BUSINESSBUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Khoukhi brace gives Sadd crucial victory Qatar and EU looking to enhance trade ties over Ahli published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10812 May 8, 2018 Sha’baan 22, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Qatar ‘used In brief embargo to QATAR | Diplomacy Amir receives message from President of Benin His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received reshape its a written message from Benin President Patrice Talon, pertaining to bilateral relations and means of boosting them. The message was received by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for economy’ Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the off icial bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, during reception ceremony at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. his meeting in Doha yesterday with O Reforms to make Qatar Benin’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs and Regional Co-operation Aurelien an open hub for the region Agbenonci. O Qatar’s growth rates continue to outstrip QATAR | Advisory Council Qatar, Zimbabwe explore neighbours Draft law on investment of non-Qatari capital okayed atar has weathered the trade The Advisory Council held yesterday ways to expand trade ties and travel embargo launched its weekly session chaired by HE Qby four neighbours almost a Speaker of the Advisory Council year ago, and is accelerating economic Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid QNA friendship and co-operation ties be- A memorandum of understanding was reforms to boost investment, HE the al-Mahmoud. After discussing the Doha tween the two countries in the diff er- signed between civil aviation authori- Finance Minister Ali Sherif al-Emadi report of the Financial and Economic ent fi elds. ties in Qatar and Zimbabwe on June 5, has said. Aff airs Committee on a draft law The visit of President Mnangagwa, 2007, while an air services agreement The region was thrown into turmoil regulating the investment of non- atar and Zimbabwe are taking who came to power in November, re- was signed on October 19, 2015. in June when a group of countries led Qatari capital in economic activity, their bilateral ties and pros- fl ects an offi cial interest from Zimba- Expatriates from Zimbabwe cur- by Saudi Arabia closed off Qatar’s ac- the council approved it and decided Qpects of co-operation to new bwe to develop co-operation and rela- rently work in several sectors in Qatar. cess to their ports and airspace, claim- HE the Finance Minister Ali Sherif to forward its recommendations to heights, particularly in the fi elds of in- tions with Qatar on all fronts. Zimbabwe is known for its agricultural ing Doha supported terrorism. Inter- al-Emadi the cabinet. The draft law is aimed vestment and agriculture. Both countries share several stances and animal wealth and its main exports national and regional attempts to solve at attracting non-Qatari capital to His Highness the Amir Sheikh and ambitions as they support the are cotton, tobacco, platinum, gold, the dispute between US allies have Qatar has fostered domestic dairy invest in the country to promote Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Zim- principles of international peace; the ferroalloys, textiles and clothing. been unsuccessful. Qatar has strongly and meat production as well as relying economic development. Page 3 babwe President Emmerson Mnan- right of peoples to liberation and self- The importance of small- and denied the allegations. on Turkey, Iran and Oman to open new gagwa held yesterday a session of of- determination; the need to settle dis- medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is supply routes for food and construc- ARAB WORLD | Aid fi cial talks at the Amiri Diwan. putes through dialogue, negotiations highlighted in Zimbabwe’s economic “The blockade made us tion supplies, most of which used to They witnessed the signing of an and peaceful manners; and the rejec- sector by adding $8.58bn to the coun- look into ease-of-doing- come overland from Saudi Arabia and Qatar grants QR50mn agreement on economic, trade and tion of interference in internal aff airs try’s GDP in 2016 and provided 5.9mn business regulations, so we via ports in Dubai. to Gaza for Ramadan technical co-operation between the of other countries. jobs for citizens, equivalent to three- accelerated those reforms. It has also opened its borders by of- Chairman of the Qatari Committee governments Qatar and Zimbabwe. A As for the Gulf crisis, Zimba- quarters of the workforce. Now we look at Qatar as an fering visa waiver to nationals of 80 for the Reconstruction of Gaza, number of ministers were present. bwe adopts the African Union’s (AU) About 2% of these projects turn into open hub for the region,” HE countries, boosting tourism and wid- ambassador Mohamed al-Emadi, The visit of Mnangagwa to Doha is stance that calls for resolving the cri- large companies in the light of their al-Emadi said ening the pool of expatriate labour. It announced an urgent Qatari described as signifi cant, especially with sis through dialogue and mediation success and profi ts that help them launched its fi rst bond since the em- grant of about $14mn (QR50mn) the Qatari move towards expanding among its parties. Former President of grow, and they start using SMEs in “The fi rst few weeks of the block- bargo, raising $12bn from an order book to Gaza Strip on the occasion of prospects of co-operation with the fra- AU, Alpha Conde, had called on Afri- some of their businesses, in what is ade were most diffi cult, but today the of $53bn. the holy month of Ramadan. In a ternal and friendly countries in the dif- can countries to adopt a united stance known as the outsourcing policy. economy has stabilised. Our growth The quartet launched their embargo press statement before leaving ferent political, economic and invest- towards the Gulf crisis and urged, dur- Because of this success, all com- rates are good,” the minister told the just as Qatar was gearing up a massive Gaza yesterday, al-Emadi said ment fi elds of mutual co-operation. ing the opening of the African summit mercial banks in Zimbabwe have es- London-based Financial Times in an $200bn infrastructure transformation the grant will target the areas of The visit allows for discussing the in Addis Ababa, a peaceful settlement tablished special departments to serve interview. plan to ready itself for hosting the 2022 education, health, housing and current developments and issues at for the crisis. SMEs, which proved to be success- Qatar, he said, had used the em- FIFA World Cup. the humanitarian needs of the the regional and international levels, Relations between Qatar and Zim- ful despite the fact that loans to these bargo imposed by Saudi Arabia, the As the oil price slump hampered population in Gaza. He added that and the economic, social and develop- babwe date back to the early ’90s. Dip- projects do not exceed 4% of the total United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and business confi dence in oil producing Qatar seeks to meet the shortfall in ment challenges facing some African lomatic ties at the level of non-resident loans of banks operating in the coun- Egypt as an opportunity to reshape its countries, Qatar’s non-oil GDP growth the salaries of Palestinian Authority countries, in addition to enhancing ambassadors started on June 11, 1998. try. Page 24 economy. softened to 4% from 5.6% in the previ- and Hamas employees and make International investors into most of ous year, according to the International every eff ort possible in this regard. the Gulf countries have traditionally Monetary Fund, well below the previ- been allowed to operate only within ous historical average of 12.6%. REGION | Politics special zones, the Financial Times said, But Qatar’s growth rates have con- adding this is aimed at protecting do- tinued to outstrip its neighbours, said Trump decision on Iran HMC to launch 20 ICU ambulances soon mestic investors, many of whom have HE al- Emadi, who is targeting GDP nuclear deal today resisted eff orts to boost foreign invest- growth of close to 3% this year. “Lots US President Donald Trump said By Joseph Varghese opened across the country. In this ment by opening up their economies to of work has been done behind this and he would announce a decision Staff Reporter scenario, we need more inter-facility competition. the economy is in a healthy condition,” on the future of the Iran nuclear ambulances,” he explained on the Following the blockade, Qatar de- he said. deal today as European countries sidelines of the relaunch of the ‘Know cided to open up its real-estate sector As fi scal pressures ease with rising piled pressure on Washington to amad Medical Corporation’s the 5 to save a life’ national aware- to foreigner investors. Another change crude markets, the Qatar Investment remain in the 2015 agreement. (HMC) Ambulance Service ness campaign. “They are called ICU is expected that would allow overseas Authority — which invests hydrocar- Trump has threatened to withdraw Hwill soon launch 20 new ICU ambulances because the patients are investors to take full ownership of bon surpluses — will pick up the pace of from the deal, which provided ambulances to transport patients be- treated with extreme care as in the companies without the need to work its global investments, he added. Qatar Iran with relief from economic tween its facilities across the country. case of a medical intensive care unit. with a local partner. sets its budget based on an oil price of sanctions in exchange for limiting “The inter-facility ambulances, which One of the newest ambulances. They will be launched after training “The blockade made us look into about $45 a barrel, the lowest in the re- its uranium enrichment capacity, are expected to arrive in Qatar within the staff ,” continued Morris. ease-of-doing-business regulations, gion. unless European signatories to the a month, are an integral part of a very Morris said yesterday. According to the offi cial, the number so we accelerated those reforms. Now “It is very simple maths,” he said, re- accord fix what he has called its large health organisation,” Ambulance “Currently HMC is expanding its of calls that the Ambulance Service re- we look at Qatar as an open hub for the ferring to the excess revenues expected shortcomings. Page 11 Service executive director Brendon services with new facilities being ceives, has gone up dramatically. Page 6 region,” HE al-Emadi said. this year as oil rises above $70 a barrel. EU says Gulf unity crucial, backs Kuwaiti mediation By Santhosh V Perumal support we can to the eff orts of (HH) take sides, he said the issue has to be six GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council) aging “direct dialogues”. In June last year, Qatar came under Business Reporter Sheikh Sabah (the Amir of Kuwait). resolved swiftly; otherwise it will aff ect countries because “the GCC unity is Perceiving the Gulf crisis as a direct economic and diplomatic blockade im- At the moment, we are engaging with confi dence and credibility of the region very important”. threat to its interests in the region; posed by the siege countries headed by Kuwait and ideally we believe that so- as a whole. “We are trying to come up with new the EU High Representative Federica Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. In tressing that the Gulf unity is lution should come from the region,” Pitching for negotiated settlement, package of support in the area of coun- Mogherini had last year said “we see order to ease the tension, Kuwait had important, the European Union Michele Cervone d’Urso, ambassador, he said the concerned authorities know ter-terrorism. We intend to discuss a clear risk of the situation escalating engaged in mediation talks. S(EU) yesterday said it will not take Head of EU Delegation to Saudi Arabia, what the problem is and what the solu- with all the GCC countries,” d’Urso said further and spreading in an unpleas- However, Washington-based In- sides and the solution to the 11-month- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar, told tion, but perhaps “what is lacking is the without elaborating. ant and dangerous manner beyond the stitute of International Finance had old crisis has to come from within the reporters at a function to announce the political commitment.” Bahia Tahzib, Netherlands ambas- region of the Gulf, be it in Africa, or in said a pickup in private consump- region. The EU is at present contem- Europe Day celebrations to be held in He said in the last one year, the EU sador to Qatar, said the EU has been Southeast Asia or in the Middle East.” tion, public spending, and exports plating a new package of support for the Doha tomorrow. has been supporting the mediation in telling right from the beginning (of The EU fi nds that unity within the GCC have helped Qatar fast dissipate GCC in the area of counter-terrorism. Highlighting that the EU has made it the Gulf crisis and is trying to incen- the Gulf crisis) that its interests are is crucial in order to preserve stability shocks from the economic blockade. “We are trying to provide all the clear to all the concerned that it will not tivise engagement with the EU of all the also “at stake” and have been encour- in neighbouring regions. Page 6 Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 QATAR Amir receives message from Bashir Qatar is striving to achieve self-suffi ciency: Sheikha Hind

QNA Adams noted that the meas- contains a large collection of rare London ures taken by the siege countries manuscripts related to the Arab – closing air, land and maritime world. ports – are intended to subjugate These projects indicate that ice-Chairperson and Qatar’s policy to the extent that Qatar aims at cultural as well CEO of Qatar Foundation those countries wish. as economic excellence, he ob- VHE Sheikha Hind bint He added that in the midst of served. Hamad al-Thani has said that these actions and the atmos- He added that Qatar Founda- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from Qatar is striving to achieve self- phere created by the siege, the tion provides educational free- the President of Sudan Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, pertaining to bilateral relations and way of suffi ciency. people of Qatar became more dom, without any dictation or enhancing them. The written message was handed over by the envoy of the Sudanese president Ali Sheikha Hind said in remarks fascinated with His Highness imposition by the authorities, Ahmed Karti, when the Amir met him at the Amiri Diwan off ice yesterday. carried by The Guardian that the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- citing Everette E Dennis, the Qatar’s policy aims at creating a HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad mad al-Thani, pointing out that dean at Northwestern University diversifi ed knowledge economy, al-Thani the pictures of the Amir are eve- at Qatar Foundation, who said: adding that the money and the rywhere, covering the windows “There has never been a single incentive of projects such as the portant part of that,” she added. of cars and glass towers in the intrusion into what we teach and 2022 World Cup only solve a “Maybe a lot of people are centre of Doha. how we teach it, the full range of small part of these aspirations. not happy with things that have He pointed out that the cam- social issues are freely discussed QRCS launches Ramadan campaign She said, “It is not a secret come out from the darkness, but pus of Qatar Foundation’s Edu- here”. Dennis said that the spir- that we are a wealthy society, but if you want to build a civil soci- cation City is home dozens of it of the critical investigation knowing that you can contrib- ety and allow people to think for universities, including Georget- prompted authorities in Doha to QNA value of QR60mn. famines, earthquakes, and de- ute in developing your country, themselves and be critical, every own University and Texas A & M, address international concerns Doha These operations include struction resulting from war and and allow it to become even more story has to come out,” Sheikha to name a couple. over mistreatment of migrant QR12mn worth of Ramadan Iftar confl ict. prominent, is something every- Hind further added. Adams noted that the latest workers, noting that Qatar has in Qatar and 15 other countries. “Last year, QRCS’s Ramadan one feels pride in. If anything, the In a report by Tim Adams under additions to Qatar Foundation responded to these minimum atar Red Crescent Soci- At a press conference, Execu- drive conducted local and in- siege helped that. We see a big op- the title “From Qatar’s blockade, is Qatar National Library, which wage demands and the primary ety (QRCS) announced tive Director of QRCS Youssef ternational projects at a cost of portunity to be self-sustainable.” a bold, unexpected new vision he described as amazing, add- healthcare system. Qyesterday the launch of Abdullah al-Sada said this year’s QR168mn,” said al-Sada. “Imagine another nation tell- is emerging”, The Guardian shed ing that about 51% of Qataris, He added that the siege has its annual Ramadan campaign campaign will bring benefi t mil- Rashid Saad al-Mohannadi, ing Britain to close the BBC you light on the repercussions of the including a large number of chil- accelerated transparency on for the year 1439 A.H. lions around the world. “Qatar is General Director, Relief and In- would be shocked,” Sheikha siege of Qatar nearly a year since dren, have got library member- these matters. The new campaign, under always there for those in need,” ternational Development Divi- Hind said on the demands of its imposition, stressing that the ship. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad the theme of “Promise of Pros- he added. sion, said: “A total of QR154mn the siege countries to close Al siege gave Qatar more confi dence Following the opening of the al-Thani stressed that despite perity”, comprises a wide range QRCS, he stated, adopts a worth of projects were accom- Jazeera. “I think when we are to continue building its cultural library 150,000 books have been the negative impact of the siege of humanitarian operations in strategic vision to address the plished in 2017, reaching out to talking about where we want our and political model with defi ance, lent, he added. on social ties, the drive for self- more than 20 countries, at a total increasing impact of fl oods, nearly 8mn benefi ciaries.” region to be, Al Jazeera is an im- determination, and boldness. Adams said that the library sustainability has now increased. Qatar’s eff orts to help people with disabilities highlighted

QNA lined the eff orts of Qatar to pro- Ministry of Administrative De- persons) and 5,511 non-Qataris by the Ministry of Develop- the number of blind females rehabilitation, social, health Doha mote the participation of blind velopment, Labour and Social (49.7%). The number of Qatari ment Planning and Statistics in reached 445, of which 285 are and vocational programmes women in the development of Aff airs, he said that the number and non-Qatari males in this 2016, he said, indicated that the Qataris and 160 non-Qataris. and services for people with society in line with Qatar Na- of institutions dealing with group was 6,294 (63.1% of all number of people registered in He said that the centres and visual disabilities of both sexes, bdul Hadi al-Marri, Di- tional Vision 2030. persons with disabilities in the persons with disabilities reg- centres related to visual dis- institutes specialised mainly and also organised awareness rector of the Technical Addressing the fi rst session of country had reached 27. These istered in the relevant centres), ability was 1,040 male and fe- in managing visual disability programmes, seminars and re- ABureau of the Permanent the third International Confer- include centres, institutes and compared to 3,648 disabled male, about 9.4% of all persons – such as Al Noor Institute for search focusing on the rights of Population Committee (PPC) ence on Blind Women, organ- societies, serving 11,086 regis- women, (36.9% of the total), he with disabilities, including 619 the Blind and Qatar Social and those persons and the impor- at the Ministry of Development ised by the Arab Union for the tered persons, including 5,575 added. Qataris (about 60 %), non- Cultural Centre for the Blind tance of their integration into Planning and Statistics, has out- Blind in co-operation with the Qataris, (50.3% of all disabled The latest statistics issued Qataris 421 (about 40 %), while – which provided educational, social life. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 3 QATAR

Amir receives message from Ghana leader Seminar addresses QU’s role in developing food security strategies

Qatar University (QU)- organised seminar has Abrought together offi cials from various ministries and government agencies in Qatar recently, an event aimed at ad- dressing food safety and security issues at the local level. Titled “The Role of Qatar University in Developing Food Security Strategies in the State of Qatar,” the seminar included four sessions about Food securi- ty policy, Improving agricultural production and techniques, Col- laboration for building human capacities, and Entrepreneurial food security projects. Offi cials from the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Off icials from various ministries in Qatar taking part in the Dr Hassan al-Derham at the Ministry of Economy and Com- QU-organised seminar recently. seminar. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received a written message from President merce, Ministry of Administrative of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo pertaining to bilateral relations between Qatar and Ghana and ways of Development, Labour and Social highlights the importance of food Dr Hassan al-Derham, who also of QU in the development of enhancing them. The message was received by HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Aff airs, Ministry of Public Health, security issue at the local level at a attended the event, along with QU food security strategies and also Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani when he met yesterday with the Qatar Development Bank, and Has- time when Qatar is facing the illegal leaders and college deans. serves to assess the current real- Minister for Foreign Aff airs and Regional Integration of Ghana Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. sad Food took part in the event. blockade imposed by the neigh- “This seminar also provides ity and to establish future strate- “This is a signifi cant event that bouring countries,” QU president a platform to discuss the role gies and goals,” he added.

Advisory Council approves draft law on investment of non-Qatari capital

QNA country to promote economic ing Spanish parliamentary del- tar, the Speaker said the del- in Rabat, Morocco, adding that in the Chilean parliament, where Fernando Meza Moncada, who Doha development, the council ap- egation. egation’s members expressed the forum discussed several they discussed strengthening affirmed his full and uncon- proved the draft law and decided The meeting discussed boost- their support for all efforts priority strategic issues, fore- and promoting parliamentary ditional solidarity with Qatar to forward its recommendations ing parliamentary relations exerted to resolve the Gulf cri- most of which are food secu- relations and issues of common in respect of the siege, as well he Advisory Council yes- to the cabinet. between Qatar and Spain. The sis through dialogue and mu- rity, development and empow- interest. as by president of the Qatari- terday held its regular The council took note of a re- Speaker said that he discussed tual understanding within the erment of women, along with During his meeting with the Chilean Friendship Group in Tweekly session chaired by port on its delegation’s partici- with the delegation the develop- framework of respect for the strengthening economic and Speaker of the Andean Parlia- the Chilean Parliament Ivan HE the Speaker Ahmed bin Ab- pation in the second meeting of ment witnessed by Qatar in eco- sovereignty and independence commercial interests and hu- ment, a parliamentary bloc Flores, who participated in dullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud. the Gulf committee on enhanc- nomic and legislative fi elds as of Qatar. manitarian links between the comprising six countries: Ar- the meeting and called for At the outset of the session, ing relations with the European well as the unjust siege imposed They also stressed their full Arab world and the African gentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, lifting the siege imposed on the council discussed the report Parliament held recently in Ku- upon it. understanding of Qatar’s posi- continent. Colombia and Peru, HE al-Mah- Qatar immediately. of the Financial and Economic wait, where the delegation pre- He added that the Span- tion, which calls for dialogue He also briefed the council on moud explained that Qatar has The Advisory Council wel- Aff airs Committee on a draft sented its views and suggestions ish parliamentary delegation to resolve diff erences between his meetings with the accompa- been subjected to an unjust siege comed the fi nal communique law regulating the investment of to fi nalise the committee’s draft praised the economic growth in countries. nying delegation on the sidelines based on baseless arguments and of the Arab-African economic non-Qatari capital in the coun- rules of procedure. Qatar and expressed its aspira- He also briefed the Advisory of the forum with a number of false accusations. forum, which stressed the need try’s economic activity. The Speaker of the Advisory tion for further co-operation Council on the participation of heads of Arab, African, Latin He praised the deep un- to strengthen co-ordination, After discussing the draft law, Council briefed the council on and development in bilateral re- the council’s delegation, which America and the Caribbean par- derstanding and support for co-operation and solidarity be- which aims at attracting non- the meeting held between the lations. he headed, in the Arab-African liaments and the president of the Qatar’s position by Speaker tween the countries of Africa Qatari capital to invest in the council’s members and the visit- On the siege imposed on Qa- economic forum held recently Qatari-Chilean friendship group of the Andean Parliament and the Arab world. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 QATAR

Philippine I-Day reception held

HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the 15th edition of Project Qatar held yesterday. Looking on are Manateq CEO Fahad Rashid al-Kaabi and several top diplomats, as well as other dignitaries. PICTURE: Ram Chand Minister inaugurates

Philippine ambassador Alan Timbayan is joined by Qatar’s Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs HE Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, Education and Higher Education undersecretary Ibrahim bin Saleh bin Khalifa al-Nuami and 15th Project Qatar Ministry of Foreign Aff airs’ chief of protocol Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhroo at the Philippine Independence Day reception in Doha on Sunday. Timbayan cited the 37- By Peter Alagos ening and bolstering bridges of achieve Qatar National Vision 2030. age programme, which will deliver year relations between Qatar and the Philippines, saying such “special ties that bind Business Reporter communication between govern- The minister said the increase in many roads and integrated infra- us together are cemented by strong people-to-people linkages, which are rooted on ment offi cials, businessmen, in- spending allocated in part to fi nance structure projects in local areas.” mutual respect for cultural diversity and religious tolerance.” vestors, entrepreneurs, buyers, and infrastructure ventures and FIFA He said Ashghal is also co-oper- atar’s vibrant construc- suppliers from construction com- World Cup 2022-related projects ating with relevant Qatari authori- tion sector continues to panies,” the minister said following represented the cornerstone of ac- ties on signifi cant building projects Qattract a wide range of for- a tour of the exhibition. tivity in the construction sector. that include healthcare, educational, eign markets, which is a refl ection After inauguration ceremony, the “The state’s commitment to sup- and general sector projects. “We are of the country’s strong and stable minister toured the exhibition hall port the construction sector has committed to Qatar’s infrastruc- economy, HE the Minister of Econ- at the Doha Exhibition and Conven- contributed to positioning Qatar as ture development, and this event omy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed tion Centre, which hosts 280 inter- one of the fastest growing markets in will help us showcase our eff orts to New multi-storey bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani national exhibitors from 21 coun- the region and the world,” he added. achieve this end,” al-Marri said. has said. tries, as well as 126 local companies Mohamed Masoud al-Marri, in- IFP Qatar Project director Haidar The minister, who inaugurated participating until May 10. frastructure aff airs director at Ash- Mshaimesh said some of the world’s the 15th edition of Project Qatar The minister highlighted the role ghal, said: “The event is a fulcrum leading companies are showcasing yesterday, said the annual event of the construction sector in sup- for development and provides sup- their products and services, which parking at QU has transformed into an outstand- porting Qatar’s eff orts to diversify port to the requirements of Qa- belong to the top 10 construction- ing tradition that features the lat- its national economy. tar’s construction sector, which is related needs in the sector such as est technologies, equipment, He underlined the remarkable essential at this stage, especially building materials, electrical sup- he new 2,000 car, four-storey park- Dr al-Derham said: “The establishment and global best practices in the growth of the construction sector in in our move towards sustainable plies, construction systems and ing building in Qatar University of the new multi-storey parking demon- construction industry. light of the state’s keenness to chan- development. technology, engineering and de- T(QU) was inaugurated yesterday by strates the expansion of QU’s infrastruc- “Project Qatar is an important nel its expenditures to support ma- “The platform has been instru- sign services, marble blocks, tiles president Dr Hassan al-Derham. ture. The new parking is designed and platform that has gathered a large jor development projects being un- mental in paving the way for key and slabs, pipes and fi ttings, steel The facility, equipped with number plate constructed in compliance with the best number of international compa- dertaken according to the economic projects such as the Expressway products, marble fi nished products, recognition technology and vacant space standards and with the health and safety nies and institutions involved in the policies outlined in the Qatar’s sec- Programme, which will deliver stone blocks, slabs and fi nished indicators, off ers QU members a state-of- requirements.” construction sector over 15 years. It ond National Development Strategy some of the largest expressways in products, and ceramic tiles and the-art and precise car park monitoring Al-Fakhroo said: “The new parking plays an important role in strength- (NDS2) 2018-2022, which aims to Qatar, and the local roads and drain- granite from 21 countries. service. incorporates environmentally friendly The event was attended by QU vice construction elements and solar energy presidents Dr Khalid al-Khater (Ad- systems. As much as 50% of the parking ministration and Financial Aff airs), Dr building’s power requirement is provided Omar al-Ansari, (Academic Aff airs), through solar energy. It also includes a caf- Capital Projects director Ibrahim al- eteria and two bridges leading to the Col- Fakhroo, project manager Hisham lege of Business and Economics and the Ashghal Bader as well as other offi cials and new College of Engineering building, as staff . well as the Research Complex.” showcases key projects completed in 2017, 2018 Ashghal off icials at the authority’s pavilion at the Project Qatar 2018 Exhibition yesterday. Dr Hassan al-Derham inaugurates the new parking facility in QU as other off icials look on.

he Public Works The Public Works Au- Authority – Ash- thority is showcasing at Tghal is participat- Project Qatar the most ing as a strategic sponsor important projects com- of the 15th International pleted during 2017 and Construction Technology 2018, including express- and Building Materials ways, infrastructure, Exhibition “Project Qa- drainage or buildings, in tar 2018”, and the Future addition to those current- Projects Qatar Confer- ly being implemented. ence at the Doha Exhi- Ashghal will also par- bition and Convention ticipate in the second Centre. day of the Future Projects The four-day exhibi- Qatar Conference with a tion, which started yes- presentation by the En- terday, is being held un- gineering Support Sec- der the patronage of HE tion head Fahad al-Otaibi the Prime Minister and about infrastructure de- Interior Minister Sheikh velopment projects in Abdullah bin Nasser bin the new citizens’ sub- Khalifa al-Thani. divisions, which serves In a statement, Ashghal more than 10,000 land president Saad bin Ah- plots distributed across 13 mad al-Muhannadi said regions in all parts of the the roads and infrastruc- country. ture projects were in full Towards the end of swing and have not been the last year Ashghal aff ected by the ongoing launched an initiative to blockade. use recycled materials in Ashghal has devel- Ashghal projects in line oped a plan to produce a with Qatar National Vi- number of materials lo- sion 2030 and the Nation- cally, including cement al Development Strategy and iron, and to recy- 2017-2022. A pilot project cle other materials such was launched earlier this as asphalt, in order to year under the supervi- achieve self-suffi ciency. sion of Ashghal Research Al-Muhannadi said and Development Centre Ashghal has also launched at the Quality and Safety a number of initiatives to Department. Recycled encourage local manufac- asphalt is now used in turers and small contrac- Izghawa area for the road tors to participate in the maintenance project. implementation of their The authority is also projects. These include working on another pi- “Ta’heel” and “Quali- lot project to use recycled fi cation of Small Con- materials from the con- tractors” through which struction waste in Rawdat Ashghal has successfully Rashed landfi ll, in the sand rehabilitated more than base layers of one of the 70 Qatari products and local roads development accredited 54 local sup- projects implemented pliers in less than a year. by Ashghal. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 5 QATAR Relations with China

