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Monday 17 April 2017 | 20 Rajab 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7134 | 2 Riyals

Qatar and Philippines sign 4 agreements

Raynald C Rivera nano-structured carbon and The Peninsula At least $206m worth agro-industrial eco-zone,” said Trade and Industry Secretary mir H H Sheikh Tamim of deals were signed Ramon Lopez. bin Hamad Al Thani met between Qatari The MoUs signed with Qatar with Philippine Presi- businessmen and the include an investment protection dent Rodrigo R Duterte Philippine Economic and promotion agreement, Lopez yesterday, during which said, which provides the “basic Ethe two leaders witnessed the sign- Zone Authority (PEZA) rights and guarantees to inves- ing of four Memoranda of that expected to create tors of both parties” as well as Understanding (MoUs) in the areas almost 5,770 jobs in “identification of opportunities of culture, health, technical and and cooperation in that field and vocational education and training the Philippines. ease of doing business.” and investment promotion and Lopez noted with the signing protection. of the investment protection and Duterte returned home from create almost 5,770 jobs in the Phil- promotion agreement, there is a Doha later yesterday after his ippines, said Presidential possibility to open $1bn investment week-long tour of Saudi Arabia, Spokesperson Ernesto Abella at a funds from the Qatari Sovereign Bahrain and Qatar with a total of press briefing yesterday at the Four Fund. Acting Foreign Secretary over $925m worth of investment Seasons Hotel Doha. Enrique Manalo said the MoU in deals set to generate approxi- The $206m deals comprise the field of culture aims at “rein- mately 26,000 jobs for “13 business to business deals in forcing cultural programs, Filipinos. the areas of retirement villages, encouraging bilateral cultural Of the $925m deals, $206m tourism eco-zone, IT and eco- exchanges and activities including worth of deals were signed in Doha zone management, hospitals, musical, theatrical and artistic between Qatari businessmen and medical tourism, poultry and groups and promoting each of our the Philippine Economic Zone halal food processing, manufac- country’s culture and the arts. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Philippine President Rodrigo R Duterte at Authority (PEZA) that expected to ture and export facility of → Continued on page 2 Emiri Diwan, yesterday. Turkey votes 'Yes' in referendum Ministry develops 3 new designs for Istanbul Agencies Emir greets labour camps Turkish President Erdogan Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tdeclared victory in The Peninsula yesterday's referendum that EMIR H H Sheikh Tamim will grant sweeping powers bin Hamad Al Thani held THE MINISTRY of Municipality and Environment to the presidency, hailing the a telephone conversation has developed three new architectural designs for result as a "historic deci- with President of Turkey temporary labour camps. sion." Speaking to reporters, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The designs were approved by the Building Erdogan said unofficial During the call, the Permit Complex at the Ministry which represents results showed the "yes" side Emir congratulated the all the governmental agencies involved in the proc- had won by a margin of 1.3 Turkish President on the ess of granting building permits. million votes. constitutional amend- The new designs meet all the conditions set The president struck a ments approved in the by various entities and those related to space and conciliatory tone, thanking historic referendum to services given to each worker according to the all voters regardless of how move from the system of Qatari labour law. they cast their ballots and parliamentary govern- With the new designs, each facility can accom- describing the referendum ment to the presidential modate between 204 to 214 workers, said a as a "historic decision." system, which confirmed ministry statement yesterday. "April 16 is the victory the confidence of the Developers can use these designs for design- of all who said yes or no, of Turkish people in its ing and consultancy services and they need to focus the whole 80 million, of the leadership. The Emir only on general site plan and civil defence plan. whole of Turkey of wished President Erdogan A supporter of the 'Yes' holding a picture of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan The ministry provides these designs to make pro- 780,000 sq kms," Erdogan continued success, and during a rally near the headquarters of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) cedures easier for developers who have land plots. said. further development in the in Istanbul, yesterday. “We have coordinated with the General Direc- The 'Yes' campaign had strong relations. torate of Civil Defence at the Ministry of Interior won 51.3 percent of the vote and took approval in this regard,” said Tariq Juma while the 'No' campaign had countries and institutions Turkey's governance from a (AK Party), founded by Pres- Al Tamimi, director of the Building Permits mustered 48.7 percent, the foreign powers to respect the to show respect to the deci- parliamentary system to an ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Complex. election commission said in outcome of the referendum sion of the nation," he said, executive presidency, signif- and the leadership of the “We will issue building permits from the figures quoted by state news granting him extra powers, calling allies to now show icantly expanding the Nationalist Action Party municipality concerned without any delay. How- agency Anadolu, in a count after a campaign marked by greater awareness of Tur- powers of the top office. (MHP), whose parliamentary ever, if some changes have been made in the based on 99 percent of the bitter tensions with the key's "sensitivities" in the The changes were support was vital to take the designs, they must take necessary approval from ballot boxes. European Union. "fight against terror". backed by the governing Jus- amendments to a public vote. the authorities concerned,” Al Tamimi added. The Erdogan called on "We would like other The changes transform tice and Development Party → See also page 8 designs are available on the ministry's website. Typing centres see rise in job change requests

Sanaullah Ataullah Ministry of Administrative notification procedure is easy, approaching us asking to help Dar Al Kutub roundabout. The Peninsula Development Labour and and can be done any where. with the formalities," a manager “We receive a number of job Social Affairs as part of the job However, the notification letter of typing centre at Al Ghanim, change applications daily, most Shopping malls yping centres are now see- change procedure. requires signature of the appli- told The Peninsula. of them from expatriates who ing an increase in people The Law No 21 of 2015 reg- cant, which then needs to be The service charges differ have completed five years with worried about Tavailing their facilities for ulating the entry, exit and scanned and attached while from one place to other, usually their companies in open (indef- job change. residency of expatriates allows applying for job change. ranging from QR 30 in Industrial inite) work contract. Employees 'lost' children A number of these centres expatriate workers to change "Many workers do not have Area to QR50 in Doha. with definite job contract could have started new services that jobs subject to terms and facilities to do all these online, “We have processed many also apply for job change after help low income workers to conditions. especially the scanning. So, they job-change notifications suc- expiring the contract period, as → Page 3 send online notification to The services providers told approach us at the services cen- cessfully,” said a manager of per the new rule." employers required by the The Peninsula that the tres. We have many workers a typing centre operating near → Continued on page 4 02 HOME MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President of the Republic of Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, inspecting a guard of honour. RIGHT: The Emir with President Duterte and the accompanying delegation. BELOW: The Emir and the Philippine President witnessing the signing of agreements between the two countries.

Qatar & Philippines sign comprehensive MoU for health cooperation

→ Continued from page 1 enterprises, added Manalo. scientists, experts and other health the Minister of Labour has made among its aims. He also expressed gratitude The MoU will also call for Health Secretary Paulyn Jean professionals, facilitating intern- a commitment “that we will have Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin over the care and kindness artistic exhibitions and transla- Rosell Ubial said the MoU on ship and advance courses for both a meeting with their committee Hamad Al Thani hosted at the accorded to the Filipino commu- tion of literary works. health cooperation , which was Filipino citizens and Qatari nation- to consider the repatriation of Emiri Diwan yesterday a lunch- nity in Qatar, extending an The MoU on technical and ten years in the making, encom- als to promote the principles of about 86 Overseas Filipino eon banquet in honour of invitation to the Emir to visit the vocational education and training passes cooperation in all reciprocity and mutual benefit,” Workers who are staying in the President of the Republic of Phil- Philippines. would facilitate exchanges of pro- important fields of health. said Ubial. shelter of our Philippine Over- ippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, The Emir expressed satisfac- fessionals in technical areas and “It is a very comprehensive “Only last month, the Qatar seas Laboour Office. Hopefully and the accompanying tion over the development of in technology institute manage- agreement. It looks into the sup- government recognised the rec- we can obtain the release in a delegation. bilateral ties, stressing that Presi- ment. It would also aim at port of joint activities with iprocity principle among our month or two.” During the banquet, the Phil- dent Duterte's visit to Qatar would providing assistance to trainees international health organisations healthcare providers so our doc- Lopez stressed the Presi- ippine President praised the solid further support and enhance rela- and trainers in the form of schol- like the World Health Organisa- tors and all health professionals dent’s visit to the Middle East and realtions of friendship and coop- tions between the two countries. arships and exchanges and tion and the Gulf Cooperation can practise in Qatar and Qataris earlier in Southeast Asia is part eration between the two The Emir also welcomed his dissemination of research and Council. It particularly focuses on can study and practise in the of what he terms “Dutertenom- countries, stressing keenness to invitation to visit the Philippines. study materials as well as encour- areas of research in the healthcare Philippines,” she added. ics” which includes creating enhance and promote them in The banquet was attended by a age exchange of technology field, exchange of expertise in Labour and Employment more jobs, businesses and all fields including trade, econ- number of Their Excellencies the programmes between private health field and exchange of Secretary Silvestre Bello III said opportunities for Filipinos, omy and the military. Ministers. Vegetable prices fell marginally in March Second round of Arabic Reading Challenge launched The Peninsula month compared to February March issued by the Ministry of February this year. this year. Economy and Commerce. Prices of fish declined 12 rices of vegetables in the The items that saw price hike Prices of fruits declined by percent in March last year com- The Peninsula launched by H E Sheikh central market increased are tomato, garlic, Kusa, cucum- five percent last month com- pared to the same period this Mohammed bin Rashid Al Mak- Pseven percent last month ber and ginger. Prices of pared to the corresponding year. However, when compared he second round of the Ara- toum, Vice-President and Ruler compared to the corresponding cauliflower and cabbage fell and month last year. to February this year, the price bic Reading Challenge of Dubai, to encourage young- month of last year. However, the that of other vegetables were sta- The prices increased three fall was recorded only three per- Tcompetition in Qatar was sters to read Arabic books and prices fell by five percent last ble, said the monthly report for percent in March compared to cent last month. launched yesterday with the par- to get "a million children" in the ticipation of 215 schools. The Arab countries to read 50 Ara- event will continue until April 19. bic books each every year, in The contest is organised by addition to their normal read- International artists the Ministry of Education and ing for school. Higher Education in collabora- Students from grade one to tion with government and grade twelve participate in this private schools. competition from all Arab This stage of the competi- countries and they need to pass tion aims to select the best ten five stages to reach the final. winners from each of the ten Each student needs to read five areas identified by the Minis- books in each stage and make try. The competing schools have a summary of the content in an been divided into ten exercise book called “Challenge categories. Passport”. In the third round, which Following the stage of read- will take place between May ing and summarizing the books 6-7, the best ten will be selected there is challenge competition to represent Qatar in the final at the levels of school and cat- of the reading Challenge Cham- egories until the final stage of pionship taking place in Dubai. selecting the best ten students Teachers, judges and coor- to represent Qatar in the final dinators of the Arabic Reading stage in Dubai. Challenge project are playing a Pupils from 21 countries, very important role in making their parents, head teachers, students acquire the habit of government dignitaries and reading, said Laila Al Kaabi, diplomats will attend the final Austrian Ambassador to Qatar, Willy Kempell, with artists at the opening of the Annual Art Group Exhibition 2017 by the head of the committee in ceremony of honouring win- International Artists Doha held at the Al AaQool Atrium, Recreation Centre, Education City in Doha yesterday. charge of the reading project. ners who will receive prizes Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula The Arabic Reading Chal- worth a total of Dh11m at an lenge competition is a project award ceremony. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 HOME 03 Shopping malls worried about 'lost' children

Fazeena Saleem reported lost in stores are The Peninsula between three to five years old. At this age, children tend to ncreasing cases of lost chil- explore, wandering around, hid- dren have become a burden ing between the racks and on shopping malls and fixtures or walking away from hypermarkets and some of their parents. They are attracted them have even introduced by toys, colourful clothing or Inew methods to deal with the find the name. Some children hideaway places. They get eas- frequently-arising problematic will talk, others won’t. If we find ily distracted by other kids or get situations. the name, we will announce it or bored,” said a store manager at On an average, three to five give a brief description of the a popular shopping mall. cases of lost children are child with approximate age and “Too often, in my four years reported at some shopping malls colour of the dress,” a senior offi- of retail experience, I've seen and hypermarkets every day cial at Lulu Hypermarket told many cases of lost children. Par- with an increase in cases during The Peninsula. ents shopping with their little the weekends. “Our staff and security are ones lose sight of them. As far as As the incidents happen so trained to handle such situations. I know all of the lost children frequently, the managements of If the child is crying or panicked have been found safe. But those some malls have started train- we will offer items like choco- moments when you look all over ing their staff to handle such lates and ice cream to calm them. the store and the mall and cases. Although the lost children Some parents will arrive within nobody can find them are hor- are found safe, the risk of them minutes, but there are others rifying,” she added. getting into trouble cannot be who report after half an hour, The cases of lost children are ruled out as most of them are sometimes," he said. also a burden for the mall or between the ages of three and Although at most occasions hypermarket staff to take care five. lost children are found by the of children. Several representatives at security and staff, there are cases “In most of the cases our staff shopping malls and hypermar- when parents realise their chil- find the lost children, not the kets The Peninsula spoke to said dren are missing and report to parents. Some children will be that the cases of lost children the mall or hypermarket calm and friendly but others get were becoming “frequent” management. panicked and would start cry- putting an extra burden on the Most children get lost near ing. It’s not easy to control them. staff. Some see it as a result of something that attracts their If the parents don't come fast, on “irresponsible parenting” as it’s attention like toy shelves, while most occasions we end up A security guard at Lulu Hypermarket consoling a child. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula the responsibility of the parents some others are found crying in babysitting,” said a customer to monitor their children. distress and searching for their support staff. If a lost child is found by a parents. However, the risk of lost Some hypermarkets take hypermarket. Usually they find going around a hypermarket cry- the children get lost. However, security guard or other staff at a children running up on to an help of CCTV cameras to find lost the lost children and bring them ing and looking for his mother. He we always keep watching chil- mall or hypermarket, they will escalator or near a water foun- children within a maximum of to customer care desk. It happens was so much in distress. I informed dren because they can go out of be brought to the customer care tain and getting hurt is high. ten minutes. “We have appointed very frequently. If a case is the staff at the hypermarket and sight in a blink of the eye. We or the security desk and “Most children that are internal guides at the reported by the parents, then we she took the child to the customer never had such an experience,” announcements are made men- trace the child through CCTV care desk,” said Anitha, an Indian said the father of three young tioning the name or about the cameras within five to ten min- mother of a two-year-old child. children. appearance of the child. Several representatives of shopping malls utes,” said an official at the Although there is no com- “It is advisable to have the “We often get lost children Quality Hypermarket. mon practice of tagging children child carry the parents’ mobile at different branches of our and hypermarkets said the cases of lost There are also incidents in with contact details of parents, number, by writing it on a piece hypermarkets. There are about children were becoming frequent, putting which some lost children are some official events and play of paper and putting it in the 75 security guards at each hyper- an extra burden on the staff. Some see it as found by shoppers and handed areas in malls give hand bands pocket. The security can then market and these children are a result of “irresponsible parenting” as it’s over to the mall staff. to identify them in case of loss. contact you in case your child is mostly found by them. Once they “Every time we go to a mall or “During summer festival, the lost. Parents need to be more are brought to the customer care the responsibility of parents to monitor their hypermarket, very often we hear organizers put a hand band to careful and teach their children desk, our trained staff will make children. an announcement about a lost children with our contact num- what to do in case they get lost,” a conversation with the child to child. One day I saw a small boy bers so that it’s easy to find us if he added. 04 HOME MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 Start Now: Ministry launches Eat Healthy campaign

The Peninsula The campaign also seeks to capable of bearing the burden of Healthy habits encourage the preparation of daily life without fatigue or iming to educate the Campaign aims at healthy homemade foods and to exhaustion. This is why at the public on healthy raising awareness involve children in the process ministry, we highlight the impor- and balanced food about importance of in order to gain knowledge of tance of spreading the concept choices, the Ministry eating healthy food healthy and balanced foods as of healthy eating and maintain- of Public Health and turning it into a well as how to prepare them, at ing an ideal weight,” she said. beganA the second phase of its an early age, so as to become one The campaign aims to deliver sustainable routine. “Start Now” campaign, under the of their healthy habits. its messages to all members of theme “Eat Healthy”. The cam- The launch of the second the community through the most paign, organised in collaboration Positive response to phase of the campaign prior to prominent media and advertis- with the Hamad Medical Corpo- the first phase of the the Holy Month of Ramadan ing methods, in addition to ration (HMC) and the Primary 'Start Now' gives a comes in the context of encour- innovative promotional Health Care Corporation (PHCC), strong incentive to aging the public to follow healthy activities. aims at raising awareness in the launch the 2nd phase. eating habits, towards becom- The “Start Now” campaign Qatari society about the impor- ing a daily routine during the is a qualitative initiative of the tance of eating healthy food month of fasting and throughout ministry aimed at building a regularly and turning it into a vegetables, fruits, whole grains, the year. healthy future for the popula- sustainable daily routine. legumes, low fat dairy products, “The (positive) response that tion, and comes in the In its second phase, the cam- healthy meats such as fish and the first phase of the “Start Now” framework of the Ministry's paign will look at healthy and chicken, in addition to adopting campaign received has given us to consolidate it among the Protection and Non-communi- relentless efforts to promote a balanced food choices that pro- healthy ways of preparing food a strong incentive to launch the members of society by illustrat- cable diseases. health culture in the commu- vide an adequate nutritional by reducing the use of sugar, salt second phase under the slogan ing to them the nutritional plans “A healthy balanced diet nity, in line with the National value for the body. One of the and fat, replacing frequent soft “Eat Healthy”, through which we they need to follow in order to works to strengthen the body Health Strategy and towards most important messages of the drinks with water and sometimes aim to spread the concept of bal- enjoy good health,” said Dr and provide it with energy and the realization of the human second phase is calling for fresh juices, as well as drinking anced healthy nutrition to the Sheikha Al Anoud bint Moham- vitality, as well as protect it from development pillar of the Qatar healthy meals that include 8 to 12 cups of water a day. wider community and med Al Thani, Director of Health various diseases in order to be National Vision 2030. Job change procedures 'very smooth'

