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SATURDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10858 June 23, 2018 Shawwal 9, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Italian PM meets FM Qatar committed In brief

QATAR | Diplomacy to strategic ties UNHRC urged to suspend Saudi, UAE memberships HE the Chairman of National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri has demanded the United Nations with US: minister Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to suspend the memberships of Saudi Qatar has overcome the came from the US in 2017. have heavily invested in the US econo- Arabia and the UAE for the gross blockade by enhancing its Meanwhile, more than 650 Ameri- my, with more than $5bn in the fi elds of and systematic violations against can companies are established in Qa- technology, hospitality, real estate and the Qatari people, in accordance economic competitiveness tar, including 117 companies 100% household retail, which contributed to with Chapter 8 of the UN General Qatar Airways alone owned by US citizens, and another bolstering the US economy. Assembly Resolution 251/60 of 15 provided a $92bn boost to 30 US companies operate under the “Qatar spent $200mn on medical March 2006. In a press conference Qatar Financial Centre. Out of nearly and healthcare for its citizens in 2017, held at UN headquarters in Geneva, US economy 15,000 American citizens who live in while more 1,200 Qatari students are he called on the Qatari government Qatar’s real GDP growth Qatar, 5,000 highly skilled individuals studying at universities in the US,” he to resort to the Security Council is expected to increase to are currently working in the private said. to determine the responsibility of sector. Touching on the measures that Qatar the siege countries on the illegal 2.8% in 2018 “Qatar has been increasing its in- undertook to counter the illegal block- measures taken by them against vestments in the US for many years, ade imposed on the country since June Qatar, which amount to the crime atar is keen on bolstering bilat- creating thousands of jobs across 5, 2017 with the aim of undermining of aggression, economic war and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte met in Rome yesterday with HE the Deputy eral ties with the US across all America. These include partnerships Qatar’s position as an economically in- collective punishment against the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Qfi elds, particularly on the eco- with numerous American companies, dependent and sovereign state, Sheikh Qatari people. al-Thani during his visit to Italy. HE Sheikh Mohamed conveyed greetings of His nomic and investment levels, HE the such as ExxonMobil, Boeing, Cono- Ahmed bin Jassim said the country has Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Italian prime minister, Minister of Economy and Commerce coPhillips and Raytheon. emerged stronger and more independ- REGION | Confl ict wishing the Italian people more progress and prosperity. For his part, the Italian Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Moham- “Qatar Airways alone provided ent than ever before. prime minister convey his greetings to the Amir, wishing him health and happiness ed al-Thani has said. a $92bn boost to the US economy “The illegal blockade has presented Civilians fl ee combat and the Qatari people further progress, development and prosperity. Discussions He was speaking on Thursday at a through the purchase of 332 American an opportunity for Qatar to make its zones around Hodeidah during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations and means of boosting them, as reception organised by the US-Qatar aircraft, a deal that supports more than economy more accessible to the world Clashes between Yemeni well as issues of common interest. Business Council on the sidelines of 527,000 jobs.” and bolster its trade relations, particu- government forces and Houthi the SelectUSA Investment Summit in The Minister of Economy and Com- larly with the US. rebels around the Red Sea port Washington. The ceremony was at- merce pointed out that $146bn worth “Qatar has successfully estab- city of Hodeidah eased yesterday tended by a number of senior offi cials of exports and orders to Qatar have lished direct commercial routes with as more civilians fled the combat and businessmen from both countries generated 1mn American jobs that de- a number of strategic hubs around zones for fear of a fierce showdown, Qatar stresses region’s need and representatives of civil society in pend on doing business with Qatar. the world, diverting trade to its major a UN humanitarian agency said. the US. Qatar Investment Authority has also trading partners. “More people are fleeing areas of “International trade and invest- pledged to invest $45bn for the period “Qatar is utilising its available conflict and seeking shelter in safer for new security partnership ment form a key part of Qatar’s future from 2015 to 2020. Of that, $10bn will world-class facilities and hi-tech lo- locations, including in the capital growth and diversifi cation, and the US be channelled into the infrastructure gistics to mobilise its regional agree- Sanaa,” 150km to the northeast QNA had been calling for dialogue. “Qatar is one of Qatar’s most valued and larg- sector, Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim said, ments with Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Tur- and also under rebel control, the Brussels has repeatedly invited its neighbours to est global partners,” Sheikh Ahmed bin noting that these investments repre- key, Pakistan, India, Azerbaijan and Off ice for the Coordination of the table and asked them to clarify their Jassim said, according to a statement sent 23% of Qatar’s GDP. Central Asia. Humanitarian Aff airs (OCHA) said in position and the reasons for the block- issued yesterday by the Ministry of In the oil and gas sector, Qatar Pe- “Through these agreements, Qatar a statement. Page 3 E the Deputy Prime Minister ade and have not received a response,” Economy and Commerce. troleum has also invested $10bn in an aims to expand its trade activities by and Minister of Foreign Af- he added. He said $24bn worth of goods were LNG plant in Texas, which will con- establishing a marine fl eet that con- EUROPE | Vote Hfairs Sheikh Mohamed bin The minister expressed his regret traded in the last fi ve years, noting tribute to generating 45,000 jobs. nects Qatar with its major trading Abdulrahman al-Thani has said that because there is more escalation on that 84% of the trade balance is in Highlighting investments by the pri- partners in the world, targeting a mar- Erdogan in fi nal appeals diff erences must be resolved through their part, where they still ignore calls favour of the US, the equivalent of vate sector, the Minister of Economy ket of 400mn population in its fi rst at Istanbul rallies dialogue, not the blockade, calling for a from the international community to $20bn while 16.3% of Qatar’s imports and Commerce said private companies stage,” he said. To Page 2 Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned regional security partnership between engage in dialogue and continue to to his roots in the working-class all countries in the Middle East. pursue their unconstructive actions Istanbul district of Kasimpasa In a speech before the Foreign Af- not only against Qatar but also against yesterday, capping a day of seven fairs Committee of the European Par- other countries in the region. “Our re- campaign rallies with a nod to his liament on late Thursday, he stressed gion cannot bear more crises, and we humble beginnings as he battles that Qatar adopts a method of change have enough problems on the table and for Turkey’s presidency. “I am from and constructive criticism for develop- that there are many negative eff ects on Kasimpasa. I was born here, raised ment, noting that for the past year it stability in this region.” Page 2 here,” he told tens of thousands of supporters in the district. Turkey holds simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections tomorrow for the first time in its history. Neymar on target as Brazil Erdogan is seeking to extend his more than 15-year rule in the face of unprecedented challenges from a beat dogged Costa Rica boisterous opposition. Page 9 Agencies tle to qualify for the knockout phase Moscow may have been aided by Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Iceland yesterday that leaves WORLD CUP Group D intriguingly poised. razil needed two injury-time goals That sets up a showdown between Ni- Yesterday’s results to defeat a dogged Costa Rica yes- geria and Argentina in Saint Petersburg. Brazil 2 Costa Rica 0 Bterday as Philippe Coutinho and If Argentina win they still have a chance Neymar scored late to put the fi ve-time of qualifying second behind Croatia and Nigeria 2 Ireland 0 World Cup winners back on track for the reaching the knockout stage. Switzerland 2 Serbia 1 last 16. A 90th-minute goal by Xherdan The Brazilians looked to be heading for Shaqiri secured Switzerland a 2-1 vic- Today’s matches a second frustrating draw in a row before tory over Serbia in a blistering-paced Belgium vs Tunisia 3pm Barcelona forward Coutinho poked the World Cup Group E match in Kalinin- Mexico vs South Korea 6pm ball through Costa Rica goalkeeper Key- grad, putting them in a strong position Germany vs Sweden 9pm lor Navas’ legs in the 91st minute. to go through to the knockout round. HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani interacting with dignitaries at a Meanwhile, Argentina’s uphill bat- Sport Pages 1-5 reception organised by the US-Qatar Business Council in Washington on Thursday. ‘Make in Qatar’ may help develop local startup ecosystem

By Peter Alagos management company that would ad- “The function of the board is to Similarly, the fund is also open to star- source, and the fuel. While the tech- Business Reporter dress the needs of qualifi ed startups, screen, select, mentor, and to coach tups from other countries like India, nologies and the companies here are 360 Nautica founder and chairman Dr these startups, and elevate them to “which 360 Nautica is also looking at being groomed, they could be brought Tejinder Singh said. the commercial level where they could as a market.” into this system and get the support it he private sector-led initiative The seed fund “would be funded by market and distribute their products “The idea is that we have to build needs…so your push into the market is ‘Make in Qatar’ is expected to major players in the Qatari commu- and services. We are now in the phase Qatar. The country is in a state where fast.” Thelp develop the local startup nity,” while a management company, where we have identifi ed the startups, it has to go into self-suffi ciency…so as By early 2019, Singh said the initia- ecosystem, and drive the country to- ‘Innovators [974]’, would screen, select, which were selected from the health- a private sector, we intend to come in tive is expected to launch “three to fi ve wards self-suffi ciency across a wide and develop the shortlisted startups, care, technology, and fi nancial sectors,” under 360 Nautica, which has a com- good startups” in the fi elds of health- range of industries, according to an of- Singh explained. Singh told Gulf Times. plete digital ecosystem in Qatar, and care, technology, and fi nance. “Until fi cial of a venture and a growth capital He also pointed out that the ‘Innova- According to Singh, the fund is not could help build at least 50 startups in 2022, you might see about 15 to 20 of platform. tors [974]’ would be run by a manage- exclusive to local startups but could Qatar in the next 10 years,” Singh em- such companies,” he said, adding that ‘Make in Qatar’ is composed of two ment board composed of private and also be accessed by other existing phasised. interested startups can access the initi- components: the fi rst is a more than public sector players from the expatri- 360 Nautica founder and chairman Dr small companies that need funding He added, “‘Innovators [974]’ would ative through business@360-Nautica. $5mn seed fund, while the second is a ate and Qatari communities. Tejinder Singh. to further develop their businesses. become the breeding ground, the com. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, June 23, 2018 QATAR Deputy PM calls for resolving diff erences through dialogue QNA nity to engage in dialogue and a dialogue on regional security, behaviour, Qatar has been ex- of female students exceeds the it exceeds $150bn. “This means so it has provided a platform Brussels continue to pursue their un- which Qatar believes in and tries posed to some of these problems number of male students in that the size of the Qatari econ- for various parties to exchange constructive actions not only to strength it. overnight, including the block- higher education institutions in omy has increased signifi cantly views and discuss diff erences to against Qatar but also against He also noted the escalation in ade, and “our neighbours see the Qatar. over the past two decades as a reach compromises through dia- E the Deputy Prime other countries in the region. the Middle East since last year, changes adopted by Qatar as a “The culture of co-existence result of the great eff orts exerted logue,” the Deputy Prime Minis- Minister and Minister of “Our region cannot bear more especially in Yemen and Syria, threat to them, and they are in no is part of Qatar’s agenda and we by the government and the peo- ter said. HForeign Aff airs Sheikh crises, and we have enough the spread of cross-border ter- way late in stigmatising anyone have worked hard over the last ple of Qatar, “pointing out that” He said that “Qatar has in- Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- problems on the table and that rorism and, fi nally, the Gulf cri- as a terrorist if he does not share 20 years to make Qatar a plat- the European Union is our sec- vested heavily in establishing Thani has said that diff erences there are many negative eff ects sis. views and directions.” form for interfaith dialogue.” ond largest market, where 30% good governance, which is an must be resolved through dia- on stability in this region.” The Deputy Prime Minister The Deputy Prime Minister The Deputy Prime Minister of our imports come from its essential element of respect logue, not the blockade, calling He stressed the need to estab- and Minister of Foreign Aff airs, said that social and economic said that Qatar has a great inter- member states.” for the rule of law. We believe for a regional security partner- lish a regional security partner- H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Ab- development is the core of “our est in liquefi ed natural gas be- “Free access to information, that transparency and the fi ght ship between all countries in the ship between all countries of the dulrahman al-Thani, expressed principles, and have invested cause it believes it will achieve freedom of the press and me- against corruption are among Middle East. Middle East, adding that if you his belief that the Middle East heavily in this area to promote more progress and prosperity, dia is an essential part of the the most important require- In a speech before the For- look carefully at the crises in the needs to create a culture of col- those principles and values, not adding that the follower of the values in which Qatar believes ments for the success of any na- eign Aff airs Committee of the Middle East, you will fi nd that lective regional security, but un- only in our internal policy but development of Qatar during the and invest,” he said. “Yes, we tion. Qatar has shown its leader- European Parliament on late the same countries are involved fortunately instead of union to also in our foreign policy.” past two decades, would note are in an area where freedom ship in the region, In this regard, Thursday, he stressed that Qatar in these crises, and we want meet the common challenges to He added that Qatar focused that Qatar is now the exporter of of information and expression where it ranks fi rst in the world adopts a method of change and them to come to the dialogue ta- achieve this goal, some regional on human development to build 30% of the world’s production of does not reach the point here in in the index of confi dence in po- constructive criticism for devel- ble to adopt the principle of col- forces sought to destabilise the and protect human capital and liquefi ed natural gas and is one of the West. However, Qatar is the litical decision-making, and the opment, noting that for the past lective security and contribute to region and violate international invested heavily in education. the largest exporters of energy in best in our region in this area, second in terms of effi ciency of year it had been calling for dia- pushing it forward. law. He pointed out that Qatar has the world. and it was 20 years ago when the legislative system,” the Dep- logue. “Qatar has repeatedly in- The Deputy Prime Minister He added that the political developed its values and laws to He said that Qatar had become the foundations of freedom of uty Prime Minister and Minister vited its neighbours to the table considered that there is an im- manoeuvres that we are seeing in protect human rights and work- an important partner for many the press were established at a of Foreign Aff airs said, “stressing and asked them to clarify their portant role for the European the Middle East and the aggres- ers’ rights and to address issues countries in the world in the fi eld time when there were no media that” these values and principles position and the reasons for the Union in this context, pointing sive and non-constructive ac- of concern to the international of energy, noting that Europe outlets except offi cial govern- represent the essence of what we blockade and have not received a out that everything that happens tions that harm regional security community in this regard, point- is the second largest supplier of ment outlets. We supported believe and apply in practice and response,” he added. in this region aff ects it, whether and create a vacuum represent ing out that women’s empower- our markets after Asia, stressing the establishment of Al Jazeera not only what we call for it , we The Deputy Prime Minister in the form of refugee fl ows or the ideal environment develop- ment has been of paramount that Qatar has proven over the Channel which is now one of have done this by helping other expressed his regret because the spread of transnational ter- ing the growth and spread of ex- importance in Qatar’s internal years that it is a reliable partner. the best free media in the re- countries in the region through there is more escalation on their rorism, welcoming in this regard tremism and terrorism. policies and Qatar has achieved He noted that Qatar’s gross gion,” he added. our support for many peace part, where they still ignore calls the eff orts of European countries He pointed out that as a result the highest female employment domestic product (GDP) was “Qatar believes that construc- agreements, such as Sudan a and from the international commu- to support the establishment of of the same non-constructive in the GCC, and the number about $10bn in 1998, while now tive dialogue is the way forward, Lebanon as an example. Qeeri, Vito sign pact to develop smart water, energy solutions

atar Environment and water security challenges in a special ceremony held at the prominent research organisation Energy Research Insti- an effi cient and sustainable HBKU Research Complex. in clean technology and I believe Qtute (Qeeri), a Hamad Bin manner. Vito has an offi ce - This collaboration will enable partnership will catalyse Qeeri’s Khalifa University research in- Vito Middle East - in Qatar the two entities to bring together ability to move forward in our stitute, and Vito, a leading Euro- since 2016. the expertise, and know-how of mission of helping Qatar tackle pean independent research and The agreement was signed its scientists at their world-class its energy and water security technology organisation from by Dr Marc Vermeersch, ex- facilities to develop new water challenges. We are looking for- Belgium, have signed an agree- ecutive director, Qeeri and Dr and energy solutions for Qatar ward to working closely with the ment to develop demonstration Bruno Reyntjens, commercial and the region. Combined eff orts skilled scientists, engineers and projects of smart energy and director of Vito, in the presence will be taken to improve and en- researchers from Vito.” Qeeri and Vito off icials at the signing of the agreement with Belgium ambassador Dr Bart de Groof (left). water systems. of Dr Bart de Groof, ambassa- hance several projects including Dr Reyntjens added, “Our The agreement is in line dor of Belgium, and Dr Richard brine management, CO2 capture aim is to create impact by im- society. The partnership with “The agreement is a milestone between Qatar and Belgium in with the mission and vision O’Kennedy, vice president, re- and Use technology, rural micro- plementing sizable demonstra- Qeeri aims at introducing break- for Qeeri and Vito, two research essential areas such as energy of Qeeri and Vito to assist Qa- search, development and inno- grids, and effl uent polishing. tion projects and to accelerate through technologies in the Qa- institutes with a common vi- effi ciency or water treatment,” tar in tackling its energy and vation at Qatar Foundation, in Dr Vermeersch said, “Vito is a the transition to a sustainable tar and Middle East market.” sion. It will strengthen the ties Dr Bart de Groof, added. Emerging artist holds exhibition HMC’s emergency departments treat at Education City Mosque gallery 1,996 on Thursday he emergency depart- tal received on Thursday fi ve atar Foundation’s (QF) tar’s very own emerging young ments across Hamad persons injured in road ac- Education City Mosque artists,” she added. TMedical Corporation cidents with one of having a Qgallery is currently Al-Khunji is renowned in the (HMC) received and treated serious injury. showcasing ‘Deconstruct- local art and design commu- on Thursday 1,996 persons All the 700 cases examined ing the Sacred’, an exhibition nity for his subtle yet thought- from 6am until 6pm, local at Hamad General Hospital left by emerging Doha artist Oth- provoking work that explores Arabic daily Arrayah reported the hospital the same day ex- man al-Khunji. The exhibition themes of religion, culture and yesterday. cept for 27 cases that had to be is an open invitation to people social justice. He previously ex- These fi gures include all admitted, with some requiring from diff erent cultural back- hibited at Msheireb Museums, patients that visited the emer- surgical intervention. grounds and religious faiths to Katara – the Cultural Village, gency departments. Hamad Dr Mohamed al-Ameri, see each other’s similarities and Fire Station’s Garage Gallery, General Hospital Emergency deputy director of the HMC diff erences. The Shangri-La Doha, The New Department alone received paediatrics emergency de- “I’m extremely pleased to have York Times Art for Tomor- 700 patients . partment, said that 1,296 been off ered the opportunity to row Conference at The W Hotel Dr Hani Kamil, consultant children were examined by showcase my art at Education Artworks on display at Education City Mosque’s gallery. Doha, Kraftwerk Berlin, Menier physician at HMC emergency the emergency departments City Mosque’s gallery, as I can’t and Saatchi Gallery, London. department, said that most of across the country from 5am think of a better fi t for the nature can engage in open dialogue on technology, including 3D print- conducive to open dialogue and Visitors to the exhibition will the cases examined at Hamad to 5pm on Thursday, with Al of my work,” said al-Khunji, who religious, cultural and social is- ing, Arduino technology, laser debate,” QF’s Community De- have the opportunity to see a General Hospital were simple Sadd Paediatric Department graduated in 2015 with a MFA sues that my artworks address,” cutting, neon glass heat bending velopment president Machaille host of al-Khunji’s artworks, and medium in severity ex- receiving 764 cases. All but 11 in Design from Virginia Com- he added. and water jet engraving. “Al- al-Naimi said. including those that were exhib- cept for three cases, includ- were discharged the same day. monwealth School of the Arts ‘Deconstructing the Sacred’ is Khunji’s exhibition bridges the “QF strives to inspire social ited at The Fuorisalone, Milan ing one who sustained critical During the same period, the in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar), a QF al-Khunji’s fi rst solo exhibition gap between past and future, and engagement across the wider Design Week 2018. The exhibi- injuries in a car accident, be- Ambulance Service received partner university. “I feel the in Qatar and features interactive off ers visitors the opportunity community, and we encourage tion, which offi cially opened to sides four other cases of heart 175 calls for help and acted ac- venue brings together people installations created through the to explore the many themes de- everyone to visit the exhibition the public on June 9, will run diseases. cordingly. These included fi ve from all backgrounds where they use and application of innovative picted in his art in a space that is and explore the art of one of Qa- until the end of September. He said that the hospi- diff erent road accidents. Qatar-US relations extend beyond trade: minister

From Page 1 price reached around 2% in 2017, creased by 19% to reach $68bn ture capital availability and fi fth show that Qatar has overcome provided $30mn in aid after and new opportunities. This which was better than expected. in 2017, up from $57bn in 2016, for the availability of scientists the blockade by enhancing its Hurricane Harvey. year’s edition features a number The minister explained that the “Several international reports contributing to a total trade sur- and engineers. economic competitiveness,” he “Qatar is committed to the vi- of key topics, including promot- wise policies adopted by Qatar, have highlighted the remark- plus that increased by 40% from “Qatar also ranks in advanced asserted. tal strategic economic partnership ing global economic prosperity, which stimulated all sectors of able performance of the Qatari $25bn in 2016 to $35bn in 2017. positions on the subfactors of Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim also with the US to the benefi t of a pros- investments in energy, innovation the economy to achieve increased economy.” The minister highlighted Qa- the IMD World Competitiveness pointed out that Qatari-US rela- perous Qatar and the US,” he added. and technology, workforce devel- productivity, have refl ected posi- Quoting the latest report re- tar’s advanced ranking on the Yearbook 2018 - third for the la- tions extend beyond trade and The SelectUSA Investment opment and rebuilding the US in- tively on the national economy. leased by the World Bank, Sheikh latest Global Competitiveness bour force, third for effi ciency investment, noting that Qatari- Summit is a leading event aimed frastructure. “Qatar’s economy continued Ahmed bin Jassim reiterated that Index, noting that the country of government decisions, fourth US co-operation is aimed at at promoting foreign direct in- SelectUSA Investment Summit its positive performance during Qatar’s real GDP growth is expect- ranks fi rst for its stable infl a- for transparency, fi fth for eco- helping people of both nations vestments in the US with the par- is expected to bring together more the past year, confi rming that ed to increase to 2.8% in 2018, the tion rates while leading the Arab nomic performance and entre- overcome challenges and capi- ticipation of senior government 3,200 participants, representing the country was unaff ected by highest among GCC countries. world and ranking in 20th place preneurship, seventh for public- talise on opportunities. offi cials, CEOs, private sector 64 international markets and 51 the blockade. Qatar’s foreign trade has also globally on the macroeconomic private partnerships, eighth for “Qatar donated $100mn to representatives and entrepre- US states, with the participation of “In 2017, Qatar’s total GDP shown remarkable growth, increas- environment index. Globally, education, tenth for government help victims of Hurricane Kat- neurs. Every edition of the sum- the US Secretaries of Commerce, Increased to $220bn, compared ing by 16% to reach $103bn in 2017, Qatar also ranks third for gov- effi ciency and thirteenth for rina, which contributed in com- mit focuses on a specifi c theme Treasury and Labour, as well as a with $218bn in 2016. The an- compared with $89bn in 2016. ernment procurement of ad- business effi ciency. munity development, building related to the US investment envi- number of governors and the US nual real growth rate at constant Qatar’s total exports also in- vanced technology, fi fth for ven- “All these positive indicators, houses and hospitals. Qatar also ronment, overall industry trends Chamber of Commerce offi cials. Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD Civilians leave combat zones around Hodeidah

