QATAR | Page 11 SPORT | Page 2 Sunderland’s 10-year Premier INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 6, 9 -14 COMMENT 29, 30 REGION 15 BUSINESS 1 – 8, 20 – 23 Al Hazm lauds workers League stay 20,804.00 10,089.86 49.33 ARAB WORLD 15, 16 CLASSIFIED 11, 17 -24.09 -115.74 +0.36 INTERNATIONAL 17 – 28 SPORTS 1 – 8 and employees -0.11% -1.13% +0.74% ends Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

SUNDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10439 April 30, 2017 Sha ’baan 4, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Al Sadd crowned as champions of Qatar Cup

In brief

QATAR | Weather ‘Weak chance of light rain’: Met There is a “weak chance of light rain” in parts of the country today, the Qatar Met department has said. The detailed forecast says it will be hazy in some places in the early hours of the day, followed by a hot day as well as slightly dusty and partly cloudy conditions at times. Off shore, hazy conditions are expected in some areas along with scattered clouds. The maximum temperature today is likely to be 39C in Al Khor, followed by 37C in Doha, Wakrah, Mesaieed, Dukhan and Abu Samra. Yesterday, the maximum was 40C in Turayna, Karana, Shehaimiya President of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani crowned Al Sadd as champions of Qatar Cup 2017 after they defeated El Jaish 2-1 in the final played at Al Sadd Sports Club. It is the first and Jumailiya, while in Doha it was 37C. time ever that Al Sadd SC wins the competition. El Jaish on the other hand could not repeat the success they had in this competition in the past. Sport Page 1

AMERICA | March Thousands protest Trump climate policies Tens of thousands of people marched US aircraft yesterday from the US Capitol to the White House to show support for climate-change science and protest carrier starts President Donald Trump’s rollbacks of environmental protections. The Peoples Workers safe from Climate March took place under stifling, drill with near-record heat and on the 100th day of the billionaire climate sceptic’s presidency. He was the target of many Korean navy signs and banners, mocked and criticised by demonstrators of all ages. Hollywood megastar Leonardo DiCaprio took part in AFP the rally, walking with a group of Native accidents, diseases Seoul Americans. “Climate change is real,” read a sign he carried. atar is free from fatal acci- to ensure that employers are comply- Abdulaziz bin Hamad al-Ageel, by Qatar to occupational health and dents and infectious diseases ing with the relevant laws guarantee- secretary-general of the Gulf Or- safety, protection of working envi- he US aircraft carrier USS Carl BRITAIN | Politics Qamong workers and the rare ing workers’ OHS rights. “Inspection ganisation for Industrial Consulting ronment and the promotion of hu- Vinson yesterday kicked off a cases that happen are because of hu- tours have also been carried out joint- (Goic), organiser of the conference, man dignity. Tjoint drill with the South Korean EU leaders agree man error, HE the Minister of Admin- ly with teams from other ministries, said the fi rst edition of the meeting The conference witnessed the navy, offi cials said, as tensions rose tough Brexit stance istrative Development, Labour and including the ministries of interior, is taking place as part of the GCC launch of the National Book on Oc- over North Korea’s latest test-fi re of a EU leaders unanimously backed a tough Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali municipality and environment, and countries’ inclination to implement cupational Health and Safety, which ballistic missile. Brexit strategy at a summit yesterday, al-Nuaimi has said. public health.” preventive OHS measures to ensure contains government reports and “Immediately after the aircraft demanding a “serious response” from Addressing the 1st Conference on Qatar gives great importance to the workers’ safety in all sectors by re- OHS initiatives by private companies carrier arrived in the Sea of Japan, Britain on the rights of European Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) occupational health and safety of lo- ducing work-related accident rates as well as legislative and procedural South Korea and the US strike forc- citizens before trade talks can start. in Doha yesterday under the theme cal and expatriate workers, stressed HE to zero, especially in the industrial developments in Qatar. es launched a drill from 6pm (0900 In a show of togetherness the 27 leaders “Health and Safety of Workers First”, Dr al-Nuaimi, pointing out that this sector. Among the main sessions were GMT) Saturday”, a defence ministry agreed the negotiating guidelines he stressed that Qatar spared no eff ort important conference was organised He stressed that to achieve this tar- government agencies involved with spokesman said. within minutes and applauded as they to provide workers with the maximum to coincidence with the World Day for get, the GCC countries have focused occupational health and safety, in- The drill came hours after the North met in Brussels without British Prime levels of protection at their workplace Safety and Health at Work marked on on workers’ safety alongside the safe- ternational standards in occupational launched a ballistic missile in appar- Minister Theresa May. EU President and accommodation. “Besides, the law April 28 every year. It provides a plat- ty of buildings and the environment health and safety, and injuries and ent defi ance of a concerted US push Donald Tusk hailed the “outstanding is enforced strictly and both companies form to promote the exchange of re- used for productive and economic diseases of workers: between law and for tougher international sanctions unity” in an often fractious club, saying and individuals could be prosecuted for lated expertise and experiences, and activities. practice. to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons it was a “firm and fair political mandate” proven violations of the applicable laws enhance understanding and dialogue Fayez Ali al-Mutairi, director-gen- The conference brought together ambitions. for the Brexit negotiations. Page 21 and regulations.” among the authorities concerned and eral of the Arab Labour Organisation, several of keynote speakers and OHS The drill aimed to verify the allies’ The minister highlighted the im- stakeholders in Qatar and abroad. hailed the considerable care given experts from Qatar and abroad. capability to track and intercept en- EUROPE | Demonstration portance of transparency and cred- emy ballistic missiles, the spokesman ibility in dealing with OHS issues said. Russian protesters and the exchange of information re- He declined to clarify how long say ‘sick of Putin’ lated to accidents among parties con- the drill would last, but Yonhap news Police detained over 100 activists in cerned as soon as they happen. “Qa- agency said it was expected to continue Saint Petersburg yesterday as hundreds tar has nothing to hide or cover up in until sometime next week. of Russian opposition supporters turned this matter.” The drill will also include a live-fi re out to protest against President Vladimir HE Dr al-Nuaimi said Qatar’s poli- exercise and anti-submarine manoeu- Putin’s expected candidacy in elections cy on this issue is based on three pil- vres, the spokesman added. next year. Protests in several cities were lars: the presence of laws and proper It would mark the USS Carl Vinson’s called by the Open Russia movement procedures that protect workers at second operation in South Korean founded by arch-Putin foe and former both the workplace and their ac- waters in less than two months amid oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky. commodation; reinforcement of the heightened military tensions in Korea. They were held under the slogan “We’re control measures by trained and em- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sick of him” - a reference to Putin. powered staff to prevent any poten- yesterday called North Korea’s test- About 200 people gathered in central tial violation of the regulations; and fi re of a ballistic missile “absolutely Saint Petersburg for an unauthorised spreading awareness of OHS issues unacceptable” and a “grave threat to demonstration, an AFP journalist among workers and employers. HE the Minister of Administrative our country”. witnessed, and OVD-Info, which He pointed out that the Labour In- Development, Labour and Social Speaking in London, Abe called monitors detentions of political activists, spection Department has carried out Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi upon the international community, in said more than 110 protesters were thousands of inspections at work- addressing the conference in Doha particular China, to “show solidarity” hauled away by riot police. Page 22 places and workers’ accommodation yesterday. Dignitaries at the event. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed in formulating a response. Page 20

Qatar’s trade surplus jumps nearly 71% y-o-y to QR9.9bn in March

atar has registered a trade sur- pared to February 2017, MDPS said. QR9.9bn, MDPS said. This represents sents an increase of 18.1% on the same “countries of destination of Qatar’s In second place was aircraft and heli- plus of QR9.9bn in March, On the other hand, the imports of an increase of nearly QR4.1bn (70.7%) period last year. exports” with value close to QR3.7bn copters parts with QR0.27bn, which Qwhich represents a year-on- goods in March amounted to around compared with March 2016, but a de- Increase was also seen in the ex- and a share of 18.7% of total exports dropped by 32.6%, and in third place year growth of nearly 71%, data re- QR9.8bn, which indicates a drop of crease of nearly QR1.6bn or 14% com- ports of “petroleum oils” and oils from followed by South Korea with al- was electrical apparatus with QR0.26bn, leased by the Ministry of Development 9.6% compared with March last year. pared to February this year. bituminous minerals (crude), which most QR2.8bn (14.3%) and India with which indicates a drop of 59.5%. Planning and Statistics show. However, on a month on month (M-o- The year on year (March 2017 to reached nearly QR3.3bn in March, up QR2.6bn (13.2%). In March this year, the United State In March, the total exports of goods M) basis, the imports have increased by March 2016) increase in total exports, 42.8% on the same period last year. During March this year, motor cars of America was the “leading coun- (including exports of goods of domes- 20%. MDPS said was “mainly due to higher In the segment of petroleum oils and and other passenger vehicles topped try of origin of Qatar’s imports” with tic origin and re-exports) amounted In March this year, the foreign mer- exports” of petroleum gases and other oils from bituminous minerals (not the list of imported commodities, with about QR1.2bn and a share of 12.2% to around QR19.7bn, showing an in- chandise trade balance, which repre- gaseous hydrocarbons (LNG, conden- crude), 119% increase was registered QR0.7bn, which however, showed a re- of the imports, followed by Germany crease of 18.4% compared to March sents the diff erence between total ex- sates, propane, butane), which reached during the period to reach QR1.7bn. duction of 9.2% compared to the same with QR0.91bn (9.3%), and United Arab 2016, and increased by 0.1% com- ports and imports, showed a surplus of QR11.4bn in March 2017, which repre- In March this year, Japan topped the period in 2016. Emirates with QR0.9bn (9.2%).

Gulf Times 6 Sunday, April 30, 2017 QATAR

RAF completes 1st phase of Gaza rehabilitation project

Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah The total cost of the project, 2,100 Palestinian citizens Sudanese defence minister arrives Foundation for Humanitarian which is being implemented from poor and needy fami- Armed Forces Services (RAF) announced in two phases, is QR6.5mn, lies whose homes have been the completion of the first donated by the citizens and partially or totally destroyed concludes fi rst phase of a project for the residents of Qatar. during the Israeli aggression rehabilitation of 300 houses The project, being imple- on Gaza Strip during the past riot control in Gaza Strip for the Palestin- mented in co-operation with years, RAF said in a press ian families aff ected by the Turkey’s Life Way Associa- release. exercise repeated Israeli wars on the tion, aims at providing ad- The first phase of the project Strip. equate shelter for more than cost over QR3mn. QNA Doha

he Armed Forces concluded the fi rst Riot Control Train- Ting Session for members of the Armed Forces and Military Police, held under the patronage of HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mo- hamed al-Attiyah, in the presence of Brigadier General Mohamad Sudan’s Minister of Defence Lt Gen Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf arrived yesterday in Doha on an official Meshi al-Ahbabi, Army Military visit to Qatar. Lt Gen Awad Mohamed Ahmed and his accompanying delegation were welcomed at Hamad Police Commander. International Airport by HE the Minister of State for Defence Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah and The four-week course held at Sudan’s ambassador in Qatar Fath al-Rahman Ali Omar. the Military Police School was at- tended by members of Emiri Land Forces Command, a number of military police commanders and members of Joint Special Forces Group along with members of the Emiri Border Command. The course aimed at provid- Ooredoo launches revamped ing the participants with the necessary skills to deal with riot and crowd control. It included e-learning platform for staff training sessions, which taught participants useful rules about dealing with riots, diff erent uses oredoo’s Human features and courses to ing organisations such as of weapons and tools for riot po- Resources Depart- ensure eTatweer is truly a the Chartered Institute of lice, riot police’s missions and Oment has offi cially one-stop platform. Management in the UK.” stadium security as well as con- launched the eTatweer The eTatweer update To make sure that all trol/arrest techniques. platform to support Oore- launch was held at an Ooredoo employees have a doo employees’ develop- event in Ooredoo’s HQ1 chance to see the new and mental needs and better last week and was attend- updated eTatweer plat- Qatar Media serve customers. ed by senior management, form, the company will body wins two Ooredoo’s dedicated including Ooredoo Qatar host a dedicated informa- online learning portal CEO Waleed al-Sayed. tion kiosk in Ooredoo’s prestigious prizes eTatweer was designed to As well as standard Ooredoo Qatar CEO HQ1 for one week. provide employees with a eLearning solutions for Waleed al-Sayed speaks Ooredoo has placed Qatar Media Corporation has won convenient way to access Ooredoo employees, eTat- during the launching of strong strategic focus on two prizes in the 18th session of a variety of learning re- weer features include on- the eTatweer platform. improving the customer the Arab Radio and TV Festival sources and development line learning programmes, experience across its op- which concluded in the Tunisian planning tools. book summaries, audios, to greater heights. The erations, and investment in city of Hammamet on Friday night. Thanks to the new up- videos, and interactive ac- greatest value of eLearn- training and development Qatar Television’s programme dates, eTatweer is mobile tivities, among others. ing is that it allows our plays a key role in that, as Besaraha won the first prize in the and tablet-friendly, per- Al-Sayed said: “We employees to develop the company strives to be- talk show category of the main fect for employees with believe this advanced their skills and improve come an employer of choice. television competitions, while Al- diff erent learning styles eLearning initiative will their knowledge at their For more information Watar Al-Khames programme won and schedules. On top of bring us yet another step own pace. Our employee on working for Ooredoo, the second prize in the entertain- this mobility, the company closer to helping our em- learning content comes people can visit www. ment and artistic programmes has added a host of new ployees take their careers from leading online learn- Ooredoo.qa category.

Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 9 QATAR 150 medical practitioners attend Al Ahli Ophthalmology Congress

By Joey Aguilar Infections because of contact lenses on the rise with 13.5 points, Category 1 by Staff Reporter Qatar’s Council of Health Prac- titioners, focused on select Qa- While addressing the Mena Oph- infections” in the region because tar National Health Priorities ome 150 medical prac- thalmology Congress, professor of contact lenses. of the Qatar National Research titioners involved in eye Dr Alexander Bialasiewicz, chair- It constitutes a high number of Fund and covered some top- Scare took part in Al Ahli man of the Scientific Planning about 100 in 12,000 patients per ics of the Qatar National Health Hospital’s second edition of the Committee and department head year due to several environmen- Strategy issued by the Ministry Mena Ophthalmology Congress, of Ophthalmology, Al Ahli Hos- tal factors but can be cured or of Public Health. which was held in Doha from pital, cited an “epidemic of eye remedied. The CPD-accredited confer- April 27 until yesterday. ence forms part of Al Ahli Hos- The conference was organ- pital’s corporate social respon- ised by events, training and as- ogy has become very technical, should be valued as such,” he sibility and continuous medical Among the topics discussed at the conference included paediatric ophthalmology and genetic testing, sociation management company sophisticated and expensive, stressed. education programme aimed at uveitis, glaucoma and implants, refractive surgery, cataract and cornea treatments, neurodegeneration Maarefah Management in col- indeed,” said professor Dr Al- Among the topics discussed supporting healthcare practi- and ocular complications of diabetes mellitus, clinical cases from Qatar. PICTURE: Jayan Orma laboration with Al Ahli Hospital exander Bialasiewicz, chairman at the conference included tioners. and with the support of institu- of the Scientifi c Planning Com- paediatric ophthalmology and Last month, Al Ahli Hos- therapy on May 12 and 13. for the region, which is focused through the gathering of leading tions such as the Saudi Associa- mittee and department head of genetic testing, uveitis, glau- pital also organised a CPD- Maarefah managing direc- towards the development of national and international ex- tion of Optometry, Egyptian So- Ophthalmology, Al Ahli Hospi- coma and implants, refractive accredited symposium related tor Dr Doaa Said highlighted the better and improved healthcare perts.” ciety for Glaucoma and Bahrain tal. surgery, cataract and cornea to obesity and overweight, importance of such initiatives in practice in the fi eld of ophthal- She stressed that the current Medical Society. “Specialised nurses, assist- treatments, neurodegeneration attracting a large number of the region, especially in the era of mology,” she said. “The success growth in the ageing population “Holistic eye care is unthinka- ants, technicians, photogra- and ocular complications of participants from Qatar. It is ophthalmology. of the previous Mena ophthal- as well as the increase in diabetes ble in an isolated setting without phers, echographers, optom- diabetes mellitus, clinical cases set to hold another sympo- “We are pleased with the mology congress has inspired enhanced the need in the region close multidisciplinary interac- etrists and orthoptists are as from Qatar. sium related to rehabilitation, strong response that we have re- us to look at the recent develop- to look at latest updates to serve tion, and the art of ophthalmol- important as physicians and The conference, accredited physiotherapy and physical ceived for this pioneering event ments and updates in the fi eld patients best. QRCS mourns death of volunteer in Idlib

volunteer of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) was killed in Syria during an air Astrike launched on fi eld relief teams carry- ing out humanitarian missions in Idlib’s Al Janu- deiah village. Mus’ab Ahmad A’rabi, 32, was working as a cam- eraman when the incident occurred. “Hence, with the approach of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Day, we assert the need for the respect of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) rules, which protect a wide range of people and objects during armed confl icts. “And while categories protected under IHL are specifi cally referred to as the sick, wounded, ship- wrecked, prisoners of war, and civilians not direct- ly involved in hostilities, they also include other Mus’ab Ahmad A’rabi. categories such as medical personnel and humanitarian aid workers,” QRCS said in a statement. The statement added, “In this context, Article III common to the Four Ge- neva Conventions of 1949, binding to all parties of the non-international armed confl ict in Syria, stipulates that the sick and wounded shall be collected and cared for. Customary IHL also provides special protection to hospitals, medical units and healthcare workers.” QRCS chairman Dr Mo- hamed bin Ghanem al-Ali al-Ma’adeed said, “With deep sorrow, we received the news of the demise of our son Mus’ab A’rabi, who was part of the QRCS team working inside Syria. “I cannot fi nd the words to express how I feel right now. All that crosses my mind now is the question when will targeting human- itarian aid workers stop and when will IHL rules in war be respected, wherever that war may be?”

“I cannot fi nd the words to express how I feel right now. All that crosses my mind now is the question when will targeting humanitarian aid workers stop and when will IHL rules in war be respected, wherever that war may be?”

QRCS secretary general Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi said the Society “regrets and deplores the painful inci- dent,” which resulted in the death of A’rabi and “severely injuring another staff mem- ber.” A’rabi’s death was the third incident encountered by QRCS. In 2014, surgeon Dr Saleh el-Hassan, 35, was killed during a humanitar- ian mission in Tabaqa Hos- pital in Syria. Dr Leith Abu Waleed, 23, died in 2013. Al-Hammadi said the International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Cres- cent always asserts and calls for the respect of humani- tarian aid workers, refer- ring to the ICRC’s issuance of several clear statements urging all parties to the con- fl ict in Syria “to adhere to their obligations under IHL and to respect the RCRC humanitarian aid teams, by ensuring their safe and un- restricted access to those aff ected by the confl ict.” Gulf Times 10 Sunday, April 30, 2017 QATAR

Online services for WCM-Q off ers nationals chance to train with world-class scientists ration card holders he Ministry of Economy and atari high school and college Yassir Hussain, assistant director of for National High School Students is with “valuable experience”, the state- cation before the closing date of June 9. Commerce (MEC) has launched students who are interested Research Training and Outreach, said: available as a two-week or four-week ment notes. Alternatively, they can send an e- Ta number of new online services Qin building successful careers “We have just opened applications for programme that runs during the sum- Moza al-Hail completed the pro- mail to [email protected] for ration card holders in the country. in biomedical research have been in- our extremely exciting biomedical re- mer and earns students 50 to 100 vol- gramme in 2016. or send a WhatsApp message to 5031 The services are available on the MEC vited to apply to join summer training search programmes for high school and unteer hours. “I have had such a great time here 6671. website at https://services.mec.gov.qa programmes off ered by Weill Cornell college students. Both programmes The Research Internship for Na- and learned so much,” she said. “I Dr Khaled Machaca, associate dean The services include change of card Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). have been carefully designed to provide tional College Students is available as a learned that there is much more to re- for Research, said: “These programmes pin number and status, allocated items, Applications have just opened for essential practical skills and knowledge four-week or eight-week summer pro- search than what goes on in the lab.” off er a wonderful opportunity to not quantity and the available credit, issuance Qatari nationals to join two training of biomedical research, delivered by gramme and teaches both lab skills and All Qatari nationals who are interest- only build a very successful career in of a report on the dates of purchase in the programmes at WCM-Q that off er extremely talented scientists. research management skills, as well as ed the Research Internship for National a fascinating fi eld, but also help build previous year, as well as the locations of the chance to learn key biomedical re- “If you are a Qatari national and you providing advice about the many ca- High School students or the Research Qatar’s emerging R&D sector and con- distributors, their storehouses and the search skills in the college’s labs under are interested in a career in biomedical reer options available in the fi eld. Internship for National College Stu- tribute to achieving the goal of diver- quantities available with them. The new the guidance of leading researchers research, these programmes are a bril- The two programmes are a part of dents should visit http://qatar-weill. sifying the economy to provide pros- online services are part of the MEC’s ef- from all over the world, according to a liant way to make a very positive start.” the Biomedical Research Training Pro- cornell.edu/research/researchpro- perity and security for generations to forts to improve services and help speed press statement. WCM-Q’s Research Internship grammes for Qataris and provide them grams.html and complete their appli- come.” up transactions of related services. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 11 QATAR

Al-Emadi with the workers at the ceremony. Al-Emadi appreciates workers’ contributions. Al Hazm lauds contribution of workers and employees atar’s unique Al Hazm our workers and employees, ate work environment for all of Al Hazm will be held while Project has held a two- and our intention was to always labourers and employees, and the offi cial launch will take place Qday appreciation cer- make them feel included and to ensure that their dignity, later this year. emony in recognition of the that clearly was refl ected in their health, security and stability “We will evaluate the reac- efforts of the workers as well attitude, and that to us was al- are protected, and that stems tions from the public as well as as the employees, who were ways the end goal.” from our values and princi- the tenants who will start work instrumental in the construc- Al-Emadi pointed out that ples that are derived from the on the project next month,” said tion of the “magnificent venue there were a number of mes- teachings of our Islamic reli- al-Emadi, adding that the offi - of grand proportions and noble sages that were meant to be gion, as well as the Constitu- cial launch would be of the high- design” that is unrivalled in the conveyed through holding the tion of our country.” est standards. region. appreciation ceremony; one of Al-Emadi pointed out that “The project will evoke The two-day ceremony held them was to point out the key Qatar had made tangible classic European luxury and at the project site honoured role the labourers and employ- progress towards the protection was inspired by the ancient about 500 labourers and 300 ees played in the construction of labourers’ rights, and that was Italian shopping corridors. employees. of Al Hazm to the highest in- in part due to the general knowl- The Al Hazm project is of The programme aimed to ternational standards, which edge of the essential and funda- great importance to us and strengthen communication and was a long process that was 8 mental role the labourers played we consider it to be our best, interaction between Al Hazm years in the making. Al-Ema- in the overall development of the most important project yet. employees, workers and labour- di took the time to thank and country and not as a result of any To me this is not just a passion ers, and to affi rm the private show appreciation to each and external pressure. project. I dedicate this project sector’s eff orts in achieving a every employee and labourer “It was very important for us to the State of Qatar, and to all balance between workers, em- individually at the ceremony, to communicate a very crucial those who reside in this great ployees and business owners in and assured them that they message to the outside world, country. Through this project a way that preserves their rights were the main pillars of the ur- letting them know that the pro- we wanted to prove to the and interests. ban renaissance that was cur- tection of workers’ rights and world that the State of Qatar Mohamed Abdul Karim al- rently underway in Qatar. human rights in general comes was not only capable of be- Emadi, CEO of Al Hazm, stated The second message com- on top of priorities in all gov- ing a key player in the oil and that protecting and respecting municated at the ceremony The appreciation programme underway in front of Al Hazm. ernment and private sector gas market, but also a centre labourers’ rights was always a was that Qatar’s private sector projects.” of excellence that was able to priority. “We were always keen was constantly keeping pace to protect labourers’ rights. plained: “The government the legislative or institutional The CEO of Al Hazm Project undertake major projects of on showing gratitude towards with the government’s efforts In this regard, al-Emadi ex- makes the highest efforts at level to create the appropri- announced that a soft opening an international scale.” Gulf Times 12 Sunday, April 30, 2017 QATAR SC gets award for sustainability he Supreme Commit- ing, Tarsheed 22 was the “ideal tee for Delivery & Legacy energy conservation platform” T(SC) has announced that it for the participating schools, won a sustainability award at the which adopted new energy-sav- fi fth anniversary of Tarsheed, the ing technologies and achieved National Programme for Con- reduction of carbon emissions by servation and Energy Effi ciency almost 700 tonnes. launched by the Qatar General Speaking on the occasion, Electricity and Water Corpora- HE the Minister for Energy tion (Kahramaa). and Industry Dr Mohamed bin HE the Prime Minister and In- Saleh al-Sada said conservation terior Minister Sheikh Abdullah strategies and best practices bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani successfully implemented over awarded the ‘best government the last five years would be ac- corporation applying Tarsheed celerated further in the next five practices’ to SC secretary-gener- years leading to the 2022 FIFA al Hassan al-Thawadi during the World Cup. ceremony held recently. “Energy conservation and In a statement, the SC stressed achieving environmental sus- it has played a proactive role in tainability will be a priority for all promoting sustainability, the government sectors for the next fourth pillar of Qatar National fi ve years,” added HE Dr al-Sada, Vision 2030, through various who also refl ected on Tarsheed’s means. impressive performance. “One of the ways in which “In December 2016, it was it has fulfi lled its sustainabil- found that carbon emissions had ity commitment is by teaming decreased by 8.2mn tonnes.” up with Kahramaa to launch Tar- Kahramaa president Essa bin sheed 22, which inspired children Hilal al-Kuwari said Tarsheed aged between seven and 12 years 22 would expand to cover more HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani presenting the award to SC secretary-general Hassan al-Thawadi as HE the Minister of Energy and in 22 primary schools across Qa- than 250 primary schools by Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada and Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari look on. tar to save energy through foot- 2022. ball,” the statement noted. The second phase of Tar- reduced their annual consump- In his address at the award cer- as the foundation for the organi- He said: “Based on Qatar deliver a sustainable 2022 FIFA Part of the Green Generation sheed 22, launched at the start tion of electricity by 1.1mn units, emony to mark the completion of sation’s mission to accelerate the National Vision 2030, the SC World Cup and drive positive initiative of the SC’s fl agship of the 2016-17 academic year, water by 4,350 cu m and achieved the second phase of Tarsheed 22, country’s growth through the places environmental sustain- change towards a sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility ended last month when statistics carbon emission decrease in the al-Thawadi emphasised that Qa- hosting of the fi rst-ever FIFA ability as one of its core values. economy to ensure Qatar’s de- programme Generation Amaz- showcased that the schools had region of 700 tonnes. tar National Vision 2030 served World Cup in the Middle East. We work with our partners to velopment.”

