BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Hosszu delights home fans INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-6, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 Qatar Airways achieves REGION 7 BUSINESS 1–7, 13-16 with 200m 100% compliance with 21,513.44 9,579.16 46.41 ARAB WORLD 7 CLASSIFIED 8-12 -66.63 +79.41 +0.64 INTERNATIONAL 8–17 SPORTS 1–8 safety audit by IATA IM title -0.31% +0.84% +1.40% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10525 July 25, 2017 Dhul-Qa’da 2, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Erdogan sees progress in QATAR | Military Qatar and US discuss anti-terror operations HE the Minister of State for Defence resolving Aff airs, Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah yesterday hosted a dinner banquet in honour of the Commander of US Central Command (Centcom) Gen. Joseph Votel. The two sides discussed GCC crisis bilateral military ties and the means to enhance them. They also Q Turkish president praises Qatar’s ‘positive attitude’ discussed joint counter-terrorism operations. The banquet was Agencies dialogue and diplomatic means. attended among others by Chief of Doha/Ankara The two sides praised the mediation Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Maj. eff orts of Kuwait to resolve the crisis. Gen. (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al- The talks held at the Emiri Diwan also Ghanem as well as commanders of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Doha urkish President Recep Tayyip dealt with the joint eff orts of the two the land forces, air forces, navy, and yesterday. The two leaders discussed the regional and international developments, especially the Gulf crisis and eff orts exerted to Erdogan yesterday said his visit countries in the fi ght against terrorism joint special forces. resolve it through dialogue and diplomatic means. They praised Kuwait’s mediation eff orts to resolve the crisis. Page 2 Tto the Gulf region made a con- and extremism in order to reduce this tribution to easing the GCC crisis, but scourge that threatens the security of QATAR | Telecoms indicated that more time was needed to the region through regional and inter- end the standoff . national eff orts to combat them in all Vodafone’s foreign Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia and Ku- their forms and sources of funding. ownership now 49% wait at the weekend before heading to They also reviewed the strategic rela- Qatar Central Securities Depository Qatar earlier yesterday for talks with His tions between the two countries and the (QCSD) has announced that it had Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin prospects of enhancing them in various amended the foreign ownership World leaders welcome Hamad al-Thani in a trip aimed at de- fi elds, in the interests of the two coun- percentage in the shares of fusing the crisis. tries to benefi t the two brotherly peo- Vodafone Qatar to become 49% The Turkish leader has voiced sup- ples. In this regard, the two sides dis- of the company’s capital, as of port for Kuwait’s mediation eff orts, a cussed areas of joint co-operation and today. Vodafone Qatar is a Qatari possible indication that Ankara sees the ways of developing them in defence, shareholding company listed on Emir’s call for dialogue emirate as the key to resolving the crisis. military, economic, trade and invest- the Qatar Exchange. Meanwhile, On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the ment fi elds. Vodafone Qatar yesterday said all he speech delivered by His High- United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties The meeting was attended by His its network services have been ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin O UN chief urges all parties to begin talks with Qatar accusing it of backing ex- Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh restored. “All our network services, THamad al-Thani, calling for a di- tremism and fostering ties with Iran. Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and a including 4G+, are now restored. alogue based on mutual respect to solve O France : Emir’s speech a promising development Doha denies the claims. number of ministers. We will be announcing our new the Gulf crisis, has been acclaimed by O Britain lauds Emir’s commitment to dialogue Erdogan had described the crisis as On the Turkish side it was attended customer appreciation programme world leaders including UN Secretary- not being in “anyone’s interest”. by the members of the offi cial delega- soon,” the company tweeted. “We General Antonio Guterres. O Italy calls for opening of border for talks to begin “I think that our visit and contacts (in tion accompanying the president. thank you for bearing with us during Welcoming “the invitation of His O Russia supports mediation eff orts by Kuwait the region) have been an important step Following the talks the Emir hosted a this time and we sincerely apologise Highness the Emir for dialogue to resolve on the way to rebuilding stability and luncheon banquet at the Emiri Diwan in for the inconvenience.” Vodafone the GCC crisis”, the UN Secretary-Gen- mutual confi dence,” he told reporters honour of President Erdogan and his ac- Qatar experienced a major network eral encouraged all parties to start talks to facilitate a rapid settlement of the dif- diff erences through dialogue, and sup- at Ankara airport after returning from companying delegation. outage with its Home Location lift the siege imposed on Qatar and “seek ferences in the GCC and with Egypt,” it port for Kuwaiti mediation. Qatar. But he cautioned: “Of course it’s President Erdogan left Doha later in Register, a key hardware component an acceptable solution for all parties”. added. Johnson said in a statement: “I wel- easy to demolish something, what is the evening. He was seen off at Hamad of their core network, on July 17. He also praised Kuwait’s mediation France said it supports the ongoing come the Emir of Qatar’s commitment hard is to again rebuild something that International Airport by HE the Minis- eff orts to lift the siege imposed on Qa- mediation eff orts in the Gulf crisis by to combat terrorism in all its manifes- has been demolished. ter of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid QATAR | Education tar, expressing hope that these eff orts the Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ah- tations, including terrorist fi nancing. “And in relations between states this bin Mohamed al-Attiyah. will continue, the offi cial Qatar News mad al-Jaber al-Sabah and it encour- The Emir also pledged to resolve the re- takes more time and trouble,” he added. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Qatar University placed Agency (QNA) said. aged the disputing parties to open a maining diff erences with Saudi Arabia, Turkey is setting up a military base in Cavusoglu, who was accompanying fi rst in Arab world France also welcomed Qatar’s call for dialogue in light of the latest “promis- the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain through Qatar, its only such outpost in the re- Erdogan, said that Turkey was trying to Qatar University has been placed dialogue to resolve the dispute consid- ing developments”. dialogue, negotiation, and Kuwaiti me- gion. Erdogan said the base had come organise direct talks between the dis- first in the Arab world and the Middle ering the Emir’s speech as a “promising French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves diation. These steps will help to resolve up in the talks in Doha and also praised puting sides. East region and ranked 37 in the development”. A statement from the Le Drian travelled to the region, in- the dispute.” what he said was Qatar’s “positive atti- “The most appropriate way is to sit “QS Top 50 under 50” 2018 ranking French Foreign Ministry underlined the cluding Kuwait, on July 15-16 to add his He hoped that in turn Saudi Arabia, tude” in trying to solve the crisis. together around the table and [have] among the world’s leading young recent eff orts to resolve the dispute in- voice to mediation eff orts. the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain would re- Earlier the Qatari state news agency direct talks. This is the main obstacle universities founded less than 50 volving several nations in the GCC and British Foreign Secretary Boris John- spond by taking steps towards lifting QNA reported the Emir discussed with in front of us and I hope there will be an years ago. The announcement was also involving Egypt, the Kuwaiti News son has welcomed the Emir’s address in the embargo. “This will allow substan- Erdogan the regional and international opportunity for such format soon,” Al recently made on the QS website. Agency (KUNA) said. which he outlined Qatar’s opposition tive discussions on remaining diff er- developments, especially the Gulf crisis Jazeera quoted him as saying. Page 2 Paris said it “encourages all eff orts to to terrorism, commitment to resolving ences to begin,” he added. To Page 5 and eff orts exerted to resolve it through Pages 2, 4, 5, 20

Renowned Chinese artist expresses solidarity with Qatar

activist, who lives in Beijing. He is active in sculpture, installation, Doha meet focuses on threat to media architecture, curating, photography, fi lm, and social, political and cultural By Joseph Varghese responsibility in the face of the fl agrant ference takes place while the country is helped in the development and mod- activities. Ai collaborated with Swiss Staff Reporter violation that the Qatari people are be- under a siege that has been associated ernisation of media in the Arab region, architects Herzog & de Meuron as ing subjected to due to the siege of the with demands that blatantly violate giving people of the region access to the artistic consultant on the Beijing country. international law and international knowledge. National Stadium for the 2008 errorism, extremism, exclusion The conference is organised in co- human rights conventions and jeop- M’Jahed said that his organisation’s Olympics. and imposing dictations on peo- operation with the International Fed- ardises media freedom. Conditioning participation in the conference stems He visited Qatar in April this year. A ple are the biggest threats fac- eration of Journalists, the International the lifting of the siege to the closure of from the duty of showing solidarity T Leading contemporary Chinese artist large public audience was present at the ing freedom of expression and media, Press Institute and with support from media outlets, including Al Jazeera and with journalists facing harassment and Ai Weiwei has expressed solidarity Museum of Islamic Art to hear a talk he and access to information, the chief the Offi ce of the United Nations High some TV channels, is aggression on all the threat of having their source of in- with Qatar and voiced concern at the delivered during his Doha visit. of National Human Rights Committee Commissioner for Human Rights, the values and principles and human rights come cut off , in addition to encourag- ongoing Gulf crisis, which has entered (NHRC) said yesterday. European Broadcasting Union and Hu- agreements.” ing initiatives that protect freedom of the 50th day. Speaking at the opening session of man Rights Watch. Alnsour said that freedom of expres- press and expression. “Stand with Qatar. Today is the 50th the international conference on threats Mohamed Ali Alnsour, chief of sion is one of the comprehensive rights He stressed that the Arab world is in day that the nation is under siege,” facing freedom of expression, Dr Ali bin Middle East and Northern Africa, of- and consists of many elements such as dire need of free and democratic media the artist tweeted under the hashtag Smaikh al-Marri said that it was un- fice of the High Commissioner of Hu- the freedom of press and freedom of and press that faces up to extremism #fi ft ydayssincethesiege yesterday. acceptable to impose mass sanctions man Rights; Younes M’Jahed, senior access to information, adding that all and terrorism, which can be achieved Ai is a Chinese contemporary artist and against civilians or journalists for any vice president of International Feder- are connected together through free- by allowing more freedom of expres- political diff erences. ation of Journalists; John Yearwood, dom of opinion, which makes freedom sion without harassing journalists as Offi cials from over 200 international president of the International Press of expression a basic human right. they convey information. rights groups, press syndicates, think- Institute; Giacomo Mezzone, Euro- He maintained that the call to shut Roth said freedom of expression is at Aqsa crisis must be solved by Friday: UN tanks and universities are taking part in pean Broadcasting Union; Kenneth down Al Jazeera is a dangerous prec- the core of the crisis facing Qatar, add- the two-day conference at Ritz-Carl- Roth, executive director of Human edent as a county resorts to the re- ing that, by organising the conference A crisis over new Israeli security measures The Palestinians have denounced the ton Doha. Rights Watch also spoke at the open- pression in another country based and through the support it is garnering at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound must be Israeli measures as a bid to assert control He also called on the international ing session. on political diff erences or disparity from journalists, Doha is taking a moral resolved by Friday to avoid an escalation of over the holy site. Five Palestinians were society to shoulder its moral and legal The NHRC chairman said: “The con- in viewpoints, saying that Al Jazeera high ground. Pages 4, 5 violence, the UN envoy to the Middle East killed during clashes over the weekend. warned yesterday. Egypt, France and Sweden requested the “It is extremely important that a solution council meeting as US President Donald to the current crisis be found by Friday Trump’s envoy Jason Greenblatt arrived in this week,” Nickolay Mladenov said aft er Israel for talks on easing tensions. briefi ng the UN Security Council. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “The dangers on the ground will escalate yesterday accused Israel of fl outing if we go through another cycle of Friday international law in the crisis over Al-Aqsa prayer without a resolution to this current Mosque compound, saying the Jewish state crisis,” he warned. was harming itself and the region. The Security Council met behind closed Israel installed metal detectors at entrances doors to discuss ways to defuse tensions at to the mosque compound. The move has Speakers at the inaugural session of the conference PICTURE: Jayan Orma the Haram al-Sharif mosque compound. enraged the Palestinians. Page 7 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 QATAR

Emir greets Turkish FM Emir meets Airbus CEO OFFICIAL

Emir issues instruments of ratification

His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued the following instruments of ratification. 1. An instrument of ratification approving a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for co-operation in the cultural field between the governments of Qatar and Turkey signed in Trabzon city on 18/12/2016. 2. An instrument of ratification approving a draft agreement for co-operation in the cultural field between the governments of Qatar and Poland signed in His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the Chief Executive Off icer of Airbus Warsaw on 5/5/2017. Fabrice Bregier, at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The meeting reviewed topics of mutual interest, 3. An instrument of ratification especially areas of co-operation and means of developing them. approving a draft agreement for co-operation in the field of medical sciences and healthcare between the governments of Qatar and Poland signed in Warsaw on PM discusses Gulf crisis with HRW chief 5/5/2017. His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani greets Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut 4. An instrument of ratification Cavusoglu at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. approving and ratifying a co- operation agreement in the fields of standardisation, metrology, certification and accreditation between the government of Qatar and the government of Deputy Emir meets Turkish president Turkmenistan signed in Doha on 15/3/2017. 5. An instrument of ratification approving a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Qatar and the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Serbia on the establishment of political consultations on issues of mutual interest, signed in Belgrade on 30/1/2017. Emir ratifies Cabinet decisions HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), Kenneth Roth in Doha yesterday. The HRW His Highness the Emir Sheikh executive director was in Doha to participate in the International Conference on “Freedom of Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Expression: Towards Confronting Risk”. During the meeting, they discussed the latest yesterday ratified the following developments in the region, especially the Gulf crisis and the consequent violation of international cabinet decisions: conventions and human rights, in addition to reviewing areas of co-operation between Qatar and 1. Cabinet decision No 30 of 2017 HRW and means of developing them in various fields. on setting up the Committee for Policies of Financing the State’s Projects. 2. Cabinet decision No 31 of 2017, amending some provisions of Decision No 33 of 2010 on forming the national committee for traff ic safety. 3. Cabinet decision No 32 of 2017 Qatar vows to on the expropriation of some real estate for public interest. The decisions are eff ective from the date following its publication in the Off icial Gazette. His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani greeting Turkish President provide support Emir issues decree Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Doha yesterday. on protection of endangered species

His Highness the Emir Qatar-Turkey defence ties reviewed to poor countries Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued decree No 56 of 2017 on atar has affi rmed its con- The special session was held Participants in this session, ratifying a memorandum of tribution to supporting in the context of the 61st session representing various statistical understanding (MoU) for co- Qthe achievement of the of the International Conference agencies, statisticians, universi- operation in the protection of goals of the sustainable devel- of Statistics held recently in the ties and research centres, as well endangered species and the opment agenda 2030 at the re- Moroccan city of Marrakesh as regional and international in- preservation of their natural gional and international levels, and witnessed the presence of stitutions, the private sector and environment between the as well as providing support to nearly 2,000 participants and civil society, discussed several governments of Qatar and poor countries to combat pov- experts in this fi eld from about papers on most aspects of the Azerbaijan, signed in Doha on erty and destitution. 120 countries. statistical process. 27/2/2017, the text of which is This came during the partici- During the session, partici- During the six days of the attached to this decree which pation of a delegation from the pants mentioned the importance conference, participants also shall have the force of law in Ministry of Development Plan- of providing sectorial, national discussed sustainable develop- accordance with Article 68 of ning and Statistics in a special and international indicators to ment agenda 2030 and its indi- the Constitution. session organised in co-oper- monitor the development of the cators, and how to plan for such The decree is eff ective from the ation with the High Commis- state in national and interna- indicators before 2030, to moni- date of its publication in the sioner for Planning in Morocco tional development. tor the progress that countries Off icial Gazette. on the Doha Declaration issued During the 61st session of the will make towards achieving the during the Arab Forum on build- International Conference on goals and targets adopted by FM discusses ing statistical capacity hosted by Statistics, the delegation held an world leaders in September 2015. Qatar last October. extended meeting with the High In special sessions, partici- Gulf crisis The recommendations of the Commissioner for Planning in pants discussed several papers with Lavrov Doha Declaration were translated the Kingdom of Morocco, Ahmed on fi eld statistical processes HE the Minister of State for Defence Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah yesterday met Turkey’s into a work programme that deals al-Halimi, in which he discussed such as household surveys, pop- HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, issues of joint interest with the modernisation of the the development of a practi- ulation and housing for 2020, Mohamed bin Abdulrahman between Qatar and Turkey and means of enhancing them, especially in the military field, were entire statistical system with a cal partnership in planning and and population, social and eco- al-Thani received a telephone discussed. The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Major view to supporting the national statistics between the Ministry nomic variables recommended call from his Russian counterpart General Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem, and Chief of Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces General development strategy 2017-2022 of Development Planning and by the UN Statistical Commis- Sergei Lavrov yesterday. Hulusi Akar. and the sustainable development Statistics and the High Commis- sion to be included and provided They discussed the latest agenda 2030 adopted by Qatar. sioner for Planning in Morocco. for decision makers. –QNA developments in the GCC crisis and Kuwait’s mediation eff orts to resolve the crisis. The Foreign Minister stressed during the phone call Qatar’s position that calls for dialogue on the principles of respecting QU placed fi rst in Arab world and Middle East region international law and respecting the sovereignty of Qatar. atar University (QU) has 50’ 2016-2017. This improvement ‘QS Top 50 Under 50’ celebrates of international students (5%) ment, QU president Dr Hassan been ranked 37 in the ‘QS is the highest among all the top 50 the world’s leading young uni- and proportion of international al-Derham said: “The ‘QS Top 50 QTop 50 Under 50’ 2018 universities, making QU the ‘Fast- versities. It is published annual- faculty members (5%). Under 50’ 2018 ranking shows an Minister meets ranking among the world’s lead- est Rising Young University’, ac- ly, based on the latest edition of For inclusion in the ‘Top 50 improvement of the university’s French envoy ing young universities founded cording to a press statement. the QS World University Rank- Under 50’, universities must be last year’s performance. It is also less than 50 years ago. For the fi rst time, the ‘QS Top ings, and since 2015 has doubled under 50 years old. This is as- an indication of the university’s The announcement was re- 50 Under 50’ ranking includes its range to include the ‘Next 50 sessed based on each institu- vision to be at the forefront of the HE the Minister of State for cently made on the QS website, the ‘Top 50 Under 50’ and the Under 50’. The QS World Uni- tion’s date of establishment. leading institutions through the Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad naming QU 37th among the top ‘Next 100 Under 50’ – enumer- versity Rankings assesses uni- Institutions formed within the quality of academic programmes al-Muraikhi yesterday met the young universities in the world, ating, in total, the world’s 150 versities’ performance across last 50 years through a merger, or and faculty expertise, the com- ambassador of France to Qatar and the fi rst in the Arab world leading institutions founded af- six indicators: academic reputa- which previously existed under petencies of graduates, and the Eric Chevallier. and the Middle East region. ter 1967. This year’s ranking in- tion (40%), employer reputation a diff erent name and/or status, services it provides to the com- Talks dealt with bilateral relations In the 2018 edition, QU im- cludes universities from 25 dif- (10%), research citations per may also be included. Estab- munity, as well as the solid part- and ways of supporting and proved by 12 places as it was ferent countries. faculty member (20%), faculty/ lished in 1977, QU is 40 years old. nerships it has built with leading developing them, in addition to ranked 49 in the ‘QS Top 50 Under First published in 2012, the student ratio (20%), proportion Commenting on this achieve- international institutions.” Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham issues of common concern. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 3 QATAR Ooredoo honoured for backing QM welcomes first groups Best Buddies Qatar’s initiative

oredoo has received an Ooredoo and look forward to award of appreciation seeing the great success Oore- Ofrom Best Buddies Qa- doo and Best Buddies will tar for its ongoing support for achieve for people with intel- the initiative. lectual and developmental The award was presented to disabilities in Qatar.” Ooredoo’s director of PR and Established in 2008 as a spe- corporate communications, cial project of Her Highness Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and by Mohamed Abdulrahman under the umbrella of Qatar al-Sayed, Best Buddies Qatar Foundation for Social Work, manager of the rehabilitation Best Buddies Qatar is a govern- and integration department, in mental non-profi table organi- a ceremony. sation, which aims to enhance Ooredoo signed a three-year the lives of people with and agreement earlier this year to without intellectual and devel- provide fi nancial support to the opmental disabilities through organisation, as well as support social integration and one-to- through a host of its state-of- one long-lasting meaningful the-art services, including de- friendships. veloping an app for Best Bud- In addition to partnering dies Qatar. with Best Buddies Qatar, Oore- The first groups of Culture Pass members have been welcomed by Qatar Museums (QM) on an Al-Muraikhi said, “Support- doo has undertaken several exclusive tour of the National Museum of Qatar. In a statement yesterday, QM said hundreds of ing the Best Buddies initiative is other CSR-based initiatives residents signed up to explore the interior and exterior of the site, which is designed by renowned something that I am extremely across Qatar, including build- architect Jean Nouvel, following the announcement on exclusive tours last week. Inspired by the proud of, as we are helping an ing and operating the Fahad Bin beautiful desert rose design, the National Museum will tell the story of the people of Qatar, cel- amazing organisation off er life- Jassim Kidney Centre, which ebrating the country’s rich heritage. QM has organised 50 tours to give residents exclusive access lines to people in need. supports kidney patients in to the building as the “last opportunity” to experience the building’s unique architectural design “I am truly humbled to re- Qatar, and the new Ooredoo Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi receives the award from Mohamed before its opening in December 2018. ceive this award on behalf of Cancer Awareness Centre. Abdulrahman al-Sayed.

