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THURSDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11171 May 2, 2019 Sha’baan 27, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Asian countries urged to forge closer ties for peace, growth

O 16th Ministerial Meeting growth and a key partner in achieving of Asia Co-operation global partnership in development for HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani with participants of the 16th Ministerial Meeting of Asia Co-operation adopting the policies of good-neigh- Dialogue in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudheen Dialogue ends in Doha bourliness, friendship, dialogue, co- operation and common development, QNA the declaration said. Doha It stressed the importance of region- al co-operation as a key mechanism for Qatar lauds workers’ contribution achieving the three pillars of sustain- he Doha Declaration issued by able development, which include social atar has paid close attention to Aff airs. Present on the occasion were a tution and national vision, which aims the 16th Ministerial Meeting and economic development and en- the rights and duties of both number of dignitaries, including senior to achieve sustainable development Tof Asia Co-operation Dialogue vironmental protection, as well as the Qworkers and employers and is government offi cials, the International and secure honourable living and de- (ACD), which concluded yesterday, stability of the Asian region. committed to providing due care and Labour Organisation, representatives cent work for all - whether citizens or welcomed the proposal submitted by The meeting referred to the six protection to workers in the country, of private companies and non-govern- expatriates. Qatar to host the third ACD summit agreed common pillars of ACD co- HE the Minister of Administrative De- ment organisations and members of He said Qatar has been witnessing in 2020, and its initiatives to teach the operation areas among the member velopment, Labour and Social Aff airs expatriate communities. comprehensive progress in all areas, in- Arabic language to non-Arabic speak- states, stressing the commitment of Yousuf bin Mohamed al-Othman Fa- HE the minister stressed that Qa- cluding the economic, developmental ers in the member-states. countries to translate the ACD vision khro said yesterday. tar has always been keen to provide its and social fi elds. This, in turn, has at- The declaration also praised Qa- into concrete actions through these He made the observation while workforce with a safe and stable work tracted a large number of expatriate tar’s hosting of the 16th ACD meeting, pillars. The meeting welcomed the speaking at an International Workers’ environment that enhances produc- workers who become a part of this de- which was held over two days in Doha report submitted by all major drivers Day Celebration ceremony held in Doha tion while protecting their rights as velopment. He thanked all workers in the under the theme “Partners in Progress”. and other members on the planned yesterday by the Ministry of Adminis- well as health and safety. This has been country, expatriates and citizens for their Asia is on the way to becoming a ma- activities and their expected results. trative Development, Labour and Social incorporated in its permanent consti- positive role in Qatar’s progress. Page 3 jor driving force for global economic To Page 10 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, May 2, 2019 QATAR

FM meets Malaysia and Indonesia ministers Amir gets message from Guinea leader

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received a written message from President Alpha Conde of Guinea, pertaining to bilateral HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met separately with Malaysia’s Minister of relations and means of boosting them. The message was received by HE the Foreign Aff airs Saifuddin Abdullah and Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Aff airs Retno Marsudi, on the sidelines of the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the Asian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Co-operation Dialogue held in Doha on Tuesday. Discussions during the two meetings dealt with bilateral relations and ways of boosting them, besides Abdulrahman al-Thani, during a meeting with Guinea’s ambassador to Qatar issues of common interest. Al-Hassan Suare in Doha on Tuesday.

Amir sends message to Mali president Businesses to run digital retailing at Msheireb Downtown Doha

By Joey Aguilar “Smartest and Most Sustaina- of a Smart City, having all the Williams said he had seen Staff Reporter ble City in the World,” discuss- buildings (gold or platinum some of the smart solutions be- ing the innovations implement- LEED-certifi ed), retail shops, ing used in several cities over- ed at the QR20bn MDD project. museums, and a school, among seas, including in Seoul, South esidents at the Msheireb The soon-to-open ‘smart- others, all connected to its Korea, such as ordering in the Downtown Doha (MDD) est retail shops’ in the region Command and Control Centre, subway or ordering some goods Rstand to benefi t from the at MDD, include Monoprix, he said retailers’ smart applica- before going home. fi rst-of-its-kind “digital retail- HSBC, Huawei, Novo, and Ju- tions and services can be “ex- “And by the time you get ing” from a number of busi- niverse. ecuted seamlessly” at MDD. home the product is in, they nesses who will operate at the “These retailers have com- The award-winning District bring those products to you, us- ‘smartest’ and ‘most sustain- petitors and they do not want to adheres to the highest stand- Clark Williams speaking at ing phone apps for ordering. I able fully-built City District in say in details what the (smart) ards in green building and Project Qatar 2019 conference would love to see it (at MDD),” the world. solutions would be. Wireless smart services, making it the yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji he added. “When retailers execute automation at the retail level most suitable platform for retail Kayamkulam Williams said MDD is giv- it, everyone (in Doha) will be would be the ability to use aug- software solutions. ing retailers the opportunity to seeing that for the fi rst time,” mented reality to choose veg- “The retailers who have a itally smart’ Monoprix will rise bring some of their best smart His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Msheireb Properties’ market- etables (for example),” Williams smart solution can come to us at MDD later this year, giving its solutions and is encourag- sent yesterday a written message to Mali President Ibrahim ing director Clark Williams said said. and actually develop and ex- residents and visitors a one-of- ing others to do the same or be Boubaker Keita, pertaining to the bilateral relations between the on the sidelines of Project Qatar “They promised that it will ecute it whereas in another lo- its-kind shopping experience. more innovative. two countries and means of supporting and developing them. 2019 conference, which con- be a game changing type of cation they would not be inter- Msheireb Monoprix will be “There is a viable business The message was handed over by Qatar’s ambassador to Mali cluded yesterday at the Doha smart solutions for the con- connected,” Williams said. using one of the most advanced case study having these digital Ahmed bin Abdulrahman al-Sunaidi during a meeting with the Exhibition and Convention sumers, which we are yet to see Msheireb Properties and retail software solutions – set to solutions they have invested in Mali President in the Presidential Palace in Bamako. Centre. in Doha,” he stressed. Ali Bin Ali Holding earlier an- be launched for the fi rst time in or they have to keep up with He spoke at a session titled With ready infrastructures nounced that Qatar’s fi rst ‘dig- the region. their competitors,” he noted. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 3 QATAR

Ministry Qatar ‘committed to providing marks Workers’ care, protection to workers’ Day

By Ayman Adly he Ministry of Admin- Staff Reporter istrative Development, TLabour and Social Aff airs celebrated yesterday Interna- atar has paid close at- tional Workers’ Day, which falls tention to the rights and on May 1 each year, in co-oper- Qduties of both workers ation with the International La- and employers and is committed bour Organisation (ILO). to providing due care and pro- The celebration included sev- tection to workers in the coun- eral activities aimed at raising try, HE the Minister of Admin- awareness of workers’ rights, istrative Development, Labour occupational safety and health and Social Aff airs Yousuf bin measures, and avoiding negative Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro habits in order to protect their said yesterday. health. He made the observation In addition to distribution of while speaking at an Interna- gifts and leafl ets in various lan- tional Workers’ Day Celebration guages to workers, the Qatar ceremony held in Doha yester- Red Crescent Society and Pri- day by the Ministry of Admin- mary Health Care Corporation istrative Development, Labour conducted medical tests such as and Social Aff airs (MADLSA). blood pressure measurement and Present on the occasion were blood analysis, measurement of a number of dignitaries, includ- height and weight for workers. ing senior government offi cials, The ministry also honoured the the International Labour Or- HE Yousuf bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro and other dignitaries with those honoured on the occasion. PICTURE: Ram Chand sponsors and participants in the ganisation (ILO), representa- event as well as Qatari workers in tives of private companies and social fi elds. This, in turn, has workers’ committees, enhanc- country make the necessary im- eff orts have been documented in great strides in this regard. For the private sector. non-government organisations attracted a large number of expa- ing the capabilities of labour provements in the fi eld. a book on Qatari achievements in instance, Qatar Red Crescent Abdullah Mubarak al-Dosa- and members of expatriate triate workers who become a part inspectors and conducting me- HE the minister accordingly the protection of workers’ rights Society and Qatar Charity have ri, director, labour relations communities. of this development. Also, the dia and awareness campaigns, thanked all workers in the coun- and the ILO’s 100th anniversary”. provided shelter and protection department at the ministry, HE the minister stressed country exerts constant eff orts to among other initiatives, to try, expatriates and citizens for The book was launched by HE the to vulnerable expatriate workers. stressed that the celebration is that Qatar has always been introduce the necessary reforms guarantee the full protection of their positive role in Qatar’s minister at the event. Similarly, Mthunzi Mdwaba, very important for the welfare of keen to provide its workforce and legislative tools to further both workers and employers. progress. Corinne Vargha, director of vice-chairperson of the ILO workers and awareness of their with a safe and stable work en- improve the local labour market He the minister said the cel- Sheikh Thani bin Ali al-Tha- International Labour Standards governing body, appreciated Qa- rights. vironment that enhances pro- and guarantee the protection of ebration of the International ni, chairman of the organising at ILO, praised the eff ective and tar’s various advancements and Al-Dosari added that the laws duction while protecting their all stakeholders. Workers’ Day this year coincides committee for the International open co-operation between Qa- praised the construction of some concerning entry and exit of ex- rights as well as health and HE the Minister noted that with the 100th anniversary of the Workers’ Day Celebration cer- tar and the organisation, espe- of its unique stadiums. He also patriates and their residency and safety. This has been incor- the implementation of the establishment of ILO. On the oc- emony, stressed that the private cially the opening of an ILO offi ce talked about the role and history the wage protection and the es- porated in its permanent con- second phase of the National casion, he praised ILO’s role and sector has maintained active in the country. This is considered of ILO and lauded the work being tablishment of committees to re- stitution and national vision, Development Strategy (2018- fruitful co-operation through partnership with the public sec- a milestone in upholding the undertaken by the Doha ILO of- solve labour disputes guarantee which aims to achieve sustain- 2022) entails various projects the technical agreement between tor under the umbrella of Qatar ILO’s standards in maintaining a fi ce in the protection of workers’ the rights of workers and protect able development and secure such as developing the wage Qatar and the organisation, re- Chamber to enhance workers’ fair, safe and healthy work envi- rights. the rights of employers, stressing honourable living and decent protection system, determin- sulting in the implementation rights in the country. ronment for all regardless of gen- HE the minister, alongside that the administration educates work for all - whether citizens ing minimum wage, attracting of various related projects, plans Besides, the MADLSA has in- der and nationality. Sheikh Thani and other senior employees and employers in or expatriates. skilled workers and guarantee- and programmes and achieve- tensifi ed its inspection eff orts She stressed that one of the offi cials, gave away excellence many ways about workers’ rights He said Qatar has been wit- ing that workers’ voice is heard ment of a number of tangible and enhanced co-ordination key aims of ILO is to not leave awards in the labour fi eld to dis- and duties, and works to solve nessing comprehensive progress through improving complaint goals on the ground. with the related entities from all anybody behind - irrespective tinguished companies, individu- any problems that may arise be- in all areas, including the eco- mechanisms. These are in ad- ILO had opened a technical of- sectors to further ensure eff ec- of whatever his or her situation als and organisations in recogni- tween the worker and the em- nomic, developmental and dition to the creation of joint fi ce in Qatar a year ago to help the tive workers’ protection. All such might be - and Qatar has made tion of their positive eff orts. ployer. (QNA) Guest Workers’ Welfare Index rating increases

he Guest Workers’ Welfare In- dex (GWWI) overall rating has Tincreased from 75 in 2017 to 81 in 2018, indicating an improvement in the overall welfare of guest workers in the country. The sub-indices that improved the most since 2017 included contracts, working conditions and satisfaction with diff erent aspects of working and living conditions, it was revealed at an event held by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (Sesri) at Qa- tar University (QU) to present the results from the second wave of the GWWI. The index is used to measure and QU president Dr Hassan al-Derham and other off icials at the event where the track the welfare of blue-collar guest GWWI results were announced. workers in Qatar. “These ratings suggest that further pleted the survey, yielding a response improvement in the overall welfare of Facts and fi gures rate of 87% and a maximum sampling guest workers requires continuous ef- error of +/- 3.4 percentage points. The forts in informing workers about their The 2018 Guest Workers’ Welfare calculation of this sampling error takes rights, easing their full understanding Index has been evaluated at 81 into account the design eff ects. The of their contracts and fully honour- out of 100, an increase from the fi nal dataset was weighted to adjust ing their contracts,” QU said in a press 2017 rating of 75. The overall score for probability of selection and non- statement yesterday. is a composite measure of six response. Attendees at the event included Dr diff erent factors or sub-indices The 2017 index represented a base- Hassan al-Derham, president of QU; that compose the index and which line and marked the beginning of an Dr Hassan al-Sayed, director of Sesri; are rated on the same scale from eff ort to assess and track the welfare of and representatives from the Ministry 0 to 100: guest workers in Qatar. of Administrative Development, La- Mental health: 87 Going forward, Sesri is conducting bour and Social Aff airs as well as other Physical health: 84 the third annual survey of the Guest guests from government, non-govern- Living conditions: 79 Workers’ Welfare Index in May. ment and private sector organisations. Working conditions: 85 “The welfare of migrant labourers The results of the GWWI wave 2 Contracts: 71 around the world has received signifi - were based on a nationally repre- Satisfaction: 79 cant attention from the global media sentative survey of blue-collar guest and scholarly community. In the Gulf, workers conducted during April 2018. attention has been directed towards The survey assessed several aspects The largest group of respondents Qatar mostly due to the FIFA 2022 of working and living conditions of came from India (29%), followed by World Cup. However, much of the these workers, including safety and Nepal (28%), Bangladesh (17%), Pa- public discussion of the problems has security at working sites and living kistan (9%), Egypt (6%), Sri Lanka not been based on unbiased, quanti- compounds, human rights and labour (4%), the Philippines (3%) and other tative and qualitative measurements rights, fi nance and remittances, as countries (4%). that can be generalised to the overall well as treatment by their employers, A total of 1,028 guest workers resid- migrant labour population,” the state- the statement noted. ing in collective housing in Qatar com- ment pointed out.

Chamber commends eff orts in enhancing workers’ rights Qatar Chamber (QC) honour its workers. He aff irmed that these safety and health commended the state’s QC director general Saleh procedures have requirements within the eff orts to enhance workers’ bin Hamad al-Sharqi contributed to strengthen workplace and in workers’ rights and its keenness to noted that local laws Qatar’s position at the accommodations as well as apply the best international helped in enhancing a forefront of countries that requirements of the Qatar standards to ensure the sound and attractive work apply global systems of labour law. safety and security of environment including the workers’ rights. Al-Sharqi said that Qatar expatriate workers in the law regulating the entry He stressed the QC’s role has a great international light of the economic and exit of expatriates in raising the awareness reputation regarding renaissance witnessed by and their residence, on workers’ rights among its achievement in the State. wages protection system companies of the private protecting workers’ rights As part of celebration to and the establishment sector through hosting and adopting the best mark International Workers’ of committees to resolve seminars and forums, mechanisms that ensure Day, Qatar Chamber held labour disputes and aff irming their commitment an appropriate work yesterday a ceremony to others. to applying occupational environment. (QNA) Gulf Times 4 Thursday, May 2, 2019 QATAR

90% of roads linking World CSE hosts Annual Cup facilities completed he Public Works Authority (Ash- ghal) has completed more than T90% of the road network connect- ing 2022 World Cup facilities, a senior offi cial announced. Research Open Day While attending the Project Qatar 2019, Ashghal’s project aff airs director Yousef he College of Science and Abdulrahman al-Emadi said this was a Engineering (CSE), part of major achievement. THamad Bin Khalifa Univer- Al-Emadi stated Ashghal has overcome sity (HBKU), has hosted its Annual the blockade and it continues to imple- Research Open Day 2019. ment proposed projects as per the sched- The initiative aimed to nurture ule. He added that some of the projects scientifi c research while creating were completed before deadlines, cit- Ahmad al-Ansari, technical off ice an integrated ecosystem that en- ing example of Al Khor Road that was manager, Ashghal. courages the exchange of innovative delivered one year ahead. work. Ashghal took part for the fi rst time as a “The event aimed to instil in the strategic partner of Project Qatar 2019 ex- HBKU community a spirit of re- hibition that came to an end yesterday at search and highlight CSE as a lead- Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. ing research and knowledge hub At the exhibition, Ashghal highlighted its where scholars, researchers and contributions to the infrastructure devel- industry partners come together opment of Qatar. Showcased were some to exchange ideas, share fi ndings vital projects including models of Sabah and discuss future collaborations,” Al Ahmad Corridor, 5/6 Interchange and HBKU said in a statement. Al Khor Road within the highway projects, CSE’s Annual Research Open Day in addition to models of Al Sadd Health began with a welcome speech by Dr Center and Mesaimeer Tunnel for surface Mounir Hamdi, dean of the college. water and groundwater. The event’s eight research pillars of Dignitaries at the event. Ahmed al-Ansari, technical offi ce man- artifi cial intelligence and data ana- ager at Ashghal, presented a working pa- lytics; cybersecurity; energy and re- Jaber, member of the Shura Coun- tion for Energy and Sustainable Dr Dena al-Thani, associate pro- per on the fi rst day of the conference on sources; health and human-centred cil; and Dr Richard O’Kennedy, Development. fessor at CSE, added: “This is a sig- ways to improve the quality, performance technologies; logistics and supply vice-president for Research, De- “CSE is committed to facilitat- nifi cant milestone for HBKU’s CSE of work and timely completion of con- chain management; nanotechnol- velopment and Innovation at Qa- ing the exchange of innovative ideas and we’re immensely proud of the struction projects through change and Youssef al-Emadi, project aff airs director, ogy; sensing, communication and tar Foundation, and HBKU vice- and research fi ndings. The Annual work of our students throughout the intervention. Ashghal. networking; and water, food, and president for Research. Research Open Day is an important course of their studies at the uni- environment were introduced by Dr A formal announcement on the event that unites members of the versity. The work presented here is a Amine Bermak, professor and asso- Oryx GTL Awards was made with research community, who are given microcosm of the tools, techniques ciate dean, to the audience. a subsequent seminar on the ad- a platform to engage on relevant and research they have been work- A panel discussion on ‘Univer- vancement of graduate education. topics and showcase current re- ing on as they forge ahead with their sity Research: Successful Paths The event also witnessed the in- search projects. The event serves as degrees. It is an opportune avenue Ramadan Bazaar at Mirqab to Technology Transfer, Licens- auguration of a national survey on meeting point for academia and in- for them to express their work and ing and Commercialisation’ was public perception on the re-use dustry to collectively pursue shared advance knowledge in key areas.” moderated by the dean. The pan- of treated industrial water initi- objectives and celebrate the diverse The Annual Research Open Day Mall to run until May 21 ellists included HE Dr Mohamed ated by The Abdullah Bin Hamad research that enriches Qatar’s sci- was held at Multaqa (Education City bin Saleh al-Sada; HE Dr Hessa al- Al-Attiyah International Founda- entifi c landscape,” Dr Hamdi said. Student Center) on Tuesday. he Bedaya Ramadan Bazaar will run manager Rony Mourani on Tuesday. until May 21 at Al Mirqab Mall from The Bedaya Ramadan Bazaar, which T7pm to 1am daily, it was announced symbolises the old popular Souq, is in- yesterday. spired by the 1,001 nights stories. There The venture is supported by Bedaya will be hourly story telling sessions for Daily fi ve-hour Center for Entrepreneurship and Career kids at the event that features 30 local Development (Bedaya Center), a joint ini- startups promoting their goods. tiative by Qatar Development Bank and The Bazaar aims to support small and closure of Shamal Silatech, and Al Mirqab Mall. medium businesses established by young The Bazaar was inaugurated by Be- Qatari entrepreneurs by providing them daya Center general manager Reem with the opportunity to showcase their Road stretch al-Sowaidi and Al Mana Malls general products in a strategic location.

he Public Works Au- Junction and turn left onto thority (Ashghal) has Al Luqta Street to reach Al Tannounced a road Gharrafa Interchange from closure on a section of the where they can exit south- Al Shamal Road between bound towards Doha. Duhail and Al Gharrafa In- Road users on Al Shamal terchanges in both direc- Road heading north- tions (including the service bound towards Al Shamal roads) for two months from have been told to take tomorrow (May 3) between the right exit at Al Ghar- midnight and 5am. rafa Interchange towards The closure is to allow Khalifa Street, turn left Traff ic diversion on East Industrial Street Extension the construction of Umm onto Arab League Street, Lekhba Interchange bridges then continue straight to The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Streets 41, 47 and 52 will be diverted to Al which are part of Sabah Al the intersection with Al has announced a traff ic diversion in both Kassarat Street via Al Kassarat intersection. Ahmad Corridor. During the Khafj i Street, take a left directions along 2.5km of East Industrial Simultaneously, vehicles to G Ring Road diversion that is designed onto Al Khafj i Street and Street Extension between East Street 33 will be diverted to Umm Al Seneem Street in co-ordination with the fi nally turn right onto Al Interchange on Industrial Area Road and while traff ic coming from Streets 41, 47 General Directorate of Traf- Shamal Road at Duhail Aba Al Seleel Interchange on G Ring Road. and 52 and heading to G Ring Road will be fi c, road users will be able to Interchange. The diversion, designed in collaboration diverted to Al Kassarat Street via Aba Al use the alternative routes. Ashghal will install road with the General Directorate of Traff ic Seleel Interchange. Road users on Al Shamal signs advising motorists of will be implemented for three months Ashghal will install road signs informing Road heading southbound the traffi c shift and requests from tomorrow (May 3). It is to facilitate motorists about the traff ic change. Ashghal towards Doha will have to all road users to abide by completion of road works on East has requested all road users to abide by use the exit at Duhail Inter- the 50kph speed limit and Industrial Street Extension. the speed limit and follow the road signs in change towards Al Gharrafa follow road signs to ensure During the closure, vehicles heading to order to ensure their safety. Street, drive to the Tilted their safety. Bedaya Ramadan Bazaar being inaugurated.

Mercedes-Benz models recalled The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in co-operation with Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, announces the recall of Mercedes- Benz C and E-Class model of 2017 due to torque of the threaded connection of transmission not conforming to manufacturer specifications.

Ministry of Education praises contributions of workers he Ministry of Educa- tion and Higher Educa- Ttion praised the contri- bution of workers to various fi elds such as construction in Qatar, citing the attention and care that the country gives to the workforce in recognition of their eff orts. Workers being feted by the Ministry of Education and This came during a cer- Higher Education. emony organised by the ministry yesterday, on the ognition of their role in the partners in the work” and occasion of the launch of development process wit- expressed the hope that this the ‘Well Done’ initiative, nessed by the country. celebration will be an in- coinciding with Qatar’s cel- Dr Ibrahim Al Nuaimi, centive for all work in con- ebration of World Labour undersecretary at the min- struction in various sites Day, which falls on May 1. istry, said that this cer- and fi elds of education. During the ceremony, a emony comes in recogni- He praised the workers number of workers were tion of the employees of the for their nobility and dedi- honoured, and gifts and ministry who contributed cation to work, stressing certifi cates of appreciation to the production process, that workers always receive were given to them in rec- stressing that they are “our support in Qatar. (QNA)

Gulf Times 6 Thursday, May 2, 2019 QATAR

Education forum aims to raise quality of academic guidance Off icials of Qatar University and the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority at the signing ceremony.

QNA propriate paths to suit their ered this kind of guidance to be Doha interests and abilities by all one of the pillars of the career means available, and respond guidance and guidance system in to their academic and profes- a country. he Ministry of Education sional aspirations in the future, While President of City Col- and Higher Education’s as well as provide training pro- lege Dr Michael Clarke, made QU signs MoU with ACTA Tacademic and vocational grammes and support for aca- a presentation that included guidance section held yesterday demic advisers to do their part the most important services QNA Misned al-Mohannadi, and QU Al-Mohannadi commented with the university is vital as it the academic guidance forum as fully as possible, and contact offered by this college and its Doha President Dr Hassan al-Der- saying, “This agreement comes helps us target a vital group in 2019 under the slogan “Upgrad- with partners to provide all specialities, as well as the con- ham, with a number of offi cials as part of our organisations our society, which is the next ing and Raising the Quality of possible support for students ditions of admission and reg- from both parties attending the eff orts to implement certain generation. Moreover, we will the Work of the Academic Guid- and prepare them for univer- istration, and the recognised atar University (QU) signing. competencies in accordance be building a solid research ance.” sity. degrees and aspirations of the and the Administrative “Qatar University is keen to with Amiri Decree No (6) of environment that is built on The aim of the forum, held in Assistant Undersecretary for future. QControl and Trans- support and strengthen its re- 2015 for the reorganisation of the values of transparency and partnership with City College in Educational Affairs at the min- In turn, Ahmed Nasser al- parency Authority (ACTA) lationship and advancing our the Administrative Control and accountability, which refl ects Doha, was to improve the work istry Fawzia al-Khater said that Belm, an expert on academic signed a memorandum of work with the Administrative Transparency Authority. Con- Qatar’s aspirations to address of the academic adviser and new academic tracks have been guidance, gave a presentation on understanding (MoU) yester- Control and Transparency Au- certed eff orts are needed from corruption,” he added. raise the quality of this fi eld, adopted for the next academic the importance of the executive day which aims at promoting thority. Through this co-op- state bodies to achieve the goals The MoU aims to provide be- in addition to presenting the year 2019-20, which requires plan for the academic adviser, co-operation in research and eration we aim to join all fi elds of ACTA.” tween the two parties exchange work of the academic guid- mentors who make greater ef- the follow-up of graduates, and studies related to transpar- related to research and studies “Qatar University is a pro- of experience, work in infor- ance department in some pub- forts in educating students to the best mechanisms in this re- ency and integrity. and work together towards in- gressive institution in the mation exchange, including lic schools participating in the go to the scientific tracks, es- gard. The MoU was signed by HE tegrity, transparency and pre- fi eld of education, promot- bulletins, periodicals, studies, forum. pecially the technological and Head of Academic Guidance the Chairman of ACTA, Ha- vention and control of corrup- ing knowledge and awareness statistics and data related to re- Undersecretary of the Min- engineering track, to serve Qa- at the ministry Noor al-Maa- mad bin Nasser bin Rashid al- tion,” al-Derham said. and therefore our agreement search and studies. istry of Education and Higher tar. deed said the theme of the forum Education HE Dr Ibrahim al- The next stage will be to guide underscores the importance of Nuaimi, praised the eff orts of the students at the primary and quality, which combines multi- department of academic and vo- preparatory levels because the ple concepts such as successful cational guidance and its distin- State needs a knowledge-based leadership, conscious planning, guished role in guiding students economy. sound implementation, as well UN praises Qatar’s and guiding them academically. Dr Mona El Salous, an aca- as performance evaluation to He also praised their help to demic guidance specialist also measure the quality of imple- students who choose the ap- spoke at the forum and consid- mentation. support for UNODC

QNA the two sides in the future. Vienna This came during a meeting between Brandolino and Qa- Emergency care services at tar’s Acting Charge d’Aff aires he United Nations has in Vienna Abdullah bin Nasser praised Qatar’s support al-Fahid (Pictured below). Sealine Medical Clinic conclude Tfor the United Nations The offi cial expressed his Offi ce on Drugs and Crime gratitude for the Qatari gov- (UNODC) in Vienna. ernment’s approval to ex- QNA every weekend during the camp- Director, Division for Treaty tend the World Program for Doha ing season, opened every Thurs- Aff airs at UNODC John Bran- the implementation of the day and remained open until dolino expressed his sincere Doha Declaration, launched Saturday. Qatar-Spain deal appreciation for the continued by Qatar in support of world amad Medical Corpora- Offi cials at the clinic have said support provided by Qatar to peace and development, and tion (HMC) has conclud- patients were treated for a vari- the activities of the UNODC to strengthen the capacities Hed activities at its Sealine ety of complaints and ailments, for co-operation in and to enhancing internation- of states to combat organised Medical Clinic as the camping with 370 cases involving fever, al co-operation to address the crime and related drug crimes, season comes to a close. abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and threats posed by the transna- terrorism and corruption and This is the ninth consecu- cough, and 207 patients re- sporting events tional organised crime. to immunise the public, espe- tive year the healthcare organi- ceiving treatment for wounds, He expressed his hope for cially young people, from the sation has operated the clinic, burns, intestinal infections, and further co-operation between dangers of such crimes. which began receiving patients Ali Abdullah al-Khater, Chief asthma. QNA by head of SC Security Com- in early November. A total of 661 Communications Off icer at HMC. Eighty four cases involved se- Doha mittee Brig Gen Abdulaziz bin patients (613 adults and 48 chil- vere medical conditions, such as Faisal al-Thani and Director- dren) were treated during this ing the best possible healthcare accidents, bone fractures, and General of the Spanish Police year’s camping season, including to campers in the Sealine, Khor heart attacks. he Security Committee Francisco Pardo Piqueras (Pic- 413 Qataris and 248 expatriates. Al Adaid (Inland Sea), and sur- Forty three patients were of the Supreme Com- tured above). Chief Communications Of- rounding areas. transferred by ambulance to Tmittee for Delivery & The agreement aims at ex- fi cer at HMC, Project Manager He thanked all clinic staff , in- HMC Emergency Departments Legacy signed yesterday a co- changing and enhancing the for the Sealine Medical Centre, cluding doctors and nurses, Am- for additional treatment. operation agreement with the expertise of the security cadres Ali Abdullah al-Khater said that bulance Service staff , and clinic Eleven ambulances were sta- Spanish Police in the frame- on both sides to invest them in HMC operates the clinic every administrators, for their service. tioned in the Sealine area during work of the ongoing prepara- securing the 2022 FIFA World year to ensure medical serv- He also thanked the Ministry peak times on Thursdays, Fri- tions to host the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar. ices, and specifi cally emergency of Municipality and Environ- days, and Saturdays, and during Cup. HE Director of Public Se- medical services, are available ment for its ongoing support of holidays, there were six ambu- The agreement comes in the curity Staff Major General for residents during the busy the clinic throughout the season. lances and fi ve 4x4 emergency context of co-operation and Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi camping season. The Sealine Medical Clinic vehicles stationed at the Sealine exchange of expertise and ex- met yesterday with Piqueras. He said the annual opera- was located close to the seashore Medical Clinic, and LifeFlight periences in the fi eld of secur- During the meeting, they dis- tion of the clinic reinforces and popular camping areas. service was available for more ing major sporting events. cussed a number of issues of HMC’s commitment to provid- The clinic, which operated critical cases. The agreement was signed mutual interest.

