other countries. The protesters are support of Macron and Merkel demanding the government declare a state of “climate AFP Polls show 41-year-old Zelensky, whose emergency” and reforms “to PARIS only political experience involves playing address climate change as an president on TV, easily defeating Poro- educational priority”. The Ukrainian comedian tipped to shenko for the leadership of a country The rallies came after a become president and his incumbent rival jaded by the conflict with Russia. recent UN report warned that travelled to Paris and Berlin yesterday to Merkel told a news conference with limiting global temperature seek international backing nine days Poroshenko that she had invited him to rises to 1.5 C above pre-indus- before the run-off in a high-stakes vote. Berlin to continue their “constant exchange” trial levels, beyond which French President Emmanuel Macron on security. “I think it’s important that we climate impacts become first hosted comic Volodymyr Zelensky, continue to discuss, even at a time when increasingly severe, requires a political novice, for talks in Paris before the elections are underway,” she said. unprecedented action, a planned meeting with current President France and Germany are part of the so- including cutting global carbon Petro Poroshenko. called Normandy quartet with Ukraine and dioxide emissions by almost Poroshenko, who is anxious to make Russia set up to try end the conflict between half within 12 years. up ground lost to Zelensky by showing Kiev and Moscow-backed separatists. The The UN outlined in its off his experience, travelled earlier in the war has killed 13,000 people since 2014. report this March that disas- day to meet German Chancellor Angela On Thursday, Poroshenko had trous prospects are inevitable Merkel in Berlin. Both men were expected described the Paris and Berlin visits as French President Emmanuel Macron (right) greets Ukrainiam President Petro if countries fail to reduce their to discuss Ukraine’s five-year war with “especially important” in the face of what Poroshenko for talks at the Elysee Palace, in Paris yesterday. Macron met with both greenhouse gas emissions, Russian-backed rebels in the country’s he called Western “attempts” to lift sanc- which contribute to global candidates in the Ukranian elections, first hosting the comic Volodymyr Zelensky, a east, a conflict in which France and tions against Russia, imposed after its 2014 warming. political novice, and then meeting with incumbent President Poroshenko. Germany have attempted to broker peace. annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula. Brexit chaos leaves Scotland on independence tightrope

AFP the European Union has done “complete independence”. Former SNP deputy leader who now say because they’re “It certainly makes the dem- EDINBURGH little to resolve. Phil said Sturgeon’s Scottish Jim Fairlie said the government’s sick of all the Brexit, they’ve ocratic case easier because it The government is “absolutely National Party had “done a lot of policy of independence within changed their minds,” said local really does throw into stark relief With Britain tearing its hair out committed to an independent good but I don’t agree with them the EU was an “oxymoron”, and resident Mary Cryan amid the this democratic deficit problem,” over the Brexit confusion, Scot- Scotland in the European Union,” on Brexit”. He said he would that tying the two issues together hubbub of Edinburgh’s Royal Kevin Pringle, a former director land’s government is biding its Scottish Minister for Europe, even consider voting for Nigel meant “they’re not going to get Mile, in the shadow of the city’s of strategic communications for time as it prepares for the ultimate Migration and International Farage’s new Brexit Party — the votes of traditional nation- centuries-old castle. the SNP, said in his Edinburgh prize — independence. Development Ben Macpherson much to the consternation of alists like me”. The shifting blocs have largely office. Scottish First Minister Nicola told AFP while out campaigning companion Lisa. “I’m Scottish “All the SNP has to do to keep cancelled themselves out so far, Independence supporters Sturgeon, a strong opponent of in Leith, east of Edinburgh. first, then European,” she said. the independence movement with polling stuck at around 55 still face a stiff challenge in Brexit, has said she will set out But even independence Some pro-EU voters who together is to decouple it from percent versus 45 percent in winning over more conservative her thinking on independence backers are divided over Brexit wanted to stay in the United membership of the EU,” he favour of staying in the United voters, who wanted to stay in plans later this month. — five years on from Scotland’s Kingdom in the 2014 referendum added. But over 60 percent of Kingdom, according to polling both the EU and the UK. “The The issue presents voters and own referendum in which 55 are now in favour of inde- Scots voted to stay in the EU, and expert John Curtice, from the Uni- SNP should concentrate on the leaders north of the border with percent opted to remain