→ Continued from page 1 rejected,” said another service employer for any type of “We also sent some of the provider. approval. applicants back as they do not The job-change notifica- Applicants can head to his have job contracts, which is a tion is usually processed within embassy for obtaining police necessary requirement for the a few seconds and the appli- clearance certificate (PCC), fill job change procedure. Other cant receives an SMS in the job change form, take requirements include commer- immediately informing about stamp and signature from the cial registration (CR) copies of the registration. This is fol- new company and go to Pass- both companies – existing and lowed by another text message, port Office in Gharrafa. new company, and Residency within some time, about the "Job change procedures are Permit. The phone SIM of the approval or rejection of the moving very smoothly. Many applicant should be on his name application in Arabic and people have changed their jobs to receive the approval text English. through our office. We charge message from the system. Oth- After receiving the approval QR50 per request for sending erwise, the request of the job text message, the applicant the notification," said an change notification will be needs not go to his existing employee of another typing centre.. "Today, an approval came for job change Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad Al request processed from our Jafali Al Nuaimi, Sheikh Faisal bin Qasim Al Thani, Founder and Chairman of Al Faisal Without office for a Nepali security Borders Foundation, Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, Director General of guard. The applicant Public Security and GCC Assistant Secretary General for Security Brigadier General Affairs worked more than five Hazza' Mubarak Al-Hajri, attended the inauguration of the second International Scientific years with the existing company and wanted to Conference on Social Responsibility. change to another com- pany," he added. "We have a number of Second International Scientific job change applicants and so far, seven requests for job change notification have been processed from Conference starts at QNCC our office, all of them suc- cessfully. They were two The Peninsula inaugurated yesterday at Qatar aspects of the concept of com- Nepalese, one Pakistani, National Convention Centre. The munity security. An exhibition three Indians and one nder the auspices of conference, under the theme is held on the sidelines of the from Djibouti, most of Prime Minister and Inte- “Security a Social Responsibil- conference with the participa- them laborers. They Urior Minister H E Sheikh ity”, is organised by Al Faisal tion of 45 institutions from received the text message Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalfa without Borders Foundation and different countries including the from the system as Al Thani, the second Interna- Faisal Center for Community Ministry of the Interior, the plat- “Accepted," he said. tional Scientific Conference on Responsibility. inum sponsor of the Social Responsibility was The opening event was conference. attended by Minister of Sheikh Faisal bin Qasim Al Administrative Develop- Thani said that since the incep- ment, Labour and Social tion of National Vision 2030, the Affairs H E Dr Issa bin Saad State of Qatar has been striving Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, Sheikh to serve it as a clear road map Faisal bin Qasim Al Thani, for Qatar's future, capable of Founder and Chairman of achieving sustainable Al Faisal Without Borders development. Foundation, Staff Major He added that this vision General Saad bin Jassim Al has become an integral part of Khulaifi, Director General the vision of Al-Faisal Foun- of Public Security and GCC dation for charitable works, Assistant Secretary Gen- through a series of leading pro- eral for Security Brigadier grams in the field of social General Affairs Hazza' responsibility. The second sci- Mubarak Al-Hajri. entific conference comes to The three-day confer- emphasize our commitment to ence aims at raising serve and develop the society community awareness of and contribute to the develop- the importance of the ment of a structured security sense as a collec- framework in line with the tive responsibility between goals of Al-Faisal Center for individuals and the state Community Responsibility and and intellectual rooting in Qatar National Vision. order to prevent the Brigadier General Affairs impediments of security as Hazza' Mubarak Al-Hajri said well as presenting pro- that the conference highlights grams, activities and its importance from its theme of community initiatives community responsibility, leading to the enhance- which means that security is a ment of security along shared responsibility between with the integration of security men and members of public and private institu- the community. tions in the responsibility He pointed out that the con- of security. cept of the community police is More than 45 one of the basic pillars which researchers from 18 Arab, included in the strategy of the Gulf and European coun- Ministry of the Interior. He tries participate in the added that the security men are conference to discuss all an integral part of the society. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 HOME 05 12th ACI regional meet hosted by HIA concludes

The Peninsula oping airport cities. Key themes discussed Airport CEOs expressed their he 12th Airport Coun- optimism about the traffic growth cil International (ACI) were the role of for 2017 and airports delivering Asia Pacific Regional airports as corporate strong results, with a direct posi- Assembly, Conference responsible citizens tive economic and social impact and Exhibition hosted within their societies, on the local and world Tby Hamad International Airport economies. (HIA) in Doha, under the patron- the latest technological Several prestigious aviation age of H E Jassim bin Saif Al innovations and their award ceremonies took place dur- Sulaiti, the Minister of Transport positive impact on ing the event, including the Green and Communications, concluded Airports Recognition and ACI’s yesterday with an official clos- passenger experience, Airport Carbon Accreditation ing ceremony at the St. Regis airport security and the Awards. Hotel. expansion of the scope The event concluded on April The ACI event, which takes of non-aeronautical 12 with a handover ceremony dur- place internationally on an annual ing which HIA’s representative, basis, was attended by world activities especially Abdul-Aziz Al Mass, Vice-Presi- Abdulaziz Al Mass, Vice-President Commercial and Marketing of HIA (left) handing over the industry leaders. The three-day when developing dent of Commercial and flag to Kenichi Fukaya, Senior Executive Adviser of Narita International Airport in the presence conference addressed major issues airport cities. Marketing, officially handed over of Futoshi Osada, Executive Vice-President of Narita International Airport (second right) and and exchanged ideas and best the hosting responsibilities to Ken- Patti Chau, Regional Director of ACI Asia-Pacific at the ACI ceremony. practices that can further advance ichi Fukaya, Senior Executive the aviation industry. Among the innovations and their positive Adviser of Narita International Air- As part of the host’s closing Together with ACI Asia Pacific, you got a taste of Qatar’s warm key themes discussed were the impact on passenger experience, port, which will be the host airport remarks, Al Mass said: “It has been we’ve enjoyed providing our hospitality and culture during your role of airports as corporate airport security and the expansion of the 13th ACI Asia Pacific an honour to host the 12th ACI Asia guests with a platform to come stay in our country and we look responsible citizens within their of the scope of non-aeronautical Regional Assembly in Tokyo, Pacific Regional Assembly, Con- together and make a difference to forward to welcoming you back societies, the latest technological activities especially when devel- Japan. ference and Exhibition in Qatar. the future of aviation. We hope very soon."

Dean Jamison, Professor Emeritus, Department of Global Health at the University of Washington, and Chairperson of the WISH 2016 Forum ‘Investing in Health’, speaking at the third Health Innovation Week in Mexico City. WISH presents research on Investing in Health

The Peninsula Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washing- he World Innovation Summit ton DC and former Deputy Minister for Health (WISH) recently pre- of Health of Mexico, said, “Present- Tsented its research on Investing ing the WISH report at the third in Health to the third Health Innova- Health Innovation Week in Mexico tion Week, held in Mexico City. City was a great opportunity to inform Health Innovation Week is organ- and motivate local discussions about ised annually by the Mexican the need to view health expenditure Association of Pharmaceutical as an investment with positive eco- Research Industries (AMIIF) and is nomic returns. If the case for intended to promote a broader dis- increased health investment could cussion of health issues. The topic of end up being advocated not only by this year’s event was the role of health ministries of health but by other sec- innovation to promote growth. tors and interest groups, we could say The event gathered a variety of that the WISH report has accom- stakeholders, ranging from health plished its main goal.” experts, academics, patient groups The WISH 2016 report entitled and government officials from both ‘Investing in Health; An Economic health and non-health sectors, as well Case’ builds on the work of the Lan- as representatives from the pharma- cet Commission on investing in health ceutical industry. and provides readily available evi- Dean Jamison, Professor Emeri- dence to set forth the case for tus, Department of Global Health at increased health investments and the University of Washington, and improved resource allocation. The Chairperson of the WISH 2016 Forum report presents compelling evidence ‘Investing in Health’ said, “Every dol- of the value of scaling up health lar invested in decreasing mortality investments, and addresses three from infections, as well as infant and main areas of relevance, including maternal mortality in low- and mid- the economic rationale for investing dle-income countries, can generate in health, the best way to finance profits up to $20, in the next 20 years.” health, and which interventions Eduardo Gonzlez-Pier, should be prioritised.

MEC recalls Mercedes Benz C & E Class 2012 models DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, dealer of Mercedes Benz vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Mercedes Benz C-Class and E-Class models of 2012 because the torque converter of the transmission may be incorrectly coded. The campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The Ministry said it will coordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. 06 HOME MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017

Traffic diversion QU law students simplify law via technology south of The Peninsula The SIMPLAW project, which Dana Ahan and Rana Bashir Development Center, headed by Lijmiliya Road The SIMPLAW project works in cooperation with the Col- worked as researchers, Aisha Al Dr Jon Truby, to create an expert ndergraduate students lege of Law, uses an open source Kubaisi worked as programmer, system that will help public users uses an open source at Qatar University markup language that allows for Aljazi Almarri worked as logician analyse potential violations of the for two months markup language College of Law aim to the creation of an interactive and translator, and Maryam Al law regulating air pollutants. that allows for simplify law for eve- expert system, which guides users Otoum acted as project supervi- In order to share this project The Peninsula the creation of an ryone through through a set of questions and sor. While in the process of using and the benefits of this new tech- Uuser-friendly technologies. In arrive at an answer. In short, the technology to help the public nology, the SIMPLAW team will he Public Works interactive expert November 2016, five law students SIMPLAW project can help peo- make legal decisions, the students hold a workshop on Thursday at Authority (Ashghal) has system, which founded a law technology project, ple make decisions. learned skills relating to leader- the College of Law, in collabora- Tannounced that it will guides users through called SIMPLAW, under the guid- For their first project, SIM- ship, management, research, tion with QU’s Office of Faculty divert traffic on Lijmiliya a set of questions ance and supervision of their PLAW created an expert system problem solving, strategic, and and Instructional Development Road for two months to ena- professors – Dr Rafael Brown and for the College of Law Externship entrepreneurship. program. Anyone interested in the ble the construction of a and arrive at an Dr Charles Schnurman, who both program that helps students With new students joining, the attending the program should 2.3km section of new road on answer. teach in the Lawyering Skills Pro- decide where they would like to SIMPLAW team is currently col- contact Prof Rafael Brown at the Al Sheehaniya – Leatoor- gram of the College of Law. do an externship. In that project, laborating with the Law and [email protected]. iya – Lijmiliya expressway project. The proposed road change, which will occur approxi- mately 1km south of Lijmiliya, QC holds workshop on role has been designed in coordi- nation with the General Directorate of Traffic. It will be implemented from tomorrow of technology in society and will only be in operation until the end of June. The road change is essential to complete The Peninsula can be possible through provid- ascending Qatari women’s the construction of the Al Shee- ing opportunities to all groups in status. haniya – Leatooriya – Lijmiliya ow life around us has the society to participate in the Lana Khalaf, the deputy gen- Road expressway project, a changed? How applica- social programs that would meet eral director of Microsoft, new 31km expressway that will Htions and social media Qatar National Vision 2030.” expressed her gratitude to coop- more efficiently link the has emerged? Answering these He also added that these erate with Qatar Charity to regional towns of Al Shee- two questions were the subject workshops are effective in improve Qatari women’s digital haniya, Leatooriya and of a workshop titled “The Role teaching basics of programming culture and thanked everyone Lijmiliya, Ashghal said in a of Technology in the Develop- by simple methods, and provide who took part in the success of statement . ment of Society”, which Qatar participants with skills to use this workshop. Once complete, the new Charity has organised in coop- computers according to basic Participants in this workshop expressway will enhance eration with Microsoft. programming concepts. These also expressed their respect and transport efficiency in rural About 15 participants from workshops can create a new thanks to Microsoft and Qatar Qatar by providing motorists different private schools for girls generation of female employees Charity in giving them this with two lanes in each direc- discussed these issues in a 4-day who could lead the way effec- opportunity. Especially as this tion, which is double the workshop. tively and professionally. 4-day workshop enabled them vehicle capacity of the previ- Naser Moghiseeb, the direc- He ended his remarks with to have abundant knowledge ous road. tor of programmes and centres asserting that paying attention through activities and learning The project will simultane- at the Executive Directory for to human development, espe- technical sciences. ously improve road safety Local development at Qatar cially improving women’s status, The students also praised through the installation of Charity, said: “The implementa- is an essential condition for both parties’ efforts in local com- guard rails, street lighting and tion of these workshops, which nations’ revival. Coinciding munity development, and intelligent transport systems. discusses the role of technology Women International Day, he affirmed that implementation of The minor road change will in the area of development and said that women are half of the this course at the Microsoft office shift motorists to a parallel social change, is part of Qatar society and this workshop came in Education City gave it more Participants at the workshop. route on the left hand side of Charity’s efforts in this area. This to affirm the importance of credit. the existing carriageway. HMC urges women with bleeding disorder to get screened for haemophilia

The Peninsula their blood and bleeding contin- disorder. ues for much longer periods,” “Women with bleeding dis- amad Medical Corpora- said Dr Ahmed Abdulaziz Abdel- orders are more likely to tion (HMC) has urged bari (pictured), Clinical experience pain during their Hwomen who have expe- Pharmacist at Hamad General menstrual cycle (dysmenorrhea). rienced symptoms of a bleeding Hospital (HGH). They may also experience a disorder to get screened for hae- “An affected individual can small amount of internal bleed- mophilia as the World bleed profusely for a longer time ing during ovulation, which can Hemophilia Day is marked today. after trauma. These haemor- cause abdominal and pelvic pain. The World Health Organiza- rhages commonly occur in joints, This bleeding can be severe or tion (WHO) describes especially the knees, ankles and even life-threatening, especially haemophilia as a hereditary elbows, and into tissues and in carriers with very low clotting bleeding disorder due to a par- muscles. Haemophiliac women factor levels. They may require tial or total lack of an essential are particularly at risk of exces- urgent medical attention,” said blood clotting factor. Common sive postpartum bleeding Dr Abdelbari. symptoms of the bleeding disor- following childbirth, and can He further explained that “Blood tests can determine der include frequent nosebleeds, experience prolonged or heavy symptomatic carriers and the presence of the haemophilia unexplained and uncontrolled menstrual bleeding. They may women with haemophilia may condition, and more specifically bleeding and bruising. require an iron supplement and also bruise easily and experience Inheritance of Haemophilia Inheritance of Haemophilia whether it is a type A or a type B “When a person without hae- sometimes need to undergo a prolonged bleeding after a sur- when father is affected with when mother is affected with disease. It is always advisable for mophilia bleeds, normal levels hysterectomy (a surgical opera- gery or trauma. haemophilia. haemophilia. women to know their carrier sta- of clotting factor — a protein in tion to remove all or part of the It is a common misconcep- tus before becoming pregnant so the blood — causes the blood to uterus). This is why it is impor- tion that only men have they are better prepared to cope clot and the bleeding to stop. tant for women who carry the symptoms of haemophilia and The World Federation of adding that some women live with their bleeding disorder. However, haemophiliacs (peo- haemophilia gene to be aware that women who ‘carry’ the hae- Hemophilia (WFH) says that with their symptoms for years Families should consult their ple with haemophilia) have of their status,” Dr Abdelbari mophilia gene do not experience many female carriers do expe- without being diagnosed or even physician for advice and coun- lower levels of clotting factor in said. symptoms themselves. rience symptoms of haemophilia, suspecting they have a bleeding selling about testing,” he added. Ministry of Justice & QU sign MoU

The Peninsula and its various units. he Ministry of Justice's Legal and It entails Judicial Studies Centre has signed mutual benefits of Ta memorandum of understanding the contents of (MoU) for cooperation in the field of legal each party's library and judicial studies with the Qatar Uni- as well as other versity's College of Law. areas agreed upon Signed by Director of the Legal and by both parties. Judicial Studies Centre Fatima Abdulaziz Under the MoU, Bilal and Dean of the College of Law Dr the two sides will Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, the MoU form a joint steer- focuses on cooperation in scientific and ing committee to cultural fields and legal education along follow up, imple- with the exchange of research, docu- ment and evaluate ments, publications, scientific journals aspects of cooper- and data, among others. ation and review Dr Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, Dean of the College It also encourages cooperation in achievements and of Law, and Fatima Abdulaziz Bilal, Director of the Legal joint research projects, organisation of development. and Judicial Studies Centre, exchanging the documents. scientific seminars, conferences and The steering workshops, in addition to preparing and committee will qualifying graduates of the College of draw up plans and programs that will scientific and practical potentials of spe- Law to work in the Ministry of Justice enable them to benefit from the cialists in both sides. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 HOME 07 IOSH to unveil strategy at Mideast conference The Peninsula The Institution of fresh approach to protecting the Occupational Safety world’s workforce and Health (IOSH) is set to be unveiled will present its new by the largest pro- five-year strategy, fessionalA body for occupational health and safety. charting how the The Institution of Occupa- profession can tional Safety and Health (IOSH) continue to progress will present its new five-year up to 2022, at its strategy, charting how the pro- fession can continue to progress annual Middle East up to 2022, at its annual Middle Conference in Doha East Conference in Doha on on April 27. April 27. The General Manager of the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al IOSH has chosen the Mid- dle East as the launch-pad for Middle East to prevent employ- health and safety. Sulaiti opening the 7th Heaven Arts Centre. International Ambassador for Social Responsibility this new strategy because of the ees from being harmed. The strategy will be intro- and Chairman of Friends of the Environment Program, Dr Saif Al Hajri, 7th Heaven Arts region’s growth and increasing Businesses are recognising the duced by Dr Bill Gunnyeon Centre Chairman and Qatari artist Amal Al Aathem, representatives of diplomatic missions, drive to cut workplace acci- benefits that good health and (pictured), Chair of Institution art enthusiasts and media persons attended. dents and work-related safety bring to them, including of Occupational Safety and illness. having more motivated Health’s Board of Trustees. It comes after a recent sur- workers." Meanwhile, IOSH Training vey commissioned by the "Major organisations in and Skills, lead sponsor of the 7th Heaven Arts Centre opens Institution, which revealed that Qatar are also working hard not conference, will announce business leaders across the only to promote better health details of new additions to its The Peninsula Chairman of Friends of the hand for this cultural project, region are identifying worker and safety at work but to portfolio of world-leading Environment program, Dr Saif hoping that the centre will protection against injury and ill improve standards of living health and safety training prod- he General Manager of the Al Hajri, 7th heaven Arts centre enhance the value of arts health as vital to safeguarding away from the workplace as ucts, including the first Cultural Village Founda- chairman and Qatari artist Amal through the wide array of activ- their business' reputation and well. Our branch and Institu- Arabic-language versions of Ttion- Katara Dr Khalid bin Al Aathem, representatives of ities and various programs it resilience and improving tion of Occupational Safety and their courses. Ibrahim Al Sulaiti opened the diplomatic missions, art enthu- will provide for art enthusiasts productivity. Health as a whole is determined There will also be speeches 7th Heaven Arts Centre siasts and media attended the in Doha. Al Aathem expressed Meanwhile, the number of that we keep this trend going.” from Ali Sikandar, Head of Dig- yesterday. opening. her utmost gratitude and hap- members of Institution of Occu- The IOSH-commissioned ital and Social Media at Qatar The centre is an educational Following the opening was piness with the strong support pational Safety and Health’s survey, conducted late last year Foundation; Ajay Sharma, Brit- institute that focuses on crea- a tour around the centre’s halls, and attention provided by Qatar Branch has increased and questioning 250 decision- ish Ambassador to Qatar; and tivity and talent development fine-art workshops, and Katara, which she described as from 86 to nearly 500 in the makers across the Middle East, Joseph E LaBaron, the former for children and youth in vari- informative visual-art pro- a hub to arts and artists Qatar. five years since it was launched. revealed that 91 percent believe US Ambassador to Qatar; Paul ous fields of the visual arts grammes that cover a wide Furthermore, she pointed These members work investing in the health and Williams from Qatar Rail; James including painting, photogra- array of sectors in the fields of out that cooperation between across a range of industries to safety of their workforce is Quinn from Multiplex Middle phy, design, graphics, ceramics art, including sculpture and Katara and the Centre will be keep the number of people essential to ensuring their busi- East; and Musallam Al Khaifi, and printing. plastic arts. implemented in the fields of injured at work or becoming ill ness has a good reputation, 85 from Electricity Holding It offers training pro- In his speech, Al Sulaiti wel- workshops as some will be con- to a minimum. per cent felt that their employ- Company. grammes customised for comed the cooperation between ducted at Katara Art Studios. Robert Murphy, Chair of ees' health and safety is a top The event will be followed different age groups where they Katara and the 7th Heaven Arts In addition, fine art exhibi- IOSH’s Qatar Branch, said: “It priority at board level, and 88 immediately by Institution of will learn creative techniques. Centre. He expressed his grati- tions will be organised for the is clear there is a real determi- per cent feel that all employ- Occupational Safety and International ambassador tude and deep appreciation to Centre artists at the galleries in nation in Qatar and the wider ees have a responsibility for Health’s Qatar Branch AGM. for Social Responsibility and everyone that worked hand in Katara. 08 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 Turkey opposition to challenge referendum result

