QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 1 Al Sadd chase more records, Al Rayyan fi ght to stay Bharat Utsav highlights India’s cultural diversity in top-4 published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11152 April 13, 2019 Sha’baan 8, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief FM meets French counterpart All set for QATAR | Reaction Qatar condemns explosion in Pakistan Qatar expressed yesterday its sixth CMC strong condemnation of the explosion that took place in a local market in Pakistan’s Quetta city, leaving a number of people killed. The Ministry of Foreign Aff airs renewed, in a statement released elections yesterday, Qatar’s position of rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of the motivations and reasons. The statement expressed Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims, the government, and people of Pakistan. Page 12 on Tuesday HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday in QATAR | Weather Paris with Minister of Europe and Foreign Aff airs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral O Candidates conducting intensive campaigning Thundery rain, strong relations and means of developing them, besides topics of mutual interest. They also discussed the Declaration of Intent on the establishment of a strategic dialogue between the two countries signed in February that includes defence and security, health, By Ayman Adly host the sessions at the majlis of key wind forecast for today education, culture, sports, economy and investment, and the fight against terrorism and extremism. The dialogue will play a Staff Reporter fi gures in their constituency to discuss Thundery rain with sudden prominent role in opening up prospects for enhancing co-operation and monitoring its development in all fields for the benefit their future programmes and what they strong wind is expected today, of both countries and peoples. Page 2 have to off er the people of the area. the Met off ice has forecast. The oting for the sixth election to A number of billboards can be seen off shore forecast adds high seas the Central Municipal Council across the country, within each con- too. Inshore, wind could reach V(CMC) will take place on Tues- stituency with candidates expressing up to 35 knots by evening with day, April 16, according to the Amiri their vision for the CMC. Considered thundery rain, whereas off shore, Decree No 4 for 2019. the only elected body of representa- wind could touch 38 knots, again The CMC has 29 seats, out of which tives in the country, the CMC is not with thundery rain. The maximum two have been already won uncontested; a legislative entity. Rather, it is con- temperature of 29C is expected Sudan’s military council Constituency No 7 (New Al Slata) and cerned with all the municipal aff airs at Dukhan and Abu Samra and a Constituency No 27 (Al Zakhira). There and services in the country and the re- minimum of 21C at Abu Samra. are 94 candidates, including fi ve women, lated issues, where the members voice Yesterday, a maximum of 34C was in the fray for the remaining 27 seats. the concerns and demands of their vot- recorded at Doha and a minimum The current CMC has two women ers regarding related issues. chief says stepping down members. The term of the council is Accordingly, CMC members present of 22C at Abu Samra. four years. The fi rst election to the their suggestions at the council for ARAB WORLD | Confl ict AFP Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdulrahman Protesters vowed yesterday to chase CMC was held on April 8, 1999, and discussion at a public biweekly ses- Khartoum to succeed me as president of the mili- out the country’s new army rulers, as the fi rst council held its fi rst session on sion open to the media. Most of such Battles intensify tary council.” Ibn Ouf also said that a military council appealed for foreign May 15 the same year. suggestions are often referred to CMC around Libya capital before stepping down he had fi red his economic aid. Each Qatari adult, men and women services and utilities committee for Forces answering to Libyan udan’s military council chief deputy in the council Lieutenant Gen- “We want your donations, as we alike, have the right to vote in the CMC further study and consultation with strongman Khalifa Haftar battled General Awad Ibn Ouf an- eral Kamal Abdelmarouf. have some economic issues,” the head election. The voting will be held from representatives from the departments units that back Tripoli’s unity Snounced yesterday he was step- Meanwhile, the Sudanese group of the military council’s political com- 8am to 5pm at centres across the coun- and authorities concerned to work out government on the edge of the ping down, just a day after he was spearheading a nationwide protest mittee, Lieutenant General Omar Zain try, and the winners will be announced suitable recommendation for the issues capital yesterday, days into a new sworn in following the ouster of vet- movement described Ibn Ouf’s deci- al-Abdin, told Arab and African diplo- the same day. of concern. These recommendations round of conflict that has killed eran president Omar al-Bashir. sion to step down as a “victory” for the mats in a televised meeting. The candidates have been conduct- are then addressed to the targeted de- dozens and displaced thousands. “I hereby announce my resignation people. He denied that Thursday’s oust- ing intensive campaigning, including partment or ministry through the Min- Gunfire and blasts rang out and as head of the Transitional Military “The stepping down of General ing of Omar al-Bashir after months of on social media, with their voters to istry of Municipality and Environment. smoke rose as forces backing the Council and the appointment of the Awad Ibn Ouf is a victory of the peo- protests was a military coup, vowing explain their agenda and the services In the meantime, the council would fragile UN-backed government of person, in whose experience and suit- ple’s will,” the Sudanese Professionals there would be a civilian government. that they could off er them. The candi- follow-up the updates on the actions Fayez al-Sarraj attempted to block ability I trust to bring this ship to a safe Association said. “The role of the military council is to dates have been holding regular meet- taken regarding these recommendations an off ensive by Haftar’s self-styled shore,” Ibn Ouf said on state television. Jubilation erupted across the capital protect the security and stability of the ings. While some take place at the can- and has the right to ask for clarifi cation Libyan National Army (LNA). Page 3 “I announce the selection of General in response to the resignation. country,” Abdin said. didate’s house lounge (majlis), others to the relevant response. To Page 2 National Museum an ‘enriching experience’ for diplomats

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

isiting the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) has become an Venriching experience not only for residents and students in the coun- try but also for diplomats. “I am deeply impressed by the vi- sionary lines and forms of the mu- seum’s external design, which reinter- prets in an innovative way the concept of “desert rose”, a traditional symbol of the Arab culture,” Italian ambassador Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano Swedish ambassador Ewa Polano Pasquale Salzano told Gulf Times. The envoy accompanied Italian During the Italian PM’s visit, Sal- One of the highlighted items in the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte during zano said HE Sheikha Al Mayassa ex- galleries include “Motherland” (2018), his visit to NMoQ on April 3, and was plained the conceptual vision behind a work by Hassan bin Mohamed al- welcomed by Qatar Museums (QM) the National Museum and guided them Thani (b. 1962), which expresses and Chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa through the exploration of its rich en- represents the artist’s “connection and A night view of the National Museum of Qatar. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. vironment. appreciation for the land, motherhood NMoQ, a stunning architecture de- “All collections are absolutely out- and national identity.” da, which was embroidered with around “I would like to congratulate HE “I am sure that NMoQ will signifi - signed by renowned French architect standing, but I was particularly in- A large-scale sculpture, Motherland 1.5mn Basra pearls, another major col- Sheikha Al Mayassa, QM and the Qa- cantly contribute to strengthen cultural Jean Nouvel, and home to an array of terested in those galleries telling the portrays a traditional dhow docked on lection is the Al Zubarah Qur’an (in two tari people for this great achievement exchanges and dialogue with Italy and rare and unique collections, continues story of the origins and the people from the shore and pays homage to the Gulf’s volumes). It was transcribed by Ahmed which shows the commitment of the the international community, while to draw a large number of local and for- earliest times, which enriched signifi - last generation of women who wore the bin Rashid bin Juma’a bin Khamis bin country and its wise leadership to pro- encouraging the social development of eign visitors daily since it opened to the cantly my knowledge of the history of battoula. Hilal al-Mureikhi who completed the mote knowledge and preserve cultural the Qatari community,” he added. public on March 28. Qatar,” he noted. Apart from the Pearl Carpet of Baro- work on October 28, 1806. heritage,” Salzano said. To Page 2 Gulf Times 2 Saturday, April 13, 2019 QATAR

FM meets French Senate president All set Volunteers gain for sixth CMC event experience elections

From Page 1 in lead-up to 2022 The CMC could be cred- ited with recommending many of the advances wit- olunteers who registered One volunteer, Faisal Akhtar, teer now will give participants nessed in the country’s mu- to help Qatar prepare for said: “I feel privileged to be se- an advantage when applying for nicipal aff airs such as the Vthe FIFA World Cup 2022 lected as a volunteer for the FIFA’s Qatar 2022 volunteer pro- banning of the workers’ ac- are already receiving bespoke concert and CAF fi nal. It was gramme, which will cover vari- commodation complexes HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani skills training and experience in a great experience to help me ous aspects of the tournament, within family residential met French Senate President Gerard Larcher and a number of members of the senate, yesterday in Paris the lead-up to the tournament. understand how much eff ort is including match day manage- area, the newly issued regu- during his visit to France. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and means of supporting The Supreme Committee for required to make one event suc- ment. lations to allow more build- and developing them, in addition to a number of topics of mutual interest. Delivery & Legacy (SC) recently cessful. It helped me understand “In the past few weeks, we ing areas within the residen- provided 400 volunteers for the the importance of planning, have hosted a major event at a tial villas, installing street A R Rahman concert, hosted at team management and peer World Cup venue and an exciting lights in many areas and giv- Khalifa International Stadium, learning. football match, gathering fans ing them appropriate names, and 350 for the 2019 CAF Super “One moment I can’t forget from various countries. This has in addition to various other Cup fi nal, which was hosted re- is when an old man approached given volunteers incomparable services demanded by the Culture minister holds dialogue cently in Qatar for the fi rst time, me and asked me to have a selfi e. experience, applicable when council such as increasing sc.qa reports. I am not a celebrity or VIP but at fans from across the world visit the number of fuel stations, with his Omani counterpart Since launching the volunteer- this moment I felt I made a dif- us in 2022. development of the beaches, ing programme in September ference and I had done some- “This is all part of our ef- beautifi cation of streets and 2018, the SC has compiled a data- thing good and was part of forts to activate and engage the creation of many parks base of 60,000 Qatar-based vol- something great.” with our volunteers. Utilising and gardens within various unteers that the Community En- Another to volunteer her opportunities such as this – residential neighbourhoods. gagement team regularly reaches time at both events was Maha at one of our FIFA World Cup What distinguishes the out to support various events. Mohamed. She said, “It was an venues – will help us plan and election campaign of the More than 6,000 applications honour to be part of the team, deliver our mega-event in candidates is that all of them were received to volunteer at the and even more so to be assigned 2022, including crowd man- abide by the traditions and Rahman concert and the SC col- as team leader. I learned so much agement, way-finding and au- high ethical values of the laborated with Qatar Volunteers in such a short space of time, dience services.” country, with the process go- Group, which has been active for and am very grateful to the SC Over the coming years, volun- ing on quietly and smoothly eight years, to select the most and Community Engagement teers will contribute towards nu- with each candidate keen on suitable people for the occasion team for providing us with these merous Qatar 2022 milestones, maintaining direct contact and manage them on the day. unique opportunities. It means including stadium launches and with the voters. The SC also collaborated with so much to me. The work comes test events. They will support There are no signs of any the Volunteer and Civic Engage- from the heart.” a range of functions, including direct criticism against rival HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali met with Oman’s Minister ment Centre at Qatar University Mead al-Emadi, the SC’s event management, hospital- candidates. Each candidate of Heritage and Culture, Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, during his visit to the Sultanate to attend to provide opportunities at the Community Engagement man- ity, marketing, communications, only talks about what he or the 32nd meeting of the Gulf Co-operation Council Committee of Ministers of Youth and Sports. recent CAF Super Cup fi nal be- ager, shared her words of en- audience management, security, she has off ered and could of- During the meeting, they discussed aspects of cultural co-operation between the two countries. tween Espérance de Tunis and couragement for the volunteers. medical services and more, the fer in collaboration with the Raja Casablanca. She said, “Working as a volun- report adds. authorities concerned. QRCS completes relief project for PNG earthquake victims

atar Red Crescent So- containers from the port. “This ciety (QRCS) has com- donation was made by Qatar, Qpleted a relief inter- through QFFD, for the benefi t of vention to help the victims of earthquake victims in Hela last earthquakes and fl oods in Pa- year, and the people aff ected by pua New Guinea, with funding fl oods early in January 2019. We Amiri Air Force holds graduation ceremony for advanced course from Qatar Fund for Develop- hope to continue working close- ment (QFFD). The project was ly with PNGRCS,” Ejjeh added. The Amiri Air Force organised the ceremony along with off icers Major-General (Pilot) al-Malki co-ordinated with Papua New Pinu disaster chairman, the graduation ceremony for the of the centre. expressed his appreciation for the Guinea Red Cross Society (PN- Kevau Ao, commended the advanced course (for off icers), The course covered a number eff orts made by those tasked with GRCS) and the International joint work by PNGRCS and which was held from January of military topics including training and trainers in preparing Committee of the Red Cross QRCS to bring relief to his vil- 6 to April 11, at the Amiri Air tactical exercises, assessment and qualifying this group of (ICRC). It was designed to al- lage. “I was surprised to see Force, in the presence of Deputy of the position and orders of graduates. The commander of the leviate the suff ering of those that the hygiene kits had all the Commander of the Amiri Air operations, leadership and military Air Training Centre said that the aff ected by the earthquake, by The beneficiaries are all smiles as they receive relief materials necessary items for both men Force, Major-General (Pilot) administration, in addition to training was successful according providing shelter, water, and distributed by QRCS. and women. We are very happy Ahmed bin Ibrahim al-Malki. tactical air operations, ground and to the reality in the field. “This sanitation aid for Pinu village, for these contributions to our Commander of the Air Training air transport and other subjects. represents an achievement that Gabadi Kairuku Hiri District, 1,200 persons, received house- paredness, Subhi Fahid Ejjeh, living standards. Such assist- Centre Brigadier General Rashid The course saw the participation of contributed to providing the air Central Province. hold hygiene kits, water buck- said, “The partnership started ance was quite useful and met bin Saif al-Khayareen attended 16 off icers, 14 of them from Kuwait. force with trained cadres,” he said. A relief delegation was sent ets, cooking pots, jerry cans, last year in September, with a the needs of the aff ected popu- from Doha to hold co-ordina- and blankets. In preparation for memorandum of understand- lation,” he stated. tion meetings with relevant the coming monsoon season, ing (MoU) signed between PN- PNGRCS secretary-gener- partners, and update the fi eld a stockpile of relief items was GRCS and QRCS to help the al, Uvenama Rova, welcomed action plan accordingly. They stored at ICRC warehouses, to vulnerable people whose lives the support from QRCS. “The worked hard to overcome the ensure timely response. These were aff ected by disasters”. items received will go towards Katara organises Kyrgyzstan art show challenges, fi nish all the ship- included 400 household hy- Ejjeh expressed QRCS’s helping the people whose lives ment clearing and logistics, and giene kits, 700 tarpaulins, 700 thanks to the Government of have been devastated by natural atara - the Cultural Vil- conduct the packaging and dis- kitchenware kits, 1,200 water Papua New Guinea and the Na- disasters,” he said. “PNGRCS lage has organised an art tribution process. buckets, and 1,000 blankets. tional Disaster Offi ce for fa- appreciates this support from Kexhibition, ‘Boz Jol’, in A total of 200 families, or QRCS head of Disaster Pre- cilitating the release of relief QFFD through QRCS”. co-operation with the embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Doha. The exhibition, held in Build- ing 19, was opened in the pres- ence of a number of artists. It includes 30 diff erent artworks NMoQ an ‘enriching experience’ for diplomats that focus on the Kyrgyz philos- ophy and culture, according to the offi cial Qatar News Agency. From Page 1 Polano described NMoQ as “a NMoQ in the near future. ity of the leadership of Qatar The artists who contributed beautiful building; elegant, im- The envoy congratulated continues to impress me,” she to the exhibition said ‘Boz Jol’ Other important items dis- pressive and unique,” stressing Qatar, its wise leadership His stressed. is a “symbolic representation played in the galleries also in- that “the extraordinary col- Highness the Amir, and HE According to QM, the NMoQ, of world duality, where there is The exhibition is being held in Building 19 of Katara. clude “The Celebration Chair”, lections on display will give Sheikha Al Mayassa for the spread over a gross fl oor area of space for a choice of the Path”. a gold-plated wood and red Qatar’s population and all the launch of NMoQ, which tells 52,000sq m, and with a route The innermost, Middle, “is the ists explained in a statement. “The exhibition “is very impressive and velvet chair made in India in international visitors in the the story of Qatar in an immer- extending more than 1.5km, is only true path where a person Path of a person who accommo- represents the Kyrgyz culture and 1935 and was commissioned coming years another jewel of sive and innovative way. set out chronologically, begin- goes his whole life”, they added. dated the Universe and the Earth their rich heritage of arts”. by Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah al- cultural highlight in Doha.” “I feel grateful to serve as ning with the period before the “Since ancient times, the Kyr- inside. This Path is the unity of the The exhibition continues un- Thani. He used the chair for The envoy is looking forward ambassador here in this fas- peninsula was inhabited by hu- gyz people lived in harmony with microcosm and macrocosm.” til April 16, according to infor- offi cial celebrations and events. to bringing more Swedish dele- cinating country. Qatar is full mans and continuing up to the nature, and this Path is a sign of Katara assistant general man- mation available on the Katara Swedish ambassador Ewa gations and guests to Qatar and of surprises and the creativ- present day. the nature of nomads,” the art- ager Ahmed al-Sayyed said the website. Hollywood couple dwell on nuances of fi lmmaking aking a NU-Q audience fi lms have much more material “While drawing on decades of penseful scene with American of Travelling Pants (2005), and on a journey through for fi lmmakers to work with and experience, some with the most cowboys in the Wild West, to License to Wed (2007). He is also THollywood history with has created new challenges. iconic fi lms of our time, Bailey and using close-up shots and warm a member of the American Socie- examples from their own work, As a result, Bailey said, dra- Littleton pointed to the changes lights to develop the ambience for ty of Cinematographers, a cultur- acclaimed cinematographer and matic structure and character in fi lmmaking brought about by characters in an intimate scene. al, educational, and professional director John Bailey and his wife, integrity have become the most the digital age, while also off ering The visit was organised in col- organisation dedicated to the ad- the award-winning fi lm editor, important and challenging ele- a gift for storytelling and fi lm his- laboration with Qatar Museums vancement and progress of cin- Carol Littleton, focused much of ments in fi lmmaking today. Lit- tory that added a richness to their and Doha Film Institute. ematography. Bailey earned his John Bailey and Carol Littleton during a presentation at NU-Q. a joint presentation on present tleton added that what happens presentation and brought the his- They also discussed fi lm his- graduate degree at the University and future fi lmmaking. is that “when it comes to budg- tory of Hollywood alive for our tory, narrative development, and of Southern California in 1968. Cinema Editors – an honorary and Sciences from 1999-2002, Speaking to faculty, staff , and eting time, fi lm editors are now community,” Dennis said. documentary fi lmmaking. His most recent accomplishment society of fi lm editors who are and served as president of the students at NU-Q, Bailey, who spending more time combing During the session, the cou- Bailey’s portfolio in fi lm and was his election to the presidency selected based on the quality of Motion Picture Editors Guild is also the president of the Acad- through footage rather than fo- ple screened scenes from two of documentary stretches far and of the Academy in 2017. their fi lm editing, their educa- during that late 1990s. Littleton’s emy of Motion Picture Arts and cusing on the editing process.” their fi lms, Silverado (1985) and wide, including scores of nomi- Littleton, an Emmy Award re- tion, and their dedication to fi lm work includes the famous science Sciences (Oscars), and Littleton The conversation with Bailey The Accidental Tourist (1988), nated and award-winning fi lms cipient, has had a successful ca- editing. She was also a member fi ction fi lm, E.T. the Extra-Ter- noted that because it is cheaper and Littleton was moderated by and discussed the diff erences in like Mishima: A Life of Four reer in fi lm editing and was elect- of the Board of Governors of the restrial (1982), which was written to create content digitally today’s NU-Q Dean Everette E Dennis. approach – from building a sus- Chapters (1985), The Sisterhood ed as a member of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and directed by Steven Spielberg. Gulf Times Saturday, April 13, 2019 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD Thousands displaced as battles intensify around Libya capital

