BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar Islamic banks’ total Sanchez assets rise to lead 1.77% in 9 Qatar months in to 2022 2018: OBG World Cup

published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11176 May 7, 2019 Ramadan 2, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir receives Ramadan well-wishers

is Highness the Amir Sheikh return with blessings for the State of Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Qatar and its people. Hreceived scores of well-wishers HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Khalifa Amir grants on the advent of the holy month of Ra- al-Thani, His Highness the Personal madan at Al Wajbah Palace yesterday Representative of the Amir Sheikh Jas- evening. sim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness $480mn to They included HE the Prime Min- Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, ister and Minister of Interior Sheikh His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- Khalifa al-Thani, and HE Sheikh Jas- Palestinians Thani, HE the Speaker of the Advi- sim bin Khalifa al-Thani attended sory Council Ahmad bin Abdullah the reception along with a number of bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, and Sheikhs, Sheikhs. is Highness the Amir Sheikh ministers, ministries’ undersecretar- Meanwhile, the Amir exchanged Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ies, Advisory Council members and greetings with President of the Islamic Hhas directed allocation of citizens. Republic of Iran Dr Hassan Rouhani on $480mn for Palestinians in the West The Amir exchanged greetings and the advent of the holy month of Ram- Bank and Gaza Strip. congratulations with the well-wishers adan during a telephone conversation This support comes to reflect on the blessed occasion, praying for its yesterday evening. the bonds of brotherhood and the ties of Arabism and religion between the Qatari and Palestin- ian peoples, in order to help the brotherly Palestinian people to Amir gets call from Bahrain PM obtain their life’s needs in the dif- ficult circumstances imposed by is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received a tel- the Israeli occupation forces, and ephone call yesterday from Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain the decline in the international HPrince Khalifah bin Salman al-Khalifah, during which he congratulated humanitarian support provided the Amir on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. to them, and the related United Nations programmes besides the continued inability of the Pal- estinian economy to fulfil its re- Sheikha Moza dedicates quired role as a result of the crises NU-Q Media Majlis and challenges it has faced over the past years. Doha Metro opens tomorrow Media Majlis, a first-of-its-kind media The Palestinians’ need for edu- museum in the region, was dedicated cation and healthcare are the most by Her Highness Sheikha Moza fundamental of the basic rights that he Doha Metro Red Line South will start its bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar the international community must initial operation for the public from tomorrow, Foundation for Education, Science co-operate to provide them all help Tthe Ministry of Transport and Communica- and Community Development in light of the continued Israeli oc- tions (MoTC) has announced. (QF), at Northwestern University cupation of the Palestinian territo- The line extends from Al Qassar to Al Wakrah, the in Qatar (NU-Q) yesterday. HE ries and the denial of their legitimate ministry said in a statement yesterday. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, rights to sovereignty over their land The initial operation includes 13 out of 18 Red Line Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar and resources. To Page 2 stations: Al Qassar, DECC, QIC West Bay, Corniche, Foundation, other dignitaries, and Al Bidda (Interchange station), Msheireb (Interchange Northwestern administration also station), Al Doha Al Jadeeda, Umm Ghawailina, Al attended the dedication ceremony of RAMADAN THOUGHT Matar Al Qadeem, Oqba Ibn Nafi e, Free Zone, Ras Abu the unique and interactive museum. Fontas and Al Wakrah. The operation timings will be Page 4 And the life of this world is noth- from 8am to 11pm, Sunday through Thursday. ing but play and amusement. Qatar Rail also made an announcement on its Twit- But far better is the house in the ter page last night, saying: “We are pleased to an- Al Sadd, Duhail in last 16 Hereafter for those who are Al- nounce the soft opening of section 1 of Doha Metro of AFC Champions League Muttaqun (the pious). Will you Red Line this Wednesday. Stay tuned!” not then understand? (Qur’an The Metro system will be built in two phases: the fi rst Qatari side Al Sadd confirmed their 6: 32) will see the construction of three out of the four lines place in the 2019 AFC Champions Prayer times (Red, Gold and Green) and 37 stations. These lines are League Round of 16 with a 2-1 win expected to be open to the public by 2020, according to over Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli at Doha’s Fajr....3.31 Zuhr....11.30 Asr....2.58 information available on the Qatar Rail website. The initial operation includes 13 out of 18 Red Line stations. Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Group Maghrib.....6.10 Isha.....7.40 The future phases will involve the introduction of D yesterday. Earlier, Qatar’s Al Duhail an additional line (Blue) and expansion of the existing in the south to Lusail in the north, while the Green Line. The Metro will link stadiums where the 2022 became the first West Asian team Fasting times ones, with more than 60 additional stations, and the Line runs east from Al Riff a to Al Mansoura in the FIFA World Cup will be played. to book their place in the Round of Iftar today ...... 6.10pm fi rst expansion will be completed by 2026, the web- west. There will be 11 stations along this line. The Qatar Rail has also signed agreements with com- 16 after earning a point in a 1-1 draw Imsak tomorrow...... 3.20am site states. east-west Gold Line extends from Ras Abu Aboud panies such as Mowasalat and Careem Qatar to of- against Iran’s Esteghlal FC in Tehran The Red Line runs for about 40km from Al Wakrah to Al Aziziya. Eleven stations will run along the Gold fer taxi fare promotions to Doha Metro passengers. yesterday. Page 9, Sport Page 1 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 QATAR

Speaker chairs Advisory Amir grants $480mn to Pact signed to Council weekly meeting Palestinians he Advisory Council held lamic Aff airs shall undertake ods instead of the methods of its weekly meeting yes- the receipt and disbursement memorisation. The commit- From Page 1 Tterday under the chair- of Zakat funds in accordance tee also recommended to take Qatar’s allocationd includes manship of HE the Speaker of with the aspects prescribed in care of discovering the talents $300mn in grants and loans to study Corniche Advisory Council Ahmed bin Shariah. and distinctive abilities of the support the health and education Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- After a discussion, the students in the fi rst stages of budget of the Palestinian Author- moud. Council decided to refer the education and to pay atten- ity, and $180mn to provide urgent The Speaker extended con- draft law to the Legal and Leg- tion to the general health for humanitarian relief support for gratulations to His Highness islative Aff airs Committee to students. It also recommended the UN programmes in Palestine the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin study it and submit a report that scholarships be given on and support electricity services to Hamad al-Thani, on behalf thereon to the Council. the basis of citizenship and ensure access to the various sec- ecosystem of himself and members of The Council also discussed scientifi c competence. tors, especially during the holy the Advisory Council, on the the report of the Cultural and On the development of edu- month of Ramadan, and to meet atar University’s (QU) advent of the Holy Month of Information Aff airs Commit- cation, the committee recom- the summer season when elec- Environmental Science Ramadan, asking Allah the tee on the general debate re- mended tackling the reluctance tricity is increasingly needed. QCentre (ESC) and Exxon- Almighty to return it to His quest on education in Qatar. of Qatari teachers from the pro- Mobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) Highness the Amir, and to the The recommendations of the fession of education by giving Amir condoles with signed an agreement to launch loyal people of Qatar and its committee included develop- them priority in employment, a detailed environmental study residents with further pros- ment of curriculum. The com- developing incentives to at- Russian president project for the Doha Corniche. perity and more achievements, mittee recommended that the tract graduates of the Faculty of His Highness the Amir Sheikh The study is the fi rst attempt and to the Arab and Islamic na- Islamic, Arab and national iden- Education as well as graduates Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and to understand the ecosystem tions with security, peace and tity of the Qatari society be em- of other disciplines, reducing His Highness the Deputy Amir and potential pollutants in the stability. phasised in the curriculum, and the tasks and the long working Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- area, which is the heart of the The Council discussed a that the curricula of the Arabic hours, increasing the days of Thani yesterday cables to Russian city of Doha and is frequented by draft law on the regulation language and Islamic studies be annual leave, determining the President Vladimir Putin expressing citizens and residents on a daily of receipt and disbursement standardised at public as well as career path of the teacher to en- condolences over a plane crash at basis. of Zakat funds. The draft law private schools. sure the inclusion in career pro- Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, The Doha Corniche area con- consists of (16) articles, and The committee recom- motions and preparing training in which at least 41 people died. HE tains many important marine comes to replace Law No. (8) mended sports and cultural programmes for all classes of the Prime Minister and Minister of organisms but intense human Prof Hamad al-Saad al-Kuwari and Dr Mohamad Yacoub al-Sulaiti of 1992 establishing the Za- activities for students and pro- teachers and administrative and Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser activity in the area has led to exchange papers after signing an agreement. kat Fund. Under the draft law, moting e-learning through the supervisory staff in order to raise bin Khalifa al-Thani sent a similar a gradual deterioration in the the competent department of development of modern and their professional and educa- cable to Russian Prime Minister quality of life and water. For this ing the environment and re- was also present at the agree- the Ministry of Awqaf and Is- contemporary teaching meth- tional levels. (QNA) Dmitry Medvedev. reason, the study aims to moni- storing marine biodiversity ment signing ceremony. He said, tor harmful changes and suggest in the area. “Through this agreement, we ways to restore and develop the He said, “This project com- aim to carry out comprehensive ecosystem of this vital area. plements the ongoing eff orts assessments of the environ- At the signing of the of ESC researchers, who work mental situation at the Doha agreement, Prof Hamad al- to preserve the environmental Corniche. The centre has been a Right to education campaign concludes Saad al-Kuwari, director, heritage of Qatar.” leader in environmental research ESC, stressed the vital im- Dr Mohamed Yacoub al-Su- in Qatar and we are thrilled to be he National Commis- campaign targeted all groups of right, the right to education, has developed comprehen- portance of the project and laiti, research director, Exxon- contributing to these ongoing sion for Education, citizens and residents as they are as affi rmed by the Qatari Con- sive and integrated plans for its contribution to improv- Mobil Research Qatar (EMRQ), eff orts.” (QNA) TCulture and Science the reliable basis for the continu- stitution and Qatar National the campaign at the national (QNCECS) at the Ministry of ity of its activities and events. Vision 2030, and the wise level with the participation Education and Higher Educa- Sheikh Mubarak al-Thani, leadership that consistently of many stakeholders in the Qatari boat seized by UAE returns tion concluded the activities head of advocacy at the Edu- emphasises the importance of country, including Unesco of the campaign entitled “The cation Above All Foundation, education as the foundation of Regional Offi ce in Doha. The State of Qatar has expressed After facing a technical fault the countries to ensure that the crew Right to Education”, organised said that the success of the human development. Al-Sulaiti stressed that the satisfaction at the return of a Qatari boat drifted into UAE waters, members were safe and unharmed. in partnership with the Unesco campaign would inspire future Dr al-Sulaiti reviewed the campaign has achieved good boat that had been seized by the where the UAE authorities seized The Ministry’s statement regional offi ce in Doha, the Na- generations to serve this noble objectives and stages of the results through visits to schools UAE authorities on April 30. the vessel and its crew. concluded by saying “the State tional Human Rights Commit- cause and contribute to making campaign and said that it had and meetings with students and In a statement yesterday, the The statement stressed that the of Qatar announces the return tee (NHRC) and the Education it the focus of their peers. started in Qatar since Unesco parents, as well as the partici- Ministry of Foreign Aff airs said State of Qatar has been working of the Qatari boat and crew Above All Foundation. In a statement to Qatar News announced the international pation in national events such the boat was carrying out routine over the last few days through members safely, and the State of At the closing ceremony, Agency (QNA), Dr al-Sulaiti year of the right to educa- as Qatar’s National Day, Doha exercises in the Qatari territorial diplomatic channels and with the Qatar thanks all those who helped QNCECS Secretary-General Dr said that the campaign em- tion in the Belgian capital International Book Fair, and waters. help of some friendly and sister to secure their return.” Hamda al-Sulaiti said that the phasises a fundamental human Brussels in 2018, and Qatar other events. (QNA) Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 3 QATAR

QRCS convenes annual meeting Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) held its annual general meeting (AGM), which was chaired by QRCS president Dr Kahramaa signs deal to boost Mohamed bin Ghanem al-Ali al- Maadheed. An overview was given about the operational results of QRCS in 2018. In Qatar, QRCS provided social, medical, and awareness services for more than 1.1mn water desalination capacity beneficiaries, at a total cost of QR483mn. Internationally, 235 he General Electricity sung will be the main contractor relief and development projects and Water Corporation and Acciona will be the supplier were implemented, which T- Kahramaa and Umm Al and sub-contractor. reached out to nearly 11mn Houl Power Co signed an agree- Kahramaa has adopted a victims of disasters and conflicts. ment yesterday to increase wa- long-term strategy to assess The overall cost was more than ter desalination capacity by future water and electricity de- QR172mn. 61.5mn gallons per day (about mand and to reach agreements Abdullah H al-Mulla, director, 280,000 cubic metres), which with independent energy and communication and public relations, enhances Kahramaa’s capabili- water providers to meet the elaborated on the achievements ties for a sustainable supply of increase in demand and to en- of QRCS’s divisions, namely Relief high quality water and electric- hance the supply of water and and International Development, ity in Qatar. electricity, in light of the de- Medical Aff airs, Volunteering and The agreement was signed velopment witnessed by the Local Development, and Common by Kahramaa president Essa bin country. Services. Hilal al-Kuwari, and Umm Al Umm Al Houl plant generates The figures and statistics Houl Power chairman Fahad Ha- 2,520 megawatt of electricity showed a remarkable growth mad al-Muhannadi, in the pres- and 136.5mn gallons of drinking that was commended by the ence of HE the Minister of State water per day, 60mn of which is Governing Board members, in for Energy Aff airs, President and HE the Minister of State for Energy Aff airs Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, along with Kahramaa and Umm Al Houl Power off icials after the agreement desalinated using reverse osmo- terms of quality of performance, CEO of Qatar Petroleum Saad signing ceremony. sis and 76.5mn using multiple- institutional strategy, governance, bin Sherida al-Kaabi. stage fl ash technology. The plant and transparency. Under the agreement, Umm HE Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi the growth of the national econ- as an affi rmation of our envi- sion will use the new reverse os- is considered as one of the larg- The external auditor’s Al Houl will build and operate an welcomed the agreement saying, omy and the requirements of the ronmental commitment to using mosis technology, which will im- est in the Middle East, and one of representative presented the expansion to the existing plant “This agreement is a continu- comprehensive and sustainable state-of-the-art desalination prove production effi ciency and the most environmental-friend- findings of auditing QRCS’s 2018 that would raise its overall ca- ation of Kahramaa’s eff orts to development witnessed by Qa- technology such as reverse os- reduce the use of gas. ly. It provides 30% of Qatar’s closing financial records. AGM pacity to 198mn gallons of water secure the country’s water and tar.” mosis.” Umm Al Houl Power will act as electricity needs and 40% of its members endorsed the auditing per day by 2021. electricity needs in support of He added, “This also comes Kahramaa said that the expan- project’s developer, while Sam- water needs. (QNA) report.

Aspire Zone launches Katara attends workshop on cultural diplomacy in Istanbul atara – the Cultural Village ments and reviving the herit- speak diff erent languages. Ramadan contest participated in a workshop age and popular traditions and “Katara has achieved great suc- Kon the cultural diplomacy passing them on to future gen- cess in launching pioneering cul- in Istanbul, Turkey. The work- erations according to plans and tural initiatives in the region that spire Zone Foundation as it incorporates the most appro- shop was attended by delegations methods that entrench pride in contribute to fostering all forms (AZF) has announced that priate form and architectural fi n- from International Public Dip- their national identity. of creative work and supporting Ait will launch a social me- ishes, falling into harmony with lomatic Network (IPDN) mem- Darwish Ahmad al-Shaibani, talented people, making it a global dia contest on its Instagram ac- the adjacent buildings. ber-states - Qatar, Philippines, director, marketing and cultural cultural beacon that refl ects Qa- count using the hashtag, #Ram- The competition aims to edu- Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, aff airs at Katara, who is also sec- tar’s cultural radiance and trans- adanInAspire, on the sidelines of cate the public on the various as- Nigeria, Hungary, Mozambique retary-general of IPDN, high- lates its cultural mission into the the Ramadan Sports Festival. pects of AZF and its world-class and Turkey. lighted the objectives of Katara world, bridging of communication Questions will be posted every facilities, the statement adds. It Visual presentations reviewed and its mission and projects which and rapprochement between cul- A workshop on the cultural diplomacy was held in Istanbul. Thursday, with prizes presented will do so by providing the pub- the projects and programmes aim to build human capacities and tures and peoples,” he added. by Ali Bin Ali Group up for grabs, lic with information about the launched by some member care for creative talents of diff er- Darwish expressed his pleasure that includes many countries, and build a strong an eff ective system AZF has said in a statement. organisation and its commu- countries in the cultural diplo- ent nationalities and cultures. that Qatar’s presidency of IPDN is it plays an important role in the fu- for a successful network that will Participants will have to answer nity services in a stimulating yet macy, and highlighted their role He pointed out that about 120 of great importance in embodying ture of culture in the world, since achieve greater convergence and questions about Aspire’s Mosque benefi cial way. in preserving the cultural ele- nationalities live in Qatar and an international cultural gathering culture is a shared responsibility to openness. (QNA) Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 QATAR Sheikha Moza dedicates NU-Q Media Majlis

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter

edia Majlis, a fi rst-of-its- kind media museum in the Mregion, was dedicated by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foun- dation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), at Northwestern University in Qa- tar (NU-Q) yesterday. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, other dignitaries, and Northwestern administration also attended the dedication ceremony of the unique and interactive mu- seum. Sheikha Hind in her address said the Media Majilis is a “ground- breaking museum around commu- nication and culture.” “At Qatar Foundation, we con- tinue to be a platform for the ex- pression and exploration of diff er- Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani are seen with Northwestern Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser toured the inaugural exhibition, ‘Arab identity: images ent ideas and perspectives, where University president Morton Schapiro yesterday at the opening of the Media Majlis at NU-Q. in film’, after off icially opening the Media Majlis yesterday at NU-Q. people are encouraged to challenge the status quo through knowledge. With a focus on the Arab world, The Media Majlis demonstrates the museum will host two exhibi- how narratives exist to be explored tions each year addressing major and challenged rather than simply themes and ideas that are pertinent accepted; and how connecting with to the region. The museum features diff erent voices, standpoints, and extensive digital-capacity creating ideas extends the boundaries of our exhibitions where visitors can par- understanding, nourishes critical ticipate through interactive com- and original thought, and enriches mentary and engagement. Along lives,” explained Sheikha Hind. with digital content shared using a Her Highness Sheikha Moza and number of diff erent technologies, HE Sheikha Hind also toured the objects and other physical content fi rst exhibition, entitled ‘Arab Iden- feature to explore stories from mul- tities, images in fi lm,’ which provides tiple perspectives. an exploration of how over a cen- Morton Schapiro, president of tury’s worth of fi lm history has been Northwestern University said, shaped by notions of Arab identities. “Who best to tell the story of media The Media Majlis is the fi rst univer- and journalism and communica- sity museum in Qatar. It is an active tions in an Arab context than a mu- and empowering space where peo- seum located here in Northwestern ple can engage with the exhibition’s University in Qatar. The Media Ma- content and programmes which fo- jlis demonstrates Northwestern’s cus on communication, journalism, commitment to education and re- and media in the Arab world; as well search and its long-standing foot- as contribute to the global conver- hold in the Middle East.” sation on the continually changing The museum’s fi rst exhibition, landscape of media. Arab Identities, images in fi lm, will NU-Q dean, Everette E Den- continue until June 1 and then reo- nis noted, “The Media Majlis aims pen in August and run through De- to foster public understanding of cember. With sections from more journalism and communication and than 60 fi lms and hundreds of im- their role in shaping public opinion ages, some that date back to the and shaping the image of the Mid- 1880s, and posters from the early Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser off icially opening the Media Majlis dle East to the rest of the world. It 1990s, visitors can bring nuance to yesterday at NU-Q. underscores the importance of me- the deep and complicated meanings dia in society from the earlier and of identity, as well as the ideas and Corrin, director, The Block Museum source of interpersonal commu- most basic forms of communica- connections that infl uence people’s of Art Northwestern University also nication, but extends it to modern tion to the most modern and draws understanding of that theme. spoke at the event. The museum’s interactive media, thus connecting on images and materials from local Pamela Erskine-Loftus, director name draws on the traditional Arab values of local culture to universal sources and global collections.” of the museum, and Lisa Graziose Majlis or gathering place as a vital and global concerns.

Ooredoo Sports ties up with MS for AI experience

oredoo, one of the region’s on our side empowers us to stay largest ICT providers, has ahead of the game with technology Oannounced the launch of a solutions, and enables our custom- new sports conversational artifi cial ers across our global footprint to ac- intelligence (AI) in partnership with cess and enjoy what the Internet has Microsoft ‘Ooredoo Sports’ at the to off er in a way that is personal and recently held Microsoft AI Sum- unique to them. “We are delighted mit. Ooredoo Sports will transform to be partnering with Microsoft and fan engagement or many diff erent look forward to the exciting future sports events leveraging Microsoft of AI and Augmented Reality.” AI and Augmented Reality Tech- “Technology is unlocking in- nologies, according to a statement. novation in the sports industry by Ooredoo Sports will go live June off ering the potential to draw fans 2019 supporting the participation closer and reinvent their experi- of Qatar National Team in Copa ences,” said Lana Khalaf, country America. Ooredoo Sports will pro- general manager, Microsoft Qatar. vide a full set of features through “Ooredoo’s eff ort in harnessing the a unique conversational AI expe- power of AI and Augmented Real- rience where the fans will be able Ooredoo’s Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi and Microsoft Qatar’s Lana Khalaf ity refl ects how digitisation can en- to engage and receive information after announcing the partnership. hance fan engagement.” of every game, favourite team and Oreedoo’s announcement is player. our subscribers’ increasing digital Ooredoo aims to provide a unique in continuation with signifi cant Speaking of the partnership with needs, seeking the most up-to-date customer experience and to do this, investment being made into its Microsoft, Yousuf Abdulla al-Ku- technology and innovations, espe- we must be agile and prepared for networks to ensure seamless con- baisi, chief operating offi cer, Oore- cially during major sporting events, transformation and development. nectivity that caters to customers’ doo, said: “We are highly aware of such as Copa America and others. Having a partner such as Microsoft growing digital requirements.

Recall of Audi models

ADE blood donation The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-operation with Q-Auto, has announced the recall of Audi A5, A6, A7, A8, Q7 models of 2015, 2016, 2017 due to damaged fuel rail that may cause fuel leak. The recall campaign comes within the framework of the ministry’s continuous eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The ministry said that it will co- ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works, and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. The ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti- Commercial Fraud Department, which processes complaints, inquires and suggestions through the following channels: Call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@moci. gov.qa, Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, Al-Darwish Engineering (ADE) Company organised a blood donation campaign in co-operation with Instagram: MOCIQATAR, Ministry Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Senior managers, a large number of employees and residents of the of Commerce and Industry area participated. ADE executive director Dr Fahd Bakour appreciated the co-operation of HMC off icials. mobile app for android and IOS: MOCIQATAR

Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 QATAR

Weekly service of Ramadan cannon ‘Mogadishu Express’

QTerminals has announced the commencement of a new weekly service of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the ‘Mogadishu Express’, which is the first direct service between Qatar and Somalia. In a post on social media yesterday, QTerminals said the service will call on the Mogadishu and Kismayo ports in Somalia and provides the opportunity for direct trade between the two countries with “a regular service and the fastest transit”. The new service will also off er MSC customers more than one weekly connection ex-Salalah and “thereby improves the transit time to Hamad Port” QTerminals, a terminal operating entity jointly established by Mwani Qatar and Milaha, adds. Truck timings

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has announced that the movement of trucks is banned during certain peak periods in a day throughout the holy The start of the holy month yesterday saw the return of an annual tradition – the firing of the Ramadan cannon, which marks month of Ramadan. The timings, the end of a day of fasting, the beginning of the Athan (call to prayer) and the start of Iftar time. People gathered in large posted on the MoI’s Twitter page, are numbers at places such as the Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab Grand Mosque and Souq Waqif in Doha to experience the as follows: from 7.30am to 9.30am, moment when the cannon is fired. PICTURES: Jayan Orma and Noushad Thekkayil from 12.30pm to 3pm, and from 6pm to midnight. QNL events raise awareness on heritage preservation

atar National Library (QNL), as the International Federation of Library Associations and Institu- Qtions (IFLA) Regional Preservation and Conserva- tion Center for Arab Countries and the Middle East, hosted several events during April to raise awareness about the importance of this fi eld in protecting and preserving the heritage and history of Qatar and the region. Researchers, manuscript experts, historians and con- servators from Qatar and across the Arab region benefi ted from workshops and seminars at the Library’s conserva- tion and research facilities. To mark Arabic Manuscript Day and highlight heritage preservation as a human right, the Library, in co-opera- tion with the Unesco Offi ce in Doha, hosted a roundtable discussion on April 4, entitled, ‘Yemeni Manuscripts and Safeguarding Yemeni Heritage’. Speakers focused on the challenges facing Yemen’s heritage preservation, including traffi cking issues. A lecture by Dr Anne Regourd, editor of Chronique des Manuscrits du Yemen, highlighted endangered manu- scripts in Yemen, and Tom Leiermann presented the chal- A learning session at Qatar National Library. lenges he has encountered in his 15 years of work in the rehabilitation of Yemen’s heritage sites. Anna Paolini, di- rector of the Unesco regional offi ce in Doha, discussed a new project funded by the European Union for the conser- vation of built Yemeni heritage. The library was also the venue for an intensive fi ve-day training course for researchers, manuscript experts, art historians and conservators from Qatar and across the re- gion including Turkey, Lebanon and other Arab countries. Organised by the Library as the IFLA Regional Preservation and Conservation Center for Arab Countries and the Mid- dle East, the training course, “Why and How to Identify and Classify Islamic Manuscript Papers,” took place from March 31 to April 4. Dr Regourd, also a renowned papyrologist and codi- cologist, shared best practices with participants during the workshop, which focused on a selection of Islamic manu- scripts used between the seventh and 20th centuries. Other sessions touched on the diff erent media used by Arab scribes and copyists to write Islamic manuscripts, and highlighted tools commonly used for paper identifi cation in the Islamic One of the workshops in progress. world. “We are encouraging a broader understanding of the importance of preservation and conservation both at an in- stitutional level and in our communities. The IFLA Regional Preservation and Conservation Center at the Library will continue to bring together ex- perts and researchers from Qatar and the wider Arab re- gion to exchange expertise and debate best practices,” said Stephane Ipert, preservation and conservation manager at the Library. “It is of utmost importance that individuals and institutions in the region contribute to this fi eld espe- cially for preserving Arabic manuscripts in countries that are facing serious challenges. Through our collaboration with partners such as Unesco, the library will continue to strengthen its own eff orts to preserve and protect the history and heritage of Qatar and region,” Ipert added. Persian manuscripts from the library’s collection were the focus of a workshop on April 13 titled “Various Greens in Persian Paintings with Reference to Copper Green Ver- digris and its Deterioration and Stabilisation”. The workshop, conducted by Mandana Barkeshli and attended by conservators, researchers and scientists, was designed to present studies on various greens in Persian manuscripts and miniature paintings, and particularly copper green verdigris deterioration and stabilisation. Conservation specialists from Qatar and the region also attended a fi ve-day training course, “Book Binding Con- servation,” from April 14-18 at the library. The course, organised by the Library as the IFLA Regional Preserva- tion and Conservation Center for Arab Countries and the Middle East, was conducted by Mireille Porterie, owner of L’Atelierre Association for Bookbinding and Restoration.