15 abandoned vehicles removed Power to many Asmakh buildings cut Doha Municipality’s Municipal Control Department, in co-operation with the Mechanical Equipment Department, has conducted a campaign to remove lectricity to a number of Confi rming that disconnection for fresh evacuation notices as dis- abandoned vehicles from the Bin Mahmoud and old buildings in Al Asmakh of power to many premises of the connection of power had already Central Market areas, over two consecutive days. Ehas been disconnected, it is area is currently under way, some started in the area. “My building Fifteen abandoned vehicles were removed during learnt. shopkeepers said they are keep- owner’s representative told us to the campaign and the authorities concerned would This comes as authorities accel- ing their establishments open with look for new premises at the be- continue with the campaign to cover all parts of Doha, erate eff orts for demolition in the the help of generators as residents ginning of this year and hence we the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) area as part of ongoing develop- are still coming to their stores for decided to vacate our building last said in a statement. The MME yesterday launched ment works, say sources familiar purchases. month,” said a shopkeeper who has a training course on law enforcement in the field of with the developments. Enquiries found that some of the moved to Fereej Bin Omran. public cleanliness, which would go on until August Notices for evacuation were old buildings have several ‘single’ With a large number of shops 27. Some 30 employees from diff erent municipalities served on a number of tenants in Al workers as occupants and they are already moving out of the area, the are taking part in the course, which aims to introduce Asmakh and neighbouring areas a preparing to move out of the area locality has begun to wear a desert- them to the mechanism of enforcing Law No. 8 for few months ago and the municipal as electricity to those buildings is in ed look – especially in the evenings. 1974 on Public Hygiene and its executive regulations, authorities put up notices with a the process of being disconnected. Some of the shopkeepers have in addition to related laws. May 31 deadline on one of the main Some residents told Gulf Times moved to new places and opened streets in Al Asmakh. that they were not waiting any more shops there, the sources said. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 QATAR Global support for Doha’s HRW: Saudi terrorism is stance, says NHRC chief killing people QNA after the Universal Declaration of expression in line with interna- Doha Human Rights several countries tional conventions, particularly remain far from implementing the Universal Declaration of Hu- these principles. man Rights and the freedom of he participation of more In his opening session speech, access to information. in Yemen than 200 international Alnsour said the events engulfi ng For his part, IPI president John Trights groups, press syn- the region over the past few years Yearwood called for working to dicates, think-tanks and uni- contributed to the rapid growth protect journalists and enhance By Ali Younes & Sara Sleiman versities is clear evidence of the of the concept of security at the their rights across the world, not- Al Jazeera/Doha support for Qatar against any de- expense of human rights, which ing that journalists’ rights are hu- mands or calls to restrict freedom greatly impacted freedom of ex- man rights and vice-versa. of opinion and expression and pression. “I talked about the dozens of he executive director of the harassment and targeting of He stressed the signifi cance journalists killed, but as I stand Human Rights Watch journalists, the National Human and necessity of protecting the here, hundreds of journalists are T(HRW) has questioned Rights Committee (NHRC) chair- right to expression, noting that languishing in prisons around Saudi Arabia’s accusation of man has stressed. many authorities and govern- the world,” Yearwood said. “A re- Qatar funding terrorism while Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri ments try to repress freedoms cent census by the Committee to the Kingdom itself continues was speaking at the international instead of discussing the other Protect Journalists found that as to carry out “terrorism that is conference on threats facing the opinion, which, he said, is a clear of December 1, 2016, there were killing people in Yemen”. Kenneth Roth at the conference freedom of expression, which violation of Article 10 of the 259 journalists in jail around the The confl ict in Yemen has in Doha yesterday. opened yesterday in Doha. Universal Declaration of Human world.” escalated dramatically since PICTURE: Thajudheen The conference is taking place Rights. Yearwood said the demand by March 2015, when the Saudi- over two days in co-operation Alnsour also reviewed the the siege countries to shut down led forces launched a military an air, sea and land blockade. with the International Federation principles that channels and Al Jazeera “is an example of the operation against the rebels. Speakers at the conference of Journalists (IFJ), International media institutions must com- challenges journalists are facing Since the confl ict began, also criticised calls to shut Press Institute (IPI) and with sup- Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri PICTURE: Jayan Orma mit to, rejecting hate speech and in the region”. “Thankfully, the more than 10,000 people have down Al Jazeera Media Net- port from the Offi ce of the United violence through an approach reaction was so swift and heat so been killed and millions have work, one of the 13 demands Nations High Commissioner for said, “we aim to develop our ca- and media in the Arab region have in which these channels are the hot that the draconian demand been driven from their homes. that the Saudi-led group had Human Rights (OHCHR), Euro- pacities to tackle challenges and loopholes such as using broad self-censor on what is broadcast appears to have been rescinded. “We don’t talk about gov- sent to Qatar through Kuwait. pean Broadcasting Union (EBU) threats facing freedom of expres- terms that undermine freedom and published. By the way, the withdrawal of ernment terrorism such as the While praising Al Jazeera for and Human Rights Watch. sion.” of expression under the pretext of He pointed to the violations that demand is indicative of what Saudi-led coalition that is kill- contributing to freedom of the Dr al-Marri noted that the “Freedom of opinion and preserving public order or pub- that journalists are exposed to can happen when we all work to- ing people in Yemen,” HRW’s press in the region, Mohamed siege countries have manipulated speech and the rights of individ- lic principles. This leaves such across the world, particularly in gether.” Kenneth Roth said at the ‘Free- Ali Alnsour, chief of Middle the lives of thousands of peo- uals and media to express them principles vague and unidentifi ed confl ict zones, which contradict He praised Qatar’s reaction to dom of Expression, Facing up East and North Africa at the ple, disrupted family reunifi ca- are a proof of practising democ- and, consequently, the society in human rights and the freedom the current Gulf crisis, saying to the Threat’ conference in UN High Commissioner for tion, deprived children of their racy and a measure of good gov- a state of stagnation and individ- of expression as journalists are that “we could all learn from how Doha yesterday. Human Rights, criticised the parents, undermined the social ernance. Freedom of thought, uals and the press become forced subjected to murder, harassment Qatar stood up to the threat from “I am not aware of Qatar fi - Arab states for dealing with fabric of Gulf communities, dam- expression and opinion is also a to exercise self-censorship. and blocking them from access to the Saudi-led coalition.” nancing terrorist groups, but freedom of the press as a se- aged the income sources of many legitimate demand and a value Dr al-Marri added that indi- information, which hinders their Meanwhile, Giacomo Maz- I am aware of the long-term curity threat for their govern- employees and workers, and de- that embodies human dignity,” viduals in some societies are sub- work. zone, EBU head of institutional Saudi promotion of an extreme ments. stroyed the future of students by Dr al-Marri continued. jected to severe violations that In turn, Younes M’Jahed, IFJ relations, touched on the chal- version of Islam that is often John Yearwood, president expelling them from universities Further, the NHRC chairman range from extreme repression to senior vice-president, said they lenges facing journalists and the adopted by terrorist groups.” of the International Press In- and disrupted their education. said while most of the Arab con- threats of sanctions, imprison- work to protect the dignity of violations they are subjected to Yemen is also facing a health stitute, also questioned calls The siege countries also pun- stitutions guarantee freedom of ment, harassment, business clo- journalists wherever they are, and and how to tackle them. crisis, with the charity Oxfam to shut down Al Jazeera. “We ished their citizens for expressing speech and expression and their sure and fi nes, while some may support them in defending their Kenneth Roth, executive direc- reporting 360,000 suspected must continue to speak truth their views on the blockade in a laws regulate print and electronic be detained and put on trial based rights and improve their working tor of Human Rights Watch, said cases of cholera in the three to power even when it’s incon- peaceful manner, or for showing media, they remain short of re- on an opinion, sometimes even conditions. the current crisis is all about free- months since the outbreak venient. We can all learn from sympathy with the Qatari people, alising constitutional principles based on a feeling. On his part, He added that the federation dom of expression and freedom started in April. how Al Jazeera stood up to the he said. and implementing them. He Mohamed Ali Alnsour, chief of unequivocally rejects all legisla- of media, and that Al Jazeera has On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Saudi-led coalition. It did not “Through the sessions of this added that the majority of laws Middle East and North Africa at tions that aff ect the work of un- become a voice for the marginal- Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt cut wobble and neither should we,” conference,” the NHRC chairman that regulate freedom of opinion the OHCHR, said seven decades ions and hinder the freedom of ised everywhere. ties with Qatar and imposed said Yearwood. Joint eff orts ‘critical to protect media freedom’

By Joseph Varghese of them “totally forget the basics censorship never stops,” she added. Staff Reporter of journalism”. Kuttab said that by Tim Dawson, president of the Na- blocking news items, establishments tional Union of Journalists — UK and are punishing the people and it is a Ireland, stressed that the free media everal leading media experts have violation of the human right to know. faces some considerable threats at the stressed the need for joint eff orts He also pointed out that several moment. Sto protect media freedom around countries in the Arab would are facing “We need to build more popular the world. media restrictions. concern about freedom of expression They were speaking yesterday at and that focus should be woven into the plenary session of an international ‘All who cherish free societies everything we do. All who cherish free conference on the threats facing free- should make it their business societies should make it their business dom of expression, being held in Doha to understand the international to understand the international and which will conclude today. and national frameworks that national frameworks that underpin Organised by the National Hu- underpin unfettered expression’ unfettered expression. man Rights Committee in collabora- “Making this concern one of our tion with International Federation of Elena Chernievska, representative fi rst refl exes makes the defence of free Journalists and International Press on freedom of the media at the Offi ce speech and free expression, something Institute, the conference highlights of the Organisation for Security and for which we all take responsibility,” he the diffi cult situations that journalists Co-operation in Europe, contended maintained. in many countries face as well as the that arbitrary attempts to restrict me- “There is also, clearly, a vital role for need for greater eff orts to uphold me- dia pluralism must be opposed. national governments and legislatures. dia freedom. Quoting an official on the Ukrain- Not only do they set the legal frame- Daoud Kuttab from Community ian situation, Chernievska noted: work within which all media operates, Network, Jordan, noted that media “Media freedom is dependent on a but they are also able to pressure other houses must stay united in the face healthy and vibrant and competi- countries to act – for which reason I of threats. “Media houses must stay tive media landscape, which includes believe that extracting commitments united to protect media freedom, for- voices that provide a variety of news to freedom of expression should be an getting the diff erences, if any, when and views in different languages important condition when negotiating such situations arise. They must show coming from different countries. At trade relationships and granting for- solidarity with other journalists and all times, and especially in difficult eign aid,” he added. media houses if they are subjected to times, blocking is not the answer; The session was moderated by Jim unfair treatment by various forces,” more debate is.” Boumelha from the International Fed- he said. “History has taught us more than eration of Journalists and the panellists At the same time, he noted that all once that limits on media freedom included Imen Ladjimi from Article 19 journalists and media outlets should for the sake of political expediency and Dominique Pradalie, chief editor, continue to act professionally as some leads to censorship and, when begun, formerly, of France Television.

The panellists at the plenary session. PICTURE: Thajudheen Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 5 QATAR ‘Blockading nations seek to suppress media freedom’

By Joey Aguilar tried journalists working for the network lives in providing the truth and serving as Staff Reporter in past years, which received strong con- catalysts for change. demnation from various media organisa- About media freedom in Qatar, Souag tions. said he has seen an “immense improve- he Saudi-led bloc has “strongly Souag also blamed erring politicians ment” since 2002 when he came to Qatar. stated its fi rm position to suppress and the “politicised judicial system” of “You cannot create a free and profes- Tmedia freedom” by demanding the some countries for the abuse and harass- sional media in one day or a year, you closure of Al Jazeera, the network’s acting ment of scribes. need one generation to learn the culture, director-general Mostefa Souag has said. He also called for these states to im- skills. It is not an easy thing,” he said. He made the observation while speak- plement their laws on media freedom and About ensuring the protection of jour- ing during a panel discussion held as part journalists’ rights. nalists, Souag noted that “we have to of the ‘Freedom of Expression: Facing up “Think about the international court work, band together and organise our- to the Threat’ international conference in and think whatever... before we get the selves”. Doha yesterday. system to work, journalists and media in- The conference, which concludes to- The panel, moderated by Ireland’s Na- stitutions have to think about some tools day, is addressing a number of other top- tional Union of Journalists acting general to make governments behave diff erently,” ics as well. These include “Media Free- secretary Seamus Dooley, deliberated on he stressed. dom and Internet Universality”, “Media media freedom and journalists’ rights. According to Souag, they have faced a and War (protecting journalists on the Souag described Egypt - one of the lot of challenges in the past and believe frontline)”, and “Ethics in the News.” siege nations - as the most prominent they will encounter more in the future. A panel discussion titled “The Fight country to suppress media freedom after However, he said Al Jazeera continues Goes on for Global Media Freedom,” the revolution, where many journalists to do its work professionally and inde- moderated by Fairouz Ziani from the Al National Human Rights Committee chairman Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri writes down his thoughts on media freedom have been put behind bars. pendently. Jazeera Arabic channel, will be held to- on a board set up at the conference venue in Doha. PICTURE: Thajudheen The Egyptian government jailed and He lauded journalists for risking their day.

Siege countries are not implementing their own media laws: Al Jazeera offi cial

By Joey Aguilar Souag noted that the one of Since 1996, Souag recounted tured,” he added. “Opposition Staff Reporter the problems lies with politi- that Al Jazeera and its journalists leaders, even when outside their cians who suppress the media have been facing similar chal- country, as well as their families when at fault, citing the case of lenges in reporting the truth, are subjected to being chased. any countries, includ- Egypt, which he described as “a particularly in a number of coun- These are the various tools used, ing those in the Arab clear example” of a country with tries in the Arab world. and the fi nal tool is killing.” Mworld, have laws on a media freedom law that is not He added that they often get Souag also highlighted the media freedom and journalists’ implemented. rejected from applying for li- need to protect journalists from rights but these are not imple- A “politicised judicial system” cences to operate in these coun- threats and attacks, whether mented, a senior offi cial of Al also gives a state a hand to violate tries while some don’t allow covering confl icts or reporting Jazeera Media Network has said. its media laws, leaving journal- members of the media to move sensitive cases. “Even the four siege countries ists unprotected from various freely or independently. “At Al Jazeera, for example, we (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, forms of abuse and harassment, In some cases, the police chase emphasise that their life is more and Egypt) that demand the clo- according to Souag. reporters who interview people important than the story or the sure of Al Jazeera have such laws, “Judicial authorities have been on the streets. news,” he said. but (these) are not put into ef- politicised and such a judicial Souag said journalists suff er “We train journalists exten- fect,” Al Jazeera acting director- system is not independent,” he from diff erent forms of harass- sively and we bring in interna- general Mostefa Souag said. stressed. ment and are always at risk of tional coaches because you can- He was speaking at a panel “If we want to have ‘a real law’ being jailed, tried or even killed not send a journalist there who discussion during the ‘Freedom that could be fair to journalists, while doing their job. doesn’t have enough experience of Expression: Facing up to the fi rst of all we should have a ju- “Some journalists are ready to to (cover) such dangerous places, Threat’ international conference dicial system independent of the die and their families are also at this is very important.” A section of the gathering at the conference in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudheen in Doha yesterday. political system.” risk of being arrested and tor-

Emir’s call for dialogue welcomed

From Page 1 to combat terrorism and resolve GCC cri- and sustainable solution.” In his address to the nation on July 21, sis through dialogue. The UK hopes steps Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov His Highness the Emir said that Qatar was will be taken to lift embargo.” said Moscow supports Kuwait’s mediation ready for dialogue to resolve the diplomatic Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Al- efforts. “If as part of those efforts or in addi- crisis, but stressed that any solution to the fano has called for the opening of the land tion to them all sides think that Russia could crisis must respect Qatar’s sovereignty. border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia also do something useful, we will be ready to “We are open to dialogue to resolve the as a goodwill gesture to launch talks and respond to such appeals,” he said. outstanding problems [so long as Qatar’s] to allay the humanitarian implications of “We are interested in this crisis being sovereignty is respected,” the Emir said in the Gulf crisis. “I hope that a sincere dia- overcome, taking into account mutual the televised address, his fi rst since Saudi logue between the countries involved will concerns and fi nding solutions which will Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt cut be initiated, based on respect for interna- be acceptable for all participants of this ties with the country. tional law, on the sovereignty and dignity process,” Lavrov told Kurdish television Ajay Sharma, British ambassador to of each country, in order to ease tensions, channel Rudaw, according to a transcript Qatar, said in a tweet yesterday: “UK wel- address the origins of disagreements and of the interview published on the foreign comes commitment in the Emir’s speech lead as soon as possible, to a long-lasting ministry’s website.

Health, safety award for Msheireb Properties

sheireb Properties has been recognised at the international MRoyal Society for the Preven- tion of Accidents (RoSPA) Health and Safety Awards 2017, held at ExCeL Lon- don. The RoSPA has awarded Msheireb Properties their Gold Award in recogni- tion of the latter’s “fruitful eff orts and for successfully managing occupational health and safety standards”, according to a press statement. Msheireb Properties is Qatar’s leading sustainable real estate developer and a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Edu- cation, Science and Community Devel- opment. Ali al-Kuwari, chief offi cer for Design and Delivery at Msheireb Properties, who was presented the award, said: “We are truly honoured to receive this award that Ali al-Kuwari, chief officer for Design and Delivery at Msheireb Properties, showcases our dedication and hard work accepting the award. towards accomplishing best practices and results in the fi eld of occupational health we consider it our highest priority. veloper is “particularly proud” of its and safety. “I would like to thank RoSPA for this fl agship project Msheireb Downtown “The award also refl ects Msheireb award and the teams involved in exceed- Doha ISO certifi cation from the British Properties effi cient and successful im- ing the highest possible health and safety Standards Institution for quality (ISO plementation of occupational health and standards for our staff and partners.” 9001:2015), environmental performance safety management systems. Msheireb Properties has received (ISO 14001:2015), occupational health “We at Msheireb Properties have a goal many awards for its achievements in and safety (BS OHSAS 18001:2007), and we’ll strive to achieve it. Safety is an design innovation through to safety and Risk Management Standard (ISO essential component for any company and compliance, and the real estate de- 31000:2009), the statement notes.

PHCC screens 16,000 for breast and bowel cancers since 2015 The Primary Health Care Corporation Now in its second year, the ‘Screen for located at Al Wakra, Lebaib and Rawdat (PHCC) announced that it has so far Life’ programme has reached significant Al Khail Health Centres. The programme’s screened around 16,000 people for breast milestones and has so far screened core objective is to save precious lives and bowel cancer since the National around 16,000 people for breast and by encouraging women aged 45 years Breast and Bowel Screening Programme bowel cancer since the programme’s or older with no symptoms to submit ‘Screen for Life’ was launched in 2015. launch, while highlighting the benefits themselves to breast cancer screening PHCC in its ongoing eff orts to promote of the early detection of cancer through through mammography. The campaign the crucial work of the programme, is screening and reminding people of the also calls on both men and women aged reminding people to take the initiative tests’ simple and fast process which can 50 years or older with no symptoms to with their health by undergoing screening be performed in ultimate privacy. The undergo bowel cancer screening through for breast or bowel cancer. three specialised screening facilities are FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test). — QNA Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 QATAR HMC’s home service Diversion at Al Shefallahiya Interchange he Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has said it will im- Tplement a traffic diversion at Al Shefallahiya Interchange on Al Shamal Road to complete junction set for expansion upgrade work as part of the North Road Corridor Enhancement project. bout 1,400 patients across Qa- and every one of our patients,” al-Raisi mately reduce the need for visits to the To facilitate the reconstruction, tar receive daily home health- said. HHCS, which is based in Hamad Emergency Department or for hospital Al Shefallahiya Interchange, located Acare services through visits to Bin Khalifa Medical City, has satellite admission,” said Dr Essa al-Sulaiti, between the southern Umm Garn In- patients’ homes, Hamad Medical Cor- locations in Al Khor and Al Wakrah, HHCS medical director. terchange and northern Al Khor In- poration (HMC) has said. helping serve the public in both com- Dr al-Sulaiti added that the service terchange, will be closed for 39 days In a statement yesterday, HMC munities and the surrounding areas. has seen “tremendous developments” – from tomorrow until September stressed that its Home Healthcare Plans are also under way to open an- since its offi cial launch in 2009, noting 2, Ashghal has said in a press state- Service (HHCS) “is on a mission to ex- other satellite offi ce to provide serv- that it continues to provide services in ment. pand the reach of its services to ensure ices to those living in the Muaither and accordance with the highest interna- During the detour planned in co- that those in need have quick and easy Al Rayyan areas. tional standards. ordination with the General Directo- access to high-quality care at home”. HHCS provides daily home care to “The service achieved Joint Com- rate of Traffic, motorists can use the “HHCS is a valuable service within about 1,400 patients across Qatar in two mission International accreditation neighbouring Umm Garn and Al Khor HMC’s Continuing Care Group that shifts from Sunday to Thursday, 7am to in 2009 and again in 2012 and 2015, interchanges in place of Al Shefalla- strives to meet the standards and ob- 8pm. Weekend cover for intravenous and we continue to embark on new hiya Interchange. jectives set out in the National Con- care and wound dressings is also pro- programmes to deliver more improve- Residents of the area may use the tinuing Care Strategy,” said Mahmoud vided by the service, as well as 24-hour ments and clinical interventions to pa- temporary approaches as well, as exit Al Shamal Road. Ashghal has re- instructions and the newly-installed al-Raisi, HMC’s chief of the Continu- on-call cover for patients requiring me- tient care services.” shown on the map, to access and quested motorists to abide by traffic signage. ing Care Group. chanical ventilator support and support According to Maqsood Ibrahim He noted that HHCS is committed for critical medical equipment break- Adam, assistant executive director for to providing quality healthcare aimed downs, the statement noted. the Continuing Care Group, the satel- at keeping patients in their homes “HHCS provides home care to Qa- lite offi ces provide a local base for pa- where they are most comfortable and tar residents of all ages, Qataris and tients and families. “This is part of our secure. “Providing home care adult expatriates, who are temporarily or strategic healthcare practice, which Partial closure of road in Al Khor and paediatric services is an impor- permanently housebound. We sup- aims to bring the service closer to our tant element of fulfi lling HMC’s vision port patients’ timely discharge from patients and the communities they live of delivering the safest, most eff ective HMC hospitals and provide clinical in, especially in densely populated ar- he Public Works Authority and most compassionate care to each care and medical supervision to ulti- eas,” he said. (Ashghal) has announced that it Twill close part of Ahmad Bin Jas- sim Road (behind LuLu – Al Khor) at its intersection with Al Qirma Street for a period of 90 days from Thursday. Traffi c through the area will be di- Landmark unveils ‘Happiness Movement’ verted as shown on the attached map. The diversion is required to enable work on laying the ‘sewer rising mains’ andmark Group has unveiled a “fi rst-of-its-kind” as part of the design, build, operate and Happiness Movement, impacting more than 40,000 maintenance of Al Thakhira sewage Lemployees across all GCC countries while aiming to treatment works, Transfer Pumping “become the region’s happiest workplace”. Station and associated pipelines. “The Landmark Happiness Movement aims to reinforce The authority has requested all road values such as passion, speed and simplicity, innovation, users to abide by the speed limit and ownership and entrepreneurship, which form the core follow diversion road signs to ensure foundation of the group’s philosophy of creating exception- their safety. Ashghal has also remind- al value,” Landmark Group, a leading retail and hospitality ed road users to exercise special care company, said in a press statement. while driving to their campsite, by fur- The campaign has a “memorable visual identity and an The campaign’s visual identity and anthem have been ther reducing speed as necessary. inspiring anthem”, which have been welcomed by employ- welcomed by employees across the group’s warehouses, ees across the group’s warehouses, stores and offi ces. It re- stores and offices. fl ects the Group’s “culture of openness, agility and adapt- ability”, which has been integral to its success in the region. and instilling the values of ownership, pride and belonging- Nisha Jagtiani, executive director and chief happiness of- ness within them. “We are thrilled at the response we have Sky Jewellery’s campaign draw winners named fi cer, said: “Through the Landmark Happiness Movement, received from our people.” The Happiness Movement was we aim to bring a positive change by empowering our people rolled out to ‘Landmarkers’ through a three-day celebration.

The winners of the mega draw for Sky Jewellery’s ‘Gold N Drive Season 7’ promotion (Doha region), were announced by an off icial from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Mohamed Rajaa Alshamari, along with the jewellery retailer’s Doha regional manager Mohan PK, sales manager Tom C Jacob, area sales in-charge Renjith P and showroom managers, Sinto Jose, Joseph MP and Cinoj John.

