QATAR | Page 2 BUSINESS | Page 1 CI affi rms QIB’s rating with a INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-10, 28 COMMENT 26, 27 REGION 10 BUSINESS 1-6, 10-12 ‘stable Minister sees potential 20,591.86 10,489.28 52.91 ARAB WORLD 10, 11 CLASSIFIED 7-9 -59.44 +77.51 -0.49 INTERNATIONAL 12-25 SPORTS 1-8 for SA trade ties growth -0.29% +0.74% -0.92% outlook’ Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10422 April 13, 2017 Rajab 16, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Debate champions

In brief Power and water

QATAR | Weather connection work Another hot day expected today More places in the country, including Doha, recorded a maximum temperature of 40C or higher yesterday, weather charts showed. to require licence Another warm day expected today, the Qatar Met department said. orks related to electricity the matter to the Advisory Council in regarding Curacao, and a draft MoU Yesterday, a maximum temperature and water connection can September last year. for co-operation in the fi eld of tech- of 42C was recorded in Abu Samra, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, Wbe carried out only after After HE the Prime Minister and nical and vocational education and while Sheehaniya, Batna, Karana, with the Qatar University team that won the first place in this year’s edition of the obtaining a licence from the Qatar Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin training between the governments of Jumayliya and Ghuwairiya saw a International Universities Arabic Debating Championship organised by QatarDebate. General Electricity & Water Corpo- Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani chaired the Qatar and the Philippines. high of 41C. Doha (airport area), The finals took place yesterday. The five-day event featured 87 teams from 46 Arab ration (Kahramaa), a draft law stipu- Cabinet’s weekly meeting at the Emiri Meanwhile, the meeting reviewed Al Rayyan and Turayna recorded and non-Arab countries. Page 28 lates. a memo of HE the Minister of Ad- a maximum of 40C, followed by After being briefed on the recom- The draft legislation has been ministrative Development, Labour the Qatar University area at 39C. mendations of the Advisory Council, prepared to replace Law No and Social affairs on the outcome of On Tuesday, too, Abu Samra had the Cabinet yesterday took the nec- 4 of 1997 on the ‘procedures the 33rd session of the GCC Labour recorded the highest temperature Condolences to Saudi essary measures to issue a draft law and fees for the connection of Ministers’ Council and the GCC at 43C. A maximum of 42C has pertaining to the regulation of elec- electricity and water supplies’, Social Affairs Ministers’ Council, once again been forecast today in tricity and water connection works, and Law No 29 of 2008 on the as well as the outcome of the third Abu Samra, while in Doha it will be the offi cial Qatar News Agency (QNA) ‘works of electricity and water meeting of the GCC Labour Min- 39C. The minimum temperature, reported. connection’ isters’ Committee and the third meanwhile, will range from 23C in Al The draft legislation has been pre- meeting of the GCC Social Affairs Khor, Dukhan and Abu Samra to 26C pared to replace Law No 4 of 1997 on Diwan yesterday, HE the Deputy Prime Ministers’ Committee (Riyadh - No- in Doha. In a report on Tuesday, the the ‘procedures and fees for the con- Minister and Minister of State for Cab- vember 2016), and took the appro- weather off ice had said there was a nection of electricity and water sup- inet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin priate decision. “60-70% chance of above-average plies’, and Law No 29 of 2008 on the Zaid al-Mahmoud said the Cabinet ap- temperatures” prevailing in most ‘works of electricity and water con- proved a draft decision of HE the Min- Licences for shops parts of the Gulf countries until June. nection’. ister of Municipality and Environment The provisions of the draft law regarding banned plants in Qatar. The Cabinet yesterday gave its stipulate that Kahramaa shall con- Under the draft decision, plants ARAB WORLD | Confl ict nod to a draft law that stipulates duct works related to “electricity listed on the table annexed to this de- the renewal of licences for shops Trump: it’s time to end and water connections to premises, cision are prohibited to be planted in located in residential areas for a Syria’s ‘brutal civil war’ buildings and facilities, and make the State. period of three years as of July 6, any additions, changes or transfers The Cabinet also gave its nod to a QNA reported. In this regard, the US President Donald Trump told therein, and all acts of connection draft memorandum of understanding weekly meeting of the Cabinet allies it was time to end Syria’s HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad al-Thani conveyed the condolences of HH the Emir to or separation from the public net- (MoU) for co-operation between Qa- approved a decision of HE the “brutal” civil war yesterday, as he Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin work”, the QNA report states, adding tar Tourism Authority and Qatar Na- Minister of Economy and Commerce branded the country’s leader Bashar Hamad al-Thani to Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, adviser to the that any of these tasks can be carried tional Convention Centre in the area amending some provisions of al-Assad a “butcher” and questioned Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region, and to the out only after getting a licence from of business tourism, a draft air serv- Decree No 70 of 2006 pertaining to Russia’s role in a suspected chemical princes, members of the Saudi royal family on the death of Prince Saad bin Faisal bin the corporation. ices agreement between the govern- shops in residential areas. attack. Page 10 Abdulaziz al-Saud, in Jeddah yesterday evening. The Cabinet had decided to refer ments of Qatar and the Netherlands Gulf Times 2 Thursday, April 13, 2017 QATAR

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani being received by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa at the off icial Nkoana-Mashabane upon arrival in Waterkloof Air Base in Pretoria on Tuesday. reception ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Pretoria on Tuesday. Emir, S African president hold comprehensive talks

QNA Pretoria

H the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- HThani and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa chaired a session of offi cial talks on Tuesday evening, at the Pres- idential Palace in Pretoria. The South African president welcomed HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation and thanked him for his accepting the invitation to visit South President Jacob Zuma introducing his cabinet members to HH the Africa, expressing his aspira- Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Pretoria on Tuesday. tion to strengthen the bilat- eral relations between the two countries. HH the Emir thanked the South African president for the warm reception and hospitality, and hope that this visit would be a step forward in the relations between the two countries. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral rela- tions and means of develop- ing them in in order to achieve common interests in various HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and President Jacob Zuma chairing off icial talks on Tuesday evening. domains including agriculture, energy, industry, tourism, econ- an-Israeli confl ict and stressed sovereignty of Libya, by estab- the members of the offi cial del- delegation have received during omy and trade. the urgent need to revive the lishing security and stability in egation accompanying HH the the visit which discussed means The two sides agreed to raise Arab peace initiative and the the country and supporting it in Emir and a number of South Af- of enhancing relations of friend- the level of trade exchange be- importance of reaching a just the fi ght against terrorism, and rica’s ministers. ship and co-operation between tween the two countries to more solution based on the two-state stressed the importance of the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin the two countries in various than $1bn by 2020. solution, in accordance with the African Union’s role in contrib- Hamad al-Thani concluded his fi elds along with a number of is- On the political arena, the related United Nations resolu- uting to this. state visit to South Africa, the last sues of common concern. two sides discussed the strate- tions, international legitimacy The two sides also affi rmed leg of Africa tour, yesterday. HH the Emir expressed his gic issues related to regional and and the agreements signed be- the continuation of joint eff orts HH the Emir sent a cable to deep appreciation and best global security and the develop- tween the Palestinian and Israeli with the international commu- President of South Africa Jacob wishes of best health and hap- ments of regional and interna- sides. nity regarding the promotion of Zuma in which he expressed piness for President Zuma and tional political events, especially On Libya, the two sides security, peace and stability in thanks and appreciation for the further development and pros- those related to the Middle East. stressed the necessity of pre- the region and the world. warm welcome and apprecia- perity for the people of South They reviewed the Palestini- serving the unity, integrity and The session was attended by tion he and the accompanying Africa. Minister sees potential for growth in trade ties

QNA the two countries have great po- of GDP in 2015, he added. successfully completed, he said, Pretoria tential to increase co-operation During the same period, Qatar stressing that the focus would be in various fi elds, pointing out has invested $160bn in infra- on sustained economic growth that the value of Qatar’s ex- structure development and the and eff ective private sector lead- E the Minister of Econ- ports to South Africa reached state budget has recorded a sur- ing the development process and omy and Commerce about $390mn in 2016, while the plus of about $95bn, he stressed. a competitive knowledge-based HSheikh Ahmed bin Jas- value of South African exports Qatar has succeeded in devel- economy, he said The Minister sim bin Mohamed al-Thani of goods to Qatar accounted for oping a world-class infrastruc- added that the overall frame- reaffi rmed the importance of $104mn. ture over the past few years, the work of the new national strat- strengthening investment rela- The Minister noted that the Minister said, referring in this egy, which includes achieving tions between Qatar and South current levels of trade do not regard to Hamad International specifi c objectives in terms of Africa, especially as both coun- refl ect the real potential for Airport, one of the largest air- productivity enhancement and tries share a promising vision co-operation between the two ports in the world with an ex- private sector participation, has and great aspirations in provid- countries, especially as Qatar’s pected capacity of 50mn passen- been identifi ed. ing stability and prosperity for share of South Africa’s total ex- gers per year in a short time, the Priority sectors of investment their peoples. ports is only about 1% and Qa- new Doha Port with a capacity through which Qatar will be able This came in his opening re- tar’s share of imports of fuel, of 7.5mn containers, as well as a to compete globally have been marks to the Qatar-South Africa chemicals and plastics in South highway network and the metro. also identifi ed, HE the Minister Business Forum held in Pretoria Africa is only 2%. HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani and HE the Qatar has been keen on devel- of Economy and Commerce said. yesterday, which coincided with Touching on economic op- Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani attending the Qatar-South Africa Business oping a comprehensive approach HE the Chairman of Qatar the visit of HH the Emir Sheikh portunities available to investors Forum in Pretoria yesterday. to attract investors starting from Chamber (QC) Sheikh Khalifa bin Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to in Qatar, he pointed out that the Qatar Foundation, which includes Jassim al-Thani said Qatar is con- South Africa. country has many mega projects economies of the two countries opportunities available in Qatar, achieved growth of about 4% in some of the world’s top universi- sidered an important trade part- The forum was attended by in several fi elds, including further, given the strength of HE the Minister of Economy and GDP despite the fl uctuation of ties in order to improve the skills ner to South Africa where the total HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh schools and hospitals in the edu- these agreements and the goals Commerce pointed to the im- oil prices during the past two of students and prepare qualifi ed South African energy investments Mohamed bin Abdulrahman cation and health sectors, new they seek to achieve. portant strategic location of the years, which stresses accord- cadres to enter the labour market amount to nearly $8.9bn. al-Thani, HE the Chairman of parks and resorts, electricity and Qatar can be the gateway to country which enhanced its at- ing to him the Qatari economy’s and has also developed a frame- In addition, South African Qatar Chamber of Commerce water projects, waste manage- the products of South Africa in tractiveness to investments, un- strength and fl exibility. work for partnership between the investments in Qatar have wit- and Industry Sheikh Khalifa bin ment projects, transport infra- the common market of the Gulf derling its advanced infrastruc- The diversifi cation of the Qa- public and private sectors, the nessed great developments in Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani, structure projects, food process- Co-operation Council coun- ture and position as the world’s tari economy is a key objective Minister said. the past years especially in the along with representatives from ing, agriculture and fi sheries, as tries as well as the Greater Arab largest exporter of natural gas. for Qatar, he said, adding that In addition Qatar launched fi eld of Gas to Liquids (GTL) the Ministry of Energy and In- well as Lusail city development Free Trade Area, he said, adding The Minister of Economy and in the period from 2011 to 2015, several initiatives aimed at en- ORYX. dustry, Qatari Diar company, project, and manufacturing fa- that Qatari nationals can invest Commerce reviewed the pro- Qatar’s exports of services have hancing the private sector’s con- He expected that the increase Widam Food, Katara Hospitality, cilities and warehouses. in competitive sectors in South grammes and policies adopted grown fi ve times. tribution to the economic devel- in government investments Qatar Development Bank and HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Africa, particularly in the areas by Qatar in order to establish At least 16 % of Qatar’s total opment, he went on saying. would boost growth as the 2017 Qatar Ports Management Com- bin Mohamed al-Thani said that of tourism, precious stones and an attractive investment envi- exports depend on services sec- In this context, the second budget revealed a 3.2 % increase pany. the economic agreements signed agribusiness. ronment for various economic tor and that the share of non-oil phase of the 2017-2022 short- in capital spending this year HE the Minister of Economy between the two sides could be Commenting on the business projects. sectors within the broader econ- term strategy is being fi nalised and contracts for QR46bn new and Commerce stressed that used as a means to connect the environment and investment He pointed out that Qatar has omy is steadily increasing to 61% after the fi rst strategy has been projects will be signed in 2017. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 3 QATAR HIA fi rst in GCC to Programme for artists launched receive ACI’s carbon accreditation amad International Air- by 30% by 2030 against a 2015 Group has been created to iden- A key part of HIA’s Carbon Artists gathered at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday for the launch of its port (HIA) has become baseline.” tify and promote energy saving Management Plan is the Stake- ‘Creative Conversation for Artists’ programme. Scheduled on the second Tuesday of every Hthe fi rst airport in the Patti Chau, regional director, initiatives across the whole air- holder Engagement Plan that en- month, the programme brings together artists of diff erent backgrounds and age groups in GCC to achieve Level 3 of ACI ACI Asia Pacifi c, said: “I wish port. courages the participation of the Qatar and provides them with a space to network, showcase their work and latest projects and Airport Carbon Accreditation. to congratulate HIA on becom- The group has implemented a airport’s stakeholders, including discuss their careers, inspirations and practices in the art field. The event, organised under Qatar’s world-scale airport ing Airport Carbon Accredited at number of new projects, includ- passengers, the national carrier the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar said it has been rewarded for the optimisation level. HIA has ing modifi cations to lighting, Qatar Airways, its subsidiaries Museums, highlights Mathaf’s commitment to exploring artistic production and developing its environmental protec- earned the Level 3 accreditation heating, ventilation and cooling including Qatar Duty Free, as programmes that stimulate creativity and develop an engaged and inspired cultural audience. tion strategy, by successfully in recognition of its exemplary (HVAC) systems and optimisa- well as government stakeholders, reaching Level 3 ‘optimisa- work in managing, reducing and tion of Building Management private operators and retailers. tion’ status in the Airports engaging other stakeholders on System (BMS). The ACI’s Airport Carbon Ac- Council International’s (ACI) the airport site, in minimising One such initiative is the in- creditation programme is the Airport Carbon Accreditation CO2 emissions as part of the air- stallation of air curtains and world’s only institutionally- programme. port industry’s response to the high speed doors to the numer- endorsed, international carbon The certifi cation was award- challenge of climate change.” ous entrances and exits around management programme for ed to Badr Mohamed al-Meer, HIA has developed a Carbon the Passenger Terminal Complex airports and off ers certifi cation RAF provides relief HIA chief operating offi cer and Management Strategy that pro- and baggage handling areas, both at four levels which refl ect incre- special adviser to the ACI Asia- vides the framework for energy airside and landside, minimising mental challenges in measuring, Pacifi c Board, during the 12th reduction initiatives throughout cooling losses and saving electri- managing and improving carbon ACI Asia Pacifi c Regional As- the airport. An Energy Working cal consumption. emissions. sembly in Doha on Tuesday. supply to Ethiopians HIA’s achievement comes only 18 months after fi rst ini- tiating its carbon management programme in 2015. The airport has also recorded a 14.2% im- aff ected by drought provement in carbon effi ciency (CO2 kg per passenger) in 2016 compared to 2015. heikh Thani Bin Abdullah study in most needy areas and ment to humanitarian institu- Al-Meer said, “This ac- Foundation for Humani- identifi ed benefi ciary families. tions to quickly rescue those creditation acknowledges HIA’s Starian Services (RAF) has The study took into account aff ected by a humanitarian commitment to tackling cli- implemented a relief project for families with no breadwinners, disaster. mate change, and was achieved 6,000 drought-aff ected people orphans, persons with special In March, RAF launched a by continuing to measure the in Ethiopia, including distribu- needs, the elderly and the sick relief campaign for the Horn of airport’s carbon emissions, im- tion of supply baskets in several for relief distribution. Africa, aimed at raising QR5mn plementing airport-wide en- remote villages, as part of the The assistance was provided funds from the benefactors for ergy reduction programmes and Horn of Africa relief campaign. within RAF’s humanitarian ef- the relief of those aff ected by engaging airport stakeholders to The project was imple- forts to help and rescue Ethio- the drought that hit several measure and manage third-par- mented in co-operation with pians in drought-aff ected ar- African countries, threaten- ty emissions associated with the the Erchad Association for eas, whose number exceeds ing a famine in it and allocated airport. Central to this commit- Co-operation and Develop- 6mn. It also came in response QR2mn riyals to provide urgent ment is HIA’s target to improve ment, RAF’ partner in Ethio- to the humanitarian appeal response to those aff ected by carbon effi ciency per passenger Al-Meer, second right, along with other HIA off icials holding the ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation certificate. pia, which conducted a fi eld made by the Ethiopian govern- drought.

Gulf Times 6 Thursday, April 13, 2017 QATAR Ooredoo off ers GCC Coast Guard Week fi ve times more data to business begins at Corniche subscribers CC Coast Guard Week oredoo has launched As well as the fi ve times celebrations, organised a new data off er spe- data allowance for six months, Gby the General Direc- Ocifi cally for busi- businesses that purchase a torate of Coast and Border Se- nesses to cater to the growing new smartphone at the time curity, started yesterday at Al demand for connectivity and of subscribing to a Shahry or Bandar, the Doha Corniche, un- data across Qatar’s business Hala Business plan will also der the theme “Our aim is safety sector. enjoy up to 15GB free data. and security.” New or upgraded Hala Busi- “Making sure your busi- Coast Guard Week is cel- ness and Shahry subscriptions ness has the latest technology ebrated in order to spread and will receive fi ve times the is just as important as stay- raise maritime safety aware- plans data allowance for six ing connected, as devices are ness for sea-goers as well as to months. The off er is valid until becoming increasingly smart enhance mutual collaboration May 31, Ooredoo said. and can link to employee’s e- among Coasts Guards of the Designed to give business- mails, share large documents, GCC states. es in Qatar the best monthly make payments, display pres- At the inauguration, Staff communication bundles, entations, and more.” al-Ku- Brigadier (Navy) Ali Ahmad al- Ooredoo has a strong portfolio baisi added. Budaid, director general, Gen- of business plans with features Hala Business and Hala eral Directorate of Coast and such as bill control and inter- Business International plans Border Security, said the Coast national calling allowances, off er a range of key services, Guard Week celebrations were among others. including local and interna- a great opportunity to raise Ooredoo Qatar chief oper- tional call minutes, SMS, and awareness about marine safety ating offi cer Yousuf al-Ku- data. When these monthly procedures among the citizens Staff Brigadier Ali Ahmed al-Budaid cutting a ribbon to open GCC Coast Guard Week. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil baisi said: “As well as provid- allowances are used up, em- and residents. ing business packages for all ployees have the freedom to It would also help introduce assistant director general, Coast he said, is showcasing the ad- equipment are on display. They The miniature of “Munqif”, company needs across Qatar, top-up directly or subscribe to to the people the activities that and Border Security Directo- vanced and modern equipment included the model of new boat a double-engine, a 300hp, large or small, we decided additional services – with no are carried out by the security rate, said the event would help used by those involved while in “Makhbat”, the fi rst manufac- power boat is also shown at to help employees stay con- additional costs for the agencies to strengthen mari- the public understand the man- performing their duties. tured at the in-house facilities of the venue. The equipment on nected 24/7 with more data employer. time security and protect the datory procedures to be taken He urged citizens and resi- the General Directorate of Coast display include the aerial re- than ever at no extra cost. In Ooredoo’s Shahry Smart sea users and their lives. while venturing out in the sea. dents to visit the exhibition and and Border Security. connaissance unit of a group business being available or plans off er a fully post-paid The celebrations include an He said the tasks of the Gener- enjoy the associated activities. A model of “Qasar,” a double- of aircraft. offl ine can make a big diff er- mobile service, inclusive of exhibition with a host of edu- al Directorate of Coast and Bor- At the exhibition several mini- engine, 250hp power boat, used The exhibition also features a ence and we hope this gives local and international calls, cational and entertainment der Security are in the areas of atures of the boats used by the as a supply vessel for maritime set of mandatory equipment for our nation’s growing busi- messaging, high-speed mo- programmes. protection of the borders, search Coast Guards, some of which are patrols in addition to several oth- the sea-goers. The celebrations nesses and organisations a bile Internet access, and free Brigadier Jaber Ali al-Attiyah, and rescue. The exhibition, equipped with some of the latest er tasks is also showcased. will conclude on April 15. helping hand.” intracompany calls.

20% increase in bus ridership, Doha Bank says ministry Eff orts to improve public transport in Doha and the rest of Qatar resulted in a 20% increase in bus ridership in 2016, unveils home according to a statement by the Technical Aff airs Department at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC). The changes, made in close loan off er co-ordination with Mowasalat (Karwa), include route realignments, more frequent oha Bank has an- ties’ or houses and villas under Centrepoint occupies a retail space of 58,092sq ft on two levels. services on some routes, nounced the launch construction, while expatri- enhanced bus facilities, and Dof its new retail home ates and Qataris can benefi t improvements in public loan off er, which now fea- from leasehold and freehold transport information and tures a 3.99% interest rate for property purchases. ticketing. the fi rst year. It also includes Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R Improvements to existing bus 12-month payment holiday Seetharaman said: “Our cus- Centrepoint opens store services will continue through to customers with an option tomers’ needs are paramount 2017 with enhancements and to get up to QR20,000 to off - and we believe in launch- new services to and from Hamad set the early settlement fees ing products best suited and International Airport, changes when transferring a home geared towards their expecta- to the West Bay shuttle bus, loan from another bank to tions. Doha Bank recognises at Doha Festival City improved services between the Doha Bank. that the property market is Industrial Area and Al Ghanim The limited time off er an important element of the Station, and a new service to gives free fi re insurance for Qatar economy. entrepoint, Middle products and on-going deals garments. Centrepoint has The new store format has the Pearl and Lagoona Mall, the the fi rst year, free manage- “There has been over- East’s largest fashion in-store. There is also free Wi- identifi ed ease of check out as been developed by FITCH, one MoTC said in the statement. ment and mortgage fees, all stabilisation of the real Cretailer, has heralded Fi in the store for customers. being a major factor in the in- of the world’s leading retail and In the medium term, the ministry free mortgage saver account, estate market this year, the future of its retail stores Service is a key element of store experience and the pilot brand consultancy fi rms. has commissioned a number of which pays 1.25% per annum particularly in retail mort- with the opening of its re-de- the new store, with attention store provides mobile POS in The new Centrepoint store new planning and design studies interest rate up to QR2mn, gage properties, and much signed concept format at Doha paid to the inclusion of greet- key areas in-store for custom- is on the Ground and First level to improve public transport in and free for life VISA Infi nite of this can be attributed to Festival City. ers at the store front and an ers to shop instantly without of Doha Festival City, near the Qatar over the next five years. or Platinum credit card. The current and future spend- The new store is described increase in Arab speaking as- waiting in the queue. South West parking. A full- These include the bank will provide loans of ing on infrastructure works, as one of the cornerstones of sistants, and digital navigation “Centrepoint’s new store range of the brand’s Spring development of a new bus up to 70% of property value and reinvigorated real estate the shopping mall with a retail consoles to guide customers to design is part of our vision to Summer 2017 collection is be- network plan to introduce a for Qataris and expats, with development in Qatar.” space of 58,092sq ft on two lev- various sections of the store. bring shoppers in the region ing showcased in-store. The range of new city services and mortgage repayment periods Doha Bank head of retail els making it the fourth-largest Interactive iPads are avail- the best-in-class retail experi- move marks the opening of routes, as well as new feeder of up to 20 years. Gul Khan added: “The process retail off ering in Doha Festival able to allow Shukran card ence. Our store in Doha Festival Centrepoint’s sixth store in Qa- routes into the Doha Metro, the The updated home loan of- for applying is easy and fast City. members to easily assess the City is a step towards a format tar and the brand is scheduled design of 18 new bus stations, fering features four product and is expedient for anyone The fl agship store houses status of their points. Fitting for future success and is part of to open one more store in the depots, park and ride sites, and variants for discerning indi- searching equally for a great a café near the future Kids’ rooms are equipped with bells a dynamic process towards in- country in 2017. development of an Internet viduals and families. Qatari off er and a great service of- Entertainment area. Interac- to provide immediate assist- creasing customer satisfaction Doha Festival City is strate- portal and mobile applications customers can obtain housing fered by all our housing loan tive tablets placed in the store ance to customers in identi- and driving sales,” said Simon gically located in the Umm Slal for journey planning, the MoTC loans for ‘ready to sell proper- agents.” prompt customers on star fying the right size and fi t of Cooper, head of Centrepoint. Mohammed area of Doha. said. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 7 QATAR Roots cultural festival to showcase the best of Latin America in Doha

he Cultural Village Founda- d’ aff aires Fatima Majzoub El-Majzoub ences attending the festival are guar- tion-Katara is gearing up for and Katara general manager Dr Khalid anteed a ring-side view, as the his- Tthe inauguration of the ‘Roots’ bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti were present. tory and civilisation of these ancient festival, an event that will showcase Dr al-Sulaiti described that the countries are presented through a wide 12 Latin American and Caribbean ‘Roots’ festival comes ‘in line with array of musical performances and ex- cultures through a host of music and Katara’s eff orts to open windows to hibitions. dance performances and exhibitions. diverse cultures, shedding light on the The exhibition will be staged in The event is to be held from April 18 rich traditions and history of countries building 19, and will run until the April to 22, it was announced yesterday at a from across the world.’ 29, starting from 10am until 10pm. A press conference attended by diplo- An array of performers from the kaleidoscope of music and dance by mats of the participating countries. participating countries are set to bring Ecuadorian artists will be the key at- Ecuador’s ambassador Kabalan Abi the sights and sounds of Latin America traction at the inauguration of the Saab, Brazil’s deputy head of mission to Qatar during the fi ve-day event, festival. The second day of the festival Joao Belloc, Costa Rican ambassador which according to Dr al-Sulaiti will will see breathtaking performances by Luis Alberto Guillen Downing, Ar- showcase the best of Latin American musicians and dancers from the Re- gentine ambassador Rossana Surballe, dance, music and photography, to the public of Venezuela at 7.30pm. This Cuban ambassador Eumelio Cabal- residents of Qatar. will be followed by the Argentinian lero Rodriguez, El Salvador’s charge “We are confi dent that this lively performance at 8.15pm. d’ aff aires Giannina Maria Panameno and colourful festival will contrib- On April 20, artistes from Mexico Suazrez, Mexican ambassador Fran- ute in achieving the desired goals and will perform and April 21 will see Para- cisco Javier Niembro Cibrian, Pana- enhance the channels of communica- guay take centre stage. The conclusion ma’s charge d’aff aires Oreste Del Rio tion between people from all walks of of the festival will see performances by Sandoval, Paraguay’s ambassador life, while developing in each person a Peru and Cuba. Angel Barchini, Peru’s deputy chief of deeper understanding and apprecia- Organisers have pointed out that all mission Ruben Espinoza Raymondi, tion of the diff erent art forms related the performances will begin at 7.30pm Uruguay’s ambassador Jorge Antonio to Latin America and the Caribbean.” on the dates specifi ed and will be Seré Sturzenegger,Venezuela’s charge He further pointed out that audi- staged in Katara’s Drama Theatre.

