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Wednesday 28 June 2017 | 4 Shawwal 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7206 | 2 Riyals

Qatar's pavilion at Astana Expo marks FM: Demands unacceptable National Day

Agencies Astana What has been QNA oreign Minister H E presented by the Sheikh Mohammed bin countries of the THE PAVILION of the State Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar in Expo Astana 2017 said yesterday that blockade are merely in the Republic of Kaza- demands by Arab claims that are not khstan celebrated Qatar's Fstates that his country stop aid- proved by evidence National Day, where a ing terrorism were baseless and and are not demands: number of different events Al Jazeera unacceptable, televi- Foreign Minister. were organised in addition sion reported. to a range of cultural and “What has been presented by heritage activities. the countries of the blockade are "We continue to call on those Minister of State for For- merely claims that are not countries to work together and eign Affairs H E Sultan bin proved by evidence and are not work this out." Saad Al Muraikhi attended the demands,” Sheikh Mohammed Saudi Foreign Minister Adel function along with Kaza- was quoted as saying. Al Jubeir, who was also in Wash- khstan's Vice-Minister of “The demands must be real- ington, was unbudging amid National Economy, Bakenov istic and enforceable and attempts by US and Kuwaiti dip- Ernar Bakytzhanovich. otherwise are unacceptable.” lomats to mediate the row. Al Muraikhi said that The Foreign Minister met US Riyadh has laid down a list marking the National Day at Secretary of State Rex Tillersoni of 13 demands for Qatar, Qatar's pavilion in Astana in Washington, yesterday. Tiller- included the closure of Al Expo 2017 reflects the pio- son is also meeting with Kuwait’s Jazeera, a downgrade of diplo- neering achievements and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al matic ties with Iran and the comprehensive renaissance Ahmed Al Sabah and Kuwait’s shutdown of a Turkish military of Qatar under the wise and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with US Secretary of State Minister of State for Cabinet base in the emirate. established leadership of the Affairs. He will then hold joint Meanwhile, German Foreign Rex Tillerson at the US State Department in Washington DC, yesterday. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin meeting with United Nations Sec- Minister Sigmar Gabriel yester- Hamad Al Thani. retary-General António Guterres day appealed to all sides in the escalation will serve no one." this is the starting point of nego- blockade imposed on Qatar by The Minister of State for and the Kuwaiti Minister to dis- Qatar crisis to hold direct talks to Gabriel told reporters at a tiations, that is not the end. And the Saudi Arabia-led bloc. Foreign Affairs added that cuss the current GCC crisis, avoid a further escalation, and joint news conference in Berlin so…necessary is to come to the Iranian Foreign Minister Qatar has provided an attrac- reported Al Jazeera. warned that continued tensions following a meeting with Iranian table and then negotiate. Then pointed out that "Problems, tive investment environment State Department Spokes- between Qatar and its neighbors Foreign Minister Mohammad we will see what kind of result issues, differences cannot be for various projects and woman Heather Nauert said would further deepen fault lines in Javad Zarif, that he viewed the is reachable," resolved through imposition of launched projects that reflect talks would continue through the the region. "The longer the crisis Arab list as the "starting point of For his part Zarif supported pressure and sanctions and the values of partnership week, but added the Saudi around Qatar continues, the deeper negotiations, not the end" when Gabriel's appeal for direct talks blockades". Zarif said Iran was between the public and private demands remained "challeng- and stronger the lines of conflict asked about a 13-point list issued between Qatar and the Arab interested in working towards a sectors in addition to promis- ing" for Qatar. will become," said Babriel, adding by Arab states. states calling for a political solu- political solution to the conflict ing investment opportunities in "Some of them will be diffi- that "We hope that there soon can Gabriel argued that this tion to the crisis."Our region with Qatar arguing that "pres- various sectors such as educa- cult for Qatar to incorporate and be direct discussion among all could be discussed at the nego- cannot tolerate any further esca- sure and sanctions and tion, health, tourism and sports. to try to adhere to," she said. those involved because a further tiation table. "My interpretation... lation," he said criticising the blockades" were not the answer. → See also page 2

Qatari riyal Hotel occupancy during Eid at 95% US Democratic Senator supports strengthens withholding arms sales to GCC THE Qatari riyal has QNA increasing demand from local demand for travel to Qatar from strengthened against the tourism, noting that demand for new markets in and out of the S Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland expressed US dollar in the forward otel occupancy in Qatar bookings during the Eid holiday Gulf region. his support to the announcement of Republican Senator market after two days of during Eid Al Fitr holiday was high, with Kuwaiti and The growing demand Uand Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on sharp falls caused by the Hwas over 95 percent Omani tourists making up the encouraged a drive in promo- Foreign Relations Bob Corker, who said he will withhold approval continued diplomatic rift despite the siege imposed on the biggest share of reservations tions that some hotels offered of US weapons sales to members of the Gulf Cooperation Council between Qatar and neigh- country, a number of officials besides the local residents' during the Eid holiday. Residents (GCC), until there is a path for settling the crisis in the region bouring Arab powers. and directors in Qatar's hospi- growing interest to benefit from of many luxury hotels enjoyed resulting from the siege laid by Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain One-month riyal for- tality sector said, dismissing promotions offered by hotels. a free extra night when they on Qatar. wards showed the reports in some media outlets Hospitality sector leaders booked two consecutive nights In a quote reported by the New York Times, Cardin said that currency marked as firm that claimed occupancy rates aim to diversify the markets by during Eid. Wael Maatouk, Gen- he shares "Senator Corkers concern that the current GCC dispute as 3.751 per dollar, accord- were low. attracting visitors from new eral Manager of Sharq Village distracts from our shared, most pressing security challenges defeat- ing to Reuters data, after Speaking to QNA, the offi- countries as the occupancy rates and Spa, said the property ing ISIS." In a letter sent to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and hitting a low of 3.793 on cials highlighted the growth in during the weekend shows the enjoyed a good occupancy rate circulating in different media outlets, Corker said that the GCC coun- Monday. tourist numbers from Kuwait substantial capacities of the hos- during Ramadan, adding that tries must put in more effort to stand up to terrorism. He noted that Three-month for- and Oman as well as the pitality sector and the increasing Eid reservations reached 100%. the recent conflicts can only harm efforts to fight ISIS. wards also saw the riyal strengthening to 3.755 compared to the previous day's low of 3.796. Qatari assets have Visitors from Kuwait and Oman praise Katara Eid Festival come under pressure since Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt QNA because it provides visitors with imposed a boycott on the all kinds of entertainment and Arab Gulf country three isitors from Kuwait and fun in an intimate family weeks ago. Oman have praised the atmosphere." Vvarious entertainment Abdullah Karam, also from FIFA: No improper activities in Qatar during Eid Al Kuwait, described Katara as a Fitr holiday, commending Katara's comprehensive cultural and activity by Qatar Eid festival and its attention to touristic city in the region that Arab heritage and presenting it in speaks to the cultural and urban THE World Cup bidding an amusing fashion. renaissance in Qatar. "What I report published for the Nasser Al Ajamai, a Kuwaiti saw during my first visit to first time yesterday high- national, said that Katara, which Katara is more than wonderful. lights the unease of he was visiting for the second It deserves this leading status as investigators looking into time, is a cultural, touristic and an ideal destination for Gulf cit- Qatar's methods to win the social project that "reflects izens on holidays," Karam said, vote, concluded there was Qatar's civilisational vision and expressing delight about Katara's no "evidence of any its keenness on the welfare of its offerings of entertaining per- improper activity by the citizens and visitors", adding that formances and interesting bid team." the project "has become widely cultural segments. Traditional dance during Eid celebrations at Doha Festival City, yesterday. famous across the Gulf region → Continued on page 3 Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 Emergency cases treated Al Muraikhi visits Expo Astana 2017 at HGH down during Eid

Fazeena Saleem should not miss medications and The Peninsula At least 590 cases must avoid rich, salty, sugary food items during the festive season. he number of cases were treated at Also should try to avoid restau- treated at Hamad Gen- the Emergency rant food,” Dr Al Shaikly. eral Hospitals’ Department on the During the three days of the Emergency Depart- third day of Eid Al Fitr. Eid holidays, the Emergency ment has seen a However, no critical Department has treated total of Tdecrease this year during the Eid 1,512 cases due to road accidents, Al Fitr holidays compared to pre- cases as well as trauma, cardiac problems and vious years, says a an official. deaths were reported other reasons. At least 590 cases were unlike in the previous Among them ten were seen treated at the Emergency Depart- due to road traffic accidents and ment on the third day of Eid Al years. no serious cases were reported. Fitr, yesterday. Among them two Some 36 cases were treated for were related to cardiac problems, Eid holidays. In previous years we cardiac problems, more than 50 one road traffic accident and 16 get around 1,500 cases and it has for stomach ailments and around with minor stomach ailments. No even been 2,000 cases in some 60 for trauma due to different Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi visited Qatar's hospital admissions were days. This year it is very less com- reasons. During Ramadan and Eid pavilion at Astana Expo 2017, yesterday. Al Muraikhi attended the function along with reported and the cases were pared to the previous years and holidays, the Emergency units of Kazakhstan's Vice-Minister of National Economy, Bakenov Ernar Bakytzhanovich; Qatar's received between 6am and 6pm. its mainly due awareness,” Dr Al Hamad Medical Corporation Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Ahmed bin Ali Al Tamimi; Astana Expo President Akhmetzhan However, no critical cases as Shaikly told The Peninsula. (HMC) receive increased number well as deaths were reported But he said that people with of cases commonly due to stom- Yessimov; staff of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce's committee on preparation unlike in the previous years, said conditions like diabetes and ach ailments and road traffic for participation in the exhibition; official delegations from participating countries; and Dr Ahmed Al Shaikly, Consultant hypertension have a tendency of accidents. In a bid to reduce such media personalities. Al Muraikhi also met Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, at the Emergency department. missing medicines and consum- cases, the HMC taken steps to cre- Kairat Abdrakhmanov, and Minister of National Economy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, “It’s a very good sign that ing food which make them fall ate awareness among people Suleimenov Timur Muratovich. The meetings dealt with bilateral relations and means to there were no serious cases or sick. “Some people fall sick during Ramadan and Eid promote them in addition to topics of mutual interest. mortality was reported during this because of their habit. They holidays. Ministry conducts major cleaning drive during Eid holidays

The Peninsula

he Ministry of Municipal- ity and Environment Testablished special teams to supervise and conduct clean- ing work in different parts of the country for the Eid holidays, said a senior official from the Ministry. The Ministry, represented by the General Cleanness Department, has formed teams before the Eid to supervise and conduct the cleaning activities which covers all parts of the country, said Safar Mubarak Al Shafi, Director of the General Cleanness Department of the Ministry. Personnel from the General Cleanness Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment conduct cleaning drive at various part of the country. The cleaning drive was focused on the coastal areas major turnout of visitors during was carried out in two shifts department is giving priority to Corniche, public parks and deployed as part of pre- such as Sealine and Al Gharri- the Eid days, said Al Shafi, high- morning from 4am to 6pm. areas of pubic gathering dur- beaches where teams of clean- planned work plans for such yah beaches which witnessed a lighting that the cleaning drive Al Shafi noted that his ing the Eid celebrations like ers and supervisors have been events. Major international award for Traffic violations go up Al Jazeera’s programme on women with rise in population

Irfan Bukhari In May, the population of Qatar The Peninsula Callan’s film The Peninsula also touched an all-time high cross- focuses on the ing 2.7 million. It was 2,700,539 in ela Callan has been named the women working sharp increase of 82 percent May 2017, while it was counted 2017 winner of the Jane Cunning- for Tribal News has been registered in traffic 2,675,522 in April this year. Alone in Aham Croly Award for Excellence Network, a radio A violations of all nature in May April and May this year as many as in Journalism Covering Issues of Con- station that broad- 2017 in Qatar when compared to 17,106 new driving licences were cern to Women for her film broadcast casts across April this year on month on month issued in Qatar. As many as 5,835 on Al Jazeera’s 101 East programme. Pakistan’s troubled basis. driving licences were issued in May Callan won the award for “Good border region with The traffic violations are of dif- 2017, and 6,874 licences in April this Morning Pakistan”, a film about female Afghanistan. She ferent nature including speeding, year to non-Qatari males, the reporters risking their lives to deliver the meets the team passing red light signal, violating traf- monthly statistics bulletin reveals. news in one of the most dangerous coun- making women’s fic signs or instructions, non-renewal The driving licences issued to Qatari tries for journalists. The documentary voices heard in a of registration or driving licences, etc. males, Qatari females and non-Qatari aired on 101 East, Al Jazeera’s weekly part of the world The 41th edition of Qatar’s males in these two months are 4397. Asian current affairs programme. where they are not Monthly Statistics recently released With the increase in population The Jane Cunningham Croly Award often seen in pub- by the Ministry of Development Plan- and more driving licences, the recognises journalists who best capture lic life. ning and Statistics for May 2017 number of vehicles is also increas- the courage, vision and spirit of Jane “Good Morning indicates that the total number of ing every month. Only in May, April Cunningham Croly, a pioneering jour- Pakistan” also traffic violations registered in April 2017, as many as 14,250 new vehi- nalist who devoted her life to helping recently won a 2017 was 155,963 while it jumped to cles were cleared. women improve their lives and expand Gold Medal at the 283,832 in May 2017, registering an As many as 7,651 new vehicles their rights. New York Festival increase of 82 percent (MoM basis). were cleared in May 2017 and 6,599 The award organisers said Callan’s Film and Television According to newly-released sta- new vehicles were cleared in April film “demonstrated a concern for the Awards. tistics, if the number of traffic 2017, according to the bulletin. The rights and the advancement of women Callan was pre- violations is compared with the document further reveals an increase in society and made a bold statement sented with the number of traffic violations regis- of 15.9 percent in registration of new about the challenges women journalists Croly Award at a tered in the same month of the last vehicles of all kinds in the given face”. gala ceremony on year (May 2016), there is an increase period on MoM basis. Callan is the first international award June 26 in Palm of 99.6 percent in traffic violations. Like increase in traffic violations, winner. “It’s an honour to win this Springs, The increase in incidents of traf- traffic accidents also increased from award,” said Callan. “It’s a chance to California. fic violations is directly linked with 509 in April 2017 to 558 in May this again highlight the brave young women Callan reports the increase in population and year registering a 9.6 percent increase. who risk their lives reporting on Paki- international sto- increase in number of vehicles on the According to monthly statistics report stan’s tribal areas. In a society shaped by ries, from Nepal roads. Improved mechanism of the of the ministry, Madinat Khalifa wit- Aela Callan receiving the Jane Cunningham Croly Award conservative attitudes and where threats and Myanmar to Traffic Department to catch all vio- nessed a 23.6 percent increase in May for Excellence in Journalism. by armed groups have shut down most Cambodia and lations like installing mobile radars 2017 when compared to April 2017 media outlets, these reporters take France, Callan has at various roads of the country is (MoM basis) while Dukhan has wit- incredible risks to tell stories that only been producing films for 101 East since Journalism Innovation at Stanford Uni- another important factor behind this nessed a 17.4 percent decrease in the women can tell.” 2011. She was a Knight Fellow for versity in 2013-2014. increase. same period on MoM basis. WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 HOME 03

People take part in a drawing event at Gulf Mall, yesterday. RIGHT: Summer Festival 2017 and Eid celebrations going on at Doha Festival City. Pics: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula Huge crowd throng malls & outdoor venues for festivities

