BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Murray, Williams through, INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-5, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 REGION 6 BUSINESS 1–5, 10–12 Kvitova exits Moody’s affi rms Qatar 21,478.17 8,895.64 45.06 ARAB WORLD 6 CLASSIFIED 6–10 -1.10 +40.88 -2.01 INTERNATIONAL 7–17 SPORTS 1–8 ratings despite blockade Wimbledon -0.01% +0.46% -4.27% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10506 July 6, 2017 Shawwal 12, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Sign of support Saudi, allies fail FM briefs UK offi cials on Gulf crisis HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh to see reason in Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met in London yesterday with Lord Robert Mitford, a member of the British House of Lords. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and means of enhancing them. Qatar response The foreign minister briefed Lord Mitford on the latest developments Agencies Department offi cial said. in Gulf crisis and the illegal Doha/Cairo 4 Arab states say their In another phone call, Tillerson and measures taken against Qatar. boycott to continue the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al- “There is a great understanding of Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah discussed the position of the State of Qatar in audi Arabia and its allies refrained Qatar accuses the latest developments on the regional both chambers of parliament and yesterday from imposing fresh Arab neighbours of and international arenas, the offi cial by all political parties,” Lord Mitford Ssanctions on Qatar but voiced Qatar News Agency said. said. He added that the parliament disappointment at the response to their aggression “Tillerson renewed US support for has maintained strong relations demands and said their boycott of the Trump talks to Sisi the Kuwaiti Emir’s eff orts to overcome with Qatar for many years, stressing country would continue. about crisis the current crisis in the region,” report- his determination to move towards Earlier in the day Qatar accused Sau- ed Kuwait News Agency. protecting the sovereignty of Qatar di Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt Tillerson holds talks HE the Qatari Foreign Minister, and achieving peace in the region at FC Barcelona star Jordi Alba was seen signing a T-shirt bearing an image of His of “clear aggression” and said the al- with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman the same time. Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani during his visit to Doha with legations cited when they severed ties al-Thani, told a session of London’s HE Sheikh Mohamed also met UK teammates Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets yesterday. The image of the Emir, a month ago “were clearly designed List of demands non- Chatham House think-tank that Doha Under-Secretary of State for Defence created by contemporary Qatari artist Ahmed bin Majed al-Maadheed, has become to create anti-Qatar sentiment in the negotiable, says Egypt was continuing to call for dialogue to Tobias Ellwood. During the meeting, the symbol of Qatari resilience during the ongoing blockade. The Barcelona stars West”. settle the row. they discussed bilateral relations also met fans at Mall of Qatar. Sport Page 8 The four Arab nations accuse Qatar Demands Qatari offi cials say the Gulf states’ between the two friendly countries of supporting terrorism and allying unacceptable, Turkish demands are so stiff they suspect they and means of enhancing them. with Iran - which Doha denies - and president were never seriously meant for nego- The foreign minister briefed the their foreign ministers met in Cairo tiation. British off icial on the current Gulf yesterday after a deadline they gave Commenting on the crisis, Arab crisis and the illegal measures ‘Nobody stands to gain Qatar to meet 13 demands expired. Al Jazeera satellite TV channel, close a League Secretary General AhmedAbul taken against Qatar. He reaff irmed The failure of the blockading coun- Turkish military base and downgrade Gheit said the 22-member bloc sup- that Qatar will continue to support tries to break Qatar’s steely resolve was its relations with Iran. ports Kuwaiti mediation. international eff orts to combat from this contrived crisis’ evident from the joint statement issued US President Donald Trump, while Shoukry later told the On TV chan- terrorism and violent extremism in at the end of their meeting. fl ying from Washington to Europe for nel: “The demands are not negotiable. partnership with its international Qatar is not up for grabs, “The response the four states got was meetings in Warsaw and Hamburg, The matter from the beginning was not allies, stressing that combating says envoy to Australia overall negative and lacked any content. spoke about the dispute with Egyptian up for negotiations ... there is no mid- terrorism in the region is a matter We fi nd it did not provide a basis for Qa- President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. dle ground.” of priority for national, regional and asser al-Khalifa, Qatar’s am- tar to retreat from its policies,” Egyptian “The visions of the two presidents Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayy- global security. bassador to Australia has Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said, on dealing with current regional crises ip Erdogan reaffi rmed his country’s Nwarned that any military ac- reading out the statement. were in line, especially when it comes support for Qatar in its dispute with Energy giants court tion against Qatar would destroy the “The political and economic boycott to reaching political settlements which four other Arab states, saying their de- Qatar for role in new entire Gulf region and would be a kind will continue until Qatar changes its contribute to regional security and sta- mands were unacceptable. of madness, stressing that “Qatar is not policies for the better,” Saudi Foreign bility,” Sisi’s offi ce said in a statement. “When it comes to this list of 13 LNG projects up for grabs”. Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a news Trump called on all parties “to ne- items ... it’s not acceptable under any The West’s three biggest energy Qatar has a “leadership and people conference. gotiate constructively to resolve the circumstances,” Erdogan said in an in- corporations are lobbying Qatar to who are attached to their leadership,” Nasser al-Khalifa The four foreign ministers said they dispute” and reiterated the need for all terview with France 24 television. take part in a huge expansion of its he said in an interview with Al-Arabi would next meet in the Bahraini capital countries to follow through on com- Some of the terms were tantamount gas production, handing Doha an channel. On the rumours making rounds Manama though they gave no date. mitments to halt terrorist fi nancing to “stripping” Qatar of its statehood, unintended but timely boost in its Al-Khalifa said Qatar has yet options about the establishment of a mili- Qatar’s response to the demands has and “discredit extremist ideology,” the he added. dispute with Gulf Arab neighbours. that will not be used against its neigh- tary base in Bahrain by the blockad- not been made public. White House said. “We remain loyal to our agreement The chief executives of ExxonMobil, bours who have imposed a blockade. ing countries, al-Khalifa said this has The Arab countries have demanded US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with Qatar. If it requests us to leave, we Royal Dutch Shell and France’s “The international community will not nothing to do with Qatar and is part of Qatar curtail its support for the Muslim also spoke by phone with Saudi Crown will not stay where we are not wanted,” Total all met His Highness the Emir allow any escalation in the region,” he Bahrain’s right to host any base on its Brotherhood, shut down the pan-Arab Prince Mohamed bin Salman, a State he said. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in said adding that everyone (in the re- territory. “We are not unaware of what Qatar before it announced a plan on gion) is losing in this confrontation. is happening around us, and we will not Tuesday to raise output of liquefied He added that however others are be ahead of events, but we hope that natural gas (LNG) by 30%. Page 2 benefi ting from this crisis which has the aim of any military base is not to opened the eyes on many issues in the launch operations against Qatar.” Haniyeh hails Qatar’s member countries of the Gulf Co-op- He pointed out that Qatar’s hosting Siege states trying to undermine support for Gaza Strip eration Council. of a Turkish military base came under Referring to the present dispute, he the right of the state’s sovereignty and Leader of Hamas political bureau said that the crisis was created from was not a subject for discussion except nation’s sovereignty, says FM Ismail Haniyeh has praised Qatar’s nothing, stressing that the security of between Qatar and Turkey. support to the Gaza Strip as well as Qatar was a matter of concern to many Al-Khalifa added that “the countries its support for Gazans under the countries in the world. “Qatar supplies of the blockade have American, French, Qatar determined to hold He posed the question: “Why is Qa- siege. Haniyeh highlighted Qatar’s energy to Japan, Korea, China, India, Australian, New Zealand and British its course in face of blockade tar’s independence such a threat to them support while delivering a speech to Italy, Spain and Britain. Qatar is not a military bases on their lands. So, why (the siege countries)?” outline Hamas’s top priorities in the country isolated from the world and would they object to an issue (between By Denise Marray He said that while Qatar is not a de- next stage. has extensions and interests.” Qatar and Turkey?)” Correspondent, London mocracy but rather a consultative mon- archy, there was a willingness to con- sider the introduction of parliamentary atar’s Foreign Minister HE elections. “The desire and political will- Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- power is there,” he said. Qrahman al-Thani has called He stressed that Qatar had never un- Qatar plans investment in for “dialogue” to resolve the Gulf dip- dermined the collective security of the lomatic crisis, while reaffi rming that region. Arab states that have cut ties with Qa- Speaking of Iran, he said: “Iran is a tar were trying to undermine the na- neighbouring country – we live next US biotech and tech sectors tion’s sovereignty. door to each other – we share a gas Speaking at the Chatham House fi eld.” Qatar wanted a positive and con- think-tank in London yesterday, HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh structive relationship with Iran. atar Investment Authority Sheikh Mohamed said Qatar welcomes Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani Regarding relations with Turkey, he (QIA), which has invested about any serious eff orts to resolve the diff er- speaking at the Chatham House think- posed the question: “Why is it harmful Q$26bn in the US since 2015, has ences with its neighbours. “However tank in London yesterday. to have military co-operation with Tur- said the present diplomatic rift will not countries imposing a blockade on Qa- key? Turkey is a Nato member – so what aff ect investments there and will soon tar should make the fi rst move towards tional press, he said: “Dialogue and rea- is the harm of having a Turkish presence open another offi ce in San Francisco to dialogue,” he said adding “they should son will resolve problems – not shutting in the Gulf?” tap biotech and tech sectors in the Sili- not expect from me a fi rst step, I should down free discussion.” He dubbed the Asked if Qatar would consider cut- con Valley. expect from them a fi rst step for en- crackdown on free expression as “intel- ting off gas supplies to the UAE, Sheikh QIA, which opened an offi ce in New gagement”. lectual terrorism”. Mohamed said: “The people of the UAE York in 2015, is committed to investing He accused Saudi Arabia and the High-profi le Qataris were in the au- do not deserve to be aff ected – and they another $10bn as part of strategies to United Arab Emirates of leading the dience including Qatar’s ambassador would be aff ected if we cut off the gas expand its US portfolio to include in- campaign against Qatar and said they to the UK Yousef al-Khater and leading supply.” frastructure projects. QIA also hinted were “demanding that we must sur- offi cials. He added that Qatar would not take that it could partner with hydrocarbon The roundtable interaction. render our sovereignty as the price for The silencing of any voices of support such a step because it is taking a long major Qatar Petroleum to invest in the ending the siege”. He called them “ag- for Qatar’s stand within the blockading term view and values its reputation as US downstream industries should op- will not aff ect QIA’s investments in a prioritised US investments in the real gressors”. countries was characterised by Sheikh being trustworthy in its dealings. portunities arise. friendly country like the US with which estate sector, while maintaining a pres- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Mohamed as a sign of weakness. He said the blockade was, of course, These were conveyed by QIA chief Qatar enjoys close ties,” he said, adding ence in residential real estate, industry, Egypt have severed air, sea and ground He said that Al Jazeera represented adding a fi nancial burden with a many- executive HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Mo- “Qatar and QIA are open for business alternative energy, and technology and links with Qatar. “a free, non-partisan media which had fold increase in shipping costs but em- hamed al-Thani in his business round- and the US ranks amongst their highest recently in healthcare. “We sensed an understanding in Eu- created resentment among those who phasised: “As a country we must be self- table interaction with the US-Qatar priorities.” Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has ropean capitals that the blockade was had previously controlled the fl ow of reliant.” Business Council (USQBC) in Wash- Highlighting its ambition to diversify become the fourth largest investor in illegal,” he said. information.” He added that the ten- He said it was clear from the meetings ington. its portfolio, both internationally and the US offi ce space in 2016, mostly in Addressing a packed audience of sion around this free form of media had he had held in the last weeks that ‘most “The current diplomatic turmoil within the US; he said QIA has typically New York and Los Angeles. To Page 2 Chatham House members and interna- grown after the Arab Spring. countries do not want an escalation’. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, July 6, 2017 QATAR

OFFICIAL ‘Own a factory

Emir sends in 72 hours’ plan Independence Day greetings

His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh presented at Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have HE the the Minister of Municipality and Environment, Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi speaking at the sent cables of congratulations event. to the Presidents of Algeria, investors’ meet Venezuela, and Cape Verde - Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Nicolas zThe single window project within 72 hours in Qatar). many privileges such as issuing Maduro and Jorge Carlos Fonseca was inaugurated by the The aim of the meeting was licences for the target project on the anniversary of their Prime Minister last December to introduce investors to the in- within 72 hours and the readiness Qatar’s achievements in use of countries’ Independence Day. zIt is one of the most dustrial investment procedures of the land of the project in addi- important government in the country. Some 250 invest- tion to obtaining immediate visas Real estate initiatives to develop the ment opportunities were off ered for employment and the readi- water for agriculture reviewed business environment to those interested in the Qatari ness of industrial infrastructure transaction industrial sector. There are some of water and electricity and roads QNA 100 industrial establishments with the priority of procurement QNA animal feeds during a min- rial-level discussion on the chal- Real estate transactions in Doha off ering many facilities, the with local manufacturing, sup- Rome isterial event on ‘Addressing lenges of climate change, water Qatar during the period from most important of which is the port and promotion of exports Water Scarcity and improving scarcity and its implications for 18 to 22 June were worth completion of the project trans- and external promotion through food Security Under Climate agriculture, food security and QR1,197,814,951.00, off icial data n a major step towards facili- actions and approval within 72 the foreign investor as well as the E the the Minister of Change - Perspectives from nutrition in the Arab region. showed yesterday. tating industrial investment hours through one entity. customs exemption for raw ma- Municipality and En- the Near East and North Africa Qatar is participating in the The weekly bulletin released Iin Qatar, a one-stop initia- Head of the Committee Mo- terials and 10% support on the Hvironment, Mohamed Region.’ conference with a delegation by the real estate registration tive called “own a factory within hamed Salman Kaldari said this government product and fi nanc- bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, has HE al-Rumaihi took part in headed by HE the Minister of department at the Ministry 72 hours in Qatar” was presented initiative is the second of the ing facilities through the Qatar reviewed the experience and this event on the sidelines of the Municipality and the Environ- of Justice said that the types at an open meeting for investors one-stop initiatives under the Development Bank or banks op- achievements of Qatar on wa- Food and Agriculture Organisa- ment, who will discuss a number of real estate traded included yesterday. directives of HE the Prime Min- erating in the State. ter use in agriculture along tion (FAO) Conference 40th Ses- of issues related to agriculture, plots of land, houses, residential The meeting, organised by the ister and Minister of Interior The single window project with the ways and areas of sion. food security, water and other compounds and apartment Co-ordinating Committee for Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin was inaugurated by HE the use of treated wastewater in The event included a Ministe- related topics. buildings. the Management of the Single Khalifa al-Thani, to facilitate Prime Minister last December. Window System, was attended investors in obtaining industrial It is one of the most impor- by hundreds of Qatari investors and environmental licences to tant governmental initiatives to and residents at the Ministry of enhance the position of the in- develop the business environ- Economy and Commerce. The dustrial sector. ment, stimulate the real partici- open meeting to facilitate indus- He added that the initiative pation of the private sector and trial investment in Qatar is part targets all Qatari and foreign in- encourage local and foreign in- vestments, in line with the Qatar Energy giants court Qatar of the second phase of the one- vestors or the partnership be- stop initiative (Own a factory tween them so that they have National Vision 2030. for role in LNG projects Wakrah Bypass Road partially opened Reuters “There is only one policy here Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- sultancy WoodMackenzie. London - you have to behave like a com- Thani, accused the four of “clear Shell’s Van Beurden was mercial corporation,” the execu- aggression” while adding that among the fi rst foreign com- tive said. “You have to make your Qatar continued to call for dia- pany leaders to visit Qatar after he West’s three biggest choices purely economically and logue to settle the dispute. the crisis broke out, meeting energy corporations are be Qatari in Qatar, Emirati in the Exxon, Shell and Total have al- the Emir on June 14. This was Tlobbying Qatar to take Emirates.” ready invested extensively in Qa- followed several days later by a part in a huge expansion of its Energy sales have powered Qa- tar, particularly in projects to liq- new deal under which Qatar will gas production, handing Doha an tar’s rapid rise as a regional play- uefy gas, allowing it to be shipped supply Shell, the world’s largest unintended but timely boost in er since the late 1990s, and the by tanker to consumer markets LNG trader, with 1.1mn tonnes its dispute with Gulf Arab neigh- oil majors’ interest in the LNG where transport by pipeline is annually for fi ve years starting bours. expansion underline its longer- not feasible. in 2019. The chief executives of Exx- term economic muscle during Shell’s overall investments in onMobil, Royal Dutch Shell and the political row with its neigh- Qatar LNG is really the state represent around six France’s Total all met His High- bours. an important part of percent of its global portfolio. ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Chief executives Darren Woods their overall portfolio, The three fi rms had been ex- Hamad al-Thani in Qatar before of Exxon and Ben van Beurden of especially for Exxon pecting Qatar to expand its LNG it announced a plan on Tuesday Shell both met the Emir after the but Total and Shell exports since it lifted a self- to raise output of liquefi ed natu- four Arab countries imposed the are also material LNG imposed moratorium on devel- ral gas (LNG) by 30%. sanctions. Total chief Patrick players there – Tom opment of the North Field, the Company and industry sourc- Pouyanne has also visited Doha Ellacott, analyst at world’s biggest natural gas fi eld it es told Reuters that the CEOs had in recent weeks. WoodMackenzie shares with Iran, the sources said. expressed interest in helping Qa- Qatar, the world’s largest LNG Total chief Pouyanne discussed tar with its ambition to produce supplier and second biggest gas new opportunities in the LNG 100mn tonnes of LNG annually exporter after Russia, has some Industry sources close to sector as well as the company’s - equivalent to a third of current of the lowest production costs. Woods’ Doha talks said that “the plans to develop the Al Shaheen global supplies - in the next fi ve The plan was seen as an open- Exxon CEO was very keen to join oil fi eld on his trip to Doha, ac- to seven years. ing shot in a price war as Doha the new gas capacity expansion cording to a senior source. The companies already have tries to defend its market share, and expressed willingness to in- Qatar’s LNG capacity could large investments in countries on especially against supplies from vest”. be boosted by up to 10mn tonnes both sides of the dispute, and are US shale deposits where costs are Woods replaced Rex Tillerson, per year relatively quickly and The Public Works Authority keen to remain neutral after Sau- higher. under whom Exxon helped to cheaply by optimising existing (Ashghal) has announced the di Arabia, the United Arab Emir- The four Arab countries, build Qatar’s LNG industry until facilities and upgrading a small partial opening of four lanes ates, Bahrain and Egypt severed which have demanded Qatar stop he left to become US Secretary of number of units, a process known in one direction - towards ties with Doha on June 5. fostering terrorism and court- State earlier this year. as “debottlenecking”, according Doha - on the Doha Express Spokespeople from all three ing Iran, said after meeting on Exxon will be the largest for- to a senior industry source. Highway, or Al Wakrah Bypass fi rms declined comment. How- Wednesday that Doha’s response eign investor in Qatar in 2017, Beyond that, the expansion Road. The newly opened road ever, a top executive from one en- to their grievances had been neg- with most money going into would require building new liq- stretches 11km and connects ergy major looking into expanding ative. LNG facilities, representing uefaction terminals involving the south of Al Wakrah, Al in Qatar said the huge business Doha denies aiding terrorism around seven percent of its glo- signifi cant investments, which Wukair, Al Mashaf and G-Ring opportunity was worth investing. and its foreign minister, Sheikh bal portfolio, according to con- the energy giants can off er. Road, Ashghal tweeted yesterday. Mwani Qatar relocates its

US delegation headquarters to Hamad Port examines Qatar plans to invest Qatar siege atar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qa- FACTBOX violations Qtar) has announced that in Silicon Valley it has completed the relocation z Qatari shareholding Off icials from the National of all its departments to the new company established in Human Rights Committee headquarters at Hamad Port in 2009 From Page 1 State Realty Trust, the owner of (NHRC) has met with a Umm Al Houl. zMwani Qatar manages “QIA is currently seeking to Empire State building and 44% delegation of ranking members This is in line with Mwani seaports, quays, dry move beyond the US’ popula- stake in the mixed-used Man- of an American institute for Qatar’s strategy aimed at con- ports, container and tion hubs on the East and West hattan West, apart from the foreign policy and national solidating its position as a lead- other terminals, including coasts, researching upwards of $1.34bn deal to purchase four of- security and provided an ing integrated port and logistics cruise and passengers ten cities for investment op- fi ce buildings in Los Angeles and overview of the committee’s services provider, according to a zProvides navigation portunities across the Midwest,” investments in City Center DC role in monitoring violations press statement. assistance and pilotage, Sheikh Abdulla said. project. that occurred since the siege on The new headquarters is towage as well as Aids to Stressing that QIA prefers to “These roundtables are criti- Qatar, which aff ected both Qatari equipped with “state-of-the- Navigation in addition to invest as a minority partner to cal to enhancing the bilateral and GCC citizens. art technology that will ensure The new headquarters of Mwani Qatar at Hamad Port. loading/unloading and well-established development relationship and provide our The committee’s off icials said that the highest levels of effi ciency, handling and storage of and investment fi rms, he said for membership with a unique op- their role focused on collecting safety and customer services”. “With these three ports, ture projects,” the statement cargoes in all forms. practical management reasons, portunity to learn more about the complaints, writing reports It will support the company’s Mwani Qatar plays a pivotal added. it seeks investment proposals in Qatar’s economy and bilateral on them, then presenting them to objectives that seek to improve role in achieving the objectives In addition, Mwani Qatar is excess of $50mn. business.” said Patrick N Theros, international organisations such productivity, performance and of Qatar National Vision 2030 promoting the plans aimed at sector contribution in the He said the decision to fur- president of the USQBC. as the United Nations, Amnesty operations, particularly at Ha- by supporting economic di- transforming Qatar into a re- state’s GDP, trade between ther invest in the US was a clear The Qatar Financial Centre International and Human Rights mad Port - Qatar’s gateway to versification, domestic market gional trading hub in the re- Qatar and the world, as well message that QIA wishes to di- Authority early this year signed a Watch. The off icials added that world trade, the statement notes. stability and the implementa- gion through investing in the as supporting the competi- versity its portfolio, which at memorandum of understanding the committee’s communication Hamad Port is one of the tion of the State’s development infrastructure of ports, modern tiveness of local industries, present is heavily concentrated with USQBC to expand collabo- with these parties is still ongoing, most important ports managed plans, through ensuring the technology and adopting best which will make Qatar more in Europe. ration between the two organisa- in order to provide them with by Mwani Qatar, which also in- smooth handling of imports practices in its operations. flexible in the face of changes Among QIA’s US portfolio are tions and promote business be- humanitarian developments cludes Doha Port and Al Ruwais and exports and related sup- The company’s efforts will in the global economic envi- its 10% stake in New York Empire tween the two countries. resulting from the siege. Port. plies for both ongoing and fu- help enhance the non-oil ronment. Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 3 QATAR

Ooredoo invests in new tech for real-time customer engagement Doha Festival City oredoo has announced portfolio of digital services. We that it is investing in the believe this latest technology Olatest technology to en- will help further boost our cus- sure a “truly next-generation” tomer experience and give our customer experience for Qatar users the real-time service they in the near future. want,” al-Sayed added. lines up slew of Thanks to a new agreement Juhani Hintikka, CEO of between Ooredoo and Comptel Waleed al-Sayed Comptel, said: “Comptel has Corporation, Ooredoo will im- a 30-year heritage in helping plement Comptel’s Fastermind to reach our customers in real- operators get more value out of solution to improve customer time, with the right messages, their data, and we’re thrilled to engagements through artifi - and interact more dynamically play a role in supporting Oore- cial intelligence capabilities than ever to deliver what they doo Qatar as it transforms its summer activities that process and analyse in- need when they need it.” customer engagements with a the-moment customer data to Comptel’s Fastermind solu- data-driven approach. We look oha Festival City, a lead- items as they can in 20 minutes. recommend and automatically tion ensures that customers forward to seeing the impact ing entertainment, retail This activity takes place in the trigger the next best action, ac- will receive more relevant and that operators like Ooredoo can Dand hospitality destina- Axis Node from today until July cording to a press statement. personalised notifi cations from create through personalisation, tion in Qatar managed and oper- 29 (excluding July 9-12 and July Waleed al-Sayed, CEO of Ooredoo, as well as enjoy real- both for their business and for ated by Al-Futtaim, has stressed 23-26), from 3pm to 9pm and is Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Thanks time responses to service re- the industry.” that families will be “hooked by suitable for all ages. to this technology, Ooredoo is quests, promotions and more. The new technology is ex- its ‘Pirates’-themed celebra- With all the Pirate and Treas- taking another leap towards “Ooredoo is continuing to pected to be implemented soon tions this summer”. ure Island games taking place our goal of transforming our deliver exceptional data ex- and is the latest in a line of self- A variety of fun and games will around the mall, the ‘Seaside digital customer journey. Very perience leadership in 2017 by service investments the com- be held within the mall with a Works of Art’ workshops give soon, we will have the ability enhancing our network and pany has made this year. Treasure Island theme to “trans- visitors a chance to look the part. port participants to another land Children can make their own pi- and help them beat the swelter- rate or mermaid costumes at the ing heat this holiday”, according workshops, and will also have to a press statement. the chance to have their face During the month of July, painted to fi nish the look every younger visitors will get the Friday and Saturday. The activi- chance to take part in numerous ty takes place on Thursdays, Fri- ‘Pirates’-themed activities and days and Saturdays from today workshops from 3pm to 9pm until July 29, between 3pm and daily. 9pm. It is suitable for children One can grab a Treasure Map aged 4-12 years and takes place at the registration desk to co- in the Clouds Node. ordinate their plan of action and LEGO is bringing a fun, enter- easily navigate through the mall taining and engaging play area to take part in the activities. for the younger ones to enjoy. The participants pose for a picture. Visitors can test their naviga- Up to 44 children each hour can tion skills with their family in get their hands on the best that Al Jazeera Academy teams take part in World Scholar’s Cup the Amazing Maze – they have LEGO has to off er. Little ones just 20 minutes to fi nd their from 18 months can enjoy the Al Jazeera Academy broke new and this competition provided Academy was also honoured to way through. Then, every hour, soft play area, while ground during the Eid holidays by many opportunities to develop be received by the Qatari ambas- Doha Festival City will take it to 2-5 year-olds play with LEGO having two teams represented at academic skills from collabora- sador to Vietnam Mohamed another level by arming partici- Duplo bricks that create up to the World Scholar’s Cup competi- tive writing exercises, scavenger Ismail al-Emadi, who supported pants with Nerf guns for a high- 915mn diff erent combinations. tion. More than 3,500 students hunts and team debates,” Al the competition as part of energy 20 minutes. The Amazing Summer activities at Doha Festival City. Children 6-12 years old will be from across the globe gathered Jazeera Academy said in a press Qatar’s attempts to develop its Maze takes place at the Centre tasked to use their creative im- in Hanoi, Vietnam, for the Global statement. The World Scholar’s National Vision 2030. “Academic Court daily from today until July skills against friends and family is suitable for all ages and takes agination to build and play. The Round of the competition. The Cup is more than just an competitions are a regular part 29, from 3pm to 9pm, and Nerf at the three-lane Pirate-bowling place in the Steps Node. activity takes place in the Enter- winners will be crowned in academic competition - it is an of the student life at Al Jazeera guns from 4pm to 9pm. Children alley - a high-energy activity to With Fishing Fun, children tainment Node on Thursdays, November at Yale University as opportunity for students to inter- Academy and by entering these aged 4-13 years can participate beat the heat and keep everyone will get the chance to test their Fridays and Saturday, from today World Scholars 2017. act on a global platform as over competitions we prove that Al in the Nerf ‘wars’, otherwise occupied. It will be held from hand-eye co-ordination using until July 29, from 3pm to 9pm. “Promoting academic excellence 60 nationalities are represented Jazeera can be competitive on the there are no age limits. today until July 29 (excluding special fi shing rods to collect Entry is free of charge for all is a core value of the school at the competition. Al Jazeera world stage,” the statement added. Visitors can also test their July 16-19), from 3pm to 9pm. It as many types of underwater these activities. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, July 6, 2017 QATAR

