BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar hope for lucky draw in fi nal INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 – 7, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 qualifying REGION 8 BUSINESS 1 – 8, 13 – 16 17,642.70 10,159.66 40.32 ARAB WORLD 8 – 10 CLASSIFIED 9 – 13 CI affi rms QIB ratings +65.74 +31.01 +0.60 INTERNATIONAL 11 – 25 SPORTS 1 – 12 round +0.37% +0.31% +1.51% with stable outlook Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10056 April 12, 2016 Rajab 5, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Thrill rides at festival Q-Post In brief

REGION | Confl ict launches Yemen ceasefi re ‘largely holding’ A ceasefire that took eff ect in Yemen yesterday appears to be largely holding despite reports e-commerce of fighting in some areas, the UN spokesman said. The truce between the legitimate government and Iran-supported Houthi rebels and their allies came into force at midnight local time. “The cessation service of hostilities seems to be largely holding,” UN spokesman Stephane The formal launch of the Faleh al-Naiemi expressed the hope Dujarric said, although he noted international parcel forwarding that the country’s residents would that there were “some pockets of service was announced at the avail of the services of the new plat- violence”. Page 8 Arab Future Cities Summit form developed by the postal corpo- ration while placing orders for their By Ramesh Mathew ever-growing requirements from PALESTINIANS | Accusation Staff Reporter such markets as the US and the UK. Israeli forces ‘abusing Within a couple of weeks, the e- commerce platform will also cover detained minors’ o cash in on the growing e- Japan, China and Germany. More Human Rights Watch (HRW) commerce market across the countries are to be added to the net- yesterday accused Israeli security Tworld, Qatar Postal Services work later. forces of using unnecessary force Company (Q-Post) has launched its Al-Naiemi said the service had in the arrest and interrogation of new service “Connected by Qatar been successfully tested and in place Palestinian minors in the occupied Post”. for more than a week. Qatar residents West Bank and East Jerusalem. The formal launch of the interna- could place their orders after reg- HRW also said that arrests of The excitement and thrill the various rides provide make the ongoing Souq Waqif festival a crowd-puller since its opening on tional parcel forwarding service was istering on the www.connected.qa youths had spiralled since an April 4. From 4pm to 10pm, visitors gather at the Amusement Park which also hosts several booths, stalls, skills games and announced yesterday at the Arab Fu- website within the Q-Post portal and October 2015 outbreak of violence entertainment activities. The festival concludes on April 18. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam ture Cities Summit in the presence of ask for shipment from suppliers of that has killed more than 200 HE the Transport and Communica- goods they are looking for. They could people. Page 10 tion Minister Jassim Seif Ahmed al- receive the packages at their select Sulaiti. location in Qatar or collect from any Speaking on the occasion, Q-Post Q-Post branch of their choice. TURKEY | Tour chairman and managing director The chairman said the Q-Post was Saudi King begins looking for feedback on the new serv- visit to Ankara IATA expects airfares ice from Qatar residents. Earlier at the meeting, al-Naiemi The Custodian of the Two Holy announced the launch of the postal Mosques, King Salman of Saudi company’s e-locker parcels scheme, Arabia, arrived in Turkey yesterday under which customers could col- for a visit aimed at tightening to fall further this year lect their local or international parcel increasingly close ties between from e-lockers, likely to be installed the two countries, receiving a in select locations. lavish welcome that underlined the By Pratap John at the end of February, IATA said. Passenger loads have slipped in re- E-locker is something like an ATM strength of relations. The king was Chief Business Reporter Average global fares in reported cent months, though, which will re- where a customer needs to use a se- welcomed at Ankara airport by a dollar terms fell by around 12% in 2015 quire monitoring, IATA said. cret password to collect his/her par- delegation led by President Recep compared to the previous year (ex- Air freight volumes in the fi rst two cel. Tayyip Erdogan. Page 8 irfares may fall further this cluding taxes, fees and surcharges) months of 2016 fell by 1.5% year- The password will be provided to year on the back of lower oil The strong appreciation in the dol- on-year, although the comparison the customer by the postal company Aprice, the International Air lar seen over the period exaggerat- is complicated by the one-off boost Faleh al-Naeimi: Q-Post chairman and once the parcel is sent to the e-locker. AMERICA | Policy Transport Association (IATA) has said ed the downward trend in airfares: last year from disruption at US west managing director Page 4 Obama calls Libya in a report. adjusting for the currency eff ect, coast seaports. “Further fall in air fares are likely to global fares were approximately 4.5% The freight load factor in January his ‘worst mistake’ be seen in 2016 as hedging contracts lower than in 2014. and February combined was well be- US President Barack Obama unwind and the decline in oil prices “The distortion from the dollar is low average for the time of year, keep- says the biggest mistake of his seen towards the end of last year feeds likely to ease in the coming months,” ing cargo yields under pressure. Drones set to deliver presidency was the lack of planning through,” said the IATA report. IATA said. Annual growth in global pas- for the aftermath of the fall of late Oil prices are “still around 30% low- Competitive pressures within the senger traffi c accelerated to 8.6% in Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, er than this time in 2015”, IATA noted. industry mean that the declines in oil February. with the country spiralling into Moreover, with storage levels re- prices seen around the end of last year “The outcome was helped by the packages later this year chaos. Reflecting on his legacy in maining very high for this time of and into 2016 are likely to translate fact that 2016 is a leap year, but the a Fox News interview, Obama said year, the overriding market sentiment into further declines in fares as fuel bigger picture is that the upward trend his “worst mistake” was “probably for oil prices is “lower for longer”, hedges unwind. in seasonally-adjusted traffi c, which he Qatar Postal Services Com- The Ministry of Transport and failing to plan for the day after what points out the Montreal-based IATA, Exchange rate-adjusted fares fell allows for the extra day in February, pany (Q-Post) is embarking Communications signed an MoU with I think was the right thing to do in which is the trade association of the by 6.2% year-on-year in January remains very strong,” the report said. Tupon an ambitious project the Qatar Postal Services Company to intervening in Libya.” world’s airlines. 2016, it said. Air freight volumes, IATA said, “Plane without pilot”, where it would develop the project. Indeed, according to the latest fu- The latest airline fi nancial results fell by 5.6% year-on-year in Feb- deploy drones to send packages to the Al-Naiemi said that the post- tures contracts, the market expects from the fourth quarter, 2015, further ruary, although the comparison is customer’s doorsteps. al company was working out plans INDIA | Tragedy oil prices to remain below $50/b until cemented the picture of a strong end complicated by the one-off boost to Informing this yesterday, Q-Post on a war footing to make available Charges fi led over late-2019. to 2015, driven by carriers in North air freight in the same month last year chairman Faleh al-Naiemi said the the services of global level e-com- “Crude oil prices gained in March, America, IATA said. during the disruption at seaports on project is expected to be launched after merce providers Alibaba.com, from fi reworks disaster but the market expects them to re- Financial performance improved the US west coast. six months. China. Police in the Indian state of Kerala main lower for longer,” IATA said. in all regions relative to the fourth “Looking across January and Feb- So many mandatory procedures The tie-up with Alibaba.com is ex- said yesterday they had filed initial Crude oil prices rallied in late-Feb- quarter, 2014, except Latin America, ruary combined, air freight volumes need to be completed before the pected to materialise within six weeks. charges against six people over a ruary and early March, driven by mar- it said. were 6.3% higher than at the start to project takes off , said al-Naiemi, while As part of its eff orts to strengthen the massive explosion during a banned ket expectations of a possible freeze While the leap year may have fl at- 2014, which translates into a reason- pointing out that a number of postal e-commerce platform, Qatar Postal fireworks display that killed more in production levels. The price of a tered things, the global air passenger ably solid growth rate by air freight’s services across the world are already Services Company is also exploring than 100 people and left many barrel of Brent crude oil ended March market is enjoying a strong start to recent disappointing standards,” having similar facilities to meet cus- the possibility of similar tie-ups in the more with horrific burns. Page 20 almost 10% higher than it stood 2016. IATA said. tomer requirements. coming weeks. CRA to launch new domain ‘.doha’ for city entities and organisations

he Communications Regulatory “After facilitating the steady growth zones only for various government and With the onset of new TLDs being are taking leverage of their customer Likewise, the new city domain ex- Authority (CRA) plans to launch in its domain volumes, QDR is now on non-profi t entities, including “.gov. released in the market, the dynamic base to register the domains for those tension opens up a range of new op- T“.doha” as a new top-level do- a fast track to make .doha the dot capi- qa”, “.mil.qa”, “.org.qa”, “.edu.qa”, and scenario in the domain name world has wanting to secure their trademarks and portunities for our local minds to in- main (TLD) for eligible entities and or- tal of Qatar on the internet world map. “.sch.qa”. These domain extensions are opened up newer challenges for Regis- brand names in the new extensions. novate by securing a unique online ganisations in the city to register their Strategic initiatives in Qatar can now serving the Qatari market well and in try Operators and for Registrars across The CRA is continually monitoring the space fundamentally associated with websites. have a web address ending in ‘.doha’ as turn the market seems to be adapting the world. landscape to make adjustments based Doha. This comes as part of CRA’s strategy a unique alternative to the traditional quite naturally to the use of these TLDs However, with every challenge there on demand. A full list of the QDR-ac- The CRA would like to especially to foster the development of Qatar’s ‘.qa’,” he added. in general. are even bigger opportunities, pre- credited registrars is available at this encourage locally-owned business- domain extensions as a key public re- The current set of extensions that The successful delegation of the ge- cisely why QDR has witnessed a steady link http://www.domains.qa/en/regis- es and SME’s to register their busi- source, by providing stable, secure, and are made available by QDR through its ographic TLD “.doha” by the Internet increase in the number of Registrars trars/accredited-registrars nesses through the Qatar Domain trusted domain name services, as a pri- accredited registrars for public regis- Corporation for Assigned Names and willing to expand their portfolio of of- Qatar-specifi c domains provide Registry. ority in helping shape the country’s role trations include “.qa” and “.com.qa”, Numbers (ICANN) in March 2015, came ferings to their diverse customer base. businesses and individual users with To fi nd out more, go to https://www. in the digital economy. “net.qa”, and the Arabic equivalent of as a good news for QDR as it will help Five out of the total of 17 registrars that a means of diff erentiating themselves domains.qa/en and connect with QDR .each second level “.qa” raise greater awareness for all TLDs. In QDR has accredited are based in Qatar as distinctly Qatari and also of getting through Twitter @QatarDomains (قطر.)”Qatar Domains Registry (QDR), an “.qatar“ initiative under the CRA, has regis- with its unique set of eligibility re- fact, one of the reasons new TLDs were and few more have approached to get noticed in search engines and country- The CRA regulates Qatar’s commu- tered as many as 21,601 domains since quirements. originally introduced by ICANN was to accredited to realise the potential of of- specifi c directories, all of which can nications and information technology its launch in 2011,” said Faisal Ali al- Additionally QDR has also allotted off er registrants greater availability in fering geographic TLDs. help target both local and global audi- sector, postal services, and access to Shuaibi, CRA spokesperson. certain extensions referred to as closed domain name choice. Meanwhile, international registrars ences, the CRA said. digital media. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 QATAR

Emir sends message to Kuwait i leader Defence Minister receives Saudi invite In brief

Emir endorses Cabinet decision on tenders panel

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani endorsed yesterday Cabinet decision No 13 of 2016 setting up the Tenders Committee at the Ministry of HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah received a written Transport and Communications. message from Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy The decision is eff ective starting HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has sent a written message to Emir of Kuwait Premier and Minister of defence containing an invitation for the defence ministers of the Gulf from its date of issue and is to be Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah pertaining to relations between Qatar and Kuwait. HE the Co-operation Council meeting with US Defence Secretary scheduled to be held in Riyadh during published in the off icial gazette. Minister of Foreign Aff airs Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani handed over the message when the current April. The ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Qatar Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Aifan handed Emir of Kuwait met him at Al-Seif Palace yesterday. over the message when HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs met him yesterday. Emir issues decree on media tie-up with Sri Lanka

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hot day, rain Hamad al-Thani issued yesterday Emiri decree No. 21 of 2016 endorsing a Memorandum of forecast in Understanding on co-operation in the media sector between Qatar’s oldest petrol the governments of Qatar and the evening Sri Lanka signed in the city of Colombo on 24.3.2015 which text is attached to this decree. It shall hot day is expected in have the power of law according Qatar today, followed by to Article 68 of the Constitution. Arain and thunder in some The decree is eff ective starting places and strong winds by the from its date of issue and is to be evening. station set to close published in the off icial gazette. Strong winds and high seas, due to thundery conditions, are he 63-year-old Doha Emir sends also likely in off shore areas, ac- Petrol Station (DPS) in cording to the weather offi ce. TMsheireb will be closed condolences The Qatar Met department, starting tomorrow, according to to Saudi king through a post on its social announcements published in lo- media outlets yesterday, said cal newspapers yesterday. while there is a possibility of But a visit to the station yester- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin scattered rain this evening, day morning found the premises Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy the chances of thundershow- barricaded, preventing vehicles Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad ers will increase tomorrow and from refi lling at the station’s 16 al-Thani and HE the Prime on Thursday, and continue on dispensers. It was however re- Minister and Minister of Interior Friday. vealed in the evening that the Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin On Sunday, the Met depart- station would resume operations Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables ment had said another spell of today and would close down only of condolences to the Custodian rain was expected in the country tomorrow as announced. of the Two Holy Mosques King due to the infl uence of a low- The closure announcement Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud pressure system between Tues- also requested coupon holders to of Saudi Arabia on the death of day afternoon and Friday. visit the DPS offi ce (opposite to Princess Misha’el bint Faisal bin Today’s forecast says it will be Al Jaidah tower and a few blocks Turki I bin Abudulaziz al-Saud. relatively hot during the day and from the National Human Rights partly cloudy to cloudy condi- Committee building) to claim QC takes part tions are also expected. refunds within two weeks. There is a chance of scattered Known as the fi rst petrol sta- in Arab Labour rain in some places, which may tion in the country, a source told Conference be accompanied by thunder, by Gulf Times that the DPS has been the evening. serving about 6,000 vehicles a The wind speed may go up to day during its round-the-clock A delegation from Qatar 30 knots during the thunder- operation. Chamber, represented by its showers. An automated teller machine Chairman, HE Sheikh Khalifa Off shore areas will remain at the petrol station was re- bin Jassem al-Thani is taking partly cloudy to cloudy and moved by bank personnel re- part at the 43rd session of there is a possibility of scattered cently, a source said. The Doha Petrol Station used to serve an estimated 6,000 vehicles daily. the Arab Labour Conference rain and thunder by the evening. Many motorists passing by the currently underway in Cairo The wind speed there may reach area seemed to be clueless on DPS’ that a privately-owned petrol petrol stations have to do it ei- Petrol Centre on the C Ring Road failure to speed up refi lling due with the participation of 21 Arab 25 knots during the thunder- closure as they tried to enter the station in Lusail city was closed ther before 6am or late in the was also closed down last week, to the lack of enough personnel governments represented by showers, with the sea level rising station yesterday to make refi lls. recently. However, it resumed evening,” he said. “Otherwise, leading to long lines at almost all to man each dispenser and lanes. ministers of labour along with to 7ft. “I was actually thinking of re- operations after some time due the waiting time will be longer.” the Woqod stations. Motorists A motorist said in some cases Arab and international figures The minimum and maximum fi lling at this petrol station but I to the huge number of vehicles It is also being observed that have complained of wasting pre- there is only one attendant for working in the field in economic temperatures in the country to- was not aware it is closed now,” which had diffi culty looking for the long queues of motorists cious time, waiting for their turn every four dispensers, and in and social development. day are likely to be 22C and 36C, said an Asian expatriate who was alternative refi lling stations. now a days extend up to the road at petrol stations. some cases some lanes are left The conference will tackle respectively, with the forecast trying to look for a parking slot. “Now, drivers like me who outside the petrol station, block- Some motorists have also unattended which slows down issues of joint Arab action for Doha being 23C and 36C. Another motorist disclosed want to avoid long queues at ing the fl ow of traffi c. The Doha complained of petrol stations’ the refi lling of vehicles. in all administrative work and production, ways to develop relations between Qatar Chamber trains law college pupils parties of production and development of the social Qatar University College of Law (QU-LAWC) has given Qatar Chamber dialogue in addition to (QC) a certificate of appreciation for training 10 of its students as part of issuing agreements and MEC recalls two brands of edible oil an external training programme of the college. recommendations of the The Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration at QC Arab action and follow-up had provided training to the 10 students of QU-LAWC in order to spread actions taken by the member he Ministry of Economy protect consumer rights. goods. An item is considered who will take the appropriate ac- awareness of related issues and equip the students with the necessary states for their ratification and and Commerce (MEC) has The laboratory results con- fraudulent or corrupt if it has tion in order to protect the rights professional skills. implementation, said Qatar Trecalled two brands of ed- fi rmed that the fi rst sample did expired or fails to meet standard of consumers. The training focused on both the theoretical and practical aspects Chamber in a statement. ible oil from the market for being not comply with the specifi ca- specifi cations. The ministry has urged all of commercial arbitration and included field visits to some courts to of substandard quality. tions in terms of its fatty acid Penalties for violations of the consumers to report violations introduce the students to the nature of work there. Qatar to host In a statement yesterday, the content, while the second one law on consumer protection in- to its Consumer Protection and MEC said it carried out an unan- contained a higher-than-per- clude administrative closures Anti-Commercial Fraud depart- Lawyers committee holds meeting Sino-Arab Forum nounced inspection campaign mitted quantity of antioxidants and a minimum fee of QR3,000, ment and send complaints and - targeting edible oil vendors - (TBHQ, E391) vis-à-vis GCC going up to QR1mn. suggestions through the call The Lawyers Admission Committee met yesterday under the The Arab League’s permanent and collected samples of cook- specifi cations, the statement The MEC stressed that it centre (16001), e-mail (info@ chairmanship of the Minister of Justice Dr Hassan bin Lahdan al- representatives will hold today ing oil in order to ensure their noted. would intensify its inspection mec.gov.qa), Twitter (MEC_QA- Mohannadi who is also chairman of the Committee. a consultative meeting under conformity with standard speci- The products were recalled campaigns to crack down on all TAR), Instagram (MEC_QA- The committee discussed topics on its agenda and took a number of the chairmanship of Qatar’s fi cations. in accordance with Article 5 of violations of the consumer pro- TAR) and the MEC application decisions. ambassador to Egypt and its The inspection campaign was Law No 8 of 2008, which pro- tection law. It will refer violators for smartphones available on The committee discussed the topics on the agenda and took the Permanent Delegate to the Arab part of the ministry’s eff orts to hibits the sale, display or adver- of laws and ministerial decrees iPhone and Android devices appropriate decisions. It also underlined the need for lawyers who did League Saif bin Muqaddam crack down on violations and tising of fraudulent and corrupt to the competent authorities, (MEC_QATAR). not pay their annual fees to pay their dues. al-Bueinain in an eff ort to co- ordinate positions among the Arab side with regard to the upcoming 7th ministerial session of the Sino-Arab Forum at the level of foreign ministers. The Forum will be hosted by Qatar on QNRF, British Council bring FameLab to Qatar May 11-12. Advisory Council total of 12 scientists from Qa- in the fi nals at the London International tar pitched their projects at the Science Youth Forum, where she will holds meeting Aworld’s largest science commu- meet with other young scientists from nications competition, FameLab 2016, all around the world. The Advisory Council yesterday for the fi rst time in Doha. The global ini- Frank Fitzpatrick, country director, held its weekly meeting under tiative gave participants with a passion British Council, Qatar said: “It is the fi rst the chairmanship of HE the for public engagement just three min- time that we have staged this tried and Deputy Speaker Issa bin Rabia al- utes to present a project of their choice. tested British Council competition in any Kuwari. The Council reviewed the A British Council initiative, in partner- Gulf country. The success that we have approved agenda and endorsed ship with The Times Cheltenham Science had is the fruit of an outstanding collabo- the minutes of its previous Festival and Qatar National Research Fund ration with our strategic partner, Qatar meeting. (QNRF), the event was held in collabora- National Research Fund, and our delivery The Council also read a memo tion with the Ministry of Education and partners, the Ministry of Education and by the Cabinet’s General Higher Education, Qatar University and Participants of the first FameLab competition held in Qatar. Higher Education and Qatar University.” Secretariat addressed to the Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU). The international competition has been Interior Ministry on the Council’s More than 65 students, 45 teachers and After each contestant delivered their “FameLab Qatar – in its fi rst cycle with the public,” said Dr Abdul Sattar al- hosted in more than 40 countries since recommendations about a 55 researchers applied to take part in the presentation before an audience and a – has proven to be an innovative plat- Taie, executive director of QNRF. its launch in 2007, and it aims to fi nd and request for a general discussion inaugural event. Divided into two catego- panel of judges, Aida Ra’fat was awarded form for enabling young scientists, high Aida Ra’fat will now go on to take part mentor the new voices of science from on the delays in issuing licences ries, 12 participants made it through to the fi rst place in the ‘Aspiring Scientists’ school students, teachers and engineers in the international FameLab fi nal held across the world and engage the public to facilities by the General national fi nal, which was held at HBKU’s category, and Ro’aa Adel was the overall in Qatar to share their passion for sci- at The Times Cheltenham Science Fes- with science, technology, engineering and Directorate of Civil Defence. The Student Centre in Education City. winner of the ‘Young Scientists’ contest. ence, technology, engineering and maths tival in June. Ro’aa Adel will participate mathematics, otherwise known as STEM. Council then took note of it. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 3 QATAR

Ooredoo CEO highlights growing NHRC chief opens Asia Pacifi c Forum’s sub-regional offi ce importance of smart city solutions he Asia Pacifi c Forum (APF) sub-regional offi ce Twas inaugurated yester- he growing importance of deployment of smart technol- these assets are among the day in Doha by Dr Ali bin Smaikh smart city solutions and ogy, he said. very best available, providing al-Marri, chairman of the Na- Tservices were highlighted Ooredoo Qatar CEO outlined 4G, 4G+ and nationwide Fibre tional Human Rights Committee by Ooredoo Qatar Chief Ex- how municipalities in the GCC across our markets in the Middle (NHRC) along with APF Secre- ecutive Offi cer Waleed al-Sayed region have the opportunity to East, North Africa, and South- tariat director Kieren Fitzpatrick. yesterday at the Arab Future Cit- learn from the successes and east Asia,” said al-Sayed On the sidelines of the open- ies Summit. challenges faced by cities in Asia Al-Sayed demonstrated ing, Dr al-Marri stressed that Speaking at the opening cer- and the Americas, and apply Ooredoo’s role at the forefront of Qatar is a good place for human emony, he hoped more than these lessons in order to take a building smart cities by provid- rights work, and NHRC plays a two-third of the human race leadership position in the devel- ing the required network infra- key role in enhancing the protec- would reside in the cities by opment of future cities. structure and connectivity, and tion of human rights not only lo- 2050. As of now, it is around In particular, Qatar is already through signing strategic agree- cally but also on the regional and 54%, he said while mentioning moving to the forefront of these ments with leading technology international levels. that increasing number of peo- discussions, ranking number providers to jointly develop so- He pointed out that the new ple are moving into the cities one among Arab nations on Waleed al-Sayed speaking at the lutions. sub-regional offi ce acts as a these days. the World’s Economic Forum’s Arab Future Cities Summit In particular, Ooredoo is a key branch for APF, which covers all This pace of urbanisation Networked Readiness Index, he yesterday: PICTURE: Jayan partner of the fi rst-ever Smart national human rights organisa- is creating signifi cant prob- said. Orma City in Qatar – the state-of-the- tions in Asia and Pacifi c region. lems, from rising congestion “As operators, we provide the art Lusail City – which will be The offi ce will be concerned to increased pollution – which fi xed and mobile network as- smart cities around the world. supported by Ooredoo’s Super- with technical and administra- could only be addressed by the sets that are the foundation for Ooredoo has strived to ensure net and Fibre network. tive matters, but not with ob- serving the status of human rights in any of the areas under its jurisdiction. However, in co-operation Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri and Kieren Fitzpatrick inaugurate the APF with concerned entities, it would sub-regional off ice in Doha yesterday. Customs foils bid to smuggle in marijuana, gold conduct documented studies on the issues independent of ‘any Dr al-Marri said that NHRC’s from United Nations High Com- unreliable media reports that hosting the APF offi ce indicates missioner for Human Rights, the he General Authority of Customs promote particular agendas.’ its commitment to maintain United Nations Development (GAC) inspectors at the Hamad In- The APF is a coalition of 22 close co-operation with its re- Fund, the Arab Network for Hu- Tternational Airport have foiled sepa- national human rights institu- gional partners. man Rights, GCC countries and rate attempts to smuggle in 17.8kg of mari- tions from all parts of the region, The opening ceremony was the civil societies organisations juana and evade paying customs charges for including NHRC. attended by representatives at the Arab countries. 6.5kg of gold bars and coins worth more than QR600,000. The seized marijuana was spotted when an air cargo employee doubted a cargo com- ing from an African country and wrapped in a strange manner. When the cargo was Case against director of Kindergarten scanned and searched manually by GAC in- spectors, marijuana was found hidden within Al-Mohannadi honouring one of the customs food containers after being mixed with vari- off icers. Doha Misdemeanour partments there, the latter was number of labour violations ous types of food to avoid detection. Court is hearing a case unwilling to show her around. there, including modifi cations The seized gold was found with an Asian to another offi cer for a full search. Small pack- Ain which a director of a The director tried to limit the in the attendance records of traveller coming from another GCC country. ets were found under his belt inside his clothes, kindergarten is accused of ob- movement of the inspector in- employees and non-payment of He approached the GAC offi cers asking for a and others were found tied to his thighs. A total structing the work of a labour side the kindergarten and did overtime dues, according to the form to list the gold pieces he had as a transit of 84 pieces of gold were recovered. The other GAC off icer who was honoured. inspector. not give her access to the rel- report. traveller. The customs offi cer reviewed the GAC president Ahmed bin Ali al-Mohan- According to local Arabic daily evant records and information, Further, the inspector accused pieces he had in his bag and gave him a state- nadi honoured the two GAC employees who sional training courses. Arrayah, when the offi cer from the daily said. the kindergarten of not operat- ment to the eff ect. managed to foil the smuggling attempts. He Air Cargo Management and Private Air- the Labour Inspection Depart- Eventually, though, the in- ing the surveillance cameras at But, when the traveller was proceeding to fi - also affi rmed that GAC would continue to ports director Ahmed al-Khanji also praised ment asked the kindergarten di- spector was given full access to all times, as required. nalise his travel procedures, the customs offi cer fully support its employees and raise their the effi ciency and alertness of the employees rector to show her the records of the place following an extended The case is being reviewed by in charge doubted his conduct and referred him level of alertness through various profes- concerned. the facility and the various de- waiting period. She spotted a the court. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 QATAR

A view of the audience. Arab Future Cities Summit opens

By Ramesh Mathew necessity for co-ordination Staff Reporter between the three sectors, the Minister said such co- ordination is essential for the he advances taking overall development of Qa- place in information tar, which aims to become a Ttechnology, telecom- knowledge-based economy. munications and transport “The country is expected fi elds would go a long way in to benefi t from the excel- turning Qatar into a knowl- lent co-ordination between edge-based economy in line these three sectors and with the goals enshrined in such an initiative would be- the Qatar National Vision come the driving force of its 2030, said HE Jassim Seif economic growth,” he said. Ahmed al-Sulaiti, the Min- The four pillars of the ister of Transport and Com- National Vision envision munications, at the opening overall economic growth, of the Arab Future Cities social development, eff ec- HE Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti speaking at the opening Summit yesterday. tive environment manage- session of the Arab Future Cities Summit yesterday. Al-Sulaiti and HE Mo- ment and enhancing human PICTURE: Jayan Orma hamed bin Abdullah al-Ru- capabilities. maihi, the Minister of Mu- The Minister said coex- Ooredoo Group chief execu- The summit is being held nicipality and Environment, istence of both private and tive offi cer Waleed al-Sayeed, under the patronage of the inaugurated the summit for public sectors is essential Q-Post chairman Faleh al- Ministry of Transport and experts from telecommu- for the country’s economic Naiemi and Assistant Under- Communications and the nications, IT and transport progress. secretary for Digital Society Ministry of Municipality fi elds. Besides, the Transport and Sector Development Reem and Environment. Ooredoo While highlighting the Communication Minister, al-Mansoori also spoke. is the title sponsor. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 5 QATAR French visa for Qataris within 48 hours: envoy

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter

here has been 20% increase in the Tnumber of visas is- sued to France from Qatar during 2015 compared to 2014. “The total number of visas issued in 2015 from Qatar amounted to over 31,000. More than half of them were for Qatari na- tionals,” French ambas- sador Eric Chevallier said yesterday. The ambassador was ad- dressing an event to high- light the scope of tourism in France as well as the facili- ties off ered by the embassy to get a Schengen visa for visiting the country. Eric Chevallier addressing an event yesterday. PICTURE: Najeer Feroke “All Qatari citizens will be provided visa in 48 hours also set up a very effi cient He observed that France proaching, the country is while other residents will be visa application system is one of the most sought expected to witness a rush able to get the visa within which is very comfortable, after destinations in the in travellers. He advised two weeks through Capago smooth and easy. We hope world with a total of 85mn those who plan to travel to Mena, the offi cial agency the number of visitors from tourists visiting the coun- France to take an appoint- to handle the visa proc- Qatar will improve this year try in 2015. “We expect to ment as early as possible ess for France in Qatar,” too,” he continued. attract 100mn visitors by before the holiday season to Chevallier said. The ambassador high- 2020. Our government has avoid any delays. Capago Mena now also lighted that France has in- been enhancing its eff orts During the event Ca- off ers a ‘doorstep applica- creased the security level to welcome guests in the pago Mena announced the tion’ for all, whereby one for the visitors. “We have best conditions by further launch of its new magazine agent off ers a personalised also increased the facilities. developing infrastructures entitled “My French Link”, service at home or offi ce for There is also an improved and reinforcing security dedicated to promoting the application procedure. quality mechanism for taxis measures in all tourist France. A short movie, pro- “We believe that the at the airport. We have in- areas and monuments,” duced by some Qatari youth number will go up as we creased security measures he added. about their latest visit to promote various destina- among several areas espe- The envoy also noted that France, was also screened at tions in France. We have cially since last year.” as the summer is fast ap- the event. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 QATAR HBKU centre to take part in London event

he Muhammad Bin lished by the English pub- Hamad Al Thani lishing house Garnet. TCentre for Muslim CMCC participated in Contribution to Civilisa- a similar book fair in Oc- tion (CMCC) at the Qatar tober 2014 in Frankfurt, Faculty of Islamic Stud- Germany, at which Dr ies, a college of Hamad Bin Aisha al-Mannai, direc- Khalifa University (HBKU), tor of the Centre, spoke will be participating in the about the ‘Contribution London Book Fair for the of Qatar in the Dialogue fi rst time this year. of Civilisations.’ CMCC’s The fair is scheduled to series of translated texts take place from April 12 to 14 has generated a number of in Olympia, London, where positive reviews from the the centre will display its international community, English publications under inspiring the Centre to its series “Great Books of Is- consider developing ad- lamic Civilisation.” ditional translations of its The store was reopened at Lagoona Mall on April 9. Established with the books into French, Span- aim of providing non-Ar- ish, German and Chinese. abic speakers with access “I am proud to see the Dr Aisha Yousef al-Mannai to scholarly works which Muhammad Bin Hamad Al underscore the contribu- Thani Centre for Muslim iSpace Store reopens at Lagoona Mall tions Muslims have made Contribution to Civilisa- to human civilisation, the tion participating in the CMCC has translated a London Book Fair this year,” pple Premium Reseller iSpace director of Darwish Holding. “Cus- all-new Force Touch trackpad; the 27- number of major works by al-Mannai said. “The Great Store reopened at Lagoona Mall tomers who want to learn more about inch iMac with Retina 5K display with Muslim scholars, spanning Books of Islamic Civilisation Arecently. Apple’s products and other items can a breathtaking 14.7mn pixels; and OS X the period from the 1st to series highlights the contri- The store off ers customers the op- now get personal attention from our El Capitan, the world’s most advanced the 9th century AH. butions of Islamic scholars portunity to learn about and experience many dedicated Apple-trained con- desktop operating system,” the state- The “Great Books of Is- to science and philosophy Apple’s products and solutions, includ- sultants.” ment said. lamic Civilisation” series and constitutes a whole li- ing the Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch and “At iSpace Store, trained consult- iSpace also off ers a wide range of pre- covers a wide range of sub- brary of informative and en- iPad, with a wide range of accessories, ants are available to help customers mium accessories from brands such as jects such as law, theology, lightening Islamic scholastic according to a statement. learn about all the latest products from Bose, Beats, B&O Play, Yamaha, Belkin, jurisprudence, history and works.” “We are excited to re-open iSpace Apple, including iPhone 6s and iPhone Monster and Speck, fi tness trackers like politics, literature, medi- The books translated by the Store at Lagoona Mall after redesign- 6s Plus, the most advanced iPhones Fitbit and Jawbone, as well as fashion cine, astronomy, optics and CMCC have been success- ing the store to the latest design in- ever; Apple Watch, as individual as accessories such as Ted Baker, iOrigin, geography. These books are ful in correcting a number of novation approved by Apple, where you are; iPad Pro, thin. light. epic; iPad Moshi and more. authoritative sources in misconceptions about Islam customers will receive a fi rst-class Air 2, thin and powerful; iPad mini 4, Apple-trained staff members are their fi elds, with each pub- and Muslim civilisations. shopping experience,” said Bader al- now with Touch ID; the 13-inch Mac- present to off er advice to both con- Darwish, chairman and managing Book Pro with Retina display with the sumer and professional customers. Man jailed for not paying car rent A Doha Misdemeanour being the rent of the car Court has sentenced an for six months. He had Quality appointed Unikai dealer Asian man to three months given four signed cheques in jail for failing to pay the to cover the rent, but they rent of a car, local Arabic bounced for lack of suff icient daily Arrayah reported funds. Upon reviewing the yesterday. The owner of the submitted documents and car, a real estate company, the testimony of witnesses, had complained that the ac- the court convicted the cused did not pay QR14,400, defendant.