WISE partners with India’s Observer Foundation

The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) has announced a new partnership with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), which hosts the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier conference on geo- politics and geo-economics. The partnership will be launched in November at the 2017 WISE Summit with the participation of a high-level Indian delegation. WISE will, in turn, join the annual Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi in Janu- ary 2018, according to a press statement. The new partner- ship follows the participation of a WISE delegation at the Raisina Dialogue and the Asian Forum on Global Governance in New Delhi earlier this year. This provided an opportunity for WISE to highlight education issues. ORF, which organises the Raisina Dialogue, is a pre- mier non-partisan Indian policy research think-tank with a mis- sion to influence public policy formulation. WISE CEO Stavros N Yiannouka said: “The WISE partnership with the Raisina Dialogue presents an exciting new opportunity to strengthen engagement between two leading think-tanks in India and Qatar.” Sunjoy Joshi, ORF’s di- rector, added: “ORF is delighted to announce this partnership with WISE. I am confident this collaboration will catalyse the formation of new actionable ideas, so essential to our quest of creating a world that is both socially and economically more equitable.” Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 7 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Standoff will be Trump envoy in Israel resolved ‘shortly’

AFP for holy site crisis talks United Nations AFP Jerusalem Turkey claims rights standoff between Is- violation at mosque rael and Jordan over the Ashooting of two Jordani- top aide to US President Turkey said yesterday that Israel ans by an Israeli security guard is Donald Trump arrived in was violating human rights at Al- likely to be resolved soon, Israel’s AIsrael yesterday in a bid Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and UN ambassador said yesterday. to ease tensions over new secu- called on global powers to take a “We are speaking with our rity measures at a highly sensi- unified stance in response. colleagues in Amman,” ambas- tive Jerusalem holy site after a Deputy Prime Minister and sador Danny Danon told report- weekend of deadly violence. government spokesman Bekir ers at UN headquarters in New Jason Greenblatt’s visit Bozdag said after a cabinet meet- York. “I believe we will solve it comes after more than a week ing that Israeli actions at the shortly.” of tensions over the Haram al- mosque were unacceptable. Jordan had asked to question Sharif mosque compound. Israel said on Sunday it would not the Israeli security guard over Greenblatt was holding a remove metal detectors whose the shooting Sunday night inside meeting with Prime Minister installation outside Al-Aqsa has the Israeli embassy compound in Benjamin Netanyahu along with triggered the bloodiest clashes Amman. Israel’s foreign minis- US envoy to Israel David Fried- with the Palestinians in years. try said the security guard shot man, an Israeli offi cial said. dead a Jordanian worker who had Israel installed metal detec- come to an apartment to install tors at entrances to the site, not thought to be life threaten- furniture and had stabbed him which includes Al-Aqsa mosque ing. Israeli tank fi re also struck in the back with a screwdriver. A and the Dome of the Rock, fol- a Hamas post in the Gaza Strip second Jordanian was also killed lowing an attack on July 14 that after a rocket from the enclave —apparently by accident. killed two policemen. landed in an open area in Israel. Palestinians view the move as Besides the US eff orts, the Israel asserting further control UN Security Council will hold TALKS over the site. closed-door talks about the OIC to meet in They have refused to enter the spiralling violence after Egypt, compound in protest and have France and Sweden sought a Istanbul next week prayed in the streets outside. meeting to “urgently discuss Israeli authorities say the metal how calls for de-escalation in The Organisation of Islamic Co- detectors are needed because Jerusalem can be supported”. operation will meet in Istanbul next the July 14 attackers smuggled Israeli offi cials have signalled week for talks on the crisis around guns into the site and emerged they may be open to changing Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, after from it to shoot the offi cers. Palestinian protesters look on during clashes with Israeli security forces near the settlement of Beit El, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, yesterday. the measures at the holy site. a weekend of violence left eight Clashes have broken out dur- Cameras have been installed people dead. The 57-member ing protests over the measures, with a screwdriver at the Israeli standoff was brewing over the Israel’s foreign ministry said ior defence offi cial would travel at entrances in a possible indi- pan-Islamic organisation will hold leaving fi ve Palestinians dead. embassy compound raised fur- incident, with Jordan saying it in a statement that the guard to Amman to seek to calm the cation of an alternative to the a ministerial meeting today in Three Israelis were also killed ther concerns. wanted to question the guard “has immunity from investiga- situation. metal detectors. Turkey, which currently holds the when a Palestinian snuck into The motives for the alleged but Israel insisting he had dip- tion and imprisonment”. In the latest incident, police Arab League chief Ahmed OIC presidency, a statement said a house in a West Bank settle- attack were unclear. lomatic immunity. Netanyahu said he was work- said a Palestinian stabbed an Abul Gheit on Sunday accused yesterday. Israeli authorities installed ment and stabbed them. The security guard shot dead “Jordan has requested to ing to “bring the incident to a Israeli in the city of Petah Tikva, Israel of “playing with fi re” with metal detectors at entrances to the An incident on Sunday night the Jordanian, while a second question the Israeli embassy se- close ASAP” and return the se- near the commercial capital Tel the new security measures, and east Jerusalem site, which includes in Amman that, according to Jordanian there at the time was curity guard...(and) Israel is still curity guard to Israel. Aviv, yesterday morning before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of Israeli offi cials, saw a Jordanian also killed — apparently by ac- examining the request,” a Jorda- Israeli newspaper Haaretz being arrested. Erdogan called them an insult to Rock, following an attack on July 14 attack an Israeli security guard cident. A potential diplomatic nian government source said. reported yesterday that a sen- The victim’s wounds were the Muslim world. that left two policemen dead.

CONFLICT Russia deploys forces to police Syria safe zones

Russia has deployed military police to monitor two safe zones being established in Syria, it was announced yesterday, with of- ficials touting it as a new era of US co-operation. Senior commander Sergei Rudskoi said Russian forces had set up checkpoints and observation posts around a zone in the south-west and in another covering Eastern Ghouta, near Da- mascus. The two areas are part of a broader Moscow-backed plan to create four “de-escalation zones” in rebel-held parts of Syria. The defence ministry’s announcement marks the first deployment of foreign troops to bolster the safe zones as Moscow seeks to pacify Syria after its military intervention swung the six-year conflict in fa- Yemenis walk past a building, housing branches of the Finance Ministry and Central vour of President Bashar al-Assad. Bank, that was heavily damaged in an air strike by the coalition, in the northern Russian Foreign Minister Sergei province of Saada yesterday. Lavrov yesterday praised the creation of the safe zones, saying it showed Russia can work with the United States under President Donald Trump. He was giving an Top UN team visits interview yesterday to Kurdish Rudaw television whose transcript was posted on the ministry site Russia’s top diplomat said the fact that President Vladimir Putin and confl ict-hit Yemen Trump agreed on creating de- escalation zones in southern Syria AFP aimed to contain “the cholera epidemic at their first meeting at the G20 in Sanaa which has spread to all provinces”, Saba Hamburg was “a concrete exam- said. On Sunday, the United Nations ple that we can work together.” warned that two thirds of Yemen’s pop- high-level UN delegation ar- ulation of 27mn needed humanitarian rived in Yemen yesterday, a UN assistance, with 10mn civilians in acute REFUGEES A source said, to visit areas held by need of life-saving aid as the country Coastguard rescues both the government and Houthi rebels teeters on the edge of famine. across the crisis-hit country. A cholera outbreak has independently 278 Europe-bound The executive directors of the World claimed 1,800 lives and infected more migrants off Libya Health Organisation, the UN Children’s than 370,000 others, according to both Fund (Unicef) and the World Food Pro- the WHO and the International Com- Libya’s coastguard in two separate gramme visited the southern province mittee of the Red Cross (ICRC). operations yesterday rescued at of Aden, where the government is based, The ICRC yesterday warned that least 278 migrants as they tried to and the rebel-held capital Sanaa, the more than 600,000 Yemenis are ex- reach Europe, naval off icials said. source said on condition of anonymity. pected to contract cholera by the end of In one operation, 150 migrants, Unicef and WHO representatives the year. mostly Africans, ran into trouble declined to elaborate on the visit to the War between the Saudi-backed gov- when their inflatable boat broke country, where war, cholera and loom- ernment and rebels in the country has down and began sinking off the ing famine have killed thousands of killed more than 8,000 people and coast of Sabrata, 70 kilometres people and displaced millions. wounded a further 44,500 since a coali- west of Tripoli, Navy spokesman The three UN offi cials met Prime tion joined the confl ict in 2015. Ayoub Qassem said. Those aboard Minister Ahmed bin Dagher for talks A string of vital ports along Yemen’s included two women and four on international aid, state news agency Red Sea coast are blockaded, leaving children, he said. Saba reported. WHO director Tedros millions of people with limited access to A rescue mission was launched Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the visit food and medicine. after a Tripoli coastguard patrol was informed of the boat’s plight, patrol commander Colonel Abu Ajela said. LEGAL A witness said people traff ickers Jail terms proposed for Hezbollah backers had taken the migrants out to sea and left them there after removing A Kuwaiti Islamist member of parliament yesterday proposed legislation calling for the engine on the inflatable boat members and supporters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement be sentenced to up and replacing it with another that to 20 years in jail. The draft legislation, submitted to parliament by MP Waleed al- quickly broke down. The migrants Tabtabai, proposes Hezbollah be classified a “terrorist organisation”. It also stipulates were brought ashore to a naval a jail term of between 10 and 20 years for members of Hezbollah and anyone who base in Tripoli. shows any form of loyalty to the group. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 AFRICA Buhari appears in rare photo

AFP 4 killed Abuja

n apparent photo of Nige- rian President Muhammadu ABuhari was posted on Twit- ter late on Sunday, off ering a rare glimpse of the ill leader since his de- in Nigeria parture for London for medical treat- ment in May. Posted from the offi cial Twitter account of the Nigerian presidency, the picture shows the 74-year-old head of state sitting at a table with a group of people and smiling. According to the presidency, Bu- suicide hari received a delegation on Sunday afternoon of “governors and leaders” from his All Progressives Congress (APC) party in London. “The president sends his best wishes to all Nigerians. He will be back to Nigeria as soon as his doctors give the go-ahead,” said the presi- attacks dency in a separate tweet. Buhari has spent most of this year Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari receives a delegation of the All Progressives Congress party at Abuja House AFP On January 30 last year, at least 85 in London receiving treatment for an in London on Sunday. Maiduguri people were killed when militant fight- unspecifi ed medical condition. ers stormed and torched Dalori vil- In January and February, he spent and has not lost any bit of his sense opments at home very closely,” Oko- about his fitness for office and po- lage and tried to gain access to the IDP almost two months in Britain and on of humour,” said Imo state governor rocha said. tential successor, prompting cryp- our people were killed in suicide camps. his return in early March said he had Rochas Okorocha in a press state- The presidency has repeatedly re- tic warnings from the president’s bomb attacks at a camp for those Nigeria’s military and government never been as ill. ment issued by presidential spokes- jected rumours that Buhari is termi- camp. Fdisplaced by the Boko Haram con- maintain the extremists are a spent force Buhari left for the British capital man Femi Adesina. nally ill or even dead but has refused Responding to the rumours in a fl ict in northeast Nigeria, the emergency after a sustained counter-insurgency again on May 7 for a second round of “The party delegation spent more to disclose his illness or what treat- Facebook post, Buhari’s wife Aisha services said yesterday. pushed them out of captured territory medical treatment. than an hour with President Buhari ment he is having. warned earlier in July that “the hy- Abdulkadir Ibrahim, from the National since early 2015. No date was given for his return. over lunch, and it was very clear from The silence on Buhari’s health enas and the jackals will soon be sent Emergency Management Agency, said But signs remain that the violence is far “The president was very cheerful discussions that he followed devel- has led to a flurry of speculation out of the kingdom.” the blasts happened at about 11.20pm on from over. Sunday, just outside the Borno state capi- On Sunday, police in the northern city tal of Maiduguri. of Kano said they had arrested fi ve Boko “Two suicide bombers (a male and a Haram members after a gunfi ght. female) detonated their improvised ex- Kano state police chief Rabiu Yusuf plosive devices at Dalori 1 IDP (internally said the three men and two women were S African girl is third child with HIV remission: study displaced persons) camp, leading to the suspected of planning attacks on markets death of three IDPs, while 17 others were and places of worship. injured,” he said in a statement. The city has seen a lull in Boko Haram By Mariette Le Roux, AFP Researchers hope that by treat- a few have attained drug-free remis- The girl was diagnosed HIV-posi- “Another incident occurred at Dalori activity since a November 2014 gun and Paris ing people as soon as possible after sion. tive on her 32nd day of life. 2 IDP camp, where a suicide bomber was suicide attack at the main mosque killed infection, they can one day induce They include 14 adults in a French After 10 months of treatment, lev- intercepted, leading to the death of the more than 100. drug-free remission for sustained trial who were able to quit their med- els of HIV in her blood went from suicide bomber.” An internal army memo, seen by AFP, South African girl has become periods of time, perhaps for good. ication after three years and stayed “very high” to undetectible. Ahmed Sartori, the head of the Borno also indicated Boko Haram was back in only the third child to beat This has become a major focus of healthy. Tests conducted when she was state emergency management agency, said its “Camp Zero” enclave in the Sambisa A the Aids virus into long-term research amid fading hopes of fi nd- A French woman aged 20, treated nine-and-a-half years old showed the death toll had risen by late morning. Forest of Borno, which had been declared remission — almost nine years and ing a permanent cure. as a baby, has been healthy for 14 the vaguest trace of virus, unable to “The death toll is now four, with the cleared in December last year. counting — after receiving a drug The virus has proven more sneaky years since stopping her medication replicate, said the team. death of one more victim,” he told AFP, Nigeria’s highest-ranking army offi cer, cocktail in infancy, researchers an- than imagined — it has the ability to — the longest-known remission. The girl had healthy levels of key adding that another suicide bomber had Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has nounced yesterday. hide out in human cells and play dead In the United States, the so-called immune cells. died trying to get into the city’s univer- ordered troops to capture Boko Haram’s The child was given a 10-month for years, only to re-emerge and at- Mississippi Baby was in remission Some fear the girl is in a minority sity. leader Abubakar Shekau “dead or alive” course of anti-Aids medicine until tack as soon as treatment is stopped. for 27 months after being given ART of people for whom early treatment is “A suicide bomber exploded while he within 40 days. she was one year old, then taken off for the fi rst 18 months of life, but the suffi cient to induce remission. was trying to scale the barbed wire fence The authorities have previously de- the drugs as part of a medical trial. “Early treatment is good for virus rebounded in a major let-down “Early treatment is good for lots of at the university,” he said. clared the elusive Shekau dead on a Eight years and nine months later, lots of reasons. Early treatment for researchers. reasons. Early treatment stops HIV A trench is currently being dug around number of occasions, only for him to re- the virus is still dormant and the girl stops HIV transmission, early Now there is the South African transmission, early treatment means the campus, which lies on the edge of appear in video messages. healthy without needing treatment, a treatment means the immune girl — the fi rst case of remission in a the immune system stays in better Maiduguri, to deter intruders after a spate Yan St-Pierre, the head of the Modern research team reported at the Inter- system stays in better shape child enrolled in a trial to test the ef- shape and early treatment keeps the of suicide bomb attacks on the premises. Security Consulting (MOSECON) group national Aids Society conference on and early treatment keeps the fectiveness of early treatment, for a (virus) reservoirs small,” Lewin told The Islamist militant group Boko Har- and a counter-terrorism advisor, told HIV science in Paris. (virus) reservoirs small” limited time. AFP. am has increasingly used suicide bombers AFP the chief of army staff ’s order was “This new case strengthens our “Relapse is a possibility in any case “Early treatment may also increase in its eight-year insurgency that has left “more rhetoric than fact”. hope that by treating HIV-infected Anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment of remission,” underlined study co- the chance of remission, but more at least 20,000 dead and displaced more “The Nigerian Army needs a boost and children for a brief period beginning inhibits the virus, but doesn’t kill it, leader Avy Violari of the University of studies are needed to really prove than 2.6mn others. even if unsuccessful the ultimatum is in infancy, we may be able to spare and infected people have to take pills the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. this.” Dalori, which is about 15km from Mai- nonetheless a reminder that (it) needs a them the burden of life-long thera- daily for life which are costly and However, “the fact that remission Michael Brady, medical director of duguri, houses some 50,000 people in big result and some form of success needs py,” said Aids expert Anthony Fauci, have side-eff ects. has been for a long period suggests the Terrence Higgins Trust, an Aids makeshift accommodation and has been to be delivered,” he said. director of the National Institute of A rare group of infected people — this is likely to be durable,” she told charity, said remission was “impres- targeted by bombers before. Africa security specialist Ryan Cum- Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NI- fewer than 1% — are able naturally to AFP. sive”. On the evening of June 18, two women mings suggested the time-frame could AID) which funded the study. stop the virus replicating. Researchers do not understand “We just need to understand more blew themselves up at Dalori 2, where coincide with the end of the rainy season Some scientists refer to sustained, They are known as “elite control- how the girl achieved remission when about why this is and then fi nd ways 10,000 people are living, The attack in- in October to prevent greater Boko Haram drug-free remission as a “functional lers”, but the mechanism by which 410 other children in the trial did not. to apply it to others,” he commented jured several IDPs but killed only the movement. cure”. they keep the virus at bay remains a “We can’t tell if her immune sys- on the study. bombers. Politics could also be behind the state- Unlike a traditional cure, where mystery. tem would have controlled the virus The children in the trial were It followed a separate attack at nearby ment, said St-Pierre, with President Mu- the virus is eradicated, the patient The girl does not have “elite con- on its own or if the treatment made monitored for rebounding virus lev- Kofa village, where two women used as hammadu Buhari on indefi nite sick leave still has HIV in their system but it is troller” DNA, said the study authors. a diff erence,” said Sharon Lewin, a els, and the experts stressed it is not human bombs exploded, killing at least and under pressure to ease public con- so weakened that it cannot replicate Among people taking virus-sup- professor of medicine at the Univer- a good idea for people to take them- 16. cerns about his health. or spread to sexual partners. pressing anti-retroviral drugs, only sity of Melbourne. selves off ARV treatment.

Mugabe lavishes sister-in-law with $60,000 birthday gift

imbabwe’s President Gumbochuma, who is Robert Mugabe lav- Grace Mugabe’s elder sis- Zished his sister-in-law ter, celebrated her 60th with $60,000 on her birth- birthday on Sunday as day, state-owned media re- Grace celebrated her 52nd ported yesterday, at a time at one of the Mugabes’ when the country is running farms in Shamva, northeast critically short of cash. of Harare. The Herald newspa- Zimbabwe’s economy per said Mugabe, 93, and has been on a downturn for his wife Grace gave Junior over a decade with many Gumbochuma the money banks running out of cash, at her birthday celebra- forcing people to queue for tions, while the couple’s hours to make withdrawals children gave her $10,000. often limited to only $20 a “The gift was to thank day. Mrs Gumbochuma, a pas- Zimbabwe’s public sal- tor, for the pivotal role she ary wage bill uses up 91% played in raising the First of total revenue and the Family’s children,” the economy has halved in size newspaper said. since 2000.

Zimbabwe park off icial put down elephant that attacked tour guide

n elephant bull has a female after a ride, the been shot dead at newspaper Chronicle re- Athe Zimbabwean ported. tourist resort of Victoria The 30-year-old el- Falls after killing a tour ephant suddenly attacked guide, a tour company said and dismembered Kufan- yesterday. dada. Adventure Zone’s Brent Wildlife offi cials shot the Williamson said the el- animal dead. ephant charged at Enock Williamson said po- Kufandada and trampled lice would investigate the him to death on Saturday. events. Kufandada was an expe- A spokesman for Zim- rienced handler of domes- babwe’s national parks and ticated elephants which are wildlife authority con- used for carrying tourists fi rmed that the elephant on their backs. had killed Kufandada. He had gone to round Zimbabwe’s elephant up the elephant, known as population of more than Mbanje, which had been 80,000 is one of the largest released for grazing with in Africa. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 9 AMERICAS EPA chief Photo opportunity spent half of spring in home state

Reuters federal environmental rules. Washington The travel records show Pruitt’s schedule this spring often took him to cities in the he head of the US En- US heartland where he held vironmental Protection meetings — often with oil and TAgency, Scott Pruitt, gas industry representatives — was in his home state of Okla- made speeches and attended homa on at least 43 of the 92 events, before fl ying to Tulsa days of March, April and May, for extended weekends. according to copies of his travel The records showed Pruitt records obtained by the En- paid for some legs of the trips vironmental Integrity Project directly related to his visits watchdog group and reviewed home, although it was not clear by Reuters. he paid for all such legs. Pruitt’s frequent visits to The airfare for Pruitt’s travel Oklahoma have raised con- to and from Oklahoma totalled cerns among critics that he is more than $12,000, the En- cultivating political relation- vironmental Integrity Project ships in the state at taxpayer said. That did not include trav- expense, instead of focusing on el and lodging expenses for his his job as head of the environ- staff or his security detail, the mental regulator. EPA offi cials records for which were not im- contend that Pruitt works hard mediately available. and pays for his trips home to The practice of spend- Tulsa to see his wife and chil- ing long weekends away from dren. Washington was seen as unu- “Administrator Pruitt sual by former offi cials. President Donald Trump poses for a group photo with outgoing interns at the White House in Washington. works long hours and is avail- “The American people able around the clock,” said EPA aren’t paying taxes for part- spokeswoman Liz Bowman. time Cabinet offi cials,” said “He is extremely focused and Liz Purchia Gannon, who was disciplined, which is evident spokeswoman for former EPA by the fact that he spearhead- head Gina McCarthy, who ed over two dozen signifi cant served under former Demo- regulatory actions since being cratic president Barack Obama sworn in.” during his second term. Pruitt has riled environ- McCarthy’s family lived in mentalists by routinely raising Boston while she was head of doubts about the realities of the EPA, and she “fi t travel I did not collude with climate change and by vow- home into her personal time”, ing to sweep away scores of Purchia Gannon said. Obama-era regulations rules to A source who worked for help business. former EPA Administrator Lisa Before becoming head of Jackson, McCarthy’s pred- the EPA under Republican ecessor, said Jackson’s family President Donald Trump, he moved to Washington during was Oklahoma’s attorney gen- her tenure, so she did not have Russia, says Kushner eral and repeatedly sued the to travel to see them. Jackson agency he now runs to block was not available for comment. Kushner elaborated on contacts with Members of both congressional com- should of course be viewed as strong evi- Russians as he prepares for high level mittees say they want to hear about a June dence that I was not aware of one that ex- testimony 2016 meeting involving Russian lawyer isted before Election Day,” he said. Natalia Veselnitskaya. Kushner and former He said the Russian ambassador asked if Reuters Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort there was a secure line in Trump’s transi- Washington were also at the meeting attended by the tion offi ce to facilitate a discussion with Some H-1B visas younger Trump. Kushner described the Russian generals about Syria, and Kushner encounter as a waste of time. replied there was not. ared Kushner, President Donald “I actually e-mailed an assistant from Kushner said he asked if the Russians put on fast track Trump’s son-in-law and a senior the meeting after I had been there for ten had an existing communications channel JWhite House adviser, said yesterday or so minutes and wrote ‘Can u pls call at the Russian Embassy that could be used he “did not collude” with Russia, as he Jared Kushner departs from Capitol Hill me on my cell? Need excuse to get out of to transmit information to the transition Reuters technology, medicine, engi- prepared to appear before a Senate panel after the closed-door meeting with the meeting.’” team, but Kislyak indicated that was not Washington neering and mathematics. The probing alleged Russian meddling in last Senate intelligence committee. He said no part of the meeting he at- possible and they agreed to follow up after visas are heavily used in the year’s US presidential election. tended “included anything about the the inauguration. tech sector. Kushner said in a statement before the one of several congressional panels inves- campaign” and he had no knowledge of “Nothing else occurred. I did not sug- he US government On April 3, the US Citizen- closed-door hearing that he had roughly tigating the Russia matter, along with a any documents being off ered or accepted. gest a ‘secret back channel.’ I did not said yesterday it would ship and Immigration Services four meetings with Russian offi cials dur- federal criminal probe led by special coun- The Senate Judiciary Committee is ne- suggest an ongoing secret form of com- Tresume fast process- (USCIS) suspended “premium ing the 2016 campaign and presidential sel Robert Mueller. gotiating with Manafort and Trump Jr munication for then or for when the ad- ing of H-1B visas requested by processing” of the visas for up transition. Kushner arrived at the Senate meeting about testifying in a public hearing. ministration took offi ce,” Kushner said. institutions of higher educa- to six months. He also said his initial security clearance with prominent white-collar defence lawyer Kushner will also face questions about “I did not raise the possibility of using tion and nonprofi t and govern- Under the expedited proce- form had been submitted prematurely in Abbe Lowell. He did not speak to reporters. reports he tried to set up a secret back the embassy or any other Russian facility mental research organisations, dure, applicants can be eligi- error and had omitted all foreign contacts. Kushner is also scheduled to address channel to Moscow, as well as other con- for any purpose other than this one pos- while leaving in place a longer ble for visa approvals within “I did not collude, nor know of anyone a House of Representatives intelligence tacts with top Russian offi cials and busi- sible conversation in the transition period. approval time for companies 15 days, instead of a regular else in the campaign who colluded, with panel today. The Republican president, ness leaders. We did not discuss sanctions.” that use the visas. review period that can last sev- any foreign government,” Kushner said in who has called the Russia probes politi- Kushner said he fi rst met Russian Am- Kushner said he met on December 13 President Donald Trump eral months. the written statement. “I had no improper cally motivated, lashed out at the investi- bassador Sergei Kislyak in Washington in with Sergey Gorkov, the head of Russian campaigned on a promise to The United States currently contacts. gations in a tweet yesterday. April 2016 and shook hands. state-owned Vnesheconombank, because crack down on immigrants, caps H-1B visas at 65,000 a I have not relied on Russian funds to fi - “So why aren’t the Committees and in- He said he did not recall phone calls of Kislyak’s insistence and because he had whom he said were taking jobs year, with an additional 20,000 nance my business activities in the private vestigators, and of course our beleaguered with Kislyak between April and November a “direct relationship” with Russian Presi- from US citizens, and signed an allowed for those who have sector.” AG, looking into Crooked Hillarys crimes 2016, as reported by Reuters in May, had dent Vladimir Putin. executive order in April calling earned advanced college de- Trump has been dogged by allegations & Russia relations?” he added, referring to found no evidence of the calls in phone Sanctions imposed by Democratic for a review of the H-1B pro- grees in the United States. that his campaign aides worked with Rus- his former Democratic presidential rival, records and was skeptical they took place. former president Barack Obama’s adminis- gramme. The overall suspension re- sia, which US intelligence agencies have Hillary Clinton. In a meeting with Kislyak after the No- tration were not discussed nor were Kush- The visa allows foreigners mains in place but USCIS said accused of interfering in the election. Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, vember election, on December 1, Kushner ner’s business activities, Kushner said. with certain skills to work tem- in a statement that premium Moscow has denied any interference, released e-mails this month that showed said he articulated a desire for the United “I did not know or have any contact porarily in the United States. processing would resume for and Trump says his campaign did not col- he welcomed the prospect of receiving States to make a fresh start with Russia. with Mr Gorkov before that meeting, and US companies often use the some applications from edu- lude with Moscow. damaging information from the Russian “The fact that I was asking about ways I have had no reason to connect with him visas to hire graduate-level cational and research-oriented The Senate Intelligence Committee is government about Clinton. to start a dialogue after Election Day since,” Kushner wrote. workers in several specialised organisations exempt from the fi elds, including information cap.