Istanbul said the standard-bearer of the 'No' bureaucracy under the president, giv- AFP camp, Republican People's Party (CHP) ing Erdogan the direct power to appoint leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. "God will- ministers. Turkey's two main opposition par- ing, the result will be auspicious and we The system would come into force ties yesterday said they would will all have the chance to discuss Tur- after the elections in November 2019. Tchallenge the results putting the key's fundamental problems." Erdogan, who became president in 2014 'Yes' camp ahead in the referendum on The co-leaders of Turkey's second after serving as premier from 2003, expanding the powers of President largest opposition party, the pro-Kurd- could then seek two more five-year Recep Tayyip Erdogan after alleged ish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) mandates. violations. Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuk- Supporters see the new system as The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Demo- sekdag, have been jailed on charges of an essential modernisation step for Tur- cratic Party (HDP) said that whatever links to Kurdish militants in what the key that will remove the risk of the the final result, it would challenge two- party says is a deliberate move to elim- political chaos that blighted the 1990s thirds of the vote, saying: "There is an inate them from the campaign. and is blamed for the 2000-2001 finan- indication of a 3-4 percentage point Closely watched today will be the cial crisis. manipulation of the vote." initial assessment of the international Beyond changing the government The deputy head of the Republican observer mission of the OSCE Office for system, the vote could also have even People's Party (CHP), Bulent Tezcan, Democratic Institutions and Human wider implications for Turkey which denounced "violations" by the election Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary joined Nato in 1952 and for the last half- authorities in allowing ballot papers Assembly of the Council of Europe century has set its sights on joining the without an official stamp to be used. (PACE). European Union. Another CHP deputy head, Erdal Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan casts his vote accompanied by his Three people were killed in a shoot- Erdogan has warned Brussels that Aksunger, said it could appeal up to 60 wife Emine Erdogan and their grandchildren, during the referendum at a out in the garden of a school used as a in the event of a 'Yes' vote he would sign percent of the vote. polling station in the Uskudar district of Istanbul, yesterday. polling station in the southeastern Diya- any bill agreed by parliament to rein- "Believe me, this election is not rbakir region, the Dogan news agency state capital punishment, a move that over," he told CNN Turk, quoted by the percent. "Since the morning, we have whether to expand President Recep said, but it was not clear if the fighting would automatically end its EU bid. Dogan news agency. "This is totally detected violations," he said. Tayyip Erdogan's powers in a bitterly- was linked to the election or simply a Western reactions to the referen- invalid. We are declaring this here." Turkish media said that CHP leader contested referendum set to determine family feud. dum outcome will be crucial after He said that the CHP was appealing Kemal Kilicdaroglu was convening a the future course of the key Nato mem- The new presidential system would Erdogan accused Turkey's allies of fail- 37 percent of the ballot box results, and special meeting of its executive board. ber and EU hopeful. dispense with the office of prime min- ing to show sufficient solidarity in the this figure could eventually rise to 60 Turkey voted yesterday to decide "We are voting for Turkey's destiny," ister and centralise the entire executive wake of the July 15 failed coup. Aleppo bus convoy attack toll at 126

Beirut province, but included rebel Reuters Deadliest attack fighters guarding the convoy, Syrian rescue workers the Observatory said. he death toll from a of the Civil Defence There was no immediate bomb attack on a said that they had claim of responsibility for the crowded bus convoy taken away at least attack, which pro-Damascus outside Aleppo has 100 bodies from the media said was carried out by a reached at least 126 in site of Saturday’s suicide car bomber. Tthe deadliest such incident in Syria’s main armed opposi- blast, which hit buses Syria in almost a year, the Syr- carrying residents as tion condemned the bombing, ian Observatory for Human with groups fighting under the they waited to cross Rights monitoring group said on banner of the Free Syrian Army Sunday. from rebel into describing it as a “treacherous Syrian rescue workers of the government territory terrorist attack”. The damage a day after a suicide car bombing attack in Rashidin, west of Aleppo, targeted busses Civil Defence said that they had in an evacuation deal Pope Francis, in an Easter carrying Syrians evacuated from two besieged government-held towns of Fuaa and Kafraya. taken away at least 100 bodies between the warring message, also condemned the from the site of Saturday’s blast, sides. attack, describing it as “ignoble”, which hit buses carrying Shi’ite and asking God to bring healing civilians and several hundred more than 2,000 people, includ- That convoy was waiting at a residents as they waited to cross Observatory said the number and comfort to what he called pro-government fighters, who ing rebel fighters, were granted bus garage in a government-held from rebel into government ter- was expected to rise. the “beloved and martyred were granted safe passage out of safe passage out of Madaya, a area on Aleppo’s outskirts, a few ritory in an evacuation deal Those killed were mostly Syria”. the two Shia villages which are town near Damascus besieged by miles from where the attack took between the warring sides. residents of the villages of al- The convoy was carrying at besieged by rebels. government forces and their place. Madaya evacuees said they The British-based Foua and Kefraya in Idlib least 5,000 people including Under the evacuation deal, allies. heard the blast.

Gaza's sole power plant IS attacked Iraq forces with chemical weapons: Military runs out of fuel Baghdad out attacks using chemical Operations Command said in a recapturing the city of Mosul of the operation. The jihadist AFP weapons, but both the toll and statement, using an Arabic acro- from IS, but did not specify if the group overran large areas Gaza City/ AFP the impact on military opera- nym for IS. attack took place in or outside north and west of Baghdad in he Islamic State (IS) group tions has been minimal and the The attack on Saturday did the city. 2014, but Iraqi forces backed THE GAZA STRIP'S only used chemical weapons jihadists' bombs and bullets are not result in any deaths but did Iraqi forces are fighting to by US-led air strikes have functioning power plant was Tagainst Iraqi forces tak- far deadlier. cause "limited injuries" among recapture west Mosul from IS since regained much of the out of action yesterday after ing part in the operation to "The Daesh terrorist gangs security personnel, the military after retaking the eastern side territory they lost. running out of fuel, the head recapture Mosul, injuring some tried to block the advance of our command said. earlier this year, while sol- In addition to parts of west- of the territory's electricity security personnel, the military forces by using shells filled with The statement said that the diers and pro-government ern Mosul, IS also holds part of provider said.. said yesterday. toxic chemical material, but the forces attacked were part of the paramilitaries are also oper- Iraq's Kirkuk province as well as Samir Metir said that all IS has periodically carried effect was limited," Iraq's Joint massive operation aimed at ating west of the city as part areas in the country's west. the plant's fuel, purchased with funding from Qatar and Turkey, had been used up. He said it was not clear when the Palestinian territory Flooding in Mosul Row over elite guards for would receive more, owing to a "dispute" between the elec- South African leader's ex-wife tricity authority in Gaza and Palestinian authorities in the JOHANNESBURG: A South African opposition party yesterday West Bank. laid criminal charges against the country’s police minister for The Islamist Hamas assigning presidential guards to the ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma. movement seized power in Dennis Bloem, spokesman for the Congress of the People (Cope), told Gaza in 2007 from the Ram- Anadolu Agency it was wrong for the police to allocate Presidential allah-based Fatah Protection Unit (PPU) officers to guard a civilian. Nkosazana Dlamini- organisation of Palestinian Zuma is a former African Union Commission head. president Mahmud Abbas. Bloem said: “Dlamini-Zuma has never been a president. She A mooted power-sharing is a civilian. The Presidential Protection Unit is supposed to pro- agreement in the Strip has tect former presidents, the current one and visiting heads of state.” failed to materialise, and Gaza The Cope spokesman said his party laid a charge of abuse of residents have been subjected office against Police Minister Fikile Mbalula. to a decade-long Israeli He said providing presidential security to a former AU com- blockade severely limiting mission chairperson is an abuse of tax payer’s money and a criminal supplies. Fuel supply for the offence on the part of the minister. Police spokesperson Sally de Strip's two million inhabitants Beer told local media Sunday that due to security reasons the police has been a long-running could not discuss details of security given to the former AU boss. source of dispute, with most Other sources claimed Dlamini-Zuma had been threatened homes in Gaza receiving two by some political opponents, hence the security allocated to her. Displaced Iraqis from Mosul cross the Tigris by boat as flooding after days of rainfall has eight-hour periods of electric- Last week, she was seen being guarded by PPU officers at a ity a day even when the plant closed the city's bridges, at the village of Thibaniya, south of Mosul, yesterday. meeting of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in the Free is operating normally. State province. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 ASIA 09 BJP wants Modi to head next govt too Bhubaneswar Base expansion plan should also get justice. There IANS should not be injustice to them. On the concluding No one should be exploited," ailing the NDA gov- day of the two-day Union Minister Nitin Gadkari ernment for its National Executive quoted Modi as saying. pro-poor policies, meet, the BJP Modi added: "We should not the BJP yesterday political resolution allow conflict in the society. We urged people to indicated that it don't want any conflict in Mus- Hhelp Prime Minister Narendra lim society over the issue. We would focus on Modi form the next government need to end such bad practices adding new socio- too - in 2019. by awakening the society." groups into its fold. Keeping its thrust on devel- Earlier, making an interven- opment agenda, the BJP has tion during the discussion over embarked on a mission to retain some in the Muslim community, the resolution passed on a new Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting supporters during his visit to BJP’s national executive power in 2019, fine-tuning its especially women and the poor. OBC Commission, Modi said even meet, in Bhubaneswar, yesterday. strategy to woo the poor and a Dubbing Triple Talaq a "bad Muslims have backwards and section of Muslims to expand its social practice", Modi said such marginalised and the govern- desire to rid India of social and polls 'Award Wapsi' was the society. base. things can be ended by social ment must address their economic inequities. issue. And right now it is EVM." Coming down heavily on the On the concluding day of the awakening but stressed that the concerns. Accusing the opposition of The Prime Minister told party Congress and other opposition two-day National Executive Bharatiya Janata Party didn't BJP sources said Modi asked concocting issues, Modi said: "It workers to stick to "positive parties for blocking in the Rajya meet, the BJP political resolution want a conflict on this issue. the party leaders and workers to seems the opposition manufac- approach". Sabha a bill to grant constitu- indicated that it would focus on Modi's observation came at hold district-level meetings over tures these issues in some Earlier, two resolutions were tional status to the OBC adding new socio-groups into its his concluding remarks. the issues of backward Muslims factories. During the Delhi elec- passed by the National Execu- Commission, the BJP accused fold even as Prime Minister "As far as social justice is and women. tion, Church attacks was tive focusing on the poor and them of depriving the poor of Narendra Modi tried to attract concerned, our Muslim sisters Modi also expressed his highlighted and during the Bihar backward communities in the their benefits.

Petrol price Telangana hikes quota to 12% for Muslim & ST up by Rs1.39 Hyderabad outside the legislature, the entire Classes (E) category, while the council staged a walk-out. Replying to the debate, & diesel by IANS Opposition supported the Back- reservations for the Scheduled However, Prime Minister Chandrasekhar Rao said if the ward Class, Scheduled Castes Tribes in educational institutions Narendra Modi's statement at Centre refuses to accept Telen- Rs1.04 he Telangana legislature and Scheduled Tribes Reserva- and government jobs go up from BJP meet in Bhubaneswar in gana's request to include the yesterday unanimously tion Bill, 2017. After the 6 per cent to 10 per cent. support of backwards among legislation in the 9th Schedule, New Delhi Tpassed a bill to hike the assembly, the legislative coun- The legislation will be sent Muslims came handy for Chief the state would approach the IANS reservation quota for backward cil debated and passed the bill for the President's assent with a Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao Supreme Court. "Tamil Nadu is Muslims and the Scheduled unanimously yesterday evening. request to include it in the Con- to put the party in a fix. Speak- implementing 69 per cent res- etrol price will be up Tribes to 12 and 10 percent The bill increased from the stitution's 9th Schedule as was ing in the council, he welcomed ervations for over two decades. by Rs1.39 per litre, respectively. existing four per cent to 12 per done in the case of Tamil Nadu. the PM's statement and hoped Five to six states are providing Pwhile diesel price will Barring the Bharatiya Janata cent the quota for the socially and While all five members of that this will pave the way for more than 50 per cent reserva- go up by Rs1.04 per litre Party (BJP), which vehemently economically backward among BJP were suspended from the implementation of hiked quota tion. How can you deny this to from today, the Indian Oil opposed the bill both inside and the Muslims under the Backward assembly, its lone member in for backward among Muslims. Telangana?" he asked. Corporation announced. "The current level of international product prices of Petrol and Diesel and INR-USD exchange Nepal President to Tamil Nadu oppn parties call for shutdown rate warrant increase in selling price of petrol and Chennai protesting in Delhi, the meeting nothing political about the all- diesel, the impact of which begin India visit today IANS also decided to meet Modi along party meeting. “It is called to is being passed on to the with farmers and highlight their discuss the farmers’ distress and consumers with this price emanding immediate plight. try to find ways to resolve their revision," the oil market- New Delhi action on the part of state The opposition parties also problems,” Stalin said. ing company (OMC) said IANS Dand central governments urged the Tamil Nadu govern- Among the resolutions is the in a statement. in resolving the issues of Tamil ment to waive all farm loans and one that wanted the state gov- "The movement of ith Nepal's President Nadu's famers, opposition par- convene a special session of the ernment to follow orders of the prices in the international Bidya Devi Bhandari ties yesterday decided to assembly to discuss the farm- Madras high court and the oil market and INR-USD W(pictured) beginning observe shutdown strike on ers' issues. Supreme Court on the farmers’ exchange rate shall con- her state visit today, India said April 25. The meeting also passed issue. tinue to be monitored its relations with Nepal are peo- A meeting of opposition par- resolutions urging the central Another resolution closely and developing ple-centric and are focused on ties chaired by DMK Working government to constitute the demanded that Cauvery delta trends of the market will improving connectivity President M K Stalin at the Cauvery Management Board, the area be declared a disaster be reflected in future price between the neighbours as well DMK's headquarters here Cauvery Regulatory Authority, prone area which would make changes," the statement as energy infrastructure. decided to call for a state wide declare the Cauvery delta region it eligible for special relief added. "We have maintained our shutdown on April 25 among the as Special Agriculture Zone, packages. IOC added that it focus on implementation of several resolutions adopted scrapping of the hydro-carbon The all-party meet also intends to start a pilot ongoing connectivity and there. project and others. asked the state government to project in select cities daily development projects such as also visit Gujarat and Odisha. Condemning Prime Minis- Yesterday, he read out the convene a special assembly to for daily revision of petrol Terai roads, cross-border rail The visit reflects "the prior- ter Narendra Modi for not 15 resolutions at the all party pass a resolution on the farm- and diesel prices. lines linkages, development of ity India attaches to further meeting the farmers who are meeting. Stalin said there was ers’ demands. integrated check posts on the strengthening the age-old border, cross-border oil pipe- unique partnership with Nepal line -- the first in South Asia and our shared historical and -- and cross-border transmis- cultural linkages and strong sion lines," said Joint Secretary, people to people connection", Kolkata woman arrested for acid attack Nepal and Bhutan, in the Indian Dalela said. External Affairs Ministry Sud- On the cooperation between hakar Dalela while briefing the two neighbours in the area Kolkata acid during an altercation over acid also spilled on some pedes- criminal intimidation (IPC 506). media on the upcoming visit in of energy infrastructure, he said IANS money in Salt Lake's Nayapatty trians, including a civic The acid stored in her shop has New Delhi. this is witnessing a new high area. Some pedestrians present volunteer, who were present at been seized, police said. In her first foreign tour, with the Indian cabinet last woman was arrested for at the spot were also injured in the spot. Meanwhile, the Criminal Bhandari is paying a state visit month approving investment of allegedly throwing acid the attack," an officer from Elec- "The victims suffered minor Investigation Department (CID) to India from April 17 to 21 at Rs5,723 crore for Arun 3 power A from her shop injuring at tronic Complex police station burn injuries in the attack and of Kolkata Police ran a joint raid the invitation of her Indian project in Nepal and operation- least four pedestrians, including said. were released after administer- with the state police personnel counterpart Pranab Mukher- alisation of the a civic volunteer, in Kolkata yes- According to police, Naskar ing primary first aid," the officer to seize nearly 90 kg of illegally jee. Besides meeting top Indian Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar high terday, police said. had some financial dispute with said. stored sulphuric acid from Bard- leaders, Bhandari, who will be capacity transmission line, "Manika Naskar (35), a shop- a local person. During an alter- Naskar was arrested and haman district's Katwa on accompanied by a high-level which has taken India's elec- keeper, was arrested for cation yesterday afternoon, she slapped with charges of acid Saturday, a senior CID official 33-member delegation, will tricity supply to Nepal. allegedly attacking a person with hurled acid aiming at him. The throwing (IPC 326A) and said yesterday. Hyderabad, Chennai & Mumbai airports on hijack alert

New Delhi discuss hijacking three flights in restaurant in Hyderabad over official. Security was beefed up IANS Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chen- lunch. She claimed hearing the at the Hyderabad, Mumbai and nai yesterday. persons say that 23 people would Chennai airports and security ecurity has been beefed up Mumbai Police got the e-mail split up from Hyderabad and agencies were put on alert. at Hyderabad, Mumbai and on Saturday and forwarded it to board three flights in the three Officials said while it could SChennai airports following Mumbai Airport Security Group cities for hijacking. be a fake alarm, they were not an e-mail from a woman who to go on high alert, the Central Airport authorities, immigra- taking any chances. The Mum- warned of a possible hijack, a Industrial Security Force (CISF) tion and Mumbai Police held a bai Police is trying to get in touch CISF official said yesterday. official said on the condition of meeting after getting the e-mail. with the woman who sent the In the e-mail sent to Mum- anonymity. The officials were briefed about email. bai Police, the woman, who did The woman, whose email anti-hijacking steps taken dur- Police in the three cities not reveal her identity, said she was in broken English, said she ing Independence Day and beefed up security at the main CISF Security personnel on alert at Mumbai Domestic airport. heard six unidentified youths overheard the young men at a Republic Day, said the CISF entry points to the airports. 10 VIEWS MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL

The need for restraint uclear test is something which North Korea carries out regularly with a certain elan and arrogance. The tests always create headlines whether they fail or succeed and are followed by a Npredictable turn of events: condemnations from neighbours and the world, UN calls for a halt to such illegal and blatant violations of international laws, Afghanistan: A pawn in sometimes sanctions, and finally, the race for the next tests by North Korea not caring a hoot about regional and international concerns. But the tests carried out yesterday by Pyongyang were different. major power rivalry? The region and the world were watching with bated breath whether the regime of Kim Jong-un would launch the missile in defiance of US President Around 90,000 Russians die from drug has become involved, though modestly, in Donald Trump who had threatened dire consequences Amin Saikal overdose, including heroin, every year. housing and construction — largely because if it did, deploying a naval strike group to waters near Al Jazeera The third objective is to expand Rus- other projects require financing and back- North Korea. sian influence in the face of the declining ing from international organisations and Trump had also dropped the ‘mother of all US military involvement in Afghanistan, donors that are hesitant to endorse Russian bombs’ in Afghanistan as a warning to Pyongyang. But especially from the end of 2014 when the enterprises. Russo-Afghan bilateral trade Kim defied Trump, though the tests have been n Friday, Russia held a regional con- US and its allies withdrew most of their increased from $571.3m in 2010 to $1bn in reported to be a failure. Kim would have ceased to be ference to explore the prospects for troops from the country. The US draw- 2013. By 2014, Russia was Afghanistan’s fifth- Kim if he had succumbed to Trump’s pressure, and the settling the long-running Afghani- down, without Washington achieving its largest export and sixth-biggest import question now is whether Trump would act as Trump stan conflict. This follows a similar original goal of transforming Afghanistan market, involving over 140 construction as the redline has been crossed. As tension rose to conference that Moscow held in into an effectively viable and secure state, projects, mostly restoring Soviet-era hous- OFebruary, which was preceded by a tripartite has opened an important arena for com- ing complexes, facilities and factories and unmanageable levels, China, the regional power, repeatedly warned all sides against dragging the meeting between Russia, China and Pakistan in petition between different regional powers, improving infrastructure. region into a war and said December on the same subject. leading to claims of a new “great game” Russia’s military involvement has so While the Afghan government was not between Russia and the US. far largely been confined to selling MI-17 the region was perilously invited to the first meeting, raising Kabul’s ire, Indeed, the former Afghan president, helicopters to the Afghan army, paid for close to a war. This will be the second one was expanded to include Afghan- Hamid Karzai (2001-2014) often moved by the United States, and performing main- a war which nobody will istan, Iran and India. However, the United States close to Russia as his relations with Wash- tenance on military equipment. In February Kim cannot be win, Beijing said. And it’s controlled with as the main power in Afghanistan has not been ington became strained over the US 2016, Russia also donated 10,000 AK-47 true. invited to any of these forums. reluctance to do enough to target the safe automatic rifles and millions of rounds of US bombs and The missile was Why the surge in Russian interest in sanctuaries of the Taliban and their asso- ammunition to the Afghan security forces. missiles, but launched from the eastern Afghanistan? ciates on the Pakistani side of the border Moscow is currently negotiating the sale coastal city of Sinpo, which The Afghans have bitter memories of the and exert sufficient pressure on Pakistan of several MI-35 helicopters to only through is the site of a submarine diplomacy and Russians, given the Soviet invasion and occu- to curb its support for the insurgents. Afghanistan. base and where the North pation of their country for nearly a decade in He most notably attended the 2014 Sochi Meanwhile, Russia has established a collective action. has tested the submarine- the 1980s. During that period, more than a mil- Winter Games and stated: “The Soviet money number of military bases in Central Asian launched ballistic missile it lion Afghans were killed, hundreds of thousands went to the right place. They were efficient in states, especially Tajikistan, where it has is developing. The North injured, with some eight million becoming exter- spending their money and doing it through deployed forces along the border with Korean test came hours nal and internal refugees, not to mention the the Afghan government”. Afghanistan. It is developing links with before US Vice-President Mike Pence was due to extent of the country’s physical destruction. At the same time, the downturn in US- regional powers (such as China through the arrive in Seoul at the start of a 10-day trip to Asia to However, times and conditions have Russian relations, notably over Ukraine Security Cooperation Organisation - SCO) reaffirm the US commitment to its allies in the region changed. The inability of the United States, and Syria, has precipitously underpinned and its neighbours (particularly Tajikistan in the face of rising tension over North Korea. The together with its Nato allies, to bring peace and Moscow’s reorientation through the Collective Security Treaty visits and tests came as North Korea is celebrating the stability to Afghanistan, following the US-led towards Afghanistan, Organisation — CSTO) to develop a regional anniversary of its founder’s birth, Kim Il-sung, and the military intervention in response to the Septem- with increased economic security framework for Afghanistan. highlight of the celebrations was a giant military ber 11, 2001, Al Qaeda attacks on the US, have and military ties. Russian military ties with Afghanistan parade that showcased its military might. “North opened a new window for a resurgent Russia. Economically, Russia are limited, largely due to US objections to Korea showing a variety of offensive missiles at Russia has three main objectives in Afghan- its arms sales, but they are nonetheless on yesterday’s military parade and daring to fire a istan. One is to see a stable friendly Afghanistan, the rise. In February 2017, Foreign Minis- ballistic missile today is a show of force that threatens so that the former Soviet republics, especially The US drawdown, without ter Sergey Lavrov once again stressed the those bordering Afghanistan — Tajikistan, importance of closer economic and mili- the whole world,” South Korea’s foreign ministry said Washington achieving its in a statement. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan — are not affected tary ties with Afghanistan. North Korea will pose a huge challenge to Trump by Afghan instability. original goal of transforming Of course, Russia has not been able to as he sets out to improve the world in a grand reversal Moscow is particularly concerned about pre- Afghanistan into an effectively compete with the United States econom- of his policy of ‘America First.’ It has been a stunning venting threats from Islamic extremist groups viable and secure state, has ically or militarily in Afghanistan, which arising from Afghanistan. Its policy is to fight remains extensively dependent on US volte face for Trump. Suddenly, he has realized the opened an important arena for importance and benefits of dropping bombs and firing such groups, whether in Chechnyaor Afghani- assistance. The US has spent $1 trillion on missiles which the world is not happy about because stan or Central Asia, where the Islamic competition between different the Afghan war and $100bn on Afghani- these actions come from recklessness and Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) continues to be regional powers, leading to stan’s reconstruction over the last fifteen a potential threat. The rise of the so-called years. Nonetheless, Russia has made a con- inexperience. claims of a new “great game” Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, known certed effort in recent years to make an Kim cannot be controlled with bombs and missiles, as ISIS), with an estimated 1,000 activists - some between Russia and the US. inroad into Afghanistan for fighting but only through diplomacy and collective action. from the ranks of the radical Taliban and oth- extremism and strategic gains. ers from outside Afghanistan — has increasingly caught Moscow’s attention. Vladimir Putin’s leadership has since 2013 come to the view that the Taliban are less of a QUOTE OF THE DAY danger than ISIL, given the former’s opposition to the latter, and that the Taliban are likely to have a role in the future of Afghanistan. It has found it expedient to establish links with recep- Whatever the tive elements of the Taliban, who are in a turf war with ISIL operatives, as a means to coun- outcome, we will ter ISIL. This is something that the Islamic give it the highest Republic of Iran, nowadays a close friend of Rus- sia, has also done for a similar purpose. In 2015, respect. Our nation Zamir Kabulov, Putin’s special representative will make the most for Afghanistan, stated that “the Taliban’s beautiful decision. interest[s] objectively coincides with ours”. Another Russian objective is to limit the growth of the narcotics trade from Afghanistan, the largest producer of heroin in the world, to Benali Yildirim Central Asia and Russia. The latter accounts for Russian Prime Minister (right) Dmitry Medvedev speaks with Chief Executive of Turkish Prime Minister 20 percent of the $70bn opiate market, with around 1.8 million injecting drug users in 2015. Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah in Kyrgyzstan. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 OPINION 11 Helping to create sports history in Qatar

father still goes to Khalifa Stadium Matthias Krug – or rather the athletics field next to it because the stadium is cur- rently under construction ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup every day to watch the athletes train. So what made him decide to stay on and hirty-five years ago my father, Joachim on? Krug, arrived in Qatar carrying little more “My family grew up in peaceful than a suitcase, some sports equipment and surroundings here, the kids went to a long-cherished dream to participate in school and even came back after the Olympic Games. their further education in Europe. TThe moment he stepped off the plane at Doha Over the years I’ve made a lot of International Airport coming from Germany has friends. Since it is a small country, I etched deep into his vast recollections and memory. have friends in all of the main fami- Never one for waiting around for something to lies. The country also has the ideal happen my father, who was an indoor shot put weather for what became one of my champion, rose early the next morning and began to hobbies; fossil hunting in the desert.” train with a group of athletes under his charge, at This year, my father crossed the Khalifa Stadium. desert from Doha to Dukhan for “At the start, when I came here, there were only another special journey. It was in six coaches in athletics,” he said. “Four Germans and the small town on the other side of two Belgians. Khalifa Stadium was a huge structure the Peninsula from Doha where the far outside of Doha and there was just a small wind- country’s first ever football tourna- ing road that led to the stadium. But there has been ment took place - I know this little Joachim Krug (second left) is seen with Qatar’s top athlete Mutaz Barshim in this file photo. A resident huge development in Qatar over the years. detail because I’m currently con- of Qatar for more than 35 years, Krug has taken an active part in Qatar’s rise as a sports hub. “When I was first approached to come to Doha I ducting research for a book I’m didn’t know anything about the country. I knew it writing on the history of football in was somewhere in the Middle East. Now everyone challenge lying ahead for me.” we were able to win the GCC Championship, and that Qatar. My father’s journey was knows Qatar, and sport has contributed a lot to this When pressed on his rather daring escape from was a turning point – everything changed. “We had filled with great excitement. He understanding and development.” East Germany he simply shrugs and smiles. “That’s in the constant support of the government for sport, and came to visit his newborn grand- My father, who turns 64 this July, has been a the past, when I was younger. I only look forward now.” the progression was continuous, up to Asian level and daughter, my second child, and the sportsman most of his adult life and all of mine. The But he is always happy to talk about the country then the world stage. By 1992, Qatar won the first second generation of our family to day before he left West Germany he won the German that he made his home, and where I was subse- bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in be born in Qatar. indoor championships in shot put, and the Bild news- quently born, two years after his arrival. athletics. Look at the country now: we have a double And so, thirty-five years after paper wrote a story about his new destination - and More recently, I began to think of his journey, and Olympic medalist in the high jump, Mutaz Barshim.” his arrival, my father is still here in told a magical tale from his past. my own, when the Qatar – Germany Year of Culture A key element for his rapid adaption to the new Qatar, the country he has grown to “Krug, who escaped from East Germany in 1972, 2017 began in Doha. Former German President culture was to learn from others and respect them at love and watch develop a whole feels like he is in a tale from a thousand and one nights, Christian Wulff inaugurated the year by saying: “In the same time as he passed on his sporting knowl- host of world-class athletes and but he would have to be Aladdin with the wonder lamp 1954 the Federal Republic of Germany became FIFA edge to his new athletes. “Of the ten athletes there sports men and women. Only now, to turn the desert sons into world class athletes.” Aged World Champion for the first time. was one, Abdullah Said, who spoke English, but only the suitcases in his storage cup- just 20 he was a young, ambitious and daring sports- “Nine years after a war that had torn apart the two words: yes and no. The others all spoke Arabic. board are filled, both with sports man when he escaped from East Germany, jumping the world, the German national team surprised it. Many To make myself understood, I had to make an effort. equipment and, more importantly, wall that divided Germany and hopping through a consider this to be the moment when the Federal “We reached an agreement where I spoke to them in treasured family memories. minefield at the peak of the Cold War. Republic was, in a way, culturally founded. English, and they spoke to me in Arabic. It worked With a mixture of his immensely powerful sports- “Fifty two years later Germany surprised the out really well, because we both learned something man’s athleticism and the luck and ingenuity that was world again. When the World Cup took place in Ger- new and I was able to pick up Arabic very quickly.” needed for a journey that not many survived, he suc- many in 2006 everyone could see a lively, diverse A constant curiosity and passion for learning has ceeded in crossing No-Man’s land and a new and open society. A lot of cliches about Germany dis- been something that I’ve seen coupled with an adventure beckoned. Following his journey from East appeared. I personally wish that Qatar, the Islamic incredible attention to detail and meticulous organi- to West he was approached to become a throwing and Arabic world will present themselves as lively, zation in my father throughout the past three and a D-RING ROAD coach for Qatar’s athletics team in early 1982. In modern and creative countries, too.” half decades. When I ask him if he was surprised by POST BOX: 3488 search of a new adventure he happily agreed. My answer to those claims that Qatar has no Qatar’s rapid sporting development since 1982, he “There wasn’t much in my suitcase when I sports history and critics is simple: they need to look immediately shook his head.“Like at the start when I DOHA - QATAR arrived,” he said, recalling the memory. “A few and listen a little closer; every country has a sports came in 1982, sport today is a vehicle to develop Qatar [email protected] sports clothes, a couple of t-shirts and sports history of which it is proud. And it all has to begin and Qatari athletes. Hosting the 2022 World Cup will shoes. On the first day at work I arrived at Khalifa somewhere. You can hear the pride in every word be the logical consequence of Qatar’s vision 2030, and Stadium and there were 10 athletes lined up, all my father pronounces as he speaks about his own I am sure one day the Olympic Games will come here EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE more or less talented. I knew there was a great past in Germany, and his past in Qatar. “The first too. “It is a fantastic strategy to position Qatar as a TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 sports highlight for the country was in 1981,” he sport nation which will have a future after oil and gas. FAX: +974 4455 7758 recalled, “when Qatar’s football players reached the With every mega event you learn something new. final of the Under 20 World Championships in Aus- Qatar is ideally situated in the middle of the world, MANAGING EDITOR Thirty-five years after his tralia, losing only against West Germany in the final. and I think it will be a smooth operation here in 2022.” TEL: 4462 7505 arrival, my father is still “Football enjoyed a special place in people’s hearts Over the years he has seen his athletes win after that, and we regularly played pick-up games countless medals, been on the track as Qatar started DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR here in Qatar, the country against the hugely popular Brazilian coach Evaristo to host the best athletes in the world from 1997 for TEL: 4455 7769 he has grown to love and and his coaching staff. From those early matches the Athletics Grand Prix and Diamond League, and watch develop a whole host between coaches, a steady progression in Qatar even walked in with the Qatar national team at the LOCAL NEWS SECTION of world-class athletes and began at regional, continental and finally interna- opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic tional level. Games – fulfilling a lifelong dream. TEL: 4455 7743 sports men and women. “At the time I arrived Kuwait was the top nation in In 2006, the Asian Games in Doha were centered the Gulf area for athletics, but then within two years around his beloved Khalifa Stadium. Even now my BUSINESS NEWS SECTION TEL: 4462 7535

SPORT NEWS SECTION Managing the Internet when it suits them TEL: 4455 7745 ONLINE SECTION TEL: 4462 7501 tising revenue, not quality content. Meanwhile, both companies pressure newsrooms’ bot- [email protected] David Chavern Proponents of net neutrality, including Google tom lines by soaking up online ad revenue. A study by Digital and Facebook, persuaded the Federal Communica- Content Next, a publishing trade group, found that major The Washington Post PUBLIC RELATIONS tions Commission to treat ISPs as “common publishers with large digital operations earned only about 14 carriers,” akin to traditional telephone companies. percent of their total revenue in the first half of last year from TEL: 4455 7613 Under decades-old law, such entities are subject to distribution platforms - and most of that was from YouTube. [email protected] Google and Facebook are fac- high levels of government regulation on price, Smaller news publishers get peanuts. ing new competition to their access and other consumer issues, all in the name of This debate - as well as the spread of fake news and ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT online business models after the public good. Because of the elevated levels of questions about digital companies’ responsibility in weeding TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 President Donald Trump signed regulation, ISPs aren’t permitted to favor any con- out false content - seems to be leading the tech giants into an FAX: 4455 7870 a bill putting Internet service tent, regardless of consumer demand. increasingly fraught political landscape. Media reporter [email protected] Gproviders on a path to being able to mone- Now that Ajit Pai - who has said that net neu- Michael Wolff observed that the Trump administration and tize online users the same way these trality’s “days are numbered” - has become Republican-controlled Congress are creating a “uniquely CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT technology giants do. Next up is the threat- chairman of the FCC, many think the agency will dangerous moment” for the digital industry as its “customers TEL: 4455 7857 ened unwinding of the Obama help ISPs reclaim the ability to set their own rules and employees demand that companies swear ever-more [email protected] administration’s “net neutrality” rules, and “toggle” content based on revenue opportunity. anti-Trump oaths.” which could put these companies in a dou- News outlets, as creators of high-quality (and Google and Facebook understand the burgeoning vulner- SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION ble bind, because they could soon have to expensive) news content, like a level playing field ability in their positions. Each has teams to think through its TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 pay Internet service providers a metered and have supported net neutrality. relationships with news content providers. Facebook brought FAX: 44557819 rate to move their content to customers’ But it would be hypocritical for Google and on former CNN anchor Campbell Brown to “help news screens. Facebook to be the faces of this fight, given their organizations and journalists work more closely and more [email protected] Google and Facebook will argue - as business models. The digital giants have become effectively with Facebook.” Although welcome, such out- they did during our fight on net neutrality central to how millions of Americans consume their reach won’t be enough. Newsrooms have always cooperated in 2015 - that ISPs should not be able to news, and as these companies rely on consumers’ with Facebook - so much so that they have co-opted their All thoughts and views prioritize and price the flow of online con- ever-increasing appetites for news to capture their economic models. What’s really needed is a fair and sustain- expressed in these columns tent. The problem is that they make the audiences, the business terms they dictate put able split on the advertising income earned off breaking exact opposite argument in their role as intense stress on news industry economics. news and good reporting, not just more happy talk about the are those of the writers, not distributors of news content crucial to our For example, Google requires publishers to offer importance of journalism. of the newspaper. democracy. “First Click Free” content, lest they be punished - As the net neutrality issue heats up again, Facebook’s and The two digital giants increase or with demoted content that doesn’t abide by the Google’s conflicting positions won’t go unnoticed. These All correspondence reduce users’ exposure to news content rules in search results. Facebook’s “Instant Articles” companies argue that their content shouldn’t be prioritized regarding Views and based on whether publishers - such as the allows articles to load faster in user news feeds, based on revenue-driven decisions by ISPs, yet they are Opinion pages should be Wall Street Journal or the Indianapolis Star even with the newly announced changes and trials, doing the same thing to news organizations. It’s an inconsist- - agree to play by their rules. Those rules but doesn’t allow a simple or direct way to sub- ency that even ardent defenders of net neutrality will be mailed to the are crafted to maximize the flow of adver- scribe to a publication. unable to resolve. Something’s got to give. [email protected] 12 ASIA MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 Philippine-US joint military drills to go ahead

Manila The outspoken Filipino "It will be scenario-based of protecting or retaking terri- The Philippines is battling AFP Annual drill in May leader, who has earned interna- like (preparing for) a big storm tory, as a dispute with Beijing Islamist militants and pirates The annual military tional censure for a war on drugs hitting the Philippines or the pos- over islands in the South China in the conflict-torn south, he Philippine military exercises will now go that has seen thousands killed, sibility of terrorism," Balikatan Sea escalated. where several groups have said yesterday it would ahead in May, focusing has since softened his stance on spokesman Major Celeste Frank But Duterte, who took office pledged allegiance to the hold annual exercises on counter-terrorism working with the US military. Sayson said. last year, has sought improved Islamic State fighters in Iraq with US troops next and disaster response. The annual military exer- "We are safe to say there will relations with China and has set and Syria. month, reaffirming its cises, known as Balikatan be no more live-fire exercises. aside the maritime row in favour Security forces in the past Tcommitment to the alliance (Shoulder-to-Shoulder), will now We (will) focus on humanitarian of economic concessions. week clashed with the Abu despite cooling relations under drills and called for the with- go ahead in May, focusing on and civil assistance." Defence Secretary Delfin Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group President Rodrigo Duterte. drawal of American troops, counter-terrorism and disaster In previous years Balikatan Lorenzana had said the exercises on a popular resort island, the The 10-day exercises will be putting into question Manila's response as the Philippines bat- had evolved from counter-ter- would refocus on fighting terror- first attack on a key Philippine the first held under Duterte, who 70-year-old alliance with US as tles Islamist militants in their rorism manoeuvres against ism, which he described as tourist destination in recent has suggested cancelling the he looks instead to court China. lawless southern strongholds. Islamist militants to simulations country's top security problem. years.