AFP Tripoli

orces answering to Libyan strong- man Khalifa Haftar battled units that Fback Tripoli’s unity government on the edge of the capital yesterday, days into a new round of confl ict that has killed dozens and displaced thousands. Gunfi re and blasts rang out and smoke rose as forces backing the fragile UN-backed government of Fayez al-Sarraj attempted The mother of Palestinian teenager Maysara Mussa Abu Shalof, who was killed at the border fence to block an off ensive by Haftar’s self-styled during a protest, reacts during his funeral in the northern Gaza Strip, yesterday. Libyan National Army (LNA). Dozens of people have been killed and more than 300 wounded over the last eight days, the World Health Organisation said yesterday. The United Nations said the fi ghting had driven 8,000 people from their homes and that “displacements from areas aff ected by Troop fi ring kills the clashes in and around Tripoli continue to surge”. “Many families remain stranded inside confl ict-aff ected areas,” with supplies run- ning short, UN spokesman Rheal Leblanc Palestinian teen told reporters in Geneva. French authorities said yesterday they AFP were in touch with all parties to Libya’s Gaza City confl ict. But they did not confi rm a report in Italy’s La Repubblica, citing a source at the French presidency, saying Haftar had Libyan protesters attend a demonstration to demand an end to Khalifa Haftar’s offensive Palestinian teenager was sent envoys to Paris several hours before he against Tripoli, in Martyrs Square, yesterday. shot dead by the Israeli launched his off ensive on Tripoli on April 4. Aarmy yesterday during “Like our partners, we talk to all parties in Wadi Rabi, while other witnesses reported Gaddafi was deposed in 2011. World pow- renewed clashes on the Gaza the Libya confl ict, in order to obtain a cease- another air strike in Tajoura, in the eastern ers, the UN and Nato have called for calm in border, the health ministry in fi re”, said Agnes von der Muhll, a spokesper- suburbs of the capital, apparently targeting a Libya, but the clashes have shown no sign of the Palestinian enclave said. son for France’s foreign ministry. military academy. abating. A ministry spokesman said “We were not warned about the off ensive “A column of smoke was rising from this Libya has long been a major transit coun- Maysara Abu Shaloof, 15, was on Tripoli, which we condemned when it was site into the sky,” witnesses said. try for migrants desperate to reach Europe “shot in the stomach by the launched,” she said. Anti-aircraft fi re was also heard in the re- via the Mediterranean, with many held under (Israeli) occupation east of Jab- The LNA and Haftar refuse to recognise gion, near the capital’s Mitiga airport which abject conditions in detention centres. alia,” referring to a demonstra- Palestinian paramedics carry an injured protester during a the authority of Sarraj’s Government of Na- was hit by the LNA in an air strike on Tuesday. International aid groups have warned mi- tion site in northern Gaza. demonstration near the border in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. tional Accord (GNA). Haftar, a former mili- An air strike yesterday targeted an “empty grants could be used as human shields or for- At least 48 others were taken tary commander under toppled dictator and unused” barracks south of Zouara, near cibly recruited to fi ght. to hospital with a variety of tempts to breach the security ing on Israel to end its blockade Muammar Gaddafi who later lived in the the Tunisian border, about 100 kilometre The International Organisation for Migra- injuries from clashes at sev- fence,” he said. of the enclave. United States, has the support of key Arab west of Tripoli, a security source said. tion said yesterday it had fl own 160 migrants eral spots along the border, the “Troops responded with riot Israel says it is protecting its state, Egypt and Russia. The strike did not cause casualties, the to Mali — with some destined to return to the ministry said without elabo- dispersal means and fi red in ac- borders and accuses the Hamas His forces swept from their eastern source said, attributing the attack to Haftar. Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso — late Thurs- rating. cordance with standard oper- which runs Gaza of orchestrat- stronghold through Libya’s sparsely popu- The United Nations had vowed to push on day. An Israeli army spokesman ating procedures.” ing the protests. lated desert, including parts of the south, with a planned national conference set to be- “We continue to support a safe and digni- said that “approximately 7,400 He had no comment on any An AFP correspondent before announcing their assault on to Tripoli. gin tomorrow to draw up a roadmap to elec- fi ed return for migrants to their home coun- demonstrators” took part in Palestinian casualties. said yesterday’s protests were Haftar’s men were fi ghting GNA troops tions, but tries,” said Othman Belbeisi, IOM Libya chief various incidents along the Palestinians in Gaza have for smaller than in the past. At in the southern suburbs of the capital yes- has postponed it as the fi ghting escalated. of mission, in a statement. frontier. more than a year gathered at least 264 Palestinians in Gaza terday, particularly in Ain Zara, Wadi Rabi The long-mooted polls are meant to turn “Our teams are working around the clock “The fi ghters were hurling least weekly along the border have been killed by Israeli forc- and Al-Swani, about 20 kilometres from the the page on years of turmoil that have en- to provide much needed humanitarian sup- rocks and there were several at- for often-violent protests, call- es since the protests began. city centre. AFP journalists saw an air raid in gulfed the north African country since port in Tripoli and across Libya.” Agitators in Algeria demand more change

Reuters 27 policemen, a police statement testers chanted yesterday. Algiers said. President Abdelaziz Boute- Reuters correspondents at the fl ika stepped down after 20 years scene estimated the crowd size at in power 10 days ago, bowing to hundreds of thousands of people undreds of thousands of pressure from the army and weeks as on previous Fridays, although protesters rallied in Al- of demonstrations mainly by there was no offi cial count. Hgiers for an eighth suc- young people seeking change in “We want the prosecution of cessive yesterday to demand the North African country. all corrupt people” and “no to the departure of the ruling elite, But the protests, which began the gang”, said banners held up witnesses said, as Algeria pre- on Feb 22 and have been largely by marchers. pares for a presidential election peaceful, have continued as many Many protesters waved Alge- in July. want the removal of an elite that ria’s white, green and red cres- Police in anti-riot gear fi red has governed Algeria since inde- cent moon fl ag. One of them, tear gas in the evening to disperse pendence from France in 1962 and who gave his name as Nawal, told a crowd of several hundreds of the prosecution of people they see Reuters: “We came out today to youths in the city centre, wit- as corrupt fi gures. say that Bensalah’s position is nesses said, after an otherwise Boutefl ika has been replaced unconstitutional.” Iranians chant slogans during an anti-US rally following prayers in Tehran, yesterday. largely peaceful march joined by by Abdelkader Bensalah, head of Ali Badji, a 52-year-old gro- families throughout the day. the upper house of parliament, cer, holding his son on his Police arrested 108 people af- as interim president for 90 days shoulders, said: “We are still ter clashes with “infi ltrators” until a presidential election on sticking to our demands.We among the protesters who injured July 4. “No to Bensalah,” the pro- want a radical change.”

Iranians march to protest DIPLOMACY Damascus talks Swiss national gets jail ‘going nowhere, over Guards’ blacklisting Russia to blame’ term on terror charges Eff orts to forge a political deal Reuters said. Iranian offi cials have con- news agency. The estimated The long-tense relations between Kurdish-led authorities Dubai demned US President Donald 125,000-strong Revolutionary between Tehran and Wash- in northern Syria and the Syrian Trump’s decision on Monday Guards also command the vol- ington took a turn for the AFP people arrested after Danish government are at a standstill to blacklist the Islamic Revolu- unteer paramilitary Basij and worse last May when Trump Rabat student Louisa Vesterager Jes- and President Bashar-al Assad’s housands of Iranians tionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a control Iran’s ballistic missile pulled out of a 2015 nuclear persen, 24, and 28-year-old ally Russia is to blame, a Syrian carrying signs reading step is likely to raise tensions in programme. deal between Iran and six Norwegian Maren Ueland were Kurdish off icial said. The Kurdish- T“I’m a Guard too” and the Middle East. The United States has already world powers, reached before Moroccan court has found beheaded on December led authorities revived eff orts to “Down with USA” marched Tehran retaliated by naming blacklisted dozens of entities he took office, and reimposed sentenced a Swiss citi- 17 in the High Atlas mountains negotiate a deal with Damascus yesterday to protest against the the regional United States Cen- and people for affi liations with sanctions. Azen arrested in connec- south of Marrakesh. earlier this year in the wake of a US designation of the elite Rev- tral Command (Centcom) as a the IRGC, but had not previ- Revolutionary Guards com- tion with the murder of two Nicolas P was arrested in US decision to withdraw its forces olutionary Guards as a foreign terrorist organisation. ously targeted the organisation manders have repeatedly said Scandinavian hikers to 10 years January for having had con- from their areas, hoping Moscow terrorist organisation. “Americans should know as a whole. that US bases in the Middle East in prison on terrorism charges, tact with the Swiss-Spanish would mediate an agreement that State television showed that this is a self-infl icted “Today, it has been proven and US aircraft carriers in the his lawyer said yesterday. national as well as compatri- would preserve their autonomy. crowds shouting “What’s blow, meaning that they are to the people of the world and Gulf are within range of Iranian Kahlil Idriss said the man, ots with ties to Syria, Idriss Badran Jia Kurd, a Syrian Kurdish America thinking? Iran is full of jeopardising the security of of this region in particular that missiles. identifi ed only as Nicolas P, said. He was found guilty of off icial involved in the political Guards” after leaving prayers at their own troops in Centcom America is the mother of all Tehran has also threatened to 33, was convicted Thursday in “forming a terrorist group”. track, said the talks had gone Tehran University yesterday on and across the world,” General terrorism,” said Tehran prayers disrupt oil shipments through the city of Sale, near Rabat, in The lawyer said he has filed nowhere. “The Russians froze the their way to a rally in a nearby Kioumars Heydari, head of the leader Ayatollah Mohamadali the Strait of Hormuz in the a case unrelated to the double an appeal on the basis that his initiative which Russia was sup- square. regular army’s ground forces, Movahedi Kermani, clad in a Gulf if the United States tries murder. client had signed a police re- posed to carry out and it did not Similar state-sponsored pro- was quoted as saying yester- Revolutionary Guards uniform, to strangle Iran’s economy by A dual Swiss-Spanish citi- port in Arabic without having begin negotiations with tests were held across Iran, it day by the semi-offi cial ISNA state media reported. halting its oil exports. zen was among more than 20 read it. Damascus,” he said. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, April 13, 2019 AFRICA

Ebola Campaign trail death toll in DRC passes 750: WHO

AFP Geneva

he Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of TCongo has killed more than 750 people, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday, ahead of a key review on the severity of the epidemic. WHO’s latest toll for the out- break declared in eastern DRC last August came as the agency’s International Health Regula- tions emergency committee was meeting in Geneva. In October that committee held off declaring Ebola in DRC “a public health emergency of international concern,” but has decided to review the situation amid a series of worrying devel- opments. As of April 9, nearly 1,200 cases of the virus have been re- ported in the affected provinc- es of North Kivu and Ituri, with South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane (centre) walks with supporters at a small gathering of Marikana community members as part of his election campaign trail 751 people dead, the WHO said. ahead of general elections, in Marikana, yesterday. The Red Cross has said that transmission is accelerating while Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned that the in- ternational response is failing to bring the epidemic under control. Poor security owing to the presence of armed groups, coupled with resistance of some communities to seeking treatment, has hampered the Suspected militants kidnap fight to stem the spread of the disease. WHO spokesman Tarik Jas- arevic told reporters in Geneva yesterday that security con- cerns, including recent attacks on health facilities, has made it two Cuban doctors in Kenya impossible to maintain a sus- tained response. AFP county’s governor, Ali Roba said are part of a group of about 100 force, Amisom. The Shebaab When health workers are Nairobi in a statement. Cubans who came to Kenya last fl ed fi xed positions they once unable to get to communities Kenyan police spokesman year to help boost health serv- held in Mogadishu in 2011, and because of unrest, “no people Charles Owino said the assail- ices. have since lost many of their are being vaccinated, there is uspected Somali Al She- ants used two Toyota Probox Al Qaeda-linked Al Shebaab strongholds. But they retain no treatment (and) people are baab militants kidnapped cars to block the vehicle that the militants have been waging an control of large rural swathes staying at home and infecting Stwo Cuban doctors in doctors were travelling in. insurgency against Somalia’s of the country, and continue to other people.” northeastern Kenya yesterday One of two police offi cers foreign-backed government for wage a guerrilla war against the “Now we see that we are re- and killed their police escort of- escorting them “was shot by over a decade. authorities, striking at the heart gaining that access and it is fi cer, offi cials said. the attackers and died on the Last November, an armed of Somalia’s government. normal when you start regain- Kenya and Somalia are work- spot. The attackers succeeded gang seized Silvia Romano, 23, The group has carried out a ing that access that you start ing together to pursue the ab- to abduct the two doctors and an Italian charity worker, in the number of attacks in Kenya in seeing those cases that you ductors, they said. crossed the border with them,” southeastern town of Chakama. reprisal for the country’s par- have not seen when you didn’t The operation happened as said Owino. Her whereabouts are un- ticipation in Amisom. Kidnap- have access, and that partially the two doctors — a general The driver of the doctors’ ve- known. pings in Kenya are relatively explains the rise in numbers,” practitioner and a surgeon — hicle was arrested and is being Security off icers and civilians stand next to the car where gunmen Police at the time warned rare but can have a devastating he said. were going to work in the town questioned, he said. abducted two Cuban doctors as they were going to work, in against any speculation that impact on tourism, a major in- WHO defines a public health of Mandera, near the border A senior police offi cer, who Mandera county, Kenya, yesterday. the Shebaab may have been in- come-earner. emergency of international with Somalia. asked not to be named, said: volved in her abduction. In 2011, a British man, David concern as “an extraordinary “Today at around 9:00am, “From the modus operandi and “Our security agencies are the victims,” Kenyan police The Shebaab, an Al Qaeda af- Tebbutt, was killed and his wife, event” that poses risks to mul- suspected Al Shebaab militants the fact that they went towards working with Somalia Govern- chief Hillary Mutyambai said in fi liate, have been fi ghting since Judith, was kidnapped by gun- tiple states and requires “a abducted the two Cuban doc- the Somalia border, we have ment Security agencies to pur- a statement. 2007 to topple Somalia’s fragile men who took her into Somalia co-ordinated international re- tors stationed at the Mandera reasons to believe that the kid- sue the abductors into Somalia The two doctors, whose government, which is backed by and held her for ransom for six sponse.” County Referral Hospital,” the nappers are Al Shebaab.” with the objective of rescuing names have not been released, a 20,000-strong African Union months.

UNREST Two killed in suspected ‘Boko Haram’ suicide attack in Nigeria

Two people, including a soldier and a vigilante, were killed when two female suicide bombers detonated their explosives in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, military and militia sources said yesterday. The bombers quickly blew themselves up on Thurs- day in bid to evade arrest when they were stopped by troops and militiamen outside the garrison town of Monguno. “We lost a solider and a civilian vigilante in the explosion which also injured another soldier,” a military off icer who did not want to be named, said.“Two female suicide bombers were involved in the incident,” he added. One of the bombers panicked when they were being questioned and detonated her explosives, kill- ing her while her accomplice “took to the heels”, added a militia leader in the town. “The soldiers and the vigilante pursued her and when she realised they were closing in on her she explod- ed, killing a soldier and a civilian JTF (militia),” said the militia, who didn’t want to be identified for fear of off icial sanction. He said another soldier sustained injuries in the incident. Monguno, 135 kilometres north of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, houses a military base and camps for people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. The town which lies in the Lake Chad area has been repeatedly attacked by the militants who have made several failed attempts to overrun the base. Suicide bombings are the hallmarks of the Boko Haram faction loyal to longtime leader Abubakar Shekau, targeting civilian targets.

CRIME Ghana police arrest another suspect over journalist’s killing

Ghana police said yesterday they have arrested another sus- pect over the killing of an investigative journalist who helped to expose graft in African football. Ahmed Hussein-Suale, part of a team that carried out an undercover investigation, was gunned down as he returned to his home in the Accra suburb of Madina on January 16. The shooting sent shockwaves through Ghana, one of the most stable democracies in West Africa and a beacon of media freedom. “The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team arrested the suspect in a targeted police operation near the West Hills Mall,” senior police off icer Kwaku Boadu-Peprah said. He said the suspect was picked up in Accra on Thursday. “We have transferred him to the CID (criminal investigation department) for further investigations and hopefully he would be processed for court in the coming days,” he said. Ghana ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2018 World Press Freedom Index — up three places on the previous year. Gulf Times Saturday, April 13, 2019 5 AMERICA Trump threat to send migrants to sanctuary cities

DPA/Reuters/AFP Washington Nipsey Hussle’s procession passes his Marathon Clothing store after his memorial at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. S President Donald Trump is giving “strong Uconsiderations” to the proposed idea of releasing un- Tens of thousands remember documented migrants into cit- ies run by opposition Democrats who have instituted immigrant- friendly policies. slain rapper Nipsey Hussle There are some 11mn esti- mated undocumented migrants in the US. AFP “Due to the fact that Demo- Trump: we are indeed, as reported, giving strong considerations to Los Angeles crats are unwilling to change placing illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities only. our very dangerous immigration laws, we are indeed, as reported, arrested at the border and then “This was just a suggestion Pelosi: It’s just another notion ens of thousands of people giving strong considerations to bused “to small- and mid-sized that was fl oated and rejected, that is unworthy of the took part in an emotional placing Illegal Immigrants in sanctuary cities”. which ended any further dis- presidency of the United States. Tmemorial on Thursday in Sanctuary Cities only,” Trump The White House told the cussion,” a White House state- Los Angeles for the slain rapper wrote on Twitter. Immigration and Customs En- ment said. could legally or logistically carry Nipsey Hussle, praising his ef- Sanctuary cities – usually forcement agency (ICE) that the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s out the plan. forts to end violence and improve Democratic run – are local ju- plan was intended to alleviate a hometown of San Francisco is The sanctuary cities do not troubled neighbourhoods. risdictions that refrain from co- shortage of detention space, but one of those places. adhere to federal regulations on The Staples Centre arena operating with federal immi- would also send a message to In remarks to reporters yes- immigration. was packed to the rafters for the gration authorities and detain Democrats, the Post said. terday, Pelosi said she was not Trump accused the “radical ceremony, while many others undocumented immigrants for The suggested policy was aware of the newspaper report. left” of supporting open borders watched on television and on- A photo of late US rapper, recording artist and social activist Nipsey possible deportation. pushed back within the ICE, But she added: “It’s just an- and said the proposal “should line as the city bid farewell to the Hussle holding a baby is displayed on a screen during his memorial The Washington Post re- with a top offi cial saying it was other notion that is unworthy make them very happy!” Grammy-nominated artist, shot service at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. ported earlier that the idea, as rife with concerns and noting of the presidency of the United However, the idea of open dead in broad daylight outside initially fl oated, was to release “there are PR risks as well”. States and disrespectful of the borders is largely anathema his own clothing store on March earned him a Grammy nomina- whose music he got to know immigrants already in detention After the White House challenges that we face, as a to the centre-left Democratic 31. tion. through his two daughters. into so-called sanctuary cities. pressed the issue again earlier country, as a people, to address Party, which favours controlled Police have said that the kill- Numerous celebrities were “He set an example for young Citing homeland security of- this year, the ICE rebuff ed it as who we are, a nation of immi- immigration, improved asylum ing, which triggered an outpour- present, including fellow rap- people to follow and is a legacy fi cials and leaked e-mails, the “inappropriate”. grants.” policies and regularising the ing of grief in Los Angeles and per Snoop Dogg as well as sing- worthy to follow,” Obama wrote, Post said White House offi cials The Post said a White House “The extent of this admin- status of many undocumented among Hussle’s music industry ers Anthony Hamilton and Stevie alluding to the rapper’s social fi rst broached the plan in No- offi cial and a spokesman for the istration’s cynicism and cru- people, especially children. peers, was gang-related and per- Wonder. work in the poor and mainly vember, asking offi cials at sev- department of homeland se- elty cannot be overstated,” said The administration has re- sonal in nature. Hussle found minor com- black Crenshaw neighbourhood eral agencies whether members curity said the proposal was no Pelosi spokeswoman Ashley portedly in the past tried to Crowds of mostly young mercial success but was revered of Los Angeles. of a caravan of migrants could be longer under consideration. Etienne. “Using human beings convince offi cials at the Depart- black and Latino people wear- among his peers, and his shock “While most folks look at the – including little children – as ment of Homeland Security to ing T-shirts with pictures of death triggered an outpouring of Crenshaw neighbourhood where pawns in their warped game to put undocumented people in the 33-year-old bearded rapper tributes from hip hop royalty. he grew up and see only gangs, perpetuate fear and demonise sanctuary cities, but they re- started early on Thursday to fl ow Snoop Dogg noted that Hus- bullets and despair, Nipsey saw immigrants is despicable.” fused. toward the Staples Centre, the sle had composed songs for rival potential. He saw hope,” Obama The threat is the latest salvo Trump has shaken up the de- sports arena which hosted a me- gangs – both the Crips to which said. “He saw a community that, from the president on immi- partment, with Kirstjen Nielsen morial service for Michael Jack- he belonged, but also for their even through its fl aws, taught gration, as he seeks to tighten resigning this week as secretary son in 2009. enemies, the Bloods. him to always keep going.” borders and crack down on new of homeland security, while the A giant portrait of Hussle, who The rapper’s coffi n, surround- After the ceremony, a pro- arrivals, part of a policy that president himself pulled back had Eritrean roots and was born ed by hundreds of fl owers, was cession began winding its way includes building a wall on the his nominee for the immigration Ermias Asghedom, adorned the placed in the middle of the stage through that neighbourhood, southern border. enforcement agency, saying he stadium’s facade. where members of his family where thousands of fans already Last month, he warned Mexi- wanted to go in a tougher direc- About 21,000 seats off ered for took turns to speak. lined the 40km (25-mile) route co that he was imminently plan- tion. free on the Internet were snapped “Everything he said in the mu- waiting to pay their last respects. ning to shut the two countries’ The number of immigrant up in a matter of minutes. sic was who he was,” his brother Eric Holder, 29, has been ar- shared border, only to back off detainees in ICE custody has The crowd was so big the com- Samuel Asghedom said. rested for the murder and has the idea at the last minute, as approached 50,000 in recent memoration started an hour late In a letter read out at the cer- pleaded not guilty. the adverse economic impact months, the Post said, an all- – with a DJ playing Hussle’s 2018 emony, former president Barack The reasons for the killing are became apparent. time high that has strained the debut album Victory Lap, which Obama remembered Hussle, not known. Nielsen: resigned this week as secretary of homeland security. It is unclear the president agency’s budget. Students at US university approve fund to benefi t slave descendants

AFP It would be administered by a board valuable insight into student perspec- Washington made up of students and descendants tives and will help guide our continued of the slaves to provide money for the engagement with students, faculty education of descendants and other and staff , members of the descendant tudents at Georgetown Univer- charitable purposes. community, and the Society of Jesus.” sity have approved a fund that The results are not binding on the The Georgetown referendum comes Swould benefi t the descendants of university, which was founded by as Democratic candidates for presi- slaves sold by the elite Jesuit school in Jesuits in 1789 and is located in the dent debate whether the US should the 1800s. Georgetown neighbourhood of Wash- provide compensation to the descend- Creation of the reparations fund ington. ants of African-American slaves. was approved in a student referendum Todd Olson, the school’s vice-pres- Barack Obama, America’s fi rst black and the results were announced late on ident for student aff airs, said the uni- president, and 2016 Democratic nom- Thursday. versity “values the engagement of our inee Hillary Clinton did not support The Georgetown University Student students”. compensation for the descendants of Association (GUSA) said 2,541 stu- “Our students are contributing to slaves. dents voted in favour of the measure, an important national conversation However, several 2020 Democratic while 1,304 opposed it. and we share their commitment to ad- hopefuls, including Senator Elizabeth It would levy a $27.20 fee on stu- dressing Georgetown’s history with Warren and Julian Castro, the former dents each semester to create a fund slavery,” Olson said in a statement. mayor of San Antonio, have come out for the descendants of 272 slaves sold “We understand that the goals of strongly in favour of reparations. by the university’s Jesuit founders in the student referendum are to honour Georgetown University has an un- 1838 to pay off debt. the 272 enslaved individuals sold by dergraduate enrolment of more than The fund would be the fi rst of its the Maryland Jesuits in 1838,” he said. 7,000. Tuition for undergraduates in kind in the country. “This student referendum provides the 2019 fi scal year is $53,520.