Dr Khaled Machaca (second left) after receiving the Distinguished strategic: Qatari envoy Alumnus of the Year Award from Emory University’s Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences. QNA continuation of co-ordination that Qatar opened last year a The ambassador also said that logue, and to not interfere in the Beijing between the two countries on all tourism representative offi ce in the two countries’ eff orts are aff airs of others. issues of common interest. China and exempted Chinese continuing to enhance co-oper- He added that China’s stance He said that Qatar was one nationals from visas to facilitate ation and bilateral economic and is neutral and understandable. atar ambassador to Chi- of the fi rst countries to support tourist visits to Qatar. trade exchanges, noting that the However it is positive towards WCM-Q scientist na Sultan bin Salmeen the “Belt and Road” initiative He said that the two coun- volume of trade exchange be- Qatar noting that China has rela- Qal-Mansouri has de- launched by Chinese President tries agreed to sign an agreement tween Doha and Beijing last year tions with all parties of the siege. scribed relations between Qatar Xi Jinping in 2013. to exempt the citizens of both reached $8bn. The ambassador said this and China as strategic, excellent, The ambassador stressed that countries from the visa at the On China’s stance regarding year marks 30 years since the gets US award and currently at their best and the relations between Doha and mutual visits, noting that it is the Gulf crisis, the ambassador establishment of the relations witnessing steady development Beijing have been constantly de- expected to fi nalise related pro- said China’s stance is clear and between Qatar and China. He leading scientist at es such importance on knowl- in various fi elds. veloping in various fi elds, thus cedural matters in July. neutral, where its policy is not expressed his hope for it to be a Weill Cornell Medicine edge and scientifi c research.” Speaking to Qatar News enhancing the trust between the The ambassador said that to interfere in the aff airs of oth- year of prosperity for both sides, A– Qatar (WCM-Q) has Dr Machaca was awarded his Agency (QNA), the ambassador two countries, especially as they China imports 40% of its total er countries, in addition to the and that the long-standing and been presented with the 2018 PhD in cell and developmental noted in this regard to the suc- are important to each other and needs of liquefi ed natural gas need to resolve disputes through deep-rooted relations of friend- Distinguished Alumnus of biology from Emory Universi- cessful visit of His Highness the play an important role on the in- (LNG) from Qatar, which is an- dialogue and peaceful ways. ship between the two countries the Year Award from his alma ty’s Laney Graduate School in Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad ternational and regional arenas. other factor that distinguishes He said that communication to open wider horizons in vari- mater in the US. Georgia in the US in 1996. al-Thani to China in 2014, which The ministries of the inte- the strength of economic ties with the Chinese side was ongo- ous fi elds. The signifi cant contribu- Since then, Dr Machaca has witnessed the establishment of rior in the two countries signed between Qatar and China. ing since the start of the crisis and The ambassador said the tions of Dr Khaled Machaca, had an internationally renowned the strategic relationship be- last year an agreement related He added that Qatar is the fi rst it was briefed on the event and the achievements are many and associate dean of research career as a researcher in the tween Doha and Beijing. to direct security co-ordination supplier of gas to China, and it reasons of the crisis, due to the the aspirations are big to meet at WCM-Q and professor of fi elds of calcium signalling and Al-Mansouri pointed out that between them in the areas of is from the utmost importance partnership and friendly relations the desires of both countries physiology and biophysics, to gamete maturation, publishing the historic visit of His Highness combating terrorism, organised of this type of energy in devel- between the two countries. and peoples to consolidate the scientifi c world have now multiple high-impact scien- the Amir to China resulted in crime and cybercrime, noting opment, involved in the devel- The ambassador added that and strengthen relations to- been formally recognised by tifi c articles in leading journals. several agreements in the fi elds that Qatar is the fi rst country to opment of China, which needs China understands the situa- wards further achievements Emory University’s Graduate He joined WCM-Q in 2007 and of investment, sports, culture, sign such agreement with China. clean energy for its development tion, however calls on all parties and meet common visions and Division of Biological and Bio- was appointed associate dean of and others in addition to the Al-Mansouri further added projects. to resolve the issue through dia- aspirations. medical Sciences (GDBBS). research the following year. He was invited to deliver a Dr Machaca oversaw the es- seminar at Emory. The lecture, tablishment and growth of the entitled ‘Of Chicken, Worms, research programme at WCM-Q Frogs, Mice and Humans, over the past decade. This includ- QM announces two open calls for photographers Searching for the Spark of Life’, ed the recruitment of 16 faculty Qatar Museums (QM) has that will help foster mutual to capture such a vast and varying The second opportunity is open the country for an international summarised Dr Machaca’s sci- members to join the programme, announced two open calls for understanding and cultural landscape, rich cultural heritage to all Qatar-based photographers audience,” said QM’s public art entifi c and professional journey. the implementation of the opera- photographers from Qatar to relations between the countries. and modern beauty is a unique who want to be considered for an curator Sheikha Maryam Hassan “It is a great honour and tional and regulatory infrastruc- take part in upcoming projects A final selection of photographs opportunity for any artist and I hope upcoming international exhibition Mohamed al-Thani, who is helping privilege to have my career ture for research at WCM-Q, and organised as part of the Qatar will be exhibited in forthcoming many of our talented photographs showcasing the best of Qatar oversee both photography selections. recognised by my alma mater. the establishment of state-of- Russia 2018 Year of Culture. exhibitions held by QM, locally take this chance to experience a contemporary photography. All applications for the This award was particularly the-art core facility that currently The first opportunity calls for and internationally. historic new location,” he noted. Photographers can choose to contemporary photography special because my daughter service WCM-Q faculty and other Qatari photographers to apply to “The annual photography Applications are open to Qatari submit images that showcase show must be submitted before Raya is currently a student at stakeholders nationally. The re- represent Qatar in the upcoming exchange programme is an citizens 18 years of age and older any aspect of Qatar and all midnight of May 19 through the Emory,” he said. search programme has been suc- Qatar Russia 2018 Year of Culture integral part of every Year of who should be available to travel genres, styles and formats of online application form that can “Science and research are cessful and has established itself photography exchange. Culture, designed to foster to Russia for up to two weeks photography are eligible. be found on www.qm.org.qa/en/ vital to the acquisition of at one of the premier biomedical To celebrate the cultural initiative, inter-cultural dialogue with other before the end of the year. “We are looking for photographs qatar-contemporary-photography knowledge and the develop- programmes regionally by gar- QM will be sending two Qatari countries,” QM’s Fire Station Artist Photographers who have that communicate the richness and by May 12 for the Year of ment of better healthcare nering signifi cant extramural photographers on assignment to in Residence Programme director previously represented Qatar as and diversity of life in Qatar and Culture exchange initiative at: – particularly personalised funding in excess of $100 million, Russia for up to two weeks each Khalifa al-Obaidly said. exchange photographers are also help demonstrate the quality of www.qm.org.qa/en/qatar-russia- healthcare – and it is very publishing more than 800 papers to create an inspiring portfolio “The opportunity to travel to Russia eligible to apply. contemporary photography from photography-exchange. gratifying to be working in a which have received over 16,000 country like Qatar, which plac- citations to date. EAA Foundation, QU empower pupils through project-based learning

he Education Above All (EAA) Founda- Ttion, through its pro- gramme Reach Out To Asia (Rota), has held the largest annual International Edu- cation and Resource Net- work (iEARN) Qatar 2018 Open House at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Stu- dent Centre under the pa- tronage of Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Mar- keting and Distribution Company (Muntajat). Organised in partnership with the National Centre of Educational Development at Qatar University (QU) and the Ministry of Edu- cation and Higher Educa- tion, it off ered students and teachers a chance to display their work and achieve- ments and showcase their iEARN projects for the 2017-2018 school year. iEARN is a non-profi t organisation that connects This year, 658 students from 12 schools participated in iEARN Qatar. schools and youth organi- sations worldwide via a ers and youth to collaborate ternational School – West peals to a larger interna- virtual network to empower online in order to connect Bay campus, Moza Bint Mo- tional audience as students young people, encourage classroom learning with hammed Preparatory Inde- can learn how to be ready inter-scholastic collabora- real world issues. It allows pendent School for Girls, for our changing world, es- tion and debate world young students to acquire Halima Al Sadia Primary pecially as it becomes more issues in real time. skills in critical thinking School for Girls, Al Ahnaf entrepreneurial and inter- The programme was an and cross-cultural aware- Bin Qais Independent Pre- connected. “ideal platform” for teach- ness while connecting their paratory School, Amna “I hope the iEARN 2018 ers’ development as partic- learning to real world is- Bint Wahab Preparatory for project has equipped them ipants can take advantage of sues, making learning both Girls School, Maria Coptic to collaborate and create the collaborative features challenging and enjoyable. Independent Preparatory public products that apply of the iEARN to meet na- This year, 658 students School for Girls, Abu Bakr learning to authentic chal- tional requirements, as well from 12 schools participated Al-Siddiq Preparatory In- lenges in the world they as for self-development in iEARN Qatar, where they dependent School for Boys, live.” purposes. had an opportunity to de- AlMarkhyia Primary Inde- Dr Abdullah Abu-Tineh, Since 2008, Rota has been velop and acquire a sense pendent Girls School and Al director of the National the exclusive representative of global citizenship by co- Manar Independent Model Centre for Educational De- of the International Educa- operating online with teach- School for Boys. velopment at QU, added: tion and Resource Network ers and students around the Addressing participants “The programme has been in Qatar and, in partner- world in projects aimed at during the opening, Mo- held for the fi fth year in ship with the National making a positive diff erence hamed Alnaame, senior a row to enable teachers Centre for Educational De- in their communities. management representa- to establish experiences velopment since 2014, has The schools that have tive of the EAA Foundation, for project-based learn- trained 853 teachers participated in this year’s said: “I am sure that this ing within classrooms and from 120 schools. iEARN forum include Al platform has provided op- to spread the culture of The iEARN programme Mahd International School, portunities for students to learning through the acti- builds on the basic princi- Iqra English Girls School, experience project-based vation of skills, research, ple of project based learning Pakistan International learning. Across the globe, problem-solving and peer (PBL) and empowers teach- School Qatar, Newton In- Project Based Learning ap- collaboration.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 QATAR

Qatari-Turkish campaign provides aid to fl ood victims in Somalia

ome 5,000 Somali fami- ports, some 26,000 families lies have availed of the aid are now living in camps for the HMC relaunches drive Sprovided by a joint Qatari- displaced, who have left their Turkish campaign to help fl ood homes and are dependent on victims in Baldwin, Somalia. humanitarian aid. This is the fi rst humanitar- Mohamed Abdi, head of ian initiative to respond to Hirshabelle State, said the relief calls by fl ood victims in water inundated vast tracts of this city located in the centre land and almost destroyed the for effi cient 999 service of the country. infrastructure of the city. He Qatar Charity (QC), jointly thanked QC, TIKA Foundation By Joseph Varghese plate, which is usually fi xed to the with Turkish TIKA Founda- and the Turkish Red Crescent Staff Reporter exterior of the building. Other ways tion and Turkish Red Cres- for their quick response to re- to provide an accurate location are cent, oversaw the campaign lief their aff ected brothers. street names or prominent land- that provided food and shelter In turn, the Somali Deputy amad Medical marks,” Morris explained. assistance. Prime Minister Mahdi Mo- Corporation’s According to the offi cial, during Flooding in the city of Bald- hamed Guled praised the hu- H(HMC) Ambu- the 999 call, the ambulance dis- win was caused by high water manitarian role of Qatar and lance Service has a fl eet patcher needs to gain a clear under- levels in the Shabelle river, pro- Turkey in Somalia, describing of 605, including all standing of the emergency so that the duced by rainfall on the moun- it as a positive role. types of vehicles, a sen- correct response team can be sent. tains of Ethiopia. It displaced He stressed that the Somali ior offi cial has revealed. The Ambulance Service has a diverse about 100,000 households people will remember the gen- “The fleet includes Ali Darwish, Brendon Morris, Abdulaziz Alyafei and Faleh al-Hajiri at the press conference. PICTURE: Jayaram fl eet of specialist response units and caused material damage to erosity of those who stood by all modes of transpor- which are able to respond quickly land, markets and food stores. their side in various circum- tation such as bicycles production manager, fleet, HMC. promoted over the coming months it comes to responding to medical and eff ectively to a wide range of in- The campaign provided as- stances and crises, revealing and helicopters among Al-Hajiri was speaking at a press via a range of channels, including so- emergencies, and it is therefore im- cidents in various locations. sistance and food to 5,000 af- that the Somali government is others. In 2012, we had conference yesterday at the relaunch cial media, newspapers, roadside ad- portant that people dial 999 imme- “In recent years, we have expanded fected families, as well as plas- working to rehabilitate the af- around 65 ambulances of the ‘Know the 5 to save a life’ nation- vertising, and in shopping malls. The diately so that we can send our teams and strengthened our ambulance tic wraps, drinking water, toilet fected areas in co-operation and by 2022 we will have al awareness campaign, aimed at edu- campaign, which ran in 2013, is being to help as quickly as possible. Before fl eet. We now have signifi cantly more facilities and medical services with its partners through pro- added another 222 more cating the public about the key actions rerun to highlight the importance of sending a response team the am- ambulances to cope with the increased for those aff ected in the camps. grams of development and res- vehicles,” disclosed to take when calling an ambulance in understanding how to use the serv- bulance dispatcher must fi rst know demand as well as a broader range of According to Somali re- toration of stability. — QNA Faleh al-Hajiri, senior an emergency situation. Ambulance ice. The campaign’s ‘Know the 5 to where to send them, so it is essential specialised vehicles. Since 2013, we Service executive director Brendon save a life’ messages are: Dial 999 that people know their location and have introduced three new LifeFlight Morris, assistant executive director immediately; Know your location; are able to quickly and accurately air ambulances, customised intensive Ali Darwish, and National Command Answer all questions asked; Follow describe this,” Morris said. care ambulances and a fl eet of rural Centre assistant executive director all instructions given and Give way “When at home, the easiest way ambulances, specifi cally designed to Abdulaziz Alyafei were also present. to ambulances on roadways. to give your location is to provide respond to incidents in the most rural The campaign messages will be “Time is a critical factor when the details on the building number parts of Qatar,” added Morris.

QNL joins hands for Europe Day celebrations

he embassies of the has panellists such as Kees European Union Wieringa, Director, Sheikh T(EU) member states Faisal Bin Qassim Al- in Qatar have decided to Thani Museum; Dr Anna work together with Qatari Paolini, Director, Unesco authorities to spread the representative in the Arab message of cultural herit- States of Gulf and Yemen; age as part of the Europe Stephane Ipert, Acting Di- Day, which will be celebrat- rector of the Heritage Li- ed tomorrow. brary and Manager of Con- In this regard, there will servation and Preservation, be a panel discussion on QNL; Dr Ferhan Sakal, the preservation of cultural Head of Archaeological heritage and the event will Operations, Qatar Muse- be cosponsored by the EU ums; and Dr Mounia Chek- member-state embassies hab, Curator at Museum of in Qatar with the support Islamic Art. of the European cultural The event is also accom- cluster in Doha (Eunic) and panied by an exhibition of partnered by Qatar Nation- GIFs drawn from European al Library (QNL). “This is libraries collections. the fi rst time ever we have The Eunic is the fi rst of so many activities lined up its kind to be established for May 9,” Ambassador in the Gulf Co-operation Michele Cervone d’Urso, Council (GCC) region and Head of Delegation, EU it gathers EU countries rep- Delegation to Saudi Arabia, resented in Qatar with the Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and aim to promote cultural and Qatar, told reporters here linguistic diversity, develop yesterday. exchanges between Euro- The year will see series pean and Qatari youth, and of initiatives and events foster European and Qatari across the world to enable artists’ exchange, accord- people to become closer ing to Olivier Deseez of the to and more involved with French Embassy in Qatar. their cultural heritage, The Eunic cluster in Qa- which shapes the identi- tar will contribute to en- ties. hancing the cultural rela- The panel discussion, tionships between the EU which will see keynote ad- member states and Qatar dress by Dr Sohair West- and promoting the cultural awy, Director of QNL, also diversity of Europe, he said.

From left: Metin Kazak, Bulgarian ambassador; Michele Cervone d’Urso; Bahia Tahzib, Netherlands ambassador and Olivier Deseez outline the details of Europe Day to be held in Qatar.

QC discusses ways to boost agricultural co-operation with Chinese delegation

The Qatar Chamber (QC) held a meeting yesterday with a visiting Chinese trade delegation, headed by the Director of Foreign Trade in Yunnan Province, Wang Ziahou. The meeting discussed ways to boost co-operation between Qatari and Chinese companies in the field of agricultural production as well as bringing agricultural products to the Qatari market. Vice-Chairman of QC, Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Tawar reviewed Qatar’s efforts in the field of food security and its accomplishments in this regard according to plans to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imports. He pointed out that the business sector in the People’s Republic of China is an important trading partner for the Qatari private sector, with excellent relations at all levels. For his part, Wang Zhiahou said that there is an interest in strengthening co-operation with the Qatari side in all fields, noting that China is ready to export many agricultural products to the State of Qatar.

Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 QATAR Fifty One East hosts Spanish musician

ifty One East, Qatar’s leading department store, welcomed Facclaimed musician Miki San- Off icials at the opening of the first restaurant at Msheireb Downtown Doha. tamaria at its Music Square located at Lagoona Mall on Saturday. Santamaria is a noted bass player, synth bass player, musical director and producer from Barcelona, who is Al Fai opens doors at Msheireb Downtown endorsed by Yamaha, EBS, Kala, Ernie Ball, Olympus, Earprotech, Modulus Guitars, Lorita Basses, Merlos Basses, sheireb Downtown Doha has Msheireb Downtown Doha, and the ent and culture. Paintings were sourced Right On straps and Jackfruit Clothing. welcomed its fi rst restaurant. fi rst of many fi ne-dining options to from Qatari artists Tamador and Mar- At Fifty One East Music Square, MLocated at Company House, open soon at Qatar’s new regeneration iam Ahmad, and fl ower decorations Santamaria electrifi ed guests and ex- one of the four acclaimed Msheireb project in the heart of Doha. from HINKS fl owers, run by a group of cited a wide range of guitar enthusi- Museums, Al Fai Restaurant is created Sheikh Abdul Rehman bin Saoud Qatari women entrepreneurs.” asts. by Savy Hospitality. al-Thani, Savy Hospitality, said: “Al Msheireb Museums director Hafi z Throughout his three guitar work- It off ers authentic Qatari cuisine Fai Restaurant, meaning ‘the shadow’, Ali and Savy Hospitality managing di- shops, he also inspired guitar be- with a modern twist, delivered by noted is headed by the Omani celebrity chef rector Yoonus Salim Vappattu were also ginners and proved that becoming a Qatari and Omani chefs. Issa Allemki. We will also off er signa- present at the opening of the fi ne dining world-famous musician takes dedica- Msheireb Properties acting CEO ture dishes from renowned Qatari chef restaurant which stands exactly where tion, determination and passion, along Ali al-Kuwari described the opening Noora al-Khulaifi . We have presented the headquarters of Qatar’s fi rst oil with pure talent. Miki Santamaria performing at Fifty One East’s Music Square in Lagoona Mall. of Al Fai Restaurant as a landmark for this restaurant as a tribute to local tal- company stood in the early 1950s. Hailed by many as one of the world’s most distinguished bass players, San- 2015), Abraham Laboriel Sr. (Miki and as amplifi ers. It aims to support and tamaria has worked with musicians, Abe performed together twice at the nurture budding musicians who want bands and have done shows from all Yamaha Yam Session 2014 in Madrid, to master their skills. over the world such as: Burn the Floor Drew De Four (US), Discípulos de Otil- As the trusted distributor in Qatar (touring Japan, Australia and perform- ia (touring Spain, Europe and Japan in for Yamaha, Fifty One East supports Vodafone backs local startups ing at the London West End in 2016), 2008-2010), among many others. Yamaha’s network of talented inter- Doctor Prats (touring Catalunya since Fifty One East Music Square is the national artists by bringing them to 2015), Rock of Ages the musical (in only destination of its kind in Doha, the nation’s blossoming music scene. odafone Qatar supported three innovation and engineering method- 2013 and 2014 in the US), Phredley where all aspiring musicians can Fifty One East Music Square has local startups in presenting their ologies to develop products that fulfi l Brown (musical director, keyboardist, choose from a diverse range of instru- previously hosted Peter Baartmans, Vinnovative ideas to a global au- needs of the local and global markets, and guitarist for Bruno Mars. Miki and ments, including pianos, guitars, per- Soren Andersen, Victor Smolski and dience at the Arch Summit 2018 in Lux- according to a press statement. Phred recorded an album together in cussion and wind instruments, as well Zak Bond. embourg. SUBOL’s fl agship product is Samam, The startups are all housed in Qatar the “world’s fi rst smart domestic LPG Science & Technology Park’s Incubation leakage detection and shutoff system”. Center, which is a technology-focused Mohamed al-Yami, External Aff airs incubation programme aimed at foster- director at Vodafone Qatar, said: “At ing local tech entrepreneurship in Qatar. Vodafone Qatar, we understand that in- Barwa Bank announces second draw The Arch Summit brings together the novation is key to the success of much corporate and startup worlds, giving of Qatar’s ambitious vision for the fu- both parties an opportunity to network ture and so we are committed to sup- winners of ‘Salary Transfer’ campaign and partner to drive innovation. porting innovative Qatari startups. As a The stage is built for innovation and SUBOL at the Vodafone booth. digital fi rst operation, innovation runs entrepreneurial spirit where startups through our DNA. arwa Bank has announced the have the chance to be inspired by in- over the world and thousands of execu- “From the Internet of Things, world- names of the second draw win- dustry leading speakers, compete to tives and investors. leading mobile infrastructure, fi xed line Bners of its Salary Transfer pro- fund their business, network directly Qatari technology startup SUBOL investments, through to leading appli- motional campaign. with corporate key decision makers and also showcased its business across the cations and services that put customers The draw was held on May 6 and drive the change. two-day Arch Summit at its Vodafone- in control of their spending – it’s taking fi ve winners took home a QR20,000 This year’s event saw the participa- created booth. shape in every corner of our operation cash prize each. The winners are Ebra- tion of more than 170 startups from all SUBOL is dedicated to employing each and every day.” him Haidar Abdulla, Mohamed Rahma Thulla Shafeeq, Mohamed Rabiah al-Kuwari, Dayo Aristotle Santos and Saleh Abdulla Ismaeel. The draw was conducted under the supervision of a representative from the qualitative licence and market control department at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. Barwa Bank had launched its Salary Transfer promotional campaign off er- ing customers a chance to win cash and other rewards that sum up to QR1mn. Customers opening new salary ac- counts with Barwa Bank during this six-months campaign, running un- til August 31, 2018, will be eligible to win prizes, including monthly draws for fi ve winners with total cash prizes worth QR100,000 per draw. In addition, one customer will drive home a brand-new Lexus LX 570 on the draw date of September 5. The campaign “refl ects Barwa Bank’s strong belief in the importance of building long-term relationships with its customers and the provision of comprehensive banking solutions to cover all their fi nancial needs”, the bank has said in a statement.

QIC Insured opens branch in LuLu Messila

IC Insured, the personal insur- surance products (car insurance, home sila. Owing to its growing popularity, it ance division of Qatar Insurance insurance, travel insurance, and per- came in as a natural choice. QCompany (QIC), has opened a sonal accident benefi t, among others) “With the opening of this branch, new full-service branch at LuLu Hy- that are best matched to the preferenc- we have further strengthened our permarket in Al Messila, which will run es of existing and prospective custom- service off ering through a wider net- from 9am to 9pm, Saturday to Thursday. ers residing in Al Messila. work of branches and kiosks. With the Designed to off er an open layout and Ali Albuenain, assistant manager – aim to make it more convenient and lighting system that gives it a modern Retail at QIC Insured, said: “As part easily accessible for customers, we’re and receptive look, the new branch is of QIC Insured’s strategy to expand its delighted to welcome and service them well poised to service all retail custom- footprint, we are pleased to be inaugu- when they visit LuLu Messila for their ers and off er a full range of personal in- rating our fourth branch at LuLu Mes- daily requirements.”

QIC Insured’s new full-service branch at LuLu Hypermarket in Al Messila. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 9 QATAR QNB conducts HR conference

NB Group recently held its third human resources conference in Doha. The three-day event, which brought together QNB human resourc- Qes offi cials across its international network, discussed various issues including talent management, learning and development, international disci- plinary and underperformance guidance, human resources self-assessment, promotion in QNB and essentials of compensation. The event affi rms the QNB Group’s commitment to implementing global HR best practices and building high performance within its career develop- ment programmes designed to attract and retain national talents by providing comprehensive training and development opportunities. It also stresses the bank’s leading role in the fi elds of training and capacity development as part of its eff orts to promote investment in human resources in implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030. QNB Group recently held its third human resources conference in Doha. The three-day event brought QNB Group’s human resources offi cials have stressed the importance of together QNB human resources off icials across its international network. training and development programmes being implemented according to the highest international standards as a key factor to achieve the bank’s goal to promoting investment in human capital. On the occasion, Abdullah Nasser al-Khalifa, general manager, Group Human Capital said, “QNB Group is keen to promote excellence and a competitive environment that will drive individual and collective performance to high levels of quality and creativity in support of its vision to be- come a leading bank in the Middle East, Africa, and South- east Asia by 2020.” “Building up on the success of its two previous edi- tions, this year’s conference underlines our commitment to human resource development as a key factor to support our career and human capital development training plans aimed at achieving sustainable development and confi rm- ing our leadership as an attractive environment for young Qatari talent,” al-Khalifa said. QNB Group’s presence through its subsidiaries and as- sociate companies extends to some 31 countries across three continents providing a comprehensive range of ad- vanced products and services. The total number of employees exceeds 28,000 operat- ing through more than 1,200 locations, with an ATM net- work of more than 4,300 machines.

Malabar Gold announces campaign draw winners

Malabar Gold & Diamonds announced the results of the final raffle draw of their campaign, ‘Win up to 10kg Gold Bar for 100 winners.’ Ahamed, Abdul, Raymondal, Fehad and Gopal won 100 grams of gold each through the raffle draw conducted in the presence of Ministry of Economy and Commerce representative Nasser Mohamed, Malabar Gold & Diamonds regional head Santhosh TV and other management team members.

Oryx Rotana in weekend stay off er

ryx Rotana, the to the fitness and wellness fi ve-star luxury club. Guests will also be Obusiness hotel in entitled to a 30% discount Doha, has launched an ex- on all spa treatments, and clusive weekend off er for 25% discount on all the all residents in Qatar, with food and beverage outlets. an aim to encourage do- Guests can also check- mestic tourism. in early (10am) and check- Running until the out late (6pm). year end, the package “Through this offer, any on Thursdays, Fridays guest with a Qatari ID will and Saturdays includes a be able to benefit from our stay for two at QR350 per weekend offers, which night, breakfast, access will last from now until to the pool, sauna and the year end,” said Oryx jacuzzi experience, and Rotana general manager round-the-clock access Mark Timbrell.

Oryx Rotana announces weekend off er for Qatar residents.

