BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 ‘Buttler can inspire England to Qatar stays stronger World Cup despite blockade: Doha Bank CEO glory’ published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10861 June 26, 2018 Shawwal 12, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Deputy Amir chairs QU board meeting Qatar calls on In brief rights body to QATAR | Offi cial Amir sends greetings to leaders of Croatia, end ordeal of Mozambique, Slovenia His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar University siege victims yesterday cables of congratulations (QU), presided over the fourth board meeting for the academic year (2017/2018) at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. The board to Croatian President Kolinda reviewed the implementation of its decisions and recommendations adopted during the third meeting of the academic year QNA Commissioner for Human Rights also Grabar, Mozambique President (2017-2018). It then discussed the topics listed on its agenda and took the appropriate decisions. Geneva monitored a long list of violations in- Filipe Jacinto Nyusi and Slovenian volving families that were separated President Borut Pahor on their and prevented from communication. countries’ national days. Meanwhile, atar has called upon the United The violations reached the point of HE the Prime Minister and Minister Nations Human Rights Council depriving some children of one of their of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Qand its relevant mechanisms, parents, and the members of these Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani also sent especially the special procedures, to families have been subjected to great a similar cable to Croatian Prime Portugal, Spain advance to last 16 carry out their responsibilities urgent- psychological pressure. Many students Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Prime ly, seriously and more eff ectively to put were prevented from continuing their Minister of Mozambique Carlos Reuters Ansarifard converted the penalty to an end to the violations caused by the education, patients were forced to leave Agostinho. HE the Prime Minister Moscow make it 1-1, pushing Portugal to second unjust siege imposed by some coun- hospitals, and individuals were denied also sent a congratulatory cable to spot in the group behind Spain. tries in the region since one year. their right to work or to access their the Slovenian president. Meanwhile, Spain snatched a 2-2 “There should be an end to the suf- property because of their Qatari na- ortugal advanced to the World draw against Morocco to take top spot fering with eff ective redressal of griev- tionality, al-Hammadi explained. QATAR | Celebration Cup round of 16 behind Spain in Group B ahead of Portugal on goals ances of those aff ected and those re- One year after the siege and the uni- Pfrom Group B after Ricardo scored. sponsible held accountable in order lateral coercive measures, the Haj sea- Aspire Academy student Quaresma’s stunning strike on the Morocco, already eliminated, struck to prevent the recurrence of those son is approaching, and the same sce- athletes graduate today stroke of halftime was cancelled out by again in the 81st minute when substi- violations,” urged Al Mohannad Ali al- nario is repeated. The Saudi authorities Aspire Academy will celebrate a dramatic stoppage-time penalty by tute Youssef En-Nesyri crashed in a Hammadi, Qatar’s deputy permanent continue to put obstacles and arbitrary today the graduation of 42 student Iran’s Karim Ansarifard yesterday. header which looked set to infl ict a fi rst representative to the UN Offi ce in Ge- measures against the citizens and resi- athletes from diff erent sports, Portugal fi nished tied on fi ve points defeat on Spain since Euro 2016. neva. dents of Qatar to practice this Islamic including athletics, gymnastics, with Spain, who drew 2-2 against Mo- But substitute Iago Aspas levelled Addressing the 28th special session ritual in the kingdom, al-Hammadi football, football refereeing, rocco to top the group by scoring more in stoppage-time after consultation of the Human Rights Council yester- stated. fencing, and table tennis. The event goals, and set up a second round clash from the video assistant referee (VAR), day, he pointed out that June marks “The siege and these unilateral co- is another step in the academic with Group A toppers Uruguay in So- putting Spain top. one year of the unilateral and coercive ercive measures have far-reaching ef- journey that began 11 years ago chi on Saturday. Spain’s defender Dani Carvajal (back) Earlier, Saudi Arabia defeated Egypt measures and the unjust siege im- fects, particularly on the social fabric with the aim of becoming one of the Making his World Cup debut at the vies with Morocco’s midfielder Younes 2-1 in a match of no consequence as posed on Qatar, noting that the viola- and the rights of individuals, which world’s leading sports academies by age of 34, Quaresma played a one-two Belhanda during their World Cup Group both sides had already crashed out of tions of human rights and the suff er- are diffi cult to remedy if decisive and 2020. Page 20 with Adrien Silva to cut in from the B clash at the Kaliningrad Stadium in the tournament. ing of those aff ected continue until urgent action is not taken to end such right fl ank and curled the ball past the Kaliningrad yesterday. Uruguay, meanwhile comfortably this moment. violations,” he said. ARAB WORLD | Diplomacy outstretched hands of goalkeeper Ali- beat World Cup hosts Russia 3-0 to During the one year of blockade, “The absence of grievance redres- reza Beiranvand with the outside of his rique Caceres used the video assistant seal top spot in Group A courtesy of a the National Human Rights Com- sal mechanisms for the victims in the Hopes for ‘end’ to boot. referee (VAR) system to rule that Por- Luis Suarez free kick, a Denis Chery- mittee in Qatar received 4,105 com- siege countries make it diffi cult to war in South Sudan Iran were awarded a penalty in stop- tugal’s Cedric Soares had handled the shev own goal and a late Edinson Cav- plaints. The report of the technical prosecute the perpetrators of these South Sudanese President Salva Kiir page time after Paraguayan referee En- ball in the box. ani strike. Sport Pages 1-5 mission of the Office of the High violations at the national level.” said he hopes his meeting with rebel leader Riek Machar in Khartoum yesterday will bring an “immediate end” to the devastating war in Celebrating Erdogan’s victory Violations against persons with disabilities their country. Machar and Kiir met Qatar to mark day at a Khartoum convention centre HE the Chairman of the National statistics of the violations against the for a new round of peace talks against drug abuse Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr disabled to the special rapporteur, after a meeting between the two Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri underlined asking her to include it in her report heavyweights last week. Page 4 atar will celebrate Interna- that the violations of the siege before the Human Rights Council. tional Day Against Drug Abuse countries have even included the He explained that the NHRC has Qby organising a number of persons with disabilities who have monitored and documented cases WORLD CUP awareness-raising events on the dan- been subjected to unprecedented described as tragic, especially the gers of drugs and their harm to the in- measures in human history. violations that have aff ected the large dividual and society under the theme During a meeting with Special number of the Gulf common families, Yesterday’s results “Listen First”, chosen by the United Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons noting that some of the cases which Saudi Arabia 2 Egypt 1 Nations for this year’s celebrations. with Disabilities Catalina Devandas need special care have been expelled Uruguay 3 Russia 0 The International Day Against Drug in Geneva, Dr al-Marri said that the from the hospitals of some of the Iran 1 Portugal 1 Abuse falls on June 26 each year. violations resulting from the Gulf siege countries such as Saudi Arabia. Spain 2 Morocco 2 The events, which will be held at crisis have not excluded persons with Dr al-Marri briefed the special the Gulf Mall from June 28 to 30, in- disabilities. rapporteur on the complaints filed Today’s matches clude cultural and recreational com- Many of them have been separated with the UN Committee on the Rights petitions to raise awareness about from their families and others have of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) France vs Denmark, 5pm the dangers of all kinds of drugs and been expelled and deprived from and some international mechanisms, Australia vs Peru, 5pm the harmful eff ects of taking drugs the hospitals of some of the siege and gave her updates on the Argentina vs Nigeria, 9pm The Turkish flag is displayed on the Sheraton Doha hotel to celebrate the victory of wrongly, as well as other events in- countries such as Saudi Arabia. statistics of violations monitored by Iceland vs Croatia, 9pm Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the presidential elections. Page 12 cluding the distribution of awareness The NHRC Chairman handed over the NHRC. brochures and gifts to the public. EAA hosts Rota event to promote sustainable education ducation Above All (EAA) Foun- many renowned organisations. Some development are vast, but challenges ian refugee children into considera- Dr Khuloud al-Khatib, representa- meeting is of great importance as it sets dation’s programme, Reach Out of these participating countries and are sharp and complex. The world is tion - however much more work is still tive of the Geneva Institute for Human a common road map for sustainable ETo Asia (Rota), yesterday kicked organisations include Care Foundation changing – education adapt itself and waiting.” Rights at the conference, said: “This education among all concerned parties. off a three-day Partners Advocacy / International Non-Governmental must also change. That’s the core ob- By promoting the right to education, we Conference, an opportunity to promote Organisation (Ingo), Hashoo Foun- jective of hosting this summit and we aim to enhance the individual’s ability sustainable education through intel- dation from Pakistan; Unicef, Dhaka are sure that Rota Partners Advocacy to participate in the society, and that’s lectual debates. Ahsania Mission, Gove from Bangla- Conference would be able to bring to a goal that we believe can be achieved The event will help in creating prac- desh, Nepal, Philippines, Turkey and life the burning issues that the society through our joint eff orts with partners tical and academic discussions, ex- Indonesia; Unicef, Titian Foundation, is facing and would derive at workable and colleagues on the same mission.“ changing ideas, and achieving a unifi ed Read Ingo, Dalit NGO Federation, Fo- solutions that can be attained by get- The conference intends to walk with advocacy path with international part- rum for Awareness and Youth Activity, ting together.” partners the road of transformative ners towards sustainable education for Plan International Sudan, Mercy Corps Juliette Touma, Unicef Regional Of- education by focusing on a consulta- children. Ingo from Tunisia; Norwegian Council fi ce representative, said: “We have tive, participatory approach to more EAA CEO Fahad al-Sulaiti, Rota ex- RC Ingo from Jordan; Anera, Sonbola, worked at Unicef for many years with strategically identify, anchor and ecutive director Essa al-Mannai, repre- American University in Beirut from a number of Qatari active institutions, jointly plan to provide access to qual- sentatives of a number of international Lebanon; and FC Barcelona, among including Education Above All foun- ity education. organisations and several guests were others. dation. The aim of this partnership is It also intends to create an intellectu- present at the opening ceremony at the Al-Mannai said: “Technology and to jointly reduce the number of out- al discussion, exchange ideas, and plan Student Centre of Hamad Bin Khalifa globalisation made societies more con- of-school children and ensure they re- together to achieve a unifi ed advocacy University in Education City. nected than ever, but intolerance and ceive quality education. A remarkable path with partners towards sustain- In order to reach out to as many re- confl ict remain widespread. Prospects change was made at this level-taking EAA’s Fahad al-Sulaiti speaking at the event as Rota’s Essa al-Mannai and EAA’s able education for children where Rota gions as possible, Rota has tied up with for sustainable equitable, and inclusive the eff orts exerted to support the Syr- Mubarak al-Thani and others look on. PICTURE: Ram Chand works. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 QATAR

Ministry discusses Amid boycott, Qatar’s new enhancing safety of food from EU friends fi nd rich openings departments and the future QNA Doha development plans to match Reuters the procedures applied with Doha the best international stand- epresentatives of the ards. Ministry of Public EU countries’ trade rep- ix months ago Serkan Ucar RHealth (MoPH) held resentatives expressed their arrived in Doha to scope yesterday a meeting with appreciation for the co-oper- Sout business opportunities commercial attaches in the ation and communication in — away from his usual patch. embassies of the EU countries this regard and stressed the The mission looks set to pay accredited to Qatar, to discuss growing desire of many Eu- off handsomely, as the Turk- how best to enhance the safety ropean investors to work in ish entrepreneur expects to win of foodstuff s imported from Qatar. a fi rst contract to help build an EU countries. The meeting emphasised iconic 2022 World Cup stadium. The meeting which was at- the importance of continued Since several Arab countries tended by head of Trade Sec- communication between the launched an economic boycott tion in the EU Delegation Lu- two sides to serve the inter- of Qatar a year ago, the Qatar has cie Berger, discussed means of est of all parties, as well as the had to fi nd alternative partners co-operation to enhance the need to hold more meetings for trade and investment. safety of food imported from between them. Aided by its massive natural the EU countries to Qatar, fa- The Ministry of Public gas wealth, it has rapidly made cilitating the control measures Health has recently launched new friends. by creating an electronic sys- an electronic system for regis- A year ago Saudi Arabia, the tem for registration of food tering food products through United Arab Emirates, Bahrain products on the website of the the ministry’s website. and Egypt cut transport and Ministry of Public Health. The system includes the trade links with Doha, accus- During the meeting, rep- registration of all information ing it of backing terrorism — a resentatives of the MoPH on imported food, which facil- charge it strongly denies. gave a brief presentation itates the process of monitor- The boycott disrupted Qa- on the nature of the cur- ing and tracking it in the case tar’s shipping routes through the rent procedures carried out receiving notifi cations of pos- Gulf and blocked imports across by the ministry’s competent sible link to specifi c dangers. its only land border with Saudi Arabia, previously the route for its perishable food supplies and construction materials. In the bitter diplomatic and economic chill, Ankara sided Licences to build with Qatar. Ucar, 28, saw openings. People look at a model of Al Thumama stadium during an unveiling ceremony at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, on August 24, “They’ve been extremely warehouses to be welcoming for Turkish compa- materials from far afi eld. In Qatar’s supermarkets, Some of Doha’s businesses suf al-Jaida, chief executive of nies after the blockade,” Ucar Gypsum, used to make dry- Turkish brands like Ülker and took a battering when the boy- the Qatar Financial Centre, told told Reuters at a hotel where he wall, is being newly imported Pinar soft cream cheeses are do- cott was launched. Reuters. issued within 3 days was about to interview engi- from Iran, said a construction ing well. Qatar Airways lost money in “A lot of focus was not about neers for jobs at his new offi ce manager who declined to be “The Turkish market is very 2017 after losing access to air- growth, it was about physically in Doha. named. important to us,” said Saleh bin space over boycotting states. withstanding the blockade and QNA The ministry pointed out His family business Referans Gabbro, used to make asphalt Hamad al-Sharqi, director gen- Yet the economy has weath- whatever damage that may oc- Doha that this step comes within Holding expects to sign a con- and concrete, was now being eral at the Qatar Chamber of ered the protracted dispute and cur, because essentials, whether the framework of the memo- tract soon to supply scaff olding imported from Oman instead of Commerce and Industry. “It’s is expected to grow 2.6% this it’s food or logistics, were not randum of understanding and aluminium and fi t out Lusail the UAE. geographically close logistically, year and closer to 3 % in 2019, being made available.” he Ministry of Mu- signed with the authorities Stadium, where the 2022 World While the World Cup means high quality and has competitive according to the fi nance minis- Qatari officials say the cri- nicipality and Environ- concerned and the decision Cup fi nal will take place. sporting drama and global pres- prices.” try. sis was a wake-up call for the Tment, represented by of the technical committee Many Turkish contractors tige, the early stages of the boy- Imports from Turkey between The world’s largest lique- country of 2.7mn to become the Building Permits Com- to study the international are bidding for projects as Qatar cott were all about urgent short- June and December 2017 grew fi ed natural gas exporter quickly more self-reliant and diversify. plex, announced the start of reporting indicators in the pushes ahead with infrastruc- ages of basic products. to $523mn, 48.2% higher than deployed its massive sovereign “We want the world to see what the implementation of new Ministry of Economy and ture for the tournament, said When dairy, fresh milk and in the same period the previous wealth fund, estimated to have this relatively small coun- procedures to issue licences to Commerce regarding the Joseph Abraham, chief executive eggs disappeared from stores, year. about $320bn of assets, to pro- try can do with resilience and build commercial warehouses business environment in Qa- of Commercial Bank of Qatar. Doha airlifted in more than From Oman they jumped 150% tect its banks and currency after commitment,” HE the Minister in the country within 3 work- tar. Huge construction projects 3,000 cows on state airline Qatar to $575mn, according to Interna- the boycotting states withdrew of Energy and Industry Mo- ing days. The Ministry of Municipal- are under way for the World Cup. Airways and imported eggs from tional Monetary Fund data. deposits. hamed bin Saleh al-Sada told The ministry said in a state- ity and Environment pointed Seven new stadiums are be- Oman, which kept its shipping Imports from India rose 54.6% “Our biggest mission as Qa- Reuters. “The only worry I have ment that the new procedures out that the new procedures ing built, along with other in- route with Qatar open when Du- to $1.06bn, and from Iran 63% to taris during the blockade was is that our team may not win are carried out in accordance aim to raise the level of pro- frastructure, sucking in building bai halted shipments to Doha. $69mn. to maintain the economy,” You- the (2022) World Cup.” with the seven approved mod- viding construction permits els, in co-operation with Qa- services to commercial stores tar Economic Zones Company and facilitate procedures for (Manateq) and the concerned investors in line with interna- authorities. tional standards. Ministry booklet Advisory Council discusses draft law on civil aviation Qatar participates in OFID lists laws related ministerial panel meeting QNA Legislative Aff airs Committee and Information Committee Doha on a draft law regulating non- to Study it and submit a report to fi shing industry Qatari ownership and use of real thereon to the Council. QNA tributors to OFID, affi rmed its estate. At the end of the session, the Vienna commitment to continue sup- he Advisory Council After the discussion, the Advisory Council reviewed the porting the Fund’s activities. he Fisheries Guid- life, other legislation related held yesterday its regular Council approved the three draft participation of the Council’s At its meeting in Vienna, ance Unit at the Min- to fishing, and the structural Tweekly session under the laws and decided to submit its delegation in the Emergency atar has participated the Ministerial Council, which T istry of Municipality and organisational frame- chairmanship of HE the Speaker recommendations to the gov- Open-Ended Meeting of the in the 39th meeting comprises the fi nance minis- and Environment’s (MME) work of the Fisheries Depart- of the Advisory Council Ahmed ernment. Standing Committee on Pal- Qof Ministerial Council ters of Opec member-states, Fisheries Department has ment. bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mah- The Council then resumed estine of the Parliamentary of the Opec Fund for Interna- reviewed the OFID’s lend- issued a booklet compiling In the meantime, the moud. its consideration of request Union of the OIC member- tional Development (OFID), ing policies as well as its role all the laws and regulations MME’s Agriculture Aff airs At the outset of the session, made by a number of Advisory states on the current situation held recently in the Austrian in achieving sustainable de- relating to fishing and fish- Department has launched the Advisory Council discussed Council members for a general in Palestine, which was held capital, Vienna. velopment, eradicating pov- ermen. an awareness campaign that a draft law amending some pro- discussion on education issues, recently in the Iranian capital The Qatari delegation to the erty and reducing the spread Titled “The legal texts would go on until the end of visions of law No 15 of 2002 re- focusing on the development Tehran. meeting was headed by Qatar’s of epidemics in developing related to fisheries in Qa- June to inform farmers about garding civil aviation, and de- and Qatarisation of education, The Council welcomed the ambassador to Austria Sheikh countries. The meeting also tar- Part 1,” the publication the diseases that aff ect the cided to approve it and submit the regulation and control of fi nal communique of the meet- Ali bin Jassim al-Thani. appointed a new director- aims at introducing those productivity of date palms its recommendations to the gov- private school fees, school day ing, which reaffi rmed that the Qatar, one of the largest con- general to the fund. concerned to the proce- and stressed their impor- ernment. hours, the duration of the aca- question of Palestine, with Je- dures for protecting fisher- tance as a national wealth During the session, the Coun- demic year, the duration of the rusalem as its capital, is the fi rst ies and marine organisms that should be maintained cil also discussed the reports of annual leave of teachers and priority of the Islamic Ummah. Indian embassy Community House on June 28 and the best ways to sustain and protected against all the the Services and Public Utilities the tasks assigned to them and The communique called on the them for the future genera- involved risks, in particular Committee on a draft law regu- the unification of holidays be- Islamic countries to abandon Indian ambassador will hold the monthly Community House at the tions. pests and insects. lating road transport and a draft tween public and private insti- diff erences and consolidate the embassy premises on Thursday (June 28) between 3pm and 4pm. The booklet has four sec- The department also ex- law on road transport of hazard- tutions. bonds of Islamic brotherhood Urgent labour and consular issues of Indian expatriates would be tions - legislation regarding pressed its willingness to off er ous materials. After extensive discussion, and provide all forms of support taken up at the session. Besides the ambassador and embassy fisheries and water organ- all necessary assistance in this Moreover, the Council dis- the Council decided to refer the for the ongoing Palestinian up- off icials, representatives of the Indian Community Benevolent ism, protection of marine regard for farmers. cussed a report of the Legal and request to the Cultural Aff airs rising. Forum will also attend.

Majd Qatar book launched to highlight country’s achievements

QNA Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Mo- through our projects and services book comes to highlight the accom- Planning and Statistics to achieve its highlighting the accomplishments Doha hamed Jabor al-Thani, Chairman to be witnesses and contributors to plishments made during the past five mission and emphasise the importance of a number of ministries such as of the Tawasol Centre for Organi- the national system that shows the years in various sectors during the of educating society about develop- health, municipal and environment, sation, said: “Believing in our re- remarkable progress and determina- era of His Highness the Amir Sheikh ment in Qatar in accordance with in- and several institutions and bodies national campaign entitled the sponsibility towards our country tion to achieve more success in our Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, as well ternational standards. such as the Public Works Author- Qatar Glory Majd Qatar was and an attempt to support the vi- country under the wise leadership of as to focus on the achievements of He thanked all the supporters and ity (Ashghal), the Qatar Chamber of Alaunched here on Sunday night sion of Qatar 2030, which seeks to His Highness the Amir”. last year, which witnessed the siege participants in the campaign. Commerce, the Supreme Committee and a book of the same name was re- consolidate the best achievements He said that eff orts of this campaign on the State of Qatar, stressing that The book, Majd Qatar, which was for Delivery & Legacy (SC), and the leased highlighting Qatar’s achieve- and effective national projects on worked for six consecutive months the country looks forward to a bright prepared by the Tawasol Centre, fea- Qatar Red Crescent, while the third ments in the past fi ve years in various the ground, the Tawasol Centre has to produce the book Majd Qatar to be future, which requires us to follow up tures three chapters: the fi rst is about chapter features the achievements of fi elds. launched the Majd Qatar campaign the beginning of documentation of the and to pay attention to the achieve- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim the media sector in Qatar, including The campaign was initiated by the to serve as an institution that high- achievements of the State in various ments and development projects bin Hamad al-Thani, covering biogra- Qatar TV, Al Rayyan Satellite TV and Tawasol Centre and was sponsored by lights the most important national government or private sectors, based made. phy, and the Amiri vision and direc- Qatar Radio. a number of government and private achievements, events and projects on social responsibility and contribute Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Mohamed tives, besides a number of His High- The book has been published in fi ne bodies, on the occasion of the fi fth within the State and its importance to supporting the 2030 vision. Jabor al-Thani said that the Centre will ness the Amir’s achievements during print and will be distributed to vari- anniversary of His Highness the Amir in advancing development in politi- He pointed out that in order to continue its eff orts to introduce the the past fi ve year. ous ministries, sectors and libraries Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani’s cal, economic, cultural, social and keep abreast of developments and country’s achievements in co-opera- The second chapter covers achieve- in order to promote Qatar’s glory and assumption of rule in the country. sports fields in Doha, where we seek achievements, the publication of this tion with the Ministry of Development ments of the governmental sector, achievements. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 3 QATAR Qatar Airways Maj Gen al-Nabit meets US official launches onboard ‘Oryx Kids Club’ atar Airways has launched its ‘Oryx Kids The Amiri Air Defence Forces Commander Staff Major General (Pilot) Hamad Mubarak al-Dawi QClub’ onboard chil- al-Nabit yesterday met US Army Central Command Deputy Commander Major General David dren’s programme, off ering an Hill at his off ice, according to a tweet from Qatar’s Ministry of Defence. They discussed relations enhanced experience for its of common interests between the two friendly countries, exchange of experiences and ways of youngest travellers by providing developing and enhancing them. them with specially designed plush toys, activity packs, and special meal boxes. Children travelling on ultra long-haul routes can now enjoy their fl ight with their favourite super heroes from Oryx Kids Aster opens new optical Club: “Orry” and “Orah” the Oryx and their friends Kamil the camel, Faaiz the falcon and Farrah the desert fox. shop at C Ring Road branch The programme will extend to long-haul fl ights from July 1 ster DM Healthcare and on short-and medium-haul Qatar has opened a routes from September 1. Anew full-fl edged opti- “We always seek to enhance cal showroom, ‘Aster Optics’, the travel experience of our pas- at its existing medical centre sengers of all ages. We especially Qatar Airways ensures youngest on C Ring Road. The new op- want to ensure that fl ying is as Qatar Airways off ers specially-designed plush toys, activity packs, travellers are entertained with tical shop will function with enjoyable as it can be for children and meal boxes for its young travellers. its new programme. the support of the existing and families,” Qatar Airways Ophthalmology department. senior vice president (marketing children’s meals will help make tier, off ering exclusive benefi ts. With more than 4,000 en- The inauguration was done and corporate communications) fl ying with Qatar Airways a The airline has already made tertainment options to choose by Indian ambassador P Ku- Salam al-Shawa said. seamless and fun-fi lled journey a substantial investment at its from, Qatar Airways’ award- maran, yesterday in the pres- “These new special new toys, for every child. home and hub, Hamad Interna- winning in-fl ight entertainment ence of Bethel Group chair- Ambassador P Kumaran inaugurating Aster Optics in the presence amenity packs and meal boxes The airline will also soon tional Airport (HIA), to excite service, Oryx One, also features man Sheikh Abdulrahman bin of Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hassan al-Thani, Dr Sameer Moopan, Dr featuring the Oryx Kids Club launch the Oryx Kids Club loyal- and inspire children. dedicated children’s channels Hassan al-Thani, Aster DMH Nazar Moopan, Dr Kapil Chib and other off icials of Aster. super heroes will ensure that ty programme, off ering children The iconic Teddy Bear lamp such as Disney, Nickelodeon, the Qatar CEO Dr Sameer Moo- our youngest travellers are en- between the ages of two and 11 is a fi rm favourite with families, Cartoon Network, Baraaem and pan, medical director & chief An inaugural off er of high quality supports community welfare ac- tertained from the moment they the opportunity to enjoy value- along with dedicated children’s Jeem, to keep youngsters happy of medical staff Dr Nazar Moo- glass and frames at a discounted tivities by participating in medical board the aircraft, alongside our added benefi ts while travelling play areas. throughout the fl ight. pan, ophthalmologist Dr TPV price has been announced. camps and other organisations”. dedicated children’s channels with Qatar Airways as well as Al Mourjan Lounge at HIA also Family-friendly fi lms cur- Saseendranath, Aster Hospital Ambassador Kumaran said, “I Sheikh Abdulrahman not- on the Oryx One entertainment the ability to earn Qmiles, which features a Formula 1 simulator in rently being shown on board in- Doha chief operating offi cer Dr always had been happy with suc- ed, “Aster is the main private system,” she added. can be redeemed for attractive the play area and a games room, as clude ‘A Wrinkle in Time’, ‘Peter Kapil Chib and other offi cials. cessful business operations of Aster healthcare provider in the re- In March, the airline revealed awards. well as a dedicated children’s nurs- Rabbit’, ‘Scooby-Doo’ and ‘Bat- Aster Optics will provide opti- in Qatar and the region in general. It gion and they are very pro- the new Oryx Kids Club heroes. In addition, they will also ery. Children travelling on their man’, ‘The Brave’ and ‘The Bold’, cal services, complete with a wide is a pleasure to see fl ourishing and fessional in caring people. I The new cuddly toys, activity be eligible to earn Qpoints, own also have access to a special ‘LEGO Scooby-Doo’, and ‘Blow- choice of frames, lenses, sunglass- successful India-Qatar partner- also off er best wishes for their packs, and specially-designed which moves them to a higher unaccompanied minors’ lounge. out Beach Bash’, among others. es, contact lenses and solutions. ships. I am very happy that Aster future expansions in Qatar”.

