BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Kaur’s stunning 171 puts India INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 16 COMMENT 14, 15 Qatar’s fi nancial sector ARAB WORLD 3 BUSINESS 1-8, 10-12 in World 21,625.98 9,542.28 46.93 INTERNATIONAL 4-12 CLASSIFIED 9 remains strong despite -14.77 +39.92 -0.19 ISLAM 13 SPORT 1-8 -0.07% +0.42% -0.40% Cup fi nal Latest Figures blockade: Al-Emadi published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10521 July 21, 2017 Shawwal 27, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals FM briefs China on siege Saudi slaps curbs on In brief Qatari Haj pilgrims QATAR | Siege NHRC urges UAE to AFP It said Qataris and the country’s winners in the electronic draw for Haj Riyadh residents could join the pilgrimage as have decided to cancel their plans for protect Qataris’ rights they have been already “electronically the pilgrimage this year. The National Human Rights Committee registered for the Haj” and they had Such people have refrained from (NHRC) has identified a number of audi Arabia has imposed re- the necessary permits from Riyadh and continuing with their Haj plans as violations committed by the UAE strictions on Qataris wanting to Doha. they consider the situation to be against Qatari investors and residents. Sperform this year’s Haj pilgrim- The Haj is to take place this year at highly uncertain in view of the block- Urging the UAE authorities not to age. the beginning of September. ade imposed on Qatar, according to drag investor rights into the ongoing HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met his In a statement, the Saudi Haj min- Saudi Arabia and its allies Bahrain, the daily. political rift or to use them as a tool of Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing yesterday. They reviewed relations istry said Qatari pilgrims arriving by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates Some of the companies engaged in political pressure, the rights body said between Qatar and China and means of developing them, in addition to issues of plane must use airlines in agreement cut diplomatic ties and imposed sanc- Haj-related activities told Arrayah that these actions are a flagrant violation of mutual interest. The Foreign Minister briefed his Chinese counterpart on the latest with the Saudi authorities. tions on Doha in June, including the a good number of people have taken international conventions. developments in the Gulf crisis and the illegal measures taken against Qatar. The They also needed to get visas on ar- closure of their airspace to Qatari air- back their passports and asked them The unjust siege has aff ected the rights Foreign Minister thanked Wang Yi for the attention his country has paid to the Gulf rival in Jeddah or Medina, their sole lines. to cancel their trip due to the fear that of Qatari investors and residents of crisis and its stance that calls for dialogue, respect for international law and support points of entry in the kingdom, the Recently, an Arabic daily in Qatar re- things might not go down as smoothly Qatar who own property in the UAE . “If for Kuwaiti mediation. Page 2 ministry added. ported that a considerable number of as before. the rights of the investors continue to be violated, the committee will resort to the mechanisms of the UN”. INDIA | Politics India gets new president Ram Nath Kovind was elected India’s new president yesterday. Kovind won Qatar presents proof of the position with more than 65% of the vote by members of India’s parliament and state assemblies, the election commission said. The 71-year-old former lawyer and state governor from the Dalit community was nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party UAE role in QNA hacking for the post. The opposition Congress Party also put forward a Dalit candidate, a former parliamentary speaker Meira „Cyberattack process started as early as April 19 „Evidence corroborates US intelligence report Kumar.Page 9 ARAB WORLD | Protest By Ayman Adly Haniyeh calls for Staff Reporter ‘Day of Anger’ Hamas political bureau chief, Ismail ffi cials of Qatar’s Interior Minis- Haniyeh, called on the Palestinian try yesterday said they have evi- people and the Arab and Muslim people Odence to prove the cyberattack to make this Friday a ‘Day of Anger’ to on the country’s offi cial media origi- support the occupied city of Jerusalem nated from the United Arab Emirates and Al Aqsa mosque. “I appeal to our (UAE) . people everywhere to march tomorrow The attack on the website of Qatar across Palestine’s territories and in all News Agency (QNA) started as early exiles in defence of Jerusalem and Al as April 19 when professional hackers MoI off icials announcing the outcome of the technical investigation into QNA Aqsa Mosque,” Haniyeh said yesterday in began to scan the site using VPN pro- website hacking. a televised speech. Haniyeh said that the grammes to look for loopholes in the policy of closing down the mosque and system, the technical investigation team to exploit a vulnerability in the system at 00:01, the attack started and the imposing punitive measures against the of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has re- to infi ltrate and instal malicious soft- fabricated news attributing false people of Jerusalem and the holy sites vealed. ware. “The weakness in the system was statements to His Highness the Emir will never pass. Page 3 The role of the UAE in the hacking has shared with another person through Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani now been widely reported both locally Skype at 5.45am from an iPhone with an were published. Again for 15 minutes, QATAR | Telecom and internationally, and also confi rmed IP address of one of the siege countries. the website experienced a surge in the Vodafone 3G by multiple American intelligence agen- Accordingly, the hackers managed to number of visits — 41 visits — origi- cies. Both the Washington Post and NBC instal sophisticated malicious software nating from the UAE in particular. The fully restored News, quoting US intelligence offi cials, on QNA website to gain full access to hike in the number of visits showed the He stressed it is clear that the quality to the hacking to the UAE. As well, the Vodafone Qatar has now fully restored have said the UAE arranged hacking of the site. On April 28, hackers were able hackers’ eagerness to make sure that of the hacking was so professional that it technical team could reach a European the company’s 3G network, with voice Qatari media. to get the passwords and e-mails of all the planted news had been circulated. had to have “state resources” behind the telephone number that was used for the and data services, including calls and The Post reported on Sunday that in- QNA employees which were shared with Besides, all social media platforms of operation. hacking process. SMS to/from other networks, running formation from US intelligence offi cials a person through Skype from a machine QNA were hacked for the same pur- Lieutenant Colonel Ali Mohamed al- However, he affi rmed that his team smoothly. Vodafone is continuing showed that senior UAE government with an IP address in one of the block- pose (posting fake news).” Mohannadi, Director of the Technol- was concerned only with the collection to work towards the remaining offi cials discussed the planned hacks on ading countries. Another log on by the Captain al-Hammoud said the hack ogy Aff airs Department at the National of technical evidence and the probe was restoration of 4G services as soon as May 23, the day before the alleged hack- hackers from the same IP address took was contained as early as 3am on the Command Centre (NCC) and head of the supported by teams of friendly coun- possible, the company said in a press ing occurred. place on May 20 to make the fi nal prepa- same day, and by 7pm full control of the investigation team, said that the identi- tries. release. On Monday 17 July Vodafone Speaking at a press conference at MoI ration for the planned attack. QNA website and its social media plat- fi cation of the persons who browsed the “The outcomes of the investigation Qatar experienced a major network Headquarters, Captain Othman Salem “On May 23, the QNA website saw forms was regained. The cyberattacks website is an easy process, which hap- have been already submitted to the At- outage with their Home Location al-Hammoud, Assistant Director of an unusual hike in the number of lasted for about three hours, from late pened at a location in the UAE. torney General and the process of fi ling Register (HLR), a key hardware MoI Information Security Department, visits, as many as 45 visits in just 15 at night on May 24 to the early hours of Investigators also have traced the a case against the involved has already component of their core network. said that on April 22 hackers were able minutes, during 23:45-00:01. Then May 25. IP (Internet protocol) address linked been started.” To Page 2 Erdogan’s Gulf tour refl ects determination to resolve crisis „Turkish President to In an interview with Al Sharq news- that it is unacceptable for the siege ple and gave no chance for a solution Aktay warned of the repercussions paper, Aktay said that since the be- countries to demand Qatar to sever or dialogue. of the crisis, stressing that Israel is the arrive in Doha on Monday ginning of the crisis, Turkey has been its relationship with any particular As for whether all the parties to the real benefi ciary and then the dictatorial seeking to solve the dispute in various country. siege are listening to the Turkish point regimes. QNA ways and to be a key to dialogue and Meanwhile, he called on Saudi Ara- of view, he said Saudi Arabia under- The Turkish official expressed con- Doha understanding between the brothers. bia to play a positive role in the crisis stands Turkey’s point of view, not- cern over the future of the region as “Although Turkey supports the Qa- because of its status among the coun- ing that his country appreciates that he said there have been sinister plans tari position and its people who are un- tries of the region, noting that Turkey because Saudi Arabia is an important to destroy the unity of the Gulf coun- urkish President Recep Tayyip der unjust siege, it is concerned about supported Riyadh against the US with country and it must play a positive and tries. Erdogan’s forthcoming visit what is going on in the region, espe- regard to the JASTA law. neutral role, and not be biased towards He affi rmed unifying the position of Tto the Gulf is aimed at solving cially as it has information about plots The Turkish parliament offi cial one side, especially as the security of the countries of the region to face the the GCC crisis and it refl ects Turkey’s and conspiracies to divide the region,” praised Qatar’s rational and wise policy the region is linked to each other, and divisive plan which will not exclude any desire to solve the dispute amicably Aktay said. in managing the crisis and not escalat- that the continuation of the crisis puts country, whether Saudi Arabia or Tur- through dialogue, chairman of the “Turkey tried to resolve the crisis at ing it, as well as in maintaining frater- the region at great risk. key. “The West supports this division, Turkish-Qatari Relations Committee its beginning with complete neutrality, nal relations with the Gulf states and On the possibility of Saudi Arabia’s so we believe that any threat directed at the Turkish Parliament Dr Yasin Ak- but the other parties did not respond taking into account the feelings of the acceptance of the Turkish mediation to Saudi Arabia is mainly directed to tay has said. positively to the Turkish eff orts,” he peoples of the siege countries. and its rejection by the UAE, Aktay said Turkey.” The Turkish president will start the said, adding that his country was will- Aktay also praised Qatar’s policy that this is possible and unfortunately, The chairman of the Turkish-Qatari GCC tour on Sunday by visiting Saudi ing to hear from all sides, “and if there in giving Turkey an opportunity to the UAE is heading towards escalating relations committee underlined the Arabia from where he will move to Ku- is a default from Qatar, Turkey will ask mediate and bring the points of view the crisis, adding Ankara wanted the strategic relations between Qatar and wait, which plays the role of media- it to back down”. closer even though the regimes of the UAE to take a position that supports Turkey and their co-operation in the tor in the crisis. He will visit Qatar on Aktay stressed on Turkey’s support siege countries did not take into ac- peace and reconciliation in the region matters related to both the countries in Monday. for the State of Qatar, pointing out Recep Tayyip Erdogan count the feelings of the Qatari peo- as everyone is a loser from this crisis. particular and the region in general. Gulf Times 2 Friday, July 21, 2017 QATAR FM reviews relations with China Official Emir issues decree amending QNA law on combating terrorism Beijing His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has issued E the Foreign Minister Decree Law No 11 of 2017 amending some provisions of Law No 3 of Sheikh Mohamed 2004 on combating terrorism. H bin Abdulrahman The Decree Law included the definition of terrorists, crimes and al-Thani met his Chinese terrorist acts and entities, the freezing of funds, the financing of counterpart Wang Yi in terrorism, the creation of two national lists of individuals and terrorist Beijing yesterday. entities, the identification of procedures for listing individuals and HE the Foreign Minister entities in any of them and the related implications, and the right of the Sheikh Mohamed bin concerned party to challenge the listing decision before the Court of Abdulrahman al-Thani Cassation. expressed satisfaction over the path and development of bilateral relations, Emir issues decrees particularly after the signing of the strategic partnership His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued agreement between Qatar yesterday Decrees: and China in November 2014, 1. No 49 of 2017 ratifying an agreement between the government of with HE the foreign minister the State of Qatar and the Government of His Majesty The Sultan and stressing the State of Qatar’s Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the avoidance of double commitment to partnership taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion regarding income tax and its with China and developing and annexed protocol, signed in Bandar Seri Begawan on January 17, 2012, activating that partnership. which shall have the power of law according to the Article 68 of the He also expressed his constitution. aspiration to raise the level of 2. No 50 of 2017 ratifying a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic partnership between co-operation in the health field between the Ministry of Public Health of the State of Qatar and the the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus, People’s Republic of China. HE The Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani with his team at the talks signed in Doha on October 30, 2016, which shall have the power of law The two sides also according to the Article 68 of the constitution. expressed their desire to understanding soon between State of Qatar and the National People’s Republic of China to Chinese tourists to the State 3. No 51 of 2017 ratifying an agreement on co-operation in the sign a memorandum of Qatar Tourism Authority of the Tourism Administration of the facilitate trips by groups of of Qatar. cultural field between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of Turkmenistan, signed in Ashgabat on 7/3/2016, which shall have the power of law according to the Article 68 of the constitution. 4. No 52 of 2017 ratifying an agreement on cultural co-operation between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, signed in Doha on 1/4/2014, which shall have the power of law according to the Article 68 of the constitution. 5. No 53 of 2017 ratifying a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on legal and judicial co-operation between the Ministry of Justice of the QCDC Summer Career State of Qatar and the Ministry of Justice and Law of the Republic of Colombia, signed in Bogota on July 27, 2016, which shall have the power of law according to the Article 68 of the constitution. 5. No 54 of 2017 ratifying a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between the Government of the State of Qatar and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, signed in Baku Camp concludes on 8/3/2016. 6. No 55 of 2017 ratifying an agreement on encouragement and atar Career Development Center major at the University of Sussex in Eng- reciprocal protection of investment between the Government of the (QCDC) has concluded the fourth land. In 2013, al-Wadaani created a new State of Qatar and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic Qedition of its Summer Career game as part of her participation in the of Sri Lanka, signed in Doha on 22/5/2012, which shall have the power of Camp in which 55 secondary school stu- INJAZ competition, where she won the law according to the Article 68 of the constitution. dents have taken part. ‘Best Student Company in Qatar’ award. The two-week camp featured a va- Later, she participated in the INJAZ riety of activities and educational pro- Al-Arab regional competition, where Emir issues instruments of ratification grammes, as well as stimulating work- she won the ‘Best Social Impact’ award. shops that off ered practical skills and Al-Wadaani’s game, titled ‘Learn and His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued an knowledge to help inspire students as Enjoy,’ aims to teach students about dif- instrument of ratification endorsing the ratification of a memorandum they plan their future academic and ca- ferent school curricula and subjects, and of understanding (MoU) on co-operation in the sports field between the reer paths. was inspired by the board game Monop- Ministry of Culture and Sports of the State of Qatar and the National A large number of Qatari students par- oly. Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) of the ticipated in the camp, which included Al-Wadaani shared her success story Republic of Cuba, signed in Havana on November 23, 2015. site visits to leading organisations in with the students and invited them to His Highness the Emir also issued an instrument of ratification Qatar such as Hamad Medical Corpora- modify her game to be more career-rel- endorsing a draft agreement on trade exchange, and economic and tion, Qatar Tourism Authority, Msheireb evant. Students in turn shared what they technical co-operation between the governments of the State of Qatar Museums, Qatar Development Bank, and learned during the Summer Career Camp and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, signed in Doha on Qatar Business Incubation Center. These 2017. February 21, 2005. visits off ered a glimpse into diff erent Additionally, QCDC and Al-Wadaani Additionally, His Highness the Emir issued an instrument of ratification professions, and taught students about have collaborated to develop a practical endorsing a draft agreement on air services between the governments the career opportunities available at each framework to launch a new version of the of the State of Qatar and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, signed in organisation. Students also participated ‘Learn and Enjoy’ game focusing on four Doha on May 22, 2017. in a number of workshops delivered by A participant at Qatar Career Development Center’s Summer Career Camp 2017 creates key areas: military, medicine, business, the organisations to help them match her own perfume. and tourism. The camp’s attendees were their abilities and skills with a variety of divided into diff erent groups to add more Envoy to OPCW presents credentials career choices. informed manner, and identify the vari- in order to demonstrate careers outside areas, topics, and questions to the game. Abdulla al-Mansoori, Director of ous associated factors.” traditional offi ce jobs, including starting This new version of the game will be used HE the Director General of the Organization for the Prohibition of QCDC, said: “We’re pleased with the As part of the educational work- a business and making use of personal by QCDC in its various trainings, work- Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ahmet Uzumcu, yesterday received the number of Qatari youth who have ben- shops, the students learned how to write talents. Students also participated in a shops, camps, and programs. credentials of HE Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani as the State efi ted from QCDC’s eff orts, which aim to resumes and prepare for university ad- series of handicraft workshops, including The Summer Career Camp is one of of Qatar’s permanent representative to OPCW. The director general help young people make more informed missions; both important skills as they a session on how to make perfume. The several initiatives organised by QCDC, a praised the important role of the State of Qatar in supporting the career choices. The decisions they make progress through their academic and ca- students were then given the opportunity member of Qatar Foundation for Educa- Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), whether through supervising today will not only shape their futures, reer paths. to produce their own perfumes by mixing tion, Science and Community Develop- training courses or off ering financial support to the organisation’s but will also outline the future of the The Summer Career Camp 2017 fo- various oils and scents. ment (QF), designed to help Qatari youth activities. For his part, the permanent representative stressed the State country. Therefore, we must ensure that cused on additional topics such as en- This year’s camp featured special guest make decisions on their academic and of Qatar’s unequivocal support for CWC and its condemnation of the these decisions are made in a mindful and trepreneurship and handicraft projects, Sheikha al-Wadaani, a Qatari psychology professional potential. use of chemical weapons under any circumstances . Proof of Bedaya hosts nutrition UAE hand in hacking specialists from ministry presented he Bedaya Centre for Entrepreneur- ship and Career Development (Be- Tdaya Centre), a joint initiative by From page 1 Qatar Development Bank and Silatech, recently held its third Mehna Café (career He also expressed his view café) meeting at The Pearl Qatar. that further investigation in- The event hosted nutrition specialists volved some diffi culties as it Nada al-Shammeri and Hind al-Tamimi needed the co-operation of from the Ministry of Public Health. This UAE “which is not likely to hap- was in addition to the participation of the pen”. faculty of Public Health at Qatar University Lt Colonel al-Mohannadi and Lite N’Appetite diet centre. summed up the whole hacking During the session, both al-Tamimi and Part of Al Furousiya process in three steps: gaining al-Shammeri spoke about their profession full control of the website, pub- and their love, passion, and experience. lishing fabricated news, and the They also spoke about their role in guiding street to be closed benefi ciary of the crime moni- people in what to eat to live a healthy life or toring the spread of the planted achieve health goals. Bedaya Centre general manager Reem al-Suwaidi with participating guests of the third report. The detractors had al- The specialists also highlighted the roles Mehna Café. he Public Works Authority (Ashghal) will close and divert an ready planned the media cam- and functions of a nutritionist in society. 800m section of Al Furousiya Street from tomorrow onwards paign against Qatar, once the They said their role could not be overlooked Qatar, thus contributing to the achievement as the importance in human life. Tto enable the construction of a free fl owing, three-level inter- false news had been published. because as food consultants, nutritionists of Qatar National Vision 2030. “We also welcomed representatives from change on Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street. Ashghal said in a communique It is certain that the process are constantly in touch with the treating Lite N’Appetite diet centre participated the faculty of Public Health at QU, who pro- that the proposed diversion has been designed in co-ordination with originated from the UAE, which physician and doctor. The nutritionist also in the event by providing the audience with vided an insight into the new majors avail- the General Directorate of Traffi c and will be implemented in two is confi rmed through the IP ad- participates in the nutritional assessment free checkups, including calculating the able, having welcomed its fi rst batch of stu- phases. The fi rst phase will commence from tomorrow and will be in dress and the type of the iPhone of patients by preparing their diet plans, in body mass index, fats level, and muscle, dents in 2016, al-Suwaidi said. place for nearly two months. During the period, road users travelling used and the particular network addition to providing advice and guidance. among others. Mehna Café is a professional gathering eastbound on Al Furousiya Street and wishing to access Al Rayyan Al used at that time, the MoI tech- Representatives from the faculty of QU’s Bedaya Centre general manager Reem al- held in an informal atmosphere where pio- Jadeed Street, will be diverted onto Khalifa Bin Ahmad Street and be nical investigation committee Public Health also showcased the available Suwaidi said: “During the event, we made neers from diff erent careers and professions required to follow the diversion route along Umm Jawlaq Street and said. majors at the university and the require- sure that we highlighted the role of a nutri- get to speak before guests and audience in- Street 950 (as shown on the attached map). A short documentary was ments of each major. tionist and the importance of this speciali- terested in specifi c professions. Ashghal has advised it will not reduce the number of lanes on the shown at the briefi ng, which The university provides a vital aspect of sation in today’s society.” They provide a clear image about those said section of Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street as part of the diversion, but detailed the whole process the country’s needs for qualifi ed health and “Today, we hosted two prominent nu- professions, which, in return, will give the it will gradually reduce the number of lanes on Al Furousiya Street chronologically according to medical professionals by introducing new trition specialists and we are grateful for a attendees an in-depth insight and support from three lanes to two lanes upon approach to Khalifa Bin Ahmad the fi ndings of the investigation academic programmes in light of the sig- detailed explanation of their profession and their aspirations to enter the arena of pro- Street. team. nifi cant expansion of healthcare services in the purpose of their specialisation, as well fessional life. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

CIVIL STRIFE CONFLICT CRACKDOWN VICTORY ‘NO TRUTH’ Militants fire on protesters Hezbollah accused by US of Chahed seeks to restore Iraq retakes key village Libya faction denies in Syria’s Idlib: monitor Lebanon weapons buildup trust with anti-graft push south of Mosul from IS ‘summary executions’

Extremists from a coalition led by Al Qaeda’s US Ambassador Nikki Haley on Wednesday Tunisia’s prime minister yesterday vowed to Iraqi forces yesterday retook a strategically The Libyan National Army, the main military former Syria aff iliate fired yesterday on accused Lebanon’s Hezbollah of amassing push ahead with a war against corruption to important village from Islamic State south of the force in eastern Libya, yesterday denied protesters in northwestern Idlib province, a day weapons and said the world must turn its attention restore trust in the state, adding this would extremist militia’s former stronghold of Mosul, accusations that its troops were involved in after killing a demonstrator in the area, a monitor to the actions of the powerful paramilitary exclude no-one whatever their political an Iraqi security off icial said. Lieutenant-Colonel torture and killing of prisoners. The UN Human said. The incident comes as the extremist Hayat organisation. Haley met with UN envoy for aff iliation. Youssef Chahed’s speech to Karim al-Aboud added that the forces had Rights Commission had called on the LNA, one Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) alliance fights pitched Lebanon Sigrid Kaag ahead of a Security Council lawmakers is part of a campaign that has gained “liberated” the village of Imam Gharbi, serving of the factions fighting in Libya since its 2011 civil battles across opposition-held Idlib province with meeting focussing on the UN peacekeeping force him some plaudits among Tunisians even as as a major supply route linking the provinces of war, to examine reports of summary executions the Ahrar al-Sham rebel faction. The clashes have deployed in southern Lebanon. There has been he tries to push through unpopular austerity Nineveh and Salah al-Din. “Security forces are of prisoners. “We aff irm that there is no truth to killed more than 40 people since they erupted speculation about the possibility of a new war measures. Corruption was one of main catalysts hunting routed remaining Daesh elements,” he what is described in the statement regarding this week, including 27 of the combatants and between Israel and Hezbollah, a powerful Lebanese of the 2011 revolt against autocrat Zine El- told DPA, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic the torture or killing prisoners,” LNA spokesman 11 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory paramilitary organisation, more than a decade Abidine Ben Ali and many Tunisians complain State. The bodies of eight militant fighters and Ahmad Messmari said. The LNA has expanded its for Human Rights monitor. Another four of those after their last direct confrontation. There have graft is as widespread six years after their North two Iraqi reporters, who were killed around a presence in central and southern Libya as it vies killed have yet to be identified as fighters or been periodic skirmishes along the UN-monitored African country emerged into democracy and week ago, were found in the village, al-Aboud for control with forces linked to the UN-backed civilians, the Observatory added. demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon. free elections. added. Four Iraqi soldiers were injured in the fight. government in Tripoli and other opponents.

Saudi prince arrested Israel facing mounting anger over ‘assault’ video

Reuters by a person no matter his station, over holy site metal detectors condition or rank”. Dubai The announcement, made By Jeff rey Heller, Reuters Muslim religious authorities gunmen shot dead two Israeli yesterday on the state TV chan- Jerusalem say the metal detectors violate a policemen outside the complex Saudi prince has been ar- nel Ekhbariya’s Twitter page, delicate agreement on worship in one of the most serious at- rested after a video that ap- used the hashtag “A prince com- and security arrangements at the tacks in the area for years. Apeared to show him assault- mits assault on citizens” which rime Minister Benjamin Jerusalem site and have urged The assailants were killed by ing a bloodied man stoked outrage Saudis used to vent their ire. Netanyahu yesterday con- Palestinians not to pass through. security forces. online, Saudi police said, in a rare Since 2012, social media storms Psidered removing metal Prayers have been held near an Israel briefl y closed the com- airing of public anger at a member in Saudi Arabia over government detectors at a Jerusalem holy entrance to the complex. pound and installed the metal of the powerful royal family. policies or the actions of senior site after their installation fol- Netanyahu held security con- detectors which it said were The clip, apparently fi lmed offi cials have culminated in their lowing a deadly attack last week sultations over the issue on his commonplace at religious sites by the attacker, shows a Yem- sacking on at least fi ve occasions. stirred up Palestinian protests return to Israel from visits to worldwide. eni driver berated for parking in But online campaigns seldom and threats of escalation. France and Hungary. In the West Bank yesterday, a front of the man’s house and be- target the House of Saud, a fam- There have been nightly con- Israeli Public Security Minis- Palestinian tried to stab two Is- ing forcibly grabbed by the col- ily with thousands of members frontations between Palestin- ter Gilad Erdan said Netanyahu raeli soldiers and was shot dead, lar and cursed at as blood drips that founded the state nearly ians hurling rocks and Israeli is expected to decide on a course the army said. down his mouth. 300 years ago and attached their police using stun grenades in of action during the late night It was not immediately clear if Saudi police reported that name to the kingdom. Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem meeting. the alleged attack was prompted King Salman ordered the ar- A Saudi prince was executed since the devices were placed on Far-right members of Netan- by the tensions over the holy site. rest of the junior Prince Saud last year after being convicted Sunday at entrances to the Har- yahu’s government have public- Ismail Haniyah, leader of the bin Musa’id for assault to dem- of shooting dead a fellow Saudi, am al-Sharif compound, known ly urged him to keep the devices Hamas Islamist movement that A Palestinian protester holds a copy of the Holy Qur’an and shouts onstrate that he would punish a rare example of capital punish- to Jews as Temple Mount. in place at the fl ashpoint site. rules Gaza, called on Palestin- slogans in front of Israeli security forces during a demonstration in “any transgression or violation ment for a royal. Tensions were high ahead of But Israeli media reports said ian demonstrators to confront Jerusalem’s Old City yesterday. Friday prayers when thousands security chiefs were divided over Israeli troops along the enclave’s of Muslims usually fl ock to the Al the issue amid concerns about border today. Erdogan, after discussing the worship would be maintained. Kuwait shuts Iran affiliate missions Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holi- wider Palestinian unrest in East “Let Friday be a turning point stand-off with Palestinian Pres- Israeli forces captured East est shrine, in the compound above Jerusalem and the West Bank. in the battle in the defence of Je- ident Mahmoud Abbas, spoke to Jerusalem, along with the West The State of Kuwait yesterday took the decision to close down Judaism’s sacred Western Wall. “The prime minister is con- rusalem and al-Aqsa,” Haniyeh Israeli President Reuven Rivlin Bank, in the 1967 Middle East war. the Iranian cultural mission along with other affiliate offices in the Palestinian factions vowed sidering whether to change this said in a televised speech. by phone to urge an end to the Palestinians want a state in the country and asked for reducing the number of Iranian diplomats it would be a “day of rage” and decision, and that’s his preroga- Nickolay Mladenov, the United metal-detector searches, sourc- West Bank and Gaza Strip with operating in its embassy here, said a statement yesterday by the confrontation with Israeli forces, tive,” Erdan said on Army Radio. Nations special co-ordinator for es in Erdogan’s offi ce said. East Jerusalem as its capital. country’s Foreign Ministry. According to the statement, the decision which put fi ve army regiments on He described the equipment the long-stalled Israeli-Palestin- Rivlin’s offi ce said he had de- Israel considers all of Jerusa- was made on the backdrop of Al-Abdali terror cell’s case, Kuwait’s standby to reinforce troops in the as a legitimate security measure. ian peace talks, called for calm. fended the security measures and lem its capital, a claim that is not News Agency (KUNA) reported. The Iranian ambassador was notified occupied West Bank. On July 14, three Arab-Israeli Turkish President Tayyip assured Erdogan that freedom of recognised internationally. with the decision, it pointed out. – QNA

Cartoons adorn the walls of Le Dictateur restaurant in the upmarket Cite Ennasr suburb of Tunis. ‘Freedom’ steak on menu at Le Dictateur

By Kaouther Larbi, AFP picture of Russian President Vladimir lishment’s name and logo — “to avoid Tunis Putin also looks down on diners. problems”, as he was advised by one The oppressive theme extends to the minister. menu, with signature dishes such as The project was all considered “a bit steak dubbed the ‘Grilled Free- “Grilled Freedom”, “Anarchy”, “Oppo- shocking”, Ben Hammouda said. dom’ is just one stand-out sition” and “Putsch” on off er. But the fuss that was whipped up in Adish on the menu of the Tuni- “I wanted to take full advantage the media only served to advertise Le sian capital’s Le Dictateur restaurant, of the freedom of expression that’s Dictateur and bring in a stream of curi- which is not exactly to the taste of of- been the main achievement of the ous punters. fi cialdom. revolution,” said the restaurateur, “The fi rst time I came was to see Six years after the North African who returned in 2008 from France what it looked like, this ‘culinary dic- country’s revolution that sparked the where he studied marketing and tatorship’ that was so upsetting the Arab Spring, Le Dictateur vies for the management. authorities,” said Malek. foodie business in the upmarket Cite But he still waited for several years He spoke as he was about to tuck Ennasr suburb of Tunis. after the 2011 fall of Tunisian dictator into a ‘Citizen’ salad and ‘Salazar’ pas- “We had to make ourselves known, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali before begin- ta named after Portugal’s late dictator, to come up with a name and concept ning his bold culinary venture. Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. that attracted attention because good Only last March did the restaurant Le Dictateur was eventually given cuisine alone is often not enough,” said open its doors under the daring name permission to keep its bold restaurant owner Seif Ben Hammouda. and logo of a fi gure resembling North sign, after a compromise was struck “Dictatorship was a taboo subject Korean leader Kim Jong-un but also in which the Kim-lookalike logo was for decades, and it’s still very relevant sporting a Hitler moustache. stripped of its toothbrush moustache. here as eff orts continue to bring about The Tunisian authorities were “very “I’m enormously thankful to the au- freedom and democracy,” said the sav- much disturbed”, Ben Hammouda told thorities for all the free publicity,” said vy entrepreneur in his 30s. AFP, and a wave of municipal and even Ben Hammouda, who stressed that the Against a bricked background, por- some state offi cials descended on Le quality of the food remained his prior- traits that include Charlie Chaplin ap- Dictateur to check it out. ity. ing Adolf Hitler are mounted behind The reasons they gave were that Hungry fi rst-time visitor Chawki cages on the walls, creating a prison- his paperwork and the hygienic con- was eager to fi nd out if the fare on off er like atmosphere. ditions on the premises had to pass lived up to the hype. Joseph Stalin and Melania Trump, muster. “Thinking about these dictators can wife of the US president, compete for However, Ben Hammouda was also put you off your meal. But let’s hope space in murals on other walls, as a directly asked to change the estab- the food is good,” he said. Gulf Times 4 Friday, July 21, 2017 AFRICA

DIPLOMACY CORRUPTION POLITICS FINANCE RICH Burundi leader makes first Nigeria ex-oil minister’s Uganda arrests dozens of Zimbabwe economy to Congo’s Kabila and family foreign trip in two years property to be seized opposition activists grow in 2017: minister worth millions: new report

Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza arrived A Nigerian court has ordered the temporary Police in Uganda have announced the arrests of Zimbabwe’s economy will grow by 3.7% in 2017, Congo President Joseph Kabila and his family yesterday in Tanzania for his first foreign trip in seizure of a $37.5mn property owned by a opposition activists this week amid speculation the finance minister said yesterday, despite a own stakes in more than 80 companies at more than two years, seeking to revive political former oil minister, the state news agency said, that longtime President Yoweri Museveni is public sector wage bill devouring much of the home and abroad that are likely worth tens dialogue on the crisis in his country. Nkurunziza the latest move related to graft allegations planning to change the constitution so he can government’s expenditure. Finance Minister of millions of dollars, a report by a US-based arrived with a heavily armed escort in the northwest against a lynchpin of the last administration. stand for re-election. No off icial move has been Patrick Chinamasa said that growth would body said yesterday. The report by the Congo Tanzanian town of Ngara, about 15km from the Diezani Alison-Madueke served as petroleum made to lift the bar on Museveni running due to his be boosted by the farming sector, which is Research Group at New York University is based Rwandan border. The visit had been kept secret up minister in the Opec member country from 2010 age, but Ingrid Turinawe, senior organiser for the forecast to grow by 21.3% this year, along with almost entirely on public records like land titles to the last moment. He was welcomed by Tanzanian to 2015. On Wednesday, the Federal High Court main opposition Forum for Democratic Change, mining which will grow by 5.1%. He said tax and incorporation documents. It is the most President John Magufuli at a football ground, where in the commercial capital Lagos issued the order said he believes the arrests of 56 party members revenues are expected to total $3.7bn for the comprehensive mapping to date of Kabila and he was honoured with a 21-gun salute, live TV over Alison-Madueke’s property in the city’s on Wednesday were linked to the speculation. year — but warned that the soaring public sector his family’s fortune after two decades in charge coverage on Tanzanian television showed. “Their upmarket Banana Island area which she bought “The government gets suspicious that whoever is jobs bill left little for capital expenditure. “The of Africa’s top copper producer. Reuters was not discussion will cover the peace process” in Burundi, in 2013, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said. meeting is discussing the age limit,” Turinawe told overall employment costs for 2016 remained immediately able to independently confirm the Macocha Tembele, an aide to former Tanzanian The property is an apartment block situated in a AFP. Currently, the constitution prohibits citizens unsustainably high at $3.21bn accounting for information in the report, which does not allege president Benjamin Mkapa, said in a tweet. heavily guarded gated community. over the age of 75 from running for president. 91.7% of total revenue,” he said. wrongdoing by Kabila.