AFP Mokha

lashes between Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels around the CRed Sea port city of Hodeidah eased Children carry the fake coffin of the “deal of Trump”, during a weekly demonstration against the yesterday as more civilians fl ed the combat expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near Nablus in the occupied zones for fear of a fi erce showdown, a UN West Bank, yesterday. humanitarian agency said. “More people are fl eeing areas of con- fl ict and seeking shelter in safer locations, including in the capital Sanaa,” 150 kilome- tres to the northeast and also under rebel US envoys discuss peace in control, the Offi ce for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Aff airs (OCHA) said in a statement. It said some of the displaced had arrived Palestine with Netanyahu in the capital but specifi c fi gures were not yet available. On Thursday, OCHA said more than Agencies 30,000 residents of Hodeidah and the Jerusalem province of the same name had fl ed their homes this month. The latest violence was “at a less severe he Israeli prime minis- scale, as a general decrease in clashes, bom- ter yesterday held talks bardments and airstrikes has been report- Twith US President Don- ed”, said OCHA. ald Trump’s special envoy Ja- “Humanitarian partners continue to re- son Greenblatt and adviser Jared spond to the needs of the displaced popula- Kushner on the stalled Israeli- tion” with the provision of food, water and Palestinian peace process. health services in and around Hodeida, it Their visit is part of a regional said. tour that has taken them to Jor- In the port city itself, however, “access to dan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, warehouses has become diffi cult due to on- where the Arab leaders have going fi ghting and blockage of some roads”. Displaced Yemenis who fled their homes in the war-torn port city of Hodeidah arrive to said progress to resolve the con- An AFP video journalist said a column of their shelter at a make-shift camp for displaced people in the northern district of Abs, fl ict should be based on a “two- dozens of trucks loaded with Red Cross re- in Hajjah province, yesterday. state” solution. Palestinian protesters run for cover after Israeli forces launched lief supplies from the United Arab Emirates It also comes following a teargas canisters during a demonstration along the border (UAE) was waiting to cross into rebel-held fl are-up of hostilities between between the Gaza strip and Israel, east of Gaza city, yesterday. territory from the coastal city of Mokha to Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza the south. Strip that saw Israel pound Ha- The same statement was re- separate raids into the southern And the UN’s World Food Programme mas targets in response to a bar- leased in all three countries West Bank districts of Bethle- yesterday distributed aid in Hajjah province rage of rockets and mortar shells. and said talks also focused on hem and Al-Khalil, said security of northwest Yemen to displaced families A statement from Prime Min- the “humanitarian situation in sources, QNA reported. from Hodeidah, according to an AFP pho- ister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza”. Israeli occupation forces tographer. offi ce said they “discussed ad- Peace talks between Israel raided Duheisha refugee camp, The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin vancing the diplomatic process, and the Palestinians have been south of Bethlehem, opening fi re Griffi ths, said he was continuing “consul- developments in the region and stalled since 2014. towards youths who protested tations with all parties...to avoid a military the security and humanitarian Trump’s controversial De- the raid and attempted to block confrontation in Hodeida and to swiftly re- situations in Gaza”. cember decision to recognise Je- their passage, Palestinian WAFA turn to political negotiations”. It did not elaborate, but added rusalem as Israel’s capital — and news agency quoted sources as He was “confi dent that an agreement can that at the meeting Netanyahu the transfer of the US embassy saying. be reached to avert any escalation of vio- “expressed his gratitude for from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in A protester was shot and in- lence”, his offi ce said in a statement. President Trump’s support of May — has made the resumption jured by three rubber-coated According to the UN humanitarian coor- Israel”. of peace eff orts unlikely. steel bullets in the chest. He was dinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, “cholera is Displaced Yemenis who fled their homes in the war-torn port city of Hodeidah are seen The talks were attended by The Palestinians want Israeli- rushed to a Bethlehem hospital, top of the list of concerns right now”, after in their shelter at a make-shift camp for displaced people in the northern district of Abs. US ambassador to Israel David annexed east Jerusalem as the where medics described his con- Hodeidah was an epicentre of a cholera out- Friedman and the Israeli envoy capital of their future state. dition as stable. break last year. three quarters of imports to Yemen. The The pro-government forces announced to the United States Ron Dermer. The Palestinian Authority During the raid, soldiers de- Yemeni government forces backed by Houthis have controlled the port since the capture of Hodeidah airport on A White House statement re- said last Saturday that US plans tained a Palestinian after break- UAE troops have since June 13 set their 2014, when they drove the government Wednesday morning. leased this week as Greenblatt to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli ing into and ransacking his fam- sights on recapturing Hodeidah from the out of the capital and seized much of It had been disused but housed a major and Kushner held talks in Jordan, confl ict are “doomed to fail”. ily home. Meanwhile, Israeli Houthi rebels who have vowed to fight to northern Yemen and a string of Red Sea rebel base. Saudi Arabia and Egypt said the TWO PALESTINIANS occupation forces conducted a the end. ports. Since Saudi Arabia and its allies launched pair discussed with their hosts DETAINED,ONE HURT raid into Bani Naim town, east The UN estimates 600,000 people live The battle for Hodeidah, which medical military operations in March 2015 to restore eff orts by the Trump adminis- Meanwhile, Israeli occupation of Al-Khalil, storming and ran- in and around the city. sources say has killed at least 374 people, the Yemeni government, a total of nearly tration to “facilitate peace be- forces detained two Palestinians sacking several homes and de- The rebels have refused to cede con- has raised UN concerns for vital aid ship- 10,000 people have been killed, most of tween Israelis and Palestinians”. and injured at least one during taining a Palestinian. trol of Hodeidah, the entry point of ments and food imports through its docks. them civilians.

CRIME Tunisia arrests UN’s top court to hear people smuggler Syria ‘must be more secure after 87 drowned Iran row with US Tunisia yesterday arrested the main organiser of a migrant smuggling operation after at least 87 people AFP ruled in April 2016 that $2bn in before refugees return’ drowned when their boat sank off The Hague frozen Iranian assets should be the southern coast this month, the paid to about 1,000 survivors government said. and relatives of those killed in Reuters of refugees can take place...we The boat sank off Kerkenna island he UN’s top court will attacks blamed on Iran. Beirut need more secure conditions from where it had set out. Dozens in October hear a com- These included the 1983 for a return to be possible,” of people were rescued by the Tplex case brought by Iran bombing of a US Marine bar- Merkel said in a news confer- coastguard. The Defence Min- against the United States seeking racks in Beirut and the 1996 erman Chancellor An- ence in Beirut with Lebanese istry said the man was arrested to recover billions in frozen as- Khobar Towers bombing in gela Merkel said yester- Prime Minister-designate yesterday along with another man sets, which US courts say should Saudi Arabia. Gday on a visit to Leba- Saad al-Hariri. described as his business partner, go to American victims of terror But Tehran reacted angrily to non that conditions in Syria Germany has taken in hun- a military man, who was trying to attacks. the ruling which came almost a are not yet right for refugees dreds of thousands of Syrian take them out of Kerkenna in his car. The International Court of year after the landmark nuclear to return, an issue which has refugees and Merkel is under Prime Minister Youssef Chahed this Justice (ICJ) said in a statement deal with world powers which led to a dispute between Leba- pressure at home over migra- month sacked Interior Minister Lotfi yesterday it will “hold public led to the unblocking of other non’s foreign minister and the tion policy, which is threaten- Brahem and 10 security off icials hearings in the case concerning frozen funds. UN refugee agency. ing to undermine her ruling for failing to stop the boat. Security Certain Iranian Assets (Islam- To the dismay of the other The United Nations has reg- coalition. forces have since cracked down on ic Republic of Iran vs United world powers, US President istered about a million refugees She is playing down expec- migrant smugglers in several parts States of America), from Octo- Donald Trump has since walked in Lebanon — nearly a quarter tations of a major breakthrough of Tunisia. ber 8 to 12, 2018” at its seat in away from the nuclear deal, and of Lebanon’s population. at hastily arranged talks be- The Hague. the United States in 2017 raised The Lebanese government, tween some EU leaders on Sun- The hearings “will be de- objections to the court’s hearing which puts the fi gure at 1.5mn, day on the migration dispute, ENVIRONMENT voted to preliminary objections of the case. says it wants them to start go- which is dividing Europe. Hundreds surf raised by the United States,” the The four days of public audi- ing back to territory where Lebanese caretaker foreign statement added, after which ences are expected to focus on fi ghting has died down. minister Gebran Bassil has this German Chancellor Angela Merkel shakes hands with Lebanese against gas rig judges will decide whether or whether the ICJ judges can take The international view is month accused the UN refugee Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri at the government off ice in Beirut, in record bid not they can rule in the dispute. up the case under the strict rules that it would not be safe for agency UNHCR and foreign during her off icial visit, yesterday. The case was lodged by Te- governing their procedures. them to return yet. countries of preventing Syr- Hundreds of Israeli surfers in black hran in June 2016 accusing the Set up in 1946, the ICJ rules in “We want to help fi nd solu- ians returning home. plications by UNHCR for resi- Aoun said on Twitter that he skull-and-crossbones shirts took to US of breaking a decades-old disputes between states on the tions in Syria so that a return He ordered a freeze on ap- dency permits for its staff and “stressed the need to separate the waves yesterday in what they bilateral treaty, dating from basis of existing treaties and in- threatened more measures between this return and a po- said was a record-breaking protest the time of the Shah, by seiz- ternational law. Defi ant government forces in southwest assault against them. litical solution for the Syrian against potential environmen- ing Iranian financial assets and Iran argues that the US is UNHCR has denied trying to crisis”. Lebanon is the world’s tal damage from off -shore gas those of Iranian companies. breaking the terms of the 1955 Syrian government helicopters dropped barrel bombs on op- stop Syrians going home, say- third-most indebted nation development. Organisers said US courts have “awarded Treaty of Amity signed with the position areas of the southwest yesterday for the first time in ing it supports returns when it with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 992 people, among them athletes total damages of over $56bn... then regime of the Shah long be- a year, a war monitor and rebel off icials said, in defiance of US is safe. more than 150%. and actors, paddled out and held against Iran in respect of its fore he was ousted in the 1979 demands that President Bashar al-Assad halt the assault. As- After meeting Merkel yes- It climbed from around hands to form a circle opposite alleged involvement in various Islamic Revolution. sad has sworn to recapture the area bordering Jordan and the terday, Lebanese President 130% in 2011, before war in Herzliya, promoting their demand terrorist acts mainly outside The treaty governs economic Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the army began ramping Michel Aoun said he asked for neighbouring Syria, and the that a planned gas rig be relocated the US,” Iran said. ties and consular rights. The US up an assault there this week, threatening a “de-escalation” Germany to support calls “for arrival of refugees, depressed further from Israel’s Mediterranean The case was filed just weeks severed bilateral diplomatic ties zone agreed by the United States and Russia last year. the gradual return of displaced growth and paralysed govern- coast. A slogan on their shirts read: after the US Supreme Court with Iran in 1979. Syrians” from Lebanon. ment decision-making. “Don’t poison us.” Gulf Times 4 Saturday, June 23, 2018 AFRICA Congo opposition leader expected home in July

Reuters Goma US imposes sanctions on top officials for graft The US State Department says it day also said it would send career ongolese opposition leader has imposed sanctions and visa diplomat Michael Hammer as Jean-Pierre Bemba, whose bans on top DR Congo off icials for ambassador to the Democratic Cwar crimes convictions corruption linked to long-delayed Republic of Congo, a post that has were quashed last month, is ex- elections due in December and been vacant for several months. pected to return to Congo next for rights abuses. Hammer had served as ambas- month for a party congress to se- It asked President Joseph Kabila, sador to Chile between 2014 and lect a candidate for December’s in power since 2001, to ensure a 2016 and was also Assistant Secre- presidential vote, a party spokes- peaceful transition of power in the tary of State for Public Aff airs. man said yesterday. December 23 election. He has worked in five foreign His return to Democratic Re- Several unidentified “senior missions. A tweet from the US public of Congo could dramati- DRC off icials” were targeted for embassy in Kinshasa added: cally shake up the political land- “involvement in significant corrup- “Now is a critical time to take such scape ahead of the election, which tion related to the DRC’s electoral measures, to help dissuade Kabila is meant to choose a successor to process,” a State Department com- from putting his name on the President Joseph Kabila, who has munique said late Thursday. ballot and help ensure a credible held power since 2001. “Further, the Department is taking election.” Kabila, 47, took over from Kabila, however, has not yet steps to prevent entry into the his assassinated father in 2001, ruled out trying to circumvent United States of certain DRC and presides over a country with term limits to stand again, keeping off icials involved in human rights a dark reputation for corruption, the country in suspense ahead of File photo shows Jean-Pierre Bemba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo violations,” it said. poor governance and violence. what would be its fi rst democratic in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. “Today’s actions send a strong He has not clearly stated whether transition of power. signal that the US government is he will step aside despite appeals Bemba, a former rebel leader man for his Movement for the in western Congo and his return committed to fighting corruption, from the United States, France and vice president, left Congo in Liberation of Congo (MLC) party, could give a jolt to a largely mori- to supporting credible elections and Britain for him to declare that 2007 and spent the last 10 years Michel Koyakpa, told Reuters. bund opposition. that lead to DRC’s first peaceful he will not seek re-election. in prison in The Hague. He is cur- “This will fi rst of all be to par- But it could also further divide and democratic transfer of power, Escalating tension over Kabila’s rently free in Belgium pending a ticipate in the MLC congress, Kabila’s opponents, several of and to holding accountable those future has fuelled protests, lead- hearing related to a separate con- which will take place July 12-13 in whom are angling to succeed him. who are responsible for significant ing to a security crackdown that viction for witness tampering. Kinshasa,” Koyakpa said, adding Bemba came third in a rare na- corruption or serious violations of has claimed dozens of lives and Given that the maximum sen- that Bemba would submit his can- tionwide opinion poll by New human rights.” caused concern among the DRC’s tence on the witness tampering didacy for president later in July if York University’s Congo Research The State Department on Thurs- neighbours. charge before the International selected as the party’s nominee. Group in March, behind opposi- Criminal Court is fi ve years in The government has said that tion leaders Moise Katumbi, who prison, Bemba should be formal- Bemba has the right to return is in exile in Europe due to myriad a successor to represent the ruling Kabila in a 2006 election that his ly released some time after that home but has off ered mixed mes- legal problems at home, and Felix PPRD party. supporters said was marred by hearing. sages about whether he might face Tshisekedi, the president of Con- That person would benefi t from fraud, triggering battles in the “In principle, Senator Jean- further criminal prosecution or go’s largest opposition party. the party’s signifi cant war chest streets of Kinshasa between his Pierre Bemba Gomba will return be allowed to contest the presi- If Kabila does not try to stand and ties to state institutions. militiamen and state security to the country in July,” the spokes- dential election. Bemba is popular himself, he is expected to anoint Bemba fi nished runner-up to forces.

SA govt eyes staff cuts and Nigerian intelligence arrests hiring caps after wage deal two IS ‘commanders’ over plot

Reuters casions that a wage agreement that Johannesburg departs signifi cantly from infl ation AFP State in West Africa (ISWA) specialist bomb-makers, were would need to be accommodated Abuja were arrested outside the capital also arrested, it added within announced expenditure lim- Abuja on May 5. A third suspect The DSS has made previous outh Africa’s government is its, failing which such an outcome was detained in the northeastern announcements the arrests of considering layoff s and early could have adverse consequences.” igeria’s secret police state of Bauchi on April 28. suspected ISWA and Boko Har- Sretirement packages for staff in Specifi c details on the measures says it has arrested two “The suspects were discov- am members. But it rarely an- the public sector to avoid breaking its would be given at a later stage, the Nsuspected command- ered to have concluded plans to nounces whether those arrested pledge to cut spending after unions Treasury said. ers of a Boko Haram splinter not only perpetuate the ideals of have been charged or released. clinched above-infl ation wage in- South Africa’s budget defi cit and group for allegedly plotting to the movement in the area, but to, The latest came after Brit- creases, the Treasury said yesterday. public debt ballooned while econom- carry out violent attacks in the in collaboration with Boko Har- ish tabloid newspaper The Sun Under a deal reached in May, the ic growth slowed to a near standstill country. am, carry out heinous violent at- claimed IS leaders were sneaking government will raise salaries of in nine years under former president The Department of State tacks on innocent persons,” the “battle-hardened extremists” public sector employees, including Jacob Zuma. Services (DSS) said in a state- statement read, from Syria into Nigeria, prompt- teachers, police, and nurses, by up to New President Cyril Ramaphosa ment on Thursday that two Four other suspected Boko ing improved security at airports 7% this year and by 1% above infl a- promised to implement wide ranging “commanders” of the Islamic Haram members, including two and borders. tion in the two years after that. reforms after being elected in Febru- While the increase is less than the ary to try to kickstart economic re- 12% unions wanted, it was above the covery. 4% the Treasury planned for in its The country narrowly escaped East African court rules Tanzania newspaper ban illegal February budget when it outlined ratings downgrade to full-blown plans to reduce the country’s large junk status with S&P Global Ratings The East African Court of Justice has said Tanza- 2016 after publishing allegations that President debt pile to stave off ratings down- Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, which nia must annul the publication ban placed on a John Magufuli’s successful election campaign the grades. kept the credit scores unchanged in local weekly newspaper two years ago. previous year had been partly financed through The Treasury said that the “gov- reviews released in March and June Mseto was suspended for three years in August corrupt means. ernment has indicated on several oc- this year. Lagos street kids dance their way to fame

AFP houses a dozen children in happy chaos in Lagos her three-room fl at. On the walls are pictures of icons who came from modest backgrounds such as group of Nigerian street children Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey or Serena have been transformed into celebri- Williams. Aties thanks to a viral dance video that A motto in capital letters reads: “Every attracted the attention of singer Rihanna day is a second chance.” and supermodel Naomi Campbell. Oluyole persuaded parents to let them The “Dream Catchers” were seen in a take charge of their children. video earlier this year dancing like double- She pays their school fees — about jointed puppets in front of a battered red bus 100,000 naira ($280, 240 euros) — with on wasteground. what she earns writing television screen- Not long ago, the six boys and six girls plays, supplemented by help from sponsors. aged six to 16 had no idea about choreogra- The dance troupe practises in the evening phy. but if they don’t do well at school the chil- Now they’re dancing in the video of Nige- dren are not allowed to dance for a few days, rian singer Amada’s homage to the country’s which they say is “the worst punishment”. Super Eagles, who are playing in the World Busola, 13, has large almond-shaped eyes Cup football fi nals in Russia. and a tomboy’s haircut. “What we’ve done this year is huge. We Nicknamed “T-boy”, she has spent most have gone very, very far,” said Seyi Oluyole, of her life begging for “money and food” in 26, the group’s dance teacher and tutor. Lagos traffi c jams with her little brother. In early March, she posted the latest vid- Now she says she wants to be a “dancer, eo of her smiling prodigies on the Dream Seyi Oluyole and the Dream Catchers dance group perform at an event in Lagos. actress or hairdresser”. Catchers’ Instagram page, wiggling along to “I used to speak only Yoruba. Other chil- an Afrobeat tune from popstar Wizkid. with other performers or to receive prizes. they always wanted to come and dance,” she dren were laughing at me,” added Dami, 10, The Internet lit up when Rihanna, then The governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Am- said. “After a while, I realised that most of who squatted with his mother in an aban- US producer P Diddy, shared the clip on bode, invited some of them on stage for them were not in school. They didn’t even doned house for several years. their own accounts and it was seen more world children’s day on May 27. speak good English.” “Now I go to school, I can read and write. than 2.8mn times. Oluyole founded the dance troupe four According to the UN children’s agency My entire life has changed.” Several weeks later, Naomi Campbell, in years ago to help street children in Lagos Unicef, Nigeria has 10.5mn out-of-school Oluyole said the troupe has not made any Lagos for the annual fashion week in April, dream of a better future and to fi nd their way children — the highest in the world. real money despite their new-found fame, visited the young dancers in Ikorodu, a poor back into school. Oluyole herself was 12 when her father other than donations of food or clothing. suburb on the outskirts of the megacity. At the time, she was leading a group of lost his job at a bank and the entire family “Everyone invites us to perform but most In a public relations triumph, the children dancers from her church and every Sunday found itself living on the street for two years. people just want to exploit the kids for their jumped into her arms before a horde of cam- noticed there were large numbers of poor “At least I was lucky enough to keep going product, to get famous...they don’t pay us eras. kids from the area keen to take their mind off in school because it was something impor- any money, or very little,” she said. The Dream Catchers have been hot prop- hunger and boredom. tant for my parents. But I’ve seen the devas- Oluyole wants to catch her own dream: To erty ever since, whether it’s to collaborate “They used to come to church in numbers, tating eff ect of poverty,” she added. She now open a “real” dance school in Lagos. Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018 5 AMERICA