Shopping festival winners receive prizes

inners of the Asian long festival, which gives Town Shopping away a total of three cars WFestival 2018 raf- and six Smart LED TVs, six fl e draw received their prizes mobile phones, six blenders recently, Ibn Ajayan Projects and six home theatre. has announced. Suzuki Jimny and Mahi- Ram Bujharat won the fi rst ndra XUV500 are the prizes car, Seat Toledo, in the fi rst draw for the car winners in the on June 24, receiving the car key second and third raffl e draw. from Salem al-Fouhaid, public Ibn Ajayan Project is or- and government relation man- ganising the shopping fes- ager Ibn Ajayan Projects. tival at Asian Town for the The other winners who third time. received prizes such as TV, This year, those who mobile phone, home thea- buy a minimum of QR50 tre, and blenders are Asian from offi cially participat- expatriates, and working in ing shops at Plaza Mall and the industrial area. Cricket Stadium Complex Ram Bujharat won a car in Asian Town Shopping Festival’s Asian Town Shopping can avail coupons for raffl e first raff le draw. Festival is three-month draw.

Nojoom Loyalty Programme kicks off World Technology comes in handy Cup contest for HMC’s central pharmacy Ooredoo announced yesterday that its Nojoom Loyalty he central phar- livery of her baby, a patient state-of-the-art IV ro- Programme is launching a new macy supplying recovering after day sur- bot, also eliminates many competition for the 2018 FIFA THamad Medical gery, or a rehabilitation pa- manual steps that may World Cup. Corporation’s (HMC) tient continuing their heal- otherwise be required The ‘Nojoom Football three new hospitals in ing journey,’’ said Dr Moza during the medication Millionaire Game’ has been Hamad Bin Khalifa Medi- al-Hail, executive director dispensing process. By designed to encourage more cal City is one of the most of pharmacy at HMC. doing so, the potential for people to support football in technologically-advanced The pharmacy’s ad- error is greatly reduced,’’ Qatar and unite fans across the hospital pharmacies in the vanced technology pro- Dr al-Hail stated. country, Ooredoo said. Middle East. vides secure high-density Once the medication is With the game, Ooredoo The pharmacy supplies storage of medications safely dispensed, it can be customers have to simply medication to Qatar Re- while also controlling ac- transferred manually by choose their team and register habilitation Institute, the cess to a wide range of motor carts or automati- at Ooredoo.qa/goal to earn Women’s Wellness and medicines. Multiple oper- cally by a pneumatic tube Nojoom points and the chance Research Center, and the ator stations allow phar- system, depending on the to win the mega prize of 1mn Ambulatory Care Center. macists to retrieve medi- type, quantity, and urgency. Nojoom points. The three hospitals, cation at the same time, The pneumatic tube system Registered members will win which were formally with barcode technology is made up of fi ve zones of 10 Nojoom points, plus an opened by His Highness and password-protected tubes, each originating in entry into the mega prize draw, the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin systems helping enhance the central pharmacy and each time their chosen team Hamad al-Thani, in De- operational effi ciencies ending in various units scores a goal during the FIFA cember 2017, now deliver and reduce the risk of within the three new hos- World Cup tournament. care at more than 40,000 medication errors. pitals. The tube network The ‘Nojoom Football outpatient appointments In addition to ensuring supplies all inpatient wards Millionaire Game’ will run until each week. Last week the safe medication storage, as well as outpatient phar- July 15, 2018 and the mega new hospitals recognised the technology within macies and guarantees the prize draw will be held on July a milestone, having de- the central pharmacy au- fast and safe transportation 16, 2018. livered care at more than tomates the dispensing of medication. Every Ooredoo residential 310,000 outpatient ap- process. “An advanced “An enormous amount customer with a mobile pointments since fi rst feature of our system is of time and care has been number under their QID or becoming operational. its ability to repackage all invested in the design and passport can register to the “The central pharmacy medication into unit dose build of the pharmacy to ‘Nojoom Football Millionaire fulfi ls an essential role, pouches. The pouches ensure that we are able to Game’ and earn Nojoom providing state-of-the-art contain all the required not only meet the high de- points, which can be redeemed storage, dispensing, and information for safely dis- mand that comes from sup- at over 220 local and distribution of medica- pensing medication and plying medication to three international Nojoom partner tion for a full spectrum of medical administration,” hospitals but to also do so outlets. patient needs. This can noted Dr al-Hail. in the safest, most effi cient, To find out more about include medication for a “The dispensing sys- and timely manner possi- Nojoom, visit Ooredoo.qa. mother following the de- tem, which includes a ble,’’ explained Dr al-Hail. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD Families fl ee as government Prince William in Israel as part forces pummel Daraa city of regional tour AFP Daraa city’s eastern half and Daraa nearly all the adjacent province AFP separately with Prime Minis- of Sweida. Tel Aviv ter Benjamin Netanyahu and Those areas have come under President Reuven Rivlin. yria’s government ramped opposition fi re too, with rebels The following day he is up its bombardment of the launching rockets on Sweida ritain’s Prince William scheduled to meet Palestinian Ssouthern city of Daraa yes- city yesterday, state news agency arrived in Israel yester- president Mahmoud Abbas in terday, forcing dozens of families SANA said. Bday, the fi rst member the occupied West Bank city of to fl ee an expected assault on the Front lines had been relatively of the royal family to make an Ramallah, before meeting Pal- cradle of a seven-year uprising. quiet for nearly a year under a offi cial visit to the Jewish state estinian refugees and young After a string of wins else- “de-escalation” deal agreed in and the Palestinian territories. people. On Thursday, he is to where, President Bashar al-As- July 2017 by Russia, the US, and Prince William’s plane from complete his stay by visiting sad has set his sights on recap- Jordan. But now, the regime and Jordan landed at Ben Gurion historical and religious sites in turing the country’s strategic its Russian allies are pursuing Airport between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. south, which borders Jordan a divide-and-conquer strategy Jerusalem around 6:00pm “We know this is not a and the Israeli-occupied Golan against rebels. (1500 GMT), with the royal time when we can celebrate Heights. Yesterday, Russian bombing descending on to the tarmac in progress in the Middle East His forces have been battering raids hit the military base near a dark suit. peace progress, but we believe rebel-held towns in Daraa prov- the border with Jordan, said the Offi cials stressed the visit of that engagement is just as im- ince for nearly a week, leaving at Observatory. the future king was non-po- portant in challenging times least 29 civilians dead, accord- Ousting rebels from it would litical and focused on building as it is in good times,” Philip ing to the Syrian Observatory for divide the opposition horse- relations with young people. Hall, Britain’s consul general Human Rights. shoe into a western and eastern Yet he is likely to rub up in Jerusalem, told journalists They then turned to the pro- section. Russian strikes and 20 against the complicated reali- yesterday. vincial capital of the same name, regime barrel bombs yesterday ties of the Israeli-Palestinian “We know some of the poli- launching air strikes and barrel also hit the key town of Basr al- confl ict, particularly when he tics are diffi cult, but this is not bombs on opposition-held dis- Harir in Daraa’s eastern coun- visits the disputed holy city of a political visit.” tricts early yesterday. tryside, rocked by clashes for Jerusalem. William, second in While in Jerusalem, William More than 55 surface-to-sur- Smoke rises above opposition held areas of Daraa during air strikes by Syrian regime forces, yesterday. nearly a week. line to the British throne, ar- will also visit the grave of his face missiles slammed into those “Capturing the town would rived without his wife Kate, great grandmother Princess neighbourhoods after midnight, swathes of territory since 2015. the children when all of a sud- crying and heavy shelling over- allow troops to divide rebel ter- the Duchess of Cambridge, Alice, who is buried in Jeru- followed by four barrel bombs, The attacks prompted dozens den, we heard heavy shelling,” head,” Musalima said. ritory to smaller pockets,” Abdel who gave birth to their third salem. the Britain-based Observatory of terrifi ed families to stream out said Ahmad al-Musalima, 31. Syrian rebels hold the western Rahman said. child two months ago. She was honoured by Is- said. of Daraa city. “The kids started shaking in half of Daraa city and most of the Heavy strikes on Daraa’s east- He will stay in Jerusalem at rael for sheltering Jews during “It is the fi rst time they drop Many set out in the dead of fear,” he said. surrounding province, as well ern countryside forced rescue the King David Hotel, former World War II. barrel bombs on Daraa city in night to seek shelter in olive He and his family fl ed over- most of the adjacent governorate workers to stop operations in the headquarters of the British US President Donald more than a year,” said monitor groves on the city limits, AFP’s night, joining an estimated of Quneitra to the west. town of Al-Laja. administration during the Trump’s December decision to chief Rami Abdel Rahman. correspondent there said. 20,000 people displaced by the That territory roughly forms a “The civil defence teams have mandate in Palestine before recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s The Observatory said the city Leaving on foot or by motor- past week’s escalating violence, horseshoe, whose bottom curve not been able to reach targeted the creation of the State of Is- capital angered Palestinians, was struck again around noon, bike, they took refuge in small according to the Observatory borders Jordan and includes a areas because of the intense rael in 1948. and the May inauguration of this time with air strikes by shacks or tents among the trees. “We left the house and didn’t military base held by rebels since bombing,” the local civil defence Today, he is to lay a wreath the US embassy in the city Syria’s ally Russia, which has “We don’t know what hap- know where to go. We headed 2014. centre said in an online state- at the Holocaust memorial coincided with bloody border helped Assad’s troops recapture pened. We were sleeping with towards the plain with the kids Syrian troops meanwhile hold ment. Yad Vashem, before meeting protests in the Gaza Strip.

CONCERN Traders protest Coalition claims death of Hezbollah fi ghters over currency weakness

Agencies Adel al-Jubeir accused Hezbollah Traders in the Iranian capital’s Grand Riyadh of fi ring a missile at the kingdom Bazaar held a rare protest strike yes- from Yemeni territory. terday against the collapse of the Hezbollah denied that claim. rial on the foreign exchange market he Saudi-led coalition bat- Yesterday’s announcement as demonstrators also took to the tling rebels in Yemen yes- comes as Yemeni pro-govern- streets. At a crossroads in central Te- Tterday said its forces killed ment forces are locked in heavy hran, anti-riot police fired tear gas at eight members of Lebanon’s battles with Houthi rebels as they dozens of youths chanting “Iranians, group Hezbollah in an air strike in press an off ensive backed by Saudi Iranians, support us” and throwing northern Yemen, near the Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emir- stones, an AFP photographer said. border. ates to retake the key aid hub of Videos posted on social media “The coalition killed 41 ele- Hodeidah. appeared to show other confronta- ments in Maran and destroyed UN envoy Martin Griffi ths, who tions in the capital between security their vehicles and equipment. held talks in the rebel-held capi- forces and demonstrators. Among the dead were eight tal Sanaa last week to avoid mili- “The demands of bazaar traders are members of Lebanese Hezbollah, People stand on the rubble of a house destroyed by an air strike in tary confrontation in Hodeidah, is legitimate. They want the situation including a commander,” coali- Amran, Yemen, yesterday. set to visit the southern port city on the foreign exchange market to tion spokesman Colonel Turki al- of Aden tomorrow for talks with be clarified once and for all,” Abdol- Maliki said in a statement, with- nouncement by the coalition of At press conference in Riyadh, Yemen’s Saudi-backed President lah Esfiandari, head of the historical out off ering details on how the Lebanese Hezbollah fi ghters be- Maliki said the Hezbollah fi ght- Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. covered market’s administrative fi ghters were killed. ing killed in Yemen although Ma- ers were part of a group heading “He will only be there for a few board, told ISNA news agency. Maran is in Saada province, a liki said it was “not the fi rst time”. to the Saudi border when they hours and the talks will focus on He said the protest was against stronghold of Yemen’s Houthi Hezbollah did not immediately were spotted by their surveillance the situation in Hodeidah and (on) “the high exchange rate, foreign rebels. respond to AFP’s request for com- network. In a November interview averting any military operation on currency fluctuations... goods being It was the fi rst offi cial an- ment on the claim. with CNN, Saudi Foreign Minister the port,” one offi cial told Reuters. blocked at customs, and the lack of clear criteria for duties”.

LEGAL Bahrain jails two over social Hope for peace at media posts A Bahraini court yesterday sentenced a woman, believed to be activist Najah Ahmed Yousif, meeting in Khartoum and man to three years in jail over social media use, the public Agencies prosecution said. The woman was Khartoum convicted for managing accounts on social networking sites “which published articles and videos pro- outh Sudan’s President Sal- moting terrorist acts, incited hatred va Kiir and rebel leader Riek against the governing regime and SMachar said yesterday they collected funds to organise anti- hoped for a breakthrough in peace government events”, Issa al-Rowaie, talks as they met in Khartoum, but acting chief prosecutor for terrorist there was no immediate indication crimes, was quoted as saying in that either side would make real a statement. The man was found concessions. guilty of helping her to run those “I came to this meeting with an social media accounts. Together, open mind and hope my brother “they broadcast false and biased Riek did the same ... I see the need to news” about conditions in Bahrain, stop this unnecessary war and hope the prosecution statement said, Dr Riek does as well,” Kiir said as without specifying the acts. The talks began. two individuals were not named. He said disagreements persisted Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir holds hands with Uganda’s President over “division of power and security Yoweri Museveni, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and South Sudan arrangements” - an apparent refer- rebel leader Riek Machar during a South Sudan peace meeting as part of CRIME ence to possible rebel representa- talks to negotiate peace, in Khartoum, yesterday. Iraq makes arrests tion in the South Sudanese govern- ment and the “integration” of rebel shir is convening the talks in Khar- Sudan where warring factions face a over kidnapping and government forces. toum. looming deadline to avert UN sanc- Machar told reporters: “We came A fi rst round of talks brokered by tions. Iraq’s security forces said yesterday to Khartoum to look for peace”, al- Ethiopian premier Abiy Ahmed in The war has killed tens of thou- they had made arrests related though he said his own invitation Addis Ababa on Thursday failed to sands of people and driven about to the kidnapping and holding had come “late”, without elaborat- achieve any breakthrough. four million others from their hostage of six of their members ing. Yesterday, the two warring South homes. by Islamic State. The militants South Sudan off ered to allow a Sudanese heavyweights met at a It erupted after Kiir fell out with had kidnapped six men and on rebel representative to join its gov- Khartoum convention centre in the his then deputy Machar in Decem- Saturday threatened to kill them ernment on Friday, but ruled out presence of Bashir and Ugandan ber 2013, dashing the optimism in three days unless the govern- Machar himself. President Yoweri Museveni, an AFP that accompanied independence of ment released female prisoners. The war that broke out in 2013, correspondent reported. South Sudan just two years earlier In a video released by the group, less than two years after oil-rich Kiir and Machar shook hands from Sudan. the six men identify themselves South Sudan gained independence and later stood alongside Bashir and Kiir and Machar’s meeting in Ad- as members of the police or the from Sudan, has killed tens of thou- Museveni with their hands raised. dis Ababa was their fi rst face-to- Popular Mobilisation Forces, that sands and forced millions from their Yesterday’s meeting comes as re- face encounter in nearly two years fought with government forces homes. gional East African leaders launched and the fi rst in Sudan since the against IS and nominally report to Sudan’s President Omar al-Ba- new eff orts to secure peace in South fi ghting erupted. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5 AFRICA FBI to help probe deadly Nigeria farmers, herders clash, Ethiopia rally explosion leaving 86 dead AFP Addis Ababa AFP death toll from attacks on six vil- Abuja lages at 169. There was no independent BI investigators will help Ethio- verifi cation of the fi gures. pia probe a deadly grenade attack igerian police yestedray Ndi Kato, a campaigner for Fwhich left two people dead at a sent reinforcements to indigenous people in the cen- massive rally for Ethiopia’s prime minis- Nthe central state of Pla- tral states, told AFP people were ter in the capital over the weekend. teau after violence between angry and security needed to be More than 150 people were also in- herders and farmers left 86 dead, improved. jured in the blast, which appeared to tar- and indications more people lost “We are losing people at war get Abiy Ahmed just as he was wrapping their lives. levels now,” she said, calling for up a speech to a cheering crowd of hun- The head of the federal police, civilian militia to be set up in the dreds of thousands in the heart of Addis Ibrahim Idris, said a special in- restive region. Ababa. tervention force had been sent The violence will heap further “The US government said it will send “to restore lasting peace” in the pressure on President Muham- FBI experts to investigate Saturday’s aff ected areas. madu Buhari, who has been ac- bomb blast,” State-affi liated Fana Broad- “The intervention is to put cused of failing to stop clashes cast Corporate reported, without giving an end to the crisis,” he said in a between the two groups across further details. statement, adding the reinforce- the so-called “Middle Belt”. A spokesman for the US embassy in ments included two surveillance The long-running confl ict Addis Ababa confi rmed the FBI’s involve- helicopters, counter-terrorism has its roots in a battle for land ment. and intelligence cells. and water but over the years has An AFP photographer yesterday saw Plateau state on Sunday im- taken on an ethnic, political and four people who did not appear to be posed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in religious dimension, making it a Ethiopian combing the site of the blast the aff ected areas as angry youths huge security concern. while a US embassy vehicle was parked from ethnic Berom farming com- Buhari called the latest attacks nearby. munities attacked motorists on “painful and regrettable” and Ethiopian security forces have arrested the main Jos to Abuja road. vowed to bring those responsible 30 people suspected of involvement in One motorist who escaped to justice. the blast, though no party has claimed the violence said he saw six dead Federal police chief Idris ap- responsibility. Supporters of Ethiopia’s St George Football Club, one of Addis Ababa’s largest football team, donate blood at Ethiopia Red Cross bodies and the youths were tar- pealed to traditional rulers, re- Nine police offi cers have also been de- in Addis Ababa to help injured victims of Saturday’s blast. geting anyone who looked “Fu- ligious and community leaders, tained for failing to prevent the attack, lani and Muslim”, referring to the politicians and parents to pre- including the capital’s deputy police be a rare diplomatic meeting between the groups bent on overthrowing the oth- security forces tortured people and ethnic group of the herders. vent further reprisals. commissioner. long hostile neighbours. ers’ government but Abiy’s moves have begun to open up the state-controlled The unrest was sparked af- Chris Ngwodo, a political Rally organiser Seyoum Teshome ear- Eritrea and Ethiopia have been at log- calmed tensions. economy. ter an apparent reprisal attack commentator, said the cyclical lier told AFP he saw police scuffl e with a gerheads for years over Addis Ababa’s re- Last week the Ginbot 7 radical opposi- These moves have boosted his popu- blamed on nomadic Fulani herd- pattern of tit-for-tat violence person attempting to hurl a grenade at the fusal to withdraw from territory a United tion group said it would stop attacks on larity among Ethiopians. ers against Berom farmers on needed to be broken. stage Abiy had spoken from. Nations-backed boundary commission Ethiopia to support Abiy’s reforms, and The 42-year-old former army offi cer Saturday that police said left 86 “There has to be a real seri- It then detonated in the crowd, spark- says belongs to Eritrea. later even issued a statement condemn- and cabinet minister is the fi rst prime dead. ous commitment to arresting ing panic and a stampede that injured Earlier this month Abiy reversed that ing the Meskel Square attack. minister in modern Ethiopia from the The authorities in Nigeria have the perpetrators and very deci- scores. policy, saying Ethiopia would respect the The Eritrea rapprochement is one of country’s largest ethnic group the Oro- previously downplayed death sively and publicly putting them The attack was a rare act of violence in demarcation handed down after a 1998- several changes Abiy has made since the mo. tolls and local media on Mon- through the entire judicial sys- the heavily policed capital but does not 2000 war between the two countries that ruling Ethiopia People’s Revolutionary A secretive coalition of four ethnically day quoted several local Berom tem,” he said. appear to have derailed the reform agenda killed an estimated 80,000 people. Democratic Front (EPRDF) selected him based parties, the EPRDF controls every groups as saying that more than “There’s no commitment cur- of Abiy, who took offi ce in April. In the past it would not have been sur- to take over following his predecessor’s seat in parliament and wields unchecked 100 people were killed. rently that’s going to happen. Fana yesterday reported that a delega- prising for Eritrea to be blamed for an at- surprise resignation. control of Ethiopia’s institutions. One Christian charity based That’s why there’s vigilantism tion from neighbouring Eritrea was due tack such as Saturday’s. Abiy has since released jailed jour- Abiy’s level of support within the party in the Plateau state capital Jos, and communities taking matters in Addis Ababa this week, in what would Both countries have hosted rebel nalists and dissidents, admitted that leadership remains unclear. the Stefanus Foundation, put the into their own hands.” Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 AMERICA Trump urges turning away migrants

Reuters criticism from some in his own Republican Republicans control Congress but are not attempt in two weeks, would fail. Washington Party, this month over migrant children who united around a single immigration measure Last Thursday the House rejected a meas- were separated from their parents because and a divide between moderates and con- ure favored by conservatives that would have of the administration’s two-month old pol- servatives has dampened prospects for a halted the practice of splitting up families resident Donald Trump yesterday re- icy of seeking to detain and prosecute eve- compromise. and addressed a range of other immigration iterated frustration at laws granting ryone caught entering the country illegally. Republican Representative Mark issues. Pdue process to illegal immigrants and The president caved last Wednesday, is- Meadows, a leader of a conservative fac- Speaking to Fox News, Meadows said that said people should be turned away at the suing an executive order that ended the tion among House of Representatives Re- even if the measure failed, he expected fol- border, as expectations faded for a speedy fi x separations. publicans, said he expected that an im- low-up legislation aimed primarily at pre- in the US Congress to the border crisis. But the zero tolerance policy remains migration bill to be offered for a potential venting children from being separated from Heavily criticized for a policy that led to in place, raising questions about where to vote in the House on Tuesday, the second their parents at the border. more than 2,000 children being separated house families detained at the border and from their parents at the US-Mexico border, how to process them speedily. Trump defended his “zero tolerance” im- Despite his order, the government has yet migration policy, as government agencies to reunite more than 2,000 children with struggle to address its ramifi cations. their parents. “Hiring many thousands of judges, and Rather than hire more judges to adjudicate going through a long and complicated legal the cases of illegal immigrants and clear a process, is not the way to go — will always be backlog, Trump wants fewer border-cross- disfunctional (sic),” Trump said in a tweet. ers to ease the burden on the court system. “People must simply be stopped at the Guatemalan children, some as young as Border and told they cannot come into the fi ve, are being held in a dozen shelters in the US illegally. Children brought back to their northeastern United States while their par- country.” ents have already been deported, Guatema- Trump expressed a similar view on Sun- lan consulate offi cial Pedro Tzunun in New day, saying in a tweet that “We cannot allow York told Reuters. all of these people to invade our Country” “If you’re sending a parent home, why are and they should be sent home with no judges you keeping the children?” said Jazmin Car- or court cases. rillo, spokeswoman for the consulate. “We Democrats have accused Trump of wanting don’t understand how this can be possible.” to circumvent the US Constitution’s guaran- The border crisis has intensifi ed Demo- tee of due process for those accused of crimes. crats’ anger with Trump and deepened a Trump faced a global outcry, including partisan divide on Capitol Hill.

A protestor watches President Donald Trump’s motorcade pass by outside Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, on Sunday.