Renault Symbol model recalled

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-operation with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co, has announced the recall of Renault Symbol model of 2019 due to a possible defect in the driver’s airbag. The recall campaign comes within the framework of the ministry’s continuous eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The ministry said that it will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. The ministry urges all customers to report any violations to its consumer protection and anti-commercial fraud department, which processes complaints, inquires and suggestions through the following channels: Call centre: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MOCIQATAR, Instagram: MOCIQATAR, Ministry of Commerce and Industry mobile app for android and IOS: MOCIQATAR Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 7 QATAR CMU-Q fetes 78 new graduates arnegie Mellon University “Never has life been more source of inspiration to you,” said in Qatar (CMU-Q) has complex or so full of potential Zamagias. Ccelebrated the gradua- – and more in need of CMU The student speaker for the tion of the Class of 2019, with 78 graduates like you. The story Class of 2019 was Amer Ahmad, students receiving their degrees of this century will depend on who is graduating with a degree in front of an audience of proud the things that you do best: an- in information systems. Ahmad families, friends, faculty mem- swering the questions that will commented on the global re- bers and alumni. be critical to our future and ex- sponsibility that Carnegie Mel- Michael Trick, dean of CMU- ploring exciting new modes of lon has instilled in the gradu- Q, noted that the campus is cel- discovery.” ates. ebrating 15 years in Qatar. The graduation ceremony “CMU has taken us to so many “We have changed a lot over featured a keynote address from corners of the world and has pro- the past 15 years, but one thing Michael Zamagias, a member of vided us with opportunities that has stayed the same: our mission Carnegie Mellon’s Board of Trus- are truly, once in a lifetime. We to provide a world class Carnegie tees and an entrepreneur and learned that the responsibilities Mellon education to students in business leader based in Pitts- of an educated young individual Qatar,” highlighted dean Trick. burgh, Pennsylvania. extend far beyond our back- The Class of 2019 comprises 10 Zamagias, has built a success- yards,” he said. graduates in biological sciences, Farnam Jahanian speaking at the ceremony. ful network of businesses, a dedi- Michael Zamagias delivering the keynote address. The Class of 2019 brings the 32 in business administration, cated philanthropist, particularly total number of CMU-Q alumni one in computational biology, Members of the graduating At the ceremony, Farnam Ja- in the areas of healthcare and ment that Qatar has made in each make an impact on your commu- to nearly 850, and they join more eight in computer science and 27 class represent 16 nations, in- hanian, president of Carnegie education. of you. You have been endowed nity. It is my hope that your CMU than 110,000 Carnegie Mellon in information systems. cluding 46% Qatari nationals. Mellon University, remarked: “Education City is an invest- with the knowledge and skills to experience will continue to be a graduates worldwide.

Dean Michael Trick addressing the new graduates. Student speaker Amer Ahmad addressing the ceremony.

A view of the graduation ceremony.

Time House opens eighth branch in Qatar

The Time House group yesterday opened its eighth branch in Qatar at LuLu Express, Bin Dirham on B-Ring Road. LuLu Group Qatar regional manager Shanavas inaugurated the outlet, the 58th Time House in the GCC region. Time House group executive director Ali Zahid, regional manager Mohamed Rafeeq and other off icials were present. The new shop showcases international brands with wide range of collections. Time House Qatar Group management also announced that two more projects will be launched this year in Qatar. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 QATAR

New Easy Transfer options from Ooredoo

oredoo has announced a transfers, Hala recharge, data host of new Easy Trans- recharge, Flexi cards, Hala Smart Ofer options for both its cards, Dawli international call- pre- and post-paid customers, ing minutes, Ooredoo Passports. just in time for Ramadan, the And Shahry customers can holy month of giving. send to Shahry customer: Dawli Easy Transfer will offer cus- international calling minutes, tomers the ability to send a Ooredoo Passports, Data re- wide range of Ooredoo prod- charge. ucts to family and friends, us- A QR1 fee will be charged for ing either the new payment each gift sent, with the charge option in the Ooredoo app to being confi rmed on the smart pay using their Hala main bal- notifi cation. ance, or by adding the amount Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, to their Shahry bill. director PR and corporate com- Both Hala and Shahry cus- munications at Ooredoo, said: tomers can send credit and re- “Complete customer satisfac- charges, and both will receive tion is a key priority for us as a smart notifi cation as soon as part of our corporate strategy, their credit or recharge is sent and we’re pleased to announce Delegates from Qatar and officials in front of the Qatari pavilion at ‘Expo 2019.’ and received. these Easy Transfer options just Hala customers can send and in time for Ramadan. receive from Shahry: credit “Sending Ooredoo products as gifts has always been quick and easy and now, with these multiple new options, it’s even QBG takes part in China horticultural expo more fl exible. “We’re sure our customers will appreciate the addition to he Qur’anic Botanic Gar- ation of Horticultural Producers, around 2,100sqm, including tainability in order to encourage garden that follows the Persian our service and will fi nd our Easy den (QBG), a member of alongside the General Assembly the therapeutic garden, Al Bida the community to preserve the char bagh or ‘four gardens’ lay- Transfer useful during the holy TQatar Foundation, is par- of the World Expo, visited the Park, and Al Hilal Park. environment and revive Islamic out that refl ects the vision of month of Ramadan.” ticipating in the International QBG booth at the expo. The display was designed un- cultural heritage. early Muslims, and their trans- Customers can use their Horticultural Exhibition ‘Expo QBG’s display named ‘Un- der the guidance of the Ministry “It also extends a bridge lation of the ‘garden idea’ of Ooredoo app to send credit and 2019’ as part of a pavilion host- der the shade of the Sidra tree’ of Municipality and Environ- across the world and promotes four rivers converging in the recharges to their friends and ed by Qatar. is one of the largest pavilions at ment to refl ect Qatar’s heritage social responsibility towards centre of the garden. family. The event opened on April 29 the expo. and culture. the environment.” Through its participation, The app can be downloaded in Beijing and will continue un- The plants were taken from Fatima Saleh al-Khulaifi , QBG represents a unique QBG aims to educate Qatari from the App Store and Google til October 7, 2019. several gardens that represent manager of QBG, said, “The model of gardens and horticul- student volunteers in China Play, and customers need sim- Qatar’s ambassador to China, the Sidra tree symbolising the Qur’anic Botanic Garden is keen ture that refl ects a distinctive equipping them to inform and ply follow the instructions on Sultan bin Salmeen al-Mansouri heritage of Qatar. to participate in international concept of gardens in Islamic educate visitors about the con- the app to do their Easy Trans- and Bernard Oosterom, presi- Qatar’s pavilion consists of exhibitions related to horticul- civilisation. cept of char bagh or ‘four gar- fers. dent of the International Associ- fi ve Sidra trees in an area of ture and environmental sus- It is a rectangular Islamic dens’ and its place in Islam. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 9 QATAR Al Sadd seal spot in AFC Champions League last 16 Qatari side beat creating their fi rst big chance perfectly weighted diagonal pass hosts’ lead after just 12 minutes. sent through on goal by a Xavi inside 60 seconds of kick-off . to Ali Asad. The fi rst half could have ended through pass. Saudi club Al Ahli 2-1 Akram Afi f and Xavi exchanged Asad controlled the ball and with a hammering, had it not In the 71st minute, the Algeri- passes down the right and the hit on the half-volley with his been for al-Owais whose goal- an was fi nally successful in beat- AFC Spanish midfi elder squared the left past al-Owais for Al Sadd’s keeping skills denied Bounedjah ing the Al Ahli keeper, placing Doha ball for Baghdad Bounedjah who fi rst of the night. on multiple occasions. his header from Xavi’s cross into took it fi rst time, but Al Ahli Al Ahli’s defensive struggles Al Ahli started the second the far corner. However, Brazil- goalkeeper Mohamed al-Owais continued as they failed to deal half on the front foot and were ian defender Aderllan Santos atari side Al Sadd con- showed quick refl exes to catch with an Al Sadd corner kick, al- rewarded for their eff orts with produced a goal-line clearance fi rmed their place in the the ball. lowing the ball to fall for Xavi in- a penalty kick when defender to limit the score to 2-1. Q2019 AFC Champions Jesualdo Ferreira’s side looked side the box. Tarek Salman handled Abdul- Earlier, Qatar’s Al Duhail be- League Round of 16 with a 2-1 to apply high pressure to regain The Al Sadd captain placed fattah Assiri’s cross. Omar al- came the first West Asian team win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli possession deep into the oppo- his ball into the bottom corner, Somah stepped up and drilled to book their place in the Round at Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Sta- sition half. Afi f was successful but al-Owais made the save. Afi f home from the spot to half the of 16 after earning a point in a dium in Group D yesterday. in doing so in the ninth minute was quickest to the spilled ball defi cit. 1-1 draw against Iran’s Estegh- The hosts showed their at- when he dispossessed Saeed al- and fi nished composedly from Al-Owais made another lal FC in Tehran yesterday. tacking intent from the start, Muwallad and then supplied a a very tight angle to double the fi ne save after Bounedjah was Sport Page 1 Al Sadd players celebrate. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

AAB’s promotion off ers chance to win Toyota RAV4, Camry HEVs Ooredoo campaign focus on

bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB), sole responsible usage of Internet Aagents for Toyota vehicles in Qatar, has begun its Ramadan n a provocative, thoughtful campaign, about the choices we make, and so is the promotion under the theme telco leader Ooredoo Group yesterday Internet.” ‘Take the Hybrid Way’. Ilaunched its annual Ramadan campaign Ooredoo said it recognises that today’s The campaign will continue with a short fi lm focusing on the power of consumers are more digitally savvy than until the last working day in Ram- the Internet and its potential impact on ever before, and use the Internet for many adan, AAB has said in a statement. people’s lives. of their interactions throughout the day. Customers purchasing any The new short fi lm depicts negative ver- Chatting, gaming, sharing their lives via 2018 or 2019-year model Toyota sus positive behaviours through scenes social media. Likes, shares, comments; vehicles during the campaign that push viewers to re-think their actions all have the potential to have an impact, period will get a chance to win online and choose between trolling, bully- whether positive or negative. the Toyota RAV4 HEV and Toyo- ing, sharing hate and anger, or making new The new campaign, #UpToUs, aims to ta Camry HEV, which will be raf- friends, showing others they care, sharing sensitise Internet users on the impact on- fl ed at the end of the campaign love and doing things that matter. line interactions can have on everyone and period, the statement noted. The campaign’s message highlights the tential comes the responsibility to use it remind them of the power they have to Toyota has a large line-up of ve- AAB has announced its Ramadan promotion. phenomenal potential that the Internet has ethically and sensibly. The holy month make the Internet a better place for all. hicles that includes the Corolla, to aff ect people’s lives, and encourages us- of Ramadan is a time for introspection, “As we continue to heavily invest in Camry, Avalon, Prius, RAV4, ice centres across Qatar, some madan, the main showroom is ers to think twice before making an online thoughtfulness and reflection, the ideal our networks across our global footprint, Prado and Land Cruiser. of which operate seven days a open from 8am to 2pm and from contribution, in an attempt to make cyber- time of year to highlight the impact on- we want to make sure that our customers Toyota vehicles, which “are week,” the statement added. 8pm to 11pm, Saturday to Thurs- space a more positive, welcoming online line interactions can have on us all and a around the world can access the Internet known for their quality, dura- AAB showrooms located on day, and from 8pm to 11pm on community for all, the company said in a great opportunity to start changing be- and really appreciate the spirit of togeth- bility and reliability, are well- Airport Road and at City Center Fridays. press statement. haviours. erness that people now enjoy as part of supported by AAB’s after-sales Doha are open seven days a week, The City Center Doha show- Talking of the new campaign, Sheikh “Through this campaign, we’re hoping their daily digital lifestyles,” added Sheikh facilities”. “Toyota, known for its making it “more convenient for room is open from 9am to 1pm Saud bin Nasser al-Thani, Group CEO, to reinforce the responsibility we share Saud. certifi ed and high-quality vehi- customers to visit the show- and from 8pm to 11pm, Saturday Ooredoo, said: “The Internet has a great to ensure the Internet remains a positive The new short fi lm can be seen on all cles, enjoy the best after-sales rooms at their convenience.” to Thursday, and from 8pm to power to help us connect, develop and and safe place and push users to become Ooredoo social media channels from the services provided by eight serv- During the holy month of Ra- 11pm on Fridays. expand relationships, but with this po- more kind to one another. After all, life is fi rst day of Ramadan. Joint German-Qatari economic panel meeting planned to boost SME ties

By Joey Aguilar mittees working on that, we are Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani an- the biggest Arab investor in Ger- tween Qatar and Germany, the Staff Reporter structurally progressing in this nounced Qatar’s plan to pour in many with a total investment envoy said: “Great prospects. It context, having committees more investments in the Ger- portfolio of €35bn. just shows that we stay with our looking at the possibilities,” the man economy over the next fi ve Muzel said that high-level ex- friends and partners.” meeting of German-Qatari envoy told Gulf Times. years at the ninth edition of the changes between the two coun- “German industry is here to economic panels is sched- Ministers of economy from ‘Qatar-Germany Business and tries, which include high-ranking stay and we are continuing to sup- German ambassador Hans-Udo Muzel. Auled to take place later this the two countries will be leading Investment Forum’ held in Berlin ministry offi cials and chambers port, and we are very proud to be year aimed, amongst others, at the meeting for a ‘Joint German- in September 2018. Qatar’s new of commerce offi cials, are also part of the development in the Muzel also lauded Qatar Na- in the world’s largest trade show, creating an action plan for SME Qatar Economic Commission,’ planned investments in Germa- taking place. He earlier highlight- National Vision 2030, as well as tional Tourism Council (QNTC), ITB Berlin 2019, in March.” co-operation between the two which is also expected to further ny include “vital projects” in the ed the need to establish “sev- for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in- which led a delegation consist- QNTC put up a 222sqm Qatar countries and Qatar’s €10bn in- strengthen their bilateral rela- automobile industry, Informa- eral institutions and mechanisms frastructure projects,” he stressed. ing of hotels, local tour opera- pavilion at the event, which fea- vestment in Germany, ambassa- tions, especially in the fi eld of tion and Communication Tech- that could assist Qatar with its “We are very happy about Qatar’s tors and other tourism service tured 20 co-exhibitors showcas- dor Hans-Udo Muzel has said. trade and investment. nology, and the banking sector. new investments in Germany.” commitment in Germany with re- providers, for what he described ing the country’s curated tour- “We have our bilateral com- His Highness the Amir Sheikh It is learnt that Qatar will be About trade relations be- gards to investments.” as an “impressive participation ism and hospitality off ers.

Students learn research skills from WCM-Q faculty Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) concluded a healthy lives; ensuring access to water and sanitation; poster competition organised by the Student Recruit- making cities inclusive and safe; and ensuring sustain- ment and Outreach Off ice with the participation of able consumption and production. The research 21 public and private secondary schools from across topics covered included, “Elderly and their mental Qatar, QNA reported. health” and “Causes of dental decay among children The Bright Future Pakistan International School won in Qatar”. The faculty members and teaching staff the first place for the research poster, “The eff ect of air at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar presented pollution on the prevalence of respiratory diseases in the research teams with instructions, answered their Qatar”, while the second ranking team was Ali Bin Jas- questions and provided them with the necessary sim Bin Mohamed al-Thani School researching about information on the origin of scientific research and germ-free central air-conditioning using UV-c. In the how to present the results of the scientific poster to third place, came the Lebanese School of Qatar with the public. The posters were then judged by a panel its research about recycling and kitchen waste. of 10 professional scientists from WCM-Qs Division The competition’s aim was to encourage teenagers to of Research, and the Qatar Biomedical Research explore the field of medicine and to use professional Institute. scientific research methods. Twenty-one teams from In this regard, Dr Rachid Bendriss, assistant dean both private and independent high schools took part for student recruitment, outreach and foundation in the contest, presenting themes tied to the United programmes at WCM-Q, said the standard of research Nations Sustainable Development Goals of ensuring was very high.

The HBKU delegation with Italian ambassador Pasquale Salzano. Ashghal’s football tournament and other events to start today

HBKU delegation meets he eighth edition of Ra- madan football tourna- Tment and sport events by the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) will start today. Italian envoy to Qatar The tournament and games will last up to the 17th day of talian students and faculty tween Italy and Qatar. The are pursuing PhDs in Com- opment, Information and Ramadan and Ashghal’s depart- at Hamad Bin Khalifa Uni- HBKU delegation was led by puter Science and Engineer- Communications Technology, ment staff along with contrac- Iversity (HBKU) recently Dr Roberto Di Pietro from the ing, and Sustainable Energy and Engineering Management tors will take part. met with the Italian ambassa- College of Computer Science at HBKU. CSE is a world- and Decision Sciences, the Apart from football, the event dor, Pasquale Salzano. and Engineering (CSE), and class multidisciplinary col- college aims to drive solutions features basketball, table tennis, HBKU had received an Dr Chiara Chiellini, research lege that aims to make a sig- with visible impact. HBKU is cycling, billiards, table tennis Ashghal officials taking part in the draw of lots for the Ramadan invitation from Salzano to development specialist, who nificant impact in the fields a multicultural community and playstation. sport events. discuss the university’s pro- discussed ongoing research of science, engineering, and of students, staff, and faculty The football tournament, grammes, current research on cybersecurity. technology. who are committed to affect- featuring 20 teams, table tennis the Qatar Sports Club. Basket- see 15 teams. The table tennis being conducted, and future Five of the eight students Through three divisions ing positive change wherever with about 20 players, cycling ball tournaments at Omar bin tournament is to be held at the academic co-operation be- comprising the delegation covering Sustainable Devel- they go. and pool games will be held at Al Khattab School for Boys will Ashghal building. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 RAMADAN/REGION/ARAB WORLD The month of the Qur’an Palestinians reveal

owadays, we live in a time in which many ideologies ex- Nist - a time of confrontations truce to end escalation with diff erent misconceptions, chal- lenges and questions that are often witnessed, heard and repeated. AFP Each one of us in this world, regard- Gaza City less of his/her position, needs some- thing at times to strengthen him, help him stay steadfast and increase his alestinian leaders in Gaza agreed faith and reliance on Allah so he can to a ceasefi re with Israel yester- face strong desires and new challenges Pday to end a deadly two-day es- as fi rm as mountains that are unaf- calation in violence that threatened to fected by strong winds or earthquakes. widen into a fourth war between them When a person feels lonely, or a since 2008. problem occurs, when things are bad, An Israeli military spokeswoman when he is about to give up hope on declined to comment on the deal, but the Mercy of Allah, or when he does there appeared to have been no rocket wrong; he needs what guides him fi re or Israeli strikes afterwards, an through such conditions to help him AFP correspondent in Gaza said. solve the problem, to remind him of Israel also lifted restrictions on ci- the Mercy of Allah and to warn him vilian movements in communities when he does wrong. around the Gaza border yesterday Unless a person heads in the right morning. direction with his entire body (his Egypt brokered the agreement to feelings, heart and limbs) towards the cease hostilities from 4:30am (0130 Book of Allah, by reading it, contem- GMT), an offi cial from the strip’s rul- plating its verses and practising what ers Hamas and another from its allied it contains, then one cannot hope to group Islamic Jihad said on condition be steadfast and strong in his faith. He of anonymity. will not feel secure from being pun- An Egyptian offi cial also confi rmed ished. He cannot expect a promise to the deal on condition of anonymity. be fulfi lled nor to be mentioned or re- It came after the most serious fl are- membered after his death. up in violence between Israel and Pal- A relative of Palestinian man Hani Abu Sha’ar, who was killed in an air strike, The Qur’an is the pure spring that estinian fi ghters in Gaza since a 2014 mourns during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. never depletes, the great treasure that war. does not diminish from use, rather The escalation began on Saturday On the Gazan side, the holy month Former military chief Benny Gantz, it only increases. Its repetition and with massive rocket fi re from Gaza, of Ramadan began yesterday. who challenged Netanyahu in Israel’s recitation add to its sweetness and en- drawing waves of Israeli retaliatory Palestinian offi cials in Gaza accused April 9 general elections, called it “ca- courage one to read from it again. strikes, and continued throughout Israel of not taking steps to ease its pitulation to blackmail”. The Qur’an is the Word of Allah that Sunday. blockade as promised under previous Israel and Palestinian fi ghters in cannot be likened to any other words. At least 25 Palestinians, including at ceasefi re deals. Gaza have fought three wars since It is protected from falsehood being least nine fi ghters, were killed. The Islamic Jihad offi cial said the 2008 and the escalation brought them entered into it from any direction. It Four Israeli civilians were also killed. new truce agreement was again based to the brink of another. was sent down by The All-Wise, Wor- The fl are-up came as Hamas sought on Israel easing its blockade. The Palestinian dead included a thy of all praise, Allah, Glory be to Him, further steps from Israel toward easing Among the steps, he said, were the commander for Hamas’ armed wing Who took it upon Himself to protect it its blockade under a previous ceasefi re relaxing of limits on fi shing and im- who Israel said it targeted due to his so no one can add to it or subtract from brokered by Egypt and the United Na- provements in Gaza’s electricity and role in transferring money to fi ghter it. It cannot be increased or decreased. tions. fuel situation. groups in Gaza. It is written in a Preserved Book (in Ar- Israel at the same time faced pres- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin It was a rare admission of a targeted abic: Al Lawh Al Mahfooth). It is easy sure to restore calm and put an end to Netanyahu did not address the cease- killing by Israel’s army, and Netanyahu to learn and is often contemplated, the rockets hitting communities in the fi re in a statement yesterday, but said: spoke yesterday of having “renewed memorised, and recited. Allah Says Allah Says (what means): “[This learn the Qur’an and teach it to others.” country’s south. “We’ve forcefully struck Hamas and the policy of eliminating (what means): “And We have indeed is] a blessed Book which We have re- [Al-Bukhari]. It commemorates the country’s Me- Islamic Jihad.” senior fi ghters”. made the Qur’an easy to understand vealed to you, [O Muhammad], that He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, morial and Independence Days later “The battle is not over and demands Israel said its strikes were in re- and remember, then is there any that they might refl ect upon its verses and also said: “The example of the believer this week and is due to host the Euro- patience and discretion,” he said. Is- sponse to Hamas and Islamic Jihad fi r- will remember?” [Qur’an 54: 17] that those of understanding would be who reads the Qur’an is like the “Utru- vision song contest in Tel Aviv from raeli opposition politicians — and at ing some 690 rockets or mortars since Anyone, young or old, can memo- reminded.” [Qur’an 38: 29] jjah” (a type of fruit). It has a nice smell May 14-18, which is expected to draw least one from Netanyahu’s own party Saturday, with air defences intercept- rise it even non-Arabic speaking The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa and a sweet taste. The example of the thousands to Israel. — criticised the agreement. ing more than 240 of them. people. It is not burdensome to read sallam, said: “He who recites or reads believer who does not read or recite or recite repeatedly. Due to its sweet- a letter from the Book of Allah gets a the Qur’an is like a date, which has no ness, no one gets bored listening reward and the reward is multiplied smell but tastes sweet. The example CONFLICT to the Qur’an. Scholars never have by ten. I don’t mean ‘Alif Laam Meem’ of a hypocrite who reads the Qur’an is Sarraj to seek enough pondering over it, educating is a letter, rather, Alif is a letter, Laam like the Rayhannah, it smells nice but it themselves from it and learning more is a letter and Meem is a letter.” [At- tastes bitter. The example of the hypo- Risks rise as US warns Europe’s help to of its meanings. Neither mankind Tirmithi] crite who does not read the Qur’an is stop Haftar assault nor jinn can produce a chapter that Allah gave a certain position to those like the Hanthalah (colocynth) which resembles it, because it is an eternal who memorise and work according to does not have any smell and it tastes Iran with aircraft carrier Libya’s internationally recognised miracle and proof. Allah, Glory be to it -- a position that makes one diff er- bitter” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] government said yesterday its Him, Commanded us to recite it and ent from other people. The Prophet, head Fayez al-Sarraj will tour to reflect upon it. He made it a bless- sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: Article source: http://www.is- AFP nian forces,” Bolton said. US offi cials Europe to seek support against ing as well as blessed. “The best amongst you are those who lamweb.net Washington did not give more details on the alleged an attack on Tripoli by strong- threat and the Pentagon had already man Khalifa Haftar, who urged announced in April that the USS Abra- his troops to “wipe out” govern- ears of confl ict rose yesterday as ham Lincoln had headed on a “regularly ment forces. Sarraj, who heads the United States vowed to send scheduled deployment” out of its base the Tripoli-based Government of Fa message to Iran by deploying in Norfolk, Virginia. National Accord, will today start an aircraft carrier strike group, amid a Iran’s supreme national security a series of meetings with the report that Tehran would scale back its council spokesman Keyvan Khosravi leaders of Italy, Germany, France commitments under a nuclear deal after dismissed Bolton’s statement, calling it and possibly Britain, the foreign mounting pressure by President Donald a “clumsy use of an out-of-date event ministry said. The visit to France — Trump. for psychological warfare.” where Sarraj’s government said he Patrick Shanahan, the acting US de- The news site Axios said Bolton’s would meet President Emmanuel fence secretary, said he approved the warning came after Israel, which has Macron — comes after the GNA re- deployment of the USS Abraham Lin- pushed to isolate Iran, passed along in- peatedly accused Paris of politically coln carrier strike group to unspecifi ed telligence of a possible plot by Tehran backing the assault which Haftar’s waters in the vicinity of Iran in response “against a US target in the Gulf or US al- self-styled Libyan National Army to “indications of a credible threat by lies like Saudi Arabia or the UAE.” (LNA) launched on Tripoli on April 4. Iranian regime forces.” Quoting an unnamed Israeli offi cial, “We call on the Iranian regime to Axios said the intelligence was “not very cease all provocation. We will hold the specifi c at this stage” but that the “Ira- UNREST Iranian regime accountable for any at- nian temperature is on the rise” due to tack on US forces or our interests,” pressure. Fighting kills 43 in Shanahan tweeted. Mark Dubowitz, chief executive of the Syria’s northwest The deployment was fi rst announced Foundation for Defence of Democracies, late Sunday by John Bolton, Trump’s which advocates a hard line on Iran, said Clashes between Syrian govern- national security adviser, who said the he had heard of a “spike” in intelligence ment forces and militants yesterday move was “a clear and unmistakable in recent days about planned attacks. killed 43 fighters in the country’s message to the Iranian regime that any He believed Iran had given the green- northwest, where the regime and attack on United States interests or on light to movements Hamas and Islamic its Russian ally have stepped up those of our allies will be met with un- Jihad to fi re missiles into Israel in a bombardment in the past few days, relenting force.” weekend fl are-up. a monitor said. Militants also fired “The United States is not seeking The strikes sought “to tie down Is- rockets at a Russian air base in war with the Iranian regime, but we are raeli forces and create a crisis to distract the region but were repelled with fully prepared to respond to any attack, the US and Israel from IRGC plans else- the attack causing no casualties whether by proxy, the Islamic Revo- where,” he said, referring to Iran’s elite or damage, the Russian defence lutionary Guard Corps, or regular Ira- Revolutionary Guards. ministry said in a statement.

