BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Lekhwiya star Nam aims for INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-9, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 REGION 9 BUSINESS 1-8, 13-16 Asian CL 20,771.21 10,153.76 49.29 ARAB WORLD 9, 10 CLASSIFIED 9-12 Masraf Al Rayan posts +223.45 -43.54 -0.33 INTERNATIONAL 11-25 SPORTS 1-8 success +1.09% -0.43% -0.67% QR510mn Q1 net profi t Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10434 April 25, 2017 Rajab 28, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir meets UN envoy Qatar Airways In brief

QATAR | Education plans 12 new 2016-17 fi nal exams as per schedule The Ministry of Education and Higher Education said the 2016-17 final examination will be held at their scheduled dates and in accordance with HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at his Emiri Diwan off ice the annual calendar of independent yesterday with UN Secretary-General’s Humanitarian Envoy, Dr Ahmed bin routes in 2018 schools. A senior source said the Mohamed al-Muraikhi. The envoy thanked the Emir for Qatar’s aid and support for ministry has no intention to change the the humanitarian and relief projects around the world. He briefed the Emir on the atar Airways will launch 12 new QA ‘mulls’ cancelling NZ fl ights dates of the final examinations to take results of his recent field visit to the Syrian refugee camps in neighbouring countries destinations in 2018, fi nalise in place before Ramadan, noting that the and his future plans to support humanitarian work in areas of famine, conflict, and Q“the next few days” an agree- Qatar Airways would consider cancelling was “assessing the evidence to determine schedule is prepared in line with the humanitarian disasters in some world countries. The meeting also reviewed co- ment to buy 49% of Italy’s second big- flights to Auckland if New Zealand follows what is appropriate”. calendar and, hence, there is no need or operation ties between Qatar and the organisation in the humanitarian fields. gest airline Meridiana, and soon apply the US in banning laptops and other large Qatar Airways launched it only New Zea- reason to change it. The remarks came with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund to electronic devices on Middle East flights, land service in February with direct flights in the wake of rumours of a possible start an Indian airline. the airline’s CEO Akbar al-Baker said in to Auckland from Doha, one of the world’s change in the examination schedule. The announcements, highlighting Dubai yesterday, Reuters reported. longest commercially operated scheduled According to the annual academic the rapid strides of Qatar’s fl ag-carrier, New Zealand is considering additional routes. calendar of independent schools, final were made by Group chief executive Ak- security checks on flights from some “It’s performing good but you know if we examinations are set to start on May bar al-Baker on the opening day of Ara- countries in the Middle East after similar are imposed with bans which would aff ect 25 and end on June 10 for the final year bian Travel Market in Dubai yesterday, measures were introduced last month by our traff ic then we will have to reconsider,” students of secondary schools, while agencies reported. the US, Britain and Australia. al-Baker said. “It is a very expensive route Grade 10 and 11 exams start on May 28 The 12 new routes of Qatar Airways, “Well we will have to then measure if it’s for us to operate.” and end on June 13. Students of Grade 4 including San Francisco as its 15th US really worth us still flying to New Zealand The CAA said in a statement that it was to 9 start their exams on June 4 to 11, and destination, are in addition to the 14 an- or not,” al-Baker said. routinely monitoring security screening in students of Grade 1 to 3 take their exams nounced earlier for 2017-18. The airline Reuters quoted New Zealand Prime international airports and that there was from May 18 to 25. The second stage will also become the “fi rst in the Mid- Minister Bill English saying in Wellington no specific timeframe for when a decision examinations is scheduled to start for all dle East” to off er high-speed broadband that the aviation agency would make would be made. grades on July 23 and end on August 1. connectivity on fl ights this summer. a decision on whether to restrict large The US ban went into eff ect on March 25 Meridiana would operate as a full- electronic items independently of the on nine airlines in Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, QATAR | Traffi c service carrier to destinations in Europe government. Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa and beyond, al-Baker was quoted as Transport Minister Simon Bridges told UAE. The UK ban, meanwhile, aff ected all New roads to reduce al-Thani presenting the award for the Ministry of Municipality and Environment to saying by Reuters, with the airline tak- Reuters in an interview in Dubai on Sun- flights out of Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi congestion in Wakrah HE the Minister Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi as HE the Minister of Energy ing delivery of 20 Boeing 737 MAXs from day that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Arabia, Tunisia and Lebanon. Page 15 The opening of new roads in the next and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and Kahramaa president and senior the second quarter of 2018. three months would reduce congestion engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari look on. PICTURE: Jayaram The 737s will come from a Qatar Air- on Al Wakrah Street and help maximise ways’ order of Boeing jets announced “We didn’t have massive declines the benefits of G-Ring and F-Ring roads, last October. Meridiana off ers fl ights like other carriers, so we still have ro- the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) to and from the island of Sardinia and bust loads to the US,” said al-Baker who tweeted yesterday in the wake of other destinations in Italy. explained that the airline’s US planes complaints by commuters of severe Qatar Airways will apply with the Qa- are fl ying “about 75% full, down about traff ic congestion in and around Al 18% cut in power, tar Investment Authority (QIA) for a do- half a percentage point since the laptop Wakrah over the past few days. Page 5 mestic Indian airline operating licence ban.” in the next few weeks, al-Baker said. Qatar Airways has introduced meas- The Indian carrier would be majority ures to counter the electronics ban by EAST ASIA | Tension owned by QIA, with Qatar Airways con- off ering loaner laptops to premium Trump calls for ‘stronger 20% in water use trolling a minority interest. customers on US-bound fl ights, join- sanctions’ on N Korea Manufacturers Airbus, Boeing, Bom- ing Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways in By Ramesh Mathew nounced the start of the second phase bardier and Embraer would be welcome working around the restrictions. The UN Security Council must be ready Staff Reporter of Tarsheed campaign for the next fi ve to bid for orders from the Indian carrier, AFP reported that the Qatar Airways to impose tougher sanctions on North years, running up to 2022. al-Baker said. Qatar Airways has said it chief accused American carriers, com- Korea over its nuclear and missile The Prime Minister and the Energy plans to operate a domestic Indian car- plaining over alleged subsidies to Gulf programmes, US President Donald atar succeeded in achieving a Minister also gave away awards to win- rier with around 100 jets, according to airlines, of “bullying.” US carriers Delta, Qatar Airways Group chief executive Trump said yesterday, calling the status per capita reduction of 18% in ners of the competitions held as part of Reuters. United and American Airlines have ac- Akbar al-Baker addressing the media quo “unacceptable.” The comments Qelectricity consumption and Tarsheed. Schools, government offi ces Bloomberg reported that Qatar Air- cused Qatar Airways, Emirates and Eti- at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai are sure to ratchet up tensions again 20% in water usage at the end of the and individuals were among the win- ways’ US network expansion announce- had of benefi ting from government sub- yesterday. as North Korea pushes ahead with its fi rst phase of the fi ve-year National ners. ment comes just days after Dubai-based sidies to expand their transcontinental ballistic missile programme. Page 15 Programme for Conservation and en- Al-Kuwari announced that in the Emirates moved to reduce fl ights to the networks. don’t think he will buy into bullying by ergy Effi ciency (Tarsheed), held under next phase of the Tarsheed campaign, country citing a ban on carrying on lap- They have urged US President Donald the three American carriers,” al-Baker EUROPE | Politics the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Kahramaa plans to achieve a per capita top and tablet computers on fl ights from Trump to take action against the Gulf said. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. reduction of 15% in the use of water and Middle East airports, including Doha. airlines, who deny any form of subsidy. “We create jobs, we buy American, Hollande urges French This was announced yesterday at a 8% in electricity. Emirates last week cited weaker de- Al-Baker told reporters that he didn’t we invest in the US and I think we out- voters to block Le Pen ceremony to mark the conclusion of Kahramaa president also announced mand caused by the restrictions as the expect any action from Washington. weigh whatever job creation these three French President Francois Hollande the campaign at the newly-built Kah- a roadmap to achieve the Tarsheed tar- cause for scaling back fl ights on fi ve of “President Trump is a wise individ- American carriers are doing,” al-Baker yesterday urged voters to reject far-right ramaa Awareness Park in Al Thumama. gets in line with the goals and objec- its 12 US routes, pointed out Bloomberg. ual and a very good businessman, and I was quoted by Reuters. Page 28 leader Marine Le Pen in next month’s Present on the occasion were HE the tives of the Qatar National Vision 2030. presidential runoff against pro-EU Prime Minister and Interior Minister At the meeting it was announced candidate Emmanuel Macron. Macron Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa that an eff ective fi nancial savings of US blacklists 271 Syrian chemists over gas attack is the clear favourite to become France’s al-Thani, HE the Minister of Energy about QR3.98bn would be made from youngest-ever president after topping and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh the Tarsheed campaign at the end of The US government put 271 Syrian rebel-held town in early April. In one of its responsible for developing the alleged Sunday’s first round of voting with al-Sada and Kahramaa president and 2017. The fi gures in the last four years chemists and other off icials on its largest-ever sanctions announcements, sarin gas weapon used in the April 4 24.01% of votes, ahead of National Front senior engineer Essa bin Hilal al-Ku- were QR589mn (2013), QR793mn financial blacklist yesterday, punishing the Treasury Department took aim attack. The attack left 87 dead, including (FN) leader Le Pen on 21.3%, according to wari and other dignitaries. (2014), QR889mn (2015) and QR1.71bn them for their presumed role in the at the Syrian Scientific Studies and many children, in the town of Khan final results. Page 19 At the meeting, Kahramaa also an- (2016). To Page 9 deadly chemical weapons attack on a Research Center (SSRC), which it said was Sheikhun, provoking outrage in the West. Qatar aims to get WHO vaccine management accreditation

By Joseph Varghese MoPH has organised the three-day Staff Reporter workshop for eff ective vaccine man- agement. About 32 healthcare profes- sionals from MoPH, Hamad Medical atar aims to get accredited by Corporation, Primary Health Care the World Health Organisa- Corporation, Qatar Petroleum and Qtion (WHO) in vaccine man- Sidra Medical and Research Centre are agement, an offi cial of the Ministry of participating. The training is provided Public Health (MoPH) announced yes- by vaccine management training centre terday. in Oman and experts from Kuwait and Dr Hamad Eid al-Rumaihi, director Oman are taking part. of health protection and communica- “This is the World Immunisation ble diseases, was addressing a train- Week and the theme for the week is ing workshop for vaccine management Dr Hamad Eid al-Rumaihi ‘Vaccine Works’. Eff ective vaccine for the healthcare professionals in the management is one of the strategies in MoPH off icials with the participants of the workshop.PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed country. “The travel clinic at the Commu- the new national health strategy. Our “Our aim is to get accreditation nicable Disease Center provides pre- ultimate goal is to ensure eff ective and cludes eff ective delivery and storage of professionals in the country have come of the vaccine right from the time it from WHO for safe and qualifi ed vac- travel guidance as well as post-travel safe vaccine for everyone. Therefore, the vaccine. Similarly, proper forecast- together to discuss the vaccine man- arrives in the country to reaching the cination. As many as 14 vaccines are assistance. People can avail the service we are training the healthcare people ing of vaccination and its stock man- agement programme. health facility and to the pharmacy and available in Qatar and the country has through appointment and it provides towards this goal,” Dr al-Rumaihi said. agement are also important,” he noted. “All the healthcare workers in the to the clinicians. It also provides tips recently set up a very comprehensive very comprehensive assistance for peo- “Vaccine management is not only Soha al-Bayat , head of vaccination country are up to date about vaccine to identify the vaccine whether it is travel clinic,” he explained. ple,” Dr al-Rumaihi pointed out. the administering of the vaccine. It in- at MoPH, said that various healthcare management to ensure safe handling spoiled or not,” she noted. Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 QATAR

Emir honours outgoing envoys Farewell reception

The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the outgoing ambassadors of Cyprus and Liberia to Qatar, Charalambos Panayides and Ibrahim K. Nyei, al-Hammadi held a farewell ceremony in honour of the ambassadors of Cyprus respectively, at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Emir awarded the ambassadors the Decoration of Al Wajbah in recognition of their eff orts to further enhance and Liberia, Charalambos Panayides and Ibrahim K. Nyei, respectively, at the relations between their countries and Qatar. The Emir wished them success in their future missions and relations with their countries further progress and Diplomatic Club yesterday. A number of heads of diplomatic missions prosperity. The ambassadors thanked the Emir and the off icials in Qatar for the co-operation accorded to them during their tenure in the country. accredited to Qatar, and off icials at the foreign ministry attended the ceremony.

OFFICIAL Qatar aims to Croatian president leaves Doha Minister lauds initiative to achieve 100% attract teachers HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi yesterday praised the initiative launched by Doha Independent Secondary School for Boys success in this academic year, aimed at attracting qualified Qatari teachers. The minister said the initiative can be adopted by other schools. During a visit to the school, the minister praised the performance vaccination and abilities of Qatari students Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic left Doha yesterday after an off icial visit to Qatar. She and their interest to teach in the By Joseph Varghese dren as well as elders. For some was seen off at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Culture and Sport Salah bin future. Staff Reporter of the travel vaccines there is Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali, Qatar’s ambassador to Croatia Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Thani and The initiative aims to develop some nominal charges ,” he said. Croatia’s ambassador to Qatar Tomislav Bosnjak. the required talents for teaching, The offi cial assured that every and encourage Qatari students in atar aims to achieve vaccination given in the country independent schools to pursue a 100% profi ciency and is safe and done through the best career in teaching. Qsuccess in vaccine man- practices available. “We have The initiative also contributes to agement in the coming years, had no outbreaks of any com- deepening the relations between said a top offi cial of the Ministry municable diseases. We have the students and teachers. of Public Health (MoPH) yester- achieved elimination of several HMC raising malaria awareness day. such diseases in the country. We Advisory Council “It is one of the goals in the aim for zero cases of other com- national Health Strategy 2017- municable diseases. We want n recognition of World Ma- It is preferable to visit a clinic holds meeting 2022. We have achieved 99% every healthcare provider to un- laria Day, Hamad Medical two to three weeks before de- success in various vaccina- Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad derstand this and the workshop ICorporation (HMC) is raising parture to get general advice The Advisory Council yesterday tion programmes and we aim al-Thani is a step towards this direction,” awareness about the disease and and preventive medications if held its regular weekly session to achieve 100% success in the he explained. the importance of taking pre- needed. In general, it is impor- under the chairmanship of HE next couple of years. This is an ing for the healthcare provid- According to the director, the ventive measures, especially as tant to start taking medication the Speaker of the Advisory ambitious target that we have ers. We have been successful in recent vaccination campaigns many residents plan their sum- before travel, during travel and Council Mohamed bin Mubarak set in the new strategy,” said Dr providing vaccination for eve- have achieved the desired re- mer vacation. after coming back, as advised by al-Khulaifi. Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al- ryone with almost 99% success. sults. “The outcomes so far have This year’s global theme for a doctor. There are currently no The Advisory Council was briefed Thani, director of Public Health We want to make sure that all been very positive. After the vac- World Malaria Day, observed licensed vaccines against ma- on the report of the Internal at MoPH. the healthcare facilities in Qa- cine campaigns, there have been today, is ‘End Malaria for Good’. laria,” said Dr al-Soub. and Foreign Aff airs Committee The offi cial was speaking on tar should be aware of eff ective no incidents of any such diseases WHO has highlighted the im- He added that travellers to on a draft law on the “National the sidelines of the opening of a vaccine management,” said Dr against which we have had the portance of prevention as a criti- malaria-endemic areas may also Address”. The Council approved three-day workshop for health- Sheikha Mohamed. vaccines. The measles vacci- cal strategy for reducing the toll be at risk of other infections, the draft law and decided to care professionals in Qatar on “All the vaccines accepted by nation campaign is done every of a disease that is thought to Dr Hussam al-Soub thus emphasising the impor- submit its recommendations to vaccine management. the GCC council are available in three years and the fl u and TdaP be responsible for more than tance of visiting a travel clinic the Cabinet. “We are aiming to achieve Qatar and are free for everyone. vaccines are given every year to 400,000 deaths each year. Malaria transmission is more and receiving medical advice. Then, a memo by the Cabinet it by providing eff ective train- The vaccines are given for chil- school students,” he added. While malaria is not endemic intense in warmer regions closer Individuals who have recently General Secretariat on a draft in Qatar, hundreds of cases are to the equator. However, even travelled and are experiencing law amending some provisions diagnosed every year as a result in countries where malaria is chills, fever, headache, diar- of the Advocacy Law issued by of residents travelling to malar- endemic, the risk of transmis- rhoea, nausea and/or vomiting, Law No 23 of 2006 was read ia-endemic countries. Dr Hus- sion can be reduced by avoiding are advised to immediately visit out. The Council decided to refer sam al-Soub, senior consultant bodies of water and staying in their health centre, informing it to the Legal and Legislative Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, of HMC’s Infectious Diseases mountainous regions. the doctor about their recent Aff airs Committee to study it and Unit cautioned: “People who “Simple precautions can help travel history. Early diagnosis present a report thereon to the have resided in Qatar for a long prevent infection during visits to and treatment of malaria are Council. Columbia University sign MoU time and other malaria-free malaria-endemic areas, such as important as the infection can Meanwhile, the Advisory countries may have lowered im- using mosquito repellent creams quickly progress to severe ill- Council’s Legal and munity to malaria and are thus and mosquito nets, wearing long ness, which can sometimes re- Legislative Affairs Committee QNA of graduate programmes. issued by the Doha Institute for vulnerable.” sleeves and long pants to cover sult in death. held a meeting under the Doha The Memorandum of Under- Graduate Studies, the signing of Malaria is caused by parasites your skin, and avoiding going Children, pregnant women, chairmanship of its Rapporteur standing was signed by Acting the MoU represents the desire that are transmitted to people outside at night,” said Dr al- the elderly and residents of Nasser Serayea al-Kaabi during President and Vice-President for of the two sides for a fruitful through the bites of infected Soub. malaria-free countries are at the council’s 45th regular oha Institute for Gradu- Academic Aff airs at the Doha In- academic co-operation, which is mosquitoes. It can be a deadly “People who plan to travel the greatest risk of developing session yesterday. ate Studies and Columbia stitute Professor Yasir Suleiman refl ected in the exchange of aca- disease, aff ecting millions of should consult their doctor or a severe illness as a result of a The committee continued its DUniversity in New York Malley and Dean of Academic demic experience and the launch people each year and resulting in visit a clinic that off ers travel malaria infection. Those with a review of the National Service signed a Memorandum of Under- Aff airs at Columbia University of programmes at the postgrad- hundreds of thousands of deaths vaccinations and medicine, such lowered immune system due to draft law and decided to standing (MoU) for co-operation Professor John Coatsworth. uate level, in addition to the ex- annually, mostly in sub-Saharan as the travel clinic at HMC’s other illness are also at an in- continue the process at another between the two sides at the level According to a press release change of students. Africa, according to the WHO. Communicable Disease Center. creased risk. meeting.

Qatar calls for prosecuting Syrian offi cials responsible for war crimes

QNA regime continues to challenge He pointed out that by pros- Syria as evidence of such viola- He noted that the amount of prevent such crimes from hap- Dr al-Hammadi reiterated Doha the will of the international ecuting the Syrian offi cials re- tions and crimes. He stressed the support to the General Assem- pening and prosecute the perpe- Qatar’s eagerness to implement community in light of the latter’s sponsible for crimes against ci- importance of protecting civil- bly’s decision on the right to trators, which is something that the initiative of the Account- failure to fi nd a fi nal resolution to vilians will send out a message to ians from such a horrible crimes protect confi rms that the inter- will enhance the security and ability, Coherence, and Trans- atar will spare no ef- the Syrian crisis. He noted that all who violate international law. in line with the Charter of the national community is commit- peace for people. parency (ACT) of recording ac- fort in assisting in the the Syrian regime continues to The secretary-general noted United Nations and the provi- ted to the protection of civilians. He added that the way for- tions by the UN Security Council Qinvestigation and pros- violate human rights law. that this year’s meeting is taking sions of international law. He expressed concern, however, ward towards preventing mass against genocide, crimes against ecution of offi cials responsible The secretary-general of the place in the context of critical He added the international that what has been achieved atrocity crimes would be to deal humanity and war crimes and for the serious crimes in Syria foreign ministry noted that the developments, due to the spread community must not turn a on the ground did not prevent with the root causes of confl icts restrict the use of the veto to by supporting the interna- horrible massacres committed in of confl icts and civil wars in blind eye to these crimes no horrible crimes from happen- and crises through dialogue, prevent mass atrocities. tional, impartial and independ- Khan Sheikhon confi rm the Syrian many of the world’s regions. The matter the reasons. ing, particularly as their rate has reconciliation, transitional jus- He said Qatar has supported ent mechanism established by regime’s insistence on commit- increasing tragedies resulting The secretary-general added been on the rise in more than one tice, involving minorities in the all global eff orts to end viola- the UN General Assembly, the ting war crimes and crimes against from those confl icts leads to a that selectivity in applying the region in the world. As a result, political process, and enhancing tions of international human Secretary-General of the Minis- humanity. He added that the re- bigger need for the international right to protect has led to de- the secretary-general added, the mechanisms that monitor rights law to protect civilians in try of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed gime has adopted a policy based community to act and protect terioration of humanitarian putting an end to those crimes and warn of potential crises. countries facing armed confl ict bin Hassan al-Hammadi has on laying siege, starving, displac- civilians who are suff ering from conditions of civilians in areas requires a commitment from the He stressed in that regard and added that Qatar has pro- stressed. ing, changing demographics, and human rights violations. of confl ict. This calls for more international community to- the importance of dealing with vided diff erent forms of support Speaking during the two-day the use of chemical weapons. This The secretary-general of the urgency from the international wards taking clear measures in the real reasons that lead to the and relief to lessen the suff ering 7th Meeting of the National requires a suitable response by ministry of foreign aff airs high- community in assuming its le- that regard. spread of violent extremism and of civilians and protect them Responsibility to Protect Fo- the international community, the lighted in that regard the horrifi c gal and moral responsibility of The fi rst step, according to terrorism, as the reasons are besides the continuous co-oper- cal Points in Doha yesterday al- secretary-general of the ministry images of victims of a chemi- protecting civilians subjected to the secretary-general, would be usually similar to those that lead ation with its regional and inter- Hammadi said that the Syrian of foreign aff airs added. cal attack in Khan Sheikhoun in horrible crimes. to enforce the responsibility to to mass atrocity crimes. national partners. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 3 QATAR

Training programme on biosphere reserves kicks off

QTA, UN agency ink pact to The regional training programme on biosphere reserves and the “Man and the Biosphere programme” of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) started yesterday in host World Tourism Day Doha with participation of GCC delegations. atar will be hosting the According to QTA, Qatar had ism Day event,” the senior QTA able Development Goals, and to Inaugurating the programme, World Tourism Day cele- been selected to host the of- offi cial added. highlight the tourism sector´s Ahmed Mohammed al-Sada, Qbrations later this year un- fi cial WTD celebrations by a Al-Rifai said WTO is the day contribution to achieving them. assistant undersecretary der the theme ‘Sustainable Tour- vote of the 21st UNWTO Gen- set aside in the UN calendar to Al-Ibrahim addressed the for environment aff airs at ism – a Tool for Development,’ it eral Assembly, held in 2015 in celebrate the transformative 42nd Meeting of UNWTO Com- the Ministry of Municipality was announced yesterday. Colombia. power of the tourism sector. mission on the Middle East, em- and Environment, said Qatar Tourism Authority “Qatar’s leadership has iden- “This year’s celebration has phasising Qatar’s commitment it will help in preparing (QTA) and the UN World Tour- tifi ed tourism as a priority sector an even greater signifi cance as it to capitalising on tourism’s po- a comprehensive ism Organisation (UNWTO) in the nation’s pursuit of a sus- happens in the scope of the In- tential to spur growth in all an- administrative plan for Al signed the offi cial agreement tainable and diverse economy,” ternational Year of Sustainable cillary sectors and aspects of the Reem Biosphere Reserve. for the hosting of the event set al-Ibrahim said in a statement. Tourism for Development,” he economy. The programme is a joint for September 27, under the pa- “We recognise that tour- added. “Sustainability has always cooperation between the tronage of HE the Prime Minis- ism has the power to drive this Celebrated annually on Sep- been seen at the core of our vi- ministry’s natural reserves ter and Interior Minister Sheikh growth, as well as enable us to tember 27, WTO is the biggest sion for the tourism industry, department and the Unesco Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa celebrate our culture and herit- international event in tour- and the key driver behind all of off ice in Doha. al-Thani. age with the world, and is rightly ism. It aims to foster awareness our plans, policies and prod- He said that the participation QTA’s chief tourism develop- therefore at the forefront of na- among the global community of ucts,” he said in his speech. of a number of specialists ment offi cer Hassan al-Ibrahim tional development plans,” he the importance of tourism and “Tourism is a nascent sector, and Hassan al-Ibrahim (left) and Taleb al-Rifai sign the agreement in Dubai. reflects the growing attention and UNWTO’s secretary general noted. its social, cultural, political and that is exactly why it presents so paid to the planning and Taleb al-Rifai signed the agree- “There could be no more fi t- economic value. many opportunities for us to in- tels, tour operators and desti- presents the ideal opportunity management of reserves, ment on the sidelines of Arabian ting a destination to carry this The event, which is held in a dif- vest in it, and participate in de- nation management companies for Qatar to highlight the lat- stressing that the main pillar Travel Market (ATM), which message to the world than Qa- ferent continent each year, seeks fi ning what our country will be representing Qatar. est developments in its tour- of the programme is to started yesterday. It is the lead- tar, and we look forward to to address the global challenges known for globally,” he added. As the Middle East’s leading ism industry, and showcase its review Qatar’s experiment in ing Middle Eastern travel and working with the UNWTO to outlined in the UN Millennium ATM continues until April platform for travel and tour- newest tourism and hospitality the ‘Man and the Biosphere tourism event. host a memorable World Tour- Development Goals and Sustain- 27 with a delegation of 38 ho- ism industry members, ATM off erings. Programme’ and discuss the lessons learned from the Qatari experience since Al Reem Reserve was declared a biosphere reserve. “The programme aims to enhance the regional role in Katara hosts exhibition by terms of exchanging knowledge and expertise on the regional experiences of the Man and the Biosphere Programme,” Al Sada said, expressing hope that child artist with autism such eff orts will culminate in outputs that reflect the relevant atara-the Cultural Village of 18 paintings, mostly in various the special needs society. Ex- priorities of the planning and hosted Qatar’s fi rst ever shades of blue, refl ecting his unique plaining the inspiration behind management of domestic areas Kunique exhibition by a and thought-provoking perspective this one-of-a-kind exhibition, at the regional level and address seven-year old Qatari artist with of the world around him. the artist’s parent, Salma al- the international terms adopted autism, Amer al-Mansoori. Apart from the exhibition, Katara Amari said: “It was quite by acci- by Unesco. The exhibition was inaugu- also organised workshops designed dent that I stumbled on my son’s For her part, Anna Paolini, rated by Katara deputy general to off er entertainment, support, and hidden artistic inclination.” director, Unesco off ice in Doha, manager and operations head inspiration for visitors and families “I soon discovered that paint- expressed gratitude to Qatar’s Ahmad al-Sayed, in the pres- with children with diff erent needs, ing instantly lifted my son’s spirits, eff orts in this regard, praising ence of representatives from who might visit the display. especially when he was mixing col- the Qatari experience in drafting various autism support groups. Al-Sayed urged the public to ours,” she noted. She also thanked the comprehensive plan for the Amer al-Mansoori, along with Ahmad al-Sayed, at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Al-Mansoori’s works consists visit the exhibition and support Katara for hosting the exhibition. biosphere reserve. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 QATAR Experts attend QU conference on entrepreneurship

he fourth Interna- tional Conference Ton Entrepreneurship in Economic Development 2017, organised by Qatar University College of Busi- ness and Economics (QU- CBE) in partnership with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), opened yesterday in the presence of HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al- Thani. Themed “Entrepreneur- HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani ship Education”, the two- (left) and QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham addressing the conference yesterday. day conference aims to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship business to develop the economy. It has brought together ex- perts from local and inter- national institutions to dis- cuss a wide range of issues related to entrepreneurship education. The minister was joined by QU president Dr Has- san al-Derham, CBE dean Dr Khalid Shams M A al- Abdulqader, QDB CEO Abdulaziz al-Khalifa, and International Council for Small Business executive director and associate pro- fessor at the George Wash- ington University Dr Ayman al-Tarabishy, as well as CBE faculty, students and staff . The keynote speakers were Dr Ayman al-Tara- bishy, author of ‘On Innova- tion’ book Terry Jones, sen- ior director of research Prof Brian Gibson, Australian centre for entrepreneurship research director Prof Per Davidsson, and MIT socio- technical systems research centre former director Prof Deborah Nightingale. The programme included four panel discussions. HE Sheikh Ahmed said “the purpose of the confer- ence is to motivate entre- preneurs to develop their projects, which will have a positive impact on the eco- nomic growth in Qatar. The private institutions are key drivers of economic de- velopment. Hence, entre- preneurship has become a cornerstone of economic growth and diversity.” “ In Qatar, the private and the public sectors play a piv- otal role. The government implemented many pro- grammes that contribute to economic growth. In this re- gard, the Ministry of Econo- my and Commerce launched many services using mobiles and applications that help entrepreneurs to fulfi l their dreams and establish their own business,” he added. Dr al-Derham said as a key driver of economic growth, QU shapes the future gen- eration of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship education contributes to economic di- versifi cation which leads to economic sustainability, one of the pillars of Qatar Na- tional Vision 2030. “This requires the crea- tion of various curricula that prepare our students to become entrepreneurs. To achieve this goal, CBE has established collaborations with many institutions from all over the world to boost its curriculum.”

Ferrari models recalled The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collabo- ration with Alfardan Sports Motors, has announced the recall of Ferrari 458 and FF models of 2008-2011 to replace the passenger side airbag module. The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The MEC will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 5 QATAR

Cycling event held in Metro tunnel

atar Rail held a unique cy- Golden Line is 30km in total, the events of this kind to showcase the cling event in one of the route the cyclists took was around deliverance of Qatar Rail projects Qtunnels of Doha Metro re- 10km of a single-track tunnel. and bring us closer to the commu- cently. The Gold Line starts at Al Aziziya nity, that’s the essence behind the The cyclists participating in and concludes at Ras Bu Aboud, ‘Rail Challenge’ initiative.” Ajlan al-Enazi the event, organised in collabora- the line comprises 10 stations and Hamad Ibrahim al-Bishri, dep- tion with the Qatar Cycling Com- passes through the main station in uty CEO of Qatar Rail, who par- Qatar Rail names new munity, took a route that covered Msheireb. ticipated in the challenge, went on around 10km of a single-track This was the fi rst time the tun- to say: “Qatar Rail is delighted to communications chief tunnel. nel has been opened for mem- collaborate with the Qatar Cycling Qatar Rail has announced the appointment The cycling challenge marked ber of the cyclists to enjoy. At Community for this event and give of Ajlan al-Enazi as its new PR and the launch of an initiative that 10km, with uneven surfaces and them the chance to experience the communications director. would include many more events unknown territory, it was an in- tunnels before they are fully op- He will lead the implementation of to come, aimed at increasing pub- teresting challenge for any rider. erational.” marketing initiatives as well as set and lic awareness about Qatar Rail’s Qatar Rail “ensured the highest Qatar Cycling Community Dr execute plans aiming to enhance the role developments, according to a standard of health and safety” Abdulaziz Jeham al-Kuwairi pres- of public relations and communications to press statement. during the challenge, it said in the ident added: “We are delighted to achieve Qatar Rail’s business strategy and More than 50 cyclists from the statement. collaborate with Qatar Rail for this long-term goals. Qatar Cycling Community and Commenting on the “fi rst-of- unique cycling event. It’s an hon- Al-Enazi has more than 20 years of members of Qatar Rail staff cy- its-kind” event in the region, Ab- our for us to be the fi rst cyclists to experience in public relations and cled from the Soudan station up dulla Abdulaziz al-Subaie, manag- ride in the recently constructed communications. Before joining Qatar Rail, to Sports City station, back again ing director, CEO and chairman of tunnel. We are pleased that such he was the director of Government & Public to Soudan and then up to Aspire the executive committee of Qatar initiatives support the sport of Relations at Dolphin Energy Ltd. Prior to Park. The cycling challenge took Rail, said: “The completion of this cycling. We thank the Qatar Rail that, he worked with Qatar Petroleum for place in the Gold Line tunnel. tunnel is a key milestone for Qatar management for ensuring the five years as production supervisor and Cyclists at the end of the challenge. The tunnel, which makes up the Rail, we look forward to hold more comfort and safety of our cyclists.” senior planning engineer. Wakrah Street traffi c jams Road closure in Al Khor he Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced Tthat it will implement a to ease, says Ashghal temporary closure on a part of Al Amir Street in Al Khor. The closure, which will come he opening of new roads over the next day morning that the diversion on Al Wakrah Then, the Al Wakrah Bypass would be into effect this evening and three months will reduce congestion on Road at the Abdullah Abdulghani roundabout, opened in June - connecting traffi c coming continue for 35 days, is being TAl Wakrah Street and help maximise the which started on Sunday morning, had been from Mesaieed Road with G-Ring and F-Ring carried out in co-ordination benefi ts of G-Ring and F-Ring roads in terms postponed in co-ordination with Qatar Rail roads. Further, Ashghal said the Al Wukair with the General Directorate of of the smooth distribution of traffi c, the Public and the Traffi c Police. Bypass would be opened to traffi c in July, pro- Traffic. Works Authority (Ashghal) has said. The authority also thanked Qatar Rail and viding a direct connection between Mesaieed The closure will cover a dis- The statement came in the wake of com- the Traffi c Police for their co-operation and Road and G-Ring Road. tance of 350m on the two lanes plaints by many commuters of severe traffi c eff orts that helped decongest the area and Earlier, commuters launched a hashtag to heading from the intersection congestion in and around Al Wakrah, particu- bring traffi c back to normal on Al Wakrah express their frustration over inordinate de- between Ras Al Qirma Street and larly at the entry and exit point, leading to long Street yesterday. The diversion was scheduled lays in and around Wakrah due to traffi c con- Al Amir Street towards Al Khor delays. to remain in eff ect until June 18. Traffi c was re- gestion. Coastal Road. According to reports, “lack of signage” on routed to parallel side streets. While one motorist complained of spending During this period, traffi c in the newly opened G-Ring Road and the “sud- Meanwhile, Ashghal posted a series on around 50 minutes for a ride that usually took the closed section of Al Amir den closure” of the Barwa Village signal ag- tweets on the roads that would be opened in 10 minutes, another said the travel time be- Street will be directed to a serv- gravated matters in an area where people had and around the area in the coming months. tween Wukair and Abu Hamour had doubled ice road running parallel to the already been coping with diversions and clo- In May, for instance, the road connecting following the opening of G-Ring Road. closed road, as shown on the at- of the ‘design, build, operate and Ashghal has said in a press state- sures necessitated by the implementation of the bridge from Najma Street Extension be- Another person said even F-Ring Road was tached map. maintain’ project pertaining to ment, requesting all road users infrastructure development projects. hind Barwa Village would open to connect Ras ‘jam-packed’ and it was frustrating to spend The temporary diversion is the Al Thakhira sewage treat- to abide by the speed limit and As commuters vented their frustration Abu Fontas Street coming from the Abdullah so much time driving on a road that usually of- required to enable work on lay- ment works, transfer pumping follow diversion signs to ensure on social media, Ashghal tweeted yester- Abdulghani roundabout, Ashghal informed. fered a smooth ride. ing ‘sewer rising mains’ as part station and associated pipelines, their safety. Page 6 Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 QATAR Global kite festival opens today