Dining out becomes a chore for Team Trump

By Sebastien Blanc, AFP Washington

oes working for Donald Trump mean you cannot enjoy a night out in Washington? D In the past week, several of his top aides have been targeted by protesters while dining, and his spokes- woman Sarah Sanders was asked to leave a restaurant in central Virginia over her views. Now, the president has weighed in — and he’s not happy. The billionaire president’s target? The Red Hen in Lexington, Virginia — a cozy 26-seat, farm-to-table establishment in a 19th century brick build- ing specializing in the local cuisine of the Shenandoah Val- ley. On Friday night, the owner asked Sanders and her party — who were already seated and eating a fi rst course — to leave after some of the staff objected to her presence. “I politely left,” Sanders tweeted, though she added: “Her actions say far more about her than about me. I al- ways do my best to treat people, including those I disagree with, respectfully and will continue to do so.” But Trump was not having it. “The Red Hen Restaurant should focus more on cleaning its fi lthy canopies, doors and windows (badly needs a paint job) rather than refusing to serve a fi ne person like Sarah Huckabee Sanders,” he tweeted yesterday morning. “I always had a rule, if a restaurant is dirty on the out- side, it is dirty on the inside!” On its website, the Red Hen highlights its beet risotto, featuring “vegetables from Rancho Calixto, a family farm founded by immigrants from Mexico.” Owner Stephanie Wilkinson said she her principles had to come before profi tability. “I have a business, and I want the business to thrive,” Wilkinson told The Washington Post, but she added that she felt she needed to make a stand against what she called an “inhumane and unethical” administration. “I explained (to Sanders) that the restaurant has certain standards that I feel it has to uphold, such as honesty, and compassion, and cooperation,” Wilkinson said. Sanders was not the fi rst to face a public backlash in her off hours. Senior White House aide Stephen Miller was branded a “fascist” by one angry patron during a visit to a downtown Mexican restaurant. And Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen made a quick exit when leftist protesters marched into an- other Mexican restaurant chanting “Shame!” She also confronted protesters at her home in the suburb of Alexandria. In a deeply polarized political climate, especially as an immigration crisis swirls on the border with Mexico, even their choice of restaurants was criticized, with many see- ing Miller and Nielsen as especially tone deaf. Cue the protests and hand-wringing on both sides. The Red Hen is now the target of a conservative boycott, while Democrats are cheering. Representative Maxine Waters urged her support- ers to “show up wherever we have to show up” to protest Trump’s policies. “If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd, and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere,” she said. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 7 AMERICA

‘Paws crossed!’ Giant panda may be pregnant Top court sidesteps North Carolina at Washington zoo By Peter Szekely, Reuters New York

One of the US capital’s resident giant dispute over Republican vote maps pandas may be pregnant, off icials at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Reuters With partisan gerrymandering, the Zoo said yesterday, but warned fans Washington political party that controls a state of the woolly black-and-white mam- legislature uses the process of redraw- mals not to get baby fever just yet. ing electoral districts after the US cen- Mei Xiang, who was artificially he US Supreme Court yesterday sus every decade to tighten its grip on inseminated on March 1, is showing threw out a lower court’s rul- power by diluting the infl uence of vot- the signs a giant panda would show Ting that Republicans lawmakers ers who tend to back the rival party. if she were pregnant, but those signs in North Carolina drew congressional Democrats have accused Republicans are also identical with the hormonal district boundaries to ensure lopsid- of intensifying partisan gerrymander- and behavioural changes of a false ed electoral victories for their party ing this decade, helping President Don- pregnancy, a zoo spokeswoman said against rival Democrats. ald Trump’s party maintain control of yesterday. The justices sent the case back to the US House of Representatives and “Probably within the next month a federal three-judge panel to recon- state legislatures. Both parties have en- we should know if she is pregnant or sider whether the plaintiff s, including gaged in gerrymandering over the years, if she is pseudopregnant,” spokes- a group of Democratic voters, have the and the Maryland case decided by the woman Devin Murphy said in a necessary legal standing to sue in the justices involved a congressional dis- telephone interview. case involving a contentious practice trict drawn by Democrats. “The only way to definitely tell is to called partisan gerrymandering. Challengers to electoral maps point see a fetus on an ultrasound.” The Supreme Court put on hold the out that gerrymandering is becoming Mei Xiang, whose name means lower court’s order that a new map be ever more extreme through the use of “beautiful fragrance,” has had at least drawn, leaving the Republican-drawn precise voter data and computerised five pseudo-pregnancies during her districts in place for congressional elec- modelling used to devise maps that 18 years at the Washington zoo, where tions in November, giving a boost to Re- dilute the clout of voters who tend to pandas are a top draw for visitors. publicans in their bid to maintain control favour the party not in power. Critics Giant pandas are a vulnerable of the US House of Representatives. in both parties of gerrymandering have species, with the World Wildlife Fund The three-judge panel in Greensboro, said that it warps democracy by stifl ing estimating their numbers in the wild North Carolina ruled unanimously in large segments of the electorate. at only 1,864. January that the Republican-drawn map The North Carolina dispute cen- A few hundred pandas are in cap- of North Carolina’s 13 US House districts tred on a congressional redistricting tivity, mostly in China. violated the constitutional guarantee of plan adopted by the Republican-led The zoo said on Sunday that it was equal protection under the law. Two of legislature in 2016 after a court found closing the indoor part of its David the judges found it also ran afoul of the that Republican lawmakers improperly M Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Constitution by discriminating based on Led by bagpipers Jeff Herbert (right) of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Duncan S Moore (L) of Baltimore, Maryland, used race as a factor when redrawing Habitat to give Mei Xiang a quieter political belief and association. activists march yesterday to Senate Hart Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Common Cause, American certain US House districts after the environment after she began showing The high court on June 18 declined to Promise, Take Back Our Republic and Represent Us and Fix It America co-hosted an event to urge the Congress to 2010 census. signs that she might be pregnant. issue a major ruling in two high-profi le support “the Fix It America Constitutional Amendment to reign in the influence of big money in politics and curb the The Republican lawmaker in charge “She is building a nest in her den, cases from Wisconsin and Maryland abuses of gerrymandering in the redistricting process”. of the new plan said it was crafted to has a decreased appetite, is sleeping maintain Republican dominance be- more and is reacting to loud noises,” Appeal in police shooting of boy with replica gun spurned that could have curbed the ability of cause he thinks “electing Republicans the zoo said, adding: “Paws crossed!” state lawmakers to draw electoral dis- is better than electing Democrats.” Zoo visitors can still see the zoo’s A California sheriff ’s deputy will face a The parents, Rodrigo Lopez and Sujay shielded from the lawsuit because he tricts purely for partisan advantage. Republicans in 2016 won 10 of the 13 male giant pandas, Tian Tian and Bei civil rights lawsuit for fatally shooting a Cruz, sued the off icer and the county reasonably perceived a threat to the Election reformers in both parties House districts — 77% of them — de- Bei, one of Mei Xiang’s three surviving 13-year-old boy who was carrying a plas- seeking monetary damages, accusing off icers when the boy had turned toward had hoped the Supreme Court would spite getting just 53% of the statewide cubs, at the exhibit’s outdoor viewing tic pellet gun resembling an assault rifle Gelhaus of excessive force in violation of him and raised the gun. use the Wisconsin and Maryland cases vote, nearly same result as in 2014, by area, the zoo said. after the US Supreme Court yesterday the US Constitution’s Fourth Amendment. There has been an intense focus in to crack down on partisan gerryman- virtue of the strategic drawing of elec- Mei Xiang, who is almost 20 and refused to hear the off icer’s appeal. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit the United States on the issue of police dering, but it decided both on narrow toral boundaries. nearing the end of her reproductive The justices turned away the appeal Court of Appeals rejected a request by use of force arising from a series of and procedural grounds. North Carolina’s new congressional life cycle, was also artificially insemi- by Sonoma County sheriff ’s deputy Erick Gelhaus and the county to have the case shootings by off icers in various locales, Chief Justice John Roberts indicated map was challenged in two lawsuits by nated last year, but did not give birth. Gelhaus of a lower court ruling that he dismissed, saying he was not entitled to often involving unarmed suspects. a more comprehensive ruling could more than two dozen Democratic vot- Female pandas can become preg- did not have immunity from the lawsuit qualified immunity, a doctrine developed The Lopez’s case also tests how police come in a future case. ers, the North Carolina Democratic nant for only 24 to 72 hours each year, filed by the parents of Andy Lopez, who by the Supreme Court that protects po- should act when they think an assailant The North Carolina case could make Party and other groups. The plaintiff s the zoo said. Gelhaus shot seven times in Santa Rosa lice off icers from litigation if they did not is armed with an assault rifle, a weapon its way back to the Supreme Court told the justices that if they did not Mei Xiang and Tian Tian arrived in 2013 after mistaking the toy for a violate any clearly established law. used in numerous mass shootings in the within months if the lower court de- take action against partisan gerryman- at the zoo from China in December deadly weapon. Gelhaus argued that he should be United States. cides that the plaintiff s are still entitled dering “the shocking facts of this case 2000. to sue. will become the new normal.”

Supreme Court to hear Sudan appeal on damages in 2000 USS Cole bombing

Reuters the bombing in the southern Yemeni $314.7mn against Sudan, which did not Washington port of Aden. respond to the lawsuit. Sudan denies the allegation. A separate federal judge in New York On October 12, 2000, two men in a later ordered several banks to turn over he US Supreme Court yesterday small boat detonated explosives along- certain assets they held for Sudan, to agreed to hear Sudan’s appeal of side the Navy guided missile destroyer partially satisfy the judgment. T$314.7mn in damages awarded as it was refuelling in Aden, killing The 2nd US Circuit Court of Ap- in a lawsuit seeking compensation for 17 sailors, wounding more than three peals in New York upheld those orders American sailors injured in 2000 in the dozen others and blasting a gaping hole in 2015. deadly Al Qaeda bombing of the Navy in its hull. The administration of President destroyer USS Cole in Yemen. The vessel was repaired and later re- Donald Trump agreed with Sudan’s The damages were levied by default turned to full active duty. position, saying the United States re- because Sudan did not appear before Sudan contends that the lawsuit had jects judicial notices at its embassies a lower court to defend itself against not been properly initiated because abroad. Allowing notices to be sent allegations that it provided support to the notice of the claims was sent to its to a foreign embassy in Washington the Islamist militants. embassy in Washington rather than di- “threatens harm to the United States’ Sudan contends that it had not been rectly to its minister of foreign aff airs foreign relations and its treatment in properly notifi ed of the lawsuit, in vio- in Khartoum, violating both the For- courts abroad,” it said. lation of US and international law. eign Sovereign Immunities Act, a US The Supreme Court yesterday did Fifteen sailors injured in the attack law governing when foreign govern- not act on a separate bid by fam- and three of their spouses sued the ments may be sued in American courts, ily members of the sailors who died to government of Sudan in 2010 in Wash- and international law. hold Sudan responsible for assisting in ington, accusing it of providing mate- In 2012, a federal judge in Wash- the bombing and collect about $35mn rial support to help Al Qaeda carry out ington issued a default judgment of in damages.

New California wildfi re threatens rural town Injured Arrington to return A fast-spreading wildfire yester- day threatened to cut off access to a rural community in northern to campaign in July: offi cials California, forcing authorities to order the evacuation of about 3,000 residents. Reuters she will “be back at it” in two weeks. Erratic winds and high tem- Charleston Physical therapy will determine how peratures fuelled the Pawnee fire well she recovers from her injuries, in the Spring Valley region about said Evert Eriksson, a surgeon from the 160km northwest of Sacramento. outh Carolina congressional Medical University of South Carolina, More than 230 firefighters candidate Katie Arrington ex- during the news conference. were tackling the blaze, which has Spects to recover from injuries “There is no reason to think she burned 8,200 acres, destroyed 12 suff ered in a car crash on Friday that won’t be able to walk,” Eriksson said. buildings and threatened around killed one and plans to return to the “I expect her to make a very quick re- 600 other buildings, according campaign trail in two weeks, govern- covery from this.” to the California Department of ment and hospital offi cials said yes- Goff , 59, of Mandeville, Louisiana, Forestry and Fire Protection. terday. was also in recovery, offi cials said. Thick clouds of black smoke Republican Arrington, 47, defeated The Charleston County coroner’s billowed above the inferno that incumbent US Representative Mark offi ce identifi ed the woman killed in has burned through thousands of Sanford in a June 12 nominating con- the crash as Helen White, 69, of Rav- miles of dry land. test that turned heavily on Sanford’s enel, South Carolina. Small pieces of dissolved metal opposition to US President Donald White was the driver of the other and gray ash were all that was left Trump, who supported the challenger. vehicle, according to Arrington’s cam- of some structures. Arrington was a passenger in a car paign. The blaze jumped the single driven by her friend Jacqueline Goff Arrington made Sanford’s criticism road leading to the mainly resi- when a vehicle travelling in the wrong of Trump a theme of her campaign dential Spring Valley community direction struck their car, fracturing in the primary contest, and Trump in a couple of places, said Dale Arrington’s back, breaking several ribs weighed into the race, tweeting hours Carnathan, emergency services and causing other injuries, including before the polls closed that Sanford manager for the Lake County trauma to her abdomen. was “nothing but trouble” and “very Sheriff ’s Off ice said, adding that Tim Scott, a Republican US senator unhelpful to me.” some local residents have refused from South Carolina, told a news con- Arrington’s Democratic opponent to evacuate. ference yesterday that Arrington was in the fall election, Joe Cunningham, Pawnee is one of four major expected to be on the campaign trail by said in a statement that he and his wife wildfires burning in California. mid-July. were praying for Arrington’s recovery No injuries have been reported. During a hospital visit, Scott said and that he was suspending campaign Arrington wrote a note stating that activities until further notice. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 ASIA EU sanctions 12 children trapped in 7 Myanmar fl ooded Thailand cave generals over AFP ied the cave for the past six years Mae Sai told offi cials there was only a single entrance, which is now blocked by water. Rohingya undreds of rescuers were The team, aged between 11 and mobilised yesterday to 16, went into the cave after foot- Hsave 12 children and their ball training on Saturday. One of football coach from a fl ooded their mothers raised the alarm cave in northern Thailand, when her son failed to return violations where they have been trapped home. for two days amid heavy rain and Narongsak said rescue opera- dwindling food supplies. tions would continue overnight Reuters ferred late last year from his Divers found bicycles, shoes and teams were on standby with Luxembourg post as the head of Western and footprints in the 5km- supplies for the trapped children. Command in Rakhine, where long (3 mile) Tham Luang cave, “We’ve preparing everything, Myanmar’s military launched a where the youngsters’ foot- water pumps in case the water is he European Union sweeping counter-insurgency ball team and their coach have still high when we fi nd them and imposed sanctions on operation in August. been trapped since Saturday, an food and drink,” he said. Tseven senior military “He is responsible for the offi cial said. Light rain fell in the area yes- offi cials from Myanmar yes- atrocities and serious human The group is believed to have terday and was expected to terday, including the general in rights violations committed retreated into the cave as heavy continue into today. charge of an operation accused against (the) Rohingya popu- monsoon rain fell and fl ooded The Tham Luang cave is not of driving nearly 700,000 lation in Rakhine State by the the entrance of the cave in a na- widely popular among tourists Rohingya Muslims to fl ee to Western Command during tional park near the border with because of its remote location, Bangladesh. that period,” the EU said in a Myanmar. though locals visit to view small The seven face asset freezes statement. “We are surveying the areas Buddha statues inside. and are banned from travelling Thant Zin Oo, the com- around the mountain and will Thailand’s monsoon season to the EU, after the bloc ex- mander of the Eighth Secu- try to fi nd another exit or en- from May to October routinely tended an arms embargo and rity Police Battalion, was also trance,” Chaing Rai provincial causes fl ooding and landslides. prohibited any training of, or sanctioned. The EU accused governor Narongsak Osottana- At least 30 people were killed co-operation with Myanmar’s him of “serious human rights korn said, adding that hundreds in major fl oods in January 2017 armed forces. violations (that) include un- of offi cials have been sent to help in southern Thailand, as over- Bicycles belonging to members of a children’s football team, who are trapped in a cave chamber along The sanctions, fi rst report- lawful killings and systematic with the rescue. land routes were cut off after with their coach, are seen as Thai rescue personnel (background) conduct operations under floodlights at ed by Reuters in April, also burning of Rohingya houses But one expert who has stud- heavy downpours. the entrance to Tham Luang cave at the Khun Nam Nang Non Forest Park in Chiang Rai yesterday. mark a shift in diplomacy by and buildings.” the EU, which suspended its Five other senior military restrictive measures on the staff were named, all generals. Southeast Asian country in Canada also sanctioned 2012 to support its partial shift senior military offi cials in to democratic governance in February, when Reuters also Cambodia PM calls recent years. reported on events in the Thai Dy PM signals But the plight of the Ro- village of Inn Din where 10 hingya Muslims in Rakhine Rohingya Muslim men and for poll campaign State, which the United Na- boys were hacked to death tions denounced as ethnic by Rakhine Buddhist villag- cleansing by the military, has ers or shot by security force election could be without insults soured relations. Yangon re- members. jects all accusations of wrong- The killings were part of the doing. larger army crackdown on the DPA “Please promote Last December, the United Rohingya. Two Reuters jour- Phnom Penh only your own States imposed sanctions in nalists were jailed while re- delayed until May [policies], and do response to the crackdown on porting the story and remain not denigrate other the Rohingya minority in Ra- in prison in Yangon, where ambodian Prime Min- political parties or khine. These included sanc- they face up to 14 years behind Reuters legislative steps, told report- they were happy with the par- ister Hun Sen, who in their candidates” tions on Major General Maung bars for violating Myanmar’s Bangkok ers various dates were possible tial lifting of the ban on political Cthe past has referred Maung Soe, who was trans- Offi cial Secrets Act. from February 24, with the latest activity. to political rivals as “crazy,” The CNRP’s leader, Kem being May 5. But Watana Muangsook, a “stupid,” “terrorists” and Sokha, was arrested in Sep- hailand will hold a general Wissanu also said the junta member of the Pheu Thai party, “traitors,” has called on politi- tember on widely-decried election by May 5 next would ease a ban on political whose government was ousted cians not to insult or denigrate treason charges. Tyear, a deputy prime min- activity by parties between Sep- in 2014, said the junta should lift other parties or their candi- Days before his plea for re- ister said yesterday, signalling tember and December this year, the ban completely. The party dates in the run-up to national spectful politics, Hun Sen and Wild elephant kills the possibility of another delay allowing them to undertake ad- did not send representatives to elections. Yang Saing Koma, the presi- of a vote that had tentatively ministrative tasks in preparation the meeting. “I call on all political parties dent of a smaller opposition been set for February. for the election. Despite the ban on politi- and candidates to respect each party, the Grassroots Democ- woman in Nepal The military has been run- But bans on public gatherings cal activity, several small pro- other,” Hun Sen wrote on his racy Party (GDP), exchanged ning Thailand since a May of more than fi ve people and tests to push for elections have Facebook page on Sunday. verbal barbs. 2014 coup, when it ousted the political campaigning would re- taken place in recent months in “Do not use insulting or Last week, the GDP ac- DPA ment at B P Koirala Hospital in civilian government of prime main in place during that period, diff erent parts of the country. disrespectful words. They cused the premier of hav- Kathmandu Dharan, a nearby town. minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Wissanu said. Prime Minister Prayuth must act ethically and [with] ing a bad “temper,” “using a He added that wild elephant citing the need to end street “What they can do is hold Chan-ocha said last week the dignity. Please promote only top-down control system” attacks on humans are fre- protests, and banned political party meetings without per- general election would not take your own [policies], and do and relying on foreign funds wild elephant yesterday quent in the region due to its activity in the name of peace mission. The meetings would place before King Maha Vaji- not denigrate other political to develop the country, the killed a 50-year-old proximity to protected areas. and order. enable them to decide on party ralongkorn’s coronation, for parties or their candidates,” Phnom Penh Post reported Awoman who was sleep- Experts have attributed the It has promised to hold a gen- regulations, fi nd party mem- which no date has yet been set. Hun Sen wrote on his Face- yesterday. ing inside a hut in southeast- increase in confl icts between eral election but has repeatedly bers, discuss with the election Pro-democracy activist book page. Hun Sen fi red back, refer- ern Nepal, local police said. wild animals and humans to pushed back the date, most re- commission the division of con- Rangsiman Rome said he was Hun Sen, who has ruled ring to Saing Koma, an agron- The woman was sleep- the loss of habitat and growth cently suggesting polls would be stituencies and determine party not surprised by the junta’s Cambodia for more than 30 omist, as a “crop planter” who ing in the hut near Kosi in their numbers. held by February 2019. candidates,” he said. signalling of another possible years, leads the Cambodian could not manage the country Tappu Wildlife Reserve in The elephants destroy crops But Deputy Prime Minis- Representatives of 73 politi- delay. People’s Party, which is ex- and owed people money. southeastern Nepal early and damage homes during the ter Wissanu Krea-ngam, cit- cal parties attended a meeting “It’s still not certain that pected to sweep the July 29 The GDP leader could not yesterday when the animal monsoon season between June ing a time frame determined by with military government of- it will really happen between elections after a court dis- immediately be reached for trampled on her, accord- and August. constitutional stipulations and fi cials yesterday and some said February 24 and May 5,” he said. solved the country’s largest comment, but on Saturday he ing to police offi cer Sanjib Two weeks ago, 67-year-old opposition party, the Cam- wrote on Twitter that he pre- Adhikari. man was killed by a wild el- bodia National Rescue Party ferred “to focus on alternative The offi cer said the woman ephant near a national park in (CNRP), in November. policies, not personalities.” died while undergoing treat- south-central Nepal. 14 dead in Vietnam fl oods

DPA Hanoi

ietnamese rescue forces discovered seven addi- Vtional bodies yesterday, bringing the death toll from fl ash fl oods and a landslide in northern Vietnam to 14, with 11 people still missing and seven others being treated for injuries, authorities said. Lai Chau, which is Viet- nam’s most sparsely popu- lated province, as well as its Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, centre, arrives at a meeting poorest, reported 11 deaths with political parties in Bangkok yesterday. and 11 missing, while Ha Giang province reported three deaths, the Central Steering Committee on Natural Dis- aster Prevention and Control updated in a report as of 1200 Lanka to produce fi rst 3D movie GMT yesterday. Heavy rains during the weekend resulted in deadly IANS The movie, titled ‘Shak- trade has seeped into the fl ash fl oods in four northern A paramilitary trooper clears debris of a landslide in Lai Chau province of Vietnam yesterday. Colombo ti’, will be directed by Rohan society despite the eff orts provinces, the Committee said. Welivita. It will star popu- of a dedicated policeman to Authorities have mobilised weekend, according to the houses were damaged and 769 Initial estimates put losses at lar Sri Lankan actors Lucky combat it. more than 40,000 soldiers and committee. houses were submerged. $4.8mn. ri Lanka will produce its Dias, Roger Seneviratne and Welivita said he will use the militiamen for search and res- Nearly 70 houses in Lai Chau, Floods also swept away a The committee warned peo- fi rst 3D movie to spread Buddhika Jayaratne, reports advanced 3D technology with a cue and to help provide shelter Ha Giang, Lao Cai and Thai bridge in Lai Chau province, ple yesterday not to venture Sawareness of the drug Xinhua news agency. 3D rig in the fi lm’s production. for survivors. Nguyen provinces were swept while landslides disrupted traf- near rivers, as heavy rains were trade in the island country, The fi lm depicts the Shooting will commence from Regional rainfall of up to away in heavy rains, which be- fi c on some inter-provincial expected to continue in the re- authorities said yesterday. manner in which the drug October. 463mm was recorded at the gan late Saturday, while 379 roads. gion for the next several days. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 9 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Malaysian PM revives age-old water row with Singapore

AFP tion. The 92-year-old returned taking aim at the tiny city-state (cents)? Nothing,” he told Singa- up to 250mn gallons of water per the same country for two years ment, led by scandal-mired Najib Kuala Lumpur for a second time as premier after again. In his latest salvo, he said pore broadcaster Channel News- day from the Johor River. Singa- from 1963 but it was a stormy Razak. However, ties already look his opposition alliance scored an it was “manifestly ridiculous” Asia in an interview. pore’s foreign ministry said in union, and Singapore was ex- rocky since Mahathir’s return to unexpected victory at the polls, that Kuala Lumpur sells water for Asked about plans to renegoti- a statement the water deal was pelled from the Malaysian Fed- offi ce. In just a few weeks, he has alaysian Prime Minis- toppling a long-ruling coalition three Malaysian cents (less than ate the water supply agreement, “guaranteed by both govern- eration as tensions mounted over put a planned high-speed railway ter Mahathir Mohamad which Mahathir himself had once one US cent) per thousand gal- he said: “We are studying the ments” as part of an agreement ethnic issues. linking Kuala Lumpur to Sin- Msaid yesterday he wants headed. lons to its resource-poor neigh- case properly and we’ll make a which underpinned their divi- Relations in subsequent dec- gapore on hold, and announced to renegotiate a “ridiculous” During his fi rst spell in charge bour, under a decades-old agree- presentation.” sion into separate states in 1965. ades were punctuated by occa- that Malaysia wants to develop water supply agreement with of the country from 1981-2003, ment. Much of Singapore’s water “Both sides must comply fully sional bickering, on many occa- an island on rocks at the entrance Singapore, the latest sign of fray- Malaysia had famously prickly “That was okay way back in comes from Malaysia’s south- with all the provisions of these sions over the water supply issue. to the Singapore Strait, an area of ing ties between the neighbours ties with Singapore – and Ma- the 1990s or 1930s. But now ern state of Johor. Under a 1962 agreements,” it said. But they were largely warm under great strategic importance to the since last month’s shock elec- hathir has wasted no time in what can you buy with three sen agreement, Singapore can draw The neighbours were part of the previous Malaysian govern- city-state.