Qatar to receive GPDNet presidency

QNA DNet is another success of Doha the continuing successes achieved by the State in its international relations and atar will receive the in various fi elds. presidency of the The new achievement rep- QGlobal Public Diplo- resents the high confi dence macy Network (GPDNet) of the member countries of during a special ceremony on the GPDNet in Qatar’s ap- Saturday in Istanbul, Turkey. proach, especially in the fi eld President of the GPDNet of cultural programmes that General Assembly Profes- emphasise openness, com- sor Seref Ates and offi cial munication and intercultural delegations of the member dialogue, and appreciates countries will attend the Doha’s position in establish- ceremony. ing peace and stability in the During the event, Qatar world, he said, stressing that will be represented by a del- Katara will always seek to egation headed by General promote the bonds of rap- Manager of Katara – the Cul- prochement with other cul- tural Foundation (Katara) Dr tures and to build bridges Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti. of communication between The event coincides with Qatar and the world. the 10th anniversary of the Qatar was granted the full establishment of the Turk- membership of GPDNet in ish Yunus Emre Institute. 2017, and it was elected the Al-Sulaiti said in a state- next President of GPDNet at ment that Qatar’s receipt of its fi fth General Assembly at the presidency of the GP- Katara last November.

Qatar, Singapore discuss legal ties

HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi met yesterday with Singapore’s Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Mohamed Maliki bin Osman, who is also special envoy of the Minister of Interior and Law of the Singapore Convention on Mediation. The meeting discussed the legal co-operation between Qatar and Singapore, as well as ways to enhance and develop it in various fields, in addition to a number of issues of common concern. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 7 QATAR

Artist exhibits ‘The Start’ of QNL opens ‘Holy Qatar’s journey to modernism

eturning from her three- ing the batoola (face cover) as a and Msherieb Museums, among month residency at the protective golden beak. others. She was also a part of the Rprestigious International “From her time with us at the Dual Inspirations exhibition, Studio and Curatorial Pro- Artist in Residence programme which was held last year to mark Ka’aba Exhibition’ gramme (ISCP) in New York, in Doha to this exhibition fol- the end of the 2017-2018 Artist Qatari artist Fatima Mohamed is lowing her stay in New York in Residence programme. atar National Library presenting an exhibition of her – it’s been a pleasure watching Created under the patronage opened yesterday the work from early this year. Fatima grow and develop as an of Qatar Museums (QM) Chair- Q“Holy Ka’aba Exhibi- Titled ‘Fatima Mohamed: artist. It’s also been a pleasure person, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa tion” which will run until Octo- The Start at the Fire Station’, watching how her character, bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Tha- ber 1, according to a statement. the exhibition runs until May 3naj, continues to express the ni, the New York Residency is an The distinctive exhibition is 22. Showcased is the begin- artist’s thoughts and feelings extension of QM’s Fire Station: a visual representation of the ning of the development of about Qatar, her identity and the Artist in Residence programme history of the cube-structured the petroleum and natural gas relationship between the two,” in Doha. building at the centre of Islam’s industry in Qatar and how it said Fire Station director Khalifa Much like its Paris counter- most sacred mosque in the city helped the country grow and al-Obaidly. part, the programme aims to nur- of Makkah - and the most sa- modernise. Qatar’s journey is Fatima works in mixed me- ture a new generation of creators cred site of Islam. portrayed through the eyes of dia, installations and printmak- and help Qatar originate sources The exhibit includes more the artist’s fictional character, ing. She graduated from Vir- for art and creativity from within. than 50 carefully curated items 3naj (Anaj), a product of both ginia Commonwealth University For a period of three months, including photos, works of art, East and West. School of the Arts in Qatar with the participating Qatari artists books and manuscripts, off er- She is part Arab and part a major in painting and print- are fully immersed in the New ing deeper insights into the his- American bald eagle and sym- making, as well as a minor in Art York art scene – attending lec- tory of the Holy Ka’aba. Visitors bolises a strong independent History. tures, working alongside artists can learn about the stages of its female character who displays She exhibited her works at Al from all around the world and construction and its architec- her heritage proudly by wear- Markhiya Gallery, Fire Station further honing their skills. tural features and adornment. The items on display high- light the religious and spiritual Dignitaries touring the exhibition yesterday at Qatar National Library. signifi cance of the Holy Ka’aba and affi rm the deep eff ect the vite the public to come and visit Ka’aba, the experience will add a also sees the beginning of Ram- site has had on visitors for the exhibition and interact with fresh dimension to their under- adan, visitors to Qatar National many centuries. these valuable historical texts, standing of Islam as a religion. Library will be able to engage Abeer al-Kuwari, acting di- manuscripts and rare items.” The exhibition also affi rms the in activities that highlight top- rector of Distinctive Collections “Through these events, the library’s infl uence as an institu- ics relating to faith. To fi nd out at the library, said: “The theme library seeks to widen knowl- tion of reference for Islamic his- more about the library’s May of faith is in focus at the library edge and understanding. We tory and the Arab culture, both 2019 events, and the continuing this month as we begin to pre- hope that, as visitors refl ect on in the region and beyond.” exhibitions, please visit: www. pare for Ramadan, and we in- the historical roots of the Holy During this month, which qnl.qa/en/events

Aspetar set to host international conference on science and athletics

Aspetar, the orthopaedic World Athletics Championships based on critical research Aspetar is accredited by the and sports medicine hospital from September 28 until conducted by Aspetar and those Qatar Council for Healthcare in Doha, is set to host an October 6. The conference in attendance. Since its creation Practitioners (QCHP) to provide international conference will run until May 5, with the as the first orthopaedic and continuing medical education on medicine and science in sessions beginning at 1pm sports medicine hospital in the for healthcare practitioners. This athletics from tomorrow. and lasting until 5.45pm on region, Aspetar has constantly conference has been planned The conference, which will Day 1, and between 8am and conducted leading medical and implemented in accordance feature local and international 5.30pm on days 2 and 3. The research and studies in sports with the accreditation experts, comes as the country sessions will include interactive medicine, providing medical requirements and policies of prepares to host the 2019 IAAF workshops, seminars on how care and treatment for stars and the QCHP. Participants will earn Doha Diamond League event to prevent athletic injuries and clubs from around the world, 18.25 Continuing Professional tomorrow and the 2019 IAAF other scientific-focused topics according to a press statement. Development points. The artist’s fictional character, 3naj (Anaj) symbolises a strong independent female character who displays her heritage proudly by wearing the batoola (face cover) as a protective golden beak. GU-Q workshop discusses re-imagining regional security in Middle East

recent full day workshop at Georgetown University in Qatar A(GU-Q) titled “Re-imagining Regional Security in the Middle East” brought together leading academics and experts working in the fi elds of mass media, international relations, and security studies. The event was co-sponsored by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, and organised and mod- erated by GU-Q professor of govern- ment, Rory Miller. Participating experts included the head of the Turkish Radio and Tel- evision Corporation (TRT) Research Centre, Tarek Cherkaoui. Taking news coverage of major events on Al Jazeera English and TRT as case studies, he presented his research on the use of broadcast media to expand national infl uence, and as a key indicator for a GU-Q workshop: fruitful discussions nation’s public diplomacy. Dividing the region into four axes, the media stud- to curb uprisings and revolutions, and ance. Damilola Olawuyi from HBKU ies scholar compared and contrasted gave examples of the specifi c secu- explored Qatar’s energy alliances in a national strategies aimed at improving rity concerns and perceptions of GCC new security environment. the government’s image and gaining countries. The theme of how percep- Other guests such as Igor Matveev public support for policies through lev- tion infl uences action was echoed by from MGIMO-University, who spoke eraging public media platforms. Imad Mansour from Qatar University on Russian-Syrian Economic Rela- The event also featured Cinzia Bi- whose talk covered “Taking Narratives tions, and Sarah Cardaun from King’s anco, a researcher on Middle East poli- seriously: Ideational Foundations of College London who spoke about In- tics at the University of Exeter, whose the Iran-Israel Rivalry.” formal Security Coalitions in the Mid- presentation “The Hybridisation of Several speakers touched directly on dle East, also discussed features of the Threat Perceptions and Regional Se- security in Qatar. Fahd al-Marri from emerging security environment. curity,” addressed how perceptions af- Warwick University spoke on the role The workshop was attended by fect policy decisions. She also focused of sovereign wealth funds in respond- faculty and staff at GU-Q, other aca- on the diff erences between internal and ing to the blockade of Qatar, while demics and researchers from Qatar external threats and the fact that exter- Ismail Numan Telci from Sakarya Foundation, as well as members of the nal threats may impact other countries. University in Turkey talked about the diplomatic and security community, She explored how these threats are of- changing Turkish-Qatari relations who took part in the fruitful discus- ten used by ruling regimes as a pretext from cooperation to strategic alli- sions on the workshop topics.

WCM-Q Grand Rounds discusses food poisoning causes, treatment

A leading family physician and and raw vegetables contaminated professor explained the causes, by irrigation and water run-off from symptoms, and treatment of food agricultural areas. The identified poisoning at the latest instalment and most dangerous strain of E coli, of Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar’s O157:H7, produces a powerful toxin (WCM-Q) Grand Rounds. that damages the lining of the small Dr Mohamud Verjee, WCM-Q associate intestine, a process known as colitis. professor of Family Medicine in Clinical Dr Verjee said: “E coli O157:H7 is highly Medicine, assistant dean, Medical dangerous. The infection typically starts Student Aff airs, and a consultant Family three to four days post-exposure and Physician, identified Salmonella, E Coli, Dr Mohamud Verjee ultimately, can lead to post-diarrhoeal Campylobacteria, Listeria, Norovirus, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, which and the anaerobic Bacillus cereus as can be hazardous, particularly certain is abnormal destruction of red blood the six most common pathogens. strains of bacteria. Symptoms of E cells. It is a severe, life-threatening He described the symptoms associated coli food poisoning emerge between complication that occurs in about 10% with food poisoning caused by each one and eight days after exposure of people infected with E. coli strain, of them, the foods they aff ect, and the and symptoms include diarrhoea, and commonly found in incompletely means of transmission. abdominal pain, fatigue, nausea and cooked ground beef and beef burgers. Other common pathogens that cause sometimes fever, and vomiting. Indeed, any meat, particularly poultry food poisoning include Clostridium E coli bacteria are most commonly not cooked to the suff icient temperature botulinum, Rotavirus and Hepatitis A. transmitted by drinking water is a potential health risk.” Dr Verjee explained that while most contaminated with human or animal He described the characteristics suff erers of food poisoning recover waste, and eating food such as partially of other types of food poisoning relatively quickly, without causing cooked ground beef, unpasteurised before giving general pointers for lasting health problems, some types milk, or fresh produce such as fruit management of the condition.

Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 9 QATAR

Participants of the Nakilat Town Hall meeting. CEO lauds Nakilat staff at Town Hall meeting

akilat recently held its ments, and future direction. continue achieving and reinforce pressed his gratitude to the gressed, and what we aspire to one another to innovate, develop agement to not only relay the 2019 Town Hall meeting In his opening remarks, En- our vision of becoming global workforce, saying: “I am deeply become. and nurture human capital. company’s strategy and vision to Nfor all employees, led by gineer al-Sulaiti reviewed the leader and provider of choice for proud to recognise all our dedi- “In our ambition to steer for- “We must foster passionate employees, but also to facilitate the company’s CEO, Engineer company’s most noteworthy energy transportation and mari- cated employees who have al- ward, we must be aware of the collaboration across the organisa- two-way interactions between Abdullah Fadhalah al-Sulaiti and achievements during the past time services, contributing to ways been the backbone of the market dynamics and strong tion, continue to stimulate think- the management and employees top management. years. Qatar’s National Vision 2030,” he company’s success and growth. competition amidst the ever- ing as a cohesive team, and align to ensure everyone understands During the event, employees “Your commitment towards said. It is extremely important for us challenging environment. with the organization’s values and the goals of the organisation and were given insights into the com- Nakilat’s values and mission, as Citing the steady growth and to refl ect on the history of this Our shared values drive us to drive towards cost effi ciency.” remains motivated to contribute pany’s performance, strategic well as high spirits to build upon signifi cant milestones over the company; to understand where create an environment that is in- Such meetings provide an ex- towards the company’s success, objectives, business develop- our aspirations will enable us to years, the Nakilat CEO also ex- we were, how far we have pro- cident and injury free, motivate cellent platform for the top man- it was explained in a statement.

AAB backs Ceylonians Mega Bash community cricket for charity to support education

bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co (AAB), the exclu- Asive distributor of Toyota and Lexus, has sponsored the Ceylonians Mega Bash Season 4, an event jointly organised by Sri Lankan Majlis Qatar (SLMQ) and Being Kind Foundation (BKF). Both SLMQ and BKF are duly registered non-profi t organi- sations recognised by the Sri Lankan embassy in Qatar. The Ceylonians Mega Bash Sea- son 4 is a community sports event that generates proceeds dedicated to providing scholarship grants for underprivileged, but deserv- Some of the experts at the seminar. ing, students in Sri Lanka, AAB has said in a statement. Currently, there are 116 stu- dents with full scholarship from BKF. The educational expenses QNRF hosts Research Outcome of these students are covered for the full year. The awards ceremony. Twelve students are directly seminar to elaborate on autism sponsored by AAB through part uplifting the educational possi- Present during the fi nals and Representatives from the Sri of the proceeds of last year’s bilities of underprivileged chil- awards ceremony was distin- Lankan embassy and Old Boys tournament. dren in Sri Lanka,” the statement guished Sri Lankan cricketer Associations also graced the awareness at MoPH forum “AAB stands as partners in noted. Rangana Herath. event.

atar National Research to identify topics for future stud- Dr Enas Mohamed, pro- Fund (QNRF), a mem- ies based on autism in Qatar. gramme manager of Biomedi- Filipino brand Bench opens flagship store today Qber of Qatar Foundation The participating researchers cal Sciences and Health Care (QF), has hosted a ‘Research were from Qatar University and at QNRF, said: “The selec- Outcome’ Seminar on the side- Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a tion of autism as the focus for Bench, a leading fashion and lines of the Ministry of Public member of QF. this ROS event is a suitable lifestyle brand in the Philippines, Health’s (MoPH) awareness They shared the outcomes and timely choice in accord- will open its flagship store at City forum titled ‘Towards Building of fi ve QNRF-funded research ance with April being Autism Center Doha today, according a Supportive System for Early projects at the seminar attend- Awareness Month, not only in to a statement. Franchised by Intervention and Compre- ed by students, researchers, Qatar but worldwide. Autism FACT (Fashion Accessories and hensive Education for Autism experts, relevant stakeholders, has always been an important Cosmetic Trading), a subsidiary of Spectrum’. and members of the general focus of research for QNRF Integral Group Holding (a Qatari The event invited three dis- public. as we actively support Qa- company), the new Bench store tinguished investigators to The presented research tar’s efforts to raise awareness will be the largest in Qatar and the share their autism-focused projects explored diff erent about autism and integrate region. The outlet will showcase research outcomes and off er themes related to autism in- autistic individuals as pro- the entire range of Bench products audience members interdisci- cluding: the prevalence of the ductive members of our soci- from apparel, denim, underwear, plinary insights into their fi nd- disorder in Qatar; innovative ety through focusing on their cosmetics, accessories and active ings. ways to enhance the treatment abilities, not disabilities. wear. Started in 1987 as a small store The seminar gave the partici- and care for people with au- “Holding this research out- selling men’s t-shirts, Bench became pating researchers an oppor- tism; and approaches and use come seminar in conjunction the pioneer in the Philippines tunity to share the fi ndings of of technology to develop and with the MoPH’s forum em- ‘off ering premium quality products their research and receive feed- enhance communication skills phasises the importance that at aff ordable prices’. Bench has built back from relevant profession- of children with autism. QNRF places on the collabora- a worldwide network of stores and als and practitioners to further The event was a step forward tion with the ministry to put outlets, reaching as far as the US, develop their projects. towards spreading knowledge research and its outcomes at the the Middle East, and China. The interactive seminar en- and awareness about autism in service of the health sector and gaged participants and attendees Qatar. patients at large.”

HEC Paris concludes ‘Emerging Leaders’ training programme with Oman partner

EC Paris, one of the world’s Oman’s largest organisations. leading providers of executive Dr Nils Plambeck, dean and CEO Heducation, and Takatuf Oman, of HEC Paris in Qatar, and academic the leading ‘human capital’ solutions director of the ‘Emerging Leaders provider in Oman, have successfully Programme’, said it builds on the sole concluded the ‘Emerging Leaders Pro- premise of equipping Oman’s senior gramme’ for business leaders drawn leaders to take the leap. from a diverse group of Omani organi- “Our world-class faculty has actu- sations. ally witnessed the transformational The fi ve-month programme suc- journey demonstrated by participants cessfully concluded for 19 of Oman’s taking up this programme,” he ex- key business. plained. The hands-on approach to real- Structured across three modules, world experiential executive education Strategy & Leadership; Business Sim- helped participants gain new perspec- ulation & Team & Performance Man- tive through case studies, role play and agement; and Innovation & Future ‘Action Learning Projects’ which are Leadership, the ‘Emerging Leaders likely to create positive returns for the Programme’ started in November 2018 involved organisation if implemented. in Qatar in collaboration with Takatuf and ended in April 2019. The innovative learning curricu- Oman helped develop the leadership Takatuf and HEC Paris have been lum uniquely designed by HEC Paris competencies most sought-after by successfully collaborating since 2015. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, May 2, 2019 QATAR

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani addressing the meeting. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani with ACD Secretary-General Bundit Limschoon: PICTURE: Thajudheen PICTURE: Thajudheen FM calls for deeper, stronger ties among Asian nations at ACD meet

QNA 16th ACD Ministerial Meeting begins in Doha under the Doha chairmanship of Qatar; HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin he 16th Ministerial Meet- ing of the Member States Abdulrahman al-Thani opens the meeting attended by Tof the Asian Co-opera- ministers from several countries tion Dialogue (ACD), under the chairmanship of Qatar, began in Doha yesterday. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrah- man al-Thani opened the meet- ing by saying that the meeting is taking place when the world is undergoing complex changes and developments in political, economic and fi nancial spheres, stressing the need to deepen co- operation among Asian coun- tries to meet the challenges of the future. He pointed out that the Asian continent constitutes an infl u- ential proportion in this world, stressing the need to upgrade the HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani level of relations and co-opera- with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. tion among all countries of the Asian continent in various fi elds Science and Community Devel- in Sri Lanka, adding that his nities should not be linked to in order to achieve the desired opment hosted an educational country believed that education, terrorism, calling for the removal joint integration at bilateral and workshop in co-operation with culture and dialogue are essen- of its root causes by confronting multilateral levels. the Asian Co-operation Dia- tial for development. poverty and workers to achieve The FM pointed to the need logue (ACD) in Qatar last March, He stressed that his country social justice. to address the challenges of the which witnessed a remarkable adopts the method of dialogue as Cavusoglu also called for in- future by deepening and inten- HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani attendance from educational and the best approach to achieve the creased economic co-operation, sifying ties of co-operation and with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamad Javad Zarif. academic elites. desired goals, noting his coun- stressing that obstacles must be creating healthy environments try’s support for projects and resolved in order to achieve this to build solid and balanced re- we have long-standing historical other regions, leading to slower omy and trade, which will open Economic achievements events of the Asian continent, goal. He pointed out that Mem- lations between the countries ties that transcend the material growth rates and development new horizons for mutual co-op- Sheikh Mohamed also an- including hosting a cultural week ber States should work together based on respect for interna- interests and immediate ben- programmes. eration, expansion of trade and nounced that Qatar will host the for dialogue between countries. to achieve concrete steps in this tional legitimacy and on the efi ts,” he said, adding that Qatar The FM said although the fi nancial markets and increase ACD Summit in 2020, hoping Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign framework, especially in light proper resolution of disputes in supports the main objectives of countries of the continent have the competitive power of the that “this meeting will achieve Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu of the human and material ca- a manner that guarantees jus- the ACD initiative, which in- taken concrete steps to achieve Asian countries with the rest of its objectives of meeting the as- said that the Asian continent pabilities of the countries of the tice, strengthens mutual trust clude strengthening inter-rela- some ambitions, there is still the world. The FM addressed the pirations of our peoples and our has enormous potential and re- continent through the establish- and achieves real partnership tions among Member States, co- other aspirations that require phenomenon of terrorism and common hopes”. For his part, sources, while highlighting some ment of networks of communi- through more eff ective imple- ordinating political positions, hard work to achieve them. extremism, stressing that it has Iranian Foreign Minister Moha- of the potentials enjoyed by the cation and good integration be- mentation mechanisms in line strengthening co-operation “We have every opportunity to become a source of danger to all, mad Javad Zarif called for the es- continent. tween the ACD countries. with the ACD vision 2030. in various fi elds and achieving achieve the aspirations of our adding that Qatar condemns ter- tablishment of a comprehensive The minister, who addressed While stressing the impor- He pointed out that the ACD, common interests. peoples because Asia possesses rorism, extremism and violence Secretariat for all Member States the opening of the 16th ACD tance of economic co-operation, since its inception on 23 June Sheikh Mohamed reiterated natural and human resources in all their forms, regardless of by establishing a working group Ministerial Meeting as his coun- he said, it’s also necessary to pay 2001 and the launch of its min- Qatar’s support for Member and occupies an outstanding their motives, and is involved in for reform and restructuring. try will be the next chair of attention to cultural exchange isterial meetings in 2002 and its States’ proposals related to the geographical location.” all regional and international ef- Zarif, who addressed the the ACD, added that the Asian and tourism, noting that Tur- fi rst term in 2012, has proved 20 fi elds of co-operation, par- He stressed that consultation forts to combat terrorism. opening of the 16th ACD Min- continent has more than half key during the period of its chair beyond any doubt that it is a vi- ticularly in the areas of energy, and co-operation in the politi- He also reiterated that there isterial Meeting as his country the world’s population, pro- of the ACD will give priority to tal mechanism for co-operation energy security, poverty allevia- cal fi eld are an important fac- is no religion that calls for ter- was the former chair of the ACD, duces about 40% of the world’s tourism and fi nd mechanisms for in the development of the Asian tion, agriculture, transport, bio- tor in the relations between the rorism, and that all religions said that the lack of dialogue is industrial production, and co-operation in this fi eld. continent. technology, environment, tour- Asian countries, but economic call for noble values, tolerance, behind many problems, and that has achieved many economic The minister pointed out that ism and E-education, adding and trade co-operation is the co-operation and constructive the ACD was established in order achievements as many of the Turkey will also be interested in New horizons that it encourages all eff orts that cornerstone in the development dialogue for the benefi t of hu- to help in avoiding such prob- continent’s countries managed increasing communication be- The FM expressed his full promote joint action under the of these relations, prosperity, man society. lems, adding multilateral and to bring their peoples out of tween Member States and pro- confi dence that the integration umbrella of the ACD Secretariat economy and sustainable devel- Sheikh Mohamed reiterated comprehensive dialogue is the the lowest level of income and viding platforms of co-operation of the course of the previous General. opment of these countries and Qatar’s condemnation of the only way out of any confl icts or achieve high levels. between the Chambers of Com- ministerial meetings will pro- He pointed out that the their peoples. bombings of churches and hotels problems. He stressed that economy is merce of the ACD. vide an opportunity to deepen economies of the Asian coun- in Sri Lanka in April. In another He also expressed his support the main engine in many gather- In turn, ACD Secretary-Gen- and strengthen existing co-op- tries in recent years have wit- Business Forum context, he stressed that Qa- for Qatar’s hosting of the ACD ings, therefore the ACD should eral Bundit Limschoon called on eration in all fi elds and help to nessed increasing growth rates, He pointed out that the Busi- tar believes that education and summit in 2020, saying that the focus on increasing economic Member States to work together open up new horizons, express- which provide the opportunity ness Forum to be held on the culture are essential pillars for ACD represents a community co-operation among its mem- to face the crises and challenges ing Qatar’s pride in hosting this for further co-operation among sidelines of this meeting will be the development and growth of of co-operation and dialogue in bers in order to achieve posi- facing the region. He said that important meeting and affi rming the countries of the continent, an important platform for pre- peoples and for building a bright a friendly environment within tive results that benefi t the ACD this forum represents opportu- its determination to do its best pointing out that any situation senting distinguished experi- future for future generations and a framework that supports the countries, especially in light of nities for dialogue among Asian for its success. “We in Qatar ap- of tension or instability in any ences, visions, ideas and experi- paying great attention to them, ACD country’s relations. The the crises and challenges facing countries and will enhance their preciate our relationship with geographical region of this con- ences of investors, entrepreneurs pointing out, in this regard, that minister said his country con- the continent. capacity to cope with these cri- the Asian countries with which tinent will negatively aff ect all and experts in the fi elds of econ- Qatar Foundation for Education, demned the terrorist bombings He pointed out that commu- ses. Asian countries urged to forge closer ties for peace, growth

From Page 1 highlighted at the meeting. practical co-operation to promote necessary measures to combat hatred and violence through the with the achievements of the ACD platform to promote small and Informal meetings between sustainable development and extremism. eff ective implementation of the and vowed to redouble eff orts medium enterprises across Asia. The meeting called for Asian leaders would help share prosperity and contribute further The declaration called upon all UN Global Counter-Terrorism to consolidate relations among The Doha Declaration referred to strengthening co-operation for ideas and experiences, the con- to peace, stability and develop- member-states to work together Strategy. member-states and move towards the importance of promoting free expanding regional trade, transit, ference said. The participants also ment in the world. to prevent and suppress terror- It stressed the importance of higher levels of partnerships. trade and investment between increasing investment and pro- expressed their commitment to Countries participating in the ist acts and to take eff ective steps strengthening cybersecurity, Emphasising the important Asian countries and removing moting infrastructure develop- the rules of the World Trade Or- meeting expressed strong rejec- to promote tolerance, mutual re- combating organised crime and role of small and medium enter- the obstacles to this objective, as ment. ganisation. tion of all forms of racism, dis- spect and understanding, in par- human traffi cking, and promoting prises as the engine for prosperity, well as the need to work together Dialogue as a means for achiev- The declaration reaffi rmed the crimination, extremism and ter- ticular through education, media and protecting human rights. they welcomed Qatar’s initiative to develop strong mechanisms for ing peace, prosperity, solidarity, need to strengthen unity, expand rorism, stressing the importance and civil society, to protect all in- Countries participating in the to host the ACD Business Forum the promotion and protection of mutual respect and tolerance was cultural exchanges and deepen of communication in taking the dividuals and communities from meeting expressed satisfaction to create a private sector business mutual investments. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 11 QATAR Al-Muraikhi: ACD developing vision for joint action among its members

QNA Al-Muraikhi also appreciated importance of activating this Doha the eff orts made by ACD Secre- comprehensive co-opera- tary-General Bundit Limschoon tive framework, the ACD, and for eff orts during his term to de- strengthening its mechanisms E the Minister of State for velop the joint work of member and initiatives in light of the Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin states. challenges facing the continent, HSaad al-Muraikhi said ACD member delegations including the spread of democ- that the 16th Ministerial Meeting stressed the importance of en- racy in member states and ad- of the member states of the Asian hancing joint cooperation to dressing unilateral sanctions Co-operation Dialogue (ACD), meet the current global eco- against some Asian countries, under the chair of the State of nomic challenges resulting from and the uneven levels of develop- Qatar, has contributed to the the trade disputes and exploit the ment among the countries of the development of a new vision for material and human potentials of continent, considering that Asia a new stage of harmonious work the continent to realise the ambi- has the largest share of confl icts, among the member states. tions and aspirations of the peo- noting at the same time that the He thanked all delegations for ples of the region. meeting was an opportunity to their eff orts to make this meet- They emphasised that Asia discuss these challenges, which ing a success, praising the posi- has a lot of potential to achieve require a collective eff ort to ad- tive discussions which led to the the objectives of the ACD Vi- dress them. adoption of the Doha Declara- sion 2030 and to achieve all ini- The representatives of the tion 2019 and the establishment tiatives related to co-operation, countries participating in the of a new vision for a new phase especially in energy, education, meeting reviewed the eff orts of of harmonious work among all technology, tourism, agriculture, their countries to achieve the member states. poverty alleviation and others, objectives of the ACD as well as He added that the meeting while pointing to great achieve- their country’s potential in tech- refl ected the understanding of ments for the advancement of nology, agricultural, industrial the scope of the responsibilities Asian society and the promotion and tourism systems, legislative and sincere will to face all the of friendship, peace and develop- reforms, education, research and challenges to the development, ment on the continent. academic programmes, launch- growth and prosperity of mem- The meeting called for the de- ing initiatives and signing bilat- ber countries within the frame- velopment of new mechanisms eral and multilateral agreements work of the ACD Vision 2030 and of co-operation in the areas to promote sustainable develop- the proposals of member states of investment, infrastructure, ment projects and assist the less on key areas for constructive and transport, communications, sci- developed countries in the conti- fruitful co-operation through ef- ence and technology, food se- nent to grow. fective mechanism. curity and sustainable energy A number of representatives of It also allowed the participants security, for commitment to en- HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi attends 16th Ministerial Meeting of the Asian Co-operation Dialogue the participating countries also to review what has been achieved hance cooperation in trade and in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Thajudheen welcomed Palestine’s request for by all member states with the economy, entrepreneurship and accreditation as a member of the Secretariat over the past years to the fi ght against corruption and and investment and cultural ex- future through the promotion and easy access to seaports. the importance of encourag- Asian Co-operation Dialogue, determine the best ways to ad- any negative activity as well as changes with member states to of research, the formation of in- They identifi ed elements of ing small and medium-sized stressing that its membership dress the challenges ahead. for this cooperation to be based achieve the desired growth, and dustrial and technological blocs, assistance to enhance eff orts and enterprises as they are of great represents an important addition Al-Muraikhi reiterated the State on justice and equality in the in- working on more partnerships and the development of organi- achieve sustainable develop- importance in economic activi- to Asian work and the eff ective- of Qatar’s commitment to the fun- terests of member states and the and collective action in the areas sational structures to enhance ment. ties, increasing communication ness of the ACD. damental objectives of the ACD building of a culture of peace and of energy security, poverty eradi- the potential of States and bring The most important of which between companies, establishing They condemned in the initiative and announced the ini- stability throughout the Asian cation and water scarcity as well a positive impact to translate the are the focus on youth empower- electronic platforms and pro- strongest terms the recent ter- tiative of the State of Qatar to teach continent, warning that con- as benefi ting from the experi- ACD vision 2030 into reality. ment and innovation and involv- moting communication among rorist attacks in Sri Lanka and Arabic to non-Arabic speakers. fl icts and wars pose a real threat ences of developed countries in The participants stressed the ing youth in decision-making, as peoples in education, tourism denounced all forms of violence He reiterated his thanks to the to economic growth and threaten achieving food security and se- importance of stability and secu- well as the use of modern tech- and culture in a way that pro- and extremism, stressing their Islamic Republic of Iran for its the plans and strategies at the curity challenges. rity in achieving sustainable de- nology and the fl ow of informa- motes friendship between peo- solidarity with all measures tak- successful chair of the ACD in developmental level. They pointed out that the ar- velopment, pointing to the need tion and data to increase innova- ples and understanding between en by Sri Lanka to maintain its 2018, and wished the Republic of The ACD Ministerial Meeting eas of co-operation must be to establish a system of transit tion and responsiveness to the societies and encourages projects security and the stability of its Turkey success in its future pres- declared its commitment to col- based on the implementation of and transport and to establish changing economic landscape in that achieve the aspirations of people, while calling for working idency of the dialogue, starting in lective action, sharing knowledge projects that refl ect the respon- new co-operation mechanisms the world. dialogue and building. on drying up the sources of ter- September next year. and expertise, enhancing trade sibilities of states towards better to expand international crossings The delegations also stressed They also touched on the rorism.