By Joey Aguilar raphy and poster-making com- team, comprise of young and tal- While the kites are expected Staff Reporter petitions. ented players, which will repre- to fl y between 40m and 160m “The aim of the festival is to sent the country in the 2018 edi- (maximum), AZF’s corporate put Qatar on the international tion of the competition. communications manager Hus- variety of kite fl ying com- map, I want people to save the Al-Hail said the festival will sain al-Qahtani stressed that petitions and activities are date and come to Doha,”Aspire also see many female kite fl y- several safety and security meas- Aset to take centre stage at Katara Hospitality CEO and the ers, including Qataris and young ures are in place at the venue. the opening of the 1st Interna- Event’s Organising Committee children (for the public kite fl y- He noted that Aspire Park has a tional Kite Festival today at As- head Kholoud al-Hail said. ing), taking part in a number of total area of 880,000sqm and the pire Park. This year, more than 50 teams the activities at the venue. spot chosen to hold the festival is Some of the best kite fl yers Hussain al-Qahtani. from 13 countries (Australia, “I’m sure people will fi nd a lot in the middle. Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi. from around the world are taking Canada, Colombia, France, In- of surprises,” she stressed. Or- “No houses around it, far away part in a series of individual and ticipants how to build, decorate donesia, Italy, Kuwait, Malay- ganisers have set up screens at from the streets, and in case kites team sports, as well as synchro- and fly a kite; kite flying tips sia, New Zealand, Singapore, Aspire Park for workshop pres- fall down it is safe,” he explained. nised kite performances from and tricks; and kite aerody- the UK, the US and Vietnam) entations and entertainment. The entire area for the festival is 9am to 7pm. namics, will also start today at are taking part in the event. For the inter-school kite fl ying surrounded by metallic barriers Ooredoo is offi cial The festival, organised by As- a dedicated area. Al-Hail said international kite competition, al-Hail said each and the public will not be able to pire Zone Foundation (AZF), will According to the organisers, associations have approached team (open to all the schools from get inside it,” al-Qahtani added. also feature night fl ights from the fi ve-day festival is expected and invited other teams but are year 1 to 6) must come up with a “Ambulances and security telecom sponsor day one to fi ve, apart from public to attract a large number of peo- currently engaged with some 3x5mtrs kite that can fl y for at personnel are in place, safety kite fl ying activities. ple who will be spending their prior commitments and activi- least a few minutes. and security is on top of Aspire’s Whole-day workshops, free time at Aspire Park either to ties elsewhere. “They have to be creative in priority in hosting any event and of kite festival which include teaching par- watch or take part in the photog- She hopes to form a Qatar designing the kite,” she added. other activities,” he said.

oredoo, Qatar’s leading formers and what’s on off er,” communications com- Ooredoo Qatar Community & Opany, will be the offi cial Public Relations director Manar telecom sponsor of Aspire’s 1st Khalifa al-Muraikhi said. 45-day closure at Al Mayfar interchange International Kite Festival in This sponsorship agreement the country, it was announced. will also see Ooredoo ensure The event, organised by As- its award-winning Supernet is l Mafyar Interchange pire Zone Foundation, will take available at Aspire Park for all on North Road will be place at Aspire Park from today media and visitors. Aclosed for 45 days start- to April 29. It will feature a host On top of the activities, As- ing tomorrow, the Public Works of professional international pire’s 1st International Kite Authority (Ashghal) has an- kite fl yers from 13 countries, as Festival will hold three con- nounced. well as kite workshops, roam- tests off ering a range of prizes. The closure is being carried out ing entertainers, food kiosks, The fi rst is for school children, to facilitate work on the North and F1 simulators, among oth- asking them to design a kite, Road Corridor Enhancement ers. the second a photography con- project, which the authority is fi - “Ooredoo is proud to sponsor test for everyone attending the nalising for delivery, according to such a family friendly event and event and the third a children’s a press statement. we encourage everyone to head drawing contest aimed to in- The detour, implemented in along and check out the per- spire people to attend. collaboration with the General Directorate of Traffi c, will run 87km from Doha. It will help Mada hosts Education Assistive complete construction in the Technology Conference today areas of Athba and Jary Lehmai- dat alongside Al Mafyar Inter- Qatar Assistive Technology Centre (Mada), will start its first Gulf change. Region Education Assistive Technology Conference (Great) today During the detour, travellers terchange will be able to use the riageway between Umm al Eth- rectorate of Traffi c and continue diversion as the remaining three at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The event consists of will be able to use the nearby temporary routes illustrated on natain Interchange and Al Zubara for three weeks. lanes will be open as usual. The education programmes, which will feature globally recognised Madinat Al Shamal Interchange the attached map. Interchange for a distance of The detour will enable the speed limit will be reduced to experts delivering master classes and keynotes. The conference is or Athba Interchange, Ashghal * Another North Road clo- 1,400m. construction of service roads as 80km/h. designed to provide the necessary tools and knowledge for attendees has said. sure The road change, which takes part of the North Road Corridor For their safety, the authority to solve the toughest challenges when it comes to the education of Also, travellers heading for Meanwhile, Ashghal has said place some 56km from Doha, will Enhancement project. has requested motorists to abide PWD and the latest Assistive Technology (AT) practices. The Great Doha from the Athba area on the it will close one north-bound come into eff ect tomorrow in co- Ashghal has stressed that traf- by traffi c instructions and the 2017 conference, a first in the region, will focus on education practices western side of Al Mafyar In- lane on the North Road main car- ordination with the General Di- fi c will not be aff ected by the new newly installed signage. in Inclusive Computer Technology and AT in the Gulf region. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 7 QATAR

Mashreq Multi-entry visa proposed enhances mobile banking to boost tourist arrivals app he GCC (Gulf Co-opera- Making a total of 12 recom- India has driven tourist arrivals the population and are the most North Africa region), Colliers In Qatar, Indian visitors en- tion Council), which is all mendations concerning vi- across the region over the near likely to travel. International. joyed a higher compatibility Tset to strengthen eff orts sas, accommodation, cultural past and we have seen this re- India, meanwhile, is home “Digital technology is a dis- across all four visitor types, ashreq Qatar has to target Indian and Chinese sensitivities and marketing, fl ected in our recent guest pro- to 433,000 HNWIs, with 59mn rupter that didn’t exist 20 years with the country now the strengthened and en- inbound tourists, should is- the report suggests GCC-wide fi les,” Debrah Dhugga, manag- considered urban middle and ago. Ten years from now, there second largest source market Mhanced its award-win- sue multi-entry visas similar to multi-entry visas with similar ing director, Dukes London and educated urban and 97mn could be a diff erent way in after Saudi Arabia. Numbers ning mobile banking application, the Schengen visa issued by the principles to the Schengen area, Dukes Dubai, said. counted as urban blue collar which people experience hospi- are expected to grow in line Snapp. Customers now have the European nations, according to hotel welcome kits and signage Highlighting that the trend is workers. Together, they repre- tality,” said Azeez Narain, asso- with the launch of several option of registering directly Colliers International. in guests’ native languages, largely proliferated by increas- sent almost 31% of the popula- ciate vice president, Taj Hotels, high-profi le sport and leisure on to the app via their debit or Already key markets for the promotion of cultural celebra- ing levels of personal wealth tion that is eligible and likely to Resorts, Palaces, Safaris, Indian attractions over the coming credit card to create a username region, China counts an aver- tions and festivals from each and a demand for experiential travel. Hotels Company. years. or password. age of 122mn outbound tourists country, and targeted loyalty travel, he said China is home to “The growing middle class Colliers International as- For Chinese visitors, initia- If customers already have an annually and India contributes programmes. 1.4mn high net worth individu- and cheaper fl ight options are sessed the compatibility of tives such as the Qatar-China existing account on MashreqOn- 22mn, with overseas spend- “The GCC is home to a als (HNWIs), with 146mn work- transforming the outbound key GCC destinations with 2016 Year of Culture helped line, they have the option of us- ing calculated to be $252bn and number of globally-recognised ing class nationals, representing travel landscape for these two four traveller types: corporate, boost the profi le of Arab states ing their existing username and $15.4bn respectively in 2015, tourist attractions and con- 19% of the working popula- countries, with a combined MICE attendees, leisure fi rst- in domestic Chinese markets, password. said a Colliers International tinues to draw visitors from all tion, and 90mn urban blue col- 146mn passport holders,” said timers and experienced leisure with arrivals to Doha from Asia Snapp users have the ability of report unveiled at the Arabian over the world as a result ... The lar workers. Counted together, Filippo Sona, director, head travellers, for both Indian and and Oceania totalling 342,976 in fully-control spending on their Travel Market. growth seen from China and they represent almost 29% of of Hotels Middle East and Chinese visitors. the fi rst half of last year. debit or credit cards, alongside security features that allow them to instantly lock the card and block spends by country. Customers may also modify their daily transaction limits by WCM-Q students amount on card and generate PIN for transactions. The updated version of Snapp still carries its previous security features such celebrate residency as fi nger print access. As Snapp is integrated with Apple’s virtual personal assist- ant Siri, iPhone users have the placement at top option of sending money by us- ing voice instructions. Snapp also comes with built-in notifi - cations through the in-app alert global institutions feature that informs the cus- tomer on what is happening with their registered bank account oon-to-graduate medical is the moment students dis- and associated card. students of Weill Cornell cover whether they have been In addition to this, the cus- SMedicine-Qatar (WCM- accepted onto a residency pro- tomer can manage the alerts they Q) gathered at the college to gramme in a medical specialty receive, and view previous trans- celebrate securing places in res- of their choice. The process is action alerts and notifi cations. idency programmes at some of highly competitive – this year Tooran Asif, head of retail the most prestigious healthcare 54,110 US and international banking at Mashreq Bank Qa- institutions in the world. medical school students vied tar, said: “Snapp is the most WCM-Q students ‘matched’ for just 28,849 positions. The enhanced solution for banking at leading institutions includ- match results for students ap- today as time is becoming more ing NewYork Presbyterian/ plying to residency programmes and more of a precious commod- Weill Cornell Medical Centre, at HMC were announced short- ity. People need to be able to bank Virginia Commonwealth Uni- ly after the US results. on the go and this app is the most versity Health System, Yale Students who graduate from effi cient, secure and convenient New Haven Hospital, Lincoln WCM-Q’s Medical Programme mobile banking solution. Medical Centre in New York, receive the same MD degree as “This update further reiterates Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medi- graduates of Weill Cornell Med- Mashreq’s dedication in bringing cal Centre and Hamad Medical icine-New York. Many WCM- the best of today’s mobile bank- Corporation where they will Q graduates return to Qatar ing world to our valued custom- continue their training after after they have completed their ers and ensure that Mashreq’s graduation in May. residency training in the US to services are easily accessible and The annual Match Day event work locally. WCM-Q’s Class of 2017 after the Match Day results. only a fi ngerprint away.”

UDC releases updated version of smartphone application United Development Company technology. Splash launches Sustainable Collection (UDC), master developer of UDC launched the first release The Pearl-Qatar, has released of its digital services in 2013. an improved version of its Its smartphone application iddle East-based fast the launch of the range in the a more sustainable future with ter equivalent to drinking water smartphone application for the enables users to enjoy a fashion retailer Splash business. close to 5mn pieces to be launched consumed by Ireland in 1 day and Island’s residents and visitors. variety of exclusive and unique Mhas announced the With key pieces which include each year we have committed our- we use only FSC approved paper The update enables users to smart services and solutions, launch of its Sustainable Col- Drop shoulder Tees, Torn Den- selves to environmental sustain- in all our tags – 200 metric ton access a range of services complementing other systems lection, made up of sustainable ims, Mandarin Collar Shirts and ability without compromising on plastic removed , equivalent due to the integration of across the Island. Users materials. Tonal Stripe Polos in colours like style, trend and design.” weight of 100 SUV cars.” UDC’s customer relationship can inquire about public Forming part of the existing Cold Greys, Dry Pinks, Powder Splash manufactures more More than 500,000 gar- management system. and private parking (retail, product portfolio of Splash, the Blues and washed whites, the than 600,000 eco-denims from ments are made from Tencel, a Residents can submit inquiries residential and valet parking) new collection for both men and collection has been made with organic cotton every season – fi bre made from cellulose found and raise issues, such as those as well as easily locate the wide women will be available across environmental friendly organic 48% climate impact reduced in wood pulp. Tencel does use relating to cleaning services range of retail outlets from all Splash and Centrepoint and recycled cotton, recycled with 0% chemical pesticides less land and water than cotton and internal security, and beauty salons and banks to stores in Qatar. polyester and Tencel – which used and 19% less carbon emis- production. Close to 500,000 keep up-to-date with retailer restaurants and entertainment Building on to the ideology of have been dyed with environ- sion as a result. garments made from natural fi - off ers and other news and venues. Reuse-Conserve-Recycle, the mental friendly inks. Beig explained that 15% of bre. A total of 20,000 garments happenings from The Pearl- The Pearl-Qatar visitors also brand aims to trend sustain- Raza Beig, CEO Splash and the total cotton Splash uses in made from recycled plastic bot- Qatar. enjoy free Internet access ability with its #IAMSUSTAIN- Iconic and director, Landmark its garments is organic cotton. tles. Just 19 pet bottles produce Sustainable Collection includes The smartphone application courtesy of an agreement ABILITY campaign that marks Group, said, “Moving towards “We saved 3.3mn gallons of wa- enough fi bre for a XL T-shirt. Torn Denims. bundle is another step toward between UDC and Ooredoo to UDC’s plan to create a smart deploy public Wi-Fi across retail city through the deployment areas on the island. of advanced telecoms The revamped application, infrastructure. Subsequently, titled The Pearl-Qatar, has this significant digital step already been launched on iOS forward will further strengthen platform and Android users will QIB unveils fi rst client and resident relations soon be able to download the through the innovative use of update. Interactive Teller Machine at Q-Mall

atar Islamic Bank (QIB) Further, customers can ex- Directors’ objective to invest in has launched its fi rst ecute internal transfers between technology in order to maintain QInteractive Teller Ma- accounts, make payments and QIB’s leadership in the banking chine (ITM), named Live Teller, perform requests and enquiries sector, and in line with Qatar’s at its newly relocated Al Gharafa such as updating contact details, vision to technologically ad- branch in Q-Mall. check their account statement in vance the country’s fi nancial Live Teller is a video-based addition to a variety of transac- services sector.” interactive technology that al- tion that are usually off ered by “The APTRA Interactive lows customers to conduct branch tellers. Teller will help QIB off er access transactions and banking serv- The initiative will start in a to teller services during non- ices driven by a centrally based single location and make its way traditional banking hours, build teller, through a “highly engag- to other locations all over Qatar, new small-footprint branches ing” real-time video/audio in- expanding the bank’s footprint and provide full teller services in teraction, QIB has said in a press and retail distribution network. diff erent areas, all while taking statement. Live Teller “bridges the dig- advantage of the advanced fea- By talking to Live Teller, with ital revolution with the physical tures of NCR ATMs,” said Bahey extended hours of services, cus- branch environment”. Thabet, country manager, NCR tomers can withdraw or deposit “We are proud to be lead- fi nancial services, Qatar. cash by using their Qatari ID ing a new era of digital banking NCR Corporation is a leader in rather than a debit card. They in Qatar,” said D Anand, gen- omni-channel solutions, turn- can also encash and deposit eral manager of QIB’s Personal ing everyday interactions with cheques without the need to Banking Group. “This initia- businesses into exceptional Live Teller is a video-based interactive technology. wait in a branch. tive is part of QIB’s Board of experiences.

Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 9 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Etihad Airways backs UAE ‘Year of Giving’ initiative

tihad Airways yesterday confi rmed also shortly be able to donate to Emirates Mohamed Ateeq al-Falahi, secretary- group’s track record as a socially re- that it would donate one dirham Red Crescent during fl ights using a credit general of Emirates Red Crescent, said: sponsible organisation. Efrom every fl ight ticket sold in the card. “We are proud to have worked for many Annually, EAG conducts dozens of UAE in 2017 towards the UAE’s ‘Year of Etihad Airways CEO Peter Baumgartner years with Etihad Airways. Their unre- community engagement initiatives Giving’ causes. and the airline’s executive vice-president lenting commitment, whether through among the local community in the UAE The initiative is one of dozens being – Commercial, Mohamed al-Bulooki, donations or volunteering, has been and internationally, including earlier rolled out in the air and on the ground launched the initiative with a special Eti- heart-warming. We will continue to work programmes in India, Saudi Arabia and by Etihad Aviation Group (EAG), includ- had Airways dirham podium, inscribed together throughout the Year of Giving to Lebanon. In 2016, EAG employees vol- ing off ering free Etihad Cargo space for with the message, ‘A dirham can go a long support the UAE’s humanitarian mission.” unteered over 4,300 hours of time in humanitarian causes, as part of eff orts to way’. The airline’s ‘Year of Giving’ drive is support of charities and community touch the lives of those in need around the “We are proud to embrace the Year of visible on its fl agship aircraft, the Airbus causes,” the statement noted. world, according to a press statement. Giving, a remarkable initiative which truly A380, with all four engines of the double- 2017 was offi cially declared as the ‘Year Each month, the airline will donate all refl ects the Emirati spirit of philanthro- decker displaying the ‘Year of Giving’ logo of Giving’ by UAE President Sheikh Kha- proceeds to Emirates Red Crescent’s local py,” said Baumgartner. “This donation is to promote the national initiative overseas lifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan. In support of and international projects, including the one of many philanthropic initiatives we in Etihad’s A380 destinations of Sydney, this, EAG’s strategy is based on the gov- recently launched campaign, ‘For Your are announcing throughout 2017, in a mis- Mumbai, London Heathrow and New ernment’s three ‘Year of Giving’ pillars: Sake, Somalia’, targeting famine in the Af- sion to embed giving within our corporate York. Corporate Social Responsibility, Volun- Peter Baumgartner and Mohamed al-Bulooki launch Etihad Airways’ rican nation. Etihad Airways’ guests will culture and in the way we do business.” “This latest initiative builds on the teering and Serving the Nation. dirham donation pledge.

18% cut in Surge in Chinese, Russian visitors power, 20% in water use

From Page 1 pushes Dubai towards 20mn mark There would be a reduction of CO2 emissions to the tune of over 8.5mn tonnes at the end of 2017. Reuters The reduction in the previous four Dubai years were 3.06mn tonnes (2016), 1.81m tonnes (2015), 1.74mn tonnes (2014) and 1.87mn tonnes (2013). he number of Chinese The reduction expected in the and Russian visitors emission of natural gas this year is Tto Dubai surged in the 22,864mn cu ft. In the previous four fi rst three months of the year, years the fi gures were 75,641 cu ft boosted by the United Arab (2016), 43,412 cu ft (2015), 42,802 cu Emirates’ recent decision to ft (2014) and 42,997 cu ft (2013). grant visas on arrival to citizens Winners of the competitions of the two countries. held as part of Tarsheed: Overnight Chinese visitors Conserving building competition: jumped 64% to 230,000 in Ministry of Culture & Sports: Lusail the three months to March 31, Sports Complex, Qatargas Head- making it Dubai’s fourth largest quarters (commercial sector), Min- source market during the pe- istry of Municipality and Environ- riod, Dubai’s tourism depart- ment, Msheireb Properties (Cultural ment said yesterday. Forum Building), Qatar Foundation Overnight Russian visitors (North Western University Qatar, rose by 106% to 126,000. “We Education Sector), Qatargas (CLPG knew that there is huge po- Plant, Industrial sector). tential there for us to capital- Green hospitality: Sheraton ise on,” Dubai Tourism Chief Grand Doha Resort & Convention Executive Issam Abdul Rahim Centre (Tourism Sector). Design Kazim told Reuters in an inter- competition: Ashghal (design of view ahead of the release of the the Qatari Center for Social Culture Q1 numbers. for the Deaf, Ministry of Interior Tourism is a key sector for (design of Civil Defence and Pro- the glitzy Middle East citystate tection in Wakrah), Astad Projects which has spent billions of dol- Management (design of Qatar Uni- lars trying to attract visitors People visit the Dubai Parks and Resorts pavilion during the Arabian Travel Market 2017 (ATM) at the Dubai World Trade Centre yesterday. versity Sports & events Complex). with sites like the world’s tall- Best Renewable Energy Initia- est tower. The overall number Last September, the UAE an- and sluggish global trade. recession in 2015 under pres- Ghaith al-Ghatih told Reuters to “compensate if there is any tive: Qatar Foundation (Solar PV of overnight foreign visitors in- nounced it was granting visas China is the world’s larg- sure from sanctions and low oil yesterday. However, Dubai is drop from the US.” Units for Irrigation Systems). En- creased by 11% to 4.57mn in the on arrival to holders of Chinese est outbound tourism market prices. set to lose some direct fl ights Along with China and Rus- gineer Ibrahim al-Ali (Individuals, quarter compared to the same passports and the same policy with Chinese travellers spend- State-owned budget car- to the United States, a top sia, Dubai is targeting South Humidifi cation Dehumidifi cation period a year ago with India and was introduced for Russians in ing $261bn in 2016, according rier fl ydubai is planning to 10 source market, following Korea, Nordic countries, East- Desalination), Al-Shiamaa Sec- Saudi Arabia holding as the fi rst January. to the United Nations World add fl ights to Russia after the Emirates’ decision this month ern Europe, and the former ondary Independent School for and second largest source mar- The increasing number of Tourism Organisation (UN- number of Russian passengers to cancel some services from Soviet states as growth source Girls (Research on eco-friendly kets, respectively. Chinese and Russian visi- WTO). travelling to Dubai increased in May. markets. green school model). “We’ve been focusing a lot on tors is likely to be welcomed Russia used to be a major the fi rst quarter. Kazim said the tourism de- Dubai has said it expects Best Government Corporation family tourism being our prior- in Dubai where growth slowed source market for Dubai un- “It’s a huge market for Du- partment would have to in- 20mn visitors by 2020, up from Applying Tarsheed practices (Su- ity,” Kazim said. last year due to low oil prices til its economy slipped into a bai,” fl ydubai chief executive crease eff orts in other markets 14.9mn in 2016. preme Committee for Delivery & Legacy).

WAR CRIME Arrest warrant for ex-Gaddafi Iran court rejects appeal of jailed charity worker security chief

International judges yesterday un- Reuters Iranian media have said she was no more that the Court could do Britain’s foreign ministry said sealed an arrest warrant for Libya’s Dubai convicted of plotting the “soft for Nazanin’s case, and the legal later yesterday it was “deeply former security chief, accusing him overthrow” of Iran’s clerical es- review was closed. There was no concerned” by reports that the of carrying out war crimes in 2011 tablishment, a charge denied by court hearing for this judgment.” appeal had been rejected. to quash opposition to late dictator ran’s Supreme Court has up- the Foundation and her family. The Iranian judiciary declined “The prime minister and for- Muammar Gaddafi. The warrant, held a fi ve-year jail sentence She was sentenced to fi ve years’ to respond to calls seeking com- eign secretary have both raised first issued in 2013 by the Interna- Ifor a British-Iranian charity imprisonment in September. ment. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliff e’s case with tional Criminal Court, charges Al-Tu- worker who was convicted on un- Her husband Richard Ratcliff e Ratcliff e said his wife had still their counterparts in Iran,” a For- hamy Mohamed Khaled, once head specifi ed charges relating to na- said the appeal was her last legal not been allowed to know the ex- eign Offi ce spokesperson said. of Libya’s internal security agency, tional security, her husband said opportunity to challenge the sen- act charges on which she was con- “We continue to press the Ira- with three charges of war crimes yesterday. tence. victed. nians for access and for due proc- and four crimes against humanity. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliff e, a “Nazanin discovered this week- He urged the British govern- ess to be followed, and are ready to Between February and August project manager with the Thom- end that her fi nal appeal at the ment to publicly call for her re- help get her daughter back safely 2011, the Libyan military, intelligence son Reuters Foundation, was ar- Supreme Court has failed, and her lease. to the UK if requested.” and security agencies carried out rested by the elite Revolutionary fi ve-year sentence has been up- “Now it is time for the UK gov- The Foreign Offi ce has previ- attacks on the civilian population Guards in April 2016 at a Tehran held,” he said in an e-mailed state- ernment to say Nazanin is inno- ously expressed “deep concern” “in furtherance of a policy designed airport, as she was about to return ment, describing his wife as angry cent. She was a mum on holiday, over Zaghari-Ratcliff e’s sentence, by the Libyan state to quash the to Britain with her two-year-old but not shocked. “Her lawyer was who works for a development but has stopped short of calling political opposition to the Gaddafi daughter after a family visit. told over the phone that there was charity in London,” he said. for her release. regime by any means,” the warrant said. That included “lethal force and by arresting, detaining, torturing and abusing perceived political opponents”. Prisoners in various places across Libya were subjected Saudi foundation pledges $50mn as to various forms of mistreatment, including severe beatings as well as mock executions. part of eff ort to eradicate measles

OUTAGE Thomson Reuters Foundation eff ort. “Alwaleed Philanthropies’ Lamia bint Majed al-Saud, secre- Dubai Mall New York generosity will...serve as a catalyst tary general of Alwaleed Philan- briefly goes dark to spur greater investment,” he said thropies, said the need to stamp out in a statement. the disease is particularly pressing A power outage briefly plunged Saudi Arabian charitable The gift is the largest single pri- amid current humanitarian crises the glitzy Dubai Mall, one of the foundation said yesterday it vate donation ever made to Unicef’s that increase risks of disease. Citing world’s largest shopping centres, Awill give $50mn to the United measles and rubella elimination ef- wars, refugees and asylum seekers, into darkness yesterday, Dubai’s Nations children’s agency to help forts, a Unicef spokeswoman said. she said: “A lot of factors now are government media off ice and a lo- eliminate measles, the largest private According to the World Health changing. You have to do whatever cal newspaper reported. The Eng- donation ever to Unicef’s eff orts. Organisation (WHO), the virus can you can,” she told the Thomson Reu- lish-language Gulf News said the The donation by Riyadh-based lead to deadly complications like ters Foundation. outage began at 7:13pm (1513 GMT) Alwaleed Philanthropies comes diarrhoea, dehydration, respiratory Alwaleed Philanthropies’ found- and it posted photos of shoppers amid rising concern about the highly infection and encephalitis and kills er, billionaire investor and Saudi using mobile phones to find their contagious disease, a leading cause nearly 400 children every day. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, pledged way. But it gave no reason for the of death among children, with re- It can be prevented with two doses in 2015 to give his entire $32bn for- outage. Power was restored nearly cent outbreaks in Italy and Romania. of a widely available and inexpensive tune to charity over time. two hours later. “We thank all Dubai It will help vaccinate more than vaccine but continues to infect tens It has so far spent money on Mall shoppers for their patience, 51mn children in 14 countries, of thousands of people globally. healthcare and women’s rights in understanding and Unicef said. Reported measles cases increased more than 124 countries. co-operation,” the Dubai govern- Anthony Lake, Unicef’s head, said in Africa, Europe and the Eastern Last year, the Americas became ment media off ice said in a mes- the show of charity could inspire Mediterranean region in 2014 and the fi rst region in the world to be de- sage posted on its Twitter account. others to give to the immunisation 2015, according to WHO. Princess clared measles free. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 ARAB WORLD Palestinian leader on hunger strike sees health decline: NGO

AFP ministrative detention, which Ramallah allows for imprisonment with- out charge. Palestinian prisoners have alestinian leader Mar- mounted repeated hunger wan Barghouti’s health strikes, but rarely on such a Phas declined seriously scale. over the past week after he Barghouti is popular among joined a hunger strike with Palestinians, with polls sug- more than 1,000 other prison- gesting he could win the Pal- ers in Israel, an NGO said yes- estinian presidency. terday. While many Palestinians Barghouti, 57 and serv- view him as a hero, Israelis ing fi ve life sentences over his point to the bloody suicide at- role in the second Palestinian tacks of the second uprising of uprising, is refusing medical 2000-2005 and his role. treatment, according to Amani He was convicted of attacks Sarahneh of the Palestinian that killed fi ve people, though Prisoners’ Club NGO. declined to defend himself and He said this was causing his did not recognise the court’s health to decline seriously. legitimacy. The hunger strike began on For Palestinians, the prisons April 17, with those taking part have become a stark symbol of ingesting only water and salt. Israel’s occupation. Syrian children sit in front of a heavily damaged building in the rebel-held town of Erbin in the eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of Damascus, yesterday. They have issued demands Some 850,000 Palestinians ranging from better medical have been incarcerated since care to phone access. the start of Israel’s occupation Asked about Barghouti, 50 years ago, Palestinian lead- however, an Israeli Prisons ers say. Service spokesman said that Palestinian leaders have “no decline in his health con- denounced Israel’s refusal dition has been observed”. to negotiate with the hunger US-backed forces enter key “If Barghouti feels bad, all strikers, warning of a “new he has to do is eat,” the spokes- uprising” if any of them die. man said. Demonstrations have been According to the NGO, au- held in the occupied West Bank thorities at the Jalame prison, and the Gaza Strip to support where Barghouti was trans- the prisoners, occasionally re- militant-held Syria town ferred and placed in solitary sulting in clashes with Israeli confi nement after the strike forces, though they have been AFP were brutally repressed by the began, have pressured him to limited in number. Beirut Hundreds of research centre employees blacklisted government of President Bashar accept medical treatment and A Palestinian former min- al-Assad. also urged other prisoners to ister, Hamas member Wasfi The United States yesterday blacklisted 271 employ- rific chemical weapons attack on innocent civilian Regional and international try to convince him. Kabha, released on the fourth US-backed alliance of ees of a Syrian government agency it said was re- men, women, and children,” US Treasury Secretary powers have since been drawn Some 6,500 Palestinians are day of the hunger strike, said forces entered the key sponsible for developing chemical weapons, weeks Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. into the complex confl ict, in currently detained by Israel for on Facebook that Barghouti Amilitant-held town of after a poison gas attack killed scores of people in a US authorities, he said, would “relentlessly pursue which internationally prohibited a range of off ences and alleged had told him “the strike aims Tabqa yesterday as they pur- rebel-held province in Syria. and shut down the financial networks of all indi- weapons such as cluster bombs crimes. to achieve more humane, fair- sued their campaign against the The US Treasury Department sanctioned 271 viduals involved with the production of chemical and toxic gas have been used. Around 500 are being held er and more dignifi ed prison Islamic State group in northern employees of Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research weapons used to commit these atrocities.” On April 4, a suspected chem- under Israel’s system of ad- conditions”. Syria. Centre (SSRC), an agency that Washington says Earlier this month, the United States launched ical attack killed 87 civilians, The Syrian Democratic Forces develops chemical weapons for the government of dozens of missiles against a Syrian air base the Pen- including many children, in the (SDF) have set their sights on Bashar al-Assad, the Treasury said in a statement. tagon says was used to launch the chemical attack. northwestern rebel-held town of Tabqa and the adjacent dam as Some of the people blacklisted had worked on President George W Bush first placed sanctions Khan Sheikhun. part of their broader off ensive Syria’s chemical weapons programme for more against the SSRC in 2005, accusing it of producing Much of the international for the city of Raqqa, the Syr- than five years, the Treasury Department said. weapons of mass destruction. community blamed the Syrian ian heart of the militants’ self- The sanction orders US banks to freeze the assets Although the Syrian government promotes the regime, and three days later 59 styled “caliphate” since 2014. of any employees named, and bans American com- SSRC as a civilian research centre, “its activities fo- US cruise missiles targeted the Supported by US-led coali- panies from conducting business with them. cus substantively on the development of biological airbase from where the attack tion air strikes and special forces Those designated were “highly educated” individu- and chemical weapons,” US off icials said. was launched. advisers, the SDF surrounded als likely to be able to travel outside of Syria and During the Obama administration, the United States Assad ally Moscow protested Tabqa in early April. use the international financial system even if they in July 2016 sanctioned people and companies for the US action and consistently Yesterday, they entered it for may not have assets abroad, administration off icials supporting the SSRC, and on Jan 12, the US Treas- sought to defl ect blame from the fi rst time, the Syrian Ob- said during a conference call with reporters. ury sanctioned six SSRC off icials it said were linked Damascus over the incident. servatory for Human Rights “These sweeping sanctions target the scientific sup- to SSRC branches aff iliated with chemical weapons Air raids on Khan Sheikhun monitoring group said. port centre for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s hor- logistics or research. have continued, with seven peo- “They seized control of sever- ple killed in strikes on the town al points in the town’s south and market yesterday, the Observa- were advancing on its western In an online statement, the nomic Task Force, a Dubai- Abdel Rahman said yesterday, tory said. edges,” said Observatory head SDF said it had captured IS-held based think tank, Tabqa is home adding that IS fi ghters had “no It came as Russia’s defence Rami Abdel Rahman. positions in west Tabqa, includ- to 85,000 people including IS way” out of the town. ministry said the Syrian army He said US-led coalition war- ing a roundabout, and part of a fi ghters from other areas. For months, the SDF has been would halt fi re around Khan planes were carrying out “in- southern district. The assault on Tabqa began in advancing on Raqqa, hoping to Sheikhun if experts were allowed tense” strikes in support of the “There are now clearing oper- late March when SDF forces and encircle it before a fi nal attack. in to conduct a probe. off ensive, but that one raid had ations in the liberated positions,” their US-led coalition allies were The city was home to around The ministry said Damascus killed three women and fi ve chil- the SDF said. airlifted behind IS lines. 240,000 residents before 2011, was “ready to declare a complete dren trying to fl ee Tabqa. Tabqa sits on a key supply The ensuing fi ght has been and more than 80,000 people moratorium on the activities of “One raid killed eight civilians route about 55 kilometres west of intense, with IS dispatching sui- have fl ed to it from other parts of its troops, aviation and artillery A Palestinian woman walks past a wall bearing posters including a from a single family, including Raqqa, and served as an impor- cide bombers daily to try to slow the country. in the area” if investigators were portrait of leader and prominent prisoner Marwan Barghouti, fi ve children, who were trying to tant IS command base, housing the off ensive and coalition war- Syria’s war has left more than sent in. during a rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah in support of him escape in their car via the town’s the group’s main prison. planes intensifying their raids. 320,000 people dead since it Syria’s government has not and other prisoners on hunger strike in jails yesterday. southwest,” Abdel Rahman said. According to the Syrian Eco- “The real battle begins now,” began with protests in 2011 that commented on the off er. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 11 AFRICA