Japanese FM in Jakarta Chinese police break up protest of military veterans

AFP of Zhenjiang before police in- Zhenjiang came to join and sup- who demonstrated and feared Beijing tervened on Sunday. “Scores of port them,” a local schoolteach- violence may have been used armed police came yesterday er told AFP, also requesting an- to expel them. The government along with government offi cials onymity out of safety concerns. had prevented other retired sol- olice have dispersed mili- to force everyone to go home. The witness recorded a video diers from travelling to Zhen- tary veterans who had Some people were detained showing about 100 protest- jiang, he added. Pdemonstrated in an east- and we’re not sure about their ers outside a hospital where at China’s defence ministry had ern Chinese city to protest the whereabouts,” a witness who least one beaten pensioner was vowed in 2016 to improve liv- alleged beating of elderly ex- supported the veterans told AFP. believed to be recuperating. ing standards for veterans after soldiers demanding better pen- Thousands of army veterans Another witness video showed thousands had demonstrated sions, witnesses told AFP yes- have staged protests in recent soldiers marching with red ban- outside army offi ces in Beijing. terday. years against offi cials whom ners declaring: “We are Com- China has laid off more than The demonstrations high- they accuse of denying them munists, not criminals.” a million troops since the 1980s lighted the years-long struggle benefi ts. Footage from the protests ap- and vowed last year to further among former soldiers of the Witnesses said hundreds peared to be censored on Chi- cut its 2-mn strong army. world’s biggest standing army of veterans came to Zhenjiang na’s popular Weibo social me- Many former soldiers, with to get better benefi ts, posing from across the country after dia website but unverifi ed clips little formal education, have a headache for the country’s unconfi rmed reports that secu- appeared on Twitter, which is found it diffi cult to re-adjust to Communist leadership. rity guards had beaten a group blocked in the country. Sev- normal society and fi nd jobs in Authorities in China have of elderly veterans outside a eral veterans contacted by AFP the civilian economy. little tolerance for public dis- municipal building earlier this said they were “unable to speak The Ministry of Veteran Af- sent but the People’s Liberation month. about the situation”. fairs opened in April with the Army and its veterans are ven- “They were very well organ- A veteran who was not aim of streamlining pensions erated as heroes, and protests ised with tents and provisions, present at the protests said he and retirement benefi ts, which continued for days in the city and every day, people from has “lost contact” with friends vary widely in the country.

China lifts French beef ban as PM ends visit

China signed a deal yesterday to French producers say will put Airbus planes during Macron’s Airbus,” said Philippe, who also lift a ban on French beef and said their beef back on Chinese plates January visit, but the deal has met Xi yesterday. discussions to buy Airbus planes by September. “We are already in not been finalised. “We are ready A total of 18 agreements were remained open as French Prime contact with Chinese buyers,” said to continue discussions on the signed in the fields of science, Minister Edouard Philippe ended the president of French beef in- purchase of Airbus planes in a medicine, tourism and energy. a four-day visit. The beef ban dustry group Interbev, Dominique timely manner,” Li said. French nuclear group Orano was imposed over a decade ago Langlois, who said the aim was to Airbus could stand to benefit and China National Nuclear as Beijing started closing off its export 30,000 tonnes per year. if China’s looming trade war Corp announced an agreement markets to all European imports, The accord was the culmination with the United States prompts for preparatory work on a used and later to US beef imports, of an agreement reached when Beijing to favour the European fuel processing and recycling in the wake of the “mad cow” French President Emmanuel aerospace giant over US rival plant in China. The nuclear deal, disease scare. Macron met Chinese leader Xi Boeing. “I am happy that China valued at more than 20bn euros Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono (right) walking with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during Philippe and Premier Li Keqiang Jinping in Beijing earlier this has confirmed its strong willing- ($23.4bn), has been in the works a courtesy call in Jakarta. Kono, in his first off icial visit to Indonesia. The Japan FM is in Jakarta to oversaw the signing of an agree- year. China had also committed ness to finalise the commitments for a decade and could now be attend the sixth “Strategic Dialogue” between Indonesia and Japan. ment to lift the embargo, which to buying 184 single-aisle A320 made in January regarding concluded this year.

Australia’s soft drink makers Australian feral cats promise sugar cuts to help health Australia failing to protect kill a million reptiles Australia’s biggest soft drink mak- ers, including Coca-Cola and Pepsi, a day, reveals study pledged yesterday to cut industry- Great Barrier Reef: activists wide sugar use by a fifth over 7 years to curb obesity in a country AFP diff erent types of reptile — in- where nearly a third of the popula- AFP Sydney cluding great desert skinks, tion is dangerously fat. Australia Sydney bearded dragons and geckos. Of has the fifth-highest rate of obesity these, 11 are threatened species. in the developed world, according eral cats kill more than Feral cats in Australia number in to the Organisation for Economic ustralia is breaching 1mn reptiles every day the millions, and are also con- Co-operation and Development. commitments to protect Fin Australia, a new study sidered the main culprit behind Beverage producers in Australia Athe embattled Great Bar- showed yesterday, with the the country’s high rate of mam- have already seen some consum- rier Reef from the eff ects of land staggering slaughter threaten- mal extinction. ers switch away from sugary drinks clearing, environmental groups ing many species. Research by the same team because of health concerns and claimed yesterday and called on Cats have wiped out entire last year showed cats were they have pledged the reduction the UN to probe the alleged fail- populations of some animals killing more than 1mn birds as authorities press for a sugar tax ures. in Australia since being intro- in Australia each day, includ- similar to one introduced in Britain Canberra has pledged to step duced by Europeans settlers ing threatened species like in April. “We think this is a step up eff orts to protect the reef as two centuries ago, with eff orts the spotted quail thrush, the in the right direction,” said Geoff it reels from mass coral bleach- to cull or sterilise them so far squatter pigeon, and the night Parker, chief executive off icer of ing and coral-eating crown- failing to slow their march. parrot. the Australian Beverages Council, of-thorns starfi sh, which have The new fi ndings are based While there is an undeniable the main body representing non- proliferated due to pollution and on more than 10,000 cat di- impact, Australia’s Threatened alcoholic drink makers, an industry agricultural runoff . etary samples contributed by Species Commissioner Sally which generates A$5bn ($3.7bn) But the groups said the feder- environmental scientists across Box said it was hard to pinpoint in annual revenue. “We’re certainly al government had failed to stop the country. In total, around exactly how badly cats were af- encouraging other sectors of the a key threat to the World Herit- 650mn lizards and snakes fall fecting reptiles. This is because food supply, and indeed other age-list area — the impending Fish swimming through the coral of the Great Barrier Reef, along the central coast of Queensland. victim to feral and pet cats an- population sizes are not known categories to join with us to reduce bulldozing of large swathes of nually, they found. for most reptile species. sugar across the portfolio to help land in reef catchments. ahead is not consistent with the ronment Minister Josh Fryden- The bulk of the new A$500mn “On average each feral cat The government has ear- tackle what is a really a complex Experts have warned that de- promises the Australian govern- berg refuted the allegations and funding — just over A$200mn kills 225 reptiles per year,” said marked more than A$30mn problem and that is obesity.” forestation increases runoff into ment has made to the interna- said the responsibility for plan- — announced in April was ear- lead researcher John Woinarski, (US$23mn) for projects to re- Companies will aim for a 10% the reef, reducing water quality tional community to protect and ning and approval of land clear- marked to improve water quality from Charles Darwin Univer- duce the impact of feral cats on reduction in total sugar per 100 and the light needed for coral restore the Great Barrier Reef,” ing lay with states. by changing farming practices sity, adding that feral cats con- wildlife. millilitres in their drinks by 2020 growth, while fuelling outbreaks Australian Conservation Foun- He added that Canberra had and adopting new technologies sume more reptiles in Australia The Australian Wildlife Con- and a 20% reduction by 2025, of crown-of-thorns starfi sh. dation chief Kelly O’Shanassy won “signifi cant praise” from and land management. Unesco’s than in the United States or Eu- servancy last month fi nished a achieved via a combination of In a letter to the United Na- said in a statement. the UN for a A$2.0bn (US$1.5bn) World Heritage Committee last rope. 44-km long electrifi ed fence to recipe modification and increas- tions, the Wilderness Society, The conservationists said “Reef 2050” plan to protect the year decided not to place the “Some cats eat staggering create a cat-free zone of almost ing sales of low-sugar beverages, WWF-Australia, the Australian some 36,600 hectares (90,000 reef. reef on its list of sites “in dan- numbers of reptiles. We found 9,400 hectares (23,200 acres) in the Beverages Council said. The Conservation Foundation and acres) of old-growth forest — “On top of this investment ger” despite concern over the many examples of single cats the desert. World Health Organisation (WHO) the Australian Marine Conser- about half the size of Bahrain— the ... government has also in- mass bleaching, citing Canber- bingeing on lizards, with a The area will be extended to said last year drinking fewer sweet vation Society called for an ur- was earmarked to be cut down in vested an additional A$500mn, ra’s conservation plans. record of 40 individual lizards around 100,000 hectares and drinks was the best way to curb gent investigation as the Unesco reef catchments under permits representing the single largest The Great Barrier Reef is one in a single cat stomach.” will allow native animals that excessive weight and prevent World Heritage Committee’s issued by the former Queens- investment in reef protection of Australia’s best known natu- The study, published in have been pushed to the brink chronic diseases such as diabetes, annual meeting starts in Bah- land state government, but that and restoration in Australia’s ral wonders and stretches more the journal Wildlife Research, of extinction by the predator to although fat and salt in processed rain. Canberra had the power to stop history,” Frydenberg said in a than 2,300km along the north- showed cats were killing 250 be reintroduced. foods were also to blame. “Allowing this clearing to go them from going ahead. Envi- statement to AFP. eastern coast. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 BRITAIN Uber court fi ght to keep London licence begins

Reuters to background checks on drivers. The fi rm has introduced sev- wholesale change in the way that Uber’s business model was le- after its previous head Jo Bertram for a shorter period. “I would’ve London Uber, backed by Goldman eral new initiatives in London we conduct our business.” gal under London’s regulatory quit last year following the deci- thought, if I were to renew the li- Sachs and BlackRock among oth- since losing its licence, including The appeal is due to be framework stemmed from a “lack sion to strip Uber of its London cence, 18 months would be rather ers and valued at over $70bn, has 24/7 telephone support and the heard over three days and will of understanding” on Uber’s licence. too long,” she said. ber accepted it had made faced protests, bans and restric- proactive reporting of serious in- hear from witnesses includ- part, but that new people as well After its application for a At stake for the US fi rm is one mistakes but said it had tions around the world as it chal- cidents to the city’s police. ing Uber’s UK chairman Lau- as the new policies would help to fi ve-year licence was rejected of its most crucial foreign mar- Uchanged as it went to lenges traditional taxi operators It has also changed senior rel Powers-Freeling, UK head avoid a repeat of the problems in last year, Uber is now seeking an kets. Of its over 60,000 drivers court yesterday to overturn a de- and angers some unions. management. of cities Fred Jones and TfL’s future. 18-month one to prove to the au- in Britain, about 45,000 are in cision stripping it of its licence in Its chief executive Dara Khos- Uber’s lawyer Thomas de la interim director of licensing “It was very clear to ULL (Uber thorities that it has reformed. London. London after it was ruled unfi t to rowshahi, who took charge the Mare said the company accepted Helen Chapman. London Ltd) that a change in Judge Emma Arbuthnot may Since September’s TfL deci- run a taxi service in its most im- month before TfL’s decision, has the September ruling and the fo- Uber UK’s general manager structure, a change in leadership, take weeks before making her sion, Uber has also been stripped portant European market. pledged to “make things right” cus of the appeal should be on its Tom Elvidge admitted the com- and a fundamental change in the decision, which is likely to be of its licence by the southern Regulator Transport for Lon- in London, and the court case is reforms. “It’s no part of our case pany’s correspondence with TfL way we were managing and gov- subject to further appeal by coastal city of Brighton, in a de- don (TfL) shocked the Silicon a test of how far Uber can dem- to say it was wrong. had at times been inaccurate, in- erning operations was essential,” the losing side, meaning the cision which it is appealing, and Valley fi rm last September by re- onstrate it has changed. “We accept it was right,” de complete and inadequate across a he told the court. whole legal process could take the northern city of York. fusing to renew its licence, citing While the appeal process is la Mare told Westminster Mag- range of issues. In May, Uber appointed a new years. It has, however, gained new li- failings in its approach to report- ongoing, Uber can continue to istrates Court in London. “It’s He said inaccuracies in let- boss for northern and eastern However, she signalled any cences in Sheffi eld, Cambridge, ing serious criminal off ences and operate in the city. that acceptance that has led to ters sent in 2014 about whether Europe, which includes Britain, renewal of the licence could be Nottingham and Leicester.

Met issues heatwave Grenfell fi re alert for England chief admits Guardian News and Media London

he Met Offi ce issued a heatwave alert yesterday Ton what was the warmest failing to make day of the year so far, with tem- peratures forecast to remain high over the coming days. Temperatures touched 30C (86F) in London yesterday and 28C in areas of the north-west. Under Public Health Eng- safety checks land’s heatwave plan, when temperatures exceed about 30C, Guardian News and Media residential buildings as a result of He could not recall if he had children are advised not to take London being clad in combustible panels been shown the lifts or wheth- part in vigorous exercise and are presented a generic health and er anyone said anything about encouraged to stay in the shade safety issue”. whether the lifts were fi re lifts as much as possible. he fi rst fi re brigade inci- He agreed with the assessment or fi refi ghting lifts and asked no Temperatures that trigger dent commander at the of Richard Millett QC, counsel to questions about what was going heatwave alerts vary by region, TGrenfell Tower fi re has ad- the inquiry, that his knowledge of on the exterior. from 28C during the day and 15C mitted he failed to make numer- this was “as good as the person in Earlier, he had revealed that he at night in north-east England, ous required checks on the safety the street”. had received no training in how to 32C in the day and 18C at night of the building in the months Dowden was in charge for to reverse the “stay-put” policy in London. The Met Offi ce’s before the disaster and told the around the fi rst hour of the fi re, that was in place at Grenfell or in heat-health watch said some public inquiry he had no idea that until about 2am, by which time how to get children, old people areas of north and west England fi res could spread through clad- it had spread out of control. The and the infi rm out of high-rise were likely to be hotter. ding. stay-put advice was changed residential fi res. But temperatures are not ex- Michael Dowden, a fi refi ghter only at 2.47am on the night of Occupants of the 24-storey pected to increase by quite as for 14 years and watch manager the fi re, but the inquiry has heard block who called 999 were ad- much as previously expected. The at North Kensington fi re sta- that it was redundant by 1.24am. vised to stay in their fl ats long af- Met Offi ce alert said: “While very tion, was forced to repeatedly He said that in summer 2016 ter the fi re had started spreading warm or hot weather is also ex- admit his ignorance of the risks he had undertaken a familiarisa- through the facade. pected in the other regions, tem- to the building, the evacuation tion visit at Grenfell Tower. The requirement for incident peratures are currently not ex- strategy and the vulnerability Millett asked if during the visit commanders to be able to adapt pected to reach thresholds in these of its occupants during a morn- he had gathered information stay-put strategies is written into locations until at least Thursday. ing’s evidence that raised serious about the building as required LFB policy, the inquiry heard. “Eastern parts, especially questions about the rigour of the under national guidance. Of the Dowden said repeatedly he had not along the coast, are also likely to London fi re brigade’s procedures list of 12 issues that he asked received training in this and other see cooler temperatures than the on high-rise safety. about, Dowden had not checked matters such as identifying fi re rest of the country due to an on- He also made a statement to or could not recall if he checked spread through a building’s facade, shore breeze along with the risk the inquiry that described in on 10. They included protocols which are also required by govern- of some patch mist or low cloud harrowing detail the burning about evacuation and checking ment policy for fi refi ghters. moving in from the North Sea at debris falling from the tower, whether there were people living He also admitted he could not times.” highly toxic smoke, and women in the building whose command recall the last training he had had Dr Thomas Waite, of Public and children passing him on the of English might obstruct their in fi ghting high-rise fi res, which, Health England, said: “We’re urg- stairwell informing him that understanding of those proto- his training record showed, took ing everyone to keep an eye on their loved ones were dead. He cols, children who might need place on March 23, 2017, three those you know who may be at risk said at one point he suggested his help, the elderly, and people with months before the fi re, or a pre- this summer. If you’re able, ask if fi refi ghters use tables as shields mobility issues. vious session in September 2016. your friends, family or neighbours to protect themselves from the Millett asked if he had received He also said training had been need any support.” debris. any training in what to look for increasingly delivered through The Met Offi ce also warned He said he was not aware that on such familiarisation visits. computer-based simulation of very high levels of pollen and combustible facades were put on “Not that I can recall, no,” since offi cer training and re- fi ultraviolet light. The forecaster the outside of the buildings, even Dowden said. fi ghter training had been out- Mark Foster said the heat could though his employer, the LFB, He said he could not recall sourced to the private company set a new high for the year had issued a report in October whether the internal doors were Babcock. The highest temperature re- 2016 that detailed that risk with fi re-rated and did not notice the The inquiry heard that govern- corded in the UK so far this year pictures of cladding fi res in Du- rainscreen cladding “because ment policy states that incident is 29.1C in St James’s Park, cen- bai, China, Azerbaijan, Chech- I wasn’t aware at the time that commander training must include tral London, on April 19 – the nya and in the UK. there was such a thing as rain- development of knowledge, skills warmest April day for almost 70 Dowden said he had never screen cladding”. and understanding on the impact years. heard of building regulations Dowden said he did not ask of fi re on the building’s construc- Foster added: “High pressure guidance on fi re safety, known as any questions about what was tion layout contents and occu- is going to dominate this week, approved document B, and that going on the exterior, could not pants’ behaviour. so we can expect very high levels he did not know anything about remember if he went up the tow- Asked if he had been trained in of pollen and UV. If you are in the a letter the LFB had sent to some er and did not note it had a single those matters, Dowden replied: sun, you have a greater chance of London councils warning “that escape route or whether there “Again, no sort of practical in- getting burnt in the short term.” People shelter from the sun beneath umbrellas as they walk in St James’s Park in London yesterday. external fi re spread on high rise were sprinklers. put.” Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 11 BRITAIN/IRELAND

PEOPLE ACCIDENT CONTROVERSY TRIAL POLITICS Johnson defends missing Car mows down Boycott of zoo film sought Four plead guilty in Former minister stepping Heathrow runway vote pedestrians at funeral over use of live elephant nightclub stabbings case down from Stormont

Boris Johnson has said quitting over the issue of Two people were severely injured and a dozen Animal rights campaigners People for the Ethical Four men involved in violence outside a Sheff ield Former Alliance leader David Ford is stepping Heathrow expansion would “achieve absolutely others had to receive treatment after a car Treatment of Animals (Peta) have called for a club during which four people were stabbed have down from Stormont, 20 years to the day since he nothing”. The foreign secretary is under fire mowed down pedestrians outside a Dublin boycott of a new film about a real-life attempt to pleaded guilty. A fifth man was also seriously hurt became an MLA. The 67-year-old was first elected for travelling to Afghanistan and missing a key church where a funeral was due to be held save animals from Belfast Zoo during World War II. outside Niche, in Walker Street, on December 23. as a councillor in Antrim in 1993. He took up his Commons vote on whether to approve a new yesterday. “There has been a collision between a Zoo is about a 12-year-old boy who rescues a baby At Sheff ield Crown Court, Roemol Taylor, 20, Negus role at Stormont on July 1, 1998, representing the £14bn runway. Before he left the country, he told car and pedestrians on the grounds of a church elephant from the zoo during the Belfast blitz after Nelson, 29, Leyton Orr, 26, and Junior Nieta, 34, all South Antrim constituency. In 2010, he became constituents in his west London seat he doubted which occurred at approximately 10:20am (0920 the ministry of defence ordered them to be put of Sheff ield, admitted violent disorder. Torrington justice minister – the first local politician in that it would ever be built. The construction of a third GMT),” Ireland’s Garda police said in a statement. down. Peta’s UK branch has criticised the decision Smith, 29, pleaded guilty to the same charge in role in nearly 40 years. In an interview, Ford said runway at the UK’s largest airport is likely to lead to They said four people were hospitalised, two to use a live elephant. The organisation’s director, April. All the men are due to be sentenced on the time was right to leave politics. “I think given hundreds of homes being demolished in the nearby with serious injuries. The emergency services Elisa Allen, said: “Animals aren’t actors, and August 20. Niche was closed by police following now I’m a couple of years past the retirement age, villages of Longford, Harmondsworth and Sipson. reported that 13 more people received medical since today’s filmmakers have access to cutting- the incident and only reopened in February after it’s the right time to leave to get someone else A new runway, which was approved by ministers treatment on the spot. The driver of the car fell ill edge technology, there’s simply no excuse for the club was ordered to improve security. The established while the assembly is not functioning earlier this month, would increase Heathrow’s on arriving at the Immaculate Conception Church subjecting animals to the risk of physical harm and council set a number of conditions including normally so they can be ready to go when the annual capacity from 85.5mn passengers to 130mn. in Condalkin, west Dublin, Irish media reported. the stress of training, travel and confinement.” additional security staff and CCTV monitoring. assembly is restored,” he said. NHS to launch Railways’ re-nationalisation sought fi rst Internet addiction clinic

Guardian News and Media to be treated for porn addiction, London for example ... if we have got the funding for that then we could provide help,” she said. London hospital is pre- Bowden-Jones said that they paring to launch the fi rst were initially focusing on gam- Aever NHS-funded Inter- ing because they were keen to net addiction centre for young protect young people from drop- people and adults, the Guardian ping out of school. Gaming dis- revealed. order is defi ned by the WHO as The move comes at a time of a pattern of persistent or recur- growing concern about Internet rent gaming behaviour so severe and gaming dependency, with that it takes “precedence over the World Health Organisation other life interests”. (WHO) classifying gaming dis- Symptoms include impaired order as a mental health condi- control over gaming and con- tion this week. tinuation or escalation of gam- The centre, run by the central ing despite negative conse- and north west London NHS quences. Some countries had foundation trust, will initially already identifi ed it as a major focus on gaming disorders, with public health issue, and addic- Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joins a demonstration demanding the re-nationalisation of the railways, outside King’s Cross station in London yesterday. a plan to expand its services to tion experts, charities and par- cover other Internet-based ad- ents are becoming increasingly dictions. It will be a place of concerned about the amount of treatment and research, off ering time children are spending play- advice to families. ing online games. “Gaming disorder is fi nally “Other countries have free getting the attention it de- services, for example there are serves. The distress and harm it some in Asia. We are really be- can cause is extreme and I feel a hind. I am not sure how it took moral duty on behalf of the NHS us so long. Maybe it’s because to provide the evidence based we had no champion and I will Two held after Bristol treatment these young people identify as that champion. You and their families need,” said just need one person in the right psychiatrist Henrietta Bowden- place at the right time,” Bow- Jones, the clinic’s founder. den-Jones said. “We are unlikely to witness an She said there was no consist- epidemic of young players with ency in the use of screening tools an addiction to gaming but for to determine the scale of Internet attack leaves one dead the ones who do struggle, the or gaming addiction. The WHO Centre for Internet Disorders will work on producing a global Guardian News and Media as an isolated incident but have tion will keep an open mind.” “On arrival, it soon became and the public will see a signifi - will be a life-changer.” tool that everyone can use. Bow- London stepped up patrols in the area. Police were on the scene clear several people had been cantly increased police pres- The WHO decision has been den-Jones called for prevalence Offi cers believe the man who within seven minutes of receiv- assaulted. Sadly, a man died at ence in the area with detectives praised by some while others ar- surveys every one or two years. died and the two who were se- ing a 999 call from a member of the scene as a result of injuries and staff examining the scene gue that the move is premature. Bowden-Jones said that while man has died and two riously injured were all from the the public. sustained in the incident. and neighbourhood offi cers At present there are some private she was aiming to get NHS fund- others have suff ered life- London area. Police said they Rowland said: “Two males “Two other men have been conducting extra reassurance hospitals in the UK where gam- ing for the centre, she also recog- Athreatening injuries after were still trying to fi nd out what have got life-changing injuries, taken to hospital with life- patrols. ing disorder is being treated but nised the limitations and restrict- police were called to a suspected all fi ve were doing in Bristol. and one male was sadly pro- threatening injuries. Two men “I’d urge anyone with concerns none off er free treatment. ed budgets, saying she also hoped armed burglary in Bristol. Inspector Martin Rowland, nounced dead. It was a shocking from London, aged 25 and 37, to speak to one of the neighbour- Funding has so far been se- for philanthropic donations, re- Police arrested two men from of Avon and Somerset police, and very distressing incident have been arrested on suspicion hood offi cers. Although we’ve cured for a weekly therapy group search collaborations and to work London on suspicion of murder refused to comment on what but it is still incredibly rare. The of murder and are currently in made two arrests, we’d still like for gaming addicts, according to alongside charities. “I am also after the incident at Redcliff e sort of weapon was used. When pieces of the puzzle are still be- police custody.” to speak to anyone who has infor- Bowden-Jones. Subject to clear- realistic and as someone who is near the city centre in the early asked if it was thought that ing put together.” Neighbours said a helicopter mation about this incident. ing some fi nal hurdles, the centre trained in psychiatry and has dealt hours of yesterday. drugs may have been involved, He refused to confi rm wheth- had scrambled to the scene and a “Did you see or hear anything will be fi nanced by the NHS, re- with frontline psychosis cases I A neighbour described hear- Rowland said it was “too early” er a murder weapon had been white tent erected outside a block suspicious in the Prewett Street search grants and philanthropic know other things need to be ad- ing one man screaming: “I’m to comment. found but said “items had been of fl ats called Canynge House. on Sunday night or in the early sources. dressed as well,” she said. dying, get me an ambulance, He said: “The investigation seized” from the scene. The senior investigating of- hours of yesterday morning? Do “This is the fi rst step, but the Jeff van Reenen, addiction I’m dying.” Another said they is at the early stages. The infor- Avon and Somerset police fi cer Andrew Mott said: “We you know anything about the Centre for Internet Disorders will treatment programme man- believed the victims were young mation at the moment is that said: “At 1.06am yesterday we deployed a signifi cant number events which led to this inci- deal with other Internet compul- ager at the Priory’s hospital in men and had suff ered stab the victims aren’t from the local attended a property on Prewett of resources to this incident and dent?” sions, if and when needed, when Chelmsford, said an Internet ad- wounds, but the police have not area, and may be from the Lon- Street, Bristol, following re- as a result we’ve apprehended The incident caused major funding is available. If we end diction clinic would be incred- yet given details of the injuries. don area. We do believe it was an ports of an aggravated burglary two men. traffi c delays in and around the up with 20 people or 30 wanting ible and was long overdue. The authorities described it isolated incident. The investiga- in progress. “This is now a murder inquiry city centre. Scottish NHS staff set May, Tusk meet Tesco to abandon price-match scheme to get 9% pay increase Reuters ference refunded at the check- London out. Prices were compared with Sainsbury’s, Asda and Nurses, midwives and was the most generous off ered Scottish health workers earn- Morrisons. paramedics all included in to NHS workers in the UK, but ing above £26,000 would also esco, Britain’s big- “As a result of our continued most generous NHS deal in was tied to an agreement about pay higher income tax rates than gest retailer, will next investment in simpler, lower UK changes in sickness policy, terms their England and Welsh coun- Tmonth abandon a price- everyday prices, fewer than and conditions, and organisa- terparts, he said, adding: “It was matching scheme which gave one in eight transactions to- Guardian News and Media tional changes. clear that a greater uplift was shoppers instant reductions on day receives any refund at all,” Edinburgh It should help the NHS ad- needed to cover this.” branded goods at the till, say- Tesco said. dress signifi cant recruitment The Scottish and UK govern- ing its focus is on lower regular “At the same time, a major- problems in parts of Scotland, ments are focusing heavily on prices. ity of customers now tell us cottish nurses, midwives she said. Some nurses would improving NHS funding to ad- Tesco said yesterday that by they would prefer lower every- and paramedics are on see their wages increase by 27% dress often signifi cant fi nancial cutting prices it had made the day prices instead.” Scourse to receive a mini- by 2020-21 and some porters by and recruitment problems. NHS scheme redundant. Tesco said that in the last mum pay rise of 9% over the 25%. policy across the UK is split be- All of Britain’s big four gro- month it has cut the price of next three years, ending nearly a “We’re doing all we can to re- tween the three devolved gov- cers — Tesco, Sainsbury’s, over 260 products, such as decade of pay restraint. cruit new talent and retain exist- ernments in Edinburgh, Cardiff Walmart’s Asda and Morrisons orange juice and chopped to- Health service unions have ing staff , ensuring NHS Scotland and Belfast, and the UK govern- have been trying to narrow the matoes, by between 10% and recommended their members has the right skills and experi- ment in London. price gap with German dis- 50%. back the deal, which will af- ence to meet future demand and Theresa May, the prime min- counters Aldi and Lidl which It said it planned cuts on fect about 147,000 NHS staff , rising expectations,” said Robi- ister, has confi rmed the NHS have won market share from “dozens” more products over including hospital technicians, son. in England will receive an extra them over the last decade. the next two weeks. porters, ancillary workers and NHS workers in England have £20.5bn by 2023. Nicola Stur- Tesco said it “Brand Guar- Shares in Tesco have in- pharmacists. been off ered a three-year deal geon, the Scottish fi rst minister, antee” scheme, launched with creased 56% over the last Under the deal, employees that would give those at the top has already pledged NHS fund- much fanfare in 2015, will year as its trading has outper- currently earning up to £80,000 of their bands a rise of 6.5%, ing in Scotland will increase by cease on July 16. formed rivals and investors will receive a minimum cumula- with many other staff at a lower £500mn above infl ation by 2021. The scheme off ered Tesco have warmed to its purchase of tive rise of 9% and those earning point in those bands to receive In advance of the three-year customers a price match on wholesaler Booker. £80,000 and over will receive cumulative rises of 9%-29% by pay deal, Sturgeon told a Scot- branded goods when they Sainsbury’s, which in a fl at rate increase of £1,600 a 2020-21. tish National party conference Prime Minister Theresa May greets European Council bought 10 or more items, in- April agreed a £7.3bn takeo- year. Miles Briggs, the shadow two weeks ago that NHS staff president Donald Tusk at No 10 Downing Street in central cluding at least one eligible ver of Asda, scrapped a simi- Shona Robison, the Scottish Scottish health secretary, said would get an immediate pay in- London yesterday ahead of their meeting. branded product, in larger lar “Brand Match” scheme in health secretary, said the deal NHS staff deserved the increase. crease worth £160mn. stores or online, with the dif- 2016. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 EUROPE Erdogan says Turkish people