Thousands of health professionals to attend ME Forum

he fi fth annual Middle be led by a mix of high-profi le quality improvement poster ex- East Forum on Qual- international experts. hibition. Tity and Safety in Health- To mark the event, the confer- Limited spaces are still availa- care (ME Forum 2017) will start ence organisers have launched a ble for some sessions and health- with a range of pre-conference dedicated app that can be down- care professionals interested in sessions on May 5 at the Qatar loaded by anyone interested in participating in this event can National Convention Centre checking out the more than 50 register online or visit a special (QNCC). workshops and lecture sessions registration desk located in Bayt Organised by Hamad Medi- focused on quality improvement Al Dhiyafah, Hamad bin Khalifa cal Corporation (HMC) in col- learning. Medical City, open from 1pm to laboration with the Institute for The two-and-a-half-day 6pm, from today until May 3. Healthcare Improvement, the event will feature the anticipat- The Ministry of Public ME Forum will feature fi ve ple- ed quality improvement poster Health, Primary Health Care nary speakers and highly spe- exhibition and competition, Corporation, Sidra Medical and cialised presenters from around with the winners’ award cer- Research Center, World Innova- the world. It will off er delegates emony taking place on the fi nal tion Summit for Health and Qa- the opportunity to earn up to day, according to a press state- tar Biobank will be participating 14.5 Continuing Professional ment. in this year’s event, showcasing Development credit hours. The Knowledge Zone is an- their own programmes and ini- Thousands of doctors, nurses, other key attraction that is a tiatives designed to raise quality allied health professionals, hos- regular feature at the event. It and safety standards in Qatar. pital administration and medi- is an exhibition area featuring Prospective participants can cal students are gearing up to partner exhibition booths, in- visit www.ihimeforum.hamad. take part in scores of interactive teractive and entertaining learn- qa for more information on con- workshops and lectures that will ing activities and the popular ference sessions. File picture of the ME Forum 2016 keynote address at QNCC. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 13 QATAR Plea fi led for release of Al Jazeera journalist he Robert F Kennedy similar petition demanding the small cell in Tora prison without Human Rights organisa- release of activist Aya Hijazi, heat, water or electricity. Ttion has fi led a petition an Egyptian-American char- Kerry Kennedy, president of with the United Nations (UN) ity worker who was released the Robert F Kennedy Human Working Group on Arbitrary from Egyptian prison in April Rights organisation said: “A free Detention calling for the im- after spending three years in and independent press is a hall- mediate release of Al Jazeera detention. mark of a democratic society. journalist Mahmoud Hussein, Hussein, an Egyptian nation- This regime has embarked on a who has been detained by the al, was detained upon arrival at systematic crackdown on civil Egyptian authorities since Cairo International Airport on society, and Egypt has become December 22, 2016. December 19, 2016, while re- one of the most dangerous places T S Kalyanaraman, chairman and managing director, Kalyan Jewellers. In a statement, Al Jazeera turning home for a holiday. His on earth to be a journalist. Mah- Media Network said the Peti- passport was confi scated and he moud Hussein’s case is a travesty tion for Relief cites the details of was interrogated for more than 15 of justice.” “Hussein’s arbitrary detention hours. Al Jazeera Media Network by the Egyptian authorities, Thereafter, on December 22, stressed that it rejects all accu- violations of his basic rights and 2016, Hussein was taken from his sations levelled against Hussein, Indian festival challenges the unsubstanti- home and detained by Egyptian condemns his incarceration and ated preliminary charges levied security forces. coerced confessions, and de- against Hussain by the Egyptian Since then, his detention has mands his unconditional release. judiciary that have allowed for been renewed six times. The The network holds the Egyptian the continued renewal of his latest renewal of Hussein’s de- authorities responsible for Hus- boosts sale of detention”. tention occurred yesterday for sein’s safety and well-being. The Working Group on Ar- Mahmoud Hussein a period of 45 days, and without “Egyptian authorities have con- bitrary Detention, based in formal charges from the public ducted a malicious smear cam- Geneva, is a UN-mandated and sends urgent appeals to ensure that the Egyptian gov- prosecution. He was held in soli- paign against Hussein across body staff ed by independent governments to ascertain the ernment investigates and holds tary confi nement for 89 consec- numerous media outlets in Egypt gold jewellery human rights experts tasked whereabouts of conditions of accountable all persons respon- utive days and has been, to date, ahead of any formal charges. All with investigating cases of ar- those allegedly detained. sible for the unlawful arrest, detained without formal charg- these violations are in confl ict bitrary arrest or detention that The Petition for Relief re- continued detention, and mis- es for 130 days, the Al Jazeera with international laws, norms By Peter Alagos This has been driven by posi- may be in violation of inter- quests the Working Group to treatment of Hussein, and award statement noted. and practices under which the Business Reporter tive consumer sentiments and national humanitarian law. By investigate Hussein’s arrest and him compensation for the viola- Hussein’s daughter Zahra said freedom of journalism is pro- demand recovery. working with verifi ed sources, ongoing pretrial detention, asks tions he has endured as a result earlier this month that he suff ers tected, preserved and cherished,” “A buoyant stock market including non-government or- the organisation to determine of his unlawful arrest. from harsh and inhumane condi- it added. hops in Qatar witnessed supported by global funda- ganisations, inter-government if his detention is a violation of The Robert F Kennedy Human tions that have led to a deteriora- Several human rights and an uptick in gold jew- mentals has also resulted in organisations and victims’ Egypt’s obligations under in- Rights is a leading international tion in his health and caused him media organisations have con- Sellery sales during the increased deployment to jew- families, the Working Group ternational law, and calls for organisation actively working to shortness of breath. She said the demned Hussein’s detention Indian festival of ‘Akshaya ellery. We have seen robust issues opinions on the com- Hussein’s immediate release. It defend public liberties and hu- problems began during his 89 and pressured the Egyptian Tritiya’ on Friday. increase in all our catego- pliance with international law also asks the Working Group to man rights. It recently fi led a days in solitary conferment in a authorities to release him. The demand was mostly ries including necklaces and from Indian expatriates who studded jewellery.” believe that the festival time is As a new player in the mar- the “most auspicious” to buy ket, he said as a brand, Kalyan gold. Jewellers’ strategy “is to act Santhosh T V, regional head, local rather than having a cen- Malabar Gold and Diamonds, tralised and uniform product Commercial Bank conducts full said that during the festival, strategy.” gold and diamond jewellery He said, “We create jewel- sales increased 10% to 15% lery collections across price compared to last year. points in keeping with the “Around 60% of our cus- cultural sensibilities of our health screening for employees tomers are Indians and many audiences. This enables us to Indian residents in Qatar be seen as a local player. This helped push our gold sales combined with the brand’s ommercial Bank organ- during the festival. However, relentless focus on quality, ised a health screening other expatriates also took the innovation, and transparent Cprogramme for employ- opportunity to buy gold and pricing makes brand Kalyan a ees at Commercial Bank Plaza. diamond jewellery because of compelling proposition.” In partnership with its health the promotions that we have On expansion plans, Kaly- insurance provider, Q Life & launched,” he said. anaraman said the company Medical Insurance Company With many Indians expect- expects to maintain its leader- (QLM) and Al Safa Polyclinic, the ed to take their annual leave in ship position in India and ex- bank off ered a comprehensive May and June, Santhosh said pand its distribution network health screening consultancy demand for gold and diamond in the GCC. session to employees. jewellery “is also expected to “Our plan is to enter new Consisting of fi ve stations, increase” in the second markets in the GCC, including employees had their vital signs quarter of 2017. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, measured, including body mass “Early indicators suggest and strengthen our presence index and blood pressure, blood robust sales growth leading in Qatar where we already sugar test, lung function test, up to Akshaya Tritiya. Kalyan have seven showrooms. We eye checkup, and a general health Jewellers has registered bet- are also exploring a potential consultation with a doctor. ter than expected growth in foray into markets like Singa- Employees also had the option gold jewellery sales this time pore and Malaysia in the next of taking part in a group session round,” said T S Kalyanara- couple of years. covering relaxation techniques man, chairman and managing “We also plan to make a to reverse the negative eff ects Commercial Bank employees participate in a health screening programme held recently. director, Kalyan Jewellers. foray into the e-commerce of stress, and a station where He added: “Kalyan Jewel- segment given its potential. a cardiologist performed a are our most important asset and by caring about our employ- tal and social well-being, not just developing in a preventative way, lers should witness 10% to Our plan is to double our to- heart echo. our staff well-being strategy is in ees and remaining dedicated to the absence of disease, and so together with mental relaxation 15% growth in revenues dur- tal number of showrooms to Commercial Bank acting chief line with Commercial Bank’s goal helping them stay healthy. our health screening programme techniques to help create positive ing this Akshaya Tritiya com- 200 plus from the current 105 human capital offi cer Hamad of building the best bank in Qatar “We believe that health is a has been designed to identify and change for healthy and happy pared to last year based on over the next three years,” he Salem al-Shekili said: “People and to be the employer of choice state of complete physical, men- reduce the likelihood of illnesses employees.” present trend of purchases. added. Porto Arabia Festival attracts hundreds of GCC visitors

nited Development Company (UDC), mas- Uter developer of The Pearl-Qatar, has wrapped up the Porto Arabia Festival, an outdoor event that featured a variety of entertaining activi- ties designed for diff erent age groups. The festival featured a dedi- cated children’s area where kids enjoyed petting animals in a small barn, as well as pony rides in a sealed lawn designed specifi cally for the event. The festival was also home to game kiosks and booths for painting and arts and crafts activities, as well as ceramics colouring. The event attracted hun- dreds of visitors, residents, and tourists from across the GCC, refl ecting The Pearl- Qatar’s commitment to the organisation of a variety of events, programmes, and live shows that bring joy and fun. To stay up to date with the island’s latest off erings, down- load The Pearl-Qatar Android and iOS app on Apple Store and Google Play store. Children being entertained by fairy tale characters. Gulf Times 14 Sunday, April 30, 2017 QATAR Kite Festival attracts over 40,000 visitors

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

spire’s fi rst International Kite Festival attracted Amore than 40,000 visi- tors over the last fi ve days, pro- viding them with a ‘sports and entertainment spectacle’ at As- pire Park, the organisers have said. The visitors enjoyed a range Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti (second, left) awards Muaz bin Jabal School for winning the inter-school of technical feats showcased by competition. PICTURE: Thajudheen some of the world’s best profes- sional kite fl yers, in addition to a this year’s festival will be ready port such initiatives to achieve its More than 2,500 people took varied programme of community to compete in next year’s event,” mission of extending bridges be- part in the photography com- events and activities. al-Hail added. tween peoples and enriching the petition, running on Instagram Prizes were awarded to the A number of international kite cultural scene in Qatar. using the hashtag #AspireKite- winners of the competition dur- associations, together with As- The festival is an entertain- Photo. ing the closing ceremony. pire Zone Foundation (AZF), will ment and educational event for A panel of judges, including Richard Debray from France provide coaching support to help all segments of society of diff er- representatives from the Qatar won gold in the individual cat- develop these youngsters. ent ages and nationalities, ac- Photographic Society at Katara, egory of the professional com- “We are keen to co-operate cording to Dr al-Sulaiti. selected four winners who were petition, while his compatriot A kite designed by young students at Aspire Park. PICTURE: Allan Tan with the various institutions Besides the professional com- awarded Qatar Airways fl ight Roger Tessa-Gambassi won sil- in the country, and our role as a petitions, the event also featured tickets and Nikon cameras. ver and Malaysian Adam Ahmad scope for members of the com- for children with special needs, to members of the public. cultural partner in this festival fun-fi lled activities, workshops At least 10 of the hundreds of bagged bronze. munity to make the most of be- according to the organisers. The festival is also set to be- comes within this framework, and kite-fl ying opportunities for young participants won giveaways In the pairs and teams cat- ing outdoors and physically ac- As part of the series of work- come an annual event, further considering that Katara – the all ages. in the poster-making contest. egory, the Andesky team from tive,” said Kholoud al-Hail, CEO, shops held throughout the festi- demonstrating Qatar’s capa- Cultural Village, Aspire Zone Supported and sponsored by In the inter-school compe- Colombia fi nished on top, fol- Aspire Katara Hospitality and val, experts from the Singapore bilities and expertise in hosting and Aspire Katara Hospitality are Katara – the Cultural Village, tition, Muaz bin Jabal School lowed by the Ex-Grads from the head of the event’s organising Kite Association, one of the joint major international sports and working under one umbrella with Qatar Airways, Ooredoo, Nikon bagged the QR30,000 top prize, UK and Paire’Spire from France. committee. organisers, provided easy-to- cultural activities. common objectives,” said Katara and Kiddy Zone, the event gave followed by Gheras International “The festival soared with suc- More than 500 schools were follow explanations for visitors “The hope is that talented Qa- general manager Dr Khalid bin members of the public the op- School (QR20,000) in second and cess. Combining sports and en- invited to take part, including on kite aerodynamics. More than tari youngsters who have discov- Ibrahim al-Sulaiti. portunity to enter creative com- Birla Public School (QR10,000) tertainment, it provided a real Tamakon Comprehensive School 15,000 kites were distributed ered a love of kite-fl ying during He stressed that they fully sup- petitions and win various prizes. in third. LuLu launches 10/15/20/30 promotion

uLu Group, after an inter- val of a couple of months, Lhas relaunched the 10/15/20/30 promotion across all LuLu outlets in the Qatar region. More than 1,000 products in diff erent categories, namely grocery, fresh food, fruits, veg- etables, household, textile, foot- wear, cosmetics, sports goods, home décor, luggage, stationery, toys and electronics, etc, are be- ing off ered, LuLu Group has said in a statement. Students during a classroom session. The Hot Food and Bakery sec- tions have organised their own “innovative off ers to add value to the main promotion”. Value More than 1,000 products in diff erent categories are being off ered. ‘combo’ food off ers covering First batch of CSE master’s Arabic, western, Chinese, south Meanwhile, simultaneous ing from the promotion. vouchers as well, the statement Indian and north Indian cuisines promotions have been organ- Abu Issa Marketing had notes. are available. Besides, custom- ised by suppliers as well. For launched another promotion Another promotion by Ali Bin ers can avail of a diverse range of instance, those buying Nivea on Sapil, Altamoda, Royal Jas- Ali Master Food off ers an oppor- degree students graduates ‘bakery delights’. products worth QR20 are en- mine and Shirley May perfumes. tunity to win LuLu gift vouchers Also, a better-price promo- titled to get a raffl e coupon to Purchase of any of the afore- worth QR50,000 to custom- tion has been organised for Elec- win 8gm gold every day. The said perfumes for a sum of QR25 ers who buy any Mars products tudents from Hamad Development Strategy 2011– a range of interrelated subject tronics, IT products and cameras promotion will continue for 35 will entitle customers to win a worth QR25 in a raffl e draw, Bin Khalifa University 2016, which called for “more areas and are given the highly as well. days, with 35 winners benefi t- Jeep Renegade and QR250 of gift which will be held on May 22. S(HBKU) recently had the sustainable urbanisation and a specialised training needed opportunity to defend their healthier living environment”. to ensure they are capable of master’s theses to faculty and BBS and the two sustainabil- translating research fi ndings staff , ahead of becoming the ity programmes were launched into clinical benefi ts. fi rst graduating class from the two years ago in response to Similarly, the Sustainable research university’s College the growing industry demand Energy and Sustainable En- of Science and Engineering for experts in these fi elds, and vironment programmes ad- (CSE). were deemed central to the dress important issues fac- HBKU is celebrating an aca- long-term aspirations and ing the region in energy and demic milestone this year with needs of Qatar and the region, environment. Moving to- the graduation of its fi rst batch HBKU said in a statement. wards a sustainable society of master’s degree students “As a pioneering educational presents a series of interde- from CSE. Among the Class institution, the graduation of pendent, multidisciplinary of 2017 are seven graduating the fi rst graduates in biological and confl icting challenges Oryx GTL team after the beach clean-up. with a Master of Science (MSc) and biomedical sciences, sus- for all professions, especially in Biological and Biomedical tainable energy, and sustain- engineers, scientists, teach- Sciences (BBS), seven with an able environment marks a sig- ers, businessmen and policy- MSc in Sustainable Energy, and nifi cant milestone for HBKU,” makers. three with an MSc in Sustain- said Dr Mounir Hamdi, found- As with the BBS programme, Oryx GTL staff in beach clean-up campaign able Environment. ing dean of HBKU’s College of the multidisciplinary aspect With the rapid economic Science and Engineering. is again present in HBKU’s development and population HBKU’s BBS master’s pro- Sustainable Energy and Sus- ryx GTL staff recently col- the northern beach of Ras Laff an campaign as it is committed to tinuous improvement in pro- growth in Qatar, healthcare gramme has exposed the newly tainable Environment pro- laborated with their col- Industrial City. achieving Qatar National Vision duction processes to make the and sustainability were iden- graduating students to state- grammes, as both incorporate Oleagues in Ras Laff an In- A number of Oryx GTL em- 2030 and keen to preserve the company’s products environ- tifi ed and highlighted as two of-the-art basic, clinical, and study across a broad range of dustrial City (RLIC) for the Turtle ployees participated in the event, country’s non-renewable re- ment-friendly. This has been of the grand challenges that translational life sciences re- environmental sciences, so- Beach Clean-Up Campaign. which was aimed at cleaning and sources, prevent environmental demonstrated by the fact that it needed tackling as part of Qa- search. Students are trained cial sciences, engineering and Qatar Petroleum organised preserving one of Qatar’s best pollution, reduce waste produc- has received numerous of high- tar National Vision 2030. Their to be the next generation of technology in their curriculum the campaign and invited all nesting spots for hawksbill turtles. tion and work on recycling it. level certifi cates at the level of importance was further high- experts in their fi eld with a full alongside exceptional companies and contractors in In a press statement, Oryx “Oryx GTL has always strived oil and gas companies around lighted in the Qatar National spectrum of knowledge across opportunity for research. RLIC to participate in cleaning GTL said it participates in the to achieve excellence and con- the world,” the statement added. QU holds event to promote student exchange between universities

he Department of Social it of collaboration and student and Kuwait University’s Kuwaiti and an overview on the Kuwaiti sions provided a comprehensive Sciences at Qatar Univer- exchange between universities Social Work Association con- Social Work Association and vision that contributes to a huge Tsity’s College of Arts and in the GCC and to showcase the sultant and vice president Dr the undergraduate and graduate transformation in social stud- Dr Abdulnasser Saleh Alyafei Sciences (CAS) hosted an event fi eld training exercises provided Malak Alrasheed, as well as CAS programmes provided by Ku- ies and to new tracks in social to celebrate Qatar Family Day by various institutions in Qatar faculty, students and staff . wait University College of Social services, and to investing in the visits contribute to enriching the 2017, under the patronage of QU and Kuwait. The programme included Sciences. outcomes of theoretical stud- students’ academic and personal President Dr Hassan al-Derham. Attendees included Kuwait three sessions that discussed a Dr Alyafei said the event shed ies to improve the quality of life life while providing them with Organised in collaboration embassy’s chargé d’Aff aires wide range of issues such as the light on the experiences of the and living.” the opportunity to exchange with Family Consulting Centre Nasser Saqer al-Ghanim, CAS role of social institutions, the various social, medical, educa- Dr Alrasheed said the visit to their knowledge and share their in Qatar and Kuwait University Dean Dr Rashid al-Kuwari, De- fi eld training exercises provided tional and psychological institu- QU was part of the many collab- views to promote sciences in College of Social Sciences, the partment of Social Sciences head by social, medical, educational tions in Qatar and Kuwait in the orative agreements between the general and the social service Dr Malak Alrasheed event aimed to promote the spir- Dr Abdulnasser Saleh Alyafei, and psychological institutions, area of fi eld training. “The ses- universities in the GCC. “These profession in particular.” Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 15 REGION/ARAB WORLD Malabar Gold & Diamonds opens new showroom in Saudi Arabia Turkey, US can turn Raqqa into ‘graveyard’ for IS: Erdogan

AFP The two countries have bit- to the PKK, which is designated Istanbul terly disagreed over the role of as a terror group by Ankara and the Kurdish People’s Protection Washington. Units (YPG) in Syria. “We are telling American urkey and the United Turkey sees the group as a ter- friends not to take a terror group States can join forces to rorist group linked to the out- along with them,” the Turkish Tturn the Islamic State mil- lawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party leader said. Malabar Gold & Diamonds has opened its 176th global showroom in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Prince Badr bin Mohamed bin Abdullah bin itant group’s de-facto capital of (PKK), which has been waging Turkey on Wednesday carried Jalawi al-Saud, Governor of Al Ahsa; and Yusuff ali MA, chairman and managing director, LuLu Group International, jointly Raqqa in Syria into a “graveyard” a deadly insurgency against the out several strikes in Syria and inaugurated the outlet at LuLu Hypermarket, LuLu Mall, Al Ahsa, recently. Present on the occasion were Dr PA Ibrahim Haji, for the extremists, the Turkish Turkish state since 1984. Iraq against separatist Kurdish co-chairman, Malabar Group; Shamlal Ahamed, managing director – International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds; K P Abdul president said yesterday. rebels and their allies, drawing Salam, Group executive director, Malabar Group; Gaff oor Edakkuni, regional director, Malabar Gold & Diamonds – Saudi Arabia; The Turkish government is “We launched strikes the wrath of US offi cials who ac- Mohamed Wasem, director, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Saudi Arabia, management team members, other guests and well-wishers. pressuring Washington to stop against Sinjar, and the other cused Ankara of lacklustre co- backing Kurdish fi ghters as an place (in Syria) and killed ordination. ally in the fi ght against IS jihad- 210 to 220 terrorists there. The strikes in the Sinjar area ists in Syria, in a dispute that has Why? You cannot play with of northern Iraq were against has limited cooperation between this nation” positions held by the Yazidi Pro- the Nato allies. tection Units (YBS), a militia “The huge America, the coali- But for the United States, supported by the PKK. Rebel groups clash in besieged Damascus enclave tion and Turkey can join hands the YPG is essential in the fi ght “We launched strikes against and turn Raqqa into a graveyard against IS militants. Sinjar, and the other place (in for Daesh,” President Recep The dispute has until now held Syria) and killed 210 to 220 ter- Reuters It also reported civilian casualties. ian rebel groups and has been the dominant Tayyip Erdogan told an Istanbul up any joint American-Turkish rorists there. Why? You cannot Beirut Jaish al-Islam is pitted against the Failaq faction in the Eastern Ghouta. meeting, using an alternative operation to seize Raqqa and play with this nation,” Erdogan al-Rahman group together with fi ghters Its leader, Zahran Alloush, was killed in name for the IS group. Erdogan is clearly hoping for said. He hinted at future opera- from an alliance with links to Al Qaeda, ac- an air strike in December 2015. “They (the militants) will look a breakthrough at his meeting tions against the YPG and PKK ighting between rebel groups in the cording to the Observatory, rebels and ac- Jaish al-Islam said in a statement it for a place for themselves to with Trump. in Iraq and Syria. biggest insurgent stronghold near tivists. A Failaq al-Rahman statement on shared the same goals as Failaq al-Rahman hide,” he said. Turkey this month announced “We know very well what to do Fthe Syrian capital Damascus entered Friday said Jaish al-Islam attacked some of and called on them to contain the crisis, Erdogan’s comments come it had completed its half-year when the right time comes. We a second day yesterday while government its positions and said the factional fi ght- adding that its dispute was with the Hayat ahead of a meeting with Presi- Euphrates Shield operation in can turn up abruptly one night,” forces pressed an off ensive, a war monitor ing was not in the interests of the Eastern Tahrir al-Sham group (Liberation of the dent Donald Trump on May 16 northern Syria against militants he said, repeating a line from a said. Ghouta or the Syrian revolution. Levant Committee). Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the United States, their fi rst and Kurdish militia, although it well-known Turkish song. The clashes broke out in part of the Fighting between the groups killed hun- is an alliance of factions formed in Janu- face-to-face summit since the is keeping a presence to main- Tensions escalated this week densely-populated rural area east of Da- dreds of people last April before a ceasefi re ary, whose members include Jabhat Fateh American leader took offi ce in tain security in towns now un- with cross-border clashes be- mascus known as the Eastern Ghouta, was agreed in Qatar in May. al-Sham, formerly Al Qaeda’s Nusra Front January. der control of pro-Ankara Syrian tween Turkish forces and the which has been besieged by government The rift was exploited by Syrian govern- group. Ankara is hopeful about the rebels. YPG near the Syrian border. troops since 2013. The Syrian Observatory ment forces to capture parts of the Eastern During the fi ghting, Syrian government future of the relationship with Erdogan yesterday said he Turkey fi red a barrage of artil- for Human Rights said it had documented Ghouta, whose territory shrank by about a and allied forces attacked the rebel-held Washington under Trump after would present Trump at their lery at the YPG, who returned the deaths of at least 74 fi ghters since clash- third in the second half of last year. district of Qaboun northwest of Eastern ties frayed in the fi nal years of meeting next month with “doc- fi re with rockets on Turkish out- es between rebel groups broke out on Friday. Jaish al-Islam is one of the biggest Syr- Ghouta by land and air. Barack Obama’s administration. uments” proving the YPG’s links posts on the border.

DIPLOMACY Algeria, Morocco praise UN vote on disputed W Sahara Algeria yesterday hailed a UN Secu- rity Council resolution endorsing a new peace initiative on the disputed territory of Western Sahara as a “diplomatic success”. Friday’s vote came as UN military observers confirmed that Polisario Front forces, fighting for independ- ence in Western Sahara, had with- drawn from the Guerguerat area near the Mauritanian border. The resolution “is a diplomatic success for the Sahrawi issue because the (peace) process will be back on track”, Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra said in a statement. Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi greets his supporters during a campaign Morocco insists that the Western rally in the capital Tehran yesterday. Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is an integral part of its kingdom, but the Algeria-based Polisario demands a referendum on self- determination there. Tensions Raisi criticises Rouhani’s flared last year after the Polisario set up a new military post in Guerguerat – a stone’s throw from economic management Moroccan soldiers – in response to Morocco starting to build a tarmac road in the area. Morocco pulled AFP love you!” at his fi rst major campaign out from the area in late February at Tehran rally ahead of a May 19 presidential the request of the UN. election in which he is hoping to unseat Yesterday, Morocco also welcomed moderate incumbent Rouhani. the UN vote, but Foreign Minister ardline Iranian presidential “We are facing an unacceptable situ- Nasser Bourita said his country hopeful Ebrahim Raisi con- ation because of weak management,” would “monitor closely” develop- Hdemned President Hassan Rou- Raisi said. ments. The Polisario pullback must hani’s economic management yester- “We can’t fi x our country’s problems be “complete, unconditional and day, speaking at an election campaign with words. We can fi x our problems permanent”, Bourita said. rally in a packed Tehran stadium. with fi rm and revolutionary manage- Addressing thousands of support- ment.” ers who waved Iranian fl ags and held Raisi, a veteran judge, and Tehran’s CONFLICT pictures of their candidate, he blamed conservative mayor Mohamed Bagher Drone strike kills Rouhani and foreign powers for Iran’s Ghalibaf are the two main conservative economic woes. candidates challenging reformists Rou- three Al Qaeda “Today, 30% of our young people are hani and First Vice-President Eshaq suspects in Yemen out of jobs and unemployment is over Jahangiri. “He’s the most competent 12%,” Raisi said. candidate because he is a believer, he is A presumed US drone strike in healthy, committed, revolutionary and south Yemen yesterday killed thinks of the people,” Seraj, a 50-year- three suspected members of Al Voters warned to old retiree, said of Raisi. Qaeda, a Yemeni security off icial “The priority is the economy, rein- said. prevent ‘extremism’ forcing national production and solv- The strike targeted a car in which President Hassan Rouhani told Irani- ing unemployment,” he said, accusing the suspects were travelling in the ans yesterday they could face greater Rouhani’s government of being “too Rawda region of Shabwa province, authoritarianism if they replace him passive and made up of old men”. according to the off icial who did with a hardline rival in May’s election. “But we thank Mr Rouhani because not want to be identified. “We will not let them bring the security in his four years as president he has ex- Since President Donald Trump and police atmosphere back to the posed the true face of the United States took off ice in January, the United country,” Rouhani told a rally in the and the fact that we cannot trust it,” he States has intensified its air war city of Yazd, according to the semi- added. against Al Qaeda in the Arabian official Tasnim news agency. “Iranians Conservatives accuse Rouhani, who Peninsula, regarded by Washing- will prove to the world at the May 19 in 2015 signed a deal with world powers ton as the most dangerous branch election that the era of violence, ex- over Iran’s nuclear programme, of be- of the extremist group. tremism and pressures in our country ing duped by the West, particularly the The Pentagon said on April 3 that is over and Iran is pursuing the path United States. it had carried out more than 70 of reason.” They argue that by retaining some strikes against militant targets sanctions, the US blocked Iran from in Yemen since February 28. Al fully normalising its economic rela- Qaeda has taken advantage of “Does this situation have to contin- tions with the outside world. the chaos caused by more than ue? Do we have to wait for foreigners to Raisi said he would aim to build a two years of civil war to expand its fi x our problems?” million homes and create a million jobs presence in Yemen. His supporters chanted “Raisi, we per year. Gulf Times 16 Sunday, April 30, 2017 ARAB WORLD Pope calls for promoting dialogue

AFP Cairo

ope Francis rejected fa- naticism and appealed for Pcharity yesterday as he addressed thousands of faithful during a visit to Egypt to pro- mote reconciliation. His visit, coming after the Islamic State group (IS) killed dozens of worshippers in church bombings earlier this month, gave the country’s beleaguered Christian community an occa- sion to be joyful. “The only fanaticism believers can have is that of charity. Any other fanaticism does not come from God,” the Pope said at a mass for Egypt’s Catholics. “True faith...moves our heart Personal security surrounds Pope Francis as he arrives to hold a mass to love everyone...It makes us in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. Worshippers attend a mass celebrated by Pope Francis at a stadium in Cairo. see the other not as an enemy to be overcome but a brother Tanta and Alexandria north of emotional service at the Saint Francis lapped the Cairo stadium eclipsed the sadness of the last later escorted the pontiff to his “demagogic” populism in an and sister to be loved,” he told a the capital earlier this month Peter and Saint Paul church at- in a golf cart, waving to onlookers few weeks.” aircraft at Cairo airport before he address to a Muslim-Christian crowd of about 15,000 pilgrims. that killed 45. tacked in December. as a chorus sang a joyous hymn. The stadium chosen for yes- departed. conference. He criticised what he The mass came on the sec- The spiritual leader of the They prayed at a makeshift Worshippers old and young, terday’s mass is on Cairo’s out- In a speech attended by Sisi on called “demagogic forms of pop- ond and last day of a visit which world’s almost 1.3bn Catholics shrine for its victims, who were nuns and priests, had been bused skirts and easier to secure, but Friday, the Pope called for “un- ulism...on the rise”, saying they saw him plead for tolerance also became the fi rst Pope to vis- mostly women. in under tight security with in 2015 it saw clashes between conditional respect” for human were unhelpful to peace. and peace on Friday at a Coptic it the headquarters of the grand They also signed a joint dec- Egypt under a state of emergency football fans and a stampede that rights. While most of Egypt’s Chris- church bombed by IS in Decem- imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al- laration pledging to “strive for following the church bombings. killed 19 people. Heavy security surrounded tians are Coptic Orthodox, about ber. Tayeb, one of the Muslim world’s serenity and concord through a It was, said Coptic Catholic After the mass, the Pope trav- the Pope’s tightly scheduled trip 272,000 are Catholic. Francis’ The militants have threatened leading religious authorities. peaceful co-existence of Chris- engineer Maged Francis, a “his- elled to a seminary in the city as he travelled from one engage- visit comes 17 years after Pope further attacks after the Cairo On Friday, Francis met Coptic tians and Muslims”. Yesterday, toric occasion”. where he urged his audience to ment to another in a closed car. John Paul II made a trip to the attack that killed 29 people and Orthodox patriarch Pope Ta- the crowd cheered and released “It’s unlikely it will ever hap- promote dialogue. On Friday, the 80-year-old Arab world’s most populous na- suicide blasts in the cities of wadros II, and both attended an yellow and white balloons as pen again,” he said.”Today joy has President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pontiff denounced violence and tion. Tunisia military ‘to protect Egypt urges US to play southern oil, gas fi elds’ active Mideast peace role Reuters The ministry of defence said Prime Minister Youssef Tunis the army “would protect stra- Chahed this week travelled to tegic sites and oilfi elds” around Tataouine for talks with pro- AFP men, but will follow a series of Tataouine province, a desert testers, who set up camp in the Cairo US contacts with the Palestin- unisia will deploy troops known for tourism that borders desert near routes to oilfi elds. ian leader. Israeli-Palestinian in a southern region Libya. He off ered 1,000 jobs as well peace talks have repeatedly Tto protect oil facilities It gave no details on any spe- as infrastructure projects. gyptian President Abdel run aground despite periodic against attacks from militants in cifi c threat to any companies or But protesters said it was not Fattah al-Sisi yesterday US eff orts to revive them, most neighbouring Libya, in an area of what reinforcements were enough. “We want jobs for this Eurged the United States recently by former secretary of where protesters are threaten- planned. marginalised region, we want jobs to help restart negotiations state John Kerry. ing to blockade transport routes Several foreign oil and gas in the oil companies,” Tarek Ha- between Israel and the Pales- But Abbas, who met in Ram- to demand jobs, it said yesterday. companies are involved in dad, one of the protest organisers, tinians, a statement from the allah recently with CIA chief The North African state has projects around Tataouine prov- told Reuters by telephone. presidency said. Mike Pompeo and Trump’s suff ered four major attacks in the ince, including Italy’s ENI, Vi- After the 2011 uprising, Tuni- The statement came after special representative Jason last two years, including two gun enna-based OMV and the Italo- sia has been praised as a model of Sisi met Palestinian president Greenblatt, has said Trump is assaults on foreign tourists and Tunisian SITEP. democratic transition by holding Mahmoud Abbas who will meet “seriously considering a solu- an attack in a border town by Is- Tataouine has been the site of free elections and passing a new US President Donald Trump in tion to the Palestinian issue”. lamic State fi ghters who crossed several weeks of demonstrations constitution. But economic de- Washington on Wednesday for A handout picture shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi meeting Shortly after taking offi ce, the border from Libya. and sit-ins by young protesters velopment has not followed. talks on reviving the stagnated with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the capital Cairo yesterday. Trump alarmed Palestinians Since its 2011 revolution to demanding work and more de- State-run phosphate produc- Middle East peace process. by calling into question his ad- overthrow autocrat Zine El-Abi- velopment for their region. tion was disrupted repeatedly Sisi said it was “important two-state solution is the only fered normalised relations with ministration’s support for a dine Ben Ali, Tunisia has strug- They have threatened to after 2011 by protesters wanting that the United States returns way to bring stability to the re- Israel in exchange for resolving two-state solution, a bedrock gled to meet demands of poorer, blockade routes used for trans- work, and British energy company to play an active role in eff orts gion,” it added. the decades-old Israeli-Pales- of US policy. central and southern regions port by energy companies. Petrofac threatened to close down to resume negotiations between Sisi said a 2002 Arab peace tinian confl ict. But he has since warned Is- where unemployed youths have A government source said last year after prolonged disrup- the Palestinians and Israel,” the initiative should be the basis for When Abbas meets Trump rael against “unrestrained” frequently protested to demand transport routes were still open tion of its gas transport because of statement said. a comprehensive solution. on Wednesday it will be the building of settler homes in the more development projects. in Tataouine. blockades. The two “agreed that the The Saudi-led initiative of- fi rst encounter between the two occupied West Bank. Dashed dreams of an aspiring stylist in Syria