Sudan protesters vow to get civil rule

AFP are used to that,” he said. Temperatures Sudan has been rocked by months Khartoum soared to 45 degrees Celsius yesterday of nationwide protests that initially as the Sudanese like other Muslims erupted after the price of bread tripled, around the world began observing before targeting Bashir’s 30-year rule. fter a day of abstaining from Ramadan. On April 6, demonstrators set up food and drink, Sudanese camp outside army headquarters and Aprotesters yesterday broke their “We are fi ghting for a cause, urged the military to oust the veteran fast on the fi rst day of Ramadan with we are fi ghting for a civilian leader. The military deposed him fi ve chicken soup and vowed to press their administration and fi ghting to days later. campaign for a civilian rule. uproot the entire regime...” But a 10-member council of generals As the call for the sunset prayer that then took power has resisted calls rang out, crowds gathered outside As the sun began setting protesters by the protesters to hand control to a army headquarters in Khartoum for an thronged the sit-in site to perform civilian administration. Iftar meal with many saying they were the Maghreb (dusk) prayer, and an Since then thousands of protesters determined not to let the sweltering Iftar meal organised by the Alliance have remained camped round-the- heat or fasting sap their energy. for Freedom and Change, the group clock in the sprawling army complex to “We will be able to survive Ramadan leading the protests. press for their demands. and the heat,” Hassan Bushra said at Volunteers prepared pots full of “We are fi ghting for a cause, we are the sprawling sit-in site. chicken soup, beans and lentils, which fi ghting for a civilian administration “What made us survive the bullets they distributed along with water, and fi ghting to uproot the entire and bombs of (ousted president Omar dates and bread. regime and remove its remnants from al-) Bashir will make us survive the Others sprinkled water on protesters the military council,” said protester scorching heat. We are Sudanese.We to off er them relief from the heat. Abdelgadir Mohamed. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 11 AFRICA

Buhari back in Nigeria after London visit President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria on Sunday Three party leaders battle after a 10-day private visit to Britain, his off ice said, with the trip sparking fresh debate about his state of health. The 76-year-old leader, who has previously been in London for long spells of medical care, did it out in S Africa elections not say whether his latest visit was linked to health problems. AFP But after missing out on be- and strategic thinking, Ram- black leader of the Democratic master’s degree in theology and ANC and South Africa’s white “President Muhammadu Buhari Johannesburg coming Mandela’s successor aphosa narrowly beat off pro- Alliance (DA), South Africa’s regularly preaches at church, where minority. Sunday returned to Abuja after a as president, Ramaphosa in- Zuma rivals to take over leader- main opposition party. he met his white wife Natalie. Presenting himself as the 10-day private visit to the United stead became a hugely wealthy ship of the ANC party in 2017 Raised in the Johannesburg Before getting into politics, voice of the young and un- Kingdom”, having left Nigeria outh Africa goes to the businessman through stakes in and then claim the presidency township of Soweto - heartland Maimane ran his own manage- employed, he demands the on April 25, his spokesman, Femi polls tomorrow with the McDonalds, Coca-Cola, mining when Zuma was forced out last of the anti-apartheid struggle ment consultancy and lectured seizure of land from whites Adesina said in a statement. Sleaders of the three main and telecoms, and developing a year. - Maimane only joined the DA at a business school in Johan- without compensation and the From May 2016 until mid-2017, parties vying for votes in a race taste for breeding rare cattle. Ramaphosa attracts a sup- in 2009 and was fast-tracked nesburg. nationalisation of the mines the Nigerian leader was in that could test the ruling ANC’s In 2012, his image was badly port base crossing South Af- through its ranks to take control His reserved leadership style and banks. London for medical treatment for long-held dominance. tarnished when 34 striking rica’s racial and class divides, in 2015. could come under question if His threat to the ANC was increasingly long periods of time, Cyril Ramaphosa, the leader mine workers were killed by po- but still faces strong opposition His rapid promotion led to the DA fail to make signifi cant underlined last year when Ram- forcing government denials that of the ruling ANC party, fi nally lice at the Marikana platinum from inside the ANC. accusations that he was being gains on top of its 22% of the aphosa adopted a similar stance he was gravely ill or even dead. came to power last year after mine, operated by London-list- “This is a decisive moment used by the party’s senior white vote in the 2014 election. on land reform to try to hold To date, he has not disclosed a dramatic and varied career ed Lonmin, where he was then a in our country, in the history of activists to cover up lack of re- Radical fi rebrand Julius onto voters. details about his condition, intertwined with the birth of non-executive director. South Africa, this is a moment form within the party. Malema, 38, is the former ANC Wearing a red beret and styling apart from saying he had “never modern South Africa. Ramaphosa had called for when... we choose hope over A gifted orator and smooth youth leader who launched the himself as “commander in chief”, been so ill” and had to undergo He was a pioneering young a crackdown on the strikers, despair,” he told supporters at campaigner, he has kept the Economic Freedom Fighters Malema hopes to ride a grow- multiple blood transfusions. trade union leader, an anti- whom he accused of “dastardly the fi nal ANC campaign rally. DA in the spotlight, broadened (EFF) party in 2013 and, against ing wave of discontent among His health status was an issue in apartheid activist and the Nel- criminal” behaviour. Born in Johannesburg’s its appeal and held together its all the odds, has turned it into a the poorest of South Africans, 25 the campaign for the February son Mandela protege who led He returned to politics to be- Soweto township, Ramaphosa warring factions. political force. years after the end of apartheid. 23 presidential elections, with talks to end white-minority rule come Jacob Zuma’s vice presi- took up activism while studying But he has struggled to land He was kicked out of the rul- During Jacob Zuma’s reign as the opposition insisting he was and helped write the new con- dent in 2014, often drawing law in the 1970s, and spent 11 punches on Ramaphosa or to ing party after coming into con- president, he led his lawmakers physically unfit to govern. stitution. criticism for failing to speak out months in solitary confi nement convince many black middle- fl ict with the leadership but has in a campaign to disrupt parlia- The retired general, who was first When Mandela walked out against corruption and govern- in 1974. class voters that the DA is not thrived as a rebel, delivering ment by chanting and heckling, elected in 2015, is scheduled to be of jail in 1990, Ramaphosa was ment mismanagement. Young opposition leader still a “white” party. fi ery speeches spiced with jokes before being thrown out by se- sworn in for a second four-year standing alongside him. Renowned for his patience Mmusi Maimane, 38, is the fi rst A devout Christian, he has a and digs at Ramaphosa, the curity offi cers. term on May 29. (AFP) Nigeria probes police Tanker truck harassment of women

Reuters Police Force said it was looking fuel blast kills Abuja into the accusations. “Investigations have com- menced,” Usman Umar, deputy igerian police are inves- commissioner for Abuja police, tigating allegations that said on Saturday, promising 58 in Niger Noffi cers assaulted women anyone found guilty would be arrested in nightclub raids dur- “fi shed out” and punished. ing a crackdown. At the protest, marchers car- AFP The blast on the RN1 route There has been widespread ried messages such as “to be a Niamey near the international public outrage over last month’s woman is not a crime.” airport on Sunday night raids in the capital Abuja. Marcelle Umar, a member of left the burnt truck’s Various women among the Coalition to End Rape, said po- ifty eight people died wreckage, motorbikes dozens arrested said they were lice were ignoring men involved in Niger’s capital Ni- and debris scattered over detained randomly. in the prostitution business and Famey after an over- the road “They did all manner of things targeting women indiscrimi- turned tanker truck exploded to us,” said one 27-year-old stu- nately. as crowds collected spilt fuel, of the injured in hospital in the dent, speaking on condition of “Women are walking on the authorities and witnesses said capital, according to the presi- anonymity among around 200 street, wearing short skirts and yesterday. dential Twitter account. people during a protest march they are tagged prostitutes for The blast on the RN1 route Prime Minister Brigi Rafi ni over the weekend. nothing,” she said, as protesters near the international airport and the Interior Minister Mo- The woman said she was chanted behind her. on Sunday night left the burnt hamed Bazoum inspected the groped, beaten and pepper- Similar to the global #MeToo truck’s wreckage, motorbikes site of the explosion, describ- sprayed after being picked up in movement, Nigerians have been and debris scattered over the ing a scene of “real drama.” a club and held for three nights using social media to highlight road. Nearby houses were Bazoum said the truck had at the end of April. Other women mistreatment of women, using damaged by fi re. tipped over while trying to said they were assaulted. the hashtags #SayHerNameNi- The explosion left 58 dead, park. Crowds and motorbike Long accused of widespread geria and #AbujaPoliceRaidon- the presidency said in a state- drivers rushed to the scene to human rights abuses, the Nigeria Women. Protesters take part in a rally after police raided a night club in Abuja yesterday. ment. take fuel from the tanker. “Motorbike riders and peo- “Unfortunately one of the ple were all around the truck motorcyclists did not switch when it exploded all of a sud- off their engine. There must den,” a local trader said. “I saw have been a spark that caused at least 40 dead.” a massive blast,” the minister Senegal leader sentenced 10 years to hard labour over murder Witnesses said people were said. trying to collect petrol leak- He said 37 people were in- AFP head of a branch of the Mour- less directly involved in the gris- isation, possessing weapons ille- El Hadji Mamadou Ndiaye, said ing from the truck, which had jured. Most were in a very Mbour ide Brotherhood guilty of failing ly killings, were given 15 years gally and failing to report a crime. he had barred one of the victims overturned on railway tracks, serious condition in hospital to denounce a crime and being of hard labour, while two were Thioune was arrested on April from entering his home. when the explosion happened. with burns. an accomplice to murder seven given eight years. 23, 2012, a day after the deaths He refused to obey the ban on “Just before midnight I Niger, a poor West African Senegalese court yester- years ago. Prosecutor Youssou Diallo last of two followers whose savagely entering the residence, which went out and I saw the truck country, has tried to stamp out day sentenced in absen- His deputy, Sheikh Faye, was week asked the court to give hard beaten bodies were found 800m prompted Thioune’s outraged overturned. People came from fuel smuggling from neigh- Atia Muslim leader Sheikh convicted of the same charges labour for life to Sheikh Bethio (yards) from his house in the vil- supporters to kill him and one of everywhere to take gas, then I bouring Nigeria. Bethio Thioune to 10 years of and received the same sentence over the killings on April 22, 2012. lage of Keur Samba Laobe, west- his friends, the lawyer said. saw fi re on its side and every- Nigeria, a major oil produc- hard labour for abetting the from the court in the coastal The charges ranged from mur- ern Senegal. Thioune was freed on bail in thing burst into fl ames,” a col- er, has seen similar deadly ac- murder of two followers. town about 80km (50 miles) der entailing barbaric acts, crim- When the trial began exactly February 2013 and has been in lege student said. cidents and explosions in the The high criminal court in south of Dakar. inal association, receiving and fi ve years after the arrest, one of France for medical treatment Nigerian President Maha- past when people try to steal Mbour found the infl uential Ten other defendants, more or burying corpses without author- the sheikh’s defence attorneys, during the trial. madou Issoufou visited some fuel from oil pipelines.

Malian PM forms Support for former president new government Millions go hungry as Mali’s Prime Minister Boubou Cisse has formed a new government, two weeks after the previous cabinet resigned amid a spike in violence in the West drought grips Somalia African country. Cisse appointed 37 ministers, nine of whom are women, according AFP dependent communities in the region at risk from drought and to a decree read on public radio Nairobi greater region. extreme weather exacerbated and television late on Sunday. Somalia is enduring its by climate change. In a surprising move, Cisse third-driest long rains season Almost 80% of the popu- selected the scandal-plagued rought has left nearly since 1981. lation in the Horn depend on UNAIDS head Michel Sidibe to 2mn Somalis in des- The UN estimates that farming for a living, said the lead Mali’s ministry of health and Dperate need of food, a 1.7mn people are going hungry, UN’s Food and Agriculture Or- social aff airs. humanitarian agency warned with that fi gure expected to ganisation. Sidibe agreed to leave UNAIDS yesterday, as poor rainfall grow by another half a million The Famine Early Warning in June, following an expert pushes communities to the come July. Systems Network said in April report that said his “defective brink across East Africa. Last week, the UN said that if rains did not materialise leadership” had plunged the UN The Norwegian Refugee 44,000 Somalis had left their in May “the season will have agency into crisis. Council said hundreds of thou- homes in rural areas for urban failed and the impact on food Cisse himself will manage the sands of children were already centres just this year - joining security outcomes would be finance ministry in addition suff ering malnutrition in Soma- the estimated 2.6mn internal- more severe than currently an- to being prime minister, while lia and millions had abandoned ly-displaced people across the ticipated”. opposition leaders Tiebile their homes in search of food in country. The US-funded network Drame and Amadou Thiam were the arid, confl ict-torn nation. Close to a million children warned more than 42mn peo- appointed to the ministries of “The humanitarian situation will need treatment for malnu- ple in Ethiopia, South Sudan, foreign aff airs and institutional has deteriorated at an alarming trition in 2019. Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Ugan- reforms, respectively. rate as a result of the drought,” “The deterioration has come da and nearby Yemen were General Ibrahim Dahirou Dembele Victor Moses, the council’s much earlier than seen over the currently facing crisis levels of will head the defence ministry. country director in Somalia, last decades and before aff ected food insecurity. Mali, a poverty-stricken and said in a statement. communities could recover from In Kenya, considered the volatile nation, has experienced The failure of the so-called the most recent drought,” the most dynamic economy in the sporadic attacks by armed long rains that usually sweep UN Offi ce for the Co-ordination region, the World Bank in April groups since a 2012 coup that East Africa between March and of Humanitarian Aff airs said. cited the impact of drought led to separatist rebels and May has caused widespread But the hunger crisis could when trimming its growth Supporters of Dominican Republic’s former president Leonel Fernandez attend the off icial launching Al Qaeda-associated groups crop failures and heaped im- extend well beyond Somalia, forecast for the country in of his presidential candidacy for the 2020 election, in Santo Domingo yesterday. gaining a foothold in the mense pressure on livestock- with the entire Horn of Africa 2019. country’s north. (DPA) Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 AMERICA Cohen heads to jail Democrats set to launch contempt after parting shot action against at Donald Trump Barr tomorrow By Michael Mathes, AFP constitutional duty to provide checks and Reuters Washington balances on the president and executive New York branch,” Nadler wrote. “Access to these materials is essential to S House Democrats yesterday the committee’s ability to eff ectively inves- ichael Cohen, President scheduled a vote for tomorrow on tigate possible misconduct, and consider Donald Trump’s former Uwhether to hold Attorney General appropriate legislative, oversight, or other Mpersonal lawyer, took a Bill Barr in contempt for failing to produce a constitutionally warranted responses.” parting shot at his former boss — full, unredacted special counsel’s report on The statement is clear reference to the denouncing “xenophobia, injustice Russian election interference. potential for impeachment proceedings and lies” — before reporting yester- Monday’s dramatic move against a sitting against Trump if House leadership believes day to a US federal prison to begin a cabinet offi cial, following multiple subpoe- they are warranted. three-year sentence. nas issued to Barr, intensifi es the showdown Pelosi has warned against moving ahead Cohen, who once vowed to “take between President Donald Trump and the with impeachment, suggesting it could a bullet” for Trump but now calls Democrats who control the House of Rep- trigger a political backlash, and that the him a “con man,” arrived at the resentatives and are seeking to hold him Republican-controlled Senate would be un- Federal Correctional Institution in to account for what they say was improper likely to convict the president. Otisville, New York, about 110km conduct. But Barr’s stonewalling, and the report’s northwest of New York City to serve “The attorney general’s failure to comply setting forth of 10 instances in which Trump his sentence for arranging hush with our subpoena, after extensive accom- sought to thwart the investigation — al- payments to two women who said modation eff orts, leaves us no choice but to though Mueller did not reach a conclusion they had sexual encounters with initiate contempt proceedings in order to on whether crimes were committed — has Trump and for lying to Congress. enforce the subpoena and access the full, galvanised support among some Democrats Cohen was seen being driven in unredacted report,” House Judiciary Com- to demand Trump’s ouster. a black SUV into the front entrance mittee chairman Jerry Nadler said in a state- Top Judiciary panel Republican Doug of the prison grounds shortly after ment, after a missed 9am deadline. Collins signalled that the Justice Depart- 11.30am, some 2-1/2 hours before The committee scheduled a legislative ment was still negotiating over Nadler’s his deadline to report. Michael Cohen speaking yesterday to the media in Manhattan, New York. process, known as a markup, to consider request, and that the contempt move is “il- The vehicle stopped and was ap- a contempt report against Barr beginning logical and disingenuous.” proached by law enforcement of- was tethered to Trump as he evolved “I will continue questioning why Cohen pleaded guilty in August at 10am tomorrow that will see members “Democrats have launched a proxy war fi cers, who appeared to speak to its from wealthy real estate developer to Michael is the only person within 2018 to violating campaign fi nance debate and then vote on the resolution and smearing the attorney general when their occupants for several minutes. reality TV personality to politician. the Trump Organization to be pros- law, bank fraud and tax evasion in a supporting report. anger actually lies with the president and It then drove on, out of view. For more than a decade, Cohen ecuted for crimes committed at the case handled by federal prosecutors Should the committee vote to accept the the special counsel, who found neither con- Before being driven to the facil- served as Trump’s personal lawyer direction of and for the benefi t of in New York. report, it proceeds to a full House vote. spiracy nor obstruction,” Collins said. ity, Cohen made brief remarks to a and self-described “fi xer.” Mr Trump,” Davis added. Prosecutors said Trump himself Nadler said he reserved the right to post- Holding a sitting US attorney general in crush of camera crews and reporters The relationship began to sour Cohen publicly broke with Trump directed illegal payments orches- pone the action should the department contempt is rare. gathered on the sidewalk outside his after FBI agents raided Cohen’s in July 2018, telling ABC News he trated by Cohen to adult fi lm star present a “good faith off er” for access to the A Republican-led House held Barack Manhattan apartment building. Rockefeller Center offi ce and Park intended to put family and loyalty to Stormy Daniels and Playboy model full report and evidence. Obama’s attorney general Eric Holder in “I hope that when I rejoin my Avenue hotel room in April 2018 as his country ahead of the president. Karen McDougal to avert a scandal Barr had declared Trump fully cleared of contempt in 2012 for failing to turn over family and friends that the country part of an investigation that grew Cohen and his wife, Laura Shus- shortly before the 2016 election. conspiracy with Russia and obstruction of documents about a fi rearms scandal. will be in a place without xenopho- out of Special Counsel Robert Mu- terman, 49, have two adult children, Cohen told the court Trump or- justice shortly after special counsel Robert Democrats have also called for Mueller bia, injustice and lies at the helm of eller’s investigation into Russian in- Samantha and Jake. dered a $130,000 payment to Dan- Mueller presented his 448-page report to to testify, with Nadler wanting the special our country,” Cohen said. “There terference in the 2016 US election. In congressional testimony iels and a $150,000 payment to Mc- the Justice Department. counsel to appear before his committee on still remains much to be told, and The information gathered in in February, Cohen said, “I am Dougal to keep them quiet. But Democrats have protested that Barr May 15. I look forward to the day that I can the raids contributed to a series of ashamed that I chose to take part Trump has denied relationships has sought to protect the president by re- But Trump put his hand on the scale Sun- share the truth.” criminal charges against Cohen in concealing Mr Trump’s illicit with the women and said he never fusing to present the full report or underly- day, saying “Bob Mueller should not testify.” As Cohen began to leave after that caused his dramatic split with acts rather than listening to my directed Cohen to do anything il- ing evidence to Congress. Bernie Sanders, a frontrunner in the 2020 making his remarks, the scene be- Trump. own conscience. I am ashamed be- legal. In a 27-page contempt report, Nadler said Democratic nominations race, levelled a came chaotic, with equipment and Lanny Davis, a spokesman for cause I know what Mr Trump is. He Cohen also pleaded guilty to ly- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Trump’s chief scathing rebuke. people falling to the ground. Cohen, issued a statement yester- is a racist. He is a con man. He is a ing to Congress about a proposed nemesis in Congress, is empowered to “take “Sorry, Mr President, you are not a dicta- Cohen helped one journalist who day praising Cohen’s “courageous cheat.” Trump tower project in Russia that all appropriate action to enforce the sub- tor,” the liberal senator posted on Twitter. had fallen to get back on his feet. decision...to tell the truth about During his sentencing in Decem- was being negotiated at the same poena.” “In our democracy, when Congress calls Cohen then climbed into the back why Donald Trump represented ber in New York, Cohen said: “My time he was running for president. Such actions may include fi nes against on Robert Mueller to testify, he will testify.” seat of a black vehicle and was driv- a danger to our Constitution, our weakness can be characterised as US District Judge William Pau- the attorney general or even arrest, although The White House is facing a fl urry of in- en away. freedoms, and our nation’s funda- a blind loyalty to Donald Trump, ley in Manhattan sentenced Cohen such action is unlikely. vestigations. Cohen is expected to stay at the mental values.” and I was weak for not having the to a total of three years for all of his Congress is “the only body able to hold After the US Treasury failed to meet a prison’s minimum security camp. Davis said Cohen “will continue strength to question and to refuse crimes. the president to account for improper con- deadline to turn over Trump’s tax returns to Cohen’s prison term completes a to be accessible to Congress and to his demands.” Cohen’s prison time could be re- duct in our tripartite system, and urgently House Democrats, it said last month that it stunning fall for the native of New federal, state and local law enforce- Trump has blasted Cohen, calling duced by about 15% for good behav- requires the subpoenaed material to deter- will take a “fi nal” decision by May 6 about York’s Long Island whose career ment.” him a “bad lawyer and fraudster.” iour. mine whether and how to proceed with its whether to provide the data.

60 new measles cases in a week ‘Thrust reverser’ broke on Florida crash plane

Reuters 22 states last week. Federal health offi cials say a Reuters change runways, said National maintenance and the mainte- their choice,” said Landsberg of Miami vocal fringe of US parents who refuse to vacci- Jacksonville, Florida Transportation Safety Board vice nance log noted that the left hand their decision. nate their children have propelled the outbreak, chairman Bruce Landsberg. thrust reverser was inoperative,” The aircraft, chartered from which has mostly aff ected children who have not The plane chartered by the US Landsberg told a press confer- Miami Air International, landed he most widespread US measles outbreak received the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, component meant to slow military landed during a thun- ence, explaining that the compo- at a speed of 163 knots with a tail in a quarter-century has infected 60 new which confers immunity to the disease. an aircraft on landing was derstorm at Naval Air Station nent slowed an aircraft by divert- wind of 15 knots that increased Tpatients in the last week, raising the total Although the virus was eliminated from the Ainoperative on the Boeing Jacksonville on Friday night and ing thrust from an engine. its ground speed to 178 knots on number of confi rmed cases to 764, federal health country in 2000, meaning it was no longer con- jetliner that slid off a runway into was arriving from Naval Station Shortly before landing, the pi- landing, Landsberg said. offi cials said yesterday. tinually present year round, outbreaks still hap- a river at a Florida military base, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba with lots asked to change to a runway Asked to confi rm that the The US Centers for Disease Control and Preven- pen via travellers coming from countries where injuring 22 people, investigators 136 passengers and seven crew that had equipment set up on it, speed appeared excessive, tion reported an 8.5% increase in the number of measles is still common, the CDC says. said on Sunday. members. reducing the length of available Landsberg declined to comment. measles cases since April 26, also confi rming that This outbreak has escalated since 82 people in The failure of the left-hand It slid off the end of the runway landing space to 2,377m from a The cockpit voice recorder is in the worst outbreak of the measles in the United 2018 and more than 40 people in 2019 brought “thrust reverser” on the Boeing into shallow water and sank up to total runway length of 2,743m, the submerged tail of the plane and States since 1994 has now reached 23 states. measles to the United States from other coun- 737-800 was one of the factors its wings, forcing passengers to Landsberg said. investigators will not be able to re- Pennsylvania is the most recent state to be hit tries, most frequently Ukraine, Israel and the investigators were looking at, as walk along the wings to safety. “We don’t know what they cover it until the aircraft is drained by the outbreak, after the CDC reported cases in Philippines, federal offi cials said. well as a request by the pilots to “The aircraft had been in were thinking or why that was of fuel and lifted out of the water. Gun control takes centre stage on Democratic agenda

By Amanda Becker, Reuters embraced by congressional and convicted of abuse or under a background checks bill or a renew- About 69% said they strongly Washington presidential candidates. restraining order are prohibited al of the ban on assault weapons, favoured prohibiting individuals “In my community, kids fear from purchasing a fi rearm. before using presidential executive with a history of mental illness fi reworks on the Fourth of July Most but not all components power to act on the issue. from buying a fi rearm. S Senator Cory Book- because they sound like gun- of Booker’s plan would require Harris said she would use ex- About 61% strongly or some- er yesterday released a shots,” Booker said of his home- approval of the US Congress. ecutive power to require sellers what favoured banning online Usweeping plan to curb gun town of Newark, New Jersey, in a Democrats currently control of fi ve or more weapons a year sales of ammunition. violence by creating a national news release. the House of Representatives and to run background checks for Supporting gun control meas- licensing programme and repeal- “In communities across the Republicans the Senate, where all gun sales; revoke the license ures did not hinder Democrats ing a law that gives gun manufac- country, from Newark to Charlotte, gun safety legislation would like- of gun manufacturers and deal- during the 2018 midterm con- turers legal immunity, becoming from San Diego to Chicago, and ly meet intense pushback. ers who break the law; reverse a gressional elections. the latest Democrat in the 2020 everywhere in between, Americans “Today is more proof that move by Trump to redefi ne “fu- Nearly 80% of the 62 newly presidential race to make gun are being killed and families are be- the centre has shifted on gun gitive from justice” that allowed elected Democrats included the control measures a feature of ing torn apart. We must do better. control,” Igor Volsky, founder those with outstanding arrest issue in their campaign plat- their campaign. We need to do better.” of Guns Down America Action warrants to buy guns; and close forms. In the past, Democrats have Booker’s plan would also ban Fund, said in a statement. the boyfriend loophole. A Reuters analysis found the feared that supporting gun re- assault weapons; allow the Con- “Senator Booker has clearly An assault weapons ban was A March 14, 2019, file photo of students participating in a protest percentage far outstripped the strictions could cost them the sumer Product Safety Commis- listened to and heard from the enacted in 1994 during Bill Clin- calling for stricter gun control as a part of the ‘Walkout Against Gun proportion of Democratic can- backing of working-class, swing sion to regulate gun manufac- majority of Americans that are ton’s presidency. It was among Violence’ second annual event at the White House in Washington. didates who did so during 2016 voters — the group widely cred- turers; require microstamping crying out for a future with fewer the reasons cited when Demo- congressional elections. ited with tipping the 2016 presi- technology be incorporated into guns. Fewer guns means safer crats lost congressional seats in Obama did not make guns a focus left 58 dead and hundreds more After Democrats regained con- dential contest to Republican new models of semi-automatic communities.” the 1994 midterm elections. The of his 2008 or 2012 campaigns. wounded, and another at an Or- trol of the House, they passed in Donald Trump. handguns; calls for universal Senator Kamala Harris, an- ban expired in 2004. Hillary Clinton supported gun lando, Florida, nightclub in 2016 March a universal background After dozens of mass shootings background checks for gun sales; other 2020 contender, said last In the 2004 presidential elec- control measures during her 2016 when 49 were killed have shifted checks bill, the fi rst major gun in recent years, however, includ- and close the “boyfriend loop- month that she too would move tion, Democrat John Kerry did campaign but did not emphasise public opinion on the issue. control legislation since the 1994 ing at schools like the February hole” that allows dating partners quickly to curb gun violence if not make gun control a focus them. Reuters/Ipsos polling in Feb- ban on assault weapons. 2018 massacre in Parkland, Flor- to purchase fi rearms after being elected to the White House. of his campaign and was pho- But gun-control advocates say ruary 2019 showed that 58% of It was not taken up by the Re- ida, that left 17 dead, curbing gun convicted of abuse or under a re- Harris said she would give Con- tographed with a weapon on a the Parkland shooting and many Americans support policies that publican-controlled Senate and violence has become a component straining order. gress 100 days to pass gun-control hunting trip. others, including the Las Vegas would make it more diffi cult to Trump has threatened to veto it of the Democratic policy platform Current and former spouses legislation, such as a universal Former president Barack concert shooting in 2017 that own a gun. should it reach his desk. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 13 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Violence breaks out in Easter attacks town in Sri Lanka

