BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Bassem claims second QP among top fi ve spot behind global fi rms in health, Tops-Alexander safety and environment published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10783 April 9, 2018 Rajab 23, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar calls for Our Say probe into gas attack in Syria

QNA Britain, Sweden, Netherlands, Poland, Doha Peru and Cote d’Iviore requested the urgent UNSC session, diplomats said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves By Faisal Abdulhameed atar has strongly condemned Le Drian said earlier yesterday that al-Mudahka the use of chemical weapons by France will “do its duty” over the al- Editor-in-Chief Qthe Syrian regime in the town of leged chlorine gas attack against civil- Douma in Eastern Ghouta, calling for ians in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta region. an urgent international investigation France has repeatedly warned that and bringing war criminals in Syria to evidence of further use of chemical international justice. weapons in Syria was a “red line” that 45 years of The Foreign Ministry in a statement would prompt French strikes. yesterday expressed Qatar’s deep shock “The use of chemical weapons is a at the horror of “this horrifi c crime that war crime,” Le Drian said in a state- Qatar-US shook the conscience of humanity”, and ment. said impunity has led to war criminals There has been widespread condem- His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with the Mayor of Miami, Francis Suarez, and other guests at the Qatar in Syria continue perpetration of viola- nation of the attack, which left at least strategic ties embassy reception in Miami yesterday. tions and atrocities and undermining 85 people dead, including many women of eff orts to achieve justice and redress and children. s His Highness the Emir Sheikh the victims. US President Donald Trump lashed Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is The statement stressed that any po- out at the Syrian regime over the Aon a tour of the United States litical solution will not lead to a suc- “mindless chemical attack”, saying and is scheduled to meet President cessful and sustainable outcome in there will be a “big price to pay”. Donald Trump on April 10, time is ripe Syria unless those who are involved in Tom Bossert, White House home- to review Qatar-US relations that have the commission of these terrible crimes land security adviser, told ABC televi- stood the test of time. All attempts to Qatar, Miami look are punished. It described the silence sion that he “wouldn’t take anything drive a wedge between Qatar and the of the international community as a off the table” when asked whether the US have failed as one looks back at stain on the forehead of humanity. US could again respond with a missile the developments during the last 10 Meanwhile, a report from New York attack. months, a period that has been event- said nine countries have demanded an President Trump will meet senior ful as well as momentous. Not only has urgent United Nations Security Coun- military leadership on today to discuss Qatar, under the able and wise leader- for ways to boost cil meeting today to discuss the chemi- the attack. ship of the Emir, been able to overcome cal attack on the Syrian town of Douma The European Union has called for an unjustifi ed blockade and eff orts by in Eastern Ghouta. an “immediate response by the inter- vested interests to malign the fair im- Kuwait, France, the United States, national community”. Page 8 age of Qatar in the eyes of the West, but the nation has also been successful in emerging stronger on all fronts. economic relations Qatar-US relations have long been described as strategic, one that is built Miami Emir leaves Miami The QBA offi cial emphasised that the on long-term political, economic, and Agencies for Washington roadshow also provided members of the N Korea ready to discuss educational partnership. The year 1972 Qatari delegation a platform to discuss marked the establishing of diplomatic His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim opportunities for joint co-operation relations between the two countries, is Highness the Emir Sheikh bin Hamad al-Thani left Miami with their US counterparts. denuclearisation: source with the US opening an embassy in Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at- yesterday for Washington, DC, in the According to Sheikh Faisal, Qatar has Doha the following year. Since then, Htended a reception held by the framework of his off icial visit to the many major industrial opportunities Reuters changed bellicose threats with Kim in bilateral relations have kept grow- embassy of Qatar in the US on the occa- United States. that could benefi t from US expertise. Washington the past year, surprised the world by ing at a steady pace, thanks to the fast sion of the Emir’s visit to Miami. “We are aware of the investment op- quickly agreeing to meet Kim to dis- emerging elements of mutual interests. The reception was attended by a portunities in the US and QBA is ready cuss the crisis over Pyongyang’s devel- Based on mutual trust, the ties have number of current and former con- tion led by the Minister of Economy and to look into ways to contribute to in- orth Korea has told the United opment of nuclear weapons capable of proven to be strong by weathering the gressmen, the mayor of Miami, former Commerce HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jas- vestment projects with their American States for the fi rst time that it hitting the United States. recent tempests stirred by fake news mayor of New York City, and a number sim bin Mohamed al-Thani is currently counterparts. We also invite you to visit Nis prepared to discuss the de- But Pyongyang has not broken its and lobbying. It is a fact that both na- of businessmen, politicians, intellectu- touring the US and has successfully held Qatar to fi nd out more about these in- nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula public silence on the summit, which tions have hugely benefi ted from the als, academics and the American media. roadshows and exhibitions in Miami, vestments,” said Sheikh Faisal, who not- when North Korean leader Kim Jong- US offi cials say is being planned for partnership by co-operating eff ec- His Highness the Emir exchanged Florida as part of the economic tour. ed that QBA is ready to collaborate with un meets President Donald Trump, a May. There was no immediate word on tively to protect each other’s interests; with the participants views on ways The ‘Economic Promotional Tour’ the US in exploring the Qatari market. US offi cial said yesterday. the possible venue for the talks, which on one hand, the US is a superpower to enhance opportunities for co-op- will visit several American cities to fur- Greater Miami Convention and Visi- US and North Korean offi cials have would be the fi rst ever between a sit- that is keen to maintain its interests in eration between Qatar and the United ther develop partnerships between the tors Bureau president and CEO Wil- held secret contacts recently in which ting US president and North Korean the Middle East and on the other Qatar States, especially in Miami in various two countries in the fi elds of industry, liam Talbert lauded the Qatari business Pyongyang directly confi rmed its leader. is an infl uencer and key player in the fi elds, including economy, trade and food, tourism, and other sectors. delegation for selecting Miami, which willingness to hold the unprecedent- The US offi cial declined to say exactly region with a political and economic investment. Speaking at a roundtable discussion he noted “is one of the best investment ed summit, the offi cial told Reuters, when and how the US-North Korea leverage that far surpasses the reach of They also exchanged views on a in Miami, Florida, Qatari Businessmen destinations in the US.” speaking on condition of anonymity. communications had taken place but many other countries in the region. number of issues of mutual interest. Association (QBA) chairman HE Sheikh “Miami looks forward to collaborat- Until now, Washington had relied said the two sides had held multiple di- During times of calamity, the friend- The reception was attended by mem- Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani noted that ing with Doha, which hosts the 2022 mostly on ally South Korea’s assurance rect contacts. ly nations have extended succour to the bers of the offi cial delegation accompa- the ‘Economic Promotional Tour’ pro- World Cup, and will gain more experi- of Kim’s intentions. “The US has confi rmed that Kim needy. After Hurricane Katrina devas- nying the Emir along with a number of vided an opportunity for Qatari busi- ence, especially as Miami also looks for- South Korean envoys visited Wash- Jong-un is willing to discuss the denu- tated large areas of the US Gulf Coast businessmen. nessmen to explore investment oppor- ward to hosting the 2026 World Cup,” ington last month to convey Kim’s in- clearisation of the Korean Peninsula,” and displaced hundreds of thousands A top-level Qatari business delega- tunities in the US market. Talbert said. To Page 3 vitation to meet. Trump, who has ex- said a second US offi cial. of people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in 2005, Qatar was quick to donate $100mn for rehabilitation of the victims. When Hurricane Har- vey hit Texas last year, Qatar donated $30mn, apparently the largest contri- bution from a foreign government, to Katara’s Oud Festival concludes with a grand concert help the aff ected people recover from the natural disaster. By Joseph Varghese The concert started with a superb The two countries hold an annual Staff Reporter oud performance accompanied with Strategic Dialogue in which new pros- vocals by a Malaysian and Indonesian pects for co-operation and progress are band that enthralled the audience with explored in areas like defence, coun- he Second Oud Festival, organ- toe-tapping music. It was followed by a ter-terrorism, law, aviation, trade and ised by Katara – the Cultural scintillating oud performance by Japa- investment. It is an essential threshold TVillage, concluded yesterday nese Matsuda and others. The evening for long-term co-operation between with a grand concert featuring several continued with individual Oud per- the two countries. renowned musicians from many coun- formances as well as vocal perform- For reasons pertaining to inter- tries. At the four-day event held under ances by several of the bands. The con- national security, Qatar and the US the theme “Al Farabi the Second Mas- cert that lasted for about three hours, reached an agreement in 2002 to estab- ter,” oud maestros enchanted the au- provided a perfect musical feast for the lish Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, provid- dience with their extraordinary mix of audience. ing command and control of air power the East and the West. The festival also had an exhibition throughout the US Central Command Al Farabi, a connecting link between where oud-makers had displayed their Area of Responsibility, fl ying surveil- diff erent cultures across the Muslim skills and craftsmanship. The exhibi- lance and reconnaissance missions to world, has important contributions to tion showcased antique oud instru- countries in the US Air Forces Central culture, philosophy and music. ments made by the legendary makers of Command region. The final concert of the festival the stringed instruments. As Defence Minister HE Dr Khalid held at Katara’s Opera House, was at- In addition to the concerts and ex- bin Mohamed al-Attiyah announced tended by a large crowd and featured hibition, the festival also featured lec- before, Qatar is planning a huge ex- about 18 performers. The musicians A Malaysian-Indonesian band performs at the event. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam tures and forums on oud-making. More pansion of Al Udeid Air Base to accom- were from Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, Az- than 80 artistes had performed at the modate around 200 housing units for erbaijan, Iran, Armenia, Indonesia, documentary on oud that featured the The performers of the evening in- Balasyik from Indonesia, Yoshiko festival in all. Katara’s fi rst oud festival offi cers and their families. To Page 3 Malaysia, Iraq and Japan among other origin of the music and the instrument cluded renowned musicians such Matsuda from Japan and several other held in March last year was dedicated to countries. and how it became popular all across as Mansour Mohannadi from Qatar, performers who took part in the fes- Ziryab, the legendary musician of the [email protected] The performance started with a short the globe. Saleh al-Juraid from Kuwait, Jalsa tival. Arab and Islamic world. Gulf Times 2 Monday, April 9, 2018 QATAR PM meets EU rights official Qatar’s reforms OFFICIAL

NHRC chief meets adviser of Italian in human rights prime minister

Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr Ali bin Samikh al-Marri met the adviser of the Italian Prime fi eld win praise Minister Franco Bassanini in Doha yesterday. Chair of the Human Rights During the meeting, they Committee of the European discussed means of co-operation HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met the Parliament says his visit to on issues of mutual concern Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the European Parliament Antonio Panzeri and the Qatar enabled him to listen and activating mechanisms for accompanying delegation in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed the relations directly to the victims of exchanging experiences and between Qatar and the European Union and ways to strengthen them, especially in the field of the unjust siege; he noted expertise in human rights issues. human rights. They also discussed the current challenges facing the region. that the impacts of the siege The meeting was attended by are obvious, and will be Italian ambassador to Qatar discussed by the European Pasquale Salzano and former Parliament vice-president of the Italian Senate Linda Lanzillotta. Minister meets US varsity delegation QNA Doha Al-Mahmoud briefs Italian hair of the Human Rights off icials on siege Committee of the Euro- Cpean Parliament Antonio HE Speaker of the Advisory Panzeri praised the reforms car- Council Ahmed bin Abdullah ried out by Qatar for promotion bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met a of human rights, stressing that delegation from the Italy that this approach will strengthen included Senior Director of the position of the State in any European Aff airs at The Aspen forum on human rights at the in- Institute Dr Marta Dassu, and ternational level. adviser of the Italian Prime “During our visit to the State Minister Franco Bassanini. of Qatar at the invitation of the Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the European Parliament They discussed bilateral relations National Human Rights Com- Antonio Panzeri addressing a press conference in Doha yesterday. and the means to enhance them mittee, we have seen positive in diff erent fields, particularly the developments in the field of pose the destructive eff ects of Committee and the European parliamentary sector. They also human rights in terms of what any violations of these rights to Parliament, Panzeri said that discussed a number of issues of HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi met yesterday has been achieved and what the public opinion. both sides agreed on a consulta- joint interest. with a delegation from the University of Arizona, US. During the meeting, they discussed will be done in the future, al- Panzeri said that he will tive agreement that allows the HE al-Mahmoud discussed co-operation between the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and the university in lowing the possibility of com- convey the outcome of the dis- exchange of information and the economic and legislative the field of training and qualification of the MME staff , as well as conducting scientific research in plaints and grievances to be cussions held during his visit ideas and the use of data, in or- developments of Qatar under the the ministry’s fields of work, especially food safety and food security. presented to the courts. We en- to Doha, including the reper- der to advance the work and leadership of His Highness the courage Qatar to continue these cussions of the siege, to the continue the path of reforms, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad reforms and we very much wel- European Parliament, which which will serve the interests of al-Thani. He also discussed the come the partnership agree- is very interested in all mat- both sides. unjust blockade enforced on the ment between the Ministry of ters related to human rights, In this regard, he expected country and how it represents a Administrative Development, noting that the impacts of the to hold a joint hearing in the violation of international law and Labour and Social Affairs and siege are obvious, and will be European Parliament, possi- good neighbourliness. Pupils of QF schools to showcase the International Labour Or- discussed by the European bly before the month of Ram- The Italian delegation praised ganisation, which is positive,” Parliament. adan, with the chairman of the Qatar’s progress in diff erent Panzeri said at a press confer- Panzeri praised his discus- National Human Rights Com- fields. They also highlighted their National Programme projects ence yesterday. sions with offi cials of the Na- mittee, to discuss a range of is- support to all diplomatic eff orts Panzeri also welcomed Qatar’s tional Human Rights Commit- sues and give the committee a aiming to resolve the GCC crisis accession to several interna- tee, offi cials of other parties stronger voice within the Euro- through dialogue. They added tudents from Qatar Foun- line with PUE’s vision of ‘Lead- Munshid Competition, students tional conventions related to the concerned in the State and those pean Parliament. that they looked forward to dation (QF) schools will ing Learning’. will recite poems to the audience, protection and promotion of hu- concerned with the preparations He also revealed that a del- further developing Qatari-Italian Sshowcase their school Schools participating in the and the top three performances man rights. for hosting the 2022 World Cup egation of the Qatari-European ties. projects relating to the National event, which will be held at the will be awarded.Commenting on Meanwhile, the Chair of the in Qatar, as well as representa- Parliamentary Friendship As- The meeting was attended Programmes, which include Is- Education City Student Centre, the event, Abeer al-Khalifa, Aca- Human Rights Committee of the tives of the communities resid- sociation will visit Doha soon to by members of the advisory lamic Studies, Qatari History, include Qatar Academy Doha, demic Aff airs’ executive director, European Parliament noted that ing in Qatar, describing all these discuss such issues. council Saqr bin Fahd Saqr al- Arabic Language, and Qatari Qatar Academy Al Khor, Qatar PUE, QF, said: “We are delighted his visit to Qatar enabled him to meetings as important, useful Panzeri stressed that everyone Muraikhi and Mohammed bin Heritage - a programme unique Academy Wakra, Qatar Academy to host this important event for listen directly to the victims of and positive. should exercise human rights Ali al-Henzab, as well as Italy’s to QF schools - on April 18 and 19. Sidra, Qatar Academy Msheireb, our students, their families, and the siege and to the testimonies He also highlighted the Com- freely. In response to a ques- ambassador to Qatar Pasquale Pre-University Education’s Qatar Leadership Academy, and the wider community.” of those aff ected by it. mittee’s “A” rating by the United tion in this regard, he underlined Salzano. (PUE’s) Academic Aff airs, part of Awsaj Academy. The event is open to all stu- In this context, Panzeri Nations for its credibility, which that the right to perform Umrah QF, will bring together students Awards will be presented in dents, parents, and the wider stressed that the policy of the refl ects the importance of its role and Haj is a basic human right Albania exempts to deliver performances and re- the following areas: Best Theat- community. To schedule a visit, siege, whatever its causes and in the fi eld of human rights. and that the victims should up- search projects during its annual rical Performance, Best Student school offi cials may call +974 types, has negative impacts on In order to deepen co-opera- hold their rights and claim them Qataris from visa National Programmes and Her- Initiative, and Best School Initia- 4454 2654 or e-mail: klaswi@ people and aff ects human rights, tion and consultation between even if political solutions were requirement itage Day (NPHD) event, held in tive. Additionally, as part of the Al qf.org.qa therefore it is incumbent to ex- the National Human Rights reached. An off icial source at the foreign ministry’s Consular Aff airs Department stated that the government of Albania has HIA warning decided to exempt citizens of Ministry spots 1,932 new fi rms registered in March Qatar from visa requirements for entering Albania and staying in 59 violations the country for 90 days during QNA During the month of March, terials came second with 20%, the summer season which lasts of consumer Doha construction companies topped the trade of public goods ranked from April 1 to October 31, 2018. the list of the most registered third with 12%, electrical and activities with 5951 registrations electronic equipment and acces- Lekhwiya hosts law in March total of 1,932 new com- in this sector, in addition to 1,011 sories came fourth with 10% and panies were registered for commercial activities on restaurants, cafeterias and ice meeting on QNA Ain March 2018, said the groceries and supplying. cream shops came fi fth with 8%. fighting terror Doha Ministry of Economy and Com- The ministry also issued 1,073 As for the transactions con- merce. trade registers for trading in public ducted in the external branches The Lekhwiya force will host According to the ministry’s goods, and 1,629 others for trad- of the ministry during March, tomorrow the regular meeting for epresentatives from the Business Progress Report on ing in construction materials. there were 35,215 transactions. New technologies and Logistics Ministry of Economy and the Commerce Sector for March According to the report, the In the fi eld of Intellectual commission of International RCommerce spotted 59 2018, the number of new major number of commercial licences Property Rights, the report Association of Gendarmeries and violations of the consumer pro- business records reached 1,525, issued, modifi ed or renewed pointed out that the number Police Forces with Military Status tection law, ranging from non- while the number of new sub- during December was 7,811, the of new patent applications last (FIEP). The three-day meeting will invoicing in Arabic to failing to registries reached 407 records. number of licences issued by the March reached 52 applications, be attended by representatives advertise prices, products and Limited liability companies ac- ministry reached 1,498, while and 239 patent applications have from the 17 member-states services, in the month of March. counted for 62% of the major busi- 869 licences were amended, and been renewed. which are Qatar, France, Spain, The inspectors also found vio- ness registers, while the category of 5,444 licences were renewed. The number of trademark ap- Italy, Turkey, Holland, Portugal, lations that included conducting single owner limited liability com- For the number of compa- plications registered last month Romania, Jordan, Morocco, sales without obtaining required panies in second place with 26%, nies closed during last March, was 22, in addition to 46 certifi - Tunisia, Palestine, Ukraine, approvals, failing to clearly show and the individual institution came construction companies topped cates issued in the fi eld of copy- Argentine, Chile, Brazil and service information, failing to in third place with 11%. 50%, the trade in building ma- right and neighbouring rights. Djibouti. abide by prices of vegetables and The meeting will discuss the fruits bulletin, displaying prod- expertise of the member-states ucts that do not comply with the in combating terrorist operations announced and approved stand- from a logistic and information ard specifi cations. system’s aspect. It will also The inspections are part QBRI signs pact with Shafallah Centre promote capacities, information of the ministry’s keenness to and expertise exchange in regulate and monitor the mar- the security field between kets and commercial activities QNA co-operation between their searchers to participate in semi- member states. Qatar had in the country with the aim of Doha staff and researchers. Ad- nars, conferences or workshops joined FIEP in 2013 based on the controlling prices and detecting ditionally, QBRI and the on topics of interest; and use recommendation of the French violations to protect consumer atar Biomedical Research Shafallah Centre will share QBRI’s Institutional Review gendarmerie force. rights. Institute (QBRI), part knowledge and expertise, as Board to review collaborative Qatar-Panama The penalties included ad- Qof Hamad Bin Khalifa well as participate in the de- research projects undertaken by ministrative closure and fi nan- University (HBKU), yesterday velopment of collaborative Shafallah Centre. As per stand- Unattended vehicles parked in front of Hamad International ties discussed cial fi nes which vary between signed a memorandum of under- biomedical research projects ard practice, each collaboration Airport (HIA) will be towed away from now, HIA has an- QR5,000 and QR30,000 accord- standing (MoU) with the Shafal- with mutual consent. under this MoU is to be agreed nounced. The decision, which is being implemented in co-ordi- ing to the laws and decisions lah Centre, a non-profi t organi- upon on a further case-by-case nation with the Ministry of Interior, came into eff ect yesterday. HE the Secretary-General of the governing the work of consumer sation dedicated to children with The agreement will basis. HIA has also asked people to not exceed the stay limit of 10 Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr protection departments. special needs. pave the way for the two QBRI’s MoU with Shafallah minutes in front of the airport. Issuing a kerbside ‘safety alert’ Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi The ministry confi rmed it will The agreement will pave the partners to undertake Centre is the latest agreement on its website, HIA said: “To avoid congestion at HIA kerbside met the Vice-Minister of be fi rm against all those who do way for the two partners to un- joint research activities in a series of collaborative ef- during passenger drop-off and pick-up, and maintain the safety Multilateral Aff airs of the Ministry not comply with the consumer dertake joint research activities, and foster direct contact forts undertaken by the research and security of our premises, we ask our customers to never of Foreign Aff airs of Panama protection law and its executive foster direct contact between between specialists institute. In line with HBKU’s leave vehicles unattended and to not exceed the stay limit of Maria Luisa Navaro in Doha regulations. specialists, as well as facilitate overarching aim of fostering 10 minutes. HIA, in close co-ordination with the Ministry of yesterday. It also confi rmed it will inten- the use of facilities and equip- As per the the MoU, HBKU eff ective partnerships, QBRI Interior Traff ic Police Department, will start to tow unattended The meeting discussed bilateral sify its inspection campaigns to ment for research purposes. and the Shafallah Centre will works with a multitude of na- vehicles parked kerbside from Sunday, April 8, 2018.” A similar relations and ways of supporting control such practices and refer Through this agreement, undertake joint research activi- tional and international stake- notice was issued on HIA’s Twitter page, too. Image courtesy of and developing them, in addition all violators to the authorities the two parties agree to en- ties and publication projects; holders to address global health HIA Twitter page to discussing issues of joint concerned. courage direct contact and exchange invitations for re- concerns. interest. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 3 QATAR

Qatar, Miami look for ways Emir attends Miami reception to boost economic relations

From Page 1 da, to educate and excite locals, Citing existing Qatari invest- football fans and regional media ments in Miami such as the St about Qatar’s plans for the tour- Regis Hotel and W Hotel, Talbert nament. said investment opportunities The SC booth consists of six for Qatari businessmen in Miami scale models of Qatar’s eye- “are also signifi cant.” catching proposed 2022 FIFA “Miami’s business commu- World Cup stadiums and inter- nity is looking forward to further active video panels explaining partnerships with their Qatari the inspiration and design of counterparts in the development each venue. Over 500 fans and of Miami’s existing infrastruc- media attended on the fi rst day ture, as well as US investments alone, asking questions of the in Doha,” Talbert said. SC representatives present to He said the US business and learn more about the fi rst FIFA investment communities can World Cup in the Middle East contribute to projects that sup- and expressing amazement at port Qatar’s economic diversifi - the plans. cation plans to achieve a knowl- In addition to the SC booth, edge-based economy, away cultural organisations and busi- from oil and gas to enhance the nesses from across Qatar set up role of service sectors. stalls around the park to provide The meeting also included a broader insight into everything several presentations about po- Qatar has to off er residents and tential investment projects in visitors. Qatar Airways, Qatar Miami. Foundation, the Qatar Invest- The Supreme Committee ment Authority, Doha Film In- for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has stitute and even a replica Souq begun a two-day roadshow at Waqif all off ered various forms His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting former mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani, and a number of businessmen and other dignitaries in Miami. Bayfront Park in Miami, Flori- of entertainment to attendees. Exhibition in US highlights heritage and culture of Qatar QNA For his part, Qatar Chamber it has an important role in any cis Suarez said that the city is wondered if there was a nicer in the United States, as well as has become a gateway for many Miami chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jas- economic movement in terms of proud to be the starting point city than Miami. the progress of the bilateral rela- countries to enter the US and sim bin Mohammed al-Thani attracting capital to invest in the for Qatar’s economic tour, which He highlighted many similari- tions between the two countries global market, stressing that hailed the organisation of the Qatari market.” will cover four US states to pro- ties between the two cities, and in various fi elds. Miami is working hard to ensure articipants in the exhibition exhibition which he considered He said that Qatar Stock Ex- mote economic ties and strate- expressed hope to visit Doha in For his part, Abdullah al- continuity of that status. associated with Qatar’s on- as a great opportunity to intro- change is currently focusing on gic partnership between the two order to strengthen the bilat- Musallam of the Doha Film In- The mayor noted that Miami Pgoing economic tour in the duce to Miami citizens the Qa- the local market, attracting the countries. eral relations and create greater stitute talked about the activities is currently focusing on the con- United States, which was held in tari heritage and the remarkable largest number of listings dur- The Miami mayor said that partnerships in various fi elds. of the pavilion at the exhibition struction and real estate sector, Miami in the US State of Florida development in the fi eld of edu- ing the next fi ve years, provid- His Highness the Emir of Qa- Mayor Suarez stressed that which represents the fi lm indus- aiming at developing a new sys- over two days, underlined the im- cation in the State, as well as the ing more products to investors, tar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad strengthening the partnerships try in Qatar and aspects of co- tem that attracts more compa- portance of the exhibition to reach 2022 World Cup projects. attracting capitals and working al-Thani has honoured the city between Doha and Miami is very operation with the United States nies and investors from around out to local communities, and Meanwhile, Qatar Stock Ex- with regulators to provide laws by attending personally in con- important because there are in this regard. the world. in highlighting the heritage and change chief executive offi cer and regulations that keep pace junction with the economic tour, many commonalities between Sheikha Aisha Hassan al-Tha- For his part, Ashraf Abu Issa, a culture of Qatar and its leading Rashid al-Mansouri said that with this stage. “The country’s pointing that His Highness could them and it is very important ni from the marketing depart- businessman, praised the organ- economic position in the region. the Qatari economic tour in the economic diversifi cation plans choose any city in the United for the world cities to remain ment at Qatar Foundation said isation of the exhibition and the Qatari Businessmen Asso- United States, which includes towards the knowledge-based States to visit but he chose to connected. that the participation of Qatar well selected location, as well ciation chairman HE Sheikh four States, is the right step to- economy are refl ected positively honour Miami. Mayor Suarez Tariq Abdulaziz al-Sada, di- Foundation in the exhibition as Miami government’s support Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani said wards further promoting the and directly on the performance further noted that His Highness rector, public relations and com- aims at highlighting its activi- for the exhibition by attending that the exhibition represents a economic relations and estab- of the stock exchange, which the Emir’s visit contributes to munication at the Ministry of ties and its important role in the the opening. He also praised the unique event that drew the at- lishing partnerships between is seen in the growth of Qatari strengthening the Qatari-US re- Economy and Commerce, said education sector in Qatar. use of modern technology in the tention of the American people the Qatari and US business companies in diff erent sectors.” lations in various fi elds. that the ministry’s pavilion fo- She noted that the pavilion re- exhibition. through a number of new shows communities. Al-Mansouri noted that there The mayor said that the city cuses on the advantages of the fl ects the co-operation between He stressed importance of the and events, such as the cinema Al-Mansouri noted that the is cooperation and coordination looks forward to establishing Qatari economy and highlights Qatar and the United States, exhibition in strengthening the which attracted many people, confi dence in the Qatari econ- between Qatar Stock Exchange strong partnerships with Doha the depth of the strategic part- noting that Education City has relations between the State of as well as young people who are omy has positively refl ected on and US stock exchanges and in various fi elds, especially in nership between Qatar and the about nine universities, includ- Qatar and the United States, as it involved in these events from Qatar Stock Exchange, high- fi nancial institutions, adding the technology sector and the United States by providing in- ing six American universities. educates Americans about Qatar various institutions in the State. lighting the signifi cance of the that a series of meetings will be exchange of experiences. teractive infographic designs He added that many coun- and about the Qatari-US rap- He noted that the attendees current economic tour in this held with US stock exchanges He noted that he had seen a that address the fundamentals tries chose the city of Miami to prochement, which creates fu- had a closer look at Qatar and regard. “Qatar Stock Exchange and buyers of major investment video about Qatar, showing the of the business environment in establish economic relations ture partnerships between busi- learned about Qatar’s culture is Qatar’s economic front and its funds in the United States. development of Doha which has the State and identify the most and to explore investment op- nessmen and the private sectors and heritage. economic landscape, therefore City of Miami Mayor Fran- inspired him and made him even prominent Qatari investments portunities, noting that the city in both countries. SC for Delivery and Legacy 45 years of Qatar-US hosts roadshow in Miami strategic relations