a part pendence, but the issue risks some are being won over to the versity of Strathclyde. day job rather than looking at another source of dispute, some- of Britain. Retiree Phil, enjoying pushing away those who want a independence cause. But independence supporters independence,” 50-year-old thing that this week’s decision to the sunshine in a central Edin- clean break from both London “I know quite a lot of people... think that the chaos in West- public servant Craig said in the delay Britain’s departure from burgh park, said he wanted and Brussels. who voted to stay with the UK... minster could shift the balance. city’s Scots Guards Club. SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 EUROPE / AMERICAS 11 Pompeo defends US sanctions on Venezuela REUTERS Pompeo embarked the malign actor is here and I SANTIAGO on a three-day visit think they’ll see all the countries to Chile, Paraguay in the region, including the US Secretary of State Mike and Peru, a clutch United States, as truly trying to Pompeo yesterday defended sanc- help them,” he said. tions on Venezuela and said coun- of fast-growing “There’s a deep recognition tries in the region would under- countries in a region that this is a years and years long stand that the United States was where Washington’s problem almost exclusively the not the “malign actor” in the concerns are focused result of Maduro handing over socialist-run country’s deepening the keys to the country to Cuba, economic and political crisis. on China’s growing and that’s not the guy who you Pompeo embarked on a presence, as well as want being part of the conver- three-day visit to Chile, Paraguay the Venezuelan crisis. sation about how to move and Peru, a clutch of fast- democracy forward.” growing countries in a region Roberta Braga, a director of where Washington’s concerns “This is an historic oppor- the Adrienne Arsht Latin America are focused on China’s growing tunity,” Pompeo told reporters Center at the Atlantic Council, presence, as well as the Vene- en route to Chile’s capital San- said she expected Pompeo to flag zuelan crisis. tiago, where he touched down the importance of Peru’s lead- It will be the first time since in the early hours yesterday. The ership as part of the Lima Group 1965 that a US secretary of state region contained countries that regional bloc in addressing Ven- has visited Paraguay, a symbolic “were truly market driven, dem- ezuela’s crisis. gesture that experts say under- ocratic in ways that we haven’t “At the top of the priority list scores US commitment to the had in South America for for Pompeo’s trip this week will region. Pompeo will also travel decades,” he said. be to continue to reinforce and on Sunday to Cucuta, a The visit comes as Wash- strengthen the coalition that has US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera and Foreign Minister Colombian border city receiving ington considers more sanctions been built in support of Guaido,” Roberto Ampuero at the Presidential Palace La Moneda, in Santiago, yesterday. significant numbers of Vene- against Maduro’s government Braga said. zuelan migrants fleeing hunger and pushes Russia to remove its “Pompeo will likely reiterate and violence in their homeland. troops from Venezuela. the administration’s prior to contract by one-fourth in economy over the past two toward the region shifts. Pompeo Venezuela’s crisis is expected Critics have warned that warnings to external actors, 2019, and a further 10 percent in decades has driven up demand said the United States was to dominate the trip as the United heavy sanctions could hurt including China, Cuba and 2020 — a greater collapse than for raw materials, is already the “working diligently” to make States pressures President ordinary Venezuelans, already Russia, to not intervene in the it projected in October. top trade partner for nations sure Latin American countries Nicolas Maduro to step down and suffering from hyperinflation crisis.” While most Western During his travels, Pompeo is from tiny Uruguay to Brazil, Latin had access to American markets. urges more countries to join the and food and medicine nations have recognized Guaido expected to highlight the gains America’s largest economy and US President Donald coalition supporting opposition shortages. Pompeo said the as head of state, Russia, China from economic and trade coop- the world’s top soybean exporter. Trump’s December 2017 national leader Juan Guaido. The region people recognized the United and Cuba have stood by Maduro. eration with the United States, The pivot by Latin American security strategy said China was has seen a shift in recent years States was not to blame for the The International Monetary whose regional influence has been countries towards China for seeking to “pull the region into towards right-leaning presidents country’s crisis. Fund (IMF) said this week Ven- increasingly challenged by China. financing has alarmed Wash- its orbit through state-led that have backed Guaido. “I think they understand who ezuela’s economy was expected China, whose booming ington even as its own policy investment and loans”.