Qatar Foods and Services, the wholesale division of Quality Group International, announced that it has been appointed the sole dealer of Unikai food products in Qatar. The agreement was signed by Shamsudheen Olakara, chairman, Quality Group International and Neeraj Vohra, managing director of UAE-based Unikai Foods. Unikai, a company with a 40-year heritage, mainly produces milk and dairy products including ice-creams. Basmati rice, juices, snacks, yoghurt and margarine are also included in their product line. Quality Group general manager Moideen K, finance controller Mins Mathew and Unikai’s export manager Yasar al-Hamar were also present at the agreement signing ceremony.

Win Suzuki car with Ooredoo Mobile Money

oredoo has announced a new the company has said in a statement. according to the statement. competition for Ooredoo Mo- New customers can register for mo- Users can also top up any Hala ac- Obile Money (OMM) customers, bile money for free with a valid Qatar count (with 10% extra recharge bo- giving them a chance to win a brand- ID at any Ooredoo shop, by dialling nus), recharge data (with 25% extra new Suzuki car when they transfer *140# or by downloading the free recharge bonus), pay Ooredoo bills or money internationally or buy Oore- “Ooredoo Money” app on their mobile send money locally to another mo- doo services via the company’s mobile and following the on-screen instruc- bile, “securely and reliably 24 hours a money service. tions. day, seven days a week”, the statement Anyone who registers for OMM Once cash is deposited into a mo- adds. and uses the service to make an in- bile money wallet at any Ooredoo For more information, customers ternational money transfer, purchase shop or through Ooredoo self-serv- can ask about OMM at an Ooredoo a Hala top-up, pay their Ooredoo ice machines, customers can then use shop or visit the mobile money sec- bills or recharge data or the Ooredoo the mobile wallet balance to transfer tion on the Ooredoo website at https:// Passport by July 10 will automatical- money home to 200 countries, using www.ooredoo.qa/portal/OoredooQa- ly be entered into the competition, MoneyGram for a fee “as low as QR1”, tar/win-a-suzuki-car

Al-Kuwari holds talks in Pretoria r Hamad bin Ab- gramme as something South dulaziz al-Kuwari, Africa benefi ted from. DQatar’s candidate to Al-Kuwari later visited the post of Unesco Director- the Nelson Mandela Foun- General, and Adviser at the dation, which aims to com- Emiri Diwan, yesterday met bat racism and promote South Africa’s Minister of peace. He met researchers Basic Education Angie Mot- at the foundation to discuss shekga in Pretoria. his vision for Unesco. The Al-Kuwari explained his foundation endorsed al-Ku- vision as Qatar’s nominee, wari for the role and wished stressing that enhancing the him well. Today, he will at- role of education will be a tend a ceremony along with big part of his tenure. a number of diplomats and Motshekga hailed Qatar’s South African offi cials. role in improving education Al-Kuwari will speak at services worldwide. She the ceremony about his vi- highlighted the role of Edu- sion for Unesco, focusing cation Above All initiative particularly on the organi- and its Educate a Child pro- sation’s role in Africa. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 7 QATAR QA wins ‘Best In-fl ight Duty Free’ honour Off icials of Jaidah Automotive and ACDelco with staff , retail customers and suppliers at the celebratory event. atar Airways has an- airline said in a statement duty-free has always been re- nounced that its cus- yesterday. garded by our passengers as Jaidah celebrates ACDelco Qtomer experience has The in-fl ight duty-free one of the fi nest in quality and “again been recognised for its award comes just weeks after product range, and this award industry leadership position”, Qatar Airway’s hub, Hamad recognises our customers’ sat- having received the “Best In- International Airport (HIA), isfaction as well as Qatar Duty fl ight Duty Free” accolade for was announced as the world’s Free’s dedication to providing battery sales milestone the Middle East and Africa fi fth best airport for shopping an exceptional shopping expe- 2016 at the Pax International at the 2016 Skytrax World Air- rience to all passengers fl ying Readers’ Awards. port Awards. with Qatar Airways.” aidah Automotive, exclusive extraordinary year for the company. ing Co, Ali International Trading Qatar, which is one of our key The annual awards for “the Qatar Duty Free operates the The airline off ers a “hand- dealer of Chevrolet in Qa- ACDelco maintenance-free EST, Falcon Trading EST, Doha markets,” said Bader El-Houssa- industry’s most deserving 40,000sqm duty-free shop- picked selection of aff ordable Jtar, has recorded a 20% an- batteries are designed specifi - Motors and TRD. Co, Khalid Seif mi – ACDelco regional sales and players” are selected by read- ping emporium at HIA, in- and luxury brands” that make nual increase in sales of ACDelco cally to handle Middle East con- Auto Spare Parts, Woqod Fuel, marketing manager. ers of the travel trade title, Pax cluding 70 boutiques and more in-fl ight shopping an essential maintenance-free batteries. ditions, and can be fi tted to al- Al Fajer Auto Spare Parts, Hot Salim Ayadi, quality engineer International, over a period of than 30 cafés and restaurants. part of every passenger’s jour- To celebrate the milestone, Jai- most any vehicle, he said. Speed Center, Euro Trade WLL, from the Middle East Battery six months. Qatar Airways Group chief ney. dah IAM (Independent Aftermar- “Jadiah’s battery custom- and Mohamed Al Sharafi . Company, presented the lat- “The wide selection of lux- executive Akbar al-Baker said, Qatar Airways’ in-fl ight duty ket) division hosted a celebratory ers have supported the group to “We at ACDelco and Gen- est “Stamped Grid” technology ury and aff ordable brands in “We curate a specifi c, exclusive free magazine, ‘Extravaganza’, day for over 130 of its wholesale achieve 45% market share, re- eral Motors put our customers used in new ACDelco mainte- Qatar Airways’ in-fl ight duty- collection of market-leading introduces passengers to a col- and retail customers, suppliers markable result in the local bat- are at the centre of everything nance-free batteries. “The new free programmes were com- duty-free products for our lection of more than 170 in- and Jaidah Automotive staff . tery business,” the offi cial stated. we do. We are delighted that we technology is effi cient and ro- mended, together with com- guests travelling across our fl ight products, off ering a bal- Ulf Sebecke, managing di- At the event, Jaidah awarded have Jaidah Automotive so well bust, lasting signifi cantly long- petitive prices and outstanding global network. ance of classic best-sellers and rector, Jaidah Automotive, re- some of their key clients, includ- placed to deliver quality prod- er than other manufacturing customer service levels,” the “Qatar Airways’ in-fl ight contemporary new launches. called that 2015 has been an ing Marhaba International Trad- ucts and services to people in methods,” he claimed.

Fashion show to feature collections by VCUQatar students

Innovative and creative designs Diana Haddad, will be the guest Tajmeel Qatar International Training course for 30 HMC physiotherapists from fashion students at Virginia designer at the show. He will Beauty Academy, Makeup Commonwealth University in present his most recent ready- District, Bombay Silk Centre, and Qatar (VCUQatar) will be on to-wear collection. Sara’s Secrets. he physiotherapy depart- of its therapists in administering as to help reduce pain,” she added. ing an adhesive tape technique display this week at ‘Reach’ - the ‘Reach’ will also showcase the Salam Stores, the W Doha ment at Rumailah Hospi- the latest techniques and de- The McConnell Institute and specifi c muscle training. university’s 17th annual fashion individual vision, creativity, Hotel, and Glam magazine will Ttal, in collaboration with livering high quality healthcare provides training for physical “We at HMC’s physiotherapy show. and styles of VCUQatar’s present awards that include the Australian-based McConnell services to all patients. therapists, athletic trainers and department are always keen to Hosted by Salam Stores at The students. opportunities for the students Institute, organised a training “The McConnell concept is other healthcare practitioners adopt evidence-based models of Gate Mall, the show will feature The collections on show will to use dedicated space at course on manual physiotherapy a novel therapeutic technique to improve the management of treatment to ensure that our pa- collections of sophomore, junior, present an eclectic mix of day Salam Stores, platforms to for around 30 physiotherapists developed by Australian physi- chronic musculoskeletal prob- tients are provided with safe and and senior fashion students. The to evening looks that reflect showcase collections at W from HMC. otherapist, Jenny McConnell, lems. The McConnell concept eff ective care,” added al-Mudahka. three-day show will begin today. the singular aesthetic of each Hotels, and a magazine fashion Noora al-Mudahka, chief of and is based on the use of an ad- for the management of muscu- Manual physiotherapy ex- The timing is from 6.30pm to student and their individual spread. the physiotherapy department, hesive tape on aff ected areas of loskeletal problems is based on pert and faculty member at the 7.30pm. concepts. Tickets cost QR50 and can be said that the course was aligned the body to enable mechanical understanding both the symp- renowned Australian Neurody- Rami al-Ali, whose collections The event is being supported by purchased online from http:// to HMC’s commitment to up- realignment and the correction toms and the causative factors, namic Institute, Alvio Alpacini have been worn by the likes of W Doha Hotel, Glam magazine, www.qatar.vcu.edu/events/ grading the skills and effi ciency of misalignments in joints as well and addressing each of these us- led lectures at the course. Beyoncé, Aishwarya Rai, and Guerlain, Carolina Herrera, reach-fashion-show-1 Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD Yemen truce takes hold, raising peace talks hopes

AFP country and raised Middle East province, and accused loyalists Marib tensions, with Saudi Arabia and of being behind 33 truce viola- its allies backing the government tions north and east of Sanaa, as and Iran supporting the rebels. well as in the south. UN-brokered ceasefi re Militants including from Al Five soldiers were killed in was taking hold in Yemen Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula clashes with rebels in Marib Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomes Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman of Saudi Arabia upon his arrival at Ayesterday despite spo- (AQAP), the powerful Yemeni province and Taiz, military Esenboga Airport in Ankara yesterday. radic clashes, raising hopes that branch of the extremist net- sources said. peace talks due next week may work, have exploited the confl ict A committee of representa- fi nally resolve the country’s dev- to seize territory and gain infl u- tives from both sides will try to astating confl ict. ence. ensure the ceasefi re is respected. Forces loyal to President Abd- But pressure had been build- Coalition spokesman Brigadier Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the Shia ing for the ceasefi re and there are General Ahmed Assiri earlier de- Red carpet welcome for Houthi rebels who drove his hopes it can be the cornerstone of scribed the violations as “minor”. government out of the capital, a long-lasting peace deal that can “It is the fi rst day and we and the Saudi-led coalition that be hammered out at talks taking should be patient,” the top Saudi intervened in Yemen last year all place from April 18 in Kuwait. offi cer said. “Day by day, it will be pledged to honour the truce that General Mohamed Ali al-Mak- better.” King Salman in Turkey took eff ect at midnight yesterday. dashi, the chief of staff for Hadi’s An AFP photographer in Sanaa The UN special envoy for Yem- forces, said early yesterday the said the rebel-held capital has en, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, ceasefi re was largely holding de- not been targeted by coalition AFP protocol and showing the im- ganisation of Islamic Co-oper- longings had all been shipped to called the ceasefi re “a fi rst step in spite some violations by rebels. warplanes since Sunday. Ankara portance Turkey attaches to the ation (OIC) summit in Istanbul Turkey in cargo planes. Yemen’s return to peace”. “The truce has not collapsed Prime Minister Ahmed bin visit. on Thursday and Friday after Saudi Arabia and Turkey have “This is critical, urgent and and we hope the rebels end their Dagher also played down vio- Television footage showed the wrapping up talks in the Turkish co-operated closely over the much needed. Yemen cannot af- attacks and respect the cease- lations, saying that the truce audi King Salman arrived king, wearing black sunglasses, capital. fi ve-year Syrian war. ford the loss of more lives,” he fi re,” he said, alleging breaches “seems good”, adding after in Turkey yesterday for a serenely descending from the A 300-person Saudi delega- In February, Saudi jets ar- said. in several areas including the cit- meeting the UN envoy in Riyadh Svisit aimed at tightening plane with a special escalator tion had earlier arrived in An- rived at Incirlik air base in Previous eff orts to stop the ies of Taiz in the southwest and that “we want a durable peace”. increasingly close ties between rather than steps before being kara to co-ordinate the king’s southern Turkey to join the air fi ghting in Yemen - which has Marib east of Sanaa. A UN spokesman said the ces- the two countries, receiving a welcomed by Erdogan. accommodation and deal with campaign against Islamic State killed thousands and forced Loyalists accused Houthis of sation of hostilities was “largely lavish welcome that underlined King Salman is expected to security issues, the Hurriyet militants. more than 2mn people from their 25 violations around Taiz, where holding”, while noting “some the strength of relations. hold talks today at Erdogan’s newspaper said. Turkey will take over the homes - collapsed amid mutual one civilian was killed in rebel pockets of violence. The 80-year-old king was presidential palace in Ankara Five hundred luxurious Mer- OIC’s rotating presidency from recriminations. bombing. The UN says more than 6,300 welcomed at Ankara airport expected to focus on the Syrian cedes, BMW and Audi cars had Egypt at the Istanbul summit, The confl ict in the impov- The rebels, meanwhile, said people have been killed in Yemen by a delegation personally led confl ict and the fi ght against been hired for the king’s trans- which is seen as a new bid by erished Arabian Peninsula na- in a statement there was at least in the past 12 months, around by President Recep Tayyip Er- militants. port in Ankara and Istanbul, it Erdogan to showcase Turkey’s tion has ruined large parts of the one coalition air strike in Taiz half of them civilians. dogan, in an unusual break from He will then attend the Or- added. The king’s personal be- infl uence in the Islamic world. Saudi king ends landmark Egypt visit

AFP Cairo

audi King Salman on Monday wrapped up a landmark fi ve-day Svisit to Egypt marked by lavish praise and multibillion-dollar invest- ment deals, in a clear sign of support for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regime. The 80-year-old monarch’s visit came as Riyadh aims to shore up ties with Cairo. The visit also highlights Saudi Ara- bia’s fi rm support for Egypt’s fi ght against the militant Islamic State group. “The other mission that we should work on together is the fi ght against extremism and the fi ght against ter- rorism,” King Salman said on Sunday in an address to the Egyptian parlia- ment. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman of Saudi Arabia receiving a Yesterday, he was awarded an hon- honorary doctorate degree from Jaber Nassar, the head of Cairo›s University,. orary doctorate from Cairo University. Over the past fi ve days, King Salman Analysts said Salman’s visit puts to Gerges, professor of Middle East poli- and Sisi signed a slew of multibillion- rest months of reports in Saudi and tics at the London School of Econom- dollar investment deals that included a Egyptian media of strained ties be- ics and Political Science. plan to build a bridge over the Red Sea tween the two countries over Cairo’s Following Salman’s visit, Egypt connecting Saudi Arabia and Egypt. unwillingness to participate fully in would now be expected to off er more Egypt also agreed to demarcate its Saudi-led operations against Iran- vocal support for Saudi Arabia when it maritime borders with Saudi Arabia backed Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen. comes to Iran and Yemen, he said. by offi cially placing two islands in the Egypt had announced it would back “The Egyptians are basically going Straits of Tiran in Saudi territory. Saudi Arabia with ground forces if to convince the Saudis that they are The agreement provoked an im- needed, but appears to have balked at in the same trench when it comes to mediate backlash in Egypt, with sending troops for fear of becoming the Saudis’ existential fi ght with Iran, thousands of Twitter users accusing mired in the confl ict. and Saudi Arabia too seems to be very Sisi of selling the islands. The islands “The two countries realise that committed to Egyptian national secu- had historically been Saudi and were common interests outweigh their rity and the Sisi administration,” said “leased” to Egypt in 1950. practical diff erences,” said Fawaz Gerges.

US woman on trial for ‘insulting’ UAE Libya coastguard An American woman who has been in custody for seven weeks in Abu Dhabi for allegedly insulting the UAE and its leaders appeared in court yesterday, rescues 115 migrants local media reported. The unnamed woman, 25, is charged with “insulting the country and its AFP UN refugee agency staff gave them leaders through verbal assault,” Tripoli clothes and food, as well as fi rst aid to English-language daily The National some, as buses arrived to take them to said. detention centres in Tripoli. She told the court that she was waiting ibya’s coastguard yesterday Libya has long been a stepping for a taxi at Abu Dhabi airport when rescued 155 migrants east of stone for migrants seeking a better two men approached her and did not LTripoli who had been trying to life in Europe, with Italy some 300km like the way she spoke to them. reach Europe by boat, an offi cial said. (185 miles) away across the Mediter- The woman told the court she did not “We were told that a boat with ranean. know why she was on trial. The case people of African nationalities on Smugglers have stepped up their is being treated as a misdemeanour. board was in trouble off Ghout Rum- lucrative business in the chaos that “The men tried to help me. I had man,” coastguard Colonel Ashraf al- has followed the 2011 ouster of another flight to catch at 1:29am. I Badri said, adding that the informa- longtime dictator Muammar Gadd- refused to engage with them and tion came from fi shermen. afi. nothing happened,” the paper cited “We found the boat and rescued In late March, the Italian coast- the defendant as saying. the migrants,” he added, standing guard said it had rescued nearly The woman said she has been in cus- among the migrants in Tripoli’s port. 1,500 migrants, including many tody since February 23. She asked the Badri said the vessel had been car- women and children, in the Mediter- judge if she could pay a fine and go. rying about 115 people from Mali and ranean off the coast of Libya in just A verdict is set for May 2. other African states. two days. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 9

ARAB WORLD

Netanyahu admits Israel attacked Hezbollah in Syria

srael has launched “dozens” of air- exercise in the Israeli-controlled Golan strikes in Syria against weapons Heights said. I convoys headed to Lebanon’s radi- “We act also at other fronts, near and far,” cal Shia Hezbollah movement, Prime he added, “but only if we can’t avoid dan- UN envoy: next phase Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted gers to Israel in any other way.” yesterday. Israeli offi cials have said in the past that “We act when we have to act, including their country acts to prevent Hezbollah from here, on the other side of the border, in doz- obtaining dangerous weapons via Syria, but ens of attacks, to prevent Hezbollah from it was a rare public admission by Netanyahu, obtaining destabilizing weapons,” Netan- in which he also referred to the quantity of in Syria talks ‘crucial’ yahu told reserve soldiers during a military airstrikes.

AFP Damascus

he UN peace envoy to Syria said yesterday in Damascus Tthat an upcoming round of negotiations in Geneva aimed at ending the country’s five-year war would be “crucially impor- tant”. Staff an de Mistura’s comments came as off ensives by Syria’s Al Qaeda affi liate and allied rebels triggered a spike in violence that could endanger the negotiations. “The Geneva talks’ next phase are crucially important because we will be focusing in particular on the political transition, on governance and constitutional principles,” de Mistura told reporters after meet- ing Foreign Minister Walid Mual- lem. “We hope and plan to make them constructive and we plan to make them concrete,” the envoy said. Scheduled to resume tomorrow, the Geneva talks are aimed at end- ing a confl ict that has killed more than 270,000 people and forced millions to fl ee their homes since it erupted in March 2011. Residents inspect damages after an airstrike on the rebel held al-Maysar neighbourhood in Aleppo, Syria, yesterday. The UN Security Council passed ern, central and coastal Syria. Underlining the confl ict’s re- Meanwhile, Russia said there a resolution in December that “Al Nusra and allied rebel groups gional dimensions, Iranian media were no plans to storm Aleppo de- paved the way for the talks and are waging three synchronised of- announced the fi rst deaths of mem- spite thousands of Al Nusra mili- called for elections in Syria to be fensives” on front lines in Aleppo, bers of its regular army in Syria, a tants massing around the city. held 18 months after a transitional Hama and Latakia provinces, Ob- week after Tehran said army com- Sergei Rudskoy, head of the Rus- government is agreed. servatory director Rami Abdel Rah- mandos had been deployed in sup- sian General Staff ’s main opera- The fate of President Bashar al- man said. port of Damascus. Iran’s military tions command, said around 9,500 Assad is a major sticking point, So far, they have seized a hilltop support has so far mostly been Al Nusra fi ghters had gathered to however. in Latakia province, the heartland provided by the elite Revolutionary the south-west and north of Aleppo While the opposition insists As- of Assad’s Alawite sect, the group Guard Corps. and were planning a large-scale of- sad can play no role in a future tran- said. An eruption of fi ghting near the fensive to cut the city off from Da- sitional government, the regime The Syrian army was yesterday ancient city of Aleppo in the last mascus. says voters should decide his fate. reported to be sending reinforce- two weeks marks the most seri- “All actions of the Syrian military The Syrian Observatory for Hu- ments to Aleppo, where renewed ous challenge yet to a “cessation of and Russian air force are directed at man Rights said yesterday that Al fi ghting is threatening a fragile hostilities” brokered by the US and disrupting the plans of Jabhat al- Nusra Front and allied militia were truce in the run-up to the next Russia with the aim of facilitating Nusra. No storming of the city of pressing off ensives around north- round of peace talks. peace talks. Aleppo is planned,” he said. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 ARAB WORLD Israel clears colonel over Palestinian shooting death

AFP comes amid controversy over a But a video distributed by the “However, due to the reality mechanism which is Israel’s mil- estinian assailant in the head on The Palestinian had along with Jerusalem separate killing of a Palestinian B’Tselem human rights group of the operational situation, the itary investigative system.” March 24 as he lay on the ground another man stabbed an Israeli by an Israeli soldier last month. appeared to dispute the claim, shots resulted in the death of the It said the “assertion that the wounded and posing no apparent solider minutes earlier before be- Colonel Israel Shomer had showing the shots were fi red at assailant,” it said in a statement. fi ring was legal, since the of- danger. ing shot and wounded, the army n Israeli colonel has been been under investigation for the Kasba while he seemed to be run- “The military advocate general fi cer claimed that he aimed at the B’Tselem also distributed the says. cleared of any criminal July 3 shooting near Qalandia ning away after stoning the jeep. concluded that the shooting of youth’s legs but missed, clearly video in that case in Hebron in The soldier, whose bullet to Acharges after shooting dead checkpoint, south of Ramallah, The army said a Palestinian the perpetrator was not criminal indicates the investigative sys- the occupied West Bank and it the head killed the Palestinian, a Palestinian teen who stoned his that killed Mohamed Kasba, 17. had thrown a rock through the and the event does not justify tem’s willingness to ignore the law was widely shared online. has been arrested and could face jeep in the West Bank last year, the The army said at the time windshield of Shomer’s vehicle taking legal action against the of- and the open-fi re regulations.” The soldier’s lawyers say he charges of manslaughter. military said yesterday. Shomer and another soldier had and that in response the offi cer fi cer.” The decision comes with ten- thought the Palestinian could Top military brass have strong- A rights group that distributed opened fi re when the vehicle was “exited his vehicle and fi red into B’Tselem condemned the ar- sions high over the actions of have been carrying explosives, ly condemned his actions, though a video showing the shooting damaged “and in response to the the air and towards the lower ex- my’s decision, which it called “an another Israeli soldier, who was though he had reportedly already far-right protesters and politi- denounced the decision, which imminent danger”. tremities of the assailant.” integral part of the whitewash caught on video shooting a Pal- been checked for a suicide belt. cians have called for his release. HRW: Israeli forces abusing minors held in detention

AFP “Screams, threats, and beat- allowed into the interrogation. Jerusalem ings are no way for the police to “He was permitted to speak to treat a child or to get accurate in- his lawyer by phone before the formation from them,” it quoted interrogation,” it added. Israeli security forces prevent relatives of Abed Dawiyat from accessing their home after they sealed off the building in the Palestinian east uman Rights Watch yes- its Israel and Palestine director “He said interrogators accused Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sur Baher, yesterday. Jailed Palestinian Abed Dawiyat is suspected of the stoning of Alexander Levlovich’s car. terday accused Israeli Sari Bashi as saying. him of having a knife, which he The stones had hit the car of the 64-year-old Israeli man, causing him to veer off the road and hit a tree. He died in the crash, and two female Hsecurity forces of using Israeli police spokesman denied, and then took him to a passengers were injured. unnecessary force in the arrest Micky Rosenfeld said the report military compound,” where six and interrogation of Palestin- was “inaccurate and misleading”. or seven soldiers forced him to lie ian minors in the occupied West “The youths were arrested for on the ground and hit and kicked Bank and east Jerusalem. being directly involved in terror- him. HRW also said that arrests of ist and criminal activity,” he said. He told Human Rights Watch youths had spiralled since an Oc- HRW cited testimony from he was “hit on my back and tober 2015 outbreak of violence three young men, one - iden- legs, with kicks and blows to my that has killed more than 200 tifi ed as 16-year-old Ahmed head.” Abbas tightens grip with people. A. - from the West Bank city of “He was transferred to a de- It cited fi gures released by Hebron and two from Israeli- tention facility the next day and Israeli rights group B’Tselem annexed east Jerusalem. released six days later without showing that in January 406 Pal- “Soldiers arrested Ahmed on charge, after a DNA test failed to estinians under 18 years of age November 27 at about 7pm in link him to a knife that had been new constitutional court were held “as security detainees the garden of a friend... near his found,” the report said. and prisoners” compared with home in Hebron,” the HRW re- Violence since October has left Reuters and was elected to a four-year ing his Fatah party’s hold on the instead they were sworn in via 183 in January 2015. port said. 200 Palestinians and 28 Israelis Gaza/Ramallah term as president in 2005. Palestinian Authority once he is video link on Sunday. “Interviews with children who “He said that the soldiers dead. But new elections were not gone,” Rumley said. “This is a factional court,” have been detained, video foot- blindfolded and handcuff ed him Most of the Palestinians killed held in 2009 and he continues Palestinian commentators said Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas’s age and reports from lawyers and took him to a police sta- were carrying out attacks and alestinian President Mah- to govern by decree. Parliament also see the court, whose deci- spokesman, arguing that it reveal that Israeli security forces tion in the nearby settlement of many of the assailants have been moud Abbas has quietly has not sat since 2007. In theory, sions would be binding on the gave Abbas the ability to side- are using unnecessary force in Kiryat Arba, where he was made young people, including teenag- Pestablished a constitu- the speaker of parliament, a Ha- executive, the legislature and step parliament - if the cur- arresting and detaining children, to sit outside on the ground until ers, according to Israeli authori- tional court that analysts say mas member, would take over the judiciary, as a means of bol- rent one ever sits again - or if in some cases beating them, and about 12:30am. ties. concentrates more power in his as president on an interim basis stering presidential authority a new parliament is eventually holding them in unsafe and abu- “He asked to have his father Other youths have been shot hands and may allow him to were Abbas to die in offi ce, al- and marginalising Hamas. All elected. sive conditions,” the rights group come there, but police offi cers dead during protests and clashes sideline Hamas in the event of a though Fatah disputes whether nine members are either Fatah Abbas’s legal adviser, Has- said in a statement. told him his parents would not be with security forces. succession struggle. that remains constitutional. members or seen by Hamas and san al-Awry, said the court was The nine-member body, While Abbas may have the others as being allied with Fatah. needed in part because parlia- which will have supremacy over authority to create the court, “It is as if you are confi scating ment’s legal status was in ques- all lower courts, was created which is being established 14 everything and putting all the tion given the lack of elections. without fanfare by presidential years after the Palestinians institutions in your hands,” said “It is not a shame if the con- decree on April 3 and will be in- drafted a basic law, a form of Hani al-Masri, an unaffi liated stitutional court would debate augurated once its ninth mem- constitution, some analysts see political analyst based in Ram- this issue,” he said, adding that Iraq parliament to block ber is sworn in, offi cials said. it as a way of circumventing op- allah. the justices on the court were all Critics say the body is packed position at a critical time. Hamas, which won Palestin- legal experts and independent. with jurists from Abbas’s Fa- “It’s a blatant power grab at ian elections in 2006 and seized “We want a judicial reference tah party and risks deepening a time when he knows he can control in Gaza a year later, saw should such an issue be brought Palestinian political divisions. get away with it,” said Grant itself sidestepped during the up.” PM’s technocrat cabinet Fatah says it is Abbas’s right to Rumley, a research fellow at the swearing-in process. Two of the Yet Palestinian scholars say create the court, which it says is Foundation for Defence of De- nine members are from Gaza. the court raises problems. Is- Reuters But political blocs, unhappy be technocrats at the same independent of the 81-year-old mocracies in Washington, DC. Fatah said Hamas prevented sam Abdeen, a law professor at Baghdad with Abadi’s proposal to replace time.” president. “From Abbas’s standpoint, them from leaving the territory Birzeit University in the West their representatives with unaf- Another senior Shia lawmaker “Neither the president nor this is his way of both thwarting to be sworn in at a ceremony Bank, said it would have little fi liated technocrats, have opted said it could take another 10 days any of the leaders (of Fatah) has his rivals in Hamas and secur- in the West Bank on April 5. So check on its authority. raq’s parliament is unlikely to instead to name substitutes that or more before parliament votes a private agenda regarding this “It can be a lethal weapon if vote on a new cabinet line-up maintain the current party bal- on a revamped list. “I see no issue,” said Osama al-Qwasmi, misused,” he said, pointing out Iproposed by Prime Minister ance, lawmakers said. clear response from the political the spokesman for Fatah in the that Abbas’s political oppo- Haider al-Abadi in an attempt to Abadi asked parliament on blocs,” to Abadi’s list, said Hamid West Bank. “The prime task of nents, such as Mohamed Dah- curb corruption after lawmak- March 31 to accept, reject or al-Mutlaq, a Sunni Muslim MP. the constitutional court is to lan who now lives in exile, have ers said yesterday the dominant modify a line-up which also At least two of Abadi’s candi- monitor laws. By the law, it is a a new hurdle to clear in eff orts political blocs would name their shrank the cabinet to 16 posts dates, nominated for the posts completely independent body to mount legal challenges to his own ministerial candidates. from 22. Lawmakers said they of fi nance and oil ministers, have and we have full confi dence in authority. Abadi last month present- would take up to 10 days to re- withdrawn their names. it.” Rumley regards the court as a ed parliament with a list of 14 spond. That deadline passed at The three ministers from the Abbas’s decision comes at potential barrier to reform. names, many of them academ- the weekend without a decision. political bloc led by powerful a time of worsening splits be- “Rather than reforming his ics, to free the ministries from “There is no agreement on Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who tween Fatah and Hamas and as party, preparing for elections, or the grip of a political class he the list,” said Abbas al-Bayati, has pressed Abadi for weeks to questions are raised about what reactivating the defunct parlia- has accused of using a system a Shia Muslim MP from the rul- replace party-affi liated minis- will happen when the president ment, (Abbas) is creating anoth- of ethnic and sectarian quotas ing State of Law coalition. “The ters with independents, resigned steps down or if he were to die in er judicial body by presidential instituted after the US-led in- blocs are trying to fi nd substi- yesterday, citing frustration with offi ce without a successor. Mohamed Qassem, President of the Palestinian constitutional court, decree in order to, among other vasion in 2003 to amass wealth tutes for their own ministers in the other parties’ refusal to give Abbas took offi ce after the is sworn in by President Mahmoud Abbas (second left) in Ramallah things, approve presidential de- and infl uence. the outgoing cabinet who would up their posts. death of Yasser Arafat in 2004, on April 5. crees,” he said. Darfur votes on unifi cation as one district

DPA told Sudanese national radio from Darfur ... to stand with full force conditions, a referendum on the Khartoum Darfur. to confront the referendum, which status of Darfur cannot be consid- Jamie said the ballot was being leads to fragmentation of the social ered a credible expression of the monitored by observers from the fabric.” will of the people of Darfur,” the US esidents of the violence-torn Arab League, the African Union, as But the government’s argument State Department said ahead of the Darfur region of Sudan be- well as more than 700 local observ- that decentralisation guarantees vote. Rgan voting in a three-day ers. more local development was ex- About 300,000 people have referendum yesterday on whether Rebel groups operating in Darfur, pected to win the vote, even amid died from the fighting or related its fi ve states should form a single which accuse President Omar al- concerns that it was not really rep- malnutrition and disease, while entity, more than a decade after the Bashir’s government of neglecting resentative of local opinion. more than 2.5mn have been dis- beginning of a confl ict that has killed the region, believe it would carry More than 3mn people had regis- placed, including more than 300,000 people. more weight as a single administra- tered to vote in the referendum. 100,000 since January, according “Arrangements have been com- tive unit. The US expressed concern that to the UN. pleted to assure a smooth and se- The rebel group Sudan Libera- insecurity and inadequate registra- Al-Bashir recently challenged ac- cure [voting] process, and we hope tion Army (SLA) has called for a tion of internally displaced Darfuris cusations that the Sudanese army to announce the results within 10 boycott of the referendum. In a “prohibit suffi cient participation” in has been bombing and torching vil- days” after polls close tomorrow, statement released on Sunday, the the referendum. lages in Darfur and said the region referendum offi cial Omar Ali Jamie SLA called on “all the people of “If held under current rules and was at peace. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 11 AFRICA Parents of Chibok Car bomb targets girls cling to hope