Chicago sues Smollett over costs of investigating alleged attack

The city of Chicago filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Jussie After weeks of investigation, Chicago police determined that Smollett, seeking three times the damages it said it incurred Smollett cooked up the scheme – in which they allege he in the investigation of a hate crime that authorities allege the hired two brothers to pose as his attackers – because he was Empire actor staged. dissatisfied with his salary on Empire. The lawsuit, which did not specify the amount of damages, Smollett, best known for his role on the Twentieth Century was filed in Cook County Circuit Court more than two weeks Fox Television hip-hop drama, has said he has always been after prosecutors dismissed the criminal charges against truthful about the incident. Smollett alleging that he fabricated the January 29 attack. He was charged in February with staging the incident and Chicago off icials previously said they would sue Smollett filing a false police report, but Cook County State’s Attorney’s after he refused a demand by the city for $130,000 to cover Off ice prosecutors dropped all charges against the actor in police overtime costs to investigate the actor’s claims. March. The lawsuit said Chicago would seek “three times the amount Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel described the of the damages the city sustained”. decision as “a whitewash of justice”. Smollett, 36, who is black and gay, ignited a firestorm by Smollett admitted no wrongdoing, but he agreed to do telling police on January 29 that two apparent supporters community service and give up $10,000 in bond money. of President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around It remains to be seen whether Chicago’s mayor-elect, Lori his neck and poured bleach over him while yelling racist and Lightfoot, will pursue the legal case when she takes off ice on homophobic slurs on a Chicago street. May 20. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, April 13, 2019 ASIA

Five dead Sweets giant probes ‘attack’ on in Hanoi blaze

AFP Bangladesh factory workers Hanoi t least fi ve people were Thomson Reuters Foundation pany, which has its headquar- Rana Plaza factory collapse in The union’s president Kam- “A workers union was es- that we want to talk about. And killed and three missing Dhaka ters in the Netherlands, ex- 2013 that killed 1,100 people. rul Hasan Palash said the com- tablished and approved by the it’s something that we can do Aafter a deadly fi re early pressed regret over the incident Workers at the factory in pany’s local managers had op- relevant authorities by the end now, because we have a union,” yesterday morning engulfed sev- and said it had taken steps to Gazipur, near the capital Dhaka, posed the formation of a union of February this year,” Huuskes said Palash. eral manufacturing workshops he Dutch sweets giant protect workers. said they had earlier received for the factory’s 250 permanent added. Managers at Perfetti Van and warehouses in Hanoi, state behind the Mentos and “Securing the safety of our threats over their plans to un- workers. The company, which has Melle held talks with workers on media reported. TAlpenliebe brands has employees at work is our re- ionise, and accused local man- “After we formed the union, operated in Bangladesh since Thursday to try to address staff The fi re engulfed small plants pledged to investigate after its sponsibility,” Saskia Huuskes agers of inaction over the attack we applied to the ministry to 2004, said it was still building concerns over the incident. making recycling bins and silica workers in Bangladesh said they told the Thomson Reuters on Tuesday. get it registered as per the law,” a relationship with the union Experts say Bangladesh’s gel sachets as well as storage cen- were attacked, just weeks after Foundation by e-mail. “They entered the factory he said. and had provided training for record on workers’ rights has tres for frozen goods and wooden setting up a union. “We are investigating the in- and threatened everyone. They “When the management workers on their rights. improved since the Rana Plaza products, according to the offi - The new trade union’s gen- cident and we have taken meas- beat me up in front of com- came to know about this, they The union has submit- disaster, which put its gar- cial Vietnam News Agency. eral secretary Kamrul Hasan ures to protect the safety of all pany offi cials and no one did did not allow me and four others ted a list of demands ranging ment industry under the global “Authorities found and took said about 20 unknown at- employees in our factory.” anything,” said Hasan. to enter the factory for fi ve days. from better-quality food in the spotlight. out the bodies of fi ve victims of tackers wielding sticks entered The rights of workers in The incident was reported I was threatened.” canteen to higher pay. But progress in other sec- the fi re at the workshops,” VNA a factory run by Perfetti Van Bangladesh, a global manufac- to police, who said it had been Perfetti Van Melle said it “I have been working here for tors has been slower, said reported after the fi re in Hanoi’s Melle earlier this week and beat turing hub, have come under a fi ght between two groups adhered to local labour laws, 10 years and yet my salary is just Amirul Haque Amin, head of residential Nam Tu Liem district. him up. increased scrutiny in recent of workers in the factory, which allow for the formation 13,000 taka ($155) per month. the National Garments Workers “Authorities are rushing to fi nd A spokeswoman for the com- years, particularly since the contradicting Hasan’s account. of unions. This is just one of the issues Federation. three remaining people,” it added. Confl icting media reports said the toll was above fi ve but the fi gures could not be immediately confi rmed. Procession for royal ceremony The fi re was extinguished by As drought bites, dawn and police are still investi- gating the cause. Images from the scene showed fi refi ghters removing bodies Thai cities urged from the charred site, with sheet metal roofi ng collapsed among the burnt debris. Witnesses said the overnight to rein in festive blaze quickly swallowed the workshops and warehouses, in- formal commercial buildings commonly seen across Hanoi. water fi ghts “In just 20 minutes, the fi re from the plastic workshop went up really high... no one was able Thomson Reuters Foundation and Bangkok was the world’s to approach it because the fi re Bangkok most visited city last year, was too strong,” witness Vu Van drawing more than 20mn Can told state-run news site people. VnExpress. worsening drought in Earlier this month, hotels Big blazes are relatively com- parts of Thailand has in the north reported cancel- mon in Vietnam, where fi re pre- Aprompted monks and lations as wildfi res caused vention and fi refi ghting services conservationists to appeal to by dry conditions smothered remain underdeveloped. city dwellers to temper tradi- nine provinces with toxic air. Thirteen people were killed in tional New Year celebrations, The call to save water was an apartment complex fi re in Ho which are marked by peo- more urgent in 2016, when Chi Minh City last year after the ple throwing large quantities Thailand suff ered its worst high-rise was engulfed in fl ames of water at each other in the drought in decades. overnight, trapping many inside streets. At the time, authorities their homes. The dry season is more in Bangkok cut the number acute than usual because of of Songkran festival days, the El Nino climate pattern, imposed a curfew for wa- the meteorological depart- ter fi ghts, and appealed to ment has said, and more than revellers to sprinkle rather Thai off icials take part in a procession to deliver sacred water from the Grand Palace to the Interior Ministry for upcoming coronation a quarter of the country’s main than splash. ceremony for Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok yesterday. 8 killed as reservoirs have reported low This year, there has been no water levels. offi cial announcement, although The drought situation is festivities in Bangkok will be on bus falls “quite serious”, said Pimch- a smaller scale because of prep- anok Vonkorpon, a commerce arations for the coronation of ministry offi cial. Thailand’s new king. into ditch But there is little evidence The popular backpacker Lanka’s ex-offi cial sued over alleged murder of it in Bangkok, where shops district of Khaosan Road, are hawking large, colourful which usually sees a free-for- IANS water guns and buckets ahead all water fi ght, has cancelled Reuters He has rejected the allegations. police, who reported directly to Hausfeld said in a statement. Dhaka of Songkran, which runs from celebrations ahead of the Colombo Milinda Rajapaksha, Gota- Gotabaya, and was physically A statement from ITJP said April 13 to 15. ceremonies in May. baya’s spokesman, said the and psychologically tortured that Gotabaya was formally The annual festival is known But saving some water in former defence secretary has and forced to sign a false con- served with notice of the case t least eight people, in- as the world’s biggest water Bangkok will not aff ect levels ri Lanka’s former defence yet to receive “any offi cial doc- fession before being released in in a supermarket parking lot cluding three children, fi ght, drawing hundreds of in reservoirs or help farm- secretary Gotabaya Ra- ument or notice” on the cases. August 2010. in Pasadena, California, on Awere killed and 20 others thousands of tourists, mostly ers, said Sucharit Koon- Sjapakse, who oversaw the “We see this as pure politi- “Samathanam had no options Sunday after being tracked by injured when a passenger bus to Bangkok and other cities. tanakulvong, an associate crushing of Tamil Tiger rebels cal revenge, part of propaganda left to seek justice in Sri Lanka or private investigators. veered off the road and fell into “In the rural areas, the suf- professor of water resources under his brother Mahinda Ra- designed to tarnish his image by at the United Nations,” Gilmore In a separate case, Ahimsa a ditch in Bangladesh yesterday. fering is more obvious, and engineering at Bangkok’s japakse’s rule a decade ago, is vested interests for their own said. “That’s why we brought the Wickrematunga, the daughter The accident took place in monks include the message Chulalongkorn University. being sued in two cases in the political mileage,” Rajapakshe case in the United States when of murdered investigative editor the country’s Joypurhat district, of water conservation in their “Reminding people in United States for his alleged said, without elaborating. we found Gotabaya Rajapakse Lasantha Wickrematunga, fi led a 249km northwest of Dhaka, in the teachings,” said Somboon Bangkok to use less water be- role in torture and murder, ac- The South Africa-based Inter- returning to California.” complaint for damages on April 4 afternoon, the Daily Star reported. Chungprampree, executive cause of drought in parts of cording to a lawyer and court national Truth and Justice Project Gotabaya, a dual US-Sri in the same US District Court in The bus fell into the ditch in secretary for the Interna- the country is good and nec- documents. (ITJP), in partnership with US Lanka citizen, is planning to California for allegedly instigat- Baniapara area on Bogur-Joy- tional Network of Engaged essary - but it does not have a Gotabaya, popular among law fi rm Hausfeld and human renounce his US citizenship as ing and authorising the extraju- purhat highway after its driver Buddhists in Bangkok. material impact,” he said. many Sri Lankans for his role rights lawyer Scott Gilmore, fi led required by Sri Lankan law to dicial killing of her father, docu- lost control over the steering, “It is harder to deliver the Sucharit has talked to au- in winning a 26-year war that a civil damages case in California run for president, his close al- ments seen by Reuters showed. said Masud Rana, a fi refi ghter message in the city, especially thorities about creating a col- ended in 2009, has expressed this week against Gotabaya on lies have said. His spokesman In her complaint, Ahimsa said who was engaged in rescue op- to well-to-do residents and our-coded indicator for water interest in running for presi- behalf of a Tamil torture survivor, did not confi rm this. that after the murder of her fa- eration at the spot. tourists. Often, it is the poorer levels across the country, sim- dent in elections later this year. Roy Samathanam. The case, fi led in US District ther in January 2009 Gotabaya The bus was heading towards farmers who bear the bur- ilar to an air quality index. Since the end of the war The case alleges that Sa- Court for the Central District of and his allies obstructed her Bogura from Joypurhat, he added. den of drought,” he told the “That can help create great- Gotabaya has been accused mathanam was detained in the California, was brought under “eff orts to seek justice in Sri District’s police chief Rash- Thomson Reuters Foundation. er awareness of conservation. by rights groups of multiple capital Colombo in September the Torture Victim Protection Lanka by tampering with wit- idul Hasan confi rmed the toll Tourism makes up about But there is little interest in crimes during the civil war, in- 2007 by the Terrorism Investi- Act, which gives torture vic- nesses and engaging in a pattern and said rescue operation was 12% of Thailand’s economy, such an index,” he added. cluding extrajudicial killings. gation Division of the Sri Lanka tims legal redress in US courts, of coercion and intimidation”. continuing.

Nepal off ers 5-year visa for US citizens Nepal festival Nepal has began issuing five-year, Nepal bans online game multiple-entry tourist visas to US citizens. US embassy consul Mike Mussi joined Nepal Immigration director general on concerns over children Eshor Poudel to witness the handover of the first five-year, multiple-entry tourist visas issued by Nepal to AFP struction from the Kathmandu should instead speak to their American citizen travellers, according Kathmandu district court. children about better gaming to a statement issued by the US “We sought an order from habits. embassy in Kathmandu. the court to ban PUBG after “Banning is not a solution. The US has been issuing five-year visas epal has banned the fl oods of complaints from par- Right now PUBG is viral but to Nepali travellers for many years. hugely popular but ents, guardians and school or- next year there might 10 oth- With this facility, Nepal has adopted the Nbrutal online game ganisations to block the game ers, we can’t ban everything,” same visa terms for American visitors, “PlayerUnknown’s Battle- citing psychological impact on Joshi said. greatly facilitating the closer and grounds” over concerns about teenagers and students,” sen- Last year, China announced deeper ties between the US and Nepal. its impact on children, offi cials ior police offi cial Dhiraj Pratap new controls on the number “Visa reciprocity is a standard and said yesterday. said. of games that can be played longstanding principle in visa policies In the multiplayer game, The survival-themed battle online, limited new releases, worldwide. US and Nepal governments commonly known as PUBG, game, made by South Korean and imposed rules on underage have been working towards players parachute onto an fi rm Bluehole Inc, has been players to reduce their screen establishing reciprocity for all types of island and scavenge for downloaded more than 100mn time. visas since October 2017,” noted the weapons and equipment to times around the world since it PUBG is also banned in the statement. kill others and survive. The was launched in 2017. Indian state of Gujarat, where Establishing parity in the visa regimes last player or team standing Parents and educators say dozens of people have been ar- between the US and Nepal provides an wins. the game incites violence and rested for playing. opportunity to increase the number Residents watch a wooden chariot during the Bisket Jatra Festival, held to mark the Nepalese Nepal’s telecommunication distracts students from their A minister in the coastal In- and frequency of American tourists and New Year in Bhaktapur, some 12km east of Kathmandu, yesterday. The festival began on April 10. authority issued a circular to all studies. dian state of Goa has described business representatives visiting Nepal, It will be celebrated for nine days by the ethnic Newar community in Bhaktapur. Internet service providers on Saugat Joshi, 28, an oc- PUBG as “a demon in every which will benefit Nepal’s economy. Thursday to block PUBG on in- casional player said parents house”. Gulf Times Saturday, April 13, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Kim gains more power in N Korea leadership shuffl e

AFP although real power in North Seoul Korea is wielded by Kim and his immediate family. The reshuf- fl e comes at a time of heightened A general view of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held orth Korea has replaced diplomatic activity that has seen at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang. its long-serving head of Kim Jong-un hold landmark Nstate with a close aide to summits with the leaders of the existing strictures on Choe will growing list of titles he has ac- the young Kim has increasingly leader Kim Jong-un, promoting US, China and South Korea. have little impact on his future crued since he took power after greeted foreign heads of state and a man who was placed on a US Born in 1950, Choe is consid- diplomatic endeavours, as long as the 2011 death of his father. Ana- visiting dignitaries, performing sanctions list last year for alleged ered Kim Jong-un’s right-hand its nuclear dialogue with the US lysts say it may also indicate a the functions of a modern head human rights abuses, state media man — frequently referred to as continues. change in the country’s constitu- of state. Jeong Young-tae, an said yesterday. the regime’s “virtual number two “Kim Yong-chol, the North’s tion that concentrates more au- analyst at the Institute of North The move came as part of a offi cial”, having been key to the top nuclear negotiator, also has thority in the young leader. Korean Studies in Seoul, says the top-ranking reshuffl e that ana- party’s hierarchy since the 1980s. been sanctioned by Washing- “If Pyongyang indeed revised new title is part of Pyongyang’s lysts said further cemented Kim’s Some reports have even suggest- ton since 2010,” Ahn Chan-il, its constitution, then it just eff orts to “secularise” Kim and already unshakeable grip on pow- Kim Jong-un Kim Yong-nam ed that one of Choe’s sons is mar- the president of the World Insti- means Kim Jong-un now has his power. er. ried to Kim Jong-un’s powerful tute for North Korea Studies in more power than ever,” said ana- “Kim Jong-un wants to re- Kim also acquired a new title, er, on a par with other country’s for almost 20 years, was replaced sister, Kim Yo-jong. Seoul, told AFP. “But he visited lyst Ahn. brand North Korea as a ‘normal’ and now becomes “the supreme presidents and prime ministers. by Choe Ryong Hae, the state-run Choe is also one of the three Washington without a problem “If that’s the case, Kim will socialist country in the world representative of all the Korean Kim Yong-nam, the now-91- KCNA said. North Korean offi cials placed un- earlier this year. Washington will be the one who will be offi cially stage,” he told AFP. “The new ti- people” — a newly-created role year-old who held the position As the new president of the der sanctions by the US last year always make exceptions — as long representing Pyongyang both at tle ‘representative’ is a break from that observers say makes him of the North’s head of state — an Supreme People’s Assembly, over human rights abuse allega- as Pyongyang has something to home and abroad”. some of his previous titles that more like a modern national lead- almost entirely ceremonial role — Choe is technically head of state, tions. Analysts said, however, the off er.” Kim’s new job adds to a Unlike his father, Kim Jong-il, are redolent of a religious cult.” Tsunami warning lifted after Australians go to the polls in strong quake hits off Indonesia a ‘fair go’ election on May 18 AFP Luwuk Reuters by the end of May. Morrison’s Sydney pre-election budget last week strong 6.8-magnitude promised tax cuts for low- and earthquake rocked east- middle-income earners, while Aern Indonesia yesterday, ustralians will go to the projecting the fi rst budget sur- the United States Geological polls in a general election plus in more than a decade. Survey said, triggering a brief Aon May 18 after Prime Labor promised to match tsunami warning that sent pan- Minister Scott Morrison fi red the tax cuts for middle-income icked residents fl eeing to higher the starting gun yesterday on a earners and pledged bigger con- ground. The quake struck at a campaign set to be fought over cessions for lower-paid work- relatively shallow depth of 17km taxation, climate change and in- ers. It will fund the income tax off the east coast of Sulawesi equality. cuts by curbing capital gains tax island, the USGS said, where a Morrison and his main op- discounts, seeking greater taxes 7.5-magnitude quake-tsunami ponent, Labor party leader Bill from multinationals and banks, around the city of Palu killed Shorten, both used the Austral- and scrapping a favourable tax more than 4,300 people last year. ian phrase “a fair go” to frame scheme for property investors Indonesia’s disaster agency their campaigns around a na- called negative gearing, the par- issued a tsunami warning for Indonesian residents rushing for higher ground fearing a tsunami tional sense of equality and op- ty said. “Labor’s higher tax and coastal communities in Mo- after a strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Luwuk, in Central portunity, albeit from very dif- regulation agenda may be a neg- rowali district, where residents Sulawesi of eastern Indonesia. ferent angles. Australia’s opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten (right) and local Labor ative for Australian assets, but were advised to move away from Opinion polls have had centre- candidate Shireen Morris (centre) chat with ten-year-old Tom Davis this could be partly off set in the the coast. The warning was later Indonesia’s ing like a liquid and swallows up left Labor well ahead for years (left) and his dog Fonzie during a media event on the first day of the short term by more targeted fi s- lifted by the agency, which had the earth like quicksand. and show that the coalition of election campaign in Melbourne. cal stimulus,” said AMP Capital estimated the wave at under a disaster agency Apart from the damage to Morrison’s Liberals and the ru- Chief Economist Shane Oliver. half a metre (20 inches). Video issued a tsunami tens of thousands of buildings, ral-focused Nationals party is six years, with leadership insta- Labor promised “The May election presents footage from Luwuk city showed the disaster destroyed fi shing headed for a resounding defeat. bility a major reason for its poor a starker choice than has been scared residents — some car- warning for boats, shops and irrigation sys- “It’s an enormous mountain to showing in opinion polls. Labor higher wages the case since the 1970s and so rying children — running from coastal tems, robbing residents of their climb,” said political science pro- promised higher wages and an and an end to tax suggests greater uncertainty for their homes and racing to higher income. fessor Paul Williams from Grif- end to tax breaks that favour the investors than usual,” he said. ground on motorcycles. communities in Indonesia has said the dam- fi th University in Brisbane. “If wealthy under its slogan “A Fair breaks that favour It will be Morrison’s fi rst elec- The USGS warned that con- Morowali district. age bill in Palu topped $900mn. (Morrison) were to pull this off Go for Australia”. the wealthy under tion as leader since he replaced siderable damage was possible The World Bank has off ered the it would be one of the greatest “We can manage the economy former prime minister Malcolm in poorly built or badly designed The warning was country up to $1bn in loans to get comebacks in political history,” in the interests of working- and its slogan “A Fair Turnbull in August after a party- structures. But it was not im- later lifted by the the city back on its feet. Indone- he said. middle-class people,” Shorten Go for Australia” room revolt. mediately clear how much dam- sia is one of the most disaster- Morrison led his pitch to voters told a news conference he called That did little to improve the age was caused by the quake or if agency prone nations on Earth due to its with his conservative coalition’s in a suburban backyard in the just as the economy shows signs coalition’s weak poll numbers there were any casualties. position straddling the so-called economic credentials, fram- southern city of Melbourne. of beginning to slow. Consumer and the government remains Hapsah Abdul Madjid, who was swaying,” 29-year-old Palu Pacifi c Ring of Fire, where tec- ing the election as a referendum “When everyday Australians are spending has weakened as home divided over energy and social lives in Luwuk city in Banggai resident Mahfuzah told AFP. tonic plates collide. on its record of managing Aus- getting a fair go, this economy prices fall after a prolonged policies. “I think the zeitgeist is district, Central Sulawesi, where Thousands in Palu were still Last year was a particularly tralia’s fi nances. “So the choice hums.” property boom and high debt changing a little bit away from the tremor was felt strongly, said living in makeshift shelters six tough one, however, with more to be made by Australians on the Asked for his response to La- levels weigh on sentiment. fi scal rigour to fairness,” said people fl ed to higher ground and months after the late September than 2,500 disasters ranging 18th of May is like it always is at bor’s campaign, Morrison re- The International Monetary Mark Triffi tt, a public policy lec- the electricity was cut, adding disaster with at least 170,000 from a series of deadly earth- every election, and that is: who plied: “I believe in a fair go for Fund said overnight stimulus turer at the University of Mel- that residents panicked as fears residents of the city and sur- quakes to killer landslides and do you trust to deliver that strong those who have a go.” The cam- may be needed in Australia and bourne. “There are a lot of peo- soared over an imminent tsu- rounding districts displaced and volcanic eruptions. The sprawl- economy which your essential paign will run for fi ve weeks fi nancial markets are fully pric- ple that take that fi scal rigour nami. The tremor off the eastern entire neighbourhoods still in ing archipelago is dotted with services rely on?” he told report- but the major parties are set to ing in the probability of at least and budget surplus as very, very coast of Sulawesi is on the other ruins, despite life returning to more than 100 volcanoes, in- ers in Canberra. suspend their campaigns on the one interest rate cut later this fundamental, but I think that’s side of the island from disaster- normal in other areas of the tsu- cluding one in the middle of the However, Morrison’s coalition Easter public holidays and Anzac year. shifting back into: ‘What’s the hit Palu, where residents still felt nami-struck city. Sunda Strait between Java and governs in minority and must Day on April 25, a war remem- Markets reacted modestly, point of having a budget sur- the quake despite being hun- The force of last year’s quake Sumatra islands that erupted in win seats to hold power. It has brance day in Australia and New with the announcement no sur- plus if I feel like I’m not getting dreds of kilometres away. saw entire neighbourhoods lev- late 2018 and unleashed a tsu- also had three prime ministers in Zealand. Morrison’s pitch comes prise for a poll that must be held ahead?’,” he said. “I ran straight outside after elled by liquefaction — a process nami that killed more than 400 the earthquake — everything where the ground starts behav- people. Six killed as train Indonesia president leads in opinion polls derails, hits house Canopy Park in China Five days ahead of Indonesia’s The opposition has disputed from the election supervisory general election, President Joko the findings of surveys putting agency. “There’s no decision on Rescuers have recovered the bod- Widodo retains a double-digit it behind, saying big turnouts whether (overseas) voting will be ies of six people in central China lead over his challenger, retired at its rallies showed it had far postponed in Malaysia,” he said after a cargo train carrying alumin- general Prabowo Subianto, three stronger support, as well as its by text message. ium ore hurtled off the tracks and opinion polls published this week own survey. The agency had received a crushed a house, local authorities show. The election in the world’s It has also claimed to have report from Malaysia that punc- said yesterday. At around 10pm third-biggest democracy is a re- uncovered data irregularities tured ballots in favour of Widodo on Wednesday the 25-car train peat of the 2014 contest, and the aff ecting millions of people in had been found inside a plastic derailed from an escape siding incumbent has been comfort- the election rolls and vowed to bag and a black diplomatic bag and overturned, hitting a house in ably ahead in most surveys after take legal action, or use “people at two shophouses, a superviso- Gongyi, Henan province. Search winning by almost six percent- power”, if its complaints were ry off icial, Ratna Dewi Pettalolo, and rescue operations concluded age points last time around. not resolved. Several videos said by telephone. early yesterday morning after the Three recent surveys by Indo- appeared online this week ap- Another supervisory off icial, bodies of four crew members and polling, Roy Morgan and Saiful pearing to show thousands of Mochammad Afiff udin, said in two villagers were found. Rescue Mujani Research and Consulting voting papers stuff ed in bags at a statement 550,000 overseas eff orts were diff icult as the crew (SMRC) showed Widodo likely a warehouse in neighbouring Indonesians were set to vote to- accommodation car and the first to win between 54 and 57% of Malaysia, with many seeming to morrow in Malaysia, with 319,293 14 wagons overturned and lay the vote. Prabowo, as he is have been already marked. due to mail their votes. on top of each other, and were usually known as in Indonesia, One showed people holding The Widodo campaign did not heaped together with a large has between 32 and 37% of the up ballots, saying they were immediately respond to a re- quantity of aluminium ore, the vote, the surveys conducted in marked in favour of Widodo, as quest for comment but a senior Gongyi government said. The the first weeks of April show. well as for a member of one of campaign off icial was quoted train is owned by Chalco, China’s The SMRC survey published the political parties backing him. by the Detik.com news portal largest state-owned aluminium An escalator from a shopping floor leading up to the Canopy Park of Jewel Changi Airport in yesterday showed 6.3% of voters Arief Budiman, chairman of In- describing the incident as an producer. Each car held 60 tonnes Singapore. A sprawling retail complex with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall is what Singapore remain undecided, down from donesia’s election panel, said he attempt to discredit it. Prabowo’s of aluminium ore, authorities said. hopes will bring more travellers and visitors to the airport to shop and dine. The $1.3bn Jewel as many as 25% several months would send a team to Malaysia campaign denied any involve- Authorities are still investigating complex will open on April 17. ago. to investigate, along with off icials ment. the cause of the accident. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, April 13, 2019 BRITAIN