The Peninsula cream but for the playful ice also attracted crowds. Qatari cream vendor who never failed singer Saoud Jassim enthralled alls and outdoor to put a smile on the customers’ audience in attendance in a con- venues hosting Eid faces. cert which concluded yesterday’s activities yesterday Although malls which are DFC events. People at Gulf Mall saw hordes of peo- participating in Eid Celebrations watched in awe as Tanoura danc- ple taking organised by Qatar Tourism ers swirled around their Madvantage of the final day of Eid Authority (QTA) are hosting Eid breathtaking routines, while the Al Fitr holiday. activities until Thursday, many roaming circus, mime and human Souq Waqif was teeming with people especially families visited statues also attracted attention families who flocked to the gigan- them to enjoy free family-friendly from many a visitor. tic tent especially set up for the entertainment. Families who chose to spend celebrations where children Hundreds of visitors flocked their time in The Mall did not only enjoyed the various offerings such to the recently opened Doha Fes- enjoy the roaming mascots and as redemption games, bouncy tival City (DFC) to watch a fun parades, they also liked activities castles and bump cars. parade throughout the mall fea- that hone children’s skills such as Restaurants as well as food turing various artistes including painting and educational games. carts scattered around Souq stilt walkers garbed in their col- The Entertainment City at Waqif which sell street food and ourful costumes. They also Doha Exhibition and Convention snacks witnessed brisk business enjoyed having their photos taken Centre, as well other participat- till late at night. One of the more with living bronze statues, one of ing malls including Al Khor Mall, popular food carts is the one sell- the features of the celebrations. Mall of Qatar, Lagoona Mall and ing Turkish ice cream not only for Ardha dancers and African Drum- Landmark Mall also drew huge the deliciously flavoured ice mers as well as the Ice Age Show number of people. Children enjoy activities at Gulf Mall. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula Eid celebrations continue with wide-ranging events Katara QNA festival that has a wide vari- enthralls ety of events. Qatar Tourism espite the siege laid by Authority for its part is keen some GCC countries on on organising a number of DQatar, citizens and res- events every year during Eid visitors idents as well as visitors from to attract the public in Qatar → Continued from page 1 around the world continue to and tourists as well. enjoy Eid which is being cel- Other institutions, sports Omani visitors echoed the same ebrated by Muslims all over clubs, and youth centres of the impression about Katara. Naji Haidar Al the world. Ministry of Culture and Sports Balushi said he was visiting Katara for the The State of Qatar remains are hosting wide-ranging first time with his family after hearing a preferred destination to events to celebrate Eid. In about it from friends and media and "I was many people from the GCC Qatar Sports Club, there is the surprised about the various cultural and and around the world despite 30th Eid festival that is taking entertainment programs that it offers, the siege. This is mainly due place at the sports venue in which entertain families" in a warm atmos- to the good hospitality of the cooperation with Qatar Vol- phere. "It really deserves to visited several Qatari society and their wel- untary Center. times and I'll put it on top of my destina- coming manner. It is also due This year's event is under tions during my future visits to Qatar." to the strong efforts made by the theme of "Tamim Al Majd" Although Ali Al Hamadani, another state institutions and private (Tamim is Glory.) The festival Omani visitor, was in Katara for the sixth ones to ensure this Eid organisers are holding a time, he said that every time he finds dif- remains a special occasion. number of games and will ferent entertainment activities, adding that They held a wide variety of hand out trophies and gifts to Katara is "the most beautiful place to spend events with the goal of main- the winners. Eid and holidays" as it features "culture, taining a joyful atmosphere Science activities organ- entertainment and knowledge and has the during those blessed days. ised by the Qatar Science Club necessary facilities for any tourist in terms Many streets, parks, and started yesterday at Mall of of restaurants and cafes that offer the best malls were especially deco- Qatar including a full pro- in world cuisine." rated in the spirit of Eid. In gramme of science shows, 3D Adnan Al Buraiki, also from Oman, Souq Waqif for instance, you'll dome, learning station, 3D highlighted Katara's attention to heritage, find many festivals and events. printing and robot making and noting that it brings together all forms of Those events could range will continue throughout the heritage in the same place as the different from being art-related to any Eid holidays. activities "take you on an entertaining jour- other form of entertainment Al Kaaban Youth Center ney through our Arab heritage treasures events. There is a family tent held a two-day Eid Al Fitr fes- and delve into the depths of the past." filled with games for children tival including entertainment The second day of Katara festival drew from all ages that receive vis- activities, children games and wide public attendance as visitors enjoyed itors on all Eid days gifts offered to the families artistic and drama performances as well as throughout the day. There are and visitors of Al Kaaban area. dazzling fireworks that added an atmosphere also special plays performed In addition, Al Jumayliyah of joy excitement, in addition to a theater for children. Youth Center held a children's play featuring stories from Arab heritage that Souq Al Wakrah for its festival with a diverse pro- attracted huge numbers of visitors. part has a large tent enough gramme with gifts for winners Khaled Abdulraheem Al Sayyed, the to fit 700 people. The tent and visitors. head of the festival's organizing commit- hosts a musical entitled Sea Different malls around tee, said they were keen on presenting new Mermaid. The show adopts Doha such as Mall of Qatar, and innovative concepts that "combine our many of the latest technology Hyatt Plaza, Doha City Cen- original Arab heritage with its interesting of sound and lighting, dedi- tre, Ezdan Mall, Lagoona Mall tales and sophisticated modern technol- cated to children and all and Dar Al Salam Mall are ogy," noting that the performances are family members. The show is organising various attractive drawing wide audience from several one hour long, performed entertainment shows for chil- nationalities, especially Gulf visitors who twice a day on all Eid days. dren and families. Each chose Qatar as their Eid holiday There are a wide variety of shopping centre offers a vari- Children enjoy Eid activities at the Souq Waqif, yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP / The Peninsula destination. games available for ety of entertainment and Al Sayyed added that Katara has pro- children. educational activities as well vided all services and facilities for the In Katara Cultural Village, as fun activities offered in the filled with events, live shows, The Aqua Park is also cel- with parasailing tours from visitors such as transportation from and Eid Al Fitr festival continues Pearl. games, and entertainment, the ebrating Eid with fun and Sealine to Mesaied, museum to parking areas, drinking water, special with a focus on celebrating The Doha Exhibition and programme will continue to entertaining activities for tours and other activities cars for people with disabilities, an infor- Arab heritage. Aspire, mean- Convention Center is organ- run till the end of the summer those interested in water offered and provided to all mation centre, restaurants and cafes, and while, is holding a sports ising an entertainment city season. games. Eid activities continue families in Qatar and abroad. ATMs. 04 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017

Moroccan police Iraq forces seize more ground in Mosul arrest 50 after protest clashes Mosul Reuters Iraqi forces had RABAT: Around 50 protest- about 600 meters ers were arrested following raqi forces yesterday left to cover before violent clashes with Moroc- pushed towards the river can police in the northern city side of Mosul’s Old City, reaching Mosul’s of Al Hoceima on Monday their key target in the Corniche road along during the Eid Al Fitr holiday, eight-month campaign to the western bank of a local rights activist said. Icapture Islamic State’s (IS) de- Since police in the North the Tigris, federal facto capital, and Iraq’s prime African country arrested minister predicted victory very police commander Nasser Zefzafi, who organ- soon. Lieutenant General ised protests against Iraqi forces, battling up to Raed Shaker Jawdat corruption and unemploy- 350 militants dug in among ment, on May 29, civilians in the Old City, said told Iraqi State TV. demonstrations have taken federal police had dislodged IS place on an almost daily basis insurgents from the Ziwani and more than 100 activists mosque and were only a few forces will reach Corniche and have been detained by police. days away from ousting mili- bring the battle to its conclu- Dozens of others have been tants completely from the Old sion,” said Jawdat, adding that sentenced to varying prison City. police had forced militants out terms. According to MAP state “The victory announcement of Ziwani mosque in the Old news agency, 39 police were will come in a very short time,” City’s southwestern corner. admitted to hospital after Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi The fall of the northern Iraqi being injured by “a group of said on his website on Monday city would mark the end of the individuals” who threw evening. Iraqi half of the “caliphate” pro- stones at the officials on Mon- “The operation is continu- claimed by Islamic State, though day night. ing to free the remaining parts the militant group remains in of the Old City,” Lieutenant Gen- control of large areas of both A member of the Iraqi Federal Police (right), throws a hand grenade against Islamic State Landmine kills eral Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi of Iraq and Syria. the Counter Terrorism Service In Syria, the Islamic State- militants at the frontline in the Old City of Mosul, Iraq, yesterday. eight in Kenya (CTS) told a Reuters correspond- held capital of Raqqa, is virtually ent near the frontline in the encircled by a US-backed, the al-Mashahda quarter in the traps and using suicide bomb- coalition is providing air and MOMBASA: Four police offic- heart of the Old City. Kurdish-led coalition. northwestern corner of the Old ers and snipers. ground support in the eight- ers and four civilians were Iraqi forces had about 600 Federal police and elite CTS City, a military statement said. Those residents who have month-old offensive. killed yesterday after their meters (2,000 ft) left to cover units in Mosul were battling Up to 350 militants are esti- escaped say many of the civil- The Iraqi government once truck hit a landmine on a before reaching Mosul’s Cor- with IS fighters in the Old City’s mated by the Iraqi military to ians trapped behind Islamic hoped to take Mosul by the end road near Kenya’s border niche road along the western maze of narrow alleyways, be dug in in the Old City among State lines—put at 50,000 by the of 2016, but fighting has dragged with Somalia, police officials bank of the Tigris, federal police along with the army and inte- civilians in wrecked houses and Iraqi military - are in a desper- on as militants have reinforced said, in the second such commander Lieutenant General rior ministry units. Iraqi forces crumbling infrastructure. They ate situation with little food, positions in civilian areas, effec- attack this month. Raed Shaker Jawdat told Iraqi seized more ground, the army’s are trying to slow the advance water or medicines. tively using residents as human Another four police offic- State TV. “In a few days our 16th infantry division capturing of Iraqi forces by laying booby A US-led international shields. ers and one civilian died in a blast in northeast Kenya on June 16, while at least eight police officers were killed in two roadside bombings a Preparations for another Syrian UN envoy optimistic month earlier. Somalia’s mil- itant Islamist al Shabaab group claimed responsibility chemical attack, says Pentagon over Syria talks in July for the May attacks. “Four police officers and United Nations four children have been killed Washington/Moscow States collected its intelligence. Peskov told a conference call AFP in an IED explosion in Lamu Reuters “This involved specific aircraft with reporters yesterday. (county),” police spokesman in a specific hangar, both of “Certainly, we consider such he UN envoy for Syria said yesterday he hoped that talks set Charles Owino said of Tues- he United States warned which we know to be associated threats to the legitimate leader- to begin next week in Astana would help create favorable day’s blast, without giving Syria’s leadership against with chemical weapons use,” ship of the Syrian Arab Republic Tconditions for the next round of talks scheduled in Geneva, further details. Tstaging a chemical weap- Davis said. unacceptable.” despite rising tensions. Staffan de Mistura's remarks came a day ons attack after Washington The White House said on Russian officials have pri- after the United States announced the regime of Bashar Al Assad detected what appeared to be Monday it appeared the Syrian vately described the war in Syria was preparing a fresh chemical attack, warning that Damascus Ex- Syrian defence active preparations at a Syrian government was preparing for as the biggest source of tension would pay a "heavy price" for such an assault. minister dies in Paris airfield used for such an attack another chemical weapons between Moscow and Washing- "The ideal trajectory over the coming two weeks could be... in April, US officials said. attack and it warned Assad that ton, and the April cruise missile progress in Astana on 4-5 July, then a further set of joint techni- PARIS: Syria's former Russia, Syrian President he and his military would “pay strike ordered by US President cal aspects meetings with the opposition group in the same week, defence minister Mustafa Bashar Al Assad’s main interna- a heavy price” if it went ahead. Donald Trump raised the risk of and then a continued discussion and dialogue hopefully among Tlass, a close friend of Pres- tional backer, denounced the The U.S. strike on the Shay- confrontation between them. main international stakeholders including at the G20 summit in ident Bashar Al Assad's father warning and dismissed White rat airfield followed the deaths Assad visited a Russian air Hamburg on 7-8 July," said De Mistura. and predecessor Hafez, died House assertions that a strike of 87 people in what Washing- base at Hmeymim in western "I hope the combination of these elements would help shape in Paris yesterday, his son was being prepared as “unac- ton said was a poison gas attack Syria on Tuesday, his first visit an environment conducive for the next round of Inter-Syrian talks Firas said. He was 85. Tlass, ceptable,” raising the tension in rebel-held territory two days to the base from which Russian in Geneva" in July, he added. Fresh talks for peace in Syria spon- whose other son Manaf was between Washington and Mos- earlier. Syria denied it carried jets have supported his war sored by Russia, Iran and Turkey are set to be held in Astana, the among the most high-profile cow over the Syrian civil war. out the attack. effort. Photos circulated showed capital of Kazakhstan, on July 4 and July 5 before a seventh round regime officials to defect dur- Pentagon spokesman Cap- The White House said the the Syrian leader in the cockpit of UN-sponsored negotiations on July 10 in Geneva. ing the early days of Syria's tain Jeff Davis said the United recent preparations in Syria of a Russian Sukhoi SU-35 war- During the last talks in Astana in May, Russia and Iran — allies uprising, died in a hospital on States had recently seen activ- were similar to actions before plane, and inspecting weapons, of Assad — and Turkey, a supporter of the rebels, adopted a plan the outskirts of the French ity at Shayrat airfield, the same the April attack. But Russia chal- personnel and armored vehicles that envisaged the creation of secured zones in order to establish capital. Tlass "died this morn- base targeted by a US cruise lenged the US intelligence. at the base near Latakia. a lasting truce in several regions. ing at the Avicenne hospital missile strike on April 6. “I am not aware of any On Sunday, he performed The plan had allowed many towns to have return to some and will be buried in Paris in Davis said the activity was information about a threat that Moslem prayers in Hama, the degree of normalcy, said De Mistura, even though "in some areas the hope he can one day be from “the past day or two.” He chemical weapons can be used,” first time he has visited the city the fight and violence has been continuing and in fact buried in Damascus," Firas did not say how the United Kremlin spokesman Dmitry since the start of the conflict. intensified." Tlass said.

Mossad creates fund Jubilee manifesto unveiled Over 50 African migrants feared to invest in tech firms AFP dead in Niger’s Sahara desert

JERUSALEM: Israel's Mossad spy Niamey their nationalities. “The migrants were agency is starting a fund to invest in Reuters abandoned about 50 miles from Siguid- technology firms creating products ine,” Fatoumi Goudou, a prefect in the that could assist its work, including ver 50 African migrants are feared Bilma department of Niger, told those involving robotics and encryp- dead in the Sahara desert of north- Reuters. tion, the prime minister's office said Oern Niger yesterday after being It is not clear why the drivers aban- yesterday. abandoned by their drivers, aid workers doned their passengers, but rival militias The fund, to be called Libertad, and local officials said. and militants seeking money often stop will invest in research and develop- A convoy of three pick-up trucks migrant convoys and are a constant haz- ment programmes at "cutting-edge were transporting over 70 migrants north ard for smugglers. technology startup companies," a through the Sahara Desert towards Hundreds of thousands of impover- statement said. Libya—a typical route for West Africans ished West Africans risk their lives It said it was calling on firms to seeking to reach Europe— when the driv- crossing the Sahara each year to try to submit proposals, particularly in ers abandoned them. reach Europe, crammed on the back of areas including robotics, encryption Twenty-three of the migrants sur- pick-up trucks and with few provisions and personality profiling. The state- vived after walking to a nearby town for to survive if something goes wrong. ment said Mossad would not publicise help, the International Organization for It is one of the most dangerous parts the names of the firms in which it Migration said in a press release on Tues- of the journey, though the number of invests. day, which said the survivors came from deaths in the vast and unpopulated region It said Libertad would be open to Nigeria, Gambia, Ivory Coast and is hard to track. Some estimate that thou- anyone and provided an email Senegal. sands die each year—more than in the address to submit proposals (apply@ A local official told Reuters that of the Mediterranean sea between Africa and libertad.gov.il), adding that it would remaining 52, at least 15 were known to Europe. Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta acknowledges supporters during offer up to two million shekels have died from thirst while attempts on Over 40 West African migrants died the unveiling of the Jubilee Party's manifesto in Nairobi, yesterday. ($570,000, 500,000 euros) for Monday to find the rest were unsuccess- of thirst last month in northern Niger after projects. ful. There was no immediate word on their truck broke down. WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 ASIA 05 India & US urge Pakistan to fight terrorism