AFP and three hotels hit by suicide police said the situation was “to- liquor sales in Negombo area,” have arrested only two suspects ately verify the footage. The cur- of emergency since the Easter Colombo bombers on April 21 killing 257 tally under control”. “There were Tilakaratne told AFP. In another at the moment, many more have few was lifted yesterday morning bombings, with security forces people. no fresh incidents in the past 24 televised appeal, Ranjith ap- been identifi ed and we will go af- and the authorities lifted a social and police given sweeping pow- “I appeal to all Catholic and hours in and around Negombo,” pealed to Christians, Buddhists ter them.” media ban imposed overnight to ers to arrest and detain suspects. ri Lanka’s Roman Catho- Christian brothers and sisters not police spokesman Ruwan Gu- and Muslims to show restraint. The offi cer said an alcohol- prevent the spread of “rumours” Authorities said they were lic Church appealed for to hurt even a single Muslim per- nasekera said, adding that secu- Negombo suff ered the highest fuelled dispute between two that could have infl amed reli- holding 73 people, including Scalm and an alcohol ban son because they are our broth- rity forces had stepped up search death toll in the Easter Sunday groups degenerated into vio- gious tensions. nine women, in connection with yesterday after clashes between ers, because they are part of our operations in the area. attacks that were claimed by the lence. Prime Minister Ranil Muslims make up around 10% the April 21 bombings. The gov- Christians and Muslims in a town religious culture,” said Cardinal During a visit to Negombo Islamic State group. Wickremesinghe said in a state- of Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka’s ernment has blamed the Easter scarred by the Easter suicide at- Malcolm Ranjith, archbishop of where he held talks with clerics The bomb at St Sebastian’s ment the government will com- 21mn population and Christians bombings on a local militant or- tacks. Hundreds of security forc- Colombo. at a mosque, the cardinal called killed more than 100 worship- pensate those who lost property. about 7.6%. ganisation which had pledged al- es entered Negombo to impose a “Therefore please avoid hurt- on the government to shut bars pers. Police said two arrests were Unverifi ed video circulating Meanwhile, public schools legiance to Islamic State. curfew after dozens of Muslim- ing them and try to create a bet- in the Catholic-dominated town made after the latest clashes and on social media showed mobs reopened yesterday for the fi rst Police said they had estab- owned shops, homes and vehi- ter spirit of understanding and known as “Little Rome”, said more suspects had been identi- throwing stones at Muslim busi- time since the Easter attacks, lished the suicide bombers had cles were attacked. good relations between all the his spokesman Father Edmund fi ed through CCTV footage. nesses, destroyed furniture in- with heavily armed police and about 140mn rupees ($800,000) St Sebastian’s church in the communities of Sri Lanka,” he Tilakaratne. “As a temporary “At least three people were side homes, shattered windows troops guarding schools. Attend- in cash and a further $40mn as- town 40km north of capital Co- said in a video message to the measure, the cardinal asked the injured in the clashes,” a senior and overturned vehicles. ance was poor, offi cials said. The sets which will be confi scated lombo was one of three churches country. Yesterday evening, the government to order the ban on offi cer told AFP. “Although we AFP was unable to immedi- country has been under a state under tough anti-terror laws. Thai King praises ‘unity’ in speech on day of coronation

AFP land’s national fl ag and wore yel- after the death of his beloved fa- alongside Queen Suthida and Bangkok low hats – the colour represent- ther Bhumibol Adulyadej. his children from three previ- ing the king’s birthday. Before Not as well known, Vaji- ous marriages. The moment was the remarks, junta chief Prayut ralongkorn spends a great deal captured by his fashion designer hailand’s newly-crowned Chan-O-Cha addressed the king of time in Germany and has been daughter Princess Sirivannavari King Maha Vajiralongkorn from the ground, pledging “loy- divorced three times. Since be- who swivelled around her smart- Tpraised the show of “uni- alty to his majesty and the great coming king, Vajiralongkorn has phone, and a video from the bal- Thailand’s newly crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida and Princess Bajrakitiyabha are seen ty” at his fi rst public address on Chakri dynasty with our lives”. made several moves that experts cony quickly found its way onto at the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall at the Grand Palace where King grants a public audience to the fi nal day of an elaborate cor- Vajiralongkorn was accom- say reinforce the apex role of the Twitter. receive the good wishes of the people in Bangkok, Thailand. onation yesterday, speaking to a panied by Thailand’s new Queen monarchy, including bringing Over the weekend she took to sea of supporters and witnessed Suthida, whom he married in a the assets of the Crown Property Facebook to post personal shots stagram as a way to communicate The three-day event — the party — aligned with the arch- by the head of the junta that has formal ceremony days before the Bureau under his direct control of her family members — includ- with fans. She drew headlines in fi rst coronation in Thailand in 69 royalist junta that seized power led the divided country since a coronation. and appointing an army chief ing one where she fl ashed a rock- February when she tried to stand years — cemented Vajiralongko- almost fi ve years ago — claimed 2014 coup. Company worker Pramote from a faction close to the mon- and-roll sign next to her grinning for prime minister with an anti- rn’s position at the top of one of the popular vote, but a coalition Walking onto a wooden bal- Mapongtao said he felt “over- archy. teenage stepbrother. junta party. The king thwarted the world’s richest monarchies. of “pro-democracy” parties say cony to the roar of the crowd, Va- whelmed when I saw his majesty The royal family is shielded by Whether a part of the palace’s the bid with a royal command He placed the 7.3kg (16 lbs) Great they have a lower house majority. jiralongkorn said he was “pleased standing over there.” some of the world’s harshest lese PR campaign or just a result of and the party was later dissolved. Crown of Victory on his head Analysts say the sequencing of and delighted” with the display. He was one of many who majeste laws, making any critical modern smartphone-savvy roy- Though she was seen hugging Saturday. On Sunday, the king events is important. “The pow- “I want the unity shown here braved scorching temperatures, discussion about the king all but als, the informality drew a posi- the king on the eve of the corona- was carried through Bangkok’s ers that be are clearly calculating with this goodwill to be an en- which hovered around 37C, impossible. tive response from Thais. “See- tion, she was asked in the com- old quarter on a gilded palanquin that Thais will be more pliant at couraging sign for everybody, all causing several faintings. As But wall-to-wall coverage and ing another side (of them) which ments section of an Instagram in a colourful seven-hour pro- this moment in time — and thus sides to perform their duties for darkness fell a coordinated drone social media posts of the cere- is not offi cial is nice,” said a sup- photo she posted Saturday why cession. less likely to mount protests” the prosperity of our country,” he show formed an outline of the mony provided rare glimpses into porter who declined to be named she did not receive a royal title But the display was wedged after results, said Karen Brooks, said. king’s visage in the night sky. The the lives of the ultra-guarded due to sensitivity over discussing during the event. “Because my between a disputed election adjunct senior fellow for Asia at Thousands waiting below 66-year-old monarch is the 10th royal family. royal life. work is in this style,” she said. in March and the announce- the Council on Foreign Relations. shouted “Long live the king!”, king in the Chakri dynasty and After yesterday’s address, The king’s eldest sister Prin- “It’s more convenient and eff ec- ment of poll results set for later “We will know soon enough if enthusiastically waved Thai- ascended the throne in late 2016 the king stood on the balcony cess Ubolratana has long used In- tive this way.” this week. The Palang Pracharat that calculation is correct.”

First day of Ramadan Missing Chinese New Zealand student alleges police abuse in video can carve niche

AFP Communist Party, authorities in revamped Beijing have exercised a zero toler- ance attitude towards Marxist students who support labour missing student labour movements. In August, a police Belt and Road activist has accused Chi- raid swept up student activists Anese police of abusing at several universities, beating him over several days, includ- some of them and confi scating Reuters trade and investment plan. ing by forcing him to listen to a their phones for supporting the Auckland “The fact that we’ve taken three-hour speech by President Jasic Workers Solidarity Group. a little bit of pause as we’ve Xi Jinping, amid a crackdown The labour organisation worked to really fl esh out that on campus activism. rose to prominence when stu- ew Zealand is willing to arrangement has been no bad In a video and written testi- dent activists backed its ef- work with China on its thing because Belt and Road mony published after he disap- forts to form a workers’ union NBelt and Road initia- has really evolved,” Prime Min- peared last week, Peking Uni- at Jasic Technology, a welding tive and can off er its expertise ister Jacinda Ardern told the versity student Qiu Zhanxuan machinery company in south- in areas such as regulation and summit, adding that the in- said local police “tormented” ern Guangdong province. The the environment, offi cials from frastructure programme was him over a fi ve-day period late crackdown comes as Chinese the Pacifi c nation’s government changing to involve sectors February. authorities have faced a slew of said yesterday. The investment such as service industries. Intimidation tactics in- politically sensitive anniversa- policy championed by Chinese The small Antipodean nation cluded a forced strip search ries. President Xi Jinping has be- has long been touted by Beijing and listening to Xi’s marathon The fi ve disappeared ahead come mired in controversy, with as an exemplar of its “fi rsts” speech from the Communist of a speech by Xi to mark the some partner nations bemoan- with Western countries, most Party’s fi ve-yearly congress in centennial of the May Fourth ing the high cost of projects. But recently becoming the fi rst 2017 on high volume. “They Movement, a landmark student China’s recent eff orts to put a Western nation to join the also wanted to force me to write protest against territorial con- greener face on its infrastruc- Chinese-spearheaded Asia In- a pledge to voluntarily give up cessions the country’s leaders ture initiative could smoothen frastructure Investment Bank all educational opportunities,” made in the Treaty of Versailles ties with some countries. (AIIB) and helping to usher in Qiu said in his video statement, in 1919. Next month will mark “It seems more likely that other developed nations. which was published by the Ja- the 30th anniversary of the June we can fi nd a win-win situa- But the relationship had hit sic Workers Solidarity Group, 4 crackdown on Tiananmen tion with China, whether it’s a stumbling block in recent a labour rights movement in pro-democracy protesters. greening the Belt and Road, months under Ardern’s coali- southern China. In December, Qiu was de- or helping address some of tion government. New Zealand His statements appear to tained for attempting to com- the issues ... around transpar- has criticised China’s lending have been pre-recorded and re- memorate the 125th anniver- ency or whether it’s using our to the Pacifi c, and rejected a bid leased following his disappear- sary of the birth of Communist Indonesian students read the Holy Qur’an on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Medan, regulatory systems, which are to allow Chinese technology ance. “Dear comrades, friends, China’s founder Mao Zedong, North Sumatra. amongst the best in the world,” giant Huawei to take part in the by the time you read this article, whose legacy remains contro- New Zealand’s trade minister country’s planned 5G network. I am already behind bars and versial in the country. David Parker said at an annual An agreement, one of the have lost my freedom,” Qiu said. The disappearance of stu- China-focused business sum- fi rst with a Western nation on Qiu, who led the school’s Marx- dent leaders like Qiu “create a Australian DJ dies in bid to help friend on Indonesia’s Bali mit in Auckland. Belt and Road penned under ist society before being forced chilling eff ect and disillusion- Parker had travelled to the previous centre-right Na- to step down by the college ad- ment” for students who sup- Popular Australian DJ Adam Sky confirm Adam Neat was involved reach the family in Bali to seek Beijing for the Belt and Road tional government in 2017, had ministration in December, was port workers’ movements and died in an accident at the weekend in a fatal accident while trying to comment. Media said the fam- summit in April at which New languished months past its among fi ve students who disap- believe in social equality, said on the Indonesian holiday island of help a friend who had suff ered ily had declined an autopsy and Zealand had joined Russia and 18-month expiry date. Since peared last week. Doriane Lau, China research- Bali, authorities said yesterday. multiple fractures in Bali on Satur- authorities were not treating the four developing nations to co- then Italy and Switzerland have His whereabouts are still un- er at Amnesty International. Sky, 42, whose real name was day 4th May 2019,” it read, adding death as suspicious. “We found ordinate accounting standards also signed up to the initiative. known, according to a source “They learnt about social jus- Adam Neat, died after crashing that the family had travelled to Bali. little cuts, bruises and abrasions on for countries participating in But Ardern, who recently close to the Peking University tice in schools, yet when they through a glass door while trying Born in Melbourne but based in the face and both knees,” said Ida Belt and Road. returned from her fi rst trip to Marxist group. Police in Bei- supported workers and stood to help a friend who had fallen Singapore, Sky was ranked Asia’s Bagus Putu Alit, the forensics head Amid Western scrutiny and Beijing as premier, said yester- jing did not respond to AFP’s with the marginalised people in from a terrace, according to a third most popular DJ last year, his at the Denpasar Sanglah General a US backlash towards Belt and day that disagreements were request for comment. While society, they were severely and statement posted on his Facebook website shows. Fans and friends Hospital, where the body was Road, New Zealand’s stance could normal and the relationship Xi has repeatedly extolled the unlawfully punished,” she told page. posted tributes on social media. taken. “One of the wounds is deep be a litmus test on how other with China was one of New teachings of Marx and the AFP. “It is with great regret that we can Reuters could not immediately on the right forearm.” governments respond to China’s Zealand’s most important. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

TRAGEDY CRIME VIOLENCE POLITICS ARSON Two die after wall Teenager stabbed to Man dies after alleged £2mn given to Brexit Victorian factory in collapses at Scottish farm death in south London fight in Merseyside party, claims Farage Ipswich destroyed by fire

Two men have died and two others were A teenager has been stabbed to death after Police are investigating the murder of a man Nigel Farage has claimed the Brexit Party A suspected arson attack at a derelict Victorian injured after a wall collapsed on a farm in being chased by a man in south London, police found injured in a street in Merseyside. A has raised nearly £2mn in donations, despite fertiliser factory was likened to “a disaster film” Scotland. The incident happened at 10.10am have said. Police were called by the London 41-year-old man was arrested at the scene only having been launched a month ago. The scene. Fire crews were called to the Grade II-listed yesterday at a property near the A803 ambulance service on Sunday at about 9.30pm and is being questioned by police after leader said the money had come in through former Fisons warehouse on Paper Mill Lane, between Linlithgow and Falkirk. Two men were to reports of a stabbing on Tiverton Street in officers were called to Monfa Road in Bootle its membership, but declined to reveal details in Bramford, near Ipswich. No one is thought to pronounced dead at the scene, Police Scotland Southwark. Off icers and paramedics found an shortly before 2am yesterday. The victim, of major donors. Farage told Sophy Ridge have been hurt, but the building, dating back said. The other men sustained injuries that 18-year-old with stab injuries. He was taken in his 30s, was found with life-threatening on Sky News: “We just hit 85,000 registered to 1858, was destroyed by the blaze. Ian Bowell, are not believed to be life-threatening. One to a south London hospital where he died at injuries after reports of an altercation, supporters, all paying £25. We have raised from Suff olk Fire and Rescue, said there was “no of the injured was flown by air ambulance to 10.51pm. The victim has yet to be identified Merseyside police said. He was taken to £2mn through individual people joining obvious natural cause” for the fire. “I have to Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow, but his next of kin have been informed, the hospital where he later died. Detective through our website. I can’t think that any say quite confidently that we are treating this as while the other was taken to Edinburgh Royal Metropolitan police said. The Met said there chief inspector Gayle Rooney said: “We’re other party in the UK has raised money like arson,” he said. About 60 firefighters from both infirmary. Road closures were put in place have been no arrests and inquiries continue. currently in the very early stages of the that.” He also warned a Brexit deal between Suff olk and Essex fire services were called to while emergency services attended the scene. Off icers were reviewing CCTV footage, making investigation into this incident and it is vital Labour and the Conservatives would be “the the blaze, which is thought to have started in a Inquiries to establish the full circumstances house-to-house calls and undertaking forensic that anyone with information that could final betrayal” and a “coalition of politicians smaller building before spreading to the wooden were ongoing, police said. analysis at the scene. assist our inquiries gets in touch.” against the people”. main factory building. London Bridge attack victims’ families yet to get legal aid

Daily Mail It means taxpayers face a legal London bill which could run into hun- dreds of thousands of pounds to fund the former London school- rieving relatives of vic- girl’s fi ght to return to the UK tims of the London Bridge from a refugee camp in Syria. Gterror attack have not re- There was fury that relatives of ceived a penny in legal aid in their the London Bridge atrocity must quest for justice. rely on the goodwill of lawyers to The inquest into the eight who represent them free of charge at were killed started yesterday and the two-month inquest at the Old is expected to expose serious fail- Bailey. ings by the security services. John Frade, whose wife Aysha Government agencies have was killed in the Westminster at- used public funds to hire some of tack, said: “I have now lost faith the best lawyers to represent their in the system. It is incredible that interests at a cost of almost £1mn. someone who supports terrorism But families of the victims have like Begum can be granted legal not received any public money aid, but the victims of terrorism to help them uncover the truth are forgotten. That is not the ac- about what happened during tion of a normal civilised country.” the London Bridge atrocity in Frade, 43, described the legal June 2017 when three attackers aid process as “incredibly intru- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, speaks to members of the media at Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London, yesterday, following the announcement that his wife, Meghan, drove a van into pedestrians and sive” and said he was forced to Duchess of Sussex, has given birth to a son. launched a knife attack. put down the value of his wife’s Instead, the families are be- wedding ring. ing forced to go through a com- “It was a very diffi cult time as plicated and circuitous applica- I was trying to write a tribute to tion process, fi lling out intrusive Aysha for the inquest and work means-testing forms which re- out what questions I wanted an- quire them to list their assets and swered about how she died. those of their dead relatives. The father-of-two added: “I The families of loved ones who felt I didn’t have a voice. All the Meghan gives birth to boy, died in the Westminster terror at- government agencies were being tack in March 2017, in which fi ve represented, and most had two people died, are also still waiting, or three people in court. It was possibly in vain, for legal aid pay- almost as if our voices did not ments – seven months after the matter.” inquest in the deaths. Some be- He said it is “highly unlikely” reveals ‘thrilled’ Harry lieve they will never see a penny that the law fi rm he used will get from the government. paid which “makes a complete AFP “Mother and baby are do- the royal couple’s new Frog- parent would ever say, your baby of Canterbury who married the The Westminster families had mockery” of the process. London ing incredibly well. It’s been the more Cottage residence on the is absolutely amazing. This little couple last May, shared his joy their claim rejected because their The Westminster inquest most amazing experience I can grounds of Windsor Castle west thing is absolutely to die for. So I on social media. “May God bless terrorism experts were not on an lasted three weeks and contained ever possibly imagine.” of London. am just over the moon.” the new family with love, health approved legal-aid list. They are 6,500 documents. Govern- eghan, the Duchess of Buckingham Palace said She was “overjoyed by the Downing Street led the well- and happiness,” he said. appealing against the decision. ment agencies claim they spent Sussex, has given birth the boy, seventh in line to the arrival of her fi rst grandchild,” wishes as news of the royal birth Prince Harry and Meghan re- The London Bridge families are £493,000 on legal fees. Mto a boy, her husband throne, was born at 0526 lo- Buckingham Palace added. broke yesterday afternoon in vealed they were expecting their using the same lawyers – but have The state legal bill for the two- Prince Harry announced in a cal time (0426GMT), weighing The siblings of Prince Harry’s Britain. fi rst baby in October, at the out- attached their claim to a legal aid month London Bridge inquest is statement to television cameras seven pounds and three ounces late mother Diana had also been “Congratulations to the Duke set of a 16-day tour of Australia, fi rm in an attempt to get their likely to be double this sum. yesterday, adding that mother (3.26kg). told of the birth, it said. and Duchess of Sussex on the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. funding approved. They submit- Chief coroner Mark Lucraft and baby were “doing incredibly Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Prince Harry was present for arrival of their baby boy,” Prime Commentators at the time ted their claim last month and QC, who presided over the West- well”. Charles and Prince William were the birth of his fi rst child and Minister Theresa May said on believed the baby, the Queen’s await a decision. minster inquest and will do the “I am very excited to an- among the members of the royal spoke candidly afterwards about Twitter. “Wishing you all the eighth great-grandchild, was By contrast, IS teenager same for the London Bridge hear- nounce that Meghan and my- family to have been informed the experience. “How any wom- best at this happy time.” due in late April. Shamima Begum was swiftly ings, highlighted the lack of fi - self had a little boy early this and “are delighted with the an can do what they do is beyond The BT Tower in central Lon- The 34-year-old prince and granted legal aid three weeks ago nancial support for families in a morning — a very healthy boy,” a news,” it added. comprehension,” he said. don scrolled a message of con- Meghan, 37, reportedly opted for to fi ght the decision to remove her report in 2017. The Government beaming Harry told reporters in Meghan’s mother Doria Rag- “I am so incredibly proud of gratulations. a home birth at Frogmore Cot- British citizenship. rejected his suggestion. Windsor. land is with her daughter at my wife and as every father and Justin Welby, the Archbishop tage. Teenage boy held over Williamson accuses schoolgirl’s murder PM of smear campaign Daily Mail British troops engage in military London action in Africa. Daily Mail ing organised by her school. We ther details of this support will be Williamson accused May’s London fully appreciate the level of shock, shared directly with our pupils team of concocting the claims to anxiety and upset in and around and parents.” avin Williamson has ac- distract from the fact that there Calne and Chippenham and our Ellie’s family, who have asked cused Theresa May of is no evidence to show he was boy of 17 is being quizzed offi cers are continuing to progress for privacy, released a picture of Glaunching a smear cam- behind the Huawei leak. He told by police last over the their inquiries as swiftly and dili- the teenager but did not wish to paign to distract from the lack of the Daily Mail: “They (Down- Amurder of a schoolgirl. gently as possible. say anything further at this time. evidence that he deserved to be ing Street) realise the hot water Detectives arrested the teen- “I would like to take this op- Ellie’s neighbours expressed fi red. they are in because they have got ager after the discovery of the portunity to thank our communi- their shock at the murder. As relations between the pair no evidence for why I have been body of Ellie Gould, who had just ties in Calne for the support and Sarah Collins said: “She had soured further still, William- sacked. turned 17, in a house. patience they have shown our just turned 17 – I think that’s her son called on May to “show a “They have decided that be- Ellie, who was a showjumper, offi cers as they undertake their car in the driveway with L plates little more dignity” after it was cause they have no evidence they was pronounced dead following inquiries.” Ellie was a year 12 pupil on. I saw her practising driving claimed he made derogatory are going to try to smear me and the arrival of the emergency serv- at Hardenhuish School in Chip- with her dad around here. It’s very comments about her diabetes. my character. ices at an address believed to be penham and she had represented sad, and very unsettling. The former defence secretary “It is disappointing that they her home in Calne, Wiltshire. the school at a number of show- “The police said there’s no se- was sacked last Wednesday over cannot show a little more dig- The suspect, who was known jumping events. curity risk but I don’t know how his alleged responsibility for nity, understand the important to Ellie, was arrested in nearby In a statement, the 1,600-pu- they can be sure.” leaking sensitive information positions they hold, and act in a Chippenham a few hours later. pil school said: “The Hardenhu- Sue Borley, whose home is just about Chinese tech fi rm Hua- sensible, responsible and slightly A spokesman for Wiltshire ish community is shocked and outside the police cordon, has wei. more dignifi ed way that is befi t- Police said detectives were mak- saddened by the tragic death of lived on the street for eight years. Amid the fallout, a number of ting the positions they do hold.” ing inquiries trying to unravel the Ellie Gould. Ellie was a talented, She said: “It’s desperate, I feel so newspapers reported the prime He added: “A lot of what has circumstances surrounding El- popular and much-loved mem- sorry for the parents.” minister and Williamson’s rela- been said has been personally lie’s death. “Our thoughts remain ber of our community who will be Calne police tweeted: “All our tionship had deteriorated after very hurtful and totally untrue. with Ellie’s family, her friends and dearly missed. Our thoughts and thoughts are with Ellie’s family, he spread false claims that May It has become apparent to eve- schoolmates,” said superintend- condolences are with Ellie’s fam- friends and schoolmates at this was not well enough to govern. ryone that the prime minister ent Conway Duncan. ily at this devastating time. truly awful time. We continue to The prime minister has type and (Cabinet Secretary) Sir Mark “Ellie’s family will continue to “We recognise that the coming have a large presence in the town 1 diabetes, and wears a patch to Sedwill had no evidence. receive support from specially days and months will be diffi cult – please come and speak to us if help manage the condition. “Now is the time for them to trained offi cers and we are aware for us all and we are determined you need to. Anyone with infor- Williamson was also said to instigate a proper, full and de- that her fellow pupils are being to support each other with the mation is being asked to contact have clashed with the prime tailed independent inquiry to get encouraged to seek support be- help of our partner agencies. Fur- Wiltshire Police.” Gavin Williamson: lashes out minister over his desire to have at the truth.” Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 15 EUROPE Turkey poll body orders