MURDER REFORM JUSTICE TERRORISM POLITICS DR Congo shows video of ANC to introduce amended Kenya arrests suspects in Suicide bombers kill 4 Zambian opposition UN expert killings land claims bill next month shooting of activist in northeast Nigeria denies arson charge

Congolese authorities yesterday unveiled a grisly South Africa’s ruling party will introduce an Kenya has arrested an unspecified number of Four people were killed in two separate suicide Zambia’s main opposition party, whose leader has video apparently showing the murder of two UN amended land rights bill in parliament in May suspects and recovered a gun linked to the attacks yesterday in northeast Nigeria, local been arrested and charged with treason, yesterday experts killed last month in Kasai region, an area after the top court declared invalid a law that shooting of Italian-born conservationist Kuki militia members said, in the latest violence accused the government of trying to frame it for plagued by violence between tribal militias and re-opened a process for blacks to make claims Gallmann at her conservation park over the blamed on Boko Haram Islamists. Babakura Kolo, arson as an excuse for greater political suppression. security forces. Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan on land taken from them during white-minority weekend, the interior minister said yesterday. who assists the military with security against President Edgar Lungu said last week he might were kidnapped along with four locals on March rule. The Restitution of Land Rights Bill, allowing The 73-year old author was shot in the stomach the insurgents, said the first incident occurred in declare a state of emergency in some areas after 12. Their bodies were found two weeks later. The state expropriations of land to redress racial on Sunday in her ranch and nature conservancy Mammanti village, 15km east of Maiduguri. “Three public buildings were torched in attacks he blamed two-minute video viewed by journalists yesterday disparities, was among the first laws passed in Laikipia in the north. Gallmann was recovering female suicide bombers were intercepted by the on opposition members protesting at the arrest of shows a man and woman who resemble Sharp by the country’s first democratic government in intensive care at a Nairobi hospital, where she vigilantes while trying to sneak into the village their leader, Hakainde Hichilema. The opposition and Catalan surrounded by seven people in November 1994. The ruling African National underwent a seven-hour operation, her family around 5am, just as the morning prayers were United Party for National Development (UPND) speaking Tshiluba, the main language of Kasai, Congress Party (ANC) said the draft bill, which said yesterday. “We have recovered a gun which about to start,” he told AFP. Another member of denied that and said the arson accusation was a armed with machetes, sticks and one with an will be open for public comment until May 19, is now undergoing ballistic tests to confirm the civilian joint task force, who did not want to be government ploy. “They are creating deliberate old gun. Colonel Pierre-Rombaut Mwanamputu, sought to extend the date for lodging a land whether it was the gun used to shoot Kuki,” said named, said there was a second attack in Mainari, confusion to justify a state of emergency,” party spokesman for Congolese police, gave no details. claim to 30 June 2021. interior minister Joseph Nkaissery. 10km west of the city at about 8.30am. spokesman Charles Kakoma said. Highway art! S African pleads not guilty to slaying his own wealthy family

AFP His mother, 55, was found with a gaping Cape Town head wound on the bedroom’s balcony. Marli, then 16, was left in a coma after the attack and suff ered memory loss, but n a case that has gripped South Af- she may give evidence during the trial. rica, the 22-year-old son of a wealthy Van Breda only suff ered minor bruises Ifamily pleaded not guilty yesterday to and scratches, which some experts say People stand near graff iti along Ajah-Falomo expressway in Victoria Island district in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos. slaughtering his parents and brother in a may have been self-infl icted. frenzied axe attack. Believing he was about to be arrested, The trial, which opened yesterday in van Breda handed himself in to a local po- Cape Town after several delays, has at- lice station 18 months after the killings. tracted international interest as police He said in his statement yesterday that failed to arrest anyone for the grisly kill- he had passed out after disarming the at- ings until Henri van Breda handed himself tacker, who then fl ed the house. in to police. “I later woke lying on the stairs. I was Van Breda is alleged to have killed his unsure how long I was unconscious...I brother Rudi and parents Martin and Ter- could see it was light. I then saw Marli esa, and left his sister Marli struggling moving. I could also hear what sounded First large-scale malaria with near-fatal injuries to her head, neck like Rudi making gurgling sounds,” he and throat. said. The events took place on January 27, Adrian Kleynhans, the fi rst police of- 2015 at the family’s luxury home at an ex- fi cer on the scene, told the court he had clusive golf estate in Stellenbosch outside found van Breda covered in blood. Cape Town, where they lived after return- Kleynhans said there no sign of forced vaccine trials for Africa ing from several years in Australia. entry at the house, and he identifi ed a At the Western Cape High Court, van small axe presented in evidence. Breda, dressed in a suit and tie, quietly Van Breda said he was in the toilet play- AFP lents and anti-malarial drugs, the populations at risk as four succes- low, but given the amount of aff ected said “not guilty” to three counts of murder ing games on his phone when the intruder Nairobi WHO said. sive doses must be given on a strict people, the impact will be huge,” said and one of attempted murder. broke in. “Combined with existing malaria timetable. Mary Hamel, who is coordinating the In a statement read out by his lawyer Pi- He described his family as “fairly close- interventions, such a vaccine would The immunisation cycle is not in vaccine’s implementation programme. eter Botha, van Breda said that a masked knit” who enjoyed boating and shark cage new malaria vaccine will be have the potential to save tens of sync with routine childhood inocu- “There will be other vaccines and intruder had entered the house and at- diving together. tested on a large scale in Ken- thousands of lives in Africa,” Moeti lations against diseases such as hep- they’ll be more effi cient, but in the tacked his family with an axe in the early Before the attack, they had spent the Aya, Ghana and Malawi, the said. “This vaccine is a weapon atitis, measles and meningitis, with meantime, this will have a signifi cant hours of the morning. evening watching a Star Wars movie, World Health Organisation said yes- amongst others, it is one of the tools injections required at fi ve months, infl uence.” The accused said he could “make out while their mother spoke on the phone. terday, with 360,000 children to be at our disposal.” six months, seven months and two Moeti emphasised that while the the silhouette of somebody” attacking his The run-up to the trial generated fe- vaccinated between 2018 and 2020. The vaccine, also known as Mos- years. dream is “a vaccine that replaces brother in the high-security property. vered interest over a privileged son al- The injectable vaccine RTS,S quirix, has been developed by the Symptoms of malaria include fe- everything”, insecticide-treated bed “I shouted for help, shouting to attract legedly unleashing a savage attack on his could provide limited protection British pharmaceutical giant Glaxo- ver, muscle pain and headache as nets remain the most eff ective pro- attention,” he said. family, whose fortune has been estimated against a disease that killed 429,000 SmithKline (GSK) in partnership well as vomiting and diarrhoea. tection against malaria, which re- Van Breda said his father came into the at $16mn. people worldwide in 2015, with 92 % with the PATH Malaria Vaccine While RTS,S does not promise full main, “at the moment, our strongest room “trying to tackle the attacker.” In a leaked tape of van Breda’s call to of victims in Africa and two-thirds Initiative, and the large-scale three- protection against the mosquito- preventive weapon”. “My father was struck as he lunged to- emergency services, he said his family of them children under fi ve. country pilot will test it on children borne disease it is the most eff ective Kenya, Ghana and Malawi were wards the attacker. He was hit a number members were “bleeding from the head” “The prospect of a malaria vaccine aged fi ve to 17 months. potential vaccine so far developed selected for the trial because malaria of times...I also recall the attacker was before he appeared to giggle briefl y. is great news. Information gathered The drug passed previous scientif- reducing the number of hospitalisa- rates are high and they have a long laughing.” Since his arrest, Breda, who was then in the pilot will help us make deci- ic testing — including a phase three tions and blood transfusions. history of use of bed nets and other Van Breda said he heard his mother’s a student, has been on $8,000 bail while sions on the wider use of this vac- clinical trial between 2009 and 2014 Malaria episodes reduced by 40% interventions. voice, and then the intruder left the room. living with his girlfriend. cine,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the — and was approved for the pilot in tests on 15,000 people in seven The large-scale pilot is the latest According to media reports, Rudi, a There is a continuing legal battle over WHO’s regional director for Africa. programme in 2015. countries over fi ve years of clinical step in decades of work seeking to 21-year-old engineering student, was whether court proceedings can be broad- The vaccine should be used along- The aim of the trial is to assess trials, and could therefore save hun- eradicate malaria with the numbers found on a blood-soaked bed next to his cast live on television. side other preventative measures the eff ectiveness of the vaccine as dreds of thousands of lives. dying falling nearly two-thirds since father, 54. Both were killed by savage The trial continues today with a visit to such as bed nets, insecticides, repel- well the feasibility of its delivery to “It’s an effi cacy rate which is quite the turn of the century. blows from the axe. the house.

UN sounds warning for aid Seasonal treat! Kenya promises to curb funds to stop Nigeria famine election-related violence

Reuters “At it stands right now we believe we Reuters Political offi ce in Kenya can Oslo are running out of money by June-July,” Nairobi bring access to power and wealth Lundberg said in an interview, adding and voting in national polls often that donors he had talked so far had follows ethnic allegiances. id organisations working to stop cited bureaucratic reasons for the delay. he Kenyan government But even at a local level, con- the famine in Nigeria will run Lundberg was in Oslo as part of a yesterday promised “de- tests for party nominations are Aout of money by June if donors tour of Nordic countries to encourage Tcisive action” to stem a often hotly contested. do not give the cash they pledged at a donors to make good on their commit- surge in violence during party In other cases related to the conference in February, worsening an ments and will travel to the UN in New primary elections in a coun- primaries, the minister said a already diffi cult situation, a UN official York to discuss the issue with other UN try still haunted by the ethnic parliamentary hopeful and some said yesterday. member-states. bloodletting that followed a supporters were arrested with The famine in the northeast of the Without funding now, he said, aid disputed presidential election a crude weapons in the Rift Valley West African country is one of four agencies cannot feed enough people, decade ago. town of Nakuru, a fl ashpoint in hot spots, together with South Sudan, provide the seeds and tools local farm- President Uhuru Kenyatta is the 2007 violence which killed Yemen and Somalia, that constitute the ers need to plant crops, or prepare for seeking a second term and three- more than 1,200 people. worst humanitarian crisis the world has the rainy season that starts in May, times defeated presidential chal- Meanwhile, in the coastal city faced since 1945, the UN said in March. when deteriorating road conditions lenger Raila Odinga is building of Mombasa, a lawmaker was In Nigeria, 4.7mn people, many of mean people will be harder to reach. an alliance to challenge the Aug 8 charged yesterday with inciting them displaced by the confl ict with The most critical needs for fund- general election, which will also violence that led to the destruc- Islamist insurgency Boko Haram, need ing are for the World Food Programme, include parliamentary and local tion of property. rations to survive. which provides rations to 1.3mn people votes. Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party has Of these, an estimated 43,800 people a month, said Lundberg. Interior Minister Joseph Nkai- faced its own unrest, forced to already experience famine, the UN said. “They may have to cut rations in- ssery said police arrested 17 peo- postpone its fi rst round of voting Two months ago international do- stead of scaling up as they should ahead ple after youth supporters of a in its primaries after violent pro- nors pledged $457mn at a conference of the rainy season,” he said. candidate from the opposition tests and logistical delays. in Oslo to address the needs of Africa’s And the U.N.’s Food and Agricul- Orange Democratic Movement The violence in 2007 erupted Lake Chad region — Nigeria, Niger, ture Agency, which helps farmers plant attacked offi cials preparing the after Odinga said the vote was Cameroon and Chad — to go towards crops, has received only $12mn of the party’s county-level primary rigged in favour of former presi- the $1.5bn the UN says it needs this $60mn it needs, he added. vote over the weekend. dent Mwai Kibaki, triggering year. Earlier this month Reuters reported The incident occurred in the waves of nationwide ethnic kill- For Nigeria, aid agencies working on that WFP’s funds could run dry within western Migori county. ings. the crisis have so far received only 19% weeks. “Going by the number of in- In the following election in of the money appealed for, according to The UN is unable to reach an esti- cidents of chaos and violence 2013, won by Kenyatta, elec- Peter Lundberg, the UN’s deputy hu- mated 700,000 people, mostly in the recently experienced during the tronic tallying equipment failed, manitarian coordinator for the country. remote parts of Nigeria’s Borno state, party primaries, the government stoking voter concerns of fraud. By comparison, aid agencies working due to the presence of Boko Haram, has decided to step in and take The opposition, led by Odinga, on the crisis in Cameroon have received roadside bombs and near-daily suicide A girl eats a mango at a shelter for displaced people in Bangui, Central African decisive action to maintain peace fi led a complaint before the Su- 23% of the money appealed for; those in bombings attempts in camps where Republic. and stability,” Nkaissery told a preme Court, which upheld the Chad 4% and Niger 47%. displaced people live. news conference. result. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 AMERICAS

Lawyer in United New York skyline case will fi ght American also

Reuters Facebook user Surain Ady- New York anthaya, who posted the video, wrote that the fl ight attendant had forcefully taken the stroll- he lawyer representing er, hitting the woman with it Dr David Dao, who was and just missing her child. Tdragged from a United That sequence of events did Airlines plane, said he will also not appear on the clip. represent a woman whose clash The video showed an uni- with an American Airlines dentifi ed man standing and fl ight attendant went viral over yelling at the fl ight attend- the weekend. ant: “You do that to me and Thomas Demetrio told I’ll knock you fl at.” The crew CNBC yesterday that he will member then points his fi nger represent both passengers and challenges the passenger to whose recent confrontations hit him and the man eventually with airline and airport em- returns to his seat. ployees sparked global outrage American Airlines suspend- and prompted a nationwide ed the fl ight attendant and conversation over US carriers’ apologized to the woman and treatment of passengers. her family. “Her tale is compelling. The The carrier said on Saturday video is a microcosm of what’s that it was investigating the in- wrong with the airline industry cident. today,” Demetrio said in an in- This was the second high- terview with CNBC. profi le incident in less than In a video posted on Face- a month involving a physical book on Friday by a bystander escalation of confl ict between aboard the American Airlines airlines employees and pas- fl ight, the woman is seen in sengers. tears and holding a young child Two weeks ago, 69-year- after a male fl ight attendant old Dao was dragged from his had apparently wrested a baby seat aboard United Flight 3411 stroller from her. before takeoff by airport secu- Demetrio said the woman rity to make room for employ- from that incident, which hap- ees. pened before takeoff on Flight Demetrio said in the CNBC The midtown New York skyline is seen behind blooming trees in Central Park in New York. 591 from San Francisco to Dal- interview a settlement had not las, had reached out to seek his yet been discussed with United counsel. over the incident in which Dao American Airlines did not lost two front teeth, broke his immediately respond to a re- nose and suff ered a concus- quest for comment yesterday. sion.

Alabama campaign Activists lobby fi rms to fi nance curbs to stay

Reuters serve as conduits for laundered quit business chamber Washington campaign contributions.” But the Alabama Democratic The chamber’s stance on the tah al-Sisi, after his recent White media and external communica- century “ — a trial that put crea- Conference, or ADC, said the environment has troubled House visit. tions said. tionist theory up against evolu- he US Supreme Court ban covered even those groups activists The activists’ campaign comes The chamber claims to be a tionary science — in order to dis- yesterday declined to whose expenditures are inde- as some of the world’s largest bipartisan organisation but has cuss humanity’s role in climate Thear an appeal by an pendent and not tied to any Guardian News and Media companies have quietly severed become increasingly partisan. change. Alabama black-voter outreach candidate, or that kept dona- Washington ties with the chamber. For the fi rst time last year 100% That same year Apple and group with close ties to the tions for independent purposes According to an analysis by of its election spending backed utility companies Pacifi c Gas & state’s Democratic Party of a in segregated accounts. Public Citizen at least 13 of the Republican candidates. Electric (PG&E) and Excelon left lower court’s ruling that up- The grassroots membership isney, The Gap and Pepsi world’s biggest companies, Holmes said: “Our endorse- the chamber citing its anti-cli- held a state ban on cash trans- organisation promotes black are being pressured to (Costco, eBay, Hewlett Packard, ments are made by a lawmaker’s mate change advocacy. fers between political action voter participation in the Re- Dquit the US Chamber of President and CEO of the US General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft scorecard, and their views on the “We fi nd it dismaying that the committees. publican-governed state. Commerce, America’s largest Chamber of Commerce Thomas Heinz, Mars, Mattel, Mondelz, issues that are important to our chamber neglects the indisput- The Alabama Democratic Black voters generally sup- lobby group, amid criticism of J Donohue. Nestlé, Starbucks, Unilever and membership and the American able fact that a decisive majority Conference had asked the jus- port Democratic candidates. its big-money eff orts to fi ght cli- Walgreens Boots Alliance) have business community, based on of experts have said the data on tices to review a September ADC said less than 2 % of its mate change legislation and pro- islation aimed at reducing green- quit the US Chamber of Com- economic growth and job crea- global warming are compelling 2016 decision by the Atlanta- resources goes directly to sup- mote tobacco products. house gas emissions, and spends merce in recent years amid po- tion. and point to a threat that cannot based 11th US Circuit Court port particular candidates. A coalition of pressure groups millions of dollars in money on litical disagreements and worries In recent years, Republicans be ignored,” the PG&E chairman of Appeals that sided with the Most, 71 %, is used for “get including Action on Smoking elections ads urging voters to about its stance on the environ- have scored higher than Demo- and chief executive, Peter Dar- state and found that the law did out the vote” eff orts, such as and Health, Greenpeace, Public back candidates who support ment. crats on issues of importance to bee, told the chamber. not violate the organisation’s driving voters to polls and in- Citizen and the Sierra Club have the fossil fuel industry and op- A number of those companies the business community but we Nike too has voiced criticism of rights to free expression and forming them of their rights, written to the CEOs of the three pose eff orts to combat climate confi rmed to the Guardian that have maintained a bipartisan ap- the lobby group’s climate stance, free association under the US it said. companies asking them to stop change,” they write. they were no longer members but proach to the candidates we sup- saying it “fundamentally disa- Constitution. The group created a sepa- funding the powerful business The US Chamber of Com- would not speak on the record port and have bestowed awards grees with the US Chamber of The ban made it impossible rate bank account designated group. merce is the world’s largest busi- about their reasons for leaving. such as the ‘Spirit of Enterprise’ Commerce’s position on climate for the group to get contribu- for independent activities and In their letter to Disney boss ness organisation and represents Other companies did not re- award to Republicans and Demo- change”. Dan Dudis, director of tions from the state Demo- sued the state in 2011 to stop Bob Iger the coalition points to more than 3mn businesses, large turn e-mails and calls for com- crats alike.” chamber watch at Public Citizen, cratic Party or other political enforcement of the law for do- the media company’s commit- and small. ment. The pressure group’s lobbying said activists would target other action committees, important nations to that account. ADC ment to reduce its net green- Under its president and CEO, A spokesman for the chamber has already led to a number of chamber members in the coming sources of funds. argued that since the US house gas emissions by 50% by Thomas Donohue, who took disputed the companies that had high-profi le, and public, depar- months. “We are looking at com- Alabama passed the ban in Supreme Court ruled out 2020, its support of the Paris over the chamber in 1997, it has left and their reasons for leav- tures. panies that have explicit public 2010 in response to concerns state regulation of independ- climate agreement and its ban on become a political powerhouse ing but she declined to confi rm In 2015 pharmacy giant CVS policy positions that run counter that transfers of funds between ent political expenditures by depictions of smoking in theme with global infl uence, although which companies had stayed. quit, citing the lobby group’s to the chamber’s stance.” political action committees, PACs in its 2010 decision in the parks and all G, PG and PG-13 it is secretive about its member- “The chamber has never dis- pro-tobacco work. CVS, the fi rst He said the chamber was known as PACs, would obscure landmark case called Citizens movies. ship. closed and does not disclose its major drugstore to remove to- “pushing the interests of a mi- the original source of politi- United v FEC, contributions “Unfortunately, the US Cham- Last year alone it spent membership and therefore I will bacco products from its shelves, nority” by claiming to represent a cal funds, undermining anti- for independent expenditures ber of Commerce is doing eve- $104mn on lobbying, the most of not be able to confi rm or deny said it had been “surprised” by broad swath of businesses.”Those corruption disclosure require- also cannot be regulated. rything it can to block eff orts to any lobby group. It has used its who is or isn’t a member. How- a New York Times report that the businesses might give $500,000 ments. The 11th Circuit found that combat both climate change and infl uence to fi ght anti-tobacco ever, I can tell you that your list chamber lobbied foreign govern- or $1m for trade lobbying but The state argued in court ADC’s segregated accounts anti-smoking laws and regula- legislation across the world. is simply wrong, and it would ments to ease restrictions on to- money is fungible,” he said. papers that its law promotes were not enough to eliminate tions. It opposes the Paris Agree- The chamber campaigned be inaccurate for you to report bacco sales. “That cash frees up money for transparency and does not the possibility of corruption, ment that you publicly support, against US sanctions on Russia that those companies have left In 2009 the chamber called the chamber to lobby against cli- hamper political groups in any adding that the group can still is suing to block the implemen- after its incursions into Ukraine the chamber for the reasons you for the Environmental Protec- mate change legislation, for to- unreasonable way. “What they receive unlimited contribu- tation of the Clean Power Plan, and Donohue met Egypt’s au- mentioned in your inquiry,” Blair tion Agency (EPA) to hold “ the bacco and against the interests of simply cannot do,” it said, “is tions from individuals. consistently lobbies against leg- thoritarian president, Abdel Fa- Latoff Holmes, vice-president of Scopes monkey trial of the 21st many of its members.”

No review of ‘waistband’ defence in police shooting

Reuters United States following a series of Constitution’s Fourth Amend- Salazar-Limon said he merely by the San Francisco-based 9th Washington shootings by offi cers of minorities ment. He is now a paraplegic and tried to walk away. US Circuit Court of Appeals that in recent years as well as high- uses a wheelchair. While walking back to his truck, said the fact that a suspect is un- profi le attacks on law enforcement Sotomayor said the court should Salazar-Limon moved his hand armed is evidence that could dis- he US Supreme Court, offi cers. have intervened and reinstated the toward his waistband and began credit a police offi cer in the eyes of turning down a chance to Sotomayor, writing in a dis- case, given that Salazar-Limon to turn around, the offi cer said, a jury. Ttest the limits of police sent joined by fellow liberal Jus- and Thompson contradict each prompting him to shoot. “The most natural inference to use of force, declined yesterday tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, said the other on what happened at the Salazar-Limon pleaded no con- be drawn from Salazar-Limon’s to revive an unarmed suspect’s court’s refusal to take up the case moment of the shooting. test to charges of speeding and testimony was that he neither lawsuit accusing a Houston of- continues a “disturbing trend” of “The question whether the of- driving while intoxicated, and was turned nor reached for his waist- ficer of unconstitutional exces- shielding police offi cers from law- fi cer used excessive force in shoot- fi ned. band before he was shot — espe- sive force for shooting him in the suits and rarely intervening when ing Salazar-Limon thus turns in The New Orleans-based 5th cially as no gun was ever recov- back after he reached for his own they act wrongly. large part on which man is telling US Circuit Court of Appeals in ered,” Sotomayor wrote. waistband. Thompson testifi ed he feared the truth,” Sotomayor wrote. “Our June 2016 ruled that a trial judge Sotomayor noted that cases in- The justices, over a dissent by for his life when he saw Salazar- legal system entrusts this decision properly dismissed the case be- volving unarmed men allegedly liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Limon reach toward his waistband, to a jury.” cause, given the perceived threat, reaching for empty waistbands are let stand a lower court’s dismissal believing the suspect was going to Thompson stopped Salazar- Thompson was entitled to quali- increasing, making it even more of a civil rights lawsuit brought pull out a weapon from under his Limon around midnight on the fi ed immunity. important that credibility disputes by Ricardo Salazar-Limon, the untucked shirt, and fi red a single elevated overpass of a freeway for Appealing to the Supreme be decided by juries at trial. drunken driving suspect who was shot, hitting the suspect in the speeding and suspected drunken Court, Salazar-Limon said he de- In a separate opinion responding left partially paralysed after the right lower back. driving. served a jury trial to decide wheth- to Sotomayor, Justice Samuel Alito 2010 traffi c stop, against the offi c- Salazar-Limon sued Thompson While attempting to handcuff er Thompson was telling the truth. suggested that the case was han- er who shot him, Chris Thompson. and the city of Houston seeking the suspect, the offi cer said Sala- In her dissent, Sotomayor noted dled both by the lower courts and The issue of police use of force damages for excessive use of force zar-Limon tried to push him into that no gun was found on Salazar- the Supreme Court “in a neutral has been in the spotlight in the in violation of the US traffi c. Limon, and cited a 2014 decision fashion”. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 13 AMERICAS

CLASS ACTION OFFICIAL CINEMA POLITICS Appeal by GM over Trump to sign energy Fate of the Furious on Obama says political divide lawsuits rejected executive orders on Friday top of the box off ice keeping Americans apart

The US Supreme Court yesterday turned away US President Donald Trump will sign several The Fate of the Furious is racing to defend its title Former US president Barack Obama bemoaned an appeal by auto giant General Motors of executive orders on energy on Friday, a White at the top of the box off ice, while The Promise and the political divides that keep Americans apart potentially billions in claims over faulty ignition House off icial said yesterday. “This builds on Unforgettable are being left in the dust. Universal’s yesterday as he delivered his first public remarks switches. The top court refused to hear GM’s previous executive actions that have cleared eighth instalment proved to be a global box off ice since leaving off ice in January. Speaking at a appeal against a decision handed down last the way for job-creating pipelines, innovations titan when it opened last weekend to a record- forum with young leaders at the University of Barack Obama listens to Max Freedman during year by a federal appeals court in New York. in energy production, and reduced unnecessary shattering $532.5mn. This time around looks Chicago, Obama said his goal for the coming a forum with young leaders. The lower court rejected GM’s claims that its burden on energy producers,” the off icial said to tell mostly the same story — while domestic years is to inspire youth to take up political 2009 bankruptcy should protect it from lawsuits on condition of anonymity. Trump in March grosses slipped 61% from its first to second leadership. He said he still believes that there many challenges. Obama, a Democrat, handed related to the faulty switches. GM claimed the signed an executive order to undo Obama-era weekend, the movie is still easily topping the box is more that unites Americans than divides power January 20 to President Donald Trump, a 2009 bankruptcy sale — in which government- climate change regulations, keeping a campaign off ice with $38.7mn from 4,329 locations. But them on a personal level, but that is “not true Republican. Trump has been harshly critical of backed “New GM” bought nearly all of the promise to support the coal industry and calling slipping domestic earnings (and lower US grosses when it comes to our politics and public life”. Obama’s policies, and Obama broke with tradition company’s assets — shielded the carmaker into question US support for the 2015 Paris than Furious 7, which pulled over $250mn in its Obama pointed to the role of money in politics, to criticise Trump’s action on immigration. Donald from the legal liabilities of its predecessor. But climate change accord to fight global warming. first two weekends versus Fate’s current sum special interests and congressional districts Trump’s Democratic predecessor has not given plaintiff s argued the company should be liable That order’s main target is former President of $163.6mn) are majorly overshadowed by the that have been drawn to keep one party in a public speech or an interview since leaving the for the conduct of “Old GM”. Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan. movie’s international appeal. control as preventing the US from tackling White House on January 20. Mexico will fund wall eventually: Sessions

Agencies “The Democrats do not sup- Washington port the wall,” Pelosi said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “The Republicans have the S President Donald votes in the House and the Trump and his attorney Senate and the White House to Ugeneral insisted Sunday keep government open. that Mexico would fund a pro- The burden to keep it open is posed wall on the US-Mexico on the Republicans. border, ahead of a budget battle “The wall is, in my view, im- in which disagreement over the moral, expensive, unwise.” project threatens a government Despite a Republican ma- shutdown. jority in both houses, Trump Trump repeated his cam- needs 60 votes in the Senate to paign pledge of building a wall pass a spending bill, meaning on Sunday, a project estimated he would need some Democrat to cost tens of billions of dollars. support. “Eventually, but at a later US Homeland Security Sec- date so we can get started early, retary John Kelly said he be- Ivanka Trump with her father President Donald Trump as he speaks via video with Nas astronauts aboard the International Space Station from the Oval Off ice of the White House. Mexico will be paying, in some lieves President Donald Trump form, for the badly needed “will be insistent” that law- border wall,” he tweeted. makers include money for a US- Attorney General Jeff Ses- Mexico border wall in a spend- sions also told ABC News on ing bill that they need to pass Sunday that “we’re going to by Friday to avoid a government get paid for it one way or the shutdown, CNN reported. other” and suggested federal In an interview, Kelly said tax credits sent by mistake to he’s confi dent Trump will “do “mostly Mexicans” could cover the right thing”. “I think it goes Remove blindfolds the cost. without saying that the presi- Despite maintaining that dent has been pretty straight- Mexico will pay, Trump also forward about his desire and blamed opposition Democrats the need for a border wall,” he on Sunday for blocking US said. “So I would suspect he’ll funding to start construction do the right thing for sure.” of the wall project. Kelly said he thought Trump “The Democrats don’t want “will be insistent on the fund- on N Korea: Trump money from budget going to ing” for the wall. border wall despite the fact White House budget direc- The president continues to about it or not. in achieving the denuclearisation obviously we’re going to do that. about to leave the country after that it will stop drugs and very tor Mick Mulvaney did not squeeze the North Korean North Korea is a big world of the Korean peninsula,” it said. But right now, we’re saying ‘don’t a teaching stint at a university bad MS 13 gang members,” guarantee a shutdown threat, regime problem and it’s a problem that Xi told Trump China reso- test, don’t use nuclear missiles, founded by evangelical Chris- Trump tweeted. saying funding for the wall was we have to fi nally solve,” he lutely opposed any actions that don’t try and do any more actions’, tians. US government funding ex- one of several subjects being Reuters said. “People put blindfolds on ran counter to UN resolutions, and I think he’s understanding Haley said the action was an pires this coming Friday, with negotiated. Washington for decades and now it’s time to China’s foreign ministry said. that. And China’s helping really attempt by Kim Jong-un’s regime the government currently being Attorney General Jeff Ses- solve the problem.” China “hopes that all relevant put that pressure on him.” to use the American as a bargain- funded by a continuing resolu- sions said that he does not ex- Trump gave no indication as sides exercise restraint, and Top Trump administration ing chip amid heightened inter- tion passed in December 2016. pect the Mexican government S President Donald to when new sanctions should be avoid doing anything to worsen offi cials will hold a rare briefi ng national tensions over its nuclear Should Trump push for to outright pay for Trump’s Trump said yesterday imposed on North Korea. the tense situation”, the Chinese tomorrow at the White House for and missile programmes. money for the wall to be in- border wall, but there are a Uthe UN Security Council US offi cials say his administra- ministry said in a statement, par- the entire US Senate on the situ- “What we’re dealing with is a cluded in the next round of number of ways to extract the must be prepared to impose new tion has been debating whether aphrasing Xi. ation in North Korea, senior Sen- leader who is fl ailing right now,” funding, the bill is likely to get billions of dollars needed to sanctions on North Korea, amid they should be held as response The call between the presidents ate aides said yesterday. she said on CBS This Morning. blocked by Democrats, accord- build it. “We’re going to get it escalating tensions over its mis- to any new North Korean mis- was the latest manifestation of All 100 senators have been “And I think what he’s trying to ing to House Minority Leader paid for one way or the other.” sile and nuclear programmes, sile or nuclear test, or imposed as their close communication, which asked to the White House for the do is show his citizens that he has Nancy Pelosi. Sessions implied other ac- saying people had acted as if soon as they can be agreed. was good for their countries and briefi ng by Secretary of State Rex muscle, whether it’s through his tions at the border and in trade “blindfolded” for decades on a Chinese President Xi Jinping the world, a Chinese foreign min- Tillerson, Secretary of Defense rhetoric or whether it’s through could pay for the wall. big problem that fi nally needed earlier called for all sides to ex- istry spokesman said. Jim Mattis, Director of National his actions,” she added. “I don’t expect the Mexican to be solved. ercise restraint in a telephone call US ambassador to the United Intelligence Dan Coats and Gen- “We always want to get every government to appropriate “The status quo in North Ko- about North Korea with Trump, Nations Nikki Haley, speaking eral Joseph Dunford, chairman of citizen out alive and healthy and money for it,” Sessions said. rea is also unacceptable,” Trump as Japan conducted exercises on NBC’s Today programme, said the Joint Chiefs of Staff , the aides make sure that they’re being “But there are ways that we can told a meeting of UN with a US aircraft carrier strike the United States and the inter- said. treated properly,” she said. “And deal with our trade situation to Security Council ambassa- group headed for Korean waters. national community were main- It is unusual for the entire so those are the things we’ll start create the revenue to pay for it. dors at the White House, held at Trump, in his phone call with taining pressure on North Korean 100-member Senate to go to such to work on.” No doubt about it.” a time of mounting concern that Xi, criticised North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un but were an event at the White House, and “I think you’re gonna continue An internal estimate from North Korea may be preparing a “continued belligerence” and “not trying to pick a fi ght with for those four top offi cials to be to see pressure on North Korea,” Customs and Border Protec- sixth nuclear bomb test. emphasised that its actions “are him”. Asked whether a preemp- involved. Haley said. tion put the cost of the wall “The council must be pre- destabilising the Korean penin- tive strike was under considera- Nikki Haley called the deten- “We have said, for quite a while at $21.6bn, while an estimate pared to impose additional and sula”, the White House said. tion, she said: “We are not going tion of a US citizen by North Ko- now, that the United States is not from Democrats on the Senate stronger sanctions on North Ko- “The two leaders reaffi rmed to do anything unless he gives us rea a display of muscle-fl exing by looking for a fi ght,” she added. Homeland Security and Gov- rean nuclear and ballistic missile the urgency of the threat posed reason to do something.” the country’s “fl ailing” leader. “So North Korea doesn’t need to ernmental Aff airs Commit- programmes,” Trump said. by North Korea’s missile and nu- “If you see him attack a military Kim Sang-Duk, or Tony give us a reason to have one. And I tee said the wall could cost as “This is a real threat to the clear programmes, and commit- base, if you see some sort of inter- Kim, was arrested Saturday at think that they’re panicking right Attorney General Jeff Sessions. much as $66.9bn. world, whether we want to talk ted to strengthen co-ordination continental ballistic missile, then Pyongyang’s airport as he was now.”