London housing approved in area with illegal pollution levels

Guardian News and Media half of the developers found lev- lution in the area.” Rosamund “They have learned nothing emissions in the area reduce”. a wood-burning stove, meaning individual. People’s awareness of London els of 56.3 micrograms per cubic Adoo-Kissi Debrah, a campaign- from my daughter’s death, noth- Instead, the council agrees to it does not always make sense to air quality is not great enough.” metre in the area – far above the er from Lewisham whose daugh- ing at all. It is an insult,” said Kis- fi nance marketing materials so keep windows shut. The developer has agreed to legal limit of 40μg/m3. ter’s death has been linked to air si-Debrah. that “occupiers/residents … are Holman, chair of the Institute pay £7,500 towards monitoring south London housing The highest estimate of NO2 pollution, called the decision “an Despite the developer’s warn- notifi ed of the potential air pol- of Air Quality Management, said air quality near the development, development has been ap- inside the development was also absolute disaster”. ings over air quality, Lewisham lution risks to human health”. residents would fi nd it diffi cult to as it sits in an air quality manage- Aproved in an area where air above legal levels at 43.7μg/m3, Her daughter, Ella Roberta council deems it a “low priority It states that such information know when they should be able ment area – an area which is un- pollution is so high that residents which would aff ect residents on Kissi-Debrah, was nine when she consideration” in its planning re- “would be likely to take the form to open their windows. “People likely to meet national air quality will be advised to keep their win- the fi rst fl oor. died of acute respiratory failure port, rejecting solutions to miti- of marketing information, lease- know whether it’s too hot inside, objectives. dows closed. The assessment includes the and severe asthma. NO2 lev- gate against the risk of high air hold clause and welcome pack”. or too noisy outside, but sensing The developer has also agreed Nitrogen dioxide exceeds legal guidance: “With opening win- els near their Lewisham home pollution. Claire Holman, an air quality poor air quality is more diffi cult. to contribute £17,500 towards limits on the busy road where the dows the developer should ad- were consistently above the legal In one section, the council re- expert, said interior air pollution They may open their windows planting trees nearby and make development is planned, next to vise the future occupants that limit. The attorney general has jects providing glazing on the ba- can also be dangerous – such during pollution events without further contributions towards the A2 in Lewisham. An air qual- their health could be at risk due approved a new inquest into the sis of a prediction that “air pollu- as pollution arising from using realising.” She added: “I have a pedestrian safety, better street ity assessment carried out on be- to relatively high levels of air pol- death. tion levels should fall as vehicle cleaning materials, toiletries, or problem with leaving it up to the signs and parking. Abbott urges PM to block Assange’s extradition

Guardian News and Media Assange should face the criminal London justice system.” But she added: “It is not the rape charges, se- rious as they are, it is about he shadow home secre- WikiLeaks and all of that embar- tary, Diane Abbott, has rassing information about the Turged Theresa May to activities of the American mili- block the extradition of Julian tary and security services that Assange to the US in the same was made public. way she intervened in the case “He is at the very least a of the computer hacker Gary whistleblower and much of the McKinnon. information that he brought into In 2012, as home secretary, the public domain, it could be ar- May halted McKinnon’s extra- gued, was very much in the pub- dition on human rights grounds lic interest. after doctors warned he was at Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour risk of suicide if sent to face trial leader, has also urged the gov- in the US. Abbott said similar ernment not to extradite As- Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage and British journalist Annunziata Rees-Mogg (right) look on at the launch of The Brexit Party’s European Parliament election campaign in grounds should be used to block sange, saying he had exposed Coventry yesterday. Assange’s extradition. evidence of atrocities in Iraq and On Thursday, the Wikileaks Afghanistan. founder was arrested on behalf Almost 12 hours after Assange of the US authorities, who have was arrested, Corbyn tweeted: charged him with involvement in “The extradition of Julian As- a computer hacking conspiracy. sange to the US for exposing evi- The 47-year-old faces up to 12 dence of atrocities in Iraq and Af- months in a British prison after ghanistan should be opposed by Farage launches Brexit Party he was found guilty of breach- the British government.” He ac- ing his bail conditions. The US companied his social media post charge could attract a maximum with a video tweeted by Abbott, jail sentence of fi ve years, ac- which she said showed leaked cording to the US department of Pentagon footage of a 2007 air justice. strike in Iraq that implicated US ahead of European elections Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s To- armed forces in the killing of ci- day programme yesterday, Ab- vilians and two journalists. AFP failure to complete the split by its up to October 31. pro-European lawmakers who have the fi nal say on this matter, bott said: “If you remember the Addressing the House of Coventry original March 29 deadline into This requires the UK to fi eld broke from May’s Conservatives and the best option is for the UK McKinnon case, the Americans Commons yesterday, Abbott said big gains for Britain’s EU foes. candidates for the May 23 Euro- and the main opposition Labour to remain a full member of the insisted on extraditing him. He Assange was in the “crosshairs of “I genuinely believe right now pean Parliament election. Party in February. European Union.” had done this massive computer the US administration” over his igel Farage launched his this nation, we are lions led by Farage said the chaos showed The Independent Group (TIG) The European vote off ers a hack, but his real crime was to whistleblowing activities. Brexit Party’s campaign donkeys,” Farage told his maiden that Britain’s leaders were “pret- is re-branding itself as “Change range of startup parties a rare have embarrassed the American She said: “On this side of the Nyesterday for the Euro- campaign event in Coventry — a ty much incompetent”. Support- UK” and commands 11 of the 650 chance to grab the national lime- military and security service. house we want to make the point pean Parliament elections — a mediaeval central England city ers of the 55-year-old former seats in the House of Commons. light — and secure treasured “In the end the then home that the reason we are debating Ju- vote Britain was never meant to left in ruins by World War II commodities trader wholeheart- Its overarching ambition is to funding should they actually win secretary, Theresa May, blocked lian Assange this afternoon, even take part in but which is now be- bombing raids. edly agreed. keep Britain in Europe by forcing seats in Strasbourg. his extradition on what she said though the only charge he may ing seen as a referendum on its Britain has found itself in the Social worker Richard Harris a new Brexit referendum that in- An outfi t called The Renew were human rights grounds. We face in this country is in relation stalled drive out of the EU. embarrassing position of having said he signed up to be a Brexit cludes the option of reversing the Party kicked off its campaign by think there may be human rights to his bail hearings, is entirely due The former UK Independence to prepare for a European vote Party member to deliver “the fi rst one’s results. promising to give a voice to “peo- grounds in relation to Assange.” to the whistleblowing activities Party (Ukip) leader was a leading three years after deciding to leave biggest slap in the face for the “We are clear: Brexit is prov- ple from outside politics” who Abbott described the allegations of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.” light of the pro-Brexit camp in a the bloc. party political system that we’ve ing to be undeliverable,” Change still view themselves as Europe- facing Assange from two women She added: “It is this whistleblow- bitterly divisive 2016 referendum May’s struggle to get her EU had in generations”. UK spokesman Chuka Umunna ans and believers in causes such in Sweden as “serious”, but said ing into illegal wars, mass murder, that voted to pull Britain out of divorce terms approved by par- “We need to break away — a telegenic 40-year-old native as fi ghting climate change. charges were never brought. murder of civilians and corrup- the European Union after nearly liament forced the other 27 na- from the two party system,” the Londoner who quit Labour — It said it was “ready to speak up She said: “If the Swedish gov- tion on a grand scale, that has put half a century. tions at a summit earlier this 37-year-old said. said in an introductory campaign for disenfranchised voters who ernment wants to come forward Julian Assange in the crosshairs of He now hopes to transform week to grant Britain a second Those trying to do just that in- statement. cannot rely on the Conservative with those charges I believe that the US administration.” Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit extension that could run clude a new group of prominent “We believe the people should and Labour parties”.

Anger at climate change Britons going to terror Prison offi cer gets hotspots face 10 years jail payout over assault Guardian News and Media to be in charge of six inmates Guardian News and Media the power to stop and search indi- the legislation risked crossing the London on his own, against the ratio London viduals without suspicion on the line on human rights and could re- stipulated in guidelines of one grounds of tackling “hostile state” strict free speech and curb access to three. Goodenough, who had activity, and criminalises the to information. prison offi cer left with been working at Oakhill for three ritish citizens travelling viewing of terrorist-linked mate- More than 900 individuals “of permanent brain damage months, should not have been in to live in foreign terrorism rial online. national security concern” from Aafter an attack at a chil- charge of six people alone. Bhotspots could face up to 10 Exemptions have been written the UK have travelled to take part dren’s jail run by G4S has spo- Goodenough, who wanted to years in prison under controversial into the legislation to protect those in the confl ict in Syria, the Home ken about his continued belief return to his role but was un- new laws. who have a legitimate reason for Offi ce estimates. Of these, about in rehabilitation after receiving able on medical grounds, told the The Counter-Terrorism and being in a designated area or con- 20% have been killed overseas and a “substantial” settlement from Guardian: “I am past anger and I Border Security Act 2019 came ducting research online, such as about 40% have returned to the his former employer. wish them (the inmates) the best into force yesterday and creates journalists. But campaigners for UK. Ryan Goodenough, who was 21 in their future and hope they a criminal off ence of entering or press freedom and human rights Figures disclosed in the Com- at the time, was assaulted by in- change before it’s too late. remaining in a “designated area” watchdogs have raised serious mons last year suggested that only mates while supervising outdoor “I don’t believe in resent- overseas. concerns about the legislation. about 10% of returnees have been activity in the grounds of Oakhill ment or bitterness as it benefits Ministers unveiled the meas- A joint statement from nine prosecuted over “direct action” in secure training centre, near Mil- no one. You’re expected to be ure last year as part of eff orts to organisations including Index on Syria, although the government ton Keynes. He was taken to hos- angry and hateful, which it is boost authorities’ ability to tackle Censorship and Reporters With- says a signifi cant proportion of pital and found to have a serious OK to be, but when you hold a the threat from so-called foreign out Borders last year warned the those who have come back were brain injury after being hit on the grudge it makes young people fi ghters. The act allows the home “vaguely defi ned” crime of hostile assessed as no longer being of na- head with a radio. feel isolated and pushes them secretary to designate an area, state activity would give border tional security concern. Goodenough was in an in- further away from bettering subject to parliamentary approval. guards wide-ranging powers to Javid said: “These new laws give duced coma for two-and-a-half themselves. In order to use the power, Sajid stop, search and detain. the police the powers they need to weeks and emerged with perma- “It’s a diffi cult job but needs Javid would need to be satisfi ed The signatories said a journal- disrupt terrorist plots earlier and nent brain damage, which con- to be done, and is made harder that it is necessary to restrict UK ist taking a domestic fl ight could ensure that those who seek to do tinues to aff ect his memory and by a society that appears to want nationals and residents from trav- be stopped without any suspicion us harm face just punishment. As balance. He spent two months in to punish as opposed to rehabili- elling to or remaining in the area of wrongdoing and it would be we saw in the deadly attacks in Oakleaf rehabilitation centre in tate. We as workers have to undo in order to protect the public from an off ence for the journalist not London and Manchester in 2017, Northampton. the negative societal infl uences a risk of terrorism. An individual to answer questions or hand over the threat from terrorism con- G4S admitted liability for his indoctrinated across many years, found to have entered or remained materials, with no protection for tinues to evolve and so must our injuries and agreed to pay a set- usually in a short space of time. in a designated area could face up confi dential sources. response, which is why these vital Demonstrators take part in a protest against climate tlement. The company admit- The work has to be continued in to 10 years in prison if convicted. The cross-party joint commit- new measures have been intro- change in London yesterday. ted breaching its duty of care to the community for it to be suc- The act also gives border guards tee on human rights said last year duced.” Goodenough by allowing him cessful.” Gulf Times Saturday, April 13, 2019 9 EUROPE

Late Dutch doctor ‘fathered’ at least Ukraine presidential 49 in IVF scandal

AFP “Karbaat children” dragged his The Hague family to court to force them to rivals court French, release Karbaat’s DNA profi le, which was kept locked in a safe. Dutch doctor at the The Karbaat family’s lawyers centre of an IVF scan- had argued that their clients’ Adal fathered at least 49 right to privacy had to be re- children, an organisation rep- spected. resenting parents and children “However, with the judges born through his now-closed agreeing to the paternity test, German leadership clinic said yesterday. the judge placed the children’s Jan Karbaat, who died in rights above those of Karbaat AFP/DPA 2017, is the father of 49 chil- and his family,” Defence for Paris dren born after women visited Children adviser Iara de Witte his Rotterdam clinic where he said. used his own sperm instead of “Now, after years of uncer- he Ukrainian comedian sperm from a chosen donor to tainty, the plaintiff s can -fi tipped to become presi- inseminate them, Defence for nally close a chapter and start Tdent and his incumbent Children said. processing the fact that they rival travelled to Paris and Berlin Results of DNA tests con- are one of Karbaat’s many de- yesterday to seek international ducted yesterday at a hospi- scendants,” De Witte said. backing, nine days before the tal in the southeastern city of One of the children, Eric run-off in a high-stakes vote. Nijmegen “showed that 49 Lever, recently told the NRC French President Emmanuel children in the case are direct newspaper that he was “not Macron fi rst hosted comic Vo- descendants of the late Kar- angry with Karbaat”. lodymyr Zelenskiy, a political baat”, the organisation said in a “I don’t get the feeling that novice, for talks in Paris before statement. he cheated my mother,” he meeting later with current Presi- “The results confi rm serious told the NRC paper. “She re- dent Petro Poroshenko. Merkel and Poroshenko at their joint press conference after talks in Zelenskiy (second left) with French President Macron and other suspicions that Karbaat used ally wanted a child and could Polls show Zelenskiy, whose Berlin. off icials at the Elysee Palace in Paris. his own sperm at his clinic,” not have one with my parental only political experience to date Defence for Children added. father.” involves playing president on TV, Ukraine’s fi ve-year war with Moscow-backed separatists. heard opinions on the develop- scended into farce at times, with The controversial case be- The Defence for Children easily defeating Poroshenko for Russian-backed rebels in the The war has killed 13,000 peo- ment of both bilateral ties and both men undergoing drugs came public after a Dutch added it was likely that Karbaat the leadership of a country seen country’s east, a confl ict in which ple since 2014. the country,” his campaign chief tests at Zelenskiy’s insistence, court ruled in February that sired even more donor children as a buff er between Europe and France and Germany have at- Poroshenko, a 53-year-old Ivan Bakanov told AFP. the stakes are high for Ukraine, the results of Karbaat’s DNA than the 49 who were revealed Russia. tempted to broker peace, was one tycoon who made a fortune in The president and candi- a country of 45mn that is one of test should be made available yesterday. Poroshenko, who is anxious to of the main talking points. chocolate, has positioned him- date discussed the confl ict in Europe’s poorest. to parents and children to con- “Sperm belonging to the late make up ground lost to Zelenskiy France and Germany are part of self as the only candidate able Ukraine’s east, corruption, eco- Speaking in Berlin, Porosh- duct their own comparisons. doctor was also distributed by showing off his experience, the so-called Normandy quartet, to stand up to Russian President nomic reforms and “of course, enko said he would relish a de- Before his death, aged 89, to other clinics,” Dutch news travelled earlier in the day to Ber- along with Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin. the second-round run-off ,” bate with his opponent, “so that Karbaat reportedly admitted agency ANP quoted the organ- lin to meet German Chancellor created to try and broker an end Yesterday he downplayed the Bakanov added. Ukrainians know they are sup- to having fathered about 60 isation as saying. Angela Merkel in Berlin. to the confl ict between Kyiv and signifi cance of Zelenskiy’s out- Zelenskiy has suggested in- porting a real candidate and not a children in his time at the dis- The organisation has ap- sider status, telling reporters in cluding Britain and the US in the virtual candidate”. credited clinic which closed in pealed to anybody who may Estonia, Poland deny entry to Russian ship Berlin: “We have politicians who Ukraine peace talks. In 2014, Russia annexed 2009 amid reports of irregu- suspect that Karbaat was their are not part of the political sys- Zelenskiy has shunned tradi- Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula and larities. donor father to apply to a Dutch EU states Estonia and Poland said yesterday that they had blocked tem but that also exists in other tional rallies, instead continuing war erupted in the east. Karbaat later also admitted database for DNA matching. a Russian training ship from entering their waters because some on parts of Europe. Ukraine is not an to perform satirical shows during Before the confl ict with sepa- to mixing sperm from various Applicants can apply in board are cadets from Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. exception.” the campaign. ratists began, Zelenskiy had donors and issuing fraudulent writing to an offi cial body Estonia’s foreign ministry had denied the STS Sedov sailing vessel Ahead of the Paris and Berlin Macron’s decision to welcome struck a conciliatory tone, saying donor documentation, the called the FIOM, which main- permission on Wednesday after learning that it was carrying students visits, he had vowed to defend the candidate – breaking with that he was ready to “kneel” in Dutch daily newspaper NRC tains a DNA database to match from a maritime university based in Crimea. against what he called West- tradition whereby leaders usually front of Putin to avoid a military reported. children conceived via anony- Poland’s foreign ministry said yesterday that Prime Minister Mateusz ern “attempts” to lift sanctions only receive foreign politicians of confl ict. The group of suspected mous donors. Morawiecki had decided to follow suit for the same reason. against Russia, imposed after their ranking – caused some an- However, after the fi rst round “The prime minister’s decision is to refuse” entry to the vessel to the its 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s noyance in Kyiv. of the vote, he said he would ask port of Gdynia, foreign ministry spokeswoman Ewa Suwara said. Crimea peninsula. “This is a very unpleasant and the Kremlin for compensation for Bosnian Serb leader rejects 1995 Earlier, Estonian foreign ministry spokeswoman Sandra Kamilova told Kyiv and its Western allies ac- strange situation,” a high-rank- the war and for taking Crimea. AFP: “Estonia does not recognise the illegal annexation of Crimea and, cuse Russia of supporting the ing Ukrainian diplomatic source Earlier in the day, German Srebrenica massacre as a ‘myth’ in our estimation, issuing a permission to the training ship would have rebels militarily. told AFP. Chancellor Merkel said in a joint contradicted the Crimea annexation non-recognition policy.” Moscow denies that. Sources in the French presi- news conference with Porosh- Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik has accused the country’s The EU considers Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea to be illegal and After his meeting, Porosh- dency linked the decision to Zel- enko that Germany will continue Muslim community and the wider world of propagating a “myth” in demands that it be reversed. enko released pictures on social enskiy’s success in the fi rst round to stand by Ukraine with respect viewing the 1995 killings in Srebrenica as genocide. After Estonia’s statement, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman media of himself and a smiling of voting on March 31, when he to its territorial integrity. “Every people needs a myth – and the Bosnians didn’t have any. Maria Zakharova took to Twitter to describe the move as an “unfriendly Macron looking comfortable and won 30% of the vote, nearly dou- She came out in favour of pur- They tried to construct the myth of Srebrenica. It is a false myth – and provocative step”. close together on the steps of the ble that of Poroshenko. suing diplomatic contacts in the this myth doesn’t exist,” Dodik told broadcaster RTRS. Russian media then reported that the ship was headed towards Gdynia Elysee palace. “France is showing that so-called Normandy Format Bosnia has comprised two entities – Serb-run Republika Srpska and in Poland. “Happy to meet with Ukraine’s it knows what direction the over the confl ict in the east of the Muslim-Croat Federation – since the 1992-1995 war ended. The diplomatic spat comes just days before a planned Moscow visit sincere friend,” he wrote. Ukrainian electorate is heading in the country, where pro-Russian But Srebrenica remains emblematic of the worst excesses of that by Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid to open the renovated Estonian For 41-year-old Zelenskiy, a and that it has to make contact,” separatists have seized control. conflict with more than 8,000 men and young boys massacred by embassy there and to meet counterpart Vladimir Putin. consummate showman who has said Leonid Litra, an analyst “I believe we should continue Bosnian Serb forces. Relations between Moscow and Tallinn have been fraught since Estonia managed to tap into frustration at the Kyiv-based New Europe to work in this format,” Merkel While most Serbian leaders both in Serbia itself and Bosnia do not broke free from the crumbling Soviet Union in 1991, joining both the EU with mainstream politics fi ve Centre. said, while acknowledging the deny a massacre occurred, some do call into question the death toll and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) in 2004. years after Ukraine’s 2014 revo- A poll released on Thursday “diffi cult conditions” in pursu- at Srebrenica and reject that what happened there was genocide. More recently Estonia and fellow Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania lution, winning an audience with showed the entertainer winning ing the dialogue. Dodik, elected last year as the Serbian member in the tripartite have been spooked by their Soviet-era master’s annexation of Crimea Macron, also aged 41, was a coup. 61% of the vote in the second Merkel has been criticised for Bosnian presidency alongside Bosnian and Croatian counterparts, and its more aggressive stance in what Moscow considers to be its own “It was a very positive meet- round, compared with just 24% meeting Poroshenko, although was speaking at a conference entitled Srebrenica, reality and backyard. ing. A meeting during which the for Poroshenko. not Zelenskiy, while Macron met manipulations, organised in the Bosnian Serb capital of Banja Luka. two men got to meet each other, While the campaign has de- both men yesterday.