3 grants for 3,000 tonnes of Turkish foodstuff arrives Philippines simplifi es research on Arab family paperwork for OFWs structure

By Joey Aguilar hree research pro- Staff Reporter posals designed to Taddress emerging issues aff ecting the well- verseas Filipino workers (OFWs) globally being of the Arab family will soon be spared the task of obtaining have been awarded grants OOverseas Employment Certifi cates (OEC) through OSRA, a pro- with the introduction of a new identifi cation card, gramme launched by the the Philippine Overseas Labour Offi ce (POLO) in Doha International Family Doha has said. Institute (DIFI) in collabo- Set to be launched on July 12, the iDOLE (issued ration with Qatar National by the Philippine Department of Labour and Em- Research Fund (QNRF). ployment) will replace the OEC, which has been the OSRA, which means subject of complaints of OFWs when taking their “family” in Arabic, is a DIFI- vacations and returning back to work, it is learnt. QNRF joint initiative that “This is a welcome news not only for our OFWs unites researchers to study who will no longer need to queue up at government the challenges currently offi ces in Manila or at POLO offi ces when they go on facing Arab families across vacation, but also for the working men and women the region. of POLO,” labour attache David Des Dicang told It is designed to encour- Gulf Times. age research that can be POLO in Qatar alone accepts nearly 100 applica- used to develop a knowledge tions for OECs and receives some 100 requests for base about the Arab family. processing requirements (for example, verifi cation In this second cycle of of individual employment contracts) every day pri- the grant, DIFI and QNRF, or to the issuance of an OEC. a member of Qatar Founda- Dicang stressed that such work load does not in- tion Research and Devel- clude the numerous inquiries by e-mail, social me- opment, aim to encourage dia and telephone calls on how to get an OEC. Labour attache Dicang. PICTURE: Imelda Enrile research that contributes “Our staff can now focus on more important work to the development of ev- at hand. We will have more time and personnel to pany to another, those who moved from one coun- idence-based policies and help our kabayans (compatriots) in addressing their try to another, and those who were locally hired programmes on families, welfare and employment-related concerns,” Dicang while on a visit (or family) visa hope to be covered marriage, parenting, par- said. by the iDOLE. enthood and divorce. “We will now have more time to complete sub- In August last year, the Philippine Overseas Em- The call for propos- stantial reports.” ployment Administration abolished the OEC af- als, launched in December Once the initiative rolls out, POLO can focus on ter President Rodrigo Duterte issued a directive to 2016, saw strong interest more important and employment-related matters ease its process for both returning and newly-hired from both local and re- The Green Guatemala refrigerated cargo ship coming from the port of Izmir in Turkey recently of OFWs such verifying required documents sub- OFWs. gional academic research arrived at Hamad Port carrying 3,000 tonnes of miscellaneous foodstuff , the off icial Qatar News mitted by companies or employers. “The iDOLE is the best gift of our president to institutions, with 17 pro- Agency said. This is the first food shipment arrived via sea to reach Hamad Port from Turkey. This “We may also have a freer schedule now and bet- OFWs,” labour secretary Silvestre Bello III said in posals submitted as part was preceded by several shipments from Turkey by air cargo. PICTURE: Courtesy of Milaha ter opportunities in personally co-ordinating with recent reports. of the competitive review authorities (such as Qatar’s Ministry of Admin- Speaking to Gulf Times, United Filipino Organi- process. istrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs, sations in Qatar chairman Ressie Fos echoed the Priority was given to among others) instead of being bogged down by statement of Dicang saying that iDOLE is a wel- those proposals focused on Cardiology dept opens at Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Centre the menial task of processing the paper work that come development for OFWs, especially those who researching the eff ects of comes with the issuance of the OEC,” the labour at- take their vacations regularly. wars and confl ict on parent- Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical This facility is in addition to of handling all types of heart tache added. “OEC is a big hassle to all of us because its only child relationships within Centre has started a full-time services such as exercise diseases, including birth heart It is learnt that iDOLE will serve as a unifi ed ID purpose is to serve as a proof that we are OFWs, Arab families. The three cardiology department at its tolerance testing, resting ECG, defects, heart failure, heartbeat for OFWs’ Social Security System, PhilHealth and which exempt us from travel tax and airport termi- awarded proposals came C-Ring Road branch. blood pressure monitoring, ECG disorder as well as hypertension Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-Ibig) mem- nal fee. An ID is enough,” he pointed out. from the Doha Institute for A cardiologist will be available analysis and echocardiography, (blood pressure complaints), berships. The Duterte administration is also set to launch Graduate Studies, Qatar from Saturday to Thursday, from according to a statement. dyslipidemia (cholesterol However, Dicang said they still await the new ID’s an ‘OFW Bank’ in October this year, which form’s University and the Ameri- 9am to noon, and again from The management noted that new complaints), follow-up of offi cial guidelines from DOLE in Manila. part of his election campaign promises to Filipino can University of Beirut. 5pm to 10pm. the department is also capable angioplasty and bypass surgery. Filipino expatriates who transfer from one com- expatriates. Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 5 QATAR

A participant of the Cornell Stars programme performs a basic physical examination. Cornell Stars help trainee doctors learn new skills

edical students at Weill Cor- sented with children as ‘patients’. Dr dren “they have to take opportunities nell Medicine-Qatar (WCM- Amal Khidir, associate professor of when they present themselves”. MQ) participated in the Cornell paediatrics and organiser of the Cornell Usually a doctor will start at the Stars programme as part of WCM-Q’s Stars programme, said the event al- heart and lungs of young child and go annual Introductory Clerkship Course, lowed young children to be educators to on to the abdomen, before examining where faculty and staff members bring teach the medical students at WCM-Q. the ears and fi nally the nose and throat in their own children so that the stu- “We are trying to role model what so as to minimise any distress. dents can learn the best techniques for a paediatrician does, the best ways of Dr Mai Mahmoud, assistant pro- examining youngsters while also en- engaging a child and their family, and fessor of medicine and director of the suring they remain relaxed and happy. how to persuade the child to allow Introductory Clerkship Course, added: Using the mock surgeries at WCM- themselves to be examined. “The Cornell Stars programme is in- Q’s state-of-the-art Clinical Skills We show the students how to per- credibly important to the development Centre, the students, who are all head- form a basic physical examination and and education of our students as fully- ing into the third year of the medical the creative ways that paediatricians rounded doctors.” curriculum, perform a basic physi- use to soothe the child, keep them calm Mahmoud also thanked Dr Najla cal examination of the children under and get them to comply; for example, Sharahil of Hamad Hospital, Dr Wail the guidance of WCM-Q faculty and we might let them listen to their heart- Ali Seleem and Dr Abdussalam Shah doctors from Hamad Medical Corp, Al beat with the stethoscope.” of Al Wakra Hospital, Dr Sharda Udassi Wakra and Sidra hospitals. She said the nature of the examina- and Dr Amin Salem from Sidra Medical A total of 45 medical students took tion is opportunistic and that with an and Research Center, and Dr Moham- part in the Cornell Stars event and it adult, physicians would be methodical ud Verjee of WCM-Q for sharing their was the fi rst time they had been pre- and go from head to toe, but with chil- time and experience. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, July 6, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD

REFUGEES CONFLICT UNREST POLITICS OPINION NGOs urge probe into Beachgoers killed, flights Gunman shoots dead soldier President eases parole Egypt ‘ready’ to off er deaths of four Syrians halted by clashes at airport and two retired off icers conditions for Olmert help in Gaza Strip

Rights groups yesterday called for an independent Stray fire from fighting between armed groups that An unidentified gunman killed two retired military Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has eased parole Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said yesterday recent investigation into the deaths of four Syrians arrested control Libya’s Mitiga airport killed five people at a off icers and a soldier at a highway toll station restrictions on ex-prime minister Ehud Olmert, talks in Egypt could lead to improving the condi- after Lebanese army raids last week on a refugee nearby beach and forced the suspension of flights south of the Egyptian capital, the military said released from prison on Sunday after serving tions in the Gaza Strip. The head of the Palestinian camp in the country’s northeast. The Lebanese yesterday, authorities said. The clashes broke out yesterday. The deaths were “a result of a terrorist two-thirds of a 27-month sentence for corruption. movement said it found Egyptian off icials “ready army said the men, who were detained during raids Tuesday between the groups at Mitiga, a former individual opening fire on a toll collection station Olmert may now travel freely abroad and no to work to address the crises in Gaza” during a on refugee camps near the border down of Arsal, military airbase east of the capital Tripoli, and in al-Ayyat,” a town about 50 kilometres south of longer has to report to his local police station, a recent trip in which Hamas leaders, led by its Gaza died on Tuesday of pre-existing health conditions continued yesterday morning, witnesses said. A Cairo, the military said. It did not say when the at- presidential spokesman said on Tuesday. But he head Yahya Sinwar, met with Egyptian off icials in ahead of their interrogations. The announcement rocket from the clashes hit a beach across from the tack happened. The toll station is run by a compa- remains barred from standing for political off ice Cairo. “The Egyptian authorities issued a package of sparked swift allegations that the four Syrian men airport, killing a child and wounding 25 other people, ny under the military, according to the statement. for seven years. Olmert, the country’s first former measures and policies and fuel began to enter to the were tortured to death, particularly after images the health ministry said late Tuesday, before raising The Egyptian military operates in many civilians prime minister to serve jail time, was released on power plant, and work continues at the Rafah crossing emerged depicting a body with a bruised neck and the death toll to five. It was unclear what triggered fields, including building and maintaining roads. parole on Sunday. The 71-year-old, who served as to reopen it in the near future.The result will have the bloody face. AFP could not independently verify the fighting. But an airport off icial said flights were “The area is being combed in search for the premier between 2006 and 2009, was convicted eff ect of alleviating the burden of the siege against our whether the pictures were of one of the detainees. suspended as the clashes resumed yesterday. perpetrators,” the military said. of graft and entered prison in February 2016. people in the Gaza Strip,” Haniya said.

US envoy leading Key powers fail to nail anti-Palestinian ‘campaign’: offi cial down safe zones plan AFP Palestinian territories in June. Jerusalem Ashrawi said Haley was AFP “compounding the victimisa- Astana tion of the Palestinian people senior Palestinian of- and browbeating the institu- fi cial yesterday blasted tions that are meant to defend owerbrokers Russia, Tur- AUS President Donald their rights”. key and Iran failed yester- Trump’s United Nations en- The statement was distrib- Pday to iron out the details voy, accusing her of carrying uted by the PLO. of four safe zones in war-torn out a “campaign” against the Since being nominated by Syria after two days of peace Palestinian people. Trump after his November talks in Kazakhstan. Hanan Ashrawi, a senior victory, Haley has consistently Moscow and Tehran, which member of the Palestine Lib- accused the United Nations of back Syrian President Bashar eration Organisation, said systematic bias against Israel. al-Assad, and rebel supporter Nikki Haley was leading a The US vetoed the appoint- Ankara agreed in May to estab- “one-woman crusade... ment of a former Palestinian lish four “de-escalation” zones against Palestine and the prime minister as UN envoy to in a potential breakthrough af- Palestinian people individu- Libya, while Haley has called ter more than six years of fi ght- ally and collectively”. on UN Secretary General An- ing that has claimed more than “Through an obsessive and tonio Guterres to intervene to 320,000 lives. targeted campaign of intimi- block a forthcoming vote on While fi ghting dropped off in dation and threats, Miss Ha- the city of Hebron which de- the weeks after the deal, it has ley’s crusade does not miss an clares the West Bank city un- since returned in several ar- opportunity to put pressure on der threat. eas, and the international play- anyone that seeks to challenge Trump came to offi ce seek- ers have yet to agree the exact Israeli impunity,” she added. ing to pursue what he has boundaries of the zones or de- Ashrawi said Haley was ech- called the “ultimate deal” and termine who will police them. oing remarks by Israeli Prime has pledged to restart negotia- Chief Russian negotiator Al- Members of the Syrian opposition delegation attend the round on Syria peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, yesterday. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. tions between Israeli and Pal- exander Lavrentiev said seven Israeli foreign ministry estinian leaders. documents outlining how the Lavrentiev said that the bor- ster their infl uence. spokesman Emmanuel Nahs- But Arab media reports zones should work “need fi nal- ders of two zones — covering Lavrentiev said that it had hon defended Haley’s work. claim talks between the Pal- ising” despite being “essentially rebel-held parts of Homs prov- been agreed that Russian mili- “Small wonder Hanan estinian leadership and Trump agreed” between the three key ince and Eastern Ghouta near tary police carrying light weap- Ashrawi is unhappy — @nikki- and his team — including his powerbrokers in Astana. Damascus — have been agreed in ons would be involved in patrol- haley fi ghts for a fair treatment adviser and son-in-law Jared “We have not yet managed di- principle. ling buff er areas around some of of #Israel, exactly what the Kushner — have been frac- rectly to establish the de-escala- One major stumbling block the zones. #Palestinians don’t want...,” tious, allegations denied by tion zones,” Lavrentiev said, in- appears to be over who will en- He also accepted that a zone he wrote on Twitter. the Palestinians. sisting however that “de-facto” sure security in all four areas, meant to cover swathes of Palestinian offi cials have Ashrawi said Haley was safe zones already exist on the with Turkey and Iran in particu- southern Syria would likely need privately expressed increasing undermining the chances of ground. lar reportedly wrangling to bol- to involve the United States and alarm at the Trump adminis- peace by “pursuing her own Jordan in some capacity. tration’s pro-Israel stance as agenda consistent with her A source close to the Syrian the US president seeks to re- anti-Palestinian obsession Russia hits IS with advanced cruise missiles rebel delegation that attended start peace negotiations. and as an apologist for Israel”. the talks said that they would However until yesterday In December the United Na- Russian strategic bombers whether they were ready to refuse a proposal to have Iran they had publicly refrained tions Security Council adopt- fired advanced cruise missiles team up against Islamic State monitor the safe zone in central from criticising senior US of- ed a landmark resolution con- at Islamic State targets in Syria in Syria. The Russian Defence Homs province. fi cials. demning Israeli settlements in yesterday from a distance of Ministry said the attack was Turkish and Russian forces Displaced Syrians who fled with their families the Islamic State Haley visited Israel and the the Palestinian territories. 1,000 kilometres in a show of carried out by Tupolev-95MS are likely to be deployed in the controlled areas in Raqa, Deir Ezzor and Mayadeen gather at Aleppo’s force Moscow said demolished strategic bombers which had northern de-escalation zone’s bus station of Ramussa. three ammunition depots and a taken off from a base on Rus- “buff er territory, separating the AVIATION command post. sian soil and refuelled mid-air opposition and regime” in parts A working group of experts ment broader political negotia- Emirates flights exempt from laptop ban Moscow carried out the attack before firing at targets on the of Idlib and neighbouring Aleppo from Russia, Iran and Turkey tions the United Nations is back- just two days before President border between the Hama and province, the source suggested. is set to meet in Tehran on Au- ing in Geneva, which are due to Emirates airline announced yesterday that it had won an exemption Vladimir Putin and US coun- Homs provinces. The lack of progress shows gust 1-2 to try to thrash out the restart next week. from a US ban on passengers taking laptops and tablet computers on terpart Donald Trump are due “The strikes were carried out how tough the going has been for details, before another round Talking in Astana, UN Syria flights from its base in Dubai. Emirates is the third carrier after neigh- to hold heir first face-to-face using high-precision Kh-101 Moscow as it pushes the Astana of meetings in Astana later that envoy Staff an de Mistura said bouring Abu Dhabi’s Etihad and Turkish Airlines to win a reprieve from meeting at the G20 summit in missiles from a distance of talks in a bid to turn its game- month. there had been “small progress” the new rules Washington imposed three months ago on direct flights Hamburg, and after the Krem- about 1,000 kilometres,” the changing intervention on the The talks in Astana have in the work on de-escalating the from 10 airports in Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa. “The ban lin said they would discuss ministry said in a statement. side of Assad into a concerted largely seen the West sidelined, confl ict and called for “progress on electronic devices has been lifted with immediate eff ect for flights to push to pacify Syria. but they are intended to comple- on the political side”. destinations in the United States,” an airline spokesman said. Iraq forces battle in last IS holdouts

AFP sions yesterday made clear that the fi nal Mosul stage of the battle for the city was not yet over. Iraqi forces launched the operation to re- raqi forces battled the last Islamic State take Mosul on October 17, advancing to the group holdouts in Mosul yesterday, a city, recapturing its eastern side and then Iday after the country’s premier feted setting their sights on its smaller but more the “major victory” over the militants in the densely populated west. northern city. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces In neighbouring Syria, US-backed forces — an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fi ght- gained ground after air strikes by the inter- ers — have been battling IS in Syria, and national anti-IS coalition punched holes made gains yesterday in their drive to retake in the wall of the Old City in Raqqa, where Raqqa from the militants. they are waging a parallel off ensive against “The SDF advanced and captured the the militants. strategic Saif al-Dawlah road leading to- “Today, our advance was easier than wards the Old Mosque,” said Nuri al-Mah- yesterday,” said Lieutenant Colonel Haider moud, a spokesman for the Kurdish People’s Hussein, a commander in Iraq’s elite Coun- Protection Units (YPG), which makes up a ter-Terrorism Service. bulk of the SDF. “We took control of more than 200 metres The Syrian Observatory for Human today and there are less than 200 metres re- Rights monitoring group said the SDF had maining toward the Tigris River,” Hussein pushed forwards about 200 metres by mid- said, referring to the waterway marking the day (0900 GMT) yesterday. eastern edge of remaining IS-held territory “They are now approximately 300 metres in the city. from the Old Mosque — within fi ring range More than eight months since the start of of it,” said Observatory head Rami Abdel the operation, IS has gone from fully con- Members of Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) stand in a street in the Old City of Mosul Rahman. trolling Mosul to holding a limited area in yesterday, during the government forces’ ongoing off ensive to retake the city from Islamic Syria’s civil war provided fertile ground the Old City on its western side. State (IS) group fighters. for IS, which seized territory in that country But Iraqi troops in Mosul have faced tough and also overran large areas north and west fi ghting and a spike in suicide bombings in Decaying corpses gave off a stench of “It’s a street to street battle,” said Fatlawi, of Baghdad. recent days, commanders have said. death that permeated some streets, and a who expects the battle to be over in “a few The militants have since lost signifi - The militants “are using a new strategy in pool of half-dried blood spread out from the days”. cant ground, but the recapture of Mosul which they wait inside houses and when the door of one house. Despite the ongoing fi ghting, Prime Min- and Raqqa will not mark the end of the war soldiers enter the houses they fi re bullets or Streets were strewn with clothing and ister Haider al-Abadi congratulated Iraq’s against IS. blow themselves up,” Hussein said. other objects left by civilians who were fl ee- people, security forces and the religious IS holds other territory in both countries, The body of a woman said to have been ing the fi ghting. leadership “on the achievement of this ma- and is expected to revert to its insurgent suicide bomber shot before she could blow “The enemy is not a regular army,” said jor victory in Mosul” in remarks broadcast roots in Iraq, carrying out bombings and herself earlier in the day lay in the street Brigadier General Nabil al-Fatlawi, a CTS Tuesday night. hit-and-run attacks that were its hallmark near the house where the offi cer spoke. commander. But automatic weapons fi re and explo- in past years. Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 7 AFRICA 5 bodies spotted Zuma tries to quell in Ghana mine