Death row inmate may get a reprieve from liberal justices in mental health dispute

Reuters The nine justices heard a one-hour Such an independent expert wit- doors, took money from clerk Patricia states handle capital punishment. ecution in 12 years and the state car- Washington argument in an appeal brought by ness possibly could off er mitigating Reynolds, forced her into a back room, The Supreme Court has rebuked ried out the death penalty on convicted McWilliams, sentenced to death for evidence at his sentencing hearing as raped her, shot her 16 times with a pis- Texas, the US leader in executions, murderer Ledell Lee. raping, murdering and robbing a con- prosecutors pursue the death penalty. tol and left her to bleed to death. twice since February. Jack Jones, sentenced in 1996 for iberal US Supreme Court justic- venience store clerk in Tuscaloosa in McWilliams’ lawyers noted that dur- McWilliams, later caught driving a The justices on March 28 found that raping and strangling Mary Phillips es yesterday indicated support 1984. ing his trial the only expert analysis of stolen car in possession of the murder Texas used an obsolete standard to as- and attempting to murder her 11-year- Lfor a convicted murderer held on Based on questions asked by the jus- his mental health came from an expert weapon, was found guilty and sen- sess whether a man convicted of mur- old daughter, is scheduled to be put to Alabama’s death row who argued he tices, the four liberals could be joined witness provided by the state. tenced to death in 1986. der was intellectually disabled and thus death at 7pm (0000 GMT Tuesday) at had a right to an independent medical by conservative Anthony Kennedy, the The Supreme Court ruled in 1985 Gorusch sided with the court’s con- exempt from capital punishment. the Cummins Unit prison, about 120km expert to assess his mental health and court’s frequent swing vote, in siding that indigent defendants are entitled to servative majority on Thursday when Arkansas plans to execute two in- southeast of the state capital of Little potentially help him avoid the death with McWilliams. expert assistance but the ruling did not the justices refused to block Lee’s ex- mates would make it the fi rst US state Rock. Jones was also convicted of rape penalty. The court’s other conservatives, in- specifi cally say the expert had to be as- ecution. in 17 years to put a pair of convicts to and murder in Florida. The legal fi ght involving Alabama cluding Donald Trump’s newly seated signed to assist the defence as opposed The ruling in McWilliams’ case could death on the same day. At 8.15pm, the state is tentatively inmate James McWilliams assumed appointee Neil Gorsuch, appeared more to a neutral expert who would help both aff ect non-capital cases as well as death A fl urry of last-minute legal appeals scheduled to execute Marcel Williams, greater importance in the past week likely to vote against McWilliams. sides. penalty cases. at both the state and federal level are who was sentenced to death in 1997 after two death row inmates who Ar- At issue in his appeal is whether an The question before the justices is The Supreme Court has shown little expected, though their likelihood of for kidnapping, raping and murdering kansas plans to execute, Don Davis indigent defendant like McWilliams whether the 1985 decision “clearly es- appetite for reconsidering whether the success may have diminished with the Stacy Errickson. He also abducted and and Bruce Ward, had their cases put on during a trial in which his mental health tablished” McWilliams’ right to an ex- death penalty itself violates the US recent appointment of conservative US raped two other women. holding pending the Supreme Court’s is a pivotal matter is entitled to an ex- pert who would assist only the defence. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. The last time a state executed two decision regarding McWilliams, due by pert witness independent of the pros- In the 1984 crime, McWilliams en- ban on cruel and unusual punish- The high court cleared the way last inmates on the same day was 2000 in the end of June. ecution. tered a convenience store, locked the ment, but has faulted the way some week for Arkansas to hold its fi rst ex- Texas. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 ASEAN/EAST ASIA Thailand approves $393mn for China-made submarines

Reuters “In the current situation, where the gov- Bangkok ernment cannot successfully solve economic problems, buying expensive submarines is completely unnecessary,” Watchara Petch- hailand’s cabinet has approved the fi rst thong, a politician with the Democrat Party, of three planned submarine purchases told Reuters. Tfrom China worth $393mn, a govern- Navy spokesman Admiral Jumpol ment spokesman said yesterday. Loompikanon said the Thai navy owned four The plan to buy the three Chinese-built Japanese submarines nearly 60 years ago, so submarines worth 36bn baht ($1.05bn) was new submarines were necessary to protect the confi rmed in July, signalling warming ties with country’s maritime interests. the regional superpower since relations with “Thai people can rest assured that the na- the United States cooled after a May 2014 mil- vy’s submarine spending will be worth it and itary coup. The fi rst submarine purchase was benefi cial to Thailand,” Jumpol told Reuters. approved last week. Thailand’s navy chief, Admiral Na Arreen- “The cabinet approved one submarine ich, will visit China soon to fi nalise the gov- purchase on April 18,” spokesman Sansern ernment-to-government purchase, a source Kaewkamnerd told Reuters, adding that a at the defence ministry, who declined to be Sultan Mohamed V kissing a copy of the Holy Qur’an during his coronation at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. budget of 13.5bn baht ($393mn) has been ear- named because of the sensitivity of the matter, marked for the Yuan Class S26T submarine told Reuters. over a six-year period. Maritime security is a hot issue in Southeast The media were not told about the purchase Asia, given competing claims over the South following a cabinet meeting last week because China Sea, but Thailand is not a claimant in it was a matter of national security, he added. that dispute. Sultan Mohamed V formally Public criticism and questions have arisen Thailand’s defence budget this year is more as to whether Thailand really needs new sub- than 210bn baht ($6.11bn), about 9% more marines. than the year the military took power.

China breeding centre sees Siberian tiger baby boom installed as Malaysian king

ore than 50 tiger cubs have been born “More than 100 Siberian tiger cubs are ex- DPA The ceremony marks the for- During the ceremony, Sultan and-take attitude in bearing the at the world’s largest breeding cen- pected to be born in 2017,” Liu told Xinhua Kuala Lumpur mal commencement of the king’s Mohamed V accepted the federal responsibility of a sovereign state Mtre for Siberian tigers in northeast news agency. tenure, after his reign began in De- kris, a symbol of power and au- because these are our unique fea- China’s Heilongjiang province so far this year. Siberian tigers are one of the world’s most cember of last year. thority. tures which have been our source “The cubs are in good health and are living endangered species. They predominantly live ultan Mohamed V was in- Among those present at the cer- The 47-year-old then deliv- of strength,” Bernama cited the in the two Siberian tiger parks under the Hei- in northeast China and eastern Russia. stalled yesterday as Malay- emony were Prime Minister Na- ered an address where he urged new king as saying. longjiang Hengdao Hezi Cat Family Breeding China has been trying to save the species Ssia’s 15th king in an offi cial jib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Malaysians to show unity and Malaysia practices a unique type Centre,” said Liu Dan, chief engineer of one of through captive breeding programmes. ceremony involving Malay royal Zahid Hamidi and Brunei’s Crown tolerance. of constitutional monarchy sys- the parks. The Heilongjiang Breeding Centre is cur- customs at the country’s National Prince, Malaysia’s Bernama news “I hope Malaysians will con- tem involving elected kings who The mating season for Siberian tigers usu- rently home to more than 1,000 Siberian ti- Palace. agency reported. tinue to be united, adopt a give- change every fi ve years. ally falls between April and June. gers.

Musical tryst Interpol-led probe fi nds 9,000 servers infected in Southeast Asia

Reuters servers, the operation showed. among the most common on the Singapore “This operation helped par- Internet, making use of hijacked ticipants identify and address and virus-infected computers to various types of cybercrime target websites until they can no n anti-cybercrime op- which had not previously been longer cope with the scale of data eration by Interpol and tackled in their countries,” said requested. Ainvestigators from seven Francis Chan, head of the Hong The operation also identified southeast Asian nations re- Kong Police Force’s cybercrime nearly 270 websites infected vealed nearly 9,000 malware- unit and chairman of Interpol’s with a malware code, among laden servers and hundreds of Eurasian cybercrime working them several government web- compromised websites in the group. sites that may have contained Asean region, Interpol said yes- Experts from seven private citizens’ personal data, Interpol terday. fi rms also participated in the added. Various types of malware, operation run out of the Sin- The eff ort follows a breach such as that targeting finan- gapore-based Interpol Global this year at Singapore’s Ministry cial institutions, spreading Complex for Innovation (IGCI), of Defence, when personal de- ransomware, launching Dis- with China providing some cy- tails of 850 national servicemen tributed Denial of Service ber intelligence, the interna- and staff were stolen in what the (DDoS) attacks and distrib- tional police body said on its defence ministry described as a uting spam were among the website. “targeted and carefully planned” threats posed by the infected DDoS attacks have always been attack.

Thailand too reaches for the stars with brand-new Michelin Guide

Reuters guides for China, Japan, South tiacq, president and managing People suffering with Parkinson’s disease play percussion music during an event to promote awareness of Parkinson’s disease Bangkok Korea, Hong Kong and Singa- director of Michelin East-Asia in Kuala Lumpur. pore. Oceania at Michelin, said in a The news comes days after statement. hailand will be the latest authorities in Bangkok said they As well as its famous street country to have a Miche- would banish some of its world- food, the Thai capital is home to Tlin Guide, its state tourism famous street food vendors as a burgeoning fi ne dining scene, agency said yesterday, taking its part of a clean-up drive by the attracting an increasing number place on the culinary world map military government, outraging of world-class chefs. Japan governor okays restart of two reactors just days after authorities an- foodies and threatening the live- “The guide will also inspire lo- nounced they would shut down lihoods of the city’s road-side cal restaurants to improve their Bangkok’s vibrant street food cooks. quality and raise the bar in terms DPA es.” The Saga prefectural assembly has al- regulators’ inspection, broadcaster NHK scene. The guide could end up fea- of gastronomic excellence,” said Tokyo ready greenlighted the restart of reactors 3 reported. The dining publication was in- turing some of Bangkok’s street Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of and 4 at the Genkai Nuclear Power Station, Only three of Japan’s 42 workable reactors troduced by the French Michelin food. the Tourism Authority of Thai- 1,000km south-west of Tokyo. are currently in operation amid persistent tyre company in 1900 to encour- In 2016, Singapore made his- land. Japanese governor has supported The two reactors have already cleared fears about nuclear power generation fol- age people to take road trips. tory when two modest food stalls This year Gaggan, an innova- reactivating two nuclear reactors on regulations, which have been updated fol- lowing the atomic accident at the Fukushi- Its star system began in the — one serving chicken rice and tive Indian restaurant in Bang- Athe southern island of Kyushu, he lowing the 2011 triple meltdown at the ma plant. 1920s. noodles — were among dining kok, nabbed the top spot for the said yesterday, despite local opposition. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. In August 2015, Kyushu Electric restarted The guide to hotels and res- venues featured in the Singapore third year running at the Asia’s Saga Governor Yoshinori Yamaguchi told Kyushu Electric Power could bring them a reactor at the Sendai Nuclear Power Sta- taurants, which will be released guide. 50 Best Restaurants awards a news conference that his decision was back online this autumn at the earliest tion on Kyushu, the fi rst unit to be put back in Thai and English, will be the “Bangkok is one of the world’s sponsored by S Pellegrino and “unavoidable under present circumstanc- though the operator still has to go through online in two years. company’s sixth in Asia. It has culinary capitals,” Lionel Dan- Acqua Panna. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA US carrier heads to Korean waters

Reuters Japanese demand for nuclear shelters, purifiers surges Beijing/Seoul Sales of nuclear shelters and radia- attack have grown in Japan after economic zone, some 350km tion-blocking air purifiers have Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a off the coast of northern Akita hinese President Xi Jin- surged in Japan in recent weeks parliament session this month that prefecture. ping yesterday called for as North Korea has pressed ahead North Korea may have the capac- The Japanese government on Call sides to exercise re- with missile tests in defiance of UN ity to deliver missiles equipped Friday urged local governments to straint in a telephone call about sanctions. with sarin nerve gas. hold evacuation drills in case of a North Korea with US President A small company that special- “It takes time and money to possible missile attack, heighten- Donald Trump, as Japan con- ises in building nuclear shelters, build a shelter. But all we hear ing a sense of urgency among the ducted exercises with a US air- generally under people’s houses, these days, in this tense atmos- public. craft carrier strike group headed has received eight orders in April phere, is that they want one now,” Some orders for the shel- for Korean waters. alone compared with six orders Oribe said. ters were placed by owners of Trump sent the carrier group during a typical year. “They ask us to come right small-sized companies for their for exercises in waters off the The company, Oribe Seiki Sei- away and give them an estimate.” employees, and others by families, Korean peninsula as a warning, sakusho, based in Kobe, western Another small company, Earth Oribe said. amid growing fears North Korea Japan, also has sold out of 50 Shift, based in Shizuoka prefec- A nuclear shelter for up to 13 could conduct another nuclear Swiss-made air purifiers, which ture, has seen a tenfold increase people costs about 25mn yen test in defi ance of United Nations are said to keep out radiation and in inquiries and quotes for its ($227,210) and takes about four sanctions. poisonous gas, and is trying to underground shelters, Akira Shiga, months to build, he said. Angered by the approach of the get more, said Nobuko Oribe, the a sales manager at the company The shelter his company off ers USS Carl Vinson carrier group, a company’s director. said. is a reinforced, air-tight basement defi ant North Korea said yester- A purifier designed for six The inquiries began gradually with an air purifier that can block day the deployment was “an ex- people sells for 620,000 yen increasing in February and have radiation as well as poisonous gas. tremely dangerous act by those ($5,630) and one designed for 13 come from all over Japan, he said. The room is designed to who plan a nuclear war to invade”. people and usually installed in a North Korean missiles have withstand a blast even when a “The United States should not Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson transits the Sunda Strait off Indonesia. family-use shelter costs 1.7mn yen fired with increasing frequency. Hiroshima-class nuclear bomb run amok and should consider ($15,440). Last month, three fell into exploded just 660m away, Oribe carefully any catastrophic con- be preparing to conduct another by its nuclear and missile pro- opposed any actions that ran Concerns about a possible gas waters within Japan’s exclusive said. sequence from its foolish mili- nuclear test or launch more bal- grammes and is frustrated by its counter to UN Security Council tary provocative act,” Rodong listic missiles has increased as it belligerence. resolutions, China’s foreign min- Sinmun, the offi cial newspaper prepares to celebrate the 85th an- China, which has repeatedly istry said. China “hopes that all tact with the United States, keep Mike Pence said on Saturday it have feared for some time that of the North’s ruling Workers’ niversary today of the foundation called for the denuclearisation relevant sides exercise restraint, a high level of vigilance and re- would arrive “within days”. North Korea’s sixth nuclear test Party, said in a commentary yes- of its Korean People’s Army. of the Korean peninsula, is wor- and avoid doing anything to spond fi rmly.” South Korean defence minis- could be imminent. terday. It has marked similar events ried the situation could spin out worsen the tense situation”, the A Japanese offi cial said the try spokesman Moon Sang-gyun Satellite imagery analysed by “What’s only laid for aggres- in the past with nuclear tests or of control, leading to war and a Chinese ministry said in a state- phone call between Trump and gave no details about the South’s 38 North, a Washington-based sors is dead bodies,” the newspa- missile launches. chaotic collapse of its isolated, ment, paraphrasing Xi. Abe was not prompted by any plan to join the US carrier group North Korea monitoring project, per said. Trump has vowed to prevent impoverished neighbour. Trump also spoke by telephone specifi c change in the situation. for exercises, apart from saying found some activity at North Ko- Two Japanese destroyers have North Korea from being able to Trump, in his phone call with with Japanese Prime Minister Envoys on the North Korean Seoul was holding discussions rea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site joined the carrier group for exer- hit the United States with a nu- Xi, criticised North Korea’s Shinzo Abe. nuclear issue from the United with the US Navy. last week. cises in the western Pacifi c, and clear missile and has said all op- “continued belligerence” and “We agreed to strongly de- States, South Korea and Japan are “The South Korean and US However, the group said it was South Korea said yesterday it was tions are on the table, including a emphasised that its actions “are mand that North Korea, which is due to meet in Tokyo today. militaries are fully ready for unclear whether the site was in a also in talks about holding joint military strike. destabilising the Korean penin- repeating its provocation, show The US government has not North Korea’s nuclear test,” “tactical pause” before another naval exercises. China is North Korea’s sole sula”, the White House said. restraint,” Abe later told reporters. specifi ed where the carrier strike Moon said. test or was carrying out normal Worry that North Korea could major ally but has been angered Xi told Trump China resolutely “We will maintain close con- group is but US Vice President South Korean and US offi cials operations. New Zealand too Navy Day mulls restricting laptops on fl ights from Middle East

Reuters but on the other hand it’s making sure that Wellington the fl ying is safe,” English said. On March 25, the United States banned electronic devices larger than a mobile phone ew Zealand is considering restric- from passenger cabins of direct fl ights from tions on laptops and other large elec- eight countries in the Middle East, North Af- Ntronic devices on fl ights from some rica and Turkey. Muslim-majority countries in the Middle Britain followed the same day with simi- East, the country’s prime minister said yes- lar measures, including banning larger elec- terday. tronics on fl ights from some Middle East The new rules would follow similar meas- countries but not Qatar and the UAE where it ures introduced last month by the United instead requested additional security checks. States, Britain and Australia. Additional security measures required by The New Zealand leader elaborated on New Zealand would aff ect passengers yingfl comments made by Transport Minister Si- from Dubai and Doha. mon Bridges, who told Reuters in an inter- The CAA said in a statement that it was view in Dubai on Sunday that the country’s routinely monitoring security screening in Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) “is assessing international airports. the evidence to determine what is appropri- “The comments by the Minister of Trans- ate”. port in Dubai refer to routine activity at last Prime Minister Bill English told reporters ports of departure to New Zealand — assur- in Wellington that the aviation agency was ance that security screening meets the ex- considering the issue and would make a de- pected standards for fl ights in-bound to New cision on whether to restrict large electronic Zealand,” said Mike Richards, CAA manager items on fl ights from the Middle East inde- of communications and safety. The agency pendently of the government. said there was no specifi c timeframe for “A number of our security partners put when a decision would be made. those arrangements in place. With this par- The additional security measures by the ticular proposition there’s a balance between United Kingdom, the United States and Aus- Chinese People’s Liberation Army navy troops stand on a decommissioned destroyer in an aircraft carrier theme park during a celebration event inconvenience for passengers, many of tralia were made based on intelligence sug- on China’s Navy Day at Binhai New Area, Tianjin. whom live off their laptop on the one hand, gesting fl ights could be targeted for attack.

China cracks down on ‘gutter oil’ China will intensify a crack Lucky man escapes croc’s ‘Australia fi rst’ stance down on the use of recycled “gutter oil”, strengthening con- trols on oil origins and monitor- clutches in Lizard Island ing processing, according to a document released yesterday fortifi es PM’s position by the State Council. AFP in Queensland, prompting authorities to China has cracked down on Sydney warn it was illegal to kill the reptiles. food safety in recent years after “Based on an initial inspection, the Reuters zenship rules last week under the ing his job, he has to arrest the clear a series of scandals, includ- four metre animal appears to have been Sydney banner “Australia fi rst”, similar to US movement away in support since the ing the use of recycled gutter man who accidentally snorkelled deceased for some time,” the department President Donald Trump’s “America election last year and show that he can oil — cooking oil that has been headfi rst into a crocodile in north- spokesperson said. fi rst”, boosted Turnbull’s personal rat- keep hold of it,” said Haydon Manning, recycled from sources such as Aern Australia escaped with mi- “(The Queensland Department of ustralian Prime Minister Mal- ing 4% from early April, said a News- a political science professor at Flinders restaurant waste and discarded nor injuries as wildlife offi cers yesterday Environment and Heritage Protection) colm Turnbull has recorded a poll by The Australian newspaper, the University in South Australia state. animal byproducts. worked to track down the reptile. would like to remind the public that it is Arise in voter support just days highest in nearly two months. Last week, Turnbull abolished a But the illicit production and The croc, measuring up to 2m, “reacted illegal to deliberately interfere with, harm after tightening rules for foreigners While support for the government temporary work visa popular with for- sale of gutter oil has continued, defensively” when the swimmer “inad- or kill crocodiles without authorisation.” seeking work and citizenship under an rose 1% on a two-party preferred ba- eigners, replacing it with a new pro- the document said. vertently” swum into it on Sunday near Last month a fi sherman was killed by a “Australia fi rst” policy, a newspaper sis — where votes for minor parties are gramme, in a move critics described as The document said restau- popular Lizard Island in Queensland state. crocodile near Innisfail while a teenager poll showed yesterday. redistributed to the two main blocs political posturing. rants and meat processors “The man suff ered minor cuts and was lucky to escape with only two broken Turnbull has struggled to stop a — Turnbull’s government still trails He also announced plans to raise must collect and store kitchen abrasions to his head and was treated for bones when a croc latched onto his arm haemorrhage of voter support with far Labor by a margin of 52-48, the poll the bar for handing out citizenships by and meat waste separately, and his non-life threatening injuries on the after he jumped into a river in the area. right parties including Pauline Han- showed. lengthening the waiting period, add- dispose of it properly. island,” a department of environment Repeated attacks have lead to calls from son’s One Nation on the rise and with Turnbull’s move towards more con- ing a new “Australian values” test and Beijing will also strengthen spokesperson said. “Wildlife offi cers are some parts of the community for a cull of his conservative government lagging servative politics may have won some raising the standard for English lan- supervision of slaughter hous- travelling to the area and will search the the animals, but the state government has behind opposition Labor in opinion support, but his position as leader re- guage. es, meat processors, edible oil area for the crocodile responsible.” so far resisted, saying it would have little polls. mains on a knife-edge with poor poll- Turnbull next faces a critical budg- producers and restaurants, The waters surrounding Lizard Island are eff ect on the animals’ behaviour and give The next election is not due until ing a trigger for leadership spills in et on May 9 where the government the document said, and online a known hotspot for crocs with signs in the people a false sense of security. 2019, but continued poor polling could Australian politics. will need to address slower economic sellers of fake edible oil will be area cautioning swimmers of the threat. People can be fi ned up to A$27,425 undermine Turnbull’s leadership. “Although the poll off ers some sup- growth and a seemingly intractable punished. In a separate incident Sunday, a croco- (US$20,700) for killing a crocodile, which Tightening immigration and citi- port for Turnbull’s hopes of keep- defi cit. dile was found decapitated near Innisfail are protected. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 BRITAIN/IRELAND

LEGAL CLAIM ANGER HEARING SCHEME Irish court to consider Kids Company founder Labour MP slams Law firm ‘allowed false Black cabs could be Brexit case on May 31 ‘facing directorship ban’ Blair’s vote stance claims against troops’ banned from Oxford Street

Ireland’s High Court will next month consider whether Former board members of the collapsed charity Tony Blair yesterday came under fire from a A disciplinary tribunal opened a hearing in Black cabs could be banned from Oxford Street it can hear a case seeking to decide if Britain’s divorce Kids Company – including founder, Camila senior Labour MP after hinting people should London yesterday into law firm Leigh Day for under pedestrianisation plans, it emerged from the European Union can be reversed. Judge Batmanghelidjh, and ex-BBC chief Alan Yentob consider voting for the Liberal Democrats allegedly allowing false claims of murder and yesterday. The move could also result in Peter Kelly set a directions hearing for May 31 to – face being banned from serving as company or another party to avoid a “hard Brexit”. torture against British soldiers. Leigh Day and minicabs firms, such as Uber and Addison Lee, decide whether Ireland has jurisdiction to hear directors. The Insolvency Service has written Streatham MP Chuka Umunna said: “Tony three of its solicitors face 20 charges and are being prohibited at night. Black cab drivers have a case that campaigners hope will ultimately be to lawyers acting for Kids Company’s former Blair is wrong to suggest in any way voters accused of knowing that their clients were criticised the move, saying that disabled people, referred to the European Court of Justice for a board members to warn them that it is minded to should look elsewhere and form some anti- insurgents and not “innocent bystanders”, shoppers and tourists rely on them. Sadiq Khan definitive ruling. May last month invoked Article pursue disqualification proceedings against them, Brexit alliance.” The former prime minister as claimed. The firm denies the charges. The pledged in his mayoral manifesto campaign 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, formally notifying according to Sky News. The Insolvency Service, stressed the “absolutely central question” accusations revolve around the 2014 Al- to remove traff ic from the street by 2020 to Brussels of Britain’s intent to leave the EU. The which has powers to seek bans on directorships for at the election is what mandate the next Sweady Inquiry, which found British troops had improve air quality and road safety. Yesterday, European Parliament has said Brexit can be individuals, said: “Our investigation surrounding prime minister gets on Brexit. Asked if that mistreated nine Iraqis captured after a fierce Transport for London and Westminster council reversed with the consent of the remaining EU the collapse of Keeping Kids Company and the could mean voting LibDem, he said: “What firefight, but rejected claims of murder and launched a consultation into pedestrianising the members, but government lawyers have said the conduct of the directors is ongoing. It is not I’m advocating may mean that. It may mean torture as “deliberate lies, reckless speculation busiest stretch of the street between Orchard process cannot now be stopped. appropriate to comment further at this time.” voting Labour...” and ingrained hostility”. Street and Oxford Circus. Average house prices climb to record high of £313,000

Guardian News and Media move said the annual pace of ask- London ing price growth had generally slowed and was now at its lowest since April 2013. he housing market con- London and the north-east tinues to defy fears of a were the only regions in the study Tpost-referendum slump where average asking prices were after sellers’ asking prices hit a lower than a year ago. In the capi- new record high of more than tal they were down 1.5% annually, £313,000 on average in April. at £636,777 on average, while in Across England and Wales, the the north-east they were down average price tag on a property 0.7%, at an average of £150,350. being put on the market increased Eastern England has seen the by £3,547 – or 1.1% month-on- strongest growth over the last month – to reach £313,655. year, with a 5.3% uplift taking the The fi gures were released by average property price there to property website Rightmove, £349,269. A plane flies over Wembley Stadium displaying the message “expel ken Corbyn out” whose records go back to 2002. The West Midlands reported It said the average asking price in the next strongest, with a 5% in- April surpassed a previous high of crease pushing average prices £310,471 reached in June 2016. to £215,784. In Wales, they were Some economists have fore- up by 4% year-on-year to reach cast static prices this year of 2% £186,172 on average. at most in response to a squeeze Shipside said the number of on disposable incomes from ris- sales being agreed was the highest ing infl ation and slowing wages for this time of year since 2007. Fallon brands Labour growth. But others have argued Last year, the chancellor gave the failure to increase the housing a year’s notice of phased reduc- stock will keep prices increasing at tions in tax benefi ts for buy- nearer 5%. let-investors. First-time buyers Rightmove said strong num- appear to have been the main bers of house sales being agreed benefi ciary, though a higher – at levels not seen since before rate of stamp duty on second leader a ‘security risk’ the credit crunch – have helped homes, which came into eff ect to keep pushing asking prices up- this month, also had the eff ect Guardian News and Media located the whereabouts of the “The whole point about the de- on Sunday night, which doubles that “all aspects” of defence wards. of spurring sales to people from London leader of Islamic State. terrent is that you have got to the security risk to this country policy would be subject to re- Miles Shipside, director of purchasing an additional prop- Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s To- leave uncertainty in the mind of when you have somebody stand- view, Gwynne told the Today Rightmove, said there were signs erty. day programme, Fallon said: “On anybody who might be think- ing to be prime minister who his programme: “The Labour party is of a “strong spring market”, which Shipside said: “Strong buyer efence Secretary Michael Sunday we had the staggering ing of using weapons against this own party is then having to cor- very clear we are committed to a should help to off set any jitters activity this month has led to 10% Fallon has portrayed Jer- performance of somebody who country.” rect. And you are left completely credible nuclear credibility at the in the market before the general higher numbers of sales agreed Demy Corbyn as a security wants to be prime minister saying Asked about a string of sen- unsure as to what would actually minimum end of the scale. That is election on June 8. than in the same period in 2016. risk after the Labour leader went he wouldn’t necessarily author- ior military fi gures who regard happen to our nuclear deterrent. Labour party policy and it will be The fi rst-time buyer sector This large year-on-year disparity against his party on Trident ise strikes against terrorists. He’s Trident as useless as a deterrent, “This is somebody who would in the manifesto.” was driving the price increases, should be viewed cautiously as the and refused to state whether against the nuclear deterrent; Fallon said: “You will often fi nd certainly put the security of our Asked about Corbyn’s refusal Rightmove said, after changes comparable timespan in 2016 saw he would order drone strikes would stop building the sub- some military fi gures who will country at risk. And if you want to consider using nuclear weap- to previously generous tax rules a drop in buy-to-let activity with against terrorist leaders. marines which we have already prefer to spend more money on stronger and stable leadership ons, Gwynne said: “No prime deterred buy-to-let inves- the additional second home stamp Fallon seized on remarks made started building; he wouldn’t conventional weapons than on then it has to be Theresa May and minister has ever been put in the tors from competing for similar duty.” by Corbyn in an interview on control our borders; and earlier nuclear ... but it is better to have the Conservatives.” position where they have had to homes. But he said the fi gures for BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show he has even questioned our Nato the deterrent because you cannot Earlier, Labour’s general elec- consider using them. Asking prices in this market are agreed sales were also up by 3.8% on Sunday, when he gave a series deployment.” be sure that ... nobody might use a tion chief, Andrew Gwynne, con- “We would not be in a posi- up by 6.5% year-on-year, with the when compared with two years of equivocal answers on military Fallon said a Conservative gov- weapon against us.” fi rmed that renewing Trident will tion where the fi rst choice would typical price tag on a fi rst-time ago. “With the growth in house- decisions. ernment would be prepared to use He praised “brave Labour MPs” not be part of Labour’s defence be to press that red button. It property – one with up to two hold numbers and new-build Corbyn suggested renewing nuclear weapons. “In the most who backed the renewal of Tri- review, despite Corbyn’s com- is a deterrent because we have bedrooms – now at a record high supply struggling to keep pace, Trident would be part of La- extreme circumstances you can’t dent. Fallon said: “Corbyn made ments. “We are committed to re- them. We believe in multilater- of £194,881. demand is strong and has led to bour’s defence review and said he rule out the use of nuclear weap- it absolutely clear that he is still newing the Trident system,” said alism, we believe in negotiating Across all sectors, asking pric- the highest sales agreed numbers would want to know what could ons as a fi rst strike,” he said. against the deterrent, and he was Gwynne, who is a shadow minis- away our nuclear weapons sys- es are up by 2.2% year-on-year at this time of year since the heady be achieved by ordering a drone But Fallon refused to specify then corrected by his own party. ter without portfolio. tem to create a nuclear weapon across England and Wales. Right- pre-credit crunch levels,” he said. strike if the intelligence services those circumstances, adding: So we had chaos from Labour Asked about Corbyn’s claim free world.”

Nuttall evasive Paedophile hunters ‘are Conservatives pledge jeopardising police work’ cap on energy prices Reuters The market regulator had already London intervened to force the “big six” to Guardian News and Media legations could have grave conse- investigating and, where there is cap prices for customers on prepay- London quences for those accused. evidence, prosecuting them.” ment meters and May’s party said it The paedophile hunters – who The phenomenon of paedophile he ruling Conservative would go further if re-elected. reject the term vigilante – say that hunters was fi rst widely publicised Party said it would cap “There’s not been enough abil- tings by self-styled paedo- in private police are supportive in 2014, when Channel 4 aired Tdomestic energy prices if ity for people to switch, we haven’t phile hunters – who pose of their work and provide advice. a documentary called The Pae- it retained power in an election seen the competition we were Sas children online to catch They argue that they simply gather dophile Hunter, which followed in June, targeting an industry it hoping to emerge amongst the en- potential sexual predators – are evidence and never seek to mete Stinson Hunter and his associates accuses of not working properly ergy companies,” Defence Secre- diverting “signifi cant resources” out punishment. as they posed as children online to and sending shares in the leading tary Michael Fallon told BBC radio. into the protection of suspects, But Bailey’s warning also fol- catch potential sexual predators. providers down sharply. “Therefore, it’s right to look at police chiefs have said. lows the news on Easter Sunday The same year an inquest heard Shares in British energy suppli- the way they are regulated and After a court ruled in favour of that a brawl broke out at Bluewa- that Michael Parkes, 45, killed ers Centrica and SSE fell as much it’s right where we can to protect a group that argued that it should ter shopping centre in Kent, when himself after being confronted as 5%, and were last down around people against large and arbitrary face no offi cial oversight, chief a group called The Hunted One and fi lmed by Hunter. Parkes had 3%, after ministers said the Con- increases in their bills.” The policy constable Simon Bailey, of the Na- livestreamed themselves meeting been arrested, but not charged, servative’s election manifesto echoes a 2015 election pledge by tional Police Chiefs’ Council, said a man they claimed was grooming by Northamptonshire police on would include pledges on control- the opposition Labour party. the group’s activities could jeop- a child. suspicion of meeting someone he ling energy prices. Their plans for a cap on price ardise investigations. The video broadcast online thought to be a 12-year-old girl for Energy bills have doubled in hikes were lambasted at the time Bailey, the national policing shows then shows members of the sex. Britain over the past decade to by Conservatives including Fallon, lead on child abuse investigation, public apparently punching and Bailey said the consequences about £1,200 a year, angering con- a former energy minister. said so-called paedophile hunters kicking the man. for potentially wrongly accus- sumers who face rising infl ation, Another minister, Dam- were “taking risks they don’t un- Kent police said two men – Lee ing someone in such a public way and drawing the ire of politicians ian Green, had said on Sunday the derstand”. John Harvey, 20, and Joe Simpkin, could be grave. “The temptation ahead of a June 8 national election. Conservative manifesto would in- “Revealing the identity of sus- 20 – had been charged with aff ray, (for the accused) to kill themselves Energy companies say higher clude measures on energy prices. pected paedophiles gives the sus- and Mirza Mispa Beg, 29, charged may be just as great even if they are prices refl ect increased wholesale He said the energy regulator would pect the opportunity to destroy with grooming. innocent; that is an appalling con- costs and environmental levies. set a cap that could refl ect market evidence before the police can Bailey said such incidents could sequence to contemplate,” he said. UK Independence Party leader Paul Nuttall speaks at Prime Minister Theresa May’s conditions, and that it would work investigate them,” he said. “It can lead to suspects “going missing or There are estimated to be 10 ac- a policy announcement in London yesterday. Nuttall government has previously called diff erently from the Labour policy. jeopardise ongoing police investi- raising concerns for their safety. tive paedophile hunting groups yesterday refused to confirm if he will stand in the snap for more competition in a sector According to the Sunday Times gations and these people have no This can divert signifi cant re- in the UK, with many claiming to general election after his poor result in the Stoke Central dominated by the big six providers newspaper, the plans could cut gas way of safeguarding child victims.” sources into protecting suspects, have been responsible for scores by-election. of Centrica, SSE, Scottish Power, and electricity costs by £100 a year He also warned that wrongful al- which would be better invested in of convictions of sexual predators. Npower, E.ON and EDF. for 17mn families. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 17 BRITAIN Three people left dead in weekend of knife carnage

London Evening Standard Saturday a man, believed to be found sprawled on the bonnet of I looked out the window and the blood. I did all I could, I was a neighbour said: “There were Some witnesses said the gang London 43, was stabbed to death in En- a car in Ingrave Street on the York boy was there looking at me and shouting at the man what to do about six of them, they jumped were wielding machetes or large fi eld by a group of men wearing Road estate. shouting, ‘Please help, they have then the ambulance arrived. I out of the car and started chasing knives. ski-masks or hoods. The third Kemi Alli, 34, a care worker, stabbed me.’ I called an ambulance haven’t been able to sleep, I just him immediately. He was on his The 17-year-old, who has not teenage cyclist was victim, a 60-year-old man, was told how he screamed at her re- and a man was next to him. keep having fl ashbacks to the boy bike but they caught up with him been named, is the fourth teen- stabbed to death by a found dead with stab wounds at peatedly for help as she looked “I shouted at the man to apply looking up at me and screaming and stabbed him.” ager to be murdered in London Amasked gang and two oth- an address in Mile End on Sunday out her window. The mother- pressure on the wound — because for me to help him. I wish I could Another resident said: “There this month and the eighth this er men were murdered in a week- night. of-three gave medical advice to of my training I have some medi- have done more.” was some shouting and scream- year. end of knife carnage in London. Residents in Battersea said a man who ran to help but was cal experience. I asked him if the Witnesses described seeing ing and then the boy was laying The Met has revealed it is bat- In Battersea a 17-year-old cy- they raised the alarm after being “devastated” their eff orts had boy was responding and he said a group of young men arriving there bleeding. Police surround- tling a surge in knife and gun clist was ambushed and fatally woken at 1.25am on Sunday by not saved him. ‘just’. on the estate in a car earlier in ed the estate and told us all to go crime in the capital, with a 20% stabbed as he tried to fl ee a gang the boy’s screams of “help me, She said: “I heard screams and “It was obvious he was slip- the evening and “hassling” pas- inside. The level of violence is in- increase in the number of stab- in the early hours of Sunday. On I’m dying”. He was reportedly footsteps of people running away. ping away, there was so much sers-by. Describing the attack, creasing around here.” bings in the past 12 months.