Four shot dead in Colombia’s Farc rebels to launch disco shooting as political party on September 1 Reuters and others who have been hos- Asuncion pitalised,” Paraguayan prose- AFP transition of the Farc into a political party accord brought a halt to the half-centu- tween the ELN and government troops, cutor Oscar Samuel Valdez told Bogota will put a full stop to a 50-year confl ict ry-old civil war. and a government soldier was killed this a local radio station. that left 260,000 people dead. Colombian President Juan Manuel month in a shoot-out with the rebel wo men and two women The gunman closed in on the Lozada, whose real name is Julian Gal- Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace group. were shot dead early targets after getting out of a olombia’s leftist Farc rebels will lo, said the group had been working on Prize for reaching the historic deal with But ELN negotiators were meeting yes- Tyesterday as they sat in car in front of the disco, Valdez offi cially transform into a political the details of the “great political-cultural the Farc that was signed last November. terday with Colombian government of- front of a discotheque in the said. A police report said the Cparty on September 1, a major step act”. The accord was narrowly rejected by fi cials in the Ecuadorian capital Quito for Paraguayan border town of women were 18 and 24 years old. in reintegrating the former guerillas into “We made peace to participate in poli- Colombians in a referendum last year be- a third round of talks aimed at reaching a Pedro Juan Caballero, an attack No details were given about the civilian life as part of a historic peace deal. tics,” Farc chief negotiator Ivan Marquez fore it was redrafted and pushed through similar peace deal to the Farc’s. that police said appeared to be men killed in the attack. “We will publicly launch the party on said. congress. “We will try to advance a ceasefi re related to drug traffi cking. The At least 11 other people were September 1 in the Plaza de Bolivar,” in The Farc political party’s policies and That popular rejection was due to in agreement,” said government chief nego- area, which borders the Bra- hospitalised, the report said. Bogota, Farc commander Carlos Anto- name will be decided at a congress at the part to resentment by many ordinary Co- tiator Juan Camilo Restrepo on Twitter. zilian town of Ponta Pora, is a Drug-related violence is com- nio Lozada told AFP after a news confer- end of August. lombians that the Farc would be allowed Political analyst Victor de Currea said known transit point for narcot- mon in this part of Paraguay, ence by the group, almost a month after it That meeting will take place just days to enter political life, after decades of kill- the process was making “very solid” ics. but rarely spills into public ar- completed its disarmament. before Pope Francis makes a special four- ing and kidnapping. progress and that both sides were hop- “The two male victims be- eas, as it did on Monday. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of day visit to Colombia, from September The country’s only remaining rebel ing to declare a bilateral truce during the longed to a criminal gang. They Paraguayan and Brazilian Colombia, or Farc, is the largest and old- 6-11, to add his weight to the process of group, the smaller National Liberation Pope’s visit. were the targets of the shoot- law enforcement are working est rebel group in the country’s long-run- reconciliation. Army, or ELN, is currently following the As well as leaving a quarter of a million ing. together to solve the case, a po- ning civil war. The disarmament last month by the path set by the Farc to negotiate a peace dead, about 60,000 Colombians remain But others were hit, includ- lice spokesman told Reuters by Although a smaller rebel group, the roughly 7,000 members of Colombia’s deal aiming to disarm and demobilise. unaccounted for and 7mn have been dis- ing the two women who died phone. ELN, has yet to put down its weapons, the biggest rebel group under the 2016 peace Occasional clashes still break out be- placed in the confl ict. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 ASEAN Thousands hit by Yingluck accounts frozen in rice subsidy scandal Reuters her legal team said. Bangkok Yingluck declined comment when contacted by Reuters. Myanmar fl oods Her supporters have accused hailand’s justice minis- the courts of bias in frequently try froze some of former ruling against Yingluck and her Reuters are not expected to subside immediately, he TPrime Minister Yingluck family members. Yangon said. Shinawatra’s bank accounts, the The rice scheme was a policy One man drowned in the fl oods in the Saga- ministry and her legal team said engineered by Yingluck’s brother, ing region and another was swept away while yesterday, in relation to a $1bn fi ne former prime minister Thaksin looding across large parts of Myanmar crossing a stream in Chin state, said a resettle- imposed by the ruling junta over Shinawatra, who was toppled in has displaced more than 100,000 peo- ment offi cial in the ministry, Kay Thwe Win. her administration’s rice-subsidy a 2006 coup and lives abroad, to Fple, causing two deaths, while dramatic On Saturday, images of the Buddha’s foot- program. avoid a two-year prison sentence riverbank erosion has washed away a Buddhist print that draw pilgrims to a pagoda in Magway She has fi led a court petition to from 2008 for graft in a land pur- pagoda, offi cials, residents and state media said region were submerged by the rising waters, al- revoke the freezing of her bank ac- chase case. yesterday. though no damage was immediately apparent, counts and to grant an injunction Thaksin won the hearts of vot- Water levels have risen steadily since unre- the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar to suspend asset seizures, saying ers in the populous northeast lenting monsoon rain began to lash the heart of newspaper reported. A small dam also col- they were unlawful. and the north but made enemies the Southeast Asian country in early July, driv- lapsed in the Bago region on Saturday, it said. Yingluck, whose government among the powerful, military- ing some people to higher land or seek shelter Video provided to Reuters by a Buddhist was ousted by the junta in a 2014 backed Bangkok elite. in Buddhist monasteries, a disaster relief offi - monk near Pakokku, 520km north of the com- coup, will deliver a closing state- In 2015, a military-appointed cial said. mercial hub of Yangon, showed a gold-leaf- ment in a separate criminal case legislature banned Yingluck from “The situation is under control, but what covered pagoda slipping into the raging waters over the rice subsidies next week. politics for fi ve years after fi nding happens now will depend on the weather,” Ko of the Ayeyarwady on Thursday. The program, which helped her guilty of mismanaging the rice Ko Naing, director general of the ministry of The abbott at the pagoda, U Pyinnya Linkka- Yingluck sail to victory in a 2011 scheme. social welfare, relief and resettlement, told ra, said fl ooding was common in the area during election, bought rice from farm- The Supreme Court will give its Reuters. the monsoon that runs from May to October, ers at above-market rates and verdict in the criminal case against “We are prepared to support the fl ood-hit but this year’s fl oods caused alarming erosion. distorted global prices but proved Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra speaks to supporters Yingluck on August 25. areas because fl ooding happens every year.” Some riverside villages have been washed popular with rural voters. outside the Supreme Court in Bangkok last week. Yingluck, who says the trial The government has provided food and other away entirely, he said. Finance Ministry permanent against her is politically motivat- assistance to a total of 116,817 displaced people “The villagers are now scared to live here,” secretary Somchai Sujjapongse told of 12 bank accounts which belong to Yingluck received a formal no- ed, faces up to 10 years in prison by yesterday, as well as longer-term shelter for he said. “The fl ooding has now decreased, but reporters yesterday that govern- Yingluck to the Legal Execution De- tice yesterday about her frozen if she is found guilty of negligence those outside settlements where fl ood waters erosion continues.” ment committees submitted details partment, which then took action. accounts from the department, over her role in the scheme. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 11 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

CRIME POWER PLAY WEATHER HEALTH Thai police busts $3mn China anti-graft watchdog Flooding hits north Japan Deadly H1N1 virus infects 13 in China phone scam gang probes Politburo member with more rain expected Myanmar, victim succumbs

A gang of 44 people from China and Taiwan have The Chinese Communist Party’s anti-graft Nearly 500 houses were inundated yesterday Myanmar yesterday called for calm on Monday been arrested in Thailand for running an elaborate watchdog has launched an investigation into a in northern Japan with authorities warning after 13 people were confirmed to have phone scam that conned $3mn from scores of Politburo member once seen as a contender for of more rain, flooding and mudslides in the contracted H1N1 influenza and a boy had died victims, police said yesterday. Raids on houses a top leadership post, just months before a major region. About 21,600 residents have been with flu-like symptoms, raising fears of a new in the capital Bangkok and the sleazy resort political congress. The Central Commission for ordered to evacuate their homes in the city outbreak of a virus also known as swine flu. Three town of Pattaya snared the well-organised gang, Discipline Inspection is investigating Sun Zhengcai, of Daisen, Akita prefecture, 470km north cases of H1N1 had been confirmed in Myanmar’s whose targets were mainly based in China. Police who some 10 days ago was ousted as party chief in of Tokyo, local officials said. There were no largest city, Yangon, on Friday, the Ministry of seized homemade sound-proof booths used to the major city of Chongqing, for “serious discipline reports of injuries in the affected region, Health and Sport said in a statement yesterday call the victims, who were carefully selected for violation”, the off icial Xinhua news agency said. according to the Akita prefecture. The heavy after news of the infections had already spread. their vulnerability. “There were about 120 victims Sun is the first serving member of the 25-person downpour pounded many areas of the region The ministry said another 10 people in Matupi had of this fraud, which was worth about 100mn Politburo to be placed under investigation since Bo over the weekend, causing mudslides and caught the virus this month. A 6-year-old boy also (baht) ($2.9mn),” an off icer from immigration Xilai, who was jailed for life in 2013. Xinhua’s report inundating farmland and residential areas, died in Matupi with severe respiratory problems Locals walk on the street in Yangon, wearing told AFP, requesting anonymity. Nineteen of the did not expand on the accusations nor say whether officials said. Some local train services, suspected to have been caused by H1N1, Dr Win face masks to protect themselves from the suspects are from China and 25 from Taiwan. Sun would remain a member of the Politburo. including bullet trains, have been suspended. Lwin of the Yangon health department said. H1N1 virus.

Climate protest UN accuses Australia of breaching refugee deal

AFP ferred to Cambodia or the United our what he has called a “dumb Sydney States. deal”, although it remains un- Australia sends anyone who clear how many Washington will tries to enter by boat without a accept. Protesters hold an Australian Aboriginal flag during a march calling for an end to the use of fossil fuels in Melbourne yesterday. he UN yesterday accused visa to remote detention facilities More than 1,000 remain off - Australia of backtracking on Nauru and Papua New Guin- shore and Canberra’s stance Ton a deal to relax its strong ea’s Manus Island. means “some with serious medi- stance on asylum-seekers and Even those subsequently cal conditions, or who have un- resettle some refugees now held found to be genuine refugees are dergone traumatic experiences, in overseas detention on home barred from settling in Australia. including sexual violence, can- soil. The immigration department not receive the support of their Pope’s treasurer faces sex abuse charges The UN High Commissioner said yesterday this had long been close family members residing in for Refugees (UNHCR) said it the case. Australia”, the UN said. had agreed last November to help “The position of the coalition “To avoid prolonging their Reuters tle in Melbourne revisits a troubled past for to the fence outside the city’s main Catholic relocate the boatpeople to the government has been clear and ordeal, UNHCR has no other Ballarat Ballarat, the former gold town of 100,000 church, St Patrick’s. United States on the basis that consistent: those transferred to choice but to endorse the reloca- people 120km to the west where Pell grew Pell, 76, testifi ed at both inquiries, most- Canberra would accept some of regional processing centres will tion of all refugees on Papua New up and cut his teeth as a priest in the 1970s ly about his knowledge of the handling of them who have links to Australia. never settle in Australia,” said a Guinea and Nauru to the United ne of the Pope’s top advisers, Cardi- and 1980s. complaints against the church when he was “We agreed to do so on the spokesperson. States, even those with close nal George Pell, makes his fi rst court Before a 2013 state government inquiry a young priest in the 1970s and 1980s. clear understanding that vulner- Immigration Minister Peter family members in Australia,” Oappearance in Australia this week on into institutional abuse, Ballarat was best He repeatedly denied direct knowledge of able refugees with close family Dutton reinforced this on Sun- Grandi added. charges of historic sex crimes, a bitter re- known to Australians as the site of the Eu- practices which, according to the testimony ties in Australia would ultimately day. Rights groups, who have long minder for his home town reeling from more reka Stockade, a bloody 1854 uprising by of others, involved moving suspect priests be allowed to settle there,” com- “No, people will not be coming accused the government of fail- than a dozen abuse cases. goldminers against colonial authorities. between parishes to avoid detection. Nei- missioner Filippo Grandi said in a to Australia. I have said that con- ing to uphold its international Pell, the Vatican’s economy minister, last But the government inquiry exposed ther inquiry heard complaints against Pell statement. sistently, the prime minister has obligations, called on Canberra month became the most senior Catholic to shocking accounts of child abuse and al- himself. “UNHCR has recently been said it consistently, as did prime to honour the deal it had alleg- be charged with sex crimes. legations of a cover-up in the Ballarat dio- Victoria state police, which brought the informed by Australia that it minister (Tony) Abbott at the edly struck with the UN. He has vowed to fi ght the still-unspecifi ed cese over many generations, sparking a more charges against Pell last month, haven’t said refuses to accept even these ref- time,” he told Sky News. “The right thing to do, the charges, calling them false and the result of a powerful federal Royal Commission that where the charges originated and haven’t ugees.” Prime Minister Malcolm humane thing to do, would be to “relentlelss character assassination”. He de- heard testimony from hundreds of people, off ered any detail other than that they were He added that they, along Turnbull struck a pact with immediately bring those trapped clined to respond to interview requests for including allegations against 17 priests in for multiple historic sex off ences. with the others in camps on the former US president Barack in Nauru and Manus Island to this story. He is expected to appear tomor- Ballarat alone. Police declined to comment on specifi c neighbouring nations of Nauru Obama to resettle some refugees Australia to be reunited with row before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. At least fi ve priests from the diocese have charges. The Royal Commission, which will and Papua New Guinea, had been in the camps in America. their family members here,” said Police have not released details of the been jailed for abuse. Supporters of the vic- deliver its fi nal report to the government told their only option was to stay President Donald Trump Amnesty International refugee charges, but the start of Pell’s court bat- tims have tied hundreds of colourful ribbons later this year, also declined to comment. where they were or be trans- has grudgingly agreed to hon- co-ordinator Graham Thom.

Vietnam says Indonesia navy fired on fishermen Japan PM Abe denies favours for friend amid falling support Four Vietnamese fishermen were injured in the South China Sea at the weekend after the Indonesian navy Reuters poll published on Sunday showed fired at their fishing boat, Vietnamese Tokyo Abe’s support slipping 10 points to authorities said yesterday. 26% from a previous survey in June. The Indonesian Navy denied its per- In addition, 56% of respondents sonnel fired directly on the fishermen. apanese Prime Minister Shinzo did not back Abe’s government, an in- The incident occurred on Saturday Abe, his ratings sinking over a crease of 12 points. and four men were injured — two of Jsuspected cronyism scandal, said Abe, known to get irritated at times them seriously, Vietnam’s provincial yesterday he had never instructed of- when grilled, admitted that previous search and rescue committee said in a fi cials to give preferential treatment eff orts to allay public concern had statement on its website. to a long-time friend, adding that the fallen short. A Vietnamese fishing patrol ship has latter had never sought favours. “I want to accept this sincerely as taken the two seriously injured men to Abe and his aides have repeat- the voice of the people,” he said of the Vietnam’s Con Dao Island, the commit- edly denied intervening to help Kake ratings slump. tee said. Gakuen, an educational institution Abe’s aide, Hiroto Izumi, and The fishermen were fishing about whose director, Kotaro Kake, is a former top education ministry offi cial 245km south-east of the island. friend of the prime minister, win ap- Kihei Maekawa, who has accused the “One warning shot was fired to proval for a veterinary school in a spe- government of distorting the approv- the air and the illegal foreign ship cial economic zone. al process for the veterinary school, was chased out of the Indonesian Abe’s support has plunged below clashed at the panel session. exclusive economic zone,” Indonesian 30% in some opinion polls, hit by the Izumi denied Maekawa’s account navy spokesman Colonel Gig Jonias suspected scandal and a perception that he had implied in a conversation Sipasulta said. among many voters that his adminis- with the latter that Kake Gakuen’s “So the Vietnamese claims are false,” tration is taking them for granted. new school should be approved “be- he said. “The navy has always taken The slump is encouraging rivals cause the prime minister cannot say measured action in accordance with and casting doubt on Abe’s prospects so himself”. the procedure.” of becoming Japan’s longest-serving Opposition lawmakers said they Disputes and clashes have risen in prime minister by winning a third were unconvinced by Abe’s denials. recent years between claimants in the three-year term when his current ten- “The people’s doubts are deep- South China Sea. ure ends in September 2018. ening,” Democratic Party member China claims as much as 90% of Abe told a special session of parlia- Yuichiro Tamaki told the panel. sovereignty in the South China Sea, but ment’s lower house budget committee Abe also rejected an opposition Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Viet- that it was not surprising the public call to fi re Defence Minister Tomomi nam and Taiwan also have claims. had doubts, given that Kake had been Inada, a protege, over media reports Indonesia is not a claimant in the dis- his friend since they were students, of direct involvement in a ministry pute, but its navy has clashed several but added that Kake had “never once” cover-up of documents. times with Chinese and Vietnamese sought favours. Inada reiterated her denial of re- fishermen it has accused of illegal “There was no request or lobbying ports that she allowed defence offi - fishing. regarding the establishment of a new cials to conceal logs of the activities On June 9, Indonesian authorities veterinary school,” Abe said. of the Self-Defense Forces, as Japan’s freed 695 Vietnamese fishermen who Asked if he had intervened in the military is known, in a UN-led peace- were detained for illegal fishing around approval process, Abe said: “I have keeping operation in South Sudan. several Indonesian islands. never issued instructions regarding Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a lower house budget committee session at the parliament in Tokyo. She is expected to be replaced in a Nearly 200 Vietnamese fishermen specifi c cases.” cabinet reshuffl e next month as Abe remain in custody in Indonesia as sus- Abe also pledged to regain public Adding to the headaches for Abe, That follows this month’s historic since much of Abe’s clout stems from tries to repair his damaged ratings, a pects and witnesses pending trials in trust by “producing results”, giving an opposition-backed candidate on defeat for the ruling Liberal Demo- his record of stacking up poll victories step that can backfi re if novice minis- maritime courts, said Eko Djalmo of the priority to the economy and diplo- Sunday won a mayoral election for the cratic Party (LDP) in elections for the for the party. ters become embroiled in scandals or Indonesian Marine Resources Ministry. macy. northern city of Sendai. Tokyo assembly, a devastating blow, A July 22-23 Mainichi newspaper make gaff es. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 BRITAIN

TRAVEL DECISION PEOPLE DECISION DATA Grayling confirms support TV producer involved Council asks landlords Sweet-toothed Brits hit for Crossrail 2 project in road rage incident to scrap letting fees hardest by ‘shrinkflation’

The £30bn Crossrail 2 project took a major A TV producer behind Sir David Tenants in east London could save hundreds Britain’s sweet and chocolate lovers have been step forward yesterday as Transport Secretary Attenborough’s BBC nature documentaries of pounds after council bosses launched a hit hardest by shrinking packet sizes, according Chris Grayling confirmed that he supported has been caught on camera launching a scheme to stop landlords charging letting fees. to off icial figures published yesterday. Over the scheme. The minister said there was no shocking tirade at a family during a road- Labour-run Hackney will become England’s 2,500 household items are smaller now than doubt London needed new infrastructure in rage incident. Furious wildlife producer and first council to off icially put pressure on they were in 2012, the Off ice for National order to retain its status as the UK’s economic director Fergus Beeley told the family “I want letting agents to scrap the charges, which Statistics said in a report on the trend among powerhouse. His remarks will calm fears among you dead” as he tried to make a citizen’s can cost those in private accommodation food producers and other manufacturers of politicians and businesses that the government arrest during a bizarre rant. Simon Gale, 33, up to £800, according to research. The off ering consumers less for the same price in had gone cool on the capital’s flagship driving the other car, said Beeley flew into council is “encouraging” local agents to sign response to higher raw material costs. However, infrastructure project. There had been concerns a “raving state” after both cars pulled over up to the voluntary scheme in which they the impact on Britain’s off icial inflation measures the scheme could be derailed by competing at the side of a motorway on Saturday. He will promise not to land their tenants with was only noticeable for sugar, jams, syrups, Commuters suff ered a double dose of travel pressures from the North after it was left out claims Beeley grabbed him around the throat unnecessary charges. It comes ahead of a chocolate and confectionery, contributing 1.22% woe yesterday with a signal failure hitting of the Tory manifesto and Queen’s Speech. Yet and also attempted to push his mother-in-law pledged government ban on the fees, charged to the rate of inflation of sweet items since 2012. Waterloo station and problems across the Tube despite the transport secretary’s backing, there towards oncoming traff ic, shouting “Do you for services such as processing, amending or Brits with a sweet tooth might find the news a network. remain questions about how it will be funded. know who I am?” renewing a tenancy agreement. bit hard to swallow.