Leaker Chelsea Assange held in London jail ahead of long legal fight Manning

AFP up to 2015 on policing up to 2015, stuck in jail LONDON maintaining a 24-hour guard at the embassy’s doors in the first AFP WikiLeaks founder Julian year. Relations with his Ecua- WASHINGTON Assange languished yesterday in doran hosts gradually soured and a British jail at the outset of a new pro-US President Lenin Nine years ago, a 23-year-old likely lengthy extradition battle Moreno on Thursday pulled his US army specialist, deeply following the dramatic end to his asylum and permitted British troubled by the US war in Iraq seven-year stay in Ecuador’s police to remove Assange. and by her own gender identity, London embassy. Prime Minister Theresa May rocked the US government by Within hours of police welcomed the arrest as showing leaking disturbing classified hauling him out of the embassy “no one is above the law”. But military records to WikiLeaks. on Thursday, the 47-year-old opposition Labour leader Jeremy Chelsea Manning spent Australian appeared in court for Corbyn, a leftist stalwart, called years in prison for her crime breaching his British bail condi- for the government to block the before her sentence was com- tions in 2012 and to face a sub- extradition. “The extradition of muted — but yesterday was sequent US extradition request. Julian Assange to the US for again sitting in jail for what her A legal source familiar with exposing evidence of atrocities supporters say is an ongoing the case said that Assange was in Iraq and Afghanistan should punitive political vendetta. being held at Belmarsh prison in be opposed,” he said on Twitter. Last month, she refused to southeast London. May’s comments prompted testify in a secret grand jury One of eight “high security” a furious reaction on Twitter investigation of WikiLeaks jails in England, it can also hold Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange protest against his arrest, near the British embassy from Assange’s mother, who founder Julian Assange, who was prisoners “requiring specific in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. The signs read: “No extradition to the US”, “Journalism is not a crime” lives in Australia. She accused arrested in London on Thursday management arrangements and “Asylum for Assange in Berlin”. the British prime minister of on a US indictment linked to their because of their public and “trying to divert attention away cooperation in 2010 on the leak media profile”, according to a His separate extradition case “He’s obviously going to fight Ecuador’s embassy in London’s from her Brexit dog’s breakfast of secret US records of the wars 2018 inspection report. on charges of computer hacking extradition and fight it hard,” Rob- chic Knightsbridge district after by cheering on the thuggish, in Iraq and Afghanistan. Assange was remanded in is set to be next heard by video- inson told BBC radio on Friday, a British judge ruled he should brutal, unlawful arrest of my In fact, her lawyers point out, custody on Thursday at a hearing link at Westminster Magistrates’ adding she had visited her client be extradited to Sweden to face courageous, tortured multi- the grand jury secretly issued its in front of a London judge, who Court on May 2. However, under in a court cell after the hearing sexual assault allegations. award winning journalist son”. Assange indictment over one pronounced him guilty of diso- British law the United States has when he thanked supporters and Inside the red-brick building Legal experts said the case year ago, making Manning’s tes- beying his bail terms by fleeing until June 12 to submit full extra- said: “I told you so.” “The bigger he lived a sparse existence in a could be stuck in British courts timony superfluous. to the embassy in June 2012. dition papers. Assange’s London question is... why is the United flat measuring 18 square metres for up to two years and, if But federal prosecutors He could receive up to a year lawyer Jennifer Robinson con- States seeking his extradition over (190 square feet) with just a bed, appealed, potentially go all the have jailed her anyway, with in prison when sentenced at an firmed he would contest the long- publishing truthful information.” shower, computer, treadmill and way to the European Court of little explanation of why. as yet undetermined later date. feared attempt to try him there. Assange sought asylum at microwave. Britain spent £13.2m Justice. The Assange indictment “is further evidence that the gov- ernment’s continued impris- onment of Chelsea for her prin- US political consultant avoids jail French authorities halt cipled stance against grand jury secrecy is punitive, cruel and game with house as prize unnecessary,” her lawyers said. time in case linked to Russia probe Manning, now 31, had AFP of a castle in the northern Per- worked since her release from REUTERS citizen to act as a straw pur- manager Paul Manafort. BORDEAUX igord region (“Versailles” isn’t military prison in 2017 to start a WASHINGTON chaser to pay $50,000 for four Berman Jackson last month the correct answer) and the new life, as a civilian and as a tickets to the inauguration of sentenced Manafort to 73 A French couple hoping to sell name of the river that runs woman. But the US is divided