New Delhi cooperation to tackle increasing IANS Fighting terror radicalisation, extremism and The statement, terrorism. n a strong message to issued after the He said India and US were Islamabad, the US and India meeting, specifically concerned over growing insta- have told Pakistan to referred to the terror bility in Afghanistan due to ensure its territory is not attacks in Mumbai terrorism. He said the two coun- used for terror attacks on tries will maintain close (2008) and Iother countries and asked it to consultation, communication bring to justice terrorists blamed Pathankot (2016) and coordination to ensure peace for attacks in Mumbai and other that it said were there. Trump said both India and places in India. perpetrated by the US had been struck by ter- A joint statement issued after Pakistan-based rorism, "and we are both US President Donald Trump and groups and said the determined to destroy terrorist Prime Minister Narendra Modi terrorists must be organisations and the radical met here late on Monday stressed expeditiously ideology that drives them. that terrorism was a global brought to justice. "We will destroy radical scourge that must be fought and Islamist terrorism," he said. terrorist safe havens rooted out The statement also "Our militaries are working in every part of the world. stressed that every day to enhance coopera- The statement said India and terrorism was a tion between our military forces. the US will fight together "this global scourge that And next month, they will join grave challenge to humanity". must be fought and together with the Japanese navy The statement specifically terrorist safe havens to take place in the largest mar- referred to the terror attacks in itime exercise ever conducted in rooted out in every Mumbai (2008) and Pathankot the vast Indian Ocean." part of the world. (2016) that it said were perpe- Answering questions later, trated by Pakistan-based groups Indian Foreign Secretary S Jais- and said the terrorists must be leader Syed Salahuddin as a Spe- hankar said the US move to expeditiously brought to cially Designated Global Terrorist declare Syed Salahuddin as a justice. - just ahead of the Trump-Modi global terrorist had sent a clear Dutch King Willem Alexander (right) and Queen Maxima with Prime Minister Narendra Modi The two countries expressed meet of Monday -- "as evidence signal. "You should take the step at Villa Eikenhorst in Wassenaar, near The Hague, yesterday. their commitment to strengthen of the commitment of the US to for what it is. It is in a sense fix- cooperation against terrorist end terror in all its forms". ing responsibility, highlighting a threats from groups including Al In their remarks to the media problem. "There is a context to Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad after delegation level talks, both it... It is focusing on a particular (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Modi and Trump spoke of their group and a particular individ- Modi meets Dutch counterpart D-Company and their commitment to combat terror- ual... I think none of us can really affiliates. ism. Modi said battling terror miss that message." The LeT was blamed for the and destroying terrorist hideouts The Foreign Secretary said Netherlands signed three agreements, includ- "it is absolutely natural that we Mumbai mayhem of November would be an important part of there was a broad discussion on AP ing a memorandum of focus even more on our bilateral 2008 that killed 166 Indians and mutual cooperation. Pakistan. It was also extensive understanding (MoU) on water relations." After his talks with foreigners including Americans. "We will enhance the intel- and very detailed on certain ndian Prime Minister Naren- cooperation, following a meet- Rutte and other government The Jaish was accused of attack- ligence exchange to boost issues. "We had very much con- dra Modi has met his Dutch ing between Prime Minister ministers, Modi was meeting ing the Indian Air Force base at coordination to address our verging viewpoint of what is the Icounterpart during a brief Narendra Modi and Dutch Pre- Dutch King Willem-Alexander Pathankot in Punjab, leaving common concerns over terror- problem, let us diagnose the stop in the Netherlands on his mier Mark Rutte here. and Queen Maxima at their home seven security personnel dead. ism and will deepen our policy problem. And it is not just the way home from meeting Presi- Modi says that in the year outside The Hague and later was India appreciated the US coordination accordingly." Indian situation... A lot of discus- dent Donald Trump in that the Netherlands and India heading to a gathering of mem- decision to designate the Paki- Modi said the two countries sion related to what was Washington. mark the 70th anniversary of bers of the Indian community in stan-based Hizbul Mujahideen had agreed to increase happening in Afghanistan." India and the Netherlands establishing diplomatic relations, The Hague. Police bungled Malayalam actress kidnap case: Congress Meira Kumar to begin campaign Thiruvananthapuram outcome of the case. "Soon after Chennithala was responding to Malayalam Movie Artistes arrested two persons for black- IANS the kidnap episode, Vijayan at a Malayalam superstar Dileep. (AMMA) would break its silence mailing Dileep and his friend from Sabarmati public meeting passed the judg- The actor on Monday alleged on the issue. As AMMA will hold actor-director Nadir Shah. One he Congress party yester- ment that there is no conspiracy," that certain sections of the media a two-day meeting in Kochi from of the two, Vishnu, was alleged New Delhi day alleged that the Chennithala said, adding that it were trying to malign his repu- today, Chennithala hoped the to have threatened Dileep and IANS TMalayalam actress kidnap led to the case remaining tation by linking him to the issue would be raised in it. "I feel Shah to cough up Rs 1.50 crore case has been bungled by Ker- unsolved for so long. abduction case. He said he was they will certainly take up this or else he would reveal their role pposition presidential ala Police. Former Home He said Vijayan's public prepared to undergo narco anal- issue at their meeting," he said. in the kidnap conspiracy. Vishnu candidate Meira Minister and present Leader of statement was why even after so ysis and brain mapping to prove AMMA maintained silence on also alleged that Dileep and Shah OKumar yesterday said Opposition Ramesh Chennith- long so many versions exist his innocence. the issue. In the past few days, offered Rs 2 crore by some oth- she will start her election ala blamed Chief Minister about what happened, "with the The Congress leader hoped the case has taken twists and ers in the Malayalam film campaign from Sabarmati Pinarayi Vijayan for the lack of truth still not coming out". that the Association of turns. On Sunday the police industry in the kidnap case. Ashram in Ahmedabad on June 30. "I feel I should start my election campaign from Sabarmati Ashram in GJM activists burn GTA papers Mumbai jail authorities Ahmedabad," she said, a day ahead of filing her nomina- tion papers. "Everybody Darjeeling asked to produce Indrani knows the significance of IANS Sabarmati in our country. The 'sant' of Sabarmati (Mahatma n a bid to cut all ties with the Mumbai anything happened to her in Gandhi) played an important West Bengal government and IANS jail. The victim in the prison role in the freedom move- Ito protest the development violence was a jail warden, ment of our country. That's board of the North Bengal hills, CBI Special Court yester- Manjula Shetye -- a 40-year- why I am going there." the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha day ordered the Byculla old prisoner serving the last few (GJM) yesterday burnt docu- A Jail authorities to pro- months of her 14-year jail term ments of the Gorkhaland duce inmate Indrani Mukerjea for murdering her sister-in-law Five persons Territorial Administration (GTA) before the court today follow- in 1996 -- who complained agreement. ing a complaint of assault inside about some missing ration from dead in Delhi fire The GTA activists gathered the prison, her lawyer said the jail stock on Friday. She was at Chowk Bazar and publicly set yesterday. allegedly summoned by a New Delhi fire to the documents. "We moved an application woman jailor and beaten up IANS They announced more ral- before Special Judge J.C. Jagdale brutally, according to witness lies would be held and warned citing injuries and bruise marks statements recorded by police. ive persons, including a Supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chant all other parties against taking on Indrani's body and head Shetye was rushed to the Sir J.J. six-year-old girl, have part in any fresh elections to the slogans before burning copies of the Gorkhaland Territorial during the jail riots of June 24," Hospital nearby but was pro- Fdied and four others GTA in the hills. The scheduled Administration (GTA) agreement during a protest in Dagapur lawyer Gunjan Mangla said. nounced dead on arrival. injured in a fire that broke out demonstration drew a huge village on the outskirts of Siliguri, yesterday. Mumbai NGO Jai Ho Foun- Upon learning of her death, in a slum here, the city police crowd from all across the North dation yesterday appealed to the other prisoners resorted to said yesterday. Bengal hill town. The demon- today, GTA would be a non- supporters gathered in large the Bombay High Court to order violence in the jail on Saturday The fire broke out in a strators carried the Tricolor entity in the hills. We do not numbers at various places in a probe by a specialised agency morning, attacking jailor and slum cluster in the Okhla along with the GJM party flag want the GTA anymore. The only Siliguri. or the Central Bureau of Inves- polic personnel and damaging Industrial Area around 10pm and raised pro-Gorkhaland slo- thing we want now is Gorkha- The local Morcha leadership tigation (CBI) into the jail the prison properties. on Monday. gans, demanding statehood. land," Binay Tamang, GJM's blamed Chief Minister Mamata violence. In her application, Transferred from Pune's Nine people were trapped The GJM leadership present Assistant General Secretary, Banerjee of trying to polarise the Mukerjea has also claimed that Yerawada Central Jail, Shetye in the blaze, of whom five are at the Chowk Bazar said similar said. "None of the political par- people in the hills and pledged she had been threatened with was due to be released in a few dead. When th victims were demonstrations would be held ties in the hills would participate to continue their fight till their sexual assault in the jail and months. She was made a jail rushed to the Safdarjung and at 45 other places in Darjeeling, in any form of GTA election. But demand for a separate Gorkha- how she sustained injuries dur- warden for her good conduct ESI hospitals, four of them Kalimpong and the Dooars if the state government tries to land is fulfilled. ing the prison violence on and made in-charge of one of were declared brought dead, region. They said the burning of impose the election here and "Mamata Banerjee has Saturday which left a woman the barracks in the Byculla Jail. and the fifth died during the GTA documents officially anyone tries to fight the election repeatedly come to the hills and inmate dead. Additional Director-Gen- treatment. marked the end of the develop- even as an independent candi- tried to polarise us. We are pro- Mangla said that in the eral of Prisons B.K. Upadhyay The others have been mental board in the hills. date, they would have to do that testing against that by burning application, she had pointed out immediately ordered a probe admitted to the Intensive Care "Yesterday we are burning at their own risk," Tamang these documents. Our fight for how Mukerjea was under treat- into the incident and suspended Units (ICU) of the hospitals. the GTA memorandum agree- warned. Similar demonstrations Gorkhaland would continue till ment for certain brain-related six jail staffers against whom The fire broke out when a gas ment and the GTA Act that was were observed in the plains of it is achieved," GJM leader Vishal issues and wanted to know who there were allegations of cylinder leaked in the slum signed in August 2011. From North Bengal as the GJM Chettri said. would be held responsible if misbehaviour. cluster. 06 ASIA WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 Duterte reappears after a week out of public eye

Manila Health concerns normal. “He is very well, he’s just Reuters busy doing what he needs to do,” Duterte gave a speech he said. hilippine leader Rod- at the Presidential “As you’ve seen he’s been rigo Duterte Palace of about 25 very much in the public eye but reappeared in public minutes late being out of the public eye, that yesterday after an yesterday, during is when he is able to do office absence of a week, his which he railed at work, he signs papers, he reads, Plongest disappearance from the he consults, he’s actually very militants for their spotlight as president, amid con- busy. bloody occupation of cerns about his health that the “The thing that is very impor- a southern town, but government insists are tant to note is that he is on top of baseless. made no mention of every situation, he is aware of Duterte gave a speech at the why he had been what’s happening, he’s updated presidential palace of about 25 absent from the regularly, he reads, he listens and minutes late yesterday, during public eye. he’s quite aware. This is just his which he railed at militants for working style.” their bloody occupation of a intrigue is Duterte being largely Duterte was last seen on June southern town, but made no missing during what is the big- 20 in two cities close to the vio- mention of why he had been gest crisis of his year-old lence-torn Marawi, visiting absent from the public eye. presidency, as the military bat- soldiers and evacuees. Known for a busy schedule tles for a sixth week to defeat That followed a three-day Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addressing Filipino-Muslim leaders during an Eid Al Fitr and lengthy speeches often sev- Islamic State-linked rebels cur- absence after a speech in which celebrations at the Malacanang Presidential Palace in Metro Manila, yesterday. eral times a day, the 72-year-old rently occupying Marawi City on he said his health was “immate- Duterte’s low profile this month his home island of Mindanao. rial”, amid raised eyebrows migraines due to nerve damage younger days, which can cause images on social media of has fuelled rumours he is in Answering queries from about his failure to appear in after a motorcycle accident and blockages in the blood vessels. Duterte signing documents and declining health and that the reporters about Duterte’s long public for Independence Day on Barrett’s oesophagus, which His office has recently said standing in front of a television government is trying to keep that absences, his spokesman, June 12. impacts his throat. He also suf- he has been experiencing fatigue. showing a news bulletin, adding under wraps. Ernesto Abella, said he was well Duterte’s known ailments fers from Buerger’s disease, His closest aide, Christopher further fuel to rumours that What has created most and running the country as include back problems, caused by his heavy smoking in “Bong” Go, on June 15 posted something was wrong. Sri Lanka seeks Pakistan slams US sanctions against militant group leader assistance for elephant Islamabad calling for independence or a bombers and to turn the dis- AFP merger with Pakistan. puted valley "into a graveyard The Pakistani statement for Indian forces". conservation akistan yesterday strongly complained of "gross and sys- The new sanctions mean criticised the US decision tematic violations of human American citizens are generally Colombo Pto impose sanctions on rights" in Indian Kashmir. barred from doing business with IANS Syed Salahuddin, senior leader "Over the past one year the Salahuddin, and all his assets of the Kashmiri militant group world has witnessed an inten- subject to US jurisdiction are ri Lanka has sought Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. sification of the brutal policies blocked. The State Department assistance from the "The designation of individ- of repression being pursued by said that under Salahuddin, SWorld Bank to conserve uals supporting the Kashmiri the Indian occupation forces." Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has its wild elephant population, right to self-determination as The sanctions move means claimed responsibility for sev- an official said yesterday. terrorists is completely unjusti- the United States now consid- eral attacks. Sri Lanka boasts of 6,000 fied," the foreign office said in a ers Salahuddin, also known as The designation was wild elephants, a major tour- statement. Kashmir has since Mohammad Yusuf Shah, a "Spe- announced just before Indian ist attraction in the island 1947 been divided between cially Designated Global Prime Minister Narendra Modi nation. The Director General India and Pakistan but is Terrorist", the State Department was due at the White House for of the Wildlife Conservation claimed in full by both. said in a statement. his first face-to-face meeting Department, W S K Pathi- Hizb-ul-Mujahideen is one US officials said Salahuddin with President Donald Trump. ratne, told Xinhua news of several homegrown militant last September vowed to block He first crossed into Paki- agency that another nation- groups that have for decades any peaceful resolution to the stan-administered Kashmir in wide census would be Protesters demonstrating against the lack of security provided to been fighting troops and police Kashmir conflict, and threat- 1990 and went back to Indian conducted at the end of the residents of Parachinar in Islamabad, yesterday. deployed in the Indian sector, ened to train more suicide Kashmir several times. year to estimate the total number of jumbos in the wild. The last was done in 2011. "We found 5,789 ele- phants in the wild. It is a high Two alpinists go missing on mountain number. It might have increased by now," he said. Islamabad Summit Karakorum, the tour rescue helicopter, which will Wild elephants are scat- AFP operating company that had start either today or tomorrow tered throughout the country. arranged the climb, said the duo depending on weather condi- But they are found mostly in wo alpinists, a Spaniard had left base camp on June 19 tions," he added. the dry zone. and an Argentinian, have but were holed up in their tent At 8,125 metres, Nanga Par- "With the increase of the Tgone missing while for three days at an altitude of bat earned its grisly nickname number, the country also attempting to summit a peak in 6,100 metres (20,000 feet) due after more than 30 climbers faces the increased incidence northern Pakistan nicknamed to bad weather. died trying to conquer it before of human-elephant conflict. "Killer Mountain", mountaineer- "They pushed for the sum- the first successful summit in We have worked out a plan ing experts said yesterday. mit again as the weather got 1953. Sailors ceremonially folding seven American flags during a for the conservation of ele- "Alberto Zerain, a Spanish better but lost contact with our In 2013 gunmen shot dead phants while protecting alpinist, and Mariano Galvan, an staff at base camp on Friday," 10 foreign climbers and their memorial ceremony in Yokosuka, yesterday. human habitats as well," he Argentinian national, went miss- he said. Pakistani guide at the Nanga added. ing while trying to climb Nanga "Our sherpas on the moun- Parbat base camp - one Amer- A taming programme to Parbat," the world's ninth high- tain estimate them to be ican with dual Chinese US Navy holds Japan address the shortage in ele- est mountain, Alpine Club of somewhere above 7,000 metres citizenship, two other Chinese, phants perahera commenced Pakistan spokesman Karrar which makes it impossible for three Ukrainians, two Slovaki- at the Pinnawela elephant Haidri said. them to climb and search so we ans, one Lithuanian and one memorial for sailors orphanage. Muhammad Iqbal, owner of have requested a search and Nepalese. Tokyo dead hanging above them. AFP Wreaths with red, white and blue flowers, representing the housands of flag-waving colour of the US flag. Panama Papers probe targets Sharif's daughter mourners lined the streets Before the ceremony, more Tof a US naval base in Japan than 2,000 people including Karachi On June 15, Nawaz Sharif In its judgment of April 20 in in accordance with the country’s yesterday where a memorial members of the US Navy and Anatolia appeared before the JIT and the Panama Papers case, the laws. service was held for seven sail- Japan's Maritime Self-Defense became the first sitting Pakistani Supreme Court had constituted In April 2016, Sharif's eldest ors killed in a collision with a Force lined the streets inside the nvestigators probing the Pan- Prime Minister to appear before the JIT and empowered it to son, Hussain Nawaz, admitted cargo ship this month. base waving flags and saluting ama Papers scandal on the a probe team. summon the Prime Minister, his in an interview with a local Paki- The facility in Yokosuka, the crew and their relatives, the Iorders of the country's The JIT has also asked the sons and any other person to stani channel that his family south of Tokyo, is the home port navy said in a statement. Supreme Court, have summoned Prime Minister's sons -- Hassan investigate allegations of money owned the offshore companies of destroyer USS Fitzgerald, which "It's stunning, absolutely Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz -- to appear laundering. and the apartments in London. crashed with a cargo ship in a stunning, while we mourn the Sharif’s daughter and his before it for further questioning Sharif family is alleged to He had insisted the transac- busy shipping channel off Japan's loss of the seven sailors, that potentıal political heir on July 5, on July 3 and 4, respectively. have purchased four apartments tions were all legal and refused coast. The sailors' relatives, some more were not lost, and it was according to a summons from Hussain, the premier's elder in London's Park Lane area to make his assets public, claim- 300 shipmates on the guided- the heroism of the entire crew the investigation team son, has already appeared before through money laundering. Pre- ing that such a move could harm missile destroyer and US military that ensured that was the case," yesterday. the probe team for five times. mier maintains innocenceThe his business interests. officials attended the service, as US Pacific Fleet Commander Maryam is currently in Lon- The Prime Minister's cousin, premier maintains his innocence On April 20, a five-member a probe into the cause of the Admiral Scott Swift said, don to attend her son's Tariq Shafi, has also been asked and has rejected all accusations bench of the Supreme Court deadly accident continues. according to the statement. graduation ceremony, Pakistan to appear before the JIT on July of financial irregularities against decided not to disqualify Sharif The solemn gathering was "There was no understand- Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) 2 for the second time. him. from office but ordered further closed to media. Pictures and ing of what had happened at the leader Talal Chaudhry told Dawn The six-member JIT is due He has repeatedly said that probe into the alleged Panama video supplied by the navy moment of impact. But there News shortly after the summons to present its report to the apex all transactions made by his Papers scandal involving the showed sailors folding US flags was complete understanding of were issued yesterday. court on July 10. family members were fair and premier’s children. with photographs of the seven what needed to be done. WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 ASIA 07 China hits back at US on human trafficking downgrade