By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Reuters Lagos

Somali govt offi ce hen Dauda Yama retrieved his mobile phone from a neighbour’s Reuters Whouse in January this year, he no- Mogadishu ticed a missed call from his daughter Saratu who had been missing for almost two years. The last time he spoke with Saratu was car bomb at local gov- on April 14, 2014, when she rang to say men Yana Galang, the mother of Rifkatu Galang, ernment headquarters in from the Islamist group Boko Haram had one of the abducted Chibok girls, holds a AMogadishu killed fi ve people loaded her and her classmates from the Gov- phone with a picture of her daughter. yesterday and wounded fi ve, an of- ernment Girls’ Secondary School in Chibok fi cial said, in an attack claimed by in northeast Nigeria onto trucks. Nkeki then organised a meeting of parents Somali Islamist group Shebaab. Attempts to reach her again failed and in his village of Mbalala, calling for a peaceful Shebaab has frequently attacked two years on, 219 girls abducted that night demonstration and seeking media coverage to government targets, hotels and remain missing, despite a global campaign get the word out, with his initiatives prompt- restaurants in the capital since be- #bringbackourgirls involving celebrities ing the parents to appoint him as their leader. ing pushed out by African Union and US fi rst lady Michelle Obama calling for It was Nkeki’s eff orts that ascertained peacekeeping forces in 2011 and re- them to be found. exactly how many girls were missing after basing in the country’s south. The students are among an estimated the school said the Boko Haram had razed “We are behind the governor HQ 2,000 girls and boys abducted by the Boko all records. He cycled from village to village attack,” Abdiasis Abu Musab, the Haram since the start of 2014, with many of for two weeks with pen and paper to build a group’s military operations spokes- those abducted used as sex slaves, fi ghters register. man, said. and even suicide bombers, according to an “I got the names of the girls, their pic- On Saturday, another bomb Amnesty International report. tures. I asked for proof. They showed me killed three and wounded fi ve in But when Yama returned the missed call their daughters’ books so that I could get the Mogadishu. that evening, a man answered. Yama hung exact name the girl used in the secondary A police spokesman said that in up and rushed to the home of Yakubu Nkeki, school,” he said. yesterday’s attack a suicide bomber chairman of the Association of Parents of His census revealed the number of girls rammed a car packed with explo- the Abducted Girls from Chibok. abducted was 276 but 57 were able to escape sives into the entrance of the head- “He asked me what he should do,” Nkeki, as the trucks took off and came home. quarters. 58, a schoolteacher, whose 17-year-old But the attempts to rally parents were not But mayoral spokesman Abdifa- adopted daughter Maimuna Yakubu Usman always welcome. tah Omar blamed a car parked at the is among those missing, told the Thomson Nkeki said some parents refused to have rear of the heavily fortifi ed com- A Somali policeman walks to secure the wreckage of a car destroyed in a bomb explosion at a local government Reuters Foundation. anything to do with the parents association pound. “So far we have confi rmed headquarters in Mogadishu. Nkeki took the phone and redialled the and he has been harassed and arrested by fi ve civilians died and fi ve others number that was again answered by a man armed forces personnel, displeased with his were injured,” he said. for Shebaab was publicly executed ecution of Hassan Hanafi who had cording to industry body, the Com- who said the phone belonged to his wife. media appearances and eff orts to keep the The blast, which other reports by a government fi ring squad yes- killed journalists,” Abdullahi Has- mittee to Protect Journalists. Reporting the matter to any of the armed missing Chibok girls in the news. suggested may have been deto- terday for ordering the death of six san, deputy judge of the court, told Hanafi , 30, admitted joining She- personnel around Chibok was out of the Former Nigerian president Goodluck nated remotely, destroyed part of journalists, court offi cials said. reporters at the scene on Monday. baab in 2008 when he worked as a question so instead they informed a cam- Jonathan was criticised for his slow reaction a guardroom. “We heard a huge Hassan Hanafi , who arranged A masked Hanafi was tied to journalist for a local broadcaster. He paigner with the Bring Back Our Girls group, to the Chibok kidnappings, which was seen bang and then (saw) huge clouds of news conferences for the Islamist a pole before government forces was arrested in neighbouring Kenya which advocates the return of the missing by some as indicative of his response to Boko smoke over us. We are safe,” one fe- group when the militants control- opened fi re at an execution fi eld at last year and returned to Somalia for girls “now and alive”. Haram, which at its strongest held large male worker inside the compound, led the capital Mogadishu, admitted a police training camp, according to trial. A few days ago, a military court “We don’t know who to trust,” said Nkeki swathes of northeastern Nigeria. who identifi ed herself as Nasra, told during his trial to personally killing witnesses. executed two men accused of killing who has received physical threats for his ef- President Muhammadu Buhari, who de- Reuters. one journalist in Somalia. Since 1992 a total of 59 journal- a female reporter employed by the forts to keep the abduction of the Chibok feated Jonathan in an election last year, or- Separately, a former media offi cer “Today, the court fulfi ls the ex- ists have been killed in Somalia, ac- state radio, court offi cials said. girls in the headlines and the government’s dered a new investigation into the abduc- sights with the abduction becoming a politi- tions in January. cal issue for Nigerian leaders. “My family is afraid for me. Even my un- Zimbabwe puts down female Providing counsel to parents of the missing cle’s wife whose daughter was abducted, the rhino injured by poachers Chibok girls is part of Nkeki’s role as chair- one I adopted, said to me that she does not man of the association. He also checks up on want to lose her daughter and then also lose Game wardens in Zimbabwe have killed a Internet remains cut in Chad the parents to see if they need help at all. me,” said Nkeki. black rhino popular with tourists to end its “I check if they have food items or if But despite Nkeki’s eff orts, his daughter suff ering after suspected poachers shot someone is seriously sick,” he said. “If there and the other girls are still missing, with the and severely wounded the animal, the AFP is any issue, I call the committee members.” parents desperate for any leads that could wildlife parks’ agency said yesterday. N’Djamena Some months ago, for example, the as- help locate their daughters. Ntombi, whose name is a native Ndebele sociation received a donation of 128 bags of Hopes were raised earlier this month word for girl, was an eight-year-old female corn from a missionary group. The associa- when a suspected female suicide bomber with a 13-month-old calf living in Matopo he Internet remained tion decided to give three bags to one parent who claimed to be one of the missing Chibok National Park in western Zimbabwe. mysteriously cut yes- to sell and raise money for medicine for his girls was arrested in northern Cameroon. The rhino had four bullet wounds in Tterday in Chad’s capital son who was bitten by a snake. But offi cial investigations revealed the its legs and shoulder after being shot last a day after elections held amid Nkeki said he had not intended to become 12-year-old girl was not from Chibok but week, said Caroline Washaya-Moyo, a tight security, which are ex- a leader for the parents but was catapulted abducted from Bama in northeastern Nigeria spokeswoman for Zimbabwe Parks and pected to see President Idriss into the role when he tried to rally families by Boko Haram a year ago. Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA). Deby extend his 26-year rule. into action after the abduction. Nkeki and Yama dialled Saratu’s number Its horns had been sawn off but were later Some foreign television me- Under his lead, and frustrated by a lack of a few more times after the initial success but recovered. dia, who had worked until Sun- offi cial action, the parents formed a team to the line repeatedly went dead. However, Nkeki Veterinarians from animal conservation day evening, were meanwhile search the Sambisa forest for missing girls says it rang when Yama tried again in February. group Aware Trust carried out an X-ray unable to cover the post-elec- the day after the abduction, fi nding scarves “The man warned him never to call his that showed Ntombi had “endured unim- tion situation because they had Elections workers count votes cast in Chad’s presidential election and other items along a trail until heavy rain wife’s number again. He said if he is not aginable pain caused by broken legs and not received authorisation from at a polling station in N’Djamena. forced them back. careful, he will lose his life,” he said. open wounds”, Washaya-Moyo said. the communications ministry, “The animal was very immobile and was by the middle of the day. On Sunday evening, a crew there were calls for “real change.” unable to walk to access food and water. Mobile Internet was sus- for French-language broadcast- Opposition chief Saleh Kebz- Regional bloc to try former Nigeria security adviser Because of the seriousness of the wounds pended from Sunday morning, er TV5, which had been cover- abo had on Sunday accused au- the authority had to put the animal to while fi xed Internet went out in ing scuffl es between soldiers thorities of “ballot stuffi ng and est African regional bloc Ecowas before this court, it is clear and there is no sleep,” she said. the evening in N’Djamena, and and young opposition activists massive buying up of voter cards”. ruled yesterday it will hear the case ambiguity that the applicant is seeking en- The ZPWMA is investigating the incident. text messages could not be sent in the capital’s Ampata Grillage In the absence of exit polls it Wof Nigeria’s ex-national security forcement of his right to freedom,” said Wardens are taking care of Ntombi’s calf, over the local phone network. district over alleged ballot box was impossible to get a sense of adviser Sambo Dasuki, who claims he has been judge Friday Chijoke Nwoke. which was not harmed by the poachers. The online blackout, which stuffi ng, had its camera roughly voting trends. Provisional re- unlawfully arrested and detained without trial. “In our opinion, what Dasuki brought be- The World Wildlife Fund said in a Janu- occurred without offi cial expla- taken away by security forces. sults are not expected for two The Economic Community of West Afri- fore us as a case is an issue for the enforce- ary report that 50 rhinos had been killed nation, was preventing discus- It was returned to them later weeks, according to the In- can States (Ecowas) court set aside the Ni- ment of his fundamental rights to liberty.” in Zimbabwe in 2015, double the figure for sion about how the election had at a local police station, but dependent National Electoral gerian government’s objections to it taking Last week, an Abuja court directed the Ni- the previous year. gone. with the recording erased, a Commission. the case, saying the matter dealt with “fun- gerian government to allow the former secu- “It’s been a gut-wrenching weekend ... The situation was reminis- TV5 representative told AFP. Deby, who took offi ce in a damental” human rights issues. rity chief access to his lawyers. one of the most diff icult things we’ve had cent of that in Congo, where Traffi c, which had been sus- 1990 military coup, faces 12 Dasuki, on trial for fraud in connection “This government needs to take more se- to do,” Aware Trust said on its off icial Face- authorities cut all communi- pended Sunday during voting, challengers but is widely ex- with the alleged looting of millions of dol- riously the judicial process,” human rights book page which also showed pictures of cations - Internet, phone and was back to normal in the capital pected to win a fi fth term after lars from arms contracts, has been detained lawyer Clement Nwankwo told AFP. “When Ntombi’s injuries. texts - for four days for presi- and the election was widely dis- consolidating his grip on power since December despite being granted bail. it fails to do so, it discredits any trial that it dential elections on March 20. cussed in poorer districts where in the central African nation. “From the totality of the issues brought conducts.”

Pirates abduct 6 Turkish crew off Nigeria

AFP good health”, the company was report- and later released crew members from Abuja ed as saying. Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland in sep- It was unclear how many crew arate attacks in the area, increasingly a members were aboard, which was piracy hotspot. irates have attacked a Turkish carrying chemicals, when it was Ship hijackings have become more cargo ship off the coast of Niger- attacked. Company officials said frequent since President Muham- Pia, kidnapping six crew members they have had no contact with the madu Buhari took office in Nigeria in a region increasingly hit by piracy pirates. last year and started winding down in recent years, the Nigerian navy said an amnesty to former militants in the yesterday. Ship hijackings have become delta region. “All the six Turkish crew members, more frequent since President Payments were off ered in exchange including the captain of the vessel, the Muhammadu Buhari took offi ce for an end to violence, which included chief offi cer and the chief engineer, last year and started winding kidnappings of oil workers and sabo- were abducted by the attackers,” Ni- down an amnesty to former tage of pipelines that plagued the re- gerian Navy spokesman Chris Ezekobe militants in the delta region gion in the 2000s. told AFP. The Control Risks consultancy in The pirates attacked the vessel in Dirk Steff en, director of maritime February told reporters in Lagos there the dead of night while it was steam- security at the Denmark-based Risk had been 24 cases of “piracy and armed ing through the oil-rich Niger Delta, Intelligence fi rm, said the vessel was robbery at sea” since the turn of the added the spokesman. en route from Port Gentil in Gabon to year - double the number in the fi nal Ezekobe said the ship - a mer- the Ivory Coast capital, Abidjan, at the two months of 2015. chant tanker - was used for crude time. Attacks in the Gulf of Guinea have oil operations and the navy was “The attackers had possibly already increased while incidents of piracy off working with Interpol and Nigeria’s attempted to board another ship in the the coast of Somalia in eastern Africa secret police to secure the crew’s vicinity the previous day,” he said in an have signifi cantly fallen in the past release. email. three years. Turkey’s Deniz News Agency said “It is extremely busy outside the Patrols by international warships the ship, the M/T Puli, was owned by Niger Delta at the moment and we had and armed guards aboard commercial Kaptanoglu Shipping. three attacks against tankers before vessels have signifi cantly reduced the Both the kidnapped crew and those this one between April 7 and 10.” problem in what was once the global who remained on the ship, were “in At the end of 2015, pirates kidnapped hub for high-seas piracy. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 AMERICAS

Restaurant staff are tricked into smashing glass

Reuters and fi nally warned that the Minnesota restaurant was in danger of exploding unless the exterior windows were immediately everal employees of a broken to relieve pressure, Burger King fast-food Hawley said. Soutlet in Minnesota were After quickly ushering out persuaded by a prank caller the handful of customers who posing as a fi re offi cial to smash were present at the time, the the restaurant’s windows, con- manager and three other em- vinced that rising gas pressure ployees ran out to their cars, was threatening to cause an ex- grabbed tire irons and other plosion, police said. objects and began smashing Police in the Minneapolis all the glass ringing the build- suburb of Coon Rapids were ing. dispatched to the scene Fri- By the time authorities ar- day night after someone at rived, the employees had shat- a gasoline station next door tered virtually all the ground- called emergency services to fl oor windows, causing several report what appeared to be an thousand dollars in damage, act of vandalism in progress, Hawley said. One worker suf- police Captain Tom Hawley fered minor cuts and was treat- said. ed on the scene by medics. The restaurant manager Firefi ghters called to the res- told arriving offi cers she had taurant checked the building just received a phone call from but found no traces of leaking a man identifying himself gas, and the incident was con- as a fi re department offi cial fi rmed to have been a hoax, ac- who seemed to have a work- cording to Hawley. ing knowledge of commercial He said investigators were fi re safety systems, which he trying to trace the origin of the Protesters demonstrate in front of the US supreme court as the court takes up a major abortion case in Washington. asked her to check, according prank, and were comparing to Hawley. notes with police in other cit- In the course of their con- ies around the country where versation, she recounted, the similar phony calls have been caller spoke as if he were re- reported at fast-food chains in motely monitoring the situ- recent days, including outlets ation inside the restaurant, in California and Oklahoma. and said he could tell that “gas On Saturday, the smashed pressure inside the building windows of the Burger King in was rising”. Coon Rapids were still board- Young doctors seek As he gave her “updates,” the ed up, but the restaurant was caller insisted the gas buildup open for business, according to was reaching excessive levels, Hawley. abortion training as Spate of suicide bids in remote community

Agencies old great niece took her own Attawapiskat, Ontario life in October, says the com- clinics are closed munity doesn’t have the re- sources to deal with the crisis. Training programmes have increased meet surgery centre standards and abor- the University of California, San Francis- medical students with rhetoric he views as he federal and Ontario That sentiment was echoed the number of doctors able to provide tion providers to have hospital admitting co, which does not disclose contributions dishonest. governments are mov- by the local MP, New Demo- the service privileges. at the programme level. “They have been promoting and re- Ting to help a remote crat Charlie Angus, who said In its fi rst abortion case in nearly a dec- Tax disclosures show the Susan Thomp- casting the image of the abortionists in First Nation that has declared a northern communities aren’t Reuters ade, the US supreme court is considering son Buff ett Foundation, which supports the United States,” O’Bannon said. “They state of emergency due to a ris- given the resources they need Texas whether the Texas law violates the right to abortion rights, donates to many of the want to make them appear more noble - ing number of suicide attempts to deal with complicated grief. abortion. The case focused attention on a universities that host Ryan programme heroic. But they’re not.” among its young people. Angus said it has been a decline in clinics in the United States. Ac- training. But it does not disclose the pur- Lois V Backus, executive director of The federal and Ontario “rolling nightmare” of more ven as scores of US abortion clinics cording to a survey by the Guttmacher In- pose of those donations, and representa- Medical Students for Choice, said the stu- health ministers said Sunday and more suicide attempts have shut down, the number of doc- stitute, a nonprofi t research organisation tives did not respond to phone queries. dents who go the extra mile to seek training that a crisis team, including among young people through- Etors trained to provide the procedure that supports abortion rights, the number At a hearing before the supreme court in are heroes who “deserve the gratitude and mental health nurses and so- out the winter. has surged – but only in some parts of the of clinics dropped nearly 40% after peak- March, lawyers for clinic operators argued admiration of all of us for their willingness cial workers, was being fl own He said the community country. ing in 1982. that the new standards in Texas caused or to meet all the needs of their patients.” immediately to the James Bay didn’t think it could get any Two little-known training programmes Medical Students for Choice was start- contributed to the shutdown of 22 clinics. Landy, the Ryan programme founder, community of about 2,000. worse than it was in March, but say they have expanded rapidly in recent ed in 1993 by a student at the University of The Texas state solicitor general argued said laws limiting abortion are stoking in- Attawapiskat resident Jackie April brought even more sui- years, fuelled by robust private fund- California, San Francisco. The nonprofi t that Whole Women’s Health, the lead terest in training. Hookimaw says the suicide cide attempts. ing and strong demand. Launched nearly now has 185 chapters and a $1.4mn annual plaintiff in the case, failed to show that the “The more controversy there is,” she epidemic started last fall, when On Twitter, prime minister a quarter century ago amid protest and budget funded by the William and Flora law was the only reason the clinics shut said, “the more motivation, commitment a number of people tried to kill Justin Trudeau called the news violence, the programmes now train more Hewlett Foundation, the Rockefeller Fam- down. and passion grows and responds.” themselves. from Attawapiskat “heart- than 1,000 doctors and medical students ily Fund and others. A study funded by abortion rights Most of the new providers are women, Hookimaw, whose 13-year- breaking.” annually in reproductive services, from Last year, it sent 137 medical students groups recently reported that waits in who comprise 80% of ob-gyn residents. contraception to all types of abortion, ac- and residents for abortion training, more Texas grew as long as 23 days, and some Some, like Jennifer Conti, are vocal about cording to interviews with Reuters. than twice as many as in 2010. Its two-day women have travelled more than 250 miles the need for women to have access to a full Foot, other remains found in bin But their impact is limited. Most of the and three-day Abortion Training Institute to get an abortion. range of reproductive care. Growing up doctors end up working near where they has received 321 applications so far this Some doctors also travel to bring abor- in a traditional Mexican-American fam- A Seattle homeowner found three adult body parts, including a train, not in several Southern and Mid- year, surpassing the 228 who applied in all tion services to areas where they are ily, Conti opposed abortion as “this hy- foot, in a recycling bin over the weekend, police and local media western states that have imposed waiting of 2015. scarce. Bhavik Kumar went to New York pothetical thing that bad people did.” But said on Sunday. periods, mandated counselling and enact- The Kenneth J Ryan Residency Training for Ryan residency training because it her views changed in her teens when an A homeowner dialled emergency services after discovering the ed other controls. Program was started in 1999 by Uta Landy, was not off ered at his Texas medical acquaintance got pregnant. items in a recycling bin about 4pm PDT (2300 GMT)Saturday “I don’t think we have a provider short- who ran one of the fi rst abortion clinics af- school. He returned to Texas and travels Now, as an ob-gyn, she teaches and afternoon, said Patrick Michaud, a spokesman for the Seattle Police age anymore,” said Sarah W Prager, a Uni- ter the procedure was legalised. more than 2,000 miles a month providing provides reproductive care, including Department. versity of Washington Medical School While obstetric-gynecology residencies abortions at clinics in San Antonio and abortion, at Stanford University School Homicide detectives and the King County medical examiner’s off ice professor. “What we have is a distribu- are required to off er abortion training, not Fort Worth. of Medicine, and she writes for Slate and confirmed the remains were human, Michaud said. tion problem. We have a lot of providers in all do. The Ryan programme has helped set “Rights are being taken away from not other outlets. The remains were likely placed in the recycling bin between Friday some of our city centers, but in rural areas up and expand family planning and abor- just patients but us as well,” Kumar said. “There is a new generation of activist and Saturday night, he said. there are very few people willing or able to tion training at 85 teaching hospitals - in- “A lot of us are angry. We’re trying to get doctors,” said Lori Carpentier, who runs One of the body parts found was a foot, the Seattle Times reported, provide care.” cluding 31 since 2010 - which train about back what the opposition has taken.” Planned Parenthood clinics in Michigan. citing sergeant Mike Renner of the Seattle Police Department. Texas is emblematic of areas of scar- 1,000 residents a year. Randall K O’Bannon, director of edu- “They choose to do terminations of preg- Renner told the paper the body parts were “fresh”. city. More than half the clinics in the The programme declined to discuss its cation and research for the anti-abortion nancies because it is a deeply held and It was unclear where the remains came from. state have closed since 2013 when a law budget or funding. It is a part of the Bixby National Right to Life organisation, said passionate belief that women should have The parts were sent to the medical examiner’s off ice and will be went into eff ect that required clinics to Center for Global Reproductive Health at the training programmes are recruiting access to care.” searched for evidence on Monday, a spokesman with off ice said. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 13 AMERICAS Trump calls Cruz strategy ‘crooked’

Reuters Cruz of trying to steal delegates Washington in South Carolina, a state Trump won in February. Cruz came in third but won three delegates epublican presidential Saturday at congressional dis- front-runner Donald trict meetings, according to local RTrump’s concerns about media. how delegates are allotted turned “Now they’re trying to pick into a roar yesterday as he ac- off those delegates one by cused the campaign of rival Ted one,” Trump said on Fox News. US Democratic presidential candidate and US Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a campaign rally in Binghamton, New York, yesterday. Cruz of buying votes after his “That’s not the way democracy weekend win in Colorado. is supposed to work. They off er The New York billionaire, who them trips, they off er them all has won many state contests for sorts of things and you’re al- a delegate lead, is confronting lowed to do that. You can buy all Cruz’s strategy of using state these votes. party rules to secure more del- “What kind of a system is egates in hopes of winning the that? ... It’s a rigged system.” nomination at a brokered Repub- Trump’s new delegate strate- Bernie Sanders charts lican convention in July. gist, Paul Manafort, said on Sun- Cruz’s campaign has worked day the campaign would protest eff ectively in states that have what he called Cruz’s “Gestapo a complex delegate allocation tactics, the scorched-earth tac- process, including Colorado, tics” on delegates. where the US senator from Texas A tweet from the Colorado picked up 34 delegates on Satur- Republican Party appeared to a White House path day at the state Republican con- briefl y verify Trump’s fears that vention. state party offi cials favoured Bernie faces the final challenge in as much as a 10-point win in California, clinch the nomination. California has 475 Larry Cohen, a senior adviser to the “The people out there are Cruz. After Saturday’s results, California helping him deny the front-running Clin- delegates, to be divided proportionally ac- campaign, said the campaign aims to going crazy, in the Denver area the party tweeted, “We did it. ton the 2,383 convention delegates she cording to the June 7 primary vote. match or outdo the 10,000 volunteers it and Colorado itself,” Trump #Never Trump,” the Denver Post Reuters needs to clinch the nomination and give The Clinton campaign plans to put up enlisted in New York by drawing on the said on Fox News. “They’re go- reported. New York him the momentum to force a contested a fi ght. Local and national surrogates will Labor for Bernie volunteer group, local ing absolutely crazy because The party then deleted the convention where he can try to win over speak out in English and Spanish and staff and national unions and other groups. they weren’t given a vote. This tweet, which it said was unau- the “superdelegates”, those not decided by will beef up offi ces up and down the West “We’ll certainly do Spanish-language was given by politicians - it’s a thorized, and said it was inves- efying opinion polls and expert a state nominating contest and free to sup- Coast as the California vote nears, her advertising,” Sanders’ campaign manager crooked deal.” tigating. predictions, US Democratic hope- port anyone, the campaign sources said. campaign said. Jeff Weaver said. Devine said that Viet- Trump’s camp has amplifi ed Colorado Republicans de- Dful Bernie Sanders aims to seize Sanders, a US senator from Vermont, “We’re fi ghting for every vote by talking namese was also part of the plan. The lan- complaints about the delegate fended their voting process on the party’s White House nomination from has eroded Clinton’s lead in California, to Californians about why Hillary Clinton guages are nods to California’s large popu- allocation system, which varies Twitter yesterday morning, re- Hillary Clinton’s grasp with a last-ditch according to a Field Poll released on Fri- is the only candidate in this race who will lations of Latino and Asian voters. from state to state, as the pros- tweeting a post by commentator come-from-behind triumph in California. day. Clinton led Sanders by only 6 points break down the barriers that hold people Weaver compared California to Michi- pect of a contested Republican Ari Armstrong who called the By far the most populous US state, Cali- in that survey, down from a double-digit back and deliver real results,” Amanda gan, where Sanders notched a surprise win convention looks more likely to system “representative”. fornia is the largest prize of the state-by- lead earlier this year. Renteria, Hillary for America national po- in early March after advertising in Arabic determine the party’s nominee “Claiming delegates were state nominating contests, and the vote on “With California what we’re going to do litical director, said in a statement to Reu- to woo the state’s heavy concentration of for the November 8 election. ‘stolen’ insults the Republicans June 7 is one of the last before Democrats is something that (Sanders) really likes to ters. Muslims. The Cruz campaign did not who participated,” Armstrong convene in July to select a nominee for the do: Barnstorm the place,” said Tad Devine, “Headed into the June 7 primary, our The campaign has yet to set a budget for immediately respond to requests wrote, which the state party re- November 8 presidential election. Sanders’ senior adviser, acknowledging volunteers and supporters are knocking California, but given the state’s size, the for comment on Trump’s latest posted. An aggressive schedule of large rallies Sanders’ underdog status against Clinton, on doors and hitting the phones to share eff ort will be “hugely expensive - far, far allegations but spokeswoman Trump was the target yester- is planned along with heavy purchases of the former secretary of state. with friends, family and neighbours Hil- more expensive than any other state that Catherine Frazier told CNN on day of a new ad by the Democrat- TV, radio and online advertising in three That means two or three large-scale lary Clinton’s plans to create more good- we’ve done,” Weaver said. Sunday: “More sour grapes from ic front-runner, Hillary Clinton, languages and a “far, far more expensive” rallies a day for weeks, possibly start- paying jobs in California, keep our streets In California so far, the campaign has Trump who continues to lash out that listed Trump’s most divisive campaign eff ort than in any other state, ing in late April to target early voters, he safe from gun violence, protect our envi- raised about $9.8mn from more than in tantrums every time he loses. comments on women, Mexican Sanders campaign sources disclosed. said. Such rallies are a sweet spot for the ronment, reform our immigration system 26,000 donors, the most Sanders has re- We are winning because we’ve immigrants and Muslims. “I think they’re still riding rainbow uni- 74-year-old New York-born democratic and ensure all Californians have access to ceived from any one state, according to a put in the hard work to build a Both Clinton and rival Bernie corns if they think there’s a path,” said socialist’s fi rebrand speaking style cham- a good education and quality aff ordable Reuters analysis of campaign fi nance dis- superior organisation.” Sanders, a US senator of Ver- Steve Schale, a Florida-based strategist, of pioning the working class and vowing to health care.” closures. A Republican candidate needs mont, have tried to position Sanders’ bid for the White House. erase economic inequality. Sanders has won seven of the last eight Clinton has raked in signifi cant sums 1,237 delegates to clinch the themselves as the Democrat most California has been a reliable source of At a late March event in The Bronx, he state nominating battles but faces a po- also in California. nomination and avoid a conven- capable of defeating Trump. campaign funds for Clinton, and opinion drew 18,500 people. tentially rougher road in big states like An analysis of campaign reports fi led tion fl oor fi ght, which could in- “Donald Trump says we can polls show her ahead there by as many as Clinton leads in pledged convention New York, where Clinton was a US senator with the Federal Election Commission in- volve several rounds of voting for solve America’s problems by 14 percentage points. The statistical anal- delegates - those allocated to candidates and which holds an April 19 primary. dicate her campaign raised $26,687,011.37 delegates. Trump has 743 dele- turning against each other,” ysis media site FiveThirtyEight gives her a on the basis of the state primaries and Sanders aims to overcome the edge from donors in California from the time gates while Cruz has 545, accord- Clinton’s ad said. “It’s wrong and 91 chance of winning the state primary. caucuses - with 1,287 to 1,037 for Sanders. that Clinton, wife of former President Bill she entered the race in 2015 until the end ing to an Associated Press count. it goes against everything New The Sanders campaign push aims to net A candidate needs 2,383 delegates to Clinton, has enjoyed with minorities. of February. Trump yesterday also accused York and America stand for.” Chinese national’s seed Canada Navy offi cer pledges theft exposes vulnerability anti-nuke charged for

Reuters ing sure you get good visuals Chinese government and the including by Chinese nationals, eff ort Arlington, Iowa on what’s occurring,” assistant conspiracy carried out by Mo. the offi cial said. attorney general John Carlin, “In cases like this, we can see China bans commercial grow- connections, but proving to the ing of GMO grains due to public espionage head of the justice department’s Agencies im Burrack, a northern national security division, said threshold needed in court re- opposition to the technology and Ottawa Iowa farmer in his 44th when touring Iowa State Univer- quires that we have documents imports of GMO corn have to be Reuters The US offi cial said both China Tgrowing season, has taken sity. that the government has directed approved by the agriculture min- Washington and Taiwan were possible but to keeping a wary eye out for un- But agriculture sector execu- this,” the offi cial said. “It’s al- istry. Still, president Xi called in anada will focus on stressed the investigation was familiar vehicles around his 300 tives say fences and guards are most impossible to get.” 2014 for China to innovate and controlling the spread still going on. acres of genetically modifi ed not feasible, due to the high cost Mo, an employee of Chinese dominate the technique, which Cof material that could US Navy offi cer with ac- The suspect was also accused corn seeds. and impracticality of guarding fi rm Kings Nower Seed, pleaded promises high yields through be used by terrorists to cre- cess to sensitive US intel- of engaging in prostitution and Along with other farmers in hundreds of thousands of acres. guilty to stealing seed grown by resistance to drought, pests and ate nuclear weapons as its Aligence faces espionage adultery. He has been held in this vast agricultural region, he Tom McBride, intellectual US fi rms Monsanto, Dupont Pio- disease. contribution to the world’s charges over accusations he pre-trial confi nement for the has upped his vigilance ever since property attorney at Monsanto neer and LG Seeds. In January, a Greenpeace re- “stalled” disarmament ef- passed state secrets, possibly to past eight months or so, the of- Mo Hailong and six other Chinese — one of the fi rms whose seeds Prosecutors say he specifi - port found some Chinese farmers forts, Foreign Aff airs Minister China and Taiwan, a US offi cial fi cial added. nationals were accused by US were targeted by Mo — said it cally targeted fi elds that grow the are illegally growing GMO corn Stephane Dion says. told Reuters on Sunday. USNI News, which fi rst re- authorities in 2013 of digging up safeguards its genetically modi- parent seeds needed to replicate whose strains belong to compa- Dion said Canada views the The offi cial, speaking on con- ported Lin’s identity, said he seeds from Iowa farms and plan- fi ed organism (GMO) technology GMO corn. The FBI says it sus- nies including Monsanto, Syn- creation of a Fissile Material dition of anonymity, identifi ed spoke fl uent Mandarin and man- ning to send them back to China. by protecting its computers, pat- pects he was given the location genta and DuPont Pioneer. Cut-off Treaty, or FMCT, as the suspect as lieutenant com- aged the collection of electronic The case, in which Mo pleaded enting seeds and keeping fi elds by workers for the seed compa- Monsanto, which supplies the most practical option the mander Edward Lin, who was signals from the EP3-E Aries II guilty in January, has laid bare like Burrack’s unmarked. Mon- nies, but did not charge any em- Burrack’s seed, said it can block country can pursue in a re- born in Taiwan and later became signals intelligence aircraft. the value — and vulnerability — santo says it is not considering ployees. foreign groups who request to newed push towards nuclear a naturalised US citizen, accord- The US Navy profi led Lin in of advanced food technology in physical barriers like fences or Mo, whose case was prosecut- tour their lab and learning center disarmament. ing a Navy profi le article written a 2008 article that focused on a world with 7bn mouths to feed, guards. ed by the justice department as in Huxley, Iowa. For the past few Dion joined his G7 coun- about him in 2008. his naturalisation to the United 1.36bn of them Chinese. The FBI and the US justice de- a national security matter rather years, Monsanto says it has run terparts yesterday in calling A redacted Navy charge sheet States, saying his family left Tai- Citing that case and others as partment say cases of espionage than a simple criminal case, now its own background checks on for a renewed eff ort towards said the suspect was assigned wan when he was 14 and stayed evidence of a growing economic in the agriculture sector have faces a sentence of up to fi ve years Chinese delegations that ask for nuclear disarmament after to the headquarters for the Na- in diff erent countries before and national security threat to been growing since Mo was fi rst in prison. Five others charged in a tour, and, if they are approved, visiting the atomic-bombed vy’s Patrol and Reconnaissance coming to America. America’s farm sector, US law discovered digging in an Iowan the case are still wanted by the boosts security to be sure they Japanese city of Hiroshima. Group, which oversees intelli- “I always dreamt about com- enforcement offi cials are urging fi eld in May 2011. Over the past FBI and are believed to have fl ed do not steal anything or take pic- “It’s a challenge because gence collection activities. ing to America, the ‘promised agriculture executives and secu- two years, US companies, gov- to China or Argentina. Charges tures. over the last 20 years, it’s The charge sheet redacted out land’,” he said. “I grew up believ- rity offi cers to increase their vigi- ernment research facilities and were dropped against a sixth In Washington, US sena- stalled,” Dion said in an in- the name of the suspect and the ing that all the roads in America lance and report any suspicious universities have all been target- Chinese suspect. tors have called for a review of terview from Tokyo, adding Navy declined to provide details lead to Disneyland.” activity. ed, according to the FBI. The number of international the $43bn deal by state-owned that there’s been “no ma- on his identity. The Navy’s article can be seen But on a March 30 visit to Although prosecutors were economic espionage cases re- ChemChina to buy Swiss seed jor progress” on ridding the It accused him twice of com- here: http://1.usa.gov/1SIEJDe Iowa, justice department offi - unable to establish a Chinese ferred to the FBI is rising, up 15% group Syngenta, which generates world of nuclear weapons in municating secret information Chinese foreign ministry cials could off er little advice to government link to Mo’s group, each year between 2009 and 2014 nearly a quarter of its revenue that time. Dion said the road and three times of attempting to spokesman Lu Kang said he was ensure against similar thefts, un- the case adds to US-China fric- and up 53% in 2015. The majority from North America. to that goal will be long, but do so to a representative of a for- not aware of the details of the derlining how agricultural tech- tions over what Washington says of cases reported involve Chinese Acquiring GMO seed and suc- steps will have to be taken. eign government “with intent or case. He did not elaborate. Chi- nology lying in open fi elds can be is increasing economic espionage nationals, the US law enforce- cessfully recreating a corn plant “What I think we should reason to believe it would be used na’s defence ministry did not im- more vulnerable than a computer and trade secret theft by Beijing ment offi cial told Reuters. In the would allow Chinese companies do, very strongly, is focus on to the advantage of a foreign na- mediately respond to a request network or a factory fl oor. and its proxies. agriculture sector, organic in- to skip over roughly eight years of the Fissile Material Cut-off tion”. for comment. Taiwan’s defence “It may range down to tradi- A US law enforcement offi cial secticide, irrigation equipment research and $1.5bn spent annu- Treaty,” he said. “It’s the one The document did not identify ministry said it had no informa- tional barriers like a fence and told Reuters the agency looked and rice, along with corn, are all ally by Monsanto to develop the that is the least diffi cult to what foreign country or coun- tion on the case. Taiwan’s foreign doing human patrols to mak- for a connection between the suspected to have been targeted, corn, the company says. reach. tries were involved. ministry declined to comment. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 ASEAN Water festival Malaysian state sets stage for election amid scandal