A US judge yesterday sentenced Republican President Donald months in prison for two con- their luxurious countryside through the town of Roque- over whether what she did was Republican political consultant Trump on behalf of a Ukrainian spiracy charges arising from the resort via a quiz has been forced Gageac — it’s the Dordogne. heroic or traitorous. Samuel Patten to 36 months of oligarch, who reimbursed Patten Mueller probe - a sentence called to suspend the competition after The objects were trickier: An She was Bradley Manning probation, 500 hours of com- through a Cypriot account. unnecessary and hostile by a France’s online gaming author- antique book of calligraphy, a when, in 2009, she was sent to munity service and a $5,000 Patten, who spoke briefly at Manafort lawyer. ities stepped in. pair of polished Chelsea boots, Iraq as an army intelligence fine in a case spun out of US the hearing, said he was Patten’s lawyer had asked Brigitte and Christophe and a 18-Karat gold bracelet. officer with access to a massive Special Counsel Robert Muel- remorseful for his criminal for a sentence of probation, Demassougne originally put Since its launch on April 1, database of US war records and ler’s Russia probe. conduct. “I behaved as though saying his case was unlike other their sprawling guest house in nearly 20,000 people had classified diplomatic communi- Patten, 47, pleaded guilty in the law didn’t apply to me and FARA prosecutions, which have Cenac-et-Saint-Julien, around signed up, raising €260,000, cations. Manning was already August to communicating with that was wrong,” he said. typically involved a lobbyist 80km southeast of Perigueux in from as far away as Canada and struggling with gender dys- US lawmakers and news media US District Judge Amy attempting to conceal the the Dordogne region, on the Australia, as well as Britain. phoria. Meanwhile, she grew organizations on behalf of a Berman Jackson said she identity of the client and the market with an estimated value On Thursday, however, the despondent about the ongoing Russia-aligned political party in believed Patten’s remorse was source of funds. of more than €1.5m ($1.7m). couple received a letter from the wars, leading her to release the Ukraine called the Opposition genuine and said she credited Prosecutors had not sug- The 18th-century residence, ARJEL online gaming regulator hundreds of thousands of files Bloc without disclosing that his substantial cooperation gested a specific sentence but known as a Chartreuse, includes ordering the competition shut that made Assange and work to the Justice Department, with the special counsel’s said leniency was warranted stables, a tennis court and a down, citing a 2014 law that WikiLeaks famous worldwide. in violation of the Foreign Agents office. “You’ve done everything given Patten’s cooperation with private pool amid lush gardens. forbids games of chance based “I began to become Registration Act (FARA), among in your power to make amends,” the special counsel’s probe. To drum up wider interest they on individual expertise. depressed with the situation that other offenses. she said, adding “that doesn’t Federal prosecutors in launched an online quiz offering It gave the couple eight days we found ourselves increasingly Patten is a former business happen everyday in this Washington, who started inves- the resort to the lucky winner. to prove the contrary, and mired in year after year,” she said partner of Konstantin Kilimnik, courtroom.” tigating Patten after receiving a After purchasing a €13 although they will try to prove in her 2013 trial. Manning was a Russian national indicted by Berman Jackson said the referral from Mueller, said in a ticket, contestants were given they acted in good faith, Brigitte arrested within weeks after a Mueller and accused of having acceptance of responsibility was court filing on Monday that two questions and shown three Demassougne said she was confidant turned her in. She was ties to Russian intelligence. In one reason Patten received a Patten met or spoke with gov- objects whose value they had to “pessimistic” about her chances. thrown into a military prison and Patten’s guilty plea he also much lighter sentence than ernment investigators on the estimate. The not-exactly- She promised that all the players held for three years until her trial admitted to arranging for a US former Trump campaign phone nine times. brainteasers sought the names would get their money back. in 2013. 12 AMERICAS / CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019