Beijing Strongly opposes editions of the annual human AP trafficking report have cited Foreign ministry China as a "source, destination hina has pre-emp- spokesman Lu Kang and transit country" for forced tively hit back at the said yesterday that labor and sex trafficking. United States for China strongly "As we have said repeatedly, speaking "irresponsi- opposes the US using no country has the right to speak bly" ahead of an its domestic laws to irresponsibly on China's domes- Cexpected Trump administration tic affairs," Lu said at a daily attack another move to name China among the country's record, and briefing in Beijing. world's worst human trafficking "China's government's com- maintained that the offenders. mitment to fighting human results of China's Foreign ministry spokesman trafficking has been resolute and Lu Kang said yesterday that anti-human our results have been obvious China strongly opposes the US trafficking efforts for everyone to see," he said, using its domestic laws to attack are "obvious for adding that China is willing to another country's record, and everyone to see." work with other countries "on maintained that the results of the basis of mutual respect" to China's anti-human trafficking which has generally played combat global human efforts are "obvious for every- down the promotion of rights in trafficking. one to see." its foreign policy, including with Separately yesterday, Lu The US State Department China. Tier 3 countries can be warned foreign countries against was expected to unveil later yes- penalized with sanctions or "interfering with China's inter- terday a 2017 human trafficking barred from participating in US nal affairs" after the US Embassy report that downgrades China cultural exchange programs, in Beijing called for the release US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaking during an event about the 2017 Human Trafficking to the lowest "Tier 3" category, although the US president has of Liu Xiaobo, a democracy Report at the US State Department in Washington, DC, yesterday. which includes North Korea, the authority to waive activist and Nobel Peace Prize Zimbabwe and Syria. The report sanctions. laureate who was diagnosed President Donald Trump has currency while courting Presi- president tweeted this week that is the first major US reprimand It wasn't immediately clear with terminal liver cancer after generally taken a conciliatory dent Xi Jinping's cooperation in Xi and China's efforts to help of China's human rights record what led the administration to eight years in prison. tone toward Beijing on a range exerting pressure against North with North Korea have "not under the Trump administration, downgrade China, but previous Since his inauguration, of issues including trade and Korea's nuclear program. But the worked out." Hong Kong shark art protests at fin trade North Korea likens

Hong Kong ceramic sharks printed with Chi- Trump to Hitler AFP nese-style motifs stand next to a shimmering electric blue instal- towering shark fin sculp- lation in the shape of the fish. Seoul architect of the Holocaust are ture is the latest addition Hong Kong-based Ho Siu Kee AFP unusual even by its own Ato Hong Kong's har- is one of 36 artists taking part in standards. bourfront as part of an artistic the show. orth Korea compared US A notable exception was the push against the infamous trade. "People in my generation -- President Donald Trump hawkish former president Hong Kong is one of the their impression of sharks mainly Nto Adolf Hitler yesterday George W Bush, who included world's biggest markets for shark comes from 'Jaws'," said Ho, who in its latest diatribe, amid high the North in his "axis of evil" fin, which is viewed by many noted that humans kill sharks at tensions over Pyongyang's mil- along with Iran and Iraq and Asians as a delicacy and is often vastly higher rates than the other itary ambitions and ahead of a called then-leader Kim Jong-Il served as a soup at expensive way around. visit to Washington by South a "tyrant." Chinese banquets. Ho created a metal cage in Korea's new leader. Pyongyang responded by The eight-metre-high (26 ft) the shape of a fin for the exhibi- The latest attack came a calling Bush a "tyrant that puts stainless steel fin was created by George Wong, Parkview Arts Action founder, with Chinese tion, inspired by an attack scene week after nuclear-armed Hitler in the shade" and a "polit- Chinese artist Zheng Lu as part artist Xia Hang's artwork 'To Poseidon' at the 'On Sharks & in the classic Steven Spielberg Pyongyang called Trump a ical imbecile bereft of even of an exhibition to highlight the Humanity' exhibition in Hong Kong, yesterday. film, and photographed himself "lunatic" as tensions rose fol- elementary morality". threat to shark populations from standing inside it in the sea dur- lowing the death of US student The Trump administration human hunting. Hosted at the Conservationists are becom- this month. The new exhibition, ing low tide. Otto Warmbier, who was is pushing for stronger sanc- Maritime Museum in central ing increasingly vocal about the entitled "On Sharks and Human- George Wong, real estate detained for 18 months in the tions against the North over its Hong Kong, it is a stone's throw trade, with some dressing in ity", features paintings and developer and founder of North and then sent home in a nuclear and missile from the neighbourhood of She- bloody shark costumes and lying sculptures as well as multimedia Parkview Arts Action, commis- coma. programmes. ung Wan, where dried seafood down in front of one of the city's and interactive art. sioned the artworks and said that An editorial on the official KCNA accused it of block- stores sell the fins. best-known restaurants earlier Scarred and bloodstained finning "breaks my heart". Korean Central News Agency ing medical supplies in what it (KCNA) dialled the hostile rhet- said was "an unethical and oric up higher, slamming inhumane act, far exceeding the Trump's key policies as being degree of Hitler's blockade of South Korea akin to "Nazism in the 21st cen- Leningrad". China passes tough intelligence law tury". Trump declared at his The nearly 900-day siege inauguration in January that of the Russian city during World okays first aid Beijing powers with a national security if controversial. "From this moment on, it's War II left millions dead. Reuters law passed in 2014, followed by The legislation was also going to be America first". Tackling threats from the shipment to measures on counter-terrorism, passed after only two rounds of KCNA said: "The 'American- isolated North is expected to be hina’s legislature passed the management of foreign non- discussion by parliament’s first principle'... advocates the at the top of the agenda during North Korea a new national intelli- government bodies and cyber standing committee. Laws often world domination by recourse this week's Washington sum- Cgence law yesterday after security, among other subjects. go through three or more to military means just as was mit between Trump and newly an unusually brief round of dis- Yesterday, the standing commit- rounds. State news agency Xin- the case with Hitler's concept elected South Korean President Seoul cussions, granting authorities tee of the National People’s hua said last week the law was of world occupation." Moon Jae-In. Anatolia new powers to monitor sus- Congress (NPC) passed the law, “needed to ensure the nation’s Trump was "following Hit- A string of atomic and mis- pects, raid premises, seize the largely rubber stamp body security interests are met”. ler's dictatorial politics" to sile tests by Pyongyang -- and outh Korea is set to start vehicles and devices and oper- said in a short statement on its Intelligence work needs to divide others into two catego- threats of military action by delivering aid to North ate overseas. website. The law will go into be performed both within and ries, "friends and foes" to justify Washington -- have heightened SKorea for the first time President Xi Jinping has effect today, it said. outside China, and foreign "suppression", it added. tensions on the peninsula. since President Moon Jae-in overseen a raft of legislation to A draft was released for one groups and individuals who The North habitually Warmbier's death added took office in Seoul last bolster national security against round of public consultation that damage national security must denounces its enemies in col- further strain, with Trump month. The South’s Unifica- perceived threats from both lasted three weeks. Laws are be investigated, according to the ourful terms in its propaganda, slamming the "brutal regime" tion Ministry has approved within and outside China. often subject to at least two law, which was also carried on but comparisons to the instiga- of the North's young leader Kim the Eugene Bell Foundation The government gained new rounds of consultation, or more parliament’s website. tor of World War II and Jong-Un. Korea’s application to send tuberculosis medicine worth $1.7m and construction mate- rials valued at around $310,000 for developing hos- Dreaded WWII Zero fighter Holidaying pital wards in the reclusive state, according to an official takes to the skies over Japan cited by Yonhap News Agency yesterday. While this marks a break- Ryugasaki the plane for $3.1m in 2008. through for the Moon AFP The badly damaged aircraft administration, Seoul’s liberal was originally found in the leader has made it clear he alvaged from the Papua 1970s in dense jungle where it wants to offer aid and dia- New Guinean jungle, a had crashed decades earlier. It logue in order to boost Srestored World War II Jap- later ended up in the United neighborly relations — the anese Zero fighter has taken to States — Japan's chief World Koreas never agreed a peace the skies over the land that gave War II adversary. treaty after their 1950-53 war. birth to the once-feared war- Developed by Mitsubishi A series of provocations plane. The aircraft Heavy Industries, Zero planes led to a total breakdown in -- emblazoned with tell-tale ris- took part in the Japanese attack bilateral ties last year under ing sun symbols — is one of just on Pearl Harbor, while "kami- Moon’s conservative prede- a few airworthy Zero fighters kaze" suicide pilots crashed cessor Park Geun-hye left in the world, nearly eight them into US ships in the later — although the Eugene Bell decades after they struck fear stages of the war. Foundation Korea was per- into the hearts of Allied pilots. "Since it was born in Japan mitted to continue giving The plane flew near Tokyo 75 years ago, this baby has been medical support to the North, this month, watched by busi- travelling around the world," Former United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle walking during a it was barred from providing nessman and aviation buff Ishizuka said after the recent holiday with his family in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia, yesterday. any construction assistance. Masahide Ishizuka who bought flight. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL War of words in Syria

entagon’s statement that it has detected preparations for another chemical attack at a Syrian regime airbase allegedly Pinvolved in a sarin attack in April marks a new escalation in the war-torn country. The White House has warned the Bashar Al Assad regime that it would ‘pay a heavy price’ if it went What the Supreme Court’s ahead, provoking angry reactions from Assad, Russia and Iran who said that Washington’s assertions were unacceptable and would only heighten the tension and widen the conflict. America’s warning cannot be dismissed as a travel ban ruling means provocation because Assad has used chemical weapons before and he doesn’t have to worry about a US retaliation if he is not planning another general for the Office of Immigration supposed to last 90 days, the refugee chemical attack in the first place. The White House Matt Zapotosky Litigation in President Barack Obama’s ban 120. In the interim, the Homeland was emphatic about what it had found out when it The Washington Post Justice Department, said that in some Security secretary was to have asked said: “The United States has identified potential ways, the court’s ruling restores long the affected countries to provide infor- preparations for another chemical weapons attack precedent. mation about their citizens’ wanting US by the Assad regime that would likely result in the “It has never been the case for 100 visas, review the data and report to the mass murder of civilians, including innocent years that someone can simply sue us president those which could not ade- children.” for not getting a visa,” he said. quately comply. The April gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun had he Supreme Court’s decision to But Fresco said the decision also But the administration said it felt killed at least 80 people, causing international allow portions of President Donald puts pressure on the administration to blocked by a US district judge from even condemnation, and the incident prompted a US Trump’s travel ban to take effect is review its vetting procedures - and pos- conducting such a review, and Trump missile strike on the base although the attack did not a win for the administration - but sibly end the ban. earlier this month signed a memoran- seriously damage its capabilities. The world is the impact will be far less severe That is because the administration dum indicating that the order would Tthan Trump’s first iteration of the measure. has posited the ban as a temporary take effect within 72 hours of when the genuinely worried about a repetition of the crime That is because the high court effectively measure, designed to alleviate officials’ injunctions on his ban were lifted or because Assad is in a allowed Trump to ban from coming to the US “investigative burdens” stayed. hurry to consolidate his only citizens of six mostly Muslim countries while they assessed what The Supreme Court wrote that the gains and bring the war “who lack any bona fide relationship with a information they need government now should be able to do to an end on his terms. By person or entity in the United States.” about travelers coming to its work. “We fully expect that the relief issuing an unusually It also nudged the president to complete the US. we grant today will permit the Execu- blunt warning, his promised review of vetting procedures, The visa ban was tive to conclude its internal work and Unfortunately, Washington is also Syria has become which might mean the issue is resolved by provide adequate notice to foreign gov- sending a clear message the time the court is set to fully consider the ernments within the 90-day life of [the a battleground to Assad’s backers that ban in its October term. When Trump issued his order],” the justices wrote. for competing they would not be For now, if you have a relative here, have first travel ban, chaos The court said it would take up the powers. allowed to cross the been hired by a US employer or admitted to a ensued. The State travel ban fully in its October term - redlines. The US US university, you can still probably get a Department provisionally their ruling Monday only partially lifted ambassador to the UN, visa. But if you’re applying cold as a visitor or revoked tens of thousands lower courts’ stays on the measure. By Nikki Haley, tweeted: through the diversity visa program, you that time, the 90-day period will have “Any further attacks done probably can’t. of visas, and some run, and Fresco said the administration to the people of Syria will “The facts of these cases illustrate the sort travellers were detained will be pressed to come up with good be blamed on Assad, but of relationship that qualifies,” the justices and sent away from US reasons for imposing a ban. also on Russia and Iran who support him killing his wrote. “For individuals, a close familial rela- airports, prompting a “If there is not an answer to the own people.” Unlike Barack Obama, President tionship is required. A foreign national who question on the first day of oral argu- Donald Trump has shown a willingness to act if the wishes to enter the United States to live with flurry of legal challenges. ments about why this ban is still in Assad regime went too far. or visit a family member . . . clearly has such That will not be the case place, that is going to make the court The onus is on Assad to avoid another a relationship. As for entities, the relationship after the Supreme Court’s much more skeptical about the govern- confrontation and he must stop killing his people to must be formal, documented, and formed in decision. ment’s reasons for having this ban,” pave the way for a negotiated settlement. Also, all the ordinary course, rather than for the pur- Fresco said. sides must refrain from measures that will lead to a pose of evading [the executive order].” dangerous escalation as there is a risk of The justices wrote that an immigration confrontation between the US and Russia in Syria. nonprofit could not simply add a foreign Moscow has accused Washington of making national to a client list just so that person “preparations for a new cynical and unprecedented could travel to the US They said the same provocation” and US forces in Syria have been standard would apply to refugees wanting to empowered to defend themselves against any attack. come to the US. The tension has led to a string of clashes with pro- There could, of course, be disputes. In a regime forces competing for the same territory. dissenting opinion that said the travel ban Unfortunately, Syria has become a battleground should have been allowed to take effect in full, Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Jus- for competing powers. The Syrian people are being tices Samuel Alito and Neil M. Gorsuch, wrote sidelined and used as pawns in a conflict which they that the decision would “prove unworkable.” started for freedom and democracy. “Today’s compromise will burden execu- tive officials with the task of deciding - on peril of contempt - whether individuals from the six affected nations who wish to enter the United States have a sufficient connection to QUOTE OF THE DAY a person or entity in this country,” Thomas wrote. When Trump issued his first travel ban, chaos ensued. The State Department provi- The charge is a fiction. I sionally revoked tens of thousands of visas, will not allow myself to be and some travelers were detained and sent accused of crimes that I did away from US airports, prompting a flurry of not commit. My intention is legal challenges. That will not be the case to work for Brazil. I will not after the Supreme Court’s decision. Trump had revised and rewritten his shirk the battles. executive order, and it now affects only the issuance of new visas to people from six Michel Temer Muslim majority countries: Iran, Sudan, Brazil’s President Somalia, Libya, Yemen and Syria. That means no one should be blocked at a US air- Activists holding placards as they march in protest against the US Supreme port, but rather they will simply be denied a visa. Court’s decision to revive parts of a travel ban on people from six Muslim- Leon Fresco, deputy assistant attorney majority countries, in Manhattan, New York, yesterday. WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 OPINION 09 What is Qatar-GCC showdown really about?