AFP me to study fashion design in — you have to listen to what I Abdullah.” Less than a year after Qamishli, Syria Europe, but I had no luck. say’.” Tears welling, Maytat says her fi rst husband died, Maytat Everything went wrong,” she she had felt powerless to resist remarried in order to escape the said. Ahmed, her only link to her pre- shelter. slam Maytat thought mar- She fi rst met Khalil Ahmed — vious life. Her second husband, an Af- rying an Afghan-British an Afghan-British trader who By September, she was preg- ghan known as Abu Abdullah, Ibusinessman was her ticket worked in Dubai — online in nant with her fi rst child — Ab- took her to Raqqa, the de facto to a new life as a fashionista in early 2014, and they married two dullah — and Ahmed was sent capital of IS’ caliphate. London. months later. to a month-long military train- “I couldn’t deal with life there Instead she became a widow He fl ew to Morocco to marry ing before deploying to IS’ front — he wouldn’t let me leave the living under militant rule in her and they then went to Du- in Kobane. On October 8, 2014, house — so I asked him for a Syria. At just 23, the young Mo- bai, stepping into a complex web Ahmed’s brother told Maytat divorce two months later,” she roccan spent three traumatic of lies and journeys across the her husband had been killed in says. She then married for the years in northern Syria under the Middle East that would eventu- combat. third time in three years, this Islamic State group’s so-called ally take her to Syria. “I became more depressed. time to an Indian fi ghter in “caliphate”. Ahmed proved to be a strict, I said to myself, this is the only Raqqa known as Abu Talha al- Tens of thousands of foreign- controlling husband who did person I knew in this foreign Hindi. ers have joined militant groups not allow her to wear makeup or land, and now I’m alone here,” That 18-month marriage pro- in Syria, including women who bright clothes. she tells AFP. duced her daughter, Maria. are encouraged to marry and After a brief trip to Afghani- Pregnant and alone, Maytat When Maytat learned Abu raise the children of IS fi ghters. stan to meet his family, Maytat moved into a shared “guest Talha had been killed battling Some, like Maytat, have been was eager to get to London and house” for widows of militants, the US-backed Syrian Demo- lured unknowingly into mar- start working as a stylist. mostly Uzbeks and Russians. cratic Forces, she joined up with riages with would-be militants. Ahmed proposed travelling to This is when the military another militant widow, a Yazidi Maytat spoke to AFP after Istanbul, convincing a reluctant Twenty-three-year-old Islam Maytat from Morocco poses for a photo with her children Maria (left) and training started. woman.They escaped IS terri- fl eeing IS’ northern stronghold Maytat that it would be easier to Abdullah in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in northern Syria. “When they forced us to do tory via “a secret route” that she of Raqqa to territory controlled move to London from there. weapons training I was preg- refused to divulge. by a US-backed alliance fi ghting But as soon as they landed and France. “I asked them ‘Why weeks after the caliphate was Ahmed’s brother was already nant, but I had no choice,” she Traumatised by her past, the extremist group. in Turkey, Ahmed immediately are you here?’ And they told me declared and the women were all living with his family. says. Maytat is now also worried Now safe in the Kurdish-ma- drove her to the southeastern they were there to migrate to the happy,” Maytat says. “I said to my husband ‘Why Unable to communicate with about her future and that of her jority city of Qamishli, Maytat city of Gaziantep near the border caliphate in Syria,” Maytat re- In August, Ahmed and Maytat did you destroy my life like this? many other widows, Maytat was two young children.“I still don’t holds her gurgling 10-month- with Syria. calls. made their own journey across You should have told me from allowed to move into a building know what to do with my life. old daughter Maria in her lap as In Gaziantep, Maytat and In June 2014, IS declared a the border into war-ravaged the beginning that this is what housing other Arabic-speakers. “I hope to return to Morocco she tells her story. Ahmed moved into a large house self-styled “caliphate” across northern Syria. we were going to do’,” Maytat re- “There were French, Tuni- with both of my children, but I “Meeting my husband was full of ecstatic couples from var- Syria and Iraq. They settled in the northern calls. sians, Moroccans and Algerians. don’t know if I’ll have a future or one of the things that motivated ious countries including Algeria “I began to cry. It was two Syrian town of Manbij, where “And he said ‘You’re my wife I stayed there until I gave birth to not there.” Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 17 AFRICA Burkina Faso Musical journey! teachers return to their schools

By Emma Farge, Reuters its smaller Catholic and animist popula- Ouagadougou tions. Offi cials in Burkina Faso blame the de- teriorating security climate in Mali for the ozens of teachers in Burkina Faso threats. who fl ed into hiding after receiv- Coulibaly declined to say how many Ding threats from Islamist militants teachers had fl ed but said a fi gure of around have returned to their classrooms and will 1,600 cited in local media was exaggerated. receive psychological support after one of A teachers’ union said militants had them was killed by suspected extremists, threatened or attacked teachers in at least offi cials said. four schools this year. Teachers in the northern areas near A teacher in one of the deserted schools Mali began receiving threats in January in the Soum province said her school had and were told to change their secular taken in a colleague from a neighbouring curriculum to Qur’anic education and school who had been surrounded by armed replace French with Arabic, according men and ordered to make his female pupils to the West African nation’s education wear veils. minister. She also said pupils had complained that Two months later, headmaster Salifou they had received off ers of money to join Badini and another resident were assassi- armed militant groups. nated by armed men, the minister added. “We had to take the children away for “They were trying to create a gen- fear they would be the next victims,” she eral psychosis to stop education in this said, asking for anonymity for fear of re- Malian singer Salif Keita performs yesterday during the Festival des Musiques Urbaines d’Anoumabo in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. country,” Jean-Martin Coulibaly told the prisals. “Now we see patrols nearly every Thomson Reuters Foundation from the day and we feel better.” capital Ouagadougou. A survey of children in 41 countries by “Teachers and families have returned ChildFund Alliance last year found that but we still have about 10 schools missing danger was reported most in Burkina Faso, teachers due to trauma,” he added. where one in fi ve children said school was Schools were threatened in the never safe. Sahel region of Burkina Faso — an The timing of the threats coincides with ‘Kenya police have not gathered area mostly covered in red on a French the creation of a new armed group, formed diplomatic map, warning travellers to stay by a radical Islamist preacher, Ibrahim away. Dicko, released from prison in Mali in 2015. However, Coulibaly said Islamist mili- Burkina Faso says it has carried out op- tants also left messages more than 100km erations in the border areas in recent weeks evidence on Gallmann shooting’ away in the southwest region. to boost security. One left a message on a blackboard: “On A programme of psychosocial support our next visit, we will kill the headmaster,” for teachers is being carried out by the UN Reuters dustry, and the interior ministry an- nowned for her work on her 86,000- said Mutwire Ring’era, the police of- Coulibaly said. children’s agency Unicef, Handicap Inter- Nairobi nounced last Monday that suspects acre ranch and nature conservancy. fi cer in charge of Laikipia. Burkina Faso, one of the world’s poor- national and Terre des Hommes this week, had been arrested and a weapon re- After the attack garnered interna- The police spokesman and inte- est countries on the southern fringes of Coulibaly said. covered. tional headlines, the interior minis- rior ministry did not respond to re- the Sahara, has a reputation for tolerance “Our programme includes two aspects: enyan police have yet to take The attack follows months of vio- ter swiftly announced suspects had quests for comment. and historically enjoyed harmonious re- a psychosocial aspect and a resilience as- witness statements or gather lence and at least 14 civilian deaths been arrested. Nigel Adams, Gallmann’s son-in- lations between the Muslim majority and pect,” said Anne Vincent of Unicef. Kballistic evidence from the in the Laikipia region. But a source close to the investiga- law, said the family had not been in- site of an ambush where gunmen Herdsmen fl eeing a severe drought tion said they were only aware of one formed of any arrests. wounded a world-famous conserva- have brought tens of thousands of fi rearm recovered in the district last Police have also not taken witness tionist, sources say, and are unable animals onto private land. Sunday. statements or inspected the scene to give details about suspects they Residents say politicians are en- It was involved in a diff erent, fatal, of the shooting on the Gallmann said they arrested. couraging the invasions, hoping to shooting on the same morning 100 conservancy to recover ballistic Zuma signs new law to fi ght Kuki Gallmann, the 73-year-old win support for lucrative seats in kilometres away, the source said. evidence, although they have towed Kenyan-Italian author of I Dreamed August elections, and criminal gangs Neither the county commander, away her vehicle, said workers at the of Africa, was shot twice in the stom- are taking advantage of the chaos. the offi cer commanding the police conservancy. money-laundering attempts ach last Sunday after gunmen am- Last month the government sent division in Laikipia West, nor the of- “They’ve never been to the scene, bushed her vehicle when she went to troops to Laikipia but the violence fi cer in charge of the local police sta- no witnesses have been inter- inspect arson damage on her conser- continues; four police were killed tion near Gallmann’s conservancy viewed,” said one worker. outh African President Jacob Zuma he had raised about warrantless searches,” vation park in northern Kenya. this month. were able to clarify when or where On Tuesday, a station for Kenya has signed the anti-money launder- said the statement from the presidency. Leading politicians rapidly issued Gallmann, who was played by Kim the suspects were arrested and the Wildlife Service rangers was burned Sing bill FICA, which allows increased Opposition parties and civil society statements on the shooting, which Basinger in a 2000 movie adaptation fi rearm recovered. down on the Gallmann conservancy, scrutiny of the bank accounts of “promi- groups speculated that the stance was re- could damage Kenya’s tourism in- of her book, is internationally re- “I don’t have such information,” the worker said. nent individuals”, including himself, into lated to a fi ght between the Treasury, which law, his offi ce said yesterday. sponsored the legislation, and the Guptas, a The country risked being kicked out of family of businessmen close to Zuma. global fraud monitor, the Financial Action In December, former fi nance minister Task Force (FATF), if the Financial Intelli- Pravin Gordhan asked the High Court to gence Centre Amendment (FICA) bill was rule he was not allowed to interfere with Mali extends state of emergency ‘by six months’ not signed by June. decisions by South Africa’s major banks to The bill, intended to bolster the fi ght close business accounts of Oakbay Invest- against global fi nancial crime by making ments, owned by brothers Ajay, Atul and AFP emergency, according to this source. witnessed a spate of militant strikes Mali’s north fell under the control it easier to identify the ultimate owners Rajesh Gupta. Bamako The measure has been renewed despite the emergency. Last month, of jihadist groups linked to Al Qae- of companies and accounts — including Gordhan, axed by Zuma as fi nance min- several times since militants stormed armed men killed fi ve soldiers and in- da in 2012 who hijacked an ethnic those of “domestic prominent infl uential ister in March, said in court papers the the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako in jured 10 others in an attack on an army Tuareg-led rebel uprising, though persons” — was passed by parliament in Gupta family was waging an “organised ali has extended a state of November 2015, killing 20 people in post in the tense Timbuktu region. the Islamists were largely ousted by May. campaign” to smear him and the Treasury. emergency by six months an attack claimed by Al Qaeda’s re- The last time the government ex- a French-led military operation in But Zuma sent in it back to the legisla- The Gupta family in turn accused Gord- Muntil October 31, a source in gional branch. tended the measure, it said the “se- January 2013. ture saying he was concerned about the han of leading a conspiracy to ruin their the parliament told AFP yesterday, The decree, which was due to ex- curity situation in Mali and in the But extremists continue to roam legality of provisions allowing searches business interests. as the west African nation battles a pire yesterday, hands extra powers to sub-region is still characterised by the country’s north and centre, without warrants. The court has yet to rule on the matter. militant insurgency. security forces and restricts public the continued threat of terrorism mounting attacks on civilians and “The president is now satisfi ed that the Zuma has said he is close to the family MPs meeting on Friday “voted gatherings. and serious attacks on people and the army, as well as on French and Act addresses the constitutional concerns but denies being under their infl uence. unanimously” to extend the state of The country’s troubled north has their belongings.” UN forces still stationed there.

Burundi refugees fi nd hope in Kigali ‘at home’ Paris show for African art amassed

By Stephanie Aglietti, AFP side the stadium on a Saturday to jog the by collector who’s never been there Kigali streets of Kigali as they used to do in Bu- jumbura. “We are trying to take care of ourselves By Antoine Froidefond, AFP equal footing. “I had been collecting Often they don’t even have what utside Rwanda’s national stadium and not remain inactive, even if many are Paris like a provincial notable. I had a lit- they need to paint. There are prob- is a bar that has become a second demoralised by the lack of a way out of the tle Warhol, a little Schnabel, a little lems with transport, packing of the Ohome for Burundian refugees fl eeing crisis,” said Jules, a 33-year-old lawyer, Sol LeWitt. It was not an interesting works, infestations in frames, can- their country’s two-year-old political crisis. who did not want to give his full name out new exhibition in Paris collection. Charles Saatchi had said vases sticking together because the The clues are in the name, ‘Imuhira’ of fear of reprisals against family members is showcasing one of the to me ‘you must specialise’.” paint hasn’t dried.” meaning ‘at home’ in Burundi’s Kirundi still in Burundi. Aworld’s biggest collections He turned to ‘Magicians of Most of the work comes from language, in the voices of those who gath- Traditional Burundian drummers, living Nkurunziza “does not want to negoti- of contemporary African art — the Earth’ deputy curator Andre French-speaking Africa and Pigoz- er on the terrace to exchange news, and in in exile in Rwanda, play their instruments ate, he chose another direction, that of which was amassed without the Magnin, a specialist in art from zi says there is little to link it, apart the Burundian reggae music that plays on in Kigali. war,” said Nintereste, who has abandoned collector himself ever once setting non-Western cultures, and for the from its provenance. the sound system. hope of a peaceful end to a crisis that has foot on the continent. next 20 years Magnin criss-crossed “There is no connection between They drink, eat, and talk of their coun- create a mutual health scheme for refugees cost the lives of hundreds already and ‘The Insiders’ at the Louis Vuit- Africa to build up the Pigozzi col- all these artists, but they have three try, which was pitched into a deep political so they can return home “with dignity and driven 400,000 to leave the country, a ton Foundation features works by lection, acquiring thousands of things in common: they are liv- crisis two years ago by Burundian Presi- strength”, said Nintereste. fi fth of them to Rwanda. 15 artists selected from the 10,000 works which have been shown in ing, they live in Africa and they dent Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to run But for many Burundian refugees in Ki- And despite the diffi culties encountered collected over two decades by larg- some 200 exhibitions around the are black. The ones who emigrate, for a third term that his opponents say is gali, a beer on the terrace of the Imuhira is in Kigali, few contemplate a return to Bu- er-than-life businessman, photog- world. I don’t collect them any more,” he unconstitutional. a scarcely aff ordable luxury. rundi anytime soon. rapher and bon vivant Jean Pigozzi. Despite championing African said. The single-storey building wedged Odd jobs come up now and then but On the terrace of the Imuhira, bitter After inheriting a fortune from art for so long, Pigozzi has never At ‘The Insiders’, each of the art- between other street bars was opened a most complain that the labour market is laughter greets the news that the Burundi- his father, who founded the French been to the countries his collection ists has a dedicated space repre- month ago by a group of Burundian refu- saturated and opportunities few. an authorities’ claim “peace has returned”. carmaker Simca, Pigozzi partied comes from, preferring to avoid the sented by a diff erent colour and the gees who, feeling trapped and looking for Making the situation worse, says the “What drove us to fl ee is still there,” in the 1970s with the jet set in Los various perils the continent throws work varies enormously. a way to get by in the Rwandan capital, UN refugee agency UNHCR, is a lack of said Pascal Niyonzima, a musician receiv- Angeles — where legend has it he at visitors. There are masks made from rub- formed a cooperative to run the place. understanding among Rwandan employ- ing support from a Burundian organisa- “invented” the celebrity selfi e. Pigozzi, born a stone’s throw bish by Calixte Dakpogan from “We are refugees, but we are not con- ers that refugees are legally allowed to tion called ‘Maison Shalom’, or ‘House of But he switched his focus to Africa from the Louis Vuitton Foundation Benin, strange machines decon- demned to death. After all, life must go work if they can show offi cial UN docu- Peace’. after a lightbulb moment at the 1989 in one of the French capital’s most structed in virtuoso drawings by on,” said Lionel Nintereste, a 32-year-old ments proving their status. The government “pretends that every- ‘Magicians of the Earth’ exhibition exclusive districts, says that for Abu Bakarr Mansaray of Sierra refugee and one of the bar’s co-founders, The refugees are trying to maintain a thing’s fi ne but the reality is quite diff er- at the Pompidou Centre in Paris — as him the “greatest” country is Con- Leone and photographs of remark- sitting on a red plastic chair in a corner of sense of community, despite being scat- ent,” he said. well as some advice from legendary go — one of the continent’s poorest able Nigerian hairstyles by J D the terrace. tered throughout the capital, and the According to multiple reports from the British collector Charles Saatchi. and most unstable. ‘Okhai Ojeikere. Nintereste joined anti-government country. UN and human rights groups the relative “I went on the last day, just be- Though he has never travelled “The large majority of these art- protests in April 2015, when Nkurunziza The bar plays an important role in that. calm in Burundi is not a sign of peace but fore closing. The staff were push- there himself, Pigozzi acknowl- ists are self-taught. They don’t announced his intention to stay in power. Meanwhile, many have organised the result of fi erce repression. ing me towards the exit,” Pigozzi, edges the huge challenges faced by know Renoir or (20th century He fl ed the violent repression that was themselves into neighbourhood groups “The situation in Burundi is much 65, said. the artists whose work he supports. French artist) Yves Klein,” Pigozzi used to crush the protests and crossed the sharing information about jobs, the situa- worse than before,” said Nintereste. “We The exhibition has been described “It’s hard to be an artist in Afri- said. border into Rwanda in June that year. tion back home or missing relatives via the are imprisoned, tortured and disappeared as the fi rst truly international show ca. I was their only client,” he said. “They learned their technique The bar employs 20 people and there encrypted messaging service WhatsApp. in silence because there is no more media where contemporary works from “Some of them have to have a themselves. They have incredible are plans to open a food shop as well as to Those of an athletic bent meet out- or civil society.” all over the world were shown on an second job to feed their families. inspiration and incredible power.” Gulf Times 18 Sunday, April 30, 2017 AMERICA NSA abandons controversial surveillance technique

Reuters it was both lawful and vital to na- lete the “vast majority” of Inter- even if the message was neither cant” and among the top priori- “banning this kind of collection collection stemmed from how Washington tional security. net data collected under the sur- to nor from that person. ties of surveillance reform among in the future”. an entire packet of information The halt is among the most veillance programme “to further That type of collection some- civil liberties groups. A US government offi cial fa- would be vacuumed up if one substantial changes to US sur- protect the privacy of US person times resulted in surveillance of “Usually you identify a spe- miliar with the matter said the part of it contained informa- he US National Security veillance policy in years and communications”. e-mails, texts and other com- cifi c individual to scrutinise their change was motivated in part tion, such as an e-mail address Agency (NSA) said on Fri- comes as digital privacy remains The decision is an eff ort to munications that were wholly content; this was scrutinising to ensure that Section 702 is re- or phone number, connected to a Tday that it had stopped a a contentious issue across the remedy privacy compliance is- domestic. everyone’s content to fi nd men- newed before it sunsets on De- foreign target. form of surveillance that allowed globe following the 2013 disclo- sues raised in 2011 by the Foreign The NSA will continue to col- tions of an individual,” he said. cember 31, 2017. The NSA told the Privacy and it to collect without a warrant sures of broad NSA spying activ- Intelligence Surveillance Court, a lect communications directly in- Other privacy advocates seized The FISA has come under Civil Liberties Oversight Board as the digital communications of ity by former intelligence con- secret tribunal that rules on the volving intelligence targets. on the change to advocate for ad- increased scrutiny in recent recently as last year that changes Americans who mentioned a for- tractor Edward Snowden. legality of intelligence opera- Friday’s announcement came ditional reforms to the Foreign months amid unsubstanti- to “about” collection were not eign intelligence target in their “NSA will no longer collect tions, sources familiar with the as a surprise to privacy advo- Intelligence Surveillance Act ated claims by President Donald “practical at this time”, according messages, marking an unexpect- certain Internet communications matter said. cates who have long argued that (FISA). Trump and other Republicans to a report from the government ed triumph for privacy advocates that merely mention a foreign in- The court recently approved “about” collection was overly The part of the law under that the Obama White House im- watchdog. long critical of the practice. telligence target,” the agency said the changes, the NSA said. broad and ran afoul of the US which the surveillance occurred, properly spied on Trump or his News of the surveillance activ- The decision to stop the once- in a statement. “Instead, NSA The NSA is not permitted to Constitution’s protections known as Section 702, is due to associates. ity being halted was fi rst reported secret activity, which involved will limit such collection to In- conduct surveillance within the against unreasonable searches. expire at the end of the year un- Pieces of diff ering bits of dig- on Friday by the New York Times, messages sent to or received from ternet communications that are US. Julian Sanchez, a privacy and less Congress reauthorises it. ital traffi c are often packaged to- which fi rst revealed its existence people believed to be living over- sent directly to or from a foreign The so-called “about” col- surveillance expert with the Cato Democratic Senator Ron gether as they travel across the in 2013, two months after Snow- seas, came despite the insistence target.” lection went after messages that Institute, a libertarian think tank, Wyden said in a statement that Internet. den leaked intelligence docu- of US offi cials in recent years that The NSA also said it would de- mentioned a surveillance target, called the decision “very signifi - he would introduce legislation Part of the issue with “about” ments to journalists.

Simpsons skewers Trump marks tough fi rst Trump in special 100 days as US president episode By Michael Mathes, AFP AFP Washington Los Angeles

onald Trump marked his he Simpsons is trolling 100th day in the White President Donald Trump DHouse yesterday, facing Tover his fi rst 100 days in the sober realities of a presidency a viral video in which he boasts stamped by disruption, confu- about his increased Twitter fol- sion and a struggle to convert lowers and reduced golf handi- campaign promises into tangible cap. achievements. The 84-second footage post- That hasn’t stopped the presi- ed on the Fox animated com- dent – who has both hyped and edy’s Twitter account off ered a dismissed the signifi cance of the glimpse at the episode scheduled 100-day mark – from claiming to to air today, celebrating the fact run the most successful admin- that Trump is 6.8% of the way istration in US history, a message through his term. that he is expected to take to sup- The teaser, which had 4.8mn porters in a campaign-style rally hits on YouTube by Friday after- this weekend. noon, opens at a sinister looking Under a relentless spotlight Trump: The first 100 days of my administration has been just about White House on a stormy night, since stunning the world in the most successful in our country’s history. where White House press sec- November with a victory over retary Sean Spicer can be seen Democratic rival Hillary Clin- out to be more than Mr Trump But warning signs have tem- hanging by a noose in the press ton, the 45th president of the can manage,” the paper wrote. pered any positivity, including room with a sign reading “I quit” United States has seen his bid to “His determination to leverage Friday’s Commerce Department hanging around his neck. tear up his predecessor’s land- his offi ce to expand his commer- announcement that US econom- “I am not replacing him,” mark healthcare reforms founder cial empire is the only objective ic growth slid to its lowest level in screams Kellyanne Conway, in Congress, where many of his Protesters take part in the ‘100 Days of Failure’ march yesterday as they mark the first 100 days of the to which Americans, after 100 three years during the fi rst quar- fl eeing in terror as she discovers other legislative priorities have Trump administration in New York. days, can be confi dent this presi- ter of 2017. the body. also run up against cold political dent will stay true.” And Congress and the Federal Upstairs, the camera dol- gamesmanship. eral that roll back Obama-era try’s history,” the real estate bil- gleefully described his opening But others blamed any short- Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are lies past Trump strategist Steve Funding for his promised wall regulations on industry or lift lionaire said in his weekly ad- century mark as a slow-motion comings on obstruction from conducting investigations into Bannon and what looks like the along the US border with Mexico bans on oil and gas drilling, ef- dress on Friday, despite having train wreck, a period of dramati- Democrats. Russia’s apparent interference president’s son-in-law Jared was stripped from a federal fund- forts that Republican lawmakers called the 100-day milestone ar- cally diminished stability, legis- Fox News, a favourite among in last year’s US elections, and Kushner as they throttle one an- ing bill in order to prevent a gov- and voters widely praised. bitrary, “a false standard”. lative failures and broken cam- conservatives, topped its website whether there was any collusion other. ernment shutdown. But US courts twice blocked Trump will trade the pressures paign pledges. with an article praising Trump’s with the Trump campaign. As chaos reigns, Trump is His tax plan, hastily unveiled his most high-profi le order, a of his offi ce for an adoring crowd That was the message carried record under the headline: “100 Rising global tensions are also sitting in bed in pink paja- this week in the hope of burnish- temporary ban on citizens from this weekend in Harrisburg, by much of the news media. days of disruption: How Trump preoccupying the White House. mas, smart phone in hand, and ing his fi rst 100 days with a suc- several Muslim-majority coun- Pennsylvania. A New York Times editorial rewrote the presidential play- The United States has pledged surrounded by books – a Bill cess story, has been savaged as a tries entering the United States. But even if his core supporters titled “100 Days of Noise From book as Dems tried to derail to step up sanctions to force O’Reilly tome entitled Killing a multi-billion-dollar giveaway Trump has put on a brave face still fully back him, he is the least Donald Trump” excoriated his plans.” North Korea to resume dialogue Good Thing, a guide called Flor- to the wealthy that will send the nevertheless. popular US leader in modern ignorance of policy and poli- Republicans have rallied be- over its nuclear programme, ida on $10 Million a Day, and The national debt soaring. “The fi rst 100 days of my ad- times at this stage of his presi- tics and warned of his danger to hind Trump’s appointment of the as Trump warned of the risk Little Book of Big Bombs. Trump has signed dozens of ministration has been just about dency. American institutions. conservative judge Neil Gorsuch of a “major confl ict” with “A hundred days in offi ce, so executive orders, including sev- the most successful in our coun- Democratic lawmakers have “Governing, so far, has turned to the Supreme Court. Pyongyang. many accomplishments. Low- ered my golf handicap, my Twit- ter following increased by 700. And fi nally we can shoot hiber- nating bears. My boys will love that,” Trump says as his wig gets EPA website being ‘updated’ to match White House views up and turns around, revealing itself to be a dog. “Here’s a bill that you must Reuters needs to refl ect the views of the the Clean Power Plan put into plants and increasing the use of legal guidance, including proper scientifi c research, emissions read immediately. It lowers taxes Washington leadership of the agency,” it said place by his predecessor, Barack renewable energy and energy archiving, so a snapshot of the data from industrial plants and for only Republicans,” an aide in a statement. Obama, the statement said. conservation. Obama administration’s website a multi-agency report that de- implores. Trump, a climate change “Language associated with “We want to eliminate con- would remain available from the scribes trends related to the “Can’t Fox News read it, he website of the US doubter, campaigned on a pledge the Clean Power Plan, written by fusion by removing outdated main page, the EPA statement causes and eff ects of climate and I’ll watch what they say?” Environmental Protec- to boost the US oil and gas drill- the last administration, is out of language fi rst and making room said. change. Trump responds. Ttion Agency, EPA.gov, is ing and coal mining industries date,” it said. “Similarly, content to discuss how we’re protect- In January, EPA sources told Pruitt led 14 lawsuits against The president switches on his getting a makeover to refl ect by slashing regulation. related to climate and regulation ing the environment and human Reuters that administration of- the agency when he was Okla- TV, and a news report show- the views of President Donald He also promised to pull is also being reviewed.” health by partnering with states fi cials had asked the agency to homa’s attorney general. ing his daughter Ivanka replac- Trump and EPA Administrator Washington out of a global pact The Clean Power Plan had and working within the law,” JP take down the climate change Last month he said he was not ing Bill Clinton appointee Ruth Scott Pruitt, the agency said on to fi ght climate change. been targeted at sharply reduc- Freire, associate administrator page on its website, and that EPA convinced that carbon dioxide Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Friday. The fi rst page to be updated is ing carbon dioxide emissions for public aff airs at the agency, staff had pushed back in an ef- from human activity is the main Court as a voiceover informs “As EPA renews its commit- one that refl ects Trump’s execu- from electrical power generation said in the statement. fort to convince the administra- driver of climate change, a posi- viewers that they can buy her ment to human health and clean tive order on energy independ- over 25 years, focusing on reduc- The website changes will tion to preserve it. tion widely embraced by scien- gavel and robe for just 1,000 air, land and water, our website ence, which calls for a review of tions from coal-burning power comply with agency ethics and The page includes links to tists. roubles.