Diplomats from the Latin American and Caribbean countries with Katara’s Dr al-Sulaiti yesterday after announcing the festival. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, April 13, 2017 QATAR

Pearl-diving competition kicks off at Katara today

urtains go up today on the sixth edition of the Senyar CChampionship, a pearl- diving and fi shing competition, at Katara - the Cultural Village Foundation. The competition, to be held on the Katara beachfront, is scheduled to run until April 22. The annual marine competi- tion, which is in its sixth edition, stems from “Katara’s eff orts to preserve the authentic Qatari culture and heritage, especially the values and practices associ- ated with the lives of Qatari pearl divers and fi sherfolk unique to the region by providing a platform to display their skills”, Katara said in a press statement. The champi- onship attracted some 1,100 par- ticipants for the pearl-diving and fi shing competition. The opening of the pearl-diving competition will see traditional dhows featuring 11 teams set out from Katara’s beach at 3:30pm today. The teams on these dhows will compete against each other over the next three days, starting Sheikh Nawaf Nasser al-Thani inaugurates the AMG centre in the presence of a number of dignitaries. PICTURES: Ram Chand from tomorrow until April 15. A grand closing ceremony, Al-Gaff al, to be held at the Ka- tara beach on April 22, will bring an end to the sixth edition of the festival “that has come to em- body the best of Qatar’s maritime heritage”, the statement notes. Awards will be distributed among NBK Automobiles launches the contestants at the ceremony. This year’s pearl-diving com- petition is being led by Pearl- Diving Leader Abdulah Jassim al-Tamimi, as he was awarded the fi rst position in the competition at the previous championship. AMG Performance Centre Likewise, the hand-line fi sh- ing team will be led by Lead By Joseph Varghese Sha’aban, said, “We are pleased to product portfolio which meets its cus- Fisherman Mohamed Jawher al- Staff Reporter inaugurate the new Mercedes-AMG tomers’ every wish. Sulaiti, who was placed fi rst in Performance Centre at our showroom Mercedes AMG has overall responsi- the hand-line fi shing competi- which comes within our continuous bility for developing the design, aero- tion last year. asser Bin Khaled (NBK) Auto- development plans. dynamics, interior as well as the pow- mobiles, the authorised general “We are happy to strengthen our ertrain, engine, suspension, brakes and Ndistributor of Mercedes-Benz ties with Mercedes-Benz and launch electronics — right up to granting fi nal Education fair in Qatar, has inaugurated the dedicated this dedicated state-of-the-art cen- approval for production of the complete Mercedes-AMG Performance Centre in tre equipped with latest technology, to AMG vehicle. woos students its showroom at Salwa Road. demonstrate the specs and features of The image of Mercedes-AMG as the to Malaysia The new facility was inaugurated by Mercedes-AMG cars, and provide high successful performance brand of Mer- Sheikh Nawaf Nasser al-Thani, chair- standards of customer service”. cedes-Benz is refl ected in its impressive man of Nasser Bin Khaled. “The new Mercedes-AMG Perform- successes in the world of motorsport he Education Malaysia Fair The ceremony was attended by Kha- ance Centre refl ects the core values of and its unique vehicles. will be held tomorrow and led Sha’aban, NBK Automobiles gen- the brand in terms of high performance, The Mercedes-AMG brand promise TSaturday at the Malaysia eral manager, Dennis Obermeier, AMG aggressive design, and unlimited power. of “Driving Performance” stands for Trade Center at the Gate Mall senior executive, Mercedes-Benz Cars “It will off er the customers more state-of-the-art technology and pure (Salam). The main purpose of Middle East FZE and other guests. choices to add their personal touches on driving excitement. the exhibition is to provide stu- Extended on an area of 550sq m, the their cars to refl ect their own ambition The AMG design language stylisti- dents from Qatar with ‘extensive new AMG Performance Centre was and style.” cally emphasises the car’s high level of information on diverse and qual- renovated, refurbished, re-designed AMG embodies automotive high driving dynamics. ity educational opportunities’ in according to the latest updated AMG A Mercedes-AMG car showcased in the new AMG Performance Centre. performance, exclusivity and dynamic It integrates technical requirements Malaysia. The event is organised global retail guidelines. driving pleasure. The Mercedes AMG such as wider wheel arches and other mo- by MY Aspiration (Malaysia) and It can host up to eight Mercedes- tures and high performance of Mer- of the Mercedes-AMG cars, in terms of specialises in unique, high-perform- torsport features into a total work of art. Oyoon Al Doha (Qatar). AMG cars, with special customer serv- cedes-AMG cars. engine, technology, interior and exterior ance vehicles; its sporty saloons, SUVs, The technology of AMG high-per- The Education Malaysia Fair ice, state-of-the-art technology, and Customers of AMG can have a better designs.The centre will also have a luxury coupés, cabriolets, roadsters and spe- formance automobiles fundamentally will bring together reputable large LED screens that show the fea- understanding on the distinctive features lounge that off ers clients the best services. cially built one-off models constitute a diff ers from other cars. Malaysian universities such as Curtin University Malaysia, In- frastructure University Kuala Lumpur, First City University College, INTI International Uni- versity and Colleges, Multimedia Qatar Airways chefs get creative for Thai, Lankan New Year celebrations University, Sunway University and University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. atar Airways has announced fer a selection of dishes in celebration feature dishes such as fi sh ambulthiyal Malaysia is currently ranked it is celebrating the Thai and of the Thai New Year tomorrow and on with pol roti, kiribath, spicy potato, the world’s 12th most preferred QSri Lankan new year on select Saturday. The menu will feature some lunu miris and sambol for breakfast study destination by Unesco, and fl ights and in the Al Safwa First Class of Thailand’s famous dishes such as services, and Sri Lankan devilled chick- number one in the Top 10 Most and Al Mourjan Business lounges. tom yum soup, som tum, beef skew- en with vegetable fried rice, dhal curry, Aff ordable Cities for Students in The Thai New Year will be celebrated ers, vermicelli prawns, satay gai and spicy potatoes with bibikkan dessert, 2017 (QS Best Student Cities). today and tomorrow on select inbound more. Dessert options will include co- served for lunch/dinner, in addition to There are 151,979 international fl ights from Bangkok, Krabi and Phuket, conut and jaggery pancake with banana traditional sweets. students from 160 countries cur- in both premium and economy cabins. smoothie and mango nigiri with pan- Today, the lounges will off er a variety rently pursuing their studies in The menus for Thailand fl ights will dan-fl avoured coconut cream. of dishes such as mulligatawny soup, international schools, colleges, contain a specially selected main course The Thai New Year menu. Al Mourjan Business Class lounge The Sri Lankan New Year menu. fi sh cutlets, cashew maluwa and a se- universities, language centres and one dessert — both prepared by Qa- will also off er a wide variety of dishes, lection of Sri Lankan sweets. and training institutes in Malay- tar Airways’ top chefs. rice, stir-fried vegetables and tom yam such as tom yum, pad Thai, beef stir fry outbound Colombo fl ights in business All dishes are freshly prepared every sia. From this, 40,000 are from The menu will feature traditional Thai sauce, mango with sticky rice and pandan and basil fried rice. and economy cabins as well as in the Al day, giving passengers a taste of their the Middle East and North Africa dishes such as grilled prawns marinated coconut sauce, as well as a traditional sweet. The Sri Lankan New Year will be cele- Safwa and Al Mourjan lounges. favourite destinations, the statement countries including expatriates in garlic and coriander with tom yam fried Al Safwa First Class lounge will of- brated tomorrow on board inbound and The Sri Lankan in-fl ight menus will notes. and Qatari students from Qatar. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 9 QATAR ‘Screenwriting Lab’ sessions to focus on script

development Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and other dignitaries with community members. he Doha Film Institute (DFI) develop their ideas into interesting scene-by-scene breakdown and has opened submissions for and compelling content. extended treatment – will be re- Tfi lmmakers and screenwrit- The lab provides practical expe- viewed. It will be followed by ers to take part in its ‘Hezayah rience for emerging screenwriters feedback from the mentor, and Screenwriting Lab,’ organised in and writer-directors to examine guidance on how to revisit the Pakistan offi cial highlights collaboration with the renowned and explore their creativity and character and theme, and further TorinoFilmLab. personal voice while developing exploring the structural dimen- Hezayah, which aims to nurture and writing an original feature- sion including plot and resolution. fi lm talent with a focus on script length screenplay. In the third session, the pitch and development, enables participants Participants are encouraged premise will be further developed the importance of CPEC to broaden their industry relation- to develop personal stories that followed by the fi nal session where ships while fi nding their unique come from the heart and that re- the fi rst draft will be analysed and personal voice as fi lm writers. Sub- fl ect contemporary life in the Gulf the next steps in fi lmmaking will be akistan National Assem- diplomacy certainly plays the domain of history, culture in the discharge of his respon- missions are due on April 19. region, and are expected to reach discussed. It will conclude with a bly Speaker Sardar Ayaz an important role in bring- and civilisation as bedrocks for sibilities. Applications are now open for key milestones as they build and pitch session with an external panel. PSadiq has said there is a ing the countries closer and regional integration. Anwar’s father and visiting participants from Qatar and the develop their screenplays. Swedish screenwriter Baum- great potential for developed efforts are made to benefit Sadiq also said that on the Pakistani scholar Mohamed region, who will be mentored by “It is a truly transformative ex- garten is a member of the Swedish economies to join the China- from other’s experiences in advice of Prime Minister Na- Latif Mirza spoke on the occa- experts from TorinoFilmLab. perience for participants as they Drama Union and the European Pakistan Economic Corridor legislation as well as regional waz Sharif, he is making ef- sion by referring to historical In a statement, DFI said Heza- can discuss their projects with Film Academy. Since 2007, she has (CPEC) initiative. integration. forts towards developing unity perspective of Pakistan Day on yah will have four sessions of four script professionals, and develop been connected as a script con- Addressing a gather- He added that consistent among the regional and Mus- March 23. days each this year, which runs compelling stories that will make sultant with TorinoFilmLab, Bin- ing of Pakistani commu- parliamentary engagements lim countries which would be Concluding the event, over a period of six months. for powerful fi lms,” DFI CEO Fat- ger Film Lab and the Venice Bien- nity members in Doha re- are highly imperative for facili- a key factor for achieving sus- PMLN Welfare-Qatar presi- The fi rst workshop will be held ma al-Remaihi said. nale College Microbudget Lab. cently, he said that in the tating diversifi cation of trade tainable growth. dent Rashid Rafi q Butt thanked from May 6 to 9, followed by ses- The mentors of the four ses- Le Bos is a French screenwriter past, the country missed and economic relations. Earlier, welcoming the chief Sadiq and said there is full co- sions from August 24 to 27, Octo- sions are Marietta von Hausswolff and script consultant. After writ- several chances of devel- He reiterated the need to guest, the host of the event, hesion among the Pakistani ber 26 to 29, and January 11 to 14, von Baumgarten and Antoine Le ing and directing award-winning opment but now there is a exploit the economic comple- Mohamed Idrees Anwar, laud- community in Qatar irrespec- 2018. Bos. Each session will include in- short fi lms and on-stage experi- golden opportunity of de- mentarities among countries ed Sadiq’s wisdom, diligence, tive of their political, ethnic or Applicants will be selected troduction and pitching of ideas ments, he co-wrote the 3D ani- velopment in the form of by utilising their affi nities in professionalism and humility social background. based on the strength of their followed by input and feedback mated series Ratz, and worked in CPEC which would emerge script idea, writing ability, vision from other participants and the cinema with various directors. as a linchpin in facilitating and approach and previous works. mentors, and will lead to character Since 2007, he has been a tutor and connectivity between the Short-listed candidates will go and theme development. script consultant for TorinoFilm- south, central and western through a selection process to as- In the second session, the re- Lab, as well as for NFDC in India, Asian regions respectively. sess their potential to expand and vised materials – including fi rst among others. Sadiq said parliamentary

Jeweller launches festival promotion

eading jeweller Joy- an auspi- gold rate protection guaran- alukkas has an- cious day,” tee on off er for the duration Lnounced that it is the jewel- of the promotion. “At just marking this festive season ler said in 10% advance booking, cus- with special off ers. a state- tomers are assured to get This festive season is a ment. their gold at the lowest rate “beloved festival” among Across till May 6,” the jeweller said. many Indian nationals and 130 showrooms in 13 coun- John Paul Alukkas, ex- several of those celebrat- tries, customers can choose ecutive director of Joyaluk- ing it follow the tradition of from gold, diamond, polki kas Group, said: “This fes- buying gold and jewellery to and pearl jewellery spe- tive season is a festival with usher in prosperity for the cially created for the festive a beautiful message about year to come. “It is among season celebration. Besides acting now, doing good now the top dates in a jewellery special rates on jewellery to reap an abundance of re- retail chain’s calendar and sets, customers can also wards in the future. Joyalukkas celebrates it eve- enjoy a free gold coin of “This is a philosophy ech- ry year with big giveaways, a up to 2gm on purchase of oed in Joyalukkas Group’s dazzling new collection and jewellery, as well as 0% de- activities, and as a result we special off ers befi tting such duction on gold exchange. tend to celebrate the festive A limited-edition quarter season in a big way, with gram gold coin will also new collections, giveaways be given away for free on and off ers to delight our loy- purchase of gold jewellery al customers.” worth QR3,000 or more Off ers for the ‘Festive on April 28, the statement Season Gold Luck ‘at Joy- said. alukkas are available until Buyers can also avail of the May 6.

Mercedes S Class 2015 model recalled The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collabora- tion with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz S Class 2015 model because electric power steering control units may have faulty contact. The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car deal- ers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. The MEC will co- ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @ MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Gulf Times 10 Thursday, April 13, 2017 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD

‘Packing smart’ with Skyline Auto to showcase Emirates’ Urban Travellers collection

ith summer travel collection aims to “accommo- Hyundai’s hybrid tech around the corner, date almost every packing es- WEmirates Offi cial sential”, the statement noted. kyline Automotive, the future demands. Our carefully Store, the home of Emirates The range “includes every- offi cial distribution part- chosen range really embodies Collectibles, is off ering tips thing” – from the ‘My Health Sner of the Hyundai Motor this, and includes hybrid tech- to ‘travel smarter’ with its re- Bag’ to ways of keeping vi- Company in Qatar, is set to make nology that we are very excited cently updated Urban Travel- tamins and medications safe its debut at this year’s Qatar Mo- to be bringing to Qatar. lers Collection. and easily accessible and the tor Show (QMS) by showcasing “We have taken a long-term Travellers can fi nd ‘My Extra Bag’, which expands ‘an impressive selection of styl- view towards building our some space-saving pack- to off er an additional luggage ish, effi cient, technologically business and growing the Hy- ing tips at https://www. for extra holiday souvenirs and advanced vehicles.’ undai brand in Qatar and we are youtube.com/watch?v=T_ shopping. The business will present committed to the country for v7BOZTWyk&feature=youtu. All Emirates merchandise, nine cars, including several years to come. This view has be so that they do not have to including the Urban Travellers award-winning vehicles in a shaped the strategic decisions leave anything behind. Collection, can be purchased range of sizes. Reflecting the we have made to grow the busi- The “lightweight and trav- online at emirates.store and theme of the show – ‘Driv- ness, including soon occupy- el-friendly” Urban Travellers shipped for a fl at rate of $7 in ing to Innovation’ – Skyline ing a new site in the Um Alhoul set is available to ship around the UAE or $25 worldwide. Automotive will be presenting special economic zone for our the globe, the airline has said Emirates merchandise can Hyundai’s latest hybrid tech- warehousing needs.” in a press statement. also be purchased across the nology, amongst the most fuel- Coinciding with the QMS, The Urban Travellers range 10 Emirates Offi cial Stores efficient on the market, which Skyline Automotive is also of- makes upcoming holiday across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. ‘combines uncompromising ficially launching this month packing “more organised and Emirates Skywards mem- design and driving experience its comprehensive customer- effi cient”. Comprising dif- bers receive a 10% discount with the latest in safety and relationship management sys- ferent pouches in a variety of on their purchases both online convenience technologies.’ tem, “set to offer a level of per- sizes, styles and colours, the and in stores. The business’ presence at the sonal care and attention that QMS adds further momentum has not been available to the to the progress it has achieved brand’s enthusiasts in Qatar after launching late last year. previously.” NU-Q dean elected to American Academy Since then it has made signifi- Skyline Automotive will be cant investments in developing located at stand D at the QMS, Dr Everette E Dennis (pictured), James P Al- a range of sales and after-sales running from April 18 to 22 at dean and CEO of Northwestern lison, and writer facilities and shaping an indus- Hyundai’s Ioniq Hybrid. the Doha Exhibition and Con- University in Qatar (NU-Q) Chimamanda try-leading customer service vention Centre from 4pm to was elected to the American Ngozi Adichie. experience. Paiman El Malla, general man- selected our models to meet on our customers, both in 10pm, Tuesday through Thurs- Academy of Arts and Sciences Dennis has Commenting on the busi- ager of Skyline Automotive in individual expectations. As a terms of meeting their exist- day, and 1pm to 10pm on Friday yesterday. Joining Dennis written or edited ness’ activity at the QMS, Qatar said: “We have carefully business, we’re laser-focused ing needs but also anticipating and Saturday. among the election of the 228 some 45 books new members are some of the that have been translated into world’s most accomplished 10 languages, as well more scholars, scientists, writers, than 200 articles, essays and artists, as well as civic, business monographs about global and philanthropic leaders. media, media industries, media 157 Emiratis graduate from Etihad programme They include winners of the law, and management. Pulitzer Prize and the Wolf At Northwestern’s home Prize; MacArthur Fellows; Fields campus, he is a professor in the tihad’s team at Abu Dhabi Inter- Medalists; Presidential Medal of Medill School of Journalism and national Airport has welcomed 157 Freedom and National Medal of is cross appointed in the School EEmirati nationals from across the Arts recipients; and Academy of Communication. UAE, after they graduated from the Etihad Award, Grammy Award, Emmy He has taught at five universi- UAE National Development Foundation Award, and Tony Award win- ties and was the founding Programme. ners. In addition to Dennis, president of the American Women make up 107 of the graduates. the 237th class of members Academy in Berlin and found- Within the group, 96 were trainees with includes philanthropist and ing executive director of Etihad Airport Services (EAS) and 61 singer-songwriter John Legend, the Media Studies Centre at trained under the programme for Guest award-winning actress Carol Columbia University. His PhD Services Agents. Burnett, chairman of the board is from the University of Min- Over the past year, the graduates have of Xerox Corporation Ursula nesota, his MA from Syracuse been guided through key aspects of air- Burns, mathematician Maryam University, and his BS from the port operations in areas such as cargo, Mirzakhani, immunologist University of Oregon. catering, the English language, business communication, computer skills, ground handling and guest services. The newly-qualifi ed staff members CONFLICT were presented with graduation certifi - 18 fighters killed in Yemen clashes cates during a special ceremony held at Etihad Airways Training Academy in Abu Intensified confrontations between government forces and Houthi Dhabi in the presence of Etihad Aviation rebels on Yemen’s southwestern coast have killed 18 fighters in the past Group (EAG) board member Mohamed 24 hours, military off icials and medical sources said yesterday. Hareb Sultan al-Yousef. Clashes have raged as government forces, backed by warplanes from a Chris Youlten, managing director Off icials and staff with graduates from Etihad’s UAE National Development Foundation Programme. coalition, push to seize rebel positions east of the government-held Red of Etihad Airport Services, said: “This Sea town of Mokha, military sources said. Fifteen insurgents have been foundation programme is a central part said: “We are so proud of the newly-qual- growing hub in Abu Dhabi.” and Alan Wright, senior manager, Cargo killed in clashes and coalition air strikes in the past 24 hours, a medical of our strategy to recruit and create op- ifi ed Emirati staff . These are people who Other EAG staff members present in- Operations. source in the rebel-controlled port city of Hodeida said. Three soldiers portunities for Emirati talent, in line with might not otherwise have had this type of cluded Amani al-Hashmi, head of UAE Two of the graduates – Mariam Ahmed died in the battles, according to military and medical sources in Aden, the long-term vision of Etihad Aviation opportunity – and in return – they have National Development, Emiratisation; Ameri and Abeer Masoud Abdalla Alnaq- the temporary base of the government as the capital Sanaa remains Group and our home of Abu Dhabi.” overcome personal challenges and truly Jamal Eidha Mubarak Alameri, sen- bi – were recognised for their exemplary under rebel control. Forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi Khaled Almehairbi, senior vice-pres- shone. They are being immediately de- ior manager, Ground Operations; Paul commitment and dedication and received captured Mokha in February as part of a major ongoing off ensive that ident – Etihad Airport Services Ground, ployed to operational roles to support our Haines, general manager, EAS Catering star performer awards. aims to drive rebels from the lengthy Red Sea coastline.

Ahmadinejad registers US, Russia still far apart as Syria haunts talks for presidential election AFP ExxonMobil, but he pulled no ian attack. “You can say that Moscow punches on his first visit as the level of trust on a working Reuters say in Iran’s clerical establish- secretary of state. level, especially on the mili- London ment, said in September that He restated the US beliefs tary side, has not improved Ahmadinejad’s candidacy could ussia’s President that Russian hackers and but most likely worsened,” he create division in the country Vladimir Putin hosted propagandists interfered in said. ran’s hardline ex-president and harm the nation. RUS Secretary of State Rex the US vote and that Assad’s “Where is the proof that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad, who had a rift Tillerson at the Kremlin yester- forces were behind the latest Syrian troops used chemical Isubmitted his name yester- with Khamenei in his fi nal years day but the rival powers failed to chemical weapons attack. weapons? There isn’t any. But day for registration as a candi- of offi ce, announced in a pub- bridge a deep gap of trust. He did play down sugges- there was a violation of inter- date for May’s presidential elec- lic statement in October that he In the wake of the meeting tions from some US officials national law. That is an obvi- tion, defying the wishes of the would abide by the order and Russia then vetoed a US-backed that Russian forces could have ous fact.” country’s religious leadership. would not run. resolution at the UN demand- been complicit in last week’s Tillerson had said he would Although the move, reported However, he named one of his ing the Syrian government co- slaughter of 87 civilians in the challenge Russia to distance by state media, was seen as an main allies and former deputy operate with an investigation town of Khan Sheikhun. itself from Assad and his Ira- attempt by Ahmadinejad to bol- Hamid Baghaei as a candidate. of a suspected chemical attack But he was firm that only nian backers, an idea that the ster the candidacy of an ally, it Ahmadinejad accompanied that the West blames on Mos- Assad’s forces could have Kremlin dismissed as “ab- was also a challenge to the au- Baghaei to the interior ministry cow’s ally Bashar al-Assad. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex carried out such a strike and surd”. thority of Iran’s Supreme Leader yesterday for registration. US president Donald Trump’s Tillerson stand up to leave after a news conference following their insisted that Russia must do And — even as Tillerson, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who By putting his name forward, White House victory had raised talks in Moscow, yesterday. more to help strip the regime Putin and Lavrov discussed had warned him not to run. analysts say Ahmadinejad is hopes in Moscow that some of its chemical arsenal. their differences in Mos- Registration for the May 19 trying to make any disqualifi - kind of rapprochement was expressed that the current state ing the capitals’ shared vision of Lavrov parried the accu- cow — a fresh storm broke at election started on Monday and cation of Baghaei costly for the possible between the former is at a low point,” the US envoy an “uncompromising” war on sations, noting that Moscow the United Nations Security will last fi ve days, after which Guardian Council. The powerful Cold War foes. and former oil executive told terrorism. wants UN weapons investiga- Council in New York. entrants will be screened for election vetting body is close to Trump had spoken warmly reporters. And he said that Russia was tors to probe not only Khan Russia vetoed a resolution their political and religious Khamenei as he appoints half of of Russia on the campaign trail, “There is a low level of trust open to restoring a “deconfl ic- Sheikhun but also the Syrian tabled by the US, Britain and qualifi cations by a vetting body, its members. Mehr news agency but since he came to offi ce in between our two countries. The tion” hotline to enable US and air base that US missiles hit in France tabled on the alleged the Guardian Council. quoted Ahmadinejad as saying January ties have chilled and the world’s two foremost nuclear Russian military commanders response. chemical attack in Syria. President Hassan Rouhani, a that he registered as a candidate fallout from the alleged chemi- powers cannot have this kind of to avoid accidental clashes over And he declared that many It was the eighth time that moderate who engineered Iran’s “only to support Baghaei.” cal weapons attack in Syria relationship,” he warned. Syria.But neither side cited of the divisions between Russia has used its veto power 2015 nuclear deal with world Ahmadinejad was also quoted threw them into crisis. Lavrov had begun the day much in the way of concrete Moscow and Washington at the UN Security Council to powers that secured a removal of as saying by ILNA news agency Trump envoy Tillerson’s with the more combative tone, new avenues of co-operation, were the result of “time- block action directed at its ally international fi nancial and trade that “the Supreme Leader ad- talks with Putin and Foreign but at the pair’s joint news con- beyond establishing a working bombs” left behind by former in Damascus. sanctions against Tehran, is ex- vised me not to run. Minister Sergei Lavrov have ference it was he who stressed group to address what Tiller- president Barack Obama’s Putin meanwhile accused pected to seek re-election but As a candidate I accepted his been haunted by the incident the areas where closer co-oper- son called “smaller issues.” administration.“We are real- Assad’s opponents of planning faces a stiff challenge from con- guidance, although it was not an that saw the US launch punitive ation remains possible. The news conference was istic and understand the need to stage chemical attacks to be servatives who oppose the deal. order... I am still committed to strike against Assad’s forces. “Despite the quantity of dominated by points of con- to overcome these obstacles blamed on Damascus in order Ahmadinejad, who frequently my moral promise.” While con- On the alleged attack, and existing problems...there are tention, chiefly Moscow’s we have to make efforts. to lure the United States deep- enraged the West with his rheto- servatives are worried that Ah- issues like Russian interven- considerable prospects for joint deep aversion to US inter- And we seek to do that,” the er into the conflict. ric during his eight years in of- madinejad or Baghaei’s presence tion in Ukraine and alleged in- work,” Lavrov said, after he took ventionism and Washington’s veteran diplomat said. In a sign the Kremlin is not fi ce, wanted to challenge Rou- might split their votes, allies terference in the US election, Tillerson for private talks with disgust at the carnage in Syria Putin, in a television inter- ready to drop Assad, Syria’s hani’s bid for a second term, but of Rouhani are also concerned the viewpoints of Moscow and Putin. and Ukraine. view ahead of the talks, was foreign minister will jet in to Khamenei warned him last year about the attractiveness of pop- Washington remained far apart. “Russia is open to this, open Tillerson was once a familiar more blunt about the new chill Moscow to meet Lavrov today not to nominate himself. ulist candidates with nationalist “We frankly discussed the to dialogue with the US in all and friendly face in Moscow as in ties, and firmly rejected before a three-way meeting Khamenei, who has the fi nal anti-establishment slogans. state of US-Russian relations. I diff erent areas,” he insisted, cit- the chief executive of oil giant Washington’s view of the Syr- with Iran tomorrow. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 11 ARAB WORLD Egypt church curtails Easter Aoun blocks extension celebrations after bombings of parliament’s term Reuters Beirut AFP The Islamic State group said Cairo it was behind the bombings at churches in the cities of Tanta ebanese President Michel and Alexandria, and threat- Aoun suspended a par- gypt’s Coptic Church ened further attacks against Lliamentary session for a announced yesterday Egypt’s Christian minority. month yesterday, temporarily Ethat it would cut back The government ordered a blocking proposed plans to ex- Easter celebrations to a sim- three-month state of emer- tend parliament’s term for the ple mass after twin bomb- gency which was unani- third time in a row since 2013. ings killed 45 worshippers last mously approved by parlia- Parliament was expected to weekend. ment on Tuesday. vote today to extend its own “Given the current circum- Sunday’s first bombing mandate again until 2018 with- stances and our solidarity at the Mar Girgis church in out an election, officials said. with the families of the dead, Tanta, north of Cairo, killed Current lawmakers were we are going to limit our cel- 28 people. elected in 2009 for what was ebrations to Easter mass,” a The second struck out- meant to be four-year terms. statement said. side Saint Mark’s church in Activists had called for pro- The traditional handing out Alexandria, killing 17 people tests against the extension, of sweets to children by Coptic after a suicide bomber was which they decried as a blow to Pope Tawadros II before the prevented from entering the democracy. start of Easter mass on Sunday building. The two previous extensions will also be cancelled. Pope Tawadros II had led triggered massive protests in “There will be no deco- a Palm Sunday service in the central Beirut. rations in churches and the church shortly before. In a televised address to the rooms normally reserved for The violence comes ahead nation, Aoun said the delay the reception of worshippers of Catholic Pope Francis’ would give politicians more wishing to exchange season’s first visit to Egypt, which a time to agree on a new electoral greetings will remain closed,” Vatican official said will go law and help protect the Leba- an offi cial at the Coptic patri- ahead as planned on April 28 nese people’s right to vote. archate said. and 29 despite the attacks. “To allow for more com- munication between all the parties...I have decided to postpone the parliamentary session for one month based on article 59 of the Lebanese con- Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun meets with Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, yesterday. Lawmaker held over stitution,” Aoun said. Lebanon’s main political rejected holding parliamentary do not fairly represent the sec- The government has long presidential vacuum in a po- parties have been unable to elections based on the exist- tarian political preferences of struggled to make basic deci- litical deal that secured vic- Hamas ‘activities’ agree on a new electoral law for ing system, a sectarian-based their supporters. sions and institutional paraly- tory for his Lebanese Shia ally years. electoral law that dates back to Christian lawmakers have sis often plagues parliament. Hezbollah, Iran and Syria. Parliament has already ex- 1960. been the most vocal in de- Critics and activists accuse Aoun become head of state AFP Israel, he has recently lived in tended its own mandate twice The next round of elections manding a new law. Lebanese politicians of using in a power-sharing deal that Jerusalem Ramallah in the occupied West since 2013, a move that critics had previously been scheduled Lebanese politics have long regional upheaval as an excuse saw Saad al-Hariri, Lebanon’s Bank. including the European Union for May. been dogged by sectarian divi- to dodge elections. leading politician, appointed His arrest brings to 13 the have condemned as unconsti- Some politicians say the law sions, with the war in neigh- Parliament elected former premier in a unity cabinet in- srael has arrested a Pales- number of Palestinian parlia- tutional. divides up the country’s popu- bouring Syria exacerbating army commander Aoun in cluding nearly all Lebanon’s tinian lawmaker over Ha- ment members detained by Most political parties have lation into constituencies that party rivalries. October, ending a 29-month main parties. Imas “activities,” an NGO Israel.The parliament, or Pal- and offi cials said yesterday, estinian Legislative Council, bringing to 13 the number of includes 132 members, though Palestinian deputies detained it has not sat since 2007, when by the Jewish state. Hamas and the Palestinian Ahmed Atoun, a Palestin- Authority clashed in a near- Mosul zoo’s last two animals reach safer ground in Jordan ian lawmaker from Jerusalem civil war over control of the since 1996 affi liated with Ha- Gaza Strip. mas, was arrested at dawn, Hamas won polls in 2006, Reuters according to the Palestinian eventually sparking the con- Amman Prisoners Club NGO. fl ict that led to the group’s Banned from Jerusalem by control of the strip. he last two surviving animals from Mosul’s dilapidated zoo arrived this Tweek at an animal shelter in Jordan, after months of malnutrition and a long journey out of Iraq that included being Clashes end at camp stuck at the border for 12 days. Simba the lion and Lola the bear lived in a once-peaceful animal park that has been after security deployed destroyed by months of fi ghting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants. The park, located in Eastern Mosul, was Reuters outskirts of the southern Leb- retaken by Iraqi forces earlier this year. Ain El-Hilweh, Lebanon anese city of Sidon have killed Neighbours fed Simba and Lola until seven people. the fi ghting became too fi erce. The violence began on Fri- They said a shell once hit the park, Palestinian security day when the joint Palestinian sending hungry monkeys out of their en- force deployed into an security force sought to de- closures. Aarea of a refugee camp ploy throughout the camp and Other animals were killed, died of star- Lola the bear, one of two surviving animals in Mosul’s zoo, along with Simba the lion (right), is seen at an enclosure in the shelter after in southern Lebanon where it met resistance from the Badr vation or escaped. arriving to an animal rehabilitation shelter in Jordan, yesterday. had been battling militants, group.The joint security force Amir Khalil, a vet from animal charity ending six days of lethal clash- comprises the main Palestin- Four Paws who saw the animals in Mosul joint problems and eye infl ammation in weight. Physically, they are doing better,” The two animals will go through a reha- es yesterday, a Reuters witness ian factions including Fatah, in February and organised their transfer the lion and diarrhoea and bad teeth in the Khalil said. Back in Jordan, Lola hesitated bilitation programme that involves hand- said. led by the West Bank-based to Jordan, said the animals were in a dire bear. to come out of her travel crate until she feeding them through the fence before be- The clashes at Ain el- Palestinian President Mah- state. “They were on the brink of death. Now spotted a green apple — a sure sign of bet- ing transferred to larger enclosures when Hilweh refugee camp on the moud Abbas. At the time, he diagnosed skin lesions, they are able to move, they have gained ter things ahead. their health stabilises. For Palestinian family, an udder-ly unique power source

AFP are taken care of by local au- Dahriya thorities or the Palestinian Au- thority. When unpaid bills have stacked up, Israel has cut power ower comes in many to cities. forms, but Kamal al-Je- Israeli authorities have long Pbrini’s family looked to called for the payment of debt where others may fear to tread for electricity provided to the for a new source of it: cow dung. West Bank and east Jerusalem The family has begun recy- that they estimate to be some cling waste from its cows to pro- $475mn (450mn euros).At the duce electricity for one of the same time, around four per- largest Palestinian dairy plants cent of Palestinian villages are and even to provide power to not connected to the electricity some houses. grid, according to official data. They discovered the idea dur- Most of the villages are in the ing trips abroad and decided Hebron area — making Jebrini’s cow dung that would otherwise project even more relevant and mainly rot in the sun — apart an example to be shared. from some used as fertiliser by It certainly doesn’t seem to neighbouring farmers — could trouble the cows and calves be put to better use. who munch straw under sheet “It was a shame to allow all of Cows lie down at the Jebrini dairy farm in the West Bank town of Hebron, where cow dung is used to produce electricity as an alternative power source. Right: Kamal al-Jebrini metal roofs. that manure to be lost and im- (second right) observes dung processing at the Jebrini dairy farm. Their owners hope to do even pact the environment when we more. can produce electricity with it,” in the Palestinian territories, has been occupied by Israel for He involved his students, dung produced daily by Je- He can even route part of the “In the next phase, we are said Jebrini, who owns a large where renewable energy usually 50 years. including some ex-students brini’s cows to generate 380 energy produced to the local going to use another generator farm of about 1,000 cows with means solar panels. Magalsay brought engineers who had done apprenticeships kilowatt hours. electricity company. to produce 650 kilowatt hours, his brothers. The family turned to Maher and a large generator from Ger- abroad. That’s enough to no longer There is no power plant in and over the long-term we will He spoke after inspecting the Magalsay, who specialises in re- many to develop the project that Now, he proudly shows off have to pay electricity bills for the West Bank, and nearly 90% reach one megawatt hour,” said milking room, where workers newable energy at the Polytech- involves using heat to produce two large silos where manure his company, which sells milk, of the 5.3 gigawatts of energy Magalsay. looked after lumbering cows. nic University of Hebron, the methane and biogas from the and biogas are stocked to be yoghurt and other dairy prod- consumed are bought from Is- With that amount, “we could The project in the occupied major city located nearby in the cow dung, eventually leading to later cooled and transformed. ucts throughout the West Bank rael. supply between 200 and 300 West Bank is the fi rst of its kind south of the West Bank, which electricity. It allows the 30 tonnes of and Jerusalem, said Jebrini. For certain regions, the bills houses,” he said. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, April 13, 2017 AFRICA

ENFORCEMENT HEALTH ELECTION POLITICS HOSTAGES Guinea seizes shark fins Diarrhoea claims 28 lives in Nigeria suspends electoral Mali gets new government Somali forces rescue from Chinese ships 10 days in Somalia splinter off icers over vote fraud ahead of 2018 elections Indian ship crew

Guinea has seized a haul of shark fins and The International Federation of Red Cross and Nigeria’s electoral agency has suspended more Mali’s newly appointed prime minister reshuff led Somali security forces clashed yesterday with pirates carcasses from Chinese ships fishing illegally Red Crescent (IFRC) yesterday warned of a health than 200 off icers for accepting bribes to influence his cabinet, exchanging about a third of ministers and freed nine seamen kidnapped on an Indian off the coast of the west African country and crisis in Somaliland after 28 people died of acute the outcome of the 2015 vote won by the in preparation for the 2018 general elections, cargo ship this month, off icials said. The pirates fined the owners. “Three ships were boarded diarrhoea in the past 10 days. More than 411 cases, opposition. The Independent National Electoral an analyst said yesterday. “It’s a government seized the dhow Al Kausar off Somalia’s coast, part and searched, two for having shark fins on believed to be caused by cholera, have been Commission (INEC) said that 205 staff were found preparing for a fight in the run up to the 2018 of a surge of attacks after years without a reported board,” Demba Guisse, the director of Guinea’s reported since the start of the month with 167 guilty of corruption after an investigation by the elections,” political analyst Mamadou Samake incident. The kidnappers took the crew onshore in national fishing monitoring body, told AFP late people hospitalised in the drought-ravaged region anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial told DPA, hours after Prime Minister Abdoulaye central Galmudug state on Monday and clashed on Tuesday. Guinean inspectors discovered of northern Somalia. “This outbreak is frightening, Crimes Commission (EFCC). “Based on their Idrissa Maiga made the announcement. Maiga with troops two days later, the territory’s minister 30 bags of shark carcasses including a huge as the people of Somaliland are already weakened level of involvement, 205 serving INEC staff will appointed 11 new ministers to a cabinet of 35 for ports and sea transport, Burhan Warsame, said. hammerhead — an endangered species — on by the drought and by lack of food,” said Abdirasaq be immediately placed on interdiction, which ministers late on Tuesday. Opposition parties said “We rescued the nine crew and they are healthy and one of the ships. The two vessels with shark fins Ali Duran, a Somali Red Crescent Society off icial entails suspension from duties and being placed yesterday they were outraged that only eight safe,” he added. Hirsi Yusuf Barre, mayor of Galkayo aboard were each fined $265,000, Greenpeace based in the town of Buhdole near the border with on half salary,” it said. It said the electoral off icers women were part of the new cabinet, violating town in the area, said the security forces attacked said. Both are owned by Dalian Lian Run Pelagic Ethiopia. Many of those aff ected were herdsmen suspended were found to have collected some 3bn Mali’s constitutional requirement of having 30% the gang after it tried to move the hostages into an Fishery Company Ltd. who live in remote areas, the statement said. naira ($9.5mn) in bribes to influence the election. female representation. area controlled by Shebaab overnight.