Nahles: The SPD is not demanding nationalisation. re-run of Istanbul vote Germany’s Reuters/AFP/DPA showed that it had lost control by controversy and urged the “I will wait for the decision of Ankara/Istanbul of Istanbul. YSK to “clear its name” with a the Supreme Electoral Council,” It was a shock loss for Er- re-run. Imamoglu said in a video posted SPD is dogan who in the 1990s served Istanbul’s new CHP mayor, on his Twitter account of him urkey’s High Election as the city’s mayor and had Ekrem Imamoglu, offi cially took breaking his Ramadan fast with Board has scrapped Istan- campaigned hard ahead of the offi ce last month after a smat- a family in Istanbul. “Then wait becoming Tbul election results show- nationwide local vote, his fi rst tering of partial and full recounts for me. This evening I will tell ing a defeat for President Recep electoral test since last year’s were completed across the city. you my opinion ... everything Tayyip Erdogan, responding to sharp currency crisis tipped the Since then, prosecutors will be beautiful.” unelectable, his AK Party’s calls for a re-run Turkish economy into recession. launched probes into the alleged The CHP, which had previ- of the vote. The Turkish lira weakened af- irregularities and called 100 ously called Erdogan a “bad los- While the board, known as ter Ozel, the AKP’s representa- polling station workers in for er”, said it was holding an emer- say works YSK, had not yet made a state- tive on the YSK, tweeted the questioning as suspects. gency meeting after the election ment, the decision was an- decision, and it was at 6.1075 The YSK decided to re-run the body’s announcement. nounced by state-run Anadolu against the dollar at 1730 GMT mayoral election in Istanbul be- Supporters of Imamoglu councils agency and a representative of and on track for its worst day in cause of unsigned result docu- urged restraint on social media. the ruling AK Party (AKP), Recep more than a month. ments and some ballot box offi - CHP party workers urged Ozel, who said that a second vote The lira has tumbled some cials not being civil servants, the supporters to avoid provoca- Reuters would take place on June 23. 10% since a week before the ini- AKP’s Ozel said, adding that the tions, with its election volun- Berlin Turkey’s main opposition tial election. board would continue to discuss teers saying: “We will act in ac- Republican People’s Party Suspense over the ruling had Turkish riot police guard the headquarters of the Supreme Electoral whether to annul elections in cordance with the style of Ekrem (CHP), which in the initial vote left investors worried that weeks Council in Ankara last night. two districts of Istanbul as well. Imamoglu ... let’s be together, ermany’s Social Demo- on March 31 narrowly won the of additional campaigning He added that parties may let’s be calm.” crats (SPD) are becoming mayoralty in the country’s larg- would divert funds and atten- away from the central bank, The AKP also lost the mayor’s change their candidates for re- “We will win, we will win Gunelectable after the head est city, called the ruling a “plain tion from addressing economic courts and other institutions. offi ce in the capital Ankara. run in case of death or resigna- again,” a supporters group said of their youth wing JUSOS called dictatorship”. reforms. “It is illegal to win against the With its nationalist MHP tion. in a statement. for companies such as BMW to Istanbul, with its 16mn resi- It was unclear how the CHP AK Party,” CHP deputy chair- allies, it wanted the Istanbul Meanwhile, Imamoglu said Imamoglu, a soft-spoken be collectively owned, works dents, is the engine of Turkey’s and its supporters would re- man Onursal Adiguzel said on results annulled and cited ir- that he would wait for an offi cial former district mayor who council chiefs have warned. economy and controls a major spond to a re-run given suspi- Twitter. “This system that over- regularities that aff ected the declaration by the election body struck a conciliatory tone JUSOS chief Kevin Kuehnert, chunk of public spending. cions over the YSK’s political rules the will of the people and outcome, which put it some before issuing a response. throughout the heated race, has 29, unleashed a storm of protest, The AKP had appealed for an independence from the AKP, disregards the law is neither 13,000 votes behind CHP. “There is no need to be in de- vowed to serve all citizens of the including from party allies, this election re-run after initial re- which in recent years has cen- democratic, nor legitimate. This On Saturday Erdogan said that spair,” he said in a message on city, regardless of their political week when he said that “with- sults and a series of recounts tralised power in the presidency is plain dictatorship.” “it’s clear” the vote was marred social media. inclinations. out collectivisation, overcoming capitalism is not thinkable”, cit- ing BMW specifi cally. The uproar took on a new di- mension with the publication on Saturday of comments from works council chiefs, tradition- Refugees are ‘cross ally among the party’s biggest supporters, who said the SPD was alienating itself from work- ers. “For workers at German com- for humanity’: Pope panies, this SPD is no longer electable,” Manfred Schoch, head of the general works coun- AFP In April 2018, the Council of “Bulgarian society does not cil at BMW, told WirtschaftsWo- Sofia Europe rights group voiced con- tolerate racism”, the idea of ac- che magazine. cern about Bulgarian eff orts to cepting refugees from Muslim- Works councils are elected integrate Middle Eastern refu- majority countries in the Middle bodies dealing with manage- ope Francis told Syrian and gees, with most relying on help East is rejected on both the right ment on issues such as working Iraqi refugees at a camp in from volunteers and non-gov- and left of Bulgaria’s political conditions and are a particular PBulgaria that their experi- ernmental organisations. spectrum. feature of Germany’s post-war ences are “a cross for humanity” A small but energetic choir The country’s Orthodox economic success. as he continued his visit to the of refugee children welcomed Church has also called such mi- Kuehnert’s vision for some Balkans yesterday. Francis with two songs in Bul- gration a “threat to the stabil- evokes memories of Communist Arriving in Bulgaria on Sun- garian before presenting him ity of the state” and to “ethnic East Germany. day, Francis begun his three- with brightly-coloured draw- balance” and the entire 274km The backlash threatens to fur- day tour by urging his hosts to ings, after which he greeted the (170-mile) Bulgarian-Turkish ther erode support for the SPD, open their hearts to refugees, in other refugees at the camp indi- border is blocked by a barbed- junior partner in conservative a country where public opinion vidually. wire fence. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coa- has generally been negative to- Iraqi refugee Soad, who has After the visit to the refu- Pope Francis with Iraqi and Syrian refugee families at a refugee centre in Rakovski, on the outskirts of lition. wards migrants. seven children and whose hus- gee camp, Francis headed to the Sofia. The SPD is languishing in Yesterday he visited the band is sick, said that her life is town of Rakovski in the centre of polls and risks heavy losses in Vrazhdebna refugee camp on all the more diffi cult due to a lack the country, one of the centres One of them was the daughter The Orthodox Church is in- Francis’s trip also takes in European and regional elections the outskirts of the capital So- of a defi ned immigration sta- of Bulgaria’s tiny Catholic com- of local resident Venelin Delgiy- stead sending a children’s choir North Macedonia, where he later this month. fi a, which has a capacity of more tus and that relations with Iraqi munity, which numbers around anski who described the event as to the meeting, which will be will attend a commemoration of The party may even lose pow- than 300 but currently hosts Kurdish refugees were some- 44,000 out of a population of “a great honour”. attended by at least one of the Mother Teresa, the most famous er in Bremen, a city state they around 50 asylum-seekers. times tense. some 7mn. “It’s a day full of emotion. capital’s Muslim leaders, a Vati- native of the Macedonian capital have ruled for 73 years, in a May “Today the world of migrants “The Pope can do everything Several hundred worshippers Everyone is very excited as this can source said. Skopje. 26 vote. and refugees is a little like a cross and change everything, because packed into one of the town’s is also a big event for our small The Bulgarian church also Francis, whose papacy has Mass-selling daily Bild for humanity, a cross suff ered by he helps everyone and especially churches, with thousands more town,” Delgiyanski said. made clear its opposition to any been marred by a wave of child splashed the backlash on page so many people,” the Pope said. refugees,” she said. “We will stay outside, for a service in which Later in the day Francis re- religious service when the Pope sex abuse allegations against one of its Saturday edition and He spoke of the “horrors” in Bulgaria, the children think Francis gave 245 local children turned to Sofi a to take part in an visited Sofi a’s St Alexander clergy, has made improving quoted the head of Daimler’s they had suff ered in “leaving it’s their country now.” their fi rst holy communion – the inter-faith “meeting for peace”, Nevsky Cathedral. inter-faith dialogue – includ- works council Michael Brecht as their own country and seeking to While President Ruman Radev fi rst time he has done this on a to which the Bulgarian Orthodox The Pope off ered prayers there ing with Orthodox churches – a saying: “I share the view that it integrate themselves in another”. assured the Pope on Sunday that foreign trip. Church refused to send priests. on Sunday afternoon alone. priority. is becoming ever hard for work- ers to vote for the SPD.” Brecht pressed the SPD to work out quickly what it wants to stand for: “For secure jobs and a sustainable industry policy, or Catalan ex-leader Puigdemont okay to run in EU election for fantasies far from reality that in the end only cost jobs and in- crease social inequality.” AFP secede in October 2017, which That sparked Spain’s deepest However, Spain’s conserva- Under Spanish rules, they Bild also quoted the former Madrid raises questions over whether political crisis in decades. tive Popular Party (PP) and cen- would fi rst have to swear they head of Porsche’s works coun- they would be able to sit in the The referendum in the tre-right Ciudadanos appealed will abide by Spain’s constitu- cil, Uwe Hueck, an SPD member European Parliament if elected wealthy northeastern region was his candidacy and that of the two tion, a necessary move for the since 1982, as saying that the atalonia’s former leader on May 26. followed by a short-lived decla- others, prompting the electoral national electoral board to con- party was still electable but add- Carles Puigdemont, who The court decision comes a ration of independence. board to exclude them. fi rm them as MEPs. ing that Kuehnert’s comments Cfl ed Spain in 2017 after a day after the Spanish Supreme Then conservative prime At the time, Together for That would have to be done in were absolute nonsense that secession attempt, can contest Court ruled that there had been minister Mariano Rajoy moved Catalonia had accused the board person. could be excused by his age. EU polls this month, a Madrid no grounds to bar them. in, taking direct control of the of wanting to “silence and push But all three are wanted in “If he had witnessed the GDR court said yesterday, overturn- It said that contesting an elec- region, sacking the Catalan ex- aside” Puigdemont “so that he Spain on the charge of rebellion himself, then he would not say ing an electoral board decision. tion was “a fundamental right” ecutive and calling snap polls. can’t explain what he represents and misuse of public funds for something like that,” Hueck said A court spokesman said Pu- recognised by the constitution That prompted Puigdemont at the heart of European institu- their role in the secession bid, with reference to former Com- igdemont would be able to run, and that fl eeing the country was and others to fl ee Spain. tions”. meaning they would be arrested munist East Germany. as would Toni Comin and Clara not a cause for ineligibility. Those Catalan leaders who re- Puigdemont, Ponsati and on re-entry. SPD leader Andrea Nahles told Ponsati, who were also in the Puigdemont had slammed the mained in Spain are now on trial Comin appealed, leading to yes- Puigdemont insists that he the paper: “Workers can feel as- regional government during the ban in a tweet as a “legal scandal in Madrid over their role in the terday’s fi nal court verdict. will have immunity as soon as he sured: The SPD is not demanding independence bid and fl ed. and a coup to democracy”. secession bid. The PP said it would appeal is elected. nationalisation. Every day, we They had been excluded from Puigdemont, Comin and Pon- Puigdemont was picked in that verdict to the Constitution- The EU parliament, however, pursue policies for good work, Puigdemont: even if he is the EU parliament election as sati were all part of a push to March to represent his party, al Court. says that immunity only kicks in high collective wage agreements elected, it is unclear whether he well. hold an independence referen- Together for Catalonia, in the But, even if the three are elect- once the national electoral board and secure pensions – all in line can sit in the European All three are wanted in Spain dum in October 2017 in defi ance EU polls as part of the “Free for ed, it is unclear whether they can confi rms a candidate as member with the works councils.” Parliament. for their roles in the attempt to of a court ban. Europe” grouping. sit in the European Parliament. of the European Parliament.

Czechs protest for second week against new minister

Thousands of Czechs filled the centre of Prague He has denied wrongdoing and calls the case and other cities for a second week in a row to politically motivated. Paris police station closed after attack ... by fl eas protest against the appointment of a new justice He said Benesova’s appointment was not a threat minister who they say they fear could meddle with to the justice system. a criminal case involving the prime minister. Yesterday’s protest was larger than a week ago. Guardian/AFP tion, in the 19th arrondissement on Thursday, with offi cers suf- have brought this back home and Marie Benesova was named to head the ministry Organisers estimated at least 20,000 people filled Paris of the French capital. fering multiple bites, France Bleu after that it’s the kids who are last week after the resignation of her predecessor. Prague’s Old Town Square, according to CTK news In a fi t of pique on Twitter, the Paris radio station reported. bitten. This cannot go on.” Protesters say they are worried she will try agency. Alliance police union said the Some offi cers had inadvert- The Alliance union is demand- to protect Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who Police did not give off icial estimates. police station in Paris had station had been invaded by the ently taken the fl eas with them, ing that the entire site be fumi- potentially faces a fraud trial. Czech police said on April 17 that Babis and others to be evacuated on Sun- blood-sucking pests, “making with the pests causing havoc gated, a process that can take at The case against Babis, a billionaire with business should stand trial for fraud, handing the case to Aday after it was invaded by working conditions INTOLER- back home, union offi cial Em- least 48 hours, saying it should interests in media, food and chemicals, centres on prosecutors. fl eas, a police union said. ABLE!!!” manuel Cravello told the station. have been done weeks ago. allegations that he hid ownership of a farm and The previous justice minister, Jan Knezinek, “Police station closed until Despite pest control eff orts, “Several colleagues consulted Union offi cials are due to meet convention centre a decade ago to get a €2mn EU resigned the day after the police wrapped up their further notice!” read a notice the problem, which surfaced doctors after bites,” he said. “The Interior Minister Christophe subsidy for small businesses. investigation. stuck to the front door of the sta- three weeks ago, had worsened problem is that some offi cials Castaner to discuss the matter. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 EUROPE France challenged over refusal to allow extremist’s children home

By Benjamin Legendre and State (IS)’s so-called “caliphate” The grandparents of the two children, the lawyers said. The lawyers for the family said en who joined the IS fi ght. icism in March when 19-year- Nathalie Alonso, AFP before the religious extremists’ children, whose mother had They declined to identify the cholera, tuberculosis and dysen- So far, legal attempts begin- old Shamima Begum lost her Paris last Syrian redoubt was overrun joined religious extremists in mother in order to protect her tery are spreading in the camp, ning last year to force France to British citizenship after giving in March. Syria, lodged a complaint with identity. with the children undernour- allow the return of citizens held interviews in which she begged France has said it will consider the European Court of Human Some Western women have ished and the mother suff ering in Syria have failed. to return home but showed lit- he grandparents of two requests for their return on a Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, given birth to children in ter- from typhoid fever. In April, France’s State Coun- tle remorse for having been an IS children stranded with case-by-case basis only, infuri- eastern France, their lawyers told ritory previously controlled by The mother “has confi rmed cil, which rules on the legality of propagandist. Ttheir French religious ating many rights advocates and AFP. IS, but their children have never her desire to have her children policies and laws, rejected several Her baby Jarrah died of pneu- extremist mother at a camp in non-governmental organisa- “By refusing to repatriate been registered with authorities repatriated ... and wants to face requests, saying it was a French monia less than three weeks after Kurdish-held Syria fi led a law- tions. this mother and these two sick in their home countries. justice on French soil”, her law- diplomatic matter outside the he was born. suit at Europe’s top rights court Since March it has repatriated children who are wounded and The two children and their yers said. council’s jurisdiction. The burden of treating chil- yesterday over France’s refusal to just fi ve orphans and a three- in a state of extreme weakness, mother, who is the subject of an But France is loathe to bring Repatriation of citizens who dren is also daunting for West- allow them home, lawyers said. year-old girl whose mother was France is consciously and delib- arrest warrant by a French anti- back foreign fi ghters or their went to fi ght in Syria and Iraq is a ern governments, which have It is the latest challenge to the sentenced to life in prison in Iraq. erately exposing them to inhu- terror judge, were wounded in families after suff ering a wave hugely sensitive issue in Western had to set up special services for French government’s opposition Critics say that the policy ex- mane and degrading treatment,” the battle for Baghouz, the last IS of deadly religious extremist at- nations, wary of taking on the le- dealing with deep psychological to returning the children of sus- poses innocent victims of the they said in a statement. stronghold taken by Kurdish-led tacks that have killed more than gal challenges of trying to convict scars from their years in the bat- pected jihadists in Syria or Iraq. war, many of whom have suff ered The suit also accuses France forces in March. 250 people since 2015. people for acts overseas. tle zones. The four-year-old girl and serious trauma during the fi ght- of violating the family’s right to They are being detained at the After considering repatriation Britain and the United States Many show the symptoms three-year-old boy, who were ing and coalition bombardments, enter the state where they are camp of Al-Hol in northeast Syr- at the urging of Kurdish forces in have gone so far as to strip some of post-traumatic stress disor- born in Syria, are among the es- to inhumane living conditions citizens – the fi rst time such an ia, where some 73,00 people live Syria as well as the United States, Islamic State proponents of citi- der, including vivid nightmares, timated 500 children of French and long-term psychological argument has been invoked in according to the United Nations, the government decided against zenship. mutism and a visceral rejection citizens who joined the Islamic risks. the case of religious extremists’ including 12,000 foreigners. bringing home any men or wom- This hardline stance drew crit- of any attachment to others.

Six Paris fi refi ghters Lightning caused deadly questioned over gang Russian crash, says pilot rape claim AFP AFP Moscow Paris

he pilot of a Russian pas- ix Paris fi refi ghters were senger plane that erupted questioned yesterday over Tin a ball of fi re on the run- Sthe suspected gang rape way of Moscow’s busiest air- of a Norwegian student at a fi re port, killing 41 people, said that station, three weeks after the lightning led to the emergency force was hailed for saving No- landing. tre-Dame cathedral. Investigators were work- The 20-year-old student fi led ing yesterday to understand a rape complaint on Saturday the causes of the blaze after the against fi refi ghters based at the Sukhoi Superjet-100 had to re- Plaisance station in southern turn to Sheremetyevo airport Paris. shortly after take-off on Sunday Legal sources, speaking to evening. AFP on condition of anonymity, Pilot Denis Yevdokimov told said that the woman had met a Russian media that the aircraft This handout picture released by Russia’s Investigative Committee shows the destroyed fuselage of the fi refi ghter from the station at a lost communication and needed Superjet-100 at Sheremetyevo airport, outside Moscow. bar on Friday evening and agreed to switch to emergency control to go back with him to his room. mode “because of lightning” on and then speeding along the Aside from the dead, nine The Russian Investigative The alleged victim “has de- the Aerofl ot fl ight to the Arctic runway with fl ames pouring people were in hospital, three of Committee later said the frag- scribed a consensual relation- city of Murmansk. from its fuselage. them seriously injured, authori- ments were moved into a hangar ship with this fi refi ghter and He did not specify if the plane People could be seen leaping ties said. and black boxes handed to ex- This handout picture released by the City News Agency ‘Moscow’ then actions imposed by others was struck directly. onto an infl atable slide at the US Secretary of State Mike perts. shows the destroyed fuselage of the Superjet-100 at Sheremetyevo afterwards”, one of the sources “We managed to restore com- front and running from the blaz- Pompeo said an American citi- Flight schedules at the airport airport, outside Moscow. told AFP. munication through the emer- ing plane as columns of black zen had died as he expressed were disrupted by the accident After questioning by a judge, gency frequency on our radio smoke billowed into the sky. “sincere condolences” to the due to one of the two runways were two very loud bangs and slammed into a volcano, killing the six suspects, aged 23 to 35, connection. But the link was Another video shot inside the families of the victims. being closed. two fl ashes, but the engine did all 45 people on board. were not formally charged but only for a short time and kept cabin showed roaring fl ames Russian President Vladimir Several people on board said not catch fi re.” Indonesia blamed the crash on ordered to appear for further cutting out ... it was possible to outside the window and passen- Putin off ered his condolences to they witnessed the lightning Aviation expert and former pilot error. questioning as “assisted wit- say only a few words,” he told the gers crying out in panic. the victims’ loved ones and said strike. construction engineer at Su- Technical problems with the nesses”, meaning they can have Komsomolskaya Pravda news- Yevdokimov said he believed the investigation into the dis- Passenger Pyotr Yegorov told khoi, Vadim Lukashevich, said plane have been reported in re- lawyers present. paper. the plane burst into fl ames on aster “should be as thorough as media: “We had just taken off that a lightning strike is “does cent years and Russia has strug- They were released from cus- Videos on social media landing, most likely because of possible”. when the plane was hit by light- not lead to any catastrophic con- gled to convince foreign carriers tody because the judge deter- showed the plane crash-landing full fuel tanks. The jet – carrying 73 pas- ning ... the landing was very sequences” for modern planes. to purchase it. mined that there was no “seri- sengers and fi ve crew members hard, we almost passed out from The plane ignited when “the The government off ered sub- ous or corroborating evidence” Russia won’t ground Sukhoi plane despite crash – took off from Sheremetyevo fear. chassis pierced the fuel tank” sidies to encourage Russian air- against them for the moment, a at 6.02pm (1502 GMT) and the “The plane bounced on the during a hard blow against the lines to buy the Superjet, and second source said. Russia sees no reason to ground its domestically produced Sukhoi Su- crew issued a distress signal tarmac like a grasshopper and runway, causing a “heavy leak”, Aerofl ot has become its main The investigation will con- perjet-100 aircraft despite one of the planes bursting into flames during shortly afterwards, offi cials said. burst into fl ames on the ground.” he told AFP. operator. tinue and they may still face a crash-landing and killing 41 people, the country’s transport minister Flight tracking site Flightra- “We had taken off , we were in Russia’s national carrier Aer- In 2018, it announced a record charges of rape or failing to assist said yesterday. dar24 showed the plane circling a cloud, there was heavy hail,” ofl ot was once notorious for a order of 100 Superjet-100s. a person in danger. Asked by reporters at a news conference if the Sukhoi planes should near the capital before landing. fl ight attendant Tatyana Kasat- poor safety record but in recent Russian regional airline Yamal The fi rst fi refi ghter is not now be grounded pending the outcome of the investigation, Yevgeny Transport Minister Yevgeny kina told the Rossiya 24 news years its image has improved and said yesterday that it had can- among the suspects and the Ditrikh, Russia’s transport minister, said: “There are no grounds for that.” Dietrich said there were no plans channel. “Then it was like a slap, it has not had a fatal accident in celled an order for 10 of the jets plaintiff “has not implicated The plane, built in Russia’s Far East in August 2017, had been serviced as to ground the Superjet-100 a fl ash, like electricity. It all hap- more than a decade. but said this was to do with serv- him”, the fi rst source said. recently as April this year. model (see accompanying re- pened very fast.” The Russian Sukhoi Su- icing costs rather than the crash. The allegations come three After Sunday’s accident in Moscow, an online petition was launched port). Vladimir Yevmenkov, another perjet-100 however has been The Murmansk region – weeks after the Paris fi re serv- demanding that the Russian authorities ban the Superjet. The charred aircraft sur- passenger, told TV news that he dogged with problems since its where many of those killed or ice was hailed for its bravery It had been signed by more than 50,000 people by 6.30pm (1530 GMT) rounded by vehicles and a crane saw lightning striking the right launch in 2011. injured are believed to be from – and professionalism in bringing yesterday. could still be seen from the ter- engine of the plane twice from In 2012, a Superjet perform- went into a three-day period of a huge blaze at Notre-Dame ca- minal yesterday afternoon. his seat after take-off . “There ing at an Indonesian air show mourning yesterday. thedral under control. Nature under siege as 1mn species face extinction: UN

By Marlowe Hood, AFP details how our growing footprint global warming and biodiversity cies lost and the degradation of The heavily negotiated text Paris and appetites have compromised loss point to shared solutions, Nature. does not set benchmarks for the natural renewal of resources but there is potential for policy By a long shot, the fi rst two are progress or “last chance” dead- that sustain civilisation, starting confl ict too, the new report cau- diminished or degraded habitat, lines for action, as the 2018 cli- umanity is squandering with fresh water, breathable air, tioned. and hunting for food or the trade mate report did. the natural capital that and productive soil. Plans to green the global – often illicit – in body parts. In an open letter, some 600 Hhas allowed society to An October report from the economy reserve a crucial role All but 7% of major marine fi sh experts, business leaders and ce- thrive, driving 1mn species to the UN’s climate science panel for burning biofuels and locking stocks, for example, are in de- lebrities led by conservationist brink of extinction in the proc- painted a similarly dire picture away the CO2 released, a tech- cline or exploited to the limit of Jane Goodall urged world leaders ess, a landmark UN report on the for global warming, and likewise nology known as BECCS. sustainability despite eff orts by to “halt the decline in Nature”. state of Nature warned yesterday. highlighted the need for social However, the huge tracts of regional management organisa- “We must radically change the Relentless plundering and poi- transformation “on an unprec- land needed to grow energy crops tions to fi sh sustainably. way we live, including how we soning of Earth’s bounty – wa- edented scale” to cap the rise in on this scale – roughly twice the Global warming is third on the use energy to power our socie- ter, wildlife, air, soil and forests temperature at 1.5° Celsius (2.7° size of India – would clash with list, but is likely to move up. ties, grow our food, and manage – threatens societies “at least as Fahrenheit). the expansion of protected areas “We can see the climate change our waste,” they wrote. much as climate change”, said Watson (centre), the former chair of the Intergovernmental Climate change and biodiver- and reforestation eff orts, not to signal getting stronger really, re- The UN panel isn’t mandated Robert Watson, who chaired the Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services sity loss, it turns out, feed off mention food production. ally quickly,” IPBES co-chair to make explicit policy recom- 132-nation meeting that validat- (IPBES), is surrounded by journalists as he attends the presentation of each other in a vicious cycle. Indigenous peoples, the re- Sandra Diaz, a professor at the mendations. ed a Summary for Policymakers the IPBES report in Paris. Deforestation and industrial port found, have slowed the rate National University of Cordoba However, it does point unmis- forged by 450 experts. agriculture are major drivers of of degradation across the quarter in Argentina, told AFP. takably to actions needed: reduce “We are eroding the very foun- tinction – ten to hundreds of from vested interests is likely to species and ecosystem decline, of Earth’s land mass over which Numbers four and fi ve are pol- meat consumption, halt defor- dations of our economies, liveli- times faster than over the last be fi erce. but also account for at least a they have some form of tenure, lution – 400mn tonnes of heavy estation in tropical countries, hoods, food security, health and 10mn years – could tip Earth into “A lot of actors in the fossil fuel quarter of man-made green- using traditional knowledge and metals, toxic sludge and other discourage luxury consumption, quality-of-life worldwide,” said the fi rst mass extinction since industry and agriculture sector house gas emissions. techniques. waste are dumped into oceans slash perverse subsidies and Watson. “We really need to get non-avian dinosaurs died out would not want to see energy, Global warming, in turn, is The forests they manage, for and rivers each year – and alien embrace the concept of a low- governments to think beyond 66mn years ago. transportation or agriculture pushing animals and plants out example, soak up more CO2 and species, such as rats, mosquitoes, growth economy. GDP.” Halting and reversing these subsidies reduced,” he told AFP. of their comfort zones, and in- are less prone to fi re. snakes and plants that hitch rides A key meeting of the UN Con- “It is like using the goose that dire trends will require “trans- “But these are the hard deci- tensifi es the kind of heatwaves But the global economy’s insa- on ships or planes. vention on Biological Diversity in lays golden eggs to make soup,” formative change” – a sweeping sions that governments need to and droughts that recently tiable appetite for fresh resources “Every extinction of a species China in October 2020 “will be a said co-chair Eduardo Brondizio, overhaul of the way we produce take.” fuelled unprecedented fi res in is rapidly overwhelming their is a failure of humankind,” said crucial milestone to see if there is a professor of Anthropology at and consume almost everything, Drawing from 15,000 sources Australia, Indonesia, Russia, stewardship. Alexandre Antonelli, director of political will to take the evidence Indiana University Bloomington. especially food, the report said. and an underlying 1,800-page Portugal, California and Greece. For the fi rst time, the UN body Britain’s Royal Botanical Gardens gathered to start transformative The accelerating pace of ex- Watson said that pushback report, the executive summary The overlapping drivers of ranked the top fi ve causes of spe- in Kew, reacting to the report. changes”, Watson said. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 17 INDIA

LEGAL CONTROVERSY POLITICS SETBACK OPINION Top court to hear Rafale, Jaitley attacks Congress BJP in depression, BJP ally SBSP quits Sidhu attacks central Rahul case on May 10 over ‘double standards’ claims Congress Adityanath govt in UP schemes, calls them failure

The Supreme Court yesterday adjourned the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday The Congress yesterday took a dig at the BJP A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally yesterday Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu yesterday hearing on a bunch of review petitions in the attacked the Congress for referring to Prime over senior party leader Ram Madhav hinting claimed to have walked out of the Yogi Adityanth attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rafale deal, saying it will club the review pleas Minister Narendra Modi as “chor” (thief) but that the BJP would need allies for comfortable government. Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) central government over what he called were and the contempt case against Congress presi- crying hoarse when the prime minister called majority in the Lok Sabha, saying that statements chief Om Prakash Rajbhar told reporters in Ballia their “failed policies”. In a about hour-long press dent Rahul Gandhi’s “chowkidar chor hai” (the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi “corrupt”. of its leaders give an impression that the party is that he has resigned from the Yogi Adityanath conference, Sidhu claimed that most of the cen- guard is a thief) remark attributing it to the top In a tweet, Arun Jaitley asked the Congress in “electoral depression”. Talking to media in New government. “I gave my resignation from the post tral government’s schemes have failed to attract court on May 10. Interestingly, the court’s direc- if there are two model codes of conduct – Delhi, Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill of Cabinet minister on April 13. The BJP has not success and have been a failure. Sidhu alleged tion came after learning that the hearing in the they can call the prime minister thief but the said that Madhav has admitted that BJP may not accepted it as yet. I have nothing to do with the gov- that schemes like MUDRA have been unable to contempt case against Rahul Gandhi had been Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cannot call a get majority on its own to form a government ernment now,” he said. The SBSP chief had earlier help the youth as the average loan sanctioned segregated and posted for that date. The bench former PM corrupt. Senior Congress leaders and it would need allies. “This is clear that the alleged the BJP was misusing his party’s name and in the scheme was only Rs46,000. According to headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Khurshid and BJP has accepted that its game is over after five flag in the elections. “Even during Prime Minister him, an RTI information had revealed that barely Gogoi said: “We are a little perplexed that the Rajeev Shukla had met the Election Commis- phases of election. BJP’s statements have given Narendra Modi’s road show, the BJP used my pho- 1% of applications were able to receive loan above two cases (Rahul’s contempt and Rafale) have sion yesterday evening to lodge a complaint a clear impression that the BJP is in electoral tographs. I have filed a complaint in this regard with Rs500,000. The Skill India, which Modi promoted, been segregated.” against Modi. depression... is nervous,” he said. the Election Commission,” he said. had almost 40% ghost entries, he said.