Kenyan poll panel battles 300 lawsuits

Reuters Nairobi

enya’s electoral body says it is facing more than 300 court cases Kfrom candidates, parties and civil society groups before elections on Au- gust 8, raising concern about whether the disputes can be resolved in time. President Uhuru Kenyatta will once again face his arch-nemesis Raila Od- inga, a veteran opposition leader. Kenyatta is the son of Kenya’s fi rst president and the urbane scion of a wealthy family, while Odinga is the son of the fi rst vice-president and a fi ery populist. Any doubts over the legality of the elections could spark protests by candidates contesting presidential, leg- islative or local seats. Paul Mwangi, the head of Odinga’s legal team, said he had lost count of the number of cases they had fi led against Police officers deploy on the premises of the National Police Academy in the Cocody neighborhood in Abidjan. the Independent Electoral and Bounda- ries Commission (IEBC). They have demanded that electronic systems are foolproof and that results announced at constituency level are fi nal to remove the possibility of tampering in Nairobi. They have also lodged a complaint saying the company printing ballot pa- Elite Ivorian security unit pers is too close to Kenyatta. The fi rst case will be decided today, the second was lost on appeal and the third was won. The government argues the legal bat- tles are an attempt to delay the elections and pave the way for power-sharing. hit, arms feared stolen “If that date is vacated, this republic will be thrown into a constitutional cri- Reuters and two days before Ivory Coast hosts tacked by armed men, visibly with Spent bullet casings littered the here (at the police academy),” he said. sis,” Attorney General Githu Muigai said Abidjan an event that will bring in thousands the goal of taking weapons,” Defence parking lot outside the CCDO base Authorities were trying to deter- before the high court. from around the French-speaking Minister Hamed Bakayoko told Reu- and bullet holes marked the walls in- mine if any arms were still missing, Chrispine Owiye, overseeing the elec- world. ters during a visit to the base early side. Bakayoko said, adding that he was not toral body’s legal response, said the fl ood unmen, some of them in mili- Shooting broke out at around yesterday. Following the initial attack, a sec- yet able to say if there had been any of cases could indicate a newfound faith tary uniforms, attacked the 9.30pm at the national police acad- Bakayoko, who had previously ond Reuters reporter later heard sus- casualties during the clashes. in the democratic system. Gbase of an elite security unit emy in Abidjan’s Cocody neighbour- served as the minister of the interior, tained gunfi re near the base of the po- Witnesses and a police source had “We’ve opened up a fl urry of com- in Ivory Coast’s main city, and stole hood and lasted for around an hour, was appointed defence minister on lice anti-riot brigade in the Yopougon reported gunfi re in other parts of plaints because people now believe they stocks of weapons as part of a series of according to one Reuters witness. Wednesday. neighbourhood in northern Abidjan, Abidjan overnight, but the city was can get justice from IEBC,” he said. The overnight clashes, the defence minis- The academy houses a unit of the The move was part of a government which also houses a CCDO unit. calm by early morning and two attack opposition are not the only ones suing. ter said yesterday. CCDO, a rapid response unit com- shake-up seen as an attempt to end Bakayoko said security forces had helicopters patrolled the skies. There are 8,000 independent can- The raid, late on Wednesday in posed of police offi cers, gendarmes successive waves of armed uprisings clashed with the same group of at- From Friday, Abidjan will host the didates vying for lucrative seats in this Abidjan, was the latest outburst of and soldiers that is one of the best- by members of the security forces de- tackers. Jeux de la Francophonie, a 10-day election, and many of them have lodged violence after months of military mu- equipped units in the Ivorian security manding bonus payments. “We found their vehicle in sporting and cultural event expected cases. tinies. forces. Bakayoko said security forces had Yopougon. There was an engagement to see the participation of around During the last election, there was It came just hours after the govern- “Last night the police school, which clashed with the attackers, who then between our forces and these people, 3,000 athletes and artists from around only 300. ment reshuffl ed key security posts, houses a CCDO detachment, was at- fl ed with stolen weapons. and we found weaponry that was taken the French-speaking world.

South Africa’s Guptas More dead as Nigeria slam smear campaign herders, farmers clash

Reuters Naidoo has not responded to re- AFP Nigeria’s Acting President Johannesburg peated requests by Reuters for com- Kano Yemi Osinbajo has ordered rein- ment over the last six weeks since forcements in Kaduna state fol- stories based on the emails began be- lowing the clashes. outh Africa’s Gupta brothers, ing published. t least 33 people were He condemned what he said three businessmen friends of London-based public relations killed in clashes between were the “needless deaths” and SPresident Jacob Zuma, are be- fi rm Bell Pottinger, which ended Acattle herders and farm- expressed frustration with the ing subjected to false corruption alle- its work with Oakbay in April, this ers in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna security challenges in southern gations which are part of a “blatantly month fi red a partner in charge of a state, a police chief told AFP yes- Kaduna. political campaign” to damage them, PR campaign in South Africa that the terday. Osinbajo promised to ensure a family spokesman has told BBC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa Two days of violence between that the “perpetrators of these News. and political opposition say infl amed herders and farmers erupted on dastardly acts” were identifi ed Last month, local media began re- racial tensions. Sunday in Kajuru village, 50km and brought to justice, he said in leasing a fl ood of stories about the The basis of the allegations were outside the city of Kaduna, said a statement issued on Wednes- alleged infl uence Gupta-owned com- leaked emails that suggested Bell state police commissioner Agy- day evening. panies have over government deci- Pottinger worked with Zuma’s son, ole Abeh. Southern Kaduna has seen a sions after the leaking of more than Duduzane, who was then a director “A total of 33 people were spate of deadly clashes between 100,000 documents and emails from at an Oakbay subsidiary, to create a killed in the violence between the predominantly Christian inside the Gupta commercial empire. “narrative that grabs the attention of Fulani herdsmen and farmers,” farmers and Muslim Fulani herd- The stories based on the leaked the grassroots”. said Abeh. ers, a historically nomadic peo- emails have drawn several interna- The communications preceded a “The violence started when ple who graze their cattle on the tional fi rms into a scandal that has sustained campaign condemning en- some villagers attacked a young land. also divided the ruling African Na- emies of Zuma and leftist elements Fulani man and his father, which Originally, the clashes were tional Congress (ANC) and prompted of the ruling ANC as agents of “white led to the death of the young man over land and water rights dis- senior politicians to call for Zuma’s monopoly capital”. after he was admitted in hospital.” putes. resignation. “The allegations against us that The victim’s kinsmen gath- But ethnicity and religion have The Gupta-owned companies or Bell Pottinger used ‘white monopoly ered from nearby settlements been playing a larger role in the family members have not previously capital’, and created Twitter bots on and launched a reprisal attack on confl ict after post-election vio- responded to the latest accusations behalf of Oakbay, have nothing to do the village, killing six men, said lence in 2011 that saw hundreds that they use their close relationship with Oakbay. Oakbay did not instruct Abeh. of Muslims killed and forced to with Zuma to win government con- Bell Pottinger to do anything of the In response, the youth from the fl ee the area. tracts and infl uence cabinet appoint- kind alleged,” Naidoo said. farming communities “mobilised Without a national strategy ments. Bell Pottinger has commissioned and went into the bush attacking in place to address the confl ict, “There are many false allega- an independent investigation into its and burning Fulani settlements tensions between herdsmen and tions circulating about Oakbay and role in the scandal. they could fi nd”, he added. farmers have not subsided, and its shareholders, which are part of a A company source said the re- “Our men were contacted but tit-for-tat killings have become blatantly political campaign against sults would be published shortly and before they could deploy, the common. us,” Gupta family spokesman Gary would show that much of what was attackers had killed 26 people, Experts blame a heavy-hand- Naidoo said in a response to ques- being said about it was false. mostly women and children and ed, militarised response by the tions by the BBC seen yesterday by “We’re confi dent that most of the injured several others.” government, and incendiary Reuters. allegations against us are false and Security personnel have since comments from political and The Gupta brothers are the major- will be demonstrated as such,” the been deployed to the area to religious leaders for fanning the ity shareholders in Oakbay. source said. maintain peace. fl ames of animosity. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 5 AMERICAS

TRAGEDY PEOPLE OFFBEAT MIGRATION CRISIS Singer Bennington Senator McCain Children’s adoption Men found hiding in Anti-Maduro shutdown dead in apparent suicide vows to fight cancer video goes viral container at Montreal port sees huge response

Chester Bennington, the lead singer of rock band Senator John McCain yesterday vowed a quick A video of Mickey Mouse surprising two foster Canadian authorities are treating the discovery Many Venezuelan streets were barricaded Linkin Park, was found dead yesterday at his return to Washington despite his newly diagnosed children with news of their adoption date has of four men hiding in a shipping container at and deserted yesterday after a strike called by southern California home in an apparent suicide, brain cancer in a show of the fighting spirit that gone viral on social media. Foster parents Tom and the port of Montreal as a case of illegal entry, foes of President Nicolas Maduro to demand the Los Angeles county coroner’s off ice said. has come to define the war hero and which Courtney Gilmour said they wanted to give Janielle, off icials said yesterday. The men, in their 30s, elections and the scrapping of plans for a new Coroner’s off ice spokesman Brian Elias said his prompted a wave of support across the political 12, and her 10-year-old brother Elijah a memorable suff ered dehydration but no severe injuries and congress they fear will consolidate dictatorship off ice had been notified by law enforcement of spectrum. The 80-year-old outspoken former gift during their visit to Disney World Florida in were taken to hospital, said Stephane Smith, in the country. From the Andes to the Amazon, the death of Bennington, 41, yesterday morning. Republican presidential candidate had surgery April. The video shows the children posing for a spokesman for Urgences Sante emergency millions participated in the 24-hour shutdown, Elias said the death was being handled as an last week for a blood clot above his left eye. His pictures with Mickey and then being overwhelmed services. Local media said the men were from the staying at home and closing businesses in a civil apparent suicide. Celebrity website TMZ, citing law off ice said late on Wednesday that the procedure with emotion after being told the date when the former Soviet republic of Georgia. The men were disobedience campaign the opposition hopes enforcement sources, said Bennington had hung revealed an aggressive form of brain tumour Gilmours would be formally adopting them. The hiding in a container found on the OOCL Montreal will end nearly two decades of socialist rule. himself at his Palos Verdes home near Los Angeles. known as a glioblastoma. “I greatly appreciate video has gained over 1.5mn views. Courtney vessel, which arrived at the port after making Many private transportation groups heeded Representatives of the band did not immediately the outpouring of support — unfortunately for my Gilmour said she posted the video with the hope stops in Hamburg and Antwerp. A Canadian the strike call, while students, neighbours and return calls for comment. Bennington had a history sparring partners in Congress, I’ll be back soon, so of drawing attention to the foster care system and representative of the Orient Overseas Container activists hauled rubbish and furniture into of alcohol and drug abuse. stand-by!” McCain wrote on Twitter. encouraging other people to get involved. Line (OOCL) in Toronto declined to comment. streets to erect makeshift barriers.

Sessions Wildfire spreading rapidly brushes O J Simpson off Trump criticism granted parole

Reuters Washington

S attorney general Jeff Ses- after nine years sions yesterday brushed Uoff sharp criticism from AFP lock Correctional Center, the bery, assault, kidnapping and President Donald Trump over his Los Angeles medium-security prison where other off ences after he and fi ve recusal from the justice depart- he is serving his sentence. associates — two of whom were ment’s Russia investigation, say- Seated behind a plain wooden armed — ambushed the two ing he loved his job and planned to isgraced American foot- table, he was wearing standard- sports memorabilia dealers in a continue serving. ball star O J Simpson issue blue jeans, a light blue but- casino hotel room. “We love this job, we love this D— who was acquitted of ton-down shirt, a white T-shirt He was sentenced to a mini- department, and I plan to con- murdering his ex-wife and her and white sneakers. mum of nine years in prison and tinue to do so as long as that is friend but later jailed for armed Simpson appeared to have lost a maximum of 33 years. Bruce appropriate,” Sessions said. robbery — was granted parole weight and looked healthier than Fromong, one of the dealers, Sessions was fl anked by dep- yesterday after nearly nine years during his last parole board ap- testifi ed on Simpson’s behalf uty attorney general Rod Ro- in prison. pearance four years ago. yesterday, saying his “friend” senstein and acting FBI director A four-member parole deserved to be released from Andrew McCabe, who were both board in the state of Nevada prison. The other dealer, Alfred also criticised by the president in voted unanimously to free the Beardsley, died in November an interview with the New York 70-year-old Simpson after a 2015. Times on Wednesday. public hearing broadcast live by Orenthal James ‘O J ’ Simpson Trump took a broad swipe at news networks. shot to fame in the 1970s with his administration’s top law of- Simpson, who was emotional the NFL’s Buff alo Bills after win- fi cers in the interview, saying as the decision was announced, ning the prestigious Heisman he would not have appointed could walk free as early as Octo- “I’ve done my time, you Trophy — the award for the best Sessions as attorney general if ber 1. know? I’ve done it as well player in American collegiate he had known he would recuse “I’ve done my time, you and as respectfully as I football — as a running back at himself. know?” he told the parole board. think anybody can” the University of Southern Cali- The Republican president “I’ve done it as well and as re- fornia. also noted Rosenstein’s roots in spectfully as I think anybody “I’ve spent nine years mak- He retired from football in Democratic Baltimore and that can. If I would have made a bet- ing no excuses about anything,” 1979 after setting numerous McCabe’s wife took money from ter judgement back then, none of Simpson said. “I am sorry that rushing records and went on to a leading Democrat during a po- this would have ever happened,” things turned out the way they become an advertising pitchman litical campaign. he said of the September 2007 did. I had no intent to commit a and actor (The Towering Infer- The public lashing came after robbery of two sports memora- crime,” he said. “My commit- no, The Naked Gun). a turbulent fi rst six months in bilia dealers that led to his prison ment to change is to be a better In June 1994, Simpson’s offi ce during which Trump fi red sentence. person. Right now I’m at a point 35-year-old ex-wife, Brown national security adviser Michael Simpson was found not guilty in my life where all I want to do Simpson, and Goldman were Flynn and FBI director James in 1995 of the grisly murders of is spend time, as much time as found stabbed to death outside Comey, then the top offi cial lead- his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simp- I can, with my children and my her Los Angeles home. ing the probe into whether Rus- son, and a male companion, Ron friends,” Simpson said, add- Simpson was arrested after sian meddled in the 2016 presi- Goldman, in a racially charged ing that he intended to settle in a low-speed car chase through dential election and possible ties case that transfi xed America and Florida. Los Angeles that was broadcast to the Trump campaign. became known as the “Trial of Also present at the Lovelock live by television stations and Sessions recused himself in the Century.” centre was Simpson’s eldest watched by millions. March from the Russia criminal But the former National Foot- daughter Arnelle, who testifi ed He was acquitted in October investigation. ball League running back and on his behalf and held her hand 1995 after a nine-month trial, He did so after failing to dis- actor was sent to prison in 2008 over her mouth as the commis- a verdict that was greeted with close at his confi rmation hearing An air tanker drops fire retardant on flames as firefighters continue to battle against for his role in a robbery at a Las sioners voted for her father’s re- disbelief by many Americans. that he had held meetings last the Detwiler fire in Mariposa, California. The raging wildfire in central California that has Vegas resort. lease. Public views on the African- year with Russia’s ambassador. forced thousands from their homes spread rapidly yesterday threatening a town outside Simpson yesterday appeared Simpson’s sister Shirley wept American athlete’s guilt or in- “Sessions should have never Yosemite National Park, fire off icials said. before the Nevada parole board openly. Simpson was convicted nocence divided sharply along recused himself and if he was go- by videoconference from Love- in October 2008 of armed rob- racial lines. ing to recuse himself, he should have told me before he took the job and I would have picked somebody else,” the Times quot- Judge halts auction after Madonna objects ed Trump as saying. Sessions was Trump’s fi rst A judge halted an auction of celebrity status as a result of players.” He also said his image supporter in the US Senate and intimate items of Madonna success in my career does not could suffer by dating a white helped shape his political team including a breakup letter from obviate my right to maintain my woman. throughout the campaign and Tupac Shakur after the pop privacy, including with regard Many of the more than 100 items into the transition period after superstar said her privacy was to highly personal items,” the up for auction were identified the November 8 election. violated. Material Girl told the court in a as coming from Darlene Lutz, a He declined yesterday to ac- New York Justice Gerald Lebovits statement. New York art dealer who helped knowledge Trump’s criticism. ordered a hearing on the dispute The items include a letter from Madonna build a collection before “I have the honour of serving for September 6 and barred Tupac Shakur, one of the defining falling out with her. as attorney general. It’s some- the auction house, Gotta figures of hip-hop, with whom Madonna said Lutz, while still a thing that goes beyond any Have Rock and Roll, from Madonna had a relationship that friend, had helped her pack up a thought I would have ever had holding the sale in the was little known publicly until house in Miami where much of the for myself,” Sessions said. meantime. recently. personal memorabilia was present. Similarly, Rosenstein, asked Madonna asked the In the 1995 letter, Tupac — Lawyers for Lutz in a reply about Trump’s remarks that court to intervene, who would be shot dead submitted alleged that Madonna there were very few Republicans saying that the items the following year — said had a “personal vendetta” against in Baltimore, declined to com- were taken without her he was upset with her for Lutz, and said the singer had given ment. “I was proud to be here permission. saying in an interview “I’m up the right to make claims against yesterday, I’m proud to be here “The fact that I off to rehabilitate all the Lutz as part of a court settlement today, I’ll be proud to work here may have attained rappers and basketball in 2004. tomorrow,” he said. Dark web bazaar AlphaBay shut down

Reuters and heroin, contributing to a rising and Homeland Security at George the press conference. The interna- Washington drug epidemic in the US, attorney Washington University. tional exercise to seize AlphaBay’s general Jeff Sessions said at a news Criminals, he said, “are going to servers also involved authorities in briefi ng in Washington, DC to an- fl ock to other places.” Thailand, Lithuania, Canada, Brit- he US justice department nounce the action. AlphaBay mysteriously went of- ain and France. yesterday said it had shut “The dark net is not a place to fl ine earlier this month, prompting The operation included the ar- Tdown the dark web market- hide,” Sessions said. “This is likely speculation among its users that rest on July 5 of suspected AlphaBay place AlphaBay, working with in- one of the most important criminal authorities had seized the site. founder Alexandre Cazes, a Cana- ternational partners to knock offl ine investigations of the year – taking It was widely considered the biggest dian citizen arrested on behalf of the site accused of allowing a global down the largest dark net market- online black market for drugs, estimat- the US in Thailand. trade in drugs, fi rearms, computer place in history.” ed to host daily transactions totalling Cazes was logged on to AlphaBay hacking tools and other illicit goods. The move struck a blow to an in- hundreds of thousands of dollars. The at the time of his arrest, allowing au- Authorities said the law enforce- ternational drug trade that has in- justice department said law enforce- thorities to fi nd his passwords and ment action was one of the largest creasingly moved online in recent ment partners in the Netherlands had other information about the site’s ever taken against criminals on the years, though some experts thought taken down Hansa Market, another servers, according to legal documents. dark web, part of the Internet that is its impact would be limited. dark web marketplace. Cazes, 25, apparently took his life accessible only through certain soft- “The takedown of AlphaBay AlphaBay and Hansa Market a week later while in Thai custody, ware and typically used anonymously. is signifi cant, but it’s a bit of a were two of the top three criminal the justice department said. He AlphaBay allowed users to sell whac-a-mole,” said Frank Cilluff o, marketplaces on the dark web, Eu- faced charges relating to narcotics and buy opioids, including fentanyl director of the Center for Cyber ropol chief Rob Wainwright said at distribution and money laundering. Gulf Times 6 Friday, July 21, 2017 ASIA Insurgents Neighbourhood watch killing their own, says: Myanmar

Reuters ers who recruited hundreds of Myanmar young men in the run-up to the October attacks. HaY says it is fi ghting for the n the middle of the night rights of 1.1mn Rohingya who on July 4, more than a doz- are denied citizenship and face Ien masked men, dressed restrictions on their movement head-to-toe in black, sur- in Buddhist-majority Myan- rounded Abdu Sulwon’s home mar. in northwestern Myanmar. His Militants have rarely con- widow says that was the last fronted security forces in time she saw him alive. recent months, but troops “I saw a trail of blood where checking a report of a militant they dragged him away,” said hideout in Tin May village on Haleda, 40, showing bruises July 9 clashed with armed men, on her body where she says the killing two and arresting two. men beat her with sticks. Anthony Davis, a security Her husband’s body was analyst with Jane’s at IHS- found in a ravine near their vil- Markit, said the militants ap- lage, Maung Hna Ma, on Sat- peared to be regrouping. urday. She gave her account “The pattern of events we’ve to reporters during a govern- seen this year appears to re- ment-organised trip to the fl ect a strategy of going back to troubled north of Myanmar’s grassroots and working politi- Rakhine State, where most cally in villages,” said Davis. people belong to the stateless “It appears they are at- A Vietnamese food vendor serves omelette sandwiches to members of a government-supported neighbourhood watch in the old quarter of Hanoi. Rohingya Muslim minority. tempting to eliminate potential Offi cials say Rohingya in- intelligence liabilities and to surgents are behind this and a a degree intimidate waverers slew of killings in the area that among the population.” has been racked by violence in A social media account that recent months, with security claims to speak for HaY, also forces accused of committing known as the Arakan Rohingya atrocities against civilians. Salvation Army, said in May “It is clear that Muslim mili- the group had “never attacked tants are taking out Muslim or killed ‘any civilian’ as it is villagers who are perceived to claimed in numerous false, be collaborating with the gov- fabricated and fake news.” N Koreans silent on ernment,” Thaung Tun, na- Brigadier General Thura tional security adviser to My- San Lwin, Border Guard Police anmar’s de facto leader Aung commander, said information San Suu Kyi, told diplomats in garnered from interrogations Yangon. and the discovery of militant At least 44 civilians have training camps indicated that been killed and 27 have been at least some of the recent kill- kidnapped or gone missing in ings were committed by insur- talks proposal: Seoul northern Rakhine in the past gents. nine months, Thaung Tun said. Other killings could be down South Korea has off ered military talks steps towards rapprochement with the Many died without getting a chance the nuclear and missile programs and It was not possible to inde- to local disputes, he said. Mo- and a dialogue on reunions is also North since South Korea in May elected to see or hear from their families on the emphasized that China should use its pendently verify those fi gures hamed Tason, 28, was found proposed the President Moon Jae-in, who favours other side of the heavily-fortifi ed border, unique infl uence over North Korea,” said or establish who was behind dead with knife wounds across greater engagement with Pyongyang. across which all civilian communication is the offi cial, speaking on condition of ano- any of the killings described his neck and torso in Yinma AFP If the government meeting goes ahead, banned. Around 60,000 members of di- nymity. to journalists. Insurgents have Kyaung Taung village. “My Seoul it will mark the fi rst offi cial inter-Korea vided families survive in the South. The call lasted for an hour and the two denied targeting civilians. husband was on friendly terms talks since December 2015. Moon, who took power in May, has ad- talked about the need to “work together to But in two cases, including with the military; I think that’s Moon’s conservative predecessor Park vocated dialogue with the nuclear-armed address the provocative and unacceptable that of Abdu Sulwon, rela- why they killed him,” said his orth Korea has not responded to Geun-hye had refused to engage in sub- North to bring it to the negotiating table military behaviour by North Korea,” the tives of the victims broadly wife Hawdiza, 23. South Korea’s off er to hold mili- stantive dialogue with Pyongyang unless it and vowed to play a more active role in US Navy said in a statement. supported the offi cial version Like Haleda, Hawdiza was Ntary talks tomorrow, Seoul said, made a fi rm commitment to denuclearisa- global eff orts to tame the South’s unpre- Last month US President Donald Trump events. brought to meet reporters by dimming prospects of any ease in tensions tion. dictable neighbour. said Chinese eff orts to persuade North Ko- If militants were to blame for administrators in Buthidaung after Pyongyang tested its fi rst interconti- Park was engulfed in a massive corrup- But Pyongyang has staged a series of rea had failed. at least some of the killings, it township during a media visit nental ballistic missile. tion scandal that resulted in her impeach- missile launches in violation of UN reso- Trump has hoped for greater help from would add to evidence the in- conducted under the close “There has been no response yet,” de- ment and subsequent ouster from offi ce in lutions — most recently on July 4 when China to exert infl uence over North Korea, surgency that fl ared in October watch of Border Guard Police. fence ministry spokesman Moon Sang- March. it test-fi red its fi rst ICBM, a move which leaning heavily on Chinese President Xi has not been fully rooted out, Following Abdu Sulwon’s Gyun told journalists, adding that prepa- “There is no deadline,” by which triggered global alarm and a push by US Jinping. despite the government an- killing, security forces raided rations were still underway in case the Pyongyang has to respond, a South Korea President Donald Trump to impose harsh- The two leaders had a high-profi le sum- nouncing the end of its secu- Maung Hna Ma village, torch- proposed meeting goes ahead. unifi cation ministry offi cial told Yonhap er UN sanctions. mit in Florida in April and Trump has fre- rity operation in February. ing at least one home, arresting Seoul’s defence ministry on Monday of- news agency. The US Navy’s top offi cer asked his quently praised Xi while resisting criti- A group known as Harakah several men and sending others fered rare talks with the North at the Pan- The South’s Red Cross earlier said it Chinese counterpart to exert infl uence on cism of Chinese trade practices. al-Yaqin attacked Myanmar into hiding, according to ac- munjom truce village on the heavily mili- hoped for “a positive response” from its North Korea to help rein in its advancing The United States has remained tech- border guard posts on October counts given by women there tarised inter-Korean border. counterpart in the North in hopes of hold- nuclear and missile programs, a US offi cial nically at war with North Korea since the 9, killing nine policemen and who beckoned reporters from a Separately Monday, the Red Cross in ing family reunions in early October. If said yesterday. 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice igniting the biggest crisis yet river bank to tell of their miss- Seoul also proposed a meeting August 1 realised, they would be the fi rst for two Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral rather than a peace treaty. The past six to face Nobel laureate Suu Kyi’s ing husbands and sons. at the same venue to discuss reunions of years. John Richardson spoke with his Chinese decades have been punctuated by periodic fl edgling administration. “My son has nothing to do families separated by the 1950-53 Korean Millions of family members were sepa- counterpart Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong via rises in antagonism as well as rhetoric that About 75,000 Rohingya with terrorism,” said Marmuda War. rated by the confl ict that sealed the divi- a video teleconference. has stopped short of a resumption of ac- fl ed to Bangladesh during the Hatu, 48, whose son Saad Ul- The twin proposals are the fi rst concrete sion of the two countries. “Richardson voiced his concern about tive hostilities. ensuing military crackdown, lah, 24, was arrested. “They which was beset by allegations don’t have any evidence.” of rape, torture and extrajudi- Chris Lewa from monitoring cial killings by security forces. group Arakan Project said the Suu Kyi’s government has region was seeing “vicious cy- denied most of the allega- cles of violence” with security tions and is refusing access to forces launching night-time a United Nations panel of ex- raids in response to killings. Amid VPN crackdown, China perts, saying its mission will Police Major Tun Hlaing said aggravate the situation on the around 20 people had been ar- ground in Rakhine. rested in Maung Hna Ma this Rohingya villagers and My- week in the investigation into anmar security sources de- Abdu Sulwon’s killing. eyes upgrades to Great Firewall scribed to Reuters earlier this Most had been released, he year how Harakah al-Yaqin said, but four suspected of Reuters block more aggressively using more re- President Xi Jinping, who has overseen a ing VyprVPN and ExpressVPN, play cat- (HaY), or Faith Movement, working with the insurgents Beijing source intensive methods.” marked sharpening of China’s cyberspace and-mouse with regulators, quickly patch- began as a small group of lead- were being questioned. The telecoms fi rms have taken up their controls, including tough new data surveil- ing blocks and developing workarounds, new fi ltering roles under a law introduced lance and censorship rules, is expected to small business owners say they have been Chinese telecoms carrier said it had in January, and set to come into full eff ect consolidate his hold on power at the Con- hard hit by the rapid loss of local VPNs. begun closing virtual private net- next March. gress, which takes place every fi ve years. “Our small logistics business has just Aworks (VPNs) and other tools that Experts say this could lead to increas- The January regulations make telecoms imploded”, said one business owner on can bypass the so-called Great Firewall, ingly targeted attacks on VPNs, one of the providers and other internet service pro- the Weibo microblogging site, adding she which state authorities use to fi lter and few tools Chinese can use to access over- viders (ISPs) liable for fi ltering and block- could no longer access foreign sites despite block traffi c between Chinese and overseas seas Internet services. ing unlawful network tools, according to trying several new VPNs. servers. A member of China-based anti-cen- the Ministry of Information Industry and Large numbers of free or low-cost VPN A spokesman for Guangzhou Huoyun sorship site GreatFire.org, who goes by Technology (MIIT). services fl ourished in Chinese app stores Information Technology Ltd, which oper- the pseudonym of Charlie Smith, said the Beyond VPNs, experts say the telecoms in the 18 months or so prior to the recent ates in around 20 cities across China, told authorities were shifting the responsibil- fi rms could potentially bar a range of serv- blocks. Reuters the company received a directive ity to the telecoms fi rms. “This is a major ices, and even prevent mobile apps from “The ministry says we must apply for from authorities to start blocking services step towards closing whatever windows being installed. a licensed... and we have to buy Chinese from midday on Tuesday. are still left open,” he said. “Much of the usage we see from China services,” one person operating a small Enlisting telecoms fi rms will extend The latest moves come after dozens of is via mobile devices, so limitations on online media site told Reuters, asking not China’s control of its cyberspace — which popular China-based VPNs have been this kind of functionality would hit a large to be named. “If the website touches on it believes should mimic real-world border shut down in recent weeks, and there have number of Chinese,” said Golden Frog’s social and political news, we have to hand controls and be subject to the same laws as been rolling attacks on overseas VPNs. Molter. over the platform account passwords. sovereign states. This week, users also reported partial Yet, despite the ambitious plans, the au- Of course, if we still had a VPN this While the Great Firewall blocks access blocks and delays in the encrypted mes- thorities will likely struggle to put up the wouldn’t be the case.” to overseas sites, much like a border con- saging app WhatsApp, the latest western blanket safeguards necessary to cripple The MIIT did not respond to a request trol, the telecoms fi rms can fi lter and cen- social media tool to be hit. foreign VPNs by March, experts say. for comment. It said last week that the sor online access at a more granular level, And researchers found that messages “There’s been an ongoing game of cat- new measures were not intended to harm in the home and on smartphones. related to Liu Xiaobo, a dissident and No- and-mouse with China and VPNs...we’re business interests, and has previously said “The telcos have methods at their dis- bel laureate who died from cancer in cus- optimistic that VPNs will continue to be it would allow businesses to operate VPNs posal that the Great Firewall may not,” said tody last week, disappeared from local accessible from China for the foreseeable licensed by the government. Philip Molter, Chief Technology Offi cer at messaging apps. future,” said a spokesman for ExpressVPN, “These newest measures are one more Rohingya villagers watch as international media visit Maung Golden Frog, which operates VyprVPN, VPN services say they are bracing for noting its user numbers continue to grow hurdle for Chinese users to jump, in what Hna Ma village, Buthidaung township, northern Rakhine a popular VPN in China. “Because these further blocks in the run-up to this au- in China. is turning out to be an extremely long stee- state, Myanmar. routers deal with far less traffi c, they can tumn’s Communist Party Congress. While VPNs with foreign servers, includ- plechase,” said GreatFire.org’s Smith. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 7

BRITAIN/IRELAND

POLITICS OFFBEAT BLUNDER EVENT WARNING Cable becomes leader of Divers retrieve ‘bouncing Canada governor-general Harry celebrates RAF Ireland ‘must be careful Liberal Democrat Party bombs’ from Scottish loch breaks royal protocol regiment anniversary not to overheat economy’