Nigeria thwarts Boko Haram Rival SA parties unite attacks on UK, US embassies

Reuters at anti-Zuma protest Lagos By Pierre Donadieu, AFP Pretoria igeria’s state security agency said yester- day it had thwarted plans by Boko Haram Nmilitants linked to Islamic State to attack ival South African opposition the British and United States embassies in the parties joined forces yester- capital Abuja. Rday when tens of thousand The Department of State Services (DSS) said demonstrators marched through the a 20-year-old suspected Boko Haram member, capital Pretoria calling for President arrested on March 22 in northeastern Yobe state, Jacob Zuma to resign. had confessed details of the plot. The march to Union Buildings, the Authorities arrested fi ve more suspected Is- offi cial seat of government, was or- lamist militants in Benue state, in the country’s ganised on Zuma’s 75th birthday and middle belt, and Abuja on March 25-26, the se- came after nationwide rallies against curity agency said. the president last week. “The group had perfected plans to attack the Zuma’s recent sacking of respect- UK and American embassies and other western ed fi nance minister Pravin Gordhan interests in Abuja,” the DSS said in an emailed has fanned years of public anger over statement. government corruption scandals, The agency described the suspects as “ISIS record unemployment and slowing linked Boko Haram members” but gave no fur- economic growth. ther details of how the militants planned to at- Supporters of the radical leftist A woman holds a placard reading in Afrikaans language ‘Get lost Zuma’ dur- Members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) party march towards the Union tack the embassies. Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ing a demonstration in Pretoria yesterday. Buildings during a demonstration in Pretoria yesterday. Boko Haram has killed more than 20,000 peo- the main opposition Democratic ple and forced more than 2mn to fl ee their homes Alliance (DA), and smaller parties The ANC has since tried to close lot, we could put Zuma out by a huge “I came because Zuma has to step multi-billion dollar arms deal in the since 2009 in an insurgency aimed at creating mingled at yesterday’s demonstra- ranks behind Zuma and has vowed to majority. down. He sold the country. I don’t 1990s. an Islamic caliphate in the northeast of Africa’s tion in a display of unity. defeat a no-confi dence vote against “Even if it doesn’t succeed, I can want him anymore,” Mavis Madisha, The dismissal of Gordhan saw most populous nation. Police said the event had been him in parliament. guarantee you that we will have a a 37-year-old EFF supporter, told AFP. the Fitch and Standard & Poor’s The militant group split last year, with one peaceful. The vote is scheduled for next coalition government in 2019.” Zuma has been accused of being in agencies cut South Africa’s sover- faction led by Abubakar Shekau operating from “You came out in large numbers Tuesday but may be delayed due to a Zuma, who came to offi ce in 2009, the sway of the wealthy Gupta busi- eign credit rating to junk status due the Sambisa Forest — a vast woodland area in the and sent a strong message,” EFF legal tussle over whether it should be is due to step down as head of the ness family, allegedly granting them to fears of political instability and northeast — and the other, allied to Islamic State leader Julius Malema told the crowd. a secret ballot. ANC in December, and as national infl uence over government appoint- growing corruption. and led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, based in the “We are here to defend the fu- “At this moment of crisis, we, as president ahead of the 2019 general ments, contracts and state-owned The ANC has lost popularity in re- Lake Chad region. ture of our children whether you are political parties, put our diff erences election. businesses. cent years and slipped to 55% of the A US Embassy spokesman declined to com- black (or) white. We are united on the aside for one common cause — to He is seen as favouring his ex- The Constitutional Court last vote in last year’s local elections — ment on the arrests. He said the US mission “ap- purpose of winning back our beauti- save South Africa from Jacob Zuma,” wife, former African Union chief year found Zuma guilty of violating its worst ever result. preciates the work of DSS and Nigerian security ful country.” said John Moodey, DA leader in Gau- Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to suc- the constitution after he refused to Zuma has easily survived previous forces in fi ghting terrorism and keeping citizens Gordhan’s sacking triggered un- teng province, which includes Pre- ceed him. repay taxpayers’ money used to re- parliamentary votes against him due and residents safe”. precedented criticism from senior fi g- toria and Johannesburg. Protesters yesterday held placards furbish his private rural house. to the ANC’s majority. A spokeswoman for the British High Commis- ures within the ruling African Nation- “(Zuma’s supporters) will do eve- reading “Zuma must fall”, “Ham- He is also fi ghting a court order The president branded last week’s sion said: “We are in regular contact with the Ni- al Congress (ANC), including from rything to stay in power, even in- ba tsotsi” (“Go away thief”), and that could reinstate almost 800 cor- protests, which attracted tens of gerian security authorities concerning potential Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. timidating MPs. With a secret bal- “Zuma liar”. ruption charges against him over a thousands of marchers, as racist. threats to UK interests in Nigeria.” Ghana grapples with Hero’s funeral vigilante violence

By Stacey Knott, AFP “The events in Kumasi are being brought sys- Accra tematically under control,” the president said. “We are not wavering from the commitment that we made that we were going to serve Ghana hanaians were horrifi ed when members under the conditions of the rule of law.” of a vigilante group loosely affi liated The UN condemned the post-election vio- Gwith the ruling party stormed a court to lence, describing the court invasion in Kumasi, free 13 members standing trial for assault late the capital city of the Ashanti region, as “rep- last week. rehensible”. The Delta Force is just one of a handful of Mohamed Ibn Chambas, head of the United groups responsible for commandeering public Nations offi ce for West Africa and the Sahel, facilities since New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader said the Delta Force group was acting with “im- Nana Akufo-Addo won December’s presiden- punity” following the 2016 election. tial polls. “These acts are likely to tarnish the image of In March, more than 200 Delta Force vigilan- Ghana as a model of democracy and the rule of tes attacked a regional government building, in law,” the UN statement said. a bid to force a senior offi cial out. Ashanti Regional Police commander Ken Described as “macho men” in Ghana, vigi- Yeboah said he suspects the groups are lashing lante groups like the Delta Force campaign on out because “they feel they have been neglect- behalf of political parties. ed”. In return, they expect jobs. Yeboah said that in the Ashanti region alone With names like “Aluta Boys (wrestling the Delta Force may have over a thousand mem- boys)”, “Pentagon”, “Al Qaeda” or “Al Jazeera”, bers. members of the over 20 vigilante groups in Police have “declared war against all vigilante Ghana tend to come mostly from poor back- groups in the country,” Yeboah said, adding that grounds. security has been ramped up in Kumasi. Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe arrives for the burial of Brigadier General James Murozvi, who was granted national hero status, at the These groups have been helping mobilise The violence clouds Akufo-Addo’s mostly National Heroes Acre in Harare yesterday. voters — sometimes by force — since the 1970s, peaceful victory and smooth transition of pow- said Kwesi Aning, a security expert from the er, hailed as a validation of Ghana’s deepening Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Train- democracy. ing Centre, a research organisation based in Ac- “There is a big push and a lot of pressure on cra. the NPP government to clamp down on the vio- The infl uence of the groups has risen since lence happening,” said Kwesi Koomson, an ana- 2000, with the violence becoming “dramati- lyst at risk advisory fi rm Africa Practice. cally worse”, Aning told AFP. “The public outroar is huge and the condem- Hair chop traffi c cop ‘humiliated’ female staff “They do the fi lthy work in the hope that you nation has come at a very loud level.” will gain political power,” Aning said. “If you Akufo-Addo came to power after beating AFP and photographed cutting the Lauretta Onochie, an aide to mapayai and other offi cers in- don’t provide the jobs, then, of course, they feel New Democratic Congress (NDC) incumbent Abuja women’s hair at an inspection pa- Nigerian President Muhammadu volved in the incident, and is set let down and want to fi ght back.” John Dramani Mahama in December’s election. rade in the city of Port Harcourt Buhari, said on Twitter that the to launch an investigation into the For a country that takes its peaceful reputa- He dominated at the polls riding on a wave this week. haircuts were a “humiliation of matter, according to local news- tion seriously in a region scarred by confl ict and of economic discontent after Ghana suff ered a ootage of a senior com- The photos were published in women taken too far”. paper reports in Nigeria. despots, the Delta Force violence has been a ris- currency crisis, electricity shortages and was mander of Nigeria’s road a post on the offi cial FRSC Face- “No man has a right to take a Neither the FRSC nor Kumapa- ing cause for concern. forced to take out a loan from the International Fsafety organisation disci- book page which said Kumapayi pair of scissors and cut a woman’s yi could be reached for comment. “The president will have to fi ght back and the Monetary Fund. plining several female employees was carrying out a ‘hair, uniform hair,” read a Twitter post by Juliet An offi cial guide for FRSC staff only tools he has to fi ght back are the police and Election observers praised Ghana’s free and by cutting off their long hair in and fi ngernails inspection’ of the Kego. at parades says that female em- the armed forces,” Aning said, warning that the fair polls, despite reports of macho men intimi- public has sparked outrage online. employees. “Even if she disobeys the stand- ployees must have a hairstyle ‘that “potential clash is nasty.” dating voters. Andrew Kumapayi, regional While the post has been de- ing order, you can’t cut her hair... can be tucked into their beret’ but Speaking to local media, Akufo-Addo said In past elections, vigilantes were accused of commander for the Federal Road leted, photos of the incident have Nigeria is not a jungle,” said a post does not ban long hair. the government was working to end the vigi- stealing ballot boxes and attacking political op- Safety Corp (FRSC) in Nigeria’s been widely shared and criticised by Jude Ezechuks. Male staff are expected to have lante unrest. ponents. southern Rivers State, was fi lmed by Nigerians on social media. The FRSC has recalled Ku- ‘low cut hair’ and be clean shaven. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 13 AMERICA

Girl interrupted Melania wins case against paper

Guardian News & Media inal Daily Mail story was pub- Washington lished on 20 August 2016 un- der the headline “Racy photos and troubling questions about he Daily Mail and Mail his wife’s past that could de- Online will pay dam- rail Trump”. Melania Trump Tages to settle a libel reportedly sought damages of claim brought by the US first $150mn. lady, Melania Trump, over The statement added: “The false claims about her work as allegations strike at the heart a professional model. of the claimant’s personal in- An agreed statement was tegrity and dignity. The claim- read out to Justice Nicol in ant has not acted as alleged. court 14 of the Royal Courts of The suggestion that such Justice in London on behalf of allegations even merit investi- both parties. gation is deeply offensive and The Fearless Girl statue stands facing the Charging Bull as tourists take pictures in New York. A battle is heating up between two iconic New York statues, the legendary Trump will be paid damages has caused a great deal of up- “Charging Bull” and new kid on the block “Fearless Girl,” with gender equality, artistic integrity and copyright issues at stake. The Italian-American artist who created Charging understood to be under $3mn set to the claimant.” Bull, which has stood south of Wall Street for nearly 30 years, alleged that Fearless Girl breached his copyright, distorted his artistic message and should be moved elsewhere. (£2.4mn); the amount was not Kelly added: “The arti- The work of US artist Kristen Visbal, the bronze Fearless Girl was installed last month, standing defiant, hands on hips and chin jutting out, directly challenging the bull. disclosed in the hearing. cle occupied a double-page The statement said the ar- spread with the headline ticle published in a double- printed in large bold font over page spread and online last one-third of page 15. summer included “false and The article was illustrated defamatory claims about [Mrs with an old photograph of the Trump] which questioned the claimant standing naked with nature of her work as a profes- her front against a wall but her sional model and republished face turned towards the camera. allegations that she provided “The photograph was services beyond simply mod- prominently displayed and elling”. occupied almost the entire No easy way to back The statement, read out by right-handed side of page 15. solicitor John Kelly, of the law Readers of the newspaper fi rm Harbottle and Lewis, add- could not fail to miss the ar- ed: “The article included state- ticle.” ments that Mrs Trump denied Catrin Evans QC, for the the allegations and Paulo Zam- Daily Mail owner Associated polli, who ran the modelling Newspapers, told the court agency, also denied the allega- that everything in the state- threats to N Korea tions and the article also stated ment was accepted by the that there was no evidence to newspaper. A war with North Korea will after Trump’s strike on a Syrian Vinson supercarrier that has pability-3 interceptor batteries. turising a warhead capable of be- support the allegations. The allegations have already almost certainly lead to the air base last week. been re-routed to the Korean pe- Japan has four destroyers using ing attached to a Nodong missile “The article also claimed been retracted and withdrawn, regime’s collapse The United States currently ninsula in a show of force against the Aegis system and 17 of these that could reach Japan. that Mr and Mrs Trump may she added. has about 28,500 troops sta- Kim. latest Patriot batteries. There is no “easy” way to have met three years before The settlement is under- AFP tioned in South Korea, a legacy The strike group, which de- South Korea has an older vari- back up the threat of military they actually met and ‘staged’ stood to cover legal actions Washington from the armistice at the end of ployed with about 6,500 sailors, ant of the Patriot. action with a low-level or limit- their actual meeting as a ‘ruse’. brought by Trump against the the Korean War, along with mul- is still some way south, conduct- No system is infallible and the ed strike such as that conducted These allegations about Mrs Daily Mail in both the UK and tiple squadrons of F-16 fi ghters ing exercises with the Austral- combined missile defences do last week in Syria against a re- Trump are not true.” The orig- US. resident Donald Trump is and A-10 ground-attack jets. ian navy. The US Navy already not provide perfect protection. gime air base. raising pressure on North The American forces are close- has a massive regional presence, North Korea experts Michael “The administration knows PKorea, touting the US naval ly intertwined with their South including another carrier strike Elleman and Michael Zagurek Jr any kind of military attack on “armada” he ordered to the trou- Korean partners and the two group headquartered at Yoko- wrote on the 38 North blog that North Korea could lead to a bled peninsula and promising militaries conduct annual drills suka in Japan. the THAAD and Patriot system North Korean military response America will “solve the problem” together. The United States, South Ko- would “substantially enhance and even perhaps an all-out con- San Francisco gets a if China won’t help. A defi ning mantra for US forc- rea and Japan have established South Korea’s capacity to mini- fl ict on the peninsula — and that He wants to stop Pyongyang es in South Korea is that the risk an advanced regional missile- mise the damage caused by a would be hundreds of thousands from developing a long-range of war is ever-present so they defence system that should be large North Korean missile at- of casualties,” Bruce Klingner, a taste of robot delivery nuclear missile, but North Kore- should always be ready to “fi ght able to take out a North Korean tack”. senior research fellow at the Her- an leader Kim Jong-un sees such tonight”. rocket. “However, it is important to itage Foundation, told AFP. a weapon as key to his regime’s While training is supposedly of The US military last month be- note that a layered defence will “Certainly the consequences AFP aware so that it can have the survival. a defensive nature, US and Asian gun deploying the Terminal High not be able to completely block of any military action could be San Francisco right etiquette on the sidewalk The situation has the makings press have recently published Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) such an attack. As a result, mis- dire. North Korea is not Syria.” and get around,” Delaney said of a stand-off , with Kim expected excerpts of a secretive plan that system to South Korea, capable siles armed with nuclear weap- Anthony Ruggiero, a senior of combining sensors and maps. to conduct another nuclear test supposedly lays out a pre-emp- of destroying short, medium and ons could cause signifi cant casu- fellow and North Korea expert an Francisco startup Mar- Marble robots were designed soon, and Washington aware that tive strike on North Korea. intermediate-range missiles in alties as well as damage in the at the Foundation for Defense ble yesterday began giv- to get around on their own, but any military action would trigger Additionally, another 50,000 their fi nal phase of fl ight. South.” of Democracies, thinks cooler Sing its home town a taste they will have human escorts an unknowable set of potentially US troops are stationed in Japan. The move infuriated China, According to a study by the heads will prevail. of restaurant orders delivered during the roll-out. catastrophic consequences. “We are sending an armada. which has argued the deploy- conservative Heritage Founda- Ultimately, Kim is rational by robot, confi dent that appe- Robots are also wirelessly Still, the Trump adminis- Very powerful,” Trump said ment would further destabilise tion think tank, experts believe enough to understand that a mis- tite for such service will grow linked to operators who, from tration has been forceful in its Wednesday.”We have subma- the situation on the Korean pe- Pyongyang probably has 10-16 sile attack on the South would around the world. Marble’s offi ce, virtually ride warnings to North Korea that rines. ninsula. nuclear weapons, and the cache spell the end for his regime. Marble partnered with take- along. leave military options “on the Very powerful. Far more pow- The US and its allies also have could swell to as many as 100 “His ultimate goal is regime away meal ordering mobile ap- “We have basically eyes and table,” as Secretary of State Rex erful than the aircraft carrier.” the Aegis Ballistic Missile De- within the next few years. survival...and that would be plication Yelp Eat24 to put its ears there,” Delaney said. Tillerson put it. He was referring to a strike fense System at their disposal, It is possible the regime may close to suicide for him,” Ruggi- boxy, wheeled robots to work “Operators can jump in at The threat carries extra weight group headed by the USS Carl along with Patriot Advanced Ca- already have succeeded in minia- ero told AFP. handling local deliveries for any time.” some restaurants in the Mis- He described the robot cargo sion and Portrero Hill districts compartment as being as safe as of San Francisco. a typical car trunk. “It’s the real deal,” Marble When robots arrive with food co-founder and chief Matthew orders, customers get text mes- Delaney told AFP while provid- sages containing codes to enter on key pads to unlock lids. Democrats face uphill fi ght if ing a demonstration of one of the robots at the startup’s of- “We are always looking for fi ces in Portrero Hill. innovative new ways to give “On select evenings, you diners what they want: effi cient might be getting a text message and aff ordable food delivery,” said Yelp Eat24 delivery opera- Trump gets 2nd court pick in the middle of your Yelp Eat24 order asking if you would like it tions head Shalin Sheth. delivered by robot.” Marble robots are built by the Reuters such, was sworn in on Monday leaves the bench he is replaced by a such a fuss about this one. Although he has sided with his Marble is starting with a startup, which would not dis- Washington for the lifetime job to replace the stalwart conservative, that would They look stupid,” Republican conservative colleagues on many “handful” of robots and keep- close how much they cost. late conservative Justice Antonin move the court further to the right. Senator Orrin Hatch said last week issues, Kennedy has supported ing it opt-in when it comes to A revenue model had yet to be Scalia after overcoming fi erce Trump’s fellow Republicans of Gorsuch’s nomination.”I ex- liberal causes such as gay rights, whether machines handle de- put in place. f Democrats thought it was Democratic opposition in the Sen- possess a 52-48 majority in the pect Armageddon on the next one culminating in writing the land- liveries. The delivery service launched hard to stop President Don- ate confi rmation process. Senate. because that’s going to change, mark 2015 ruling legalising same- Food orders are locked into Wednesday was described as a Iald Trump’s fi rst US Supreme Kennedy administered Gor- In order to secure Gorsuch’s assuming Trump gets another sex marriage nationwide. robot cargo compartments step on the path to perfecting Court nominee, it promises to be such’s judicial oath at a White confi rmation, they voted to pro- one, the direction of the court. It He also joined the liberals in up- large enough to hold about four the robots. even tougher for them if he gets to House ceremony, and Trump hibit a procedural roadblock called would certainly keep the court in a holding abortion rights. standard shopping bags. “Our long term goal is to drive fi ll another vacancy, potentially to heaped praise on a justice who a fi libuster that had required a su- more conservative mode for a long In 2016, Kennedy joined the Marble robots, the current down costs; make this some- replace the most infl uential jus- has spent nearly three decades on per-majority of 60 votes to allow time.” court’s four liberal justices in a generation named “Happy” and thing that is useful in every city tice, Anthony Kennedy. America’s top court, calling him a confi rmation vote for Supreme A Democratic congressional ruling striking down a Texas abor- numbered, roll along sidewalks across the globe for those kinds Kennedy, a conservative who “a great man of outstanding ac- Court nominees, leaving the mi- aide added, “The opposition to tion law imposing strict regula- and cross streets at walking of neighbourhood-centric de- sometimes sides with the court’s complishment.” Gorsuch is one of nority Democrats with little am- Gorsuch could look weak com- tions on doctors and facilities in speeds, relying on lasers, cam- liveries,” Delaney said. liberals in key cases such as on gay Kennedy former clerks. munition for the next nomination pared to what a similarly con- the strongest endorsement of US eras and other sensors to ma- Marble saw ground deliv- rights and abortion, is one of three Kennedy is planning a reunion fi ght. servative nominee would face, abortion rights in more than two noeuvre. ery robots as fi lling a need for justices 78 or older. of his clerks in June rather than “I think it will be very hard for if it would tip the balance on the decades. The technology involved quick, inexpensive neighbour- Justice Stephen Breyer is 78 and next year as had been expected. Democrats to get much traction court.” He also authored a 2016 ruling is similar to that used in self- hood deliveries in cities or other fellow liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg Kennedy, through a court to derail a future Trump nominee Kennedy is the longest-serving upholding the consideration of driving cars. urban settings, freeing humans is 84. spokesman, declined to comment without the threat of a fi libuster,” of the nine justices. race in college admissions, joined Marble also created three- to tend to long drives or large Former Kennedy Supreme on his plans. George Washington University He was nominated by Repub- by the court’s liberals. dimensional digital maps of orders. Court clerks said the justice, who The implications for the court political scientist Sarah Binder lican President Ronald Reagan in University of Georgia School of neighbourhoods where robots “We think this is the sweet turns 81 in July, may be ponder- if Kennedy were to step down are said. 1987 and confi rmed by the Senate Law professor Lori Ringhand said will be working spot solution in urban environ- ing retirement either this year or enormous. For the past decade he But Democrats and Republicans in 1988 after Democrats thwarted Republicans may be wary of de- “This allows us to have the ments; a very courteous, slow in 2018. been its swing vote in major cases. still are predicting a fi erce fi ght Reagan’s fi rst choice, outspoken fending an extremely conservative most intelligent and reliable moving, safe, ground-based That would give Trump a fur- Gorsuch’s confi rmation re- over the next court vacancy. conservative Robert Bork, and his court nominee with the midterm robot that really knows its en- helpful robot that goes door to ther chance to shape the court stored the court’s 5-4 conservative “For the life of me I don’t un- second pick, Douglas Ginsburg, congressional elections coming up vironment and is a bit socially door,” Delaney said. after his fi rst nominee, Neil Gor- majority. If whenever Kennedy derstand why the Democrats made withdrew from consideration. in 2018, if another vacancy arises. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, April 13, 2017 ASEAN Thai junta to lift party ban for 2018 poll

AFP Junta bans online communication Bangkok with Thailand’s monarchy critics The Thai government yesterday issued a warning hailand’s junta chief said yesterday he plans against online communication with three promi- to lift the ban on political party gatherings nent, exiled critics of the Thai royal family. Tbefore next year’s elections, although he The three recently posted leaked photos and declined to put a date on polls or state when the comments on King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s recent restrictions will be lifted. vacation in Germany. The military seized power in 2014 ushering in “We ask the public to refrain from following, Thailand’s most autocratic government in a gen- communicating, and sharing posts by these peo- eration. ple,” the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society Former army chief turned Prime Minister said in a statement. Prayut Chan-O-Cha said the coup was necessary “This is to avoid violating the computer crime to end a decade of political instability and root out act intentionally and unintentionally.” Indonesian pupils playing with the background of Mount Sinabung volcano spewing thick smoke in Karo, North Sumatra. corruption. The three people are former history lecturer He has banned political parties from meet- Somsak Jeamteerasakul, politics professor Pavin ing, cracked down on public dissent and granted Chachavalpongpun and journalist Andrew Mac- himself the ability to pass any law in the name of Gregor Marshall. national security. They are well-known figures who have frequent- The cornerstone of the military’s reform ly posted criticism of the monarchy and Thailand’s Indonesian volcano erupts again agenda has been a new constitution which was ruling military junta on their Facebook pages. given royal assent earlier this month, triggering a Somsak and Pavin fled Thailand when they countdown towards elections. were summoned by the junta, which came into AFP The clouds of smoke shrouded eruptions, putting on masks to activity it began erupting again “The election process will begin next year,” power after a May 2014 coup. Karo, Indonesia the sky above a school in North go shopping as ash falls from the three years later. Prayut told reporters, saying fi rst the country Marshall fled Thailand in 2011 after increasing Sumatra province but children sky, and tending to their crops. In May last year seven people must hold a cremation for late King Bhumibol harassment by the authorities. continued to play outside in the Over 2,000 families have been were killed in one of Sinabung’s Aduyadej, an event likely to take place in late Oc- Thailand’s strict lese-majesty law prohibits criti- volcano on Indonesia’s yard in the shadow of the vol- evacuated from around the rum- eruptions, while in February 2014 tober. cism of the royal family, with perpetrators facing Sumatra island yesterday cano. bling volcano in recent years, and an eruption left 16 people dead. “In 2018 we will go ahead with holding elec- up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. Aspewed hot smoke and ash Local authorities insist the many will soon be relocated to Indonesia is home to around tions and political parties will be able to hold In December, just two days after Vajiralongkorn high into the air in its latest vio- school is safe as it is outside a new villages after lengthy stays 130 volcanoes due to its posi- meetings.” ascended the throne, a prominent anti-junta activ- lent eruptions. 7km restricted area around the in temporary shelters. tion on the “Ring of Fire”, a His comments are the fi rst time Prayut has ist was arrested for sharing a BBC article about the Mount Sinabung has erupted volcano, which has been erupting Sinabung roared back to life belt of tectonic plate bounda- confi rmed civilian parties will be able to meet in king on Facebook. repeatedly in recent days, pumping almost continuously since 2013. in 2010 for the fi rst time in 400 ries circling the Pacific Ocean the run up to elections. hot gas clouds up to 3km into the Villagers also continue their years. where frequent seismic activity However there are lingering questions over sky, the local disaster agency said. precarious existences despite the After another period of in- occurs. how much power any future civilian government repeated rounds of deadly protests, a string of will have under the new constitution — the coun- short-lived governments and two military coups try’s 20th since 1932. that deposed elected leaders. The new charter provides for a junta-appoint- Critics say the military is far from being a ed upper house — including six seats reserved for neutral player, deeply hostile to ousted premiers the military — and a proportional voting system Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, whose parties 33 die in road accidents as Jakarta’s Christian likely to reduce the infl uence of major parties. have won every poll since 2001. The constitutional court, a frequent thorn in Their billionaire clan is popular among Thai- the side of elected governments, will be strength- land’s rural and urban poor and they have urged a Thais celebrate New Year governor, Muslim ened, making it easier to impeach a civilian leader. return to elections. The military has also said any future govern- But the Shinawatras are hated by Bangkok’s ment must adhere to a “legally binding 20-year- military-backed elite, who accuse the family of DPA and more than 3,200 others were rival in tight race plan” for the country that is still in the works. corruption and nepotism. Bangkok injured during the Songkran watch The junta is also drawing up a series of yet to Since their coup the military retroactively im- period last year. be published laws that will defi ne who can form a peached Yingluck and she is currently facing a The drop in the number of people Reuters political party. negligence trial that could see her jailed for up to hirty-three people were killed killed on Tuesday was attributed to Jakarta Over the past 10 years Thais have witnessed a decade. and 420 others were injured stricter traffi c measures, eff ective Tin road accidents in Thai- last week, that have forced all pas- land on the fi rst day of a week-long sengers to wear seat belts, as op- he Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki “Ahok” Tja- watch period around the country’s posed to only passengers in front haja Purnama, and his Muslim opponent are neck and traditional new year festival, Thai seats, as per old laws. Tneck in the race to lead Indonesia’s capital, an opinion New Year travel authorities said yesterday. Most accidents on Tuesday in- poll showed yesterday, a week ahead of the hard fought vote. The number of people killed Tues- volved motorcycles and happened in The election campaign — which has been among the day indicates a 36.5% drop from the the city of Chiang Mai, 680km north most divisive in the city’s history — has been marred by re- same day last year, when 52 people of Bangkok, according to Thailand’s ligious and ethnic tension over the blasphemy trial of the died on the road, authorities said. Road Safety Directing Centre. incumbent Purnama, who is accused of insulting Islam. Each year, Thai police closely In 2015, a World Health Organiza- Purnama was on 46.9% of the sample vote, trailing his monitor traffi c conditions over the tion report found that Thailand was rival Anies Baswedan by one percentage point in one of the seven-day periods around both the second only to Libya for road deaths. fi rst opinion polls published since the two candidates made New Year holiday and Thailand’s tra- The agency estimated that as it through a fi rst round election in mid-February. ditional new year, “Songkran,” a wa- many as 36.2 people per 100,000 A candidate needs a simple majority to win. ter festival observed on April 13-15. die on the country’s roadways, or Pollster Saiful Mujani Research Center (SMRC) said the A total of 442 people were killed around 24,237 people per year. survey of 800 respondents showed Baswedan enjoyed sup- port primarily because of his Islamic faith, while Purnama was popular due to his record in offi ce. Man helds for traff icking Vietnamese women Nearly 90% of Indonesia’s 250mn population is Mus- lim, but the country recognises six religions and is home olice in southern Vietnam ar- Express news site reported yesterday. to sizeable communities of Christians, Hindus and those rested a man for selling seven He instead took them to China, adhering to traditional beliefs. Pwomen into prostitution in where an unidentifi ed Vietnamese The state ideology, Pancasila, enshrines religious diver- China, an offi cial said yesterday. woman bought the seven women for sity in an offi cially secular system. Pham Thanh Sang, 31, was ar- forced work in China’s underground Purnama, who is Jakarta’s fi rst ethnic Chinese and rested Tuesday on human traffi cking sex trade, the police-run newspaper An Christian governor, off ended Muslim groups when he charges in Dong Thap province, Thai Ninh Tho Do reported, adding that he made comments last year about his opponents’ use of the Thi My Trang of the provincial po- sold the women for a total of $530. Some Qur’an in political campaigning. Purnama has apologised Passengers board a ferry in Yangon as they travel home to celebrate Thingyan, a water festival lice department told DPA. of the women escaped back to Vietnam for his comments and denied any wrongdoing. He faces up which brings in the country’s New Year. Four southeast Asian nations – Myanmar, Thailand, Sang is accused of coaxing the in January this year and reported Sang, to four years in prison if found guilty. Cambodia and Laos – start the Buddhist New Year, known as Thingyan in Myanmar and victims to the northern border by eventually resulting in his arrest. Judges hearing the case decided this week to adjourn Songkran in Thailand, today. promising them well-paid restaurant He faces up to 20 years in prison un- the trial until after voting day, after police and prosecutors jobs in Hanoi in March 2015, the VN der Vietnam’s human traffi cking laws. asked for a delay because of security concerns. Former refugees fi ght to end US deportations to Cambodia