AFP “We don’t want to have on our hands Accra any extra casualties,” he said. Despite the length of time since the collapse, local people said they believed succession battle ive bodies were spotted in an il- there were survivors. legal goldmine that collapsed in Local resident Francis Eshum said a AFP FGhana, a government offi cial said large crowd had gathered around the Soweto yesterday, as the search for at least 17 mine waiting for news. miners entered its fourth day. One anxious man said fi ve members The abandoned mine in Prestea- of his family members were trapped outh African President Jacob Nsuta, in the country’s Western Re- underground. Zuma yesterday sought to calm gion, caved in on Sunday afternoon “We are still hopeful they will be San increasingly fractious battle when the miners were resurfacing and able to rescue people, whether dead or to succeed him that is threatening to just one body has been recovered so far. alive,” Eshum told AFP. split the ruling African National Con- Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Lands “The atmosphere looks very sad. gress (ANC) party. and Natural Resources, Benito Owusu- We are still relying on the people who Zuma, who has been hit by cor- Bio, visited the site of the disaster and have gone underground...we are almost ruption scandals and the country’s said fi ve bodies had been seen in the helpless relying on them for any up- poor economic performance, will step mine. date.” down as ANC party head in December “The rescue team has informed us Eshum said the rescuers — made up and as national president ahead of the they have located so far a lot of bodies, of professional miners, police and sol- 2019 election. they can easily make out fi ve of them,” diers — were struggling to access those The next ANC chief should be on he told local radio station Empire FM. trapped in the mine, which is more than track to win the general election and “They can see there are others be- 80m deep. become South African president, but hind them, but they are involved in a lot “Everybody is worried by what is the party has recently suff ered a sharp of stone debris. They are clearing the happening,” he added. decline in popularity. debris then after that they will bring The accident has been blamed on Zuma, giving his closing address at them out.” small-scale illegal gold mining, known an ANC policy conference in Soweto An ambulance had been called in in Ghana as “galamsey”. outside Johannesburg, called for the case any victims could be saved, Owu- The government recently cracked party to drop its “winner takes all” at- su-Bio added. down on the activity after a national titude to the divisive leadership race. He said the rescue operation was campaign called for an end to the prac- “I believe we must get rid of fac- taking time in order to avoid further tice citing harmful eff ects on water- tions. The factions have become so collapses. ways and forests. deep,” he said. “We have almost have a situation where it looks like two organisations Kenya candidates pull out of election debate exist in one. We can’t have that. Do we want an ANC that is perpetually enya’s President Raila Kenyatta ruling Jubilee Party said yesterday, cit- destabilised, fi ghting among itself?” and his main rival Raila Odin- ing insuffi cient consultation and for- The two leading runners are Zu- Kga pulled out of two televised mat issues. ma’s ex-wife, former African Union presidential debates ahead of August 8 A party offi cial, speaking on condi- chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and elections, their parties said yesterday. tion of anonymity, said Jubilee had a deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, a South African President Jacob Zuma delivers a speech at the closing session of the South African ruling party African Initially the two frontrunners were to problem with the president debating wealthy former businessman. National Congress policy conference yesterday. go head to head while six smaller can- alongside “small” candidates. Zuma, who is seen as supporting didates would hold a separate match on “We cannot subject the president to Dlamini-Zuma’s campaign, called Critics accuse Zuma, 75, of fuelling ANC majority in the house. The clash between the two camps Monday, with a second debate on July 24. such kind of debate, but if it is him and for the ANC to have two party deputy factionalism and corruption since he Opposition parties are pushing for could provoke further political in- However offi cials in both parties Raila it is fi ne but for now it is a no from presidents to broaden its top leader- came to power in 2009, and of being in the vote to be held in secret, hoping stability in South Africa, which last said Kenyatta and Odinga decided to us,” the offi cial said. ship team. the sway of the Gupta business family, to encourage ANC lawmakers to vote month slipped into recession and also pull out after they got wind of plans Odinga’s team also said he would not “There is consensus that our move- allegedly granting them lucrative gov- him out of offi ce. is suff ering record unemployment. to change the format, pitting all eight take part due to the new format. “How do ment can no longer aff ord to totally ernment contracts. Both Dlamini-Zuma and Ramapho- The opposition Democratic Alli- candidates against each other. you really get into the meat of things in reject leaders who were preferred by He will face a vote of no confi dence sa were on stage for Zuma’s speech, ance party made gains in the 2016 lo- “President Uhuru Kenyatta will not just two minutes each,” said Odinga’s top a signifi cant number of members to in parliament on August 8, though which was greeted with lukewarm ap- cal elections and hopes to benefi t from participate in the presidential debates,” adviser Salim Lone. “It would be impos- lead,” he said. he is likely to survive due to the large plause from delegates. the ANC’s woes in the 2019 vote. David Murathe, vice chairman of the sible to have a substantive debate.” Gulf Times 8 Thursday, July 6, 2017 AMERICAS US can ‘counter any ICBM’ US forces conducted an intercept out of patience with Beijing’s eff orts to Russia and China, both permanent exercise to emphasise the point rein in North Korea. members of the Security Council, op- His administration has said all op- pose any attempt to resolve the crisis Reuters tions are on the table, military included, by force or by strangling North Korea Washington but suggested those would be a last re- economically, Russian Foreign Minister sort and that sanctions and diplomatic Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday. pressure were its preferred course. “The task of the denuclearisation of he US military assured Ameri- A 2015 UN document estimated that the entire Korean peninsula cannot and cans yesterday that it was ca- more than 50,000 North Korean work- should not be used as a disguise for at- Tpable of defending the United ers were earning currencies overseas tempts to change North Korea’s regime. States against any threat from North for the government, mostly in China This is our common position,” he told a Korea’s newly developed interconti- and Russia. news conference. nental ballistic missile (ICBM) which North Korea appeared to have used a The North’s state media said the Pyongyang says can carry a large nu- Chinese truck, originally sold for haul- missile, Hwasong-14, fl ew 933km, clear warhead. ing timber but converted for military reaching an altitude of 2,802km in its Taking a major step in its missile pro- use, to transport and erect the missile 39 minutes of fl ight. gramme, North Korea on Tuesday test- on Tuesday. Some analysts said the fl ight details launched an ICBM, which some experts David Pressman, who was deputy suggested the new missile had a range believe has the range to reach Alaska US envoy to the United Nations in the of more than 8,000km, which would and the Pacifi c Northwest of the United Obama administration, said the North put parts of the US mainland in range, States. Korean leadership seemed unaff ected a major advance in the North’s pro- The test, the fi rst of its kind by North by Security Council condemnations. gramme. Korea, triggered an emergency meeting “The Council can continue to adopt The launch was both earlier and “far of the UN Security Council yesterday robust resolutions, impose strong more successful than expected”, said and a call by Washington for global ac- coercive measures, and issue stern US-based missile expert John Schill- tion. condemnations, but...Kim Jong-un ing, a contributor to Washington- Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain doesn’t seem to care and Beijing has not based North Korea monitoring project Jeff Davis noted a successful test last proven itself serious about implement- 38 North. month in which a US-based missile ing those measures that are already in It would now probably only be a interceptor knocked down a simulated place,” Pressman said. year or two before a North Korean incoming North Korean ICBM. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive along with Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen, to Russia and China on Tuesday jointly ICBM achieved “minimal operational “So we do have confi dence in our welcome military families who have gathered for a Fourth of July picnic on the South Lawn of the White House. urged North Korea to suspend its bal- capability,” he added. ability to defend against the limited listic missile programme in return for a Experts say a reliable nuclear- threat, the nascent threat that is there,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying. The UN Security Council, currently whether Beijing is working with Wash- moratorium on large-scale military ex- tipped ICBM would require a small he told reporters. “He, with a broad smile on his face, chaired by China, will hold an emer- ington to counter the North Korean nu- ercises by the United States and South warhead to fi t a long-range missile, He acknowledged though that previ- told offi cials, scientists and technicians gency meeting on North Korea at 3pm clear threat. Korea. technology to protect against intense ous US missile defence tests had shown that the US would be displeased...as it (1900 GMT), requested by the United “Trade between China and North In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry heat as it re-enters the atmosphere, “mixed results”. was given a ‘package of gifts’ on its ‘In- States, Japan and South Korea. Korea grew almost 40% in the fi rst spokesman Geng Shuang said the joint separate the warhead and guide it to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dependence Day’,” KCNA said. Diplomats say Beijing has not been quarter. So much for China working statement showed the international its target. said the ICBM test completed his coun- Kim ordered them to “frequently fully enforcing existing international with us — but we had to give it a try!” community wanted dialogue and not South Korean President Moon Jae- try’s strategic weapons capability that send big and small ‘gift packages’ to the sanctions on its neighbour, and has he wrote on Twitter yesterday. antagonistic voices, as he also urged in said: “The situation was no longer also includes atomic and hydrogen Yankees,” it added. resisted tougher measures, such as an Leaders from the Group of 20 nations North Korea not to violate UN Security suffi cient to respond to the North’s bombs, the state KCNA news agency The missile test is a direct challenge oil embargo, bans on the North Korean meeting in Germany this week are due Council resolutions. provocation by making statements,” said. to US President Donald Trump who has airline and guest workers, and meas- to discuss steps to rein in North Korea’s “We hope relevant countries can according to his offi ce. Pyongyang will not negotiate with been urging China, North Korea’s main ures against Chinese banks and other weapons programme, which it has pur- maintain calm and restraint, and not The US and South Korean militaries the United States to give up those trading partner and only major ally, to fi rms doing business with the North. sued in defi ance of Security Council take steps that might worsen tensions conducted a ballistic missile test early weapons until Washington abandons press Pyongyang to give up its nuclear Trump denounced China’s trade sanctions. on the peninsula,” Geng told a daily yesterday in a show of force on the east its hostile policy against the North, program. with North Korea and cast doubt on Trump has indicated he is running briefi ng. coast of the Korean peninsula.

I-Day fireworks

The Empire State Building and the Christal Building are seen during the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks show from Queens, New York. Venezuelan pilot behind grenade attack reappears

AFP deadly political crisis, the possible from the opposition-led legislature. Perez appeared in a video released Caracas destitution of chief prosecutor Luisa That ruling helped spark the cur- online around the time of the attacks Ortega — the most senior fi gure to rent wave of protests. fl anked by four masked fi gures in defy Maduro — suggests a split in the As violence swelled, Ortega ac- black — two of them holding rifl es — Venezuelan helicopter pilot government that could tip the bal- cused police of killing protesters calling for an uprising. who vanished after dropping ance of power. — comments that enraged Maduro, He claimed support from mem- Agrenades on the Supreme Ortega, 59, refused to appear in who branded her a traitor. bers of the armed forces and bu- Court has reappeared in an online court Tuesday in a case she says was Pro-government lawmaker Pedro reaucracy opposed to the “criminal video, as justices yesterday con- trumped up by the authorities after Carreno has fi led charges against Or- government.” sidered whether to hold a trial that she defi ed Maduro. tega, alleging “serious errors in the Maduro branded the raid a “ter- would remove the country’s defi ant “I am not going condone a circus carrying out of her functions.” rorist attack” and part of an “escala- chief prosecutor. that will stain our history with shame He also alleged she was suff ering tion” by right-wing “coup” plotters. Oscar Perez — who claims sup- and pain and whose decision is fore- from “insanity” and should be fi red. He also put the military on alert. port from members of the military, told,” Ortega told reporters. The court held its hearing Tuesday In Tuesday’s video, Perez said the at- police and public servants — urged “I have committed no crime nor in her absence and said afterwards tacks were carried out as planned. Venezuelans in the video posted errors and I am not going to submit it would decide within fi ve days “We only damaged structures... late Tuesday to “stand fi rm in the to this unconstitutional and illegiti- whether to send her to trial and sus- there was no collateral damage be- streets” in their protests against so- mate court,” she said. “We already pend her from offi ce. cause that’s what was planned, be- cialist President Nicolas Maduro. know that today I will be removed In the video, 36-year-old Perez, cause we’re not murderers...like you, At least 91 people have been killed from my post.” who is also an elite cop and movie Mr. Maduro,” Perez says, pointing at in street protests that have rocked Ortega accuses Maduro of violat- actor, urged the protesters not to the camera. the socialist Maduro government ing the constitution with his plan to give up. “The moment is now, not Perez said his group would join over the past three months. hold a special assembly to rewrite the tomorrow. The moment to wake up the protests. “We will go out in the On Tuesday anti-government document. is now,” he says. “Let’s stand fi rm in streets and will be with you. You are protesters blocked streets in Caracas Opponents say this “constituent the streets.” not alone,” he said. and elsewhere. Protesters blame Ma- assembly” will be packed with allies On June 27, Perez and unidentifi ed The opposition Democratic Unity duro for Venezuela’s desperate eco- that will allow him to cling to power. accomplices fl ew over Caracas in a Roundtable (MUD) coalition has dis- nomic crisis. He blames the chaos on She had earlier accused the pro- police helicopter and dropped four tanced itself from the attack. Many a US-backed conspiracy. government Supreme Court of un- grenades on the Supreme Court be- people suspect that Perez might be a While Perez’s dramatic actions dermining democracy through a fore opening fi re on the interior min- frontman hired by the government to may be a sideshow in the country’s short-lived ruling that seized power istry. There were no casualties. justify its crackdown on opponents. Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 9 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

OUTBREAK ACCIDENT ‘CHARACTER TEST’ HEALTHCARE WEATHER WOES Malaysia hit by first rabies Indonesian plane feared to Australia sends citizens Foreign cancer experts Thousands evacuated as deaths in almost 20 years have crashed in Papua into immigration detention called in to treat Xiaobo heavy rains pelt Japan

Two Malaysian children have died after A small plane carrying five people is believed Two dual Australian citizens were wrongly sent The Chinese hospital caring for cancer-stricken Heavy rain and overflowing rivers in southern contracting rabies, the country’s first such deaths to have crashed in Indonesia’s eastern Papua to immigration detention centres after they were Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo has decided to invite Japan have forced the evacuation of almost in almost two decades, as authorities battle a rare province, an off icial said yesterday, with a search apparently found to have failed “character tests” US, German and other foreign experts to treat 400,000 people, public broadcaster NHK said outbreak of the disease, off icials said yesterday. A and rescue mission underway. Authorities lost required of foreign visa holders, Australian media him in China following international pressure yesterday. “Rivers are bursting their banks and six-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother died contact with the Pilatus Porter PC-6 aircraft at reported yesterday. The two men were detained to let him go abroad. The legal bureau of there are landslides,” chief cabinet secretary Tuesday after becoming infected with the disease midday yesterday after it took off on a short after being released from prison, where they Shenyang — the northeastern city where Liu is Yoshihide Suga told reporters. “This could lead in a rural area on the Malaysian part of Borneo flight across the remote, mountainous region. previously served time for committing serious being treated — said in a statement yesterday to large-scale damage.” In Fukuoka Prefecture, island. They were among three people confirmed “We have found the co-ordinates of the plane, crimes, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. the invitation was made “at the request” of about 375,000 people were ordered to evacuate to have been infected with rabies, according to though we still need to find the exact location. Guardian Australia said the two men were both New Liu’s family. China has faced global calls to give as swollen rivers threatened to inundate homes. In Sarawak’s local government and housing minister In that area, it can be assumed the plane has Zealand-born and had been sent to the Christmas the democracy campaigner the option to get neighbouring Oita Prefecture, more than 21,000 Sim Kui Hian. “Two of the three confirmed cases... crashed,” Yusuf Latif, a spokesman at the search Island detention centre, in the Indian Ocean. They treatment abroad since it emerged last month people have been ordered to leave heir homes, were pronounced dead,” he said. “They were and rescue agency, told AFP. The plane was were “immediately” released however, after the that he was transferred from prison to a hospital according to NHK. People forced from their homes diagnosed to be brain dead and the parents have carrying three passengers and two crew, with immigration department identified that the men after he was diagnosed with terminal liver were staying in evacuation centres in schools and agreed for the life support to be withdrawn.” the pilot believed to be European, he said. were also Australian citizens, the Herald reported. cancer. government buildings on high ground.

Singapore sends back ‘radicalised’ N Korea says ICBM can Indonesia maids

AFP Singapore carry nuclear warhead ingapore has repatriated two Indonesian maids it said were radicalised online, one of whom Reuters ers, and stop providing economic adopt robust resolutions, impose Swanted to travel to Syria with her foreign boy- Seoul or military benefi ts to North Korea,” strong coercive measures, and is- friend to join the Islamic State (IS) group. the White House said in a state- sue stern condemnations, but the Second Home Aff airs Minister Desmond Lee told ment. fact of the matter is that Kim Jong parliament the discovery of the two brought to nine orth Korea said yesterday The missile launch came days Un doesn’t seem to care and Beijing the number of radicalised foreign domestic workers its newly developed inter- before leaders from the Group of has not proven itself serious about uncovered by the city-state since 2015. Ncontinental ballistic missile 20 nations are due to discuss steps implementing those measures that All have been repatriated. (ICBM) can carry a large nuclear to rein in North Korea’s weapons are already in place,” Pressman said. The affl uent island-republic’s leaders have warned warhead, triggering a call by Wash- programme, which it has pursued in Trump is due to meet Chinese it is a prime target for a terror attack because of its ington for global action to hold it defi ance of United Nations Security President Xi Jinping and Russian strong stand against terrorism and reputation as a re- accountable for pursuing nuclear Council sanctions. President Vladimir Putin during a gional fi nancial centre. weapons. The test successfully verifi ed the G20 meeting in Germany this week. The city-state is also supporting the US-led inter- A spokeswoman for the US De- technical requirements of the newly Russia and China joined diplo- national coalition against IS with non-combat assist- fense Department said it had con- developed ICBM in stage separa- matic forces on Tuesday and called ance like air-to-air refuelling. cluded that North Korea on Tues- tion, the atmospheric re-entry of for North Korea to suspend its bal- Lee said in response to a question in parliament day test-launched an ICBM, which the warhead and the late-stage listic missile program in return for a that the two Indonesian maids were IS supporters some experts believe has the range control of the warhead, KCNA said. moratorium on large-scale military who were “radicalised through social media”. to reach Alaska and the Pacifi c A 2015 UN document estimated exercises by the United States and “One of them intended to travel to Syria with her Northwest of the United States. that more than 50,000 North Ko- South Korea. foreign boyfriend to join ISIS,” he said, using another US Secretary of State Rex Tiller- rean workers were overseas earn- In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Min- name for IS. son said the test, on the eve of the ing currencies for the government, istry spokesman Geng Shuang said No details were given for the seven other maids re- US Independence Day holiday, rep- with the vast majority in China and the joint statement showed the in- patriated earlier. resented “a new escalation of the Russia. ternational community wanted di- While none of the nine maids intended to carry out threat” to the United States and its North Korea appeared to have alogue and not antagonistic voices, attacks in Singapore, “we cannot condone support allies, and vowed to take stronger A South Korean Defence Ministry handout photo of a US M270 Multiple used a Chinese truck, originally as he also urged North Korea not to for any radical ideologies...whether by locals or for- measures. Launch Rocket System firing an MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile into the sold for hauling timber, but con- violate UN Security Council resolu- eigners,” Lee said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un East Sea from an undisclosed location yesterday. verted for military use, to transport tions. Hundreds of thousands of foreign maids and con- said the test completed his coun- and erect the missile on Tuesday. “We hope relevant countries can struction workers are based in Singapore, one of try’s strategic weapons capability Kim ordered them to “frequently business with the North. Trump has indicated he is run- maintain calm and restraint, and Asia’s wealthiest economies. that includes atomic and hydrogen send big and small ‘gift packages’ to Trump denounced China’s trade ning out of patience with Beijing’s not take steps that might worsen Singapore in 2015 and 2016 arrested 40 “radical- bombs and ICBMs, the state KCNA the Yankees,” it added. with North Korea and cast doubt eff orts to rein in North Korea. tensions on the peninsula,” Geng ised” Bangladeshi workers who it said were plotting news agency said. US President Donald Trump has on whether Beijing is working with His administration has said all told a daily briefi ng. violence in their homeland. Pyongyang will not negotiate been urging China, North Korea’s Washington to counter the North options are on the table, military The US and South Korean mili- All but six — currently serving jail terms for terror- with the United States to give up main trading partner and only ma- Korean nuclear threat. included, but suggested those taries conducted a ballistic missile ism and terrorist fi nancing — have been repatriated. those weapons until Washington jor ally, to press Pyongyang to give “Trade between China and North would be a last resort and that test yesterday in a show of force on The convicted ringleader, Rahman Mizanur, was abandons its hostile policy against up its nuclear program. Korea grew almost 40% in the fi rst sanctions and diplomatic pressure the east coast of the Korean penin- jailed for fi ve years last year. the North, KCNA quoted Kim as Diplomats say Beijing has not quarter. So much for China work- were its preferred course. sula. He had tried several times to join IS in Syria but saying. been fully enforcing existing inter- ing with us — but we had to give it a David Pressman, who served as The South said the drill aimed to could not get visas to Turkey or Algeria, court docu- “He, with a broad smile on his national sanctions on its neighbour, try!” Trump wrote on Twitter yes- deputy US envoy to the United Na- showcase the ability to strike at the ments showed. face, told offi cials, scientists and and has resisted tougher measures, terday. tions in the Obama administration, North’s leadership if necessary. He and a group of other Bangladeshis working in technicians that the US would be such as an oil embargo, bans on In a phone call with Egyptian said the North Korean leadership The North’s state media said the Singapore had planned to violently overthrow the displeased...as it was given a ‘pack- the North Korean airline and guest President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, seemed unaff ected by UN Security missile, Hwasong-14, fl ew 933km, Bangladeshi government and establish a caliphate age of gifts’ on its ‘Independence workers, and measures against Chi- Trump urged all countries to “stop Council condemnations. reaching an altitude of 2,802km in there, according to the documents. Day’,” KCNA said. nese banks and other fi rms doing hosting North Korean guest work- “The Council can continue to its 39 minutes of fl ight. They also collected funds to support their cause.

Hanoi set to ban motorbikes by New Hong Kong leader strikes a conciliatory 2030 to curb pollution, traffi c tone in fi rst week after taking offi ce

By Tran Thi Minh Ha, AFP meeting on Tuesday. “excessive” levels of PM2.5 — Reuters Hanoi Offi cials said the number fi ne particulate matter harmful Hong Kong of vehicles was growing at an to human health — last year, ac- “alarming” rate, according to a cording to non-governmental ffi cials in Vietnam’s report on the city government’s group GreenID, citing World ew Hong Kong leader traffi c-choked capi- website. Health Organisation guidelines. Carrie Lam struck a con- Otal Hanoi have vowed “Traffi c jams and air pollu- The Hanoi government is Nciliatory tone yesterday to banish motorbikes by 2030 tion will become serious in the rolling out an air monitoring and vowed to improve ties with to ease environment and con- future if no immediate manage- system in an eff ort to make Ha- the legislature, but she suggested gestion woes, a decision that ment measures are in place,” the noi “green and clean and civi- fresh reforms to bring greater swiftly divided a city where report said. lised so that people living and democracy to the Chinese city two-wheelers are the main The ban will be implemented working here have a high qual- would not be tabled any time means of transportation. in metropolitan districts and ity of life”, Nguyen Trong Dong, soon. Hanoi is famed for legions public transport options would the head of the city’s environ- The former British colony cel- of motorbikes — sometimes be increased to wean people off ment department told AFP last ebrated the 20th anniversary of stacked with entire families their scooters, the report added. month. its return to Chinese rule on Sat- or overloaded with deliver- The number of registered On social media, some peo- urday, when Chinese President ies — that clog roads in a fast- motorbikes in Vietnam is ple decried the motorbike ban Xi Jinping visited the city and growing city with limited public among the highest in Southeast announcement — questioning warned that it should crack down transportation. Asia, and offi cials in Hanoi have whether the government will on moves towards “Hong Kong There are 5mn motorbikes long-mulled banning the bikes really off er viable public trans- independence”. among a population of about in an eff ort to modernise the port alternatives as promised. In 2014, Lam spearheaded 7mn, compared to half a million city along the lines of Seoul or “This idea is totally insane,” government eff orts to push cars on the road. Tokyo. said offi ce worker Hoang Thuy through a contentious, Beijing- In a country where the aver- Some welcomed the move, Duong, who rides a motorbike backed political reform package age annual wage is still around saying the ban is crucial to to work daily. that would have allowed a direct $2,200, the aff ordability of cleaning up Hanoi’s air, which “Motorbikes are the best vote for the city’s next leader. motorbikes makes them ubiq- is notoriously smoggy in the means of transportation in However, China’s demand uitous. winter months. Hanoi. I doubt authorities can that all candidates fi rst be pre- Yet critics have blamed the “Too many private cars, too replace them with public vehi- screened by a largely pro-Beijing emissions-heavy motorbikes many motorbikes... cles,” she told AFP. committee partly helped to trig- for Hanoi’s deteriorating air the quality of air is really bad Hanoi does not have a metro ger the 79-day “Occupy” pro- quality and worsening traffi c and the decision made today system, only public buses which democracy civil disobedience congestion. will improve that,” economist account for 12 % of travel de- movement later that year. The decision to ban motor- and transport expert Luong mand in the city. The political reform package bikes by 2030 was approved by Hoai Nam told AFP. Offi cials say they plan to was eventually vetoed in 2015 by 95 out of 96 city councillors at a The city clocked 282 days of boost that share to around 50% opposition lawmakers who de- Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam speaks during her first question and answer session at the by 2030. scribed it as “fake democracy”. Legislative Council in Hong Kong yesterday. Construction of a sky train in Hong Kong’s mini-constitu- the city has been repeatedly de- tion, the Basic Law, guarantees been very sensitive, very com- spent about an hour answering anyone. It’s because this is a place layed but is slated to open next wide-ranging autonomy and plicated and very diffi cult,” Lam lawmakers’ questions in a spe- to discuss policies and to do work year. universal suff rage as an “ulti- told lawmakers. cially arranged meeting, where for the people,” Lam said. Some said limiting individ- mate aim”, but Lam played down “If I...restart political reform the mood appeared less hostile “In the past few years we saw ual vehicle use is not eff ective the prospects of fresh political immediately, such that the soci- compared with sessions involv- confl ict and fi ghts, with people without effi cient public trans- reforms being revived any time ety becomes embroiled in serious ing her predecessor, the unpopu- pulling out their swords and bows. port in place. soon. confl icts again and the economy lar Leung Chun-ying. This made me a bit sad,” she said. “When you just employ ban- Beijing offi cials have also sug- and livelihood issues come to She stressed her desire to im- Lam also said she would bring ning as one measure they never gested Hong Kong won’t be given a standstill, then as the person prove the executive’s relations forward her maiden policy ad- succeed,” said Jung Eun Oh, a second chance for democratic with the utmost responsibility, I with the legislature. dress to October from January, senior transport specialist at reforms. would have failed,” she said. “I like coming to the Legislative with land and housing, education Motorcyclists cross an intersection in downtown Hanoi. the World Bank in Vietnam. “Political reform has always Lam, in her fi rst week in offi ce, Council. I don’t say this to fl atter and the economy her priorities. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, July 6, 2017 BRITAIN

WARNING TREND LAW AND ORDER OFFBEAT PEOPLE Crash fears grow as Young travellers are Police face £300,000 bill Restaurant diners get ‘Inspirational’ DJ dies after house prices soar shunning capital: report as dog bites autistic man kit to take better photos blogging his cancer battle

House prices in the capital are rising in value London is facing the threat of losing out as a Met chiefs are facing a £300,000 court bill A restaurant is embracing the trend for diners A London DJ who documented his cancer in each year by more than what their owners “must” destination for young travellers who after an autistic man was bitten by an out-of- to photograph their food — by providing a an inspirational online diary has lost his six- receive in salary, figures show, prompting want to study, tour and work here, a report control police dog. Mohamed Azklany, 26, was “foodie Instagram pack” to help them make month battle against the illness. Ben Smith, crash fears. Research by Santander shows that warned. The youth, student and educational left covered in blood following the attack by the images better. Dirty Bones, in Soho, is 38, died with family members at his bedside. from 2015 to 2016 property prices in London travel sector is worth £22bn a year to the UK and German shepherd Karly in July 2012. Off icers off ering diners a kit including a LED light, a Smith released his debut record a few days rose by an average of 11%, or £46,370. That is the annual total of 14.9mn young foreign visitors had been called out to a disturbance when the portable charger, a clip-on lens and a tripod before being admitted to hospital where he was significantly higher than average annual pay in is 38% of all tourists. But the British Educational dog, which was not on her lead, leapt on Azklany selfie stick. Cokey Sulkin, founder and director diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma. He was the capital which is £37,114. Estate agents say Travel Association says visa restrictions, high and clamped her teeth down on his leg. When of operations at the New York-inspired hot admitted to Barts Hospital before Christmas with this shows what a sound investment London accommodation costs and a perceived hostility Azklany sued for damages, the Met fought the dog and cocktail joint, said: “The people that back pain. Tests revealed a type of lymphoma, property is but some in the City warn prices towards foreigners since the Brexit vote mean case, claiming Karly had been on a leash and typically visit Dirty Bones tend to be very which left him paralysed from the waist down. could fall. Paul Cheshire, a professor of economic one in five young people initially wanting to only let loose when the suspect tried to run active on social media, and on Instagram in The tumour around his spine cleared following geography at the London School of Economics, come here pick other destinations. Last year away. But a jury at Central London County Court particular. This definitely keeps us on our toes, chemotherapy and his family believed he was said: “We are due for a correction in house the number of young tourists dropped to below ruled against the force, leaving the Met with an and ensures that we are constantly striving to recovering. However, a few weeks ago more prices. I think we are beginning to see signs that 2014 levels, and the number of English language estimated £300,000 legal costs bill as well as an create creative cocktails and dishes that are cancer cells were found, around his lungs.” He correction may be starting.” students fell by 9%. order to pay Azklany £45,000 compensation. both delicious and visually appealing.” died on Monday last week.