AFP power resources, its people Kuala Lumpur - many from tribal commu- nities - are among Malaysia’s poorest. alaysia’s Sarawak It is one of ten Malaysian state dissolved its as- states controlled by the Ba- Msembly yesterday, the risan Nasional while three are country’s offi cial news agency held by the opposition. Bernama reported, paving the Despite the scandal swirl- way for an election that is be- ing around the state-owned ing closely scrutinised for its investment fund 1Malaysia impact on a huge fi nancial Development Berhad (1MDB), scandal. ruling coalition parties are Prime Minister Najib Razak widely expected to remain and his nationally ruling coa- in fi rm overall control of lition have taken a battering Sarawak. over allegations that billions The opposition and elec- of dollars were plundered from toral reform advocates say a state-owned investment Barisan Nasional parties re- fund which he founded. tain control of the states via Parties from the Barisan “money politics”, control of Nasional (National Front) the media, and other means, have long had fi rm control of adding that a recent redraw- Sarawak. But political observ- ing of electoral boundaries in ers are watching for any signs Sarawak blatantly favoured of eroding support before na- the ruling coalition. tional elections due by mid- Analysts say a strong show- 2018. ing by the coalition could New polls for Sarawak’s boost its position in the next state assembly must now be national polls. Barisan Na- held within 60 days. A date is sional has governed Malaysia expected to be set this week. since independence in 1957. Sarawak, known for its vast A recent independent sur- tropical forests, is one of Ma- vey found that most people in laysia’s most sparsely inhabit- Sarawak supported the cur- ed states, yet plays an outsized rent government and were role in politics. little infl uenced by the 1MDB It is often referred to as a re- scandal. liable “fi xed deposit” of sup- Najib, who denies wrong- port for the ruling coalition doing, has weathered the even as Malaysia’s opposition scandal so far by taking steps has gained ground elsewhere. to scuttle investigations and Although richly endowed clamping down on his power- People take part in water battles with elephants as part of celebrations of Songkhran - the Thai new year - in the city of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok yesterday. The with oil, timber and hydro- ful ruling party. Songkhran Festival is marked throughout Thailand with water fights during the days around the new year on April 13. Heatwave shuts more than 250 schools

Call to reject Thailand vegetable production, leading AFP Kuala Lumpur to price hikes. Paddy fi elds and rubber plantations have been also been aff ected by the se- ore than 250 Malay- vere temperature rise. sian schools were January and February 2016 Mclosed yesterday due smashed global temperature military-drafted charter to a heatwave brought on by records, the World Meteoro- the El Nino weather phenom- logical Organisation said in Jatuporn Prompan, leader shrine the generals’ domination to ousted former Prime Min- wants to promote stability and ful of investor concern about enon which is severely aff ect- March, attributing the highs to of the “red shirt” movement of politics. ister Thaksin Shinawatra, said good government, not prolong prolonged political deadlock if ing food production and caus- the “unprecedented” advance loyal to ousted former The military seized power the military-backed constitu- its power. the charter is rejected, has said ing chronic water shortages in of climate change. Prime Minister Thaksin in May 2014, overthrowing an tion would damage the country Critics say they will not ac- an election will be held in 2017 many countries. Many parts of Asia have Shinawatra, has said the elected government, saying it and he would urge his activists cept the constitution if the no matter what. Authorities ordered schools been aff ected by the strong El military-backed constitution needed to steer the country out to vote ‘no’ in the referendum. military retains control behind The junta has kept a firm lid in the states of Perlis and Pa- Nino dry spell which has also would damage the country of a decade of fractious and at “The red shirts will show the scenes, pointing to clauses on freedom of speech since the hang to shut after tempera- hit agriculture in Thailand and times violent politics. their strength again on August in the draft such as provision coup and has barred gatherings tures soared above 37 degrees the Philippines. Reuters It has promised to hold a 7,” Jatuporn told Reuters in an for an unelected upper house of a political nature and lead- Celsius over a 72-hour period, El Nino is triggered by a Bangkok general election in 2017, but interview. Senate. ers of the “red shirt” move- according to local reports. warming in sea surface tem- under a constitution that crit- “If the constitution passes “If the military government ment have been largely keeping The education ministry peratures in the Pacifi c Ocean. ics say will hobble democracy it will be devastating for both wants to stay in power longer quiet. said the decision was made It can cause unusually heavy Thai opposition leader and preserve the power of the politics and the economy,” he it should just say so,” said Jatu- Thaksin’s old foe, the pro- to protect the health of some rains in some parts of the warned the ruling junta military-dominated establish- said. “We need to overthrow porn. “But it should not hand establishment Democrat Party, 100,000 students, the offi cial world and drought in others. Ayesterday that his fol- ment at the expense of politi- this constitution.” back only a bit of power.” Thailand’s oldest political par- news agency Bernama report- But Malaysia’s Meteorologi- lowers would reject in an August cians. The junta discarded the pre- The prime minister of the ty, is also urging people to op- ed. cal Department said the cur- vote a military-drafted constitu- Jatuporn Prompan, leader of vious constitution and has de- military government, Prayuth pose the draft charter too, say- The sweltering heat in Ma- rent heatwave was expected to tion, which critics say would en- the “red shirt” movement loyal fended the new draft saying it Chan-ocha, apparently mind- ing it would stifle democracy. laysia has reportedly slowed ease soon.

INVESTIGATION Crackdown on illegal houses Police launch Opposition MP held probe against Mahathir over ‘fake’ border map The Malaysian police have opened four investigation papers against former premier Mahathir Reuters Siphan. Formal charges would Mohamed, inspector-general of Phnom Penh be fi led when he appeared be- police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar fore a court. Phay Siphan said he said yesterday. “We have already would be charged with forgery opened up four investigation Cambodian opposi- and incitement. papers against Mahathir,’’ the tion member of parlia- The opposition in Cambo- Malaysiakini news website quoted Ament has been arrested dia has for years accused Prime the IGP as saying. “Some are for posting a map on Facebook Minister Hun Sen of ceding land incomplete and some are being professing to show that the gov- to Vietnam in the hope of turn- discussed with the attorney- ernment had ceded territory to ing voters against him. general (Mohamed Apandi Ali),” Vietnam to whip up opposition, The prime minister, who rose IGP Khalid was quoted as saying, a government spokesman said to power in the 1980s as part of The Straits Times reported. “Some yesterday. a government that was backed (investigations) are for sedition and Cambodia has for centuries by Vietnam, has dismissed the some for other things. No decisions fretted about its much bigger accusations. The government have been made so far,” he added. neighbours — Vietnam to the spokesman said Um Sam An had He would not confirm if any of the east and Thailand to the north- repeatedly posted “fake” border investigations are related to west — encroaching on its terri- maps on Facebook, accusing the Dr Mahathir’s latest call for foreign tory. The issue remains emotive government of ceding land. intervention to oust Prime Minister and many Cambodians are sus- Tension has been rising in Najib Razak, according to the report. picious of both countries. Cambodia as Hun Sen’s ruling In an interview with The Weekend Um Sam An, a member of the party and the main opposition Australian newspaper, Dr Mahathir opposition Cambodia National CNRP look to a 2018 general said that the chances of ousting Rescue Party (CNRP), was ar- election that could be the big- Datuk Seri Najib, who is under fire rested on Sunday in the province gest test of the prime minister’s over heavily indebted state investor of Siem Reap after arriving from three-decade rule. The CNRP 1Malaysia Development Berhad overseas, a party colleague and condemned Um Sam An’s arrest (1MDB), were slim if there was no ex- fellow lawmaker said. in statement yesterday. ternal pressure. In response, Deputy “He created a fake border map An arrest warrant has been is- Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and used it as an incitement to sued for CNRP leader Sam Rain- Policemen shout to warn residents before an eviction as machinery demolishes illegal houses at Luar Batang fisheries village said Dr Mahathir’s comment could overthrow the government,” said sy on charges of defamation in in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. result in the people losing respect for government spokesman Phay several diff erent cases. the former premier. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Kerry ‘deeply moved’ by visit to Hiroshima Kerry’s visit lays the ground for a ing some 74,000 people. Japan sur- as the group walked to a cenotaph in trip by President Obama rendered within a week to end World the leafy park next to the museum. War II. Later children presented them AFP “Everyone should visit Hiroshima, with necklaces made of paper cranes Tokyo and everyone means everyone,” Kerry — a symbol of peace — woven in the said. bright colours of their national fl ags. “I hope one day the president of the The ministers laid wreaths at the ohn Kerry said yesterday he was United States will be among the eve- site, with the ruins of a domed build- “deeply moved” by his unprec- ryone who is able to come here.” ing gutted by the blast in the back- Jedented visit to the Hiroshima But Kerry declined to comment on ground. atomic bomb memorial — and urged the likelihood of an Obama visit. “There are no bad feelings and President Barack Obama also to make “Whether or not he can come as we’re not angry,” 43-year-old Hiro- the trip. president, I don’t know,” he said. shima businessman Jun Miura told The US secretary of state, who was “That is subject to a very full and AFP, adding that he hoped Obama joined by other G7 foreign ministers, complicated schedule that the presi- would visit the city. is the highest-ranking administra- dent has to plan out way ahead of “I want the president to see for tion offi cial to pay respects at the spot time.” himself exactly what happened. I am where American planes launched the Yesterday morning, the G7 minis- sure he has seen video of it, and read fi rst-ever nuclear attack more than ters and the foreign policy chief of the about it. But you have to come here to seven decades ago. European Union visited the memorial see it and contemplate.” Washington offi cials say Obama museum, which shows the devastat- For US tourist Jeremy Griffi ths, vis- is considering a trip to Hiroshima ing impact of the bombing — such as iting the memorial is a stark reminder late next month around the time of a survivors’ burned clothing and other of the scale of the damage. Group of Seven summit, which is be- personal eff ects. “You can read all you want, but ing held in another part of Japan. “It is a stark, harsh, compelling re- until you are actually at the place An Obama visit would have huge minder not only of our obligation to (where the bombing) occurred — it symbolic importance as the fi rst to end the threat of nuclear weapons, just changes how you look at it,” said Hiroshima by a sitting US president. but to rededicate all our eff ort to avoid the 29-year-old IT programmer from “I want to express on a personal war itself,” Kerry wrote in the muse- Florida. level how deeply moved I am” to be um’s guest book. The bombings are a highly emotive the fi rst US secretary of state to visit The G7 later issued its Hiroshima subject in both Japan and the United Hiroshima, Kerry told reporters yes- Declaration that called for a “world States. terday as he and his G7 counterparts without nuclear weapons”. Japan, as the only nation to have wrapped up two days of talks. The foreign ministers discussed a experienced a nuclear attack, empha- A museum at the memorial site is a range of other issues, from the refu- sises the suff ering its people endured. “gut-wrenching display that tugs at gee crisis and war in Syria to North But while publicly calling for the all your sensibilities as a human be- Korea’s latest military provocations eradication of nuclear weapons, it has ing”, Kerry said. and confl ict-wracked Ukraine. for decades been a close security ally About 140,000 people died from They pledged to step up the fight of Washington under the protection the Hiroshima blast on August 6, against the Islamic State group, of the US nuclear umbrella. 1945, or later from severe radiation while expressing concern about Many in the US, meanwhile, chafe exposure. The city, a key military in- maritime disputes in Asia — an ob- at any suggestion of an apology, say- stallation during the war, was fl at- lique criticism of China’s territorial ing Japan started the war with its at- tened by the massive detonation. ambitions. tack on Pearl Harbor and that the Japan’s foreign minister Fumio Kishida shows the way to US Secretary of State John Kerry and Britain’s Foreign Secretary The atomic bombing of Naga- Earlier, hundreds of schoolchildren bombings hastened the war’s end — Philip Hammond after laying wreaths at the Memorial Cenotaph for the 1945 atomic bombing victims in the Peace Memorial saki followed three days later, kill- waved fl ags of G7 nations and the EU preventing more deaths. Park, on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Hiroshima. US ready to raise pressure on Australian prisoner ‘carves IS slogan North Koreans, open to talks on fellow inmate’

AFP ries of claims by the North of signifi cant threatening the safety of civilian aircraft AFP said he was outraged by the al- Hiroshima breakthroughs in nuclear weapons and and vessels and violating international Sydney leged attack. ballistic missile programmes. agreements, Seoul told the United Nations “I will ask the inspector of They included Pyongyang’s alleged suc- Security Council in a letter released yes- custodial services for a full ashington is ready to “ratchet cess in miniaturising a nuclear warhead to terday. radicalised prisoner al- and thorough investigation of up” pressure on an increasingly fi t on a missile. South Korean UN ambassador Oh Joon legedly carved an Is- the management of radical- Waggressive North Korea, US Earlier yesterday the G7 meeting in Hi- said the electronic jamming signals have Alamic State slogan into ised prisoners in the system, Secretary of State John Kerry said yester- roshima, which suff ered the world’s first come from fi ve North Korean regions - the forehead of a fellow inmate including the assault,” he told day, but remains open to negotiations if nuclear attack in the closing days of World Haeju, Yonan, Pyongyang, Kumgang and in Australia, reports said yes- reporters. Pyongyang scraps its nuclear weapon de- War II, issued a statement calling for a Kaesong - and “dangerously aff ect” the terday, but offi cials denied ex- The manager of the facil- velopment. “world without nuclear weapons”. Global Positioning System. tremism was a problem in the ity has been suspended but the North Korea has taken a series of actions It said North Korea’s nuclear ambitions “The GPS jamming by DPRK (North jail system. state’s corrective services com- this year that have ramped up regional were a key hurdle to achieving that lofty Korea) is an act of provocation that poses The 18-year-old, named as missioner Peter Severin denied tensions, starting with its fourth under- goal. a threat to the security of the Republic of Bourhan Hraichie, has been Islamic radicalisation was a big ground nuclear test in January. Kerry also took a swipe at North Korean Korea and undermines the safety of civil charged with causing grievous problem in the prison system. That was followed by the launch of a leader Kim Jong-Un, saying his actions transportation, including aircraft and ves- bodily harm and intentional “What we are dealing with long-range rocket a month later — which “stand out as such an aberration against sels,” Oh wrote in the April 5 letter. choking following the incident is not a systemic issue,” he told was widely seen as a disguised ballistic Kim Jong-Un the direction the world wants to go” — re- On April 1 South Korea warned North after lockdown at the medium- the Sydney Daily Telegraph. missile test. ferring to moves aimed at reducing nuclear Korea to stop and vowed to take action if security Kempsey prison north “Yes, we have a range of in- In response the UN Security Council “But we have made it clear... we are pre- weapons. it continued amid heightened tension over of Sydney last week. mates who are clearly at risk of slapped its toughest sanctions yet on the pared to negotiate a peace treaty” on the “It is also why any suggestion by any the North’s nuclear and rocket tests. He reportedly assaulted his being radicalised, but we also secretive state. Korean peninsula. candidate for high public offi ce that we The reclusive North and the rich, cellmate then used a razor blade have robust strategies.” “I would like to see a few measures “It all depends on the North making the should be building more weapons and democratic South are technically still at to carve “e4e” into his head, an Steve McMahon, a spokes- we were not able to get into the (Secu- decision that they will negotiate on denu- giving them to a country like (South) war since their 1950-53 confl ict ended in apparent reference to the Is- man for the Public Sector Asso- rity Council) resolution implemented, clearisation. We are waiting for that op- Korea or Japan are absurd on their face an armistice, not a peace treaty. Oh said lamic State group’s “eye for an ciation, which represents prison depending on what actions the North de- portunity.” and run counter to everything that every the GPS jamming violates that armistice eye” mantra, before placing a guards, told reporters Hraichie cides to take,” Kerry told reporters after a The 1950-53 Korean War ended with an president, Republican or Democrat alike, agreement. towel on his face and pouring should have been segregated. Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting armistice and not a full peace treaty. The has tried to achieve since World War II,” South Korea has been on high alert boiling water over him. “The 18-year-old, in our in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. US has long insisted that Pyongyang must he said, apparently referring to Donald against possible cyber attacks from the The cellmate, who was belief, had presented enough On Saturday North Korea said it had suc- denuclearise as a condition for talks on a Trump. North after Pyongyang’s weapons tests rushed to hospital with inju- information and bad behaviour cessfully tested an engine designed for an peace pact. The Republican front-runner for No- and angry rhetoric threatening war in re- ries to his head and burns to to have been segregated, or at inter-continental ballistic missile, which The state department confi rmed in Feb- vember’s presidential election sparked sponse to new sanctions imposed last the face, was initially reported the very least, been put in a it claimed would “guarantee” an eventual ruary that Pyongyang had reached out to criticism recently by suggesting that he month by the UN Security Council and the to be a former soldier, although single cell,” he said. nuclear strike on the US mainland. Washington in a tentative bid to discuss a could accept a nuclear-armed Japan and South. offi cials later distanced them- The teenager, who has been “So it is still possible we will ratchet up treaty, but said its January nuclear test had South Korea to counter North Korea. “The government of the Republic of selves from the claim. transferred to a maximum se- even more depending on the actions” of derailed the possible talks. North Korea has been jamming GPS Korea strongly urges DPRK to stop its GPS New South Wales correc- curity prison, is due to face North Korea, Kerry said. Saturday’s test was the latest in a se- signals in South Korea since March 31, jamming without further delay,” Oh wrote. tions minister David Elliott court in May. Seoul reveals defection last year of two North Korean offi cials

Reuters unprecedented, arriving in the South Korea’s unifi cation min- tack against the South that sunk Korean authorities. South Ko- voter turnout ahead of Wednes- istry spokesman said it had re- Seoul South a day earlier. istry, which handles North Korea a navy ship and killed 46 sailors. rean offi cials declined to com- day’s parliamentary elections by ceived a report about a group of South Korea did not say where issues, also said that a senior dip- The North denies any responsi- ment. announcing the defection of the 13 North Koreans in China who the 13 had worked. China said lomat who was posted in an Af- bility for the sinking. News of the defections come restaurant workers last week. had gone missing. wo senior North Korean yesterday that 13 North Koreans rican country had defected to the The bureau is also known to after a period of tension on the Both ministries denied sug- “After an investigation, (we offi cials, including an had been there and had left law- South last year with his family. operate an elite team of computer Korean peninsula following the gestions that yesterday’s rev- found) the 13 North Koreans used Tarmy colonel specialising fully. It did not say if they were The defection of a high-rank- specialists working to infi ltrate North’s fourth nuclear test in elations were made for domestic valid passports to leave the coun- in espionage against the South, the same group. ing offi cer in the General Re- the networks of the South and January and a long-range rocket political reasons and said dis- try normally in the early hours of defected to South Korea last year, The South’s unifi cation and connaissance Bureau is a coup other countries and to conduct launch the next month. closing the defections was in the April 6,” Chinese foreign min- the Seoul government said yes- defence ministries said yesterday for Seoul. The North set up the cyber attacks against key institu- The South Korean govern- public interest. istry spokesman Lu Kang told a terday. that a North Korean army colonel bureau in 2009, consolidating tions. ment’s public acknowledgement China is North Korea’s main regular briefi ng, without saying News of the defections fol- defected last year and had been several intelligence agencies to South Korea’s Yonhap news of defections is unusual. ally, so South Korean media re- where they had gone. lowed a South Korean announce- granted political asylum. He had streamline operations aimed at agency said the North Korean The main liberal opposition ports that restaurant workers had “What needs to be stressed is ment on Friday that 13 workers worked in the secretive General the South. colonel specialised in anti- Minjoo Party yesterday accused been there initially raised some that these people had valid iden- at a restaurant run by the North Reconnaissance Bureau, which Its head, General Kim Yong South espionage operations be- the government of conserva- surprise. tity documents and legally came in an unidentifi ed country had is focused on espionage activities Chol, is accused by the South of fore defecting and had divulged tive President Park Geun-hye of Asked about the workers yes- to the country, not North Kore- defected, a case it described as against the South. being behind a 2010 torpedo at- the nature of his work to South trying to infl uence conservative terday, a Chinese foreign min- ans who have entered illegally.” Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 BRITAIN

OBITUARY CONTROVERSY CRIME CONCERN REALTY Singer Tom Jones’ Paper reveals identity Man accused of constable Fears over ‘spies in the sky’ Naval hero’s penthouse wife dies of cancer of superinjunction couple murder remanded after council uses drones for sale at £7.75mn

Sir Tom Jones’ wife, Lady Melinda Rose A Scottish newspaper has printed the identities of A man has appeared in court accused of Council off icials in Epping Forest spent £5,000 A Covent Garden penthouse in a Baroque mansion Woodward, has died following a “short but fierce: a celebrity couple who took out a superinjunction murdering a gay police off icer whose decomposed on two drones this year to fly them over sites once owned by an admiral famed as much for battle against cancer. A statement posted on the to suppress details of alleged infidelity that has remains were found in a flat. The body of constable where owners plan building works. The Essex corruption allegations as for battles he won has singer’s website said the 75-year-old had died been the subject of growing global speculation Gordon Semple, 59, was found in a property in the council was among a dozen local authorities that gone on sale for £7.75mn. The four-bedroom on Sunday morning at Cedars Sinai Hospital in in recent weeks. The paper, which cannot be Peabody Estate a week after he went missing. The have admitted buying or hiring unmanned aerial duplex is at the top of Russell House in King Street, Los Angeles, surrounded by her husband and identified for legal reasons, said it was printing the gruesome discovery was made after a neighbour vehicles for off icial purposes, but campaigners built as the London home of naval hero Edward loved ones. The singer had recently cancelled names of the pair on its front page, not because it alerted Scotland Yard to a “smell of death” coming have expressed concerns. Renate Samson, Russell in 1689 and rebuilt in 1717. The Grade II* several shows due to “serious” family illness. Sir was concerned with their private lives but because from the flat in Southwark, south London. Stefano chief executive of the Big Brother Watch, said double-fronted house is said to be the oldest Tom, 75, had been married to ‘Lady Linda’ since it was championing free speech and a free press. Brizzi, 49, was arrested at the property, which was yesterday: “Councils must refrain from using this surviving property on Covent Garden piazza. A 1957. They have one son, Mark. The couple were Legally, the newspaper can publish the identities his flat, and appeared via videolink at London’s technology as flying spies in the sky.” Epping door in the dining-room leads to a hidden staircase both children of coal miners in South Wales and of the couple in Scotland as the appeal court order Bromley Magistrates’ Court. Wearing a grey prison Forest district council said the drones were used by guests including William III and his wife became childhood sweethearts at the age of 15 applies only in England and Wales. It cannot refer issue tracksuit, he appeared calm as he confirmed available for use by its planning enforcement Queen Mary. The mansion later served as a hotel before marrying a year later. to the names online. his name, age and address during the brief hearing. and emergency planning departments. and a private members’ club.

Brexit vote spending Cameron rules for businesses set out tightens tax

Reuters London

he electoral watchdog laws in bid to has issued fresh guidance Tfor businesses on how to ensure they do not fall foul of campaign spending rules in the run-up to a June 23 referendum on membership of the European Union. restore trust Earlier this month, several leading banks said they had tak- Reuters and prosperity in our country and George Osborne, had also pub- en legal advice on how to make London we must always support those lished a summary of his tax aff airs. sure they comply with electoral who want to own shares and make But any hope he might draw rules, with some issuing guid- investments to support their fam- a line under the row was short- ance to staff on how to avoid rime Minister David Cam- ilies.” lived, as the leader of the opposi- breaching them. eron yesterday said he was He said most of Britain’s over- tion Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, Electoral law bars all organi- Ptightening laws to end tax seas territories, including the accused the prime minister of sations and individuals from evasion without deterring “aspi- British Virgin Islands and Cay- staging “a masterclass in the art of spending more than £10,000 ration”, hoping to end scrutiny of man Islands, and Crown De- distraction”. on influencing the outcome his personal wealth and restore pendencies, like Jersey, would “There is now one rule for during the campaign, unless trust in his leadership. now provide British law enforce- the super-rich and another for they formally register as cam- In a charged session in parlia- ment and tax agencies full access the rest. I am honestly not sure paigners. ment during which one opposition to information on benefi cial ... that the prime minister fully Ahead of the start of the offi - lawmaker was ejected after label- ownership of companies to off er appreciates the anger that is out cial campaign period on April 15, ling the prime minister “dodgy greater transparency. there over this injustice,” he said the Electoral Commission issued Dave”, Cameron defended those He also said he was introduc- to shouts of disagreement from a fi ve-page factsheet yesterday, who want to use money to support ing legislation this year to make Conservative lawmakers. giving a range of examples to their families - something he said it a criminal off ence for compa- Labour lawmaker Den- help organisations determine his late father had done when he nies if they fail to stop employees nis Skinner was forced to leave what kind of spending would fall set up an off shore fund revealed from instructing clients on ways the chamber when he refused under the rules. by the Panama Papers. of evading tax, part of what he a request by the parliamentary “Many of your activities will But the measures he announced called some of the most robust speaker to withdraw his charac- not meet the test for referendum did little to ease some of the criti- action ever taken by a govern- terisation of Cameron as “dodgy spending. Business as usual ac- cism of a leader accused by the ment to close tax loopholes. Dave”. tivities are not usually aimed at opposition of being a hypocrite The plan had been announced Financial offi cials questioned voters and may not reach a value for going after tax evaders in view by Finance Minister George Os- the government moves to close judgement on the two outcomes of his father’s fund and for being borne in March 2015, but pre- loopholes. at the referendum,” the guidance slow to detail his fi nancial aff airs. viously the commitment was Some accountants said the said. Cameron sought to underline to introduce the legislation by move to punish companies could “You will need to decide the diff erence between illegal tax 2020, Downing Street said. see fi rms taking responsibility whether your spending is in- evasion and legal tax avoidance, His message was aimed at for “rogue employees” and may tended to, or is otherwise in trying to address concerns over balancing action to crack down increase the risk burden on fi rms connection with, promoting or his leadership, hurt not only by on tax evasion to soothe critics doing business in Britain, which bringing about a particular out- questions about his wealth in the who accuse him of being part is seeing lower levels of invest- come in the referendum.” past week but also by divisions in of an elite, and to appeal to his ment because of uncertainty The commission said research his Conservatives over EU mem- own lawmakers, many of whom over the June 23 referendum on reports that make a judgement bership. are against his campaign to keep EU membership. on which referendum outcome is “It is right to tighten the law Britain in the European Union, “We need to be proportion- preferred, or use positive or neg- and change the culture around by underlining that he wanted to ate and realistic in any new leg- ative language rather than taking investment to further outlaw tax inspire wealth creation. islation being introduced,” said a neutral tone are more likely to evasion and discourage aggres- On Thursday, Cameron Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of count as referendum campaign- sive tax avoidance. But as we do bowed to pressure and said he tax at ACCA, a global accounting ing. so, we should diff erentiate be- had profited from selling his body based in London. It also asked businesses to tween schemes designed to arti- shares in the fund in 2010 and The questions come at a diffi - consider the audience for such fi cially reduce tax and those that on Sunday he published a sum- cult time for Cameron’s cabinet reports, pointing out those pro- are encouraging investment,” he mary of his tax records for the of senior ministers, who are split moted online or to the media said. past six years. over whether Britain should stay rather than just clients could be “Aspiration and wealth crea- In parliament, he again detailed in the European Union and have seen as seeking to infl uence the tion are not somehow dirty words, his fi nancial aff airs and pointed to been criticised for failing to bail wider voting public. Prime Minister David Cameron speaks in the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday. they are the key engines of growth the fact that his fi nance minister, out the steel industry.