By Erin Hale, DPA card and cheque fraud in her early from my perspective, that you shoplifting — but does not dis- dian government notifi ed the US battle as many deportations in immigration detention since Phnom Penh 20s. are a screw-up and that you were tinguish between political refu- embassy in Phnom Penh that it hinge on the 1996 Immigrant Re- he was picked up by police in Phea was not deported un- kicked out of the US — because gees and ordinary immigrants. was reviewing the deportation sponsibility Act, which dramati- August, according to his sister til four years later, after she had they wanted that American life, The agreement could be agreement, according to Minis- cally lowered the threshold for Montha Chum. hen Sophea Phea, 34, served her sentence. but they don’t know what we changed if Cambodia simply re- try of Interior spokesman Khieu deportable crimes. He came to the attention of was deported from the She had already rebuilt her life went through and that we make fused to accept political refugees, Sopheak. Changing the law would also ICE in 2011, like many paroled WUnited States to Cam- when US Immigration and Cus- mistakes.” like neighbouring Vietnam. It has stopped issuing travel require an act of Congress, which Cambodian refugees, when he bodia four years ago, it was the toms Enforcement (ICE) turned Phea says that many refugees documents which identify the is currently controlled by the tried to apply for citizenship, fi rst time she had ever set foot in it upside-down. were “dumped” in US inner-cit- “I believe if you do the refugees as Cambodian citizens immigration-averse Republican Chum says. the South-East Asian country. Phea’s predicament is shared ies, where they faced challenges crime, you should serve and which are needed to deport Party. The family are applying for a She grew up in California as by at least 675 Cambodian- like poverty, post-traumatic your time — and they’ve them from the US. Progress remains incremental hardship waiver from an immi- the child of Cambodian refugees Americans who were deported stress disorder and racial dis- done that. They’re But, it has yet to open nego- with occasional setbacks. gration judge — one of the few after her parents fl ed the geno- between 1998 and 2017, accord- crimination. rehabilitated, they’re tiations with the Department of In March, fi ve Cambodians available recourses for refugees cidal Khmer Rouge regime and ing to the US-based Southeast The US-based 1Love move- taxpayers and what’s Homeland Security. were deported, with 31 currently — but Chum says the process ensuing post-war chaos of the Asia Resource Action Center. ment raises awareness about the happening to them is just In the United States, the issue in ICE detention awaiting depor- has been agonising for her fam- late 1970s and 1980s. A majority of those deportees plight of Cambodian-Americans wrong” has caught the attention of leg- tation. ily and others in the same situ- Although she was born in a were former refugees. and also their experiences as islators Michael Honda and Judy Their documents were proc- ation. Thai refugee camp, Phea was of- Shipped off to an unfamiliar young refugees. Thousands of refugees fl ed Chu from California and Keith essed before Cambodia an- “I just assumed (in the past) fi cially recognised as Cambodian country, they found themselves The group has appealed to the both countries during the US- Ellison from Minnesota. nounced its policy change, which that the people getting deported when she arrived as a child in the suddenly with distant family Cambodian and US governments Vietnam War and US bombing In October 2016, the rep- means they can be sent to Phnom committed major, major crimes,” US — and this is where her trou- members they had never met or, to change their immigration poli- campaigns, but Vietnam only resentatives wrote to the US Penh at any time. says Chum. ble began. in some cases, all alone. cies. takes back some immigrants. Department of Homeland Se- Montha Chamroeun, who “I believe if you do the crime, Despite being a US permanent “For most of us, it’s all dis- A 2002 memorandum of un- The movement to halt the de- curity asking it to end the de- served 40 days in prison for you should serve your time — and resident, she was still eligible for tant family, people we don’t even derstanding says the US can de- portations of Cambodian refu- portations of Cambodian refu- breaking three bar windows in they’ve done that. They’re reha- deportation if she ever commit- know, (except) maybe through port Cambodians who commit gees has also achieved some vic- gees. 2009, is among those awaiting bilitated, they’re taxpayers and ted a crime, which she did. our parents,” Phea says. “aggravated felonies” — a wide tories. But within the US government, deportation. what’s happening to them is just She was convicted of credit “The majority of them think, range of off ences, from murder to In October 2016, the Cambo- the movement faces an uphill He has spent over 200 days wrong.” Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching could cost region $750mn

DPA per year and supports 70,000 employment consequences for clone Debbie brought some cool- Sydney Australians employed in sectors Queensland,” she said. er water to the area, which could such as tourism, according to the Coral bleaching is caused by a off er some reprieve, but the reef Climate Council. “This isn’t just die-off of the living organisms, also experienced physical dam- ass coral bleaching an environmental issue. or algae, inside the coral. It can age due to the extreme weather. spreading across Aus- The Great Barrier Reef is one be triggered by small changes in On Monday, the Australian Mtralia’s Great Barrier of Australia’s greatest economic environmental conditions, such Research Council’s Centre of Ex- Reef could cost the region 1mn assets,” ecologist Lesley Hughes as a rise in sea temperature or cellence for Coral Reef Studies visitors a year, or a loss of A$1bn said in a Climate Council state- pollution or overfi shing. The loss said that only the southern third (US $750mn) in tourism revenue, ment. of the colourful algae then causes of the reef had not been aff ected an independent research organi- Last year, the Great Barrier the coral to turn white. by consecutive bleaching events sation said yesterday. The loss of Reef – the largest coral struc- “The extraordinary devasta- in 2016 and 2017. visitors would put 10,000 jobs at ture on earth – experienced its tion being experienced on the This year’s bleaching was most risk, the Australia-based Climate worst bleaching event in history. Great Barrier Reef is due to the intense in the middle, while last Council said in a new report re- Ninety per cent of the reef’s coral warming of our oceans, driven by year’s was further north, accord- leased in Brisbane. in the north was bleached, and the burning of coal, oil and gas,” ing to aerial surveys of the re- Climate change is pushing up more than 20% of the reef’s coral Hughes said. “It would have been gion. Scientists are worried that sea surface temperatures and died. In the north, two-thirds of virtually impossible for this to the unprecedented back-to-back driving extensive and ongoing the coral died. have occurred without climate bleaching will give the coral lit- mass coral bleaching, the organi- This year, with high water change,” she said. tle chance to recover. They say it sation said. temperatures in the region, mass Bleaching events worldwide, usually takes fi ve years for a reef “Over the next two to three coral bleaching has occurred due to climate change, could put to return to health after a single decades, bleaching events are again and crippled new areas of A$1tn at risk, the Climate Coun- bleaching event. likely to become even more fre- the reef. cil report said, highlighting both The issue means the Great quent and severe in Australia, “Extremely warm water (is) economic and ecological chal- Barrier Reef is in danger of losing with catastrophic impacts on causing particularly severe lenges. the Unesco heritage site status it reef health and the economy,” the bleaching now in the middle sec- Coral reefs are the most biodi- gained in 1981. report said. tions of the reef, which of course verse ecosystems on the planet. A UN committee is set to give Coral has been bleached for two consecutive years by warming sea temperatures on Australia’s Great The Unesco World Heritage- is where most of the tourists They are home to at least one its verdict by July on whether to Barrier Reef with “zero prospect” of recovery, scientists said, blaming climate change for the large-scale listed Great Barrier Reef cur- visit,” Hughes said. “This will quarter of all marine life. categorise the region as “in dan- destruction. rently generates A$7bn in income have enormous economic and Last month’s devastating Cy- ger.” Xi calls for peace amid tension in Korean peninsula

Reuters the leaders underscored the telephone call that China “is Times does not represent gov- Beijing sense of urgency as tension esca- committed to the target of de- ernment policy. The newspaper lates amid concern that reclusive nuclearisation on the peninsula, noted Trump’s recent decision to North Korea could soon conduct safeguarding peace and stabil- launch 59 Tomahawk missiles at The national meeting at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang will celebrate the anniversary of Kim hinese President Xi Jin- a sixth nuclear test, or more mis- ity on the peninsula, and advo- a Syrian airfi eld in response to a Jong-un’s assumption of the top posts of the party and the state. ping called for a peaceful sile launches, and Trump’s threat cates resolving problems through deadly gas attack last week. “Not Cresolution of rising ten- of unilateral action to solve the peaceful means”, Chinese state only is Washington brimming clear attack on the United States with our supreme leader Marshall ter landings on each other’s ships, sion on the Korean peninsula in a problem. broadcaster CCTV said. with confi dence and arrogance at any sign of American aggres- Kim Jong-un we are not afraid of as well as communication drills, telephone conversation with US Trump ordered the USS Carl Chinese Foreign Ministry following the missile attacks on sion. Offi cials from the North, in- anything,” a woman who gave her they said. President Donald Trump yester- Vinson aircraft carrier group to spokesman Lu Kang, who said Syria, but Trump is also willing cluding leader Kim Jong-un, have name as Ri Hyon-sim told Reuters A senior Japanese diplomat day, as a US aircraft carrier strike head to the Korean peninsula in Trump had initiated the call, to be regarded as a man who hon- indicated an intercontinental journalists, who were escorted by said it appeared the US position group steamed towards the re- an attempt to deter North Korea’s urged everyone to lower the ten- ours his promises,” it said. ballistic missile test or something North Korean offi cials. was to put maximum pressure on gion. nuclear and long-range missile sion. “We hope that the relevant “The US is making up its mind similar could be coming. Russia has said it is worried North Korea to reach a solution Trump, in an early morn- ambitions, which it is develop- parties do not adopt irresponsible to stop the North from con- North Korea launched a long- about the possibility of a US at- peacefully and diplomatically. ing note on Twitter, said the call ing in defi ance of UN resolutions actions. Under the current cir- ducting further nuclear tests. It range rocket carrying a satellite tack on North Korea and it would “At least, if you consider over- with Xi, just days after they met and sanctions. He pressed Xi to cumstances, this is very danger- doesn’t plan to co-exist with a on April 13, 2012, marking the raise the issue with visiting US all things such as the fact that the in the United States, was a “very do more to curb North Korea’s ous,” Lu told reporters at a regular nuclear-armed Pyongyang,” it anniversary of the birth of North Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, US government has not put out good” discussion of the “menace nuclear programme when the two press briefi ng. said. “Pyongyang should avoid Korea’s founding president Kim Russian media quoted Deputy warnings to its citizens in South of North Korea”. The call came leaders held their fi rst face-to- China’s Global Times news- making mistakes at this time.” Il-sung. Saturday will be the Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov Korea, I think the risk at this point as an infl uential state-run Chi- face meeting in Florida last week. paper said in an editorial that The Global Times said if North 105th anniversary of his birth. as saying. Earlier yesterday, two is not high,” said the diplomat, nese newspaper warned that the Trump said on Twitter on North Korea should halt any plan Korea made another provocative In the North Korean capital, sources in Tokyo said Japan’s who declined to be identifi ed. Korean peninsula was the closest Tuesday that North Korea was for nuclear and missile activi- move, “Chinese society” might residents thronged boulevards on navy planned exercises with the South Korea’s acting president, it has been to a “military clash” “looking for trouble” and the ties “for its own security”. While be willing to back unprecedented a sunny spring morning, some Carl Vinson carrier group in a Hwang Kyo-ahn, has warned of since North Korea’s fi rst nuclear United States would “solve the widely read in China and run by sanctions, “such as restricting oil practising for a parade to be held on joint show of force. Japan’s Mari- “greater provocations” by North test in 2006. problem” with or without Chi- the ruling Communist Party’s imports”. North Korean state me- the weekend, with no visible sign time Self Defence Force and the Korea and ordered the military to The communication between na’s help. Xi stressed in their offi cial People’s Daily, the Global dia warned on Tuesday of a nu- of the tension. “So long as we are US Navy could conduct helicop- intensify monitoring.

A grimace and a shrug, but no fear of US strike in Pyongyang Hong Kong lawmaker held Residents thronged the wide the city’s biggest sights, the performance likely on Saturday they want to occupy our boulevards of North Korea’s Arch of Triumph and Kim Il when a parade is expected to country again and again,” she capital Pyongyang yesterday, Sung Square. Some of them celebrate Kim Il-sung’s birthday. said. “The president of the US some practising for a parade spoke to Reuters journalists, North Korea also often marks ...,” Hyon said, tailing off with a for ‘desecrating’ Chinese fl ag to be held at the weekend, with who were escorted by North important anniversaries with shrug and a grimace. no visible signs of the tensions Korean off icials. North Korea tests of its nuclear or missile Hyon however said she wanted engulfing the region over has invited foreign media to capabilities. Hyon Un-mi, reunification between North AFP Under Hong Kong law, it is Beijing by calling for greater au- the isolated state’s weapons cover celebrations this week of a tour guide at the Arch of and South Korea. “Our people Hong Kong an off ence to desecrate national tonomy or even independence programmes. A US aircraft the 105th birth anniversary of Triumph, built to commemorate are suff ering from the division,” and regional fl ags by “publicly for Hong Kong, with some jailed carrier group is headed to founding president Kim Il-sung, Korean resistance to Japanese she said, adding that she was and wilfully burning, mutilat- or awaiting trial over anti-Chi- Korean waters amid concerns the grandfather of current occupation in the early 20th distressed while watching Hong Kong lawmaker ing, scrawling on, defi ling or na clashes. that Pyongyang may conduct a leader Kim Jong-un. However, century, said she was following a women’s football match was arrested yesterday trampling on them”. A protester was jailed for nuclear or long-rage missile test journalists’ movements events on television and in between the two Koreas last Afor “desecrating” the “The clear and obvious goal is more than four years Monday and threats from US President are closely managed and newspapers. week. Chinese and Hong Kong fl ags to eliminate dissent” before the for rioting and arson during a Donald Trump of unilateral conversations with the people She called the United States “All the people feel very sad by turning them upside down city’s newly elected pro-Beijing 2016 protest known as the Fish- action “to solve the problem”. are monitored. an imperialist power that watching the football, our in parliament, in charges he said leader Carrie Lam takes offi ce ball Revolution, where police It was a sunny, spring morning Women in flowing pink, red wanted to occupy her country. country divided into two,” she were designed to suppress anti- in July, Cheng told reporters af- fi red warning shots and dem- in Pyongyang and many people and yellow dresses walked by “Our people don’t like these said. The match ended in a 1-1 Beijing sentiment. ter he was bailed. He said that onstrators hurled bricks torn up were on the streets around after dance rehearsals for a imperialists ... In recent days draw. Cheng Chung-tai upended Hong Kong was facing a “massive from pavements. small China and Hong Kong purge” against pro-democracy Three other activists had fl ags that some pro-Beijing leg- voices. been jailed for three years on islators had displayed on their The city was handed back riot charges for their role in the desks in the legislative assembly to China by colonial ruler Brit- same protest. Other prominent last October. ain in 1997 under a “one coun- activists were arrested late last The incident happened in a try, two systems” formula. But month over 2014’s Umbrella feisty session where two pro- there are concerns China is in- Movement, which saw tens of Taiwan bans eating dogs and cats independence lawmakers were terfering in the semi-autono- thousands occupy the city’s barred from taking up their mous city, eroding its freedoms streets for 79 days in an unsuc- seats in a row over the oath- and way of life. cessful campaign for election AFP Yu-min who proposed the new demands for tougher protection to die?” read one message posted taking ceremony. Some activists have angered reform. Taipei rules. The bill also hiked the laws. on Apple Daily’s website. “Why penalty for killing or abusing Last year, the military was doesn’t the parliament amend animals to a maximum two-year forced to apologise after a video laws to toughen punishment on Ancient poo shows penguins’ volcanic past aiwan has banned the eat- jail term and a stiff fi ne of T$2mn. surfaced of three soldiers tor- drunk driving, fraud and homi- ing of dogs and cats, law- Dog consumption — believed turing and strangling a stray cide? what a lousy job it is doing,” Analysis of ancient penguin guano has revealed that volcanic eruptions, not climate change, almost wiped Tmakers said yesterday, by some in Taiwan to help boost dog to death with an iron chain, said another post. out an Antarctic sea bird colony three times, researchers have found. There has long been speculation as pressure grows to improve male potency — was common on prompting several street pro- Dog meat consumption is also linking fluctuations in penguin populations over recent decades to climate change, but scientists studying animal welfare after a spate of the island decades ago but has tests. And in 2014, a male hippo common in countries such as a colony of gentoo penguins in Antarctica wanted to look back much further. The team, led by the British cruelty cases that stirred public become less popular amid grow- famous for regularly performing China, Vietnam and South Korea. Antarctic Survey, hit upon the idea of drilling core samples from ancient guano deposits, giving them a outrage. ing calls to protect animal rights. at a private zoo in central Tai- Last year, China’s most notorious record going back 7,000 years. The results, published in Nature this week, showed the penguins of the Parliament passed legislation In 2001, Taiwan amended its wan died after breaking a leg and dog meat festival drew crowds Ardley Island colony had been dramatically impacted by a nearby volcano at Deception Island. Lead to outlaw the consumption, pur- animal protection law to ban the sustaining other injuries during despite international outrage, researcher Steve Roberts said the millennia-old droppings, collected from the bed of a lake on the island, still chase or possession of dog and slaughter of pets — which in- transportation, sparking a public as more than 10,000 dogs were had an intense smell. But more importantly, the sediment cores also contained clear layers of volcanic ash, cat meat, with off enders facing cluded dogs and cats — for food, outcry. killed at the event in conditions while biogeochemical analysis of the droppings provided insights into the colony’s population over time. a fi ne of up to T$250,000 (US although there was no penalty Reactions to the new law activists described as brutal. “On at least three occasions during the past 7,000 years, the penguin population ... was almost completely $8,170). Authorities can also on eating or buying the meat. were mixed, with some deeming South Koreans are believed to wiped out locally after each of three large volcanic eruptions,” Roberts said. “It took, on average, between name and shame those who break Sales of pet meat were banned at it unfair to only single out cats consume somewhere between 400 and 800 years for it to re-establish itself sustainably.” The guano analysis found “no consistent the law. the end of 2003. But a string of and dogs for better protection. 1.5mn-2.5mn dogs every year, relationships” between climate conditions and the penguin population in the Ardley Island colony, which “This shows that Taiwan is much-publicised animal abuse “This is the cute animal protec- but the meat farming industry currently has about 5,000 of the birds. British Antarctic Survey penguin ecologist Claire Waluda said the a society with advanced animal cases have continued to trig- tion law? only cute animals are is in decline, with little demand innovative technique could be used to examine how volcanoes had aff ected other colonies. welfare,” said lawmaker Wang gered deep public concern and protected while the rest deserve among the younger generation. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, April 13, 2017 BRITAIN/IRELAND

PEOPLE JUSTICE OFFBEAT WILDLIFE INITIATIVE Ebola nurse Caff erkey Rough sleeper jailed over New sonic blast shrimp Man left fighting for life Electric car hire scheme to return to Sierra Leone housekeeper’s murder named after Pink Floyd after adder bite in park to launch in capital

Pauline Caff erkey, the Scottish nurse who nearly A homeless man who murdered a housekeeper A newly-discovered shrimp species with a A father was left fighting for life after being bitten The battle to cut choking pollution on London’s died twice from Ebola, has said she is seeking on her way to work was yesterday jailed for life. bright pink claw and the ability to produce one by a venomous snake as he had a picnic in a roads passes a major landmark this month when “closure” as she announced plans to return to Vadim Ruskuls, 25, was sentenced to a mini- of the loudest sounds in the ocean has been London park. Josh Rose, 27, tried to grab the an electric car club based on Paris’s popular Sierra Leone for the first time since contracting mum of 30 years at the Old Bailey after sexually named after legendary band Pink Floyd, zoolo- adder after it slithered into his two-year-old son’s Autolib hire scheme goes live. The launch of the disease there. She said the trip next month assaulting and killing Pardeep Kaur, in Hayes. gists said yesterday. “Synalpheus pinkfloydi” has pushchair at Hounslow Heath on Saturday. It bit Bluecity on April 26 will come almost three years was to raise funds for children orphaned by the Judge Richard Marks QC told him: “This was a a bright pink claw that, “just like all good rock his finger and he went into anaphylactic shock. after its French operators first revealed they were disease and would give her “closure in a positive truly shocking and wicked off ence.” In an impact bands,” can produce large amounts of sonic Medics treated him for an hour at the scene and targeting the UK capital. Initially it will only be way”. Caff erkey, 41, became the first person to be statement, Kaur’s husband Rachpal Singh said: “ energy, according to a post on the blog of the he was given anti-venom in intensive care at West available in Hammersmith and Fulham. Autolib diagnosed with Ebola in the UK after returning Ruskuls not only killed Pardeep but destroyed our University of Oxford’s Museum of Natural His- Middlesex Hospital. He was released the next day. was launched in Paris in 2011 and now has a fleet from Sierra Leone, where she had worked as a whole family. All our dreams are shattered. I have tory. Zoologist Sammy de Grave, a lifelong Pink Builder Rose, from Twickenham, told The Sun: of more than 4,000 cars. Progress in London has volunteer in December 2014. But her return to the lost my life partner.” Kaur, 30, was walking to work Floyd fan who works at the museum, said the “I was paralysed, my blood started to clot and I been hampered by the complexity of the opera- UK has been far from straightforward. The nurse at the Sheraton Skyline Hotel by Heathrow on shrimp’s discovery off the coast of Panama was couldn’t speak, I was foaming at the mouth. I feel tor having to strike deals with 33 town halls and has been admitted to hospital four times over fears October 17 when she was ambushed by Ruskuls “the perfect opportunity to finally give a nod to like I’ve been hit by a truck. I’m just happy it wasn’t TfL, and by the poor state of charging infrastruc- of a recurrence of the deadly disease. near Harlington Bridge. my favourite band”. one of my boys or my sister’s kids.” ture.

Knife and Day at the beach gun crime soars in Johnson is London

London Evening Standard London a liability

he number of gun and knife crime off ences in TLondon soared last year amid fears more young people are carrying weapons for self- protection and status. for Britain: The fi gures showed a 42% rise in the number of overall off ences of gun crime and a 24% jump in the number of knife crime of- fences, with 12,074 off ences last year, compared to 9,742 in 2015- 16. More worryingly, there was McDonnell also a rise in the number of guns being fi red on London’s streets, Guardian News and Media “He should have gone to Mos- on the international scene, to be up from 239 cases in 2015-16 to London cow. When he went to Moscow frank, undermines our credibility 306 cases in the last fi nancial he should have been clear with in the future.” year. the Russians just how much we Several newspaper front pages There was also a 20% increase abour has called Boris condemn what Assad has done, singled out Johnson for focus in the rate of knife attacks in- Johnson a liability for the and what they’ve done in sup- after the G7 ended without any volving injuries to victims, up LUK who “undermines our port of Assad, but try to get them plans for sanctions. from 3,663 to 4,415 in 2016-17. credibility” after the foreign sec- back to the negotiating table. However, Alistair Burt, the Overall, the number of of- retary failed to gain the backing “I’m hoping the initiative now Conservative MP who was for- fences in London rose for the of fellow G7 foreign ministers to by the Trump regime and others merly a junior foreign offi ce min- fi rst time in several years. penalise Russia and Syria over is going to enable that to happen. ister, said this was a mistake. There was a total of 774,737 last week’s chemical weapons It’s a pity Johnson made such a “It’s extremely diffi cult but crimes recorded in the capital last attack. poor judgment of this matter.” I think in the fi rst place it’s not year – compared to 740,933 in the Downing Street had insisted McDonnell argued that May, about Boris Johnson,” Burt told previous year, a rise of 4.5%. Theresa May fully backs Johnson who is on a walking holiday in BBC Radio 4’s Today programme The fi gures, which did not after the 30-page communique Wales, should have considered yesterday. “I’m disappointed include cybercrimes, showed from the two-day G7 summit in taking full charge of the situa- there is this focus.” increases in the number of mug- Italy failed to make any mention tion. “What is most important here gings, sex off ences, thefts and of Johnson’s proposal of impos- “I don’t begrudge anyone a is that we try to fi nd a way to end violent off ences. ing sanctions on key military break every now and again, but this confl ict in which one out There was a 26% leap in the personnel. you’ve got to either recognise of two Syrians have either died rate of motor vehicle thefts and A No 10 source said the prime the seriousness of the situation or been displaced. It is going to a 13% rise in personal robberies. minister was pleased with the and put your full attention to be very diffi cult. It does involve However, the number of bur- clear signal from the summit it – and I think that’s what the some diffi cult and distasteful glaries in private houses contin- that the Bashar al-Assad regime prime minister should be do- calculations, perhaps with Rus- ued to fall. could not be part of the political ing – or you’ve got to have con- sia and Iran, but the main focus Scotland Yard said it was con- future of Syria – a point repeat- fidence in the person that you should not be on an intergovern- cerned about the rises in gun edly made in the past by David send out to deal with the situ- mental spat about whether or not and knife crime, but pointed out Cameron – and its push for a for- ation,” he said. Boris Johnson has been humili- the increases came after several mal investigation into the attack. “What we’ve got at the mo- ated.” years of falling crime. But speaking yesterday, La- ment is neither a prime minister A spokesman for Johnson was Assistant commissioner Mar- bour’s shadow chancellor, John properly engaged nor someone bullish about the outcome after tin Hewitt, head of territorial McDonnell, said Johnson had who anybody, even on Tory back- he returned to London on Tues- policing, said: “London is one erred in cancelling at the last benches and, from what we un- day, insisting the prospect of tar- of the safest global cities in the minute a planned trip to Moscow derstand, even the government’s geted sanctions remained on the world. There are few others with to see his counterpart, Sergei La- own Cabinet, has confi dence in, table. such low rates of serious crime, vrov, and instead focusing on the with regard to Boris Johnson. I “The foreign secretary was the such as murder and gun crime. G7 meeting. think we’re in the worst of all one this week at the G7 calling “Similar to the rest of Eng- “The idea of going along to worlds as a result.” for tough action against those land and Wales, crime rates in the G7 to try and put together a McDonnell added: “To have who have killed innocent peo- London are rising, but many of coalition around sanctions was these one-day, on-and-off poli- ple,” he said. “Some may criticise these are still at a much lower never going to succeed. It was a cies from Boris Johnson every but it was simply the right thing level than fi ve years ago and are bad policy decision by Johnson. time he picks up a new idea, never to do to try to push other coun- against the backdrop of signifi - A family enjoys a day at the beach on the south coast’s Bigbury-on-Sea, Britain, yesterday. It should never have happened,” really thinks it through, and then tries to punish war criminals and cant reductions in resources.” McDonnell told Sky News. embarrasses our whole country murderers.” N Ireland power-sharing Marylebone becomes talks’ deadline extended property hotspot London Evening Standard The area’s three biggest land- London owners, The Portman Estate, Guardian News and Media cused engagement on the criti- tion to set this year’s regional rate Howard de Walden Estates and London cal issues are required. The par- to address the urgent need for the Church Commissioners, ties will have a fi nal opportunity rates bills to be issued by coun- arylebone has become have also invested heavily in after Easter to reach agreement, cils. In addition, I believe it is the hottest district for street improvements. Other fac- alks aimed at restoring building on the discussions also right to introduce provisions Mbuyers in central Lon- tors include the lower property a power-sharing cross- which have taken place over the that would enable an executive don this year after decades of prices in Marylebone compared Tcommunity government past six weeks.” to be formed in early May should being overshadowed by more with Mayfair and Knightsbridge, in Northern Ireland have been Party leaders say the talks have agreement be reached.” glamorous neighbours such as combined with higher rates of given an extended deadline over been constructive, but there has Sources at the talks have de- Mayfair, according to a new re- stamp duty on properties priced Easter. been little progress on key points scribed the government’s planned port. at more than £1.5mn. There has The Northern Ireland secre- such as an Irish language act and moves if the negotiations fail as Although property prices also been a string of new devel- tary, James Brokenshire, had im- legacy issues, with the Demo- “direct rule by stealth”. across the most expensive ar- opments such as The Park Cres- posed a deadline of April 18 for cratic Unionist party and Sinn The biggest sticking point in eas have dropped by an average cent near Regent’s Park, with the discussions to end. But yes- Fein blaming each other for the the negotiations appears to be of 6.4% over the past year, they £50mn of sales since its launch terday he said the parties were stalemate. Sinn Fein’s demand for an Irish have held their own in Maryle- in February, and The Chilterns. being given one last chance to se- The political deadlock came language act, which would give bone, rising 0.7%, the research Between 2005 and 2010 only cure a deal to revive the devolved after a snap election on March Gaelic parity with English in by agents Knight Frank reveals. about a dozen properties in the government at Stormont. 2 brought an end to Stormont’s Northern Ireland. The act would The popularity of an area once area sold for more than £10mn, a Confi rming the extended unionist majority. The DUP’s involve, for instance, the right to seen as a quiet choice for age- benchmark that has become in- deadline, Brokenshire said: “All lead over Sinn Fein was cut from have a court case or trial heard ing professionals has been put creasingly common, according to the parties have been actively en- 10 seats to one. solely in the Irish language. down in part to the “Chiltern Knight Frank. gaged and some further progress Brokenshire said if no agree- Progress is understood to be Firehouse” eff ect, which has Partner Christian Lock- has been made, including on the ment could be reached next being made on other contentious drawn celebrities and tycoons. Necrews said: “During a more formation of an executive and on week, he would have to imple- issues, such as how to deal with Marylebone residents include challenging market we have legacy. ment legislation from London al- the unsolved crimes and overall Kylie Minogue, Ellie Goulding, found that buyers look outside “There is, however, still a lack lowing councils to set rates, and legacy of the Troubles. One sug- Madonna and Joan Collins. their traditional locations.” of agreement between the parties possibly release expenditure in gestion is for a comprehensive As well as the restaurant, Agents said that the popular- on a small but signifi cant number other areas such as the commu- public consultation involving Chiltern Street has also attracted ity of Marylebone and areas such of issues. nity and voluntary sector. victims and their families, which jeweller Kohatu + Petros, life- as St John’s Wood have led to an “The restoration of devolved The Northern Ireland secre- would independently decide on style brand Mouki, beauty guru “Upper West End” near Regent’s government remains achievable, tary said: “I have already indicat- the exact mechanism to deal with Bharti Vyas and former Savile Park to rival the “Lower West but more time and a more fo- ed that I will introduce legisla- the region’s violent past. James Brokenshire: last chance to secure a deal Row tailors English Cut. End” closer to Hyde Park. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 17 BRITAIN Living standards in UK fall for the fi rst time since 2014

Guardian News and Media in February was 1.9% higher than months to February, while unem- “More people are fi nding full- when Theresa May is going to do was weaker than headline infl ation 2014, while earnings including London a year earlier and is running below ployment fell by 45,000 to 1.56mn. time jobs and average wages have something to help. was in August 2014, when wages bonuses rose 2.3%. This means the 2.3% increase in prices. The jobless rate remained un- grown yet again, meaning more ”We need more investment in were growing by 1.2% while infl a- households have even less money Despite a fresh fall in unemploy- changed at 4.7% – “its joint low- families have the security of a reg- skills and infrastructure to build tion was 1.5%. Pay including bo- to spend, after seeing a rise in the ising prices and stagnant ment and record job vacancies, est since 1975 – and job vacancies ular wage.” But unions disagreed. strong foundations for better paid nuses was 2.9% higher in February prices of staples such as butter wage growth have result- economists expect the squeeze on stood at 767,000. Frances O’Grady, the TUC gen- jobs. And it’s time to scrap the than a year earlier, but the fi gure and tea over recent months as the Red in the fi rst fall in living real infl ation-adjusted wages to Damian Green, the employment eral secretary, said: “Pay packets pay restrictions hitting midwives, was fl attered by City bonuses, slide in the pound since the Brexit standards in two-and-a-half intensify over the coming months secretary, said: “This is yet another are taking a hammering from rising teachers and other public serv- which are usually handed out be- referendum pushes up the cost of years, according to offi cial fi g- as the weak pound aff ects the cost strong set of fi gures, with unem- infl ation and falling wage growth. ants.” tween December and April. imported goods. ures. Labour market data from of living. ployment at a rate that hasn’t been We now need urgent action to stop The GMB union described the In the three months to February The Resolution Foundation said the Offi ce for National Statistics The ONS reported a 39,000 in- beaten since the 1970s and more another living standards crisis. fi gures as ‘disturbing’. regular wages rose 2.2%, mark- 40% of the workforce were aff ect- showed that regular pay in the UK crease in employment in the three vacancies than ever before. Working people will want to know The last time regular pay growth ing the weakest pay growth since ed by falling real wages.