2018 model of Ford F-150 recalled

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collabo- ration with Almana Motors Co, has announced the recall of Ford F-150 model of 2018 because the transmission selector lever cable adjuster lock clip may not be seated prop- erly. The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that automobile dealers follow up on vehicles’ de- fects and repair them. The MEC said that it will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and will communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Pro- tection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@ mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar

Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 11 REGION/ARAB WORLD Europe sends Johnson to US in last-ditch bid to save Iran deal

AFP and regional subversion. Washington US president to reveal But so far, all signs point decision today to Trump making good on his threat, with no successor ar- ritish Foreign Secretary US President Donald Trump said rangement in place — leading A view of part of the Presidential Compound after it was hit by air strikes in Sanaa, yesterday. Boris Johnson came to he would announce a decision US allies to fear that Iran may BWashington yesterday on the future of the Iran nuclear retaliate or relaunch its alleged to lobby US President Don- deal today as European countries quest for the bomb. ald Trump’s administration as piled pressure on Washington to German Foreign Minister European capitals mounted a remain in the 2015 agreement. “I Heiko Maas warned the ac- last-ditch push to save the Iran will be announcing my decision cord’s collapse could spark “an Saudi-led air strikes hit nuclear deal. on the Iran Deal tomorrow from escalation” in the region and London’s top diplomat even the White House at 2:00pm,” stressed that Washington’s tried to reach out to the US Trump said in a Twitter post European allies think the deal leader through his favourite yesterday. Trump has until May “makes the world a safer place.” TV show, appearing on Fox and 12 to decide whether to reintro- His French counterpart Yemen presidential palace Friends to warn against pull- duce US sanctions on Iran, which Jean-Yves Le Drian, on a visit ing out of the accord without a would deal a heavy blow to the to Berlin, said the agreement back-up plan. agreement. is “the right way to stop Iran Reuters the country, said it had meant al-Houthi, the head of the armed Houthi fighter tried to Then it was on to the State from getting access to nuclear Dubai to hit senior Houthi leaders. group’s supreme revolution- stop people approaching the Department, for talks with weapons” and “will save us “First and second rank ary committee, were inside site. Secretary of State Mike Pom- off, the omens for the interna- from nuclear proliferation.” Houthi leadership were tar- the palace at the time, but The two sides in Yemen peo, a former CIA director and tional nuclear accord are omi- Under the landmark nuclear arplanes from a geted,” coalition spokesman did not say what happened to have fought to a stalemate anti-Iran hawk who is expected nous. pact, also signed by Russia and Saudi-led coalition Colonel Turki al-Malki told them. The Houthi-run Al Ma- after more than three years to back any Trump decision to Trump has threatened to China, Iran agreed to scale back Wbombed Yemen’s reporters in Riyadh, without sirah TV said at least six peo- of war. The Houthis say they quit the deal on May 12. torpedo the 2015 pact when a nuclear enrichment and put presidential palace in the centre confirming any casualties. ple were killed and more than are fighting for Yemen’s sov- Johnson said nothing public- US sanctions waiver comes up its programme under interna- of the Houthi-controlled capi- Two air strikes damaged the 30 wounded in the strikes. ereignty against a Western- ly as he shook hands with Pom- for renewal on May 12, unless tional supervision in return for tal Sanaa early yesterday, killing palace as well as houses and Reuters could not inde- backed plot to dominate the peo ahead of their chat, but on European signatories Britain, sanctions relief. at least six people, Houthi-run businesses nearby in the city’s pendently confirm the re- country. A Saudi-led coalition Fox, he had warned that “Plan France and Germany fix its Tehran has consistently de- media reported. central Tahrir district, the ports. air strike last month killed the B does not seem to be, to me, “terrible flaws.” nied it was ever seeking a nu- The coalition, which en- SABA news agency reported. Photos and television foot- Houthis’ top civilian leader particularly well-developed at The deal was signed between clear bomb, but none of the tered Yemen’s war in 2015 to Abu Dhabi-based Sky News age showed a building reduced in Yemen, Saleh al-Samad, this stage.” Iran and six world powers, so other signatories believed this, push back Houthi fighters who Arabia said two Houthi lead- to a pile of smashed concrete the most senior official to be He also tried flattery, telling nothing the so-called EU three and last week Israel released had taken over large parts of ers, including Mohamed Ali and twisted metal bars. An killed by the alliance. Sky News that if Trump can can do would allow them to re- intelligence on an alleged pre- “fix” the Iran deal and engi- write it — but they have prom- 2003 weapons programme. neer a thaw with North Korea, ised to work on a powerful sup- Trump has consistently he would deserve a Nobel Prize plemental agreement. complained about the agree- like the one his predecessor US diplomats have been ment, reached under Obama, Barack Obama won. working furiously with their citing as its shortcomings cer- Later, Johnson was to meet British, French and German tain clauses such as the “sun- Syria rebels, civilians begin quitting with Vice President Mike partners to make this a reality, set” provisions lifting some Pence, but if his banging on with measures to limit Iran’s nuclear restrictions on Tehran doors and media blitz don’t pay ballistic missile programme from 2025. central zone under new agreement

ATTACK AFP Iraq says election Damascus candidate killed Hezbollah allies gain ebel fighters and civil- in family dispute, ians began leaving an after IS claim in Lebanon vote Rarea in central Syria yesterday, state media said, A parliamentary candidate was under yet another negotiated gunned down in northern Iraq Reuters biggest bloc in the 128-seat withdrawal that will see re- yesterday, with off icials saying he Beirut house, making him the front- gime forces expand their con- was killed by his son in a family runner to form the next gov- trol. dispute after the Islamic State ernment. Opposition fighters agreed group claimed responsibility. ezbollah and its po- Initial indications showed with regime forces and their Faruq Zarzur al-Juburi, 45, was litical allies won just the staunchly anti-Hezbollah allies to a ceasefire deal last shot dead at his home south of Hover half the seats in Lebanese Forces, a Chris- week for parts of Syria’s cen- the city of Mosul at dawn, a local Lebanon’s parliamentary elec- tian party, emerging as a big tral provinces of Hama and off icial said, with the country on tion, unoffi cial results showed, winner, nearly doubling its Homs, including the rebel edge just days ahead of nation- boosting an Iranian-backed lawmakers to at least 15 from towns of Talbisseh, Rastan, wide elections. The Islamic State movement fi ercely opposed to eight. The new government, and Houla.Under the deal, group — which was forced out of Israel. like the outgoing one, is ex- thousands would leave the Iraq only five months ago and has Hezbollah’s leader, Sayyed pected to include all the main area for an opposition-con- threatened the vote — quickly said Hassan Nasrallah, called it a parties. trolled zone in Syria’s north. it had assassinated Juburi. “political and moral victory” Talks over cabinet posts are State news agency SANA But after probing the attack, Iraqi for the “resistance”, as the expected to take time. reported yesterday that more off icials rejected the claim and said group refers to itself and allies. “Hariri is going to be fur- than 60 buses carrying hun- the candidate’s 18-year-old son Hezbollah has grown in ther weakened in any kind of dreds of rebels and their fami- had confessed to killing him in a strength since joining the war government going forward,” lies were ready to depart for quarrel. “The murder of candidate in Syria in support of President Andrew Tabler of the Wash- the north. Faruq Zarzur al-Juburi... had no Bashar al-Assad in 2012. ington Institute said. “His Images by a local photog- links to terrorist crimes,” judiciary An Israeli minister said the ability to substantially tame rapher showed Syrian adults Syrians wait to be evacuated from the rebel-held town of Rastan in a convoy of buses yesterday, spokesman Abdel Satar Bayraqdar outcome, which has yet to be or restrain Hezbollah...in and children, some carrying after rebels and civilians were granted safe passage to the rebel-held town of Jarabulus, in Aleppo said in a statement. “It was the confi rmed by offi cial results, Lebanon is going to be very luggage, at a departure point province, following a new deal. result of a family dispute and the showed the Lebanese state was limited.” where a line of buses waited to son of the victim has admitted indistinguishable from Hez- Hezbollah, along with al- transfer them out of Rastan. Idlib in the northwest or the capital Damascus, through a reduction in shelling but vi- to killing his father.” Juburi, was bollah, signalling the risk of lied groups and individuals, Similar evacuation deals rebel-held town of Jarabu- Homs, and onto second city olence has since escalated. running on Vice President Iyad Israel hitting Lebanon’s gov- secured at least 67 seats, ac- typically see the buses gather lus, in neighbouring Aleppo Aleppo, in the north. It is the third such transfer Allawi’s National Alliance list. ernment in a future war. cording to a Reuters calcu- together at a single collection province. The deal also pro- Securing it has been a major deal for Homs province, after Prime Minister Saad al- lation based on preliminary point before departing to- vided for the surrender of target for the regime’s military thousands were bussed out in Hariri lost over a third of his results for nearly all the seats gether as a convoy. rebels’ heavy weapons to Syr- operations. a pair of agreements for the HEALTH seats. He blamed a complex obtained from politicians and Syrian state television said ian troops and allied Russian The area in Homs was part city itself in recent years. Cholera vaccination new voting law and gaps in his campaigns and reported in the operation would take place forces, the return of govern- of a “de-escalation zone” Such negotiated withdraw- party’s performance. Lebanese media. over two days. ment institutions to the three agreed one year ago by oppo- als have brought swathes of campaign starts But with 21 MPs, down from Seats in the Lebanese par- The rebel fighters are ex- towns, and the reopening of a sition supporter Turkey and territory back under govern- The first vaccine campaign against 33 in the last parliament, he liament are divided according pected to head to the hard- key highway. regime allies Iran and Russia. ment control during the coun- cholera in Yemen has started, 18 emerged as the leader with the to a strict sectarian quota. liners-controlled province of That highway runs from the The four zones initially saw try’s seven-year war. months after war and a sanitation crisis triggered an epidemic, but the World Health Organisation said it did not yet have permission nation- wide to do the vaccinations. Some senior Houthi off icials, whose forces control the capital Sanaa, have ob- US Embassy road signs go up in Jerusalem jected to vaccinations and this has already delayed the programme by nearly a year, aid workers say. There want their own state with East on a Palestinian state in the Nahum, 64, a New Yorker who Trump has said in December, Reuters Trump to skip opening have been more than 1mn sus- Jerusalem Jerusalem as the capital. West Bank and Gaza Strip col- moved to Israel 35 years ago. the boundaries of Israeli sov- pected cases of cholera in Yemen, Workmen installed the black- lapsed in 2014. A restaurateur, she lives in the ereignty in Jerusalem remain and 2,275 recorded deaths since and-white signs, in English, “This (embassy) move is not US President Donald Trump will overwhelmingly Jewish neigh- subject to negotiations between Nov 2016, the WHO says. The oral S Embassy road signs Hebrew and Arabic, along roads only illegal but will also thwart not travel to Israel for the contro- bourhood of Arnona. the parties, and we remain com- vaccination campaign, which began went up in Jerusalem leading to a US consulate build- the achievement of a just and versial opening of the US Embassy The Trump administration mitted to achieving a lasting in four districts in Aden on Sunday Uyesterday ahead of next ing in south Jerusalem that will lasting peace between two sover- in Jerusalem, according to a White has left the diplomatic door and comprehensive peace that targeting 350,000 people, coin- week’s opening of the mission be remodelled as the embassy eign and democratic states on the House statement. Instead, the US open to a negotiated settlement off ers a brighter future for both cides with the rainy season, which in accordance with President when it is formally relocated 1967 borders, Israel and Palestine delegation to the May 14 event between Israel and the Pales- Israel and the Palestinians.” health workers fear could spread Donald Trump’s recognition of from Tel Aviv on May 14. living side by side in peace and will include US Treasury Secretary tinians on defi ning Jerusalem’s Yesterday, Paraguay said it was the disease further. “We have plans the city as Israel’s capital. “This is not a dream. It is security,” Palestinian negotiator Steven Mnuchin, as well as Trump’s borders. planning to move its embassy in place for extending that to all of Trump says he is making good reality.I am proud and moved to Saeb Erekat said in a statement. son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and “By recognising Jerusalem as from near Tel Aviv to Jerusalem the at-risk zones and we are still ne- on US legislation and presiden- have hung this morning the fi rst At the consulate site, me- daughter Ivanka Trump. the capital of Israel and the seat on May 21 or 22. gotiating with health authorities in tial pledges dating back decades. new signs that were prepared chanical diggers cleared scrub- of its government, we’re recog- In March, Guatemalan Presi- the north, in Sanaa, in order to plan Other world powers have not for the US Embassy,” Jerusa- land as workers posted embassy nising reality,” US Secretary of dent Jimmy Morales said his those campaigns,” Michael Ryan, done so, sidestepping one of the lem Mayor Nir Barkat wrote on signs along city roads and hung “We are thrilled that the State Mike Pompeo said during country would relocate its em- WHO Assistant Director-General, thorniest disputes between Is- Twitter. US, Israeli and Jerusalem fl ags American Embassy is com- a visit to Israel last week. bassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem told a news briefing yesterday. rael and the Palestinians, who The last round of peace talks from street lights. ing here, fi nally,” said Ruthann “I also stress, as President on May 16. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 AFRICA

RAIN WOES APPEAL JUSTICE OOPS! IN THE DOCK 12 dead, many missing UN chief urges DR Congo to E Guinea court upholds South African car thieves Ex-presidential candidate after Rwanda landslide lift ban on demonstrations opposition ban, jail terms drive into Mandela ex-jail on trial for Congo ‘coup’

At least 12 people are dead and several people UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday Equatorial Guinea’s paramount court yesterday Suspected car thieves fleeing police in South With visiting media kept firmly at arm’s length, injured after a landslide in western Rwanda, urged the Democratic Republic of Congo’s confirmed the dissolution of the country’s Africa drove straight into the grounds of a the trial opened yesterday of General Jean-Marie with an off icial saying yesterday that multiple government to lift a ban on demonstrations that main opposition and upheld 30-year jail terms notorious maximum-security prison that once Michel Mokoko, a former presidential candidate residents were still missing in the Karongi district. threatens to scupper chances for credible elections. handed to 21 of its members. A former Spanish held Nelson Mandela, police said yesterday. A accused by Congolese authorities of trying to The off icial said that a search was ongoing for The December 23 elections in the vast resource- colony of 1.2mn people, awash with oil but mired police patrol spotted the car on Sunday as it stage a coup. Mokoko, 71 and a former chief of additional victims in Sunday’s mudslide, which rich country are to pave the way to a historic in poverty and a reputation for corruption, was being driven in the Tokai suburb of Cape staff of the Republic of Congo’s army, appeared was triggered by heavy rains. Mudslides are transfer of power that would end President Joseph Equatorial Guinea has been ruled with an iron Town after having been reported stolen from the in the criminal court to face accusations of common in the rainy season in Rwanda and other Kabila’s rule. Guterres told the Security Council in a fist by Teodoro Obiang Nguema since 1979. “In aff luent area of Hout Bay. As police gave chase “undermining internal state security” after a 2016 East African countries. Between January and April, report that “persistent divergences” over the vote the name of the head of the state, we reject the the four “fled into Pollsmoor prison”, city police presidential poll in which he placed third. The more than 183 people were killed in Rwanda due and “the lack of political space remain a threat to appeal,” the president of the Supreme Court, spokesman Wayne Dyason told AFP. According general, once an adviser of long-serving President to landslides, flooding and lightning, according to the holding of credible and inclusive elections.” Juan Carlos Ondo Angue, announced. The to a prison off icial, the men accessed the Denis Sassou Nguesso, faces a trial which his the local Ministry of Disaster Management and “Lifting the ban on public demonstrations would Citizens for Innovation party had been dissolved complex through an entrance that leads to the defence counsel says is “simply a settling of Refugees. Nearly 10,000 homes and 58 roads greatly contribute to the opening of political space,” by a court on February 26. It also sentenced 21 wardens’ residential area, and then abandoned political scores.” Reporters were ushered out prior were also destroyed, the ministry said. said the report sent to the council this month. activists to 30 years in jail for sedition. the car before heading off on foot. to the reading of the charge sheet. Biggest ever Neighbourly ties Fresh CAR violence leaves 2 people dead vaccination AFP Bangui

t least two people were killed and 10 injured in new clashes in a fl ashpoint Muslim area of the Central African Republic for cholera A(CAR)’s capital, hospital workers said yesterday, as several thousand attended ceremonies for Catholics killed last week. The latest casualties occurred on Sunday in the PK5 district and nearby areas, the sources said. in Africa Local residents said they heard automatic weapons fi re and sev- eral houses had been burned down. Despite the rise in tension, around 3,000 people, including AFP President Faustin-Archange Touadera and Prime Minister Sim- Geneva plice Sarandji, took part in a funeral ceremony in central Bangui for people killed in an attack on a church on May 1, including a Catholic priest, Albert Tougoumale-Baba. he biggest cholera vaccine drive in history is under “The blood of our martyrs will be a pathway to peace, it will not way in Africa aimed at reining in a spate of outbreaks be a sacrifi ce in vain,” said Sister Monica, a nun who was close to Tacross the continent, the UN and charity alliance Tougoumale-Baba. Gavi said yesterday. Twenty-four people were killed and more than 170 injured in More than two mn people will receive the oral cholera Bangui on May 1, sparking fears that one of the world’s most un- vaccine as part of fi ve major campaigns in Malawi, Nigeria, stable countries would plunge once more into a bloody sectarian South Sudan, Uganda and Zambia, Gavi said, adding that confl ict. the campaigns should be complete by mid-June. The violence began with a confrontation between security forc- “This is an unprecedented response to a spike in cholera es and militiamen in the PK5 district. outbreaks across Africa,” Gavi chief Seth Berkley said in a Armed men then stormed the Fatima church in the middle of a statement. service, killing worshippers and a priest. At least 12 regions or countries in sub-Saharan Africa are Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) welcomes Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during his visit to In response, a mob burned a mosque and lynched two people. currently facing cholera outbreaks, according to Gavi and State House in Nairobi yesterday as Kenyan Defence Forces chief General Samson Mwathethe looks on. Touadera governs today with the support of a large UN peace- the World Health Organization. keeping operation. According to the UN health agency, cholera infects 1.3mn to 4mn people every year and kills an estimated 21,000- 143,000 — mainly in poor countries. The ongoing campaigns in Africa are being implemented by the health ministries in the fi ve countries, where thou- sands of cases of the disease have been reported. The vaccines themselves come from a global stockpile, which has grown substantially in recent years, in step with the recognition of the role the vaccine can play in halting the spread of the bacterial disease. Soweto residents protest “Oral cholera vaccines are a key weapon in our fi ght against cholera,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreye- sus said in the statement, stressing though the need also to improve access to clean water and sanitation, train health workers and work with communities on prevention. Cholera, which causes potentially deadly diarrhoea, is contracted by ingesting food or water contaminated with against bid to grab land a bacterium carried in human faeces and spread through poor sanitation and dirty drinking water. Left untreated, it Reuters teng, which includes Soweto, has the ruling ANC party has signalled its began burning tyres and throw- Local TV channel eNCA broad- can kill within hours. Johannesburg witnessed several land grab at- intention to also seize white-owned ing stones at motorists in protest cast live footage of police, who WHO recommends giving the oral cholera vaccine in two tempts this year. land without compensation to re- at the nearby land invasion, which had removed the squatters at the doses, the fi rst off ering protection for six months and the Those responsible have been dress racial imbalances. occurred at the weekend. weekend, fi ring rubber bullets to second for three to fi ve years. outh African police yester- quoted by local media as saying The land issue bubbled over “The residents have blocked the disperse the protesters. “We have worked hard to ensure there is now enough day clashed with residents in they are fed up with unfulfi lled yesterday in Soweto, the sprawling roads with rocks and burning tyres According to government data, vaccine supply to keep the global stockpile topped up and Sthe township of Soweto who government promises to build township near Johannesburg that they are saying they don’t want since the end of white rule in 1994 ready for most eventualities,” Berkley said. staged a protest after squatters tried houses for the poor. was a focal point of anti-apartheid people to build shacks in the open around 4.5mn low-cost homes The campaign in Nigeria, where 1,700 cases have been to erect shacks in nearby fi elds — the Millions of mostly black South Af- protests. spaces there,” said police spokesman have been built but this has failed reported, aims to provide 600,000 people with two vac- latest of many fl are-ups over the ricans remain landless and homeless Police say residents in the work- Mbulaheni Netshivhodza. “They to keep pace with soaring demand cine doses each, while the campaign in Malawi, where more vexed issued of land distribution. despite a house-building drive, fan- ing-class suburb of Protea Glen, want the mayor to come and address as rural migrants move to urban than 900 people have been infected, aims to provide vac- The central province of Gau- ning social tensions at a time when who mostly live in modest houses, them and the situation is still tense.” centres. cine protection to 500,000 people. Some 360,000 doses of the vaccine have meanwhile been shipped to Uganda, where the Kyangwali camp hous- ing Congolese refugees is facing a cholera outbreak that has killed dozens and left more than 900 in hospital. Wedding finery In this campaign, only one dose is being provided per Mugabe House hearing delayed person to increase the spread. The country is also planning to vaccinate 1.7mn more people in coming months. AFP (Mugabe) to come to parliament.” Mugabe’s name Another 113,800 doses have also been shipped to South Harare did not appear on the parliament committee meet- Sudan as a prevention measure ahead of the war-torn ings scheduled for this week. country’s rainy season. The lawmakers plan to question Mugabe over his And 667,100 doses are being delivered to Zambia as part ormer Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe 2016 claim that the country had lost $15bn due to cor- of a second round of vaccination after a major outbreak in- will not appear before a parliament commit- ruption and foreign exploitation in the diamond sector. fected more than 5,700 people and killed more than 100. Ftee this week to answer questions on multi- The committee has already interviewed former “Every rainy season, cholera springs up and brings dev- billion-dollar corruption in the diamond industry ministers, police and intelligence chiefs to answer astation to communities across Africa,” said Matshidiso after the hearing was postponed, a lawmaker said on diamond mining operations at the vast Chi- Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa. yesterday. The 94-year-old Mugabe had been sum- adzwa gem fi elds. “With this historic cholera vaccination drive, countries moned to appear before a mines and energy com- Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 until he was in the region are demonstrating their commitment to stop- mittee tomorrow. ousted last year after the military took over briefl y ping cholera from claiming more lives.” But the member of parliament who is leading the and his once-loyal ZANU-PF party turned against inquiry said the hearing had been postponed to a him. date yet to be decided by the clerk of parliament. Zimbabwe discovered alluvial diamonds in Chi- “The committee had already resolved to invite the adzwa, in the east of the country, over 10 years ago, former president to give evidence,” Temba Mliswa, and rights groups have accused security forces of Women wearing traditional attires attend a traditional wedding at mines and energy committee chairperson told AFP. using brutal methods to control the scattered de- Ikeja marriage registry in Lagos, Nigeria. “It is the clerk of parliament who will write to him posits.

Kenyan lawyers wrangle with government over land registry digitisation

Reuters The LSK argued that the proc- possible for people to register and Karoney said her ministry is process for land transactions Nairobi ess risks being corrupted, as well verify titles on the internet. working with the national par- that previously took a few days or as reversed by subsequent govern- Lands Minister Farida Karoney liament to pass regulations that weeks. ments unless it is backed by leg- said the initiative would cut out would enable the easy titling of “Our clients are suff ering. enyan lawyers have fi led a islation, and unless consultations corruption and allow more people land, with a particular focus on Transactions are stalling,” he said. lawsuit halting a govern- are carried out with lawyers and to secure their land rights. community-owned property. “Previously it used to take about Kment initiative to fast-track surveyors. Around two-thirds of Kenya’s The regulations will allow for three weeks (to transfer a title) but land titles by processing them “They are putting the cart be- land is customarily owned by the digitisation of land records, now it takes a month or more.” online, which they say has been fore the horse,” LSK president Al- communities without formal title, which is key to creating an on- Kenya is also exploring ways launched without proper consul- len Gichuhi said yesterday. making it easy for corrupt individ- line registry that will determine of moving its land registry on to tation. Gichuhi added that complying uals to sell or lease it without the ownership and fast track titles a blockchain platform, which is a The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) with the order could invalidate communities’ knowledge. processing, she said. ledger of digital transactions that sued the land ministry after it is- thousands of land cases pending The government argues that dig- “We have a slight setback, be- make records secure and easily sued an order on April 8 to digi- in the courts, as contested titles itising registration documents will cause it’s a matter before the verifi able, Karoney said. tise land documents in registries could be considered genuine once help prevent such appropriations court,” she told the Thomson Reu- Rwanda is one of the few Afri- across the country to make it easier they are digitised. by sealing loopholes that allow du- ters Foundation. can nations that have managed to to provide ownership titles, espe- Kenya is in the midst of land plicate titles to be created, which Gichuhi said that the process of move all their land records online cially on communally-held prop- reforms that include moving dec- are then used to transfer land with- moving documents online has so and is considering introducing erty. ades old records online, making it out the rightful owner’s knowledge. far been slow, making it a lengthy blockchain. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 13 AMERICAS

CONTROVERSY MIGRATION ASYLUM SEEKERS POLITICS FLOWER POWER Trump may have paid other Thousands of Venezuelan Canada looks to stem Caracas slams ‘supremacist women, hints Giuliani migrants register in Colombia migration from Nigeria policies’ of Pompeo, Trump

US President Donald Trump’s attorney, Rudy Over 200,000 Venezuelans have registered with Canada is trying to curb the number of asylum Venezuela on Sunday slammed comments by Giuliani, said on Sunday he would not rule out the Colombian authorities in the first few weeks of a seekers from Nigeria who are flooding into Canada US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the possibility that payments were made to women count meant to assess how many undocumented via the United States, off icials said yesterday. About government of President Nicolas Maduro, denouncing other than adult actress Stormy Daniels to get migrants have fled to the Andean country, the 2,500 migrants, mostly Nigerian nationals, entered “supremacist policies” and aggression by the “regime them to stay silent about allegations against Colombian government said yesterday. South Canada illegally in April, bringing the total so far of Donald Trump.” “Mr Pompeo shows false concern Trump. Giuliani told ABC’s This Week that he had America is trying to cope with an exodus of this year to more than 7,300. They crossed on foot for the reality of Venezuela, while hiding the perverse no knowledge of whether former Trump attorney Venezuelans leaving their home country in a bid to along a forest trail from New York state to Quebec eff ects of the unilateral coercive measures of his Michael Cohen had made other payments, but escape a crushing economic crisis that has caused province, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen told government,” Venezuela’s foreign ministry said in he said: “I would think if it was necessary, yes. He hunger and scarcity. Many cross overland into a news conference. He will travel to Nigeria in the a statement, referring to financial sanctions levied (Cohen) made payments for the president or he’s Colombia along its 2,219km border, without passing coming days to press the issue. At Ottawa’s request, against Venezuela by the Trump government. It conducted business for the president.” Giuliani through any immigration check-points. Colombia is US authorities have also recently tightened their said Trump’s government “has launched erratic called the $130,000 Cohen paid to Daniels in 2016 asking Venezuelans to register if they do not have visa rules for Nigerians to try to prevent tourists manoeuvres, typical of the arrogance and despair of A woman looks at flowers during the annual a “nuisance payment.” Daniels alleges that she work or tourism visas, dual citizenship, or other type from flying to the US and then hopping across the imperialist politics, after having failed once and again Panchimalco Flower and Palm Festival festival had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. of formal permission to remain in Colombia. border to file Canadian refugee claims. in the face of the will of a free and independent people.” in Panchimalco, 18km south of San Salvador.