Film premiere Celebrity drug dealer, Man dies after throat author ‘Mr Nice’ dies slashed in petty row Reuters In 1996 Marks published London his autobiography, which sold over a million copies and was London Evening Standard the road crying, holding his shame and over nothing really. followed later by a film of the London neck and head as he lay there Now Sahil has lost his life and ormer drug smuggler same name in which he was in the road bleeding. It really a family in bits for a tenner.” Howard Marks who played by his friend and fel- was terrible,” a witness added. The victim’s cousin Asil As- Fwrote about his exploits low Welshman Rhys Ifans. man has died after being Friend Larissa Maher, 21, tars posted: “Just heard dis- in an autobiography Mr Nice “Mr Nice was above all an slashed across the throat said: “He was really lovely. He turbing news that my cousin has died at the age of 70 after adventure story,” said his edi- Afollowing a “petty row wouldn’t say boo to a goose. Sahil Roy is pronounced dead suff ering from bowel cancer. tor at Harvill Secker, Geoff over a few pounds” in west Lon- We have a lot of bad people on over stabbing on his estate. I Marks, who learned of his Mulligan. don. the estate, but he wasn’t one of can’t believe it — still hoping condition last year, died in “Around the time of publi- Witnesses and friends told them and you wouldn’t expect it’s not true. Feeling devas- the early hours of Sunday at cation a close friend of Howard how the victim’s mother sobbed it to be him. tated and not sinking in. Get- his home near Bridgend in said to me: ‘people are going as she cradled him while he lay ting loads of flashbacks of the Wales, according to a state- to think he’s made half of this in the road in a housing estate Neighbours said he was times we spent together. I only ment from his publisher Har- up’ but I know he left out half in Isleworth. He was named lo- yards from his fl at when he saw him recently for a few vill Secker. of it.” cally as Sahil Roy, 28. was pushed to the ground minutes, didn’t know it would Marks turned to cannabis In later life, Marks cam- Police who were called to and stabbed in the neck be the last time.” traffi cking in the 1970s after paigned for the legalisation Summerwood Road at about in a “petty row over a few Malik Arshard, 32, a father- graduating from Oxford Uni- of cannabis and even stood 4pm on Sunday found a man pounds” of-two who lives nearby, said versity with a degree in phys- for parliament in 1997 for the collapsed in the road. They 15 police cars went to the scene ics. sole purpose of legalising the and air ambulance medics “A lot of people are in tears. with the air ambulance. After a series of multi-mil- drug. fought for more than an hour It’s very hard. A lot of people A Metropolitan Police lion pound deals and high- A skilled raconteur, he to save him, but he was pro- came out to pay their respects, spokesman said: “Next of kin profi le court cases, his career toured a one-man show re- nounced dead at 5.18pm. which shows how much peo- are in the process of being in drug smuggling fi nally came counting his experiences on Neighbours said he was ple loved him. His brother informed. We await formal to an end in 1988 when he was the wrong side of the law and yards from his flat when he came down and saw it as well, identification. A post-mor- caught after a raid on his house in 2015 published a follow-up was pushed to the ground and he must be going through hell. tem examination will be held. in Spain and extradited to the to his autobiography called Mr stabbed in the neck in a “petty You can’t feel safe around Enquiries continue.” US. Smiley: My Last Pill and Testa- row over a few pounds”. here. People just need to not A 22-year-old man was ar- He was sentenced to 25 years ment. His younger brother and carry knives around.” rested on suspicion of murder Colin Firth and Helen Mirren pose for photos at the premiere of in a high-security American He said when he fi rst learned mother arrived, friends said. Another friend, Yj Burton, and was being questioned by Eye in the Sky, at a cinema in central London yesterday. prison but released on parole of his cancer last year that he “I saw his mother with him in wrote on Facebook: “Such a police yesterday. after seven years. had no regrets about his life. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 17

BRITAIN/IRELAND NHS ‘squandering’ millions on over-the-counter drugs

Agencies The fi gures for England, ana- nylin, Buttercup, Boots own brand all prescriptions dispensed in the tions in the best interests of pa- items such as cold remedies out of prescriptions at a cost of £152,272 London lysed by the Press Association, and Covonia were also available on community - a 4.68% rise on the tients. their own pocket.” while Bazuka cost £133,875. show multi-vitamins made up prescription. £8.85bn in 2014, the data from the Katherine Murphy, chief execu- The data showed thousands Dr Maureen Baker, chairwoman 1.33mn prescriptions in 2015 at a Millions of pounds worth of Health and Social Care Informa- tive of the Patients Association, spent on head lice treatments, with of the Royal College of GPs, said: he NHS is spending mil- spend of more than £3.8mn. mouthwash was prescribed, with tion Centre (HSCIC) showed. said: “The NHS is under enormous the Hedrin head lice treatment ac- “Prescribing is a core skill in gen- lions of pounds a year on One of the biggest spends was one type available for £2.99 in Su- In 2015, 1.08bn prescription fi nancial pressure right now. Every counting for 41,560 prescriptions eral practice and family doctors Tprescriptions for items that for antacids - mostly Rennie and perdrug accounting for a £1.8mn items were dispensed - a 1.79% penny in the NHS must be spent at £279,143 while the bill for Full will always prescribe in the best can be bought in high street phar- Gaviscon - with more than 4mn spend, and a further £964,399 was rise from the 1.06bn in 2014. appropriately and wisely. Practi- Marks was £12,591. interests of our patients. macies. prescriptions at just over £26mn. spent on Corsodyl. Around 90% of prescriptions tioners must always make sure that Thousands of pounds was also “It is certainly important to be Household brands such as Vase- Calpol accounted for 12,605 at Hand sanitiser was prescribed, are free of charge to patients. Crit- prescription items are necessary. allocated to Nytol (£122,079) mindful of the cost of prescrip- line, Rennie, Strepsils, Benadryl a cost of £84,997, while Benadryl while Strepsils, Halls, Throaties ics said too much money was being “However, patients also have alongside Kalms herbal sleeping tions to the NHS, especially if and Bazuka account for hundreds made up 97,629 prescriptions at a and Tyrozets lozenges accounted “squandered” on bathroom cabi- responsibilities to not waste the pills, Berocca, Lemsip, Day Nurse, the medications and products are of thousands of prescriptions eve- £1.55mn spend. for more than £25,000. net items but the Royal College of NHS’s scarce resources and should Alka-Seltzer and Sudafed. readily available over the coun- ry year, NHS data shows. Cough medicines including Be- In 2015, £9.27bn was spent on GPs said doctors issued prescrip- endeavour to pay for everyday Bonjela made up over 59,000 ter.” ‘Selfi sh’ mother Another day, another ticket gets 24 years for toddler murder

Guardian News and Media abrasions on her fragile body. Edinburgh Smith, of Sandfi eld Road, Nottingham, who cried in the court dock throughout sentenc- “devious, manipula- ing, and Rigby, of Sloan Drive, tive and selfi sh” young Nottingham, had denied having A mother will serve at anything to do with the young- least 24 years behind bars after ster’s death but were convicted brutally stamping her toddler by a jury on Friday. daughter to death in the child’s Justice Andrews told Smith: bedroom. “You wanted to take care of Ay- Kathryn Smith, 23, was jailed eeshia yourself but not at the for life yesterday following her expense of running your life, conviction for murder after the and especially your love life, the savage attack on 21-month-old way you wanted.” Ayeeshia Jane Smith at the fam- As the young mother, wear- ily home in Staff ordshire on May ing a grey sweater hoodie and 1 2014. with her dyed red hair pulled Justice Geraldine Andrews, into a ponytail, gazed out from sentencing a weeping Smith at the dock, the judge told her Ay- Birmingham Crown Court, said: eeshia had come “a poor sec- “You are a devious, manipula- ond” in her brief life. tive, selfi sh, young woman who She said: “She was a de- would stop at nothing to get fenceless child, thin and frag- A traff ic warden puts fixed penalty notices on a string of cars in SW3, London. your own way. ile for her age, and it was your “To that end you were pre- responsibility as mother to pared to tell lie after lie.” take care of her and protect The judge added: “Ayeeshia her from harm, yet on the af- was a particularly vulnerable ternoon of May 1 2014, for no victim, thin and slight of frame, apparent reason, her life was deserving of protection and brutally snuffed out in a vi- under the protection of social cious beating in her own bed- services for the whole of her room, surrounded by her toys short life. and playthings.” Four men cleared of “She was killed in her own The judge criticised Smith for home by her own mother - that “maintaining a wall of silence” is the grossest breach of trust.” over what triggered the murder- The judge jailed Ayeeshia’s ous attack, robbing the child’s stepfather, 22-year-old Mat- natural father, Ricky Booth, and thew Rigby, for three years and other loved ones of vital answers six months after he was con- regarding the toddler’s last mo- college ball rape claim victed of causing or allowing the ments. death of a child. She told the young woman: All four were accused of raping the head of the south-west rape A jury of six men and six a restraining order against the Ayeeshia collapsed at the fl at “The picture you wished to Guardian News and Media London the woman at an end of year ball and serious sexual off ences unit. women was sworn in on March four defendants to prevent har- in Britannia Drive, Burton-up- paint of yourself of the down- in May 2014. Their trial was due The head of the unit consulted 29 to hear the case but was dis- assment but off ered no evidence on-Trent, after suff ering a fatal trodden subservient mother is to begin two weeks ago but was with the complainant and her charged a week later without to support the application. The heart laceration - a type of in- far from the truth.” our men have been cleared delayed by issues surrounding family to ensure they knew and hearing any evidence. judge refused it and issued a jury usually only found in crash Concluding her remarks, the of raping a woman at a col- the late disclosure of evidence to understood the decision, what- Judge Jamie Tabor QC had warning about commenting on victims. judge added: “Neither immatu- Flege ball at the Royal Ag- the defence by the prosecution. ever their view of it.” told jurors they should prepare the case on social media. It emerged after the toddler’s rity nor lack of intelligence was ricultural University after their Fiona Elder, prosecuting, told Lawyers for the men ex- for footage of the alleged sexual Eleanor Laws QC, represent- death that what the judge de- a signifi cant factor in the com- trial collapsed on the day it had the court yesterday that after pressed concern that the charges activity to be shown during the ing Duff , Jane Bickerstaff QC, for scribed as a “delightful little mission of these off ences. Just a been due to open. a review of the case it had been had hung over them for so long. trial. “This case concerns sexual Mahon, and Kieran Vaughan QC, girl” had previously suff ered a case of venting your anger on a Prosecutors at Gloucester decided not to off er any evidence In court, Edward Henry, for activity on a ball night at the representing Foster, said they bleed on the brain from an as- defenceless child.” crown court off ered no evidence against the four defendants. Martin, described the case as Royal Agricultural University,” would be seeking to recover their sault at her mother’s hands in Rigby, meanwhile, who was against Thady Duff , 22, James “The decision was made that “one long exercise in confi rma- he said. clients’ legal costs following the February 2014, and a pattern of unanimously cleared of mur- Martin, 20, Leo Mahon, 22, and there was no longer a reason- tion bias” and accused offi cers “Some of that was fi lmed. collapse of the trial. recent injuries including a huge der and a separate cruelty Patrick Foster, 22. Duff , Mahon able prospect of conviction and of “airbrushing” and “cherry- (There) is going to be what we Bickerstaff told the court: “We bruise on her spine. charge, was guilty of what the and Foster were students at the therefore in the circumstances it picking” evidence. call adult pornographic mate- are very grateful that no evidence Ayeeshia, who was taken judge called his “failure to act” college in Cirencester, Glouces- was not for the crown to pursue “We need to know the an- rial – very short in length – to be has been off ered. We have had no into care for a period in mid- over the obvious violence be- tershire, while Martin, an ap- this case to trial,” Elder said. swers to some questions,” Henry watched.” information as to why that deci- 2013, also had several bro- ing infl icted by the little girl’s prentice farrier and amateur “The police were informed added. “Why … should this have Elder told Tabor yesterday she sion was reached or why it took 13 ken ribs, and other marks and mother. jockey, was visiting them. and discussed the decision with gone on for so long as it has?” had been instructed to apply for months to decide to charge.”

Art sale Scotland schools closure Ukip backtracks on sparks safety review calls deportation stance Guardian News and Media in Northern Ireland, a marvel- London lous opportunity in Northern Guardian News and Media trols and how they are applied. gela Constance, told GMS: “The Ireland to keep going as we have Edinburgh One question is about value immediate priority is to ensure been going. Let’s stand up for for money in terms of how the that everything is being done to kip’s Northern Ireland ourselves and give ourselves a work was done initially and support children. We will cer- leader has sought to break.” cotland’s largest teaching then an ongoing question of tainly need answers about what Uclarify his position after However, later yesterday, union has called for a re- the drain on budgets.” went wrong and why. claiming his party would deport McNarry rowed back on his re- Sview of all public-private Edinburgh city council has “There are, of course, big foreign doctors even if they were marks. He issued a statement partnership contracts in Scot- closed 10 primary schools, questions about PFI (private only found guilty of a parking in- from Ukip’s central press offi ce land following the emergency five secondaries, two addi- finance initiative) contracts. fringement. to clarify his line on deport- closure of 17 schools in Edin- tional support needs schools It’s no secret that this govern- David McNarry, the former ing foreigners convicted in the burgh because of safety con- and a community centre from ment has long-standing con- Stormont assembly member for courts. cerns, leaving 7,000 pupils un- yesterday. No date has been cern but I’ve no doubt that Strangford - who defected from “This morning’s remarks able to start the new term. set for reopening, and parents when parliament reconvenes in the Ulster Unionists to Ukip - were part of what I considered The Educational Institute of and teachers have already ex- three or four weeks’ time that was challenged on Radio Ulster a silly line of questioning taking Scotland (EIS) questioned how pressed their worry about sec- there will be renewed interest yesterday morning over what an extreme example and blow- construction of the schools, ondary pupils, who are three in this area.” he would do if a Polish surgeon ing it out of all proportion. I which are about 10 years old and weeks away from sitting im- Andrew Kerr, the chief ex- was fi ned for overstaying in a car wanted Stephen Nolan to con- were all built under the same portant exams. ecutive of City of Edinburgh park. sider Ukip’s deportation policy PPP1 contract, was approved, Edinburgh city council has council, told Radio 4’s Today “It’s a crime. He has bro- seriously and not in an extreme resulting in the serious struc- said that, while contingency programme that he anticipated ken the law,” McNarry told light as he did, geared more to tural problems. plans are being put in place, contingency plans for pupils presenter Stephen Nolan. The entertainment rather than pub- Larry Flanagan, the EIS gen- some schools will remain closed would be in place by the end of Ukip spokesman said his party lic information.” eral secretary, told Good Morn- until the end of the week. today. would deport foreigners guilty of He said: “Let me make the ing Scotland: “We’ve been long- Edinburgh Schools Part- “We have had lots of off ers crimes in the UK including traffi c position absolutely crystal clear term critics of these initiatives, nership, which built and from our partners – universi- off ences. – Ukip would not deport any- largely because the main con- manages the buildings, has ties, other local authorities and Campaigning for a ‘no’ vote in one for anything other than a tracts have been a huge drain on apologised to parents and pu- the Scottish government – to June’s referendum on EU mem- serious offence followed by due school budgets. pils, and promised to “accept help us fi nd those alternatives so bership, McNarry said: “We need process and conviction in the “We are concerned to find full financial responsibility everyone in Edinburgh is pulling A gallery assistant poses with the painting “No 17” by Mark our country back. We need to be courts. That is our policy on there are major structural dif- for investigating and resolv- together to make sure that we al- Rothko during a media preview of the Post-War and running our own aff airs. We are deportation. Ukip have serious ficulties. There is a question ing these issues”. leviate this problem as much as Contemporary sale at Christie’s in London yesterday. capable of doing it. policies on migration and de- mark around building con- The Education Secretary, An- we can,” he said. “We have a great opportunity portation.” Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 EUROPE

Moroccan on trial in Germany for Athens, Skopje bicker New Year assault

AFP Dusseldorf over migrant violence ermany yesterday put a 33-year-old Moroccan on trial for sexual assault, the fi rst man accused over AFP Ga spate of such attacks at New Year’s celebrations Athens that shocked the country. The defendant, who entered the Dusseldorf courtroom hiding his face under a blue jacket, allegedly groped a woman while he and some 15 to 20 other reek Prime Minister Alexis men encircled and also assaulted her. Tsipras yesterday accused The 18-year-old woman told the court of her panic as Gneighbouring Macedonia the man lifted her skirt to touch her buttocks while feel- of “shaming” Europe by fi ring tear ing countless other hands touching her breasts and genital gas and rubber bullets at migrants area in a terrifying mob attack. She said she later iden- desperately trying to break through tifi ed the defendant from unrelated television footage a border fence. screened in a “Spiegel TV” news reportage on pickpockets Tensions were still running high in the city of Duesseldorf. after Sunday’s violence, which saw Germany was appalled by the wave of sexual assaults 250 migrants and refugees hurt at and other crimes targeting women on New Year’s Eve, the fl ashpoint Idomeni crossing as mainly in Cologne but also in several other cities includ- they tried to force their way into ing Duesseldorf, where police received 118 criminal com- Macedonia. plaints. The Cologne attacks in particular - committed in “Faced with people who were a crowd of mostly North African men, according to wit- clearly not armed and constituted nesses - heightened public fears about a mass infl ux of no serious threat, they attacked refugees and migrants. with chemicals, with tear gas and Right-wing populist groups protested against “rape- rubber bullets,” Tsipras told report- fugees” and “sex-jihadists” while condemning the arrival ers, blaming Macedonian police. of more than 1mn asylum seekers last year, the majority “This is a great shame for Eu- from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. ropean culture and for countries The court heard that the Moroccan man accused of at- who want to be part of it,” he said, tacking the woman in Duesseldorf also faces separate un- calling on the EU and the UN refu- specifi ed assault and property damage charges, and has gee agency UNHCR to take a stand four previous theft convictions. as Europe struggles cope with its Prosecutor Laura De Bruyn said that “the accused and worst migration crisis since World his accomplices encircled and trapped the young woman War II. and repeatedly touched her breasts, her buttocks but also It was the latest violence to her genital area”. The man had entered Germany in April erupt at Idomeni, where more than 2014 when he fi led a request for political asylum which 11,000 migrants have been living was later rejected, but continued to stay in a shelter for rough for weeks after Balkan states asylum seekers, she said. closed their borders, cutting off ac- “The injured party has said that she was watching a tel- cess to western Europe. Many are evision report in which the defendant gave an interview refugees fl eeing war in Syria and about a diff erent matter,” said De Bruyn. “She clearly rec- Iraq. ognised him as the perpetrator and decided to fi le charges.” But Macedonia, which has aspi- rations to join the European Union, Refugees and migrants protest as a tear gas canister, fired on Sunday, exploded yesterday near their makeshift camp in the northern Greek border hit back. It accused Greek police of village of Idomeni. Red Cross, aid groups to resist failing to intervene as around 3,000 tougher Austrian asylum bill migrants “violently” tried to cross Citizen’s arrest of migrants sparks protest in Bulgaria the frontier, hurling stones and other objects in a bid to break down A citizen’s arrest of three illegal migrants arriving through the border cates of appreciation to another War II, is concerned that the closure id groups, including the Red Cross, said yesterday the fence. migrants sparked controversy in with Turkey in a move denounced by vigilante group for intercepting of the western Balkans migrant route they would resist plans by the Austrian govern- Medical charity Doctors With- Bulgaria yesterday, with rights the Bulgarian branch of the Helsinki some 20 migrants near the border could see increasing numbers of peo- Ament to toughen its asylum process, shifting deci- out Borders (MSF) said 200 people groups protesting while the govern- Committee (BHC) rights group. with Turkey. ple trying to cross its territory. sion-making to centres near its borders. suff ered breathing problems, 30 ment refrained from condemning the “These images (show) the most Prime Minister Boyko Borisov also To prevent an influx, it has sped up Draft legislation Austria says is needed to safeguard sustained injuries from rubber bul- practice. brutal citizen’s arrest so far in Bul- expressed his thanks to the group’s construction of a 132km fence along public order and internal security would make family re- lets - three of them children under Amateur video footage broadcast garia. The prosecution must open a leader in a telephone call. “The state the Turkish border and holds regular unifi cation harder for migrants and would see the bulk of 10 - and 30 had other injuries. on several Bulgarian televisions and probe immediately,” BHC president belongs to all of us, whoever wants army and border police training asylum requests being dealt with within an hour of cross- Tensions were still high yester- in social media showed three men Krasimir Kanev said, warning that a to help (protecting it) is welcome,” he sessions along the frontier in a show ing Austria’s border. day although there was no immedi- lying on the ground, their hands failure to act by the authorities would said on Monday. of force. “This is probably the most fundamental change in re- ate repeat of the weekend clashes. tied behind their backs as someone only encourage such acts. But the BHC denounced such According to a survey published cent decades. A change which means Austria virtually “Protesters in Idomeni have shouts: “Go back to Turkey!” But the authorities’ reaction has rewards as “unacceptable”, warning last week, 60% of Bulgarians see takes leave of the right to asylum,” Michael Landau, head dragged a train wagon in front of Border police who arrived at the been ambiguous. that Bulgaria risked turning “into a migrants as “a threat to national of the Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO) the police bus. Tensions are high,” scene found the three unhurt and “This is.. illegal,” border police cradle of Balkan fascism”. security” and 51% would not like Caritas, told reporters. MSF said in a tweet. with their hands free. chief Antonio Angelov told private Bulgaria, which has so far re- to work with or live next door to a Austria’s government has relied heavily on NGOs such An hour later, it said another 200 Such arrests have happened in- bTV television in comments a mained on the sidelines of Europe’s migrant in a country which is the as Caritas, the Red Cross and German aid group Diakonie people were heading for the bor- creasingly in recent weeks, targeting week after he handed out certifi- worst migration crisis since World poorest in the EU. to manage migrant fl ows and accommodation centres, der, but described the situation as provide legal assistance and collect and distribute clothes “quite calm”. and food to asylum seekers. The makeshift encampment at events of the past 24 to 48 hours blocked at Idomeni to be relocated, have no place in the EU or Nato,” them,” spokesman Jonas Haeensen The head of Austria’s Red Cross, Werner Kerschbaum, Idomeni, where people are living on the Greece-Macedonia border,” with spokeswoman Mina Andreeva Greek President Prokopis Pav- said. said he had sent a letter to the government to say his group in squalid conditions, has become said Steff en Seibert, spokesman for warning them not to push ahead lopoulos said. “I am referring to The Greek government said it had would refuse to help enforce the new measures, should a symbol of the misery faced by Chancellor Angela Merkel. with “a dangerous and irregular (Macedonia) specifi cally.” lodged two “very strong protests” parliament approve them in a vote expected to take place thousands who have fl ed war and Asked about the actions of the onward journey”. Skopje has furiously defended with Macedonian authorities. in May. poverty to reach Europe and Greek Macedonian border guards, he said: Sunday’s incident began when its actions, saying 23 of its border The refugee crisis has piled fur- The heads of all three organisations said the bill eff orts to move them into nearby “Controlling the borders must, in leafl ets in Arabic were distributed police were injured in the incident ther pressure on already strained breached both European law and the Austrian constitu- reception centres have so far been every country, be in line with inter- around the camp falsely suggest- and accusing the Greek police of ties between the two neighbours tion and would encourage migrants to make use of human unsuccessful. national legal standards.” ing the border was about to open, failing to lift a fi nger to stop the over a two-decade dispute over traffi ckers. The groups will appeal to each lawmaker’s Germany said it was watching He urged migrants to leave Ido- prompting Greece to double its po- protesters. Macedonia’s name. conscience in writing to encourage them to vote against developments there “with con- meni and move into offi cial shelters lice presence in the area. It also denied using any kind of Athens does not accept its the draft tabled by Austria’s centrist coalition govern- cern” and urged all states to ensure set up by Greece and not to attempt Sunday’s violence has only bullets against the crowd. neighbour using the name Mace- ment, Chalupka said. border security was strictly in line to cross the border illegally. served to escalate the row between MSF, however, confi rmed treat- donia, claiming to have a historical The new plans would go beyond previous restrictions with human rights. “Trying to cross the border... is Athens and Skopje. ing “30 to 40 people” for such right to the name because the heart Austria introduced to limit the number of asylum claims “We are watching with concern not a hopeful option,” he said. Countries which display behav- wounds, among them women and of Alexander the Great’s ancient it accepts this year to 37,500 - less than half of last year’s the diffi cult living conditions in the The European Commission iour “incomprehensible and un- children. “According to their ac- kingdom lies in Greece’s northern 90,000. It has received around 14,000 claims so far this provisional camp Idomeni and the also reiterated calls for the people acceptable to humanity certainly counts, Macedonian police fi red on Macedonia region. year alone. Ukraine seeks pro-EU govt Sombre tribute

AFP the 38-year-old protege of Poro- despised Russian-backed presi- the departure of Finance Minis- Kiev shenko may lack the toughness dent Viktor Yanukovych. ter Natalie Jaresko. needed to stand up to a handful Tymoshenko’s party and The US-born former State of tycoons who have dominated other rebellious factions have Department worker and private kraine yesterday prepared Ukraine’s fractious politics for so far been non-committal banker has been widely praised to usher in a stable new years. about whether they were ready by the West for being able to pull Upro-Western govern- Parliament is to decide today to see Groysman assume one of together a crucial debt restruc- ment following the resignation whether to accept Yatsenyuk’s Ukraine’s two top posts. turing deal in August 2015. of Prime Minister Arseniy Yat- resignation at what is expected to This confusion comes against Yet some analysts said she senyuk over public anger with his be a marathon session that might the backdrop of fi erce jostling for would not want to serve under seeming inability to fi ght gov- also include a vote on Groys- senior cabinet seats and a rag- Groysman after herself volun- ernment graft. man’s candidacy. ing trade war with Russia that teering for the premiership post. Yatsenyuk’s Sunday an- Yatsenyuk’s party member has hurt producers and further Slovakia’s reformist former nouncement came barely two Anton Gerashchenko wrote on stalled Ukraine’s return to eco- deputy prime minister Ivan months after he survived a no- Facebook that there were “more nomic growth. Miklos has agreed to join the confi dence vote in parliament than enough votes” needed to Groysman himself warmly cabinet if he is allowed to keep that left the government para- accept the premier’s resignation. praised Yatsenyuk for his deci- his citizenship and pursue the lysed and put the release of vital Yet what comes next is far less sion but said nothing about his austerity measures prescribed foreign aid on hold. clear. own chances of becoming the by the International Monetary The former Soviet republic “There is still huge uncertain- next premier. Fund under its $17.5bn rescue has been roiled by a pro-Russian ty about the political situation,” “I understand that this was a plan. eastern revolt and an economic London’s Capital Economic con- thought-through and dignifi ed The IMF suspended tranche collapse that has wiped out peo- sultancy warned. step, perhaps a diffi cult one, but payments to Ukraine late last ple’s savings and stirred public The parliamentary factions one that deserves respect,” Inter- year due to the government’s resentment toward the govern- headed by Poroshenko and Yat- fax-Ukraine quoted Groysman as slow implementation of some of ment since Yatsenyuk assumed senyuk have been trying for saying. the reforms. offi ce in February 2014. weeks to muster the majority He called on parliament to But the Ukrainska Pravda news President Petro Poroshenko’s necessary to push through a new quickly forge a coalition “that site quoted sources as saying that party has proposed replac- cabinet leader and form a gov- can form a new reform-driver Miklos will “defi nitely” not re- ing Yatsenyuk with parliament ernment that could appease the government and choose a prime place Jaresko at the crucial post. speaker Volodymyr Groysman - a other dissatisfi ed parties. minister, thus ensuring the inev- And Liga.net cited presidential coalition builder who has gained But smaller groups such as itability of (Ukraine’s) European party member Vadym Denysenko Candles are lit in front of portraits of late Polish president Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, in stature by keeping the notori- the one headed by former prime integration.” as saying that Jaresko would in front of Presidential Palace in Warsaw yesterday during a memorial marking the sixth ously rowdy chamber in relative minister Yulia Tymoshenko have Analysts and the Ukrainian fact keep her job. anniversary of the presidential plane crash in Smolensk. Poland marked the anniversary of the peace since his appointment in pulled out of the pro-EU coali- media had predicted that one of Capital Economics called the jet crash amid louder-than-ever claims it was no accident - fuelled by his twin brother’s party November 2014. tion that formed in wake of the the most important changes in possibility of Jaresko’s departure winning power last year. But some economists fear that February 2014 ouster of Ukraine’s the government would involve “a key concern”. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 19 EUROPE

RESENTED REEF GRIEF DEFIANCE JOB CRUNCH LOOTED ART Hungary to scrap unpopular Ferry runs aground in Turkish cabinet meets in After protests, French PM Ancient Roman artefact Sunday trading ban Sardinia, passengers safe strife-torn southeast vows to help youth get jobs returned to Italy

Hungary’s government yesterday moved to A ferry headed to the French island of Corsica Fighting raged yesterday between Turkish French Prime Minister Manuel Valls yesterday An artefact that was stolen from the Roman Forum scrap an unpopular year-old ban on Sunday ran aground yesterday as it manoeuvred out security forces and Kurdish militants in southeast unveiled measures to help young people into more than 50 years ago and ended up in the trading for most shops, avoiding what looked of a port in Sardinia, but nobody onboard Turkey as the cabinet held an unprecedented work, in response to weeks of protests against hands of a German collector was returned to Italy set to be an embarrassing referendum defeat on was injured, the Italian Coastguard said in meeting on the edge of the restive region to proposed reforms to labour laws. Valls made yesterday, its Ministry for Culture said in a statement. the issue for Prime Minister Viktor Orban. “The a statement. The ferry operated by Italian discuss ways of rebuilding its shattered economy. the proposals in a meeting with eight youth The terracotta plate fragment, showing a human government proposes that parliament abolishes company Moby set off from Santa Teresa di The Turkish army said 39 members of the organisations that oppose the reforms. The face, went missing in August 1961. It resurfaced in the legislation and reinstates the previous Gallura, on the northern tip of Sardinia, and was outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party had been measures, worth up to 500mn euros ($570mn) a December 2014, inside a package mailed to the system,” said Orban’s cabinet chief Antal Rogan. due to sail across to Bonifacio, at the southern killed in clashes in four towns over the weekend, year, include an initiative to encourage employers Greek embassy in Berlin by the widow of its owner, Parliament could vote on the proposal as soon end of Corsica, but at around 10.15am, it hit adding to a death toll that has risen sharply since to hire young workers on full-time contracts. who wrongly presumed it came from Greece. Greek as today, meaning shops could be trading again a reef and got stuck. Two Guardia Costiera the collapse of a ceasefire last July. Prime Minister Employers would be forced to pay additional Culture Minister Aristides Baltas handed over the next Sunday, he said. In eff ect from March 15 last vessels rushed to the scene and evacuated 67 Ahmet Davutoglu chaired the cabinet meeting taxes on short-term contracts. Another proposal object to his Italian counterpart, Dario Franceschini, year, the law ordered shops larger than 400sq m passengers. Two more passengers - lorry drivers in the city of Sanliurfa, which though located in is for new graduates of modest means to receive during a meeting in Athens. Franceschini said the to stay closed on Sundays. A recent poll showed who had their vehicles on the deck - stayed southeast Turkey is still hundreds of kilometres a four-month extension to their study grants to gesture was a testimony to their joint eff orts in over 60% of those surveyed were against it. aboard to help the ferry’s 12-strong crew. from the main areas of conflict. tide them over until they find work. fighting the smuggling of looted art.

Turkey lashes out at German satire over Erdogan jibe

AFP In the German-language Berlin rhyme, Boehmermann, seated before the Turkish fl ag and a portrait of Erdogan, also charges ermany said yesterday it that the Turkish leader loves to was reviewing a request “repress minorities, kick Kurds Gby Turkey to prosecute a and beat Christians”. TV satirist who crudely insulted Seibert quoted Merkel last President Recep Tayyip Erdogan week criticising the poem as on air, amid a bitter row over free “deliberately insulting” dur- speech. ing a telephone call with Turk- Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ish Prime Minister Ahmet Da- spokesman Steff en Seibert told votoglu, in a move Berlin had reporters that Berlin had received hoped would smooth ruffled a “note verbale”, a formal diplo- feathers. matic protest, from Ankara ask- The case comes at an ex- ing for “criminal proceedings” tremely awkward time as Eu- against celebrity comedian Jan rope, and Germany in particular, Boehmermann. are relying on Turkey to imple- Seibert said offi cials at the ment a pact to curb the infl ux of chancellery, foreign ministry migrants setting sail for the EU and justice ministry would de- from Turkey’s shores. cide after “careful review” in the German critics have savaged coming days whether a probe the government’s muted re- under the rarely enforced sec- sponse to Turkey’s diplomatic tion 103 of the criminal code - protest, accusing Merkel of kow- insulting organs or representa- towing to the Turkish leader. tives of foreign states - could go forward. “This type of insult Russian soldiers secure a neighbourhood in Novoselitskoye, Stavropol region in southern Russia. If prosecutors decide to bring against a president, charges, they could carry a sen- against an entire people, tence of up to three years in pris- has nothing to do with on. freedom of expression German prosecutors last week and the press, it is a opened a preliminary probe criminal off ence” against Boehmermann, 35, over his so-called “Defamatory News website Spiegel Online Poem”, recited with a broad grin said the impression had arisen on public television, which ac- “that Merkel can be blackmailed Suicide bombers hit cused Erdogan of having sex with over the EU-Turkey migrant goats and sheep. pact” and said the government That investigation was based now faced a serious dilemma be- on complaints from several Ger- tween democratic principles and man viewers. the letter of an evidently out- However the Turkish govern- dated law. ment’s request gives the aff air a The head of the Turkish com- far broader diplomatic dimen- munity in Germany, Gokay So- Russia police station sion and puts Merkel in the line fuoglu, blasted the poem as of fi re. “not satirical but inappropriate AFP “We were holding a meeting in the cies posted an eyewitness video shot af- “Was this a terrorist threat or gang- Seibert stressed Berlin’s con- and insulting” and demanded Moscow morning when fi ve explosions went off ,” ter the attack showing the police station sters? Without knowing the circum- stitutional commitment to free- an apology from Boehmer- Sergei Karamyshev, a senior local police of- with an alarm sounding and what appear stances it is hard to say,” he told reporters dom of expression, calling it mann. fi cial, told AFP. “Three people blew them- to be fragments of bodies outside. during a conference call. “non-negotiable”. The comedian was reacting hree suicide bombers yesterday selves up after an offi cer on duty at the en- “There were fi ve explosions and a vol- The Islamic State group claimed respon- “This applies, and this is very to Ankara’s decision to summon blew themselves up as they tried trance blocked the door to the building.” ley of automatic gunfi re,” a male witness sibility in December for a deadly shooting important to me, regardless of Germany’s ambassador in pro- Tto storm a rural police station in a He said three of the explosions were can be heard saying in the video. “There’s in Derbent, a city in the North Caucasus re- whether the chancellor person- test last month over a previous usually peaceful region of southern Rus- caused by the suicide bombers, while no one here, everyone has run away in a public of Dagestan with an ancient citadel ally fi nds something artistically satirical song broadcast on Ger- sia, causing no other casualties, police a fourth was caused by a grenade. The panic.” that is popular with tourists. successful or repellent, tasteful man TV which lampooned Er- said. source of the fi fth blast was not immedi- Investigators said in a statement that IS has vowed revenge against Russia or tasteless,” he said. dogan in far tamer language. After the attack in the village of Nov- ately clear, he added. “three unknown men” tried to storm the after Putin launched a bombing cam- Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim The two-minute clip “Erdow- oselitskoye in the southern Stavropol There was no immediate information police station and detonated grenades, paign in Syria last September. Kalin confi rmed the complaint to ie, Erdowo, Erdogan”, set to the region, regional authorities ordered the on the identities of the bombers. “There adding that the building and nearby cars The Syrian army backed by Russian reporters in Ankara. tune of a 1980s pop song, takes tightening of security measures in kin- are only fragments of fl esh over there,” had been damaged. forces recently scored a hugely symbolic “This type of insult against a aim at the Turkish president over dergartens, schools and hospitals. said Karamyshev. In a sign of the signifi cance of the in- victory over IS jihadists in the ancient president, against an entire peo- his alleged spending excesses Russia’s North Caucasus - including A regional police spokeswoman said cident, deputy chairman of the Moscow- city of Palmyra and is preparing to retake ple, has nothing to do with free- and his government’s crackdown Chechnya where the Kremlin has fought however that just one of the attackers had based Investigative Committee which control of the northern city of Aleppo dom of expression and the press, on civil liberties. two wars against separatists over the past detonated an explosive charge while the probes major crimes, Boris Karnaukhov, from rebels fi ghting the regime of Presi- it is a criminal off ence,” he said. Free speech advocates have 20 years - has been gripped by nearly dai- other two assailants were killed by “re- arrived at the scene. dent Bashar al-Assad. During the broadcast on rallied around Boehmermann, ly violence for years due to a simmering turn fi re.” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman In 2009, the Kremlin formally can- March 31, Boehmermann glee- with his employer, public broad- Islamist insurgency there. “They were shooting at the building,” Dmitry Peskov said eff orts were under celled a decade-long counter-terrorism fully admitted the piece fl outed caster ZDF, saying his show Attacks in the Stavropol region - which said Natalya Tyncherova. way “to understand what was behind” regime in Chechnya, claiming a sem- Germany’s legal limits on free would “continue as planned” is close to the Muslim-majority Northern The lifenews.ru news outlet known for the attack, which is likely to be seen as a blance of normality had returned to the speech and was intended as a although it has removed the of- Caucasus - are rare, however. its close ties to police and security agen- blow to the Kremlin’s prestige. war-scarred region. provocation. fending clip from its website.