is Iran’s leading trading partner in Marwan Bishara the GCC, and the other GCC mem- Al Jazeera bers, Oman and Kuwait, nurture stronger diplomatic relations with Tehran than Qatar. And they demanded that Qatar round up all opposition figures from their countries in contravention to US President Donald Trump’s recent international humanitarian law, and statements and tweets on the Middle East demanded that Qatar treat the Mus- have puzzled US friends and foes alike by lims Brotherhood as a terrorist threatening further escalation of regional organisation, not a mere opposition conflicts. group, as seen by most countries of ULast year, he said that he would “seek harmony” the world. Qatar, like most or all in the Middle East as US commander-in-chief. But Western nations, has long warned of after his first visit to the region, tensions began to the dangers and implications of rise, especially in the Gulf. Now Trump’s flip-flopping sweeping generalisations and the is threatening the stability of the area, which holds labelling of popular political opposi- some 50 percent of the world’s energy reserves. tion groups as “terrorist”. On one hand, after long claiming that Saudi Ara- The Band of Four regimes also bia hated America and was behind 9/11, he now sees require Qatar to shut down a mod- the kingdom as the bedrock of regional security and est Turkish military base it has moderation, America’s best friend and foremost ally been hosting for over two years, in the “war on terror”. while continuing to host a US base. On the other hand, less than two weeks after call- How is this a logical demand given ing Qatar a “crucial strategic partner” in his Riyadh that the UAE is hosting a French speech, and boasting of selling it “beautiful” Ameri- military base and Bahrain an can weapons, he suddenly began to jeer against American naval base? Qatar, accusing Doha of supporting terrorism. But the demand that smacks of To add to the confusion, Trump then offered to Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson total hypocrisy and, frankly, stu- mediate between Saudi Arabia and Qatar and asked during a meeting at the US State Department in Washington, DC, yesterday. pidity, is the one that calls for an his secretary of state to calm the situation and urge immediate shutdown of Al Jazeera, restraint, which he did rather tactfully in a carefully Saudis, who speak of regional stability while waging Obama’s policy towards the Middle East and has its affiliates and all other media worded public statement. But less than an hour later, a reckless war in Yemen? Or be it the US, which sup- committed his administration to support Saudi Ara- outlets that are presumably sup- Trump accused Qatar of historic, high-level support ports its Nato ally, Turkey, while simultaneously bia, Israel, Egypt and the UAE against Sunni ported directly or indirectly by of terrorism and undermined his foreign policy arming its nemesis within, the PYD/PKK? extremism and Iranian clerics. Qatar. establishment in the process. All of which begs the How do any of these even begin to compare with This meant creating the right conditions for rap- These demands reflect Saudi, question: Why? Why the dramatic u-turn on Saudi what Qatar does? prochement between Israel, the UAE, Egypt and Emirati, Egyptian and Bahraini Arabia, the confusion on Qatar? And what are the To be sure, Qatar has made a few mistakes of its Saudi Arabia; the so-called “outside-in” approach to intolerance for difference of opin- implications for the region? own in the early days of the Arab Spring, but it also resolving - or rather dissolving - the Palestinian ion and press freedom. These Some blamed the administration’s most recent seems to have learned from past mistakes, notably issue. The fact that this effort is headed by Trump’s countries are attempting to silence flip-flop on the persistent foreign policy confusion in the idea that diplomacy trumps war, and mediation, inexperienced, radically Zionist son-in-law, Jared respectable media outlets when the Trump White House. Others detected complicity openness and reform is the safest and best long-term Kushner, who maintains close relations with both they themselves finance and sup- between the president and his secretary of state, sug- bet in an evermore complicated region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and port propaganda outlets that are gesting that they have been playing “good cop-bad And Qatar is back at doing what it does best. Like a Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, speaks infamous for their hate and sectar- cop” with Qatar. Geneva in the Gulf, it hosted mediation efforts among volumes. We are witnessing an “unholy trinity” that’s ian speech. For his part, Trump claimed that he took the posi- various conflicting parties, be they Palestinians, Leba- bound to destroy any hope for regional stability. tion against Qatar after his meetings in the region, nese, Sudanese, Afghans, Libyans or others; certainly Worse, instead of leading an already quite disas- where his counterparts told him of Qatar’s support for more than any other state in the region. And whatever trous regional coalition against Iran, Trump lazily terrorism. But what could the Saudis, Emiratis, Egyp- leverage it has over so-called extremist groups, it has entrusted this new strategy to his reckless junior allies. tians and Bahrainis say that the CIA, Department of used effectively to resolve, not inflame conflict. This is exactly what his predecessor, President Barack State or the Pentagon didn’t know or couldn’t share Alas, some of Qatar’s more hostile neighbours Obama, rejected. Obama refused to be dragged into with the president before his upbeat meeting with the seem to have concluded the opposite after their petty squabbles and regional confrontations. He may D-RING ROAD emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani? adventures in Yemen as well as Libya and Syria. After have been weak on Syria, but he was smart to decou- POST BOX: 3488 After all, Qatar has $30bn worth of investments decades of destructive wars, they’re now advocating ple US strategy from that of its regional clients, Saudi in the United States and stands out as the host of the open confrontation with Tehran. Arabia and Israel. In short, Obama refrained from lev- DOHA - QATAR largest American military base in the Middle East, To be sure, Qatar has long sided with Saudi Ara- eraging US power to these unsavoury or [email protected] from which much of the “war on terror” is being bia in opposing Iran’s sectarian policies in the region, inexperienced regional players, which would have fought in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, most of especially in Iraq and Syria. But like most other Arab been utterly dangerous, if not totally suicidal. the trumped up charges against Qatar are either and Western nations, it opposes an open showdown This might explain the reason why the experi- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE demonstrably thin, false or totally fake. with Iran in the Gulf, and rejects the idea of regime enced men and women at the US State Department TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 For example, the Band of Four accuses Qatar of change there - especially as the Iranians continue to and the Pentagon didn’t go along with President FAX: +974 4455 7758 supporting the Taliban because it opened an office show support for moderate governments that are Trump’s unconditional embrace of Riyadh, and for the Afghan insurgency, when in fact it did so at frequently at odds with Iranian extremists and are warned against drinking Abu Dhabi’s Kool-Aid. MANAGING EDITOR the behest of the US administration to facilitate more concerned with building up their Indeed, Secretary Tillerson was “mystified” by the TEL: 4462 7505 peace talks. sudden escalation and took the initiative from the Qatar has also been accused of supporting some White House to lash out at Saudi Arabia and the UAE DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR of the anti-regime groups in Syria, but a number of for their procrastination and lack of seriousness in TEL: 4455 7769 its Gulf partners also did so. Moreover, General Unless the US and articulating their grievances and presenting their Joseph Vogel, chief of the US military’s Central Com- European foreign policy demands to Qatar. He also questioned the motivations mand, wrote that Qatar is a “key and critical” ally establishments restrain behind the crisis, arguing that they manufactured the LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743 that could be of much help in facilitating a sustaina- the Trump presidency crisis with Qatar to settle old grievances that have ble deal in Syria. nothing to do with terrorism or security. Hamas’ political presence in Doha was another from taking more reckless Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, who BUSINESS NEWS SECTION item of complaint. But by allowing Hamas a political steps, we may be heading has ample experience in the Gulf region, insisted that TEL: 4462 7535 presence in their capital, the Qataris have had a towards more regional the demands from Qatar must be “reasonable and moderating effect on the Palestinian resistance chaos and conflict. actionable” in order to bring a swift end to the crisis SPORT NEWS SECTION group. It’s perhaps worth remembering that Hamas and avoid compromising wider US interests. TEL: 4455 7745 won the last legislative elections in Palestine, which Interestingly, since Tillerson publicly repri- the Bush administration helped facilitate a decade country than with regional hegemony. manded Saudi Arabia and the UAE for their ONLINE SECTION ago. And yet, the US president has allowed Riyadh to procrastination, President Trump has (thus far) kept TEL: 4462 7501 US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has rightly take draconian measures against Qatar even after it quiet and allowed his more qualified foreign policy [email protected] claimed Qatar has “a history of supporting groups became clear that their pretexts are false and their chiefs to handle the crisis with caution and maturity. that span the spectrum of political expression from consequences, intended or otherwise, are leading to Indeed, the White House seemingly made PUBLIC RELATIONS activism to violence”. But who doesn’t do that in the serious escalation and instability in the region. another u-turn last week, saying that the Gulf crisis Middle East? Washington also has such a record, and So if it’s not about Qatari behaviour, what is the was a “family issue” rather than an international cri- TEL: 4455 7613 it is a very long and extensive one. Besides, it’s no crisis about and why has Trump inflamed it? sis about supporting terrorism. [email protected] vice to support those who seek freedom from occu- One grudge Trump might have against Qatar lies Wait! What! A family feud? Really?! So what pation and oppression. in the fact that, unlike the Emiratis and the Saudis, about accusing Qatar of “historic high-level support ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT The same goes for accusations against Qatar who invested in his properties and gave him gener- of terrorism” and giving the green light to the Emirati TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 “punching above its weight”, especially when it does ous concessions, it didn’t give Trump business and Saudi leaders to behave recklessly? Is it really FAX: 4455 7870 so in the realm of soft power, like media, philan- incentives that would allow him to expand his brand possible to classify this crisis as a “family issue” after [email protected] thropy and sport. Don’t tiny UAE and Israel, just like in the country. the Band of Four exploited Trump’s folly to besiege Saudi Arabia, punch above their weights in most But such banality couldn’t really be the reason Qatar, split the GCC, and plunge the region into a CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT controversial ways? why the US president was so prone to ride the anti- downward spiral? TEL: 4455 7857 And then there’s my favourite accusation of Qatar Qatar bandwagon, could it? Alas, and for the record, When a list of demands that the Band of Four say [email protected] “having it both ways” by presumably financing Al during his campaign, Trump did boast about liking Qatar must comply with in order to end the crisis Jazeera and providing platforms for persons and the Saudis for buying $40 million apartments in his was finally released, it turned out to be neither rea- SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION groups hostile to US and Israel, and at the same time towers. sonable nor actionable. Indeed, there’s a general TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 hosting the biggest US military base in the region. Considering his tendency to value money above consensus that the demands in the 13-point list are Assuming that’s a real issue, for that I say, “He that is principle, and everything else, the US president was anything but “measured and realistic”, to quote UK FAX: 44557819 without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.” clearly “bribed” by his Saudi hosts during his visit to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. [email protected] It seems to me that’s traditionally what countries the country. They offered the Trump administration If anything, the wording, tone and sweeping do, for ill or good. Some call it statecraft or a balanc- hundreds of billions of dollars of lucrative arms pur- nature of the document signal total ignorance of ing act. Others refer to it as pragmatism or chases and promises of investment before asking international law and the UN charter. The text under- All thoughts and views opportunism. But it’s certainly nothing abnormal in their guest to support them against their nemesis, lines Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s unmasked intention expressed in these columns international relations, especially when it comes to Qatar. to take control of Qatar’s sovereignty and independ- smaller countries trying to stay afloat in stormy Indeed, the Saudis exploited Trump’s short- ent foreign policy. are those of the writers, not waters. sighted consent to outsource his campaign against The assumptions in the list, such as Qatar’s sup- of the newspaper. Also, which country involved in this whole mess “Islamic terrorism” in order to frame Qatar. They port for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, doesn’t try to “have it both ways”? Could it be the also used this opportunity to deflect any and all US known as ISIS) or al-Qaeda, are clearly baseless. And All correspondence Egyptians, who condemned Hamas and opened an accusations directed at the kingdom in the US Con- contrary to US insistence on evidence to support regarding Views and indirect channel to the Palestinian group in Gaza? gress and media. their accusations, there was absolutely nothing in the Opinion pages should be The Emiratis, who accuse Qatar of interfering in But Trump might’ve also had an agenda of his document to support these outrageous claims. other countries’ affairs, while intervening militarily own that correlated with that of the Saudis and Emir- The Band of Four demands that Qatar downgrade mailed to the in Libya, Yemen and other countries? Could it be the atis. Trump made a strategic decision to reverse diplomatic relations with Iran, even though the UAE [email protected] 10 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 New cyberattack spreads across Europe

Kiev monitoring reports of cyber A Swiss government agency because they have been to switch everything off," said Reuters Computer virus attacks around the world and also reported computer systems encrypted. Perhaps you are busy one WPP employee who asked coordinating with other were affected in India, though looking for a way to recover your not to be named. Cyber security experts ransomware attack countries. the country's cyber security files, but don't waste your time. Cyber security firms scram- said those behind the hit computers across The first reports of organisa- agency said it had yet to receive Nobody can recover your files bled to understand the scope and the world yesterday, attack appeared to tions being hit emerged from any reports of attacks. without our decryption service," impact of the attacks, seeking to taking out servers at have exploited the Russia and Ukraine, but the After the Wannacry attack, the message said, according to a confirm suspicions hackers had Russia's biggest oil same type of hacking impact quickly spread west- organisations around the globe screenshot posted by Ukraine's leveraged the same type of hack- company,A disrupting operations tool used in the wards to computers in Romania, were advised to beef up IT Channel 24. ing tool exploited by WannaCry, at Ukrainian banks, and shutting WannaCry the Netherlands, Norway, and security. The same message appeared and to identify ways to stop the down computers at multinational ransomware attack Britain. "Unfortunately, businesses on computers at Maersk offices onslaught. shipping and advertising firms. that infected Within hours, the attack had are still not ready and currently in Rotterdam and at businesses Experts said the latest ran- Cyber security experts said hundreds of gone global. more than 80 companies are affected in Norway. somware attacks unfolding those behind the attack appeared thousands of Danish shipping giant A P affected," said Nikolay Greben- Other companies that said worldwide, dubbed GoldenEye, to have exploited the same type of computers in May. Moller-Maersk, which handles nikov, vice president for R&D at they had been hit by a cyber were a variant of an existing ran- hacking tool used in the Wan- one out of seven containers data protection firm Acronis. attack included Russian oil pro- somware family called Petya. naCry ransomware attack that shipped globally, said the attack One of the victims of yester- ducer Rosneft, French It uses two layers of encryp- infected hundreds of thousands of He said he expected the out- had caused outages at its com- day's cyber attack, a Ukrainian construction materials firm Saint tion which have frustrated efforts computers in May before a British break to spread in the Americas puter systems across the world media company, said its com- Gobain and the world's biggest by researchers to break the code, researcher created a kill-switch. as workers turned on vulnera- yesterday, including at its termi- puters were blocked and it had advertising agency, WPP - according to Romanian security "It's like WannaCry all over ble machines, allowing the virus nal in Los Angeles. a demand for $300 worth of the though it was not clear if their firm Bitdefender. again," said Mikko Hypponen, to attack. "This could hit the USA Pharmaceutical company Bitcoin crypto-currency to problems were caused by the "There is no workaround to chief research officer with Hel- pretty bad," he said. Merck & Co said its computer restore access to its files. same virus. help victims retrieve the decryp- sinki-based cyber security firm The US Department of network had been affected by the "If you see this text, then your "The building has come to a tion keys from the computer," F-Secure. Homeland Security said it was global hack. files are no longer accessible, standstill. It's fine, we've just had the company said. Sturgeon delays new Greek garbage collectors reject independence vote compromise