SpaceX to launch classified government payload today

SpaceX is scheduled today to make its first military About 10 minutes after launch, the tall portion of launch, with a classified payload for the National the rocket, known as the first stage, will power Autopsy ordered on executed inmate Reconnaissance Off ice, which makes and operates its engines and fly back toward Earth to make a spy satellites for the United States. controlled landing on solid ground at SpaceX’s No details were made public about the payload, Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral. AFP He was the last of four in- a death-row inmate who had amounted to death through tor- known only as NROL-76, which was first announced The attempt is part of SpaceX’s eff ort to make rocket Washington mates put to death in a week – been scheduled for execution on ture. last year. parts recyclable, rather than jettisoning the costly the fi rst executions by the con- Thursday. He dismissed as a “white- A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised to blast NROL-76 components after each launch. servative southern state since He and three other prisoners wash” a comment by Arkansas into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida during a The California-based company has already made federal judge has ordered 2005. who were also set to be executed Governor Asa Hutchinson’s two-hour launch window which opens today at 7am several successful landings on solid ground and on the Arkansas authorities Arkansas offi cials had said the over an 11-day period before the spokesman that the physical (1100 GMT). platforms floating in the ocean. Ato conduct an autopsy on compressed timeline was nec- end of this month have won re- agitation was an “involuntary the body of an executed inmate essary because the state’s stock prieves. muscular reaction” caused by whose lawyer described his of a sedative used in the lethal Williams’s lawyer Shawn No- one of the drugs. Swayze’s Dirty Dancing leather jacket sells for $62,000 death as “horrifying”, including injection, midazolam, was set to lan has said the condemned man Many of the legal clashes over jerking and convulsions during expire at the end of April. suff ered during his execution. the string of executions focused Dozens of items from the personal estate of late US The surfboard used by Swayze in the film Point Break his lethal injection. In addition to the autopsy, the “Within three minutes into on midazolam, which is meant actor Patrick Swayze have gone under the hammer also went for over $60,000. Judge Kristine Baker of the US judge also ordered the Arkansas the execution, our client began to render condemned people in Los Angeles on Friday, some eight years after his The items were auctioned with the help of the actor’s Court for the Eastern District of authorities to preserve blood coughing, convulsing, jerking unconscious before other drugs death. wife, Lisa Niemi Swayze, who said she was selling the Arkansas issued the order late and tissue samples from Wil- and lurching,” he said. cause death. A black leather jacket, worn by the actor in the 1987 belongings because she wanted to share them with on Friday, less than 24 hours liams’s body. Nolan and the American Civil Critics say it does not always cult film Dirty Dancing sold for $62,000 at auction, people who would “cherish them”. after the state executed the The emergency motion “for Liberties Union have called for adequately sedate prisoners, considerably more than the pre-auction estimate of Swayze died in September 2009, at the age of 57, 38-year-old convicted multiple preservation of evidence” an investigation into whether potentially causing undue suf- $6,000. from pancreatic cancer. murderer Kenneth Williams. was fi led by Jason McGehee, the execution on Thursday night fering. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 19 ASEAN

Thai family buries murdered child

AFP Phuket

earful relatives gathered yesterday outside a Thai temple to bury an 11-month-old girl killed Tby her father in a harrowing murder he broad- cast live on Facebook before committing suicide. The Buddhist ceremony on the southern island of Phuket concluded a week of funeral rites for baby Na- talie, who was hanged from the side of an abandoned building on Monday by her 20-year-old father Wut- tisan Wongtalay. Wuttisan, who hanged himself shortly after, fi lmed the macabre scene using his phone and broadcast it on Facebook Live. The video was seen by Natalie’s 22-year-old moth- er and hundreds of thousands of others before it was taken down some 24 hours later, prompting calls for Facebook to move more swiftly to block graphic con- tent. Relatives yesterday held Natalie’s sobbing mother as Buddhist monks chanted around a freshly-dug grave for the infant, who was pictured in a framed photo wearing a red dress. Her tiny body was swaddled in pink, red and white cloth before it was lowered into the ground alongside a collection of her favourite toys and pillows. Natalie’s mother, Jiranuch Trirat, scattered yellow chrysanthemum fl owers over the body before other relatives piled dirt back into the grave. “I feel better now that she’s resting,” Jiranuch told AFP after the ceremony. Natalie’s distraught grandmother, whose son car- ried out the murder, told AFP it pained her to know the video had been seen so widely circulated. “I feel sorry from my heart that people shared and liked (the video). I’m sorry for what my son did,” said Jinda Raksakham, fi ghting back tears. What prompted Wuttisan to carry out such a hor- rifying act remains a mystery. Jiranuch said she and her boyfriend frequently ar- gued but that the young father had always been kind to their daughter. The gruesome killing was the latest violent crime Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders link arms during the opening ceremony of the 30th Asean Summit in Manila yesterday. broadcast on Facebook Live, triggering a renewed de- bate over the handling of such content and provoking anger among some social media users who said the company was too slow to remove the clip. Yet Jiranuch told AFP earlier this week that she har- boured no ill will towards Facebook and even found it in herself to forgive her boyfriend. “I forgive him because holding onto anger for a long Asean leaders wrestle time will not get my daughter back,” she said. over China at summit AFP said the Philippines and other na- often refl ected that. Aquino also it was taken out of the South China than Duterte had planned, accord- Manila tions were helpless to stop the is- fi led the case at the international Sea section of the latest draft of the ing to another member of an Asean land building, so there was no point tribunal. chairman’s statement seen by AFP. delegation. discussing it at diplomatic events But the ruling against China Filipino diplomats said the By late yesterday night, more Jiranuch Trirat throws chrysanthemum petals into hilippine President Rod- such as yesterday’s summit. came after Duterte took power. phrase was important because “le- than four hours after the summit the grave of her 11-month-old daughter Natalie in rigo Duterte yesterday faced In keeping with Duterte’s posi- Duterte steadfastly refused to gal and diplomatic processes” en- ended, the chairman’s statement Phuket yesterday. Ppushback at a regional sum- tion, a chairman’s statement due use the verdict to pressure China, compassed the entire process of the had yet to be released. mit over his eff orts to soften South- to be released after the summit instead pursuing warmer relations fi ling of the case in the tribunal un- Diplomats from visiting delega- east Asian opposition to Chinese ended would ignore a UN-backed and billions of dollars’ worth of til its resolution. tions told AFP that Duterte, as host, 19 killed in Myanmar accident expansionism in the contested tribunal’s ruling last year rejecting trade and aid. Nevertheless, the new draft had the fi nal say on the wording. South China Sea, diplomats said. China’s sweeping claims, according Duterte’s chairman’s statement, statement reintroduced a call for no The summit was also closely ineteen people were killed and 21 injured after Duterte, host of the one-day to a draft obtained by AFP. which is meant to refl ect the views further “land reclamation and mili- watched for how Duterte, who has their bus toppled into a ravine in eastern My- Association of Southeast Asian But diplomats said other Asean of all Asean leaders, would voice tarisation” of the sea. shocked with curse-laden tirades Nanmar, police said yesterday. (Asean) leaders meeting, lobbied nations, unhappy with intense Chi- concern but not mention the rul- Diplomats said the reinclusion of against the United States and other The bus was carrying around 40 passengers from ahead of the event for much closer nese lobbying of the Philippines, ing nor China directly, according to the reference to land reclamation critics of his deadly drug war, han- central Bago province when it plunged off a highway ties with China despite its sweep- sought to toughen up the chair- excerpts of the latest draft obtained and militarisation meant that some dled hosting his fi rst major diplo- near Myawaddy, a town on the Thai border, on Friday. ing claims to the strategically vital man’s statement and there were hot yesterday by AFP. Asean countries were not comfort- matic event. “Nineteen people were killed and 21 people were in- waterway. debates on the issue in Manila. China, through its ambassador able with “total acquiescence” to Duterte’s drug war, which has jured, while a few people were lucky to live,” Kyi Lin, China has been turning reefs and “It can’t be seen that Asean has to Manila, had this week been cam- China. claimed thousands of lives and led the chief of police in Karen state, told AFP. shoals in areas of the sea claimed by totally given in to Chinese pres- paigning to weaken it further, del- “This has to be refl ected in the to warnings by rights groups about “(The bus) fell down into a narrow and deep gorge,” the Philippines and other nations sure,” a Southeast Asian diplomat egates and diplomats told AFP. statement,” one diplomat, who did a possible crime against humanity, he said, adding that police believe the driver lost con- into artifi cial islands, and installing in Manila for the event told AFP. “The lobbying is quite intense. not want to be named, told AFP. has been widely condemned in the trol of the bus because of a brake failure. military facilities there. The Philippines, under previous They (China) want it further wa- Another diplomat said Vietnam West. Police and local aid groups have brought the injured Asean members Vietnam, Ma- president Benigno Aquino, had lob- tered down,” one diplomat told had insisted the references to the But he enjoyed support from to nearby hospitals for urgent care and are making fu- laysia and Brunei also claim parts bied hard at Asean summits for the AFP. land reclamation and militarisation some of his Southeast Asian guests neral arrangements for the dead, he added. of the sea, but China insists it has bloc to voice its strong opposition China had wanted Asean to re- be reintroduced. this week, including Brunei Sultan A hospital in Mae Sot, the Thai town across the bor- sovereign rights over nearly all of it. to the Chinese expansionism, and move a reference to “respect for le- Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah and Indonesian der, took in seven patients from the crash who were in Ahead of the summit Duterte offi cial statements at those events gal and diplomatic processes”, and also wanted a stronger statement President Joko Widodo. “critical condition,” a medical worker told AFP.

Tourism magnet! Climate-stressed Mongolia being urged to put yaks before mines

By Thin Lei Win, Reuters change and heavy urbanisation In February, the Red Cross ap- Bangkok in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar pealed for $654,000 to support are key issues that must be tack- thousands of Mongolian herder led, he added. A Mercy Corps families suff ering from a second ongolia should diver- report issued last week said the consecutive “dzud” in which a sify its economy in the mining sector employs only 3.6% summer drought is followed by Mface of climate change of Mongolia’s total workforce. harsh winter conditions, leading and other stresses, as reliance on “There’s a realisation among to widespread livestock deaths. mining at the expense of its live- government and development Climate change could lead to stock industry has put people at partners that it was a big mistake more erratic rainfall and increase risk of commodity price shocks to focus solely on a single sector,” the frequency of droughts and and rising unemployment, an in- said Singh, noting how a 17% dzuds, said the Mercy Corps report. ternational aid group said. growth rate in 2012 has nose- But Singh said a profi table, Ramesh Singh, Mongolia di- dived to a projected 1.4% in 2017. modern herding system attrac- rector for Mercy Corps, said Meanwhile, around 30% of tive to young people could be de- strengthening rural livestock Mongolia’s 3mn people live off veloped. “There is a huge market markets and establishing centres herding horses, goats, sheep, potential from China and Russia of economic activity outside the camels, yaks and other cattle, which are ready to buy meat from over-stretched capital would en- according to the World Bank, Mongolia. There’s an opportunity rich the nation’s coff ers, provide and meat is the primary source of to develop another export market work for young people, and boost food for the population. here,” he told the Thomson Reu- the country’s resilience. Those unable to make ends meet ters Foundation by phone. Mongolia has struggled with an in rural areas — especially young Mercy Corps is supporting a economic crisis since 2016 due to people working in low-paid animal law to protect grazing land, and government over-spending and husbandry or unpaid family jobs — hopes to join planned eff orts declining revenues from its exports, usually move to the capital. to map how many animals the which include copper and coal. There, many end up living in country’s pastures can support. “We have reached a tipping “ger districts”, makeshift neigh- Its report also recommends point,” said Singh, whose US- bourhoods named after Mongolia’s educating herders to keep fewer, Tourists in bamboo boats tour caves in Halong Bay in the northeastern Vietnam province of Quang Ninh. A Unesco World Heritage based organisation has worked in traditional yurt dwellings, where better-quality livestock, as well site with around 2,000 islets, Halong Bay is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Vietnam. Mongolia since 1999. pollution, poverty and domestic as developing fi nancing to pro- Youth unemployment, climate violence are rife, aid agencies say. tect herders from climate threats. Gulf Times 20 Sunday, April 30, 2017 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA N Korea missile test fails again

Reuters Tokyo subway halt for 10 minutes It is not clear what has caused Seoul the series of failed missile tests Tokyo’s main subway system sus- Around 13,000 people were since then. pended its service for 10 minutes aff ected by the halt in service, The Trump administration orth Korea yesterday yesterday morning, shortly after Kyodo News said. could respond to the test by test-fi red a ballistic North Korea test-fired a ballistic “It (subway suspension) was a speeding up its plans for new Nmissile shortly after US missile. decision of the operator,” Chief US sanctions, including possible Secretary of State Rex Tiller- It was the first time Tokyo Met- Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga measures against specifi c North son warned that failure to curb ro took such a step, following the told a briefing. Korean and Chinese entities, said Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic adoption of new rules this month “We ask that people stay calm the US offi cial, who declined to missile programmes could lead to to stop trains and check for safety and stay informed. At this time, be identifi ed. “catastrophic consequences”. in response to news of any missile the latest incident has absolutely “Something that’s ready to go US and South Korean offi cials launches that can potentially hit no impact on Japan,” he said. could be taken from the larger said the test, from an area north Japan, local media said. The missile launch, which ap- package and expedited,” said the of the North Korean capital, ap- Trains were stopped at 6.07am, parently failed, came as Japanese offi cial. peared to have failed, in what 37 minutes after the launch, accord- people began the annual Golden The UN Security Council is would be the North’s fourth ing to national broadcaster NHK. Week holiday season. likely to start discussing a state- straight unsuccessful missile test ment to condemn the missile since March. launch, said diplomats. The test came as the USS Carl China, the North’s sole main ally. Trump, in an interview with But condemnations and sanc- Vinson aircraft carrier group ar- “North Korea disrespected Reuters on Thursday, praised tions resolutions since 2006, rived in waters near the Korean the wishes of China & its highly Chinese leader Xi Jinping for when North Korea conducted its peninsula, where it began exer- respected President when it “trying very hard” on North Ko- fi rst nuclear test, have done lit- cises yesterday with the South launched, though unsuccess- rea but warned a “major, major tle to impede its push for ballistic Korean navy, about 12 hours after fully, a missile today. confl ict” was possible. People watch news about the failed missile test of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at a train missiles and nuclear arms. the failed launch, a South Korean Bad!,” Trump said in a post on The North has been conduct- station in Seoul yesterday. The South Korean politician navy offi cial said. Twitter after the launch. ing missile and nuclear weapons expected to win a May 9 presiden- Tillerson, in a UN Security Chinese Foreign Minister related activities at an unprec- North Korea,” Abe told reporters With North Korea acting in de- sign of provocation,” the news- tial election, Moon Jae-in, called Council meeting on North Korea Wang Yi told the UN meeting it edented rate and is believed to in London. “Japan is watching fi ance of the pressure, the United paper said. the test an “exercise in futility”. on Friday, repeated the Trump was not only up to China to solve have made progress in develop- how China will act in regard to States could conduct new naval Kim Dong-yub, an expert at “We urge again the Kim Jong- administration’s position that the North Korean problem. ing intermediate-range and sub- North Korea.” drills and deploy more ships and Kyungnam University’s Institute un regime to immediately stop all options were on the table if “The key to solving the nuclear marine-launched missiles. US offi cials, speaking on con- aircraft in the region, a US offi cial of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, reckless provocative acts and Pyongyang persisted with its nu- issue on the peninsula does not Tension on the Korean penin- dition of anonymity, said the told Reuters. said North Korea might have got choose the path to cooperate with clear and missile development. lie in the hands of the Chinese sula has been high for weeks over North Koreans had probably The dispatch of Carl Vinson the data it wanted with the mis- the international community,” “The threat of a nuclear attack side,” Wang said. fears the North may conduct a tested a medium-range missile to the waters off the Korean pe- sile’s short fl ight, then blown it Park Kwang-on, a spokesman for on Seoul, or Tokyo, is real, and In a commentary yesterday, long-range missile test, or its known as a KN-17 and it ap- ninsula is a “reckless action of up in a bid to limit the anger of Moon, said in a statement, refer- it’s only a matter of time before China’s offi cial Xinhua news agen- sixth nuclear test, around the peared to have broken up within the war maniacs aimed at an ex- China, which warned Pyongyang ring to the North Korean leader. North Korea develops the capa- cy said both North Korea and the time of the April 15 anniversary minutes of taking off . tremely dangerous nuclear war,” against further provocation. Moon has advocated a more bility to strike the US mainland,” United States needed to tread cau- of its state founder’s birth. The South Korean military said the Rodong Sinmun, the offi cial North Korea rattled world moderate policy on the North Tillerson said. “Failing to act now tiously. “If both sides fail to make Japanese Prime Minister Shin- the missile reached an altitude of newspaper of North Korea’s rul- powers in February when it suc- and been critical of the deploy- on the most pressing security is- such necessary concessions, then zo Abe condemned the test as a 71km before disintegrating. ing Workers’ Party, said in a com- cessfully launched a new inter- ment of an advanced US missile sue in the world may bring cata- not only will the two countries, but grave threat to the international It said the launch was a clear mentary yesterday. mediate-range ballistic missile defence system in the South in- strophic consequences.” the whole region and the whole order. violation of UN resolutions and Inter-continental ballistic that it said could carry a nuclear tended to counter North Korea’s US President Donald Trump world end up paying a heavy price “I urged Russia to play a con- warned the North not to act rockets will fl y into the United weapon. It also successfully test- missile threat, which China also said the launch was an aff ront to for a possible confrontation.” structive role in dealing with rashly. States “if the US shows any slight ed ballistic missiles on March 6. strongly objects to.

China deports US woman Google Australia convicted of ‘spying’ set to challenge

AFP spokesperson Geng Shuang said back tax notice San Francisco last week. Dui Hua said negotiations to se- cure the release of Phan-Gillis were Reuters n American woman con- stepped up during US Secretary of Sydney victed of espionage this week State Rex Tillerson’s visit to Beijing Ahas been deported by China, in March 2017. a human rights group that cam- “Tillerson’s State Department lphabet Inc’s Google said it will challenge amend- paigned for her release said yester- was assisted by the White House in ed tax assessments issued by the Australian Taxa- day, removing a source of tensions bringing the negotiations to a suc- Ation Offi ce (ATO), which is trying to claw back between Washington and Beijing. cessful conclusion.” billions of dollars from multinational corporations citing Sandy Phan-Gillis was detained The UN Working Group on Ar- unpaid taxes. The ATO has increased scrutiny over how in March 2015 at the Macau border bitrary Detention last year de- much tax multinationals operating in Australia pay. after visiting mainland China with nounced China’s handling of the In December, it said it was pursuing seven global busi- a trade delegation from the Texas case, saying it had not observed nesses over A$2bn ($1.50bn) in unpaid tax. oil capital Houston. “international norms relating to While the ATO has not named the businesses it is pur- She was accused of espionage, the right to a fair trial and to liberty suing, Google’s Australia unit said in accounts fi led with stealing state secrets and allegedly and security”. the Australian Securities and Investments Commission passing on intelligence to a third Violations by Chinese authorities that it will “lodge an objection” to the tax demand from party. were of “such gravity as to give the the ATO. She was sentenced to three and deprivation of liberty of Ms Phan- “The company will continue to uphold its positions a half years in prison and deporta- Gillis an arbitrary character”, it not- against any and all such claims,” Google said in the fi nan- tion on Wednesday. ed in a report released last July. cial statement released over the weekend. An official takes pictures as a train carrying containers from London chugs into the freight railway On Friday, “Phan-Gillis was de- Phan-Gillis was held for six The search giant did not disclose how much the ATO station in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. The sign at the front of the locomotive reads ‘First Sino-Euro ported. She arrived in Los Angeles months at a secret location and lat- has demanded it pay in taxes. Freight Train (London Yiwu)’. the same day. She was met upon er at a detention centre in Guangxi, Google and the ATO declined to comment on how arrival by her husband and mem- where she was initially put in soli- much the company’s amended tax bill was. bers of her family,” the Dui Hua tary confi nement, the working Treasurer Scott Morrison said in April the country ex- group said in a statement. group said. pected to claw back A$2.9bn from companies under the Her return to the US comes Her husband Jeff Gillis had cam- legislation. three weeks after Chinese Presi- paigned for her freedom, setting up Australia enacted the Multinational Anti-Avoidance First London-China train dent Xi Jinping met US President a website “savesandy.org” which Law in December 2015 and the ATO has introduced new Donald Trump in Florida, amid a has now been taken down. guidelines for foreign trading hubs. warming of ties between the two According to an archive version Google Australia restructured its operations eff ective countries. of the site, Phan-Gillis has family January 1 of last year to comply with the legislation and completes 12,000km trip Since their fi rst face-to-face origins in southern China but was its fi nancial statement reveals an increase in revenue and meeting in Florida earlier this born in Vietnam. tax for the 2016 calendar year as a result. month, the two presidents “have She left the country in the late Revenue surged to A$1.14bn in 2016 from A$498mn AFP metres shorter than the record- Therefore, there may be a role for been in constant touch with each 1970s as part of the exodus of “boat in 2015, while total income tax rose to A$16mn from Beijing holding China-Madrid link, such long-haul rail links,” he said. other,” Chinese foreign ministry people” who fl ed Communist rule. A$2.8mn in 2015, the accounts show. which opened in 2014. China already has a regular di- London is the 15th city to be rect freight train service to Ger- aden with baby milk and linked to a new freight network many, Europe’s largest economy. other goodies, the fi rst off ered by the state-run China One route links the Chinese Lfreight train linking China Railway Corp, which says its megacity of Chongqing to Du- directly to the UK arrived yes- services are cheaper than air isburg, a steel-making town and Sole Tiananmen museum returns to Hong Kong terday in the eastern Chinese city transport and quicker than ship- one of Germany’s most-impor- of Yiwu after a 12,000km trip, ping. tant transportation and com- becoming the world’s second- The journey should be 30 days mercial hubs. AFP “It’s very much meaningful because...it longest rail route. faster than moving the goods by The other route links Beijing, Hong Kong counteracts against the brainwashing by the The journey is the latest eff ort ship, the provincial government the Chinese capital, to Hamburg, Communist party,” Lee said of the museum, in China’s drive to strengthen had said, but the pilot run took Germany’s second-largest city. which is still searching for a permanent trade links with western Europe two days more than the 18 days “The reality is that there is he world’s fi rst museum dedicated home. along a modern-day “Silk Road” expected. nothing new here. Transcon- to China’s Tiananmen Square crack- “They have the money and resources route. And the train, named the East tinental rail transit has existed Tdown will once again open its doors in to really try to use excuses to suppress our “The train arrived at around Wind, has much less carrying for over a century,” said Theresa Hong Kong after a months-long closure as museum, but I think we will fi ght on, and 9.30am to Yiwu today,” the Yiwu capacity — just 88 shipping con- Fallon, director of the Centre the city prepares to mark the 20th anniver- I think with the support of people in Hong Tianmeng Industry Company tainers, according to the Yiwu for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies sary of its handover to Beijing. Kong we can fi ght,” he said. told AFP yesterday. government, compared to the (CREAS) in Brussels. The June 4th Museum closed its doors The Alliance in Support of Patriotic Dem- The world’s top trading na- 10,000 to 20,000 containers car- The launch of the new rail last July after organisers said they were Workers install a poster at the June 4th ocratic Movements in China, which runs the tion launched the “One Belt, go ships can carry. route was a bid to show post- being targeted for political reasons in the museum in Hong Kong yesterday. museum, is raising funds and hopes to fi nd a One Road” strategy in 2013, and It is unclear how much the Brexit Britain that there were semi-autonomous city where concerns are permanent location for the displays within has since poured millions into venture cost, and some experts other trade options than neigh- growing that Beijing is tightening its grip. forgotten what had happened 28 years ago the next two years. constructing vast infrastructure have questioned whether the bouring Europe, she said. Tenants in the commercial building when the Communist Party decided to open Residents told AFP it was important for links. ambitious project makes eco- But “this train will transport to which housed the museum from 2014 said fi re and send in tanks against the people’s Hong Kong to host the museum. The train — which was also nomic sense. China British socks, Scotch and the museum breached regulations that said aspiration for freedom,” Lee said. “Hong Kong is the only place in China carrying pharmaceuticals and “It is hard to say at this stage soda pop — which hardly her- the premises could only be used for offi ces. Chinese authorities branded the pro- that can act as a platform for people to com- machinery — departed London what the economic return will alds a bright new age of Sino-UK The museum, now housed at a new tem- democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen prehend this part of history,” said social on April 10 and passed through be, as the economic benefi ts will trade.” porary venue, will open to the public at a Square on June 4, 1989 a “counter-revolu- worker Regan Suen, 33. France, Belgium, Germany, Po- come over a long time,” He Tian- Roughly 80% of global trade time when Hong Kong is revving up the fan- tionary rebellion” and many on the main- Beijing has never given an official death land, Belarus, Russia and Ka- jie of Oxford Economics Hong is shipped by sea as freight train fare for the 20th anniversary of its handover land remain unaware of the crackdown. toll for the Tiananmen crackdown, which zakhstan during its 20-day trip Kong told AFP. services face technical and bu- to China by Britain, with expectations of a The cramped 100sq m space will be dis- was condemned worldwide, but inde- before arriving in Yiwu in east- “However, the train is in some reaucratic hurdles which vary high-profi le visit by Chinese President Xi playing newspaper clippings, large photo- pendent observers tallied more than 1,000 ern Zhejiang province, a major aspects more convenient and according to country. Jinping. graphs and videos of tanks rolling down the dead. wholesale centre for small con- fl exible. It can make multiple The East Wind’s locomotive Organiser Lee Cheuk-yan told AFP this streets of Beijing during the crackdown. Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on sumer goods. stops, allowing for the pick up and and carriages had to be changed was an especially important time to reo- The exhibit, which also displays a 2m tall the mainland, enshrined in a deal made be- The new route is longer than offl oading of cargo along the way. en route because of the larger pen the museum. “It’s very important that statue of the Goddess of Democracy, opens fore Britain handed it back to China in 1997. Russia’s famous Trans-Siberian Rail transport is also less aff ected gauge on railways in the former this museum will be here to tell him (Xi) in from April 30 to June 15 in the city’s Shek But there are growing fears those freedoms railway, but about 1,000 kilo- by adverse weather conditions. Soviet Union. his face that people in Hong Kong have not Kip Mei residential region. are being eroded. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 21 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Nuttall to stand in pro-Brexit Britain steps up the fi ght stronghold in UK poll against ‘dirty’ property By Jamie Grierson By Alice Ritchie, AFP £4.2bn that it says were bought May 2016 to lead the global fi ght Guardian News & Media London by individuals with suspicious against corruption. wealth. Since then, it has opened a They should be “low-hanging public register showing who he Ukip leader, Paul Nut- ritain took a signifi cant fruit” for the new measures, said really owns and controls Brit- tall, has revealed he is to step towards exposing Duncan Hames, the group’s di- ish companies, and this month Tstand in the parliamenta- Bdirty money in the Lon- rector of UK policy. “Any law is launched a consultation on a ry seat of Boston and Skegness, don property market this week, only as good as its implementa- similar register for overseas home to the town with the high- passing a law allowing the sei- tion and we now call on law en- companies that own British est Brexit vote in Britain. zure of homes from foreigners forcement agencies to use unex- property. Nuttall put an end to specu- who cannot explain how they plained wealth orders as soon as Campaigners have long called lation over which constituency paid for them. they are empowered to do so.” for improved transparency of he will contest in the general Anti-corruption campaigners Naomi Hirst, senior cam- ownership – even if rich individ- election on June 8, opting for hailed the “unexplained wealth paigner at Global Witness, said uals increasingly use relatives or the Lincolnshire seat over other orders” as a potentially game- that the orders could be “quite family friends to hide their pur- mooted alternatives such as changing tool to stop wealthy game-changing – the caveat is chases. Heywood and Middleton or Har- individuals from laundering that it is properly enforced”. But the government has tlepool. their money through mansions The United States already has drawn fi re for failing to include The Ukip leader will stand in the affl uent London boroughs similar powers, and Matthew in this week’s law measures to against the incumbent Tory MP, of Knightsbridge and Hamp- Page, a former US intelligence force registers on British over- Matt Warman, who campaigned stead. analyst who specialises in cor- seas tax havens, through which in favour of remaining in the Eu- The measure in the Criminal ruption in Nigeria, warned that many London property sales are ropean Union before last year’s Finances Act, which became its targets fi ght back with ex- routed via anonymous compa- referendum. law on Thursday, will enable en- pensive lawyers – and politics nies. The town of Boston returned forcement agencies to seize and gets in the way. “Unless the next government the highest vote in support of if necessary then sell the prop- “If the decision is made to go, This file photo taken on June 26, 2016 shows the skyline of London on the horizon as people relax in legislates to stop anonymous leaving the EU, at 75.6%. erties, returning the funds to the say, against Russia for other rea- Greenwich park in southeast London. Britain took a significant step towards exposing dirty money in overseas companies owning UK Nuttall made the announce- country involved. sons, then it will be used. It’s like the London property market this week, passing a law allowing the seizure of homes from foreigners properties, we will continue to ment not in Boston and Skegness “If some corrupt offi cial, these dogs they can unleash on who cannot explain how they paid for them. lose the fi ght against corrup- but in Hartlepool, leaving some who we know earns £30,000 these countries,” he told AFP. tion,” Hirst said. confused as to why he had trav- ($39,000) or £40,000 a year, Page was speaking on a special owned by Russian oligarchs. yer Sergei Magnitsky, who was tremely powerful new tools”. Hodge accused Prime Minis- elled to a town some 160 miles buys a house in the UK for £2mn, edition of London’s “kleptoc- Russia was the inspiration for charged with tax evasion after “I hope that the authorities ter Theresa May’s government away from his target seat for the there is unexplained wealth,” racy tours”, which take visitors another new power under the revealing a massive fraud by start using these tools aggres- of holding back as it forges new big reveal. said Margaret Hodge, an opposi- past homes allegedly bought Criminal Finances Act, which state offi cials, and died in deten- sively to show the world that global ties for when Britain leave In a statement announcing his tion Labour MP who campaigns with ill-gotten gains. enables British authorities to tion in 2009. London no longer is a safe haven the European Union. decision, Nuttall referenced the on this issue. This week, campaigners used freeze the assets of foreign offi - William Browder, a former for bad guys with blood money,” “There’s a reluctance to of- fi shing industry, which featured In research published last it to issue a string of mock un- cials who abuse anti-corruption Moscow fi nancier turned anti- he said. “If nothing happens, we fend anyone, even the British in debates in the run-up to last month, campaign group Trans- explained wealth orders outside and human rights activists. Kremlin campaigner who had can draw our own conclusions.” Virgin Islands, if we think we year’s referendum. parency International identi- palatial houses in prime cen- It followed a campaign in employed Magnitsky, said that Britain promised at an inter- can get some trade out of them,” “It is a great honour and a fi ed London properties worth tral London, which are mostly memory of late Russian law- Britain now possessed “ex- national summit in London in she said. privilege to stand for Ukip in Boston and Skegness,” he said. “The constituency voted over- whelmingly for leave, inspired in part by the massive betrayal of our fi shing industry by suc- cessive governments, something EU sets tough Brexit terms that today’s Conservative party led by Theresa May looks set to repeat. Reuters “Before discussing the future, “I will make it my mission to Brussels we have to sort out our past,” stand up for the people of Boston summit chair Donald Tusk told and Skegness and ensure there is reporters. no backsliding on Brexit.” uropean Union leaders en- He criticised British poli- Nuttall has failed to enter par- Kenny: The conditions for a referendum do not currently exist. dorsed stiff divorce terms ticians – who have included liament on at least four previous Efor Britain yesterday and May herself – for speaking of a occasions, most recently los- warned Britons to have “no il- quick deal to reassure expatri- ing the Stoke-on-Trent Central lusions” about swiftly securing ates when the legal complexities byelection in February. a new relationship to keep their required much more detailed During a bruising campaign, United Ireland would access to EU markets. talks. parts of his CV were questioned At a Brussels summit marked “We need a serious British re- and he admitted that a claim on by unusual harmony among the sponse,” Tusk said. his website to have lost close be automatic member 27 leaders, there was a fl ash of In London, Britain’s minister friends in the Hillsborough trag- the cross-Channel acrimony for leaving the European Union edy had been false. which some fear could wreck said he wanted the negotiations Nuttall’s decision to stand Reuters tant,” Kenny told reporters. any deal when offi cials ac- to be conducted in a “spirit of saves the party from having Brussels Some EU offi cials said the cused London of cynically ve- goodwill”. Barnier: We are ready. We are together. barely any senior fi gures con- declaration was a statement of toing some EU spending and “But there is no doubt that testing the general election. “the obvious” and have stressed demanded it back down or face these negotiations are the most day to some €6bn ($6.5bn) in She will contest France’s Nigel Farage has already uropean Union leaders has the summit was not taking a disrupting the start of talks next complex the UK has faced in our EU spending on approved pro- presidential election run-off on bowed out, saying he has more promised to embrace the view on unifi cation. month. lifetimes. They will be tough grammes, notably to handle the May 7, though few expect her impact as an MEP in Brussels, EBritish province of North- “The six counties (of Northern Meeting for the fi rst time and, at times, even confron- Mediterranean migrant crisis, to beat centrist Emmanuel Ma- and Suzanne Evans, the deputy ern Ireland into the EU if a refer- Ireland) remain part of the Unit- since Prime Minister Theresa tational,” David Davis said in Juncker warned that the issue cron. chair, said she was writing the endum in the future were to unite ed Kingdom unless and until the May triggered the two-year a statement in response to the could aff ect the start of talks. The EU considers it vital that manifesto. it with the Republic of Ireland. people decide make a diff erent countdown to Brexit in late guidelines. British offi cials said the “re- Britain not be seen to profi t from Arron Banks, the Ukip donor At a summit on the EU’s plan choice by a democratic means in March, her counterparts took German Chancellor Angela serve” imposed via a Tuesday Brexit, to dissuade others from who keeps threatening to with- for negotiating with Britain as other words by a referendum,” just minutes as they sat down Merkel repeated her concern night e-mail on a package of following suit. hold his support and start a new it leaves the bloc, Irish Prime Kenny said. to lunch in Brussels to ap- that some in Britain had “illu- measures due to have been ap- Belgian Prime Minister movement, nearly stood in Clac- Minister Enda Kenny asked fel- Kenny said Britain, whose prove eight pages of negotiat- sions” about quick trade talks. proved by EU ambassadors on Charles Michel warned against ton but decided not to get in the low members to acknowledge prime minister Theresa May was ing guidelines hammered out “I sometimes feel some peo- Wednesday morning was a sim- falling into a “trap” where Brit- way of a local candidate. that Northern Ireland would, absent from the summit, has it- by their diplomats over the past ple in Britain, and I don’t mean ple procedural matter prompted ain divided the bloc to its advan- Douglas Carswell, who was like East Germany in 1990, au- self taken the same view on EU month. the government, are not so clear by the “purdah” period before tage. Ukip’s only MP, resigned from tomatically enter the EU in the membership for Northern Ire- They greeted the decision on the idea that there is an exit elections, during which min- Also contentious among the the party and decided not to event of unifi cation with existing land. with applause, offi cials said. phase and then a phase on the isters prefer not to take “sensi- 27 will be which cities scoop the stand as an independent, saying member state. Brexit minister David Davis The text will bind Michel future relationship,” she said. tive” decisions. prizes of hosting two EU agen- his job was done now the Con- The 1998 Good Friday Agree- acknowledged last month that, Barnier, their chief negotiator, European Commission Presi- Juncker was unimpressed. cies set to be moved from Lon- servatives were taking the UK ment to end violence in North- if it united with the Republic, it to seek a deal that secures the dent Jean-Claude Juncker, the “It would facilitate the begin- don. out of the EU. ern Ireland foresees the holding would be entitled to be absorbed rights of 3mn EU expats living EU chief executive, took an even ning of the negotiations if the With most of the 27 off ering The party has been haemor- of referendums on both sides of into the EU. in Britain, ensures London pays more combative tone, saying UK were to be able to withdraw to house the European Medi- rhaging support to the Conserv- the border on uniting the island Calls for a referendum on tens of billions of euros Brus- that his offi cials had identifi ed the reserve,” he said. cines Agency (EMA) and several atives since the EU referendum if London and Dublin see public leaving the United Kingdom sels thinks it will be owed, and a “cocktail” of 25 diff erent legal EU offi cials questioned Brit- wanting the European Bank- and it is only likely to stand can- support for that. have picked up since Northern avoids destabilising peace by issues to settle just regarding ish motives, saying it appeared ing Authority (EBA), Tusk and didates in about 100 seats. European Union leaders gave Ireland, like Scotland, voted creating a hard EU-UK border expatriate residence rights. unprecedented and aff ected Juncker proposed they agree se- In a further blow to Nuttall’s their political endorsement to to remain in the EU, while the across the island of Ireland. “I have the impression some- policies which Britain had lection criteria in June to avoid leadership, Ukip’s northeast re- what Irish and EU legal experts United Kingdom’s two other na- “We are ready,” Barnier said. times that our British friends – agreed during months of prior unseemly rows. gional chairman, Steve Turner, say is the position in interna- tions, England and Wales, chose “We are together.” not all of them – underestimate deliberation. In a mark of how last year’s defected to the Conservative tional law of such territorial to leave in last year’s Brexit vote. With Barnier expecting to the technical diffi culties we “This is clearly not a technical Brexit vote has called into ques- party after conceding that the changes. Elections in Northern Ireland launch negotiations after the have to face,” he told reporters, decision,” one said. “It could be tion the unity of the United anti-EU party was riddled with “This is not about triggering in March denied pro-British un- June 8 election May called to three days after he and Barnier show of force.” Kingdom itself, leaders also of- “infi ghting and poor organisa- any mechanism ... the condi- ionists a majority in the province strengthen her position, the EU met May over dinner in London An unusual unity has been fered Irish Prime Minister Enda tion”. tions for a referendum do not for the fi rst time since Ireland leaders also fi rmly ruled out dis- for “constructive” talks. forged by the shock of Brexit Kenny a pledge that if Northern currently exist, but the acknowl- was partitioned in 1921, further cussing the free trade deal that Raising publicly the Com- which broke a taboo and raised Ireland, which voted against edgement of the principle, the emboldening Irish nationalists May wants until they see “sig- mission’s irritation with Britain fears of further break-up at the Brexit, ever unites with his potential, within the Good Fri- and their main political repre- nifi cant progress” on key with- over its 11th-hour decision to hands of nationalists like far- country, it will automatically be Support for Tories day agreement, is hugely impor- sentatives Sinn Fein. drawal terms. withhold consent on Wednes- right leader Marine Le Pen. in the EU. at 47%, poll shows