Minister says Kuwait will continue Saudi, Bahraini participation welcomed ‘eff orts to contain the Gulf crisis’

QNA Doha

he Deputy Foreign Min- ister of the State of Ku- Twait Khaled al-Jarallah stressed that his country eff orts to contain the longstanding Gulf crisis will continue, hoping that it will not last longer. Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the 16th meeting of the Asian Co-operation Dialogue (ACD), al-Jarallah stressed that HE the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs spokesperson Lolwah Alkhater yesterday tweeted that it was “good to see Saudi and Bahraini his country, through the eff orts of representatives within this Asian platform of co-operation here in Doha”, referring to the Asia Co-operation Dialogue Ministerial Meeting. the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah “Diff erences can’t always be eradicated, but nations’ higher and collective interests should always take precedence. Hoping to see more al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and political rationality in the coming days,” she wrote on Twitter. his determination to contain this crisis, will be able to restore the cohesion of this Gulf structure. He pointed out that this meet- Visiting Malaysian FM says Doha and Kuala Lumpur ‘enjoy strong relations’ ing is witnessing great participa- tion from the GCC countries, “a Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah at the Asian he Malaysian Minister of Malaysian Prime Minister Ma- achieved very good results. The foreign minister said that positive sign that we are moving Co-operation Dialogue in Doha. PICTURE: Thajudheen Foreign Aff airs, Saifud- hathir Mohamed on Tuesday re- He pointed out that the Qa- there must be dialogue between in the right direction”. Tdin Abdullah, has affi rmed fl ected the depth, importance and tar Foundation, for example, friendly countries and provide Al-Jarallah said Qatar’s host- Deputy Prime Minister and Min- their peoples for sustainable de- that his country has strong rela- development of these relations. has achieved great successes in help, while co-operation between ing of this meeting refl ects its ister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh velopment and building, noting tions with the State of Qatar in He also referred to the pos- educational and humanitarian friendly countries is benefi cial and belief in the importance of en- Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al- that the priorities of the meet- various fi elds, especially in the sibility of the Malaysian prime programmes among members of must be strengthened with the ties hancing communication, dia- Thani at the opening of the ACD ing should focus on the devel- trade and investment sectors. minister’s visit to Doha to partic- the ACD. He stressed the impor- between the ACD members states. logue and interaction between meeting, saying it touched upon opmental aspects, as the region Speaking on the sidelines of the ipate in the World Islamic Eco- tance of closer dialogue and co- “We are facing some issues, member countries in light of the all issues related to this dialogue is living with crises and confl icts 16th Asian Ministerial Meeting of nomic Forum in October. operation among Asian countries especially in the world of econ- global trend that respects the in term of economy, culture, ed- that negatively aff ected the de- the Asian Co-operation Dialogue The Malaysian foreign minis- while working towards the inte- omy where some of our Asian economic blocs and the coun- ucation and others and it was a velopment rates in many Asian (ACD) in Doha, the visiting for- ter noted that the State of Qatar gration between member states, countries are facing unilateral tries that belong to it, pointing road map for such co-operation countries, adding it is time for eign minister said that the visit is showing a good example as an at a time when the world faces sanctions and they are suff ering. out that the meeting is push- among Asian states. these country to turn to econom- of His Highness the Amir Sheikh effi cient chair of the ACD, as it many challenges in the fi elds of Other countries who are trading ing towards achieving member He added that the State of Ku- ic, educational and cultural co- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to held and organised many impor- democracy, globalisation, edu- with this country are also feel- states’ aspirations in all fi elds. wait relies heavily on this coop- operation, especially as they are Malaysia recently, as well as the tant meetings and implemented cation, climate change and the ing the pinch,” he said, ruling out Al-Jarallah also commended eration which enables member in need of such co-operation and meeting between Her Highness many bilateral and multilateral imposition of unilateral sanc- that the ACD is a rival to any oth- the speech delivered by HE the states realise the aspirations of strengthening its mechanisms. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and the programs and initiatives and tions on some Asian countries. er regional organisation. — QNA Iranian FM hopes GCC countries will resolve their diff erences

QNA countries could resolve their Kuwait and Oman and hopes to also welcomed Qatar’s decision the region, is to realise that we On US attempt to designate incident from the United States Doha diff erences. We were against the have the same level of relation- to host the 16th Asian Ministerial have to live together, and living some organizations and groups that contributed to the stability pressure against Qatar. We be- ship with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain Meeting and the upcoming sum- together requires dialogue, un- as terrorist organizations, the of the region. lieve that the pressure against and UAE. mit meeting for further dialogue derstanding and respect for each Iranian foreign minister said: Regarding US sanctions on Ira- ranian Foreign Minister Qatar is against international He emphasised that the ACD between Asian countries and the other.” “The United States supports the nian oil, the foreign minister said Mohamed Javad Zarif said law.” is an important forum in the ab- Gulf region. “We cannot have, always, biggest terrorist in our region, that they will fi nd their own way Ihis country hopes the GCC “We are proud of the people sence of an Asian organisation Regarding the GCC-US rela- somebody from outside protect- Israel, so it’s not in a position to and that they have been doing countries will be able to resolve of Qatar who were able to con- like that of Africa, Europe and tions on the one hand and Iran’s ing us against each other. We theoretically and practically des- this for 40 years, and they will do their diff erences. tinue by resisting and improv- Latin America. relations with the GCC countries have nothing against each other. ignate others as terrorist organi- it now. Talking yesterday to reporters ing their status. The only way He stressed the importance of on the other, the Iranian foreign Countries in the GCC and Iran sations. We reject any attempt by It is diffi cult and a pressure on the sidelines of the 16th Asian is for everybody is to come back engaging in a regional dialogue minister said: “We don’t inter- have common history, religion, the United States in this regard.” against Iranian people, and they Ministerial Meeting of the Asian together to the negotiating ta- and pushing forward in this di- fere in their (countries of the re- destiny, interests and we face All that Washington has done will never accept pressure but Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) in ble,” he said. rection which the continent gion) internal relations with the common challenges, the chal- so far is against the stability of will remain very open to people Doha, the Iranian foreign min- Zarif stressed that his country needs. United States. That’s their busi- lenge of extremism and terror- the region, he said, adding that who extend to them the hand of ister said: “We hope that GCC has good relationship with Qatar, The Iranian foreign minister ness. What’s important for us, in ism,” Zarif said. he cannot remember even one friendship, he said. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, May 2, 2019 QATAR ‘Best Hybrid Sedan’ in Qatar award for Toyota Camry

oyota has once again who stressed the importance of be driven entirely by either nificantly reduced. Combining achieved success at the the vehicle being economical in electrical power with zero-fuel two power sources consisting TQatar Car of the Year terms of fuel consumption and consumption and carbon emis- of a petrol engine and two elec- Awards, with the Camry HEV also being environment-friend- sions, or with a combination of tric motors, the hybrid electric being recognised as the Best Hy- ly, AAB said in a statement. The a petrol engine and two electric drivetrain on the all-new Toyo- brid Sedan in the 2019 edition of Camry HEV “provides a com- motors depending on the vehi- ta Camry HEV produces 176hp the premier annual awards cer- fortable and stable ride with su- cle speed and customer’s driv- and 118hp and delivers 22.5kg- emony. perior handling characteristics” ing behaviour. The batteries in m and 20.6kg-m of torque, re- The Camry Hybrid’s win was thanks to Toyota’s New Global the hybrid electric drivetrain spectively. announced at a special awards Architecture (TNGA) platform, are automatically charged by The combined power of the ceremony held in Doha recently which represents an entirely new either the petrol engine or two power sources (petrol en- with the participation of a wide strategy for the way the compa- when braking and decelerating, gine and two electric motors) is range of hybrids. The award was ny designs, engineers and pack- eliminating the need to plug in 215hp. The drivetrain is mated received by Firas Mufti, senior ages its vehicles. a power cord. to an electronically controlled marketing manager, on behalf of “TNGA retains all of Toyota’s Further, the all-new Camry Continuously Variable Trans- Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co traditional values of superlative HEV does not require a special mission (e-CVT) that executes (AAB), the exclusive distributor build quality and safety while fuel, yet drives like any other smooth yet quick gear shifts, of Toyota in Qatar. injecting a fun driving experi- conventional car. simulating a six-speed se- The win came after rigorous ence that plays on all the senses,” In addition, thanks to its quential shift transmission “to testing and evaluation of the per- the statement added. top-class fuel efficiency, visits deliver a new level of driving formance of the car by experts, The class-leading model can to petrol stations will be sig- pleasure”. Off icials with the award. QIB’s personal JW Marriott Marquis and car fi nance promo launched

City Center Doha opens atar Islamic Bank (QIB) from wherever they are and has launched its ‘fi - within a few minutes without arriott International Qnance promotion’ to the need to visit a branch or yesterday announced “meet the growing needs of talk to a bank representative. Mthe opening of JW Mar- customers” during the holy The campaign began yes- riott Marquis City Center Doha. month of Ramadan. terday and cash prizes will be Owned by Al Rayyan Tourism New and existing custom- credited into customers’ QIB Investment Company (ARTIC), ers who apply for a personal or credit card. The promotion is the hotel will cater to sophisti- car fi nance will benefi t from a available for new fi nance appli- cated, self-assured travellers in cash bonus of 1% of the total cants, existing customers who the heart of Doha’s commercial fi nancing amount. want to top-up their fi nance, district, according to a statement. The new campaign is part and new to QIB customers who The opening follows the re- of the bank’s commitment want to transfer their liabilities cent announcement by ARTIC to to reward loyal customers from other banks to QIB. The rebrand its City Center Hotel to and off ers up to QR20,000 of 1% cash bonus allows custom- JW Marriott Marquis City Cent- cash bonus. Along with the ers to move their liabilities from er Doha, under the management cash bonus, the campaign of- other banks to QIB without be- of Marriott International. fers competitive profi t rates, a ing concerned about any related Through a phased approach, quick and convenient approval expenses. areas throughout will soon un- process from the fi rst visit at “The return of our fi nance dergo renovations to deliver an any of QIB’s 30 branches as promotion is another testi- on-brand experience in Doha’s well as a three-month grace monial of QIB’s commitment commercial centre, whilst re- period for the fi rst instalment on providing customers with maining open to guests. payment. convenient and responsive Commenting on the open- banking. With the launch of ing, Safak Guvenc, area vice Instant fi nance, eligible Qa- president – Gulf, Levant and tari salaried customers will Pakistan, Marriott International instantly receive their fi nance said, “JW Marriott Marquis City and benefi t from the 1% cash Center Doha is a great addition bonus,” said D Anand, general to our diverse portfolio in Doha. manager, QIB Personal Bank- Our teams will be working hard ing Group. to undergo changes and refresh Customers will also receive “Our fi nance campaigns are spaces across the hotel to deliver Off icials at the opening of JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha. a QIB credit card with the fl ex- always customised and appro- the iconic JW experience to the ibility to pay only a minimum priately timed to meet our cus- vibrant city of Doha.” nected to the City Center Mall, The hotel also features quis City Center Doha Hotel quis City Center Doha can of 5% of the total outstanding tomer’s needs. As we approach Guvenc added, “On this oc- off ering a host of shopping and seven distinct culinary expe- added, “We are thrilled to now enrol in Marriott Bonvoy, at the end of each month. a very busy season, with a lot casion, we would like to thank entertainment options. riences from a range of inter- welcome our first guests into Marriott International’s new In addition, QIB recently of fi nancial commitments, we Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal al- It comprises 272 contem- national cuisines including, a the JW Marriott Marquis City travel programme replacing launched ‘Instant Financing,’ realise the importance of fund Thani, Tarek El Sayed and the porary guestrooms including Greek restaurant, an Argen- Center Doha.This property is Marriott Rewards, The Ritz- which is the fastest and sim- accessibility for our custom- entire team of ARTIC for their 38 suites, 60 club rooms and tine grill, a Chinese restau- the ideal destination for busi- Carlton Rewards and Star- plest way to obtain personal ers and work towards it. The trust and support in Marriott 42 serviced apartments as well rant with a club lounge, live ness and leisure travellers into wood Preferred Guest (SPG). fi nancing in Qatar. This inno- Shariah-compliant solution International. We look forward as a Spa, Health Club and a seafood and teppanyaki and a Doha, given its location with- Existing members can enjoy vative and fully-digital service off ers our customers the con- to working with the ARTIC team 2,000sqm pool deck. Middle Eastern outlet. in the commercial district and their member benefits at the allows eligible Qatari custom- venience to plan their vaca- to make this hotel a successful Meeting planners will also Rick Enders, multi-prop- being linked to the city’s pre- hotel. ers to get a new or top up an tions, buy a new car, get mar- collaboration.” fi nd ample options for meetings erty general manager, JW mier shopping and entertain- For more details or existing personal fi nancing ried, or refurbish their homes JW Marriott Marquis City and events with a Grand Ball- Marriott Marquis City Cent- ment destination.” to enrol, please visit from the reach of their palms with worry-free accessibility Center Doha is directly con- room and eight meeting rooms. er Doha and Marriott Mar- Guests of JW Marriott Mar- MarriottBonvoy.com. through ‘QIB’s Mobile App’ to funds” Anand added. Qatar Diabetes Association honours Oryx GTL for support

ryx GTL has been hon- oured by Qatar Diabetes Salem al-Mannai OAssociation (QDA) for its support. Oryx GTL offi cials recently met with Dr Abdulla al-Hamaq, executive director of QDA, and QIC Insured’s new Awatif Hussein Elsayed and Rashid al-Mahmoud from the Finance Department, where payment scheme on they expressed their gratitude to Oryx GTL for supporting a number of projects and ini- full car insurance tiatives that benefi t individu- als and the community, a press statement noted. IC Insured, the per- address along with the sched- Dr al-Hamaq and his team sonal insurance division uled dates for the remaining were welcomed by Mohamed Qof Qatar Insurance has instalments. al-Enazi, chief administration launched new “Pay your car in- On the launch of this new offi cer at Oryx GTL, and Hus- surance in 12 easy instalments”. payment scheme, Deputy sain al-Shammari from the Applicable exclusive on pur- Group President & CEO, QIC Public Relations Department. chase of full car insurance, now Group, Salem al-Mannai said, Dr al-Hamaq said, “We are customers pay for their insur- “At QIC Insured, we always very grateful for your continued ance in 12 easy instalments at endeavour to make it easy for support and generous contri- zero interest. our customers. We understand bution that enabled us to de- To take advantage of this new their priorities and preferences liver a successful international offer, customers can simply and have launched this scheme Bawasil Camp, benefi ting and visit any branch of QIC Insured to offer them enhanced finan- empowering our children liv- or simply log on to qic-insured. cial flexibility when it comes to ing with diabetes while bring- Oryx GTL and QDA off icials. com and select the ‘Install- purchasing full car insurance, ing delight, joyful moments and ments’ option in the payment especially for those who own beautiful experiences that will schools. Thank you for believ- valuable work of Qatar Diabe- its people. We always seek to sup- visit, Dr al-Hamaq presented a page. more than one car.” inevitably have a positive im- ing in the mission of QDA and tes Association by providing port and develop programmes commemorative shield to Oryx Upon receipt of the first in- The pay-your car insurance pact on their future. for being a valuable partner healthcare and moral support and activities in the country in GTL recognising its continued stalment, customers will re- in 12 easy instalments scheme “This support is not new in improving the health of the to patients and their families all their aspects, whether educa- support for Qatar Diabetes As- ceive a payment acknowledge- can be purchased at all QIC In- to Oryx GTL, which has been community.” in overcoming the disease and tional, health or environmental, sociation’s programmes and ini- ment and the comprehensive sured branches. For further de- providing support to our ma- Al-Enazi added, “Oryx GTL achieve a better lifestyle. which aim to foster capabilities tiatives. insurance policy will be e- tails, customers may call QIC jor programmes like the Rights highly appreciates this visit and “Oryx GTL believes that all we and benefi t individuals and fami- QDA is a member of Qatar mailed to the registered e-mail Insured at 8000742. of Students with Diabetes in is pleased to contribute to the do is our duty to our country and lies in Qatar.” At the end of the Foundation. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 13 HOL STIC Wellbeing The Pressures of Diet Labelling Tips to manage your emotions more. Yes, it’s ok to break free from a sudden commitment to Vegan- ism if it’s not working for you at By Erin Ralph depths of negative thoughts when ongoing frustrations or linger- are feeling stuck, depressed, de- and parts of themselves within the moment. Before you listen they come. Sometimes it is hard ing depression. This is why some feated or confused, ask yourself, their actions and communica- to anyone (myself included), you for us to acknowledge that we are of us do not actually make the so then what am I going to do tion. must listen to your body. If your e humans experience a responsible for our emotions, be- moves we need to make until we about it? body isn’t, or was not ready from range of feelings across cause then it becomes a respon- hit a wall or rock bottom. What Raise your head up even just the start to make a sudden switch Wthe spectrum, and sibility to feel better when there are the situations that come your Make the decision to feel a bit. This slight move inspires — it will not achieve anything, and since we attract back what we put may be a sort of stubborn comfort way trying to tell you? Where are good. Want to feel better. Desire major uplift. You essentially will likely lead to you suff ering out, each emotion has the ability or ‘life as usual’ feeling about set- they trying to move you? to see higher perspectives and physically ‘tune up’ out of what- mentally, if not physically. to aff ect our mood, decisions and tling into a mucky mental state. shift up to a happier place. Know ever stuck thought pattern or In an era dominated by smart- the outcomes of the day. In our As they say, life is 10% what hap- Reclaim your power. Re- that there is a solution. Once you feeling you are in, allowing your By Ghanim al-Sulaiti phones and gadgets, we often un- hyper-stimulated modern world, pens to us, and 90% our reaction member that you are always in set this intention, your perspec- perspective to shift a bit higher. derestimate the true intelligence staying cool, calm and collected to it. When you feel stuck or get the driver’s seat of your thoughts tive shifts. Here, you gain clar- Practice simply just lifting up and ability of our own body. Not throughout whatever comes up into a funk, here are a few helpful and responses. Your thoughts, ity and forward thought, helping your head, rolling back your There are several pressures we only does it know us better than in life is an art of living to be mas- tips to move yourself through it as moods and expectations form new solutions and opportunities shoulders, and leading with your face when changing our lives in anything else (given that it is us) tered. quickly as possible. your reality. Nothing or nobody to appear. You can cancel out a chest and heart. Witness how ways that are perceived as ‘drastic’ but our bodies are used to routine, We usually experience two can make you feel a certain way negative with a positive thought. this simple body tuning alters or even ‘extreme’ to others who and often it craves it. Any sudden types of stress or anxiety: the Feel the emotion, because it without your permission or al- your thought streams, the world do not share your mind-set. The change isn’t going to be welcomed fi rst, out of instinctual immediate is trying to tell you something. lowance. Breathe through your Witness your emotions and around you and what opportuni- pressure of being labelled under as ‘good news’ by our bodies, and danger of a threat in the present, Go from feeling like a victim to emotions. Keep your mind’s eye reactions from an observer’s ties and people you attract from a certain diet can turn a positive this is why I cannot stress enough and the second, projected anxie- empowering yourself by asking, on a steady horizon, no matter perspective. Are you reacting this open and upright position. opportunity into a somewhat on the importance of bettering our ties of the past or future, no mat- what is the lesson or message in how stormy the seas are in your out of habit? Is your response negative, pit-of-your-stomach feel- lives in a way in which our body ter the present. This latter has an this feeling? How is it guiding emotional ocean that day. From truly and authentically you, or Bring it back to basics. Shoo ing. Declaring yourself as ‘Vegan’ is physically ready for, and our almost intoxicating, quick-sand you to overcome, make changes here, you can bring yourself to a did you learn this pattern from away any thoughts that are bring- is one thing —but living up to what brains are mentally ready for too. eff ect, where so many of us walk or level up? Powerful transitions state where you can actually ad- someone else? Can you see the ing you down. You can always society thinks you should be, do, We need to eliminate expectations around in the lull of worry, pres- and life moves forward usually hit vance out of the mood. For the moments where you slip too far come back to them if you choose say, or consume is another. You when it comes to ‘how a vegan sures, doubts, and the what-if’s us as uncomfortable resistance, ultimate push through, when you negative? Can you call them out, to. Be in the moment by check may feel trapped in a commit- should be.’ Of course, there are of that which is not actually hap- or stop them in their tracks? Can in with your body. How are you ment that was ultimately your hundreds of common traits that pening in the current moment. you accept the ups and downs breathing? Is it shallow in your own dietary choice. You may feel vegans share as a result of con- This type of stress comes from of life, and fi nd peace in let- chest or deep in your belly bowl? you have to act in a certain way, suming a similar plant-based diet, being disconnected with your- ting emotions and feelings pass How clenched is your jaw, or the or avoid certain things, for fear but we are not defined by society’s self, your faith in life fl ow, and through you, just like weather space between your eyebrows, of not living up to what a ‘Vegan’ perception of ‘a vegan’. I have your core power. Instead of be- patterns? or your hands, fi ngers, and toes? would do. travelled across the globe and met ing centred, grounded, breath- Let energy move through you by In my many columns here on the people from all areas of life, some ing deep and creating space in Practice detachment if it is moving the body around - take Holistic and Wellness page, I’ve who are vegan and are twice my the moment, the mind is at play, the actions of someone else a walk, dance, do jumping jacks explained about the benefits of size. Others, will never consume throwing you triggers, worst- that is eff ecting you. While you — anything to bring you back to Veganism. I’ve explained about the the fresh, organic ingredients that case scenarios, anxieties, and may have some infl uence, ulti- the moment and back into your ways in which you can consume I include in my daily diet, yet still feelings of overwhelm, exhaus- mately you have no control when physical body, since anxiety and healthy vegan food to better your they consume food that is techni- tion and stickiness. it comes to the actions of others. feelings live in your mind. life. I’ve debated the arguments cally vegan. What works for us has It is completely up to you and Do not take anything personally, surrounding the negative aspects to remain the priority. nobody else to feel happy, and to as people are on their own path The author can be contacted on of a plant-based diet, such as Share your vegan meals on social pull yourself up out of the murky and are refl ecting their struggles Instagram @CoCre potential deficiency in vitamins media, be proud you are working or minerals such as amino acids towards a healthier diet that will (which are typically found in in turn help save the planet, tell meat). your friends when you feel more I’ve explained, I’ve analysed, I’ve energised. But remember that any Sane in solitude tried, and I have tested. My vegan decision involving our health and journey was a process that was diet is personal to yourself only, ultimately life-changing, and a and what works for you will not have consciously analysed my They were surprised to fi nd that It is important to cultivate a learning process – but let’s be work for everyone. In the rush behaviour. Why was it so diffi - multiple areas increase in activ- sense of solitude, otherwise we’d clear: when making the switch to to declaring yourself as a Vegan, cult for me to enjoy the pleasure ity when there are no external end up like the participants of a veganism, there is no ‘one-size-fits- pause to make sure your body is of my own company? Why was distractions or tasks. When we recent study, who would rather all’ approach, nor is there a cer- as up to speed as your head is. If I so afraid to be devoid distrac- think there is nothing to think administer electric shocks on tainty or guarantee of something it’s not? Take it slow. One step at a tion? Is the world not worth en- about, that’s when our brain themselves than be alone with working the way in which you time. It’s a journey, not a destina- joying subjectively? We might is engaging in what he called, their thoughts. There is an ur- hope or intend it will. tion. But it’s your journey. be social creatures, craving in- ‘self-referential’ processes, gency in educating children and Instead, all we must do is educate teraction at every buff et of per- such as remembering personal adults on the importance of soli- ourselves, stay informed, and The author is an expert in vegan sonalities we encounter. But memories, analysing incoming tude and particularly in distin- remain true to our core values wellbeing and health. scientifi c research has helped me information and feeling emo- guishing between solitude and surrounding our diet, health, and Instagram handle: @Ghanim92 realise that an à la carte menu of tions. These interconnected loneliness. As Sara Maitland, solitude can also be immensely parts formed a system referred author of How to be Alone, puts By Sanah Thakur nourishing. to as the ‘default mode network’. it, “Solitude is a description of a In this hyper-connected Being alone also frees the mind fact: you are on your own. Lone- world, the value of true alone from the phenomenon of the liness is a negative emotional re- The cafeteria was fi lled with time has seriously dropped. spotlight eff ect, a tendency to sponse to it”. People assume that Wellness Meal Plan unfamiliar faces. I sat my tray Forget eating a meal, we can’t overestimate the degree to which spending time alone will lead to down, expecting to see my even go to the bathroom with- people are paying attention to loneliness and that is the prob- friends come in soon. I looked out the company of our phones. our accomplishments and mis- lem—the expectation is now a around, still no sign of them. We scarcely feel the need to turn takes. I would have been a lot less cultural assumption. It was Friday—they all had the inwards because at any sign of calmer, had the cafeteria been The real answer to discovering same class. This only meant one being alone, we fi nd a way to be empty that day, yet by learning sanity in solitude is perfecting thing; I was going to have to en- connected. Alas, no one is to be to embrace solitude, I could have a productive way of creating it. gage in the consumption of my blamed, as being alone isn’t spe- habitually switched the default Kenneth Rubin, a developmen- meal in solitude. I was going to cifi cally a happy state. Reed Lar- mode on. tal psychologist, outlines certain be sitting ALONE! son, who has been researching Every morning that I wake preconditions of benefi cial alone I still recall this day with a re- the relationship between soli- up and sit, staring outside the time: luctant memory, afraid of reliv- tude and development in teen window, I am not just physically 1- If it is voluntary ing those 20 minutes of nervous and adolescent lives, found that alone in the room, I am alone 2- If you are able to regulate torture. My brain was in shock despite the negative emotional with myself—the voice inside your emotions eff ectively for the fi rst 5, unable to grant my reaction to solitude, a period of my head. And as it wanders in 3- If you can join a social group mind the silence it was seeking. alone time has a rebound eff ect. the freedom of that limited time, when desired Trust me to have my phone dead, “It’s kind of like a bitter medi- the default mode works in full 4- If you can establish positive I actually had to physically look cine,” he says, “creating more capacity, helping me discover relationships outside of it up and stare at my surroundings. positive emotions and less self- thoughts and ideas fundamental Watching people talk to their reported depression down the in forming a sense of identity. It has taken me almost three friends was like watching an ad- line”. To understand this further, The less time we give our brain, years since that day to dig my vertisement for a product that it is important to know exactly the more blurry our identity own garden of solitude, but to- wasn’t sold in my country. My what happens when we free our seems and therefore, the more day I have reached a point where stomach had decided there was mind from constant external anxious we are to fi nd exterior I can walk into a restaurant and no way I was missing this meal, stimuli. I just building a wall of others manifestations of our identity, say, “Can I have a table for one so I pretty much sat on that table Our brain is always active. opinions around me? A similar often through relationships. This please?” Chia Pudding with Rose Water and Cashew Butter till my mouth swallowed, in ac- Perhaps why I couldn’t stop question intrigued Raichle and is why the vicious cycle of con- celerated motion, the meal that thinking about people watch- his colleagues in the late 1990s, stant social interaction can lead Why are Chia seeds good for you? drove me insane in solitude. ing me as I ate alone. Was I really who were interested in studying to dependence and a weakened The author can be contacted on Since that unfortunate day, I nervous to be left alone or was the brain when it was left alone. sense of self. Instagram @sincerelysanah Chia seeds off er a long list of important nutrients, including fibre, protein, manganese and calcium, along with plenty of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Not only that, but recent research has found that chia seeds benefits are even greater than scientists initially realised. Chia seeds health benefits, Ramadan ready? include promoting healthy skin, reducing signs of ageing, supporting the heart and digestive system, building stronger bones, and more. So here’s a delicious Chia pudding recipe to keep you beautiful inside and taste that is taking a break dur- madan, Muslims have a chance People read the Holy Qur’an have to experience it for yourself. out. ing Ramadan. It’s slightly more to establish healthier lifestyle many times over during this Since we have been refraining demanding than that; our other habits. Through family and com- month, we get extra brownie from food since early morning, Ingredients: senses are also put to the test! munity gatherings, Muslims points (as I like to refer to them), it is so tempting to stuff our faces 1 cup of white Chia seeds Our eyes are committed from strengthen the bonds of brother- with God if we do. Working hours with the delicious rice and meat 1 cup of thick coconut milk wandering to that which is con- hood and sisterhood, in their own are lessened for us during Ram- dishes, as well as all other kinds 1 cup of cashew milk sidered to interfere with spiritual communities and throughout the adan, as well. of treats placed in front of us. But 1/4 cup of shredded coconut purifi cation, our ears from lis- world. After work, some people would as Muslims, we are encouraged 1/4 cup of rose water tening to gossip and tongue from One of the primary benefi ts of go home and nap until the break- to always remember to keep 1/3 A handful of pistachios partaking in conversations that fasting in Ramadan is spiritual ing of the fast time, while many of our stomachs for food, 1/3 for A handful of raspberries harm others. purifi cation, the essential goal of women will hit the kitchen to liquid and 1/3 for air. This was the 2 tbs of cashew butter It’s a pretty amazing feeling to Islamic Spirituality. Although we prepare all kinds of delicacies habit of our Prophet Muhammad 2 tbs of any sticky sweetener By Shefa Ali think you are among the nearly 2 tend to think of the mind, body for their families to feast on. The (peace and blessings upon him). 1/2 a spoon of coconut oil billion Muslims worldwide who and spirit as separate entities, minutes just before breaking the The evenings of the Holy are fasting and experiencing ex- they are all connected and im- fast seem to go on forever. Eve- month are spent off ering extra Method: Less than a week to go…can actly the same feelings as you are, provement in any one naturally ryone has his or her ear glued to optional prayers, which are per- Soak the Chia seeds in the coconut milk and cashew milk. Add the Rose you believe how soon Ramadan it’s the ultimate sense of commu- eff ects improvement in the oth- the window just waiting to hear formed in the mosque and visit- water, pistachio, shredded coconut and your sweetener to the mix. Keep has come around again? It only nity. ers. Fasting in Ramadan purifi es the call to prayer, which signi- ing family and friends. in the fridge to soak overnight. Serve cold with raspberry, nuts and seems like yesterday that we were I think you might agree with the mind, body and spirit, leading fi es the moment we can break the Ramadan is really calming for cashew butter. Melt the coconut butter and cashew butter together and stuffi ng our faces with samboosa me that all these aspects of Ra- to greater clarity, sensitivity and fast. The accurate time to break the soul. If you have never tried drizzle on top of the pudding. and all those other treats we eat madan, combined, can lead to health. the fast is when the sun has faded fasting before I’d like to ask you, if once a year. divine cleanliness not to mention A typical day of Ramadan in so much that you cannot distin- I may, to join me for a day of fast- Enjoy the taste of eating right. If you are not Muslim or if this the huge sense of awareness of Qatar goes something like this: guish a black piece of thread from ing this Ramadan. Undoubtedly is your fi rst Ramadan in Qatar, others’ suff ering. Hunger pangs the fast usually starts as early as a white one. you will fi nd it a trying experi- here’s my take on it. I like to look throughout the day make one 4:30 in the morning when you As the muezzin (the one who ence at fi rst, I’m sure. But as soon upon Ramadan as if it were a sort think of those who live in poverty wake-up and have something goes to the top of the minaret to as you realise what the health and of intense detox. It’s intense, al- and the countless destitute poor substantial to eat to help you fast call to prayer) recites his calls, spiritual benefi ts are, I am almost right – we are not talking your orphans all over the world who for the day. After performing the he is joined by many others from sure you will fi nd it as much as an average fruit juice or sugar-free can’t even get a proper meal a day. morning prayers at around 5am, the hundreds of mosques over awe-inspiring feeling as I do. detox, we are talking absolute ab- Fasting in most faiths has been it’s almost impractical to squeeze the capital city of Doha, and staining from all food and drink a method of cleansing the body in any more sleep. However, some this chorus simply so enchant- The author is a consultant and from sunrise to sunset for a whole and strengthening the spirit. people do; others prefer to read ing that there are no words to coach. Instagram handle: @miss_ 30 days. It’s not only our sense of With the change of routine in Ra- some verses of the Holy Qu’ran. describe its beauty, you simply shefa, Website: missshefa.com Gulf Times 14 Thursday, May 2, 2019 REGION/ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