Trump defends Hawaii eruptions spread, Haspel amid questions over locals warned to ‘go now’ torture role AFP Reuters island, the Hawaii County Civil De- Washington Pahoa, Hawaii fense Agency said. The semi-rural wooded area of Leilani Estates had become a mag- resident Donald Trump yesterday defended mergency authorities battling net for newcomers to Hawaii who his nominee to lead the Central Intelligence lava fl ows and gas erupting were prepared to risk living near an PAgency as she faces stiff opposition over Efrom Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano active volcano for more aff ordable her past role in the torture of Al Qaeda detainees. warned some residents to “go now” real-estate. “My highly respected nominee for CIA Direc- as a new fi ssure opened and more Eruptions of lava and gas were tor, Gina Haspel, has come under fi re because she structures were destroyed. expected to continue, along with was too tough on Terrorists,” Trump tweeted. The volcano has destroyed 26 aftershocks from Friday’s 6.9 mag- “Think of that, in these very dangerous times, homes and forced 1,700 people to nitude earthquake, the largest in the we have the most qualifi ed person, a woman, who leave their residences since Thurs- area since 1975, according to the Ha- Democrats want OUT because she is too tough on day’s eruption, spewing lava and waiian Volcano Observatory. terror. Win Gina!” toxic gas from volcanic vents in the Jessica Gauthier, 47, said she and Trump’s tweet came as the CIA veteran’s his- eastern corner of Hawaii’s Big Island, other local real estate agents had tory of involvement in the torture of Al Qaeda home to about 200,000 people. seen vacation renters cancel their suspects after the September 11 attacks threatens A new fi ssure opened on Sunday reservations, though the volcanic to derail her nomination to lead the premier US night in the Leilani Estates area some activity is far from tourist centres. spy agency. 19km from the volcano, prompting a “There’s no way to know that if The little-known Haspel, who spent three dec- cellphone alert for residents to leave you’re sitting in your living room ades in the agency’s covert services, is scheduled homes to avoid sulphur dioxide gas, in Ohio and watching the national to face questioning tomorrow in a confi rmation which can be life threatening at high news,” she said. hearing at the Senate Intelligence Committee. levels. Hawaii’s 10,432sq km Big Island She has strong support from within the intel- So far no deaths or major inju- accounts for less than a fi fth of the ligence community to take the lead at the CIA, ries have been reported, the Hawaii state’s tourism. where she is currently deputy director and acting County Civil Defense Agency said. State data show that in the fi rst director. Evacuees from Leilani Estates three months of 2018, 16 % of the But a number of senators and rights groups are were allowed to return for pets, $4.81bn visitors spent in Hawaii came demanding accountability for “War on Terror” medications and to check property from the big island, less than half of abuses at CIA-run black sites in other countries, on Sunday. the levels seen in Oahu and Maui. especially in waterboarding two suspects at a se- Jeremy Wilson found his home sur- Gauthier predicted tourism would cret prison in Thailand in 2002. rounded by fi ssures hundreds of feet pick back up as a new kind of visitor The Washington Post reported that Haspel, long. “My house is right in the mid- began to appear. who oversaw the Thai site when one of the sus- dle,” said Wilson, a 36-year-old social “Within a month we’ll start get- pects was waterboarded, was ready to step aside worker who turned back when he saw ting lava tourists,” she said. at the end of last week to prevent harm to the steam coming from cracks in the road. Hawaii authorities asked lava CIA’s and her own reputation. Yesterday morning, 161 people watchers to keep away, saying, “This CNN reported yesterday that the White House A lava flow from the Kilauea volcano moves on a street in Leilani Estates in Hawaii. were housed at two shelters on the is not the time for sightseeing.” had already pinpointed a replacement candidate to lead the spy agency if Haspel cannot be con- fi rmed. Haspel, 61, has by most accounts been an ex- emplary operative during 33 years in the CIA’s Anti-government protest shadowy clandestine service. Menus with calorie counts now a must The national security community, including multiple former CIA chiefs, have strongly en- AFP counts for standard menu items. of the American Pizza Community, a dorsed her. In an aggressive campaign in Haspel’s Washington Many major restaurant chains like coalition of pizza chains. support, the CIA has selectively declassifi ed de- McDonald’s and Taco Bell are already “Pizza’s unique ordering variations tails of her career. complying with the rule, but the fed- create countless combinations making She twice served as London-based chief of Eu- n Obama-era rule requiring thou- eral government will now require it. it diffi cult to accurately deliver informa- ropean operations; she learned both Russian and sands of US restaurants, stores “National menu labelling could help tion on printed menu boards and costly Turkish on the job; she led an operation to nab Aand movie theatres to post nu- make a big diff erence in America’s obes- to maintain,” he said in a statement. two of the bombers of US embassies in Africa in tritional information for items on their ity rates, one of our most vexing public But Gottlieb emphasised that the FDA 1998; and she once helped Mother Teresa in ef- menus kicked in yesterday, reminding health challenges,” wrote FDA Com- has “worked hard to make sure this new forts to get food for needy people — though just Americans they are what they eat. missioner Scott Gottlieb, citing research rule can be implemented in a way where where that took place also remains classifi ed. The calorie-labelling rules were that menu labelling prompts consumers the information will be maximally ben- Last month more than 100 former top gener- a controversial provision of former to order 30 to 50 calories less per visit. efi cial to consumers and the new require- als and admirals signed a letter urging senators to president Barack Obama’s signature A number of public health advocacy ments will be minimally burdensome to reject Haspel. “The torture and cruel treatment 2010 healthcare law — which Presi- groups as well as the National Res- restaurants and retail establishments.” of prisoners undermines our national security by dent Donald Trump has pushed to taurant Association have lauded the “Firms won’t need to deal with a patch- increasing the risks to our troops, hindering coop- dismantle — and their implementation move, but some industry organisa- work of diff erent requirements for calorie eration with allies, alienating populations whose has been postponed several times. tions have lampooned it as infl exible labelling across the country,” he added. support the United States needs in the struggle But the Food and Drug Adminis- and anti-business. Posters, billboards and coupon against terrorism, and providing a propaganda tool tration announced last year it would “Regrettably, FDA’s one-size-fi ts- mailings are exempted, and super- for extremists who wish to do us harm,” they said. press ahead with the regulation, all approach demonstrates a stun- markets and convenience stores do “It would send a terrible signal to confi rm as which requires chains with 20 or more ning lack of understanding about not have to post calorie information A demonstrator takes part in a protest against Nicaraguan the next director of the CIA someone who was locations as well as grocery stores and consumer preferences and the pizza next to each item in self-service buf- President Daniel Ortega’s government in Monimbo, Nicaragua. so intimately involved in this dark chapter of our convenience chains to post calorie category,” said Tim McIntyre, chair fets and drink stations, Gottlieb said. nation’s history.” ‘Mini-Trump’ candidates battle it out in Republican primaries

Reuters nessmen who have gone all out to Republican leaders are nerv- Blankenship swiftly post- their Trump bona fi des and face Reuters after a campaign event in lenge after Trump won Indiana Indianapolis show their allegiance to Trump ously watching the West Vir- ed a response on his cam- incumbent Democratic Senator Carmel, Indiana. by 19 percentage points in 2016. and accuse their rivals of lacking ginia primary where former coal paign website, saying Trump Joe Donnelly in the November Braun’s campaign has labeled Messer says Braun is fl awed, the same fealty. executive Don Blankenship has “doesn’t know me” and election. Messer and Rokita “swamp crea- pointing to his history of vot- ike Braun, an Indiana The three contests herald a centred his candidacy around at- pledged to carry out Trump’s Braun portrays himself as cut tures” for the 12 years combined ing in Democratic primaries and businessman turned wave of primaries in the coming tacking Senate Majority Leader agenda if elected. from Trump’s cloth and US Rep- they have spent in the House. suggesting he is not a reliable Mpolitician, rails against weeks in critical states such as Mitch McConnell. “As some have said, I am resentative Todd Rokita carries a Trump often promises sup- conservative. Washington, says he speaks for Pennsylvania, California, Iowa, Blankenship accuses McCon- Trumpier than Trump and this cardboard likeness of Trump to porters he will “drain the swamp” Braun says he voted in Demo- disaff ected voters, and uses his and New Jersey that will help de- nell of undermining Trump and morning proves it,” he wrote. campaign events and wears a cap in Washington, referring to ca- cratic primaries in the past be- personal wealth to help fi nance termine whether Democrats can has run TV ads highlighting Mc- In Ohio, businessman Mike adorned with Trump’s campaign reer politicians and lobbyists. cause in his southern Indiana his bid for public offi ce. pick up two seats in the Senate Connell’s wife’s Taiwanese her- Gibbons is squaring off against slogan “Make America Great Kyle Kondik, an analyst at the home Democrats held all the lo- Any similarity to President and 23 seats in the House of Rep- itage, drawing widespread con- US Representative Jim Renacci Again” in TV ads. Center for Politics at the Uni- cal offi ces. Donald Trump is entirely inten- resentatives in November to take demnation. to see who will challenge Demo- Last week, Rokita sponsored a versity of Virginia, said Messer He positions himself as in tional. control of Congress. Blankenship served time in cratic Senator Sherrod Brown in resolution in the House demand- and Rokita “are going out of their sync with the conservative Tea Braun, who owns a distribu- The candidates also highlight prison for safety violations con- November. ing that Special Counsel Robert way to be pro-Trump in almost Party movement and has poured tion and freight company, says he a shift in the Republican Party to nected to a 2010 disaster that While Gibbons has played the Mueller end his investigation un- cartoonish fashion....It’s kind of about $5.4mn of his own money would not have launched his Re- embrace more populist, nativ- killed 29 miners, and is viewed Trump card, however, Renacci less he can show evidence that shameless.” into the race, according to federal publican eff ort for the US Senate ist and protectionist candidates as the weakest choice to take on snagged the president’s endorse- Trump’s campaign colluded with He said Republican voters records. if Trump had not blazed the trail skeptical of immigration and free Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. ment. Russia to infl uence the 2016 elec- likely will respond well to Braun’s Trump spent about $65mn of two years ago. trade — a seismic change from The other candidates in the To show how much he sup- tion. lack of political experience but it his own funds during his cam- “I thought there was the op- the party’s traditional alliance race are US Representative Evan ports Trump, Gibbons, an in- And the third candidate, US is unclear whether he would be paign. portunity to defi ne a diff erent of social conservatives and free- Jenkins and state Attorney Gen- vestment banker, on Friday fi led Representative Luke Messer, the best candidate to defeat Don- Kondik said that Braun, as an kind of candidacy, one from the marketeers. eral Patrick Morrisey. a defamation lawsuit against nominated Trump for the No- nelly, considered to be among the unknown quantity, carries the outsider business world, the How those Trump-like can- Trump yesterday injected Renacci, alleging his campaign bel Peace Prize for his role in the most vulnerable Democrats in most risk for his party against same thing Trump did,” he told didates fare in coming primaries himself into the race, urging falsely claimed Gibbons is anti- talks between North and South the nation. Donnelly, but he might also be Reuters ahead of the primary vote and November’s elections will West Virginians to vote for either Trump. Korea. Donnelly won his fi rst term in able to bring in independents today. indicate whether “Trumpism” Jenkins or Morrisey, tweeting Indiana is home to perhaps the “This is just the start of what 2012, when Democrats swarmed turned off by the other two con- Other Republican primary remains a dominant force in the that Blankenship “can’t win the bitterest Republican primary in President Trump can accomplish to the polls to re-elect president servatives. races in Ohio and West Virginia Republican Party heading into General Election in your State... the country, with all three candi- if he has the leaders that support Barack Obama. “He has the most variance be- today also feature outsider busi- the 2020 presidential election. No way!” dates scrambling to show voters him in Washington,” Messer told He faces a far tougher chal- tween risk and reward,” he said. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA US takes to Chinese social media over ‘Orwellian’ demand

AFP Mandarin translation of a White you) don’t want to do business, tion Administration sent a notice China views the democratic indivisible parts of China”. Airlines changed its listing as of Beijing House statement that dismissed get out of here. Follow our laws to 36 foreign airlines on April 25, island as a renegade part of its “Regardless of what the US yesterday to show Hong Kong China’s request to foreign air if you want stay!” Another said: asking them to comply with Bei- territory and has not ruled out side may say or do, it will not and Macau as special adminis- carriers as “Orwellian nonsense”. “This has nothing to do with jing’s standards of referring to the use of force to bring it back change the fact that there is only trative regions of China, and only he United States took to The post inspired tens of freedom of speech. It’s Chinese Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau into the fold if necessary. The one China in the world,” foreign classifi ed Taiwan separately. a popular Chinese social thousands of comments, but law.” as Chinese territories. White House called Beijing’s ministry spokesman Geng Sh- United Airlines and Delta have Tmedia platform yester- instead of supportive messages While the post has not been Hong Kong, a British colony demand to the airlines an at- uang said at a regular briefi ng adopted a similar approach. day to ramp up its criticism of it triggered patriotic posts on a taken down, users who try to until 1997, and Macau, a Portu- tempt by the Chinese Commu- yesterday. Washington has maintained a Beijing’s demand that airlines list platform that is closely watched share it on their own accounts guese colony until 1999, are now nist Party to “export its censor- He urged foreign companies delicate diplomatic balance since Taiwan as part of China, but the and censored by the authorities. receive a message saying: “Sorry, “special administrative regions” ship and political correctness to “respect China’s territorial 1979, recognising Beijing’s sover- message earned little sympathy Several commentators called for this content is temporarily una- of China. But Taiwan has been to Americans.” The Chinese integrity ... Chinese laws and eignty as part of its “One China” on the tightly monitored website. “an independent Hawaii” and an vailable.” self-ruled since splitting from government lashed out at the feelings of the Chinese people,” policy, while remaining Taiwan’s The US embassy posted on “independent Alaska”. The White House statement the mainland after a 1949 civil US statement, saying Taiwan, if they wished to do business in most powerful unoffi cial ally and its offi cial Weibo account the One angry commenter said “(if came after Chinese Civil Avia- war. Hong Kong and Macau “are all China. The website of American main weapons supplier.

In a nutshell

CAMPAIGNING AND POLLING The polling date and campaign period are decided by the Election Commission (EC). The 11-day campaign began on April 28. Polls open tomorrow at 8am and close at 5pm. There are nearly 15mn registered voters. Full results are expected to be announced by midnight the next day, EC off icials said.

POLLING SYSTEM Malaysia adopted a Westminster parliamentary model after gain- ing independence from Britain in 1957. The government is elected through a first-past-the-post, or simple majority, system. The UMNO-led coalition has been undefeated since independence. The coalition contains parties representing the country’s three Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak of the ruling coalition party Barisan Nasional gestures during main ethnic groups: majority Ma- a campaign event ahead of the upcoming 14th general elections, in Pekan, Pahang. Malaysia’s 14th Supporters listen to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak during a campaign event ahead of the lays, most of whom are Muslim, general election will be held tomorrow. upcoming 14th general elections, in Pekan, Pahang. ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indi- ans. The opposition has accused the government of gerryman- dering, rigging and propaganda through state-controlled media to secure a victory in every elec- tion. The government has denied those accusations. Battle for Malay vote in last NUMBERS GAME The general election is for all 222 seats of parliament’s lower house, known as the Dewan Rakyat. Najib’s ruling coalition won 133 seats to win the last general election, in 2013, despite round of election campaign losing the popular vote. The opposition coalition is hoping it Reuters for about 60% of the population and BN because of the decades of expect the margin of victory to be which holds a vast majority of Friday struggled to attract more can whittle down BN’s seat count Kuala Lumpur in the Southeast Asian nation. policies favouring them in busi- fi ne,” said Rashaad Ali, an analyst seats in the opposition coalition, than 70 residents. to gain at least 112 seats — which An Islamic group, Parti Islam ness, education and housing. with the S Rajaratnam School of was using Mahathir to divide “Even without thinking, they would give it the right to form a se-Malaysia (PAS), is also chas- Many in the ethnic Chinese and International Studies in Singa- them. will vote for UMNO,” said Za- government. The 70 members ith a day to go for Ma- ing these votes and — unlike the ethnic Indian minorities favour pore. “DAP are using the nonage- inal Amri, a 63-year-old settler. of parliament’s upper house, laysia’s general elec- last election — it is not stand- the opposition. Najib is widely expected to narian as camoufl age to split the “Voting UMNO is a tradition for known as the Dewan Negara, are Wtion, politicians are ing with the opposition alliance. But a recent survey by inde- retain power, thanks to a fi rst- Malay vote. Should they win, Malays.” appointed, not elected. battling for the crucial ethnic Najib and his deputy have taken pendent pollster Merdeka Center past-the-post-system that they will never let Mahathir be- Still, corruption scandals, al- Malay vote that Prime Minis- their campaign to the Malay rural said BN’s support among Malays doesn’t require winning the pop- come prime minister — they legations of mismanagement and GEOPOLITICAL HOT SPOT ter Najib Razak is counting on to heartland in recent days, playing has dropped by 8% in peninsular ular vote, and support in rural know him too well,” Tengku Sar- delays in payments to settlers Malaysia is a major exporter, its hold off a late surge from the op- up BN’s role in protecting Islam Malaysia since the 2013 general areas, despite worries about the iff uddin said in a statement. by Felda have prompted some to economy driven by oil and gas, position and win another term. and promoting Malay interests. election. Peninsular Malaysia rising cost of living and a fi nan- Swinging the Malay vote away switch to the opposition, a few palm oil, rubber and electronics. The opposition is led by Ma- “If we look at the behaviour is home to three-fourths of the cial scandal at state fund 1MDB. from UMNO, however, will not people at the rally told Reuters. Part of the South China Sea lies hathir Mohamad, a 92-year-old of one or two people (in the op- country’s electoral districts while The opposition has accused BN be easy, especially in areas of Felda Chairman Shahrir Abdul between east and west Malaysia, former prime minister who was position), we cannot be confi - the rest are in Malaysia’s part of of playing “dirty” tricks to win “Felda settlers”, Malays who Samad, who is also an UMNO a maritime region that falls once Najib’s mentor but turned dent that they will look after our Borneo island. the election, including the recent work for the national palm plan- division chief in Johor, said the within an area claimed by China, against him and quit the United interests, especially the people The fall in BN’s support var- redrawing of electoral bounda- tation operator Federal Land De- government-run agency has of- and delineated by a “nine-dash- Malays National Organisation in the rural areas, the interests ied across states, it said. In Johor, ries that they say favours Najib’s velopment Authority (Felda) and fered grants and will restructure line” on its maps. Malaysia — and (UMNO) party. of Islam and the interests of the one of Malaysia’s most populous coalition. BN denies the accusa- have been a rock-solid votebank debt to reduce the fi nancial bur- several other countries in the The Barisan Nasional (BN) rul- Malays,” Najib told a rally on states, it had fallen as much as tions. for the ruling coalition. den for settlers. region — have disputed China’s ing coalition, which is dominated Sunday, according to state news 21%, it said. Najib’s press secretary yester- At Gedangsa, a Felda set- He said the opposition’s hopes claim over the South China Sea, by UMNO, and Mahathir’s alli- agency Bernama. “There will defi nitely be sig- day urged Malays to stay loyal to tlement about 100km north of of unleashing a “Malay tsunami” through which about $5tn in ance are both vying for the votes Historically, Malays have nifi cant movement of Malay vot- BN, and said the largely-Chinese Kuala Lumpur, a campaign rally by “attacking prominent Malay trade passes annually. of Malay Muslims, who account largely been in favour of UMNO ers across the (political) divide. I Democratic Action Party (DAP), by local opposition leaders on institutions” would not succeed. Singapore most likely to host Lighter side of diplomacy Trump-Kim summit: report

AFP quoted Trump’s National Se- tween Kim and Moon — could Seoul curity Advisor John Bolton. The also be an appropriate venue for newspaper suggested that the his meeting with the North’s possibility of Singapore hosting leader. S President Donald the landmark meeting had “in- Other possible sites report- Trump and North Korea’s creased greatly”, after a decision edly included Mongolia and UKim Jong-un are likely to by Trump to host South Korean Switzerland. Preparations for the meet in Singapore next month, president Moon Jae-in at the landmark meeting have gained reports said yesterday, as antici- White House later this month, momentum since the Korean pation builds for unprecedented without giving further explana- summit late last month, which talks between the mercurial tion. saw Pyongyang and Seoul prom- leaders. Bolton met his South Korean ise to pursue the complete denu- Trump said at the weekend counterpart Chung Eui-yong clearisation of the peninsula and that the two sides had settled on in Washington late last week to a formal peace treaty to end the a date and location for the sum- discuss plans for both locations, 1950-53 Korean War. mit — the fi rst between a sitting according to local media reports. North Korea has off ered to US president and a North Korean A similar report on the weekend close its nuclear test site this leader — without providing de- from South Korea’s Yonhap news month — and invited US ex- tails. agency also said Singapore was perts to verify the move. Other “We’ll be announcing it soon,” fi rming as the favoured location less dramatic but notable signs Trump told reporters. The land- for the summit. of rapprochement have emerged mark summit will take place in Trump had previously sug- almost daily, including North “mid-June”, South Korea’s Cho- gested that the demilitarised Korea moving its clocks forward sun Ilbo daily reported Monday, zone between the two Koreas — by 30 minutes early Saturday to citing diplomatic sources who the site of a recent summit be- match time with the South. Chinese premier Li Keqiang (left) and Indonesian President Joko Widodo share a light moment as they hold the mascots of the 2018 Asian Games during their meeting at the presidential palace in Bogor, Indonesia. Australia pledges cash to help save the koala

Australia unveiled yesterday a “Koalas are a national treasure,” recognisable animals. Studies US$34mn plan to help bring its said Gladys Berejiklian, premier show a 26% decline in the NZ sinkhole reveals glimpse into 60,000-year-old volcano koala population back from the of New South Wales state, in koala population in New South brink, following a rapid decline announcing her government’s Wales over the last 15-20 years. A new sinkhole on a North Island on the landscape, exposing rock volcanologist Brad Scott said of out of this crater,” he told TVNZ. in the furry marsupial’s fortunes. conservation plan. The state lists the species as farm as deep as four double- deposits from 60,000 years ago. the chasm measuring 20m (66ft) Farmer Colin Tremain said the The Australian Koala Foundation “It would be such a shame if this “vulnerable”, while in other decker buses and almost the Experts believe rain dissolved deep and 200m (660ft) long. sinkhole appeared overnight estimates there may be as few nationally iconic marsupial did parts of the country they are length of two football fields underground limestone over Scott said the dairy farm where last week and was spotted by as 43,000 koalas left in the wild, not have its future secured.” eff ectively extinct. has grabbed the attention of thousands of years, eventually the fissure appeared lay on the one of his workers during an down from a population believed Habitat loss, dog attacks, car Under the A$45mn plan, New Zealand volcanologists. causing the ground to collapse crater of a long-dormant volcano. early morning round to attend to number more than 10mn prior strikes, climate change and thousands of hectares will be set The chasm appeared after and create the canyon. “This is “What I see in the bottom of the the cows. While such holes were to European settlement of the disease have taken their toll aside to preserve the marsupial’s heavy rainfall near the town of pretty spectacular, it’s a lot bigger hole is the original 60,000-year- common on the property, this continent in 1788. on one of Australia’s most natural habitat. Rotorua and left a jagged scar than the ones I’d normally see,” old volcanic deposit that came was by far the largest he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 15 BRITAIN/IRELAND

ROYALTY TRAGEDY ACCIDENT DEFENCE PEOPLE Runner dies during Grade I listed hotel in First robot minesweeper Eight-vehicle crash Belfast marathon Gloucester damaged by fire system delivered to navy leaves woman dead

A man collapsed and died during the Belfast More than 50 hotel guests were led to safety The Royal Navy has taken delivery of its first A 64-year-old woman has died and a 62-year-old marathon yesterday. The runner, aged in his 50s, as fire broke out in a Grade I listed hotel. It is unmanned autonomous minesweeping system, man is in a critical condition after an eight-vehicle encountered diff iculties at about the sixth mile, believed the fire started on the ground floor of Defence Minister Guto Bebb said. Bebb said the crash on the A38 in Cornwall. They were riding near Victoria park in east Belfast, and was taken the New Inn, in Gloucester, just after 0100BST, system, capable of safely clearing sea lanes of a Honda motorcycle in the Glynn Valley, near to the Royal Victoria hospital in west Belfast, but and then spread through the three-storey mines, could go on to be used in the future to Dobwalls, when the crash occurred at about later died. The Northern Ireland ambulance service building to the roof. The cause of the blaze defeat the threat of modern digital mines following 17.45BST on Sunday. The woman was a pillion (NIAS) said: “The Northern Ireland ambulance remains unknown and investigations into the a period of successful trials. The ministry of passenger on the motorbike. They were taken to service received a 999 call to report that a male fire are under way. No one was injured and defence (MoD) said the system has been designed hospital in Plymouth, where the woman later died. runner, approximately 50 years old, in the Belfast guests were moved to two nearby hotels. and manufactured by Atlas Elektronik in Dorset, The drivers and occupants of the other vehicles marathon had collapsed on the Sydenham Bypass. Councillor Paul James, from Gloucester City England, under a $20.3mn contract. Easily suff ered minor injuries. The scene, near Liskeard’s Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and his wife NIAS were on scene within four minutes. The Council, said he was “very sad” to hear of the transported by road, sea and air, the high-tech branch of the discount retailer Trago Mills, was Britain’s Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visit the patient was brought by ambulance to RVH.” Two fire. He tweeted: “Hope the damaged parts can design means a small team could put the system closed for investigation. A 19-year-old female driver Parfumerie Fragonard laboratory plant in Eze, senior members of the marathon management be sensitively restored and it quickly goes back to use within hours of it arriving in any theatre of of one of the other vehicles has been interviewed near Nice, France, yesterday. team visited the runner’s family in hospital. to being a vibrant venue in the city.” activity, added Bebb. by police in Plymouth about the crash.