he Supreme Committee for Doha Film Institute and even a rep- From Page 1 The US administration values Delivery & Legacy (SC) has lica Souq Waqif all off ered various The two countries too have launched Qatar as a reliable partner and Tbegun a two-day roadshow forms of entertainment to the Vision 2040 to strengthen military co- Washington has been trying to solve at Bayfront Park in Miami, Florida, attendees. operation. According to US sources, the Vi- the GCC crisis that has not benefi ted to educate locals, football fans and Meanwhile, football freestylers sion includes Qatar hosting a navy base for anybody media about Qatar’s plans for the wowed audiences with impressive the US 5th Fleet. tournament. displays of football skill on a mini- In the educational area, Qatar Founda- 505 Qatari-US joint ventures are at present The SC booth consists of six scale football pitch, teaching children tion for Education, Science and Commu- operating in Doha. As many as 40 US fi rms models of Qatar’s eye-catching pro- present a range of tricks to show off nity Development’s Education City hosts are licensed under the umbrella of the Qa- posed 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums to their friends. branch campuses of around half a dozen tar Financial Centre. The scope for further and interactive video panels explain- The Roadshow forms the sec- internationally acclaimed and highly repu- economic co-operation is seriously being ing the inspiration and design of each ond part of the SC’s involvement table US universities. An educational co- pursued by the Qatar-US Economic Forum venue. Over 500 fans and media at- in a month-long business tour of operation agreement facilitates knowledge currently underway in Miami, Florida. tended on the fi rst day alone, asking the US being led by Qatar’s Min- and expertise exchange between the two The US administration values Qatar as a questions of the SC representatives istry of Economy and Commerce nations. From time to time, Qatar’s em- reliable partner and Washington has been present to learn more about the fi rst with support from Qatar Cham- bassy in Washington off ers educational trying to solve the GCC crisis that has not FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and ber, the Qatar-US Business As- programmes and donations in support benefi ted anybody. expressing amazement at the plans. sociation and the US Chamber of of public programmes of schools in the During almost all of the phone conver- Mohamed Qassem al-Emadi, Commerce. Designs of stadiums on display. US. The exchange of university students sations held so far between His Highness Commercial Assurance Manager at The Roadshow will stop in four and teachers also takes place between the the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- the SC, who led the SC delegation, US cities, beginning with Miami, universities of the two countries. There Thani and US President Trump, the latter said of the fi rst day of the event: Florida, followed by Washington, are about 1,200 Qatari students currently has thanked Qatar for its eff orts in fi ght- “Miami is a football-mad city, so we DC, Charleston, South Carolina, studying in the US. ing and countering terrorism. This proves set out to educate local fans about and fi nally Raleigh, North Carolina. As for the economic and business rela- the hollowness of the “Qatar support- Qatar’s World Cup hosting plans to The SC will participate in each city tionship between the two nations, Qatar ing extremists” propaganda by the siege get them excited about the unique stop, educating football fans across has the fi rst legally established American countries. experience they can expect in 2022. the Eastern US about the fi rst FIFA Chamber of Commerce abroad. The cham- However, it has been 10 months now that The response has been fantastic, World Cup to ever take place in the ber was launched in 2010 with objectives a quartet of Arab nations led by Saudi Ara- with families, football fans and pas- Middle East and only the second in that include the “expansion of trade and bia has imposed a land, sea and air blockade sers-by all showing lots of interest. Asia. US football fans have a strong investment” between the two nations. on Qatar. During this period, a political dis- I’m confi dent that the work we’re heritage of visiting FIFA World Cup Qatar is the sixth largest trading part- pute that could have been resolved within doing here will pay-off in 2022, tournaments, with US fans applying ner of the US; the trade volume between the GCC or Arab framework, was blown when I hope to see a strong contin- for over 87,000 tickets to the 2018 the two countries has reached $6bn. Qatar out of proportions on the strength of fake gent of Miami fans visiting Qatar.” FIFA World Cup Russia despite the Investment Authority has pledged to in- news, massive lobbying and propaganda. In addition to the SC booth, cul- US national team failing to qualify. vest $35bn in US in sectors such as energy, Qatar realises that the US is keen to fi nd a tural organisations and businesses Miami was chosen as the fi rst technology, and real estate over fi ve years solution to the dispute that has jeopardised from across Qatar set up stalls stop on the SC Roadshow because (2015-20), as well as an additional $10bn the security of the entire Gulf region. The around the park to provide a broad- the city has a long history of foot- The logo at the exhibition. for infrastructure projects in the US. As Emir-Trump summit is a great opportu- er insight into everything Qatar ball passion, as demonstrated by much as 16% of Qatar’s imports came from nity to explore avenues for enhanced bilat- has to off er residents and visitors. the joint US-Canadian-Mexican tential host city for the tourna- Real Madrid player, is also looking the US in 2017 with the trade balance reg- eral co-operation, as well as ways to ensure Qatar Airways, Qatar Foundation, bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ment. David Beckham, the former to launch a new Major League Soc- istering a surplus of $5bn in favour of the lasting amity among the Gulf nations. the Qatar Investment Authority, which has chosen Miami as a po- England, Manchester United and cer (MLS) team in the city by 2020. US. Some 102 fully-owned US entities and [email protected] Gulf Times 4 Monday, April 9, 2018 QATAR ‘Lifestyle modifi cation QCDC to kick off ‘Career Village’ today key to fi ghting obesity’ atar Career Develop- facturing, communication and to provide young people with ment Centre (QCDC), a transportation, health, secu- fi rst-hand insight into these ca- ost patients seek- loss choose a non-surgical solution. Qmember of Qatar Foun- rity, media, and culture. The reers.” ing non-surgical weight She says that while all weight loss dation (QF), is holding its Career event aims to instil a strong Organisations participating Mloss solutions at Hamad programmes off ered at the National Village event for high school career culture among Qatari in the Career Village include Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Na- Obesity Treatment Center empha- students at the Education City high school students, famil- Virginia Commonwealth Uni- tional Obesity Treatment Center can sise lifestyle modifi cations, high- Student Centre from today. The iarise them with the dynamics versity School of the Arts in Qa- achieve a healthy body weight within lighting adjustments to the types three-day event welcomes stu- and challenges of Qatar’s labour tar, Qatar University, College of six to 12 months of entering a weight and quantities of foods consumed dents from schools across Qatar market, and introduce them to the North Atlantic-Qatar, Qa- loss programme, a consultant at the and the incorporation of physical ac- from 8am to 1pm, with the fi rst career fi elds that enable them to tar Scientifi c Club, Visual Art Qatar Metabolic Institute has said. tivity goals, patients who seek non- day dedicated to male students best serve the country. Centre, ScorePlus Education “The National Obesity Treatment surgical solutions tend to need extra from public schools. The second Abdullah al-Mansoori, di- Qatar, Qatar Banking Studies Center delivers holistic, multidis- support with setting realistic goals. day will be dedicated to female rector, QCDC, said: “The Ca- and Business Administration ciplinary care for patients seeing “For some individuals, weight students, while private school reer Village plays a key role in Secondary School for Girls, medical and surgical management loss is essential to avoid or manage students will be welcomed on familiarising students with Stenden University Qatar, Qa- of obesity and the prevention of chronic diseases and conditions as- the third day. QCDC’s Career existing career paths and the tar Aeronautical College, Qatar weight-related diseases,” explained sociated with obesity, such as dia- Village will open its doors to academic specialties that lead Airways, Ministry of Interior, Dr Marwa Gomaa Hussein Mokhtar. betes, pre-diabetes, and high blood families, parents, academic and to these tracks, by connecting General Authority of Customs, Since opening, over 4,700 patients pressure. The longer a person is career counsellors on April 11, young people with institutions Qatargas, Qatar Petroleum, have benefi ted from the services of obese, the more signifi cant obesity- from 4pm to 7pm. and universities participating Hamad Medical Corporation, the Center, located in Hamad Bin related risk factors become. Having The Career Village brings to- in the event. The event will en- University of Calgary in Qatar, Khalifa Medical City. Patients are a BMI equal to or greater than 30 is gether representatives of lead- able students to ask questions Ministry of Justice Centre for normally referred to the National a major risk factor for a number of ing Qatar-based organisations and learn about existing career Legal and Judicial Studies, Al Obesity Treatment Center from oth- chronic diseases,” says Dr Mokhtar. and institutions from sectors opportunities as well as to par- Kass Sports Channels, Qatar er HMC outpatient clinics, includ- Each patient seeking treatment including education, business ticipate in interactive activities Biobank, the British Council ing the National Diabetes Centers at the National Obesity Treatment and fi nance, energy and manu- organised by these institutions Qatar, among others. and obstetrics and gynaecology de- Center undergoes a comprehensive partments, as well as from primary medical assessment that covers healthcare centres. their complete health history, rang- Staff ed by a multidisciplinary ing from sleep patterns to hormone team of doctors, nurses, dietitians, health. Dr Mokhtar says consider- educators, and physiotherapists, able time is spent counselling pa- all patients referred to the Center tients about both the importance of undergo a comprehensive clinical reaching and maintaining a healthy evaluation in advance of a person- weight. alised weight loss treatment plan “Successful non-surgical weight being developed. According to Dr loss programmes are based on a Mokhtar, not all patients are can- combination of diet, behaviour didates for surgical weight loss modifi cation, and regular exer- procedures and some patients who cise,|” she said while adding that do meet the clinical standards that prescription medications may also qualify them for surgical weight be part of the treatment plan. Dr Marwa Mokhtar Mercedes Benz G-Class recall

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce within the framework of its ongoing eff orts carried out. The MEC has urged all customers (MEC), in collaboration with Nasser Bin to protect consumers and ensure that to report any violations to its Consumer Khaled Automobiles, has announced the automobile dealers follow up on vehicles’ Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud recall of Mercedes Benz G-Class model defects and repair them. The ministry said Department through the following channels: of 2016 because the engine control unit that it will co-ordinate with the dealer to Call centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], software does not correspond to factory follow up on the maintenance and repair Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, specification. works and will communicate with customers MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_ The MEC said the recall campaign comes to ensure that the necessary repairs are Qatar Students participate in a range of interactive activities at Career Village 2017.

Panama envoy visits Qatar Debate Centre

he Vice-minister of Foreign Aff airs of TPanama, Maria Luisa Navarro, visited the 4th In- ternational Schools Arabic Debating Championship (ISADC) at Qatar National Convention Centre. Nav- arro, who met with Qatar Debate Centre executive director Dr Hayat Abdulla Maarafi , expressed her de- light at the participation of Panama in the champion- ship. “The team members come from a city where a large number of Arab com- munities live. Panama is a blend of many cultures which is a privilege to strengthen relationship be- tween the country and the people.” The Vice-minister of Foreign Aff airs of Panama, Maria Luisa Navarro, meets with Qatar This is the second time for Debate Centre executive director Dr Hayat Abdulla Maarafi as other off icials look on. Panama to take part in the ISADC held in Qatar, Nav- remarkable organisation between Russia and Qatar, pointed out that the objec- arro added. and arrangements made by especially in the fi eld of aca- tives of Qatar Debate Centre The Russian and Cana- QatarDebate Center. Ismail demic education.” to disseminate the Arabic dian delegations participat- Gondolin, Russian team The Canadian team language and develop criti- ing in the ISADC praised the coach, said: “This is our fi rst coach, Bahja Mahmoud, cal thinking skills as well outstanding performance participation and I hope it recalled this is the second as spread the culture of re- delivered by the students contributes to the enhance- participation of the Cana- specting the other’s opinion in the fi rst round and the ment of bilateral relations dian team in the ISADC. She are being fulfi lled.

Cruise ship Amadea arrives in Doha

Doha Port yesterday welcomed cruise ship Amadea, which arrived in the country for the first time in the ongoing 2017-18 cruise season with more than 700 passengers of diff erent nationalities on board, Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) announced on Twitter. Picture courtesy of Mwani Qatar Twitter page Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 5 QATAR Pakistan embassy holds HMC Sealine clinic treats Kashmir solidarity day 681 patients he Pakistan embassy yes- terday hosted a function Tto show solidarity with total of 681 patients were “people of Indian-held Kash- treated at Hamad Medi- mir.” Acal Corporation’s (HMC) A large gathering attended the Sealine Medical Clinic during the programme, which began with just-concluded camping season, the screening of a documentary it was announced yesterday. highlighting the struggle of the This is the eighth consecutive people for the right to self-de- year the healthcare organisation termination, a press statement has operated the clinic, which issued by the embassy said. began receiving patients in No- During his speech, Pakistan vember last year and was offi - ambassador Shahzad Ahmad cially closed on March 31. said the government of Paki- Ali Abdullah al-Khater, chief Ali Abdullah al-Khater stan has declared an additional communications offi cer at HMC Kashmir Solidarity Day in light and chair of the Healthcare The Sealine Medical Clinic of the deteriorating situation in Communications Committee, was supported by HMC’s Am- the state. thanked all clinic staff , including bulance Service, which con- “Since partition in 1947, Pa- doctors and nurses, Ambulance tinued to provide campers with kistan has given moral, diplo- Pakistan ambassador Shahzad Service staff , and clinic adminis- round-the-clock access to a matic and political support to Ahmad addressing the event. A view of the gathering. trators, for their service. He also team of paramedics and well- the cause of the Kashmiri peo- thanked the Ministry of Mu- equipped ambulance vehicles. ple, for their right to self-de- to the Kashmiri people. The this is not the case in Indian- rights violations of the Kash- fact-fi nding missions. nicipality and Environment for This year the Ambulance Serv- termination, as enshrined in the right to self-determination, occupied Kashmir,” the envoy miris in Indian-occupied Kash- “We ask the world to take note its ongoing support of the clinic ice added two ambulances and United Nations resolutions on the right to self-expression, stated. mir and has requested the Of- and not forget the plight of the throughout the season. two 4x4 emergency vehicles to the issue. and the protection of human “The government of Pakistan fi ce of the High Commissioner Kashmiri people who are fi ght- Dr Hamid Ghareeb, consult- its operation in the area. During “This event serves as a re- rights, are universal rights ac- urges the international com- for Human Rights and the OIC ing for their basic and funda- ant at HMC’s Medical Adminis- public holidays and weekends, minder to the international cepted in modern society and munity to take cognisance of Independent Permanent Hu- mental rights,” the ambassador tration Department and medical the number of ambulances on- community of their obligations should be available to all. Yet the gross and systematic human man Rights Commission to send added. supervisor of the Sealine Medi- site was increased to six and the cal Clinic, said 681 patients (633 number of 4x4 emergency vehi- adults and 48 children) were cles was increased to four. treated during this year’s camp- Al-Khater, who is also project ing season, including 423 Qataris manager for the Sealine Medical and 258 expatriates. Centre, said HMC operates the QIB announces 2nd winner of Visa 2018 FIFA World Cup prizes Thirteen patients with severe clinic to ensure medical services, medical conditions, caused by and specifi cally emergency med- accidents, bone fractures, and ical services, are available for atar Islamic Bank (QIB) card for purchases in Qatar and The QIB promotion runs un- QIB to provide our customers Visa debit card internationally heart attacks were transferred residents during the busy camp- has announced the sec- abroad. til April 15 to reward six more with unique products tailored for a minimum of QR5,000 dur- to the Emergency Department ing season. Qond winner of its FIFA This month’s winner, Hissa tickets to three lucky QIB Visa to meet their specifi c fi nancial ing the month, will be eligible to at Hamad General Hospital by The annual operation of the World Cup Russia Campaign. al-Mohannadi, was awarded a cardholders. The fully-paid needs. While supporting them enter the monthly draw which ambulance for additional treat- clinic reinforces HMC’s com- The prize packages are off ered in fully-paid package to fl y to Rus- packages include airfare, de- at important moments and de- will select one winner every ment. mitment to providing the best partnership with Visa, the offi - sia and attend the 2018 FIFA luxe accommodation, tick- cisions throughout their life, we month. Offi cials at the clinic have said possible healthcare to campers cial payment partner of the FIFA World Cup semi-fi nal match, ets for a 2018 FIFA World Cup also want to grant them exciting Customers who use the patients were treated for a vari- in the Sealine, Khor Al Adaid (In- World Cup. along with a companion of her semi-final match with pre- life experiences,” said D Anand, same cards for a minimum of ety of complaints and ailments, land Sea), and surrounding areas, QIB started the campaign choice. The draw was conducted match hospitality, and a guided QIB general manager, Personal QR15,000 during the three with 493 cases involving fever, he added. on January 15, giving all its in the presence of an offi cial rep- tour to the beautiful city of Banking Group. month-campaign will also get abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and The Sealine Medical Clinic Visa cardholders the exclusive resentative from the Ministry of Saint Petersburg, courtesy of Customers who use their Visa an additional chance to win the cough, and 175 patients receiv- was located close to the seashore chance to attend the World Cup Economy and Commerce and Visa. credit cards locally or interna- fully-paid 2018 FIFA World Cup ing treatment for wounds, burns, and popular camping areas at the in Russia by simply using their QIB representatives. “It is our responsibility in tionally, and those who use their packages. intestinal infections and asthma. same site as the last three years.

Splash felicitates BMW winner

Splash recently announced the winner a BMW 520i as part of a grand promotion to celebrate the fashion retailer’s 25th birthday. The winner of the grand prize, Mohamed Rahim, was felicitated by San- tosh Pai, COO of Landmark Group Qatar; Muralitharan, business manager of Splash Qatar; Rajgopal, marketing manager; and other dignitar- ies from Splash at a ceremony in Splash, Centrepoint, Al Asmakh Mall.

Qatar Airways to add two more daily fl ights to Muscat

atar Airways has announced that it will add two additional Qdaily frequencies to Muscat, Oman’s largest city and capital, from tomorrow and June 15. The additional frequencies will take the airline’s daily services to Muscat to seven and help meet the increased de- mand of tourists visiting Oman, as well as that of transit travellers fl ying via Doha to the Far East, the airline said in a statement. A ‘highly in-demand’ destination for tourists and business travellers alike, Muscat is known as a cultural treasure trove, with many lively souqs The additional frequencies will take the airline’s daily services to Muscat to seven. off ering a traditional Arabian shopping experience. Muscat is also home to take the airline’s number of weekly panding network as the second desti- several must-visit landmarks, includ- fl ights to Oman to 70 weekly, including nation, followed by Sohar in 2017. ing Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Al 14 fl ights to Salalah and seven to Sohar. Passengers transiting through Ha- Jalai Fort, Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace They will also provide passengers with mad International Airport can take ad- and the Royal Opera House Muscat. increased connectivity to in-demand vantage of the many services available, Qatar Airways Group chief executive destinations such as Bangkok, Lon- including free Wi-Fi, an airside swim- Akbar al-Baker said: “We are delighted don, Manila, Bali, Istanbul, Colombo, ming pool and children’s play areas. to off er two more daily frequencies to Phuket, Kolkata, Jakarta and Chennai, They can also dine in one of Qatar Duty Muscat, one of our most sought-after to name a few, the statement notes. Free (QDF)’s extensive selection of res- destinations. These new services, co- The additional frequency com- taurants and cafés, or shop in QDF’s inciding perfectly with the arrival of mencing tomorrow will be served by an wide selection of boutiques. the summer holidays, will provide pas- Airbus A320, featuring 12 seats in Busi- Following are the schedules of the sengers with even greater fl exibility ness Class and 132 seats in Economy. additional daily frequencies - com- and convenience in connecting to one This new frequency will be suspended mencing tomorrow: QR1138 depart- of the many destinations on our rap- during the holy month of Ramadan, ing Doha at 11.25am and arriving in idly expanding global network. They from May 16 until June 15, and resume Muscat at 2.15pm, and QR1139 depart- will also enable more people to experi- following the Eid holidays. The seventh ing Muscat at 3.35pm and arriving in ence the delights of Muscat. We look frequency commencing on June 15 will Doha at 4.20pm; commencing on June forward to bringing more visitors to also be served by an A320 aircraft. 15: QR1124 departing Doha at 4.55pm Oman, and connecting more Omanis Qatar’s national carrier fi rst began and arriving in Muscat at 7.45pm, and to the world.” services to Oman in 2000. In 2013, QR1125 departing Muscat at 10.10pm The two additional frequencies will Salalah was added to the airline’s ex- and arriving in Doha at 10.55pm. Gulf Times 6 Monday, April 9, 2018 QATAR Secrets Notes unveils alluring new fragrance

ecrets Notes boutique in charm of the Caribbean Sea and The Pearl-Qatar, has un- the wonderful and alluring na- Sveiled the new fragrance ture of the island of Tamarindo Tamarindo from Memo Paris in Costa Rica,” according to a that encapsulates the aroma of statement. pineapple and delicate spices Memo Paris has also intro- with the warmth and softness of duced a wide collection of 11 fl annel. fragrances inspired from various The event was attended by destinations visited and loved by Abu Issa Holding vice chairman the couple John and Clara such Nabil Abu Issa, executive vice as Morocco, Ibiza, Ireland, Rus- The winners with officials. president Fawaz al-Idrisi, Memo sia, and Spain. Paris co-founder John Molley, “Memo Paris has succeeded and a group of professionals in in changing the concept of per- the fi eld of perfumes and fash- fumery over the past years, by ion. providing pure scents, and un- “Tamarindo is inspired by conventional ingredients, which the couple Clara and John from may not seem to be familiar but aromatic notes which depict amazing, as each perfume brings the modern character, notes of back a diff erent memory,” the AAB names winners of choice, dreams, feelings, and the statement added. Dream Car Art Contest bdullah Abdulghani & tempt by AAB — Toyota to dis- to share ideas about the future Bros Co (AAB), the ex- cover the hidden potential in of mobility by drawing their Aclusive dealer of Toyota children and unveil their im- dream cars, which may enable in Qatar, has announced the agination for future cars, the one of the talented children in winners of the Dream Car Art company said in a statement Qatar to visit Japan. Contest. yesterday. The winners are as follows — Children in three age cat- In order to “off er ample op- under 8 years: Krishna Mahesh egories had participated in the portunity” for children to take (MES Indian School), Varsha competition: under 8 years, part in the competition, AAB — Stalin (DPS Modern Indian 8-11 years and 12-15 years. Toyota collaborated with more School) and Ahaan Gupta (DPS Since 2004, the Toyota than 60 schools for the contest Modern Indian School); 8-11 Dream Car Art Contest has in which students draw their years: Keerthana Jayachan- been conducted as part of Toy- dream cars at their schools. dran (Rajagiri Public School), ota Motor Corp Japan’s social The Toyota Dream Car Sanjeena Banerjee (Birla Pub- contribution initiatives. Art Contest gives children lic School) and Krishna Ashok In Qatar, AAB — Toyota or- throughout the world an op- (MES Indian School); and 12- ganised the contest with the portunity to develop an interest 15 years: Marilyn Judith Rego aim of developing children’s in cars and helps them feel the (DPS Modern Indian School), creative abilities and motivat- joy and importance of having a Siddhi Prasad (DPS Mod- ing them to express their talent dream. ern Indian School) and Jasim in drawing their dream cars. The contest invites children Manzoor Muldad (Ideal Indian Officials at the launch of the new Tamarindo fragrance. The initiative was an at- from all corners of the globe School). Some of the drawings on display. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 7 QATAR HBKU develops new global law programme new programme, the In- ternational Law and Pol- Aicy Research Programme (ILPRP), has been developed as part of a two-day workshop or- ganised by the College of Law and Public Policy (CLPP) at The participants are seen during the training programme Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), it was announced yes- terday. The workshop dealt with public-private partnership ap- proaches for financing energy IAP staff take infrastructure projects. Joining with global energy experts, professors and ad- ministrators from CLPP, the part in course workshop examined how pub- lic-private partnerships could offer opportunities for private sector developers, financiers on security and entrepreneurs to unlock new business opportunities in Qatar’s energy sector, HBKU said in a statement. and fi refi ghting The founding dean of CLPP, Professor Clinton W Francis, said the new programme de- bn Ajayan Projects (IAP), thorities Security Depart- veloped for CLPP would ben- a leading facility and ment, and another on safety efit both the college and Qatar. Iproperty management and firefighting by the Civil “One important outcome of company in Qatar, has held a Defence. In a statement, this workshop is the launch of training programme in asso- IAP said the programme was our International Law and Pol- ciation with the Ministry of an initiative of Ibn Ajayan icy Research Programme. The Interior (MoI) for its securi- Projects chairman Mohamed ILPRP will play a strategic role Professor Clinton W Francis with professors and administrators from CLPP as well as global energy experts. ty-related employees to im- bin Mahdi bin Ajayan al-Ab- in enabling information ex- prove their skills. habi. “Ibn Ajayan Projects change between international support for the robust realisa- bal Energy Law and Sustain- tional Law and Sustainability, Industry, Qatar; Howard Bevan, holds training programmes to academics and the energy in- tion of the Qatar National Vi- ability, University of Dundee; Utrecht University. senior energy adviser, the Ab- “Ibn Ajayan Projects aid our employees in adapting dustry in Qatar,” he explained. sion 2030,” he said. Prof Yinka Omorogbe, attor- The roundtable discussions dullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah holds training to and integrating with daily Prof Francis noted that the The workshop was chaired ney general and minister for at the workshop included rep- Foundation for Energy and Sus- programmes to aid our work challenges and safety college was uniquely situated by Dr Damilola S Olawuyi, as- justice, Edo State Government resentatives from Qatar’s legal tainable Development, Doha, employees in adapting issues,” he said. to bring together experts and sociate professor of energy and of Nigeria and former board community who specialise in Qatar; William Cattan from to and integrating with The induction programme practitioners in the area of en- environmental law at CLPP. secretary and general counsel, commercial and energy fi elds. Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners; daily work challenges was attended by 60 em- ergy law. The workshop was led by ex- Nigerian National Petroleum Among the participants were Gabriel Onagoruwa, White and and safety issues” ployees and the training “The strength of our faculty perts in international energy Corporation; Prof Ibironke Mohamed Essa al-Mannai, gen- Case LLP; Dr Mohamed Evren was provided by MoI offic- and programmes in priority ar- law and policy, including Prof Odumosu-Ayanu, associate eral counsel, Qatar Petroleum; Tok, assistant professor in public Two types of training were ers. Mohamed Samir, HR eas such as international and Bassam Fattouh, director, Ox- professor, College of Law, Uni- Judith Risstrom, general coun- policy, HBKU College of Islamic provided as part of the ini- co-ordinator of Ibn Ajayan comparative law, energy, infra- ford Institute for Energy Stud- versity of Saskatchewan; and sel, Qatar Shell, Doha; Fahad Studies, as well as technical ex- tiative, one on security by Projects, played a key role in structure, and sustainable de- ies, University of Oxford; Prof Prof Seline Trevisanut, pro- al-Kuwari, head of energy policy perts from the Qatar Society of the Establishments and Au- organising the event. velopment will provide strong Raphael Heffron, chair in Glo- fessor and chair of Interna- at the Ministry of Energy and Engineers. UCQ hosts forum for nurses’ professional development

he University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) recently held a continu- Ting professional development (CPD) symposium on the topic of im- munisation for 60 nurses from Pri- mary Healthcare Centres around the country. Launched at the invitation of Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), the event was the first of an ongoing series of CPD opportunities organised by the university in order to enhance the professional growth of healthcare practitioners in Qatar. UCQ, which is the exclusive pro- vider of Bachelor and Master nursing programmes in the country, part- nered with PHCC and Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q) to or- ganise the event. Guest speakers in- cluded Dr Amal Khidir of WCM-Q, Dr Khalid El-Awad from the PHCC and Dr Shane Pawluk from the Col- lege of Pharmacy, Qatar University. By the end of the year, 250 primary care nurses from numerous health- care facilities in Qatar will have par- ticipated in this series on vaccina- tion, UCQ has said in a statement. Topics presented and discussed in- cluded the importance of vaccines in preventing illness and disease from spreading, how vaccines activate an immune response, how vaccines are developed and rigorously tested for safety, and the safe storage and han- dling of vaccines. Qatar’s National Dr Deborah White welcomes Dr Amal Khidir and Dr Khalid El-Awad. Immunisation Guidelines and immu- nisation schedule, along with strate- make such an important contribution sor of paediatrics at WCM-Q, gave a gies for health promotion to improve to the community.” presentation about basic immunolo- immunisation rates in Qatar were also Dr Zelaikha Mohsin al-Wahedi, gy and vaccine-preventable diseases. carefully reviewed and discussed. executive director for Workforce De- Dr Khidir said, “Qatar is blessed Upcoming CPD in this series will velopment and Training in PHCC, is with a very diverse multicultural also include practical workshops and a firm advocate of professional devel- context of health providers, patients clinical simulations to be led by Uni- opment and continuous healthcare and its population in general. This versity of Calgary in Qatar faculty improvement. diversity brings with it many com- members. “PHCC is leading on a five-year petencies but also leads to complex- “The curriculum we are using was nursing visionary strategic plan ity and variability in the approach to guided by immunisation competen- aligned to the national initiatives, immunisation and the advice shared cies for healthcare providers devel- which highlights our commitment with patients. For this reason it is oped by the Canadian Public Health to the development of all our nurses great to work alongside other health Agency. These were then adapted to to provide the highest quality of pa- professionals to unify and standard- meet the standards of the Qatar Na- tient care and experience in primary ise immunisation-related practices. tional Immunisation Guidelines for healthcare,” explained Dr al-Wahedi. These modules are very hands-on vaccine providers, released in 2017,” “The nursing vaccination programme and they address knowledge, skills explained Dr Deborah White, dean, is an exemplary example of this com- and attitudes towards immunisa- UCQ. “This subject is very important mitment, working closely with our tion, making them both effective and because we need to make sure vaccine universities, to design and deliver an practical. I am honoured to be part of providers receive ongoing competen- enriched competency based educa- this team.” cy education. It’s a public health re- tion programme. This will enable In 2017, UCQ received its offi cial sponsibility to ensure that healthcare continuous professional develop- accreditation as a continuing profes- providers are trained how to give vac- ment for all our nurses, as part of sional development provider from the cines and that they provide appro- healthcare teams, to improve clinical Qatar Council for Healthcare Practi- priate and timely information to the outcomes and satisfaction for all our tioners under the Ministry of Public public. Our faculty are very excited patients.” Health. This accreditation certifi es the to be engaged in this event and to be Dr Amal Khidir, associate profes- university to provide this education. Gulf Times 8 Monday, April 9, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Four dead in IS Trump warns of ‘big price’ suicide strike on after suspected Syria gas attack

AFP party HQ Beirut

AFP n alleged chemical attack Ramadi that left dozens dead in ASyria’s rebel-held town of Douma sparked internation- suicide attack targeting al outrage yesterday, with US a political party head- President Donald Trump warn- A quarters in western Iraq ing there would be a “big price has killed four people and in- to pay”. jured seven others, including a As condemnation poured in, candidate in polls set for May, Syria’s government and oppo- officials said yesterday. sition negotiators announced The Islamic State (IS) group rebels had agreed to evacuate issued a statement claiming the Douma, the only remaining part attack, which took place late of their one-time stronghold Saturday in the tribal desert Eastern Ghouta. province of Al-Anbar. Trump’s threat came exactly A local security official said a year and a day after the US on condition of anonymity fi red cruise missiles at a Syrian that “two suicide bombers dis- air base in retaliation for a dead- guised as soldiers entered the ly sarin gas attack in 2017. Al-Hal Party headquarters”, a “Many dead, including wom- prominent party in the region. en and children, in mindless One of the attackers “deto- CHEMICAL attack in Syria,” nated his explosive belt while Trump wrote on Twitter yester- political leaders held a meet- day, lashing out at Syrian Presi- ing” at the campaign head- dent Bashar al-Assad and Rus- quarters in the city of Hit, sia’s Vladimir Putin, a key ally of about 200 kilometres west of the regime. Baghdad, said General Qassam “President Putin, Russia and al-Mohamadi, head of army Iran are responsible for backing operations in the area. Assad. Big price to pay,” he said. An image grab taken from a video released by the Syrian civil defence in Douma shows an unidentified volunteer holding an oxygen mask over a child’s face at a hospital “Three members of the se- Asked whether the US could following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town, yesterday. Right: A picture taken yesterday, shows Syrian Army soldiers gathering in an area on the eastern curity forces were killed and again respond with a missile outskirts of Douma, as they continue their fierce off ensive to retake the last opposition holdout in Eastern Ghouta. seven people, including can- strike, White House homeland didate Zineb Abdel Hamid al- security adviser Tom Bossert against them being used to jus- said. France, which has repeat- out of operation. “This morning, sia’s warning against foreign by Moscow last month, saw Hiti, were wounded,” he said. told ABC television: “I wouldn’t tify military action. edly said evidence of chemical we drove around and found bod- military action. Douma is the more than 46,000 rebels and A municipal employee yes- take anything off the table.” “A military intervention un- use in Syria could prompt mili- ies lying in the streets.We took last remaining opposition-held civilians bussed to the opposi- terday also succumbed to inju- Damascus and its allies have der far-fetched and fabricated tary action, called for an urgent four trips to bring the corpses town in Ghouta, the former tion-held northwest. ries sustained in the attack, the denounced the accusations, pretexts in Syria, where there UN Security Council meeting back, each with three or fi ve rebel bastion outside Damascus It appeared Douma would anonymous official said. with the Syrian regime brushing are Russian soldiers at the re- today. dead,” the SARC member said. that has now been ravaged by a follow suit, with a preliminary He said the second attacker them off as an “unconvincing quest of the legitimate Syr- Syria’s White Helmets, who He said the hospital was seven-week regime assault. deal that saw hundreds of ci- detonated his belt shortly after broken record”.Russia’s foreign ian government, is absolutely act as fi rst responders in rebel- teeming with dead and Since February 18, Syrian vilians and rebels from Jaish the first, but did not cause any ministry called the latest re- unacceptable and could have held areas of Syria, said “poi- wounded, as well as civilians and Russian forces have waged al-Islam quit the town last casualties. ports a provocation and warned the most dire consequences,” it sonous chlorine gas” had been taking cover from the previous a fierce military onslaught and week.The rebels had been hop- Medical sources confirmed used late Saturday. night’s bombardment. “Im- negotiated two withdrawals ing to land a deal that would let the death toll of four and said In a joint statement with agine, people were cooking to retake control of 95% of them stay in Douma, but Syria’s candidate Hiti had been hospi- UNSC to meet twice today after rival requests the Syrian American Medi- for their kids next to corpses. Ghouta.Agreements, brokered government insisted they leave. talised with light injuries. cal Society, the White Helmets There’s nowhere to bury the For three years, the IS ruled The United Nations Security pendent investigation into what said more than 500 cases were dead now.” the province, which stretches Council (UNSC) will meet twice happened, and hold account- brought to medical centres The reports prompted in- Turkey condemns use of chemical weapons from the western periphery of today following rival requests by able those responsible for this “with symptoms indicative of ternational anger, with UN the capital to the border with Russia and the United States after atrocious act,” US ambassador to exposure to a chemical agent”. It chief Antonio Guterres saying Turkey condemned the use of has been working with allies war-torn Syria. a deadly chemical attack in Syria the United Nations Nikki Haley said six died while being treat- any confirmed use of chemi- chemical weapons in Douma, of Syrian President Bashar al- In December, Baghdad de- and a warning by US President said in a statement yesterday. ed, and rescuers found 42 more cal weapons would be “abhor- a rebel-held town in Syria’s Assad for a political resolution clared “victory” against IS Donald Trump that there would Haley warned last month that if people dead in their homes with rent”. Pope Francis described eastern Ghouta, the foreign to the crisis in Syria, called for after retaking the group’s last be a “big price to pay.” the UN Security Council fails to similar conditions. the allegations as “terrible ministry said in a statement international action against the urban stronghold in Al-Anbar. Russia called for a meeting of the act on Syria, Washington “remains Footage posted online by the news”, adding that “nothing, yesterday. A chemical attack attacks in Douma.“The Syrian But according to experts, 15-member council on “interna- prepared to act if we must,” just White Helmets, which it was nothing can justify the use of on a rebel-held town in eastern regime must give account for militants are still hiding along tional threats to peace and secu- as it did last year when it bombed not possible to verify, showed such devices of extermination Ghouta has killed dozens the attacks in various regions the porous border with Syria rity,” though the precise topic of a Syrian government air base victims with yellowed skin against defenceless people and of people, medical services of the country at diff erent and in parts of the Iraqi desert. discussion was not immediately over a deadly chemical weapons crumpled on the ground and populations.” reported, and Washington said times,” a spokesman for Presi- Elections held in Iraq since clear, diplomats said yesterday.A attack. foaming at the mouth. The European Union said the reports — if confirmed — dent Tayyip Erdogan said. the US-led invasion in 2003 minute later the United States, The council president for April, “The scene was horrifying. “the evidence points towards would demand an immediate “The entire international com- and the fall of Saddam Hus- France, Britain, Sweden, Poland, Peru, initially scheduled a meeting So many people were choking, yet another chemical attack international response. munity, primarily countries that sein’s regime have all been the Netherlands, Kuwait, Peru and on the chemical attack for today so many people,” White Hel- by the regime”, while opposi- “We strongly condemn the at- have an influence on the Syrian marred by deadly violence Ivory Coast called for a meeting morning and a meeting on the mets member Firas al-Doumi tion ally Turkey stated it had a tack, which there is strong sus- regime, has a responsibility to among various tribal sects, un- to discuss the chemical weapons Russian request for today after- said from inside Douma. “strong suspicion” Assad was picion was carried out by the take the necessary steps in able to live in peace with each attack in Syria. “The Security noon. However, diplomats said A member of the Syrian Arab to blame. regime, whose record on use of order to prevent similar war other. But in the runup Council has to come together and Russia was insisting its meeting Red Crescent (SARC) inside the But key backer Iran came chemical weapons is known by crimes and crimes against to the May 12 polls, the demand immediate access for be held first because its request town said volunteers were still to Assad’s defence, saying the the international community,” humanity,” Ibrahim Kalin said in country has enjoyed a respite first responders, support an inde- was made first. trying their best despite the or- allegations were a Western the ministry said. Turkey, which a statement. from violence. ganisation’s Douma branch being conspiracy and echoing Rus-