Summer may bring Zika to southern Europe Wage protest

AFP “I would say that the southern part of There is a risk of “some little out- Amsterdam the US and southern Europe are defi nitely breaks” around a single imported case, he at risk,” he told AFP on the conference added, “but I don’t think at this time the sidelines. However, he stressed, the risk virus will resettle in Europe.” ith summer approaching, Zika should not be exaggerated. “It is a disease The main challenge, according to Pe- may fi nd its way into virus-car- which in the vast majority of cases is a tersen, would be to prevent infected blood Wrying mosquitoes in Europe or mild viral disease.” making its way into blood banks and being the US, disease experts have warned, but Rare cases of sexual virus transmission given to a patient with low immune pro- any outbreaks are likely to be small and have also been recorded. tection. short-lived. The warmer summer months bring According to Nick Beeching, a senior Doctors and scientists attending a ma- with them the peak mosquito season for lecturer on infectious diseases at the Liv- jor infectious diseases conference in Am- Europe and the US after the insects’ eggs - erpool School of Tropical Medicine, it is sterdam said there was no reason to panic, typically found in stagnant water - hatch. hard to predict threat based on the limited and the idea of screening travellers was In Europe, the potential threat comes data available. far-fetched. from a related mosquito, Aedes albopic- Very little is known about Zika - how Zika is borne by the Aedes aegypti tus, which began to spread in southern long it may hide out in the human body, mosquito found in Latin America and the Europe about 25 years ago. the degree of risk of sexual transmission, Caribbean - in the grips of an outbreak of Albopictus is not known to have trans- and the full list of diseases it may cause. the virus which has been linked to severe mitted Zika to humans in the wild, but has “We think its mostly transmitted by the brain damage in babies and rare neuro- been shown capable of doing so in labora- mosquitos that transmit dengue and sim- logical diseases in adults. tory experiments. ilar infections, so we think there is prob- “We have to accept that someday there “A real risk for Europe? No, I don’t ably not going to be much of a problem will be a... traveller coming back from think so,” said Jean-Paul Stahl, an infec- in countries where you don’t have those South America with Zika virus in his or tious diseases expert from the Grenoble mosquitoes,” said Beeching. her blood and there is a potential risk of University Hospital in France. But “we don’t know that for sure.” starting a transmission,” tropical medi- “The vector (the mosquito) is in the Studies are ongoing to see if other mos- Steel workers from Germany’s ThyssenKrupp AG and IG Metall trade unions demonstrate for higher wages cine professor Eskild Petersen of Den- Mediterranean areas, but we don’t have quitoes elsewhere may also transmit the in Duisburg. The text on banner reads ‘Cleaner steel is the future’. mark’s Aarhus University said yesterday. the virus. Not yet.” virus. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 INDIA

HERITAGE INSURGENCY OUTCRY TRAGEDY POLITICS W Bengal’s restored Danish 12 militants surrender Cops suspended after Stunt with fire for reality New UP BJP chief hopes to church to open on April 16 with families in Tripura attack on journalists show claims teen’s life win 265 seats in 2017

St Olav’s Church, dating back to the Danish Twelve guerrillas of the National Liberation Police beat up several journalists in Jamshedpur The desire to do stunts for a television Newly-appointed president of Uttar Pradesh settlement in West Bengal, will be thrown Front of Tripura (NLFT) have surrendered to the in Jharkhand, causing an outcry which led to the reality show claimed the life of a teenager in Bharatiya Janata Party Keshav Maurya, who open for regular service as well as visitors police, off icials said in Agartala yesterday. “Ten suspension of four police personnel. The incident Hyderabad, police said. Mohamed Jalaluddin, arrived in Lucknow yesterday to a grand from April 16 following restoration of the NLFT militants along with their two associates happened on Sunday night at Sitaramdera 19, died of severe burns he sustained while welcome by supporters and party workers, building. The church at Serampore in fled their Bangladeshi hideout last week and police station in steel city Jamshedpur where practicing fire stunts in Falaknuma area on said the party would win 265 seats in the Hooghly district - locally known as ‘Danish crossed over to Tripura before surrendering journalists had gone to report on the detention of April 7. He sustained 60% burns as he could 404-member state assembly polls next year. He church’ - is one of the over 100 buildings to the superintendent of police Arindam a Bharatiya Janata Party-supported builder. “The not take off the T-shirt which he had set on was mobbed by enthusiastic party workers at constructed between 1755 and 1845 when Nath on Sunday in Tripura’s border village police objected to the media coverage,” Manoj fire after pouring kerosene. His friends were the Charbagh railway station. Thanking party Serampore was under Danish management Bhandarima,” a police off icer said. The militants Singh, a reporter of a local TV channel and who recording the stunts on their mobile phones workers for their support, Maurya exuded and known as Frederiksnagore. “On April 16, were accompanied by 20 family members, sustained head injuries, said. “All of sudden, they as he wanted to participate in a reality show confidence that the next government in the state there will be a small ceremony after which including eight children, he said. Border started beating journalists. We were just doing our on a television channel by sending these clips, would be of the BJP. “We will win 265 seats in it will be opened for regular service,” Father Security Force (BSF) off icials were present professional work,” he said. One head constable Assistant Commissioner of Police M A Bari the 2017 state polls.” Among others welcoming Terence Ireland, who was involved in the during the surrender. The NLFT is short of funds and three other policemen were suspended. The said. The off icer said the teenager was keen him at the railway station was former state BJP restoration project, said. The 210-year-old and the condition of the lower rank cadres was Jharkhand Journalist Association has condemned to participate in ‘India’s got talent’ show and president Laxmikant Bajpayi. The Congress, church was kept locked since 2013 as there miserable, BSF’s Deputy Commandant Lakshya the incident and demanded action against the wanted to take some video clips of the stunts however, protested Maurya’s arrival, accusing was danger of its collapse. Mehta said in a statement. police off icials involved. with the help of his friends. him of being the extremist face of the BJP.

Rules were fl outed in Kerala police holding fi reworks, says expert fi le charges

IANS Kollam, Kerala over temple day after a fi re tragedy claimed 113 lives, Chief AController of Explosives Sudarshan Kamal said all rules were violated in holding the fi re- works display at the Puttingal Devi Temple in Kerala’s coastal fi re tragedy town of Paravur. Kamal and his team of offi cials Toll rises to 113, collector Shinemol yesterday said the dis- pital morgue... his memory will from Nagpur arrived at the dev- denies there was political trict police had initially submit- haunt us every year on this day.” astated temple site yesterday. pressure to let event go ahead ted a report saying permission Firefi ghters and police battled The offi cials went around the cannot be given for the fi reworks to douse the fi re that broke out place inspecting the debris and Agencies show. after the explosion and to rescue also collected samples which Kollam, Kerala “But on the 9th of this month, those trapped at the complex, but could throw light on the nature the police changed their position. some victims were charred be- of the explosives used for the An explanation will be asked on yond recognition. fi reworks display. olice said yesterday they this change of stand,” she said. More than 30 have yet to be “All the rules related to use of have fi led initial charges She denied there was political identifi ed and a team of specialist explosives have been violated. Pagainst six people over pressure for the change of mind. doctors was deployed from New More details can be revealed only a massive explosion during a Witnesses told of how the force Delhi to treat the horrifi c burn in- after all tests are conducted,” banned fi reworks display that of the explosion sent concrete juries. Kamal said at the temple site. killed over 100 people and left at slabs and roof tiles slamming into Some buildings at the temple Thousands of people were least 300 with horrifi c burns. the panicked crowd of onlookers complex were completely fl at- gathered at the temple for the Thousands had packed into the in the early hours of Sunday. tened by the force of the blast, pyrotechnic show to mark the Puttingal Devi Temple in Paravoor Thousands had gone to the while others had their roof tiles start of the Hindu year when on Saturday night for the show temple to celebrate the festival of blown off or plaster ripped from sparks ignited a cache of fi re- when a stray fi rework apparently Vishu, marking the Hindu new the walls. works stored inside the temple landed on a stockpile of them, year. The main temple building had grounds. triggering a huge blast that tore Local resident Shiva Kumar its windows blown out. Dozens of The temple remained closed through concrete buildings. said many families had left the shoes lay scattered on the dusty yesterday. Three people died of their in- display by the time the explosion ground outside. The customary religious ritu- juries overnight, taking the death occurred and the victims were The scale of the tragedy has als and other associated activi- toll from the disaster to 113. Hun- mostly young men competing to ignited demands that fi reworks ties of the temple were not per- dreds more are still being treated. set off the most explosive crack- shows be banned at crowded formed, residents living in the Police said they were investi- ers. places in Kerala. The chief of the neighbourhood said. No respon- gating who was responsible for “It was a sort of competition state unit of the Indian Medical sible offi cial of the temple trust the fi reworks display going ahead between two groups,” he said. Association, A V Jayakrishna, said was present in the premises. even though authorities in Kollam “The fi recrackers are sponsored he planned to fi le a petition before The temple itself appeared district had refused permission by families who get them made, the Kerala High Court curbing the to be largely unaff ected while a for it. they are locally manufactured use of fi reworks. concrete building nearby where “A case was registered yes- and don’t follow the usual norms. Fires and stampedes are not a large quantity of fi reworks was terday against six people,” said Sometimes they use gunpowder uncommon at temples and during stored was destroyed after the the head of Kerala police crime to get that extra fi repower.” religious occasions, often because horrifi c fi re and explosion. branch S Ananathakrishnan. He described scenes of cha- of poor security arrangements Senior offi cials of the temple “Six people have been named in os after the fi re broke out, with and lax safety standards. remain unreachable. the case - three from the temple onlookers having to ferry the The Kerala government has or- Yesterday morning, the tem- committee and three who were wounded to nearby hospitals us- dered a judicial inquiry into the ple compound was fi lled with contractors for the fi reworks dis- ing their own cars and motorcy- disaster, which comes as the state locals and others from nearby play.” cles. heads to the polls. places who had come to see the Initial charges against the six One man living near the temple Prime Minister Narendra Modi disaster site. A large number of include culpable homicide not told how his son Adiraj, a factory visited the scene of the disaster on policemen were also posted at amounting to murder, he said. worker, had gone to the display Sunday and messages of condo- the site. None of the six has yet been ar- with three old friends. Only one lence have poured in from around Marxist leader and former rested. Police said one was in hos- survived. the world. chief minister V S Achuthanan- pital and the other fi ve had gone “He was with his friends near Pope Francis’s offi ce said he dan called for a probe by the missing. the structure where the fi recrack- was “praying for all aff ected National Investigation Agency Police also said they were ques- ers were kept,” said Baba, 46, giv- by this tragedy” while Britain’s (NIA). tioning fi ve temple workers in- ing only one name. Prince William and wife Kate said “The need of the hour is an volved in staging the fi reworks “He had dressed up for the fes- through a spokesman they were NIA probe into the entire episode Volunteers from Seva Bharathi, a group linked to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), man a help desk display. They faced no charges at tival after having dinner and said “saddened by the news” after ar- as there are reports of very pow- for relatives of injured or deceased victims of the Puttingal Devi Temple fire tragedy at Kollam District this stage. he will be with his friends. We saw riving in India on Sunday for an erful explosives used,” he said. Hospital in Kollam yesterday. Kollam District Collector A his body afterwards at the hos- offi cial tour. Relatives in desperate search for loved ones

Agencies “My father had gone to the fes- But the task is being made more from the temple, to fi ll out miss- Thiruvananthapuram tival with his friend. We were able diffi cult by the fact that some of ing person reports and implore of- to fi nd the body of his friend but the more than 100 people killed fi cers to help. have yet to get any information are unrecognisable. “There are 20 unclaimed bod- fter scouring six hospitals on my father,” the weary-looking Local residents reported fi nding ies at the morgues and we suspect and three morgues, N P Anoop said, before heading off to body parts strewn at the complex some of them (the missing) might AAnoop is no closer to fi nd- yet another hospital. from the force of the explosion, be there. But only a DNA test will ing his father who was caught in a At hospitals, morgues and po- while others were charred in the establish their identities as the massive blast and fi re at a Kerala lice stations, families are involved fi re, in a tragedy that Prime Min- bodies are beyond recognition,” temple that claimed more than in a heart-wrenching search for ister Narendra Modi described as offi cer in charge N Vijayan said. 100 lives. loved ones feared swept up in “shocking beyond words”. At Thiruvananthapuram hos- Like thousands of others, his the blast that tore apart concrete Some 15 families fl ocked to pital, families move through the father had gone on Saturday night buildings. Paravur police station, just 100m corridors, some sobbing, others to the temple to see the annual peeking through glass windows, fi reworks display. Fireworks show approved for Thrissur Pooram as overworked doctors and nurses But in the chaotic hours after race around them. the explosion that ripped through Authorities yesterday gave the spectators should be adhered Others who found relatives now the Puttingal Devi complex, the conditional approval for the to strictly,” he said. “A special face an agonising wait as they un- Hospital staff and relatives gather near freezers where unclaimed bodies have been kept at the mortuary increasingly desperate 32-year- hugely popular fireworks show squad will be set up to monitor dergo treatment for serious burn of Kollam District Hospital. old could fi nd no trace of his fa- at the Thrissur Pooram festival. everything.” During the festival, and other injuries. ther, Vishwanathan, and feared “Two temples have been given more than 50 elephants will be “We can only pray to God. aster, with victims arriving with thousands of “jubilant people” ple started running over me,” he the worst. permission to use a maximum paraded and there will be a spec- There is nothing we can do, doc- head wounds and mangled limbs. had been enjoying the lengthy told said. “I don’t know if he is alive or of 2,000kg each of explosive tacular firecracker display too. tors are doing their best to save At the temple in Kollam dis- display in the early hours of Sun- “Someone pulled me towards dead. All I want is to see him, we powder to make the crackers. The history of Pooram dates back him,” Ramesh, who only has one trict, witnesses described mass day morning. the side and later took me to hos- are ready for the worst but this The sound decibel will be less to the late 18th century and was name, said of his injured 22-year- panic after the explosion, thought “Everything changed in a mo- pital.” search is painful,” he said af- than 125,” Thrissur Collector V started by Sakthan Thampuran, old son. to have been sparked by a fi rework ment after a huge thud. There was The Kerala government has ter questioning ICU staff at the Ratheesan said. “Also, the dis- the Maharaja of the erstwhile Emergency room doctor Rajesh that landed on a stockpile of oth- silence and people were crying for opened a temporary medical out- Thiruvananthapuram Medical tance from the display area and Kochi state. Kumar said the hospital was ini- ers during the show. help. It was so powerful that I fell post at the temple premises. It will College Hospital. tially overwhelmed after the dis- Labourer K Manayan said to the ground and in no time peo- function for a week. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 21 INDIA Funding inadequate for climate adaptation: activists

Reuters to the National Adaptation Fund pal investigator in the UK-based gions, each with its own needs to migration, and where most of often shaped by political factors estimates of how much actually New Delhi on Climate Change (NAFCC) STEPS Centre, which looks at adapt to and tackle the impacts the urban population growth is such as pleasing groups of vot- would be required to adequately will cover the two fi nancial years sustainability issues, said the of climate change, experts say. likely to take place,” she said. ers, expediency and the whims deal with climate change. 2015-16 and 2016-17. funding was inadequate given Lyla Mehta, a professor at the Mehta highlighted particular of political leaders. Vasisht believes that the most he Indian government has He also said that the adapta- the increasing costs associated UK-based Institute of Develop- problems in the Sunderbans, a “The money needs to be spent reliable source of funding for cli- come under fi re after allo- tion fund had not yet allocated with climate change impacts. ment Studies and a visiting pro- low-lying southern delta area. wisely and really reach the peo- mate change adaptation could Tcating Rs3.5bn ($52.8mn) cash towards climate adapta- “After cyclone Aila, which af- fessor at the Norway University People are migrating away from ple who need it the most and be the National Clean Energy for climate change adaptation tion activities under either the fected Rs100,000 (in 2009), the of Life Sciences, said via e-mail the hard-hit area because of ero- not be lost on white elephants Fund, which has received more over the next two fi nancial years, National Action Plan on Climate Indian part of the Sunderbans that many parts of the coun- sion and rising sea level, she said. or through corruption,” Mehta than $2.5bn from a carbon tax a sum which environmental ex- Change (NAPCC) or state cli- was allocated Rs5bn ($75mn). try, both rural and urban, will According to a 2013 study by wrote. introduced by the government perts say is woefully inadequate mate action plans. That is just one event in one need help dealing with climate the Zoological Society of Lon- Sanjay Vasisht, director of the in 2010 on industries - such as given the size of the country and Experts expressed surprise single vulnerable area. So isn’t change. don, the Sundarbans coast is re- Climate Action Network South steel production - that use large the challenges it faces. and concern at the government’s Rs3.5bn ($53mn)... for the en- “Dryland and wetland areas, treating by up to 200mper year. Asia, an advocacy group, said he quantities of coal. In a written response to a announcement. tire country a bit of a joke?” she apart from the major mountain Mehta said that the govern- also believed the sum allocated The tax is supposed to fund question by a member of parlia- Upasana Ghosh, of the In- asked. ranges, are of course extremely ment’s allocation of funds for for climate adaptation was too clean energy programmes, but ment during a session to discuss dian Institute of Health Man- India, the seventh largest important but we do feel that in- climate adaptation was “a start little. Vasisht said some of it is instead the upcoming budget, Environ- agement Research, which looks country in the world, is home creasing priority needs to be paid but not enough”. “The amount required is being used to clean up the pol- ment Minister Prakash Java- into the health impacts of cli- to more than 1.2bn people, and to rapidly emerging urban areas She added that decisions on much bigger,” he said, though he luted Ganges river rather than on dekar said that the sum allocated mate change, and also a princi- has a range of landscapes and re- ... which (are) witnessing inward which areas receive funds are noted that there are no credible climate adaptation measures. Second phase of elections sees high turnout

IANS a polling booth in Chandrakona. Kolkata]/ Guwahati Tension prevailed in Banku- ra’s Sonamukhi where a CPM polling agent was attacked and raving the sweltering heat masked men, armed with bam- and oppressive humid- boos and cane, were seen roam- Bity, people turned out in ing around. huge numbers yesterday to ex- Locals, said to be Trinamool ercise their right to franchise in Congress activists, staged angry the second phase of elections in demonstrations against CPM West Bengal and Assam. state secretary and the candi- In West Bengal polls, were date from Narayangarh con- held in 31 constituencies, amid stituency of West Midnapore reports of sporadic violence and Surjya Kanta Mishra when he intimidation. visited some of the booths on Opposition parties accused receiving complaints of elec- the ruling Trinamool Congress toral malpractices. of resorting to widespread vio- In Assam, one person died fol- lence during the day, when the lowing a baton charge by Cen- second phase of the assembly tral Reserve Police Force (CRPF) election took place covering 13 personnel after a scuffl e took constituencies in West Mid- place between a group of people A train with ten wagons carrying 50,000 litres of drinking water each departs for the drought-aff ected region of Latur from Miraj, in Maharashtra yesterday. napore and nine each in Bankura and security forces at a polling and Burdwan districts. station in Barpeta Road. Three According to Election Com- other people were injured in the mission offi cials, between 75 and incident. 85% polling was seen in the three In another incident, security districts till 5pm. personnel deployed at a polling At least 13 people were injured station at Nagarbera had to open in a clash between political rivals fi re in the air to control a crowd. at Jamuria of Burdwan district. No one was, however, injured in Railways sends ‘water “Three-four people have been the incident. detained,” said a police offi cer. Election offi cials said similar In Assam, the second and fi nal incidents were reported from phase was held in 61 constitu- some other areas as well. encies which saw 82.02% of the Former prime minister and over 10mn voters casting their Congress leader Manmohan ballot. Singh cast his vote at the Dispur train’ to parched Latur In West Bengal, the Left Front, Government High School in Dis- Congress and the Bharatiya Ja- pur area of Guwahati. Many areas in Maharashtra prolonged drought, especially fi rst transferred into a tank ad- activities have come to a stand- A meteorological offi ce state- nata Party alleged that the polls His wife Gurcharan Kaur, also are facing severe water villages in Latur district that jacent to the railway station, still. ment said 17 places in Odisha were far from peaceful and fair. a voter in Dispur constituency, shortage has a population of around sent to a treatment plant before Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Min- recorded temperatures above Several crude bombs kept in however, did not come to vote. 20mn. it is distributed to the thirsty ister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday 40 degrees while Talcher, Sun- a bag were seized from near a “I think the people of Assam IANS People of Osmanabad too population. urged the people in the national dargarh and Chandbali recorded booth in Jamuria, while a Com- will reward the Congress Party Sangli, Maharashtra have demanded a similar train Currently, around 15,000 capital to save water and send it above 43 degrees. munist Party of India (Marxist) for the good work it has done for to help them cope with water villages in Maharashtra, a ma- to Latur. The state capital Bhu- polling agent had to be hospi- the people in the last 15 years,” shortage in the district. jority of them in Latur, Beed “Severe water crisis in Latur. baneswar recorded a high of talised after he was attacked at Singh said. n a humanitarian gesture, Following Prabhu’s direc- and Osmanabad districts, are We all should help. Are all Del- 45.8 degrees, the highest for Indian Railways yesterday tives, 50 wagons, similar to the facing an acute water short- hiites ready to save some water the month since 1985 when it Isent a ‘water train’ for the ones used to transport oil and age. daily to send it for our people was 45 degrees on April 23 that 9 killed by falling electricity wire parched Latur district, offi cials milk, were sent to Kota in Ra- Police have imposed prohibi- in Latur,” Kejriwal asked in a year. said here. jasthan earlier this month for tory orders till May 3 to prevent tweet. The Met department said in- Nine people were killed and which they say numbered around The 10-wagon train chugged a thorough cleaning and then violence over water distribu- The Odisha government tense heat wave would continue sixteen seriously injured 5,000, and local media reported off from Miraj in Sangli district routed to Sangli. tion, and posted armed guards yesterday announced the clo- for a week. yesterday after an electricity that the overhead electricity of western Maharashtra yes- The wagons, each with a ca- at public water storage tanks sure of schools till April 20 due “Since there seems no respite wire snapped and fell on a mob wire snapped after it was hit by a terday afternoon and reached pacity of holding 54,000 litres, and reservoirs. to a severe heat wave in the from the heat wave, we decided protesting outside a police stray police bullet. “They wanted Latur city in Marathwada region were fi lled with water in Sangli Villagers in some areas trek state, where 19 deaths due to that schools will remain closed station in Assam. A large mob to get the arrested suspects for around midnight after covering over the past two days, the of- more than 2km daily to fetch sun stroke have so far been re- till April 20. If examinations armed with sticks and stones had immediate, retributive justice,” the 375km journey. fi cials said. a pot of water and keep their ported. are scheduled to be held during tried to forcibly enter a police local police off icial Mugdhajyoti The initiative was taken The railways plans to make a water stock under lock and key. Normal life continued to re- these holidays, school authori- station in Tinsukia district to Dev Mahanta said. “There were by Railway Minister Suresh few more trips to Latur villages, Schools in the aff ected areas main aff ected in Odisha as the ties will fi x the timings in the get hold of and punish five men only 40 cops at the police station Prabhu as many parts of his the schedules of which are not have been closed, marriages and mercury hovered above 40 de- morning or evening hours,” said arrested on murder charges and they had to fire in the air to home state are reeling under yet fi nalised. other social events cancelled grees Celsius in most parts of Special Relief Commissioner P earlier this month. Police fired disperse the mob of over 5000,” a severe water crisis due to a In Latur, the water will be or postponed and agricultural the state. K Mohapatra. in the air to disperse the crowd, Mahanta said. Cafe owner tells William: give my regards to grandma

Agencies Conde Nast Traveller India went liam to give his warm regards children are not interested in Mumbai viral on YouTube catching the to his grandmother, the queen. carrying on the family business. attention of British offi cials. He also said: You kiss your chil- “So I am looking to sell out,” he The Duke and Duchess heard dren Prince George and Princess said. s he stood in a room at about the story of the 93-year- Charlotte on my behalf when William also tried his hand at Mumbai’s Taj Palace ho- old Mumbai resident and were you get back.” Indian cookery. Atel chatting with Prince touched and invited them to Boman Kohinoor’s father The Duke of Cambridge ear- William and Kate it was a dream their hotel on Sunday night, Rashid Kohinoor came to Mum- lier spoke with entrepreneurs come true for 93-year-old Kensington Palace said on Twit- bai from Yazd in Iran along with and inventors before making the Boman Kohinoor, owner of the ter. many others of Zoroastrian faith Indian pancake known as a dosa, city’s iconic Britannia restaurant. The tweet is accompanied by and opened the now iconic res- using an innovative automatic Britannia is a Mumbai land- a photograph of the frail elderly taurant in 1923 and named it Bri- device called DosaMatic. mark. It is what locals call an Ira- man talking to the young royals. tannia to honour the then British After watching a demonstra- ni restaurant, off ering signature “My father is hard of hearing rulers. tion, William gladly poured dishes with Persian fl avours. and cannot talk over telephone, The restaurant has life-size some batter and waited for the And Kohinoor claims to be one but I was in the room with him cut-outs of Prince William and dosa to cook before tasting a bit of the British royal family’s most ... Prince William asked him how Kate, the laminated letter from and declaring it “not bad”, al- devoted fans in India. did your restaurant get the name Queen Elizabeth hangs on the though the Duchess could not be “My father has written to Britannia,” Afshin Kohinoor re- wall along with her portrait. tempted to take a bite. Queen Elizabeth many times. counted. Boman Kohinoor named his “The Duke said he would love She has sent him a letter and a Prince William also asked granddaughter Diana after the to have the machine in his pal- life-size portrait of hers,” Boman what Boman Kohinoor rated as former princess of Wales, Prince ace,” Eshwar Vikas, device in- Kohinoor’s son Afshin Kohinoor Britannia’s best dish and was William’s mother. ventor and chief executive of said yesterday. told it was the berry pulao. “The Sadly, if Prince William does Mukunda Foods, told reporters Afshin Kohinoor says a video prince told father he would come decide to come back for the ber- afterwards. of his father talking about him- back to taste it on his next visit,” ry pulao he may not get it. Afshin Prince William and Kate are self and his desire to meet the Afshin said. Kohinoor said his father and his on a week-long tour of India and young royal couple put out by “My father asked Prince Wil- uncle are really old now and his Bhutan. Prince William and Kate speak with Boman Kohinoor during a meeting in Mumbai. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 LATIN AMERICA Holdouts to be paid fi rst from new Argentina bond

IFR sual and unusually complicated, Macri, who took offi ce in De- ing Argentina from paying other hearing tomorrow on the injunc- as Argentina was eff ectively distinct CUSIP and ISIN identi- New York the sovereign will pay off its liti- cember, has made it a priority bondholders before the holdouts tion that blocked Argentina from blocked from the bond markets fying codes. gant creditors fi rst when it sells to settle the legal battle with the - and pushing the country into paying other bondholders who until its defaults were cured. Once both phases have closed, the new bond, which is expected group of holdout creditors. yet another default. did not fi ght the restructuring. According to the off ering the second set of identifying he hedge funds that to price on April 18. The holdouts, led by Elliott Macri’s administration That injunction was a major memorandum for the new deal, codes will be cancelled and the waged a 15-year battle to Making them whole will pave Management and Aurelius Capi- reached an agreement with the defeat for Macri’s predecessor, the injunction will have to be two sets of bonds of each series Tforce Argentina to make the way for the remainder of the tal, refused the terms of Argen- main creditors in February, help- Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, lifted - and the holdouts paid - will be merged. a bigger payout on its defaulted proceeds from the bond to be tina’s debt restructuring after its ing clear the way for Argentina’s whose administration had re- before the remaining portion is In all Argentina currently bonds will get fi rst dibs on the used, according to an off ering 2001 default and fi led suit for a return to the international bond peatedly called holdouts vultures allowed to settle in phase two. owes roughly $11bn to all holders proceeds from the country’s new memorandum seen by IFR yes- bigger payout. markets with next week’s deal. and vowed never to pay them. In order for the two-phase of its defaulted bonds, including bond next week. terday. The complex legal wrangling In a further twist, the US It put added pressure on the process to take place, each series the $8.2bn it has agreed to pay In an arrangement both unu- Argentine President Mauricio ended up with a US court block- Court of Appeals will hold a sovereign to reach an agreement, of the new bonds will carry two litigant creditors so far. Scientists fi nd Record bid new Zika-linked brain disorder in adults

Reuters ADEM typically occurs in Chicago the aftermath of an infection, causing intense swelling in the brain and spinal cord that dam- cientists in Brazil have un- ages myelin, the white protec- covered a new brain dis- tive coating surrounding nerve Sorder associated with Zika fi bres. It results in weakness, infections in adults: an autoim- numbness and loss of balance mune syndrome called acute and vision, symptoms similar to disseminated encephalomyeli- multiple sclerosis. tis, or ADEM, that attacks the Brito presented her fi nd- brain and spinal cord. ings on Sunday at the American Zika has already been linked Academy of Neurology meet- with the autoimmune disorder ing in Vancouver. The study in- Guillain-Barre syndrome, which volved 151 patients who visited attacks peripheral nerves out- her hospital between December side the brain and spinal cord, 2014 and June 2015. All had been causing temporary paralysis that infected with arboviruses, the People jump off a bridge, which has a height of 30 metres, in Hortolandia, Brazil, yesterday. According to organisers, 149 people were attempting set a new world record can in some cases require pa- family of viruses that includes for “rope jumping”, in which people, tied to a safety cord, jump off a bridge. tients to rely on respirators for Zika, dengue and chikungunya. breathing. Six of these patients devel- The new discovery now shows oped symptoms consistent with Zika may provoke an immune at- autoimmune disorders. Of these tack on the central nervous sys- six, four had Guillain-Barre and tem as well. two had ADEM. In both ADEM The fi ndings add to the grow- cases, brain scans showed dam- ing list of neurological damage age to white matter. ADEM associated with Zika. symptoms typically last about According to the World Health six months. Organisation, there is a strong All six patients tested positive Divisive Fujimori faces scientifi c consensus that, in ad- for Zika, and all had lingering ef- dition to Guillain-Barre, Zika fects after being discharged from can cause the birth defect mi- the hospital, with fi ve patients crocephaly, though conclusive reporting motor dysfunction, proof may take months or years. one with vision problems, and Microcephaly is defi ned by one with cognitive decline. unusually small heads that can At least 13 countries have re- runoff battle to lead Peru result in developmental prob- ported cases of Guillain-Barre lems. linked with outbreaks of Zika, AFP mitted during his 1990-2000 round will be very polarised.” single-chamber congress in sual coalitions can be built to Brazil said it has confi rmed according to the World Health Lima presidency. Keiko Fujimori worked dur- Sunday’s vote. bar someone’s path.” Fujimori more than 940 cases to be re- Organisation, and WHO believes She also faces a challenge ing her campaign to distance Her younger brother Kenji and Kuczynski have vowed to lated to Zika infections in the that Zika likely is the cause. from moderate conservative herself from her father’s au- scored highly and is seeking strengthen law and order and mothers. Brazil is investigating Dr James Sejvar, a neuroepi- eiko Fujimori has vowed Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 77, thoritarian image. He was sen- to be elected president of the invest in services for the poor in nearly 4,300 additional suspect- demiologist for the US Centers to unite Peru after her a British- and US-educated tenced in 2009 to 25 years in jail chamber. this country of 30mn people. ed cases of microcephaly. for Disease Control and Pre- Kfi rst-round presidential former World Bank executive, for massacres of supposed ter- With a slick electoral ma- Forty percent of Peruvians In addition to autoimmune vention, said the ADEM cases election victory, but she faces a who has vowed to defeat the rorists by death squads in 1991 chine that held glittering cam- live at risk of poverty, according disease, some researchers also linked with Zika do not appear fi erce runoff battle to overcome “Fujimoristas.” and 1992. paign rallies, Keiko Fujimori to development charity Oxfam. have reported patients with Zika to be occurring at the same ac- the divisive legacy of her jailed Offi cial results with 67% of Celebrating her fi rst-round had been widely tipped in polls Economic analysts said for- infections developing encepha- celerated rate as cases of Guil- father. votes counted showed Fujimori victory with a broad smile on to win Sunday’s vote by dou- eign investors would be relieved litis and myelitis - nerve disor- lain-Barre, but said doctors The 40-year-old conserva- had 39.5% of the vote against Sunday night, Keiko Fujimori ble digits. But the balance of that Mendoza was out of the ders typically caused by direct should be on the lookout for tive candidate claimed a boost 23.4% for Kuczynski, known as vowed to unite the country. power can shift over the com- running since she had vowed to infections in nerve cells. ADEM and other central nerv- from Sunday’s vote in her quest “PPK.” “Peru wants reconciliation and ing months. Opinion polls have tighten state control of Peru’s “Though our study is small, ous system illnesses. to become the fi rst female pres- He beat left-wing contender no more confl ict,” she said. given a mixed picture of which resources. it may provide evidence that in “Of course, the remaining ident of the South American Veronika Mendoza to win sec- “We have to step on the ac- candidate might win in June. The country has one of the this case, the virus has diff erent question is ‘Why?’” Sejvar said. mineral-exporting nation. ond place. celerator of growth again so it “The big question is can fastest-growing economies in eff ects on the brain than those “Why does Zika virus appear to But she faces resistance from In the second round on June 5, reaches all the remote villages” Keiko Fujimori obtain more Latin America, despite a re- identifi ed in current studies,” Dr have the strong association with voters who mistrust her be- “Kuczynski will get lots of anti- of the country, she added. than a third of the vote?” said cent fall in commodity prices. Maria Lucia Brito, a neurologist GBS and potential other im- cause her father Alberto Fuji- Fujimorista votes,” said Luis Strengthening her hand, Gaspard Estrada, executive of Growth slowed in recent years at Restoration Hospital in Recife, mune/infl ammatory diseases of mori is in jail for corruption and Benavente, head of the polling Keiko’s Popular Force party also the OPALC think-tank. under outgoing President Ol- Brazil, said in a statement. the nervous system?” human rights atrocities com- agency Vox Populi. “The second won a big majority in Peru’s “In the second round, unu- lanta Humala. Cubans fl ock to learn Official visit Death toll in guerrilla attack climbs to 10