This handout picture released yesterday shows Erdogan waving to supporters from a balcony at the AKP have decided headquarters in Ankara, late on Sunday as they celebrate his election victory. AFP/DPA/Reuters second round and lead his ruling victory in Istanbul before return- dogan with an energetic cam- The team led by the Organi- Erdogan has transformed Tur- The AKP won 295 seats in the Istanbul party-led alliance to an overall ing to Ankara to deliver a trium- paign, broke an uncharacteristic sation for Security and Co-op- key fi rst as prime minister from 600-MP chamber but the MHP majority in parliament. phant speech at 3am to tens of overnight silence to concede de- eration in Europe (OSCE) said 2003 to 2014 and then as presi- did far better than expected, Erdogan vowed to “rapidly” thousands of supporters from feat. polling day procedures were dent, allowing Islam a greater winning 49 seats and giving their urkish President Recep implement the new presidential the balcony of the headquarters “I accept these election re- “generally followed”, but pointed role in public life and giving the alliance a clear majority, accord- Tayyip Erdogan celebrated system agreed in an April 2017 of his Justice and Development sults,” Ince said yesterday, add- to issues over counting and tabu- country a much more assertive ing to results published by Ana- Tyesterday winning sweep- referendum that opponents fear Party (AKP). ing that Erdogan should “repre- lation. profi le on the international stage. dolu. ing new powers in a decisive will give him autocratic powers “Turkey has given a lesson in sent 81mn” and be “president for The EU echoed the language However, critics accuse him of The HDP easily broke through election victory, as his main rival and keep him in offi ce for two fi ve democracy to the entire world,” us all”. of the OSCE in a notably chilly ruling with an iron grip, especial- the 10% minimum vote threshold accepted the outcome despite year mandates to 2028. he added, pointing to a turnout “Mr Erdogan, from today on- statement that did not congratu- ly after the July 2016 failed coup to clinch up 67 seats, sparking complaints over an unequal cam- The new system creates a ver- of 88%. wards do not behave like an AKP late Erdogan or mention him by which was followed by a state of wild celebrations in its Kurdish- paign that alarmed the EU. tical of power with Erdogan at “Turkey has made its choice [ruling Justice and Development name but asserted that campaign emergency that has seen tens of majority stronghold of Diyarba- A night of triumph for Erdogan the top, giving him the power to in favour of protecting its de- Party] chair. Be the president of conditions were “not equal”. thousands of people arrested. kir. saw the man who has dominated appoint cabinet ministers and mocracy, its rights and freedoms, 81mn. Embrace everyone from The statement, issued by the According to results pub- In a tweet, Demirtas hailed a Turkey for the last 15 years de- dispensing with the offi ce of maintaining its reforms,” Erdog- now on,” he said. “I would have bloc’s diplomatic chief Federi- lished by the state news agency “great victory” despite suff ering clared winner of Sunday’s presi- prime minister. an said after the Supreme Elec- done so if I were elected.” ca Mogherini and enlargement Anadolu, Erdogan won 52.6% of “the biggest injustice of the cam- dential poll without needing a The president, 64, declared tion Council declared him the However, Ince, who had faced commissioner Johannes Hahn, the vote, with Ince trailing with paign”. winner early yesterday. “I thank limited airtime on television in warned the new presidential sys- 30.6%. “I congratulate my party HDP, all of my citizens, no matter from the campaign and a near boy- tem has “far reaching implica- The results mean Erdogan, which passed the threshold de- which party, who went to the bal- cott by state media, said that the tions for Turkish democracy” who enjoys sky-high support spite emergency rule, pressure lot box to exercise their demo- run-up to the election had been By contrast, congratulations in parts of the Anatolian heart and unequal conditions,” he cratic right.” unfair. for Erdogan fl ooded in from of the country, improved on his wrote. “The biggest injustice of His victory means he will re- “This election was unjust un- Turkey’s partners in the Is- 51.8% score from 2014. the election was that I was forced main president at least until 2023 til the results were announced,” lamic world and allies who also The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ to lead the election campaign un- – the centenary of the founding he told a news conference at have tetchy relations with the Democratic Party (HDP) candi- der detention conditions.” of the Turkish republic on the CHP headquarters after order- West, such as Russian President date Selahattin Demirtas came The offi cial fi nal results of ashes of the Ottoman Empire by ing crews from state-run TRT to Vladimir Putin who praised Er- third with 8.4%, a performance Turkey’s presidential and par- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. leave over their campaign cover- dogan’s “great political author- all the more remarkable given liamentary elections will be an- Erdogan’s foes accuse him of age. ity”. that he has been jailed on charges nounced on July 5, state-run dismantling Ataturk’s secular “Turkey has broken its con- The Kremlin statement even of links to Kurdish militants since Anadolu news agency quoted legacy by bringing religion back nection with the 143 years of noted the “mass support of the November 2016. election council chief Sadi Guven into public life. parliamentary system. We have course conducted under his lead- With Turkey holding parlia- as saying yesterday. Erdogan responds to such switched literally to a one-man ership”. mentary and presidential elec- Parties have until 10am today criticism by saying he is trying to regime,” he said. Others congratulating Erdogan tions on the same day for the fi rst to appeal the results. modernise Turkey and improve International observers said included Venezuelan President time, Erdogan was also able to The new parliament is ex- religious freedoms. that voters enjoyed a “genuine Nicolas Maduro, Hungary’s na- enjoy an overall majority in par- pected to convene on July 8 when His main rival Muharrem Ince choice” but decried the lack of tionalist Prime Minister Viktor liament with the help of his allies lawmakers and Erdogan are ex- Ince: Mr Erdogan, be the president of 81mn. Embrace everyone from of the Republican People’s Party “equal” conditions for candi- Orban, and Hamas chief Ismail from the right-wing Nationalist pected to be sworn in, Anadolu now on. (CHP), who had challenged Er- dates to campaign. Haniya. Movement Party (MHP). said.

Hundreds of birds stricken after Migrants oil spill at Rotterdam harbour in limbo as Italy bars AFP The Hague rescue ships nimal rescue workers were frantically cleaning hundreds AFP Aof birds yesterday after an Tripoli oil spill in the Rotterdam harbour at the weekend, when an oil tanker hit a jetty dumping some 200 tonnes of taly’s new government took its fi ght bunker fuel. to block migrants to Libya yester- The Norwegian tanker Bow Jubail Iday as a new boat with hundreds on Salvini shows a T-shirt with Italian and Libyan flags on a map of Libya at the end of on Saturday crashed against a jetty in board remained stranded at sea, deep- the press conference in Rome, where he said that the Lifeline rescue ship currently western Europe’s largest port, spill- ening a crisis shaking Europe. stranded in Maltese waters with more than 200 migrants on board will not be ing the heavy bunker fuel into the With European leaders at each other’s allowed to dock in Italy. section of the harbour reserved for throats over the large number of mi- offl oading petroleum, west of the A member of an animal rescue team holds a swan aff ected by an oil slick after grants arriving from North Africa, Ita- “Let’s see if Europe remembers that tion and identifi cation centres south of city. an oil freighter punctured its hull while mooring in Rotterdam. ly’s far-right Interior Minister Matteo it actually exists because there is still a Libya, on the external border of Libya, to “We are currently hard at work Salvini paid a surprise visit to Tripoli. boat loaded with migrants in Maltese help Libya as well as Italy block migra- cleaning hundreds of birds, includ- had been cleaned up with the opera- announced it was going to the site to There, he called for the establish- waters waiting for a port to welcome it tion,” Salvini told a news conference in ing swans,” said Anneke Heinecke of tion expected to take “several more do a preliminary probe. ment of processing centres in various and we can tell you again, it won’t be in Tripoli. the Dutch water management agency days”, the Port of Rotterdam said. One of the largest spills in the Rot- unnamed African countries to deal with an Italian port,” Salvini said. Ahmed Maiteeq, deputy head of the Rijkswaterstaat. “Many of the birds “Six special cleaning ships are ac- terdam harbour happened in 2007 potential migrants in a move “to help A Danish cargo ship owned by Mae- Government of National Accord (GNA), are covered in oil and it’s not easy to tive in the area,” the harbour said in a when a ship broke its mooring and Libya as well as Italy block migration”. rsk, the world’s leading container ship- said that Libya would host a migration catch and clean them.” statement. “It will take several days crashed against a quay during a heavy Libya is a key departure point for ping company, has also been stuck off summit in September. The Rijkswaterstaat, together with for operations to wrap up.” winter storm. thousands of migrants hoping to reach Sicily since Saturday with 108 migrants Earlier, he told Italy’s La Repubblica other animal aid organisations, set Dutch news reports said the Bow The crash ruptured pipelines on Europe, although hundreds drown each on board, awaiting instructions from that Europe “must think of structural up an “animal hospital” yesterday Jubail belonged to Norwegian oil and the Maasvlakte Oil Terminal, spilling year attempting the crossing. the Italian authorities. measures to take in African countries to capable of cleaning some 500 birds, chemical transporter Odfj ell, with some 800 cu m of oil into the har- Salvini’s unexpected trip came a day Ramping up the rhetoric, Salvini ear- stop migrants”. she said. the Port of Rotterdam adding it is bour. after emergency talks between 16 Eu- lier issued a blunt rebuke, warning for- On his return to Rome, Salvini said In total, more than 300 birds have “holding the owner responsible” for Damage from that spill ran into ropean Union leaders in an attempt to eign charities to stop rescuing migrants a technical team would be set up this been captured and were in the proc- the accident. millions of euros and it took more break a longstanding deadlock over who off Libya, accusing them of “causing week with representatives from Italy, ess of being cleaned, Heinecke said. The Dutch Safety Board – which than a month to clean up, Dutch news should take in the migrants, the bulk of trouble” and saying Italian ports “are Niger, Chad and Mali. By afternoon 100 tonnes of the fuel looks into industrial accidents – also reports said at the time. which have been landing in Italy and and will be closed to those who aid hu- He dismissed calls by France and Greece. man traffi ckers”. Spain for asylum-seekers to be kept The crisis came to a head earlier this His remarks came as Libya’s coast- in closed centres until their claims month when Italy’s new populist gov- guard said it had rescued nearly a 1,000 are processed – a proposal Rome fears ernment turned away a rescue boat people on Sunday, and Spanish authori- would turn Italy into “a refugee camp carrying 630 people, which was also ties said they had picked up more than for all of Europe”. rejected by Malta, forcing the vessel to 600 others off their coast yesterday. “Welcome hotspots in Italy? It would remain at sea until Spain off ered them Salvini has insisted Italy will not be a problem for us and for Libya itself safe haven. take in “one more” migrant, vowing to because it would not stop these deadly But the relief was short-lived, with close its ports to all foreign-fl agged res- waves (of migration). We have proposed Italy and Malta refused a second vessel cue ships and demanding that Europe reception centres south of Libya to avoid carrying 234 migrants who were rescued shoulder the burden, warning the mi- Tripoli becoming a funnel, like Italy,” he on Thursday. gration crisis could threaten the bloc’s wrote on Twitter. The move left Germany-operated future. “The only way to really counteract the rescue boat Lifeline stranded in inter- “We will jointly support, with Libyan traffi ckers’ criminal interests and avoid national waters near Malta. authorities, the setting up of recep- these voyages of death is to stop these boats putting out to sea,” he added in a Syrian convicted of Berlin assault on Israeli wearing kippa separate statement. The crisis has seen France and Italy go A 19-year-old Syrian national was found guilty of serious bodily harm and abuse by a head-to-head, with France’s Emmanuel German court yesterday after he had attacked an Arab-Israeli man wearing a skullcap in Macron accusing Rome of “irresponsi- Berlin. bility” for turning away the boats, and The court handed the 19-year-old a four-week jail sentence, which he has already served Italy denouncing Paris for its hypocrisy during his pretrial detention. in pushing migrants back across their The Syrian national, who was tried as a juvenile, is also to be placed under special supervi- shared border. sion by carers. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Mer- The man had used a belt to attack a 21-year-old Arab-Israeli wearing a kippa on April 17, kel is facing an ultimatum from her shouting the Arabic word for Jew, “Yahudi”. hardline interior minister who has given Another man filmed the incident on his phone. her until the end of June to fi nd a Euro- The 21-year-old man who was attacked is not Jewish. pean deal to curb new arrivals. Appearing as a witness, he told the court that he had worn the skullcap as he was on the Sunday’s emergency EU leaders way to visit an acquaintance with Jewish heritage. meeting had aimed to clear the air be- The defendant has been in pretrial detention since April 19, after being quickly identified tween member states ahead of a sched- by police. uled full summit on Thursday and Fri- day. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 13 INDIA Women praise minister for Skyscraper at risk as speaking out on heavy rains hit Mumbai abusive tweets IANS Mumbai

Agencies the minister for transfer- New Delhi ring the offi cer, for what they 32-storey skyscraper in claimed was a person who was Mumbai was feared to be simply doing his duty. Aat risk after a parking lot xternal Aff airs Minis- It is not known whether po- and driveway caved in while at ter Sushma Swaraj has lice would take action against least seven people were killed as Espoken out on abusive people who abused the minis- heavy rains clobbered the city tweets directed at her, a move ter on social media. and large parts of coastal Mahar- welcomed yesterday by wom- Women applauded Swaraj ashtra, offi cials said yesterday. en journalists and campaigners for speaking out after she took Around a dozen cars were who say they routinely battle to Twitter on Sunday to expose trapped and damaged after a rape and death threats on so- the trolls. parking enclosure of the upscale cial media. “These are organised swarms Lloyds Estate in Wadala caved in Online trolls targeted of gender trolling. It has the ap- early yesterday, leaving a yawn- Swaraj, the most senior woman proval of someone, somewhere,” ing crater of around 20-30ft in the federal government and Kavita Krishnan, an activist across. an active Twitter user, after with the All India Progressive The disaster occurred alleg- she helped a Hindu-Muslim Women’s Association, said. edly due to ongoing construc- couple who accused a passport Twitter trolls have attacked tion of a 40-storey building for offi cial in her department of both men and women critical which the plinth work was un- discriminating against them. of Prime Minister Narendra derway and a cement mixer’s Most of the abuse was from Modi and his Bharatiya Janata sludge had choked up the locals Hindus who accused her of “ap- Party, but activists say the at- drains. peasing” the Muslim commu- tacks against women are par- As a precautionary meas- nity by not taking the offi cial’s ticularly vicious and can in- ure, police and disaster offi cials side, and called for her to be re- clude rape and death threats. evacuated nearly 270 fami- moved from the government. Dhanya Rajendran, editor lies from the C and D towers of “Had she been India’s daugh- of digital newspaper The News Lloyds Estate while eff orts were ter, she would have put nation Minute who was trolled last year on to verify whether anybody fi rst. But she is a secular Visa by fans of an actor whose fi lm was trapped in the caved-in ar- Aunty,” read one tweet in Hindi. she had criticised, said the tar- eas. Earlier this week, the couple geting of Swaraj showed how far While the Antop Hill police from Noida alleged they faced the trolls were prepared to go. station lodged a case against the harassment at the local pass- “People are not even scared offi cials of Dosti Realty, Mum- port offi ce and the woman was of a senior minister who is bai Congress president Sanjay Cars are seen amid debris after the wall of a residential building collapsed due to heavy rains in Mumbai yesterday. asked to change her name and among the top four of the In- Nirupam, who rushed to the site, religion. dian government,” she said. termed the development “as ration (BMC), waterlogging was a holiday to avoid inconvenienc- Thane, Sion, Kurla and other Waterlogging, minor land- Married in 2007, Tanvi Swaraj’s offi cial handle re- shocking and playing with the experienced in several parts of ing students. places, while WR local services slides and cave-ins were re- Seth and Anas Sidiqui have a tweeted some abusive com- lives of innocent citizens”. the city and suburbs like Sion, On the Western Railway (WR), were delayed due to a technical ported at certain places on the 7-year-old daughter. ments directed at her. Overnight heavy rains hit rail Kurla, Matunga, Kings Circles, a portion of the train tracks was snag in Bandra. Mumbai-Goa Highway which Sidiqui said the offi cer “asked Online abuse and harass- and road traffi c in Mumbai and Dadar, Malad, Dahisar and Jo- washed out in Vapi division, but On the Mumbai-Ahmedabad traverses through an entire me to change my name, my re- ment pressure women and other coastal areas. Shiv Sena geshwari. the situation was brought under Highway, there was heavy water- coastal route, hitting traffi c and ligion. He said one of us has to girls into censoring themselves president Uddhav Thackeray In the past 24 hours, Mumbai, control and traffi c resumed with logging at several points in Mumbai causing snarls. change our name or religion”. on social media and makes compared yesterday’s downpour Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratna- speed restrictions later in the and in Thane and Palghar districts However, fl ights at Mumbai’s The offi cer at the centre them fear for their physical to the kind seen in Meghalaya’s giri and Sindhudurg districts morning. as torrential rains lashed these ar- Chhatrapati Shivaji Interna- of the controversy has been safety, with many withdraw- Cherrapunji. received an average of around The Central Railway suburban eas and fl ood waters blocked the tional Airport operated normally transferred. ing from public conversations, Belying the claims of the Bri- 300mm rainfall, with many train services were disrupted due traffi c between Maharashtra and with no reports of any major dis- Some people then criticised rights groups have said. hanMumbai Municipal Corpo- schools in these areas declaring to waterlogging on the tracks at Gujarat for several hours. ruptions. Chennai boy is world’s second youngest chess grandmaster

AFP knew that I can’t hold him back be- Chennai cause of our fi nancial situation,” he said. A predecessor to chess is thought 12-year-old boy described as by some to have originated in India “unstoppable” by his proud in the 6th century AD, from where it Afather has become the world’s spread to Persia and developed into the second youngest chess grandmaster “Game of Kings” it is today. ever. However in modern times it only Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, the achieved major popularity in India son of a bank employee in Chennai, when Vishwanathan Anand became achieved the feat with some aggressive the country’s fi rst grandmaster aged play at an event in northern Italy that 18 in 1988 and dominated the game in ended on Sunday. the 2000s. Praggnanandhaa – whose 17-year- On Sunday the fi ve-time world old big sister Vaishali Rameshbabu champion congratulated Praggnan- is also no slouch at the game, being a andhaa. two-time youth chess champion – was “Welcome to the club & congrats aged 12 years, 10 months and 13 days Praggnanandhaa!! See u soon in chen- when he won the title. nai,” he wrote on Twitter. But this was too old to beat the cur- “He plays other outdoor sports too rent record-holder, Sergey Karjakin of when he wants to relax his mind,” the Ukraine, who was 12 years and exactly prodigy’s father said. seven months when he made the grade Praggnanandhaa: unstoppable “When his focus is not on the board, in 2002. he is quite a handful. But he saves most Praggnanandhaa’s father said that “But the passion in him to play of his aggression for the chessboard,” his son, who practises six hours a day chess was unstoppable, I had to give in he said. and watches past matches online, was and put him in coaching classes. And Sports Minister Rajyavard- not even four when he fi rst started tak- he has been unstoppable since,” the han Singh Rathore said yesterday ing an interest in chess. 53-year-old, who has the same name that the government was award- However he said the family could as his son, said. ing Praggnanandhaa Rs400,000 not afford to pay for extra travel and “He was just six years old when he ($5,900) plus Rs100,000 from the training for both the boy and his sis- came second in the under-eight na- National Sports Development fund ter. tional championship. That is when I for training. Jaitley compares Indira to Hitler

IANS mental rights under Article 359 and “Indira Gandhi arrested most op- New Delhi claimed that disorder was planned by position MPs and, therefore, pro- the opposition. cured, through their absence, a two- Jaitley said Hitler, who became the third majority of members present ederal minister Arun Jaitley yes- German chancellor on January 30, and voting and enabling the pas- terday compared former prime 1933, got his president to invoke Ar- sage of several obnoxious provisions Fminister Indira Gandhi, who ticle 48 of the country’s constitution through constitution amendments,” imposed Emergency, to Hitler, stat- which gave emergency powers for the Jaitley said. ing that both used the constitution “to “protection of people in the state”. The BJP leader said the 42nd transform democracy into dictator- “The decree giving emergency Amendment diluted the power of high ship”. powers put restrictions on personal courts to issue writ petitions, “a power Jaitley, whose second blog of a liberty, free speech... The pretext for which Dr (B R) Ambedkar had said was three-part series coincided with the imposition of Emergency was that on the very heart and soul of India’s con- 43rd anniversary of the imposition of February 27, 1933, German Parliament stitution”. the Emergency, also noted that un- House, known as ‘Reichstag’, had been “They also amended Article 368 so like the German dictator, Gandhi went set on fi re. that a constitution amendment was ahead to transform India into a “dy- “Hitler claimed that it was a com- beyond judicial review. There were a nastic democracy”. munist conspiracy to burn government few things that Hitler did not do which “Both Hitler and Gandhi never ab- buildings and museums. Thirteen Gandhi did. rogated the constitution. They used a years later, in the Nuremberg trials, it “She prohibited the publication of republican constitution to transform was established that Reichstag fi re was parliamentary proceeding in the me- democracy into dictatorship,” he said. the handiwork of Nazis and Goebbels dia. The law which gave mandate to The Bharatiya Janata Party leader had conceived it.” the media for publishing parliamen- said Gandhi imposed Emergency un- He said Hitler arrested most oppo- tary proceedings was popularly known der Article 352, suspended funda- sition MPs. as the Feroze Gandhi Bill,” he said. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 INDIA

POLITICS EXPENSES CRIME PEOPLE PROTEST Sudheeran comes under EC seeks reports ahead Man stabbed to death Harsh Mander resigns DMK walks out of assembly attack at UDF meeting of Odisha elections at family function as NHRC monitor in row over governor’s role

Senior Congress leader and party’s former Kerala Odisha Chief Electoral Off icer (CEO) Surendra A 28-year-old man was stabbed to death at Social activist Harsh Mander has resigned as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M K unit president V M Sudheeran came under Kumar yesterday directed district collectors to a family function in New Delhi, police said the Special Monitor at the National Human Stalin yesterday walked out of the Tamil Nadu fire at the United Democratic Front meeting submit estimates regarding expenditures for yesterday, adding that his nephew and a Rights Commission (NHRC), saying “there is no Assembly along with party colleagues and allies yesterday, the first after the estranged Kerala the upcoming 2019 polls. Kumar said the district friend have been arrested for the murder. constructive role” for him to play. In his resignation after he was not allowed to raise the issue of Congress-Mani returned to the alliance. Though collectors were asked to submit a report over The accused have been identified as Vishal, letter released to the media yesterday, Mander Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s controversial Sudheeran, who had earlier attacked his party various types of poll-related expenses. “This a nephew of the victim, and Rahul, who was complained that despite having been told that the visits to various districts. Speaker P Dhanapal for gifting the Rajya Sabha seat, was absent, a is a routine process. The collectors have been described as a friend. They were arrested NHRC would from time to time seek his services to refused permission to Stalin to speak on the peeved KC-M chief K M Mani said even if the directed to submit a report over poll-related yesterday from a hideout in south Delhi’s look into matters concerning the rights of minorities issue of Purohit holding review meetings Congress leader was present, he would have expenses such as transportation of the polling Ambedkar Nagar. The incident took place and communal violence, the commission “has not in districts citing the assembly rules barred told him that he was a politician with “scruples parties and preparation of infrastructures like at 9pm on Sunday in Tigri area when the reached out to him even once” on these issues. discussion on the governor. The DMK and and values and not one who jumps from one booths and strong rooms,” he said. As per the police were told that a man later identified “Because of the continued silence of the NHRC, both its allies then trooped out of the assembly. place to another for posts or positions”. As Mani instruction of the Election Commission of India as Sunil had been stabbed. A father of two, in terms of approaching me for investigation or Speaking to reporters later, Stalin said the DMK continued to attack Sudheeran, state Congress (ECI), the process to set up strong rooms in all Sunil was rushed to hospital where he died. mission on any human rights concerns of minorities would continue to hold black flag protests if president M M Hassan sought to soothe him by the districts has also started. “Keeping in view Sunil reportedly had a row with Vishal and and communal violence, for which I had been Purohit continues to hold review meetings in stating that what Sudheeran said was not the the price escalation and prescription of the ECI, Rahul, apparently over a young woman who invited; and on the report I authored on the critical districts. He pointed that when the AIADMK Congress’ opinion. Ever since Mani had been we will do the budgeting,” said Kumar. He said was getting engaged to one of them, Deputy question of persons declared foreigners in Assam, it was in power in 1995, the House had adopted given the Rajya Sabha seat, Sudheeran had been that EVMs and VVPATs will be used in all the Commissioner of Police Romil Baaniya said. is apparent that there is no constructive role for the a resolution against then governor M Channa vocal in his opposition. polling booth across the state. This led to a fight. NHRC Special Monitor,” he wrote. Reddy.