Soaking in the sun 1,000 highly skilled migrants ‘wrongly face deportation’

Guardian News and Media ment’s use of section 322(5) was London wrong,” said Bhardwaj. “At best, this suggests that the Home Offi ce is recklessly in- t least 1,000 highly skilled competent in its use of 322(5). At migrants seeking indefi - worst, however, the section is be- Anite leave to remain (ILR) ing applied by the Home Offi ce in the UK are wrongly facing so often and being overturned so deportation under a section of frequently when challenged at the Immigration Act designed the highest level, that I question in part to tackle terrorists and whether there is a blanket policy individuals judged to be a threat which the Home Offi ce is using to national security, MPs and ex- internally, which no one is aware perts have said. about.” In the latest scandal to hit the The claims will be seized upon Home Offi ce after the Windrush as further evidence of what Jer- crisis, a range of MPs and immi- emy Corbyn has described as the gration experts have criticised the government’s “cruel and misdi- use of the controversial section rected” policy of deportation. People line the banks of the River Thames as they soak up the sun in Richmond, south west London, yesterday. Temperatures yesterday reached 29C in parts of the 322(5) of the act, with two saying Cases include a former ministry southeast of England, as people enjoyed the three-day bank holiday weekend. the crisis-hit department is truly of defence mechanical engineer wicked and abusing its power. who is now destitute, a former Experts say the highly skilled NHS manager currently £30,000 workers – including teachers, in debt, thanks to Home Offi ce doctors, lawyers, engineers and costs and legal fees, who spends IT professionals – are being re- her nights fully dressed, sitting in fused ILR after being accused her front room with a suitcase in of lying in their applications case enforcement teams arrive to either for making minor and deport her, and a scientist work- legal amendments to their tax ing on the development of anti- records, or having discrepancies cancer drugs who is now unable to Child slavery victim sues in declared income. work, rent or access the NHS. In one case, the applicant’s Saleem Dadabhoy, a scion of tax returns were scrutinised by one of the wealthiest families three diff erent appeal courts who in Pakistan, is facing deporta- had found no evidence of any ir- tion under section 322(5) despite regularities. The same fi gures are three diff erent appeal courts nevertheless used as the basis for having scrutinised his accounts govt after sexual assault a 322(5) refusal because of basic and fi nding no evidence of any tax errors allegedly made by the irregularities, and a court of ap- Guardian News and Media fi cking at the time of the assault hands of his traffi ckers. tion. He was transferred directly thorities in their duty of care to H. Home Offi ce itself. peal judge having ruled that he London and the Home Offi ce accepts that Morton Hall accepts that the from incarceration to Morton Hall “This is a vulnerable victim Highly Skilled Migrants is a is trustworthy and credible. His he should not have been subject assault took place, but did not in Lincoln. of slavery who was a child at the support group that represents deportation would directly lead to immigration detention. launch an investigation into the In a statement, H said: “My time of his exploitation – who over 600 workers and says it is to the loss of 20 jobs, all held Vietnamese victim After the assault, H contin- attempted rape or provide any time in immigration detention was locked inside a cannabis in contact with over 400 more, by British citizens, and the clo- of child slavery has ued to be held at Morton Hall for support to H after the attack. The was awful. After this incident, house and then criminalised, in- most of whom are facing depor- sure of a British company worth Alaunched legal proceed- a further six months. Follow- centre began an internal enquiry I was really paranoid that other carcerated in a young off enders’ tation under section 322(5), with £1.5mn. ings against the government ing interventions by law fi rm into the attack only after being detainees would hurt me all of the institution and then illegally de- the rest still waiting for a decision Dadabhoy’s lawyer says the after he was sexually assaulted Duncan Lewis, the Home Offi ce contacted by lawyers from Dun- time. I felt scared all the time and tained in immigration detention by the Home Offi ce. Aditi Bhard- Home Offi ce has made two basic at Morton Hall immigration re- confi rmed that H was a victim of can Lewis, who threatened legal I found it very diffi cult to sleep where he suff ered a highly trau- waj, one of the organisers, said the accounting errors, comparing moval centre, the Guardian re- modern slavery but refused to re- action. or eat. Morton Hall staff do not matising assault, which was then group has raised about £40,000 to his client’s gross income to his vealed. lease him. It has continued to try H was traffi cked from Vietnam protect the detainees. Although never investigated,” he said. “Our challenge the Home Offi ce in the net income, and comparing his The Home Offi ce has admitted to deport him back to Vietnam. to the UK at the age of 16 and was terrible things have happened to client’s treatment undermines the courts. tax return from an April to April that the 19-year-old – known as According to clinical psycholo- forced to tend cannabis plants in me in the past, the eff ect of immi- government’s rhetoric on its com- “Ten members of our group tax year to a return from his De- H – was being detained illegally gists who assessed H during his a house in Derbyshire. When the gration detention made this even mitment to protecting victims have taken the Home Offi ce to the cember to December accounting when he was attacked by another detention, he was left severely house was raided by police and H worse.” of slavery and its own guidance fi rst tier tribunal over their use of year. They have used the inevi- inmate, who attempted to rape traumatised and fearing for his was found locked inside, he was Ahmed Aydeed, director at on how child traffi cking victims 322(5) in the past six months. Nine table discrepancy in income as him in his cell in 2016. life after the assault, which trig- charged with cannabis cultivation Duncan Lewis, said the assault should be supported. Is this really of these won their cases, with the evidence that he has submitted H had already been recognised gered memories of earlier rapes and eventually prosecuted and formed part of a catastrophic how we treat those who have expe- appeal judges ruling the govern- inaccurate fi gures. as a potential victim of child traf- and abuse he had suff ered at the sent to a young off enders’ institu- failure on the behalf of the UK au- rienced slavery in the UK?”

Going green Grieving mum calls for Pilot forced to land end to London bloodshed aircraft on beach Guardian News and Media somewhere to come down. London “The land option inland was Guardian News and Media ture. Nothing. It’s just a human ing all I can to compensate for the unavailable. I could have made London race. Just one human race. So chil- failure of government ministers” it but it looked unpleasant. The dren, please let my son be the last.” on the issue. pilot was forced to make scenery around here is not a nice She said her son was not in a Last month, in one of her last an emergency landing in a place to land something like that mother has pleaded for gang and he had been “trying to actions as home secretary, Amber Alight aircraft on a beach in and also you need to be around an end to the bloodshed make a diff erence” by learning to Rudd launched a serious violence Sidmouth after the engine failed. somebody – you need to be near Ain London after her teen- work with children. He was also strategy to clamp down on violent Neither the pilot or passen- somebody who can help you once age son was shot dead in another an aspiring architect and had “so crime, which has been rising since ger were hurt in the incident on you’re down if there’s an issue.” wave of violent crime in the capi- much potential”, Morgan said. 2014. the Devon coast. The beach was still risky, he tal. Paramedics and police were The strategy is to be backed by The World War I-era plane said. “Who knows what could Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, 17, called to reports of gunshots on £40mn of Home Offi ce funding narrowly missed people on the have happened when it landed was killed and three other people Cook’s Road in Kennington, south and a new off ensive weapons bill to stony beach. – it could have flipped on the were shot over the weekend. London, just after 6pm on Satur- ban the sale of corrosive liquids to A helicopter for the national stones.” In Wealdstone, north-west day. Rhyhiem was found on nearby under-18s and introduce tougher police air service spotted the Trudi Spiller, who was the London, two boys aged 13 and 15 Warham Street with a gunshot in- restrictions on buying knives on- plane while returning from an plane’s only passenger, told Dev- sustained head injuries, and in jury. line. It will focus heavily on the incident in east Somerset and on Live that she tried to wave her Lewisham, in the south of the cap- His death is the latest in a spate links between illegal drug markets, were able to confirm the plane arms to warn people on the beach ital, a 22-year-old was shot. None of violent crimes in the capital. particularly for crack cocaine, and had made a safe landing and to move out of the way and was have life-threatening injuries. Police are investigating more than violent crime. that all the occupants were safe. left with “jelly legs” after the A 43-year-old man was stabbed 60 alleged murders since the start The strategy was launched amid The pilot, Zac Rocky, told the crash landing. in Perivale, north-west London, of the year. controversy over the potential link Sidmouth Herald his only option She said: “I was slightly fright- on Sunday and two men and a boy In Wealdstone, the 13-year- between dwindling police num- was to attempt to land on the ened. It wasn’t like my life fl ashed were taken to hospital after an acid old hit by shotgun pellets is being bers and the rise in violence. beach when the engine began to before me or anything but I was attack in Hackney, east London. treated by police as an innocent The new Home Secretary, Sajid lose power. thinking, ‘here we go’. But I also Rhyhiem’s mother, Pretana bystander who was walking with Javid, wrote on Twitter: “Appall- He said: “We were flying had absolute faith Zac would land Morgan, called for the violence to his parents when he was struck ing to hear about children being along the coast taking in the it. He is an amazing, fantastic pilot end. “Let my son be the last and be by shots aimed at the 15-year-old killed and injured on our streets beautiful scenery of the Jurassic and I had every confi dence in him.” an example to everyone,” she said. victim. this bank holiday. Serious vio- coast. The engine had some is- Sidmouth coastguards report- “Just let it stop. What must be, Sadiq Khan, who has faced crit- lence is robbing too many young Participants gather for the annual May bank holiday “Jack sues. It began to lose power, it edly helped tow the plane away must be. icism from some for the increase in people of their futures. I will In The Green” parade and festival in Hastings, Britain, faded. I cycled a few options in from the shoreline, but it had to be “It’s not about race, it’s not violence since he became London work with anyone determined to yesterday. the cockpit to no avail and at dismantled so it could be removed about nation, it’s not about cul- mayor, tweeted that he was “do- tackle it.” that point you have to choose from the beach. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 EUROPE Putin begins new presidential term Reuters kick-start reforms of the slug- Moscow gish economy and revive foreign investment curtailed by stand- off s with the West. resident Vladimir Putin By choosing Medvedev – seen stuck with his long-serving by people close to the Russian Pprime minister in his fi rst elite as a safe pair of hands whose act after being sworn in for a new chief quality is loyalty to his boss term yesterday, signalling that – Putin indicated that he fa- he would keep faith with a policy voured continuity. Putin waves to supporters on the Kremlin’s Sobornaya Square direction that has brought Russia The choice is also likely to be following his inauguration as president. into confl ict with the West. parsed by Kremlin-watchers for Standing in the ornately-dec- any clues about what happens offi ce to the inauguration cer- potential weakness for Putin. orated Andreyevsky Hall of the after Putin’s current term ends emony, Putin travelled in a new Buff eted by lower oil prices, Grand Kremlin Palace, with his in 2024. Russian-made limousine. falls in the rouble, infl ation and hand on a gold-embossed copy of The constitution bars him From now on, the limousine the impact of sanctions, average the constitution, Putin, 65, swore from seeking a third consecutive will replace the fl eet of imported monthly wages have fallen from to serve the Russian people, to term. vehicles Putin uses, state televi- the equivalent of $867 in 2013 to safeguard rights and freedoms, When Putin came up against sion reported. $553 last year. and protect Russian sovereignty. the same term limits in 2008, The choice of transport chimes Russia’s economy, the world’s Putin secured a new six-year he got around the problem by with a message, often repeated by eleventh largest, returned to term after more than 70% of anointing Medvedev as presi- Putin, that Russia must stand on growth of 1.5% last year, helped voters backed him in a March 18 dent, before taking back the job its own feet and shake off its de- by a recovery in oil prices. presidential election. after one term. pendence on the West. But that fell far short of the His most dangerous chal- Some observers believe Pu- Foreign diplomats see little growth Russians grew accus- lenger, Alexei Navalny, was not tin, who has not anointed any prospect that Russia’s stand-off s tomed to earlier in Putin’s rule. allowed to take part and on Sat- heir apparent, could attempt the with the West that have domi- Putin, fi rst elected president in urday was detained at a protest same manoeuvre a second time. nated the past four years will ease 2000, will soon have ruled longer called under the slogan: “Putin is Unveiling his nominees for during Putin’s new term. than Soviet Communist leader not our tsar.” the top posts in the new cabinet, The new Russian-made limousine, called the Senate Limousine, carrying Putin, is escorted to his Clashes in the past few weeks Leonid Brezhnev, whose 18-year Soon after the inauguration Medvedev stuck mostly with fa- inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin. over US sanctions on Russia, the rule from 1964 to 1982 is prima- ceremony, the Kremlin issued a miliar faces, including retaining confl ict in Syria, and the poi- rily associated with stagnation. statement saying that Putin had Anton Siluanov as fi nance min- Vitaly Mutko, who oversaw but also weighed down by the powerful military, while pushing soning in England of former spy By the time his term ends, Pu- nominated Dmitry Medvedev ister. sport at a time when Russia was costly confrontation with the hard to improve life for its citi- Sergei Skripal have left some dip- tin will be 71. again to be prime minister in his However, deputy prime minis- accused of a state-sponsored West, low economic growth, and zens at home. lomats worried that the confron- Foreign diplomats and analysts new term. ters Arkady Dvorkovich and Igor programme of doping, lost his uncertainty about what happens “Taking up this post, I feel a tation could spiral out of control. say uncertainty over what hap- Medvedev, a loyal Putin lieu- Shuvalov did not keep their jobs. sports brief, but kept his deputy when his terms ends. colossal sense of responsibility,” Opinion polls show Putin has pens after 2024 is likely to desta- tenant, has held the job since They had positioned them- prime minister’s post and will In a speech after the swearing- Putin told his audience of Russian high levels of support among bilise the ruling elite and spark 2012. selves as champions of private oversee construction. in ceremony, Putin said that in offi cials and foreign dignitar- Russian citizens, and Navalny infi ghting among rival Kremlin Some Kremlin-watchers had business, though with limited Putin embarks on his new the next six years Russia would ies, among them former German has not been able to inspire a na- clans. speculated Putin might bring in success in an economy dominat- term, his fourth in total, buoyed prove a strong, muscular player chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. tionwide upsurge of protests. a fresh face as prime minister to ed by the state. by widespread popular support on the world stage, backed by a For the short journey from his But the Russian economy is a See also Page 23

Motocross legend drowns saving dog

Belgium’s five-time former motocross world champion Eric Geboers Erdogan rejects TV debate challenge has drowned after diving into a lake to rescue his dog, Belgian Court media reported yesterday. The 55-year-old, who became a legend in his sport in the 1980s, AFP/DPA jumped off his boat trying to save his pet around 2000GMT on clears Ankara Sunday at Mol, in north Belgium, according to Belga news agency. His body was found yesterday after a search of the area. In the 1980s Geboers was crowned motocross champion in all three migrant urkish President Recep categories, 125cc, 250cc and 500cc, earning him the nickname Tayyip Erdogan has re- “Mister 875”. Tjected a challenge from He retired in 1990 at the age of 28 to become manager of the rescuers the main opposition party’s Suzuki motocross team. presidential candidate to hold televised debates ahead of snap AFP polls on June 24. Police want right to reject migrants Mytilene, Greece Muharrem Ince, the Repub- lican People’s Party (CHP) can- German police should have the right to turn away migrants without didate running against Erdogan, entry permits at the border, the head of the German Police Union Greek court has cleared had earlier urged the president (DPoLG) told DPA on Sunday, amid an ongoing debate over the three Spaniards and two to take part in a TV debate. Erdogan: does not want a debate to country’s asylum policies. ADanes of trying to help But Erdogan fi rmly refused Ince: Let’s come together with the other candidates... descend into an event where others According to plans presented by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer illegal migrants enter Greece the off er. let’s debate on television. would seek to ‘score points’ off him. in April, Germany is to set up five so-called “anchor centres”, through the island of Lesbos Erdogan is known for his fi ery sites where asylum-seekers will be kept until their right to stay is while taking part in Aegean res- rhetorical skills but Ince is also “Let us debate on television polarised country and trans- changes approved in a April 2017 determined. cue missions. popular as an eff ective orator. and let us relate our dreams form Erdogan’s presidential referendum to create an execu- However, Ernst Walter, chairman of the DPoLG, said such centres “The accusation has not been “In particular, I do not want about Turkey,” Ince had said. palace into a “home of science” tive presidency, expanding the would become superfluous if the police had the right to “lawfully proven,” the judge said after to get involved in television de- Ince’s rallies at the weekend if he were elected head of state. powers of the president. send any foreigners at our borders without entry permits back to the trial in the Lesbos capital bate events,” Erdogan said at a were not given live coverage by He also suggested all candi- Those also running against our – undoubtedly safe – two neighbouring countries”. Mytilene. press conference with Serbian the country’s main rolling ca- dates should meet as a goodwill Erdogan include ex-interior The fi refi ghters from Spain counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in ble news channels, as well as the gesture. minister and head of the new and volunteers from Denmark, Ankara. state-run broadcaster TRT. The president accepted Ince’s Iyi (Good) Party Meral Aksener, Zombies ‘invade’ Cannes beach who faced up to 10 years in He said he did not want a de- All speeches by Erdogan are request to meet, saying that the and Peoples’ Democratic Party prison according to Amnesty bate to descend into an event broadcast in full. two men could meet at Erdog- (HDP) former leader Selahat- Zombies invaded a beach on the French Riviera yesterday. International, enjoyed massive where others would seek to Ince, speaking in Ankara, said an’s ruling Justice and Develop- tin Demirtas, even though he is Dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the undead were not there support from aid groups, with “score points” off him. he has “absolutely no hope” that ment Party (AKP) headquarters. currently jailed. to eat human brains, but to take advantage of the world’s press many sympathisers on hand for Ince, who was chosen as the media or the business world will Last month Erdogan an- On Saturday the CHP offi - gathered a day ahead of the start of the Cannes Film Festival to the verdict. CHP candidate on Friday, said fairly relay information. nounced there would be si- cially formed a coalition called publicise a movie, Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation. “A great victory for humani- earlier yesterday: “Mr Erdogan, The CHP candidate said on multaneous parliamentary and the “Alliance for the Nation” The animated comedy follows the adventures of a part-monster, tarian aid,” Spanish group Pro- since you say we are up there Saturday that if the situation presidential elections on June – including the Good Party but part-human family, on a cruise holiday. em-AID tweeted after the ruling. with contemporary civilisa- persists, he would hold rallies 24, a year and a half earlier than not the HDP – to challenge the “Who doesn’t want to be on a ship with their in-laws for a week?” he Two Greek coastguards had tions, let’s come together with outside the state broadcaster’s scheduled. ruling party in the legislative joked. “But as I got on the boat I realised: ‘Hey, it’s all about family, testifi ed that the defendants, the other candidates ... let’s de- offi ces. After the polls, the country polls but fi elding their own can- and what a great venue for our monster family’.” who were arrested in January bate on television”. Ince has vowed to unite the will implement constitutional didates in the presidential vote. The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 8 to May 19. 2016, had not informed the au- thorities of their rescue mission, and that they were not properly equipped for it. The fi refi ghters, from the southern Spanish city of Seville, Italian president moots ‘neutral’ govt, but parties say no had taken part in multiple refu- gee and migrant rescue missions in the Aegean. Reuters after a third round of consulta- prevent any government from voters after they had stood to- Andalusian regional jus- Rome tions with all the main party winning the confi dence votes gether at the polls and present- tice minister Rosa Aguilar was leaders, that there was no room needed to take offi ce, rapidly ed a common manifesto. among the Spanish delegation for a coalition deal. came out against the formation In a statement, Berlusconi’s along with representatives of the resident Sergio Matta- However, he urged politi- of a non-political administra- Forza Italia party said it wanted city of Seville. rella has called for Italy’s cians to rally around a “neu- tion. to discuss the situation with The Spaniards worked as vol- Pbickering parties to rally tral” administration, which “(We have) no faith in a its allies and warned against a unteers for Proem-AID and the behind a “neutral government”, he said would be tasked with ‘neutral government’, which is rush to the ballot box in July. Danes for Team Humanity as saying that the only alternative drawing up a 2019 budget to synonymous with a govern- “We are not afraid of an they sought to aid thousands of would be a swift re-vote after stave off the threat of an au- ment of technocrats. We are election, but a summer (vote) migrants, mostly Syrians, risk- March’s inconclusive election. tomatic increase in sales taxes going to vote in July,” M5S chief does not help turnout. Autumn ing their lives to reach Europe via However, Italy’s two largest that would be triggered if the Luigi Di Maio wrote on Twitter. is better,” Forza Italia said. Lesbos and other Greek islands. parties, the far-right League defi cit fl oundered. League leader Matteo Salvini Whatever path the parties Some 5,100 migrants died in and anti-establishment 5-Star This government would then echoed the sentiment: “There chose, Mattarella said Prime 2016 crossing the Mediterrane- Movement (M5S), immediately resign in December, he said, to is no time to lose, there is no Minister Paolo Gentiloni’s an, according to the Internation- came out against the proposal, open the way for fresh elec- space for technocrat govern- caretaker government had al Organisation for Migration. raising the likelihood of an un- tions in the spring - he time ment.” reached the end of its life, in- More than 1,000 migrants, precedented immediate return of the year when all post-war Di Maio has previously said dicating that he would appoint including children, drowned in to the polls, even as early as votes have been held in Italy. he would be ready to form a a new administration even if it 2015 and 2016 in the stretch of July. “Let the parties decide government with the League. could not win parliamentary sea separating the Turkish coast Italy has been stuck in po- of their own free will if they However, he has refused to backing. from the Aegean islands. litical limbo since the March 4 should give full powers to a enter into any coalition deal Gentiloni is a leading fi gure “Humanitarian assistance ballot, which saw M5S emerge government ... or else new with the League’s main ally, the in the centre-left Democratic cannot and should not be crimi- as the single largest group elections (should be held) im- Forza Italia party led by former Party which had ruled Italy nalised,” one of the Danish de- while an alliance of centre- mediately in the month of July prime minister Silvio Berlus- since 2013 but was roundly fendants, Salam Aldin, told AFP. right parties took the most or the autumn,” Mattarella said coni, who M5S considers a beaten in March, as voters Many fi shermen from the seats. in a televised statement. symbol of political corruption. punished it for the sluggish small port of Sykaminia, one of Mattarella: Let the parties decide of their own free will if they should give However, both fell well short Both the League and M5S, Salvini has refused to aban- economic recovery, growing the main landing sites for refu- full powers to a government ... or else new elections (should be held) of an absolute majority, and which have enough seats be- don Berlusconi, saying that poverty and a surge in migrant gee boats at the time, were at the immediately in the month of July or the autumn. Mattarella conceded yesterday, tween them in parliament to would break his word with numbers from Africa. court to support Aldin. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 17 INDIA

FORECAST CONTROVERSY APPEAL OPPOSITION CRIME More thunderstorms likely Opposition cries foul over Start talks to end violence, Plans to introduce Hindi on Police probe air hostess across country till May 11 Jayalalithaa memorial Mehbooba tells Modi Tripura TV channels flayed molestation charges

The weather off ice in Delhi yesterday warned that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti yesterday urged Opposition parties yesterday slammed a Tripura Mumbai Police and Air India have launched thunderstorms, squalls and gusty winds are likely his deputy O Panneerselvam yesterday laid the the Modi government to initiate a “meaningful government committee’s proposal to introduce independent probes into an alleged molestation of to hit many parts of the country, including Delhi, foundation stone of a memorial to late chief minister dialogue” to end the “vicious cycle of killings and Hindi as a medium of news on all local TV channels an air hostess by another crew member on board till Friday even as Himachal Pradesh received fresh J Jayalalithaa in Chennai. The Rs500mn memorial destruction” in Jammu and Kashmir. A day after instead of “Kokborok”, the state’s second off icial an Ahmedabad-Mumbai flight on May 4. Initially, snowfall. The Meteorological Department said will come up on the Marina Beach front, where spiralling violence in the state left five militants, language since 1978. The information and cultural the crew member was believed to be a pilot. “Air the states likely to be aff ected by thunderstorms her body was buried near her mentor and another including an assistant professor, and five civilians aff airs department committee on April 6 proposed India is also providing assistance to Mumbai and gusty winds are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West late chief minister M G Ramachandran’s memorial. dead, Mehbooba Mufti also made a passionate that “instead of using ‘Kokborok’ as a medium police. All due processes and standard operating Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016. Opposition appeal to parents “to ensure that children do not of news, Hindi may be introduced as it would procedures set up for such incidents have been Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Karnataka leaders opposed the memorial, with PPMK founder embrace death”. The chief minister was speaking promote nationalism and people from outside adhered to,” a Air India off icial said. A molestation and Kerala. Thunderstorms and squalls are S Ramadoss saying that its construction was akin to the media on the sidelines of an off icial the state also could follow”. The main opposition complaint has been registered at the Sahar Airport “very, very likely at isolated places in Haryana, to crowing about corruption. DMK leader M K Stalin ceremony at the civil secretariat. She urged the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Police Station in Mumbai and further investigation Chandigarh and Delhi”, the weather off ice said. said that Jayalalithaa was “accused number one in a centre to initiate a meaningful dialogue so that condemned the proposal, saying Hindi may be is underway. The incident followed a fracas It also warned of duststorm in Rajasthan while disproportionate assets case” and the construction violence ends in Jammu and Kashmir “as the promoted but not at the cost of “Kokborok”, the between the air hostess and the other person, heavy rain is expected in six northeast states. of a memorial to such person is against democracy. youths who are getting killed are our children.” off icial language of the indigenous tribals. after which she lodged the police complaint.

Centre ‘denying Siddaramaiah benefi ts’ of low oil prices sends legal

IANS Bengaluru notice to Modi, ormer prime minister Manmohan Singh yes- Fterday accused the Modi government of punishing the common man by not passing on the benefi ts of low international petroleum prices to the people. Shah over slur “Petrol and diesel prices in India are at a historic high. This IANS not have an iota of truth and damages of Rs1bn in the event of is in spite of lower international Bengaluru have been made with a malicious the BJP leaders failed to withdraw crude oil prices because the intent to defame (Siddaramaiah) their statements and issuing an Modi government chooses to and destroy his reputation in the apology, the notice added. levy excessive excise taxes. arnataka Chief Minister eyes of the public at large,” said Meanwhile, Congress presi- “Instead of passing on the Siddaramaiah yesterday Ugrappa in the legal notice. dent Rahul Gandhi yesterday benefi t of low prices to the peo- Kserved a Rs1bn legal no- During public rallies in the took a dig at Modi by likening him ple, the central government has tice on Prime Minister Narendra state ahead of the May 12 assem- to a mobile phone, saying that sought to punish our people,” Modi, BJP president Amit Shah bly elections, Modi on several “Modi uses only speaker and air- the senior Congress leader told and party’s state unit chief B S occasions alleged that the state’s plane mode and not work mode”. the media here. Yeddyurappa for alleged defam- Congress government worked on Gandhi’s retort came in re- The 86-year-old economist atory speeches and advertise- commissions basis and was hand sponse to a query from reporters is here to campaign for the rul- ments against him in the media. in glove with the mining mafi a, about Modi’s jibe at an election ing Congress ahead of the May 12 The BJP leaders will have to and was talking about ease of rally that the Congress would assembly election. face civil and criminal action committing murders instead of be reduced to “PPP (Punjab, Pu- “During our (UPA government) and pay damages of Rs1bn in the business. ducherry and Parivar) Congress” tenure (2004-14), in the face of event of the BJP leaders failing to Through the statements and after the Karnataka polls. high crude oil prices, we cush- withdraw their statements and advertisements, the BJP leaders “There are three modes in a cell ioned the common man against issuing an unconditional public had committed off ences punish- phone: the fi rst is the work mode, their eff ects. Since the present apology, the notice added. able under Sections 499, 500, 501 the other two are speaker mode government assumed power, the “The Bharatiya Janata Party and 502 (defamation and printing and airplane mode. Modi only international oil prices declined (BJP) has published several politi- defamatory matter) of the Indian uses speaker and airplane mode, 67%, but petrol and diesel prices cal advertisements in Kannada and Penal Code, the notice said. he never uses work mode,” Gan- have increased 110%,” he said. English newspapers, television “You are called to cease and de- dhi said. Reeling out facts and fi gures, channels and on the social media, sist from making such statements Gandhi, who held a protest the former Union fi nance min- which are defamatory against Sid- and give an unconditional public here over rise in prices of petro- ister said the BJP-led NDA gov- daramaiah,” said lawyer and Con- apology immediately through leum products, alleged that the ernment had projected to earn gress member of legislative coun- electronic, print and social media Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s over Rs10tn through constant cil V S Ugrappa in the notice. in which the statements and ad- chief ministerial candidate in increase in taxes at the cost of The lawsuit also termed as “ma- vertisements have appeared,” the Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa and the common man. ligning” Modi’s speeches referring lawsuit notice asserted. Reddy brothers were “most cor- “We must demand answers as to Siddaramaiah-led government The BJP leaders will have to face rupt” and asked Modi why he to what use this money was put as a “seedha rupiah sarkar” (mon- civil and criminal action and pay was “shielding” them. to? A healthy economy requires ey-making government) and that a well-functioning banking sec- the state government was talking PM rejects Congress charge on unemployment tor. Neither banks are lending about “ease of doing murders” nor is the private sector borrow- while the world was talking about Prime Minister Narendra technologies/initiatives like ing to make new investments.” the ease of doing business. Modi yesterday rejected the the EVMs and Aadhaar. “With The Modi government’s “lack It also referred to newspa- Congress accusation against emphasis on public and of reasoning and analysis was af- per advertisements appearing his government of not creating private sectors, we are also fecting India and our collective since March 28 in Kannada and enough jobs and claimed focusing on personal sector for future”, he said. English, which claimed that that several of its initiatives employment. The pace of work Singh also railed against the the Congress government had led to the creation of jobs on the infrastructure projects government for not making good turned Bengaluru into a city of in the public and private has been increased,” Modi said in terms of growth rate despite garbage and destroyed its lakes, sectors. Modi, in turn, held in response to a query while favourable international climate, along with pictorial display of the Congress responsible for addressing Bharatiya Janata something, he said, its predeces- All India Congress Committee president Rahul Gandhi rides a bicycle during an election silhouettes of Siddaramaiah. the unemployment situation Party Yuva Morcha workers sor had done despite facing “tur- campaign for the forthcoming Karnataka legislative assembly elections in Malur, about 60km “These allegations are com- and accused it of opposing through his NaMo app. bulent global conditions”. from Bengaluru yesterday. pletely false, fabricated and do Naidu rejection of motion Salman case hearing against judge challenged adjourned to July 17 AFP Salman, who is not allowed Jodhpur to leave the country without IANS The petitioners contended motion for the removal of judge permission returned directly to New Delhi that the April 23 decision of (s) as ultra vires of the Constitu- Jodhpur airport after the hearing. Naidu to reject the impeachment tion, particularly Article 124 (4) ovie star Salman Khan “We will begin arguments on motion notice is “ex facie illegal, and (5). managed to avoid the the appeal against the fi ve-year wo Rajya Sabha members arbitrary, and violates Article 14 Section 3 of the Judges Inquiry Mspotlight when he re- sentence from July 17,” said de- yesterday moved the Su- of the Constitution” that guar- Act provides for the “investiga- turned to court yesterday over fence counsel Mahesh Bora. Tpreme Court to challenge antees equality before law. tion into misbehaviour or inca- his fi ve-year jail sentence for Prosecutors said they would house chairman M Venkaiah They further contended that pacity of the judge by the com- killing endangered wildlife. oppose the appeal bid and were Naidu’s decision to reject a no- the decision under challenge is mittee”. Salman, one of the world’s ready to present their case. tice on the impeachment motion within the constitutional man- Sub-section 1 of section 3 highest-paid actors, was con- Four other actors were acquit- against the apex court’s chief date of Articles 124 (4) and 124(5) of the Judges Inquiry Act says: victed last month of shooting ted in last month’s verdict and justice, Dipak Misra. of the Constitution. “The Speaker or, as the case may dead two rare antelopes known Salman has repeatedly denied A bench headed by justice “It is not the Rajya Sabha be, the chairman may, after con- as black bucks on a 1998 hunt- killing the animals — accusing J Chelameswar yesterday told chairman’s prerogative to adju- sulting such persons, if any, as ing trip. Rajasthan’s forest department of senior counsel Kapil Sibal to dicate whether there has been he thinks fi t and after consider- He spent two days behind bars trying to frame him. “come back tomorrow” as the any abuse by the CJI of his power ing such materials, if any, as may before being granted bail. His lawyers claim the black latter mentioned the matter for as the Master of the Roster (in be available to him, either admit The Bollywood icon was or- bucks died of natural causes listing for an early hearing. the Supreme Court). This is the the motion or refuse to admit the dered to appear in court yester- such as overeating, insisting Congress Rajya Sabha mem- job of the inquiry committee,” same.” day and an early-morning hear- there was no evidence they were bers Pratap Singh Bajwa and the petitioners contended. Naidu had taken recourse to ing was held in Jodhpur. shot. Amee Yajnik challenged the re- The two lawmakers sought this provision on April 23 to re- Khan arrived in a white SUV Throughout the multiple jection of the notice last month. directions to the Rajya Sabha ject the notice on motion to seek and slipped into court around cases, eyewitnesses have stated Both were among the signatories chairman to admit the impeach- the removal of chief justice Di- 8am (0230GMT) surrounded by they saw Salman fi ring a gun. to the notice. ment motion notice and consti- pak Misra. minders, catching media and his The 52-year-old enjoys a cult- Sibal told the court that since tute a committee to investigate “None of the reasons given by army of fans off guard. like status in star-obsessed India the matter involved the chief jus- the grounds mentioned therein. the chairman in the impugned Court sessions generally start and is one of Bollywood’s biggest tice of India, it could not be men- They also sought that section order carry any weight or are much later. draws, despite a host of contro- tioned before him. He also told the 3(1) of the Judges Inquiry Act of legally tenable. It deserves to be The judge, Chandra Kumar versies. bench that the notice’s rejection 1968, insofar it allows the Rajya set aside for being wholly extra- Songara, quickly adjourned pro- Salman was in a vehicle in raised “serious constitutional is- Sabha chairman and Lok Sabha neous and ultra vires to the Con- ceedings after Salman’s defence Mumbai in 2002 when it mount- sues” and involved interpretation Speaker to exercise discretion in stitution and the Inquiry Act,” Actor Salman Khan leaves the Jodhpur court yesterday after a team requested more time to ed the curb and killed a homeless of constitutional provisions. accepting or rejecting a notice of said the petitioners. hearing in relation to the long-running wildlife poaching case. prepare their appeal. man sleeping on the pavement. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 INDIA