Trump says could send illegal SERVICES CHANGE OF NAME migrants to ‘sanctuary cities’ USED CONTAINERS (Sales & Rentals) AFP Sanctuary cities PR risks as well”. I, Nahila Sajid, WASHINGTON are places where After the White House ARMSTRONG holder of Pakistan Passport local authorities — pressed the issue again earlier New & Used Containers - Sales/Rental (Certified & Uncertified) No. BL9101961 557 80 396 US President Donald Trump said usually Democratic this year, ICE rebuffed it as Mobile: (Steve) yesterday that he is seriously “inappropriate.” The Post said a E-mail: [email protected] www.iescoqatar.com. (Qatar ID No. 29858602323) considering funnelling detained run — have refused White House official and a hereby change my name to illegal migrants into the self- to hand over illegal spokesman for the department WAREHOUSE FOR RENT NAILA SAJID DAD BAKHSH. declared sanctuary cities that immigrants for of homeland security said the oppose his tough immigration deportation. proposal was no longer under WOKEER INDUSTRIAL AREA policies. consideration. Available Sizes: 358/415/510/830/1340 Sqm. Any objection, please contact the Trump’s announcement on “This was just a suggestion Mobile: 660 02 704 (Steve) Twitter reversed a previous daily denunciations of migrants that was floated and rejected, E-mail: [email protected] White House assurance that the as dangerous criminals border which ended any further dis- days from the publication of this notice. idea — criticised as political ret- on racism. cussion,” a White House WATER TANK CLEANING ribution against cities led by Citing homeland security statement said. One of the opposition Democrats — had officials and leaked emails, the centers targeted was the constit- AL MUTWASSIT CLEANING & PEST CONTROL been dropped. Post said White House officials uency of house speaker Nancy Kharaba st, Behind white Mosque. “Due to the fact that Demo- first broached the plan in Pelosi, whose office on Thursday Fax: 443679 99 - GSM. 55875920/55860432 I, Muhammad Umair Afsaal Khan Lodhi, crats are unwilling to change our November, asking several blasted the plan. “The extent of holder of Pakistan Passport CAPITAL CLEANING COMPANY very dangerous immigration agencies whether members of a this administration’s cynicism No. AK8445651 laws, we are indeed, as reported, caravan of migrants could be and cruelty cannot be over- Cleaning Water Tanks & Pest Control. GSM: 55565328/ 33189899 Tel: 44582257 (Qatar ID No. 30458600327) giving strong considerations to arrested at the border and then stated,” said Pelosi spokes- E-mail: [email protected] placing Illegal Immigrants in bused “to small- and mid-sized woman Ashley Etienne. hereby change my name to Sanctuary Cities,” Trump said. sanctuary cities”. “Using human beings — MUHAMMAD UMAIR AFSAAL “The Radical Left always Sanctuary cities are places including little children — as seems to have an Open Borders, where local authorities — usually pawns in their warped game to LODHI. Open Arms policy — so this should Democratic run — have refused perpetuate fear and demonize make them very happy!” he to hand over illegal immigrants immigrants is despicable.” Com- tweeted. The Washington Post for deportation. bating illegal immigration is a Any objection, please contact the earlier revealed the proposal, The White House told the central plank of Trump’s admin- which would mark a new flash- Immigration and Customs istration and he has expressed days from the publication of this notice. point in the ever growing political Enforcement agency (ICE) that increasing frustration at the influx divide over immigration. the plan was intended to alle- of migrants from Central America, Trump has staked his pres- viate a shortage of detention who he often casts as criminals idency on his insistence that the space, but would also send a who threaten US security. United States is being overrun message to Democrats, the The number of immigrant by migrants and asylum seekers. Post said. detainees in ICE custody has I, Emad Ullah, But opponents, mostly in the The suggested policy was approached 50,000 in recent holder of Pakistan Passport Democratic Party, say his push pushed back within ICE, with a months, the Post said, an all- No. FT2748741 for building more walls on the top official saying it was rife with time high that has strained the (Qatar ID No. 29558603679) Mexican border and his almost concerns and noting “there are agency’s budget. hereby change my name to EMAD ULLAH AHMED KHAN. UN votes to Any objection, please contact the shut down Haiti police days from the publication of this notice. mission

AFP UNITED NATIONS I, Shanza Liaqat Abbas Abid Hussain, holder of Pakistan Passport The UN Security Council yes- No. AK5102742 terday decided to shut down a police mission in Haiti and (Qatar ID No. 30258601087) replace it with a smaller UN hereby change my name to political presence even as it SARA LIAQAT ABBAS ABID admitted that the poor Caribbean nation faces major problems. HUSSAIN. The 1,000-strong UN police force known as MINUJUSTH was deployed in 2017, replacing Any objection, please contact the the full-fledged MINUSTAH peacekeeping mission, which was sent after a devastating days from the publication of this notice. 2010 earthquake. Rescue workers carry an injured person in a stretcher after two MINUJUSTH will be grad- buildings collapsed in Muzema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. ually drawn down over the coming months and end on October 15, according to a US- Two dead as buildings drafted resolution that the council adopted yesterday. The resolution was adopted collapse in Brazil by a vote of 13 in favor in the AFP “There was a loud noise, 15-member council. Russia and RIO DE JANEIRO the buildings collapsed and the Dominican Republic there was a great cloud of abstained. UN Secretary- At least two people were killed dust,” said Muzema resident General Antonio Guterres was in Brazil yesterday when two Isabel Cristina, 42. tasked with drawing up plans buildings collapsed in a hillside