Hospital Campaign event apologises Govt’s draft air to families in stored organs row quality plan to

Guardian News and Media London be published health trust has apolo- gised to the relatives of Adead people whose tissue and organs were stored without their families’ knowledge. Police are thought to have contacted about 40 families af- by June-end ter a 2015 audit at South Tyne- side district hospital in South Agencies of the Green party, said the gov- Friday night, after the court had Shields found samples taken London ernment was running scared closed, has meant that we have following unexplained deaths of the diesel lobby ahead of the spent the weekend considering had been kept “longer than election, adding ministers had our response. necessary”. he government intends to “utterly failed to get a grip on the “We are still examining our Speaking as an internal in- publish a draft copy of its air pollution crisis”. next steps. This is a question of vestigation into the incident Treport on tackling air pol- “(It) is now attempting to public health and not of politics was launched, Ken Bremner, the lution by the end of June, ahead stitch up judges and cajole them and for that reason we believe chief executive of South Tyne- of publication of a fi nal report in into submission. Such blatant that the plans should be put in side NHS foundation trust, said: September, Environment Minis- bullying is simply unacceptable.” place without delay.” “I want to express my sincere ter Andrea Leadsom said yester- Sue Hayman, Labour’s shadow ClientEarth said they would apologies to all the families in- day. environment secretary, said the need time to respond to the gov- volved for the distress and anxi- The government had until government’s actions were un- ernment’s arguments, although ety that this will, undoubtedly, 1500 GMT yesterday to come up acceptable. the judge could order an emer- have caused. with a plan to improve air quality “Purdah rules exist to stop gency session. “We are currently in the proc- and meet nitrogen dioxide lim- one party using the machinery The scale of the air pollu- ess of reviewing the circum- its set by the EU after London’s of government for their electoral tion crisis was revealed in a joint stances around the storage of High Court ruled a calculation of advantage, not to be used as an Guardian-Greenpeace investi- these samples. A review of this future vehicle emissions was too excuse to delay acting on vital gation this month showing hun- nature, covering a time period optimistic. public health matters. We trust dreds of thousands of children that goes back over a number of Earlier yesterday Prime Min- that the court will recognise were being educated within 150 years, will unfortunately take ister Theresa May’s spokesman this.” metres of a road where levels of some time to conclude, however, said the government had applied She said Labour would in- nitrogen dioxide from diesel traf- I would like to assure the rela- to the court to delay the publica- troduce its own air quality plan fi c breached legal limits. tives that we will do all we can to tion of the fi nal plan until Sep- “within the fi rst 30 days” if it Last week fi gures obtained by complete our inquiries as soon as tember 15 due to an early election won the election. Labour showed that more than possible.” being held on June 8. “Labour will bring forward a 38mn people, representing 59.3% The 2015 audit was carried “The government is seeking new Clean Air Act, setting out of the UK population, were living out jointly between Northum- to publish a draft plan by June 30 how we would tackle air pollu- in areas where levels of nitrogen bria police, South Tyneside NHS and a fi nal plan by September 15,” tion that NHS experts say con- dioxide pollution were above le- foundation trust, local coroners, Leadsom told parliament. tributes to 40,000 premature gal limits. the Human Tissue Authority and The government has been ac- deaths every year. With nearly Research consistently shows the Home Offi ce. cused of attempting to bully 40mn people in the UK living in that exposure to traffi c fumes is The Human Tissue Act, which judges over its last-minute delay areas with illegal levels of air pol- harmful to children and adults. came into force in 2006, made in the publication of its clean air lution, it is simply not acceptable Children are more vulnerable it illegal to remove, store or use plan. for ministers to hide behind the because their lungs are still de- human tissue without consent Ministers had lodged a lengthy general election to delay publish- veloping and exposure to nitro- from family members. Police application to the court late on ing plans to improve air quality.” gen dioxide reduces lung growth, forces began carrying out audits Friday. It asked judges to al- Lawyers from the environ- causes long-term ill-health and in 2010 following cases where low them to breach the Monday mental law group ClientEarth, can result in premature death. samples taken before the law was deadline to “comply with pre- which successfully took the Nitrogen dioxide emissions changed were still being kept. election propriety rules”. government to court over its air from diesel traffi c cause 23,500 The law was changed after an Mary Creagh, Labour chair quality plans, said the move was of the 40,000 premature deaths organ retention scandal in 1999 of the Commons environment unacceptable, adding yesterday from air pollution each year, ac- at Alder Hey hospital in Liv- audit committee, said: “Minis- it was discussing its next move. cording to fi gures from the de- erpool, where body parts from Liberal Democratic Party leader, Tim Farron attends a campaign event in London yesterday, in ters should not be playing games James Thornton, the group’s partment for environment, food about 850 children were found the build-up to the general election on June 8. Farron, whose centre-left party holds just nine with people’s health, especially CEO, said: “The unacceptable and rural aff airs (Defra). In April to have been stored in more than seats, hopes to make gains in the surprise election in June. children’s.” last-minute nature of the gov- last year, MPs said air pollution 2,000 pots. Caroline Lucas, the co-leader ernment’s application late on was a public health emergency.

Marathon runner reunited Osborne’s ‘disrespect’ with fi nish-line helper of job rules criticised Agencies perience when they move into London the private sector - the ‘new nor- Guardian News and Media carrying me over the line.” recorded a time one minute faster mal’ - but there is a lack of clear London Almost in tears, he recalled than that of Rees, having crossed boundaries defi ning what be- the painful fi nal moments of the the start line later. eorge Osborne set an haviour is or is not acceptable.” race. “I knew where (my fam- Rees, an HSBC bank worker “unhelpful example” by They said Osborne’s refusal London Marathon runner ily) were positioned for the last and member of Swansea Harri- Gtaking the job as Evening to wait for a decision before ac- who was helped across viewing point, and that was ers, said he had feared during the Standard editor - without of- cepting the job at the newspaper Athe fi nish line by a fellow around Westminster. I think I race that he might not fi nish after fi cial permission from the jobs showed a “disrespect for Acoba competitor has admitted he feels was in a state of distress at that struggling with a calf issue. watchdog, MPs have said. and for the business appointment selfi sh for having put himself at point around Westminster and Describing the dramatic fi nale They condemned the parlia- rules and sets an unhelpful exam- risk with his two young children they knew something was wrong of his race, he said: “I was literal- mentary committee responsi- ple to others in public life who may watching. and that I was injured, or worse. ly just about to get into my stride ble for deciding on whether ex- be tempted to do the same”. David Wyeth and his rescuer, “I will refl ect on the day but for the sprint fi nish – I’ve always ministers can take outside jobs as Osborne, who has announced Matthew Rees, were reunited my concern was the risk I put got a little bit of sprint fi nish “toothless” and said it must be he will not be standing to retain yesterday, less than 24 hours af- myself in with two young chil- left in me, then I saw David. The overhauled to restore public trust. his Tatton seat in the general ter they both completed the race dren, that I’m doing something point I saw him, he was clearly In a highly critical report, the election, also earns £640,000 a in under three hours. for fun and it’s my recreation struggling and his legs just went Commons Public Administra- year for one day a week’s work Wyeth, 35, a project manager and I just felt so selfi sh that I was from underneath him and he fell tion and Constitutional Aff airs as an advisor at fund manager from Manchester, told the Press there in a bad way.” to the ground. Committee said former ministers BlackRock. Association: “The time means He added: “Massive, massive “I went over and he said, ‘I’ve and senior civil servants should In the last year he has made absolutely nothing to me – I feel thanks to the London Marathon got to fi nish,’ and I said, ‘You will,’ not take up private sectors jobs £800,000 from 15 speaking en- a slight fraud for having a medal teams – so many volunteers, so and I helped him up. It was clear related to their government roles gagements, including at City and around my neck. I should cut a lit- many kind faces, so many kind he wouldn’t be able to do this for two years after leaving offi ce. Wall Street banks. tle piece out because it belongs to words.” alone, so I thought ‘stick with It said the Advisory Commit- He also receives a £120,212 al- Matthew. Wyeth, of Chorlton Runners, him’ to make sure he did reach tee on Business Appointments lowance as Kissinger fellow at “I really wouldn’t have got said he had meticulously planned that fi nish line.” (Acoba) must be given tougher the McCain Institute for a year across the line – on my hands and trained for the race, and be- Wyeth’s brother, Steven, a powers to enforce the restriction and has an unpaid role as the and knees maybe – but the time lieved dehydration could have sports broadcaster, later tweeted and stop the rules being fl outed. chairman of the Northern Pow- meant nothing in the end be- caused him to buckle as he aimed that his brother’s fundraising, for MPs said: “It has become part erhouse Partnership. cause I know I wouldn’t have for his goal of under two hours Isabel Hospice in Hertfordshire, of the culture in public life that Critics claim that former min- got there without Matthew and 40 minutes. had increased sixfold since he individuals are entitled to capi- isters taking on such posts create putting his arm around me and The two men noted that Wyeth and Rees crossed the line. Matthew Rees (left) helps David Wyeth complete the London Marathon. talise on their public sector ex- confl ict of interest. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 EUROPE Ukraine opens terror probe into

The damaged vehicle that drove over a mine while transporting members of the OSCE who were killed and injured from the incident on Sunday, is seen at a petrol station while it is moved from the blast site in OSCE staff death the Luhansk region.

AFP/Reuters on Sunday in the Russian-backed statement that it was treating the sador, Ertugrul Apakan, who blown out of the hood – being separatists to take the fi rst step ing the fi ghting in reprisal for the Kiev/Moscow separatist fi efdom of Luhansk. blast as an “act of terror that led traveled to the site of the explo- hauled away from the scene for toward peace,” Toner said. February 2014 ouster of Ukraine’s The medic was on a monitor- to the loss of life”. sion yesterday, said both sides further investigation. German Chancellor Angela Kremlin-backed leadership. ing mission patrol near the vil- The incident occurred in an needed to respect the much-vi- The incident sparked sharp Merkel said in a statement that Russia denies this and in turn kraine opened a terror lage of Pryshybin, controlled by insurgent-controlled part of the olated 2015 Minsk peace agree- words toward Moscow from both “the separatists supported by accuses the US State Department investigation yesterday pro-Russian separatists. region and the separatists them- ment. Washington and Berlin. Russia who illegally occupy part of fomenting the 2013-14 street Uinto a mine blast that An unidentifi ed US medic selves have not yet said whether “I reiterate my call for sustain- The US State Department’s of Ukrainian territory by violence protests that ended up allying killed an American medic from was killed and two others, Ger- they intend to probe the circum- able cease-fi re, withdrawal of acting spokesman Mark Toner have a special responsibility” to ex-Soviet Ukraine with the West. the Organisation for Security and man and Czech nationals, were stances under which the OSCE weapons, full demining and real said that “the incident makes respect the 2015 agreement. The OSCE team’s 600 un- Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s wounded as they travelled on vehicle ended up driving over a commitment to peace. And I ask clear the need for all sides – and In Moscow, Russian Foreign armed members in eastern monitoring team in the country’s a patrol monitoring the con- landmine. that those responsible for placing particularly the Russian-led Minister Sergei Lavrov also called Ukraine are the only independent rebel-held east. fl ict that has claimed more than A spokesman for the Russian- mines are held accountable,” he separatist forces – to implement for a careful investigation into the monitoring mission in the devas- The OSCE suff ered its first 10,000 lives. backed Luhansk rebel police said in a statement. their commitments” under the incident, saying that those guilty tated industrial war zone. casualty in the three-year war in The local branch of Ukraine’s force told AFP that the vehicle hit An AFP photographer saw the Minsk peace deal. should be brought to justice. The group said the death would Europe’s backyard after an ar- SBU security service in the con- an anti-tank mine. mangled remains of the vehicle – “The US again calls upon Rus- Both Kiev and the West accuse not deter it continuing to operate moured vehicle hit a landmine fl ict-hit Luhansk region said in a The OSCE mission’s ambas- its fl oor ripped open and engine sia to use its infl uence with the Moscow of plotting and back- in Europe’s only war zone. At least 16 Number of migrant criminal suspects in migrants Germany rises 50%

Reuters Teachers call for Berlin maximum 35% drown off immigrants per class he number of migrant A German teachers’ union criminal suspects in has called for school classes TGermany soared by to contain a proportion of Greek isle more than 50% in 2016, data immigrants no higher than from the interior ministry 35%, saying that classes with showed yesterday – a statistic a greater proportion lead to DPA/Reuters/AFP is pregnant, told the United Na- that could boost support for integration problems and a Athens tions refugee agency UNHCR the anti-immigration party drop-off in performance. that 20 to 25 people were on fi ve months ahead of a federal The German Philological board when the dinghy capsized election. Association warned of a “ghet- t least 16 refugees, two of around 1900 GMT on Sunday. More than 1mn migrants toisation of the school system” them children, drowned The women are from Cam- have arrived in Germany in the and welcomed comments by Ain the Aegean Sea when eroon and the Democratic Re- A rescuer walks next to bodies of migrants in body bags laid on a pier at the Aegean port village of last two years. Education Minister Johanna their vessel capsized off the coast public of the Congo. Babakale in Canakkale province, Turkey, next to a Turkish coast guard vessel, after an inflatable boat Fears about security and in- Wanka to Focus magazine that of Lesbos, the Greek Coastguard Though fewer than 10 nauti- carrying them sank off the Greek island of Lesbos. tegration initially pushed up “the proportion of children said yesterday. cal miles separate Lesbos from the poll ratings of the right- with and without an immigrant A search was ongoing for an- Turkish shores, hundreds of peo- UNHCR Greece representative. es told DPA yesterday. the EU struck with Turkey, which wing Alternative for Germany background needs to be bal- other nine people from the boat ple have drowned trying to make More than 1mn people took the The 14 Kurds from Syria, sit- agreed to hold them on its soil in (AfD), but the party’s support anced out”. amid fears that the death toll the crossing since Europe’s refu- route across the Aegean in 2015 ting wrapped in blankets in front return for aid and benefi ts. has slipped as the rate of arriv- The association’s head Heinz- could rise, an offi cial said. gee crisis began in 2015. and 2016 and then moved on into of the asylum bureau at Moria The closure of the Balkan route als has slowed. Peter Meidinger told DPA that Greek authorities had received In that year, Lesbos was the western Europe through Greece, camp on Lesbos, have been re- dramatically reduced the number The number of suspects Wanka and Culture Minister no distress call prior to fi nd- main gateway into the European Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary fusing nourishment since Friday. of people attempting the Aegean classed as immigrants – those Monika Gruetters should con- ing the bodies, the coastguard Union for nearly a million Syr- or Croatia and Slovenia. Their application for shelter crossing. applying for asylum, refugees, sider using an incentive system spokeswoman said. ians, Iraqis and Afghans. Close to 1,200 people were in the European Union had been Yesterday’s drownings came illegal immigrants and those for schools and educational Weather conditions in the area But a deal in March 2016 be- confi rmed drowned in the rejected in the fi rst instance, after a longer calm spell, refl ect- whose deportation has been authorities to find solutions to are mild. tween the EU and Ankara has Aegean at the peak of the migra- and their appeal has been taking ing the dwindling number of at- temporarily suspended – rose the issue. The Greek coastguard and the largely closed that route. tion wave, which began to wane months to process. tempts. to 174,438, 52.7% more than Meidinger added that the prob- EU border-management agency Just over 4,800 people have in March 2016 when countries Police have refused to com- They are believed to be the fi rst the previous year. lem must be handled sensibly Frontex pulled nine bodies from crossed to Greece from Turkey on the Balkan route closed their ment on the report, but protests confi rmed deaths in Greek waters The number of German and not abused for political the water and Turkish rescuers this year, according to UNHCR borders to refugees and migrants. occur regularly in Greek island this year of migrants or refugees suspects declined by 3.4% to purposes. seven. data. The closure left thousands of camps, where 13,800 refugees making the short but dangerous 1,407,062. Wanka told Focus that there The bodies were found a few An average of 20 arrive on people stranded, unable to con- are waiting for their status to be crossing from Turkey on over- Interior Minister Thomas de should be no classes in which a kilometres away from the port Greek islands each day. tinue either legally through an resolved under miserable condi- crowded rubber dinghies. Maiziere said crimes commit- high proportion of immigrants of Molyvos on Lesbos, the main “The number of people cross- asylum procedure or illegally tions. People have however contin- ted by refugees had “increased leads to students speaking to gateway for refugees and mi- ing the Aegean to Greece has by sneaking across increasingly The island camps are so-called ued to arrive in smaller numbers, disproportionately” last year each other mainly in their na- grants attempting to reach Eu- dropped drastically over the tight borders. hotspots for the processing of some overland through Bulgaria. and warned: “Those who com- tive language. rope from Turkey via Greece. past year, but this tragic incident A group of Syrian refugees refugees who arrived from Tur- Nearly 8,000 are presently mit serious off ences here for- Two survivors have been res- shows that the dangers and the stranded on Lesbos launched a key. stranded in Serbia, unable to feit their right to stay here.” cued. risk of losing one’s life remains hunger strike on Friday in protest The hotspots and the process- continue through the tough But he said some migrants In 2016 many were living in The two women, one of whom very real,” said Philippe Leclerc, at the long asylum wait, witness- ing of refugees are part of a deal Hungarian and Croatian borders. committed multiple off enc- makeshift shelters or sharing es, distorting the statistics, crowded rooms. and that most migrants lived The number of attacks on peacefully. refugee homes has declined for Migrants accounted for the fi rst time since data started 8.6% of all crime suspects in being collected in 2014. French former diplomat accused Germany in 2016, up from 5.7% Some 995 were carried out the previous year. in 2016, compared with 1,031 De Maiziere said one reason the previous year. of inciting Erdogan assassination for the high crime rate among Crimes motivated by Islam- migrants was likely to be their ism increased by 13.7%, the re- accommodation situation. port showed. AFP Defarges, now a senior fellow “There will either be a civil war Istanbul at the French Institute of Inter- or another scenario ... his assas- national Relations (IFRI), said sination,” he said. that all legal paths to challenge He later apologised for the Study: Russia ups military spending resident Recep Tayyip Er- Erdogan had been shut off and comments. despite sanctions and low oil prices dogan’s lawyer has lodged a that the only two options left Huseyin Aydin, a lawyer rep- Pcomplaint against a former were civil war or assassination. resenting Erdogan, said in a peti- Russia became the world’s third largest military spender in 2016 French diplomat accusing him of The “yes” camp won the refer- tion to an Ankara prosecutor that despite low oil prices and economic sanctions, as the global inciting the assassination of Tur- endum with just over 51%, a nar- the comments were not a simple expenditure rose for a second consecutive year, a study said key’s leader, his spokesman con- rower-than-expected victory, expression of opinion, but were Erdogan: targeted. yesterday. fi rmed yesterday. but Turkey’s top election board “clearly instigating the crime in Russia’s military spending was $69.2bn (around €64bn) in 2016, a The move follows comments last week rejected opposition question”, the state-run Anadolu mental health if he ever came to of President Erdogan.@IFRI_ 5.9% rise over 2015, the Stockholm International Peace Research by Philippe Moreau Defarges calls to annul it after complaints news agency reported. Turkey. should terminate his fellowship, Institute (SIPRI) said in a report, adding this was the highest about the outcome of the April of vote-rigging. He said the comments showed If found to be in good mental apologise,” Gulnur Aybet wrote proportion of its GDP since it became an independent state. 16 referendum on controversial Defarges told French broad- how far the hostility against Er- health, his alleged links with the on Twitter. “This increased spending and heavy burden on the economy constitutional changes that will caster BFM on Saturday that dogan had reached in the West, outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ In a statement, the institute comes at a time when the Russian economy is in serious trouble tighten the president’s grip on Erdogan’s strengthened powers and suggested that Defarges Party (PKK) or US-based Muslim said Defarges spoke on a strictly due to low oil and gas prices and the economic sanctions imposed power. would lead “only to catastrophe”. should undergo checks for his cleric Fethullah Gulen – blamed personal basis, adding: “These since 2014,” (by the West over the Ukraine conflict), SIPRI said. by Ankara for orchestrating the comments do not represent IFRI Saudi Arabia was the third largest spender in 2015 but dropped Italian reporter freed aft er two-week detention failed coup – should be investi- in any way.” to fourth place in 2016 as its expenditure fell by 30% to $63.7bn, gated, Aydin said. Defarges apologised on Sun- “despite its continued involvement in regional wars”, it added. An Italian journalist who was detained in Turkey and I believe what happened to me was illegal.” Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim day, saying on Twitter: “Some of “Falling oil revenue and associated economic problems attached two weeks ago while doing research for a book was Del Grande writes a blog Fortress Europe which fo- Kalin confi rmed the legal ac- what I said was clumsy and might to the oil-price shock has forced many oil-exporting countries to released yesterday and flown straight back to Italy. cuses on eff orts by migrants to reach Europe. tion, telling a press conference have been wrongly interpreted.” reduce military spending,” SIPRI researcher Nan Tian said, adding Gabriele Del Grande was arrested on April 9 close to Turkey’s relations with Germany have also been in Ankara: “We will do our best But Kalin said the apology was that Saudi Arabia had the largest drop in spending between 2015 Turkey’s border with Syria. strained by, among other things, the detention since not to legitimise such fascist ap- “not enough”. and 2016. His detention caused strains between Rome and February of a Turkish-German journalist accused by proaches.” “This is not an issue that can The US remained the top spender as its expenditure grew by Ankara, with Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of being a terrorist The comments went viral on be taken lightly,” he said. “This 1.7% between 2015 and 2016 to $611bn while China boosted its intervening directly to try to secure his release. agent. social media, with a senior Er- is a test for Europe. Let’s see how expenditure by 5.4% to $215bn, a lower rate than in previous years. “I did not suff er any violence and not a hair on my head According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a dogan adviser calling on the they will react.” Hit by a series of terror attacks since 2015, Western Europe raised was touched,” Del Grande told reporters after arriv- press freedom group based in New York, at least 81 French institute to revoke De- There have been numerous its military expenditure for the second consecutive year, up by 2.6% ing at Bologna airport, where he was met by Alfano. journalists were imprisoned in Turkey last year, many farges’s fellowship. prosecutions for insulting Er- in 2016. “(However) I was the victim of institutional violence after a failed attempt by the military to topple Erdogan. “Former French diplomat dogan, with artists, journalists Overall military spending in Central Europe increased by 2.4% in openly calls for assassination and schoolchildren all targeted. 2016. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 19 EUROPE Jittery EU relieved, for now, after French vote

By Alex Pigman, AFP of Europe,” said a spokesman for of Donald Trump as US President lysts warned that the far-right may have reached its peak with But worryingly for Brussels, the way for a French exit from the Brussels Jean-Claude Juncker, defend- in November, and Britain’s shock still reached historic levels in a the victory for Brexit in the UK the anti-EU vote in France still bloc. ing the European Commission vote to leave the EU in June. sign that anti-Brussels populism last June. added up to around 46%, with She has predicted the EU “will chief’s decision to call Macron to “Brussels was worried. There was still alive and well in the EU. “Although right-wing and far leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon die”. russels heaved a sigh of re- off er his congratulations. is relief,” said EU Economic Af- Macron’s good showing came a left-wing radicals advanced in coming in a close fourth with “If she wins, it will obviously lief yesterday after pro-EU EU diplomatic chief Federica fairs Commissioner Pierre Mos- month after the Netherlands also France, the worst of the tide of 19.2% of the tally. be an anti-Europe, protectionist, BEmmanuel Macron led far- Mogherini also defended her covici, a former French socialist fought off a populist insurgency populist anger could soon be over “We must not underestimate exclusionist line that wins,” said right Marine Le Pen in France’s unabashed congratulations for fi nance minister. in an election that put the party in Europe,” said Holger Schmied- the Le Pen vote as it indicates far-right expert Nonna Mayer at presidential vote, hoping for Macron, who spoke against a But despite the relief, there of anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders ing, an analyst at Berenberg Bank an anger that exists not only in Sciences Po university in Paris. some respite after the Brexit backdrop of the European Un- were still warnings that Le Pen in a still strong second place. in Germany. France but in several countries,” Also looming for France after shock and the rise of euroscep- ion’s blue-and-gold starred fl ag remained a contender, a prospect The Wilders result “was still Across the EU, there was sup- said European Parliament head the presidential election are leg- tics across the bloc. on Sunday night. that European Union bigwigs 500,000 voters more (than fi ve port for Macron, whose cam- Antonio Tajani. islative polls in June. Relieved Brussels offi cials “Putting together the two fl ags warned was a step towards the years ago) when there is low un- paign manifesto is profoundly Macron, a former banker and “Europe should still save its broke with protocol on not inter- sends exactly the right message tearing apart of the crisis-ridden employment and the (Dutch) pro-Brussels when all of the oth- French economy minister, wants breath until June 18 and the sec- vening in national elections and both to the French people and the bloc. economy is doing well”, said er ten candidates running in the to accelerate EU integration, in- ond round of the legislatives,” swiftly congratulated Macron European Union,” Mogherini said Moscovici was one of many Catherine Fieschi, director of the fi rst round opposed giving the EU cluding by giving the eurozone a said Martin Michelot of the Ger- despite the fact he still has to beat on a visit to Russia, which has voices to warn that it was too Counterpoint political science more power. central parliament, fi nance min- man Marshall fund. Le Pen in a run-off . been accused of meddling in the early to celebrate, saying it is consultancy. A spokesman for German ister and budget. Former Finnish premier Alex- “Last night, there was one French election. “frightening that she still got However, other analysts said Chancellor Angela Merkel, the This is in stark contrast to Le ander Stubb said Sunday’s result choice between what Europe The French vote was being 7.6mn votes”. that the Le Pen and Wilders re- EU’s most powerful leader, Pen who backs an exit from the was “a step in the right direction, actually represents and a choice closely watched in Brussels as a Polls show that Macron should sults were disappointments for wished Macron “all the best for European single currency and a but experience shows that any- that represents the destruction bellwether following the election beat Le Pen decisively, but ana- the far right and that populism the next two weeks”. Brexit-style referendum to pave thing can happen”. Hollande urges French

Fillon: This battle is now in your hands. I no longer have the credibility to fight on your side. unity against far-right Reuters Fillon Paris renounces rance’s outgoing presi- dent, Francois Hollande, Fhas urged people to back leadership centrist Emmanuel Macron in a vote to choose his successor next month and reject far-right leader of party Marine Le Pen, whose place in the run-off represented a “risk” for France. Reuters/DPA Macron and Le Pen, leader of Paris the National Front (FN), go head- to-head on May 7 after taking the top two places in Sunday’s fi rst rench conservative Fran- round. cois Fillon, who failed to Opinion polls indicate that Fmake it into the second the business-friendly Macron, round of an election for presi- who has never held elected of- dent on Sunday, said yesterday fi ce, will take at least 61% of the that he would step back from any vote against Le Pen after two de- Hollande: The presence of the far-right in the second round is a risk front-line role ahead of parlia- feated rivals pledged to back him for the country. What is at stake is France’s make-up, its unity, its mentary elections in June. to thwart her eurosceptic, anti- membership of Europe and its place in the world. He has endorsed centrist can- immigrant platform. didate Emmanuel Macron in or- Hollande, a Socialist nearing Candidates to stage TV debate on May 3 der to prevent a win for Marine the end of fi ve years of unpopu- Le Pen from the National Front. lar rule, threw his weight behind Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will hold a TV debate on May 3, “I continue to believe that our his former economy minister in four days before the run-off vote in France’s presidential election, aides to political line – that combination a televised address, saying that Macron said yesterday. ... of freedom and authority, tra- Le Pen’s policies were divisive The debate will be broadcast nationwide on two TV channels, a source dition and modernity, patriot- and stigmatised sections of the said. ism and Europe – is what many population. Macron first sought a debate with Le Pen in February “which she refused. French people desire,” he said. “The presence of the far-right Now we are going to have one”, the source added. Fillon, a 63-year-old former in the second round is a risk for Le Pen’s campaign director, David Rachline, earlier said that the debate prime minister, had been favour- the country,” he said. “What is “should take place” as it would help the public “to see with great clarity ite to win the presidency until at stake is France’s make-up, its the two choices of society which are being put forward”. late January, when he was hit by unity, its membership of Europe allegations that he was paying and its place in the world.” Final tally: Macron took 24.01%, Le Pen 21.30% his wife and children from pub- Global markets reacted with lic funds for work they had not relief to Sunday’s vote, which Emmanuel Macron won 24.01% of the votes in the first round of the properly carried out. broke the dominance of estab- French presidential election on Sunday, final results from the interior The allegations, which he lished parties of the centre-left ministry showed yesterday. denied, dented his credibility and centre-right but still left Marine Le Pen won 21.30%, conservative candidate Francois Fillon 20.01% as he was proposing to imple- the most market-friendly and and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon 19.58%. ment economic shock therapy of internationally-minded of the Socialist Benoit Hamon won 6.36% and nationalist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan slashing public sector jobs and remaining contenders in pole 4.70%. workers’ rights, and his ratings position to become France’s next Among the smaller parties, Jean Lasalle won 1.21%, Philippe Poutou tumbled. leader. 1.09%, Francois Asselineau 0.92%, Nathalie Arthaud 0.64%, and Jacques He was placed under formal The euro touched fi ve-month Cheminade 0.18%. investigation but resisted pres- peaks while Europe’s STOXX A woman walks near off icial posters for Le Pen and Macron at a local market in Bethune, France. sure from within the party to 600 index rose 2%. give up his candidacy as he had Surveys pointing to a clear the watch lists of intelligence as a part of an elite aloof from National Front founder Jean- An Ipsos/Sopra Steria poll “We must help him (Macron) promised, fi nally coming third Macron victory soothed inves- services. ordinary French people and their Marie Le Pen, surprisingly made gave a similar result while a new as much as we can to ensure Le with less than 20% of the vote. tors who have been unnerved Macron’s internal security problems. the second round, but was then poll by Opinionway yesterday Pen is kept as low as possible,” In a statement after a meeting by Le Pen’s pledges to ditch the programme calls for 10,000 more “Emmanuel is not a patriot. humiliated by right-wing presi- put the margin at 61% to 39%. Valls told France Inter radio. of the Republicans’ leadership, euro, print money and possibly police offi cers, and 15,000 new He sold off national companies. dent Jacques Chirac as main- Whichever candidate wins on Sunday’s outcome was a huge Fillon said that the elections quit the EU. prison places, and he has recruit- He criticised French culture,” stream parties united to block a May 7 will need to try to build a defeat for the two centre-right were his party’s next challenge Many had feared another anti- ed a number of security experts Florian Philippot, deputy leader party they considered racist and majority six weeks later in a par- and centre-left groupings that and he was certain it would fare establishment shock to follow to his entourage. of Le Pen’s National Front, told anti-Semitic. liament where the National Front have dominated French politics well. Britain’s “Brexit” vote and Don- However, opinion polls over BFM TV. His daughter has done much currently has only two seats and for 60 years. But he said he would not be ald Trump’s election as US presi- the course of the campaign have Philippot called Macron “arro- to soften the National Front’s Macron’s year-old En Marche! Conservative Francois Fillon, part of it. dent. consistently found voters to be gant” and said his victory speech image, gathering support espe- (Onwards!) movement has none. who had been the favourite to It was not clear whether he Opening the battle for sec- more concerned about the econ- on Sunday had shown disdain for cially among young people – a Macron has already enlisted win the election before allega- planned to continue as a parlia- ond-round votes, Le Pen high- omy and the trustworthiness of the French people by making it quarter of whom are unemployed some 50 sitting Socialist law- tions emerged that he had paid mentary deputy. lighted the continuing threat of politicians. appear as though the presidency – with her promises to push back makers to his cause, as well as a his wife and two children from “This battle is now in your Islamist militancy, which has Others in Le Pen’s campaign was already won. against “rampant globalisation”. number of centrist party gran- the public purse for work they did hands,” he told party workers. claimed more than 230 lives in took aim yesterday at what they In that speech, Macron ap- Still, two defeated candidates dees. not do or did very little of, came “I no longer have the credibility France since 2015, saying that her see as further weak spots: Ma- peared to respond to Le Pen’s – conservative Francois Fillon Manuel Valls, a former Social- in at third with less than 20% of to fi ght on your side. I will now 39-year-old contender was “to cron’s previous job as an invest- claim to be the protector of and Socialist Benoit Hamon – did ist prime minister on the right the vote. become a simple party activist say the least, weak” on the mat- ment banker, and his role as a France’s workers and their val- not even wait for Sunday’s count wing of the party who broke with Hamon got only a third of the again. I will have to think about ter. deregulating economy minister ues by saying: “I want to be the to urge their supporters to rally the far-left Hamon’s campaign 19.5% secured by the maverick a diff erent life.” Le Pen has promised to sus- under Hollande. president of patriots in the face behind Macron. after failing to beat him for the former Trotskyist Jean-Luc Me- Fillon remains under inves- pend the EU’s open-border Analysts say Le Pen’s best of a threat from nationalists.” A Harris survey saw Macron party ticket, said yesterday that lenchon, emphasising the disar- tigation over charges of misap- agreement on France’s frontiers chance of overhauling Macron’s Le Pen needs to avoid a rep- going on to win the run-off he would be ready to work with ray of the French Left after fi ve propriation of public funds. and expel foreigners who are on lead in the polls is to paint him etition of 2002, when her father, against her by 64% to 36%. Macron. years of Hollande.