Veteran lawmaker Vince Cable was elected Divers have recovered two World War II-era The governor general of Canada admitted Prince Harry yesterday presented the Royal There are no signs at the moment of Ireland’s unopposed to lead the pro-European “bouncing bombs” from the bottom of a breaking royal protocol by touching the arm Air Force’s ground fighting force with a new economy overheating but the risk could Liberal Democrat Party yesterday, Scottish loch after a seven-year hunt aided of Queen Elizabeth during an engagement “Colour”, or standard, as part of celebrations develop, particularly as the government promising to restore the party’s influence by the navy. The spherical Highball devices, in London, though he said the gesture was for the regiment’s 75th anniversary. A increases capital investment, Finance and use it to argue for a softer exit from developed by British war-time “Dambuster” motivated by gallantry. David Johnston, who grandson of Queen Elizabeth who is fifth in Minister Paschal Donohoe said yesterday. the European Union. Cable, who served as engineer Barnes Wallis, are similar to the is the Queen’s representative in Canada where line to the throne, Harry served in the army Ireland’s economy has grown faster than any business minister from 2010 to 2015 in a bombs used to destroy German dams during she is head of state, joined the likes of former for a decade, during which he undertook other in the European Union for the last three coalition of the Liberal Democrats and the the war. They did not contain explosives and US first lady Michelle Obama in breaching two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He retired years and is showing few signs of slowing Conservatives, said before his appointment were used as a prototype for tests, the British unspoken rules of behaviour when meeting from the military in 2015, but continues to down. The government plans to further that he believed Brexit might never happen Sub-Aqua Club, which led search, said in a the monarch. He took the Queen by the elbow work with troops as part of his royal duties. stimulate growth through a near doubling of because it was too divisive and too diff icult statement. Divers from the club, assisted by a as she descended red-carpeted stairs outside Wearing full military uniform, Harry attended capital spending over the next five years. “We to deliver. The 74-year old economist was navy ship and crane, hauled the bombs from London’s Canada House. “I’m conscious of the the RAF Regiment on behalf of the 91-year- need to be very careful that we don’t increase the only candidate in a leadership contest Loch Striven, west of Glasgow, on Wednesday protocol. I was just anxious to be sure that there old Queen to present a Colour – a symbolic capital expenditure to a level that can cause triggered when Tim Farron stepped down and yesterday. They now intend to offer them was no stumbling on the steps,” Johnson told standard affirming the regiment’s honour other diff iculties within the economy,” after last month’s national election. to aviation museums. Canadian broadcaster CBC news. and devotion to duty. Donohoe told a parliamentary committee. May’s voter Royals make pretzels rating hits record low

London Evening Standard aged 18 to 34 in large numbers London — but not mirroring this among people aged over 55. His doing-a-good-job rating heresa May hit a new low among Labour supporters is also yesterday, with a poll ahead of May’s among Tories. Tshowing that her satisfac- Three quarters of Labour backers tion rating among voters is the are satisfi ed with him, compared worst for any modern-day prime with almost two thirds of Con- minister immediately after an servatives for May. election. More than a quarter of Tory Just 34% of adults say they supporters are dissatisfi ed with are satisfi ed with May, with 59% May but only 19% of Labour dissatisfi ed, according to the Ip- backers have such a view of Cor- sos MORI survey for the Stand- byn, despite his leadership being ard. under fi re just months ago. This is her worst result since However, Corbyn should not becoming prime minister last get carried away. Despite the dis- summer after the Brexit vote and mal satisfaction fi gures for May, gives her a net satisfaction rating she is still seen as the most capa- of minus 25. Far more younger ble prime minister by 46% to his people, aged 18 to 34, than pen- 38%. sioners were unimpressed with These results are very similar May. to those just before the election, Ipsos MORI has been asking but contrast with May’s 61% to the satisfaction question since 23% lead at the start of the cam- 1977. The only other prime minis- paign in April. ter to have a negative rating in the Approval of the government Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, form pastry to pretzels during their visit of the market in the historic centre of the southern German town month after an election was Tony has also gone into freefall. Six- of Heidelberg, Germany, yesterday. Blair, at minus 13 in 2005 amid a ty-four percent are dissatisfi ed, backlash against the Iraq war. with 28% satisfi ed, giving a net Despite the grim fi ndings for rating of minus 36, compared May, she is still seen as the most with minus 15 last month. capable prime minister com- In Scotland, which voted over- pared with Labour leader Jeremy whelmingly to stay in the Euro- Corbyn — even though he is now pean Union, dissatisfaction with ahead in the satisfaction rating. the government is particularly This will reinforce fears among high, according to a small poll some Labour MPs that despite the sample. support Corbyn has won recently, Ipsos MORI did not ask the Crime sees highest he may never get into No 10 and satisfaction question in the the party will remain in opposi- month after Margaret Thatch- tion for at least another decade. er became prime minister in May’s fi gures have plummeted 1979. Gideon Skinner, its head since a poll carried out a week of political research, said: “The before the June 8 election. turnaround in May’s ratings is At that point she was already unprecedented in our previous annual rise in decade mired in controversy over social data on prime ministers — from care and school funding, for not a historic high at the start of the Guardian News and Media the 96 cases of manslaughter at 1985. Police numbers have fallen beries at knife point to nearly 35,000 households if they had taking part in TV debates with campaign to a historic low just London Hillsborough in 1989. by 20,592 since 2010. 13,000 incidents. Rape or sexual been a victim of crime in the Corbyn and for her original U- one month after an election, More alarmingly, the statisti- Ministers will also be con- assaults at knife point also show previous year. It is not designed turn to call the election. Her net while also seeing her position cians say the rise in crime is ac- cerned that the country is be- large percentage increases, al- to measure high-harm but low- satisfaction rating then was mi- among her own party support- olice-recorded crime has celerating, with a 3% increase coming increasingly violent in though the numbers remain low volume off ences such as murder nus seven. ers weakening and Jeremy Cor- risen by 10% across Eng- recorded in the year to March nature, with gun crime rising with a total of 142 off ences. and knife crime, and showed a Adding to her woes yesterday, byn’s campaign surge continu- Pland and Wales – the larg- 2015, followed by an 8% rise in 23% to 6,375 off ences, largely The 10% rise in police-re- 7% fall compared with the pre- Corbyn has scored his best rat- ing. Having said that, she still est annual rise for a decade – ac- the following year, and now a driven by an increase in the use corded crime to nearly 5mn vious year, excluding fraud and ing and overtaken her for the has the edge as most capable PM cording to the Offi ce for National 10% increase in the 12 months to of handguns. Knife crime has off ences include increases in computer misuse off ences. If fi rst time. Forty-four percent of among over-35s.” Statistics. this March. also jumped by 20% to 34,703 burglary and vehicle theft, sug- online is included, the number adults say they are satisfi ed with The overall fi ndings will fuel The latest crime fi gures for the The accelerating rise in crime incidents – the highest level for gesting that the long-term fall of crimes estimated by the sur- the Labour leader — just one already feverish talk of May being 12 months to March also show an comes as Home Offi ce fi gures seven years. The largest increase in these higher volume off ences vey rises from 5.9mn to 11mn. percentage point less than those ousted. Cabinet rivals including 18% rise in violent crime, in- show a further fall of 924 in the in knife crime came in London, may be coming to an end. The policing minister, Nick who are dissatisfi ed. This com- Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson cluding a 20% surge in gun and past year in the number of police which accounted for 40% of the In contrast to the ONS fi g- Hurd, said that crime, as meas- pares with a net rating of minus and Brexit Secretary David Davis knife crime. The offi cial fi gures offi cers, to 123,142 in England rise. ures, the offi cial Crime Survey ured by the crime survey, was 11 last month. are already seen to be jockeying also show a 26% rise to 723 in the and Wales. This is the fewest of- There has been a particular of England and Wales (CSEW), down by a third since 2010 and Corbyn is winning over people for position to succeed her. homicide rate, which includes fi cers in England and Wales since increase in the number of rob- also released yesterday, asked by 69% since its 1995 peak. Outrage as govt scraps Kensington council rail electrifi cation plans leader refuses to quit London Evening Standard challenge for the simple reason London that I realise there’s nothing I can Guardian News and Media able services for passengers. trifying the line has more than say to right what was done in the London However, the government tripled from its original budget past. The most important thing is claimed yesterday that passen- to £2.8bn. A Welsh government he new leader of Kensington to be judged by actions.” gers would benefi t from “mod- spokesperson said the “disturb- and Chelsea council says she Asked if the Tory-run council lans to make the railway ern bi-mode trains” instead, and ing news ... amounted to years of Twill not quit despite repeat- had Grenfell residents’ trust, Tay- network faster, greener would no longer have to put up broken promises”. ed calls for her to stand down over lor-Smith replied: “No we don’t.” Pand cleaner by electrifying with “disruptive electrifi cation The government announced in the Grenfell Tower fi re. Campbell has been de facto lead- lines have been scrapped by the works” and “intrusive wires and 2015 that it was “pausing” elec- Elizabeth Campbell was elected er since early July when Nicholas government after massive budg- masts”. trifi cation of the Midland main- as the authority’s new chief at a Paget-Brown resigned, and was for- et overruns, prompting fury at Most of the 122 InterCity Ex- line, but insisted the work would fractious full council meeting on mally elected on Wednesday night. “years of broken promises”. press trains ordered from Hi- be completed. The announce- Wednesday night — the fi rst since Emma Dent Coad, Kensington’s The plans to modernise the tachi at a cost of £5.7bn will now ment that the line to Nottingham the blaze in June — where she faced new Labour MP, told the meet- line from Cardiff to Swansea, the have to be bi-mode, fi tted with and Sheffi eld will be served by bi- boos and heckling. ing she agreed with the demands Midland mainline and tracks in diesel engines to run on non- mode trains using diesel engines Shouts of “shame on you” and of a petition, signed by more than the Lake District were dropped electrifi ed lines. The cost of the confi rmed that Network Rail’s “resign” were heard throughout 1,500 people, calling for the resig- yesterday after Network Rail upgrade has not been confi rmed, budget overruns will leave large the four-hour meeting as Camp- nation of the entire elected leader- spent huge sums on engineer- and the bi-mode trains are be- parts of the country without the bell addressed fellow councillors. ship of the council. ing works, with costs in the Great lieved to be less effi cient than “electric spine” that the govern- Afterwards, she said: “I think it’s Councillors heard from trauma- Western region alone going as purely electric due to the addi- ment had boasted would bring quite understandable, as I said, it tised survivors of the disaster who much as £1.9bn over budget. tional weight of the engines and more capacity and increase jobs comes down to a lack of trust, but I said leaving the tower’s burnt-out Network Rail’s electrifica- smaller capacity. and investment. feel I’m stepping up to the challenge shell on view for at least another tion works around the coun- The news was met with anger The Transport Secretary, Chris rather than stepping down and away four months was “torture beyond try, most notably on the Great in Wales in particular, after the Grayling, told the Commons in from it.” Asked if she had any plans belief”. Experts have warned the Western mainline from London government had given repeated a written statement that the Hi- to resign she replied: “No, not yet”. Grenfell Response Team that the to Swansea, which started in guarantees that work would be tachi trains – ordered in a deal Her deputy Kim Taylor-Smith charred structure is not strong 2014, were described as a vi- concluded despite the problems fi rst announced in 2009 – meant also ruled out that the pair would enough to be covered in tarpaulin tal upgrade that would bring Network Rail had experienced on electrifi cation was no longer quit. He told the BBC today: “Per- with police and fi re investigations cleaner, faster and more reli- Great Western. The cost of elec- needed. Grayling: controversial decision sonally I’ve stepped up to this due to continue until November. Gulf Times 8 Friday, July 21, 2017 EUROPE

CONFLICT NATURE’S FURY PREDATOR PRIVACY WOES ARBITRATION 6 Ukraine soldiers killed in Firefighting planes battle Wolves to slaughter: Paris Google Street View finally Russia rejects court award fresh spike in violence flames near Dubrovnik okays cull to save sheep captures missing Austria over Greenpeace ship

Clashes yesterday with Russia-backed rebels left Firefighting planes were dispatched yesterday The French government yesterday gave the Google’s Street View cars yesterday started Russia yesterday dismissed an international six Ukrainian soldiers dead in the bloodiest surge to battle a fresh blaze near Croatia’s Adriatic green light for the cull of dozens of wolves in taking images in Austria, the only EU country court ruling it must pay the Netherlands in fighting along the volatile frontline in recent resort of Dubrovnik as scores of emergency mountainous areas where sheep are under along with Germany to remain largely absent 5.4mn euros ($6.25mn) for the 2013 seizure months. The violence flared several days after a personnel remained on duty further north. Four sustained attack. Over 8,000 farm animals, from the popular online service showing of Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise ship. The top rebel leader announced a plan to form a new planes were sent to the area near the border with mostly sheep, were killed in attacks blamed on 360-degree pictures of places around the world. Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague “state” that Kiev warned could put a long-stalled Montenegro to prevent the spread of the fire, a wolves in the past year — mainly in the south- The project, launched in 2007, lets computer on Tuesday ordered Moscow to pay damages peace plan further in jeopardy. Ukrainian military defence ministry statement said. Both Croatia and east of the country. Farmers say that electric users view panoramic street scenes on Google over the incident, which saw 30 activists spokesman Andriy Lysenko said rebel shelling neighbouring Montenegro have been hit by forest fences and fearsome dogs are powerless in Maps and take a virtual “walk” through cities. and journalists detained in an armed raid killed six servicemen and wounded two more fires along their Adriatic coastlines in recent days. the face of the predators and are demanding Some countries have been reluctant to grant by Russian security off icials after a protest around the insurgents’ de-facto capital Donetsk In Montenegro, most of the fires were under greater culls. The government gave the green Google access because of worries linked to data against oil drilling. “Russia did not take part in over the previous 24 hours. Three more soldiers control by Wednesday. The fires on Montenegro’s light for the slaughter of up to 40 wolves collection. In 2010, Google had begun to roll out the proceedings because it took the view and were killed and three injured when their vehicle Lustica peninsula had forced the evacuation of by July 2018 — unchanged from 2016/2017 its service in Austria and neighbouring Germany still does that the Arbitration Court does not drove on a mine northwest of the second biggest more than 100 campers and threatened Tivat and — representing a little over 10% of France’s but was ordered to halt operations over alleged have jurisdiction in this case,” foreign ministry rebel city Lugansk, Lysenko announced. neighbouring Herceg Novi and Kotor. growing wolf population. privacy breaches. spokesman Artyom Kozhin.

Gangsters, politicians, Poland passes Supreme offi cials convicted Court bill, risks EU ire in Italy trial Reuters Reuters Warsaw Rome

olish lawmakers yesterday passed he two leaders of a crime a bill that would give parliament ring that plundered Rome Pthe power to appoint Supreme Tcity coff ers were convict- Court judges, ignoring objections from ed yesterday along with some 40 lawyers, opposition politicians and the politicians, offi cials and busi- European Union that it undermines de- nessmen at the end of one of the mocracy and the rule of law. biggest corruption trials in the The vote came a day after the EU gave Italian capital. its largest ex-communist member a Massimo Carminati, a one- week to halt judicial reforms that Brus- time member of Rome’s notori- sels says would put courts under direct ous far-right Magliana Gang, government control. was handed a 20-year prison If Warsaw does not back down it sentence and his sidekick Salva- could face punishments including a tore Buzzi, a convicted murderer, “nuclear option” that could in theory was given 19 years. lead to the suspension of Poland’s vot- But even though it was dubbed ing rights in the bloc. the “Mafi a Capital” trial, the The bill submitted by the ruling Law court did not convict any of the and Justice party (PiS) was passed by defendants of “Mafi a associa- parliament’s lower house after three tion”, downgrading the severity days of rowdy debate and protests that of the charges in a major setback drew thousands of people across Po- for the prosecution. land. Prosecutors had tried to link It will now go to parliament’s upper the gang to the Sicilian Mafi a house, where PiS also has a majority. and liken its methods to tradi- During the debate, Poland’s human tional organised crime clans in a rights ombudsman, Adam Bodnar, told bid to win longer sentences and parliament that the legislation, together expand the use of anti-mafi a with two other bills that will change the legislation beyond its applica- way judges are appointed, would “de- tion to well-known, established prive citizens of the right to an inde- groups such as the ‘Ndrangheta pendent court”. or the Camorra. “We are planting an explosive under The court ruled that the de- our judiciary,” he said. fendants were guilty of what PiS says reforms are needed to make Italian law considers “simple” courts accountable and to ensure that criminal association. state institutions serve all Poles, not “There was nothing about the just the “elites” it says are the support Mafi a in this trial,” said Ippolita base for the opposition. Naso, Carminati’s lawyer, smil- But critics say the legislation is part Michal Szczerba of the Civic Platform party holds up a copy of the Polish Constitution as members of the parliament scuff le during the Commission on Justice and ing broadly after a judge had read of a creeping push towards authoritari- Human Rights voting yesterday in Warsaw on the opposition’s amendments to the bill that calls for an overhaul of the Supreme Court. out the sentence. anism by the eurosceptic government. Prosecutor Paolo Ielo said he Since being elected in 2015, PiS has Political opponents, rights groups European Council President Donald “The European Union is not only The Supreme Court’s tasks include would appeal the ruling. tightened government control over and the EU say the changes undermine Tusk, a former Polish prime minister money and procedures. It is first and validating elections. The trial opened in a high- courts and prosecutors, as well as state the separation of powers between the and arch-rival of PiS, said yesterday he foremost values and high standards of Tusk called on Duda — whose sig- security prison on the outskirts media, and introduced restrictions on executive and the judiciary, a funda- had asked Poland’s President Andrzej public life. That is why a wave of criti- nature is required to enact the law — to of Rome in November 2015 and public gatherings. mental democratic principle. Duda for an urgent meeting over the cism of the government is rising in fi nd a diff erent solution. has been spread out over 230 Last week, parliament passed an- While PiS — which combines a “political crisis” in the country. Europe and in the whole West,” Tusk PiS has off ered no concessions de- sessions. other bill which ends the terms of cur- staunchly conservative world view with Tusk said in a statement that PiS said. spite the pressure, instead presenting The reading out of the verdicts rent members of the National Council a left-wing economic agenda — remains moves on courts were backward, went The bill passed yesterday calls for the criticism as unacceptable foreign was broadcast live on national of the Judiciary, one of the main judicial broadly popular among Poles, there “against European standards and val- replacing all Supreme Court judges ex- meddling in domestic aff airs of the television. bodies, and gives parliament powers to have been widespread protests against ues”, harmed Poland’s reputation and cept those elected by a judicial panel country, which overthrew communism Ielo had asked for sentences choose 15 of its 25 members. the plans. risked marginalising the country. that is to be chosen by the parliament. in 1989 and joined the EU in 2004. of 28 years for Carminati, who lost an eye in a police shootout in the early 1980s, and 26 years and three months for Buzzi. Gang members were accused of infi ltrating Rome city hall and using bribery and intimidation Baltics need anti-aircraft protection: Lithuania to get their hands on lucrative public contracts, including those for the running of centres hous- By Andrius Sytas, Reuters approved the possible sale of seven ing immigrants who have fl ood- Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania Patriot missile defence systems worth ed into Italy from Africa. $3.9bn to Romania. The investigation laid bare Poland said it signed memorandum systemic corruption in the city ato should permanently deploy with the United States to purchase Pa- as politicians, bureaucrats and anti-aircraft weapons in the triot missiles, having indicated earlier businessmen hooked up with NBaltics to deter Russia, Lithua- in the year it expects to buy eight for lowlife criminals to rig public nia’s president said yesterday as the $7.6bn. tenders. United States put Patriot missiles on Describing air defences as “the The corruption was seen as display after including them in an exer- weakest link” in Nato’s eastern fl ank, the one of the causes of the dis- cise in the region for the fi rst time. Grybauskaite called on the alliance to repair and degradation Rome has The permanent deployment of the tackle the issue by a Nato leaders’ sum- fallen into in recent years, with advanced air defence system would be mit in Brussels in July 2018. streets full of pot holes, piles the next step in Nato’s new deterrent in However, she also left open the pos- of garbage and unkempt public the Baltics and Poland, which includes sibility of stationing the missile bat- gardens where weeds grow as tall ground troops on rotation. teries out of the Baltics, as long as as a person. Moscow says it is an unjustifi ed mili- they were focused on protecting the A number of those convicted tary build-up on its borders. region. were businessmen and mid-level “It would be really meaningful to “As the Patriots have a very long city hall offi cials. have such weapons in the Baltic region. range, it does not really matter where Prosecutors alleged that the It would ensure a greater security for they are deployed, whether that is in gang and corruption schemes all our countries,” Lithuania’s Presi- the Baltics or in Poland, or somewhere fl ourished following the 2008 dent Dalia Grybauskaite told reporters else. What is important is the speed of election of right-wing mayor yesterday, standing in front of Patriot response to any air threat,” she said. Gianni Alemanno. missiles deployed as part of a two-week The US battery did not fire a shot in The current mayor, Virginia Nato exercise. Lithuania during the exercises, which Raggi of the anti-establishment “We would gladly host them,” she also involved troops from Britain, 5-Star Movement, who attended said of the missiles. “We are always Poland and Latvia, a US commander yesterday’s closing session, said ready”. said. the verdict represented a victory Since Russia annexed Crimea penin- But Baltic offi cials said the deploy- for Rome. sula from Ukraine in 2014 and began ment demonstrates the willingness of “We always need to keep our providing weapons and troops to sepa- United States to bring such advanced guard high because what has ratist rebels in eastern Ukraine, Nato weaponry to the region, despite Mos- been proved today is that there is has stepped up its deployments in the cow’s protests. a criminal organisation capable Baltics, eastern Poland and around the Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite listens to US soldiers during Toburq Legacy 2017 air defence exercise in the military Russia says the North Atlantic Treaty of heavily infl uencing policy- Black Sea. airfield near Siauliai, Lithuania. Organisation is increasing the risk of making in this city, and we are Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, confl ict in Europe, citing the alliance’s paying the consequences of it,” which were once ruled from Moscow fence spending by 2018, compared to But with small militaries and lim- ties, including long-range anti-aircraft biggest modernisation since the Cold she said. but are now part of Nato and the Euro- 2014, in order to deal with any threats ited budgets, the Baltics are reliant on weapons. War and a greater Nato troop presence The court cleared fi ve of the pean Union, are set to triple their de- from Russia. help from allies for advanced capabili- Earlier this month, the United States in eastern Europe. original 46 defendants. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 9 INDIA

TRAGEDY CONTROVERSY INVESTIGATION CRIME LAW AND ORDER Shahrukh Khan and BJP leader in Bihar killed Husband of dead actress BJP leaders summoned wife get ED notice over extra-marital aff air sent to judicial custody in child traff icking case

The enforcement directorate has served a notice The main suspect in the murder of BJP leader Nisheeth Jha, the husband of Assamese actress The Criminal Investigation Department of to Bollywood megastar Shahrukh Khan and Krishna Shahi has been arrested, the Bihar Police Bidisha Bezbaruah who allegedly committed West Bengal has summoned four BJP leaders, his wife Gauri to appear before it personally said yesterday, adding that the politician was killed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan, including Kailash Vijayvargiya and Roopa on August 23 in an ongoing FEMA (Foreign for having an extra-marital aff air with the suspect’s was yesterday sent to 14 days in judicial custody. Ganguly, in connection with a child traff icking Exchange Management Act, 1999) case, off icial sister. Shahi, who was head of the Bharatiya Janata Jha admitted to interrogators that there was case in the state, an off icial said. The leaders sources said yesterday. The two are required to Party’s commercial cell in Bihar, was murdered and another woman in his life, police said. During have been asked to be present at state CID remain present in person before the adjudicating his body thrown into a well in Manjha village in a day-long police remand, Jha confessed that headquarters in Bhabani Bhawan on July 27 and authority for the final hearing regarding the Gopalganj district. Police on Wednesday recovered this strained his relations with Bidisha. Jha 29 for inquiry in the case that came to light on penalty to be imposed against Khan’s IPL team his body. Gopalganj superintendent of police Ravi was arrested on Tuesday night on charges of February 19 when a complaint was registered at Kolkata Knight Riders in the case dating back to Ranjan Kumar told media yesterday that Aditya abetment to suicide after Bidisha’s father, Aswini the Jalpaiguri police station. Vijayvargiya and Six people were killed and several houses 2008. Khan had appeared twice before the ED in Rai, a suspect in the case, has been arrested. “Rai Kumar Bezbaruah, accused him of having an Ganguly’s names surfaced in the case after a and shops damaged in a cloudburst in the 2011 and 2015 to record his statement in the case told police he was angry after he came to know extra-marital aff air. Bidisha’s body was found series of arrests. The CID had earlier arrested hilly district of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir in which the ED had alleged a loss of around about Shahi’s extra-marital aff air with his sister and hanging on Monday evening in a flat at Sushant six people for selling at least 17 children yesterday, police said. Rs730mn in foreign exchange. finally killed him by mixing pesticide in his food.” Apartments in Sector 43 of Gurugram. through shady adoption deals.

28 killed as bus plunges into gorge Kovind elected president in boost for Modi government Twenty-eight people were killed and nine others injured when a private bus carrying them fell into a gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district yesterday. The accident occurred near Khaneri in Rampur, some 140km from Shimla. The bus with 37 passengers on IANS board was on its way from Rekong Peo town in Kinnaur district to Nauni in Solan district when it skidded off the road and fell into New Delhi the gorge. A police off icer said the accident occurred after a tyre burst.

am Nath Kovind, a Dalit BJP leader with humble Rbeginnings, was yesterday Man plays guitar elected the 14th president of In- during surgery dia defeating combined opposi- Court asks tion candidate Meira Kumar in a Govt rules out A man who strummed the straight fi ght by a huge margin, guitar as surgeons operated becoming the fi rst Bharatiya Ja- police for on his brain yesterday demon- nata Party leader and one with strated how the unusual pro- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh China demand cedure had cured the problem (RSS) background to occupy report on hindering his ability to play. Rashtrapati Bhavan. Abhishek Prasad had been suf- Backed by 40 parties, includ- IANS country like Bhutan. Bhutan fering a neurological disorder ing those outside the ruling Na- Pushkar’s New Delhi has lodged a written protest.” that caused his fingers to tional Democratic Alliance, Ko- “All countries feel that In- cramp in one hand, preventing vind, 71, a former MP and Bihar dia’s stand in the matter is him from strumming properly. governor, defeated Meira Kumar death he government yes- not wrong. Truth is on our The 37-year-old sought with a margin of a vote value of terday rejected Chi- side,” she added. The minis- treatment from numerous spe- 334,730. Kovind was also helped Tna’s demand for with- ter said the Chinese action “is cialists before doctors at Ben- by some cross voting in his fa- IANS drawal of troops from the a challenge to our security” galuru’s Bhagwan Mahaveer vour in states like Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi Doklam border area, saying and India was not doing any- Jain Hospital recommended a Tripura, Delhi and Maharashtra. the pull out should be from thing unreasonable. In Bei- bizarre procedure to reverse He got 2,930 votes carry- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates president-elect Ram both sides for a dialogue to be jing, Chinese foreign ministry the condition known as “musi- ing a value of 700,244 while the Nath Kovind in New Delhi yesterday. he Delhi High Court yes- held for resolving the month spokesperson Lu Kang reiter- cians dystonia”. Surgeons former Lok Sabha speaker se- terday asked the city police long military stand-off at the ated that no talks would be drilled into his skull under cured 1,844 votes with a value Vice Presidential Elections Act. their livelihood with hard work Tto fi le a status report on tri-junction in Sikkim sector. held with India until it with- anaesthetic and attached an of 367,314, the highest vote value “I declare Ram Nath Kovind and honesty. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s On its part, China kept up drew troops from Doklam. electrode that allowed them recorded by any losing candidate as duly elected to the offi ce of Prime Minister Narendra plea seeking a time-bound court- its belligerence saying Indian “Our diplomatic channel to pinpoint where in the brain in all the presidential elections president,” he said at the end of Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Un- monitored probe into the death withdrawal is a pre-condition is unimpeded and the with- needed “burning” to cure the held so far. the counting process that lasted ion ministers and leaders of al- of Sunanda Pushkar, the wife of for any dialogue to take place. drawal of the Indian border rare nerve disorder. The electoral college consisted more than fi ve hours. lied parties congratulated Ko- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. In the fi rst exhaustive com- troops is the precondition for “During this entire surgery of 4,986 voters with a total vote Kovind will be the second vind on his victory. “Best wishes A division bench of justice G ments on the border row, Ex- any meaningful dialogue and Abhishek was fully awake and value of 10,98,903. Seventy-sev- Dalit president after K R Naray- for a fruitful and inspiring ten- S Sistani and justice Chander ternal Aff airs Minister Sushma the communication between was playing the guitar, since en votes with a value of 20,942 anan, who had occupied the of- ure,” Modi tweeted. Shekhar sought a status report Swaraj accused China of “uni- the two sides,” Lu said. this problem only comes when were found to be invalid. fi ce between 1997 and 2002. The premier also said he was from Delhi Police saying it will laterally” trying to change the Lu said Indian troops “il- he tries to play,” Dr Sharan While Kovind got 65.65% of Kovind, who was the national gladdened by the extensive sup- take a look at what police has to status quo at the tri-junction legally trespassed into Chi- Srinivasan said in a statement the total valid votes with a value spokesperson of the Bharatiya port for Kovind among MPs and say before taking any decision on the frontier with Bhutan. nese territory”. yesterday. of 10,69,358, Meira Kumar got Janata Party (BJP), headed the across various states. “I thank on the plea. The bench has given She told the Rajya Sabha that The military tension over “This feedback was very im- 34.35%. MPs and MLAs are eli- party’s Scheduled Caste Morcha members of the electoral col- three days time to Delhi Police while China was saying India the Himalayan tri-junction portant for the doctors to get gible to vote in the presidential for three years from 1999. He lege,” the prime minister said. to submit the status report and should withdraw its troops between the two coun- the exact location of the target election. Of the votes of MPs, was actively associated with the Shah said Kovind’s “truly his- posted the matter for August 1. from Doklam for negotiations tries that share a 3,500-km to be lesioned.” Kovind got 522 compared to 225 RSS before joining the BJP. toric” victory was for the poor, During the brief hearing, ap- to begin, India is saying that boundary started more than Prasad described the surreal by Meira Kumar. Kovind, who practiced law downtrodden and the marginal- pearing for Delhi Police, advocate both countries should with- a month ago when Indian experience of being conscious The value of MP votes re- in high courts and the Supreme ised and their aspirations. Rahul Mehra said that the police draw their troops. troops stopped Chinese sol- on the operating table during ceived by Kovind was 369,576 Court, said in his victory mes- Meira Kumar also congratu- was close to a complete investiga- “They (China) are de- diers from building a road at the seven-hour procedure and that by Kumar was 159,300. sage that his election refl ects the lated Kovind. “I extend my good tion and the status report would manding that we should the stretch where India and as his fingers slowly became In Andhra Pradesh, where Con- greatness of Indian democracy. wishes to him as it has fallen be fi led after he takes a look at it. withdraw our forces... We China connect with Bhutan. more dexterous. gress has one MLA, Meira Kumar He pledged to protect the Con- upon him to uphold the Consti- Pushkar, 52, was found dead in want that if a dialogue is The stand-off has hit In- “I was amazed to see my drew a blank with all non-BJP stitution and uphold its values tution of India in this most chal- a Delhi hotel on January 17, 2014. held, and if talks are to be dia-China ties with Chinese fingers improve magically on parties voting for Kovind. and dedicated himself to work lenging time.” Swamy had earlier told the held, then both the countries experts threatening a war if the operation table itself. By Announcing the election of for the happiness of all sections. Later, Modi, accompanied court that there has been con- should withdraw their troops. New Delhi did not buckle. the end of the surgery, my Kovind, returning offi cer and Lok Tracing his roots, the presi- by Shah and Parliamentary Af- stant attempt to block the in- From India’s side, no un- Sushma Swaraj accused fingers were 100% cured and I Sabha secretary general Anoop dent-elect said he represented fairs Minister Ananth Kumar, vestigation into the death of reasonable demand is being China of violating the terms could move them like before,” Mishra said Kovind had got the re- all the hardworking people like visited Kovind’s residence here Pushkar. He alleged that the made.. All countries are with of a written agreement he told the Times of India quired votes under the quota allot- the farm workers, labourers and and greeted him. He presented registration of a fi rst informa- us, as they all feel that China reached between India, Chi- newspaper. ted to him in the preferential vote poor and his election was a mes- a stole and a fl ower and off ered tion report took almost a year is being aggressive on a small na and Bhutan in 2012. system under the Presidential and sage to those people who earn him sweets. and nothing has happened af- ter that. Even after three years, police have not arrested anyone and no custodial interrogation took place, Swamy said, adding that the post-mortem report confi rmed Pushkar’s death was Kerala BJP denies scam allegations “unnatural” and “due to poison”. Swamy sought a time-bound probe in the case, saying “very in- IANS to do with our party,” Rajasekher- the offi ce of the Kerala BJP chief via a network of brokers) route. fl uential people are involved in the Thiruvananthapuram an maintained. Rajasekheran. “This report was kept under case, leading to attempts to protect Former state BJP president V Kerala lawmakers from the Left wraps for a while, which shows them, and the matter has faced a Muraleedharan said the party will and the Congress angrily pro- that the state’s top BJP leadership lot of unnecessary delay already”. erala BJP chief Kummanem be holding a core group meeting tested in the Lok Sabha after being knew what was going on,” said The public interest litigation Rajasekheran yesterday today where the issue is likely to denied permission to take up the Venugopal. sought a court-monitored inves- Kdenied the party had any be taken up. report in the House. Opposition leader Ramesh tigation by constituting a “multi- links to an alleged medical col- State BJP general secretary M The motion was moved by CPI- Chennithala told reporters in disciplinary special investigation lege scam, even as the issue rocked T Ramesh, whose name fi gures in M leader M B Rajesh and Congress north Kerala that only a probe team consisting of the intelligence parliament. the report, denied any involve- leader K C Venugopal, but was would reveal the truth. bureau, enforcement directo- In a statement Rajasekheran ment in the scam. disallowed. “This is nothing but the tip of rate, RAW (Research and Analysis said media reports alleging that Kerala lawmakers have de- Rajesh told the media “this the iceberg, and there is no doubt Wing), Delhi police and headed by the BJP in Kerala took bribes and manded that Prime Minister scam involves not just Kerala BJP the national BJP leaders are in- Central Bureau of Investigation” promised Medical Council of In- Narendra Modi reply to allega- leaders but also national BJP lead- volved in this scam,” Chennithala or a time-bound CBI probe. dia recognition for a private col- tions that the owner of a medical ers.” said. “It’s an extreme example of lege “has nothing to do with our college in Thiruvananthapuram Venugopal said it was strange In a related development Vel- the slow motion of the criminal party”. district paid Rs56mn as bribe to that while the national BJP lead- lapally Natesan, founding patron justice process and the extent to “The BJP is a party that deals Kerala-based BJP leaders for in- ership speaks against corruption of the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, which it can be subverted by the with corruption in a very strong fl uencing the Medical Council of and black money, their own in- a key ally of the BJP-led National rich and infl uential. It unfolds manner. In this particular issue, India (MCI). ternal committee that went into Democratic Alliance said “what’s the apparent apathy on the part the party will discuss it at the ap- The revelations came in the the allegations found that money happening in the Kerala unit of of all those concerned with the propriate forum and strict action wake of an internal BJP two- had changed hands. He said the the BJP is a ‘fi ght’ between those administration of criminal jus- will be taken, if needed. But what’s member committee report which cash was paid in Delhi through who got the money and those who tice,” said the plea. being alleged now has got nothing is alleged to have been leaked from the hawala (money transferred didn’t.” Gulf Times 10 Friday, July 21, 2017 PAKISTAN App off ers Breakfast on the move ride with a marriage matchmaker