Tobacco-free Beach holiday Abu Sayyaf militants Turkmenistan by 2025 behead Filipino captive Manila beheading, kidnapping, bomb- Ashgabat Reuters ing and extortion in the AP southern Philippines. he Philippine army said Sobejana said it was likely TURKMENISTAN'S president Islamic State-linked Abu the abductors beheaded Bes- has signed a programme aimed TSayyaf militants have conde because he was sick and at pushing forward his goal beheaded one of four Filipino had become a liability. of making the Central Asian fishermen they took captive in "The reason why he was country tobacco-free by year December. beheaded is that he was delay- 2025. Brigadier General Cirilito ing their movement," Sobejana The move by President Sobejana, military commander said. Gurbanguly Berdymukhame- on the southern island of Jolo "They (Abu Sayyaf) are dov was reported by the state island said the boat's captain highly-mobile and we are pur- newspaper Neitralny had been executed in the jun- suing them." Turkmenistan. gle near the town of Patikul on Sobejana said the group had It said the programme Thursday but his remains have demanded$60,648.94 ransom orders measures to be taken yet to be recovered. for Besconde but the govern- over the next five years, but Noel Besconde was ment maintains its policy of did not give details. abducted by the Abu Sayyaf refusing to pay ransom. Berdymukhamedov has group, along with three crew- The army has declared all- made healthy living a key ele- men in December, while on out war with Abu Sayyaf on the ment of the cult of personality board a fishing vessel in the islands of Jolo and Basilan, but that surrounds his autocratic Celebes Sea. is hamstrung by its presence rule. People swim in the sea in Tanza, Cavite, yesterday. Abu Sayyaf is a small but among large civilian He is regularly filmed and brutal militant group known for communities. photographed riding horses, flying helicopters, cycling, jogging or lifting weights. In 2013, he banned the sale of cigarettes in state Probe into shooting incident at Manus refugee camp stores during the month of April each year. This move was widely Sydney The incident was sparked by several shots into the air and what happened," he added. The camp is set to close by praised by the World Health AFP an altercation at a football game indiscriminately assaulting Australia's immigration October after a PNG Supreme Organization (WHO) and the played by asylum-seekers at a policemen, PNG immigration department said one man was Court ruling declared that hold- head of its Framework Con- runk soldiers "went on a navy base outside the compound officers, other service providers injured by a rock thrown into the ing people there was vention on Tobacco Control. rampage" and fired shots late Friday, according to detain- and asylum-seekers". centre, the Australian Broadcast- unconstitutional and illegal. The report did not clarify Din the air at an Australian ees and refugee advocates. One senior immigration ing Corporation reported. But Australian Immigration whether the goal of being asylum-seeker camp in Papua Later, "drunken soldiers in officer and an asylum-seeker "There are reports PNG mil- Minister Peter Dutton has said tobacco-free by 2025 meant New Guinea, police said yester- retaliation for one of their col- were treated at a medical cen- itary personnel discharged a they would not be moved to Aus- tobacco would be banned day, in the latest violence to rock league who was allegedly tre, the statement added, without weapon into the air during the tralia and instead relocated to outright. the scandal-hit facility. assaulted by an asylum-seeker" giving further details. incident," the department told third countries such as the US Berdimuhamedow, a PNG police announced an entered the detention centre, Manus Provincial Police the ABC. "No one was injured." and Cambodia, or resettled in dentist by profession, served investigation into the unrest at the shouting and throwing objects, Commander Senior Inspector The violent scenes came just PNG. in the government under Manus Island facility, an offshore the Royal PNG Constabulary said David Lapu said he "will leave over three years after Iranian Even so, the latest violence President Saparmurat Niya- processing centre reopened in in a statement yesterday. no stones unturned" in his inves- asylum-seeker Reza Barati died sparked renewed calls from ref- zov as Minister of Health 2012 to detain people who try to It said the military person- tigation into the incident. and 69 people were injured in a ugee advocates for detainees to beginning in 1997. enter Australia by boat. nel "went on a rampage... firing "Someone will answer for riot at the facility. be removed from the camp. Nepal & China begin Jakarta to vote amid religious tensions

Jakarta first joint exercises Reuters Kathmandu Better ties akarta voters head to the polls AFP on Wednesday to elect a gov- Nepal and China Jernor for Indonesia's capital hina and Nepal began share a multi-faceted after a campaign that incited their first-ever joint mil- tie and a joint political and religious tensions Citary exercises yesterday, military exercise in the world's most populous a move likely to rattle India as broadens that Muslim country. Beijing boosts its influence in relationship: Official The race to lead the city of the region. more than 10 million has been Impoverished Nepal is fought by two candidates - an sandwiched between China and dependent on India for the ethnic Chinese Christian and a India and has in recent years majority of its imports, but the Muslim. It has triggered mass ping-ponged between the previous administration protests and stirred religious and sphere of influence of Delhi and aggressively courted China as political tensions in the world's Beijing as the Asian giants jos- part of a nationalist drive to third largest democracy. tle for regional supremacy. decrease the country's reliance Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, The 10-day drill in Kath- on New Delhi. known by his Chinese nickname mandu, dubbed "Sagarmatha "Nepal and China share a as "Ahok", is the incumbent gov- Friendship 2017" referring to multi-faceted tie and a joint ernor who took over running the Nepali name for Mount military exercise broadens that Jakarta in 2014 when his then Everest, will focus on counter- relationship," said Tanka Karki, boss, Joko Widodo, won the terrorism, according to Nepal's former Nepali ambassador to presidency. A worker carries a box with ballots during preparations for the second round of election for army. China. Purnama, 50, is the city's Jakarta's governor. "This is in line with our Last month China's defence first ethnic Chinese and Chris- efforts to hold joint exercises minister Chang Wanquan vis- tian leader and is backed by the with countries that have diplo- ited Nepal -- the first by a ruling Indonesian Democratic Anies Baswedan, 47, is the rival in the 2014 campaign, In the first round, Purnama matic relations with Nepal," Chinese defence minister in 15 Party of Struggle (PDI-P). former rector of Jakarta’s Para- Prabowo Subianto, and now received 43 percent of the vote military spokesman Jhankar years -- to discuss the joint mil- Purnama is standing trial on madina University and campaign represents Subianto's Gerindra and Baswedan 40 percent. Bahadur Kadayat said. itary exercise. blasphemy charges after alleg- manager for Widodo during the Party. Baswedan was criticised Private pollsters approved The drills will likely be The current Maoist-led gov- edly insulting the Holy Quran 2014 election. for meeting hardline Islamists by the General Elections Com- watched closely by India, ernment in Nepal has sought to during the campaign. Hundreds Widodo appointed him edu- during the campaign. mission will conduct quick which is often accused of play- repair strained ties with Delhi of thousands of protesters ral- cation minister but sacked him The April 19 election is a run- counts of a sample of votes ing "big brother" to its tiny while continuing to accept cash lied after a video of his less than two years later. off between the two most popular after polls close on April 19, neighbour. from its powerful northern comments about a Quranic verse Baswedan has shifted alle- candidates in the first round of giving an indication of the Landlocked Nepal remains neighbour. were circulated. giance to Widodo’s presidential polling held on February 15. winner. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 ASIA 13 North Korea fails in new missile test: US

Seoul Unsuccessful in Pyongyang because it came AP a day after one of the biggest Defence Secretary Jim North Korean propaganda North Korean Mattis said Trump and events of the year— celebrations medium-range mis- his military team "are of the 105th birthday of late sile exploded aware of North North Korea founder Kim Il seconds after it was Korea's most recent Sung, the current leader's launched yesterday, unsuccessful missile grandfather. USA officials said, a high-profile launch. The president President Donald Trump failure that came hours before has no further was uncharacteristically quiet the US vice president arrived in comment." about the failed launch, which South Korea, and as an Ameri- was attempted from the east can aircraft supercarrier coast city of Sinpo. approaches the Korean Penin- The failed launch will In a statement, Defense Sec- sula in a show of force. sting in Pyongyang retary Jim Mattis said Trump and The US had good intelli- because it came a day his military team "are aware of gence both before and after the North Korea's most recent after one of the US Vice-President Mike Pence (centre) and his wife Karen inspect guard of honour at the launch, said a White House for- unsuccessful missile launch. The biggest North Korean National Cemetery in Seoul, yesterday. eign policy adviser. propaganda events of president has no further No planned response is the year. comment." expected from the Trump admin- Many outside analysts istration because the official, who believe that North Korea has not US vice-president arrives in Seoul spoke on condition of anonym- yet mastered the technology to ity to discuss the administration's that failed within 4-5 seconds build warheads small enough to Seoul just after a failed missile launch Pence will be tasked with initial understanding of the after launch, and that it did not place on long-range missiles, AP by the North. explaining the policy in meet- launch, said there was no need involve an intercontinental bal- though some civilian experts say The vice president was ings with leaders in South Korea for US to reinforce the failure. listic missile, the adviser said. it can already build nuclear- S Vice President Mike joined by his wife and two adult and Japan at the start of his trip, The official said that had it The North regularly tipped shorter range missiles Pence arrived in South daughters and was laying a which will also include stops in been a nuclear test, "other launches short-range missiles, that have South Korea and Japan UKorea yesterday to begin wreath at the Seoul National Indonesia and Australia. He will actions would have been taken but is also developing mid-range within its striking range. a 10-day trip to Asia that comes Cemetery at the start of his trip. also aim to reassure allies in by the US" and long-range missiles meant The US Pacific Command amid turmoil on the Korean He was expected to join US South Korea and Japan that the The White House believes to target US troops in Asia and, said in a statement that yester- Peninsula over North Korea's and South Korean troops for US will take appropriate steps that yesterday's test involved a eventually, the US mainland. day's missile exploded on threats to advance its nuclear Easter Sunday church services to defend them against North medium-range ballistic missile The failed launch will sting launch. and defence capabilities, and and a dinner later in the day. Korean aggression. China probes senior Hong Kong to establish research centre

Lahore The announcements were we realised that things didn’t infrastructure both with govern- banking official Internews made based on the robust devel- work as per our expectation, and ment as well as with private and opments in Pakistan’s Information we once again moved back to multinational companies. cto3, a Hong Kong-based Technology sector and a rising Hong Kong. The management is already Beijing a faxed request for comment financial technology need of digital payment solutions “After analysing the Paki- in talks with local banks and Reuters on Friday or to a second fax Ocompany, has announced due to the growing e-commerce stani market and the rapid financial institutions for provi- on Sunday about the to move its entire Research and segment in the country. developments and upcoming sion of backend support to senior official at the investigation. Development (R and D) wing to “We have decided to shift scope of ICT and digital payment locally available payment solu- China Banking Regu- Yang's last public appear- Pakistan. our entire R and D department solutions, on the back of China- tions, which can be accepted A latory Commission ance was on April 7 speaking The company, which spe- and other core function to Paki- Pakistan Economic Corridor globally as well. (CBRC) is under investigation at a news conference about cialises in development and stan from Hong Kong as the (CPEC), we decided to shift our “We are a solution provider for suspected links to a loan new risk control guidelines provision of modern payment country offers a lot of talent in R and D wing to Pakistan". company but in Pakistan we will scandal, the financial maga- for lenders as part of efforts and other transactional solu- the IT sector,” said Group’s Chief Since its founding chairman work both on ICT as well as dig- zine Caixin reported, citing to contain risks from a rapid tions, further announced that it Executive Officer Tyrone Lynch. is a Pakistani, it aims to add a lot ital payment solutions,” said sources close to the matter. build-up in debt. will invest in the Pakistani mar- “Few years ago, we out- of value in CPEC-related and Ajmal Samuel, Chairman and Yang Jiacai, assistant China's top leaders have ket in order to transform its ICT sourced our R and D wing to other projects by building data- Co-founder Octo3 Group Hold- chairman of CBRC, has been pledged this year to address landscape. India, but after working a while base centres and other such ICT ings Limited. under investigation since financial risks and asset April 9 in connection with the bubbles. scandal in Hubei province, President Xi Jinping has Caixin said late on Saturday, pledged to wage war on deep Stolen pagoda following days of rumours seated graft in the ruling Showing skills circulating online that Yang Communist party until offi- body returned had gone missing. cials at all levels dare not be China's graft watchdog on corrupt, warning that a fail- to China April 9 also announced an ure to check the rot could investigation into the chair- threaten the party's Beijing man of the country's existence. IANS insurance regulator, Xiang Yang and his wife and son Junbo, the most senior finan- were all placed under inves- A TAIWANESE monastery cial regulator to be tigation due to their suspected yesterday returned an ancient investigated as part of a gov- involvement in a loan scan- pagoda body stolen 19 years ernment fight against graft. dal in Hubei, Yang's home ago from Shanxi province in Yang could not be province, Caixin said. China. reached for comment. According to the article, Dengyu stone tower, orig- No official announcement investigations into the scan- inally from Dengyu village of of an investigation into him dal have already led to a Shanxi, features Buddha has been made. His name and number of official probes, images carved into the four- profile were still accessible on including into chief risk faced tower body. the CBRC website yesterday. officer of China's Bank of The colourful piece was Caixin reported last Fri- Communications, Yang made in the Tang Dynasty day that Yang had been Dongping, who was (618-907), Xinhua news relieved of his duties, citing expelled from the party on agency reported. people with knowledge of the February 24. The tower was 320 cm matter. Yang became assist chair- high and composed of a base, Local residents dance at Tiantan Park in central Beijing, yesterday. CBRC did not respond to man of the CBRC in 2013. a 177 cm body, a tower eave and spire. It is an excellent example of Tang Dynasty stone carving and was given provincial-level protection in 1965. Vietnam policemen 'held hostage' in land dispute In 1996, the spire was sto- len and is still missing. The tower body was stolen in Hanoi by a military-owned telecoms "People have closed off their But state media said four res- the right to protest but flash- 1998, taken out of the Chinese AFP firm. villages. No one can come in or idents were taken into custody points occur. mainland and donated by a The exact number of police- out. The police are surrounding while some police were also In 2012 a Vietnamese fish private collector to Taiwan's t least a dozen Vietnam- men and officials being held by the area also, preventing media being held by villagers. farmer used homemade weap- Chung Tai Chan Monastery in ese police have been held residents could not immediately access. The situation is tense," "Some citizens... have com- ons to resist a forced eviction and 2015. Ahostage over a land dis- be confirmed, but images on Dung said. mitted acts of obstruction and injured seven policemen. The monastery decided to pute with residents near Hanoi, social media showed at least 12 A My Duc resident said yes- illegally held Hanoi police offic- The farmer was jailed for five return the tower to Shanxi activists and state media said uniformed men under guard. terday police had fired in the air ers," the Vietnam News Agency years, but his case became a after it confirmed its origins yesterday, in a rare show of defi- "Local residents said they during Saturday's clashes. said. symbol of growing public dissat- in 2016. The tower arrived at ance of communist authorities. have no intention of releasing "Some residents were also Land disputes are common isfaction over land rights. Shanxi museum on January The incident began on Sat- the hostages unless the central taken into custody by police for in Vietnam, where powerful In 2013 a gunman killed a 24. urday in the suburban My Duc government intervenes," said La unknown reasons," he said, individuals and companies often provincial official before com- "We really appreciate the district when authorities clashed Viet Dung, a social activist who requesting anonymity. make claims on property. mitting suicide in an apparent temple's decision," said Wang with villagers who alleged their visited the site yesterday Local police and authorities The government strictly con- dispute over land in northern Taiming, head of Yushe coun- land was illegally seized for sale morning. refused to comment. trols freedom of expression and Vietnam. ty's cultural relic bureau. 14 ASIA MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017