US will work with others White House to solve problems attacks media AFP Geneva

ashington remains committed to work- Wing diplomatically use of ‘crying with other countries to solve problems, despite its decision this week to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council, a US ambassador said yesterday. “Multilateralism works, and we are engaged across the board in a number of international or- toddler’ image ganisations and entities,” Robert Wood, the US ambassador to the Reuters Time puts Trump opposite sobbing child on cover Right: The Time cover featuring Geneva-based Conference on Washington Trump and the toddler. Disarmament, told reporters. Donald Trump has always proudly paraded his Time Magazine covers His comment came days after but the latest may not make it on to the walls at the golf club. Washington withdrew from the fter weeks of criticism The powerful image on this week’s cover depicts the US president look- UN’s top rights body, branding over the separation of ing down at a sobbing two-year-old girl next to the heading Welcome to it an anti-Israel “cesspool”, in a Aimmigrant families, the America. widely-criticised move. White House seized on a photo The girl is from a photograph taken at the US border by Getty photogra- The council was established of a Honduran toddler seen sob- pher John Moore this week. in 2006 to protect human rights bing at the US-Mexican border Showing the toddler’s distress while her mother is searched and worldwide, but its actions have to accuse Democrats and the detained, the image has become a defining symbol of the impact of the clashed with US priorities. media yesterday of exploiting Trump administration’s immigration policy, where parents and children In particular, the council’s fo- the picture to push their agenda entering the US illegally have been separated at the border. cus on Israeli behaviour towards on immigration. The separation of families, with children and even babies placed in Palestinians in the territory it The photograph, taken by detention centres or “tender age shelters”, has triggered outcry. occupies on the West Bank and Getty Images photographer John Speaking to the Guardian this week, Moore described his own heart- in Gaza has infuriated Washing- Moore at the scene of a border break capturing these separations at the US-Mexico border. ton. detention this month, became “As a photojournalist covering this story for years, and as the father of The US, which has also criti- a powerful image in the media three children including a toddler, it was personally very hard for me to cised the fact that abusive re- coverage of the separation of photograph,” he said. gimes such as Venezuela and families at the US-Mexican bor- After enormous public backlash, Trump signed an executive order Burundi are permitted to sit on der. reversing the policy. the rotating 47-seat council, had Dozens of newspapers and Trump has regularly made a point of referencing the number of times demanded deep reforms. magazines including Time and he has made it on to the cover of Time and last year boasted that he had This week, US ambassador to the Washington Post published “the all-time record” – a claim quickly rebutted by the magazine. the UN Nikki Haley and Secre- the image. In June 2017, Time asked Trump to take down fake covers featuring him tary of State Mike Pompeo an- The image, widely seen as from the walls of his golf clubs. nounced Washington was done showing the girl crying over At a press conference in Singapore for the Kim Jong-un summit last waiting for reform. being parted from her mother, week, Trump called out to Time reporter Brian Bennett. “We gave it a year, we talked to helped swell outrage at home “Am I on the cover again this week?” Trump asked rhetorically. “Boy, countries and tried to get reform and abroad that pushed Presi- have I … so many covers.” – By Hannah Ellis-Petersen/Guardian This picture, also taken by John Moore on June 12, shows Hondurans Sandra Sanchez with her going,” Wood said yesterday, in- dent Donald Trump to back News & Media two-year-old daughter Yanela Denise, who were stopped and taken into custody at the border in sisting: “We had to leave.” down on Wednesday on his ad- McAllen, Texas. He said that Washington “still ministration’s policy of separat- hopes that there will be an op- ing children from their families Sarah Sanders said yesterday the Washington Post quoted Yesterday, Time published a for asylum, and they were not Country to be overrun by illegal portunity to come back (to the while the adults were prosecuted that the mother and child had Moore as saying that after he correction saying: “The original separated. immigrants as the Democrats rights council), but we need to for illegally crossing the border. not been separated, and accused took the picture he feared the girl version of this story misstated Nevertheless, “my daughter tell their phony stories of sad- see real reform”. Getty’s caption on the June 12 Democrats and the media of ex- and her mother might be sepa- what happened to the girl in the has become a symbol of the ... ness and grief, hoping it will Wood meanwhile said that picture taken at the Texas border ploiting the picture. rated, but he did not know what photo after she (was) taken from separation of children at the US help them in the (November) Washington had no plans to pull town of McAllen said the photo “It’s shameful that dems and happened to them. the scene. The girl was not car- border”, Valera told Reuters in a elections”. out of other international bodies showed a two-year-old Hondu- the media exploited this photo Representatives from Getty ried away screaming by US Bor- phone interview. It was not clear if he was re- that have been the targets of US ran asylum-seeker crying as her of a little girl to push their agen- Images did not immediately re- der Patrol agents; her mother Honduras’ deputy foreign ferring to the photo of the Hon- criticism, including the Confer- mother was searched and de- da. She was not separated from spond to requests for comment picked her up and the two were minister, Nelly Jerez, confi rmed duran toddler. ence on Disarmament. tained. her mom. The separation here yesterday. taken away together.” Valera’s version of events. Varela said Sanchez and her He again voiced outrage that The caption said that the de- is from the facts. Dems should For its cover this week, ti- In Honduras, Denis Valera said Trump, a Republican, persist- daughter had left Puerto Cortes, Syria, a country accused of us- tention could lead to possible join POTUS (the president) and tled Welcome to America, Time on Thursday that his daughter ently accuses Democrats of be- a Honduran port north of the ing chemical weapons against its separation, not that this had oc- fi x our broken immigration sys- Magazine cropped the picture to and her mother, Sandra Sanchez, ing weak on immigration. capital city, Tegucigalpa, with- own people, had been permitted curred. tem,” she tweeted. show just the girl, juxtaposing it were detained together in McAl- He said in a tweet yester- out telling him or the couple’s to hold the rotating presidency White House spokeswoman In an article about the picture, with a picture of Trump. len, where Sanchez has applied day that “we cannot allow our three other children. of the disarmament body. “This was a colossal failure,” he said on the last day of Syria’s Network orders four-week presidency, during which time the US led a boycott Roseanne spinoff of the sessions. Putin leading a movement out called The Conners “They have done real damage to this body by serving as presi- US broadcast network ABC dent just for the four weeks,” to damage the US, says Hillary has said that it has ordered a Wood said, adding the US would 10-episode spinoff of comedy “try now to rectify that, but it Roseanne that will air without will be diffi cult.” Reuters tion she lost to Donald Trump up the EU, weaken America’s any involvement of its creator According to a decades-old Dublin as “a clear and present danger traditional alliances and under- Roseanne Barr, who sparked practice among the conference’s to western democracy”. mine democracy,” Clinton said outrage by tweeting a racial slur. 65 member states, the presiden- Special Counsel Robert Mu- in a lecture at Trinity College Other original cast members cy follows the alphabetical order ussian President eller is leading an investigation Dublin, where she received an including John Goodman, Laurie of country name in English. Vladimir Putin has po- into Russia’s role in the 2016 honorary doctorate. Metcalf and Sara Gilbert will But while Wood was critical Rsitioned himself as the election. “We can see this authoritar- appear in the show, which has a of Syria’s presidency, he said leader of a xenophobic move- Moscow denies US intelli- ian movement rippling out from working title of The Conners, ABC the US was not pushing for new ment that wants to weaken the gence agency allegations that the Kremlin, reaching across said in a statement. rules to block countries like Syr- United States’ traditional alli- it interfered in the election, and Europe and beyond. It’s em- ABC, owned by Walt Disney Co, ia from taking the reins. ances and undermine democ- Trump has denied colluding boldening right-wing nation- cancelled Roseanne in May after Instead, he said, the US hoped racy, former US presidential with Russia. alists, separatists, racists and Barr sparked widespread anger to improve the workings of the candidate Hillary Clinton said “Vladimir Putin has posi- even neo-Nazis. We are living with a tweet comparing black disarmament body from within yesterday. tioned himself as the leader through an era when funda- former Obama administration by speaking out loudly “against Clinton with University Chancellor and former president of The former secretary of state of an authoritarian, white- mental rights, civic virtue, even adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape. those who are undermining the Ireland Mary Robinson before being conferred an honorary described Russian interference supremacist and xenophobic facts and reason are under as- ABC said Barr will have no credibility of the body”. Doctor of Laws degree at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. in the 2016 presidential elec- movement that wants to break sault like never before.” financial or creative involvement. US top court rules warrants required for cellphone location data

Reuters servative Chief Justice John Rob- Although the ruling explicitly still allows police to avoid ob- Sprint Corporation – receive tens The decision “guarantees gued that probable cause should Washington erts, the court decided in favour concerned only historical cell- taining warrants for other types of thousands of such requests a blizzard of litigation while not be required to obtain cus- of Timothy Carpenter, who was phone data, digital privacy advo- of business records. annually from law enforcement. threatening many legitimate and tomer records under a 1986 fed- convicted in several armed rob- cates are hopeful that it will set Police could also avoid obtain- Carpenter’s case will now re- valuable investigative practices eral law. he US Supreme Court has beries at Radio Shack and T-Mo- the tone for future cases on other ing warrants in emergency situa- turn to lower courts. upon which law enforcement Instead, it argued for a lower imposed limits on the abil- bile stores in Ohio and Michigan emerging legal issues prompted tions, Roberts added. His conviction may not be has rightfully come to rely”, Alito standard: that prosecutors show Tity of police to obtain cell- with the help of past cellphone by new technology. The high court endorsed the overturned because other evi- added. only that “reasonable grounds” phone data pinpointing the past location data that linked him to “Today’s decision rightly rec- arguments made by Carpenter’s dence also linked him to the Alito also said the ruling does exist for the records and they are location of criminal suspects in the crime scenes. ognises the need to protect the lawyers, who said that police crimes. not address “some of the great- “relevant and material” to an in- a major victory for digital privacy Roberts stressed that the rul- highly sensitive location data needed “probable cause” and The case underscored the ris- est threats to individual privacy” vestigation. advocates and a setback for law ing did not resolve other hot- from our cellphones, but it also therefore a warrant, to avoid a ing concerns among privacy ad- that may come from data collec- Roberts said that the govern- enforcement authorities. button digital privacy fi ghts, provides a path forward for safe- Fourth Amendment violation. vocates about the government’s tion by private companies. ment’s argument “fails to con- In the 5-4 ruling, the court said including whether police need guarding other sensitive dig- Police helped establish that ability to obtain an ever-growing It was the third ruling in recent tend with the seismic shifts in that the police generally need a warrants to access real-time ital information in future cases Carpenter was near the scene of amount of personal data. years in which the court has re- digital technology that made court-approved warrant to get cellphone location information – from our e-mails, smart home the robberies by securing from During arguments in the case solved major cases on how crimi- possible the tracking of not only the data, setting a higher legal to track criminal suspects. appliances and technology that is his cellphone carrier his past in December, liberal Justice So- nal law applies to new technol- Carpenter’s location but also hurdle than previously existed The ruling has no bearing on yet to be invented,” said Ameri- “cell site location information” nia Sotomayor, who joined Rob- ogy, each time ruling against law everyone else’s”. under federal law. “traditional surveillance tech- can Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) that tracks which cellphone tow- erts in the ruling, alluded to fears enforcement. A Justice Department spokes- The court said that obtaining niques” such as security cameras lawyer Nate Wessler, who repre- ers relay calls. of “Big Brother”, the all-seeing In 2014, it required police in woman declined to comment such data without a warrant from or on data collection for national sents Carpenter. His bid to suppress the evi- leader in George Orwell’s dysto- most instances to obtain a war- when contacted. wireless carriers, as police rou- security purposes, he added. “We decline to grant the state dence failed and he was convict- pian novel 1984. rant to search a cellphone’s con- There has been rising concern tinely do, amounted to an unrea- Roberts was joined by the unrestricted access to a wire- ed of six robbery counts. Conservative Justice Samuel tents when its user is arrested. over the surveillance practices of sonable search and seizure under court’s four liberal justices in the less carrier’s database of physical The big four wireless carriers Alito, a former prosecutor, said in In 2012, it decided a warrant is law enforcement and intelligence the US Constitution’s Fourth majority. location information,” Roberts – Verizon Communications In- a dissenting opinion that the rul- needed to place a GPS tracking agencies, and whether compa- Amendment. The court’s other four con- said. corporated, AT&T Incorporated, ing could do “far more harm than device on a vehicle. nies like wireless carriers care In the ruling written by con- servatives dissented. Roberts said that the ruling T-Mobile US Incorporated and good”. The US Justice Department ar- about customer privacy rights. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, June 23, 2018 ASIA Police in Lanka Vietnam arrests four oil seek villagers who clobbered executives in graft sweep leopard to death AFP Critics say Vietnam’s cam- nam Exploration Production said, adding the men would for embezzlement and economic Hanoi paign is driven by a desire for Corporation. remain in custody during the mismanagement last year. reform - and also by political probe. Former PVN executives have AFP Colombo on Thursday morn- infi ghting as communist lead- The communist State media said the men may also not been spared. Colombo ing, but they were beaten and ietnam has arrested four ers seek to tighten their grip on leadership has zeroed in have colluded with Ocean Bank Ex-chairman Dinh La Thang, chased away by the locals, senior oil executives on power. on state-run PetroVietnam - another target of the govern- who also served on Vietnam’s he said. Vallegations of abuse of The latest to be jailed include and its subsidiaries in a ment’s anti-graft sweep - to powerful Politburo, was con- ri Lankan authorities “Our offi cers were trying to power, in the latest arrests to Tu Thanh Nghia, former direc- massive anti-graft sweep pocket excessive interest pay- victed in two separate graft trials were seeking yester- tranquilise the animal and take target the country’s corruption- tor of Russia-Vietnam joint ven- that has already seen ments in a stitch-up with bank last year and sentenced to a total Sday nearly a dozen men it away, but the villagers did plagued energy sector. ture Vietsovpetro, and Vo Quang dozens jailed offi cials. of 31 years in jail. who beat a leopard to death not allow them to do their job The communist leadership Huy, a former chief accountant State media reported that He is currently appealing one after it strayed into a vil- and instead killed the leopard,” of Vietnam has zeroed in on the at the fi rm, according to a state- All four are accused of “abus- Ocean Bank paid the fi rms in- of the sentences after he lost his lage and attacked people, a the minister said. country’s largest oil fi rm, state- ment from the ministry of public ing power to appropriate prop- volved a total of $5.1mn in exces- fi rst appeal bid last month. minister said. He said 10 people injured by run PetroVietnam (PVN), and its security (MPS) late Thursday. erty,” the MPS statement said, sive interest payments between Vietnam has vowed to polish Wildlife Deputy Minis- the leopard had been admitted subsidiaries in a massive anti- The two others arrested are without giving further details 2010 and 2014. its tarnished reputation as one ter Palitha Thewarapperuma to a local hospital. graft sweep that has already seen Dinh Van Ngoc who used to run about the allegations. Dozens of Ocean Bank em- of Southeast Asia’s most cor- said police were deployed to Leopards are protected ani- dozens jailed. Binh Son Refi ning and Petro- “The case (will be investi- ployees have already been con- rupt countries. The anti-graft arrest those responsible for mals in Sri Lanka and they are The corruption crackdown chemical Company and Nguyen gated) under the direction of the victed for corruption, including campaign has shocked a coun- Thursday’s animal killing, also in the International Un- echoes a similar crackdown in Tuan Hung, the current chief central steering committee for former director Nguyen Xuan try unused to seeing high-fl ying which was captured on mobile ion of Conservation of Nature China. fi nancial offi cer of PetroViet- anti-corruption,” the statement Son who was sentenced to death executives publicly punished. phones and shared on social (IUCN) Red List of endangered media. animals. “It is sickening to see these Harming leopards in Sri images,” Thewarapperuma Lanka is punishable by jail told parliament. “We are tak- terms up to fi ve years. The ing action to arrest all those wild population of leopards on Hun Sen ‘fi nds recipe’ for responsible for this extreme the island is estimated at fewer cruelty.” than 1,000. Wildlife offi cials had been Six people were jailed in alerted to the leopard’s intru- March 2016 after posting victory in Cambodian poll sion into a village in Kilinoch- photos online showing them chi 330km (210 miles) north of skinning a sea eagle alive.

Reuters Nations peace deal in 1991. all such events. While the gifts Phnom Penh Kem Sokha, the leader of the Reuters saw being handed out main opposition Cambodia Na- were mostly modest, the lar- tional Rescue Party (CNRP), was gesse in total would be consider- renched in sweat and arrested in September for al- able if all the 540,000 garment Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen attends a rally with garment Cambodia sentences more than an hour into legedly treasonous remarks in a workers Hun Sen says he has ad- workers in Kandal province. Da speech urging 16,000 speech made four years earlier. dressed since last year received garment factory workers to vote Two months later, the CNRP some cash. the CNRP received more than of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Belgian for smuggling for the ruling party, Prime Min- was dissolved and almost 5,000 The National Election Com- 40% of the vote, refl ected two Penh, Hun Sen addressed a ister Hun Sen of Cambodia re- of its elected offi cials replaced mittee, which is supposed to fundamental shifts in Cambodi- crowd of mainly young and fe- vived the restless crowd by an- by members of the ruling be independent, has supported an society, said Caroline Hughes, male workers. As they sat in AFP Cambodian media said nouncing that everyone would Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). Hun Sen’s practices. an analyst at the University of tents emblazoned with slogans Phnom Penh the Belgian had told the receive a cash gift. Huy Vannak, undersecretary “As the head of the royal gov- Notre Dame. of the CPP, Hun Sen’s message court he was promised “Nephews and nieces, it is of state at the interior ministry, ernment, he has the right to or- The fi rst is the spread of the was that they had never had it $30,000 to smuggle the just a little,” he said as the au- defended the cash payments at ganise things in society,” said internet and social media; the so good. Cambodian court jailed drug into Cambodia by a dience cheered and applauded. rallies, saying “it’s government Hang Puthea, a spokesman for second, a bulging youth de- The minimum wage for facto- a Belgian man for life man in Brazil. “You each get 20,000 riels ($5) money”. A CPP spokesman, Sok the committee, when asked mographic with no memory of ry workers and civil servants had Ayesterday for smug- Catry, whose Facebook as a gift. For nieces who are Eysan, however, said the party about the cash handouts. the genocide and civil war that more than doubled since the last gling 1kg (2.2 lbs) of cocaine profi le says he lives in Phnom pregnant, you each get an extra did not hand out money. The CPP has also provided convulsed Cambodia for more election, he said, the dividend into the kingdom, a court Penh, reportedly travelled envelope.” Sophal Ear, a Cambodia ana- cash payments to members who than two decades. The younger of the CPP securing peace and offi cial said. from Brazil to Ethiopia, then Cambodians go to the polls lyst at Occidental College in Los make renewed pledges of al- generation is driven by economic stability. David Catry, 34, was arrest- to Thailand and onto Cambo- on July 29 and Hun Sen, who Angeles, said Hun Sen, spooked legiance to the party, accord- concerns, she said. “It’s good to hear what he has ed in January at Phnom Penh’s dia where he was arrested. has ruled Cambodia for more by recent election setbacks, has ing to a Voice of America report “They don’t work on the fam- to say, to know what’s happening airport with the contraband Cambodia has become a than 30 years, is trying to en- “stacked the deck” to ensure and copies of party documents ily farm like their parents. They with wages,” said Khom Siem, a in his suitcase, which he had popular smuggling route for sure victory after two close elec- victory. seen by Reuters. work in factories - either in pregnant factory worker clutch- carried from Brazil. narcotics, particularly meth- tions in 2013 and 2017 with cash “He determined that the only Almost 2mn of 5.3mn regis- Phnom Penh or maybe Thailand ing an envelope which she said He was found guilty of drug amphetamine and heroin, inducements and a series of way forward would be to retain tered CPP members didn’t vote or South Korea,” Hughes said. contained $200. smuggling, according to Y since neighbouring Thailand punishing measures against the power by any means necessary,” in the national election of 2013. “This is a generation that is say- “Under Hun Sen, it’s bet- Rin, a spokesman for Phnom toughened its stance on illegal opposition. Sophal Ear said in emailed com- The CPP spokesman, Sok Ey- ing ‘what have you done for us’.” ter. We have more benefi ts than Penh Municipal Court. drugs in the early 2000s. In doing so, according to ments. “He is setting the stage san, said the low turnout was Many factory workers joined before.” “The court sentenced the Cambodia has intensifi ed critics, he has delivered a ham- for whatever may happen next because many party members mass protests after the 2013 Other workers, who asked not Belgian man to life impris- its battle to control drugs in mer blow to Cambodia’s status but with him and his family in worked abroad. election amid claims of voting to be identifi ed, said variously onment,” and fi ned around recent years. as a liberal democracy, which control, always.” The close calls for the CPP in irregularities. that they had come for the mon- $20,000, Y Rin added. There have been hundreds is enshrined in the country’s At the rally, Hun Sen told the the 2013 national election and At the recent Hun Sen rally, ey, a day off work and because Catry’s lawyer could not be im- of arrests, some involving constitution forged by a United crowd he gave out cash gifts at local elections in 2017, in which outside a factory on the outskirts their boss had ordered them to. mediately reached for comment. senior offi cials and foreigners.

Rail link between Drugs confiscated Kathmandu and Infi nite possibilities Tibet planned China and Nepal have agreed to build a railway connecting Tibet in Maldives-China with Kathmandu, among a raft of deals signed during the Nepali prime minister’s visit to Beijing, reports said yesterday, AFP reports. relations: offi cial Nepal is seeking closer ties and much-needed energy and infrastructure investment from IANS for professional training last China, which has flexed greater Male year alone. economic and diplomatic muscle “In addition to the Chinese in its Himalayan neighbour in government scholarships, recent years. top Maldivian of- China Maldives Cultural As- Beijing’s growing presence fi cial has said that sociation and MCTCO, both has raised hackles in Nepal’s Athe island nation and registered NGOs in the Mal- traditional ally India. China have always enjoyed dives, are now working closely The two countries signed more a healthy, mutually benefi - with the Chinese side in pro- than 10 “cooperative documents” cial relationship, which has moting all kinds of exchange on Thursday during Prime reached to a historic level programs to strengthen peo- Minister K P Sharma Oli’s trip to over the past few years. ple to people relationships,” China, according to the China “In the future, with sky be- Midhuam said. Daily. ing the limit, infi nite possibil- The Maldives is a young The new rail route will link Nepal’s ities lie in the cooperation be- country, with the median age capital with the Gyirong trading tween the two countries,” vice less than 30 years old. port in the Tibetan city of Xigaze, president of Maldives-China By quoting legendary US according to the China Daily, citing Trade and Cultural Organiza- political activist Malcolm a Chinese vice foreign minister. tion (MCTCO) Midhuam Saud X’s saying “the future be- Indian media said the two sides told Xinhua news agency. longs to those who prepare signed eight agreements worth Midhuam said the Mal- for it today”, Midhuam called $2.4bn on Wednesday, with dives is co-operating with on the youths in the Mal- Chinese investors ploughing China in a wide range of dives to be ready for the op- money into developing platforms, from co-building portunities brought from the A Thai narcotics off icial checks boxes of confiscated drugs, which will be destroyed at the food and drug administration on coming hydroelectricity, water resources, the multi-national Belt and cooperation with China. Monday in Bangkok. cement factories, fruit cultivation Road Initiative, to joining “Economically, 35 per cent and farming. China-proposed fi nancial in- of the world growth from 2017 stitutes like the Asian Infra- to 2019 will come from China structure Investment Bank, according to statistics; envi- to several culture exchange ronmentally, China has prom- programmes. ised to achieve blue skies in all The co-operation between major cities, and China is al- Thai society ‘wrecked’ by ruling junta: rights lawyers the Maldives and China has ready equipped with state-of- yielded fruitful results and the-art solar energy technol- indeed brought benefi ts to ogy now. The rise of China is DPA political order and to do so through Soldiers have also been inte- More than 1,000 people have pects have not been provided the Maldivians, said the top dominating the world picture Bangkok legislation that will continue to grated in the national adminis- been summoned by the military with eff ective remedies,” the offi cial. today. have consequences for Thai society tration at all levels in all branches for so-called “attitude adjust- group added. “For instance, the China- “It is necessary that our long after the junta itself has with- of the government, according to ment” military detention for Initially promising to stay in Maldives Friendship Bridge youths understand the op- hai society has been drawn from offi ce,” Thai Lawyers the report. expressing disagreements with power for only one year, the jun- is realised under the Belt and portunities they get today “wrecked” by the ruling for Human Rights (TLHR) said as During the junta’s four-year the regime, with up to 378 people ta has postponed a general elec- Road Initiative; the ambitious through the Maldives, China Tmilitary government in they released a report. rule since it seized power in a prosecuted for violating the jun- tion at least four times. social housing project in the cooperation will help them to the four years since it came to Titled “Collapsed Rule of May 2014 coup, the human rights ta’s ban on political gatherings, The latest timeline called for Maldives’ Hulhumale island be well prepared for tomor- power, a group of human rights Law,” the group warned of long- situation in Thailand has dete- according to the group. a vote early next year, but that is realised under Chinese fi - row. The future does belong lawyers said yesterday. term consequences under Thai- riorated, as freedom of speech “To date, no independent, is uncertain due to the undeter- nance. And over 300 Maldivi- to those who prepare for it “The military government has set land’s second-longest military and rights to assembly have been impartial body has investigated mined coronation date for King an civil servants went to China today,” Midhuam added. out to establish its own version of dictatorship in history. suppressed, TLHR said. these allegations, while the sus- Maha Vajiralongkorn. Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018 7 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