DIPLOMACY France hosts Saudi prince Palestinian shot in on global tour Saudi Arabia’s crown prince ar- rived in France yesterday on the next leg of a global tour aimed at West Bank: police reshaping his kingdom’s austere image. Prince Mohamed bin Salman will hold meetings with AFP tion, medics said. Tensions have tinian territories were subject to a President Emmanuel Macron Maale Adumim risen along the Israel-Gaza border preliminary examination by her of- during his two-day official visit since the start of protests there on fi ce and she was monitoring events starting today, his first trip to March 30 that have led to clashes in there closely. France as the heir to the Saudi Palestinian tried to stab an which Israeli forces have killed 30 Following the deaths of 29 Pal- throne. Macron will walk a diplo- Israeli with a screwdriver Palestinians. estinians in protest clashes with matic tightrope with the young A near a petrol station in the There have been no Israeli casu- Israeli forces in the past two weeks, prince in talks set to focus on occupied West Bank yesterday but alties. Fatou Bensouda said in a statement cultural ties and investments but was shot by a passer-by before he Low-level protests and clashes “any new alleged crime commit- also the war in Yemen, dubbed could attack, police said. have also occurred in the West ted in the context of the situation the world’s worst humanitarian The incident took place at the Bank. Palestinians seen by Israeli in Palestine may be subjected to my crisis, and the kingdom’s arch- Mishor Adumim industrial zone, forces as lone-wolf attackers have Offi ce’s scrutiny”. nemesis Iran. The 32-year-old which is connected to a nearby Jew- regularly carried out stabbings The ICC prosecutor opened a prince, widely known as MBS, ish settlement east of Jerusalem, a against Israelis in recent years. preliminary investigation into al- was received at the Bourget air- police statement said. CALL TO END VIOLENCE leged crimes committed in occu- port near Paris yesterday morn- “A passer-by in his car noticed Meanwhile, the prosecutor of the pied Palestinian territory, including ing by French Foreign Minister and shot at him,” police said. International Criminal Court yes- East Jerusalem, in January 2015, af- Jean-Yves Le Drian. The suspect was taken to a hos- terday called for an end to violence ter Palestine was offi cially admitted pital in Jerusalem in serious condi- in the Gaza Strip, adding the Pales- as a member of the court. CONFLICT Mourning after bodies of kidnapped children found

Libyans mourned yesterday after the discovery of the bodies of three small children from the same family kidnapped in 2015 on their way to school near the capital. Investigators said that based on the confession of one of their kidnappers, the children’s decomposed bodies were found on Saturday buried in a forest south of the town of Sorman. An armed group kidnapped the three, aged between five and 12, on their way to school in Palestinian journalists tape themselves during a protest against the killing of fellow journalist Yasser Murtaja, near Sorman, 70 kilometres west of the Israel-Gaza border, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. Libya’s capital Tripoli. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 9 AFRICA Mud obstacle S Africa opposition leader re-elected as elections loom

AFP Maimane, who was elected un- legacy of colonialism and apart- Pretoria opposed, said that party’s main heid. electoral goal was to take control It is widely understood that the of Gauteng province, the coun- policy will mean transferring land musi Maimane, the try’s economic powerhouse that from white land owners to mem- leader of South Af- includes the capital Pretoria and bers of the disadvantaged black Mrica’s main opposition commercial hub Johannesburg. majority. Democratic Alliance party, was “We can do it, and we will do The DA has opposed the chang- re-elected yesterday as the party it,” he said to cheering. es which were enthusiastically kicked-off campaigning for elec- The party has faced several cri- welcomed by the EFF. tions due by 2019. ses in recent months including a “Everyone should have the dig- The party which has the second bruising public spat between the nity of a home, the dignity of land largest number of parliamentarians leadership and the mayor of Cape and, most critically, the know- is confronting the resurgent popu- Town Patricia De Lille, controver- how,” Maimane said yesterday. larity of the ruling African National sial tweets by former leader Helen “We don’t need to change our Congress (ANC) party since Presi- Zille and the breakdown of a coa- precious constitution for this — dent Cyril Ramaphosa took offi ce lition partnership. we just need to cut corruption and — dubbed “Ramaphoria”. The radical Economic Free- get the job done properly.” “We have reaffi rmed that our dom Fighters (EFF) party, which President Ramamphosa, who purpose as Democrats is not to had supported the DA’s minority in February succeeded unpopular fi ght for a better behaved ANC, administration in Port Elizabeth, former president Jacob Zuma who but for an entirely new govern- turned against the party, with- was widely seen as boosting sup- A man is stuck in the mud with his motorbike near the town of Mongbwalu in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, ment for South Africa, led by drawing its support over the DA’s port for opposition parties, has after heavy rains earlier this month. us and our values,” he said to a position on land reform. increased the ANC’s appeal with packed audience in Pretoria on The ANC announced at the end voters and business. the last day of the conference. of last year that it would seek to There has been speculation “So let us go forward with con- amend the constitution to allow that Ramaphosa could go to the fi dence and vigour to pursue our for land to be “expropriated with- country before the ANC’s term in goals for the 2019 elections.” out compensation” to address the offi ce expires in 2019. Mali prisoner deaths decried as ‘summary executions’

AFP the 14 were killed during an escape bid on loyal to extremist cleric Amadou Koufa, who Bamako April 6 after they were taken in for ques- backs an extremist state. tioning the previous day. Amnesty International last week called “It is not normal for soldiers tasked with on the authorities to look into extra-judicial ourteen suspected militants killed protecting the population to kill civilians,” killings after six bodies were discovered in a during an alleged escape attempt by said Sarr, who said Defence Minister Tiena common grave. FMali troops were “summarily execut- Coulibaly had personally assured him that Once a beacon of democracy and stabil- ed,” community leaders told AFP yesterday. he would “shed light” on the circumstances ity in Africa, Mali in recent years has been “This was in no way an escape attempt. surrounding the deaths. dogged by a coup, civil war and Islamist ter- Our sources are certain. These people were Two relatives of some of those killed have rorism. Extremists linked to Al Qaeda took victims of summary executions,” Nouhoum also alleged that they were summarily ex- control of Mali’s desert north in early 2012, Sarr of Tabital Pulaaku, the main associa- ecuted. “My cousin Moussa Nay Diallo is but were largely driven out in a French-led tion of Mali’s Dogon community, told AFP. among the people killed. They did not try to military operation launched in January 2013. “We have the names of these people,” fl ee as they had done nothing wrong,” said In June 2015, Mali’s government signed a added Sarr, saying the group were detained one local resident. peace agreement with some armed groups, on April 5 near the central town of Dioura. The Dogon community are routinely sus- but the militants remain active, and large On Friday, a Malian army statement said pected of collusion with the armed group tracts of the country remain lawless.

149 women and children rescued from Boko Haram Soldiers have rescued 149 women Central African Republic clashes Atoll Trollip (centre) react after the announcement of his win as the federal chairperson of the South African and children held hostage by Islamist opposition party, Democratic Alliance, at the federal congress in Pretoria yesterday. terrorist organisation Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria, the army said turn deadly again, many hurt yesterday. Three insurgents were killed and five arrested when the military Reuters morning we saw (UN) and Central African stormed a Boko Haram hideout in the Bamako soldiers in our alley,” said PK5 resident Ab- 6 die in Ghana gold mine accident village of Yerimari Kura in Borno State doulaye Hamat. “They pulled out and we on Saturday to free the hostages, don’t exactly know what happened.” army spokesman Onyema Nwachuk- t least one civilian was killed and Herve Verhoosel, a spokesman for the AFP The accident happened in the in the area have been safely relo- wu said in a statement. dozens of United Nations peacekeep- MINUSCA peacekeeping mission, said 11 Accra Brong Ahafo region, some 430km cated and the scene of the acci- The rescued were receiving medi- Aers, civilians and militia fi ghters were peacekeepers were wounded. Around 20 from the capital Accra, he said. dent has been secured,” Pretorius cal check-ups yesterday, according to injured during an operation against armed people — both civilians and fi ghters — were “The entire Newmont family said. Nwachukwu. groups in Central African Republic’s capital also injured, he said. It was unclear if the ix miners were killed and is devastated by this tragic acci- “The police are on site and the During a separate counter-terror- yesterday, a UN spokesman said. government forces involved in the opera- two injured when the roof dent and our priority is to provide appropriate government and reg- ism operation on Saturday, soldiers Heavy gunfi re erupted in Bangui’s PK5 tion suff ered casualties. Verhoosel said eight Sof a tunnel collapsed at support to the families, friends ulatory agencies have been noti- arrested two suicide bombers in the neighbourhood — a Muslim enclave in the ma- fi ghters had been arrested yesterday. a gold mining site operated by and co-workers of the deceased,” fi ed, including the Inspectorate village in Mandanari, also in Borno jority Christian city — at around 2am, witnesses In a separate statement, MINUSCA said US-based Newmont in Ghana’s Alwyn Pretorius, the company’s Division of the Minerals Com- State, the spokesman said. said, as peacekeepers and domestic security PK5’s residents had repeatedly called on the southern region, the company vice president in Africa, said in a mission.” One of the suicide bombers died forces moved in to dismantle militia bases there. mission to stamp out armed groups respon- said yesterday. statement. Newmont, a US-owned min- when an explosive vest detonated Clashes continued into yesterday morning and sible for extortion and attacks on civilians. “I can confi rm six fatalities to The fi rm said it had evacuated ing company, is one of the world’s during the arrest, while three people smoke rose from the neighbourhood as resi- “These criminal groups were provided the you. Two others were treated at other workers at the site and that largest gold producers. standing near the bomber sustained dents fl ed to safety in other parts of the capital. opportunity to voluntarily disarm,” it said. the clinic and discharged after the operations had been suspended It runs two mines in Ghana and minor injuries, Nwachukwu added. “We were sleeping at around 2.15am when “Unfortunately, the leaders of the groups tragedy on Saturday,” said compa- to allow for an investigation. has been in the west African na- we heard heavy and light weapons fi re. This refused this option.” ny spokesperson Agbeko Azumah. “All other employees working tion since 2006. In Kenya, British soldiers train in massive war games

By Tristan McConnell, AFP “I need soldiers to be ready to two 6m 6m tarpaulins were laid About 15km away, in a cluster Lolldaiga Hills, Kenya go on operations at very short on the ground and marked with of three olive drab tents bristling notice,” said Perry. map grid references, contour with radio antennae, offi cers “Kenya allows large-scale ex- lines, rivers, tracks and buildings. and trainers watched a real-time igh on Kenya’s Laikipia ercises so the whole battle group “Expect the enemy to fi ght, version of events on computer plateau hundreds of Brit- — the infantry, the artillery, the withdraw and counterattack, so screens, multicoloured markers Hish soldiers spent a recent engineers, the intelligence and what does that mean? You’ve got moving across a three-dimen- half-moon night fording a river, surveillance assets — can be test- to push them hard at the break- sional terrain. marching across wadis and over ed alongside each other.” in, you’ve got to cut them off ,” A company of 80 soldiers from escarpments before attacking a They also work alongside the Gurkha commander Lieutenant the Duke of Lancaster’s Regi- mocked-up army training camp. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), of Colonel Charlie Crowe told his ment played the enemy, defend- This is where — and how — which a 150-strong company soldiers after working through ing a training camp made up of a British soldiers learn to fi ght, in swept across a hillside dotted the attack plan, hour by hour, dozen wooden huts surrounded regular six-week training ses- with acacia and euphorbia trees company by company. by razor wire and mud berms. sions culminating in a simulated in one of the fi nal moments of the Complicating the exercise, the Hundreds of local Kenyans assault, this time involving 1,000 recent training exercise. soldiers fi rst had to build bridges were employed to play militia re- troops. “Increasingly, operations across a river as they entered cruits and the civilian inhabitants “This is among the most de- around the world are multina- hostile territory, including one of a nearby village, also specially manding training that we do,” said tional. It’s pretty rare now to fi nd 14m long made to carry vehicles. constructed for the exercise. Brigadier Nick Perry, commander a single nation at confl ict, and as “It’s a very physical task that Mostly they watched, amused, of Britain’s 16 Air Assault Brigade, Britain we’re not in that game.” requires a...fair degree of ‘moti- as persistent gunfi re crackled who was in Kenya with three Britain hasn’t gone to war vation’,” one of the BATUK train- and British squaddies charged companies of Gurkhas, a storied alone since 1982 when it fought ers explained as the engineers about, sweating heavily under regiment made up predominately a two-month battle with Argen- swore, creatively and consist- the weight of backpacks, rifl es of Nepalese recruits, with their tina over the Falkland Islands. ently, in the dark, night-vision and ammunition as the sun rose signature curved kukri knives. British troops are currently monoculars helping them see and the temperature soared. The size and scale of the Brit- deployed as part of multinational and connect the hulking girders. “I’m brown bread! That’s me ish war games in Kenya is unu- forces in Afghanistan and Iraq A company of soldiers study tactical positions during a simulated military exercise of the British Army Sunrise was met with a mech- done,” shouted one of the Lan- sual: only Suffi eld in Canada and and as peacekeepers in South Su- Training Unit in Kenya together with the Kenya Defence Forces at the ol-Daiga ranch, high on Kenya’s anised dawn chorus of machine- caster gunners, as his vest con- England’s Salisbury Plain allow dan and Somalia. Laikipia plateau. gun and rifl e fi re echoing across a fi rmed a fatal hit. His use of Brit- something similar. Battle groups come to Kenya natural cauldron among the fold- ish rhyming slang for “dead” In recent years, infantry units several times a year, training with presence in Kenya is worth around British military training has con- sometimes to the point of defeat. ing granite Lolldaiga Hills. baffl ed the nearby Kenyans. were sent to Kenya for their fi nal live fi re at Archer’s Post in the $57mn to the local economy. tinued with few breaks for over “It’s a challenging war-fi ght- Mortar explosions thumped The assault was slow, ham- training before being deployed to centre of the country and on pri- But it also underpins Britain’s 70 years. “We’re very much part ing mission against an impressive in the valley. The rounds were pered by a hard march and casu- Afghanistan and, for the “rapid vate land in Laikipia. diplomatic relations with Kenya, of life here,” Wood said. and well-equipped enemy,” said blanks, but infrared pointers on alties, but ultimately eff ective. reaction force” 16 Air Assault, British Army Training Unit Ken- a former colonial property where The aim of the training isn’t Perry, of the assault exercise. the gun barrels, and receivers on “We were tested to, and some- being always battle-ready is a ya (BATUK) commander Colonel a bitter independence war was to infl ate soldiers’ confi dence It began in a clearing of croton the soldiers’ vests and helmets, times beyond, the point of fail- point of pride. Nick Wood said the British military fought in the 1950s, yet where with easy wins, but to push them, and poison arrow trees where told who was hit and who killed. ure,” said Crowe afterwards. Gulf Times 10 Monday, April 9, 2018 AMERICAS Republicans face Annual pillow fight! stiff headwind as mid-terms loom

By Michael Mathes, AFP tor Joni Ernst pleaded for the president to “The consensus is that Trump’s persona, Washington “reconsider.” the White House turmoil, and the...bad be- Just how serious an impact could all this haviour issues (surrounding some cabinet have on an election still seven months away members) are discouraging Republicans.” S Republicans are bracing for their is unclear. Complicating Trump’s woes are the toughest re-election battles in years But analysts are already warning of an deepening Russia investigation, Trump’s Uthis November, whipsawed by Presi- economic hit. alleged aff air with adult fi lm actress Stormy dent Donald Trump’s low approval ratings, A trade war with prohibitively high tariff s Daniels, and poorer-than-expected jobs People take part in the Annual Pillow Fight at Washington Square in New York City on Saturday. The his propensity to throw the party off mes- on a wide range of products would cut 3.5% numbers for March. event takes place in over 100 cities around the world where people ‘attack’ each other in pillow fights. sage, and exceptional Democratic enthusi- from US GDP, according to a recent analysis One signal of Republicans diffi culties sur- asm, experts say. by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. faced last week in Tennessee. And Republicans warn that the challenge The latest ominous sign that Republicans Trump carried the southern state by 26 will grow even tougher should the American are up against a Democratic wave: respected percentage points in 2016, but a recent leader follow through on his latest economic political forecasters The Cook Political Re- MTSU poll showed Republican congress- bluster: threats to impose $150bn worth of port on Friday shifted 13 House races toward woman Marsha Blackburn trailing Demo- tariff s aimed at China. Democrats. cratic ex-governor Phil Bredesen by 10 Researchers: Quarter of college Under pressure to retain control of Con- The party of liberals like Senator Eliza- points in their US Senate race. gress in upcoming mid-term elections, beth Warren and moderates like Montana Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell several Republicans cringe at prospects of Governor Steve Bullock is enjoying a “wide acknowledged the “challenging” election students went hungry last year a protracted trade war between the world’s voter enthusiasm gap” over Republicans, year ahead. two largest economies slowing US growth and young voters — Trump’s weakest age “We know the wind is going to be in our and wiping out gains from Trump’s tax cut segment — are expressing increased interest face,” he told Kentucky Today. By Sebastien Malo, Reuters and the District of Columbia last could not be generalised to the law. in casting ballots, wrote Cook political ana- “We don’t know whether it’s going to be a Washington year. entire student population of the Trump’s tariff s could be seen as fulfi lling lyst David Wasserman. Category 3, 4 or 5.” About 20% of university stu- United States, Richardson said. a campaign pledge to protect American in- The number of House Republican retire- The political hurricane has already wal- dents said a lack of money meant The results illustrate poverty dustries hammered by globalisation. ments is also outpacing Democrats by two to loped Trump country. bout a quarter of students they had been hungry and had among students that often goes But a trade standoff could drown out his one, and several of those red seats risk fl ip- Democrats picked up a Senate seat in at 66 tertiary institutions not eaten in the previous month. unnoticed, said Nicole Kasper, party’s message that tax cuts are delivering ping to the opposition. deep-red Alabama in December, won a Ain the United States said That proportion increased to a post-doctoral fellow in nutri- prosperity, further imperilling Republicans All 435 House seats are up for grabs in No- House race in conservative southwestern they had gone hungry in the pre- 24% for those registered in com- tional sciences at the University seeking re-election. vember. Pennsylvania last month, and have made vious month, researchers said munity colleges, which primarily of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, who “A trade war that diminishes those gains Democrats need to gain 24 seats to retake gains in several state legislatures. last week. off er lower-cost two-year pro- has researched food insecurity would be a grievous mistake, and increase the chamber’s majority. Democrats have shattered fundraising Experts said the fi ndings, grammes. on campuses. the headwinds GOP candidates face in The map is more favourable for Republi- records this year in places like Texas, which which are from the largest survey Other students ate less or Kasper was surprised by the November to gale force,” Michael Steel, a cans in the Senate. features a marquee Senate matchup be- to measure hunger on campuses, skipped meals due to money results of a 2016 study she co- former senior aide to Republican House About a third of the chamber’s 100 seats tween incumbent Republican Ted Cruz and confi rmed concerns over pov- worries. authored that found four in 10 speaker John Boehner and now manag- are being contested, including 10 held by Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke. erty’s prevalence at universities The survey, conducted online, students surveyed at her upscale ing director of consultancy Hamilton Place Democrats from states Trump carried in As their uphill battles loom, several Re- and colleges. was the largest to date to identify school faced hunger, she said. Strategies, told AFP. 2016. publicans are bristling at the White House Jed Richardson, a scientist how poverty affl icts university “At our university, there’s a big The international spat has pummelled But a lousy political environment and upheaval. with the University of Wiscon- students, Richardson said. stereotype about the students global markets, with the Dow Jones Indus- Trump’s poor public standing — the latest But can they be critical of trade policy sin-Madison, and one of the re- There have been a growing being really wealthy,” she said by trial Average tumbling 2.3% on Friday. Gallup poll puts his approval rating at 39% now without publicly lashing the president? searchers, said high-living costs, number of similar studies in the phone. Some Republican lawmakers have bluntly — could forecast Republican disaster. “If you’re a Republican...you’re damned if including tuition fees in some past fi ve years, he said, but those Evidence of hunger on campus opposed their president’s trade tiff , ex- “The Democrats actually have an excel- you do, and you’re worse if you don’t,” Doug instances, might explain the re- were conducted at the state- or contrasts with the widespread pressing fear that Chinese retaliatory duties lent chance of fl ipping the House and, if Heye, a Republican strategist with years of sults. university-level. belief — dubbed “Freshman 15” would hurt several agriculture-dependent karma is on their side, even taking the Sen- Capitol Hill experience, said Friday on CNN. “For students who need to This study found that hun- — that college students during states that backed Trump in 2016. ate,” Iowa State University professor Steff en “Do you stand up to Trump and say ‘this spend a certain amount of time at ger disproportionately aff ected their fi rst year on campus, or Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska branded Schmidt, who has studied US elections for is awful and this is not what we want,’ or do school not working, the jobs that marginalised students, such as freshman year, gain 6.8kg due to the tariff threats “nuts,” while Iowa’s Sena- decades, told AFP. you wait?” they can get are generally low- former foster youth as well as buff et-style meal plans common paying,” he told the Thomson African-Americans and Native in dormitories, said Kasper. Reuters Foundation by phone. Americans. A 2008 study published in “They’re forced to cut back.” Because researchers could sur- the Journal of American College Researchers quizzed 43,000 vey students at only a fraction of Health found freshmen gained students at universities and colleges — those that asked to par- just over a kilo in weight on av- Resident killed in Trump Tower fi re community colleges in 20 states ticipate in the study — the results erage.

Reuters ing had a considerable amount New York of smoke,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said on Twitter. About 200 fi re personnel re- Facebook may struggle to contain scandal ne man was killed and sponded to the incident that six fi refi ghters received the department said was a four- Ominor injuries in an alarm fi re. Video on social me- Reuters Senator John Kennedy said on free-market principles and are apartment fi re on the 50th fl oor dia showed fl ames outside of a Washington CBS’s Face the Nation. loath to regulate US companies. of Trump Tower in New York few windows and black smoke Asked if lawmakers need to seek “I don’t want to hurt Facebook. on Saturday, in a blaze that was billowing up from the high-rise. regulations on Facebook, Kennedy I don’t want to regulate them half quickly extinguished, fi re offi - In January, three people were Republican US senator replied: “It may be the case.” to death,” Kennedy said. “But we cials said. injured in an early-morning fi re yesterday warned that Facebook chief executive Mark have a problem. Our promised The victim, Todd Brassner, at the top of Trump Tower. AFacebook Inc may need to Zuckerberg will appear before digital utopia has minefi elds in it.” 67, was found unresponsive and One fi refi ghter was hospital- be regulated to address concerns the US Senate Commerce and Ju- Facebook on Friday endorsed unconscious in his 50th fl oor First responders work on a fire in a residential unit of Trump Tower ised while two people received about the company’s privacy and diciary Committees tomorrow to legislation known as the Honest apartment and was pronounced in the Manhattan borough of New York City late on Saturday. minor injuries that were treated foreign propaganda scandals, address questions about how his Ads Act, which is aimed at coun- dead at an area hospital, police at the scene, the New York Fire saying they may be “too big” company handles its users’ data. tering concerns about foreign said. hattan structure, was not in the Fire offi cials said no member Department said. for the social media company to While some Democrats have nationals using social media to No information about the building at the time. of the Trump family was in the In addition to the president’s solve alone. suggested laws may be required infl uence American politics. The cause of the fi re was available “Fire at Trump Tower is out. building at the time. 66th-fl oor penthouse, Trump “My biggest worry with all this to police Facebook’s data privacy legislation would expand exist- late Saturday night. Very confi ned (well built build- “This was a very diffi cult fi re. Tower houses the headquarters is that the privacy issue and what practices or limit foreign interfer- ing election law covering televi- US President Donald Trump, ing). Firemen (and women) As you can imagine, the apart- of the Trump Organization as I call the propagandist issue are ence on its platform, Kennedy’s sion and radio outlets to apply to who has an offi ce and a private did a great job. THANK YOU!” ment is quite large, we are 50 well as other residences, offi ces both too big for Facebook to fi x, openness is signifi cant because paid Internet and digital adver- residence in the midtown Man- Trump tweeted. stories up. The rest of the build- and stores. and that’s the frightening part,” Republicans generally support tisements.