Serbian vulture fl ies home from Turkey ... by plane Sweden charges cops

Reuters over fatal shooting Belgrade of man with autism young vulture who got stranded last year in Tur- Akey more than 2,000km Reuters when asked to put down his from her nest fl ew home to Serbia Stockholm gun, but that they should have yesterday – by plane. stopped fi ring when Torell Dobrila, a young female griff on turned away from them. vulture, is part of a protected col- weden’s Prosecution Au- Torell’s death caused a pub- ony of around 70 pairs in western thority will charge three lic outcry and raised questions Serbia’s Uvac Gorge. Spolice offi cers over the over the use of deadly force by She was found injured and ex- fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Swedish police. hausted last year over 2,200km with Down’s syndrome and “I hope that we get clar- (1,370 miles) away near the Turk- autism in August last year, in ity about what happened, how ish city of Diyarbakir, where au- a case that has raised concerns it could go so wrong and that thorities intervened to get her over the use of deadly force. they change the way police repatriated. Dobrila is seen inside her cage Eric Torell, who had the are trained because this can’t She returned to Belgrade to a after arriving at the Nikola Tesla mental age of a three-year-old, be allowed to happen,” Torell’s celebrity welcome, fl own back Airport. died in a hail of bullets after mother told news agency TT. on a Turkish Airlines commer- sneaking out of his home in Offi cers have shot and killed cial plane in a special crate and turns to Turkey we would be glad Stockholm in the middle of the an average of one person per met on arrival by Serbian Envi- ... to take care of her,” Bilgic told A cage with Dobrila, a female griff on vulture, is unloaded after arriving at the Nikola Tesla Airport in night to play. year over the last 20 years, ac- ronmental Protection Minister reporters. Belgrade. Police fi red 25 shots at Torell cording to police statistics. Goran Trivan and Turkey’s am- Dobrila (‘The Good One’ in in a residential courtyard be- However, numbers have bassador Tanju Bilgic. Serbian) will now undergo health and learn how to feed on her own. The young birds often start and birds marked in Serbia have lieving a toy pistol he was car- been increasing, with six peo- “I am happy our operation was checks before being returned to Griff on vultures nest on steep wandering until they reach ma- been spotted as far away as Israel rying was a real weapon. ple shot to death in 2018 and an a success ... Dobrila will now go the Uvac Gorge, where she will be cliff s and feed on animal car- turity and choose a colony. and near Basra in Iraq, ornitholo- Torell, was hit three times. average of 3.2 over the last fi ve back to Uvac and if she ever re- initially placed in a cage to adapt casses. They can fl y great distances gists say. Two of the shots hit him in years. the back. In the US, 992 people were “I have decided that the po- shot dead by police in 2018, lice who have been charged for according to the Washington the shooting did not follow the Post’s database. The popula- procedures they should have tion of the US is about 330mn Man charged with Slovak journalist’s murder confesses done and had they done so, against Sweden’s 10mn. they would have realised that In the United Kingdom, Eric – the victim – was not which has a population around Reuters television RTVS said on Thurs- former soldier identifi ed only as dead at home with his fi ancée in murder and who are in custody a threat,” prosecutor Martin 60mn, four people were shot Bratislava day, quoting police sources. Miroslav M had confessed ear- February 2018, each quoted their was co-operating with the police Tiden told reporters. to death by police in 2017-18 The killing last year of Kuciak, lier that day during fi ve hours of own police source as saying the in the high profi le case. Two offi cers were charged and six in 2016-17, according to and his fi ancée Martina Kusniro- questioning by the police. same thing. Slovakia’s special prosecutor’s with misconduct and one government statistics. man charged with the va, sparked massive protests that Daily Dennik N and website Both news outlets identifi ed offi ce, which oversees the case, with causing another person’s Sweden’s National Police murder of Slovak investi- led to the resignation of prime aktuality.sk, where Kuciak had the man as Miroslav Marcek. told RTVS that it would not com- death. Commissioner Anders Thorn- Agative journalist Jan Ku- minister Robert Fico. reported on fraud cases involving The reported confession in- ment on an active case. Tiden said that the police berg has asked the government ciak has confessed to shooting RTVS reported on its Facebook politically connected business- dicated that a second person Police arrested four people last were justifi ed in opening fi re to review the rules surrounding him, Slovak independent public page that police sources said a men before he was found shot among fi ve people charged in the September. at Torell, who did not respond the use of fi rearms. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, April 13, 2019 INDIA

OUTRAGE TACTICS ANGER DECISION POLITICS Maneka issued notice Modi prods Pawar BJP protests over Rahul Kerala anti-graft body files MGP withdraws support for communal remarks to attack Congress insults against premier charges against ex-chief for Goa government

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi was issued Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday The BJP yesterday approached the Election The Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) a show-cause notice after she kicked off a again nudged NCP president Sharad Pawar Commission seeking action against Congress Bureau (VACB) has filed charges against its has resolved to withdraw support to the controversy when she told the Muslims in to denounce a proposal to make two “Prime president Rahul Gandhi for repeatedly calling former director Jacob Thomas accusing him Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh to vote for her if they Ministers” – one for Jammu and Kashmir and Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a thief” and of misusing his off icial position and causing a government in Goa, its working president wanted her to get their work done after she wins another for India as propounded by some also attributing to the Supreme Court things loss of Rs14mn to the exchequer while buying Deepak Dhavalikar said yesterday. “The party from the constituency. Addressing a rally in Turab Congress allies. Modi’s comments came it did not say in the Rafale jet case. A BJP dredger equipment as director of ports between has formally resolved to withdraw support to Khani village, the BJP leader said she would not again at a rally in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra – delegation comprising Union Ministers Nirmala 2009 and 2014. The decision comes after the the Goa government. A letter will be submitted give jobs to Muslims if they did not vote for her. Pawar’s home turf. “We have no expectations Sitharaman and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met state government rejected Thomas’ request to the Governor Mridula Sinha any time soon,” She added she would not like it if she won without on this from Congress, they are reaping what EC off icials in New Delhi and also alleged for voluntary retirement to contest the Lok Dhavalikar told the media in Panaji, a day the support of the Muslims. Maneka’s three- they sowed. But what’s wrong with you, Sharad that the poll panel had ignored their earlier Sabha election from Chalakudy. Jacob is facing after the MGP’s central committee passed a minute speech went viral on social media, leading Pawar? For how long will you keep quiet on complaints against Gandhi on the issue. “The suspension in the case since December and still resolution to support the Congress in the Lok to outrage for its blatant communal content. The this demand for two prime ministers? Your Congress president is using abusive words and has 18 months of service left. The case against Sabha polls. The MGP had been in alliance with Congress has termed her statement “scandalous”. party’s name has ‘nationalist’ in it, but is it only statements that are untrue. He is repeatedly Jacob was earlier dismissed by a court. Thomas the BJP since 2012. But after the death of late Maneka claimed her remarks were quoted out of to defraud the people of the country?” Modi calling the prime minister a thief without any was suspended last year on charges of violating Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, diff erences context. asked. evidence,” Sitharaman told reporters. the All India Service Rules. emerged between the two parties. Parties hit by TV, funding clampdown AFP Congress brought in about New Delhi $30mn and about 60% was anony- mous. The prime minister, who won he Supreme Court yester- a landslide in 2014 and is consid- day ordered parties to name ered frontrunner in this race, faced Tanonymous donors behind increased pressure after the elec- tens of millions of rupees in fund- tion commission said his NaMo TV ing as hostilities intensifi ed in the breached campaign rules. country’s mega-election. The commission ordered NaMo The order came ahead of the TV, which is sponsored by the BJP, second round of voting and after to submit all of its content for ap- the election watchdog called for proval. a clampdown on Prime Minister Under election rules, any con- Narendra Modi’s personal tel- tent deemed campaign material — evision channel, saying it breached including adverts, fi lms and even campaign rules. social media — needs permission While Modi and his opposi- from the independent watchdog. tion rival Rahul Gandhi returned NaMo TV shows 24-hour pro- to the campaign trail, the coun- grammes on Modi rallies, speeches, try’s top court gave parties seven and even rap songs and dance rou- weeks to name people who have tines devoted to the normally aus- bought “electoral bonds” in recent tere leader. months. It was being broadcast as normal Rival parties are said to be yesterday. spending up to $7bn on the elec- The order was the commission’s tion, which started on Thursday second blow to the Modi campaign Police personnel stand in a queue to cast their postal ballots at a polling station in Ahmedabad yesterday. and runs through to May 19, and in 48 hours, after it postponed the funding sources have come under release of a fl attering movie about the spotlight. the 68-year-old prime minister The bonds — bought for be- until after voting fi nishes. tween $15 and $140,000 and then Producers of the fi lm insisted given to a designated party — are they had no links to the BJP. controversial because they are But the commission said the fi lm anonymous. PM Narendra Modi, which tells of Congress ready to contest The election commission and the Hindu nationalist leader’s as- watchdog groups which took the cent from selling tea at a train sta- case to the Supreme Court said the tion to prime minister, could not be bonds should be ended because of released during the election. the risk of businesses making se- Modi and Gandhi kept up their cret contributions to infl uence de- punishing schedule of rallies ahead solo in Delhi as AAP dithers cisions. of the next vote on April 18. Modi’s government, which in- Modi has sought to portray him- IANS tive was to defeat the Bharatiya parties, Chacko said: “But we and other seats,” Chacko said. provided it sticks to the discus- troduced the bonds in 2017, op- self as tough on national security. New Delhi Janata Party (BJP). both understand that there is a He said the Congress was of sions we had corresponding to posed naming donors. “To kill terrorists in their dens Chacko, who is also the Con- political necessity and we should the opinion that the political sit- our strength in Delhi. But if they The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a policy of a new India,” Modi gress’ Delhi in-charge, said dis- come together to defeat the BJP uation in one state was diff erent (AAP) wants to extend the pact to is the biggest benefi ciary of the thundered at an election rally on he Congress yesterday cussions were held between him in Delhi.” He said the last election from the other, and that it was other states, it is not practical,” bonds, according to the Association Thursday. said the Aam Aadmi Party and AAP leader Sanjay Singh fought in Delhi was the munici- not practical or feasible to have the Congress leader said. for Democratic Reforms (ADR), one Gandhi and Congress have T(AAP) was backtracking and the two parties worked out pal corporation polls in which the an understanding in Haryana and Chacko added that with the of the groups behind the case. sought to focus on the economy from the seat-sharing “pact” a formula under which AAP was Congress had a vote share of 21% Punjab. AAP not taking “a practical view” More than $150mn in bonds and the fate of many minorities between the two parties by seek- to fi ght four of the seven seats in and the AAP 27%, which formed “We accepted the political ne- of the matter, the central election were bought in 2018, according to who say they feel more threatened ing its extension outside Delhi, Delhi while the remaining three the basis of the seat-sharing cessity and arrived at a pact. But committee of the Congress has the Factly Indian data journalism under the Hindu nationalist gov- and that the party would fi ght seats were to be contested by the agreement. the AAP on Wednesday said it discussed on the seven seats in portal. ernment. all the seven seats in the national Congress. “Delhi has the ideal situa- was not ready for a pact in Delhi,” Delhi and has almost decided the Experts estimate that at least the “This is the ‘New India’ they capital alone if no agreement was “The policy of the Congress in tion in which the Congress and he said. candidates for four seats. same amount was bought in the want, one completely devoid of reached. the country today is to go for al- the AAP can come together to “We were willing and we are According to sources, the months ahead of the election. unity and brotherhood,” said Con- Talking to the media here, liance with parties which aim to defeat the BJP in all the seven willing. But since they (AAP) four likely Congress candidates According to the ADR, the BJP — gress. Congress leader P C Chacko defeat the BJP and join us in this seats. The seat-sharing dis- have taken a diffi cult approach, are former Union minister Ka- the world’s biggest political party In Thursday’s fi rst day, voter said that AAP was keen on an fi ght,” he said. cussions were held with this the Congress is going to fi ght on pil Sibal from Chandani Chowk, — received about $150mn in total turnout averaged 66%, accord- alliance with the party in Delhi Admitting that the Congress understanding. We also arrived its own,” he said. Ajay Maken from New Delhi, Raj donations in 2018, of which more ing to the Hindustan Times daily, and so was Rahul Gandhi de- and the AAP had been fi ghting at a pact. Then there was a sug- “Even today I say with full au- Kumar Chauhan from north west than half came from anonymous compared to 70% in the 2014 spite strong reservations of the with each other and that there gestion from the AAP that it thority that the Congress is ready Delhi and Jai Prakash Agarwal sources. polls. party’s Delhi unit as the objec- was bitterness between the two wanted to also discuss Haryana for an alliance with the AAP, from north east Delhi. Veterans’ protest petition EC turning polls into hit by fake allegations a farce, says Naidu IANS be at the mercy of machines. Amaravati Claiming that 35% of the EVMs IANS It contained names of 156 of- Force Wing Commander Abhi- malfunctioned during the polling New Delhi fi cers but it was not clear on nandan Varthaman – who was in the state on Thursday, Naidu whose behest the campaign was captured by Pakistan and then day after polling in And- said voters had to suff er as some initiated. Among those named released – in posters along with hra Pradesh, which was of them waited till the early hours n online petition to Presi- were former navy chief Arun the image of soldiers in election Amarred by the malfunc- of yesterday to cast their votes. dent Ram Nath Kovind Prakash who is active on social hoardings and campaign. tioning of some EVMs, Chief “Polling at many booths start- Aby veterans protesting media and shares his views fre- “It is very worrying if people Minister and TDP president N ed at 1pm and ended at 6pm. against the politicisation of the quently on burning issues. are writing fake letters and al- Chandrababu Naidu yesterday Some people voted at 3.30am. armed forces has been marred The opposition had accused legations are being levelled by blasted the Election Commission Do you have commitment to- in controversy as some whose the government of politicising vested groups. It is highly con- for what he called “turning the wards the country? Do you care names fi gure in the protest letter the armed forces and even Prime demnable. It is happening at the elections into a big farce”. for democracy vote? The Elec- have distanced themselves from Minister Narendra Modi’s elec- time of elections,” said Sithara- Declaring war on the poll panel, tion Commission should answer,” the campaign. tion speech is under the Election man. Naidu said its insistence on use of Naidu charged. Defence Minister Nirmala Commission’s scanner. Former IAF chief Suri, one of a non-reliable technology, refusal He took strong exception to Sitharaman called it a “fake let- In the petition dated April 11, the eight former chiefs of armed to count VVPAT slips, transfer of deputy election commissioner ter” claiming Air Chief Marshal the veterans urged the president forces on the list of signatories, offi cials and its other moves at the Umesh Sinha calling the EVM N C Suri and Gen S F Rodrigues, to take “all necessary steps to ur- said he has contended that armed behest of Prime Minister Naren- malfunctioning a small issue and who were listed among those gently direct all political parties forces should remain apolitical dra Modi raised serious questions said at one stage 4,600 EVMs signed, have both come out to that they must forthwith desist but said that his consent was not over its credibility. were not functioning. say that their consent was not from using the military, military sought for the letter. At a news conference, the Tel- “Your own CEO (chief elec- taken. uniforms or symbols, and any Rodrigues denied signing the ugu Desam Party (TDP) chief said toral offi cer) could not vote. What She said it was worrying that actions by military formations or letter and called it fake news. that he had never seen such an in- about the common man? What do fake petitions were being signed. personnel, for political purposes “I don’t know what it is all sensitive, irresponsible and use- you say about this,” Naidu asked. The minister said the President’s or to further their political agen- about. All my life, we had been less Election Commission. The TDP leader also ques- House had not even received the das”. apolitical. After 42 years as an Naidu said he was ready to go tioned the EC about the qualifi ca- petition. They said that “some concerns offi cer, it is a little late to change. to any extent in his struggle to tion and credibility of technicians The petition had protested have caused considerable alarm We in the services have always save democracy, which he said, it recruited to repair the EVMs. against the politicisation of and disquiet among both the done what the government in was being endangered by relying “Who are these people? How armed forces in the wake of com- serving and the retired personnel power ordered us...,” he said. West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Electronic Voting Machines were they recruited? What is the ments like “Modiji ki Sena” made of the forces”. But some other veterans told supremo Mamata Banerjee gestures as she speaks during an (EVMs) which can be manipulat- guarantee that these people are by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister They have also objected to media houses that they had given election campaign rally in Kurseong hills some 42kms from Siliguri ed. Accusing the EC of bias, Naidu not doing any manipulation in the Yogi Adityanath. the use of pictures of Indian Air their consent to the letter. yesterday. wondered why democracy should EVMs,” he asked. Gulf Times Saturday, April 13, 2019 11 LATIN AMERICA Red Cross aid to Caracas to triple as Maduro softens stance

Guardian News and Media tinued moves by the Trump ad- Human Rights Watch and the tuberculosis and other infec- country follows clumsy eff orts Mike Pence, the US vice-presi- dent, was in Venezuela this Washington ministration to persuade other Johns Hopkins Bloomberg tious diseases. by the Trump administration to dent, called on the UN to revoke week, the fi rst visit to the coun- countries to back its calls for the School of Public Health urged Announcing the aid increase, politicise the delivery of US aid the credentials of Maduro’s rep- try by the organisation’s head in removal of President Nicolas the UN to take a lead in what the Geneva-based organisation to shore up support for opposi- resentatives. On the same day, a quarter of a century. he International Commit- Maduro. it described as a “complex hu- said: “The ICRC has tripled its tion leader Juan Guaido, whom the US Secretary of State, Mike “I am satisfi ed with the will- tee of the Red Cross is to With the health system in manitarian emergency” that budget for operations in Vene- Washington and dozens of other Pompeo, described the Maduro ingness of the authorities to Ttriple aid to Venezuela, a collapse, and food and electric- demanded a “full scale” inter- zuela from about $9mn to about countries have backed as interim government in Congress as “a work with us to address the hu- day after the crisis-riven coun- ity shortages now common- national response. $24.6mn. The fi nancial boost leader over Maduro. true threat to the United States manitarian needs we have iden- try’s leader approved the deliv- place, the Maduro government The 71-page report docu- will see the ICRC expand its Maduro, however, enjoys of America”. tifi ed in a consensual way,” Mau- ery of humanitarian assistance. has been accused of deliber- mented rising maternal and work on four pressing humani- the support of Russia – a veto- For his part, Maduro has long rer said in the statement. The organisation announced ately minimising the scale of infant deaths, the unchecked tarian issues: migration, health, wielding member of the UN Se- denied the country is suff ering The subject of humanitarian the increase in the face of the problems facing the country spread of vaccine-preventable water and sanitation, and deten- curity Council – and Cuba. from a humanitarian crisis and relief has become tense in Ven- mounting calls for the UN to even as millions have fl ed over its diseases such as measles and tion.” The war of words between blames US sanctions for its eco- ezuela following a standoff over recognise the scale of the crisis borders. diphtheria, and sharp increases The pressure for increased aid Washington and Caracas fl ared nomic woes. aid between Maduro’s govern- facing Venezuela, and amid con- A joint report last week by in the transmission of malaria, to the oil-rich but imploding up again on Wednesday when Peter Maurer, the ICRC presi- ment and Guaido. Blackouts threaten death blow to industries