NZ’s ‘prime miniature’ baby keeps Ardern busy

AFP well if not a bit tired” after Ard- maternity leave. Among the As well-wishes fl ooded social for men and women, this story; Auckland ern spent much of her fi rst night messages and parenting tips was media, the hashtag #PrimeM- a very human story.” as a mum feeding the newborn. sound advice from Canadian iniature fl ourished. “The term Ardern’s deputy Winston Pe- “The nurses described the child Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Prime Miniature is just too per- ters is now acting prime minis- ew Zealand leader Jacin- as ‘very alert and one hungry “Welcome to the won- fect. please can we call her noth- ter, although she will continue da Ardern will spend a baby’,” the spokesman added. derful world of parenting @ ing else?” a person called Nic to be consulted on signifi cant is- Nsecond night in hospital The baby, whose name has yet jacindaardern & Clarke. Pro tip, tweeted. sues. The birth capped an event- with her “very alert and hungry” to be released, arrived Thursday Jacinda: Briefi ng notes make “Dear world, NZ really isn’t ful year for Ardern who became newborn daughter who Twitter afternoon, weighing 3.3kg and excellent bedtime stories,” Tru- into all this ‘#FirstFamily’ elitist prime minister last October, wags have dubbed the “prime with the proud parents using deau tweeted. nonsense. Instead, all 4.7mn of three months after inheriting miniature”. social media to make the an- The birth has dominated us are now honorary aunts and the leadership of the Labour Ardern and her partner Clarke nouncement. headlines, with New Zealand uncles to the new #PrimeMinia- Party when it was languishing Gayford have been swamped “Welcome to our village wee opposition leader Simon Bridg- ture. It’s the #kiwi way. It’s just in the polls. The baby girl shares with congratulatory messages one,” Ardern, 37, wrote on Insta- es — while passing on his best how we roll,” added 2Covet. the same birth date as former from around the globe, includ- gram. “Thank you so much for wishes — noting that he was now Former New Zealand prime Pakistani prime minister Bena- ing a private e-mail from Brit- your best wishes and your kind- in a “complete news vacuum”. minister Helen Clark believed zir Bhutto, who in 1990 became ain’s Queen Elizabeth II. ness. We’re all doing really well New Zealand media have dis- Ardern and Gayford had sent a the fi rst head of government to But after becoming only the thanks to the wonderful team at sected every aspect of the birth signifi cant message to the world, have a child while in offi ce. second world leader to give birth Auckland City Hospital.” with headlines ranging from particularly with Gayford being Her daughter Bakhtawar while in offi ce, she is now fac- It is the fi rst child for the “First Baby and politics: What a stay-at-home dad. “I think Bhutto-Zardari, now 28, tweet- ing the realities of motherhood prime minister and her 40-year- the PM will want to avoid”, to this is why it’s caught the im- ed “congratulations” to Ardern which has seen plans for a public old partner, a television fi shing “Revealed. Where PM’s fi rst agination, in New Zealand, and and shared a link to a news sto- appearance with her baby can- personality who will become a baby’s hat, blanket came from” globally. Clark said. ry on how the Pakistani leader celled twice. A spokesman for stay-at-home dad when Ardern and “Birth a ‘modern family’ “It’s inspirational for younger showed it was possible to be a Ardern with her midwife Libby (right) posing with Ardern’s newborn her offi ce said “everyone is doing returns to work after six weeks’ story”. women and men ... It’s a story mother and a prime minister. baby girl, born at Auckland City Hospital on Thursday.

New East Timor PM pledges to bring unity after political Ferry disaster: Indonesian deadlock Former East Timor independ- ence fighter Jose Maria de Vasconcelos was sworn in as prime minister yesterday and pledged to bring unity to the tiny Southeast Asian rescuers face daunting task nation after months of political deadlock. President Francisco Reuters not the fi rst underwater recov- Guterres dissolved parliament Tigaras, Indonesia ery Indonesia has undertaken in in January after former Prime recent years. Minister Mari Alkatiri’s minority In 2014, an AirAsia fl ight car- government faced a legislative ndonesian teams searching rying 162 people crashed in the stalemate. De Vasconcelos, a lake for a sunken ferry in Java Sea. But the plane was in known as Taur Matan Ruak, Ithe hope of recovering nearly water only about 50m deep. It which means Two Sharp 200 bodies trapped inside have was found within days. Suryo Eyes, is a former president. He to contend with dangerous cur- said even if the boat is found, it belongs to a three-party coali- rents and cold, murky water far would be impossible to recover tion, the Alliance of Change deeper than any scuba diver can the bodies without raising the for Progress (AMP), that won ever go. vessel. 34 of the 65 seats up for The over-loaded ferry ‘Sinar Recovery experts hope to fi nd grabs in May’s parliamen- Bangun’ sank in bad weather in the boat with a sonar scanning tary election, the fifth since Lake Toba on Sumatra island on device which is able to scour the independence from Indonesia Monday. The lake, in the crater bottom at depths of up to 600m. in 2002. During his swearing- of an ancient supervolcano, is “Once we’ve got the suspected in at a restored presidential ringed by steeply sloping moun- position and depth, Basarnas palace built during Portuguese tains, and is about 450m deep. will decide what to do next,” said colonial rule, he promised to Three people have been con- Ari Wibowo, an offi cial with the “dedicate all my energies and fi rmed dead and 18 people were Indonesian navy’s hydrology knowledge to the defence and rescued after the 15-tonne and oceanography centre. consolidation of independ- wooden boat went down in In- But bringing up the boat will ence and national unity”. But donesia’s deadliest ferry disaster be a huge, expensive job requir- illustrating challenges to form- for nearly a decade. ing heavy lifting equipment and ing a stable new government, Some 192 people are missing, technical expertise. “They could Guterres a day earlier had most believed trapped inside the locate it within days but it’s the rejected eight of the ministers boat as it slipped beneath the recovery that is the real diffi cul- put forward by Ruak because waves. Indonesia’s search and ty,” said David Mearns, a Brit- of corruption investigations. rescue agency (Basarnas) has ish-based search and recovery A 2017 parliamentary election sent divers out onto the lake but expert who likened Lake Toba to produced no clear winner, with there’s little they can do, going “an inland sea”. Alkatiri’s Fretilin party winning down a maximum of only about Navy diver Koko Hadi Wi- just 0.2% more votes than 40m (130ft). ratama, 27, said going down in Rescue team members during an operation, as relatives of the missing passengers after a ferry sank earlier this week in Lake Toba, are waiting CNRT, and forming a minority Underwater drones and sonar the high-altitude, fresh-water at Tigaras port in Simalungun, North Sumatra. government in the country of devices have also been brought lake was complicated by strong 1.2mn people. Guterres said the in but they’ve found no trace of currents and waves that pushed oxygen tank would only allow a used to the sea. “It’s heavier ferry accidents - including one “We’re exhausted waiting political deadlock had created the boat on the bottom of a lake around the dinghies divers are 17-minute dive. when we want to ascend, it feels in 1997 when about 100 people here, and disappointed,” he said. “fear and uncertainty” and that has never been properly tethered to. Objects are less buoyant in heavy,” Wiratama said. were killed. Relatives of the vic- “This hasn’t happened the way the new government needed surveyed. “If there was data on “It’s dark. We can only com- fresh water, compared with salt The lake fi lls a caldera left tims can only wait, their frus- we’d hoped.” Suryo and his team to use its mandate to “boost the depth of Lake Toba it would municate by direct contact water, meaning bodies or de- after one of the world’s biggest tration growing. “The search are determined to do all they can national development, living make this easier. We have to between divers’ bodies,” he bris would not fl oat as easily, he known volcanic eruptions, some eff ort is still half-hearted,” said to fi nd the boat and ensure vic- conditions in the communities guess,” said Basarnas operations said after diving to a depth of said, adding that the fresh water 75,000 years ago. The tourist Fernando Nainggolan, 22, whose tims get a proper burial. “We throughout the country and director Bambang Suryo. This is about 30m, adding that one seemed to weigh on divers more destination has seen a string of parents and uncle are missing. will not give up,” he said. develop our economy”.

Jury fails to agree on Melbourne car attacker’s fitness for trial

An Australian jury deciding ed murder after allegedly running from a comet. The 12-person jury am not surprised the jury strug- Koreas to hold reunions for whether the Melbourne man who down pedestrians in Melbourne’s deliberated for three days after gled to reach a decision,” he said. allegedly killed six people in a car crowded Bourke Street in January hearing expert evidence. Judge Medical experts who testified in rampage last year is fit to stand 2017. Lex Lasry discharged them with- the case were divided over the trial, was discharged yesterday Gargasoulas’ defence lawyers out a verdict yesterday because question of Gargasoulas’s fitness. war-separated kin in August after it failed to reach a decision. have argued he is mentally unfit they could not reach a unanimous Gargasoulas was driving errati- James Gargasoulas, 28, is facing to stand trial since he is “pro- decision. cally in a stolen car after stabbing an investigation hearing at the foundly psychotic,” suff ering from “It is unfortunate we have got to this his own brother and was being AFP Melbourne Supreme Court. delusions due to schizophrenia, stage as it means the matter has to pursued by police through Mel- Seoul He is charged with six counts of and he believed that he is the run again,” Lasry told the jurors. bourne when he entered the busy murder and 28 counts of attempt- “messiah” sent to save the world “Having heard all the evidence, I shopping area at a great speed.

orth and South Ko- rea agreed yesterday Nto resume reunions for families separated by the Ko- Graduation ceremony rean War in August – the fi rst such meetings since 2015 and the latest step in a remarkable diplomatic thaw on the penin- sula. Millions of people were separated during the 1950-53 confl ict that sealed the division of the two Koreas. Most died without the South Korea’s chief delegate Park Kyung-seo (right) shaking chance to see or hear from their hands with his North Korean counterpart Pak Yong-il before relatives on the other side of the the inter-Korean Red Cross talks at North Korea’s scenic Mount border, across which all civilian Kumgang resort. communication is banned. The resumption of the reunions was Kumgang resort — the venue of gan in earnest after a historic among the agreements reached the reunions — from next week inter-Korean summit in 2000 between North Korean leader and the two sides will exchange and the reunions were initially Kim Jong-un and the South’s their fi nal lists of participants held annually, but strained president Moon Jae-in at their by August 4, it added. cross-border relations have landmark summit in April. Only about 57,000 people re- made them rare. Offi cials from both sides met main alive who are registered North Korea has a lengthy at the North’s scenic Mount with the South Korean Red Cross track record of manipulating the Kumgang resort yesterday to meet their separated relatives, issue of divided families for po- and set a date for late August. and most are aged over 70. litical purposes, refusing pro- “The reunion will be held from For the lucky few chosen posals for regular reunions and August 20 to 26 and 100 par- to take part, the experience cancelling scheduled events at ticipants will be selected from is often hugely emotional, as the last minute. Pyongyang has each side,” said a joint Seoul- they are given just three days previously said it will not agree Pyongyang statement released to make up for decades of time to family reunions unless Seoul by the South’s unifi cation min- apart, followed by another sep- returns several of its citizens, istry. aration at the end — in all likeli- including a group of waitresses South Korean offi cials will hood permanent. who defected from a restaurant Students wearing academic gowns attend their graduation ceremony at Wuhan University in Hubei province, China. begin inspections of the Mount The reunion programme be- in China. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, June 23, 2018 BRITAIN

EVENT LAW AND ORDER MEMORABILIA MOTORING SCANDAL Man claiming to have bomb Lord Nelson’s watch seen Speeding driver clocked Ex-television presenter at rail station arrested selling for £450,000 at 212km/h near Bedford cleared of sexual assault

Commuters suffered travel chaos yesterday The watch that kept time for Admiral Lord Nelson A speeding motorist was clocked at an Former television presenter John Leslie has morning after a man climbed on to rail tracks during the Battle of Trafalgar, and was then taken “unbelievable” 212km/h, police have said. The been cleared of sexually assaulting a woman and claimed he had a bomb. Charing Cross from his pocket on his flagship Victory after a Ford Focus driver was stopped on a section of the who was celebrating her hen night in Edinburgh. station was evacuated and train services French sniper’s bullet pierced his shoulder and A421 near Bedford at about 21.10BST on Thursday. The 53-year-old denied the allegation and after suspended as the man clambered down on to shattered his spine, is coming up for auction after Police posted an image of the speed gun display a two-day trial a sheriff found the case against the Underground line. Armed counter-terrorist centuries of being kept in private collections. The on Twitter after the man was arrested. Off icers said him not proven. Leslie told Edinburgh Sheriff teams raced to the scene and passengers were watch is a valuable object in its own right, made it was a “miracle” the motorist, who was initially Court he had acted like a perfect gentlemen. told to “move away” as the station was put by Josiah Emery, one of the most renowned found to be over the legal alcohol limit, “didn’t kill Giving evidence at Edinburgh Sheriff Court into lockdown. British Transport Police said watchmakers of Georgian England. It is estimated himself or someone else”. Once in custody, off icers under his real name John Stott, he had described they had detained a 38-year-old man under to fetch up to £450,000 when sold by Sotheby’s said, he was found to be under the limit, but will dancing with the woman. He said he then made Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond the Mental Health Act in connection with the on July 4. The watch was among Nelson’s most face action for a speeding off ence. The road his excuses and wished her well when the song listens to the governor of the Bank of England incident. A spokesman said: “He was searched intimate possessions, taken for safekeeping when policing unit’s Twitter post about the arrest drew a finished. He told the court that half an hour later Mark Carney’s speech at the Annual Mansion by specialist officers and no bomb or weapon his uniform was stripped off below deck as the number of responses from members of the public a nightclub steward told him an allegation had House dinner in London. was found.” ship surgeons attempted in vain to save his life. shocked at the driver’s speed. been made against him. Glasgow School Royal couple visit Salisbury of Art survey delayed over safety fears

Guardian news and Media up close,” he said. “However, it will Glasgow be at least the early part of next week before we are able to do that.” Jane Sutherland, the chair of the oncerns about the safety of Garnethill community council, the surviving shell of Glas- said many displaced residents, a Cgow School of Art’s Mack- mix of private owners and hous- intosh building, which was gutted ing association tenants, had been by fi re last Friday, have delayed staying on friends’ sofas as they a full survey of the damage until waited for further information. next week. “People are very upset about Following complaints from lo- the inconsistency that members cal residents and business owners of the art school board are allowed about slow progress, Glasgow city in to have their photographs taken Prince Charles and his wife Camilla visited Salisbury yesterday to support the city as it tries to recover from the impact of this year’s poison attack on a former Russian council’s head of building control, next to the building, but they can’t double agent and his daughter. They visited businesses and met local residents before attending a reception for those most closely involved in trying to restore the city’s Raymond Barlow, warned there even get fi ve minutes in their own tourist trade. Visitor numbers have fallen since Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a bench in March. They had been poisoned with a Cold War was still a chance parts of the fi re- homes to collect their hearing era nerve agent for which the government blamed Russia, plunging bilateral relations to a new low, although the Kremlin denied any involvement. damaged stonework could fall into aids,” Sutherland said. the street. While Charing Cross housing But about 40 households in the association has off ered its tenants surrounding Garnethill area who places at a nearby hotel, others remain displaced following the were provided with rooms at a lo- blaze say they are frustrated by cal homeless hostel which they felt the lack of access to their homes was unsuitable. to collect essential items and the “It’s great that the building is poor standard of alternative ac- going to be saved,” said Suther- commodation they have been of- land, “but people need informa- fered. tion about whether they need to High Court refuses bid for Barlow said: “I fully under- be rehoused, and access to their stand people’s desire to get back homes at least briefl y to pick up into their property and if we could essentials.” safely do anything to facilitate that She mentioned one student who then we would. had been due to fl y home to the US “However, surveys in recent yesterday but could not collect her days have shown us that the west passport, and self-employed peo- gender-neutral passports and east elevations remain of ple with no access to their work signifi cant concern. This means tools, as well as others who went Guardian News and Media people suff er discrimination fi ce policy breaches the right to Article 8 – the right to respect undertaken without any undue that there is a risk that parts of out on Friday night dressed in par- London and are being deprived of their respect for private life, and the for private life – it was justifi ed delay.” the building might fall into Scott ty clothes to celebrate Eid and had “legitimate identity”. right not to be discriminated by the need to “maintain an ad- Elan-Cane said: “I am bit- Street or Dalhousie Street. This nothing else to wear for a week. UK passports restrict sex against on the basis of gen- ministratively coherent system terly disappointed that my case could happen without warning.” The cordon around the site was quality campaigner designations to male or female. der or sex, under the European for the recognition of gender”, to for the judicial review of the He urged the public to stay away scaled back on Thursday, although Christie Elan-Cane has Ten countries permit their citi- convention on human rights maintain security and to combat government’s discriminatory from the site, following reports of some local people are still un- Elost a high court challenge zens to opt for a third category, (ECHR). identity theft and fraud, and “to passport policy was not upheld. people breaching the cordon. Po- able to return to their homes and against the government’s refus- X, or unknown. She said: “For the claimant, ensure security at national bor- Not just for myself but for eve- lice Scotland are investigating re- premises, raising concerns about al to issue gender-neutral, or X, Canada was the most recent obtaining and using a passport ders”. ryone who is compromised by ports of a break-in on Thursday at the impact on business after the passports. to off er its citizens gender-neu- currently involves making a In his decision, Baker said: this policy. Campus bar on Sauchiehall Street, second fi re to aff ect this stretch of Justice Jeremy Baker upheld tral passports. Other countries false declaration as to the nature “The government is currently “The UK’s passport applica- which was also aff ected by the fi re. Sauchiehall Street since March. Home Offi ce policy after the that allow a third option are of the claimant’s gender iden- collecting and collating research tion process requires applicants Barlow said he was working Council advisers and social court was told it would aff ect Australia, Denmark, Germany, tity, which causes the claimant material with a view to under- to declare whether they are male with colleagues on a plan to allow workers are based in the nearby other legislation, cost too much Malta, New Zealand, Pakistan, considerable distress.” taking a comprehensive review or female. It is inappropriate and a full examination of the remain- Glasgow dental hospital to off er to change computer records and India, Ireland and Nepal. X Sir James Eadie QC, on behalf of the issues both surrounding wrong that someone who defi nes ing structure. advice to those directly aff ected by increase the need for consular passports are approved by the of the home secretary, submit- and those raised directly by the as neither should be forced to “Working with the Glasgow the fi re. support abroad for gender-neu- ICAO, the UN agency that regu- ted that the policy did not in- claimant in this case … (Elan- make that declaration.” School of Art and Historic Envi- Glasgow School of Art would tral British citizens. lates international air travel. terfere with rights under the Cane) will be entitled to scruti- Elan-Cane, who was repre- ronment Scotland, we are cur- not comment on reports that a Elan-Cane, who has pursued During the hearing, Kate ECHR. nise with care the results of the sented pro-bono by the law fi rm rently devising a methodology to series of plaster casts of famous the issue for more than 25 years, Gallafent QC, for Elan-Cane, He argued that if the policy government’s current review, Cliff ord Chance, is considering allow us to examine the building statues had been lost in the blaze. has claimed that non-gendered argued that HM Passport Of- constituted an interference with which will be required to be whether or not to appeal. Service held to celebrate Woman who attacked Uber driver spared jail

Windrush anniversary London Evening Standard to pay Ahmed £1,500 in compen- London sation between them. Sentencing them, judge Jer- AFP bered each day on June 22 with which also left him unable to work emy Donne QC told the pair: “I London Windrush Day, and yesterday — “broke the trust that I thought I n Uber passenger who don’t think either of you went praised their “enormous contri- had with the British”. May apolo- beat up her driver when out that evening to beat up a taxi bution”. gised and promised compensation Ahe accidentally drove off driver, but beat up a taxi driver is ritain yesterday celebrated “Our culture has been enriched for those aff ected, as well as an in- with her handbag sobbed in the exactly what you did.” the “enormous contribu- and our society has been made quiry. dock as she was spared jail. He said Johnson, who has Btion” of its Caribbean mi- stronger because of the people “The fact that Britain has al- Charlotte Johnson, 20, fl ew a personality disorder, had a grants, who for a long time were who travelled here to build new ways been home makes the treat- into a rage when driver Hussein “short fuse” and had attacked airbrushed from history while lives in the UK,” she said. ment that some members of the Ahmed left with her handbag the driver because she wrongly some were even recently threat- But Britain has not always been Windrush generation experienced sitting on the back seat of the car, believed he had driven away with ened with deportation. so warm towards its former co- in recent years so very wrong,” she as she popped into a shop. her handbag deliberately. Prime Minister Theresa May lonial subjects. Intense racism said yesterday. Enlisting her friend Ioan Pal, “You having attacked him, Pal attended a service at Westminster marred the experience of many of Sunder Katwala, director of the 23, to help track down the car us- got involved and I’m entirely sat- Abbey marking 70 years since the the new arrivals, while the govern- integration think tank British Fu- ing an app on her mobile phone, isfi ed it was as a result of a punch fi rst arrivals embarked from the ment was rocked by a scandal ear- ture, said holding an annual Win- Johnson eventually caught thrown by Pal that the Uber driv- Empire Windrush ship at Tilbury lier this year over their continued drush day was “very welcome”. up with Ahmed’s minicab in er received a fracture to the cor- docks, east of London. right to live in Britain. “This was a positive, symbolic Streatham. ner of his right eye.” Most of those who arrived on Some people who failed to get way to respond to that (scandal) Inner London crown court The court heard Ahmed was June 22, 1948, were from Jamai- their papers in order at the time and say that the government also heard Somali-born Ahmed, left with blood running from his ca, but also Bermuda and British have fallen foul of a crackdown on thinks we should mark the positive who speaks little English, had nose and mouth after the attack, Guiana, answering a call for work- illegal immigration, which May contribution the migration has not been aware that he still had on the evening of January 10 last ers to help rebuild Britain after introduced when she was interior made to Britain,” he said. Johnson’s bag on the back seat. year, and needed surgery to re- World War II. minister. When the Windrush arrived, She lost her temper and be- pair the damage to his face. Tens of thousands followed Anthony Bryan, a 60-year- the Evening Standard newspaper gan to attack him, at which point Johnson, from Carshalton, from around the British empire, old decorator from London who in London — where the majority Pal punched Ahmed in the face, was arrested after police linked known as the Windrush genera- moved from Jamaica when he was of new migrants settled — greeted leaving the driver with a fracture the booking of the Uber to her tion and given free rights to live eight years old, was among those them with the headline “Welcome eye socket and cheekbone. phone. and work in a country they already who was threatened with deporta- Home”. Many had served in the Both Johnson and Pal denied She wiped away tears in the considered home. tion. British army, and in that year, par- Prime Minister Theresa May leaves after attending a service to the attack at trial, but were both dock as the judge sentenced her May’s government this week He said earlier this year how liament adopted a law giving citi- mark the 70th anniversary of the landing of the Windrush, at convicted of infl icting grievous to a nine-month prison sentence declared they would be remem- the challenge to his legal status — zenship to all its colonial subjects. Westminster Abbey yesterday. bodily harm. They were ordered suspended for 18 months. Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018 9 EUROPE Germany’s SPD eyeing new elections amid govt crisis, say sources

DPA were about potential dates for Speculation is rife that the He noted that a democratically those who want a strong state, last until the next election in grants with EU partners, he will Berlin the poll. stand-off could result in a split legitimate force – the Alternative protection for Europe and those 2021. close national borders to certain They also looked at drawing up between the allies. for Germany (AfD) – had arisen for whom their own cultural Forty-three per cent of re- groups of asylum seekers. candidate lists and a party pro- Writing in the national daily to the right of the CDU/CSU al- identity is dear to them”, Soeder spondents to the survey said The chancellor argues that ermany’s Social Demo- gramme, and organising an ex- Die Welt yesterday, Bavaria’s CSU liance for the fi rst time in mod- wrote. that Merkel should make way for unilateral decisions could cre- crats (SPD), just 100 days traordinary party conference, the prime minister, Markus Soeder, ern German politics, securing A YouGov poll released yester- a successor, while roughly the ate bottlenecks, thereby inviting Ginto their third coalition sources confi rmed. warned that the country was “at 12.6% of the vote at the Septem- day showed that nearly one-third same percentage (42%) said she tensions with Germany’s neigh- government with Chancellor An- Merkel’s Christian Democratic the crossroads” over the migra- ber elections to become the third of Germans surveyed (32%) be- should remain in offi ce. bours and undermining EU soli- gela Merkel’s conservatives, have Union (CDU) and its Bavarian tion question. force behind the CDU/CSU and lieve that the dispute could un- Fifteen per cent declined to re- darity. conducted meetings to talk about sister party, the Christian So- Soeder, also marking his fi rst the SPD. seat Merkel’s government, which spond to the question. The YouGov market research the prospect of snap elections, cial Union (CSU), are locked in a 100 days in offi ce, repeated stri- The CDU/CSU had to answer is made up of the CDU, the CSU Merkel’s interior minister, fi rm surveyed a representative party sources have told DPA. bitter dispute about how to deal dent criticism of Chancellor An- the key question whether it had and the SPD. CSU chairman Horst Seehofer, sample of 2,053 people during a The meetings, chaired by SPD with migrants at the German gela Merkel’s open-doors immi- the strength “to make a lasting Some 31% of respondents said has warned that, unless she fi nds three-day period ending on June general secretary Lars Klingbeil, border. gration policy in 2015. off er to those who are unsettled, they believed the coalition would a way to stem the infl ux of mi- 21.