AFP “Careem is the halal Tin- Islamabad der now, except that there’s a rishta aunty who’ll do the swiping for you,” joked Pakistan app-based Twitter user CrazeeGentle- taxi service has man. Alaunched an unusual But many were speculat- add on, off ering passengers ing that it was just a mar- the chance to share their keting ploy by the taxi app ride with a marriage match- service. maker. “Driving with rishta aunty Users in Pakistan woke a success for @CareemPAK on Wednesday to an unex- already, it’s 11:33 AM and half pected notifi cation from the marketers in my list are Careem — an Uber-like taxi talking about it,” wrote Am- hailing app popular in Mus- naa Tariq on Twitter. Careem lim countries: Have a ‘rishta Pakistan was quick to defend aunty’ accompany you dur- the move as a legitimate serv- ing your ride. ice. Rishta aunties, as mar- “We’d noticed that rishtas riage matchmakers are are a popular topic of discus- known in South Asia, keep sion among our more senior detailed records of eligible users. So we’ve launched this men and women — from service in order to help the education level and salary, younger people fi nd a right An Afghan woman carries breads for sale in Mazar-i-Sharif. to height, weight and even match,” said Careem Paki- skin tone — and will set you stan’s head of public aff airs up with your future spouse, Sibtain Naqvi, according to lo- for a fee. cal media. Usually portrayed in popular “During the ride people can culture as bespectacled women tell the aunty their preferences with a clipboard of names and and the Aunty will later get in an ancient Nokia mobile, the touch with them with a suita- aunties have had an update ble rishta (relationship),” Naqvi thanks to Careem. added. It’s not the fi rst time The “rishta” service — that the taxi app has sought to Terror attacks continue which has only been rolled diversify. out for two days in two cit- In January the fi rm rolled out ies in Pakistan — quickly had “Careem Doctor”, off ering to the country’s vocal Twitter- bring a medical professional to ati on overdrive. your doorstep. to decline: US report The US State Department report terrorists target civilians, offi cials and re- the paramilitary Sindh Rangers in Karachi, The officials said that the budget acknowledges that Pakistan is a major ligious minorities in Pakistan. arrested suspected terrorists and inter- for investigation had increased from Pakistan govt to set counterterror partner The report identifi es major terrorist rupted plots. Rs264mn in 2015-16 to Rs364mn in groups that focus on conducting terrorist Many commentators credited the mili- 2016-17. “A total of Rs100mn had been Internews attacks in Pakistan, such as the Tehreek- tary operations for the reduced number of allocated additionally solely under the up 46 SEZs along Islamabad i-Taliban Pakistan, Jamaatul Ahrar, and terrorism-related civilian deaths in Paki- head of the investigation into criminal Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. stan. cases with the sole objective to improve The groups located in Pakistan, but fo- Sindh Law Minister Ziaul Hasan Lan- its quality,” said a senior official in the CPEC route errorist-related violence in Pa- cused on conducting attacks outside the jar yesterday said more than 5,000 cases home ministry. kistan declined for the second country include the Afghan Taliban, the were pending in around 50 anti-terrorism The offi cials conceded that such in- Tstraight year in 2016, says a US State Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba and courts functioning across the province. crease was not signifi cant considering the Internews has a market of more than Department report released yesterday, Jaish. The militant Islamic State group Speaking to reporters at the Sindh As- massive number of cases registered in the Karachi 200mn people. which also acknowledges that Pakistan claimed several major attacks against Pa- sembly building after a meeting to review province. Yet, they claimed, it would con- “Chinese companies have remained an important counterterrorism kistani targets, likely conducted in collab- the proposal for increasing the number tribute positively for the police investiga- enormous opportunities to partner during this period. oration with other terrorist groups. of ATCs in Sindh, Lanjar said the number tors who earlier had little money to inves- he Board of Invest- relocate their businesses to The report notes that Pakistan has suc- The report notes that although Al Qaeda of ATCs had been increased in the prov- tigate such cases. ment (BoI) has an- these priority SEZs,” said ceeded in eliminating anti-state militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been se- ince and it would further be increased if “The government has plans to increase Tnounced that the Qureshi. from the tribal belt, but it has not taken riously degraded, remnants of its global needed. it signifi cantly in coming years. The situa- government was planning He pointed out that every ‘substantial action’ against the Afghan leadership, as well as its regional affi liate He said the provincial government tion will no longer be as pathetic as it had to establish 46 Special Eco- zone had special benefi ts Taliban and the Haqqani network. Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, con- would recruit another 400 prosecutors to been for past many decades,” said an offi - nomic Zones (SEZs) along for the investors in terms of The state department’s country report tinued to operate from remote locations in strengthen the prosecution side that had cial in the ministry. The ministry said the the China-Pakistan Eco- skilled workforce, location, on terrorism for 2016 notes that last year the region that the group has historically not been performing as per expectations. overall budget of police department had nomic Corridor (CPEC) route raw material and linkages Pakistan continued to suff er signifi cant exploited for safe haven. During the meeting, the minister said, been increased signifi cantly during the in the long run, stated a press with other parts inside and terrorist attacks, particularly against vul- International, Afghan, and Pakistani a committee was formed to improve the past three fi nancial years. release. outside of the country. nerable civilian and government targets. forces continued to contest Al Qaeda’s prosecution. It said it was a little more than Rs51bn in During the Pak-China “China is extremely tal- The report credits the Pakistani mili- presence in the region, and Pakistan’s Jointly headed by the home secretary 2013-14, which increased to Rs56.599bn in Joint Co-operation Com- ented in developing zones, tary and security forces for conducting continued military off ensive in North and prosecutor general, the committee 2014-15, and Rs62.692bn in 2015-16. mittee meeting held in Bei- especially from 1985 to 1995 successful operations against groups that Waziristan further degraded the group’s would give recommendations to strength- It said Rs77.925bn had been allocated to jing, nine out of the 46 zones and from 2009 to 2015, and carried out attacks within Pakistan, such freedom to operate. en the prosecution. the police department in the last fi nancial have been declared priority Pakistan can learn much as Tehreek-i- Taliban Pakistan. Pressure on Al Qaeda’s traditional safe He also referred to last year’s plan of the year. projects. Chinese companies from the Chinese,” he added. But “Pakistan did not take substan- havens has constrained the leadership’s government for the recruitment of 370 law The offi cials said the government had are simultaneously working Chairing a meeting to re- tial action against the Afghan Taliban or ability to communicate eff ectively with af- graduates for the position of 170 inspec- launched its plan to revamp the criminal on numerous projects relat- view the development of HQN, or substantially limit their ability to fi liate groups outside South Asia. tors (legal) and 200 inspectors (investiga- justice system for which the rates of the ing to infrastructure, energy SEZs under CPEC, Federal threaten US interests in Afghanistan, al- The number of terrorism-related civil- tion). investigation cost in heinous crimes had and railways under CPEC. Minister for Planning, De- though Pakistan supported eff orts to bring ian deaths in 2016 was approximately 600, “These moves are aimed at making sure been revised. All Pakistan Business Fo- veloping and Reform Ahsan both groups into an Afghan-led peace far lower than the peak years of 2012 and that no culprit [goes] free due to lack of Minister Lanjar said the Sindh Assem- rum (APBF) President Ibra- Iqbal said provinces should process”, the report claims. 2013, when terrorist acts left more than evidence or poor prosecution,” said the bly’s session beginning on Monday would him Qureshi highlighted that make presentations regard- The state department also claims that 3,000 civilians dead each year. minister. primarily see the anti-NAB law re-tabled the products to be manufac- ing SEZs more elaborative so in 2016, Pakistan did not take suffi cient Despite its extensive security infra- Earlier, home ministry offi cials said in the house. tured in the economic zones they could attract more in- action against other externally focused structure, the country suff ered major at- that to improve investigation in heinous The law the assembly passed weeks ago would not only be exported, vestment. groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish. tacks, particularly in Balochistan. crimes, the ministry had increased funds had been returned by the governor with but could also be sold in the Provinces are fi nalis- All these groups have “continued to op- The Pakistani military continued opera- by around 38% during last fi nancial year. objections. local market. ing their SEZ plans prior to erate, train, organise, and fundraise in Pa- tions in Khyber and North Waziristan to The funds for this purpose would be fur- “We will take the opposition parties into This will make the zones the visit of Chinese experts, kistan”, the report adds. eliminate anti-state militants. ther increased this fi nancial year, they confi dence before re-introducing the law,” ideal for investors as Pakistan which is due this month. The state department points out that Security forces in urban areas, including said. he said. Current account defi cit touches record $12.1bn

Internews mittances declined on a year-on-year basis in Federal fi nance secretary Shahid Mehmood for foreign loans, whereas the domestic debt senator Mandviwalla said. Senator Mohsin Karachi 2016-17. and DG Debt Offi ce Ehtasham Rashid briefed was Rs12,956bn with an increase of Rs1.18tn in Leghari pointed out that the FBR had held huge Data shows unchecked imports proved disas- the committee about debt situation and said 2016-17 over the previous fi scal year, 2015-16. refunds to maintain the books, and was also trous for the external sector of the economy. the net increase in foreign borrowing jumped Aziz said foreign debt has increased by around seeking advance tax from all sectors to meet its he current account defi cit widened by The defi cit hurts the country’s ability to sell up by 13.9 per cent in 2014-15, 11 per cent in 18-20% in a year. targets. 148.5% to an all-time high of $12.09bn for bonds in the international market. The gov- 2015-16 and so far seven per cent in July-May The committee members pointed out that Pa- Khawaja Tanveer, member, IR Operations, in- T2016-17, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) ernment has been planning to sell euro bonds. period of fi scal 2016-17. The foreign debt stood kistan gained through fl uctuation in exchange formed the committee that the FBR would make reported yesterday. The defi cit was $4.86bn in But the weakness on the external front with a at $58bn. rate of other currencies and benefi ted because all out eff orts to settle the stuck up in refunds the preceding fi scal year. $12.1bn current account defi cit means that the However, Mandviwalla as well as Senator of depreciation of Yen and Euro against US dol- with stakeholders’ consultation and assured the The balance on trade in goods jumped to a government is unlikely to get a favourable rate of Mohsin Aziz, who belongs to PTI, did not seem lar. The committee argued that it was cosmetic senators that it would be done without wasting defi cit of $26.8bn compared to $19.3bn in 2015- return. to agree to the fi nance ministry’s viewpoint and as these currencies could become strong again, further time. 16. The government has failed to improve ex- The Senate Standing Committee on Finance both were unanimous in stating that the foreign and the loan might increase at the time of repay- Tanveer said the FBR cleared sales tax refunds ports. Instead of growing foreign sales, Paki- of Pakistan expressed concerns over the accu- debt increased at a much higher pace of 18 to ment. amounting up to Rs1mn which would benefi t stan’s exports have been declining for the last mulation of public debt at a higher pace com- 20% instead of the seven per cent the govern- The Standing Committee on Finance also ex- majority of small exporters. Now the remain- four years. pared to what the government claimed, and has ment claimed. pressed concerns over the high domestic debt, ing refunds, for which the RPOs were cleared This is making it more diffi cult for the gov- asked the economic managers to share the fu- “The remittances have declined this year, and and its members said excessive government till April 30, 2017, would be cleared on August ernment to contain the rapid fall in foreign ex- ture roadmap for reducing the debt. mainly due to the fl awed foreign policy of the borrowings made commercial banks less inter- 13, 2017, he added. He said the whole concept of change reserves. “Pakistan has obtained gross foreign debt government,” said Senator Ilyas Bilour of the ested in lending to the private sectors. value-added tax could not be streamlined with- The balance on goods and services registered to the tune of $7.439bn in the fi rst 11 months ANP. The committee directed the fi nance ministry out paying refunds, so this would be looked into a defi cit of $30.5bn compared to $22.7bn in of fi scal year 2016-17 and made repayments of PTI senator Mohsin Aziz said that Bang- to prepare a paper highlighting options for the for clearing the amount. 2015-16. $3.628bn so net increase in foreign loan stood ladeshi taka was stronger than the Pakistani repayment of debt, as depending on the Federal It would be shocking if the industry and FBR The growing current account defi cit has prac- at $3.811bn, during this period of FY17,” Fi- rupee, and not only were their remittances Board of Revenue’s (FBR) collection only was did not agree to the fi gure of refunds, and eff orts tically neutralised the positive impact of about nance Ministry briefed the Senate panel which higher but their exports had topped $40bn. The not a viable option. were underway to get a clear picture following $19bn remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis. met under the chairmanship of senator Saleem committee discussed the debt position of the “We need to consider various options — how which a strategy would be devised to clear the For the fi rst time in more than a decade, re- Mandviwalla at the parliament house. country up to May 2017, which stood at $58bn to generate money in the next fi ve or ten years,” due amount, Khawaja Tanveer concluded. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 11 PHILIPPINES

CRIME PROPOSAL DECISION LEGAL CRACKDOWN Govt eyes opening Brazil meat imports Tax court orders refund Bus terminals shut down telecoms to foreign control banned amid concerns for Philippine Airlines for violating norms

Limits on foreign ownership of the telecom The Philippines yesterday halted meat imports The Court of Tax Appeals’ (CTA) Third Division has Several bus terminals along Edsa in Cubao, industry should be lifted to attract investment from Brazil citing safety concerns following a ordered the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Quezon City were padlocked yesterday for and improve its service, a minister said yesterday. US move to ban fresh Brazilian beef after a high the Bureau of Customs (BoC) to refund or issue a violating traffic policies and city ordinances. Currently foreign firms can own a maximum percentage of shipments failed to pass safety tax credit certificate in favour of Philippine Airlines The Metropolitan Manila Development 40% of Philippine utilities, including telecom checks. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (PAL) in the amount of P302.01mn representing Authority (MMDA) and the city government companies, which should be raised, according to said a Philippine “food safety team” will fly to excise taxes paid for PAL’s import of jet fuel for ordered the closure of Roro Bus Transport, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia. “If Brazil on July 26 to inspect facilities at meat its domestic operations in 2008. In a 40-page DLTB Bus Line and Dimple Star Bus Transport. Policemen guard some of the 43 arrested we want to attract foreign direct investment, they exporters. Brazil, the world’s top exporter of beef decision promulgated on July 17, the tax court The MMDA said the Roro Bus Transport was foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals, for have to have a larger stake in the investment,” and poultry, accounts for 6% of Philippine meat granted PAL’s petition for review. The company not issued a permit to put up facilities like kidnapping a Singaporean woman at a casino he said. “Forty percent seems low. By raising that imports, according to local media reports. “This sought tax exemption on its imports on August 8, comfort rooms and waiting areas for their resort in the capital, during a presentation to 70%, it seems more attractive,” he added. The involves the health of Filipino consumers and we August 9, August 23, September 24, and October passengers, and other facilities for PWDs inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) telecom industry is dominated by two companies cannot take the risk,” Piñol told Reuters. China’s 22, 2008. PAL was able to prove that the imported (persons with disabilities). The sudden headquarters in Quezon City, metro Manila, – PLDT and Globe Telecom – and critics argue the quality watchdog has stepped up inspections of fuel was not locally available in reasonable closure of the bus terminals inconvenienced Philippines, yesterday. duopoly has led to poor service and high charges. Brazilian meat imports following the US ban. quantity and price at the time, the court said. passengers who have made reservations. Duterte pays Fight against drugs visit to troops in Marawi City

DPA “Just a minute before the Manila choppers landed, there were a few sniper shots coming from unknown direction that targeted hilippine President Ro- the landing zone area,” he said. drigo Duterte yesterday The crisis in Marawi City be- Pvisited Marawi City where gan on May 23 when an estimat- government forces are battling ed 600 militants went on a ram- Islamic State-allied militants in page after government forces an eight-week confl ict that has attempted to arrest a local leader left more than 600 people dead. of the Islamic State terrorist or- Amid the sound of gun and ganisation. artillery fi re, Duterte met with Duterte declared a 60-day soldiers and police offi cers in a martial law in the southern re- military camp during the un- gion of Mindanao as a result of announced trip to the besieged the siege and has asked Con- southern city, said lieutenant gress to extend the decree until colonel Jo-ar Herrera, a military December 31 to allow troops to spokesman. completely crush the threats “This trip really boosted the posed by Islamic State. fi ghting spirit and morale of the Congress is scheduled to hold forces,” he told Manila radio sta- a special session tomorrow to Residents are rounded up for verification after police officers conducted a large scale anti-drug raid at a slum community in Manila yesterday. One resident was tion DZMM. “Morale is very high deliberate on Duterte’s request. killed in the raid according to police. President Rodrigo Duterte swept to an election victory last year largely on a pledge to wipe out his nation’s illegal drugs right now. We are all very happy The fi ghting has left Marawi trade within three to six months. with the visit. City in ruins, with thousands of houses and buildings destroyed by fi res set off by the militants or heavy artillery fi re, and military airstrikes. More than 438,000 residents have been displaced from Ma- rawi City and nearby towns due to the confl ict, and an estimated 300 civilians are either trapped Communist leaders’ arrest “This trip really boosted the in the fi ghting zone or being held fi ghting spirit and morale hostage by the militants, offi cials of the forces. Morale is very said. high right now. We are all In his letter to Congress ask- very happy with the visit” ing for the extension of martial rule in Mindanao, Duterte said “It was like a father visiting the leadership of the militants in ordered over rebel ambush his sons and daughters to lift the Marawi City troops’ morale in the fi ght,” he “remains intact despite the AFP But the government sus- matically cancelled,” it added. ber armed wing the New Peo- proclamation to the end of the added. considerable decline in the Manila pended formal peace talks in Duterte had freed more than ple’s Army — during which year for Mindanao, the south- Nearly 100 government forces number of rebels fi ghting in the May, and yesterday chief gov- a dozen rebel leaders so they gunmen opened fi re on two ern third of the country where have been killed in the confl ict, main battle area.” ernment lawyer Jose Calida said could fl y to Europe and serve as presidential security group ve- the rebellion is concentrated. which has also left 421 militants “Key leaders of the rebellion... he Philippine govern- guerrilla leaders who were let consultants to their peace nego- hicles on the southern island of Arevalo said the rebels had dead. Forty-fi ve civilians have remain at large,” he added, in- ment yesterday ordered out of prison to take part in talks tiating team, made up mostly of Mindanao — Manila called off a killed two off -duty Marines in been executed by the terrorists cluding Isnilon Hapilon, the al- Tthe arrest of communist were now subject to arrest. exiled senior communist fi gures. planned informal meeting, say- an ambush in another part of while 40 displaced residents leged head of the Islamic State in rebel leaders involved in peace “The solicitor general already ing the situation on the ground the country this week. have died from illness. the Philippines, and Malaysian talks, a day after a guerrilla am- instructed the...solicitors to “You can just imagine that was not conducive for peace “Clearly the (rebels) have no Duterte, who arrived at the militant Mahmud bin Ahmad, bush left fi ve presidential body- ask the courts to cancel the bail if the president is on board talks. intention to genuinely pursue camp by helicopter and wore suspected fi nancer of the group. guards wounded in the latest bonds of the (rebel) consultants, that vehicle, he could have “You can just imagine that if peace negotiations but merely military fatigues, distributed The military earlier reported escalation of the half century- order their arrests, and recom- been assassinated” the president is on board that to buy time to consolidate to re- care packages to the troops and that there was “strong indica- long confl ict. mit them to their detention fa- vehicle, he could have been as- cruit and to beef up their ranks,” inspected thousands of weapons tion” that Mahmud and another The insurgents have been en- cilities,” Calida’s offi ce said in a The talks were cancelled by sassinated,” military spokes- he added. seized from the militants, ac- leader of the militants, Omar gaged in off -and-on peace talks statement. the government due to deadly man Colonel Edgard Arevalo Duterte had said he needed cording to Herrera. Maute, were killed in the fi ght- with Manila to end one of the “The conditions (for their guerrilla attacks on security told reporters yesterday. a longer martial rule to defeat Military chief of staff Gen- ing. world’s longest insurgencies that conditional release) provide forces, with the two sides failing The rebels yesterday said militants holed up in the city of eral Eduardo Ano said the trip was But Duterte said it was an- has claimed tens of thousands of that should the formal peace to agree to a ceasefi re. their armed attacks were in Marawi in a near-two-month “very successful and memorable” other Maute brother, Mohamed, lives, since President Rodrigo negotiations cease or fail, their After Wednesday’s attacks by response to Duterte’s plan to battle that has left more than for the troops, but it “was not easy.” who has been killed. Duterte was elected last year. bond shall be deemed auto- the communists’ 4,000-mem- extend his 60-day martial law 550 people dead. Six nations in shortlist for Aquino seeks dismissal $2bn LNG hub partnership of corruption charges By Manila Times “There was nothing irregu- Manila lar, much less illegal, about my Reuters anticipated to grow four times On the government-to-gov- act of utilising all the resources Manila from 2015. ernment partnership for the available at my disposal, in- To support this spike, the project, Ardon said PNOC was ormer president Benigno cluding sourcing informa- country needs to step up power pushing for a 60-40 equity ar- Aquino 3rd has asked the tion and inputs from anyone he Philippines has short- generation capacity by 7,000 rangement, with the Philippines FOffi ce of the Ombudsman — whether they are in active listed six countries and megawatts over the next fi ve taking a controlling interest. to reverse its ruling that found service or not. Certainly, it Twill choose one from them years and wants foreign inves- However, he did not give a basis to charge him, former Phil- would be the height of negli- as a partner for its planned $2bn tors to help. timeline on when a partner ippine National Police (PNP) gence had I not used any and receiving and distribution facil- “(The LNG project) is a com- would be chosen. director general Alan Purisima all assets and resources avail- ity for imported LNG, an offi cial plete package with storage fa- Ardon named local electricity and former PNP-Special Ac- able to me at the time to ensure from the state-run energy fi rm cility, regasifi cation, a power producer First Gen Corp as a po- tion Force (PNP-SAF) direc- that I had the full grasp of the PNOC said yesterday. plant that is scalable up to 1,000 tential LNG buyer. tor Getulio Napeñas Jr. with operation to be carried out, in- The countries that have been megawatts (MW), and redistri- First Gen, which owns four graft and usurpation of author- cluding the risks and hazards shortlisted are China, Japan, bution,” Ardon told reporters on Malampaya gas-powered plants ity in connection with the po- associated with such an opera- South Korea, Singapore, Indo- the sidelines of a power industry with a total capacity of 2,011MW, lice operation in Mamasapano, tion,” he added. nesia and the United Arab Emir- conference. could also invest in the LNG Maguindanao in 2015. The operation, known as “Op- ates, said Arwin Ardon, head of The power plant will initially hub, possibly taking a portion of In a motion for partial recon- lan Exodus,” sought to capture the team at the Philippine Na- have a capacity of 200MW. PNOC’s 60% stake, he added. sideration, Aquino maintained Marwan and his protege, Abdul- tional Oil Company (PNOC) that Philippines aims to start im- Several companies, including that Purisima’s involvement basit Usman. Marwan was killed is overseeing the project. porting liquefi ed natural gas First Gen and the local unit of was limited to being a resource while Usman escaped. The construction of the (LNG) before Malampaya gas, Royal Dutch Shell which oper- person because the latter had Over 60 people, including 44 project, which includes a 5mn currently used to produce a fi fth ates Malampaya, had planned knowledge of the operations to SAF members, were killed in the tonnes-per-annum storage fa- of the country’s power supply, to build LNG storage facilities in capture terrorist Zulkifl i bin Hir fi refi ght. cility, could be completed by runs out by 2024. the Philippines before the gov- alias Marwan. Aquino also said that he or- 2020, or four years before the Ardon said PNOC was look- ernment came up with its own “All of the actions that I car- dered Purisima to brief former country’s Malampaya natu- ing to use government-owned project. ried out during the briefi ng for police deputy director general ral gas fi eld is depleted, Energy banked or unused gas from Australia-listed Energy World Oplan Exodus and its imple- Leonardo Espina, then the of- Secretary Alfonso Cusi said last Malampaya, currently valued at Corporation has built LNG fa- mentation were perfectly within fi cer in charge of the PNP. month. about $640mn, as equity for the cilities, including a power plant, the bounds of my powers and He said it was only on January The Philippines’ energy de- LNG project, together with the in eastern Quezon province, but functions as the president of the 8, 2015, that he became aware mand is set to triple by 2040, government land where the fa- commercial operations are yet to Philippines and the chief execu- that Espina “had not been in- with electricity requirements cility will be built. start. Benigno Aquino: appeal tive,” Aquino said. cluded in the loop.” Gulf Times 12 Friday, July 21, 2017 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Flooded homes and a broken coastline in Bangladesh. Climate change increases risk of child marriage in Bangladesh Children are at risk from many over the last two years suggests that factors including climate change numbers are falling, but Sen Gupta said Unicef is not yet fully confi dent of the Thomson Reuters Foundation data. London Bangladesh in February passed a Child Marriage Restraint Act, which bans marriage of girls under 18 — a sig- limate change-driven extreme nifi cant change in a country where 18% weather — from fl ooding and of girls are married before 15 and more Cmudslides to blistering heat — is than half by 18, according to a 2016 accelerating migration to Bangladesh’s Unicef study. cities, raising the risks of problems such However, the new ban has a gaping as child marriage, according to Unicef’s loophole that allows parents to agree head of Bangladesh programmes. to such marriages in “exceptional cir- “In Bangladesh, climate change is in cumstances” with a magistrate’s ap- your face. You can’t avoid it. You can proval, Sen Gupta said. see it happening,” said Sheema Sen Unicef and other partners are now Gupta in an interview in London with “trying to frame the rules about what the Thomson Reuters Foundation. the exception is so everything doesn’t “Every year you have cyclones, become an exception”, she said. fl oods, landslides. It’s a given. It’s now Sen Gupta said that low-lying and part of everyday living, and the clearest densely populated Bangladesh, widely thing you see (from it) is rural to urban seen as one of the countries most vul- migration.” nerable to climate change, sees the risks But surging migration to cities by ru- and has proved adept at scaling up suc- ral families no longer able to make a liv- cessful pilot eff orts run by non-gov- ing from farming or fi shing brings other ernmental organisations into broader threats, from worsening urban over- government-run programmes. crowding to child marriage, as families “Bangladesh has a good framework seek to keep girls “safe” in a new envi- of climate adaptation, based on the ronments. fact that they need to survive,” she said. “I hesitate to say climate change and “Clearly there is an awareness (climate urbanisation are the major causes of impacts) are increasing and we need to child marriage. But they do compound An eroding embankment threatens a village. do something.” it and make it a bit more diffi cult to in- That is an attitude needed more glo- tervene,” said Sen Gupta, who has been off , with Bangladesh’s government now sues, health, nutrition and other topics, tool is the adolescents themselves,” she only bad for their health and prospects, bally, she said. in Bangladesh for seven months and incorporating programmes started by and then discuss the issues. said. “They intervene — they know who but something they can avoid with “People need to understand how im- previously worked for Unicef in India, organisations such as Unicef and Save Preventing child marriage is one of the to contact, they have a helpline. They call community support. portant this is for kids, for their rights, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Ghana and Soma- the Children, she said. main focuses of the groups, Sen Gupta and say a marriage is planned.” “Adolescents themselves are more for their development,” she said. “If we lia. Across Bangladesh, more than 4,000 said, with members keeping an eye out in Better yet, said Sen Gupta, a psy- able to say ‘I’m not getting married’” don’t look at climate change, at ad- However, innovative eff orts to curb youth clubs have been set up which the community for girls at risk, and then, chologist by training, the groups have she said. “Girls are able to stand up to dressing these issues, we won’t make the threat — particularly training young gather young people regularly to listen if they see a threat, alerting community created a growing conviction among their parents.” the progress we’re committed to mak- people to help each other — are paying to radio broadcasts on human rights is- leaders, who are able to step in. “The best many girls that early marriage is not Monitoring of child marriage rates ing.”

Australian minister in Colombo Construction sortie

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during their meeting in Colombo.