Juliana Carvalho, 34, moved for the new political mission to neighborhood near Rio de to the Muzema favela in Itan- take over in October to coor- Janeiro, a region hard hit by hanga a month ago and bought dinate the work of UN agencies heavy rain and flash floods, fire- a home in front of the buildings and cooperate with donors to fighters said. that collapsed. She had just help Haiti’s government. The adjoining four-story woken when she heard the com- Haiti is still recovering from structures were inundated as the motion and managed to escape widespread riots in February, Itanhanga neighborhood, 30km with her daughter. “My home when thousands of people took west of downtown Rio, was shook. We ran and didn’t look to the streets across the country drenched along with the rest of back,” she said. — one of the world’s poorest — the region three days ago, Muzema is hard to reach to demand better living condi- resulting in multiple deaths. because of the widespread tions and the departure of the At least two other people damage caused by the unusually head of state. were injured when the buildings heavy rain across the region, A new prime minister, Jean- collapsed, said the firefighters, which began on Monday and Michel Lapin, was confirmed who managed to pull three continued into Tuesday, trig- by the Haitian lawmakers this people out alive. Neighbours gering flash flooding that turned week and will begin piecing said the buildings crumbled in some streets into raging rivers together a government to con- the morning. and swept away vehicles. front the country’s problems. Trump considered Ivanka for head of World Bank AFP United Nations, as an example.” tremendous stress and pressure. WASHINGTON But if he had nominated his She reacts very well -- that’s daughter — who is a senior usually a genetic thing, but it’s US President Donald Trump advisor to the president — “they’d one of those things, never- considered nominating his say nepotism, when it would’ve theless,” Trump said. daughter to head the World had nothing to do with nepotism. Trump ultimately nominated Bank, and she also would have But she would’ve been incredible.” Kelly Knight Craft, his envoy to been “great” as US ambassador to “I even thought of Ivanka for Canada, to be the next US the United Nations, he said in an the World Bank,” Trump said. ambassador to the United interview published yesterday. “She would’ve been great at that Nations, while David Malpass, a “She’s a natural diplomat,” because she’s very good with senior US Treasury official, Trump told The Atlantic. “She numbers. She’s got a great became the new head of the would’ve been great at the calmness... I’ve seen her under World Bank. SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2019 CLASSIFIEDS 13

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PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 03. 55 AM Crude oil touted as health cure in Azerbaijan SHOROOK 05. 14 AM AFP said one of the doctors at the Sehirli san- ZUHR 11. 35 AM MAGHRIB 05. 57 PM NAFTALAN, AZERBAIJAN atorium, Fabil Azizov, sitting in her office ASR 03. 04 PM ISHA 07. 27 PM under a portrait of strongman President Immersed up to her neck in a dark Ilham Aliyev. “But as time passed, san- viscous liquid, Sulfiya smiles in delight, atoriums were built and treatment WEATHER TODAY confident that the fetid substance will methods developed.” cure her painful condition. Some specialists warn the method Sulfiya, a Russian woman in her has dangerous side effects. “Despite 60s, has travelled to Azerbaijan’s the stories of past cures, the use of north-western city of Naftalan in the crude oil for medicinal purposes has hope that crude oil baths at a local san- been condemned by Western doctors atorium will end her years of suffering as potentially carcinogenic,” former from polyarthritis, a disease affecting journalist Maryam Omidi wrote in a the joints. 2017 book published in Britain about “This is so pleasant,” she enthuses, Soviet-era sanatoriums. despite the reek of engine oil. Her dip In fact, the oil at Naftalan is almost in oil heated to just above body tem- 50 percent naphthalene, a carcino- perature lasts 10 minutes, after which genic substance found in cigarette an attendant scrapes the brown oil off smoke and mothballs that in large her skin and sends her into a shower. A man bathes in a tub filled with Naftalan crude oil during a treatment session amounts can damage or destroy red The native of Russia’s Tatarstan at Sehirli Naftalan Health Center, some 300km from capital Baku. blood cells. region said she and her friends “have But doctors and patients at Naf- long dreamed of coming” for treatment Azerbaijan’s vast oil deposits were logical problems. talan brush aside any misgivings and in Naftalan. The petroleum spa resort discovered in the mid-19th century, According to a legend, which spa the sanatorium even has a small in the oil-rich Caucasus country is a making what was at the time part of staff readily tell clients, the healing museum displaying crutches that once draw for visitors. the Russian Empire one of the first properties of Naftalan’s “miraculous belonged to patients who have After 10 days of bathing in crude places in the world to start commercial oil” were discovered by accident when recovered from