Italy turns away new migrant Turkish rivals hold rallies rescue vessel before Sunday’s elections

DPA DPA Rome Istanbul

ship carrying more than ecep Tayyip Erdogan re- 200 migrants is being turned to his roots in the Ablocked from entering Rworking-class Istanbul Italian waters, the second time district of Kasimpasa yesterday, in two weeks that a new anti- capping a day of seven campaign immigrant government in Rome rallies with a nod to his humble has turned away a vessel carry- beginnings as he battles for Tur- ing people rescued from drown- key’s presidency. ing in the Mediterranean. “I am from Kasimpasa. I was The vessel – named Lifeline born here, raised here,” the and operated by the German aid Turkish president told tens of group Mission Lifeline – is cur- thousands of supporters in the rently in Maltese waters with 224 district where, as a boy, he sold people on board whom its crew water and simit – a kind of ses- pulled from the Mediterranean. ame pretzel – on the streets to Italian Interior Minister Mat- help support his family. Erdogan addressing his supporters in Istanbul yesterday. teo Salvini has indicated that the Turkey holds simultaneous ship may not dock in Italy and presidential and parliamentary in 2014 – and won in the coun- tifully switching coverage away that Malta should take it in. elections tomorrow for the fi rst try’s fi rst direct election for that from a major rally in Izmir by his Last week, he refused to al- time in its history. role. main challenger Muharrem Ince low the Aquarius, a ship that had Under election rules, cam- While he’s going into tomor- of the main opposition Republi- picked up hundreds, to dock. paigning is banned after 6pm row’s elections as the clear fa- can People’s Party (CHP). It eventually went to Spain. (1500 GMT) today. vourite for the presidency, he’s “Shame on you! Shameless In a video posted to Facebook Erdogan is seeking to extend no longer a shoo-in, and it re- people!” Ince tweeted, reacting Supporters of Turkish President on Thursday, he criticised Mis- his more than 15-year rule in the mains to be seen if he can avoid to state broadcaster TRT for not Erdogan attend his rally in sion Lifeline for not heeding the face of unprecedented challeng- a run-off . airing his address. Istanbul yesterday. instructions of Italian or Libyan es from a boisterous opposition. Earlier, in his fi rst campaign Ince, a former physics teacher, authorities. “Your brother, right now, is speech in Kartal, a district on has energised the opposition on – where he landed the previous “They risk the lives of the mi- one of the longest-serving lead- the Asian side of Istanbul along the campaign trail with pledges night. grants on the dinghy, refuse to ers at the UN General Assembly. the Marmara Sea coast, the to end what he calls “one-man It is major construction listen to Italian and Libyan au- Yes, a long time,” Erdogan said of president touted his adminis- rule” in fi ery speeches, using the projects such as these – airports, thorities and intervene so they his time in offi ce. “We have Mr tration’s development schemes same language as Erdogan. stadiums, hospitals, canals and can load this valuable cargo of Putin along with me.” and vowed to open one of his pet He tweeted that 3mn peo- schools – that he repeatedly humans – of human fl esh – on In May, Vladimir Putin was projects there – a free tea and ple attended his rally in Izmir, a cites among the long list of his board,” Salvini said. sworn in for his fourth term as coff ee house. stronghold of the secular CHP government’s accomplishments. The UN refugee agency UN- Russia’s president. “We have one day left, are we on the Aegean coast. The yet-unnamed airport is HCR said on Thursday that 220 He had already been in power ready to go from door to door?” While there were no offi cial set to open in 2023, and Erdogan people had drowned off the coast for 18 years and side-stepped Erdogan urged the crowd, calling fi gures, several newspapers said said it would aim to become the of Libya in recent days while at- a constitutional ban on serv- out especially to the women and more than 2mn people attended world’s top facility with 105mn tempting to cross the Mediterra- ing more than two consecutive youth. Thursday’s rally. passengers. nean to Europe. presidential terms by becoming “I trust in my people, I love State-run news agency Ana- “Why shouldn’t it be named The fi gure was a “conservative prime minister between 2004 my people. My people will give dolu did not provide statistics. after Recep Tayip Erdogan?” estimate”, UN spokesman Wil- and 2008. them [opposition] the necessary Both Ince and Erdogan will Transportation Minister Ahmet The CHP’s Ince, with his wife Ulku, gestures during an election rally liam Spindler said in Geneva. Erdogan – who became Istan- answer on Sunday,” the presi- hold fi nal rallies in Istanbul to- Arslan told Anadolu in an in- in Ankara. German rescue organisation bul mayor in 1994 – was prime dent added. day. terview yesterday, adding that Sea-Eye responded to the news minister from 2003 until 2014. Erdogan touched down at In Istanbul’s Maltepe area in the president would decide the urk, the founder of the modern, erful presidential system, fol- on its Twitter feed, writing: “220 When he could not contest a Istanbul’s new airport late on his second appearance yester- name. secular Turkish republic. lowing a constitutional referen- people die within three days and fourth time in line with his par- Thursday amid much fanfare, day, Erdogan praised the unfi n- Istanbul’s main airport is Tomorrow’s elections will dum in April 2017 that Erdogan Matteo Salvini is talking about ty’s statutes, he ran for president with Turkey’s broadcasters du- ished airport – the city’s third named for Mustafa Kemal Atat- propel Turkey into an all-pow- narrowly won. ‘human fl esh.’ #horrifi c.” The new Italian government has intensifi ed existing Italian complaints that the country is taking in more than its fair share of refugees thanks to the number Release of ‘Wolf Pack’ members sparks protests in Spain of people fl eeing Africa by boat in recent months, many of them heading to Italy, one of the clos- Reuters A court in the northern region ed: “If they don’t kill us, we are pay €6,000 ($7,000) bail, report est points in Europe to their Madrid of Navarra decided to free the invisible.” to police three times a week and starting point in Libya. men after two years in custody, Images of the fi ve, in the white relinquish their passports. Salvini’s anti-immigrant while they await a fi nal sen- T-shirts and red scarves of the New Socialist Prime Minister League party is one of two coali- ive men convicted of sex- tence, arguing that there was San Fermin festival in Pamplo- Pedro Sanchez has promised to tion partners in the new govern- ually assaulting a young little chance of repeat off ences. na, have been splashed across provide training for judges in ment. Fwoman at the Pamplona Two years tends to be the lim- newspapers and websites. gender equality, one of a series He has argued that other bull running festival in 2016 it for provisional imprisonment The convicts’ loss of ano- of socially liberal projects for countries need to do take in more were released on bail yesterday, in Spain. nymity makes the risk of repeat which he is likely to get parlia- refugees and that those picked re-igniting outrage over the case Following the court ruling, a off ences “all but unthinkable”, mentary support despite head- up should be diverted to other which has led to mass protests crowd fi lled Pamplona’s central the court said in a statement. ing a minority government. countries. calling for tougher punishment square on Thursday evening and The state prosecutor had The release of the fi ve raised of sex crimes. marched through the streets originally asked for sentences concern across the political The men, who joked about with a banner proclaiming: “We of more than 20 years each for spectrum. Marine Le Pen’s the assault in a WhatsApp group women believe you” – a phrase rape, which in Spain requires a “I respect judicial decisions, called “The Wolf Pack”, were that has become as widely rec- plaintiff to present evidence of but as a woman I am very wor- niece opens school cleared of rape but convicted of ognised in Spain as the #MeToo specifi c violence, such as being ried to know (the Wolf Pack) are A woman holds a placard with an ironic statement which translates the lesser crime of sexual abuse label to denounce sexual harass- threatened with a knife or dealt out in the street,” Ines Arrima- The niece of far-right leader as ‘look how beautiful my gang’ as another one holds a placard in April. ment in the United States. physical blows. das, a prominent deputy from Marine Le Pen has launched a displaying pictures of the five defendants during a protest in Both the perpetrators and the Protests were held yesterday All fi ve, who are from the centre-right Ciudadanos party, political academy that she hopes Valencia, after a court ordered the release on bail of the five, who victim are appealing the nine- outside the justice ministry in southern city of Seville and in- tweeted. “Let’s agree to revise will serve as a “finishing school” were sentenced to nine years in prison for sexually abusing a woman year prison sentences, meaning Madrid and other cities. clude a former police offi cer and our penal system to try to avoid for would-be luminaries on at Pamplona’s bull-running festival in 2016. the convictions are not fi nal. In Madrid, protesters chant- a former soldier, were ordered to these situations.” France’s right-wing, but denied she was plotting a political comeback. Marion Marechal withdrew from party politics after her aunt’s defeat in last year’s presidential Governments must crack down on organ traffi cking: expert election but remains hugely popular among the rank and file of the National Front party, now Reuters Only a handful of countries, organised by the Global Sus- has spread from mainly South Delmonico said that the illicit forms of slavery” and a crime rebranded as National Rally. Vatican City including the United States, tainability Network (GSN). “At and Southeast Asian countries nature of the organ traffi cking against humanity. “This is not a political project, Spain and Sweden, have dedi- the moment, this transparency to Latin America, North Africa trade made it diffi cult to meas- Delmonico also called on the this school is not aff iliated to any cated laws on organ donation, doesn’t exist.” and other regions that are af- ure its impact, but that global US State Department to include political party, nor will it be the overnments around the according to Francis Delmonico, Organ transplants save thou- fl icted by poverty and political inequality made the poor “ripe the illicit practice in its annual lapdog of any political party,” said world need to do more who is also a professor of surgery sands of lives every year, but instability, according to a 2015 for exploitation”. Traffi cking in Human Persons Marechal, who previously went Gto stop thousands of or- at Harvard Medical School. experts say that demand far document for the European Par- “It’s a social injustice issue,” Report, which ranks countries by the surname Marechal-Le Pen, gans being traffi cked every year, “In the transplantation outstrips supply, creating illicit liament. he said. “Who are getting (or- on their anti-human traffi cking but has dropped Le Pen. including strengthening legis- sphere, governments should be markets and “transplant tour- It said a WHO 2007 estimate gans)? People who are rich! Who eff orts. The photogenic 28-year-old is lation and improving regula- monitoring who are the donors, ists” who travel to countries to found around 5-10% of all kid- is providing this? People who are “Please don’t exclude organ viewed by many as a possible tion of hospitals, an adviser to who can be the recipients,” Del- have operations they cannot get ney and liver transplants per- poor and dying.” traffi cking. They should see it, future leader of the French far- the World Health Organisation monico told the Thomson Reu- at home. formed globally are conducted In 2016, Pope Francis called just as the Pope said, as a human right. (WHO) said yesterday. ters Foundation at a conference Since 2000, organ traffi cking with illicitly obtained organs. organ traffi cking one of the “new slavery problem,” he said. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, June 23, 2018 INDIA

LEGAL MILITANCY PEOPLE INDUSTRIAL ACTION DECISION ED seeks fugitive Four IS militants among six ‘Heartbroken’ Messi fan Truckers’ association Goa beaches set off ender tag for Mallya killed in Kashmir gunfight missing, suicide note found calls off strike for now up ‘no selfie’ zones

The enforcement directorate (ED) yesterday In the first gunfight with security forces after Unable to bear the Argentina’s defeat in the The national truckers’ organisation yesterday Amid a spate of drownings and accidents along moved a special court to declare the now defunct Jammu and Kashmir was put under Governor’s FIFA World Cup on Thursday, a diehard Lionel temporarily called off their strike, claiming to Goa’s coastline, the state’s popular beaches Kingfisher Airlines’ chief Vijay Mallya a “fugitive Rule, four militants belonging to the Islamic Messi fan from Kottayam, Kerala, has gone having received a communication from the union have set up “no selfie” zones, an official said economic off ender” and confiscate all his proper- State terror group were killed in Anantnag yes- missing, leaving behind a suicide note. A search road transport ministry promising a meeting. “We yesterday. The aim of setting up the adequately ties. The financial probe agency said that it has terday, director general of police S P Vaid said. operation is on and police divers scoured the received call from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s marked “no selfie” zones is to reduce the filed an application before a court in Mumbai This is the first official confirmation of any IS Meenachil river that flows by Arumannoor near off ice and they have called us for talk... We have number of accidents, caused by falls from to declare Mallya, a fugitive economic off ender militant being killed in Kashmir. The police chief here. Binu Alex, 30, who was last seen watching temporarily called off the strike as it aff ects slippery and rocky areas along the coastline, under the newly-promulgated Fugitive Economic tweeted: “The slain terrorists were reportedly the match, according has been missing since truckers and people,” ACOGOA general secre- which incidentally also provide a vantage Off enders Ordinance. The agency also sought affiliated to Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir 4am. “In the morning when his mother got tary Kausar Hussain said. The All India Confed- point for selfie and photography enthusiasts, court orders for confiscating all the properties of (ISJK).” On its website in 2017 the Islamic State up to prepare food, she saw the back door of eration of Goods Vehicles Owners’ Association Ravi Shankar, CEO Drishti Marine, a state Mallya worth Rs125bn, which includes immov- had said that its Indian affiliate, Ansar Gazwatul the kitchen was open and Alex was missing,” a (ACOGOA), that called a nationwide strike on government-appointed private lifeguard agency able properties as well as movable properties. Hind was being headed by Zakir Musa, a Kash- relative said. The police were called and arrived June 18 against the high diesel prices, high toll manning the state’s beaches and other water Mallya is the first person under which action is miri militant. A civilian and a policeman were with a sniffer dog which ran towards the river. rates and a sharp hike of third party insurance bodies, said. On June 17, two tourists from Tamil proposed under the Fugitive Economic Off enders also killed in yesterday’s gun battle that erupted Some divers searched in the water but failed to premium, said they have been assured a meeting Nadu died in two separate incidents while pos- Ordinance. in Srigufwara area early in the day. find the body. after June 27. ing for selfies. Govt haste to Kerala protests as coach factory plans scrapped clear industrial projects leaves greens alarmed

Reuters world’s 14 most polluted cities. Pedaveedu The PM10 index, which meas- ures the concentration of partic- ulate matter of 10 microns diam- he government is fast- eter or less in the air, hit 999 in tracking environmental the capital New Delhi last week, Tclearances for projects like the highest measure on monitor- power plants and coal mines in a ing devices. bid to propel growth, setting off This coarse particulate matter is alarm bells among environmen- mostly dust, which attaches to toxic talists and aff ected residents who material from other emissions. say the decisions are being made A level of 500 is considered too quickly. “hazardous” and people are ad- In a country where state ma- vised to remain indoors. chinery typically moves slowly, The government halted con- the environment ministry under struction activities in the capital Prime Minister Narendra Modi and nearby cities to ease the pol- has slashed the average time tak- lution and yesterday afternoon it en to grant clearances to 170 days was at 124, although that is still from 600 days, said two govern- considered unhealthy. ment sources with direct knowl- “The way in which in the last Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other Left Democratic Front legislators stage a protest against the central government’s decision to scrap the proposal to establish a edge of the matter. 10 years government has allowed railway coach factory in Kerala’s Palakkad district; in New Delhi yesterday. “We’re standardising proc- power plants to come up in the pe- esses and taking decisions swift- riphery of Delhi and its surround- ly,” said one of the offi cials, who ing region is a major contributor to did not want to be named, citing pollution,” said Sunil Dahiya, sen- government policy. “We know ior campaigner with Greenpeace. the basic issues, and merely tak- Projects across the country ing more time for approvals does cleared by the environment min- not mean much.” istry this year include three new The environment ministry did thermal power plants, a carbon not respond to requests for com- black manufacturing facility, two ment. cement plants and the expansion Five charity workers The push appears to be similar of four coal mines, according to to US President Donald Trump’s government data. eff orts to speed up infrastructure “Faster clearances can cer- approvals — his administration tainly compromise the quality of has said it wants environmen- evaluation,” said Srestha Baner- tal reviews for major projects to jee, programme manager at the take no longer than 21 months, private Centre for Science and abducted, gang-raped instead of years. Environment. India’s industrial sector grew “By standardising terms of ref- Thomson Reuters Foundation people working on anti-traffi ck- to cities where a growing middle coalition of 14 grassroots organ- areas, emphasising the impor- at 4.3% last year but growth erences for various sectors the Chennai ing have been targeted,” Sinha class is looking for cheap live-in isations working in the state. tance of programmes run by slowed from 4.6% a year ago. government has tried to reduce said from Khunti district of labour. “This is the fi rst time fi eld various charities to combat traf- The speedier approvals come time in the environment clearance Jharkhand. Jharkhand is among the top workers have been targeted and fi cking. as some big-ticket infrastructure process. This is not a bad step. ive anti-traffi cking cam- “We are not ruling out the fi ve states that reports increas- it is both surprising and shock- “The incident underlines projects face delays, including the But in order to reduce time, it paigners were gang-raped possibility of the involvement of ing cases of human traffi cking, ing. It is now going to become the dangers on the ground and proposed $100bn Delhi-Mumbai has exempted public hearing for Fat gunpoint during an traffi cking gangs and are inves- with traffi ckers targeting poor more diffi cult to work on this is- the fact that human traffick- industrial corridor and the Japan- some important sectors. This is awareness programme they were tigating all aspects.” villages, convincing vulnerable sue.” ing is an organised and ruth- backed $17bn bullet train. extremely problematic.” organising in a village, police The street play had been or- families to send their daughters The country has seen an in- less crime,” said Rishi Kant of Any loss of jobs from slowing In villages and smaller towns, said yesterday. ganised by charity Asha Kiran, away for employment, cam- crease in reports of human traf- Shakti Vahini, an anti-traf- growth could hurt Modi as he protests are mounting against Unidentifi ed men picked up which runs a shelter home for the paigners said. fi cking in recent years. Almost ficking charity that also works seeks a second term in 2019. rapid industrialisation because nine activists during a street rehabilitation of rescued girls in Activists fighting to curb the 20,000 women and children in Jharkhand. Environmental group Green- of the environmental damage. play performance in Kochang Khunti district of Jharkhand, trafficking of women and chil- were victims of traffi cking in “Every day young girls are be- peace says India’s construction sec- The Lambada, a tribe in Tel- village in Jharkhand and drove which has been identifi ed as a dren condemned the shocking 2016, a rise of 25% from the pre- ing rescued from domestic ser- tor and coal-fi red power plants are angana, is opposing a 200 mega- them into a dense forest, where traffi cking hotspot. attack on “frontline workers”. vious year, according to govern- vitude in cities. Many of them major contributors to rising levels of watt coal-fi red power plant near the men were beaten up and There are around 200 rescued “We are still processing what ment data. are from remote villages, which particulate matter in the air. the village of Pedaveedu that the the women raped, police offi cer girls in Asha Kiran’s shelter. has happened,” said Rajiv Ran- Activists say the fi gures are is why these awareness pro- The World Health Organisa- environment ministry cleared in Ashwini Kumar Sinha said. Most of victims were traf- jan Sinha of the Jharkhand under-reported, especially due grammes are so important and tion says India is home to the 78 days this year. “It is a very rare case, where fi cked into domestic servitude Anti-Traffi cking Network — a to a lack of awareness in rural the incident is shocking.” Italy not to extradite man Rodent heist Azad’s remarks on army sought in chopper scam killings shameful: BJP IANS sync with the terrorists and their IANS leged middlemen wanted in the mentioned allegations of crimi- New Delhi patrons”. New Delhi case and his interrogation and nal conspiracy, cheating and the Addressing a press conference statement is very important for Prevention of Corruption Act. here, BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad both the ED and the CBI who are The CBI in September last he BJP yesterday at- said: “Given the senior Congress taly has refused India’s re- probing the case. year, submitted the 30,000-page tacked senior Congress leaders’ pathological hatred to- quest to extradite middleman The ED last year, had notifi ed an charge-sheet before special CBI Tleader and former Jam- wards Prime Minister Naren- ICarlo Gerosa in connection Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) court. mu and Kashmir chief minister dra Modi and the BJP, they have with its ongoing probe into the against Gerosa and two others – The CBI named Tyagi’s cous- Ghulam Nabi Azad for his re- stooped to this extent where they Rs36bn AgustaWestland VVIP Briton Christian Michel James and in Sanjeev alias Julie, then IAF marks about “the army killing are seeking to compromise the chopper deal scam, sources said. Italian Guido Haschke – last year. vice chief J S Gujral and advo- more civilians than terrorists” courage and respect of the armed A Central Bureau of Investiga- The CBI has already fi led a cate Gautam Khaitan as the four in the state, and demanded ac- forces.” tion (CBI) source said Italy has re- chargesheet in the case, in which Indians in the charge-sheet, tion against him. “I am asking this (action) be- fused the agency’s November 2017 the three are co-accused. which mentioned Khaitan as the The party said that Azad’s cause Congress’ Azad who has request to extradite Gerosa, add- On January 1, 2014, the gov- “brain” behind the deal. statement was “irresponsible, said that the forces are killing the ing that the message was delivered ernment scrapped the contract Others named are Italian shameful and deeply regret- locals more in Jammu and Kash- to the ministry of external aff airs with Finmeccanica’s British sub- defence and aerospace major table” and asked the Congress mir.” (MEA) two to three days ago. sidiary AgustaWestland for sup- Finmeccanica’s former chief leadership to clarify “what ac- Prasad said: “This statement “We will soon take up the plying 12 AW-101 VVIP chop- Giuseppe Orsi, former Agus- tion they are planning against of Azad is irresponsible, shame- matter of Gerosa’s extradition pers to the air force over alleged taWestland CEO Bruno Spagno- Azad”. ful and deeply regrettable.” through MEA again with the breach of contractual obligations lini and middlemen Michel, Has- The BJP said it was shocked After Azad’s remarks, the Italian authorities,” the source and charges of paying kickbacks chke and Gerosa. that such a statement should Lashkar-e-Taiba outfi t issued a added. to the tune of Rs4.23bn for se- Orsi and Spagnolini have al- come from a person who has statement saying “we have been In October last year, Italian au- curing the deal. ready been sentenced by an Ital- been the chief minister of Jammu of the same opinion as the ones thorities, on the basis of an Inter- The CBI, which registered ian court for bribing Indian of- and Kashmir and has witnessed expressed by Ghulam Nabi Azad pol notice sought by the enforce- a charge-sheet in the case on fi cials to get the contract from Dead rats lie amid shredded currency notes of Rs2,000 the “brutal face of the terrorism and others”. ment directorate in connection March 12, 2013, has alleged that India illegally. and Rs500 denominations at an ATM in Tinsukia, Assam. in the state”. “Today what the Congress lead- with its money laundering probe then Indian Air Force chief S The CBI said the company was Police revealed that the rats had nibbled through more The Bharatiya Janata Party ers are saying is being supported in the choppers deal case, arrested P Tyagi and the other accused favoured in lieu of illegal grati- than a million rupees of banknotes after busting into a cash (BJP) also said that the Con- by the LeT. What kind of politics Gerosa but released him soon. received kickbacks from Agus- fi cation accepted through dif- machine. The rodent heist was only detected after locals gress led by Rahul Gandhi and is this? Congress is standing with According to the CBI offi cials, taWestland to help it win the ferent companies in the name of complained that the ATM had stopped dispensing cash. “blessed” by Sonia Gandhi is at those who are trying to break the Gerosa, 70, is one of the three al- contract. The charge-sheet consultancy services. present making observations “in country,” Prasad said. Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018 11 LATIN AMERICA Guatemala man fears for daughter left behind in US