STAND TRAGEDY PROTEST VIOLENCE CRIME Cannot give more water to Baby dies after falling MNS disrupts Bullet Tourist injured in Kashmir Two dead in political Tamil Nadu, says Karnataka from mother’s arms Train route survey stone-pelting dies violence in Kannur

Karnataka yesterday told the Supreme Court that it A six-month-old baby died after falling from his Toughening its stand, the Maharashtra Navnir- A tourist from Chennai, injured in stone pelting A CPI-M worker was slashed to death by RSS has already released the Cauvery water that Tamil mother’s arms when she lost her balance, allegedly man Sena yesterday disrupted and blocked on Srinagar-Gulmarg road yesterday, succumbed activists at Palloor near Kannur, the Left party Nadu was entitled to under the “distress formula” due to the high heels she was wearing, police said a land survey that was being attempted near to critical injuries in a hospital in Srinagar, police alleged. An RSS worker was attacked in retaliation due to deficient rainfall and needed remaining water yesterday. Fehmida Shaikh, 23, had attended a Shil Phata in Thane for the upcoming Mumbai- said. The tourist, identified as R Thirumani, 22, son and has succumbed to her injuries, off icials said. for drinking purposes in Bengalauru and the areas relatives’ wedding ceremony in Kalyan on Sunday Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, a dream venture of Rajwali, of Chennai was injured when stone- In a press statement issued by its Kannur unit, falling under its part of the Cauvery basin. In view of evening wearing high-heels and carrying her six- of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Around two pelters attacked a tourist vehicle in Narbal area the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) this, it was not required to make any more releases, month-old son in her arms. After the wedding at dozen MNS activists waving party flags staged on Srinagar-Gulmarg road. “He was shifted to said that the “brutal murder of K Babu, a former said Karnataka in an aff idavit in response to the top Matoshri Hall, she and her husband were preparing a protest against the railway and government the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences councillor and an active member of the party, by court asking it on the last date of hearing on May 3 to return home to Ulhasnagar. As they were walking off icials surveying the land. The blockade comes (SKIMS), Soura here but succumbed to critical the RSS activists shows that they (RSS) are in no as to how much of the 4TMC of water it can release along a balcony, she suddenly tripped and her child days after MNS president Raj Thackeray urged injuries yesterday evening,” a police source said. mood to end the politics of violence, that they to Tamil Nadu as per the mandate of the tribunal fell from the first floor balcony. The couple rushed the farmers in Thane and Palghar district not to Thirumani’s body was later brought to the police have been carrying out.” Meanwhile soon after award. Karnataka counsel V N Raghupati said down to see the infant lying in a pool of blood and sell or allow their lands to be acquired for the hospital in Srinagar and Chief Minister Mehbooba this, RSS worker Shanoj was attacked near New Tamil Nadu has been given more water than it was immediately took him to the nearby Rukiminibai Bullet Train and the proposed Mumbai-Vadodara Mufti went there immediately after she was Mahe and taken to a hospital near here, where entitled to in a distress year. Hospital where he was declared dead. Expressway projects. informed that the tourist had died. she later succumbed. Ex-CMs not Opposition to Citizenship (Amendment) Bill entitled to govt bungalows, rules top court

IANS not be guided by the constitu- New Delhi tional principle of equality,” it added. The bench said amended Sec- he Supreme Court yes- tion 4(3) of the 1981 Act recog- terday set aside a provi- nised former holders of public Tsion of a law that allowed offi ce as a “special class of citi- government accommodation to zens”, which is “arbitrary and former Uttar Pradesh chief min- discriminatory” thereby violat- isters, terming it “arbitrary and ing the equality clause. discriminatory” as it violated the “It is a legislative exercise concept of equality. based on irrelevant and legally A bench headed by justice unacceptable considerations, Ranjan Gogoi said once a chief unsupported by any consti- minister demits offi ce, there was tutional sanctity,” the bench nothing to distinguish him or her added. People line up to submit their memorandums to oppose The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, at the Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara in Guwahati yesterday. from a common man. “Undoubtedly, Section 4(3) of The Bill amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, Setting aside the provision the 1981 Act would have the ef- eligible for citizenship. of the law passed by the Uttar fect of creating a separate class Pradesh Assembly, the bench of citizens for conferment of said such bungalows constitute benefi ts by way of distribution “public property which by itself of public property on the basis of is scarce and meant for use of the previous public offi ce held by current holders of public of- them. fices”. “Once such persons demit the The apex court struck public offi ce earlier held by them down Section 4(3) of the Ut- there is nothing to distinguish tar Pradesh Ministers (Sala- them from the common man. ries, Allowances and Miscel- The public offi ce held by them Kathua rape-murder laneous Provisions) Act, 1981, becomes a matter of history and, as amended in 2016, allowing therefore, cannot form the basis former chief ministers of the of a reasonable classifi cation to state to be entitled to allotment categorise previous holders of of government accommodation public offi ce as a special category for their life time. of persons entitled to the benefi t The amendment was intro- of special privileges,” the judg- trial shifted to Pathankot duced by then Uttar Pradesh ment stated. chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s “Consequently, we hold that IANS case and its trial from time to time victim’s family, their lawyer and tim’s father, said the family of the Two of the accused had fi led a government in 2016. Section 4(3) of the 1981 Act can- New Delhi and posted the matter for next witnesses. minor was being threatened. separate plea, seeking the trial in In its judgment, the top court not pass the test of Article 14 of hearing on July 9. The decision to transfer the tri- Rajawat also alleged that mem- the case to be held in Jammu and said that “natural resources, the Constitution of India and “Fair trial is sacrosanct prin- al from Kathua came after a plea bers of the Jammu Bar Associa- the probe handed over to the CBI. public lands and public goods is, therefore, liable to be struck he Supreme Court yes- ciple under Article 21 (right to from the victim’s father. tion had threatened her, asking But the top court refused to ex- like government bungalows/offi - down. terday transferred to life) of the Constitution,” the The minor girl from nomadic her not to appear in the case. The amine the plea for handing over cial residence are public property “We hold that the afore- TPathankot the trial of the Supreme Court observed in the goatherds went missing on Janu- association denied the allegation. the investigation to the CBI. that belongs to the people of the said Section 4(3) of the Uttar brutal rape and murder of an order transferring the case to ary 10 when she was grazing hors- country”. Pradesh Ministers (Salaries, eight-year-old nomadic girl in Pathankot, which is 25km away es close to her home in Rasana Second teenager raped and set on fi re “The ‘Doctrine of Equality’ Allowances and Miscellaneous Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua be- from Kathua across the border village near Kathua in the Jammu which emerges from the con- Provisions) Act, 1981 is ultra cause “fear and fair trial can’t ex- with Punjab. region. Her body was found in the A 17-year-old girl was battling her relative’s home in a village in cepts of justice, fairness must vires the Constitution of India ist together”. The bench said the Pathankot same area a week later. She had for her life in Jharkhand after Pakur district when a man from guide the state in the distribu- as it transgresses the equal- A bench of chief justice Dipak district and sessions judge would been raped. she was raped and set on fire, the neighbourhood sexually as- tion/allocation of the same. The ity clause under Article 14. Misra, justice D Y Chandrachud hold the trial while the Jammu and The crime branch of Jammu off icials said yesterday. A 19-year- saulted her,” district spokesman chief minister, once he/she de- The writ petition in question, and justice Indu Malhotra also or- Kashmir government was allowed and Kashmir Police, which inves- old man has been arrested Pramod Kumar Jha said. “He mits the offi ce, is at par with the therefore, is allowed.” dered in-camera and day-to-day to appoint public prosecutor. tigated the case and has already in connection with the crime, later poured kerosene on her common citizen, though by vir- The top court order came on trial in the case that has caused The apex court said the trial fi led charges, said eight people which happened on Friday, the and set her ablaze and fled from tue of the offi ce held, he/she may a plea by NGO Lok Prahari chal- global outrage. would be conducted according to were involved in the crime. The same day that another teenage the scene,” he said. The victim be entitled to security and other lenging amendments to the Ut- The court said an in-camera the provisions of the Ranbir Penal accused include two policemen, a girl was raped and burnt alive was admitted to hospital with protocols. tar Pradesh legislation allowing trial was being ordered to ensure Code, a criminal code applicable juvenile and a former Indian Rev- elsewhere in the state. That serious burn injuries. Police were “But allotment of govern- former chief ministers of the that witnesses feel protected and in Jammu and Kashmir. enue Service offi cer. incident led to arrests of 15 questioning the suspect who will ment bungalow, to be occupied state to continue occupying gov- the accused feel safe. The top The state government was also Lawyer-activist Deepika Singh people. “The girl was alone at be tried in a fast-track court. during his/her lifetime, would ernment bungalows. court said it would monitor the asked to provide security to the Rajawat, who pleaded for the vic- India ‘only nation to have Drowning in plastic Brawl over songs talent surplus by 2030’ ends in murder IANS requests but refused when they New Delhi kept pestering him with their IANS Americas (Brazil, Mexico, US), America’s position well before demand for more Punjabi songs. Mumbai EMEA (France, Germany, the 2030 in the TMT sector,” said the Singh and his friends then Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Ara- fi rm. 30-year-old gym forcibly changed the songs after bia, South Africa, the UAE, the The study forecasts a talent owner, partying with snatching the DJ’s laptop from n increasing global tal- UK) and Asia Pacifi c (Australia, defi cit of 85mn workers by 2030 A friends, was stabbed to the counter, the police offi cer ent crisis is likely to cost China, Hong Kong, India, Indo- across the economies analysed death and his female friend hit said, citing preliminary probe Acountries $8.5tn by 2030. nesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singa- and the largest threat in the near on the head with a bottle al- fi ndings. India is the only major world pore and Thailand). term is faced by the US, Japan, legedly by a disc jockey after The DJ tried to take the laptop economy with a potential for tal- The model focuses on three France, Germany and Australia a quarrel over their persistent back but it fell to the fl oor. ent surplus, as per a study by a knowledge-intensive sectors with a combined opportunity demand to play only Punjabi The police offi cer said Singh global executive search fi rm. within each market that act as cost of $1.87tn by 2020. songs at a night club here, po- and his friends, under the infl u- India may even challenge critical drivers of global econom- However, the 245mn talent lice said yesterday. ence of alcohol, sparked a mas- America’s position in technol- ic growth: fi nancial and business surplus in India poses twin chal- The accused was arrested sive brawl. Three bouncers and ogy, media and telecommuni- services; TMT; and manufactur- lenge of employability and job from Sant Nagar in Burari when Deepak then started dragging cations (TMT) sector, said the ing. It also examines the remain- creation, the study noted. “If he was trying to escape to his Singh and his friends out of the ‘Global Talent Crunch’ study by der of each economy, said Korn left unchecked, the talent sur- native place in Uttarakhand. pub. Korn Ferry International Inc. Ferry. plus will add to our woes of job- The knife used in the crime was In the ensuing fight, Deepak “Left unchecked, the fi nancial The imminent skilled labour less growth and unemployment,” recovered from his possession, picked up a knife and in a fit of impact of this talent shortage shortage could ultimately shift said Bhavna Sud, client partner, police said. rage stabbed Vijaydeep Singh amounts to $8.5tn in unrealised the global balance of economic Korn Ferry India. The incident occurred around multiple times and smashed annual revenue globally over the power by 2030, if left unad- Sud said the companies across midnight when Vijaydeep Singh a bottle on the latter’s girl- next 12 years,” it pointed out. dressed, the study said, and the world need to re-think their was celebrating with friends at friend’s head when she tried to “Interestingly, the country added that technological ad- hiring and talent management the ‘Raftar’ Bar in Punjabi Bagh, rescue him, the police officer that’s at the other end of the vancement could be hindered processes. west Delhi. They were celebrat- added. spectrum is India. The world’s by an acute global labour short- “Hire for fi t and culture rather ing common friend Ishmeet’s Vijaydeep was taken to a hos- sixth largest economy is the only age of 4.3mn TMT workers by than skills because skills come birthday. pital where he was declared one in the study which will have 2030. with a shelf life now. Hire people “Singh and his friends asked brought dead. His girlfriend was a talent surplus by 2030, with “India will see a Level A high on agility and make contin- the DJ, Deepak, to play their fa- admitted to a hospital with head 245mn more workers in the next (highly skilled) TMT surplus of uous learning a part of your life. vourite Punjabi songs back to injury, the police offi cer said 12 years,” it said. 1.3mn workers by 2030, off er- Retain your best and show them A worker sorts out plastic bottles at a warehouse in back,” deputy commissioner of Ishmeet, meanwhile, in- The study covered 20 econo- ing yet more opportunities for a growth path,” she said, sharing Jalandhar yesterday. police Vijay Kumar said. formed the police but Deepak mies in three regions – the the nation. India could challenge some of the study’s suggestions. The DJ initially played their had fl ed the spot. Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 19 PAKISTAN Pakistan hosts meeting on UN’s anti-terror strategy

Internews According to diplomatic who attended the event, told this reviews the strategy every two Stressing on the need for de- there is need for a comprehensive good governance, human rights, Islamabad sources, 34 representatives of 15 news agency. years. veloping preventive approaches international framework to ad- development and rule of law at countries as well as UN offi cials In doing so, he said, Pakistan “The upcoming review of the to curb the spread of terrorism dress the ‘drivers of violent ex- the national level. exchanged views on the strat- had placed itself in a key posi- strategy – its sixth – will provide and violent extremism, she said tremism’ as well,” Lodhi said. “Drivers like foreign interfer- akistan organised a meet- egy at a working lunch hosted by tion by bringing together Russia, us an opportunity to review the that the phenomenon could best Evolving a comprehensive pre- ence and occupation, protracted ing last week of 15 coun- Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s per- China, India, Egypt, Iran as well evolving terrorism landscape, be understood and eff ective re- ventive approach, she said, is not confl icts, lack of rule of law at Ptries representing all re- manent representative to the UN. as other Organisation of Islamic give recommendations to ad- sponses evolved by understand- possible without assessing the the international level, political gions of the world ahead of next “Hosting a luncheon for a Co-operation (OIC) members dress emerging challenges and ing the conditions under which root causes of violent extremism. and economic marginalisation of month’s review of the UN’s cross-regional group on an im- and Latin American countries on threats, and propose measures to it thrives, and leads to terrorism. Lodhi said that an errone- migrant communities are among Counter-terrorism Strategy that portant and sensitive issue of one platform. be taken by Member States and “While we fully support the ous impression is being created the issues that are conspicuous is aimed at updating the docu- counter-terrorism refl ected Pa- The UN General Assembly, UN entities to fi ght terrorism,” idea of developing counter mes- about the preventive approach by their absence in this discus- ment to more eff ectively fi ght the kistan’s convening power in a which adopted the Global Coun- Lodhi said while welcoming her saging to address the issue of that violent extremism was ex- sion,” she told her colleagues at terrorist threat. multilateral setting,” a diplomat, ter-terrorism Strategy in 2006, guests at the luncheon. violent extremism, we believe clusively the product of lack of the luncheon.

Approval unlikely Political divisions widen for new education after attack on minister policy Reuters/AFP Internews Islamabad Islamabad

n assassination attempt fter four years of hard on a minister has deep- work, the Pakistan Mus- Aened divisions ahead of Alim League – Nawaz Pakistan’s coming elections, (PML-N) government is un- with an Islamist party denying likely to launch National Educa- involvement and an opposition tion Policy after facing multiple fi gure blaming it on fi ery rheto- hitches at the time when it was ric by the ousted premier. all set to announce it. A gunman on Sunday shot The federal ministry of educa- Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, tion was set to announce formal a senior member of the ruling launch of the country’s educa- Pakistan Muslim League – Na- This handout photograph released by the Punjab Press Information tion policy after 2009, but bu- waz (PML-N) and ally of ousted Department (PID) on Sunday shows injured Interior Minister Iqbal reaucratic hurdles got in the way, prime minister Nawaz Sharif, as being moved from a helicopter after he was air-lifted to Lahore. and now other formalities have he was leaving a constituency emerged. meeting in Punjab province. Tehreek-e-Labaik will not suc- Labaik was born out of a When asked about the poli- Iqbal was recovering in hos- ceed.” protest movement support- cy, Federal Education Minister pital from a bullet wound yes- Party leader Khadim Hussain ing Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard Baligh ur Rehman was unsure terday. Rizvi on Sunday condemned the of the governor of Punjab who about the launch date. Minister of State for Interior attack on Iqbal, and said that La- gunned down his boss in 2011 “I am optimistic that we will Aff airs Talal Chaudhry said Iqbal Police off icers stand guard outside a hospital where country Interior Minister Iqbal was moved to after baik was in an “unarmed strug- over his call to relax Pakistan’s do it by the end of our tenure,” was stable and in “high spirits”. he was shot on Sunday. gle to bring the Prophet’s reli- blasphemy laws. he said. Shafqat Waseem Chaudhry, gion to the throne”. The movement’s protests He added that there are several one of the fi ve-member medical to happen and these are down- son, such incidents will contin- Sunday’s attack heightened Police said a bullet hit Iqbal shut down the country’s capital issues involved in the matter and team responsible for him, told played,” he said. ue to occur.” the sense of unease in the run- in the right arm and entered his for three weeks last year over a “let’s hope for the best”. AFP yesterday that the minister Leaders from Pakistan’s main Pakistan’s Supreme Court up to the election, expected by groin. change to an electoral law which Rehman said after the com- was “stable” but will remain in opposition parties all con- disqualifi ed Sharif as prime late July. They named the shooter as it said amounted to blasphemy. pletion of the policy drafting, it the intensive care unit for two demned the assassination at- minister last July over a small Preliminary reports suggested Abid Hussain, 21, but have not The assassination attempt on will be shared with the federal days. tempt. source of unreported income Sunday’s attacker had links to offi cially reported any motive. Iqbal has stoked fears of a repeat cabinet for approval. Ziauddin Yousafzai, the fa- However, a prominent of- and he is currently on trial be- a new Islamist political party “Religious radicalism is in his of the pre-election violence by As per the schedule, the cabi- ther of Pakistani Nobel Peace fi cial of Imran Khan’s Pakistan fore an anti-corruption court, that campaigns on enforcing the background,” minister of state Islamists that blighted the last net meeting is held on every Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposi- though his party still holds a death penalty for blasphemy and Chaudhry said, adding that oth- two polls. Tuesday and there are only three “strongly condemned” the at- tion party said that Sharif had majority in parliament. replacing secular infl uence on ers had been arrested and police It has also fuelled speculation weeks left for this government, tack, tweeting that it was a “bad created the backdrop for the at- Sharif has denounced the government with strict sharia were investigating groups that that the election could yet be meaning there are three remain- omen for upcoming general tack at large rallies protesting his court ruling as a conspiracy led law. may have infl uenced the attack. delayed, though newspaper col- ing cabinet meetings. elections that is supposed to be removal by the Supreme Court by rival Khan, routinely gather- A local administrator’s initial “Such people, on an ideologi- umnist Cyril Almeida said that When asked whether or not free, fair and transparent”. last July. ing large crowds of his support- report on the attack, seen by Re- cal level, are prepared by others was unlikely. the policy will be presented be- Security analyst Amir Rana “We condemn it with full ers to voice his grievances. uters, said that the arrested gun- ... radicalism is not an individual “Barring something cata- fore the cabinet in the upcoming told AFP that the shooting of force. But the political climate is Sharif has portrayed Khan as man had “showed his affi liation” issue, it is a social problem,” he strophic, like the Benazir assas- meeting, he replied with a “no”. the minister nominally in charge being seriously aff ected by Na- a puppet of the powerful mili- to the Tehreek-e-Labaik party. said. sination which caused the 2008 In 2014, a 26-member advi- of security in a country that has waz’s wild accusations against tary establishment, which has a “We have got nothing to do Hussain appeared before the election to be briefl y postponed, sory council, comprising senior long grappled with militancy his opponents and creating ten- history of meddling in Pakistani with him,” Labaik spokesman anti-terror court in Gujranwala it appears elections will be held educationists and policymakers, was a “serious” development. sion and anger all over,” said politics. Ejaz Ashrafi said yesterday. “We city in Punjab province, where on time,” he told AFP, referring was established to revamp and “Pakistan claims that the Naeem ul Haq, chief of staff for Khan denies colluding with are unarmed. We are in an un- he was remanded into cus- to the killing of former prime implement the existing policy country has returned to normal- former cricket star Khan. “So if the army and the military denies armed struggle. tody for 10 days, police offi cial minister Benazir Bhutto in late from 2009. cy but such attacks continues Nawaz continues to utter poi- interfering in politics. “Those conspiring against Chaudhry Tariq told AFP. 2007. A rough draft of the policy was fi nalised in October 2016 but af- ter receiving feedback from re- lated bureaucrats and provinces, Predators it remained just a draft. One of the senior members Punjab all set to off er facility to of the council, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, ex- pressed disappointment over customise vehicle numberplates “all the hard work going down the drain”. “We were sitting the other Internews after a formal consent by the with a base-price defi ned in ac- day with other members of the Islamabad National Bank of Pakistan to cordance with the category. committee and were totally de- receive online fees for the num- A vendor fi rm qualifi ed jected over the situation that has berplates. through the tendering process emerged after such hard work,” he Punjab excise depart- Previously, people would af- is now working in liaison with a he said. ment is fi nally launching fi x customised numberplates on German company which man- According to another mem- Tthe customised (person- their vehicles without any legal ufactures security-featured ber of the committee, Punjab alised) numberplates in a fort- authorisation. numberplates. has turned out to be a hard nut night, opening a new source of The upcoming V-plates The initiative aims to provide to crack, refusing to co-operate revenue for the provincial gov- would be divided into fi ve cat- citizens a platform to customise with the federal education min- ernment. egories –platinum, gold, silver, their numberplates legally. istry about education policy. The concept was introduced bronze and motorcycle. Offi cials said the provincial Punjab has been to date refus- last year. Citizens wishing to avail the government would get 67% of A black kite flies past a cat to catch a piece of meat, left by people who believe feeding birds and ing to give its feedback about the Offi cials said yesterday that customised number plate will proceeds from the sale of V- other animals brings good luck, along a road in Karachi. policy, while the rest of provinc- the initiative would be launched take part in a bidding process plate. es have already submitted theirs. Names for caretaker government set-up to be kept under wraps