Blood ‘found on Ben Needham’s sandal, toy car’

Guardian News and Media samples on the items but that London further testing was required to link them directly to Ben. The sandal was reportedly igns of blood have been found in 2012 at the site where found on a toy car and Konstantinos “Dino” Barkas Ssandal believed to have was operating a digger, while belonged to toddler Ben Need- the car was discovered last year ham, who disappeared on Kos at another spot. Barkas is be- 26 years ago. lieved to have died from stom- South Yorkshire police said ach cancer in 2015. the development “corrobo- Prof Lorna Dawson, head of rates and strengthens” the the soil forensics group at the theory Ben died in an accident James Hutton Institute in Ab- at his grandparents’ farmhouse erdeen, said a team of scientists where he had been staying. had discovered the “chemical But Ben’s mother, Kerry fi nger print” of compounds left Needham, said the discovery behind “when there has been was evidence of a “massive decomposition or decay”. cover-up” and that her son’s “There’s a strong indication body must have been moved from this chemical profi le that after his death: “It shows more this was present on those items of a conspiracy because they as a result of blood decomposi- didn’t fi nd Ben’s body,” she told tion,” she said. the Daily Mirror. “It’s signifi cant in identify- ing that there had been a hu- man who had bled in contact Chris Gard reads out a statement while Charlie’s mother Connie Yates (right) looks on at the Royal Courts of Justice in London yesterday. with those items. The biologist has to come in now and iden- tify who left that blood on that item by extracting the DNA.” Detective inspector Jon Cousins added: “It’s not evi- dence, it’s intelligence which supports what we believe, that unfortunately and tragically Parents of terminally ill Ben died as a result of an inci- dent at that farmhouse. It’s my belief that (the fi ndings) cor- Ben went missing roborate and strengthen that while playing near his theory.” grandparents’ farmhouse, Kerry Needham said the in Iraklis, while it was discovery suggested there had baby agree to let him die being renovated on July been a “massive cover-up” of 24, 1991 her son’s death and that his AFP organs. Doctors believe Gard’s but lost in both the Supreme body must have been moved London brain damage is “severe and irre- Court and the European Court of “That proves it to me with- before police searched the two versible” and have said the baby Human Rights in Strasbourg. out doubt they obviously sites last October. “may be suff ering”. The ruling led to the interven- moved him and buried him She told the Daily Mirror: he parents of baby Charlie Great Ormond Street Hospital tion of both US President Donald and, for whatever reason, dug “This confi rms what the police Gard yesterday abandoned argued that Gard’s illness has left Trump and Pope Francis, who him up. There’s no other ex- have been saying all along. My Ttheir legal fi ght to take him him “deprived of his senses” and off ered to help the baby, lead- planation.” Ben was killed in an accident. to the US for experimental treat- that he is “without any aware- ing the hospital to ask the courts Ben went missing while But it also suggests that not ment in a case that has attracted ness” as far as doctors can tell. for a fi nal assessment of any new playing near his grandparents’ only did they kill my boy and global attention. “He has no quality of life and evidence. farmhouse, in Iraklis, while it bury him where the toy car was A lawyer representing Gard’s no real prospect of any quality of The latest legal battle saw was being renovated on July 24, found, they then moved him parents Connie Yates and Chris life,” the hospital said. new testimony from a US neu- 1991. before police got to the site last Gard told judge Nicholas Fran- But father Chris Gard criti- rologist, but a lawyer also Last October, South York- October. cis at London’s High Court that cised the authorities, saying warned the boy’s parents Con- shire police formally ended an “What kind of human being “time had run out” and that they “there is one simple reason why nie Yates and Chris Gard that extensive search of the site, and does that? It just infuriates me. had made their decision after treatment cannot now go ahead, latest scans made “sad reading”. a second site 750 metres away, How can they do such a thing? seeing the 11-month-old’s latest and that is time. In response, Chris Gard shout- saying they believe the toddler He was defi nitely wearing brain scans. “Had Charlie been given the ed “evil”, while mother Connie may have been crushed by a those sandals that day. They “We have decided it is no treatment sooner, he would have burst into tears. digger working on the renova- were the only ones we could longer in Charlie’s best interests had the potential to be a normal, Dominic Wilkinson, profes- tion. keep on his feet. to pursue treatment and we will healthy little boy,” he said. sor of medical ethics University Ben’s body has never been “And we’re 99.9% sure that let our son go,” father Chris Gard Supporters of Charlie Gard’s parents break down on hearing on the “We will have to live with the of Oxford, said there needed to found although other items – car was Ben’s. He was playing said outside court. “He had a real baby’s future, in London, yesterday. what-ifs, that will haunt us for be “better ways to avoid cases thought to be a toy car and san- with them that day. You can genuine chance of life. We are the rest of our lives. Our son is an of disagreement from coming to dal belonging to the 21-month- sort of forgive an accident in truly devastated. Judge Francis had been due ment that has never been used on absolute warrior and we will miss court.” old – are being tested for his time but when somebody takes “We are now going to spend to rule on whether there was a human being. him terribly.” “This would mean that pa- DNA after being recovered that further and starts picking our last precious moments with enough new evidence to allow Charlie suff ers from a rare form The couple fought a long legal tients can access early experi- previously. up a dead child and moving his our son, who unfortunately won’t the parents to take the baby, who of mitochondrial disease, which fi ght to allow them to take their mental treatment if there is a rea- Scientists yesterday said remains again, it’s monstrous make his fi rst birthday in just un- suff ers from a rare genetic disor- causes progressive muscle weak- child out of London’s Great Or- sonable chance that it would not they had found human blood behaviour.” der two weeks time,” he added. der, to the US for a type of treat- ness in the heart and other key mond Street Hospital (GOSH), cause signifi cant harm,” he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 13 EUROPE

TRADITION POLITICS CRIME MISHAP Spain’s Balearic Islands Macron faces court Italian bank robbers don Fire on Danube cruise ban bull killing in corridas challenge over party rules Trump masks for heists vessel forces evacuation

Spain’s Balearic Islands yesterday banned the French President Emmanuel Macron faced the Italian police said yesterday they had arrested Almost 200 passengers and crew on a cruise killing of bulls in corridas in a decision feted by first grassroots revolt from within his own camp two brothers suspected of robbing dozens of along the Danube river had to be evacuated animal rights activists but decried by supporters yesterday when hundreds of activists asked a cash machines wearing masks of President from their vessel yesterday when a blaze broke of the controversial, centuries-old tradition. court to halt voting on new rules for the political Trump. The stunt evokes the 1991 film Point out on board, the Austrian fire service said. While not prohibiting bullfighting outright, the party that helped him win power in May. The Break, in which a gang of surfers don masks of The passengers, who were on a trip with German regional parliament of the Spanish archipelago challenge came on the heels of a poll showing ex-US presidents while robbing banks. police river-cruise line A-Rosa from Linz to Budapest, voted an animal protection law banning the Bull fighting a slump in the president’s approval rating after said the brothers had been inspired by a diff erent were taken off and moved to a nearby ship use of “sharp implements that can injure and/ a series of politically testing events, including a film. “Inspired by the (1997) film The Jackal, after the blaze started close to the village of or kill the bull” in the ring, eff ectively outlawing not the only region to have banned or restricted budget row that prompted the head of the army whose protagonist — played by Bruce Willis — Schoenbuehel-Aggsbach in Lower Austria, a the slaughter of the animal. The law also limits bullfighting as an increasing number of Spaniards to quit. Members of Macron’s Republic on the changes the colour of his car because police are fire brigade spokesman said. No-one was hurt. to three the number of animals that bullfighters discard it as a cruel event. But the measures have Move party (LREM), which espouses a break with in pursuit,” the police said. The brothers, aged Twelve fire trucks and several boats with around can spar with, for a maximum duration of ten always come up against stiff resistance from old ways of doing politics, are taking part in an 26 and 30, targeted cash machines near Turin. 150 fire fighters fought the blaze before bringing minutes per bull. It also forces bullfighters and supporters who see the tradition as an integral electronic vote on new party statutes that is due In closed circuit footage of one of the robberies, it under control after two hours. Five ship crew animals to take anti-doping tests before and part of Spanish culture. Last October, Spain’s to end on July 31. The activists involved in the one of the brothers in a Trump mask is seen members who tried to extinguish the fire were after the corrida, and only allows people aged Constitutional Court cancelled a bullfighting ban legal challenge say they number about 1,200, a covering the cameras in the lobby of a bank and treated for smoke inhalation in hospital, a 18 and above to watch. The Balearic Islands are in the northeastern region of Catalonia. fraction of the LREM’s total membership. planting an explosive in the cash dispenser. spokesman for the Red Cross said. Germany Santa Congress wants more sanctions on Russia

Reuters states could discuss the matter Brussels for the fi rst time in Brussels as soon as Wednesday. The EU needs unanimity to impose or ermany is urging the extend any sanctions. European Union to add Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy and Gup to four more Russian Cyprus are among EU states nationals and companies to the which are usually sceptical of bloc’s sanctions blacklist over Russia sanctions. They take Siemens gas turbines delivered the line that punitive measures to Moscow-annexed Crimea, have failed to force a change of People dressed as Santa Claus take a canal tour of Copenhagen as they take part in the World Santa Claus Congress, an annual event held every summer at the amusement two sources in Brussels said. course by Moscow while hurt- park Dyrehavsbakken, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The EU has barred its fi rms ing European business. from doing business with Cri- Reuters fi rst reported a year mea since the 2014 annexa- ago on the Siemens case, which tion, imposed sanctions on has exposed the diffi culties of Russian individuals and enti- imposing EU sanctions. Sie- ties, and curbed co-operation mens, trying to distance itself with Russia in energy, arms from the scandal, last week and fi nance over its role in the said it was halting deliveries of crisis in Ukraine. power equipment to Russian After it annexed Crimea state-controlled customers from Kiev, Moscow threw its and reviewing supply deals. support behind a separatist European Commis- President of Poland rebellion in eastern Ukraine, sion preparations to retali- which has killed more than ate against proposed new US 10,000 people and is still sim- sanctions on Russia that could mering. aff ect European fi rms are likely The EU’s blacklist compris- to face resistance within a bloc es 150 people and 37 entities divided on how to deal with subject to an asset freeze and a Moscow, diplomats, offi cials travel ban. The restrictions are and experts say. halts judicial reform in place until September 15. A bill agreed by US Senate “The regular review would and House leaders foresees The president is an ally of the protesters have been gathering in cities propriation of the courts. normally be the moment to fi nes for companies aiding government and his veto is considered including Warsaw, Krakow and Poznan I congratulate all Poles — this is a great look at who is on the list. In Russia to build energy export a surprise for candle-lit vigils, demanding that Duda success.” the past, when there were good pipelines. veto the reforms. Anna Materska, a political scientist grounds, we’ve added entries EU fi rms involved in Nord Reuters The opposition and most legal experts at the University of Warsaw, said Duda’s to the list,” an EU offi cial said. Stream 2, a 9.5bn euro ($11.1bn) Warsaw say the changes violate the Polish consti- move to distance himself from a fl ag- Siemens says it has evidence project to carry Russian gas tution. ship PiS policy after previously appearing that all four turbines it deliv- across the Baltic, are likely to But the government has rebutted accu- closely aligned to the party could be a po- ered for a project in south- be aff ected. olish President Andrzej Duda said sations that it is heading toward authori- litical watershed. ern Russia had been illegally Both the European Union yesterday that he would veto two tarian rule. “What happened required courage, but moved to Crimea. and the United States imposed Pof three bills passed by parliament The PiS says the changes are needed to president was backed against the wall and German government spokes- broad economic sanctions on in a judicial reform that has triggered na- ensure courts serve all Poles, not just the had no other option. This is a key moment woman Ulrike Demmer said Russia’s fi nancial, defence and tionwide street protests and raised EU and “elites”. in the events of the latest months, maybe yesterday the turbines were energy sectors in response to US concerns about a politicisation of the Police off icers struggle with demonstra- PiS legislator Jacek Sasin said he was even years.” delivered to Crimea against the Moscow’s annexation of Cri- courts. tors during a protest next to the Law and surprised by Duda’s move. A senior PiS source who declined to be terms of the contract and de- mea from Ukraine in 2014 and Duda is an ally of the ruling right-wing, Justice party headquarters in Warsaw. “I’m afraid the president’s decision named said: “This shows that the presi- spite high-ranking assurances its direct support for separa- eurosceptic Law and Justice party and, al- may mean that we will have to wait much dent wants to be a decision maker. We will from Russian offi cials that this tists in eastern Ukraine. though he had threatened to water down giving it the right to name most of the longer for the reform, a real reform of the think what happened next, there will be would not happen. But northern EU states one of the bills, his veto of a second bill members of the National Council of the Polish judiciary, unfortunately,” he told meetings within the party.” Berlin was currently con- in particular have sought to was a surprise. Judiciary, which would nominate future the state broadcaster TVP Info. Duda did signal that he would ratify one sulting on what consequences shield the supplies of Russian “I have decided that I will send back to candidates for the president to appoint to PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski declined part of the reforms, a bill that gives the this “unacceptable” operation gas that they rely on. the Sejm (lower house of parliament) — the supreme court. to answer reporters’ questions as he head- justice minister the right to dismiss the might have, she said, adding, Markus Beyrer, director of which means I will veto — the bill on the “I’m absolutely a supporter of this re- ed into a party leadership meeting sum- heads of lower courts. however, that the onus was on the EU’s main business lobby, Supreme Court, as well as the one on the form, but a wise reform,” Duda said in a moned to discuss the unexpected veto. His vetoes can in theory be overridden companies to ensure they did Business Europe, urged Wash- National Council of the Judiciary,” Duda brief live statement.”As president, I feel The EU executive, the European Com- in parliament, but this requires a three- not violate the sanctions re- ington to “avoid unilateral ac- said. deep inside my soul that this reform in this mission, on Wednesday gave Poland a fi fths majority with at least half of all MPs gime. tions that would mainly hit the The move quickly found favour with form will not increase the sense of security week to shelve the reforms, which Brussels present, which PiS and its coalition part- The proposed additions to EU, its citizens and its compa- foreign investors, boosting the Polish cur- and justice.” says would put courts under direct gov- ners are unlikely to be able to muster. the blacklist could include nies”. rency, the zloty, around 0.7% against the The overhaul of the judiciary, coupled ernment control. William Jackson, senior emerging mar- Russian energy ministry offi - The Commission, the EU euro. with a drive by PiS to expand its powers in The United States, Poland’s most im- kets economist at Capital Economics, said cials and the Russian company executive, will discuss next On Saturday, the upper house had given other areas, including control of the me- portant ally in Nato, also expressed con- that, as far as foreign investors were con- that moved the turbines to the steps tomorrow, a day after the fi nal approval to a bill that would remove dia, has provoked a crisis in relations with cern. cerned, much would now depend on how Black Sea peninsula, one sen- US House votes on the legis- all current supreme court judges imme- the European Union and sparked one of Katarzyna Lubnauer, head of the par- the bills were redrafted and “whether, ior diplomatic source in Brus- lation, knowing that the US diately except those hand-picked by the the biggest political confl icts since Poland liamentary caucus of the opposition party in their fi nal form, they will continue to sels said. move threatens to reopen divi- justice minister. overthrew communism in 1989. Nowoczesna, welcomed Duda’s move: cause alarm for investors and for the Eu- Another source said repre- sions over the bloc’s own Rus- Parliament had earlier passed a bill For many days, tens of thousands of “What we had was not a reform, but ap- ropean Union”. sentatives of all 28 EU member sia sanctions. Swiss chainsaw attacker on the run

AFP ter Sticher told reporters that an “This is a dangerous and aggres- Schaff hausen, Switzerland insurance company with offi ces sive man,” the chief of security in in the building was the apparent Schaff hausen, Ravi Landoldt, told target, indicating the attacker had reporters. “This was not his fi rst man armed with a chain- a grievance with the fi rm. contact with police.” e was de- saw injured at least fi ve The authorities were alerted tained in 2014 and again in 2016 Apeople in Switzerland yes- about 10 minutes after the ram- for weapons violations, police terday and is on the run after a page began and rushed offi cers, said. rampage that police said was not ambulances and helicopters to the Despite low crime rates, Swit- “a terrorist act”. scene. zerland has one of the highest Offi cers have identifi ed the as- The injured included one em- rates of fi rearm ownership in the sailant as a 52-year-old man with ployee of the insurance company world and police said it was likely a criminal history and no fi xed who suff ered serious wounds, that the suspect had weapons. address who reportedly has spent Schaff hausen police said, adding The manhunt by Schaff hausen signifi cant time living in a forest. that all the victims had been hos- police is being supported by of- The attack began shortly af- pitalised. fi cers in Zurich as well as German ter the suspect entered an offi ce The town’s historic old quarter authorities, the ATS news agency building in the northern town of had been sealed off by a large de- Portraits of a man wanted for a chainsaw attack. reported, adding that the sus- Schaff hausen at 10:30am (0830 ployment of offi cers who evacu- pect’s vehicle, a white Volkswa- German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen visits soldiers at GMT), local police said in a state- ated all businesses and pedestri- turned to the area. show him looking dishevelled. gen, has been found. In state- the Bavarian Saaleck barracks, a site of a multi-national UN training ment. ans, but the barricades were later Police have distributed pho- He is pictured standing alone in ments, police underscored that ground, in Hammelburg, Germany. Schaff hausen prosecutor Pe- removed and regular traffi c has re- tos of the presumed attacker that what appears to be a forested area. the attack was not “a terrorist act”. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 INDIA

COMMENT ASSAULT OBITUARY CONTROVERSY POLITICS Not sure if 39 missing Army apologises for Modi leads tributes to Kerala MLA’s bail MPs’ suspension leads to Indians are alive: Iraq beating eight policemen space scientist U R Rao plea hearing today Lok Sabha adjournment

Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari yesterday The army has apologised for beating up eight Renowned space scientist U R Rao, the architect A court in Thiruvananthapuram yesterday posted The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day said in New Delhi that he was not sure whether the policemen in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal of early satellites including Aryabhatta, Bhaskar, the bail hearing of Congress MLA M Vincent, yesterday after opposition members created 39 Indians missing in the city of Mosul since 2014 district. The apology came after the director Apple, Rohini and multi-purpose Insat series, died arrested in a sexual harassment case, for today. pandemonium as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan are alive. “I am not 100% sure if the 39 Indians general of police lodged a strong protest against in Bengaluru early yesterday, an Indian Space Vincent was arrested on Saturday, a day after being suspended six Congress MPs for five consecutive missing in Mosul are alive,” al-Jaafari told the the Saturday evening incident when the soldiers Research Organisation off icial. Rao, 85, died at his charged with sexual harassment and stalking of a sittings for improper conduct. The MPs had media. “We are trying our best (to trace them).” returning from Amarnath were stopped at a residence around 3am after a prolonged illness 51-year-old woman, who attempted suicide earlier thrown some torn papers towards the Speaker’s Most of the 39 Indian construction workers who checkpost in Gund area by the policemen. The and due to age-related health issues, the off icial this week. The police plea seeking custody of the podium. Soon after the house met at 2.30pm, the went missing in 2014 are from Punjab. Al-Jaafari’s policemen told the soldiers that the government added. Rao, who was ISRO chairman for a decade legislator for five days for further questioning opposition members rushed towards the Speaker’s comments came after Minister of State for External had fixed a cut-off timing for movement in the until 1994, leaves behind his wife, also a scientist, a was also posted for today. Since Saturday, the podium protesting against her decision. Deputy Aff airs V K Singh visited Iraq after Iraqi forces aided Valley and their vehicles could not be allowed to son and daughter. Rao’s death plunged the scientific legislator has been remanded to judicial custody chairman M Thambidurai, who was on the chair, by an international coalition liberated Mosul from move beyond the point. The army men alighted community into grief. “Saddened by the demise of at the Neyattinkara sub-jail. The court postponed urged the suspended members not to attend the the Islamic State on July 9. Al-Jaafari also held from their vehicles and without disclosing renowned scientist. His remarkable contribution to the hearing after Vincent’s counsel said the proceedings but the opposition members were on talks with External Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj their identity beat the policemen manning the India’s space programme will never be forgotten,” prosecution had not provided him details in the their feet. Amid the din, he adjourned the House yesterday. checkpost. tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. case. for the day. Legislator Up in flames claims bid on life as Dileep denied bail

By Ashraf Padanna interfere in the investigation,” the Thiruvananthapuram court held. “The petitioner is also involved in distribution and production he Kerala High Court yes- of fi lms and is also an owner of a terday dismissed the bail theatre. Defi nitely, he must wield Tapplication of jailed super- considerable infl uence in the in- star Dileep. The actor is being de- dustry,” the court said. tained on charges of plotting the Justice Sunil Thomas – who abduction and molestation of an delivered the judgement after go- actress. ing through the police case diary Earlier opposition Congress – agreed with the prosecution ar- party legislator P T Thomas com- guments that there was a possibil- plained to the Kochi police that ity of the petitioner infl uencing there had been an attempt on his or threatening several witnesses, Firefighters tackle a blaze at a building in a market in New Delhi yesterday. life. The local legislator was the who are also from the fi lm indus- fi rst to reach the actor-director try. Lal’s city home where the actress “Prima facie there are materi- had taken refuge after the crime. als to suspect the involvement of The Kerala police had arrested the actor in the crime,” the verdict 48-year-old Dileep earlier this said. month and a magistrate yesterday Last week, the prosecution extended his custody which was to lawyer had claimed in court that have ended today. the star was the “kingpin” in the The high court accepted the case and it was for the fi rst time in prosecution arguments that the state that a ‘contract’ for rape Kashmir shutdown today Dileep could tamper with evi- had been taken out. dence and infl uence witnesses The police arrested Dileep on if out on bail. The star, currently July 10 and produced him before lodged at the Aluva sub-jail, had a judge in Angamaly where the moved court after the magistrate co-star was kidnapped from. The rejected his earlier bail plea on July magistrate had remanded him for after key separatists held 15. 14 days. The court observed that there After spending a night in prison IANS down in the Valley today. Altaf details about the new evidences riyat leaders had been receiving The NIA had questioned the was material to suspect his in- with four criminals, the court gave Srinagar/New Delhi is the son-in-law of hardline collected by the NIA but con- funds from Pakistan for subver- arrested persons. Altaf was volvement in the crime and the police custody of the actor for two Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah fi rmed that more people could sive activities in the Valley. questioned earlier in Delhi for investigation was at a crucial days and later extended it by a day. Geelani, who advocates Jammu be arrested as the agency col- The NIA had registered a nearly two weeks. The NIA in stage. “The case is unique, con- Meanwhile, opposition Con- he National Investigation and Kashmir’s merger with Pa- lects more proof. He also did case on May 30 against sepa- June conducted raids in Srina- sidering the seriousness, metic- gress party legislator P T Thomas Agency (NIA) yesterday kistan, while Islam is a close not rule out the possibility of ratist leaders, including mem- gar, Jammu, Delhi and Haryana ulous planning, cruel nature of yesterday claimed there had been Tarrested seven key Kash- aide of moderate Hurriyat leader issuing summons to other Hur- bers of the Hurriyat, who have and seized “incriminating” evi- execution and for being a crime an attempt on his life. It was Tho- miri separatists on charges of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Akbar is riyat leaders, including Geelani been acting in connivance with dence against those involved in executed to wreak vengeance on mas who had alerted the police to receiving funds from Pakistan the spokesperson for the Geela- and Jammu Kashmir Liberation militants of outlawed terror- receiving funds. a woman by engaging criminals, the actress abduction and assault. to sponsor terror activities and ni-led Hurriyat. Front (JKLF) leader Mohamed ist groups Hizbul Mujahideen, The NIA charge-sheet names to sexually abuse her,” the court “When I was travelling on Sun- stone-pelting protests in the The six, who were arrested Yasin Malik who gave the call Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar- Hafi z Mohamed Saeed, the Pa- said. “Courts have to be circum- day evening, another motorist Kashmir Valley. from Srinagar, were later fl own for the ‘Kashmir shutdown’ to e-Taiba and others for raising kistan-based chief of Jamaat-ud spect in granting bail in such alerted my driver that the car’s Nayeem Khan, Altaf Ahmad to Delhi. They will be presented condemn what they called were and receiving funds. Dawah, the front of the banned cases,” it added. wheels had almost come off ,” h e Shah, Aftab Hilali Shah alias before special NIA judge at the the “revengeful, arbitrary, and Investigators said the funds Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as an It also pointed out that “cru- said. “Some of the bolts of all four Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar Patiala House Courts today, an illegal arrests”. were received by the separatists accused, besides organisations cial material objects, the mobile wheels had been taken off . When I Khandey, Peer Saifullah and NIA offi cial said, adding their It is the fi rst time so many through illegal means for funding such as the Hurriyat Confer- phone used to record the sexual consulted the car dealer, they said Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal were custody would be sought for senior members of the Hurriyat separatist and terrorist activities ence, Hizbul Mujahideen, and assault and a memory card have the vehicle had been serviced just arrested from Srinagar while further questioning. The arrest- Conference have been arrested in Jammu and Kashmir and for Dukhtaran-e-Millat. yet to be recovered.” three days ago and it was most Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta ed persons have been booked on on charges of receiving money causing disruption in Kashmir During the raids, the NIA had “The memory card is a poten- certainly not a mechanical fault.” Karate was arrested from Delhi. charges of criminal conspiracy from Pakistan. through street protests, burn- seized unaccounted for account tial threat to the life of the victim Congress president M M Has- Calling the arrests “revenge- and abetting waging war against The Geelani-led Hurriyat sus- ing of schools, damaging pub- books, Rs20mn and letterheads and there is every possibility of san has demanded a thorough in- ful and arbitrary”, the Hurriyat the Indian state. pended Nayeem Khan after he lic properties and waging war of banned terrorist groups, in- one of the accused attempting to vestigation into the incident. leadership called for a shut- The offi cial refused to divulge confessed in a TV sting that Hur- against the government. cluding the LeT and Hizbul.