Tribune News Service ment. In a recent statement, Guatemala City homeland security offi cials said that the government is “commit- ted to and has procedures in place ix weeks ago Nazario Jacin- to connect family members after to-Carrillo left his village separation so adults know the lo- Sin Guatemala with his six- cation of minors and have regular year-old daughter, Filemona, to communication with them.” seek asylum in the US, but his In Guatemala, Jacinto-Carril- plan went awry soon after il- lo’s family members say they are legally crossing the California desperate to see Filemona. The border. stress of her absence, Jacinto- US Border Patrol agents, he Carrillo said, hit him as soon as said, took his weeping daughter he entered his front door. from his arms and told him that “I felt light-headed and had she would be returned to him trouble breathing,” said Jacinto- within days. Carrillo, 32, who was medically On Wednesday, Jacinto-Car- treated for his elevated stress rillo was deported to Guate- levels. mala, but his daughter wasn’t Jacinto-Carrillo and his wife, with him. She remains at an un- Marcela Velasquez-Gregorio, 24, disclosed shelter in New York, are impoverished, illiterate po- where she cries constantly, so- tato farmers who live in a moun- cial workers have told the family. tain village about two hours from “When I got home my wife the nearest town in the highlands and mother were happy to see of western Guatemala. They also me, but they were weeping. My have a two-year-old son. Two men (centre) -who had been arrested in recent protests- walk next to a priest and a Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (ANPDH) member after being released wife asked me, ‘Where is Filem- Although they have cell- from jail in Masaya, Nicaragua, yesterday. ona?’” said Jacinto-Carrillo, phones, they can’t aff ord to reached by phone in his village make international calls. The near the city of Huehuetenango. bus to the closest town comes President Donald Trump on only once a week. The only in- Wednesday abruptly ended his formation the family has re- administration’s practice of ceived about Filemona has come separating children from their from a social worker. parents at the border, but now They know that Filemona is Rights body slams Ortega the administration faces an- living in a foster home setting in other test that will probably fall the New York City area, and that under intense scrutiny: what to her fi ts of crying at times cause do with the 2,300 or so children her to vomit. They say Filemona who have been sent to shelters all turned six at the shelter. over the country. “My daughter is very sad and Offi cials at the department crying too much,” Velasquez- as unrest toll climbs to 212 of health and human services, Gregorio said. “I wanted to call her the agency that takes custody on her birthday, but I couldn’t.” AFP chaos began when relatively Ortega led the country from Managua’s auxiliary bishop Thursday, a human rights group of children separated from their Jacinto-Carrillo said he left Washington small protests against now- 1979 to 1990 and then returned Silvio Baez called on the crowd said. parents, have said that the fami- Guatemala because he was scrapped social security re- to the presidency in 2007, now not to take justice into their own The pro-government forces lies will not be reunited while the threatened by gangs, but he re- forms exploded into a popular serving his third consecutive hands, “not to imitate the same were using AK47s and Dragu- parents remain in custody. But re- considered his asylum claim he death toll in Nicara- uprising against Ortega, whose term. attitudes and criminal acts” as nov sniper rifl es against civil- unifi cation demands will increase after crossing the border east of gua during two months forces met demonstrators with Earlier, Nicaragua’s bishops the government forces. ians in the town, Nicaraguan as more parents are released from San Diego on May 16. The Bor- Tof anti-government a violent crackdown. entered the opposition bastion “We do not want more crimi- Association of Human Rights detention centres and deported der Patrol agents who took his unrest has risen to 212, the In- “State violence has been of Masaya in a dramatic show nals in Nicaragua,” said Baez, a head Alvaro Leiva said. in the coming months at the end daughter said that she would ter-American Commission on aimed at discouraging par- of solidarity with residents harsh critic of the government. “It’s deplorable to see how of their criminal and immigration be returned to him after he was Human Rights said yesterday, ticipation in demonstrations they said were threatened with “To the snipers, to Daniel Or- our brothers are dying,” a local proceedings. criminally prosecuted for ille- faulting President Daniel Or- and quelling this expression of a “massacre” at the hands of tega and Rosario Murillo: Not resident said in the indigenous That scenario will place the gally crossing the border. tega’s government for “serious” political dissent,” the IACHR forces loyal to Ortega. one more death,” he said. Monimbo neighbourhood, be- spotlight on the federal govern- “My daughter was screaming human rights violations. concluded, calling on Nicara- Thousands of people poured Murillo, Ortega’s wife and lieved to be the target of the op- ment’s ability to reunite the fam- and crying and so was I,” Jacin- “Nicaragua has not fulfi lled gua’s government to “reach a onto Masaya’s narrow streets vice president, has said her eration. ilies, a tough task even in the best to-Carrillo said. its international obligations to constitutional, democratic and to welcome several prominent husband “is committed to curb- “If we had weapons, it would of circumstances. While taking a Thirteen days later, after respect, protect and guarantee peaceful solution to this human bishops, who led them through ing this wave of terrorism, hate be weapons against weapons, child from a parent is swift, the pleading guilty to the misde- human rights in the context of rights crisis.” the city in procession. crimes, kidnappings, threats but this is very unequal. Help process of reconnecting them is meanour charge, he was trans- the social protests that began The IACHR presented the The bishops — tasked last and intimidation.” us against these murderers who long, legally complex and logis- ferred to the Otay Mesa De- on April 18,” the rights body said report yesterday during a spe- month with mediating an in- But residents are desperate. are killing our people,” he said. tically challenging, a task made tention Center in San Diego to in its report after its visit to the cial session of the Washington- creasingly bloody confronta- Wrapped in a fl ag, 40-year- In Monimbo, local residents, more diffi cult by bureaucratic pursue his asylum claim. Filem- Central American country. based Permanent Council of tion between the opposition old housewife Yanet Lopez who were resisting with home- tangles across various federal ona wasn’t there; she had been “On the contrary, the IACHR the Organisation of American and government — said they said she could no longer toler- made mortars, said govern- agencies. taken to the shelter. found that the state response States. had decided to go to Masaya “to ate the pro-Ortega repression. ment forces had set fi re to some Parents and children are “Nazario seemed sad, scared has been characterised by the The latest round of negotia- avoid another massacre, give “We want a free country. Dan- houses. placed on separate legal tracks, and, honestly, broken,” said repression and criminalisation tions aimed at ending Nicara- comfort and pray with our peo- iel should go, we do not want Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, with parents falling into the cus- James M Chavez, his criminal of the demonstrators and the gua’s violence once again fell ple.” more dictatorship. We are peo- who led the delegation to Ma- tody of US Customs and Border defence attorney, who visited social movement they repre- apart on Monday, with the The city just south of the ple, not ‘criminals’, as he says,” saya, said the talks mediated by Protection or Immigration and several times during his legal sent, which has resulted in seri- country’s infl uential Catholic capital Managua — once a he said. the bishops would resume next Customs Enforcement and chil- proceedings. ous violations of human rights,” bishops and civil groups accus- stronghold of Ortega’s Sandi- The city — which this week week. dren going to the department of Erika Pinheiro, Jacinto-Car- the 97-page document said. ing the government of failing to nista revolution — has become declared itself in rebellion to The church has called on Or- health and human services offi ce rillo’s immigration attorney, said The Washington-based group act on a promise to allow more a fl ashpoint after two months of Ortega’s rule — had come under tega to allow early elections in of refugee resettlement. she will petition a judge to ap- said more than 1,300 people had probes from international or- anti-government protests that “disproportionate” attack from March 2019, two years ahead of Offi cials at the agencies did prove Filemona for a voluntary been wounded in the unrest. ganisations. so far have claimed the lives of hundreds of police and hood- schedule, in order to ease ten- not respond to requests for com- departure. Nicaragua’s descent into A onetime leftist guerrilla, 191 people. ed paramilitaries since dawn sions.

Bodies of missing Indian president in Cuba press team Anglo American to explore found: Santos Colombian authorities have recovered what they believe to for copper in north Brazil be the bodies of a three-man Ecuadoran press team kidnapped and killed on the two countries’ Reuters secret among Brazilian geolo- 60% of the world’s copper re- border. Rio de Janeiro gists but not previously reported sources. President Juan Manuel Santos by Anglo, could also be a major In Brazil, there is just one ex- said the bodies located by police boon for copper mining in the ample of a mine in operation in the country’s south could be iner Anglo American country, which lags far behind with such geology, the Chapada those of journalist Javier Ortega, has clinched hundreds the world’s top producer Chile deposit in Goias state. 32, photographer Paul Rivas, Mof permits this month and has been hit by a series of “The (mineral) content is sim- 45, and their 60-year-old driver to explore for copper in a remote headline-grabbing mining ac- ilar to that of Chile,” said Victor Efrain Segarra. part of northern Brazil, Brazilian cidents. Bicca, director general of mining “I reiterate my condolences to authorities said, as the grow- But the remote location of the regulator DNPM, adding that it the families and my repudiation ing electric vehicle market and 284 blocks, which cover nearly could be a “mega deposit.” of this heinous crime,” said a scarcity of shovel-ready min- 4.7mn acres, poses myriad chal- “Obviously it will be in the Santos. ing projects fuels demand for the lenges, such as the spectre of a interest of the government to Defence Minister Luis Carlos metal. showdown with activists, just make it happen in as little time Villegas said Thursday that four A major copper fi nd, if con- months after they forced the as possible, because the world bodies had been recovered, fi rmed, would cheer the mining government to walk back plans is demanding copper,” he add- and that forensic police in Cali industry which is eyeing a loom- to open a reserve to mining. ed. were expected to identify them ing shortfall for the red metal, “There could be (resistance), In a May report, Bank of yesterday. The three men, who prized as an electricity conduc- but it would be perfectly man- America said the copper mine worked for Ecuador’s influential tor, after years of shrunken ex- ageable,” Marcos Andre Gon- project pipeline has shrunk dra- El Comercio newspaper, were ploration budgets meant little in calves, the chief of Chilean matically since 2011 as copper kidnapped while covering a story the way of promising new dis- miner Codelco in Brazil and a prices cratered and exploration on violence along the border, coveries. director of mining companies has been increasingly less suc- prompting both countries to In a statement, Anglo said association ADIMB, said. cessful. send troops to hunt down the it was too soon to make claims He added that a big copper Even if the Alta Floresta Gold perpetrators. about the viability of the project. fi nd “would clear some of the fog Province yields as much copper Walter Patricio Artizala, better But the company confi rmed it away” from the industry. as hoped, that does not mean known as “Guacho,” served had received permission to ex- What Anglo appears to have Brazil is on the path to becom- as a rebel for 15 years in the plore for copper in Brazil’s Mato found in the Alta Floresta Gold ing another Chile, with annual now-defunct Farc movement Grosso and Para states where it Province, experts say, is a por- copper production of 5.33mn Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel walks next to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (right) and heads the Oliver Sinisterra had not yet begun studies. phyry style copper-gold deposit, tonnes, thanks in part to BHP during his welcome ceremony at the Revolution Palace in Havana yesterday. Kovind is in Front, a group that kidnapped The project on the edge of geology typical of Andean mines Billiton’s Escondida, the world’s Cuba on off icial visit. the men on March 26 in the the Brazilian Amazon, an open and responsible for upward of biggest copper mine. Mataje area. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, June 23, 2018 PAKISTAN

Austria, Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, Bilawal planning education contesting in Malakand institute Internews have also fi led nomination pa- election, the PTI’s Salimur Rah- sembly seat when Shakil Khan from PK-2 and PK-4 in Swat. by-election as its candidate Internews Peshawar pers from their native constitu- man, who had switched over defeated the PPP’s former min- In PK-2, his main electoral ri- Arbab Aamir emerged victori- Islamabad encies in Lahore and Larkana, from PPP, won the seat. ister Humayun Khan, who is vals are former MPA Syed Jafar ous against the ANP’s Khush- respectively, they are fl exing Bhutto’s decision to contest now the party’s provincial presi- Shah of the ANP, and Sharafat dil Khan and Nasir Musazai of he top leaders of the Pa- muscles from KP as well to show from Malakand is based on the dent. Ali of the PTI. PML-N, who later joined the uring a meeting with the kistan Muslim League that their respective parties are past record. This time Bhutto will face the He will also face the candi- PTI. Higher Education Com- T– Nawaz (PML-N) and equally popular in other prov- Malakand was once a PPP main contender, Junaid Akbar of dates of these parties on PK-4. It won’t be easy for Muqam to Dmission (HEC) chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) inces. stronghold and known as mini- the PTI besides the candidates In NA-29 Peshawar, Muqam dislodge the PTI’s candidate in Dr Tariq Banuri, Austria’s am- are contesting the election from Sharif is facing Pakistan Te- Larkana. from the ANP, the MMA and the will face the PTI’s Shah Farman this constituency. bassador to Pakistan Dr Brigitta Malakand division of Khyber hreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominee The party still has a strong PML-N. and the ANP’s Arbab Kamal, be- PPP provincial president Blaha announced that there is Pakhtunkhwa (KP). and former member of the Na- base as one of the two former The PML-N’s Amir Muqam sides the nominee of MMA. Humayun Khan, who was the a joint venture in the works be- Central PML-N president tional Assembly (MNA) Salimur members of the Provincial As- is in the fi eld from NA-2 Swat, Although the PML-N, espe- former minister in the ANP- tween the higher education sec- Shehbaz Sharif is the candi- Rehman. sembly (MPAs) from the district, although he is also contesting cially Muqam, has good support PPP coalition government led tors of two countries. date for the National Assembly Jehanzeb Khan of the Awami Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha, was from two other National Assem- in the NA-29 Peshawar con- by Amir Haider Hoti, is also Called the Pak-Austria Fach- constituency NA-3 Swat while National Party (ANP), the Mut- from the PPP. bly and two Provincial Assembly stituency because of the devel- contesting polls from his native hochschule: Institute of Ap- the party’s provincial president tahida Majlis–e–Amal (MMA), The Jamaat Islami (JI)’s Ba- constituencies. opment work that he did – like Malakand district. plied Sciences and Technology Amir Muqam is in the running and the PPP also have vote- khtiar Maani and Shahraz Khan In his native NA-10 Shangla the provision of electricity and He had won this seat in the (PAF-IAST), the institute is be- for NA-2 Swat. banks in the constituency. were elected MNA and MPA, re- constituency, he is facing the gas to the population – the PTI 2008 general elections but lost ing established in University of PPP chairperson Bilawal The constituency mainly con- spectively, from Malakand in the ANP’s Sadeedur Rehman, the and the ANP have strong vote- to Shakil Ahmad of the PTI in the Haripur in collaboration with Bhutto Zardari is contesting the sists of urban areas of the dis- past. PPP’s Dr Afsarul Mulk and the banks. 2013 elections. several Austrian institutions. polls from NA-8 Malakand and trict, like Mingora city and the The PTI had won the National PTI’s Nawaz Mehmood or Waqar PTI nominee Gulzar Khan had He is again facing Shakil Ah- Blaha explained that institute provincial president Humayun surrounding areas, where the Assembly seat from Malakand Ahmad Khan as PTI has not yet won the seat in the 2013 gen- mad along with candidates of has dual objectives: creating a Khan from PK-18. PML-N has a solid vote-bank. district in 2013 through Junaid decided its candidate. eral election and after his death, the MMA, the ANP and the high-quality technical educa- Although Sharif and Bhutto However, in the 2013 general Akbar, and one provincial as- Muqam is also contesting the PTI secured the seat in the PML-N. tion infrastructure at a tertiary level, and creating high technol- ogy industry. During the meeting Banuri stressed on the need for interna- Hamza richer than father Shehbaz Sharif tional collaboration in the edu- cation sector. Banuri, in welcoming the am- Internews in 2016, refl ecting a decrease of ently a new addition to the car’s properties in Lahore worth over bassador, stated that Pakistani Islamabad Rs42.84mn. status disclosed in the previous Rs136mn, 150 kanals of ag- higher education institutions Shehbaz Sharif has paid statement of assets submitted to ricultural land amounting to have an encouraging history of Rs7.6mn, Rs9.53mn, and the Election Commission of Pa- Rs30mn, and shares in 21 com- academic collaboration with the ormer Punjab chief min- Rs10.29mn as income tax in kistan (ECP). panies, including sugar and tex- Austrian education sector. ister Shehbaz Sharif owns 2015, 2016, and 2017, respec- He has a bank balance of tile mills, worth nearly Rs133mn. He said that the HEC would Ftwo properties in the tively. Rs11.4mn. His landholding slightly de- continue to create opportunities United Kingdom, holds more Though his landholding in- His wife Nusrat Shahbaz owns creased in 2017, but his agricul- for benefi cial academic collabo- than half a million shares in creased from 585 kanals in a 10-kanal house in Lahore and tural income continues to grow ration between the two coun- three industrial units, and owns 2015 and 2016 to 673 kanals in a nine-kanal house in Doonga unlike his father’s. tries. 675 kanals of agricultural land 2017, his agricultural income, Gali, valued at Rs186.6mn. His agricultural income was Blaha in turn said that her of- in Lahore and Sheikhupura, but which stood at Rs6.5mn in 2015, She owns 287 kanals of land in Rs2mn in 2015, Rs2.14mn in fi ce will extend its co-operation his son Hamza Shehbaz is richer dropped to Rs5mn in 2016 and Kasur and has shares in six prop- 2016, and Rs3.5mn in 2017. Shehbaz Sharif: the net worth of his assets in Pakistan comes to in strengthening academic and with total assets worth Rs411mn. then to Rs3.5mn in 2017. erties. Hamza Shehbaz’s non-agri- about Rs50mn, but his son Hamza is richer by far, with assets worth research linkages between the In his statement of assets for In Pakistan a kanal is a unit of She holds over 6.44mn shares cultural income was Rs19.19mn more than Rs400mn. two countries. 2017 annexed with his nomi- land area that is generally con- in Ramzan Sugar Mills trans- in 2015, Rs21.52mn in 2016, and Their meeting took place on nation papers submitted to the sidered equal to 5,400 square ferred to her by an undisclosed Rs25.40mn in 2017. debut in electoral politics, owns Rs3.4mn in her family’s fl our Thursday. Returning Offi cer concerned, feet, although in Lahore it is member of the family, besides He spent over Rs5.5mn on assets worth over Rs840mn. mills. She owns jewellery worth Shehbaz Sharif has put the total 4,500 square feet. around half a million shares in 11 nine foreign visits over the past According to the details of Rs1.7mn. value of his assets at Rs159mn, Most of the agricultural land is other industrial units owned by three years. her assets annexed with her Coincidently, the net value of but excluding the amount stated to be gift from his mother. the Sharif family. His wife Mehrunissah Hamza nomination papers, she holds assets of Pakistan Peoples Party equivalent to Rs108mn secured The cost of Shehbaz Sharif’s Shehbaz Sharif’s other wife has net wealth worth Rs2.2mn, shares in Chaudhry Sugar Mills chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zard- against his properties in the UK, two apartments in the UK has Tehmina Durrani owns six prop- while other wife Rabia Akram Limited, Hamza Spinning Mills ari is higher than his father Asif House of the net worth of his assets comes been valued at £241,281 and erties, including a house in La- has net wealth amounting to Limited, Mohammad Bukhsh Ali Zardari’s, making the former to about Rs50mn. £677,014. hore and one acre of agricultural Rs39.4mn. Textile Mills, Hudaibya Papers richer than the latter. This means his son is eight He owns a “partially gifted” land in Gwadar. His cousin, Maryam Nawaz, Mills, and Hudaibya Engineer- The total value of Zard- journalist times wealthier. Toyota Land Cruiser worth The assets owned by Ham- who entered active politics fol- ing Company Pvt Limited. ari’s assets comes to around The net assets have declined Rs6.3mn. za Shehbaz include 11 pieces lowing the disqualifi cation of her She owns 1,506-kanal ir- Rs758.66mn – almost half of to Rs50.10mn from Rs92.94mn The word “partially” is appar- of non-agricultural land and father and is now set to make her rigation land and has invested that owned by his son. ransacked