British Prime Minister Theresa May’s governing Conservative party has a 17-point lead over Abe warns of global ‘confusion’ without a UK/EU deal Labour, an Opinium poll showed yesterday, slightly down from last week as support for smaller AFP/Reuters separation from the European Japan has already warned that The announcements raised the world,” he said. “If the rules global fi nancial centres. parties slipped. London Union”, he told a press confer- businesses with their European questions about what assur- change overnight, there will be a Since the shock June 23 Brexit The Conservatives were on 47%, ence in London yesterday. headquarters in the UK may de- ances they had been off ered by concern about a possible confu- vote, Japan has expressed unu- up two points from last week, But he warned that “all the cide to transfer their head-offi ce the British government. sion arising.” sually strong public concerns while the main opposition Labour apanese Prime Minister stakeholders, including inves- function to continental Europe if EU president Donald Tusk “I highly regard that the UK about the impact of Brexit on the Party gained four points to 30% – Shinzo Abe has urged Brit- tors from countries outside the EU laws cease to be applicable in said on Friday that Britain must attaches importance to a smooth UK, the second most important still putting the Conservatives on Jain and the European Union region” needed to have “clear the UK after its withdrawal. fi rst settle the divorce issues of and transparent process includ- destination for Japanese invest- course for a sweeping victory in to secure a “smooth and trans- future prospects” in a post- Japan’s major automakers “people, money and Ireland” ing setting a transition period,” ment after the United States. June’s national election. parent” separation, saying that Brexit Britain. have so far backed the British before any talks on a post-Brexit he told the press conference. May has said she wants what Support for the pro-EU Liberal open trade in Europe was “a More than 1,000 Japanese economy with Toyota announc- trade deal. The outcome of the Brexit ne- she calls a “phased implementa- Democrats fell three points to 8%, matter of concern to the world”. companies do business in Brit- ing a £240mn investment in a Abe said he was worried about gotiations will shape the future tion” for Brexit, though she has and for the eurosceptic Ukip fell Abe met with British Prime ain, employing some 140,000 car assembly plant while Nis- Britain suddenly leaving the of Britain’s $2.6tn economy, the two years of complicated ne- by two points to 7%. Minister Theresa May on Friday, local people, and Japan’s direct san gave the green light to new bloc. world’s fi fth biggest, and deter- gotiations ahead with 27 other The poll was conducted on April assuring her that he “continued investment in the country has investments at its plant in Eng- “Maintaining an open Eu- mine whether London can keep members of the European Union 25. to trust the UK economy after topped ¥10tn ($96bn) to date. land. rope is a matter of concern to its place as one of the top two over how that would work. Gulf Times 22 Sunday, April 30, 2017 EUROPE

Ukraine to reclaim Russians urge against $1.5bn ‘stolen’ Putin re-election bid from state AFP/Reuters AFP Moscow Kiev

olice detained over 100 ac- kraine on Friday launched tivists in Saint Petersburg a process to return some Pyesterday as hundreds of U$1.5bn in assets allegedly Russian opposition supporters stolen from the budget by the turned out to protest against deposed Russian-backed leader President Vladimir Putin’s ex- Viktor Yanukovych and his team. pected candidacy in elections The National Security and next year. Defence Council said the state Protests in several cities were savings bank had begun confi s- called by the Open Russia move- cating the old regime’s holdings ment founded by arch-Putin foe in line with an earlier court rul- and former oil magnate Mikhail ing. Khodorkovsky. Council chief Oleksandr They were held under the slo- Turchynov said the $1.5bn gan “We’re sick of him” – a ref- (€1.4bn) would be returned to erence to Putin. the state budget. About 200 people gathered in Ukrainian President Petro Po- central Saint Petersburg for an roshenko’s press service put the unauthorised demonstration, An opposition supporter argues with a Putin supporter during the exact amount at 40bn hryvnias an AFP journalist witnessed, protest in Moscow. – a fi gure that was worth about and OVD-Info, which monitors $5bn when Yanukovych was still detentions of political activists, sition leader Alexei Navalny or- briefl y hospitalised after an as- in power. said more than 110 protesters ganised the largest unauthorised sailant threw green dye in his “This money was stolen from were hauled away by riot police. rally of recent years in Moscow eye, causing a chemical burn the Ukrainian people,” Porosh- “Police offi cers ended the ac- on March 26. which he said had damaged his enko said in a public address. “It tions ... of 100 people who con- Police detained around 1,000 cornea. was pulled out of the pocket of tinued to trouble the public or- people, including Navalny. He had already been hit with every Ukrainian.” der,” the Saint Petersburg police Police off icers detain an activist during the protest in Saint Petersburg. Yesterday’s event, held in green dye in a similar attack last The fi nancial monitoring said, without confi rming if they bright sunshine, was more mod- month. service said in 2016 that the as- had been arrested. in the next elections,” said Anna Irina Glushkova, 64, standing Yermakov, handed out forms for est, though authorities were Khodorkovsky, the main fi g- sets belonging to Yanukovych “Putin is an usurper. He Bazarova, a 16-year-old student in the same line as the schoolgirl, people to fi ll out with complaints taking no chances. urehead of yesterday’s protests, and his cronies had been frozen has to fi nally go. We’re sick of queuing up to hand in her peti- said she and many others sim- to Putin. A Reuters reporter counted at remains a controversial fi gure in in Ukraine since the February him,” said one of the protesters, tion. ply didn’t agree with how Putin “Our president has already least 30 police buses and coach- Russia. 2014 pro-EU revolution. 35-year-old Anton Danilov. “Our main problem is that we governed. been in power 17 years. We think es in the area, packed with hun- The former oligarch and The Kremlin-backed leader- “Everything is bad. Educa- can’t change those in power,” “I’m sick of the situation,” she that’s too long. Our country isn’t dreds of riot police. founder of the Yukos oil compa- ship has been accused of pilfer- tion, health – everything has she said. “Nothing positive has said. “I’m the same age as Putin developing,” he said. Navalny has announced his ny spent a decade in prison and ing billions of dollars during a been destroyed. I want changes,” happened in our country on his and I don’t think I’m less intel- Putin has not tipped his hand plan to stand for president in now lives in Britain. four-year tenure that ended with said Galina Abramova, 57. watch and I have the sense that ligent than him, but my opinion on whether he will seek a fourth 2018 and has galvanised the His Open Russia movement a street revolt in which Ukraine A similarly sized protest in things are getting worse, and is not taken into account at all.” term as president in the election splintered opposition movement has been targeted by the author- allied itself with the West. Moscow remained peaceful as that the main problem is the Riot police stood guard as of- scheduled for March 2018. with a powerful online campaign ities recently with police raiding Switzerland also froze assets activists gathered at the offi ces fact that those in power are the fi cers used loudspeakers to warn But the 64-year-old former including videos exposing cor- its Moscow offi ces this week, linked to Yanukovych and 19 of Putin’s administration and same.” protesters: “Citizens, your ac- spy, who enjoys high popularity rupt offi cials. with the organisation saying members of his entourage. handed in petitions against his She added that many of her tion has not been agreed by the ratings, is widely expected to do He has called for another pro- that the offi cers seized equip- Ukraine’s acting chief pros- expected candidacy in 2018. friends had opted not to attend, authorities.” so. test on June 12. ment and about 100,000 fl yers ecutor in April 2014 accused “I don’t want Putin to stand fearing detention by the police. One of the organisers, Yakov The protests came after oppo- On Thursday, Navalny was for yesterday’s protests. Yanukovych’s inner circle of heading a criminal gang that had cost the former Soviet republic up to $100bn.

Customs staff find 24 dead in Kyrgyz €1.2mn in luggage

Off icials found €1.2mn ($1.3mn) in luggage at Dusseldorf Airport, village landslide the customs off ice said on Friday. Police are investigating whether the money is connected with AFP Hours later, a second land- after the landslide and said the drug trade, since most of the Bishkek slide hit a neighbouring village government would provide “all money was in small notes. yesterday afternoon, burying necessary assistance”. The notes were found in the three houses. “We profoundly understand luggage of two travellers who landslide engulfed part There were however no casu- that this is our shared tragedy,” were flying to Turkey. of a village in Kyrgyzstan alties, the ministry said. the prime minister said in com- The men, who both live in Ayesterday, killing at least In an emotional address ments issued by the govern- western Germany, have been 24 people, including nine chil- published on the presidential ment’s press service. released after questioning. dren, the emergencies ministry YouTube channel, Atambayev The emergencies ministry The men, aged 38 and 50, are said. pleaded with villagers to heed said its chief Boronov was in accused of transporting more The earth slip entombed the government warnings to leave charge of organising the evacu- than €10,000 into a non- inhabitants of six houses when their homes during extreme ation of 40 families living close European Union country. it hit the village of Ayu in the weather in this landslide-prone to the disaster zone and housing Sums of money over €10,000 Osh region of the mountainous country. them in tents, given the risk of that are transported outside the Central Asian country around “The biggest pain in all the further landslides. EU must be declared. 6.40am (0040 GMT), the trouble that has befallen us is District offi cial Alisher Baky- Failing to register the transport emergencies ministry said in a (the fact that) two or three days shev told local media that resi- A handout picture taken yesterday and provided by the Kyrgyz Red Crescent Society press service shows of more than €10,000 can be statement. ago our compatriots living there dents had been ordered to leave rescue workers and soldiers working at the site of a landslide in the village of Ayu in Kyrgyzstan’s Osh penalised with a fine of up to “All 24 citizens of Kyrgzys- did not listen to the specialists by the emergencies ministry in region. €1mn. tan, nine of them children, and refused to resettle,” said March due to the risk of land- died under the landslide in the Atambayev, who announced to- slides and 34 families had left south of the country,” ministry day as a day of national mourn- their homes – but some later spokeswoman Elmira Sheripova ing. returned. told AFP. “I appeal to my compatri- The landslide is the second More than 250 rescue workers ots. A person’s life, especially tragedy to strike the ex-Soviet Turkey blocks access to Wikipedia including medics and soldiers the life of a child, is much more country of 6mn people since the were at the scene. precious than any property, any beginning of the year. Emergencies Minister Kubat- livestock. You cannot put any In January a Turkish cargo AFP was detected from 0500 GMT af- Erdogan says opposition sided with ‘Nazi left overs’ bek Boronov fl ew to the site on sort of property above life!” the plane crashed into a village Istanbul ter an administrative order by the the orders of President Almaz- president said. close to the country’s main air- Turkish authorities, according Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the opposition bek Atambayev to take “all pos- He added: “I’m addressing all port, killing 39 people. to the Turkey Blocks monitoring yesterday as having sided with “Nazi leftovers in Europe”, in response sible measures to alleviate the my compatriots who don’t want Ninety-fi ve per cent of Kyr- urkey has blocked all ac- group, which follows Internet re- to complaints over the controversial referendum earlier this month on consequences of the landslide to leave dangerous zones: Fear gyzstan’s territory is mountain- cess inside the country to strictions in the country. expanding presidential powers. and give all necessary help to God! Listen to the experts and ous. Tthe online encyclopaedia Residents in Istanbul were un- Erdogan claimed victory in the referendum, which paves the way for him families of the dead”, accord- follow their advice.” A landslide in the country’s Wikipedia reportedly for articles able to access any pages of Wiki- to rejoin the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Tuesday and ing to a statement on the presi- Prime Minister Sooronbai south in 2004 caused the deaths claiming links between Ankara pedia yesterday morning without gain a series of new powers. dent’s website. Jeenbekov visited Ayu village of 33 people. and terror groups, the latest re- using a Virtual Private Network The election commission confirmed the “yes” camp won. striction on a popular website to (VPN), AFP correspondents said. The opposition, which claimed that checks and balances were being hit Turkish users. “The loss of availability is con- eroded, had filed legal appeals after the election commission allowed Turkey’s Information and sistent with Internet fi lters used unsealed ballots to be counted. Communication Technologies to censor content in the country,” European observers said this removed an important safeguard against Authority (BTK) said it had im- Turkey Blocks said. fraud in the tight race. Champs Elysees attacker’s father plemented the ban against Wiki- The BTK confi rmed the ban in “The fascist vein that they hid under the cover of populism has started to pedia.org, without making clear a statement but gave no details. emerge,” Erdogan said of the opposition. the reason for the move. “After technical analysis and arrested for ‘threatening’ police Turkish state media said the legal consideration based on the Turkey expels nearly 4,000 from civil service ban was imposed because Wiki- Law No. 5651, an administrative pedia had failed to remove con- measure has been taken for this Turkish authorities have expelled more than 3,900 people from the civil AFP running for cover days before The father was arrested on tent promoting terror and accus- website Wikipedia.org,” it said. service, military and gendarmerie, the government said in its Off icial Ga- Paris the fi rst round of France’s presi- Friday. ing Turkey of cooperation with Law 5651, passed in 2014 by zette yesterday, in what appears to be the latest large-scale purge related dential election. He was still in police custody various terror groups. parliament, bolstered the BTK’s to last year’s failed coup. The father, who was not yesterday. There was no indication as to control over the Internet and was The expelled included prison guards, clerks, academics, and employees he father of the gunman identifi ed, “came to the police The April 20 shooting, which when the ban might be removed, seen at the time by freedom of of the religious aff airs ministry, all of whom were suspected of links to who killed a police offi cer station (in Paris suburb Noisy- the Islamic State (IS) extrem- with a formal court order expect- expression activists as an erosion “terrorist organisations and structures presenting a threat to national Tin an attack on Paris’s le-Grand) drunk and threatened ist group claimed as the work ed to follow in the coming days. of online liberties. security”, the government said. Champs Elysees this month was police offi cers without weap- of one of its “fi ghters”, was the Reacting to the ban, Wikipe- The incident quickly spawned It is the second large-scale purge since the victory of an April 16 referen- arrested after turning up drunk ons and without violence”, the latest in a string of attacks that dia’s founder Jimmy Wales wrote its own separate Wikipedia entry dum giving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sweeping powers. at a police station and threaten- source told AFP. have claimed 239 lives around on Twitter: “Access to informa- – “Wikipedia blocked in Turkey”. ing offi cers, a source close to the He was also angry that of- France since 2015. tion is a fundamental human Quoting Turkey’s transport case said yesterday. fi cials in Noisy-le-Grand and The scenes of violence pro- right. Turkish people, I will al- and communications minis- show Turkey “on the same level had failed to remove the content His son, 39-year-old Karim nearby Chelles had refused per- pelled security back to the fore ways stand with you to fi ght for try, the state-run Anadolu news as and cooperating with” terror in question. Cheurfi , was killed in a fi refi ght mission for his son to be bur- in the presidential campaign this right.” agency said the ban was imposed groups. Should the content be re- with police that sent tourists on ied in those towns, the source after nine months of relative A block aff ecting all language because Wikipedia had failed to It said Turkey had kept in con- moved, the order would be lifted the world-famous boulevard added. calm. editions of the website in Turkey take down content purporting to tact with Wikipedia but the site and access restored, it said. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 23 INDIA ‘Fugitive’ Mallya giving $11mn UK mansion a makeover

Rupert Neate mansion in the sleepy Hertford- at the wrought iron gates before lionaire playboy - known for his said his arrest and appearance at for auction to pay his credi- Indian Prime Minister Naren- London shire village of Tewin, nearly the Guardian even had a chance beer company Kingfi sher’s take Westminster magistrates’ court tors. dra Modi has singled out Mallya, Welwyn, 36km north of London. to ring the bell. “You can’t come on the Pirelli calendar and for was “expected” before an ex- A sign with a picture of accused of fl eeing the country After the installation of three in,” he said. hosting celebrity parties on his tradition hearing. He denies the Mallya’s four dogs - golden owing about $1.4bn to banks and ijay Mallya, the multi- fountains in one of two garden Asked if it was possible to 311ft superyacht Indian Empress fraud allegations. retrievers Luna and Bella, and employees of his failed Kingfi sh- millionaire co-owner of pools and a four-car garage to speak to his boss, the guard - during the Monte Carlo grand His security guard refused to Bichon lapdogs Elsa and Daisy er Airlines, of ripping off India Vthe Force India Formula house a fraction of his collec- who was working with two col- prix - to alleged fugitive from answer any more questions as he - urges workmen to drive slow- and Indians. One team and self-proclaimed tion of 260 classic cars, the lawn leagues carrying binoculars and justice was completed earlier stood at the gates to the estate, ly through the three-house es- The landlord of the Rose & “King of the Good Times”, does should be the last step in the iPads showing live feeds of the this month when he was arrested which are fl anked by black posts tate. Crown on Tewin’s village green not appear to be preparing for two-year makeover of his Lady- security cameras - said only: by Scotland Yard on an extradi- embossed in gold with Mallya’s His neighbours know Mallya said he had not seen Mallya since his possible extradition to India walk estate on Queen Hoo Lane. “He might be in, he might not tion warrant. VJM initials. lives next door but they have not he and his considerable staff to face a fraud trial on allegations The property, previously be.” The police said Mallya, 61, was A Silver Maybach also bears met him and are a little wary of moved to the village but he had over Rs90bn ($1.4bn, £1bn) of owned by the father of F1 cham- Mallya was once known as arrested on behalf of the Indian the VJM initials on its number the media after the Indian press heard him. “I don’t know him, unpaid debts . pion Lewis Hamilton, bristles the “Branson of Bangalore” for authorities in relation to accusa- plate, and his private Airbus corps camped outside the gates I’ve never met him, but I have Landscape gardeners were last with so many CCTV cameras his business and sports empire tions of fraud. The tycoon dis- A319 jet had the initials paint- for days when it was revealed heard his helicopter fl ying over,” week laying a truckload of fresh that a security guard dressed which included beer, spirits and missed the furore surrounding ed in gold on the engines and last year that the businessman he said. - Guardian News and turf in the grounds of his $11mn head-to-toe in black appeared an airline. But his fall from a bil- his arrest as “media hype” and wingtips until it was put up was holed up there. Media Haryana probe BJP chief arrives in Jammu panel ‘political vendetta,’ says the Congress