Flood-hit Naidu accused of Duo get death in Nithari graft, favouritism serial rape and murder IANS Metropolitan Development New Delhi Authority”. “Is it not a fact that such an IANS imprisonment would be increased Also seeking the death penalty exemption has no precedent Ghaziabad for failure to pay the fi nes. for both convicts, lawyer Khalid he Congress yester- and it has been done because his Pandher was slapped with a Khan, appearing for the victim’s day attacked National daughter is the managing trus- Rs10,000 fi ne under Section 302, family, alleged that police had been TDemocratic Alliance’s tee of the organisation,” Ramesh Central Bureau of Inves- a seven-year jail term along with a lax from the beginning and there- vice presidential candidate M asked. tigation court yesterday Rs10,000 fi ne under Sections 376 fore the woman’s family had en- Venkaiah Naidu over issues of Earlier in July 2014, the Telan- Aconvicted businessman and 511 and seven years jail and a gaged him in the case. transparency and probity, al- gana government had placed an Moninder Singh Pandher and his Rs5,000 fi ne under Section 201. On October 5, 2006, the woman leging the Telangana govern- order worth about Rs2.71bn for domestic help Surender Koli to All jail terms will be increased on was returning home from work ment had placed a direct order the purchase of police vehicles death in a Nithari serial rape and failing to pay the fi nes, the court when she took the road outside for purchase of vehicles with from two companies – Harsha murder case, observing it was said. Pandher’s residence. Koli lured her a company belonging to his Toyota owned by Naidu’s son a rarest of rare case which had The case, the eighth of the sev- into the home where she was killed son and had granted exemp- and Himanshu Motors owned shaken the society. eral lodged against them, was reg- and her body mutilated . Investi- tion from Rs20mn charges to by the son of Telangana Chief Special judge Pawan Kumar Tri- istered by the Central Bureau of gators found her skull behind the a trust in which his daughter Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. pathi gave the ruling after fi nding Investigation (CBI) on December house, and its DNA matched with was a managing trustee. “Is it not a fact that such an the duo guilty of rape, murder, ab- 29, 2006. her parents. Congress leader Jairam order was placed in contraven- duction, tampering with evidence Koli and Pandher were present Her parents also identifi ed her Ramesh posed four questions tion of all rules and without and criminal conspiracy over the in court during sentencing. Pand- clothes, which were recovered to Naidu and the Bharatiya Ja- even fl oating a tender?” Ramesh killing of a 20-year-old woman. her was earlier out on bail but was from Koli. nata Party (BJP), saying it is asked. He claimed that the The judge also slapped a fi ne of taken into police custody on Sat- Defence lawyer Devraj Singh mandatory for them to answer Kushabhau Thakre Memorial Rs10,000 on Koli under Section urday after being held guilty. pleaded for minimum punishment the queries as they have spoken Trust with Naidu as its chair- 302, a further 10 years for abduc- Prosecution lawyer J P Sharma as Pandher suff ers from high blood of transparency, accountability man was allotted 20 acres of tion with intention to murder, sought the death sentence and pressure and diabetes. and honesty. land in Shahpura, Bhopal, val- Rs10,000 fi ne, 10 years jail under argued that forensic evidence He also said it has been proved Ramesh said the Telangana ued at a few hundred crore ru- Sections 376 (rape) and 511 (at- had proved that Koli abducted, that on the day of the crime, Pand- government had issued an pees in September 2004. tempt to commit off ences punish- raped and killed the woman and her was in Dehradun. The grue- order in June this year which “Is it not a fact that this land able with imprisonment for life), a also tampered with evidence. some cases came to light in 2006 “exempted the Swarna Bharat was allotted by the BJP govern- Rs10,000 fi ne and a seven-year jail Since Pandher had colluded with when the police discovered the Trust of Naidu’s daughter ment of Madhya Pradesh for a term and Rs5,000 fi ne under Sec- his domestic help he deserved skulls and bones of 16 persons, A woman wades through a road flooded by heavy rain in from paying various charg- one-time premium of Rs2.5mn tion 201 (causing disappearance of the same punishment for the mostly children, near Pandher’s Ahmedabad yesterday. es amounting to more than and a yearly rent of one rupee?” evidence of off ence). All terms of crime, he said. house in Noida’s Nithari village. Rs20mn to the Hyderabad Ramesh asked. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 15 PAKISTAN

PML-N goes into 25 killed, dozens injured a huddle ahead in Lahore bomb blast of SC ruling Internews and National Assembly Secre- zSuicide attack suspected Islamabad tariat denied any such meet- zCause of blast not ing had taken place. immediately clear According to his offi ce, the zPresident, PM and army ublicly, PML-N lead- prime minister didn’t meet chief condole loss of life ers are denying media’s any political personality over P‘guessing game’ about the weekend in Murree while AFP the possibility of an in-house the National Assembly Secre- Lahore change in the government, tariat said the speaker spent but behind the scenes a head- yesterday in Lahore. hunt is said to be ongoing Sources, however, say the n explosion killed at for a replacement in case the prime minister decided to least 25 people and in- Supreme Court disqualifi es meet Sadiq in Shangla on Mu- Ajured dozens in a busy Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. qam’s advice, away from me- vegetable market in the Paki- Several rounds of consulta- dia’s attention. stani city of Lahore yesterday, tions are being held at Sharif’s The meetings, sources say, officials said, but the cause of mansions in Murree, Lahore, were part of the PML-N’s the blast was not immediately and at the Prime Minister contingency plan ahead of the clear. House in Islamabad. Supreme Court ruling on Pan- The powerful explosion hit a One such meeting took amagate. bustling main road in the south place in Shangla, a remote Notwithstanding Sharif’s of Lahore and blew out windows mountainous district of Khy- frequent meetings with top in nearby buildings. ber-Pakhtunkhwa, sources party aides, reports suggest “(The explosion) seems like said. Shehbaz Sharif, the chief a suicide blast targeting police, Sources say Sharif has been minister of Punjab, would the but we are still ascertaining the frequently interacting with ultimate choice of the prime nature of the explosion,” said the senior aides, including Kha- minister if he has to step aside. city’s commissioner Abdullah waja Asif, Shahid Khaqan Constitutionally, however, Khan Sumbul. Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal and Ayaz Shehbaz would require to get A spokesman for Lahore po- Sadiq. elected to the National As- lice, Syed Hammad Shah, put the These four senior members sembly, a process that may toll at 25 dead with 40 injured. of the ruling party are said take up to 60 days. Senior local administration to be potential choice for the This means, whoever steps offi cial Sumair Ahmad Syed coveted slot of prime minister, into Sharif’s shoes, if he is dis- confi rmed the death toll, though if Sharif is disqualifi ed by the qualifi ed, would be a stopgap he put the number of injured at top court. arrangement. 35. Sharif has met Asif, Abbasi, Muqam confi rmed he was Interior Minister Chaudhry Iqbal and Sadiq several times in Shangla yesterday but re- Nisar Ali Khan told a press con- A policeman collects evidence from the crime scene after a suicide blast in Lahore yesterday. over the past few days, it was fused to comment on whether ference held minutes after the learnt. Sharif and his family members blast that most of the casualties shoppers at the time. kistan’s more than decade-long out the country’s long overdue areas, where militants had previ- However, Asif has publicly were also there or if Sadiq was were police offi cers, but was un- Eyewitness Sher Dil, who war on extremism, but they census. ously operated with impunity. denied the possibility of an in- called for a meeting. “I can’t able to confi rm the nature of the works at an offi ce close to the site have been less frequent in recent After years of spiralling in- Explosions caused by gas house change in the govern- say anything at the moment. explosion. of the explosion, said it blew out years. security, the powerful army cylinders — which are used for ment. In fact, I am in the middle Senior police offi cer Haider the windows of his offi ce build- The last major blast in the city launched a crackdown on mili- cooking as well as in cars — are Yesterday, Sharif and his of something important and Ashraf told AFP that at least 10 ing. was in March last year, when 75 tancy in the wake of a brutal at- also common in Pakistan. family reportedly met Sadiq. not in a position to speak right police offi cers were among the “I was in my office when it were killed and hundreds injured tack on a school in late 2014. A blast in Lahore in Febru- Little is known about the now,” he said. dead. all happened. It was a deaf- in a bomb targeting Christians More than 150 people, most ary was initially thought to be a meeting offi cially. Second tier leaders of the The area was busy with police ening blast, which shook the celebrating Easter Sunday in a of them children, died in the militant attack, but turned out to According to reports, Sharif PML-N came under fi re yes- at the time because offi cers had entire Arfa Karim Towers,” Dil park. Taliban-led assault in the north- be a gas explosion. called Sadiq for an ‘important terday from journalists for the been sent to the market to clear said. But the country was hit by western city of Peshawar — the Offi cials have since been cau- meeting’ in Murree where the government’s inaction over stalls that had illegally spilt onto Pakistan’s president, prime a wave of attacks in February country’s deadliest ever single tious about prematurely con- ruling family members were recent manhandling of a fe- the road. minister and army chief all is- this year, including a bomb that attack. fi rming the nature of explosions. also present. male colleague by FIA offi cials Provincial law minister Rana sued statements expressing con- killed 14 people in Lahore. It shook a country already Lahore, a city of around 6mn, Some reports claim the at PIMS. Sanaullah said the blast had ap- dolences for the loss of life. In April a further seven were grimly accustomed to atrocities is Pakistan’s cultural hub and meeting took place in Changla Just as Tariq Fazal Chaud- peared to target the vegetable Lahore has been hit by sig- killed in an attack in the city tar- and prompted the military to the capital of its most powerful Gali near Murree. hry and Daniyal Aziz sat to market, which was crowded with nifi cant militant attacks in Pa- geting a team that was carrying step up an operation in the tribal province, Punjab. But sources say Sharif and address a news conference on his family fl ew to Shangla for a Panamagate at the PID, jour- daylong trip where Sadiq was nalists verbally attacked the also called. PML-N leaders for the bizarre The Sharif family returned incident involving the humili- to Murree in the evening, ation of a female journalist by Pakistan summons Indian Bankers fear rupee will fall again while Sadiq fl ew to Lahore. FIA offi cials. Shangla, the hometown Tariq Fazal tried to pacify of PM’s Adviser Engineer angry journalists by saying envoy over border fi ring Internews For them, it is not a question the value it had lost to the dol- Ameer Muqam, is considered that Interior Minister Chaud- Islamabad of ‘why’ but just a question of lar in the July 5 downward read- a stronghold of the PML-N in hry Nisar would take action ‘when’. justment. K-P. but he [Tariq Fazal] also sought Agencies that also left three people in- “Let’s see when the SBP lets On July 20 it closed in the The Prime Minister House footage of the incident. Islamabad jured, the Foreign Ministry said. he uneasy calm that pre- the rupee fi nd its real value,” interbank market at Rs105.34 Islamabad said it was the third vailed in Pakistan’s forex says the treasurer of a local against the dollar, up from truce violation by Indian forces Tmarket prior to the July 5 bank. Rs108.24 on July 5 and slightly Pakistani teachers to learn Chinese language akistan summoned yes- in four days. massive decline in the rupee’s “The rupee has been put on down from Rs104.90 on July 4, terday the Indian Deputy “Despite calls for restraint, In- value is still not over and a de- life support in an oxygen tent one day before it depreciated in A group of 40 Pakistani Education Commission of PHigh Commissioner and dia continues to indulge in cease- bate is raging about whether the after the sharp and swift reac- one go. teachers left for Beijing Pakistan, reports Xinhua lodged a formal protest over fi re violations. In 2017 to date, local currency will fall again. tion of the Ministry of Finance, Senior bankers say this swift to receive training on news agency. It is the third ceasefi re violations in Jammu Indian forces have carried out 618 This debate became more but fundamentals of the exter- recovery in the rupee’s value is the Chinese language. A batch of Pakistani teachers and Kashmir resulting in the ceasefi re violations along the LoC intense as recently released nal account are not lending any not due to any substantial change special see-off ceremony visiting China for language killing of a 12-year-old boy. and international border,” an offi - data showed that the current support to the local currency. in the supply of dollars in the in- for the teachers was held training since 2015. So far, at The Director General of South cial statement said. account (C/A) defi cit swelled “I believe that the SBP will terbank market. They, however, on Sunday at the Chinese least 120 Pakistani teachers Asia at the Foreign Ministry, “The deliberate targeting of to around $12.1bn in FY17 from now allow a gradual depre- remain tight-lipped on whether embassy in the here which have received training under who summoned J P Singh, con- civilians is indeed deplorable $4.867bn in FY16. ciation of the rupee. It will not the SBP intervened by selling was attended by Zhao Lijian, the International Chinese demned the “unprovoked cease- and contrary to human dignity Most bank treasurers are keep it where it is today,” he dollars in the interbank market chargé d’aff aires of the Language Teacher Training fi re violations” by the Indian and international human rights almost sure the State Bank of says. or by persuading banks to post- embassy and Arshad Ali, Programme sponsored by the Army in Leepa sector along the and humanitarian laws,” the In- Pakistan would not hesitate in Between July 6 and July 20, pone or minimise their own dol- executive director of Higher Chinese government. Line of Control (LoC) on July 21 dian diplomat was told. letting the rupee fall again. the rupee has regained much of lar buying as much as they can. Car bomb explosion claims 26 lives in Kabul

AFP An AFP photographer at the Ghor is a poor, mountainous quently targeted Shias, has Kabul scene saw multiple bodies and province that has been relatively fuelled the spectre of more such wounded people in the street, safe in the past but shares a bor- assaults, with fears yesterday surrounded by shattered glass as der with the Taliban-infested that Hazaras had been the target t least 26 people were security forces cordoned off the provinces of Helmand and Farah. of the car bomb rather than the killed and 41 wounded area. — Demonstration cancelled — government employees. Ayesterday after a Taliban- The bus’s charred remains Afghan forces control 59.7 % Others suggested the politi- claimed car bomb struck a bus were left smoking in the mid- of the country, according to a US cian Mohamed Mohaqeq, whose carrying government employees dle of the road as the wounded watchdog’s report issued in May home is nearby, could have been through a Shia neighbourhood in were rushed to hospitals in am- after the winter lull in fi ghting, the target. Kabul, raising fears of sectarian bulances as well as private cars up slightly from the previous Kabul is regularly rocked by violence in the Afghan capital. and taxis. quarter. suicide bombs and assaults. The assault came as a presiden- “It was a huge explosion, But the insurgents have A recent UN report showed tial spokesman said the Taliban my house nearly collapsed,” a ramped up their off ensive across that attacks on the capital ac- also killed at least 35 civilians in neighbourhood resident who the country since launching counted for nearly one-fi fth of an attack on a hospital in central gave his name as Mostafa told their so-called “spring off en- all civilian Afghan casualties in Ghor province over the weekend. AFP, adding that the street was sive” earlier this year. the fi rst half of 2017. The deadly attacks underscore “fi lled with human fl esh and Monday’s attack in Kabul Many died in a single devas- spiralling insecurity in Afghani- blood”. came as the Hazara community tating attack in late May when stan as the resurgent Taliban “It was horrible,” said shop- had planned to hold a demon- a truck bomb exploded, also ramp up their off ensive across keeper Momin. “It is a crowded stration in the same neighbour- during the morning Kabul rush the country, while security forc- area — many of my friends and hood to mark the one-year an- hour, killing more than 150 peo- es struggle to contain them. other shopkeepers are either niversary of twin bombings that ple and injuring hundreds. In yesterday’s blast the bus killed or wounded.” killed 84 people in an attack The bloody toll for the fi rst six was carrying employees of the The Taliban claimed respon- claimed by Islamic State. months of 2017 has unsettled the ministry of mines, passing from sibility for the blast, which came They had agreed to postpone government and put increasing western Kabul to the downtown just before 7am. Footwear of victims are seen on the ground as Afghan residents inspect the site of a car bomb attack in the demonstration over security pressure on Ghani, who con- ministry during rush hour, inte- The group rarely claims at- western Kabul yesterday. fears and after meeting with Pres- demned yesterday’s attack. rior ministry spokesman Najib tacks with high civilian casual- ident Ashraf Ghani on Sunday. Nato’s combat mission in Danish told AFP. ties, but does frequently target At a press conference, Murta- specifying if they were patients the militants over the weekend. The Taliban have carried out Afghanistan ended three years It was struck by the car bomb government employees. zawi also said at least 35 people or staff .”This is a cruel crime The Taliban have denied the sectarian attacks in the past, ago, handing sole responsibility as it passed through a busy area Afghan presidential spokes- were killed in the hospital attack against humanity,” he added. claim and reports they torched though they have been rare in to the country’s security forces, of the capital that is home to man Shah Hussain Murtazawi over the weekend. He did not elaborate, and of- the hospital, though a spokes- Sunni-majority Afghanistan which have also suff ered spiral- many Shia Hazaras, a persecuted put the toll at 26 dead and 41 All the victims were civil- fi cials say phone lines are down man said parts of the building throughout its decades of war. ling casualties as they try to beat ethnic minority. wounded. ians, Murtazawi said, without in Taywara district, captured by were damaged in fi ghting. The rise of IS, which has fre- back the Taliban. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Islanders stay put even when the sea invades

Islanders in the Philippines have stayed in their homes even after an earthquake caused subsid- ence and floods, according to a study yesterday that questions how far global warming will trigger mass migration as sea levels rise. Ice is thawing from Greenland to Antarctica and will raise sea levels by between 28 and 98cm (11-38 inches) by 2100, threaten- ing coasts from Bangladesh to Florida, according to a UN panel of experts. But, in a possible window on the future, none of hundreds of impoverished residents had left four islands in the central Philip- pines after subsidence following a 2013 quake lowered the land by as much as 43cm. Many raised their homes on stilts, or mined local reefs for coral to raise floor levels after frequent floods at high tide in homes, schools and other buildings. “Small island communities in the Philippines prefer local measures to relocation in response to sea-level rise,” according to the study led by Ma Laurice Jamero at the University of Tokyo and published in the journal Nature Climate Change. A survey of islanders showed they were “refusing to relocate, contradicting the sea-level-rise Protesters carry anti martial law banners as they gather outside the House of Representatives where President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation address is taking place in Manila. mass migration theory that sug- gests that worsening floods will directly lead to migration”. The UN’s International Organisation for Migration says the most often quoted estimate is that 200mn people could be forced from their homes by environmental change by 2050. Estimates range hugely from Drug war ‘trivialised’ by 25mn to1bn. In the Philippines, the local government had given the islanders the option of relocating to Tubigon on the mainland, but a lack of funding meant no new homes had been built in an area also vulnerable to typhoons. rights concerns: Duterte “Still, a greater problem facing the municipal government is the zCritics “unjustly blaming” ter spent if you use the infl u- programme key to his economic opposition from island residents authorities for killings ence, moral authority, moral agenda. to relocate,” the study said. zDuterte says pressure ascendancy of your organisa- The lower house passed a Many islanders wanted to keep won’t deter him tions over your respective sec- leaner version of the proposed their fishing livelihoods. zUrges legislators to pass tors to educate the people on measure, the fi rst of fi ve tax re- Dominic Kniveton, a professor laws on tax, autonomy the evil of illegal drugs, instead form packages Duterte is push- of climate science and society at zPlans to modernise, of condemning the authorities, ing to boost state coff ers and Sussex University who was not beef up military unjustly blaming for every kill- make the tax system fairer and among the authors, said the find- ing that bloodies this country,” more simple. ings illustrated how far people Reuters he said. Expected revenues from the like to stay at home. Manila Duterte’s annual address original draft, which seeks to lasted nearly two hours, during cut the personal income tax which he frequently deviated rate, raise excise taxes on fuel hilippine President Ro- from a prepared speech that was and automobiles, amounted to CRIME drigo Duterte yesterday eventually reduced to brief talk- 162bn pesos ($3.2bn). Duterte Teenager held over Ppromised an unrelent- ing points. also said he would press the ing war on drugs, defying crit- Some 7,000 protesters from legislature to pass a law to grant five-year-old’s death ics who were “trivialising” his numerous groups gathered out- autonomy to a Muslim region in campaign with human rights side the venue to demonstrate Mindanao. A 13-year-old boy, apparently suf- concerns and unjustly blaming against Duterte. He also said he was prepared fering from a mental problem, was the authorities for the blood- After his speech, he listened to “wait it out” before retaking arrested for the death of a five- shed. to their complaints for several Mindanao’s Marawi City from year-old girl who was placed in a Duterte wasted little time in minutes. Islamic State-inspired rebels, sack in San Jose del Monte City, his annual state of the nation He lashed out strongly at because he was concerned hos- Bulacan on Saturday night, Manila address to defend a crackdown mining companies he said were tages might be killed. Times reported. Supt. Fitz Macari- that has killed thousands of President Rodrigo Duterte speaks to protesters after he delivered his State of the Nation address at the destroying the environment He acknowledged there had ola, city police chief, said Mark Al- Filipinos. Congress in Quezon city, Metro Manila, yesterday. and threatened to tax them been intelligence failures and lister Del Rosario, of Verde Heights He said that though he valued heavily, or close the sector com- mistakes in assessing the initial subdivision, Barangay Kaypian, human life, he needed to tackle the fi ght against illegal drugs, overwhelmingly targeted drug spree of killings of drug users by pletely. threat. in the city, was seen in a CCTV “beasts and vultures” that were neither do I intend to preside users from poor communities, mysterious vigilantes. He said he would consider Duterte told reporters he footage with the victim Mariel preying on helpless people and over the destruction of the Fili- and left narcotics kingpins un- Duterte said critics were stopping exports of raw mate- would add 35,000-40,000 new Cruz, his neighbour, hours before stopping foreign investment pino youth by being timid and touched. wrongly blaming police for rials until they could be proc- troops over the next two years the child’s body was found in a se- from pouring in. tentative in my decisions in of- Critics say Duterte has most of the deaths and “trivi- essed domestically, adding it and buy planes and high-alti- cluded area at about 7.50pm. The “The fi ght will be unremit- fi ce.” The crackdown on drugs turned a blind eye to thousands alising” his campaign by talking was a “non-negotiable” policy tude drones to “build an armed victim’s hands were tied with a ting as it will be unrelenting is the signature campaign that of deaths during police opera- about the need for due process that mining fi rms would repair forces that can fi ght all fronts, cable wire and a bag strap appar- despite international and lo- has defi ned Duterte’s presiden- tions that bear all the hallmarks and to protect human rights. damage they had caused, or “I everywhere”. Senator Risa Hon- ently was used to strangle her. “I cal pressure, the fi ght will not cy and caused an international of executions. He said his detractors at will tax you to death”. Duterte tiveros, a critic of Duterte, de- noticed that he was very mad and stop,” he said. outcry, with rights groups Police say they have shot home and abroad should help called on the Senate to pass a scribed the president’s much- angry when he killed the victim. “I do not intend to loosen the condemning his administra- dead suspects only in self de- him instead. tax reform bill to help fi nance anticipated address as “a bad Looks like he has psychological leash in the campaign or lose tion for a campaign that has fence and deny involvement in a “Your eff orts will be bet- a multi-billion infrastructure open mic performance”. problem,” Macariola said.