India and Seychelles agree to CBI sends fresh work on naval project request to Italy

IANS New Delhi

ndia and Seychelles yesterday for Gerosa’s agreed to work on the As- Isomption Island naval base project keeping each other’s interest in mind as New Delhi promised a $100mn line of credit to the Indian Ocean archipelago extradition nation to strengthen its defence capabilities. IANS The CBI has already fi led a meetings between IAF offi cials “On the issue of Assomp- New Delhi charge-sheet in this case, in and AgustaWestland offi ce bear- tion Island, we are ready to work which the three are co-accused. ers and even became a director together on the basis of each The CBI named former Indian in several shell companies used other’s interest,” Prime Minis- he Central Bureau of In- Air Force chief S P Tyagi, his to route the bribe money from ter Narendra Modi said at a joint vestigation has sent a fresh cousin Sanjeev alias Julie, then Italy to India,” said an offi cial, re- press meet with Seychelles Presi- Trequest for the extradi- IAF vice chief J S Gujral and ad- questing anonymity. dent Danny Faure after talks be- tion of middleman Carlo Gerosa vocate Gautam Khaitan as the CBI sources said they had tween the two leaders at Hydera- in the Rs36bn AgustaWestland four Indians in the charge-sheet, shared all documents, includ- bad House here. VVIP helicopter deal case to the which mentioned Khaitan as the ing the charge-sheet, statements The agreement allowing India Italian government, sources said “brain” behind the deal. and technical evidence along to build naval facilities on As- yesterday. Others named are Italian with the extradition request and somption Island was signed by The move comes after Italy re- defence and aerospace major Italy should have honoured their the two countries during Modi’s fused India’s request to extradite Finmeccanica’s former chief request. fi rst visit to Seychelles in 2015. Gerosa, saying it did not have any Giuseppe Orsi, former Agus- Gerosa is a Swiss passport The opposition in Seychelles mutual legal assistance treaty. taWestland CEO Bruno Spagno- holder and offi cials feel Italy is against the pact on concerns A CBI source said that under lini and middlemen Michel, Has- may have taken that into account about sovereignty. the Italian law, there is a provi- chke and Gerosa. while rejecting India’s request. Faure is on his fi rst bilateral sion to extradite a person wanted On January 1, 2014, India According to the CBI, Tyagi visit to India at the invitation of in any case after fulfi lling certain scrapped the contract with Fin- took bribes of several millions, President Ram Nath Kovind. He criteria. meccanica’s British subsidiary through middlemen and a com- visited Ahmedabad and Goa be- “Thus, the CBI has reminded AgustaWestland for supplying plex route of companies in sever- fore landing in Delhi. Italy about its law under which 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the al countries, from AgustaWest- Expressing the intention to Gerosa can be extradited to In- IAF over alleged breach of con- land to change the specifi cations continue the dialogue on the is- dia,” he said. tractual obligations and charges of the contract – reducing the sue, Faure, too, said: “In the He also said that the extra- of paying kickbacks to the tune operational fl ight ceiling from context of maritime security, As- dition request has been sent of Rs4.23bn by it for securing the 6,000m, as originally proposed, somption Island was discussed. through diplomatic channels. deal. to 4,500m and bringing down the We are equally engaged and will According to CBI offi cials, Ge- The CBI, which registered an cabin height to 1.8m. continue to work together bear- rosa, 70, is one of the three al- FIR in the case on March 12, 2013, The twin modifi cations were ing each other’s interest in mind. leged middlemen wanted in the has alleged that Tyagi and the allegedly meant to rig the deal in “We have underscored our case and his interrogation and other accused received kickbacks favour of AgustaWestland, which commitment to remain at the statement is very important for from AgustaWestland to help it eventually walked away with the heart of joint initiatives and col- both the Enforcement Directo- win the contract. The FIR men- order to supply 12 choppers for lective eff orts to stimulate and rate (ED) and the CBI, which are tioned charges of criminal con- the Communication Squadron facilitate co-operation in fi elds probing the case. spiracy, cheating and the Preven- of the IAF for ferrying the presi- representing priorities on the In October last year, Italian tion of Corruption Act. dent, the prime minister and sub-regional, regional and con- authorities, on the basis of an In- The CBI said the company was other VVIPs. tinental agendas.” terpol notice sought by the ED in favoured in lieu of illegal grati- The CBI probe revealed that Last week, a top Seychelles for- connection with its money laun- fi cation accepted through dif- several payments were made to eign aff airs ministry offi cial was dering probe in the choppers deal ferent companies in the name of the Tyagis by Haschke, Gerosa quoted as saying by local media case, had arrested Gerosa but consultancy services. and Michel as part of the alleged that its parliament would not ratify soon released him. “Gerosa could have provided bribery. a pact allowing India to build naval The ED had last year notifi ed an important clues about his im- Tyagi, who was IAF chief from facilities on one of the archipelago’s Interpol red corner notice (RCN) mediate associates – Haschke, 2004 to 2007, his cousin and islands and that the issue would not against Gerosa and two others – Michel and the complete money Khaitan were arrested in De- be discussed with the Indian lead- Seychelles President Danny Faure sprinkles rose petals as he pays homage at Rajghat, the memorial Briton Christian Michel James trail since he maintained ‘the cember last year by the agency in ership during Faure’s visit here. for Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi yesterday. and Italian Guido Haschke. account of bribery’; arranged connection with the case.

Sridevi honoured with best Actresses slam decision actress award at IIFA event on Dileep suspension IANS laws of the association. Agencies 850mn, the IIFA Awards – dubbed which he plays a father trying to Thiruvananthapuram Dileep is accused of playing a Bangkok Bollywood’s Oscars by some in get his daughter into a prestigious role in the conspiracy to abduct the industry – is India’s biggest school. the young actress in February media event. The subject of Sridevi’s last n organisation of ac- 2017 when she was on her way to ollywood superstar Sridevi It is also one of the world’s most- fi lm Mom also touched a sensitive tresses in Kerala yesterday Kochi from her house. He spent Kapoor was honoured for watched annual entertainment topic in India – that of rape, with Acriticised the Associa- 85 days in jail before securing Bher fi nal role at India’s shows, held outside India to dem- the actress portraying a mother tion of Malayalam Movie Actors bail. movie awards in Bangkok, win- onstrate Bollywood’s global appeal. seeking to avenge a sex attack on (AMMA) for its decision to re- “The victim... is she also not ning best actress at the celebra- Sridevi “was the queen of grace her stepdaughter. voke the suspension of superstar a member of AMMA? Through tion of dance, music and fi lm just and worthy of every praise”, read The event saw veteran actor Dileep, accused of kidnapping an this new decision, are you not months after her shock death. a message from the IIFA’s Twitter Anupam Kher honoured with actress. insulting the victim again,” WCC Sridevi was considered one of account. the “IIFA Award for Outstanding “If you have decided to re- asked. the most infl uential Bollywood The ceremony saw India’s big- Achievement in Indian Cinema”. voke the suspension... what has “Being a democratic body, actresses of all time. gest stars descend on the Thai The star is known abroad for changed after he was suspend- what’s the message you are try- Her death from accidental capital late Sunday for a riotous his roles in Bend It Like Beckham ed?” the Women in Cinema Col- ing to send across? This deci- drowning in a Dubai hotel room evening fi lled with glamour and and Silver Linings Playbook. lective (WCC) asked the AMMA sion... is it not challenging the bathtub aged 54 in February left stunning dance routines. Best picture went to Tumhari in a Facebook post. legal system of our land?” the nation in stunned grief. But it was given an additional Sulu which stars Vidya Balan as a “Do you know that you have The WCC was formed last year “I have mixed emotions today. I tinge of sadness as best actor housewife who becomes a DJ of- decided to take back someone and includes many top actresses miss her every minute and second went to Irrfan Khan, known inter- fering relationship advice on a who is alleged to have been in- including Dileep’s former wife of my life,” her widower Boney nationally for his roles in block- late-night radio show. volved in a rape and the trial is Manju Warrier and Par- Kapoor said as he collected the busters Life of Pi and Slumdog Saket Chaudhary scooped best yet to fi nish... don’t you feel vathy. gong on her behalf at the Indian Millionaire, in his absence. director for Hindi Medium. anything at all?” At Sunday’s meeting Film Academy’s (IIFA) annual Earlier this year the actor, who The ceremony saw veteran ac- At its fi rst annual general of Amma, the leading awards ceremony. was also in the 2016 fi lm Inferno tress Rekha, 63, roll back the years body meeting after Dileep’s actresses from WCC “I still feel she is around. I want alongside Tom Hanks and is one as she belted out vintage hits in a arrest, the AMMA on Sun- along with some male you all to support Janhvi like you of Bollywood’s most globally rec- rare public performance, as well day revoked the actor’s actors like Prithviraj supported her mother,” the Bolly- ognised exports, revealed he has a as routines from the likes of Ran- suspension on the grounds were absent. wood producer said in an emotion- rare tumour and is being treated bir Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. that it was done by a Amma is led al speech, referring to the eldest of in London. Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui Boney Kapoor receives the award for best performance in a hurriedly-called by another Sridevi’s two daughters who is set Khan bagged the award for his dedicated his best supporting leading role – female on behalf of his late wife Sridevi for her role executive meet- superstar to make her Bollywood debut. role in Hindi Medium, a fi lm high- actor honour to his Mom co-star in Mom as actress Kriti Sanon looks on during the IIFA Awards ing which was Mohan- With an audience of more than ly critical of India’s class divide in Sridevi. event in Bangkok. against the by- lal. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 15

LATIN AMERICA

Policemen face probe over killing Argentina of mayoral candidate paralysed

AFP Mexico City

he whole police force in a Mexican town of Ocampo Twhere a mayoral candi- by anti-IMF date was slain this week has been detained for an internal investi- gation, authorities said. “All of them are being inter- viewed to proceed as due un- der law in the event anyone has taken part in acts that violate the town’s codes,” said the security deal strike secretariat in Michoacan state, where the town of about 20,000 AFP year be reopened in order to align ers,” Marcelo Ramal, a leader of people is located. Buenos Aires them with projected infl ation, the Workers Party, said at one of It did not give the exact calculated at 27% by the central the roadblocks. number of police detained. bank and which could rise to 30% The fi nance ministry estimat- Mayoral candidate Fernan- rgentina’s unions para- by year’s end. ed the strike would cost Argen- do Angeles was shot dead last lysed the country with a Negotiations mostly took tina’s economy $1bn. Thursday when he was prepar- A24-hour strike yesterday place at the start of the year, “The government is in a tough ing for campaign events. in protest at the government’s when the annual infl ation target spot, it is at its very lowest point The police have been trans- latest deal with the International was 15% — a goal which had been (in polls) and is strongly criti- ferred to the internal aff airs unit Monetary Fund. abandoned by May. cised by workers” whose wages of the state security secretariat, With no trains, subways, buses Following a currency crisis in are losing value against the high which did not clarify in its state- or fl ights in service, organisers April and May, in which the peso rate of infl ation, said political ment if the arrest is related to said 1mn workers took part in the shed roughly 30% of its value, the analyst Diego Reynoso. Angeles’ killing. industrial action. IMF announced a $50bn standby Argentina’s centre-right On Wednesday, Omar Gomez, Although the General Confed- loan for Argentina in early June president Mauricio Macri came an independent candidate for eration of Workers (CGT) called after Latin America’s third-larg- to power in 2015 after 12 years mayor of Aguililla, also in Mi- only for a strike, more radical est economy sought help to bol- of leftist rule by the late Nestor choacan, was shot to death. groups organised demonstrations ster market confi dence. Kirchner, who held offi ce from On June 14, a candidate for that cut off access to Buenos Aires. Argentina has a bitter his- 2003-2007, and then his wife mayor of Taretan, in the same Toward 7am (1000GMT), ac- tory with the global crisis lender, Cristina, who was president from state, was also killed. tivists began to close off the main which many Argentines view as 2007 until late 2015. Since the campaign season routes into the capital where having imposed tough condi- Macri, a free-market busi- started in Mexico, which will hundreds of federal law enforce- tions that worsened economic nessman and a former mayor conclude with elections on July ment personnel were deployed. pain 17 years ago. of the capital, scrapped many 1, more than a hundred politi- Most of the city was deserted, As the strike gripped Buenos subsidies his predecessors had cians and candidates, mostly lo- including schools. “The strike is Aires yesterday, only a few cars granted on a variety of services, cal, have been murdered. against the economic programme... could be seen on the city streets, most notably electricity, gas and Mexico is experiencing a wave The IMF has always brought hard- which were quieter than on a water. of violence linked to organised ship to the Argentines,” CGT direc- Sunday. The rise in the cost of utilities, crime that made 2017 the most tor Juan Carlos Schmid said. “A general strike isn’t enough. as well as in public transport, violent year in two decades, with A man rests outside the Jorge Newbery airport during a 24-hour national strike in Buenos Aires, The unions are demanding We need a battle plan to counter further eroded the spending 25,339 homicides. Argentina, yesterday. that salary negotiations for this this war plan against the work- power of Argentines.

Mexican leftist consolidates Dozens of blue macaws to be reintroduced to Brazil vote lead: poll About 50 of the last Spix’s macaws, They will then move to a 72- the blue parrot made famous in acre reintroduction centre in a Leftist candidate Andres Manuel the hit animation movie Rio, will be conservation area of Brazil’s north- Lopez Obrador has consolidated reintroduced to the wild in Brazil eastern state of Bahia, with the first his commanding lead over rivals from captivity in Europe, officials being released into the wild in 2021. in the race to become Mexico’s said. Brazil’s environment ministry next president with just a week to Brazilian Environment Minister Edson said that international breeding go, a voter survey by polling firm Duarte signed an agreement with programmes for the birds in captivity Consulta Mitofsky showed. Belgium and Germany in Brussels for have seen the population grow from The opinion poll showed Lopez bringing the birds back in the first 79 in 2012 to 158 this year. Obrador, a former mayor of quarter of next year, the ministry said The ACTP says that the current Mexico City, with support of 37.7% in a statement. population must be increased to of voters, up 0.5 percentage The Spix’s macaw originates from become sustainable long term. points from a survey earlier this north-east Brazil but is considered Other needed measures include month. extinct in the wild, with only scores preparing the local population for Backing for his closest rival, remaining in captivity. coexistence in Brazil’s Caatinga Ricardo Anaya, who fronts The medium-sized parrot sports region, where the parrots come from a right-left coalition, inched feathers in a variety of shades of originally, the group says. down to 20% from 20.3% in the blue. Destruction of habitat and capture previous month, according to the It was last seen in the wild in 1990, for traff icking are the main reasons nationwide poll of 1,000 voters according to the Association for the for the near disappearance of the from June 16-19. Conservation of Threatened Parrots parrots. Jose Antonio Meade, candidate (ACTP), which partners the Brazilian Their dramatic situation formed of the ruling centrist Institutional government on the project to revive the basis of the 2011 3D movie Rio, Revolutionary Party (PRI), rose to the species. in which a Spix’s macaw is brought 17.7% from 17.1% in the previous The current batch of survivors being from the notoriously cold US state survey. A fourth candidate, repatriated from Europe will initially of Minnesota to breed with a captive independent Jaime Rodriguez, stay in special centre due to open in Spix’s macaw in Brazil, leading to a had 3.1% support, down by a Berlin next Thursday, where they will series of adventures — and saving of tenth of a point. The presidential be prepared for the transition. the species. election is on July 1. EU imposes sanctions on more Venezuela offi cials

Reuters Delcy Rodriguez, who became vice is seeking to isolate Caracas and to help Luxembourg president when Maduro reshuffl ed his remove what it sees as an authoritarian Cabinet after his widely-condemned regime. re-election in May. It imposed an arms embargo in No- he European Union imposed Rodriguez was formerly president of vember. economic sanctions on 11 senior the pro-government constituent as- Venezuela’s mainstream opposition TVenezuelan offi cials yesterday in sembly, which critics say Maduro set boycotted the election because two of protest at President Nicolas Maduro’s up last year to override an opposition- its most popular leaders were barred, re-election, which the bloc says was controlled national assembly. authorities banned several parties, and not free or fair, and over his govern- She has also been foreign minister. the election board was run by Maduro ment’s alleged rights abuses. The bloc said she had undermined loyalists. The new travel bans and asset freez- Venezuelan democracy. Critics say Maduro is resorting to es, discussed and reported by Reuters Others targeted include ministers increasingly authoritarian tactics as in May, follow EU moves against seven and the Venezuelan deputy attorney the economy spirals deeper into reces- other senior offi cials in January. general Katherine Harrington, a Ma- sion. They do not target Maduro direct- duro loyalist also blacklisted by the US. There are dire shortages of food, ly, as the EU seeks to pressure those Maduro’s government denounced medicine and other essentials. around him fi rst. the new sanctions, which it said in- Maduro accuses the US of waging Those blacklisted include Venezuela’s fringed international law by violating “economic war” on Venezuela and try- industry minister and former vice presi- Venezuela’s sovereignty, and accused ing to delegitimise his democratic vic- dent Tareck El Aissami, already sanc- the EU of “fl agrant subordination” to tory. In its latest round of sanctions, tioned by the US for drug traffi cking. the administration of US President the US penalised four Venezuelans and The European Union said he was Donald Trump. three Florida-based companies in May, “responsible for serious human rights “The European Union is attacking on top of measures already in place re- violations...including arbitrary deten- the political peace in Venezuela by in- stricting business with Venezuela’s tion, politically motivated investiga- volving itself in internal issues,” it said all-important oil industry. tions, inhumane and degrading treat- in a statement. The European Union has yet to tar- ment, and torture”. The EU, Venezuela’s third-largest get businesses, seeking to spare any The 28-nation bloc also targeted trading partner after the US and China, impact on the local population. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 PAKISTAN Pharmaceuticals to hike prices of 10,000 medicines

Internews stock started at the earliest. (costing less than Rs3 per tablet) ment,” the offi cial said. crease the prices and then inform The MRP of a generic drug the pro-rata MRP printed on the Islamabad After a gap of 15 years, a drug were increased by 100% of the “The companies are also rec- the Drug Regulatory Authority of shall not, at any time, exceed the respective pack. policy was formulated and sanc- CPI. ommending that instead of di- Pakistan (Drap),” he said. MPR of the respective originator Moreover, no person, includ- tioned by the Economic Co-or- An offi cial of the ministry of viding medicines into three According to the draft of the brand except those cases where ing a manufacturer, importer, re- s the “Drug Pricing Policy dination Committee (ECC) of the national health services said that groups, there should be only two new pricing policy, drugs for hu- the originator brand has itself re- tailer, hospital, clinic, wholesaler 2018” of Pakistan has em- cabinet in 2015. although the CPI was announced groups,” the offi cial added. “So man use shall be divided into two quested for deregistration or it is or distributor, shall be allowed Apowered pharmaceutical According to the policy, the in the fi rst week of July last year, in the new drug pricing policy, it categories for pricing. confi rmed from the manufactur- to affi x stickers, overlapping or companies to increase prices on Consumer Price Index (CPI) is to the price increase could not be was decided that there would be In the fi rst category will be er or importer of the originator masking of prices. their own, at least 10,000 medi- be considered for increasing the implemented for almost eight only two groups of medicines: drugs and biologicals on the Na- brand that they can no longer en- However, in case of volun- cines will become dearer by up to prices. months as the policy stated that essential medicines and others.” tional Essential Medicines List sure the availability of the same. tary reduction in MRP, masking 4% next month. As the government had an- the companies had to seek ap- According to the new policy, and in the second will be all other No person, including a retailer, of previous MRP and reprinting The pharmaceutical fi rms have nounced 4.16% CPI for the year proval from the government. prices of essential medicines will drugs. hospital, clinic, wholesaler or of reduced MRP through laser already started preparations and 2016-17, the prices would be in- “But the fi rms were of the view be increased by 70% of the CPI The list of drugs and biologi- distributor, shall sell any drug to inkjet will be permissible, if so reduced supplies to the market creased by 50% of the CPI for that as it was already mentioned and that of the other medicines cals may be revised after three any consumer at a price exceed- requested. to ensure that the existing stock, scheduled/essential drugs and in the policy that the prices by 100% of the CPI. years or earlier as deemed appro- ing the MRP printed on the re- A Drap offi cial said that while which has a lower maximum re- the non-scheduled drugs by 70% would be increased according “As according to the new pol- priate by the authority in accord- spective pack. there are over 70,000 registered tail price (MRP), would be con- of the CPI. to the CPI, there was no need to icy, prices will be increased au- ance with World Health Organi- In case of sale of a drug in loose medicines, only 10,000 were sumed and the sale of the new However, threshold drugs seek approval from the govern- tomatically, companies will in- sation list of essential medicines. quantity, MRP shall not exceed available in the market. Sharif to stay with PTI lists candidates ailing wife in UK

Internews Islamabad

eposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif has ruled for lower house seats Dout leaving his wife’s side while she is on a ventilator Internews remained in the cabinet of former at a London hospital, Express Islamabad prime minister Shahid Khaqan News reported. Abbasi till May 31 – the last day Speaking to media on Sat- of the Pakistan Muslim League – urday, the three-time premier Sharif: I will do politics once I fter weeks of deliberations Nawaz (PML-N) government in asked reporters if it would be return to Pakistan. in the wake of protests the offi ce. appropriate to return to Paki- Aover the issue of award of The protest also exposed stan when Begum Kulsoom is he planned on a four-day visit party tickets, the Pakistan Te- the rift within the PTI when fi ghting for her life. but was unsure about return- hreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has fi nally vice-chairman Shah Mehmood On June 14, Nawaz and ing to Pakistan due to Kul- issued a complete list of its can- Qureshi and former secretary daughter Maryam left for Brit- soom’s health. didates for the National Assem- general Jahangir Tareen verbally ain’s capital after being grant- He added that the mat- bly and all the four Provincial As- attacked each other in public as ed a brief exemption from the ter will be further deliberated semblies for the July 25 elections. well as private gatherings. ongoing corruption trial. upon after consultations with The list released by the party’s Sources said that those be- The Sharif family is fac- the doctors. central media department shows longing to Tareen’s camp be- ing trial at an accountability The Pakistan Muslim League that the PTI is fi elding its can- lieved that it was Qureshi who court in Islamabad on corrup- – Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, didates in 229 constituencies, had instigated the workers from tion references fi led by the Na- however, asserted his intent to out of 272 general seats, of the Multan to stage the sit-in. tional Accountability Bureau return. National Assembly, with party Qureshi, however, denies the (NAB) in the wake of Supreme During the media talk, the chairman Imran Khan himself charge and recently stated that Court’s July 28, 2017 verdict in disqualifi ed PM refused to contesting from fi ve constituen- he had no dispute with a person the Panamagate case disquali- speak on political matters and cies. who could not even contest the fying Nawaz and directing the requested for prayers for his Earlier, the party had an- elections – an indirect reference anti-graft watchdog to launch wife: “I will do politics once I nounced its candidates on some to Tareen’s disqualifi cation by an inquiry. return to Pakistan.” seats of the National and Pro- the Supreme Court. While the father and daugh- On June 22, Hussain Nawaz vincial Assemblies, but the Speaking to the agitating ter were en route to London, told BBC that Begum Kul- leadership later withheld the workers, Imran Khan on several the former fi rst lady suff ered a soom’s condition was compar- announcement on some seats af- occasions categorically declared cardiac arrest and was moved atively better but she remained ter a strong reaction from party that he would not succumb to Workers print Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) election posters at a printing workshop in Rawalpindi. to the Intensive Care Unit unconscious. workers and members over the pressure to change his decision. (ICU) and placed on a ventila- Kulsoom had been undergo- decision to award most of the He, however, announced that been awarded the ticket from from NA-150 Khanewal-I. Assembly to vote on the bill that tor. ing treatment for cancer in a tickets to new entrants. he would review the complaints NA-154 Multan-I. It is interesting to note that made Nawaz Sharif eligible to Expressing his regret over London hospital and had mul- Thousands of the party work- submitted by the party workers The lost includes a large Harraj had won the 2002 elec- become party president despite not being able to see her while tiple surgeries while undergo- ers staged a sit-in outside Khan’s and would make decisions on number of politicians who have tions on a PPP ticket, but later having been disqualifi ed by the she was conscious, Nawaz said ing treatment. Banigala residence in Islamabad, merit. recently joined the PTI after formed a forward bloc with the apex court in the Panama Papers asking the leadership to review The PTI chief succeeded in quitting the Pakistan Peoples name of PPP-Patriots. case. its decision in some constituen- convincing the protesting work- Party (PPP), the PML-N, and He then joined the Pakistan The PTI has not awarded cies in Punjab and Khyber Pa- ers to wrap up their protest on other parties. Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam tickets to the candidates in Gu- khtunkhwa. Friday when he told them that The name of Raza Hayat Harraj (PML-Q), but in the previous as- jrat after having a silent seat Most party workers who the party needed electables to is among those candidates. sembly he joined the PML-N and adjustment with the Chaud- Pakistan to launch staged the protest outside Khan’s come to power for implementing Harraj, who remained a mem- sat on the treasury benches. hris of Gujrat and two seats of residence were from Multan, its agenda. ber of the National Assembly The PML-N, however, issued Rawalpindi from where Awami who were opposed to the award The PTI’s list of the candidates (MNA) on the PML-N ticket till Harraj show-cause notice when Muslim League chief Sheikh satellite next month of ticket to Sikandar Bosan, who shows that Sikandar Bosan has May 31, has been given the ticket he did not turn up to the National Rashid Ahmed will be contesting.