Bangladeshi activist deported

AFP Rights group Voice of the Malaysian People Kuala Lumpur (Suaram) earlier said Khan was being kept incom- municado at the airport’s immigration lock-up and appealed for his release. alaysia said it had deported a prominent “Suaram calls for his immediate release and de- Bangladesh activist yesterday, with civil mand that the immigration department stop its Mgroups describing the government treat- persistent harassment against human rights de- ment of him as “harassment” against human rights fenders visiting Malaysia,” it said in a statement. defenders. Malaysia often denies foreign pro-democracy Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of the rights activists entry into the country without giving ex- group Odhikar, was found to be “listed among the planation. The Asian Human Rights Commission individuals banned from entering (Malaysia)” after urged the international human rights community arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport ear- “to immediately intervene in this case, and secure ly yesterday, Malaysia’s immigration department Khan’s release from arbitrary detention”. said in a statement. He was deported at 8.05pm The commission said it was worried that the de- (1205 GMT), it added. tention of Khan, his country’s former deputy at- Khan was due to speak at a two-day conference torney general, “is the result of collusion between Weaver birds build a nest on a bamboo tree in Lalitpur, Nepal. organised by the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network. governments in Bangladesh and Malaysia”. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 13 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Loving and glorifying the Sunnah o you truly love the Messenger of at anything as much as we did about this Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam? answer of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi A fundamental of our religion, and a wa sallam, to that man. I love Allah, His Dtenet of our faith, is to love him. Messenger, Abu Bakr and ‘Umar and hope to Allah Says what means: “Say [O be with them (in the Hereafter) even if I cannot Muhammad]: ‘If your fathers, your sons, your perform the good deeds they did.” [Al-Bukhari brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth & Muslim] which you have obtained, commerce wherein The Companions had great love for the you fear decline, and dwellings with which you Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, to are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah the extent that they would face arrows that and His Messenger and Jihaad in His cause, were being fi red in his direction to shield then wait until Allah executes His command. him. They would risk their lives for him and Qur’an summer courses to start on Sunday And Allah does not guide the defi antly sacrifi ce everything for his rescue. ‘Amr ibn disobedient people.” [Qur’an 9: 24] Al-‘Aas, radhiallah ‘anhu, said: “There was QNA the summer vacation period and help The ministry confi rmed that it Al-Fudhayl ibn ‘Iyaadh said: “This verse is no one dearer to me or more glorifi ed than the Doha students memorise the Holy Qur’an, provided all the means to ensure the enough of an evidence to prove the obligation Prophet; I could never look him directly in the improve their reading performance, success of these courses. of loving the Prophet because Allah dispraised eye due to the extent of my glorifi cation, and increase their educational skills, and The courses, which will last for a in it those whose wealth, family or children if someone were to ask me to describe him, I he Ministry of Awqaf and enhance their values and good morals. full month, will be held in 30 of the are dearer to them than the love of Allah and would not be able to, as I never looked at him Islamic Aff airs’ Qur’an sum- In a press statement, the ministry ministry’s Qur’an centres, which His Messenger describing them as defi antly for long enough to be able to describe him.” mer courses for students will said it has registered a large number have been chosen for geographical disobedient at its conclusion.” [Muslim] Tstart on Sunday in a number of of students wishing to benefi t from distribution, population density and Love of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa When Abu Sufyaan, radhiallah ‘anhu, was Qur’an centres affi liated to the ministry the well-prepared programmes. the ability to accommodate the largest sallam, branches from Allah’s love of him; our still a disbeliever, he asked Zayd ibn Thaabit, across the country. Registration for the courses ends on number of students during the summer love of the Prophet is due to the fact that Allah radhiallah ‘anhu, who was taken as a hostage The aim of these courses is to utilise Thursday. vacation. loves him, and because Allah sent him to us as and being brought out by the people of Makkah His Messenger, as well as the fact that Allah to execute: “Do you not wish that Muhammad instructs us to make him dearer to our hearts was in your place and that we killed him than our own souls. He Almighty Says what instead, while you could go to your family and means: “The Prophet is more worthy of the be with them?” He replied: “I swear by Allah! I believers than themselves…” [Qur’an 33: 6] would rather be here facing this than have him Signs of one’s love for the Prophet This means that the believer should love the even being pricked by a thorn.” Upon hearing Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, more this, Abu Sufyaan, radhiallah ‘anhu, said: “I than he loves his own self. never saw a people who love a man more than he worst disaster ever to strike this 3. Being sincere to the Prophet: Imaam Loving his wives, who are the mothers of the This love entails full obedience, submission the Companions of Muhammad love him.” nation was the death of the Prophet, Al-Maroozi said: “This was done during his believers, is also part of this, as Allah Says what and acceptance; it also entails favouring the Such incidents greatly aff ected the sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who in- lifetime by exerting all eff orts to obey him, means: “The Prophet is more worthy of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, over disbelievers and caused many of them to Tstructed us to remember the affl iction supporting him, helping him, sacrifi cing one’s believers than themselves, and his wives are [in oneself, one’s family and one’s wealth, and to embrace Islam. of his death whenever we are tried by any hard- wealth for his sake if he were to demand it, and the position of] their mothers...” [Qur’an 33: 6] surrender to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa A man from the Ansaar came to the Prophet, ship, so that we may thereby condole ourselves hastening to attain his love. After his death, it is His wives were: Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid, sallam, the controlling direction that one has sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and said: “You are and ease the impact of that hardship, which expressed by learning his Sunnah, his manners ‘Aa’ishah bint Abu Bakr, Hafsah bint ‘Umar, over himself. dearer to me than myself, my child, my family would be insignifi cant in comparison. and etiquette, glorifying his commands and Umm Habeebah bint Abu Sufyaan, Umm The infl uence that the Prophet, sallallaahu and my wealth, and I feel as if I am dying when Signs that prove one’s love for the Prophet, adhering to them, becoming angry at those Salamah, Zaynab bint Jahsh, Zaynab bint ‘alaihi wa sallam, should have over us is greater I do not see you.” Then he began to cry. The sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam: who live according to anything other than his Khuzaymah Al-Hilaaliyyah, Juwayriyyah than that which a master has over his slave, Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, asked: 1. Mentioning him frequently and exalting way, and loving those who adhere to it, as well bint Al-Haarith, Safi yyah bint Huyay and or a father has over his child. We should have “Why are you crying?” The man replied: “I his mention. Allah Says what means: “Indeed, as loving those who are from his descendants, Maymoonah bint Al-Haarith Al-Hilaaliyyah - no control over ourselves except in acting in remembered that we will die and you will die, Allah exalts the mention of the Prophet, and those who migrated with him and those who may Allah be pleased with them all. accordance with the way he directed us to. then you will take your place in Paradise with His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have supported him, and indeed anyone who was A sign of loving the Prophet, sallallaahu It is for every Muslim to prove his love for the other Messengers and Prophets, while we, believed! Ask [Allah to] exalt his mention.” in his company even for as brief a period as an ‘alaihi wa sallam, is to love the mothers of the him, which can be determined according to the if indeed we do enter Paradise, will be lower in [Qur’an 33: 56] hour. Additionally, it entails imitating him in believers and not to harm or slander them in following narration of the Prophet, sallallaahu rank than you, and thus we will not be able to There are many times and occasions when the way he dressed.” any way. ‘alaihi wa sallam: “There are three qualities; see you in Paradise.” this is legislated to be done, such as during Imaam Al-Qurtubi added: “It is to believe in Loving his Companions accepting the whoever has them will taste the sweetness of Note how much they loved him; they were supplication. Ubay ibn Ka’b, radhiallah ‘anhu, his prophethood, to love those who supported guidance they conveyed to us, and emulating faith: To love Allah and His Messenger more worried about not seeing him, despite the fact reported: “I (once) said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! him, to hate those who hate him, to glorify his them. than anyone else…” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] that they may also be in Paradise. I frequently invoke Allah to exalt your rank; Sunnah and revive, defend and spread it, as well Many are those who claim to love the One will never taste the sweetness of faith The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, how much of my supplication should I devote as calling people to it and imitating him in his Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, even except after achieving this, as he, sallallaahu did not comment on his words until Allah to you?’ He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: morals and conduct.” from amongst the innovators, but the “proof” ‘alaihi wa sallam, said in another narration: “I revealed the following verses which mean: “You may devote as much as you wish.” When 4. Loving those whom he, sallallaahu of their love for him is that they worship him swear by the One in whose Hand my soul is! “And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger I suggested a quarter, he said: “Do whatever ‘alaihi wa sallam, loved: If he loved Al-Hasan, alongside Allah, and supplicate to him instead None of you will truly believe until I become – those will be with the ones upon whom you wish, but it would be better for you if you Al-Husayn, ‘Ali and Faatimah, may Allah be of Allah, and seek forgiveness from him; dearer to him than his child, his father and all Allah has bestowed favour of the prophets, were to increase upon that.” I suggested half, pleased with them, then we also love them, these people exclude and forget Allah. Is this of mankind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] the steadfast affi rmers of truth, the martyrs and he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: and Allah is our witness to this love. Likewise, love, or is it association with Allah, which he, This love is not simply an emotion that and the righteous. And excellent are those as “Do whatever you wish, but it would be better we love those who follow his Sunnah and his sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, hated more than is confi ned to the heart, but rather it has companions. That is the bounty from Allah…” for you if you were to increase upon that.” I household, and they are, as Zayd, radhiallah anything else? He alluded to this when he said: implications and eff ects. This love makes [Qur’an 4: 69-70] Thereupon the Prophet, suggested two-thirds, and he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi ‘anhu, said when clarifying the narration of “Do not praise me as the Christians praised the the slave achieve a rank that he would not sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, summoned him wa sallam, said: “Do whatever you wish, but it the Prophet: “My household; I remind you son of Maryam.” [Al-Bukhari] otherwise achieve by means of his bodily and said: “Glad tidings to you!” [Al-Bayhaqi] would be better for you if you were to increase to fear Allah with regards to my household; I By this statement, he did not forbid all types deeds, as in the narration of Ibn Mas’ood, Once, a female companion was waiting at upon that.” I (fi nally) said: ‘Shall I devote all of remind you to fear Allah with regards to my of praise for him, but rather only the type that radhiallah ‘anhu, who said: “A man came to the approach to Al-Madinah for the return my supplication to invoke Allah to exalt your household; I remind you to fear Allah with the Christians did (and do) for Jesus (‘Eesaa ), the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa of the Muslim army from the battle of Uhud. rank?’ He, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: regards to my household.” Zayd was asked: which is where they raise his rank to one above sallam, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! When She was informed that her husband, brother “You would then be freed from your worries, “Who are his household? Are his wives that which Allah granted him, which is that will the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) and father were killed, but her only reply was: and your sins would be forgiven.’’” [Ahmad and included in it?” He replied: “Yes (i.e., his of a slave and a messenger, and they worship come?’ He replied: “What have you prepared “What happened to the Prophet?” They told At-Tirmithi] wives are included), as are all those who are him instead of Allah. This is similar to what the for it?” The man said: ‘Only my love of Allah her that he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, was 2. Longing to see him: The Prophet forbidden from taking Zakaah after his death, deviant Sufi s and other sects did and do. and His Messenger.’ The Messenger of Allah fi ne and unharmed, but she insisted to seeing sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “I swear by namely: the family of ‘Ali, the family of ‘Aqeel, On the other hand, Ahlus-Sunnah Wal- then said: “You will be with those whom you him so that she would be sure that he was truly the One in whose Hand the soul of Muhammad the family of Ja’far and the family of Al- Jamaa’ah prove their love for the Prophet, love.”” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] safe. When she did see him, she remarked: is! A day will come when not one of you will be ‘Abbaas.” [Muslim] sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, by obeying his It is not as important to know when the “Any affl iction, after seeing that you are safe, is able to see me (i.e., after my death) and seeing We pray for all of them during our daily commands, following his Sunnah and adhering Hour will occur as it is to prepare for its minor.” me then would be dearer to a person’s heart prayers; thus if somebody’s lineage is known to to his guidance; this is how one follows his arrival, and this is the reason why the Prophet, Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/ than his family and wealth.” [Ahmad and At- originate from the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi way, as Allah Says what means: “Say [O sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, drew this to emainpage/ Tirmithi] wa sallam, and they are a pious person with Muhammad]: If you should love Allah, then the attention of the man by asking him that Losing one’s family and wealth is a minor sound creed, and not a Sufi , a deviant or an follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive question. issue in comparison to the great bounty of innovator, then they should be loved for two you your sins…” [Qur’an 3: 31] This is real love! Anas, radhiallah ‘anhu, said: “After being being a companion, whose sins are forgiven, of reasons: One being their piety and the other Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/ blessed by embracing Islam, we never rejoiced the Prophet. being their relationship to the Prophet. emainpage/ Examples set by the Companions

Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood, radhiallah The Companions fulfi lled their way.” His father informed him that his sit, while the other and most common with his tongue (i.e. verbally), and if he sallam; it was never reported from ‘anhu, reported that the Messen- duty and played their expected role legs were injured from the time of the practice of his was that he would sit is unable to, then with his heart (i.e., a single one of them that they said ger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa in spreading and propagating the Battle of Khaybar, and that he could on his left foot and have his right foot hating it) - and this is the weakest level about any part of it: “This is only ‘sallam, said: “Never has a Prophet Sunnah of the Prophet; they taught it not therefore adhere to the Sunnah in raised while having its toes pointing of faith.” [At-Tirmithi] a Sunnah and is not mandatory… been sent before me by Allah to his to others with sincerity and advised this position of prayer. [Al-Bukhari] towards the direction of the Qiblah. Acts of worship were not the only this is only recommended and not people except that he had, among his those who shunned it to adhere to it, ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar did not These were some examples of how thing which the Companions learned obligatory… this is a minor issue people, disciples and companions warning them against their actions. consider this part of prayer a minor or the Companions would propagate the ways of the Prophet, sallallaahu and not a major one, and we should who followed his way and obeyed his Huthayfah, radhiallah ‘anhu, once saw trivial issue which he could overlook the Sunnah of the Prophet sand they ‘alaihi wa sallam - he even taught not waste our time in it… this is a command. Then there came after them a man rushing during his prayer and when seeing someone performing it a would also openly forbid those who them their manners. Anas, radhiallah trivial matter” quite unlike what their successors who proclaimed what failing to be tranquil in his bowings and way other than that of the Prophet’s ; contradicted the Sunnah, as in the ‘anhu, said: “Once the Prophet came many people say nowadays about they did not practice, and practiced prostrations; so he said to him: “You compare this to the way some people story when Marwaan ibn ‘Abdul-Malik to our house and asked for something the Sunnah, thereby giving it a low what they were not commanded to do. did not pray! Had you died in that state consider certain acts of the Sunnah to delivered the Khutbah of ‘Eid before to drink, so we milked a sheep for him ranking in their list of importance. (He) who strove against these (people) then you would have died upon other be minor, thereby undermining them. the prayer, which is directly contrary to and I gave him the milk to drink while Instead, the Companions would apply with his hand was a believer; he who than the way of Muhammad.” [Al- Taawoos said: “We asked Ibn the Sunnah, so a man stood up whilst Abu Bakr,‘Umar and other senior anything that came to them from the strove against them with his heart was Bukhari] He was bringing his attention ‘Abbaas about sitting in the position he was delivering the Khutbah and told companions were sitting to his left, Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, a believer; and he who strove against to the fact that being tranquil and of Iq’aa’ between the two prostrations him that he had opposed the way of the and a Bedouin was sitting to his right. and would practise it fully and very them with his tongue was a believer; submissive during prayers was how the (which is to sit with one’s buttocks on Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam When he fi nished drinking, ‘Umar precisely. Even in matters that were and beyond that there is no grain of Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, his heels while bending his toes and by doing what he did. Marwaan paid said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Abu Bakr related to man’s natural disposition, faith.” [Muslim] would perform them. directing them towards the Qiblah). He no attention to what the man said, and is to your left’ in an attempt to bring such as growing the beard, using the The Companions comprehended ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, radhiallah informed them that it was the Sunnah, so Abu Sa’eed said: “This man (i.e., that to his attention, but he turned Siwaak (a special twig that is used as a this very well and also kept in mind ‘anhu, would sit on his buttocks during but they remarked: ‘We do not see it the one who spoke to Marwaan) has to the Bedouin and handed him the toothbrush) and so on. the saying of the Prophet, sallallaahu the Tashahhud in his prayer, so his son befi tting a man to sit in such a manner.’ fulfi lled his duty by informing him of container to drink from, saying: “It is Is it not time for us to apply the ‘alaihi wa sallam, which was reported began imitating him; when ‘Abdullaah But he repeated and emphasised the Sunnah and attempting to forbid the right of those to your right, It is the Sunnah in our practices and actions, by Anas : “He who shuns my Sunnah saw this, he forbade him from doing to them the fact that the Prophet, him from continuing; I heard the right of those to your right, It is the our families, the way we dress, our is not from me.” [Al-Bukhari] These so and informed him that this was not sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, would sit Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, right of those to your right.” [Muslim] children, our homes, our prayers and sayings made them love the Sunnah of how the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa this way.” [Muslim] say: “He who sees an evil must change All the Companions old and young, all other aff airs? the Prophet and spread and propagate sallam performed his prayers, so his This is one of the ways he, it with his hands (i.e. physically); if were keen to adhere to the Sunnah Article source: http://www. it amongst their successors. son said to him: “I saw you praying this sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, would he is unable to, then he must change it of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa islamweb.net/emainpage/ Gulf Times 14 Friday, July 21, 2017 COMMENT

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P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] strong start with India Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) By Thomas R Pickering statement, which recognised what areas. While they did not mention will fi nd signifi cant opportunities to Fax 44350474 and Atman Trivedi makes the bilateral relationship so explicitly the hotly contested South learn from each other in important Washington, DC valuable. China Sea, they should do so in the areas, such as how to use e-commerce India matters to America for a host future. and digital platforms to help small of reasons. It is the world’s fastest- Modi and Trump also demonstrated and medium-size enterprises increase eading into the recent growing major economy; it boasts additional clarity and solidarity on exports. Infrastructure shortcomings meeting between Indian the world’s largest middle class; and, confronting terrorism, by asking off er another chance for deeper Prime Minister Narendra soon, it will have the world’s largest Pakistan to do more to disrupt co-operation: the US and India, GULF TIMES HModi and US President population. Moreover, India abuts extremist sanctuaries in its territory. along with countries like Japan and Donald Trump, expectations were crucial global shipping lanes in the A less permissive US approach Singapore, can share technology modest. Even the Indian government Indian Ocean. And it serves as an toward Pakistan is not only likely to and pool resources in innovative played down Modi’s trip to the important democratic bulwark in Asia. contribute to South Asia’s security; it ways, in order to develop tomorrow’s White House as a “no-frills” visit. Such factors have given rise to rare can also help to reverse deteriorating economy-boosting transportation President Moon seeks Yet the leaders of the world’s two bipartisan support for deepening US security conditions in Afghanistan, links and urban centres. most populous democracies ended ties with India since the early 1990s. where America remains mired in its Identifying synergies between up making important headway, Yet they have not always proved longest-ever war. Trump’s “America fi rst” and Modi’s to usher in another era demonstrating the power of suffi cient to capture the sustained Not surprisingly, however, Modi “Make in India” approaches will diplomacy to transform challenges attention of US decision-makers. and Trump still seem unable to see require creativity, patience, fl exibility, into opportunities. Judging by Modi’s recent visit, eye to eye on trade and commercial and most important, a strategic The US-India relationship, despite however, this may not be the case ties. Although the bilateral focus. Both leaders will need to of ‘Sunshine Policy’ having become closer, has been under Trump’s administration, which relationship has historically tended concentrate on the big picture: burdened by mutual misgivings as of appears keen to build on bilateral to emphasise security and defence how to achieve mutually benefi cial late. For the Trump administration, security co-operation as a key tenet of more than economics, the two leaders’ outcomes, in terms of productivity, South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s fi rst formal off er concerns have focused on issues such its Asia policy. perspectives, exemplifi ed in their new competitiveness, and innovation. of talks with North Korea earlier this week allows a chink as the growing bilateral trade defi cit, The Trump administration seems initiatives, threaten to leave things Success will require engagement at of light through the dark clouds hanging over the two the displacement of US workers to recognise that, at a time when even more unbalanced. all levels of the US government, from countries. by Indian information-technology rapid power shifts in Asia could aff ect Modi and Trump are nationalist cabinet offi cials to diplomats. As a professionals, and India’s alleged regional stability, an increasingly leaders, focused on manufacturing- fi rst step, the State Department must As of late yesterday South Korea said it was still waiting for use of the Paris climate agreement to confi dent India can help the US led domestic employment growth. move faster to fi ll critical vacancies for North Korea’s response. If Pyongyang does agree it would be extract billions of dollars in assistance. in underwriting security. It can But, in modern global supply chains, positions dealing with South Asia. the rivals’ fi rst face-to-face meeting in 19 months. The last India, for its part, has been work alongside the US to engage there is plenty of opportunity to go Despite ongoing challenges, the offi cial talks between the two sides were held in December increasingly worried about the constructively with an ascendant around. Finding mutually benefi cial US-India relationship under Trump 2015. Trump administration’s isolationist China, not just to support economic common ground requires reimagining and Modi has gotten off to a stronger- worldview and, in particular, its growth and protect the environment, the economic dimension of the than-expected start. Each side has Even if the talks do not materialise, the fact that one of the apparent retreat from Asia, where but also to ensure that China’s bilateral relationship. demonstrated a willingness to invest two parties, who still technically remain at war, is willing the US has been a key guarantor of decisions help to sustain, rather than As it stands, both countries suff er in the other’s future, not just lurch to break the deadlock is a signifi cant positive step towards security for the last 70 years. These undermine, peace and prosperity in from a gap between workers’ skills and from deal to deal. Now the hard easing tensions in a highly volatile part of the world. perceptions dampened hopes that Asia. available jobs. This should provide work begins: developing their joint President Moon Jae-in came to power in May this year, and India and the US would continue to This recognition is refl ected in a basis for a robust dialogue on strategic vision and implementing it regard each other as reliable strategic a signifi cant new defence deal, worker training and competitiveness, consistently. – Project Syndicate his policy towards his northern neighbour diff ers from that partners. announced at the recent meeting, as including a discussion of a contentious of his two conservative predecessors who toed a hard line But, in Washington, Modi and well as plans to increase military sales issue for the Trump administration: zThomas R Pickering, a former United when it came to dealing with Pyongyang. Trump displayed a comfortable and exercises, deepen co-operation how India’s tech sector uses H 1B States ambassador to India, is Vice- President Moon’s overture is a clear indication that he chemistry, with no real discord to in the Indian Ocean, and build on visas, which are designed to give Chair of Hills & Company. Atman prefers diplomacy to try to improve ties between the two be seen – a departure from some of last year’s cyber-security agreement. highly skilled workers access to the Trivedi has worked on India aff airs Trump’s other early diplomatic forays. Public statements indicated that US. at the US Commerce Department, Koreas and persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear More important than their apparent the two sides plan to continue with If the US and India can overcome State Department, and Senate Foreign weapons programme. bonhomie, however, was their joint previous sensible policies in these their diff erences on this front, they Relations Committee. The off er of direct talks is signifi cant as it comes just two weeks after North Korea conducted the fi rst test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. As per President Moon’s proposal, two sets of talks would explore ways to bring down tensions, halt hostile acts on the border, restore cross-border military and government hotlines and resume family reunions of ageing Koreans who have been separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. The fi rst phase of proposed talks are slated be held at the border village of Panmunjom today to discuss how to ease border tensions, while on August 1 separate parleys would be conducted by the Red Cross to discuss family reunions. The last such reunions were held in September 2015. Unlike his predecessors, President There is wide Moon has come to realise that any military confl ict national support with North Korea would be disastrous for the for President South. Moon’s talks And clearly, sanctions don’t seem to be proposal changing North Korea’s behaviour. Pyongyang has been under sanctions for years. And during all these years, it has not shied from robustly pursuing its Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump at White House in Washington, DC last month. nuclear ambitions. So far, at least, sanctions have not worked on North Korea. Lastly, there is wide national support for President Moon’s latest talks proposal. A recent poll found that nearly 76.9% of South Koreans favoured a return to inter-Korean dialogue. China, which has close ties to Pyongyang and can make the How parasites pull the strings latter see the merits of engaging in talks with its southern neighbour, has also welcomed President Moon’s proposal. And parasites’ mind-control or more warm-hearted, insecure, and levels. For example, the emerald Observers believe North Korea will probably accept By Robbie Rae Liverpool abilities are not limited to moralistic. cockroach wasp injects its cockroach Moon’s off er of talks on easing border tensions, if not now invertebrates. Consider the rabies Moreover, there is evidence that host with a venomous cocktail then perhaps at a later date, as previously it has indicated virus, which is transmitted among a T. gondii infection could play a that contains the neurotransmitter its willingness to engage in such an activity. But Pyongyang cience fi ction has long dogs, humans, and other mammals role in mental disorders. More than octopamine. This puts the cockroach might set a precondition for the talks, such as a suspension explored the terrifying by biting. To maximise its chances of 40 studies have shown that people into a sleep-like state, at which point possibility that we are devoid spreading to another host, the virus suffering from schizophrenia test the wasp drags it off to its lair and lays of annual South Korean-US military drills. of free will, and that some actually alters its host’s mind to turn positive for T. gondii antibodies, eggs in its abdomen. However, chances for talks on family reunions are slim as S unpleasant creature could control it into an angry, slavering, biting indicating that they may have been And like T. gondii in rats, North Korea has made it clear that it will not agree to a new our minds or turn us into plodding machine that will chomp at anything previously infected. And T. gondii acanthocephalan worms (also known reunion programme unless Seoul returns 12 waitresses who zombies. But mind control is not just it encounters. has also been tied to dementia, as spiny-headed worms) overrides defected to South Korea last year from China. North Korea a literary trope. It is also a common Another species that can aff ect autism, Parkinson’s disease, and the natural photophobia of their method by which parasites gain access human behaviour is the protozoan brain cancer. freshwater crustacean hosts. As the says South Korean agents abducted the waitresses, but Seoul to environments where they can grow, parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the causal How can these puppet-master crustacean gravitates toward the has said they defected of their own free will. reproduce, and complete their life agent of Toxoplasmosis. T. gondii is parasites control the brains of surface of the water, it is eaten by That being the case, any kind of positive engagement cycles. extremely common, with an infection such diverse invertebrate and a duck, at which point the worm between the two Koreas would be welcomed by a confl ict- Consider the fungus Cordyceps, rate of 15-85% across diff erent vertebrate species? One possibility completes its lifecycle. weary global community. which interferes with the behaviour countries, depending on climate and is that they can change the levels Researchers have found that when of ants in tropical rainforests in such diet. Whereas Brazil and France have of neurotransmitters such as uninfected amphipods are injected Therefore, one hopes that the latest outreach by President a way as to make them climb high into infection rates of around 80%, Japan’s dopamine and serotonin in the with serotonin, they spend more Moon leads to the second edition of the ‘Sunshine Policy’ the vegetation, and latch onto a leaf is only 7%. brain. Neurotransmitters are ancient time near the surface of the water, that the two Koreas witnessed between 1998 and 2008, to die. The fungus then reproduces T. gondii can fi nd its way to humans molecules that have been conserved as if they had been infected. And when the world saw a fl urry of political engagements, by dropping its spores all over the through farm animals such as pigs, through the ages of evolution, and protein analysis of grasshoppers agreements and exchange programmes between them. forest fl oor, to infect more ants below. cows, and sheep. And, as it happens, they are known to infl uence behaviour. infected with nematomorph worms Similarly, a virus that infects gypsy raw-meat dishes are more common in Thanks to genomics and shows a change in the proteins moth larvae prompts them to climb en French and Brazilian cuisines. But T. proteomics, we have begun that are involved in releasing masse to the tops of trees to die. The gondii naturally targets cats, by way to understand the role that neurotransmitters. To Advertise virus then multiplies, and rains viral of rats whose behaviour it has altered. neurotransmitters play in allowing e are only just beginning to particles down on the forest fl oor. Namely, the microbe increases the parasites to manipulate host understand how these diverse puppet- [email protected] These parasites make their hosts likelihood of its host rat being eaten by behaviour. When researchers analysed master parasites can manipulate Display seek a higher elevation, which expands a cat, by reducing the rat’s natural fear the T. gondii genome, they found the invertebrate and vertebrate behaviour. Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 the reach of their infectious spores of light (photophobia) and cat urine. precursor to dopamine synthesis, But we already know that pulling on or particles. But other species can Humans, too, can experience L-DOPA, suggesting that the parasite the strings of neurotransmitters is one Classified induce far more complex behaviours. alarming behavioural changes after might be able to synthesise and secrete common method. If further research Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Nematomorph worms, for example, becoming infected by T. gondii. dopamine directly into a host’s brain. vindicates some of the more seemingly infect crickets, and drive them to Infected men can become jealous, This would explain why rats infected outlandish imaginings of science Subscription commit suicide by jumping into distrusting of others, disrespectful with T. gondii have higher levels fi ction, it wouldn’t be the fi rst time. – [email protected] various water sources, be it a puddle of established rules, and less risk- of dopamine, and why dopamine Project Syndicate or swimming pool. It is precisely averse; as a result, they are almost inhibitors can suppress their parasite- in such aquatic environments that three times more likely to be involved induced behaviour. zRobbie Rae is a lecturer in genetics 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved nematomorph worms reproduce and in a car accident. Infected women, Parasites that infect invertebrates at Liverpool John Moores University, complete their life cycles. meanwhile, can become either suicidal can also manipulate neurotransmitter United Kingdom. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 15 COMMENT Britain’s European ties that bind

By Ana Palacio The UK also has plenty to gain from Allowing the UK to remain Madrid co-operation. The 27 countries of involved in formal EU decision- the EU can act as an important force making is not an option, as it would multiplier for Britain. Moreover, the diminish the value of membership. ince the offi cial start of EU’s ability to bring together diverse But losing a vote need not mean Brexit negotiations last actors – institutional, national, losing a voice. The model that it month, attention has been non-governmental, and corporate – usually cited is Norway, which liaises Sfocused largely on the most is unmatched by virtually any other with the EU on foreign policy, but is contentious issues: how much the entity on the international stage. (The not in the room when key decisions United Kingdom owes to the European US may still top the EU on this front, are made. But the weakening of Union, whether the UK will remain but only narrowly, as that country’s the UK’s ability to shape decision- subject to the jurisdiction of the normative pull is deteriorating making under such a framework European Court of Justice (ECJ), and rapidly.) would be bad for both sides. what rights British residents of the EU The EU’s soft-power obsession Instead, a future arrangement and EU residents of the UK will retain. has its share of pitfalls. But at a time could entail the secondment of Given this focus, not to mention the when the world is moving toward UK staff to the EU External Action UK’s history of aloofness and even increasingly multi-layered and Service, as well as UK participation disruption in relation to the EU, it is networked governance mechanisms, in the European Council’s powerful perhaps unsurprising that EU leaders the ability to bring a variety of actors ambassador-level Political and view the UK as a hostile negotiating to the table – which implies infl uence Security Committee, which shapes partner, lacking any real commitment over who gets a seat – is a valuable much of the EU’s foreign policy. to co-operation. commodity. The EU’s counter-piracy initiative In fact, the interests of the UK Official co-operation also spurs Operation Atalanta could also keep and the EU are closely aligned, informal co-ordination. The its headquarters in the UK. particularly in three vital and UK recently saw firsthand the Such an approach would help interconnected areas: foreign affairs, consequences of going it alone. to clear the air between the two security strategy, and defence Mauritius, a former British colony, sides, laying the foundations for policy. Finding a way forward on brought before the UN General stronger, trust-based co-operation these issues, which have so far Assembly a longstanding territorial in other areas. But, given EU received little attention, might be dispute over the strategically leaders’ current lack of faith in the the key to creating the co-operative valuable Chagos Islands, the site UK’s will to co-operate, it will be frameworks needed to address the of a British-US military base. In a possible only if May’s government most controversial matters. major diplomatic blow to Britain, takes the lead. In her letter formally notifying the General Assembly voted to Security, defence, and foreign European Council President Donald refer the case to an international policies are too important to be treated Tusk of the UK’s intention to tribunal. as bargaining chips in a negotiation withdraw from the EU, British Prime Though the dispute has important focused on economics. Instead, they Minister Theresa May identifi ed both The interests of the UK and the EU are closely aligned. implications for European and global should be placed at the top of the economic and security co-operation security, only four EU members joined agenda, with negotiators seeking to as the key elements of the “deep and and protecting the free movement of can hamper action because the Britain boasts a world-class and the UK, the US, Japan, and South establish a framework for mutually special partnership” that she hopes goods, capital, services, and labour relevant governments must reach readily deployable military, permanent Korea in opposing the resolution. benefi cial co-operation early on. to agree with the EU. But May should (the EU’s “four freedoms”). And that consensus on each issue aff ected. But membership of the United Nations Twenty-two EU members abstained, The ball is in May’s court. – Project recognise that, while economic and framework is subject to the binding it can also enable action, because the Security Council, a nuclear deterrent, including all of the major continental Syndicate security co-operation are equally decisions of the ECJ. parties are not constrained by rigid and a robust relationship with the powers. important, they are not two sides of In terms of security co-operation requirements. The resulting fl exibility United States. More fundamentally, To avoid being hung out to dry in the zAna Palacio, a former Spanish the same coin. (and its analogues, defence and foreign should, in theory, make it easier to its experience as a global power gives international arena, Britain needs the foreign minister and former senior Economic co-operation entails a policy), obligations are softer and fi nd ways to ensure that co-operation it a broad perspective that the rest of EU no less than the EU needs Britain. vice-president of the World Bank, is a solid set of pre-agreed rules guiding institutions are less developed. In works for all. the EU both largely lacks and urgently The question now is how to design a member of the Spanish Council of State the functioning of the internal market, short, the system is still incipient. This For the EU, partnership with the needs as it attempts to become a framework for the relationship, once and a visiting lecturer at Georgetown establishing community obligations, lack of solid rules and requirements UK brings demonstrable advantages. global actor in its own right. the UK is no longer an EU member. University.