Over 62% voting in Irani’s booth fi fth-phase Lok Sabha capturing elections

IANS claim baseless: New Delhi

ver 62% voters exercised their franchise yester- Oday in the fi fth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 51 election offi cial constituencies, with voting per- centage marginally higher than IANS While balloting was underway the party has fi elded former MP J P 61.75% recorded in 2014 parlia- Lucknow in his constituency, Rahul held a Agarwal, he is expected to address mentary elections. rally in Haryana’s Bhiwani. a rally in East Delhi in support of The constituencies were On the other hand, Irani, who party nominee Arvinder Singh spread across seven states. The he chief electoral offi cer is making her second bid to wrest Lovely and in northwest Delhi in fi fth phase was the smallest of (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh, from the Rahul his family bastion support of Rajesh Lilothia. seven-phase elections to elect a TLakku Venkateshwarlu, said seat, was active in the constitu- Priyanka Gandhi will hold a road new Lok Sabha. that the allegations of booth cap- ency throughout the day. show in northeast Delhi where The polling percentage was turing levelled by Union Minister A Congress member, on condi- former chief minister Sheila Dik- higher compared to 2014 in Smriti Irani in Amethi are false. tion of anonymity, tried to justify shit is in the fray. She is also ex- Hindi heartland of Bihar, Uttar Talking to reporters here yes- the party president’s absence in his pected to hold a road show in south Pradesh and Rajasthan. terday evening, the CEO said the own constituency during polling, Delhi where boxer Vijender Singh “The overall polling percent- charges levelled by an elderly saying that before being an MP, is contesting. age was 62.56% in 2019 com- woman in a video clip that went he was the chief of the party and “Between the two top campaign- pared to 61.75% in 2014,” deputy viral on social media were found to his responsibility included major ers of the party, they would cover election commissioner Sandeep be “baseless”. party activities across the country. fi ve of the seven constituencies in Saxena told reporters here. “Following the complaint, the Irani called the Congress presi- Delhi,” a Congress leader said. He said the fi gure is expected sector offi cer, senior offi cials and dent “laapata sansad” (missing The presence of two top lead- to go up further once all the even observers rushed to the booth MP), pointing out that the sitting ers signals party’s intention to give votes cast are accounted for. and spoke to the polling agents of MP did not visit the constituency its best shot in the parliamentary In seven seats in West Bengal, the political parties, other offi cials even on polling day. polls but also to revive the party polling percentage was 73.97% in the polling booth following which She told reporters here that ahead of assembly polls next year. compared to 81.37% in 2014. it was conclusively found that the Rahul had cheated the people of The Congress was willing to In Uttar Pradesh where 14 charges in the video clip were fabri- Amethi on election day. “I didn’t give four of the seven Lok Sabha seats went to polls yesterday, cated. Due to prima facie allegations know that he (Rahul) could be so seats in Delhi to AAP when alliance 57.33% voters had cast their bal- in the clip, the presiding offi cer was arrogant that he won’t turn up in talks were being held between the lot by 6pm. The polling percent- summarily removed while the probe Amethi even on the polling day.” two parties but after these failed, age was 56.92% in 2014. was going on,” he said. Rahul and Irani are locked in a it put up strong candidates on all In fi ve seats of Bihar, the voter The video clip had created a direct contest as the Samajwadi seven seats. turnout was 57.86% compared to huge controversy with Smriti Irani Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alli- The party is also boosting its 55.69% in 2014. claiming that booth capturing was ance did not fi eld their candidate campaign with other star cam- In Jharkhand, where polling being done at the behest of Con- from Amethi. paigners. was held for four seats, 63.72% gress president Rahul Gandhi who Rahul is also contesting from Cricketer-turned-politician electorate had cast their vote by is seeking re-election in Amethi. Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha con- Navjot Singh Sidhu is slated to 5pm. The polling percentage in Smriti Irani, who is the BJP can- stituency, which went to the polls in campaign for Congress candidate these seats was 63.85% in 2014. didate in Amethi, had tagged the the third phase on April 23. from West Delhi Mahabal Mishra In Madhya Pradesh, the seven video in her tweet and alleged that Amethi, a Gandhi family strong- on May 8. Former Uttarakhand seats that went to the polls yes- polls were being rigged. hold, witnessed one of the most chief minister Harish Rawat will terday, recorded a polling per- Even as his constituency Am- high-profi le contests in 2014 when also campaign in the constituency centage of 62.60% compared to ethi went to the polls yesterday, Rahul defeated Irani by more than on that day. 57.86% in 2014. In Ladakh con- Congress president Rahul Gandhi 100,000 votes. The Congress presi- The assessment of party is that stituency of Jammu and Kash- was conspicuous by his absence, dent has retained the seat ever since if it is able to perform well in Delhi, mir, polling was 63.76% by 5pm providing a handle to his rival Sm- his mother Sonia Gandhi vacated it not only will it help it check the compared to 71.9% in 2014. riti Irani to declare him a “missing for him in 2004. BJP which had won all the seven Polling was completed in MP”. Meanwhile, the Congress is seats in Delhi in 2014 but will also Anantnag parliamentary seat yes- Rahul, a sitting member of the putting its might in the Lok Sabha tremendously boost party’s pros- terday after a three-phase elec- Lok Sabha from this high profi le election campaign in the national pects in the assembly polls. tion. The two districts – Shopian constituency of Uttar Pradesh, is capital with party chief Rahul Priyanka Gandhi’s road show in and Pulwama – where polling was seeking re-election for the fourth Gandhi scheduled to address three the national capital will be held the held yesterday, registered 2.88% time. rallies and party general secretary same day Prime Minister Naren- and 2.14% polling until 6pm. The constituency, which elect- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra scheduled dra Modi is scheduled to address The overall polling percentage ed Rahul in 2004, 2009 and 2014, to hold two road shows. an election rally in Delhi. in Anantnag is 8.76% which is went to the polls along with 13 While Rahul’s campaign began The elections in the national far less compared to 28.45% reg- Voters queue at a polling station to cast their ballots during the fifth phase of the general election in Howrah others in the state in the fi fth phase yesterday with his rally on Eid Gah capital will take place on May 12 in istered in 2014. in West Bengal yesterday. on Monday. Road in Chandani Chowk where the sixth phase.

NEET on May 20 for 365 students who missed exams Tribute Portfolio hotel opens in Kochi arriott Internation- managing director of Twenty14 IANS state-run and private medical and al has opened Port Holdings. Bengaluru dental colleges across the country M Muziris, a Tribute Port Muziris, a Tribute for studying graduate and post- Portfolio hotel, in Kochi, In- Portfolio hotel features 54 graduate courses. dia, it was announced yester- artistically designed rooms, total of 365 students of The students, who travelled day by Twenty14 Holdings, including three executive Karnataka will get a chance in Hampi Express from Hubli to the hospitality investment suites. “The hotel design Ato appear for the National Mysuru via Koppal, Hospet and arm of LuLu Group Interna- evokes grandeur and is remi- Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Bellary, reached Bengaluru over tional. niscent of the heritage resi- (NEET) on May 20 as they could seven hours late at 2.36pm instead The fi rst-ever Tribute Port- dences found in Kerala,” the not take it on Sunday after the of 7am, while the test began at 2pm. folio hotel in South Asia, marks statement adds. train in which they were travelling “The students could not reach the fi fth Marriott International The hotel off ers a range of from the state’s northern districts the test centres across the city in property in Kochi located just dining options, each with its reached Bengaluru seven hours late, time and missed it,” a South West- 300m from Cochin Internation- own unique fl avours and iden- said Union HRD Minister Prakash ern Railway (SWR) offi cial admit- al Airport. tity. Other highlights include Javdekar yesterday. ted on Sunday. Tribute Portfolio unites a a swimming pool, a fully- “Happy to announce that Kar- The students staged a protest family of over 30 independent equipped fi tness centre and a nataka students who missed NEET demo outside the railway station hotels across the globe. fl exible 3,300sqft banquet and exam due to railway delay will get for missing the test for no fault of The name of the hotel – Port meeting space. another chance,” tweeted Javdekar. theirs. Muziris — is rooted in the his- Another feature of the prop- Javdekar responded a day after The railways, however, attrib- tory of the region. erty is the art that is on display state Chief Minister H D Kumaras- uted the delay due to the diversion Muziris was an ancient har- at the hotel lobby, rooms, res- wamy urged him to hold the test for of the train route from the normal bour, dating back to at least the taurants, banquet venues and the students who missed it for no path due to doubling of line work 1st century BC. exterior. fault of theirs. and operational reasons since Neeraj Govil, area vice-pres- Yusuff ali M A, chairman of LuLu Group International, inaugurates Port Muziris – A Tribute Portfolio hotel in the Harish Gopalakrishnan, gen- “Thank you @PrakashJavdekar May 3. ident, south Asia, Marriott In- presence of V J Kurian, managing director, CIAL; Ashraf Ali M A, executive director, LuLu Group International; eral manager of Port Muziris, and @HRDMinistry for consider- The chief minister also wrote to ternational, said: “The addition Adeeb Ahamed, managing director, Twenty14 Holdings; Ranju Alex, market vice-president, Marriott A Tribute Portfolio hotel, said: ing the request and helping our stu- the ministry to allow another 150 of the Tribute Portfolio in Mar- International; and members of the legislative assembly Roji M John, Hibi Eden and Anwar Sadath in Kochi. “We are confi dent that this new dents,” re-tweeted Kumaraswamy. students who also missed the test riott International’s brand foot- Tribute Portfolio hotel will pro- The National Testing Agency as their exam centre was shifted to print for south Asia reinforces high-potential markets in the world-class tourism destina- pitality growing by ensuring vide a truly unique and dynamic (NTA) of the HRD ministry con- Bengaluru from Chikkaballapur at our continued focus on provid- region. tion. that each of our hotels is unique experience to guests who are cu- ducts the test every year in May the last minute without prior inti- ing a diverse collection of prime, “Port Muziris is going to add “At Twenty14 Holdings, we in its identity, intent and im- rious to discover and dig into the for students to secure admission to mation or information to them. distinctive properties across to the eff orts to make Kerala a strive to keep our peerless hos- mersion,” said Adeeb Ahamed, community.” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 INDIA

BLUNDER WAGE DISPUTE LAW AND ORDER CONTROVERSY CRIME Air India sends funds to Union threatens action Arrested IS suspect sent Goa deputy CM knocks Foul play suspected in Nigeria instead of US firm over Jet Airways issue to Kerala Police custody phone from off icer’s hand Kerala Police postal ballot

Public sector Air India’s New York off ice Even as now grounded Jet Airways completes its An NIA court in Kochi yesterday sent alleged Goa Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai yesterday A probe has been ordered by the Kerala Police transferred $300,000 to a bank account in 26th anniversary, Shiv Sena aff iliated Bharatiya Islamic State (IS) operative Riyas Aboobacker, expressed regrets after a video showing him chief Loknath Behra who suspects foul play Nigeria instead of remitting the sum to a Kamgar Sena has threatened industrial action who was arrested by the agency on April 29 knocking off a ringing mobile from the hands of in the postal ballots of police off icials who US-based firm Pratt & Whitney for supplying at the Mumbai airport if the airline’s employees from Palakkad, to Kerala Police custody. The a state administrative service off icial went viral, were deployed outside their home districts. spare parts. The incident is learnt to have are not paid their due salaries. According to the day after his arrest, Aboobacker was remanded saying he had lost his cool. In the video, Sardesai Kerala voted on April 23 to pick 20 Lok Sabha taken place in June, 2017 but the airline has union, the financial plight of Jet’s employees to judicial custody till May 29. Moving an can also be seen describing Siddhivinayak Naik, members. The intelligence wing conducted the failed to get the amount retrieved from the has forced it to stage a protest at the Mumbai application for his custody, the National chief off icer at the Margao Municipal Corporation probe after allegations were levelled that the Nigerian bank account. “The off icers involved airport starting yesterday. “Please note that Investigation Agency (NIA) said Aboobacker in South Goa, as a useless off icer, in front of a CPI-M backed off ice bearers of the Kerala Police in the lapse were never punished. They have in looking at the woes of Jet Airways employees, had been preparing to become a suicide group of other government off icials, who are Association had committed foul play. Behra fact been allowed to rise in their career,” said our members employed at Mumbai airport are bomber. The NIA added that they wanted to seen taking orders from Sardesai – the state town ordered the probe after an audio clip of two an executive. In response to an e-mail query, extremely agitated and if no justice is done to include three more people as accused in the and country planning minister. “Throw away the police off icials speaking on the postal ballots Air India said the matter is currently under these employees, may resort to industrial action case in which the agency has already arrested phone,” Sardesai is seen saying, as soon as the surfaced in the media. A four-page report investigation. “It was a case of cyber fraud. on their own accord and will lead to adverse 21 persons. Aboobacker, according to the NIA, phone present in Naik’s hand rings and slaps the submitted to Behra points at foul play and The matter is being investigated,” an airline impact on the aviation industry,” a Bharatiya has confessed to making plans to blow himself off icer’s hand knocking the mobile instrument to has recommended action against two police spokesperson said. Kamgar Sena letter to ministers said. him up in Kerala. the ground. off icials besides recommending a probe. Modi playing Submarine launched politics with cyclone relief work: Mamata

IANS with state offi cials and the chief Kolkata secretary excluding the chief minister. It is a federal structure. The Centre and state govern- aking a dig at Prime Min- ments are elected by the people. ister Narendra Modi on Chief secretaries are under the Ta proposed meeting over chief minister not the prime min- cyclone Fani rescue work, West ister. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata “Modi wants to do a photo- Banerjee yesterday accused him shoot and then promise to pro- of playing politics and also fl out- vide some assistance. How will ing the federal structure of the the PM provide funds now when country. he will lose the elections,” Mama- Addressing a rally at Gopibal- ta wondered. lavpur in Jhargram district, It was not clear from Mamata’s Mamata said she “would not statements whether she was in- share a dais with Modi” during vited to attend the meeting or the the ongoing polls as she did not prime minister wanted to hold the consider him as the prime minis- meeting with state offi cials in- ter of the country. cluding the chief secretary only to “Expiry prime minister is do- assess the damage in the wake of ing politics ahead of elections. He the cyclone. Vela, the Indian Navy’s fourth stealth Scorpene class submarine under Project 75 is launched at Kanhoji Angre wet basin of Mazagon Docks (MDL) in Mumbai yesterday. had sent a letter on Sunday as he There was more confusion as had planned a public meeting at secretariat sources claimed ear- Jhargram. What does it mean? lier in the day that the state gov- “He is coming to Jhargram ernment had received “no inti- and would land at Kalaikunda. mation” that the prime minister He calls us as if we are his serv- wanted to hold a meeting with ant and have to report to him. He chief secretary Malay Kumar De would then hold a meeting which on cyclone Fani. is just an eyewash and after Mamata alleged the intima- which he would say at the (pub- tions for the proposed meetings lic) meeting that the state did not were released on Twitter in ad- Chief justice gets clean co-operate by not attending it,” vance merely for publicity. Mamata said. Addressing a rally in Jhargram She added: “Why should I in West Bengal, Prime Minister go for an offi cial meeting when Narendra Modi yesterday accused Modi is coming to Kalaikunda Mamata of neither receiving nor for an election meeting? Had he returning his calls to discuss the not come for election meetings, Fani issue. chit in harassment case I would have gone (for the meet- Responding to this, Mamata, in ing).” a public meeting at Bankura’s Ko- IANS complaint dated April 19, 2019, of The court also said that the “in- the CJI in the absence of the com- would no longer appear before the Mamata added that Odisha talpur, said: “I was in Kharagpur New Delhi a former employee of the Supreme house procedure was not liable to plainant. in-house panel set up by the apex Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and there was no opportunity to Court of India.” be made public.” In a press release issued on court to probe her charges as she had met Modi as the elections talk from Kolkata. I had cancelled The in-house panel comprised On Sunday, the apex court had Sunday, SC secretary general felt that she was “not likely to get in the neighbouring state were all political meetings and was he Supreme Court ap- justice S A Bobde, the second issued a statement declining that Sanjeev Kalgaonkar said: “This justice”. over. monitoring the situation.” pointed three-judge in- most senior judge in the apex justice D Y Chandrachud and jus- is wholly incorrect. The in-house The woman said she felt “quite “I will not share a dais with the She also asked, “where was Thouse committee probing court, justice Indira Banerjee and tice Rohinton Nariman had met committee which is deliberating intimidated and nervous” in the prime minister during the elec- the PM during the fl oods here the allegations of sexual harass- justice Indu Malhotra. justice Bobde, who was heading on the issue concerning the hon- presence of the three Supreme tions because I do not consider and when the people of Gopibal- ment against Chief Justice of In- The committee submitted its the panel probing the sexual har- ourable chief justice of India de- Court judges. him a prime minister,” Mamata lavpur, Jambani, Jhargram and dia (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi yesterday report on May 5, in accordance assment allegations against Gogoi. liberates on its own without any In a statement to the media, she said. Belpahari, Lalgarh, Netai were gave a clean chit to the CJI in the with the “in-house procedure to It was claimed that Chandra- input from any other honourable had expressed serious reserva- In an apparent reference to the crying. Did Modi come here in 12 matter. the next senior most judge com- chud and Nariman had met the judge of this court.” tions over the functioning of the proposed meeting for assessing years?” A statement issued by the top petent to receive the report and members of the in-house com- On April 30, the former em- panel, saying it was “an in-house damage caused by the cyclone, When there was unrest in the court said: “The in-house com- also sent a copy of the report to the mittee on the evening of May 3 to ployee of the Supreme Court, who committee of sitting judges jun- she said: “How dare the prime areas, it was the state government mittee has found no substance in judge concerned, namely the chief register their concerns over con- had accused the CJI of sexually ior to the CJI and not an external minister holds/propose a meeting that had solved it, she said. the allegations contained in the justice of India.” tinuing with the probe against harassing her, had said that she committee as I had requested...”

Girls outshine boys in Modi’s nationalism CBSE class X exams

IANS ter than the previous year with is fake, says Kejriwal 94.74 pass percentage as against New Delhi 83.33% the last time. IANS Come out of it and see the real- “Income tax and ED notices “Congratulations to over 16 New Delhi ity.” are going to all traders across irls once again outper- lakh students who have suc- He said in Delhi, traders have the country. Thousands and la- formed boys as the Cen- ceeded in the CBSE X board ex- been ruined by the sealing drive. khs of notices are going. This is Gtral Board of Secondary aminations and best of luck for elhi Chief Minister The chief minister also said dur- all done to extort money. In one Education announced the class those who couldn’t make this Arvind Kejriwal yester- ing the last few days he had met way, there is tax terrorism in the X results yesterday. time but will make it in the next Dday said Prime Minister several traders and their organi- country and it has destroyed The results which were an- attempt,” Human Resource Narendra Modi’s nationalism is sations from across Delhi. business and fi nancial system of nounced in record time follow- Minister Prakash Javadekar fake and urged traders not to fall “They have been telling me the country. ing court directions, showed tweeted. in his trap again. that throughout their lives, they “Go after the corrupt, don’t that girls’ pass percentage was “Overall pass percentage Addressing the media here, have been with the BJP and have send notice to every trader and 92.45%, while the boys’ were at has increased by 4.40% from Kejriwal also said that “tax ter- consistently voted for the BJP.” create an atmosphere as if all 90.14%. 80.70% in 2018 to 91.10% in rorism” had destroyed business But now the traders were un- traders are corrupt. 99% people “Proud of my young friends 2019,” the minister added. in the country. He urged Delhi’s happy and hurt the way the Modi want to work with honesty, but who have successfully cleared Siddhant Pengoriya from Lo- traders to give all seven Lok Sab- government had treated them the system makes them helpless. the CBSE class X examina- tus Valley International School ha seats in Delhi to the Aam Aad- and broken the backbone of the The system has to be improved,” tions. Wishing them the very in Noida, is among the 13 top- mi Party (AAP) to end the sealing country’s economy with demon- he said. best for their journey ahead. pers who all scored 499 out of drive. etisation and GST. He said in Delhi the sealing May these young minds con- 500 in the exam. “When we talk to traders, they Kejriwal said the central gov- drive had led to closure of many tinue making us proud,” Prime The names of the other top- say the Modi government has ernment had unleashed terror on shops and factories, caused nu- Minister Narendra Modi pers, each of whom are from a ruined them but some of them traders. merous job losses and heaped tweeted. He congratulated the diff erent school, are Divyansh say there is a dilemma. They still “On the one hand, the Modi misery on traders. students and also appreciated Wadhwa, Yogesh Kumar Gupta, want to go with Modi due to na- government has let loose its “I’ll stop the sealing. Make the hard work and sacrifice put Ankur Mishra, Vatsal Varshney, tionalism. I want to tell them agencies on political opponents, our hands strong in the central in even by their teachers and Manya, Aryan Jha, Taru Jha, Modi’s nationalism is fake and it whether it is me, Mamata Ban- government, we will help Delhi’s parents. Bhavana Sivadas, Ish Madan is a deception. erjee, Chandrababu Naidu and traders,” Kejriwal said. Just four days ago the CBSE among others. “Modi’s nationalism is pseudo others,” he said, adding that on “You supported Modi till now, class XII results were declared, Twenty-four students bagged nationalism based on an illusion. the other hand it has unleashed what did you get? Now build a re- in which the girls fared better the second rank in CBSE class X I want to tell the traders that you income tax and enforcement lationship with Kejriwal, he will Students celebrate their class X examination results announced by the than the boys. results with 498 marks, while 58 are educated and responsible. Do directorate offi cials on traders honour the relationship with you Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at the DAV Public School In the class X results, trans- students shared the third spot not fall for this illusionary trap. across India. till his last breath.” in Amritsar yesterday. gender students have fared bet- with 497 marks. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 19 LATIN AMERICA Cortizo wins Panama race, calls for unity