IANS report, said Vadra made an “il- New Delhi legal profi t” of over Rs500mn from a 2008 land deal without investing a penny. he Congress yesterday It said the committee had termed as “political probed transactions between Tvendetta” the Dhingra Onkareshwar Properties and Commission set up by Hary- Skylight and subsequently be- ana’s Bharatiya Janata Party tween Skylight and developer government to probe some DLF. land deals in the state includ- Vadra meanwhile said that ing those of a company of party “truth shall prevail.” President Sonia Gandhi’s son- “Truth shall prevail,” Vadra Bharatiya Janata Party workers and photographers mob party president Amit Shah in Jammu yesterday. Beginning his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Shah first held in-law Robert Vadra. wrote on his Facebook page, a meeting with district presidents of the party where the poll strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was discussed. He advised party leaders and ministers in Kashmir to It also noted that the party attaching a news report head- reach out to people, especially in the Kashmir Valley, in order to address issues in the wake of the prolonged unrest in the state. had during its long stint in lined “No Plot was transferred power never harassed the fi n- by Omkareshwar to Skylight.” anciers of its political oppo- This was Vadra’s fi rst reac- nents including the BJP. tion. “Whatever Commission it On Wednesday Vadra’s is, this is political vendetta of wife, Priyanka Gandhi said in the worst order,” senior Con- a statement that agricultural gress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad land bought by her in Harya- said here. na’s Faridabad district or other “The Congress party ruled property acquired by her had for decades. And we knew the no links to fi nances of her hus- Made mistakes, will business houses that were band, his Skylight Hospitality funding the BJP. But a Con- or reality major DLF. gress government right from On Friday, the BJP alleged the time of (prime minis- that the grand old party was ter) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, looting India. never harassed or raided those “Probably, the Gandhi fam- who were funding the BJP,” he ily considers the whole of this added. country as their property and introspect: Kejriwal The one-man Justice S N Dh- were trying to loot this coun- ingra Commission of Inquiry, try. That’s the reason as to Delhi chief minister makes owe that to ourselves,” he said. of other issues related to AAP’s storm back to power in Delhi as- spect for Annaji. Can never say set up by the Manohar Lal Khat- why they have lost the political rare admission of failure The AAP leader said action functioning. sembly elections in 2015 when it such things against him...,” tar government in May 2015, land,” BJP spokesperson Sam- was needed to be taken and “not After failing to perform as ex- humbled the BJP, winning 67 of Sisodia said. submitted its 182-page report bit Patra said. Agencies excuses”. pected in the Punjab and Goa as- the 70 seats. In another tweet he said: “My ac- on August 31 last year. “We have seen the case of New Delhi “It’s time to get back to work. sembly elections, the AAP faced However, the BJP’s Delhi pres- count hacked. Someone retweeting The Congress, which on Fri- Skylight hospitality, a com- And even if we slip from time to a humiliating drubbing in the ident Manoj Tiwari described it anti-Anna Hazare messages from day too called it a “vendetta”, pany of Robert Vadra which time, the key is to fi nd the re- municipal elections in its own as “a new drama.” account. Trying to delete them, not also termed it “null and void” had been amassed through hree days after the Aam serves to hold and pull ourselves backyard, just over two years af- “Kejriwal had done it earlier even getting deleted.” as Vadra and former Haryana wrong land deals in Haryana. Aadmi Party’s defeat in up. The people deserve nothing ter winning a brute majority in also,” Tiwari said referring to his Hazare had earlier blamed chief minister Bhupinder Singh The case is also going on. Now TDelhi’s municipal elec- less. The only thing constant is Delhi assembly elections. stepping down in 2014. his former protege Kejriwal’s Hooda had not received any no- we have to come to know about tions, Chief Minister Arvind change.” The loss had raised questions He said people will under- quest for power being behind the tices from the Commission. land deals of Priyanka Gandhi. Kejriwal yesterday accepted that The Bharatiya Janata Party on over Kejriwal’s style of confron- stand his tendency of “changing AAP’s debacle in the civic polls. The commission was asked She had also been profi ting he has made “mistakes” and said Wednesday swept all three mu- tational politics, often taking on colours like a chameleon”. “People gave him a mandate to probe alleged irregulari- from land deals,” he added. the party will introspect and nicipal corporations of Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy and he got an opportunity to ties in grant of licences by the Earlier, BJP leader Subrama- “course correct”. winning 181 of the 270 seats. The and blaming the BJP-led gov- Chief Minister Manish Sisodia turn Delhi into a model state for Hooda-led Congress govern- nian Swamy took a dig at the “In the last two days, I spoke AAP got 48 and the Congress 30. ernment of creating hurdles for denied endorsing tweets which the entire country to replicate. ment for development of col- Congress over their allegation to many volunteers and voters. It was a rare admission of fail- the AAP government. called social activist Anna Haz- But power is bad. Once you sit in onies, housing societies and that the BJP leaked the Com- The reality is obvious. Yes, we ure by the activist-turned-pol- His admission of mistakes is are a “fraud” and said his twitter the chair, you lose your power of commercial complexes in four mission report. made mistakes but we will intro- itician who had blamed “tam- seen as an attempt to reconnect account was hacked. thinking,” Hazare had said. Guragon villages. Vadra’s Sky- “There is nothing crimi- spect and course correct,” Kejri- pered EVMs” for the poor show with the voters in a manner he Sisodia reportedly re-tweeted Hazare had also rejected Ke- light Hospitality is among the nal as it is a public matter. So, wal tweeted. in the polls. had successfully done after his a few tweets which described jriwal’s charge about tamper- fi rms under the scanner. therefore the Congress party “Time to go back to the It also came a day after one of fi rst stint in 2014. Then he had Hazare as a “BJP agent” and ing with EVMs and said that in The Economic Times, cit- must be feeling guilty, other- drawing board. To not evolve his party leaders, Kumar Vish- apoligised to the people for quit- “fraud”. reality the gap between the AAP ing unnamed people familiar wise they would have demand- would be silly. We owe that to was, challenged the party’s of- ting over the Jan Lokpal Bill, a “Please don’t believe them leaders’ words and deeds eroded with the Dhingra Commission ed to make the report public.” the voters and volunteers. We fi cial line besides raising a host strategy which saw his party (tweets). I have the greatest re- public faith in the party. Thousands throng ‘visa Divers search for 10 after drowning tragedies temple’ to crack US curbs AFP In West Bengal, scores of New Delhi divers and speed boats were try- ing to fi nd the bodies of eight AFP immigrants but Trump’s push to worshippers must return to people in Hoogly river after doz- Hyderabad make the permits available only make 108 rounds of the sanc- mergency workers were ens of passengers were swept to the most-skilled or highest- tum. searching for the bodies of away following the collapse of a paid applicants has many wor- Chief priest Ranga Ra- Eat least 10 people in India jetty on Wednesday. undreds of people gather ried. jan said devotees come from yesterday who went missing in Eleven bodies were retrieved daily at a 500-year-old Software engineer Shreekanth across the country in pursuit two separate drowning incidents from the river on Friday as anxious HHindu temple in south- Angirekula was among the for- of visas. that left 27 others dead, police relatives and villagers continued ern India where they pray for tunate ones, having recently “Same passport, same said. to gather at the banks of the river. a single wish - an increasingly secured a US visa after repeated documents, same embas- The bodies of two children Three bodies were found on elusive US visa. rejections. sy and same applicant, but were among the missing after a Wednesday. The bamboo jetty The Chilkur Balaji temple “It’s a miracle. I couldn’t get their visas were rejected be- dinghy capsized late Friday in was used by hundreds of pas- on the outskirts of Hyderabad, a visa for the last two years but fore coming to the temple,” a small village lake in Andhra sengers daily to take boats to the has long been a one-stop so- after visiting the temple every- Rajan said. Pradesh leaving 13 people dead. other side of the river. lution for prospective Indian thing went off smoothly,” An- The temple’s supposedly Six among the dead were chil- “We hope to fi nd the bodies immigrants seeking US visas, girekula, 33, said. magical powers gained repute in dren, police said. soon,” Udip Das, a police offi cer earning it the sobriquet of ‘visa More than 100,000 devo- the 1980s after a group of engi- Police said the boat sank due overlooking the operation said. temple’. tees visit the temple every neers visited the temple to pray to overcrowding when 17 pas- Four operators of the boat But temple offi cials say the week, for visas and other rea- for visas. sengers hired the dinghy for a joy service and the jetty have been place has seen an increase in sons. They were all granted their ride after attending a function in arrested on charges of criminally visitors since the election of US They proffer their passports wish, and soon, hordes of aspir- the Anantapur district. negligent manslaughter, he said. President Donald Trump, who and a flower before the deity ants followed in their wake. More than ten bodies were Over the years the country this month signed an order seek- as they circumambulate the “I have applied for the visa fi shed out from the lake, state has reported one of the high- ing to reform the “H-1B” work inner sanctum of the temple for (my) studies and I hope Health Minister Kamineni Srini- est drowning deaths rates in the visa system. 11 times while chanting Hindu Balaji will make it happen,” Angirekula Sreekanth poses for a photograph with a copy of his vas told reporters. world, with nearly 30,000 peo- The “H-1B” visas are highly hymns. student Raja Shekhar Reddy US visa and those of his relatives at the Chilkur Balaji Temple in Two girls were rescued by lo- ple drowning in 2014, according sought after by aspiring Indian Once the wish is granted, said. Rangareddy district, some 30km from Hyderabad, yesterday. cals, police said. to the latest offi cial fi gures. Gulf Times 24 Sunday, April 30, 2017 INDIA

BUSINESS EDUCATION CRIME TRAGEDY AWARD Walmart to open 50 Chakmas urge Mizoram Alleged criminal shot Cheated by boyfriend, Top Japanese honour new stores in India CM to stop discrimination dead outside court teen girl commits suicide ex-minister Ashwani

Global retail giant Walmart will set up 50 new The All India Chakma Social Forum (AICSF) An alleged criminal was shot dead outside A teenaged girl committed suicide in West Bengal’s Japan has named former federal minister stores across India over the next four years, yesterday alleged there was racial discrimination a court in Rohini, New Delhi yesterday while Nadia district after her boyfriend allegedly Ashwani Kumar for its prestigious ‘Order of a top company off icial said yesterday. The against their community in higher education being brought for a hearing, police said. cheated on her and was marrying someone else, the Rising Sun’ award for his contribution to new stores would include 10 in Telangana, for policies in Mizoram, and urged Chief Minister “Rajesh has been shot dead outside Rohini police said yesterday. “Jasmine Khatoon, a class 11 fostering Japan-India ties, an official statement which the US retailer signed a Memorandum Lal Thanhawla to address the issue. The AICSF Court Complex. The shooter, 19-year-old Mohit student from Nadia district’s Hanskhali, allegedly said yesterday. Kumar has been selected of Understanding (MoU) with the state said the Mizoram government has amended is a resident of Jhajjar district in Haryana,” committed suicide by hanging herself on hearing for the Grand Cordon of the Order of the government. The company will invest $10 to laws which reserve 100% of the higher technical Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rishi that her boyfriend Pisa Mondal was on his way to Rising Sun, which is the highest category of $12mn in each store, which will create direct and education seats in the state for Zo-ethnic (Mizo) Pal said. The incident occurred while Rajesh marry another girl on Sunday evening,” a police decoration, in recognition of distinguished indirect employment for 2,000 people. Walmart people. AICSF secretary general Paritosh Chakma, was being brought by the Haryana police to off icer said. “Police have arrested Mondal on accomplishments of individuals. Ratan Tata currently has 21 stores in India, including one in who has been fighting racial discrimination the district court. At around 11.30am, Mohit the charges of abetment of suicide,” the off icer was also conferred the decoration in the past, Hyderabad. Walmart executives and Telangana against the community for years, said several attacked Rajesh with a gun and he died on the said. Khatoon, who was in a relationship with a statement from the Japanese embassy said. government off icials signed the MoU in the other non-Zo communities – Kuki, Mara, Man, spot, the police said. The police have arrested Mondal for a long time, was recently depressed Kumar served as Special Envoy of then prime presence of state Industries Minister K T Rama Mikri, Nagas and Synteng tribes were also facing Mohit. Rajesh, 38, was arrested in a murder over the relationship, the police said. “The family minister Manmohan Singh to Japan during Rao, president and CEO of Walmart Canada and similar discrimination in Mizoram. The AICSF case in December 2016 and was in judicial members of the victim stopped the marriage the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan Asia, Dirk Van den Berghe and president and urged the Mizoram government to repeal the custody in a Haryana jail. He was facing trial in procession and caught the accused. He was later to India in December 2013, and contributed CEO Walmart India, Krish Iyer. racist acts like Mizoram Amendment Rules 2016. 16 different cases in Haryana and Delhi. handed over to the police,” the off icer added. significantly to the success of the visit.

Tribal festival Trinamool leaders in Key suspect Tripura ‘not joining BJP’ in Jaya estate IANS Agartala

ays after Trinamool Con- gress supremo Mamata DBanerjee hinted that murder dies some Tripura party leaders went to New Delhi to meet central Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, a Trinamool legislator yesterday declared that they would not join the saff ron party but were instead keen to build an “anti- in accident Left maha jot” or grand alliance to oust the ruling Left in Tripura. Kodanad Estate mystery district earlier this week. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam “We would not join BJP. We deepens; another suspect According to the police, a (AIADMK) suff ered a major set- are seriously keen to build an critically wounded group of unidentifi ed men fa- back on Friday as the camp led by “anti-Left maha jot” to oust the tally attacked security guard Panneerselvam said its cadres do ruling Left Front in Tripura in Agencies Om Bahadur, and injured Krish- not want a merger with the one next year’s assembly elections,” Chennai na Bahadur, who tried to stop led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Trinamool Congress (TMC) them. Palaniswami. leader Sudip Roy Barman said. The police were on the lookout S Semmalai, a senior leader Addressing the party workers n a curious twist, two men for Kanakaraj and Syan, suspect- from the Panneerselvam-led and leaders, Barman said the BJP suspected of involvement in ing them of involvement in the AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi on its own has no capability to Ithe killing of a security guard attack. Amma) camp who held a meet- win a single seat in Tripura. at late Tamil Nadu chief minister Tamil Nadu Congress presi- ing with the party’s offi ce-bear- Barman’s announcement came J Jayalalithaa’s Kodanad Estate dent S Thirunavukkarasar has ers in Salem district, told report- amidst reports of many leaders met with separate road acci- demanded a probe by the Cen- ers: “Cadres wish that we should and workers of parties, including dents, killing one of them, police tral Bureau of Investigation not join hands with the Palan- the Trinamool, joining the BJP said. (CBI) in the security guard’s iswami faction.” during the past several months. The main suspect Kanaka- murder. He insisted that merger talks Former president of TMC’s raj, employed as a driver in Ko- Earlier, former chief minis- could begin only after their de- Tripura unit Surajit Datta, and danad Estate, died of injuries in ter O Panneerselvam said the mands – a formal ouster of V K the party’s Tripura unit co-or- Salem on Friday night, the po- guard’s murder has made peo- Sasikala, her nephew T T V Di- dination committee chairman lice said, adding the other man, ple fear about the law and order nakaran and other family mem- Ratan Chakraborty and 15 other Sayan, was in a critical condi- situation in Tamil Nadu. bers from the party and a CBI state committee members joined tion. Kanakaraj, who was riding a Citing reports about the probe into the death of Jayala- the BJP last month. scooter, was hit by a car. He was gang fleeing with property lithaa – are met. Datta, a fi ve-time Congress taken to hospital where he died documents worth millions of Though the Panneerselvam legislator, and Chakraborty, on Friday night. rupees from the Kodanad Es- camp has said that these are its who was a minister in the Con- The accident took place on tate, Panneerselvam said the only demands, the chief minis- gress government (1988-1993), the Salem-Ulundurpet Na- state government has to clarify ter’s post remains a bone of con- joined the TMC many years ago tional Highway a little after the reasons behind Bahadur’s tention. and shaped the party in the Left- 8.30pm. murder. Semmalai indicated it was. ruled state. The car driver is being ques- The police suspect that the “Only Panneerselvam can pro- Mamata Banerjee last week in- tioned. interior designer of the bun- vide good governance to the dicated that Barman and other Kanakaraj had worked at Jay- galow could be behind the people of Tamil Nadu.” party legislators of Tripura went to alalithaa’s Poes Garden resi- robbery as he had complete On Wednesday, Rajya Sabha Delhi to meet central BJP leaders. dence in Chennai and later at the knowledge about the building. MP R Vaithilingam from the Barman however denied Ban- Kodanad Estate. There are also reports that the Palaniswami camp had said erjee’s remarks and said that they K V Sayan alias Syam was interior designer has fled the that the talks between two fac- went to Delhi to meet Prime Min- travelling with his family when country. tions would begin in a day or ister Narendra Modi to brief him their car hit a truck between The sprawling estate of 900 two. about certain issues of Tripura, Palakkad and Thrissur in Kerala acres used to be Jayalalithaa’s Meanwhile, Dinakaran was including chit fund-related mat- around 5.30am yesterday. retreat. She also often worked questioned for a second day ters. Modi, however, did not meet He is in a critical condition. from there. Jayalalithaa died in Chennai by the Delhi Crime the TMC leaders and legislators. However, his wife and fi ve-year- on December 5 last year after Branch police. “All the senior leaders and old daughter died in the acci- spending almost three months He was arrested on Tuesday MLAs of Tripura have attended dent. at the Apollo Hospitals in night in Delhi for an alleged at- the April 21 party conference in Armed with traditional weapons, a group of tribal women sets out to hunt wild animals The death of Kanakaraj has Chennai. tempt to bribe Election Com- Kolkata where Banerjee was re- and birds during ‘Sendra’ – a traditional tribal festival celebrated all over Jharkhand, in deepened the mystery over the In other developments, the mission offi cials to get the AI- elected Trinamool chairperson Ranchi yesterday. murder of the security guard ongoing eff orts to merge the ri- ADMK’s “two leaves” symbol for for six years,” he said. at Kodanad Estate in Nilgiris val factions of the All India Anna his faction. Vijayan yet to reinstate Cop arrested for FB Senkumar as police chief comment on MLA IANS lice Mukesh Sahay said the law Guwahati will take its own course. IANS May last year was “arbitrary”. them were yesterday forcefully “Whenever someone violates Kochi Vijayan, who is also the home taken by police to hospital after the service rules, the law will minister and is known to be a their health deteriorated. n Assam police offi cer take its course,” he said adding tough customer, was given a Though they have been on a was arrested yesterday that there will be departmental ive days after the Supreme report from Law Secretary P G protest since last Sunday, they Afor making an objection- action against him. Court ordered the Kerala Harindranath, who has recom- went on an indefi nite hunger strike able comment on social media Bora, however, stood by his Fgovernment to reinstate T mended that Senkumar be ap- two day ago and have been sub- against a woman legislator of the charges and claimed that he has P Senkumar as the state police pointed without further delay. jected to frequent medical check- ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, of- got enough evidence to prove chief, Chief Minister Pinarayi But the chief minister is learnt ups since then. Yesterday, the po- fi cials said. them. Vijayan is yet to take action and to have sought fresh legal advice lice took them to the hospital. Deputy Superintendent of BJP general secretary Dilip is reported to have sought fresh from other experts. The two women are leaders of Police Anjan Bora was arrested Saikia said Bora’s “remark has legal advice from experts. The government removed the ‘Pembulai Orumayi’ (Wom- following departmental and damaged the party’s image. Senkumar told reporters in Senkumar in 2016 after a public en’s Collective) and have got criminal proceedings against Therefore, we want the state the state capital yesterday that outcry over the alleged mishan- support from the Congress-led him. The state unit of the BJP government to probe the mat- he was not unduly worried as his dling of a temple fi re tragedy United Democratic Front and the had also lodged a case against ter seriously and act prompt- lawyer will take “appropriate ac- and a murder case, which the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose him. ly.” tion at the appropriate time”. Supreme Court negated and or- top leaders came and expressed Bora had a few days back post- Demanding immediate ac- He declined to confi rm reports dered for his reinstatement. solidarity for the protest. ed on Facebook that one of BJP’s tion, BJP spokesperson Aparajita that his lawyer would tell the top Senkumar is to retire on June After the two women were woman legislators had been run- Bhuyan said: “It’s highly con- court tomorrow that the state 30. Kaleesheweran Raj, a legal taken to hospital, their replace- ning a prostitution racket from demnable to malign the image of government has not acted. Vijay- expert, told reporters that the ments have decided to continue her offi ce chamber in the Assam a woman. We want the state po- an, who arrived in Kochi yesterday state government was inviting the protest and are determined Secretariat in Dispur. Although lice to act swiftly on the matter to take part in a party meeting, trouble by delaying implement- that they will not call it off till Bora did not name anyone, in his and punish the culprit.” ducked media queries on the delay ing the court’s order. their demands are met. post, he made it clear who he was This is not the fi rst time that in Senkumar’s reinstatement. In other developments, two Senior Congress leader Lathi- referring to. Bora has got embroiled in con- On Monday, the Supreme women plantation workers on an ka Subhash, who has been in He was produced in the court troversy over a social media post. Court ordered the Kerala gov- indefi nite hunger strike demand- Munnar since the protest began, of the Chief Judicial Magistrate In a similar incident last year, he ernment to restore Senkumar ing an apology and the resignation said there were more policemen in Kamrup yesterday, who re- had posted hate speech on his as the director general of police of state Power Minister M M. Mani than women who had come to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anjan Bora comes out of leased him on bail. Facebook wall, leading to his after noting that his removal in for his disparaging remarks against take them away. CID headquarters in Guwahati yesterday. Assam Director General of Po- suspension. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 25 LATIN AMERICA Mexican lawmakers OK marijuana for medicinal purposes

AFP of marijuana for scientifi c re- statement. The Senate approved The bill fell short of demands for the use, import and produc- became a symbol of the push to prescription. In a separate ma- Mexico City search, as well as production and the bill by a wide margin in De- from some lawmakers and civil tion of pharmaceutical products legalise medical marijuana last jor case in November 2015, the distribution of pot for those two cember. groups that argue that a wider made from cannabis or mari- year when the parents of a young Supreme Court authorised four stated purposes. With Friday’s vote, Mexico will legalisation of marijuana use juana, including tetrahydrocan- epileptic girl won a court battle to people to grow and smoke pot exican lawmakers gave The vote in the Chamber of join several US states and other could help the country reduce nabinol (THC), the plant’s main import a cannabis-based treat- for recreational purposes. fi nal and overwhelming Deputies was 371 in favour and nations in Latin America that al- drug-related violence. psychoactive ingredient. ment to stop her daily seizures. Although Pena Nieto is opposed Mapproval on Friday to a seven against with 11 abstentions. low cannabis for medical uses. But proponents said it was Products with 1% concentra- The girl’s father, Raul Elizalde, to a broader legalisation of mari- bill legalising medical marijuana The bill will now go to Presi- Pena Nieto proposed legalis- a major step that will address tion of THC will be allowed. told AFP then that the legislation juana, he has proposed increasing after a national debate on nar- dent Enrique Pena Nieto for his ing medical marijuana in a ma- Mexicans’ need of an alternative Growing marijuana for medi- represented “great progress,” the amount of the drug that can cotics policy in a country mired signature and then publication jor policy shift in April after his medical treatment. cal and scientifi c purposes will but that it should make it easier legally be possessed for personal in brutal drug violence. in the offi cial government ga- government organised forums to The bill authorises the Health not be punishable. for patients to acquire THC by consumption to 28 grams (one The legislation also allows use zette, the lower house said in a discuss changes to the laws. Ministry to design regulations A family in northern Mexico letting them buy it without a ounce) from fi ve grams. Brazil general strike brings major cities to standstill

DPA Sao Paulo’s airports, includ- “We didn’t have a strike. Rio de Janeiro ing the largest airport in South What we had was generalised America, Guarulhos, all re- confusion,” he told Jovem Pan mained in operation despite an- Radio on Friday. “It’s not a na- ajor cities in Brazil were nouncements of work stoppag- tional strike because commerce Sanitation workers clean the street where the night before buses were set on fire by protesters during the nationwide strike called by unions paralysed on Friday by a es, although they were subject is working, industries are work- opposing austerity reforms in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. Mnationwide strike con- to restrictions due to roadblocks. ing.” vened against President Michel In Rio de Janeiro, protesters Vagner Freitas, the president Temer’s government reform clashed with police in afternoon of the Central Workers Union, programme. protests in the city centre. had said before the strike that The strikes aff ected all 26 Bra- Earlier in the day, groups of unions were “very excited” to zilian states, according to me- striking workers brawled with take to the streets a day after the dia reports, with Sao Paulo, the those on the job as they at- Chamber of Deputies approved After protests, authorities labour reforms which will reduce country’s economic heart, par- tempted to block Santos Dumont ticularly badly aff ected. Airport. labour costs, increase working Ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula The country’s capital Bra- hours and diminish the power of da Silva (2003-2010), a former silia was also left without pub- trade unions. union leader, called the strike a lic transport and demonstrators “This puts more fi re into the clean up littered streets strike,” Freitas said. “total success.” there also turned to fi res and “People decided to strike in barricades to block streets which The labour reforms must still AFP In Rio de Janeiro, city work- A fi re broke out in the munici- Latin America’s biggest economy protest against the removal of remained deserted for most of be approved by the country’s Rio de Janeiro ers yesterday towed away the pal theatre in the early morning after more than two years of deep rights, against labour reforms, the day. Senate. charred skeletons of eight buses and was extinguished. recession. As of Friday afternoon, pension reforms, unemploy- Protests and shutdowns of The last general strike in Bra- that had been torched, and swept The demonstrators oppose 21 people had been detained in ment and pay cuts,” Lula said to public transportation aff ected zil took place in 1996, during the razilian authorities were up garbage and broken glass lit- austerity-linked reforms to raise Sao Paulo. Brasil Atual radio. cities throughout the country, government of Fernando Hen- working yesterday to clear tering the streets. the minimum retirement age and In the midst of the Sao Paulo Hundreds of workers and trade including Salvador and Natal in rique Cardoso, as a protest over Baway the remains of bar- Around Cinelandia, a central make work contracts more fl ex- clashes, Miguel Leme, a 47-year- unionists blocked main arteries the northeast, Belo Horizonte in high unemployment and low ricades, burned-out buses and plaza where the local assembly ible. In Sao Paulo, the country’s old teacher, said protesters want- and eff ectively shut down Sao the southeast, Porto Alegre in the wages. trash strewn about the streets and a municipal theatre are situ- economic capital, thousands of ed to make clear that the pro- Paulo’s public transit network for south and Manaus in the north. Brazil is currently struggling during a general strike the previ- ated, the scene resembled a war people marched to the residence posed reforms amounted to an a period of hours on Friday. The general strike was the with a serious economic crisis ous day that saw violent clashes zone. of President Michel Temer. “attack that in practice prevents The metropolis of 12mn peo- country’s fi rst in 21 years and amid two years of recession. between protesters and police. “It was terrible. The tear gas Police used tear gas and stun a worker from having the right to ple spent the morning without targeted the pension system Since coming to power in The demonstrations shut came into my apartment. The grenades when protesters tried retire.” buses, metro or trains, although and labour reforms planned by 2016, Temer has pushed a tough down transportation, schools destruction is absurd. The strike to push through a protective cor- Brazil’s G1 news website tallied transport slowly returned to the conservative government of program of cuts and reforms to and shops, with small groups is supposed to improve people’s don. various police reports showing normal in the afternoon. President Michel Temer. try to revive the economy. smashing bank windows, hurling lives, but we will all pay for it,” Temer monitored the protests that a total of 97,000 people had Protesters set fi re to tyres to Despite the widespread nature The South American coun- rocks and setting fi res. Laura Resende, a neighbour who from his home in Brasilia. taken part in the protests. block roads leading to the city, of the strikes, Justice Minister try expects to exit recession this Police responded with rubber works in a medical laboratory, His centre-right government But strike organisers put the which is also the centre of the Osmar Serraglio dismissed the year, with GDP growth of at least bullets and teargas. said. insists reforms are needed to save number at 1.3mn. Brazilian trade union movement. industrial action as a “failure.” 0.2%.