Toll in Sri Lanka Top US aide holds talks in Afghanistan garbage dump collapse rises High-level visit Kabul combat, during an operation on statement from the palace. to contain Taliban insurgents Reuters Thursday against IS militants in McMaster praised anti-cor- since most international troops McMaster met eastern Afghanistan. ruption efforts and assured were withdrawn in 2014, leav- Colombo President Ashraf S President Donald While military officials said Ghani that the United States ing them to fight largely alone. AFP Ghani and other Trump's national the strike was based solely on would continue to support and At the peak in 2011, the US officials to discuss security adviser met tactical needs, it led to specula- cooperate with Afghanistan on had more than 100,000 troops HOPES of finding anyone alive bilateral ties, security, Afghan officials in tion that Trump's defence a number of issues, according to stationed in Afghanistan. under a collapsed mountain of counter- terrorism, Kabul yesterday, advisers are planning to esca- the palace. Nearly 9,000 US troops garbage in Sri Lanka's capital reforms, and Uamid questions over the new late the war against militants in "Ghani told McMaster that remain there to train and advise faded yesterday as the death development. administration's plans for the Afghanistan. "terrorism is a serious issue for Afghan forces, provide close air toll reached 23 with another six military mission in Afghanistan The strike was estimated to the security of the world and the support to soldiers on the ground reported missing, police said. after American forces unleashed have killed nearly 100 militants region" and if serious steps are and form a separate counter- Hundreds of soldiers, Ghani told McMaster a huge bomb there on and no civilians, according to not taken it would affect "gen- terrorism unit that targets backed by heavy earth mov- that "terrorism is a militants. Afghan officials, although this erations" of people". Islamic State, Al Qaeda and other ing equipment were digging serious issue for the The visit by H R McMaster, has not been independently Illicit drugs and corruption militant networks. through the rubbish and the security of the world the first high-level visit by a verified. also top the list of threats to The top US commander in wreckage of some 145 homes and the region" and if Trump official, came just days McMaster met President Afghanistan's security, Ghani Afghanistan has said he needs that were destroyed when a serious steps are not after the US military sparked Ashraf Ghani and other senior told the visiting officials. "several thousand" more troops side of the90-metre high taken it would affect controversy by dropping a GBU- Afghan officials to discuss bilat- The Afghan government to help the Afghans take on a dump crashed on Friday. "generations" of 43 Massive Ordinance Air Blast eral ties, security, refers to both the Taliban and resurgent Taliban and battle "The rescue is fast becom- people. bomb, one of the largest conven- counter- terrorism, reforms, and Islamic State as terrorists. other insurgents, but no official ing a recovery operation," a tional weapons ever used in development, according to a Afghan forces have struggled plan has been announced. senior police official at the site said. "It is difficult to imagine anyone could survive under these toxic conditions." Over 5,000 kids enrol Water festival He said six people were reported missing after Fri- day's disaster at Kolonnawa in Karak govt schools on the northeastern edge of Colombo. The Colombo National Islamabad hospital said four children Internews aged between 11 and 15 were An official said that among the 23 people killed. he Elementary and Sec- out of 5,532 children Hospital spokeswoman ondary Education who have been Pushpa Soysa said a man and TDepartment has claimed enrolled across the a woman pulled out of the that more than 5,000 students dump on Friday were in enrolled in government educa- district, 408 were intensive care while another tional institutions in primary those who have been 11 were also still in hospital. level in Karak district in north- transferred from Police have stepped up west of Pakistan in one week. private educational security in the area following This was stated by the reports of looting and said enrolment campaign’s focal institutions. they arrested 18 men sus- person in Karak, Muhammad pected of stealing victims' Luqman Khattak while talking belongings. to media yesterday. cational institutions. President Maithripala He added that the provin- Luqman said that they had Sirisena ordered hundreds of cial government was interested given target to each sub divi- troops to search for survivors to bring all out of school chil- sional education officer of the and bolster rescue efforts of dren to the mainstream by district to achieve the target. the fire department. enrolling them in educational The focal person claimed Prime Minister Ranil institutions. that the provincial government Wickremesinghe said He added that out of 5,532 was spending huge funds on the arrangements had been made children who have been provision of missing facilities to remove the garbage dump, Buddhist monks spray water to people at a pagoda during celebrations to mark the enrolled across the district, 408 to the educational institutions but it came crashing down were those who have been to make sure quality Khmer New Year in Phnom Penh, yesterday. before relocation work could transferred from private edu- education. begin.

Pakistan probes hate speech Bilawal urges ministers to improve performance Karachi Shah, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Mir government had reopened 2,079 The minister for local gov- viding easier access to tourists. against clerics Internews Hazar Khan Bijarani, Manzoor of the 5,000 closed primary ernment said that a mega project Installation of an integrated Wassan, Mukesh Chawala and schools and 1,400 others were for providing 200 million gal- security surveillance system was Peshawar akistan Peoples Party (PPP) other ministers and special found to be unviable. lons per day of water was being under way in hundreds of places Reuters Chairman Bilawal Bhutto assistants to the chief minister He said that third party eval- initiated. of worship of non-Muslims, said PZardari has directed the attended the meeting. uation of reopened schools was Construction of 2,003 km of the provincial information tech- PAKISTANI police opened Sindh cabinet to improve per- Briefing the meeting, the being carried out to ensure their roads had been completed in the nology minister. a hate speech investigation formance and public accessibility chief minister said the Sindh fully functional status, adding province, said the minister for The meeting was also involving two clerics yesterday in order to resolve people’s government had released that teachers’ training was being works and services. According informed that steps had been after the killing of a univer- issues. Rs161bn over the past three outsourced to improve primary to him, as many as 41 major road taken to ensure export of Sind- sity student over allegations he “The PPP government [in quarters of the current fiscal year education. schemes were also under hri mangoes. Previously, it was committed blasphemy. Sindh] must deliver more than and Rs86bn had already been Commenting on garbage dis- progress. illegal to export these mangoes The clerics are accused of any other provincial govern- spent. During the same period posal in Karachi, the minister About the Gorakh Hill resort abroad. attempting to disrupt the ment,” he said while presiding last year, Rs101 were released concerned pointed out that there in Dadu district, Bilawal was told Bilawal was also informed funeral of student Mashal over a meeting of the cabinet at and Rs51bn were spent. were bottlenecks and the Sindh that talks were being held with the that Sindh government had Khan, who was beaten to Bilawal House yesterday. The Sindh education minis- government was taking steps to Asian Development Bank (ADB) increased women’s job quota death by fellow students after Chief Minister Murad Ali ter said that the provincial remove them. to build a broader road for pro- from five to 15 percent. a dormitory debate was fol- lowed by accusations of blasphemy being spread across a university campus in the northern city of Maradan. Smog pollution Renowned writer Mukhtar University officials had issued a public notification hours before the murder Masood dies at 88 naming three students being investigated for "blasphe- Lahore of the Pakistan Industrial mous activities". Internews Development Corporation Blasphemy is an (PIDC), Agricultural Develop- extremely sensitive topic in amous Urdu writer of ment Bank of Pakistan (ADBP) Pakistan, where penalties Pakistan Mukhtar Masood and secretary-general of the range from small fines to the Fpassed away in Lahore at Regional Cooperation for death sentence, and dozens the age of 88. Development (RCD). of people are on death row in Masood had been very ill Masood wrote three books the country's jails. and suffered from various - Awaz-e-Dost, Safer Naseeb, There have been at least health complications. He is sur- Loh-e-Ayyam - all of which are 65 recorded cases of vigilante vived by two sons and a highly regarded in literary cir- murders since 1990, accord- daughter. His funeral prayers cles for their immaculate, ing to figures from a Center were offered at Shadman with enigmatic style and patriotic for Research and Security people from different walks of undertones. Awaz-e-Dost in Studies report and local life taking part. particular recounts the history media. A graduate of Aligarh Mus- and philosophy behind the cre- In a statement released to lim University, Masood migrated ation of Pakistan. the press on Saturday, Prime to Pakistan after partition. For his contribution to lit- Minister Nawaz Sharif said he After passing his CSS exam- erature, Masood was awarded was "shocked and saddened ination in 1949, he went on to the Sitara-e-Imtiaz. by the senseless display of serve at several key positions Both Prime Minister Nawaz Pedestrians cover their faces as they walk along a dusty road in Kathmandu. Nepal mob justice that resulted in including that of commissioner Sharif and President Mamnoon the murder of a young stu- government is trying to tackle the rising pollution levels in smog-choked Kathmandu Valley. and federal secretary. Hussain expressed deep grief dent, Mashal Khan." He also served as chairman over Masood’s demise. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 EUROPE 15 French voters undecided as ballot looms

Fillon's campaign has been rocked by multiple scandals A week before a over expenses and conflicts of crucial election interest, including allegations to choose their that he gave his wife suspected president, a chunk of fake jobs as a parliamentary assistant, for which she was voters are flummoxed paid a total of ¤680,000 by uncertainty as they ($725,000). find it hard to choose As for Le Pen, the European between candidates Parliament has accused her far- right National Front (FN) of using who are scandal-hit or funds allotted for parliamentary too extreme. assistants to pay staff for party work in France. She has dismissed the inves- Jean-Luc Melenchon of the French far left Parti de Gauche and candidate for the French presidential election, attends a rally Strasbourg tigation into FN's expenses, AFP saying it is a plot to derail her in Toulouse, southwestern France, yesterday. RIGHT: Supporters of Melenchon at the rally. campaign bid. Jaurena is also rench far-right leader unmoved by the ethos of the Marine Le Pen is too Communist-backed euroscep- extreme, but centrist tic Melenchon, and by what he Emmanuel Macron is called Macron's "brainwashing". Main proposals by leading candidates too young. Conserva- "I know who I won't vote for, but Ftive Francois Fillon cannot be I don't know who I'll vote for," Paris employment and housing. encourage companies to hire Jean-Luc Melenchon: Big trusted, Socialist Benoit Hamon he said. AFP Impose a 35-per-cent tax on jobseekers from underprivi- spender - is the establishment, and Com- products from companies that leged neighbourhoods. Renegotiate EU treaties. Get munist-backed radical Jean-Luc 'Rocked by scandals' he four main contenders offshore factory jobs Introduce one month's oblig- the union to scrap rules on fiscal Melenchon, too risky. He is among the nearly 40 in France's presidential Lower the minimum retire- atory military service for all discipline and allow the Euro- Just a week before the percent of voters who have yet Telection span the ideolog- ment age from 62 to 60 and 18-21-year-olds. pean Central Bank to buy up debt French cast their first votes for to decide which way they'll vote ical spectrum from hard left to expand family subsidies. from member states. If talks fail the next president, this is how the — or even if they'll show up at far right. A week before the first Pull France out of Nato's cen- Francois Fillon: Shrinking hold a referendum on withdraw- many undecided voters view this on election day next Sunday. round of voting, here are their tral command and develop closer the state ing from the treaties, leading to year's cast of candidates: with "This election is unusual. The main proposals: relations with Russia. Cut 500,000 public servant possible exit from the euro. abject disappointment. campaign is rocked by scandals," jobs and reduce public spend- Move from a presidential sys- Marc Jaurena lives in the political scientist Richard Klein- Marine Le Pen: France first Emmanuel Macron: Eco- ing by ¤100bn ($106bn) over tem to a parliamentary system. northeastern city of Metz but schmager said. Negotiate France's exit from nomic 'liberation' five years to reduce France's Give citizens more powers to drives nearly an hour to work in "The situation has become the eurozone and return to the Cut the corporation tax rate debt. propose referenda and recall Luxembourg, 63km away. too complex to get people franc. Immediately suspend from 33 percent to 25 percent Scrap the official 35-hour lawmakers. "For me, working in Luxem- engaged". membership of the European and give bosses more flexibility working week. Progressively Tax all annual earnings above bourg, my job will be directly Voters' indecision has rein- passport-free Schengen area and to negotiate working time with raise the working week for civil ¤400,000 at 100 percent and impacted by a Marine Le Pen forced the uncertainty of this restore border controls. staff at the company level. servants to 39. increase public spending by ¤173 election," Jaurena said, as the year's two-round presidential Hold a "Frexit" referendum Give all workers, including the Allow companies to negoti- bn ($184bn) over five years. far-right leader has pledged election, in which four candi- after six months of negotiations self-employed, access to unem- ate working time directly with End France's use of nuclear that, if elected, she will pull dates — Le Pen, Macron, with Brussels on transforming ployment benefits. employees. In the absence of an power and fossil fuels. Boost France out of the euro currency Melenchon and Fillon — are the union into a club of nation Accelerate integration in the accord, apply a 39-hour rule. renewables, which would sup- and hold a referendum on neck-and-neck for the first states. eurozone by giving it a central Ban the full-body Islamic bur- ply 100 percent of the country's whether the country should round of voting on April 23. Reduce legal immigration to parliament, finance minister and kini swimsuit and introduce needs by 2050. leave the EU. Polls give each between 19 10,000 people per year, require budget. uniforms in public schools. Foreign policy: Withdraw from The 34-year-old Jaurena and 23 percent of votes. refugees seeking asylum in Organise democratic con- Reduce immigration by set- Nato. Improve relations with Rus- said he has also been scandal- The top two candidates from France to apply in their home ventions in all European Union ting annual quotas. sia "to avoid war." Curry ties with ised by the fake jobs scandals that vote will go forward to the region, hold a referendum on member states to discuss reform- Work with Russia, Iran and the the leftist Latin American ALBA that have embroiled not only second-round run-off on reforms including introducing ing the bloc. Syrian regime in combating the grouping founded by late Vene- Le Pen, but also Fillon. May 7. a French-first policy on Create tax incentives to Islamic State. zuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

Cyprus leader Terrorism jokes no laughing matter in Spain says peace Madrid But Carrero Blanco's own grand- In January, for instance, Spain's AFP daughter, Lucia, said in a letter sent Supreme Court sentenced rocker talks at a to the El Pais daily that she was Cesar Strawberry to a year in prison hen she posted jokes on "scared of a society in which freedom for tweets, including one that joked vital juncture Twitter about a 1973 assas- of expression, however regrettable it about the 1996-7 ETA kidnapping of Wsination committed by may be, can lead to jail sentences." a right-wing politician. Nicosia Spain's Basque separatist group ETA, "Terrorism is the most sensitive AFP Cassandra Vera never for one 'Cult of hate' issue," acknowledged Jose Luis Mar- moment thought they would land her Luis Conde, a historian of comic tin, a former editor at satirical weekly yprus is at a vital a one-year jail sentence. books, said he remembered more "El Jueves", in a country still reeling moment in its UN- But last month, one of Spain's top lenient times, even under Franco's from decades of violence brought Cbacked peace process criminal courts found the 21-year-old dictatorship when people would sing about by ETA and other extremist aimed at reunifying the guilty of "justifying terrorism" and a song that featured the lyrics "Car- groups. island, President Nicos Anas- humiliating its victims -- the latest in rero flew," in reference to the attack. "It doesn't compare to criticism tasiades has said, but he a series of such convictions for social "And now, we can't say it any- of the monarchy, the Church," he admitted that differences media pranks that has the country more?" he asked. added, which the magazine targets with his Turkish Cypriot divided, and partisans of free speech But Consuelo Ordonez, head of on a regular basis. negotiating partner remained. worried. the Covite association for victims of "We find ourselves before "They ruined my life," Vera terrorism, said laughing at the Black humour 'therapeutic' critical and defining develop- tweeted about the 13 posts about the expense of Carrero Blanco — a man Ignacio Gonzalez Vega, spokes- ments for the future of our 1973 murder of Luis Carrero Blanco, associated with Franco's iron-fist rule man for the "Judges for Democracy" homeland," Anastasiades said the prime minister and heir-appar- that ended after he died in 1975 — was professional association, pointed to in a televised address. ent of dictator Francisco Franco who a big mistake. a new 2015 anti-jihadist legislation The Mediterranean resort was killed in an ETA bomb attack that "If we had been serious about that as a possible explanation. island has been divided since sent his car hurtling into the air. fact that nothing justifies violence, we Among other things, the law pro- 1974 when Turkish troops "ETA combined a policy against wouldn't be talking about more than vides for tougher sentences for invaded the northern third in the use of official vehicles with a 800 ETA deaths," she said, referring "justifying terrorism" online. response to an Athens- space programme," read one of her to the 829 people killed during the But "in a democratic society, there inspired coup. posts. group's four-decade campaign for are genres such as comedy, black Successive peace efforts Another said: "Did Carrero Blanco Basque independence. humour" that should be exempt, he between its Greek- and Turk- also go back to the future with his "The cult of hate that always said, calling for the law to be ish-speaking communities car?" moved terrorists has not been modified. have stumbled over issues Vera is unlikely to spend time defeated," she warned. Martin said black humour often including territory and behind bars, as offenders of non-vio- played a "therapeutic role," which security. lent crimes with a sentence of under 'Sensitive issue' he believed Spain still needs as it tries The current process, two years do not serve time in jail. The number of court rulings to heal the wounds of its bloody which saw talks resume in But she now has a criminal record involving alleged acts of "justifying 1936-9 civil war and ensuing May 2015, is seen by analysts that will prevent her from getting a terrorism" has risen from a dozen a dictatorship. as the best hope for a lasting scholarship for her studies. year to 26 in 2015, 37 in 2016 and 12 For his part, Cesar Strawberry peace deal. The National Court that sentenced for the first quarter of this year, chose to exorcise his conviction with Anastasiades and Turkish her, which specialises in terrorism according to judicial authorities. a song. Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci cases, ruled that her jokes did not Most of them are linked to organ- "Inquisitor!" he sings to hard-rock have agreed to schedule four Men play music in a street as they march to form part of a "healthy humouristic isations that are now inactive, such music. new meetings, in a new phase celebrate the Aberri Eguna (Basque country environment" and that her attitude as ETA, which declared a permanent "Keep harassing those who dis- of talks, with the first begin- was "disrespectful" and "humiliating." ceasefire in 2011. turb you, but you won't shut us up." day) in Ustaritz, yesterday. ning on April 20. 16 EUROPE MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 Muslim preschools 'Shovelling' injustice cause a stir in Austria

Vienna But the first problem is AFP Raging row establishing how many Islamic The study, published kindergartens there are. Vienna debate is raging in last year, has been has 842 registered kindergar- Austria after a study tens, 100 of them Catholic-run jumped on by critics suggested that and 13 Protestant, but the of immigration — not Islamic kindergar- number of Muslim ones is not tens in Vienna were least the far-right known. helpingA to create "parallel soci- Freedom Party — in Part of the reason is that eties" or even produce the the wake of attacks there has been an explosion in homegrown radicals of the such as those in Paris the number that are privately future. and Brussels. run, stretching the ability of the According to its author, authorities to keep tabs and Ednan Aslan, a Turkish-born allowing some to operate under Austria, a nation of Austrian professor at Vienna the radar. 8.7 million people, University, some 10,000 chil- Viktor Karachun, one of the coordinators of the campaign against razing villages and felling dren aged two to six attend has received more CITY OF IMMIGRANTS forests, at his house in the village of Vostochnaya Perlovka outside Moscow. Property around 150 Muslim preschools, than 130,000 asylum Vienna is home to 1.8 mil- developers are racing to build up prime land in Moscow's leafy outskirts by doing away teaching the Holy Quran much applications since lion people, half of whom have like Christian ones do with Bible 2015. a parent born abroad or who with villages and cutting down forests, but now determined locals are fighting back. studies. were born abroad themselves. At least a quarter are backed findings, questioning its Ever since it was the capital of by groups propagating arch con- methodology. a vast empire, it has been a mag- servative strains of Islam like The magazine Biber, which net for outsiders, not all of them Salafism, or organisations that writes for and about minorities, always welcome. see religion not just as a private sent a veiled Muslim reporter "But what is new in recent UK uniting behind Brexit: May matter but integral to politics undercover posing as a mother years has been the religious and society, Aslan believes. looking for a place for her son aspect of the debate about inte- "Parents are sending their at 14 Muslim kindergartens. gration," said Thomas London For at opportunities ahead of us — the kids to establishments that She found no evidence to Schmidinger, political scientist AFP heart, this opportunities that stem from our ensure they are in a Muslim set- back up Aslan's suggestions that and Islam specialist at Vienna country is decision to leave the European ting and learn a few suras they were churning out "little University. rime Minister Theresa May Union and embrace the world one great (chapters from the Holy Quran)," radicals" or that things like the Austria, a nation of 8.7 mil- said yesterday that Britain — our shared interests, our union of Aslan, a respected researcher children singing — frowned lion people, has received more was beginning to unite shared ambitions and above all P people into Islamic education, said. upon by ultra-strict Muslims — than 130,000 asylum applica- behind Brexit, 10 months after our shared values can — and "But they are unaware that were banned. tions since 2015 following the the divisive referendum that and must — bring us together." they are shutting them off from But around a third were onset of the European Union's saw the country narrowly vote nations The Sunday Telegraph a multicultural society," he according to the magazine biggest migration crisis since to leave the European Union. with a proud history newspaper reported that sup- said. "problematic", "cutting off or World War II. "This year, after a period of and a bright future. port for Brexit has hit a The study, published last isolating children" from main- The Freedom Party is riding intense debate over the right five-month high, with 55 per- year, has been jumped on by stream society. It also voiced high in the polls. Surveys sug- future for our country, there is She formally notified Brus- cent backing Britain's exit from critics of immigration — not concerns about the "openness" gest that public attitudes to a sense that people are coming sels last month of Britain's the EU, according to a poll by least the far-right Freedom of some staff and the level of Muslims have hardened. Attacks together and uniting behind the intention to leave the bloc, trig- research company Orb Party — in the wake of attacks German spoken. on migrant shelters soared last opportunities that lie ahead," gering two years of exit International. such as Paris and Brussels per- Vienna City Hall has since year. May said in her Easter negotiations. "Since November, the Brit- petrated by Muslims who grew sought to calm the situation by The ruling centrist coalition message. "For at heart, this country is ish public are slowly becoming up in Europe. commissioning an in-depth has moved to the right with May backed remaining in one great union of people and more comfortable with the idea study involving a six-strong plans to ban full-face veils in the EU but is spearheading Brit- nations with a proud history and of Brexit," said Orb International UNDERCOVER research team which will be public and oblige migrants to ain's drive to the departure a bright future," May said. managing director Johnny But many reject Aslan's published later this year. sign an "integration contract". gates. "And as we face the Heald.