Venezuela needs negotiation, not intervention Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY High: 40 C By Mark Weisbrot In 2013, when the opposition shows 51% supporting the current three branches of government. Low : 31 C Tribune News Service initiated violent protests to ongoing protests, with 44% against. International mediation can help, Inshore: Hazy at places at first overturn the results of a democratic Some 55% continue to approve as was seen earlier this month when becomes hot daytime with some election, Washington supported the of the late Chavez, which refl ects opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was clouds and humid by night. hat kind of role should protesters. The same was again true the decade of economic and social transferred from prison to house arrest Washington play in in 2014. progress the country had before it fell after former Spanish prime minister SATURDAY Venezuela’s crisis? Today, Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., into recession in 2014. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero played High: 42 C WWell, what kind of role openly threatens governments in Despite the current crisis, a constructive role. But the mediators Low: 33 C should Russia play in US politics the region, including those of the there are millions of Venezuelans, must be nonpartisan, which rules out Sunny and elections? The answer to both Dominican Republic, El Salvador and especially those associated with the OAS so long as it is dominated by questions is the same: None at all. Haiti, with punishment if they do not the government and the governing the Trump administration. Unfortunately, recent US co-operate with Washington’s abuse party, who have reason to fear an There is a real risk Venezuela’s SUNDAY involvement in Venezuela’s domestic of the Organisation of American States opposition takeover. current strife could escalate into civil High: 43 C aff airs has dwarfed anything anyone to delegitimise the government of After the 2002 coup, with the short- war. Low: 33 C has even accused Vladimir Putin of Venezuela. lived opposition government in power, Those who are familiar with the Sunny doing here. And the administration of President government offi cials were detained tragedies of the Washington-fuelled According to the US State Donald Trump is threatening and dozens of people were killed. civil wars of the 1980s in Central Department, Washington “provided more economic sanctions against And today’s opposition leaders have America, which took hundreds of Fishermen’s forecast training, institution building, and Venezuela, which will only worsen rarely denounced the sometimes-fatal thousands of mostly innocent lives, OFFSHORE DOHA other support to individuals and shortages of food and medicine there. violence their supporters have carried must take this threat seriously, Wind: NE-SE 03-12/15 KT organisations understood to be Deeper involvement is dangerous. out in the current wave of protests. particularly because the Trump Waves: 1-3/4 Feet actively involved” in the 2002 military Venezuela, after all, remains a divided Because of this political administration could block or INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 05-10/15 KT coup against former Venezuelan country. President Nicolas Maduro’s polarisation, Venezuela needs a sabotage a negotiated solution if it Waves: 1-2/3 Feet president Hugo Chavez that approval rating has been about 21% negotiated solution that provides appears within reach. ultimately failed. And since the coup, over the past year, but other numbers credible, constitutional guarantees Around the region Washington has provided tens of show things aren’t so simple. that whichever side loses the next zMark Weisbrot is co-director of Weather Weather millions of dollars to the Venezuelan A recent poll from a widely cited election will not be politically the Centre for Economic and Policy today Max/min tomorrow Max/min opposition. pro-opposition pollster, Datanalisis, persecuted by a party that controls all Research. Abu Dhabi Sunny 43/33 Sunny 42/32 Baghdad Sunny 48/32 Cloudy 50/33 Dubai Sunny 43/32 Sunny 43/33 Kuwait City Sunny 47/33 Sunny 46/31 Manama Sunny 42/33 Sunny 42/32 Muscat M Cloudy 34/31 M Sunny 37/32 Riyadh P Cloudy 44/31 M Sunny 46/31 Live issues Tehran Sunny 38/26 Sunny 38/26 Living healthily could cut dementia cases by a third

By Kate Kelland London

earning new things, eating and drinking well, not smoking and limiting hearing loss and Lloneliness could prevent a third of dementia cases, health experts said yesterday. In a wide-ranging analysis of the risk factors behind dementia, the researchers highlighted nine as particularly important. These included staying in education Around the world beyond age 15, reducing high blood Weather Weather pressure, obesity and hearing loss today Max/min tomorrow Max/min in mid-life, and reducing smoking, Athens Sunny 33/23 Sunny 34/23 depression, physical inactivity, social Beirut Sunny 29/26 P Cloudy 29/26 isolation and diabetes in later life. Bangkok S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 32/26 Berlin P Cloudy 26/16 S T Storms 27/18 If all these risk factors were fully Cairo Sunny 36/25 Sunny 37/25 eliminated, the experts said, one in Cape Town P Cloudy 15/11 M Sunny 16/09 three cases of dementia worldwide Colombo S T Storms 30/26 S T Storms 30/26 could be prevented. Dhaka T Storms 30/26 T Storms 32/26 Hong Kong S T Storms S T Storms 31/27 “Although dementia is diagnosed 31/27 Istanbul Sunny 28/21 Sunny 28/21 in later life, the brain changes usually Latest estimates from the perform everyday activities. Not completing secondary Jakarta M Sunny 32/25 S T Storms 33/25 begin to develop years before,” Alzheimer’s Association International The number of people aff ected education while young can make Karachi P Cloudy 32/27 M Cloudy 31/27 said Gill Livingston, a professor show there are around 47mn people is set to almost triple to 131mn by people less resilient to cognitive London M Cloudy 22/14 Showers 18/13 at University College London and living with dementia globally and the 2050, according to the World Health decline when they get older, the Manila T Storms 31/26 T Storms 31/26 Moscow T Storms 21/12 M Sunny 23/13 one of 24 international experts cost of the brain-wasting diseases Organisation. experts said, while preserving hearing New Delhi S T Storms 34/27 M Cloudy 32/26 commissioned by The Lancet medical already $818bn a year. The researchers found that among helps people experience a richer New York M Sunny 34/23 P Cloudy 32/22 journal to conduct the analysis. Dementia is caused by brain the 35% of all dementia cases that and more stimulating environment, Paris P Cloudy 27/16 S Showers 24/14 “A broader approach to prevention diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s could be prevented, the three most building cognitive reserve. Sao Paulo Sunny 25/12 P Cloudy 22/13 Seoul Cloudy 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 of dementia which refl ects these disease, which result in the loss important risk factors to target Stopping smoking reduces exposure Singapore P Cloudy 32/27 M Sunny 31/26 changing risk factors will benefi t our of brain cells and aff ect memory, were increasing early life education, to neurotoxins and improves heart Sydney M Sunny 16/05 Sunny 18/06 ageing societies and help to prevent thinking, behaviour, navigational reducing mid-life hearing loss, and health, which, in turn, aff ects brain Tokyo Clear 32/26 Clear 33/25 the rising number of dementia cases.” and spatial abilities and the ability to stopping smoking. health, they said. – Reuters Health Gulf Times 16 Friday, July 21, 2017 QATAR Siege countries seek ‘face-saving’ way out of crisis

Rights had called the siege countries’ Retreat from 13 demand to close down the network as an “unacceptable attack on freedom demands was in of expression and opinion”. In this regard, The New York Times response to global quoted Sheikha Alia as saying: “We are proud of hosting Al Jazeera”. pressure The paper pointed out that Qatar has already briefed the UN secretary- No direct talks general on the violation of the UN charter and the international human Students gather on the platform to form the “Tamim Al Majd” portrait. PICTURES: Ram Chand until Saudi-led bloc rights law by the siege countries, as well as the consequences of their ends blockade of Qatar measures against the country. Sheikha Alia shared with the news- QNA paper documents containing reports New York of the National Human Rights Com- Students create ‘Tamim Al Majd’ mittee in Qatar. These reports have recorded hundreds of complaints he climbdown by the four about the impact of the siege as well Arab siege countries from as the arbitrary separation of families, Tthe 13-point list of demands the inability of students to complete ‘human formation’ at Aspire to “six broad principles” to resolve the school year and enormous losses to Gulf crisis is an “insincere face- to Qatari businessmen in the siege saving” attempt, Qatar’s Permanent countries. By Joey Aguilar Representative to the United Nations The paper added that the commit- Staff Reporter ambassador HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed tee’s report also accused the siege bin Saif al-Thani has said. countries of having threatened severe In statements published yesterday punishment to any citizen deemed undreds of students from vari- in The New York Times and the Wall friendly to Qatar. ous schools, colleges and uni- Street Journal, Sheikha Alia said that “Just wearing a Barcelona or Paris Hversities in Qatar took part in a there could be no direct negotia- St-Germain T-shirt out of sympathy human formation of His Highness the tions until the Saudi-led bloc ended is enough for a person to receive se- Emir’s famous portrait, widely recog- its blockade of Qatar, which she de- vere punishment,” it said. nised as “Tamim Al Majd”, at the Aspire scribed as an “illegal siege causing Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal Dome yesterday. deep harm”. published a report entitled “Qatar’s Themed as “a people formation in The ambassador pointed out that Critics Scale Back Demands in Diplo- Love of Qatar,” the Community College the retreat by the Saudi-led bloc from matic Bid” in which it said that the four of Qatar (CCQ)-organised event high- the 13 demands submitted earlier Arab nations have revised and curtailed lighted the students’ joy and enthusi- through mediator Kuwait and replac- their list of demands for Doha. asm in expressing their solidarity with ing them with six “principles” was in The newspaper added that these the country and its wise leadership. response to international pressure. countries retreated from demanding Participants sang Qatar’s national The submission of these demands the closure of Al Jazeera network or anthem as they waved fl aglets while po- had drawn a lot of criticism. expelling people considered to be a sitioned on the 2,000sqm platform at “This is just a face-saving attempt source of problems. Aspire Dome’s football fi eld. and unfortunately does not indicate It also published ambassador “We organised this unique event to good faith or fl exibility,” she added. Sheikha Alia’s response, in which show our love for His Highness the Emir, The New York Times described the she described the retreat by the siege Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and 13 demands that the four siege coun- countries as a response to the pres- the country,” CCQ public relations head tries presented to Qatar as “unrealis- sure with regard to their “irrational Safi a al-Sheeb told Gulf Times. tic”, adding that Doha denied the ac- demands”. “We will do everything for the Emir cusations against it and felt that the Senior Qatari offi cials have been and our country.” real aim of the Saudi-led bloc was to meeting with offi ce-bearers of inter- While several institutions in Qatar infringe on Qatar’s sovereignty. national organisations to brief them have installed giant “Tamim Al Majd” The newspaper said that much of about the blockade and the unreason- billboards at various locations in Doha, the dispute revolves around Doha- able demands raised by Saudi Arabia, she said CCQ “thought of something based Al Jazeera TV network. The Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt in a bid to unique and special to show our love for UN High Commissioner for Human curtail Qatar’s sovereignty. our country.” CCQ team led by Safia al-Sheeb (second right) at the event. Al-Sheeb noted that CCQ’s initiative is the fi rst human formation event in the The portrait of the Emir has become ed said she felt proud to be a Qatari citi- are expressing their solidarity and love country aimed at showcasing people’s uni- the face of Qatari resilience during the zen while standing to form the Emir’s for the country and fully supporting ty and loyalty in the face of a regional rift. ongoing blockade imposed by Saudi image and singing Qatar’s national an- the wise leadership of the Emir and the It also forms part of the Tamim the Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. them with other students. State of Qatar. Glorious National Campaign. Qataris and expatriates continuously “We love our Emir so much,” said the Apart from organising a human for- “We want to show the world how re- throng diff erent places where the por- accountancy student, adding that she was mation event, CCQ also announced silient and united the people of Qatar trait has been displayed to write mes- very happy to be part of the CCQ’s event. recently that it is ready to receive Qa- are, unfazed by the Saudi-led blockade sages of love and patriotism. “The accusations against Qatar are all lies.” tari students studying abroad who have since day one (June 5) up to now,” she Speaking to reporters after the event, Another student, Dana al-Rayes, been forced to leave as a result of the stressed. Qatar University student Amal Moham- echoed Amal’s statement saying they siege.

Doha’s envoy to Washington reiterates economy is ‘solid’

QNA mands submitted to Qatar by the siege Washington countries, saying that they should be handled diff erently. He added that the agreement signed with the United States atar’s ambassador to the United supports it in its fi ght against terrorism. States, Sheikh Meshal bin Ha- As for issues related to the current cri- HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani meeting with Secretary-General of the Qmad al-Thani, has said Qatar’s sis, he said, Qatar holds a clear stance International Chamber of Commerce, John Danilovich, in New York. economy has not been damaged by the where, referring to HE the Foreign Min- siege imposed by a number of neigh- ister who said that “the state of Qatar has bouring countries, notably Saudi Ara- adopted a very constructive attitude since Blockade violates charter of the UN: Sheikha Alia bia, UAE and Egypt. the beginning of the crisis. We are trying “There is no damage to our economy. to act mature and discuss the matter.” QNA dialogue to resolve the Gulf crisis. Qatar is solid in its economy and we are He questioned whether the other New York She noted the great support Qatar comfortable and we can continue like countries are also adopting a construc- has received from other countries and this forever,” he said in an interview with tive attitude, requesting an answer to international human rights organisa- CNN, calling for an end to the ongoing the question. HE Qatar’s Permanent Representative tions, reflecting the strong position siege, which harms all of the region and Asked whether Qatar believes the to the United Nations ambassador of the State of Qatar, which does not the fi ght against terrorism. other party is keen on settling the crisis Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani accept any dictates or conditions. Asked about Qatar’s readiness to or the issue is more about infl uence, the has said that the unilateral actions She added that the legal ground is commit to the six principles that Doha ambassador said it is in everyone’s fa- against the State of Qatar constitute an cleared for the Qatari diplomacy to was asked to sign and which are made up vour to reach a resolution for the crisis illegal siege that violates the Charter of refer the issue to the United Nations of broad requests on fi ghting terrorism Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad al-Thani because the status quo does not benefi t the United Nations. if needed. The United Nations bodies and extremism, Sheikh Meshal said “the anyone, adding that Qatar has showed In a statement to Al Jazeera, Sheikha were also aware of the details of viola- State of Qatar has demonstrated its con- meeting to sit and discuss this...so now The ambassador refused to link the seriousness in fi nding a solution and is Alia demanded the cancellation of those tions resulting from the illegal and structive approach to resolve this crisis”. it’s up to the boycotting countries to de- counterterrorism agreement recently hoping that the other countries would procedures first before starting serious unjust blockade, she added “We have called many times to have a cide and come to the table,” he said. signed with the United States to the de- show the same seriousness.

Hamburg anti-Qatar protesters were paid: German factfi nder

Al Jazeera/Agencies that said ‘Qatar supports terror- UAE media outlets picked up on named Amro and Mohamed in ey,” Ahmad O says in the report. Mustafa Hassan, from a fi rmed that about 140 people Doha ism’, according to the report on the protest. The Egyptian news- a park. They off ered him 1,000 “But when we were there, they refugee facility in Hamburg, attended a “rally against Qatar the ARD-faktenfi nder website. paper, Egypt Today, said about euros. only gave us money for 100 peo- wrote to WDRforyou: “People and its support of terrorism”, but The protest occurred against 7,000 people demonstrated In return, he was to participate ple. The other 300 people didn’t in the refugee camp have told they did not witness any refu- German media report has the backdrop of the diplomatic against Qatar,” the ARD-fakten- in the protest against Qatar and get anything. So, they were upset me: ‘Come with us. 100 euros gees being paid for participat- said there is strong evi- crisis between Qatar on one side fi nder report said. “But it seems bring some friends. They prom- and started chanting for Qatar. for two hours. We go together. ing. Adence that an anti-Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bah- the protest was staged.” ised an additional 100 euros for The protest turned into a pro- We just have to participate in a According to the police press demonstration in Hamburg rain and Egypt on the other. Refugees have told ARD-fak- each of them. Qatar demonstration.” protest against Qatar. There’s offi ce, 50 people left the demon- during the recent G20 summit, Some Arab media outlets re- tenfi nder as well as the refugee Ahmad O says he called his Eff orts by Al Jazeera to contact nothing to worry about.’ But I stration and “signifi cantly dis- which got generous coverage in ported extensively on the dem- portal WDRforyo that protesters friends and so a few hundred the Egyptian embassy in Berlin declined.” turbed the protest”. some sections of the pan-Arab onstration, although it was only a were paid to demonstrate against people showed up for the dem- for its comments were unsuc- In another video, the voice of The young men then ran news media, was staged. small protest. Qatar. onstration: Syrians, Iraqis, Egyp- cessful. a purported protest participant away and there is video foot- About 140 protesters had gath- “Sky News Arabia reported Ahmad O, a Syrian refugee tians and North Africans. Other refugees have confi rmed says people got paid to protest age of them destroying protest ered in front of the city’s Chris- the event live. Another Egyp- from Hamburg, said he was ap- “There were some harbour Ahmad O’s account of the devel- against Qatar. signs and chanting pro-Qatar tuskirche on July 8, holding signs tian channel as well as Saudi and proached by two Egyptian men workers who came for the mon- opments. The local police have con- slogans. FOOTBALL | Page 3 ATHLETICS | Page 6 Qatar to take Bolt, Van on India today Niekerk set in U-23 Asian to shine in qualifi er Monaco

Friday, July 21, 2017 CRICKET Shawwal 27, 1438 AH Westley set for GULF TIMES England debut in 3rd Test against SA SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Spieth, Kuchar set pace as big guns fi re at British Open Winner of both the Masters and US Open in 2015, Spieth had failed to break GOLF par in his last five opening rounds at a major before coming to Royal Birkdale Els rolls back years AFP Southport, United Kingdom with strong start att Kuchar had a stunning shot at the last, but the South Afri- front-nine to thank as he can, now 47, is only three shots shy of shot a fi ve-under-par 65 the clubhouse lead. to claim a share of the lead That means he could have a say Min the fi rst round of the British Open at heading into the weekend, although Royal Birkdale yesterday. he is braced for a challenging day The giant 39-year-old American had weather-wise on Friday. fi ve birdies in his fi rst nine holes as he “You can’t take stock now. It’s so went out in just 29. far away. Today, if you shoot 70 or There were no more birdies on the better today, that was a good opening way back but he didn’t drop a shot all round because of the weather chang- day and that allowed him to join Jordan ing,” said Els. Spieth and US Open champion Brooks “Tomorrow (Friday), 74 might be Koepka in an all-American top of the great. So you’ve just got to look at leaderboard. Behind them, England’s where you are in the fi eld, but I feel Paul Casey — who came third in St An- that I’m competitive. drews in 2010 — had fi ve birdies and “This morning, I didn’t even want one bogey in a 66 to sit at four-under. to look out of the window. It sounded His fellow countrymen Ian Poulter horrifi c. If it’s like that tomorrow, and Richard Bland are three under par obviously it’s going to be tough.” along with Justin Thomas and the Ca- ‘The Big Easy’ is a two-time Open nadian Austin Connelly. champion, winning at Muirfi eld in Among those lurking at two-under 2002 and again at Royal Lytham, just are Japan’s world number two Hideki up the coast from Birkdale, in 2012. Matsuyama, Sweden’s Alex Noren, the Since then he has gone into de- world number nine, and twice former cline, not helped by injuries, but old- winner Ernie Els of South Africa. USA’s Jordan Spieth chips onto the 10th green during the first round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale yesterday. er players have often done very well Spieth, the world number three, in the Open of late — Henrik Stenson avoided the grim early-morning English coast this week. get inside 10 feet, that would be pretty to Padraig Harrington in 2008 in what was 40 when he won last year — so weather at Royal Birkdale yesterday as He is now hoping to have set himself good. And luckily enough it went in.” remains his best performance at a ma- there is hope for him yet. he went out with reigning champion up to survive what are expected to be A victory for either man this week jor. Justin Thomas, an emerging Amer- “The body this year was diffi cult, Henrik Stenson and promptly fi red a gruelling wet and windy conditions on would end the recent run of seven con- ican star and the current world number AFP you know, lower back and some is- fl awless round featuring fi ve birdies Friday, although plenty other leading secutive majors going to fi rst-time ma- 13, also shot 67, his round including Southport, United Kingdom sues, but when I feel healthy, I feel and not a single dropped shot. players will be thinking likewise. jor winners. But plenty potential new three birdies and an eagle at the 17th, that I can swing the club and come “I couldn’t have done much better Koepka, fresh from a month off after champions are putting pressure on the which is one of just two par-5s on the into links courses and feel like I can today,” admitted the Texan, even if he winning his fi rst major at the recent US leading duo. Birkdale set-up. rnie Els fi red a warning that compete. agonisingly failed to convert a putt for Open, was one-under at the turn before Royal Birkdale again brought the best Thomas looked the part in an outfi t he can still make his pres- “I haven’t played very well since birdie at 18. a rollercoaster ride on the way home. out in Ian Poulter as the Englishman featuring a shirt, tie and cardigan, and ence felt at a major as he shot Lytham. That’s just the bottom line. “Everything was strong. I thought That saw the 27-year-old birdie fi red a three-under-par 67. said: “Obviously I knew it was going a two-under-par 68 in the “I enjoy this course. It plays a little I’d give it a nine across the board for three holes in a row from the 11th, bo- It was a fi ne return to the big stage for to get a lot of publicity out there. But I openingE round of the British Open at bit like Lytham. There’s a lot of iron everything — tee balls, ball-striking, gey 16 and then eagle the par-fi ve 17th Poulter, who had not appeared at a ma- didn’t come here to dress well. I came Royal Birkdale yesterday. shots that you have to play. You have short game and putting. So things are in sensational fashion as he holed out jor since the Masters last year and had here to try to play some good golf. And I Els started his day with a birdie at to keep it between the bunkers, very in check. It’s just about keeping it con- from a bunker. “I played really solid. to settle for a role as a television com- guess that just happened.” the par-four 1st — where there have much like Lytham. sistent.” And unfortunately one bogey on 16, just mentator at the Open 12 months ago England’s Richard Bland — appear- been some ugly scores in the open- “And I feel you get fairer bounces Winner of both the Masters and US a bad putt,” Koepka said. while sidelined through injury. ing at his fi rst Open since Birkdale in ing round — and he built on that with around here. So you can be a little Open in 2015, Spieth had failed to break “But 17 was actually a terrible lie in He came through qualifying at his 1998 — also shot 67 after ending his three more over the afternoon. bit aggressive here and there. And par in his last fi ve opening rounds at a the bunker. It was in one of the those home course Woburn to make it to round in stunning fashion with three There were also two bogeys, in- it’s kind of soft, which Lytham was, major before coming to the north-west rake marks. And my caddie told me to Birkdale, where he fi nished runner-up consecutive birdies. cluding a disappointing dropped also.”

CRICKET Kaur’s stunning 171 puts India in W Cup fi nal AFP of-the match. In a match reduced to 42 SCORECARD Derby, United Kingdom overs after heavy rain delayed the start until 13:45pm (1245 GMT), India looked India A. Healy c Pandey b Goswami ...... 5 likely to score under 200 until Kaur cut S. Mandhana c Villani b Schutt ...... 6 A. Gardner c Raj b Yadav 1 ndia stunned defending champions loose. India, calling on their knowledge P. Raut c Mooney b Gardner ...... 14 J. Jonassen run out (Goswami) ...... 1 Australia by 36 runs to secure a spot of the pitch, having won all four group M. Raj b Beams ...... 36 M. Schutt c Goswami b Sharma ...... 2 in the Women’s World Cup fi nal after stage matches they contested at Derby, H. Kaur not out ...... 171 K. Beams not out ...... 11 an undefeated 171 by Harmanpreet decided to bat fi rst after winning the D. Sharma b Villani ...... 25 Extras (w6, lb1) ...... 7 IKaur provided the platform for victory toss. However they were left in a peril- V. Krishnamurthy not out ...... 16 Total (all out, 40.1 overs) 245 yesterday. ous position when opener Smrti Mand- Extras (w9, nb1, lb3) ...... 13 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Mooney) 2-9 (Lanning) With their fi rst win over six-time hana (six) departed in the fi rst over and Total (4 wickets, 42 overs) ...... 281 3-21 (Bolton) 4-126 (Villani) 5-140 (Perry) 6-148 champions Australia in World Cup Punam Raut (14) joined her in the pavil- Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Mandhana), 2-35 (Raut), (Healy) 7-152 (Gardner) 8-154 (Jonassen) 9-169 knockout cricket, India will now play ion not long after. 3-101 (Raj), 4-238 (Sharma) (Schutt) 10-245 (Blackwell) tournament hosts England in the sold- Kaur took on the role of aggressor as Bowling: Schutt 9-0-64-1 (3w); Perry 9-1-40-0 Bowling: Goswami 8-0-35-2; Pandey 6-1-17-2; out Lord’s fi nal on Sunday. she and Raj made steady progress, be- (2w); Jonassen 7-0-63-0 (1w); Gardner 8-0-43-1; Sharma 7.1-0-59-3 (5w); Gayakwad 9-0-62-1; Australia, set 282 to win and what fore leg-spinner Kristen Beams bowled Beams 8-0-49-1 (1nb); Villani 1-0-19-1 (3w) Yadav 9-0-60-1 (1w); Krishnamurthy 1-0-11-0 would have been a record World Cup Raj for 36 having been dropped the pre- Toss: India chase if successful, got off to a terrible vious delivery. Australia Result: India won by 36 runs start as they lost three wickets inside the Kaur continued to attack in a merci- B. Mooney b Pandey ...... 1 Final: England v India, Lord’s, Sunday opening eight overs. less display of hitting, requiring 26 balls N. Bolton c&b Sharma ...... 14 Umpires: Shaun George (RSA), Ahsan Raza Despite some impressive hitting from to move from her half-century to triple M. Lanning b Goswami ...... 0 (PAK) Elyse Villani, who recorded her best ODI fi gures, when she was almost run out E. Perry c Verma b Gayakwad ...... 38 TV umpire: Adrian Holdstock (RSA) score of 75, and a late blast of 90 by Alex scampering a two to reach the landmark. E. Villani c Mandhana b Gayakwad ...... 75 Match referee: David Jukes (ENG) Blackwell, they were never able to keep India’s Harmanpreet Kaur belts the Aussie bowling in Derby yesterday. That scare and the wicket of Sharma did A. Blackwell b Sharma ...... 90 up with the required run rate and were little to deter her, using only 18 balls to dismissed for 245 with 11 balls to spare. India, who reached their only previous However, Kaur, 28, revitalised the in- then bring up her 150, as India smashed ning’s stumps, for the Australian cap- Villani kept Australia within touching Earlier, Kaur’s unbeaten 171 — her fi nal in 2005, had experienced a disap- nings with a rapid fourth-wicket part- the fi nal six overs for 79 runs. India then tain’s fi rst duck since August 2014. distance of the chase with a command- third ODI century, which came off just pointing start of their own as they sunk nership of 137 with all-rounder Deepti had a dream start with the ball as Shikah When in-form Nicole Bolton was ing 75 off 58 balls but her departure, 115 balls and included 20 fours and seven to 101-3, including the dismissal of in- Sharma. Kaur, who scored her fi rst hun- Pandey bowled Beth Mooney (one) and caught and bowled for 14 by Sharma, dragging Rajeshwari Gayakwad to Man- sixes — underpinned India’s 281 for four. spirational captain Mithali Raj for 36. dred outside of India, was named player- Jhulan Goswami dislodged Meg Lan- Australia were left teetering on 21-3. hana, ended those hopes. Gulf Times 2 Friday, July 21, 2017 SPORT

CRICKET Never easy which saw them win 2-1, set- playing Sri ting in motion a Test match Lanka in their winning spree that saw them clinch victories against New backyard, Zealand, England, Bangladesh says Kohli and Australia. Kohli said the Galle Test which Westley set for AFP, Colombo India lost by 63 runs proved to be the turning point in the op-ranked India will team’s fortunes. not take Sri Lanka “After losing that Test in Galle, lightly despite the it was quite a dent mentally,” Thome team’s recent Kohli told reporters. “But how indiff erent form as well as the team came together (after controversies over fitness and that) was iconic. England debut in ethics, captain Virat Kohli said “I still believe and everyone in yesterday. the team believes and knows Sri Lanka, languishing at that this (Sri Lanka) is where it the seventh position in Test all started for us.” rankings, survived a scare this Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga, who week to win a one-off Test is the skipper for the shorter against Zimbabwe but not versions of the game, said before going down to the min- he was hopeful the team will 3rd Test vs S Africa nows in the preceding one-day pull through despite recent series. setbacks. They have also been criticised Tharanga is also standing in for Gary Ballance, England’s number three in their crushing 346-run defeat in the in recent days by the country’s Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal sports minister for being over- who is down with an attack of second Test at Trent Bridge last week, has been ruled out with a broken finger weight and unfit. flu, off icials said. And on Wednesday, the team “We are training hard... this is found itself in a fresh contro- an opportunity for us to play versy after the minister said against the world’s number he supported an investigation one team and show where into the country’s controversial we stand in Test cricket,” Tha- 2011 World Cup loss against ranga said. India, amid fresh allegations of The first Test begins on match fixing. Wednesday at Galle. Kohli, the firebrand Indian skipper, nevertheless said he respected the opposition and would not take them for granted. “It is never easy playing Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka,” Kohli said after the team arrived in Colombo for their first full se- ries against their South Asian neighbour in eight years. The sides will play three Tests, five one-day internationals and one T20 in what is their first se- ries involving all three formats of the game since 2009. India have fond memories from their last visit in 2015

GOLF Poulter savours return to Birkdale

AFP for the fi rst two days, which was Southport, United Kingdom, diffi cult. I think that’s one of the most diffi cult things I’ve done,” he said. an Poulter already had fond “The other diffi cult thing I’ve memories of Royal Birkdale done is obviously not playing Ry- before he marked his return der Cup and being a vice-captain. Ito major championship golf The experience was amazing, but with a three-under-par 67 that it was very, very hard. put him in contention in the fi rst “As someone that’s played quite round of the British Open yester- a few majors, I chose not to watch day. a lot of the golf because it was too Poulter’s best performance at a disappointing to watch TV. major remains his second-place “I’ve defi nitely had some low fi nish behind Padraig Harrington spots in the last 18 months. And on the Southport links in 2008 and certainly 12 months, I was getting there was no doubt that helped very down. him as he took the early clubhouse “So I’m proud of the way I’ve lead before dropping back a little been able to refocus, get things as the day wore on. back on the straight and narrow, Set for debut: Tom Westley. “What was helpful was the clear away some of the noise in wind today was like it was on the background, and get back to Sunday last time it was played in really focusing hard on what I AFP he will bat at number three in the 100th Toby Roland-Jones, also uncapped, will Signifi cantly, he also made 106 not 2008,” said Poulter who had three need to do to get the level of golf London Test at the Oval,” said an ECB statement vie for a place among England’s pace at- out against a strong South Africa attack birdies and a bogey as he went out back that I think I can play,” added issued as the selectors took the unusual tack with Mark Wood. for the second-string England Lions at in 32 and then also birdied the long Poulter. setp of confi rming the newcomer’s place Durham quick Wood has struggled for Worcester last month. 17th. He has climbed back up to 78th ssex batsman Tom Westley is in in the side long in advance of the match. form this series but has been passed fi t Malan, who made a match-winning Poulter, now 41, had missed fi ve in the world rankings after a year line to make his England debut “Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan is following a heel problem. debut in England’s deciding Twenty20 consecutive majors before com- that has included a second-place at number three in next week’s also included in the squad for the fi rst Yorkshire left-hander Ballance would, victory against South Africa in Cardiff ing through qualifying at his home fi nish at the Players Champion- Ethird Test against South Af- time and could feature if England de- however, have been under pressure to last month, with 78 off 44 balls in Car- course Woburn to secure his place ship. rica at The Oval, the England and Wales cide on selecting an extra batsman when retain his position even if fully fi t. He diff , has been a consistent performer in this week. His recent improvement also Cricket Board announced yesterday. they confi rm their starting line-up next has averaged a meagre 21.25 in four in- red-ball cricket with Middlesex. Twelve months ago he was ab- saw him share the lead going He could be joined in the side by an- week. nings so far this series, with a top score He averages 42.50 in the County sent from the line-up at Troon into the fi nal round at last week’s other newcomer to Test cricket in Mid- “England will report to the Kia Oval of 34, in what is the Zimbabwe-born Championship so far this season, with a due to an injury that also denied Scottish Open before eventually dlesex batsman Dawid Malan, also in- on Tuesday, where they will train in the batsman’s third crack at Test cricket. top score of 115. him the opportunity to play in the fading to ninth. cluded in a 13-man squad for what will afternoon.” England were bowled out for just 133 Ryder Cup. “I was in position last week, be the 100th Test at The Oval, which England born but South Africa raised on the fourth day at Trent Bridge, with England squad He ended up working as a com- didn’t fi nish it off , and I’ve come starts on Thursday, July 27. Malan looks as if he will go head-to- Ballance dismissed for four. Alastair Cook (Essex), Keaton Jennings mentator for television at the out strong again this week. So Gary Ballance, England’s number head with spin-bowling all-rounder Their top-order batting has long been (Durham), Tom Westley (Essex), Joe Open and was a vice-captain hopefully we can continue that three in their crushing 346-run defeat Liam Dawson for a place in the side. a concern, hence the call-ups for both Root (capt), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, for Europe at Hazeltine. But he form over the next three days on in the second Test at Trent Bridge last But struggling opener Keaton Jen- Westley, 28, and Malan, 29. wkt) Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Ben admits those experiences were a golf course that’s a very good week that saw South Africa level the nings is set to retain his place along- Westley has been in good form for Stokes (Durham), Moeen Ali (Worcester- nothing compared to playing. and strong Open Championship four-match series at 1-1, was ruled out side Alastair Cook, with in-form Surrey County Championship leaders Essex so shire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), “Last year I was commentating venue.” on Tuesday with a broken fi nger. batsman Mark Stoneman missing out on far this season, scoring 478 First Divi- Mark Wood (Durham), James Anderson “Essex’s Tom Westley is set to earn a call-up on his home ground. sion runs, including two centuries, at an (Lancashire), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), his fi rst cap, with selectors confi rming Meanwhile Malan’s county colleague average of 53.11. Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex)

BOTTOMLINE Pietersen slams England top order aft er SA rout

Reuters KP eyes international return – for South Africa London opener at Lord’s but new captain Cook as England’s Test captain, London: Kevin Pietersen said half-century to lead Surrey to a Joe Root was given a rude awak- scored a splendid 190 to set up he has not ruled out resurrect- 10-run win over Essex in front ening in the second test when England’s win. ormer captain Kevin Pie- ing his international career with of almost 24,000 fans at the South Africa won by a mas- While Cook has looked solid tersen has criticised Eng- his native South Africa even Oval in the Twenty20 Blast in sive 340 runs at Nottingham to during the series, the left-hand- land’s top-order batsmen though he’ll be pushing 40 an explosive return to English square the series. ed opening batsman has in the for being too passive and when he requalifies. cricket. “They picked a poor Test- past been criticised for his defen- hasF called for the inclusion of Ja- match team,” Pietersen told Sky sive approach. The 37-year-old batsman will “I’m going to be playing a lot of son Roy and Dawid Malan in next become eligible to play for cricket in South Africa over the Sports after scoring 52 off 35 balls “You cannot have a top three week’s third Test against South the Proteas in 2019 having not next two years, so we’ll see. in his return to domestic cricket that bat as the top three bat or Africa. been selected for England after “I love batting: I will bat for as for Surrey in the NatWest T20 has poor technique, you cannot Opener Keaton Jennings has being sacked in the aftermath long as I love the art of batting. Blast on Wednesday. “I know have that,” said the 37-year-old totalled 44 runs in his four in- of the 2013-14 Ashes defeat in I do at the moment, but I’m an they won at Lord’s but that was Pietersen, who played 104 tests nings in the fi rst two Tests of the Australia. old man now, I’ve just hurt my the brilliance of Joe Root. for England. four-match series, which is tied “You are talking about in two calf, I didn’t field. “There’s individuals that are “You’ve got to change that at 1-1, while number three Gary years’ time. Would I? Who “Who knows where I’ll be in two brilliant, but the collective don’t up, get them striking, get bowl- Ballance has failed to score a fi fty knows? We’ll have to wait and years’ time? If I enjoy batting, fi re as much as they should and ers thinking ‘Goodness, if I don’t in his last 11 innings. see where I am,” said Pietersen we’ll see where I get to. I’m in a there are some holes in that bat- bowl this ball in the right place, England’s Ian Poulter lines up putt on the 9th green during his open- England cruised to a compre- after smashing a thrilling very happy place.” ting order.” I’m going to get whacked’. Malan ing round on the first day of the Open Golf Championship at Royal hensive 211-run win in the series Root, who replaced Alastair and Roy are my choice.” Birkdale golf course near Southport in north west England yesterday. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