Albania opposition blocks roads in call for PM to quit

AFP The right-wing opposition free and fair election. during the protest, but police Rama rejects the accusations Tirana has been calling for the depar- They also accuse Rama of al- have warned organisers that against him and has refused to ture of the Socialist Party pre- lowing the expansion of canna- they will be prosecuted if they resign or postpone the election. mier for more than 18 months in bis cultivation in Albania to raise “breach public order”. “The time has come to build lbania’s political op- order to make way for a techni- money to manipulate voting. Lulzim Basha, leader of the a modern democratic European position blocked the cal transitional government in Protesters blocked the en- opposition Democratic Party, state and not block roads and Acountry’s main roads for the run-up to the June 19 vote. trances to highways as they told supporters that they would institutions,” he said. more than an hour yesterday Opposition parties, which waved Albanian fl ags and plac- continue their protest move- He accuses the opposition of to demand the resignation of are also boycotting parliament, ards reading “Rama go!” and ment “until the resignation of trying to hinder the implemen- Supporters of the Albanian opposition stand in the middle of a main Prime Minister Edi Rama, three have refused to take part in the “We want a transitional govern- the prime minister and the es- tation of judicial reform, a cru- artery of the capital Tirana, blocking traff ic for one hour, during their months before a general elec- election unless this transitional ment”. tablishment of a transitional cial step towards European Un- protest yesterday. tion. government is set up to ensure a No incidents were reported government”. ion accession. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 INDIA

AVIATION WARNING INVESTIGATION DISPUTE TECHNOLOGY AI flight suff ers bird hit Appeasement politics Ex-Goa CM granted bail Khattar asks Congress Uttarakhand monitors while landing in Kolkata will ruin Trinamool: BJP in illegal mining case to rein in Amarinder forest fires with drones

An Air India flight from Delhi with 254 Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya Former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar In a first, the Uttarakhand Forest Department has passengers and crew on board suff ered a bird yesterday warned West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool was granted anticipatory bail by a Panaji court yesterday accused the opposition of political launched a drone for real-time monitoring of the hit while landing at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Congress of “total ruination” if it did not stop its yesterday in the Rs350bn illegal mining case gimmicks and said the Congress should prevent forest fire and to take preventive measures, off icials Bose International Airport in Kolkata yesterday, appeasement politics. “We are telling you clearly. which is under investigation. Kamat, who Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh from said yesterday. The drone was launched by the a spokesman said. “The pilot reported a bird hit. We are warning you, if you do not stop politics of was summoned by the Special Investigation stopping water flow to Haryana through the state’s Forest and Wildlife Minister Harak Singh The aircraft’s left engine has been damaged,” appeasement, then we will bring total ruination Team (SIT) of the Goa Police Crime Branch SYL Canal. Khattar has been under fire from the Rawat from a remote location in Nainital district the Air India spokesman said in New Delhi. The on the Trinamool government,” he said at a to appear before the investigating off icer opposition for not arranging a meeting with that falls under the western circle – a big part of the aircraft was grounded for inspection and repair, meeting in Seuri. Vijayvargiya also called for equal yesterday morning, was granted bail on a Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Sutlej- vast Terai region of the state located outside the he added. He said all 244 passengers and 10 treatment for all. The BJP and the Trinamool have bond of Rs100,000. Kamat later appeared Yamuna Link Canal (SYL) issue and later for tiger and forest reserves. The Forest Department members were safe on landing in Kolkata a little been on a warpath since the April 5 Ram Navami before the SIT team for questioning. “The next meeting him without taking opposition leaders has dedicated three drones for monitoring the after 9am. As a result, the Kolkata-Delhi return celebrations in the state. Massive rallies were hearing has been fixed for May 2,” Parag Rao, along. Khattar said the Congress, including forest fire, according to the off icials. “We are using flight, that was scheduled to take off at 10.15am, organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Kamat’s lawyer, told reporters outside the former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, drones for real-time monitoring of the forest fires. was delayed and departed at 5.30pm. “We are (RSS) and its aff iliates across the eastern state courtroom. Kamat, who headed a Congress-led should approach “(party president) Sonia Gandhi This is for the first time in India,” Dr Parag Madhukar arranging an alternative aircraft for flying out which saw thousands of Hindu activists, including coalition government in Goa from 2012-17, has and urge her to prevent Amarinder Singh” from Dhakate, Conservator of Forests, western circle the passengers,” another spokesman said in schoolchildren, walking on the road brandishing been indicted by a Judicial Commission in the acting on his repeated assertion that he would and in-charge of the monitoring and usage of the Kolkata. sticks and sharp weapons. mining scam. not let the water flow to Haryana. unmanned aerial vehicle, said. SC reinstates Kerala police chief in blow for Vijayan Senkumar was removed as a sensitive post requires serious had come down heavily on Sen- director general of police consideration and good reasons kumar, saying he was not fi t to Tamil Nadu Co-operatives Minister Sellur K Raju (centre), government off icials and civic workers use thermocol polystyrene sheets to on the day Vijayan assumed that can be tested so that the of- head the state police force. attempt to cover the reservoir at the Vaigai Dam in Madurai. off ice on May 25, 2016 fi cer is not dealt with as a pawn in Former chief minister V S a game,” the judgment said. Achuthanandan said the state By Ashraf Padanna “Unfortunately, the appellant government should abide by the Thiruvananthapuram was displaced...summarily and ruling. without reasonable cause.” The Congress-led opposition The court reminded the state said Vijayan had lost his moral Minister ridiculed after trying to erala Chief Minister Pi- that the police chief was account- ground to continue in offi ce and narayi Vijayan yesterday able only to the rule of law and not decided to raise this issue in the Ksuff ered a huge setback af- to the political executive and its summer session of the state as- ter the Supreme Court reinstated principal advisers. sembly beginning today. cover dam with thermocol sheets T P Senkumar as the state’s police “We are also a little disturbed “Justice has been done,” said chief. with the view that the appoint- former chief minister Oommen Agencies dent showed offi cials in row- mocol is non-polluting but sci- “Tamil Nadu’s Next project, Senkumar was removed as di- ment of the appellant was irregu- Chandy who handpicked Senku- Chennai ing boats pursuing the airborne entists and marine biologists in- putting sunglasses to the Sun!” rector general of police on the day lar if not illegal,” it said. mar for the top job. sheets, while others used rocks sisted that the thermocol project said another. Vijayan assumed offi ce on May 25, “If that is so and the state gov- “He was an upright offi cer who to try and keep them in place. could be dangerous. The dam on the Vaigai river is a 2016. The offi cer is set to retire on ernment is bent upon making ir- used to act according to the law amil Nadu Co-operatives Elsewhere broken chunks of Thermocol is non-biodegrad- key water source for many in the June 30. regular or illegal appointments to without any other considera- Minister Sellur K Raju who the white polymer plastic, stuck able and splits up into tiny bits southern state, where irregular Senkumar approached the sensitive posts, then no one can tions.” Tattempted to cover a dam together with coloured tape, were after soaking in water. rainfall has caused a prolonged Kerala High Court but failed to help God’s own country.” The offi cer had earned wide- in sheets of polystyrene has been seen washed up on the dam banks. The fi sh could feed on such drought in many parts. get a favourable verdict. He then Expressing his happiness, spread praise for his orders to the left red-faced after his bizarre The minister defended the bits and die, the scientists said. Farmers desperate for relief moved the top court. Senkumar, presently the direc- forces against misbehaving with water-saving scheme backfi red. hare-brained scheme – which Images of the minister fl ail- have been resorting to extreme Supreme Court judge Madan tor of the state-owned Institute complainants. He had also issued Raju waded into the dam with reportedly cost Rs1mn ($15,500) ing waist-deep in water with acts of protest to draw attention to B Lokur said the offi cer appoint- of Management, said in Thiru- a circular to all offi cers on their dozens of sheets of polystyrene, – saying he had been told “ther- the unwieldy sheets attracted the crisis, including wearing neck- ed for his exemplary record and vananthapuram that justice had behaviour with the people. convinced they could help re- mocol technology” could reduce widespread scorn on social me- laces of human skulls, carrying service has been “unfairly and ar- prevailed and this was a boost to The government had hired duce water evaporation in the water evaporation. dia, where people blasted the live rats in their mouths and run- bitrarily dealt with.” those who work with commit- Harish Salve, one of the coun- drought-stricken state. “I learnt about this (technol- botched experiment as a waste of ning about naked in front of Prime The judgment is a virtual in- ment. try’s top lawyers, who reportedly But the noble yet puzzling ef- ogy) from a source,” he told re- public money. Minister Narendra Modi’s offi ce. dictment of the Left Democratic “I take this opportunity to charges Rs3mn a day. Salve is also fort went belly-up almost im- porters, without elaborating. “Instead of using thermocol They postponed their protest Front (LDF) government. thank my advocates, the media defending Vijayan in the Rs3.74bn mediately as strong winds lifted He said he turned to the ‘tech- sheets to cover the entire dam, on Sunday after being assured The court dismissed the state’s and all those who stood by me in SNC Lavalin corruption case in the lightweight sheets into the nology’ as it had been success- how about using a huge tarpaulin their case would be heard, but argument that Senkumar was the pursuit of my fi ght for justice.” the high court. air, tossing them across the sur- fully tested in Rajasthan in 2006. sheet to cover the sun. Problem plan to return to the capital next shifted out as the government Senkumar added: “I will wait “The government should not face of the water. Madurai Collector K Veera solved,” one Twitter user wrote month if their demands are not was not happy with his investiga- for the government to make the have offi cers they like, but those Footage of last Friday’s inci- Raghava Rao claimed that ther- sarcastically. met. tion into the rape and murder of next move.” who respect the rule of law,” Sen- Jisha, a Dalit law student, and the Vijayan told reporters kumar said. Firm on CBI probe into Jaya death, Sasikala’s removal: OPS Puttingal temple fi re tragedy that that now that the apex “Many decided not to challenge killed over 100 devotees. court had given its such orders because of the costly The All India Anna Dravida Chennai, a leader of the faction, December 5, 2016. and all her family members should Delving deep into both cases ruling, “we are wait- legal procedure. Fortunately for Munnetra Kazhagam faction K P Munusamy said the death of According to Munusamy, the be removed from the AIADMK. that happened last year, the top ing for the entire ver- me, the lawyers – Haris Beeran, led by former chief minister O Jayalalithaa has raised several seven-member committee Meanwhile, a security guard at court observed that the deci- dict”. Prashant Bhushan and Dushyant Panneerselvam yesterday said doubts in the minds of people. formed by the ruling AIADMK Jayalalithaa’s Kodanad tea estate sion should be based on “veri- “Once that comes, Dave – argued my case without it remains steadfast on two The Tamil Nadu government faction has not called the in Nilgiris district was murdered fi ed material,” not the we will do what monetary benefi ts.” demands – a Central Bureau has to write to the central Panneerselvam group for talks on and another injured in an attack “public expectation needs to be In his affi davit, Senkumar said of Investigation probe into the government seeking a probe by unification. by unidentified persons, police that the chief minister done as per he was a victim of political ven- death of former chief minister the CBI, he said. He said diff erent leaders are said yesterday. might imagine” as the law.” detta as he played a crucial role J Jayalalithaa and throwing out Strict secrecy was maintained voicing diff erent views in the According to police, a group the state’s counsel In the in bringing to book communist general secretary V K Sasikala about Jayalalithaa’s health when ruling camp and it seems some of unidentified persons fatally argued. state as- leaders who plotted the brutal and her family out of the party. she was in Apollo Hospital for unseen force is directing them. attacked Om Bahadur and injured “The removal sembly, murder of rebel leader T P Chan- Speaking to reporters in 75 days last year. She died on Munusamy added that Sasikala Krishna Bahadur on Sunday night. of an offi cer from Vijayan drasekharan in 2012.

Sea ropeway to link Mumbai Will not apologise with Elephanta Island personally: Mani

IANS Singapore, and China – were on ride by a 20-seater cable car, IANS by ‘Pembulai Orumae’ (Women’s Mumbai for over three years. with a transit station midway will Munnar, Kerala Collective). Last week, a pre-bid meeting prove to be a major boost to tour- “It was a stage-managed pro- convened by MbPT was attended ism. test led by vested interests. I ndia’s longest ropeway to con- by top consortiums with techni- At present, approximately erala Power Minister M know what all happened. When nect Mumbai with the famous cal expertise to implement the 5,000 domestic and foreign tour- M Mani, who is under at- the strike was on, other activities IElephanta Island in the Arabi- project. ists visit the island, inhabited by Ktack for his remarks about were taking place in nearby for- an Sea is planned to be construct- Known locally as Gharapuri around 1,200 residents, mostly women plantation workers, yes- ests,” he had said. ed by the Mumbai Port Trust, of- Caves, the small 16sq km is- fi sherfolk and farmers, in three terday said he has already apolo- Soon after the TV channels fi cials said yesterday. land has several archaeologi- tiny port villages called Ra- gised but will not go personally started airing these visuals from The 8km ropeway will be- cal remains pointing to its rich jbandar, Shentbandar and Mora- to say sorry to some of them sit- Sunday, there was widespread gin from Sewri in Mumbai’s east cultural heritage, including the bandar. ting on a protest near here. condemnation of Mani’s re- coast and end at Raigad district’s famous temples carved out of From the main jetty, tourists Meanwhile, the agitating marks. Apart from Women’s Elephanta Island, globally re- rocks. can hop aboard a toy train which women plantation workers de- Collective leaders like Gomathy nowned for Elephanta Caves, a There has been evidence of set- takes them to the base of the hill, manded he come to them to coming down heavily on Mani, Unesco World Heritage site. tlement on the island from 2nd a distance of around 600m, for apologise and that he must re- the Congress and the Bharatiya Mumbai Port Trust deputy century BC, but the rock-cut the climb up to the caves com- sign as he has no moral right to Janata Party too got into the act chief engineer P K Sinha said temples are believed to have been plex. continue in his post. and have demanded that the there will be a few stops en constructed around 5th-6th cen- Accessible only by ferries from Mani told reporters here that minister should go. route and that the cable height, tury AD. the mainland or motor launches he has apologised for his state- Gomathy, who is sitting on capacity of cars and other tech- MbPT spokesman V R Jogale- from the Gateway of India, it ment on Sunday itself. a road near here since Sunday nical details are being worked kar said the proposed ropeway takes around an hour for the 10km “There is no question of me evening in protest along with out. will off er a magnifi cent view of cruise from Mumbai. going to Munnar and apologising three other women workers, Declining to reveal the project mudfl ats on the east coast, which The island hosts the famed before the protesting women. Let said: “We are not going to call cost, he said it will be India’s fi rst come alive during the fl amingo two-day Elephanta Cultural Fes- them sit there as they have been off our protest, unless he comes ropeway across the sea. season, the mangroves and the tival in the winter, organised by placed there by vested interests,” and apologises before us. He has Discussions and planning for Mumbai Trans Harbour Link to the Maharashtra Tourism Devel- he said. abused us in the most heinous the project – similar to the ones the north. opment Corporation, attracting The island, globally renowned for Elephanta Caves, is a Unesco Mani on Saturday said he knew words saying we are ‘prosti- in foreign countries like France, The approximately 40-minute the best of performers. World Heritage site. what all went on during a strike tutes’. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 21 INDIA 26 CRPF troopers killed in Chhattisgarh Maoist attack

Agencies “We have recovered 23 bodies Modi condemned the attack fatigues being stretchered from included, suddenly emerged and ing and rushed back from New lice in the worst-ever massacre Raipur from the spot and three jawans and off ered condolences to the ambulances into hospitals for opened indiscriminate fi re. Delhi after the attack. of security forces by the insur- (soldiers) died in Raipur during families of the deceased, saying treatment. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister The Maoist insurgency started gents. treatment,” Anand Chhabra, a the sacrifi ce of their loved ones One soldier who survived the Raman Singh said Sukma, where as a peasant uprising in 1967, and The incident shook the coun- uspected Maoist rebels senior police offi cer, said, refer- would not be in vain. attack, Sher Mohamed, told re- yesterday’s attack occurred, was since then has cost thousands of try and led to pressure on the killed 26 paramilitary ring to the state capital. “Attack on @CRPFIndia per- porters from his hospital bed a stronghold for Maoists waging lives in the rebel-dominated “red government to rethink its tactics. Scommandos and wounded He said six other CRPF com- sonnel in Chhattisgarh is cow- that “almost 300 of them at- a guerilla war from their jungle corridor” stretching through Critics believe attempts to end six yesterday in a remote part of mandos were critically injured ardly and deplorable. We are tacked us”. bases. central and eastern India. the revolt through tough securi- central India in one of the dead- and had been evacuated for monitoring the situation close- The CRPF said the ambush The Maoists opposed eff orts Tit-for-tat jungle skirmishes ty off ensives are doomed to fail, liest attacks of a long-running treatment. ly,” Modi posted on Twitter. began at 12.30pm, leading to a to build new roads and infra- often result in heavy casualties saying the real solution is better internal confl ict. Another police offi cer, Sunil Fatal attacks by insurgents gun battle between the troopers structure in the remote area on both sides. governance and development of The Central Reserve Police Tiwari, said that the security on security forces in central and and the Maoists who, survivors because it undermined their Last month 11 paramilitary po- the region. Force troopers were guarding forces were looking for “some eastern India are frequent, but said, used hand grenades, auto- long-running campaign against licemen were killed when their The rebels, who say they are road workers in the Sukma dis- CRPF jawans who are missing”, yesterday’s assault was among matic rifl es and rocket launch- India’s security forces, he added. convoy was ambushed in Chhat- fi ghting for the rights of tribal trict of Chhattisgarh state, a hot- adding that the rebels snatched the deadliest in years. ers. “In future we will need to take tisgarh, while at least 20 troops people and landless farmers, of- bed of insurgent violence, when weapons during the ambush. Television footage showed in- Troopers who survived the more precautions,” said Singh, died in a separate attack in 2015. ten collect funds through extor- they came under heavy fi re. Prime Minister Narendra jured commandos in their army horror said the Maoists, women who called an emergency meet- In 2010 Maoists killed 76 po- tion. 11 held after cow vigilante attack on nomad family

Agencies the buff aloes to the Ghazipur New Delhi slaughterhouse in east Delhi, following which the assault oc- curred. olice in northern India Police had booked Rizwan, Ka- have arrested 11 cow pro- mil and Ashu for transporting the Ptection vigilantes who at- animals in an inhuman manner tacked a nomadic family over and also registered a case of as- suspicions that they were trans- sault against unknown persons. porting cattle for slaughter. The three were later released The fi ve-member Muslim on bail. family was moving with their Baaniya said closed-circuit Government forces try to chase Kashmiri students during clashes in central Srinagar’s Lal Chowk yesterday. livestock in Jammu and Kashmir television footage from the main state’s Reasi district when a mob roads in the area was being ex- assaulted them on Friday. amined to identify more people Among the wounded were a involved in the attack . 75-year-old man and a 9-year- Prime Minister Narendra old girl. Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata The accused were arrested on Party came to power in 2014, has Sunday night and the cattle that criticised the vigilantes, but the they had stolen were also recov- attacks have continued. Police fi re at student ered, district police chief Tahir Earlier this month, a 55-year- Sajad Bhat said yesterday. old Muslim man was killed in a This is the latest in a series of similar attack in Rajasthan. incidents of cow protection ac- In Hyderabad, All India Maj- tivists attacking people trans- lis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief porting cattle in various parts of Asaduddin Owaisi said “Gau the country. Rakshaks” (cow vigilantes) are protesters in Kashmir Police said they were yet to as- committing acts of terror against certain whether the attackers be- innocent people and warned Mehbooba Mufti meets Modi tween students and government unknown attackers, later dying trol the situation, because talks of Governor’s Rule in the state longed to hardline Hindu outfi ts. that continued attacks will stoke as violence intensify in the forces. of his injuries, a police offi cer cannot take place amid bullets amid allegations that the PDP- “The accused have been anarchy in the country. state “A few students were de- said on condition of anonymity. and stone-pelting,” she told BJP coalition government has charged with attempt to murder. The MP alleged that the BJP tained. Three photojournal- Police said militants fi red at reporters outside Modi’s resi- failed to control law and order More arrests are likely soon,” and its government did not want Agencies ists and eight policemen were Abdul Gani Dar when he was dence after the meeting. in the Kashmir Valley. Bhat said. to stop Gau Rakshaks as they had Srinagar injured with stones,” a police travelling in a car near Pin- She said Modi intended to Anti-India sentiment runs Some members of the no- a soft corner for them. offi cer said on condition of ano- galana village, about 30km from hold talks in a “conducive at- deep in the valley. Several rebel madic family were also charged “They are committing acts nymity. Srinagar. mosphere” with all stakehold- groups have for decades been with transporting cattle without of terror. They are beating up olice fi red into a crowd of Nearly 100 students and “He was shifted to Srinagar ers to bring order to the trou- fi ghting troops and police de- permission. whosoever they want. They have stone-throwing students around the same number of po- for treatment but he succumbed bled state as she invoked former ployed in the state. In Delhi, a 32-year-old man become a law unto themselves. Pin Jammu and Kashmir lice were wounded in last week’s to injuries,” the police offi cer prime minister Atal Bihari Va- The state had enjoyed several was arrested yesterday on charg- This is a grave danger for the yesterday, as violence in the disturbances, which prompted said. jpayee’s policy, saying “talks” years of relative peace after an es of assaulting, along with other country. If this continues, there state intensifi ed. authorities to temporarily shut Dar headed the PDP in Pul- were the only way to “move outbreak of violence in 2010. accomplices, three people trans- will be more anarchy,” he said. Hundreds of student protest- down schools and universities. wama district. forward”. But the killing last year of porting buff aloes in south Delhi, Owaisi said it was high time ers shouting “We want free- The students were angered Kashmir has been tense since Mufti’s PDP formed a gov- rebel leader Burhan Wani by police said. the BJP stopped the cow vigi- dom” and “Go India, go back” by a raid earlier this month on a April 9, when eight people were erning alliance with Modi’s security forces sparked wide- Shashank Sharma was part of lantes “who are from Rashtriya fought with government forces college in the southern district killed by police and paramili- ‘Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) af- spread popular unrest, and po- a group of 10-12 cow vigilantes Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)”. after taking to the streets of the of Pulwama in which police at- taries during election day vio- ter a 2015 election in the state. lice say dozens of local youths which attacked Rizwan, Kamil “They are emboldened by the main city Srinagar. tempted to detain the alleged lence. That has made her party have joined the rebel ranks since and Ashu while they were trans- fact that the party which is in Police fi red live rounds as well ring-leaders of earlier protests. Yesterday Jammu and Kash- hugely unpopular in the mainly then. porting 14 buff aloes in a vehi- power ideologically shares the as tear gas and water cannon to Government forces are not mir Chief Minister Mehbooba Muslim Kashmir Valley, home Footage apparently show- cle in Kalkaji area late Saturday same thoughts with them,” he try to disperse the protesters as supposed to enter college or Mufti held talks with Prime to most of its traditional sup- ing a civilian tied to the front of night, Deputy Commissioner of said. shoppers fl ed the violence and university premises without Minister Narendra Modi to ad- port base. an army jeep to deter protest- Police Romil Baaniya said. “PM only talks and does noth- retailers shut down for the day. special permission. dress the developing crisis. Mufti met Modi to review ers from throwing stones at the People For Animals (PFA ) ac- ing,” Owaisi said when asked The clashes broke out as col- In a separate incident an of- Mufti called for dialogue and the worsening security situa- vehicle has also caused outrage tivist Gaurav Gupta had tipped about the appeal made Modi to leges in the city reopened fol- fi cial with the ruling People’s an end to the violence. tion as speculations gained mo- after it was circulated on social off the police about ferrying of Gau Rakshaks in the past. lowing skirmishes last week be- Democratic Party was shot by “The fi rst priority is to con- mentum about the possibility media.

Chhota Rajan found guilty Ansari in Armenia ‘TCS, Infosys got only in fake passport case 8.8% of H-1B visas’ IANS US President Donald Trump IANS All four were also convicted that a thorough scrutiny of Bengaluru signed an executive order last New Delhi for cheating, using a forged the original documents at the week to reform the H-1B visas document, forgery for the pur- time of accepting applications norms by replacing the lottery pose of cheating, cheating by is of utmost importance and ndian IT industry’s apex system with a merit-based im- New Delhi court yes- impersonation, and criminal the staff should be sensitised organisation has said that migration policy. terday convicted un- conspiracy under the Indian about the same,” the court ITata Consultancy Services “Every reputable data source Aderworld don Rajendra Penal Code and the Passport said. and Infosys got only 8.8% of in the US has documented a Sadashiv Nikhalje alias Chhota Act. “... the Manual says that if the H-1B visas for placement growing shortfall between the Rajan in a fake passport case. The court also convicted the Passport Offi cer has any of workers in the US. supply and demand for com- It is the fi rst case in which them for criminal misconduct doubt about the information “Of the six Indian IT com- puter science majors in the US Rajan, facing nearly 85 cases, under the Prevention of Cor- submitted by an applicant, panies, software majors TCS workforce, especially in cut- has been found guilty. ruption Act. they have the discretion to and Infosys received 7,504 ting-edge fi elds such as cloud, Besides Rajan, others con- “It has been proved beyond refuse the passport on police H-1B visas in FY 2015, which big data, and mobile comput- victed by Central Bureau of reasonable doubt that all the report.” is 8.8% of the total H-1B vi- ing,” Nasscom said. Investigation Special Judge accused persons entered into a On June 8, 2016, the court sas,” the National Associa- The US Department of Virender Kumar Goyal are criminal conspiracy to do an il- framed charges against Rajan as tion of Software Services and Labour estimates that there former passport offi cers Ja- legal act by illegal means,” the well as Rahate, Shah and Lak- Companies (Nasscom) said in will be 2.4mn unfilled STEM yashree Dattatray Rahate, court said while observing that shmanan. a statement. (Science, Technology, Engi- Deepak Natvarlal Shah and La- the three former passport of- The CBI charge-sheet alleged The apex body’s clarifi cation neering, Mathematics) jobs litha Lakshmanan. fi cials supported the false and that Rajan got a fake passport was in response to a US offi cial by 2018, with 50% of the The court will hear argu- forged copy of a ration card and in the name of Mohan Kumar last week accusing the two top vacancies in IT-related posi- ments on the sentence today. other documents submitted by from Bengaluru in 1998-99 in Indian IT fi rms of unfairly cor- tions. Rajan, who took part in the Rajan. connivance with Rahate, Shah nering a majority of the H-IB “Indian IT firms account hearing via videoconferencing, The court said no police veri- and Lakshmanan. visas by applying more in the for less than 20% of the H-1B was found guilty of possessing fi cation of the address provided The court said Rajan submit- lottery system. visas; although Indian na- a fake passport. by Rajan while applying for a ted an application on Decem- Vice President Hamid Ansari and his wife Salma being Only six Indian IT fi rms were tionals get 71% of them, tes- The court said the passport passport. ber 10, 1998, at the Regional received by Armenia Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian on among the top 20 recipients tifying their high skill levels, offi cials abused their position “In respect of fake docu- Passport Offi ce in Bengaluru their arrival at the Zvartnots International Airport in Armenia of the H-1B visas in fi scal year especially in the very coveted while issuing the passport to ments, it has been mentioned for reissuance of a passport he yesterday. 2015 for their professionals to STEM skills category,” Nass- Rajan. in the Passport Manual 2001 claimed to hold. work in the US, Nasscom said. com said. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

ECONOMY CRIME LAW AND ORDER DECISION CORPORATE UN revises down LatAm Nine killed in Brazil were Peru police mulls El Salvador seizes assets Mexico ‘plans second growth forecast to 1.1 % shot and stabbed: police expelling two foreigners of mining group deepwater oil tie-up’

The economies of the Latin America and the Nine men, including an Evangelical pastor, Peruvian police are evaluating the possible Authorities in El Salvador said they have Mexican state-run oil company Pemex plans a Caribbean will grow an overall 1.1% in 2017, the massacred in a remote part of western Brazil were expulsion of two foreigners for “inciting” rural seized bank accounts, properties and vehicles second deepwater “farm-out” joint venture in the United Nations’ regional arm said yesterday, knifed and shot to death, police said after releasing communities to protest against the Hudbay belonging to an Australian-Canadian gold Maximino and Nobilis areas in the Gulf of Mexico a slight downward revision from its previous the bodies for burial. No arrests were announced Minerals mining company, which owns a copper mining group, OceanaGold, over an outstanding where super light crude has been found near the estimate. In its forecast in December, the in the slayings which took place on Thursday in a mine in the nation, the country’s interior ministry $8mn plus interest in legal fees it owes after US border, two people familiar with the matter Santiago-based Economic Commission for hard-to-access settlement in Mato Grosso state. A said. The police, the ministry said, had requested losing a lawsuit. The debt is part of an October said. The sources said Pemex would likely seek Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) had human rights group said the killings were part of documents from US citizen John Dougherty, 61, verdict by the World Bank’s arbitration arm, approval in June from the National Hydrocarbons predicted growth of 1.3% in the region, due in a pattern of brutal pressure from rich landowners and Canadian citizen Jennifer Moore, 42, who the International Centre for Settlement of Commission, or CNH, the industry regulator, part to an expected rebound in commodities to displace small-scale farmers from lucrative entered Peru earlier in April while claiming to be Investment Disputes (ICSID), that rejected a to launch a tender for partners with the aim of prices. “The growth dynamic in 2017 takes into territories. The state’s security service said in tourists. “The authorities have information that claim by OceanaGold that El Salvador should pay announcing a winner in December. “Maximino- account a growth in external demand for these a statement that the victims, all men, ranged documents that their condition (as tourists) has it $250mn compensation for refusing to give it Nobilis may be assigned in December and we economies...and prices for basic materials that in age from 23 to 57. They were reported to be not been complied with, as they have dedicated a mining permit on environmental grounds. The hope the CNH will announce it in June,” said one will be higher on average than in 2016,” ECLAC inhabitants of Gleba Taquarucu do Norte, which is themselves to inciting townspeople...against attorney general’s off ice said the nine properties of the sources. The people spoke on condition of said in a statement yesterday. near the border with Bolivia. Canadian mining activity in Peru,” the ministry said. seized were in the northern city of San Isidro. anonymity because the plans are not yet public. Lack of cash clouds Cuba’s green energy outlook

Reuters said Biopower president Andrew Ciro Redondo, Cuba Macdonald, while touring the site of the Ciro Redondo plant. The Scotsman, who has been uba, battling a chronic doing business with Cuba for energy defi cit, has all the more than a decade, said the US Csunshine, wind and sugar blockade had “strangled” fund- to fuel what should be a boom- ing from Europe “and other ob- ing renewables sector - if only it vious sources”, with banks afraid could fi nd the money. of sanctions. The country’s fi rst utility-scale His start-up Havana Energy renewable energy project, a bio- joined forces with a subsidiary mass plant in Ciro Redondo, is of domestic sugar monopoly fi nally under construction thanks Azcuba to create Biopower in to an injection of funds from Chi- 2012, with a contract to build fi ve na, a socialist ally and in recent plants attached to sugar mills. years, the communist-led island’s The plants are projected to Venezuelan opposition deputy Henry Ramos Allup (centre) marches against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas yesterday. merchant bank of last resort. use sugar cane byproduct ba- Turning Cuba’s renewables gasse and fast-growing woody potential into reality has become weed marabu as biofuels, cost- a state priority over the past ing around $800mn to add some year since crisis-stricken ally 300MW to the grid. Venezuela slashed subsidised Biopower was fi nally able this oil shipments to Cuba that were year to start building the fi rst supposed to help power its tradi- one, thanks to a decision by tional plants. China’s Shanghai Electric Group Venezuelans block roads Some foreign players in green to buy an equity stake in Havana energy, such as Spain’s Gamesa Energy. The joint venture is now and Germany’s Siemens, have looking for external fi nancing for shown early interest in the the next four plants. country. But the overall paucity “We have to check whether of foreign fi nancing means that the funders are open for the this project, being carried out Cuban market or not,” said in anti-Maduro protests by Cuban-British joint venture Zhengyue Chen, former invest- Biopower, is still the exception ment manager at Shanghai Elec- Reuters socialist government accuses yellow, blue and red colours largely peaceful by midday. impetus to the demonstrations. rather than the rule. tric and current Biopower chief Caracas foes of seeking a violent coup of Venezuela’s fl ag, held signs This month’s unrest is Ven- More than 1,400 people have The fi nancing puzzle is a cru- fi nancial offi cer. with US connivance, while the denouncing shortages, infl a- ezuela’s worst since 2014 when been arrested this month over cial one to solve if cash-strapped Some international companies opposition says he is a dictator tion and violent crime, and 43 people died in months of the protests, with 636 still de- Cuba is to hit its target of re- have shown an interest in gaining enezuelans erected bar- repressing peaceful protest. chanted: “This government has mayhem sparked by protests tained as of yesterday, accord- newables fi lling 24% of its energy a foothold in the slowly opening ricades with garbage The opposition’s main de- fallen!” against Maduro, the 54-year- ing to local rights group Penal needs by 2030, up from 4% today, Cuban market, encouraged by a Vand even bathtubs yes- mands are for elections, the re- In the capital, they were old successor to late leftist lead- Forum. a strategy that would require bil- three-year old investment law terday and snarled traffi c with lease of jailed activists and au- seeking to converge from sev- er Hugo Chavez. Facing exhortations from lions of dollars in investment. that allows full foreign ownership mass “sit-ins” along major tonomy for the opposition-led eral points to a major highway, This year’s protests began around the world to allow Ven- The government announced of renewables projects. thoroughfares to press their de- congress. where by late morning several when the pro-government Su- ezuelans to vote, Maduro has last July it was rationing energy, Cuba last year signed a deal mand for early elections as anti- But protests are also fuelled hundred people sat, carrying preme Court assumed the pow- called for local state elections raising fears of a return to the with Spain’s Gamesa for the government protests entered a by the crippling economic crisis bags of supplies, playing card ers of the opposition-control- — delayed from last year — to be crippling blackouts of the “Spe- construction of seven wind- fourth week. in the oil-rich South American games, and shielding them- led congress. held soon. cial Period” after the collapse powered plants and with Sie- Ten people have been killed nation of 30mn people. selves from the sun with hats The court quickly reversed But there is no sign the gov- of the Soviet Union. The energy mens for the upgrade of the during near daily clashes this “I have an empty stomach and umbrellas. course, but its widely con- ernment will allow the next shortage comes at a time when creaking power grid. month between security forces because I can’t fi nd food,” said In western Tachira, at an- demned move still galvanised presidential election, slated for growing tourism and private These are just preliminary armed with rubber bullets and Jeannette Canozo, a 66-year- other of the “sit-ins” planned the opposition. late 2018, to be brought forward business creation are generating agreements, however, which may tear gas and protesters some- old homemaker, who said po- for all of Venezuela’s 23 states, The government’s disqualifi - as the opposition demands. greater demand. not become concrete contracts, times throwing rocks and Mol- lice used rubber bullets against some played the board-game cation from public offi ce of two- Given the country’s econom- “The most challenging thing Western diplomats based in Ha- otov cocktails. protesters blocking a Caracas Ludo in the street, while oth- time presidential candidate ic crisis, with millions short of we have had to deal with in the vana say, given diffi culty agree- At least 10 people have also avenue with trash and bathtubs ers stood around them holding Henrique Capriles, who would food, pollsters say the ruling last six years of developing this ing on a fi nancing framework and died during night-time looting. in the early morning. fl ags. be an opposition favourite to Socialist Party would fare badly project has been the fi nancing,” actually securing the funds. President Nicolas Maduro’s Demonstrators wore the The demonstrations were replace Maduro, gave further in any vote at the moment.