Grieving Canada town holds vigil for victims of deadly bus crash

By Katherine Fitzpatrick, Townspeople and team sup- Reuters porters gathered at the local Uni- Humboldt, Saskatchewan plex sports and education com- plex to comfort each other, and an online fund-raising initiative small farming town in to help the victims’ families has Canada’s Saskatchewan raised C$3.05mn ($2.4mn). Aprovince was yesterday Rob Eichorst, the team’s gov- evening holding a vigil to pray ernor, said the interdenomina- for the survivors of a bus crash tional vigil was organised by lo- which killed 15 people and left 14 cal religious leaders “for healing others in hospital, some in criti- of the community, the hockey cal condition. team, the province, the coun- The Friday night accident sent try” and was to be attended by shock waves across a hockey- Humboldt mayor Rob Muench, loving nation, devastated the among others. Humboldt Broncos ice hockey “There’s no playbook on how team and plunged the commu- to handle this,” Eichorst said, nity of fewer than 6,000 people “people are bringing food... into grief. We’ve got multinational com- The crash, one of the worst to panies helping us, we’ve got na- hit the Canadian sporting com- tional companies off ering stuff . munity, happened while the team The support is overwhelming was travelling to a league playoff and truly appreciated”. game in the town of Nipawin, He estimated 300 to 400 peo- about 200km northeast of Hum- ple had gathered at the complex boldt. Friday evening to support each The bus collided with a semi- other. trailer truck. Grief counsellors are on hand Canadian police are looking and the Red Cross is providing into road conditions, weather support to players’ families as conditions and mechanical con- well as the families who billet ditions of the vehicles. players. Rob Muench (left), Mayor of the City of Humboldt, and others attend a press conference at the Humboldt Uniplex in Humboldt, Saskatchewan late on Saturday. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 11 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Hands-on Conditions in Myanmar ‘not conducive’ to return of Rohingya, says UN

AFP of a six-day trip to the country of inter-communal violence Yangon during which she visited north- six years ago. “We cannot, and ern Rakhine, Mueller said My- must not, forget the plight of anmar must address “critical over 400,000 Muslim people onditions in Myanmar’s issues of freedom of movement, still living in Rakhine state who crisis-hit northern Ra- social cohesion, livelihoods, continue to face a life of hard- Ckhine state are “not con- and access to services”. For years ship and marginalisation due ducive” to bringing back Ro- members of the Muslim minor- to movement restrictions,” she hingya who fl ed to Bangladesh, ity have been deemed illegal im- said. a senior UN offi cial said, despite migrants from Bangladesh, and Her visit also aimed to draw Myanmar’s insistence that it is forced to live under apartheid- attention to growing problems ready for returnees. like conditions with severe re- in Kachin and Shan states in Some 700,000 members of strictions on their movements northern Myanmar, where the the Muslim minority have fl ed and limited options for educa- army has faced far less scru- since August to escape a bloody tion and healthcare. tiny as global attention focuses military crackdown that has left Myanmar has repeatedly said on the Rohingya crisis. At least a trail of torched villages in its it has completed the ground- 10,000 people have been dis- wake and allegations of murder work to accept back Rohingya placed since the beginning of and rape at the hands of troops refugees. “We are ready. The the year by fi ghting between the and vigilantes. buildings are ready. The hospi- country’s military and ethnic Indonesian President Joko Widodo poses with Royal Enfield motorbike during his visit at Pelabuhan Ratu beach in Sukabumi, Indonesia. The army in the mainly Bud- tal and clinics are ready,” Aung armed groups. dhist nation denies the allega- Tun Thet, chief co-ordinator of Some 100,000 people in both tions. Myanmar and Bangladesh a government-backed organi- Kachin and Shan have been signed a repatriation deal in No- sation working on resettlement forced from their homes since vember but not one refugee has in Rakhine, told state media last a ceasefi re between the mili- returned so far. “Right now, the week. “We have done what we tary and the Kachin Independ- conditions are not conducive can. If they don’t feel safe then ence Army broke down in 2011. to a voluntary, dignifi ed and there isn’t anything we can do.” Myanmar has at least 20 ethnic sustainable return,” said Ur- During her trip, Mueller armed organisations and other sula Mueller, assistant secretary also spoke to Rohingya Mus- armed groups in various stages Japan’s vaunted general for the UN’s Offi ce for lims who have been confi ned of confl ict, directly aff ecting the Coordination of Humani- in what she called “deplorable” more than a third of the coun- tarian Aff airs. camps and settlements within try’s townships and up to one alert system runs Speaking to AFP at the end Rakhine since a previous wave quarter of the population. up against limits

AFP for the system, a major compo- 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit northern Japan. “It’s especially Tokyo nent of Japan’s J-Alert launched Japan in 2011, the system suc- useless for elderly people who with great fanfare in 2007 as cessfully warned residents be- can’t move quickly,” Koide told a way to save lives in a coun- tween six and 40 seconds before AFP. n January 5, as Tokyo’s try constantly under threat of the fi rst major jolt. A government survey con- commuters were strug- earthquakes and — more recently The J-Alert system also warns ducted last year found just 5% of Ogling back to work af- — North Korean missiles. Sev- of missiles, particularly relevant respondents actually evacuated ter their long New Year break, eral countries have introduced during a rise in tensions with or took protective measures in blaring sirens from every phone similar early warning systems for North Korea last year. In the case response to the missile warnings. pierced the sleepy atmosphere: major earthquakes, with most of a missile launch, US spy sat- Some respondents said they had “strong” earthquake coming. focused on a particular, quake- ellites or Japanese Aegis ships no time or did not know where to The message delivered via the prone area. detect the initial signals and go, while others said evacuation country’s alert system, part of But Japan’s system is unique in transmit them to Japan’s defence was pointless. its much-hyped J-Alert mecha- its breadth of coverage, said Issei ministry. The ministry swiftly “J-Alert alone is not good nism, warned of a big one di- Suganuma, a scientifi c offi cer at plots the course and speed of the enough,” said Mitsuru Fukuda, rectly hitting the Japanese capital the meteorological agency. missiles before the prime min- professor of risk management at — potentially on the scale of the “Our system covers the entire ister’s offi ce triggers the system, Nihon University in Tokyo. devastating 2011 earthquake that country with some 1,000 obser- issuing a warning between two “It is clear that there is a limit wrought massive destruction. vation points across the nation,” and fi ve minutes before they fl y to what the country and local Millions braced for impact... but he told AFP proudly. At the agen- over the country. governments can do,” Fukuda it never came. cy’s Tokyo headquarters, at least With the 2020 Tokyo Olym- told AFP. Fukuda urged authori- It turned out that the system, seven uniformed offi cers keep pics looming and 40mn tourists ties to raise people’s awareness which aims to give a precious few watch around the clock in the expected to visit, the govern- of the measures they can take to seconds to fi nd shelter before a earthquake observation room. ment has started providing alerts protect themselves before gov- major earthquake strikes, had Large screens hang on the in multiple languages through a ernment help arrives, saying: “It been tricked by an unusual seis- walls showing real-time seis- “safety tips” app. is individuals who decide and act mological coincidence. mic waveform data. In the case But J-Alert has also faced criti- after a warning.” Two minor tremors struck at of a cataclysmic earthquake, cism. In addition to technical dif- Following the false alarm ear- almost exactly the same time they detect initial minor trem- fi culties that can result in false lier this year, the meteorologi- in separate locations, making ors through seismometers and alarms, many feel the warnings cal agency has introduced a new the alert system mistakenly be- immediately warn local govern- do not come soon enough. When analysis tool to avoid mistaking lieve a massive jolt was on its ments via J-Alert seconds before North Korean missiles fl ew over multiple smaller quakes for a way, the meteorological agency the fi rst strong jolt is felt. Japan in August and September, single big one. admitted. Even Prime Minister The agency also directly sends residents complained there was However, agency offi cer Suga- Shinzo Abe was caught off -guard SMS messages and whooping no time to fi nd shelter. numa acknowledged the system’s – with TV footage showing him alarms to local residents’ phones. “We were told to go inside a limitations. “Since we have to checking his phone as alarms Broadcasters receive signals to stable building or underground, issue a warning in quite a lim- echoed in his offi ce ahead of a fl ash breaking news alerts and but how can we fi nd such places ited time, sometimes things may cabinet meeting. bullet train services are imme- in a few minutes?” said Atsuko not go as planned ... It’s hard to It was not the fi rst false alarm diately suspended. When the Koide, 64, a housewife in Akita, achieve 100% for sure,” he said.

Malaysia PM pledges cash, jobs as elections Celebrity watch Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono (left) shakes hands with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen inch closer during their meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh yesterday. Kono is on a one-day official visit to Cambodia. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak pledged millions of new jobs and more cash for low- Japan, Cambodia sign $90mn aid agreement income workers, ahead of a tough election battle expected Japan signed a grant and loan agreement with Cambodia yesterday totalling over $90mn, despite early next month. Najib is fighting concerns from the international community over Prime Minister Hun Sen’s crackdown on government to win a third term at the head critics ahead of a July general election. Japan’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs Taro Kono and Cambodia’s of his ruling Barisan Nasional Foreign Aff airs Minister Prak Sokhonn signed the $4.6mn grant and $86mn loan, for economic and elec- coalition, which has governed tricity transmission projects, in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. Malaysia since independence in The main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved in November at the request 1957 but has seen support drop in of the government, prompting some Western countries to condemn the crackdown, cut aid, and impose recent years. He faces a revived visa bans on some ruling party members. Rights groups and members of the opposition have urged To- opposition and is battling a mas- kyo to take a stronger stance against Hun Sen, but Japan has said it would continue to provide election sive financial scandal, making the support and would not interfere in what it said were Cambodia’s internal aff airs. hotly-anticipated poll one of the Hun Sen praised Japan for its financial assistance, but lashed out at critics. “While Japan, a friend, is sternest-ever tests for the alliance. providing assistance to Cambodia, some bad people can poison the news as bad as they did,” Hun Sen “This war, we must win! Never let said on his Facebook page. During a meeting with Hun Sen yesterday, foreign minister Kono said Japan it go to the opposition!” he told would help Cambodia to become an upper middle income country by 2030, said Hun Sen’s aide Eang thousands of supporters in a Sophalleth. packed stadium on the outskirts In a recent statement to Reuters, Kentaro Sonoura, adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, of Kuala Lumpur as he launched urged Cambodia’s political rivals to hold talks to end the political crisis. his election manifesto. Najib said he would increase the value of cash aid handouts to people on 11 die after drinking bootleg alcohol in Indonesia low incomes, with payments planned for June and August. He Eleven Indonesians died yesterday and several others are critically ill after drinking bootleg liquor, police also pledged to create 3mn jobs said, days after the death of 24 others from illicit alcohol. The latest victims were among 27 people in the country of 32mn and grad- admitted to hospital after sampling homemade alcoholic drinks in Cicalengka district in West Java prov- ually raise the minimum wage ince, provincial police spokesman Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko told AFP. to at least RM1,500 (US$387) “We are investigating the shop that sold the illegal liquor,” he said, adding no one had yet been arrested. per month. He faces a challenge In a separate case over the past week 24 people have died in the capital Jakarta after drinking home- from the opposition alliance Pact made liquor sold by a herbal drink seller. of Hope, led by former prime The seller, who has been arrested, admitted he had mixed pure alcohol with Coca-Cola and an energy minister Mahathir Mohamad, who drink, police said. came out of political retirement Children at St John’s Anglican Church await the arrival of Great Britain’s Prince Charles for There have been a series of deaths from bootleg liquor in the country. last year with a bid to unseat. church service, in Cairns, Australia. Police said they are chasing other sellers and distributors of homebrew. “We believe there is a big dis- tributor behind this case,” said East Jakarta police chief Tony Surya Putra of the 24 deaths. Gulf Times 12 Monday, April 9, 2018 BRITAIN Watchdog probes police response to teen’s disappearance

Guardian News and Media days after she vanished without The Independent Offi ce for Po- to others. She tried to carry on her determined to do all we can to make of her murder. Pope’s body was man she had claimed had sexually London her medication a mile from the lice Conduct (IOPC) confi rmed it education, but her epilepsy was sure this never happens again. I will found on November 18 close to a assaulted her. He was not charged seaside town where she was last would investigate the case. deteriorating as she remembered always be proud of Gaia’s courage, craggy stretch of coast and near over the allegation, but was jailed seen. A postmortem concluded Pope’s mother, Natasha Pope, more about the sexual assault she but what she went through should to where some of her clothes were for a sexual off ence not connected to he police watchdog has she had died of hypothermia. said: “My daughter should still be had endured. not have cost my daughter her life.” discovered two days before. The Pope. Marienna Pope-Weidemann, launched an investiga- Her family have said Dorset po- with us today. She was a survivor. “In hospital, she would speak Pope’s disappearance from three suspects were released when Pope’s cousin, said: “We have to ask Ttion into the way a force lice, mental health practitioners She had a sharp wit, she was intel- about what she had been through, Swanage on November 7 prompt- a postmortem found no indication the tough questions: why did it take handled the disappearance of a and social services have questions ligent, compassionate and so cou- but it felt like no one outside our ed a huge search by the police, the anyone else was involved. 11 days to fi nd her? Could she have 19-year-old woman with epilep- to answer about how the search rageous; she was magnifi cent. family wanted to listen. Now, our teenager’s family and thousands of Her family, who are being sup- been saved? Could proper support sy who was allegedly traumatised for her was conducted and the care “Gaia was inspired by the chal- family has been torn apart. members of the public. ported by the charity Inquest, have from mental health and social serv- by a sexual assault. she was given in the months and lenges she faced to work in health “As a mother, my heart will al- Three members of the same said she was worried about the im- ices have stopped this whole tragedy Gaia Pope’s body was found 11 years before she went missing. and social care and dedicate her life ways be broken. As a woman, I’m family were arrested on suspicion pending release from prison of a before it started?” Refugees code Opposition to Brexit transition deal to reboot their lives in Britain

Thomson Reuters Foundation prospective refugee students at London a pop-up classroom in a central London offi ce. “My life is changing now. I’m s soon as he was allowed not stuck anymore,” he said, one to work in Britain, Ethio- of 75 people who have graduated Apian refugee Sentayhu from the bootcamp since its in- began applying for jobs, con- ception in 2016. fi dent his experience as a web Sentayhu is one of the lucky developer back home would land ones. Until they have refugee him a tech industry role. status, asylum seekers in Britain But month after month, the are not allowed to work and rely 35-year-old heard nothing back. on a weekly allowance of about “I was searching for a job on £38. When they are recognised every website but I couldn’t get it,” as refugees, with access to regu- said Sentayhu, who fl ed Ethiopia lar benefi ts and the right to work, for political reasons and declined they have 28 days to vacate their to reveal his full name. “I felt government-provided accommo- (down) in the dumps,” he said, af- dation. ter arriving in Britain in 2015. This “move on” period has left Unemployment is high among many refugees falling through the Boats gather in the harbour during a demonstration yesterday in Whitstable, southeast England, against the Brexit transition deal that would see Britain continue to refugees in Britain due to language cracks, politicians and charities adhere to the Common Fisheries Policy after formally leaving the EU. People working in the fishing industry supported by the pro-Brexit Fishing for Leave organisation and cultural barriers, lack of lo- say, arguing the timeframe is un- launched flotillas nationwide in protest against the prospect of Britain continuing to adhere to the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy that sets quotas and fishing rights during cal work experience, and, in some realistic given language barriers the transition period after Britain has formally left the European Union. cases, discrimination, refugee and the paperwork needed to se- charities say. cure rental properties or employ- Nearly 15,000 people were ment. The British Red Cross said granted asylum in Britain in 2017, it distributed food and clothing the interior ministry said, in ad- to about 15,000 destitute refugees dition to some 119,000 refugees and asylum seekers in 2017. already living in Britain at the end The Refugee Council’s Lawton of 2016, according to the United said companies should consider Nations. work placements and job schemes “We are seeing people who have for refugees to help them bridge signifi cant skills and experience the gap and gain local work expe- Police cuts not to blame for from their home country but who rience. struggle to rebuild their careers,” “This is a diverse population said Andrew Lawton, the Refu- that can contribute to their or- gee Council’s head of integration ganisation. They bring a wealth services. of skills and experience from their Frustrated and eager to move on home country and some diff erent rise in violent crime: Rudd with his life, Sentayhu contacted perspectives that can help with the Refugee Council, which re- creativity,” he said. Guardian News and Media out claims that resources are to Weapons Bill with new laws to re- ing violent crime. He told the BBC: which has £240mn if needed. ferred him to Code Your Future, Recognising the lack of op- London blame for rising violence,” she strict the carrying of knives and “We had much higher numbers of Rayner told the BBC: “It’s not a free coding bootcamp for asy- portunities for refugees, German said. acid, and more severe punish- police 10 years ago and much high- just about austerity but I think lum seekers and refugees run by Bencci said he started Code Your The shadow education secre- ment for those who carry weap- er numbers of violent crime.” when the home secretary sticks volunteer mentors working in Future to give refugees practi- mber Rudd yesterday tary, Angela Rayner, said Rudd ons. It will also include measures The Policing Minister Nick her head in the sand and suggests the tech industry. There, his life cal web skills, while helping them dismissed claims that was sticking her head in the sand to tackle violence through social Hurd initially appeared to cloud that losing 21,000 police offi cers changed. network with tech industry insid- Apolice cuts were to blame and naive to suggest that the re- media and in schools. the issue when he admitted that off our streets doesn’t have an ef- After fi nishing the six-month ers. for the rise in violent crime as duction in police numbers was A new task force will be set the police were stretched, but fect then I think that’s a very naive course in 2017 — where he learnt “If you ask refugees what it is she prepared to publish a new not a factor. up, bringing together ministers, then added that it was “categori- position.” computer programming, resume they want most in life, it’s just to strategy to tackle the problem. Her comments come after a councils, police commissioners cally not the case” that cuts had Rayner also said cuts to youth writing, and how to do job inter- have a job, to have a place to live, The home secretary insisted week in which nine people were and health and education ex- led to the rise in violent crime. services and education had had views — he was off ered a position to have security,” said Bencci, who that police forces across the stabbed to death in London, tak- perts, and Rudd will appeal to her Writing in the Sunday Tel- a knock-on eff ect: “It’s not just as a software engineer for a glo- manages more than 200 volunteer country had the resources and the ing the number killed in violent critics to join her in tackling the egraph, Rudd said that when about police, of course it’s not, bal news publication within a few trainers across London, Glasgow manpower to tackle the increas- attacks since the start of the year problem: “The time for political knife crime was soaring in 2008, it’s about the wider public service months. in Scotland, and Manchester in ing violence on Britain’s streets. to more than 50. In the latest inci- quarrels is over. It is the time for police numbers were close to the and supporting families to make “I couldn’t believe it. When northern England. “While I understand that po- dent, a man was stabbed outside action,” she will say. highest they had been in decades. the right choices.” the off er came, I couldn’t sleep But it can take some convinc- lice are facing emerging threats a Tube station on Saturday night. The Communities Secretary, She said police funding had been Home Offi ce statistics show that night. I was so excited,” Sen- ing for refugees to believe they can and new pressures, leading us to Rudd will publish a new strat- Sajid Javid, backed Rudd, saying protected, and that most forces the number of police offi cers fell tayhu told the Thomson Reuters get work after the programme, he increase total investment in po- egy on tackling serious violence the evidence did not suggest that had reserves they could rely on, from 143,734 in March 2010 to Foundation, after speaking with said. licing, the evidence does not bear today. It will include an Off ensive police cuts were responsible for ris- including the Metropolitan police 123,142 in March 2017.

Rainforest visit Living rooms have shrunk Scrap two-child limit by a third, survey reveals on benefi ts, govt urged Guardian News and Media three in the church – the Board of London Deputies of British Jews and the Guardian News and Media land” kitchens, the space given fl oor area for any new home Muslim Council of Britain. London to food preparation peaked should be 37 sq m. Last year, the Child Poverty Ac- in the 1960s and is now 13% The Guardain was also hristian, Muslim and tion Group launched a legal chal- smaller in new-build homes, passed drawings of plans for an Jewish leaders have joined lenge to the policy, saying it was he living rooms of newly the report said. eight-apartment development Cforces to call for a policy in breach of human rights and dis- built homes in Britain The research points to a re- in Archway, north London – limiting benefi ts to families with criminatory. Tare nearly a third smaller duction in the number of bed- in Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington more than two children to be It estimated that more than than equivalent homes built in rooms, which peaked in the North constituency – where scrapped. 250,000 children would be pushed the 1970s, according to research 1980s at an average of 3.6 com- two of the units measured just The “two-child policy”, intro- into poverty as a result of the that charts how living space has pared with just under three 13.5 sq m (145 sq ft). That’s a duced a year ago, allows families to measure by the end of the decade, shrunk to levels last seen 80 bedrooms today. Overall, to- room measuring just 12ft by claim child tax credits or universal representing a 10% increase in years ago. day’s homes are the same size 12ft. The plans were rejected by credits only for their fi rst two chil- child poverty. Jewish, Muslim and The research, by LABC War- as those built in the 1940s, the the council. dren unless there are special cir- Catholic organisations have said ranty, which provides war- research found. In 2014, researchers from cumstances. But religious leaders the policy would disproportion- ranties for new-build homes, The fi gures, based on an Cambridge University found say the policy will lead to a rise in ately aff ect families in their faith found the average living room analysis of 10,000 fl oorplans that, at an average of 76 sq m, child poverty and abortions. groups, some of whom have large in a house built since 2010 was of homes built since the 1930s, the UK’s newly built homes “The policy is expected to tip numbers of children. 17.1 square metres (184 sq ft), will add to the growing contro- were the smallest by fl oor area an estimated extra 200,000 chil- In 2015, a coalition of faith or- compared with 24.9 sq m (268 versy over “rabbit hutch Brit- in Europe. dren into poverty. It also conveys ganisations said the proposals sq ft) in the 1970s, a 32% con- ain”. Developers of modular the regrettable message that some were “fundamentally anti-fam- traction. The boom in offi ce-to- homes, pre-fabricated cheap- children matter less than others, ily”. “Anything which sends the The study also found that residential conversions, par- ly in production-line facto- depending on their place in the implicit message that a child is modern-day master bedrooms ticularly of urban 1960s tower ries, argue that micro-homes sibling birth order,” they say in a unwanted, unvalued or superfl u- were on average 13.4 sq m (144 blocks free from the usual space offer a solution to the urban letter to the Times. ous should be strongly resisted,” a sq ft) in size, compared with standard requirements, has re- housing crisis. One social “There are likely to be mothers briefi ng from the Church of Eng- 14.7m (158 sq ft) in the 1970s. sulted in a spate of “shoe-box housing provider in south- who will face an invidious choice land, Church of Scotland, the Cath- “Overall, Britain built the homes”. west London has pioneered between poverty and terminating olic Caritas Social Action Network, biggest houses in the 1970s,” The Guardian found one factory-made units that are an unplanned pregnancy.” Methodists, Baptists, Quakers, the said a spokesman for LABC but property in the centre of Croy- 26 sq m in size, which it says is Prince Charles is accompanied by Roy Gibson, an elder of The letter was signed by 60 United Reform Church, the Board from the 1980s onwards “Brit- don measured just 14.9 sq m, suitable for single young peo- the Kuku Yalanji tribe, during a visit to the Daintree rainforest Church of England bishops – in- of Deputies of British Jews and the ain’s houses started to regress”. even though government guid- ple to rent while they save for a in Australia yesterday. cluding Sarah Mullally, the new Orthodox Jewish Interlink Foun- Despite the vogue for “is- ance states that the minimum mortgage deposit. bishop of London and number dation, said. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 13 BRITAIN

Govt ‘to face backlash as millions lose out from universal credit’

Guardian News and Media to take a “substantial chunk” of building in signifi cant budget start to migrate in serious num- troduced which will mean there According to the Resolution that universal credit would lead London funding out of the budget for uni- cuts would become an issue once bers over to universal credit. Al- are substantially more losers than Foundation thinktank, the uni- to some ending up thousands versal credit risked undermining claimants realised they would be though there will be transitional gainers. Any government has got versal credit system will result in of pounds worse off compared the good intentions of the reform. losing out. protection, once a claimant’s to say, if they want to off set that, gains for 2.2mn working families, to an employee with the same inisters will face a back- In 2015 his committee forced the “As part of the austerity pro- circumstances change, a lot of where are we going to fi nd £3bn or with an average increase in income annual earnings. The problem lash against reform to then chancellor George Osborne to gramme, the last government people are going to realise that, £4bn from? Are we going to spend of £41 a week. However, 3.2mn has emerged because of the way Mthe benefi ts system rethink and eventually ditch £4bn- decided it was going to take a because the system was modi- less in other areas, are we going to working families are expected to self-employed earnings are re- when millions of claimants mov- worth of cuts to the tax credits sys- substantial chunk out of the wel- fi ed by the austerity measures, raise taxes, or are we going to bor- be worse off , with an average loss corded under universal credit. ing on to universal credit realise tem but the cuts to the universal fare budget,” he said. “But this it is now going to be fi nancially row more? That is a high-level po- of £48 a week. About 600,000 of A “minimum income fl oor” is their income will be cut, the gov- credit budget remained. will now be seen as a problem disadvantageous to them. That litical position that I don’t think a those who lose out, mainly couples used to calculate universal credit ernment’s most senior welfare Speaking to the Observer, Gray with universal credit, not a more is a really big challenge to come, detailed scrutiny committee like with children, will no longer be en- payments each month. Because adviser has warned. said the aim of universal credit generic issue about reducing the which maybe there is not huge mine should take a view on, or get titled to help at all. self-employed workers’ earnings Paul Gray, chairman of the in- – to simplify the system and en- cost of the welfare system. That awareness about. into a campaigning position on. Gray also said there was an un- fl uctuate from month to month, dependent social security advisory courage people back into work poses a signifi cant challenge “It is a problem that a major But it is our job to point out the fairness in the treatment of the they sometimes fail to meet the committee, said that the decision – was right, but he warned that once those receiving tax credits change in the system is being in- consequences.” self-employed after concerns minimum fi gure and lose out.

Co-op plans to Labour’s split take over failing over racism, schools

Guardian News and Media London antisemitism

he Co-op is planning a major push into run- Tning schools after its exit from banking helped the group claims exposed bounce back into the black. The mutual is to invest £3.5mn in expanding academies from 12 Guardian News and Media z A member accused of using ter he was suspended over a con- to 40 over three years with a plan London a racial slur against a black can- frontation with another member to take over failing schools in the didate. who had raised fears about an- north of England. Almost all members of the na- tisemitism and Holocaust denial. The Co-op, which includes he depth of the split in tional executive committee (NEC) Sources said Lansman and funeral parlours, grocery stores the Labour party’s ruling elected on the leftwing slate acted Darren Williams, one of the and fi nancial services, made a Tbody over antisemitism as a block vote to try to minimise constituency party representa- profi t of £72mn in the year to and racism has been laid bare in disciplinary action against several tives, both argued the man’s case January 6, swinging back from leaked minutes that show fi erce members at the committee’s dis- should not be referred for pos- a £132mn loss in the previous disagreements over disciplinary putes panel meeting in March, ac- sible expulsion, but were over- year, which refl ected the £185mn action. cording to the minutes and sources ruled. The case did not go to a writedown of its stake in the Co- Key supporters of Jeremy Cor- at the meeting. vote. operative bank to nil. The group byn attempted to block action Multiple sources have alleged Williams moved an amendment sold its fi nal stake in the bank in against Labour members fac- that suspended members who to defend another case where a the autumn. ing complaints, according to the were perceived as being sympa- woman is reported to have made Total sales remained stable at minutes obtained by the Guard- thetic to Corbyn were defended, antisemitic remarks on social me- £9.5bn as sales at its established ian. even when the evidence against dia, as well as supporting George grocery stores rose 3.4%. Gro- Momentum’s founder, Jon them was overwhelming. Galloway in Manchester Gorton cery sales were fl at at £7.1bn after Lansman, and the MP Jon Trick- “People were generally out- against Labour. dozens of larger stores were sold. ett were two prominent fi gures raged at the scale of the defence In both cases, trade union Funeral services and will writing who voted to limit disciplinary of just anything. It’s all about members and others on the NEC revenues rose by 4% to £343mn action in the three contentious control: control of the party and including MPs and councillors while insurance revenues slid cases that went to a vote, multi- control of the processes,” one intervened and blocked attempts from £439mn to £331mn as the ple sources said. source close to the NEC said. to just give the members a warn- result of a new reinsurance con- Lansman has been outspoken Euan Phillips, who runs the ing and training, instead referring tract. in recent days on the need for La- campaign Labour Against An- them to Labour’s highest discipli- Steve Murrells, group chief bour to take antisemitism cases tisemitism, said he was los- nary body, the national constitu- executive who took charge last in the party seriously. ing faith in the management of tional committee (NCC), which year, said he wanted to drive The minutes of the meeting complaints. “We have been re- can recommend expulsion. growth by creating a more com- in early March show how frac- porting this anti-Jewish racism In a Facebook post after the mercial Co-op that also had a tured the disciplinary body has for months and months now as- meeting, Williams expressed an- “distinctive voice in society”. become. Sources said cases in- suming that the party and the ger that so many party members He said that a big expansion volving Corbyn supporters were ‘quasi-judicial’ disputes panel were facing possible expulsion. into schools was part of showing regularly automatically viewed would take it seriously,” he said. “It’s deeply disappointing to see how the Co-op did things diff er- as being politically motivated. “Anyone defending antisemitism party members put on a path to ently. Among the cases which allies should be off the NEC and out of likely expulsion when the evidence “We need a vibrant, commer- of the Labour leader pushed to the Labour party.” of their supposed wrongdoing is cially successful business and rule out the possibility of expul- The panel in March was far from compelling,” he wrote. the more successful they are the sion were: chaired by Christine Shawcroft, The minutes also reveal more we can do in society,” he z A member who alleg- who was later forced to resign Shawcroft refused to recuse her- said. “The academy investment edly made threats when an- from the NEC after it emerged self as chair when the panel heard is exactly that playing out. It is other raised concern about an- she had sent an e-mail defending the case of a Labour councillor our chance to help in an areas tisemitism and blamed Zionists a Labour councillor accused of who has been accused of using that needs a lot of care.” for causing his problems in the Holocaust denial. a racist term to describe a black The Co-op took on its fi rst party. Among cases discussed in- council candidate and co-ordinat- academy in Manchester in 2010 A woman holds up a placard declaring “Corbyn made me a Tory” as she joins protesters gathering for a z A member accused of mak- cluded a member who is alleged to ing with the party of the disgraced and now also runs schools in demonstration organised by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism outside the head off ice of the Labour ing antisemitic remarks on social have blamed Zionists for causing Tower Hamlets former mayor Lut- Leeds and Stoke. Party in central London yesterday. media. his problems with the party af- fur Rahman against Labour. London withholding on Awards event Two terror suspects probes, claims Russia freed without charge Guardian News and Media “As always, we would encour- London age people to come forward if they AFP denied involvement. The attempted killings of the have concerns about suspicious London “Almost a month has passed Skripals, who Britain says were activity. We work very closely with since Glushkov’s death, and like targeted with a Soviet-made wo men arrested in Dews- our colleagues at Counter Terror- it happened with Sergei and Yulia military-grade nerve agent bury, West Yorkshire, on ism Policing North East and are ussia’s embassy in London Skripal, the British side provided known as Novichok, has led to Tsuspicion of involvement in committed to ensuring that any yesterday accused Britain no information,” the embassy the biggest wave of tit-for-tat a terrorism plot have been released information we receive continues Rof “deliberately” with- said in a statement. expulsions of Russian and West- without charge. to be acted upon quickly and ef- holding information on probes “Given our numerous re- ern diplomats in decades. The men, aged 52 and 21, were fi ciently.” into the targeting of several Rus- quests, the only thing we can The interior ministry on Friday detained on Tuesday on suspi- Counter Terrorism Polic- sians on its soil, as the war of suggest is that it is done deliber- rejected a visa application by the cion of “being concerned in the ing North East, one of fi ve such words between the two countries ately.” niece of Sergei Skripal because commission, preparation or in- units in England and Wales, said continues. It added ambassador Al- her application “did not comply stigation of acts of terrorism” and on Tuesday that the arrests had The embassy said it had asked exander Yakovenko planned with immigration rules”. two properties were raided in the been planned and were part of a the British Foreign Offi ce for to request a meeting with the Viktoria Skripal told Russia’s Savile Town area of the town. “proactive, intelligence-led in- “detailed information” on the commissioner of London’s Met- Interfax news agency Saturday Police said on Saturday that vestigation”. investigation into the March 12 ropolitan Police for further in- that it was denied because Yulia their investigation was continu- Neighbours reported being murder in London of Russian ex- formation. Skripal did “not want to see me”. ing, but that their inquiries had woken shortly after midnight on ile Nikolai Glushkov. “For Russia this murder has a The Russian embassy in London satisfi ed them there were no Tuesday by loud bangs as police The 68-year-old business- criminal as well as political di- called the decision “disappoint- grounds to charge the men with gained entry to an address on the man, who had received politi- mension,” the statement said. ing” and “politically motivated”. any terrorism off ences. town’s Headfi eld Road. Foren- cal asylum in Britain after be- Foreign Secretary Boris John- The Skripals’ health has con- Chief superintendent Steve sic offi cers were seen searching ing jailed in Russia for money son yesterday wrote that “no tinued to improve this week, with Cotter, the district commander through clothes on a rail in an laundering and fraud, died from other government devotes as neither now in critical condition. of Kirklees police, said: “I’d like upstairs bedroom, while police “compression to the neck”, ac- much time and eff ort to the busi- Media reports in Britain yes- to thank local residents for their looked under drains and began cording to a post-mortem. ness of trying to sabotage or dis- terday suggested authorities are support and patience over the last dismantling a small brick wall in The death came a week af- credit international inquiries” as already planning for their fu- few days, which have understand- the front yard. ter the nerve agent poisoning of Russia. tures. ably caused some concern within Locals said they were dismayed former double agent Sergei Skri- “The essence of a Kremlin The Sunday Times said London our communities. “Public safety that Dewsbury was again in the pal and his daughter Yulia in the cover-up is a cynical attempt to is in discussions with America British actress Imelda Staunton poses on the red carpet remains our utmost priority and I news for the wrong reasons. The city of Salisbury. bury awkward facts beneath an about giving the pair new identi- upon arrival to attend The Olivier Awards at the Royal want to off er my reassurance that town’s Savile Town area was home Britain has blamed the attack avalanche of lies and disinforma- ties and lives in the US to ensure Albert Hall in central London yesterday. we will continue to serve and pro- to Mohamed Sidique Khan, the on Moscow, which has angrily tion,” he added. their safety. tect the public of Kirklees. ringleader of the 7/7 bombers. Gulf Times 14 Monday, April 9, 2018 EUROPE