Edinburgh a new vote on secession after it Athens Reuters was clear what Britain's decision AP to leave the European Union cotland's devolved govern- meant. GREECE'S municipal garbage ment has shelved its Scots voted against inde- collectors yesterday rejected a Simmediate plans to hold a pendence by 55 to 45 percent in government compromise offer second independence referen- 2014 but Sturgeon has argued the and decided to continue an dum until after the terms of Brexit vote changed circum- 11-day protest that has left Britain's exit from the United stances because Scots voted mounds of festering refuse Kingdom are clear, First Minis- overwhelmingly against leaving piled up across Athens amid ter Nicola Sturgeon said the EU and they should not be high temperatures during the yesterday. dragged out against their will. key summer tourism season. The Scottish parliament in However, she had been Municipal workers union March backed Sturgeon's bid to under pressure to put off a new head Nikos Trikas said that hold a new referendum in 2018 referendum because of her par- the protest will go on as or early 2019, but British Prime ty's weak performance in a planned until tomorrow at Minister Theresa May had national election earlier this least, after an inconclusive refused to enter into discussions month. meeting with Prime Minister on the proposal. She told the Scottish assem- Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, addressing the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Alexis Tsipras. "We will not seek to intro- bly she had listened carefully to The union is pressing the yesterday. duce the legislation for an those who were concerned about left-led government to honor independence referendum Brexit but had not wanted still needed to be offered, but the Brexit has strained relations Ireland voted to keep EU mem- a pledge to provide permanent immediately," she said, adding another independence vote timing needed to be more between Britain's four nations bership while England and Wales jobs for long-term contract that she would still aim to offer immediately. She said a choice cautious. because Scotland and Northern voted to leave. workers, and rejected Tsipras' proposals as a "slight" but unsatisfactory improvement on past offers. Romania police Greek authorities have Cyprus conflict 'possible to solve': Mediator warned that the uncollected trash poses a public health risk find 91 asylum ahead of a heat wave forecast Geneva Cypriot leaders were headed to EU foreign policy chief Federica attend the conference, also for later this week. seekers in truck AFP Switzerland for a make-or- Mogherini. described it as "an exceptional Tourism Minister Elena break summit aiming to seal a UN chief Antonio Guterres, opportunity", saying a lasting Kountoura urged the union to Bucharest alks in Switzerland this long-elusive peace deal for their who opened the previous round solution for Cyprus would "bring reconsider, arguing that the AFP week on Cyprus's decades- divided island. of talks in Switzerland in Janu- huge benefits to the whole island protest "endangers public Tlong partition represent President Nicos Anastasia- ary, has yet to confirm he will and the region". But a positive health, and is bad for tourism ROMANIAN police yester- the "best chance" to resolve the des, the Greek Cypriot leader, take part this time. outcome is far from certain. as well as the country's inter- day said they discovered conflict, the UN mediator said and his Turkish Cypriot coun- "The opportunity for the The UN-backed peace talks national image." 91 migrants from Iraq and yesterday. terpart Mustafa Akinci are to reunification of Cyprus is now in January failed to make any The Athens Trade Associ- Syria, including 29 children, "It's a unique opportunity, resume the UN-led reunification finally before us," he said on headway, and Eide himself ation has also called on the two crammed in a truck headed because after all of these dec- talks yesterday in the Alpine ski Tuesday, calling "on all con- warned that "it is not going to be sides to reach a compromise, for western Europe. ades of division it is possible, it resort of Crans-Montana. cerned players to seize this easy and there is no guarantee warning that piles of garbage Hiding in a Turkish lorry is possible to solve, and I really They will be joined initially opportunity, for Cyprus first and of success". would discourage tourists from loaded with car parts destined hope that this is the spirit by at least by the foreign ministers foremost, but also for the wider "This is work in progress, traveling to the Greek capital. for Norway, the migrants which everybody goes into this from the so-called guarantor Eastern Mediterranean region". and it is hard work. There will Tourism is a vital source of rev- were trying to reach a coun- meeting," Espen Barth Eide said. powers of Cyprus -- Greece, British Foreign Secretary be long days and hard work enue for Greece's battered try within the European His comments came as rival Turkey and Britain -- along with Boris Johnson, who was due to ahead," he said. economy. Union's passport-free Schen- gen zone, border police said yesterday. The truck was stopped by police for a check at Roma- French lawmakers open first parliament session nia's border with Hungary. Most of the migrants who Paris to Macron's plan to relax France's were questioned had filed for Reuters stringent labour code. asylum in Romania. "Baptism of Fire" ran the The asylum seekers com- rance's new parliament sit headline of conservative daily Le prised 44 men and 18 women for the first time as rivals of Figaro, in reference to the large aged between 18 and 60, and FPresident Emmanuel number of political novices 29 minors aged between two Macron questioned a lack of among the LREM. Of its 308 dep- and 17. political experience among dep- uties, only 27 served in the After the border was uties of his majority-holding previous parliament. closed between Serbia and Republic on the Move (LREM) "Will they be docile or rebel- Hungary in the year 2015, party. lious," the newspaper asked in its Romania became a key tran- LREM's landslide win in par- editorial. sit point towards western liamentary elections earlier this "It's legitimate to ask how Europe. month consolidated Macron's they will react when the political Hungary government has presidential win in May. Like climate becomes less favourable erected anti-migrant fences Macron, most LREM lawmakers for Emmanuel Macron.This along its southern border with never previously held elected moment will inevitably come, Croatia and Serbia, but not public office. perhaps as early as July with the along the frontier with Some items on Macron's contentious labour law." Romania. agenda of far reaching pro-busi- Other items on Macron's In April this year, 111 ness reforms are already facing reform agenda include a new bill migrants from Iraq, Syria and resistance. designed to clean up French pol- Afghanistan were also discov- Some trade unions were due itics and an anti-terror law has ered hidden in a truck at to hold protests near parliament also drawn criticism from both Newly-elected members of parliament applaud during the opening session of the French Nadlac, on the Romanian- to coincide with the start of the the right and the left, as well as Hungarian border. National Assembly in Paris, yesterday. session to voice their opposition from human rights groups. WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 EUROPE 11 Queen Elizabeth II to get 8% pay increase

London in Britain say the true annual Reuters Sovereign grant cost of the royals to taxpayers is hundreds of millions of pounds Official figures show ritish royal aides said because security expenditure is that the royals yesterday that Queen not included, while newspapers Elizabeth and her received $54.5m in have often been critical of the family provide excel- 2016-17 from the amount spent on minor royals lent value for money "Sovereign Grant", the and travel expenses. Bas accounts showed the amount government handout The Sovereign Grant is cal- of taxpayer funds they will get that covers the culated based on 15 percent of this year will almost double to running costs of the surplus revenue from the Crown cover essential repairs to Buck- queen's household Estate - a property portfolio ingham Palace. and travel expenses. belonging to the monarchy - two Official figures show that the That figure is set to years previously and has grown royals received $54.5m in 2016- rise to 76.1 million rapidly since the system was 17 from the "Sovereign Grant", pounds after the introduced five years ago, with the government handout that government agreed the royals receiving 31 million covers the running costs of the pounds in 2013. an increase to pay for FROM LEFT: Judges Boele, Dulek-Schermers and Dousma-Valk attend the verdict of the Court of queen's household and travel The money covers staffing a 369-million-pound, expenses. costs and upkeep of royal pal- Justice in the case of the "Mothers of Srebrenica" against the Dutch State, in The Hague, yesterday. That figure is set to rise to 10-year aces like 1.2 million pounds 76.1 million pounds after the refurbishment of spent on replacing the Orang- government agreed an increase Buckingham Palace. ery Doors at Windsor Castle that Dutch govt liable for 1995 massacre to pay for a 369-million-pound, had become inoperable due to 10-year refurbishment of Buck- rot and decay. The Hague separate the Muslim men and worst atrocity since World War ingham Palace, whose ageing engagements last year, with the Last November, the govern- AFP boys there was a real risk they II. electrical wiring, water pipes 91-year-old queen attending 162 ment agreed to raise the grant could face inhumane treatment It occurred on July 13, 1995 and heating system are in urgent and her husband Prince Philip to 25 percent of Crown Estate Dutch appeals court ruled or execution," she said. when lightly armed Dutch UN need of repair. performing 196, Reid said. surplus to pay for the overhaul yesterday the state was The Dutch soldiers had also peacekeepers were overrun by Alan Reid, the queen's treas- Philip, 96, who needed hos- of Buckingham Palace while A partly to blame for the "facilitated the separation of the Bosnian Serb forces. urer known as Keeper of the pital treatment for an infection allowing it to remain deaths of some 350 Muslim men men and the boys" among the The peacekeepers sought to Privy Purse, said the cost of the last week, announced in May he occupied. in the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, refugees, she said, adding they protect tens of thousands of ref- monarchy to every Briton last would retire from public life The bill for travel in 2016-17 and in a landmark move ordered should have been "warned of the ugees who had sought safe year amounted to 65 pence - the later this year. amounted to 4.5 million pounds, it to pay limited damages. risks and given the choice haven at their base, which had cost of a first-class postage Opinion polls show the with heir-to-the-throne Prince "The court finds that the whether to stay in the enclave been encircled by the Bosnian stamp. 91-year-old queen remains Charles's visit to Italy, Romania Dutch state acted unlawfully," while their families were Serb forces. "When you consider that hugely popular with Britons and and Austria at the end of March judge Gepke Dulek said in a rul- evacuated". Both the Dutch state and the against what the queen does and at least two-thirds indicate they the most expensive at 154,000 ing, which largely upheld a 2014 Letting the men leave the relatives of victims had appealed represents for this country, I want the monarchy, which pounds. decision by a lower court. base, meant they "were deprived a 2014 Dutch lower court ruling believe it represents excellent traces its royal line back to a Meanwhile the royal train, "The conclusion is that the of a chance of survival." that the state was liable for the value for money," Reid said. Norman invasion in 1066, to which was used about 14 times Dutchbat (Dutch peacekeepers) Almost 8,000 Muslim men deaths of some 350 men who The royal family carried out continue. last year, cost some 900,000 knew that during the evacua- and boys were killed in the were sent off the base along with more than 3,000 official Anti-monarchy republicans pounds. tions by the Bosnian Serbs to year 1995 genocide, Europe's other refugees. Syrian migrant Sinn Fein criticises May-DUP power sharing deal traffickers on Belfast Conservative government in UK's smallest region would influ- could help to ease "the enormous the power-sharing agreement. Reuters major votes, pledging at least ence talks ahead of deadline in pressure" on public services. But the agreement stated trial in Germany $1.3bn in extra funds to the prov- Belfast tomorrow. Many analysts believe a deal that the DUP will have no rish nationalists Sinn Fein said ince, a windfall DUP leader "The Assembly (broke) down that boosts funding while not involvement in the British gov- Berlin the money coming in to Arlene Foster said would bring on issues which are mostly damaging Irish nationalist inter- ernment's role in political talks AFP INorthern Ireland from a pact the prospect of a political solu- rights-based issues. As we stand ests could motivate Sinn Fein to in Northern Ireland and that both by their pro-British rivals to prop tion in the British province here today, we are still in that agree to return to government. parties would adhere fully to a THREE Syrians went on trial up British Prime Minister closer. position. If it (the deal with May) Ireland's foreign minister 1998 peace deal that ended three in German yesterday, accused Theresa May would not in itself However Sinn Fein, who empowers the DUP, if it embold- Simon Coveney said there were decades of sectarian violence. of human trafficking after a help restore the province's pulled out of power-sharing with ens the DUP then to do what they still significant gaps between May's wish that the prov- boat that they allegedly used regional administration. the DUP in January, prompting should be doing then, yes that Sinn Fein and the DUP. North- ince's executive decide how to to smuggle people to Europe But Sinn Fein President Gerry an election and a series of missed would be something very, very ern Ireland risks reverting to spend the funds put pressure on capsized and killed 13 people. Adams said that it might help if it deadlines to restore the regional positive." direct rule from London for the the two sides ahead of tomor- The case was heard by a gave the Democratic Unionist assembly, said the issues that led Adams criticised some parts first time in a decade if power- row's deadline, but a spokesman court in the southern German Party (DUP) confidence to do to the collapse remain. of the agreement - saying it pro- sharing is not restored. for May's Conservative Party said state of Bavaria, the residence what his side deems necessary to "I think not, no," Adams said vided a "blank cheque" for a May's relying on the DUP to that if it proved impossible to re- of one of the three accused. restore power-sharing. when asked if Foster's deal Brexit that threatens peace in stay in power has been criticised establish power-sharing, then The defendant and May struck the deal with the boosting infrastructure, educa- Northern Ireland. But he also for potentially putting the Brit- the responsibility would fall to it another man, 34, also from DUP to support her tion and health spending in the acknowledged that the funds ish government on one side of and the DUP. Aleppo, are accused of smug- gling people from the Turkish city Izmir to Greece on six separate trips. They recruited the third Russia begins cleaning defendant, to steer the boat on one of these trips, prom- ising him free passage on the up Soviet-era nuke base vessel, prosecutors said yesterday. Moscow Reuters "The project aims Spain forest fire to remove all of the ussia yesterday sent a first 'under control' shipment of spent fuel 22,000 nuclear fuel Rfrom Soviet-era nuclear- assemblies stored at powered submarines to a Andreyeva Bay." Madrid reprocessing plant as part of an AFP international effort to clean-up a dangerous legacy of the Cold all of the 22,000 nuclear fuel A wildfire that threatened a War. assemblies stored at Andreyeva nature reserve in southern The radioactive fuel from Bay. It is likely to take several Spain designated as a World more than 100 reactors of over years, the EBRD said. Heritage site has been brought 50 submarines has been stored The project, established in under control, officials said at Andreyeva Bay in north- 2003, supplements Russian, Police officers and secret services experts examine a car after a blast, in Kiev, yesterday. yesterday after evacuating western Russia, closed as a multilateral and bilateral over 2,000 people. naval base in 1992, for the past projects and is funded by the The blaze near Huelva in 35 years. European Union and Canada, the Andalusia region has Ukraine serviceman dead in car blast It presented a serious envi- Denmark, Finland, France, Ger- affected a vast area but not ronmental risk, the European many, Norway and the United yet the Donana National Park, Kiev driver and leaving charred Interior ministry spokesman Bank for Reconstruction and Kingdom. a Unesco World Heritage site AFP remains of the vehicle. Artem Shevchenko said that Development (EBRD), which "It is particularly pleasing well known for the extensive The blast is the latest deadly judging by initial indications it helps manage financing for the to see that nations put aside biodiversity of its dunes, wet- suspected car bombing in incident to rock the city, as cri- appeared "obvious" that the project, said. their differences to resolve such lands and woods. Kiev yesterday killed a sis-hit Ukraine battles a bloody blast was caused by an explo- From Andreyeva Bay, the crucial issues as the legacy of The fire, which started Sat- A Ukrainian military intel- Russian-backed insurgency in sive device, adding that spent fuel will be shipped on the nuclear-powered fleet in urday but caused no victims or ligence officer in an incident its eastern regions. investigators were probing it as board a specially-equipped the north of Russia," Pierre injuries, "is considered under classified as a "terrorist act" by Ukraine's defence ministry terrorism. vessel to Russia's Arctic port of Heilbronn, EBRD vice president control," Andalusia's INFOCA police, officials said. named the victim as Colonel "At the present time the pic- Murmansk, then on to its final for policy and partnerships, said fire control authorities said on Police said the explosion tore Maksym Shapoval and said he ture gathered of the crime destination, the Mayak nuclear in a statement. their Twitter account, which through a Mercedes car several was an employee of the mili- suggests it was a planned ter- reprocessing plant in Chelyab- To date, the fund has means it is still burning but has kilometres from the heart of tary's "main intelligence rorist act," Shevchenko said insk, near the Ural Mountains. received $186m in been contained. Ukrainian capital, killing the directorate." yesterday. The project aims to remove contributions. 12 CLASSIFIEDS WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017