Edible water bottle Sick baby’s parents not yet decided on fi ghting ruling

Guardian News and Media lenging the court’s decision would London be on a list of options to con- sider. She said: “The order that was made on Tuesday – with the he parents of a sick baby agreement of the hospital – was boy have just under three the artifi cial ventilation will not Tweeks to decide if they be withdrawn while the parents wish to challenge a judge’s rul- are considering their options and ing that life support should be their options will include the pos- withdrawn from the infant, their sibility of bringing an appeal to solicitor has said. yesterday’s decision.” Contrary to reports, the parents Asked what they would be con- of eight-month-old Charlie Gard, sidering, Hobey-Hamsey said: who has a rare genetic condition, “It’s going carefully through the have not yet decided whether they reasoning behind the judge’s deci- will appeal against Tuesday’s high sion. It’s thinking carefully about court decision and have until May whether in light of what they have 2 to consider their options. heard their position has changed Specialists at Great Ormond and whether they continue to be- A woman consumes an ‘Ooho’ plastic-less water container in London yesterday. Street hospital (GOSH) in central lieve having access to this treat- London told the court they be- ment is in Charlie’s best interests.” lieved it was time to stop provid- Hobey-Hamsey said the par- ing life support for the baby and ents had hoped the judge would it was probable that Charlie was have ruled in favour of their appli- experiencing pain but unable to let cation. “From their point of view, anyone know. it was an incredibly straightfor- In his judgement, Justice Fran- ward question. Their son had the cis said: “It is with the heaviest of chance of treatment that might hearts but with complete convic- make him better, why wouldn’t tion for Charlie’s best interests the judge give them this opportu- Foreign states ‘may have that I fi nd it is in Charlie’s best nity,” she said. interests that I accede to these “There was a window that applications and rule that GOSH was open, a small window, but may lawfully withdraw all treat- a window nonetheless. It wasn’t ment save for palliative care to a 0% chance, it was a very small permit Charlie to die with dignity.” chance, but even a very small Laura Hobey-Hamsey, the so- chance is still a chance.” interfered in Brexit vote’ licitor for Charlie’s parents, Chris Charlie, who was born on Au- Gard and Connie Yates, told BBC gust 4, has mitochondrial de- Guardian News and Media identify who may have been re- cerns that tens of thousands of common and easy to do with viduals. The implications of this Radio 4’s Today programme her pletion syndrome, a condition London sponsible, but has noted that people could have been disen- botnets... The key indicants are diff erent understanding of cy- clients would be considering over that causes progressive muscle both Russia and China use an franchised. timing and relative volume rate,” ber-attack, as purely technical the next three weeks whether weakness and brain damage. It is approach to cyber-attacks At the time, the government the committee’s report said. or as reaching beyond the digital their position had changed in light thought to aff ect just 16 children oreign governments such based on an understanding of said it was the result of an un- While the incident had no to infl uence public opinion, for of what they had heard. worldwide. as Russia and China may mass psychology and of how to precedented spike in demand, material eff ect on the outcome the interference in elections and The couple had hoped to fl y His parents had raised Fhave been involved in the exploit individuals. with more than 500,000 peo- of the referendum, the com- referendums are clear. Charlie to the US for a treatment £1,267,080 to fund the treatment, collapse of a voter registration The fi ndings follow repeated ple trying to register on the fi nal mittee said it was crucial that “PACAC is deeply concerned trial, described by some as pio- through a GoFundMe webpage website in the run-up to the claims that Russia has been in- day. lessons were learned for future about these allegations about neering. However, Francis said no that was still receiving donations. EU referendum, a committee of volved in trying to infl uence the The report, published yester- votes that must extend beyond foreign interference,” the report one with Charlie’s condition had Francis stressed that funding MPs has claimed. US and French presidential elec- day, said there were clues that a purely technical issues. concluded. ever been treated with the therapy was not an issue in the case. He A report by the Commons tions. distributed denial of service at- The report noted: “The US Britain is being hit by doz- proposed. The US doctor later ac- said of the US therapy: “I dare say public administration and con- Ministers were forced to ex- tack (DDOS) using botnets – a and UK understanding of ‘cyber’ ens of cyber-attacks a month, knowledged, after seeing docu- that medical science may benefi t stitutional aff airs committee tend the deadline to register to network of computers infected is predominantly technical and including attempts by Russian ments about the severity of the objectively from the experiment, (PACAC) said MPs were deeply vote in the EU referendum after with malicious software – was computer network-based. For state-sponsored hackers to condition, that it was “very un- but experimentation cannot be concerned about the allegations the collapse of the government’s used to overwhelm the site. example, Russia and China use steal defence and foreign policy likely” that Charlie would improve in Charlie’s best interests unless of foreign interference in last website on June 7, 100 minutes “The crash had indications a cognitive approach based on secrets, GCHQ’s new security with that treatment. there is a prospect of benefi t for year’s Brexit vote. before the deadline. of being a DDOS ‘attack’. We understanding of mass psychol- chief, Ciaran Martin, said in But Hobey-Hamsey said chal- him”. The committee does not The collapse resulted in con- understand that this is very ogy and of how to exploit indi- February.

On alert EDF customers to face May highlights toxic second price rise this year air threat to children London Evening Standard Emphasising the govern- London ment’s determination to tackle Guardian News and Media energy costs and government nual bill to £1,160. Electricity the problem, the prime min- London policies paid through bills, prices are going up the most, by ister said: “Poor air quality is which include schemes to alle- 9% or £49, with gas prices up he full scale of Britain’s the fourth largest risk to pub- viate fuel poverty and support 5.5% or £29. toxic air crisis and its lic health, behind only cancer, illions of EDF custom- low carbon power. Vincent de Rivaz, EDF’s chief Timpact on young chil- obesity and cardiovascular dis- ers will be hit with the Five of the big six energy executive, said: “I know that dren has been laid bare by ease. Msecond hike in their companies have raised their price rises are never welcome, Theresa May. “It disproportionately aff ects energy bills in four months, prices in recent months, with but the industry is facing sig- The prime minister stressed some of the most vulnerable in prompting criticism from the only British Gas promising to nifi cant cost increases.” that air pollution is the fourth our society, including the eld- government as it prepares to freeze them until August. He also alluded to the pros- biggest public health risk in the erly, people with lung and heart step in to protect consumers. The hikes have fuelled calls pect of imminent government country – with only cancer, conditions, and the very young.” From June 21, 1.5mn house- for a price cap to help strug- intervention: “We accept that obesity and cardiovascular dis- The doctors are urging the holds on the supplier’s dual fuel gling billpayers, leading energy the government, regulators and ease more severe. prime minister to start phasing standard tariff will be paying bosses to warn such a move consumer groups have concerns She highlighted that the very out diesel vehicles as soon as 8.5% or £91 more a year than would hurt competition and about the way markets work for young are among those particu- possible as toxic air is estimated they were before March. consumers. The prime minister customers, particularly the en- larly aff ected by filthy air. to cause a death toll in London The rise will strengthen recently put suppliers on notice ergy market. We will continue to Scientists say children’s lung of more than 9,000-a-year. Theresa May’s hand for the reg- when she said she was planning work with them constructively growth is being stunted by toxic Replying to Professor Jonath- ulatory intervention that she to take action on a market that for the benefi t of customers.” pollution which is causing other an Grigg, professor of Paediatric has threatened. was “manifestly not working Comparison sites said EDF’s health problems such as asth- Respiratory and Environmental A government spokesman for all consumers”. standard tariff was now one of ma. Medicine, Queen Mary Univer- said: “This price rise, branded “Energy is not a luxury,” she the more expensive on the mar- May blamed diesel vehicles sity of London, the prime min- ‘diffi cult to justify’ by Ofgem, told the Conservative spring ket. as a major source of dirty air ister added: “I agree with you will hit around half of EDF’s conference in March. “It is a ne- Mark Todd, co-founder of blighting the streets of London that one of the main reasons our customers. cessity of life. But it is clear to me energyhelpline, said: “This and other cities. cities continue to face pollu- “It’s another sign the mar- – and to anyone who looks at it – second price rise from EDF is She made her comments in tion problems is the signifi cant ket isn’t working, and we will that the market is not working as a total shock and an absolute reply to a letter signed by more levels of NOx (nitrogen oxides) shortly set out proposals to help it should.” hammer blow for millions of than 220 doctors, including emissions that diesel vehicles energy consumers as part of the EDF had already raised dual people who will see their bills Armed police off icers stand on duty inside the Carriage Gates at least 100 from the capital, produce…Harmful emissions government’s Plan for Britain.” fuel bills by 1.2% in March, to rise sharply. If you are impacted entrance to the Houses of Parliament, within the Palace of warning that time is “running from transport contribute sig- The French fi rm blamed the an average of £1,082 a year, and you must switch to avoid this Westminster, in central London, yesterday. out” to tackle the nation’s toxic nifi cantly to the air quality chal- increase on rising wholesale the new increase takes that an- price rise.” air scandal. lenge we face.” Gulf Times 18 Thursday, April 13, 2017 EUROPE

Migrant rescuers Slag mountain accuse EU border agency of conspiracy

AFP who wants to put a spoke in our Rome wheels, though we do not really know who is behind it,” Gatti said. Spanish group which The organisation said it had has been rescuing mi- nothing to hide. Agrants in the Mediter- “We have 35,000 donors. ranean since 2016 accused the Some are well known — like Pep EU’s border control agency Guardiola, the current manager Frontex yesterday of plotting to of Manchester City — others discredit private aid organisa- are anonymous,” said Oscar tions in order to put off donors. Camps, Proactiva Open Arms Allegations by Frontex that director. donor-funded rescue vessels He said the group had so far may have colluded with traf- received 2.2mn euros ($2.3mn) fi ckers at the end of last year in donations for an op in the prompted Italian prosecutors Med that costs between 5,000 to begin an informal investiga- euros and 6,000 euros a day. tion into their funding sources. Pro-Activa Open Arms also “The declarations by Frontex heavily criticised a deal signed and political authorities are in- in February between Italy and tended to discredit our actions Libya which purportedly hopes and erode our donors’ trust,” to stem the fl ow of migrants said Proactiva Open Arms head from the coast of North Africa Riccardo Gatti. to Italy. A general views shows Henin-Beaumont with twin slag heaps of a former coal mine site in the background, northern France. Marine Le Pen is expected to do very well in this “They are trying to say that Gatti said the deal was region when France holds elections in May. we support the smuggling or made with only part of the the traffi ckers themselves,” he 1,700 militias he said control said. Libya and would therefore be In a report cited in December ineffective. by the Financial Times daily, Human rights watchers have Frontex raised the possibil- also warned the accord would ity that traffi ckers were putting put the lives of those fl eeing migrants out to sea in collusion persecution and war in greater with the private ships that re- danger. cover them and bring them to “Everything is controlled by Italy “like taxis”. the militias in Libya, even the Prosecutors then publicly coast guard, and 30% of the EU mulls legal action wondered at the amount of fi nancial fl ows in the country money being spent, though come from human traffi cking,” they stopped short of opening a he said. The deal is in doubt af- formal probe. ter it was suspended in March “We feel there’s someone by Tripoli’s Court of Appeal. against Hungary Hungary has been reluctant If launched, such proceedings force the closure of the Central He gained prominence in 2015 drawn criticism from rights Romania fl ays remark to accept refugees involve long series of consulta- European University in Budapest when he fi lmed an action mov- groups and the UN. tions to determine if EU laws founded by US billionaire inves- ie-style video at a fence on the Budapest has also refused to Agencies have been breached. tor George Soros. Serbian border warning asylum- take part in an EU scheme to by Italian candidate Brussels If needed, the Commission can He has also lashed out at the seekers not to enter Hungary. evenly share migrants around the refer cases to the European Court Orban government for post- The 39-year-old said last year bloc. of Justice, which could impose ing questionnaires titled “Let’s the Asothalom decree was aimed The European Commission DPA warrants for Romanian nation- he European Union fi nes. stop Brussels!” to households at “protecting the community has called on member states to Rome als living in the European Union warned yesterday it could But Timmermans said the nationwide asking them how to and its traditions from any mass step up the protection of migrant were for residents of Italy. Tlaunch legal action with- Commission wants for now to deal with EU policies that it says settlement from outside”. Asoth- children, especially those travel- Italy’s Romanian community in weeks against member state pursue a political dialogue to re- threaten their independence. alom, a town of around 4,000 ling on their own. leading member of Ita- numbers more than 1mn peo- Hungary’s right-wing govern- solve the points of contention The EU is concerned too about people, has few migrants. Currently, one in three asy- ly’s poll-topping popu- ple, offi cial fi gures show. Gianni ment to enforce EU democratic and determine what Hungarian legislation due to go to the Hun- The Hungarian Islamic Com- lum seekers in Europe is a child, Alist opposition party Five Pittella, leader of the socialist norms. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s garian parliament in May forcing munity (MIK), estimated to and at risk of abuse, exploitation, Star Movement (M5S) came group in the European Parlia- The EU has expressed fears views are on the rule of law. NGOs receiving more than 7.2mn have around 40,000 members, going missing, and being drawn under fi re yesterday for claim- ment and member of Italy’s that Hungary is undermining Timmermans, the Dutch forints (23,000 euros) annually had called the measures “xeno- into criminal activities or radi- ing that his country was awash ruling Democratic Party (PD), academic freedom, non-gov- right-hand man of Commission from abroad to “register” with phobic” and asked the consti- calisation, according to the com- with Romanian “criminals”. dismissed Di Maio’s comment ernment organisations and the chief Jean-Claude Juncker, said the authorities. tutional court to examine their mission. The Romanian ambassador as “nonsense” and urged his rights of asylum seekers. not only is Orban open to such a Failure to comply could result validity. The commission proposed a to Italy, George Gabriel Bolo- M5S counterpart to “go back to “The College will review all these dialogue, but “in the view of the in the closure of the organisa- At the height of Europe’s mi- number of measures as a pri- gan, said in a letter published studying.” issues closely when it takes the next Commission today, there is not a tions. grant crisis in 2015, over 400,000 ority for member states, such by the La Stampa newspaper Di Maio, 30, stood by his re- round of infringement decisions at systemic threat to the rule of law Hungary’s highest court people, many fl eeing the Syrian as having child protection spe- that the remarks, “personal marks in a second Facebook the end of April,” European Com- in Hungary”. yesterday repealed a far-right civil war, passed through Euro- cialists involved from an early opinions aside, off end many of post, which stated that Italy’s mission First Vice President Frans He said the situation contrasts mayor’s decree banning the pean Union member Hungary on stage, as well as creating ad- my...fellow citizens.” ineffi cient justice system at- Timmermans said, referring to an with that in Poland, whose right- construction of mosques and their way to western and north- equate reception conditions for The news comes two days af- tracts foreign criminals while EU Commission body. wing government was accused the wearing of clothes such as ern Europe. children. ter Luigi Di Maio, who is regu- at the same time encouraging “Wherever individual cases last year of violating EU rule of the niqab and the burkini in his Right-wing Prime Minister “Child migrants, especially larly tipped as the M5S’ candi- Italian entrepreneurs to “go to are legally mature and our legal law norms with changes to the town. Viktor Orban, a strong admirer those who are unaccompanied, date for prime minister at the countries where [the law] works concerns remain unaddressed, Constitutional Court. The decree in Asothalom, close of US President Donald Trump, should be supported by guard- next elections, complained on better, like Romania.” we will move to the next steps,” It started a long process which to the Serbian border, was “un- has taken a hard line on immigra- ians or foster families, as early as Facebook that “Italy has im- The M5S currently leads he told a press conference. could eventually see Warsaw’s constitutional” and “infringed tion, calling it the “Trojan horse possible,” said Vera Jourova, the ported from Romania 40 per opinion polls at 28.4-per-cent, The college, which gathers the voting rights suspended in the fundamental rights”, the consti- of terrorism”. Commissioner for Justice, Con- cent of their criminals”.” while the PD is polling at 27.2 28 commissioners of the Euro- Council of Ministers, the EU’s tutional court in Budapest said. Last month, his government sumers and Gender Equality. He attempted to back up his per cent, according to aver- pean Commission, the EU ex- highest decision-making body. The directive was introduced announced it would detain all The commission also called on claim by posting a video of an age readings compiled by the ecutive, is due to meet April 27 to Commission head Jean- last November by Laszlo Torocz- asylum-seekers in container member states to step up the re- Italian prosecutor saying 40 per Termometro Politico website. discuss so-called infringement Claude Juncker has criticised kai, a vice-president of the radi- camps on its southern bor- settlement of children in need of cent of Bucharest-issued arrest Elections are due by early 2018. proceedings. Hungarian legislation that could cal-right Jobbik party. der with Serbia, a plan that has protection. Budapest appears to backtrack in row over varsity

Reuters against what the said was a crackdown come to symbolise rival visions of Budapest on free thought and education. Hungary’s future. They fi lled the capital’s Heroes’ Soros, whose ideal of an ‘open so- Square and formed a heart shape and ciety’ is squarely at odds with Orban’s ungary denied yesterday that a the word ‘CIVIL’ from human bodies. ‘illiberal democracy’, has often been new education law was aimed It was the fourth major street dem- vilifi ed by the prime minister. Hat shutting down a university onstration in the last two weeks as the The law stipulated that the CEU founded by US fi nancier George Soros, government faces growing resistance a must open a branch in its home state of and suggested a possible compromise year before elections are due. New York alongside its campus in Bu- in a dispute that has drawn protests at “They have pressed ahead since dapest and secure a bilateral agreement home and criticism from Washington. 2010 with new moves ever day that of support from the US government. Central European University (CEU) hurt democracy in some way,” Robert Both of those conditions would have found itself in the eye of a politi- Ferenczi, a 55 year-old protester from been prohibitive by a deadline of Janu- cal storm after Hungary’s parliament Budapest, told Reuters. ary 2018, and CEU rejected them from passed the new law last week setting Government spokesman Zoltan Ko- the start. tougher conditions for the awarding of vacs said the government would not The United States asked Hungary licences to foreign-based universities. suspend the disputed law but added: to suspend the implementation of Critics said the new terms would “We are going to have talks with every- the law, and the European Union on hurt academic freedoms and were es- one; if the Soros university is driven by Wednesday threatened Orban with le- pecially aimed at CEU, founded by the good intentions, it will be able to solve gal action for moves that it saw as un- Hungarian-born Soros after the col- the problem.” democratic. lapse of Communism and considered a CEU itself was taken by surprise at “Taken cumulatively, the overall bastion of independent scholarship in Palkovics’ comments, according to an situation in Hungary is a cause of con- the region. emailed statement. cern,” European Commission First Vice In an apparent change of tack, Edu- “The solution evoked by State Sec- President Frans Timmermans said. cation Secretary Laszlo Palkovics said retary Palkovics in the press does not Analyst Zoltan Novak at the Centre CEU could continue to operate if it appear to be legally and operationally for Fair Political Analysis said the gov- delivered its teaching and issued its coherent and certain,” it said. “CEU ernment now appeared to have per- degrees through its existing Hungarian has not been approached directly by formed a U-turn. sister school. Secretary Palkovics with this informa- “Calling it ‘Soros University’ for “We never wanted to close down tion.” weeks was a clear way for the govern- CEU,” Palkovics told news website “Exchanges in the press are no sub- ment to designate an enemy and at- HVG.hu. “The question is whether stitute for sustained direct contact on a tack,” Novak said. “Now they made the CEU insists on having a licence in confi dential basis. education secretary bring up a policy Hungary or having courses in Hun- We look to the Hungarian govern- argument to back out, containing the gary honoured with a CEU degree... ment to initiate negotiations with CEU political fallout.” (CEU’s own) licence has little signifi - so that we can resolve this and go back Novak said Orban, who faces elec- cance.” to work, with our academic freedom tions in April 2018, may have miscalcu- Despite this, thousands of Hun- secured, without limits or duration.” lated the resistance the CEU law could Police off icers push protesters in front of the headquarters of Victor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party in Budapest during a demon- garians protested in central Budapest The dispute over the university has provoke, especially from Washington. stration against higher education legislation. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 19 EUROPE

Russia blast suspect was deported from Turkey

Reuters The Turkish offi cial’s ac- Istanbul count confi rmed information given to Reuters by two of Jal- ilov’s acquaintances. kbarzhon Jalilov, the They said that he had ac- man Russian police quired an interest in Islam and Asuspect of blowing up a left Russia for Turkey at the St Petersburg metro carriage, end of 2015, after which they entered Turkey in late 2015 and lost contact. was deported to Russia about a Jalilov, a Russian citizen year later because of migration who was born in the mainly violations, a senior Turkish of- Muslim ex-Soviet republic of fi cial told Reuters yesterday. Kyrgyzstan, revealed no out- The April 3 attack killed 14 ward signs of radicalism, his people, including the bomber acquaintances said, and no himself, and injured dozens evidence has emerged that he more. belonged to any established Is- It took place as Russian lamist militant groups. President Vladimir Putin — ar- That has made it harder for chitect of Russia’s military in- Russian security agencies to tervention in Syria — was visit- establish how he carried out ing St Petersburg. the attack on the metro train, The Turkish offi cial, who and whether he has associates spoke on condition of ano- who are planning future at- nymity, said that while in Tur- tacks. key Jalilov “was deemed suspi- At the time he left for Tur- cious due to some connections key, Jalilov was living in St Pe- he had, but no action was taken tersburg, where he worked as as he had not done anything il- a restaurant cook and in a car legal and there was no evidence repair shop. of wrongdoing.” Soon after he was deported “However, the issue was not from Turkey, he travelled to Armed police in Dortmund, western Germany. dropped and this person was his native city of Osh, in Kyr- sent out of Turkey in Decem- gyzstan, local offi cials there ber 2016 for violating their visa told Reuters. and residency. From there, he went back to In the end, a fi ne was given St Petersburg, moving into a and they were deported with new apartment in early March an entry ban,” the offi cial said. this year. After leaving Turkey, Jal- Prosecutors said security ilov’s “passage into Russia was camera footage showed him easy from here, it seems they leaving that apartment on the ‘Terror link’ probed (Jalilov) encountered no prob- day of the attack carrying a lems,” the offi cial said. rucksack and another bag.

13 are acquitted in for Dortmund blasts One bomb fragment came vowed it won’t “give in to ter- 28-year-old German. main road, when there was a huge families with young children, Turkish Oda TV case close to causing serious ror”, with players returning to the At least one of the two could noise — a big explosion,” Dort- about 15 minutes before kick-off . injury pitch for training. have been close to the scene at mund’s Swiss goalkeeper Roman Merkel praised supporters for Extra forces were deployed the time of the explosion, they Burki told Swiss media. their “calm” behaviour and the DPA len, a US-based cleric, who AFP around team hotels and their said, quoting unnamed security “After the bang, we all host side for their hospitality, af- Istanbul was allied with the govern- Dortmund, Germany buses will take designated safe sources who nevertheless urged crouched down in the bus. We did ter some Dortmund fans took in ment. Gulen and President Re- routes to the stadiums. caution on linking the individu- not know if more would come.” stranded Monaco supporters for cep Tayyip Erdogan have since Both Dortmund and Monaco als to the assault. Some players hurled themselves the night. Turkish court acquit- fallen out. erman investigators yes- fans were also out in force in Chancellor Angela Merkel said to the ground, he said. Boris Marchi, 26, who was ted 13 people, including The government blames the terday detained an Is- downtown Dortmund, underlin- she was “horrifi ed” by the “re- Underlining the severity of the wearing both the red and yellow Aa prominent investiga- cleric for last year’s failed coup, Glamist suspect over three ing their support for the players. pugnant act”, which Dortmund blast, prosecutors said a piece of scarf of his club Monaco as well tive journalist, in the so-called although Gulen denies the ac- explosions that rocked Borus- Federal prosecutor’s offi ce city’s police chief Gregor Lange metal shrapnel was lodged in the as the yellow and black of Dort- Oda TV case that relates to an cusation. sia Dortmund’s team bus, pros- spokeswoman Frauke Koehler described as a “targeted attack” head-rest of a bus seat. mund, said he was off ered lodg- alleged coup plot from 2011, Hundreds of people were ecutors said, confi rming that the said the probe was examining against the team, also known as As the squad geared up for ings by a German supporter. broadcaster NTV reported yes- jailed during the Ergenekon probe was examining a possible a possible “terrorist link”, after BVB. kick-off , Dortmund’s chief ex- “It was really a beautiful mo- terday. and Sledghammer cases, in- “terrorist link”. three identical letters were found Germany has been on high ecutive Hans-Joachim Watze ment, and meeting,” he told AFP, However, investigative jour- cluding members of the mili- The roadside blasts left Dort- at the scene. alert since a series of jihad- vowed that his side “will play adding that he was meeting his nalist Ahmet Sik remains be- tary, all of whom have since mund’s Spanish international “An Islamist background ap- ist attacks last year, including a not only for ourselves today. We benefactor for a drink before hind bars, as he was arrested in been released. Marc Bartra and a policeman pears to be possible,” she said, Christmas market assault in Ber- will play for everyone... we want kick-off . December on fresh charges of Sik has been critical of the injured, with the bombs “con- noting the letter demanded that lin. to show that terror and hate can Bild put out a full-page advert supporting terrorism. Gulen religious movement and taining metal pieces” detonating Germany withdraw its deploy- Tuesday’s explosives detonat- never determine our actions”. in Dortmund’s yellow and its Sik was detained from 2011 wrote about its alleged infi ltra- minutes after the team bus set off ment of Tornado reconnaissance ed minutes after the Dortmund Monaco’s vice president BVB 09 logo, with the message: to 2012 as part of the Oda TV tion of state institutions, work to a planned Champions League missions in the anti-IS interna- team bus pulled away from the Vadim Vasilyev said “football “You’ll never walk alone”. trial, a case related to the larger seen as a catalyst for his initial game against Monaco on Tues- tional coalition and close the US squad’s hotel. must not be taken hostage”, and Further south in Munich, so-called Ergenekon coup plot. troubles nearly six years ago. day night. The blast had a radius air base in the western German Bartra underwent surgery on a pledged that the quarter-fi nal where the Bundesliga champi- Journalists were accused His arrest in December was of more than 100m, federal pros- town of Ramstein. broken wrist after he was hit by would go ahead. ons were facing Real Madrid, fans of having a role in the alleged triggered by widely questioned ecutors said, adding it was lucky “Two suspects from the Is- fl ying glass, Dortmund president In a show of solidarity, Ger- were also defi ant. putsch plans. claims that he supported the the toll was not higher. lamist spectrum have become Reinhard Rauball said. man Interior Minister Thomas “They try to scare us and get us The Ergenekon and related Gulen movement. The match was postponed and the focus of our investigation. A policeman, who was on a de Maiziere will also attend the to stop going to the stadium, but Sledghammer cases are now The charges against him held yesterday as security was Both of their apartments were motorcycle escorting the team match. by going to the match, we show seen as having been largely shifted and now relate to al- ratcheted up around Dortmund searched, and one of the two has bus, suff ered trauma from the The announcement that Tues- that we’re not afraid and that concocted by members of the leged propaganda for the and in Munich where Bayern been detained,” she added. noise of the blasts, which shat- day’s game was postponed was they can’t push us around,” said judiciary, some of whom may banned Kurdistan Workers’ Munich will take on Real Madrid. Local media identifi ed the sus- tered the bus windows. only made to the stadium packed Melina Peckruhl, who was head- have had ties to Fethullah Gu- Party (PKK). But a defi ant Dortmund team pects as a 25-year-old Iraqi and a “The bus turned on to the with stunned fans, including ing to the match with her father. Attack puts a choke-hold on Swedish tolerance

Reuters seen trouble such as riots among dis- years ago has since subsided after the a break — The FAKE NEWS media is Stockholm aff ected youths, but it looks well kept EU reached a deal with Turkey to take trying to say that large scale immi- compared to many of the more run- back refugees and other migrants that gration in Sweden is working out just down areas around major cities in Eu- cross illegally. beautifully. NOT!”. ours after the truck attack that rope. But it caused soul-searching in Swe- Last week, before the truck attack, killed four people in the heart of In Rinkeby metro station, Refa Jafari, den, where the government tightened members of a vigilante anti-immigra- HStockholm, Muslim taxi driver a slight 23-year-old in a black baseball residency rules, cut benefi ts and im- tion group, Soldiers of Odin, which has Abdi Dahir found himself in a suff ocat- cap who came to Sweden as an unac- posed more border controls. expanded from Finland to the Nordics ing choke-hold from a man sitting in companied minor from Afghanistan in Support has grown for the anti-im- and Baltics, entered the gates of Al- the back seat. 2010, stood handing out free SIM cards migration Sweden Democrats, which Azhar, a Muslim school in Vallingby, a Struggling to breathe, Dahir, who for a mobile operator. opinion polls rank as the second biggest suburb near Rinkeby. moved to Sweden from Somalia as a “I will try to prove to Swedes that party behind Prime Minister Stefan Assistant school head Roger child, felt he could die too, at the hands all people who have black hair are not Lofven’s Social Democrats. Lindquist told Reuters two men had of an angry passenger who blamed the Muslim and that all Muslims are not “We’ve not been taken seriously, walked around the school yard days country’s openness to Muslim immi- terrorists. maybe even a bit ridiculed, and I hope before the attack, taking photos of stu- grants for the attack that afternoon. We have been suff ering the very same we can leave that behind us now,” Swe- dents and putting up stickers with their “We have done everything for every- problem in our own countries,” he said. den Democrats Vice Chairman Julia emblem. one, we have given them mosques, we “That is why we are here.” Kronlid told Reuters after the attack. The school had felt compelled to hire have given them everything but they Fearing reprisals, Sweden’s Security By far the biggest act of terrorism security guards, he said. “Why do they kill our own people. Cherry blossoms in Kungstradgarden park in Stockholm. Police are stepping up surveillance of in the Nordic region was carried out hate us? Why do they want to harm us Then we’ll kill them,” the man white supremacist groups. not by an immigrant but by an anti- and why do they want to shut down our growled at Dahir before grabbing him 39-year-old Rakhmat Akilov from Uz- cal climate,” said Mohamed Nuur, 25, a “There is talk of taking revenge, of immigration fanatic, Anders Breivik, school?” he said. around the neck, according to an audio bekistan, had applied for asylum but local politician from the ruling Social using violence, or a threat of violence, who killed 77 people in 2011 in an Oslo Sweden’s liberal tradition is far from recording of the assault. had been rejected and faced an expul- Democrat party who represents con- to show that we are angry about what bomb attack and shooting rampage at defeated, however. Dahir, who recorded part of the con- sion order, making him one of more stituents in Rinkeby, a sprawling area of has happened here,” security police a Norwegian summer camp. Although Friday’s truck attack prompted versation on his cell phone, said he than 12,000 people wanted for depor- apartment blocks largely planned and chief Anders Thornberg told local TV. hostility to immigration is still a politi- countless acts of generosity and soli- had also activated a concealed alarm, tation in Sweden. built for workers in Sweden’s progres- Suspected right-wing extremists cal taboo for most mainstream political darity and brought thousands of people prompting police to intervene. In court on Tuesday his lawyer said sive heyday of the late 1960s. It is part have planted bombs at asylum centres parties in the region, calls to shut the onto the streets of central Stockholm Stockholm police said they were in- he had confessed to a terrorist crime. of a belt of heavily immigrant neigh- in the past, he noted. door are growing louder. in a show of unity against violence and vestigating the incident. Europe’s most welcoming nation to bourhoods that ring Stockholm. Sweden, a country of 10mn people, An hour after last week’s attack, extremism on Sunday. “I tried to work, but I’m too nervous asylum seekers has tightened immigra- Drab grey terrace houses line the has received around 700,000 asylum Christian Tybring-Gjedde, a lawmaker “It was fantastic. A sea of people to have anyone sitting behind me in the tion policy in recent years and is con- streets where small shops advertise ha- seekers since the end of the 1990s. from Norway’s ruling populist Progress that came together and showed love, all car,” said Dahir, his voice still hoarse. sidering new measures after Friday’s lal products in both Arabic and Swed- In 2015, when hundreds of thousands Party, accused Lofven in a Facebook kinds of people. That is what Sweden Anti-Muslim anger is putting the attack, including better policing of ish. Many women there wear head of migrants entered the EU across post of “implementing Europe’s most is about, and that is how we must keep Nordic country’s deep-rooted liberal deportation orders and banning mem- scarves when they go out. the Balkans, Sweden took in a record irresponsible, naive and culturally self- it,” said Juma Lomani, 32, who came to traditions to the test, after a man hi- bership of terrorist groups. It is also “We already see manipulated images 163,000, more than any other European destructive immigration policy”. Sweden as a 19-year-old from Afghani- jacked a beer truck and rammed it into a bracing for rising intolerance and hate spread by Nazis and others who want to Union member relative to the size of its Back in February, US president Don- stan and now works for an organisation busy downtown pedestrian mall. crimes. spread hateful messages,” said Nuur, a population. ald Trump attacked Sweden’s immigra- helping young refugees adapt to Swed- At the time of the attack, the suspect, “I’m quite worried about the politi- Muslim of Somali decent. Rinkeby has That huge migration wave from two tion record, tweeting: “Give the public ish society. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, April 13, 2017 INDIA