Indigenous tribes protest against land theft

AFP long camp outside the govern- Although most of the world since 2003 reaches above 890. Brasilia ment complex. “I have never sees the region as one of the To their chagrin, the offi cial seen such a conservative Con- planet’s greatest natural won- ultimately responsible for pro- gress as the one there is today.” ders, the powerful Brazilian tecting vulnerable indigenous ed up with endless en- The clash provided surreal agricultural industry values the groups in the country’s con- croachment on their an- scenes of men in traditional sparsely populated lands main- servative government, Justice Fcestral lands, leaders of headdresses with bows and ar- ly for logging and converting to Minister Osmar Serraglio, be- Brazil’s many indigenous tribes rows facing off against black- farmland for soy and cattle. longs to Brasilia’s infl uential went to the capital Brasilia to clad riot police. The government is commit- pro-agriculture political wing. speak out this week. Those who were there say ted to protecting those lands - He recently outraged indig- But they had trouble fi nding the contrast refl ected the per- in theory. enous activists by saying that anyone to listen. manent disconnect between But the fact that many of the land is not the main issue in Police in riot gear fire teargas at protesters blocking the road before the long-distance bus terminal More than 3,000 tribal mem- Brazil’s state and the descend- borders are not offi cially de- dispute. during the nationwide strike called by unions opposing austerity reforms in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. bers massed on the esplanade ants of the country’s original marcated eff ectively deprives “Land doesn’t fi ll anyone’s outside the government com- inhabitants. the tribal members of legal stomach,” he said. “We’re going plex in Brasilia for the 14th an- Nearly 900,000 indigenous rights. to give them good living condi- nual “Free lands” event. tribe members currently live The result is constant pres- tions, but we’re going to stop But their freedom had limits: in Brazil, or 0.4% of the entire sure on the indigenous peoples this talking about land.” when they tried to approach population, divided into 305 and frequent clashes. Adriana Ramos of the civil Congress on Tuesday, they ethnic groups. At least 137 tribal people were society group Social Environ- Venezuela begins were pushed back in clouds of The statistic that matters murdered in 2015, according mental Institute says his words tear gas. most, however, is the 12% of to the Indigenous Missionary betray ignorance of indigenous “They’re prejudiced,” said Brazil their recognised lands Council, run by the Catholic people’s true value to Brazil as Alvaro Tucano, one of the tribal cover, much of it in the Ama- Church. well as their longing to inhabit members taking part in a week- zon. The number of those killed their own lands. formal exit from OAS

DPA meeting with OAS Secretary- Some 32 people have been Washington/Caracas General Luis Almagro to formal- killed, 500 injured and 1,200 ar- ly begin the exit process. rested in three weeks of protests Judge releases ex-magnate Batista Almagro is a staunch critic of against Maduro’s government, enezuela took a fi rst, un- Maduro who had in March moved which the opposition and in- precedented step toward to suspend Venezuela from the ternational community accuse AFP ta’s alleged crimes were se- a new landmark in a series of collar crime suspects, Batista Vleaving the Organisation group until it agreed to elections of authoritarianism and human Rio de Janeiro rious, they did not warrant sprawling but interconnected dropped out of university. of American States (OAS) on Fri- and released political prisoners. rights violations. custody during legal proceed- corruption scandals enveloping He therefore was unable to day, amid mounting diplomatic “Exiting the OAS is not the Venezuela will be the fi rst ings. much of Brazil’s elite. benefi t from a law that puts pressure on President Nicolas solution - [the solution] is the member to leave the 35-coun- allen tycoon Eike Batis- The 60-year-old former oil He was incarcerated on Janu- higher education graduates in Maduro. redemocratisation of the coun- try pan-American organisation ta, who rose to become and mining magnate is alleged ary 30 after giving himself up to better conditions. Venezuela’s ambassador to try,” Almagro said on Twitter since its creation in 1948. FBrazil’s wealthiest man to have paid a $16.5mn bribe authorities. A former speedboat racer the Washington-based regional following the meeting. In the history of the group, before surrendering to face to ex-Rio de Janeiro state gov- He was sent fi rst to the Ary who reached seventh place on body, Carmen Luisa Velasquez, Foreign Minister Delcy Ro- only one country, Cuba, has vol- corruption charges, may be re- ernor Sergio Cabral, already Franco prison in Rio, which Forbes magazine’s rich list in delivered an offi cial letter begin- driguez on Wednesday an- untarily stayed out of the OAS. leased from prison while await- behind bars for allegedly tak- like many in Brazil is seriously 2012, Batista was said to be ning the process of withdrawal, nounced Venezuela would leave The communist island nation ing his trial. ing bribes over World Cup overcrowded, before transfer- worth $30bn in 2011. which will take 24 months ac- the OAS after the group called was expelled from the OAS in 1962 Brazilian Supreme Court and Olympics infrastructure ring to the much bigger Bangu His fortune largely evaporat- cording to organisation rules. a meeting of member nations’ because it joined the Soviet bloc. Justice Gilmar Mendes ruled projects. complex. ed when his oil company OGX “Today Venezuela is more foreign ministers to discuss the The exclusion was lifted in on Friday that though Batis- His downfall represented Unlike many other white collapsed in 2013. free,” Velasquez said after a brief crisis unfolding there. 2009, but Cuba has yet to rejoin. Gulf Times 26 Sunday, April 30, 2017 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Pakistan PM fi res adviser over leak

Reuters The prime minister’s of- was “planted” and termed it a Karachi fice said Sharif had “approved “breach of national security.” the recommendations” from The Dawn newspaper has the report into the leak, which stood by the author. akistan’s Prime Minister included the removal of Syed Dawn journalists could not be Nawaz Sharif yesterday Tariq Fatemi, Sharif’s special reached for comment. Psacked one of his special assistant on foreign affairs, Quoting anonymous sourc- advisers and sanctioned another from his post. es, the Dawn article said civil- bureaucrat after an inquiry into Sharif’s offi ce, in a statement, ian government officials called a newspaper leak, but the coun- added Rao Tehsin Ali, principal for the military not to interfere try’s powerful army rejected information offi cer at the in- if civilian authorities tried to Sharif’s directive as “incom- formation ministry, will also be arrest members of anti-India Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar speaks to supporters in Laghman province, Afghanistan, yesterday. plete”. sanctioned on the basis of the militant groups such as Jaish- The report’s fi ndings and rec- report, which has not yet been e-Mohamed and Lashkar-e- ommendations threaten to reo- published. Taiba. pen a rift between the army and The Dawn newspaper, its edi- Westerns powers and India the civilian government at a time tor Zafar Abbas and article au- have criticised Pakistan over its when relations between the two thor, Cyril Almeida, have been links with home-grown militant groups which carry out attacks Hekmatyar calls for peace have been relatively stable. referred to the All Pakistan An article published in the Newspaper Society for “neces- in neighbouring India, though English-language Dawn news- sary disciplinary action”. But the Islamabad denies supporting paper in October, detailing high- army swiftly rejected Sharif’s them. level security talks, had angered directive. Relations between the civilian government and military have in fi rst public speech the army and led to the fi ring of “Notifi cation on Dawn Leak is then-Information Minister Per- incomplete and not in line with often been strained in a country vaiz Rashid, who was a Sharif recommendations by the Inquiry where several prime ministers, Reuters istan,” he said. said in a statement. accused of ordering his fi ghters ally. Board. Notifi cation is rejected.,” including Sharif himself, have Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan In February the United Na- The deal has been criticised to bombard Kabul, leading to The military’s tough re- the military’s spokesman, Ma- been ousted in coups. tions Security Council agreed by some Afghans and human many casualties, besides other sponse, which included asking jor General Asif Ghafoor, said on The appointment of Gen- to drop sanctions against Hek- rights groups for the pardon abuses. intelligence agencies to iden- Twitter. eral Qamar Javed Bajwa as n his fi rst public speech matyar, paving the way for him it granted to Hekmatyar and His faction of Hezb-i-Islami tify the journalist’s sources, He did not elaborate on what the country’s new military since signing a peace deal to return openly to Afghanistan. many of his fi ghters. has played a relatively small role drew widespread criticism other actions the government chief in November led to Iwith the Afghan govern- The Afghan government re- in the current confl ict, in which from rights groups who ac- should take. easing of tensions between ment, one of Afghanistan’s quested the move as part of a “I invite you to join the the Taliban have a leading role cused it of curtailing Pakistan’s In October, the prime min- Sharif’s government and the most notorious warlords yes- peace deal with Hekmatyar and peace caravan and stop in battling the Western-backed press freedoms. ister’s offi ce said the story military. terday called for the Taliban to his militant group, Hezb-i-Is- the pointless, meaningless government in Kabul. stop fi ghting and begin nego- lami, in September. and unholy war” In hiding for nearly a decade tiations. Afghan President Ashraf and a half, Hekmatyar had been India hands over Pakistani teen who inadvertently crossed border “I invite you to join the peace Ghani welcomed Hekmatyar’s Hekmatyar’s return “will designated a “global terrorist” caravan and stop the pointless, public return, saying the former compound the culture of im- by the United States, which has The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) yesterday operation area of Border Out Post (BoP) Sowar meaningless and unholy war,” strongman would co-operate punity”, Human Rights Watch been leading an international handed over a Pakistani teen who had crossed into Wali, in Abohar sector. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar said to a with the government. researcher Patricia Gossman military mission in Afghanistan Indian territory inadvertently in the Abohar sector BSF deputy inspector general RS Kataria said the gathering of his followers and “Hezb-i-Islami leader said of the deal, calling it an for the past 15 years. in Punjab, a BSF off icial said. Pakistani teenager had inadvertently crossed the Afghan politicians in Laghman Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s re- “aff ront” to victims of abuses. American and other Western The Pakistani national, Razak, aged around International Boundary (IB) and entered inside province, east of the capital, turn will have remarkable A controversial fi gure from leaders praised the deal with 15, hailing from Kasur district in Pakistan, was Indian territory and reached near the border Kabul. effects on peace, stability, the insurgency against the So- him, however, hoping it could apprehended by BSF troopers on Friday in the security fence. “I want a free, proud, inde- prosperity and development viets in the 1980s and the civil help lead to wider peace in Af- pendent and Islamic Afghan- in all aspects,” Ghani’s office wars of the 1990s, Hekmatyar is ghanistan.

US Marines return to Helmand Pak Foreign Offi ce

AFP Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan mum over Jindal

S Marines returned to Afghanistan’s volatile meeting Sharif UHelmand yesterday, where American troops faced heated fi ghting until Nato’s Agencies operation) summit in 2014. combat mission ended in 2014, Islamabad The meeting had then as embattled Afghan security helped save the summit that forces struggle to beat back the had seemed to be headed for resurgent Taliban. he Pakistan Foreign Of- failure and a last-minute deal The deployment of some 300 fi ce has refused to com- to create a regional electricity Marines to the poppy-growing Tment on the hush-hush grid was clinched, Dawn re- southern province came one day visit of Indian steel magnate ported. after the militants announced Sajjan Jindal to Murree to Jindal was in Lahore on De- the launch of their “spring of- meet Prime Minister Nawaz cember 25, 2015, when Modi fensive”, and as the Trump ad- Sharif and his daughter Mar- paid a surprise visit to greet ministration seeks to craft a new yam Nawaz, amid speculation Sharif on his birthday and at- strategy in Afghanistan. that it was a move to revive the tend his granddaughter’s wed- Commander of US and Nato stalled dialogue process be- ding. forces in Afghanistan Gen- tween the two countries. “Why is the government eral John Nicholson attended a The visit of Jindal, said quiet over Jindal’s visit?” handover ceremony marking the to be Nawaz Sharif and In- asked Pakistan People’s Par- return of the prestigious force, dian Prime Minister Naren- ty’s Nafeesa Shah during the the fi rst Marines in Afghanistan dra Modi’s mutual friend, on committee’s meeting. since 2014, an AFP photographer Wednesday came on the day There was no formal press said. Indian High Commissioner statement issued by the PM Part of a regular troop ro- Gautam Bambawale fi led an Offi ce on Jindal’s meeting with tation announced in January appeal with the Foreign Of- Sharif. under the Obama administra- fi ce against the death sen- However, Maryam Nawaz tion, they will arrive in stages, tence awarded to alleged In- confi rmed the trip in a tweet. eventually numbering some The US commander in Afghanistan John Nicholson (2R) shakes hand with US soldiers ahead of a handover ceremony at Leatherneck Camp dian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, She rejected media reports of 300 who will take part in Nato’s in Lashkar Gah in the Afghan province of Helmand yesterday. Dawn reported. The appeal the meeting being ‘secret’. train, assist and advise mission. was submitted on behalf of “Mr Jindal is an old friend Helmand for years was the of Afghan policy. chiefl y remembered for his role Last week the Taliban deliv- fi rst US forces sent to Afghani- Jadhav’s mother in which she of the Prime Minister. Noth- centrepiece of the US and Brit- Nicholson has called for a few in the bloody civil war of the ered a stinging blow as mili- stan after the 2001 terror at- had sought the government’s ing ‘secret’ about the meeting ish military intervention in Af- thousand more troops to help 1990s, in which he stands ac- tants dressed in Afghan army tacks in the United States. intervention for the release of & should not be blown out of ghanistan — only for it to slip break the “stalemate”. Mirza cused of killing thousands of uniforms slaughtered at least Several thousand were de- her son, who has been sen- proportion,” she tweeted on deeper into a quagmire of insta- Mohamed Yarmand, a retired people in the capital Kabul. He 135 young recruits at a northern ployed in Helmand, the deadli- tenced to death for espionage. Friday after the issue hit head- bility. Afghan general based in Kabul, is set to return there on Sunday. base, according to offi cial fi g- est province for US and British The visit echoed in the Na- lines. The Taliban eff ectively con- was optimistic. A prominent anti-Soviet ures — though multiple sources forces, where they engaged in tional Assembly’s Foreign Af- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s trol or contest 10 of Helmand’s “If the Afghan forces and the commander in the 1980s, his say the death toll is much high- bitter combat with the Taliban fairs Committee on Friday. But Shireen Mazari wondered how 14 districts, blighted by a huge US Marines jointly fi ght the comeback following a landmark er. insurgency. after Foreign Secretary Teh- Jindal visited Murree, when opium harvest that helps fund phenomenon of the terrorism in peace agreement with President The attack is believed to be The US is also targeting Is- mina Janjua, who was leading his visa was restricted for Is- the insurgency. southern Helmand, we will have Ashraf Ghani in September has the deadliest by the Taliban on lamic State’s affi liate in Af- the FO team at the meeting, lamabad and Lahore only. Around 30,000 people fl ed tangible results,” he told AFP. been hugely controversial in Af- a military target since they were ghanistan, earlier this month failed to respond to queries “If Jindal had come on a pri- fi ghting in the province in 2016, The Helmand ceremony ghanistan, sparking revulsion driven from power in 2001. dropping its largest non-nucle- about Jindal’s trip, commit- vate visit, why did FO offi cials mostly seeking refuge in pro- came as one of Afghanistan’s from human rights groups and The group vowed more in the ar bomb on the jihadist group’s tee chairman Awais Leghari receive him?” Mazari asked. vincial capital Lashkar Gah, most notorious warlords, ex- residents of the capital. statement announcing their hideouts. brought the discussion to an Meanwhile, the Daily Times, with the city at times practically prime minister Gulbuddin Hek- Hekmatyar called yesterday so-called “spring off ensive” on The strike sparked questions end. in an editorial on the visit, ti- besieged. matyar, returned to public life for a unifi ed Afghan solution to Friday. over its use against a group that Jindal, who is considered as tled “Much ado about Jindal The US has some 8,400 yesterday after more than 20 the country’s nearly four dec- With more than one-third is not considered as big a threat a sort of back-channel con- visit” said much of the specu- troops in Afghanistan with years in exile. ades of confl ict. of Afghanistan outside of gov- as the Taliban. tact, was taken by helicopter lation surrounding the Indian about another 5,000 from Nato Hekmatyar, white-bearded Afghanistan has seen inten- ernment control, civilians also Two US troops were killed to Murree to meet the Sharif businessman’s visit “revolves allies, mostly taking part in the and clad in his trademark black sifi ed Taliban attacks across the continue to bear a heavy brunt, Wednesday while fi ghting IS family. around whether he brought training mission. turban, called on the Taliban to country, leaving Afghan forces with thousands killed and militants near the blast-site in Jindal in the past has fa- some special ‘message’ to the Pentagon chief Jim Mattis lay down their weapons and join — already beset by killings, de- wounded each year, including eastern Nangarhar province in cilitated a secret meeting Pakistani government from its warned of “another tough year” a “caravan of peace” as he spoke sertions, and vacuums in lead- a disproportionate number of an incident potentially involv- between Sharif and Modi in counterparts in India, or the in Afghanistan when he visited at a rally in Laghman province. ership and morale — stretched children, according to UN fi g- ing friendly fi re, the Pentagon Kathmandu on the sidelines extent to which some sort of Kabul this week as part of the Known widely as the “Butch- on multiple fronts and facing ures. has said, adding an investiga- of a Saarc (South Asian As- back-channel diplomacy took Trump administration’s review er of Kabul”, Hekmatyar is soaring casualties. The Marines were among the tion has been launched. sociation for Regional Co- place”. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 27 PHILIPPINES Police chief supports Militant blamed for ‘secret cell’ detention death of US AFP to embarrass Duterte’s govern- ers have been killed by shad- Manila ment. owy vigilantes, according to The commission’s spokes- rights groups. Duterte briefl y woman Jacqueline Ann de Guia suspended all police from the crackdown in January after an soldier slain he Philippines’ police denied the prison visit had been chief has defended the organised deliberately to co- offi cial investigation found drug Tdetention of a dozen peo- incide with the Association of offi cers kidnapped a South Ko- AFP troops fi ghting the Abu Sayyaf. ple inside a closet-sized secret Southeast Asian Nations sum- rean businessman and mur- Manila The US deployment was scaled cell in a case that raised further mit, which Duterte was hosting dered him as part of an extor- down in 2014, with Washing- alarm about abuses under Pres- yesterday. tion scam. ton concluding the 12-year pro- ident Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly “The (commission) cannot sit At the time, Duterte de- he Philippine military said gramme had drastically reduced war on drugs. idly nor ignore any information scribed the police force as “cor- yesterday it had killed a the capabilities of the group, The government’s human which may involve a serious hu- rupt to the core” and vowed it Tsenior commander of a designated by the US as a foreign rights commission discov- man rights violation,” de Guia would not be allowed to prose- militant group behind a 2002 terror organisation. ered a dozen men and women said in a text message, adding cute the drug war until its ranks bombing that claimed the life of The Abu Sayyaf has since packed into the tiny cell behind the government body was “im- had been “cleansed”. a US Special Forces commando. pledged allegiance to Islamic a wooden cabinet during an partial and non-partisan”. But he redeployed police onto Abu Sayyaf group leader Al- State fi ghters in Iraq and Syria unannounced visit to a police Manila police chief Oscar Al- the drug war about a month lat- habsy Misaya was killed in a and is blamed for deadly bomb- station in a Manila slum neigh- bayalde has conceded that con- er, without major reforms. military operation on Friday on ings as well as beheadings. bourhood on Thursday. gested detention facilities are International rights monitor the gunmen’s southern island However, Filipino offi cials said The resulting outcry saw of- widespread. Duterte won last Human Rights Watch yester- stronghold of Jolo, a military the Abu Sayyaf is mainly driven fi cers suspended and an offi cial year’s presidential election on a day called on the Philippines to statement said. by lucrative kidnappings of for- inquiry launched, but late Fri- Dela Rosa: defending tactics pledge to kill tens of thousands free all “unlawfully detained” “Troops from assigned Philip- eign tourists, businessmen, and day national police chief Ron- of criminals. suspects and abolish unoffi cial pine Marine units killed the Abu shipping crews in the southern ald Dela Rosa visited the police The detainees have since lice had demanded hefty pay- Police have since reported police lock-up cells. Sayyaf extremist commander Philippines and nearby areas. station and defended his men’s been moved to a regular prison ments in exchange for their killing 2,724 people as part of “Secret jails may just be one who is considered to be one of Misaya was also involved in actions. cell. They had told the rights freedom. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, more form of police criminality the most notorious kidnappers other kidnappings and bomb- “As long as the prisoners commission they had been held Dela Rosa rejected the alle- although authorities insist the that has multiplied during the in (the) southern Philippines,” it ings, the Philippine military said. were not tortured or extorted, for about a week after being ar- gations and accused the rights shootings have been in self de- drug war,” the group’s deputy added. Earlier this month the Philip- it’s okay with me,” he told re- rested on allegations of drug commission, an independent fence. Asia director Phelim Kine said Misaya’s death could not be pine military foiled what it said porters. use or traffi cking and that po- government body, of plotting Many thousands of oth- in a statement. independently confi rmed, and was an Abu Sayyaf attempt to the military would not provide raid resorts on the central Phil- details of the operation. ippine island of Bohol and kid- The military statement said nap up to a dozen tourists. Misaya was behind the bombing Ten of the boat-riding sus- of a restaurant in the southern pects were killed in gun battles Philippine port of Zamboanga with the Philippine securities in 2002 that killed US Sergeant including Abu Sayyaf spokes- Mark Jackson and wounded 23 man Muammar Askali, but three other people including another others remain at large. American soldier. The authorities have also ar- The two Americans were at rested a senior woman police the time part of a small US Spe- offi cer and her suspected Abu cial Forces contingent deployed Sayyaf boyfriend over an alleged in the region to provide training plot to rescue the remaining as well as intelligence to Filipino gunmen on Bohol.

14 injured in Manila pipe bomb blast

AFP same area by a group of youths Manila earlier in the week had made public threats, police spokes- woman Chief Inspector Kim- ourteen people were berly Molitas said. She described wounded in a pipe bomb the device as a “homemade pipe Fblast in Manila, Philip- bomb” stuff ed with low-grade pine police said yesterday, but explosives, like the ones used to authorities dismissed any link to make fi recrackers. No one has an Asian leaders’ meeting under been arrested. Workers remove debris from a collapsed house after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit General Santos City, in southern island of Mindanao yesterday. way in the capital. “The incident is not in any The explosion happened way connected to or directed late Friday about fi ve kilome- (at) the ongoing Asean summit,” tres from the heavily guarded Ernesto Abella, spokesman for complex where Association of President Rodrigo Duterte, said Southeast Asian (Asean) leaders in a statement. are meeting and police said they “We assure our people that Strong quake damages buildings were investigating the possibil- security measures are in place in ity it was a revenge assault. today’s event and ask the public AFP Residents were jolted from disaster training, though it was not expect major damage after April 12, while a trio of strong A relative of a 14-year-old for their full understanding and Manila their beds and ran onto the very diffi cult to do that in the this event,” the institute’s head quakes battered buildings and boy injured in an attack in the co-operation in this regard.” streets as the earthquake shook dark with the ground shaking.” Renato Solidum said on ABS- caused panicked tourists to fl ee the area, leaving cracks in a hos- Morallas said coastal com- CBN television in Manila. a popular resort near Manila on 6.8-magnitude earth- pital, two government buildings munities near General Santos Morallas said two people April 8. quake struck off the and a port, as well as trigger- were told to evacuate as a pre- were injured during the evacu- A 6.5-magnitude quake killed APhilippines early yes- ing the collapse of at least one caution, though authorities do ations in the Mindanao coastal eight people and left more than terday, offi cials said, damaging house and causing a brief power not know how many people ac- towns of Glan and Malapatan. 250 injured outside the Mind- several buildings and injuring outage. tually left their homes. One person was hit by a fall- anao city of Surigao in Febru- two people as panicked resi- “The fl oor appeared to rise The quake struck at a depth ing rock while a pregnant wom- ary, and another 5.9-magnitude dents fl ed the coast following a fi rst before swaying violently of 41 kilometres off Mindanao an hurt herself when she fell. tremor killed one person there tsunami warning. from side to side. Then the island, the US Geological Serv- The Philippines lies on the last month. US authorities warned of po- lights went out,” said Adrian ice said. The state-run Philip- so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pa- Before Surigao, the last lethal tential hazardous waves in the Morallas, who was at work at pine Institute of Volcanology cifi c Ocean region where many earthquake to hit the country southern region of Mindanao the civil defence offi ce in Gen- and Seismology gave a higher of Earth’s quakes and volcanic was a 7.1-magnitude tremor and Indonesia after the quake eral Santos city at the time of magnitude reading of 7.2. eruptions occur. that left more than 220 peo- hit at 4:23am (2023 GMT Fri- the quake. The epicentre was about A 6.0-magnitude earth- ple dead and destroyed historic day), but the tsunami alert was “I ducked and took cover 53 kilometres off Mindanao’s quake damaged dozens of churches when it struck the Rescue workers attend to a wounded man on a stretcher in an alley lifted less than two hours later. under my desk in line with our south coast, it added. “We do houses on central Mindanao on central islands in October 2013. in Manila yesterday, after a homemade pipe bomb exploded. Southeast Asia faces ‘massive’ drugs menace: Duterte

AFP tled. It can be destroyed before it nesty International and other ternal aff airs of the Asean mem- and his drug war. “We also Manila destroys our societies.” rights groups have warned may ber-states is observed,” Duterte share your country’s concerns Duterte urged the leaders to be amount to a crime against hu- said. on the devastating effects of “resolute in realising a drug-free manity. Duterte had last year branded drugs upon society and I un- hilippine President Rodri- Asean”. Duterte was elected last He said last year he would be then US president Barack Obama derstand your personal resolve go Duterte warned South- year largely on a law-and-order “happy to slaughter” millions a “son of a w****” for criticising in combating it,” Bolkiah said Peast Asian leaders yester- platform in which he promised of addicts in his quest to stop the drug war, and more recently as Duterte hosted him at the day they were facing a “massive” to eradicate illegal drugs in the the Philippines from becoming called European lawmakers presidential palace on Thurs- illegal drug menace that could Philippines by killing tens of a narco-state, and repeatedly in- “crazies” for issuing a statement day. Indonesian President Joko destroy their societies, as he thousands of people. sisted human rights should not condemning the killings. Widodo, whose government called for a united response. His pledge proved wildly pop- stand in the way of eradicating Observers said in the lead-up has executed drug traffickers, Duterte, who has faced in- ular with millions of Filipinos drugs. to the summit that Asean lead- expressed his personal affec- ternational condemnation for looking for a quick solution to In his speech to Asean leaders, ers were unlikely to criticise tion for Duterte because they his own crackdown on drugs crime and corruption. Duterte highlighted the bloc’s Duterte, with Human Rights had “so much in common”. that has claimed thousands of Since Duterte took offi ce 10 tradition of “non-interference”. Watch calling the bloc “a club of “I believe that you and I are lives, also insisted that outsiders months ago, police have report- He did this while talking about cosy dictators or rights abusers”. not fancy people. I believe that should not interfere in Southeast ed killing 2,724 people as part of relations with the United States Among the heads of undemo- you and I are driven by healthy Asia’s aff airs. his anti-drug campaign. and the European Union, which cratic regimes in Manila were common sense and by love for “The illegal drug trade is mas- Many thousands of others President Rodrigo Duterte gestures as he speaks during a press have expressed concern about Thai military junta chief Prayut our people,” Widodo said on Fri- sive but it is not impregnable,” have been killed by shadowy conference at the end of Association of Southeast Asian Nations alleged extra-judicial killings in Chan-O-Cha, Cambodia’s Hun day. Duterte said in a speech to open vigilantes, according to rights (Asean) leaders’ summit in Manila yesterday. his drug war. Sen, a former Khmer Rouge cad- Many Filipinos also continue an Association of Southeast groups. “Dialogue relations can be re, and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to support Duterte’s drug war, Asian Nations (Asean) leaders A Filipino lawyer fi led a com- Court, accusing him of “mass in the drug war. Duterte has made more productive, con- of Brunei. believing that extreme measures summit. “With political will and plaint this week against Duterte murder” and alleging that as relentlessly railed against criti- structive if the valued principle Some Asean leaders ex- must be taken to solve the drug co-operation, it can be disman- at the International Criminal many as 8,000 people had died cism of his drug war, which Am- of non-interference in the in- pressed support for Duterte menace. Gulf Times 28 Sunday, April 30, 2017 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL/BHUTAN

Dhaka seeks Nepal facing glitches in info on 57 Facebook holding 2-phased polls accounts Agencies to organise single-phase poll By Mizan Rahman Kathmandu and bring the budget after the Dhaka completion of polls. The government is bound epal Prime Minister by the constitutional provi- angladesh has made a total Pushpa Kamal Dahal sion to bring the budget on May of 49 requests to Facebook Nhas admitted to tech- 29, which will collide with the Bauthorities seeking data nical glitches in holding the second phase election which is involving a total of 57 accounts May 14 polls in two phases and slated for June 14. during the six-month period sought support from other po- Law Minister Ajay Shankar between July and December in litical parties over the issue. Nayak yesterday claimed that 2016. In an all-party meeting on the newly proposed amend- The government had made 10 Friday, Dahal, the opposition ment bill will be endorsed by similar requests about nine ac- and other parties lend sup- the opposition. counts in the fi rst half of 2016. port in passing the constitution In an interaction in Kath- In response, Facebook com- amendment bill tabled earlier. mandu, Nayak said issues of plied with a total of 24.49% re- Detailing out the technical delineation and amendment are quests, according to a govern- diffi culties, the prime minister for resolving the present politi- ment request report released by said that on May 29 they have cal deadlock in the country. the social networking giant. to bring the budget as per the “In the absence of the State Facebook provided 8.33% in- constitutional provision as he Council, we should have the formation against a total of 24 expressed confusion over what provision that will fortify us requests seeking information to do about it since the fi rst with the rights to make the de- about 32 accounts under the legal phase of election is on May 14 marcation of the states through process section. and second a month after on this Legislature Parliament and Under the emergency section, June 14. it is being improved. We have Facebook authorities provided “Should we hold the fi rst formed seven states through 40% information against a total phase election on May 14 and this assembly. Is there anyone of 25 requests. go for the second? Then again who hasn’t understood this? If The Bangladesh government a question arises over what it is the matter of national in- also requested Facebook to pre- to do with the vote counting? terest and the issue of delinea- serve information on 15 accounts Should we commence the two- tion, is there any need of mak- for 90 days for criminal investi- phase elections and go for the ing the objection? Which study gation. vote counting for this political has made this fi nding? I opine Besides, Facebook authorities agreement is needed. On the that their objection over it is also disclosed in its latest report three issues of amendment wrong and they should not do that the Bangladesh government proposal, holding election and it,” Nayak said. blocked the social networking budget I request all the parties The government has tabled a site once in the last six months to cooperate,” said the prime new amendment proposal with of 2016. minister. some revisions over it after the The social networking author- The main opposition Com- agitating parties made an ob- ities publish such report in every munist Party of Nepal-Unifi ed jection over it. six months. Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Though the government has The report reveals requests is against the holding of the tabled the amendment propos- made to the social networking election in two phases, claim- al, the formal discussion over it site by governments around the ing that presentation of budget is yet to be started. globe on diff erent types of infor- between the two phases would Nayak also informed that mation. infl uence the voters. the formal discussion over the As per the report, the govern- Leader of other parties, both amendment bill will get started ment’s requests for account data the ruling and the opposition, from parliamentary meeting Workers laminate voters’ identity cards as they prepare for the upcoming local election of municipalities and villages representatives at the increased by 9% globally com- suggested Prime Minister Dahal scheduled to be held today. election commission in Kathmandu. pared to the fi rst half of 2016, from 59,229 to 64,279 requests. The number of content re- strictions for violating local law went down by 28% globally compared to the fi rst half of Pact on cross-border 2016, from 9,663 to 6,944. Four-nation transport group According to a statement re- leased by Facebook authorities, rail with China in they scrutinise each request for legal suffi ciency, no matter which country is making the re- in fi x over Bhutan’s stance fi nal stage: Nepal quest, and challenge those that are defi cient or overly broad. “We do not provide govern- IANS ministry offi cial said, adding once Parliament ratifi es the eff orts to address the concerns IANS Belt One Road” (OBOR), Mahara, ments with back doors or direct Kathmandu/Thimphu that no discussion has been agreement, Bhutanese news raised by various stakeholders. Kathmandu who is set to lead Nepal at the access to people’s information,” held so far. “The three re- portal Kuensel reported. The agreement is slated for OBOR conference in Beijing next added the statement. maining members would take The government views BBIN deliberation in the upcoming month, said that Nepal wanted nable to ratify the Bang- a decision on implementation as a platform, encompassing session of Parliament as a dis- he much-talked about to take advantage of the plan, re- ladesh, Bhutan, India, without Bhutan,” said the offi - key areas such as energy, trade, puted bill. The government is pact on the Kathmandu- ported the Kathmandu Post. Lanka inflation UNepal (BBIN) motor ve- cial “For this, India should take information, communication expected to withdraw the bill as TKerung rail project, a “We have taken it as an op- hicles agreement, Bhutan has a lead,” the Post said. and technology. “Strengthen- the opposition and the National cross-border rail network be- portunity to expand economic hits 6.9% in April asked the three other members to The four South Asian nations ing regional co-operation is es- Council have said they would tween Nepal and China, is in co-operation,” he said, add- Sri Lanka’s consumer prices rose go ahead without it, leaving them signed the BBIN agreement in pecially signifi cant for a land- not support the agreement, the fi nal stage of signature, said ing, “Nepal is at a fi nal stage to 6.9% in the 12 months to April in a fi x, the media reported. the Bhutanese capital Thim- locked country like Bhutan, and Kuensel said. Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister sign the initiative to which the 2017, slowing from 7.3% in March, Bhutan has communicated phu last June, in what was seen therefore, the Bhutan govern- The opposition and the and Minister of Finance Krish- government has accorded the but prices rose 0.5% in the month, its decision to the Nepali em- as a fi rst model of sub-regional ment remains fully committed Council are of the view that the na Bahadur Mahara. highest priority.” data from the state statistics bassy in New Delhi, which is yet co-operation. The agreement to the BBIN process including agreement, which will stream- Speaking at a programme “We are sure a country like off ice show. to be forwarded to the foreign would allow for passenger, per- the BBIN motor vehicle agree- line movement of passenger organised by the China Study Nepal will be helped by this Food prices rose 8.6% over the ministry, the Kathmandu Post sonal and cargo vehicular traffi c ment,” the Bhutanese foreign and cargo transport among Centre and the Nepal Insti- initiative which is expected past 12 months, with a 1.7% jump reported. among the four countries. ministry stated. the four countries, will over- tute for Strategic Centre on to bring together many coun- in April, after a 0.7% fall in March. With Bhutan deciding to However, there have been While the other three coun- whelm the smallest country “One Belt One Road Initiative tries, including those in South Non-foods rose 0.1%. leave the sub-regional co-op- reservations among some sec- tries have already ratifi ed the in the group. The government and South Asia” in the capital Asia,” Mahara said. Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has eration, the remaining three tions within Bhutan about the agreement, Bhutan is in the maintains that Bhutan would on Friday, Mahara said Nepal Though top Nepali offi cials, generated one of the highest stakeholders should take a de- viability of this agreement giv- process of completing its inter- lose economic opportunities if would sign the pact with China. including PM Dahal, have been inflation in the region, and cision on ways to implement en that it was a small country. nal procedures for ratifi cation. Parliament does not ratify the Prime Minister Pushpa insisting on Nepal’s participa- has been one of the poorest the proposal, a senior foreign Bhutan will join the group The government is also making agreement. Kamal Dahal had assured the tion at the OBOR conference, performing in the region in the Chinese side that Nepal would sources privy to the develop- wake of a currency collapse in sign an agreement to extend ment said negotiations and 2015. the rail network from Kerung consultations with the Chi- From January, the rupee is also to Kathmandu, Pokhara and nese side are underway and facing a renewed threat from Salt workers Lumbni, he said. no concrete decision has been large volumes of money printed “As per the PM’s proposal, made yet, the daily reported. to repay government debt, which we are making preparations to During his recent visit to is related to fiscal dominance. sign the agreement with China China, the prime minister had The Central Bank has scrambled soon,” Mahara said. assured the Chinese leaders that to save the economy from the While it is uncertain whether Nepal would be the signatory of shock of the money printing and Nepal would be part of “One the initiative by April 20. hiked policy rates. Indian scholarships for kin of Bangladeshi war heroes