AU gives Sudan military further 60 days to cede power

The African Union (AU) has given Sudan’s military rulers another 60 days to hand over power to a Opposition chief warns civilian authority or face suspen- sion, after an earlier deadline was missed. The AU had threatened to suspend Sudan following a coup that saw Omar al-Bashir ousted by the military after nearly three decades in power, giving the army 15 days from against provoking army April 15 to relinquish power. In a statement issued on Tues- AFP Abdel Fattah al-Burhan “a copy day, the AU Peace and Security Omdourman cat of the toppled regime”. In a Council said it “notes with deep move to step up pressure on the regret, however, that the Suda- army rulers, the protest move- nese Military has not stepped udan’s main opposition ment’s leaders have called for a aside and has not handed over chief yesterday warned “million-strong march” today. power to a civilian-led transitional Sprotest leaders against any “I think there are some signs Authority” within the initial dead- provocation of the country’s that some of them (the army) line. But it announced “an ad- army rulers, saying they will have been provoked by some ditional period of up to sixty days soon hand power to a civilian statements from the opposition for the military in The Sudan to administration as demanded by that seem to belittle their role,” hand over power to a civilian-led demonstrators. said Mahdi, dressed in a tradi- Transitional Authority”. The call by Sadiq al-Mahdi, tional Sudanese turban and robe. The PSC said it “reiterates its chief of Sudan’s opposition Na- “If we provoke...the armed conviction that a military-led tran- tional Umma Party, comes amid forces which contributed to the sition in the Sudan will be totally a deadlock in talks between the change, we will be asking for unacceptable and contrary to the protest leaders and the 10-mem- trouble.” will and legitimate aspirations, ber army council on forming a Mahdi, whose party members to democratic institutions and joint civilian-military body to are involved in the negotiations, processes, as well as respect for rule the country three weeks expressed optimism the military human rights and freedoms of after leader Omar al-Bashir was would transfer power. “They the Sudanese people.” ousted. will hand over executive power “We shouldn’t provoke the to a civilian government if we army council by trying to deprive present a credible, viable form of that the days ahead were criti- them of their legitimacy, deprive a civilian government,” he said. cal when it came to handling of them of their positive role in This, he said, was “because negotiations. “All the elements the revolution,” Mahdi, 84, said they know if ultimately they set- that supported the previous re- in an interview at his residence tle for a military dictatorship, gime are there,” he said. in Omdurman, the twin city of they will be in the same position “And any kind of feeling that Khartoum across the Nile. as Bashir”. Mahdi said it was the there is chaos will be exploited “We must not challenge them armed forces that had averted by them for some kind of counter in a way that makes it necessary major bloodshed when the pro- coup,” he said. for them to assert themselves in testers began the sit-in to push However, he said that the cur- a diff erent way,” the veteran pol- for Bashir to go. rent deadlock over talks between itician said. “Bashir was so much hostile protest leaders and army rulers Mahdi’s elected government Sudanese demonstrators, from the Nuba mountains, take part in a demonstration in Khartoum, yesterday. to this that he wanted to dispel will end. “Within days we will was toppled by Bashir in 1989. (the sit-in) even if a third of the achieve some kind of roadmap... The former premier fought sisted transferring power to a for a 10-member joint civilian- tary representatives. Leaders Protest leader Mohamed population as he said was killed,” but what we aspire for may take Bashir politically, and in January civilian government as demand- military council including seven of the Alliance for Freedom and Naji al-Assam told reporters on said Mahdi. He said top security weeks,” said Mahdi. threw his weight behind the pro- ed by the protesters, who have army representatives and three Change, the umbrella group Tuesday that the military had offi cials had faced a choice ei- “I assure you that ultimately test movement that fi nally saw camped in their thousands out- civilians. leading the protest movement, actually been seeking to “expand ther to follow Bashir’s order or this will be resolved, because the military topple the leader on side its Khartoum headquarters Protest leaders want a major- insist the army generals are not its powers daily”. The protest oust him. “They decided to oust all of us have a great interest April 11. in a round-the-clock sit-in. ity of civilians on a 15-member serious about handing power to leaders have even called the mil- him instead of killing the peo- in making this revolution a Since then the army has re- The military has been pushing joint council with seven mili- civilians. itary council headed by General ple,” Mahdi said. Mahdi warned successful story.”

CRITICISM CONFLICT Iran slams US blacklist move Coalition attacks Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif yesterday criticised Kuwait opens massive causeway to free trade zone air base adjoining the United States for seeking to blacklist the Muslim Brotherhood as Sanaa’s airport a terrorist group. “The United States is supporting the biggest terrorist in our region, and that is Israel,” Zarif told reporters on the sidelines AFP The Saudi-led coalition fight- of the Asian Co-operation Dialogue. “Trying to designate others as Kuwait City ing in Yemen has launched terrorists, the United States (is) not in a position, theoretically and 13 air strikes targeting an practically, to start naming others as terrorist organisations,” he said air base adjoining Sanaa’s when asked about US President Donald Trump’s bid to designate the uwait yesterday inaugu- airport, residents told Reuters Brotherhood as a terrorist group. “We reject any attempt by the United rated one of the world’s yesterday. Al-Masirah TV, which States in this regard.” In April, the US declared Iran’s elite Revolutionary Klongest causeways, link- is controlled by the Houthis, Guards a “foreign terrorist organisation”. The Brotherhood, a nearly ing the oil-rich Gulf state’s capi- also said 13 air strikes targeted century-old movement born in Egypt with pockets of support across tal to an uninhabited border re- Al-Dulaimi Air Base in Sanaa the Arab world, was designated a terrorist organisation by Cairo after gion set to become a major free as well as Sanaa Airport. There the military in 2013 ousted Mohamed Mursi, a democratically elected trade hub. was no confirmation from the president with roots in the movement. The 36-kilometre bridge con- Saudi-led coalition, which said nects Kuwait City to the north- previously that Houthi forces ern desert area of Subbiya, where were using the air base in the TENSION Kuwait aims to create the “Silk capital to launch drone and Military ‘will prevent violence in Algeria’ City” project linking the Gulf to ballistic missile attacks. “Planes central Asia and Europe. have been flying for more than Algeria’s army chief of staff said yesterday the military will ensure The “Jaber” bridge, named an hour, and sounds of violent the country does not descend into violence, state TV reported, after late ruler Sheikh Jaber al- explosions rocked the north of as mass protests that prompted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to Ahmad al-Sabah, spans 36 kilo- A view of the Sheikh Jaber causeway in Kuwait City, yesterday. the city where the airport and quit on April 2 continue. Bouteflika’s exit has not quieted protest- metres, three-quarters of it over the military base are located,” ers, who are now demanding the dismantling of an entire ruling water. $100bn, and a 5,000MW power consortium led by South Korea’s al-Sabah along with South Ko- said one of the residents. elite entrenched for decades, a shift towards more democracy and It cuts the driving time be- plant has already been built in Hyundai Engineering and Con- rean Prime Minister Lee Nak- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab a crackdown on systemic corruption and cronyism. Lieutenant tween Kuwait City and Subbiya, Subbiya. struction Co along with Kuwait’s yeon and the leader of the French Emirates and other allies have General Ahmed Gaed Salah said the ongoing marches showed close to both Iraq and Iran, from The $3.6bn causeway, de- Combined Group Contracting senate, Gerard Larcher. been fighting since March 2015 there was consensus on how to get out of the crisis, state TV 90 minutes to less than half an signed by Paris-based engineer- Co. Lee Nak-yeon said yesterday against the Houthis, who drove reported. He did not elaborate but some protesters have welcomed hour. ing and consulting group Systra, The opening ceremony was the causeway would establish the country’s internationally an effort by Salah to prosecute members of the ruling elite close to Investment in the Silk City took fi ve years to build. attended by Kuwait’s Amir, Kuwait as an international trade recognised government into Bouteflika. project is expected to top The work was carried out by a Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber centre. exile in 2014.

Teachers stranded in Merkel attends meet to combat extremists Tanks surround Benin cyclone-hit Mozambique ex-president’s home

Reuters tions and grounded aid planes AFP crowds were broken up by riot Pemba and helicopters. Cotonou police fi ring tear gas. One fl ight from the UN World “We do not recognise our Food Programme got through to country,” demonstrator Abdul eadmaster Ernesto Quissanga on Tuesday, though rotesters in Benin Wahab said. “We will not let Parivos waits in his downpours stopped any more, torched businesses and his dictatorship take the coun- Hteacher training college the agency said. Pset up burning barri- try hostage.” in north Mozambique, watch- Yesterday, it fl ew its fi rst con- cades yesterday, as soldiers All candidates contesting ing for any signs that fl ood wa- signment — including high-en- in tanks encircled the home the April 28 vote came from ters have eased as food supplies ergy biscuits and medical sup- of ex-president Thomas Boni just two parties, both allied to dwindle. plies from other organisations German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a meeting of West African leaders of the G5 Sahel, Yayi after he led calls for an Talon. Boni Yayi, who led the Cyclone Kenneth barrelled — to the island of Ibo, where 90 a regional force made up of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania to election boycott. West African nation for a dec- into the province of Cabo Delga- % of the homes were destroyed. combat extremists in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, yesterday. Hours after initial results ade until stepping down after do last week, knocking out pow- The government says 41 peo- showed a record low turnout his second term in 2016, re- er at the School for Teachers of ple have died in Mozambique — in Sunday’s controversial par- mains popular amongst many, the Future, damaging 11 college though that toll is expected to liamentary polls held without and he appeared briefl y on the buildings and cutting roads link- rise as aid agencies reach more a single opposition candidate, balcony of his house to wave to ing to the main city of Pemba. areas.The rain had stopped yes- soldiers and large numbers supporters. Like thousands of people terday, but more is forecast, of police deployed across the Alongside other leaders, he across the region, Parivos and threatening to burst already Little to celebrate for Zimbabwe economic capital Contonou. has called for Sunday’s polls to around 80 live-in students and swollen rivers. Demonstrators erected be annulled. staff are now stranded at the Analysis commissioned by makeshift barriers of burning Many citizens heeded the site in the district of Quissanga. Britain’s Department for Inter- workers on Labour Day tires, as well as setting fi re to a opposition’s call to boycott the “Life now is kind of diffi cult,” he national Development estimates fuel station near the presiden- polls, with over three-quarters told Reuters by mobile phone. many rivers could reach fl ood tial palace, shops and banks. of the 5mn registered voters “At the end of the week, maybe levels soon. AFP which have left workers with said. May Day commemora- “The country is ours and staying away. the food is going...fi nished.” Kenneth struck while Mo- Harare little to celebrate. tions came just over a week we will take it back,” said one Just 22.99 % of registered Almost a week after Kenneth zambique was still struggling to “This year is another bleak after the price of bread al- young opposition activist, Ar- voters cast the ballots, ac- struck with storm surges and deal with the impact of Cyclone year with absolutely nothing most doubled in Zimbabwe tistide Metowanou. “We will cording to preliminary results 280 kph winds, aid workers say Idai, which hammered the coun- nions in Zimbabwe to celebrate for the common as runaway inflation which fi ght with our bare hands if released by the election com- many remote areas and small try’s central region just six weeks marked May Day be- worker and the common citi- marked the rule of long-time necessary against the dicta- mission. islands are still waiting for sup- earlier. Umoaning worsen- zen,” Japhet Moyo, secretary authoritarian leader Robert torship.” Turnout has never dropped plies. Idai destroyed the port city ing economic woes plaguing of the country’s main trade Mugabe returns to haunt his Protesters on the barricades below 50% since the coun- The storm and heavy rains of Beira and caused devastating the country including price union Zimbabwe Congress successor Emmerson Mnan- chanted slogans against Presi- try’s transition to democracy that followed cut communica- fl oods. hikes and massive joblessness of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has gagwa. dent Patrice Talon, before the in 1990. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 15 AMERICAS

LEVEE BREAK LOCKDOWN LEGISLATION VALUABLE CROP Mississippi flash flood University of Carolina Florida teachers can Canada increases farmers’ forces Iowa evacuation names shooting victims carry guns to class loans in China trade spat

Part of downtown Davenport, Iowa, a city of over The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Florida’s legislature yesterday passed a bill Canada yesterday increased loans to farmers after 100,000 people, was flooded on Tuesday after a yesterday revealed the identities of the two people allowing teachers to carry guns in the classroom, China blocked shipments of canola — its most temporary levee broke and water from the rising killed and four injured in a shooting that prompted expanding a program launched after the deadly valuable crop — amid diplomatic tensions between Mississippi River surged in, forcing dozens of people an all-night lockdown lifted slightly before dawn. high school shooting in Parkland with the aim of Ottawa and Beijing. The government said it would to evacuate. Up to 1.8m of water flooded some areas The students killed in the Tuesday shooting were preventing another such massacre. Florida’s House more than double the amount of money available to of central Davenport, 110km southeast of Cedar Ellis Parlier, 19, and Riley Howell, 21, the Charlotte- of Representatives voted 65 to 47 to pass the bill individual farmers under an existing aid program to Rapids, according to Dave Donovan, Scott County Mecklenberg Police Department said in a after hours of debate over two days in which the C$1mn (US$750,000). Canola farmers in particular Emergency Management director. “We’ve probably statement and university Chancellor Philip Dubois Republican majority thwarted Democratic eff orts will also not have to pay interest on the first evacuated 80-100 people total,” said Donovan by told WBT radio on Tuesday. Dubois said all four to amend, stall or kill the measure. Florida’s Senate Can$500,000. “Canada will continue to navigate phone. “It wasn’t a huge area we were protecting; injured were expected to recover, with one already approved it 22 to 17 last week. Republican Governor this challenging period through careful, deliberate, it’s just a few city blocks.” The Mississippi has released from the hospital. Police charged student Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law, and strategic engagement,” said Trade Minister An aerial view of flooding in Davenport, Iowa, been rising for weeks near Davenport, inundating Trystan Andrew Terrell, 22, with two counts of enabling school districts wishing to take part in Jim Carr. He said he would lead a trade mission to taken by a drone on Tuesday and obtained areas on its banks and forcing authorities to put murder and four of attempted murder. He is due to the voluntary Guardian programme to arm those Japan and South Korea as part of ongoing eff orts to yesterday from social media. up temporary barriers to protect residential areas. make an initial court appearance today. teachers who pass a 144-hour training course. diversify Canada’s export markets.

New Mexico opens AG Barr defends clearing state migrant shelter

By Andrew Hay, Reuters Taos, New Mexico

ew Mexico’s state fairgrounds will begin to house dozens Trump at tense hearing of migrant families to take pressure off border cities fac- Ning a surge in asylum seekers with no help from the federal Reuters Mueller’s fi ndings that there was government, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said on Tuesday. Washington insuffi cient evidence to establish Dormitories at state-run Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque that the president had committed could eventually provide temporary accommodation to up to criminal obstruction. 240 people, making it one of the largest migrant shelters in the nder pressure from Dem- Barr was asked specifi cally state, according to state and ocrats, Attorney General about the report’s fi nding that in city authorities. Trump seeks $4.5bn UWilliam Barr yesterday June 2017 Trump directed White Lujan Grisham has called on migration surge defended his decision to clear House counsel Don McGahn to for a humanitarian response President Donald Trump of tell the Justice Department’s No 2 to the rise in asylum seekers, The Trump administration criminal obstruction of justice offi cial, Rod Rosenstein, that Mu- condemning a “charade of yesterday asked Congress for by attempting to impede Special eller had confl icts of interest and fear-mongering” by Presi- $4.5bn in immediate emergency Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia must be removed. McGahn did dent Donald Trump, who funding to help address a surge inquiry and criticised Mueller for not carry out the order. has variously warned of a in migration at the US southern not reaching a conclusion of his Rosenstein had appointed Mu- migrant “crisis” and “inva- border, saying the situation own on the issue. eller the prior month. sion” at the country’s south- has overwhelmed government In his fi rst congressional testi- Barr seemed to minimise the ern border with Mexico. resources. mony since releasing a redacted incident and said Trump believed “The federal government The request includes $3.3bn for version of the 448-page report “he never outright directed the has not provided shelter or shelter, food and other require- on April 18, Barr also defl ected fi ring of Mueller.” timely adjudication at the ments for migrants in cus- complaints made by Mueller in “We did not think in this case border leaving migrants tody, $1.1bn for personnel, and a letter to him over how the at- that the government could show without any means to make $178mn for information technol- torney general had handled the corrupt intent,” Barr said. arrangements to get to their ogy and other needs, according disclosure of the special counsel’s Barr told Senator Dianne Fein- sponsors or family members to a copy of the request seen conclusions. stein, the top Democrat on the in the United States,” ac- by Reuters and first reported by During the sometimes testy committee, “there is a distinction cording to a joint statement the Washington Post. hearing, Barr faced sharp ques- between saying to someone, ‘Go by the governor and Albu- Record numbers of mainly tions from Senate Judiciary fi re him, go fi re Mueller,’ and say- querque Mayor Tim Keller, Central American families Committee Democrats on why he ing, ‘Have him removed based on both Democrats. have crossed the US border decided after receiving the docu- confl ict.’...The diff erence between Migrant shelters in border with Mexico to seek asylum, ment from Mueller in March to them is if you remove someone cities like El Paso, Texas, and straining capacity at migrant conclude that the president had for a confl ict of interest, then Las Cruces, New Mexico, are shelters in border cities like El not unlawfully sought to obstruct there would be — presumably — Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) holds up a copy of Special Counsel Robert at or near capacity as record Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, the 22-month investigation. another person appointed.” Mueller’s report during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington yesterday. numbers of mainly Central New Mexico. “I don’t think the government Feinstein, sounding uncon- American families cross the Democrats have blamed the had a prosecutable case,” Barr, vinced, responded: “Wouldn’t “fully capture the context, nature he believed Russia and other is we’ve got a lot to do to defend border to seek asylum. Trump administration for the top US law enforcement of- you have to have in this situa- and substance of this Offi ce’s countries were still a threat to in- democracy against Russians and The mayors of New Mexi- exacerbating the situation fi cial and a Trump appointee, tion an identifi able confl ict that work.” terfere in future US elections. other bad actors,” Graham said. co’s three largest cities — Las with its hard-line immigration testifi ed. makes sense, or else doesn’t it Barr told the committee Muel- Committee Republicans did A congressional subpoena Cruces, Albuquerque and policies, while President Donald Democrats have accused Barr just become a fabrication?” ler was unhappy with the way the not focus on Trump’s conduct deadline for Barr’s department to Santa Fe — have off ered re- Trump has accused Democrats of trying to protect Trump. Democratic Senator Dick conclusions were being charac- but rather on what they saw as hand over an unredacted copy of sources to help charities and of failing to staunch the migrant Barr defended the way he dealt Durbin was more blunt. terised in the media, not his ac- the FBI’s improper surveillance Mueller’s report expired yester- faith-based organisations flow, in part by not funding his with the report’s release, redac- “I think the president’s inten- count of the conclusions. during the election of Trump day morning. care for migrants after they long-sought border wall. tions made by the Justice De- tion was very clear. He wanted “I asked him if he was suggest- aides they suspected of being The House Judiciary Commit- are dropped off by US immi- The Pentagon said last week partment removing parts of the this to end,” Durbin said, refer- ing that the March 24 letter was Russian agents, as well as on the tee sought the full report and un- gration authorities. it expected to send about 300 document to protect sensitive ring to the investigation that cast inaccurate. He said, ‘no,’ but that Kremlin’s election meddling. derlying evidence. “Burqueños (Albuquerque additional troops to the border information, and his ultimate a cloud over his presidency. the press reporting had been in- To that end, Barr defended his Trump, ahead of the hearing, residents) of every faith, with Mexico, including roughly conclusion that Trump did not Barr said it will be Trump’s accurate,” Barr said. accusation in a previous congres- wrote a series of tweets. ethnicity, and background 100 cooks who would hand out obstruct justice. decision whether McGahn will Democratic Senator Patrick sional hearing this month that “NO COLLUSION, NO OB- have come together where meals, in a break with its past It marked the fi rst time a mem- be allowed to testify before Con- Leahy said Barr misled Congress American intelligence agencies STRUCTION. Besides, how can the federal government has policy to avoid troops coming ber of the Trump administra- gress on the matter. when he testifi ed in April he did engaged in “spying” on Trump you have Obstruction when not failed,” Keller said in the into contact with migrants. tion testifi ed about the contents Contrary to Trump’s declara- not know whether Mueller was campaign fi gures amid worries only was there No Collusion (by statement. of Mueller’s report, which de- tions of total and complete ex- happy with his initial characteri- over their contacts with Russia. Trump), but the bad actions were Las Cruces has received tailed extensive contacts between oneration, the special counsel’s zation of his fi ndings. He said “spying” is “a good done by the ‘other’ side?” the over 2,400 migrants since the US Border Patrol began to release Trump’s campaign and Moscow report contained substantial evi- “I feel your answer was pur- English word” without a pejora- president wrote. them directly to shelters on April 12, said Claudia Tristan, a and the campaign’s expectation dence of misconduct, Feinstein posely misleading, and I feel that tive meaning and that he would The Democratic-led House Ju- spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham. that it would benefi t from Rus- said. others do, too,” Leahy said. not back off his language, which diciary Committee voted yester- Expo New Mexico will absorb the cost of housing migrants sia’s actions. Barr was also critical of Muel- Democrats are now debating echoed Trump’s complaints that day to adopt an aggressive ques- and no scheduled activities will be disrupted at the area which The report also detailed a se- ler for not reaching a conclusion whether the report serves as a the Justice Department had en- tioning format for a hearing set hosts the annual state fair, Tristan said. ries of actions Trump took to try himself on whether Trump ob- suitable basis to begin impeach- gaged in wrongdoing toward his for today with Barr. The centre can immediately house 60 migrants and has ca- to impede the investigation. structed the probe. ment proceedings in Congress to campaign. A resolution, adopted by a pacity to house up to 240 once minor repairs are undertaken to Mueller’s report concluded “I think that if he felt that he try to remove Trump from offi ce. At the outset of the hearing, party line vote, allows committee dormitories, said spokesman Wyndham Kemsley. that there was insuffi cient evi- shouldn’t go down the path of Democrats control the House Judiciary Committee Chairman lawyers to question Barr during Charities will continue to provide food and medical services dence to show a criminal con- making a traditional prosecuto- of Representatives, which would Lindsey Graham, a Republican, an extra hour of proceedings, on to migrants, who will spend a night or two at the centre before spiracy. rial decision, then he shouldn’t start any such eff ort, while said the report showed that Con- top of a traditional hearing for- travelling on to fi nal destinations in the United States, the state- Mueller opted not to make a have investigated,” Barr said. Trump’s fellow Republicans con- gress should focus on protect- mat that provides each lawmaker ment said. conclusion on whether Trump Democrats asked Barr about a trol the Senate, which would have ing the coming 2020 election, in on the panel with fi ve minutes for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spokeswoman committed obstruction of jus- letter sent by Mueller to him in to vote to remove the president. which Trump is seeking re-elec- questions and remarks. Leticia Zamarripa said her agency would work with El Paso’s tice, but pointedly did not exon- which the special counsel com- Barr, named as attorney gener- tion, from foreign interference The Justice Department ob- Annunciation House migrant organization to coordinate trans- erate him. plained that Barr’s March 24 let- al by Trump after the Republican after Russian meddling in the jected because witnesses tradi- portation of migrants to the Expo New Mexico. Barr has said he and Rosen- ter to lawmakers stating the in- president fi red his predecessor 2016 race. tionally do not face questions Customs and Border Protection, which runs US Border Patrol, stein then determined based on quiry’s main conclusions did not Jeff Sessions, also told the panel “My takeaway from this report from committee staff . did not respond to a request for comment. Baltimore turns to violins to combat violence

By Eleonore Sens, AFP ‘Charm City’ is now one of the demic support but also a healthy Ludy Gutierres, a 12-year-old Alsop explains, adding that the Baltimore most violent in the United States, snack and a dinner before they go who plays the bassoon, even per- city’s children “live under a lot of with an average of more than 300 home,” Skinner explains. formed for Barack Obama. stress.” murders a year. OrchKids — which takes in- “Yeah, that was just once... “That really takes a toll and I s the conductor raises her Nearly a quarter of its 620,000 spiration from El Sistema, Ven- It was fun,” Ludy said, noncha- think through programmes like baton, dozens of children residents live below the poverty ezuela’s venerable music educa- lantly, as if playing a concert for OrchKids, they start to see a dif- Acome to order, and their eve- line. tion programme — started a little a former US president were an ferent kind of future,” she adds. ryday cacophonous chatting gives In recent years, urban re- more than a decade ago with just everyday experience. “They’re able to travel to way to a melodic cascade of notes. newal projects have sought to 30 students. Even if music is not a career play...they’re receiving positive The 60 or so students are part break the spiral of gloom, but in “Back when we started the option for most of the students affi rmation for what they’re do- of OrchKids, a programme run some neighbourhoods, only a programme in 2008, most of the enrolled in OrchKids, the pro- ing,” she says. by the Baltimore Symphony few blocks separate condemned community thought that we were gramme off ers them a perspec- “As a result, many of them Orchestra, which is hoping to buildings from hip hotspots. actually undercover cops,” Skin- tive that is not always available are looking at futures that they bring change to the troubled city Those behind OrchKids re- ner says. to inner-city kids, especially in wouldn’t have considered be- through the power of music. main optimistic. “There was no trust,” he adds, Charm City. fore.” “We are trying to combat some In all, 1,300 children — from recalling the long history of dis- Bella, a middle schooler who The American conductor — of the social challenges here in grade school to high school — trust, especially in the city’s Af- also plays bassoon, knows that who also leads the Sao Paulo Baltimore,” says program direc- are enrolled in the programme, rican American community, to- her participation in OrchKids State Symphony Orchestra and is tor Nick Skinner. which off ers them free music ed- wards local offi cials and a police will give her a leg up when it Teacher and conductor Jane Cromwell leads the Baltimore chief conductor designate of the One recent OrchKids concert ucation, four afternoons a week force seen as racist and corrupt. comes time to apply for college, Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids programme during their Vienna Radio Symphony — says took place just a few blocks from after school. This year, that fi rst class of 30 even if she does not want to be a performance for the String Fling concert at the Lockerman Bundy she hopes to reach 10,000 chil- where Freddie Gray, a 25-year- The programme off ers them a students is getting ready to grad- musician. Elementary School in Baltimore. dren through OrchKids. old black man, was arrested in safe place to go after school with- uate from high school and some “It’s a good way to teach pa- That would be one in eight kids April 2015. out charge — easing the minds of will head on to university — fi rsts tience,” she says. around the world, has made make classical music more acces- in Baltimore’s public school sys- Gray fell into a coma while in po- busy parents who would other- for many of the families involved. The Baltimore Symphony’s Baltimore her home since 2007, sible, and possibly off er a positive tem. lice custody and later died, and the wise need child care or be forced Some of the OrchKids students long-time conductor, Marin Al- when she became the fi rst wom- infl uence to children in her home “I’d love Baltimore to become incident sparked violent protests to leave their children unsuper- have studied at the prestigious sop, has lent her considerable in- an to lead a major US symphony city, was important to her. known as the City of Music rath- in Baltimore, a port city plagued by vised. summer camp at the Interlochen fl uence to OrchKids. orchestra. “The issues of violence that we er than the City of Murder,” she violence, drugs and crime. “We’re providing not only aca- Center for the Arts in Michigan. Alsop, who leads orchestras She says using her platform to face are pretty overwhelming,” says. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, May 2, 2019 ASIA