Reuters Panama City

S-educated political vet- eran Laurentino “Nito” UCortizo won Panama’s presidential election in a close race on Sunday, with the elec- toral tribunal declaring him win- ner by just over two percentage points. Students from federal schools protest yesterday against Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro in front of the Military School in Rio de Janeiro. In his victory speech, Cortizo called for national unity, after winning 33.2% of the vote with the Central American country divided about its choice in the one-round election. “Panama won today, and today President-elect Laurentino Cortizo of the Democratic Revolutionary Students slam Bolsonaro’s more than ever, Panama needs to Party (PRD) and his wife Yazmin Colon wave as they celebrate on join forces,” the former agricul- Sunday night in Panama City. ture minister told cheering sup- porters in the midnight speech at uation,” Roux said, but stopped the US invasion to topple dictator his campaign hotel. short of saying he had won. Manuel Noriega. education funding cuts During the election campaign By yesterday morning, other The atmosphere was tense at Cortizo vowed to clean up poli- countries were congratulating the hotel where Cortizo support- tics after the isthmus nation’s Cortizo for his victory, including ers gathered to await their can- AFP Military College of Rio de Janeiro, forcing search and technical education,” Maurilio image was tarnished by a corrup- the Mexican government. didate, holding his Democratic Rio de Janeiro Bolsonaro to leave by a side exit. Torres, a university student, told AFP. tion scandal involving Brazilian The 66-year-old’s children Revolution Party’s (PRD) red, “This will greatly jeopardize Brazil’s sci- State-run military colleges would not be engineering fi rm Odebrecht, and have US passports and Cortizo white and blue fl ags. ence and technology for an entire genera- aff ected by the funding cuts because they the Panama Papers leak of mil- fl ies to Austin each year to watch They broke into cheers of “Nito, undreds of students and professors tion,” Katia Barbosa, a 57-year-old profes- come under the defence ministry, not edu- lions of documents detailing tax college football team the Texas Nito, Nito!” after the electoral tri- yesterday protested against pub- sor at the Fluminense Federal University, cation, G1 news site said. evasion by the rich and powerful. Longhorns. bunal called with the news. Hlic education funding cuts outside told AFP. Bolsonaro said previously his government “Panamanians don’t want, His daughter said her father Roux, 54, who worked at the au- a military high school in Brazil where far- Some former students of the military had been considering cutting public funds or merit, and won’t put up with had long dreamed of being presi- thority that governs the canal and right President Jair Bolsonaro was attending school made a heart sign with their hands allocated to philosophy and sociology de- more of the same,” Cortizo add- dent. was foreign minister under former a ceremony. as they paraded past the president, who was partments in universities. ed. Cortizo told Reuters on Sun- president Ricardo Martinelli, Bolsonaro’s ultraconservative govern- fl anked by Vice President Hamilton Mour- “The goal is to focus on streams that gen- “The chaos is over. Public day he was eager to improve rela- posted on Twitter shots of ballot ment sparked outrage last week when it re- ao — an ex-alumnus — Rio de Janeiro state erate an immediate return to the taxpayer, funds belong to the public, and tions with Washington. tallies he said were miscounted, as vealed at least 30% cuts to the annual budg- Governor Wilson Witzel and Mayor Marcelo such as veterinary, engineering or medical they are sacred.” Juan Carlos Varela, the outgo- evidence of irregularities. ets of federally-funded high schools and Crivella. studies,” he said. Cortizo takes offi ce on July 1 ing president, rankled the United He said he wanted to see all the universities. But others gave Bolsonaro the thumbs- Since assuming the presidency in January, and has signalled his desire to States by formally establishing tallies before accepting a result. Holding posters warning the reductions down signal in an apparent show of solidar- Bolsonaro has been on an ideological cam- balance relations with Washing- diplomatic ties with China, the Opinion polls ahead of the would leave Latin America’s biggest coun- ity with the protesters outside. paign to promote his ultraconservative ide- ton and Beijing. second-largest client of the Pan- May 5 election had made Cor- try “rich in ignorance,” protesters crowded Public education was under “attack” and as and values, and to erase any trace of the His nearest rival Romulo Roux ama Canal. tizo a strong favorite, but both outside the main entrance to the state-run the cuts would “freeze public education, re- 2003-2016 leftwing government Brazil had. received a sliver over 31% of the Varela, who was barred by law Roux and anti-establishment vote according to preliminary re- from seeking immediate re-elec- candidate Ricardo Lombana per- sults from the electoral tribunal, tion, congratulated Cortizo in a formed better than forecast. Peruvian government with fi ve other candidates taking call broadcast live in an appar- Cortizo and Roux represent the rest. ent bid to show stability after the established parties. passes new law to Roux was reluctant to concede tight result. “In part, it’s been a surprise, tackle tax avoidance Passengers likely off measles-hit defeat on Sunday, saying he had No election in Panama has but in the end, the Panamanian found some irregularities in bal- produced such a fi nely-balanced people have made the right de- he Peruvian government yes- lots in some voting areas. outcome since the 1989 restora- cision,” said Tomas Vega, a PRD terday passed a law aimed at ship this week: Curacao offi cial “We’re really upset by the sit- tion of democracy that followed candidate for Congress. Tclosing loopholes that allow companies to avoid paying taxes, es- timating it will be able to collect addi- AFP The ship returned on Saturday to its home tional revenues equal to nearly 1% of Willemstad, Curacao port of Willemstad, Curacao, with 300 peo- gross domestic product per year. ple aboard. The law, which was passed by de- The island is an autonomous country Macri seeks accord with rivals to cree after being approved by Con- assengers confi ned to a Church of Sci- within the Dutch kingdom. gress, targets tax schemes including entology cruise ship after a crew mem- “We don’t have an outbreak of measles corporate reorganisations and con- Pber came down with measles could be in Curacao. There is no outbreak as such of calm volatile stock markets tracts that defer earnings or bring permitted to disembark in Curacao as early measles on the boat,” Gerstenbluth said. forward spending in order to avoid as today, health authorities have said. “There’s nobody on the boat that did any- taxes, the fi nance ministry said in a Blood samples have been sent for test- thing wrong. Somebody came from Europe Reuters intended to invite Fernandez, a initiatives and revive policies in- statement. ing in the Netherlands from passengers who and after a couple of days had the sniffl es and Buenos Aires divisive fi gure who led the coun- cluding higher export taxes and The government expects the new could not prove they had been vaccinated for was isolated and turned out to have measles. try from 2007-2015, to talks. currency controls. law to generate an additional 6bn measles or previously contracted the highly We’re trying to contain.” “Cristina Fernández de Kirch- Macri has spoken with several soles ($1.8bn) per year, Prime Minis- contagious disease. “The isolation procedures on the ship rgentine President Mau- ner represents an important part opposition leaders to promote ter Salvador del Solar said in an inter- “We hope that by Tuesday or Wednesday were excellent. They have a confi ned area ricio Macri is looking to of Argentina’s electorate and has what domestic media said was a view with state-run TV Peru. at the latest that we’ll have results,” Izzy within the doctor’s ward — so it’s separated Astrike an accord with po- to be at the table,” Frigerio said. 10-point pact to alleviate con- The measure will likely help the Gerstenbluth, the island’s chief epidemiolo- from the rest of the ship,” the epidemiologist litical rivals, including nemesis Argentine markets have been cerns about recession-hit Ar- government meet its goal of trimming gist, told AFP-TV in an interview. said. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, hit hard with investors anxious gentina’s political future. the fi scal defi cit to its goal of 2.2% of The government doctor said it was then “In the ward, there are separate isola- in a bid to calm volatile markets about political uncertainty ahead The main aspects would be GDP this year and 1% in 2021, when vital to reach “consensus among our in- tion rooms.(...) The patient never got out of ahead of presidential elections of elections that start in October. maintaining a fi scal balance and President Martin Vizcarra’s term ternational partners...on embarkation and the room. She stayed and when she needed toward the end of the year. That has hammered the peso continuing the fi ght against in- ends. disembarkation policies” so as “not to be anything, like food, it was brought to her by Interior Minister Rogelio currency and led to a spike in fl ation. Peru, the world’s second-biggest second-guessed later on.” people wearing masks and gloves,” he ex- Frigerio told local radio yester- bond yields, refl ecting rising Macri has pledged to hit a pri- copper producer, is one of Latin The Freewinds had sailed last week to plained. day that the government wanted risk. mary fi scal balance this year and America’s most stable economies. Saint Lucia, where it was placed under quar- The Church of Scientology says the 134m to negotiate a “basic consensus” Businesses and investors fear is battling to bring down infl a- Gross domestic product expanded antine after a Danish crew member was di- vessel is used for religious retreats and is with the Peronist opposition that Fernandez could undo some tion running at an annual rate of 4% last year. agnosed with measles. normally based in Curacao. over the country’s direction and of Macri’s business-friendly nearly 55%. Thousands march in protest against Obrador

Reuters held power for most of the past “In two or three years, this Mexico City nine decades. country is going to collapse.” A former Mexico City mayor Various institutions have who had run twice before for the cut their forecasts for Mexican everal thousand people presidency, Lopez Obrador won economic growth in 2019, and marched through Mexico the election by a landslide in July preliminary fi gures from the na- SCity on Sunday to demand pledging to stamp out corrup- tional statistics offi ce showed the the resignation of President An- tion, reduce violence, tackle in- economy contracted during the dres Manuel Lopez Obrador in equality and boost the economy. fi rst quarter. the fi rst major protest against the A number of early opinion At least 6,000 people partici- leftist leader in the capital since polls gave the veteran politician pated in the demonstration, au- he took offi ce fi ve months ago. approval ratings of about 80%. thorities said. Largely dressed in white, pro- Some of his early decisions sowed Many expressed discontent testers marched down the capi- doubts, however, among supporters with Lopez Obrador’s rhetoric tal’s main thoroughfare, with and opponents alike, including can- against his detractors, such as many chanting: “AMLO, out!” celling a partially built, new $13bn “fi fi ” for the people he describes using the president’s nickname, Mexico City airport. as the conservative elite. based on his initials. He has also struggled to curb “I feel like he’s generating a big Some covered their mouths the rampant violence among divide in our beautiful country with masking tape on which they warring drug cartels. with these derogatory terms that had written: “AMLO resign.” Scepticism is widespread over he uses,” said Monica Elizondo, a Others waved signs bearing his plans to dig state oil fi rm homemaker. slogans including “Mexico isn’t Pemex out of crippling debt. “We’re all Mexicans, and we all yours” and “You’re not Robin “Security problems more than deserve to be heard.” Hood.” anything...and more and more, Lopez Obrador has said that at Lopez Obrador took offi ce in there are bigger problems for the halfway mark of his six-year December after defeating the the youth,” said Enrique Araujo, term, he will ask Mexicans to centrist Institutional Revolu- a retired Pemex employee at the vote on whether they want him People take part in the so-called ‘March of Silence’ against Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s policies in Mexico City on Sunday. tionary Party (PRI), which had march, listing his concerns. to keep governing or to resign. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 PAKISTAN

Fifth polio vaccination worker killed Gunmen in Pakistan’s northwest have killed a health worker responsible for polio Securities authority told vaccinations, raising the total number of polio vaccination workers killed in the past 30 days to five. Pakistan has seen renewed violence against people associated with the UN-run anti- polio campaign. to handle cases internally The latest anti-polio campaigner to die was gunned down in Internews action and prior clearance by the from the SECP should be cleared forwarded to the Pakistan Stock Board chairman Mirza ob- understanding among the cor- the northwest Bajaur district Islamabad commission as well as the Policy by the Policy Board. Exchange (PSX) that seeks to served that in line with accepted porates about the capital mar- overnight yesterday, police Board.” The board also took decisions broaden the scope of the exist- global practice, the SECP should kets as an avenue to meet their off icial Bakhat Safi said. It was noted with concern that in connection with matters per- ing SME Board, through amend- engage in disclosure-based reg- funding needs. The killing was the fifth in a he Securities and Ex- in the past few years, despite taining to the development and ments in the PSXs’ regulatory ulation rather than merit-based In addition, the Policy Board new wave of violence against change Commission of having requisite powers under growth of the primary market framework. regulation, and that this would noted that very little has been vaccination workers, said Babar TPakistan (SECP) Policy legislation, the commission had for issuance of securities, and The SME Board, renamed enormously facilitate the growth done by either the commission bin Atta, head of the polio control Board has emphasised that the been referring cases that fell gave other signifi cant directions Growth Companies Board (GC of the capital market. or the PSX (which lacks the nec- programme. commission should cease the within its regulatory ambit to to improve the working of the Board), would facilitate listing It was brought to the attention essary incentive, being a mo- The recent spate of violence practice of referring cases and law enforcement agencies, when SECP, inter alia, directions with by companies that do not meet of the board that licences of six nopoly) to actively advocate and has prompted the majority of lending personnel to the law en- those cases should have been respect to the commission’s the prescribed criteria of the brokers had not been renewed promote to new issues of securi- vaccination workers to threaten forcement agencies (LEAs) and dealt with by the commission dealings with the law enforce- Main Board of PSX but are aspir- this year. ties. a boycott of the next vaccination deal with the cases itself, as it itself in accordance with the law. ment agencies. ing to raise funds through capital A sample of two of these cases Investment banking being drive, according to one health has the requisite powers under Moreover, the Policy Board The board reviewed the regu- markets. were discussed, which left the lackadaisical in Pakistan, the worker who wished not to be the legislation. expressed its strong reservations latory regime for Initial Public In this connection, the SECP Policy Board unconvinced as to Policy Board felt that it is in- named. The board that met here, pre- about the secondment of SECP Off erings (IPOs) and appreciated staff made a presentation that, whether the action taken was cumbent on the PSX, as is the The campaign has helped sided over by chairman Profes- personnel to law enforcement the newly-introduced reforms among other matters, showed justifi ed. case with many stock exchanges Pakistan control the spread of the sor Khalid Mirza, directed the agencies, not only because this in the Public Off ering regulatory that a track record of profi tabil- The Oversight Committee of in the world that compete for disease as the number of infected commission to withdraw all practice depleted the SECP’s framework, especially the newly ity and/or other aspects of cor- the Policy Board was then en- new listings, to play a most ac- children came down from 304 in cases that at present stood re- internal capacity adversely, af- implemented e-IPO system, porate viability were essential trusted with the task of examin- tive role in this connection and 2014 to 12 in 2018. ferred to law enforcement agen- fecting its effi cacy, but also be- which allows for an effi cient, listing requirements in certain ing all cases of licence non-re- convince potential companies in The disease cripples children for cies, unless there is a sound and cause the personnel in question easy and hassle-free mechanism jurisdictions. newal and to take a fi nal decision a professionally robust manner life. objective reason not to do so, were imbued with a culture that for making applications for sub- It was pointed out by Policy with respect to licence renewal to go public and tap the capital Militants have killed hundreds in which case the policy board was not in consonance with the scription of shares in IPOs by the Board members that other than in each case. markets. of health workers and police should be advised accordingly. SECP’s role as a benefi cial regu- general public. the jurisdictions “selected” by The Policy Board observed The SECP Policy Board, in off icials guarding them because The board directed: “This lator of the securities market. The commission apprised staff , there were several other that the core issue in the capital pursuance of Section 12 of the of a fear that the vaccines would practice must cease forthwith, The board directed that such the Policy Board that in order to jurisdictions that did not have market remains the dearth of se- SECP Act 1997, comprises ex- make children sterile. and no case should be forwarded personnel be repatriated to the make available long-term fund- profi tability as a listing criteria. curities on the supply side as the offi cio members of the minis- to any law enforcement agency commission unless there is a ing for expansion and growth of As long as the disclosure re- number of new listings at PSX tries of fi nance, commerce, and in the absence of an inconvert- strong reason not to do so in businesses and promote capital quirements were adequately ful- are minimal. law, the State Bank of Pakistan, ECP issues poll ible reason based on the com- specifi c instances, and also that formation through capital mar- fi lled, profi tability or not would The board recognised the the SECP, and persons of emi- mission’s legal inability to take any future request for personnel kets, a proposal has already been be duly refl ected in the price. need to create awareness and nence from the private sector. schedule for 16 KP Assembly seats The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued an Ramadan prep election schedule for the Khyber PTI to Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s sixteen seats in the tribal districts. According to the schedule, challenge polling will be held on July 2. Candidates can file their nomination papers with the Maryam returning off icers from Thursday to Saturday. The scrutiny of nomination Nawaz’s papers will take place on May 18. The last date for filing of appeals against decisions of the returning promotion off icers regarding acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers is May 22. Internews Candidates can withdraw their Islamabad nomination papers by May 29. The revised list of candidates will be published on the same day. he Pakistan Tehreek-e- Election symbols will be allotted Insaf (PTI) has decided to to candidates on May 30. Tchallenge Pakistan Mus- The election commission has lim League – Nawaz (PML-N) directed that no posting or leader Maryam Nawaz’s ap- transfer of any off icer will be pointment as a party vice-pres- made in the tribal districts until ident. the publication of names of According to sources, the returned candidates. PTI leadership has reservations The commission has also directed against Nawaz’s appointment A man arranges food plates before people break their fast at a mosque in Peshawar. that no government functionary and will challenge the decision or elected representative shall in a court. Right: A man cleans a chandelier-sized fanoos at a mosque in Rawalpindi, in preparation for the special announce any development Sources further said that For- night prayers, on May 6, ahead of the start of the holy month of Ramadan. scheme for the constituencies eign Minister Shah Mehmood where the elections will be held. Qureshi has questioned how a person, who has been sentenced by a court, can be appointed as a party vice-president. Maryam Nawaz is the daugh- ter of PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Popcorn seller from Tabur turns planemaker Sharif. Qureshi is said to have further pointed out that Nawaz has been By Kaneez Fatima, AFP as a child, but his father died granted temporary relief and Tabur, Pakistan while he was in still in school, that her sentence has not been forcing him to drop out at the commuted, sources added. eighth grade and do odd jobs The minister is said to have he engine is from a road- to feed his mother and his fi ve started consultations with law- cutter, the wings are younger siblings. yers and other party leaders. Tburlap, the wheels are As an adult, his passion for Qureshi is also said to have borrowed from a rickshaw: a fl ying remained undiminished, been thinking of approaching popcorn seller has caught the so he took a wild gamble on a the Election Commission of Pa- attention of the Pakistan Air new dream and put everything kistan regarding Nawaz’s ap- Force (PAF) by building his own he had into creating his own pointment, sources further said. plane. craft. In a major party reshuffl e last The tale of Mohamed Fayyaz By day he worked as a pop- week, Nawaz was made one of has captured the hearts of many corn seller, by night as a secu- the party’s 16 vice-presidents, in a nation where millions, just rity guard, saving every rupee he with her cousin Hamza Shehbaz. like him, have limited access to could. Former prime minister Shahid education and are fi ghting for The fi rst thing he had to ac- Khaqan Abbasi was appointed as opportunities. quire was information – begin- senior PML-N vice-president, “I was literally in the air. I ning with watching episodes of while Ahsan Iqbal was made couldn’t feel anything else,” the National Geographic Chan- general secretary. Fayyaz said of his fi rst fl ight in nel’s Air Crash Investigation for Marriyum Aurangzeb was re- a machine he learned to build insight into thrust, air pressure, tained as information secretary mainly from viewing TV clips torque, and propulsion. and party spokesperson, while and online blueprints. Cheap Internet access in a former fi nance minister Ishaq Pakistan has been thrilled nearby city helped fi ll the gaps, Dar has been made president of before by stories of scientifi c with Fayyaz claiming that he the party’s International Aff airs prodigies plucked from obscu- spliced blueprints of planes Committee. rity before – notably, that of the found online for his own crea- engineer who said in 2012 that tion. In this picture taken on April 8, Mohamed Fayyaz stands beside his small plane at his residence in Tabur village, central Punjab province. he had invented a car that could He sold a piece of family land, run on water – a story that was and took out a Rs50,000 ($350) kept telling him to concentrate fore taking off , Ameer Hussain, a people crowded around his tiny plane was a safety threat. later debunked by scientists. loan from a micro-fi nance non- on his family and work, he was witness who claims to have rid- plane, many clutching national Offi cer Zafar Iqbal explained: However, Fayyaz insists that governmental organisation, being crazy over nothing. But he den alongside the plane in a mo- fl ags. “The plane was returned to him he fl ew and his claim is being which he is still paying off . didn’t listen to a single word,” his torcycle, told AFP. However, before Fayyaz could as a goodwill gesture. Should he taken seriously by the air force, He used his meagre funds mother, Mumtaz Bibi, recalled. “It was between 2’ and 2.f’ off even start the engine, the police obtain a fl ying licence or permit, whose representatives have now creatively, buying burlap sacks Fayyaz kept going. the ground,” he said. “It fl ew for arrived and arrested him, con- he is free to fl y.” visited him multiple times, even wholesale and persuading a kind And, at the end of it all, he about 2km to 3km before land- fi scating his plane. Fayyaz’s misfortune resulted issuing a certifi cate to commend workshop employee, who had produced a plane – tiny, fragile, ing.” “I felt as though I had com- in social media fame, and he was his work, he revealed. seen him scouting for materials, and painted a bright blue. AFP has been unable to verify mitted one of the worst acts in called a “hero” and an “inspira- There has been a steady to build him a propeller. In February this year, he said, the claim. the world, as though I am the tion” by some netizens. stream of visitors wanting to There was trial and error. after more than two years of rid- However, the attempt made worst person in Pakistan,” he Representatives from the PAF view his creation, which now Some equipment needed to icule, he was ready. Fayyaz bold enough to want to explained, adding: “I had been have made two visits to view the sits in the empty courtyard of be replaced, designs had to be Fayyaz claims that his friends try again in front of the rest of locked up with criminals.” plane, and the commander of a his three-room home in the vil- altered, the wiring had to be re- helped him to block a small road his village, many of whom had The court released him with a nearby base issued him a certifi - Maryam Nawaz: made one of lage of Tabur in central Punjab worked. which he used as a runway for mocked his eff orts. Rs3,000 ($19) fi ne. cate which praises his “passion the PML-N’s vice-presidents, province. His family worried that he was that fi rst fl ight attempt in Feb- He picked March 23, Pakistan When AFP visited the local and dexterity” in building what along with her cousin Hamza The 32-year-old said he had obsessed. ruary. Day, for the unveiling. police station, offi cers said that it described as a “mini basic air- Shehbaz. dreamed of joining the air force “I kept telling him to stop. I The plane reached 120kph be- Police said that hundreds of they had arrested Fayyaz as his plane”. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 21 PHILIPPINES

Comelec told faulty pens could Former SAF chief urged aff ect poll results to become state witness

Manila Times By Catherine A Modesto ma and Napeñas with graft and Manila Manila Times usurpation of authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. A police investigation of ith just a week left un- elatives of some of the the Mamasapano clash showed til the midterm elec- police commandos that the operation tagged Wtions, a Senate bet Rkilled in Mamasapano, “Oplan Exodus” was poorly yesterday raised alarm over de- Maguindanao four years ago planned. fective marking pens to be used urged Getulio Napenas, former Felicitas Nacino, mother of by voters. commander of the Special Ac- another SAF 44 member, PO2 “As a Senatorial (sic) can- tion Force (SAF), to be a state Nicky Nacino Jr, believes that didate and a practising elec- witness in the case fi led against Napenas could help them get tion lawyer, I was alarmed by him, former president Benigno the justice they deserve. the Comelec’s (Commission Aquino 3rd and former police “I asked you why you did not on Elections) position that the chief Alan Purisima. say anything during the Senate recently discovered defective “Sir, please be a hero like hearings that we attended. marking pens that will be used your men. Do not be a coward. And your response was, by the voters to shade the ballots Have courage. Your men are to ‘Mother, they told me to stop is a mere ‘last minute hiccup,’” be pitied. You know what they talking,” Nacino said. Otso Diretso bet Lawyer Romulo did to them. My son’s body was She urged Napenas to speak “Romy” Macalintal said. chopped up. out and tell the truth. “We The Comelec, however, said Please, have pity on us, moth- need you. Please tell the whole defective pens had already been ers. We feel like the SAF 44 had truth. We have not gotten jus- replaced and added that the sup- been abandoned,” Telly Sumbil- tice,” Nacino added. plier could be sanctioned. la, mother of Police Offi cer(PO) “Please speak up, you are “The contract will be looked 3 John Lloyd Sumbilla, said. our only hope,” said Julie into and reviewed to determine Sumbilla was among the 44 Danao, mother of PO2 Walner the supplier’s possible liability. SAF troopers who died on Jan Danao. But our priority now is really to 25, 2015 in Tukanalipao, Mama- The families of some of the ensure a smooth election on May sapano during a police opera- commandos, with the help of 13. We will deal with it (contract tion aimed to capture Malaysian the Volunteer Against Crime violations) later,” Education terrorist Zulkifl i Abdhir, alias and Corruption filed 44 counts and Information Division (EID) Marwan. of reckless imprudence result- deputy chief Frances Arabe told Marwan died in the operation ing in homicide before the Manila Times. along with 18 members of the Supreme Court, citing the re- “It should not be a reason for Moro Islamic Liberation Front spondents’ “inexcusable lack postponement (of elections),” (MILF) and fi ve civilians. of precaution.” she added. In July 2017, the Offi ce of the The complaint was accepted Macalintal said the poll body Ombudsman found probable by the high court’s First Divi- A widow of one of the killed troopers, Roselle Nacino, with their baby in her arms, looks pensively at the file photo of her husband, Nicky, in should have immediately pur- cause to charge Aquino, Purisi- sion on Feb26, 2019. sniper camouflage. chased replacements after re- porting that it had blotting and bleeding pens had been distrib- uted for overseas absentee vot- ing last month. The issue could affect elec- Duterte calls for peace tion results, he claimed, say- Military confi dent of ing: “Any smudge or blot on the ballot might affect the capabil- as Ramadan starts ity of the Vote Counting Machines to read the bal- lots as the blot could spread to ensuring peaceful election By Catherine S Valente the ovals opposite the names Manila Times of other candidates. The blot could also affect the back of By Dempsey Reyes the ballot, which also contains Manila Times resident Rodrigo Duterte names and positions of other called on Filipinos to pray candidates.” Pfor peace, solidarity and he Armed Forces of understanding as the observance the Philippines (AFP) of the Holy Month of Ramadan Tyesterday assured that began yesterday. Agency to shut down enough personnel would be In his Ramadan message, the erring truck traders on hand to guard next week’s president said he was one with midterm elections. “the Muslim Filipino commu- The Subic Bay Metropolitan Around 30,000 to 40,000 nity here in the Philippines and Authority (SBMA) warned that truck soldiers will be sent off to- across the globe in celebrating trading companies found violating day in ceremonies at Camp their faith.” rules, policies and the terms and Aguinaldo in Quezon City. “Let this also be a solemn op- conditions of their lease contract The deployment will be led by portunity to ask God’s forgive- with the Subic agency would be Armed Forces chief Gen. Ben- ness for the sins we have com- shut down, Manila Times reported. jamin Madrigal Jr., Philippine mitted and to be thankful for all In a meeting with truck traders National Police (PNP) chief the blessings we have received at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Oscar Albayalde and Commis- in the past year,” he added. Convention Center here recently, sion on Elections (Comelec) “I trust that you will of- Duterte: appeal for peace SBMA Chairman and administra- Chairman Sheriff Abas. fer sincere prayers for peace, tor Wilma Eisma said the agency The send-off rites will also solidarity and understanding president added. In a separate found at least 11 violations and include PNP personnel and among our people and all of statement, Palace spokesman issues committed by several truck the turnover of resources from humanity.” His administration, Salvador Panelo urged Muslim trading firms at the Freeport. the Department of Education, Duterte said, “strives to unite Filipinos “to make sacrifices as These include problems on work- Department of Health, Phil- all Filipinos, regardless of reli- they journey towards spiritual ing visa and royalty, as well as viola- ippine National Red Cross, gion, cultural tradition and po- purification through prayer, tions of policies on working permit, Department of Energy, Parish litical belief.” fasting and contemplation.” importation, use of marshalling Pastoral Council for Respon- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal Jr (left) and Philippine “Together, let us create the “As we observe the blessed yard, subleasing, occupancy and sible Voting and the National National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Oscar Albayalde at the signing of the Joint Letter Directive change that we have been as- month of Ramadan, we must use of leased property, parking and Citizens’ Movement for Free (JLD) during the National Joint Security Co-ordinating Centre meeting in Quezon City recently. piring for — the social and look at this solemn occasion environment. The SBMA said 88 Elections. moral transformation that is not only as a manifestation of vehicle trading companies were op- Col. Noel Detoyato, military guards issued by Comelec and full support to Comelec, we are task of counter-insurgency real and meaningful and the the great faith, but a time for erating in Subic, the only free port public aff airs chief, said secu- specifi c instructions issued by confi dent that… we are more operations is also ongoing,” he lasting progress that will up- reflection not only of our unity wherein the importation of used rity preparations would pre- the service commanders and than prepared for the con- added. lift the lives of our kababayans in our cultural diversity as a so- vehicles and heavy equipment vent untoward incidents dur- General Benjamin Madrigal Jr,” duct of the midterm elections. AFP troops, in particular, (countrymen),” he said. ciety, but to a realisation that from abroad is allowed by law. ing the May 13 polls. Detoyato said. While these preparations are will support PNP contingents “I wish you an inspiring we are all parts of one whole,” “There are enough safe- “With the AFP and PNP’s being undertaken, our primary deployed to “hotspot” areas. and blessed Ramadan,” the he said.