May backs Official visit hospital Govt sends in caring for critically taskforce to run ill baby

Reuters Kensington and London

rime Minister Theresa May yesterday said she was con- Pfi dent the London hospital caring for a critically ill baby would Chelsea council consider any off ers of help after his case attracted the attention of US Guardian News and Media The new team is expected to be had accepted off ers of temporary President Donald Trump and the London phased in as the current Grenfell accommodation. pope. Tower response team is gradually Gwynne said: “Despite being The case of 10-month-old wound down. a clear admission of failure, this Charlie Gard, who has a form of specialist taskforce is to be The taskforce stops short of is a half measure that does not go mitochondrial disease — a rare sent in to Kensington and demands from the shadow com- far enough to address the woe- genetic condition that causes AChelsea council to take munities secretary, Andrew fully inadequate performance of progressive muscle weakness and over the running of key services Gwynne, and London mayor, Kensington and Chelsea council brain damage — has gained global following the Grenfell Tower fi re. Sadiq Khan, for ministers to ap- throughout this crisis. interest after his parents lost a long The Communities Secretary, point external commissioners “It is clear that the commu- legal battle to give him experimen- Sajid Javid, has announced an in- to take over the running of the nity has lost trust in their coun- tal therapy in the US. dependent recovery taskforce to whole council. cil. Sajid Javid needs to fi nally Trump tweeted an off er of help help the borough cope. It is ex- It amounts to another admis- show some leadership by bring- on Monday, a day after Pope Fran- pected to manage the council’s sion of the scale of the failure at ing in external commissioners cis off ered prayers for Gard and his housing, regeneration, commu- what was regarded as an eff ective – in consultation with residents family. nity engagement and governance council until the fi re, but Labour themselves – to make sure eve- The Vatican-owned paediatric services. said it did not go far enough. ryone in the borough is getting hospital in Rome has also said it is Separately, Sir Martin Moore- It follows the departure of the the support they need.” ready to take over the care of the Bick, the retired judge chairing the chief executive Nicholas Holgate a Labour MP Andy Slaughter, baby. inquiry into the fi re, has launched week after the fi re and then, after a former opposition council- “I am confi dent that Great Or- a consultation into its terms of much criticism, the resignation lor in Kensington and Chelsea, mond Street hospital have and reference after ministers hinted it of council leader Nicholas Paget- dismissed the taskforce plan as always will consider any off ers or could be broadened to satisfy the Brown and his deputy and housing “another sticking plaster”. new information that has come concerns of residents. chief, Rock Feilding-Mellen. On Speaking to Sky’s Talking Pol- forward with consideration of After his appointment, Moore- Monday, Kensington and Chelsea itics, he said: “This is the worst the well-being of a desperately ill Bick warned residents that he had elected the former education cab- of all worlds. Clearly Kensing- child,” May told parliament. been asked to conduct a narrow inet member Elizabeth Campbell ton can’t cope. The new leader Charlie’s parents wanted him inquiry, but he now says he wants to replace Paget-Brown. is part of the old regime … some to undergo a US therapy trial but to “consider a broad range of evi- Campbell said she had called of the services will be taken over specialists at the London hospital dence”. on Javid for more help. She said: but the same old crew will still be where he is being cared for said the Launching consultation on the “The unprecedented scale of this in charge. There is not a clarity of treatment was experimental and scope of the inquiry, he said: “I incident makes it impossible for who is in charge and it is not de- would not help. want to hear from people directly one organisation to cope on its cisive enough.” The Supreme Court ruled last aff ected by the fi re and others in- own. That’s why my fi rst action The move was given a cautious month that going to the US for volved, to listen to their views on as leader was to ask DCLG for welcome by Labour’s Karen treatment would prolong the ba- the shape of the inquiry’s work help, and I’m delighted they have Buck, who represents the neigh- by’s suff ering without any realistic and the questions we should be been so swift to respond. bouring area of Westminster prospect of helping him. Charlie’s seeking to answer.” “I look forward to working with North, but in a tweet she called parents also lost their case in the Announcing the new taskforce, their staff as we all concentrate for residents to be involved. European Court of Human Rights. Javid said: “The scale of the recov- our eff orts on healing the wounds The Huff Post UK, which fi rst Meanwhile, Foreign Minis- ery eff ort needed on the Lancaster in the north of our borough and to reported the taskforce plan, said ter Boris Johnson told his Italian West estate in the months to come regain the trust of a community the council’s other services were counterpart yesterday that legal cannot be underestimated … This traumatised by disaster.” rated highly and so would not be reasons prevented Charlie’s trans- intervention is putting in place the A team from other councils taken over. fer to Rome. foundations that will support the was ordered into the council It said Javid would use the “Minister Johnson expressed longer-term recovery.” days after the fi re to deal with precedent of Birmingham city gratitude and appreciation for the Details of the move, which fol- the emergency response. The council, where an independent Italian off er but explained that le- lows heavy criticism of the coun- Grenfell Response Team admit- improvement panel was sent in gal reasons prevent Britain from Prime Minister Theresa May greets Ukraine’s Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman at cil’s response to the disaster, will ted yesterday that only 14 of the with the council’s agreement accepting it,” a statement from the Downing Street in London yesterday. be confi rmed in a written state- 158 families evacuated from the to turn around its fi nances and Italian foreign ministry read. ment to MPs. tower and nearby Grenfell Walk governance. ‘Workers exploitation’ at Queen meets Trudeau ‘87 recoveries’ made from Grenfell Tower

Glastonbury riles Corbyn searching by hand through tonnes Guardian News and Media London of debris recovered from each fl oor Reports claimed 700 people hour contracts but other forms He stressed that a Labour of the 24-storey block. were hired as litter pickers of exploitation – bogus self- government would outlaw the Cundy said: “This will involve only to be told at the last employment, fake agency work- kinds of practices claimed to olice investigating the Gren- us meticulously going through minute they were not needed ing and so on.” have been used at the festival. fell Tower fi re have recov- about 15.5 tonnes of debris on each Corbyn appeared on the fes- The Independent reported that Pered 87 sets of human re- fl oor to fi nd those human remains Guardian News and Media tival’s Pyramid stage, where the up to 700 people were hired as mains but cannot confi rm they are that are still within the debris in- London crowd of tens of thousands re- litter pickers only to be told at from 87 individuals. side Grenfell Tower. peatedly chanted: “Oh, Jeremy the last minute they were not In an update on the investi- “We will use all the information Corbyn,” weeks after depriving needed. The festival organisers gation, the Metropolitan police we have, especially what we have abour has condemned the Theresa May of her majority at have not yet responded to the commander, Stuart Cundy, said: been told by survivors and fami- use of zero-hours con- the general election. claims. “In total we have made 87 recov- lies, to prioritise our search where Ltracts for workers at Glas- He told the audience: “The Asked whether Cor- eries, but I must stress that the we believe we may fi nd more hu- tonbury festival, where Jeremy commentariat got it wrong, the byn would raise the issue catastrophic damage inside Gren- man remains. This will take us Corbyn made a high-profi le ap- elite got it wrong. Politics is with Glastonbury’s founder, fell Tower means that is not 87 many months, but we will search pearance last month. about the lives of all of us. The Michael Eavis, if he attends people.” each and every fl at. Reports claim hundreds of wonderful campaign I was a part the next festival, the spokes- These were last of the visible “Such is the devastation caused workers were hired from other of and led brought people back man said: “I think he’s happy human remains left in the Tower, by the fi re that it may be that, trag- EU countries to work as lit- to politics because they believed to raise it right now.” he said. “Until formal identifi ca- ically, we cannot fi nd or identify all ter pickers – with many fi nding there was something on off er for And to the question of wheth- tion has been completed to the those who lost their lives.” themselves unexpectedly dis- them.” er festival-goers should pay coroner’s satisfaction, I cannot say So far police have spoken to at missed after just two days’ work. His spokesman said: “There more for their tickets to allow how many people have now been least one person from 106 of the Asked about the allegations, has been an explosion of in- workers to be better remuner- recovered.” 129 fl ats in the building. Investi- Corbyn’s spokesman said: “Jer- secure employment and zero- ated, Corbyn’s spokesman said: Last month Scotland Yard gators have been unable to trace emy and the Labour party have hours contracts, and we are “How Glastonbury runs its warned it could take until the end anyone from the remaining 23 taken a very strong stand against opposed to that, and in our event and how it manages its of the year or longer to be sure how fl ats. the use of zero-hours contracts, manifesto we made clear that a fi nances is entirely a matter for many people died in the fi re, after “We assume that sadly no one and the exploitation of migrant Labour government will legis- them, but in terms of employ- raising the number of people pre- from any of those fl ats survived,” and other workers, and the spread late across the board to reform ment contracts, those contracts sumed dead to 80. Cundy said. “Until our search op- of all manner of insecure agency the labour market and ensure should not be taking place, they Queen Elizabeth greets Canada’s Prime Minister So far only 21 victims have been eration is complete, I cannot say working, and we would take that that there’s a floor under con- should not be used – we’re op- Justin Trudeau during an audience at the Palace of formally identifi ed. with any certainty how many peo- view wherever it happened. ditions at work that have been posed to them.” Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, yesterday. Anthropologists have been ple may have been in those fl ats, as “That goes not just for zero- savagely undermined.” brought in to advise investigators occupiers or visitors, that night.” Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 11 BRITAIN

LAW AND ORDER CRIME POLITICS DATA LEGAL Controlled explosions E-fit re-released in hunt Labour urges govt to drop Fall in shop prices Activists take govt to court carried out at airport for 1982 Poole rapist European court ‘red line’ eases, food soars: BRC again over ‘flawed’ air plan

One of three terminals at Manchester Airport An e-fit image of a man suspected of raping a The Labour Party called on the government to Prices in British shops fell in June at the Environmental lawyers yesterday took the was evacuated for several hours yesterday girl 35 years ago has been re-released by police. drop its “deeply unhelpful red line” in Brexit talks slowest annual pace since November 2013, government back to high court over its “flawed” while authorities investigated a suspicious Dawn Clark, who was 15 at the time and known over the European Court of Justice, saying it should the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said proposals to tackle toxic air. ClientEarth bag. The airport said routine baggage as Dawn Bridgeman, was attacked as she walked be more flexible to retain access to EU bodies. yesterday, adding it expects rising inflation launched the fresh legal action after dismissing screening had revealed “a bag which appeared alone in the east Alderney area of Poole on May Labour’s Brexit policy chief Keir Starmer said the pressure soon to prompt outright price the government’s latest air quality plan as too to contain a suspicious item.” Hundreds of 3, 1982. Clark has waived her right to life-long party understood that the future relationship increases. Overall shop prices declined 0.3% weak to deal quickly with nitrogen dioxide passengers were ushered out of Terminal anonymity in a bid to find her attacker. “I just with the European Court of Justice would have year-on-year in June, compared with a 0.4% levels. The group believes ministers have failed 3 as a bomb disposal team was called in to feel like he has turned my world upside down,” to change as Britain leaves the European Union. drop in May. However, food price component to suff iciently promote new charges against investigate. The Greater Manchester Police she said. Clark’s attacker put his arm around her But he said by ruling out any deal that would keep rose 1.4%, however. The Bank of England is vehicles belching dirty fumes as a measure force said bomb disposal officers conducted neck and held a knife to her throat before raping Britain under the jurisdiction of the court meant watching gauges of inflation closely as it to clean up the air. Air pollution is linked to an a series of controlled explosions on the bag. her in a wooded area near St Brelades Avenue. Prime Minister Theresa May has drawn a red line considers whether to raise interest rates from estimated 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK. The force said “the package is not believed to “It really changed my attitude towards men,” she that “would prevent any future involvement of their record low level. Last month the BoE said A Defra spokeswoman said: “Improving the UK’s be a viable device,” and the incident was not said. She added the attack had stopped her from an EU-UK court-like body, even when such an consumer price inflation, which stood at 2.9% air quality and cutting harmful emissions is a terrorism-related. maintaining a “normal relationship”. arrangement is in the national interest”. in May, could exceed 3% by autumn. priority for this government.” Doctors ‘forced Robot receptionist to beg NHS for treatment of patients’

Guardian News and Media tors still had to submit an IFR to London try to get 1,150 patients what they judged to be the care they needed. Wakefi eld CCG last year proc- rowing rationing of essed 122 requests involving healthcare is forcing mental health treatment, such as Gmore doctors to plead diagnosis of autism, treatment with the NHS to fund treatments for attention defi cit hyperactivity patients need, including cataract disorder, psychiatry and counsel- removals, new hips and knees, ling. But it approved just eight of and removal of varicose veins. them. A CCG spokeswoman said GPs and hospital consultants that patients nevertheless re- in England submitted 73,927 ex- ceived “timely and necessary ac- ceptional requests on behalf of cess” to psychological therapies. patients in 2016-17 in a bid to The true scale of denial of care persuade the NHS to fund drugs last year will be larger as the mag- or surgery they were initially de- azine only obtained full responses nied, an investigation by the BMJ from 169 CCGs. It discovered that has found. That was almost 50% Aylesbury Vale and Chiltern CCGs more than the 50,188 individual in Buckinghamshire recently de- funding requests (IFRs) doctors cided that all requests for a re- A robot clocked on for its first shift on reception at the Shoreditch off ices of media agency Brainlabs. The 4ft assistant Pepper has a screen in its chest and can identify put in to clinical commissioning placement hip or knee should be emotions and adapt its responses. At £26,000 it is cheaper than a human over time. But the firm said no one lost their job — and it wants to automate “basic work because groups (CCGs), the bodies that done by an IFR. The number of it leads to the creation of new jobs”. hold the NHS budget in local ar- IFRs for such procedures across eas, in 2013-14. England as a whole soared from 49 The revelations have prompt- in 2013-14 to 899 last year. ed fresh concern among doc- “Hip and knee replacements are tors and health experts that the some of the most clinically eff ec- cash-strapped NHS is increas- tive and economical treatments ingly denying patients treatments available on the NHS. Unfortu- that were routinely available until nately, patients needing hip and recently. The sick “have misguid- knee surgery have misguidedly edly become soft targets for NHS become soft targets for NHS sav- savings”, the Royal College of Sur- ings,” said Stephen Cannon, vice- geons (RCS) has said. president of the RCS. Brexit blamed for The BMJ’s fi ndings are based on The three CCGs in south Staf- freedom of information requests fordshire now require requests sent to England’s 207 CCGs, of to pay for procedures it deems which 192 responded. Just over of “low clinical value” to be ac- 50,000 IFRs were submitted in companied by an IFR. As a result, both 2013-14 and 2014-15. But the number of IFRs it receives has that suddenly rose by almost 20% shot up from 416 in 2014-15 to to 60,425 in 2015-16 and then by 7,000 last year. huge rail fare surge about a fi fth yet again to last year’s Richard Vautrey, a GP in Leeds total of 73,927. who is also deputy chairman of London Evening Standard squeeze on living standards un- crease would be almost double belt MP and Transport Secretary Nicky Morgan said: “Those of us The commonest reason for an the British Medical Association’s London leashed by last year’s vote to leave average pay rises in the country, Chris Grayling, the rise will be who voted to Remain have always IFR last year was for surgery to re- GPs committee, said NHS bosses the European Union. according to latest fi gures. £76.90 from £1,972 to £2,048.90 been worried about Brexit having move unsightly skin, such as skin needed to have “an open and hon- Regulated fares, which in- For London workers liv- if they use Epsom station. a negative impact on household tags. Doctors did that on behalf of est discussion” on rationing of undreds of thousands clude season and other com- ing in Theresa May’s Maiden- The spike in infl ation that will budgets and this appears to con- 6,079 patients. care, given that diff erent CCGs of rail commuters face a muter tickets, are set to go up head seat, a season ticket will trigger next year’s rise has been fi rm our fears.” The next most common after have diff erent rules on what treat- H“Brexit fare hike” of al- next January in line with the rise by £116.50 from £2,988 largely blamed on the fall in Sir Vince Cable, MP for that were: cosmetic and aesthetic ments patients can access. most 4%, the Standard revealed rate of RPI infl ation this month, to £3,104.50. Passengers from sterling’s value after last June’s Twickenham and the frontrun- surgery (4,426 IFRs), plastic sur- “It’s clearly unfair for patients yesterday. which economists predict will First Secretary of State Damian referendum on quitting the EU. ner to become Liberal Democrat gery (1,889) and fertility treat- to be subjected to this postcode The increase will be the biggest be between 3.6% and 3.9%. This Green’s seat of Ashford, Kent, The last set of minutes from leader, added: “The one major ment (1,151). rationing, and it also adds further for fi ve years and nearly four times is far higher than salary rises for will be hit by a £242.90 hike the Bank of England’s Monetary consequence of the Brexit vote Mental health conditions were to GPs’ workload as they are called the pay rise of millions of workers. millions of public sector work- from £6,228 to £6,470.90 if they Policy Committee described was a heavy devaluation, which the sixth commonest reason for a on to provide more and more evi- Commuters in London and other ers, capped at 1%, and also pri- use the high-speed service to St the depreciation as “the driving has fed infl ation, which in turn request. Despite the NHS’s pledge dence to support each applica- parts of the country are already vate sector employees on small Pancras. force” behind price surges. is leading to big increases in in- to improve access to care, doc- tion,” he told the BMJ. suff ering from the worsening rises or freezes. A 3.9% fare in- For constituents of stockbroker Tory former Cabinet minister fl ation-linked fares.” Blair should be tried over Man left with severe Iraq war, high court hears burns after acid attack London Evening Standard the shocking assault on a Muslim London student and her cousin in their Guardian News and Media threat to the UK, intelligence re- vened in the case to argue that car in Beckton less than two weeks London porting about (Iraqi) weapons of the crime does not exist in the ago. mass destruction was presented statute book. “The crime of ag- man suff ered severe burns Aspiring model Resham Khan with unwarranted certainty, gression is not known to English after being squirted with and Jameel Muhktar were at- he Chilcot inquiry’s that the war was unnecessary law,” James Eadie QC, for the at- Aacid as he walked with a tacked at traffi c lights on June 21 conclusion that the in- and that the UK undermined torney general, told the court. woman in east London. when they were out celebrating Tvasion of Iraq was un- the authority of the UN security A number of Iraqi supporters Police say they are hunting three Resham’s 21st birthday. necessary and undermined the council.” of Rabbat sat at the back of the youths who attacked the 27-year- Scotland Yard say they are United Nations requires the “Nothing could be more em- court. Speaking before the hear- old man as he walked, pushing treating the attack as a hate crime prosecution of Tony Blair, the phatic than these fi ndings,” he ing started, Sabah al-Mukhtar his bicycle, with the 40-year-old and have said they want to speak high court has heard. said. “It was an unlawful war.” of the Arab Lawyers Network, woman in Mile End on Tuesday. to John Tomlin, 24, in connection In his opening argument call- Mansfi eld argued that when said: “This is just looking at The attack took place at 2am in with the incident. He remains at ing for a war crimes trial in Brit- British prosecutors had opened whether the fi rst court was right Burdett Road. large. ain, Michael Mansfi eld QC said their cases at the Nuremburg in refusing to entertain the case. The acid is believed to have Detectives said the latest in- that the off ence of waging an war crimes trials at the end of “The magistrates’ court dis- caught the woman’s clothing but cident was not being treated as aggressive war has eff ectively World War II, they had acted as missed it on the grounds that she escaped serious injury after a hate crime, adding that the been assimilated into English though the crime of aggression Blair had immunity and that the turning her face away at the last victims and the assailants were law. had already been assimilated crime of aggression was not part minute, according to witnesses. known to each other. The attempt to bring Blair – into English law. of English law. Many think they The man remains in hospi- In another acid incident a police with the former foreign secre- An initial application to were not correct on that.” tal but his injuries are not life- offi cer was sprayed with a “nox- tary Jack Straw and the former launch the prosecution was dis- Rabbat, a former chief of threatening. There have been no ious substance” as he responded attorney general Lord Goldsmith missed at Westminster magis- staff of the Iraqi army, was not arrests. to reports of youths driving dan- – to court has been launched by trates court on the grounds that in court. He currently lives in Cab driver Hassan Ali, 40, said: gerously on a moped in Waltham the former Iraqi general Abdul- Blair enjoys immunity and that Muscat. “We heard screams and crying Forest on Monday. waheed al-Rabbat. the crime of aggression does not His lawyers said he has been coming from outside so we rushed The Met said an offi cer had at- Rabbat, said Mansfi eld, was exist in English law. able to bring the case in British out. You could see her T-shirt just tended the incident in Billet Road motivated by last year’s publica- The high court appeal is being courts because the UK previ- melting away. She wanted to take at 7.10pm in a marked police car tion of the report of the Chilcot heard by the lord chief justice, ously occupied Iraq. Under the off her clothes but we said ‘don’t when the youths drove up and inquiry into the 2003 Iraq war. Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, and European Convention of Human touch anything, just chuck on wa- one them squirted a substance Mansfi eld summarised the Justice Ouseley. Rights he is therefore deemed to ter’.” through the open window. report’s fi ndings as: “Saddam The current attorney general, have been within the jurisdic- The incident follows a series of The offi cer was not injured but Hussein did not pose an urgent Jeremy Wright QC, has inter- tion at a relevant time. Blair: legal troubles acid attacks in London including his uniform was slightly damaged. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, July 6, 2017 EUROPE

WAR RELIC ELECTIONS EMPLOYMENT INSURGENCY WEATHER Child brings WWII-era Catalonian independence Bulgarian policemen Tajikistan kills relatives of Drought threatens Rome’s bomb into daycare centre push a ‘delusion’ demand new uniforms IS police defector: source eternal drinking fountains

A child brought a World War II-era bomb into a Catalonia’s newest push for independence is Thousands of Bulgarian policemen, firefighters Police in Tajikistan have killed in a gun battle four Baking summer heat has forced Rome to close daycare centre in the German city of Darmstadt an “authoritarian delusion,” said Spanish Prime and other interior ministry workers gathered in relatives of a former special forces colonel who some of the drinking fountains known as “big yesterday. The daycare centre was subsequently Minister Mariano Rajoy yesterday, arguing the capital Sofia yesterday to demand higher defected to the Islamic State group, an interior noses”, or “nasoni”, that constantly gush fresh evacuated because of a bomb alert, a police that the country will remain united. “The wages, better working conditions and new ministry source told AFP yesterday. Two brothers water on thousands of street corners, causing a spokeswoman said. The local bomb disposal unit authoritarian delusion” of the Catalonians will uniforms. It is the first major display of anger in and two nephews of Gulmurod Halimov — who public outcry. Hit by the soaring temperatures then arrived and removed the explosive device. “never overcome the serenity and balance of the European Union’s poorest state against the headed the ministry’s special forces unit before drying out southern Europe, the Italian capital According to a police report, the child found the our democratic country,” he said. His comments two-month-old centrist coalition government joining IS in 2015 — were killed in the shootout has started turning off up to 30 of the 2,800 unexploded incendiary during a walk through come one day after the Catalonian regional led by the centre-right GERB party which won in the Vose district of southern Tajikistan late distinctive curved metal taps every day, the woods, and then brought it along into the parliament put forward legislation that would a snap parliamentary election in March. The Tuesday after they tried to attack a police dismaying Romans and prompting concerns nursery. The daycare workers soon noticed the set up an October 1 independence referendum. Balkan country is still struggling to root out off icer with a knife, the source said. Three other homeless people would become dehydrated. odd object on a shelf and informed police, after Should the referendum succeed, the north- endemic corruption. The cabinet of Prime relatives of the wanted former commander — Brandishing a plastic bottle in the central Piazza which staff and children were evacuated from eastern region would immediately split from Minister Boyko Borissov has said it will honour whose exact whereabouts are unknown — were Venezia, city resident Carmelo Teti asked, “How the building. The bomb disposal unit scoured the Spain, according to the draft legislation. Sofia’s commitments to the EU. Interior Minister also detained in the firefight, the source said. can you take away fresh water from tourists?” site where the explosive was found and nearby Lawmakers are expected to pass the bill in Valentin Radev, however, said wages of the The source called all of those killed or detained “When I go around I fill up this bottle because to areas, but found nothing. August. ministry’s employees would remain unchanged. “supporters” of IS. buy mineral water costs and I cannot aff ord it.”