Radical Serb Orban fi ghts to retain power leader awaits justice on his as Hungary counts the votes Hague appeal AFP Reuters The strongest opposition party is The Hague Budapest the formerly far-right Jobbik, which has recast its image as a more moder- ate nationalist force. N war crimes judges will rule on ost polling stations closed It has been campaigning on an Wednesday in an appeal brought and the vote count began anti-corruption agenda and urged Uby prosecutors against the surprise Myesterday in Hungary’s elec- higher wages to lure back hundreds acquittal of radical Serb Vojislav Seselj, ac- tion, after a very high turnout that of thousands of Hungarians who have cused of atrocities committed during the could threaten Viktor Orban’s parlia- left Hungary for western Europe. 1990s Balkans wars. mentary majority. Clad in a green jacket and white Presiding judge Theodor Meron will hand Following an acrimonious cam- shirt, Jobbik leader Gabor Vona, 39, down a ruling in the long-running case, but paign in which the right-wing na- arrived to vote in the eastern city of in the absence of Seselj, who is planning to tionalist prime minister projected Gyongyos, his home town and the snub the sitting at the court in The Hague. himself as a saviour of Hungary’s district where he is likely to win a seat. Seselj was acquitted in 2016 of nine war Christian culture against Muslim mi- “Everyone should go to vote be- crimes and crimes against humanity charg- gration into Europe, all opinion polls cause this election determines Hun- es after a trial lasting more than eight years. had put his Fidesz party well ahead. gary’s course not for four years but for And the fi rebrand founder and outspoken A strong victory could embolden two generations at least,” he told re- opposition leader of the ultranationalist him to put more muscle into a Central porters. “Emigration may or may not Serbian Radical Party told AFP in an inter- European alliance against the Euro- defi ne Hungary, and I would prefer view last week that he would not return to pean Union’s migration policies. that it does not.” the tribunal on Wednesday as “this verdict Orban, Hungary’s longest-serving The EU has struggled to respond as does not interest me.” post-communist premier, opposes Orban’s government has, in the view “I defeated the court in The Hague, be- deeper integration of the bloc. of its critics, used its two landslide cause the prosecutor had no proof of my al- Interim data at 1630 GMT showed victories in 2010 and 2014 to erode leged war crimes,” said Seselj, who is now a voter turnout at 68.13%, exceeding democratic checks and balances. member of the Serbian parliament. fi nal turnout in the past three elec- It has curbed the powers of the The hearing at the former International tions. constitutional court, increased con- Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugosla- A high turnout in a 2002 vote con- trol of the media and appointed loyal- via (ICTY) offi ces, whose function has been signed Orban to eight years of opposi- ists to key positions. taken over by the Mechanism for Interna- tion. Orban is credited with keeping the tional Criminal Tribunals (MICT), is set to In contrast, the turnout was only budget defi cit under control, reduc- start on Wednesday. 61.7% in the last election, in 2014, ing unemployment and some of Hun- In 2016, a three-judge panel led by French which gave him a massive victory. gary’s debt, and putting its economy judge Jean-Claude Antonetti said prosecu- Orban’s opponents were cheered on a growth track. tors “failed to prove beyond all reasonable by the enthusiasm of Hungarians to On Friday, at his closing campaign doubt” or provide suffi cient evidence that vote. rally, he vowed to protect his nation Seselj was responsible for the crimes he had “We are convinced that high turn- from Muslim migrants, saying: “Mi- been charged with. out defi nitely refl ects...that people gration is like rust that slowly but Prosecutors had alleged Seselj was behind want a change in government,” So- surely would consume Hungary.” the murders of scores of Croat, Muslim and cialist spokeswoman Bernadett Budai The anti-immigrant campaign has other non-Serbs between 1991 and 1993 in was quoted as saying by national gone down well with many of the the confl icts that erupted during the collapse news agency MTI. roughly 2mn core voters of Fidesz. of Yugoslavia, after the fall of communism. Fidesz lawmaker Gergely Gulyas “My little daughter must be my He was also accused of the forced deporta- told private broadcaster ATV his party primary concern, to make her future tion of “tens of thousands” from large areas was unlikely to retain its two-thirds safe. Safety is fi rst,” said Julia Scharle, of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia and Serbia. parliamentary majority. 27, holding her child outside the poll- Leading a group of paramilitaries, Seselj “A two-thirds victory is possible if ing station where Orban cast his vote. “espoused and encouraged the creation of neither side loses more than 10 dis- She would not reveal her voting a homogenous ‘Greater Serbia’ by violence tricts and there is a diff erence of at preference. and thereby participated in war propaganda least 20% between the winner and the In March the government gave pre- and incitement of hatred towards non-Serb runner-up,” Gulyas said. election handouts to millions of fami- people,” the prosecution said. “I consider this unlikely. I think lies and pensioners. Judges however in their majority ruling this is outside the category of reality.” A poll by Zavecz research institute said prosecutors had failed to prove “that Voters were no longer allowed to published on Friday showed Fidesz there was a widespread and systematic at- join queues at polling stations from had 46% support among decided vot- tack against the non-Serb civilian popula- 1700 GMT, but those already in line ers, while Jobbik had 19%. tion”. were being allowed to cast their bal- The Socialists came in third with And although crimes were committed, lots, meaning voting could continue 14%. Seselj was not the “hierarchical superior” for hours more at the busiest stations. Voter turnout was estimated be- of his paramilitary forces after they came In central London, emigre Hungar- Members of the Association of Cultural Preservation for Hungarian Hussar Unit, the Vencel family wear period tween 64% and 68%. under the control of the Serbian army and ians queued for hundreds of metres costumes of the 1848 Hungarian revolution as they arrive on horseback to vote in Jaszfenyszaru, some 70km east of However, one-third of voters were therefore he was not responsible for what in the rain to vote, some waiting for Budapest to vote in the general elections yesterday. undecided. they did. Seselj was “now a free man,” An- more than two hours. If Orban wins again, he is expected tonetti said at the time of the verdict. Some pollsters said voter turnout Orban was threatened with defeat. here I will go and take part in mobi- fi ghting for our country,” he said. to continue his economic policies, Excused from attending the judgement above 70% could signal that the op- Orban has far-right admirers across lising voters...I am asking everyone to A strong win for Orban would boost with income tax cuts and incentives on medical grounds after returning to Bel- position was mobilising supporters Europe who like his tough line on take part in the election.” other right-wing nationalists in Cen- to boost growth. grade in 2014 for treatment for colon can- effi ciently, and might even deprive migrants and a landslide win would Asked by journalists if he was fi ght- tral Europe, in Poland and in neigh- His business allies are expected to cer, Seselj hailed his acquittal as “honour- Fidesz of its parliamentary majority. show that his single-issue campaign, ing the European Union, Orban said: bouring Austria, and expose cracks in expand their economic domains. able and fair.” “High turnout means, most prob- arguing that migration poses a secu- “The EU is not in Brussels. The EU is the 28-nation EU. Businessmen close to Fidesz have But Seselj remains defi ant and when ably, less mandates for Fidesz than in rity threat, had paid off . in Berlin, in Budapest, in Prague and While Fidesz led all opinion polls acquired stakes in major industries asked about the ICTY releasing him in 2014 the previous term,” said Peter Kreko, Critics say Orban has put Hungary in Bucharest.” before the vote, there is a small chance like banking, energy, construction on humanitarian grounds for cancer treat- director of think tank Political Capi- on an increasingly authoritarian path He reiterated he would stand up for that the fragmented opposition could and tourism, profi ting from EU funds. ment, he said: “They did not release me, tal. and his stance on immigration has Hungary’s interests and said Hungary strip Fidesz of its parliamentary ma- “Only a dramatic outcome of the they brutally expelled me from The Hague.” But he added that since all parties, fuelled xenophobia. was a loyal member of international jority if voters frustrated with Orban’s election would force a signifi cant “They put me on a plane one day to Bel- including Fidesz, had mobilised in- After casting his vote in a wealthy organisations. policies choose tactical voting in the shift in the direction of policymak- grade, without a ticket and without a police tensively, it did not necessarily mean district of Budapest, he said: “From “We love our country and we are 106 constituencies. ing,” Barclays said in a note. escort.”

Six arrested on suspicion of Mental illness likely behind deadly German van attack

Berlin half marathon plot AFP Muenster

AFP health problems and was not politically Berlin motivated. erman authorities investigating a deadly A report by daily newspaper Die Welt van ramming attack yesterday focused on which police did not confi rm said that the Gmental health problems of the driver, as the erlin authorities said they arrested main suspect in the Berlin probe planned city of Muenster mourned for the two people killed six people yesterday over an alleged to attack race participants and onlookers on a sunny afternoon at an open-air restaurant. Bplot to carry out a “violent crime” with two “specially sharpened knives”. “There are strong indications at the moment at the German capital’s half marathon It added that the suspect had links to that this was a lone perpetrator and that there were which attracted 36,000 runners. Tunisian asylum-seeker Anis Amri, who no links to the terror scene,” federal Interior Minis- Prosecutors and police said in a state- carried out a deadly truck attack on a ter Horst Seehofer told reporters at the site of Sat- ment they had received “isolated indi- Christmas market in the German capital urday’s attack, where local people laid fl owers in cations that those arrested between the in December 2016. memory of the victims. The 48-year-old German ages of 18 and 21 may have been involved In Germany’s worst militant attack to driver identifi ed as Jens R shot himself dead imme- in planning a violent crime in connection date, Amri hijacked a truck and murdered diately after the rampage. with this event”. its Polish driver before killing another 11 Far-right opponents of Chancellor Angela Mer- The security authorities said that on people and wounding dozens more by kel’s refugee policy had suggested in the immediate that basis and after a deadly van rampage ploughing the heavy vehicle through the aftermath of the attack it might be an act of terror, on Saturday in the western German city crowd. He was shot dead by Italian police while some media reported the killer had links to of Muenster, they decided to mount the in Milan four days later while on the run. right-wing extremist organisations. raids against the suspects. Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel refuted But authorities said there was a record of inci- “Due to the still ongoing investigation, the Welt report that a knife attack was dents related to the perpetrator’s impaired mental German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (second right) and State leader in North Rhine-Westphalia no further information can be provided at being planned. health since 2015, and that he had talked of suicide Armin Laschet (right) pay their respect yesterday at a memorial shift at the square where a man this time,” they said. But it said that a “foreign intelligence in an email to acquaintances in late March. ploughed with a van into an open-air restaurant, killing two people a day earlier in Muenster. The statement spoke only of “several” service” had warned Berlin police of the Police and prosecutors said he had faced allega- arrests and searches of fl ats and two ve- possibility of an attack on the half mara- tions of threats, property damage and fraud in 2015 downs” and “explosions of aggression” as well as of the injured were Dutch, one of whom was in a hicles in Berlin. thon. and 2016, all of which were dropped. a botched medical operation. critical condition. But a tweet by the police mentioned six And it confi rmed suspicion of a link And broadcaster NTV reported he had threat- Armed police cordoned off a wide area around Germany has been on especially high alert for arrests carried out by special forces. between one of the suspects and Amri. ened family members with an axe in 2014 and 2015. the scene of the attack Saturday, urging residents militant attacks after several claimed by the Islam- The half marathon went off early yes- Like other European nations, Ger- In the van, police found the gun used by the driv- to avoid the city centre to allow investigators to get ic State group. terday without incident, drawing large many remains a target for Islamist mili- er to kill himself, a blank-fi ring pistol along with to work amid initial fears the country had suff ered But “we know with high probability that it was crowds amid warm summer sunshine. tant groups, in particular because of its some powerful fi reworks. an extremist assault. a lone perpetrator, it was a German, not a refugee,” Berlin’s top security offi cial, Andreas involvement in the coalition fi ghting IS A search of the man’s Muenster apartment “It’s still unbelievable for me, but these days said North Rhine-Westphalia state interior minis- Geisel, had said earlier that the capital in Iraq and Syria, and its deployment in turned up more fi reworks, a deactivated AK47 as- anything can happen,” said Hubert Reckermann, a ter Herbert Reul. of 3.5mn people would need to review its Afghanistan since 2001. sault rifl e and canisters of gas and other fuel. local man in his late 60s. “You can’t really defend “We know with high probability that there was precautions for the half marathon fol- Political opponents of Chancellor An- The driver, reportedly a wealthy industrial de- yourself against people with psychiatric problems.” no Islamist background” to the Saturday afternoon lowing the Muenster attack in which two gela Merkel, including the far-right AfD signer, had two other fl ats in the eastern cities of The two victims killed in Muenster were a attack, infl icted as locals and tourists enjoyed a people were killed. Some 630 police of- party, have charged that the security Dresden and Pirna which were also being searched. 51-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, both sunny spring day, he added. fi cers were deployed to guard the race. situation has worsened with the arrival of The daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung said police had from northern Germany. Merkel said she was “deeply shaken” by the inci- Authorities believe the 48-year-old more than one mn migrants and refugees found an 18-page missive in his Pirna home in As well as the dead, police said 20 were hurt — dent and pledged that “everything possible will be German perpetrator of the Muenster at- since 2015, many from African and Mid- which he wrote of his anguish due to serious prob- some with life-threatening injuries. done to determine what was behind this act and to tack, who shot himself dead, had mental dle Eastern confl ict hotspots. lems with his parents, “repeated nervous break- The foreign ministry in the Netherlands said two help the victims”. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 15 EUROPE

Italy right French train strikes resume as united in attempt to unions square off with Macron form govt Reuters Reuters The shake-up of SNCF, which also Milan Paris includes ending early retirement for rail workers, comes before the monopoly is opened to competition in line with Eu- taly’s three main rightist par- ravellers yesterday grappled with ropean Union rules. ties yesterday vowed to present another crippling wave of trans- The government argues the over- Ia united front in a fresh round Tport strikes in France, as train haul will help transform the heavily in- of talks on forming a new govern- workers protested President Emmanuel debted company into a profi table public ment next week, defying attempts Macron’s economic reforms and a service, but workers have hit back with by the anti-establishment 5-Star stand-off between the government and complaints the SNCF was being dis- Movement to divide them in coali- rail unions hardened. mantled to pave the way for privatisa- tion negotiations. Train staff last week began three tion. Following last month’s in- months of nationwide rolling strikes Unions have also accused the govern- conclusive election, President in a dispute over the government’s ment of refusing to budge an inch. Sergio Mattarella wrapped up an planned overhaul of state-run railway Offi cials at the more reform-minded initial round of consultations on SNCF, in the biggest challenge yet to CFDT union said yesterday they did not Thursday and promised to meet Macron’s attempts to modernise the want a drawn-out confl ict but that their party leaders again soon to try French economy. proposed amendments to the shake-up to break the gridlock and put to- Talks between workers and ministers had fallen on deaf ears. gether a new government. have so far hit a wall. Locking horns with the rail sector has The March 4 vote saw the an- Some unions are stiff ening their re- backfi red on previous French govern- ti-establishment 5-Star Move- sistance, while the government has dug ments — paralysing train strikes in 1995 ment emerge as the largest single in its heels on the main aspects of its re- forced then-prime minister Alain Juppe party, while a rightist alliance, form, which include the end of job-for- to pull planned reforms. including the League, Brothers life guarantees for rail staff . The SNCF reform has drawn public of Italy and Silvio Berlusconi’s “The status quo is not viable,” Prime support so far, and 56% of French peo- Forza Italia (Go Italy!) group won Minister Edouard Philippe said in an ple thought the train stoppages were the biggest bloc of seats. interview published yesterday in the unjustifi ed, according to an Ifop poll The leaders of the three right- newspaper Le Parisien. published yesterday in the Journal du ist parties — the League’s Matteo “It’s urgent, we need to advance, and Dimanche. Salvini, Berlusconi and Brothers everyone should know we are deter- But discontent is also brewing in oth- of Italy’s Giorgia Meloni — met mined to see this through to the end.” er sectors. yesterday to agree on a common Offi cials at the Communist-rooted Protestors carry an eff igy of French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration calling for a union between French Students have disrupted several uni- message to present to Mattarella. CGT union said on Friday strikes could rail workers and student protest movements in Nantes yesterday. versities across France in protest at a “Almost 40% of Italians have drag on well beyond June if nothing planned new selection system in higher chosen to give their trust to the shifted, adding train workers were ready 48 hours of walkouts on Tuesday and gist who works in French Guiana, whose challenges yet of Macron’s presidency, education. centre-right parties, which to- for a “marathon”. Wednesday last week. travel plans fell through because of the as well as a test for unions seeking to Garbage collectors and other public day, without a doubt, have the The SNCF forecast that 43% of work- Strikes have been called for two days train chaos. show they still have clout. workers have also held demonstrations. task of forming a government,” ers needed to make the train network out of every fi ve until the end of June, “I have work days that I’ve commit- Macron came to power last May on a Though nowhere near as potent, the the three said in a joint state- run smoothly would walk out today and the shutdown is already causing ted to that I can’t honour,” Coldefy added promise to shake up Europe’s second- various protests come as France pre- ment following a meeting at as stoppages continue, aff ecting local havoc for commuters and holiday- yesterday morning at Montparnasse train biggest economy, in a bid to modernise pares to mark the 50th anniversary Berlusconi’s palatial residence at trains as well as regional lines and some makers at the start of mid-term school station in Paris, where groups of tourists some of France’s creaking institutions of the student-led riots of May 1968, Arcore near Milan. international journeys. vacations in France. were scrambling to re-book trains after and spur jobs growth. which gridlocked the country and led to The centre-right coalition will That marked a slight a dip in partici- “This endangers me professionally,” realising theirs had been cancelled. He has so far faced down unions to the adoption of more progressive social insist on naming the next prime pation compared with 48% in the last said Olivier Coldefy, a court psycholo- The showdown is one of the toughest liberalise labour regulations. policies. minister and that the main parts of an election programme agreed before the ballot be respected, including proposed tax cuts, job incentives and a stop to illegal immigration. In the fi rst round of consulta- WWII bomb successfully defused tions, the three rightist leaders saw Mattarella separately and there has been widespread spec- DPA That meant getting people out of two to more secure parts of those facilities. stadium among the facilities that will be she said. “But we’re just going to hit the ulation that Salvini will eventu- Paderborn hospitals, several homes for the elderly, “We’ve never had anything like this temporarily converted into one of three road.” ally ditch Berlusconi to forge a the university and parts of the historic in the history of the hospital,” said gathering points for those aff ected by Still others have been overwhelmed pact with the 5-Star. old town. spokesman Gerd Vieler. the evacuation. by such an unexpected event. 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio emolition experts yesterday Although such fi nds and removals “We weren’t even sure if we could “I have only lived through peace,” As Birgit Merle, a social worker from a has said he was happy to work successfully deactivated a 1.8 occur frequently in Germany, there is close the hospital.” said local resident Wilhelmina Eick- local seniors’ home notes, for some who with either the League or the Dton bomb left over from World always the chance of the situation get- More than 1,000 volunteers helped mann prior to the deactivation. already lost loved ones in the war, “it is outgoing centre-left Democratic War II in the western Germany city of ting out of control. fi re crews, police and emergency serv- “Nobody knows what will happen a shock.” Party (PD), a proposal so far re- Paderborn. In Munich, in 2012, an attempted con- ices make sure that all residents were now in the area. We have faith in God.” The bomb was discovered during jected by both parties. More than 26,000 people were forced trolled detonation went awry, setting off clear of the danger zone. Other Paderborn residents tried to construction work in a garden of a fam- Yesterday, Salvini ruled out any to clear out from their residences for a fi rebomb and shattering windows in a A Facebook page was set up to trade make the best of the situation, taking a ily home. possible tie-up with the PD, tell- the operation during the day, which re- normally crowded area of town. tips and information. trip out of the city with friends or family. It was buried only 80cm below the ing Corriere della Sera in an inter- quired buildings within a 1.5km radius In Paderborn yesterday, patients in Emergency shelters were also set up, Lisa-Marie Brixus is one such Pader- ground, meaning it could have caused view that “if there is an attempt to to be evacuated. two further hospitals had to be moved with local football club SC Paderborn’s borner. “I don’t know where to go yet,” signifi cant destruction if it went off . be made, it is with the 5-Star”.

Still dissatisfi ed, Slovakian protesters Flower power! Nitsuhe Wolanios from the Netherlands poses keep up pressure over corruption with tulips at the ‘U-pick’ garden (Tulipani Italiani), a field of 350,000 tulips Reuters He covered suspected tax fraud and Slovakia saw its fi rst landmark ver- from 312 varieties, Bratislava other graft by people with links to dict last year when two ex-ministers in Cornaredo, on the Smer and other parties. were sentenced to nine and 12 years outskirts of Milan. The In his fi nal unfi nished report, Ku- for rigging a public tender in 2007. U-pick garden is an rotests in Slovakia over the ciak also probed Italians with sus- Both remain free pending appeal. idea of Wolanios and murder of a journalist have led pected mafi a links in Slovakia. Many recent scandals in Slovak her companion Edwin Pto the prime minister’s resigna- One had past business dealings newspapers linger. Koeman, who launch tion and a cabinet reshuffl e. with two Slovaks who later worked in In 2011, a secret service fi le — Tulipani Italiani as a Still not satisfi ed, the demonstra- Fico’s offi ce. known as Gorilla — leaked and point- U-pick project: anyone tors now want the police chief out and They have resigned and deny links ed to high-profi le corruption across paying the entrance can a crackdown on corruption. to the murder and those accused of the political spectrum. visit the tulip garden Nearly 50,000 people marched corruption in Kuciak’s stories also In 2016, thousands marched to a and pick tulips, take through the capital Bratislava and deny wrongdoing. luxury apartment complex overlook- pictures, stroll and relax. other cities last Thursday in a fresh With Fico’s deputy Peter Pellegrini ing Bratislava Castle to demand Fico sign of anger over a cozy political now prime minister many worry little vacate a fl at he rented from a devel- system many say turns a blind eye to further will change. oper investigated for tax fraud. graft. Previous governments have taken The developer now faces charges The outcry began in February when steps to fi ght corruption but the drive but Fico remains in the apartment. 27-year-old Jan Kuciak was found has mostly led to prosecution of petty “When people read about the big- shot dead at home with his fi ancée bribes. gest scandals in newspapers and then Martina Kusnirova. For example, a cardiologist re- hear about these petty cases, it only His investigative reporting had fo- ceived a two-year suspended sen- makes them angrier,” said sociologist cused on graft involving politically- tence in 2015 for accepting a bribe of Zora Butorova. connected businessmen so public an- 1,000 euros, a box of chocolates and The biggest demonstrations since ger at his killing was also directed at two ducks. the fall of the Communist regime in Prime Minister Robert Fico who has Another doctor pleaded guilty to 1989 show another ex-communist led the Smer party’s government for accepting cash bribes, a bottle of country struggling to wipe out per- 10 of the last 12 years. vodka, thirty free-range eggs and two sistent graft ingrained by decades of Fico resigned in March leading to kilos of walnuts last week. authoritarian rule and a swift transi- a cabinet reshuffl e that left Smer in Slovakia’s protests are in part a re- tion to democracy. power and though the murders re- fl ection of its unique trajectory with- Slovakia ranks 54th out of 180 Reality TV car show drives contestants round bend main unsolved many expected the in Eastern Europe under Fico. countries in Transparency Interna- protests to subside. The country of 5.4mn has seen tional’s Corruption Perception Index, Instead, they have focused on po- strong economic growth in the past behind neighbours Poland and the AFP It also turned heads when a TV ver- “People crack, there is heartbreak, it lice president Tibor Gaspar, who has decade, driven by automotive pro- Czech Republic but ahead of Hun- Cannes sion of the emotional and physical en- is like living in a very small and crowded held his post for fi ve years during duction. gary. durance test was announced at MIPTV, prison cell. Things got very heated but which time there have been few big At the same time, Fico positioned According to the group, no sen- the world’s biggest content market in even in such a small space people can corruption prosecutions. the country as a pro-European bas- ior Slovak politician has been sent to t may sound like your worst night- Cannes, France, this weekend. adapt we noticed. Human beings are Gaspar says there is no reason to tion in a eurosceptic region. prison for corruption in the past six mare — being stuck in a small car The show’s brutal simplicity is part very fl exible, much more so than we resign. Slovakia has been a European Un- years. Iwith fi ve people for 10 days. But of its appeal, the producers said, with thought,” he added. “The protests have already ion member since 2004 but, unlike Six regional politicians have been television executives are hoping a new the last person remaining in the car He said that contestants were al- achieved a lot and the best scenario neighbours Poland and Hungary, has given suspended sentences. extreme reality show called ‘In The Car’ winning it. lowed to leave the car for short breaks they can hope for is a reform of the avoided disputes with Brussels over “Corruption in Slovakia is compa- can repeat the success it had in Switzer- Viewers and listeners to a local radio every few hours to go to the toilet and to police, a key condition if they want to the rule of law. rable to other central European coun- land last year. station voted out contestants one by one, shoot a “confessional” telling the view- see any development in the prosecu- In addition, most analysts say Fi- tries. The show caused a sensation in the with the fi ve free to leave if the pressure ers how they were coping. tion of high-ranking corruption,” said co’s leadership style was less authori- The diff erence is how rarely it is Italian-speaking region of Switzerland of living squeezed into a tiny Volkswagen They were also examined by a doctor Aneta Vilagi of Comenius University. tarian than that of leaders in Poland prosecuted and punished,” said Mar- last year when nearly a quarter of the up! became too much for them. every day. “But it won’t happen immediately.” and Hungary and credit the Smer ian Lesko, a political analyst with population who have access to the In- Producer Marco Elia of Pandora For- A fi rst fully TV version of the show Police say Kuciak was likely mur- government with leaving media and another NGO, the Stop Corruption ternet went online to watch the live fi - mat (correct) told AFP that tempers will be made later this year by the Swiss dered for his reporting. judicial freedoms in place. Foundation. nale on Facebook. frayed quickly in the cramped conditions. broadcaster Teleticino. Gulf Times 16 Monday, April 9, 2018 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup EVMs ‘mismatch’ raises question marks on polls By Umaima Shafiq IANS have severe repercussions on the by only two government-owned it supplied 125,000 CUs and questions on “where the excess tation, the capacity of trucks Mumbai conduct of free, fair and credible companies – Electronics Corpo- 190,000 BUs to the commission, number of EVMs are going, what vis-a-vis the dimensions of the Award-winning elections in the country. ration of India Ltd (ECIL), Hy- from 2010 to 2017. is being done with them”. EVMs, BUs and CUs – fi gures Terming the revelations “ex- derabad, and Bharat Electronics ECIL said it provided 222,925 Roy says all this “indicates provided by both BEL and ECIL film director ndiscriminate acquisition of tremely grave”, Roy said the Ltd (BEL), Bengaluru. BUs and 211,875 CUs to the Elec- something very suspicious is also were way off . Rajendran dies Electronic Voting Machines election watchdog and the EVM Roy’s RTI queries revealed tion Commission from 2010 to going on between these organi- Even on the question of voter I(EVMs) by the Election manufacturing companies need that from 1989-90 till May 15, 2017, and another 497,348 BUs sations”. and candidates capacity of the Award-winning film director C V Commission, inexplicable mis- to be asked to explain the dis- 2017, the Election Commission and 307,030 CUs for the same On the questions of payments EVMs, the fi gures thrown up Rajendran, who made 78 films in match in numbers of machines crepancies as it “aff ects the procured a total of 1,005,662 period. too, major discrepancies came points to non-standardisation a five-decade career, died of heart from producers and buyers, and very foundation of the Indian BUs and 928,049 CUs from BEL, According to Roy, against the out in the fi gures from 2006-07 from the two manufacturers. attack in Chennai on April 1. insecure transportation have democracy and its election sys- plus another 1,014,644 BUs and fi gures provided by the EC on to 2016-17. Roy has fi led a writ petition in He was 81 and survived by wife emerged as major concerns from tem”. 934,031 CUs from ECIL. the number of EVMs received, Against the EC’s “actual ex- the Bombay High Court seeking and two children. He was a cousin offi cial replies to Right to Infor- Used in India since 1989, the An RTI query to the Ministry BEL and ECIL have submit- penditure” of Rs5,360,175,485 directions to all parties to pro- of veteran film director C V mation (RTI) queries. EVMs – comprising a Ballot- of Law and Justice showed that ted data with huge diff erences (spent) on EVMs, the BEL RTI vide all records/documents per- Sridhar. Mumbai RTI activist Mano- ing Unit (BU) and a Control Unit the government received inti- in the numbers they have sup- reply said it received from EC a taining to EVMs, setting up of a Born in Chittamathur in ranjan S Roy, who painstakingly (CU), and recently, Voter Verifi - mation of purchase of 1,395,306 plied, at times ranging from payment of Rs6,525,644,000 – a suitable probe panel to ban use Maduranthakam near Chennai, pursued the matter for nearly a able Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) BUs and 930,716 CUs in 2016-17. several thousands to hundreds diff erence (excess) of Rs1.16bn. of EVMs till the logical outcome Rajendran began his film career year, said the RTI responses may – are currently manufactured BEL said on June 9, 2017, that of thousands of EVMs, raising On the mode of transpor- of the probe. by assisting Sridhar for hit films Meenda Sorgham (1960) and Kathalikka Neramillai (1964) among others. Protest against Shatrughan Sinha He debuted as a director in Anubhavam Pudumai (1967) followed by hits like Galatta Kalyanam (1968), Nil Kavani Kadhali (1969) and Sivagamiyin Selvan (1974). He worked Police detain with leading actors of several generations including Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Rajnikanth, Jayaram Jayalalithaa and others. He also introduced Sivaji Ganesan’s son Prabhu to films with Sangili (1982). TDP MPs, foil Governor names Surappa as new university VC their march Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit appointed M K Surappa as the new vice-chancellor of Anna University in Chennai last week. The university founded in 1978 is the governing body of all professional college admissions to PM’s house and is the chief aff iliating agency for all engineering colleges in Agencies their plans to meet Modi, they MPs of YSR Congress party re- Tamil Nadu. New Delhi were visited by Delhi Chief Min- signed this week and are on a Surappa is an engineer from ister Arvind Kejriwal who of- hunger strike at Andhra Bhavan the Indian Institute of Science in fered his party’s support for their in New Delhi. Bengaluru and was director of olice yesterday detained cause. The MPs are Y V Subbareddy, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) several Telugu Desam Party “TDP MPs taken to Tughlak Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, Y S Ropar in Punjab for six years. He P(TDP) MPs while marching Road Police Stn for demanding Avinash Reddy, V Varaprasad Rao is a fellow of the Indian National towards Prime Minister Naren- Spl status for AP. I went and met and P V Mithun Reddy. Academy of Engineering and is dra Modi’s residence to demand them at police stn in solidarity. “People believed us that we credited with having 150 research a special status for Andhra We condemn their detention and will fi ght for SCS. If we still stick papers and four patents. Pradesh. fully support demand for spl sta- to our posts, it would be like He is a native of Karnataka and The 21 MPs – including Ashok tus of AP,” Kejriwal tweeted. cheating them. So we decided was selected by Purohit from Gajapathi Raju and J C Diwakar “The demand being made by to quit and put pressure on the three shortlisted candidates. Reddy – were bundled into a bus them is completely just. It is sad central government through our Though the Anna University by police from Race Course Road that the respectable MPs were strike,” Mithun Reddy said. teachers’ associations gave in the heart of New Delhi from sent to jail when they went to However, TDP supremo and a warm welcome, opposition where they set out to reach the meet him,” Kejriwal later told re- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N political parties criticised the prime minister’s residence. porters. Chandrababu Naidu hinted that governor for selecting a non-Tamil The MPs were taken to the “This is not democracy, not unlike the YSRCP, his party MPs candidate. Tughlaq Road police station from correct. This is arrogance. We would not resign. Naidu also said where they were released two condemn this and completely that his party MPs would instead hours later. support their demand,” the chief continue to fi ght and agitate and Woman dies “We detained 21 TDP lead- minister said. not run away from the scene. after fall from ers marching towards the prime The TDP staged a similar pro- Launching an attack on the minister’s house shouting slo- test at the chamber of Lok Sabha central government, Naidu 11th floor gans and waving placards in the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on warned that the TDP will agitate morning. They were released by Friday after they failed to get an more vociferously if the central A middle-aged man was arrested 1pm,” a police offi cial said. appointment with her. They were government didn’t accord a spe- after his wife died of a fall from the Their rally started began early forcefully removed. cial category status to Andhra 11th floor of a residential building in the morning from Rajya Sabha On Thursday, the Rajya Sabha Pradesh. in Korattur in Chennai last week. member and former minister Y witnessed high-voltage drama After failing to convince the The victim Jayasudha was S Chowdary’s residence where even after its proceedings were central government to grant spe- married to Raj Kannan for ten they discussed the party’s fu- adjourned for the day as the TDP cial status to Andhra Pradesh, the years and had two sons. The ture course of action. With yel- members continued their pro- TDP chief announced his party’s couple had frequent disputes and low scarves around their necks, test over their demand for a spe- exit from the Bharatiya Janata finally Jayasudha came to her the protesters came ready with cial category status for Andhra Part-led National Democratic parents’ flat at Korattur. placards that said “Save Andhra Pradesh. Alliance last month. The TDP also Last week, Raj Kannan visited Pradesh”. The hours-long drama end- tried to bring a no-confi dence and cajoled his wife to come “The prime minister is the ed only at night after the TDP motion against the government. back. She refused but Raj Kannan person to take decisions on SCS MPs were marshalled out of the Naidu met several leaders of op- persisted. Her parents were (special category status). He has House. position parties and BJP allies to watching television in another to fulfi l his promises and that The TDP members described garner support for the no-trust room when Raj Kannan shouted is why we want to raise our de- their eviction from the Rajya motion, but it wasn’t taken up in that Jayasudha had jumped out of Protesters stage a demonstration against Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Patna Sahib, mands with him,” TDP lawmaker Sabha as an “insult to Andhra the recently concluded session the balcony window. Shatrughan Sinha, in Patna yesterday. Jaydev Galla said. Pradesh”. due to repeated adjournments in He claimed she committed Just before the police thwarted Meanwhile, all fi ve Lok Sabha the parliament. suicide. However later he admitted to police that he pushed her. Rahul visits book store Four killed in traff ic accident Congress snubs govt over