ELECTION INVESTIGATION JUDICIARY POLITICS CONTROVERSY Congress vows to improve Delhi court issues MP gets bail in leave Ex-Congress leaders HC denies bail to TV channel Delhi schools’ standards warrant against Mallya travel fraud case join Goa ministry CEO in sleaze audio case

The Congress Party yesterday said it will form an A New Delhi court yesterday issued an open- A New Delhi court yesterday granted bail to Rajya Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday The Kerala High Court yesterday denied bail “expert group” after winning the Delhi civic bodies ended non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Sabha member Anil Kumar Sahani in an alleged inducted two more ministers in his coalition to Mangalam TV CEO R Ajithkumar and his elections to improve infrastructure and teaching liquor baron Vijay Mallya in a case of alleged Leave Travel Concession (LTC) fraud case. Central ministry. Mauvin Godinho and Vishwajit Rane are senior colleague K Jayachandran in the sleaze standards in schools in the national capital. The violation of foreign exchange rules. Chief Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Virender former Congress leaders. While Rane resigned audio case, but accepted the pleas of three Congress’s promise came during the party’s Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass issued the Kumar Goyal granted bail to Sahani and two others from the Congress Party and as MLA on the day other journalists arrested in the case. The court election campaign, which kicked off from south NBW after Mallya did not appear in the Foreign and asked them to furnish personal and surety bonds of the floor test in the state assembly on March observed that the two need to be kept in judicial Delhi’s Jahapana Forest Park yesterday morning. Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) violation case. of Rs100,000 each. The CBI alleged that during 2012, 16 before joining the BJP last week, Godinho custody as the laptop and pen drive which Interacting with the morning walkers, senior The court was hearing the final arguments Sahani entered into a criminal conspiracy with Air switched over to the BJP from the Congress contained the lewd conversation of transport party leader Shashi Tharoor expressed concern in the 2000 case related to alleged violation Cruise Travels Private Ltd and others aiming to cheat shortly before the February 4 state assembly minister A K Saseendran with a woman on over the deteriorating condition of the schools by Mallya of the erstwhile FERA provision in the government by claiming fake reimbursement of polls. The Parrikar-led coalition ministry now phone, has, according to the CEO, been stolen governed by the municipal corporation of Delhi arranging funds to advertise his company’s expenditure incurred upon purported air travel along includes five ministers from the BJP (including and have to be recovered for the case to go (MCD). “Congress will form an expert group after liquor products abroad. On October 4 last with other companions. Sahani used forged e-tickets the chief minister), three from Goa Forward, ahead. The five journalists were arrested last coming to power in the MCDs, which will include year, the Enforcement Directorate told the and fake boarding passes and claimed Rs1.4mn as two from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party week for airing the audio on March 26 – the day experts on education and other related fields. This court that Mallya can obtain emergency travel Travelling Allowance and Daily Allowance (TA/DA) and two Independents. Speaking to the media, the channel was launched. The issue led to a expert group would suggest solutions to improve documents to return to India and face the reimbursement without actually undertaking the Parrikar said the portfolios to the newly-inducted political furore and within hours, Saseendran education in MCD schools,” he said. FERA violation case. journey, the CBI said. ministers would be allotted within this week. announced his resignation.

New airport Mango is flavour of season to change face of N Kerala, Mobile towers says offi cial

IANS Kannur, Kerala are safe, says he Kannur International Airport which will be in- Taugurated in September will change the face of north Ker- ala – whether in tourism or busi- ness activities like handloom, telecom body textiles and fl oriculture, a senior offi cial said yesterday. Standing to gain through this new airport are the nearby popu- lar tourist destinations of Coorg and Mysore in Karnataka. after SC order The Rs1,892 crore airport lo- cated at Mattanur in a 2,000 acre area is expected to be completed Cellular Operators’ exposed him to harmful radiation As a precaution, the DoT has in record time. Association of India allays for the last 14 years. already maintained emission lim- Former Air India chairman and fears over emissions In its order, a bench of Justice its in India at 1/10th of the rec- managing director V Thulasidas, Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Navin ommended global standards by who is now the managing direc- IANS Sinha said: “We direct that the the International Commission tor of the Kannur International New Delhi particular mobile tower shall be on Non-Ionising Radiation Pro- Airport Limited (KIAL), said deactivated by BSNL within seven tection, making them one of the work was progressing and com- days from today.” strictest norms existing anywhere mercial operations at the airport ndia’s telecom industry body The order is likely to further across the world. would be started in September yesterday appealed to the fuel the debate over the eff ects The WHO in 2010 had quoted this year. Ipublic “not to panic” after the of radiation from mobile phone Director of International Agency “To start with, we expect an Supreme Court ordered a mobile towers, with activists feeling vin- for Research on Cancer Christo- annual traffi c of around 1.85mn tower to be shut down over fears dicated while the government ar- pher Wild as saying that “an in- passengers and expect to touch of radiation. gues there is no evidence to prove creased risk of brain cancer is not its maximum of around 9mn in a The court, in a recent order, that the waves cause cancer. established from the data from few years’ time,” he said. had asked the mobile tower to The activists have alleged that Interphone.” “The airport will be able to be shut down within seven days radiation from mushrooming The Interphone Study Group handle 2,000 passengers at a after a man claimed the radiation mobile phone towers have caused had carried extensive case stud- time,” said Thulasidas, a 1972 In- from the tower had given him sparrows, crows and bees to van- ies in 13 countries for the agency, dian Administrative Service (IAS) cancer. ish. which is part of the WHO. offi cer. He said the airport would “For the telecom industry, con- But Mathews said eight high WHO, in another note on radio boost tourism activities in the sumer health and interest are par- courts had earlier ruled that ra- frequency (RF) transmitters, said: hilly districts of Wayanad, Kan- amount. The industry appeals to diation emanating from mobile “Over the past 15 years, studies nur and Kasargode. the citizens and the public to not towers were not hazardous to hu- examining a potential relation- There are numerous unexplored panic and read the interim order man health. ship between RF transmitters destinations in these districts that in its entirety. There are four EMF He added that the government and cancer have been published. can be reached from Kozhikode (electromagnetic fi elds) related of India in its affi davit also had These studies have not provided and Mangalore airports. But these cases which have been clubbed provided evidence of it, stat- evidence that RF exposure from are far away and the connectiv- together. The interim order re- ing clearly that it has one of the the transmitters increases the risk ity is a problem, given the size of lates to only one of them whereas strictest norms across the world of cancer.” However, the WHO these two airports. cell towers included in the other on electromagnetic fi elds emis- has also called for further, more The handloom and textiles in- cases were left untouched,” Rajan sion from mobile towers. extensive studies since mobile dustry will be another segment to S Mathews, director general of the Mathews said authorities reg- phone usage has grown exponen- get a major boost as with the new Cellular Operators’ Association of ularly checked and monitored tially. airport, as exports through Kan- India (COAI), said. mobile towers for emission and According to Mathews, the Al- nur will be cheaper. “Citizens have no reason to imposed high penalties in case of lahabad High Court had set up an “Floriculture activity is an- panic as mobile towers emit low any violation. expert committee which found other industry that’s going to level radiation, which is within The Department of Telecom that currently there was “no con- enter newer realms of business as the prescribed DoT (department (DoT) on its site states: “WHO clusive scientifi c evidence” to the airport will have provisions of telecom) norms which make (World Health Organisation) has establish that EMF had harmful for preserving and storage. This mobile towers completely safe,” referred to approximately 25,000 eff ect on human health. is also going to boost the local he said in a statement. articles published around the He said the Supreme Court had economy,” said Thulasidas. The Times of India reported world over past 30 years, and asked COAI to submit reports and This airport will start off with that Harish Chand Tiwari, who based on an in-depth review of other relevant documents which a runway of 3,050m and within 18 works at the residence of Prakash scientifi c literature, has con- it would do shortly. “We believe months of its opening, its length Workers sort and pack mangoes at the Gaddiannaram Fruit Market on the outskirts of Sharma in the Dal Bazar area of cluded: ‘current evidence does the fi nal order will take a com- will be increased to 3,400m and Hyderabad yesterday. India produces over 40% of the world’s mangoes, growing some 30 Gwalior, fi led a petition in the Su- not confi rm the existence of any prehensive view of the matter eventually it will touch 4,000m, varieties commercially. preme Court complaining that a health consequences from expo- after taking into consideration all making it one of the four biggest BSNL tower illegally installed on sure to low level electromagnetic the supplied material evidence,” airports. a neighbour’s rooftop in 2002 had fi eld’.” Mathews said.

Turnbull visit Governor must sack TN Kerala court asks CBI govt, says opposition to probe Mani’s death IANS IANS bly bye-election, which has since Rs10,000 to each voter in the Kochi Mumbai been cancelled by the Election constituency, apart from doling Commission. out gifts like lamps, saris, milk The bye-election was neces- tokens and phone recharge cou- he Kerala High Court yes- amil Nadu’s opposition sitated by the death of then chief pons. terday asked the Central Dravida Munnetra Kazhag- minister J Jayalalithaa on Decem- He said the offi cial machinery, TBureau of Investigation to Tam yesterday demanded ber 5, 2016, who held the seat in including police vans and min- begin a probe within a month the the resignation of Chief Minister the assembly. isters’ offi cial vehicles with red death of actor Kalabhavan Mani. E Palaniswamy and his council DMK working president M K beacons, were “misused” to carry The family of Mani had ap- of ministers for alleged electoral Stalin said T T V Dinakaran, the the cash that was distributed to proached the court seeking a CBI malpractices. candidate of the AIADMK fac- the prospective voters. probe. If they don’t resign they should tion led by V K Sasikala, is fac- On April 7, the Income Tax Mani, 45, who acted in 200 be dismissed DMK leaders told ing a foreign exchange regulation Department raided Health Min- fi lms in Malayalam and other Maharashtra Governor C V Rao, case. ister C Vijayabaskar and carried languages, was admitted to a who also holds the charge of Sasikala is in jail after she out searches at 32 places in Tamil hospital here on March 4 last Tamil Nadu. was convicted in a corruption Nadu. Stalin said the IT Depart- year as he was said to be suff ering Mani: mystery continues DMK’s three members of par- case. ment had gone on record to detail from a liver ailment. He died two liament – R S Bharathi, T K S Stalin said soon after fi ling his how seven key aides of Dinakaran days later. to speculation it may not have Elangovan and T N Siva – called nomination papers, Dinakaran distributed over Rs89.65 crore to The state police have not made been a natural death. on Rao and submitted a memo- and the “puppet” chief minister bribe voters. much headway in their probe Since then, the family has been randum on the issue. and his cabinet colleagues “ap- The DMK leader said the raid- even as forensic experts said an demanding a probe to ascer- The DMK demanded that the pear to have entered into a crimi- ing team seized Rs5 crore and insecticide, chlorpyrifos, was tain the real cause of the death. governor should ask the central nal conspiracy to spend nearly documents from Vijayabaskar, found in the actor’s body. The Kerala government last year government to order a Central Rs100 crore of ill-gotten wealth which he claimed indicated the Mani was living at a 30-acre too sought a CBI probe, but the Bureau of Investigation probe into to bribe each voter in the con- involvement of Palaniswamy and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Maharashtra farmhouse near Chalakkudy, agency had not taken it up. what it called a “massive corrup- stituency”. his ministers in the bribery scan- Governor Vidyasagar Rao (left) and Chief Minister away from his home where his Earlier this month, Mani’s tion” indulged in by the ruling Stalin, the son of former chief dal. Devendra Fadnavis (right) pose for a photograph wife and daughter reside. brother R L V Ramakrishnan met All India Anna Dravida Munnetra minister K Karunanidhi, claimed Stalin said all this amounts to following a meeting at the Governor House in Mumbai After his death, hospital au- federal Home Minister Rajnath Kazhagam (AIADMK) faction in AIADMK workers were instruct- off ences under the Representa- yesterday. thorities reported the presence Singh and repeated the family’s the run-up to R K Nagar assem- ed to go from door to door to pay tion of the People Act, 1951. of a chemical in the body, leading demand for a CBI probe. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 21 INDIA BJP leader’s ‘bounty off er’ Govt is spreading fear, sparks outrage insecurity: opposition

IANS Ananth Kumar condemned the IANS Kolkata/New Delhi remarks. New Delhi “The statement ... is com- pletely wrong. We condemn it. he Bharatiya Janata Par- Mamata Banerjee is an elected number of opposition ty yesterday disowned leader and she must be re- leaders, including Con- Ta youth leader who spected,” he said. A gress president Sonia triggered outrage by off ering Varshney of the Bharatiya Gandhi, yesterday met Presi- Rs1.1mn to anyone who be- Janata Yuva Morcha made the dent Pranab Mukherjee on the heads West Bengal Chief Min- statement after police clashed electronic voting machine is- ister Mamata Banerjee. with people taking part in a sue and raised concerns over An unperturbed Banerjee rally in West Bengal’s Birbhum what they called an “environ- said she considers such threats district on Tuesday. ment of fear and insecurity” in as “blessings”. “She stands up for minori- the country. As Banerjee’s Trinamool ties. Aren’t Hindus human A delegation of 13 parties that Congress and the Congress beings? If there was some hu- called on the president included Party raised the issue angrily in manity, then there wouldn’t Congress vice president Rahul parliament, demanding action be so much discrimination Gandhi and senior party lead- against Yogesh Varshney, the against the Hindus,” he said af- ers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mal- BJP distanced itself from the ter apparently seeing a video of likarjun Kharge, Communist Aligarh-based leader. police assaulting the people to Party of India (Marxist) general BJP national secretary Ra- disperse them. secretary Sitaram Yechury and hul Sinha said such comments “There is only one thought Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal- cannot be tolerated. that crossed my mind after United. “We doubt if he has the cred- watching that video... Who- They submitted a memoran- Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad talks to press after meeting President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday. Also seen are Sonia Gandhi, Rahul ibility to be a BJP Yuva Morcha ever will cut off Mamata Ban- dum to the president on alleged Gandhi, D Raja, Sitaram Yechury and Anand Sharma among others. leader. Such comments cannot erjee’s head, I will give that tampering with the EVMs dur- be supported by anyone,” Sinha person Rs11 lakh as reward,” ing the February-March as- Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. across the country. In Rajasthan, the democratic process and cast and urged him not to use EVMs said in Kolkata. Varshney said. sembly elections, undermining Arbitrariness in decision- Jharkhand, Gujarat and Uttar their votes without intimidation brought from Rajasthan during “We will continue to oppose His off er went viral on social of constitutional institutions, making and the appointments to Pradesh, a number of such in- and violence,” he said. the April 23 municipal elections Mamata Banerjee on political media, triggering widespread attacks on minority community key constitutional positions in cidents have taken place,” Azad The memorandum said: “The in Delhi, claiming they were all grounds. But the BJP does not condemnation. members by lumpen elements brazen disregard of established said. government is misusing its tampered with. approve of the politics of ha- Describing the comment as a in Rajasthan and elsewhere, and procedures and practices was a “We also informed the presi- brute majority in the Lok Sabha Kejriwal demanded that the tred and murder though such provocation against a popular unabated violence in Jammu and matter of concern, Azad said, dent about how non-BJP-ruled to scuttle parliamentary debate civic polls be held through extreme comments were made chief minister and an attack on Kashmir, among others. adding: “The environment of states are being destabilised by and scrutiny of bills by refusing EVMs along with Voter Veri- by Trinamool Congress leaders women, opposition leaders de- The delegation sought fear and insecurity is prevailing the central government through to refer the same to the Standing fied Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) earlier,” he said. nounced Varshney. Mukherjee’s intervention to in the country and voices of dis- misuse of power of governors Committees.” and that too after all political Speaking in Murshidabad, Trinamool secretary general protect India’s democracy, pre- sent are being muzzled.” and by creating artifi cial major- “Many key bills masked as parties are given a chance to Banerjee said: “I am being Partha Chatterjee said people serve its plurality and diversity, “Triggering false debates, or- ity (in Goa and Manipur) through money bills expose the inten- technically examine them ran- abused variously. I consider like Varshney had no idea what safeguard fundamental rights chestrating infl ammatory narra- unethical means,” he added. tion of the government to deny domly. that as blessings. The more stuff Banerjee was made of. and ensure that the rule of law tives on nationalism, exploiting Azad said continued violence the council of states its consti- Kejriwal earlier alleged that they abuse us, the more we will “She was thrown out of the is upheld in letter and spirit, a religious sentiments and threats in Kashmir, resulting in deaths tutional position in the enact- 18 EVMs registered votes only march forward. Kolkata police headquarters Congress leader said. of violence to the citizens are and injuries to civilians and an ment of laws. Changing 11 Acts for the BJP during the Dholpur “Now we are in Bengal. and dragged out of Writers “Through our memorandum, vitiating the environment and overall failure of governance in through the omnibus Finance assembly by-election in Rajas- Slowly we will move on to Building (Secretariat) during we drew his attention to the jeopardising the cause of peace the state, was a matter of great Bill 2017 is unprecedented, im- than, no matter which button Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, CPM regime. Police dragged recent critical developments and security.” national concern. proper and shocking,” the mem- was pressed. Delhi, Punjab and Uttar her by the hair from Singur which have seriously under- “Self-styled lumpen elements “It is imperative that the gov- orandum said. Leaders of various opposition Pradesh.” during the land movement (in mined accepted norms of gov- have indulged in violence and ernment address the crisis and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind parties had also met the Elec- In the Lok Sabha, Par- 2006) but nothing could stop ernance and institutional integ- mob lynching of citizens and create a reassuring environment Kejriwal wrote to the State Elec- tion Commission authorities on liamentary Aff airs Minister her,” Chatterjee said. rity,” said Azad, the Leader of harassment is being witnessed for the people to participate in tion Commissioner yesterday Monday on the EVM issue. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, April 13, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

OFFICIAL VIOLENCE EVENT CLAIM ANGER Venezuela opposition says Argentina’s Macri to visit Cuba opposition accuses Thousands attend teenager killed in protests White House on April 27 authorities of harassment slain woman’s funeral

Opponents of the Venezuelan government US President Donald Trump will host Cuban dissidents planning to run in the Thousands of Argentinians turned out for the said a 14-year-old boy was shot dead in fresh Argentina’s president — and his onetime communist country’s local elections in funeral of a 21-year-old woman whose killing protests against President Nicolas Maduro, the business partner — Mauricio Macri at November have been arrested, threatened last week shocked the country amid a wave of third person killed in a week of unrest. “The the White House on April 27, US off icials and otherwise harassed by the authorities, “femicides.” An estimated 10,000 mourners death has just been confirmed of a 14-year- announced yesterday. “President Donald J one of their leaders said. At least five attended the funeral of teacher and activist old boy, Brayan Principal, who was shot in the Trump and First Lady Melania Trump look would-be candidates have been charged Micaela Garcia, whose body was found naked abdomen on Tuesday night” in the western city forward to welcoming President Mauricio with crimes such as robbery, had their in a field in the city of Gualeguay on Saturday, of Barquisimeto, opposition lawmaker Alfonso Macri and First Lady Juliana Awada of property seized, or been threatened with a week after she had disappeared from a Marquina said on Twitter. He blamed the death Argentina to the White House,” a statement losing their jobs, said Manuel Cuesta nightclub. An autopsy showed she had been on armed supporters of the government. said. The pair of real estate tycoons have Morua, spokesman for the opposition strangled. After the funeral, held at a sport Two 19-year-old students were killed during known each other for years, and Macri was Unity Roundtable for Democratic Action stadium in the city of Concepcion del Uruguay Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet, Brazil’s earlier unrest, one on April 11 and one on April one of the first foreign leaders to congratulate (MUAD). “They (the authorities) are a procession stretching 25 blocks accompanied Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes (right) and his 6. Maduro is fighting eff orts to oust him as Trump on his election victory. In that call, taking preventive measures so that no Garcia’s body to a cemetery, as crowds shouted Chilean counterpart Heraldo Munoz meet at Venezuela struggles with shortages of food and Trump passed the phone to his daughter independent citizen who doesn’t fit their demands for justice, according to media the government house in Santiago. medicine and a wave of violent crime. Ivanka, who also knows Macri. agenda can run,” he said. reports. Colombian Off you go forces struggle to root out coca

AFP are getting a raw deal under the Llorente, Colombia eradication agreement. They say the government has not delivered on promises to replace the crop, olombian forces sent to rip which yields four harvests a year. green coca plants from the Coca growers in Narino have Cearth to end a trade fuel- blocked roads and faced off with ling violence complain the crops authorities in recent weeks, are being replanted as fast as they sparking clashes that have left at can destroy them. least one person dead and four Colombia is ranked by the injured. United Nations as the world’s “We want a decent living for biggest producer of coca — the our children,” the National Coca, raw material for cocaine — which Poppy and Marijuana Growers’ has funded armed groups in the Co-ordinator organisation said in more than half-century confl ict. a statement. In a new peace deal, the state Authorities say drug gangs are and the Revolutionary Armed behind the protests. Forces of Colombia (Farc), the “We are not drug traffi ckers,” country’s biggest rebel group, the organisation said. “Farming agreed to eradicate coca and re- families have for decades had to place it with safer crops like cof- resort to growing coca, poppy and fee and cacao. marijuana — not because they like In Narino, a major coca-pro- it but because their lands have A gaucho rides a bucking colt during the traditional Semana Criolla in Montevideo yesterday. ducing region in the southwest, been abandoned by the state.” those carrying out the eradication Growers earn a fraction of the work are feeling exasperated. riches generated by the coca as it Sweat soaks the face of Ivan is processed into paste, then pow- Hidalgo, a 19-year-old assist- der, and consumed. A kilogram of ant police offi cial, rifl e on shoul- coca fetches about a dollar where der, who has spent the past two it is produced. months uprooting coca plants But further down the chain, in the sweltering settlement of a kilogram of cocaine is worth Llorente. about $1,650, according to the Brazilian govt reels “You’re tearing out the coca latest UN data. and the farmers are planting it The head of the Colombian po- again behind your back,” he said. lice drug squad, Jose Angel Men- The surrounding municipal- doza, insists the eradication eff ort ity of Tumaco had nearly 17,000 will not harm farmers. “We are hectares in 2015, according to the targeting the drug traffi ckers and latest UN fi gures. The Narino dis- organised crime,” he says. from corruption probes trict overall has nearly 30,000. He warns that Farc renegades Among so much coca, assistant opposed to the peace deal as well AFP suspected of participating in a uge of probes was coming. complicate approval of reforms,” pany at the heart of the scandal. police offi cials like Pablo Riveros as other outlawed groups are vy- Brasília huge bribes and embezzlement “There are no new facts and with investors backing off for a About a third of Temer’s Cabi- are tearing out the plants with ing for a share of the coca trade. scandal. the names had already been “wait and see” period, Fleischer net is targeted. Eight ministers their bare hands. “There is too Among them is the country’s The legislature rapidly emp- mentioned. The government will said. will be investigated and possi- much coca,” Riveros says. last active rebel group, the left- razil’s government yes- tied late Tuesday when the news keep working. Now it is a ques- All the politicians are sus- bly a ninth, according to court Authorities have since Janu- ist ELN — despite being in peace terday tried to brush off a broke as lawmakers avoided the tion of each individual minister pected of involvement in a mas- documents. ary eradicated 200 hectares by talks with the government. Bgrowing corruption crisis media. defending himself,” a source at sive embezzlement and bribery The list includes the presi- hand and a further 400 hectares “There are some places where the after the Supreme Court ordered The empty chambers sym- the presidency, who asked not to conspiracy that fl eeced state oil dent’s chief of staff Eliseu Padil- by spraying them with chemical ELN had never been seen before, 108 graft investigations, target- bolised the problems that Temer be identifi ed, said. company Petrobras and fun- ha and the ministers of foreign herbicide. But their eff orts hardly and now people say that they are ing at least eight ministers and a may now have in maintaining However, political analyst nelled dirty money into leading aff airs and agriculture, as well seem to be making a dent in Na- arriving here,” says Riveros. third of the senate. his close working relationship David Fleischer at the University political parties’ election war as the speakers of both the lower rino. The mountains of the area On top of resistance from farm- The scandal, likened by com- with Congress as he tries to en- of Brasilia said Temer is in trou- chests. and upper houses of Congress. are still blanketed in lush green ers, the eradication teams face the mentators to a political earth- act pension reform and other ble. The so-called Car Wash in- The probes further discredit coca leaves. danger of landmines planted to quake or bomb, shook the core austerity measures aimed at “He will be even weaker and vestigation has already been Temer’s ruling PMDB party, with “The community is always go- protect the coca. of President Michel Temer’s al- dragging Brazil out of a historic perhaps will lose control of his running three years. But the lat- its senior senator Romero Juca, ing to be there watching out for Colombia has more landmines ready deeply unpopular govern- recession. support base in Congress where est wave of allegations — which among those on the list. people coming to eradicate the than any other country except ment and his allies in Congress. The presidency played down many are desperate and are eye- are not formal charges — stem Also targeted is Aecio Neves, crops,” says Elvins Caldon, who Afghanistan, according to the More than 40 deputies in the the crisis, saying that it had al- ing their chances of re-election from recent testimony in plea who heads the centrist PSDB sprays the coca with herbicide. International Campaign to Ban lower house were also targeted ready received warning via nu- in 2018,” he said. deals by 77 executives at Ode- party and narrowly lost Brazil’s Coca farmers complain they Landmines. in the list of politicians who are merous media leaks that the del- “This episode will delay and brecht, the construction com- last presidential election. UN council votes today Back in office Argentina expects on shutting Haiti mission $14bn in investment Reuters president Cristina Fernandez’s Buenos Aires populist policies and many are Reuters The 15-member Security ibbean country has not had an waiting to see if market friendly United Nations Council is due to vote on the US- armed confl ict in years. reforms Macri has proposed or drafted resolution today. UN peacekeepers have been omestic and foreign com- passed remain in place. While Russia had some con- accused of sexual abuse and panies are likely to invest Foreign direct investment he United Nations Secu- cerns about spelling out when blamed for a cholera outbreak. D$14bn in Argentina this (FDI) totaled just $5.7bn in 2016 rity Council is due to vote the successor mission could use Haiti was free of cholera un- year as fi rms open their pockets — down from $11.8bn in the pre- Ttoday to close a 13-year- force, diplomats said those issues til 2010, when peacekeepers to make good on previously an- vious year — as the economy long peacekeeping mission in were likely to be overcome. dumped infected sewage into a nounced investments, the head contracted 2.3%. The agency’s Haiti this year and replace it with “We see a reason to reconfi gure river. of the government’s investment goal is annual FDI of $20bn to a smaller police operation, which MINUSTAH (the UN mission) to The United Nations does not promotion agency said. $25bn, Procaccini said. would be drawn down over two the new situation but that has to be accept legal responsibility for President Mauricio Macri’s The 2016 dip was due in part years as the country boosts its done in a most cautious manner. the outbreak of the disease that government struggled to pull in to multinational companies re- own force. The closure of the It’s important to prevent a security causes uncontrollable diarrhoea. the investment it promised in his patriating their profi ts outside of $346mn mission, recommended void,” deputy Russian UN ambas- Some 9,300 have died and more fi rst year in offi ce but the head of Argentina after Macri lifted capi- by UN chief Antonio Guterres, sador Petr Iliichev told the council. than 800,000 people sickened. his Investment and Trade Pro- tal controls. comes as the US looks to cut its “We are convinced that the situa- Deputy British UN ambas- motion Agency, Juan Procaccini, Specifi cally, a plan to boost funding to UN peacekeeping. tion remains quite tenuous.” sador Peter Wilson said he was said in an interview that 2017 was wind and solar energy capacity in Washington is the largest con- UN peacekeepers were de- “gravely concerned” about the looking better. “The fi rst year coming years was likely to bring tributor, paying 28.5% of the total ployed to Haiti in 2004 when a continued presence of cholera, we had so many things to do in in $13bn in investment, Procac- budget. “We regard the trans- rebellion led to the ouster and as he announced Britain would terms of...becoming again a nor- cini said. formation of the Haiti mission, exile of then-president Jean- give $600,000 to help with the mal economy,” Procaccini said. There also is potential for including the withdrawal of the Bertrand Aristide. response. “Now, we’re enjoying the fruits $30bn in mining investments military, as a strong example for It is the only UN peacekeeping Deputy French UN ambassa- of that eff ort.” to help Argentina catch up to how peacekeeping missions can mission in the Americas. dor Alexis Lamek said the time The agency, created shortly neighbouring Chile, and eff orts and should change as a country’s Haiti suff ered a two-year had come to move toward a new after Macri took offi ce in late to cut labour costs will help at- political situation changes,” US political crisis until the recent UN presence in Haiti, “one which 2015, is working with companies tract investment in oil and gas. ambassador to the United Nations, election and inauguration of is better adapted to the country’s on an additional $12.5bn worth of The agency has identifi ed Nikki Haley, told the council. President Jovenel Moise. It has needs and the conditions on the Bolivia President Evo Morales Ayma attends a ministerial investments in projects that have $58.6bn in investment an- There are currently 2,342 suff ered major natural disasters, ground, which have signifi cantly cabinet meeting at the Quemado palace in La Paz yesterday. not yet been announced, he said. nouncements since Macri took troops on the ground in Haiti, including an earthquake in 2010 changed. The United Nations Morales had undergone throat surgery in Havana, Cuba, Foreign investors stayed away offi ce, many for projects that who would withdraw over the and Hurricane Matthew last year. still has work to do in Haiti,” earlier this month. from Argentina during much of would take an average of four to coming six months. But the impoverished Car- Lamek told the council. the past decade due to former fi ve years, Procaccini said. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Army chief briefs PM on Indian spy