Internews their respective nominees for the and that the names, if they come parties to reach a consensus due offi ces of caretaker PM and chief And yesterday Qureshi, who set-up could also come under Islamabad offi ce of caretaker prime minis- under discussion, would not be to unnecessary comments and ministers in three provinces to is the PTI vice-chairman, con- discussion. ter till the last moment, in order disclosed to the media. criticism on the names of the the media last month. fi rmed that the party had not yet When contacted, PTI informa- to avoid “controversies” over the “Exactly, it is so” was Shah’s candidates after these are circu- Its nominees for the caretaker fi nalised the names for the care- tion secretary Fawad Chaudhry he government of Pakistan names. response when asked if this was lated in the media. prime minister were former chief taker set-up. criticised the government and and the opposition Paki- The prime minister and the an intentional move to delay the Citing an example, Shah said justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Qureshi, who was an active the PPP for keeping the discus- Tstan Peoples Party (PPP) opposition leader had already discussions and keep the names that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-In- Hussain Jillani, businessman Ab- member of the PPP before join- sion on the caretaker set-up “se- have reached an understanding conducted two or three formal secret. saf (PTI) had recently leaked the dur Razzaq Dawood, and econo- ing the PTI in November 2011, cret”. to delay announcing the pos- meetings on the issue, but each He said he had also requested names of its candidates through mist Ishrat Hussain. said that Shah was justifi ed in “We are not appointing atom- sible members of the caretaker time they claimed before the me- his party’s leadership to have a the media, which became con- Shah then declared that he did his displeasure as the latter had ic scientists. This is a political government and to keep their dia that they had not discussed or discussion on the issue only at troversial when the media asso- not feel it necessary now to hold been consulting him on the issue course. Why do the PPP and the discussions under wraps as long exchanged the names so far. the last moment, claiming that ciated them with former military further consultations with the of caretaker set-up in good faith. PML-N want to keep the names as possible to avoid unnecessary Yesterday Shah said that he even the PPP had not yet fi nalised dictator General Pervez Mushar- PTI since it had already leaked He said the names were under secret?” he asked, adding that debate in the media on the issue. might meet the prime minister the names of possible candidates raf. the names of its nominees to the discussion but someone had pro- the media had every right to Sources said that Prime Min- in the next two or three days for for the post of caretaker prime He said he had asked PTI par- media. vided them to the media “only to discuss the pros and cons of the ister Shahid Khagan Abbasi and another round of consultations minister. liamentary leader Shah Meh- The PTI later released an of- prove himself a well-informed candidates. Leader of the Opposition in the on the issue. “You see, there are people in mood Qureshi to give him the fi cial handout stating that the person” in the party. He said that even PTI chair- National Assembly Syed Khur- He confi rmed that he had the parties who leak informa- party’s names in a sealed enve- party had not offi cially released The PTI leader said he would man Imran Khan is of the view sheed Ahmed Shah had in their reached an understanding with tion to appease their friends in lope. the names to the media and that meet Shah to discuss a strategy that there should be a public de- fi rst meeting agreed that they Abbasi that they would exchange the media,” he said, adding that However, the PTI had released the party was still discussing the for the ongoing budget session, bate on the names of candidates would not disclose the names of the names in their last meeting it always became diffi cult for the the names of its nominees for the matter. adding that the issue of caretaker for the caretaker set-up. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 PHILIPPINES

Many poll candidates ‘linked to illegal drugs’

By Leander C Domingo Manila Times

locos Norte police confi rmed that at least 39 candidates Ifor the Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections on May 14 have derogatory records and several are involved in illegal drug activities. Supt. Marlon Paiste, Police Regional Offi ce 1 (PRO1) public information chief, said they will release a list of those candidates – among them pushers, users and protectors – after validation of reports is completed. Paiste said the names of the 39 candidates with their corre- sponding photos will be posted in diff erent municipalities in the province before election day. He added that they will fi le administrative cases against them and have advised them to withdraw their candidacies, if they are not at all serious about (From left) Philippine military exercise director Lieutenant General Emmanuel Salamat, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine military chief, General Carlito being in public service but will Galvez, and US military exercise director Lieutenant General Lawrence Nicholson raise arms during the opening ceremony of the joint US-Philippines military exercise opening ceremony in Manila, yesterday. only use their positions for pro- tection and infl uence. In Vigan City, Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, PRO1 director, has reportedly criticised several barangay offi cials running for re-election who are allegedly in- volved in illegal drugs. Sapitula said these offi cials are acting like they are innocent but US-Philippine war games are known to the public to have been involved in illegal drugs. Meanwhile, authorities are monitoring at least 105 barangay offi cials linked to illegal drugs by the Philippine Drug Enforce- ment Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas. PDEA regional director launched under Duterte Wardley Getalia said of the total number of offi cials linked to the AFP peting claims to the waters in very little to do with recent de- need to improve the capabilities ral disasters.This year’s ter- rawi’s urban battleground after illegal drug trade, 10 are village Manila order to court Chinese trade and velopments in the area,” said of Filipino forces to fi ght ter- ror focus comes after Islamic decades fi ghting low-intensity chairmen and 95 are kagawad investment. Nicholson, the US director of rorism. Duterte’s predecessor, State group supporters seized rural-based communist and (councilmen). The 12-day exercises began the “Balikatan” (“shoulder-to- Benigno Aquino, had used the the southern Philippine city other insurgencies. In Negros Occidental, three he US and Philippine less than a week after US net- shoulder”) manoeuvres. exercises to boost the Philippine of Marawi in May last year, Most of the 5,000 Filipino barangay chairmen are on the list militaries launched ma- work CNBC reported that the The South China Sea issue military’s capability to deter triggering a five-month bat- troops and 3,000 US counter- and 21 councilmen, including two Tjor exercises yesterday Chinese military had over the has been brewing for years, with China, which claims most of the tle with US-backed Filipino parts taking part in the ma- kagawad in Bacolod City – one al- aimed at fi ghting global terror- past month installed anti-ship Vietnam, Malaysia and oth- South China Sea. troops that killed some 1,200 noeuvres are from special op- legedly a protector and another a ism, while staying mostly quiet and air-to-air defences on is- ers also staking claims to wa- However, Duterte refocused people. erations units who will train in user. Iloilo province has the most on Beijing’s reported installa- lands also claimed by the Phil- ters with vital global shipping the joint exercises after he was “This is focusing mostly on mock urban terrain to respond number of village offi cials linked tion of missiles in the disputed ippines. routes and what are believed to elected in 2016, steering them countering terrorism...that will to “crises and calamities, either to illegal drugs with 33; Antique, South China Sea. “This exercise was scheduled be signifi cant oil and natural gas towards addressing domestic allow us to respond to a similar natural or man-made”, Salamat 25; and Negros Occidental, 24. The annual manoeuvres are whether those missiles were deposits. problems. scenario in the future,” Salamat said. Getalia said that if the allega- the second to be held under there or not,” US Lieutenant Nicholson’s Filipino counter- Last year Balikatan fo- said. The US and Australia have Australia and Japan are also tions are proven, administrative Philippine President Rodrigo General Lawrence Nicholson part, Lieutenant-General Em- cused mainly on honing hu- pledged to provide more train- sending a total of 42 mili- charges will be fi led against the Duterte, who has set aside long- told reporters in Manila. manuel Salamat, sidestepped manitarian responses to the ing and assistance to Filipino tary observers to Balikatan, he offi cials before the Offi ce of the simmering friction over com- “The exercises really have the issue while highlighting the Philippines’ frequent natu- troops, who struggled in Ma- added. President.

Deploy Malacanang assures legal investigation into President to take decision attaches ‘to PhilHealth controversy on Teo’s fate in Cabinet aid OFWs’ By Catherine S Valente instead stayed in hotels near Manila Times Manila Times the offi ce on Shaw Boulevard Manila in Pasig City. By Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino State auditors at PhilHealth Manila Times alacanang yesterday have also asked de la Serna to he move of Tourism assured the public explain her receipt of allow- Secretary Wanda Tulfo- Mthat President Rod- ances and per diem, which TTeo’s family to return the alenzuela City fi rst dis- rigo Duterte would look into would amount to almost a P60mn in payment for tourism trict Rep. Wes Gatchalian the controversy surrounding million pesos, including travel advertisements will not infl u- Vrenewed his call for the state-run Philippine Health expenses. ence President Rodrigo Du- immediate deployment of legal Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), The expense came amid a terte’s decision on her fate in attaches in countries hosting saying the chief executive’s massive net loss of PhilHealth the Cabinet, Malacanang said huge numbers of overseas Fili- priority was to clean up of amounting to P8.92bn, ac- yesterday. pino workers (OFWs). ranks of the agency. cording to its 2017 unaudited Special Assistant to the Pres- He renewed the call after the Palace spokesman Harry fi nancial statement posted on- ident Christopher Lawrence controversial rescue of dis- Roque Jr made the state- line. Based on PhilHealth’s own “Bong” Go sent to reporters a tressed Filipino workers in Ku- ment after PhilHealth offi cer numbers, this was 3,446.5% photo of Teo shaking the presi- wait that prompted the Kuwaiti in charge (OIC) Celestina Ma higher than the restated 2016 dent’s hand before the regu- government to expel the Philip- Jude de la Serna pleaded with net loss of P251.5mn. lar Cabinet meeting yesterday pine ambassador. Duterte to hear her side fol- In a radio interview, de la evening. “Protecting our OFWs in for- lowing a government audit re- Serna defended herself and Palace spokesman Harry eign countries is primarily a legal port questioning her excessive appealed to Duterte to listen to Roque Jr said the issue was problem. As much as we want to travels. her side of the story fi rst amid whether or not Teo would keep protect our citizens, we have to “I know the president will outrage over her travels. her post following reports Du- do so in a manner that is mind- investigate it because his pri- “If somebody from Malaca- terte had been told of the Tour- Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo shakes hands with President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of yesterday’s ful of the sovereign rights and ority is to provide universal nang is watching, I am waiting ism chief’s resignation. Cabinet meeting. prerogatives of our foreign part- healthcare. And if he cannot for the president to call me or “(The issue), as far as the ners,” Gatchalian said. clean up the ranks of Phil- if I can set an appointment president is concerned, its on her brothers’ show, “Kilos the P60mn they had received Unlimited would return the “Our actions should therefore Health, universal healthcare with him, at least hear my side. whether or not Teo will stay. Pronto.” from the DoT for ad place- P60mn paid to it. always be adherent with their do- will not be realised,” Roque I only work within the three And all this will have no impact The show, produced by Bit- ments. “The best option still is for mestic laws as well as our treaty said during a news conference. orders of the president,” de la on the decision of the presi- ag Media Unlimited Inc, is a “Even though (they) no long- Secretary Teo to resign so she obligations. It is in this context “The matter will be, I think Serna told dzMM radio over dent,” Roque said. block-timer in the government er have the P60mn and it has won’t force the hand of President that I am renewing my call for the like all controversies, inves- the weekend. On whether or not the Om- station. Teo said her depart- been spent, they will look for a Duterte to axe her,” Villarin said. immediate deployment of legal tigated and everyone will be De la Serna said the three budsman will charge the parties ment never placed any ads on way and off er to return up to the ACT Teachers party-list Rep. attaches to provide expert and heard,” the Palace offi cial added. orders were to fi ght drugs and involved in the controversial her brothers’ show, explaining last centavo whatever was paid Antonio Tinio echoed this, say- competent legal advice not only to The Commission on Audit criminality, curb corruption, multi-million ad placement that the DoT’s deal was with to them,” Topacio told radio ing returning the money “will our OFWs but also to our offi cials (CoA), in an audit observation and serve the poor. deal, Roque said it would be up PTNI. It was PTNI that decided station dzMM. not eff ace the accountability of abroad,” he said. memorandum dated April 18, Senate health committee to the anti-graft body. to place the ads on Kilos Pronto. The tourism chief’s hus- Secretary Teo for the improper Gatchalian said he is “very said de la Serna spent at least chairman Sen. Joseph Victor “That’s up to the Ombuds- Teo’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topa- band, Roberto, will also resign transaction. She should still re- pleased” that Filipino workers in P627,293.04 in government Ejercito has called on Duterte man. That’s beyond the powers cio, claimed that even the Com- as board member of the Tour- sign.” Kuwait were saved from further funds for her accommodation, to sack de la Serna and appoint of the president,” the Palace of- mission on Audit (CoA) did not ism Infrastructure and Enter- Anakpawis party-list Rep. harm. fl ights to and from Tagbila- a new chief, criticising her fi cial said. fi nd anything wrong with the prise Zone Authority, an offi ce Ariel Casilao also called for “But I am concerned over the ran, and terminal fees since “callousness.” Critics accused Teo of con- deal. under the Tourism chief, amid Teo’s resignation. reports that our diplomatic offi - she was appointed OIC of the Acting PhilHealth sen- fl ict of interest after P60mn According to him, the CoA criticism of nepotism on social Casilao said the return of the cials committed unlawful acts in agency on April 10, 2017. ior vice president Isra- worth of advertising con- was merely asking for docu- media. money was “an admission of doing so. This is something which It was found that de la Ser- el Francis Pargas has said tracted by the Department of ments related to the advertising Teo should still resign, Ak- confl ict of interest, thus, in the I believe we should and could na, despite being assigned to the agency had submit- Tourism (DoT) with People’s contract. bayan Party-list Rep. Tomas spirit of delicadeza (prudence), avoid for otherwise our good in- the PhilHealth central offi ce, ted its response to the CoA Television Network Inc. (PTNI) Yesterday, Topacio said Villarin said, even after it was the embattled cabinet secretary tentions are immediately tainted.” did not reside in Manila. She observation memorandum. was placed by the network Teo’s brothers would return announced that Bitag Media should resign.” Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Phone app Lankan president not aims to end to retire at end of term child marriage AFP will not retire. There is so much to impeach the prime minister. in a thinly veiled reference to Colombo work to be done.” There was no immediate re- the former regime of Mahinda in Bangladesh The remarks at a rally in the sponse from the UNP to Sirise- Rajapakse. country’s east ended speculation na’s announcement, seen as a Former president Rajapakse ri Lanka’s president an- about the 66-year-old’s politi- de facto declaration of his can- put down the Tamil separatist By Annie Banerji, Thomson fl ine text messaging ver- nounced yesterday he will cal future, and could escalate a didacy despite a promise in his struggle in May 2009 through a Reuters Foundation sion for rural areas, gives the Snot retire at the end of his clash with Prime Minister Ranil 2015 manifesto to be a one-term military assault which sparked London user access to a database that term despite a previous pledge, Wickremesinghe. president. allegations that up to 40,000 stores a unique identifi cation and said he will seek to form Relations between Sirise- Sirisena said yesterday he ethnic Tamil civilians were killed number linked to the three a new government excluding na’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party wanted to unveil a new plan for by troops. new phone app could documents. politicians who have committed (SLFP) and Wickremesin- the country. Sirisena had pledged to ensure be a “game-changer” When one of the numbers is murder. ghe’s United National Party Maithripala Sirisena: “I will not “For this new programme that accountability for war atrocities, Ain the fi ght against entered, it shows “proceed” if Maithripala Sirisena told a (UNP) have soured since both retire. There is so much work to I will unveil soon I don’t need but has faced international criti- child marriage in Bangla- the person is of legal age and a public rally in the former war suff ered humiliating losses be done.” the support of politicians who cism for being slow to deliver on desh, where more than half red “warning!” if not. zone of Batticaloa that he had in February’s local council have committed murder, those accountability as well as ethnic of all girls are married before All marriages in Bangla- unfi nished business to attend to elections. didate at the next presidential who are corrupt or have robbed reconciliation. they are 18, children’s char- desh must be legally registered and he no longer intends to retire Speculation that Sirisena election, due by late 2019. public money,” he said. The SLFP is split between ity Plan International said within 30 days of the ceremo- in 2020 when his fi ve-year term would run again had compound- The row deepened when the “I ask how many political Sirisena and Rajapakse, but yesterday. ny, but many are not. fi nishes. ed problems between the parties UNP, the senior partner in the leaders are in the country who members of the faction loy- The impoverished South A hard copy of a birth cer- “There are many who ask if as Wickremesinghe has sig- coalition, accused Sirisena of have not committed murder al to Rajapakse sit with the Asian nation has one of the tifi cate, school leaving docu- I will retire in 2020,” he said. “I nalled his intention to be a can- supporting last month’s failed bid or robbed the people,” he said, opposition in parliament. world’s highest rates of child ment or national identity card marriage, according to Unicef, works as age proof, but often despite laws that ban girls un- parents who want to marry der 18 and men under 21 from off their children often forge marrying. them. Lankan workers rally The mobile app being The charity is training 3 killed by rolled out by Plan and the 100,000 offi ciants about the Bangladesh government ill eff ects of child marriage and aims to prevent it by allow- how to use the app, which it lightning ing matchmakers, priests hopes to roll out nationally by and offi cers who register August. marriages to verify the bride “I believe this app will help strikes in and groom’s ages through a us achieve the commitment by digital database. our honourable prime minis- “If we could get the people ter to eliminate child marriage Nepal involved in the initial stages before 2041,” Muhammad Ab- of marriage on side as well, dul Halim, a director general then there would be no one to at the prime minister’s offi ce, DPA solemnise, no one to register told the Thomson Reuters Kathmandu and no one to arrange a mar- Foundation. riage for a child,” said Sou- However, Supreme Court mya Guha, a director at Plan lawyer Sara Hossain said hree people including two Bangladesh. more needed to be done to members of the same fam- “The app could be the educate girls about their Tily were killed by lightning game-changer that we need,” right to consent and plug strikes in south-eastern Nepal, he said, adding that it stopped legal loopholes. police offi cials said yesterday. 3,750 underage marriages dur- “People might just avoid the The fatalities occurred late ing a six-month trial. registration because it is not Sunday in Makwanpur district in Campaigners say girls who required for validity of mar- south-eastern Nepal, said Dilip marry young often drop out riage and there is only a minor Jha, a senior police offi cer. of school and face a greater penalty for not registering. It’s A 30-year-old man and his risk of rape, domestic abuse not a big thing,” Hossain said. two-year-old daughter were and forced pregnancies, “We would be mistaken killed at their home in Manahari which may put their lives in to think that something like village, he said. People march with the placards during the People’s Liberation Front party May Day rally in Colombo yesterday. danger. this will be a magic bullet A 60-year-old man was also The app, which has an of- solution.” killed by a lightning strike in the district on Sunday. Lightning strikes and fl oods are two leading causes of death during monsoon season in Nepal, which runs from May to August. Bangladesh signs Five people, including four S Asian leaders discuss ways to members of a family, were found dead on Sunday in a remote part deal for coal-based of western Nepal. They had been swept away by a swollen river while crossing it, power plant tackle learning crisis in region local media reported. Reuters production, the offi cial said. Dhaka Another offi cial, who is IANS Inaugurating the confer- “Our priority to the develop- mum learning standards. We directly involved with the Kathmandu ence, Nepali Prime Minister ment of children and expanding need much greater investment project, said that as per the K P Sharma Oli said that de- their education opportunities and increased quality educa- he state-run Bangla- initial plan it might cost about livery of education to millions is in harmony with the interna- tion for girls and boys alike if we Japanese desh Power Develop- $2bn to implement the project. outh Asian leaders yes- of children and youth in South tional obligations to which we hope to see the next generation Tment Board (BPDB) and Bangladesh plans to provide terday gathered in Nepal Asia is a matter of great im- are fully committed to imple- reach their full potential,” Jean China Huadian Hongkong electricity to all of its more than Sto tackle the learning cri- portance for all the countries ment,” the prime minister said. Gough, regional director for climber Company Limited (CHDHK) 160mn citizen by 2021, the year in sis across the region by discuss- in the region. According to Unicef, many Unicef South Asia said. have signed an agreement to which it aims to enter the league ing ways to accelerate progress “We should deliver such ed- countries in South Asia have Only 69% of children have form a joint venture company of middle-income countries. towards giving all children the ucation that shapes the mind prioritised education and have access to early childhood edu- dies on to set up a coal-based power At present, 20% of its peo- opportunity to go to school and and rekindles human spirit. achieved commendable gains cation and only a quarter of plant with a capacity of 1,320 ple do not have electricity receive a quality education. Education not only makes an in getting children into school, young people leave school with megawatts, a senior BPDB of- while the country is facing a Ministers, senior govern- individual a better person but but signifi cant challenges re- the secondary skills they need. mountain fi cial said yesterday. shortage of between 1,000 and ment offi cials, international also contributes to the goal main. The growing skills gap will “These two fi rms signed the 1,500 megawatt electricity a education experts, develop- of nation building and re- The region is currently home stunt economic growth, with deal on Sunday to set up the day which goes up to 2,000 ment partners and civil society gion-building,” Oli said in his to more than 10mn out-of- far-reaching social and politi- near plant at Moheshkhali island during peak season of summer. are in Kathmandu to partici- speech. school children who should be cal repercussions. in Cox’s Bazar district, 415km Bangladesh at present pro- pate in a three-day conference In context of Nepal, the able to attend primary level and “Unless urgent action is (260 miles) southeast from duces up to 9,500 of electricity ‘Delivering the Learning Gen- prime minister said that the 20mn out-of-school children taken, the region will fall short Everest Dhaka,” said Mohammad Saiful a day with a capacity of 12,000 eration in South Asia: Regional constitution of Nepal has guar- at secondary level. of meeting the Education Sus- Islam, a director of the BPDB. megawatts, but owing to the Conference on the Delivery anteed the right to get compul- “We have a learning crisis tainable Development Goal 4 The joint venture, equally shortage of primary fuel the Approach’ jointly organised by sory education at the basic level in South Asia with only about on education and learning for DPA owned by both the companies, country has not been able to Unicef and the Education Com- and free education up to the half of primary-aged children millions of children and youth Kathmandu will take four years to start utilise its full capacity. mission. secondary level. receiving education with mini- by 2030,” Unicef said.

42-year-old Japanese climber died at the Aweekend after trying to climb Lobuche mountain near Nepal aims to promote heritage cuisine in global kitchens Mount Everest, the second fatality of the spring climb- ing season, local police said IANS and Bar Association of Nepal. knows about how important yesterday. Kathmandu With the help of the booklet Nepali food is, which is never Takahiro Kuga reached Ever- and videos, Nepal also aims to boring and tasteless. est base camp late last month position itself in the interna- Deepak Joshi, head of Nepal and was climbing Lobuche, n a bid to promote Nepali tional market as a global food Tourism Board, said, “There are a smaller mountain near Ev- signature heritage cuisine and gastronomy destination. many aspects through which erest, said Pradhumna Ku- Iin global market, Nepal “We need to promote Nepali the world knows us like brave- mar Adhikari, a local police launched cook book and videos food within the country fi rst so ness, friendliness and hap- inspector. under the campaign “Globalis- that the foreign tourists visiting piness of Nepali people. But “Altitude sickness could be ing Nepal Heritage Cuisine” Nepal will taste it and later pro- they need to know that this all the cause of his death. On Sat- yesterday. mote in their respective coun- is because of our healthy and urday, he was airlifted to Lukla Amid a special programme tries. It’s all about mixing food hygienic food.” from the mountain. He died at a including cuisine display and and tourism together,” Rabindra Stating that food is all about local hospital,” he said. tasting in Kathmandu, Nepali Adhikari said in the event. emotions and sentiments, con- Yesterday, the climber’s body Minister for Culture, Tourism Adhikari noted that the cam- Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari, centre, launches the Cook Book on vener of the campaign Karna was fl own to Kathmandu for an and Civil Aviation Rabindra paign will be helpful to attract Nepal Heritage Cuisine in Kathmandu yesterday. Shakya said that since Nepal is autopsy. Adhikari launched the book more foreign tourists to the rich in food varieties, “We need Hundreds of climbers at- and videos that feature Nepali Himalayan country considering out of around 200 dishes found and ingredients, among others. appetiser, main dish, dessert, to tap this opportunity to intro- tempt to climb Everest and other recipe including information the “Visit Nepal Year 2020.” in the local households and The signature dishes also sauce and spices. The foods duce our food and link it with Himalayan peaks during the sea- on all ingredients and cooking In the fi rst phase, the cam- restaurants across the country. went through calorie and nutri- have been given typical local tourism.” son, which runs between April methods. paign has highlighted 30 herit- The cuisines were selected on tion mapping as per names while the recipe includes Meanwhile, Nepal started and May. The move is a joint initiation age dishes representing region, the basis of suggestions by food international food practices. authenticity and richness of promoting the recipes online Last week an Italian climber of Nepal Tourism Board, Hotel culture, festivals and ethnic experts considering used raw The heritage cuisines being heritage. via offi cial websites and social died while climbing Dhaulagiri, Association Nepal, Chefs Asso- diversity of the country. materials like spices or season- promoted are categorised into According to tourism experts, media to popularise the taste an 8,167m peak in Nepal. ciation of Nepal and Restaurant These dishes were selected ings, ethnic fl avours, colours diff erent sections like soup, it is the high time that the world worldwide yesterday. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Why French rail battle is swinging in Macron’s favour