English language AFP in a jungle zone considered a Lima stronghold of the guerrillas and a major coca-producing Reuters tro and US President Barack Classes cost between $10 area. In a second attack, they Havana Obama’s December, 2014 agree- and $30 a month, in a country weekend guerrilla at- targeted a military ship on the ment to normalise relations. where the average state salary is tack targeting soldiers Apurimac River in the south, English has been the most just $25. But a growing number Aon the eve of Peru’s wounding two soldiers, au- ilberto Gonzalez learned popular second language for of Cubans are enjoying income presidential elections killed 10 thorities said. Russian at a school in many years in Cuba, just 90 from private ventures and from people, authorities said yes- President Ollanta Humala GHavana at the height of miles off the coast of Florida. But money sent by family members terday, raising an earlier toll. condemned the “demented” the Cold War when the Soviet the detente has added new im- overseas. The army said in a statement violence. Union was Cuba’s closest ally, petus and learning the language Not everyone, however, is that eight soldiers and two “Terrorism and those who but 30 years later he’s rusty and has won support from the Com- happy. Teacher Deisy Perez says civilians were killed in Satur- collude with it have no place in remembers little more than, ‘da,’ munist leadership. her informal school in her Ha- day’s attack in the jungles of our society or in our family,” he and ‘nyet.’ “We have to speak English. If vana home has lost customers as central Peru. said on Saturday. Now, as relations thaw with the you can speak two or three lan- more options open up. The earlier death toll of Some 23mn Peruvians voted US, Gonzalez wants his children guages, all the better, but English “There’s more competition seven rose after forces found on Sunday for a new president to learn English to grasp oppor- is essential,” said Jose Ramon now between the private language the bodies of soldiers who had and members of congress. tunities arising from Cuba’s new Machado Ventura, No. 2 in the schools,” said Perez, who has been previously been reported as Conservative candidate closeness to the old enemy. He has Communist Party and one of the giving classes for 15 years. missing. Keiko Fujimori topped the bal- ordered them to sign up at a pri- original leaders of the revolution It wasn’t always this way. For The army said guerrillas at- lot and must face a runoff vote vate English school in the city. that defeated a pro-American a period in the 1970s, learn- tacked a military convoy that against her centre-right rival “It doesn’t matter that it’s ex- government in 1959. ing Russian was mandatory was transporting election ma- Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. pensive, but it is what can open The government added Eng- for about a third of secondary terial and forces tasked with Keiko Fujimori’s father Al- doors now what we are start- lish to the list of priorities for school pupils. But even former guarding polling places in the berto Fujimori waged a fi erce ing a new era,” said Gonzalez, a schools last year, along with Cu- president Fidel Castro lamented central Junin region. confl ict against the Shining 45-year-old civil engineer who ban history and Spanish. his decision to focus on Russian Authorities blamed rem- Path when he was president has changed jobs and now works The offi cial embrace of Eng- when the Soviet Union was Cu- nants of the Shining Path from 1990 to 2000. as a taxi driver, earning more. lish and the prospect of millions ba’s closest ally. communist guerrilla group, Around 69,000 people were Teaching English has become of US tourists coming to the “The Russians learned Eng- Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto and his wife Angelica which was largely crushed in killed between 1980 and 2000 a minor boom industry in Ha- Caribbean island once Washing- lish, the whole world learned Rivera pose with German President Joachim Gauck during a the 1990s, but still has mem- in the confl ict with the Shining vana, with dozens of schools ton completely removes travel English, and we learned Rus- welcoming ceremony at the Bellevue presidential palace in bers hiding in the jungle. Path, according to the coun- opening in private homes in the restrictions have led to a surge of sian,” Castro said in televised Berlin, Germany, yesterday. The army said attackers fi rst try’s Truth and Reconciliation wake of President Raul Cas- teachers and students. remarks last year. struck at Hatun Asha, located commission. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Govt ready to probe ‘Panama Papers’: Minister

IANS Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said “We should move forward from his Bani Gala residence, an appropriate action over the law fi rm Mossack Fonseca, have Islamabad yesterday. from politics of objection, Imran Khan said the government issue, after which he added he taken the world by storm. ‘Panama Papers’ are an un- threats and rallies and should should form an inquiry commis- will announce a future course of The documents identify many precedented leak of 11.5mn fi les rather focus on the resolution of sion led by the chief justice of action. Pakistani business tycoons and he Pakistan government from an off shore law firm Mos- the issue,” Nisar Ali Khan said. Pakistan. Leaked confi dential docu- politicians, including late two- was ready to investigate sack Fonseca, based in Panama. Imran Khan on Sunday de- “The commission should also ments, spanning over nearly 40 time Prime Minister Benazir T‘Panama Papers’ through Nisar Ali Khan made the manded that Prime Minister include white-collar crime ex- years that spell out the extensive Bhutto as well certain members the Federal Investigative Agency statement at a press conference Nawaz Sharif should tender his perts and an audit fi rm that fol- use of tax havens by politicians, of Sharif family (excluding Na- (FIA) and Pakistan Tehreek-e- in Islamabad and off ered Imran resignation after “losing moral lows the trail of money to deter- world leaders and celebrities to waz Sharif and his brother Chief Insaaf chairman Imran Khan Khan to name any FIA offi cial authority” to keep the post amid mine where it leads,” he said. launder money and evade taxes Minister of Punjab Shahbaz can name any offi cial to probe to head the investigation, Geo Panama Papers’ revelations. Imran Khan gave the govern- through one of the most secre- Sharif) to have used tax havens the matter, Interior Minister News reported. In an “address to the nation” ment time till April 24 to take tive companies the Panamaian to hide their wealth. Nisar Ali Khan Pakistan, India Bus bombings kill are respected partners, says US

Internews “With respect to Pakistan, Islamabad which also is an important se- 14 in Afghanistan curity partner, we have a whole lot of issues of which counter- Suicide bomber kills 12 army group had carried out the attack S Defence Secretary terrorism looms largest. And recruits in Afghanistan’s outside Jalalabad. However, no Ashton Carter has said we work with the Pakistanis all east ; Off icials say number group had claimed responsibility Uthat both Pakistan and the time on that.” of casualties expected to for the Kabul attack. India are friends and partners Anwar Iqbal adds from rise ; Separate blast kills two Government workers and of the United States and there Washington: A US military Education Ministry workers members of the security forces is no Indo-Pak hyphenation newspaper, Stars and Stripes, in Kabul ; Insurgents poised are often targeted by insurgent from its perspective. reported that Carter would to launch annual spring groups, including the Taliban, Speaking at the Council of visit India and the Philippines off ensive who are seeking to topple the Foreign Relations here ahead to discuss new regional US US-backed government in Ka- of his three-day visit to In- bases and more defence in- Reuters bul. dia, Carter said: “The US has vestments in both countries. Jalalabad, Afghanistan The Taliban have stepped a ‘whole global agenda’ with He could announce new mili- up their insurgency since most India, covering all issues, while tary investments in aircraft foreign troops withdrew from the relationship with Pakistan carriers and jet engine tech- Taliban suicide bomber Afghanistan at the end of 2014, has to do with issues of terror- nologies in India, it said. on a motorcycle killed at although Kabul had enjoyed a ism and Afghanistan.” “The US-India relationship Aleast 12 army recruits on a period of relative calm during He reiterated that “the fi rst is destined to be one of the bus in eastern Afghanistan yes- the harsh winter months. thing one needs to say, from an most signifi cant partnerships terday, offi cials said, hours after That lull was expected to end American policy point of view, of the 21st century. Ours are a similar attack killed two people soon with the Taliban poised to is that these are both respected two great nations that share a in the capital Kabul. launch their annual spring of- partners and friends. They fi nd great deal,” he said. The latest blast hit a bus in fensive. themselves in very diff erent Carter said he would discuss the Sorkh Rud district of Nan- In Kabul, bus conductor Ra- situations. with Indian Prime Minister garhar province, which borders him Gul said the force of the blast And the days are gone when Narendra Modi and defence Pakistan. threw him out of the vehicle. we only dealt with India as the minister the progress the two Twelve bodies and at least “We picked up the Education other side of the Pakistan coin, countries had made on ma- 38 wounded had been taken to Ministry staff and we were driv- or Pakistan as the other side jor military projects such as the main hospital in Jalalabad, ing on the road when there was of the India coin. I know that building an aircraft carrier and the principal city in eastern Afghan security forces inspect the site of a suicide attack on a bus carrying Afghan army recruits in an explosion,” Gul told Reuters there are those in India and jet fi ghter and engine collabo- Afghanistan, hospital chief Jalalabad yesterday. Television. Pakistan who are still glued to ration. Ihsanullah Shinwari said. The “It was very powerful and that dyad way of thinking. But “There is so much potential number of casualties was ex- ing,” said a police offi cial, who the ministry’s buses carrying army Hours earlier, a bomb hit a threw me out of the car win- the US put that behind us some here, which is why we are seiz- pected to rise, several offi cials asked not to be identifi ed be- recruits had been attacked but put mini-bus carrying Education dow. A few minutes later I time ago. ing every opportunity we can.” said. cause he was not authorised to the number of wounded at 26. Ministry workers in eastern Kabul, found myself in a wheat fi eld “The suicide bomber was on discuss matters concerning the “It was a crowded area and killing two people and wounding and then I rushed to the site a three-wheel motorcycle and Afghan army. it is hard to say now how many seven, the ministry said. of the attack and helped some targeted new army recruits who Defence Ministry spokesman of them were from the defence Taliban spokesman Zabihul- injured people and they were were heading to Kabul for train- Dawlat Waziri confi rmed one of ministry,” Waziri said. lah Mujahid said the Islamist taken to hospital.” Six dead in Pakistan after strong quake Afghan lawmaker under fi re after controversial interview Reuters Pakistan’s east, about 630km Islamabad from the quake’s epicentre in AFP line Taliban. of Herat and is also an Islamic “Actually I haven’t said such a rahi, wrote: “This dirty man remote northeastern Afghani- Kabul VICE reporter Isobel Yeung is scholar who lectures at various thing, neither have I behaved in a knows well that the interview is stan, just inside the border seen questioning Afghan parlia- universities and madrassas. such a way with anyone,” he said. watched by millions of Eastern- ix people were killed with Tajikistan and across a mentarian Nazir Ahmad Hanafi “There is a kind of rape you “This video has been manipu- ers and Westerners, and you are across northern Pakistan narrow fi nger of land from video of an Afghan law- about his opposition to the have and another we have in Is- lated and made up. Fabricating a representing Islam, is this Is- Salthough there appeared Chitral - a district in the Khy- maker purportedly Elimination of Violence Against lam,” he replies. Yeung attempts video is something normal and lam?” to be no widespread damage ber Pakhtunkhwa province in Athreatening to cut off a Women Act. to press on with another ques- everyone can do it.” Gender equality has improved after a strong earthquake rat- Pakistan’s northwest. reporter’s nose after she asked It was submitted to parlia- tion but is cut off by Hanafi , who The clip sparked angry reac- somewhat since a US-led coali- tled major cities across South Pakistan’s National Disas- his views on marital rape has ment in 2009 but has yet to be tells her: “I think you should tion online after being widely tion toppled the hardline Taliban Asia at the weekend, authori- ter Management Authority gone viral and sparked wide- passed due to strong resistance stop it now.” shared on Facebook. regime in 2001, with women — ties said yesterday. (NDMA) said fi ve people were spread condemnation online. from MPs. He is then seen turning in an- User Mohamed Bashir Haid- particularly from cities — taking The 6.6-magnitude quake killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The clip, which has been “What if a husband rapes his other direction and says: “May- ary wrote in Dari: “Dear MP... up numerous professional jobs yeterday startled residents Another was killed in north- retweeted more than 4,000 wife, is that domestic abuse? be I should give you to an Afghan you have defamed the dignity of and holding more than a quarter in the Afghan capital, Ka- ern Gilgit-Baltistan state, the times since it was posted by Should the man be punished or man to cut your nose off .” the entire Afghan people. May of all seats in parliament. bul, and forced some in high- NDMA said. At least seven the VICE website on Saturday, should the woman be punished Hanafi later denied making you face the wrath of the Al- President Ashraf Ghani has rise buildings to fl ee into the people were reported injured highlights the parlous state of for that, in your opinion?” she the comments in an interview mighty, you are representing the also pledged to place women’s streets of the Indian capital, across Pakistan, many of them women’s rights more than 14 asks Hanafi . with Radio Free Europe, sug- ancient province of Herat.” rights at the top of his agenda, New Delhi. It was also felt in in the northwestern frontier years after the fall of the hard- He represents the western city gesting the video was fabricated. Another user, Aminullah Fa- but major challenges remain. Islamabad and in Lahore in city of Peshawar. Helicopters overhead as British actors bring Hamlet to Kabul

Reuters ther is not without relevance to Love’s Labour’s Lost was per- Kabul a country that has known more formed in the bomb-damaged than its fair share of assassina- surrounds of the 16th century tion and betrayal over 30 years Babur Gardens in Kabul in 2005. ccasionally fi ghting to of war. More recently, a troupe of Af- be heard over the clat- Its 400 year-old iambic pen- ghan actors took a Dari Comedy Oter of helicopters fl ying tameter verse, not to mention of Errors to the Globe Theatre in into the nearby Nato headquar- the particular stage conventions 2012. ters, British actor Naeem Hayat of Shakespearean drama, can “When I was very young, I delivers Hamlet’s refl ections on make it a challenge for audi- studied Shakespeare in Afghan mortality and retribution to a ences, even in English-speaking theatre,” Farookh said. “He has shivering audience in Kabul. countries. a huge heritage and I am proud He is part of a production of But Abdul Qadir Farookh, a to say that I have played Shake- William Shakespeare’s most well-known Afghan actor who speare’s Othello.” famous play by Britain’s Globe featured in the 2007 Hollywood Sunday’s performance of Theatre company which has fi lm of Khaled Hosseini’s best- Hamlet, close to the site of a already travelled to countries selling novel The Kite Runner, rocket attack the previous night, ranging from Rwanda to An- said the poet’s heritage extended was preceded by instructions tigua or Lithuania as part of a well beyond Britain. about what to do in the event of two year-long tour intended “Shakespeare was no ordinary a security emergency. to visit every country in the person,” he said. But a mixed audience made up world. Although Afghan audiences of diplomats and other members But even with such exotic lo- have had little contact with of Kabul’s much-reduced inter- cations behind it, British ambas- Western theatre over decades national community as well as sador Dominic Jermey said the of war and austere Taliban rule, Afghan dignitaries and students improvised stage on the tennis the Bard, a reliable staple of gave it an appreciative welcome court of the British embassy in British cultural diplomacy over on a chilly spring night. Kabul on Sunday night was “one the years, has a limited but re- “This is really something new of the more unusual locations for spectable record in the country. for us,” said theatre student performing Hamlet”. Farookh himself played Oth- Masood Hunardost. “I have been The story of the melancholy ello in an Afghan television pro- waiting for such a day to see Danish prince and his doubting duction before the Taliban era foreigners performing a Shake- Actors from Britain’s Globe Theatre company perform in a production of William Shakespeare’s drama Hamlet at the British embassy in Kabul quest to avenge a murdered fa- and a Dari-language version of speare drama in Afghanistan.” yesterday. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 PHILIPPINES Four militants Joint military drill killed in army off ensive

AFP “We pre-empted the possi- Zamboanga bility of bombing attacks. He can no longer teach his terror- istic tradecraft,” he said, but hilippine soldiers killed played down fears the Moroc- four more militants as can could have been linked to Pthey pressed their of- the Islamic State group. fensive against the Abu Sayyaf In Manila, the defence sec- after suff ering heavy losses in retary and military chief of weekend clashes in the trou- staff briefed President Benigno bled south, authorities said Aquino on the off ensive and yesterday. assured him that “in accord- Troops killed the four on the ance with his instructions, strife-torn island of Basilan on pursuit operations are still Sunday, a day after the guer- being conducted and that the rillas killed 18 soldiers in the troops are fully equipped and worst fi ghting so far this year, adequately supported,” a pres- regional military spokesman idential spokesman said. Major Filemon Tan said. The Abu Sayyaf, a small “It is continuous. There will group of militants notorious be no let-up in the operations,” for kidnapping foreigners and Tan told reporters, adding that demanding huge ransoms, the military was determined to was established in the early get Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon 1990s with seed money from Hapilon. Hapilon is one of Abu Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda Sayyaf’s most senior leaders. network. The US has placed a reward of Based in the southern is- $5mn on his head for his role in lands of Basilan and Jolo, the kidnapping of three Amer- it has been blamed for the icans in 2001, two of whom country’s worst terror at- Philippine Marines take position during a beach landing as part of the 11-day “Balikatan” (shoulder-to-shoulder) annual joint US and Philippine military exercises at San Jose later died. tacks, including a 2004 Ma- airport in Antique province in the central Philippines yesterday. US and Philippine troops began major exercises on April 4 as China’s state media warned “outsiders” against Nine Abu Sayyaf fi ghters nila Bay ferry bombing that interfering in tense South China Sea territorial disputes. were also killed in Saturday’s claimed 116 lives. battle, including Moroccan Its leaders have in recent national Mohamed Khattab, years pledged allegiance to Tan told reporters, bringing the Islamic State group that the group’s total losses to 13. controls swathes of Iraq and Tan said Khattab was an in- Syria. The group has stepped structor in bomb-making who up its activity in recent was trying to unify the various weeks, abducting Indonesian outlaw groups in the south and and Malaysian seamen trav- establish links with “interna- elling near the Philippines’ tional” groups. maritime borders. Tough-talking Duterte Army on defensive surges ahead in new poll after bloody clash Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, latest poll. Vice President Je- 71, the only candidate for jomar Binay remained in third president from the southern spot with 20%, former interior Reuters ordinated, but they had been island of Mindanao, has minister Manuel Roxas, who Manila lured into a trap of improvised seen a steady rise in is the president’s hand picked landmines that could not have support after polling badly successor, was fourth with 18% been anticipated. early in the campaign and Senator Miriam Santiago he Philippines army “The situation on the had three percentage. defended its opera- ground is much diff erent from Reuters “We are grateful that the Ttions yesterday after 18 how these armchair generals Manila surveys are now reflecting soldiers were killed and more and analysts saw it. They tend what we have been witness- than 50 wounded in a jungle to magnify this unfortunate ing and experiencing on the ambush by militants in the incident when the army has tough-talking mayor ground,” Peter Tiu Lavina, south of the country who have had many successes.” in the southern Philip- Duterte’s spokesman, said in a pledged allegiance to Islamic Padilla said eight Abu Apines, who has vowed to statement. State. Sayyaf rebel bodies were found end corruption and crime, has In the vice president contest, Security experts and some on Sunday, bringing to 13 the topped the latest opinion poll the only son and namesake media criticised the handling number of dead on the rebels and become the new frontrunner of the late dictator Ferdinand of Saturday’s encounter with side, including a Moroccan in the presidential election cam- Marcos has taken a lead with the Abu Sayyaf rebels, which national. paign ahead of elections in May. 26% after Senator Francis Es- had echoes of a grisly 2011 Describing the incident, he Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, 71, cudero, who led opinion polls clash when 19 troops died - said the military had pounded the only candidate for presi- since 2015, dropped seven some beheaded - and another the Abu Sayyaf camp on the dent from the southern island of points to 21%. last year when 44 police com- island with bombs and artil- Mindanao, has seen a steady rise In power since 2010, Aquino mandos were slain. lery shells before sending in in support after polling badly is barred by the constitution “It’s deja vu. The govern- ground troops. early in the campaign. His tough from seeking a second term. ment forces underestimated “When they got in there, stand on crime has begun to res- Under his leadership, the Phil- the rebels’ fi repower capabil- there were explosions around onate with many Filipinos. ippines has seen economic ity and ties with other lawless them, the place was booby- In the latest opinion poll, A recent photo shows Davao City mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte shaking hands with his growth of more than 6% on av- groups on Basilan,” said secu- trapped and they were pinned former favourite Senator Grace supporters during his campaign sortie in Lingayen, Pangasinan, north of Manila. erage, its best five-year record rity analyst Rommel Banlaoi, down and the rebels were fi r- Poe dropped to second. in four decades. referring to the southern is- ing at them at all sides,” he The May 9 general elections The SWS opinion poll released crowds attending his political It will be a tight race until the About 54mn of a population land where the clash raged for said. will be closely watched by inves- yesterday found Duterte was the rallies,” said Ramon Casiple, ex- end. It’s still anything goes.” of 100mn are eligible to vote to 10 hours. Padilla said that, as well as tors, who fear the political suc- top choice among 27% of 1,500 ecutive director of the Institute In the previous SWS opinion choose a president, vice presi- Military spokesman Brig- the army, the government had cession in one of Asia’s fastest respondents in the March 30 to of Political and Electoral Re- poll in early March, Duterte had dent and more than 18,000 lo- adier-General Restituto Pa- a role to play in stamping out growing economies could derail April 2 survey. forms. 21% while Poe, abandoned in a cal government executives and dilla said the troops had been militancy in the south of the gains made during President Be- “The SWS survey validated “But, elections are still about church when a baby, had 27% lawmakers in the general elec- adequately trained and the country through development nigno Aquino’s six-year single Duterte’s numbers are rising a month away, so you cannot in that period. She slid down tions, which take place every operation had been well co- and providing social services. term. steadily as evidenced by large count the other candidates out. to second place with 23% in the six years.

PRECAUTION Health department Cooling off warns on summer illnesses Govt ‘must include casinos The Department of Health has in dirty money law’ raised a nationwide alert on the emergence of “six illnesses of summer” (6S) as the weather Reuters the anti-money laundering temperature continues to rise, Manila law),” World Bank lead econo- Manila Times reported. In Iloilo mist Rogier van den Brink told City and the rest of the Panay reporters in Manila. “...Loop- Island provinces, the temperature he Philippines must make holes must be closed.” rose to 36° and above as the El sure casinos are covered The enactment of the anti- Nino phenomenon continues to Tby anti-money launder- money laundering law in 2001 wreak havoc on crops, livestock ing legislation, the World Bank was a good start, van den Brink and the population. DOH regional said yesterday, joining calls for said, but the Philippines must director Marlyn Convocar said the the government to better regu- “keep reforming it so that you 6S – diarrhoea and vomiting, sore late its gambling industry after are sure these untoward effects eyes or conjunctivitis, sunburn, stolen millions from Bangladesh will not materialise”. skin diseases, cough and colds, found their way to Manila. In February 2013, the Philip- and rabies – are common ailments A Philippine panel is trying pines was up against a dead- the Ilonggos must watch out for in to fathom how $81mn hacked line to amend its Anti-Money the next two-to-three months. She in February from the New Laundering Act and get itself also said that many people head- York Federal Reserve account off the “grey list” of a global ing to the beach or swimming of Bangladesh’s central bank watchdog, and lawmakers were pool may accidentally drink water wound up with two casinos and arguing over whether to in- that is infected with the e.coli a junket operator in the Philip- clude casinos under the legis- bacteria, thus, causing nausea, di- pines in one of the biggest cy- lation. They decided not to. arrhoea and vomiting. Poorly chlo- ber heists in history. World Bank senior country rinated swimming pools may also The government has since economist Karl Kendrick Chua cause sore eyes or conjunctivitis recovered part of the stolen also reiterated the bank’s rec- when the virus enters through the money. ommendation to ease the Phil- eyes. DOH also warned against “Reforms should be made, ippines’ bank secrecy laws to dog bites as dogs become irritable Children take a dip in a container outfitted as a swimming pool, to cool off from the intense heat, in Manila yesterday. for instance, in making sure help combat money laundering due to the heat. that casinos are included (in and identify tax evaders. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL/MALDIVES

NGOs allowed to engage in Nepal’s reconstruction

Nepal’s National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), a body Bangladesh boosts security established to co-ordinate the reconstruction of the quake- damaged infrastructures in the country, has allowed non-government organisations (NGOs) to mobilise their resources in the process after a for New Year festivities hiatus of three months. A meeting of the authority’s AFP deadly attacks on religious mi- directive committee headed Dhaka norities and foreigners in recent by Prime Minister KP Sharma months. Oli on Sunday evening The government has blamed endorsed a guideline related here will be “unprec- the attacks on home-grown Is- to the mobilisation of NGOs edented” security for lamic militants, rejecting claims in reconstruction, thus paving Tthis week’s Bengali New of responsibility from the Is- the way for domestic and Year festivities which hard- lamic State group as well as international NGOs to use their line clerics have branded “un- Al Qaeda. resources in the reconstruction, Islamic”, Bangladesh police Several foreigners were mur- Xinhua reported. announced yesterday, as the dered last year, while minority “There was a policy vacuum country faces rising religious Sufi and Shia Muslims, Chris- on mobilisation of NGOs since violence. tians and Hindus were also mid-December. Following the Police said thousands of of- targeted in a series of deadly latest decision, NGOs now can fi cers would be deployed for attacks. continue with their works,” said the annual street parade to cel- An activist, who posted NRA spokesperson Ram Prasad ebrate the New Year on April 14 against Islam on Facebook, was Thapaliya. that traditionally sees hundreds killed last week, the latest in At a time when policy vacuum of thousands of revellers swarm a series of murders of secular was creating confusion through the capital. bloggers and a publisher. about involving NGOs in the “We want people to celebrate Police did not say if Bang- reconstruction, the NRA had the festival safely. Therefore, ladesh was facing any specifi c temporarily banned NGOs from we have taken unprecedented threat during the New Year, the reconstruction since the steps to prevent any mishaps,” but in 2001 a bomb blast in the last week of February 2016, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ramna Park killed 10 people. stating that it was finalising spokesperson Maruf Hossain Eight Islamist militants were the guidelines about NGOs Sorder said. later sentenced to death for the mobilisation. Open-air evening concerts, attack. The guideline has a provision normally held at Dhaka Uni- Ahead of this year’s festival, of requiring signing an versity and the main Ramna a group of clerics has asked the agreement involving NRA, Park, have been banned as government not to promote the NGOs and earthquake-affected part of the stepped up security festival, calling it “un-Islamic households in presence of arrangements. and haram (forbidden),” ac- local bodies, according to NRA “We’re erecting nine secu- cording to mass-circulated officials. rity watch towers at the festival Bengali daily Prothom Alo. With the government agencies venues in an eff ort to prevent A long-running political cri- just starting reconstruction, any untoward incident,” Sorder sis in the majority Sunni Mus- A Bangladeshi Dhaka University Art Institute student paints masks to sell as part of Bengali New Year preparations in Dhaka yesterday. The international and national NGOs said. lim but offi cially secular coun- Bengali calendar is solar, with the year beginning on Pohela Boishakh, which this year falls on April 14, in Bangladesh. working in Nepal, had long Masks, commonly worn dur- try has radicalised opponents been seeking authorisation ing the New Year parades, are of the government and analysts to exploit the resultant aliena- threats”, bdnews24 reported. the opposition legitimate po- Tribunal (ICT), established in to spend their resources for banned this year for security say Islamist extremists pose a tion and justify their anti-state The independent and non- litical expression and participa- 2010 to prosecute individu- reconstruction. reasons, along with plastic vu- growing danger. agenda”. profi t body also suggested that tion. als responsible for atrocities Due to delay in reconstruction, vuzela horns to reduce noise Government provides ex- The Brussels-based Inter- the US and the European Union “There is no time to lose,” committed during the 1971 many quake aff ected families pollution, the home minister tremists an opportunity: An national Crisis Group (ICG) should pressurise Dhaka “using according to its new report on liberation war. have been forced to stay in make- said last week. international report issued yes- said the government needs to its economic levers” to respect “Political Confl ict, Extrem- It termed the ICT “deeply shift houses. Sorder said police have also terday said that by using force recognise that “it is in its in- civil and political rights. ism and Criminal Justice in fl awed” and said it was “an im- The guideline was introduced launched a stepped up hunt for and denying justice, the Bang- terest to change course, lest it It has also called upon India Bangladesh”. portant example of the dangers after consulting with all Islamic militants as Muslim- ladesh government has provid- fail to either contain violent “using close ties” to urge the The Crisis Group is also criti- of using rule of law institutions stakeholders, NRA officials majority Bangladesh reels from ed extremists “an opportunity extremism or counter political ruling Awami League to allow cal to the International Crimes for political ends”. said. Court suspends IMF signals 36-month Lanka bailout criminal lawsuits AFP that could be fi nalised within An EFF is designed to help eign investment in Sri Lanka’s potential to perform better. Colombo two weeks. countries resolve serious bal- slowing economy. Wickremesinghe’s govern- “The mission made signifi - ance of payment problems Sri Lanka enjoyed a blistering ment sought an IMF bailout im- cant progress toward a staff -lev- brought on by structural economic growth rate averaging mediately after taking power in against editor he International Mon- el agreement with the govern- weaknesses in the economy. more than 8% for two years after January last year, but the fund etary Fund (IMF) said ment on an economic program The IMF said Sri Lanka need- a prolonged civil war ended in turned down the request, saying Tyesterday it was on track that could be supported by a ed to take further steps to re- 2009. But the pace of expansion the country’s reserves were at a AFP wrong to publish them, to agree a bail-out loan for Sri 36-month Extended Fund Fa- move “bottlenecks” to trade and has since slowed, falling to 4.8% comfortable level then. Dhaka sparking an outcry from Lanka, which is facing a balance cility (EFF),” the IMF said in a investment and enhance access in the third quarter of 2015, ac- It received $2.6bn from the government supporters of payments crisis. statement. to fi nance. cording to offi cial data. IMF in 2009 to boost its fi nancial and calls from Hasina’s son It said it had made progress It did not say how much would The remarks came a day after The IMF said it expected reserves, which had dropped be- Bangladesh court yes- for Anam to be tried for in talks with Sri Lankan Prime be provided, but Sri Lankan offi - Premier Wickremesinghe an- Sri Lanka’s economic growth low $1bn at the height of fi ghting terday suspended 72 treason. Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe cials had said they were seeking nounced legal reforms to en- in 2016 to remain around between Tamil Tiger rebels and Adefamation and other Pro-government groups and other leaders towards a deal about $1 to $1.5bn immediately. courage much-needed for- 5%, but the country had the government forces. criminal lawsuits fi led by gov- fi led sedition cases and law- ernment supporters against a suits seeking over $17bn in top newspaper editor, follow- damages for defamation, ing criticism of a crackdown a criminal off ence that in on the press. Bangladesh also carries a Daily Star editor Mahfuz penalty of up to two years Anam faced the multiple law- in jail. Maldives and suits seeking billions of dollars The Star’s reports, based in damages over his news- on information supplied by a paper’s reports published military cell, were also car- in 2007 alleging corruption ried by most other Bangladesh against the woman who is now newspapers. India exchange prime minister. The cell was set up by the The High Court stayed the caretaker government that lawsuits and granted Anam ruled Bangladesh for two bail after he fi led a petition years after a military takeover challenging their legality, said in 2007. The regime arrested six agreements assistant attorney general Hasina and her main po- Arobinda Roy. litical rival Khaleda Zia, now “The High Court granted leader of the opposition, on IANS a net security provider in the In- him bail in all the cases to- corruption charges. New Delhi dian Ocean and is ready to pro- day and also stayed the pro- Neither was convicted of tect its strategic interests in this ceedings until a rule (for- any crime. The pair, who de- region,” Modi said. mal request) is disposed of,” nied corruption, were later eferring to India’s Neigh- “The prompt implementation Roy said. released. bourhood First policy, of a concrete action plan in the The court formally asked Human Rights Watch and RPrime Minister Narendra defence sector will strengthen our authorities for an explanation other groups have slammed the Modi yesterday said that the se- security cooperation,” he said. as to whether continuing the lawsuits, saying they “are part curity and stability of the Mal- The prime minister said that cases “should not be declared of a larger, organised assault dives are in the interest of India. development of ports, continu- illegal”, he said. on independent media”. “The Maldives is among In- ous training, capacity building, Anam conceded in February Criminal defamation cases dia’s closest partners,” Modi said supply of equipment and mari- that the 2007 stories had been are rarely brought before the while addressing the media after time surveillance would be the based on uncorroborated leaks courts in Bangladesh. holding bilateral delegation- main elements of the security from the military-backed Fears over freedom of level talks with visiting Maldiv- cooperation. caretaker government at the speech have been mount- ian President Abdulla Yameen “President Yameen and I are time. It ruled Bangladesh ing in the nation, which Abdul Gayoom over a working aware of the growing dangers of until Sheikh Hasina become has seen a spate of killings lunch. cross-border terrorism and radi- premier in 2009. of secular bloggers and “The stability and security of calisation in South Asia,” he said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, with Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen at Hyderabad He admitted he had been publishers. the Maldives are in the interest “Information exchange be- House in New Delhi yesterday. of India,” he said. tween security agencies and The prime minister’s state- training and capacity building “President Yameen, India is a Yameen also called on Presi- and infl uence in the Indian Heatwave to continue in Dhaka region ment comes in the face of Chi- of Maldives Police and security well-wisher and will match steps dent Pranab Mukherjee before Ocean region. na’s growing infl uence and in- forces is an important part of our with the Maldives in its journey departing from India. Sushma Swaraj visited the The mild to moderate was recorded at 40.3 degrees vestments in the Indian Ocean security co-operation.” towards progress,” the prime Yameen had earlier come to Maldives in November 2014 and heat wave blazing across Celsius in Chuadanga. It was 36 archipelago nation. Modi also said that the South minister said. India on a bilateral visit in Janu- again in October 2015 for the In- Bangladesh’s Rajshahi and degrees Celsius in Dhaka. India and the Maldives ex- Asian Satellite proposed by India On his part, President Yameen ary 2014 and was among the dia-Maldives Joint Commission Khulna divisions along with According to the weather changed six agreements in the would help the Maldives in the said that India was the most im- South Asian leaders who at- meeting, which was held after 15 Dhaka region may continue for forecast, the mild to moderate fi elds of taxation, tourism, space fi elds of education, health and portant friend of the Maldives. tended Prime Minister Modi’s years. two more days, the Met Off ice heat wave that is also research, defence and conser- tourism. “Our ties are based on swearing-in in May 2014. This year, Maldivian minis- said yesterday. sweeping over Rangpur, vation of mosques following He said the agreement on co- civilisational roots,” he said. Though India and the Mal- terial delegations to India, led A severe heat wave sweeping Dinajpur, Syedpur, Tangail and yesterday’s talks. operation in the tourism sec- “Our security is intimately dives completed 50 years of dip- by the foreign minister, defence over Kushtia region may also Faridpur regions also may Referring to India’s Neigh- tor would boost people-to- linked with India’s security.” lomatic ties last year and the two minister, tourism minister, and continue, the forecast said. continue and spread over bourhood First foreign policy, people ties. Earlier yesterday, External Af- countries historically enjoy a foreign secretary “have further The heat wave is the first of the adjacent areas. Modi said he and President The agreement on conser- fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj close relationship, Yameen’s vis- strengthened bilateral ties be- season, bdnews24 reported The weather was unlikely to Yameen discussed the entire vation of ancient mosques in called on President Yameen in it assumes signifi cance because tween India and Maldives”, said a citing the weather off ice. change much over the next gamut of bilateral relations. the Maldives would strengthen his fi rst engagement of the day in of New Delhi’s discomfi ture over Maldives high commission state- Sunday’s highest temperature two days, it said. “India understands its role as cultural ties, he said. the city. China’s increasing investments ment. Gulf Times 26 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran Iraq needs to tackle