Polish sailor forced into Nasa image shows new leaving stricken rift in Greenland glacier yacht in Pacific Nuuk undermine the floating ice Wellington The Washington Post This crack is not so shelf. AFP distant from another Still, there's good prece- he first photographs of a much wider and dent for worrying about what Polish round-the- new and ominous crack could happen at Petermann. world yachtsman had Tin Greenland's enormous longer crack that When two prior ice islands Ato be convinced of the Petermann Glacier have been has been slowly broke off the glacier in 2010 "gravity of the situation" captured by a Nasa airborne extending towards and 2012 — the 2010 island in before he agreed to be res- mission. the shelf's centre particular was extremely large cued from his stricken craft Nasa's Operation IceBri- — the events drew major in a remote part of the Pacific dge, which has been flying over from its eastern side media attention and were Ocean yesterday, New Zea- northwest Greenland for the wall. even discussed in a hearing land authorities said. past several days, took the before Congress. "Last week, A Polish speaker was photos after being provided from its eastern side wall. an ice sheet covering 100 taken on a four-hour flight coordinates by Stef Lhermitte, If the two cracks were to square miles broke off Green- from New Zealand to per- a professor at Delft University intersect, then a single break land," then-Rep Edward suade him to abandon his of Technology in the Nether- would run across more than Markey, D-Mass, the chairman craft. lands, who had spotted the half of the ice shelf. That might, of the Select Committee on The sailor, identified by oddly located chasm by exam- in turn, cause the piece to begin Energy Independence and local media as 64-year-old ining satellite images. to break away. Global Warming, said at the Gregor Wegrzyn, had acti- The Nasa pictures make But in the image Nasa also opening of the hearing in sum- vated an emergency beacon clear that a significant new rift noted another feature in the mer 2010. "This giant ice on Thursday after the steer- has opened near the centre of ice that it termed a "medial island is more than four times ing failed on his 10.6-metre the glacier's floating ice shelf flow line" that, it said, "may the size of Manhattan. It is the (35-foot) yacht Reginar R. — an unusual location that exert a stagnating effect on the largest piece of Arctic ice to He was located by a New raises questions about how it propagation of the new rift break free in nearly half a Zealand Air Force search air- formed. Moreover, this crack towards the older one." So it century." craft 2,700km east of New is not so distant from another remains to be seen just how Those past breaks also A preliminary image from NASA's Digital Mapping Service shows Zealand and a cargo vessel much wider and longer crack much, and how rapidly, the caused the glacier's floating ice was diverted to pick him up. the new rift in Greenland's Petermann Glacier, directly beneath that has been slowly extend- new rift - which has only just shelf to become much smaller But when the ship Key Opus the Nasa Operation Icebridge aircraft. ing toward the shelf's centre been discovered - could than it had been before. arrived on Saturday the man was reluctant to leave, New Zealand search and rescue coordinator Dave Wilson said. The air force plane, with ETA to take decisions after consulting members the Polish speaker onboard, had to return to the yacht and drop a radio to the sailor yes- Madrid which it would take "decisions authorities with the locations of linguistically unique area divided parameters of the internal terday to establish AFP from among all its members for around three and a half tonnes by the French-Spanish border. consultation. communication and convince moving forward," the daily Gara of guns, explosives and other But during the 1960s, ETA ETA had recently been seek- him to abandon his yacht. he Basque separatist group, reported. weapons. mutated into an organisation ing to negotiate its dissolution in "The man spoke little ETA, said yesterday it "ETA will examine the path In 2011, amid a string of that took to shootings, bombings exchange for amnesties or English, a hurdle we had to Twould consult its members that has been travelled and will arrests of top ETA operatives and and kidnappings in pursuit of an improved prison conditions for overcome for this operation," on "future decisions" following take future decisions with public outrage over bloodshed, independent state. roughly 350 of its members held Wilson said. its unilateral disarmament, a responsibility," the statement ETA announced it was abandon- It has been blamed for the in Spain and France, and for cur- "Once the Polish speaker, Basque newspaper reported. said. On April 8, ETA said it had ing its armed campaign. deaths of 829 people. Thousands rent members living under cover. who was known to the man, In a statement issued on completely and unilaterally ETA was founded in 1959 as more have been injured. But Spain and France have made radio contact with him, Basque "homeland day," ETA disarmed. a group to promote the Basque Yesterday 's statement gave taken a hard line, saying the group he was able to convince him." said it had entered a phase in It provided the French culture. The Basque region is a no indications about the must unilaterally dissolve. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 EUROPE 17 Refugees bring dying Italy village back to life

mediators. And it has prevented Restaurant owner and The project has the closure of the village's basic widow Celestina Borrello, 73, services — an eatery, small whose son left years ago to find created full or supermarket, doctor's surgery work in Belgium, says "the vil- part-time jobs in and pharmacy. With funds to lage was emptying, so if there's Sant'Alessio for 16 spend on services, the council a little movement now, it's a good people including has been able to open a small thing". "We know what it means gym open to all residents and to leave our land," she adds. seven locals — from upkeep a lush sports field over- The project has been such a social workers to looking the valley, where success that Coopisa, the asso- Italian teachers and migrants regularly challenge the ciation behind it, is opening cultural mediators. team from a nearby drug reha- others in four villages nearby. bilitation centre. And there is another benefit: After six months to a year those that join the SPRAR net- Sant'Alessio here, some of the refugees man- work and take in small numbers AFP aged to find work in the region, of refugees are guaranteed not others headed elsewhere. to have to host an emergency n the foothills of the Ghanaian Salifu, 23, decided reception centre, such as the one Aspromonte mountains in to stay on and has been living off in the nearby ski-town of Gam- southern Italy, the silence odd jobs like helping with man- barie, where 120 migrants are of a once-dying village is ual work in the fields. massed in a hotel. broken by the laughter of a Sant'Alessio may not offer With just 26,000 places Ismall group of refugees. bright lights or much in the way available, the network is only a The village of Sant' Alessio in Aspromonte, southern Italy. Tiny Sant'Alessio has been of career opportunities, but a small part of Italy's reception welcoming families and vulner- cheerful Salifu says "we're not system, which hosts more than able migrants here for three trend, however, since 2014 the home to an Iraqi Kurdish fam- most important thing," said Ste- going anywhere". 176,000 people. years in a project which not only council has been renting eight of ily, a Gambian couple with a fano Calabro, a 43-year-old After months in Sicily's noto- While most are housed in provides humanitarian assist- these empty flats to house up to baby and young people from police officer who has been rious, overcrowded Mineo camp, large groups, often angering or ance but brings with it invaluable 35 migrants at a time as part of Ghana, Nigeria, Mali and mayor of Sant'Alessio since just small things like quick doc- frustrating local communities, economic and social benefits. the national SPRAR network Senegal. 2009. "But there is a significant tor appointments here seem a this dusty village is seen as a Over the years the village has (Protection System for Asylum There is a special project for economic benefit too." luxury. Sitting in the sunshine and quiet triumph. dwindled to only 330 inhabit- Seekers and Refugees). the most vulnerable, including The state allocates up to ¤45 watching the world go by from "Sant'Alessio has been our ants, many of them elderly. The Everything is done to help HIV-positive people, diabetics, ($47) a day for each migrant, his front garden, 89-year old prototype," said Coopisa head steep cobbled streets are the newcomers get back on their victims of vice trade networks, most of which goes to the organ- Antonio Sacca — who spent 54 Luigi De Filippis, who points out deserted and most windows are feet, from Italian lessons to legal, a deaf and dumb couple, and a isers to cover costs. years working in a Turin factory there is scope for the project to shuttered, residents having left medical and psychological young woman whose toddler son The project has created full before returning home — says he go across Italy and beyond. over the years for better work assistance, vocational training was shot dead in Libya and hus- or part-time jobs in Sant'Alessio likes his new neighbours. "There are vast areas opportunities in Turin, Milan or and social activities such as gar- band is feared drowned. for 16 people including seven "They behave well. They live affected by the same depopula- as far away as Australia. dening, cooking and dancing "Our mission is both humane locals — from social workers to independent lives but often lend tion in northern Italy and In an attempt to reverse the classes. The village is currently and humanitarian, that's the Italian teachers and cultural a helping hand," he said. elsewhere in Europe."

Two die after getting locked Italy coastguard rescues thousands in Mediterranean in Czech sauna Rome Frontex has accused donor- Agencies funded vessels of doing more harm than good by sailing off Prague he Italian coastguard and Libya and acting "like taxis", AFP other boats rescued some and Italian prosecutors have T3,000 migrants from suggested they may have links wo women died in a unseaworthy boats off the Lib- with traffickers — a charge they sauna in the northern yan coast on Saturday, as the have fiercely denied. TCzech Republic after the good weather pushes the num- Distressing images of Afri- door handle came off, trap- bers up, a participating NGO can migrants being plucked ping them inside, police said said. from heaving seas or the cof- yesterday. In all 35 rescue operations fin-strewn aftermath of major "The mother and daugh- were launched during the day, sinkings have become a regu- ter aged 65 and 45 were with 15 of them still underway lar feature of television news taking a sauna at their friends' as night fell, the coastguard bulletins since the crisis began place in a garden colony," said. German NGO Jugend Ret- spiralling out of control four police spokeswoman Iva Kor- tet, which took part in the years ago. mosova said in a statement. rescue operations on Saturday, So far this year 666 people "The owner thought they said 3,000 people had been have been logged as dead or were taking too long to come plucked to safety during a par- missing off the Libyan coast. out so she went to check and ticularly busy day due to the However, that figure is well found them lying on the fine Spring weather in the down on the death rate seen floor," she said, adding that Mediterranean. last year when more than 5,000 the women had been in the On Friday, rescue vessels people perished, according to sauna for around 90 worked flat out to rescue over the International Organization Rescue NGOs Sea-Eye and the Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) carry out a joint operation minutes. 2,000 people from flimsy of Migration Emergency services dinghies. Profit-hungry smugglers in the central Mediterranean in international waters off the coast of Libya, yesterday. declared the women dead at The Italian coast guard and are taking advantage of calm the scene. five privately-run rescue boats seas off Libya to launch unsea- Italian coast guard on Friday and hundred migrants in nine rubber who are awaiting transfers to the "The handle on the sauna plucked migrants from 16 over- worthy boats, crowded with Saturday, hundreds more dinghies and two wooden boats rescue ships that will bring them door broke and the women crowded dinghies and three migrants, toward Italy. migrants were plucked to safety over a 24-hour period. MOAS also to southern Italian ports. were trapped. They tried to wooden vessels packed with After the thousands of yesterday from dinghies and fish- recovered seven bodies, includ- Italian news reports say the break the window on the people hoping to make a new migrants rescued from the ing boats. The humanitarian ing that of an 8-year-old boy. It rescued migrants came from door but failed," said life for themselves in Europe. Mediterranean in dozens of group MOAS tweeted yesterday also distributed life vests to 1,000 Africa, Syria, Pakistan, Bangla- Kormosova. EU's border control agency operations coordinated by the that it had helped several migrants still on smugglers' boats desh and elsewhere. Charlie fans Buried archbishops create a world record found in hidden tomb

Corsier-sur-Vevey London Bancroft, who was in office AFP AFP from 1604 to 1610 and who oversaw the production of the ix hundred and sixty-two he remains of five arch- King James Bible, considered a people yesterday set a bishops of Canterbury definitive work of the English Sworld record for the big- Thave been accidentally language. gest gathering of Charlie discovered by builders in a hid- Several hundred coffins Chaplins, each donning the den tomb beneath a London were cleared out of the church black jacket, shoes, bowler church, site developers said for extensive renovation works hat, toothbrush moustache yesterday. in 1850s, during which the and cane of the comic's sig- Some 20 lead coffins were vaults were filled in with earth. nature creation, the Little discovered in a crypt under- But builders accidentally Tramp. neath St Mary's-at-Lambeth, discovered one crypt had been The unusual rally, draw- which sits outside Lambeth Pal- left untouched. ing Chaplin fans of all ages ace, the central London "This was the discovery of from all over Europe, took residence of the archbishop of a recorded vault below the place at a museum dedicated Canterbury — the highest cleric chancel for high status burials, to the artist at his former in England. including those of five arch- home in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Two have been identified bishops of Canterbury," said the western Switzerland. from name plates, while trust which runs the site. Chaplin was born in Lon- records show that five were The deconsecrated church Some 662 People dressed as 'The Tramp' pose for a group picture to mark the first anniversary don 128 years ago. He died on buried in the crypt. is now the Garden Museum. It Christmas Day, 1977, in of Chaplin's World By Grevin, and Charlie Chaplin's birthday, in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, Of the two identiied arch- closed in October 2015 for Switzerland. yesterday. bishops, one is Richard renovations. 18 AMERICAS MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 DHS: US not creating ‘deportation force’

Washington so-called “Dream Act” children Bloomberg Border security brought illegally into the coun- Kelly said it will be up try by their parents or he US Homeland to Congress to help guardians. Security secretary Obama shielded 750,000 sort out how to treat defended plans to hire young undocumented immi- the estimated 11 thousands of addi- grants from deportation with a tional immigration million undocumented 2012 executive order. The new Tand border-control agents, say- immigrants already in administration’s plans remain ing the Trump administration’s the US, including the unclear, although Trump has lower bar on criminal behavior so-called “Dream Act” suggested he wants to find a by undocumented immigrants children brought solution that could let them stay. merits a larger force. illegally into the “It’s very complicated,” Kelly In an interview on NBC’s country by their said of the range of undocu- “Meet the Press With Chuck mented immigrants. “There are parents or guardians. Javier Duarte (centre), former governor of the Mexican state of Veracruz, is seen in an Todd,” DHS chief John Kelly dis- people who came here as chil- autopatrol following his arrest upon his arrival at the Matamoros military barracks in missed the idea that he’s dren. There are people here who creating a “deportation force,” into the system,” he said. came here illegally many years Guatemala City, yesterday. and noted that US law says peo- Kelly’s comments come as ago and have married local men ple here illegally should leave Congress prepares to resume and women and had or be deported. The Trump debate on the administration’s children.” Fugitive former Mexican administration is focused on policies on immigration Kelly said one of the biggest criminals, mainly with multiple enforcement and plans to build challenges is people who over- convictions, he said, but the a wall on the US-Mexico border. stay their visas. Such individuals emphasis can be on lesser types Lawmakers this month will con- were the target of raids in Feb- governor Duarte detained of offenses than was the case sider a broad spending bill ruary affecting almost 700 under President Barack Obama. funding agencies for the remain- people in California, Texas, New Guatemala City prosecutors directed the Foreign businesses that allegedly won The DHS wants to hire 10,000 der of this fiscal year that could York and other states, 75 per- AP Relations Department to request state contracts, and said he had additional immigration and cus- include border-security funds. cent of whom DHS said were Duarte’s extradition via its Gua- not stolen a single peso of state toms-enforcement officials and If Congress doesn’t act, a partial criminals. he former governor of Mex- temalan counterpart. money or diverted government 5,000 more border-security government shutdown would “It’s time consuming, but at ico’s Veracruz state who is Manuel Noriega, deputy funds overseas. “I don’t have agents. It also plans to expand the begin on April 29. the end of the day they came Taccused of running a cor- director of Interpol in Guate- foreign accounts,” he said last number of detention beds to Congress will then turn to here with a promise to leave, ruption ring that allegedly pilfered mala, said Duarte was located year. “I don’t have properties house undocumented immi- next fiscal year’s budget request and we have to track them down millions of dollars from state cof- at a hotel where he was staying anywhere.” grants, according to internal from the Trump administration, if they’re still in the country and fers was detained in Guatemala with his wife. He was asked to Duarte promptly disap- documents obtained this week by which proposes deep cuts to put them in the proceedings to after six months as a fugitive and leave his room, did so voluntar- peared and had been sought by the Washington Post. programs for education and the deport them,” he said. high-profile symbol of govern- ily and then was arrested Mexican authorities ever since. “The definition of criminal environment, among others, in Kelly said as the agency ment graft in his country. without incident in the lobby. Earlier this year, Interpol issued has not changed, but where on part to offset the expense of expands its border-patrol staff- Javier Duarte, pale and vis- Noriega said Duarte would a notice for his capture. the spectrum of criminality we more immigration enforcement ing, he advocates curtailing the ibly tired, was brought yesterday be presented before a judge to The Mexican government operate has changed,” Kelly said and border-control measures. use of polygraph tests. Those “lie to a prison at a military base in consider his possible extradition. has found millions of dollars on his first appearance on a Sun- Until now, DHS’s activities detector” tests are used in part to the Guatemalan capital A state- At least two dozen policemen purportedly linked to Duarte, day talk show since taking over have been guided by two exec- identify potential employees who ment from Mexico’s federal guarded Duarte as he arrived at frozen more than 100 bank the agency in January, accord- utive orders Trump signed in may be susceptible to bribes by, Attorney General’s Office said Guatemala City’s Matamoros accounts and also seized prop- ing to a transcript provided by January to boost deportations for example, drug cartels. Poly- Duarte was detained Saturday prison. “I have no comment, erty and businesses tied to the the network. and border security, which also graph tests “take a long time” and with the cooperation of Guate- thank you,” he said. former governor. A reward of Asked to provide an exam- expanded the pool of undocu- are “expensive,” Kelly said. malan police and the country’s Duarte, 43, was governor of 15m pesos ($730,000) had been ple, Kelly cited “multiple” mented immigrants viewed as He noted some instances, Interpol office in Panajachel, a Veracruz from 2010 until he left offered for his capture. The offenses of driving under the a priority for removal. such as new hires coming from picturesque tourist town on office Oct. 12, 2016, two months detention comes a week after influence of alcohol, but added Kelly said it will be up to the military, who may have Lake Atitlan in Guatemala’s before the scheduled end of his Tomas Yarrington, the former that it’s possible a single inci- Congress to help sort out how already been subjected to the highlands. term, saying he was doing so in governor of Mexico’s Tamauli- dent could trigger removal. to treat the estimated 11 million tests. The backgrounds of poten- It said he is wanted on sus- order to face the allegations pas state, was arrested in Italy, “Even a single DUI, depending undocumented immigrants tial DHS agents is “vetted picion of money laundering and against him. At the time he also on allegations of organized on other aspects, would get you already in the US, including the extensively,” he said. organized crime, and denied having links to phantom crime and money laundering.