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44449130 JORVJSZ!BQPMMPDIFNJDBMTDPN WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 AMERICAS / CLASSIFIEDS 13 Image of US has plunged under Trump: Survey

Berlin view of the United States, down Reuters Steep fall from 66 percent at the end of An overwhelming the Obama era. In Canada and he image of the United majority of people in Germany, favourability ratings States has deterio- slid by 22 points, to 43 percent other countries have rated sharply across and 35 percent, respectively. the globe under Pres- no confidence in In many European coun- ident Donald Trump Donald Trump's tries, the ratings were Tand an overwhelming majority ability to lead. comparable to those seen at the of people in other countries end of the presidency of George have no confidence in his abil- The falls far steeper W. Bush, whose 2003 invasion ity to lead, a survey from the in some of America's of Iraq was deeply unpopular. Pew Research Center showed. closest allies, like "The drop in favourability rat- Five months into Trump's Mexico, Canada, and ings for the United States is presidency, the survey spanning European partners. widespread," the Pew report said. 37 nations showed US favoura- "The share of the public with a bility ratings in the rest of the positive view of the US has plum- world slumping to 49 percent Mexico, announced he will pull meted in a diverse set of countries from 64 percent at the end of out of the Paris climate accord, from Latin America, North Amer- Barack Obama's eight years in and accused countries includ- ica, Europe, Asia and Africa". the White House. ing Canada, Germany and China The survey, based on the But the falls were far steeper of unfair trade practices. responses of 40,447 people and in some of America's closest allies, On his first foreign trip as conducted between Feb. 16 and including US neighbours Mexico president in early June, Trump May 8 this year, showed even and Canada, and European part- received warm welcomes in deeper mistrust of Trump him- ners like Germany and Spain. Saudi Arabia and Israel, but a cool self, with only 22 percent of Trump took office in Janu- reception from European part- those surveyed saying they had ary pledging to put "America ners, with whom he clashed over confidence he would do the First". Since then he has pressed Nato spending, climate and trade. right thing in world affairs, com- ahead with plans to build a wall Just 30 percent of Mexicans pared to 64 percent who trusted along the US border with now say they have a favourable Obama.

Protests in Venezuela

A man chants slogans as media workers protest against the attacks on journalists, in Caracas, yesterday.

Temer calls Colombia takes big graft charges step to peace as against him 'fiction' rebels lay down guns Brasília AFP

Mestas of former rebel fighters dressed razil's President Michel AP in white shirts with cuffed Temer defiantly hands shaped in a heart and a Brejected a bribery olombia reached a major Spanish hashtag reading "Our charge against him as fabri- milestone on its road to only weapon are words." cated on Tuesday, saying Cpeace yesterday as leftist Though hundreds of FARC there is no proof and vowing rebels relinquished some of caches filled with larger weap- to fight on. "The charge is a their last weapons and declared ons and explosives are still being fiction," Temer said in his first an end to their half-century cleared out, the UN on Monday public reaction since the insurgency. certified that all individual fire- country's top prosecutor, The historic step was taken arms and weapons, except for a Rodrigo Janot, filed the cor- as President Juan Manuel San- small number needed to safe- ruption charge with the tos traveled to this guard the soon-to-disband Supreme Court late demobilization camp in Colom- camps, have been collected. Monday. bia's eastern jungles to join "In a world convulsed by "Where are the concrete guerrilla leaders as they begin old and new forms of violence, proofs of my receiving this their transition to civilian life. by conflicts whose protagonists money?" Temer asked dur- In a short, symbol-filled cer- appear irreconcilable ... a suc- ing a nationally televised emony, United Nations observers cessful process constructing statement at the presidential shut and padlocked the last con- peace in Colombia is also rea- palace in Brasilia. tainers storing some of the 7,132 son for hope and a powerful Temer attacked Janot, say- weapons that members of the example for the international ing he had mounted a baseless Revolutionary Armed Forces of community," said Jean Arnault, case that was an assault on his Colombia have turned over the head of the UN peace mission "dignity" and sought to "para- past few weeks at 26 camps in Colombia. lyze" Latin America's biggest across the country. Yellow but- The day put Colombia one country as it tries to exit a pain- terflies were released and an step closer to turning a page on ful recession. AK-47 converted into an electric Latin America's longest-run- "I will not allow myself to guitar rang out plaintive chords ning conflict, which caused at be accused of crimes that I did in honor of the long conflict's least 250,000 deaths, left not commit. My intention is victims. 60,000 people missing and dis- to work for Brazil. I will not "By depositing the weapons placed more than 7 million. shirk the battles," he said. in the UN containers, the After years of thorny nego- Temer, the first sitting Colombians and the entire tiations, the rebels reached an president of Brazil to face world know that our peace is agreement with the govern- criminal charges, is accused real and irreversible," Santos, ment last year to give up their of accepting bribes from a winner of last year's Nobel weapons and transition into a giant meatpacking Peace Prize, told an audience political party. company. 14 AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 Republican leaders in fierce push for healthcare vote

Washington Heller, a moderate Republi- Reuters Huge loss can up for re-election next year in 22 million Americans Nevada, is already facing political epublican leaders would lose insurance fallout after a group started by were in a fierce push over the next decade former campaign aides to Presi- yesterday to shore up under the new dent Donald Trump and Pence support for a health- measure, according promised to run ads against him. care bill in the US The overlapping concerns and to Budget Office. RSenate after the nonpartisan competing interests of the law- Congressional Budget Office said makers highlight the balancing act 22 million Americans would lose At least four facing McConnell as he tries to insurance over the next decade conservative unify his party and deliver a leg- under the measure. Republican senators islative win to the president. Vice President Mike Pence is said their opposition Trump and most Republicans expected to travel to Capitol Hill remained unchanged. in Congress were elected on to join Senate Republicans for a campaign pledges to repeal and policy lunch before hosting a key replace Obamacare, Democratic conservative senator for dinner. Rand Paul, Ron Johnson and President Barack Obama's sig- Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mike Lee - said their opposition nature 2010 law that extended McConnell will continue meet- remained unchanged after the insurance coverage to some 20 ing on-the-fence senators who CBO analysis. million Americans. The pressure face questions from their gover- Pence will host Lee and other is on for them to deliver, now nors and state Medicaid officials conservative Republican sena- that they control the White about potential cuts to the gov- tors at a dinner later on Tuesday, House, House of Representatives Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks while flanked by Senate Democrats ernment insurance programme Politico reported, with James and Senate. holding photos of people who would lose their health coverage under the Senate Republicans for the poor and disabled, law- Lankford, Tom Cotton and Ben Senator Angus King, an inde- healthcare bill during a press conference at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, yesterday. makers said. Sasse also invited. pendent, lamented the lack of The CBO analysis on Monday Further, Collins, Paul and presidential leadership to guide sidelines and let these bills on the measure before the July tie-breaking vote. prompted Senator Susan Collins, Johnson, along with Senator the legislation that he said runs develop. He celebrated the 4 recess that starts at the end of Moderate senators are con- a key moderate vote, to say she Dean Heller, have all said they counter to Trump's promises to House bill then said it was mean. the week. He can afford to lose cerned about millions of people could not support moving forward will oppose a procedural motion insure everyone, cut costs and I don't think he's getting into the just two Republican senators losing insurance. Conservative on the bill as it was written. to allow McConnell to move for- protect those with pre-existing details about what these bills from the party's 52-seat major- senators say the Senate bill does At least four conservative ward and bring the bill up for a conditions. actually do," King told MSNBC. ity in the 100-seat Senate to pass not do enough to repeal Republican senators - Ted Cruz, vote. "He sort of stood on the McConnell's goal was to vote healthcare. Pence would cast a Obamacare. CNN journalists resign after Trump-Russia article Mayors bypass Trump to

New York that produced the story have all washingtonpost? They are all director general of the fund on back Paris climate goals AFP quit. The article was posted on Fake News!" he wrote. January 16. CNN's website on Thursday The CNN report had claimed Trump's young administra- Brussels "is not a partisan issue," the hree CNN journalists have before being pulled on Friday. It the Senate Intelligence Commit- tion has been consumed by AFP Democratic mayor said. resigned following the was not picked up or mentioned tee was investigating ties allegations -- under investigation "I won't go as far as to say Tretraction of an article that on air by the network. between the Trump administra- both by Congress and the FBI, and resident Donald Trump's we can reach the exact same claimed the US Congress was Trump, who has singled out tion and an investment fund furiously denied by the Republi- decision to pull out of the goals as we could have with investigating links between the channel for criticism since the controlled by Russian bank VEB, can president -- that members of PParis climate accord has national leadership," Reed told members of Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign, was which has been subject to sanc- his campaign team colluded with triggered a bipartisan push from AFP later. administration and a Russian quick to react. "Fake News CNN tions by the United States and a Russian effort to tip the electoral US mayors to stick to the emis- But he said cities could do investment fund. is looking at big management Europe since the 2014 annexa- scales in his favour. According to sions cuts Washington had enough to keep the ball rolling The US president seized on changes now that they got caught tion of Crimea by Russia. CNN's media correspondent Brian pledged to hit, the mayor of until the arrival of a new US the incident to renew his repeated falsely pushing their phony Rus- Citing an anonymous source, Stelter investigative unit members Atlanta said yesterday. president committed to the attacks on the cable network as a sian stories. Ratings way down!" the report said the US Treasury were told in a meeting Monday Mayor Kasim Reed said he Paris agreement. purveyor of "fake news." he tweeted yesterday morning. Department was believed to be that the retraction did not mean was sending a signal of "opti- He cited experts who argue Thomas Frank, the author of "So they caught Fake News investigating Anthony Scara- the facts of the story were neces- mism, passion and action" on that cities can achieve 35 per- the article, editor Eric Lichtblau CNN cold, but what about NBC, mucci, a businessman and sarily wrong. Rather, it meant that fighting climate change to may- cent to 45 percent of the and Lex Haris, who headed the CBS & ABC? What about the fail- member of the Trump transition "the story wasn't solid enough to ors worldwide despite the targeted emission cuts without newly-created investigative unit ing @nytimes & @ team, said to have met the publish as-is." pullout Trump announced this the involvement of national month. governments. "President Trump's disap- The Paris agreement calls pointing decision to withdraw for keeping average global Court halts from the agreement will actu- warming below two degrees ally have the opposite effect in Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) deportations terms of execution," Reed told above pre-industrial levels, and a meeting of mayors from Asia, at 1.5 Celsius if possible. of Iraqis Africa, Europe, South America Mayor Gregor Robertson of and North America in Vancouver suggested that Chicago Brussels. Trump look north to see how AFP "What we did not have really voters in Canadian cities had was the level of cooperation, pas- changed the political map by US judge has halted sion and intensity until we saw having Justin Trudeau, a cham- deportations of all Iraqi our president's decision to with- pion of the Paris pact, replace A nationals -- some slated draw," Reed said. his opponent Stephen Harper for removal as early as yester- Trump caused outrage for the premiership in 2015. day -- on the grounds they when he decided to withdraw "The Trump administration could be tortured or killed if the United States -- the world's had better watch out for US cit- returned to the Middle Eastern second-largest emitter of ies," Robertson said. country. greenhouse gases -- from the "They're on the rise and I US District Judge Mark Gold- 2015 accord which is meant to think will prevail in the end at smith on Monday expanded curb rising temperatures driven turning the tide and making nationwide an earlier order by human activity. sure the US is a climate leader," affecting mostly Chaldean Chris- Trump said the pact, signed he told the gathering. tians who were arrested in by nearly 200 countries, hit the Maros Sefcovic, the Euro- immigration raids in the state of United States with "draconian pean Commission vice Michigan, alarming local Iraqi financial and economic bur- president for energy who co- communities. A protester scuffles with a police officer outside Trump Tower after an announcment by the dens" while competitors got off chaired yesterday's meeting of The judge said his latest order Supreme Court it will take Trump's travel ban case later in the year, in New York City. lightly. mayors, said momentum from temporarily halts removal pro- Reed said he had attended cities and other players was ceedings against as many as 1,444 from traveling to the US, after administration agreed to remove were arrested in the Detroit area a meeting in Miami on Satur- "stronger than ever before" people, including in Tennessee the Supreme Court Monday par- the Middle Eastern country from in an immigration raid earlier day where more than 300 US despite Trump's decision. and New Mexico, of whom 85 tially reinstated President the initial version of its proposed this month -- prompting a mayors from both the Demo- Former New York mayor faced removal yesterday. Donald Trump's controversial ban, in exchange for Iraq agree- lawsuit. cratic and Republican parties and billionaire philanthropist The order comes as the fed- travel ban ahead of a hearing on ing to take in deported They were slated for depor- pledged to honour the commit- Michael Bloomberg announced eral government prepares to the case. immigrants. tation back to the war-torn ments Trump's predecessor a $200m plan on Monday aim- block certain citizens from six In a March deal between the More than 100 Iraqi immi- Middle Eastern country with a Barack Obama agreed to in ing to back innovative policies predominantly Muslim countries US and Iraq, the Trump grants with criminal records history of religious animus. Paris. The meeting showed this in American cities. US Supreme Court tosses ruling against religious school subsidies

Washington The justices ordered Colora- other subsidies to religious program that lends textbooks to Republican President Donald The district argued that introduc- Reuters do's top court to reconsider the schools, the justices sided with a schools, both public and private Trump's education secretary, ing competition into education legality of school "voucher" pro- Missouri church that objected to including religious ones, asking Betsy DeVos, is a prominent sup- would improve public schools. he US Supreme Court yes- grams in light of Monday's ruling being denied access to public grant that court also to reconsider fol- porter of such "school choice" Individual taxpayers and a terday threw out a lower that churches and other religious money for a playground improve- lowing Monday's church ruling. plans. The Colorado case arose group called Taxpayers For Pub- Tcourt's ruling prohibiting the entities cannot be categorically ment project because the state's There is a fierce debate in the after the Douglas County School lic Education challenged the use of public funds to pay for chil- denied public money even in constitution bans public funding United States over school vouch- District, outside Denver, enacted voucher program, arguing it vio- dren to attend private religious states whose constitutions of religious entities. ers, which many religious a voucher program in 2011 to help lated a provision of the state schools, a day after it issued a explicitly ban such funding. The justices also threw out a conservatives advocate and peo- pay the tuition costs of attending constitution dating to the 19th major ruling narrowing the sepa- In that ruling, which could bol- lower court ruling in a similar ple against government funding certain private schools, most of century barring public funding ration of church and state. ster the case for vouchers and case in New Mexico over a state for religious purposes oppose. which were religiously affiliated. for religious entities. WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017 BREAK TIME 15