Bangladesh warns ports over cyclone in Bay of Bengal Bangladesh has warned all maritime ports as a powerful Lanka steps up security for cyclone in the Bay of Bengal headed towards the country’s southern coast, off icials said yesterday. Cyclone Fani with wind speeds of 160 to 180km per hour within 74km of its centre was May Day commemorations located 1,190km south-west of Cox’s Bazar, the southernmost AFP Sirisena’s Sri Lanka Free- group had pledged an oath of district of Bangladesh, according Colombo dom Party (SLFP) cancelled allegiance to IS leader Abu to a special bulletin of the its May Day celebrations and Bakr al-Baghdadi, who in a re- meteorology department. instead was holding a closed- cent audio message praised the The “very severe” storm is likely to ri Lanka stepped up secu- door meeting with senior Sri Lanka attacks. strengthen further and move in a rity yesterday as political stalwarts later in the day, Schools were due to open on north-westerly direction towards Sparties staged low-key offi cials said. Monday, but authorities put it the coastline of Bangladesh and May Day commemorations af- The country has been under a off by a week. the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh ter calling off scheduled rallies state of emergency since Easter Police yesterday named nine and Odisha, meteorologist Abul following fears of Islamist bomb Sunday attacks killed 253 peo- people who staged Easter Sun- Kalam Mallik said. attacks. ple at three churches and three day suicide bombings that killed Fani is expected to remain a Offi cials said more police luxury hotels. 253 people, and said the attack- powerful and dangerous cyclone were deployed for cordon-and- The emergency gives sweep- ers’ assets will be confi scated in as it approaches and makes search operations in many parts ing powers to police and the line with anti-terror laws. landfall along the coast of eastern of the country, while the mili- military to arrest and detain Police spokesman Ruwan India between Thursday night tary also reinforced road blocks suspects for long periods. Gunasekera confi rmed that and Friday, according to an and patrols. Police say they have arrested two of the luxury hotels were AccuWeather report. Several roads in the capital over 150 people suspected of bombed by two brothers from It said more than 100mn people were closed yesterday as Presi- links to jihadists who carried a wealthy Colombo family in- are in the potential path of the dent Maithripala Sirisena and out the bombings. volved in spice exports. life-threatening tropical cyclone. Prime Minister Ranil Wick- Prime Minister Wick- The group of militants had Fani is now an extremely severe remesinghe attended a tight- remesinghe said Tuesday used one bomber at each of the cyclonic storm with wind speeds ly guarded public ceremony that some suspects remained locations hit on Easter Sun- equal to a Category-3 hurricane in marking the 26th anniver- at large. “A few more people day, except at Shangri-La hotel the Atlantic or East Pacific oceans, sary of president Ranasinghe involved in the attacks are out where there were two suicide Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, right, and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attend a the report said predicting it to be a Premadasa assassination. there and we hope to arrest explosions. commemoration ceremony to mark the 26th anniversary of the assassination of Sri Lanka’s then-presi- category-4 hurricane with wind speeds Offi cials said police used ex- them soon,” Wickremesinghe One of the Shangri-La dent Ranasinghe Premadasa, in Colombo yesterday. of 213km per hour by Thursday. traordinary security measures said. “Even if we arrest all of bombers was Zahran Hashim, Bangladesh asked all fishing for Sirisena’s public appearance them, the threat will not dis- the leader of the local jihad- bombed the nearby Cinnamon hamed Hasthun, a resident in Britain and Australia. boats and trawlers in its waters to commemorate Premadasa, appear.” ist group responsible for the Grand hotel. from the island’s east where Shortly after the hotel bomb in the Bay of Bengal to remain in who was killed by a suicide He said Sri Lanka will have to audacious attacks that were The third hotel to be targeted, Hashim was based. attacks, Fathima Ilham, the wife shelter until further notice. bomber during a May Day rally work closely with international claimed by the Islamic State the Kingsbury, was bombed by The church in the eastern of the younger of the two broth- Heavy rain is likely to batter in 1993. partners to neutralise the Is- group. a man identifi ed as Mohamed district of Batticaloa was hit ers, blasted explosives strapped parts of Bangladesh due to the “His security used three lamic State, which claimed re- Hashim headed the National Azzam Mubarak Mohamed. His by a local resident, Mohamed to herself, killing her two chil- influence of the storm, a bulletin identical convoys to bring the sponsibility for the audacious Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ) wife was now in police custody, Nasser Mohamed Asad. dren and three police offi cers from the flood forecasting and president to the commemo- bombings – the worst single- which has since been banned. Gunasekera said. Another man who failed to who rushed to the family home warning centre said. ration,” a police offi cial at the day attack against civilians on He attacked the Shangri-La in The St Anthony’s Church set a bomb off at a deluxe ho- in Colombo. A powerful cyclone devastated the function said. “This was to the island. the company of Ilham Ahmed was targeted by a local resi- tel, but blasted his explosives “We are going to use preven- south-eastern parts of Bangladesh make sure that no-one has Sri Lanka blamed the local Mohamed Ibrahim. dent named Ahmed Muaz. His at a guest house near the capi- tion of terrorist fi nancing laws on April 29, 1991, killing more advance warning about the National Thowheeth Jama’ath Ilham’s elder brother In- brother has been arrested. The tal. He was identifi ed as Abdul to confi scate their property,” than 100,000 people and making vehicles used by the president.” (NTJ) for the bombings. The shaf Ahmed was the man who St Sebastian bomber was Mo- Latheef who had studied both Gunasekera said. millions homeless. (DPA) Thai king names consort Queen Three tonnes of rubbish

AFP collected from Everest Bangkok

AFP The team has collected and the world’s tallest mountain hailand announced yes- Kathmandu bundled the three tonnes of clean. It is our responsibility terday that King Maha rubbish, including empty cans, to keep our mountains clean,” TVajiralongkorn’s long- bottles, plastic and discarded Ghimire said. time consort had become his dedicated clean-up climbing gear from the base Governments on both sides fourth wife, bestowed with the team sent to Mount Ev- camp and surrounding areas of the mountain have been title Queen Suthida – a sur- Aerest has collected three bustling with climbers pre- battling the human waste and prise move just days before his tonnes of garbage in its fi rst paring and acclimatising to trash left by an increasing coronation. two weeks, offi cials said yes- summit Everest. number of climbers. The Royal Gazette published terday, in an ambitious plan “The clean-up campaign Six years ago, Nepal im- an announcement saying to clean the world’s highest team has just started and plemented a $4,000 rubbish Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ay- rubbish dump. members have ascended deposit per team that would udhya, a former fl ight attend- Decades of commercial to higher camps to collect be refunded if each climber ant, had “legally married” the mountaineering have left the more garbage,” said Dandu brought down at least 8kg (18 king in accordance with royal pristine mountain polluted as Raj Ghimire, chief of Nepal’s pounds) of waste, but only half traditions. an increasing number of big- tourism department. of the climbers return with “Therefore, he bestows spending climbers pay little An army helicopter trans- their trash. (the title) on General Suth- attention to the ugly footprint ported a third of the collected In February, China banned ida Vajiralongkorn na Ayud- they leave behind. trash to Kathmandu for re- non-climbers from accessing hya from Queen Consort to Fluorescent tents, dis- cycling. The remaining bio- its Everest base camp in Tibet Queen Suthida as of now,” the carded climbing equipment, degradable trash was taken in an attempt to clean up its announcement said. empty gas canisters and to the neighbouring Okha- side of the mountain. The ceremony was overseen even human excrement lit- ldhunga district for proper Moe than 4,000 people have by Vajiralongkorn wearing a ter the well-trodden route disposal. climbed Everest so far, and last white uniform in Bangkok’s This screengrab from Thai TV Pool video taken yesterday shows a ceremony in which Thailand’s King to the summit of the 8,848m Eight members are now year saw a record 807 climbers Dusit Palace yesterday, accord- Maha Vajiralongkorn, left, “legally married” Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayudhya in Bangkok. (29,029ft) peak. cleaning Camp 2 at 6,400m reach the summit. ing to a broadcast of the an- As this year’s spring climb- and teams of three will take Melting glaciers caused by nouncement, which showed emony starting Saturday. Vajiralongkorn, who has been This weekend’s coronation ing season kicked off last turns to go up to Camp 4 at global warming are expos- Queen Suthida in a traditional Long seen trailing the king in married three times, is frequent- will be the fi rst since Vajiralong- month, the Nepal govern- 7,950m, where they will spend ing trash and even bodies Thai silk dress. public events as part of his per- ly abroad in Germany. korn’s late father’s nearly 70 ment sent a 14-member team 15 days litter-picking on the that have accumulated on the The unpredictable king is sonal security retinue, Suthida, Harsh lese-majeste laws have years ago. with a target to bring back snowy slopes. mountain since Edmund Hil- due to be crowned the 10th a former Thai Airways fl ight at- shielded public scrutiny of his It was not immediately clear 10,000kg (10 tonnes) of trash “The clean-up campaign lary and Tenzing Norgay made monarch of the Chakri dynasty tendant, was given the rank of colourful private life, and all me- what role Queen Suthida will from Everest within a month will be continued in the com- the fi rst successful summit 66 in an elaborate three-day cer- “general” in 2016. dia in Thailand must self-censor. play in the ceremony. and a half. ing seasons as well to make years ago. Hundreds march in Cambodia to mark Labour Day

DPA and that the voice of the workers led for more than 30 years. ple, including farmers and un- Phnom Penh is from themselves,” Rama said. Labour advocates said yes- ion and civil society members, After negotiations between terday that they couldn’t recall rallied at Freedom Park – which union leaders and authorities, the government allowing any was relocated further from the undreds of Cambo- hundreds of demonstrators marches on Labour Day since city centre in 2017 – according dian workers yesterday walked around a block from a the 2013 national elections, to Keo Chanra, general secretary Hmarched about 1km riverside park near Wat Phnom which were followed by mass of the Coalition of Cambodian around a city block in the capi- and back wearing Labour Day T- street protests by the political Farmer Communities. tal to mark International Labour shirts, waving small Cambodian opposition – who alleged voter Chanra said organisers won- Day, with authorities allowing fl ags and holding banners. fraud had cost them the poll – dered why the authorities would the short procession after they Their demands included es- and workers calling for a higher not allow other demonstrations had banned May Day marches tablishing a minimum wage for all minimum wage. at Wat Phnom or another capital for years. sectors, not just the key garment In 2014, fi ve protesting gar- park near Wat Botum. Unions and civil society industry, and raising the current ment workers were shot dead “Because we just gather to groups calling for the protection minimum wage of $182 per month and more than 40 people were celebrate and express our con- of labour rights and promotion for garment workers to a living injured by military police in cerns to the public,” Chanra said. of gender equality gathered in wage of $250, Rama said. Phnom Penh who were attempt- “If we [were] allowed to cele- two parks along Phnom Penh’s The Phnom Penh authorities ing to quell stone-throwing brate the day at the public space, riverside. have for years prevented unions demonstrators, the Cambodia like Wat Botum and Wat Phnom Organisers said more than and civil society groups that are Daily reported at the time. parks, the place is...much more 1,000 people attended in each critical of the long-ruling gov- Cambodia’s Supreme Court dis- public than here,” she added. location. ernment of Prime Minister Hun solved the main opposition party A City Hall spokesman said he An Rama, a regional coordi- Sen from holding public march- in 2017 after jailing its leader, Kem could not immediately comment nator for the Cambodian Labour es, stating that they will cause Sokha, on widely criticised treason and later could not be reached. Confederation, said they had traffi c congestion and disrupt charges, which he denies. Chanra said the workers gath- hoped to have more than 2,000 public order. Sokha remains under de facto ered at Freedom Park faced no workers march 3km from Wat In March, authorities pre- house arrest. interruptions from authori- Phnom, a capital landmark and vented hundreds of demonstra- Hun Sen’s ruling party swept ties because they had “already popular tourist destination, to tors from marching on Interna- 2018 national elections, which discussed and agreed together the National Assembly to deliver tional Women’s Day. Western nations called unfair [with offi cials] to conduct the a petition to offi cials, but local Both Labour Day and Wom- without the participation of a event here.” authorities did not allow them. en’s Day are public holidays in credible opposition party. “We follow what they suggest “We want to show our power Cambodia, where Hun Sen has Yesterday, about 1,200 peo- to us,” she said. Garment workers gather at the Tonle Sap bank during a celebration for Labour Day in Phnom Penh yesterday. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 17 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Inter-Korean border village reopens for public tours

AFP away from North Korean soldiers little fanfare. The truce village is died down amid deadlock over nifi cantly cooled after the col- the weekly meetings of the heads But Morrow said he now gets Panmunjom — were visibly no longer armed. a frequent destination for tour- Pyongyang’s denuclearisation. lapse of Kim Jong-un’s second of their joint liaison offi ce in “acknowledgement” from his Public tours to the southern ists on both sides of the border, Seoul and Pyongyang had summit with Trump in Hanoi, Kaesong, and has not taken part North Korean counterparts in the side of the inter-Korean border and for US presidents seeking to initially agreed to resume the the UNC insisted tension has in other joint projects. JSA, due to the easing of tensions outh Korean soldiers held village resumed yesterday morn- symbolically demonstrate Wash- full tour programme and allow been signifi cantly reduced in the Kim slammed the South in a in the truce village. “I would get a their normal stern and un- ing with fi rearms and guardposts ington’s commitment to defend visitors to explore both the South JSA. speech to his country’s rubber- smile, a head nod,” he said. Smoving positions yesterday now removed from the designat- Seoul from the nuclear-armed and North sides of the village. “What once was a vibe of ten- stamp legislature last month, Around 80 South Korean outside the blue huts of Panmun- ed Joint Security Area (JSA), after North. But the plan did not material- sion is now a vibe of peace,” said saying it should not “pose as a students and tourists visited jom village, the only place along having been stopped in October The resumption of the tours is ise as the US-led United Nations Sean Morrow, commander of the meddlesome ‘mediator’” be- the village as tours resumed on the border where troops from the to facilitate joint eff orts by Seoul timed to mark the fi rst anniver- Command, which has overseen UNC Security Battalion-JSA. tween the US and Pyongyang. Wednesday. “Before coming here two Koreas stand nearly face-to- and Pyongyang to demilitarise sary of the Panmunjom summit, aff airs in the DMZ since the end “We’ve ensured that this side has Last week, on the anniversary I was quite nervous, but being face, but with one notable omis- the border. the fi rst inter-Korean talks be- of 1950-53 Korean War, has yet been de-mined. We’ve taken the of the Panmunjom summit, here I realise it’s actually more sion: their weapons. But with Pyongyang still in tween the South’s Moon Jae-in to agree on the idea. Seoul even- weapons out of the towers. Our Pyongyang’s state media KCNA peaceful here,” said Jung Eun- Sporting their signature avia- deadlock with the US over its and his North Korean counter- tually decided to resume public guards no longer carry weap- said Washington and Seoul “keep hee, a 46-year-old tourist who tor sunglasses, the guards in the nuclear weapons and economic part Kim Jong-un, held at the tours to the south side of the area ons... And our counterparts in pushing the situation of the Ko- made her fi rst visit to the village truce village in the Demilitarised sanctions — and fresh tension truce village last year. only. the North side did the same,” rean peninsula and the region to yesterday. Zone (DMZ) that divides the pe- between North and South Ko- That summit fuelled a whirl- While exchanges between he said. But since Hanoi, the an undesirable phase,” criticising “I can resonate with the word ninsula — standing only metres rea — the tours began again with wind of diplomacy which has Seoul and Pyongyang have sig- North has not attended any of their joint military exercises. peace here.” Emperor Naruhito pledges to work as symbol of people

AFP Tokyo

apan’s new Emperor Naruhito pledged yesterday to stand by Jthe Japanese people as he for- mally ascended the Chrysanthe- mum Throne, the day after his father’s historic abdication ush- ered in a new imperial era. It was the fi rst time in more than 200 years that a member of the world’s oldest royal fam- ily has chosen to step down, and solemn rituals accompanied both Akihito’s abdication and Naruhi- to’s enthronement. Naruhito offi cially became em- peror at midnight, when the coun- try also began the new imperial era of Reiwa or “beautiful harmony”, but the transition was formalised in a Wednesday ceremony. The ritual, off -limits to all royal women, saw 59-year-old Naruhito accept the regalia re- linquished by his father a day earlier: a sacred sword and jewel as well as the seal of the state and Japan’s new Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend an event to receive a celebration of the the imperial seal. Residents show the extra edition of newspapers reporting Emperor Naruhito’s accession in Tokyo yesterday. accession to the throne at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Naruhito then delivered his fi rst address to the nation, vow- Minister Shinzo Abe, replying on ace, on big screens outside Shin- when he and Masako will appear monarchy closer to the people and has suff ered stress-induced the one his father took over when ing to “act according to the Con- behalf of the people, said: “We are juku, the world’s busiest station. in elaborate traditional robes for while upholding the centuries- “adjustment disorder” for much he became emperor in 1989. Then, stitution” while “always turning determined to create a bright fu- “I am someone who loves his- a palace ceremony before parad- old traditions of the Chrysanthe- of their marriage. Japan ruled the world economi- my thoughts to the people and ture for a proud Japan fi lled with tory and what we are experienc- ing through the streets of Tokyo mum Throne. The couple have one child, a cally, its technology was the envy standing with them”. peace and hope at a time when the ing now will be talked about for to be congratulated by a host of Like his popular father, he has 17-year-old daughter called Aiko, of every industrialised nation, The new monarch wore for- international situation is chang- a long time,” 21-year-old law world leaders and royals. warned of the need to remember who cannot inherit the throne and its stock market was at highs mal Western clothing including ing dramatically.” student Mito Okuno told AFP. Naruhito will greet his fi rst World War II “correctly”, without because she is female. In a state- unlikely to be matched again. But a heavy gold chain of offi ce dur- After heavy rain dampened “That’s why I wanted to come foreign head of state as emperor downplaying Japan’s early 20th- ment released on her birthday in following a “lost decade” after ing the ceremony and his speech. celebrations for the abdication in person,” added Okuno, re- later this month, when US Presi- century militarism. December, Masako pledged to the bubble burst, the country is He was joined by Empress Ma- on Tuesday, Japanese took ad- splendent in a striped kimono, dent Donald Trump visits Japan He has suggested the royal do her best despite feeling “in- locked in a battle against defl a- sako, wearing a long white gown vantage of sunnier weather to who came some 600km from the to meet the new monarch. family should modernise, and secure” about becoming em- tion and sluggish growth while its and diamond-studded tiara, for fl ock to the Meiji Shrine in the town of Himeji to experience the His father will move out of vowed when he married Masako press. In the candid statement, population ages rapidly. his address. The nation’s 126th heart of the capital, where free moment. Naruhito will make his the palace later this year and – who left behind a promising she said she was recovering and Akihito’s abdication, the fi rst in emperor said he would “refl ect sake was served ahead of a dis- fi rst public appearance on Sat- now assumes the title Emperor diplomatic career – to protect could “perform more duties than 200 years, has resulted in an un- deeply” on the example set by his play of horseback archery. Oth- urday when he will again address Emeritus. The Oxford-educat- her “at any cost”. She has strug- before”, crediting the “powerful precedented 10-day public holi- popular father Akihito, and that ers watched the ceremonies and the people of Japan. ed Naruhito faces the delicate gled with palace life, including support” of the public. day for the famously hard-work- assuming the throne fi lled him speech, which were conducted But the real pomp and cer- balancing act of continuing his being subjected to enormous Naruhito is ascending the ing Japanese, with many taking with a “sense of solemnity”. Prime behind closed doors at the pal- emony will wait until October 22 father’s legacy of bringing the pressure to produce a male heir, throne in a very diff erent Japan to advantage of the break to travel. Australia poll favourites vow As the sun goes down foreign policy pivot to Asia

AFP Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s realities include the fact that ian security, but acknowledged Sydney administration. China will remain important to “power is shifting.” “The global Like Labor governments Australia’s prosperity.” “It is not order we have known and relied before, she promised a “more simply a matter of a ‘diplomatic upon since World War II is being ustralia will see a “step considered, disciplined and reset.’ Fundamentally, we are in transformed.” change” in engagement consistent approach to the a new phase in the relationship.” That change has raised dif- Awith Asia and a more management of Australia’s re- Across Asia, smaller nations like fi cult questions in Australia, “considered” policy toward lationship with China.” Succes- Australia are grappling with a which has long seen itself as an China if Labor wins the next sive Australian administrations China that is both more impor- outpost of Westernism in the election, the party’s would-be have struggled to balance a vital tant and less wedded to the rule South Pacifi c, but which de- foreign minister vowed yester- trading relationship with China of law — more willing to act in mographically, culturally and day. and the Chinese government’s retribution if its growing infl u- economically is becoming more Penny Wong — who would authoritarian refl ex. ence is challenged. closely intertwined with Asia. become the country’s fi rst That balance has become A decision to limit Huawei’s “Australia’s prosperity and Asian-Australian top diplomat more fraught as Xi Jinping has role in developing Australia’s security is shaped by the region The sun sets behind fishing boats at Kuta beach on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali yesterday. if her party continues to lead the consolidated power and looked 5G network has brought furious in which we live — the Indo- conservative government into to exercise China’s regional condemnations and coincided Pacifi c,” Wong said, adding that the May 18 vote — signalled the clout to take advantage of wan- with some Australian coal ex- the possibility of an Asian-Aus- election would bring a foreign ing US infl uence. Wong ac- ports to China being blocked at tralian foreign minister was tes- Bomb find not linked to Christchurch attacks: police policy pivot to Asia. knowledged that the relation- ports of entry. tament to that fact. Promising policies that would ship with China “may become Donald Trump’s ascent to the “What is signifi cant about New Zealand police yesterday They said a 33-year-old man tacks on March 15.” Local media see more Asian languages taught harder to manage in the future.” US presidency and his limited that possibility is not my per- ruled out any link between a appeared in court yesterday named the man as Jay Michael in Australian schools and an “At times our interests will interest in international rules, sonal attributes,” she said, bomb found in Christchurch charged with possession of Harding-Reriti and said the increase in Aussie diplomats diff er. And challenges in the re- norms and decades-old allianc- “rather, what would be signifi - and mosque shootings in explosives, ammunition and charges included possession of abroad, Malaysian-born Wong lationship may intensify... We es has only complicated matters cant about an Asian Australian March which killed 50 Muslim offensive weapons. “We are not a handheld improvised explo- also signalled her wish to have a must be grounded in the reali- further for Canberra, tradition- being our foreign minister is worshippers. Police and the seeking anyone else in rela- sive device, powergel explosives more constructive relationship ties. China is not a democracy ally one of Washington’s closest what it says about us. What it military bomb squad swooped tion to the incident,” detective and detonator cord. They said with Beijing. nor does it share our commit- allies. says about who we are.” on a vacant lot just outside the inspector Corrie Parnell said in a he was remanded in custody “We don’t pre-emptively ment to the rule of law.” Wong backed a relationship “Southeast Asia is not just city centre on Tuesday finding statement. “There are no known until May 6 and further details frame China only as a threat,” But she said the realities of the with the United States that is our region, it is where I was “a suspected explosive device” links between the 33-year-old of the case were suppressed at she said, drawing contrast with region were changing: “Those “fundamental” to Austral- born.” and rounds of ammunition. man and the Christchurch at- the request of police. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, May 2, 2019 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Farmer sentenced to life after Irish state’s longest murder trial

Patrick Quirke, 50, killed Patrick Quirke, 50, killed an aff air with Mary Lowry, who from forensic DNA testing, the farm and fi nances. after leaving Lowry’s home. Prosecutors said he did so be- Bobby Ryan, 52, and hid body Bobby Ryan, 52, a part-time DJ gave him emotional and fi nan- case was based on circumstan- Lowry testifi ed she sought Lowry said Quirke later showed cause his lease on the farm – and for two years in run-off tank known as Mr Moonlight, in 2011 cial support until she entered a tial evidence. comfort but Quirke became up at the farm looking “hot and control over the tank – was due and hid the body for two years relationship with Ryan. Details of the romantic ri- “overpowering” and she grew sweaty and bothered”. to expire. Guardian News and Media in a farm’s underground tank, a Members of Ryan’s family valry in Fawnagowan, 190km ashamed of the relationship. Prosecutors said Quirke in- Police found Google search- Dublin jury decided yesterday. cried and hugged in the public south-west of Dublin, evoked a She ended it in 2010 and fl icted blunt force trauma on es for “human decomposition Quirke showed no emotion as gallery after the verdict was an- torrid soap opera and frequent- started dating Ryan, calling him Ryan – possibly with a vehicle timeline” on a laptop in Quirke’s the verdict was read out at Dub- nounced. The jury of six men and ly pushed Brexit off the front a “breath of fresh air”. Quirke re- – and hid the body in a disused home. farmer from County lin’s central criminal court, the six women deliberated for more pages. sented Ryan, the court heard. He run-off tank. Searches for the Ryan’s daughter, Michelle, Tipperary has been sen- climax to the longest murder than 18 hours over eight days be- Lowry, 52, began an aff air with wrote an anonymous letter to a missing man proved unsuccess- said in a victim impact state- A tenced to life in prison for trial in the state’s history. fore reaching a 10-2 decision. Quirke in 2008, a year after her newspaper advice column com- ful. ment his disappearance had tor- murdering a love rival, following Prosecutors said “love and Quirke denied killing Ryan. In husband died of cancer. Quirke plaining he was a married man In April 2013 Quirke told po- mented the family. She said she a 15-week trial that has trans- money” motivated the crime be- the absence of witnesses, con- is married to her late husband’s ditched by his girlfriend. lice he had discovered a body in hoped “daddy will now rest in fi xed Ireland. cause Quirke sought to rekindle fessions or conclusive results sister and helped with Lowry’s Ryan vanished on June 3, 2011, the tank while pumping water. peace”.

Care home collapse Assange gets hits 17,000 elderly residents 50 weeks

Daily Mail London in jail for ne of Britain’s biggest care home groups has Ogone into administration, leaving thousands of elderly resi- dents and their families fearing closures. Two holding companies be- skipping bail hind Four Seasons Health Care, which operates 322 homes, col- AFP lawyer Mark Summers said As- ing his bail conditions. lapsed under debts of around London sange had been “gripped” by The biggest concern for his £625mn owed to a US hedge fund. “reasonable fears” that he would lawyers is the US extradition re- Around 17,000 people live in face rendition to the US. quest. Four Seasons’ care homes and the ikiLeaks founder Ju- “As threats rained down on him An initial hearing in the case group employs more than 20,000 lian Assange was yes- from America, they overshad- has been scheduled for today. staff . Wterday sentenced to 50 owed everything as far as he was The US indictment charges him The fi rm insisted the decision weeks in jail for breaching a court concerned,” the lawyer said. with “conspiracy” for working by two of its holding companies order seven years ago, when he In a letter read out on his behalf, with former US Army intelligence to call in administrators did not took refuge in Ecuador’s London Assange expressed regret, saying: analyst Chelsea Manning to crack mean its homes were earmarked embassy to avoid extradition to “I did what I thought at the time a password stored on department for closure as the operating com- Sweden. was the best or perhaps the only of defence computers in March panies – which run the homes – The Australian whistleblower, thing that I could have done.” 2010. have not collapsed. who was arrested on April 11 after But judge Deborah Taylor said Manning passed hundreds of Group medical director Dr Ecuador gave him up, will serve it was “diffi cult to envisage a more thousands of classifi ed docu- Claire Royston said: “This does the nearly one-year sentence ments to WikiLeaks, exposing US not change the way we operate or while fi ghting a separate attempt military wrong-doing in the Iraq how our homes are run, or prompt to transfer him to the US. war and diplomatic secrets about any change for residents, families, The 47-year-old, his shaggy scores of countries. employees and indeed suppliers. beard neatly trimmed, raised his Assange could face up to fi ve Our priority remains to deliver fi st to supporters in the public years in jail if found guilty, al- consistently good care. It marks gallery at London’s Southwark though his team is fi ghting his the latest stage in the group’s re- Crown Court as he was taken extradition and the process could structuring process and allows us down to the cells. take years. to move ahead with an orderly, in- They shouted “Shame on you!” The charge has raised seri- dependent sales process.” towards the court. ous concerns among free speech However, charities said the WikiLeaks editor-in-chief “I did what I thought at the advocates, including politicians problems at Four Seasons were Kristinn Hrafnsson called the time was the best or perhaps such as opposition Labour leader symptomatic of the social care sentence an “outrage” at a press the only thing that I could Jeremy Corbyn. crisis in Britain and called for ur- conference outside and said that have done” WikiLeaks is also back in the gent reform. focus would now shift to prevent- news in the US, over its alleged The care home sector is facing ing Assange’s extradition to the serious example” of breaching role in the leak of Hillary Clinton’s a £3.5bn funding shortfall, and US. bail, accusing Assange of exploit- e-mails in 2016 US presidential there have been repeated warn- “It will be a question of life and ing “your privileged position to election. ings that operators are buckling death,” he warned. fl out the law”. The Swedish claims against under the pressure of rising costs Assange fl ed to Ecuador’s em- There is no longer an active in- Assange date back to 2010, when and cuts to council funding. bassy in 2012 after a British judge vestigation in Sweden and the ex- he was at the centre of a global Administrators will now seek ordered his extradition to face tradition request has lapsed. storm over WikiLeaks’ exposures. to sell the business groups – Elli Swedish allegations of sexual as- However, Assange is facing a The sexual assault claim ex- Finance (UK) and Elli Investments sault and rape, which he strongly US extradition request, which pired in 2015, but while the rape – which owe about £625mn to US denied. was only revealed following his claim was dropped in 2017, the hedge fund H/2 Capital Partners, He claimed the allegations were dramatic arrest, when he was alleged victim wants the case reo- which previously ordered the sale a pretext to transfer him to the US, dragged shouting from the em- pened. of Four Seasons. The move to call where he feared prosecution over bassy by police. If Stockholm makes a formal in administrators was hailed as the the release by WikiLeaks of mil- Assange appeared in court extradition request, Britain must biggest care homes failure since People protest outside Southwark Crown Court where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was lions of classifi ed documents. within hours of his arrest, and a decide whether to consider it be- Southern Cross went bust in 2011. sentenced, in London yesterday. At the sentencing hearing, his judge found him guilty of breach- fore or after that of the US. Elderly ‘put at risk by Speculation over royal unwanted diabetes drugs’ baby’s birth intensifi es Reuters “We actually believe it’s go- London ing to be this week and we make Daily Mail approach to treatment is putting Quality and Outcomes Frame- today, Wednesday, May 1, the fa- London patients at risk. They called for all work (QOF) rewards GP practices vourite at 4/1,” Sam Rosbottom, over-70s with diabetes to be re- with points if they hit targets for eghan Markle will give PR executive at Betfair said. viewed to ensure any unnecessary diabetes, heart disease, stroke, birth by Monday night to Odds for Thursday or Friday lderly people are routinely treatment is stopped. asthma, epilepsy and obesity. Ma little girl to be named were 5/1, he added. given diabetes drugs they For many people the pills risk The points are converted into Diana — at least that’s what the Should the baby arrive on May Edo not need because of an pushing blood sugar too low – cash at the end of the year and di- bets placed by punters suggest. 2, the young royal would share incentive scheme which rewards putting them at risk of a danger- vided between GP partners. Prince Harry and his American a birthday with cousin Prin- GPs for prescribing pills, experts ous ‘hypo’ which can cause a seri- Writing in the Pharmaceutical wife are due to welcome their fi rst cess Charlotte, Prince William’s have warned. ous fall, cognitive impairment or Journal, the experts said drugs, child any day now, just ahead of daughter. This ‘over-treatment’ is even dementia. The experts said including metformin, megliti- their fi rst wedding anniversary on William Hill has odds of 3/1 for putting frail people at risk of falls, a key problem is that the blood nides and thiazolidinediones, can May 19. Wednesday. cognitive impairment and de- sugar targets which formed the push blood sugar levels too low in Speculation has long been rife “We reckon it’s imminent mentia, it is claimed. basis of the GP incentive scheme the elderly, putting them at risk of on the baby’s gender, name and now...we’re odds on 1 to 2 that the Diabetes specialists said the are based on young people, rather hypos. up until yesterday — birth month. baby arrives by Monday night,” “payment by results” programme, than the elderly who are more Emma Elvin, of Diabetes UK, Many people expected the baby William Hill’s Adams. introduced by the Labour govern- sensitive to diabetes medication. said: ‘Inappropriate treatment would arrive in April so those who Bookmakers say for weeks, ment in 2004, left many patients For many elderly patients the can have serious, life-threatening bet on a May birth are likely to see odds have favoured the baby to be at risk of dangerous side-eff ects. targets are too low, meaning in- consequences.” a return, William Hill spokesman a girl, with the name Diana, after Prescriptions for diabetes drugs appropriate diabetes medication Professor Helen Stokes-Lam- Rupert Adams said. Harry’s late mother, leading the have soared by 70% in a decade may push blood sugar down too pard, of the Royal College of GPs, He added the bookmaker had pack with odds of 4/1 at William with almost 55mn given out last far. Dr David Strain, of Exeter said: “The QOF was designed to yet to settle April bets on the “un- Hill and 3/1 at Betfair. year, offi cial fi gures show. University, and Dr Partha Kar, maintain and improve the serv- likely” chance the baby was al- “The big news right now is all A booming crisis in type two national clinical deputy director ice GPs and our teams deliver for ready born in secret. about Allegra,” Adams said of a diabetes – which is linked to for diabetes at NHS England, said patients. It is important that the Harry and his former actress new addition to top list of girl’s obesity and lifestyle – has seen the use of fi nancial incentives to system is consistently reviewed to wife announced in October they names. “Allegra was 100 to 1 just the number of people diagnosed encourage GPs to prescribe drugs ensure it is doing just that.” were expecting their fi rst child two days ago, suddenly it’s in at almost double from 1.9mn in 2008 has driven up the numbers. Under the latest GP con- this spring. 12/1.” to 3.7mn today. The specialists – a Many patients were prescribed tracts all people over the age of Meghan told well-wishers in That name has also proved top offi cial at NHS England and the drugs more than a decade ago 70 should have their ‘frailty’ as- January she was six months preg- popular at bookmakers Ladbro- a consultant at Exeter Univer- but have never had their treat- sessed – which should pick up nant, adding the couple did not kes, which earlier this week had sity – said a ‘one-size-fi ts-all’ ments reviewed, they said. The problems. Prince Harry and Meghan: due to welcome first child any day now know the baby’s gender. the same odds for it. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 19 BRITAIN