Agencies engage with each other to re- dispute between Pakistan and Islamabad solve their disputes. India, which is the biggest im- Janjua said this when Canadian pediment to peace in the South High Commissioner Perry John Asian region. akistan Prime Minister Calderwood met him on Tues- With regard to Kashmir, Nawaz Sharif and Army day to discuss bilateral relations America can play a very criti- Pchief General Qamar Javed besides Pakistan-India ties with cal role, which it has not so far Bajwa agreed yesterday not to reference to the US off er for me- done, the prime minister told bow to any pressure over the diation. the Associated Press of Pakistan, death sentence awarded to ac- The comments came a day af- adding that the whole world, in- cused Indian spy Kulbhushan ter Pakistan sentenced to death cluding the US, was well aware Jadhav. an alleged Indian spy, drawing of the danger the dispute posed Sama TV quoted an offi cial angry reactions in New Delhi. to world peace and to stability in source as saying that the Army Janjua underlined the need for the region. chief called on Sharif and took non-discriminatory approach in “We wish to see progress him “into confi dence regard- considering Pakistan’s member- towards the resolution of the ing...Jadhav”. ship for the Nuclear Suppliers Kashmir dispute, which is the Afghan security personnel stand guard at the site of a suicide attack near the Ministry of Defence in Kabul yesterday. A Pakistani military court Group (NSG), Dawn online re- biggest hurdle in the way of gave the death sentence to Jad- ported. peace and development in the hav on Monday on charges of es- He complained that the inter- region and the whole world, in- pionage and waging war against national community was over- cluding the US, is fully aware of Islamabad. looking the Jammu and Kashmir this reality,” Sharif said. New Delhi has warned that if dispute for its own strategic in- US President Donald Trump Kabul suicide bombing kills fi ve Jadhav was hanged, it would be terests vis-a-vis India. during his election campaign considered “premeditated mur- He said Pakistan expected had expressed his desire to help der” by Islamabad. the international community to address the issue of peace and AFP ees of the ministry were likely to has made inroads into Afghani- killed the top 12 IS commanders Pakistan says Jadhav was ar- stand with morality and human security in South Asia, aspira- Kabul go home. stan in recent years. in Afghanistan last year. rested in March 2016 in Balo- rights, adding that Islamabad tions that were later echoed by “Most of the people killed They are known to be com- The jihadists also claimed chistan. welcomed the US off er to medi- his Vice-President Mike Pence, and wounded were civilians, but prised of disaff ected Pakistani a deadly assault on Afghani- India says he was abducted ate between India and Pakistan. and more recently by US ambas- t least fi ve people were we don’t know the exact target,” and Afghan Taliban, as well as stan’s largest military hospital from Iran. India regarded Jammu and sador to the UN Nikki Haley. killed yesterday when a interior ministry spokesman Uzbek Islamists. last month, but survivors who Pakistan has said Jadhav Kashmir as a bilateral issue but Prime Minister Nawaz Shar- Asuicide bomber on foot Najib Danish said. But the group has been stead- spoke to AFP said the attackers worked for India’s intelligence defeated the spirit of bilateral- if, referring to the resolutions struck near the Afghan defence Islamic State group claimed ily losing territory in the face of chanted “Long live Taliban” in agency Research and Analysis ism by defying any dialogue on of the UN Security Council ministry in Kabul, offi cials said, the attack through its propa- heavy pressure from both US air Pashto. Wing (RAW). the divided state, said Janjua. on Kashmir, said the Security in an attack that was claimed by ganda agency Amaq. strikes and a ground off ensives Afghanistan is also bracing Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Na- Pakistan Prime Minister Na- Council must ensure imple- the Islamic State group. It said the bomber had tar- led by Afghan forces. for a fierce Taliban offensive tional Security Adviser Na- waz Sharif hopes to see proac- mentation of its resolutions Three other people were geted a checkpoint outside the Islamic State’s strength has in the spring after the failure seer Khan Janjua has said that tive engagement by the Donald as failure to do so was already left wounded in the explosion, Afghan presidential palace. now depleted to 600-700 fi ght- of repeated government at- Pakistan and India cannot be Trump administration in the US raising many questions about which occurred during after- IS, notorious for their brutal ers from 3,000 in early 2016, tempts to launch peace nego- enemies forever and need to to help resolve the long-running its credibility. noon rush hour when employ- reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, Nato has said, adding that it tiations. ‘Pakistanis have beaten back US recognises Pakistan’s sacrifi ces in fi ght against terrorism: Pentagon dark forces of intolerance’ Internews “The department recognises made a decision on certifi ca- Islamabad the signifi cant sacrifi ces the Pa- tion,” Stump said, noting that kistan military has made in the the Pakistani people had made Internews and resilience’ of the people of ways reject those who challenge cials were present on the occa- fi ght against terrorism, and ap- signifi cant sacrifi ces over the Islamabad Pakistan who have long defi ed the vision of Pakistan set out by sion; Malala hoped that while he US Department of preciates Pakistan’s continued last three years in order to the odds to overcome the chal- our founding fathers: of a mod- representing their own countries Defence said yesterday support for transit of material to counter terrorism. lenges that have confronted the ern, tolerant and progressive they also speak out for human Tthat it authorised the coalition forces in Afghanistan,” “We continue to be encour- akistan’s ambassador and country. Muslim country”. rights and for education which disbursement of $550mn to Pa- said Adam Stump, a US Defence aged by Pakistan’s operations permanent representa- Maleeha Lodhi later hosted In her remarks, Malala made was a human right. kistan this year as recognition Department spokesman. in North Waziristan and else- Ptive to the United Nations a largely attended reception in an impassioned plea for educa- At 19, Malala is the youngest of the signifi cant sacrifi ces the This disbursement uses CSF where in the Federally Admin- Maleeha Lodhi termed Pakistani honour of Malala Yousafzai in a tion in Pakistan and beyond. Messenger of Peace, the highest Pakistani military has made in funds that are not restricted by istered Tribal Areas. Pakistan’s Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai UN lounge. She called herself a ‘proud honour given by the United Na- the fi ght against terrorism. the Secretary of Defence certi- eff orts have reduced the ability as “an icon of courage and re- Addressing the gathering Pakistani’ and a ‘proud Muslim’ tions. The money comes from the fi cation of Pakistan’s actions on of some militant groups to use sistance”. Maleeha said that with courage and said she was obliged to raise Accepting the accolade, Coalition Support Funds (CSF), the Haqqani network. North Waziristan and Fata as Addressing a huge gathering and resilience, the people of Pa- her voice against the misrepre- Malala profusely thanked the which reimburses Pakistan for In the 2016 US National De- a safe haven for terrorism,” the at UN headquarters, on the oc- kistan have beaten back and pre- sentation and misperception of UN chief for the honour. providing logistical, military, fence Authorisation Act, Paki- US offi cial said. casion of United Nations Secre- vailed over the dark forces of in- her country and her faith. “I’m getting this award, but I and other support to US opera- stan was slated to receive up to Stump pointed out that it tary-General Antonio Guterres tolerance, which seek to impose She said Pakistan is now unit- also want to represent Pakistan, tions in Afghanistan. $900mn from the CSF but the was in the interest of Pakistan to designating Pakistani Nobel their views through violence. ing against extremist forces and my country, because I want peo- This amount was set aside disbursement of the remaining “eliminate all safe havens and re- laureate Malala Yousafzai as a Welcoming Malala Yousaf- showing that people in Pakistan ple to know that this is me rep- for this purpose in the US fi s- $350mn will require the secre- duce the operational capacity of UN Messenger of Peace with zai at a reception hosted by Pa- believe in peace and education, resenting Pakistan, not extrem- cal year 2016, which ended on tary of defence to certify that Pa- all militant organisations.” special focus on girls’ educa- kistan’s Mission to the UN in and girls in Pakistan believe in ists and terrorists — they are not Sept 30, and covers the services kistan has taken suffi cient action Pakistan is the largest recipient tion, on Monday, Maleeha said her honour, she said, “just like their right to go to school. Pakistanis, they are not us,” she provided from January to June against the Haqqani network. of CSF reimbursements, receiving Malala ‘epitomises the courage Malala did, our people will al- Diplomats and top UN offi - said. 2015. “The secretary has not yet roughly $14bn since 2002. Lives half-lived: The hidden cost of Kashmir confl ict

AFP and little did his family realise it He also missed a lifetime with “I wanted to jump in and reach Muzaff arabad, Pakistan would be more than a quarter of his wife, Badar Un Nisa, who is him,” she told AFP. a century before they embraced now 62. “I wept during the wed- “I was weeping on the one side him again. dings of all my children because of the river while my son was ohamed Ashraf’s eyes “The golden time of my life, I missed my husband,” she said. weeping on the other side. We fi ll with tears, over- which I should have spent with “My mother worked very were helpless,” she added. Mwhelmed by grief and my family, is gone,” he said. hard,” Ashraf’s son Mohamed Seeing them again this Febru- joy all at once, as he recounts be- Ashraf’s tale highlights the Asghar added. “It is very diffi - ary was like being “re-born”, she ing reunited with his family 26 plight of thousands of refugee cult for a woman to bring up her explained. years after they were torn apart families divided by a confl ict children without her husband’s But for her and Ashraf both by insurgency in disputed Kash- that stretches back as far as the support.” the reunions are tinged with mir. bloody partition of India in 1947, When a ceasefi re agreement grief: their visas only lasted a “My son was 12 years old when when the subcontinent shook off was signed in 2003, authori- month. we separated. Now my grandson British rule. ties designated two spots on They have sought extensions, is 16,” he said of his odyssey to Kashmir is one of the world’s the Neelum River, which cuts and remain in Pakistani Kash- see his loved ones again, bitter- most dangerous fl ashpoints, bit- through Indian- and Pakistani- mir for now awaiting the Interior sweet for its brevity and because terly split between nuclear rivals held Kashmir, where relatives on Ministry’s reply, but — eventu- it lay bare how much he missed India and Pakistan but claimed either side can wave to one an- ally — they will have to return. out on. in full by both. other across the rushing waters. If they surrender their In- In 1990 Ashraf was serving They have already fought two Ashraf’s family describe dian passports they could seek with Indian security forces far wars over the mountainous re- catching a glimpse of him there refugee status to remain in the from his family’s village, in Indi- gion, with no end to the dispute once, at Eid, in 2006 — 16 years camps in Pakistani-held Kash- an-held Kashmir near Pakistani in sight. in to their separation. mir — but, for Ashraf, that would territory, as a violent insurgen- Ashraf found himself trapped The river is just around 80 mean leaving his other daughter cy against New Delhi gathered by his career as a soldier. “I feet wide there, but with armed behind, as well as his home and pace. thought if I quit my post I would This photograph taken on February 12, 2017, shows elderly Indian Kashmiri Mohamed Ashraf (left) posing soldiers watching closely on ei- pension. By October that year, amid be considered a traitor,” he said, for a photograph with his wife Badar Un Nisa (second right) and son Mohamed Asghar (right) upon his ther side, all the families can do If he keeps his passport, he reports of mass detentions and adding he also feared repercus- arrival at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Muzaff arabad, the capital of Pakistani-administered Kashmir. is look. can visit again. widespread torture as authori- sions for the one daughter who For many, it only heightens But with tensions once again ties tried to crack down on mili- also remained in Indian Kashmir. launched a year earlier to facili- He then decided to apply for travel to Pakistan. the pain. high between India and Paki- tants, Ashraf’s family fl ed in fear. He was not allowed to visit tate meetings between divided a passport to allow him to cross The passport fi nally arrived Ashraf Jan, 60, who is from stan, no permanent solution is Along with 20,000 other In- Pakistani territory, while on ac- families. the formal border further south in 2016 — but it was too late for the same village as Mohamed yet in sight. dian Kashmiris, they crossed the tive duty. He tried fi ve times in total — in Punjab province, but the doc- him to see his parents again, they Ashraf — Karen in Indian-held Ashraf’s desolate wife Nisa is de facto border and sought ref- But when he retired in 2006 he all in vain. ument took 10 years to procure. both died in Pakistani Kashmir. Kashmir — has also been sepa- distraught: “We have been very uge in Pakistan’s territory. redoubled eff orts to see his fam- Access to the service remains The reasons for the delay are His children’s weddings, the rated from her family since 1990. happy since my husband was Ashraf was left behind. ily again. largely at the whim of authori- unclear, but it is possible that as births of his grandchildren all took She describes her heartbreak with us, but these moments of It was a week before word even First Ashraf applied to use the ties and is routinely disrupted a former Indian soldier, authori- place there too — over the long at seeing her son, Ashiq Hussain, happiness are brief. He has to go reached him that they were gone, Kashmir Bus Service, which was during periods of high tensions. ties were not keen for him to years they were without him. across the Neelum River. back.” Gulf Times 24 Thursday, April 13, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Marcos told Militants fl ee after foiled to pay 63mn pesos for resort kidnap raid: army vote recount By Jomar Canlas AFP other major tourism draw. dering the woman on board and Manila Times Manila The incursion is the fi rst taking the man hostage. on a major destination in re- He was later killed. cent years by the group, which Authorities in Cebu, an island he Supreme Court, sit- ilitants who landed on pledges allegiance to the Islam- of nearly 5mn people, warned ting as the Presidential a Philippine tourist is- ic State. their citizens about potential TElectoral Tribunal (PET), Mland triggering deadly Ano said the Bohol plan was kidnapping raids following the has ordered former senator Fer- clashes with security forces had put into motion late last week Bohol attack. dinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr planned to stage a mass kidnap- as millions of local and foreign “It is unlikely that they have to pay P63mn for the recount of ping, the military said yesterday tourists prepared to hit the the operational capability to do votes in his poll protest against as it pursued fi ve fi ghters still on country’s beaches ahead of the further damage now. However, Vice President Leni Robredo. the loose. Easter holidays. other elements may exist,” Cebu Robredo was ordered to pay The army said the Abu Sayyaf Philippine intelligence agen- city Mayor Tomas Osmena said P15.4mn. group, notorious for a kidnap- cies got wind of the plot last on his Facebook page. The tribunal directed Marcos for-ransom spree that has tar- week, and alerted the military As the government moved to to deposit P33mn before April geted foreigners, had planned and foreign counterpart agen- contain the fallout on the lucra- 14, Good Friday. The remaining to snatch up to a dozen tourists cies, though authorities lost tive tourism industry, the mili- P30mn should be paid before around Easter Sunday when re- track of the gunmen in the open tary said it would repel similar July 14. Robredo was also ordered sorts are packed. seas. incursions. to pay the P15.4mn in two instal- The group of 11 gunmen The US and Australian gov- Authorities said some 100 ments—P8mn on or before April landed by boat on Bohol — one ernments later warned their residents had fl ed the fi ghting. 14, 2017 and P7.4mn on or before of the country’s top tourism citizens about possible “ter- Hoteliers and visitors said the July 14. A source at the court spots — sparking a gunbattle rorist” abductions in Bohol and incident had not aff ected tour- said that Chief Justice Lourdes with security forces on Tuesday Cebu. ist traffi c on the island, though Aranal-Sereno “hostaged” the that left six insurgents dead and Ano said the fi ve remaining there was increased police se- release of the resolution. also killed three soldiers and a fi ghters fl ed after an overnight curity. Marcos’ lawyer was George policeman. siege near a remote village. Over the past year the Abu Erwin Garcia. Five Abu Sayyaf gunmen, “They are all running for Sayyaf has been expanding its The source said the court en along with an unknown number their lives,” he said. activities from its main Jolo Soldiers wade through a river as they search for the hideout of militants in Inabanga town, Bohol province, banc ruled on the issue on March of local collaborators, remain Helicopter gunships were base in the south where the in the central Philippines yesterday. 21, 2017. The source said that the at large after the clashes which used to bomb the militants, military launched an off ensive resolution was “stuck” in the of- took place in a rural district, who fought back with high-end last year. fi ce of Sereno and was released said military chief of staff Gen- sniper rifl es while holed up in Its boat-riding gunmen have “belatedly.” eral Eduardo Ano. a concrete house, according to been boarding commercial and “Sereno sat on the resolution. Ano said the gang, which offi cials. fi shing vessels and abducting The en banc tackled the issue on arrived on three boats, had Ano said that among the dead dozens of foreign crew mem- March 21 but she released it dur- planned to acclimatise in the was a key Abu Sayyaf leader bers. ing Holy Week to make it diffi cult area and send scouts into re- known by his alias Abu Rahmi. Zachary Abuza, a Southeast for Marcos to pay the amount” sorts to scope out kidnapping The claim could not be inde- Asian security expert at the Na- the source said. targets. pendently confi rmed. tional War College in the United As a matter of procedure, the “They are expecting probably He said Abu Rahmi was be- States, said the Abu Sayyaf had ponente shall make the draft as to kidnap four or fi ve persons hind a 2015 raid on the southern been regularly staging long- agreed during the en banc and per boat, so at least 10 to 12 kid- island resort of Samal in which range kidnapping raids, includ- this will be sent to the chief jus- nap victims was their (overall) four tourists — two Canadians, ing in Malaysia. tice for approval and release of plan,” he said. a Norwegian and a Filipina — “They clearly benefi t from the resolution.Associate Justice The Abu Sayyaf launched the were snatched. the woefully inadequate mari- Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa is the strike from their remote strong- The two Canadian men were time capabilities of the Phil- ponente of the election protest. hold on the lawless southern beheaded last year while the ippine navy and coast guard,” The source said that with the Philippines island of Jolo, which Norwegian man and the Filipina Abuza said. late release of the resolution, is about 500 kilometres away were freed unharmed. “The amount of territory is Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Ano (centre) gestures during a news Marcos will be at a disadvan- from Bohol. Ano said Abu Rahmi’s group very large, and these guys are conference inside the Camp Aguinaldo, a military headquarters in Quezon city, Metro Manila, yesterday. In tage because if he fails to pay the The island is just half an also attacked a German couple moving on very small fast craft photo (left and right): Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson and Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Chief amount on time, his poll protest hour’s boat ride from Cebu, an- on a yacht at sea last year, mur- that blend in.” Director Ramon Apolinariio. will be dismissed. Prayer vigil Labour offi cial says Saudi still needs Filipino workers

AFP growth they are having in Saudi was before the worst of the would fi nalise an agreement on Riyadh Arabia. They would need more economic pain struck, sending this later. workers in the coming years,” many expats homes. Bello also recently recalled Bello said. Thousands of Filipinos and hearing of a Filipina maid fac- audi Arabia will still need “It came from their side other Asian labourers, particu- ing execution in the Middle even more Filipino work- that Filipino workers are good larly in the construction sec- East, prompting him to sug- Sers despite its “Saudisa- workers. They recognise that tor, have left the country with gest that Filipino domestic tion” policy, Manila’s labour they were instrumental in the wages still unpaid. helpers be banned from travel- secretary said yesterday fol- growth of Saudi Arabia in the Saudi Arabia is the second- ling there. The ambassadors of lowing a meeting between Phil- past years,” he said. largest employer of Philippine these countries then met with ippine President Rodrigo Du- Asked how this would aff ect overseas workers with 760,000 him to assure him there would terte and Saudi King Salman. the policy of “Saudisation,” or Filipinos in that Middle Eastern be no executions. To show Filipinos that they giving jobs to Saudis, Bello said: nation, Manila has said. “In a manner of speaking, are still welcome, the Saudis are “Saudisation is sort of just a It was widely expected that they had a commitment of no even willing to allow more than concept now.” demand for such workers would more executions,” Bello said 100 “runaway” Filipino work- “The most preferred over- fall due to the Saudisation poli- without giving details. ers to return home, Secretary seas worker is the Filipino,” he cy and dropping global oil pric- Manila had previously said Silvestre Bello told reporters in quoted Saudi offi cials as saying. es since 2014. there were 31 Filipinos on death Riyadh. Under a wide-ranging eco- Bello said he raised the issue row in Saudi Arabia. He said Saudi offi cials told nomic reform plan released last of about 160 Filipino “runa- Duterte, elected by a land- him they still need Filipinos year in the face of collapsed oil ways” who have fl ed their em- slide last year, has often vocally who work in the Gulf king- revenues, Saudi Arabia wants ployers, adding that he asked expressed concern for the esti- dom in fi elds ranging from unemployment among its the Saudi labour minister to let mated 10mn Filipinos working People lift a mock victim during a prayer vigil in support of the families of victims of extra-judicial construction, domestic work, citizens to fall to 9% by 2020, Duterte’s delegation take them overseas for salaries they can- killings in Manila yesterday. More than 6,000 people have died, seven months after President healthcare, retail, engineering, against 11.6 % last year. home. not get at home. Rodrigo Duterte ordered an unprecedented crime war on drugs that has drawn global criticism but telecommunications, transpor- Latest offi cial fi gures showed “To my surprise, he positive- The money they remit back enjoys popularity in the mainly Catholic nation. tation and the oil industry. almost 9mn foreigners em- ly responded to my request,” home has become a major pillar “They explained the kind of ployed in the kingdom but that Bello said, adding that they of the Philippine economy.

A journey to Scarborough Shoal, the Waterworld of South China Sea

By Martin Petty Five years after China forcibly cameras, tripods, life jackets, niscent of Waterworld, the 1995 what they can during what many Reuters/Scarborough Shoal blockaded the rich waters from as well as a satellite phone and Kevin Costner fi lm, where polar fear may only be a temporary all but its own fi shermen, the small generator to charge bat- ice caps have melted and post- truce. visit last week confi rmed that teries. apocalyptic tribes live on boats. But some stay for months, sell- or Filipino fi shermen, a Beijing had made concessions. Our boats approached the We joined fi shermen riding ing their catch to bigger boats, trip to the Scarborough Philippine vessels were al- area at daybreak. It is an oasis in small boats over the damaged and tapping new arrivals for fresh FShoal in the South China lowed to fi sh again, and small a desert of water, a huge fl otilla coral wall of the lagoon, careful to supplies to sustain them a few Sea is an uncomfortable one at boats could enter the lagoon. of fi shing vessels far away from avoid disrupting men inside who days longer. the best of times. But while an international home, lined up with bows point- cast nets or spear for fi sh. Beijing maintains it has the Hours working in the scorch- panel last year ruled the shoal ing towards the bright green shoal. Interviews were conducted right to control the shoal, in de- ing sun, a monotonous diet of should be freely fi shed by all, In the distance, a Chinese with masked divers treading wa- fi ance of the Permanent Court rice, spam and fi sh, sometimes China’s coastguard was still coastguard ship guarded the ter, and we snorkel over the reef of Arbitration which last year for weeks, all the while watch- clearly calling the shots. Reuters Manila bureau chief Martin Petty (centre) sits on a fishing boat mouth of the reef, preventing the with a waterproof camera, check- deemed Scarborough a traditional ing for tropical storms that could Alerted to our presence by between a Filipino boatman and an assistant while sailing inside the larger boats from entering. ing out the coral and sealife. fi shing ground for “many nation- wreck their modest wooden Chinese fi shermen holding Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines have The Chinese boats are robust, alities”. boats. cameras and two-way radios, a sparred for decades over owner- and luxurious compared with China’s foreign ministry said For a team of Reuters landlub- coastguard vessel sped towards Earlier trips had to be can- gers held together by reams of ship of this prized lagoon, but those of the Filipinos, some of this week Scarborough was “an bers making a reporting trip to us before losing track of our celled when storms made the fi shing line. with relations improved, Filipino which are barely more than rafts. inherent part of Chinese territo- the disputed shoal, there were boat in the mass of similar look- crossing too dangerous. There’s no power, and no roof, boats now anchor alongside Chi- Clothes and drying fi sh were ry” and the coastguard was there other challenges — the lack of ing craft surrounding the prized On this journey a second ves- just a tarpaulin sheet to shelter nese vessels. hung from the ropes that hold to administer fi shing and preserve any toilets apart from the sea, fi shing grounds. sel was hired to accompany us as from the rain and sun. We watched as barefooted men these craft together, the smell the peace and tranquillity. sleeping wedged on the open Months in planning, the 200- a precaution against bad weather Enough water, canned meat, in leggings, long-sleeves, caps overpowered by diesel fumes. The Filipinos co-operate, but deck, and most of all, the con- km journey from the Philippine or breakdowns. rice and fuel were brought to and gloves trade freely with each Makeshift wire cages of live remain wary. “They’re not here to stant worry that the Chinese coast to the shoal took 18 hours Space was limited on rudi- last a week in case bad weather other. lobsters trailed behind. protect us,” said fi shermen Vice- coastguard would try to drive us in a narrow, 12m (40ft) fi shing mentary wooden boats that are stranded us at the shoal. Using hand signals, they swap For many Filipinos, trips to nte Palawan.”Not so long ago, they away. boat. steadied by bamboo cane outrig- For journalists, there’s also cigarettes or fi sh, in scenes remi- Scarborough are swift, seizing were water-cannoning us.” Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

British scientists to drill Khumbu glacier in Nepal Himalayas

UK-based scientists are set to Hasina backs hardliners travel to the Himalayas in a bid to become the first team to successfully drill through the world’s highest glacier, the media reported yesterday, IANS reports from London. The group from Aberystwyth University, Wales, will use a over court statue row drill adapted from a car wash to cut into the Khumbu glacier AFP the statue as “ridiculous”. the announcement after meet- in the foothills of the Everest, Dhaka “I don’t like it myself. It’s ing Islamist leaders including the BBC reported. being called a Greek statue, the head of Hefazat-e-Islam, They will work at an altitude of but how did a Greek statue get a fundamentalist group that 5,000m, in the hope of finding angladesh Prime Minister here?” she said in comments has called for gender-segre- out how climate change Sheikh Hasina has been published in online news portal gated workplaces and tough aff ects Khumbu. Baccused of “kowtow- bdnews24.com. blasphemy laws. Project leader Professor Bryn ing” to hardline Islamists after Court offi cials have defended Conservative Bangladesh has Hubbard said there will be expressing dislike for a con- the statue as a symbol of justice experienced increasing tensions “particular challenges”. troversial statue that religious while secular groups expressed between hardliners and secu- The 17km long glacier, in north radicals want removed from the dismay that Hasina and the larists in recent years, suff er- eastern Nepal, flows from Supreme Court. secular ruling party, the Awami ing a spate of killings of atheist as high as 7,600m down to The statue of “lady jus- League, was seemingly siding bloggers, religious minorities 4,900m and is often used by tice” has ruffl ed feathers in the with hardliners on the issue. and foreigners. climbers on their way to the Muslim-majority nation, with “The government and Awa- Her policy shift on ma- Everest base-camp. hardliners staging massive pro- mi League’s kowtowing to this drassas has shocked secular “Working in the field is tests in recent weeks against type of demand will be suicidal groups, who consider it further challenging at best, but what they say is a Greek god for Bangladesh,” Shahriar Ka- evidence of creeping Islamisa- this mission presents some unbefi tting Bangladesh. bir, secretary of Bangladesh’s tion as hardline elements push particular challenges,” the BBC Protesters want the statue of leading secular rights group, for Bangladeshi society to quoted Hubbard as saying. the blindfolded woman holding said. more closely refl ect its Muslim “We don’t know how well our scales, said to represent justice, In a further major concession traditions. equipment will perform at destroyed and replaced with a to Islamists, Hasina also said on It comes as Hasina prepares altitude, let alone how we will Qur’an, despite Bangladesh’s Tuesday that her government for an early general election be able to contend with the secular constitution. would recognise degrees from later this year, more than 12 thin air.” Hasina, who had kept the fu- hardline madrassas, paving the months ahead of schedule, with Half of the team’s 1,500kg rore at arm’s length, broke her way for millions of religious analysts speculating the prime equipment will be airlifted on silence late Tuesday after invit- scholars to qualify for jobs in minister could be trying to cor- to the glacier by helicopter in ing top Islamist leaders to her public and private sectors. ner the Islamist-allied centre- several trips while the other residence where she described The prime minister made right opposition. Sheikh Hasina speaking on Bengali New Year’s Day at her off ice in Dhaka yesterday. half will be carried by Sherpas. Bangladesh hangs three for UK envoy attack

AFP and one of his associates at Bangladesh’s highest court the Soviets in Afghanistan be- Hasina outside her party offi ce nence as Hannan escalated its Kashimpur Kashimpur prison just outside last month upheld the death fore returning to join HuJI, a in central Dhaka. deadly operations under his Dhaka and another associ- sentence, rejecting the fi nal ap- group founded for jihadists who Hasina, then leader of the oppo- leadership. Nepal President Bidhya D Bhandari ate in a jail in the northeastern peals by Hannan and the two fought in that war. sition, narrowly survived what she Security has been tight at the angladesh hanged three city of Sylhet, Home Minister associates, Delwar Hossain and Prosecutors said Hannan said was an assassination attempt. Kashimpur prison and Sylhet Islamist extremists in- Asaduzzaman Khan said. Sharif Shahedul Islam. had headed HuJI since the late At least 22 people were killed and prisons with hundreds of police- Bcluding the leader of a “They were hanged at 10 pm They had sought clemency 1990s, masterminding deadly more than 100 were injured. men and an elite security force banned militant outfi t yester- (1600 GMT),” he said. from the Bangladesh President attacks on a church, secular By the time Hannan was ar- patrolling outside the facilities. Bhandari day, after they were sentenced The three were sentenced in a last-ditch attempt to com- gatherings, and mosques used rested in late 2005, more than Last month suspected Islam- to death over a 2004 grenade to death in 2008 for the gre- mute the execution orders to life by Islam’s minority sects. 100 people had been killed in at- ist extremists hurled bombs attack on the British high nade attack four years earlier sentences, but he rejected their In August 2004, in one of the tacks he orchestrated across the at a prison van in a daring at- to visit commissioner. at a 14th-century Sufi shrine in pleas. country’s deadliest extremist Muslim-majority nation. tempt to free Hannan near the The authorities hanged Mufti Sylhet, which killed three peo- A madrassa teacher who attacks, he masterminded the HuJI was the fi rst Islam- Kashimpur jail. Police arrested Abdul Hannan, the leader of ple and injured the British high studied in India and Pakistan, blasts at a political rally of the ist militant outfi t to emerge in a 24-year-old former Madrassa India next Harkatul Jihad Al Islami (HuJI), commissioner at the time. Hannan, 60, fought against current Prime Minister Sheikh Bangladesh, and rose to promi- student from the scene. week

IANS Madhesi parties to New Delhi/Kathmandu PM: Lanka will not allow use boycott local polls epal President Bidya Devi Bhandari will pay Nan offi cial visit to India of ports for military activity IANS the new proposal has not ad- at the invitation of President Kathmandu dressed their key demand – Pranab Mukherjee from April 17 revision of provincial bound- to 21, the India’s external aff airs Reuters aries – and no provisions ministry announced yesterday. Tokyo ismissing as ‘even pertaining to citizenship, Na- This will be the fi rst state visit more regressive than tional Assembly and language of Bhandari to India after she as- Dthe previous’ the gov- have been changed in the old sumed offi ce in October 2015. ri Lanka will make sure no military ac- ernment’s new constitution proposal. “The upcoming visit re- tivity is conducted at its ports, Prime amendment proposal – intro- Terai Madhes Loktantrik fl ects the priority that both In- SMinister Ranil Wickremesinghe said duced in parliament on Tues- Party deputy general secretary dia and Nepal attach to further in Tokyo yesterday, as China invests heavily day, the United Democratic Surendra Jha refuted the gov- strengthening of their age-old, in roads and harbours on the island nation. Madhesi Front yesterday de- ernment claim that the new unique, wide-ranging partner- Beijing, which is fortifying islands in the cided to boycott the May 14 amendment proposal had been ship, underpinned by shared South China Sea to which it lays claim, has local-level polls in Nepal. brought after taking the Mad- historical and cultural linkages pumped hundreds of millions of dollars in Top leaders of the United hesi Morcha into confi dence. and strong people-to-people Sri Lanka’s infrastructure since the end of Democratic Madhesi Front He further said that the con- connections,” the ministry said the country’s civil war in 2009, when Co- (UDMF) – representing the tents of the proposal were dif- in a statement. lombo was shunned by Western investors Madhesi ethnic groups who ferent from what was agreed During the visit, Bhandari will over its human rights record. have long complained of being during the joint task-force meet Mukherjee, Vice President “Sri Lanka hopes to become the regional marginalised at the ballot box meeting of the ruling parties Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister hub of the Indian Ocean again,” Wickremes- – were present at the meeting and Morcha leaders. Narendra Modi. inghe told a joint news conference following which took the decision in this Meanwhile, the bloc also External Aff airs Minister Su- a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, regard. decided to hold torch rallies in shma Swaraj and other Union Shinzo Abe. “We want to ensure that we The meeting – convened the headquarter towns of the ministers will also call on Presi- develop all our ports, and all these ports are at the Terai Madhes Lok- Terai region districts today, dent Bhandari. used for commercial activity, transparent tantrik Party offi ce in Biju- with the demand that their Besides offi cial engage- activity, and will not be available to anyone libazar, Kathmandu – was concerns be addressed. ments in New Delhi, the Ne- for any military activity.” called to discuss the constitu- Likewise, the parties would pal president will be visiting Wickremesinghe did not mention any tion amendment bill that the picket election offi ces in the Gujarat and Odisha. specifi c countries. government got registered at districts on Sunday in a sym- Bhandari was scheduled to China’s investments in transportation the parliament Secretariat on bolic protest against the local visit India in May last year but infrastructure in Sri Lanka are considered Tuesday, the Kathmandu Post level elections scheduled for then Nepal Prime Minister K P part of its ambitions to build maritime reported. May 14. Sharma Oli cancelled the visit at routes to the oil-rich Middle East and on to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, shakes hands with Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister After discussion, the Front The local elections will pave the last moment. Europe. Ranil Wickremesinghe at the prime minister’s off ice in Tokyo yesterday. said the bill did not suffi ciently the way for provincial and na- The then Nepal cabinet can- That makes some countries, includ- address their demands and tional elections, which need celled the visit following political ing India and the United States, nervous. “The era of the Indo-Pacifi c is now being Abe told the same news conference. they would not take part in to be held by January 2018 ac- upheaval in the Himalayan nation Sri Lanka sits near shipping lanes through ushered in. Yet, however, true regional pros- “To make this happen, it is indispensable the local polls unless their de- cording to the country’s new when Oli’s government was nearly which much of the world’s trade passes on perity cannot come into being without the for Sri Lanka to achieve sustainable growth as mands were met. constitution – promulgated on toppled by its Maoist ally. its way to China and Japan. realisation of a free and open Indo-Pacifi c,” a hub, and develop ports that are open to all.” The leaders claimed that September 20, 2015. Quake survivors at risk again with a third of homes poorly built