Farmers’ protest Bogota to clarify mining 30 people dead in laws as investors spooked Mexico drug violence Reuters the state prosecutor’s offi ce Mexico City said in a statement. Reuters delight of environmental groups are discussing with Congress — In January 2014, the federal Bogota and some politicians. it’s not formally presented yet government eff ectively took The move caused uncertainty — where we will defi ne how to t least 30 people were over control of Michoacan for among investors in Colombia, handle it,” he said. killed over the weekend more than a year in a bid to olombia’s government the world’s fi fth-largest produc- “Giving a clear rule to inves- Ain Mexico, according curb violence between drug will seek congressional er of coal with rich reserves of tors will take away part of the to local offi cials, amid a wide- gangs and community militias Capproval to harmonise gold, ferronickel, silver, copper uncertainty that’s been created spread surge in drug gang vio- that had risen up to fi ght ex- national and local mining laws, and emeralds. by the activism of a few tribu- lence that has driven murders tortion and kidnappings. the mines and energy minister nals and courts and by the refer- to a level not seen since 2011. The region, especially Guer- said yesterday, as legal wran- “Giving a clear rule to endums,” Arce added. In Sinaloa state, 10 people rero state, is the site of the gling over environmental regu- investors will take away AngloGold and Eco Oro did were killed in diff erent inci- worst violence in Mexico as lations and community opposi- part of the uncertainty not immediately respond to re- dents during the early hours gangs battle over fi elds of opi- tion threaten investment. that’s been created by the quests for comment. of Sunday, according to local um poppies, which are used to Voters in central Tolima prov- activism of a few tribunals Oil and mining income that offi cials. make heroin. ince last month backed a proposal and courts and by the once accounted for nearly 10% Battles between gangs have A surge in US demand for to ban mining projects in their mu- referendums” of Colombia’s gross domestic increased in the area following heroin has fed the violence. nicipality, raising questions about product suff ered amid the global the arrest last year of Sinaloa Five bodies were found in the future of an AngloGold Ashanti The government hopes the law fall in crude prices, but recent cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” diff erent sites around Guerrero gold exploration in the area. would ease concerns by clarify- improvements have made pro- Guzman, who was extradited on Sunday while another six Canadian company Eco Oro ing how land use disagreements duction viable again. in January to the US. bodies were found in Veracruz Minerals Corp, meanwhile, is between local and national au- “We can produce at this price Nine people were killed in state on the Gulf of Mexico, waging a legal battle against a thorities would be resolved, level. One would hope that now what prosecutors said was a gun according to local offi cials. court ruling that bars explora- Mines and Energy minister Ger- we’ve touched bottom we can battle between rival drug gangs Violence in Mexico has risen tion in half its concession. man Arce said in an interview. start to see some recovery in the in the mountains of Mexico’s to its worst since 2011. The Tolima vote was made “It’s a very in-depth discus- second half of this year and in west coast state of Michoacan. In March, there were 2020 possible by a Constitutional sion that we’re having — how 2018,” Arce said. The shootout took place recorded murders, the highest Court decision that overturned to harmonise the diff erent legal The oil production target for People ask for free vegetables during a farmers’ protest at in an isolated village of the for any month since June 2011, the national government’s sole mandates, because mayors have 2017 is 865,000 barrels per day. Plaza de Mayo square near the Casa Rosada presidential municipality of Churumuco, according to government data. authority to approve mining the power to organise land but The government has set a palace in Buenos Aires yesterday. Farmers gave away 20 which borders on Guerrero President Enrique Pena Ni- projects, allowing mayors and the national government admin- coal production target of 92mn tonnes of produce to protest against the high cost of living state, where eight bodies were eto is facing rising criticism provincial governors to chal- isters the sub-soil,” Arce said. tonnes and a gold output goal of for small farmers and demanding credit to buy land. found on the main street and over his handling of the spike lenge exploration permits, to the “We have a project that we 60 tonnes for this year, Arce said. another in the nearby sierra, in bloodshed. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

DIPLOMACY Afghan peace linked to regional issues: Pakistan

Afghan defence chiefs quit Stability in Afghanistan is directly linked to peace in neighbour- ing countries such as Pakistan, a minister has said. Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said this in a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Eklil Ahmed Hakimi over attack as Mattis fl ies in on Sunday during which he ap- prised the latter of the economic Reuters the Taliban, not Islamic State, situation in Pakistan, The News Kabul remains the bigger threat. International cited a Finance US offi cials acknowledge that Ministry statement as saying. Afghanistan has rarely in recent Dar highlighted the steps taken fghanistan’s defence years been considered a priority by the Pakistan government for minister and army chief by decision makers, who have enhancing the growth rate and Aof staff resigned yester- instead been consumed by Syria, putting the country on the path day after the deadliest Taliban Iraq and, increasingly, North of sustainable economic growth. attack on a military base, and Korea. He also condemned the terrorist US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis But there are signs that the attack on an Afghan army base in said he was “under no illusions” Trump administration is making Mazar-i-Sharif city and reiterated about the problems facing the progress in crafting a policy for that Islamabad was willing to work country. Afghanistan. closely with Kabul to establish Mattis, visiting as the United US President Donald Trump’s peace in the South Asia region. States looks to craft a new Af- National Security Adviser HR ghanistan strategy, held talks McMaster visited Afghanistan TRANSPORTATION with Afghan President Ashraf earlier this month, the fi rst sen- Ghani, offi cials and US com- ior offi cial from the new admin- World Bank manders, who want more troops. istration to do so. urged to help “2017 is going to be another US offi cials, speaking on the tough year for the valiant Afghan condition of anonymity, said build highway security forces and the interna- there was an ongoing inter- tional troops who have stood, and agency review to determine the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has will continue to stand, shoulder goals and milestones for the urged the World Bank to finance to shoulder with Afghanistan United States in Afghanistan. a major project in the Pak-Af- against terrorism,” Mattis said. Meanwhile, the Afghan army ghan region, which could greatly General John Nicholson, the is preparing for what is expect- enhance intra-regional trade. head of US and international ed to be a year of hard fi ghting The project Peshawar-Kabul forces in Afghanistan, said he against Taliban militants, who highway would not only link Pe- was “not refuting” reports that now control or contest more shawar with the Afghan capital Russia was providing support, than 40 % of the country. but would also be a major com- including arms, to the Taliban. Nearly 9,000 US troops re- mercial link between the South A senior US military offi cial, main in Afghanistan, in addition and Central Asian regions. The speaking on condition of ano- to thousands of international finance minister discussed this nymity, told reporters that intel- coalition forces. and other projects with senior ligence showed Russia was pro- Nicholson recently told a officials of the World Bank group viding money and machine guns Congressional hearing he need- in Washington last week on the to the Taliban. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani addresses US Defence Secretary James Mattis and his delegation at the presidential palace in Kabul yesterday. ed several thousand more inter- sidelines of the group’s spring Russia has previously denied US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit yesterday. national troops in order to break meetings. The Pakistan Embassy, providing any material or fi nan- a stalemate in the long war with which released the details of cial aid to the insurgent group, Taliban insurgents. these meetings, said the World but has said it maintains ties Russia sending arms to Taliban: top US general US offi cials say Nicholson’s Bank had agreed in principle with Taliban offi cials in order to request was making its way to finance the Peshawar-Kabul push for peace talks. The head of US and of help including weapons to through the chain of command. highway project. Dar also asked Moscow has been critical of international forces in the Taliban, who control large Conversations, however, ac- the World Bank to consider lead- the United States over its han- Afghanistan said yesterday areas of Afghanistan, he replied: cording to current and former ing a consortium to finance the dling of the war in Afghanistan. he was “not refuting” reports “Oh no I’m not refuting that.” offi cials, were revolving around Diamer-Bhasha dam project. Mattis arrived in Kabul just that Russia was providing A senior US military off icial, 3,000 to 5,000 additional troops. days after a Taliban assault on a support, including weapons, speaking on condition of One offi cial said there was an ABUSE major army base in the northern to the Taliban. General John anonymity, told reporters that emphasis on creating a strat- city of Mazar-i-Sharif in which Nicholson was speaking in intelligence showed that Russia egy that was not tied to artifi cial Torture use by more than 140 Afghan soldiers Kabul during a visit by US was providing monetary and deadlines. Afghan off icials were killed. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. weapons support to the Taliban, Former President Barack Afghan offi cials said the nal fi Outgoing Afghan Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi and army chief Asked about reports that specifically weapons such as Obama had wanted to reduce the on the rise: UN death toll was likely to be higher. Qadam Shah Shaheem attend a press conference at the Ministry of Russia was providing a range machine guns. number of US troops in Afghani- Earlier, Ghani’s offi ce announced Defence in Kabul yesterday. stan before he left offi ce. Afghan security off icials are in a post on its Twitter account that While Mattis is no stranger increasingly employing torture to Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi bibi — who had come under tary vehicles, made their way A senior US offi cial said, based The attack came a little more to Afghanistan — he served extract confessions from alleged and Army Chief of Staff Qadam pressure from Afghan lawmakers on to the base and opened fi re on intelligence and the types of than a week after the United there and was also the head of insurgents, including children, Shah Shahim “stepped down with last month following an Islamic on soldiers and recruits eating a tactics used, the Taliban-linked States dropped a 22,000 pound US Central Command — there according to a UN report issued immediate eff ect.” State attack on a Kabul military meal and leaving a mosque after Haqqani network likely played bomb, known as the “mother are questions about what a few yesterday that urged Kabul to Shah Hussain Murtazawi, act- hospital — attended a meeting Friday prayers, according to of- a role. “This is very typical of all bombs”, against a series of thousand additional US troops bring more perpetrators to justice. ing spokesman for Ghani, told with Mattis at the headquarters fi cials. Haqqani network tactics, tech- Islamic State caves and tunnels can achieve. The most commonly identified Reuters the resignations were of the Nato-led military coali- Ghani’s offi ce also announced niques and procedures,” said the near the border with Pakistan. “Let’s face it, no matter how forms of abuse included severe because of Friday’s attack. tion in the Afghan capital. the replacement of four army offi cial, adding the United States US offi cials say they were sur- many troops you may send to Af- beatings to the body and soles Habibi and Shahim told re- In a serious security failure corps commanders in response believed it took 4-6 months to prised by the level of attention ghanistan, it’s going to be very dif- of the feet, electric shocks to porters their resignations were on Friday, as many as 10 Tali- to the attack, and defence offi - plan the attack. that particular bomb received, fi cult to end the war,” said Michael the genitals, as well as stress voluntary. ban fi ghters, dressed in Afghan cials said as many as eight army Ghani declared a day of since it did little to change the Kugelman, a South Asia expert at positions, sleep deprivation and Despite his resignation, Ha- army uniforms and driving mili- personnel had been arrested. mourning on Sunday. situation on the ground, where the Woodrow Wilson Center. threats of execution. Imran Khan seeks new allies in campaign for PM’s resignation

Internews prime minister resign and face the JIT, add- Islamabad ing that he could assume offi ce again if he was cleared by the JIT. Chaudhry Shujaat predicted that PM ncouraged by the legal fraternity’s ulti- Sharif would tender his resignation soon af- matum to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ter the formation of the JIT. Eto resign within a week or face a law- The JI has already convened a meeting of yers’ movement-style agitation, opposition its Majlis-i-Shoora at the party’s headquar- parties have started fl exing their muscles. ters in Mansoora on Monday (today) to chalk The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of Im- out a future course of action. ran Khan, the main petitioner in the Panama The decision to fi le a reference against Papers case, announced yesterday that it Qamar Zaman Chaudhry comes against the would contact representative bodies of law- backdrop of the Supreme Court bench’s ob- yers, doctors, traders, teachers, students, servations about his role. labourers, farmers and other professionals “We will fi le the reference against the NAB to increase pressure on the prime minister to chairman on Monday,” Fawad Chaudhry said. quit in the light of the Panama Papers judge- “All fi ve judges on the bench that heard ment. the Panama Papers case gave observations Pakistani commuters drive along a road during rain in Islamabad on Sunday. In addition, the party said it would fi le against the NAB chief, saying that he had a reference against National Account- Imran Khan failed to perform his duties and took no step ability Bureau (NAB) chairman Qamar Za- to probe the scandal.” man Chaudhry before the Supreme Judicial But the ruling Pakistan Muslim League- He said his party had hoped that the NAB Council (SJC). In a statement, PTI informa- Nawaz (PML-N) is standing its ground and chairman would resign in the wake of the Rain aff ects crops in Pakistan tion secretary Naeemul Haq said the party has termed the demand “unconstitutional, verdict, but that did not happen.“[The NAB leaders would soon contact offi ce-bearers of unjustifi ed and politically-motivated”, vow- chief] has turned out to be even more shame- all bar councils and associations and enhance ing to resist any move to put pressure on the less than Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in ig- Internews dust storms were unusual at Lahore and Shorkot 7, Sar- the scope of the party’s anti-government prime minister to quit. noring the verdict of the honourable judges Lahore this time of the year and were godha, Multan 6, Gujranwa- movement to convert it into a countrywide Fawad Chaudhry, however, insisted that of the Supreme Court,” the PTI spokesman either delaying wheat harvest- la, Kasur, Jhang, Joharabad agitation. the demand was “logical and legal” and said added. ing or damaging the crop. 4, Mandibahauddin, Okara PTI chairman Imran Khan has already an- lawyers had always played a key role in up- Since the post of NAB chairman is a con- ust-thunderstorm and There had been considera- 3, Rawalpindi 2, Mangla, nounced plans to hold a public meeting in Is- holding the supremacy of the Constitution stitutional position, a reference has to be rain continued to occur ble damage to the mango crop Kamra, Sialkot, Mianwali, lamabad on April 28, in a bid to mobilise the and rule of law in the country since its crea- fi led before the SJC and it is up to the council Dat scattered places in in Multan and other adjoin- DG Khan, Bahawalpur City masses and increase pressure on the prime tion. whether to remove him or not. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, ing areas, said Pakistan Kis- 01 Gilgit-Baltistan’s Astore minister to resign. In a related development, Jamaat-i-Isla- Since the SJC consists of Supreme Court Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir san Ittehad President Khalid received 21mm, Bagrote 14, PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry wel- mi (JI) emir Sirajul Haq held a meeting with judges, the PTI’s optimism regarding the on Monday, keeping tempera- Khokher. Bunji 12, Chillas 7, Gilgit 5. comed the statements made by offi ce-bear- PML- Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hus- possibilities of the NAB chairman’s ouster tures low but damaging crops. The Met department said The Met department forecast ers of the Supreme Court Bar Association sain yesterday where it was decided that a are not completely unfounded. Lahore continued to receive Malamjabba recorded 50mm of dust-thunderstorm/rain (asso- (SCBA) and the Lahore High Court Bar Asso- team of lawyers from both parties would Section 6 of the NAB Ordinance states: “A intermittent rain throughout rain, Pattan 32, Kohat 30, Ka- ciated with gusty winds / few ciation (LHCBA) that the prime minister had monitor the proceedings of the joint investi- chairman NAB shall not be removed except the day. lam 23, Cherat 13, Balakot10, hailstorms) at scattered places no moral authority to stay in offi ce after the gation team (JIT). on the grounds of removal of judge of Su- It was drizzling at 9pm. Peshawar and Dir 9, Lower Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pun- verdict. Talking to reporters after the meeting, the preme Court of Pakistan.” The day’s maximum tem- 8, Bannu, Saidu Sharif 7,Chitral jab, Islamabad, FATA, Kash- The SCBA offi ce-bearers have endorsed JI chief said they would appeal to the chief When asked what evidence the PTI would perature was 35 degrees C and 6, Kakul 03, and Drosh 2. mir and Gilgit-Baltistan and at the opposition’s viewpoint that PM Sharif justice of Pakistan to open the proceedings present before the SJC, Fawad Chaudhry said: comfortable for braving power In Punjab, Sahiwal record- isolated places in Quetta, Zhob, should step down, at least until the investi- of the JIT so that the public could witness the “We do not need to provide evidence; the ob- load shedding and breakdowns. ed 27mm, Toba Tek Singh Sibbi, Naseerabad divisions in gations against him and his family members transparency of the process. servations of the fi ve judges of the Supreme Agriculturists said rain and 15, Kot Addu 12, Faisalabad, the next 24 hours. are completed. He reiterated his party’s demand that the Court are suffi cient grounds for his removal.” Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Nearly 36 militants killed in three-day clash: army Philippine security forces killed about 36 Islamic State-linked militants in a three-day air and Lawyer accuses Duterte ground assault on a southern island, and captured the rebels’ base, an army general said yesterday. Security forces in the Philippines have battled separa- tist rebels for decades. In recent years, peace eff orts have led to a reduction in clashes of ‘mass murder’ at ICC with main groups but small, violent factions have stepped up AFP “The ‘repeated, unchanging landslide last May largely on his According to the latest na- attacks. The latest clash, on the The Hague and continuous’ mass murder promise to launch a war on ille- tional police fi gures, police have main southern island of Mind- being conducted by the Presi- gal drugs. shot dead 2,087 drug suspects, anao, erupted on Friday when dent Duterte has already re- Although the campaign has while unknown killers have soldiers stumbled upon a well- Philippine lawyer yester- sulted into the deaths of not less proved popular at home, the murdered 1,398 others in cases fortified base of a faction known day fi led a complaint at than 1,400 individuals in Davao president has faced interna- described by investigators as as Maute, guarded by about Athe world’s only perma- City under his Davao Death tional criticism for the thou- “drugs-related”. 150 fighters. “We captured their nent war crimes court against Squad and not less than 7,000 sands of alleged extra-judicial Earlier offi cial fi gures had main base,” Brigadier-General President Rodrigo Duterte, al- individuals in his war on drugs killings. put the death toll much higher, Roland Bautista, an army division leging his war on drugs has at the national level,” the fi ling The Philippine government including some 4,200 killed in commander, told reporters. Gov- caused some 8,000 deaths. said. denies the allegations, and pres- unexplained circumstances. ernment forces used artillery and Lawyer Jude Sabio urged the Sabio travelled to The Hague idential spokesman Ernie Abella Since beginning work in air strikes to hit the militant base prosecutor at the International to hand over his 77-page com- said yesterday that police were 2002, the ICC says the prosecu- and inflict the casualties, he said. Criminal Court in The Hague plaint in person to the offi ce of already probing those suspected tor’s offi ce has received some Only three government soldiers to investigate Duterte and sen- ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda. “of violating procedures.” 10,000 requests from individu- were wounded, he said. ior administration offi cials and Bensouda’s offi ce confi rmed He also pointed to an investi- als, groups or countries around A spokesman for the militant bring charges of crimes against to AFP it had “received a com- gation by the country’s Senate, the world to investigate alleged faction was not available for humanity against them for “the munication earlier this morning in which Matobato was a star crimes. comment and Reuters was no terrifying and gruesome situa- by an attorney from the Philip- witness, and said the ICC “as It is then up to the prosecu- able to independently verify the tion of continuing mass murder pines,” adding it would “ana- a court of last resort, will only tor to decide if there is enough military’s account. Bautista said in the Philippines”. Sabio, who lyse the materials submitted, exercise jurisdiction over a case cause to open a preliminary in- surviving militants had split up is the lawyer for Duterte’s con- as appropriate” in line with the once legal remedies in the Phil- quiry into whether a full-blown into small groups and fled. fessed hitman Edgar Matobato, tribunal’s guiding Rome Statute ippines have been exhausted.” investigation is merited. The faction, which has pledged alleged the president “began his and make its decision later. Duterte: facing scrutiny over deaths “The so-called ‘extra-judi- There are currently 10 pre- allegiance to Islamic State, has strategy or system of eliminat- In October, Bensouda said cial killings’, are not state-sanc- liminary examinations, and 10 been accused of bomb attacks ing or killing persons suspected she was “deeply concerned such killings”. She warned that ing... the commission of crimes tioned or state-sponsored. Po- full investigations under way. including one in President of crimes, including drug ad- about these alleged killings and “any person in the Philippines within the jurisdiction of the lice authorities are conducting A total of 23 cases have been Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown of dicts and pushers” when he the fact that public statements who incites or engages in acts ICC is potentially liable for legitimate operations that re- recognised, securing nine con- Davao City in September that became mayor of Davao City in from high offi cials of the... of mass violence including by prosecution before the court.” quire observance of operational victions and one acquittal. killed 14 people. 1988. Philippines seem to condone ordering, requesting, encourag- Duterte won election by a protocols,” Abella added. Five trials are ongoing. Police offi cial’s sacking over graft upheld

By Jomar Canlas bidding and that the invitation Manila Times to bid was published in Alppa Times News, a “non-existent publication outfi t.” he Supreme Court has The ombudsman indicted Es- upheld the dismissal of a pina and several other PNP offi c- Tformer police director and ers in 2012 for violating Republic several others over a P400mn Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft “ghost” repair contract for com- and Corrupt Practices Act and bat vehicles. RA 9184 or the Government The high tribunal set aside a Procurement Reform Act, and decision dated February 27, 2014 for malversation of public funds and a resolution dated July 15, through falsifi cation under Arti- 2014 of the Court of Appeals, cle 217 in relation to Article 171 of and entered a new one fi nding the Revised Penal Code. Members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) stand guard in front of armoured vehicles stationed near the venue of the upcoming Association of ex-police director Rainier Espi- The ombudsman also found South East Asian Nation (Asean) summit as they provide security for guests and VIPs at the convention centre in Pasay City, Metro Manila, yesterday. na guilty of gross neglect of duty. them guilty of grave misconduct “Accordingly, he is dismissed and serious dishonesty and, ac- from government service with cordingly, recommended their all the accessory penalties,” the dismissal from government court said. service. The charges stemmed from Specifi cally, the ombudsman the anomalous repair of several found that Espina made indis- Tight security for Asean summit light armoured vehicles (LAVs) pensable acts that led to the and fi ctitious payments for re- completion of the illegal trans- By Fernan Marasigan headed. Security offi cials have Bureau of Investigation, Bureau On Sunday, Ambassador rations are now in full swing pairs and purchases of police actions. & Nelson Badilla not detected any terror threat of Immigration, National Intel- Marciano A Paynor Jr, direc- for all activities scheduled this vehicles. The ombudsman found it in- Manila Times in Metro Manila but this did not ligence Co-ordinating Agency, tor general for operations of week in Manila,” said Presi- Aside from Espina, former credible that the repair and re- stop the government from de- Philippine Centre on Tran- Asean 2017 National Organ- dential Spokesperson Ernesto Philippine National Police (PNP) furbishment of the LAVs were ploying thousands of soldiers snational Crime, Manila In- ising Council (NOC), and Abella in a statement on Sun- chief Avelino Razon was also im- completed in only seven days – he government mo- and policemen to secure dele- ternational Airport Authority, other top security officials day. plicated, as well as former and December 20 to 27, 2007 – con- bilised on Sunday a gates and keep the peace during Civil Aviation Authority of the led the official activation and “The president looks forward incumbent PNP offi cials and sidering the magnitude of the T40,000-strong contin- the summit. Philippines, Philippine Coast send-off ceremony for the to meeting His Majesty the former comptrollers Geary Bari- work involved that included the gent as it started implementing National Capital Region Po- Guard, Bureau of Fire Protec- 40,000-strong Asean 2017 Sultan and President Widodo, as and Eliseo de la Paz. delivery of the LAVs for repair an elaborate security plan for lice Offi ce (NCRPO) director tion, Bureau of Jail Management security team at the Quirino respectively, to build on the Based on the case fi led by the and the inspection and accept- the Association of Southeast Oscar Albayalde said 26,000 and Penology and personnel Grandstand in Manila. gains achieved during President ombudsman, Razon and other ance of materials to be used. Asian Nations (Asean) Leaders’ police and military person- from the Department of Public PNP chief Ronald de la Rosa Duterte’s visits to Bandar Seri offi cials, including Espina, al- But the appeals court found Summit that will be held this nel from fi ve police districts in Works and Highways, Metro said the police fi ne-tuned al- Begawan and Jakarta,” Abella located P400mn supposedly for Espina administratively li- week in Pasay City. Metro Manila and nearby re- Manila Development Authority, most every aspect and detail of added. the repair of 28 V-150 LAVs. able only for simple misconduct, The Philippine National Po- gions will be deployed in areas National Disaster Risk Reduc- the elaborate security opera- Paynor said the agenda for It was found out that the po- prompting the ombudsman to go lice (PNP) and the Armed Forces surrounding the PICC. tion and Management Council, tion through the Asean Secu- the separate meetings of Du- lice offi cials made up the public to the high court. of the Philippines (AFP) com- On top of that, around 15,000 Land Transportation Offi ce, rity Task Force in co-ordination terte with the two leaders will pleted their fi nal preparations state workers from various gov- Department of Transportation with the Asean-NOC and par- be specifi c to issues that relate for the summit to be held from ernment agencies will serve as and Department of Tourism will ticipating agencies. to each country. SURVEY tomorrow until April 29 at the “force multipliers” to support also help secure delegates and Albayalde on Sunday said “For Indonesia I think it will Filipino victims of crime ‘rise in first quarter’ Philippine International Con- police and military personnel. the summit venue. security in Metro Manila is so be a follow-up of what Presi- vention Centre (PICC). Augmentation forces were Asean Security Task Force di- tight that not even the Maute dent Duterte and President More Filipinos fell victim to common crimes in the first quarter of 2017, Undersecretary Catalino Cuy, also sent from the Ilocos re- rector Napoleon Taas will also Group, a local terror group, has Widodo had talked about in according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The poll Offi cer-in-Charge of the De- gions, Central Luzon and deploy security personnel to the capacity to attack the sum- Jakarta when the president conducted from March 25 to 28 showed that 6.8% of the respondents partment of Interior and Local Southern Tagalog region. act as close-in guards for Asean mit. Before the Asean leaders’ went there for a visit. This is a were victims of common crimes, up from the 4.9% in the fourth quarter Government, said 40,877 per- A “no fl y zone” and “no sail delegates. meeting on April 29, Sultan return state visit of President of 2016. Those who lost property to street robbery, burglars or car sonnel from 21 agencies com- zone” will also be implemented Security at the Ninoy Aquino Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Widodo. And I would imagine thieves were up 6.3% or an estimated 1.4mn families. The figure was 1.8 prise the Asean 2017 Committee during the duration of the sum- International Airport will be and President Joko Widodo of that security of our sea lanes, points higher than the 4.5% in December 2016. There was a slight drop on Security, Peace and Order, mit. tightened, while security offi - Indonesia will hold state visits cross-border traffi c and patrol, in the number of victims of physical violence — 0.7% or 155,000 families Emergency Preparedness and Members of the Presidential cials will patrol Manila Bay and in the country on April 27 and agriculture, may be discussed,” — compared with the 166,000 families in December. The SWS said there Response (CSPOEPR) which he Security Group, the National the Pasig River. April 28, respectively. “Prepa- Paynor said. were more crimes reported in its survey than to the police. US, Philippines scale back military drills, no more ‘war games’

Reuters tan” will simulate a response to a States and believes a US military Manila will never take part in every year since 2000, involv- fi rst time in the Philippines a “Just to make it clear, this is Manila devastating super typhoon in the presence of any kind in the Phil- joint patrols, to avoid provoking ing conventional warfare activi- long-range truck-mounted not a war game.” Sayson said the central Philippines, modelled on ippines puts his country at risk China. ties, as part of a mutual defence multiple rocket launcher. two sides agreed to scrap two typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which of being dragged into confl ict. treaty between the two countries A Philippine army spokes- major military drills — Amphib- bout 5,000 American killed at least 6,300 people and He has threatened to abrogate “We made some under a 1951 security pact. man said the downsizing of the ious Landing Exercise or “Phi- and Philippine troops left more than 200,000 families treaties with Washington, but adjustments, based on the Nearly 9,000 troops partici- exercises was in response to Du- blex” and Co-operation Afl oat Awill hold humanitarian homeless. has yet to follow up. pronouncements of the pated in a simulation of retak- terte’s dislike of war games with and Readiness Training (CARAT) exercises next month instead of “Balikatan is designed to meet The volatile leader has reached president that such exercises ing an oil-and-gas platform Washington. — geared toward external and annual war games, scaling back current challenges facing the out to Russia and China and in- should be focused on last year, seized by an imaginary “We made some adjustments, maritime defence. military drills in response to Philippines,” US embassy press vited their warships to come to humanitarian operations” enemy, and practised an am- based on the pronouncements of He said the two armies would President Rodrigo Duterte’s dis- offi cer Molly Koscina said in a the Philippines for exercises too. phibious landing on a Philippine the president that such exercises work on marksmanship and de- dain for their longstanding de- statement yesterday. He has taken issue with the Balikatan, which means beach near an area of the disput- should be focused on humani- fusing of homemade bombs, as fence alliance. Duterte has made no secret United States on its approach “shoulder-to-shoulder”, has ed South China Sea. tarian operations,” Major Frank part of counter-terrorism Troops taking part in “Balika- of his grudge against the United to the South China Sea and said taken place on 32 occasions and US marines also used for the Sayson told reporters. exercises. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Three children Lanka oil fi rm workers die in Nepal strike over India deal house fi re Reuters petroleum hub in Trincomalee. DPA Colombo The unions at state-run Kathmandu Ceylon Petroleum Corpora- tion (CPC) said handing the housands of Sri Lankan tanks to Lanka IOC would give hree young children of motorists were queuing it too much infl uence over fuel a family were burned Tfor fuel yesterday after stations. Tto death when a fi re workers at the state-run oil fi rm “If they are given, they will broke out at their thatched went on strike, demanding the have the control to decide the roof home in a village near government scrap a deal which market prices,” D J Rajakaruna, Nepal’s southern border they say would give India too a CPC union leader, said. with India, local police said much infl uence over fuel prices. A top CPC offi cial said fuel yesterday. Unions said the strike was to stations could run out of sup- The fi re broke out at the house stop a deal that puts 99 oil tanks plies later on Tuesday if the in Duduwa village of Banke dis- in the island nation’s eastern strike continued, though the trict in southern Nepal at mid- port city in the hands of Lanka island nation’s 50,000 barrel- night Sunday when the family IOC, a subsidiary of Indian Oil per-day capacity refi nery is still was sleeping, said Tek Bahadur Corporation. in operation. Rai, a superintendent with the Sri Lanka has agreed with In- “We have enough stocks, district’s police. dia to jointly develop and oper- but we can’t supply as work- “The three children and a six- ate all oil tanks in the oil storage ers in the distribution unit have month-old baby were all sleep- facility located in the port town gone on strike,” the offi cial said, ing with their grandmother. of Trincomalee near the world’s asking not to be named. The woman fl ed with the baby second deepest natural harbour. State Enterprise Minister and told the three to rush out of Union leaders said there was Kabir Hashim said the unions home, but the fi re moved quick- speculation the deal could be fi - were given false information, as ly,” Rai said. nalised either when Sri Lankan India and Sri Lanka had agreed The victims included a six- Prime Minister Ranil Wick- to hand over 10 tanks to CPC year-old boy and two girls aged remesinghe visits New Delhi while 74 were expected to be 8 and 10, the police offi cer said, today or Indian Prime Minis- developed under a joint venture adding that the fi re also gutted ter Narendra Modi comes to between CPC and Lanka IOC. 10 houses and two sheds in the Sri Lanka on May 11. “It will be signed between neighbourhood. Lanka IOC already operates the governments of India and It drizzled and a storm 15 of the oil tanks; the rest have Sri Lanka,” he told reporters in raged on Sunday night, but not been used for decades. Colombo. cases of people dying in fi res For its part, IOC has agreed A Lanka IOC offi cial said that are rare in the area, according to build a second refi nery due to trade union pressure to Rai. with a capacity of at least CPC would be allowed to use 10 The blaze could have started 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of the 84 tanks earmarked for from an open hearth inside the in Sri Lanka, while Modi in the joint venture between the Workers rest next to a closed fuel filling point during an island-wide Ceypetco (Ceylon Petrolium Corporation) strike at a fuel station in victims’ home, he said. 2015 pledged to establish a two companies. Colombo yesterday. Rain in April wreaks havoc Nepal parties call off planned

By Mizan Rahman The share of water rolling Of the total rainfall in the the presence of a trough of the protests ahead of local polls Dhaka down the hills in these districts country, Chittagong had re- westerly low lying over the Bay has also increased. But the worst ceived 83% above average rains, of Bengal along the Bangladeshi aff ected was Sylhet division that followed by 66.7% above average coast. IANS revised constitutional amend- register a revised constitution ains along with heat have received 80% above average in Barisal, 43% above average in The low has led to the high- Kathmandu ment tabled by the government amendment bill at the parlia- been unusually high across rainfall. Khulna, 29% above average in er presence of moisture-laden in the parliament will address ment to address the demands of RBangladesh this month. This caused havoc in the vast Rajshahi, and 14.5% above aver- southerly air conjugating with the their demands. the Madhes-based parties. A similar eff ect was witnessed wetlands of Sunamganj, Maul- age in Dhaka division. heat, generating thunder clouds, he Madhes-based ethnic Rajendra Shrestha, a key The bill states that changes in the wake of last year’s El Nino, vibazar and Sylhet districts Following 43% above average Abul Kalam Mallick, another parties have called off leader of the Rashtriya Janata in federal boundaries, a key which had robbed the winter of along with the rush of water rainfall in March, the long-range meteorologist, said. This was the Ttheir planned agitation Party, warned that they would demand of the Madhes-based its biting cold. down the hills from across the forecast by the meteorologi- trigger for thunderstorms and programmes to disrupt upcom- be forced to launch a fresh stir parties, will be determined by a “After experiencing tempera- border. cal department had predicted a heavy rains, he added. ing local body elections sched- against the government if their federal restructuring commis- tures bordering 40 degrees Cel- The excessive rains, particu- similar trend in April along with The two meteorologists uled for May 14 and June 14, demands were not met through sion to be formed by the gov- sius, the country recorded a total larly in the wetlands, in these heat waves ranging from mild, agreed that this was an unusual leaders said. constitutional amendments ernment in future, according to of 8,131mm of rains till Sunday. districts aff ected large tracts of moderate to severe. situation, and it needed further The disgruntled Mades-based before the local body elections. the government spokesman. This was around 53% higher Boro rice, which is the region’s Mannan said nature had studies to fi nd out if it was due to parties’ decision came a day after The Madhes-based parties, The Madhes-based parties than the average for April,” me- only crop, and also dealt a heavy turned particularly cruel in the eff ects of climate change. they sealed a crucial deal with the which represent Nepal’s south- also demand more political rep- teorologist Mohammad Abdul blow to tonnes of sweet water April, which had not been wit- On a positive note, Mannan ruling alliance, agreeing to join ern Terai, announced their uni- resentation at the provincial and Mannan said yesterday. fi sh, which is a second source of nessed in recent memory, due noted that the worst was proba- the local body elections. fi cation and the launch of a new upper house and re-demarca- Mymensingh division re- livelihood for local farmers. to the presence of a westerly low bly over and the situation would A meeting of six Madhes- group called Rashtriya Janata tion of provincial boundaries. corded the highest rainfall, 102% A large number of ducks, an- pressure over West Bengal in In- start improving from April 25 based fringe parties held in Party on Thursday. The parties have been over the average, causing fl ash other source of livelihood, was dia and adjoining areas in Bang- onwards with rains slowing Kathmandu decided to post- Government spokesman launching protests since Nepal fl oods in the wetlands of Kisho- also lost, dealing a further blow to ladesh. down over the country by the pone all planned agitation Surendra Kumar Karki said promulgated the new constitu- reganj and Netrokona. the farmers living in the wetlands. The trouble was created by end of this month. programmes, hoping that the that the government will soon tion in September 2015. Bangladeshi workers mark four years since factory collapse