AFC U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS SPOTLIGHT Rodgers confi dent of Coach Sanchez asks Champions League improvement

AFP Qatar to step up Glasgow rendan Rodgers says Celtic are in a much 'We didn’t play well against better place to make an impression in the Turkmenistan. The boys BChampions League than last year after watching his side ease past against India need to settle down a bit' Linfi eld into the third qualifying round of the competition. By Sports Reporter The Hoops cruised to a 4-0 Doha victory over the Northern Ire- land champions at Celtic Park thanks to goals from Australian atar showed glimpses of their international Tom Rogic, Stuart talent in their win against Armstrong and a double from Turkmenistan on Wednesday, Scott Sinclair to seal a 6-0 ag- but it was disappointing that gregate win. theQ margin of victory was just 2-0. The Scottish champions will Surely the under-23 team is capable of face a stern test against Rosen- much more than they did against Turk- borg next Wednesday in the fi rst menistan in their Group C opening match leg of their third round tie. But of the AFC U-23 Championship qualifi - Rodgers, who led his side to a tre- ers. Felix Sanchez’s men were impressive ble in an undefeated fi rst season in parts and dominated their opponents in charge, is confi dent his side throughout the match, but lacked the can overcome the Norwegians as ruthlessness in fi nishing. they attempt to emulate last sea- Sanchez was honest in his assessment son’s achievement of qualifying post-match and called for a better per- for the lucrative group stages of formance against India today. “We didn’t the competition. play well against Turkmenistan. The boys “We have watched some of need to settle down a bit. We need to their games already,” the Celtic work better,” said Sanchez. But the Span- manager said of Rosenborg, who ish coach also asked his boys to take one needed extra-time to see off Irish game at a time, rather than think about side Dundalk. “They’re obvious- their last match against Syria, which ly midway through their season could potentially be a battle for the top so they will be at a good level in spot in the table. terms of their fi tness. Norwegian Only group winners will automati- teams are very disciplined and and not want to concede many cally qualify for next year’s main event in very organised but we will look and take the game into the sec- Chian. The fi ve best runners-up across forward to it. We know whoever ond leg and ensure they still have all groups will also qualify for the fi nals. we have to face over the course a chance. For us we play how we However, if hosts China win their group of this qualifi cation campaign is play. We will go and attack the or are among the best fi ve runners-up, not going to be easy. game and see if we can build a the sixth best runner-up will also qualify. “If we want to get to where we lead for the second leg.” But Qatar and Sanchez are aiming to want to get to then we have to go Celtic could fi nd themselves win all their matches rather than leave it into these games and work hard. in trouble with UEFA after sup- to various equations and permutations. I look at tonight and look at the porters group the Green Brigade “We’ll take one game at a time. India are other game and I sit with a dif- unveiled controversial para- a disciplined side and let us put our mind ferent confi dence in the team. military style banners during the on our next game. We don’t want to think I am pretty happy going into game that seemed to reference about Syria now,” Sanchez said. The spotlight once again these games. Tactically we are the troubles in Northern Ireland. “This was our fi rst match and fi rst will be on Akram Afif (right), very good. Physically we are still The fi rst leg in Belfast was matches are usually very diffi cult, but after the star forward scored building up, but if you look at the marred by unpleasant scenes we played very well. I think we created Qatar’s both goals against whole shape of the team and how with the Linfi eld fans, who are chances and we were very eff ective. I Turkmenistan. they are working, how they are drawn from Northern Ireland’s think our players tried hard and made playing and how they are run- Protestant community, giving a plenty of opportunities. Hopefully, we ning then we are 100 per cent in a hostile reception to Celtic, who can do better in the next matches and diff erent place from this time last are historically seen as a Catho- score more goals,” he added. season.” lic side and the banners seemed The spotlight once again will be on inspiration from the praise bestowed on great future ahead,’’ he had certifi ed. lack of experience cost them the match. Rodgers says his side will look to antagonise the 1500 travelling Akram Afi f, after the star forward scored them by Syrian coach Hussain Afash. India’s coach Stephen Constantine “Some of the boys might have had a good to take the initiative in the fi rst support. Qatar’s both goals against Turkmenistan. Afash lavished huge praise on the said the Qatar team is ‘very quick’ and game but I believe this is a team game leg at Celtic Park as they aim to The incident was missed by India, meanwhile, put in a resolute boys in Blue after his team’s victory on his team will have to produce their best where everyone needs to perform and take a lead to Norway. “A lot of Rodgers, who grew up in North- fi rst-half performance against Syria be- Wednesday. “In actual facts, Indians football to beat the hosts. “They look they’ve had a great team eff ort. We’ll take teams come here and sit behind ern Ireland during the height of fore giving it away in the second half to pressed us very hard in the fi rst half and very quick at times. They have an utmost it forward to the next game,’’ he said. the ball,” the Northern Irishman the Troubles. lose the match 0-2. they were playing better football. In the quality I must say. It’ll be a big challenge Before the Qatar-India encounter, said. “I didn’t see that,” Rodgers India’s U-23 boys, most of whom second half, they conceded two goals but for us against them,’’ he stated. which is scheduled for 8pm, Syria will “About 95 per cent of the last said. “Fortunately I am one of would be playing their fourth interna- I must say, they got under our skin and Constantine said his boys played their take on Turkmenistan at 5pm at the Al two games was played in the fi - those guys who just concentrates tional match at this level today, can draw these boys are defi nitely going to have a heart out against Syria but eventually, the Sadd stadium. nal third. Rosenborg will come on the football and on the game.”

FOCUS ROUND-UP Bonucci’s Milan Hernandez agrees to join West Ham move marks end of West Ham United confi rmed yesterday tano after quitting their creaking and that they’ve reached an agreement with much smaller home since 1966, the Vice- Bayer Leverkusen to sign former nte Calderon. Villarreal are fi nishing off Juve’s famed ‘BBC’ Manchester United striker Javier the refurbishment of their main stand. Hernandez. The Premier League side Reuters have been chasing the 29-year-old REAL’S DANILO SET Milan throughout the summer, and they’ve now FOR MAN CITY MOVE agreed a fee of around £16mn ($20.8mn, Manchester City are close to signing Real 17.9mn euros) with the Bundesliga club Madrid full-back Danilo, according to ne of European foot- to bring Mexico’s record goalscorer to widespread media reports. Pep Guardiola ball’s most formida- London Stadium. The former Manches- made full-backs his top transfer priority ble and long-standing ter United frontman — widely known in the close season having released Pablo defences was offi - by the nickname Chicharito — will fl y to Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, ciallyO broken up yesterday when London in the coming days for a medical and Brazilian international Danilo is on AC Milan confi rmed that they and to discuss personal terms ahead of the verge of joining Kyle Walker as City’s had completed the signing of his anticipated return to English football. latest recruit in that position. Leonardo Bonucci from Juven- Hernandez spent four seasons with The deal for the 26-year-old is ex- tus. Bonucci had formed part of United, where he scored 59 goals in 156 pected to cost the Premier League side the so-called BBC defence at Ju- appearances, before going on loan to around £26mn, and with Walker signed ventus along with Andrea Barza- Real Madrid in the 2014/15 campaign. in a transfer which could rise to £54mn, glio and Giorgio Chiellini. The two-time Premier League win- that would take City’s spending on full- They had been together since ner left Old Traff ord in August 2015 for backs alone past the £80mn mark. 2010 and helped their club win Germany, where he’s been even more Danilo, who joined European cham- the last six Serie A titles. Juven- prolifi c, netting 39 times in 76 matches pions Real in 2015 from Porto, started tus had also reached two Cham- for Leverkusen. The Hammers look set just 17 Spanish league games last season pions League fi nals in the last to make it three major signings in a week with Dani Carvajal often preferred in the three seasons, losing both to Bar- after bringing in goalkeeper Joe Hart on right-back role. Chelsea are also believed celona and Real Madrid respec- loan, while forward Marko Arnautovic leg at Celtic Park on Wednesday. Celtic herme was granted Russian citizenship to be keen on securing the Brazilian’s sig- tively. Italy international Bonuc- following their sale in April to a is due to complete his move from Stoke supporters unfurled an alleged “illicit in 2015 and was named in the country’s nature, but City — who are also chasing ci, capped 70 times, made 319 Chinese-led consortium in a 740 City once he passes a medical. banner” while the Glasgow club are also squad for last month’s Confederations Monaco full-back Benjamin Mendy — appearances for the Turin club. million-euro deal. being charged for “kit infringement” and Cup. Russia received praise from world remain favourites to complete a deal. He joined Milan last week for a They have also signed Portu- CELTIC’S GRIFFITHS BANNED “blocked stairways”. football governing body FIFA over its fee of 42mn euros — the high- guese striker Andre Silva, Turk- FOR FAN PROVOCATION trouble-free hosting last month of the BRIGHTON MAKE NORMANN est so far in this Serie A transfer ish midfi elder and free-kick spe- Celtic striker Leigh Griffi ths has been SPARTAK MOSCOW, DYNAMO eight-nation Confederations Cup, a two- FOURTH SUMMER SIGNING window — subject to a medical. cialist Hakan Calhanoglu, Swiss banned by UEFA for his side’s Champi- MOSCOW FINED FOR FAN RACISM week tournament. Brighton & Hove Albion have brought in As the club fi nalised the move leftback Ricardo Rodriguez and ons League third round fi rst-leg quali- Russian Premier League champions However, the country still faces a Norwegian midfi elder Mathias Nor- yesterday, Milan coach Vincenzo Argentine midfi elder Lucas fi er against Rosenborg next week. The Spartak Moscow and rivals Dynamo challenge in convincing the football mann for an undisclosed fee, the Premier Montella described Bonucci as Biglia. Their total spending is al- Scotland international was issued with Moscow have each been fi ned 250,000 community that it has eradicated racism League club confi rmed. the best central defender in the ready at 189.5mn euros according a one-match European ban yesterday roubles ($4,250) over fans’ racist behav- and violence fully from the stands, as The 21-year-old has signed a three- world alongside Spain’s Sergio to the specialist website Trans- for “provoking spectators” at the end of iour, the Russian Football Union (RFU) incidents have continued at club level. year deal at the south coast club and Ramos. “For me, it’s a dream to fermarkt, compared to 22mn eu- Celtic’s 2-0 second round fi rst-leg win said. In a statement, the RFU said both leaves Norwegian second division side be able to coach him,” he said on ros in sales. over Linfi eld last Friday. clubs could face harsher sanctions in the STADIUMS LATE FOR FK Bodo/Glimt after four years. Milan’s website. They have also signed The 26-year-old tied a Celtic scarf to a event of further incidents. Russia has ATLETICO AND VILLARREAL Predominantly a central midfi elder, Bonucci’s decision to leave 20-year-old Ivorian midfi elder post at Belfast’s Windsor Park and UEFA pledged to crack down on racism and fan Atletico Madrid and Villarreal will play Normann has represented his coun- dominant Juventus for a club Franck Kessie, one of Africa’s have upheld their decision to punish the violence as the country faces increased their fi rst two Spanish Liga games away try at various youth levels and is part which has spent the last few sea- most promising players, on loan striker. The 1967 European Cup winners scrutiny before it hosts the World Cup from home to give them more time to of Norway’s current under-21 set-up. sons slumped in midtable medi- from fellow Serie A side Atalan- have been fi ned 4,500 euros ($5,235) for fi nals next summer. fi nish building work on their stadiums, Normann, who made 42 appearances and ocrity surprised many observers, ta. Milan fi nished sixth in Serie Griffi ths’ actions and also for picking up Russian media said Spartak fans had the Spanish league said. La Liga offi cials struck three goals for FK Bodo/Glimt, is who believed that he could have A last season, just high enough fi ve bookings in the match. directed a racist chant at Lokomotiv said that minor stadium delivery glitches Brighton’s fourth summer signing, fol- chosen a top English or Span- to qualify for the Europa League The Scottish champions also face three Moscow’s Brazilian-born goalkeeper were the cause. lowing the arrivals of goalkeeper Mathew ish side instead. Milan, however, and end a three-season absence separate charges by UEFA after beating Guilherme during their club’s 2-1 win in Atletico are moving into their brand Ryan, left-back Markus Suttner and have gone on a spending spree from European football. the Northern Irish side 4-0 in the return the Russian Super Cup last week. Guil- new 70,000 capacity Wanda Metropoli- midfi elder Pascal Gross. Gulf Times 4 Friday, July 21, 2017 FOOTBALL

AMBITION PSG need a Neymar to become a top European power: Emery 'If we want to rival Bayern, Barcelona and Real and win the Champions League we need to buy one of the top five players'

AFP 36th minute, but Roma responded with a strong New York second-half performance that saw Sadiq Umar nab the equalizer in the 60th minute. Under the rules of the International Cham- aris Saint Germain need to sign a play- pions Cup friendly tournament the match was er of the calibre of Neymar or Kylian then settled by a shootout. Only Roma’s Gerson Mbappe in their quest to win the Cham- failed to convert, and Marquinhos capped his pions League, according to their coach night with the decisive penalty. PUnai Emery. In an interview published in French Alvez made his debut for PSG, starting at right sports daily L’Equipe yesterday Emery named back a week after he signed with the French club Neymar as a world top-fi ve player, just the class in a deal worth a reported 14mn euros ($16mn). PSG needed to become a top European power. Alves played 69 minutes and was perhaps lucky He was speaking amid reports in Brazil and not to concede a penalty in the 57th, when his Spain that PSG were on the way to clinching a slide tackle caught Diego Perotti in the area. sensational deal to prise Neymar away from Emery was satisfi ed with what he saw from Barcelona. “If we want to rival Bayern Munich, Alves, who won three Champions Leagues and Barcelona and Real Madrid and win the Cham- six La Liga titles at Barcelona and who many had pions League we need to buy one of the top fi ve expected to end up with former manager Pep players in the world today,” Emery said after Guardiola at Manchester City. “He played with watching his side edge Roma on penalties in a his experience,” Emery said. “He talks a lot on friendly in the United States. the pitch, he also brings a lot in attack.” “Neymar has advanced his game massively The match drew more than 36,000 to Com- and today he is one of the fi ve best in the world,” erica Park, home of Major League Baseball’s De- he said of the 25-year-old Brazilian who has a troit Tigers. buy out clause at Barcelona of over 200mn eu- Paris had seized the lead nine minutes before ros. “Our president is working hard to attract halftime. A neat combination between Thiago top players and our fans would be content to Motta and Jese saw the ball fall to Marquinhos, count on a new top player to go along with the who fi red home a right-footed shot from the talent we already have,” said the Spaniard. center of the area. Earlier this week Neymar attempted to quell The French club continued to push, with Lu- the rising speculation about his future by tell- cas Moura fi ring straight at Roma keeper Alis- ing Goal.com that he was happy at Barcelona son, but the lead remained at 1-0 at halftime. and was looking forward to a new season. But With six changes for Roma and two for PSG, PSG’s quest for top players goes beyond the Bra- both clubs struggled to fi nd a rhythm to open zilian striker and includes the likes of Monaco the second half. teenager Mbappe and Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal’s But Roma gradually increased the pressure Chilean striker. and were rewarded on the hour mark a pass from “(Alexis) Sanchez and Mbappe are huge play- Gerson saw the speedy Sadiq put in behind and ers and what’s more Mbappe is French — I want the 20-year-old Nigerian put the ball through Frenchmen in this French club,” he said. The Alphonse Areola’s legs. Blaise Matuidi had three Parisian club are keen to strengthen their squad late chances for PSG, including blazing over after the club failed to live up to expectations from close range in the 85th minute and an in- last season. jury-time eff ort. In the Champions League round of 16 they AS Roma's Maxime Gonalons (left) is brought down by Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Motta during a friendly match at Comerica Park in In the shoot-out, the fi rst fi ve penalties were suff ered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at Barcelona, Detroit, Michigan on Wednesday. PSG edged Roma 5-3 on penalties after they played to a 1-1 draw in regulation time. (AFP) converted before Gerson, the third penalty- blowing a 4-0 fi rst-leg advantage that left the taker for Roma, missed. “The team did a good club stunned. They also gave up the French Henrique. free agent deal with no transfer fee. Emery said On Wednesday, PSG edged Roma 5-3 on pen- job,” Emery said. “The result was not the most league title to rivals Monaco forcing the club The new director produced an early coup Henrique’s task was to bring in a major attack- alties after they played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly important thing. Of course, we wanted to win, president Nasser al-Khelaifi to sack the sports by signing Brazilian defender Dani Alves, who ing player and keep unsettled stars Marquinhos, in Detroit, Michigan. Brazilian defender Mar- but what is important is to give playing time to director Patrick Kluivert and bring in Antero had been tipped to join Manchester City, on a and Marco Verratti. quinhos gave the Ligue 1 giants the lead in the many players.”

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Man City among clubs US battle into Gold Cup semi-fi nals

AFP accused by Monaco of Philadelphia he United States overcame a battling display from El Salvador to advance tapping up Mbappe to a CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-fi nal showdown with Costa Rica here on four clubs are accused by Monaco and that TWednesday. First-half goals from defenders By Jamie Jackson The Guardian City, PSG and Madrid are among those. City Omar Gonzalez and Eric Lichaj secured a hard- were contacted for comment. FIFA confi rmed fought quarter-fi nal win for the hosts, who are it had not received a complaint. Monaco have chasing their fi rst Gold Cup title since 2013. anchester City are one of four sold Bernardo Silva to Manchester City and However Bruce Arena’s side were made to clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain Tiemoue Bakayoko to Chelsea this summer. work all the way by El Salvador, and only some and Real Madrid two others, Mo- Chelsea are not one of the four clubs accused superb saves from Tim Howard kept the Cen- naco are threatening to report to by Monaco. tral American side at bay at Philadelphia’s Lin- MFIFA for allegedly making an unauthorised coln Financial Field. An unconvincing start saw approach to Kylian Mbappe. CITY’S £44.5MN BID FOR the hosts given a let-off early on when Lichaj The move reveals that City are target- MENDY REJECTED BY MONACO under-hit a back pass to Howard. Rodolfo Ze- ing the 18-year-old forward, considered one Meanwhile, City have had a €50mn (£44.5mn) laya latched onto the loose ball and darted clear of Europe’s fi nest young players. Yesterday, bid for the left-back Benjamin Mendy reject- only to be denied by a desperate late block from Monaco issued a statement which said: “AS ed, with Monaco demanding a fee closer to the Howard, who had spotted the danger and ad- Monaco regretfully notice that ‘important’ £50mn plus add-ons paid to Tottenham Hot- vanced swiftly to snuff out the chance. European football clubs made contacts with spur by City for the right-back Kyle Walker. The remainder of the fi rst half was dominated Kylian Mbappé (and his entourage) without It is understood City will return with a by a series of niggly fouls as El Salvador frus- its authorisation. AS Monaco want to remind higher off er. The 23-year-old was due to have trated American eff orts to impose themselves on these clubs that such actions are contrary to a medical on Tuesday but haggling over the the contest. The Americans were unlucky to be United State’s Eric Lichaj (left) and El Salvador’s Denis Pineda vie for the ball during the CONCACAF the article 211 of the administrative regulation fee could not be resolved in time. Mendy is a denied an opening goal midway through the half Gold Cup quarter-final match in Philadelphia on Wednesday. (AFP) of the French Football League (Ligue de Foot- France international and Monaco believe he when Clint Dempsey released Gyasi Zardes who ball Professionnel) and to the article 18.3 of is worth at least as much as the 27-year-old lifted his fi nish above Derby Carrillo, only to be to the guile of Bradley. The veteran striker left Los Ticos advanced to the last four after Pan- the Regulation of the Status and the Transfer Walker, given an infl ated transfer market. fl agged for off side. Replays later showed the Los Henry Romero for dead with a brilliant turn ama defender Anibal Godoy headed agonizingly of the Players of FIFA. If Mendy signs and he is joined by Real Angeles Galaxy forward was onside. and then slipped a pass into the feet of Lichaj, into his own net to give Costa Rica a 1-0 victory “To put an end to this unacceptable situa- Madrid’s Danilo, then Pep Guardiola would As tempers fl ared Lichaj was lucky to escape who controlled to shoot beneath Carrillo for his in Wednesday’s earlier quarter-fi nal. tion, AS Monaco are considering asking the stop targeting full-backs this summer. Danilo a caution when he fl attened Dennis Pineda near maiden international goal. The Central American rivals were deadlocked French Football League and FIFA to bring could also be deployed as a holding midfi elder, the halfway line. Four minutes before halft- The Americans now face 2014 World Cup in the second half when Costa Rica’s David Guz- disciplinary proceedings against the off end- meaning Guardiola would not have to buy an- ime however, the US broke the deadlock when quarter-fi nalists Costa Rica in tomorrow’s man swung a long free kick toward the Panama- ing clubs.” The Guardian has established that other player in that position. Gonzalez leaped to glance in Michael Bradley’s semi-fi nals. The match represents an opportu- nian goal. teasing free-kick to make it 1-0. nity for the US to avenge their humiliating 4-0 Panama’s Godoy leapt to try to head the ball Deep into fi rst half stoppage time, Lichaj loss to Costa Rica during 2018 World Cup quali- away but instead it spun back into the Panama- made it 2-0 with a goal that owed everything fi ers last year. nian net in the 77th minute.

CORRUPTION Court orders Villar held in custody

AFP profi ts from international friendly games and Madrid channelling the funds to Gorka Villar. Investigators were also probing whether na- tional federation funds had been used to bribe Madrid court yesterday ordered Span- regional offi cials to vote for Villar at federation ish football federation president Angel elections for president, according to Spanish Maria Villar and his son Gorka to be media reports. Villar, 67, a UEFA vice president, held in custody without bail follow- has headed the Spanish federation since 1988. ingA his arrest on corruption charges. High Court Under his watch Spain became one of the judge Santiago Pedraz ordered the two men de- Hernandez Baussou, general secretary of the dominant forces in world football, winning two tained because he said there was a signifi cant Tenerife federation. European championships and the 2010 World fl ight risk given their “huge fi nancial means” Police arrested the four men yesterday fol- Cup. But his critics say his period in charge was and they could destroy evidence. lowing raids on federation headquarters and marked by ethical issues and an autocratic man- Pedraz questioned Villar, a senior president of other sites as part of a fraud probe launched last agement style. Following his re-election in May, world football governing body FIFA, and his son year. They face charges including falsifying doc- newspapers denounced his “despotic” manage- Monaco’s teen sensation Kylian Mbappe controls the ball during a friendly match against throughout the day. Also examined were fed- uments, misappropriation of funds, collusion ment and bemoaned his close ties to FIFA and Stoke City FC in Martigny, Switzerland, last week. (AFP) eration vice-president Juan Padron and Ramon and administrative breaches linked to skimming UEFA leaders embroiled in corruption probes. Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 5 SPORT

BASEBALL SPOTLIGHT Warriors’ Durant heads to India to grow Meyer, Angels throw interest in league

Reuters with the basketball-playing New York youth of India will serve as great inspiration to the next generation of players here,” he NBA is extending a said NBA India managing di- 1-hitter against Nats push into India with a rector Yannick Colaco in a visit by Kevin Durant statement yesterday. ‘If you want to stay up here, you need to do a little better. That’s what I took out of it’ of the Golden State Durant won his fi rst NBA TWarriors to support the growth championship with the War- By Pedro Moura of basketball in the country. riors in June, averaging 35.2 Los Angeles Times Durant, named Most Valu- points a game to help his side to able Player in this year’s NBA a 4-1 series win over the Cleve- Finals, will be in New Delhi land Cavaliers and cement his ust when you think the next Thursday to open two new status as one of the league’s Los Angeles Angels are basketball courts, funded by his leading players. out of the American charity foundation, and coach The NBA has established a League wild-card race, the country’s top prospects at major international presence theyJ pull you back in. the NBA Academy India. with games and programming One night after Washington After decades of growing the in 215 countries and territories, tripled their hit total, the Angels sport in China, the NBA’s sec- in 49 languages. Merchandise limited the Nationals to a single ond biggest market after the for the league is sold on six hit in a 7-0 thrashing at Angel United States, the league has continents. Stadium. Starter Alex Meyer turned its attention to India in NBA rosters at the start of carried a perfect game into the the expanding search for talent the 2016-17 season featured a fi fth and a no-hitter into the and fans. record 113 international play- sixth, and two Angels relievers “Having one of the very best ers from 41 countries and ter- completed his eff ort. The club players in our league interact ritories. had not logged a one-hitter in more than two years. The Angels (47-50) are three games out of playoff position. Sixty-fi ve games remain on their schedule, but only nine until the July 31 nonwaiver trade dead- line, complicating the decision- making process awaiting general manager Billy Eppler. If the team streaked in one direction or the other, action would be more obvious. But week after week, they remain in the vicinity of .500. On Wednesday, the fi rst three Nationals to bat stroked line drives. All were caught, in- cluding Daniel Murphy’s shot to right, corralled in midair by newly promoted Shane Robin- son. According to MLB’s propri- etary Statcast information trove, similarly struck balls are hits 93 percent of the time. The Angels promoted Meyer from triple A for the game, but in his dozen previous major league starts this season, he has strug- Los Angeles Angels pitcher Alex Meyer delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals during their MLB game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. gled in the fi rst inning. He had PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports walked 11 and allowed eight runs in the 12 games. Predictably, in Oddly enough, the Nation- with a perfect inning apiece. ton. The 2013 free-agent dis- bin on the disabled list with a Wednesday’s second inning, he als selected Rendon, Meyer and Nationals left-hander Gio aster had experienced a career right knee sprain suff ered Tues- Chalmers back with Grizzlies started to induce soft contact. Goodwin in the fi rst round of Gonzalez was wild to begin the renaissance, but he is struggling day. To make room for Meyer, aft er season on sidelines The next fi ve Nationals failed the 2011 draft and introduced game. Yunel Escobar and Albert in his fi rst season as a National. they optioned reliever Eduardo to hit the ball out of the infi eld. all three together in a Nationals Pujols singled around a Mike On Wednesday, Ben Revere sin- Paredes to Salt Lake. ... Right- The Memphis Grizzlies inked Mario Chalmers to a contract on No Washington representatives Park news conference. All three Trout walk, which netted one gled against him, stole second, hander Garrett Richards has Wednesday, a day after the guard indicated he was headed back reached base until there were remain friends; Rendon just slept run. C.J. Cron swung at a slider and took third because of Matt stretched his throwing out to to his old NBA team. two outs in the fi fth, when Meyer through breakfast, Meyer said. in the dirt to provide Gonzalez Wieters’ errant throw. Escobar 90 feet. He remains hopeful of The Grizzlies did not reveal terms of the deal, but multiple media issued a four-pitch walk to An- After two trades, Meyer is here. his fi rst out of the inning, 20 soon singled Revere in. pitching this season. reports said Chalmers agreed to a one-year contract. thony Rendon. He put together the best start of pitches in. Up next, Trout took the count Chalmers used Instagram on Tuesday to post a picture of himself It was the fi rst time in 15 his career Wednesday night. The After an Andrelton Simmons to 2-2. He then received a plum RESULTS in a Grizzlies uniform with a caption that read “GNG... enough plate appearances that Meyer seven innings he completed were sacrifi ce fl y scored a second run, pitch, a 91-mph fastball over the Rockies 18 Padres 4 said.” stretched the count to three a career high, and he required Gonzalez settled. After a single exact center of the strike zone. Dodgers 9 White Sox 1 “Grit and grind” is the Grizzlies’ motto. balls. He did not do it again un- only 88 pitches to traverse them. in the second and a single in the He kicked his leg and calmly (8 innings) Chalmers, 31, has battled back from a torn right Achilles tendon til the penultimate batter he While walking just one, Meyer third, he set down the Angels in whipped his bat to meet the ball, Angels 7 Nationals 0 he sustained in March 2016 while playing for the Grizzlies. faced, Ryan Zimmerman, in the struck out seven Nationals, order over the next two innings. which soared 132 feet into the air Cubs 8 Braves 2 The Grizzlies released Chalmers after he was injured, and he seventh. In between, with two pumping his two-seam fastball Come the sixth, his control and 407 feet from home plate for Red Sox 5 Blue Jays 1 missed all of the 2016-17 NBA season. outs in the sixth, Brian Good- past unsuspecting hitters. faltered. Pujols walked and Cron a two-run homer. Mets 7 Cardinals 3 Chalmers developed a relationship with Grizzlies coach David win slapped a double down the He has typically relied on clubbed a home run some 461 That capped the club’s scor- Pirates 3 Brewers 2 Fizdale when Chalmers played for the Miami Heat and Fizdale right-fi eld line to spoil Meyer’s his four-seamer this season, feet. He came inches from land- ing. The Angels had not mus- (10 innings) was a Heat assistant. no-hit bid. but planned to utilize the two- ing the baseball inside a massive, tered more than fi ve runs in a Royals 4 Tigers 3 Chalmers won NBA titles with the LeBron James-led Heat in 2012 Longtime friends, Meyer and seamer Wednesday. sponsored paint can. game since June 24. They had not Twins 6 Yankees 1 and 2013. Goodwin met for breakfast ear- “If you want to stay up here, In four seasons, no one has won a game by a margin as sub- Reds 4 Diamondbacks 3 Chalmers averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 (11 innings) lier on Wednesday at the Fill- you need to do a little better,” completed the feat, which would stantive as Wednesday’s since steals in 55 games with the Grizzlies in 2015-16. Mariners 4 Astros 1 ing Station, a local favourite in Meyer said. “That’s what I took earn the Angels’ foundation a $1 June 17. As expected, the Angels Athletics 7 Rays 2 Last season the Grizzlies finished in seventh place in the Western Orange. Meyer said he paid for out of it,” Meyer said. million donation. recalled Robinson from triple-A Giants 5 Indians 4 Conference and were eliminated in the first round of the playoff s the meal. “I’ll have to talk to him David Hernandez and Jose Al- The Angels added more in the Salt Lake before Wednesday’s Orioles 10 Rangers 2 by the San Antonio Spurs. about that,” he joked. varez completed the one-hitter seventh when facing Joe Blan- game and placed Cameron May- Phillies 10 Marlins 3

NBA LeBron loses ‘best teammate’ Jones to Suns

AFP Cavaliers in the greatest comeback in Marbury opts for fi nal season Los Angeles NBA Finals history from 3-1 down to with Beijing Fly Dragons win the best-of-seven series in 2016. The Warriors won a rematch in fi ve Former NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury said ormer Cleveland Cavaliers games last month. Wednesday he is headed back to Beijing for reserve James Jones, who James has reportedly been un- one final pro season, but will not be playing alongside LeBron James has satisfi ed with the moves made by for the same Chinese Basketball Association reached the past seven NBA Cleveland to obtain off -season tal- squad. Finals,F was named vice president of ent to better compete with the Kevin Marbury announced in an Instagram posting basketball operations for the Phoenix Durant-powered Warriors, notably that he will play next season for the Beijing Suns on Wednesday. missing out on deals for Jimmy But- Fly Dragons after playing from 2011 through The move was announced by Suns ler and Chris Paul after general man- earlier this year with the Beijing Ducks. owner Robert Sarver, who also re- ager David Griffi n parted ways with “I’m staying in Beijing for my last and final vealed a contract extension, report- the Cavs. season. The other Beijing team,” Marbury edly through the 2019-20 season, for Jones, a former secretary-treasur- wrote on Instagram beside a photo of himself 36-year-old general manager Ryan er for the NBA players union, played and the Fly Dragons logo. McDonough. alongside James for four seasons in “I have to put on for the city no matter the Jones, also 36, was a forward for Miami, resulting in two titles and team. It’s a diff erent mission and vision over the Suns from 2005-2007, helping four fi nals appearances, and the past here in the JING. The fans said stay so I’m the team to the 2006 Western Con- three seasons in Cleveland. He also staying. They said, ‘we will love you no matter ference fi nals. He will report to Mc- played as a backup forward for Indi- where you go’ It’s hard to leave that type of Donough and with him oversee all ana, Portland and Phoenix in his 14 love.” The 40-year-old point guard began his basketball-related matters, includ- NBA campaigns. NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves ing trades, free agent deals and the “We are thrilled to add James in 1996, taken fourth overall by Milwaukee but NBA Draft. Jones to our staff ,” said McDonough. swapped to the T-Wolves for the rights to the His departure removes another “James has a wealth of experiences player taken after him, Ray Allen. familiar face around James on the that will greatly benefi t our organisa- LeBron James (L) with James Jones “Starbury” was an NBA All-Star for the New Cavaliers roster as James ponders tion. He is a three-time NBA cham- Jersey Nets in 2001 and Phoenix Suns in 2003 the coming season and what his team pion and has been one of the top ex- the Cavaliers last season and has ca- the 2008 NBA title. 1993. before joining his hometown New York Knicks can do to overcome the Golden State ecutives with the National Basketball reer averages of 5.2 points and 1.8 re- The Suns went 24-58 last season, “We have laid the foundation for from 2004-2009. In 2010, Marbury jumped to Warriors, who beat Cleveland in the Players Association over the past few bounds. the NBA’s second-worst record and what we hope will become the next the Chinese Basketball Association, playing NBA Finals for the second time in years.” McDonough came to Phoenix after worst in the Western Conference. championship caliber Suns team,” for Shanxi and Foshan before settling in with three consecutive meetings for the Jones averaged 7.8 points and 10 seasons in basketball operations Phoenix has not been to the NBA McDonough said. “There is still a lot the Ducks and sparking them to CBA crowns title. 2.8 rebounds in 151 games with the with the Boston Celtics, serving as Playoff s since reaching the West- of work to be done to reach our ulti- in 2012, 2014 and 2015 before parting ways James, who has called Jones “the Suns. He played in 48 regular-season assistant general manager for the fi - ern Conference fi nals in 2010. They mate goal of bringing a champion- with the club last April. best teammate I’ve ever had,” led the games and eight playoff contests for nal three and helping the team take haven’t reached the NBA Finals since ship to Phoenix.” Gulf Times 6 Friday, July 21, 2017 SPORT

ATHLETICS/DIAMOND LEAGUE TENNIS Isner and Karlovic advance, Mannarino Bolt, Van Niekerk set out at Newport

AFP Ebden, who defeated sixth- Washington seeded Slovakian Lukas Lacko 6-1, 7-6 (7/2). Also advancing was S top seed John Isner fourth-seeded Frenchman to shine in Monaco and second-seeded Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who defending cham- outlasted Spain’s Adrian ‘This race is mostly about execution and working on my flaws. I try not to worry pion Ivo Karlovic ad- Menendez-Maceiras 7-5, 2-6, Uvanced to the quarter-fi nals of 6-3. His next opponent Amer- too much about time but it’d be good to be under 10 seconds’ the ATP Hall of Fame Cham- ican Bjorn Fratangelo, who pionships with straight-set ousted Australian Akira San- triumphs Wednesday at New- tillan 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-1. port, Rhode Island. South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk chatting with Usain Bolt of Jamaica (right) Isner, the 2011 and 2012 win- Konta vs Halep set BBC during a press conference in Kingston on June 8, 2017. Usain Bolt and Wayde ner at the grass-court event, record for women’s van Niekerk, the man tipped to take over from the retiring Jamaican as track fi red 13 aces in defeating Aus- Wimbledon match and fi eld’s next superstar, headline a glittering cast Diamond League meeting tralian qualifi er Sam Groth 6-2, The epic quarter-fi nal be- in Monaco. (AFP) 6-4. The hard-serving Ameri- tween Britain’s Johanna Konta can improved to 3-0 all-time and Romanian Simona Halep against Groth, who dropped drew a record peak audience for prior meetings in Davis Cup a Wimbledon women’s match ties this year and last year, with on BBC television, fi gures re- the 61-minute triumph. leased yesterday showed. Croatia’s Karlovic, 38, de- Some 7.4 million, a million feated American Denis Kudla more than the peak audience 6-4, 6-4 to reach the fi nal for the men’s fi nal, watched eight. Karlovic, seeking his Konta beat the second seed ninth career ATP crown, lost 6-7(2) 7-6(5) 6-4 and be- the 2014 and 2015 Newport come the fi rst British woman fi nals before downing Gilles to reach the last four in nearly Muller 14-12 in a third-set 40 years. Konta, who lost her tie-breaker to win last year’s semi-fi nal to Venus Williams, championship match. also hit the most aces among Isner advanced to a quarter- the women, 35 in total, com- fi nal matchup against fellow pared to American Sam Quer- American Dennis Novikov, a rey’s 139 in the men’s draw. 6-3, 6-2 winner over Cana- The All England Lawn ten- dian Frank Dancevic. Karlovic nis and Croquet Club (AELTC) booked a quarter-fi nal meet- said 166,055 portions of ing with Germany’s Peter strawberries were sold during Gojowczyk, who eliminated the championships, along with Russia’s Konstantin Kravchuk 110,225 traditional English 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Germany’s To- scones and 2,198 afternoon bias Kamke pulled the biggest tea hampers. The Wimble- upset so far, ousting French don shop sold 46,408 base- third seed Adrian Mannarino ball caps, 30,386 towels, 8,882 7-6 (7/5), 7-5. He will next face umbrellas and 1,334 Panama Australian qualifi er Matthew hats during the two weeks.