Four people including two women and a boy died when their car talks on college admission collided with a government bus on the Dindigul-Palani highway last week. By Ashraf Padanna sidering the sad plight of many and sent to the governor for his The victims were on their way to Thiruvananthapuram meritorious students. It’s now signature. the Ooty hill resort from Madurai up to the government to fi nd a The government’s failure to to admit their son Thiru Vikram in solution.” protect the meritorious students a boarding school. He too died in he Congress Party-led He also asked the government for the past two years while al- the accident. opposition has spurned to take a tough position against a lowing all of them to continue The bus passengers sustained Tthe Kerala government’s petition which private medical their studies and the opposi- injuries and were admitted in invitation to discuss the fallout colleges have fi led in the Kerala tion’s support to legalise an il- nearby hospitals. Traff ic was held of regularising illegal admis- High Court seeking top double legitimate act had drawn wide- up for an hour before the area was sions to two medical colleges. the tuition fees. spread criticism. cleared. Governor P Sathasivam on “The government’s self-de- Senior Congress leader Benny Police are interrogating the Saturday rejected a controver- featist policies are leaving stu- Behanan demanded the resigna- drivers of both vehicles. sial piece of legislation that the dents in limbo. They also allow tion of Chief Minister Pinarayi assembly adopted to legalise 180 the managers to plunder them,” Vijayan given the severe blow he admissions made in 2016 after Chennithala said. suff ered in the apex court. Forest fire toll the Supreme Court questioned “The government should end He also demanded a meeting rises to 22 its sanctity. the hide-and-seek.” of the Political Aff airs Commit- Following this, Law Minister The earlier admission and fee tee of the Congress Party to dis- The death toll in the March A K Balan said the government regulatory committee appointed cuss the issue since its credibil- 12 forest fire at Kurangani in would decide on what to do af- by the previous government ity also had suff ered a setback by southern Theni district has ter holding discussions with the cancelled the admissions as it backing the government. gone up to 22 with the death opposition United Democratic found the managements fl out- In a statement in Kochi, he of Sivashankari in Madurai last Front (UDF). ing norms and collecting mil- also alleged bribery that runs into week. “There is no point in discuss- lions of rupees. millions of rupees in “the deal.” Over 50 trekkers from clubs in ing it since both the governor The high court and the Su- The Supreme Court on Thurs- Chennai, Erode and Tiruppur were and the apex court have rejected preme Court later refused to axe day cancelled admissions of 180 caught in a sudden forest fire at it citing legal issues,” opposition the order, prompting the gov- students, all into their second the Kurangani hills. Fifteen people leader Ramesh Chennithala told ernment to issue an ordinance year of studies, a day after Kerala died on that day, while others reporters in Kannur yesterday. regularising them, which was Legislative Assembly adopted Congress president Rahul Gandhi visits a book store in Bengaluru yesterday. suff ered third degree burns. “We supported the bill con- last week made into a legislation the bill unanimously. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 17 INDIA

INVESTIGATION TRAGEDY COMPETITION CRIME HONOUR Journalists shot, seriously Three children die after Maharashtra wins most Man stoned to death Delhi’s Mahir Pandhi injured in Ghaziabad vaccination in Jharkhand awards in Hackathon for allegedly raping girl wins ‘Top Model India’

A journalist working with Sahara Samay Hindi Three children died in Jharkhand’s Palamau district Maharashtra came out at the top with 53 A mob stoned a man to death in Telangana after Mahir Pandhi, an aspiring model from New news channel was yesterday shot and seriously yesterday a day after they were given diphtheria, awards in total at the recently concluded he allegedly raped a seven-year-old girl, police Delhi, has won the ‘Top Model India’ crown, injured at his residence in Ghaziabad, police tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTP) vaccines. Six Smart India Hackathon (software edition), said yesterday. The incident took place late on which showcases diverse talent and breaks said. Five unidentified men riding two-wheelers others have fallen seriously ill. The tragedy happened followed by Tamil Nadu and New Delhi, the Saturday in Donkeshwar village of Nizamabad stereotypes. The show gave a chance to 12 went to Anuj Chaudhary’s house around 6.15pm in Loinga village. According to villagers, the vaccines All India Council for Technical Education district. According to the police, a group of villagers aspiring models to transform into supermodels and fired six shots at Chaudhary, who was were given to children between the age of one and (AICTE) said yesterday. Tamil Nadu, New Delhi tied 45-year-old Sayanna to a tree and hit him with under the guidance of judges Lisa Haydon, Atul standing at the entrance. Two bullets hit him three on Saturday. The children started vomiting and and Karnataka won 34, 28 and 19 awards stones and sticks. The man died on way to hospital. Kasbekar, Anaita Shroff Adajania and mentor in the abdomen and two in the right arm. The had diarrhoea following the immunisation. They were respectively. The two-day event was held at 28 Sayanna, a labourer, was drunk when he called the Shibani Dandekar. “There wasn’t any money assailants fled after which Anuj was rushed to admitted to the Sadar Hospital on Saturday evening. nodal centres across the country. There were daughter of his neighbour to his house, off ering involved but I’ve bagged an opportunity with hospital. Doctors said his condition was critical. Three of them died yesterday. Following the deaths, 1,296 entries selected for the finals out of more her chocolates. He later allegedly raped her. Upon Bling Entertainment who will be managing me. “We are collecting closed-circuit television angry villagers blocked a road and took nurses who than 17,400 teams with the participation of seeing the girl crying and bleeding, villages alerted I’ve learnt a lot and that too from the best in the footage from the area. A team will be formed to administered the vaccine hostage. Police and district around 100,000 students. The teams worked her parents, who were working in an agriculture business,” Mahir said. For him, the toughest task arrest the culprits,” police off icer Akash Tomar administration off icials rescued the medical staff on technological problems proposed by 27 field. The parents took their daughter to a hospital on the show was the first episode where he had said. after pacifying the villagers. central and 17 state ministries. in a neighbouring village. to walk in a swimwear. Congress, BSP New-look rail station and SP fanning Dalit violence, says Prasad

IANS ties) Act was far from the truth New Delhi as the ruling party, after com- ing to power in 2014, worked to strengthen the Act. ederal Law Minister Ravi “We have made very crucial Shankar Prasad yester- changes to the SC/ST Act to Fday accused the Con- make it more stringent and to gress, the Bahujan Samaj Party plug the gaps.” (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party Prasad quoted from a circular (SP) of fanning Dalit violence issued on October 29, 2007 by in various parts of the country the then Uttar Pradesh govern- for political gains. ment headed by BSP supremo He also took a dig at Congress Mayawati which said that the president Rahul Gandhi, saying SC/ST Act must not be used he should not tarnish the legacy to harass innocent persons and of the offi ce he is holding. that if someone lodges a false “Bhimrao Ambedkar said complaint under the Act, legal Dalit movement should not be proceedings under Section 182 violent. But some parties like of the IPC should be initiated the Congress, the SP, the BSP against that person. are fanning Dalit violence in a “This is a circular issued by calculated manner for political the Mayawati government, not gains,” Prasad told reporters by the BJP,” Prasad said. Passengers waiting for train in an area decorated with Mithila paintings at Madhubani railway station in Madhubani in Bihar. Under Indian Railways “Rail Swacch Mission” here. The minister clarifi ed that cleanliness drive, over 200 artists worked relentlessly for two months without claiming wages to paint a wall of over 14,000sq ft in traditional Mitihila style to give the railway Reacting to Gandhi’s day- the government was neither station a new look. old tweet in which he termed a party nor was it called for a the RSS-BJP ideology as “op- counter affi davit in the case pressive” and said such ide- where the Supreme Court ology “can never respect passed an order that an ac- the Dalits and Baba saheb cused need not be arrested (Ambedkar)”, Prasad said the under the SC/ST Act without a offi ce of the Congress presi- preliminary inquiry. dent has a legacy and Gandhi “Only the attorney general should not forget that. was called for his opinion as “Rahulji should not for- the matter pertained to a cen- get the legacy of the post he tral legislation,” Prasad said. Court issues warrants is holding. This post has been The Supreme Court on held by the likes of Indira Gan- March 20 said the arrest of dhi, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Pa- an accused under the SC/ST tel, Subhas Chandra Bose and Act was not mandatory and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad,” recourse to coercive action Prasad said. would be only after prelimi- The senior Bharatiya Janata nary inquiry and sanction by against Nirav, Choksi Party leader said the Congress’ the competent authority. “new found” love for Ambedkar Prasad also pointed out that Agencies of seeking Red Corner Notices Choks to join the investiga- the counting of votes of 2014 such cases of fugitive economic was opportunistic as the party it was the BJP that has made Mumbai against both men from the In- tion but they have refused, cit- general election. offenders that empowers the hardly cared for him. He also Ram Nath Kovind - a Dalit - terpol. ing business engagements and He was asked about the lapses government to confiscate all accused the BSP of deserting the president of India. Earlier, a lookout notice was health issues. in the statutory audit of the cen- assets of absconding fraudsters Ambedkar’s and another Dalit However, the Congress ac- special Central Bureau of issued by the CBI against Modi The passports of the two fu- tral regulator due to which the and loan defaulters to recover leader Kanshi Ram’s ideals and cused Modi of maintaining a Investigation (CBI) court and Choksi. gitive businessmen have been PNB fraud remained undetected dues. making it a family party that “stoic silence” over the con- Ayesterday issued non- The case, dubbed India’s larg- revoked. for a long time as the Swift mes- PNB has said it is working “hardly cares for Dalits and their cerns of Dalits and said it in- bailable warrants against two est ever bank fraud, has led to a The Ministry of External Af- saging system was misused. with the investigators and regu- emancipation”. dicated that the BJP and RSS jewellers who are central fi gures huge probe and 20 arrests have fairs has submitted a request to The Congress and other op- lators probing the fraud case. “Ambedkar died in 1956 but were working towards a ‘Dalit- in an alleged $2bn scam at state- been made so far in relation to Hong Kong authorities for pro- position parties have repeatedly The CBI is also questioning the successive Congress gov- mukt (Dalit-free) Bharat’. run Punjab National Bank (PNB), the matter. visional arrest of Modi, acting questioned how Modi was al- offi cers of overseas branches ernments did not bother to “It is often said that when offi cials said yesterday. Modi and Choksi have denied on reports that the absconding lowed to fl y abroad and also be of Indian banks that extended confer him with Bharat Ratna. rebel voices come from within The CBI is now also ques- the allegations against them and jeweller is in the Chinese terri- part of Prime Minister Narendra credit facilities on the basis of It was only in 1989 that the V the house, it means the situ- tioning some offi cials at over- authorities say they both left the tory. Modi’s business delegation to the fraudulent letters of under- P Singh government backed by ation is tense, worrisome and seas branches of Indian banks country before the fraud was un- On Friday, the CBI questioned Davos in January. taking (LoUs), issued by employ- the BJP conferred the honour alarming. Feeling concerned, which issued loans to compa- covered in February. the Reserve Bank of India’s Over the next two month, ees of PNB, a CBI source said. on him,” the minister said. scared and anguished over nies owned by Nirav Modi and While Modi and his brother former deputy governor Harun these agencies have temporarily The agency has also sum- He said the opposition’s al- rising violence against Dalits his uncle Mehul Choksi against Nishal left India on January 1, Rashid Khan in connection seized properties worth billions moned an offi cer dealing with legations that Prime Minister and the anti-Dalit mindset of bank guarantees - later shown to his wife Ami, a US citizen, and with the fraud and relaxation that led them to shut down their foreign exchange at Allahabad Narendra Modi’s government the Modi government, even have been fraudulently issued by Choksi left on January 6, all be- of 80:20 gold import scheme outlets in several parts of the Bank’s Hong Kong branch, for was trying to dilute the Sched- the BJP’s Dalit MPs are raising certain rogue employees at PNB. fore the CBI received a complaint brought by then fi nance minis- country. questioning, the source said. uled Castes and Scheduled questions,” Congress spokes- The issuance of non-bailable from the PNB on January 29. ter P Chidambaram on May 13, The government has also Allahabad Bank has previously Tribes (Prevention of Atroci- man Jaiveer Shergil said. warrants by a court opens door The CBI had asked Modi and 2014, barely three days before drawn up a law to deal with denied any wrongdoing.

India to showcase military Silent protest over prowess at Chennai event Cauvery issue in TN

IANS technicians participated in ndia will showcase its prow- DefExpo 2018 will showcase several frigates, corvettes and Chennai the protest. Among those ess in defence manufactur- Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s other ships. present were music directors Iing at the upcoming DefEx- various fl ying platforms includ- The exhibition will also unveil Illayaraja, Shankar-Ganesh, po-2018 in Chennai from April ing domestically designed and India’s capabilities in manufac- amil fi lm fraternity actors Surya, Vijay, Vishal and 11 to 14, the Indian embassy in manufactured fourth-generation turing the Scorpene class subma- led by veteran actors- Prashanth. Doha announced in a statement Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) - rine. Naval shipyards in the public Tturned-politicians According to Nadigar San- yesterday. Tejas; Advanced Light Helicop- sector including Mazagon Docks, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth gam president Nasser, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ter - Dhruv which have both civil GRSE, Goa Shipyards, Hindustan yesterday observed a silent silent protest is held to con- will inaugurate the Def Expo on as well as combat variants; Light Shipyard and private shipyards protest demanding the set- vey one message - the con- April 12. Around 50 offi cial del- Combat Helicopter, and Dornier will bring to the view of visitors ting up of a Cauvery Manage- stitution of the CMB and the egations from various countries civilian aircraft. Apart from HAL’s their capabilities in manufactur- ment Board and the Cauvery CWRC. are likely to participate, including platforms, the event will also pro- ing and servicing ships. Water Regulation Committee Earlier, speaking to report- 13 at Ministerial level. More than mote domestic private industry As regards land systems, India (CWRC). ers outside his residence, 600 exhibitors, including 517 In- and aero-components industry. will unveil its 155mm Advanced It also opposed the opera- Rajinikanth said the central dian exhibitors, have confi rmed As the DefExpo is being held Towed Artillery Gun (ATAG) at the tion of a copper smelter plant government will earn the their participation. on a seashore location, it pro- event. This is the fi rst time that of the Vedanta group in Tuti- wrath of Tamil Nadu people if DefExpo 2018 will brand India vides an opportunity to the In- India has its own ATAG which has corin. the CMB and CWRC were not as a defence exporter of several dian Navy to demonstrate its been designed and developed by The protest organised by the set up. defence systems and compo- domestic design and manufac- DRDO in partnership with Kalyani South Indian Film Artistes As- He also said the players of nents for all three services - turing capabilities. India will Group, Tata Power and OFBs. In- sociation, popularly known as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) army, navy and air force. While present its naval designing ca- dia also proposes to showcase its Nadigar Sangam, saw the par- should wear black badges showcasing strengths of India’s pabilities in shipbuilding, being tank making capabilities, includ- ticipation of members of Tamil while playing the Indian Pre- substantial public sector, it will one of the few countries in the ing MBT Arjun, T90 and T-72, Film Producers Council and mier League (IPL) match here also uncover India’s growing world with capabilities to design Bridge Laying Tanks (BLTs) with Film Employees Federation of so that the issue was known private industry and spreading a naval vessel from scratch to a span of over 70ft among others. South India. throughout the nation. MSME base for components and fi nish. India will also physically India will also be showcasing the Defence personnel demonstrate the working of military hardware Leading actors, movie and He said the spectators too sub-systems. showcase, along the shoreline 155mm artillery gun ‘Dhanush’. ahead of DefExpo 2018 in Chennai yesterday. music directors and other should wear black badges. Gulf Times 18 Monday, April 9, 2018 LATIN AMERICA Colombia told to protect Amazon forest in landmark case

Thomson Reuters Foundation and counter climate change. addressed the problem of de- destruction of the Amazon jeop- sion marks an historical prec- tance of protecting the rights bat deforestation in the Amazon. Bogota In their ruling, the judges said forestation in the Amazon,” the ardised their futures and violat- edent in terms of climate change of future generations, and even The Amazon’s destruction that Colombia — which is home supreme court said. ed their constitutional rights to litigation,” said Camila Bustos, declares the Amazon a subject of leads to “imminent and serious” to a swathe of rainforest roughly The ruling comes after a group a healthy environment, life, food one of the plaintiff s and a re- rights,” Bustos told the Thomson damage to children and adults olombia’s highest court the size of Germany and England of 25 young plaintiff s, ranging and water. searcher at Dejusticia. Reuters Foundation. for both present and future gen- has told the government combined — saw deforestation in age from seven to 26, fi led a Bogota-based rights group In its ruling, the court rec- The court ordered the gov- erations, the judges said. Cit must take urgent ac- rates in its Amazon region in- lawsuit against the government Dejusticia, which supported the ognised Colombia’s Amazon ernment — both at the local and The ruling stated that forests tion to protect its Amazon rain- crease by 44% from 2015 to 2016. in January demanding it protect plaintiff s’ case, said the verdict as an “entity subject of rights”, national level — along with the were being felled to make way forest and stem rising deforest- “It is clear, despite numer- their right to a healthy environ- meant it was the fi rst time a law- which means that the rainforest environment and agriculture for more grazing and agricultural ation, in what campaigners said ous international commitments, ment. suit of this kind had been ruled has been granted the same legal ministries and environmental au- land, as well as coca crops — the was an historic moment that regulations... that the Colom- The plaintiff s had said the upon favourably in Latin America. rights as a human being. thorities to come up with action raw ingredient for cocaine — il- should help conserve forests bian state has not effi ciently government’s failure to stop the “The Supreme Court’s deci- “The ruling states the impor- plans within four months to com- legal mining and logging. Arrest likely to be a deathblow for LatAm’s left, feel experts

AFP easily continue to stir up the Montevideo national and regional political scene from his cell. “Clearly, for many leftist ith his ambitious so- movements, what’s happened in cial programmes, his Lula’s case is political persecu- Winternational stand- tion in order to remove him. The ing and his extraordinary fate, problem with this argument is Brazil’s ex-president Luiz Inacio that it doesn’t expand beyond Lula da Silva was a potent symbol leftist circles,” said Panizza. of Latin America’s defi ant left. And for many, he still remains Seeing him end up in jail is a hero, said Peter Hakim of the likely to deal a heavy blow to a Inter-American Dialogue think generation of leaders. tank in Washington. “It is certainly a shock to see “When Lula was president, the man who, more than anyone, the life and prospects for the Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leaves the Metallurgical Union on his way to Sao Paulo airport, in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. pioneered the ‘new left’ surge poor — the very poor, Brazilians in Latin America, being sent to of colour — was better than it prison,” said William LeoGrande, had ever been: more jobs, higher an expert in South American pol- pay, more social programmes, itics at the American University expansion of education,” he said. School of Public Aff airs. As the fi rst Brazilian head of His demise comes some two state to come from the working decades after Latin America was class, Lula combined business- swept by the so-called “pink friendly economic policy with Jailed Lula hopes to get tide” that brought leftwing lead- social-welfare programmes that ers to 15 of the region’s countries. helped lift tens of millions of “Lula is the candidate of the re- people out of poverty. formist, non-revolutionary left, On Thursday, however, the more market-friendly. This more Supreme Court rejected Lula’s moderate left appears beaten, request to delay implementing defeated because it bet on play- his 12-year sentence for cor- out of prison this week ing the democratic game and now ruption while pursuing appeals it appears that these rules have against his 2017 conviction. AFP Although Brazil’s recent pres- case, must conduct further ap- precedented operation that has all of Brazil is coming. As of yes- harmed it,” said Patricio Navia, If successful, it could have af- Curitiba idents have often ended up in peals from prison. But there is brought down scores of top poli- terday we were expecting almost an academic adviser at CADAL, forded him several more months trouble — impeached, felled by pressure to change that so that ticians and some of Brazil’s rich- 30 groups,” said Regina Cruz, the Center for the Opening and of freedom, likely further bol- a coup and even one suicide — higher court appeals could be est businessmen. president of the CUT trade un- Development of Latin America. stering his chances in the up- razil’s leftist icon Luiz Ina- Lula is the fi rst to have been con- pursued in liberty, which would It has also sent shock waves ion group in Parana state, who “And as a result, it will be- coming presidential election in cio Lula da Silva yesterday victed and locked up. mean freedom for Lula. through Latin America, leading said large numbers of people come more radical.” which he is the frontrunner. Bserved the fi rst day of a Lula was found guilty last year Lula’s new home, which to the resignation of Peru’s pres- were heading there. Whether it’s the Odebrecht “What the court managed to 12-year prison sentence for cor- of accepting a luxury apartment measures roughly 160 square ident Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Others expressed satisfac- scandal, the economic down- do was to convert the October ruption, but was already hoping as a bribe from a construction feet, has extremely good condi- As Lula arrived by helicopter tion over his fate, coming to take turn in Venezuela or Lula’s election into a referendum on for a way out through the courts company and is the biggest scalp tions by the standards of Brazil’s on the roof of police headquar- pictures in front of what they are conviction, they all point to a Lula,” Navia said. this week in a drama gripping the so far of the Car Wash probe. often violent, desperately over- ters late on Saturday, demon- now calling “Lula’s house.” similar conclusion, said Fran- Hakim has little doubt that country ahead of presidential He insists on his innocence crowded prisons. strators let off fi reworks and riot “Let Lula stay there for a long cisco Panizza, professor of Latin putting Lula behind bars sig- elections. and says he was framed to stop It has its own private toilet and police fi red tear gas, fi lling the air time and all his bunch with him. American politics at the London nals the death of the left in Latin The 72-year-old, who served him running in October presi- hot shower. with explosions and smoke. He deserves it,” said business- School of Economics. America. two terms as head of state be- dential elections in which polls The cell is located inside the Eight people were slightly in- man Mauro Celli, 49. “Justice “These episodes reinforce the “The death of Fidel (Castro, tween 2003 and 2010, entered show him as frontrunner. police headquarters in Curitiba, jured. was done in this country,” said idea that the Latin American left Cuba’s revolutionary hero), the the prison in the southern city But there could be new sur- which has become synony- It was a fi ttingly chaotic end Glaucio Zeni, 53. has come to a sticky end: with gigantic failure of (longtime Ven- of Curitiba late on Saturday, be- prises ahead, with a potentially mous to Brazilians with the “Car to four days of tension as Bra- With Lula almost certainly these corruption scandals, lead- ezuelan socialist Hugo) Chavez coming Brazil’s fi rst ex-presi- explosive legal development Wash” probe that was launched zil wondered whether the man knocked out of October’s presi- ers in jail or the economic crises and (current President Nico- dent to be jailed as a criminal. coming as early as Wednesday four years ago and continues to who founded the Workers’ Party dential election the race is likely in Brazil and Venezuela,” he said. las) Maduro, the caudillismo of His cell is located in the same when the Supreme Court could shake the country. would fi nally be put behind bars. to be thrown wide open. In polls, “It is something that (the left) (Nicaragua’s Daniel) Ortega... federal police building that revisit the current law on incar- Named after a petrol station By yesterday morning, many he currently scores more than will struggle to overcome.” have together pushed the left to serves as the base of operation ceration during appeals, local where agents initially uncovered of Lula’s supporters were still in double his nearest rivals. How- With his charisma, his trade- its weakest point in my memory,” “Car Wash,” Brazil’s wide-rang- media said. a relatively small money laun- Curitiba, and more were on the ever, analysts say that instabil- mark white beard and his crowds he said. “It’s hard to imagine any ing anti-graft investigation that Today, anyone convicted and dering operation, “Car Wash” way. ity in Brazil means that surprises of adoring followers, Lula could resurgence, even recuperation.” brought him down. losing a fi rst appeal, as in Lula’s has since morphed into an un- “As president Lula is so loved, remain possible. Mexico’s Obrador eyes Falcon campaigns Migrant caravan slimmed down Pemex members hold protest AFP out at deportations from the US. Mexico City The caravan, an annual event Reuters government would aim to run a the energy overhaul, which was held since 2010, assembled in Mexico City federal budget that was “more based on a change in the consti- Tapachula, on the border with or less” in balance, once interest tution, would be overturned. rmed with placards Guatemala, on March 25. Its payments on debt were stripped “The (auctions) wouldn’t nec- blasting US President members — mostly from Hon- ndres Manuel Lopez Ob- out. essarily be cancelled, but they ADonald Trump, some duras, but also from El Salva- rador, the leftist leading To meet its other goals of up- could be halted. Maybe there 100 members of a caravan dor, Guatemala and Nicaragua Athe race to win Mexico’s ping investment and pensions, would be a slower pace,” he said. of migrants crossing Mexico — originally planned to travel presidency in July, will root out the government would seek to Urzua, who served as Mexico demonstrated in central Mex- en masse to the US border. corruption at Pemex and also shake up wasteful social spend- City’s fi nance minister for part ico City, from where some will However, the caravan start- aims to slim down the state- ing and curb excessive public of Obrador’s 2000-2005 mayor- push on to the US border. “If ed breaking up on Thursday in owned oil and gas company, his sector salaries, he said. alty of the capital, added that he they kick us out, we’ll go back. southern Mexico after organ- pick for fi nance minister said. “We’re also going to slim was “sure that the great majority No to Trump,” one of the ban- isers said it had abandoned its In an interview with Reu- down the structures of all the of the contracts awarded” had ners read, placed on the steps goal of reaching the US border ters, Carlos Urzua, a respected decentralised institutions, in- not been tainted by corruption. of the Angel of Independence and would end its activities economist trained at the Univer- cluding Pemex,” he said. Obrador has also rattled busi- monument. with the rally in Mexico City. sity of Wisconsin-Madison, said Obrador holds a double-digit ness leaders by threatening to Among the migrants was Their initial plan had Obrador was not resolved to end lead in most opinion polls, and scrap a $13bn new airport for Yanci Flores, 22, a Salvadoran prompted fury from Trump, oil and gas auctions started un- his criticism of the economic Mexico City, which the govern- travelling with her two-year- who renewed threats to aban- der the current government, but liberalisation carried out under ment says is already nearly one- old son. She said her son’s fa- don the Nafta trade pact if En- Urzua said major fi nancial inves- President Enrique Pena Nieto third complete. ther was killed by gang mem- rique Pena Nieto’s government tors he had met with were wor- has caused concern among in- Urzua said foreign investors bers. did not act to break up the car- ried about the energy reform. fl uential sections of the business were not very worried about the As her toddler played with avan, and ordered troops to be Urzua had harsh words for community. airport, noting that its major in- a plastic pistol, Flores said her deployed to secure the south- Pemex, saying it was neither The centrepiece of Pena Ni- vestors are Mexican. “But they plan “is to go to the US to be ern US border with Mexico. competitive nor productive eto’s agenda has been opening are worried about the energy able to work, to be able to leave The US states of Texas and enough and adding that its trade up oil and gas production and sector,” he said. behind all the violence of my Arizona announced on Fri- union is “an icon of corruption.” exploration to private fi rms. Urzua said he has already held country. day they would send National “Pemex has to be cleaned up, Obrador has strongly criticised meetings with representatives If I go back, they will kill us.” Guard troops to the Mexican because if not, we’re not going the move, threatening to scrap from over 50 major investors in Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Henri Falcon Later, the migrants assembled border — with Texas deploy- to have a top-fl ight company,” the reform or at least review con- Mexico, including BlackRock, greets his supporters during a visits to the El Rio shantytown in front of the US embassy near- ing 250 within 72 hours while he said. tracts awarded under it. Urzua Pimco, Credit Suisse, Bank of in San Cristobal, Tachira state. by, displaying more anti-Trump Arizona planning to send 150 In offi ce, Urzua said Obrador’s sought to downplay fears that America and Morgan Stanley. slogans and messages hitting personnel next week. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 19 PAKISTAN Govt mulls permanent ban