IANS 2006 for descendants of the 1971 eligible for fi ve years multiple Dhaka freedom fi ghters. Up to now, more entry Indian visa and 100 of than 10,000 scholarships worth them will be provided free medi- 150mn taka have been disbursed. cal treatment in Indian hospitals ndia will give Rs350mn This year, scholarships have every year. ($5.5mn) to descendants of been awarded to 600 under- Shringla said under the new Ifreedom fi ghters in the next fi ve graduate students. Of them, 48 scheme, students at the higher years under the new Muktijodha were from Chittagong. secondary level will get a one- scholarship scheme for Bangla- Earlier, Indian Prime Minister time grant of 20,000 taka and desh, Indian High Commissioner Narendra Modi during his Bang- those at the undergraduate level Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said. ladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasi- will get 50,000 taka. He was speaking at a scholarship na’s visit to India announced that He said the initiatives an- award ceremony in Chittagong another 10,000 students will re- nounced by Modi refl ect “our yesterday, bdnews24 reported. ceive scholarships under the new continued solidarity with Refugee workers carry bags of salt as they work in processing yard in Cox’s Bazar yesterday. The Muktijodha scholarship Muktijodha scholarship scheme. the valiant Muktijodhas”, the scheme was started by India in All freedom fi ghters are now website reported. Gulf Times Sunday, April 30, 2017 29 COMMENT Autism: walking the parental tightrope

By Aney Mathew The important thing to remember situation, family therapy sessions are Doha is that both the child who has been advised. diagnosed as well as the family Family intervention therapy and members – especially the main psycho education helps to divide the arenting while being a very caregiver – require tremendous responsibilities between the parents rewarding experience is also support and plenty of encouragement. more eff ectively, while helping one of the most challenging “Being the parent of a child with them to communicate more openly, Pjourneys. special needs is undoubtedly very support each other, and gain a better Dealing with the ups and downs of challenging. understanding. everyday life is diffi cult enough, but ASD being a neurodevelopment Educating oneself more on the having to deal with stressful situations disorder, the resulting situation condition and being an active part as parents of a child with special is no exception; it can aff ect the of society and engaging in social needs, can be most demanding. psychological wellbeing of the activities are all very important in the Autism is a life-long condition and parents”, says Dr Sreekumar, Clinical long journey ahead. the causes are unknown. and Operations Manager, Qatar As primary caregivers, the parents Children with autism or Autistic Institute for Speech and Hearing especially the mother (in most cases), Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are aff ected (QISH). is usually overworked, tired and often in a variety of ways and to diff erent Speaking to Gulf Times, Dr sleep deprived. degrees. Sreekumar who also serves as a It is therefore crucial that the Receiving a diagnosis of autism can Clinical Psychologist at QISH psychological well being of the mother naturally be a shock for parents. elucidates some of the problems faced is taken care of. However in some cases it is actually by the parents of children with autism, With more and more children received with a sense of relief, as it while off ering helpful advice on how to being diagnosed with autism, it is off ers an explanation to some of the cope with the situation. important that society takes an active problems and situations the parents QISH is a multidisciplinary role in helping these diff erently abled had noticed in their child. rehabilitation centre, catering to the members. There is no right or wrong way needs of children and adults with It has a huge role to play in to feel when a family member is various communicative and cognitive supporting not just children with diagnosed with ASD. disorders; parenting services are also autism and special needs, but to Having a child with an ASD can be provided. equally support parents and family very stressful for the entire family, due Parenting a child with ASD can be Dr Sreekumar, Clinical and Operations Manager, Qatar Institute for Speech and Hearing. members as well. to the needs or behaviours of the child. an exhausting and sometimes lonely As Dr Sreekumar rightly puts it, This often results in tension for the journey. Dr Sreekumar says, “Children with the challenges ahead is to accept the one individual may not necessarily “Psychological and emotional support individuals in the family, while also Explaining some of the common ASD or other special needs often diagnosis of the condition. work well for another. must be extended to not just the causing friction within relationships. challenges parents face as caregivers, require additional care in many Many people tend to live in denial. Similarly, seeking help from parent children with autism or other special areas such as diet, dressing, sleep, It is very important for parents to support groups and maintaining needs, but to their parents as well. The challenges travelling, toileting, playing, body fi rst of all come to terms with the fact regular contact with professionals is These families must be welcomed awareness etc. the child has special needs and to both helpful and important; there are and encouraged to take part in social Following are typical challenges z Other medical problems like These added requirements can put accept the condition, without a sense other parents who are going through a activities. faced by families, especially the seizures a lot of pressure on parents especially of guilt or shame. similar situation. It is important to educate society on parent who becomes the main z Food habits the mother and can often result in “Focusing on the emotional well- Working together and supporting the needs of the people with special caregiver — unfortunately the z Toilet needs confl icts between spouses and family being of the child is fundamental and each other makes the journey easier”, needs while supporting their families. challenges are compounded in z Sleep members; psychosomatic issues; and must be given priority. reminds Dr Sreekumar. Education on mental health and the some cultures: z Lack of time to spend with spouse suicidal ideations. Discussion with a psychologist is a “It is also vital the family is diffi culties faced by people ectedaff z Difficulty in accepting the and other siblings “Thankfully these days more and must before starting any intervention. involved in social activities. The main by such conditions helps in making diagnosis z Social stigma more fathers are stepping in to take a It is also important that parents caregiver will benefi t greatly from people more empathetic and more z Severity of the condition z Acceptance from society more positive role with caregiving. educate themselves well on the relaxation training, yoga, and medical sensitive to the requirements of those zAcceptance from spouse z Diff iculty in getting along at social It is important to bear in mind that condition and the needs of the child management (if required)”, he advises. with special needs. z Attitude of other family members get-togethers parents who have children with autism and that they are very patient and Families sometimes break up when The taboo of social stigma can z Sibling reaction z Job related issues need strong support and help.” tolerant. faced with such pressure and stress. be broken through education and The foundational step to facing Also remember what works well for To help the family cope with the awareness.” Brigitte Macron: potential fi rst lady of France Weather report Three-day forecast her to help him work on a script and Brigitte “wasn’t a party animal” but AFP TODAY Paris thus they began to build a bond. was “very educated”. The teacher, then 39, was Le Touquet has remained a part of High: 37 C “totally captivated” by 15-year-old her life and the now grandmother of Low : 27 C Inshore: Hazy at places at first be- fter winning the top spot in Emmanuel’s intelligence. seven has spent many weekends there comes hot daytime with slight dust and partly cloudy at times with weak the fi rst round of France’s The feeling was mutual and two with her family. chance of light rain at places. presidential election, years later he made a bold prediction. It is a place to gather with her son centrist Emmanuel Macron “At the age of 17, Emmanuel said to and two daughters from her fi rst MONDAY A High: 36 C brought his wife Brigitte on stage me: ‘Whatever you do, I will marry marriage — who have grown up to before cheering supporters and said, you!’,” Brigitte Macron told Paris be an engineer, a cardiologist and a Low: 27 C “Without her, I wouldn’t be me.” Match magazine last April. lawyer. P Cloudy She has been in her 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron went off Yet the life with her politician husband’s life since he was 15 — fi rst to finish high school at an elite husband and the massive commitment as a teacher, then lover and now as establishment in Paris, but he did of the campaign remains a major TUESDAY a partner in his pursuit to become Brigitte not quit pursuing her and little by focus. High: 37 C modern France’s youngest president. little she was won over. “I am lucky to share this with Low: 28 C Elegant and slim, the 64-year-old But before all that she was another Brigitte left her husband Andre Emmanuel, even if in regards to Sunny blonde with blue eyes is Macron’s man’s wife and mother of three Louis Auziere, a banker, in 2006 and politics I haven’t had much choice,” closest collaborator, whom he has who taught French as well as Latin, married Macron a year later, moving to she has said, also voicing the desire pledged to give an offi cial role at the English and drama and was on course Paris where he continued his studies to help disadvantaged youths if she Fishermen’s forecast presidential palace if he emerges for a comfortable, if somewhat and she worked as a teacher. becomes France’s fi rst lady. OFFSHORE DOHA victorious in the May 7 runoff vote. conventional life. “When I make up my mind about Brigitte’s willingness to be a public Wind: NW-NE 05-15/20 KT “Every night we debrief together Brigitte Trogneux was born on April something, I do it,” she said in a fi gure stands in stark contrast to the Waves: 2-4/5 Feet INSHORE DOHA and we repeat what we have heard 13, 1953, in Amiens in northern France, documentary about Emmanuel. partner of her husband’s far-right Wind: NW-NE 05-15/18 KT about each other,” she told Paris which is also Emmanuel Macron’s Described as warm and down-to- rival Marine Le Pen. Waves: 1-2/3 Feet Match magazine in 2016. “I have to hometown, into a prosperous family earth by those who know her, her The private life of 47-year-old Louis pay attention to everything, do the that runs a well-known pastry and charm and positive disposition have Aliot, who has been involved in Le Around the region maximum to protect him.” chocolate business. left a mark on her friends. Pen’s National Front (FN) party since Weather Weather Brigitte Macron has been on the Then in the early 1990s she was One of them, Gregoire Campion, the late 1980s, has not been part of her today Max/min tomorrow Max/min cover of nearly a dozen magazines blown away by a young man acting met her on a beach in the northern campaign. Abu Dhabi M Sunny 39/29 P Cloudy 38/28 Baghdad M Cloudy and at her husband’s side for full- in a production of Milan Kundera’s resort town of Le Touquet over 40 “The French people are going to Sunny 38/24 37/23 Dubai M Sunny 39/29 M Sunny 38/29 to-capacity rallies, while the world “Jacques and his Master”. It was years ago. elect a president. They are not going to Kuwait City Cloudy 36/25 M Sunny 37/26 has been fascinated by the couple’s Emmanuel. Their cabanas were next to each elect a couple or half of a couple,” said Manama P Cloudy 36/28 P Cloudy 35/26 atypical romance. She quickly agreed when he asked other and he remembers the young Aliot. “I know my place.” Muscat Sunny 35/30 P Cloudy 36/31 Riyadh Cloudy 34/24 P Cloudy 37/25 Tehran P Cloudy 26/16 P Cloudy 26/16 Live issues Living life with lactose intolerance

Tribune News Service intolerance that they have to cut The smaller the serving, the less Reducing the dairy products doesn’t Washington, DC out all milk products and be wary of likely it is to cause gastrointestinal mean you can’t get enough calcium. nondairy foods or medications that problems. Calcium is found in many other foods, contain lactose. zSaving milk for mealtimes. Drink such as: eople with lactose intolerance The signs and symptoms of milk with other foods. This slows zBroccoli are unable to fully digest the lactose intolerance usually begin the digestive process and may lessen zCalcium-fortifi ed products, such sugar (lactose) in milk. As a 30 minutes to two hours after symptoms of lactose intolerance. as breads and juices Presult, they have diarrhoea, eating or drinking foods that zExperimenting with an zCanned salmon gas and bloating after eating or contain lactose. Common signs assortment of dairy products. Not all zMilk substitutes, such as soy milk drinking dairy products. and symptoms include: dairy products have the same amount and rice milk The condition, which is also called zDiarrhoea of lactose. For example, hard cheeses, zOranges Around the world lactose malabsorption, is usually zNausea, and sometimes, vomiting such as Swiss or cheddar, have small zPinto beans Weather Weather harmless, but its symptoms can be zAbdominal cramps amounts of lactose and generally zRhubarb today Max/min tomorrow Max/min uncomfortable. zBloating cause no symptoms. You may be able zSpinach Athens M Sunny 28/13 Sunny 28/14 A defi ciency of lactase - an enzyme zGas to tolerate cultured milk products, Also make sure you get enough Beirut M Sunny 26/19 Sunny 25/19 Bangkok M Sunny 34/28 S T Storms 34/28 produced in your small intestine Ways to change your diet to such as yogurt, because the bacteria vitamin D, which is typically Berlin P Cloudy 15/05 M Sunny 17/08 - is usually responsible for lactose minimise symptoms of lactose used in the culturing process naturally supplied in fortified milk. Eggs, liver Cairo Sunny 33/21 P Cloudy 32/18 intolerance. Many people have low intolerance include: produce the enzyme that breaks down and yogurt also contain vitamin Cape Town Showers 21/14 M Sunny 21/13 levels of lactase but are able to digest zLimit dairy products lactose. D, and your body makes vitamin D Colombo S T Storms 33/26 T Storms 32/25 Dhaka P Cloudy 33/25 T Storms 31/24 milk products without problems. If Most people with lactose zBuying lactose-reduced or when you spend time in the sun. Hong Kong Sunny 24/22 P Cloudy 26/23 you’re actually lactose intolerant, intolerance can enjoy some milk lactose-free products. You can fi nd Even without restricting dairy Istanbul M Sunny 22/10 P Cloudy 18/11 though, your lactase defi ciency leads products without symptoms. It these products at most supermarkets foods, though, many adults don’t Jakarta I T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 32/25 to symptoms after you eat dairy foods. may be possible to increase your in the refrigerated dairy section. get enough vitamin D. Talk to your Karachi Sunny 41/25 Sunny 39/26 M Cloudy 13/07 Most people with lactose tolerance to dairy products by zUsing lactase enzyme tablets or doctor about taking vitamin D and London 17/09 Showers Manila I T Storms 34/27 S T Storms 35/27 intolerance can manage the condition gradually introducing them into your drops. Over-the-counter tablets or calcium supplements to be sure. Moscow M Sunny 22/09 P Cloudy 22/09 without having to give up all dairy diet. Some people find that they drops containing the lactase enzyme When to see a doctor New Delhi M Sunny 38/23 Sunny 39/23 foods. can tolerate full-fat dairy products, (Dairy Ease, Lactaid, others) may help Make an appointment with New York M Cloudy 15/11 P Cloudy 22/17 With some trial and error, you such as whole milk and cheese, more you digest dairy products. You can your doctor if you frequently have Paris Rain 19/07 Showers 16/06 Sao Paulo M Cloudy 21/13 P Cloudy 23/14 may be able to predict your body’s easily than dairy products with no or take tablets just before a meal or snack. symptoms of lactose intolerance Seoul Sunny 25/09 Sunny 28/11 response to diff erent foods containing reduced fat. Or the drops can be added to a carton after eating dairy foods, particularly Singapore S T Storms 31/26 P Cloudy 31/25 lactose and fi gure out how much you zChoosing smaller servings of of milk. Not everyone with lactose if you’re worried about getting Sydney P Cloudy 20/11 P Cloudy 23/12 can eat or drink without discomfort. dairy. Sip small servings of milk - intolerance is helped by these products. enough calcium. - Mayo Clinic News Tokyo Clear 25/12 Clear 25/14 Few people have such severe lactose up to 4 ounces (118ml) at a time. Maintain good nutrition Network Gulf Times 30 Sunday, April 30, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Why Zardari poll calculus

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar can’t be dismissed lightly [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), He estimates that either fl ew out of the country. He returned 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) PML-N or PTI would have only after General Raheel Sharif, Fax 44350474 the-then army chief, had retired and to seek PPP’s support to immediately, struck a conciliatory tone by calling up his successor and be able to form the next congratulating him. government at the Centre Things have moved swiftly after Zardari’s return with the general impression being that the incumbent GULF TIMES khaki chief apparently wants to stay By Kamran Rehmat Doha out of political ambit, which some political observers see as the most plausible explanation for the release of ith supreme confi dence, his aide Hussain and even the return Budget defi cit threat he says, he will pick the of Sharjeel Memon, another aide, next prime minister who was whiling away time abroad Wof Pakistan. “It’s a following his alleged involvement in promise”, he told a party throng at the massive corruption. weighs heavily on 38th death anniversary of Pakistan’s Zardari, with his trademark smarmy fi rst popularly elected prime minister smile, has been denying any deal – in Zulfi kar Ali Bhutto in Garhi Khuda a number of television interviews Baksh, near the last resting place of whose frequency has also noticeably, Trump’s tax plan the Bhuttos, earlier this month. increased – in how the situation has Coming from Asif Zardari, the changed almost in a U-turn weeks former president and Co-Chairperson after his return, but for many critics it President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts have of Pakistan People Party (PPP), it would be stretching the imagination to been aimed at stimulating investments and job sounded like the emptiest boast. But conceive otherwise. creation in the United States, but sceptics say the is it? To return to the latest salvo – Logic would suggest his party is Zardari claiming to pick the next federal defi cit will balloon if these are enacted. pretty much done, if not entirely PM – the denouement makes for an In the plan, unveiled at the White House last week, dusted, given its comparatively thin interesting math which has largely Trump proposed cutting to 15%, both the income national presence, poor governance gone unnoticed in the assumption that tax rate paid by public corporations and that paid by record in Sindh – the only province it it may have been just another political now rules, but with too many caveats slogan meant to keep the party fl anks “pass-through” businesses, including partnerships. for its liking – and the generally interested. The tax plan, which was part of Trump’s election lacklustre public support in the lead- At the same gathering, the PPP promises, includes a cut in taxes on public companies up to the next general elections in leader also said he would contest the to 15% from 35%. 2018. parliamentary elections. Add this to For average US taxpayers, Trump proposed help by But you never discount Asif Zardari, the claim of picking the next PM and the wily old fox of Pakistani politics, the deduction becomes clear that he doubling the standard deductions for individuals who about whom veteran politician Javed himself would not be a candidate for do not itemise; simplifying tax returns by reducing Hashmi once famously, if a touch the coveted slot. It is also obvious the number of tax brackets to three from seven; and exasperatedly, suggested that one from the math that Zardari has providing unspecifi ed tax relief for families with child needed to have a “PhD in politics” to accepted the reality that his party is in understand Zardari’s trade! no position to win back power. So he and dependent care expenses. The ‘PhD’ pertains to Zardari’s has swiftly changed gears to the best The tax plan, however, does not detail cuts in uncanny deft hand in dealing with case scenario: playing the kingmaker. spending that would help keep the budget defi cit under the most challenging situations, and Consider. The Supreme Court control. movers-and-shakers without fuss. interim verdict in the Panama case Few gave his party any real chance may have dented the ruling PML-N Under Trump’s proposals, American companies after Benazir Bhutto, his illustrious for now, but if Prime Minister Sharif would move from being the most highly taxed among spouse and two-time former prime survives the odds, the party may the Group of 20 (G20) countries to among the lowest. minister, was assassinated in 2007 just still be able to top the parliamentary Tax rates would fall below those of neighbouring ahead of a hotly contested election. tally, but perhaps, not get quite Mexico and Canada, which Trump has accused of But Zardari not only stepped into SHREWD OPERATOR: Former president and PPP supremo Asif Zardari. enough to form a government on the vacuum, using the sympathy its own at the Centre. Opposition shortchanging the United States in trade deals. wave to take his party home and stun with his “reconciliation” jugglery was limits, saying unequivocally that while Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf is the party About $2.6tn in profi ts are reportedly being held tax- all comers by quietly working up the willing to cede more space to aspiring “you will be around for three years most well placed to challenge the exempt abroad by US multinationals under a rule that permutation to install himself as political partners than was the (the specifi ed tenure), we are here to PML-N, especially after the traction says they are only taxable if brought into the United president, he also craftily defi ed the PML-N, whose hubris in presuming stay”. it has gained from the Panama case, odds to complete both his and the the advantage of being in power was The cavalier moment arrived after but again, it would be farfetched to States. party’s fi ve-year stint – a milestone enough to keep the interested fl ock in Dr Asim Hussain, one of the closest assume it would prevail. If enacted, the repatriation tax holiday is set to result not even achieved by his far more place fell fl at. In the end, the applecart Zardari aides, was nabbed in 2015 This is where Zardari calculates that in a one-time surge in government revenue. capable, popular and savvy spouse. was spectacularly upset. This is but and slapped with charges of terror either of the parties would gravitate The outlined plan appears quite similar to proposals If critics put that last bit down to just one instance of how the fox won fi nancing during a sweeping anti- towards the PPP to be able to form a the convenience of being in the centre the day even when the chips were terrorism operation in Karachi, which coalition government (with help from President Trump made of power, how would one countenance down. was construed by Zardari as a ploy to other smaller parties), and that these The plan during the presidential his checkmating Prime Minister This is not to suggest that he is not keep him under the wood and control compulsions would eventually lead campaign, analysts Nawaz Sharif’s ruling Pakistan entitled to his share of brain fades; the megapolis that is considered the to Zardari having a decisive say in the includes a cut in say. Many details, Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in in the summer of 2015, an agitated country’s economic lifeline. selection of the next PM. such as the tax rate impossibly, getting his man elected as Zardari created ripples when he However, sensing that he may have Will the calculation come to pass? taxes on public the chairman of Senate – upper house warned the powerful military to mind breached the red line, in the backdrop Only time will tell, but enough to whet for repatriated foreign of a bicameral legislature – two years its business or else “we would tear you of how popular the military operation the appetite, for now. companies to earnings, the treatment ago? down brick by brick”. He also chided was seen across Pakistan in restoring of capital gains at death, The fact is that Zardari in keeping the army chief to be aware of his peace to Karachi, Zardari quickly zThe writer is Community Editor. 15% from 35% and the application of the business tax rate to ‘pass-through’ businesses have been left to future discussions with the US Congress. Reports suggest many US companies already pay less than the headline 35% tax rate. Companies in the S&P A world turned inside out 500 index are said to have paid an average tax rate of 29.06% for 2016. By Stephen S. Roach a percentage point lower than during have had only a limited impact on trend: the rapid transformation of Some economics argue that the type of tax cuts New Haven the preceding nine years, they would real economic activity, middle-class China’s industrial structure. China’s being promoted by Trump would likely fuel even larger still be expanding at more than twice jobs, and wages. Instead, the excess tertiary sector (services) has gone the pace of the developed world. liquidity spilled over into fi nancial from 43% of GDP in 2007 to 52% defi cits for a federal government, which is already lowly but surely, a bruised Unsurprisingly (at least to those of us markets, sustaining upward pressure in 2016, whereas the share of the projected to see its debt steadily rise. and battered global economy who never bought into the Chinese on asset prices and producing outsize secondary sector (manufacturing They are also unlikely to generate Trump’s ambitious now appears to be shaking off hard-landing scenario), strength in returns for wealthy investors. Like it and construction) has fallen from promised growth rate of 3% a year, roughly double the Sits deep post-crisis malaise. the developing world is expected to or not, monetary policy has become an 47% to 40% over the same period. If the International Monetary Fund’s be concentrated in China (6.4%) and instrument of mounting inequality. While the private consumption 1.6% growth achieved in 2016. These two factors are latest forecasts are borne out – an iff y India (7.5%), with growth lagging Second, has the developing world share of aggregate demand increased related because the Trump administration is counting proposition, to be sure – the nearly in Latin America (1.5%) and Russia fi nally broken free of its long-standing more slowly, largely owing to high on faster economic growth to produce additional tax 3.6% average annual growth in world (1.4%). dependence on the developed world? precautionary saving (which refl ects revenues that could then close the defi cit. GDP expected over the 2017-2018 This persistent divergence between I have long argued that claims of gaps in the social safety net), there are But, the problem, they emphasise is that the period would represent a modest developed and developing economies such a “decoupling” were spurious, grounds for optimism on this front as uptick from the 3.2% pace of the past has now reached a critical point. From given the persistence of export-led well. economy can’t grow quickly enough to cover the likely two years. Fully a decade after the 1980 to 2007, the advanced economies growth in poorer countries, which Indeed, the explosive growth of hole in the defi cit. Great Financial Crisis, global growth is accounted for an average of 59% of tethers their economies to external Chinese e-commerce points to a Also, most economists say it’s unlikely that tax cuts fi nally returning to its 3.5% post-1980 world GDP (measured in terms of demand in richer countries. But the shortcut toward a newly vibrant can generate enough gains to prevent the budget defi cit trend. purchasing power parity), whereas facts now speak otherwise. Growth consumer culture that was unavailable But this round trip hardly signals the combined share of developing in global trade slowed to a 3% average to today’s advanced economies at a – estimated to total $559bn this year – from rising. that the world is back to normal. and emerging economies was 41%. pace over the 2008-2016 post-crisis similar stage of development. In the The benefi ts of the tax cuts could also be limited On the contrary, the overhyped idea That was then. According to the period – half the 6% norm from annals of structural change, where by economic forces beyond the US administration’s of a “new normal” for the world IMF’s latest forecast, those shares will 1980 to 2016. Yet, over the same shifts tend to be glacial, China’s immediate control. economy overlooks an extraordinary completely reverse by 2018: 41% for period, GDP growth in the developing evolution is a sprint. In short, major tax cuts might provide an immediate transformation in the global growth the advanced economies and 59% for economies barely skipped a beat. All of this speaks to a radically dynamic over the past nine years. the developing world. This attests to a developing world diff erent world than that which boost to the US economy, but they would likely At the margin, the recent The pendulum of world economic that is now far less dependent on the prevailed prior to the Great Financial produce additional debt that dampens future growth in improvement has been concentrated in growth has swung dramatically from global trade cycle and more reliant on Crisis – a world that raises profound the world’s largest economy. the advanced economies, where GDP the so-called advanced countries internal demand. questions about the effi cacy of growth is now expected to average to the emerging and developing Finally, has China played a monetary policy, development 2% over 2017-2018 – a meaningful economies. New? Absolutely. disproportionate role in reshaping the strategies, and the role of China. pick-up from the unprecedentedly Normal? Not even close. It is a world economy? While some healing of an $80tn global To Advertise anaemic 1.1% average growth of the stunning development, one that Chinese rebalancing suggests that economy is now evident, progress preceding nine years. Relative strength raises at least three fundamental this may well be the case. Historically, needs to be seen through a diff erent [email protected] in the United States (2.4%) is expected questions about our understanding of China’s hugely successful export-led lens than used in past cycles. A world Display to be off set by weakness in both macroeconomics: growth strategy, together with the turned inside out, with new dynamism Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Europe (1.7%) and of course Japan First, isn’t it time to rethink the role rapid growth of China-centric global in the developing world far eclipsing (0.9%). However, annual growth in the of monetary policy? supply chains, was the major reason lingering malaise in the advanced Classified advanced economies is expected to The anaemic recovery in the why I never bought the decoupling economies, is new – but hardly Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 remain considerably below the longer- developed world has occurred against story. Yet the export share of Chinese normal. – Project Syndicate term trend of 2.9% recorded during the backdrop of the most dramatic GDP tumbled from 35% in 2007 to Subscription the 1980-2007 period. monetary easing in history – eight 20% in 2015, while its share of global zStephen S. Roach, a faculty member [email protected] By contrast, the developing world years of policy interest rates near the output surged from 11% to 17% during at Yale University and former keeps chugging along at a much faster zero bound and enormous liquidity this period. China, the world’s largest Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, pace. Although the average growth injections from vastly expanded exporter, may well be in the vanguard is the author of Unbalanced: The 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved rate expected for these economies central-bank balance sheets. of global decoupling. Codependency of America and over 2017-2018, at 4.6%, is about half Yet these unconventional policies This hints at an even more powerful China.