FALLOUT REALTY SURVEY DISCOVERY VACANCY Disgraced MP loses House prices gather speed May ‘most evasive’ of Tory Cocaine, ketamine Premier urges women to House of Commons seat in April: Nationwide prime ministers: study found in UK shrimp apply for BoE top job

Fiona Onasanya has lost her seat in the House Growth in house prices picked up slightly in April, Prime Minister Theresa May is the most evasive Researchers found cocaine in all samples of shrimp Prime Minister Theresa May said she would of Commons after voters in her constituency data from mortgage lender Nationwide showed Conservative premier when her responses to tested in a rural area of eastern England, they welcome female applicants to succeed Mark signed a recall petition demanding her removal. yesterday, adding to other signs that a slowdown political questions are compared with those of revealed yesterday, with ketamine also widespread. Carney as governor of the Bank of England. The disgraced independent MP, who was jailed in the housing market ahead of Brexit might have three predecessors, scholars said. Researchers Scientists from King’s College London, in Britain has begun the search for the next boss of for perverting the course of justice, becomes bottomed out. Prices rose by 0.9% in annual at the University of York found May is “the most collaboration with the University of Suff olk, its central bank ahead of Carney’s departure in the first MP ever to be removed by the recall terms, speeding up from a rise of 0.7% in March. evasive when responding to questions,” compared made the “surprise” discovery after taking nine months’ time. “As you might have noticed, process, introduced by David Cameron in 2015. That was the biggest increase since November with former prime ministers David Cameron, samples from 15 locations across the farming I do like it when women are in senior positions. Around 19,261 people signed the petition, which although it was still weak compared with recent John Major and Margaret Thatcher. The study county of Suff olk. “Whether the presence of I think women should be encouraged to apply is over 27% of registered voters in the area, and trends in the often surging housing market — found May answered just 27% of questions in four cocaine in aquatic animals is an issue for Suff olk, for senior positions,” she told a committee of well above the 10% threshold required for a prices were rising by about 5% a year at the time interviews ahead of an election in 2017 and in two or more widespread an occurrence in the UK and lawmakers. “It will be important to take the recall. Confirming the recall petition had been of the Brexit referendum in 2016, according to similar interviews in 2016. Cameron answered 34% abroad, awaits further research,” said Nic Bury decision as to who is the right person to be the successful, Commons speaker John Bercow said: Nationwide. In monthly terms, prices rose by 0.4% of questions in interviews during a 2015 election from the University of Suff olk. The study, published governor of the Bank of England, but I would “Fiona Onasanya is no longer the member for after climbing by 0.2% in March, also the biggest campaign, while Major and Thatcher answered in Environment International, looked at the levels encourage applications from female applicants,” Peterborough and the seat is accordingly vacant.” increase since November. 39% of questions ahead of polls in 1992 and 1987. of various “micro-pollutants” in freshwater shrimp. May – who started her career at the BoE – said. Leeds becomes Catherine visits charity fi rst UK city to lower childhood obesity rate

Guardian News and Media upon Tyne, Coventry, Bolton, London Wakefield, Derby, Bradford, Dudley, Medway, Liverpool, Swindon, County Durham and eeds has become the fi rst Warrington. The obesity rates city in the UK to report a there and across the country Ldrop in childhood obesity have not shifted. after introducing a programme “For England it’s absolutely to help parents set boundaries fl at,” said Jebb, who added that for their children and say no to the dropping rate in Leeds ap- sweets and junk food. peared to be a trend. “This is Only a few cities in the world, four years, not one rogue data notably Amsterdam, have point,” she said at the European managed to cut child obesity. Congress on Obesity in Glas- Like Amsterdam, the decline gow where she presented the in Leeds is most marked among research, also published in the families living in the most de- journal Paediatric Obesity. prived areas, where the prob- “Everybody is going around lem is worst and hardest to saying Amsterdam is doing tackle. something amazing. Well, actu- “The improvement in the ally, Leeds is too.” Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in London yesterday. most deprived children in Leeds Jebb, a former government is startling,” said Susan Jebb, a adviser, says they cannot be professor of diet and popula- sure what has turned the tide tion health at Oxford Univer- in Leeds – but it could involve sity, whose team has analysed a programme called Henry that the city’s data. Over four years, the city introduced as the core obesity has dropped from 11.5% of its obesity strategy in 2009, to 10.5% and the trajectory is focusing particularly on the steadily downwards. Among the youngest children and poorest more affl uent families, there was families. Henry (Health, Exer- also a decline from 6.8% to 6%. cise, Nutrition for the Really May sacks Williamson Overall the drop was from 9.4% Young) supports parents in set- to 8.8%. ting boundaries for their chil- The data comes from the dren and taking a fi rm stance national child measurement on issues from healthy eating to programme (NCMP), which re- bedtimes. quires all children to be weighed Henry’s chief executive, Kim at the start and end of primary Roberts, said the drop in obes- over Huawei leak school. The biggest decline in ity in Leeds was “unprecedent- obesity in Leeds is 6.4% in the ed … The indicators are that AFP May said in a letter to Wil- of the Official Secrets Act,” NSC discussions are only at- rity services when required. reception class, at about the age this isn’t happening in other London liamson that the investigation said Liberal Democrat Leader tended by senior ministers and May told Williamson it was of four. From 2016 to 2017, 625 cities.” The programme en- “provides compelling evidence Vince Cable. security offi cials who fi rst sign “vital” that members of the fewer reception class children courages authoritative rather suggesting your responsibil- Downing Street later an- the Offi cial Secrets Act that NSC...were able to have “frank were obese. than authoritarian parenting, rime Minister Theresa ity for the unauthorised disclo- nounced that Penny Mordaunt, commits them to keep conver- and detailed discussions in full No such data has been re- she said. May yesterday sacked sure” from the April 23 meeting the minister for women and sations private or risk prosecu- confi dence” that they would ported elsewhere in the UK, “Authoritarian parenting is PDefence Secretary Gavin of the National Security Coun- equalities, would replace Wil- tion. not be made public. where childhood obesity is a when children are told what to Williamson following a probe cil (NSC). liamson and become Britain’s But The Daily Telegraph She added that she was “con- major concern. Almost a third eat and what to do, such as be- into the leak of news that gov- “No other credible version fi rst female defence minister, newspaper reported that May cerned by the manner in which (28%) of all children aged two to ing banned from leaving the ta- ernment had conditionally al- of events to explain this leak while continuing in her current approved granting Huawei per- you have engaged with this 15 in England are overweight or ble until they have eaten their lowed China’s Huawei to de- has been identifi ed. This is an role. mission to build up “non-core” investigation”, saying his con- obese. sprouts,” said Roberts. “Permis- velop its 5G network. extremely serious matter and a Britain’s already splintered elements of Britain’s next-gen- duct “has not been of the same The measurement pro- sive parenting is asking children “The prime minister yester- deeply disappointing one,” she government was rocked by the eration telecommunications standard” as other members of gramme shares the progress what they want to do. day evening asked Williamson added, with Williamson now scandal last month over who network. the NSC. made in each city with those “But Henry encourages a to leave the government, having facing the possibility of a crimi- leaked news that May was to The US is adamantly op- The media reported that considered comparable. For third approach known as au- lost confi dence in his ability to nal probe. let Huawei develop Britain’s 5G posed to Huawei’s involvement Cabinet secretary Mark Sed- Leeds, the 15 closest “neigh- thoritative parenting, where serve in the role of defence sec- “This must now be referred network. because of the fi rm’s obligation will — the country’s most sen- bours” at the start of the study parents make it clear they are retary and as a member of her to the Metropolitan Police The bitterly disputed deci- under Chinese law to help its ior civil servant — gave those period in 2009 were Sheffield, in charge, but also respond to Cabinet,” said a spokeswoman for a thorough criminal in- sion was reportedly made at the home government gather intel- present an ultimatum to deny Kirklees, Bristol, Newcastle their children.” from her Downing Street offi ce. vestigation into breaches April 23 meeting of the NSC. ligence or provide other secu- responsibility for the leak. Grayling faces calls to quit Charlotte turns four 8mn could miss chance as ferry contracts cancelled to vote in EU polls: study Guardian News and Media for the country’s future, with London young people, private renters and Reuters The contracts were originally any ferries, would be ready in EU citizens some of the groups London awarded four months ago as part time. most at risk of missing out. That of the government’s broader The government has now early 8mn people in Brit- needs to change. Whether you strategy to ensure Britain was scrapped the remaining two ain eligible to vote in the voted Leave or Remain, your ransport Minister Chris not left without key supplies, contracts. NEuropean elections are voice needs to be heard. Get out Grayling was under fresh with signifi cant congestion This means the taxpayer faces not yet registered, campaigners and get registered.” Tpressure to resign after forecast on the main freight a total bill of £83mn for ferry have said as the deadline looms. Her words were echoed by the the government stacked up a route between Dover and Calais. services, which will never run, Research commissioned by Labour Co-operative MP Rach- £50mn loss for cancelling con- The government put its con- if the cost of the settlement with Best For Britain, the pro-Remain ael Maskell, who said: “The right tracts for extra ferries to bring in tingency plans on hold after Eurotunnel is included. campaign, and undertaken by to vote is one of the most impor- essential supplies in the event of European Union leaders agreed A spokesman for Prime Min- Number Cruncher Politics sug- tant rights we hold. It creates a a no-deal Brexit. last month to push back the date ister Theresa May said she had gests 7.9mn eligible voters are healthy channel of communica- The decision to award the con- of Brexit to as late as the end of confi dence in Grayling. not on the electoral roll in their tion between communities and tracts has been a major political October. “It is obviously important that local area. those tasked with representing embarrassment after it emerged “Grayling and the ferry con- as a responsible government we The fi gure is based on popula- them.” the government handed out a tracts will evermore be a case did make full preparations for tion and nationality data, esti- Best of Britain, which is reg- £14mn contract for extra ferries study in ministerial incompe- leaving the European Union mates of what proportion of the istered with the Electoral Com- to a company that owned no boats tence,” said Andy McDonald, the without a deal,” the spokesman population is registered to vote mission, was founded by Gina and published terms and condi- opposition Labour’s transport said. in each region, and research from Miller, the businesswoman who tions on its website that appeared spokesman. “The freight capacity con- the Electoral Commission on the took the government to the Su- to be for a takeaway food business. “His career as a minister has tracts are no longer needed and accuracy of the electoral register. preme Court over Brexit. Its Then, the government was left a trail of scorched earth therefore been terminated. We The Green party MP Caroline chair is Mark Malloch Brown, forced to pay a further £33mn to and billions of pounds of pub- have taken the decision now as Lucas said: “It’s really concern- the former UN deputy secretary settle a lawsuit brought by Euro- lic money wasted. This country it represents the best value for ing that huge swathes of people general. The campaign received tunnel, which complained that cannot aff ord Chris Grayling.” money for taxpayers.” across the country, who have £400,000 from the billionaire it was unfairly prevented from Three fi rms were originally But there remains a risk that the right to vote in the European George Soros. bidding on the ferry contracts, awarded contracts worth more the United Kingdom could still elections this May, aren’t cur- The European elections will which were negotiated in secret. than £100mn. leave the EU without a deal if rently registered. take place between May 23 and The botched handling of the But one contract was can- the government fails to pass its Princess Charlotte poses for a photo taken by her “This analysis shows nearly 26. A total of 751 members of the contracts led to Grayling being celled a month later because Brexit deal or if the EU fails to mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, at their 8mn people could be at risk of European parliament represent nicknamed “failing Grayling” by of concerns about whether the agree another extension to the home in Norfolk, to mark her fourth birthday. losing the right to have their voice more than 512mn people from 28 local newspapers. company, which did not have talks to leave the bloc. heard at such a crucial juncture member states. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, May 2, 2019 EUROPE Ex-communist states want more decentralised EU: Polish PM

Reuters like second-class EU members, tions met in Warsaw yesterday, Jyrki Katainen warned Poland dual standards of products and Warsaw and, on the other side, the Euro- several hundred far-right sup- — a net benefi ciary of the EU services between Western and pean Commission and older club porters marched through the budget — against treating the Eastern Europe. members such as France. Polish capital in a protest rally EU as a “money machine” and Hungary and Romania have he mostly ex-commu- “Where it doesn’t have to, the that highlighted the growth of also said its dispute with Brus- also faced EU censure over what nist countries that have European Union should leave anti-immigrant, nationalist sen- sels over the rule of law had Brussels sees as their erosion of Tjoined the European Un- member countries to their own timent in the EU. weakened Warsaw’s position in the rule of law, but Morawiecki ion in the past 15 years want competences... The EU has launched a legal the bloc. warned against double stand- Brussels to return more powers We say this with a single Cen- procedure against Poland over Katainen spoke in Warsaw ards. to national capitals, Poland’s tral European voice,” Morawiecki reforms of its judicial system it where he was representing the “It is unacceptable for EU au- prime minister said yesterday told reporters, summing up the says undermine the separation of EU executive Commission at the thorities to criticise some coun- after hosting a summit of the 13 discussions held at the one-day power and the rule of law. summit. tries’ institutions for practices newcomers. Warsaw summit. Warsaw says the reforms make In an op-ed published on that do not raise objections else- Mateusz Morawiecki also re- That message will be en- the system more eff ective and Tuesday in Politico Europe enti- where,” he wrote in the op-ed. jected the notion of a ‘multi- shrined in a declaration and will that the EU should not interfere. tled “Poland’s vision for Europe”, Poland is by far the largest of speed’ Europe that would allow be discussed at a pan-EU summit While the ruling Law and Jus- Morawiecki said the EU risked the countries that joined the EU groups of member states to press in the Romanian town of Sibiu on tice party (PiS) is eurosceptic, it harming democracy in its push in 2004. ahead with deeper co-operation May 9. broadly supports Poland’s con- to integrate, calling such an ap- The others are Hungary, Slo- in certain chosen policy areas. It comes just weeks before Eu- tinued EU membership and has proach “dangerously misguided”. vakia, Slovenia, the Czech Re- His comments highlight a ropean Parliament elections in no plans to follow Britain in exit- He said the EU should focus on public, Estonia, Latvia, Lithua- serious rift between many of which populist, eurosceptic par- ing the bloc. strengthening its single market, nia, Cyprus and Malta. the former eastern bloc states, ties are expected to do well. Earlier yesterday, European bolstering its position against il- Bulgaria and Romania joined in which say they are made to feel As the leaders of the 13 na- Commission Vice President legal immigration and avoiding 2007 and Croatia in 2013. Police break up an anti-EU protest in Warsaw yesterday.

Putin fast-tracks Russia citizenship Police, protesters clash for Ukrainians

AFP Moscow at Paris May Day rally ussian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree fast-tracking Russian Reuters nally able to move amid relative calm ers, who feel he favours big business Rcitizenship for more Ukrainians, a con- Paris after being prevented from setting off and is indiff erent to their struggle to troversial new move expected to deepen the by the clashes, although it appeared make ends meet. crisis between the two countries. that yellow vests and more radical “Here are the thugs,” one banner The latest move comes during a hugely sen- ozens of masked and hooded elements rather than labour unions read, showing Macron, European sitive transitional period in Ukraine where a anarchists clashed yester- were dominating the march. Union Commission President Jean- comedian with no political experience, Volo- Dday with riot police in Paris, The hard-left CGT union de- Claude Juncker and International dymyr Zelensky, won a landslide victory in a burning bins, smashing property and nounced police violence and said Monetary Fund chief Christine La- presidential election last month. hurling bottles and rocks, hijacking its secretary general had been tear- garde. Some analysts see it as a Kremlin test for the a May Day rally that was focused on gassed. Another targeted the president di- new administration in Kyiv. protesting against President Em- “This current scenario, scandal- rectly: “Macron, what have you done Putin had already signed a decree on April 24 manuel Macron’s policies. ous and unprecedented, is unaccept- to us?” allowing people living in breakaway regions of Tens of thousands of labour union able in our democracy,” it said in a Thousands of people also dem- eastern Ukraine to receive a Russian passport. and “yellow vest” protesters were statement. onstrated in cities from Marseille to The Russian president said last weekend he on the streets across France, days The Paris police department de- Bordeaux and Lyon. was “thinking” about providing citizenship after Macron outlined a response to nied excessive violence. Some 300 yellow vest protesters to “all citizens of Ukraine,” sparking fury in months of street protests includ- On the whole, compared to a year tried to storm a police station in the Kyiv. ing tax cuts worth around 5bn euros ago and some recent yellow vest pro- Alpine town of Besancon and clashes The new Kremlin decree published yester- ($5.6bn). tests, the violence was contained, did broke out in Toulouse. day said several categories of Ukrainian na- In Paris, riot police used tear- not spiral out of control and the pro- The Interior Ministry said some tionals will have the right to receive a Russian gas and water cannon, and charged tests appeared to end peacefully. 164,500 people had demonstrated passport within three months of applying for sporadically at several points along French police had warned on Tues- A cameraman reacts as he is hit by a teargas canister as a protester goes to across the country, more than in one. the traditional International Work- day that there could be clashes with help him during clashes with police on the sidelines of the annual May Day 2018, including 28,000 in Paris. Those categories include Ukrainians who ers’ Day rally to disperse groups of far-left anarchist groups, known as rally in Paris yesterday. The CGT said there had been already have Russian residence permits and masked protesters who had im- Black Blocs, after calls on social me- 310,000 in France, including 80,000 Ukrainian citizens who were born in Crimea mersed themselves in the crowd. dia for radicals to hit the streets. a sometimes violent revolt against The banners in the crowd refl ected protestors in the capital alone. but left the peninsula before Russia annexed it Some 7,400 police were deployed Authorities had said they expected politicians and a government seen as the anger among some in the move- “We have been trying to fi ght, to in March, 2014. and they made 380 arrests. some 2,000 Black Bloc protesters out of touch. ment who feel abandoned by Ma- make ourselves heard, for six months Around 3mn Ukrainians reside in Russia. Thirty-eight people were wound- from France and across Europe to Macron issued a series of pro- cron’s economic policies. and nobody cares. People don’t un- The fast-track procedure is implemented to ed, including 14 police offi cers with turn up on the sidelines of the rallies. posals last week in response to the The 41-year-old former invest- derstand the movement, though it protect “rights and human and civil freedoms”, one being hit on the head with a pav- The yellow vest protests, named protests, but many in the grassroots ment banker pushed a reform blitz seems pretty simple: We just want said the decree which Putin had signed on ing stone. after motorists’ high-visibility jack- movement, which does not have a during the fi rst 18 months of his to live normally,” said Florence, 58, Monday. The main march crossing the ets, began in November over fuel leadership structure, have said they presidency that impressed inves- a trainer in a large company who was There were hopes bilateral ties might im- southern part of the capital was fi - tax increases but have evolved into do not go far enough and lack detail. tors but infuriated low-paid work- marching in Paris. prove under a Zelensky presidency but that is now looking unlikely, analysts say. The Kremlin has not congratulated Zelensky and said it was too early to say if it can work with the 41-year-old political novice. Zelensky is due to take offi ce in June. Some in Kyiv and the West worry that Mos- cow’s off er of citizenship to Ukrainians would give the Kremlin a justifi cation to freely move troops across the border under the pretext of protecting the interests of Russian nationals. The West have condemned the Kremlin, ac- cusing Putin of seeking to further destabilise Ukraine, while critics at home say the move would be a major burden for the already- struggling Russian economy. The EU has called the passport scheme a fresh assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty, while Kyiv appealed to the UN Security Council to take action. President-elect Zelensky has called for more sanctions against Russia but also pledged to grant Ukrainian citizenship to Russians who Demonstrators of Spain’s leading trade unions CCOO and UGT march during May Day celebrations Russian trade union members hold balloons, flags and artificial flowers during a May Day “suff er” under Kremlin rule. in Madrid yesterday. parade yesterday in Red Square, Moscow. After a pro-Western uprising in Kyiv ousted a Kremlin- backed regime in 2014, Moscow annexed Crimea and extended support to Rus- sian-speaking separatists in eastern Ukraine. Yesterday, Ganna Gopko, head of the inter- national aff airs committee in Ukrainian parlia- European socialists smell comeback after Spanish vote victory ment, said the latest Kremlin decree showed Putin pressed ahead with his eff orts to divide the ex-Soviet country. Reuters Vox became the fi rst far-right party helped populist rightists take advan- Spain could become the country led by socialists, while Greece and “It is a fl agrant interference in Ukraine’s in- Madrid to win several seats in parliament since tage of dissatisfaction with Brussels. with the most members of the Eu- Romania have left-wing leaders. ternal aff airs, especially during a transitional the 1970s, but with 10% of the national Such sentiment was seen in Brit- ropean parliament’s Socialist bloc, The centre-left Social Democrats period,” Gopko told AFP. “Such Russians ac- vote it fell short of expectations. ain’s 2016 referendum vote to leave depending on what happens with won Finland’s election last month tions are an attempt at escalation.” panish Prime Minister Pedro “This is a victory for solidarity, the EU and in the sharp decline of the Britain’s departure. and in Denmark polls show socialists Zelensky has said he doubted many Ukrain- Sanchez’s election victory has fairness, dialogue, equality, sustain- traditional left in France and Italy. That is likely to make Madrid a leading ahead of elections. ians would take Moscow up on its off er be- Sdelivered a shot in the arm for ability,” tweeted Frans Timmermans, Italy’s centre-left Democratic more important player, in policies But the question remains whether cause a Russian passport means “the right to Europe’s struggling left, which fears a Dutch Socialist running for a seat in Party took a drubbing in 2018 elec- that matter to Spain, such as migra- this will lead to a shift in Europe’s be arrested” and “the right not to have free and a surge by the right in this month’s the European parliament on May 26. tions, winning just 19%, as the anti- tion, banking union and climate ac- bigger countries. competitive elections.” European parliament elections. “This is what many Europeans crave.” establishment 5-Star Movement and tion, as well as in the choice of the For now, at least, there is more Timothy Ash, a strategist at BlueBay Asset The Spanish Socialists’ gains on European Economics Commis- far-right League took power. new European Commission. hope for left and centre-left parties Management, suggested that Putin might be Sunday were a relief for their coun- sioner Pierre Moscovici, a French In France, the Socialists’ support “We will be decisive in the choice ahead of the European elections. testing the new administration in Kyiv as well terparts elsewhere on the continent Socialist, congratulated Sanchez, has collapsed to about 5% since Em- of the new European Commission “Now we know that we are not as US President Donald Trump’s support for who have watched the rise of na- tweeting that Spain had chosen the manuel Macron came to power in head,” said Jonas Fernandez, a So- alone in our eff ort to defend and him. tionalism and far-right parties in re- European reformist left. “That’s the 2017, leaving it as a minor party. cialist member of the European par- change Europe,” said Pierfrancesco On election night, Zelensky appeared to cent years and an erosion of belief in way to go!,” he said. Germany has been governed by liament. Majorino, a candidate from Italy’s taunt Putin when he told people in fellow post- Brussels and EU integration. “His (Sanchez’s) victory shows conservative Chancellor Angela The social democrats’ comeback centre-left Democratic Party for the Soviet countries that “everything is possible.” “To Europeans I say that social de- that you can count on social demo- Merkel for years. may have started in Spain’s Iberian European parliament. Ash said Putin “probably did not appreciate mocracy has a great future because crats in Europe,” German SPD head European social democrat leaders neighbour, Portugal. Opinion polls show the PD neck- Zelensky’s comments.” it has a great present and Spain is Ortsverein Achim told Reuters. who called to congratulate Sanchez Socialist Prime Minister Antonio and-neck with the 5-Star Movement “His nightmare is a truly democratic, open an example of that,” Sanchez told The term social democracy is saw his victory as a success for Eu- Costa has governed Portugal since 2015 at around 23% each. (and) free election, where the people actually supporters on election night. “We widely used in continental Europe ropean socialists and hoped it would with the support of far-left parties. In France, Sanchez could lead as an get to chose between a range of candidates,” he formed a pro-European government to describe leftist and centre-leftist improve their chances at the May 23- Having delivered strong growth example. told AFP. to strengthen, not weaken, Europe.” parties that believe in tempering the 26 European parliament elections, and rolled back austerity since the “We need to see a big surge on the Critics led by outgoing President Petro Po- While it did not win a parliamen- eff ects of free markets with strong according to a source at the prime debt crisis, Costa is now close to left that counterbalances the nation- roshenko doubt Zelensky will be able to stand tary majority, Sanchez’s centre-left welfare policies. minister’s offi ce. winning a majority at a general elec- alists and the liberals,” said French up to Putin. party increased its seats in parlia- Slow recovery from the euro zone “This is the best news that the tion in the autumn, according to Socialist leader Olivier Faure. Nationals of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and ment by almost 50% and beat back debt crisis has threatened Europe’s social democrats have received in a opinion polls. “The Socialists are showing a re- Syria who were born in the Soviet Union can the traditional conservative Popular eff orts at closer integration and co- long time,” said Ignacio Molina, a re- Elsewhere along Europe’s edges, birth in Spain after being mocked also apply for Russian citizenship, the Kremlin Party (PP). operation in the past few years and searcher at think tank Elcano. Sweden, Slovakia and Malta are also and given up for dead.” decree said. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 21 INDIA 15 commandos killed in Maharashtra Maoist attack