US urged to return Top lawmaker proposes bill to legalise divorce seized church bells Reuters ing in May that said same-sex with the latest survey in 2015 Manila couples had the right to marry showing nearly 70% of 1,200 DPA hostile attitude towards the legally. respondents strongly disa- Manila US, a long-time ally, while co- The Vatican and the Philip- greed. sying up to China and Russia. hilippine President Ro- pines are the only states in which Laws on same-sex marriages The bells, which are revered drigo Duterte’s top ally divorce is outlawed. have been proposed as far back hilippine President Ro- in the Philippines as a symbol Pin Congress proposed The proposals by Alvarez drew 2006, but none has gained drigo Duterte yesterday of its struggle for independ- new bills to legalise divorce and mixed reactions from lawmak- traction. Pasked the United States ence, were used to signal an same-sex unions yesterday, a ers, both allies and the opposi- However, the latest attempt to return three church bells attack by Filipino insurgents move almost certain to meet tion. The Philippine bishops could gain momentum because seized by US soldiers as spoils against US soldiers occupying fi erce resistance from bishops in would most likely try to block it has the endorsement of Alva- of war more than a century Balangiga. the mainly Catholic country. moves to legalise divorce and rez, a close ally of Duterte, who ago. More than 40 US soldiers Opening the lower house same-sex marriages, although enjoys a super-majority in the The church bells were taken were killed in the insurgent at- for its second regular session, Catholic Church representatives legislature. from the town of Balangiga in tack, which prompted a retali- Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said were not immediately available Alvarez said divorce would the eastern province of Samar ation by the US Army which he would fi le a bill to legally for comment. strengthen the rights of mi- in 1901, during the US coloni- ordered the killing of every recognise civil partnerships be- Congressman Teodoro Ba- nors, because there would be sation of the Philippines. male over 10 years old. tween people of the same sex. guilat described the proposal fewer illegitimate children un- “Give us back those Balin- Two of the bells are dis- The Philippines would be- as “bold, clear and progres- der the law. giga bells,” Duterte said in his played at Francis E Warren Air come the fi rst Southeast Asian sive”, but representative Tom Divorces, he said, would be a state of the nation address in Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo- nation to legalise same-sex un- Villarina said Congress should far less tedious and expensive Congress, which was attended ming. The third bell is housed ions if he succeeds. focus on passing an anti-dis- process than annulling mar- by diplomats, including US with a US Army regiment Alvarez said citizens should Pantaleon Alvarez : backs legal divorce crimination bill put forward by riages, which can take years ambassador Kim Sun. “They in South Korea. Eff orts have be allowed to divorce legally the lesbian, gay, bisexual and and face many legal hurdles. are ours. They are part of our been made by the Philippine as much as same-sex couples “Presently, it even excludes equality before the law,” he said. transgender community be- “They (would) no longer have national heritage. Return it to government and the Catholic should be allowed to have legally certain groups of people from Twenty-seven countries, cause that proposal already had to sling mud at each other in us; this is painful for us,” he Church to seek the return of recognised unions. its fold. Our citizens should not mostly in Western Europe and broad support. front of a judge just to convince added. the church bells since the mid- “We must also be considerate be excluded from society just the Americas, have already rec- In the most recent opinion the magistrate that their mar- Since he became president 1990s, but they remain in the of the fact that marriage may not because of the person they love. ognised same-sex unions. polls, Filipinos overwhelmingly riage should be declared void,” last year, Duterte has had a possession of the US. be for everyone,” he said. They must also be treated with A court in Taiwan issued a rul- rejected same-sex marriages, he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/MALDIVES

Passport, visa fees go Yameen shuts parliament missing

By Mizan Rahman Dhaka

he Anti-Corruption Com- to block impeachment vote mission (ACC) has taken into Tcognizance press reports that Maldives parliament’s Earlier in the day, par- 35bn taka received by Bangladesh gates were padlocked by liament’s gates were pad- embassies abroad on account of members of the armed locked by members of the passport and visa processing fees forces and MPs were forcibly armed forces and MPs were are yet to be deposited to the gov- prevented from taking part forcibly prevented from en- ernment exchequer. in impeachment motion tering the parliamentary The ACC has not yet launched compound. a formal investigation, but AFP There was no immediate spokesperson Pranab Kumar Colombo comment from the government. Bhattacharya said the commis- The opposition this month sion has formed a committee to secured enough support from look into the issue. aldives parliament government defectors to be- The three-member commit- was shut yesterday gin impeachment proceed- tee, headed by ACC director Syed Mafter President Ab- ings against the speaker, in a Iqbal Hossain, has been given 30 dulla Yameen ordered troops to bid to wrest control of par- working days to submit a report. evict legislators and prevent an liament from Yameen before The two other members of the impeachment of his speaker, presidential elections next year. committee are ACC deputy director the opposition said, in the lat- The government has repeat- Muhammad Ahmaruzzaman and est turmoil in the honeymoon edly tried to frustrate these assistant director Gulshan Anwar. islands. eff orts. The money received by 65 Parliament had been ex- It arrested several opposition Bangladesh embassies under the pected to hear a no-confi dence MPs last week ahead of the vote, foreign ministry from 2012 to motion against the speaker, Ab- and scuttled a past no-confi - 2016 was supposed to be submit- dulla Masheeh, but MPs found dence bid by raising the number ted to the government exchequer their way blocked, the Maldi- of signatures required for a through the home ministry. vian Democratic Party (MDP) successful motion. Press reports cited a home said. The fi rst attempt to impeach ministry ‘working paper’ on the MDP spokesman Hamid the speaker in March sparked ‘strange expenditure’ by the for- Abdul Ghafoor added sev- chaos when Yameen ordered eign ministry. eral opposition MPs broke troops to enter parliament and Kumar said the ACC took cogni- through the military cordon remove dissenting opponents zance of the report and decided in only to be pepper sprayed and by force. a meeting to check the allegation. evicted. The political turbulence has Defiant politicians fought off riot police to enter the parliament compound. (Picture courtesy of Al Jazeera.) Masud Rezwan, director gen- The country’s exiled main seen the international com- eral, department of immigration opposition leader Mohamed munity, including the United Yameen at elections next year under Yameen’s leadership. fi rst democratically-elected In 2015, he was sentenced to and passports, told newsmen that Nasheed said the eviction States, urging the Maldives to but faces an uphill battle. The instability has threatened president in 2008, but was nar- 13 years in prison on terrorism the department submits the mon- was illegal and expressed his safeguard democracy. All their key leaders are im- to dent the Maldives’ image as a rowly defeated by Yameen in charges that were widely seen ey collected in Bangladesh every concern, his offi ce said in a The opposition coalition, led prisoned or have fl ed to avoid a tourist paradise. a controversial 2013 election as politically motivated. He now month to the government excheq- statement. by Nasheed, wants to defeat lengthy crackdown on dissent Nasheed became the Maldives run-off . lives in exile in Britain. uer through the home ministry. Lanka steps Top bank kept agencies in dark over theft

By Mizan Rahman central bank team along with The offi cial said had any IT $20mn sent to Sri Lanka was “We found all electronics evi- Dhaka Indian-origin Rakesh Asthana, team failed to recover the evi- later recovered while the rest dence deleted. We are not sure managing director of World dence, the police could have $81mn went to the Philippines. who did this but before we had up war on entered, Asthana had worked in Informatix Cyber Security, sought help from Interpol or the CID offi cials started the in- he Bangladesh Bank, then visited their offi ce at Agargaon FBI of the United States, which vestigation after the case was the crime scene,” the investiga- headed by Dr Atiur Rah- after the matter was published later provided technological as- fi led on March 15, 2016. tor said, adding, “We are still Tman as governor, kept lo- in news outlets in the fi rst week sistance in connection with the “When we entered the Bang- examining all the images which cal information technology (IT) of March 2016. case. ladesh Bank, we found that 13 have to recover the evidences.” dengue as toll CID spokesperson and organ- and law enforcement agencies The offi cial said that none of On March 15, central bank servers were kept in an air-con- in dark after the cyber theft of the Bangladesh Cyber Incident account and budgeting depart- ditioned room but more than ised crime special superintend- $101mn from its reserve in Feb- Response Team was asked for ment joint director Jubayer Bin two dozen infected computers ent Mollah Nazrul Islam said, ruary 2016 and assigned World help until the news spread in Huda fi led a case with Motijheel were kept abandoned,” another “Not only Ashtana, investiga- Informatix Cyber Security to fi x March, nearly a month after the police station under the Money CID offi cial told newsmen. tion into the reserve theft is now nears 300 continuing focusing all related the problem ‘internally’, Bangla- theft. ICT division offi cials said Laundering Prevention Act 2012 A delegation comprising deshi investigators have they had instituted a computer for laundering the money, the Bangladesh Bank, CID and ICT people in suspicion.” AFP year from dengue fever, nearly evealed. emergency response team on ICT Act for hacking, and the division visited the United States A government-appointed Colombo four times the fatalities re- Criminal Investigation January 11, 2016 but they were penal code for the theft of the in 2016 and held a meeting with panel investigating the cyber corded in all of 2016. rDepartment (CID) offi cials not even informed about the in- $101mn. Asthana. theft of $81mn from its central The number of cases has said they were informed about cident. In a period of nine hours in In the meeting, Asthana bank in February 2016 found ri Lanka announced yes- soared to above 105,000, a the incident a day before the “During the investigation, we February 4-5, 2016, $101mn blamed poor security arrange- fi ve offi cials at the central bank terday it was intensify- sharp jump from the 55,150 re- case was fi led on March 15, found that Asthana was sup- was stolen online from the cen- ment of the bank for the cyber guilty of negligence and care- Sing its war on dengue corded last year. 2016 and they asked the cen- posed to join Bangladesh Bank tral bank’s reserve with the theft. lessness. fever, with schools to shut About half those cases were tral bank offi cials to immedi- project by April 2016 and he was Federal Reserve Bank of New The CID offi cials said until The government has so far re- across the island to help curb reported from the island’s west, ately fi le a case describing the urgently called and given charge York through Rizal Commer- the investigation was launched, fused to make the inquiry report the unprecedented outbreak of including the capital Colombo. whole situation. of solving the problem keep- cial Banking Corporation in the Rakesh dealt with the problem, public saying that it wanted to the mosquito-borne virus that “One reason for the dra- An information and com- ing the authorities concerned in Philippines and Pan-Asia Bank- and none of the offi cials at the deny perpetrators knowledge of has claimed nearly 300 lives. matic rise in cases is that the munication technology (ICT) dark about the crime,’ a CID in- ing Corporation in Sri Lanka. central bank was kept out of duty the investigation into one of the The Red Cross also an- virus currently spreading has division offi cial also said a vestigator said. Bangladesh Bank offi cials said for their negligence. world’s biggest cyber-heists. nounced it was scaling up its evolved and people lack the emergency response to the immunity to fi ght off the new country’s worst-ever outbreak strain,” Dr Novil Wijesekara, of the disease as the number of head of health at the Sri Lanka dengue cases topped 100,000. Red Cross, said in a statement. That fi gure is nearly double The humanitarian organisa- the previous year, with doc- tion, which has increased its Dhaka ratifi es tors warning hospitals were budget by $300,000 to cope beyond capacity as medics with the outbreak, said in- struggled to treat a new strain fected patients were “stream- of the disease. ing into overcrowded hospitals The education ministry that are stretched beyond ca- trade deal with said schools would shut from pacity and struggling to cope”. Friday for four days as tens of Last week Australia said it thousands of volunteers join was donating $1.2mn to man- government offi cials and sol- age patients and help with re- diers in targeting mosquito search to contain the spread of D-8 countries breeding grounds. the virus. “Instructions have gone out Humid monsoon weather, to all schools today to co-ordi- stagnant water from recent By Mizan Rahman nate with local authorities and fl ooding and mounting piles Dhaka with Prime Minister Sheikh look for any mosquito breed- of rotting garbage in Colombo Hasina in the chair. ing areas in their immediate have created perfect condi- After the meeting, Cabinet neighbourhood,” a ministry tions for the rapid spread of he Bangladesh cabi- Secretary Mohammad Shafi ul offi cial said. mosquitoes. net yesterday rati- Alam said Bangladesh had not Troops have already been Authorities have blamed a Tfi ed the preferential ratifi ed the agreement signed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presiding over a cabinet meeting in Dhaka yesterday. spreading out across the is- waste management crisis in trade agreement (PTA) signed in 2006 among the D-8 land to help local councils the capital for the unusually among eight Muslim coun- member-states at a ministe- the D-8 grouping whose aim is to been going on for a long time The cabinet secretary, how- drain pools of stagnant water large number of infections. tries of the D-8 alliance, rial level meeting held in Bali, reduce tariff s and other barriers to raise the quota of Bang- ever, said the agreement was to ensure mosquito larvae have Sri Lanka’s main rubbish tip including Bangladesh. Indonesia. on specifi c goods in order to pro- ladesh for the inclusion of ratifi ed in the cabinet meeting as nowhere to fl ourish. collapsed in April, crushing The approval was given at the Bangladesh, Indonesia, Ma- mote inter-trade among the D-8 products to be exported to the the ministry of commerce said it Offi cial fi gures show 290 dozens of homes and killing 32 regular weekly cabinet meeting laysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, members. member-countries under the should not remain pending any people have died so far this people. held at Bangladesh Secretariat Iran and Turkey are members of Alam said negotiation had agreement. more. Bangladesh fi nance minister to attend investment forum in Beijing

IANS The forum is expected to bring focus on investment and bilat- investment (FDI), fi nancial and desh, said, “I think this is a very tract more Chinese investment and Bangladesh are now striv- Dhaka together some 300 attendees eral trade opportunities between capital markets and more. good opportunity for publicising by off ering more incentives and ing for the national dreams - comprising Bangladeshi Finance China and Bangladesh and the The participants will have a Bangladesh.” removing investment procedural the Chinese dream and golden Minister A M A Muhith, govern- growing opportunities resulting valuable chance to learn more After the state visit of Chinese bottlenecks like transparency Bangladesh dream,” he said. he fi rst ever China-Bangla- ment representatives, multilat- from China’s Belt and Road Ini- about the business environment President Xi Jinping in October and customs. “We do see complementarity desh Investment Forum, or- eral fi nanciers, portfolio man- tiative. in Bangladesh and the potential 2016, more and more Chinese “Chinese-Bangladesh busi- of economic co-operation. We Tganised by Euromoney Insti- agers, global asset managers, This forum will also provide areas for co-operation. are visiting Bangladesh, he said. ness co-operation is in the right already see the co-operation be- tutional Investor, one of the leading institution investors and repre- platform for discussions on Li Guangjun, economic and Bangladesh and China signed time. We have very good oppor- ing enhanced during the last few fi nancial publications in the world, sentatives from private bands. many important topics, such as commercial counsellor at the 28 deals during Xi’s trip. tunity to deepen economic and years. More Chinese investments will be held in Beijing on August 21. Organisers say the forum will infrastructure, foreign direct Chinese embassy in Bangla- Li said Bangladesh can at- trade relationship. Both China are coming to Bangladesh.” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Would Trump self-pardon Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888 end Russia investigation? Doha, Qatar [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), By Alison Frankel/Reuters 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) New York Fax 44350474 he Washington Post reported on Thursday that President Donald Trump is talking Tto advisers about issuing pardons to aides, family members and even himself in order to undermine GULF TIMES Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s widening Russia investigation. Trump outside counsel John Dowd told my Reuters colleague Karen Freifeld that the Post’s “stuff on pardons is nonsense,” Dowd said. “It’s Spieth draws just a smear job on the president. It’s not true.” That said, the Post story raises a couple of interesting questions. on inner calm Can a US president pardon himself prospectively? And if constitutional law allows a prospective self-pardon, what are the implications for ongoing to win Open investigations of the president’s conduct? Mueller is investigating possible collusion between the Trump When champions are asked the biggest campaign and Russia during the 2016 questions, they invariably fi nd the answer. presidential election. Moscow has denied interference in Three clear of Matt Kuchar overnight, Jordan the US election, and President Trump Can Donald Trump pardon himself prospectively? Spieth looked nervous from the start and after has said his campaign did not collude. The US Constitution does not memo is the first, last and only was charged with obstructing justice. has prospectively pardoned every three bogeys in the fi rst fi ve holes, combined with specifi cally prohibit presidents from official word on a US president’s Presidents can also pardon people potential target, the grand jury must a bogey at the ninth left him tied for the lead at the pardoning themselves before they’re power to pardon himself, according whose identities are unknown, as be dismissed.) formally accused of wrongdoing (a to Michigan State law professor when President Jimmy Carter granted If Trump were to pardon himself turn. And when the 23-year-old bogeyed the 13th, person need not be charged to be Brian Kalt, who has been thinking amnesty to all Vietnam draft evaders. prospectively — and particularly having taken an age to fi nd his ball after a wayward pardoned). So if President Trump, and writing about presidential self- But the words of the Constitution if he were to attempt to use that drive and get a ruling, he trailed Kuchar by one and who has not been implicated in pardons since he was a Yale Law do not give the president unlimited pardon as a rationale to end Mueller’s wrongdoing, were to decide to grant student in the 1990s. pardon powers. investigation prematurely — the memories of his capitulation at last year’s Masters himself a pass from any prospective The issue has simply never come Kalt looked back to James Madison’s FBI and Congress could end up must have come into his mind. prosecution, he would not be violating before a US court, even tangentially. notes from the 1787 Constitutional investigating whether the president’s the letter of the Constitution. In fact, the mere discussion of the Convention and found that the motives, and the motives of But as he has done throughout his young career, But he would be stretching the legality of presidential self-pardons framers discussed whether treason Justice Department offi cials who the American found his inner calmness to come bounds of presidential power as leads to a rabbithole of unanswered ought to be excluded from the implemented his orders, were proper. out the other side and his last fi ve holes – birdie, they’ve never been tested before — hypotheticals, such as whether a president’s pardon powers in case the “It would be obstruction of justice and, more importantly, legal experts sitting president can be indicted or president were a traitor. for any offi cials to order an end to eagle, birdie, birdie, par – were pure magic. told me, Trump probably would not prosecuted, said law professor Sanford The drafters, according to Kalt, the investigation for an improper “I don’t know how I made fi ve on 13, I don’t think be able to halt Justice Department and Levinson of the University of Texas. concluded that if the president were purpose,” said Dellinger, who pointed congressional investigations simply It’s not clear, Levinson said, a traitor, “he can be impeached and out that FBI investigations like I’ll ever know, it’s like I got away with murder,” by pardoning himself and any allies whether a special counsel could go prosecuted” under the language they the Mueller probe have their own Spieth said, the joy of his third Major still sinking known to be under scrutiny. to court to challenge a presidential adopted. momentum and are very hard to shut In fact, attempting to use pardons self-pardon if the special counsel Outside of that context, Kalt said down. in. to obviate the special counsel can’t prosecute the president while in a May 2017 Foreign Policy analysis, Moreover, said law professor Even when he won his fi rst Masters in 2015, investigation could backfi re, said he’s in offi ce.”It’s just a conundrum,” self-pardons “never came up, which is Levinson, a presidential self-pardon Spieth was compared to the likes of Tiger Woods Walter Dellinger, who wrote about Levinson said. a very telling omission in a discussion is “irrelevant” to congressional prospective presidential pardons as Kalt, who has become a mini- about criminal presidents abusing the investigators. and Jack Nicklaus. Woods was among those to a top offi cial in the Clinton Justice celebrity since the Trump self- pardon power,” he wrote. “It apparently The Senate Intelligence Committee, congratulate Spieth, focusing on the manner of Department in 1995. pardon news broke, told me that went without saying — literally — that he said, seems to be engaged in a Pardons themselves might raise in the vacuum of precedent, both self-pardons are not possible.” serious attempt to fi nd out whether his win and he is the second-youngest man, after questions about obstructing justice, proponents and opponents of self- Constitutional language brings me Russia infl uenced the 2016 election. Nicklaus, to win three of the four Majors. Dellinger said. pardons have legitimate arguments. to my second point. The committee has a right to Nicklaus was also impressed with Spieth’s fi nal Prospective pardons would also He said he believes the stronger The pardons clause, as you probably demand the same records Mueller is remove Fifth Amendment obstacles argument is against the legality of noticed, explicitly says that presidents looking at, he said. spurt, tweeting, “Wow! What a wild back nine! Is to congressional testimony from presidents pardoning themselves. cannot grant pardons from “cases of And if the president issues blanket @Jordanspieth something else?” those who received them, since you According to Kalt, the primary impeachment.” prospective pardons, including one can’t assert a right against self- argument that presidents can pardon That clause, said former Clinton for himself, Levinson predicted that Explaining his mind-set after the 13th, Spieth incrimination if you aren’t facing themselves is that the Constitution Justice offi cial Dellinger, could give “the political pressure will become said he knew he was criminal consequences. doesn’t say they can’t. special counsel Mueller a mandate unbearable.” capable of closing No court in the US has ever had to But three factors, he said, weigh to continue investigating the Trump Presidential pardons do not carry an The youngest decide whether a president has the against legality: the traditional campaign even if the president were implication of guilt. these majors out – it authority to pardon himself because meaning of the word pardon, which legally entitled prospectively to Presidents have exonerated people British Open all boiled down to no president has ever done so. implies one person giving and another pardon himself and everyone else who steadfastly maintained their Before Trump, the only previous receiving; the legal principle against under Mueller’s scrutiny for possible innocence even as they accepted the champion since a staying calm and president known to have contemplated serving as one’s own judge, as cited in violations of federal criminal laws. pardon. not be aff ected by a pardon for himself was Richard the Nixon memo; and the text of the Dellinger drew an analogy to If President Trump were to pardon 22-year-old Seve Nixon as he faced possible obstruction US Constitution. Whitewater independent counsel himself, he’d be conceding nothing nerves. Calm on the of justice charges from the Watergate Here’s why. Kenneth Starr, who did not charge about his criminal liability in the Ballesteros won course and humble special prosecutor. Article II of the Constitution President Bill Clinton with crimes Russia investigation. off it, the Texan’s Nixon asked his Justice Department authorises the president to “grant but prepared a report that served as But given the questionable legality in 1979, Spieth whether a self-pardon was legal. reprieves and pardons for off ences the basis for articles of impeachment of the manoeuvre and the likelihood even-tempered Justice lawyers issued a memo against the United States, except in against the president. that probes would continue and is in exalted persona belies an opinion in 1974 advising that it was cases of impeachment.” “The pardon clause expressly does even intensify, it’s hard to see what a inner steel. He was not. That language, Kalt said, gives not apply to impeachment,” Dellinger self-pardon would accomplish for the company The DOJ memo said that under the presidents immense power. said. “That’s the same reason Starr president. already the fourth- age-old legal maxim that no one can We’ve seen presidents, for instance, kept going.” (I can imagine the Trump Trump has obviously broken youngest man to capture two majors with his 2015 be the judge of his own case, even the issue pardons to people who haven’t team countering Dellinger’s point political norms at a dizzying rate. president of the United States cannot been charged with any crime, most with the argument that grand juries The convention against pardoning double, having previously become the youngest pardon himself. famously when President Gerald Ford are convened to investigate crimes, himself is one he should think hard winner on the PGA Tour in over 80 years at the The 1974 Justice Department pardoned Richard Nixon before Nixon not politics, and if the president about leaving intact. John Deere Classic in 2013. Adding to his achievements, Spieth warmed up for Birkdale with a victory at the Travelers Championship last month which allowed him to Animals pay dearly when euthanasia is ‘expensive’ match Woods in reaching double digits for tour wins by such a young age. By Teresa Chagrin all animals – not just the ones who come with caring for an animal. them for helping animals who would Along with Nicklaus, the other players to have New York are adoptable and will help make their But animal shelters are also to otherwise face terrible suff ering. so-called saved rates look good. After blame when they turn away animals Caring veterinarians can help, too. completed the career Grand Slam are Woods, all, don’t all dogs and cats deserve to in desperate need, refusing to provide Like the animal shelters, they didn’t Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen. The e was deaf, blind, elderly receive that fi nal act of kindness? those who are terminally ill, injured cause this crisis, and some of the youngest British Open champion since a 22-year- and emaciated. His fur Just before last Christmas, a South or geriatric with free euthanasia. Why burden falls to them when shelters was matted, his teeth Carolina man reportedly held down do they do this? Because nowadays, dodge their responsibilities. But just old Seve Ballesteros won at Royal Lytham in 1979, Hwere rotten and he was and stabbed his sick cat because he they are under extreme pressure from as human doctors roll up their sleeves the American is in exalted company. riddled with maggots inside and out couldn’t aff ord to pay for veterinary people and groups clamouring for “life to help during crises, veterinarians, – even in both eye sockets. And yet, care. When the cat started kicking, at any cost” policies. This pressure can too, should be ready to alleviate pain But with age on his side, not to mention his somehow, he was still alive – and in he began slashing at the animal’s also motivate them to charge fees to when there’s a need. Off ering end- unfl appable temperament, it won’t be a surprise extreme distress. Last month, a good other side. In Wisconsin, a woman surrender unwanted animals, require of-life relief at a nominal fee or pro if he outdoes many in the list by the time he is Samaritan found this dog, named reportedly beat her dog over the people to get on a waiting list and bono and allowing guardians to set Spunik, tethered to a utility trailer in head with a hammer multiple times make them feel guilty at the thought up payment plans could spare many fi nished playing. the rain. His owners said that they left in an attempt to kill her because she of dropping animals off at the shelter. animals untold misery. him outside “to die a natural death” couldn’t aff ord the $50 fee to have The demonisation of open- No dog or cat should have to linger because they didn’t have enough her euthanised. A Nebraska woman admission shelters has become so in agony like Spunik did. Guardians, money to pay for euthanasia. His pleaded no contest to killing her intense that some people now won’t shelters, veterinarians and anyone To Advertise misery fi nally ended when police took 20-year-old dog by sealing the animal even consider taking an animal to who cares about animals should work him to a veterinarian. in a plastic storage bag. She had also one: Just last month, a Florida man together to ensure that all animals [email protected] Please don’t think that Spunik’s attempted to remove a cyst by tying allegedly used a kitchen knife to have access to the care they need, Display case is an isolated incident. Countless a guitar string around it and trying to stab his 3-year-old pit bull to death including a painless end to their Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 other animals have suff ered and died cut it off – because she couldn’t aff ord because he “could not bring himself” suff ering when the time comes. – slowly and in anguish when people to take the dog to a veterinarian. to take the dog to the pound. Tribune News Service Classified who couldn’t – or wouldn’t – pay to Who is to blame in these cases? Every community needs to thank Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 have them euthanised took matters The owners, certainly – there is no its lucky stars for the existence of zTeresa Chagrin is an animal care into their own hands. PETA’s own excuse for letting sick or injured any open-admission shelter that and control specialist in the Cruelty Subscription emergency response crew has helped animals suff er or for cruelly killing welcomes all animals regardless of Investigations Department of People [email protected] provide innumerable animals with them, and all animal guardians health, age, temperament or any for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, end-of-life dignity and relief when should be prepared to cover the other factor, without restrictions. 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510; www. their guardians could not aff ord the cost of veterinary emergencies and And people who care about animals PETA.org Information about PETA’s 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved cost of euthanasia. This is one reason euthanasia. Ensuring a good life and shouldn’t be criticising these caring, funding may be found at www.peta. why open-admission shelters accept a painless death are obligations that decent shelters but instead supporting org/about/numbers.asp Gulf Times Tuesday, July 25, 2017 19 COMMENT When populism can kill