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] its corruption crisis Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) According to “Corruption as soon as possible. They accuse the corruption:”Believe me, most of the bribes given by many international Fax 44350474 Perceptions Index 2015”, current government of not taking the senior names in the country have been oil companies to certain Iraqi necessary measures. responsible for stealing nearly all its executives in exchange for securing Iraq is ranked 161st among Factors such as the government wealth, there are names at the top of multibillion-dollar tenders. 167 countries in corruption taking delayed and inadequate the tree who would kill me if I went The numbers presented by Iraq’s measures, overall weakness of after them.” Parliamentary Integrity Commission avoidance authority, as well as high-ranking Now, let’s reveal the reality of the spokesman Adil Nouri shows that the military and political offi cials who are situation via concrete examples: extent of the corruption is far more GULF TIMES stuck in the same swamp of corruption Hundreds of millions of dollars terrifying than has been suspected. By Harun Yahya Istanbul protecting each other, make the as salaries being paid to imaginary According to Nouri, who situation even worse. Furthermore, 57,000 ghost soldiers which, in addressed the Iraqi parliament coercions and threats against offi cials reality, directly go into the pockets of on the issue, the amount that ince the investigating corruption make it even certain offi cials: billions of dollars in disappeared from government 1990s, harder for the country to get out of military spending for mostly non- coffers between 2006 and 2014 Spieth loses Iraq has this desperate situation. delivered items such as warplanes, was some $500bn ; this amounts to Sbeen a This situation has been covered ammunition, equipment, costs over half of the $822bn oil income country ravaged continuously by the international of which were infl ated to four to the state generated over the eight- by the never-ending disasters; it media as well. In an article published fi ve times of their actual values: year period along with the $250bn green jacket but has been dragged into such pitiful by the Guardian last January were thousands of government tenders and fund obtained from many donor condition as the result of war, terror, these revealing lines: projects, fi ctitious buildings, roads countries; this adds up to a total of dissensions, internal confl icts, and harbours that were paid for but about $1tn. sectarian strife, ethnic problems, Hundreds of never materialised: all the briberies, For Iraq, which has some of the domestic migrations and seemingly commissions, embezzlements that richest natural resources in the world, retains his class ceaseless suicide attacks. millions of dollars as took place in tenders, projects, trade and is virtually “swimming” in oil, to As if all these catastrophes were not agreements; these are only a part of fall into such a grave situation is not enough, Iraq is now faced with another salaries being paid the money that is unlawfully spent only thought-provoking but deeply Jordan Spieth knocked in a putt on the ninth green serious crisis that has been secretly from the coff ers of the state. disturbing. Confl icts among brothers, of Augusta National for his fourth birdie in succession gnawing at the administrative system: to imaginary 57,000 Frankly, all this corruption pales sectarian diff erences, disputes and Massive corruption. Certainly this in comparison to the ill-gotten unwarranted wars, all of these are in the fi nal round of Sunday’s Masters and could have atmosphere of strife and commotion, ghost soldiers gains made from the oil trade that leading this beautiful country and been forgiven for thinking he was on the verge of more caused by ethnic-sectarian tensions constitutes 95% of Iraq’s total national its people into an even more diffi cult added to the political instabilities that zOne of Iraq’s anti-corruption income. situation and weaken them further history. have been plaguing Iraq for a long leaders sat in his offi ce, waving his Last month, allegations of a major with each day. Last year he destroyed the fi eld to claim his maiden time, has played a signifi cant role in hands in exasperation. “There is no bribery and corruption scandal were In order to avoid such incidents, fi rst the increase of the corruption. solution,” he said. “Everybody is made by the American Huffi ngton of all, the world of Islam should start to major and now he held a fi ve-shot lead and was on For more than 10 years, corruption corrupt, from the top of society to the Post and Austrian Fairfax Media Group learn our religion from the Qur’an, pull course to become just the fourth player to retain the and degeneracy have been spreading bottom. Everyone. Including me.” regarding the oil contracts signed by itself away from the abysmal darkness like cancer at almost all the levels of z … Iraq’s political class, military certain Iraqi government offi cials. In of negligence and ignorance, put an end green jacket. the Iraqi government and bureaucracy. leaders and some senior religious response to these serious allegations, to inner confl icts as soon as possible, A mere 50 minutes later he was not only no longer According to “Corruption Perceptions fi gures have led a staggering 13-year the Iraqi government ordered an and learn to live together through the leading, he trailed Danny Willett by three shots. And Index 2015”, Iraq is ranked 161st among pillage that has left Iraq consistently immediate investigation. common spirits of love, unity and 167 countries in corruption avoidance. rated as one of the top fi ve least Tens of thousands of internal fellowship. The day that happens is a couple of hours after that, he was draping a green With the encouragement of transparent and most corrupt correspondences and e-mails sent going to be the day when the dark clouds jacket over Willett’s shoulders in one of the most religious leaders such as Moqtada countries in the world. and received between the years of disasters, troubles and degeneracy al-Sadr, the people of Iraq have taken The same source includes of 2002-2012 were presented as will begin to disperse. brutal handovers in the history of the tournament. to the streets and staged protests the following statements of evidence in the report, documenting “It’s tough, it’s really tough,” he said after walking time and time again, demanding that Mishan al-Jabouri, a senior the scandal; the report was said to zHarun Yahya may be followed those responsible for the current member of the parliamentary include significant documentary at @Harun_Yahya and off the 18th green. “We have the confi dence that we’re situation should be held to account committee investigating offi cial evidence regarding substantial www.harunyahya.com a closing team. I still have that confi dence. But it was a very tough 30 minutes for me, and I hope I never experience it again.” Spieth handled the victory ceremony with his usual grace. On helping Willett into his jacket, he smoothed down the rumpled The American collar and gave the winner a pat on the 22-year-old back. proved he is A small gesture a gentleman perhaps, but a gesture which testifi es to the despite his strength and grace of heartbreaking the man inside this 22-year-old body. Masters It is easy to forget meltdown Spieth’s tender years as he already has two majors to his name. His record at Augusta, in three visits, contains one victory and two ties for second. He is already held to a standard as high as no other since Tiger Woods broke onto the scene. What happened on the back nine is easy to explain: “I went bogey, bogey, quad. I went fi ve, fi ve, seven.” The bogeys on 10 and 11 were not fatal but fi nding the water on the short par-three 12th via the bank in front of the green was a diff erent matter. Having taken Supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr shouting slogans during a protest against government corruption in Baghdad’s Sadr City. a penalty drop, he then caught an uncommitted wedge fat. Spieth fought back with a couple of birdies on the par-fi ves 13 and 15 but another bogey at 17 sealed his New front opens in war on superbugs fate. But if what happened on the back nine was easy to By Mariette Le Roux (ESCMID) heard in Amsterdam this As bacteria have started to develop its surface to which antibiotics would AFP/Amsterdam weekend. resistance to other, more modern normally bind, making the germ explain, why it happened will surely be the focus of “(A) key element for the emergence drugs, colistin had to be brought impenetrable self-refl ection up until the US Open in June, when of superpathogens (superbugs, or back as a treatment of last resort in These supergerms spread easily newly-discovered drug-resistant germ strains) has made hospitals and clinics. with human help. The wrong Spieth will defend his other major title. antibiotic-resistant gene is its way to our bodies,” researcher Now resistance to that too is antibiotics, taken for too short a The brilliance displayed to bag four consecutive threatening to open a new Aycan Gundogdu of Turkey’s Erciyes becoming a problem. period or in too low a dose, help them birdies on six through nine seemed to have won the Afront in the war against University told delegates. Gundogdu and a team analysed proliferate - also in animals given superbugs by rendering a last-resort “It is (only) a matter of time (before) DNA in faecal samples of individuals antibiotics to fatten them up. day, but in golf, as in most sports, it isn’t over until it’s drug impotent, experts warn. the dissemination of mcr-1 gene will from China, Europe and Turkey. Experts at the conference lamented over. The gene’s resistance to colistin, be prevalent in the clinic, bringing the Of the 344 Chinese study subjects, that not enough new drugs were being a life-saving medication which has world closer to an antibiotic crisis.” six harboured the gene in their gut developed. Spieth would have held onto his green jacket but for been around for 60 years, is the latest - a known major reservoir of drug “We have to fi ght all these micro- his meltdown, but his dignity in the most crushing of frustration for physicians battling resistance, the team found. organisms,” said ESCMID president disease with a shrinking arsenal of The WHO has “They are healthy people. They are Murat Akova. “They are emerging, defeats will — in time — prove he too was winner on antibiotics to treat a wide variety of warned that drug hosts, they are carrying this gene,”, and we are defenceless, we are losing this of all days. ailments, many once easily curable. Gundogdu told AFP. patients. Dubbed mcr-1, the resistance- resistance “threatens Why is it scary? Because water The World Health Organisation conferring gene easily transfers treatment “can’t eliminate these (WHO) has warned that drug between bacteria, benign or a return to the bacteria or these genes perfectly”, he resistance “threatens a return to the To Advertise otherwise, found in humans, animals said. pre-antibiotic era”. or the environment. pre-antibiotic era” “After treatment, this water directly A large-scale study commissioned [email protected] First identified in China last goes to the environmental water. And by the British government and Display November, the gene has since been Colistin has been available since then we, the people, use this water for released last year, said between $16bn Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 discovered in livestock, water, 1959 to treat infections caused by fi shing, for many things, which means and $37bn would have to be spent over meat and vegetables for human Gram-negative bacteria - a category there is a circulation.” a 10-year period to bring vital new Classified consumption in several countries, including the food-poisoning germs Another research team, which antibiotics to the market. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 and in humans infected with E.coli - E-coli and Salmonella, as well as retrospectively tested stored E.coli This paled in comparison, it said, to one of the disease-causing bacteria Acinetobacter which can cause and Salmonella samples from food- the estimated cost of $20bn per year Subscription it targets. pneumonia or serious blood and producing animals, said the gene has to treat drug resistant illnesses in the [email protected] For the fi rst time, mcr-1 has now wound infections. already been around in Europe for US alone. also been found living in the gut of It was abandoned for human use in more than a decade. The AMR report said 700,000 healthy humans, a conference of the 1980s due to high kidney toxicity, Resistance to drugs can emerge people died every year as a result of 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved the European Society of Clinical but is widely used in livestock farming, through changes in the bacterium’s drug resistance - a number expected Microbiology and Infectious Diseases especially in China. genetic code - altering the target on to rise to 10mn by 2050. Gulf Times Tuesday, April 12, 2016 27 COMMENT Communication requires strategy

It’s not sneaky to want to right approach to X is?’ - or validating “We’re talking past each other,” connect with people in a way their judgments or actions - ‘You Wesbecher said. “We’re not listening bring up a really great point’. This for those clues that are being that will make will help you to establish a values- dropped, those advertisements communication easier based common ground, which is that are being dropped in every the ideal launching pad for a deeper conversation.” By Rex Huppke relationship with this style.” Mattersight has made a business out Chicago Tribune/TNS I spoke with Jason Wesbecher, of this communication strategy, but Mattersight’s chief marketing that doesn’t mean we can’t perform offi cer, and he explained that the similar analyses on our own. onsider this hypothetical company’s work is based on a You may not agree with the work conversation: process communication model personality traits Wesbecher and his “Hey, boss. Check out this developed by Nasa in the 1970s. It colleagues have compiled (and you can Ccute picture of a panda. Oh, was used to monitor the language view the whole list here: www.tinyurl. also, would it be possible to ...” patterns astronauts used as they com/gwlh7sk), but it provides an “I HATE PANDAS! GET OUT OF communicated with each other and excellent guide for the way we should MY OFFICE!!” with mission control, looking for be thinking in the workplace. That didn’t go well, in large part signs of distress or other changes in Don’t just expect people to sync because the worker forgot that the emotional state. with your tone or your sense of boss once fell into an exhibit at “Language is a very reliable humour or your patience or lack the city zoo and was mauled by an advertisement for personality, thereof. Study your co-workers unexpectedly violent panda. What distress, what your psychological and managers. Listen, and start a seemed adorable to the worker needs are,” Wesbecher said. “We took mental database of their traits and was traumatising to the boss, and the model and tried to test whether communication styles. communication broke down. we could hear these patterns reliably Learn who likes jokes and who has (FUN FACT: Hypothetical in phone calls. We had behavioral a deep-rooted fear of pandas. Learn conversations involving scientists manually listening to calls. who needs a little conversation before unexpectedly violent pandas are Then we set out to create software getting down to business and who actually quite common in workplace algorithms that can give second-by- hates small talk. advice circles.) second data and feedback.” This requires thought and practice. The point here is the conversation The company has analysed more I can’t speak for all of you, but I know would’ve gone a lot better if the than 1bn phone calls and built I often fi nd myself talking to people worker had taken the time to learn millions of behavioural algorithms without giving thought to their something about the boss, and used a that can help people in call centers personality traits. We fancy ourselves bit of strategy. That may be the most improve how they interact with strategic communicators, but if we’re overlooked element of workplace customers. honest, that approach is probably only communication - the need to think “Before the customer even speaks taken occasionally. We slip into default fi rst before speaking. to an agent, we can route them to an mode and chatter away. Some might recoil at the idea of agent best capable of dealing with It’s not sneaky to want to connect communicating in a strategic manner, their personality style, based on the with people in a way that will make viewing it as sneaky or inauthentic. agent’s past history of dealing with communication easier. It’s smart. I disagree, in large part because all people with that personality style,” So try to pay attention to those you’re really doing is listening to Wesbecher said. “And after the call, advertisements - those personality people and engaging with them in a we can provide coaching and training cues - in the language people use. way that makes them comfortable. to the agent based on what happened And watch out for pandas. They’re Mattersight, a tech company connector, organiser, original, dreamer For example, advisers are: “driven conference asking probing questions inside that call.” cute, but deadly. that creates personality evaluation and doer. by deeply-held convictions and have or “frowning intensely at the speaker” That doesn’t strike me as devious. software to guide interactions with For each trait there are explanations fi rm opinions about how things should because they’re listening carefully. In fact, it seems downright sensible, zRex Huppke writes for the Chicago customers and employees, recently of what drives the individual and be done. They care about tradition, And the best way to connect with both for call centres and for anyone Tribune. Send him questions by e-mail published a networking guide that suggestions on the best ways to loyalty, integrity and credibility.” that type of person is: “Asking their who has to communicate with other at [email protected] or on Twitter outlines six personality traits: adviser, interact. You might spot them at a opinion - ‘What do you believe the human beings. @RexWorksHere Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Let us all help about it, obviously because of the a huge shock to all Indian expatriates High: 36 C involvement of some celebrities and living in the Gulf. Low : 23 C Expected strong wind and high seas Kerala fire victims the nature of the scandal. This incident once again proves due to thunder activity Is this what we have become: A that the importance of maintaining Please send us Dear Sir, culture obsessed with scandals and strict safety standards during mass your letters celebrities? It is strange indeed when gatherings. It is one of the worst WEDNESDAY I would like to express my heartfelt real tragedy strikes a corner of a human tragedies the Kerala state had High: 28 C condolences and deepest sympathy country, its television channels refuse ever seen. By e-mail Low: 24 C to the families of the victims and all to acknowledge the importance it Despite the denial of offi cial [email protected] P Cloudy those aff ected by Sunday’s massive deserves. permission, some people went ahead Fax 44350474 fi reworks explosion in Kollam, Kerala. Our news sense and priorities need with a massive fi reworks display, At least 109 people have been urgent reassessment and review. which ended in a tragedy. Or Post THURSDAY killed and more than 383 injured in My request to all Indians, specially There is no point in political parties Letters to the Editor High: 29 C the explosion. When the news broke non-resident Keralites, is to give full criticising and blaming each other over Gulf Times Low: 25 C about the tragedy on Sunday, I turned support to the family members of the the incident; some of them are exactly M Sunny to various Indian TV channels for blaze victims. They need our help. doing that, especially since it is election P O Box 2888 updates. time in Kerala. Instead, a combined Doha, Qatar I expected to see extensive television Masud Hasan eff ort is needed to help those survived. Fishermen’s forecast coverage, given the gravity of the (e-mail address supplied) All political parties must keep their All letters, which are OFFSHORE DOHA situation, but unfortunately many diff erences aside and extend their full Wind: SE-NE 05-15/25 KT of the Indian channels (except a few, support for a thorough investigation subject to editing, should Waves: 2-4/7 Feet of course), disappointed me with the A shocking into the accident. INSHORE DOHA have the name of the Wind: NW-NE 15-20/30 KT way they handled the news. They were disaster But I’m happy to note that both writer, address and phone Waves: 1-3 Feet busy with issues, which I felt, were of the central and state governments in number. The writer’s less importance. New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram Around the region I regret to note that these same Dear Sir, deserve a word of praise for the way name and address may be Weather Weather channels were so excited about the they reacted to the tragedy so far. withheld by request. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Sheena Bhora murder case when that The fi reworks tragedy that struck Abu Dhabi Sunny 39/27 P Cloudy 37/26 story broke a few months ago that they the Indian state of Kerala during a Ramachandran Nair Baghdad P Cloudy 31/18 T Storms 24/15 Dubai had been off ering non-stop coverage temple festival on Sunday has come as (e-mail address supplied) Sunny 35/27 P Cloudy 32/26 Kuwait City M Cloudy 29/22 Cloudy 29/21 Manama Cloudy 28/23 P Cloudy 28/23 Muscat Sunny 34/27 M Sunny 36/26 Riyadh S Showers 28/19 S T Storms 29/18 Live issues Tehran Showers 21/16 Showers 20/16 The transition from colleague to manager

By Marie G McIntyre Her primary concern is that you seem I think Diane is missing the Tribune News Service locked into your own way of thinking point, because there is no confl ict and resistant to other views. to be mediated. I’m just tired of If management is your goal, then her negative emotional reactions. UESTION: When I you should take this feedback seri- How should I handle this? joined the small busi- ously. Great bosses can effectively A: Diane is not the only one missing ness where I currently supervise a wide variety of per- the point. Based on your own descrip- Qwork as a salesperson, sonalities, including people whose tion, she is not a horrid manager, just I expected to eventually become opinions and approaches differ from an annoying one. So the real issue is department manager. With that their own. The good news, however, your inability to accept her imperfec- in mind, I proposed some changes is that you may already possess this tions. that would expand our market and ability. If I were talking to Diane, I would Around the world increase sales. Although the owner As a successful salesperson, you can strongly suggest making her feelings Weather Weather seemed to like my suggestions, she undoubtedly relate well to many dif- less obvious. But since I can’t change today Max/min tomorrow Max/min never followed through. ferent types of customers. If you begin her behaviour, I hope that I can alter Athens Sunny 27/16 Sunny 27/17 A few months ago, I was shocked putting equal eff ort into colleague yours. Giving orders to the boss sel- Beirut Rain 19/16 Rain 19/14 Sunny 39/28 to learn that a sales manager relationships, your manager may dom works out well, so continuing this Bangkok 39/27 M Sunny Berlin Showers 16/06 Showers 17/07 had been hired from outside the eventually change her mind. confrontational criticism would be a Cairo P Cloudy 23/16 P Cloudy 26/16 company. The new hire immedi- Q: My boss does a great job of major career blunder. Cape Town P Cloudy 23/15 M Sunny 23/15 ately began implementing the very running the offi ce, but seems to Diane’s expressive reactions Colombo S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 34/27 changes I had previously suggest- have trouble regulating her emo- obviously push your hot buttons, so Dhaka Sunny 38/26 Sunny 37/26 Hong Kong S T Storms 24/22 T Storms 27/22 ed. The owner acknowledged that tions. “Diane” frequently rolls her instead of focusing on her emotions, Istanbul P Cloudy 17/12 P Cloudy 19/13 these were my ideas, so I asked eyes and sighs condescendingly you should try to control your own. If Jakarta T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 why I had been passed over for the when people are talking to her. She you practice what you preach and stop Karachi Sunny 34/24 Sunny 33/24 management job. also responds irritably to relative- “responding irritably” to this “rela- London P Cloudy 16/04 Fog 17/06 M Sunny P Cloudy 34/26 Her initial response was that ly minor issues. tively minor issue”, the relationship Manila 34/26 Moscow P Cloudy 14/02 M Sunny 17/06 she needed my talents in the sales Although Diane does this with with your boss might greatly improve. New Delhi Sunny 36/23 Sunny 38/23 position. Then she told me that I everybody, I’m the only one who New York Rain 13/04 Sunny 15/06 expect everyone to do things my ANSWER: Let me attempt to has objected. I recently informed zMarie G McIntyre is a workplace Paris Showers 16/07 S T Storms 18/07 way, which she said is not a good translate. Your manager appreci- her that these immature behav- coach and the author of Secrets to Sao Paulo S T Storms 31/20 M Sunny 32/19 Seoul M Cloudy 22/12 Rain 18/10 quality for a manager to have. She ates both your sales ability and your iours were interfering with her Winning at Offi ce Politics. Send in Singapore T Storms 33/28 S T Storms 34/28 said I should treat my colleagues helpful ideas. However, based on your stated goal of improving our com- questions and get free coaching tips at Sydney S Showers 21/16 P Cloudy 22/14 as I do my customers. How should co-worker relationships, she feels you munication. She replied that we http://www.youroffi cecoach.com, or Tokyo Clear 15/05 Cloudy 18/09 I interpret this feedback? are not yet ready to manage people. needed to fi nd a mediator. follow her on Twitter @offi cecoach. Gulf Times 28 Tuesday, April 12, 2016 QATAR Toyota’s all-new Innova launched oyota is once again rede- fi ning conventional no- Ttions of a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with the launch of the all-new Innova 2016 in Qatar. The new model combines the essence of an MPV with the tough elements of an SUV, mak- ing it an ideal vehicle for the family. “The new Innova is more spa- cious and stylish with additional features,” executive chief engi- neer Hiroki Nakajima said. The vehicle is powered by a 2.7-li- tre four-cylinder petrol engine which produces 164hp and 25.0 The new Innova is powered by a 2.7-litre 164hp four-cylinder petrol engine. kg-m of torque. “Our team had held exten- The car is available either as a and allow devices such as smart- Impact-absorbing materi- sive interactions with custom- seven-seater model (with cap- phones and laptops to be used als throughout the cabin further ers to determine the design and tain seats for second row) or with freely. contribute to occupant protec- mechanical direction the new an eight-seat (60/40 split, fold- The car’s anti-lock braking tion. Innova should take,”explained down seats for second row) con- system with electronic brake- In the event of a collision, im- Takayuki Yoshitsugu, chief rep- fi guration option. It comes with force distribution prevents the pact energy is absorbed and ef- resentative, Mena Representa- an all-new air-conditioning unit tyres from locking during braking fectively distributed. The frame tive Offi ce, Toyota. that helps maintain a cool inte- and allows for measured brake- structure absorbs impacts in The exterior is carefully de- rior even in traffi c on a hot day at force distribution between the three steps, reducing their eff ect signed with SUV elements. The Off icials at the launch of the all-new Innova in Qatar. PICTURES: Nasar T K maximum occupancy. front and rear wheels according on areas such as the body, engine sculpted body is both stylish and Various storage compartments to the vehicle condition. and interior. impressive. Subtle aerodynamic CS, silver ME, gray ME, atti- ing column and it is designed to Information Display allows the have been made available to pro- High-tensile strength steel The new Innova is also avail- eff ects and more emotional col- tude black MC and Avant-Garde combine the structural motif of driver to access a multitude of vide practical storage options for sheets and supplementary ma- able with a full-colour display. ours also enhance the exterior. bronze ME. the instrument panel with the vehicle information, important both family and business use. terials are also widely used The rear view monitor system The vehicle is available in six The Innova’s steering wheel luxurious elegant touches. warnings and in-car entertain- Device connections are in place throughout the body structure ensures peace of mind when re- colours: super white, white pearl has a tilt and telescopic steer- A 4.2-inch TFT colour Multi- ment. to provide superior functionality to help reduce passenger injuries. verse parking.

Commercial Bank’s Man United soccer camp proves a big hit with customers

ommercial Bank has an- nounced the successful Cconclusion of the third Manchester United Soccer School coaching camp in Doha. More than 160 boys and girls aged seven to 16 years took part in the initiative at Al Arabi Stadium last month, with two coaches from Manchester Unit- ed’s Soccer School specially fl own in from the UK to provide the coaching. Commercial Bank is the ex- Three new judges have been appointed to the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre. clusive fi nancial services part- ner of Manchester United in Qatar. The bank’s customers won places for their children to participate in the exclusive Qatar International Court fi ve-day coaching camp, by spending on their Commercial Off icials with participants in the soccer school. Bank Manchester United credit appoints three judges cards. of the game, develop a winning how to play the Manchester Manchester United and the The training camp consisted mentality and have lots of fun. United way.” popularity of the Manchester of on-fi eld training and techni- Each child also received a The coaches were particular- United Soccer School with our he Qatar International in Luxembourg, has joined the Tribunal of the Qatar Financial cal skills, similar to what is used certifi cate upon completion of ly impressed with the way the customers’ children.” Court and Dispute Reso- court. Centre. to train Manchester United the training. children communicated with “Customers can win price- Tlution Centre (QICDRC) Edwin Glasgow QC, an Eng- Christopher Grout, the reg- players. The two Manchester United each other and worked together less Manchester United ex- has appointed three new judges, lish silk, arbitrator and media- istrar of the QICDRC, said: The coaches gave an insight Soccer School coaches said it during the sessions. periences for themselves and one to the court and two to the tor, and Gopal Subramanium, a “The QICDRC now has 16 into Manchester United youth was a great experience to work Dean Proctor, Commercial their families simply by using a regulatory tribunal. senior advocate of the Supreme judges from 10 different juris- training techniques and phi- with the kids in Qatar - they Bank EGM, chief consumer and Commercial Bank Manchester George Arestis, a former judge Court of India and a former dictions, reaffirming its posi- losophy and off ered advice on demonstrated a “genuine en- private banking, said: “Com- United credit card, a card prod- of the Supreme Court of Cyprus solicitor-general of India, have tion as a truly international how to prepare off the pitch, thusiasm and passion for play- mercial Bank is delighted by the uct that is unrivalled in the Qa- and European Court of Justice joined the specialist Regulatory centre.” improve their understanding ing football and learning about success of our partnership with tar marketplace,” he added. Canon Solutions opens direct operation in Qatar anon Middle East, a lead- local presence and proven track- and the establishment of Canon er in imaging solutions, record will ensure that Canon Offi ce Imaging Solutions (Doha) Cyesterday held the offi cial provides the high quality, tech- as a subsidiary of Canon Mid- inauguration of its direct opera- nologically advanced products dle East, to specially cater to the tion Canon Offi ce Imaging Solu- required across all industries, market is refl ective of our com- tions (Doha) and the launch of the statement said. mitment to this region,” said its fi rst dedicated business solu- Zenti. tions showroom. “Qatar has been a key “This showroom is designed This is the fi rst time a global market for us and the to provide hands-on demon- technology brand has set up a di- establishment of Canon strations of our B2B services rect in-country presence in Qa- Offi ce Imaging Solutions and solutions to existing and tar, Canon Middle East claimed (Doha) as a subsidiary new customers. It is also meant in a statement. of Canon Middle East, to display our end-to-end busi- Canon Offi ce Imaging Solu- to specially cater to the ness solutions such as profes- tions (Doha) has been estab- market is refl ective of our sional print, document and lished in partnership with Salam commitment to this region” imaging management systems Technology, Canon’s longstand- to provide a complete portfolio ing imaging solutions distribu- Canon has been meeting of innovative products and so- tion partner in Qatar. customers’ demands in Qatar lutions for businesses across a The inauguration of the through its direct presence and wide variety of sectors,” added showroom was marked by the new and diversifi ed business of- Zenti. presence of Stefano Zenti, ex- ferings over the last year and a “The Qatari market is one of ecutive vice president, Canon half, with 50 Canon employees the key, strategic markets for Europe; Anurag Agrawal, man- and a full-fl edged service and Canon Middle East in the re- aging director, Canon Middle support team. gion and our aim is to contrib- East; Wim Wynants, general With its fi rst B2B showroom ute to the Qatari economy,” said manager, Canon Offi ce Imaging in place, the company will con- Agrawal. Stefano Zenti and AbdulSalam Issa Abu Issa formally inaugurating Canon Off ice Imaging Solutions (Doha) yesterday. Solutions (Doha) and Abdul- tinue to give Qatari customers Wim Wynants, general man- Salam Issa Abu Issa, member of the opportunity to receive direct ager of Canon Offi ce Imaging folio of innovative products for a thoroughly-trained staff , puts that Canon maintains its posi- Canon’s business solutions the board of directors of Salam advice on products and services Solutions (Doha), pointed out businesses across a wide vari- us in a position to off er expert tion as a leader in imaging solu- showroom is located in Bin Om- International. from Canon professionals. “Qa- that in the showroom, Canon ety of sectors. “Our outstand- advice on Canon products. With tions and off ers unprecedented ran, Ahmed Bin Ali Street, Town Salam Technology’s strong tar has been a key market for us will provide a complete port- ing customer service, thanks to this showroom, we will ensure amenities throughout Qatar.” Centre, Doha.