on JuD, other ‘terror’ groups Pervez Musharraf

Internews establishment was also on board. Constitution which empowers (for organisations) and Fourth terrorist organisations which would also enable investigation Islamabad The government decided to the “president to promulgate Schedule (for individuals), re- will be accessible to fi nancial offi cers to be trained to investigate prepare a draft bill to amend the ordinances” but the ordinance spectively, on an ex parte basis. institutions and law-enforce- sources of funding besides other ATA as part of its damage-con- expires in 120 days. Under Section 11-EE, the re- ment agencies of the country to fi nancial aspects in terrorism cases. Special he Pakistani government trol campaign after the Finan- The National Assembly quirements were: “(a) concerned strengthen the regime against The presidential ordinance is working on a draft cial Action Task Force (FATF) can extend it for another four in terrorism; (b) an activist, money laundering and terror has already been challenged Tbill to replace the presi- approved a nomination pro- months after which it has to be offi ce-bearer or an associate of fi nancing. by JuD chief Hafi z Saeed in the court in high dential ordinance that banned posal tabled jointly by the US, tabled before both the houses an organisation kept under ob- For the enforcement of pro- Islamabad High Court. Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) as well the UK, France and Germany to i.e. National Assembly and Sen- servation under section 11D or hibition of funds and fi nancial He claimed that the ordinance as other organisations and indi- place Pakistan on the interna- ate for further extension. proscribed under section 11B; services, it was recommended had been promulgated due to treason case viduals on the watch list of the tional watchdog’s money-laun- Through the ordinance, and (c) in any way concerned or to the authorities to ensure external pressure and hence was interior ministry. dering and terror-fi nancing amendments were made to suspected to be concerned with that statutory regulatory or- not only prejudicial to the sov- Sources in the law ministry grey list in February. ATA’s Section 11-B that sets out such organisation or affi liated ders issued under UNSC Reso- ereignty but also contradictory reconstituted said that the proposed draft bill Bill being tabled in NA to re- parameters for proscription of with any group or organisation lutions-1267 and -1373 (issued to the fundamental rights en- to amend the Anti-Terrorism place ordinance which amended groups and Section 11-EE that suspected to be involved in ter- under ATA) are implemented shrined in the Constitution. Act (ATA), 1997 was likely to law to include entities listed by describes the grounds for listing rorism or sectarianism or acting without delay. When contacted, Zafarullah Internews be tabled in the upcoming ses- UNSC as proscribed groups of individuals. In both sections, on behalf of, or at the direction The government would also Khan, special assistant to the Islamabad sion of the National Assembly Earlier, President Mamnoon Sub-Section ‘aa’ was added. of, any person or organisation frame the ATA’s freezing and prime minister, said that the scheduled to commence today. Hussain had promulgated the According to the sub-sec- proscribed under this Act.” seizure rules and ensure that amendment to the ATA was a The law ministry was in- ordinance amending the ATA tion, organisations and indi- In addition to the draft bill, Anti-Terrorism Amendment subject of the interior minis- he Special Court hearing volved in the process for the to include entities listed by the viduals “listed under the United which is likely to be tabled in the Ordinance 2018 is enacted try. He added the law would not high treason case against purpose of vetting the pro- UNSC as proscribed groups. Nations (Security Council) Act, upcoming NA session, Pakistan through the parliament, ac- introduce anything new, as it Tformer military ruler posed draft bill, the sources The ordinance had been is- 1948 (XIV of 1948), or” will be is preparing a consolidated da- cording to the draft action plan. would basically ensure compli- General (retd) Pervez Mushar- said, adding that the military sued under Article 89 of the included in the First Schedule tabase of known terrorists and The amendment to the ATA ance to the UNSC Resolutions. raf was reconstituted yesterday with the inclusion of Justice Nazar Akbar from the Sindh High Court (SHC). The complaint, fi led by the federation, sought initiation With record 33 Pashtuns of high treason proceedings against Musharraf for imposing the emergency rule on Novem- rally against ber 3, 2007. The Special Court independents, was abolished on March 29 after Chief Justice of Peshawar High abuses by Court (PHC) Justice Yahya Af- ridi refused to head the bench, as Senate session Musharraf’s counsel had object- security ed to his inclusion saying that he was former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s lawyer. The bench begins today forces deliberated on the matter in the chamber after which Justice Af- ridi recused himself. Internews and Senate chairman. AFP However, in his order Justice Islamabad Pakistan People’s Party Peshawar Afridi observed that the counsel’s (PPP) fi led a privilege motion objections were factually incor- against Prime Minister Ab- rect, as he was never a counsel for he Senate will hold its basi on Friday in the Senate n a rare public challenge to the former chief justice Chaud- fi rst formal session to- Secretariat. However, it is not Pakistan’s powerful armed hry’s, but a co-petitioner in the Tday after the eventful clear whether or not the mov- Iforces, thousands of Pa- case against Musharraf’s Novem- election of 52 senators, begin- ers will be allowed to present it shtuns rallied yesterday in the Demonstrators of Pashtun Protection Movement gather at a public rally in Peshawar yesterday. ber 3, 2007 martial law. ning a new parliamentary year in the House for referral to the northwestern city of Peshawar The Special Court will now be with the fate of 17 senators still privileges committee. to call for an end to abuses by 15% of the population and cruelty,” said its leader Manzoor year at the hands of law enforce- headed by Chief Justice Lahore undecided. As per the 16-item orders police and troops. have largely borne the brunt of Pashteen as heavy rain drenched ment offi cers under pressure High Court Justice (LHC) Yawar Presently, the Senate web- of the day, Pakistan Tehreek- The crowd chanted anti-mil- Pakistan’s war on terror. the crowd. to crack down on kidnapping, Ali, it has been learnt. site shows 33 independ- e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Azam itary slogans as speakers took to Norab Jan’s two brothers and “We are against all cruelty, murder and gang crime in a city The sources disclosed that ents enjoy majority in the Swati, if allowed, will move a the stage demanding an end to son were abducted three years whether it is from the good routinely ranked among the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) 104-member Upper House of resolution, which reads: “This forced “disappearances” and ago. Taliban or bad Taliban, or most dangerous in the world. Mian Saqib Nasir had approved Parliament: these include 17 House recommends that the harassment by authorities. “We knocked at every door to from peace committees, ISI But the fatal shooting of the names of new special court senators, who got elected with provision of development “I salute the Pakistan army get some knowledge but yet we (Inter-Services Intelligence), 23-year-old Naqeebullah Meh- bench members and the Law the backing of the ruling Paki- funds to parliamentarians but if they are cruel I hate have no clue where they are,” the MI (military intelligence) or sud, an aspiring model whose Ministry will issue a notifi cation stan Muslim League - Nawaz should be stopped immedi- them,” said one female speaker 80-year-old said. the army.” goofy dance videos and air- in this regard. (PML-N). ately as the same is against the to roars of applause. “If they are alive or dead, According to organisers, at brushed brown locks had earned Other members of the bench “We are confi dent the mat- spirit of good governance and Hundreds held posters or we don’t know. We want them least 2,000 new cases of forced him a large Facebook follow- include Justice Tahira Safdar ter relating to 17 senators will democratic norms”. photos of missing family mem- presented in a court of law. If disappearances were registered ing, brought thousands onto of Balochistan High Court and be sorted out early next week. Senator Syed Shibli Faraz bers and friends, whom they they are guilty they should be during the rally. the streets to urge an end to Chief Justice of Lahore High May be before the commence- of PTI will seek leave to move say have been seized by se- punished, if not they should be The Pashtun Protection impunity. Court Justice Yawar Ali. ment of the maiden sitting,” a resolution that says, “This curity forces during military released.” Movement rose to prominence The country’s Pashtun belt Musharraf had fi led an ap- parliamentary sources said. House recommends that the operations against insurgents. A senior police offi cial who after the killing of a young social in the northwest bordering Af- plication, contending that the They pointed out that the government should take nec- Speakers at the rally organ- spoke to AFP estimated about media star in Karachi unleashed ghanistan has suff ered from Special Court presiding offi cer Senate Secretariat had con- essary steps to evolve a simple ised by the Pashtun Protection 30,000 people attended the festering anger at extrajudicial militant violence for over a dec- Justice Yahya Afridi may rec- veyed it to the Election Com- and practical mechanism for Movement demanded better rally in a fi eld outside town. murders and at the police ac- ade as the Afghan war spilled use himself from conducting mission of Pakistan (ECP) that the payment of pension to ad- treatment for ethnic Pashtuns, “We are not against anyone cused of orchestrating them. over the border, leading to the trial and the order dated it was their mandate to decide dress the problems being faced who make up an estimated but this movement is against Hundreds of people die each repeated military operations. March 8, may be recalled. about political alignment of by the poor and elderly pen- these senators, as it would sioners by keeping their com- also deal with references re- fort and dignity intact.” Abbottabad clinches top spot in education service delivery garding the membership and Whereas, another PTI Sen- affi liation of a lawmaker. ator Mohsin Aziz will seek to Abbottabad district in northwest It is pertinent to mention that The objectives of DPES are to Already, they noted, none move a motion that the House of Pakistan clutched the top Lakki Marwat District remains assess district performance More hospitals to else but PML-N president may discuss the recent de- position by securing 64.69% in the top five but lost the first on key education indicators in Shahbaz Sharif had moved the valuation of Pakistani rupee marks in district performance in position which it bagged for line with education sector plan ECP in this connection. by 5 per cent in addition to the education Service Delivery for consecutive three months. and to introduce a reward and benefi t from health “The fi rst day of the 276th sharp devaluation in Decem- the month of January 2018. According to the documents, penalty mechanism to accelerate session will be a private ber, 2017, which will have very The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) DPES ranks all 25 districts of performance and service members day and it will be negative impact on the econ- Elementary and Secondary KP on a set of key education delivery. programme in NW interesting to see how the omy making imports more Education Department has indicators which include student Every month, the E and SED treasury senators will con- expensive. reconciled results of District learning outcomes: using 5th and conducts district ranking meeting duct themselves with regard PML-N’s Abdul Qayyum’s Performance Evaluation System 10th grade results, attendance where the off icials of best Internews They said a report of the new to the newly-elected Senate motion is also listed on the (DPES) for the month of January, rate of students, teachers and performing districts are rewarded Peshawar survey would be analysed after chairman Muhammad Sadiq orders of the day, which says, with support of DFID in which non-teaching staff , physical and with certificates whereas, the completion to pave the way for Sanjrani, following the much- “The House may discuss the district Abbottabad securing high financial progress of development off icials of poor performing districts the selection of new hospitals. discussed statement of Prime issue of energy crisis in the secure, followed by Charsadda projects in schools, percentage are given a chance to explain the he health department The offi cials said the pro- Minister Shahid Khaqan Ab- country and the steps taken with 63.34%, Swabi with 61.87%, of out of school children enrolled, reasons for which makes it diff icult in northwest (NW) of gramme had a slow start as basi about the alleged use of by the present government to Malakand with 61.16% and Lakki provision of textbooks, furniture for their district to compete with TPakistan has begun the the people didn’t know much money in election of senators address the same.” Marwat with 60.69%. and stipends to students. other districts. (Internews) selection of more government about it but currently as and private health facilities in there was a general awareness districts for the people enti- among patients, the govern- tled to treatment under the ment felt the need to extend its Sehat Sahulat Programme. coverage to more hospitals. The Sehat Sahulat Pro- They said Rs2bn had so far US ambassador summoned over embassy vehicle fatality gramme (SSP) or health fa- been spent on the treatment of cilitation programme started the SIC-holders. in January last year has been The offi cials said the patients Reuters the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Re- providing free treatment to of heart-related problems were Islamabad lations 1961”, indicating it recognises the the people holding Sehat In- the main benefi ciaries of the US offi cial’s diplomatic immunity. saf Cards (SIC) in 110 hospitals programme, followed by the The US embassy released a statement across the province. people, who either underwent akistan yesterday summoned the US yesterday expressing “deep sympathy to The initiative launched with general surgeries or got mother ambassador to protest a fatal traf- the family of the deceased and those in- an outlay of Rs5.4bn for a pe- and child care. Pfi c accident involving an American jured in a tragic traffi c accident involving a riod of three years is meant to They said the department diplomatic vehicle in the capital, Islama- US embassy vehicle”. provide treatment up to Rs540, wanted to upgrade health facili- bad, and an embassy statement said it was It said embassy offi cials were co-operat- 000 per family at the govern- ties at the district level so that co-operating in the investigation. ing with local authorities investigating the ment and private hospitals. the patients could be treated at The ministry of foreign aff airs said in a accident. Initially, it covered 1.8m the local level and those with statement it had called in US ambassador The accident comes seven years af- families or 51% of the popula- chronic problems could visit David Hale to lodge a complaint over “the ter US-Pakistan relations were severely tion. A total of 600,000 more tertiary care hospitals. tragic death of the motorcyclist and serious strained when a CIA contractor based families were added to the The offi cials said the pri- injury to the co-rider in the traffi c accident in Lahore shot and killed two men on a programme this year and thus, vate and government hospi- yesterday that involved a US diplomat”. motorcycle in what he described as an taking its coverage to 69% tals were making every eff ort Few details about the accident were attempted robbery on his vehicle. population and attracting Rs- to earn from the programme available and there was no word of any Pakistan rejected a US claim of diplo- 1bn more allocations. as the hospitals were paid at charges being fi led. Local station Geo TV matic immunity for the contractor, Ray- The relevant offi cials said the end of every month for the said the vehicle had collided with the mo- mond Davis, and a court charged him that the health department patients treated through the torcycle on Saturday and police had seized with murder, but he was later acquitted was increasing the number of State Life Insurance Corpora- the embassy vehicle. and released after the families of the dead hospitals at the district level to tion, which was implement- Pakistan said “justice will take its course man said they forgave him after receiving A policeman walks past a car of an American diplomat parked inside a police station facilitate more patients and had ing the SSP on behalf of the in accordance with the law of the land and unspecifi ed compensation. after an accident in Islamabad, yesterday. begun a survey for the purpose. provincial government. Gulf Times 20 Monday, April 9, 2018 PHILIPPINES Govt sets conditions for rebel peace talks By Ralph Villanueva The Communist rebels also the CPP as terrorist groups. Manila Times asked for the proclamation of a CPP chairman Jose Maria presidential amnesty to free all “Joma” Sison and Duterte then political prisoners, in line with engaged in a word war, with esumption of peace talks agreements during the fi rst Sison saying he could kill a sol- with the Communist round of peace talks in 2016. dier a day until the government Boat workers wait for customers at Boracay, yesterday. RParty of the Philippines- The CPP upholds the po- revives the peace talks. New People’s Army-National sition of the NDF that there In reply, Duterte said he will Democratic Front (CPP-NPA- should be no preconditions in kill fi ve NPA rebels for eve- NDF) will depend on terms to the resumption of the peace ry soldier killed. During last be set by President Rodrigo talks as stipulated in the The week’s 24th Cabinet meeting, Duterte, Malacanang said yes- Hague Joint Declaration. “The he changed his mind, saying he terday. Comprehensive Agreement on wants to give the communists Boracay workers appeal “If (the group is) willing Respect for Human Rights and “another last chance” for the to talk under the conditions International Humanitarian peace talks. laid down by President Du- Law (CARHRIHL) must be re- Duterte said on Thursday terte, then the peace talks can affi rmed and implemented” the that he wants the peace talks to resume,” Palace spokesman statement said. move forward within 60 days. for aid after order to close Harry Roque Jr said a news “The things they are asking “Let me. Let me deliver. But briefi ng in Tanauan, Leyte. for, that can be agreed upon in I’ll have a timeline of some- Reuters In a statement published in the negotiations. That will not thing, two months, 60 days,” Boracay the Philippine Revolution We- be a hindrance to the revival of Duterte said in his remarks bcentral website on Saturday, the peace talks,” Roque said. during a dinner concert in the CPP said it is willing to Duterte terminated the peace Pasay City on Thursday night. long the shores of Phil- “maintain the policy of open- negotiations between the gov- According to the president, ippines’ top holiday ness to negotiations to seek ernment and the communist he would again allow all con- Aisland, Boracay, busi- solutions to the roots of the rebels last November 23 after sultants of the CPP to partici- nesses like massage parlours, armed confl ict.” signing Proclamation 360. pate in the peace negotiations souvenir stalls, tattoo shops and “The Filipino people await a The same day, Presidential but warned that they would boat rentals are still thriving Comprehensive Agreement on Adviser on the Peace Process be arrested again if the talks while tourists bask in the sun on Socio-economic Reforms that Jesus Dureza announced the failed. the powdery white sand, but not would address the aspirations cancellation in a statement. “You can all go out, all of you. for long. of the people to seek an end to Almost two weeks later, Du- Nothing will happen. But if we Workers in Boracay, the Phil- their oppressive and exploita- terte signed Proclamation 374, fail, I’ll start collecting. That’s ippines’ most popular tourist tive conditions,” it added. which declared the NPA and for sure,” he said. spot, appealed for aid yesterday before the holiday island’s im- pending closure. Philippines President Rodrigo Labour groups seek wage hike for low earners Duterte, who described Boracay as a “cesspool,” ordered the is- The country’s biggest labour group will file daily wage adjustment petition was collectively land closed for six months start- a petition for a substantial across-the-board filed by the Cebu Labour Coalition, Lonbisco ing April 26. wage increase for the more than 6mn minimum Employees Organisation (LEO), Metaphil Work- It refl ects the growing pres- wage earners in Metro Manila (National Capital ers Union, NUWHRAIN-Montebello Chapter, sures on beach resorts across Region) and in other regions, Manila Times NLM-Katipunan, and the Union Bank Employ- Southeast Asia as infrastructure reported. ees Association (UBEA). buckles under record visitor Tourists walk near a sand sculpture along the beach of Boracay. The Associated Labour Union-Trade Union Con- The ALU-TUCP, on the other hand, separately filed numbers. gress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), through for a P120 across-the-board daily wage hike. Nearly 200 Boracay business- sculptors and boat rental owners fi sh because of the hotels and a masseuse for 20 years. spokesman Alan Tanjuay, disclosed yesterday All petitions, Ticao said, have to be formally pre- es were found to be discharg- — said they will lose their pri- foreigners living in our land.” But for Neo Colubio, a boat the group, along with six other labour organi- sented to the Wage Board in a public hearing, ing untreated waste water into mary source of living and sought The government has prepared rental manager, closing Boracay sations, has filed separate across-the-board which is a requirement in fixing wages. the sea, resulting in increased support from the government. 2bn pesos ($38.4mn) for a “ca- will help preserve the tourist wage hike, ranging from P120 to P155.80 for Tanjusay said ALU-TUCP would also soon concentration of human faeces “I hope there is at least some lamity fund” to workers in Bo- spot, allowing locals to profi t in workers in Central Visayas. Director Cyril Ticao, be filing a wage increase petition before the along the beaches and posing help to keep us fed daily because racay. the long term. chairman of the Regional Tripartite Wages National Capital Region-RTWPB as soon as the health risks to swimmers. we have nowhere to go,” Jora- “Even if they give us money, The holiday island, which and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Cebu, has group finishes its ongoing study on the infla- The central Philippines is- lyn delos Reyes, a hair stylist, can they give us jobs when Bo- generated over $1bn last year confirmed that a P155.80 across-the-board tionary eff ect of the TRAIN law. land’s informal workers — mas- said while braiding a tourist’s racay closes? That’s our biggest from a record 2mn tourists, em- seuses, tattoo artists, sand hair.”We can no longer farm or problem,” said Yolanda Casidsid, ploys around 30,000 workers. Motoring group urges Go Five Supreme Court to run for Senate next year judges rebuff Sereno

By Ralph Villlanueva By Jomar Canlas to inhibit themselves from the dice against her, the argument Manila Times Manila Times case. A source said Tijam will is baseless and unfair. There is submit his draft resolution de- no basis, whether in logic or in nying the motion to inhibit fi led law, to establish a connection group of car enthusiasts ive justices of the Supreme by Sereno. between a piece of clothing and has urged Special As- Court (SC) are set to deny Tijam pointed out that there is a magistrate’s performance of Asistant to the President Fthe plea of Chief Justice no legal basis for him to inhibit, adjudicatory functions. Absent (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go Maria Lourdes Sereno that they rejecting Sereno’s claim that he compelling proof, the red piece to run for senator in the 2019 not participate in the quo war- was biased against her and that of clothing was merely coinci- mid-term elections. ranto case fi led against her by his participation in the proceed- dental and should not be deemed The Mustang Enthusiasts Solicitor General Jose Calida. ings would violate her constitu- a suffi cient ground to disqualify Philippines issued its call dur- Sereno fi led separate motions tional right to due process. Justice Tijam,” a draft of the ing the 2018 Manila Interna- asking Associate Justices Ter- The chief justice claimed that magistrate’s resolution said. tional Auto Show (MIAS) held esita Leonardo-de Castro, Di- Tijam showed his bias during “Verily, the right of a party to at the World Trade Centre in osdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, his testimony before the House seek the inhibition or disquali- Pasay City, which ran from Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam of Representatives when he en- fi cation of a judge who does April 5 to 8. to recuse from the case. couraged her to participate in not appear to be wholly free, In a statement, Presidential The fi ve justices testifi ed the proceedings or she will be disinterested, impartial and in- Communications Operations against Sereno when the Justice held liable for violating the Con- dependent in handling the case Offi ce (PCOO) Secretary Mar- panel of the House of Represent- stitution. must be balanced with the lat- tin Andanar, who was invited to atives heard the impeachment She added that Tijam wore “a ter’s sacred duty to decide cases the show, welcomed the support complaint fi led against Sereno. touch of red” on the so-called without fear of repression. The shown by the group to Go. Tijam was named the ponen- “Red Monday” protest on March movant must therefore prove He said the continuous call te of the quo warranto case. He 12, 2018 when judges and court the ground of bias and preju- for Go to run for the Senate is will study the case and submit employees urged the chief jus- dice by clear and convincing “proof” that many groups be- a recommendation to the SC en tice to resign. evidence to disqualify a judge lieve that Go can be a good sena- banc. Tijam however said Sereno from participating in a partic- tor. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar joins Mustang owners who are backing The solicitor general, in his followed his advice since she had ular trial. In all, respondent’s Andanar expressed hopes Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go to run for the Senate. quo warranto petition, asked the declared several times that she allegations are obviously con- that President Rodrigo Du- high tribunal to nullify Sereno’s will face the impeachment court. jectural and are unsupported by terte’s special assistant will danar said the advocacies of having: anti-drugs, anti-crim- Go has served Duterte since appointment as chief justice. He He added that justices showed suffi cient proof. Her statements heed the growing clamour and Go, which is to stop three of the inality and anti-corruption,” 1998. Duterte’s daughter, Dav- claimed that Sereno is unlawful- no bias when they testifi ed merely tend to cast aspersion on decide to join the administra- country’s biggest problems — Andanar said. ao City Mayor Sara Duterte, ly holding her post because she against Sereno at the House of the integrity and competence of tion’s Senate slate. He added criminality, corruption and il- “This is why the three-point also voiced her support for Go, did not fully disclose her wealth. Representatives since they only the members of this Court,” he that friends and supporters of legal drugs — will be addressed agenda of SAP Bong Go will not saying the later is an “epitome The high court will hear oral stressed the need for her to take added. Go from diff erent sectors have through sports. fail,” he added. of loyalty and uprightness.” arguments on the case tomor- part in the impeachment pro- The other justices who Ser- organised more projects and “This summer, for example, Last month, Andanar said In March, supporters of Go row. Sereno had said she will at- ceedings. eno wanted out of the quo programmes to urge him to run. we will tell and encourage the the president will support Go offi cially launched the move- tend the proceedings. “As to the act of wearing a warranto case have yet to sub- In a radio interview over kids to join (basketball) leagues “to the hilt” if he decides to run ment “Ready, Set, Go” in sup- According to well-placed red tie which purportedly es- mit their own answer to the Radyo Pilipinas yesterday, An- to support the three wars we are for senator next year. port of his likely senatorial bid. sources, the fi ve justices refused tablishes Justice Tijam’s preju- petition. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Man gets death Bangladesh police fi re tear for murder of union leader

gas at student protesters AFP from the government’s labour Dhaka offi ce during the 2010 protest. AFP set aside some 56% of civil “These quotas are country. Police declined to natory. Due to the quota system, CALL FOR RELEASE OF Dhaka service jobs for the families of discriminatory. Due to comment on the number of 56% of the jobs are set aside for Bangladesh court yes- UNION LEADERS: The Clean veterans from the war of inde- the quota system, 56% protesters. 5% of the country’s population. terday sentenced a man Clothes Campaign has called for pendence and disadvantaged of the jobs are set aside Police used “tear gas, water And 95% people can compete for Ato death in absentia for the immediate release of seven angladesh police yesterday minorities, leaving most univer- for 5% of the country’s cannons and batons to clear the the (remaining) 44%,” he said. murdering a union leader who trade union leaders from the fi red tear gas at thousands sity graduates to fi ght for only population. And 95% road” occupied by the protest- He said they would continue led strikes in the powerful Garment Workers Trade Union Bof students who gathered 44% of the jobs. people can compete for the ers, a Dhaka police spokesman protests until the government garment industry. Centre, detained last week on in the capital demanding cuts in Organisers said they were (remaining) 44%” said, adding several people were accepted their demand. A court in the northern dis- what it called false charges. “discriminatory” job quotas. holding peaceful protests when arrested. Students were particularly trict of Tangail ordered that fac- The Netherlands-based The Shahbagh square campus police started fi ring tear gas the nationwide protests in state- The country’s largest Bengali angry at the 30% quota set tory worker Mustafi zur Rahman organisation that campaigns in Dhaka University turned into and rubber bullets and used ba- run universities and colleges. daily, Prothom Alo, said pro- aside for the descendants of be hanged for kidnapping and for the improvement of work- a battleground after thousands tons and water canon to clear Live television footage showed testers blocked major highways veterans from the 1971 war of murdering high-profi le union- ing conditions in the garment of students chanted slogans and students from the square. students throwing rocks at po- linking major cities. independence. ist Aminul Islam in 2012. industry, made the call in a staged sit-in demonstrations “They fi red rubber bullets and lice as offi cers used tear gas and Al Mamun said they were Hasina, whose father was the Trade union groups rejected statement on Saturday. in one of the largest protests tear gas at us. They beat us with water cannon. demanding the govern- architect of the country’s inde- the sentence, saying Rahman Bangladesh Garment Man- against the government of Prime batons,” said Hasan Al Mamun, Al Mamun said tens of thou- ment job quotas be reduced to pendence from Pakistan, has re- was being singled out to cover ufacturers and Exporters As- Minister Sheikh Hasina. the leader of the anti-quota stu- sands of students joined the only 10%. jected demands to slash the job up for powerful groups in- sociation (BGMEA) fi led the Hasina’s administration has dent group, which was behind demonstrations across the “These quotas are discrimi- quotas. volved in Islam’s murder. case against the seven trade Islam’s mutilated body was union leaders. found by the roadside in Tan- “We call on the BGMEA to gail a few days after he dis- immediately withdraw these appeared from Ashulia, the charges and to engage in genuine Traditional game major garment hub on the wage negotiations with workers outskirts of Dhaka. and their trade union organisa- Lanka army All his toes had been bro- tions,” said the statement. ken and his legs bore serious Joly Talukdar, K M Mintu, puncture wounds. Monjur Moin, Jalal Howla- State prosecutor Multan dar, Lutfar Rahman and Md Uddin said Islam was likely Shahjahan, all leaders of the to return land targeted as a prominent labour Garment Workers Trade Un- activist who spearheaded ma- ion Centre (GWTUC), and jor strikes over wages at gar- Sazedur Rahman Shameem, ment factories. a leader of Communist Party “Aminul waged a struggle of Bangladesh (CPB) were de- in north to for the interest of workers. tained on April 1 after attend- Perhaps the people whose in- ing the court to request an ex- terest was aff ected murdered tension to their bail. him in a pre-planned manner,” However, another GW- Uddin said. TUC leader Montu Ghosh was fi rst owners Police have not named any granted bail. other suspects in Islam’s mur- On April 5, the High Court der. Rahman has been on the ordered interim bail to the IANS ing military offi cials in Jaff na run since the killing, accord- seven leaders, but as of now Colombo and district secretariat of- ing to them. all remain in custody at Dhaka fi cials and offi cials of the re- Bangladesh is the world’s Central Jail. habilitation, reconstruction second-largest clothing man- The BGMEA fi led the complaint s a ‘New Year gift’ and religious aff airs minis- ufacturer, with $30bn worth following a protest by workers to the people in the try the military has decided of garments exported in 2017 from the Asiana Garment Factory Anorth, the Sri Lan- to return the land to their from the impoverished nation outside the BGMEA headquarters ka Army is releasing 650 original owners. People participate in a traditional game during Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebrations in Colombo where labour is cheap. on January 31. acres of privately owned Rehabilitation, Reconstruc- yesterday. Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese and Tamil communities will mark the new year on April 14. The garment sector ac- Labour rights activists be- lands in the High Security tion and Religious Aff airs counts for 80% of Bang- lieve that these arrests are po- Zone (HSZ) in Jaff na, the Minister D M Swaminathan ladesh’s exports and is the litically motivated and repre- government information said the military was releas- mainstay of its emerging sent an attempt to silence the department said. ing the lands as a goodwill Health, education fundamental rights of people: Dahal economy. current campaign to increase The land in Palaly in the Va- gesture. Islam was instrumental in the minimum wage for gar- likamam north divisional sec- The military had come to CPN Maoist Centre chairman and are seen unhappy and frustrated, and Bharatpur hospital should orchestrating major stop- ment workers to 16,000 taka retariat in Jaff na had been oc- an understanding to meet former prime minister Pushpa Dahal lamented. take a lead role in such projects.” pages in 2006 and 2010, forc- ($128) per month, noting that cupied by the security forces the needs of the people Kamal Dahal has asserted health He stressed on bringing Dahal inaugurated newly ing thousands of companies to GWTUC has been one of the since 1990. who had lost their lands and education are fundamental prosperity with self-esteem launched CT scan, hemodialysis raise wages for about four mil- most vocal and active federa- Jaff na Security Forces in the north, the minister rights of people. among Nepalis in the country. centre, oxygen production house lion factory workers. tions in this campaign. Commander Major Gen- said. Everyone will have equal Dahal also stressed on and out-patient service building Unions believe his murder The statement said Bangla- eral Darshana Hettiarachchi Since 1990, some 27,000 access to health and education maintaining cooperation and of Bharatpur Hospital yesterday. was engineered by powerful deshi workers earn some of the said that 650 acres of land in acres of private land had been in a prosperous Nepal, socio- unity among political parties for Former health minister Gagan people including members lowest wages in the industry, and around the Palaly main occupied by the military as economic class won’t determine attaining economic prosperity Kumar Thapa, who was also present of an intelligence service and currently 5,300 taka ($42); the military complex, including the war intensifi ed. However, their accessibility on it. in the nation. He said so while on the occasion, said, “Birth in factory owners. last increase in the minimum land in Vasavilan and Palaly with the end of the war in Leader Dahal was addressing remembering the roles played by certain class should not determine “We’re not satisfi ed. We’ll wage was in September 2013. north, would be released 2009, the government took a progamme organised on the various parties in bringing major accessibility to health and education appeal. We’ve sought a fresh The Clean Clothes Campaign to their original owners on the initiative to return the oc- occasion of 55th anniversary of political changes in the nation. such practice should be stopped. investigation,” Bangladesh wishes to express its solidarity April 16. cupied private lands to their Bharatpur Hospital in Chitwan Dahal also said, “Chitwan is While on the journey to prosperity, Garment and Industrial Work- with GWTUC and its leadership He said the military was de- original owners. yesterday, Nepal off icial news evolving itself as medical city the self-respect of Nepalis should ers Federation president Babul and strongly condemns this at- marcating these areas and also The military has also asked agency RSS reports. many more new medical centres not be compromised.” Akter said. tack on an independent trade readjusting its forward de- the rehabilitation ministry for Infrastructure development are establishing in the region so Bharatpur Hospital, which was The Bangladesh Centre for union, which is legitimately or- fence lines. Rs880mn to relocate its mili- won’t alone bring prosperity and as the numbers of new diseases. established with 15 beds on 1956, Worker Solidarity, a trade un- ganising and campaigning for a Following several rounds tary installations in the north development referring to people Research centres should be is currently operating 600 beds. ion, said Islam had been de- much-needed increase in the of talks between high rank- and east. in developed country where they established to curb new diseases (Agencies) tained and tortured by offi cials Bangladesh minimum wage.