Anti-mafi a raids lead G20 summit performers Macron ‘drunk to 24 arrests in Spain, on power’

Reuters Italy, Germany Paris

AFP and gold stores in these coun- rench far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon Barcelona tries to launder money, the called yesterday for a nationwide day of protest police spokesman said. Police Fnext week against government plans for spend- regularly detain members of ing cuts and pro-business tax and labour reforms. olice detained 24 people Italian mafi as in Spain. Melenchon, a failed presidential candidate ear- in Spain, Italy and Ger- In an interview with El Pais lier this year and now a member of parliament, was Pmany yesterday as part newspaper last month, Italy’s speaking a day after a parliamentary vote of confi - of a Europe-wide operation mafi a prosecutor Franco Rob- dence in the plans of President Emmanuel Macron, against suspected members of erti said his country’s crime whom he said was getting drunk on power and was Italy’s Camorra crime group, syndicates were solidly im- trying to undo decades of progress on crucial work- a Spanish police spokesman planted in Spain. ers’ rights. said. He said the country was “a “I ask my friends everywhere in the country to or- “Fourteen have been de- strategic place” for them “for ganise rallies for July 12,” said Melenchon, the head of tained in Spain, eight in It- geographical reasons, and be- the France Unbowed party who gathered one in fi ve aly and two in Germany,” a cause they think they can go votes in the fi rst round of the presidential election in spokesman for Spain’s Guar- about their business under April. dia Civil police force told AFP, less scrutiny.” Speaking on BFM TV, Melenchon was fi ercely crit- without revealing their identi- “It’s a strategic location for ical of Macron’s fi rst two months in power. ties. drug traffi cking and off ers op- Macron this week called a special meeting of the He said the operation aimed portunities for money laun- both houses of parliament at which he told lawmak- to “dismantle an international dering. ers he would use a referendum to get parliamentary criminal organisation involved They see it as a place to col- reforms through if necessary. in drug traffi cking and money onise.” “We are going down a road where he is becoming laundering”, adding that he Spain’s proximity to Moroc- intoxicated by his omnipotence,” said the 65-year- was referring to the “Italian co, one of the world’s largest old who is well-known for his use of powerful lan- Camorra”, based in Naples in producers of hashish, as well guage. “He thinks he can fi x all the problems by force. southern Italy. as its close ties with former Performers smeared with clay demonstrate during the art action “1000 Gestalten” on a street in Hamburg, northern He is wrong.” Police were searching sev- colonies in Latin America have Germany, where leaders of the world’s top economies will gather for a G20 summit. More than 100,000 anti-capitalist Melenchon mobilised the militant leftist vote in eral premises in Barcelona, made it the main entry point demonstrators, including several thousand left-wing extremists, are expected to descend on the Hanseatic city ahead the presidential contest and has emerged a forceful Spain’s second-largest city, of hashish and cocaine into of the two-day summit which opens tomorrow. voice in a fragmented left. including homes, restaurants Europe. and other businesses, as part Several Italian mafi a clans of the operation. have transferred their more In Spain most of the arrests risky activities such as drug took place in Barcelona while traffi cking to Spain, according in Italy they mostly took place to Italian journalist Roberto in Naples, the spokesman said. Saviano, the author of Gomor- Spanish police suspect the rah, the best-selling expose organisation laundered money on the criminal underworld in earned through drug traffi ck- Naples. Syrian refugees in dock ing through a vast network Camorra bosses refer to of fi rms based in Spain, Italy, Spain’s Mediterranean coast Germany, France and Portu- as “Costa Nostra”, or “Our gal. Coast”, alluding to the Sicilian The Camorra used gambling mafi a “Cosa Nostra”, accord- houses, car rental agencies ing to Saviano. for German ‘terror plot’ The Syrians were planning a in Paris in February last year last at least until December. Central Station, right in the heart Anderlecht district. suicide bomb and gun attack and told offi cers that he had “a Five people have been arrested of the Belgian capital, sparking A prosecutors’ spokesman in Dusseldorf certain amount of information and an arms cache found after fears that further incidents might said separately the raids were about a sleeper cell that was overnight terror raids in France be in the offi ng. “directly linked” to members of AFP ready to strike in Germany”. and Belgium linked to a bikers’ Investigators said at the time the Kamikaze Riders, not to the Düsseldorf, Germany He had been registered as an club called the Kamikaze Riders, they had evidence that the sus- investigation into the Paris and asylum seeker in the Duesseldorf offi cials and sources said yester- pect, a 36-year-old Moroccan Brussels attacks. region in 2013 and Germany re- day. national, had IS sympathies. The prosecutor’s statement hree alleged Syrian jihad- quested extradition from France A series of searches in the grit- They also found explosive said the raids were “completely ists went on trial in Ger- after he turned himself in. ty Anderlecht district of Brussels materials in a raid on his home independent” from that probe. Tmany yesterday accused German authorities believe netted four people and arms hid- in Molenbeek, a Brussels dis- In France, a source who asked of plotting co-ordinated sui- Saleh A and Hamza C joined IS in den in a garage, the Belgian fed- trict where many of the jihadis not to be named, said a 42-year- cide bombings and shootings in early 2014 in Syria. They crossed eral prosecutor’s offi ce said. who carried out the deadly Paris old arrested in a suburb of the the western city of Duesseldorf. from Syria to Turkey in May Meanwhile, in northern attacks in November 2015 and northern city of Lille was sus- The three defendants, identifi ed 2014. From there they travelled France, a joint Franco-Belgian those in the Belgian capital in pected of plotting a “violent ac- as per German practice only as separately in March and July in operation picked up a man on March 2016, grew up and found tion”. Saleh A and Mahood B, both 25, 2015 via Greece to Germany. suspicion of having links to the shelter. Several members of the Kami- and 27-year-old Hamza C, were Prosecutors said the pair Kamikaze Riders, a group impli- In a statement on the latest kaze Riders, formed in 2003 and in the dock accused of belong- planned to fi nance the attack by cated in terror off ences in Bel- raids, the Belgian federal prose- known for testing the patience ing to the Islamic State group and selling a video to the Vatican with gium. cutors’ offi ce said “various weap- of the police, were suspected of planning the attacks in the Dues- proof of life of a priest kidnapped The raids and arrests come ons” were found during one of links to foiled attacks in Brussels seldorf old town centre in 2015. by IS in Syria. with Belgium and France still on the house searches and that four in late 2015. The accused “are believed to Germany has endured a string high alert after several deadly people had been “arrested and In October 2016, two mem- have plotted to have two suicide of attacks claimed by IS including attacks claimed by the Islamic taken in for questioning”. bers of the group were convicted bombers set off explosive vests a rampage by a Tunisian asylum State (IS) group, with troops on A source close to the probe said of belonging to a terrorist group, and then open fi re on passers-by seeker who slammed a truck into patrol in Brussels and Paris to investigators had found at least one jailed for six years, the other with automatic rifl es”, the Dues- a crowd of people last December guard key buildings and infra- two Kalashnikov assault rifl es, for three. They were suspected of seldorf court said in a statement. at a packed Christmas market structure. Only last month, a while reports spoke of explosives plotting an attack similar to the The case came to light when in Berlin, killing 12 people. The soldier shot dead a man who had also being discovered during op- November 2015 carnage in Paris Saleh A went to a police station Duesseldorf trial is scheduled to attempted to set off a bomb in erations in the immigrant-heavy that left 130 people dead. Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 13

INDIA

PEOPLE PEOPLE ANGER RULING CRIME Tata Finance’s former MD Salman Khan likely to Farmers throw milk on to Guru’s body to stay Director booked over Pendse commits suicide appear in Jodhpur court roads in loan waiver protest in freezer, says court shelter home irregularities

Tata Finance’s controversial former managing Actor Salman Khan may appear before the court Farmers in diff erent parts of Gujarat yesterday A court yesterday allowed disciples of a A 35-year-old woman director of a shelter director Dilip S Pendse committed suicide at of the district and sessions judge at Jodhpur spilled thousands of litres of milk onto the spiritual guru to preserve his body in a home in Gurugam has been booked for illegally his residence in Mumbai yesterday afternoon, today for verification of bail bonds submitted by roads to press for their demand for waiver freezer, as they believe he is in a deep state handing over children to adopters and for police said. His body was hanging from a ceiling him in a case of illegal possession of arms that he of their agriculture loans and threatened of meditation and will return to life. Ashutosh cruelty to the inmates, police said, adding that fan and a suicide note was recovered in which allegedly used to kill blackbucks in 1998. Salman to repeat this for two days. The protest was Maharaj, founder of a multi-million dollar initial probe suggests it can be a case of human he has mentioned “personal reasons” and was acquitted by the court of the chief judicial supported by members of Kshatriya Thakor sect, apparently died of a cardiac arrest in traff icking. According to police, a case has been “frustrations due to personal life issues” for magistrate on January 18, 2017 under Arms Act Sena headed by OBC Ekta Manch leader January 2014. But his followers insist he is in a registered against Sister Lily, director of Ujjwal the extreme step. The Matunga police suspect case. He had filed a bail bond in a higher court, Alpesh Thakore, who said the farmers had deep spiritual state called samadhi and have Niketan Home in sector-4 here, under Sections he must have committed suicide between the district and sessions judge, in the case. given an ultimatum to the state government controversially kept his body in a commercial 75, 79 and 80 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and 9.30am-2.30pm at his residence near the Salman and a few other Bollywood actors were to waive their loans by July 4. The farmers freezer at his heavily guarded 100 acre Protection of Children) Act 2015. “Although we Swaminarayan Temple in Dadar east. Pendse, accused of poaching blackbucks on the night launched the agitation since the demand was ashram in Punjab. Yesterday the Punjab and have booked the director of the shelter home 61, had several brushes with the law in the past of October 1, 1998 during the shooting of Hindi not heeded, he added. Yesterday’s protest Haryana High Court dismissed a three-year- under prevention of Juvenile Justice Act, initial and was arrested in 2003 by the Delhi Police for movie. The star was also accused of carrying and to spill milk was akin to the one staged by old petition by Dalip Kumar Jha, who claims to probe indicates possibility of a child traff icking certain fraudulent transactions and had been using illegal arms, after which a case under the farmers in the neighbouring Maharashtra be his son, and who wanted his father’s body racket behind the shelter home activities,” an jailed for a brief period then. Arms Act was registered against him. before the loans of farmers were waived. to cremate him as per Hindu rituals. off icer said. Kerala CM’s apology sought for remarks on actress kidnap

IANS Innocent (president of the ac- Thiruvananthapuram/Kochi tors’ body – AMMA), and two Left-supported legislators, who are also actors – Mukesh and K B he Congress party yes- Ganesh Kumar, took a very strong terday asked Kerala Chief stand in the case and dismissed TMinister Pinarayi Vijayan the conspiracy theory,” Hassan to apologise for his “off -the-cuff said. remark” that there was no con- “What also must not be for- spiracy involved in the actress gotten is that the prime accused kidnapping case. in the kidnap case – Pulsar Suni Addressing reporters in the – was Mukesh’s driver for two capital city after a meeting with years,” Hassan said. party leaders, state Congress The Congress leader also came president M M Hassan said it down heavily on the stoic silence was Vijayan who soon after the of superstar Mammootty in the kidnapping took place in Febru- case. ary, announced that there was no “Mammootty’s silence and the conspiracy angle to the crime. act of Vijayan is now being read together by people as a ploy to Innocent not to quit torpedo the case and help the real Supporters of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) take part in a protest amid an indefinite strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) organisation in Darjeeling as AMMA president culprits,” added Hassan. yesterday. The conspiracy angle surfaced Dismissing media speculation, after superstar Dileep and his popular Malayalam character close aide actor-turned-director actor and Lok Sabha member Nadir Shah were questioned for Innocent yesterday said he is 13 hours last week. not quitting as president of the On Tuesday, the probe team Association of Malayalam Movie based at Aluva summoned Artistes (AMMA). Innocent Dileep’s brother, and actor Dhar- said he has no clue how such majan Bolghatty. BJP seeks president’s news was being spread. “What Later, Bolghatty told the media you hear is just a fi gment of the that the police wanted to clear imagination of the media. I have certain doubts and he had testi- not even thought of quitting fi ed. as president of AMMA,” said “They showed me a picture of Innocent. Some TV channels mine with Suni and wanted to yesterday claimed Innocent was know about my connection with rule in West Bengal quitting and that talks have begun him. But I told them that I do not to fi nd a replacement. Innocent have any link with him,” Bolghat- IANS Mamata Banerjee should resign yond her jurisdiction. This is the govern the state,” he claimed. ganise protest demonstrations has been the president of AMMA ty said. Kolkata from her post as soon as possible fi rst time a spat between a chief “The chief minister is claim- throughout the state today and for over a decade now. Ever since Suni, who was brought to the by taking the responsibility for minister and a governor has ing police are monitoring the lay siege the police stations and last week’s AMMA annual general court, told the media that he a total collapse in law and order come out into the open like this. issue but video evidence shows district magistrate’s offi ce. body meeting and press meet, was only a small fi sh in the case. tating that the entire West situation in Bengal,” he said. This is unfortunate and strict- that they are playing the role Communal violence broke out where he feigned ignorance “The big sharks in the case will Bengal was in unrest, state “We would also appeal to the ly against the constitutional of silent spectators there. Why in West Bengal’s North 24-Par- regarding the actress kidnap case, be known in two days,” he said as SBJP chief Dilip Ghosh yes- central government to impose norms,” he said. would this happen?” ganas district on Tuesday fol- the actor has been facing fl ak. he was sent to fi ve-day police re- terday demanded Chief Minister president’s rule in the state Describing the Trinamool The BJP leader alleged that the lowing a Facebook post, trigger- mand for further questioning. Mamata Banerjee’s resignation so that whatever is left can be Congress-run state government state government did not keep ing arson attacks on vehicles. “It was his statement that Hours after the Congress and urged the Centre to imme- saved,” he added. as “ineffi cient”, Ghosh accused the Centre informed about the The Left Front too has ex- helped those behind the conspir- blamed Vijayan for the police fail- diately impose President’s rule. Terming Banerjee’s allega- it of not taking proper action recent clashes in Baduria and is pressed concern over the ris- acy. It was due to his statement ure to put together the conspiracy “Starting from the hills in the tions against state Governor to stop the communal violence not allowing the BSF personnel’s ing communal tension in parts that everything was kept under angle, the chief minister said the north to the Bay of Bengal, the Keshari Nath Tripathi as “base- in North 24-Parganas district’s march in the violence-stricken of West Bengal and on Tuesday wraps for long until it surfaced police probe was going on. entire state is burning. Inci- less and unfortunate”, Ghosh Baduria. areas. urged the Banerjee government last week that there was indeed “The police have been given a dents of communal tension are said such comments by the chief “This government has failed “They are making the BSF sit to organise district level all- a conspiracy behind the kidnap- free hand to go forward without frequently occurring in various minister are against constitu- to deliver in the sectors like at the local police outposts and party meetings and deploy para- ping,” he said. any fear, irrespective of whosoev- parts of the state,” Ghosh told tional propriety. health, education, industrialisa- not letting them function prop- military forces or the army to “Following Vijayan’s state- er is involved,” said Vijayan while reporters here. “Her comments about the tion or administration. We think erly,” he said. restore an environment of peace ment, one Lok Sabha member, addressing a women’s meeting. “We demand Chief Minister governor are baseless and be- they are not effi cient enough to Ghosh said the BJP would or- and harmony. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Film release Hotel denies couple’s ‘is Robert Vadra of Bihar’ discrimination claim IANS had to appear for an interview Bengaluru at 2pm, Hakkim told the recep- IANS when Lalu Prasad was the railway tion affi davit.” tionist to allot them a room and New Delhi minister and his wife Rabri Devi The BJP leader met chief elec- assured him they would vacate it was the chief minister between tion commissioner Nasim Zaidi Kerala couple has accused soon. 2000-2005. here on Monday and submitted a a two-star hotel in Ben- Denying Hakkim’s allega- ttacking Rashtriya Ja- The senior Bharatiya Janata memorandum on this issue. Agaluru of denying them a tion, receptionist-cum-cashier nata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Party leader said the land trans- Sushil Modi questioned Chief room as the man is a Muslim and Kalluraiah said he could not let APrasad over his alleged actions allegedly involving Lalu Minister Nitish Kumar’s silence his wife a Hindu, the city police out the room as the couple had ‘benami’ (proxy) land deals, sen- Prasad revealed that the peo- on the issue and said no action said yesterday. turned up without any luggage ior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi ple who got contracts or works against Lalu Prasad and his fam- The hotel staff , however, de- and wanted the room only for an yesterday called him the “Robert through him transferred their ily has been taken despite the fact nied the couple’s claim. hour or so. Vadra of Bihar” and questioned land to him in return. that two of the Rashtriya Janata “As the couple did not fi le a “As a policy, we don’t give Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Ku- He alleged it was Lalu Prasad’s Dal chief’s sons were holding key complaint, we cannot inquire rooms for short stay. The cou- mar’s silence over the issue. habit to give ministerial berths in positions in the state cabinet. into the incident. We came to ple came without luggage and “Lalu Prasad is the Robert lieu of land. Demanding the dismissal of know about the incident from said they will vacate the room in Vadra of Bihar as he well knows “How can a son of a poor farm- Lalu’s sons from the cabinet, news channels,” Wilson Garden an hour. They also didn’t have how to use shell companies to er acquire 125 properties without Sushil Modi said: “We demand inspector Anil Kumar said in proper documents,” Kalluraiah buy ‘benami’ properties. Now he having any industry, without any that Nitish Kumar act against Bengaluru. said and denied asking them if is the biggest landlord of Bihar,” contract?” the BJP leader asked. both the sons of Lalu Prasad and The couple – Shafeek Suba- they belonged to diff erent reli- Sushil Kumar Modi told the me- “Apart from 125 ‘benami’ dismiss them from his council of ida Hakkim and his wife D V gions or were married. dia here. properties, there are seven shell ministers.” Divya – arrived in the city from Hotel manager Shiv Madhav Robert Vadra is the son-in- companies through which they “On the one hand, Nitish says Kozhikode on Tuesday morning told reporters that the couple law of Congress president Sonia have made properties worth bil- there is zero tolerance against and went to the Oliver Residency was denied the room not on re- Gandhi and had courted contro- lions in Patna, Kolkata, Delhi, corruption, but at the same time hotel across the Inter-State Bus ligion grounds but for other rea- versy in the past for his land deals and Aurangabad,” Sushil Modi he is not acting against corrup- Terminal to rent a room. sons. in Haryana during the Congress claimed, adding that Lalu’s fam- tion cases taken up by the Income “On showing our identity “A room was not denied be- rule in the state. ily owned 18 fl ats in Bihar’s capi- Tax offi cials,” the BJP leader said, cards and telling him we were cause of their religion or marital “Lalu Prasad and his family tal Patna. adding that Nitish Kumar has married, the receptionist said status. They didn’t have proper have acquired over 125 proper- Slamming Lalu’s eldest son Tej kept on saying that if the Centre he could not give us a room since identity proof and came without ties in 12 years,” the former Bi- Pratap Yadav, the BJP leader said: has any proof, then it must act. Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif poses for a photograph hotel manager had told him not luggage from another state. Reli- har deputy chief minister said, “The land bought for Rs5.4mn in “And when the Centre acted, during a promotional event for the forthcoming Hindi film to entertain such guests,” Hak- gion is not the reason since both adding that about 80% of these Aurangabad in Tej Pratap’s name they alleged it was political ven- Jagga Jasoos in Mumbai. kim told news channels from his Hindus and Muslims are our reg- were acquired between 2004-09 has not been declared in his elec- detta,” the BJP leader said. home in Kozhikode. As his wife ular customers,” Madhav said. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, July 6, 2017 INDIA

STANCE ANNOUNCEMENT OPINION ACCIDENT DECISION China willing to discuss new New ‘tamper-detect’ EVMs Modi a weak prime Bodies found near chopper Separatist leader’s routes for Kailash visitors to be used in 2019 polls minister: Rahul Gandhi crash site in Arunachal security cover cut

China yesterday said that it was forced to A new M3 electronic voting machine that is Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi yesterday A search and rescue team of the Arunachal Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on halt the entry of Indian pilgrims to Kailash “tamper-detect” and will stop functioning called Narendra Modi, a “weak prime minister”. Police yesterday said it has found the Wednesday downgraded the security cover Mansarovar through the Nathu La pass after if someone tries to tinker with it, is under “India has a weak prime minister,” Gandhi wrote wreckage of the missing IAF helicopter given to senior separatist leader, Mirwaiz Umer Indian troops “crossed into Chinese territory” production and will be used in the 2019 Lok on his Twitter handle. He attached two news and two mutilated bodies near it. The Farooq. Sources in the state security department and that it is willing to discuss the possibility of Sabha elections, chief election commissioner reports relating to Modi’s recent US visit. One IAF however said it was not certain if the said his security cover has been halved from alternative arrangements through other routes Nasim Zaidi disclosed yesterday. The M3 EVM of the reports said that Modi did not raise the debris was of its missing Advanced Light 16 personnel to eight. The sources said the for Indian travellers. In a statement, Chinese production is starting from August at the H1-B visa issue during his talks with President Helicopter. An official of the Papua Pare process of downgrading the security of the embassy spokesperson Xie Liyan said the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd and Bharat Donald Trump. The other report related to India’s district sent a radio message to state Mirwaiz had started immediately after deputy Indian visitors to Kailash and Mansarovar is an Electronics plants. These machines will replace acceptance of the term “India administered chief secretary Shakuntala Gamlin and superintendent of police, Mohamed Ayub Pandit important part of China-India people-to-people the existing machines in phases. By September Kashmir” by the US state department in its order other officials in Itanagar, saying that the was lynched by a mob in Nowhatta area. “A and cultural exchanges. “China consistently next year, the required number of machines will designating Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leader Syed wreckage of the Indian Air Force helicopter deputy superintendent of police level off icer has respects the Indian people’s religious have been produced. Zaidi said by 2019 all the Salahuddin a global terrorist. Congress leader had been spotted at an inaccessible deep also been withdrawn,” a source said. Mirwaiz sentiments and attaches importance to Indian EVMs will be attached with a voter verifiable Anand Sharma said Modi’s visit was “purely gorge at Sopo Yuha about 3pm. The crash said he had never asked for the security cover Yatra to Kailash and Mansarovar in Xizang,” he paper audit trail units as the EC has already got transactional” during which he failed to “firmly site is near Hostalam village, about 30km and the government was at liberty to remove all said. funds and placed order for them. articulate India’s interests”. from Itanagar. personnel deployed on his security.