AFP attacked a team of commandos The Maoists insurgents are be- bles and wounding a villager in the lence, with at least 17 police killed liest by Maoists in India since 2017 “Their sacrifi ces will never be Mumbai travelling in a private vehicle to lieved to be present in at least 20 central state of Chhattisgarh. there in 2009. when at least 25 paramilitaries forgotten. My thoughts & solidar- inspect an earlier attack. So far 16 states but are most active in Ma- One constable and an assistant It is a key transit point for the were killed in the Sukma district of ity are with the bereaved families. men have died,” a police offi cial harashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, constable died at the scene and the guerrillas, connecting western central Chhattisgarh state. The perpetrators of such violence bomb attack by suspected said. Bihar and Jharkhand. villager, shot in the chest, was tak- India with central and southern That in turn was the deadliest will not be spared,” he added. Maoist rebels killed 15 elite The attack, the deadliest carried Thousands of armed men and en by local residents for treatment. states in a restive tranche known as since Maoists killed 75 paramili- Maharashtra Chief Minister Acommandos and their driv- out by the Maoists since 2017, hap- women say they are fi ghting for the A roadside bomb attack on a po- the “red corridor”. tary soldiers from the Central Re- Devendra Fadnavis said he was er in Maharashtra yesterday, police pened in the densely forested Gad- rights of indigenous tribal people, litical convoy in early April killed On April 11, the day voting began, serve Police Force (CRPF) in 2010 “anguished” by the “cowardly” said, in the latest incident of elec- chiroli region, deep in the interior including for land, resources and fi ve people in Chhattisgarh, two a landmine planted by Maoists ex- in the same state. attack. tion-time violence in a decades- of Maharashtra. jobs. days before the world’s biggest ploded near a polling centre there. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Home Minister Rajnath Singh long insurgency. Gadchiroli police offi cial India’s current election began election began. There were no injuries. swiftly condemned the latest at- called it “an act of cowardice and Tens of thousands of people Prashant Dute told AFP that the on April 11 and is due to run until The rebels often call for a boy- In April 2018, raids on rebel tack. desperation”. have been killed since the 1960s in police commandos had been on May 19. cott of elections as part of their camps in the region killed at least “Strongly condemn the despi- “We are extremely proud of the several areas of India in clashes be- their way to the scene of the ear- Attacks by Naxals often spike as campaign against the Indian state. 37 insurgents, police said. cable attack on our security per- valour of our police personnel,” tween security forces and Maoists lier attack in the same area in the country goes to the polls. The Gadchiroli district, some Many of the slain rebels were sonnel in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. he said. “Their supreme sacrifi ce known locally as Naxals. which more than 30 vehicles were Last weekend rebels opened 900km east of state capital Mum- women, police said. I salute all the brave personnel,” while serving the nation will not go In the latest incident, “Naxals torched. fi re on police, killing two consta- bai, has long been a hotbed of vio- Yesterday’s attack was the dead- Modi tweeted. in vain.” PM gets poll boost with UN blacklisting of JeM chief

Agencies dian prison in exchange for 155 has backed Masood Azhar to be New Delhi hostages from a hijacked Indian declared as a global terrorist,” he Airlines plane. said. Beijing said yesterday it had no He praised the prime minister rime Minister Narendra objections to Azhar’s listing after and said, “Today Azhar has been Modi’s re-election bid re- studying revised proposals at the declared as a global terrorist be- Pceived a big fi llip yester- United Nations. cause of Modiji’s policies.” day after a UN Security Council The BJP, political analysts and Political strategists said the committee blacklisted Masood even the main opposition Con- Azhar issue could further help BJP chief Amit Shah is with party leaders Vijay Goel, Meenakshi Lekhi and Ramesh Bidhuri during a campaign rally in New Delhi yesterday. Azhar, the head of a militant gress Party acknowledged that the BJP to defl ect opposition group, a decade after New Delhi getting Azhar on the list, which criticism focused on a shortage fi rst demanded such an action. places a travel ban and an asset of jobs and weak farm prices. Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohamed freeze on him, was a big victory Some Twitter users hit out (JeM) claimed responsibility for for India and its diplomacy. quickly at Congress president a suicide bomb attack in Jammu “The move will off er an elec- Rahul Gandhi for mocking Modi Rajnath not capable of winning and Kashmir in February that toral boost for Modi,” said when China last rejected a move killed 40 paramilitary police. Michael Kugelman, deputy di- to ban Azhar in March. JeM was also blamed for a rector of the Asia Programme China’s position then was seen high-profi le attack on India’s and Senior Associate for South as a failure of Modi’s attempts Lucknow seat: Yashwant Sinha parliament in 2001, and lo- Asia at the Wilson Centre in to improve ties with its bigger cal media often calls Azhar the Washington DC. neighbour despite his multiple country’s “enemy No.1”. “He can argue that his govern- meetings with President Xi Jin- IANS said today a lot of vital issues like problems faced by the people as they would inform their party In response to the suicide at- ment’s many years of eff orts have ping. Lucknow demonetisation are not being here. So the BJP does not have about it. tack in Kashmir Modi sent war- fi nally paid off and delivered a Maidul Islam, a professor of discussed. any issues to contest the elec- “Before the MCD elections, planes into Pakistan to bomb major victory against terror and political science at Kolkata’s Sinha also dubbed the Election tions. And their false issues are the BJP managed to buy our MLA what New Delhi called a militant a major defeat for Pakistan.” Centre for Studies in Social Sci- ormer fi nance minister Commission of India as “Elec- not bought by the public,” he from Bawana, but people taught camp. BJP president Amit Shah said ences, said the listing, coming Yashwant Sinha yesterday tion Commission of Modi”. said. it a good lesson. So I want to tell Modi has since made national the UN decision was a diplomat- soon after the Easter Sunday Fattacked Home Minister In other news, the Aam Aadmi AAP’s Delhi head Gopal Rai the BJP that if it has an agenda to security the main plank in the ic victory for the government. bombings in Sri Lanka that killed Rajnath Singh and the Bharatiya Party (AAP) accused the BJP of said that the BJP was desperate change the country it should fo- country’s 39-day general elec- Addressing a public meeting in more than 250 people, would Janata Party leader was not capa- indulging in horse-trading and as all its seven MP were losing the cus on that.” tion that began on April 11. New Delhi, he said: “Today Paki- help Modi keep the focus on na- ble of winning the Lucknow par- said it off ered Rs10 crore each to Lok Sabha polls. Referring to Modi’s comment Results will be out on May 23, stan has been isolated as Masood tional security in the remaining liamentary seat. at least seven of its legislators for Delhi goes to polls in the sixth that 40 Trinamool Congress and political analysts said the Azhar has been declared as glo- rounds of the seven-phase elec- Sinha made the remarks dur- joining the saff ron party ahead of phase on May 12. Assembly elec- (TMC) MLAs in West Bengal news on Azhar will further ener- bal terrorist by the United Nation tion. ing an interaction with jour- the Lok Sabha polls. tions in the state are also sched- were in touch with him, Sisodia gise the massive cadre of Modi’s Security Council.” “Three stages are still left and nalists while campaigning for AAP leader and Delhi Deputy uled for later this year. said, “They are trying to do with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “It is the Modi government’s there are crucial states: Uttar ‘gathbandhan’ (grand alliance) Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Sisodia said that the BJP AAP MLAs in Delhi what they’re “The world can’t anymore ig- diplomatic victory, isolating Pa- Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal,” candidate Poonam Sinha here. told reporters: “The BJP has con- should contest the elections on attempting with TMC MLAs in nore the voice of 1.3bn Indians,” kistan globally,” he said. Islam said, referring to states “I have a good personal rela- tacted at least seven of our MLAs its own and on the work done by West Bengal. The PM is trying to Modi said at an election rally, Speaking at the same meet- that together account for about tion with Rajnath Singh. While and off ered them Rs10 crore to it. weaken democracy by purchas- calling the UN decision a great ing, federal minister Vijay Goel 30% of the 545 seats in the Lok he has been BJP’s chief twice leave the party before the Lok “I want to tell the BJP, (its ing opposition MLAs. Does it diplomatic victory for the coun- said Congress leader and Punjab Sabha, the lower house of parlia- and has been Uttar Pradesh chief Sabha elections. It is in touch president) Amit Shah and (Prime look good? I want to ask Modi. try. minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has ment. minister and union minister ear- with more MLAs, but seven of Minister Narendra) Modi, if you Have some shame and respect “This is only a beginning.” been stumped by the UN listing. “Azhar will become an ad- lier, today he is the home min- them informed us.” have courage, fi ght the elections democracy,” Sisodia added. China, regarded by Pakistan “Sidhu has been stumped to- ditional talking point. On farm ister and yet he is not strong. I According to Sisodia, if the BJP on issues. But please don’t try to Rai said: “The party has re- as its most reliable friend, had day. You know why – because distress and unemployment they don’t think he is capable of win- was doing such things it refl ected buy the AAP MLAs,” he said. peatedly shown that it does not repeatedly thwarted eff orts to Sidhu, who praised Pakistan have nothing to say, but with all ning from Lucknow,” Sinha said. the AAP’s government’s success. The deputy chief minister also believe in democracy and the implement UN sanctions against Prime Minister Imran Khan, who these things, they might only He accused the government “Delhi has a government, said that it will not be easy for the constitution. I urge people of Azhar, who founded JeM in 2000 hugged Pakistan’s army chief has campaign on national security.” of presenting wrong fi gures, and which is working to resolve the saff ron party to buy AAP MLAs Delhi to teach the BJP a lesson.” after being released from an In- to go silent today because China Page 24

Congress daydreaming about Politician charged after getting me killed, says Modi donkey ride to fi le papers Agencies prison terms up to seven years. IANS Attacking former chief minis- misusing the Central Bureau of Patna Sharma defended his actions, Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh ter of Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Investigation, the Enforcement saying it was symbolic to show Singh, the prime minister said Directorate and the Income Tax the plight of common people that the Congress leader would Department to intimidate leaders olice charged a would-be that are taken for a ride by politi- rime Minister Narendra praise Zakir Naik, whose televi- of opposition parties. election candidate with cians. Modi yesterday said the sion channels were blocked by the In other developments, the Panimal cruelty yesterday “Common people are dedi- PCongress Party in its des- Sri Lankan government after the Election Commission has can- after he rode a donkey to fi le his cated towards building a better peration, was daydreaming of recent terror blasts in that country. celled the nomination of former application for the national bal- society and nation like donkeys getting him killed. Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Border Security Force trooper lot. (and) unlike politicians who only Addressing a public meeting in Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was set Mani Bhushan Sharma, a peren- work for themselves. We are Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh, Modi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party to contest from the Varanasi Lok nial long-shot candidate, fi led his beautiful and hard working, like said ever since India’s strong re- (BJP) of misusing the government Sabha seat against Modi. nomination papers for the Jehana- donkeys,” he said. sponse to terrorists after the Pul- machinery to infl uence elections Yadav was served a notice on bad Lok Sabha seat on Monday fol- Sharma has unsuccessfully wama attack, Congress leaders and slammed the Election Com- Tuesday because he had given lowed by a short donkey ride outside contested four elections in the are at their wits’ end and “do not mission (EC) over its silence. diff erent reasons for leaving his the local election offi ce in the town past, and his application on know how to have me removed.” “In states where the BJP is in job in the two sets of nomina- in eastern Bihar state. Monday was rejected due to dis- Referring to a speech of Con- power, the party has misused tion papers fi led – one as an in- “We have fi led a case under crepancies in his documents. gress leader and Punjab minister government machinery to infl u- dependent and the second as a prevention of cruelty to animals India last month began mam- Navjot Singh Sidhu, Modi said: ence elections. They cross all Samajwadi Party candidate. against the politician,” Shree moth national elections for the “A ‘man of words’ of the party limits, particularly, on the voting The former security guard told Maneesh, Jehanabad police lower house of the parliament once asked the people to hit Modi day. Such examples are promi- reporters that his nomination chief, said. that stretches for six weeks, with for a six, so that he lands in Pa- nent in the case of Uttar Pradesh, papers were cancelled at the be- Maneesh did not elaborate on results expected on May 23. kistan. They have started hating Tripura and Maharashtra. De- hest of the central government the exact charges against Shar- Polling for the Jehanabad Lok me and now they have even start- spite this, why is the EC not tak- even though he had replied to the ma, and donkey and mules rides Sabha seat will be held in the sev- ed daydreaming to get me killed. ing cognisance of the matter?” notice explaining the reasons for are legal and common in India. enth and last phase on May 19. But they are forgetting that the she tweeted in Hindi. the diff erences. Convictions under the ani- Nearly 900 people are eligible people of India are on my side She said the prime minister As soon as the news of the mal cruelty law – that mostly to vote in the elections that sees and batting for me. The Congress knew his party was staring at poll cancellation spread, Samajwadi Independent candidate Mani Bhushan Sharma arrives on a donkey to deal with physical harm, vio- thousands of candidates, includ- must be made to realise which defeat this time and hence they Party workers gathered at the file his nomination documents at a local election off ice in Jehanabad in lence or abandonment of ani- ing many perennial no-hopers, team they are playing against.” were indulging in violence and Collectorate. Bihar yesterday. mals – can result in fines or join the electoral fray. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, May 2, 2019 INDIA Cancer cases on the rise in village near nuclear test site

IANS conducted under then prime lending their ear to the pain and The growth of our kids has been “We have submitted memo- campaigning. I have promised to ber a professor taking up this Jaipur minister Indira Gandhi in 1974 at trauma of the people, he said. aff ected.” randums to many people, in- look into the matter. However, I issue and submitting a paper a stretch just 10km from Khar- According to Ratnoo, of the Nathuram Vishnoi, the sar- cluding chief ministers and other am shocked that none of the pre- many years back. But that was a toli. In 1998, the country con- 4,000-odd residents in the vil- panch of Khartoli village, said: politicians, but nothing has hap- vious governments showed any long time ago and hence I can’t lose to the India-Pakistan ducted its second nuclear under lage, 80 to 100 are cancer patients. “We are surprised that the site pened. Surprisingly, they come interest in resolving the crisis.” recollect much on the matter.” border near Rajasthan’s prime minister Atal Bihari Va- “Nuclear tests defi nitely which brought national and in- here begging for votes but fail to When IANS contacted Bhu- Asked if any research has been CPokhran lies a village jpayee at a site barely 3km from strengthened India’s position in ternational fame to Pokhran has notice our kids who have turned pendra Kumar, the chief medical done on this issue, he expressed named Khartoli where residents the village. the world. However, we felt bad been left ignored. We have seen blind or are suff ering from other offi cer of Jaisalmer, he expressed his inability to recall anything are slowly succumbing to can- Sanwaldan Ratnoo, a resident for the fact that no steps were our kids die a silent death, but deformities,” Vishnoi added. his ignorance about such a vil- concrete. cer, perhaps paying the price for of Pokhran, confi rmed that can- taken to ensure that the villages nobody has leant an ear to their Former police offi cer Pankaj lage under his jurisdiction. Dilip Singh, a professor in the the two nuclear tests conducted cer cases in Khartoli multiplied in the vicinity of the test sites cries. We have approached many Choudhary, who is contesting “I just joined this work station same institute, said: “I have a in its vicinity. However, none of after the nuclear tests. How- didn’t face any health risk,” he government offi cials, but they from the Barmer-Jaisalmer Lok a month back and have not heard feeble memory of the high court the offi cials concerned have so ever, the governments of the said. just don’t want to listen to us. Sabha seat on a Bahujan Samaj about this issue yet,” he said. ordering a research on this sub- far paid attention to their health time never took up the issue and “Deformity cases have gone For decades we have been trying Party ticket, said: “Many people Pradeep Gaur, the head of ra- ject sometime ago. But I am not travails. even the 2018 assembly elec- up in Khartoli and they can be to draw their attention, but all brought the issue of ‘radiation diology at the SN Medical Col- sure if any paper has been sub- India’s fi rst nuclear test was tions passed off without anyone noticed even in new-born calves. our eff orts went in vain. threat’ to my notice when I was lege in Jodhpur, said: “I remem- mitted in this matter.” IS is planning attacks in India and Bangladesh, say sources

IANS the “savagery” of Christians. He New Delhi was seen sitting cross-legged alongside a Kalashnikov rifl e and appeared to be limited in his mid developments after movements. the Easter Sunday bomb- The IS released a statement in Aings in Sri Lanka which Arabic in the early hours of yes- claimed 253 lives, an Islamic terday through its mouthpiece State (IS) affi liate group, ‘Al- Amaq. Mursalat’, has been reportedly Indian intelligence agencies planning to carry out similar have been closely monitoring attacks in India and Bangladesh the developments in Bangladesh with its announcement of ap- and they suspect that the Islam- pointing a new chief in West ic State may carry out attacks in Bengal, sources said. Bangladesh or West Bengal. According to an intelligence Offi cials close to the investi- Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force get ready to deal with Fani that is expected to make landfall in Odisha tomorrow, in Bhubaneswar yesterday. offi cial, the chief has been gation have raised an alarm that named as Abu Mohamed al- some Bengali posters were in Bengali and he has been given circulation in West Bengal and the responsibility of planning Bangladesh to radicalise those terror attacks and recruiting who were pro-Islamic State new members. sympathisers. Citing a poster released by “The threat cannot be ignored the Islamic State, the offi cial, as a little-known Islamist group, Mass evacuation begins as requesting anonymity, said the National Thowheeth Jama’ath group has warned that their (NTJ), affi liated to the Islamic “soldiers of Khalifa in Bengal and State was instrumental in the Hind are not silenced” and that Sri Lanka bombings and their the “thirst for revenge is never to links have been found in a recent be faded away.” group in Kerala’s Kasaragod,” Odisha braces for cyclone The threat came to light soon another offi cial said. after a minor explosion near Gu- He said that another group, listan theatre in Dhaka on Mon- Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bang- Agencies ter Management Author- “We have suggested people to communication and power or take fresh administrative de- day evening, in which a few po- ladesh, which also reportedly Bhubaneswar ity (NDMA) said sea conditions stay indoors,” he told reporters. poles and disruption of rail, cisions. licemen were injured. pledged allegiance to the Is- were “phenomenal” over the “We are making best eff orts road”. Odisha, which has a popula- The two developments fol- lamic State, was also active in west-central Bay of Bengal area. to inform them about the cy- One local agency said that it tion of around 46mn, has al- lowed a “propaganda” video Bangladesh for years and may uthorities deployed “Fishermen are advised not clone and move these vulner- had kept around 300 boats and ready voted in India’s ongoing released for the fi rst time in fi ve be a threat to West Bengal where emergency personnel to venture into these areas,” able people to cyclone shelters,” crew on standby for rescue or election, which started on April years by the fugitive IS leader Bangladeshi people frequently Ayesterday and ordered NDMA warned on Twitter. Bishnupada Sethi, the state’s relief work in the next 48 to 72 11. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in which travel. the navy on standby as they The offi ce of the state’s spe- special relief commissioner, hours. The seventh and fi nal phase he acknowledged the terrorist The April 21 attacks on three braced for an extremely severe cial relief commissioner said lo- said. Authorities at ports in Parad- of voting will be held on May 19, group’s defeat in the Syrian town churches and three luxury hotels cyclonic storm barrelling to- cal authorities had been told to The coastal Puri town, some ip and Visakhapatnam ordered with counting and results due of Baghuz, another anti-terror in Colombo and elsewhere killed wards the eastern coast. identify “all vulnerable people 62km from Bhubaneshwar, has ships to move out to sea to avoid on May 23. offi cial said. 253 people, including 11 Indian Tropical Cyclone Fani, lo- and shift them to multipurpose also been put a high alert. damage. Odisha had to evacuate some In the 18-minute video al- nationals and some foreigners, cated in the Bay of Bengal and cyclone/fl ood shelters”. Puri is home to Shree Jagan- “Paradip port operations will 300,000 people last October Baghdadi blamed its demise on besides injuring 500 others. packing wind speeds up to “Arrangements have already nath temple, which receives be suspended from tonight, all when its coastal districts were 205km per hour, is expected to been made for free kitchen, millions of pilgrims each year. vessels have been told to leave battered by cyclone Titli, with make landfall in Odisha tomor- safe drinking water, lighting, The government also ad- the port,” S K Mishra, traffi c winds up to 150km per hour and Three selfie-crazy teens crushed by train row. health and sanitation,” it said in vised the pilgrims to leave the manager at the port said. heavy rains. Authorities have also ordered a statement. holy town, if possible, and to The Election Commission At least two people were Three teenagers were killed while without realising another train the evacuation of thousands of Local media reports say there reschedule any non-essential has eased its restrictions in Od- killed in the cyclone. taking selfies on a railway track was coming on that,” M SDabas, people from coastal districts are over 850 shelters in the state travel in the region. isha’s coastal districts to allow Storms regularly hit eastern in Haryana, police said yesterday. a police off icer, told AFP. “One of likely to bear the brunt of the that can accommodate around India’s weather department, the state authorities to carry out and southeastern India between A fourth youth managed to jump them saved his life as he jumped storm. 1mn people. in an advisory, asked all fi sh- swift relief and rehabilitation April and December. to safety before the accident on the other side of the track.” The neighbouring coastal H R Biswas, director of the ermen in the state to return to work. In 2017, Cyclone Ockhi left in Panipat. “The victims were The group had come to Panipat states of Andhra Pradesh and meteorological centre in state shore immediately. The rules, which apply during nearly 250 people dead in Tamil busy taking selfies and when to attend a wedding. Two of Tamil Nadu have also been put capital Bhubaneshwar, said at The department warned of elections, suspend certain pow- Nadu and Kerala states. they saw a train approaching those killed were 19 years old and on a high alert. least 11 districts would be af- “potential threat of fl ying ob- ers of the incumbent govern- Odisha’s worst-ever cyclone, they jumped to a second track the third was 18. India’s National Disas- fected by severe rainfall. jects, extensive uprooting of ment to announce new schemes in 1999, killed over 8,000 people. Demand for ‘burqa’ ban Wild elephant causes not party’s policy: Sena stir on Guwahati road AFP their cars to take photos of the Guwahati tusker, weighing several tonnes Agencies the call, following a massive fu- Political circles were abuzz and thought to be around 11 Mumbai rore just fi ve days before the holy with speculation whether the years old, on their phones. month of Ramadan begins. BJP leadership and other allies wild bull elephant “I thought it was someone’s Referring to the strong edito- had conveyed their “displeas- caused a major stir in pet elephant,” local resident he Shiv Sena party yester- rial, party leader Neelam Gorhe ure” to the Sena, but Gorhe de- AGuwahati, wander- Avantika Bora said. day said it did not support stressed that every policy deci- clined to comment. ing along the busy streets and “However, later someone Tthe demand for a ban on sion is discussed at meetings of Another ally, the Republican crowds of photo-snapping on- told me that it is a wild ele- burqas made by its newspaper. top leaders or announced by par- Party of India-A strongly op- lookers before being tranquil- phant. What is shocking is the The party’s mouthpiece Saa- ty president Uddhav Thackeray. posed the Sena on the issue. lised, offi cials said. fact that the elephant did not mana earlier in the day called “Today’s editorial has neither “Not all women who wear Potentially dangerous inci- harm anyone,” Bora told AFP. for a ban on veils after Sri Lanka been discussed nor been an- burqa are terrorists, it is their dents of wild animals including “It was diffi cult to tranquil- prohibited the garments worn by nounced by Uddhavji and thus it custom and their right, too. elephants and leopards entering lise as the city streets were some Muslim women following may be a personal opinion of the There should not be such a ban towns and cities are on the rise fi lled with traffi c and there was militant bomb attacks there. editor on the current aff airs in on burqa in India,” its president in India as urban expansion en- lots of commotion with the Sri Lanka imposed its ban on Sri Lanka, but is not endorsed by and federal minister Ramdas croaches into the countryside. onlookers,” Assam’s chief for- Monday to help security forces the party president or the party,” Athawale said. In the latest incident, the est offi cial A M Singh said. identify people under an emer- Gorhe said in a statement, sig- All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul male elephant from a nearby “However, we took utmost gency law put in place after nalling a dramatic turnaround Muslimeen chief Asaduddin wildlife reserve lolloped down care not to make the elephant Easter Sunday suicide bomb on the issue. Owais attacked the Sena and the main road into Guwahati in panic and that is the reason attacks in churches and hotels Analysts said the sudden deci- sought the Election Commis- the northeastern state of As- there is no damage,” he said. killed more than 250 people. sion to backtrack may have been sion’s action. sam on Tuesday. “We fi nally tranquillised the “We welcome this decision prompted by the massive poten- “The Supreme Court judg- It reached the downtown elephant around 10.30pm last and demand Prime Minister tial political fallout of the Sena’s ment on privacy clearly lays Ganeshguri and Bhangagarh night and we moved it to the Narendra Modi follows in Sri demand on the Bharatiya Janata down that choice is now a fun- areas, pushing some vehicles Assam State Zoo in Guwahati. Lanka’s footsteps and bans the Party and allies which face three damental right. Besides, it is a but causing no major damage This morning, we have taken burqa and niqab in India,” the more rounds of elections this violation of the Model Code of as forest and police offi cials the elephant to the Amchang Saamana said in an editorial. month, barely on the eve of the Conduct, aimed at creating po- A tranquillised wild elephant is lifted up with a crane as it is followed at a safe distance. Wildlife sanctuary near Guwa- However, by evening the party holiest month in the Islamic cal- larisation before the elections,” transported to the Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary after it wandered Major traffi c congestion hati and released it,” said zoo offi cially dissociated itself from endar. he said. into a residential area in Guwahati. ensued as onlookers stopped offi cial Tejas Mariswamy. Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 23

LATIN AMERICA Macri measures fail to end Argentina economic woes

Reuters and further damaging a business richer than all its Latin American sustainable growth. cuts were on the fi scal side, they ber 2015, Macri got off to a good mortar investment promised by Buenos Aires climate blighted by nose-bleed neighbours combined? But some of the measures had an unintended eff ect on peo- start. He ditched Fernandez’s Macri never arrived and the cen- high borrowing rates. Macri was elected in late 2015 Macri promised would cure the ple who had long taken the subsi- trademark currency controls and tral bank appeared fl at-footed The peso, which lost 50.5% of as a champion of free markets, country’s economic ills just gave dies for granted. settled a long-standing feud with in dealing with the infl ationary obbled by recession and its value against the US dollar in promising to “normalise” the it a diff erent ailment. Every time a water, electricity holders of defaulted Argentine threat linked to the subsidy cuts. one of the world’s highest 2018, has shed another 15% so far economy after eight years under To attract investment, Macri or home heating gas subsidy was bonds, fi nally getting the country When the US raised interest rates Hinfl ation rates, Argentina this year, prompting the central president Cristina Fernandez, set out to cut the fi scal defi cit. reduced, people’s monthly utility out of default. last year, money started fl owing may be lurching toward the next bank on Monday to ease limits on a free-spending populist who First on his list of budget cuts: bills rose. In October 2017 his governing out of Argentina and other riskier in a series of economic crises af- foreign exchange market inter- placed tight government controls the generous public utility subsi- The utility bills sapped the coalition swept congressional emerging markets. fl icting the country over the last ventions. on the markets. dies that helped families recover economy by reducing consum- elections. Macri’s political fu- All this pressured the peso, 70 years. The situation is threaten- He hired a cabinet of techno- from a 2001-02 sovereign debt er spending in other areas and ture looked bright. But Argen- prompting the central bank to in- Consumer prices streaked ing President Mauricio Macri’s crats who promised to use or- default and shock currency de- boosted infl ation as businesses tina’s high labour costs and ac- crease interest rates, which fur- more than 54 % higher in the 12 chances of being re-elected in thodox policies to bring down valuation that tossed millions increased the price of goods and tivist unions known for going ther weighed on the economy. months through March in defi - October. inflation, attract waves of for- of middle-class Argentines into services to pay their own rising on strike continued to scare off A noxious circle of fear, low ance of central bank eff orts to How can this be happening eign direct investment and put poverty. utility bills. investors. private investment, recession control infl ation, fuelling poverty again in a country that was once the country on track toward As useful as Macri’s budget After taking offi ce in Decem- The big foreign bricks-and- and infl ation deepened.