their illnesses. oil Sulfiya says she now feels “much oil production. a camel left to die near a pool of oil Over the last two decades, the better” and has even reduced her med- Oil exports to markets all over the was cured. Azerbaijani authorities have worked ication for the polyarthritis that she world are the largest sector of Azerba- The small town of Naftalan, some hard to re-establish Naftalan’s repu- has had for 12 years. “It is a gift from ijan’s economy, but the crude that 300km from the capital Baku became tation as a health resort. Modern Naf- o o God,” agrees 48-year-old Rufat, an comes from subsoil reservoirs in Naf- a popular health resort for Soviet cit- talan is a blend of kitsch-looking high- 23 C 27 C Azerbaijani journalist and opposition talan is not suitable for commercial izens in the 1920s. end spas where a week’s treatment Minimum Maximum party member who is undergoing use. Instead the local oil is used to treat “In the past, when there weren’t any costs some €1,000, and modest san- treatment in the sanatorium called muscular, skin and bone conditions as hotels or sanatoriums, people would atoriums where a week’s treatment Partly cloudy to cloudy with chance of Sehirli, or “magic” in Azerbaijani. well as gynaecological and neuro- come to Naftalan and stay with locals,” costs around €100. scattered rain maybe thundery and blow-

ing dust at some places at times. Carrie Fisher HIGH TIDE 08:53 –21:34 LOW TIDE 06:24 – 16:09 Hard-to-clean privacy curtains could Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department in trailer for be reservoir of deadly bacteria: Study final ‘Star AFP strains. The bugs in these cases likely facilities were hospitalised on average PARIS moved from the patient to the curtain, 22 days. Bacterial samples from 625 Wars’ movie the findings suggested, but the opposite rooms were taken upon admission, and Hard-to-clean privacy curtains in hos- is “certainly possible”, Mody said. periodically thereafter up to six months, AFP pitals and nursing homes worldwide The results, in the pipeline for peer- assuming patients were still on site. CHICAGO may be contaminated with deadly drug- review publication, were to be unveiled A total of 22 percent of curtain resistant bugs, according to findings to at the European Congress of Clinical samples tested positive for multi-drug Lucasfilm delighted “Star Wars” be presented today at an infectious dis- Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in resistant bacteria, ranging from 12 to 29 fans yesterday with a glimpse eases conference. Amsterdam, running from today until percent, depending on the facility. of Carrie Fisher in sneak-peek More than a fifth of 1,500 samples April 16. Despite improvements in The percentage of curtains infected footage of the hotly-anticipated taken from six post-acute care nursing hygiene, hospitals awash with antibi- with different bugs ranged from five final episode of the space opera facilities in the United States were laced otics can become incubators of drug- percent for MRSA, to six percent for — more than two years after her with one or more dangerous bacteria, resistant bacteria that mutate to survive resistant gram-negative bacilli (R-GNB), death. including the hospital bug MRSA, the drugs designed to eradicate them. and 14 percent for vancomycin-resistant Director J J Abrams told the researchers found. Nearly 20,000 In-patients, meanwhile, with enterococci (VRE) — all potentially deadly. US “Star Wars Celebration” event MRSA-related deaths occurred in the weakened immune systems and open “There is an increasing recognition that the writers had agonized US in 2017, most of them from hos- wounds after surgery are especially vul- that hospital environments play an over giving Fisher’s beloved pital- acquired infections, according nerable to attack. Typically made of important role in transmission of path- General Leia Organa a fitting to the US Centers for Disease Control. plastic or cotton, curtains that separate ogens,” Mody said. “Privacy curtains are send-off in the ninth installment, “These pathogens on privacy cur- beds or encircle them in private rooms often touched with dirty hands after a revealed as “Star Wars IX: The tains often survive and have the potential are often cleaned infrequently. patient interaction,” she added. “They Rise of Skywalker”. to transfer to other surfaces and “Hospital policies vary tremen- are cumbersome to disinfect and clean.” “Every day it hits me that patients,” said co-author Lona Mody, a dously, but typically include changing The concentration of bacteria her team she is not here but it’s so surreal doctor and researcher for the University privacy curtains every six months or found on curtains was higher than on because we’re working with her of Michigan Medical Center. when visibly soiled,” Mody said. bedside table tops, but less than toilet still... she’s in scenes,” Abrams “As privacy curtains are used all over Previous research has examined seats, bedrails and TV remote controls. told the rapt crowd at the five- the world, it’s a global issue.” A com- their capacity to retain bacteria, but this The researchers said their findings day event in Chicago. parison of bacteria found on the patients is the first to look at a “post-acute” — based on “traditional microbiologic A world-first trailer and the curtains showed that both were setting, the authors said. methods” — needed to be duplicated released at the convention — often contaminated with the same The patients in the skilled nursing using more advanced genomic methods. and dropped on the Internet — reintroduced the “next gener- ation” characters from the final three films alongside old Toddler crying on US border wins World Press Photo Award favorites from as far back as the 1977 original, “Star Wars IV: A AFP from Honduras in mid-October New Hope”. They included AMSTERDAM to the US border “showed a high Lando Calrissian, portrayed by sense of dignity,” one of the the original actor Billy Dee Wil- The haunting image of a little girl judges said. Ten Hoopen thanked liams, and the voice only of crying helplessly as she and her the migrant families, saying Mark Hamill — Luke Skywalker mother are taken into custody without them his award would himself — who appeared to die by US border officials won the not have been possible. in the last film but was widely prestigious World Press Photo Judges selected this year’s expected to have some role in Award. winners from 78,801 images the latest movie. Judges said veteran Getty entered by 4,738 photographers “No one’s ever really gone,” photographer John Moore’s worldwide, the Amsterdam- Skywalker says in voiceover, as picture taken after Honduran based organisers said. Leia hugs apprentice Jedi Rey, mother Sandra Sanchez and her Three lensmen from AFP, played by English actress Daisy daughter Yanela illegally crossed John Wessels, Brendan Smi- Ridley, who has top billing in the the US-Mexico border last year alowski and Pedro Pardo were latest of the three trilogies that showed “a different kind of vio- handed one second place and makes up the long-running saga. lence that is psychological”. three third places overall in the Abrams said it would not The picture of the wailing various categories. continue the story exactly toddler was published worldwide Based in Kinshasa, Wessels’ where the last one — 2017’s and caused a public outcry about series of pictures of last year’s “Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Washington’s controversial policy Congolese elections took second Last Jedi” — left off. to separate thousands of migrants prize in the General News- Leia was still alive at the and their children. Stories category, while his series end of 2017’s “The Last Jedi” but US Customs and Border Pro- of images about an Ebola out- the actress herself died a year tection officials later said Yanela break in the eastern Democratic earlier, in December 2016. and her mom were not among Winner of the World Press Photo 2019 Awards, John Moore (left), receiving the award from Dutch Republic of Congo came third in Disney said last year those separated, but the public Prince Constantijn in front of his winning picture “Crying Girl on the Border” during the World Press the same category. Fisher’s role would be gleaned furore “resulted in President Photo Award ceremony in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Smialowski and Pardo came from previously unreleased Donald Trump reversing the third in their respective cate- footage from “The Force policy in June last year,” the interview shortly afterwards. Amsterdam, Moore said: “I The sensitive issue of immi- gories with a picture of Trump Awakens,” with the blessing of judges said. As officials took their names, wanted to tell a different story.” gration was further highlighted leading French President her daughter, Billie Lourd. Moore was taking pictures of Moore said he spotted Sandra “For me it was a chance to show at Thursday’s awards. Emmanuel Macron by the hand Abrams described the US Border Patrol agents on a Sanchez and her toddler who a view of humanity that is often Judges chose Dutch-Swedish and immigrants climbing over “weird miracle” of being able moonless night in the Rio Grande started wailing when her mom only related in statistics,” the photographer Pieter Ten Hoo- the US-Mexico border fence to continue Leia’s story by Valley on June 12 last year when put her down to be searched. 51-year-old photographer said. pen’s images of the 2018 mass- respectively. looking at old footage. they came across a group of “I took a knee and had very “I think an issue like this, migrant caravan to the US border Last year AFP’s Ronaldo Speaking at a panel dis- people who tried to cross the few frames of that moment immigration issues, resonates as its winner in the “World Press Schemidt took top honours in the cussion moderated by border. “I could see the fear on before it was over,” said Moore, not just in the United States, but Photo Story of the Year Award”. 2018 competition, winning the comedian and late night tele- their faces, in their eyes,” Moore who had been covering the US- around the world,” Moore also Ten Hoopen’s pictures, World Press Photo Award with vision host Stephen Colbert, the told the US-based National Mexico border for a decade. told several hundred guests at which show families and a fiery image of a masked Ven- director said the film was in Public Radio broadcaster in an At the awards ceremony in the awards. children as they made their way ezuelan protester in flames. post-production.