Reuters Venezuela’s industry has col- Valencia, Venezuela lapsed during six years of reces- sion that have halved the size of the economy. he latest power outage What is left is largely outside started another tough of the capital Caracas, the only Tweek for factory owner big city that Maduro’s govern- Antonello Lorusso in the city of ment has excluded from a power Valencia, once Venezuela’s in- rationing plan intended to re- dustrial powerhouse. strict the load on the system. For the past month, unprec- In Valencia, a few multina- edented nationwide blackouts tional companies like Nestle and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo poses for a picture with Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera and Chile’s Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero at the presidential palace La have paralysed the factory and Ford Motor cling on. Moneda, in Santiago, Chile, yesterday. the rest of the country, cutting But the number of companies off power, water and cell service based there has fallen to a tenth to millions of Venezuelans. of the 5,000 there were two dec- Lorusso’s packaging plant, ades ago, when Maduro’s pred- Distribuidora Marina, had al- ecessor Hugo Chavez became ready struggled through years of president, according to the re- hyperinfl ation, vanishing client gional business association. orders, and a fl ight of employees. The government said on April Now the situation was worse. 4 that the power rationing plan Pompeo defends US For the whole of March, meant Valencia would spend at Lorusso said, his company pro- most three hours a day without duced only its single daily ca- electricity, but a dozen executives pacity: 100 tonnes of packaged and workers there said outages sugar and grains. were still lasting over 10 hours. When Reuters visited on April Generators are costly and can 8, he was using a generator to only power a fraction of a busi- sanctions on Venezuela keep one of his dozen packaging ness’s operations, they said. machines working to fulfi l the Many factories have shut Reuters gesture that experts say under- early hours of yesterday morn- in the region, including the US, of state, Russia, China and Cuba single order he had received. down. Santiago scores US commitment to the ing. as truly trying to help them,” he have stood by Maduro. Power had been on for a few “The game is over. Companies region. The region contained coun- said. The International Monetary hours, but was too weak to run are entering a state of despair due Pompeo will also travel to- tries that “were truly market Roberta Braga, a director of Fund (IMF) said this week Vene- the machines. to their non-viability,” said an S Secretary of State morrow to Cucuta, a Colombian driven, democratic in ways that the Adrienne Arsht Latin Amer- zuela’s economy was expected to “There is no information, we executive of a food company with Mike Pompeo yesterday border city receiving signifi cant we haven’t had in South America ica Center at the Atlantic Coun- contract by one-fourth in 2019, don’t know if the blackouts will factories in Valencia, speaking on Udefended sanctions on numbers of Venezuelan migrants for decades,” he said. cil, said she expected Pompeo and a further 10% in 2020 — a continue or not,” said Lorusso, condition of anonymity. Venezuela and said countries fl eeing hunger and violence in The visit comes as Washing- to fl ag the importance of Peru’s greater collapse than it projected who has owned the factory for Companies this year are oper- in the region would understand their homeland. ton considers more sanctions leadership as part of the Lima in October. over 30 years. ating below 25% of capacity, ac- that the US was not the “malign Venezuela’s crisis is expected against Maduro’s government Group regional bloc in address- During his travels, Pompeo is He said the plant had just a cording to industry group Con- actor” in the socialist-run coun- to dominate the trip as the US and pushes Russia to remove its ing Venezuela’s crisis. expected to highlight the gains day’s worth of power over the industria. try’s deepening economic and pressures President Nicolas troops from Venezuela. “At the top of the priority list from economic and trade co- previous week. It estimated companies lost political crisis. Maduro to step down and urges Critics have warned that for Pompeo’s trip this week will operation with the US, whose Power has been intermittent about $220mn during the days in Pompeo was embarking on a more countries to join the coali- heavy sanctions could hurt be to continue to reinforce and regional infl uence has been in- since early March, when the fi rst March without power, and would three-day visit to Chile, Para- tion supporting opposition lead- ordinary Venezuelans, already strengthen the coalition that has creasingly challenged by China. major blackout plunged Ven- lose $100mn more in April. guay and Peru, a clutch of fast- er Juan Guaido. suffering from hyperinflation been built in support of Guaido,” China, whose booming ezuela into a week of darkness. Nestle’s factory, which pro- growing countries in a region The region has seen a shift in and food and medicine short- Braga said. economy over the past two Electricity experts and the op- duces baby food, halted during where Washington concerns recent years towards right-lean- ages. “Pompeo will likely reiterate decades has driven up demand position have called the govern- the fi rst blackout in early March are focused on China’s growing ing presidents that have backed Pompeo said the people rec- the administration’s prior warn- for raw materials, is already the ment incompetent at maintain- and operations again froze two presence, as well as the Ven- Guaido. ognised the US was not to blame ings to external actors, including top trade partner for nations ing the national grid. weeks later, with employees sent ezuelan crisis. “This is an historic opportu- for the country’s crisis. China, Cuba and Russia, to not from tiny Uruguay to Brazil, President Nicolas Maduro has home until May, according to It will be the fi rst time since nity,” Pompeo told reporters en “I think they understand who intervene in the crisis.” Latin America’s largest econo- accused the opposition and the Rafael Garcia, a union leader at 1965 that a US secretary of state route to Chile’s capital Santiago, the malign actor is here and I While most Western nations my and the world’s top soybean US government of sabotage. the plant. has visited Paraguay, a symbolic where he touched down in the think they’ll see all the countries have recognised Guaido as head exporter.

Petrobras stops diesel price Two killed in Brazil hike at Bolsonaro’s behest buildings’ collapse AFP the Muzema favela in Itanhanga Rio de Janeiro a month ago and bought a home Reuters early-morning securities fi ling. with international markets. in front of the buildings that Brasilia/Rio de Janeiro In a radio interview yesterday, “It’s a shame because all that’s collapsed. She had just woken Vice President Hamilton Mour- been said by the government up wo people were killed in when she heard the commotion ao said Bolsonaro had pressured to now is that you’re going to Brazil yesterday when two and managed to escape with her razil’s Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras to cancel the price have prices tied to international Tbuildings collapsed in a daughter. “My home shook. We SA cancelled a diesel price hike, but added he had “absolute prices, and Petrobras is going hillside neighbourhood near Rio ran and didn’t look back,” she Bhike yesterday at the be- certainty” that it was a one-time to have independence when it de Janeiro, a region hard hit by said. hest of Brazilian President Jair matter. comes to pricing policy,” said heavy rain and fl ash fl oods, fi re- Muzema is hard to reach be- Bolsonaro, spooking investors Bolsonaro called Petrobras Adriano Pires, a consultant at fi ghters said. cause of the widespread damage wary of political interference at chief executive Roberto Castello Brazil’s Center for Infrastructure. The adjoining four-storey caused by the unusually heavy the state-run oil fi rm. Branco late Thursday to address He added that the move could structures were inundated as rain across the region, which Preferred shares dropped 4.3% the sharp price hike after dis- complicate Petrobras’ plans to the Itanhanga neighbourhood, began late Monday and con- in Sao Paulo trading as the abrupt cussing the matter with his chief sell two groups of refi neries over 30kms west of downtown Rio, tinued into Tuesday, triggering reversal raised doubts about of staff , according to a source in fears the government might in- was drenched along with the rest fl ash fl ooding that turned some pledges to separate politics from the presidential palace. tervene in refi nery fuel pricing. of the region three days ago, re- streets into raging rivers and business at Petrobras, which sold Petrobras did not immedi- That sale would raise several sulting in multiple deaths. swept away vehicles. fuel at a loss for years under pres- ately respond to requests for billion dollars if successful. At least two other people were Heavy runoff from neighbour- sure from previous governments. comment on Bolsonaro’s role in Analysts at UBS led by Luiz injured when the buildings col- ing hills gushed through some Although Bolsonaro vowed the decision. Last year, a huge Carvalho pointed to a March lapsed, said the fi refi ghters, who apartment buildings and shops, orthodox economic policies in truckers strike over high diesel announcement that Petrobras managed to pull three people out leaving behind mud and debris. his far-right presidential cam- prices paralysed much of Brazil would take part in a gas tender alive. Like many poor neighbour- paign last year, his fi rst 100 days and led the government to inter- in Israel, an ally of the Bolsonaro Neighbours said the buildings hoods west of Rio de Janeiro, in offi ce have raised concerns vene in Petrobras’ pricing policy. government, as evidence that crumbled early in the morning. Muzema is run by militias loyal that more populist factions in his Then-CEO Pedro Parente quit the price hike reversal is likely “There was a loud noise, the to criminal gangs that use vio- government may have an upper in protest and the company’s part of a larger trend of govern- buildings collapsed and there lence to enforce their rule. hand over free-market voices. share price was nearly halved in ment interference at the fi rm. was a great cloud of dust,” said The gangs sell land rights and Petrobras announced on a month. Petrobras updated its Petrobras said in the fi ling Muzema resident Isabel Cris- control access to city services Thursday afternoon it would diesel pricing policy last month, yesterday its current hedge po- tina, 42. “A friend who lived in such as water and electricity. raise diesel prices by 5.7% to saying prices would not be re- sition allowed it to delay a price the building was rushed to the “Municipal control techni- the highest level since October, adjusted more than once every revision for “some days,” with- A man is carried on a stretcher as rescue workers are seen at hospital along with his family,” cians need police support to carry eff ective yesterday, then dis- 15 days and reaffi rming it would out detailing its plans for a fu- the site of a collapsed building in Muzema community, Rio de she said. out operations in that place,” the closed it was backing off in an not price the fuel below parity ture readjustment. Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. Juliana Carvalho, 34, moved to mayor’s offi ce said on Twitter. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, April 13, 2019 PAKISTAN Quetta market attack leaves 20 dead, 48 injured Reuters/AFP/DPA/Internews southern deepwater port of Gwa- plosive device was hidden be- Mengal had been detained for Security off icers inspect the site of a bomb blast at the fruit market in Quetta. Quetta/Islamabad dar. tween sacks of potatoes, but, three months under maintenance The attack came after a lull of later, he and the provincial home of public order regulations, he tragedies over several years. In a statement, he termed it a wrote on Twitter: “Condemn the at least a year in violence against minister, Zia Langau, told a news said. Each time there are promises “heinous act of terrorism which terrorist attack in #Quetta. The suicide bomb blast ripped the mainly Shia Hazara minor- conference that a suicide bomber The LeJ has worked both with that more will be done to pro- is a reminder for us as nation that government must stop dragging through an outdoor Pa- ity in the province, though there exploded his device among the Al Qaeda and Islamic State in tect them, and each time those few remnants of this menace are its feet and take action to counter Akistani market yesterday, have been isolated shootings. people in the market. Pakistan and has claimed several promises have failed to material- still left to be eliminated totally”. violent extremism. Thoughts and killing at least 20 people, offi cials The blast took place at Hazar The minister also said that two co-ordinated attacks in Balu- ise,” Omar Waraich, an offi cial of Condemning the attack, Infor- prayers with the families of the said. Ganji, a fruit and vegetable mar- children were among the dead. chistan. rights group Amnesty Interna- mation Minister Fawad Chaud- victims.” Body parts littered the scene ket on the outskirts of Quetta. “The bomber seemed to be A faction of the Pakistani Tali- tional, said in a statement. hry prayed for eternal peace for US ambassador to Pakistan and injured people screamed for “I was loading a small truck disguised as one of the labour- ban has claimed the market at- “Prime Minister Imran Khan’s the departed souls and early re- Paul W Jones also issued a strong help as black smoke cloaked the and I heard a huge bang and it ers when he exploded his device,” tack, saying that they collabo- government has made important covery of the injured. condemnation of the attack. market after the explosion. seemed as if the earth beneath another police offi cial, Bahram rated with the LeJ. commitments to protect all re- He said the terrorists wanted “We strongly condemn to- Some 48 people, including me had shaken and I fell down,” Mandokhel, told Reuters. “We There was no immediate con- ligious groups. Those commit- to target the process of progress day’s terrorist attack on a market three security personnel, were said Irfan Khan, a labourer, from have found his head and other fi rmation from the LeJ. ments must translate now into and development by harming in Quetta. We off er our deepest wounded in the blast in the his hospital bed. “The atmos- body parts.” Ethnic Baluch separatists are policies to eff ectively protect the peace in the country. condolences to the victims and southwestern city of Quetta, phere was fi lled with black smoke No group immediately claimed also battling what they call unfair Hazaras of Quetta, ending more The valiant people of Paki- their families,” the US embassy capital of resource-rich Balu- and I could not see anything, I responsibility. exploitation of the province’s gas than a decade of bloodshed.” stan have been boldly facing the in Islamabad’s Twitter account chistan province, offi cials said. could hear people screaming for Hazaras have been frequently and other resources. Khan himself “strongly con- menace of terrorism and time posted. With some of the injured in help and I was also screaming for targeted by Taliban and Islamic In 2013, three bombings killed demned” the attack. is not far when terrorists will be Baluchistan Governor Aman- critical condition, rescuer Abdul help.” State (IS) militants and other more than 200 people in Haz- “Deeply saddened and have completely eliminated from the ullah Khan Yasinzai, Chief Min- Hamid Achakzai said that the He said the air was “fi lled with Sunni Muslim militant groups in ara neighbourhoods, prompting strongly condemned the terrorist country, the minister added. ister Mir Jam Kamal Khan and death toll might go up. the stinging smell of burnt hu- both Pakistan and Afghanistan. security forces to escort Hazara attack in Hazarganji market area Opposition Leader in the Na- Punjab Chief Minister Usman Photographs circulated on so- man fl esh”. They have been heavily tar- buses to the market. of Quetta targeting our innocent tional Assembly Shehbaz Sharif Buzdar also condemned the at- cial media showed dead bodies At least eight of the dead be- geted in Afghanistan in attacks The same practice was fol- people. I have asked for an im- prayed for the departed souls and tack. piled up on trucks, injured being long to the Hazara community, claimed by an affi liate of Islamic lowed yesterday, but the blast mediate inquiry and increased expressed condolences to the Violence in Pakistan has taken to hospitals and the mar- Quetta city police chief Abdul State. took place in the market. security for the ppl. Prayers go to grieving families of the victims. dropped signifi cantly since the ketplace awash with blood. Razzaq Cheema said, adding that Yesterday’s bloodshed came Hazaras make up roughly the families of the victims and for He said the nation and its in- country’s deadliest-ever militant Baluchistan is the focus of the one paramilitary offi cial from two days after authorities freed 500,000 of the city’s 2.3mn peo- early recovery of the injured,” the stitutions have rendered great attack, an assault on a school in $57bn China Pakistan Economic a squad deployed to guard the Ramzan Mengal, a top leader ple. prime minister tweeted. sacrifi ces to eliminate terrorism the northwestern city of Pesha- Corridor (CPEC), a transport community at the market was of a banned sectarian group, “Targeted for their religion by President Dr Arif Alvi con- from the soil. war in 2014 that killed more than and energy link planned between also killed. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), police sectarian armed groups, (Haz- demned the blast and expressed Pakistan Peoples Party chair- 150 people, most of them chil- western China and Pakistan’s He initially said that the ex- chief Cheema said. aras) have suff ered many such sorrow over the loss of life. man Bilawal Bhutto Zardari dren.

Thousands gather in Government plans Jhang to form image of to introduce mobile Christchurch mosque app for tax collection

AFP green of a public fi eld, as a second Internews “It is unconfi rmed whether Jhang group formed the words “Islam is Islamabad the tax, charged by hotels and peace” nearby. restaurants, is actually depos- Huge New Zealand and Paki- ited in the national treasury housands of Pakistanis stani fl ags were also displayed he federal government and within prescribed time clad in white gathered in along with a giant banner which has decided to introduce limit or not,” it added. Tthe central city of Jhang read: “Solidarity with the mar- Ta mobile app for real- Furthermore, the app can be yesterday to make a human im- tyrs of Christchurch from Paki- time collection of general sales integrated with the tax mecha- age of Christchurch’s Al Noor stan.” tax (GST) charged by hotels nism so that GST payments are mosque, where 50 people were The tribute was organised by and restaurants throughout the made on real-time basis. killed by a white supremacist the Muslim Institute, a non- country. The system would benefi t four weeks ago. government organisation aimed The fi nal decision on this the government by transfer- Drone images showed wor- at promoting peace and stability matter will be taken after ring taxes to the national ex- shippers standing in formation, in the Muslim world, which also consultation with all relevant chequer instantly. their snow-white traditional released the drone footage. stakeholders. On the other hand, it would Pakistanis gather to form an image of the Christchurch Al Noor mosque, in solidarity with the mosque shalwar kameez and prayer caps Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year- The app will send consumers also ensure the consumers that attack victims, in Jhang, Punjab province. in stark contrast to the emerald old Australian and self-avowed an instant receipt confi rming their payment has entered the white supremacist, has been tax collection from them and national treasury. charged with 50 counts of mur- help enhance government’s The regional tax offi ce of Is- der and 39 of attempted murder revenue from food and accom- lamabad, an institution func- after opening fi re at the Linwood modation sector. tioning under the FBR, has in- and Al Noor mosques on March According to documents, stalled a Web-based restaurant 15. the fi nance ministry penned invoice system throughout the Nine of the victims were of Pa- a letter to the Federal Board of city. kistani origin. Revenue (FBR) in this regard, According to the sources, One, Naeem Rashid, was post- following which the latter de- the system permitted the FBR humously given an award for cided to review the recom- to digitally monitor payments bravery by Pakistan after he ap- mendation of a mobile app for received by the restaurants in parently tried to tackle the gun- hotels and restaurants. Islamabad. man before being shot. The letter observed that all The data from the newly Tribute organisers praised the luxury hotels and restaurants installed systems was sent to New Zealand government af- in the country collected GST the regional tax offi ce with in- ter what had been a “very tough besides their usual bills. structions to classify restau- time” for Muslims in the coun- Even the restaurants that do rants under diff erent catego- try – especially Prime Minister not provide computerised bills ries as per threshold of their Jacinda Ardern. charged sales tax, the letter electricity and gas bills and Her response “not only continued. charge taxes accordingly. soothed the wounds of Muslims but also assured them that Mus- lims in their country are safe”, Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali, a religious scholar and one of the organisers, told AFP. Case lodged against “We worked really hard to make this model,” one partici- pant, Noor Hassan, told AFP of Baluchistan varsity the tribute. “It was so pleasant that we were ready to stand like this for Internews is no permission to cut down the whole day,” he added. Islamabad these trees,” Kakar said, add- ing these trees were planted in 1970 after its saplings were Indian langurs seen in Kasur villages Authority seals MPA Hostel’s canteen he provincial forest de- brought from Iran. Action against partment has lodged a However, the university has cable operators At least three langurs (a species of monkey native to South Asia) have The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has Tcase against the vice- denied the allegations and said been sighted in some villages of the district, creating excitement and sealed the MPA Hostel’s canteen after a detailed inspection of its chancellor of Baluchistan Uni- it had no information about Pakistan Electronic Media fear among locals. kitchen. versity, after a large number of the action taken by the forest Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) The langurs, according to locals, seen in Khara and Vadana villages, In a statement here, the authority’s director general, Riaz Khan Mahsud, trees in the varsity premises department. chairman Mirza Saleem Baig has have migrated from Indian side, where these are also called Hanuman said that the food authority had the mandate to check every food outlet were cut down. “We have no offi cial infor- warned of strict action against langurs. in the province and take necessary action in public interest. “Around 45 trees of Quetta mation about the fi rst infor- cable operators who air Indian As the news about presence of langurs spread, a large number of He said that provision of safe and healthy food would be ensured in all pine were cut down in the uni- mation report lodged by the channels. people gathered in these villages to see them. areas of the province. versity premises last week,” of- forest department against the Addressing a press conference, The locals said these langurs were seen perched on cellular company Sharing details, the authority’s director operations Khalid Khan Khattak fi cials said, adding that a case university,” Baluchistan Uni- Baig said that cable operators towers, minarets of mosques, and upper-most branches of trees. said that the canteen was checked for personal and food hygiene. had been registered against the versity spokesman Amir Ham- should air more Pakistani Some of the locals claim these primates were seen roaming on the He revealed that both personal hygiene and food safety situation were vice-chancellor on behalf of za said. “The university is tak- channels. roofs of houses in search of food, creating panic among the residents, not satisfactory. a guard of the forest depart- ing care of all trees and saplings “Cable operators do not have especially women and children. He added that China salt was also recovered from the premises, which ment, Mohamed Ramzan. inside the university premises.” permission to air Indian television They said the langurs haven’t hurt anyone so far, as they mostly stay had already been banned by the Supreme Court in 2018. The conservator of the forest However, he said, some trees channels.” away from humans. He said that a team of relevant off icials would continue to visit the department, Niaz Kakar, said had withered because of a long He added that direct-to-home Some of the villagers claimed that five langurs were seen in the area. canteen in order to ensure implementation of food safety standards. Quetta pine trees are the oldest dry spell in Quetta and season- (DIH) service will be launched by A few months ago, a langur was seen in Kasur city, but wildlife Another off icial, Dr Murad Ali, said that the canteen was sealed for three trees on the campus. al diseases, forcing the institu- November in Pakistan. department off icials failed to catch it. days and instructions for improvement had been given to the owner. “Under forest laws, there tion to cut down a few trees. Gulf Times Saturday, April 13, 2019 13 PHILIPPINES