106mn registered on electoral rolls DPA Camel ride Islamabad The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) released yesterday the final electoral rolls, showing the number of registered voters hitting 105,955,409 mark, with Punjab having more voters than the other journalist who has been provinces, including the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) critical of the military and Islamabad. Ahad her house ransacked According to the statistics, there are 59,224,263 registered male and and two laptops stolen, her fam- 46,731,146 female voters across Pakistan. ily said yesterday, as a national In Punjab, total number of registered voters is 60,672,870 – union for media workers threat- 33,679,993 are males and 26,992,877 females. ened protests against alleged in- There are 22,391,244 total voters in Sindh – 12,436,844 male timidation. registered voters and 9,954,400 female voters – followed by The family of Marvi Sirmed 15,316,299 total voters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 8,705,831 male and said they learned about the 6,610,468 female voters. break-in after they returned Baluchistan, the largest province in area but having the smallest from vacation late on Thursday. population, has a total of 4,299,494 voters: 2,486,230 males and Two of the journalist’s lap- 1,813,264 females. tops and travel documents were The Fata, which is now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has a total of missing, her husband Sirmed 2,510,154 registered voters: 1,507,902 of them male and 1,002,252 Manzoor said. female. No other valuables were sto- The Federal Capital houses 765,154 registered voters, 407,269 male len. and 357,885 female. The incident came two weeks after Sirmed was included on an army-issued list of around two PML-N names first 53 KP candidates dozen bloggers and journalists accused of involvement in “anti- Many former Member Provincial Assembly (MPAs) were awarded state” activities. tickets as the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) announced A union for journalists has the names of 53 candidates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. since threatened protests against The names another 46 candidates would be announced within a alleged intimidation of media couple of days. houses to silence criticism of the The former MPAs getting the ticket included Rashad Khan from military’s political role. Shangla, Abdul Sattar Khan from Kohistan, Raja Faisal Zaman from “We will protest on the streets Haripur, Nawabzada Wali Muhammad from Batagram, Sheraz Khan if the intimidation against our from Swabi, Babar Salim from Swabi, and Jamshed Mohmand from colleagues and media houses is Mardan, who had joined the PML-N. not stopped,” Pakistan Federal Provincial PML-N president Amir Muqam is contesting from two A man leads a camel with children on it while he wades through the Sardaryab river in Charsadda, on the outskirts of Peshawar. Union of Journalists president provincial assembly constituencies, PK-2 and PK-4. Afzal Butt said. Central bank issues guidelines for tax payment under amnesty scheme

Internews discharge of the tax liability out for onward credit to the SBP ac- CPR (challan payment receipt) act after the National Assembly quently asked questions) with counts, the taxpayer while send- Karachi of balances maintained as of count in NBP New York. on realisation of funds in its ac- passed it on June 5, 2018. regard to the procedure for repa- ing the copies of PSID, Form ‘A’ March 31, 2018 or June 20, 2018, The NBP has been advised by count. However, a PTBA delega- triation of liquid assets and de- etc, to the SBP for generation of whichever is less. the SBP to make arrangements These changes have been made tion led by president Abdul Qa- posit of Tax under Foreign Assets the CPR, must also send satis- he State Bank of Paki- The SBP, through a notifi cation for expeditious collection of at the recommendation of the dir Memon, as well as members (Declaration and Repatriation) factory documentary evidence to stan (SBP) has allowed issued yesterday, has brought in cheque proceeds which may take Pakistan Tax Bar Association of the Federation of Pakistan Act 2018. establish the relationship. Tprospective declarants of a number of additions/amend- 7-10 days. (PTBA) and trade bodies that re- Chambers of Commerce and It clarifi ed that tax payment The balance in foreign curren- foreign assets to discharge their ments in its earlier notifi cation However, the SBP has cau- cently held two meetings in Is- Industry (PFCCI) and the Paki- cannot be made through ex- cy deposits as of March 31, 2018 tax liability under Foreign Assets dated April 16, 2018. tioned that the declarants using lamabad with Finance, Revenue stan Stock Exchange took up is- change companies, money busi- or June 20, 2018, whichever is (Declaration and Repatriation) Declarants having bank ac- this payment option should be and Economic Aff airs Minister sues related to the tax amnesty ness services, etc, only through less, can be used for the purpose Act 2018 from locally held for- counts outside the country but aware of possible delays in col- Dr Shamshad Akhtar. scheme with the fi nance minister banking channels either from the of tax payment. eign currency accounts. presently residing in Pakistan lection of the proceeds, as well The tax amnesty scheme is on June 18 and 20. declarants’ own accounts or from For instance if the balance in The prospective declarants, can also pay the tax in US dol- as additional charges from the part of the Tax Reforms Package Tax experts and trade bod- the accounts of the declarants’ a foreign currency account is who can also make such pay- lars by depositing the US dollar- banks involved, which could re- announced by then-prime min- ies expressed concerns over the immediate family members such $10,000 and $5,000, respectively ments from their immediate denominated cheques with the sult in the funds received by the ister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on short period given for availing as parents, children, spouse, and on March 31, 2018 and June 20, family members maintaining authorised National Bank of Pa- SBP being less than the amount April 6, 2018. the tax amnesty scheme, which siblings. 2018, the tax payment to the ex- foreign currency accounts with kistan (NBP) branches within Pa- that was remitted. Later, a Presidential Ordinance comes to an end on June 30. In case of payment through the tent of $5,000 can be made from banks in Pakistan, could only kistan for collecting the proceeds The SBP will only issue the was issued which became an The SBP also issued FAQs (fre- immediate family member’s ac- this account. Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018 13 PHILIPPINES

CRIME Dutch cops bust child abuse gang

Dutch police have said they helped crack a child abuse ring in the Phil- Govt plans to take drug war to ippines off ering babies as young as five months for “made-to-order” on- line paedophilia cases, Manila Times reported. With the help of Australian off icers, a Dutch policeman, who has been specially stationed in Ma- schools with searches, testing nila to clampdown on child sex tour- ism, rescued 18 children in recent Reuters suspected drugs dealers and random drug testing in primary be eff ective in deterring drug 14mn primary school students ner Briones was also seeking a days off ered for online abuse shows Manila users. Several thousand more schools on teachers as well as on use and instilling the impor- from fourth to sixth grade un- meeting with the head of the by their families, police said in a have been killed by unknown 10-year-old fourth grade stu- tance of leading a healthy and dergo drug testing, saying it was drug enforcement agency to statement. “Buyers from all over the gunmen, who authorities have dents, moves which the educa- drug-free lifestyle among stu- against the law. discuss the department’s drug world, including in the Netherlands, he Philippines is planning described as vigilantes or rival tion department vehemently dents,” Cuy said in a statement. “The Department of Educa- prevention programme. were able to watch children being to take President Rodrigo gang members. opposed. Consultations with schools, tion observed that the proposal PDEA spokesman Derrick abused to order” via online chats TDuterte’s ferocious drugs Rights groups and critics of Catalino Cuy, the head of parents and other members of of the Philippine Drug Enforce- Carreon said the agency had al- using webcams, the police said. war to schools with the inspec- the campaign say some of the the policy-making Dangerous the DDB board, which include ment Administration (PDEA) ready proposed amending rules “They indicated what they wanted tion of bags and lockers, as well killings were summary execu- Drugs Board (DDB), said his of- the education ministry, will be to test all students age 10 and to make drug testing mandatory to see, agreed on a price and could as random testing for teachers, tions. fi ce would study the proposal to done to ensure rights of stu- older may require the amend- for all high school and universi- then watch the abuse directly by to curb demand for illegal sub- Police deny such allegations, strengthen the drug prevention dents are protected and their ment of the Comprehensive ty students, as well as teachers. webcams.” In the northern Philip- stances, offi cials said yesterday. saying they had to use deadly campaign in schools and issue a safety is guaranteed, said DDB Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, He said they also wanted ran- pines, five children aged between The fi rebrand leader un- force because the suspects were policy to ensure its proper im- public relations offi cer Ella which authorises drug testing dom testing for grade school five months and 12 years old were leashed an anti-narcotics cam- armed and had resisted arrest. plementation if needed. Marie Dimaculangan. for secondary and tertiary level students aged from 10 to 12 after off ered for online abuse shows by paign after coming to offi ce in Law enforcement agen- “Drug prevention pro- The education department students only,” it said in a state- some children had been “res- their parents and grandparents. June 2016, during which police cies are planning to step up the grammes in schools are already said it opposed the drug en- ment. cued” from drug dens during Prices averaged between 15 and 25 have killed more than 4,200 drugs campaign by proposing in place. These have proven to forcement agency’s plan to have Education Secretary Leo- police raids outside Manila. euros a show. Audit panel reports Earthquake drill Sereno’s luxury vehicle purchase ‘irregular’

By Jomar Canlas lic bidding for the purchase of the contract, and lack of perti- Manila Times the vehicle. nent purchase documents. “Management used the de- “A copy of the perfected con- tailed technical specifications tract executed on May 2, 2017 he Commission on Audit of the Toyota Land Cruiser as and its supporting documents (CoA) has found irregu- reference to the bidding docu- were submitted only on Novem- Tlar the purchase by the ments in the public bidding ber 28, 2017, which was more Supreme Court (SC) of a luxury conducted for the procure- than six months after its execu- vehicle for ousted chief justice ment of a motor vehicle, hence tion, and lacked the following Maria Lourdes Sereno, pointing contrary to Section 18, Rule VI, documents required for audit out that no public bidding was of the Revised Implementing purposes, contrary to Section held. Rules and Regulations of Re- 3.1.1 of CoA Circular 2009- A four-page document ob- public Act 9184,” it read. 001: detailed breakdown of the tained by Manila Times, dated “Moreover, the price of the ABC; detailed breakdown of June 1, 2018, showed that the Toyota Land Cruiser amount- the contract cost; certification commission had issued Au- ing to P5,110,500.00 was also from the head of BAC (Bids and dit Observation Memorandum used as the Approved Budget Awards Committee) Secretariat (AOM) SC-2018-13(17), sent to for the Contract (ABC) without on the posting of advertise- Acting Chief Justice Antonio market analysis or basis to de- ment at conspicuous places; Carpio. termine if it was the most ad- printout copy of posting of The document called the at- vantageous prevailing price for the Notice of Award, Notice to tention of lawyer Corazon Fer- the Supreme Court, contrary to Proceed and Contract of Award A teacher coaches her students at the Pembo Elementary School during the earthquake drill held in Makati City. rer-Flores, deputy clerk of court Section 36, Rule X, also of the in the PhilGEPS website; and and chief of the SC Finance Revised IRR of RA 9184. Such request for purchase duly ap- Management and Budget Offi ce, procedures prevented other proved by proper authorities. and lawyer Ma. Carina Cunanan, suppliers from participating On Tuesday, the Supreme chairman of the Procurement and the reasonableness of the Court maintained its 8-6 vot- Planning Committee. purchase price cannot be as- ing ousting Sereno from office The AOM referred to the “Pro- sured, thereby defeating the permanently for lack of quali- Former actress arrested over illegal drugs curement of Toyota Land Cruis- purpose of the public bidding.” fication and integrity as proved er amounting to P5,110,500.00.” The Manila Times tried but by her failure to file her com- It was sent to Carpio by Me- failed to get Sereno’s camp to plete statements of assets, li- By Frederick Silverio (PRO3) director Chief Supt. San Fernando, Pampanga. De Joya was known for star- riam Ansama, audit team leader, comment on the audit observa- abilities and net worth. Manila Times/Camp Olivas Amador Corpus identifi ed the Investigation showed that at ring in bold movies like Gigil and Fe Marie Dorado, offi cer in tions. Sereno’s purchase of a bullet- arrested suspects as Michelle about 4:10pm, joint operatives and Kangkong. charge and supervising auditor. The AOM noticed deficien- proof Toyota SUV was included Comstock y Cojo alias “Tisay/ of the Pampanga Provincial Seized from the suspects were The AOM stated that the cies in the procurement such as in the impeachment charge fi led former adult movie ac- Bridgette de Joya,” a former Drug Enforcement Unit, City eight heat-sealed transparent purchase of Sereno’s luxury car late submission of the contract against her by lawyer Lorenzo tress and her live-in adult movie actress, native of of San Fernando Police Station plastic sachets containing sus- was contrary to Republic Act to the resident CoA auditor, Gadon last year, which has been Apartner were arrested Olongapo City, and her part- and SWAT Team implemented pected shabu, fi ve improvised 9184 (Government Procure- in violation of Section 3.1.1 of rendered moot by her ouster for possession of illegal drugs ner Marciano Camacam alias Search Warrant No. 18-01 is- tooters, a weighing scale, a bun- ment Act) and its IRR (Imple- CoA Circular 2009-001 dated through quo warranto proceed- during the implementation of “Bong Guevarra,” 42, from Ila- sued by Regional Trial Court dle of empty plastic sachets and menting Rules and Regula- February 12, 2009 that the sub- ings initiated by Solicitor Gen- a search warrant by authorities gan City, Isabela, both residents Branch 46, CSFP dated June 20, two plastic bottles containing tions), because only Toyota mission should be done within eral Jose Calida. here on Thursday. of Block 2 Lot 17, Northville, 2018, which led to the arrest of liquid substance, suspected to Makati participated in the pub- five days from the execution of Police Regional Offi ce 3 Calulut Resettlement, City of the suspects. contain illegal drugs.

Connect with history Sison ‘clearly detached from reality’

By Catherine S Valente est running insurgency! Joma is nist rebels had always threat- Manila Times clearly detached from reality,” ened to oust any sitting presi- Roque told Manila Times. dent for the failure of peace The Armed Forces of the negotiations. alacanang yesterday Philippines also brushed aside “Each time, they were try- hit back at Com- Sison’s statement that the ing to oust the president, but Mmunist Party of the rebels would remove President never came close enough to at Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Duterte from his position for least unsettle a commander- Maria Sison, who said commu- “killing” the peace talks. in-chief of the military and po- nist rebels were ready to oust “We do not know where Sis- lice,” Arevalo stressed. President Rodrigo Duterte fol- on derives his temerity to make Sison yesterday urged the lowing the suspension of talks such a threat when members of public and the press to “read with the rebel group. the terrorist NPA (New Peo- and study carefully and com- In a text message, Palace ple’s Army) continue to sur- pare critically the two separate spokesman Harry Roque Jr said render in droves in the face of statements issued by the gov- Sison does not know what is the military’s tactical, intelli- ernment and National Demo- happening in the country. gence and civil-military opera- cratic Front, after their talks “You know, they’ve been tions that enjoy the support of from June 18 to 20,” and insist- Secretary Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go of the Off ice of the Special Assistant to the President shares a group photo with the threatening to oust the Re- the Filipino people,” said Col. ed that talks be held in a neutral characters of Jose Rizal’s book, Noli Me Tangere during his visit to the Rizal Shrine in Calamba, Laguna to celebrate the national hero’s public since ancient times. Edgard Arevalo, the military overseas venue instead of in the 157th birth anniversary. That’s why they’re in Guin- spokesman. Philippines as proposed by the ness (records) already as long- He pointed out that commu- Duterte government. Survey reveals drop in fi rst quarter crime victims

By Catherine S Valente tims of common crimes. This was but 0.5 above the 2017 annual average “Except in March 2013 and June 516,000 families victimised by break- past six months, unchanged from De- Manila Times 1.0 point below the 7.6% or an es- victimisation by property crimes of 2016 when it was at 10.5% and 11.4% ins, down by 1.2 points from the 3.4% cember 2017. Fear of crimes fell by 5 timated 1.7mn families recorded in 5.6%. respectively, victimisation of families or an estimated 790,000 in December points from 59% in December 2017 to December 2017, but 0.5 point above There was a slight drop in the by any common crime was at single- 2017. 55% in March. he number of Filipinos who be- the 6.1% annual average victimisa- number of victims of physical vio- digit levels from March 2012 to March The SWS said 0.5% or an estimated The SWS reported that 46% of the came victims of crimes dropped tion by any of the common crimes lence — 0.6% or 145,000 families 2018,” it added. 51,000 families were robbed of their respondents agreed that “people are Tduring the fi rst quarter of 2018, for 2017. within the past six months — com- “Meanwhile, except in June 2016 vehicles in the past six months, down usually afraid to walk in the street at a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) Those who lost property to street pared with the 188,000 families in when it was 10.9%, victimisation of by 0.7 from 1.2% or an estimated night because it is not safe” in their survey revealed. robbers, burglars or car thieves were up December 2017. property crimes was also at single- 108,000 in December 2017. neighbourhood. The poll, conducted from March 6.1% or an estimated 1.4mn families. The SWS said there were more digit levels from March 2012 to March The survey also found that 4.6% or This was down by two points from 23 to 27 showed that 6.6% or an The fi gure was 1.0 point below the 7.1% crimes reported in its survey than 2018,” the survey said. an estimated 1.1mn families were vic- the 48% in December 2017, and the estimated 1.5mn families were vic- (estimated 1.6mn) in December 2017, those reported to the police. It found 2.2% or an estimated timised by street robbers during the lowest since the 42% in April 2016. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, June 23, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Why markets and political Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor scientists disagree on G7 Amjad Khan

Mohamed A El-Erian Without concessions from its trading grouping that had already been For markets, waiting for strong P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Washington, DC partners, including more reciprocity, challenged by global economic re- evidence of an economic impact, rather the US, its government representatives alignment, the emergence of the more than reacting to every statement or [email protected] unequivocally declared, would representative G20, and new forms of event, has proved profi table. 44350478 (News), o say that this month’s summit implement new tariff s on imports from regionalism. That is likely to be the right approach of G7 leaders in Canada was Canada, the European Union, and So it is perhaps not surprising that for the G7 summit, too – and not just 44466404 (Sport), an unusual one would be an Japan. some political scientists have declared because the body’s impact on global 44466636 (Home delivery) Tunderstatement. This approach marks a sharp the end of the G7. outcomes has diminished in recent A traditionally friendly and departure from the past, and another Yet, when markets opened years. 44350474 predictable gathering of like-minded shock to the establishment and expert on Monday morning, they were Given the large number of long- facebook.com/gulftimes countries was marred by fi nger- opinion. utterly unaff ected by the weekend’s standing economic, fi nancial, pointing and disagreement, resulting in While some tweaks to trade relations developments; for them, the G7 summit institutional, political, and social twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar an inability to achieve consensus on a are needed, in the past such changes had essentially been a non-event. links among the G7’s members – all of fi nal communique. But, while political would have been pursued in an orderly On one level, this disparity can be which act as stabilisers – this month’s analysts were quick to declare the end and cooperative fashion – not under explained by the fact that G7 infi ghting summit may well be followed by a more of the G7’s coherence, integrity, and constant and growing tariff pressure. will have only a small and narrow congenial and constructive one. usefulness, markets were unfazed. Instead, the major economies of the impact on growth, especially compared The G7 has not been dealt a fatal GULF TIMES In fact, the longer-term outcome may geopolitical West seem set to engage to factors like monetary policy. blow; it still can and will play a role on well prove markets right, albeit with in a tit-for-tat tariff dispute that could More fundamentally, markets the global stage – albeit a less important some important qualifi cations. escalate into a fi ll-blown trade war have been conditioned to postpone one. Participants at the G7 summit harming all of its members. signifi cant price adjustments until there But that does not mean that the reportedly clashed over issues like But it is not only other Western is overwhelming evidence of negative debacle in Canada will be cost-free. Neymar histrionics climate change and the possibility of economies that had the US up in arms. economic and fi nancial eff ects. G7 members lost a valuable readmitting Russia. The Trump administration In recent years, markets have faced opportunity to develop common But the highly publicised discord was is pressuring China to address an unusually large (and expanding) set positions on issues about which they fuelled mainly by disagreements over intellectual-property theft and to of unconventional political statements could agree, and the rest of the world risk making him the eff ects of trade among the members. reduce non-tariff barriers (such as and manoeuvres. was shown more evidence that the Those disagreements – amplifi ed joint-venture requirements). Here, all But, for the most part, the rhetoric global system’s long-standing core- by persistent diff erences on basic other G7 members agree that America’s has not been translated into reality, and periphery relations are no longer his own worst enemy facts – impeded progress in other areas grievances are legitimate, and that they what actions have been taken proved reliably buttressed by unity among where greater consensus might have are being harmed as well. largely inconsequential for economic established economic and fi nancial been possible, including Iran, some Yet, given confl ict over intra-G7 activity and asset prices. powers. As Brazil forward Neymar broke down and wept other Middle East issues, North Korea, trade, the group was unable to unite That was true of Trump’s rhetorical At a time of considerable political uncontrollably on the pitch at the end of his team’s hard- migration, and refugee relief. on a comprehensive and co-ordinated sparring match last year with North and social fl uidity, destabilising the fought 2-0 win over Costa Rica yesterday, it was hard not to Representatives of the United States response to China. Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which remaining anchors represents a risk accused the other G7 members of The summit was followed by an some political analysts predicted would to the system as a whole. – Project be moved by his reaction. “unfair trade practices,” which they escalation of the trade dispute between lead to armed confl ict. Syndicate For the second World Cup in a row, the 26-year-old is claim have disproportionately harmed China and the US, compounding It was also the case with rising carrying the hopes of 200mn countrymen on his shoulders the US economy and its workers. the uncertainty now jeopardising a Russian revanchism, which some z Mohamed A El-Erian, Chief Economic and his emotional outburst showed how much the win The rest of the G7 – all traditional US synchronised growth pickup that, viewed as a precursor to a disruptive Adviser at Allianz, was Chairman of allies – confronted President Donald owing to insuffi cient policy reforms, is new cold war, and the electoral US President Barack Obama’s Global meant to him, and the level of pressure he is under. Trump with data that they hoped already running out of steam in many success of Eurosceptic and populist Development Council and is the author Equally, it was just as hard not to be infuriated by his would prove that trade had been highly countries other than the US. parties in the European Union, which of The Only Game in Town: Central behaviour during the Group E match where Brazil had benefi cial to all countries. The failed G7 summit dealt a very some declared would lead to the EU’s Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the to wait until stoppage time before breaking down the But the US held fi rm to its stance. public blow to a once-powerful dissolution. Next Collapse. stubborn Central American defence, with Neymar himself scoring the second goal. Throughout the game, Neymar collapsed to the ground at the slightest contact from an opponent and complained constantly to referee Bjorn Kuipers. At one point, the Dutch offi cial made a “keep quiet” sign before he eventually lost patience and booked Neymar when the Brazilian threw the ball down in disgust at a yet another decision he did not agree with. Minutes before the yellow card, Neymar thought he won a penalty when he fell over backwards theatrically after a slight touch from Giancarlo Gonzalez. But, after an exemplary use Neymar has of the video assistant referee (VAR) system, the referee shown how decided that the contact did important the not merit Neymar’s tumble and changed his mind. World Cup is to Exasperatingly, if Neymar had stayed on his feet, he him might have had a clear shooting chance. It is a trait that has marked his career, possibly infl uenced by an incident in 2010 when he was still playing in Brazilian club football with Santos. After publicly remonstrating with coach Dorival Junior, who refused to allow him to take a penalty in a Brazilian G7 members lost a valuable opportunity to develop common positions on issues about which they could agree. championship match, Neymar was dropped from the team. But, instead of backing the coach, the club fi red him and the 18-year-old player was quickly reinstated. Similarly, Neymar became used to Brazilian referees giving him a free kick for every minor contact and fall. Are we in a corporate-debt bubble? However, with World Cup offi cials less likely to indulge Neymar, there is a risk that he could become his own worst enemy. By Susan Lund bonds will mature each year; as some Similarly, in Europe, the share of short answer is no. Washington, DC companies struggle to repay, defaults bonds issued by at-risk companies While individual investors in He often wastes good attacking chances by choosing will most likely rise. is currently less than 5% in most bonds may face losses, defaults in the to take a tumble instead and, at a crucial stage during The average quality of borrowers has countries, indicating that only the corporate-bond market are unlikely to the second half, his behaviour had a contagious effect s growing corporate debt a bubble declined. largest blue-chip companies have have signifi cant ripple eff ects across and his team mates became distracted by all the fuss he waiting to burst? In the 10 years In the US, 22% of nonfi nancial issued bonds so far. the system, as the securitised subprime since the global fi nancial crisis, the corporate debt outstanding comprises The problem is that there are pockets mortgages that sparked the last created. debt held by nonfi nancial corpora- “junk” bonds from speculative-grade of vulnerability. fi nancial crisis did. Brazil’s previous two World Cup coaches, Dunga and I tions has grown by $29tn – almost as issuers, and another 40% are rated BBB, Even at historically low interest Beyond the near-term bumps in the Luiz Felipe Scolari, had a tendency to lead and encourage must as government debt – according just one notch above junk. rates (before the US Federal Reserve road, the shift to bond fi nancing by protests against referees but the current incumbent Tite is to new research by the McKinsey Global In other words, nearly two-thirds of raised its benchmark rate to 1.75-2% companies is a positive development. Institute. bonds are from companies at a higher on June 14), 18% of bonds (worth There is plenty of room for further a much calmer presence and it is surprising he has not tried A market correction is likely in store. risk of default, including many US roughly $104bn) outstanding in the sustainable growth. to curb Neymar’s excesses. Yet the growth of corporate debt is retailers. US energy sector were at higher risk But as the market grows, banks will Neymar has shown how important the World Cup is to not as ominous as it fi rst appears – and, These businesses have a lot of of default. need to rethink their strategies focusing him and, to his credit, he never gave up on Friday, even indeed, in some ways even points to a speculative-grade debt coming due over Still, the biggest risks appear to be in more on other customer segments, such positive economic outcome. the next fi ve years, and for many the emerging markets such as China, India, as small and medium-size businesses when the ball refused to go in. Over the past decade, the corporate- math simply will not add up, owing to and Brazil. and households. But Brazil’s last World Cup campaign ended with bond market has surged as banks have declining sales as shoppers go online. Already, 25-30% of bonds in these Investors and individual savers, for a collective mental blackout in their 7-1 semi-fi nal restructured and repaired their balance Another potential source of markets have been issued by companies their part, will have new opportunities defeat to Germany and there are already signs that their sheets. vulnerability is soaring corporate debt at a higher risk of default (defi ned as for portfolio diversifi cation. Since 2007, the value of corporate in developing countries, which have having an interest-coverage ratio of less But if the fi nancial crisis 10 years ago temperament could cost them again. bonds outstanding from nonfi nancial accounted for two-thirds of overall than 1.5). And that share could increase taught us anything, it is that risks often companies has nearly tripled – to corporate-debt growth since 2007. to 40% if interest rates were to rise by emerge where they are least expected. $11.7tn – and their share of global GDP In the past, advanced-economy fi rms 200 basis points. That is why regulators and has doubled. were the largest borrowers. Within these emerging markets, policymakers should continue to To Advertise Traditionally, the corporate-bond But much has changed with the some sectors are more vulnerable than monitor existing and potential risks, market was centred in the United rise of China, which is now one of the others. such as those arising from credit [email protected] States, but now companies from around largest corporate-bond markets in the In China, one-third of bonds issued default swaps on corporate borrowers Display the world have joined in. world. by industrial companies, and 28% of or complex securitisation of bonds. The broad shift to bond fi nancing is a Between 2007 and the end of 2017, those issued by real-estate companies, They should also welcome the 44466621 44418811 welcome development. the value of Chinese nonfi nancial are at a higher risk of default. establishment of electronic platforms Debt capital markets provide an corporate bonds outstanding increased Corporate defaults are already for selling and trading corporate Classified important asset class for institutional from just $69bn to $2tn. creeping upward in China; and in Brazil, bonds, to create more transparency and 44466609 44418811 investors, and give large corporations an One fi nal source of risk is the one-quarter of all corporate bonds effi ciency in the marketplace. alternative to bank loans. fragile fi nances of some bond-issuing at a higher risk of default are in the That way, today’s debt would be Subscription Yet it is also clear that many higher- companies. industrial sector. less likely to become tomorrow’s debt risk borrowers have tapped the bond To be sure, MGI fi nds that in With the global corporate default overhang. – Project Syndicate [email protected] market in the years of ultra-cheap advanced economies, less than 10% of rate already above its 30-year credit. bonds would be at higher risk of default average and likely to rise further as z Susan Lund is a partner of McKinsey Over the next fi ve years, a record if interest rates were to rise by 200 basis more bonds come due, is the next & Company and a leader at the © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved $1.5tn worth of nonfi nancial corporate points. global financial crisis at hand? The McKinsey Global Institute. Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018 15 COMMENT Confronting the migrant threat to EU