CONCEPTIS SUDOKU

8:00 News 08:30 Pawn Stars 07:25 Dr. Jeff: Rocky 13:05 Star Darlings 8:30 The Listening Post 09:20 Storage Wars Mountain Vet 13:10 Good Luck 9:00 Once Upon a Time in 09:45 Storage Wars 08:15 Wild Animal Charlie Punchbowl 11:50 Duck Dynasty Repo 13:35 Austin & Ally 10:00 News 12:15 Duck Dynasty 09:10 Into The Pride 14:00 Jessie 10:30 Inside Story 12:40 Swamp 11:55 Cats 101 14:55 The Zhuzhus 11:00 News People 12:50 Wild Animal 15:45 Elena Of 11:30 The Stream 13:30 Ax Men Repo Avalor 12:00 News 14:20 Mountain Men 13:45 River 17:05 Stuck In The 12:30 Soapbox Mexico 16:00 Storage Wars Monsters Middle 13:00 NEWSHOUR 16:25 Storage Wars 14:40 Into The Pride 17:30 Bunk'd 14:00 News 16:50 Pawn Stars 15:35 Tanked 18:25 Alex & Co. 14:30 Inside Story 17:40 Britain's Bloodiest 17:25 Dr. Jeff: Rocky 19:15 Star Darlings 15:00 Al Jazeera World Dynasty Mountain Vet 19:45 Mako 16:00 NEWSHOUR 18:55 Big Easy 18:20 Insane Pools: Off Mermaids 17:00 News Motors The Deep End 20:10 Jessie 17:30 The Stream 19:20 Mountain Men 19:15 Tanked 20:35 Cracke Yesterday's answer 18:00 newsgrid 20:10 American 20:10 Dr. Jeff: Rocky 20:40 Bizaardvark 19:00 News Pickers Mountain Vet 21:05 Evermoor Conceptis Sudoku: Conceptis Sudoku is a number- 19:30 Witness 21:00 Billion Dollar 21:05 Dr. Jeff: Rocky Chronicles placing puzzle based on a 9×9 grid. The object is to 20:00 News Wreck Mountain Vet 21:30 Stuck In The place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so 20:30 Inside Story 21:50 Gold Hunters: 22:00 Insane Pools: Off Middle that each row, each column and each 3×3 box 21:00 NEWSHOUR Legend Of The The Deep End 21:55 Tsum Tsum contains the same number only once. 22:00 News Superstition... 22:55 Into The Pride Shorts 22:30 The Stream 22:40 Time Team 23:50 River 22:00 Bunk'd 23:00 23:30 22:25 CROSSWORD Witness American Pickers Monsters Miraculous Tales HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

NOVO — Pearl SHOWING AT Pirates of The Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (Action) 2D 10:00, 11:00am, 12:45, VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 1:30, 3:00, 3:10, 4:00, 5:45, 6:30, 8:15, 8:20, 9:00, 10:45 & 11:30pm 3D 10:15am & 3:15pm Transformers: The Last Knight (2D/Action) 10:15am, 12:00noon, 12:30, 1:00, 2:00, 3:45, 5:40, 6:00, 6:30, 9:15, 11:00pm & 12:00midnight Tubelight (2D/Hindi) 10:15am, 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:45pm & 12:30am The Mummy (2D/Action) 11:00am, 1:30, 4:00, 6:00, 9:00 & 11:30pm Fantastic Journey To Oz (2D) 10:30am, 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30pm Overdrive (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 6:30, 8:00, 8:30, 10:00, 10:30pm, 12:00midnight & 12:30am Transformers: The Last Knight(3D IMAX/Action) 10:00am, 12:45, 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm MALL

Transformers: The Last King (2D/Action) 6:45, 8:45 & 11:30pm Antar Ibn Shaddad (2D/Arabic) 10:00am, 3:00 & 11:00pm Railroad Tigers (2D/Action) 10:30am & 01:00am Lakshyam (2D/Malayalam) 10:00am & 2:30pm Vanamagan (2D/Tamil) 9:30am & 12:00midnight DJ (Duvvada Jagannadham (2D/Telugu) 12:45pm Pirates of The Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (2D/Action) 3:00, 5:15; 9:30 & 10:15pm Tubelight (2D/Hindi) 7:30, 8:30pm & 11:45pm Overdrive (2D/Action) 12:30pm ; Deep (2D/Action) 2:15 & 5:00pm Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan (2D/Tamil) 12:30 & 6:00pm

LANDMARK

Deep (2D/Action) 10:00am; Transformers: The Last King (2D/Action) 2:30, 7:30pm, 8:30pm & 12:00 midnight; Railroad Tigers (2D/Action) 10:00am & 01:00am; Antar Ibn Shaddad (2D/Arabic) 10:15am, 3:00 & 11:00pm Lakshyam (2D/Malayalam) 12:00noon & 9:45pm Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan (2D/Tamil) 12:45 & 6:00pm DJ (Duvvada Jagannadham (2D/Telugu) 12:15pm Tubelight (2D/Hindi) 5:00pm & 12:30am Overdrive (2D/Action) 5:45pm Pirates of The Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (2D/Action) 3:30, 10:15pm & 1:00am ROYAL PLAZA Deep(2D/Animation) 10:00am Lakshyam (2D/Malayalam) 12:00noon & 12:45am; Antar Ibn Shaddad (2D/Arabic) 10:00am Overdrive (2D/Action) 2:30pm Railroad Tigers (2D/Action) 12:00noon & 7:15pm, 12:00noon & 7:15pm Transformers: The Last King (2D/Action) 2:00, 4:30, 7:30 & 10:15pm Tubelight (2D/Hindi) 12:30, 5:30pm & 12:15am Pirates of The Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (2D/Action) 3:00 & 8:00pm & Yesterday’s answer 12:00midnight Vanamagan (2D/Tamil) 10:00am, 5:00pm & 9:30pm ALL IN THE MIND ASIAN TOWN DJ (Telugu) 12:30 & 6:30pm Tubelight (2D/Hindi) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00pm, 12:30, 01:00, 3:30 & 04:00am CIA: Comrade In America (Malayalam) 9:30pm Lakshyam (Malayalam) 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30pm, 01:00 & 03:30am Anbanavan Asaradhavan Adangadhavan 12:30, 6:00 & 11:30pm Vanamagan (Tamil) 3:15, 8:45pm & 02:15am ARCHIMEDES, BELL, BENDIX, BENZ, BUNSEN, AL KHOR BURROUGHS, Tubelight (2D/Hindi) 11:30am, 2:15, 5:00, 7:45, 10:30pm & 01:15am CARTWRIGHT, COLT, Pirates of The Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (2D/Action) 11:15am, 2:00, 4:45, CROMPTON, DAIMLER, DE 7:30, 10:15pm & 01:00am Transformers: The Last King (2D/Action) 10:45am, SEVERSKY, DIESEL, 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:45pm & 01:45am DUNLOP, EDISON, FORD, FRANKLIN, FULTON, ROXY JEFFERSON, LEONARDO DA Pirates of The Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (2D/Action) 7:40, 10:20pm & VINCI, MARCONI, MORSE, 12:50am Tubelight (Hindi) 2:00, 5:15, 8:30 & 11:45pm NOBEL, PULLMAN, SINGER, Transformers: The Last King (2D/Action) 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm STEPHENSON, TULL, WATT, Overdrive (Action) 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 & 10:00pm WESTINGHOUSE. Vanamagan (Tamil) 2:00 & 4:50pm DJ (Telugu) 12:00midnight 16 MORNING BREAK WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS

FAJR 03.16 am Kalyan Jewellers announces raffle draw winners SHOROOK 04.46 am The Peninsula “This is truly amazing an ZUHR 11.37 am MAGHRIB 06.30 pm experience for me. I truly feel ASR 03.00 pm ISHA 08.00 pm alyan Jewellers, one of one can’t get luckier than this. the region’s most I mean who doesn’t love cars Ktrusted and leading and that too winning a car as WEATHER TODAY jewellery brands has desirable as an Audi A3 is truly announced the 30 winners of a dream come true. I can’t o o the “Shop & Win 30 Audi A3” wait to drive the car and global campaign. would like to thank Kalyan 36 C 45 C Each of the 30 lucky win- Jewellers for this amazing Minimum Maximum ners will be getting an Audi A3 experience of a lifetime.” Car from Kalyan Jewellers. Ramesh Kalyanaraman, The winners were chosen Executive Director, Kalyan through raffle draws held in Jewellers said, ‘’I would like India, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. to congratulate the all the As mentioned during the ini- lucky winners. At Kalyan our tial campaign announcement endeavor has been to enable in April, of the 30 selected our customers to extract value winners, 4 were from Qatar, from their purchase while 15 were from India, 8 from providing a great shopping UAE, and 3 from Kuwait. The experience. I am delighted cars keys will be handed over that we could play a small part in the coming weeks after the in helping our customers real- formalities are completed. izing their dreams.’’ The winners were over- The Kalyan Jewellers glo- joyed when the company bal campaign was launched Representatives of Kalyan Jewellers during the raffle draw. informed them about their on April 10, 2017 and culmi- win. Huda Elkahlout said she nated on June 9, 2017 in India, was ecstatic about it and com- UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. 1 Alex Kuruvilla Dubai 630301 17 S Nandini Delhi 102948 mented, “I am elated by this The campaign marks the 2 Ahmed Sulthan Dubai 546120 18 Vijay Kumar Kolkata 1235748 amazing news. I still cannot single largest offer of free Audi 3 Joshua Samuel Dubai 580949 19 Suguna V Visakhapatnam 1958241 believe I have won the draw A3s in a raffle draw in India 4 Bernard Aguila Dubai 701570 20 Sindhu Sharan Hyderabad 1351096 and I will own the Audi A3. and GCC. Customers partici- 5 Sheshadri PS Qatar 139330 21 Shyam B P Kannur 3453878 Hot daytime with slight dust and This is truly incredible and I pated in the promotion by 6 Jeevitha Saravanan Qatar 312317 22 Dhanya Kodungallur 4064542 relatively humid to hazy at places would to extend my gratitude making a minimum purchase 7 Ashraf T Qatar 132837 23 Rajesh Bikundia Jodhpur 1123834 by night. to the whole team at Kalyan across Kalyan Jewellers show- 8 Huda Elkahlout Qatar 215156 24 Gurjeet Kaur Chhabra Jewellers for making my rooms in their respective 9 Mohaned Ameen Sharjah 757101 Jalandhar 1015223 HIGH TIDE 07:30 – 20:30 LOW TIDE 03:15 – 13:00 shopping experience an countries. 10 Leah Shanley Sharjah 779021 25 Bhavika Dipak Rajput Surat 466963 The 15 winners from UAE, 11 Ajitha VC Abu Dhabi 330280 26 Naval Kishore Navi Mumbai 652275 Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department unforgettable one with this awesome win. I will for sure Qatar and Kuwait were 12 Suresh Kumar Abu Dhabi 112379 27 G Narayanappa Bangalore 2380120 be going back to the selected earlier this month on 13 Abdul Bare Abdul Kuwait 79929 28 Drisavy Bandita Bisoyi showrooms.” June 13th, 14th and 15th. The 14 Shaik Khadar Basita Kuwait 15808 Bhubaneswar 839072 Sheshadri P S, our lucky list of winners along with their 15 Azhagarasan R Kuwait 45469 29 Subimol Ranni 4179845 winner from Qatar expressed country and coupon number 16 Rajeev S Kudale Belgaum 2213807 30 Deepak Chatterjee Kolkata 1299685 his happiness and remarked, is as follows. 5 planets to be visible in Qatar in July Water exists in two forms two times during this month, set time on Doha sky at 3:17 Firstly: On Saturday it will be Am next day. London at two degrees southern Third brightest luminary IANS Moon's centre, secondly: ON "Venus" will coming close to July 28; where it will be at Moon on July 20; where it will ater comes in two three degrees southern be near to Moon by two different forms -- Moon's centre, Qatar resident degrees northern moon's Wlow density and can seeing Jupiter and Moon center, Qatar resident can be high density, new research together by naked eye over seeing Venus and Moon has found. western southern horizon of together by naked eye over Researchers have known Doha sky after sunset time eastern horizon of Doha sky for a long time that ice can until time set of Jupiter on after time rise of Venus at exist in two forms -- an Doha sky during two days 2:00am until sunrise time. Dr. ordered, crystalline phase The Peninsula During these astronomi- remind before. Added by Dr. Beshir Marzouk added. and an amorphous, or disor- cal phenomena we can Marzouk Finally, planet Mercury dered phase -- and that there ccording to accurate seeing and observing planets On July 7, the beautiful will be at one degree from are two forms of amorphous astronomical calcula- with moon together, moreo- planet with rings "Saturn" southern moon's center on ice with low and high Ations by Qatar ver guide for amateur will coming close to moon; Tuesday July 25, Qatar resi- density. Calendar House (QCH), Qatar astronomers to know map of where it will be at three dent can be seeing Mercury In this study, the resident and all Arabic area sky during all month. Astro- degrees southern moon's with Moon over western researchers investigated countries will be seeing and nomical expert Dr. Beshir center, Qatar resident can be Horizon over Doha sky after whether liquid water can also observing five planets of our Marzouk said. seeing Saturn with Moon over sunset time until Mercury set have low- and high-density solar system close to the The giant planet "Jupiter" eastern Horizon on Doha sky time on Doha sky at 7:50pm forms. Moon in July 2017. will coming close to moon after sunset time until Saturn next day. "The new results give very strong support to a pic- ture where water at room temperature can't decide in which of the two forms it should be, high or low den- 'Transformers: The Last Knight' tops box office sity, which results in local fluctuations between the Los Angeles five were the Mandy Moore 3. "Cars 3," Disney, $16,638,208, 2 Weeks. two," said Lars G.M. Petters- AP shark thriller "47 Meters $24,074,497, 4,256 loca- 9. "Captain Underpants: son, Professor in Theoretical Down" in fourth place with tions, $5,657 average, The First Epic Movie," 20th Chemical Physics at Stock- ichael Bay's "Trans- $7.1m, and "The Mummy," $98,782,390, 2 Weeks. Century Fox, $4,284,115, holm University, Sweden. formers: The Last in fifth place, with $6.1m. 4. "47 Meters Down," 2,328 locations, $1,840 "In a nutshell: Water is MKnight" topped the The top 13 movies at US and Entertainment Studios average, $65,747,291, 4 not a complicated liquid, but box office charts, but it was Canadian theaters Friday Motion Pictures, $7,088,262, Weeks. two simple liquids with a a dubious success. The fifth through Sunday, followed 2,471 locations, $2,869 aver- 10. "Guardians Of The complicated relationship," instalment in the series took by distribution studio, gross, age, $23,914,194, 2 Weeks. Galaxy Vol. 2," Disney, Pettersson added. The results in a franchise low of $68.5m number of theater locations, 5. "The Mummy," Uni- $3,023,042, 1,468 locations, are based on experimental in its first five days in thea- average receipts per loca- versal, $6,060,495, 2,980 $2,059 average, studies using X-rays, which tres, $44.7m of which came tion, total gross and number locations, $2,034 average, $380,236,369, 8 Weeks. were published in the journal from weekend sales. of weeks in release, as com- $68,744,165, 3 Weeks. 11. "Beatriz At Dinner," Proceedings of the National In second place, "Won- piled Monday by 6. "All Eyez On Me," Roadside Attractions, Academy of Science. der Woman" took in an comScore: Lionsgate, $5,806,975, 2,471 $1,759,977, 491 locations, These new results not additional $24.9m in its 1. "Transformers: The locations, $2,350 average, $3,584 average, $2,953,757, only create an overall under- fourth weekend in theatres, Last Knight," Paramount, $38,599,294, 2 Weeks. 3 Weeks. standing of water at different pushing the superhero pic $44,680,073, 4,069 loca- 7. "Pirates Caribbean: 12. "The Book Of Henry," temperatures and pressures, over the $300m mark. It tions, $10,981 average, Dead Men Tell No Tales," Focus Features, $948,369, but also how water is affected beat out Disney and Pixar's $68,475,562, 1 Week. Disney, $5,396,243, 2,453 646 locations, $1,468 aver- by salts and biomolecules "Cars 3," which fell to 2. "Wonder Woman," locations, $2,200 average, age, $3,105,724, 2 Weeks. important for life. The $24.1m in its second week- Warner Bros., $24,906,310, $160,161,569, 5 Weeks. 13. "Tubelight," Yash Raj researchers believe that the end, bringing its domestic 3,933 locations, $6,333 8. "Rough Night," Sony, Films, $930,058, 338 loca- increased understanding of totally to $98.8m. average, $318,111,468, 4 $4,703,261, 3,162 locations, tions, $2,752 average, water can lead to new insights Rounding out the top Weeks. $1,487 average, $930,058, 1 Week. on how to purify and desali- nate water in the future.