Child crushed Mexico shootout New protests set in to death at revolving troubled Venezuela Caracas barricades and hurled Molotov restaurant AFP cocktails, and police fired tear gas, photographs on social Los Angeles pponents and backers of media showed. Reuters Venezuela’s embattled The demonstrations are OPresident Nicolas expected to be the next big 5-year-old boy sus- Maduro announced new showdown in an increasingly tained fatal injuries at marches for Wednesday after fraught crisis that has raised Aa rotating restaurant violence in ongoing anti-gov- international concerns about atop a skyscraper in down- ernment protests that have left Venezuela’s stability. town Atlanta when his head five people dead. The opposition is demand- became lodged between a Both sides promised to hold ing the authorities set a date for stationary wall and a table sway across Caracas on the postponed regional elections. affixed to the slow-moving heels of two weeks of demon- It is also furious over moves floor, officials said. strations that also have seen 117 to limit the powers of the leg- The Sun Dial restaurant’s people arrested. The latest in islature and ban opposition automatic systems stopped more than a week of violent leader Henrique Capriles from the floor’s rotating motion clashes erupted overnight politics. when the child became stuck Members of Acapulco tourist police attending injured tourists after a shootout in Acapulco, Thursday to Friday in the town Those moves have raised on Friday and then employ- Mexico. A shootout in the tourist area of the resort left one dead and seven wounded of Los Teques near the international condemnation ees dislodged him from the yesterday night. capital. including from the United tight space, Atlanta police said Protesters mounted States and the European Union. in a statement. But the child was critically injured and died later that day at a hospital. “The kid was just wander- ing as kids will do. Somehow Lawmakers across US move to include young people in voting he found himself in a critical situation where he’s lodged in between the rotating floor Sacramento she thinks would give a voice to make voting easier, according to has certainly renewed interest in obtain them. Recent voting and the wall,” Warren Pick- AP more people affected by the out- a March analysis by New York making the system more accessi- expansion efforts include auto- ard, a spokesman for the come of elections. “Looking at University’s Brennan Center for ble,” Brater said. matic registration and extending Atlanta Police Department, onald Trump’s character- all the protests throughout this Justice. Democrats and Republicans absentee voting opportunities. told reporters on Saturday. isation of Mexican year throughout all the high While Republican-leaning have supported efforts to expand Republicans control the gover- The boy, whose head was Dimmigrants as criminals schools across the nation, we states have moved to tighten vot- access, particularly online reg- norship and legislature in 25 caught within about 5 inches and rapists during his presiden- could see a lot of the minors ing rules — nearly 90 such bills istration. But it’s mostly states and so far have been rel- (13 cm) of space, according to tial campaign angered Heidi were protesting because they felt have been introduced — those Republicans who are pushing atively successful in pushing police, was identified as Sainz, whose family is from Mex- as if they didn’t have a voice,” efforts have been outstripped by restrictions such as requiring through the more restrictive Charles Holt of Charlotte, ico and who has close friends said Sainz, a senior at Inderkum the number of bills seeking to photo identification at the polls. laws. Democrats control just a North Carolina, an investiga- who are immigrants. She was High School in Sacramento. expand access to the polls. Roughly 20 states are con- half-dozen states. tor with the Fulton County also upset that she couldn’t do Lawmakers in more than a “A lot of young people last sidering voter ID laws this year In California, where Demo- Medical Examiner’s Office anything about it at the ballot dozen states are trying to year wanted to make their voices that supporters say prevent fraud crats command a supermajority said on Saturday. His death box because she was a year shy increase voter participation by heard but were unable to do so and boost public confidence in in the Legislature and control the was ruled accidental and he of being able to vote. targeting young people. Their because the rules prohibited elections. Critics say such laws governor’s mansion, lawmakers was found to have suffered Sainz favours a bill in the bills are among nearly 500 them,” said Jonathan Brater, coun- target minorities and the poor, say they want to take the lead in crushing injuries to his head California Legislature that would pieces of legislation introduced sel with the nonpartisan Brennan who might not have driver’s expanding voting access as other and brain, it said. lower the voting age to 17, which around the country this year to Center Democracy Program. “That licenses and find it difficult to states move to restrict it. MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017 AMERICAS 19 Wall could leave some Americans on ‘Mexican side’

Brownsville could effectively stop it, either in apprehensions along the more Texas border land is privately a visitor standing on the bluffs AP New battle Congress or after another elec- than 483km of border in the Rio owned, and tough terrain and overlooking the Rio Grande can Trump said he would tion. “That’s a fight that we’ve Grande Valley than anywhere else. water use agreements with Mex- see traffic moving across a tiny he last time US officials build the wall to stop been ready to fight,” said Efren In and around Brownsville, ico meant some fence was built a bridge and hear chickens cluck- built a barrier along migrants entering Olivares, a lawyer with the Texas people have lived next to the mile or more north of the river. ing on the Mexican side. The the border with Mex- illegally and what he Civil Rights Project. river for generations, and resi- With court fights also Border Patrol occasionally uses ico, they left an The US government will select dents of both sides cross bridges expected over Trump’s wall, the blimps to monitor traffic, with described as a flow of opening at the small finalists to build pieces of wall in to work or shop daily. Taylor and Texas Civil Rights Project has agents stationed nearby. drugs and crime. Troad leading south to Pamela San Diego, then choose a company others who live closest to the begun signing up landowners and Juan Moreno, a 64-year-old Taylor’s home on the banks of to complete the rest. Ron Vitiello, river routinely see border cross- identifying people who might be retiree, recalls surveyors measur- the Rio Grande. Landowners could chief of the US Border Patrol, said ers walking up to their homes. affected. Under the US Constitu- ing his neighborhood several years Taylor hadn’t been told where lose property, and on Wednesday that a new barrier Many people living in the val- tion, the government must prove ago for a fence, although it was the fence would be built, and she those that already will eventually be built in the Rio ley say the fence doesn’t work, and it wants to seize land for public never built in Roma. He credits doesn’t know now whether offi- lost some for the Grande Valley, where sections of there’s widespread opposition there use and must offer a landowner Border Patrol agents for monitor- cials are coming back to complete existing fence are rust-coloured poles 18 feet (5.5 to a bigger wall. While the region is “just compensation.” While chal- ing the border and providing it. “How would we get out?” asked already preparing for metres) high already run through one of the Texas Democratic Par- lenging the wall’s “public use” much-needed business for stores Taylor, 88, sitting in the living a new battle. neighbourhoods in Brownsville ty’s few strongholds in a deeply would be difficult, those who in Roma. But he chuckled when room of the home she built with and nearby towns. conservative state, many people believe they’re not getting the full asked about the wall. “I don’t know her husband half a century ago. The wall could seal some Vitiello told an audience in here resent outsiders and politicians value of their land could take the if I’m going to be in the US or Mex- “Do they realize that they’re Americans on the “Mexican side” San Antonio that the government of both parties for using the border case to court, setting up trials that ico,” he said. “It’s up to Trump.” penalising people that live along — technically on US soil, but out- plans to complete a wall or fence as a talking point. The 2006 law could take years. In San Benito, Eloisa Tamez this river on the American side of a barrier built north of the in towns that have long been authorizing a fence passed with Antonio Reyes said he’s seen spent seven years trying to stop the side?”Taylor’s experience illus- river separating the two coun- under consideration. “There will support from many Democrats, people scale the border fence that government from running the trates some of the effects that the tries. Landowners could lose likely be (barriers) there if all of including then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, bisects his backyard and jump fence through her property, which border wall President Donald property, and those that already the plans come together, but I who lost to Trump in November. down in seconds. Sometimes they had been in her family since the Trump has imagined could have lost some for the existing fence can’t tell you where,” he said. When the US government carry bales of what appear to be 1700s. The government eventually on residents in the Rio Grande are already preparing for a new Trump said he would build the built the fence, it had to take hun- drugs. A higher wall is “still not won, but only after agreeing to pay Valley, the sunny expanse of battle. wall to stop migrants entering ille- dreds of landowners to court to going to stop them,” he said. about $56,000, many times what bilingual towns and farmland that Even if they don’t win, law- gally and what he described as a use its power of eminent domain. “They’ll shotput it or whatever it initially offered. She uses a gate form the southernmost point of yers hope to tie up the wall in flow of drugs and crime. The Bor- That’s because unlike in other they have to do.” In Roma, a town to access the part of her property the US-Mexico border. court long enough that politics der Patrol makes more southern border states, most of 10,000 people, that’s on the other side of the fence.

Attorney wants Trump hits back at Georgia officers tax protests; asks to be criminally 'who paid' for rallies charged Atlanta AP Chicago pro-Trump groups taunted AP each other in face-to-face n attorney is calling for exchanges. the two Georgia police resident Donald Trump In Berkeley, California, Aofficers who were fired says “someone should police arrested at least 20 peo- after being caught on camera Plook into who paid” for ple at unrelated gatherings of having a violent confronta- the rallies around the country about 200 pro- and anti-Trump tion with a motorist to face yesterday that urged him to people in a park after fist fight- criminal charges. release his tax returns. ing erupted. Officers Justin D Miller said at a Trump tweeted yesterday: confiscated knives and make- news conference Saturday that “I did what was an almost shift weapons. the firing of Sgt. Michael Bon- impossible thing to do for a Trump has said that voters giovanni and Master Police Republican-easily won the don’t care about his tax returns. Officer Robert McDonald was Electoral College! Now Tax But many demonstrators not enough. They were fired Returns are brought up again?” said they hoped Saturday’s Thursday by the Gwinnett Trump was the first major- marches would convince County Police Department party nominee in more than 40 Trump otherwise. after being videotaped beating years not to release his returns “We do care. We want to 21-year-old Demetrius Hollins. and he reneged on a campaign see his taxes,” said Ann Demer- The department has opened a commitment to release them. lis, who was among hundreds criminal investigation into the He said they were being who marched in Philadelphia officers’ behavior. audited. from City Hall to an area in “We want both of these “Someone should look into front of historic Independence officers criminally charged,” who paid for the small organ- Hall, carrying signs and chant- Miller said. “We want them to ized rallies yesterday. The ing “We want your taxes now!” have to stand before a Gwin- election is over,” he tweeted. Seventy-one-year-old Ilene nett County judge in a Thousands of sign-waving, Singh said he’s wrong. She rode courtroom full of Gwinnett chanting protesters marched a bus from New Jersey to New County citizens, with their Saturday through streets across York City with her friend Ger- legs shackled and their hands America, demanding that the aldine Markowitz, 83, to take cuffed behind their back. president release his tax returns part in the protests. “We’re here And then we want them to so the public can examine his to say we care,” said Singh. spend the night in the Gwin- business ties and determine Pushing her walker, Karin nett County jail in the general whether he has links to foreign Arlin, 85, a Holocaust survivor population away from their powers. who came to the U.S. from Ger- family and friends. We want The demonstrations came many when she was 9, said them to feel what Demetrius on the date taxpayers tradition- she’s also worried about the was forced to feel. Maybe then ally have to file their returns by direction of the country. it will click to them what they and just days before this year’s “You don’t know which way did to this young man was filing deadline Tuesday. The tax the country goes,” said Arlin atrocious and unacceptable day protests in more than a next to her 89-year-old hus- and truly unbecoming of law dozen cities were largely band who fled Czechoslovakia enforcement officers.” Bongio- peaceful, though occasionally during World War II. “I hope vanni’s attorney, Mike demonstrators and some Republicans see it.” Pugliese, told WSB-TV Friday what his client did not use not excessive force: “It was an elbow strike, an FBI-taught defensive tactic.” Serial executions take toll on executioners too: Critics The Atlanta Journal-Con- stitution reports Hollins said during the press conference Miami Courts in that southern state have they talk to them when they feel the executions several hundred pays a price. that the encounter with police AFP blocked those executions for now, lonely,” McAndrew said. times. They do it over and over “We are concerned for the was “the scariest moment of as legal appeals continue. “The only persons that the and over again,” he said. An welfare of the prisoners, we are my life.” “The truth would utting a prisoner to death “We wanted the governor (of inmates know are the officers. officer volunteers to play the part concerned for the victims’ fami- never have come to life with- “stays with you for a long Arkansas) to understand that he’s Suddenly it’s the same officer of an inmate, he said. lies, we are concerned for the out these videos,” Hollins Ptime,” says Ron McAndrew. sitting in his office very comfort- who’s taking them to another “They take him from the cell, welfare of the prison workers that said, reading from a prepared The former warden of Florida State able. And these men are going to room to kill them. The experi- they put them on the gurney, they have to do this,” said Abraham statement. “No one would Prison says his own mental health be partaking in a killing of ence is something that will stay strap him down, they put them on Bonowitz, director of the New have believed that I did noth- had begun to deteriorate by the another human being,” McAn- with you for a long time; I don’t the IVs,” or intravenous lines. York-based Death Penalty Action ing to provoke an assault I time he left his position in 1998 drew told AFP. He doesn’t use think it ever goes away.” Arkansas prison authorities have group. “There’s a broader range suffered at the hands of these after taking part in eight execu- the word “execution,” which he McAndrew, who took part in refused to divulge the makeup of of collateral damage than simply two Gwinnett County police tions. Now, McAndrew is fighting considers a euphemism. the deaths of eight convicts — their execution team, fiercely pro- the prisoner and the victim.” officers. Even now, there are against the death penalty. “These officers, they get to three in Florida, and five in Texas tecting the identities of those Arkansas’s original packed still many people who see me He is particularly concerned know these inmates,” he as training — says that the exe- involved. “I can say that they are schedule would place added pres- as a criminal, not as a college about the psychological well-being explained. “Twenty-four hours cutions in Arkansas will well-trained and qualified to carry sure on the execution team, student or as a son.” of the handful of officials who a day they work with these undoubtedly be carried out by out their respective responsibilities,” increasing the risk of error, crit- Miller said they’re still would be involved if Arkansas were inmates. They feed them. They the same five people. “You can’t said Solomon Graves, a spokesman ics say. And no one wants to see a mulling a potential lawsuit. He to proceed with the rapid-fire exe- take them to get their showers, change the team,” he said. “The for the Arkansas Department of Cor- repeat of the agony Clayton Lock- said at least four others have cutions of several condemned men, they take them for exercise. They officers that will carry out the rection. In the view of anti-death ett suffered during his botched contacted his office claiming originally set for April 17 to 27. stand in front of their cells and executions, they have practiced penalty activists, everyone involved execution in Oklahoma in 2014. mistreatment by the officers. 20 HOME MONDAY 17 APRIL 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS

FAJR 03.51 am SHOROOK 05.10 am

ZUHR 11.34 am MAGHRIB 05.59 pm ASR 03.03 pm ISHA 07.29 pm

WEATHER TODAY

26oC 37oC Minimum Maximum

Sudan’s Al Merrikh leading a fierce offensive against Italy’s Juventus. Aspire hosts ‘The 12th Player’ Tournament

The Peninsula The second round of matches given the sheer number of teams from Real Madrid. began at 8:45pm, with the merciless different countries here, which dem- The quarter-finals will start on spire Dome’s indoor pitch England’s Arsenal gunning down Ita- onstrates not only Qatar’s diversity, April 22 and the semi-finals on April witnessed four thrilling ly’s Inter Milan with twelve goals but also the diversity of the people who 24. The final match will then be played matches on Saturday dur- without reply. The Italian club’s fans follow the beautiful game.” on April 26, with a one-day champi- ing the opening day of ‘The tried hard to get back into the game, Al Hammadi continued: “The per- onship for AZF workers running in 12th Player’ Tournament. scoring a late consolation goal to end formances were outstanding and I can parallel. AWith 16 teams from local, regional the game 12-1. already tell that competition will build The 12th Player Tournament is Strong wind at places and expected and international football fan associ- On the last game of the day, Egypt’s as we head towards the end of the being organised with the help of Gold poor visibility at places by afternoon. ations in Doha, the tournament Al-Ahli played a hard-fought match week. I hope the success of this open- Partner Doha Bank, Silver Partner Nis- Hot daytime and slight dust to blow- demonstrates Qatar’s thriving passion against Qatar’s Al-Sadd. That thriller ing day brings all Doha’s football fans san, and Bronze partners Oxygen and ing dust at places with some clouds. for football and the wide array of ended 3-0 in favour of Egypt’s red down to soak up the atmosphere and Oryx. The Strategic Partner, the Qatar opportunities that sports enthusiasts devils. enjoy the Aspire Dome. We look for- Football Association, and Community HIGH TIDE 07:30 - 21:30 LOW TIDE 03:45 - 13:30 have to play their favourite games. Commenting on the opening ward to welcoming you.” Partner, Qatar Living, are also support- Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department At 7:30pm, the first two matches matches, the Director of the Tourna- Group stage matches resumed with ing the event. started simultaneously as Tunisia’s ment, Mohammed Al Hammadi, said: four games. First, Qatar’s Al-Gharafa Football fans are welcome to LATEST NEWS Club Africain took on Italy’s Rome in “I’m delighted to see all these enthu- play Morocco’s Raja Casablanca and attend the tournament and cheer on UPDATE a one-sided match that ended 4-0. siastic amateurs playing in the shirts Italy’s Napoli face-off against Eng- their favourite teams. Only the final Meanwhile, Sudan’s Al-Merrikh led a of their favuorite teams as the crowds land’s Chelsea at 8:30pm, then, at match requires a ticket, which can be fierce offensive against Italy’s Juven- cheer them on from the stands. It’s a 9:45pm, Spain’s Barcelona play Qatar’s purchased at the entrances to Aspire www.thepeninsulaqatar.com tus, running out 5-1 victors. wonderful atmosphere, particularly Al-Arabi and Al-Rayyan play Spain’s Park Aspire Academy for only QR10.