Sahara warned not to delay India, Israel payments

IANS New Delhi look past he Supreme Court yes- terday turned down Sa- Thara Group chief Subrata Roy’s plea for more time to pay Rs5.52bn and warned of conse- quences if the cheque given by the fi rm to market regulator Sebi defence to (Securities and Exchange Board of India) was not honoured. Declining the plea for exten- sion in the time for the cheque’s encashment, a bench of justice Dipak Misra, justice Ranjan Go- goi, and justice A K Sikri directed Sebi to submit the same for en- boost ties cashment on July 15. “If the cheque is dishonoured, Reuters country before he became pre- Israeli technology to India with appropriate consequences will Tel Aviv mier. Reliance Capital, and collaborat- be faced by the contemnor,” the “India and Israel are walk- ing with India’s Lets Venture to apex court observed. ing hand in hand into the future invest in start-ups. Roy is facing contempt for not n the months leading up to as partners,” Modi and Netan- During Modi’s visit, Zebra complying with the apex court’s Indian Prime Minister Naren- yahu wrote in a joint editorial this Medical Vision, a company from order. Idra Modi’s historic visit to Is- week. “From start-ups to space, a kibbutz near Tel Aviv, and Ban- Sahara had urged the court to rael, India signed two arms deals, communications to cybernetics, galore-based Teleradiology So- give it time till August 15 for mo- spending $2.6bn on Israeli missile Israel’s technological capabilities lutions will sign a partnership to bilising funds. defence systems. are merging with India’s.” use analytics in 150 healthcare The court was informed yes- Yet since Modi arrived on The two men are spending 48 centres. terday that the Sahara Group had Tuesday, military ties — for dec- hours together with Modi, ac- Looking to reorient Israel’s deposited Rs7.1bn – the balance ades the secretive bedrock of In- companied by Indian business economy toward Asia, Netanyahu of Rs15bn that it was to pay by dia-Israel relations — have taken leaders, getting a political and hopes more deals will follow, set- June 15. Earlier, Sahara had paid a back seat. business tour that covers Israeli ting a goal of increasing exports Rs7.9bn. The governments have instead history, culture and innovation, to India by 25% in the next four “The question is not how spent time discussing companies as well as the signing of economic years. much you have paid; the ques- that sell medical devices, hi-tech agreements. But it may take a while before tion is how much you have to and water systems. the Modi-Netanyahu relation- pay,” the court said as senior Rather than making the visit, India kept its distance from ship sparks a serious expansion counsel Kapil Sibal and Mukul the fi rst by a sitting Indian prime Israel for decades but is in investment and trade, both of Rohatgi tried to impress upon minister, all about the value of now seeing advantages which remain relatively negligi- the bench the diffi culties the deals signed, Israel’s Prime Min- in a complementary ble. post-demonetisation market ister Benjamin Netanyahu and relationship with Israel In many respects export-de- conditions were posing in the Modi appear intent on playing up pendent Israel and India, which sale of Sahara properties. shared culture and values, in the “What’s it going to take to get is focused on supplying its huge Sibal appeared for Roy while hope this will give commercial Israeli money to take India seri- population, are complementary. Rohatgi appeared for the Sahara ties deeper roots. ously? Just open their eyes,” Jon Israel is a global leader in wa- Housing Finance Corporation India kept its distance from Is- Medved, CEO of Israeli equity ter and food systems, two critical and Aamby Valley. rael for decades but is now seeing crowdfunding group OurCrowd fi elds India needs to upgrade. In- “You pay Rs4bn or Rs5bn advantages in a complementary said. “The problem is their eyes dia wants to strengthen its manu- once in a while. This is going to relationship with Israel. are...blinded by the China oppor- facturing base and is looking to do take a lifetime to pay the entire There is interest on both sides tunity,” he added. so with technologies coming from amount,” the court observed. in building a broad economic There have only been a hand- Israel. As both senior lawyers sought base, rather than merely a con- ful of Indian investments in Israel Both countries host major the court’s indulgence, it said: tractual exchange based around over the past decade, as opposed diamond trading and polishing “We are not going to grant any defence. to the $16.5bn received from Chi- hubs. kind of indulgence. That dead- Modi, who is acutely conscious na in 2016 alone. Israeli exports to India last year line is fi nished.” of the need to adopt innovation OurCrowd just closed three totalled $1.15bn, excluding dia- Describing the prevailing sit- and new technology to update deals with India, joining with Re- monds, just 2.5% of total exports. uation as “unfair”, Sibal said: “I India’s infrastructure has always liance Industries for a hi-tech in- Bilateral trade was less than $2bn, can’t allow my properties to go Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Moshe Holtzberg whose parents were killed during the had a personal affi nity for Israel cubator that helps to grow young which jumped to $4.13bn includ- to vultures.” November 2008 attacks in Mumbai at Nariman House. and came to learn more about the companies in Jerusalem, bringing ing diamonds. Churlish Congress party misses GST moment n all-important tax reform undertaken by Prime Minister government alone that made it the country’s busiest goods traffi c mated 3.5bn invoices will have to 17 years in the making, Narendra Modi in right earnest. possible. The GST Council, which corridor, goes through four states, be processed every month. The Aand when the midnight And then the Congress com- sought consensus on all issues, each one with its own tax collec- technology required for this hu- hour struck for it to go on stream, plains that the GST, in its present Delhi Diary was made up of fi nance minis- tion posts at entry points. mongous. How quickly business- the chief proponents sulked like form, is an imperfect legislation ters of all states with the federal Surveys reveal that on an aver- es adapt the new system will also schoolchildren and stayed at and, therefore, would not want to By A K B Krishnan fi nance minister, in the current age a truck had to stop for at least determine the success of the new home. be seen endorsing its inaugura- instance Arun Jaitley, as its chair- 90 minutes at each of these check tax regime although they cannot The pettiness of India’s chief tion. Gulf Times Correspondent man. posts. With GST, the time thus evade for ever. opposition Congress Party is be- Finance Minister Arun Jaitley The fact that fi nance ministers saved is a minimum of six hours Like last year’s demonetisation, yond belief. It’s full of stalwarts himself admits that the GST is a of Congress-ruled states, as also per trip, which helps the truck the GST is also likely to aff ect busi- like Palaniappan Chidambaram, work in progress. The fi ve-slab reason enough not to emulate it forefront of the protesting states those ruled by the Left, the Trina- operator to add another four trips nesses in the near term because Jairam Ramesh, Veerappa Moily, tax structure starting at zero and on another historic occasion? in 2011 because the GST envis- mool Congress and the AIADMK, per month. There had been re- there is much to be learned about not to speak of Manmohan Singh, going up to 28% is one area that To extend that argument fur- aged by the Congress-led govern- had found common ground with ports of trucks getting delayed for the new law. Luckily for the gov- who know very well that there is will eventually see changes. The ther, if India got political inde- ment did not give the states much the BJP-led National Democratic days at the Walayar check post on ernment, the rate of infl ation is nothing like perfection in any- government has given traders and pendence on August 15, 1947, In- say in the matter. For example, Front government at the centre the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. well within the desired limit. The thing that the government of fi rms a 60-day window for com- dians got economic independence all tax was to be collected by the speaks volumes of the generous On July 2 The Hindu newspaper Reserve Bank will not be unduly India can do. It’s an imperfect pliance. This is quite likely to be on July 1, 2017. federal government and whatever give-and-take spirit that worked published a photo of a deserted worried if it climbs a point or so. democracy of, for and by an im- extended as unforeseen issues The Modi government, to my percentage was due to an individ- behind the scenes. Walayar. Some estimates put the There is much ground to be perfect people. could crop up in a vast country mind, was spot on in celebrating ual state was to be transferred to it The GST perhaps even out- time and money thus saved to covered before GST can be termed The Congress, along with some like India. It is simply impossible the moment. And the prime min- at a later stage. shines the economic liberalisa- be worth as much as 1.5% of the India’s success story of the cen- of its new-found friends, boy- to think of every future issue and ister made it a point to underline Many non-Congress states — tion of the 1990s set in motion GDP. The corruption that these tury so far. The government will cotted the launch of the goods and solve it before it comes. If you that the GST was not the making Gujarat topped that list — feared by the Narasimha Rao-led Con- check posts bred is also a thing of need continued co-operation services tax (GST) in the historic want to learn to swim, it’s no good of any single party or government that this money would either not gress government. Yes, opening the past. from the opposition. For this Modi central hall of the parliament say- standing on the shore. You have to but the overall result of co-opera- come to them or would come in up India to the world market was The seamless common market has to reach out every time there is ing it was being done in a hurry. jump into the water. tive federalism where every stake- trickles making it almost use- a giant step for a country that had that the GST provides is only one need and that reaching out cannot The Congress was in power in The Congress Party thinks it holder had her say. less. The GST now implemented been bearing the yoke of Nehruvi- of its major benefi ts. It also widens be of the kind he used in the case 10 of those 17 years and had done can do it by standing on dry land. That very reason was good divides the tax exactly as per the an socialism for four decades. But the tax base, thereby increasing to- of the presidential nominee. quite a bit in terms of formulating The other silly excuse trot- enough for celebration in these proportion decided and is credit- India continued to be many mar- tal collection. Equally importantly, The opposition, especially the the legislation. So it had a rightful ted out by veteran Congressman times when every aspect of poli- ed to the centre and states simul- kets with many laws leaving many the GST will also deal a body blow Congress Party, should drop the claim in its implementation. But, Ghulam Nabi Azad was that there tics and governance is divided taneously. to believe that it was easy to trade to tax evaders and black money midnight churlishness it showed as with several other path-break- is nothing celebratory about in- sharply along opposing ideas and Thus, if a particular commod- with the US than with the neigh- hoarders because every transac- on July 1 and stake its due claim as ing reforms like the Aadhar card, troducing a tax law, leave alone a ideologies. ity attracts 18% GST, 9% will go bouring state within the country. tion leaves multiple audit trails promoters of the new tax regime. the Mahatma Gandhi National midnight jamboree reminiscent of The Congress Party is also at to the federal kitty and 9% to the Before July 1, 2017, there were 17 that run the risk of being detected It’s a team eff ort and everyone Rural Employment Guarantee Act India’s Independence Day in 1947. pains to paint Modi as the villain state. As Modi in his midnight diff erent taxes and 22 cesses to be at one point or the other. should rejoice at the victory. May- (MNREGA) and such, it stopped Yes, nothing can compare with who stopped its attempt at GST speech put it succinctly, the GST complied with. Now it’s just one But for the government the be, just maybe, the GST could be short of breathing life into its own the ‘tryst with destiny’ India had when he was chief minister of is a “good and simple tax”. tax – GST. challenges are many in the days the harbinger of more than mere creations, a job that is now being on that epochal night but is that Gujarat. Indeed Gujarat was in the Of course it was not the Modi The Delhi-Mumbai highway, and months ahead. An esti- better taxes! Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 15 PAKISTAN

Oil, gas exploration Maryam Nawaz appears increases by 79%

Internews appraisal/development wells Islamabad in potential areas by diff erent E&P companies. “Subsequently, the Explo- before Panamagate JIT akistan witnessed an in- ration and Production (E&P) crease of around 79% in companies made 98 new oil zPakistan Prime Minister’s Poil and gas exploration and gas discoveries with 40% daughter Maryam Nawaz activities in diff erent potential success rate,” offi cial sources says she will not buckle areas during the last four years told APP. During the same under pressure of the current government as period of the previous govern- compared to the correspond- ment, 100 exploratory and 172 Agencies ing period of the previous gov- appraisal/development wells Islamabad ernment. were drilled, which resulted in In its eff orts to achieve self- just 39 oil and gas discoveries. suffi ciency in the energy sec- The sources said over rime Minister Nawaz tor, the present government Rs836bn investments had Sharif’s daughter Mar- took a number of initiatives, poured in E&P sector of the Pyam Nawaz said yester- which resulted in drilling of country during the tenure of day she will turn out to be her 179 exploratory wells and 194 the current government. father’s strength rather than weakness. “If you target Nawaz Shar- Bus crash kills 11 people in Pakistan if’s daughter just because she’s the daughter of the A passenger bus hit a tree and overturned in central Pakistan yes- prime minister, she’ll fight terday, killing 11 people and wounding 36 others on board, off icials back,” Maryam told reporters said. The tragedy came days after a devastating oil tanker explosion outside the Federal Judicial killed at least 205 people. Pakistan has a poor record of fatal traff ic Academy in Islamabad, fol- accidents due to badly maintained roads and vehicles, and reckless lowing her appearance before driving. “A speeding passenger bus which was going to Rawalpindi the high-powered joint inves- from Karachi first hit a tractor trolley and then a tree, killing 11 people tigation team (JIT). and wounding 36 others, 18 among them seriously, near Layyah “If someone says I will make town,” a senior local administration off icial in Layyah, Wajid Ali Shah them [ruling family] cry, they said. A local police off icial, Inayat Baloch also confirmed the incident should know only God can make and casualties. The oil tanker overturned on a main highway from someone subdue and no one ex- Karachi to Lahore while carrying some 40,000 litres of fuel on June cept Him has the power to do it,” 25, about 270km from Layyah. It exploded minutes later as crowds she said, adding the Sharif fam- from a nearby village gathered to scavenge for fuel, despite warn- ily had undergone the account- ings by the driver as well as motorway police to stay away. Off icials ability processes several times in have launched an investigation into the accident. The tragedy the past and have faced the cur- marked a grim start to Eid, the celebrations closing the holy month rent inquiry panel. of Ramadan. Maryam said Panama Papers was not the only scandal she was implicated in by the family’s ri- The daughter of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, speaks to media after appearing before an anti-corruption Kabul rocket kills woman and child vals. “There was a Dawn leaks commission at the Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad yesterday. before this,” she said, claiming A woman and child were killed yesterday when a rocket struck their the opponents only wanted to those who took a refuge in public Earlier, a large number of Pa- tor General Wajid Zia, is due to (retd) Safdar and his cousin Tar- house in Kabul, already traumatised by a series of deadly attacks, pressurise ‘my father’ by im- rest houses in an apparent refer- kistan Muslim League-Nawaz present its report before the apex iq Shafi have also recorded their off icials said, as civilians continue paying a high price in the Afghan plicating his daughter in such ence to former military dictator (PML-N) activists converged court on July 10. Prime Minis- statement before the JIT. conflict. At least one more child was also injured in the blast, interior cases. General (retd) Pervez Musharraf outside the judicial complex and ter Nawaz Sharif, his sons Hus- National Accountability Bu- ministry spokesman Najib Danish said, adding that all victims were She went on to claim that her and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chanted slogans in solidarity sain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz, reau (NAB) chairman Qamar members of the same family. He said two rockets had been launched family chose to face accountabil- (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, the premier’s daughter. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Zaman Chaudhry is also due to from an unknown location in Kabul yesterday morning. “One hit a ity unlike others who shunned it petitioner in the Panamagate The investigative body, head- Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq appear before the inquiry panel residential house causing casualties, the second hit a cesspool, with on the pretext of back pain and case against the ruling family. ed by FIA Additional Direc- Dar, PM’s son-in-law Captain later in the day. no casualties,” he said. New information delays decision Pakistani rupee weakens 3.25%; on Afghan war crimes probe: ICC

Reuters what it called “potential cases” in situations where a member minister slams ‘artifi cial’ drop The Hauge among three groups of alleged state such as Afghanistan is un- perpetrators: the Taliban and its willing or unable to undertake affi liates, the Afghan authorities prosecutions itself. Reuters nal challenges that have seen decision on whether to and members of the US armed “When this review is com- Islamabad FX reserves decline by about open a formal investi- forces and the Central Intelli- pleted, the prosecutor will make $4bn from their peak of $24.5bn Agation of potential war gence Agency. a fi nal decision on whether to last October,” an analyst’s note crimes committed in Afghani- A formal investigation into request the pre-trial chamber he Pakistani rupee weak- from Citibank said yesterday. stan since 2003, including possi- whether crimes were commit- authorisation to commence an ened 3.25% in trading A spokesman for the State ble wrongdoing by US personnel, ted by US personnel in Afghan- investigation,” the prosecutor’s Tagainst the dollar yes- Bank, Abid Qamar, did not reply has been delayed, International istan would hurt already tenu- offi ce said. terday in what analysts specu- to queries yesterday. Criminal Court prosecutors told ous relations between the ICC It gave no timetable. lated could be a central bank- Pakistani exporters have long Reuters. and the United States, which is “This has to be seen as a step led devaluation to shore up the complained that the rupee is The decision on an investi- not a member of the court and down by the prosecutor’s offi ce,” economy. overvalued, hurting their com- gation, which ICC Prosecutor has in the past vehemently op- said Kevin Jon Heller, an expert Pakistani Finance Minister petitiveness. Fatou Bensouda had said was posed it. on the ICC and international law Ishaq Dar said in a statement he Finance Minister Dar, how- “imminent” in November, was Bensouda’s November report at Amsterdam University. felt “deep concern and indigna- ever, “expressed deep concern, pushed back after prosecutors “triggered reaction, notably “It is very rare for Bensouda tion” at what he called an artifi - indignation and disappoint- received “substantial” new in- from the government of Afghan- to say a decision is imminent cial weakening of the currency. ment at the fact that the cur- formation from Kabul. istan, which subsequently sub- and then not to follow through: He did not say who he rent political situation is being In an e-mail, Bensouda’s of- mitted substantial information her statements are usually care- thought might be responsible. exploited by certain individu- fi ce said it had received a large to the offi ce earlier this year,” fully measured and deliberate,” The rupee fell to 108.00 A currency exchange trader counts money at his als, banks and entities”. The amount of new information prosecutors said in the e-mail. he said. against the dollar by yesterday off ice in Islamabad on November 26, 2012. statement added that “the re- from the government of Afghan- That information, which All Nato members contrib- afternoon, its weakest level in sponsible persons and entities istan that could infl uence her probably covered local prosecu- uted to the International Secu- years, after closing at 104.896 speculation that the State Bank fl oat — had allowed a devalua- in this matter will be identifi ed decision. tions of alleged crimes, is now rity Assistance Force mission to on Tuesday. of Pakistan — which is the big- tion to occur. and appropriate action will be In a preliminary examina- being carefully reviewed. Afghanistan that ran from 2001 The steep drop after a long gest player in the market where “We believe the devaluation taken against them in the na- tion, ICC prosecutors identifi ed The ICC only has jurisdiction until last year. period of stability prompted it operates a de facto managed is in response to ongoing exter- tional interest”. Denied US visas, Afghan robotics team to compete via Skype z Two Afghan girls mystified, lowed entry to the United States. from leaving home without a 156 countries — including from “insulted” by US decision Asked by Reuters on Tuesday male relative. Iran and Sudan, which are on z Their robot was granted why the girls were banned, a US More than 15 years later, Trump’s list of countries whose entry to US for competition State Department spokesperson around 10,000 US and allied citizens are banned from entry zAfghanistan not among cited regulations prohibiting the international troops remain — had received their visas. 6 mainly Muslim states in agency from discussing individ- in Afghanistan to support an “The support of the US State Trump’s ban ual visa cases. elected government in Kabul Department (including its em- So the six team members will that constitutionally guarantees bassies) has been simply nothing watch the ball-sorting machine women’s rights but is increas- short of amazing,” Sestak said in Reuteres compete in Washington DC via ingly losing ground to a Taliban the post, adding that one other Herat video link during the July 16-18 insurgency that now controls or team, from Gambia, had been event from their hometown of contests some 40% of territory. also denied visas. Herat, in western Afghanistan, Qaderyan’s teammate from Also approved for visas was wo Afghan girls refused according to the FIRST Global Herat, 17-year-old Lida Azizi, “Team Hope,” a group of Syrian visas to the United States contest organisers. was less forgiving of the US visa refugees, he said. Tfor a robot-building com- “We still don’t know the rea- decision. “All of the countries Syria is among the Muslim-ma- petition said on Tuesday they son why we were not granted can participate in the competi- jority countries named in Trump’s were mystifi ed by the decision, visas, because other countries tions, but we can’t. So it’s a clear executive order prohibiting all citi- as the contest’s organisers said participating in the competi- insult for the people of Afghani- zens from entry for 90 days. teams from Iran and Sudan as tion have been given visas,” said stan,” Azizi said. The other countries, apart well as a de facto Syrian team had 14-year-old Fatemah Qaderyan, FIRST Global’s president, Joe from Iran, Syria and Sudan, are gained visas. part of the team that made two Sestak, said in a post on the or- Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The unusual story of the Af- journeys to the US embassy in ganisation’s Facebook page that In a June 26 ruling, the US ghan all-girl team of robotics the Afghan capital Kabul to ap- he was “saddened” by the US Supreme Court revived parts students emerged as the United ply for their papers. decision but the Afghan team of Trump’s March 6 executive States grapples with the legal- “No one knows about the fu- would be able to connect with order that had been blocked by ity of President Donald Trump’s ture but..we did our best and we the competition via a live Skype lower courts. order to temporarily ban trav- hope that our robot could get a video link. The highest court let the ban el from six Muslim-majority position along other robots from Members of Afghan robotics girls team which was denied entry into the United States for a competition, “That is how we must now go forward with a limited scope, countries. other countries,” Qaderyan said. work on their robots in Herat province, Afghanistan, on July 4, 2017. honour our fellow teammates, saying that it cannot apply to Afghanistan itself is not on the Most of the female team those brave girls from Afghani- anyone with credible “bona fi de list and Team Afghanistan’s robot, members were either infants or US-backed military intervention pled the Taliban regime — whose school, women from working stan,” he said. relationship” with a US person unlike its creators, has been al- not yet born at the time of the in Afghanistan in 2001 that top- Shariah law banned girls from outside the home and all females He added that the teams of or entity. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, July 6, 2017 PHILIPPINES Security forces arrest militants’ ‘main fi nancier’ z Forces press on with air ern town, the army said. The ammunition and material for attacks, try to advance militants from a faction known making bombs, an army spokes- on ground as the Maute group, seized the man, Brigadier-General Gilbert z Troops find two beheaded town or Marawi on May 23 and Gapay, said. Vietnamese sailors are resisting daily assaults by One of those detained was abducted last year government forces using aircraft an important supporter of the and artillery, and with help from Maute group who Gapay identi- Reuters allies the United States and Aus- fi ed as Monaliza Romato, alias Manila tralia. Monay. The fi ghting in the town in The woman is a niece of the the south of the Philippines has matriarch of the Maute clan, hilippine security forces alarmed neighbours, fearful that whose men-folk lead the Marawi arrested yesterday the Islamic State is bent on gaining a attack. Pmain fi nancier and logis- foothold in the region as it loses Two of seven Maute broth- tics supporter of the pro-Islamic ground in the Middle East. ers, Omar and Abdullah, were State militants who have for Security forces raided a vil- educated in the Middle East, and weeks been battling government lage not far from Marawi and de- were the main planners of the troops for control of a south- tained three suspects found with assault on Marawi, the military has said. “Monay has replaced her aunt as the main fi nancier and logistic supporter of the militant group,” Gapay said in a statement. “The arrest will adversely af- fect the logistics support net- work of the group,” he said. The raid, seizure of weapons and the arrests would also pre- vent the militants from mount- ing diversionary attacks, he said. More than 400 people have been killed in the fi ghting in Ma- rawi. People reach to get ice cream at an evacuation centre outside Marawi city, yesterday. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced and about 20% of Delfi n Lorenzana said there was of which were running out. still being held by Abu Sayyaf, allied with the Maute group. the centre of the town has been pressure on the military to defeat US forces are providing Philip- who, in all, hold 14 foreigners and The fi ghting in Marawi erupt- destroyed. the militants before it expires on pine troops with technical assist- eight Philippine citizens. ed on May 23 when security forc- Yesterday, military aircraft July 23. ance for the battle while Australia Vietnam denounced the killing es tried to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, dropped bombs on the town That is also a day before Du- has sent two surveillance planes. of its citizens. “Vietnam strongly an Abu Sayyaf leader who the while ground forces tried to ad- terte is due to deliver his annual In another part of Mindanao, condemns all savage and inhu- government believes is Islamic vance from house to house. state of the nation address in soldiers on Tuesday found the mane kidnapping and murderous State’s leader, in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte im- Congress. beheaded bodies of two Viet- acts and believes that these acts and who was in the town with posed martial law on Mindanao Lorenzana said the military namese sailors abducted a year must be punished properly,” for- Maute fi ghters at the time. Children line up to receive lunch at an evacuation centre outside the island, where Marawi is located, last week sent an aircraft to the ago by militants from the Abu eign ministry spokeswoman Le Lorenzana said this week Ha- city as army troops continue their assault against insurgents from the for 60 days when the fi ghting United States to stock up on vari- Sayyaf group. Thi Thu Hang told Reuters. pilon is believed to be hiding in a Maute group in Marawi city, yesterday. erupted and Defence Secretary ous bombs and rockets, supplies Three Vietnamese sailors are The Abu Sayyaf militants are Marawi mosque. Duterte proposed deal to end De La Rosa denies troops’ links to drug city siege and then backed out trade in prison Reuters fi dentially assigned to set up a meeting Marawi City with the Maute clan. He said the aide agreed that Sharief By Dempsey Reyes they are not involved (with ille- would accompany the Maute brothers’ Manila Times gal drugs) but if the investigation hilippine President Rodrigo Du- infl uential mother, Farhana, by helicop- will be released, I will launch terte was preparing to make a deal ter to meet Duterte in nearby Cagayan De further actions (to the troop- Pwith Islamic State-inspired mili- Oro or Davao City. hilippine National Po- ers),” he added. tants in the days after they laid siege to Sharief said her sons requested she lice (PNP) Director Gen- The SAF were deployed in Bili- a southern city, but aborted the plan represent them in talks with Duterte. Peral Ronald De La Rosa bid in 2016 and were supposed to without explanation, an intermediary “He (Duterte’s aide) prepared every- defended members of his elite stay for three to six months after involved in the process said. thing that I needed. I told him that I need troops against allegations that which they would be replaced by Agakhan Sharief, a prominent leader, a chopper to get the mother of the Maute they were now part of the illegal Marines. told Reuters that after a band of fi ghters brothers to bring her to the president. He drug trade inside the New Bilibid However, the Marines’ rota- overran parts of Marawi City on May 23 prepared that.” Prison (NBP). tion of command did not hap- and took hundreds of people hostage, he “I called the Maute brothers and their At the same time, however, De pen because the military unit was approached by a senior Duterte aide mother...I told them, I convinced them.” La Rosa said that he had ordered was busy fi ghting the remaining to use his connections with the Maute Reuters could not independently the PNP Directorate for Inves- Maute terrorists in Marawi City. militant group’s leaders to start back- verify that such a proposal had been tigative and Detective Manage- Even before the SAF took over channel talks. made. The talks with the Maute group ment (DIDM) and the Directo- the jail security in 2016, the SAF Two other Marawi sources familiar did not go ahead and the mother was rate for Intelligence (DI) to look director has suggested to the with the matter confi rmed the president arrested on June 9 elsewhere in the into the claims by Justice Secre- PNP chief himself to pull out had worked behind the scenes to hold same province as Marawi. tary Vitaliano Aguirre that some the police commandos from the talks with the Maute brothers, Omar- Agakhan Sharief, shows a picture of casualties in Marawi during an interview with The Maute brothers’ father, Cayamo- of the men from the Special Ac- national penitentiary for fear of khayam and Abdullah. Reuters in Cagayan de Oro. ra Maute, was apprehended three days tion Force (SAF) deployed to the accusations that may be hurled However, the process was halted when earlier in Davao City. NBP were now engaged in illegal against them. Duterte in a May 31 speech declared he unlikely Duterte had reached out to the More than 400 people have been The cleric said that the rebels would drugs.He said this may be due But according to De La Rosa, “will not talk to terrorists”. It was not im- Maute group. “Why will he talk to the killed, including 337 militants, 85 mem- have taken Duterte’s deal to end the to their familiarity with the in- he requested President Rodrigo mediately clear what prompted Duterte’s terrorists?” Esperon said. bers of the security forces, and 44 civil- siege. mates in the prison facility under Duterte to withdraw the SAF and about-face. Despite his tough rhetoric and fre- ians. “They agreed, they supported this,” the Bureau of Corrections. immediately have the Marines It came fi ve days after another tel- quent promises to wipe out militants, Some 260,000 residents have been said Sharief, who last met with Ab- “We will fi nd out in the in- take charge of security. evised speech in which he told the mili- Duterte has a reputation as a peace- displaced by a siege that has fanned re- dullah Maute on June 25, when he led vestigation if some (SAF troop- “We (me and Duterte) already tants “we can still solve this through dia- broker, having dealt with separatist and gional fears that Islamic State is trying to a group of emissaries into the heart of ers) are really involved, they will talked with each other. I lightly logue”, but if he could not convince them Marxist rebellions during his 22 years as establish a stronghold in Southeast Asia. Marawi to free some hostages during face the consequences and I will mentioned that to the president of that, “so be it. Let’s just fi ght”. mayor of Davao City in Mindanao, an is- Marawi Mayor Majul Usman Gandam- the Eid al-Fitr holiday. initiate actions immediately, but himself…he just asked me if “The problem with our president, his land of 22mn with a long history of un- ra confi rmed that back-channel talks did Sharief, who owns four private for now, I must tell you with an about what I recommended and mind is changing always,” said Sharief, a rest. start but said he was not privy to details. schools in Marawi, some of which were open heart that I don’t have any I replied that the Marines should cleric who has had roles in various peace The battle for control of Marawi has He told Reuters the process failed be- badly damaged by the fighting, said single speculation about the SAF substitute the SAF to avoid any agreements on the long-restive southern been the biggest crisis of Duterte’s year- cause the rebels did not show good faith he was against the ideology of Islamic here,” De La Rosa told reporters hearsays because I don’t want island of Mindanao.”He announced he old presidency. or reduce the intensity of attacks on State. But he said he was reluctant to in a chance interview yesterday the PNP to be wrecked (by these will no longer talk to terrorists and that Fighters from the Maute group and government forces after Duterte off ered speak out against the Maute clan be- after visiting the NBP to check allegations),” he said. made our negotiations cut.” others loyal to Islamic State have been them an olive branch. “There was a win- cause he still hoped he could convince on the SAF. Aguirre has not presented any Duterte’s top peace envoy Jesus Du- holed up in the commercial district of dow of opportunity,” he said.”But there them to end the siege. “It is not that I am dispens- evidence that would show the reza said he was unaware of any back- the town through more than 40 days of was no show of sincerity.” “I am a peacemaker,” he said.”I can- ing them (SAF). Personally, as a SAF’s involvement with the drug channel talks, while his national security air strikes, artillery bombardments and Sharief, would not reveal the identity not negotiate anymore if I talk against leader, as the father of PNP, my trade inside the national peni- adviser, Hermogenes Esperon said it was fi erce street clashes with troops. of Duterte’s aide, whom he said was con- them.” full trust is still with them, that tentiary.