By Ana Palacio Rather than debating European Commis- Madrid sion diktats and lamenting member states’ rebelliousness, what is really needed is a total reset by EU leaders. Progress has been made he European Union loves giving itself on many fronts, including burden-sharing in ultimatums, whether it is the two- settling refugees, reforming and strengthen- year deadline for Brexit negotiations ing Europe’s border protections and coast Tor European Commission President guard, concluding agreements with other Jean-Claude Juncker’s declaration, upon taking countries to return migrants, and providing offi ce, that his was a “last-chance commis- development and governance assistance to sion.” Unfortunately, European leaders rarely address the push factors driving migration. follow through on their best-laid plans. When But it is not enough. it comes to migration, however, they may not There is one more possible solution: the have a choice. establishment of migrant processing and reset- The issue has become a sword of Damocles tlement centres – “disembarkation platforms” hanging over the EU. It straddles every fault – outside of EU territory. It is a fraught pro- line: between country and community, between posal, as it resembles Australia’s problematic security and openness, between national and approach to immigration, whereby migrants European identity, between social values and are held – out of sight and largely out of mind, economic or strategic interests. As a result, often for years – on nearby Nauru and Papua migration, more than any of the other myriad New Guinea. challenges the EU confronts today, has the But the European Council is now considering potential to destroy the European project. just such disembarkation platforms, as well it Of course, the EU has often proved that, should be. Europe should not emulate Aus- when push comes to shove, inertia prevails. tralia, but the establishment of these types of But, given the urgency of today’s migration platforms – with real processing and relocation crisis, not even the EU will be able to muddle – in third countries could off er major benefi ts, through. If it tries, the issue will only fester, not least preventing further dramas like the eating away at the Union’s very foundations. Aquarius episode. For once, Europe’s leaders have no choice but to Disembarkation platforms would enable put up or shut up. controlled assessment of which migrants are Make no mistake: Europe’s migration prob- owed legal protection by the EU, prior to their lem is not going away. The decline in asylum resettlement in the Union. If migrants know applications in 2017 was not, as many believed, they will not be able to set foot on European an indication that the problem was being File photo: Migrants wait to be rescued by the Aquarius rescue ship run by non-governmental organisations (NGO) “SOS Mediterranee” and “Medecins soil without fi rst proving that they qualify for overcome. On the contrary, while the migration Sans Frontieres” (Doctors Without Borders) in the Mediterranean Sea on August 2, 2017. asylum, those who do not qualify are less likely challenge became apparent to many Europeans to fall victim to smugglers’ claims that they only in 2015, when German Chancellor Angela up, allowing the ships to dock in the port of “cynicism and irresponsibility.” In Germany, depended on top-down measures and man- should brave the dangerous journey. Merkel opened the door to a million desper- Valencia. the survival of Merkel’s governing coalition dates. Such an approach, taken early enough If the EU is to survive the migration crisis, it ate asylum seekers, the issue has long plagued Irregular migrants arrive in Europe every day: is now in jeopardy, owing to a standoff over in the crisis (say, in 2013 or 2014) might have must work together. Disembarkation plat- southern Europe and is now mutating in dan- as the Aquarius was arriving in Valencia, more migration between her Christian Democratic been suffi cient to guide a common European forms in third countries raise legal, ethical, and gerous ways. than a thousand people were saved just a couple Union and the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the approach. But excessive foot-dragging and fi nancial challenges. But they can be overcome. That change is exemplifi ed by the recent saga of hundred miles to the south, while trying to Christian Social Union, led by Horst Seehofer, uncertainty – owing not least to German The EU’s future may depend on it. – Project of the MS Aquarius. Operated by a Franco- cross the Strait of Gibraltar. But a high-profi le the interior minister. unilateralism – impeded EU-level action, as Syndicate German charity, the Aquarius rescued 630 drama like that of the Aquarius creates political There will be more ships like the Aquarius, it enabled migration to become a hot-button migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya. incentives for hardline positions. It is politi- and Europe cannot aff ord to confront such a issue in domestic politics. Ana Palacio, a former Spanish foreign On June 9, Italy’s new interior minister and cal candy for populists and poison for rational drama every time one appears. The gap between What now? The European Council’s June minister and former Senior Vice President of the deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, rejected policymaking. the EU’s rhetoric of solidarity and shared values meeting will focus on migration, but there World Bank, is a member of the Spanish Council the ship’s request to dock in his country and And, indeed, the recriminations that fol- and its real-world behaviour must be closed. has been little reason to hope that it will bring of State, a visiting lecturer at Georgetown prohibited them from even entering Italian lowed Salvini’s move have been unprecedent- Unfortunately, that outcome is far from guar- meaningful progress. The EU is nowhere near University, and a member of the World Economic waters. Then Malta, too, turned the refugees edly divisive. French President Emmanuel anteed. a policy consensus – the political climate does Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the United away. Finally, after nearly a week, Spain stepped Macron accused Italy’s populist government of So far, the EU’s response to migration has not allow for it. States.

LEGAL HELPLINE Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 420c Minimum Temperature : 320c Insurer liable for all damages arising from fi re SUNDAY Maximum Temperature : 410c Minimum Temperature : 300c By Dr Nizar Kochery representative office by filing an properties, or makes them unusable, the clause? Please advise. MONDAY Doha application at the Ministry of invaluable, useless or invalid, shall SL, Doha Maximum Temperature : 420c Economy and Commerce. be punished with imprisonment for a Minimum Temperature : 320c term not exceeding three years and/ A: Though Law No. 21 of 2015 has Fisherman's forecast Question: What are the claim or a fine not exceeding QR10,000. abolished two-year ban on employees limitations in a fire accident An off ence under Punishment shall be imprisonment to obtain work visa, the restrictive WARNING Inshore : Strong wind over most insurance? Are they limited the penal law for a term not exceeding five years covenant preventing the employee from areas and poor visibility to the actual loss due to fire or if the offence is committed by a working with competitor still exists. extended to other damages? Q: I had some issues with my minimum of three people. According to Article 43 of the Labour Offshore : Strong wind and high Law – No. 14 of 2004, if the nature of sea ST, Doha colleague in relation to execution WEATHER of certain things. We had strong the work allows the employee to become Inshore : Hot during the day with Answer: According to Article 803 arguments on that issue and he Stipulation of acquainted with the clients of the slight dust to blowing of the civil laws, in fire insurance has insulted me in front of others employer or the secrets of the business dust on some areas. two-year ban WIND the insurer shall be responsible in the office. One top of that he of the establishment, the employer may Inshore : Northwesterly 14-24/30 for all damages arising from the had also damaged some of my Q: As per the new law on stipulate that the employee shall not KT fire or from the start of a fire that personal property. If I approach immigration, there is no two- compete with him or participate in any Offshrore : Westerly-Northwesterly can become a complete fire or for the police, what will be the action year ban limiting a person from undertaking competing with him after 12-22/30 KT at places at a fire risk that can materialise. Its initiated against him for such obtaining the work visa. But in expiry of the contract. The period of times liability shall not be limited to the acts? Please advise. my new employment contract, such undertaking shall not exceed two Visibility : 4-8 KM/ 2 KM or less damages arising directly from the SH, Doha there is a restriction clause years. Such stipulation shall be valid on some areas fire but also covers the damages that which does not allow to take only if it is restricted as to place and to Offshore : 4-7/10 FT, at places at arise as an inevitable result thereof, A: The offender shall be punished up a job with any competitor. type of the work to the extent necessary times particularly the damages caused to according to Article 389 of the penal While the two-year ban has been to safeguard the employer’s lawful insured property by reason of using law. As per the provisions of penal removed from the law, is it legal interests. Around the region methods of rescue or of prevention law, any person, who intentionally to restrain an employee with such Weather Weather of the extension of fire. It shall also destroys, damages or spoils, another clauses in contract? What is the Please send your questions to today Max/min tomorrow Max/min be liable for loss or disappearance of person’s movable or immovable legality and which law empowers [email protected] Baghdad Sunny 39/27 Sunny 41/27 insured items during the fire unless Kuwait City Cloudy 42/30 Sunny 43/32 it proves that this has taken place as Manama Cloudy 37/32 Sunny 38/31 a result of a theft even if there is an Muscat Sunny 39/34 Sunny 39/34 agreement to the contrary. LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR Tehran Sunny 37/25 Sunny 38/27

Article 374 of Civil and Commercial the undertaking by the bailer shall Firm with 100% Procedure Law, all judgments and be deemed as a deed of execution foreign ownership orders shall be self-executing and acceptable to effect obligations on enforceable immediately without bail the basis of his undertaking. Q: We understand that a new on all petitions, unless the judgment The execution of the judgments and foreign investment law is in or order provides for a payment of orders delivered in a foreign country discussion. However, it is bail. may be mandated in the state of the noticed that a few companies An objection may be filed with the Qatar under the same conditions own 100% ownership currently. Court of Appeal pertaining to the decided in the law of that country for Can a construction company immediate self-executing order executing the judgments and the orders be established with 100% total through the normal procedures delivered. A request of the execution foreign ownership without followed for filing a lawsuit. Parties of order shall be made by summoning including a Qatari national as shall be summoned to appear before the litigant to appear before the partner for a project currently? the court within three days. The judge of execution of the Higher Civil Around the world We are a foreign company mainly objection may be brought before Court in compliance with the normal Weather Weather into scaffolding business and the hearing specified for appeal procedures of fi ling a lawsuit. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min we have been awarded a tender against the issued judgment. A ruling As per Article 380, execution may not Athens S Showers 32/21 S Showers 28/19 in Qatar. For the execution of on such objection shall be made determination of an elected domicile be ordered before the verifi cation of Beirut Sunny 28/24 M Sunny 28/23 project, is it possible to establish independently from the subject for the execution applicant to which the following: (a) Courts of the State of Bangkok P Cloudy 35/26 S T Storms 34/27 our company with the same matter under examination. the papers related to the litigations in Qatar have no sole jurisdiction to rule Berlin Cloudy 18/12 Cloudy 19/12 shareholders as in our main As per Article 376, in cases, where the bail. over the dispute on which the judgment Cairo Sunny 38/23 Sunny 37/23 company? Please advise. it is not permitted to execute the According to Article 378, the or order was issued and the foreign Cape Town Rain 16/12 S Showers 15/12 GS, Doha judgment or the order except with concerned party may, within three courts which issued them have such Colombo T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 bail, the party which is obligated to days from the notification, contest jurisdiction to examine such a dispute Dhaka S T Storms 32/26 T Storm 31/26 A: Under Article 3 of the Foreign pay the bail shall have the option the ability of the bailer or receiver in accordance with the International Hong Kong T Storm 28/26 T Storm 28/26 Investment Law – Law No.13 to either bring in a capable bailer or the sufficiency of the deposited Judicial Jurisdiction Rules as stipulated Istanbul S T Storms 26/20 P Cloudy 24/19 of 2000, a foreign company can or deposit in the treasury of the money, provided that the disputed in its applicable law; (b) The litigant Jakarta T Storm 35/25 S T Storms 32/25 open a temporary branch office in court sufficient cash or negotiable claim shall be summoned during parties, in the action in which the Karachi P Cloudy 33/28 P Cloudy 33/28 Qatar if the company is awarded a instruments or accept a deposit of the date specified to the litigant to foreign decision has been delivered, London P Cloudy 23/12 P Cloudy 24/13 specific contract involving a project proceeds of execution in the court appear before the judge of execution, have been summoned and have been Manila T Storm 32/25 S T Storms 33/25 that contributes to public service treasury or hand over the debt that and the judgment in this dispute properly represented; (c) The judgment Moscow S T Storms 29/20 Showers 27/13 or interest. In this situation, the is ordered to be surrendered in the shall be final. If the disputed matter or order had obtained the eff ect of res New Delhi M Sunny 43/33 M Sunny 43/33 Minister of Economy and Commerce judgment or order to a capable is not submitted at the specified judicata in accordance with the law New York T Storms 23/19 P Cloudy 31/20 can license the foreign company to receiver. time or if it is submitted and then of the issuing court. The judgment Paris P Cloudy 22/12 P Cloudy 23/13 conduct business in Qatar for the The bailer shall be notifi ed of the rejected, the receiver in the Registry or order is not inconsistent with the Sao Paulo M Sunny 26/16 P Cloudy 26/14 specific purpose of completing the options either through an independent of the court shall undertake to judgment or order that was issued Seoul P Cloudy 28/18 Sunny 29/19 contract. The licence to operate the notice or within the deed of execution accept the receivership or the before by a court in Qatar and shall not Singapore T Storm 30/26 S T Storms 30/26 temporary branch office will expire or through a payment order. The bailer shall undertake to accept the include anything that contravenes the Sydney M Sunny 17/06 Sunny 14/07 once the contract is completed. choice should, in all cases, include the bail. The minutes that recorded public order and conduct in the State. Tokyo Cloudy 23/20 Cloudy 25/18 A foreign company can open a Gulf Times 16 Saturday, June 23, 2018 QATAR

The VR section is one of the busiest sections at SEC. PICTURES: Ram Chand Families enjoying the various amusement rides. SEC: Fun unlimited for adults, children By Joey Aguilar A performer entertains spectators at SEC. Staff Reporter

ith an array of new ac- tivities and entertain- Wment options for all ages, the Summer Entertainment City (SEC) has once again proved to be a family-favourite indoor destination. The SEC, spread over a 29,000sqm area at the Doha Ex- hibition and Convention Cen- tre, is featuring the ‘Kids Driv- ing School,’ a mini golf course, world’s largest bouncy castle and a huge virtual reality (VR) section, among other unique ac- tivities, in this edition. “Almost 90% is new stuff here, including the mini zoo, 15 new amusement The giant slides are among the new activations at SEC this year. rides, football fan zone, the gi- ant slides and 140 retail shops,” QSports (organiser) founder and board member Adil Ahmed, who is also the SEC project director, Children having fun at the synthetic ice rink. PICTURE: Nasar TK told Gulf Times. Among the various entertain- val – the Qatar Summer Festival, teaching them the skills to score park, ocean ball, face painting cater to all ages and the number ment off erings at SEC, he said providing residents and visitors points. The gold pass (QR135) al- and kids infl atable fun zone. Jug- of attractions makes this an all the VR section has become one of a wide range of entertainment lows people to play 40 rounds. gling shows, human statue, mag- day special.” the busiest this year, attracting shows, amusement rides, fun- For an interactive fun experience, ic shows, science shows, bubble Apart from these various en- a large number of young visitors fi lled activities and food options. the ‘Crazy Chicken’ is the right shows and fi re shows will con- tertainment options, SEC also who enjoy playing the games. One of the new activities this section to visit while the Kids tinue to entertain spectators this hosts more than 40 food outlets, Citing its popularity, Ahmed year, the indoor mini zoo, is a Driving School gives children weekend. Performers also engage which off er diff erent flavours for noted that VR games cater most- big hit as it hosts a combination “the feel how is it like driving young children on a number of people to choose. ly to the youth. “It is a market of domestic animals, which are in your neighbourhood.” It also games on stage. Ahmed added that cultural usually for 10 to 18 years of age “docile enough to pet and feed” teaches them the basics of driv- “The place has witnessed the shows, in collaboration with and a reason for QSports to focus such as sheep, ponies, turtles, ing and about being safe. largest turnout each day since more than 40 embassies in Doha, on the digital media for its acti- and rabbits, among others. Many visitors also enjoy ice opening its gates on June 15 and it will also continue next week, vations at SEC this year.” The SEC also welcomes skating on a synthetic ice skating is expected to be the most visited featuring the performances from The SEC is the main venue “adults, young people and the rink at SEC, besides the animal attraction this summer in Qatar,” Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, for the country’s longest festi- working group” to its mini golf, carts, skill games, trampoline Ahmed said. “The rides we have Malaysia, and India. More than 40 food outlets off er an array of dishes. Retail sector gets international fl avour at Summer Entertainment City

By Peter Alagos Business Reporter

he Summer Entertain- ment City (SEC) not only Tprovides several weeks of fun-fi lled activities for families but has also added international fl avour to its retail section with the presence of shops from as many as 10 countries. The concept of the ‘Summer Souq’ was the result of feedback from last year’s visitors, particu- larly ladies who wanted some shopping activities while their children are having fun at the SEC, QSports founder and board member Adil Ahmed told Gulf Times yesterday. “We wanted to create some- thing specifi cally for the ladies, so we brought about 100 inter- national exhibitors from Iran, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, A wide variety of ladies apparel. PICTURES: Ram Chand. QSports founder and board member Adil Ahmed. Lebanon, China, Indonesia, and South Korea, among other coun- a half months,” he explained. “We are trying to give our tries to the SEC. “We try to bring According to Ahmed, who is visitors a diff erent experience, in something that the normal also SEC project director, about and we hope that the interna- everyday lady can relate to, so the 35 more retailers will be added tional exhibitors are happy here ‘Summer Souq’ is actually more to the ‘Summer Souq’ in the next but so far in the past seven days, geared towards the consumer two weeks to give the retail sec- we’ve generated about 22,000 to side,” Ahmed explained. tion a further boost. “Most of 23,000 visitors already, and we He pointed out that the ‘Sum- the retailers will stay for about hope to keep the same momen- mer Souq’ will host the interna- 30 days then, midway, we will tum of about an average of 2,300 tional exhibitors for the next two change the retail mix. Some will to 3,000 visitors per day,” he said. and a half months. be fl ying out and then more new “Bringing in international ex- “It’s the fi rst time that interna- businesses will be coming in to hibitors is good for the economy tional exhibitors are participat- give the market additional fl a- as well because it promotes the ing in any event for this duration. vours,” he said. Qatari market further out, and Normally, you have consumer Ahmed noted that despite we hope that this concept works exhibitions that last for about a the challenges the country had out well as we gear up for expan- week or 10 days, or at the most, weathered last year, the SEC still sion next year where we may put 12 days but this is the fi rst time attracted as many as 165,000 the retailers in clusters around that they’re staying for two and visitors to the event. the SEC,” Ahmed added. Even spices are off ered at the SEC. Ladies now have more shopping opportunities.