Internews from China back in 2012. Islamabad Upon contact, both the In- ter-Services Public Relations PPP’s Zardari seeks election triumph in hometown (ISPR) and the national space he foreign aff airs min- agency, the Pakistan Space and istry has announced the Upper Atmosphere Research Internews Incidentally, three years ear- Sakrand and Qazi Ahmed talukas Tlaunch of the indige- Commission (Suparco), were Islamabad lier, the younger Zardari had (administrative units like tehsils). nously-developed PakTES-1A hesitant to share details of this lost the constituency to Ghulam Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah of observatory satellite in July. positive development. Murtaza Khan Jatoi, of the Na- the PPP has won the constitu- Fitted with sensors and India has been launch- or the fi rst time since 1993, tional Peoples Party (NPP). ency three times in a row. cameras, PakTES-1A will re- ing such observatory satellite Asif Ali Zardari, co-chair- This time, he’s going up against His father, Shabbir Ahmed main stationary 610km in since the 1970s. Fman of the Pakistan Peo- Dr Qadir Magsi, the chairman of Shah, also won twice, once with space and its position relative However, former minister ples Party (PPP), will run for po- the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party. the PPP, and then with the Pa- to the sun will not change. for science and technology Dr litical offi ce from his hometown The July 25 polls will only be kistan Muslim League – Nawaz Foreign Offi ce spokesman Attaur Rehman was forthcom- of Nawabshah. the second time Magsi runs for (PML-N) in 1997. Dr Muhammad Faisal con- ing in his comments and also The district was renamed in offi ce, with his previous attempt Mustafa Shah’s competitors gratulated Pakistani scientists congratulated Pakistani scien- 2008 as Shaheed Benazirabad in in 1997 ending in a loss to the this time include Syed Zain Shah, in a tweet, saying that they had tists, calling the launch of the honour of the late Benazir Bhutto PPP, at his home district Thatta. the secretary general of the Sindh made Pakistanis proud. RSS next month a proud mo- following her assassination in Magsi’s electoral contest United Party (SUP) and a grand- Known as the Remote Sens- ment and a positive step that December 2007. Zardari: last ran from Nawabshah in 1993. though is merely a formality as son of G M Syed. ing Satellite (RSS), it can be scientists have been able to de- The last time Asif Zardari con- the PPP’s and Asif Zardari’s con- PPP’s Ghulam Qadir Chandio used to study various features velop and launch its satellite. tested the elections from the dis- Shaheed Benazirabad is a district It has a population of 1.6mn, siderable weight in the district had run against Zain Shah in 2013 of Earth, determine mineral “Unlike the complex, heav- trict was 25 years ago, when he on the left bank of the Indus. with half registered as voters. appears to be unmatched. in a closely fought battle. deposits, and depending on ier and bigger communication managed to win his constituency, According to some estimates, The former president, Asif Other challengers include Ab- Following the recently con- the kinds of sensors and gadg- satellites, observatory satel- following which his late wife the legendary Nawab gave away Zardari is poised to contest from dul Rauf Siddiqui of the Mutta- ducted delimitation, Benazirabad ets fi tted, the RSS technology lite is a simple technology and formed a coalition government 600 acres of his property to the of one of the two lower house of hida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has lost one provincial assembly can also help study impacts of can be used for a range of pur- only to have it dismissed in No- public. parliament seats recoded after and Sardar Sher Mohammed seat, reducing its representation climate change such as reces- poses depending on the types vember 1996 by her own lieuten- The PPP government, out of the delimitation to NA-213 in the Rind of the Grand Democratic in the Sindh Assembly from fi ve sion of melting glaciers, green- of sensing equipment it comes ant, Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan respect for the generosity of the polls on July 25. Alliance (GDA). seats to four. house gasses, detect forest fi tted with because there are Leghari, on charges of corruption Nawab, decided to only change Since he last won here in 1993, The latter is a younger brother The provincial constituency of fi res and even solve problems various kinds of remote sens- and other violations against the the nomenclature of the district, the co-chairman of the PPP has of Sardar Yar Mohammed Rind, PS-37, previously PS 26, has been related to agriculture as well as ing satellites. constitution. while maintaining the original never run from his home district. a former federal minister, and merged with two other constitu- forestry, besides a whole range “It can also study electro- Originally called Nawabshah, name. His late father, Hakim Ali leader of the Pakistan Tehreek- encies. of passive and active tasks. magnetic waves and radiation in honour of Syed Nawab Shah The district has four universi- Zardari, had bagged the other e-Insaf (PTI) in Baluchistan. The number of national as- The navigation technology emitted from Earth,” Rehman who is believed to have donated ties – including a medical college national assembly seat at the The second national assem- sembly seats, however, has re- for the satellite was acquired said. his land during the British Raj, and an engineering university. time. bly seat, NA-214, extends to the mained unchanged at two. New rainy spell likely from today

A new rainy spell with light to moderate winds is expected from Blasphemy, personal insults dominate election campaigns today and is likely to continue till tomorrow in central and lower parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and northeast Baluchistan. Rainfall is likely at isolated places in Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazi DPA An attempt by the party of province of Punjab on Sunday. The cleric’s party is now in divorce from her fi rst husband. Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Multan, Bannu, Islamabad former prime minister Nawaz The bid by Sharif’s party to the running in the July 25 vote to “A man who doesn’t respect Malakand, and Hazara, and a few places in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sharif to reform 1980s Islamic bring changes to a blasphemy- punish Sharif for “undermining family values and betrays his Rawalpindi during the time span. law that seeks death for insulting related law last year drew wide- the sacred law”, spokesman Zu- spiritual mentor doesn’t deserve Another rainy spell with more intensity will occur from June 28-30 lasphemy laws, corruption the religion have come under at- spread anger among religious bair Kasuri said yesterday. your vote,” former foreign min- at scattered places in east Baluchistan at Sibbi, western Sindh, and allegations and personal tack by opponents at rallies. groups. A leader of Sharif’s party hit ister Khawaja Asif said at a rally. central and lower Punjab, and at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Battacks have emerged as “How can a man who tried to Thousands of followers of a back at Khan with a potshot at his Corruption allegations against Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhunkhwa, upper Punjab, the Federally the core themes as Pakistan’s change a sacred law seek votes cleric forced the justice minister personal life, especially his third Sharif, for which he was forced to Administered Tribal Areas, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. political parties hit the campaign again?” Imran Khan, the leader to step down by blocking a major marriage with a woman from step down as prime minister and Light rain thundershower with gusty winds is expected at isolated trail with one month to go before of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-In- entrance into the capital Islama- whom he used to seek spiritual facing a trial, are also part of his places in Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore national elections. saf (PTI), told supporters in the bad for three weeks. guidance after forcing her to seek opponents’ campaign. divisions, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan during next 24 hours. Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 17 PHILIPPINES Protest against government policy Panel slams Morales for shielding Aquino

By Jeff erson Antiporda ing the huge amount of public stead of usurpation of power. Manila Times funds involved in the case,” the By choosing to fi le a “low- PACC said in a statement. er off ence,” Morales tied the The group insisted that there hands of the next Ombuds- he Presidential Anti- was suffi cient factual evidence man from fi ling heavier cases Corruption Commis- to support the fi ling of graft against the two offi cials. Tsion (PACC) yesterday and corruption charges against “What a grave disservice to blasted Ombudsman Conchita Aquino. the people who desire nothing Carpio Morales for her attempt It cited the ruling of the but a clean government from top to shield former president Supreme Court that certain to bottom,” the commission said. Benigno Aquino from being practices in the implementa- The PACC said it was not the charged with a graver off ence tion of DAP, such as the trans- fi rst time Morales, who is re- in connection with the contro- fer of funds from the executive tiring in July, showed her bias versial Disbursement Accelera- department to the legislative in refusing to indict Aquino. tion Programme (DAP). branch, is unconstitutional. She also fi led charges of usur- The anti-corruption body The PACC accused the Om- pation of authority against chaired by Dante Jimenez said budsman of ignoring “suffi - Aquino in connection with the the Ombudsman virtually cient factual evidence” show- botched “Oplan Exodus” in cleared Aquino when she rec- ing irregularity in an eff ort to Maguindanao in January 2015 ommended the fi ling of charg- shield Aquino. that killed 44 elite Special Ac- es for usurpation of powers The commission said Aquino tion Force (SAF) commandos. against the former president and Abad acted in evident bad Families of the SAF men fi led and Budget Secretary Florencio faith in interpreting an other- reckless imprudence resulting Abad. The PACC said the usur- wise plain constitutional pro- in multiple homicide charges pation charge was a mere “slap vision to favour certain sena- against Aquino, former Philip- on the wrist.” tors or to illegally fund certain pine National Police chief Alan “It is a token indictment that projects. Purisima and ex-SAF direc- reeks of partisan and selective It said charges of technical tor Getulio Napenas but the Youth groups hold a protest in front of the House of Representatives in Quezon City yesterday, against the government’s implementation justice. The two former public malversation, malversation or Ombudsman downgraded the of an operation against loiterers and the proposed amendments to the Human Security Act of 2007. offi cials should be charged for a plunder should have been fi led charge to usurpation of author- more serious off ence consider- against Aquino and Abad in- ity.

Soldiers Former transport secretary accidentally kill six cops charged for graft in MRT deal in clash

By Ma. R Leanne Tolentino instead of a JV. Moreover, trans- fi led by the Department of and Antonio Borromeo, Jun Ho Busan JV as being the sole entity “Since only one potential Reuters Manila Times port offi cials did away with the Transportation,” said Enricka Hwang and Elpidio Uy of BURI. which passed the eligibility on partner of the Busan JV sub- Manila requirement for a JV to produce Gonzalez, who had served as The respondents can still ask technical and fi nancial docu- mitted the required statement, 20% equity, by entering into a Abaya’s spokeswoman at the the Ombudsman to reconsider ments evaluation,” the Om- it should have been disquali- he Offi ce of the Ombuds- Management and Facility Main- transport agency. its ruling. budsman said. fi ed from participating further hilippine soldiers mistak- man has charged former tenance Services Agreement Lawyer Charles Mercado, The Ombudsman said a “After post-qualifi cation, in the negotiated procurement enly killed six police of- Ttransportation secretary with Busan. spokesman for Busan Univer- special panel of investigators the negotiating team recom- since it lacked an eligibility re- Pfi cers and wounded nine Joseph Emilio “Jun” Abaya and The Ombudsman castigat- sal Rail Inc or BURI, declined found that the transportation mended to the MRT3 BAC the quirement,” the Ombudsman yesterday during an operation 16 others before the Sandigan- ed Abaya, saying he could not to comment, saying he had yet department conducted two award of the MRT3 long-term said.Investigators found an- against Maoist guerrillas in thick bayan with graft and corrup- evade responsibility by “invok- to receive a copy of the indict- biddings for the three-year maintenance contract to the other irregularity in the deal jungle, an army general said. tion, citing anomalies in the ing reliance on his subordinates, ment. maintenance service contract Busan JV in the amount of when the Busan JV was allowed A platoon of soldiers was op- 2016 maintenance contract for especially considering that the “If and when we receive such for MRT-3 in October 2014 and P3,809,128,888.00 as the le- to submit a Certifi cate of Regis- erating in a remote village on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 subject contract is one with a a resolution, we shall study it January 2015. The two bid- gally, technically and fi nancially tration of BURI as a special pur- Samar island when they mis- (MRT-3) in which the govern- scope and magnitude aff ecting and take the appropriate action, dings failed because of non- eligible JV,” it added. pose company instead of a valid took a group of police offi cers as ment stood to lose more than a big portion of the commuting because it can be or may still submission of bids. The MRT-3 BAC issued a joint venture agreement. communist New People’s Army P4bn. public in Metro Manila, with an be subject to further legal rem- Abaya issued a special order resolution in December 2015 Alcaraz supposedly wrote the (NPA) guerrillas, and opened Investigators said Abaya and accompanying fi nancial impact edies,” he said. on January 28, 2015 forming the recommending the award of the Securities and Exchange Com- fi re, said Major-General Raul other transport offi cials violat- on the coff ers of the government Other former transport of- MRT-3 bids and awards com- project to Busan JV. On Janu- mission to facilitate Busan JV’s Farnacio. ed Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft amounting to more than P4bn.” fi cials charged were under- mittee or BAC for goods, in- ary 7, 2016, the transportation registration as a special purpose Farnacio said it was an “un- and Corrupt Practices Act when “By allowing the award of the secretaries Edwin Lopez, Rene frastructure projects and con- department, MRT-3, and Busan company. fortunate incident”. they “extended unwarranted contract to the Busan JV despite Limcaoco and Catherine Jen- sulting services of the MRT-3 JV entered into the maintenance “This offi ce notes that (Al- “When you are in a highly benefi ts, advantage and pref- the attendant glaring irregu- nifer Francis Gonzales; MRT- system. contract. caraz) was the…Assistant Sec- vegetated area, it’s hard to dis- erence” to the MRT-3 mainte- larities, Abaya deliberately ig- 3 General Manager Roman In March 2015, the MRT-3 In its 88-page consolidated retary for Procurement and the tinguish who you are up against,” nance contractor, Busan Joint nored applicable laws, rules and Buenafe, Assistant Secretary BAC issued a resolution recom- resolution, the Ombudsman Chairperson of the MRT3 BAC. he said, adding there were no Venture. regulations, and standard oper- Camille Alcaraz, Bids Commit- mending a negotiated procure- alleged that “as the Busan JV’s Her action thus reeks of impro- casualties among the soldiers. In a statement, the Om- ating procedures, falling short tee Chairwoman Ofelia Astrera, ment because the MRT-3 case off er was still considered as priety as it gives the impression “The other side also returned budsman said Busan was given of or disregarding the required Bids Committee Chairwoman was an emergency under Sec- successful, the potential JV that she was acting in favour of fi re. We are still conducting an special treatment despite not competence expected of him in Charissa Eloisa Julia Opulencia, tion 53.2 of the revised imple- partners must enter into a Joint the Busan JV,” the Ombudsman investigation to determine how being technically, legally and the performance of his offi cial and Oscar Bongon and Jose Ro- menting rules and regulations Venture Agreement (JVA) in ac- said. these two groups came close to fi nancially capable to undertake functions,” it alleged. dante Sabayle. of Republic Act 9184 (Govern- cordance with its rules. But they Investigators also cited al- each other.” the P3.8bn, three-year mainte- A lawyer for Abaya said the The Ombudsman also ment Procurement Reform Act). did not. Still, the Busan JV was leged “irregularities in the National police chief Os- nance deal. former Cabinet offi cial, a Cav- charged offi cials of the Busan On October 21, 2015, Busan awarded the contract — yet an- amendment of the original net car Albayalde said police teams It accused the transport de- ite politician and member of the JV, which was composed of JV and two other joint ventures other violation of the rules un- worth requirement and absence would go to the area to investi- partment and Busan of violat- Liberal Party, would weigh his Edison Development and Con- submitted their proposals. All der RA 9184.” of Bill of Quantities (BOQ),” gate. ing the rules for joint venture next legal options. struction, Tramat, TMI Corp,, the off ers were found lacking Procurement documents which supposedly favoured the The NPA has been fi ghting the (JV), as only a potential private “We fi nd this decision unfor- Inc., Castan Corp,, and BURI. eligibility and technical docu- showed that only Uy executed a Busan JV. Tramat had a P1.9mn government for nearly 50 years. partner submitted a statement tunate, considering that Secre- These offi cials are Eldonn Fer- ments. But they were given an “Statement to enter Into a Joint net worth in 2014 while Edison More than 40,000 have been to enter into a JV, and Busan tary Jun clearly laid out his de- dinand Uy of Edison; Elizabeth opportunity to cure the defects. Venture” supposedly as the au- had a P383.5mn net worth – be- killed in the insurgency and eco- submitted a registration as a fence against the poorly crafted Velasco of Tramat; Belinda Tan “On October 28, 2015, the thorised representative of Bu- low the P1bn requirement under nomic growth in resource-rich mere special-purpose company and unsubstantiated complaint of TMI; Brian Velasco of Castan; Negotiating Team declared the san JV’s members. the rules. areas has been stunted.

Duterte govt told to heed call for UN probe Groups blast jeepney Instead of dismissing outright Agriculture dept suggests product the call of other countries for a stop to killings and to allow phaseout plan again international bodies to investi- gate the alleged human rights prices to protect consumers abuses, the Duterte govern- By Mary Gleefer F Jalea bus Franchising Guidelines. ment should heed it and “stop Manila Times Piston chief George San making excuses,” an opposition Mateo said the ordinances are By Eireene Jairee Gomez retail outlets for the proper senator said yesterday, Manila forcing operators and drivers Manila Times implementation of the SRP Times reported. Sen. Ana Ther- eepney drivers and op- to replace their units through scheme. Pinol said imposing esia “Risa” Hontiveros insisted erators of transport groups an unnecessary franchise con- suggested prices on goods pro- that it was not enough for the JPiston and No to Jeepney solidation. he Department of Ag- tects consumers from profi t- government to say that it was Phaseout Coalition (NTJPOC) Issued on March 13 and 18, riculture imposed yes- eering by some retailers. With already making its own assess- held a rally in front of the Land the ordinances require indi- Tterday suggested retail the SRP scheme in place, retail ment of the country’s human Transportation Franchising vidual franchise holders to prices (SRP) for selected agri- prices can only go up by a maxi- rights situation. Led by Iceland, and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) form a co-operative and fulfil cultural products being sold in mum of 10% from the suggest- 38 member-states of the building in Quezon City yes- other requirements such as Metro Manila. ed price. United Nations Human Rights terday, to condemn the “new off-street terminals, and new Among items subjected to He cited as an example the Council, during its 38th session jeepney phaseout scheme” of electric, solar or Euro 4 vehi- the SRP scheme is regular- price adjustment in rice, which in Geneva last week, urged the agency. cles to replace their jeepney milled rice, which suggested has an SRP of P39. This means the government to co-operate units three months after the price was pegged at P39 per that a retailer may sell ordi- with the United Nations system Piston and NTJPOC stated LTFRB approves their appli- kilogram (kg). nary, regular-milled rice at without preconditions or limita- in their joint manifesto cation, San Mateo said. Also included in the SRP not cheaper than P39 and not tions. Foreign Affairs Secretary that the new order Piston and NTJPOC stated are milkfi sh or bangus (P150 higher than P42.90, given the Alan Peter Cayetano branded manipulates drivers and in their joint manifesto that per kg), tilapia (P100 per kg), 10% ceiling. “When you exceed the statement as “biased and operators to dispose of the new order manipulates galunggong or round scad it (10%), you could be charged unfounded” and criticised their current vehicles to be drivers and operators to dis- (P140 per kilo), red onion (P95 with profi teering,” Pinol said. Iceland and other countries allowed to ply their routes pose of their current vehicles per kg), white onion (P75 per Retailers found guilty of for relying on “misinformation” in order to be allowed to ply kg), imported garlic (P70 per profi teering will be penalised rather than finding out the truth Around 50 placard-bearing their routes. kilo) and local garlic (P120 per with a fi ne of P1,000 to P1mn. for themselves. “Unfortunately, protesters called for the junk- “If applicants under new- kilo). Pinol stressed that location it seems our friends are really ing of Memorandum Circular ly-formed co-operatives do “The purpose of SRP actually is a factor in setting SRPs. Ar- not interested in arriving at the 2018-006 or the Guidelines not pass the requirements, is not to bring down the price eas near ports will have lower truth and would rather rely on for the Public Utility Vehicle new routes and franchises but to stabilise the price. This Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol reveals a signed prices of fi sh while those near the misinformation being fed to Modernisation Programme’s will be given to other co-op- means we prevent abnormal administrative circular of Suggested Retail Price (SRP) for selected farms would have lower vegeta- them by parties that have politi- Initial Implementation and eratives approved by the LT- movement of prices in the mar- agricultural commodities in Metro Manila. ble prices. cised and weaponised human MC 2018-008 or the Consoli- FRB and the Department of ket and destabilising our con- The DA order on SRPs is pur- rights,” added Cayetano. dation of Franchise Holders in Transportation (DOTr),” the sumers,” Agriculture Secretary The DA, the Department of cal government units will take suant to the Republic Act 7581 Compliance with the Omni- groups said. Emmanuel Pinol told reporters. Trade and Industry and lo- charge of the monitoring of or Price Act. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Southgate brings fresh energy to England campaign QF vice chairperson and CEO HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani and HE Qatar’s permanent representative to the UN ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani flank UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J Mohamed. For years England have tried — and failed — to copy the styles of successful European national teams, but now Gareth Southgate appears to have found a way to replicate the intensity of England’s best Premier League sides. The 6-1 win over Panama on Sunday may have come against one of the tournament’s weakest sides, making Qatar: Providing the defi nitive conclusions unwise, but the manner of the victory certainly highlighted the work Southgate has done with the team. Although Southgate’s formation and tactics have been hailed as progressive and modern, there is also something traditionally English about the team’s strengths. opportunity to learn After Swede Sven Goran Eriksson, who made his name in Italy’s Serie A, was unable to succeed with his attempt to that our programmes advance students’ Washington University in DC. Having with the tools that can transform their instil a ‘continental style’ of play, Italian coach Fabio Capello By Maggie Mitchell Salem Executive Director, Qatar Foundation acquisition of global competency and fi rst met when they were both in middle lives: collaboration, creativity, cross- failed in turn with his rigid approach. International 21st-century skills. We act on our school, they are from diff erent cultural cultural communication, and critical Too often under Roy Hodgson, another coach with vast belief that the world benefi ts from backgrounds but have learned and thinking. European experience, England were slow and hesitant, openly-available educational resources, benefi ted from each other. Meanwhile, Where the commitment of others leaving fans wondering why players who are so confi dent n our increasingly interconnected particularly digital and in Arabic. And two other alumni – Wai Chum, from to broadening understanding and world, students and educators we actively engage our community of Seattle, Washington, and Nora al- fostering cross-cultural connectivity is and eff ective with their Premier League clubs appear to are seeking more nuanced views students, teachers, and administrators Jurdi, a graduate of Carnegie Mellon refl ected in words, Qatar’s commitment freeze in an England shirt. of other people and cultures, to facilitate connections, supporting University in Qatar – highlighted to doing so is refl ected in deeds and By way of explanation, there has been a focus on the ‘fear I and connections with their peers that them as they explore new ways of how visits to each other’s schools and the tangible impact of our programs factor’ from over-high expectations and pressure, of a off er a deeper and more meaningful enriching the classroom learning STEM-themed educational exchanges on the communities we serve. It is hostile media and of England being behind the times in so understanding beyond news headlines experience. In this way, we nurture had shattered stereotypes about “the refl ected in Qatar National Library, many areas. and soundbites. young people who possess broad other”. QF’s outstanding partner universities Yet what Southgate Learning a language and studying worldviews, and whose minds are This is how barriers are broken down: and its homegrown Hamad Bin Khalifa has already shown is about another part of the world allows curious rather than closed – true global through education, through exchange, University, and the global partnerships There is also us to discover more about ourselves, citizens. through fostering understanding. These formed by Education Above All. And that if English players and to have an improved working The impact and value of this values are at the core of Qatar’s vision, it is refl ected by the fact that no other something are given the licence relationship with our peers both approach to education can be seen and of how this vision has a positive Arabic-speaking country has done to play in the way they in person and virtually – essential in our global community of learners message for, and positively impacts on, what Qatar has to advance the teaching traditionally do for their clubs, they educational outcomes for today’s and educators, and was once again the wider world. One year on from the of Arabic, and knowledge of the Arab can deliver the kind of secondary school graduates. exemplifi ed at the recent United start of the unjust blockade of Qatar, it world, to young people in the US, English about the intense and exciting Enabling these outcomes is at the Nations Youth Dialogue conference, is an appropriate time to acknowledge the UK, Germany, and many other football that makes the heart of the educational ecosystem where six alumni of QF partner the importance of these values that we countries. team’s strengths that Qatar has built, and of the work of universities and QFI programmes hold – not merely in a national context, None of these achievements would Premier League such a Qatar Foundation International (QFI). further expanded their cross-cultural but a global one. have been possible without decades of compelling competition. Established by Qatar Foundation (QF) understanding when joining HE Through the leadership of His commitment, hard work, and unceasing Finally, England have a team where players are performing to connect the world’s youth with Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim determination to achieve a truly in the same manner, with the same intensity and positivity, the Arabic language, QFI provides a Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar bin Hamad al-Thani, and under the exceptional vision – a vision to support that they show with their clubs every week. student-centred learning environment Foundation, at the United Nations guidance of His Highness the Father and foster cross-cultural learning Tactically, there is nothing particularly revolutionary that fosters greater insight into the headquarters in New York. Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al- for a new generation of leaders and Arab world, through Arabic language Among them was Mohamed bin Thani, along with the unwavering global citizens who embody positive about the formation Southgate is using. In Italy in 1990, courses and teaching students about the Nasser al-Mohannadi, who has just support of Her Highness Sheikha values and can both spread and shape when England reached the last four, Bobby Robson brought region’s societies and cultures. started an internship at the United Moza bint Nasser and HE Sheikha understanding. in Mark Wright and played with three central defenders. We partner with primary and Nations Relief and Works Agency for Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, more In this way, Qatar stands as a beacon, That set-up is perfect for giving freedom to attacking full- secondary schools, universities, Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and children around the globe now have making a diff erence every day to a world backs — a role which is itself a long-standing part of English multilateral entities, and other Tim Hursen, who is studying advanced access to quality global education, and that, rather than boundaries, needs football, with the excellent Kieran Trippier following in the philanthropic organisations to ensure Arabic as a graduate student at George the opportunity to equip themselves bridges and broader worldviews. path of overlapping full-backs such as Stuart Pearce and Kenny Sansom. Another long-standing England strength is aerial power, and centre-half John Stones revealed in the build-up to the Panama game that the team had been working hard on set- pieces, in particular corners. Both England goals against Tunisia came from Trippier corners, and that route led to the opening goal against Panama when Stones headed in powerfully. England caused havoc from set-pieces all game. The third goal, a beautiful strike from Jesse Lingard, originated from the kind of swift, incisive approach play and confi dent fi nish that fi lls Premier League highlights reels but has been all too rare a feature of England performances. As if to emphasis their power in the air, England’s fourth goal was a training ground routine that featured no less than three headers in the box, including Stones’ fi nal nod home. And then there is Harry Kane, with a hattrick against Panama and fi ve goals in the tournament. What could be more English than a big number nine? The ‘Roy of the Rovers’ comic book hero, leading the line and getting the glory. However, the true test for Southgate’s approach will come in the knockout stages, once the fi nal group match against Belgium is completed. But at the very least, England fans will be able to cheer on a team that plays a brand of football they recognise and enjoy.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Gulf Times Tuesday, June 26, 2018 19 COMMENT Qatar’s new labour disputes settlement process