Thomson Reuters Foundation stroyed by the 7.8 earthquake on Govind Raj Pokharel, CEO, them meet the guidelines by erest – Nepal is particularly disbursing funds for them to quake-safe building codes only Kathmandu April 25, 2015 and hundreds of National Reconstruction Au- incorporating safety features in prone to seismic shocks. rebuild their homes. came into being seven months aftershocks that ensued in the thority (NRA), said close to such buildings,” said Pokharel. It sits on the boundary of two Experts blame political in- after the disaster when the NRA following months. Almost 9,000 100,000 houses have been built “One way of doing that is to massive tectonic plates – the In- fi ghting, bureaucracy and poor was established. The govern- ens of thousands of sur- people were killed and millions or are in the process of be- retrofi t them.” do-Australian and Asian plates. management of funds for the ment had a deadline to rebuild vivors of Nepal’s 2015 left homeless. ing built since the earthquake Seismic retrofi tting often It is the collision of these plates delay. They say a lack of build- all homes by 2020, he said. How- Tearthquake are at risk of As the impoverished Hima- with over 525,000 houses still involves adding shear walls that has produced the Hima- ing materials such as concrete, ever if only 60% were built that future quake damage with about layan nation prepares to mark required. or steel-braced frames, jack- laya mountains, and with them, wood and steel, and lack of would acceptable, he added, cit- one third of newly constructed the second anniversary of the However, one third of eting columns in concrete, multiple earthquakes. trained masons, carpenters and ing examples in other quake-hit homes failing to meet safe build- disaster, Nepal faces increas- these new homes have not and installing new support Two years after the 2015 dis- engineers have also played a role. nations such as Haiti where re- ing codes, the head of the coun- ing pressure over the slow place met new safety codes and columns – all of which is aster, many of the 8mn people Pokharel said approximately construction is also lagging. try’s reconstruction agency said of reconstruction, particularly are not likely to withstand a costly. aff ected continue to live in tar- 33,000 homes – built largely “Not all houses are rebuilt yesterday. from foreign donors who have similar quake. Wedged between China and paulin and bamboo tents due with mud and bricks – were not after the disaster anywhere,” he Nearly 1mn houses were de- pledged $4bn to help rebuild. “We are planning to make India – and home to Mount Ev- to the government’s delay in properly constructed because said. Gulf Times 26 Thursday, April 13, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Millions of poor menaced

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar by ‘silent killer’: heat [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), Reuters be exposed to deadly heat each year, the hottest month but when the heat high for the urban poor who live in 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Bangkok/Bhubaneswar according to a recent study by British index was highest. houses with concrete or tin roofs that Fax 44350474 researchers. Heat stroke occurs when the body absorb heat, and there are few low- Estimates from the Institute for overheats and can be life-threatening. energy technologies to counter this. n a hot, humid afternoon Social and Environmental Transition- Extreme heat can also lead to heat Roofs made of concrete, the most on the outskirts of International (ISET-International) exhaustion and severe dehydration, common material in Pakistan, elevate Bhubaneswar in eastern and the National Center for and can aggravate cardiac conditions, night-time temperatures indoors OIndia, construction Atmospheric Research (NCAR), both kidney disorders and psychiatric by approximately 3 degrees Celsius, worker Sabitri Mahanand frets about based in Colorado, are even higher. illness, said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, ISET-Pakistan found. GULF TIMES increasingly “dangerous” summers. By mid-century, some 300mn Southeast Asia director at the World In South and Southeast Asia, Carrying over a dozen bricks on her Indians and Bangladeshis in the Health Organisation. the heat comes before and with the head, she fears getting sunstroke while lower Ganges Valley alone will lack Most warnings about heat stress monsoon, NCAR’s Ammann said. at work, but home off ers no respite suffi cient power to run electric fans focus on peak temperatures during The moisture in the air boosts either. or air conditioning to combat rising the day, but rising night-time humidity, which shade can combat “When the day’s work is over, I’m temperatures, they predict. temperatures are adding to the only so far. Borussia show so exhausted that I often don’t want to Fawad Khan, senior economist indirect eff ects, said NCAR scientist “High humidity limits the radiative cook food but I have no choice,” said with ISET-International — which Caspar Ammann. cooling at night,” he said. Mahanand, 35, wiping the sweat from has conducted studies on heat stress, A report by Australia’s Climate Solutions used in other parts of her face with a cloth wrapped around when the body absorbs more heat Council estimated that in 2015, the world, such as basements dug courage after her waist. “I have to feed myself, my than is tolerable — describes heat as a nearly 3,500 people died in India and into the cooler ground, tend to fl ood husband and my son.” “silent killer” and the world’s “biggest Pakistan from heat waves — defi ned as in Asia unless they have concrete The ancient city of Bhubaneswar impending climate-related hazard”. three exceptionally hot days in a row. foundations, which many cannot is the capital of Odisha state — one of “First, your quality of life is going to Recent fatal heat waves were a aff ord, Ammann added. terror attack the few parts of South Asia that has a deteriorate. You don’t feel well, your result of a 0.8 degree Celsius rise in One inexpensive measure is to heat emergency plan. children don’t perform well at school, temperatures from pre-industrial paint roofs white so they refl ect Odisha’s government departments your physical and mental ability is levels, the UK study said. the sun more eff ectively, suggested The terror attack on top German football team have been asked to put in place aff ected,” he said. Heat waves caused by a further PK Mohapatra, special relief Borussia Dortmund’s team bus as they headed for measures in anticipation of heat waves “The husbands work all day and increase of 0.7 degrees — if the commissioner for Odisha. this summer. come back tired and cannot sleep, world sticks to its 1.5 degree Celsius Meanwhile, a new modular the Champions League match against AS Monaco on The world has already experienced children cry because it’s too hot, and limit — could be even more severe, it roofi ng system made with recycled Tuesday has to be condemned in the strongest possible three record-breaking hot years in a women say they have more domestic warned. agricultural and packaging waste, terms. row, and the rising global temperature quarrels. These things take a huge toll, Vimal Mishra, assistant professor called ModRoof, may off er an option could have profound eff ects for and they’re immeasurable,” he said. at the Indian Institute of Technology for cooling homes without using Whenever sportsmen and other innocent people health, work and staple food supplies Contrary to popular perception, in Gandhinagar, said heat stress electricity. are deliberately targeted it adds to the outrage for hundreds of millions of people, temperature alone is not the best and heat waves could lead to loss of Produced by ReMaterials, a internationally and only hardens the world’s stance climate scientists told the Thomson indicator of heat stress, and the heat productivity and earnings, livestock company based in Gujarat, India, the Reuters Foundation. index — a measure that combines deaths, higher food prices and water roofs can lower the temperature inside against the terrorists and their sympathisers. The poor in urban slums in temperature and humidity — is more shortages. by 6 to 10 degrees Celsius compared Spain international Marc Bartra was injured in the developing nations are particularly at useful, scientists said. Raising awareness among the with metal and cement roofi ng, risk, they said, while solutions to cool Humidity should be taken into general population and setting up founder Hasit Ganatra told the attack and needed an operation on his wrist after being homes and bodies that do not hike account because it limits the body’s region-wide warning systems will be Thomson Reuters Foundation. hit by fl ying glass. He has been sidelined for the rest of climate-changing emissions remain ability to cool via sweating, said Tom key, he said. So far 75 roofs have been installed in the season as a result. Luckily, nobody suff ered life- elusive. Matthews, a climatologist at Liverpool “We are not acting as fast as we Ahmedabad’s slums, but they aren’t Even if the world is able to limit John Moores University in England are seeing — every year we see a new cheap, with an average cost of $772 per threatening injuries but it did shake up the players who global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees who contributed to the UK research anomaly,” added Mishra, whose 2015 family. would no doubt be mentally scarred for the rest of their Celsius above pre-industrial levels — a paper. research found a signifi cant increase Ganatra said the company’s all- lives. goal set by governments in Paris in A 2014 study conducted by ISET- in the number of heat waves between women sales team is working with 2015 — by 2050, around 350mn people Pakistan looked at two of the largest 1973 and 2012, while the frequency of micro-finance firms to make the German authorities arrested a suspect yesterday in megacities such as Lagos in Nigeria hospitals in two Pakistani cities, and cold waves declined. product more affordable for the in connection with what Chancellor Angela Merkel and Shanghai in China could still found heat stroke was occurring not in Scientists say the threat is especially poor. called a ‘despicable’ attack which forced a 24-hour postponement of the team’s high-profi le clash. Investigators have found three letters near the scene, all with the same content suggesting the attacks were carried by Islamic State sympathisers. The attack will no doubt force authorities to strengthen security measures at sports events, but encouragement can be drawn from the fact that the Borussia-Monaco match went ahead yesterday after a 24-hour delay. Borussia lost 2-3 but they put up a huge fi ght, which in itself is a tribute to their resilience after escaping death only a day earlier. Boost for Qatar sports The decision to merge Lekhwiya and El Jaish clubs into one entity called the Al Duhail Sports Club is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for Qatar as far as sports is concerned. The merger is expected to take place after the 2016- 2017 domestic season ends and would not only help in creating a more competitive domestic sports scene but will also ensure that Qatar has a really strong presence in international competitions, especially in disciplines like football, basketball, athletics and handball. As it is Lekhwiya and El Jaish have been quite dominant on the local scene, winning several tournaments and also excelling in regional events. Modroof, a new modular roofing system made with recycled agricultural and packaging waste may off er an option for cooling homes without using electricity. Their opponents will now have to deal with a super strong Al Duhail Sports Club and will have to raise their game a few notches if they are to compete at the highest level. Lekhwiya have been Qatar’s top football side for a Scientists unravel loose shoelace mystery few years now. They created history when they won the prestigious Qatar Stars League on their debut in 2010- Guardian News and Media The study found that the stomping your leg or stamping your foot does versions of the standard knot and bow: 11. Since then they have gone on to win the tournament Los Angeles of the foot gradually loosens the knot not generally cause a knot to come the square knot and the weaker granny while the whipping forces produced undone. knot. four more times, including this season under the by the swing of the foot act like hands It appeared to be a combination In a square knot, you start by guidance of coach Djamel Belmadi. hings can start to unravel tugging on the ends of the laces. of both motions that conspired to crossing the lace in your right hand in They are also doing well in the lucrative Asian at any moment, but when As the tension in the knot eases unravel laces. front of the one in your left hand and Champions League in which they currently top their failure occurs it is swift and and the free ends start to slide, a Next, the scientists captured then threading it under the left one. Tcatastrophic. runaway eff ect takes hold and the knot slow-motion video of a runner on a For the bow you repeat the process, group and look set to qualify for the knockouts. El This is the conclusion of a scientifi c suddenly unravels. treadmill. but crossing the end that’s now in your Jaish, too, have been among the top football teams investigation into what might be The fi ndings also revealed what They found that the foot strikes right hand behind the one in your left described as Sod’s law of shoelaces. knot experts, such as sailors and the ground at seven times the force of (with added loops to make the bow). in Qatar over the past few years although they were The study focused on the surgeons, have long suggested: that gravity and as the fabric of the shoe In a granny knot the same overhand unlucky not to win the league on a couple of occasions. mysterious phenomenon by which a the granny knot many of us use to tie squashes down on impact, extra lace motion is repeated for both knot and No offi cial reason has been given for the merger, but shoe is neatly and securely tied one our laces comes undone far quicker is freed at the top of the shoe, causing bow. whatever it is, in the end it would only prove benefi cial moment, and the next a fl apping lace than an alternative method that is no the knot to loosen slightly with each According to the data, the lace is threatening to trip you up – possibly more complex. stride. slippage rate was cut by at least a for Qatar. as you are running for the bus or Robert Matthews, a physicist at Meanwhile, the swinging leg causes factor of fi ve using a square knot striding with professional purpose Aston University in Birmingham who the lace’s free ends to whip back and compared with a granny knot.“Simply across your open-plan offi ce. was not involved in the latest work, forth tugging them outwards. reversing the way we form the fi nal To Advertise In a series of experiments involving said: “It’s provided hard scientifi c As the knot loosens, the friction knot when tying laces makes a huge a human runner on a treadmill and backing for what many people have holding the knot tight decreases, diff erence,” Matthews said. [email protected] a mechanical leg designed to swing long suspected: that the traditional and as the free ends lengthen, the O’Reilly said: “With the strong Display and stomp, the scientists revealed way of tying shoelaces is pretty whipping force goes up, leading to an [square] knot you might be able Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 that shoelace knot failure happens rubbish.” avalanche eff ect. to get through the day without it in a matter of seconds, triggered by a O’Reilly said he was inspired to “The interesting thing about this failing.” Although he admitted to Classified complex interaction of forces. investigate after spending decades mechanism is that your laces can still using the granny knot himself Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Oliver O’Reilly, a professor of pondering why laces spontaneously be fi ne for a really long time, and through habit. mechanical engineering at the unknot themselves – an intellectual it’s not until you get one little bit The study suggests the square knot Subscription University of California Berkeley and niggle that intensifi ed when he came of motion to cause loosening that works better because the impact of [email protected] the study’s senior author, said: “It’s to teach his daughter how to tie her starts this avalanche eff ect leading to the foot loosens the knot more slowly, unpredictable but when it happens, laces. knot failure,” said Christine Gregg, a but the scientists were not able to it’s in two or three strides and it’s The scientist enlisted a pair of PhD graduate student at UC Berkeley and a establish why this is the case. 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved catastrophic. There’s no way of students and initial tests revealed co-author. The study is published in the journal coming back from it.” that sitting on a chair and swinging The scientists tested two basic Proceedings of the Royal Society A. Gulf Times Thursday, April 13, 2017 27 COMMENT Crouching Donald, paper tiger

By Barry Eichengreen learning that he is hemmed in by Berkeley the same constraints that led Barack Obama’s administration to make the choices it did. As with Obama, the onald Trump’s comments agent of change is turning out to be an about China during the US agent of continuity. presidential campaign didn’t The US has some legitimate Dexactly bolster high hopes economic grievances against China for Sino-American relations once he – for example, over its treatment of was elected. Trump denounced China American intellectual property and for “taking our jobs,” and “[stealing] US beef and grain exports. But the hundreds of billions of dollars in our appropriate venue for adjudicating intellectual property.” He repeatedly such disputes is the World Trade accused China of manipulating Organisation. That is where Trump’s its currency. The low point came administration, like Obama’s, is likely last May, when Trump warned his to end up. followers that, “We can’t continue to The Trump administration could yet allow China to rape our country. That’s label China a currency manipulator, what they’re doing. It’s the greatest rebuking it for keeping its exchange theft in the history of the world.” rate artifi cially low. It could do so Given such infl ammatory rhetoric, either now or later in the year. But many people understandably felt that accusation would be contrary considerable trepidation in the run- to the facts: the renminbi is now up to Trump’s summit with Chinese fairly valued, and China has actually President Xi Jinping at Trump’s been intervening to support the Mar-a-Lago estate. It wasn’t hard to exchange rate, not weaken it further. imagine a refused handshake or the Inside the Washington, DC beltway, presentation of a bill for payment, like however, facts are no longer what the one Trump reportedly gave visiting they once were. Singling out China German Chancellor Angela Merkel (a for manipulation might still appeal to report denied by the White House). a president who values symbolism as Instead, Trump treated Xi with much as Trump does. considerable deference. One This file photo taken on April 6, 2017 shows US President Donald Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a bilateral meeting at the Mar-a-Lago estate in West But little of consequence would explanation is that he was preoccupied Palm Beach, Florida. follow. The US depends too much on by the impending US missile strike Chinese co-operation to risk overly on Syria. Another is that it is easier to and Walmart rely on Chinese imports it is business. Aggressive US trade provocations and Trump’s incautious eff ective political pressure is China, antagonising China’s leaders. Labelling command Trump’s respect when you to stock their shelves. Electronics sanctions against China would send reaction have brought to the fore. whose goodwill the US now regards as China a currency manipulator would have an aircraft carrier, 3,000 military companies like Apple rely on workers equity prices plunging, alarming a US Posturing aside, Trump will be forced essential. be the economic-policy equivalent planes, and 1.6mn ground troops. in China to assemble their products. president who measures his economic to recognise that military force is not Trump’s about-face on China is of launching 59 cruise missiles at an But the best explanation is surely And the idea that the US could easily policy success by the level of the stock an option. A surgical strike against of a piece with his “recalibration” isolated air base in Syria. It would that the US depends too heavily on source the same inputs from other market. The 1930 Smoot-Hawley North Korea’s nuclear facilities on repealing Obamacare, reforming be much sound and fury, signifying China, economically and politically, countries is fanciful. Put simply, while Tariff didn’t cause the Great Crash, would most likely not succeed, while the tax code, organising a large- nothing. – Project Syndicate for even a president as diplomatically Trump has repeatedly observed that much less the Great Depression. But a massive attack would provoke scale infrastructure-investment reckless as Trump to spark a confl ict. China sells more to the US than the that tariff and the foreign retaliation devastating retaliation against South initiative, and renegotiating zBarry Eichengreen is a professor at Economically, the US and China US sells to China, starting a trade war it elicited sent the stock market down Korea. the North American Free Trade the University of California, Berkeley, are too closely interlinked through in an eff ort to correct this supposed still further, which was hardly helpful. The only feasible strategy is tighter Agreement (NAFTA). In each case, and the University of Cambridge. global supply chains to be able to cut imbalance would still cost American Politically, too, the US cannot sanctions and political pressure to his glib campaign slogans have run His latest book is Hall of Mirrors: ties. US companies not only compete business very dearly. aff ord serious confl ict with China, bring North Korea to the negotiating up against the hard reality of actually The Great Depression, the Great with Chinese imports; they also rely And if there is one constituency given the growing crisis on the Korean table. And the only party capable of making policy. Recession, and the Uses – and Misuses heavily on them. Retailers like Target that Trump listens to consistently, Peninsula, which North Korean tightening sanctions and applying In all of these areas, Trump is – of History. Weather report Europe’s surprising tech success Three-day forecast TODAY High: 39 C By William Echikson and volume of venture-capital- Of course, Europe’s tech sector still or setting diff erent prices on the basis financed deals. has its weaknesses, refl ected in its of a customer’s home country. Other Low : 26 C Brussels Inshore: Hazy at places at first Europe’s traditional industries are failure so far to produce a tech giant to dangerous possibilities – such as an becomes hot daytime with some now awakening to tech. Two-thirds rival the behemoths of Silicon Valley. eff ort to regulate data ownership, scattered clouds. urope is often viewed as a of Europe’s largest corporates by While European tech entrepreneurs access, and usability – lie on the digital laggard, running far market capitalisation have made a fi nd it as easy as their American horizon. FRIDAY behind the frontier-pushing direct investment in a tech company. counterparts to raise startup funds, Despite these risks, the overall High: 38 C United States and Asia. But One-third of those companies have US fi rms enjoy 14 times more later- trend in Europe’s tech sector is a Low: 25 C E Sunny appearances are deceiving. In fact, acquired a tech company since the stage capital. That funding gap would positive one. A new appetite for risk according to a new report by the beginning of 2015. disappear, if European pension funds seems to be sweeping the continent; London venture capital fi rm Atomico, Foreign fi rms are also rushing allocated just 0.6% more of their Atomico reports that more than European startups are now taking to take advantage of Europe’s tech capital under management to venture 85% of founders say it is “culturally SATURDAY the lead in artifi cial intelligence, talent. Google, Facebook, and investments. acceptable” to start one’s own High: 39 C building new tech hubs, and drawing Amazon have all announced major A related weakness is the lack of a company. Add to that deep research Low: 25 C investment from traditional industrial expansions of their European tech true European single digital market. In talent – fi ve of the top ten global Sunny stalwarts. Last year, a record-setting hubs. Transactions worth more than the US or China, tech entrepreneurs computer science faculties are within $13.6bn was invested in Europe’s tech $88bn took place last year – compared gain immediate access to a massive the EU – and Europe’s start-up boom sector, compared with $2.8bn in 2011. to just $3.3bn in 2014 – including market. In Europe, they still must looks sustainable. Fishermen’s forecast Gone are the days when Europe’s SoftBank’s purchase of the British navigate 28 diff erent consumer Politically, too, there is reason OFFSHORE DOHA “tech” sector largely comprised semiconductor-design fi rm ARM and markets and regulatory regimes. for optimism. Europe’s digital Wind: NE 03-12 KT consumer-oriented e-commerce Qualcomm’s $47bn purchase of NXP To be sure, the European frontrunners are beginning to organise Waves: 1-3 Feet businesses – often blatant knockoff s Semiconductors. Commission promised to create a into a potent force, with 16 small INSHORE DOHA Wind: SE-NE 04-13 KT of successful US companies. Today, Another study, by the Boston single digital market two years ago, EU countries, from Denmark to Waves: 1-2 Feet Europe is the home of real pioneering Consulting Group, points out that estimating that it could boost the Ireland and Estonia, having formed a innovation, led by what Atomico calls many small export-oriented European EU economy by €415bn ($448.5bn) pro-Internet group. Together, these Around the region “deep tech” – the kind of artifi cial Union member countries – namely, annually. But Hosuk Lee-Makiyama countries have urged the EU to ban Weather Weather intelligence developed by Google’s the Benelux, Baltic, and Nordic and Philippe Legrain of the Open data-localisation requirements. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min DeepMind. Deep tech accounted countries – rank well above the US in Political Economy Network recently At a time when the US is pursuing Abu Dhabi P Cloudy 38/25 Sunny 38/24 for $1.3bn of European venture so-called “e-intensity,” which covers delivered a scathing assessment of protectionist, insular, and backward- Baghdad P Cloudy 37/25 P Cloudy 31/20 Dubai Sunny IT infrastructure, Internet access, the results. Europe’s “single digital looking policies, Europe is stepping up P Cloudy 39/26 38/25 investments in 2015, delivered in 82 Kuwait City M Sunny 33/27 M Sunny 39/26 rounds, up from $289mn, delivered in as well as businesses, consumer, and market,” they argue, currently as an innovative and forward-looking Manama P Cloudy 37/24 Sunny 38/26 55 rounds, in 2011. government engagement in Internet- amounts “to a jumble of outdated, economic force. Wouldn’t it be Muscat Sunny 36/27 Sunny 37/27 Europe’s new tech hubs are related activities. corporatist, counterproductive ironic if, as now seems likely, it is the Riyadh Sunny 39/25 Sunny 40/26 emerging in unexpected places, far These “digital frontrunners” industrial policies that favor producers supposedly backward EU that ended Tehran P Cloudy 26/18 P Cloudy 30/20 beyond the early hotspots of London, generate about 8% of their GDP from over consumers, big companies over up leading the way in unlocking the Berlin, and Stockholm. Atomico the Internet, compared to 5% in small, traditional incumbents over Internet’s true economic potential? – pinpoints Paris, Munich, Zurich, and Europe’s Big Five (Germany, France, digital startups, and EU fi rms over Project Syndicate Copenhagen as the cities to watch Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom). foreign ones.” over the coming years. The French Digitisation is expected to generate Instead of liberalising, the EU wants zWilliam Echikson is Associate Senior capital, Atomico points out, is between 1.6mn and 2.3mn more jobs to regulate. For example, it is working Fellow and Head of the Digital Forum at already starting to challenge London than it eliminates in these countries to ban companies from refusing online the Centre for European Policy Studies and Berlin in terms of the number between 2015 and 2020. sales (except for copyright reasons) in Brussels. Live issues Inactivity linked to loss of independence

By Will Boggs physically active at baseline. Around the world Reuters Health Somewhat surprisingly, this Weather Weather diff erence between inactive and active today Max/min tomorrow Max/min stroke survivors was also evident three Athens Sunny 24/12 M Sunny 24/13 eing physically inactive raises years before their strokes, researchers Beirut Rain 24/17 S Showers 19/16 Bangkok P Cloudy 36/26 S T Storms 34/27 the risk of losing the ability report in the journal Neurology. Berlin Showers 12/05 Cloudy 13/07 to perform activities of daily Obesity, in contrast, was associated Cairo M Sunny 26/14 M Sunny 26/14 living – both before and after with an increased risk of stroke, but Cape Town M Cloudy 16/12 Cloudy 19/13 B Colombo T Storms 31/26 T Storms 30/26 a stroke – according to results from a it was not associated with loss of Sunny Sunny 35/23 long-term US study. independence during the follow-up Dhaka 36/23 Hong Kong S Showers 23/21 Cloudy 26/23 “Physical activity reduced the “These instrumental activities index (BMI), a common measure of period, regardless of whether an Istanbul P Cloudy 16/06 Sunny 19/08 risk of dependence in both basic of daily living can be important overweight and obesity, could predict individual suff ered a stroke. Jakarta T Storms 32/24 S T Storms 32/24 activities of daily living (for example, determinants of quality of life among disability. “Individuals can reduce their risk Karachi Sunny 37/24 Sunny 36/24 dressing and getting across a room) stroke patients, so it is important to During 12 years of follow-up, the of dependence before and after stroke London P Cloudy 15/06 M Cloudy 16/08 Manila Sunny 36/25 Sunny 36/25 as well as instrumental activities of fi nd factors which reduce the risk of amount of physical activity people events by being physically active, Moscow Showers 08/05 P Cloudy 06/-3 daily living (for example, managing dependence in these activities as well did was not associated with the risk of which in our study was defi ned as New Delhi Sunny 40/23 Sunny 41/23 money or grocery shopping), which as in basic activities of daily living,” stroke, but it was associated with the participating in vigorous physical New York P Cloudy 17/08 M Sunny 16/07 are considered to be more cognitively she told Reuters Health by e-mail. likelihood of being independent three activity at least three times per week,” Paris Cloudy 16/08 Cloudy 17/09 Sao Paulo Cloudy M Cloudy 23/17 demanding,” said lead author Dr Rist’s team studied 18,117 years after a stroke. Rist said. 21/17 Seoul Sunny 19/09 Rain 14/09 Pamela M Rist from Brigham and individuals participating in the Those who were physically inactive The researchers recommend further Singapore T Storms 31/25 T Storms 31/25 Women’s Hospital and Harvard TH national Health and Retirement at baseline were signifi cantly less study to clarify whether increases in Sydney P Cloudy 20/12 Sunny 22/12 Chan School of Public Health in Study in an eff ort to fi nd out whether likely to be independent at that point, physical activity might also improve Tokyo Clear 16/07 Clear 20/07 Boston. physical activity and body mass compared with those who were outcomes after a stroke. Gulf Times 28 Thursday, April 13, 2017 QATAR Designs of the times at Qatar team wins debate championship VCUQatar fashion show

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

popular trend in the past becomes new again at the A18th edition of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) fashion show, which opened yesterday at The Gate Mall. Titled ‘Applique’, the event showcases new and elegant col- lections of sophomore, junior, and senior VCUQatar fashion The Qatar University team for boys took first place in this year’s edition of the International students. “It is the essence of Universities Arabic Debating Championship organised by QatarDebate. The International Islamic ‘Applique’ to make new, or to University Malaysia team (above) won the second position while Qatar University team for girls sustain what is still beautiful. came third. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, vice chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation They are appliqueing with their (QF), was present at the closing ceremony of the competition. Speaking on the occasion, HE own spin, with their own starch, Sheikha Hind said, “ Events such as the International Universities Arabic Debating Championship, and pressing out innovative, but are invaluable tools that empower and educate our young people on the importance of cross- sustainable designs,” VCUQatar Models on the ramp towards the end of the fashion show yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma cultural exchange, global dialogue and critical thinking. These initiatives form part of QF’s ongoing fashion department chair Sandra drive to foster a culture of creativity and develop decision makers and global leaders of the future Wilkins said. House of Nomad, the boardwalk along the beach, personally wear on the streets necessary to enter this design who are equipped to discuss challenges and devise solutions in our international community.” The founded in 2014 by designers and and translated that fun-loving of Harajuku,”organisers said. profession,” Wilkins stressed. five-day event featured 87 teams from 46 Arab and non-Arab countries. longtime friends Ahmed El Sayed spirit into both daywear and Meanwhile, the junior collections “Now it’s time for them to seek and Saleh al-Banna, is this year’s evening wear,” El Sayed noted. are inspired by the increasing in- further experiences, to add other guest designer. El Sayed is a former A new and unique collection fl uence of sports wear on fashion appliques to enhance their de- fashion editor with a BFA in Fash- this year is the ‘Rainwear Spirit,’ a aesthetics. The senior collection is sign careers.” ion Design from VCUQatar. new approach to rainwear dress- an eclectic mix of day and evening Designs and creations of Aisha The company showcases some ing that challenges students to looks that refl ect the individual al-Darwish, Amna al-Misned, of its Spring/Summer collec- create a non-traditional touch to aesthetic of each student, which Ghalya al-Neema, Maria Lucia tions— from bomber jackets and celebrating rain. The sophomore includes “a minimum of eight Munoz, Maryam al-Thani, Rad- cotton pullovers to mini tennis collection featured designs that looks that reinforce the individual heya Visperas, Samyah Abou- skirts and off -shoulder wide-leg refl ect “the spirit of the Harajuku vision, creativity, and styles of the Rahma, and Sarah al-Abdulghani jump-suits. “This collection was district in Tokyo, known globally young designers.” form part of the senior collec- inspired by a colour story that for its youth culture and fashion.” “We are always delighted to tions. The two-day fashion show captures the essence of summer “Each student had to project showcase the works of our stu- concludes today with an awards and brings to mind skaters and his or herself into the scene and dents. We have instructed talent- ceremony for its outstanding young girls enjoying a break on design a garment they would ed young women with the skills student designers.

Magical Festival Village holds special day for Dhreima children

The Magical Festival Village recently organised a special entertainment day for children of Qatar Autism Centre & Special Needs (QACSN), as well as orphans of Qatar Orphan Foundation (Dhreima). The entertainment day witnessed “a remarkable interaction” by the children in a lively fun and educational atmosphere. Ezdan World general manager Abdulaziz al-Muhannadi said: “The visit of QACSN and Dhreima Foundation was part of our supportive endeavours towards autistic children and orphans of the community. “Ezdan World is committed to provide appropriate environment and interaction opportunity for children of both groups, aiming at increasing awareness among society on how to integrate this category into society, especially that such initiatives create bridges of communication and integration between orphans and autistic children on the one hand and society on the other.” MFV is located within Katara – the Cultural Village, spread out over 50,000 sq m. It was designed to combine European countryside with Qatari flair, boasting up to 400 outlets and a 500 seating capacity. The village features various shows Snow White and Alice in Wonderland, besides other attractions and performances such as the virtual reality games, Circus Du Royal, and street performances and parades, among others.