AFP “I don’t need any compensa- compensation for the 3,000 Savar tion any more. I want Sohel Rana victims, including the injured to be hanged,” she said, referring and families of the dead, but to the owner of the factory com- many survivors say it is not housands of Bangladeshi plex who has been charged with enough. garment workers staged murder. “I would rather die than live Ta tearful demonstration like this,” said Nilufa Begum, yesterday to mark the anniver- “If four years are not who was rescued 10 hours after sary of a factory disaster that enough to punish the the factory collapsed and still killed 1,138 people, demand- culprits, bring them to needs crutches. ing justice for the victims and us: we will fi nd justice “I want to live like a normal better pay. for ourselves” human being,” said the 37-year- Four years later, no one has yet old, adding she had spent been convicted over the collapse A court last year ordered 450,000 taka ($5,700) on treat- of the Rana Plaza factory com- that Rana and 40 others, ment. plex in one of the world’s worst including factory offi cials Many survivors were in tears industrial tragedies. and government inspectors, as they protested at Savar on Another 2,000 people were should face trial for murder. the outskirts of Dhaka, and at a wounded in the disaster, which They are accused of falsely state-run graveyard where many sent shockwaves across the certifying the factory com- of the workers were buried. world and highlighted the fail- plex as safe. Security was tight, with hun- ure of many top Western fash- Thousands of textile workers dreds of police and a water can- ion brands to protect workers were forced to enter the building non deployed. in the poor developing coun- to start shifts even though some “Why do they have a water tries where their goods are expressed fears after noticing cannon? We came here to hon- manufactured. cracks in the structure. our our departed brothers and Activists place a wreath at a monument as they mark the fourth anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse at the site where the building “If four years are not Bangladesh has 4,500 tex- sisters,” said one angry garment once stood in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, yesterday. enough to punish the cul- tile factories, shipping some worker. prits, bring them to us: we $30bn worth of garments - Some shouted slogans de- the worst paid in the world. We bal charity Action Aid of more thorities pledged to improve work- western district of Kushtia killed will fi nd justice for our- the second largest exporter manding an increase in the ba- want minimum monthly wages than 1,400 Rana Plana survivors ing conditions at factories but ac- two workers, said local police selves,” said Marium Akter, after China - but only a few sic monthly wage of $68 for the of $200 to have a decent living,” found nearly half were still job- cidents are still commonplace. chief Shahabuddin Chowdhury. whose daughter Shieuly died hundred of these have been country’s four million garment Saiful Islam, a union leader, less while roughly 31% were too Even as workers rallied for In September a fi re at a fac- in the disaster, as she laid a certifi ed as safe. workers. said. traumatised to work. safer conditions yesterday a boil- tory just miles from Rana Plaza wreath at the site. Authorities have provided “Bangladeshi workers are A survey last week by glo- In the wake of the disaster, au- er explosion at a factory in the claimed 34 lives. Gulf Times 26 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Taliban attack eclipses

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Trump’s mega bomb Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Some offi cials say 140 for comment, but in the wake of the US President Barack Obama’s Afghan government have not had Fax 44350474 base attack the top US commander in administration, American troops in a clear strategy to eliminate them Afghan soldiers killed in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, Afghanistan were discouraged from or push them to negotiation,” said Taliban attack; Assault promised to “continue to stand” with directly targeting the Taliban, amid Mohamed Farhad Sediqi, a member of Afghan security forces. hopes the group could be brought to parliament from Kabul. on army base only 8 Nearly 9,000 US troops remain the negotiating table for peace talks. “As you dropped the ‘Mother of All days after huge US in Afghanistan, some 7,000 of them “The Obama administration was Bombs’ on Daesh, there should be one to train and assist local forces that very much existing in a parallel dropped on the Taliban sanctuaries GULF TIMES bomb dropped; Afghan Washington has spent billions of universe where if you don’t call the and training grounds on the other side politicians question why dollars to build virtually from scratch Taliban terrorists then there’s a chance of the border in Pakistan.” in the hope of one day handing over you can reconcile with them,” said Some statements by incoming US US going after Islamic control completely. Ioannis Koskinas, senior fellow with offi cials have hinted they may take a While the advisers are seldom think-tank New America. harder line on Pakistan, but the Trump State involved in direct combat with the Despite a surge of tens of thousands administration has yet to outline Messi proves Taliban or other militants, a smaller of US soldiers that ended in 2012, some clearly new strategies for the region. Reuters counter-terrorism unit of about 1,500 Afghan offi cials became impatient with Analysts say the recent US- Kabul soldiers does engage insurgents, but what they saw as an American fi xation endorsed strategy of focusing on its main targets are pockets of Al on withdrawal, and since then, a lack of protecting major cities and other yet again that Qaeda and Islamic State fi ghters. focus on ending the war. population centres in Afghanistan ight days after the US They are estimated to number in They say the lack of attention has while consolidating forces will not military dropped its largest their hundreds, while the Taliban continued in the fi rst months of the be enough to bring the Taliban to the ever conventional bomb number thousands or tens of new Trump administration, which has negotiating table. Eon suspected Islamic State thousands and have gained swathes of yet to appoint an ambassador to Kabul With Afghan army units pulling he is the best fi ghters in eastern Afghanistan, territory in the last few years. and some of the supporting offi cials at back, and in some cases forced to Taliban militants breached an army Islamic State has claimed several the State Department. abandon more scattered and rural base in the north of the country and deadly bombings in Afghanistan and “It’s very hard to have a coordinated bases, the government could only The latest edition of the Clasico, the thrilling killed scores of local soldiers. neighbouring Pakistan, but many policy and strategy when you don’t claim to control or infl uence 57% of To Afghan and other critics of experts believe the Taliban are the have positions fi lled,” Kolenda said. the country, according to US military blockbuster that it was, had numerous defi ning President Donald Trump’s apparent fundamental threat to the US-backed “From the Trump administration estimates late last year. moments. And these will be remembered for a indecision over how to win a government of President Ashraf standpoint, Afghanistan is pretty far Resurgent Taliban forces, long time to come. Whether it was the sight of a seemingly intractable war, Friday’s Ghani. down the list of priorities.” meanwhile, control or contest 43% of assault — the worse of its kind since Leaders in Washington and Kabul In Kabul, some Afghan leaders are the country, a 15% increase over the bloodied Lionel Messi early on in the match, or the Taliban were ousted in 2001 — was often had “almost diametrically” angry at what they see as a failure by year before. Sergio Ramos’ ill-timed, ill-fated, two-footed evidence he was getting it wrong. opposed views of the threat, said the Americans to act as strongly as “In what universe does that not “The biggest threat to the security Christopher Kolenda, a former possible against the Taliban, as well matter?” Koskinas said. “Territory challenge and subsequent red card, or that sublime and stability of this country is the US Army offi cer who served in as Pakistan, which they accuse of means resources for them. You’re strike from super-sub James Rodrigues to bring Taliban insurgents, not Daesh forces,” Afghanistan and worked on American harbouring and supporting insurgents giving away all the smuggling routes said Mirwais Yasini, an infl uential strategies for the confl ict. as a hedge against Indian infl uence in and opium and all the things that are the score to 2-2 and raise the roof of the Estadio Afghan member of parliament from US offi cials tended to focus on the region. enriching the Taliban and fuelling the Santiago Bernabéu. One could go on… Nangarhar province, using an Arabic international groups like Islamic State Pakistan denies this and instead insurgency.” term for Islamic State. and Al Qaeda, while Afghan offi cials says it is itself a victim of terrorism, Retaking territory lost to the There were many subplots going into this match “You drop your biggest bomb on see Pakistan, and the Taliban as an including from groups operating from Taliban will be key to turning the tide, – the chief among them, as has been in recent Daesh, but what about the Taliban extension of that, as the major threat, within Afghanistan. Koskinas said. Clasicos – the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. This was who kill dozens of our people every he added. “The Taliban are the single “At this point we almost don’t need day?” “With those diff erences, you can’t biggest challenge in the country, to talk about safe havens in Pakistan, the chance for Cristiano Ronaldo to showcase his The American military command possibly have a coherent strategy.” but unfortunately since the regime’s because they have safe havens in superiority and deliver a win. But instead it was in Kabul did not respond to a request In the fi nal years of former collapse, the United States and the Afghanistan.” his arch-rival, Messi who claimed the honours, and did so in emphatic style. The Argentinean’s strike with 13 seconds to go, gave his team a sensational victory and more importantly, a massive boost in their title ambitions. This win comes after they had been knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus. Their coach Luis Enrique will be leaving the club at the end of the season. Uncertainty was the key word and with murmurs of Barca no longer being the threat that they were used to be, this Messi goal has ripped apart that script. There may have been better Clasicos but not many have been this There were closely-fought or countless this dramatic. A win for Madrid, or even a sub-plots in draw, would have seen Barcelona’s them win the title after a painful fi ve- 3-2 win over year absence. But now Real Madrid on it could go either way. Sunday Zinedine Zindane’s Real Madrid have fi ve matches left but they are a couple of prospective Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani visits a victim wounded in April 21’s attack on an army headquarters, in Mazar-i-Sharif, northern Afghanistan. hurdles in there. Barca have an easier run to the end of the season, and probably the title. And which is why, that goal from Messi will be talked about for many seasons to come. Before this game, Messi had not scored for three Enlisting women in Africa’s health fi ght years against Madrid. He scored twice yesterday. The match-winning goal was his 47th of the By Matshidiso Moeti Because the SDGs are based on the working to make essential medicines debilitating diseases once and for all. Brazzaville principle of “leaving no one behind,” available across the continent. In 2016, the WHO Regional Offi ce for season and momentously, his 500th for Barcelona. they cannot be considered a success Moreover, women can help to Africa launched the Expanded Special And he chose a perfect moment to achieve that until they have been met everywhere, control NTD vectors at the source, Project for Elimination of Neglected eglected Tropical Diseases and for all people – including women by ensuring that all members of Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), which staggering landmark for his club. (NTDs) disproportionately and girls. their community are complying with provides African countries with It was the dying seconds of a Clasico where his aff ect women and SDG 5, in particular, calls for the anti-NTD drug distribution and technical assistance and fundraising treatment programmes. tools to fi ght the fi ve NTDs that team were not quite the favourites, a match that Ngirls. Female genital world to “achieve gender equality schistosomiasis (FGS) alone causes and empower all women and girls” by Ongoing eff orts to control and can be preempted with preventive his team had to win or end up conceding the title severe pain, bleeding, and lesions in 2030. Gender equity applies to both eliminate NTDs in Africa have made chemotherapy: onchocerciasis, more than 16mn women and girls in sexes, but special attention is needed some progress. But the time has lymphatic fi lariasis, schistosomiasis, to their arch-rivals, end up conceding the title to Sub-Saharan Africa. to improve conditions for women come to develop more innovative soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and his arch-rival. But Messi didn’t let that happen. Beyond causing widespread and girls. In Africa, women are often policy tools. We urgently need trachoma. physical suff ering, NTDs have a disenfranchised, even though they integrated, inter-programmatic, ESPEN is an eff ort to bring together “Just imagine, his 500th goal coming here, severe long-term socioeconomic account for more than half of the and inter-sectoral approaches that governments, the global public-health a winner in the 92nd minute at the Santiago impact on millions of women and continent’s population. To ensure address NTDs’ social, economic, community, and other stakeholders. Bernabeu,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique, full of girls. Women who have been scarred that they are not forgotten, we need and etiological dynamics. And we Our goal is to strengthen partnerships or disfi gured from diseases such as to improve our understanding of how will need the full participation of that are designed specifi cally to praise for Messi. The legend has grown further. FGS and lymphatic fi lariasis are often gendered power relationships operate, the most vulnerable communities. eliminate NTDs. Toward that end, stigmatised to the point that they are and address those social dynamics Without that, no programme aimed ESPEN is actively supporting unable to marry or are abandoned head on. at ultimately eradicating NTDs can national-level anti-NTD programmes by their spouses. And even though Because women and girls in succeed. that have been established to break the disfi gurement and social stigma are their childbearing years suff er This year marks the fi fth cycle of poverty that NTDs cause and To Advertise not lethal conditions, they can cause disproportionately from the health anniversary of the World Health sustain. or exacerbate psychological disorders and social eff ects of NTDs, it is Organisation’s Roadmap to As the WHO works toward [email protected] and limit the opportunities women critically important that they eliminate NTDs, and of the London achieving the SDGs, we will continue Display and girls have. be included in any large-scale Declaration on Neglected Tropical to foster participatory approaches Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Since 2000, enough health-policy interventions that Diseases. It is encouraging to see that include the most vulnerable pharmaceuticals for 5bn preventive are proposed. And, beyond making that the international community populations – especially women and Classified treatments against NTDs have been women the focus of NTD programmes, is recognising not only the girls – in the fi ght against disease. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 donated. And many people now we should acknowledge that they will disproportionate burden that NTDs Ultimately, the only way to ensure recognise that controlling, and play a central role in advancing the place on women, but also the essential long-term success is to empower Subscription eventually eliminating, NTDs will be sustainable development agenda. role that women play in controlling those who are most aff ected. – Project [email protected] essential for achieving the Sustainable We need to empower women and and eradicating these diseases. Syndicate Development Goals, which apply girls to promote and lead social- Now that an ever-growing to such diverse areas as nutrition, mobilisation efforts in Africa. international partnership has zMatshidiso Moeti is Regional 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved education, health, water, sanitation Women are front-line partners for emerged, we have a unique Director for Africa at the World Health and hygiene, and economic growth. public-health advocates who are opportunity to put an end to these Organisation. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 25, 2017 27 COMMENT Macron’s vision and mission

By Harold James address what drove more than 40% of Despite being portrayed as the Princeton French voters to support this anti- eurozone’s major benefi ciary, European vision in the fi rst round. Germany’s trade gains are lower And if he is to reinvigorate support for than many assume, especially when he centrist Emmanuel Europe, he should consider what made struggling southern European Macron’s success in the Europe attractive in the past – and countries are importing fewer German fi rst round of the French how it lost its allure. goods. What many Germans see, Tpresidential election is likely When Europe was most obviously instead, are the fi nancial claims to re-energise Europe. Unlike the attractive, it was regarded as a way against southern European countries other candidates, Macron does not of purging what was bad and corrupt building up in the eurozone’s just recognise the need for radical from national traditions. In the TARGET2 payments system. change to the European Union; he 1950s, as two very old men, German This situation, in which both sides supports bringing it through Europe- Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and feel trapped, can be viewed as a variant wide co-operation. But Macron’s French President Charles de Gaulle, of the famous master–slave dialectic plurality of the popular vote was moved to reinvent their respective in Georg W.F. Hegel’s Phenomenology narrow, and a much larger share of countries, they examined how of Spirit: both sides are equally French voters showed support for a their vaunted traditions had been bound. The slave is not recognised very diff erent political vision. undermined by their own elites. as fully human, or as an equal of the It is a vision of nostalgia and Germany had been devastated by master, and is not free. The master is isolation espoused by Macron’s rival Nazism, which, in Adenauer’s view, free, but does not feel recognised as in the second round, the far-right had been forced on the country by a human by the slave. The master is National Front’s Marine Le Pen. Her Prussian aristocrats and militarists. constantly worried by the fragility of slogan – “on est chez nous” (we are In France, according to de Gaulle, the the relationship, and by the fact that at home) – underscores her focus on elites weakened the country, before the slave is building up an alternative enclosing France in a national cocoon voting to overthrow the Republic in universe of values, in which the master that resists “wild globalisation.” the aftermath of military defeat. is not represented. But Le Pen was not alone in But, unlike today, the post-war The task ahead for a President promoting this vision. One of the anti-elite backlash did not cause Macron would therefore be to achieve candidates who fi nished fourth, the countries to turn inward. On the a kind of Hegelian transcendence, far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon, also contrary, de Gaulle believed that through a process much like that which built his candidacy on simplistic France’s deep historical wounds could de Gaulle described in the 1960s. France economic populism. For example, be healed only through engagement needs Germany to serve as a model of like Le Pen, he promised a radical with Germany. As he put it, “Germany a social market economy, capable of reduction in the retirement age, is a great people that triumphed, and creating new non-governmental jobs. without explaining how to fi nance it. then was crushed. France is a great Germany needs France in order to assert And both appealed to people that was crushed, and then its own place in the world, including Germanophobia, focusing on the associated itself in Vichy with the from a security perspective. European debt crisis and Germany’s triumph of another.” And he believed Reconciling these economic and insistence on austerity. Le Pen that only he could bring about France’s Emmanuel Macron is the clear favourite to become France’s youngest-ever president after topping ballot with 24.01% of security imperatives is painful, because accuses Macron of aspiring to be reconciliation with Germany, because votes, slightly ahead of the National Front (FN) leader. it means confronting the weaknesses Vice-Chancellor of Europe, under only he could “raise Germany from her and errors of the past head-on. But it is German Chancellor Angela Merkel, decadence.” dominant France and a more dominant The eurozone became the focus Interestingly, the eurozone’s necessary. France and Germany must while proudly declaring herself to be With the euro crisis, however, the Germany. Much like the events of of dispute, owing to the constraints debtors and creditors alike share again welcome each other chez nous. – the “anti-Merkel.” Melenchon claims limits of that reconciliation came to 1940, the euro crisis refl ected bad that it imposed on member countries. this sentiment. Of course, southern Project Syndicate that Germany is motivated by radical the fore, as did the issue of national management and bad judgment, and As the crisis progressed, the Europe, including France, feels individualism, neoliberalism, and decadence. Germany and France it came to be viewed as a betrayal by single currency began to feel like a ensnared in a low-competitiveness zHarold James is Professor of History the economic interests of an ageing clearly needed one another, but found the elites. This time, however, it was straitjacket, and voters increasingly scenario of high unemployment and and International Aff airs at Princeton population. it diffi cult to understand each other. the European elites – and the national became convinced that escaping it stagnant income growth. But even University and a senior fellow at the Even if Macron wins the second European policymaking after 2010 was elites who empowered them – who would solve the problems that had northern Europe – and especially Center for International Governance round, as expected, he will have to practically a bilateral aff air, involving a were blamed. emerged while bound by it. Germany – feels trapped. Innovation. Weather report The limits of economic optimism Three-day forecast TODAY High: 39 C By Kemal Dervis new information to the forecasters’ One of those issues is slowing solution. hypotheses – would be a huge task. productivity growth, which has held There is a broad consensus among Low : 26 C Washington, DC Inshore: Hazy at places at first But, whatever reasons for optimism back global economic performance, economists that long-term growth can becomes hot daytime with slight dust at places and some scattered forecasters may have, there are also to varying degrees, for the last two be secure only if it is both sustainable clouds s the annual spring meetings strong grounds for caution, especially decades, with no sign of reversal in and inclusive. In other words, if of the World Bank and the in the medium and long term. sight. Another is economic inequality, the world economy is to perform at WEDNESDAY International Monetary Forecasters, like markets, are which seems largely to be worsening, potential – which can mean growth High: 37 C Fund commence, the world’s often infl uenced by “herd instinct.” as wealth becomes increasingly rates of, say, 2.5-3% in the US and Low: 25 C A Sunny economic future appears brighter than The greater the number of analysts concentrated at the top of the income Europe, together with 5-6% growth in it has in some time. The international who subscribe to a particular view, distribution. the emerging economies – we need to fi nancial institutions, not to mention the more likely it is that additional Inequality seems likely to continue reverse some of today’s most powerful many private-sector actors, are analysts will shift their own forecasts to undermine aggregate demand, trends. THURSDAY projecting signifi cantly faster growth in that direction. In this case, the even if GDP growth accelerates in On inequality, success will require High: 38 C this year than in 2016. Is their buoyant majority’s rather optimistic view has the short term. Not even a decline stronger and more flexible labour Low: 26 C outlook warranted? been buttressed by a broad sense of in unemployment would do much markets. To this end, we need to Sunny Until recently, most macroeconomic relief. to boost demand, not least because develop education systems that indicators were regularly leading to Both the Brexit vote in the UK such a shift could well be driven by provide the digital and civic skills downgrades in growth projections. and the election of Donald Trump falling labour-force participation, that a twenty-first-century labour Fishermen’s forecast Now, the opposite seems to be as US president raised fears of as has often been the case in the US. market demands. We also need to OFFSHORE DOHA happening. The IMF’s recent fl agship economic disaster. Yet, so far, neither This points to another vulnerability: introduce modern and sustainable Wind: NW-SW 03-12 KT report raised its projection for world development has had particularly weaknesses within labour markets social-welfare systems, including Waves: 1-3 Feet GDP growth for 2017 from 3.4% to dire economic consequences. On that have proved particularly fully portable benefits. And we INSHORE DOHA Wind: SW-SE 04-13 KT 3.5%, compared to the estimated rate the contrary, market confi dence damaging for the young. need to implement strategies for Waves: 1-2 Feet of 3.1% for 2016. remains high, boosting expectations Then there is climate change. The managing migration. Likewise, the multi-indicator of increased investment and world has still not answered what As for climate change, we need a Around the region Brookings – FT TIGER Index points to consumption. It is telling that the is perhaps the biggest question global system of implicit or explicit Weather Weather a “broad-based and stable” recovery. US Federal Reserve has now pursued affecting long-term growth: how carbon pricing, spearheaded by the today Max/min tomorrow Max/min According to these projections – modest interest-rate hikes without can the global economy continue world economy’s most infl uential Abu Dhabi M Sunny 36/26 Sunny 35/26 which are based on models, new data, triggering an adverse reaction even to expand rapidly, without allowing actors. In line with the December 2015 Baghdad M Sunny 30/16 Sunny 31/16 Dubai Sunny in emerging markets, which last year the average global temperature to Paris climate agreement, the range Sunny 37/26 34/26 and the judgment of the particular Kuwait City P Cloudy 36/23 M Sunny 35/23 institution or forecaster – the United were dreading such a move. climb more than 2C above its pre- of carbon pricing should take into Manama Sunny 36/24 Sunny 32/25 States, the United Kingdom, and Against this background, industrial level? With the Trump account, to some extent, historical Muscat Sunny 36/27 Sunny 38/29 Japan are contributing the most to the economic optimism makes administration unwilling even responsibilities, as well as current Riyadh Sunny 38/22 P Cloudy 37/22 uptick in growth. India is also doing some sense. But growth remains to acknowledge the risks posed income levels. Tehran S T Storms 26/14 M Sunny 22/12 particularly well. vulnerable to the as-yet-unresolved by climate change – including There is one more prerequisite for Deciphering these projections’ issues that kept dragging down increased migration – we may sustainable growth: relative peace various components – from the previous forecasts. actually be moving away from a and security. This demands a strong international governance framework in which confl icts are resolved by negotiation and compromise, though strong defences – both traditional and non-traditional (for example, cyber security) – will also have an important role to play in guarding against major threats. Here, updating multilateral institutions, which have long played an important stabilising role, will be crucial. That means resisting the trend, which has lately gained momentum, toward bypassing these institutions in favour of bilateral or regional arrangements. More fundamentally, it means rejecting old- style nationalism, which threatens to drag us back to the 1930s, rather than Around the world preparing us for the 2030s. Weather Weather None of this is to say that the 2017 today Max/min tomorrow Max/min projections for GDP growth will be Athens M Sunny 22/10 Sunny 23/11 proved wrong. On the contrary, it is Beirut Sunny 23/17 M Sunny 27/20 M Sunny M Sunny 38/29 possible that the world will experience Bangkok 38/28 Berlin Showers 11/02 P Cloudy 12/02 even-faster-than-expected growth Cairo Sunny 28/14 Sunny 31/15 this year, with growth forecasts being Cape Town M Sunny 31/19 P Cloudy 25/14 revised upward again this summer. Colombo S T Storms 32/27 P Cloudy 32/26 But these gains are likely to be short- Dhaka S T Storms 34/27 P Cloudy 34/27 Hong Kong T Storms 25/24 S T Storms 26/23 lived, unless policymakers seize the Istanbul Sunny 18/06 Sunny 20/07 opportunity that they provide to Jakarta T Storms 32/24 S T Storms 31/25 address the deep-seated structural Karachi Sunny 32/26 P Cloudy 32/26 challenges that, if left unresolved, will London M Sunny 12/03 Showers 11/02 Manila Sunny 35/26 M Sunny 35/27 undermine growth in the longer term. Moscow M Sunny 11/05 Showers 15/07 – Project Syndicate New Delhi Sunny 39/24 M Sunny 39/24 New York Rain 12/11 Cloudy 18/14 zKemal Dervis, former Minister Paris Showers 12/01 S Showers 12/02 of Economic Affairs of Turkey and Sao Paulo M Sunny 29/19 S T Storms 26/18 Seoul P Cloudy 20/08 Sunny 21/06 former Administrator for the United Singapore T Storms 31/25 T Storms 31/25 Nations Development Program Sydney Rain 25/15 Cloudy 22/10 (UNDP), is a vice president of the Tokyo Clear 20/12 Cloudy 22/12 Brookings Institution. Gulf Times 28 Tuesday, April 25, 2017 QATAR Qatar Airways to off er high-speed broadband soon lag carrier Qatar Airways these expectations, but to exceed made a host of announce- them, I am delighted to announce Fments, including 12 new this partnership with Inmarsat, destinations and high-speed the leading provider of airborne Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of broadband connectivity on broadband connectivity.” Dubai, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, and al-Baker exploring fl ights, on the fi rst day of the “This, alongside our recently the new Qsuite. Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in launched Qsuite, will off er pre- Dubai yesterday. mium passengers a new level of al-Maktoum, the Vice-President at a rate of one plane per month. easier to surf content and choose The airline also unveiled its sophistication, privacy and con- and Prime Minister of the UAE The fi rst destinations to fea- from up to 3,000 entertainment new Business Class experience, nectivity in the skies from this and Ruler of Dubai, and Dubai ture the Qsuites are due to be options – enough to fl y around Qsuite, to consumers in the Mid- summer,” al-Baker said. “The Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan London, Paris, and New York, it the world 94 times”. dle East. new destinations announced bin Mohamed bin Rashid al- added. “Even when on the ground, the During the annual press con- mean that we can now bring Maktoum were given a tour of Each of the new seats is craft- brand-new Oryx One mobile app ference held as part of the Middle these innovative and world-class the Qsuite by Qatar Airways chief ed with intricate details such as showcases the very best of Qatar East’s biggest travel show, Qatar products to even more travellers executive. hand-stitched Italian leather and Airways’ entertainment, extend- Airways announced that it would around the world.” Qsuite features the “industry’s satin rose gold fi nishing. ing and complementing Qatar be the “fi rst airline in the Mid- The carrier revealed at the fi rst-ever” double bed available In addition to the customisable Airways’ in-fl ight experience, dle East” to launch high-speed press conference 12 new destina- in Business Class, with privacy on-board seating experience, allowing passengers to browse broadband on fl ights starting tions to be launched in 2018. panels that stow away, allowing Qatar Airways is also launching the vast entertainment content this summer, along with a brand- These are San Francisco (US), passengers in adjoining seats to a customisable food and bever- library on their own device, at new graphic user interface for Cardiff (UK), Utapao (Thai- “create” their own private room. age concept, introducing a menu their own leisure,” the statement improved usability and a com- land), Chittagong (Bangladesh), Adjustable panels and movable off ering a host of new dining said. plimentary new entertainment Mykonos (Greece), Málaga TV monitors allow colleagues, choices. Passengers can enjoy trailers application for early access to (Spain), Accra (Ghana), Lisbon Al-Baker and Qatar Airways chief commercial off icer Ehab Amin at friends or families travelling to- The new Business Class menu of the latest Hollywood block- thousands of entertainment op- (Portugal), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), the ATM 2017 press conference yesterday. gether to transform their space will now off er a selection of buster releases and plan their on- tions. Prague (Czech Republic), Kiev into a private suite, allowing snack “sharing dishes” available board viewing before leaving the Qatar Airways Group chief (Ukraine), and Mombasa (Kenya). and economy passengers the site, set to go live in early May. them to work, dine and socialise throughout the fl ight, allowing ground, and even read a selection executive Akbar al-Baker said: This announcement came af- ability to stream content and The new website was devel- together. travellers to turn dining at 35,000 of magazines and newspapers “Qatar Airways constantly ter Qatar Airways had already browse the Internet “with the oped to showcase the airline’s These new features provide a feet into a social experience. whilst waiting to board. strives to create the ultimate pas- announced 14 new destinations same speed and effi ciency as if destinations and service, and customisable travel experience A wake-up Express Breakfast Passengers can also make their senger experience. for 2017-18, further adding to its they were on the ground”, the features more than 2,000 new and enable passengers to create will also be available for those own favourite viewing list and “It is this simple methodology global network of more than 150 statement notes. destination and fl eet images, an environment that suits their who choose to sleep a little long- transfer it on-board via the addi- that continues to place us ahead destinations, according to a press Initially available on the Boe- and over 400 videos, including unique needs. er by making the most of the “Do tion of the Near Field Communi- of our competitors when off ering statement from the airline. ing 777 and Airbus 350, Inmar- 360-degree videos and pano- “Qatar Airways continuously Not Disturb” option available on cation technology built in to each the best service in the skies.” Among the key announce- sat’s GX Aviation product will ramic images. revolutionises the passenger ex- the door of their private Qsuite. Qsuite seat. “Seamless connectivity is part ments was the launch of the new off er “seamless connectivity” Meanwhile, al-Baker revealed perience, enabling passengers to The enhancements and im- These enhancements come as of our passenger’s lifestyle re- high-speed broadband in part- through its proprietary Global the fi ner details of the recently- enjoy First Class features within proved connectivity will be the airline celebrates its 20th year quirements on the ground and nership with Inmarsat (GX Avia- Xpress Ka-band satellite net- launched Qsuite, before unveil- the airline’s Business Class cab- complemented by the airline’s of operations, marking two dec- is fast becoming a minimum ex- tion). work, designed perfectly for use ing the Qsuite in person to the in,” the airline said. relaunched entertainment sys- ades of growth, industry leader- pectation for travel in the air,” he This off ering “heralds a new in commercial aviation. media and VIP attendees at the The fi rst Qsuites will be ret- tem, Oryx One, off ering a “next- ship and innovation. added. chapter in connectivity for the Qatar Airways also announced airline’s stand. rofi tted onto existing Qatar Air- generation user interface that has The Arabian Travel Market “In order to not just meet airline”, enabling both premium the launch of its redesigned web- Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid ways aircraft from June onwards, been redesigned to make it even 2017 continues until April 27. Shams Generation solar artwork shines in Fire Station Museum gallery

atar Solar Technologies studying at Virginia Common- (QSTec), a member of wealth University in Qatar and QQatar Foundation, held Texas A&M University at Qatar. the inauguration ceremony of Now in its third year, the mul- the Shams Generation 3 exhibi- ti-award winning, hands-on tion at the Fire Station yesterday learning initiative was developed to celebrate the third edition of by QSTec, in collaboration with its educational initiative. Qatar Museums, to address the Over 400 pieces of solar art- knowledge gap in the region on work handcrafted by students the use of solar energy and its from more than 20 schools and applications. universities from across Qatar Shams Generation educates will be on display and open to the the nation’s younger generation public until May 1. about the use of solar energy The art creations are by stu- and the importance of environ- dents, whose ages range from mental sustainability through eight through to university level. an interdisciplinary approach to Since its launch in 2014, the education combining science, Al-Hajri viewing some of the creations on display at the exhibition. Shams Generation initiative has technology, engineering, art, and reached more than 16,000 stu- mathematics. QSTec chairman and chief ex- “To achieve this, education dents through its outreach pro- For the globally-integrated so- ecutive Dr Khalid K al-Hajri said: is essential, and to this end, we grammes. lar company, QSTec, this year’s “We need to preserve our envi- must all play a proactive role in This year’s exhibition also fea- edition of Shams Generation is ronment for future generations shouldering our respective re- tures solar art and engineering driven by its motivation to ad- and successfully reduce green- sponsibilities to protect our en- Al-Hajri with some of the participants of the Shams Generation 3 exhibition. collaboration between students dress global warming. house gas emissions. vironment.”

Museum runs ‘JR – Répertoire’ for students

atar Museums (QM) is running an educational Qprogramme alongside its latest exhibition “JR – Réper- toire”, aimed at inspiring an in- digenous culture of creativity and educating young children. QM currently hosts two workshops for schools, both running until May 31. The fi rst, titled “Your Canvas Is Your Wall”, runs in two-hour blocks every Wednesday morn- ing from 8.30am to 10.30am, and from 10.30am to 12.30pm Participating dhows on standby for the Senyar 2017 tournament, which starts today. at the QM Gallery, Building 10, Katara. Students are taken on a tour of the exhibition, and create a collage of art works on canvas Sixth Senyar 2017 tournament, using photos of Qatar Heritage sites inspired by the exhibition. The second workshop, titled featuring 76 teams, starts today “Stencil on Wood”, is running at Students on a tour of the ‘JR – Répertoire’ exhibition. the same time slots every Mon- day at the same venue. great levels of engagement and “We will continue to organise QM Gallery in Katara until May he Dashat Al Hadaq will ditional dhows return to Katara the lodging of the organising Students examine photos enthusiasm from school chil- educational programmes like 31 in collaboration with Galerie take off from Katara Beach Beach to celebrate Al-Qafal. committee members, referees, where JR uses stencils to create dren that have participated in this one around all of our exhi- Perrotin. Tto the Ashaat Reserve The homecoming of the par- photographers, and journalists. his artwork on wooden boards. these courses so far. bitions, to inspire and develop JR’s work combines art and (10km from the coastline), which ticipants will be welcomed by The second base is for the Students also learn the basics “We hope to see more schools our future creative generation,” engaged actions through large- will serve as the site of the sixth their relatives with song and daily reception of the traditional of making stencils, and apply it come forward and take part in she added. scale outdoor installations, edition of the Senyar 2017 tour- merriment. dhows participating in Senyar, on their own wooden boards, these fun workshops, to stimu- Presented by QM under the fi lms, photographs and videos, nament, the organising commit- Three off shore bases have been set up to weigh the fi shes at the inspired by French artist JR’s late students’ creativity and ed- leadership of its chairperson HE using the streetscape as his can- tee has announced. installed near Ashaat Island as end of the competition. work. ucate them on the role and value Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Ha- vas and his inspiration, which he Some 76 teams will take part the headquarters of the competi- The third base is dedicated to QM education director Dr Je- of arts, heritage and creativity,” mad bin Khalifa al-Thani, JR – claims as the largest art gallery in the competition, which con- tion. live broadcasting devices and lena Trkulja said they have seen she noted. Répertoire will be on show at the in the world. cludes on April 28 when the tra- The fi rst base is dedicated to screens.