Two Filipinas ‘hired’ as surrogates barred from travel

Two Filipinas who were “hired” to US ships to continue sailing in be surrogate mothers allegedly in Hong Kong were stopped from leaving the country after the Bureau of Immigration discovered that they were actually bound for China, Manila Times reported. South China Sea despite warning Grifton Medina, Immigration Port Operations Division chief, said in a statement that the bureau’s By Dempsey Reyes to agitate or anything else, but travel control and enforcement Manila Times purely for training, so nobody unit (TCEU) intercepted the alleged should be alarmed of the pres- victims only known as Ria, 32; ence of all those forces during and Ellie, 28 who were checked espite a warning coming the Balikatan,” Gapay said in a in at a Cebu Pacific flight at the from China not to start news briefi ng. immigration departure area of the Dany trouble at the South This year, Washington incor- Ninoy Aquino International Airport China Sea (SCS), the United porated for the fi rst time its F- Terminal 3. Medina said the victims States yesterday maintained it 35B Lightning 2 plane on board who were both former overseas would continue its operations the USS Wasp for the Balikatan Filipino workers admitted to im- there under international laws. war games. migration off icers that they agreed “The United States will fl y, From humanitarian assist- with the arrangement to carry the sail and operate everywhere in- ance disaster relief, the 2019 babies of others so that they could ternational law allows. That’s Balikatan military exercises fo- support their families. “They imme- it. I wish we had a longer state- cused on maritime security and diately confessed during interview ment for you, that’s the sim- counter-terrorism operations, that they were actually bound ple truth,” Lt Gen Eric Smith, which included drills on am- for China where their services as commander of the Japan-based phibious landing and live-fi re surrogate mothers were engaged US 3rd Marine Expeditionary training. for a fee of P300,000,” Medina Forces, said at a news briefi ng “We brought everything we said in his report to Immigration after the Balikatan (shoulder- could bring because our part- Commissioner Jaime Morente. to-shoulder) war drills’ closing nership with the Philippines is “Both victims said that their visas ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in so good. This is a partnership will be processed in Hong Kong,” Quezon City. and a mutually respectful, ben- he said. The women were turned The US made the stand af- efi cial partnership, so I brought over to the Justice department’s ter Chinese Foreign Ministry everything I can because I get Inter-Agency Council Against Traf- spokesman Lu Kang said Beijing so much out of this training,” ficking for further investigation and was hoping that “nonregional Smith said. assistance. A surrogate mother is forces” would refrain from Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr, a woman who agrees to become “stirring up trouble” within Armed Forces of the Philippines pregnant and give birth to a child the contested South China Sea chief, said Manila had always for another person. A surrogacy ar- (West Philippine Sea). been “respective” when it came rangement is usually sought when Lu was asked about recent ex- to actions coming from foreign pregnancy is medically impossible ercises conducted by Philippine nations. or when pregnancy risks are dan- Navy ships and Washington’s “We are all undertaking re- gerous for the mother. Medina said USS Wasp near the Scarborough spective independent actions, the women were intercepted after (Panatag) Shoal in line with the Philippine and American soldiers mount amphibious exercises in Zambales. we have a good rapport here,” seeing that the arrangement exploits annual Balikatan war games. Madrigal told reporters. women whose wombs were treated Smith noted that the US Lt Gen Gilbert Gapay, com- ippines, said the presence of US Gapay added that for Ba- According to him, there was a “Of course, what we want is as commodities to meet the repro- would continue its operations mander of the military’s South- forces in the West Philippine likatan 2019, there was an “in- 30% jump in personnel and continued freedom of naviga- ductive needs of rich people who even after the warning made by ern Luzon Command and the Sea was part of the yearly war crease” when it came to the par- 6% in equipment use. tion within the areas we are were unable to bear a child. China. Balikatan director for the Phil- exercises. ticipation of several countries. “The presence is not really covering,” he said. President to explain wealth ‘in due time’ Duterte says Sara will By Ralph Villanueva they all became signifi cantly Duterte slammed the reports P200,000. I have two families, Manila Times richer during their time in of- as “trash.” “Do not believe the that is just enough,” the presi- fi ce. trash of the opposition. I will dent added. The reports also accused the explain it (wealth),” he said. Duterte’s latest statement not run for presidency fter an investigative re- family of having undisclosed The president denied allega- came roughly a week after he port raised questions businesses. tions that he is corrupt, saying said his family’s businesses were Aabout his and his fam- In a speech during the Partido he had been living within his not the concern of the public. By Catherine S Valente ily’s wealth, President Rodrigo Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng means. Earlier, he also slammed the Manila Times Duterte said he would hide such Bayan campaign rally in Bacolod “You know I’ve been mayor reports as “black propaganda.” matters from the public, but City in Negros Occidental, Du- for 23 years, I’ve been a pros- The president said those who would explain his allegedly ill- terte admitted that he, indeed, ecutor for nine years, I’ve been wrote the reports were “paid resident Rodrigo Duterte gotten riches in “due time.” has money. in the practice of law four years hacks.” does not want Davao City The Philippine Center for “I am rich? I will hide it. Why before that, I have not lost even “Investigative journalists are PMayor Sara “Inday” Du- Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) will I tell you where I put the in the presidency. But if you tell attacking me and my children, terte-Carpio to run for president earlier released a series of re- money? You are all idiots. May- me… Look at their trash. I do all about lawyering. What do in the next elections. ports about the wealth of Du- be I will be robbed,” the presi- not have transactions with the they care about what happened In his speech during a cam- terte and his children —Davao dent said. government because I do not to my law offi ce? My law ce,offi paign rally in Bacolod City, City Mayor Sara Duterte-Car- He added that he would ex- allow transactions, contracts to it was formed with Atty. Fabio- Duterte dispelled talk that his pio and former Davao City vice plain the alleged wealth “in due reach my table,” he said. sa, the sibling of the basketball daughter was being groomed as mayor Paolo Duterte — saying time.” “All I have is my salary, player,” Duterte added. his successor. “I will advise her to lay off . But if I know she will not run for president,” Duterte said. Sara Duterte-Carpio: lacking father’s support “Inday is very wise. She just wants to shake the tree so the cism for things that you know “Running for president is not Foreign dept urges Filipinos to quit Libya ripe fruit will fall. Shaking the are not true,” he added. an overnight decision. It needs tree and getting rid of the dried The Davao mayor heads the money, machinery, but the most leaves and everything. If you ask regional party Hugpong ng Pag- important thing is wisdom and By Bernadette E Tamayo and surrounding areas “to have themselves it is still in a position to assist because once me, I will not allow her to run,” babago. guidance from the Lord because Manila Times and their dependents repatriated as soon as the fi ghting reaches the capital, its capacity he added. She has been actively cam- it will be diffi cult if it’s not in- possible. “The Department of Foreign Aff airs to respond to requests for assistance would The president, who will step paigning for Senate candidates tended for you,” she said. (DFA) on April 8 raised the crisis alert level in be severely aff ected,” Cato said. down in 2022, said a president supportive of her father’s ad- “It depends on the circum- he Philippine embassy in Libya yes- Tripoli from 2 to 3, or voluntary repatriation, “For those who choose to remain in Tripo- gets very little pay and has to en- ministration. She has also de- stances. Maybe, let’s just set a terday reiterated its appeal to Fili- to ensure the safety of Filipinos amid tensions li, please continue to remain vigilant and to dure insults and criticisms. nied that she was eyeing the deadline, in January of 2021,” Tpinos in Tripoli to move to safer lo- in the Libyan capital. exercise extreme caution. Those working or “I apologise for saying this. It presidency, saying she was only Sara added. cations as clashes there were expected to Filipinos were also advised to avoid living near areas where the fi ghting is tak- does not pay well, and the things helping her father. The younger Duterte is seek- intensify. traveling to Tripoli until the situation nor- ing place should remain indoors and restrict that you have to endure because But Sara previously said she ing re-election as Davao City Chargé d’aff aires and embassy head of mis- malises. their movement,” he said on the embassy’s you are there,” Duterte said. would decide if she will run for mayor in the May 13 mid-term sion Elmer Cato called on Filipinos in Tripoli “The embassy is issuing this appeal while Facebook page. “You get insults, you get criti- president or not in 2021. elections. Nearly 1.38mn aff ected by power interruptions

By Jordeene B Lagare 11pm. The NGCP raised the two ing the amount of load connected Pila, Santa Cruz, Victoria, Biñan, Manila Times alerts “due to major generation to the distribution grid during Santa Rosa, San Pedro and Ala- inadequacy,” according to the De- peak hours of the day. minos in Laguna; Lucena City, partment of Energy (DoE). This caused the power inter- Tayabas, Pagbilao, Candelaria, bout 1.38mn customers The DoE attributed the power ruptions in Manila, Quezon City, Dolores, San Antonio and Tiaong were struck by power in- shortage to inoperable power Caloocan City, Parañaque City, in Quezon; Batangas City, Talisay, Aterruptions that hit por- plants. Pasay City, San Juan City, Las San Pascual and Santo Tomas in tions of Metro Manila and neigh- These are San Miguel Consoli- Piñas City, Valenzuela City, Mal- Batangas; Taytay, Cainta and San bouring provinces as some power dated Power Corp (SCPC) Unit abon City, Navotas City, Pasig Mateo towns in Rizal; and Apalit plants remained offl ine or were 2 (150 megawatts); Sual Unit I City, Taguig City, Muntinlupa and San Simon in Pampanga. not operating at full capacity. of Team Energy and San Miguel City, Mandaluyong City, Marikina Peak demand was higher at “1.38mn customers are aff ected (647MW); Southwest Luzon City and Makati City in Metro 10,623MW against available ca- so far and counting on today’s Power Generation Corp (SLPGC) Manila; and in Plaridel, Malolos pacity at 10,206MW as of 1pm MLD (manual load dropping),” Unit 2 of DMCI (150MW); Pag- City, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, yesterday. Manila Electric Co (Meralco) bilao Unit 3 of Team Energy and Pandi, Norzagaray, Dona Reme- The DoE said the power situ- spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said in AboitizPower (420MW); and dios Trinidad, Angat, Paombong, ation would improve next week a text message yesterday. South Luzon Thermal Energy Hagonoy, Calumpit, Meycauayan, when some power plants resume Meralco implements rotating Corp. (SLTEC) Unit 1 of Ayala Santa Maria, Marilao, Bocaue, normal operations. brownouts or MLD in its coverage (135MW). Pulilan, Baliuag, San Jose del “We see an improvement of the area when there is a shortage of The DoE cited the supply de- Monte City and Balagtas in Bula- system for Saturday and Sunday power supply. fi ciency to DMCI’s Calaca Unit can. due to low demand on weekends,” The shortage prompted the 2 (100 megawatt) that is not op- Power interruptions also hit the DoE said. “The energy family National Grid Corp of the Philip- erating at full capacity, as well Imus, General Trias, Dasmar- is expected to have a better deter- pines (NGCP) to declare red and as 827MW from previously ap- iñas City, Trece Martirez City, mination of the week’s outlook by yellow alerts in the entire Luzon proved outages caused by sched- Tagaytay City, Silang, Naic, In- Sunday,” it added. grid that lasted for several hours. uled maintenance works. dang, Amadeo, Bacoor, Noveleta, The department said Sual Unit In its advisory, the country’s In an advisory, Meralco said Kawit, Cavite City, Tanza, Rosa- 1 of Team Energy and SLTEC Unit grid operator said the red alert 234MW from 112 accounts par- rio, General Mariano Alvarez and 1 of Ayala will be back on the grid was raised from 9am and lasted ticipated in its interruptible load Carmona in Cavite; Cabuyao, today, while SCPC Limay Unit 2 until 10pm. programme (ILP), a scheme aimed Liliw, Magdalena, Majayjay, Nag- and Pagbilao Unit 3 of TeaM En- The yellow alert was also up at alleviating supply crunch in the carlan, Rizal, San Pablo City, Bay, ergy and AboitizPower will go on- The shortage prompted the National Grid Corp of the Philippines (NGCP) to declare red and yellow from 8am to 9am and 10pm to power grid by voluntarily reduc- Calamba, Calauan, Los Banos, line on April 16. alerts in the entire Luzon grid that lasted for several hours. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, April 13, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Clearing the ground for Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor Amjad Khan post-confl ict reconstruction

P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar By Giorgio Chiovelli, Stelios what could have been achieved with a more coordinated eff ort targeting the [email protected] Michalopoulos, and Elias Papaioannou central nodes of the country’s limited 44350478 (News), London transportation network Much like Tolstoy’s unhappy families, 44466404 (Sport), every civil war is destructive in its own 44466636 (Home delivery) way, implying a need for caution when his year marks the 20th extrapolating research fi ndings from 44350474 anniversary of the United any single confl ict study. Nonetheless, facebook.com/gulftimes Nations Anti-Personnel our research points to some general TMine Ban Convention. Since lessons for the international community twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar the treaty entered into force, armed as it plans for the reconstruction of confl icts in Africa and elsewhere have Yemen, Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan, steadily receded, and democratisation, and continues demining eff orts in coupled with international monitoring, Colombia, Cambodia, and many has led to a reduction in the use of African countries. GULF TIMES landmines and other improvised First, those leading demining explosive devices (IEDs) worldwide. At eff orts should take a panoramic view the same time, inspiring individuals to identify spatial interconnections and organisations have continued to and areas hosting transportation Microsoft’s work with navigate diffi cult environments to assist infrastructure and local and regional victims and clear minefi elds. marketplaces. To be sure, prioritisation But that progress is now at risk. is complicated by other considerations, According to the Landmine Monitor including the need to facilitate China military varsity 2018, the use of landmines/IEDs is the return of refugees, maintain rising at an alarming pace, as are peace, distribute aid, and so forth; fatalities and injuries from these File photo: Mozambique is the only country to have progressed from being “heavily nevertheless, considering the economic raises eyebrows devices. Most of the casualties are in contaminated” (in 1992) to “landmine free” (as of 2015). potential of clearance in key areas Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Nigeria, would help ensure long-term success. Myanmar, and Libya, where rebel fatigue. Given these challenges, how used landmines for military purposes, Second, Mozambique’s experience Microsoft has been collaborating with researchers linked to militias, government forces, and should demining eff orts proceed? protection, and terror. holds a lesson for those in the a Chinese military-backed university on artificial intelligence, extremist groups such as the Islamic For the past few years, we have While early post-war assessments international community who are elevating concerns that US firms are contributing to China’s State have laid new minefi elds. Because studied the impact of landmine suggested that there were as many hesitant to expand the Mine Ban Treaty to high-tech surveillance and censorship apparatus. of past and ongoing contamination, the clearance in Mozambique, the only as 1mn landmines strewn across cover anti-tank (anti-vehicle) landmines, Over the past year, researchers at Microsoft Research explosive remnants of war continue to country to have progressed from being Mozambique in 1992, our data which are still deemed legal, owing to Asia in Beijing have co-authored at least three papers with aff ect the lives of millions of people, “heavily contaminated” (in 1992) to uncovered around a quarter-million their supposed “strategic importance.” scholars affiliated with China’s National University of Defence particularly civilians and children, in “landmine free” (as of 2015). Between devices across 8,000 hazardous areas. As our fi ndings show, by threatening Technology (NUDT), which is overseen by the Central Military around 50 countries. 1977 and 1992, Mozambique suff ered Yet, whatever the precise number, intra-regional fl ows of goods, people, and ideas, anti-vehicle landmines threaten Commission. As the international community from a civil war that left hundreds it takes only a few mines to terrorise focuses primarily on limiting the use of thousands of people dead from civilians and curtail economic activity. economic development and a post- The research covers a number of AI topics, such as face of landmines, preventing deaths, and violence, malnutrition, and hunger. In our study, we tracked how the confl ict recovery. analysis and machine reading, which enables computers to parse assisting the injured, much less attention More than 4mn of the country’s roughly evolution of local economic activity Sadly, International Mine Awareness and understand online text. goes to how these devices threaten 14mn people were displaced. in Mozambican localities, refl ected Day (April 4) has never been more While it is not unusual for US and Chinese scholars to conduct post-confl ict recovery eff orts. The According to a 1992 Human Rights in satellite images of nighttime light relevant, given the continued use of joint research, Microsoft’s work with the military-backed NUDT estimated 1mn IEDs deployed in Yemen Watch report, parts of Mozambique density, responded to mine clearance these deadly devices in confl icts around comes amid increasing scrutiny around China-US academic and thousands of similar devices in Syria had been “reduced to a stone age operations between 1992 and 2015. We the world. In addition to helping the partnerships, as well as China’s high-tech surveillance drive in narrow considerably the path to peace condition” and would have to be found that economic activity picked up victims of mines, the international the northwest region of Xinjiang. and reconstruction in these countries. rebuilt “from scratch.” Thousands of modestly upon full clearance, implying community urgently needs to step up its “The new methods and technologies described in their joint Complicating matters further, minefi elds scattered throughout the that demining does indeed facilitate clearance eff orts. The process demands papers could very well be contributing to China’s crackdown clearance operations are slow, relying country, however, made reconstruction development. More important, we a strategic, holistic, and coordinated on minorities in Xinjiang, for which they are using facial on imperfect detection methods and challenging. Government troops had determined that demining results in approach to ensure that demining leads incomplete information. Many minefi elds used mines to ring-fence villages, larger relative gains when it specifi cally to sustainable economic development recognition technology,” said Helena Legarda, a research were created years or even decades ago, towns, and basic infrastructure, while targets roads and railroads, as well as and lasting peace. – Project Syndicate associate at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, who and may have been moved by rockslides, RENAMO, a militant group backed villages that host agricultural markets. focuses on China’s foreign and fl oods, or other natural causes. by Rhodesia and apartheid South Demining key areas associated with Giorgio Chiovelli is a Research security policies. Demining suff ers from co-ordination Africa, had used them extensively in transportation networks leads to large Fellow at the London Business School. “China is “Many of these advanced problems, as the process is fragmented its strategy of terror. There were even increases in aggregate economic activity Stelios Michalopoulos is Associate technologies are dual-use, so among various nongovernmental older minefi elds left from the country’s because it has positive spillovers even Professor of Economics at Brown using facial they could also contribute to organisations and UN agencies. 1964-1974 war of independence, when in areas that were never contaminated. University. Elias Papaioannou is recognition the PLA’s (People’s Liberation Governments’ weak post-confl ict both independence fi ghters – FRELIMO Counterfactual policy simulations Professor of Economics and Academic Army’s) modernisation and state capacity makes planning and – and the Portuguese military used suggest that Mozambique’s highly Director of the Wheeler Institute of technology for informatisation drive, helping coordination even harder. The high cost them for various reasons. Militias, fragmented demining process probably Business and Development at the London the Chinese military move of clearing mines often leads to donor thugs, and even commercial companies resulted in sizeable losses compared to Business School. crackdown on closer to the 2049 goal of being a world-class military,” she minorities” added. A Microsoft spokesman said that the company’s researchers “conduct fundamental research with leading scholars and experts from around the world to advance our understanding of technology.” Closing Europe’s confi dence gap In each case, the research “fully complies with US and local laws” and is published to “ensure transparency so everyone can benefit from our work,” he said. By Ana Palacio little appetite there is for surrendering The growing concerns around human rights violations in Madrid sovereignty even over the most practical Xinjiang have also added pressure to US firms with business in issues. At a time of disinformation and confusion, the Parliament the region, where some 1mn Uighurs and other mostly Muslim could conduct credible studies and Turkic language-speaking minorities are held in re-education n Spanish, the word confi anza has disseminate authoritative research, camps, according to a UN panel of experts. a double meaning. On one hand, it much like the House of Lords does in In February, US biotechnology manufacturer Thermo Fisher describes a fi rm trust in something the United Kingdom. announced it would stop selling equipment used to create a DNA Ior someone – the kind of trust that For the European Commission, the database of the Uighur minority to China. people around the world, from Brazil goal should be to strengthen its role as That same month, a security researcher exposed a massive to the United States to North Africa, protector of the spirit and vision of the database compiled by Chinese tech firm SenseNets, which increasingly lack in their leaders and EU treaties, while taking responsibility stored the personal information and tracked the locations of even governance systems. On the other for proper policy implementation. This 2.6mn people in Xinjiang. hand, confi anza refers to confi dence would require the Commission to stop At the time of the data leak, Microsoft was listed as one of in oneself – something that is in trying to show at every opportunity that it is the captain of the ship. As these SenseNets’ partners. particularly short supply in Europe. In fact, the European Union is last years have shown, without political The company declined to comment. suff ering from a defi cit of confi anza buy-in, it cannot follow through on any But experts have also stressed that, in the case of NUDT, in both senses. This is a uniquely European Parliament building course it charts, whether on migration, Microsoft’s co-published work is open and publicly accessible. dangerous mix, because a lack of trust energy independence, or defence. This “The authors are basically sharing with the rest of the world and self-confi dence is leading the European project was even viable, since at least the fi nancial crisis. Agenda- failure undermines the EU’s credibility, how to replicate their approaches, models, and results,” said EU not just to outsider politics and let alone desirable. These doubts setting and decision-making authority while wasting time and resources. Andy Chun, an adjunct computer science professor at City even outlaw politicians, but also to intensifi ed as other trends – including lies with national governments, and, by As for the European Council, it University of Hong Kong. policy paralysis, public outrage, and globalisation, automation, and the default, powerful members, especially must act more as a collegium and less That allows others to potentially “build upon, enhance and an utter inability to determine its own emerging dominance of Big Tech – Germany, and disruptive mavericks, such a loudspeaker for the views of certain expand this research,” he said. destiny. Both before and after next transformed economies and societies, as Hungary and Poland, dominate these capitals in setting direction. Here the Microsoft Research Asia also tends to focus on long-term month’s European Parliament election creating new sources of insecurity. processes. role and personality of the Council’s research or projects that are not immediately transferable – which will precede a new European Economies had become much During the fi nancial crisis, Europeans incoming president, who will set the Commission and a new European broader than societies, and thus looked to German Chancellor tone, is crucial. to applications, such as those that could be used to monitor Council president – this defi cit must lacked the social underpinnings of the Angela Merkel, not then-European By focusing on rebuilding confi anza or suppress a population of people, pointed out Yu Zhou, a urgently be addressed. past. Add to that the expansion of the Commission President Jose Manuel in both its forms, the next Commission, professor at Vassar College, who studies globalisation and Public trust in EU leaders and regulatory state, and citizens felt a Barroso, for a solution. Despite the Parliament, and Council can bolster the China’s high-tech industry. institutions took a serious hit after perceptible loss of agency. declaration by Barroso’s successor, EU’s legitimacy and facilitate progress And while such concerns are certainly valid, it may be difficult the 2008 fi nancial crisis. By then, the The resulting uncertainty has Jean-Claude Juncker, that his in core areas, such as consolidating the for AI researchers to avoid China, she said. original purpose of the European project produced fear and frustration, fuelling Commission represented a “last euro and completing the single market “It’s a field where Chinese researchers have made quite a lot – to support peace on the continent popular anger not just at fl aws in the chance” for winning back the support and banking union. This new, stronger of advancements, and they are generating data which is the raw after the devastation of World War II – system, but also at the system itself – of citizens, Merkel has also dominated EU would be far better equipped to material for this industry — so how are you going to avoid that?” had lost its purchase on public opinion. and the “elites” who had “imposed” decision-making these last fi ve years. defend European interests and values Europeans had gotten used to peace. it. Aided by opportunistic politicians, This is exemplifi ed by migration, where on the world stage, which would bolster Meanwhile, “Europe” became focused mainstream political parties have time and again decisions impacting public trust further. on the broader – and vaguer – goal of become the enemy, and experts have lost the EU as a whole, including the bloc’s But if the EU institutions fail to To Advertise championing “shared values.” That credibility. Truth itself is under attack. agreement with Turkey, were taken in show the needed humility and vision, objective underpinned the establishment An eff ective response to this challenge Berlin with little or no consultation. no such virtuous circle will emerge. [email protected] of the formal EU institutions. must be broad, multilayered, and This is the reality. The European ship could continue to Display For voters, however, lofty ideals were robust. In European countries – and in And yet the European Parliament drift along aimlessly; worse, it will not the point. Europe had achieved the Western democracies more broadly and the Commission have sought to take on water until, ultimately, it sinks. 44466621 44418811 peace through prosperity; mutually – such a response requires political increase their own powers. This is the In the stormy seas of escalating great benefi cial economic relations were the leaders to engage more deeply with wrong way to achieve a meaningfully power competition, that will happen Classified key to deterring confl ict. But, as the citizens, together with eff orts to build central place in policymaking. Instead more quickly than EU leaders seem to 44466609 44418811 memory of the war faded, the means societal resilience. At the European of attempting to off set the power of recognise. – Project Syndicate became the ends. Prosperity was all that level, it also demands the development member states by expanding their Subscription mattered. of a clear raison d’être that extends competencies, these institutions should Ana Palacio is former minister So, when markets crashed in 2008, beyond prosperity. But it also means the focus on comparative advantage. of foreign aff airs of Spain and former [email protected] and Europe was engulfed by a series construction of a more eff ective, results- For the European Parliament, this senior vice president and general of crises (which were exacerbated by oriented institutional arrangement. could mean establishing itself as a counsel of the World Bank Group. She fl aws in the European architecture), The EU has been an intergovernmental, source of facts, ideas, and vision, rather is a visiting lecturer at Georgetown © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved the public lost confi dence that the rather than a transnational, endeavour than as a co-legislator, given how University. Gulf Times Saturday, April 13, 2019 15 COMMENT The future of economic growth