Bulacan massacre suspect found dead One of the suspects implicated by lice said the president of a home- Legal counsel says president may extend martial law construction worker Carmelino owners’ association, Dapsy Daud, Ibanes who butchered a family saw the half naked body of the of five in San Jose Del Monte victim with multiple stab wounds By Catherine S Valente the opposition of prolonged tiative of the president, “may right time to lift martial law, in Mindanao. “We have set con- City (CSJM), Bulacan was found under a tree at about 6.30am on Manila Times military rule. extend such proclamation (of which the president imposed ditions that would specifi cally dead on Tuesday morning, Manila Tuesday, a day before the mas- “If Congress does not extend martial law) or the suspension over Mindanao following the mention or act as the standards Times reported. sacre victims were scheduled for on the 60th day upon initiative (of the privilege of the writ of May 23 attack of Marawi City whether martial law should be Supt. Fitz Macariola, CSJM police interment. The victims – Auring resident Rodrigo Du- of the President then there can habeas corpus) for a period to by Islamic State-linked Maute extended or not,” Padilla told chief, identified the body as that Dizon, her daughter Estrella and terte may declare martial be no extension. Another proc- be determined by the Congress, terrorists. reporters. of Rolando Pacinos, alias “Inggo,” the children – will be buried at Plaw in Mindanao anew if lamation is necessary,” Chief if the invasion or rebellion shall During the Mindanao Hour “That assessment regarding found along Palmera Drive, Phase 10am at Citrus Public Cemetery Congress rejects a proposal to Presidential Legal Counsel Sal- persist and public safety re- news briefi ng in Malacanang, whether those conditions have 7 Barangay Santo Cristo with a in CSJDM. Meanwhile, charges of extend it beyond the 60-day vador Panelo told reporters in a quires it.” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Res- been met has not yet been made placard reading, that he was a multiple murder and rape have limit set by the Constitution, text message. Duterte earlier said only the tituto Padilla Jr said the military fully. It will be made in about drug addict around his neck. Po- been filed against Ibanes. the top Palace legal counsel said The 1987 Constitution states Armed Forces of the Philippines had yet to determine if there a week and a half or two,” he yesterday, amid warnings from that Congress, upon the ini- (AFP) knew when would be the was a need to extend martial law added. Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Nepal seeks clarification on India’s tax regime Expressing concern that the new goods and services tax (GST) Lanka vows Tamil autonomy regime adopted by India will adversely impact trade and transit between Kathmandu and New Delhi, land-locked Nepal – majorly dependent on bilateral trade with India – has sought guarantees that the new tax system does not despite Buddhist resistance impinge upon existing treaties and accords in this regard. AFP On Tuesday the senior population is Buddhist and the they faced discrimination in The Nepal commerce ministry Colombo monk Anamaduwe Dhamma- monks, who hold huge sway, education and employment. said yesterday that it has written dassi said the clergy opposed have generally opposed any po- While many of the grievances to India through the diplomatic the plan, which would “create litical concessions to the mostly were addressed over the years, channel urging that the GST ri Lanka vowed yesterday unnecessary problems”. Hindu Tamils community. the militancy grew into a full- regime should not impinge upon to grant greater autonomy But government spokesman Dhammadassi said senior fl edged guerrilla war with Tamil trade and transit treaties between Sto its Tamil minority in a Rajitha Senaratne said the na- monks were united in their Tiger rebels controlling a third the two countries. new constitution after an infl u- tional parliament would not opposition to constitutional of the country’s territory before “Considering the possible impact on ential Buddhist monk said the roll back the process which be- reforms. they were eventually crushed in Nepal’s trade with India following the clergy opposed the plan. gan in April last year to draft a The latest move by the Bud- May 2009. implementation of the GST, we wrote President Maithripala Sirise- new statute that will be put to a dhist leadership is seen as a The off ensive that defeated to the Indian authorities to ensure na has said the new constitution referendum. new challenge to Sirisena, also the rebels prompted allegations that the new tax system should not will grant extensive autonomy “The monks can have their a Buddhist from the Sinhalese of widespread war crimes, in- infringe on bilateral trade,” Rabi to Tamils concentrated in the views, but the people’s man- majority, who is committed to cluding accusations that at least Shankar Sainju, joint secretary at island’s northern and eastern date at two elections in 2015 ethnic unity. 40,000 Tamil civilians were Nepal’s ministry of commerce, told regions. was to change the constitution,” Hardline Sinhalese oppose a killed by government forces. Xinhua news agency. He has said he wants to pre- Senaratne said. federal system that would en- Sirisena came to power part- The introduction of the pan- vent a repeat of a bloody sepa- “We will not work against the sure more political power for ly on the back of support from India GST regime from July 1 has ratist confl ict that claimed people’s will just because Bud- minority Tamils. Tamils after pledging reconcilia- President Maithripala Sirisena: “The new constitution will grant given rise to apprehensions in 100,000 lives between 1972 and dhist monks want us to do so.” The island’s Tamils took tion and promising investigations extensive autonomy to Tamils concentrated in the island’s northern Nepal that exports to India could 2009. Nearly 70% of the island’s up arms in 1972 claiming into war-time atrocities. and eastern regions.” henceforth attract higher taxes.

Lanka signs New army chief takes over pact for training Journalist’s killer geriatric nurses Sri Lanka has signed an agreement with Germany for the recruitment of personnel for training as geriatric nurses, a sentenced to death statement from the foreign aff airs ministry said. The two sides signed a joint AFP ing lifeless on the kitchen who had been hired over a declaration of intent on principles Colombo fl oor. month earlier to paint her of fair recruitment of personnel Anthony George will have parent’s house. for training as geriatric nurses in his sentence automatically Gunasekera, 40, was an Germany. The signing ceremony ri Lanka’s High Court commuted to life in prison assistant vice president at took place at the German federal yesterday handed the as Sri Lanka has an unoffi cial Fitch’s Sri Lankan opera- foreign ministry in Berlin. Sdeath sentence to a la- moratorium on capital pun- tion, a position she took up in The statement said, “The bourer who was found guilty ishment. 2012 after a fi ve-year stint as agreement envisages training of murdering former Agence High Court judge Pi- Colombo correspondent for to commence in Sri Lanka from France-Presse journalist Mel yasena Ranasinghe also AFP. 2018 and the trainees will be Gunasekera in a break-in at found George guilty of She reported extensively on provided with a comprehensive her home. breaking and entering and fi nancial and political aff airs German language training (B2 Gunasekara was stabbed of stealing Gunasekera’s in Sri Lanka, and also covered level) and the professional to death at her home in mobile phone. the Maldives. training in the geriatric care on Colombo on February 2, During a lengthy trial, the She was the founding edi- par with the requisite standards Sri Lanka’s new army chief Mahesh Senanayake speaks during a press conference after he assumed 2014 while her parents and court heard that he had mur- tor of Lanka Business Online, in Germany with the assurance command in Colombo yesterday. Senanayake is the 22nd commander of the Sri Lankan army. younger brother were at dered Gunasekera after she a pioneering fi nancial news of working and integrating in home. She was found ly- recognised him as a labourer portal in the island. Germany.” 10 accused of negligence over factory blast Chikungunya

AFP “The licence of the boiler Local police chief Aminul Is- clothing for brands including boiler licence on June 19. But all Dhaka expired on June 24. It’s a fi ve- lam said at least 10 people had Littlewoods and Aldi according government offi ces were closed tonne boiler and aged more than been charged, including three to its website. for Eid holidays that week,” assuming 15 years,” deputy chief inspec- boiler operators who died in the One injured worker receiv- he said. faulty boiler caused an tor of the government’s boiler explosion. ing treatment at a nearby hos- The latest disaster came four explosion at a Bangladesh department Ziaul Hoque said. He said police would also pital said the boiler was old and years after the collapse of the Afactory that killed 13 peo- “In our primary investigation, prosecute the owners of the fac- “beeping danger signals con- nine-storey Rana Plaza factory ple this week, authorities said we have found that the explo- tory if they were proven to be at tinuously”, criticising factory complex in April 2013 in which epidemic yesterday, as survivors accused sion occurred due to excessive fault. authorities for not replacing it. more than 1,100 people were the owners of ignoring their pressure in the boiler.” “The owners cannot avoid “Within 10 minutes after we killed. concerns. Most of the plant’s 5,000 their responsibilities,” Islam returned to work, the boiler ex- In the wake of the disaster, A government inspector said workers were off for the Eid holi- said. ploded,” Harunur Rashid told lo- authorities pledged to improve a licence to use the 15-year- days when the boiler exploded “They (the operators) ran the cal daily Prothom Alo. working conditions at fac- proportion old boiler which exploded on during maintenance work, caus- boiler despite knowing that it “It’s absolutely the tories, but accidents are still Monday night had expired last ing a section of the six-storey was in bad condition. If they did authorities’ negligence.” commonplace. month. building to collapse. not start the boiler, it would not Multifabs owner Mahiuddin Only a few hundred of the By Mizan Rahman adding: “We can’t control His comments came as survivors It was the latest disaster to have exploded,” he said. Faruqui said the company had ap- country’s 4,500 textile facto- Dhaka mosquitoes inside houses, of the blast told local media they highlight the poor safety record The plant in the Gazipur in- plied to renew the boiler licence ries have been certifi ed as safe but we’re sprinkling three had alerted the factory’s owners of of the country’s $30bn garment dustrial district on the outskirts and promised compensation and last year a fi re at a fac- times more medicines outside problems with the boiler, but their industry, the second largest in of Dhaka is owned by manufac- for the victims’ families. tory just miles from Rana Plaza hikungunya, a viral fe- all houses than we do under warnings went unheeded. the world. turer Multifabs, which makes “We applied for renewal of the claimed 34 lives. ver spread by the Aedes normal conditions.” Cmosquito, is expected He also said a greater to run its current spell across awareness about chikungunya Bangladesh till September, among city dwellers is needed depending on the rainfall, to fi ght the disease. experts said yesterday. Dhaka South City Corpora- 900,000 aff ected by Thousands of people, in- tion Mayor Syed Khokon ex- cluding children, across the pressed hope that it would be country have been suff ering possible to bring the chikun- fl oods in Bangladesh from chikungunya attacks gunya outbreak in Dhaka un- since April. Experts say it has der control within fi ve to six assumed an epidemic form in weeks. He said eff orts to check IANS eroded large portions of vil- Bangladesh. the spread of the disease are Dhaka lages, agricultural land and “It’s diffi cult to say any- still on. washed away buildings. Hun- thing about controlling the The mayors said that they dreds of educational institutes chikungunya outbreak. Ac- have taken up several pro- evastating fl ooding in were also shut down. cording to our monitoring grammes to destroy the Aedes parts of Bangladesh Authorities evacuated resi- cell, there has been only a mosquito, which breeds in Dhas aff ected some dents of hundreds of villages to marginal drop in the inci- clean and stagnant water in 900,000 people and displaced higher ground in the districts dence of the disease,” Dr and around houses, particu- thousands of families, offi cials that were prone to torrential rains Meerjady Sabrina Flora, di- larly in discarded plastic con- said yesterday. between June and September. rector, Institute of Epide- tainers, coconut shells, and According to disaster man- A fl ood monitoring centre This file photo shows participants hold placards during a rally on the occasion of the National Anti-Human miology, Disease Control abandoned tyres. agement and relief ministry in Dhaka said people in fl ood- Traff icking Day in Kathmandu. September 5 is celebrated yearly to bring the awareness of stopping and and Research (IEDCR), told The two city corporations secretary Shah Kamal, au- aff ected villages in the coun- preventing human traff icking. newsmen. are spraying anti-larval chem- thorities had already rushed try’s northeast and southeast- Normally, the Aedes mos- icals to destroy Aedes mosqui- disaster response teams to ern regions were marooned as quito and its larvae grow in toes. Besides, they have also carry out rescue work, dis- their homes went under up to clean and stagnant water as launched loudspeaker cam- tribute relief materials and su- waist high water. well as in rainwater, she said. paigns to create awareness pervise centres where nearly TV footage yesterday Over 6,000 Nepalis traffi cked “The chikungunya outbreak is among people regarding the 2,000 families took shelter. showed the residents wading likely to continue till Septem- chikungunya virus and their “Some 900,000 people through fl ooded roads or on ber. This viral disease depends vectors, offi cials of the city were aff ected due to fl oods in boats in search of shelter or a on rainfall and mosquito corporations said. three districts,” Kamal told dry ground to live temporarily. in 2015-16, says rights body control,” she added. According to doctors, Xinhua news agency. Offi cials said that no disaster- Annisul Huq, mayor of chikungunya symptoms in- He said the aff ected dis- related deaths from injuries or Dhaka North City Corpora- clude a sudden onset of fever tricts include Sylhet and illness were listed so far. IANS The “Traffi cking in Persons traffi cking and 3,900 persons tion, said, “Chikungunya has and joint pain, particularly af- Moulvibazar in northeastern Among the 90 monitored wa- Kathmandu Report 2015-16”, released yes- have remained missing,” the now assumed epidemic pro- fecting the hands, wrists, an- Bangladesh and Cox’s Bazar in ter level stations, water levels at terday, claimed that around report said. portion in Asia. It has broken kles and feet, which can take the country’s southeast. seven monitored river stations 4,000 people, 70% of them girls, The NHRC has been publish- out in an endemic form in In- months to heal. An aff ected Floods triggered by heavy were fl owing above their respec- uman traffi cking has sig- went missing during that period, ing the National Reports on Traf- dia. Considering the conse- person will experience high seasonal rains and onrush of tive danger marks while 65 river nifi cantly increased in Ne- Xinhua news agency reported. fi cking in Persons since 2005. quences of this disease, we’re fever, joint pain, headaches, water had caused widespread stations showed rising trend. Hpal with over 6,000 Nepalis “The estimated number of The data is based on monitoring spraying chemicals to destroy and nausea. damage to habitation, crops, Apart from the government, having been traffi cked in the 2015- traffi cking victims stands at and fi eld visits of various districts Aedes mosquitoes and their Though the disease is not roads and highways across local and foreign organisations 16 fi scal alone, according to the lat- 23,200 with an estimate of 6,100 from both governmental and breeding grounds.” fatal, many patients may lose vast areas of the country. were also extending support to est report of the National Human persons as traffi cked, 13,600 non-governmental organisations, Aedes mosquitoes normally their ability to work for a In many places, the fl oods Bangladeshi fl ood victims. Rights Commission (NHRC). persons as victims of attempted including the judiciary. grow inside houses, Huq said, considerable period of time. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, July 6, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko What future for

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] global leadership? Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) By Harold James administration has fl oundered are routinely admonished to be more Xi Jinping described protectionism Fax 44350474 Princeton in offi ce. In both cases, a poorly patriotic. Finance is being segmented as akin to “locking oneself in a dark conceived campaign has caught up and renationalised. And soft-power room,” German Chancellor Angela to the victors. And as the winners institutions such as Hollywood and Merkel praised his words as “very ith global leadership have started to look like losers, the universities are now mired in culture memorable.” now in question, the left-wing populism of more authentic wars. Now that Germany’s G20 G20’s upcoming summit politicians such as Senator Bernie American and British universities presidency is underway, German Win Hamburg on July 7-8 Sanders in the US and Labour Party have long topped world rankings, leaders have been exploring how their GULF TIMES could be the group’s tensest meeting leader Jeremy Corbyn in the UK has and regard themselves as global country might promote globalisation ever. The summit process long pre- become increasingly popular. institutions with a global in America’s stead. But Germany is dates the G20’s founding in 1999. It The Trump and May governments responsibility. The president of simply too small to act as a hegemon, was originally designed, in the 1970s, also share striking similarities in Harvard University, Drew Faust, and its position within the eurozone is to align major economies’ domestic international outlook. Both want to often enthuses about her institution’s still being strained by the legacy of the Wimbledon dropouts policies, thereby reducing uncertainty. renegotiate international deals, such international role; and Princeton 2008 fi nancial crisis. But domestic politics have now as trade treaties or, in the British case, University recently changed its motto China, too, would encounter created a new type of uncertainty. the relationship with Europe. But from “In the nation’s service and obstacles in pursuit of global – Condemn or Whereas the international the basis for such renegotiation is as the service of all nations” to “In the leadership. Its fi nancial sector is still community isolated Russia at the G20 unclear as it is contradictory. nation’s service and the service of relatively underdeveloped and prone Brisbane summit in 2014, the United As American and British workers humanity.” to crises. Its large infrastructure States has isolated itself in 2017. After have come to associate globalisation But, in recent years, initiative, One Belt, One Road, will condone them? making a blustering appearance at with job losses and inequality, they cosmopolitanism and global outreach create new dependency problems and the G7 Taormina summit this past have demanded more protection. But have provoked a backlash. Consider exacerbate existing rivalries in Asia. May, US President Donald Trump protectionism usually comes at a high May’s memorable words before the And, fi nally, the prospect of Chinese Those lucky fans who got tickets to the Centre Court announced that he was withdrawing cost to consumers, and especially Conservative Party Conference last leadership will raise fears about the on Tuesday would have been really excited. They were the US from the 2015 Paris climate to low earners. In fact, a great deal October: “If you believe you’re a fate of democracy. At the heart of getting a chance to see Novak Djokovic and Roger agreement. In response, European G7 of statistical evidence suggests that citizen of the world, you’re a citizen of anti-globalisation critiques in rich leaders, with the notable exception of lower-income groups tend to benefi t nowhere. You don’t understand what countries has been a call for more Federer in action. They would have picked sides and British Prime Minister Theresa May, the most from trade liberalisation. the very word ‘citizenship’ means.” democracy, not less. come prepared with their chants. The underdog or have signed a declaration condemning Against this backdrop, any eff ort With the post-war spirit of To be sure, some of the ingredients the multiple Grand Slam champion? That should have Trump’s position. to change existing arrangements will universality in retreat, the old for a new form of global leadership are been the point of debate. After serving as the main architects probably entail striking narrow deals globalisation will need new leadership there: China has great universities that of the United Nations system and and severely penalising select imports. and a new approach to multilateralism are rapidly improving; and Germany Instead the 15,000-strong crowd went away with the post-1945 international order, The risk is that retaliatory measures and soft power. This realisation has, has a strong democracy, built on heaps of disappointment as back-to-back retirements the US and the United Kingdom now by other countries will trigger a inevitably, led China and Europe federal principles and anchored in a robbed them what should have been a blockbuster seem intent on reversing that legacy. vicious circle of protectionism and – specifi cally, Germany – to see vision of European integration. But double bill featuring Federer and Djokovic. Since Trump’s election and the Brexit deglobalisation. themselves as the new defenders of without every ingredient, the recipe Within a space of 70 minutes, Martin Klizan and referendum last year, both countries In the post-war period, countries the global order. will not be complete. The American have embarked on an inconsistent and became increasingly linked through In fact, China and Germany are century was based on strong domestic Alexandr Dolgopolov called it quits in their fi rst round highly contested political path away government and administrative increasingly aligned on many key institutions, shared values, and a matches against Djokovic and Federer, respectively — from openness and multilateralism. agencies, multinational corporations, issues. Both have reaffi rmed their vibrant cultural life. Globalisation leaving the Centre Court schedule done and dusted Their trajectories, while erratic, and fi nancial institutions, all of commitment to reducing carbon based on economic logic alone will by 4:50pm local time. The fans would have been have been remarkably similar. Indeed, which created an environment that dioxide emissions under the Paris never work. – Project Syndicate many saw the Brexit referendum was conducive to co-operation. accord, and both object to Trump’s scampering to chalk new plans for the evening. as a precursor to Trump’s election. Today, however, the mechanisms of obstructive crusade on behalf of the zHarold James is Professor of History Both Klizan and Dolgopolov seemed to have come Like the “Leave” campaign, Trump globalisation are already being eroded. coal industry. There is also a clear and International Aff airs at Princeton into their matches with injuries, which meant that the has tapped into voters’ fears about Professional bureaucracies – not least Chinese-German alliance forming University and a senior fellow at the players themselves knew that the possibility existed immigration. And, like May’s post- the US Foreign Service – are being cut to oppose trade protectionism. Center for International Governance that they wouldn’t last their matches. referendum government, Trump’s back. Corporations and media outlets Recently, after Chinese President Innovation. Before day two of the championships had even been completed, seven players had thrown in the towel. Australian Nick Kyrgios was the fi rst to pull out after failing to recover from a hip injury he aggravated at London’s Queen’s Club two weeks ago. Denis Istomin and Viktor Troicki followed suit before Klizan, Dolgopolov, Janko Tipsarevic and Queen’s Club champion Feliciano Lopez also quit. For many of the fringe players on the tour, featuring in the fi rst round of a grand slam allows them to pick up what could be their biggest pay-cheque of the year. First-round Wimbledon losers It’s understandable this year will get to blame the 35,000 pounds. On the face of it, money-minded it is understandable approach of the to blame the selfi sh, money- players but surely minded approach it isn’t as of the players that deprived the Centre US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive on Air Force One at Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland yesterday, as they begin a four-day trip to Poland one-dimensional Court spectators and Germany. and the television as that? fans of a chance to see their favourite player in action. But surely, it isn’t as one-dimensional Donald Trump goes to Warsaw as that? Tennis is an expensive sport. The superstars are strutting their monogrammed kit bags and Richard Mille By Slawomir Sierakowski also represents the country’s own bid If the US Congress approves new of collective defence under Article Warsaw for regional leadership. sanctions prohibiting co-operation 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, or watches but there are many players, down the rankings And, of course, the Three Seas with companies involved with Russian announce a large arms deal with who have to eke out a living on second and third-tier participants constitute Nato’s eastern energy suppliers, the future of Nord Poland, as he did when he visited circuits and this fi rst-round ‘prize money’ is much- S President Donald Trump fl ank, where the US is deploying forces Stream will be called into question. Saudi Arabia. needed windfall for them. who arrived in Poland, in response to Russian aggression in That would undermine German Either way, the Polish government where he will meet with Ukraine. economic interests and create an will tout Trump’s visit as a great Players have to fi ght through Challengers to get to the Central and Eastern So, what is the impetus for Trump’s opportunity for the US to sell gas to success, and a sign that Poland is main draw of a Slam. These lower-ranked players too U European leaders today at a summit of visit? For starters, he and Poland’s de Europe. “rising from its knees.” Never mind have to pay their coaches and support staff . the Three Seas Initiative. facto leader Jarosław Kaczynski both As it happens, the fi rst delivery that the visit could threaten Poland’s “They get the chance to earn £35,000 and I don’t Also today, before heading to the want to demonstrate that they are of American liquefi ed natural gas relationships with its closest allies: think anyone has the right to judge them because the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, beloved leaders with many allies, and recently arrived at a new gas terminal France and Germany. Trump will address the Polish people. not isolated, deeply unpopular fi gures. in winouj cie. Moreover, Trump’s visit could even same guy may then go on to a Challenger and make just Trump’s decision to visit Warsaw It is telling that Trump has To achieve economic and political undermine the Three Seas Initiative, 300 euros,” said Tipsarevic. is no accident, and it could have postponed indefi nitely his initial plan autonomy from Russia, and to given that the Czech Republic, There is a provision for this at the ATP level. Twice far-reaching consequences for the to visit the United Kingdom, where he establish a North-South axis as an Slovakia, and Hungary have no wish to a year, you can withdraw from your matches and still European Union, and for Poland’s would have drawn large protests. alternative to the dominant East-West confront such an important economic place in it. In Poland, he can expect to be met axis, it is crucial for Poland that such partner as Germany. get your prize money. This would eliminate a lot of Polish foreign policy today is torn by cheering crowds. deliveries continue. At the same time, it is extremely scenarios where injured players turn up for the match between two competing visions. That, too, is no accident. A third factor in Trump’s visit is his unlikely that Russian-German and are forced to forfeit during it. One is based on a right-wing Kaczynski is providing buses for the longstanding disdain for the EU. cooperation on the Nord Stream Federer suggested that the four Grand Slams should fantasy about resurrecting the pre- PiS’s nearly 300 MPs, who will shuttle By visiting Poland before Germany, project would collapse. adopt this ATP rule. The player’s place would go World War II Intermarium project, in supporters from their various Trump may be trying to create a split The European Commission, once which would give Poland an important constituencies. within the EU, similar to when newly a strong proponent of Poland in its instead to a ‘lucky loser’ from qualifying who would leadership role in the region. Kaczynski clearly sees an admitted member states drew criticism bid for energy independence, has no only collect a cheque from the second round onwards. The other, affi rmed by the opportunity to put on a show for from “Old Europe” for supporting the interest in opposing Germany, and is This is defi nitely a win-win situation for the players opposition, envisions closer co- domestic consumption, by using US invasion of Iraq in 2003. now at odds with the PiS government and the fans. operation within the Weimar Trump’s visit to demonstrate that Still, it would be naive for Poland to on many issues. Triangle (France, Germany, and Poland is a regional leader, rather than trust Trump. Poland does not use the euro, and Poland). Still, both sides are united a black sheep. The American president is not it is currently violating the rule of law in their belief that Poland should As for Trump, who still fancies known for keeping his promises, and and other EU norms, while refusing To Advertise have a strong alliance with the himself more of a businessman than he is clearly fascinated with Putin. to participate in the EU’s refugee United States, and should support a politician, natural gas provides Indeed, one fi nal motivation for response. [email protected] Ukrainian independence (though the opportunities for deal making and job Trump’s Poland trip is to defuse the At this point, the last chance of Display right does harbour some grievances creation. ongoing investigations at home of the integrating Poland into a European Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 against Ukraine for various historical But, for Europe, gas is much more ties between his election campaign defence framework may have been lost transgressions). The Three Seas than that. and Russia. already. Classified Initiative encompasses 12 countries For Russian President Vladimir By speaking in Poland, which has Trump and Kaczynski have Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 from Estonia to Croatia, in an eff ort Putin, it’s a political weapon; for traditionally been seen as a vocal critic prepared quite a show. to improve regional energy and Poland, it’s a means of security; and of Russia in the region, Trump may be But fi ctions can have very real Subscription communications co-operation. for Germany, it’s all of these. hoping to remove suspicion. consequences. — Project Syndicate [email protected] By creating a counterweight to Germany is regarded by the Trump Early indications suggest that his the German-Russian Nord Stream administration as an economic rival, speech in Warsaw will laud Poland’s zSlawomir Sierakowski, founder of project, which bolsters Russia’s energy and by Poland as a potential security historical contributions to Europe and the Krytyka Polityczna movement, is 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved monopoly in Europe at the expense of threat, owing to its energy alliance the world. Director of the Institute for Advanced European solidarity, Poland’s initiative with Russia. And he may endorse the principle Study in Warsaw. Gulf Times Thursday, July 6, 2017 19 COMMENT Brexit to nowhere?