A month ago, President Emmanuel Macron was facing his 08-05-2018 biggest showdown with France’s trade unions. It was to be his “Thatcher moment,” some observers predicted, recalling a make-or-break time for Britain’s prime minister in the 1980s. By taking on reforms of the debt-laden SNCF railways, Macron has thrown down the gauntlet to one of the strongest bastions of French trade unionism — the same way Thatcher did with mining unions in 1984. On April 3 rail workers launched the longest strike sequence ever for the network: stoppages every two days out Blackwater’s ‘dark of fi ve until June 28. Analysts agreed that if Macron backed down as a result, the 40-year-old centrist could kiss goodbye to further ambitious reforms of the civil service and pensions. CGT union chief Philippe Martinez said last week that as with every strike movement, “there are highs and lows”. prince’ returns “But it has settled at a high level,” he insisted. As the disruption enters its sixth week, however, there mid reports that special not in Prince’s nature to slow down, Trump, a president famously obsessed seem more lows to worry about than highs for Martinez, counsel Robert Mueller much less concede defeat, and he with loyalty. He donated $250,000 to with momentum clearly in Macron’s favour. had taken an interest in quietly took his gambits off shore. He entities supporting Trump’s candidacy Having prevailed in his fi rst clash with the CGT last Ahis activities, Erik Prince moved to Abu Dhabi in 2010, where, even when he looked like a general- decided to host a fundraiser. On March he says, he worked on his energy- election long shot and unoffi cially October over changes to labour law, Macron appears to have 18, more than 100 people fl ocked to and-mining investment fi rm, Frontier shilled for the campaign. “If you the upper hand. Prince’s sprawling farm in Middleburg, Resource Group. But according to a New actually want to change things, and take Public opinion Virginia, for an afternoon of pistol York Times report he was also helping power away from a centralised, bloated Rail users have remains broadly behind shooting in support of Putin’s favourite assemble a “secret army” for the UAE. and elite-serving government, vote for government plans to congressman, Dana Rohrabacher, (His spokesman denies the story.) Donald Trump,” he told the alt-right managed to adapt who the FBI reportedly found had his At the same time, he zigzagged provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos in a remove job-for-life own Kremlin code name. As the day around the globe on similar projects. podcast interview. “It’s a pretty clear to the regular privileges for new recruits progressed, the group headed to the Using Emirati funding, he helped create choice.” on the railways and to turn barn, where, over sandwiches, they Erik Prince: Blackwater “was the perfect an antipiracy force in Somalia in 2010. The trust is allegedly mutual. Prince the organisation into a heard from Oliver North, the central bogeyman for them to make up”. “I was The outfi t targeted criminals on land travelled to the Seychelles prior to the strike pattern fi gure in the 1980s Iran-Contra scandal, rather than waiting for them to attack inauguration, according to a Washington public company. a sole owner, my guys carried weapons and Matt Gaetz, a member of the [and] I came from a conservative boats, “the way the US or Nato or the EU Post report, to meet a “Russian close The government’s argument that SNCF benefi ts are House who’s big on Deep State “cabal” family.” was trying to do it,” he says. “If you have to President Vladimir Putin.” The too generous appears to resonate, while Macron has conspiracy theories. a wasp problem, you deal with the nest.” purported goal: arranging a “back Even among this motley bunch, channel” between the Kremlin and the repeatedly denied claims from the CGT that he is preparing a in 1995, the family quickly sold Prince To Prince, that endeavour off ers Prince has enough notoriety to trump incoming administration. The Post Corporation’s automotive unit to proof of concept for his Afghanistan privatisation by stealth. them all. The founder of Blackwater — recently reported that George Nader, an Johnson Controls for $1.35bn. Erik, then privatisation proposal. “It worked,” he An Ifop poll published on Sunday showed 56% believe the the military contractor infamous for adviser to the UAE who reputedly helped 26, walked away with at least $50mn. says. “Have you heard of Somali piracy the 2007 massacre in Iraq in which a arrange the summit, confi rmed the strikes are “not justifi ed”, in line with other surveys since April. Around the same time, he left the SEALs anytime recently? And that programme convoy of his mercenaries gunned down meeting to a grand jury. “That’s the big diff erence compared to 1995 when the French when his fi rst wife, Joan, was diagnosed cost less than the pirates were taking in 14 unarmed civilians — he’s kept a lower Prince had previously testifi ed to the with breast cancer. (She died in 2003.) ransom.” But a 2012 UN report called the were for the reforms at the beginning but then got behind the profi le since he sold the company in House Intelligence Committee that the Flush and underemployed, Prince project “the most brazen violation of strikers,” veteran political commentator Alain Duhamel said 2010. But that doesn’t mean he’s been Seychelles encounter was a coincidence. used a piece of his inheritance to build the [Somali] arms embargo by a private idle. Since then, he’s pursued projects He said he was there to talk business recently, referring to massive stoppages 23 years ago. a training centre for special forces in security company.” Others say Prince across the globe, from the United Arab with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, The number of staff joining the strikes has also fallen Moyock, North Carolina, which he deserves little credit for the pirates’ Emirates to Somalia to Hong Kong. Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. After called Blackwater, after the region’s demise. “It was ultimately the intensity progressively. But as the Rohrabacher event a discussion focused on terrorism murky swamps. A series of domestic of international naval patrolling, Some 57% of train drivers took part in the seventh round underscores, the so-called “Merchant of and mining, a member of the Emirati tragedies fuelled the business’ ascent. combined with the defences that Death” again feels comfortable fl exing entourage suggested he meet “an on Thursday and about 63% on Friday morning, down from The shooting at Columbine High School ships developed,” says Vanda Felbab- his domestic muscles. The Trump interesting guy from Russia” who, like 77% at the start. brought police contracts. The USS Brown, senior fellow at the Brookings administration “inherited a world on Prince, did “business in the commodity Cole bombing beckoned the United Institution. This has allowed SNCF managers to keep more trains fi re,” Prince says. “And I think some space.” Did he contribute to or know States Navy. And after 9/11, Blackwater Prince next shifted to Asia. In 2014 running: half of high-speed TGVs ran during last week’s out-of-the-box thinking can help put about any sort of Trump-Russia became the Pentagon’s mercenary he cofounded Frontier Services Group, strikes, up from one in eight at the start. those fi res out.” collusion? “Zero.” army of choice in Afghanistan and Iraq. a logistics and security business Following a decade in the wilderness, Prince stands by his testimony, Rail users have managed to adapt to the regular strike Through 2006, Prince’s fi rm generated that trades on the Hong Kong stock Prince has the White House access according to his spokesman. pattern. $1bn in government work. exchange. that will allow him to spread those The Seychelles blowback likely But as public support for the confl icts By all appearances, FSG is an Real-time information on phone apps, car-sharing and ideas. He spent $250,000 to help get eliminated any thought of a primary waned, things began to unravel. Tension incredibly dry business. “We deliver remote working arrangements have helped many workers Trump elected; his sister Betsy DeVos race that Prince had been considering boiled over in September 2007, when groceries,” Prince told students at now serves as Trump’s secretary of against Senator John Barrasso of avoid problems or organise their travel on non-strike days. a convoy of Blackwater contractors Oxford last April. Intuitively, that education; and when Prince pitched a Wyoming (his family owns real A BVA poll on April 25 found that for 74% of respondents, shot 31 people in Iraq’s Nisur Square, makes little sense. The muckraking plan to privatise the war in Afghanistan estate there). No matter. The recent killing 14. The contractors said they had site The Intercept, cofounded by a the stoppages had no impact on their personal life. last year, the White House took him White House shakeup has buoyed the been ambushed; Justice Department longtime Prince critic, journalist “The strike design might have seemed innovative, but in seriously. “He actually had the most prospects for his Afghanistan plan, prosecutors thought otherwise. One Jeremy Scahill, reported that he was cogent argument, much more than which Prince claims had momentum the medium term it looks like it has gradually boomeranged,” Blackwater guard pleaded guilty to secretly planning to build armed the guys who were ‘stay the course,’” last year. “If it was not for the debacle Dominique Andolfatto, a specialist in trade unions at the manslaughter, three others were also aircraft in Europe, may have worked Trump’s former chief strategist Steve of Charlottesville,” he says, “and the convicted of manslaughter and one with Chinese intelligence and was University of Bourgogne, said. Bannon tells Forbes. lady that got killed and all the political of fi rst-degree murder in 2014. (The under investigation for “attempting The rail strike has not spurred the wider, more powerful One major impediment to his blowback that fell on the president... murder conviction was vacated last to broker military services to foreign privatisation concept was national I’m almost sure he would not have made movement against the government to defend public services, August; prosecutors have appealed to governments.” Prince again denies the security adviser HR McMaster, a the decision [against it] today.” which CGT leader Martinez has consistently called for. the Supreme Court for a retrial.) The allegations, terming them “fantasy.” lieutenant general and war scholar McMaster’s departure removes He had raised the idea of a re-run of the epic 1968 anti- event — hardly Blackwater’s fi rst deadly Either way, Prince’s years in exile adamantly opposed to the idea of one obstacle, though top military incident — was viewed in much of the demonstrate one underlying fact: government protests by students as well as workers, who replacing American soldiers with brass and think-tank eggheads revile world as an indiscriminate massacre. Blackwater was only the start for this launched a general strike in their millions which paralysed mercenaries. Nor did the Prince plan the idea. Pompeo could be the wild Prince was summoned to Congress young, ambitious tycoon. And the seem to fi t the worldview of then- card. The secretary of state travelled France. for questioning. Government offi cials, current political climate gives him secretary of state Rex Tillerson. But to Afghanistan last year in part to But although there have been several mass protests and a many of whom had sanctioned a window to get back in the game in now that McMaster will be replaced evaluate Prince’s ideas, according to Blackwater’s aggressive tactics — even if America. handful of French universities occupied in recent months, by neocon favourite John Bolton, and the Financial Times. He also pitched an tacitly — condemned him. Prince thinks On a dewy morning in Washington, neither students nor other public sector workers have Tillerson with CIA director Mike Afghanistan proposal at Camp David in he was singled out unfairly. Blackwater DC, last year, Erik Prince shared the Pompeo, the dynamics have changed. August 2017 that included elements of mobilised in large enough numbers to really pressure the “was the perfect bogeyman for them to early framework of his Afghanistan Bolton’s selection, particularly, is “going Prince’s plan, a source familiar with the government. make up,” he says. “I was a sole owner, proposal. It revolves around a to take us in a really positive direction,” events tells Forbes. A CIA spokesperson, my guys carried weapons [and] I came private force of 6,000 contractors, a source close to Prince tells Forbes. “Do however, disputes those claims, telling from a conservative family.” supplemented by 2,000 US special the math.” The assumption, of course: Forbes, “You have been provided wildly Whatever the reason, Prince’s name operations troops and support Prince would reap a big cut of the action. inaccurate information.” became toxic, and the new Obama personnel, who would embed with local To Advertise As he planned his comeback, Prince Steve Bannon sees things diff erently: administration wanted nothing to do Afghan units. Air power would be led by met with Forbes at length, across two “Prince’s voice is only going to [email protected] with him. Blackwater rebranded as Afghan pilots, paired with contractors. interviews, in the summer and fall of get stronger, not weaker, because Xe Services, and in 2010 Prince sold All would be overseen by a “viceroy” 2017. He stopped speaking to us after everything he said was going to happen Display the company to an investment group who ultimately reports to the president. the Washington Post reported that a [in Afghanistan] has happened.” led by two private equity fi rms, Forte Prince thinks his plan, which includes grand jury in the Mueller investigation Prince seems fine either way. Ever 44466621 44418811 Capital Advisors and Manhattan Growth an overall drawdown, could save heard evidence that Prince travelled to the SEAL, with Mueller potentially Partners, for over $100mn. more than $40bn a year. The current the remote Seychelles to try to establish circling, he has backup plans. Libya Classified Prince is still not over the loss. “I’ve approach, he says, focuses on cycling a back channel between Trump and could use a police force to choke off stuck it all out there for America. The in soldiers, who never fully adapt to the 44466609 44418811 Russia. But Prince, still in muscular migrants; Somalia would benefit from previous administration was extremely local climate. “How stupid is that?” military shape at 48, had already laid armed boats patrolling its fisheries. abusive of us, and I don’t forget that,” he Prince fi rst aired his full proposal Subscription out his grand strategy and provided Prince follows opportunity. And no fumes with an unfl inching stare. “That last year via an op-ed in the Wall Street a window into his temperament, one o Prince, Trump matter how bad his PR, he always [email protected] means I’m very cautious about sticking Journal. According t that mixes a belief in destiny, rooted in took notice. “He liked it very much,” seems to find new backers. “If people it out there for any government.” religion, with a warrior’s calm in the Prince says. think it gets to me,” he says, “they To most of America, that chapter heat of battle. It’s a relationship years in the making. have sorely misunderstood.” (Courtesy © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved spelled the end of Erik Prince. But it’s After his father Edgar Prince died Prince displayed early devotion to Forbes) Gulf Times Tuesday, May 8, 2018 23 COMMENT What to expect from Putin’s fourth term

By Trudy Rubin the Russian president further isolates Moscow Russia from the West. The bottom line: Putin’s foreign adventures – and the resulting joke I heard repeatedly during sanctions – have undermined Russia’s two weeks in Russia hints at economy and threaten its future what we should expect from modernisation. AVladimir Putin’s fourth term Yet, there is little sign that the as president, which began yesterday. Kremlin is ready to back off – or admit One Russian academic admitted, to – the behaviour that led to sanctions: “This joke isn’t really funny.” But it whether the continued military venture does reveal the diffi culties America will in Ukraine, or cyber-meddling, or continue to face in dealing with Putin poisoning opponents abroad. in the coming six years (compounded So far the Russian public accepts by Donald Trump’s strange aff ection Putin’s behaviour. Focus groups by for the Russian leader). reputable pollsters such as Levada fi nd Angry at new Western sanctions, that 80% approve of the activities of the joke goes, Russian foreign minister the current president, seeing him as Sergei Lavrov tells a security offi cial, a symbol of Russia resurgence. This “Bomb London.” despite 41% saying they want radical “But my daughter is studying there,” change in the economy to give them a the security offi cial complains. better life. “OK, bomb New York.” Aided by state television and intense “But my son is working there,” a internet propaganda, Putin has created cabinet minister interjects. the impression there is no alternative “Then bomb Voronezh,” Lavrov to him, despite the hostility of the fi nally snaps in frustration, referring to West, which seeks to destroy Russia. a Russian provincial city. But that begs the question of how Among the Russian intelligentsia, he will distract Russians if his overseas the meme “Bomb Voronezh” means Russian President Vladimir Putin reviews the parade of the Presidential regiment after an inauguration ceremony in Cathedral Square at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia ventures continue to alienate the West Putin’s reactions to sanctions are yesterday. and result in more sanctions. Someone hurting ordinary Russians more than has to be blamed for economic they do the West. sanctions, although many of these attempt last month to shut down the Russian sovereignty and greatness. “Entrepreneurs, businessmen don’t stagnation. Putin can’t admit he is On the surface, Moscow doesn’t look medicines are essential for Russians. Telegram messaging app. “Putin is after something he can never invest because no one knows what hurting his own people. as if it is hurting. Throughout the city, (In retaliation for previous sanctions The “Bomb Voronezh” meme also get,” says Dmitri Trenin, director of comes next. Banks don’t loan. Many “No one knows how anti- glitzy malls feature high-end Western imposed by Congress, the Duma hits at the hypocrisy of top Kremlin the Carnegie Moscow Centre. “He companies are sold to the state. “ Americanism in such a high degree, brands of clothing and furniture. banned US adoptions of Russian offi cials and allies whose kids work or wants to be respected as a co-equal The real problem, says Movchan, combined with World War III rhetoric, A wall plaque of Lenin not far from children.) Truly, perfect examples of study in Western capitals; ordinary of the United States. There is a bit of is the sanctions’ impact on Russian combined with a stagnating economy the Kremlin sits next to a huge glass Bomb Voronezh. Russians – academics, students, obsession in his mind about the US.” access to needed technologies for oil will work in the next year,” says window splashed with the Valentino Moreover, Putin’s hostility to business people, those with relatives In his search for Russian greatness, extraction, avionics, lasers, extraction political analyst Konstantin Gaaze. label. Fancy restaurants and coff ee Facebook and Twitter – which he views in America _ must now wait for many the Russian leader has enmeshed his of shale. This will impact Russia’s More educated, urban Russians houses are full. as US tools against authoritarianism – months to get a US visa. That’s because country in foreign ventures – Ukraine, future. may joke about “Bomb Voronezh.” But the Russian rouble has slid as encourages those in the Kremlin who of Russia’s imposition of massive staff cyber-trolling, election meddling – In his State of the Union speech But Putin needs to give the hinterland sanctions took hold, badly hurting want to take full control of social media reductions at the American embassy, that have boomeranged badly. The after Russian elections in March, Putin a better reason for their problems. ordinary Russians. A professor may _ and ban foreign internet servers. “For which were Moscow’s response to last resulting Western sanctions, along promised to advance high-tech and And that means we should expect make only several hundred dollars a Putin, the Internet is the enemy,” says year’s congressional sanctions over with much lower energy prices, have private business. But just about every deepening tensions between Russia month, with salaries in the provinces Alexander Baunov, editor-in-chief Russian election meddling in 2016. fuelled economic stagnation in Russia. Russian expert with whom I spoke and the West. - Tribune News Service far lower. of Carnegie.ru. “He has no Internet But the meme also has a bigger “The non-oil sectors of the said Putin has been making similar During my stay, the Russian duma account, never.” geopolitical meaning. economy are going down, says Andrey promises for his entire 18 years in the zTrudy Rubin is a columnist and proposed banning the import of That kind of thinking led to the Putin’s anger has grown at what Movchan, director of the Economic Kremlin, and has yet to deliver. Such editorial-board member for the Western medicines in retaliation to Russian government’s disastrous he considers Western disrespect for Policy Programme at Carnegie Russia. modernisation is even more unlikely if Philadelphia Inquirer.

Are you listening to me? Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 430c Minimum Temperature : 300c By S Zuhair Naqvi have time for a conversation let the Doha person know, but don’t split your WEDNESDAY attention as you’ll just end up doing Maximum Temperature : 380c both tasks a disservice. Minimum Temperature : 280c t is a question you have most 2) Listen with the intent to THURSDAY likely asked yourself at some understand not reply – American Maximum Temperature : 360c point in your life. author Dr Stephen Covey etched Minimum Temperature : 270c Whether with a friend, this into my conversational skills I Fisherman's forecast colleague or family member, we have years ago. Pay attention to your all felt the pinch when we know that eagerness to respond and try to WARNING someone is not actually listening to us. control it Inshore : Nil On the fl ip side, we have all probably 3) Wait your turn – We often Offshore : Expected strong wind and been guilty of being the non-listener rush conversation and predict their high sea to the north at first or passive listener in the conversation. endings. Try to avoid interrupting, WEATHER In one way or another our fi nishing others sentences and wait to Inshore : Hot daytime with slight attention gets distracted, whether formulate your response, once they dust and some clouds by technology, other people or have fi nished. WIND simply our own thoughts. A study by 4) Ask questions and paraphrase – Inshore : Southwesterly-Southeaster- Killingsworth and Gilbert found that To build true connection and ensure ly 05-15/18 KT our attention is on something other complete understanding, be an active Offshrore : Southwesterly-Southeaster- ly 05-15/22 KT than what we are doing 47% of the participant in the conversation. Ask time. Let that sink in; almost half of questions, be curious. Visibility : 04-9 KM the time, in half of your conversations, We will never learn anything new SEA STATE your mind is somewhere else. by talking, but we have so much Offshore : 2-4 FT, rises to 7 FT to the Imagine the eff ect this has on opportunity to learn by listening. Be North at first relationships, the damage it does few people receive any training on a great listener enhances relationships, the listener you would want to speak when half the information is not even listening. It is assumed that everyone minimises confusion and mistakes, to. heard, let alone given the chance to can do it. But in today’s society, with increases productivity, builds trust Around the region be retained. Try it out in your next so many distractions and demands on and makes people better leaders. zS Zuhair Naqvi is the Managing Weather conversation, pay attention to how our attention, our ability to listen is There are many ways to Director of DicoTech Qatar WLL and a Weather tomorrow Max/min often your mind wanders away. worse than ever. strengthen your listening skills Partner at The Happiness Hub Qatar today Max/min Sunny 31/19 We are well trained at many things The benefi ts of being a great listener below I’ve shared a few dos and Twitter: #zuhairnaqvi Baghdad P Cloudy 31/20 M Cloudy 32/24 – communication, talking, leadership are equal to and even above many of don’ts; LinkedIn: zuhair-naqvi- Kuwait City P Cloudy 36/26 Sunny 39/27 and relationships among them. But the other skills we rate so highly. Being 1) Don’t multi-task – If you don’t dicotechqatar Manama Sunny 39/29 Muscat Sunny 36/31 Sunny 36/32 Tehran P Cloudy 29/18 Rain 24/16 Live issues Overactive immune response linked to hair greying

By Will Boggs could explain those anecdotal stories Reuters Health where people experience premature grey hair,” Harris said in an e-mail. “Could the combination of a genetic Around the world n overactive immune predisposition and an everyday viral Weather Weather response, which can occur infection be just enough to negatively today Max/min tomorrow Max/min with viral infections, could aff ect the melanocytes and melanocyte Athens S Showers 26/17 M Sunny 26/16 Aresult in sudden hair greying, stem cells in humans, and cause early Beirut T Storms 21/18 S T Storms 22/19 according to research in mice. hair greying?” Bangkok P Cloudy 34/27 I T Storms 33/27 The research revealed that Hair colour depends on melanocyte Berlin Sunny 25/14 M Sunny 27/15 a molecule involved in hair stem cells that live at the base of hair Cairo Sunny 28/17 M Sunny 33/27 pigmentation also controls certain follicles. As old hairs fall out and new Cape Town Showers 16/13 P Cloudy 16/11 immune system genes. hairs grow in, these cells develop into Colombo T Storms 30/26 T Storms 30/26 The study cannot explain why a melanocytes – cells that produce the Dhaka T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 36/26 fright or severe illness might lead pigment that gives hair its colour. Hong Kong S T Storms 27/23 Rain 24/22 to rapid graying, but it may provide When the stem cells are lost, new hair Istanbul Showers 19/15 Showers 20/15 insights into the skin condition that grows turns out to be grey. Jakarta M Sunny 33/25 S T Storms 34/25 vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder in Harris’s team earlier found that a Karachi Sunny 35/26 Sunny 36/26 which the skin loses its colour, and protein called MITF, which controls a London M Sunny 26/11 P Cloudy 21/09 melanoma, a cancer of skin pigment number of genetic pathways in these Manila S T Storms 35/27 P Cloudy 36/27 cells, the study team writes in PLoS melanocyte stem cells, is involved in Moscow M Sunny 23/11 M Sunny 19/07 Biology. hair greying in certain mice. New Delhi S T Storms 34/24 S T Storms 37/24 “All of this work was done in mice, In the current study, they found New York Sunny 22/12 Sunny 23/12 and so we are hesitant to make too that MITF also limits the activity of cells in the hair bulb, and this results in Because MITF turns out to be Paris Sunny 27/12 P Cloudy 24/11 many inferences to humans without certain genes that control the immune hair greying, the study team reports. a “critical suppressor of innate Sao Paulo M Cloudy 22/17 P Cloudy 24/16 further experimentation,” said lead response to viruses. Although it’s too early to know for immunity” and can cause loss of Seoul P Cloudy 22/08 M Sunny 22/09 author Melissa L Harris from the Mice with mutations in the gene sure, people with similar mutations in pigment producing cells, there may Singapore M Sunny 32/27 S T Storms 31/27 University of Alabama at Birmingham. for MITF have an overactive response this gene could show a similar response, be implications for understanding Sydney P Cloudy 24/13 Sunny 23/14 “However, we would love to test to viruses that results in the loss of resulting in spontaneous hair greying vitiligo as well, the authors Tokyo Cloudy 16/14 Rain 17/12 whether the mechanism in this study melanocytes and melanocyte stem after a viral infection, they write. conclude. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, May 8, 2018 QATAR

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday welcomed the Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the accompanying delegation. The talks touched on means of boosting and developing bilateral relations and prospects of co-operation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of investment and agriculture. The session also discussed a number of issues of common concern. His Highness the Amir and the Zimbabwe president also witnessed the signing of an agreement on economic, trade and technical co-operation between the governments of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Zimbabwe. A number of dignitaries attended the session and the signing ceremony. Zimbabwe president lauds Qatar cultural institutions

QNA President Mnangagwa stressed that this building is Doha a unique monument behind which great efforts are be- ing made to be a cultural beacon not only for the people of Qatar but also for the world and for the future gen- resident of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson erations. The visiting president wrote remarks in a me- Mnangagwa hailed Qatar’s cultural institutions and morial book of Katara expressing his admiration of the Pits infrastructure that supports creativity. This came facility, which he described as a treasure that must be in remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the sidelines preserved. of his visit to Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) yester- The president and his accompanying delegation day evening. The president described Katara as a unique toured Katara, accompanied by Director-General of institution that cares about the world’s cultures, noting Katara Dr Khaled al-Sulaiti, who gave a detailed ex- that it also cares about preserving the Qatari heritage, es- planation of Katara’s most important features, includ- pecially for the transfer of the cultural heritage of previous ing the Amphitheatre, the Opera House, and Sout Al generations to the new. Khaleej radio.

‘Embassy opening will boost Qatar-Ghana ties’

By Ramesh Mathew country’s ambassador Emmanuel Staff Reporter Enos and his team by Qatar gov- ernment and the insightful guid- ance from the Protocol Depart- he opening of the embassy ment of the Foreign Ministry of Ghana in Doha yester- tremendously contributed to the Tday will go a long way in speedy establishment of the new strengthening bilateral relations Ghana Mission. The Ghanaian with Qatar, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Minister also remem- Foreign Aff airs Shirley Ayorkor bered that her country’s embassy Botchwey said at the mission’s started functioning from the be- inauguration in West Bay area. A ginning of this year in Kuwait. number of ambassadors, other “However, Ghana mission in diplomats, and senior offi cials of Qatar has been set up in a record the Qatar Ministry for Foreign Af- time and am so happy to be fairs attended the inauguration. present here for its formal open- While appreciating the eff orts ing,” added the minister while of her Qatari counterpart HE thanking the assistance rendered the Minister for Foreign Aff airs by the Qatar Ministry for Foreign Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- Aff airs for its speedy opening. rahman al-Thani in facilitating The minister also commended the speedy opening of Ghana’s her country’s ambassador Em- embassy in Doha, the Ghanaian manuel Enos and his staff for a Foreign Minister recalled the visit good work done for facilitating made to Ghana by His Highness the mission’s opening. Botch- The winners of the Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah International Energy Awards with HE the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, HE Dr Ibrahim the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- wey singled out for praise one of Ibrahim and other dignitaries. PICTURES: Jayan Orma mad al-Thani last December and the elders in the local Ghanaian also remembered that a series community, Jamal Abdul Razak of MoUs and agreements were al-Hassan for his contributions signed in such areas as the youth in this regard. and sports, culture, air services “I am confi dent that the Gha- and protection of investments. na Mission would synergise with “Within the context of the the vibrant diplomatic com- State visit to Ghana by the His munity in Doha and take all the Qatargas CEO gets lifetime Highness the Amir, there was necessary steps in building right also a follow-up visit to Accra in bridges for the advancement of March by a technical team from the cherished ideals of the inter- various ministries in Qatar, that national community.” further sought to deepen the Botchwey also disclosed that growing contemporary relations she has been briefed by Qatari award from energy industry between Ghana and Qatar.” offi cials about the hard work, The minister said an important sense of discipline of her com- milestone in the growing rela- patriots in Qatar and she said By Pratap John right and we are very proud to wel- tions between Ghana and Qatar they are living as worthy ambas- Chief Business Reporter come them to Doha and recognise their was the appointment in March of sadors of her country. “I entreat achievements.” a resident ambassador-designate you to continue to hold high the The Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah of Qatar to Ghana. “In the light of name of our dear country by be- atargas chief executive offi cer International Energy Awards are given these progressive developments ing law-abiding at all times and Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa al- annually to individuals for their lifetime in the relations between Ghana continue to distinguish your- QThani was selected as the 2018 achievement in the advancement of the and Qatar, the opening of the em- selves in your various careers winner of the Abdullah bin Hamad al- global energy industry in seven cat- bassy in Doha is very signifi cant and professions in this country.” Attiyah International Energy Award for egories: Qatar energy industry; Opec; in several ways.” A source at the embassy told ‘Lifetime achievement for the advance- producer-consumer dialogue; education Botchwey said the support Gulf Times that there are about ment of the Qatar energy industry’. of future energy leaders; energy journal- placed at the disposal of their 8,000 Ghanians in Qatar. The award was presented to Sheikh ism; renewable energy and an honorary Khalid by HE Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim, eco- award for advancement of international nomic adviser at Amiri Diwan and vice- energy policy and diplomacy. chairman, The Abdullah Bin Hamad The nominees are selected and scored Al-Attiyah International Foundation for by an international group of industry Energy & Sustainable development at a leaders who choose candidates for an gala awards dinner at the Museum of Is- outstanding record of accomplishment lamic Art in Doha last night. over their decade-spanning careers. The Among the dignitaries present was HE Al-Attiyah Foundation was conceived the Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr in 2013 to provide robust and practical Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, who also Qatargas CEO Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa al-Thani receiving the award from HE Dr Ibrahim knowledge and insights on global energy presented ‘International energy award Ibrahim, economic adviser at Amiri Diwan and vice-chairman, The Abdullah Bin and sustainable development topics and for lifetime achievement for the ad- Hamad Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy & Sustainable development. communicate these for the benefi t of the vancement of Opec’ to Opec secretary- foundation’s members and community. general Mohamed Sansui Barkindo. category), Lee R Raymond, former chair- at the Directorate of Global Energy Rela- The 2018 Selection Committee was led The Qatargas CEO was one of seven man and CEO, ExxonMobil (honorary tions- IEA (Award for ‘Advancement of by Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, the former distinguished individuals “recognised award for ‘Advancement of international international energy journalism’). CEO & chairman of the Royal Dutch/ for exemplary careers in the energy in- energy policy and diplomacy’), Profes- At the ceremony Dr Ibrahim said, Shell Group, and Nobuo Tanaka, the dustry”, which included Opec secre- sor Paul Stevens, distinguished fellow, “Sheikh Khalid led Qatargas for almost former executive director of the Inter- tary-general Mohamed Sansui Barkindo Chatham House, London (2018 winner of a decade and more recently he partici- national Energy Agency, who themselves Qatar Ministry of Foreign Aff airs secretary-general Ahmed bin (2018 winner of the International energy the award for ‘The advancement of edu- pated in leading the management behind are former winners of the Al-Attiyah Hassan al-Hammadi, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs Shirely award for lifetime achievement for the cating future energy leaders’), Mustapha the successful merger between Qatargas Award, which over fi ve years has estab- Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s ambassador Emmanuel Enos, dean of advancement of Opec, Maria Van Der Bakkoury, president, Moroccan Solar and RasGas that now sees him running lished itself as the pre-eminent interna- Diplomatic Corps and ambassador of Eritrea Ali Ibrahim Ahmed and Hoeven, former executive director, In- Energy Agency (2018 award for ‘The ad- the world’s largest LNG company. tional prize in recognising individuals for other diplomats after the opening of the Ghana embassy in West ternational Energy Agency (2018 winner vancement of renewable energy’) and “All of this year’s winners have made their lifetime achievements to the global Bay yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam in the Producer – consumer dialogue Kate Dourian, programme offi cer (Mena) signifi cant contributions in their own energy industry.