By Domna Michaildou moved in the opposite direction. In addition, vaccination is a crucial and Jonathan Kennedy The decision by Greece’s Syriza- instrument in the fi ght against one London led government is surely the stranger of the 21st century’s biggest health of the two, given that Syriza tends challenges: antimicrobial resistance. to favour robust state intervention By preventing infections, vaccines also nfounded scepticism in most other policy areas. In Italy, prevent overuse of antibiotics, thereby about vaccines in some the government is responding to slowing down the development of communities, in developing the populist Five Star Movement’s drug resistance. More generally, it is Uand developed countries anti-vaccination agenda, which has widely known that high vaccination alike, has emerged in recent years as become a part of its broader campaign coverage results in a healthier one of the most serious impediments against the state, established political population, and that healthier to global progress in public health. parties, and the “experts” responsible people can contribute more, both Indeed, it is one of the primary reasons for the 2008 fi nancial crisis and the economically and socially, to their why eradicable infectious diseases eurozone’s prolonged economic communities. persist today. malaise. No medical or technical obstacles For example, the eff ort to eradicate But, putting politics aside, there are blocking us from eradicating polio worldwide has been disrupted are compelling reasons for why preventable infectious diseases in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and governments should mandate such as measles and polio. Rather, Nigeria, where rule by militants vaccinations for all children, rather the biggest hurdle has been popular has led to increased resistance than leaving it up to parents to resistance to vaccination. By allowing against vaccination campaigns. And decide. Ultimately, the state has a parents to make uninformed decisions many high-income countries have responsibility to protect vulnerable about the health of not just their own experienced measles outbreaks in individuals – in this case young children, but their entire community, recent years, owing to fears about children – from foreseeable harm. the Syriza government is only adding vaccinations that began with the In 1990, Greece signed the United to the problem. Governments should publication of a fraudulent paper in Nations Convention on the Rights be educating the public to improve the British medical journal The Lancet of the Child, in which it recognised overall coverage, not validating in 1998. all children’s right to “the highest unfounded fears about vaccine safety. More recently, scepticism about attainable standard of health and to No country can achieve herd vaccine safety and effi cacy has been on facilities for the treatment of illness immunity – and eventually eradicate the rise in Southern Europe. According and rehabilitation of health.” But preventable infectious diseases to a 2016 study, Greece is now among by allowing misinformed parents – if it allows parents to opt out of the top ten countries worldwide with to forego vaccinations, Greece is vaccinating their children, as in the lowest confi dence in vaccine exposing children to preventable Greece. But it also will not do simply safety. And, as Greek Minister of infectious diseases and openly to sanction noncompliant parents, Health Andreas Xanthos has noted, violating its pledge to ensure “that no as in Italy. Ultimately, to defeat healthcare professionals are increasingly child is deprived of his or her right of infectious diseases, we will have to encountering parents who have fears access to such health-care services.” restore faith in expertise, and rebuild about vaccinating their children. Moreover, governments have a trust with communities that have Similarly, in Italy, Minister of File photo: A Pakistani health worker vaccinates a child against polio in Peshawar. responsibility to establish public grown increasingly suspicious of Health Beatrice Lorenzin recently goods through legislation, and authority in recent years. – Project warned of a “fake news” campaign, more measles cases in April of this parents who do not want to vaccinate be fi ned for their children’s non- “herd immunity” is one such good. Syndicate backed by the opposition Five Star year than it did in April 2016. their children. attendance. According to Lorenzin, Herd immunity describes a level of Movement, to dissuade parents from In May, Greece and Italy each By contrast, Italy’s center-left the law is meant to send “a very strong vaccination coverage that is high enough zDomna Michailidou works for vaccinating their children. Already, enacted very diff erent policies to Democratic Party government message to the public” about the to prevent a disease from spreading the Economics Department of the the share of Italian two-year-olds who respond to vaccine skepticism. In has made vaccinations against 12 importance of inoculation. through the population. Achieving OECD and teaches at the Center for have been inoculated against measles Greece, despite the fact that child preventable diseases compulsory In other words, two left-wing herd immunity is one of the only ways Development Studies at the University is under 80%, well below the World vaccination has been mandatory since for all children. Under a new law, governments have responded to the to protect vulnerable members of a of Cambridge and the UCL School of Health Organisation’s recommended 1999 (unless a child has a certifi ed unvaccinated children are not same public health problem in very community who cannot be vaccinated Public Policy. Jonathan Kennedy is a threshold of 95%. So it should come medical condition), Xanthos has permitted to attend school, and diff erent ways. Whereas Greece moved because they are immunocompromised, Lecturer in Global Health at Queen as no surprise that Italy had fi ve times advocated an opt-out option for parents of unvaccinated children can from paternalism to laissez faire, Italy or simply too old. Mary University of London. Weather report Britain En Marche? Three-day forecast TODAY High: 46 C Conservative Party that spearheaded Party – won 25% of the national vote The recent election held another Low : 32 C By Bill Emmott Inshore: Hazy to misty at places it – there is a clear opportunity for in the 1983 general election. But they important lesson: Europe and Brexit at first becomes hot daytime with London some clouds and humid by night. newcomers. ended up with a mere 23 seats. It was is not the issue that British voters care Already, the Conservatives are all downhill from there. about most today. Corbyn’s Labour e live in a politically locked in an internal battle that That memory is discouraging ran on the same Brexit policy as May’s WEDNESDAY turbulent age. Parties they can only try to obscure. In the political innovation today. Those in Conservatives. But on issues like jobs, High: 44 C barely a year old have Labour Party, too, rebellions are Labour who are deeply suspicious of hospitals, schools, and the welfare Low: 33 C Wrecently swept to power erupting. Now is the moment for the left-wing economic and foreign- state, their approaches contrasted Sunny in France and in the huge metropolitan a new party, styled after French policy stance of their popular leader, sharply. area of Tokyo. A party less than fi ve President Emmanuel Macron’s “La Jeremy Corbyn, still think the most To defeat the establishment parties, years old is leading opinion polls Republique En Marche,” to capitalise sensible strategy is to be patient therefore, a new political movement THURSDAY in Italy. A political neophyte is on the division, disarray, and distrust and, when the opportunity arises, to would have to stand, fi rst and High: 43 C sitting in the White House, to the in the established parties. Now is recapture their party. The same goes foremost, for restoring public services, Low: 32 C profound discomfort of establishment the moment for a photogenic young for Conservatives who think Brexit is reviving the economy, and rebuilding Sunny Republicans and Democrats. So where British man or woman to follow in leading the country to disaster. trust. A strong relationship with the will the political earth shake next? The the 39-year-old Macron’s footsteps, But the history of the SDP can and EU should be pitched as a means to answer could be – indeed, should be – making history by casting aside the should be read in a diff erent way. advance these goals, not as a goal in Fishermen’s forecast the United Kingdom. old guard. At one point in 1982, the party was itself. OFFSHORE DOHA Even as the UK faces the upheaval Of course, as Blair suggested, attracting the support of more than In the next few months, an Wind: NW-SW 03-12/15 KT of Brexit, nobody is talking about Britain’s fi rst-past-the-post 50% of voters in opinion polls. Many opportunity to create such a Waves: 1-3/4 Feet remaking – much less replacing – the electoral system, based on single- senior Conservative fi gures were movement may well present INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW 05-15/20 KT established political parties. Many member constituencies, implies saying privately at the time that they itself. It depends, first, on Waves: 1-2/3 Feet deny that they would even consider huge advantages for the established thought the SDP was going to win the whether leadership ambitions and such a thing. Former prime minister political parties. A new party could next election in a landslide. divisions over Brexit consume the Around the region Tony Blair – a pro-European centrist well fi nd – after spending huge sums Then came the Falklands War, Conservative Party and, second, Weather Weather innovator who won three general of money and energy, and perhaps which amounted to a major victory for on whether the recent rebellion today Max/min tomorrow Max/min elections for his Labour Party in the even securing a sizeable chunk of the Thatcher. So it was the Conservatives of more than 50 senior Labour Abu Dhabi Sunny 42/34 M Sunny 40/34 1990s – took great care in a recent vote in its debut general election – who ended up winning the 1983 members over Corbyn’s Brexit Baghdad Sunny 47/30 Sunny 46/29 Dubai Sunny that its voters are spread too thinly election in a landslide – a result that policy escalates. Sunny 43/33 42/34 article to stress that he is “not Kuwait City Cloudy 49/36 Cloudy 48/34 advocating a new Party.” across the country to deliver more launched the still-unpopular Labour’s Anyone considering such an Manama Sunny 43/35 Sunny 43/35 But Blair, or someone like him, than a handful of parliamentary seats. long trudge back toward the political opportunity should remember the Muscat M Sunny 38/33 M Sunny 38/33 should be doing just that. After all, That is what happened the last centre. Falklands, and wonder what the SDP Riyadh Cloudy 46/31 M Sunny 46/32 while the British political system does time a new centrist party entered the Today, no major victory looks to might have become had Argentina Tehran Sunny 37/25 Sunny 38/26 put formidable barriers in the path of fray. In the early 1980s, four defectors be in the cards for Labour or the not invaded. And they should recall any new party, the chances of success from Labour, alarmed by their party’s Conservatives. Moreover, the recent the motto of the British special are greater now than at any time in leftward shift and anti-EU stance, election – in which the Conservatives’ forces: “Who Dares Wins.” – Project the last 40 years. In a political system created the Social Democratic Party. 20-point lead disappeared seemingly Syndicate still feeling the aftershocks of two Capitalising on the unpopularity of overnight, as voters, especially young major earthquakes – the June 2016 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s people, threw their support behind zBill Emmott, a former editor-in-chief Brexit referendum and, a year later, the early economic policies, the new SDP Labour – suggests that British voters of The Economist, is Chairman of the humiliating electoral setback of the – in alliance with the small Liberal are up for grabs. Wake Up Foundation. Live issues The wheels are turning for your brain

QNA heart effi ciency, but also had a positive Around the world London/Berlin eff ect on the brains of participants by Weather Weather improving cognitive performance and today Max/min tomorrow Max/min brain structure. Athens Sunny 36/24 Sunny 34/23 riving for more than two The researchers assessed Beirut Sunny 31/27 Sunny 31/28 Bangkok Rain 31/26 Rain 31/26 hours a day negatively participants’ performance in terms Berlin Rain 19/15 Rain 19/15 aff ects IQ levels, a British of movement, heart health and Cairo Sunny 39/25 Sunny 39/25 study has found. cognitive performance,adding that Cape Town Rain 14/08 M Sunny 13/08 D Colombo S T Storms 30/27 T Storms 29/27 The results of the study, published they subjected study participants to T Storms S T Storms 32/26 on Sunday in the Daily Mail, show that examine after exercising sport bike for Dhaka 28/26 Hong Kong S T Storms 31/27 M Sunny 31/27 long periods behind the wheel could half an hour three times a day over 12 Istanbul Sunny 33/24 Sunny 31/23 speed up the eff ects of age on the rapidly over the course of the study also protects nerve cells from damage. weeks,and they found that physical Jakarta M Sunny 33/23 M Sunny 33/24 brain, and the mind is less active on than those who did little or no driving. According to the study by the activity reduces the loss of nerve cells Karachi Cloudy 32/28 Cloudy 32/28 long car journeys. Kishan Bakrania, a medical researchers at the Goethe-Institut in in the brain, a condition that usually London Cloudy 23/14 Showers 21/14 Manila Rain 30/26 Rain 29/26 The mammoth project saw more epidemiologist at the University of Frankfurt they examined the brains occurs as a prelude to Alzheimer’s Moscow M Cloudy 23/16 Cloudy 25/18 than half a million Britons aged 37-73 Leicester, told The Sunday Times: ‘We of 60 people between the ages of 65 disease. New Delhi M Cloudy 33/27 P Cloudy 34/27 studied over a period of fi ve years,out know that regularly driving for more and 85 using magnetic resonance Previous scientific study has New York S Showers 23/18 P Cloudy 27/21 of these some 93,000 of them drove than two or three hours a day is bad for imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance found that regular physical activity, Paris M Cloudy 24/13 M Cloudy 26/17 Sao Paulo Sunny Sunny 25/12 more than two or three hours a day. your heart. spectroscopy to measure brain specially a morning walk, can 27/12 Seoul P Cloudy 34/23 P Cloudy 34/22 Researchers found that not only did Meanwhile, a recent German study structure and learn about the positive contribute significantly in the Singapore S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 31/27 this proportion of subjects typically shows that regular physical exercise eff ect of physical activity on the brain, treatment of dementia diseases Sydney Sunny 19/12 Cloudy 20/08 have lower brainpower to begin with as cycling does not only prevent so they found that regular exercise not that occur in the elderly, such as Tokyo Cloudy 31/27 Cloudy 30/26 but their IQ score declined more cognitive impairment and ageing, but only enhanced fi tness and increased Alzheimer’s disease. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, July 25, 2017 QATAR Light at the end Italian FM urges of the tunnel

By Dr M Thomas trial units, service industries, Doha tourism and connecting the world through Qatar Airways. Qatar became the world’s On Friday (July 21) evening, a largest urea producer and Saudis to open warm July evening, I was just rapid expansion of various leaving the swimming pool as industries began transforming my phone started buzzing with the country. repeated messages. My daugh- Besides being a regular venue ter, Maria, who was born in for sport events at a global Qatar was messaging me to get scale, Qatar is now on the way home quickly in order to watch to become the first Middle East His Highness the Emir Sheikh nation to host the 2022 FIFA land border Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani World Cup, one of the greatest address the nation at 10pm. I sporting extravaganzas in the talian Minister for Foreign the United States and Qatar and rushed home immediately and through innumerable paintings world. This itself is unprec- Aff airs Angelino Alfano has the new legislation that Qatar my whole family gathered in and messages of support in edented in the history of the Icalled for the opening of the has introduced against terrorism front of the television to watch every nook and corner of Qatar. region and is remarkable. land border between Qatar and and its fi nancing represent posi- His Highness the Emir’s live Later on, one began to see the Institutions such as Qatar Saudi Arabia as a goodwill ges- tive developments that confi rm address to the nation and to the image spread across the world Foundation and its growing ture to launch talks and to allay Qatar’s commitment as a mem- rest of the world. in the countries of expatriate number of aff iliates have made the humanitarian implications ber of the Global Anti-Daesh We could see the grace, humility residents. I stood with admira- this country proud by hosting of the Gulf crisis. Coalition. The fi ght against ter- and the firmness with which His tion and pride one evening a number of world class edu- A statement of the minister rorism is a priority for Italy. Highness addressed the nation. to watch young people, even cational institutions, besides issued by the Italian Embassy in “In this regard full and timely Although my children were women and children climbing entities as Qatar Science and Doha, said: “ I hope that a sincere restoration of co-operation be- surprised, I was not at all sur- onto cranes to put in their notes Technology Park (QSTP) which dialogue between the countries tween the countries of the Gulf prised, as I am now living with at the very top of a 40ft tall im- has grown into one of the best involved will be initiated, based Co-operation Council (GCC) the fourth generation of Qatari age of the Emir. scientific and research hubs of on respect for international law, is also needed to off er a com- rulers and I have witnessed Although, there was an initial the region, with the presence of on the sovereignty and dignity mon response to terrorism and firsthand the foresightedness of panic for food items, everyone highly acclaimed international of each country, in order to ease extremism,” he said adding a Qatar’s rulers most especially quickly realised that this was firms. This is resulting in the tensions, address the origins of sincere dialogue between the of His Highness the Father Emir only in the minds of the people; transformation of Qatar to a disagreements and lead as soon countries involved be initi- Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa soon we learned that the diverse knowledge economy. as possible, to a long-lasting and ated to reach a long-lasting and al-Thani. In the backdrop, stood government has taken care of The flow of increasing num- sustainable solution.” sustainable solution. the strength of his forefathers all the needs of the citizens and bers of expatriates to Qatar He said in recent days, he has “In this perspective, reiterat- in the image of Sheikh Abdullah residents in the country with validates the position of the again discussed developments in ing the Italian concern for the bin Qasim bin Mohammed careful attention to detail. country as a great place to live. the Gulf with the Foreign Minis- humanitarian implications of al-Thani and Sheikh Hamad bin As His Highness the Emir rightly The quality of life has been ters of the United Arab Emirates the crisis, I trust that, as a good- Abdullah bin Qasim al-Thani. His said: “The Qatari people instinc- great and it has continued and Saudi Arabia on their visits will gesture, the use of the land statements to the brothers of tively and naturally stood up to unfettered throughout this dif- to Rome. border between the Qatar and other GCC countries were clear, defend the sovereignty and in- ficult time. One can still visit the “I appreciate the will ex- Saudi Arabia will be restored,” firm and discreet. dependence of their homeland” beautiful Inland Sea, fish in the pressed by them to only pursue the minister said. I have been living and interact- and “all those who live in this sparkling waters of the Arabian diplomatic channels to reach a (This statement was issued by ing with Qatari citizens and I country have become spokes- Gulf, visit Zubara, see the man- solution. The Memorandum of the Italian foreign ministry in could expect nothing less than persons for Qatar”. Solidarity groves in Al Khor and enjoy Understanding (MoU) between Rome.) Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano the calmness, nobility and of the nation was expressed in Qatari history which causes aristocracy in which they face many small and big ways and us to reflect on harmonious this unprecedented blockade. means by Qatari citizens and co-existence of cultures and Qataris never lost hope realising expatriates in Qatar as well as in ethnic groups from the Arabian the truth will be out one day, their homeland. Peninsula, and off ers examples and they never overreacted When I first reached Qatar in of traditional Qatari building to any of the disconcerting 1983, Qatar was a small country techniques. 12 steps to follow for fi ling claims comments made by their fellow and struggling through the oil (Dr M Thomas is a longtime brothers. The expatriate com- crisis. Under the able leader- resident in Qatar serving as munity stood solidly behind ship of the then oil minister, a leading ENT specialist and the leadership and the Qatari oil prices stabilised. Slowly but the founder chairman of Birla citizens in full support as the surely, we saw the transition of Public School and various other with Compensation Committee country faced this trying time. the economy from a hydrocar- business establishments. He Everywhere one goes in the bon dependent economy to a has a large group of Qatari city, we can see the spirit of the non-hydrocarbon dependent citizens as friends and he is he Compensation Claims a legal authorisation for the per- other relevant documents. receipts need to be attached. Qatari people who expressed economy. Qatar is now poised an integral part of the Qatari Committee has explained son submitting a claim on his/ 4. Copies of ownership con- 6. For medical treatment in their solidarity with their Emir to expand into new indus- society.) Tthe procedures involved in her behalf to the committee. tracts and fi nancial transactions the siege countries, a copy of ap- submitting a complaint for redress. 2. A copy of the livestock exit pertaining to private real estate, pointments and receipts for the The 12-point list, as published document from Qatar for all apartments and houses to be previous sessions’ fees has to be by local Arabic daily Arrayah, types of animals, such as camels, provided. provided. specifi es the documents that sheep and goats, and birds needs 5. For university students’ 7. Regarding bank accounts need to be attached by the appli- to be provided. claims, documents show- in any of the blockading coun- ‘Tamim Al Majd’ artist in focus cants, among other key aspects. 3. Copies of receipts and in- ing the number of academic tries, a copy of all related The points are as follows: voices required for furniture, hours gained, university reg- transactions, bank statements 1. The applicant should attach electrical appliances, etc, and istration and fee payment and cards has to be furnished. 8. With regard to workforce in any of the blockading countries, a document proving the spon- sorship of workers aff ected there and copies of their passports and exit permits from Qatar have to be provided. 9. Regarding air ticket pur- chases to pass through the siege countries or go there, a copy of all such reservations and relat- ed payment receipts should be attached. 10. For issues related to the severing of ties with relatives in the blockading countries or re- newal of passports there, a copy of the passport of the aff ected person needs to be provided. 11. For products bought online, over phone or through persons Celebrated Qatari artist Ahmed al-Maadheed, creator of the iconic ‘Tamim Al Majd’ portrait of His or parties in the siege countries, Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has attended the launch of lifestyle magazine and which were never delivered BQ Plus’ latest issue, which features an interview of him. In the interview, al-Maadheed talks about his to the purchaser, a copy of the art, motivation, lifestyle and interests. Featured prominently on the magazine’s cover, Ahmed was the relevant money transfer and cynosure of all eyes at the event, held at the head off ice of Gulf Star Group, publisher of BQ Plus and payment is required. its sister business publication, BQ Business Magazine. The event venue was decked with Qatari flags 12. Companies that have in- and ‘Tamim Al Majd’ banners. Flanked by al-Maadheed and other invitees, Naveed Abdulla, business curred losses due to the block- director of Gulf Star Group, swore allegiance to Qatar and HH the Emir. A special cake was also cut on ade need to submit claims and the occasion, featuring the latest magazine cover, by dignitaries including Mohamed Mansour Rashid complaints along with sup- al-Khater, Gulf Star Group’s chairman. Al-Khater presented a commemorative plaque to Ahmed, porting documents to Qatar commending him for giving the world ‘Tamim Al Majd’. A man interacting with a Compensation Claims Committee off icial. PICTURE: Ram Chand Chamber. QFSW invites citizens ‘Siege countries do not want Qatar to and residents to ‘largest national cohesion event’ pursue independent foreign policy’

atar Foundation for age of His Highness the Emir QNA stop coddling the Saudis on most always shores up support aff ord a long-term division beginning of the crisis, Saudi Social Work (QFSW) Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Washington, DC Qatar”, the Washington Ex- for the existing regime, the among its GCC allies which are Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Qhas invited all citizens al-Thani. aminer said that it now seems magazine said. geographically close to Iran, Egypt did not produce any evi- and residents to participate in The event will be attended clear that the blockade coun- “The blockade could become so it needs to de-escalate the dence that Qatar supports ter- the “largest national cohesion by a number of institutions he Gulf crisis was never tries were aiming for regime semi-permanent. Qatar can eas- situation because no one else, rorist organisations, empha- event” in Al Sadd Sports Club in the country, such as Qatar about terrorism, rather, it change in the State of Qatar ily withstand an economic siege except the US, has the author- sising the fact that supporting at 6.30pm today. Players Association, Qatar Tis about Qatar’s insistence and were prepared to use force and, as long as Turkish troops ity to try to solve the division in terrorists by some individuals In a statement, the foundation Football Association, Su- on pursuing an independent to get it; but they couldn’t remain, it need not fear a land the Gulf. does not mean that the state has said it is organising a national preme Committee for Deliv- foreign policy rather than fol- due to the immediate deploy- invasion,” it said. “More can be done to control supports terrorism. event at the said venue to form ery & Legacy, Al Kass Sports lowing Saudi Arabia, according ment of Turkish forces in the The magazine pointed out money laundering and co-ordi- Qatari security agencies work the “largest ever human mural” Channel and Qatar Stars to the US magazine Washington country. that it is hard to see how the nate anti-terrorism across the with Western allies to monitor on an initiative of ‘The Qatari League, in addition to a group Examiner. If the four countries were quartet can back down, espe- region. But any solution must violent groups, the Washington Voice’ and in collaboration with of youth writers, fi lmmakers, The four blockade countries hoping that economic sanc- cially as “governments that look respect media freedom and na- Examiner said, adding that some the Qatar Cultural and Heritage social media activists, poets, want Doha to agree to leave tions alone would turn Qataris like losers become vulnerable tional sovereignty, the magazine extremist groups, such as the Events Centre. famous Qatari athletes, art- its foreign policy to them, the against their government, they domestically.” added. Taliban, opened representative The mural will feature the ists and chief executives, the magazine said. will have been sorely disap- The Washington Examiner Meanwhile, the US magazine offi ces in Doha at the request of iconic ‘Tamim Al Majd’ im- statement notes. Under the title “US should pointed because blockade al- stressed that the US cannot said that seven weeks from the US and UK intelligence.