By Joschka Fischer deal in place, and revert to World Berlin Trade Organisation rules. Divorce proceedings are rarely pleasant. But they are far worse when olitics brings out strong the parties involved do not behave emotions in everyone. Even like adults. When emotions run free, the British, despite their former aff ections can quickly turn Preputation for pursuing their into spite and a desire to infl ict deep interests in a cool and calm fashion, wounds. apparently are not immune. Perhaps But for countries, as for people, life that reputation is merely a holdover goes on after divorce. The EU and the from the long-gone British Empire. UK will remain geographically close, It surely does not apply to the United and thus geopolitically dependent on Kingdom of 2017. one another. Ongoing issues relating Consider the political decisions to security, terrorism, and refugees Britons have made over the past will force both sides to work together; year. Last June, they decided – albeit and trade will continue, even if it faces narrowly – to withdraw from the more hurdles. European Union. And in last month’s It is thus in both sides’ interest snap general election, they delivered not to infl ict deep wounds, instigate an outcome that only reinforces the confrontations, or embarrass and impression that British pragmatism is threaten the other side. Above all, in retreat. issues relating to common UK-EU The election – in which the security should not be part of the Conservative Party lost its majority, negotiations. Both sides need to resulting in a hung parliament – acknowledge their mutual dependence suggests how far removed from the and be prepared to show generosity. rest of the country the political class in The EU, for its part, should Westminster has become. Indeed, the be generous with respect to the UK appears to be undergoing not just a timeframe for withdrawal, new trade political and identity crisis, but also a regulations, and any transitional crisis of confi dence in its political and advantageous geopolitical and Still, it is worth remembering that politically. And for what? news from the eurozone, represents arrangements that could soften the economic elites, which began with the economic position simply because it by the early 1970s, the UK had lost The UK’s Brexiteers demand an unexpected opportunity for a fresh impact of the separation. And the 2008 global fi nancial crisis. is experiencing a prolonged identity its empire and the political clout “sovereignty,” but without start within the EU, which could begin UK should be mindful of the many This will not make the ongoing crisis. Before Brexit got underway, that went with it; and that it only considering what that could possibly as soon as Germany holds its general EU citizens currently residing in Brexit talks any easier. The EU’s the UK had a very strong hand to play managed to reverse its economic mean in an era of ever-advancing election in September. Britain, and honest about its fi nancial counterpart in the negotiation is a within the EU, and thus on the world decline by joining the European globalisation and market integration. As it happens, the UK might very commitments to the bloc. severely weakened government in a stage, owing not least to its special Community (the precursor to the EU) Given the Trump administration’s well be leaving an EU that is quickly If there is one thing to keep in state of crisis. But the EU’s negotiators relationship with the United States. in 1973. Regrettably, Britons rarely protectionist rhetoric, the importance moving toward renewed political mind, it is that people change theirs. cannot lose sight of the fact that the Moreover, the UK has a tradition acknowledge this fact. Instead, a vocal of maintaining access to Europe’s stability and economic growth – And, because people’s sentiments UK will still be important to Europe of liberalism and global engagement, segment of Britain’s political class single market would seem to be more which is, ironically, what the Leave change, countries change direction. outside of the EU. One of the biggest especially with Europe and the and electorate has long blamed the EU acute than ever. camp imagines that it can achieve with No possible future should be ruled risks now, for the EU as much as for eurozone. London has long been and its institutions – some of which But the UK will not be the only Brexit. out, including one in which both the UK, is that the latter will leave a fi nancial centre for the entire require member states to cede part of loser from Brexit. The EU will lose its Fortunately, the UK’s recent parties say, “Let’s try again.” – Project with nothing, and end up in an even continent. And the British economy their sovereignty – for all the evils of second-largest economy and primary election may have provided a starting Syndicate worse state than it is already in. is – or, at least, was – a gateway for this world. guarantor of security. One hope now point for negotiations. To many Future historians will probably many international corporations But now that the UK is withdrawing is that Emmanuel Macron’s election observers, the outcome showed that zJoschka Fischer, Germany’s foreign look back at 2016 and 2017 with seeking access to the EU single market from the EU, it is becoming to the French presidency will blunt British voters oppose a “hard Brexit,” minister and vice-chancellor from 1998 great interest. It is unprecedented and the eurozone, despite the UK’s increasingly clear that it stands to some of the pain from Brexit. Macron’s whereby the UK would quit the single to 2005, was a leader of the German for a country to abandon a highly refusal to join the single currency. lose a great deal, economically and election, along with positive economic market and customs union with no Green Party for almost 20 years. Weather report Trump, China, videos and North Korea Three-day forecast TODAY High: 46 C By Jay Ambrose One of the best early on in his in South Korea, not so cheap a price. advantage for China in letting North presidency was to establish what Taking out Kim and his regime sounds Korea further develop its nuclear Low : 33 C Tribune News Service Inshore: Hazy at places at first seemed a good relationship with like a good idea, but how? South Korea’s capacities, the possibilities of becomes very hot daytime and Chinese President Xi Jinping. China president says a smaller US military disruptive hurt are hardly negligible. relatively humid at places by night. S President Donald Trump is North Korea’s biggest trading presence there could maybe make the The United States would do well to said back in January it would partner, has already hurt that nation North relax and step back some, but be stern on some issues while seeking FRIDAY never happen, but it did. with a coal boycott and could crush probably not. An Atlantic magazine out means of mutually benefi cial co- High: 44 C UNorth Korea successfully it practically overnight with enough writer says the best of all the bad options operation. It would make sense to try Low: 33 C launched an intercontinental ballistic similar measures. Through them, would be simply to live with the risk, to return to something like the Obama Sunny missile, meaning it could maybe there could be peaceful nuclear doing all we can to improve our missile administration’s Asian trade pact to someday hit the West Coast with disarmament, and the world could be defence. I don’t think so. further invigorate our economy and a nuclear weapon. Here is a major a safer place. I think the best course is to bring help better balance power in Asia. SATURDAY concern demanding answers, and here But while it has been saying mostly China around, and for two reasons. As much as some hate to admit it, High: 40 C is one thing that will not work. the right things, China has done little, One is that even if a shattered Trump has his virtues, but tweets are Low: 33 C That would be for Trump to send probably because it fears an eventual economy does not change North not one of them. The more he looks Sunny North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a union of South and North Korea with Korea’s attitudes, it could very well like a tasteless, vindictive, small- video in which the president grabs the US military sitting near its border. destroy the country’s ability to act minded, self-obsessed president, the him, throws him to the ground and Trump has expressed disappointment on them. The second is that China is less eff ective he will be. The world, Fishermen’s forecast not so unexpectedly, is a mess, and we starts punching him in the face. even as his administration has taken emerging as a superpower, and if we OFFSHORE DOHA Trump’s juvenile foray against some steps encouraging China to act. do not learn to work with the Chinese need him to use his virtues to make it Wind: NW-NE 05-15 KT CNN’s juveniles may seem irrelevant, It is, for instance, selling $1bn worth of in a realistic, practical fashion, the less of one. Waves: 1-3/4 Feet a trivialisation of a dead-serious issue. weapons to Taiwan, a nation of islands consequences could be calamitous. I am sure no video of Kim was ever INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 05-15 KT But that’s what Trump has been up to China fi gures on swallowing one of The New York Times recently reviewed planned, but any such video breeds Waves: 1-2/3 Feet too much lately: trivialising, trading these days. two books saying a US-China war trepidation that whacks eff ective confi dence in his presidency for Other Korean options are not pretty, could be a real possibility at some action as much as fi sts whack the guy Around the region pettiness. as experts inform us. We could have an point, and such a war could be world- on the fl oor. What we need soon is Weather Weather Can he rise above that? He better, all-out bombardment during which the crushing. another sit-down session with Xi, Mr today Max/min tomorrow Max/min and he has in fact made good moves. North Koreans would likely kill millions While there might be some President. Abu Dhabi M Sunny 41/31 Sunny 42/33 Baghdad Sunny 49/33 Sunny 49/32 Dubai Sunny 40/31 Sunny 44/32 Kuwait City Sunny 46/33 Sunny 45/31 Manama Sunny 43/32 Sunny 44/32 Muscat Sunny 37/32 Sunny 36/29 Riyadh M Sunny 46/31 M Sunny 46/32 Live issues Tehran Sunny 38/26 Sunny 38/27 Cancer patients should check drugs with pharmacist

By Carolyn Crist the time of their fi rst cancer drug Reuters Health prescription. Using two or more medicinal products in addition to the anti- ancer patients receiving cancer therapy was associated with chemotherapy should a two times higher risk of a drug have all their medications interaction, the authors found. Cand herbal supplements “It is not as black and white as it reviewed by a pharmacist who may seem,” Bossaer said. specialises in cancer therapy, For example, he explained, the researchers say. prostate cancer drug enzalutamide More than half the patients in decreases the eff ectiveness of several a recent study reported taking medications, including ticagrelor, which prescription medications, over-the- is often used after stent placement for counter drugs or herbal supplements heart disease. A drug interaction may along with chemotherapy, and roughly put the patient at greater risk for a heart Around the world one in six patients were using products attack, which isn’t typically noticed Weather Weather that put them at risk for potentially until the heart attack happens. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min harmful drug interactions. “This nuance requires both Athens Sunny 33/22 Sunny 36/23 “Patients with cancer frequently extensive drug and clinical disease- Beirut P Cloudy 28/24 P Cloudy 28/24 S T Storms 31/26 use herbal supplements and other anti-cancer drugs, and in all cases, chemotherapy, they cause many other state knowledge,” Bossaer said. “This Bangkok 31/26 T Storms Berlin M Cloudy 24/15 T Storms 25/15 medications,” said lead study author oncologists modifi ed the patients’ side eff ects, which can be worsened by is exactly what clinical pharmacists Cairo Sunny 36/24 P Cloudy 37/24 Dr Allan Ramos-Esquivel of the therapy. other medications.” are trained to do.” Cape Town Sunny 18/12 Sunny 18/11 University of Costa Rica in San Jose. “The treatment of cancer has Herbal-drug interactions, in A limitation of the study is that it Colombo T Storms 30/27 T Storms 30/27 “These patients are at high risk of shifted in the past decade to the use of particular, are concerning because of relies on the self-reporting nature of Dhaka T Storms 30/26 T Storms 31/26 Hong Kong T Storms 29/28 T Storms 30/28 herb-drug interactions and drug-drug more oral agents,” said John Bossaer unanswered questions and scientifi c the questionnaire. Future research Istanbul Sunny 27/19 M Sunny 28/20 interactions,” he told Reuters Health. of East Tennessee State University gaps, Bossaer added. Herb-drug should better identify drug and herbal Jakarta P Cloudy 31/24 P Cloudy 32/24 Ramos-Esquivel and colleagues in Johnson City. Bossaer, who interactions go unnoticed because interactions with chemotherapy, the Karachi S T Storms 32/29 P Cloudy 32/28 surveyed 149 newly diagnosed wasn’t involved with this study, has formal drug interaction studies don’t study authors wrote in the Journal of London S Showers 28/17 M Sunny 28/17 Manila T Storms S T Storms 33/26 cancer patients about prescription or researched drug interactions and anti- typically include them. Oncology Practice. 33/26 Moscow S Showers 19/09 S Showers 17/09 over-the-counter drugs and herbal cancer drugs. “Moreover, many patients do not “Patients or family members of New Delhi P Cloudy 34/27 P Cloudy 36/28 supplements they were taking as they “Because these newer drugs are openly disclose their use of herbal patients should explicitly ask if a New York S Showers 24/20 P Cloudy 28/22 started on new anti-cancer therapies. taken orally, many patients (and medications, either because of fear clinical pharmacist has checked their Paris P Cloudy 33/20 Sunny 32/17 Working with a clinical pharmacist, I fear some clinicians) perceive of judgment from their physician or medications for any signifi cant drug Sao Paulo M Sunny 21/11 M Sunny 22/11 Seoul I T Storms 32/23 T Storms 27/23 the researchers identifi ed 36 potential them as safer,” he told Reuters assuming their use isn’t related to interactions,” Bossaer said. “Some Singapore S T Storms 30/25 S T Storms 30/26 interactions in 26 patients, or 17 Health by e-mail. “While these their treatment,” he said. may require a medication change, and Sydney Sunny 17/05 Sunny 18/06 percent. The researchers then notifi ed oral agents do not generally cause In this study, 84 patients, or 56% others may require more frequent lab Tokyo Clear 28/24 Cloudy 30/23 the oncologist who prescribed the the life-threatening toxicities of IV were using herbal supplements at monitoring.” Gulf Times 20 Thursday, July 6, 2017 QATAR

Human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor has been held in solitary Endari, third from right, and Haigh, fourth from left, spoke on Monday. (Courtesy: AOHR) confinement since March this year. (Nikhil Monteiro/Reuters) Survivors demand action to prevent

torture in UAE jails A room where Yemenis are believed to have been detained and tortured by UAE and Yemeni forces. (Al Jazeera) z Rights groups say torture “I was tortured and abused mon and were committed with critics of the UAE’s rulers. dispute involving unresolved intervene to avoid being detained. UAE offi cials, those responsible is carried out with impunity and witnessed countless oth- impunity”. “In recent years, the UAE au- debt. “My brother had to pay a lot of for wrongdoing could be subject and political dissidents are ers tortured and abused, which Methods of abuse includ- thorities have intensifi ed their Endari said he arrived in the money in order for me to arrive to arrest. singled out for abuse is something that never leaves ed “beatings, electric shocks suppression of public criticism UAE from Syria in 2008, with in Syria without being arrested,” For both Haigh and Endari, you,” Haigh said, adding he and sleep deprivation”, the and dissent by using surveillance his savings of just over $100,000 he said. the battle for justice is one they was denied access to medicine, organisation said. technologies and vague cyber- and went about setting up his Endari later joined the exodus fi ght alongside their struggle to By Shafik Mandhai, Al Jazeera translators and lawyers. Maria Di Lenna, of the Inter- crime laws to arrest activists, business. of Syrians leaving the country recover from their experiences. London “For me, one of the hardest national Campaign for Freedom journalists and anybody speak- “I worked really hard for seven and seeking refuge elsewhere. Haigh spoke at the event de- things is watching others often in the United Arab Emirates ing out against these abuses,” years and couldn’t even fi nd the UN complaint: Both Haigh spite recommendations from younger than you being kicked (ICFUAE), told Al Jazeera that Di Lenna said. time to sleep,” he said. “I was and Endari have issued formal his doctors not to, while Endari urvivors of torture in the and beaten and tortured and political prisoners were particu- One recent target was promi- constantly tired.” complaints to the UN regard- struggles with the transition UAE have called on the tasered. larly singled out for abuse, as nent human rights activist The Syrian alleges that his ing the UAE’s conduct and are in from successful businessman to Sinternational community “You can’t help them and were those who get on the wrong Ahmed Mansoor, who was ar- troubles started when he lent process of undertaking further refugee. to help to put an end to abuse in to hear their screams ... that’s side of the ruling families and rested at his family home in Abu money to a man with legal action over the abuses they “They destroyed everything. Emirati prisons. something that hasn’t left me.” their allies. Dhabi in March 2017 by plain- connections to Emirati royals. experienced. They destroyed my life and my Activist groups, including The trained lawyer said he saw “Prisoners of conscience and clothed policemen, and later When he tried to collect the Endari’s lawyer, Sue Willman, future,” he said. Amnesty International, Hu- injustice “every moment and political prisoners are specifi - charged with “promoting false debt, the man refused and after a said there were several eff ective “I lost my company, my cars, man Rights Watch and local every day” and was approached cally targeted in the UAE prison information” and “spreading court case that lasted more than a avenues for recourse, includ- and my bank accounts ... they NGOs, say hundreds of people by police and judicial offi cials system,” she said, adding: “[Pris- hatred and sectarianism”. year, a judge ruled that Endari be ing placing pressure on the UN destroyed my dreams, and even have fallen foul of authorities in who told him they were receptive oners] face enforced disappear- Mansoor, who is being held jailed for a month and deported. to act, as well as formal criminal now I suff er from the nightmares the country and were subject to to receiving bribes that would ances, arbitrary and lengthy in solitary confi nement with- “The process of torture and procedures for targeting those and bad memories. forced disappearances, beatings, help to release him from prison. pre-trial detention, torture and out access to lawyers, is known humiliation started,” he said. responsible for torture within “I’m still here but I’ve lost electric shocks and other forms Haigh believes the charges other ill-treatment, as well as for his campaigning against “I stayed in a dark, disgusting the UK. hope. I feel I have no future.” of torture. against him were concocted denial of their rights to legal arbitrary detentions, torture, and small cell for seven days. “Ayham has fi led his complaint The embassy of the UAE in the Those aff ected include Emi- by “unscrupulous parties who representation and family visits.” and judicial wrongdoing, and “They left me in jail for 68 to the UN bodies,” Willman said. UK has not replied to a request rati citizens, as well as expatriate knew there was a weak legal Di Lenna gave the recent in 2015 won the Martin Ennals days, which was much more than “It may seem like a waste of for comment. residents, who are often held for system where justice could be example of an incident at Al Award for his work defending the initial judgment.” time because the UN is weak According to ICFUAE, there months without formal charge. bought and paid for.” Razeen prison in which guards human rights. But Endari’s troubles were but if the UN keeps receiving are more than 200 political pris- Speaking at an event in the After 15 months of imprison- raided a ward holding political He has not been heard from only just starting. complaints it can pressure the oners in the UAE, including na- British parliament on Monday ment, he was released and par- prisoners and forced them to un- since his family last visited him After the Syrian revolution rapporteur to push the UAE,” tionals from 13 countries such organised by the Arab Organi- doned, only to be jailed again dergo strip searches, which the in April 2015. started in 2011, he had used Fa- she added. as Palestine, Libya, Syria, and sation for Human Rights in the after the bank he was accused detainees described as “sexual According to Di Lenna, the cebook to champion the opposi- The second approach was us- Bahrain. UK (AOHR), businessman David of defrauding alleged he had harassment”. risk of arrest and torture extend- tion cause and had attracted the ing the UK’s status as a signa- At least 135 prisoners are Emi- Haigh said he continues to re- abused it on Twitter, which Dissidents in the UAE are not ed not only to political activists attention of the Syrian authorities. tory of the 1986 UN Convention rati citizens, and at least one, ceive treatment for post-trau- Haigh says was impossible, as he only subject to potential abuses but anyone critical of the UAE At the start of his imprison- against Torture. Sultan bin Kayed al-Qasimi, is a matic stress after two years in a was in prison at the time. once arrested, but also a vast and authorities. ment, he had received assurances The convention allows UK member of one of the country’s UAE jail. He eventually returned to intrusive surveillance system “In 2016 alone, around 300 from Emirati offi cials that he authorities to prosecute those ruling families. Haigh, who is the former man- the UK after his release in procured from states, includ- people were detained for merely would not be deported to Syria responsible for torture when the The UAE’s armed forces are aging director of Leeds United summer 2016. ing the UK, Denmark and Israel, voicing opinions on social me- but instead another country. alleged perpetrator enters their separately accused of tortur- Football Club, had lived in Dubai Torture with ‘impunity’: among others. dia sites such as Facebook and However, during his detention, territory regardless of whether ing opponents in secret prisons for eight years when he was ac- According to Amnesty Interna- According to ICFUAE, Twitter,” she said. he found out he would be deport- the crime took place within it. in Yemen, where it is part of a cused of fraud by the authorities, tional, torture and other abuses that has led to more in- Syrian native Ayham al-En- ed to Syria anyway and needed Willman explained that as the Saudi-led force fi ghting Houthi a charge he strenuously rejects. in the UAE “remained com- tensifi ed crackdowns on dari’s problems began with a his family in the country to UK was frequently visited by rebels. NGOs hail Kuwaiti emir’s Saudi tops list of terror eff orts to resolve crisis fi nanciers: UK think-tank uwaiti civil society or- ganisations have hailed By Alan McGuinness led to support for mosques “We are determined to cut Kthe eff orts led by Kuwait’s Sky News and Islamic institutions off the funding which fuels Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad that appear to have links to the evils of extremism and al-Jaber al-Sabah to resolve the extremism, the organisation terrorism, and will work Gulf crisis. Saudi Arabia is “undoubtedly said. closely with international In a statement, the organi- at the top of the list” when It found there have been partners to tackle this shared sations have said the Kuwaiti it comes to funding Islamist “numerous” cases of global threat, including at the leader’s eff orts to “bridge the extremism in Britain, it has Britons who have joined upcoming G20 summit.” rift between brothers in the Gulf been claimed. jihadist groups in Iraq and The Saudi embassy said confi rm that the strong histori- The Henry Jackson Society, a Syria whose radicalisation the kingdom “has not and cal bonds that tie the GCC coun- Britain-based think-tank, said is thought to be linked to does not support or fund tries are stronger than any tran- a clear and growing link can foreign-funded institutions any group that has direct or sient disturbance which may be drawn between overseas and preachers. Tom Wilson is fellow at the indirect links to any terrorist disturb the region”. money, which mainly comes The Henry Jackson Society Henry Jackson Society. organisation”. The statement also highlights from Saudi Arabia, and the said foreign funding for British It said in a statement: the Kuwaiti civil society organi- recent wave of attacks in the extremism comes mainly predecessor David Cameron “Accusations that blame the sations’ full support for the ef- UK and Europe. from governments and state- in 2015, but reports have Kingdom for radicalising a forts exerted by Sheikh Sabah But Saudi Arabia’s UK backed foundations in the suggested the findings may small number of individuals to promote the convergence of embassy has labelled the Gulf, along with Iran. never be published because are baseless and lack credible viewpoints and restore the state claim “categorically false”. Wilson added: “There is a clear of the sensitivity of the evidence. Terrorist ideology of cohesion that has character- Tom Wilson, who wrote the and growing link between information regarding Saudi knows no nationality, ised the GCC for decades, ac- right-leaning Henry Jackson foreign funding of Islamist Arabia. language or borders. cording to the Al Hakea news Society’s report, said: “While extremism and the violent Labour MP Dan Jarvis said the “All charitable donations to portal. entities from across the Gulf terrorism we have witnessed report “sheds light on what educational and religious Further, the civil society or- and Iran have been guilty of across the UK and Europe. are extremely worrying links establishments by the Saudi ganisations point out that the advancing extremism, those in “The key now is to get ahead between Saudi Arabia and the state are made to registered eff orts exerted by the emir re- Saudi Arabia are undoubtedly of the issue and find out the funding of extremism here charities in the UK. fl ect his experience and political at the top of the list. full extent of what has been in the UK” and called on the “Saudi charities are prohibited wisdom in managing [the Gulf “Research indicates that going on. A public inquiry Government to release the from transferring money crisis] thorny issue.” some Saudi individuals would go some way to inquiry’s report. abroad and cannot operate Common relations between and foundations have been informing the debate.” A government spokesman abroad except through the the Gulf countries have grown, apparently heavily involved in UK Prime Minister Theresa said: “Defeating the evil King Salman Humanitarian developed and crystallised in exporting an illiberal, bigoted May, who visited Saudi ideology of Islamist extremism Aid and Relief Centre or the the form of the GCC, they ob- Wahhabi ideology.” Arabia earlier this year, has is one of the greatest Saudi Red Crescent, which is a serve, noting that the goals of The think-tank has called for a faced accusations she is challenges of our time. semi-government entity. the GCC involve the accom- between the GCC “purposefully reason in resolving the crisis. public inquiry into the issue. “kowtowing” to the kingdom “The Commission for Counter- “Saudi Arabia has been at plishment of co-ordination, and constructively”. They have expressed full con- The kingdom’s 60-year by “suppressing” a report Extremism, which the PM the forefront of fighting integration and connectiv- The Kuwaiti civil society or- fi dence in the eff orts exerted by campaign to export into the funding of extremist announced earlier this year, the spread of extremism ity in all fi elds. The goals also ganisations have stressed the the emir to address the current Wahhabism, a strict groups in the UK. will have a key role to play in and terrorism at home and involve resorting to dialogue importance of adhering to es- crisis and as well as in the wis- interpretation of Islam, has An inquiry was ordered by her this fight. abroad.” while addressing any dispute tablished principles as well as to dom of the Gulf and Arab leaders.