FOCUS Russian octet cleared to compete as neutrals

Reuters applications this year and re- Zurich jected 109, including those an- nounced yesterday. It did not name the athletes whose ap- he world athletics plications were declined. body has approved “From the beginning, we eight Russians to com- have declared this process was pete as neutrals but about supporting the hopes It is just the second time the leading 9.82 in Oregon last 200m in London, Van Niekerk after two injury-plagued years. Tdeclined the applications of a and aspirations of all clean AFP Monaco 11-time world champion is run- month. will never get the chance to test Reigning women’s high jump further 53 competitors hoping athletes, including Russian ning in Monaco, after 2011, with “The weather is great here so himself against the Jamaican world champion Maria Lasit- to be awarded a similar status, athletes who have been failed the 100m scheduled for 1935 hopefully on Friday, it will be the sprint king. skene has been head and shoul- the IAAF said yesterday. by their national system,” sain Bolt and Wayde GMT as Bolt looks to dip under same and I can perform at my “He’s been a massive inspira- ders above her rivals this year, Russia’s national athletics IAAF president Sebastian Coe van Niekerk, the man the 10-second barrier for the best,” added Bolt, who will line tion,” admitted the 25-year-old clearing a personal best 2.06m federation (RUSAF) remains said. tipped to take over fi rst time this year. up against South Africa’s Akani Van Niekerk. in Lausanne to signal her in- suspended as a result of wide- The eight athletes accepted from the retiring Ja- “This race is mostly about Simbine and American Christo- “I’ve still got quite a long way tent ahead of her title defence in spread and systematic dop- yesterday included 31-year- Umaican as track and fi eld’s next execution and working on my pher Belcher. to go before I even get close to the London. ing, meaning that the major- old hammer thrower Sergei superstar, headline a glittering fl aws,” Bolt said. “I try not to Van Niekerk, the men’s 400m heights that Usain has reached. She is chasing Bulgarian Ste- ity of the country’s athletes Litvinov, a bronze medallist cast at today’s Diamond League worry too much about time but world record-holder, stormed to “It’s really just for me to keep fka Kostadinova’s long-standing will miss next month’s world at the 2014 European cham- meeting in Monaco. it’d be good to be under 10 sec- victory in Lausanne a fortnight on doing what I’m doing and mark of 2.09m, a world record championships in London. pionships who previously The event off ers one fi nal onds.” ago with the third fastest time hopefully I can reach the heights set at the 1987 world champion- Russian athletes can, how- competed for both Belarus and tune-up ahead of next month’s The Jamaican, who turns 31 of his career, following on from that he has and maybe even try ships in Rome. ever, apply to compete as neu- Germany. world championships in Lon- next month, has been a regular personal bests in the 100m and and come close to the times that Olympic javelin champion trals provided they meet strin- They also included men’s don, from August 4-13, where visitor to the principality off the 200m in June. he’s run.” Thomas Roehler of Germany gent criteria. 2013 European under-23 high eight-time Olympic gold medal- track, having received the IAAF World record-holder Ken- will battle compatriot Johannes IAAF guidelines say that jump champion Ilya Ivaniuk list Bolt will bring down the cur- Athlete of the Year award six ‘Massive inspiration’ dra Harrison and 2012 Olympic Vetter, whose stunning throw of this includes showing they and Alayna Lutkovskaya, the tain on his incredible career. times. The South African’s mark champion Sally Pearson will face 94.44m on July 11 in Luzern was are not directly implicated “in 2014 junior women’s pole The Stade Louis II, the home Bolt has struggled to pro- of 43.62 in Switzerland trailed off in the women’s 100m hur- the second longest in history. any way by their national fed- vault world champion. of French football champions duce his best form this season, only his performance at the 2015 dles. Harrison failed to qualify Triple 1500m world champion eration’s failure to put in place The participation of all ath- Monaco, provides an idyllic running 10.03 in Kingston and world championships and his for last year’s Olympics after a Asbel Kiprop and Rio 3000m adequate systems to protect letes was still subject to for- backdrop on the Mediterranean 10.06 in Ostrava in his only two record-breaking run that earned shock sixth-place fi nish at the steeplechase gold medallist and promote clean athletes”. malities and acceptance by coast for Bolt’s second-to-last outings, well behind rising US Olympic gold in Rio last year. US trials, while Australian Pear- Conseslus Kipruto are also com- The IAAF said in a state- individual meeting organisers, appearance. star Christian Coleman’s world- But with Bolt not running the son is back near the peak of her peting in Monaco. ment that it had approved 47 the IAAF said.

SPOTLIGHT Sonny Bill available for championship opener

AFP ties Manukau and two of their “We just want them to ref the rare cases when they have a Wellington pre-season matches will also what’s in the rule book and if the New Zealand Rugby agreement. count as part of the suspension. rule book’s too complicated we “The big thing is you don’t Hansen said it meant the two- need to fi x that.” want them going if they feel onny Bill Williams will time World Cup winning centre Fekitoa played 10 Tests last they’ve got time and things have served his red-card would be available when New season as Hansen started re- they want to do in that black ban by next month and be Zealand face Australia in Sydney building his midfi eld in the wake jersey, because they’ll have re- eligible for New Zealand’s on August 19. “Yep, he’ll be con- of the international retirements grets when they fi nish playing,” RugbyS Championship opener sidered,” the coach told Radio of stalwarts Ma’a Nonu and Hansen added. against Australia, All Blacks coach Sport. Hansen refused to con- Conrad Smith at the end of the “If their minds are made up, Steve Hansen said yesterday. fi rm reports out of France that 2015 World Cup. you’ve got to support them. If Williams was handed a four- another centre, Malakai Fekitoa, He was left out of the squad they’re in two minds, you try match ban after becoming the has signed with Top 14 side Tou- for the British and Irish Lions se- and steer them to making a deci- fi rst All Black in 50 years to be lon. ries, however, but was called up sion that’s right for what they’re sent off during New Zealand’s “He’s making a decision based as injury cover and given some thinking versus the money. second Test loss to the Brit- on what’s right for him,” he said. playing time off the bench in the Sometimes it’s a hard battle.” ish and Irish Lions earlier this “Like all of the guys that go drawn third test. Hansen said his back-to-back month. overseas, we don’t want him to “He’s always in our mind, he’s world champions did not see the The former league star was go but if he goes we’ll support been a very good player,” Hansen drawn series as a success, con- shown a straight red for a shoul- him.” added. “We just thought there trasting their attitude with the der charge into the head of Lions Discussing the Lions series, was an area of the game that we praise lavished on the Lions over wing Anthony Watson. Hansen reiterated his call for wanted to see improve and didn’t the result. He missed the drawn third Li- rugby’s laws to be simplifi ed, select him. But he got his oppor- “I guess that’s the diff erence ons Test, which resulted in the saying referees “had way too tunity again in the series and between the two mindsets isn’t series ending tied at 1-1, and the much infl uence on the outcome”. played well.” it, and long may it last because I Auckland Blues’ shock Super “The thing that disappointed Hansen said he always tried to think that gives us an advantage Rugby loss to Japan’s Sunwolves me is that they weren’t consist- talk to players when they were going forward,” he said. last weekend. ent,” he said. “That comes down considering leaving for clubs “We’ll look at ourselves very Williams is also registered to the rule book, (there’s) too abroad, a move that curtails their hard and honestly and we’ll grow with provincial side Coun- many interpretations. international career except in from it.” Sonny Bill Williams (left) with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen. (AFP) Gulf Times Friday, July 21, 2017 7 SPORT

SWIMMING TENNIS Undefeated Lebanon halts Qatar’s winning Horton, Sun clash run in Davis Cup

By Sports Reporter Before yesterday’s loss, Qatar had Doha posted two straight victories with the second one coming against Turkmeni- gets world champs stan on Wednesday. atar’s faced their fi rst defeat Mubarak Shanan defeated Isa Mam- in the Davis Cup Group III metgulyyev of Turkmenistan 6-3, 6-7, Horton ended Sun’s 400m Asia/Oceania competition, 6-4 before Mousa Shanan won the sec- with Lebanon triumphing ond singles match after the withdrawal freestyle reign in Rio after 3-0Q to stay undefeated in Colombo. by Yuriy Rogusskiy. Pool B leaders Lebanon opened the tie Earlier, the Qatari team had opened off to a bang branding Sun a ‘drug cheat’ with Hady Habib continuing his scintil- their campaign in the event with a 2-1 lating form, winning his 10th straight victory over the UAE. AFP Davis Cup singles rubber with a 6-1, Pool B, which features Qatar, Leba- Budapest 6-1 win over Jabor al-Mutawa. Giovani non, the UAE, Malaysia and Turk- Samaha then battled from one set down menistan, now has Qatar and Malaysia to triumph 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 over Mubarak locked in at second spot after both the ustralia’s Mack Horton Shannan Zayid and seal the tie. teams notched two wins in the compe- and China’s Sun Yang will Hosts Sri Lanka (Pool A) and Leba- tition so far. Winner of Qatar vs Ma- resume their bad-tempered non have stayed undefeated in the pool laysia tie will move to the next round rivalry in the pool when the stages to move within touching dis- and will face hosts Sri Lanka, who have swimmingA section of the world aquat- tance of promotion to Group II. topped Pool A. ic championships starts on Sunday. Horton ended Sun’s four-year dom- ination of the 400m freestyle event in spectacular style at last year’s Rio De Qatar off to Indonesia for Asian Volleyball Janeiro Olympics after branding Sun a ‘drug cheat’ in the build-up. Championship Sparks are expected to further fl y Qatar delegation left Doha yesterday for Indonesia in order to participate in with both also registered to swim over the prestigious Asian Volleyball Championship, which will run from July 24 to 200m, 800 and 1500m freestyle in Bu- August 1. Qatar is pooled in group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Saudi Arabia dapest. and Kazakhstan, while group B includes Iran, Pakistan, Iraq and Taiwan. “Mack is looking forward to it,” Group C includes Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, while Group D Swimming Australia chief executive will see Australia, China, Thailand and Hong Kong. Mark Anderson said ahead of Sunday’s opening 400m showdown. “He’s in good form. Not only in the Qatar lose to Slovenia junior handball 400m but the 1500m. There will be Worlds great entertainment in both of those races and the swimming world will be Qatari handball team suff ered a 23-31 defeat against their Slovenian counter- watching with interest,” added Ander- parts in their second match in the 2017 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship son with a large dose of understate- on Wednesday. Qatar began their campaign in the event with a narrow 21-22 ment. In this August 6, 2016, picture, gold medallist Mack Horton (right) shakes hands with silver medallist Sun Yang on the defeat at the hands of Sweden. After their two opening matches, Qatar will The 800m freestyle will be an es- podium for men’s 400m freestyle at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Reuters) take on Denmark today. The championship is being held in Algeria from July pecially intriguing battle with Italy’s 18 to 30, 2017. long-distance expert Gregorio Pal- chine, will be the star attraction in trinieri also in the mix. QSA delegation briefed on Hungary’s World Sunday’s 400m freestyle women’s Horton and Sun will be battling to heats and fi nals. Qatar beach handball team to participate in be the fastest from Sunday morning’s Championship organisation Such is Ledecky’s form that she World Games 400m heats into the evening’s fi nal raced her male counterparts — includ- and their grudge ‘War in the Water’ Qatar Swimming Association (QSA) events such as the 12th FINA World ing 2012 Olympic champion Nathan rematch will take star billing at Buda- delegation, currently in Budapest Swimming Championships (25m) Adrian — during the American pre- pest’s Duna Arena. for FINA World Championship 2017, 2014 and the annual FINA/airweave Budapest camp. met off icials from the International Swimming World Cup. “She was racing the guys in train- HOSSZU’S IRON GRIP Swimming Federation (FINA), and The delegation also held a co-ordina- ing camp, and they were doing all they Hungary’s ‘Iron Lady’ Katinka Hosszu continental and non-governmental tion meeting with Asian Swimming could not to lose. It was nuts,” team- will be out to maintain her grip on the associations, besides touring Federation secretary general Taha mate Lilly King revealed. “They were 200m and 400m individual medley the championship facilities and al-Kishri where they discussed topics the Olympic freestylers. It was crazy.” events she has dominated in recent acquainting themselves with the on the upcoming Asian tourna- Expect Ledecky to challenge her years. organisational aspects of the cham- ments. own 400m, 800 and 1500m freestyle Hosszu has entered six individual pionship to get additional expertise They held another meeting with world records in Budapest. events, including the 100m back- in preparation for Doha Champion- Hungarian Swimming Association Britain’s Adam Peaty looks to be a stroke — one of three events in which ship 2023. president Bienerth Gusztav to ex- shoo-in for the 50m and 100m breast- she won Olympic gold last year — in a The delegation, led by QSA president change expertise on organising the stroke titles — and also wants to lower punishing schedule, but her priority Khaleel al-Jabir, met with FINA presi- world championship. his own world records in both events. will be defending her 200m and 400m dent Julio Maglione, FINA executive The delegation toured the cham- “I’m half a second quicker if not medley crowns. director Cornel Marculescu and pionship’s venues including Duna more than Rio. I want to go and get my Expect fi reworks over the longer other members of the federation. Arena, which is the main venue of titles again, push down on the world distance after Hosszu took two sec- In the meeting they discussed ways the 2017 FINA World Championships records. It’s all achievable,” Peaty told onds off the world record over 400m to strengthen the co-operation in Hungary. The delegation also news.oc.uk. when she struck Olympic gold in Rio between both sides, especially since visited the synchronised swimming Peaty is threatening to be the fi rst last year. QSA is considered an important arena, attended water polo games, under the 57 seconds barrier over “By (the time of the world cham- partner to the FINA, having organ- visited its venues, before finally visit- 100m with South Africa’s Cameron pionships) I will know each and every ised a number of tournaments and ing the open water swimming venue. van der Burgh pushing him hard. little stone of the Duna Arena,” said There promises to be a battle royal Hosszu. in the women’s 100m freestyle with “This pool is so beautiful, that it joint bronze over 100m at the Rio Ol- last year. Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom having nar- The Qatari beach handball team will participate in the 2017 World Games, also puts a little pressure on us Hun- ympics and the 21-year-old will be Teenagers Regan Smith, 15, and rowly missed Cate Campbell’s world which are set to begin in Wroclaw, Poland, on Tuesday. The Qatari squad garians though. It’s up to us, now we hoping for more goofy smiles in Bu- 17-year-olds Robert Finke and Dakota record of 52.06secs. includes Muhsen al-Yafai, Muhab Ali Mahfouz, Muatasem Abdulwaheb, Amer all have to swim fast.” dapest. Luther will race in the backstroke, Australia’s Campbell is sitting out Dengern, Sayed Ali Kenawi, Ahmad Rajab Murjan, Anis Abdulraziq al-Zawawi, China, third in the medals table in The USA, a powerhouse in the freestyle and butterfl y respectively. Budapest, but her sister Bronte is the Mohamed Ahmad Zaki, Hani Marawan and Hadi Hazem Hamdoun. The Qatari swimming events in 2015 in Kazan, pool, will bring a young team — with reigning world champion. team qualified for the 2017 World Games after finishing third in the 2016 will also look to backstroker Fu Yuan- an average age of 22 — shorn of stars LEDECKY, PEATY EYE MORE However, the names to beat are Si- World Championships held in Hungary. Qatar will play in Group B alongside hui to defend her 50m title. Michael Phelps, who has retired again, RECORDS mone Manuel of the USA and Cana- Brazil, Uruguay, and Australia, while Group A includes Croatia, Hungary, Egypt A hilarious video went viral of Fu’s and Missy Franklin, who sits out Bu- Katie Ledecky, the Stars and Stripes’ da’s Penny Oleksiak, who tied for gold and hosts Poland. reaction after discovering she had won dapest after surgery on both shoulders gold-medal and record-breaking ma- in Rio last year.

BOTTOMLINE China boxing star Zou primed for biggest battle yet

AFP that Chinese people have a Zou Shim- Games four years later, before success- Shanghai ing who brought back the belt from Las fully defending his title at the London Vegas and kept it here, so that everyone games in 2012 to put boxing back on the will say, ‘If Zou Shiming can, so can map in China. e is a two-time Olympic gold other Chinese’.” Add three amateur world titles and medallist and reigning world it’s easy to see why, if anyone can make champion, but Chinese box- WEIGHT OF HISTORY boxing big in China, Zou can. ing star Zou Shiming is eye- With the end of his boxing career in He may train boxers after he retires. Hing an even greater prize: making the sight — he declined to say when he “I know this business back to front: sport big in his homeland. would retire — the aff able Zou is turn- not just the training, but also their The 36-year-old defends his World ing his hand to promotion and mentor- minds, their injuries, their illness and Boxing Organization (WBO) fl yweight ing the next generation. their promotion,” he said. title for the fi rst time next week when He turned professional with US pro- “I know how to deal with pressure.” he faces Japan’s Sho Kimura in Shang- moters Top Rank, whose founder and hai, and is targeting a fourth-round chief executive Bob Arum had his eye HARD GOODBYE knockout. on the lucrative China market, and was So why are there no other Chinese box- After a brilliant amateur career Zou under the tutelage of respected Ameri- ers even close to matching Zou? turned professional in 2013 — at the can trainer Freddie Roach. Unlike other countries, where boxers relatively late age of 31 — and last No- But Zou is promoting himself for usually turn professional after a good vember won the world title in Las Vegas the July 28 fi ght, while insisting he will Olympics, China’s Soviet-style sports to improve to a pro record of 9-1 with work with Top Rank again. authorities are reluctant to relinquish two KOs. He chose China for his fi rst title de- control of their amateurs. Now he wants to harness his fame to fence in order to promote the sport in And a good amateur does not neces- put boxing on a par at home with more the country, partnering with Chinese sarily become a successful professional popular sports. companies such as Alisports which is because the styles are so diff erent, ac- “In the West they already have a part of e-commerce giant Alibaba. cording to Zou. long history of boxing and everyone of “It was signifi cant that I won the Zou knows he does not have many all ages watch, but in China this is still belt in Las Vegas, the boxing temple. I fi ghts left. something we have to work hard on,” he want to bring this glory and passion, as “I don’t want to say goodbye. But the told AFP in an interview at his swelter- well as the boxing culture, to China,” he hardest part for an athlete to face is in- ing gym in Shanghai. said. juries and age,” he said. “The attention it gets here is not like “It would be signifi cant to defend “Maybe tomorrow I will say I can’t some of our more conventional sports it in China. I don’t just want to bring fi ght anymore. such as badminton and table tennis that the belt from the highest temple, I also The weight of history is against Zou. and it only returned to the public con- then-leader Deng Xiaoping. “But as long as I can, I will not say lots of kids practise and play. want to guard it in China and keep it in Communist China’s founder Mao sciousness in 1979 when Muhammad Zou won bronze at the Athens Olym- goodbye to boxing because I’d hate to “We want to tell everyone in China China.” Zedong banned the sport as too violent, Ali visited China at the invitation of pics in 2004, then gold at the Beijing part with it.”

Friday, July 21, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

ATHLETICS MOTORSPORT Qatar’s Abdulla Qatar’s ‘Iron Arm’ hoping for second straight T2 win in Bader aims for Baja Aragon medal in London Javelin thrower is scheduled to participate in Monaco Diamond League today

By Sports Reporter Doha

atar’s javelin thrower Ahmed Bader has wasted no time since his fi rst ever senior participa- tion – the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.Q The 21-year-old, who became the fi rst Qatari ever to take part in the Olympic javelin competition, has hit the ground running, qualifying for the 2017 World Championships in London after topping the competition in the 16th GCC Athletics Championship in April. Bader, who was the youngest competi- Agencies tant for race for us and I hope I tor in his discipline in Rio 2016, has kept Teruel, Spain can give the gift of the win back himself equally busy this year. Pushing to my country and our Emir, His himself in a two-month long training Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- camp in Finland, competing in Arab and efending FIA World mad al-Thani. Asian championships, and taking part in Cup T2 champion Adel “I have my old co-driver, the Diamond League series for the fi rst Abdulla resumes his Nasser al-Kuwari, back with time ever in his home town Doha in May. challenge for honours me so we are an all-Qatari team Bader is scheduled to participate in inD this year’s FIA World Cup for for this race. We did the Qatar Monaco Diamond League event today. Cross-Country Rallies at this Cross-Country Rally together in The javelin thrower’s latest competi- weekend’s Baja Aragón in the 2016 and we worked well togeth- tion saw him snag the silver medal in the baking heat and choking dust of er. I would also like to thank my 16th Asian Athletics Championships in central Spain. sponsors, the Qatar Motor and India held earlier this month. The Nissan Patrol driver will Motorcycle Federation, Nissan Commenting on the Asian Champion- not be able to retain his overall T2 Qatar’s Saleh Al-Hamad Al-Ma- ships, Bader said, “It was a really good ex- title this season after missing the na Co, Ooredoo and the Govern- perience. Competing in one of the strong- last round in Italy and suff ering ment of Qatar for their support.” est Asian Championships ever and leaving misfortune at earlier rounds of This year’s Spanish round of with a silver medal, it really gave me a lot the series. the FIA World Cup features re- more confi dence in my performance.” But the Qatari is confi dent that vised special stages in the remote He added, “That was the fi rst time I he can benefi t from support giv- rural areas around the town of had ever competed in the Asian Athlet- en by Saleh Al-Hamad Al-Mana Teruel. ics Championships, so although I wanted Co (Nissan Qatar), Ooredoo and Teams will tackle a super gold I’m still very happy with my per- the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle special stage of 9.6km today formance.” cation with your coach is the most im- two years, but fi ve or more. Javelin needs have many talented javelin throwers.” Federation (QMMF), for his QX evening and then two longer se- Bader is a graduate of Qatar’s Aspire portant thing. I speak about everything speed, strength and fl exibility so in a Despite his young age, Bader has high Rally Team Nissan to achieve a lective sections of 216.80km and Academy, the world-class sport and with him. Coach Esa is incredible. He has sense it’s a mixture of many disciplines.” hopes for the World Championships in second successive win in Eu- 139.20km tomorrow. The com- educational establishment based whose a personal best of over 90 metres,” the Bader’s gruelling training and compe- Athletics. rope’s most popular Baja. Adel petitive action draws to a close alumni include two-time Olympic med- young Olympian said. tition schedule, which he juggles along- “My goal for London is to reach the fi nished over 24 minutes ahead of with a single stage of 178.70km allist high jumper Mutaz Barshim, as well “Every day we try something new to side his education at Qatar University, is fi nal. Once I get there, anything is pos- Spaniard Josep Sole and 47 min- on Sunday. as two-time Junior World Champion and help me develop as an athlete; progress in to prepare him for the London 2017 World sible.” utes in front of César Sequiera Olympian Ashraf Elseify. javelin takes time and patience.” Championships in Athletics. The World Championships in Athlet- last year on his way to the pres- T2 CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY His stand-out performance, Bader ex- Never one to rest on his laurels, Bader’s “A big part of my preparation for the ics will take place in London from August tigious FIA T2 title. WORLD CUP STANDINGS plained, is the culmination of his expe- regimen includes training twice a day for World Championships in Athletics in 4-13, 2017, and will see more than 1,900 “We are back in the race again, 1. Yasir Saeidan (SAU) 215pts rience in Aspire Academy, his intensive a total of fi ve hours, alternating cycles London was to compete as many times as athletes from over 200 countries around here in Aragón in Spain,” said 2. Mansoor al-Helai (ARE) 91pts training, and his coach, Esa Utriainen, between weight training, throwing, and possible before it, while still giving myself the world take part. Team Qatar will be Adel Abdulla. “Everybody knows 3. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 86pts who was a former champion javelin speed training. time to rest to avoid any possibility of in- represented by Ahmed Bader, two-time this is the most important race of 4. Ahmed al-Shegawi (SAU) 46pts thrower for Finland. “One of the hardest things about the jury,” he said. Olympic medallist high jumper Mu- its kind in Europe. I really hope 5. Mohamed al-Harqan (QAT) 30pts Speaking ahead of his competition in javelin throw is improving yourself. One “My biggest competition in London taz Barshim, hammer throw champion that we can win the event (T2) as 6. Ahmed al-Malki (SAU) 27pts London 2017, Bader said, “Communi- metre can take you years – not just one or will defi nitely be the German team – they Ashraf Elseify, among other athletes. we did last year. It is an impor- 7. Marat Abykayev (KAZ) 26pts

CYCLING / TOUR DE FRANCE Froome eyes main rival Uran, Barguil wins on Izoard

AFP Col d’Izoard, France

hris Froome picked Rigoberto Uran as the biggest threat to his bid to win a fourth Tour de France after conserving his leadC as Warren Barguil won yesterday’s 18th stage. Froome fi nished fourth, giving up four bonus seconds to Romain Bardet but putting two more into Uran. Bardet moved up to second at 23sec with Uran dropping to third at 29sec in what has now become a three-way bat- tle for the Tour title. But with tomorrow’s 22.5m time-tri- al in Marseille the likely last chance to take time, Froome is feeling confi dent. “Defi nitely Rigo is still probably at this moment my biggest threat for the Great Britain’s Chris Froome (foreground) rides ahead of Colombia’s Rigoberto time-trial in Marseille from the GC Uran (third from left) during the 18th stage of the Tour de France yesterday. (AFP) group,” said Froome. “He’s the next strongest in the time- “After a lot of bad luck I’ve shown mental,” said an exhausted Bardet. trial. He’s only 29 seconds behind me fi nally my real potential to everybody.” “I gave absolutely everything.” so I imagine he’ll be the guy to look out Barguil, who had already sewn up the for.” king of the mountains polkadot jersey STAGE 18 RESULTS earlier in the day, leapt above two-time 1. Warren Barguil (SUN) 4:40:33 ‘ALPS THE TOUGHEST’ former winner Alberto Contador into 2. Darwin Atapuma (EAU) +0:20 In his previous Tour victories, Froome ninth overall. 3. Romain Bardet (ALM) +0:20 had always struggled on at least one Al- “I’m still in the clouds, I’ve left the 4. Chris Froome (SKY) +0:20 pine stage as rivals fought back against earth,” said Barguil. 5. Rigoberto Uran (CAN) +0:22 him. Team Sunweb rider Warren Barguil of France celebrates as he crosses the finish line to the win the 18th stage of the Tour de “It’s an exceptional day, I never have 6. Mikel Landa (SKY) +0:32 Those years, though, he had a much France in Izoard, France, yesterday. (Reuters) imagined I could win on the Izoard.” 7. Louis Meintjes (EAU) +0:37 greater advantage. This time, he Behind Barguil, Bardet launched an 8. Dan Martin (QST) +0:39 couldn’t aff ord to give up anything. with Bardet winning the sprint for third Sky teammate Mikel Landa jumped a two huge climbs of the day. attack 3km from the fi nish but Froome 9. Simon Yates (ORI) +0:59 “I’m happy to have passed the Alps against Froome and Uran, thus taking place to fourth at 1:36. He reeled in Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko and Colombian Uran stuck to him like 10. Alberto Contador (TRE) +1:09 without problems this year,” said the last four bonus seconds on off er. “Physical problems are part of sport halfway up the Izoard climb while the glue. Froome, 32. He and Uran at least kept their overall and you have to accept it,” said Aru. peloton led by Bardet’s AG2R team, at Briton Froome attacked next but Overall classification “The Alps are always the toughest hopes alive, which was more than could “And fi fth place isn’t something to be one point eight minutes back, started couldn’t stay clear and once they hit the 1. Chris Froome (Sky) 78:08:19 for me. Now I’m looking forward to the said of Fabio Aru. scoff ed at.” to close in. fi nal kilometre it was a battle of wills to 2. Romain Bardet (ALM) +0:23 time-trial in Marseille.” The Italian held the yellow jersey for Barguil made his move with 6km to the line at a vertiginous 2,360-metres 3. Rigoberto Uran (CAN) +0:29 Frenchman Barguil won his second two days last week, having also won ‘LIVING IN MY DREAM’ go but still had two minutes to make up above sea level. 4. Mikel Landa (SKY) +1:36 stage of the Tour on the imposing Col stage nine, the fi rst summit fi nish of the It was a thrilling battle on the fi nal on Atapuma, catching him with 1.4km Uran may have given up a few sec- 5. Fabio Aru (AST) +1:55 d’Izoard, having also tasted success on Tour. hors category climb at the end of the left and dropping him inside the fi nal onds, but is widely regarded a better 6. Dan Martin (QST) +2:56 Bastille Day, the French national holi- But he said he was handicapped by 179.5km Alpine 18th stage from Brian- kilometre to win the fi rst ever stage fi n- time-trialist than Bardet, who is only 7. Simon Yates (ORI) +4:46 day, on stage 13. bronchitis as he cracked and lost more con to the Col d’Izoard. ish on the Izoard. six seconds ahead. 8. Louis Meintjes (EAU) +6:52 Colombian Darwin Atapuma fi n- than a minute, dropping from fourth to Atapuma was part of an original 54- “I’m just living in my dream at the “I thought I was going to suff ocate 9. Warren Barguil (SUN) +8:22 ished second, 20sec behind Barguil, fi fth overall at 1min 55sec, as Froome’s man breakaway that splintered over the moment, it’s just crazy,” said Barguil. when I crossed the line, it was hugely 10. Alberto Contador (TRE) +8:34