He said that the industries and businesses felt vulnerable due to the corruption, irregu- Nepal larities and bureaucratic red tape. Smiles and slapstick as Rohingya “The domestic indus- home tries cannot prosper un- til the fl ood of goods that come from China and India minister were properly managed at refugees learn to corral elephants the policy level. The indus- tries and businesses here commits are in the shadow as even AFP increasingly coming into confl ict. the existing policies to that Kutupalong Camp Training days are now being regard were not strictly held to kindle harmony between security to implemented,” he said. the refugees and the estimated The home minister said that trumpet fi lls the air as 35 to 45 elephants who are now smuggling was increasing due two “elephants” charge, their neighbours. industry to the open border and ham- A scattering Rohingya “Elephants take the same pering the country’s economy. refugee actors at a training migratory route, it’s in their ge- Noting that development session in a camp which cuts netic memory. Now more than sector and prosperity were the main deep into Bangladeshi forest 600,000 Rohingya are in the objectives of the government, once reserved for the protected middle of that route,” Raquibul Home Minister Thapa said the species. Amin, country director for the Agencies government would promote Part awareness raising, part International Union for Con- Chitwan the industry and business sec- pantomime, the scenario uses servation of Nature (IUCN) told tor to reverse the trend of the life-size puppets of elephants AFP on Saturday at Kutupalong domestic labour force from made from bamboo and old camp. epal’s Minister for migrating abroad in search of clothing and expertly propelled “The aim is to demystify the Home Aff airs Ram work. by volunteers. elephant as an enemy... and to NBahadur Thapa has He also said that the gov- Each charge – and exaggerat- try to train people to deal with said that the home ministry ernment would make security ed counter by bands of Rohingya elephants when they encoun- was committed to providing provisions so that the indus- villagers – draws squeals of de- ter them,” he said, of a training security to the industry and tries could operate round the light from the children crowded event held in conjunction with business sector. clock. around a dusty paddy fi eld. the UNHCR. Addressing an interaction Prior to this, representa- But the purpose of the train- Rohingya volunteers show programme with the indus- tives of various organisations ing day is sobering – a dozen how to safely corral an elephant Rohingya refugees attending a demonstration of elephant resistance arranged by the UNHCR and IUCN at trialists in Chitwan yester- affi liated to Chitwan Cham- Rohingya have been killed in that strays into settled areas and the Kutupalong refugee camp in Ukhia. day, Minister Thapa said the ber of Commerce and In- the last year by wild elephants use whistles and human chains government would curb any dustry had put forth various whose habitat has been con- to drive them away. ruins across the border. was so big, I just ran away.” pearing a pipe dream, Rohingya kind of extortion taking place demands to the home minis- sumed by Kutupalong refugee The mock-up elephants Delighted by the break in the Her fears are valid. communities nearest the forest under political garb, Ne- ter, including establishing an camp. are covered by a ‘skin’ made humdrum camp life, children The last death happened in are preparing for more unwel- pal offi cial news agency RSS industrial security battalion, With hundreds of thousands from old clothing donated and jump up and down in real el- late March when a bull elephant come run-ins with elephants. reported. creating an industry-friendly of new refugees driven over stitched by Rohingya women – ephant prints, hardened into the followed a path up a hillside But at least now some of the Stating that good govern- environment, stopping ex- the border since last August by part of eff orts to bond the new abandoned paddy. crammed with Rohingya homes. refugees are equipped to deal ance was essential precon- tortion and threats, stopping violence in Myanmar, the camp community with their older Rina Aktar, 10, recalls her It adds to the tension and with them. dition for development and the inhuman treatment to now seeps deeper into the forest. forest neighbour. alarming encounter with a ‘Hati’ stress of a Muslim minority un- “I have handled elephants prosperity, he stressed on businessmen in the name of Refugees are stripping trees The drama plays out un- (elephant), her arms at full wanted in Myanmar and forced three times already since I have policy reforms for the pro- tax evasion and waiving off for fi rewood and building der a scorching sun, bringing stretch to indicate its enormity. from their homes by last year’s been here,” said UNHCR ele- tection of industries and the electricity tariff top the settlements on the bare hillocks. a rare community event to “I was collecting fi rewood army campaign. phant volunteer Nabi Hussein. “I trade sector. industries. As a result, man and beast are people whose villages lie in in the forest when I saw it... it With repatriation for now ap- didn’t panic.” Gulf Times 22 Monday, April 9, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Lack of investment in oil projects likely to bite energy market

Even as oil prices gradually recover, the required investments to meet future demand and replace production from mature fi elds are not being made, threatening a supply and price shock in the long run. The global oil demand was set to rise by at least 1.5mn barrels per day this year to 99.3mn bpd or by a healthy 1.5%. Provisional data from International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests very strong starts to the year in China and India, which, taken together, accounted for nearly How corruption impedes 50% of global demand growth in 2017. But as HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada pointed out recently the global oil investment purse of around $400bn was still too small to guarantee the required level of investment universal health coverage to replace production from mature fi elds and the launch of new projects. In the future, new technologies like “I would see the need to keep the (Opec co-operation) By Sania Nishtar California, San Diego, corruption, coverage. And the World Bank has Islamabad waste, and unethical billing cost indicated that a country’s ability to data mining, artifi cial intelligence, momentum. We need to restore investments. It could patients and health systems billions borrow from it could eventually be and blockchain could off er new ways take months. Opec could start being concerned about of dollars annually. In the United tied to investments in human capital, to detect wrongdoing in the health gross over-tightening,” al-Sada said. alf of the planet cannot States, as much as 10% of public- including health spending. sector; these and other tools should be access essential health sector spending on healthcare is lost to But such gestures, however laudable investigated fully. In its fi ve-year outlook, published in ‘Oil 2018 – services. For many people, fraudulent billing, and tens of millions – and overdue – will not be enough to Expanding healthcare access and Analysis and Forecasts Hpaying to see a doctor, face signifi cant economic barriers to remove the barriers to quality health protecting the sector’s fi nances are Investments a to 2023’, IEA has obtaining medications, seeking healthcare. services. Until corruption, theft, and dual challenges that the international highlighted how in family-planning advice, or even getting Clearly, improving health outcomes wasteful and ineffi cient spending community must address together. problem global 2017 discoveries of new immunised against common illnesses requires both increased government are addressed more vigorously, There is an urgent need to act without resources fell to a record is a choice between staying healthy and spending and an end to shady practices universal health coverage will remain delay. Rates of noncommunicable energy industry slipping into poverty. And, more than that siphon crucial resources from the aspirational. diseases like cancer, diabetes, and low of only 4bn barrels ever, the healthcare options that poor health system. But how? Fortunately, governments are cardiovascular disease are increasing needs to tackle while 36bn barrels were people do have are being degraded by a Around the world, corruption increasingly committed to solving the almost exponentially, and lack of actually produced. familiar foe. and collusion are institutionalised corruption crisis. Tax evasion and fraud access to quality care will add to many on a war footing IEA also noted that In many low- and middle-income in many healthcare systems. Of the – both common crimes – are drawing countries’ governance challenges. countries, corruption, inadequate $6.5tn spent annually on healthcare, closer scrutiny from law enforcement Development strategists understand in 2018 investment spending is likely to grow only by spending, and wasted resources pose an estimated $455bn is lost, misused, agencies. Tax evasion doesn’t just that poor health is a harbinger of 6% having barely increased at all in 2017. To 2020, enduring challenges for healthcare or stolen. Simply put, health costs are enable money laundering; it also poverty and a barrier to eliminating it. production increases from non-Opec countries may be systems. Growing up in Pakistan, I bankrupting some of the poorest people robs the public sector of important Today, some 800mn people spend at enough to meet demand growth. saw people forced to go to extremes in the world, because many of the resources. This is one reason why the least 10% of their household budgets to secure healthcare. For example, richest are lining their pockets. UN has made reducing illicit fi nancial on health, often going into debt to fund After that time, the agency said the pace of growth families might be forced to sell off cattle There is growing consensus that fl ows a key component of achieving the the treatment they need. The fact that from these countries is less certain, and the market and other valuables to pay exorbitant aff ordable, quality healthcare is a basic Sustainable Development Goals. so many people cannot aff ord to visit might well need the supplies currently being held off the medical bills. human right. The United Nations With broad agreement on the need to a doctor is truly shameful. The world market by leading producers. What is shocking is that the scourge Sustainable Development Goals include combat corruption in the health sector, needs universal health coverage; but Post-2014, investors still remain cautious and over- of health-related poverty continues to universal health coverage as a target. the harder challenge will be developing to achieve it, the world’s health sector claim victims today. Indeed, in some And it is not only rich countries that workable remedies. National treasuries, must undergo treatment of its own. – conservative, resulting in inadequate investments into countries, people falling into poverty have embraced this goal: from Thailand fi nance ministries, and anti-corruption Project Syndicate the industry to secure supplies and meet projected due to the high cost of healthcare is an to Costa Rica to Rwanda, countries agencies need to strengthen their future demand. everyday reality. with mixed health systems and limited eff orts to co-operate on prevention, zSania Nishtar is a co-chair of The price of oil tumbled from $120 a barrel in June On a recent trip to Africa, I heard a resources have dedicated funds and detection, and enforcement. Improving the World Health Organisation’s harrowing story of a hospital where political capital to making universal transparency in fi nancial systems could Independent High-level Commission 2014 due to weak demand, a strong dollar and booming women and their newborns are healthcare a reality. also help curb corruption, while civil- on Noncommunicable Diseases, a US shale production. routinely held hostage – often for Steps are being taken to help these society groups, journalists, and patients former federal minister of Pakistan, Oil and gas fi rms worldwide have subsequently cut months – until families can fi nd the countries succeed. Last year, Japan should push for greater accountability and the founder and president of their share in investment given the subdued market money to settle their bills. According pledged $2.9bn to help developing from governments and medical Heartfile. Find her on Twitter at @ prices. to researchers at the University of countries achieve universal health providers. SaniaNishtar. Opec pumped 32.19mn barrels per day in March, a Reuters survey found, down 90,000 bpd from February. The March total is the lowest since April 2017 and Opec is reducing output by about 1.2mn bpd as part of a deal with Russia and other non-Opec producers to get rid of excess supply. The pact started in January 2017 and runs until the end of 2018. IEA executive director Dr Fatih Birol warned that investments – or lack thereof – will be a problem the global energy industry needs to tackle on a war footing. “2017 was fl at and 2018 isn’t looking too much better. Investments are not suffi cient enough to make us feel comfortable; the investment appetite is still weak,” Dr Birol said. Clearly, investments in exploration projects all over the world have been depleted. The global energy market will see its impact in the coming years. A lack of investment in oil projects will likely come back to bite the energy market.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved A Mobile Health Care Clinic in Rwanda. The world needs universal health coverage; but to achieve it, the world’s health sector must undergo treatment of its own. Gulf Times Monday, April 9, 2018 23 COMMENT Trade wars in a winner-take-all world

By Daniel Gros be asymmetric. The US – home to all Brussels the dominant tech fi rms – will struggle to fi nd allies against China. After all, in Europe and Japan, IP-owning ith President Donald companies operate mostly in more Trump’s new trade competitive industries, meaning that tariff s, the United States China’s demand for that IP will have Whas been transformed less of an impact. from the global multilateral trading Making European support even system’s leading champion and harder to come by, some European defender to its nemesis. But it would governments are eager to secure their be very diffi cult for an erratic politician share of rents from US fi rms. This is suddenly to overturn long-established the ultimate aim of European eff orts structures and mechanisms, were it to raise taxes on the profi ts of digital not for a more fundamental economic multinationals, though such a tax is shift. unlikely to do the job. The fi rst formal manifestation of Proponents of that tax argue that today’s trade tensions occurred in profi ts should be taxed where they are the steel sector – an “old economy” earned, with the implicit argument industry par excellence, one that being that they are earned where the is plagued, especially in China, by consumers are. But this is an arbitrary enormous excess capacity. criterion. US fi rms can legitimately Excess capacity is a recurrent claim that their “European” profi ts phenomenon in the steel sector, and are just a return on their IP, which has always produced friction. Back can formally be localised anywhere, in 2002, President George W. Bush’s preferably in a low-tax jurisdiction. administration imposed steep tariffs A European tax on these companies on steel imports, but relented when is thus unlikely to yield substantial a World Trade Organisation dispute- revenues. resolution panel ruled against the In the old competitive economy, US. Although Trump administration trade wars might be easy to win for trade hawks remember this ruling as a country with a large trade defi cit. a loss, most economists agree that But in the emerging winner-take-all it was ultimately good for the US economy, a trade war launched with economy, which does not gain from The first formal manifestation of today’s trade tensions occurred in the steel sector. the goal of forcing the rest of the taxing a major input for many other world to open up, thereby allowing the industries. that China requires foreign companies meaning that entering a new market is why lobbying by potential exporters interests viewed as secondary. aggressor’s own winning fi rms to earn In any case, today’s tariff s diff er to reveal their intellectual property mostly means more profi ts. But if such for better access to markets with (Under competitive conditions, higher rents, is an altogether diff erent from Bush’s in a crucial way: they (IP) as a condition of access to the companies are forced to reveal their IP, high tariff s has usually been muted – policymakers place a higher priority proposition. specifi cally target China. Under domestic market. And it is true that their business models are destroyed, hence the lack of resistance to India’s on maximising trade’s potential to So the US government is essentially section 301 of the US Trade Act of this requirement can do serious as local players can then compete protectionism. boost productivity and create high- arranging its diplomatic guns behind 1974 – which empowers the president damage to US tech companies – as long eff ectively in that market – and This is changing in the new quality employment.) its Internet giants, while Europe and to act if US industry has been damaged as those companies are dominant in potentially in others. “winner-take-all” tech economy: Monopoly rents translate into high China are baying for their monopoly by a foreign government’s unjustifi ed their industries. This is not the case for companies with IP-owning winners missing market valuations. And, indeed, the profi ts. This is more destructive than actions – Trump has imposed steep For a major player in social networks operating in competitive industries. out on massive profits when a big new economy giants have a much a zero-sum game: it will do serious tariff s on some $50bn worth of Chinese or search engines, for example, the cost For them, producing and selling more market like China is protected or higher stock-market value than their damage to the global trading system, imports. And China has already hit of entering a new market is essentially abroad costs much more, limiting the closed, trade conflicts become “old economy” equivalents. The three leaving everyone worse off . – Project back, introducing steep tariff s on zero. Since the existing software can marginal profi ts that can be reaped. In more acute. Meanwhile, trade largest US tech companies are worth Syndicate imports of 128 US-made products. easily serve many more millions of other words, in the more competitive policy becomes focused primarily over 50 times more than the three So why is Trump risking a trade war? users, they just need to translate their “old” economy, the gains of opening on re-distributing rents, with largest US steel producers. zDaniel Gros is Director of the Center His administration’s main complaint is interface into the local language, new markets are much smaller. That employment and consumer The looming trade war promises to for European Policy Studies. Sustaining progress in transition countries Three-day forecast continue to slow progress, especially manufacturing to technology startups. green heating and air conditioning TODAY By Cihan Sultanoglu Maximum Temperature : 330c New York in the Western Balkans, the southern But authorities everywhere can do systems to Unilever’s “equal pay for Caucasus, and parts of Central Asia. more to increase the resilience of their equal work” policy, multinational Minimum Temperature : 240c To maintain momentum in meeting workforces. fi rms operating in Eastern Europe TUESDAY n the World Bank’s most recent the United Nations Sustainable Fortunately, governments, and Central Asia are embracing Maximum Temperature : 320c “Doing Business” report, half of Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, technology companies, civil-society sustainability and equality as viable Minimum Temperature : 260c the Eastern European and Central leaders must address three key groups, and journalists recognize business models. WEDNESDAY Asian countries included in the issues. the salience of these issues and In only a few decades, the people Maximum Temperature : 320c I Minimum Temperature : 250c global ranking were among the top 50. First, the region’s economies need to are working together to build of Eastern Europe and Central Asia be strengthened to incentivise smarter, more transparent and accountable have witnessed profound political As a measure of economic maturity, Fisherman's forecast the report confi rms what many in the more sustainable growth. For example, institutions. In many countries, and economic changes. To capitalise international development community fossil-fuel subsidies should be heads of government are using the on the development progress already WARNING SDGs to guide their national planning made, countries and organisations have long known: the region is reconsidered, because they discourage Inshore : Nil ascendant. investment in energy-effi ciency and eff orts to legislate reforms. The must learn from one another, adapting Offshore : Expected thunder rain Over the last decade, the economies projects, and impede the development parliaments of several Central Asian solutions to local conditions. That to the north associated of Eastern Europe and Central Asia of renewable technologies. Similarly, countries have even endorsed the will be the main topic at the Istanbul with strong wind and high sea. have recorded spectacular gains, while public fi nancing of pensions SDGs as a development roadmap. Development Dialogues, an annual WEATHER buttressed by ambitious market and and welfare programmes is dependent Changes like these are helping to global gathering organised by the UN Inshore : Misty at places at public-sector reforms. The question on taxing labour, much of the region translate development ambition into Development Programme, this week. first and sctd clouds at times with weak now is how to ensure that this progress currently suff ers from high rates action. In Armenia, the government As the new UNDP Strategic Plan for chance of light rain at – which has tripled the size of the of unemployment; in the Western recently created the world’s fi rst 2018-2021 argues, collaboration is a places. middle class – is sustained. Balkans, there are nearly no jobs, or national SDG innovation laboratory, critical component to any sustainable- WIND Signs of the region’s social and none at all. Job creation is an urgent a collaborative eff ort designed to development strategy. Inshore : Northeasterly-North- economic prosperity are everywhere. challenge for every state in the region. “accelerate” SDG implementation. If the measure of a country can be westerly 05-15 KT In Azerbaijan, incomes have increased Second, in many countries, the Initial research eff orts will focus on calculated by how easily business Offshrore : Northwesterly-North- easterly 05-15/22 KT dramatically in recent decades, and space for civil society is becoming increasing the country’s tax collection, is conducted within its borders, the Visibility : 04-8/3 KM or less at only 5% of the population now lives narrower, posing a threat to pluralism improving its education system, and states of Eastern Europe and Central place at times below the poverty line – down from and accountability. To prevent boosting its renewable-energy sector. Asia have a bright future. With SEA STATE nearly 50% in 2002. Elsewhere, confl ict and give voice to the region’s Meanwhile, planning offi cials in strong leadership that transforms the Offshore : 02-4 FT, Rises to 7 FT Moldova have used crowdfunding region’s economies and modernises Estonia is the third country in Europe marginalised groups, tolerance Around the region in startups per person and has one of and respect for human rights must to raise millions of dollars from its institutions, the region’s recent Weather the fastest Internet speeds anywhere. be made essential ingredients of the diaspora to fund sustainable gains will not be fl eeting. – Project Weather tomorrow Max/min And from Albania to Kyrgyzstan, governance. development projects at home. Syndicate today Max/min S T Storms 33/17 e-government systems are allowing Finally, the region must co- Revitalisation eff orts have included the Baghdad M Sunny 33/19 Sunny 30/22 more people to connect with critical ordinate on strategies to address reconstruction of a public plaza in the zCihan Sultanoglu is a UN assistant Kuwait City M Sunny 31/21 P Cloudy 32/24 services through online and electronic the changes that automation and capital, ChiSinau, and the expansion secretary-general and Director of Manama M Sunny 29/23 M Sunny 34/27 portals. artifi cial intelligence will bring to of infrastructure in rural areas. the United Nations Development Muscat M Sunny 34/28 Sunny 21/12 But while it is tempting to assume the labour market. Leaders in some The region’s private sector is also Programme’s Regional Bureau for Tehran P Cloudy 19/13 that the region is destined for countries, particularly Belarus, are participating actively in sustainable Europe and the Commonwealth of prosperity, structural bottlenecks shifting economic output from heavy development eff orts. From Siemens’ Independent States. Live issues Smartphones could help measure Parkinson’s symptoms

By Carolyn Crist neurodegenerative disorder that Symptoms varied by an average of 14 relevant, but patients may disagree,” Reuters Health aff ects dopamine-producing nerve points through the day, information that said Dr Alberto Espay, director of the cells in the brain. Symptoms include could help doctors understand the highs James J and Joan A Gardner Centre for Around the world tremors, body stiff ness, slow and lows for their Parkinson’s patients. Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Weather Weather n experimental smartphone movement and diffi culty walking. The team also found a strong Disorders at University of Cincinnati in today Max/min tomorrow Max/min application could monitor “This new development is very correlation between the mobile app Ohio, who wasn’t involved in the study. Athens M Sunny 22/11 M Sunny 22/13 changes in Parkinson’s exciting because this wasn’t feasible score and the in-offi ce rating scales. “Also, it will be important to Beirut M Sunny 19/14 Showers 18/15 Adisease symptoms even a few years ago,” Saria said in a On average, the mobile app score also determine if the machine-learning Bangkok M Sunny 36/27 P Cloudy 34/28 throughout the day, sending data to telephone interview. “Patients seem decreased more than the offi cial scales component will require less active Berlin Sunny 21/10 M Sunny 23/11 doctors to help them treat patients, US eager, willing and curious to do this when dopamine medication was taken, entry of data by patients, rendering it Cairo Sunny 27/14 Sunny 28/16 researchers say. with their phones.” which could highlight its sensitivity easier to use long-term,” Espay said Cape Town M Sunny 23/16 Cloudy 23/14 “Like diabetes, Parkinson’s has The researchers developed their and accuracy in monitoring real-time in an e-mail. “Long-term adherence Colombo S T Storm 32/26 T Storms 31/26 variability and symptom fl uctuations, app, HopkinsPD, for Android symptoms, the authors note. will be important to ascertain if this Dhaka S T Storms 33/23 S T Storms 32/23 which can also vary the treatment. We smartphones to assess performance “The data from the phone aligns application . . . can capture data for Hong Kong P Cloudy 26/23 M Sunny 27/23 can’t measure these fl uctuations at on the fi ve tasks as often as patients beautifully with what we found with patients in their home settings.” Istanbul P Cloudy 14/08 P Cloudy 17/09 home, and you can only do so many want to use the app. The mobile score classic instruments in the clinic,” Researchers want to know Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 33/25 measurements in the clinic,” said senior is based on the types of assessments Saria said. “It gives us a sense of whether elderly patients and those in Karachi P Cloudy 35/23 P Cloudy 38/24 study author Suchi Saria of Johns usually done in doctor’s offi ces. patients’ motion and movement, developing countries can use similar London S Showers 13/09 S Showers 16/07 Hopkins University in Baltimore. To test the app and the scoring like breadcrumbs along the way to apps, said Ye Wang of the National Manila P Cloudy 33/26 I T Storms 33/26 The app developed by Saria and her system, the researchers recruited 129 understanding their symptoms.” University of Singapore, who wasn’t Moscow Sunny 17/06 S Showers 19/00 colleagues asks patients to complete patients who completed more than A limitation of the study is that involved in the current study. New Delhi P Cloudy 35/23 S T Storms 37/24 fi ve tasks that assess speech, fi nger 6,000 smartphone assessments. only fi ve tasks are used to measure “These ubiquitous technologies can New York P Cloudy 08/03 Cloudy 09/03 tapping, gait, balance and reaction Scores ranged from 0 to 100, with behaviours and symptoms, the authors and should be used to help doctors Paris Showers 18/10 M Cloudy 14/07 time. From that, it generates a “mobile higher numbers indicating more severe acknowledge. Additional studies will with their diagnosis,” Wang told Sao Paulo M Sunny 28/16 M Sunny 28/16 Parkinson’s Disease score,” which symptoms. Participants completed the evaluate whether changes in the app Reuters Health by e-mail. Seoul Sunny 14/06 Cloudy 21/08 doctors can use to assess symptom tasks before and after their fi rst daily score represent a signifi cant diff erence “They are diagnostic aids and are Singapore T Storm 31/26 S T Storms 31/26 severity and adjust medication, the dose of dopamine medication. They experienced by patients. not supposed to replace doctors,” he Sydney Sunny 32/18 P Cloudy 23/18 team writes in JAMA Neurology. also completed standard assessments “We physicians may measure said. “But perhaps they can be part of Tokyo Clear 20/09 Clear 19/09 Parkinson’s disease is a in the clinic. phenomena we think are highly the screening process.” Gulf Times 24 Monday, April 9, 2018 QATAR Arabian fashion is respected worldwide: designer Oporto

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

rabian fashion has not only be- come popular but also gained Arespect worldwide, renowned fashion designer Daniel Oporto has said. “Fashion in the Arab world has evolved so much in the past 10 years, with the contribution of designers like Zuhair Murad and Ellie Saab who broke into the Hollywood market,” the California-based designer told Gulf Times. “They simply went viral and now, Arabian fashion is respected worldwide,” he stressed. Oporto, one of the lead designers at Mall of Qatar’s (MoQ) fi rst-ever Spring/Summer Fashion Festival, held from March 22 to 31, presented his Qatari-inspired suits collection dubbed as ‘Tamim.’ Such unique col- One of Daniel Oporto’s design under his Qatari-inspired ‘Tamim’ lection, he noted, was designed es- Daniel Oporto showcased his latest spring and summer collection at MoQ’s 10-day fashion festival recently. collection. PICTURE: Jayan Orma pecially for Qatar and for its weather conditions, having “the right colours city at night and the diff erent colours, “which makes them stand out the for men and women.” “I prepared this are breathtaking and so inspirational lifestyle.” collection inspired in the colours of and it helped a lot since it (collection) “One day they are driving a Rolls Daniel Oporto’s path to success in his own words Qatar and Doha their Turquoise water was a spring summer collection,” the Royce, and then the other day they colours, the fl ag, which has white and fashion designer recalled. are in the desert eating on the fl oor “Everything started in Los Angeles and close my eyes and began stars Mark Wahlberg, who was there burgundy,” he said. He also lauded the venue say- with their hands, but at the same in 2004 when I just finished dreaming. That night was magical standing alone. The one-of-its-kind event aimed ing “the Martians team,” along with time they still look 100%,” he ob- studying acting for films at the since I dreamed about one day getting I decided to approach and talk to him, to showcase the latest spring and MoQ, made what he described as “an served. “They are kind and helpful, New York Film Academy Universal into the fashion industry, I thought that get an autograph and a possible photo. summer collections of MoQ retailers amazing stage” where everything is strict with their rules yet humble Studios. was my game. I was actually wearing one of the suits I and international designers. easy set up. “Basically anything looks and welcoming.” I kept taking auditions in Hollywood The next morning I woke up very had designed for myself. “The abaya is my favourite piece good on that stage, their sound sys- He also thanked Qatar and His because I wanted to be an actor and decisive to join the fashion industry but I supposed he liked it so he asked me of garment,” observed Oporto, who tem and technology is simply wow,” Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim filmmaker. I found it extremely hard, I kept on asking myself was it too late? where did I get my suit and I was so designs Mark Wahlberg suits for he added. bin Hamad al-Thani saying he is “a and honestly, I thought there was no I had just graduated from acting and nervous at the moment but I replied the red carpet at Oscars and dresses Oporto fi rst came to Doha in 2009 big fan of his brave personality and luck for me there. spent four years of my life studying that I made it myself. other celebrities such as Leonardo di and stayed for at least two weeks to it is my honour to be in his amaz- After a few years of trying, one day something completely diff erent and He looked so interested in the suit and Caprio, George Clooney and Placido visit his sister, who is married to a ing country.” Oporto stressed that walking through Rodeo drive I had with that also spent all the money I immediately gave me his card and Domingo. Oporto was invited by his Bolivian Italian pilot. he is also thankful to Her Highness a moment mesmerised by the big had. asked me to contact him later in the friend Jassim al-Ali with the latter’s “In 2013 I visited Doha again, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chair- brands you can see through the Nevertheless my dream was so clear week. agency Martians to join the team as invited for the film festival held at person of Qatar Foundation for Edu- vitrines. I remember I walked in to that I decided to start making things Wahlberg was interested in buying an organiser and participant as well, Katara – the Cultural Village,” he cation, Science and Community De- Bijan’s Store and I felt I walked in my for myself with a tailor in Downtown suits for his red-carpet event for the featuring his clothing line ‘Oporto recounted. velopment and Education Above All own world, impressed and obsessed LA. Oscars. I was shocked obviously and Couture.’ “Ever since I moved to Doha, par- Foundation, whom he considers as a by the beauty of the art he made with One day walking through Beverly Hills didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even He met with MoQ offi cials and tially I spent six months and six fashion icon in the Arab world. “She the fabrics. I left the store as quickly I decided to go inside the church with say goodbye properly. helped build the team before decid- months between the US, Europe and is an example of class and elegance,” as I could after looking at the prices the hope that perhaps there, I would This was how everything started and ing to travel to Istanbul, Turkey to South America,” he said. the fashion designer stressed. “I also because unfortunately I could not find the right direction. from then on I have been making Mark prepare a collection designed for the Oporto described Qatari culture want to thank MoQ for hosting me, aff ord them. While walking to the front I found one Wahlberg suits for the red carpet. He fashion festival in Doha. “The sky- and traditions and the city (Doha) the agency that invited me, the Mar- I remember that night I kept thinking of my biggest and favourite movie was my first client.” scrapers, while you drive through the as unique and genuine in every way, tians,” he said. Chances of ‘light to moderate’ Qalam Hebr launches events rain until weekend: Met dept with local talent symposium he chances of ‘scattered Meanwhile, today’s forecast tures in the city were 25C and light to moderate’ rain says thundery rain is expected in 31C, respectively. Scattered rain Tare expected to continue off shore areas towards the north and some thunder cells were re- alam Hebr for Creative Writing, a in the country until the coming along with strong winds and ported from parts of the country private company founded by Qatari weekend, the Qatar Met depart- high seas. The wind speed may yesterday, including central Qa- Qwriters Buthaina al-Janahi and Kum- ment has said. In a report yester- go up to 22 knots, with the sea tar and off shore. Light rain was mam al-Maadeed, launched its events re- day, the department said unset- level rising to 7ft during thun- experienced in Doha city, too. cently with a symposium of local talents at tled weather is being witnessed dershowers. Inshore, it will be On their part, the Met offi ce and the Fire Station: Artist in Residence building. in most parts of the Arabian Pe- misty in some places in the early Traffi c Department issued advi- The symposium’s activities started with ninsula due to an extension of a hours of the day and scattered sories on the dos and don’ts to be a performance by fl ute musician Yassin al- low-pressure system over the clouds are likely at times. There observed during thunderstorms Ayary and zither musician Tawfi q Merkhan. region. is also a weak chance of light rain and driving safely in rainy con- In addition, a panel discussion – ‘The writ- This period – locally called in some areas. ditions. ing experience and its challenges’ – was con- Al Sarayat – is known for fast The temperature in Doha is The weather offi ce has also ducted with authors Dr Amir Tag Elsir, Aisha weather fl uctuations, especially expected to range from 24C to urged people to follow latest up- al-Kuwari and Abdulla Fakhro. The panel during the evening and night. 33C today. Yesterday, the mini- dates through its offi cial social was moderated by Mohamed al-Hamadi, The report states that “partly mum and maximum tempera- media accounts. writer and TV personality. cloudy to cloudy skies (at times) Further, the activities included a discus- are expected to prevail until the sion on the poetry book, ‘I decided to love weekend with a chance of scat- you again’, with poet Nasser al-Wobair, fol- tered rain, mostly light to mod- lowed by a recital by the poet that was ac- erate in intensity, with possible companied by an oud performance by mu- thundery cells in some areas”. sician Emad al-Eragi. The discussion was This will be accompanied by moderated by Mohamed al-Shahrani, TV strong winds, causing a sudden personality. A session with poet Nasser al-Wobair with oud artist Emad al-Eraqi, moderated by rise in waves. An exhibition of local businesses was held Mohamed al-Shahrani. Temperatures are expected on the sidelines, accompanying the activi- to be around their average lev- ties. The businesses included Dar Haa Gift els, ranging between 25C and Shop, Dar Roza for Publishing, Rwaq books 32C in Doha, the weather offi ce subscription box, Samarkand for books has said. The Met department distribution, Al-Sindan store and ‘Basmat has urged people to be cautious Thabat’ show area. The symposium also and check the weather forecast highlighted various works of artist Albul- before venturing into the sea in hamed al-Sediqi. view of the expected conditions. Al-Janahi said, “One of the main reasons behind the establishment of this company is the need for an innovative platform that allows writers and aspiring people to share experiences that will help build a society that is interested not only in reading, but also in expressing and providing the opportunity to unleash their intellectual creativity in vari- ous forms. This fl agship platform is an inte- gral part of keeping up with the vision of our Panel discussion with authors Dr Amir Tag Elsir, Aisha al-Kuwari and Abdulla Fakhro, beloved country Qatar in building a knowl- moderated by Mohamed al-Hamadi. edge-based society.” Al-Maadeed added, “As writers, this is a dream come true for us. We want to provide the support we wished we had when we de- veloped our books, to all aspiring writers in Qatar. We want to encourage all those who wish to express themselves in one form of creative writing or another to join our plat- form and benefi t from our activities.” Qalam Hebr for Creative Writing “aims to provide a creative platform for ambi- tious writers to help refi ne their skills and exchange their experiences in an innovative and exceptional environment through a va- riety of year-round activities”, according to a press statement. For more information about Qalam Hebr, one can follow the two founders on Insta- Rain in different areas of Qatar yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma and Noushad Thekkayil gram @Qalam.Hebr Qalam Hebr founders Buthaina al-Janahi and Kummam al-Maadeed.