new Labour Disputes names of such individuals are detailed Settlement Committee A in the resolution. (the Committee) has been In terms of procedural Aestablished in a move to requirements, Resolution No 6 streamline employment disputes in lays down guidelines which the Qatar. Committee is required to follow. In Law No. 13 of 2017 (Law No 13) was particular, the resolution provides issued on 16 August 2017, amending that the Committee is required to certain provisions of the Labour Law meet three times per week, with (Law No 14 of 2004) and the Civil and their sessions being held in public. Commercial Procedure Code (Law No The Committee has the discretion 13 of 1990), and more recently Cabinet to hear or request verbal evidence, Resolution No 6 of 2018 (Resolution No it may consolidate cases having the 6) which was brought into eff ect on 16 same subject matter and parties and March 2018 to enhance and implement it may rule on matters in absentia or a regulatory framework within which dismiss the case altogether where a labour disputes will be heard. party is not in attendance. Procedural Impact of Law No 13 B restrictions, such as not being The new law addresses two key permitted to postpone proceedings areas of the dispute process; the initial more than once for the same reason, disciplinary stage and the dispute are also imposed. stage following a breakdown in the Disputes currently being heard employment relationship. by the Qatar courts will continue to Disciplinary Sanction Complaint be concluded by them without the Procedure need to instigate a new claim with the Law No 13 clarifi es the complaint Committee. procedure employees must undertake Implications of the New Process when seeking to appeal a disciplinary The introduction of the Committee penalty imposed by their employer, is a welcomed addition to the judiciary or dismissal following an internal which will undoubtedly have a employment disciplinary process. positive impact on labour disputes Stage 1 moving forwards. The clearly set out In the fi rst instance employees of the employee’s complaint. The received prior to the dismissal. to sign minutes of their settlement Committee’s decision can fi le their timeframes and procedural framework are required to appeal such penalty Department’s decision is fi nal save for Labour Dispute Settlement meeting which will subsequently be appeal with the Court of Appeal within in which the Committee is expected directly with their employer within instances set out in Stage 3 below. Procedure (Illustration A) certifi ed by the Department. 15 days of the Committee’s decision. to operate within is likely to increase seven days of being notifi ed of the Stage 3 Law No. 13 introduces some Stage 2 (Illustration B) effi ciency and transparency in same. The employer in turn has a In circumstances where the additional articles to the Labour Law Where the parties fail to amicably All new disputes are required to employment disputes. window of seven days in which to employee has been dismissed following setting out the procedural steps parties settle their dispute, the Department follow the above procedure laid consider the appeal and respond. In a company disciplinary process, and are required to follow in instances will transfer the matter to the out; parties are not permitted Note: Qatari Laws (save for those instances where the employer does not the employee is dissatisfi ed with the where the employment relationship Committee. The Department will also to bypass the Department and issued by, eg QFC to regulate its own respond, such silence will constitute a outcome of Stage 2, the employee breaks down. transfer the applicable documentation Committee stages. business), are issued in Arabic and rejection of the employee’s appeal. may appeal such decision to the Stage 1 to the Committee together with their Labour Disputes Settlement there are no official translations, Stage 2 new Committee. The Committee is Either party may refer the dispute observations. Within three working Committee therefore for the purposes of drafting Where an employee’s appeal to the empowered to repeal such dismissal to the Department (where the dispute days of the dispute being referred, the Resolution No 6 sets out in more this article Clyde & Co LLP has used employer is rejected, the employee may and reinstate the employee in instances involves a foreign national, or where Committee is subsequently obliged to detail the formation of the Committee its own translations and interpreted fi le a complaint with the Department where the Committee fi nds that the the dispute involves a Qatari national, set a date for the case to be heard and and the extent of its authority and the same in the context of Qatari of Labour (the Department) for their employee’s dismissal was arbitrary. the relevant competent department). notify the parties. The Committee is procedural requirements. Pursuant to laws, regulation and current market review and adjudication. Similarly The Committee may also order that The Department is obliged to seek to obliged under the new law to resolve the new resolution, three committees practice. Should you have any to Stage 1, where the Department the employee receive his or her salary have the dispute settled within seven the dispute within three weeks of the will oversee labour disputes, each questions in connection with this does not issue its decision within the for the period of unemployment, or days of the application being made. In initial hearing. comprising of a chairperson who is a article or the legal issues it covers, statutory imposed timeframe, such alternatively, reasonable compensation circumstances where the parties have Stage 3 Court of First Instance judge together please contact Emma Higham (emma. silence will constitute a rejection in line with their remuneration package agreed to settle, they will be required Parties wishing to appeal the with two additional members. The [email protected]). Americans embrace change...gradually Three-day forecast

TODAY of transportation systems. He the process started. Generations of research found that Wael Ghonim, the Maximum Temperature : 460c By Kara Alaimo Minimum Temperature : 310c Bloomberg News concluded that policy change can activists paved the way – from “fi rst- Google executive who ran “We Are All take decades. Advocates must spend wave” feminists like the suff ragettes Khaled Said” – a key Facebook page WEDNESDAY many years educating and “softening to the members of the “second wave” that drove Egyptians into the streets – Maximum Temperature : 420c fter Donald Trump’s election up” Americans to bring them around that began in the 1960s who advocated spent years educating his compatriots Minimum Temperature : 320c in 2016, then-president to new ideas. The persuasion is done for gender equality in all aspects of about the abuses of their government. THURSDAY Barack Obama asked whether in lots of ways: through speeches, life, from workplaces to homes. It was He also spent a long time getting his Maximum Temperature : 410c Ahis administration’s liberal, congressional hearings, studies, the gradual acceptance of changes in followers comfortable with political Minimum Temperature : 300c thinking about women’s rights and activism. He started by organising forward-looking policies had been too conferences, media and legislation. Fisherman's forecast much, too soon for American voters, “Many good proposals have fallen roles over time that made it possible “Silent Stands,” for example, during according to a new book by his deputy on deaf ears because they arrived for women to speak out now. which protestors simply wore black national security adviser, Ben Rhodes. before (people) were ready to listen,” Or take the US Supreme Court’s and stood outside together without WARNING “Maybe we pushed too far,” Obama Kingdon wrote. “Eventually, such a legalisation of same-sex marriage in making demands. It was only after Inshore : Nil said. “Sometimes I wonder whether I proposal might be resurrected, but 2015. It was the result of generations Ghonim laid all this groundwork that Offshore : Nil was 10 or 20 years too early.” only after a period of paving the way.” of activism on behalf of the LGBT he was eventually able to move people WEATHER He may be on to something. Some of the biggest recent cultural community and its allies. Before the into the streets. Research suggests that Americans and legal shifts have been the result of national law, same-sex marriage The evidence is clear: No matter Inshore : Hot daytime with slight don’t embrace change all at once, but this “softening” process. It may seem was legalised in 37 states. Activists how charismatic or correct a single dust at places Offshore : Slight dust at times instead change their minds at a glacial as if the #MeToo movement emerged advocated for equality for decades. person may be, it’s unlikely she or he pace. spontaneously in October 2017, with This softening process is also true will be able to alter the way Americans WIND The political scientist John Kingdon the abuse allegations against Harvey of citizens of other countries. Egypt’s think quickly or single-handedly. Inshore : Southwesterly-North- studied policy proposals for health Weinstein. That was certainly the 2011 revolution may seem to have People change their minds very slowly. westerly 05-15 KT maintenance organisations such as tipping point when women collectively happened rapidly, as then-president But after lots of work softening up, Offshrore : Northwesterly-South- Medicaid and Medicare, national started to say they would no longer Hosni Mubarak resigned after just they eventually come around. – westerly 05-15 KT health insurance and deregulation tolerate sexual abuse. But it’s not when 18 days of street protests. But my Tribune News Service Visibility : 4-8 KM Offshore : 2-4 FT

Around the region Live issues Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad Cloudy 44/28 Cloudy 44/29 Kuwait City Cloudy 46/33 Cloudy 46/33 Manama Sunny 39/32 Cloudy 38/33 Close sibling bonds may help face family confl ict Muscat Sunny 38/33 Sunny 38/32 Tehran Sunny 37/24 Sunny 38/26

By Cheryl Platzman Weinstock family therapists “a really clear and Reuters Health good direction on how to help children experiencing high confl ict homes or parents divorcing. Building sibling trong sibling ties can help relationships can be a better strategy buff er adolescents from the than providing emotional support for stress of witnessing parents’ siblings going through family crises.” Sbattles and unresolved “We should be paying more confl icts, a small study suggests. attention to siblings when mom and Researchers found that feelings of dad are in confl ict,” said Kiaundra insecurity and other psychological Jackson, a licensed family and problems stemming from regular marriage therapist in Los Angeles, who exposure to family confl ict were wasn’t involved in the study. “Kids are common in seventh-graders who had writes in Child Development. was assessed through a specialised very intuitive. They understand what’s Around the world low-quality bonds with their siblings. Davies’ team collected data between questionnaire, and other psychological going on and feel the negative energy Weather Weather With close sibling bonds, kids were 2007 and 2011 on 236 families of and behavioural problems were when there are arguments.” today Max/min tomorrow Max/min less likely to experience these eff ects middle-school students in the reported by their teachers and Jackson said in a phone interview Athens T Storms 26/19 T Storms 26/19 later in their teenage years. Northeast and Midwest who had at mothers. that she hopes “the impact of the Beirut Sunny 28/24 Sunny 30/27 “Close and warm sibling least one sibling that wasn’t a twin. The researchers found that study will be that we pay more Bangkok M Cloudy 32/26 P Cloudy 32/26 relationships can help off set the The families were middle class, three adolescents who witnessed confl ict attention to sibling dynamics so Berlin Cloudy 24/12 P Cloudy 24/16 distress that many kids experience quarters of them identifi ed as white, between their parents had greater no matter what the trauma they Cairo Sunny 38/24 Sunny 42/26 following repeated exposure to and most households included both distressed responses to confl icts a year experience they will be able to rely on Cape Town P Cloudy 16/12 Rain 14/08 interparental confl ict,” lead author biological parents, with a small later, and greater distressed responses, one another if things get diffi cult.” Colombo T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 Patrick T Davies, a psychology percentage including a step-parent or in turn, predicted mental health Since the study fi ndings were Dhaka T Storms 29/26 T Storm 29/25 researcher at the University of guardian. problems in the subsequent year. limited to certain cultural and Hong Kong S T Storms 28/25 Sunny 28/25 Rochester in New York, said in a phone Researchers focused on the seventh- However, teens who had close sibling socioeconomic groups, Davies Istanbul Cloudy 27/21 S T Storms 29/21 interview. graders’ relationship with the sibling bonds did not suff er subsequent noted, “We have to exercise caution Jakarta S T Storm 32/24 S T Storms 32/24 “Their bond can help off set closest to them in age, and on average, mental health problems. in extending these fi ndings to other Karachi P Cloudy 33/28 M Sunny 33/28 psychological problems by reducing these siblings were about three years “The thing about siblings is they populations and samples. It defi nitely London Sunny 28/13 Sunny 28/14 their stress reaction to the confl ict,” younger or older. The seventh-graders’ both witness the event together and can needs to be replicated and tested for Manila T Storm 31/25 T Storms 31/26 he said. average age at the fi rst assessment was bond, commiserate and distract each generalisability.” Moscow P Cloudy 27/15 M Sunny 28/16 Davies noted that not all children 12.5 years, and they were assessed again other from the confl ict,” said Jonathan He added that he doesn’t think an New Delhi P Cloudy 40/31 I T Storms 37/28 exposed to high levels of parental at ages 13 and 14 years. Caspi, a family therapist and professor only child is necessarily more or less at New York M Sunny 25/18 M Cloudy 25/21 confl ict develop problems. Most kids Confl ict between parents and in the department of family science and risk of developing emotional problems Paris Sunny 28/14 Sunny 30/17 develop along “normal trajectories,” the nature of the relationships human development at Montclair State from a home fi lled with confl ict Sao Paulo M Sunny 28/16 P Cloudy 26/16 he said. among siblings were gauged through University in New Jersey, who wasn’t compared to a similar home with Seoul T Storms 24/20 P Cloudy 29/21 That’s why more research is turning laboratory visits and interviews with involved in the study. multiple siblings. Singapore I T Storm 29/26 T Storms 29/25 to examining the factors that give the parents and children. The seventh- “Support in the moment can “An only child probably has other Sydney M Sunny 16/08 S Showers 16/12 some kids the resilience to get through graders’ emotional insecurity due to be critical,” Caspi said in a phone sources of resilience and protective Tokyo Clear 29/22 Cloudy 29/24 traumatic situations, the study team their parent’s volatile relationship interview, adding that the study off ers factors to off set the lack of a sibling,” Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, June 26, 2018 QATAR

2018 graduate Khalid al-Mulla. 2018 graduate Nawaf al-Malki. 2018 graduate Abdulrahman al-Suwaidi. Aspire students set for graduation honour spire Academy will cel- ebrate today (June 26) the 2018 graduate Mahmoud Abu Nada. Agraduation of 42 student- athletes in several sports, includ- ing football, squash, athletics, gymnastics, table tennis, and fencing, who will make up the next generation of Qatar’s sports teams and clubs. This marks the Academy’s biggest graduation batch since its establishment. Senior offi cials from Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) will at- tend the ceremony, along with 2018 graduate Ahmed Musa. representatives from local sports federations and education institu- Their achievements are further pire Academy is at the heart of a tions, including its CEO, Moham- proof of Aspire Academy’s excel- sporting revolution currently tak- mad Khalifa al-Suwaidi, Aspire lence. Some of Aspire Academy’s ing place in Qatar and around the Academy director-general Ivan prominent success stories across region. The institution sought to Bravo and Aspire Academy deputy various sports include Mutaz develop its student-athletes ho- director-general Ali Salem Afi fa. Essa Barshim (high jumper and listically, providing them with a This year’s guest of honour will 2009 graduate), Ashraf El-Seify comprehensive academic, social be Qatar Olympic Committee (hammer thrower, 2014 gradu- and sporting education, to realise secretary-general Jassim Rashid al- ate), and Ahmed Bedir Magour its vision of becoming a leader in Buenain. This event refl ects Aspire (javelin thrower, 2015 graduate) in sports and academic excellence Academy’s eleven years of commit- athletics; Akram Afi f (2015 gradu- by 2020. ment to the development of young 2018 graduate Abdulrasheed Ibrahim. ate) and Fahad Ali Shnain al- Aspire Academy off ers a local talents and national teams in Abdulrahman (2014 graduate) in unique educational setting in Qatar. Ever since it embarked on a The 42 graduates make up Qa- tennis, two graduates in squash, football; and Abdullah al-Tamimi which curricula are designed path to become a global leader in tar’s next bright stars in various one graduate in gymnastics, and (2012 graduate) in squash. around student capabilities and sports and academic excellence by sports. These include: 16 gradu- one graduate in shooting. Since opening its doors in needs. Students’ educational 2020, Aspire Academy has sought ates in football, 13 graduates in Aspire Academy has a long 2004, Aspire Academy has be- programmes are designed to be to provide a comprehensive aca- athletics, four graduates in fenc- line-up of former graduates who come one of the foremost nation- fl exible and to take account of demic, social and sporting pro- ing, three graduates in football have left a mark in sports on local, al sports academies in the world. time spent at training camps and gramme for it student-athletes. refereeing, two graduates in table regional and international levels. Working as part of the AZF, As- various championships. 2018 graduate Khalid Saleh. Doha College offi cially breaks Indonesian cultural performances become part of Summer Fest 2018 ground at new Wajbah campus ndonesian cultural per- formances enthralled the he construction of Doha Iaudiences with traditional College’s new campus at dances at the Summer Enter- TAl Wajbah has been of- tainment City at the Doha Ex- fi cially inaugurated, it was an- hibition and Convention Centre nounced yesterday. (DEC) recently. British ambassador Ajay Shar- The event forms part of the ma, Doha College principal Dr Qatar Summer Festival 2018, Steff en Sommer, Commercial known as the longest annual Bank Group CEO Joseph Abra- festival in the country. “It is ham, Domopan (main contrac- a great pleasure to entertain tor) CEO Fouad Hamdan and the audience with Indonesian other prominent partners asso- cultural performances, high- Bamboo Angklung music enthrals the audience at SEC. ciated with the project took part lighting traditional dances and in a ground breaking ceremony. colourful dresses,” Indonesian “Qatar’s National Vision 2030 ambassador Mohamed Basri Si- includes amongst its goals, the dehabi said. creation of a world-class educa- The envoy added that the em- tion system delivering a fi rst-rate bassy is taking lot of measures education. At Commercial Bank to promote Indonesian tourism we are proud to support this vi- through cultural activities. The sion through the fi nancing of performances showcased a cul- major projects in the education tural show, traditional dances, sector,” Abraham said. Doha College principal Dr Steff en Sommer, British ambassador Ajay Sharma, Commercial Bank Group and bamboo Angklung music. “Doha College has been one CEO Joseph Abraham, Domopan (main contractor) CEO Fouad Hamdan and other prominent partners Indonesia also participated in of our customers for just over 20 associated with the project led the ceremony at Doha College’s new location. the mini trade fair which hosts years now and is not only one of some 140 stalls for exhibitors the leading schools in Qatar, but “It’s a great pleasure for me to the journey that will enhance our 90,000sqm campus will off er by showcasing unique products has been a pillar of the commu- be here and witness the school legacy and further embed our a 6-form Primary School and a and souvenirs. nity since its founding in 1980,” taking a further step towards motto of Excellence for All, Ex- 10-form Secondary School, in According to embassy offi cial Indonesian ambassador Mohamed Basri Sidehabi with young he noted. providing and outstanding serv- cellence from All,” he noted. addition to retaining a 4-form Boy Dharmawan, the festival is cultural performers. “We are delighted to support ice to the community with this “Our new world-class cam- Primary School at its West Bay also supported by Puspa Qinar- the growth of education in Qa- new campus. I wish them every pus will allow future genera- location. ya cultural group led by Margie porary dance that blends dynam- SEC, features several games tar as the sole fi nancier for Doha success,” the envoy said. tions of Doha College students Operations at the school’s Al Aziz and the Angklung (a musi- ic movements, coming from vari- such as the world’s largest College’s new campus in Al Wa- Dr Sommer said: “As one of to thrive and unlock their full Waab location will cease and cal instrument from Indonesia ous regions in Indonesia. “These bouncy castle, synthetic ice jbah,” Abraham added. the most established British potential in an environment move to the new campus in Al made of a varying number of ladies — mothers, daughters, and skating rink, bungee trampo- Sharma said Doha College has schools in Qatar, Doha College which is fit for the learning Wajbah. bamboo tubes) orchestra led by wives — are very active and dedi- line, skill games, virtual reality been a long-standing provider of boasts a rich history of educa- needs of the 21st century,” Dr The new campus is due to open Felisia Ristiani. cated in preserving and promot- setup, amusement rides, video quality education to the British tional excellence dating back to Sommer said. its doors in September 2020, the Performers, who are Indo- ing Indonesian culture and art in games and various fun-fi lled and other international commu- 1980.” Quantex Qatar is the con- year of the 40th anniversary of nesian expatriates in Doha, also Qatar,” Dharmawan said. activities for adults and chil- nities in Qatar. “I am delighted to be part of struction consultant. The new Doha College. showcased traditional contem- QSports, which organises dren.

Workers from Qatar attend 2018 World Cup as Generation Amazing ambassadors

QNA ing ambassadors attending the desh, were selected based on opening match of the tourna- in their home countries. As the workers, Generation Amazing youth ambassadors were in- Doha opening week of the World Cup their outstanding contribu- ment, the group also benefited name suggests, I think this pro- will also take 16 youth ambassa- volved. in Moscow, the focus was on tions to the programme, as well from leadership workshops gramme is spectacular, so I am dors from Qatar, India, the Phil- Generation Amazing is SC’s learning from the unique experi- as their journey from partici- with 2010 FIFA World Cup proud to have shared this ex- ippines, Nepal, and Pakistan to fl agship corporate social respon- ight of the 2022 FIFA ence to pass their knowledge on pants to coaches over two years winner and SC ambassador perience with this group. To be attend matches at the 2018 FIFA sibility programme. World Cup construction to others in Doha and their home with Generation Amazing in Xavi Hernandez, who conduct- at a World Cup is a once-in-a- World Cup. Established during Qatar’s Eworkers have attended the countries. Qatar. ed a football session for local lifetime experience, and I too am This initiative follows on from bid to host the 2022 FIFA World World Cup in Russia as ambas- The Supreme Committee for They have now become an schoolchildren. learning a lot every day from all similar Generation Amazing vis- Cup, it has been changing lives sadors of the Generation Amaz- Delivery & Legacy (SC) said inspiration to others after their Xavi said: “We have work- those taking part in this fantastic its to South Africa in 2010, where through the power of football ing programme. that the workers, from India, fi ve-day trip to Russia. ers here from Qatar, but the project.” 25 youth ambassadors travelled, since 2010 and forms a key part For those Generation Amaz- Ghana, Sri Lanka and Bangla- In addition to attending the programme also helps people In addition to the group of and Brazil in 2014, where 22 of the SC’s legacy commitment.