By Jim O’Neill this decade (2011-2017*). For the Russia reduce their dependence Manchester world as a whole, we predicted on the commodity-price cycle, growth of just over 4% in the they will only ever experience current decade, owing to the rise strong growth during price ast month, I wrote about of China and the other major spikes. With or without reform, the growing divide BRICs. And it is precisely for that Russia is already heading for between economic reason that growth in the 2001- another disappointing decade Ltheory and real- 2010 period was stronger than as a result of its demographics. world economic conditions, in the preceding decades, when Brazil, on the other hand, could and reminded readers that the persistence of 3.3% annual register growth close to what we economics is still a social growth led some economists originally predicted if it could science, despite whatever loftier to conclude that the global implement diffi cult social and ambitions its practitioners may economy had reached its full health reforms. But that is a big have. Nonetheless, when it potential. “if.” comes to the specifi c question of Now consider what has As for the eurozone, we appear what drives economic growth in actually happened. Growth in to have been too optimistic, even the long term, one can still off er the United States, the United though we foresaw a decline rigorous predictions by focusing Kingdom, Japan, China, and in potential growth to 1.5%. on just two forces. (arguably) India has come close Nowadays, most forecasters put Specifically, if one knows to what we predicted. But the the region’s growth potential at how much a country’s same cannot be said for the around 1%. If Germany cannot working-age population will eurozone, Brazil, and Russia, shift to a more domestic- grow (or shrink), and how much whose poor performance must demand-driven growth model, its productivity will increase, refl ect weak productivity, given that projection will probably one can predict its future that our predictions had already turn out to be correct. Yet while growth with considerable accounted for demographic most press coverage has focused confidence. The first variable trends. on Germany’s falling exports is reasonably predictable from It is worth noting that no and manufacturing output, a country’s retirement and major country or region has the country’s services sector death rates; the second is more performed better than we remains strong. For its own sake uncertain. Indeed, the reported predicted back in 2001. The table as well as for Europe’s, Germany slowdown in productivity shows that there can be some should embrace that strength across advanced economies asymmetry between actual and permanently. since 2008 is widely regarded potential growth, and that such Among the loose assortment as an economic mystery. divergences are not random. of N-11 countries – most of Is it really a mystery, though? On the contrary, the eurozone, them in Asia and Africa – are Consider the following table, Brazil, and Russia clearly have of growth that we predicted for employment growth in the have peaked. While pessimists because its workforce still has a some fast growers like Vietnam. which shows GDP growth underlying problems that need 2021-30. decade ahead. For overall growth will no doubt fi nd validation lot of growing left to do. The real Others, especially Nigeria, have since the 1980s for the larger to be addressed. It is also worth noting that to continue, productivity must in the further Chinese growth question is whether India can remarkable potential given their economies, the BRICs (Brazil, Of course, we also may have the US and the UK registered improve. disappointments that are to implement strong productivity- demographics, but will never Russia, India, and China), and been too optimistic about growth close to the level we When it comes to the next come, optimists can point enhancing reforms. If it can, it reach it unless they undertake the “Next Eleven” (N-11) most these economies’ long-term predicted despite their weak decade, much of the focus to the fact that 5% annual could be the one major economy signifi cant reforms. In that, they populous developing countries. potential in the fi rst place. productivity gains, owing to the lately has been on China, whose growth in China is nominally to exceed expectations in the have something in common (See Table) Such is the nature of a social rapid increase in employment current slowdown seems to have equivalent to 15-20% growth next decade. But even failing with many of the advanced With the fourth column science. Whether any of them in both countries. But with the taken markets by surprise. It in Germany. At this stage in that, India will soon overtake economies. – Project Syndicate (2011-2020) showing what my can achieve strong productivity unemployment rate having should not have. As we predicted China’s development, faster the UK and France to become the colleagues and I had projected growth will depend on a variety reached near-historic lows, almost 20 years ago, China growth would actually be quite world’s fi fth-largest economy; Jim O’Neill, a former back in 2001 when we coined the of factors, not least the policies and with public policy turning will struggle to attain growth extraordinary. it will overtake Germany at chairman of Goldman Sachs BRIC acronym, one can observe they have in place. At this point, against immigration, it will above 5% in the 2021-2030 It is equally predictable that some point in the next decade, Asset Management and a former diff erences between what was it would be a pleasant surprise be mathematically impossible period, for the simple reason India will start to grow at a much possibly by 2025. UK Treasury Minister, is Chair of forecast and what has happened if any of them achieved the level to achieve the same level of that its workforce growth will faster rate than China, simply Meanwhile, unless Brazil and Chatham House. LEGAL HELPLINE Three-day forecast

TODAY Maximum Temperature : 330c Punishment for alcohol-related off ence Minimum Temperature : 240c SUNDAY Maximum Temperature : 330c Minimum Temperature : 230c By Dr Nizar Kochery profi t quota of each. The company’s action issued by the Public Prosecu- als are not in a good condition. On Doha assets will be distributed among the tion shall not preclude the reinvestiga- enquiry, it was found that the sub- MONDAY partners by sorting, following the tion whenever there is new evidence contractor failed to keep the mate- Maximum Temperature : 310c principles prescribed for distribu- strengthening the charge. Such new evi- rials in good condition. The client Minimum Temperature : 230c tion of the joint property, unless the Question: My friend who is hav- dence includes testimony of witnesses may take action against us for the Fisherman's forecast ing a liquor licence was arrested articles of association of the company as well as records and other documen- recovery of loss. In such a case, can by police and now there is a case stipulates otherwise. tation that had not been previously we recover the losses from the sub- WARNING Inshore : Expected thundery rain against him. The paper received presented to the Public Prosecution and contractor? What is the law in this associated with sudden from police station mentioned strengthens the evidence that was found regard? Please advise. strong wind at times. criminal law No 273. He was not Reopening case with insuffi cient or may serve to clarify and Offshore : Expected thunder rain drunk at the time of arrest. He determine the truth. NA, Doha associated with strong new evidence wind and high sea was waiting in the car for another WEATHER friend. Please explain what the law A: According to Article 685 of the civil Inshore : P Cloudy to cloudy with says. What will be the punishment Q: I fi led a criminal case against a Recovering losses law, if the work materials are provided chance of scattered rain at places may be for the off ence mentioned? person for cheating and the case from sub-contractor by the employer, the contractor shall thundery was rejected due to insuffi cient ev- use all reasonable care to protect such Offshore : Cloudy with scattered AX, Doha idence by the public prosecution. materials, comply with the technical rain maybe thundery at times I had a document to substantiate Q: We sub-contracted electri- practices for the proper use of such ma- WIND Answer: According to Article 273 of my case which got misplaced when cal works to another company in terials, account for the materials to the Inshore : Northeasterly-South- Penal Law, anyone who sells or buys, I changed my accommodation. a project wherein our company employer, and return to the employer easterly 08-18/35 KT Offshrore : Northeasterly-South- delivers or receives, transports or pos- Now I have found the document. is main contractor. As per the any remaining part of such materials. easterly 08-18/38 KT sesses alcohol or alcoholic beverages, Can I reopen the case? Or do I need main contract, the client agreed Where such materials are not fi t for use, or deals with alcohol in any way for to make a new complaint against to supply the materials as per the either in whole or in part, due to the Visibility : 4-8/3KM the purpose of trade or promotion him? Please advise. specifi cation. We have supplied the negligence or technical ineffi ciency of Offshore : 3-5/11 FT shall be punished with imprisonment materials received in a good condi- the contractor, he shall pay the value of Around the region of either description for a term which QB, Doha tion to the sub-contractor. The such materials to the employer, together Weather may extend to three years, or with conditions of main contract are with indemnity, as applicable. Weather tomorrow Max/min fi ne not exceeding QR10,000, or with A: As per Article 148 of the criminal also applicable to sub-contractor. today Max/min Cloudy 24/14 both. In addition to this, the court can procedure, the order of insuffi cient Recently we received a letter from Please send your questions to Baghdad P Cloudy 25/15 Cloudy 29/19 also order deportation of the person. evidence to proceed with the criminal the sub-contractor that the materi- [email protected] Kuwait CityP Cloudy 27/20 Manama P Cloudy 32/22 P Cloudy 29/22 Muscat P Cloudy 33/27 M Sunny 34/28 Liquidator to settle LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR Tehran Cloudy 22/13 Cloudy 19/12 company’s debts According to Article 291 of Criminal for considering the request, and shall Procedure Code, the cassation appeal notify the public prosecution. If the Q: We are employees in a procure- shall be fi led within 60 days from the court orders the stay of the penalty ment company in Doha and based date of judgment in the presence of execution, it orders a bail to be de- on contracts we mainly supply the parties, or from the date of expiry posited or whatever procedures that materials to diff erent clients. Pres- of the objection or time for appeal, or prevent the suspect from fl eeing. The ently, our company is facing huge from the date of the judgment issued court shall fi x a hearing for consider- fi nancial crises due to pending on them, in addition to the time of ing the appeal on a date not exceed- payments from various clients. Our distance. The reasons on which the ing six months. The court shall judge salaries are also pending for the appeal is based shall be submitted at on the appeal, without pleading, last few months. Now the company this time. The court shall consider after reading the report prepared by management has decided to stop the appeal as inadmissible, if not one of its members. The Court may operations in Qatar and they have made within the time limit. hear the statements of the Public initiated steps to liquidate the com- If the appeal is fi led by the Public Prosecution, and the attorney of the Around the world pany. The company owes money to Prosecution, its reasons shall be convicted person, if necessary. Weather Weather its suppliers also. In that case, how signed by a chief prosecutor at least. According to Article 295, the Cassa- today Max/min tomorrow Max/min can we get the due salaries as the If it is submitted by another person, tion Court may bring an appeal for Athens Rain 16/13 P Cloudy 18/14 fi rst priority? Is there any law in then the reasons shall be signed cassation of the whole judgment or Beirut Cloudy 19/16 P Cloudy 22/17 that regard? Please advise. by an attorney authorised to plead part thereof, and may refer the case Bangkok S T Storms 35/28 P Cloudy 34/28 before the Court of Cassation. In this to the issuing court to reconsider by Berlin P Cloudy 21/07 M Sunny 19/07 AT, Doha case, the proxy document should be a newly constituted panel of judges. Cairo Cloudy 27/20 Sunny 32/19 deposited upon fi ling the appeal. judgment, a more favourable law for The court to which the case has been Cape Town Sunny 22/15 P Cloudy 25/14 A: If the company has appointed a No reasons other than those sub- the suspect was applicable to the referred to shall be bound by the cas- Colombo Sunny 32/26 M Sunny 32/26 liquidator, then submit your claim mitted in the time specifi ed for the facts of the case. sation judgment in matters decided Dhaka S T Storms 31/23 S T Storms 31/23 against the company to the liquida- appeal shall be stated before the As per Article 293, the Cassation by it. Hong Kong Sunny 24/21 M Sunny 24/21 tor. The liquidator will settle the Court of Cassation. However, the Court shall request attachment of The appeal submitted by the person Istanbul Cloudy 15/08 Cloudy 17/11 company’s debts after deducting the court may make a cassation appeal the case fi le of the appealed judg- convicted of custodial penalty shall Jakarta T Storm 32/26 S T Storms 33/25 liquidation expenses including the in favour of the convicted person of ment within three days of the fi ling expire if not presented for execution Karachi M Sunny 35/26 Sunny 35/26 liquidator fees in the following order: its own accord if it becomes clear to of the appeal report. The court which before the date fi xed for the appeal London Cloudy 13/07 S Showers 17/08 (1) amounts due to the employees, (2) it, from what is stated in the docu- issued the appealed judgment shall hearing by cassation. Manila P Cloudy 36/27 P Cloudy 36/27 amounts due to the state, (3) rent due ments, that the appealed judgment send the case fi le within a maximum As per Article 299, if the reasoning Moscow Cloudy 08/01 M Cloudy 08/02 to landlord who leased the property, is defective for public order reasons, of six days from the date of receiving of the appealed judgment included a New Delhi M Sunny 38/23 M Sunny 37/23 and (4) other due amounts each in or based on violation of the law or on the request. mistake in the application of the law, New York P Cloudy 18/09 Cloudy 17/10 accordance with its preference with mistake of application or interpreta- The appellant of an issued judgment or there was a mistake in stating its Paris M Cloudy 19/07 Cloudy 18/06 respect to relevant laws. tion, or that the court which issued with a custodial penalty shall request provisions, and the adjudged penalty Sao Paulo S T Storms 26/21 T Storm 27/21 After clearing the company debts, the the judgment was not constituted in the temporary stay of the execution of the crime is prescribed in the law, Seoul Rain 12/03 P Cloudy 17/03 liquidator should pay up the partners accordance with the law, or had no of the judgment issued against him the Court shall correct its mistake, Singapore P Cloudy 33/26 P Cloudy 33/26 the value of their monetary shares jurisdiction to decide on the case, or until the appeal is decided. The court and decide, in such a case, to reject Sydney P Cloudy 26/18 Sunny 24/18 of capital and to allocate the surplus if, after the issuance of the appealed shall immediately arrange a hearing the appeal. Tokyo Clear 20/10 Cloudy 22/09 among them in proportion to the Gulf Times 16 Saturday, April 13, 2019 QATAR

President of Bulgaria at Sheikh Faisal Museum

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his accompanying delegation on Thursday paid a visit to Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani Museum, on the sidelines of his off icial visit to Qatar. HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani welcomed the Bulgarian president and the accompanying delegation, who received a briefing on the museum, QNA reported. The museum is considered one of the most prominent heritage centres of Qatar thanks to its rich collection, which includes cultural and heritage artefacts from diff erent regions, civilisations and times. It comprises heritage collections related to the cultures of the sea and the Bedouin in Qatar and other Gulf states, as well as the rare collection of classic cars, manuscripts, books and ancient coins in addition to a section dedicated to carpets. Gifts were exchanged at the end of the tour. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev left Doha yesterday afternoon. The president and his accompanying delegation were seen off upon their departure from Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, ambassador of Qatar to Bulgaria Rashid bin Ali al-Khater, and ambassador of Bulgaria to Qatar Metin Kazak.

April Festival ends at Souq Bharat Utsav highlights India’s cultural diversity Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah The April Festival concluded at both Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakrah yesterday, amid great turnout from the public. In a statement, director By Joseph Varghese of Souq Waqif Mohammed al-Salem said the April Festival succeeded Staff Reporter in achieving the goals set for it by the festival committee of the Private Engineering Off ice, pointing out that during the festival thousands of people gathered in venues designated by Souq Waqif for the festival ndian Cultural Centre (ICC), and designed to meet the requirements of all families. under the aegis of Indian The western arena of Souq Waqif was filled with large crowds, watching Iembassy, organised a mega- the African circus performances, while the young people played smart cultural fest, titled ‘Bharat Ut- games. Abdul Aziz Nasser Theater presented first show of ‘Snow White’. sav 2019’ yesterday to mark the Al-Salem also praised the eff orts made by the organising committee Qatar-India Year of Culture at of the festival. Talking to QNA, director of Souq Al Wakrah Khalid Saif Sheraton Doha. al-Suwaidi said that the festival has seen a large turnout estimated at Held in association with the more than 80,000 visitors, as all the facilities were booked without embassy and other ICC as- exception, highlighting that there were no problems or diff iculties faced sociate organisations and In- during the organisation of the festival. dian schools, the event featured performances by two touring Indian troupes who presented some classical dance forms from diff erent Indian states. It was followed by a thematic per- formance by the members of Indian associations and school students. Before the start of the cultural Dignitaries with the souvenir to mark ‘Bharat Utsav 2019’. PICTURES: Jayan Orma programmes, there was a formal function where a souvenir was Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi and released to mark the occasion. Odissi, was performed by Ka- lamandalam Swarnadipa Ma- The event featured hanta, Subha Jena and Sumanjit performances by two Chakraborty. touring Indian troupes The other programmes were who presented some presented by Bangiya Parishat, classical dance forms Qatar – Navratri festival, Bha- from different Indian vans Public School – Diwali, states Birla Public School – Holi fes- tival, Bunts Qatar – Yakshagana Indian ambassador P Ku- festivals, DPS Modern Indian maran, ICC president A P School – New Year Celebra- Manikantan, Teyseer Motors tions-Sambalpuri dance, Gu- president Adel Abdul Rahman jarati Samaj Qatar – Kite festival al-Mannai, members of the dip- and Dandiya, Indian Women’s lomatic community from vari- Association – Women Empow- ous missions in Qatar, senior In- erment and Ladies Festival, dian community leaders as well Kerala Social and Cultural As- as a number of dignitaries and sociation, Doha – Mohiniyat- guests were present. Bharatanatyam performance by the visiting Indian troupe. tam, Maharashtra Mandal Qa- Welcoming the gathering, tar – Lezim, MES Indian School ICC president highlighted the the start of the India-Qatar Year have also arranged art and pho- performed by Uma Nambudiri- – Oppana, North India Asso- cultural diversity of India and of Culture in January. It show- tography exhibitions. Today we pad, Satya Narayanan, Vidya ciation, Qatar – Baishakhi Fes- the deep rooted ties between cases the cultural diversity of are presenting another classical Ravindran Anand, and Jay Que- tive song and Bhangra, Shan- India and Qatar. He also spoke India. We had presented vari- dance performance by two re- haeni Reddy highlighted a tra- tiniketan Indian School-Onam about the eff orts of the com- ous dances forms such as classi- nowned Indian classical dance ditional Indian form of dance celebrations – Thiruvathira, Te- munity members and the school cal dance and folk items, music troupes,” noted Indian envoy and the artistes mesmerised the langana Praja Samithi – Batthu- students in presenting such an programmes including Indian Kumaran. audience. kama-Dussehra Festival and Ut- elegant show. classical, fusion music as well The fi rst performance, a clas- The second item, comprising tarakhand Association of Qatar “We had about 15 events since as other music programmes. We sical dance, Bharatanatyam, three genres of Indian dance, – Uttarakhand festival. A scene from April Festival. PICTURE: Ram Chand Qatar University celebrates academic achievements on CHS Day

atar University (QU) Col- vice presidents and deans of QU and public health. Prof al-Thani dents were honoured for being cessful passing of 15 Biomedical the most prestigious institutions a recognition of distinguished lege of Health Sciences Health Colleges, including CHS thanked Aspetar, Hamad Medi- part of the Dean’s List in the past Sciences graduates of the Ameri- worldwide. CHS faculty members for their Q(CHS) held the CHS dean and director of the QU Bio- cal Corporation, the Ministry of academic year. Additionally, 83 can Society for Clinical Pathology He affi rmed that QU is devoted research and teaching excellence, Day to celebrate its remarkable medical Research Center (BRC) Public Health, Qatar Diabetes As- students from biomedical sci- Board of Certifi cation exam. to modernisation and curriculum and six students from the Em- achievements for academic year Prof Asma al-Thani. sociation, Qatar Foundation, and ence, human nutrition and public Dr al-Derham commended QU development in order to ensure a power Generations Consortium 2017-2018, with many of its part- Certifi cates of appreciation Primary Health Care Corporation health programmes took part in a Health and CHS for their remark- high international standing of the for National Capacities in Life ners, students and faculty mem- were distributed with CHS part- for their generous contributions white coat ceremony which signi- able achievements that estab- university by virtue of its signifi - Sciences, three of whom won the bers. ners to 195 clinical preceptors and in supporting the students during fi es and celebrates the entering of lished a standardised curriculum cant contribution to both inter- Science Innovation award and the The ceremony was attended by fi eld practice supervisors of three their practical training. their fi rst stage of clinical practice with great aspirations to keep in national and national scientifi c other three for having completed QU president Dr Hassan Rashid CHS programmes, namely, bio- The event also included a spe- to their respective degrees. The pace with the latest development communities. their internship at Sidra Medi- al-Derham, as well as several QU medical science, human nutrition cial ceremony where 141 stu- college also celebrated the suc- in health education as off ered by The ceremony concluded with cine.

Senior QU off icials at the CHS Day celebrations. PICTURE: Nasar K Moideen A group of students during the white coat ceremony.