Man in smear video against president’s family seeks legal help

By Neil Jayson Servallos IBP President Abdiel Fajardo last week’s arrest of web devel- proceed from there. If it merits ed. “We can have it investigated Manila Times said they had not yet accepted oper Rodel Jayme, who is facing a Senate inquiry, we definitely and then we will see if there is a Advincula as a client, as the or- sedition charges for allegedly will conduct one,” said Lacson, need to call for a (public) hear- ganisation still had to evaluate uploading the clips. chairman of the Senate Com- ing or not.” person claiming to be the latter’s claims. Advincula said he went into mittee on Public Order and Malacanang, meanwhile, “Bikoy” — the hooded In the videos, Bikoy claimed hiding after Go spotted him at Dangerous Drugs. said the persons behind the Aman in a series of online that drug money was funnelled a new job and after a colleague “By their (IBP officials) ad- Bikoy videos should be pros- videos that accuse President Ro- into the bank accounts of Du- warned him that his life was in mission, they haven’t evaluat- ecuted if found guilty of violat- drigo Duterte’s family of having terte’s son, former Davao City danger. He also denied claims ed Bikoy’s accusations, yet they ing the law. links to the illegal drug trade — vice mayor Paolo “Pulong” Du- that the release of the videos provided him their facility and “We will leave it to the gov- came forward yesterday to seek terte; his son-in-law Manases was politically motivated. a forum to air his accusations,” ernment agencies concerned,” help from the national organisa- “Mans” Carpio; and former “I have nothing to do with he added. Palace spokesman Salvador tion of Philippine lawyers. aide and now Senate bet Chris- any candidate, especially Otso Sotto, on the other hand, Panelo said in a television in- “I am Bikoy. I am a real person topher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Diretso candidates or political claimed that someone with a terview. and not a fi gment of the imagi- among others. party,” Advincula said, refer- similar surname as Advincula “We will let the investiga- nation as some people are say- Go has denied the allega- ring to the eight Senate candi- had approached him sometime tors do their job and if they may ing,” Peter Joemel Advincula tions. Advincula said he learned dates fielded by the opposition before the 2016 presidential find any evidence… then they said at a news conference at the of their links to the drug trade for next week’s midterm elec- elections and linked then- have to prosecute the person,” Integrated Bar of the Philippines after he became a marketing tions. He also denied knowing President Benigno “Noynoy” he added. (IBP) offi ce in Ortigas. executive at Bicol-based com- Jayme and said he was ready Peter Joemel Advincula, who claimed to be ‘Bikoy,’ surfaced at the Aquino 3rd and then-Vice “As far as we are concerned, “I am hear at the IBP to seek pany VitaPlus where his boss, to testify to “prove that all I off ice of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Pasig City, yesterday. President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay the video is a black propaganda legal assistance. I need a lawyer Tess Ranola, reassigned him to spilled in the series of videos to illegal drugs. against the government. The so I can submit my sworn tes- handle payoffs. were true.” said Advincula’s claims would “We will await his sworn “If he would want the Sen- tattoo he claimed was on the timony and help me fi le a case A complaint filed by Ranola, Senate President Vicente not automatically prompt the statement and whatever sup- ate to investigate, give us proof. back of Go was proven to be against members of the syndi- who was named in the “Ang To- “Tito” Sotto and Senator Pan- chamber to conduct an inves- porting evidence he has, af- Give us documents. Submit to false. You lie in one, you lie in cate,” he added. toong Narcolist” videos, led to filo “Ping” Lacson, meanwhile, tigation. ter which we will evaluate and us the documents,” Sotto add- all. That’s it,” Panelo said. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Food aid struggles to Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] adapt to modern crises 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), By Nellie Peyton/ Thomson Reuters Foundation 44466636 (Home delivery) Barsalogho, Burkina Faso 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes abibou Iba’s twin sons are wasting away at the age of twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar seven months after existing Hon a diet of millet and water. The family was forced out of their home in January when their village in northern Burkina Faso was attacked as GULF TIMES militant and ethnic violence escalated in the West African nation. Aid agencies have distributed the typical rations of dry cereals, oil and If Labour really wants to beans, but what the children really need is milk, said Iba who is too weak to breastfeed. move on, it has to back “I am forced to beg in the village to buy them powdered milk,” Iba, 27, said by phone from the town of Dori, a second referendum where her sons are being treated for malnutrition by the medical charity Medecins du Monde. Since the last week’s local elections in Britain, protagonists Although awareness about on either side of the Brexit divide have sought to marshal the malnutrition has increased in the poor result for Labour to advance their cause. Predictably, many last few decades, aid agencies still MPs from leave-supporting areas have argued that it means struggle to provide a balanced diet Labour has to deliver on the referendum result; their remain- in poor, remote places, said several supporting counterparts argue that the strong performance nutrition advisers for international of the Liberal Democrats and Greens means Labour should charities. come out unambiguously as the “party of remain”. Here’s an With UN fi gures showing wars, persecution and other violence have alternative strategy. driven a record 68.5mn people from Politics is not about two competing answers to the same their homes, more people than ever are question; it is about which question is being asked in the fi rst dependent on food aid — and for longer place. So the core strategic insight of the Labour leadership periods, making it critical for rations to is correct: that so long as the question is Brexit, the party will be nutritious. suff er at the polls. That means Labour’s primary political In West Africa’s Sahel region, which objective should be to change the question away from Brexit and includes northern Burkina Faso, climate Women pound millet at a camp for internally displaced persons in Barsalogho in Burkina Faso on March 3, 2019. towards domestic concerns. Put simply, to move on. change and confl ict have kept people in But Labour strategists have fundamentally misjudged the displacement camps for years with no malnutrition, also known as stunting, depends on where we’re getting the helping people plant gardens or start an implications that fl ow from that understanding. Their thinking end in sight. which happens when a child has food food that’s being donated — that will activity that can generate income, even is polluted by the discredited ideology of so-called “Lexit”, a Mali has been in crisis since 2012, but not enough nutrients to develop matter for how much we can control in a camp. romantic nostalgia for what they imagine are the concerns of while Nigeria has been battling the properly. the level of fortifi cation and nutritional But the rising malnutrition rates in Boko Haram insurgency for a decade. It aff ects about 20% of children value,” said Allison Oman Lawi, a senior Africa suggest few people were phasing working-class voters, and a fl awed understanding of the Brexit “Historically, the concern has been under fi ve worldwide. policy advisor for East and Central out of food aid. process itself. This has led them to stubbornly cling to the idea about providing enough food in the Children who grow up eating rice or Africa at WFP. One fi fth of people on the continent that the best political strategy is to negotiate a soft Brexit with context of emergencies, and this idea millet with no meat, milk, or vegetables, Sometimes donors send food or are undernourished, about the same as the Conservatives. that an emergency is a short-term are at risk of stunting, which hinders specify it should be sourced from a in 2005. The problem with this thing,” said Corinna Hawkes, director cognitive as well as physical growth, country in which fortifi ed cereals are “I don’t think we should be looking approach is that any form of of the Centre for Food Policy at City said Fidele Rima, a Unicef nutrition not produced. at providing assistance for years,” Politics is not Brexit – hard, soft, or no-deal – University of London. advisor in Burkina Faso. Cost restrictions often mean said Bulman, WFP’s Burkina Faso will mean that Brexit itself will “But the modern-day crises are not “We have enough food, but we lost choosing between quantity and quality, representative. about two continue to dominate British short-term. our animals,” said Aibata Diallo, an since cutting rations or targeting a Aid experts noted malnutrition politics. In the short term, there There’s no question that the current older woman living in Barsalogho camp, smaller group can be the trade-off to depended on more than food. competing will be months of domestic world of food aid is not fully caught up a collection of tents set up in scrubland aff ord nutritious foods, said Lawi. Children with diarrhoea or worms for people who fl ed violence. “I have to make really diffi cult legislation to implement any with that modern reality.” from unclean water will not benefit answers to the UN fi gures show that the number of Like other residents, she is surviving decisions,” she said. from any amount of supercereals deal struck between Labour people in the world without enough off basic rations: 400 grams of cereals, LONG-TERM THINKING while aid workers know that same question and the Tories (which could nutritious food has been rising since 100 grams of beans and 25 grams of oil Distribution of rations was never recipients often sell rations to buy be rapidly repealed by a future 2014, reaching 821mn in 2017 compared per day, according to WFP, the UN’s intended to be a long-term solution medicine or fuel. Tory leader). But more than that, it should not be forgotten that to 784mn three years earlier. food assistance agency. but an interim until people start “It’s not as easy as just giving the political declaration is only a statement of intent; years of The vast majority live in Africa. Small children and pregnant or growing or buying food again, food and then there will be no more diffi cult negotiations with the EU will follow, whether for a Poor diet has overtaken smoking as breastfeeding women receive fortifi ed said Mamadou Diop, West Africa malnutrition,” said Nathalie Avril, a trade deal or for European Economic Area membership and a the world’s biggest killer, according cereals, which partly replace the representative for global charity nutrition advisor for medical charity customs union. to the latest Global Burden of Disease missing vitamins and minerals in their Action Against Hunger. Medecins Sans Frontieres. Even with soft Brexit, the EU’s starting point is that the UK study, causing 20% of deaths in 2017. diet, but WFP said it still expects to see “What happens is that often we Diversification and allowing cannot have a better deal than Norway, which has no say, and is DIFFICULT DECISIONS malnutrition spike among people who propose a minimalist approach, and people to choose food themselves also subject to a European court. The battle will rage on: leavers Malnutrition, or a lack of proper have left home. the populations are obliged to turn to should be priorities in long-term nutrition, occurs when there is not “We’re covering the basics. other mechanisms to regain their eating aid situations, she said, perhaps by will say “we never left” and remainers will ask “what was the enough food or not enough of the right If we could do more we would want habits,” said Diop. using vouchers although this has point?” and both will be right. At the heart of soft Brexit is food. to do more,” said David Bulman, WFP These other mechanisms were still up challenges. ceding more control to the EU with diminished infl uence. Just About one in 10 children in Burkina country representative for Burkina Faso, for debate, he said. The last paved road disappears miles imagine the next European directive that is passed that the UK Faso has acute malnutrition, according citing funding as the main constraint. Should people be given cash to buy before it reaches Barsalogho camp, must implement despite having had no say in its creation – the to the World Food Programme (WFP), Aid agencies cannot distribute meat, meat and vegetables? What if there is which is surrounded by sunbaked, question “who decides?” will dominate political discourse for a when insuffi cient food or illness causes milk or vegetables because it is too none in the market or they spend it on barren land. decade. rapid weight loss. costly and even fortifi ed cereals are not something else? “I think everybody knows what to So if the objective is to “move on” from Brexit, then the only Acute malnutrition kills, but a always available, aid workers said. Other aid workers agreed the goal give, the point is that it’s not easy to get way to remove the question from the centre stage in British bigger long-term threat is chronic “In an emergency response it really was to move toward self-suffi ciency — it,” Avril said. politics is to go through the pain of a further referendum and for the remain option to succeed. No one should pretend that this is a costless option; as the rise of the Brexit party shows, perhaps as many as 30% of voters are strongly committed to Brexit and will surely feel betrayed. But even in a no-deal scenario, this group would probably fi nd a way to identify as victims, claiming the EU was punishing the UK. One of the clearest lessons of the past three years is that attempting to placate implacable Special Education: Bridging the gap Brexiters is pointless. How can a referendum be won? Remainers need to stop talking to themselves and instead think about how to persuade By Mamta Yash the use of technology and assistive people who voted leave last time to vote remain next time. devices, and specifi cally adapted Rather than trying to sell the virtues of the European project teaching areas and infrastructure. or making the case for “remain and reform”, Labour should he number In close co-ordination with other of children professionals and therapists, the instead make and win the argument that Brexit simply isn’t with multiple special educator must also modify the worth it: that there are more pressing priorities, from wages to disabilities lessons to suit each learner by providing NHS waiting times. The country has already wasted three years T has been increasing recently, and in individualised education programmes. arguing about trading arrangements and regulatory alignment order to appropriately meet their needs, Diff erently abled children may have rather than about jobs, living standards and public services. Special Education is playing a very behavioural issues including restlessness Such an approach would frame Brexit as a question of important role in understanding the and moodiness. They may also exhibit priorities rather than principles, enabling Labour to assemble varying abilities and diverse learning problems like short attention span, or a new, broad-based coalition of progressive-minded leave needs of these children and prepare inability to understand what is being supporters together with remainers. Rather than sneering at them to pursue a productive and taught. Special educators undergo extensive leave voters by claiming “now we know”, Labour would off er an meaningful life in the society. training to deal with these problems as well alternative project of national renewal, summed up as “enough Special Education implies creating as to take appropriate disciplinary measures special arrangements which are put in to accentuate the best in the child. of Brexit, let’s rebuild Britain instead”. It would allow people to place to provide education for children In spite of heightened awareness change their votes with dignity: not because they were wrong who are diff erently abled. It involves about the unique needs of the but because they were off ered something better. planned and systematically monitored diff erently abled children, and the arrangement of teaching procedures, formation of legislations that strive to adapted equipment and materials, and provide equal access and opportunities To Advertise accessible settings that will contribute for such children, the implementation towards bringing out the best in each in many countries across the world [email protected] child. As the saying goes, “Each child is leaves much to be desired for. Many Display unique and comes with their strengths mainstream schools are not geared and weaknesses. Special Education suffi ciently to accept such children 44466621 44418811 focuses on bringing out and enhancing into their midst either because of By establishing special education able to plan and manage his or her their strengths to overcome their infrastructural restrictions or simple training centres and implementing own life and to reach his or her highest Classified weaknesses.” mental blocks. Many parents also a near school environment, such potential as an individual and as a 44466609 44418811 Special Education also recognises threaten to withdraw their children children who do not get access to member of society. the fact that raising a child with from such schools if children with mainstream education can be placed on This would then be the best way to Subscription intellectual and physical challenges special needs are admitted. Awareness an ‘Individual Education Plan’ that will bridge the gap while it still exists. requires tremendous emotional and positive propaganda is extremely give them the best shot at achieving this [email protected] strength and stamina. Children with essential to open up the hearts and self-fulfi lling life. The focus of Special z Mamta Yash is Special Education such needs are likely to benefi t from thereby the opportunities for such Education therefore would be the Co-ordinator – HOPE Qatar Centre for additional educational services such as children so that they too can lead a optimal development of the student as Special Needs. Website www.hope-qatar. © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved diff erentiated approaches to teaching, meaningful and self-fulfi lling life. a skillful, free, and purposeful person, org; Contact numbers 55385687, 33620491. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 7, 2019 23 COMMENT Ramaphosa faces obstacles to reform

By Alexander Winning, Wendell will be tied if he is returned to power. before if his enemies can muster Roelf and Mfuneko Toyana/ Reuters At a campaign event last week in enough support. Johannesburg Johannesburg he said there would be Ramaphosa convinced the party a “step-change” in the pace of reform leadership to instruct Zuma to resign and that the economy was ready for last year, and Zuma did the same to his ven with a decisive election lift off . predecessor, Thabo Mbeki. victory for South Africa’s “Our government is now going to Ramaphosa’s ability to bring about ruling party this week, the open up the valves of our economy change during his time in offi ce has Ecountry’s President Cyril and give our people an opportunity,” been limited, according to analysts and Ramaphosa could still struggle to push he said. opposition politicians. through the tough reforms needed Ramaphosa became leader of the Ramaphosa has pledged to bail out to galvanise Africa’s most developed ANC in December 2017 after narrowly Eskom and restructure it. economy, say analysts and some party defeating a faction allied with his He has established judicial inquiries insiders. scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob that have exposed corruption during The former union leader-turned Zuma. Zuma’s time in offi ce. business tycoon has promised to This will be Ramaphosa’s fi rst Zuma denies he was at fault. introduce major economic reforms national election since taking over as But the president has not generated and extend a crackdown on corruption head of state in February 2018, after the economic growth that some if his African National Congress roughly four years as Zuma’s deputy. experts predicted and he targeted when (ANC) party is returned to power in The president is under pressure to campaigning for ANC leader. tomorrow’s national election. address gaping racial disparities in Investors want to see eff orts to Ramaphosa’s allies say a result close income and wealth that persist 25 years overhaul rigid labour laws and cut red to 60% in the parliamentary vote, after the end of white minority rule. tape. which some opinion polls suggest He also wants to reverse a slide But analysts say that could be could be possible, would strengthen in support for the ANC, which has diffi cult, as Ramaphosa needs to his hand to deliver on those pledges. governed South Africa since 1994 appease the trade union federation But some analysts and ANC party but in recent years has lost support COSATU, a close ANC ally that favours insiders are sceptical that Ramaphosa in major cities like the fi nancial and a strong role for the state in the would make much progress with political capitals of Johannesburg and economy. reforms, even with a clear election Pretoria. “We don’t see strong structural victory. In the 15 months since he took reforms even after elections,” said They cite his tenuous grip over offi ce, Ramaphosa has been forced Ramaphosa: tenuous grip over the party’s decision-making bodies John Morris, a Bank of America Merrill the party’s decision-making bodies, into uneasy compromises in key policy Lynch strategist. where former comrades in the struggle areas like land reform and fi xing be no layoff s as part of a turnaround Wealth Management. Ramaphosa has to choose all but two Ramaphosa could also face pressure against the brutal apartheid regime are struggling state power fi rm Eskom, plan, even though company A key challenge for the president is members of his next cabinet from his to appease more radical elements in at each other’s throats in a high-stakes opposition politicians say. management and energy experts say the opposition he faces within his own party’s parliamentary caucus. his party who would like to see the battle for power and wealth. Ramaphosa has vowed to accelerate the utility’s bloated workforce is one of party, sources in the ANC say. While analysts expect him to ANC pursue wealth redistribution “Ramaphosa needs a united ANC to the redistribution of land to the black its biggest problems. A close Zuma ally, Ace Magashule, is appoint close confi dants to key posts aggressively, particularly following achieve his agenda, but he doesn’t have majority, endorsing an opposition bill Getting land reform right and in charge of the day-to-day running of like fi nance minister and foreign a rise in support for the Economic that,” said a veteran ANC politician to amend the constitution to make repairing Eskom will be critical to the party. minister, he may have to hand lesser Freedom Fighters (EFF), a far-left who did not wish to be identifi ed expropriation without compensation restoring investor confi dence in an And, while some senior party fi gures posts to opponents he wishes to bring opposition party. discussing internal rivalries. easier. economy where growth has slowed to a previously aligned with Zuma have onside. The EFF backs populist policies like “His enemies are going nowhere.” But he also has off ered assurances trickle due to a toxic mix of corruption shifted their support to Ramaphosa, “Within the ANC you adopt an nationalising mines – policies which Ralph Mathekga, a political analyst that investments and food security scandals and regulatory upheaval he still has to spend time managing inclusive approach. You are obviously have spooked investors. and author of a book on Ramaphosa, would not be threatened. during Zuma’s tenure. opponents within the ANC, sources sensitive to the fact that you could be Ramaphosa’s allies scoff at the idea echoed the view. In doing so, he satisfi ed neither “If you see progress in the clean-up say. accused of just appointing your own that the EFF could force Ramaphosa’s “There’s a herd mentality that if radical left-wing nor business-friendly of state-owned enterprises like Eskom The ANC’s list of parliamentary supporters,” said one ANC executive hand on policy. Ramaphosa gets a strong majority for factions within his governing alliance that would mean that big headache candidates contains many hardliners member aligned with Ramaphosa. They say the president is playing the ANC, it will somehow strengthen and the opposition. that investors have would fade away,” who are opposed to Ramaphosa’s A challenge to Ramaphosa’s a long game and that the corruption him. That’s not the case,” he said. On Eskom, the president has said Tilmann Kolb, analyst at the reformist agenda and could frustrate leadership could emerge at the next inquiries he has set up will take out his Ramaphosa disputes that his hands promised trade unions that there will fi nancial services fi rm UBS Global his initiatives in parliament. party conference in 2022 – or even enemies in the ANC.

Why capitalism needs populism Three-day forecast TODAY to “guard against the acquisition platforms to benefi t from user-generated superstar fi rms that recruit primarily Maximum Temperature : 380c By Raghuram G Rajan Minimum Temperature : 270c Chicago of unwarranted infl uence” by the network eff ects. Similarly, after the from a few prestigious universities, as “military-industrial complex” and 2009 fi nancial crisis, the big banks small and medium-size companies WEDNESDAY the “potential for the disastrous rise accepted the inevitability of increased fi nd the path to growth strewn with Maximum Temperature : 390c ig Business is under attack in of misplaced power.” With many US regulations, and then lobbied for rules impediments laid by dominant Minimum Temperature : 280c the United States. Amazon industries already dominated by a few that just so happened to raise compliance fi rms, and as economic activity THURSDAY cancelled its planned new “superstar” fi rms, we should be glad costs, thereby disadvantaging smaller abandons small towns and semi-rural Maximum Temperature : 360c Bheadquarters in the New York that “democratic socialist” activists competitors. And now that the Trump communities for megacities, populism Minimum Temperature : 270c and populist protesters are heeding administration has become trigger-happy is emerging again. Politicians are City borough of Queens in the face Fisherman's forecast of strong local opposition. Lindsey Eisenhower’s warning. with import tariff s, well-connected rmsfi scrambling to respond, but there is no Graham, a Republican US senator for But, unlike in Russia, where the can infl uence who gets protection and guarantee that their proposals will move who bears the costs. us in the right direction. As the 1930s WARNING South Carolina, has raised concerns oligarchs owe their wealth to the Inshore : Nil about Facebook’s uncontested market capture of state assets in the 1990s, More generally, the more that made clear, there can be much darker Offshore : Expected strong wind position, while his Democratic America’s superstar fi rms have gotten government-defi ned intellectual alternatives to the status quo. If voters and high sea to the Senate colleague, Elizabeth Warren to where they are because they are more property rights, regulations, and tariff s in decaying French villages and small- northeast of Massachusetts, has called for the productive. This means that regulatory – rather than productivity – bolster town America succumb to despair WEATHER company to be broken up. Warren has eff orts have to be more nuanced – more a corporation’s profi ts, the more and lose hope in the market economy, Inshore : Hot daytime with some also introduced legislation that would scalpel than sledgehammer. dependent it becomes on government they will be vulnerable to the siren clouds Offshore : Fine to some clouds reserve 40% of corporate board seats for Specifi cally, in an era of global supply benevolence. The only guarantee of song of ethnic nationalism or full-bore at times workers. chains, US corporations have benefi ted corporate effi ciency and independence socialism, either of which would destroy Such proposals may seem out of place from enormous economies of scale, tomorrow is competition today. the delicate balance between markets WIND Inshore : Northwesterly 05-15/22 in the land of free-market capitalism, network eff ects, and the use of real- The pressure on the government and the state. That will put an end to KT but the current debate is exactly time data to improve performance and to keep capitalism competitive, and both prosperity and democracy. Offshrore : Northwesterly-North- what America needs. Throughout effi ciency at all stages of the production impede its natural drift towards The right response is not revolution, east 08-18/25 KT the country’s history, it has been process. A company like Amazon learns domination by a dependent few, but rebalancing. Capitalism needs top- Visibility : 4 -8 KM capitalism’s critics who ensured its from its data constantly to minimise typically comes from ordinary people, down reforms, such as updated antitrust Offshore : 3-5/8 FT proper functioning, by fi ghting against delivery times and improve the organising democratically in their regulation, to ensure that industries the concentration of economic power quality of its services. Confi dent of its communities. Not possessing the remain effi cient and open to entry, and infl uence of the elite, they often want are not monopolised. But it also needs and the political infl uence it confers. superiority relative to the competition, Around the region When a few corporations dominate the fi rm needs few favours from the more competition and open access. In bottom-up policies to help economically Weather an economy, they inevitably team up government – one reason why Amazon the US, the late 19th century Populist devastated communities create new Weather tomorrow Max/min with the instruments of state control, founder Jeff Bezos can back The movement and the early 20th century opportunities and maintain their today Max/min P Cloudy 33/19 producing an unholy alliance of private- Washington Post, which is often critical Progressive movement were reactions members’ trust in the market economy. Baghdad Cloudy 36/22 M Cloudy 38/27 and public-sector elites. of the US administration. to monopolisation in critical industries Populist criticism must be heeded, Kuwait CityM Sunny 38/27 M Sunny 34/27 This is what has happened in Russia, But just because superstar fi rms are such as railroads and banking. These even if the radical proposals of populist Manama Sunny 33/27 M Sunny 34/28 which is democratic and capitalist in super-effi cient today does not mean grassroots mobilisations led to leaders are not followed slavishly. This Muscat Sunny 37/29 M Sunny 29/18 name only. By maintaining complete they will stay that way, particularly in regulations like the 1890 Sherman is essential to preserving both vibrant Tehran P Cloudy 29/18 control over commodity extraction the absence of meaningful competition. Antitrust Act, the 1933 Glass-Steagall markets and democracy. – Project and banking, an oligarchy beholden Incumbents will always be tempted to Act (albeit less directly), and measures Syndiacte to the Kremlin has ruled out the sustain their positions through anti- to improve access to education, health, z Raghuram G Rajan, Governor of the possibility of meaningful economic and competitive means. By supporting credit, and business opportunities. Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to 2016, political competition. In fact, Russia legislation such as the 1984 Computer By supporting competition, these is Professor of Finance at the University is the apotheosis of the problem that Fraud and Abuse Act and the 1998 movements not only kept capitalism of Chicago Booth School of Business and US President Dwight D Eisenhower Digital Millennium Copyright Act, vibrant, but also averted the risk of the author, most recently, of The Third described in his 1961 farewell address, leading Internet fi rms have ensured corporatist authoritarianism. Pillar: How Markets and the State Leave when he admonished Americans that competitors cannot plug into their Today, as the best jobs drift to the Community Behind.

Live issues Around the world Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens P Cloudy 19/11 M Sunny 21/11 Beirut S Showers 22/16 P Cloudy 21/15 Dads’ smoking linked with foetal heart problems Bangkok Cloudy 37/28 Cloudy 37/28 Berlin P Cloudy 13/03 Showers 18/11 Cairo P Cloudy 31/17 Sunny 28/15 By Ankur Banerjee long been known to increase the risk of The new analysis, published in the While women who smoked during Cape Town M Cloudy 18/13 Rain 16/13 Reuters Health health problems for developing babies, European Journal of Preventive Cardiol- pregnancy had a higher likelihood of Colombo M Cloudy 31/27 M Cloudy 32/27 including preterm birth, low birth ogy, found that parental smoking was bearing a child with a congenital heart Dhaka Sunny 37/26 P Cloudy 37/27 weight, and birth defects. But the risk signifi cantly associated with risk of con- defect (CHD), smoking before pregnan- Hong Kong Showers 21/19 Rain 22/20 nborn babies are at higher risk of heart defects in particular has been genital heart defects in newborns, with cy did not aff ect risk, the author said. Istanbul S Showers 18/11 Cloudy 16/10 of heart defects not just when less clear, as have the potential eff ects of an increased risk of 25% when mothers The exact mechanisms involved in the Jakarta S T Storms 33/25 I T Storms 33/25 mothers smoke, but when smoking by expectant fathers. smoked while pregnant. association between parental smoking and Karachi Sunny 32/26 M Sunny 31/26 Ufathers smoke, too, a new To assess the risk to the foetal heart The link was even stronger when CHDs among off spring are still unclear. London Cloudy 14/09 Rain 16/08 study suggests. when either parent smoked, Qin and col- fathers smoked. Compared to babies And observational studies such as this one Manila T Storm 32/28 T Storm 33/27 “Fathers-to-be should quit smoking,” leagues re-analysed data from 125 previ- whose parents didn’t smoke, babies of can’t prove that smoking by parents actu- Moscow M Sunny 26/13 T Storm 23/10 said study co-author Dr Jiabi Qin, of ous studies that altogether involved nearly fathers who smoked when mothers were ally caused heart defects in babies. New Delhi Sunny 43/28 Sunny 43/28 Xiangya School of Public Health, Cen- 8.8mn parents from around the world. The pregnant had a 74% higher risk of heart Another limitation of the analysis New York M Sunny 22/12 P Cloudy 19/11 tral South University, Changsha, China. studies looked at smoking by pregnant defects at birth, while second-hand is that data were lacking on duration Paris Cloudy 17/10 Rain 17/11 “Fathers are a large source of second- mothers, smoking by fathers while moth- smoke exposure for mothers-to-be and intensity of parental smoking, the Sao Paulo S T Storms 24/18 Cloudy 22/17 hand smoke for pregnant women, which ers were pregnant, and mothers’ exposure more than doubled the risk. authors acknowledged. Seoul Sunny 22/08 M Cloudy 22/10 appears to be even more harmful to to second-hand smoke during pregnancy. Women’s exposure to secondhand Still, they conclude, given the study’s Singapore S T Storms 32/28 S T Storms 31/28 unborn children than women smoking Among all the babies born to the smoke was risky for their off spring fi ndings, “Preventing parental smoking Sydney Sunny 21/12 Sunny 19/09 themselves.” parents in the studies, roughly 137,600 during all stages of pregnancy and even during peri-pregnancy is a priority for Tokyo Clear 19/14 Clear 22/10 Smoking by pregnant women has had congenital heart defects. prior to becoming pregnant, Qin said. (congenital heart defect) prevention.” Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, May 7, 2019 QATAR AAmirmir receivesreceives well-wisherswell-wishers onon adventadvent ofof RRamadanamadan