Russia warns Military action US not to interfere in Venezuela

Reuters Moscow ussian Foreign Minister ‘is possible’, Sergei Lavrov told US RSecretary of State Mike Pompeo by phone that further “aggressive steps” in Ven- ezuela would be fraught with the gravest consequences, Russia’s foreign ministry said says Pompeo yesterday. Lavrov also condemned what DPA/Reuters and plan for contingencies. But planned trip to Europe yesterday, he called the US’ “interference” Washington in this case we have not been giv- in part to help co-ordinate with in Venezuela’s internal aff airs en (the) sort of orders that you’re the White House National Se- as a breach of international law, discussing, no,” Wheelbarger curity Council and state depart- adding that dialogue between all S Secretary of State Mike told the House Armed Services ment on Venezuela, the Pentagon political forces is required in the Pompeo has said US mili- Committee. said. Latin American country. Utary action in Venezuela is US Navy Admiral Craig Fall- The announcement came as Russia yesterday also rejected possible, but Washington prefers er, commander of US Southern the National Security Council a US allegation it had persuaded a peaceful transition. “Military Command, which oversees US scheduled a meeting yesterday to Venezuelan President Nicolas action is possible. If that’s what’s forces in Latin America, said discuss next steps on the political Maduro not to fl ee the country required, that’s what the US will past planning included prepar- turmoil in Venezuela. the previous day, calling the as- do. We’re trying to do everything ing for potential non-combatant The top uniformed US military sertion a calculated attempt to we can to avoid violence,” Pom- evacuations and helping deliver offi cer, Marine General Joseph demoralise the army and esca- peo told the Fox Business Net- US humanitarian aid but stressed Dunford, chairman of the Joint late the crisis there. work yesterday. that his top focus in the region Chiefs of Staff , said the US mili- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that while from was building partnerships. tary was focused on gathering Pompeo told broadcaster CNN a confl ict perspective an anal- When asked if he saw a role for intelligence on the situation in that Maduro was prepared to ogy to Syria would be incorrect, the US military in actually over- Venezuela and be prepared to re- leave the country that morning the humanitarian crisis was at throwing Maduro’s government, spond if Trump requested great- in the face of a call for an upris- similar levels, citing the millions Faller said: “Our leadership’s er action. ing by opposition leader Juan of refugees who have fl ed hunger been clear: It has to be, should “The situation is a little bit un- Guaido, but reversed his plan af- and widespread economic col- be, primarily a democratic tran- clear today from our perspective ter Russia intervened. lapse in Venezuela. sition. between Maduro and Guaido,” Pompeo suggested Maduro US national security adviser “We are in total support of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of had been planning to fl y to Cuba, John Bolton said Pompeo would diplomacy and we stand ready to Staff General Joseph Dunford which Maduro himself has since likely speak with his Russian support that eff ort.” said during a Congressional dismissed. counterpart Sergei Lavrov over Acting US Defence Secretary hearing, referring to Venezuelan Russia, which has acted as a the course of the day. Patrick Shanahan cancelled a opposition leader Juan Guaido. lender of last resort to Venezuela The US alleges that Russia is and supplied it with weapons, propping up the Venezuelan gov- has accused the US of trying to ernment. Fractures in army ‘could lead to Maduro’s fall’ foment a coup against Maduro, Earlier the Pentagon appeared someone Moscow counts as to downplay any active planning Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro Maduro’s continued leadership one of its closest allies in Latin to directly intervene in Venezuela yesterday said fractures in Venezuela. But he has America. to topple President Nicolas Ma- within the Venezuelan army stopped short of backing direct Asked to comment on Pom- duro, telling Congress it had not could lead to the “collapse” of intervention in the neighbouring peo’s comments, foreign minis- been given orders to prepare for Maduro’s socialist government. country. On Tuesday, Venezuelan try spokeswoman Maria Zakha- war and stressing support for di- “The information that we opposition leader Juan Guaido rova said they were part of an plomacy. have is that there is a facture publicly called for the military “information war”. Asked whether the US mili- that is getting closer and to back him and oust Maduro “This was absolute disinfor- tary had been given instructions closer to the leadership of the from power, sparking protests mation and fake news,” she said. to ready itself for a military con- (Venezuelan) armed forces,” and violence. But yesterday Washington realised that the fl ict, perhaps by prepositioning Bolsonaro said in remarks Maduro remained in control as army’s continued support was troops, Kathryn Wheelbarger, broadcast by channel Globo Guaido called for demonstrations crucial for Maduro which was the acting assistant secretary of News. Bolsonaro, who assumed throughout the country. “There why it was focusing its eff orts on defence for international secu- off ice in January, has helped is no defeat,” Bolsonaro said of trying to sow doubt in it ranks, Supporters of opposition leader Juan Guaido attend a rally against the government of President Nicolas rity aff airs, said: “We, of course, lead the regional opposition to Guaido. she added. Maduro and to commemorate May Day in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. always review available options Cubans protest against Peru ex-offi cial admits taking bribes for Garcia new Trump sanctions Samir Atala for their collabora- AFP Lima tion, as well as the one for Nava Reuters “We denounce the manoeuvres ton said there were more than Mendiola. Havana aimed at destabilising the left and 20,000 Cuban military personnel Nava Mendiola’s father, Garcia progressive governments, partic- in Venezuela and that potential former high-ranking of- confi dante Luis Nava Guibert, ularly in Venezuela and Nicara- high-level defectors feared Cu- fi cial has confessed that remains in preventative deten- illions of Cubans took to gua,” a statement read at the start ba’s wrath. Ahe acted as a frontman tion at a clinic in Lima where he the streets yesterday in of the march in Havana’s historic Cuba has repeatedly denied it for Peru’s late ex-president Alan is receiving treatment for heart Mprotest over new sanc- Revolution Plaza stated. has troops on the ground. Garcia, receiving money from problems and denies any wrong- tions imposed on the Caribbean The Cuban government has “Bolton is a pathological Brazilian construction fi rm Ode- doing. island by the Trump administra- proved unable to counter new US liar who misinforms President brecht which he later transferred “These statements will con- tion and US eff orts to topple the sanctions and attacks on Nica- Trump. There are no Cuban in instalments to the leader, a fi rm who was the recipient of the government of socialist ally Ven- ragua and especially Venezuela, troops in Venezuela or Cubans prosecutor said here. bribes,” analyst Luis Benavente, ezuela. Western diplomats say. participating in military or secu- Miguel Atala Herrera, former director of consultancy Vox Pop- “We will give a strong, fi rm “They are doing what they can rity operations,” Cuban Foreign vice president of state-run uli, said. and revolutionary response to the through diplomatic channels to Minister Bruno Rodriguez tweet- PetroPeru, “confessed to having Last week a top former execu- statements loaded with threats, support dialogue in Venezuela ed on Tuesday. received money from Odebrecht tive of Odebrecht gave details in provocations, lies and slander of and certainly still have infl uence While the marches through- to deliver to former president Brazil of multi-million dollar the Yankee empire,” tweeted Cu- with African and other develop- out Cuba were organised by the Garcia”, who committed suicide payoff s to Peruvian politicians ban President Miguel Diaz-Canel ing countries,” a European am- government, there is little doubt two weeks ago, prosecutor Jose including a top aide of Garcia. as dawn broke over Havana. bassador said. Cubans are in shock and angry Domingo Perez told a court hear- Jorge Barata, the multination- The annual marches across the “And they are certainly using over the rapid deterioration of ing. al’s former chief in Peru, pro- Communist-run country, mark- the situation to strengthen politi- relations with the US in recent Atala “is collaborating with vided Peruvian prosecutors with ing International Workers Day, cal support at home and drum up months. They also see Venezuela the prosecution,” said Perez, a details of “money routes” the provided the fi rst opportunity to support abroad where they can. as an ally and source of suste- member of the team investigat- fi rm used to distribute payoff s publicly protest a US off ensive There is not much more they can nance. ing the Odebrecht scandal. to powerful fi gures, from presi- against socialism in the region do,” he said. The once-robust economic Also collaborating is defend- dents to mayors, to win con- declared by US national security On Tuesday, Trump threatened ties between Cuba and Ven- ant Jose Nava Mendiola, son of tracts for public infrastructure advisor John Bolton late last year. a “full and complete embargo and ezuela, which included an oil- the former secretary of the pres- projects. That was followed by a series of more sanctions if Cuban troops and-cash-for-doctors barter idency during Garcia’s second His testimony involves four new sanctions against Venezuela, continued to prop up the Ven- arrangement, numerous joint term, Perez said. Peruvian presidents, including Cuba and Nicaragua and the ap- ezuelan government of socialist ventures and other deals, have Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel (left) and First Secretary of The prosecution withdrew the the late Garcia, who shot himself pearance of shortages of basic President Nicolas Maduro. frayed since Venezuela plunged the Cuban Communist Party, Raul Castro, participate in the May three-year preventive deten- in the head when he was about to goods on the island. Those remarks came after Bol- into crisis in 2015. Day rally at the Revolution Square in Havana yesterday. tion orders for Atala and his son be arrested on April 17. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, May 2, 2019 PAKISTAN

Nawaz Sharif Punjab UN adds Azhar to fi les petition for bans use of plastic bail extension bags global terror list Internews their decision and grant bail Islamabad to go London for treatment. Internews AFP nuclear-armed countries. The petition further Lahore United States The decision to blacklist stated that the treatment Azhar came after Chinese Presi- akistan’s former only possible from the dent Xi Jinping held talks with prime minister Na- doctor who already had he Punjab province gov- he United Nations yester- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Pwaz Sharif has fi led treated him. ernment has banned the day added Masood Azhar, Khan last week on the sidelines a petition in the Supreme The patient has severe is- Tuse of polythene bags in Tthe leader of a Pakistan- of a summit of the Belt and Road Court seeking extension in sue of heart, blood pressure, Ramadan bazaars due to pollu- based Islamist group, to its list Initiative in Beijing. his six-week interim bail on kidneys and liver. It added tion and cancerous impacts on of global terrorists after China France, which slapped uni- medical grounds. that he is suff ering level human health. lifted its objections to the move. lateral sanctions on Azhar in In the petition fi led three diseases. The availability of alternative The UN sanctions committee March, also welcomed the deci- through lawyer Khawaja The petitioner also source of polythene bags and on the Islamic State and Al Qae- sion and stressed it had pushed Haris, he stated that he had adopted the stance, on his regulations would be ensured to da announced in a press release for many years for the JeM leader fi led a review petition against 15-page petition, the apex save peoples’ health and protect the designation of Azhar, leader to be put on the list. the March 26 verdict. court had not allowed him environment. These views were of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), In March, the United States He said that his bail to go abroad in his previous expressed by Lahore Commis- over his ties to Al Qaeda. had ratcheted up pressure on should be extended till ver- bail plea, adding that the sioner Mujtaba Piracha while JeM has claimed responsibil- China by putting forward a draft dict on his review petition. court review his petition for chairing a meeting regarding ity for the February 14 attack in Security Council resolution to “I may suff er an irrepara- permanent bail. polythene bags. Kashmir that killed 40 Indian blacklist Azhar – a move that ble loss if my bail was not Earlier on March 26, the The commissioner said there troops and stoked tensions be- would have forced Beijing to use extended,” he requested. Supreme Court granted was a need to take short-term tween India and Pakistan. its veto to block the measure. On April 25, Nawaz bail to the former premier and long term steps for plastic Considered the founder of “After 10 years, China has Sharif, who got bail on on medical grounds for bags manufacturing industry, JeM, Azhar was hit by an inter- done the right thing,” a US ad- medical grounds for six six weeks in the Al-Azizia adding under ‘Clean and Green’ national assets freeze, a ban on ministration offi cial said. Beijing weeks, sought permission reference. Pakistan campaign, collec- global travel and an arms em- seems to have “understood that to go abroad for medical In addition, the court also tive eff orts were being made to bargo. JeM itself has been on the it was increasingly important treatment. suspended the sentence for sensitize the people about con- UN terror list since 2001. Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar that its actions on the interna- Nawaz Sharif submitted a six weeks. The court also sequences of using polythene China had blocked three pre- tional stage on terrorism match review petition in Supreme stopped Nawaz Sharif from bags. vious attempts at the sanctions to the UN terror list is taken by attacks on Indian security forces. its rhetoric.” Court seeking permanent going abroad. However, Initially, a comprehensive committee to blacklist Azhar consensus in the committee. Pakistani foreign ministry Azhar is linked to terrorism for bail. In the petition fi led by he will be free to get treat- awareness campaign would also and put a technical hold on a India applauded the move spokesman Muhammed Faisal “participating in the fi nancing, the PML-N leader has re- ment from anywhere in the be launched in this regard, he fourth request from Britain, which came after its air force in told reporters in Islamabad that planning, facilitating, preparing, quested the court to review country. added. France and the United States in February carried out air strikes it would be “false and baseless” or perpetrating of acts or activi- March. on a JeM militant camp inside for India to claim that the sanc- ties” carried out by JeM, accord- UN diplomats said the re- Pakistan. tions on Azhar were a victory. ing to the sanctions committee. quest was again submitted to Pakistan stressed that the des- Tensions between India and Azhar founded JeM after he the committee last week and ignation of Azhar had nothing to Pakistan have soared since the was released from prison in India that China had not opposed the do with the Pulwama attack in February attack in Kashmir in 1999 in exchange for 155 hos- move to blacklist Azhar by the February. Islamabad has denied that prompted tit-for-tat air tages held on an Indian Airlines Govt rings up curtain Wednesday deadline. Any deci- any involvement in the suicide raids, fuelling fears of an all- fl ight that had been hijacked to sion to add individuals or groups bombing, one of the deadliest out confl ict between the two Kandahar. on power defaulters

Internews Besides, 947 private default- faulters, while in Islamabad Islamabad ers of the company have not Electric Supply Company Firebrand TLP leader quits (Iesco), 30 consumers are paid their bills of Rs2.04bn. After the agriculture tubewells, defaulting on Rs107.19mn. he government has pub- the industrial sector is the ma- The power division has di- licised the names of jor defaulter. In Peshawar Elec- vided the defaulters in two Taround 50,000 power tric Supply Company (Pesco), a groups, including running de- party on health ground faulters and dead/disconnected defaulters who didn’t clear total of Rs13.34bn is outstand- their dues of Rs1mn or above ing against 8,219 defaulters. defaulters in the power distri- Internews “I am a patient of heart high blood sugar, and high blood actions will be discouraged.” for months and years leading In Sukkur Electric Power bution companies (Discoms). Lahore disease, paralysis, kidney pressure, and when the verdict “All the institutions, the law, to an outstanding amount of Company (Sepco), 6,494 de- The running defaulters are disease, high blood sugar, of the Asia Masih case was pro- the constitution will be hon- Rs248bn. faulters have been enlisted those who are paying the cur- and high blood pressure, nounced, my religious senti- oured,” he vowed, adding that The lists contain the names with outstanding amount of rent bills but still carry out- irebrand Tehreek-i- and when the verdict of ments got hurt and I delivered a that the party workers would of 45,454 defaulters. The out- Rs8.3bn. There are 2,421 power standing, while the other Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) the Asia Masih case was speech. I am very sorry for hurt- stand by the Pakistan Army to standing amount surges to over defaulters in the Tribal Elec- segment is of those whose Fpatron-in-chief Pir Af- pronounced, my religious ing the sentiments of the gov- defend the country. Rs300bn if dues of less than tric Supply Company (Tesco) connections have been discon- zal Qadri, who is currently on sentiments got hurt and I ernment, the judiciary and the The TLP leader called on party Rs1mn outstanding against against whom the govern- nected and they have not paid judicial remand pending mul- delivered a speech” chief of army staff ,” he said. workers to “behave well, remain the defaulters are added to Rs- ment has an outstanding of their bills for years. tiple cases against him, has an- Qadri also distanced the TLP peaceful, and refrain from en- 248bn, a senior offi cial said. Rs4.73bn. In Lahore Electric A week back the federal gov- nounced his retirement from the Hussain Rizvi since their ear- from an incident at a university gaging in any activity against the Non-payment of power bills Supply Company (Lesco), the ernment had decided to make movement and issued an apol- lier applications were rejected in Bahawalpur earlier this year, integrity of the state”. has been a major issue of power outstanding amount is Rs3.3bn the names of power defaulters ogy for incendiary remarks made by an anti-terrorism court. In in which a teacher was killed by He said that he had decid- sector playing its role among against 460 defaulters. public and seize their proper- by him during a protest against the last hearing of the case, the a student allegedly associated ed last year to retire from the other factors in increasing the In Multan Electric Power ties after April 30, 2019. Last the Supreme Court’s acquittal of court had asked police to submit with a senior TLP leader. movement and had informed his circular debt that is standing at Company (Mepco), there are month, the Power Division had Asia Bibi. a record of proof that led to the He directed party leaders and friends, but had announced the more than Rs1.3tn. 324 defaulters who have to pay time and again informed the Qadri was booked under se- arrests of Rizvi and Qadri. workers to propagate their view- decision now as his health had The lists have been placed to Rs1.17bn. defaulters through a special dition and terrorism charges in Qadri read out a statement an- points in a manner consistent further deteriorated. on the website of Power Infor- The Hyderabad Electric Sup- drive to clear their outstanding Gujrat and taken into “protec- nouncing his retirement in a video with the religious teachings, and In November 2017, TLP mation Technology Company ply Company (Hesco) has to by April 30. tive custody” by the state dur- shared with DawnNewsTV. An also in line with the law and the workers demanding the resig- (PITC) of 10 Power Distribu- recover Rs732.9mn from 395 The power division told this ing a crackdown in November accompanying statement stated constitution. nation of the then law minis- tion Companies (Discoms) defaulters. Besides, there are 39 reporter that though the de- after the TLP announced it that the TLP patron-in-chief is “No one will be allowed to ter Zahid Hamid had staged a of which the highest amount defaulters in Gujranwala Elec- faulters were infl uential having would observe martyrs’ day on sorry for “hurting the sentiments resort to arson, vandalism weeks-long sit-in at the Faiza- of Rs210.3bn is outstanding tric Power Company (Gepco) affi liation with political par- November 25, 2018. of the government, the judiciary and destroying public and bad interchange that had virtu- against 26,095 agricultural who have to pay Rs352.9mn. ties, the government was com- Currently, the Lahore High and the chief of army staff ”. private properties,” he said, ally paralysed the federal capital tubewells falling in the ju- In Faisalabad Electric Supply mitted to taking a stern action Court is hearing a bail plea fi led “I am a patient of heart dis- adding: “Terrorism, killings, and led to several people losing risdiction of Quetta Electric Company (Fesco), Rs166.28mn against them and might even by Qadri and TLP chief Khadim ease, paralysis, kidney disease, discord and armed sectarian their lives. Supply Company (Qesco). is outstanding against 30 de- seize their properties. 23 ‘missing’ fi shermen Mercury soars to 42°C as may be in Indian custody heatwave grips Karachi Internews Aft er persistent eff orts high while the coastal areas of Karachi in the past 15 days, the Sindh and Balochistan were search operation in experiencing extraordinarily Internews various areas of the sea, strong winds, reads the letter. Karachi he 23 fi shermen who re- and the mangrove forests It further explains that as main missing since the near Keti Bandar, has now the pressure of the wind was Tstorm at sea 15 days ago been scaled back blowing towards the east, it is akistan’s largest city, Ka- are suspected to be in Indian possible that the missing fi sh- rachi, continues to be custody. It is possible that the Edhi Foundation and the FCS ermen entered the Indian ter- Pgripped by a heatwave pressure of the wind blowing came to no avail. ritory. As no trace of them has with temperatures soaring towards the east might have However, the equipment been found as yet, the missing to 42°C yesterday. strayed the fi shermen towards believed to be in their use and fi shermen might be in Indian Pakistan Meteorological De- the Indian territory. locally-made life boats were custody, it states. partment (PMD) issued a heat- The Fishermen Coopera- recovered from the sea eight The families of the aff ected wave alert on its website which tive Society’s (FCS) suspicions days after the fi shermen went fi shermen should be assisted states that the maximum tem- were further aroused after missing. in this regard and the mat- perature will range between confi rmation from Indian Port Fisheries sources say that ter should be highlighted so 40-42°C till May 4. authorities of the recent arrest the families of the missing that the status of the missing Hot winds from north and of three other Pakistani fi sher- fi shermen come to the har- fi shermen can be ascertained, northwest direction at 10 to men who had lost their way at bour every day in hopes of re- reads the letter. The recent 15km are likely to dominate sea due to the unusually strong ceiving good news about their arrest of three Pakistani fi sh- especially during day times, winds and entered the Indian loved ones. ermen, who had set out for the PMD said. territory. FCS has written a The FCS claims that it was a short fi shing excursion in Concerned departments and letter to the provincial home in touch with their counter- a small launch, has further facilities in adherence to the department in this regard. parts in Gujrat, India, where strengthened suspicions as heat warning issued by the PMD Residents cool off at a canal during heatwave, as temperatures reach 42 degrees celsius, in Karachi yesterday. After persistent eff orts in the the chairperson of a fi shermen those fi shermen were also led have taken a series of measures past 15 days, the search opera- association, Vilji Bhai, had astray due to the stormy winds. to provide needed relief to the general, appeared to be mentally ures also taken to provide imme- need to be outside don’t spend tion in various areas of the sea, informed them of the arrest The letter has also been sent aff ected people. prepared to brave the situation, diate fi rst aid to the heat victims. extended amounts of time and the mangrove forests near of three Pakistani fi shermen, to the federal ministry of home A day earlier, Dr Sadiq Baloch, Dr Baloch said provincial as well “Equal attention has been paid without shade. Keep your skin Keti Bandar, has now been who had strayed into Indian aff airs, ministry of foreign af- a health department offi cial had as district governments are fully to raise public awareness among covered against the sun. Wear scaled back. territorial waters. fairs, Sindh chief minister, said, “Since it would be public cognizant of their responsibili- people to avert and manage pos- linen, cotton, silk, or other All ad hoc eff orts made by FCS has written a letter to ministry of livestock, Sindh holiday tomorrow we hope that ties towards the masses. sible instances of heat stroke and breathable fabrics. Keep your diff erent organisations in- the provincial home depart- fi sheries, PMSA director- many of the Karachiites will A high alert was said to have associated heat injuries,” said the clothing loose and breezy, so cluding the Pakistan Maritime ment expressing its suspicions. general and fi sheries director- prefer to stay home.” been declared in all public sector senior medical offi cer. you don’t feel suff ocated in the Security Agency (PMSA), the The tides were dangerously general. Mentioning that citizens, in facilities with all relevant meas- Try to stay indoors, and if you humid heat.” Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 25 PHILIPPINES Duterte seeks approval for pro-worker legislation

By Ralph Villanueva already been passed by the ernment for being anti-poor Manila Times House of Representatives, but and anti-worker, while blam- remains under discussion at ing the government for the lack the Senate, whose version has of jobs and alleged worsening ongress should pass been certified as urgent by Du- labour conditions. What seems “much-needed legisla- terte. to escape them is the truth that Ctive measures” to further The House has also passed their anti-government activities protect workers and uphold their a measure that will streamline could scare away foreign inves- rights, President Rodrigo Du- the registration of unions. tors, resulting in job losses,” he terte said, as the country marked Both chambers of Congress said. Workers burn an effigy representing President Rodrigo Duterte during a demonstration marking Labour Day in Manila, yesterday. Labour Day, yesterday. are still working to approve He said Duterte had signed Militant groups celebrated In- their versions of a proposed laws strengthening occupation- ternational Workers’ Day with Magna Carta for Workers in the al safety and health standards, similar calls for increased pro- Informal Economy, which will making work from home as an tection and higher wages, but give the sector the same rights alternative work arrangement also criticised the president by currently enjoyed by those and providing a handbook on the burning his effi gy, a move that holding regular jobs. rights and responsibilities of mi- Thousands rally against Malacanang — after earlier de- Also pending are various bills grant workers. claring that staging protests was calling for wage adjustments, EOs increasing employ- a right — warned could scare including the establishment ment compensation, funeral away investors. of a national minimum wage benefi ts for private and public In a message, the president to replace the current regional sector workers, and protecting president on May Day noted that more needed to be wage-setting system. the right to security of tenure, done, following last year’s Exec- Labour groups took to the among others, have also been is- AFP utive Order (EO) 51 that reiterat- streets to press for higher pay sued, Panelo said. Manila ed existing prohibitions against and better worker conditions. “It is also during the current illegal contracting and subcon- In Manila, a crowd estimated government when the welfare tracting. Duterte has pledged to by police to number 3,800 and concern of our overseas for- housands of Philippine eliminate “endo” — the practice protesters marched to Men- eign workers (OFWs) were given protesters marched in of letting workers go before six diola near Malacanang to burn priority. We now have a one-stop TLabour Day rallies yes- months to avoid having to regu- an effigy of Duterte, who was service center for OFWs, a 24/7 terday, torching a giant effi gy larise them — and critics have criticised for failing to uphold OFW Command Center and an of President Rodrigo Duterte said the EO merely paid lip serv- worker rights. Overseas Filipino Bank. We have as they attacked his economic ice to the promise. The militant Kilusang Mayo signed bilateral labour agree- policies’ impact on the nation’s “I remain optimistic that one Uno (KMU) led the march. ments with Cambodia, Saudi poor. year since I issued EO 51 imple- KMU chairman Elmer Labog Arabia, United Arab Emirates Rows of marchers fl ew red menting existing constitutional reiterated calls for a P750-daily and Kuwait, to name some,” he banners and chanted near the and statutory provisions against minimum wage, or P16,000 per added. The Labour department, presidential palace in Manila, illegal contracting, my counter- month, that the government meanwhile, said some 16,000 where they set fi re to the horned parts in Congress will consider and employers have rejected. jobseekers joined job fairs held effi gy adorned with Chinese passing much-needed legis- “In terms of wage demands, nationwide on Labour Day. and US fl ags — the two compet- lative measures that will fully they are quick to say it is not af- Bureau of Local Employment ing powers in the Philippines. protect our workers’ rights, es- fordable,” he said. “ But based on Director Dominique Tuyay said “We continue to call on the pecially to security of tenure and data on companies with 20 or out of 16,001 applicants, 6,547 government to provide a rea- self-organisation,” Duterte said. more employees last year, even if were qualifi ed, 4,310 were inter- sonable and living wage not The celebration of Labour you increase the current wage by viewed, 1,033 were hired on the only for us teachers but for Day — marked by most of P750, they will still enjoy a huge spot and 3,487 were near hires. all the workers in this coun- the world on May 1 — should profi t.” “When we say near hires it try,” said demonstrator Alex prompt all Filipinos to work to- The Malayang Alyansa ng Bus means that they still need to Legaspi, an educator for 30 gether and create an environ- Employees at Laborers, mean- be interviewed or need to take years. ment “conducive to the work- while, called for regular pay an examination or have still to Police reported about 8,200 Protesters chant and raise their fists during a May Day rally in Manila. ers’ personal and professional and the right to unionise, while complete their documents be- marchers attended “generally growth and development,” he the Alliance of Health Workers cause they are already qualifi ed,” peaceful and orderly” rallies Marchers were particularly practice, which is referred to as has previously made a dent the added. asked the government to remove she added. nationwide, with the majority outraged at Duterte’s failure “contractualisation”. high approval ratings credited Duterte also commended them from its list of New Peo- A total of 1,045 employ- in the capital. to outlaw employers misusing “All of the workers with con- to Duterte by Philippine opin- workers for their hard work, ple’s Army supporters. ers participated, 872 of which The Philippines’ economy short-term employment con- tractual employment should ion polls. Climbing infl ation grit and perseverance, and said Palace spokesman Salvador were local and 173 were based is one of the strongest in Asia, tracts, despite a 2016 campaign now be regularised since it was and a jump in prices for nation- the strength of the country was Panelo criticised militant groups overseas. Job vacancies on of- with growth that is consist- promise to implement tighter the promise of President Du- al staple food rice last year be- anchored on these characteris- for ignoring Duterte’s pro-la- fer totaled 203,897, with 106,913 ently above 6%. However, just regulations. terte,” said 43-year-old Mimi came a political liability before tics. bour initiatives. comprising local positions and under a quarter of the nation of Workers get fewer ben- Doringo, a union organiser. being tamed by central bank A security of tenure bill has “The KMU criticises the gov- 96,984 overseas. 106mn live in deep poverty. efi ts and protections under the The economy is an issue that rate hikes and falling oil prices.

New law offers Cebu Pacifi c shrugs longer maternity Binalonan mayor slaps ban on leave for women off labour issues Women workers can now enjoy longer maternity leave with the signing yesterday of the imple- By Lisbet K Esmael spokesman Allan Tanjusay gossip after several disputes menting rules and regulations Manila Times said yesterday the group was (IRR) of the Expanded Maternity co-ordinating with JWAP re- Leave (EML) Law, Manila Times garding the matter. By Hannah Ellis-Petersen reported. The IRR was signed by ebu Pacifi c dismissed JWAP is affiliated with Guardian News & Media Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello speculation that la- TUCP, an umbrella of worker 3rd, Civil Service Commission Cbour woes were behind unions. chairman Alicia de la Rosa Bala the airline’s decision to cancel “The union will negotiate hen the lethargic heat and Social Security System chair- more than a hundred fl ights. for better wages and benefits, of summer set in, the man Aurora Ignacio. Republic Charo Logarta-Lagamon, better working conditions, Wresidents of Binalo- Act (RA) 11210 or the “Expanded the airline’s spokesman, said and better terms under the nan, a small town in the Philip- Maternity Leave Act of 2018” the company had a good rela- existing labour policies and pines, used to gather under the was signed into law by President tionship with Juan Wing As- regulations to improve … trees and share stories about Duterte on Feb 20, 2019. sociation of the Philippines working climate that would their neighbours, swapping Bello said the law covers female (JWAP), Cebu Pacifi c’s union. benefit the interests of both titbits about rumoured scan- workers in government and the “The cabin crew formed a the union members and the dals, aff airs, bankruptcies and private sector regardless of their union, and I don’t think that’s management,” TUCP Presi- divorces. civil status or legitimacy of the related,” she told Manila Times dent Raymond Mendoza was But no longer. In local law child. “Providing workers with late Tuesday. quoted as saying in a state- imposed on the town, which enhanced paid leave is one of She said that while the com- ment issued on April 21. is north of the capital Manila, the best strategies to help them pany acknowledged there were The Department of Trans- such gossip, or “chismis’” as it manage a healthy work-life bal- absentees everyday, this was portation had also stepped is known in the Philippines, is ance, which translates to higher “normal” as it was not pre- into the issue. now illegal. productivity at work,” he said. ventable. “I have talked with Civil The anti-gossip ordinance The law will take eff ect 15 days “There are contingencies for Aeronautics Board (CAB), was passed by the Binalonan after the publication of its IRR in a these,” the offi cial said. Manila International Airport mayor, Ramon Guico III, after Two people talking in Manila. newspaper of general circulation. Cebu Pacifi c had cancelled Authority (MIAA) and Civil several disputes fuelled by gos- The law grants 105 days of paid over 100 fl ights extending up Aviation Authority of the sip had got “so severe”, with For those caught fuelling the on the Capas neighbourhood of been linked to a suppression of maternity leave, seven days to May 10 and aff ecting thou- Philippines (CAAP) to look multiple parties involved, that rumour mill or peddling sala- the municipality of Binalonan, freedom of speech. of which may be transferred sands of fl yers. A source told into the matter,” Transporta- the local council had to inter- cious stories in Binalonan, the but proved so successful it has However, Guico denied that to fathers, extending the paid Manila Times the problem tion chief Arthur Tugade said vene. “There are many types of punishment for a fi rst-time of- been extended to seven villages his law would prevent the resi- paternity leave to 14 days. stemmed from issues on the in a television interview yes- gossip, but most gossip cases fender is a fi ne of 200 pesos (£3) in the district. dents of Binalonan being able to If a worker is a single mother, the ground. He said pilots and terday. here is about confl ict around and three hours of community “Banning gossip is our way of express themselves freely and law grants an additional fl ight attendants have raised “While we’d like to un- property, money, relationships service, picking up rubbish. improving the quality of life in without fear of legal retribu- 15 days of leave, or a total of 120 concerns about low salaries. derstand the present pre- and the like,” Guico told the Repeat off enders will face a our town,” said Guico. “A gos- tion. days of paid maternity leave. He described the waves of dicament of Cebu Pacific Guardian. “This ordinance is to fi ne of up to £15 and eight hours sip-less town is more fruitful “People in Binalonan have It also gives working mothers an flight cancellations as “un- in relation to their internal remind people that everything community service. because I believe people have been very supportive of our option to extend their leave for believable,” and urged Cebu requirements, they should that we say is our responsibility The mayor confi rmed that better things to do than talk cause for a town free of such 30 days without pay. Pacific to address its employ- equally understand our man- as individuals and as residents some residents had already been negatively about others.” activities,” he said. “This ordi- Senator Ana Theresia Risa ees’ issues instead of “mak- date of making sure that the of this municipality. We want to caught and punished under the Across southeast Asia, the nance does not infringe on free- Hontiveros, principal sponsor and ing so many alibis.” travelling public is safe, se- show other towns that Binalo- new law and it had succeeded in introduction of laws against dom of speech nor expression author of the law in the Senate, Trade Union Congress cure and convenient,” he nan has good people; it is a good reducing local disputes. fake news has become increas- but is a protection from slander welcomed the signing of the IRR. of the Philippines (TUCP) added. and safe place to stay.” The ban was fi rst imposed ingly common, but has also and the like.” Gulf Times 26 Thursday, May 2, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka 02 - 05 -2019 Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Ferrari left a lot to do as Mercedes grab early honours Valtteri Bottas is emerging as the biggest challenger to world champion Lewis Hamilton for the formula One title as yet another Mercedes double exposed Ferrari’s fl aws. The victory by Bottas ahead of Hamilton at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was a fourth one-two in as many races – each driver has two victories each – in a record which beats Williams’ three one-twos at the start of the 1992 season. Bottas goes into the next race in Barcelona in two China’s vast fl eet is tipping weeks with a one-point lead in the standings courtesy of a bonus point for fastest lap in Australia. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, third in Baku, is now 35 points behind Bottas, and a point ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, while Mercedes already have a the balance in the Pacifi c 74-point lead in the team standings. Mercedes have been helped by Ferrari still unable to By David Lague and Benjamin other major navy. to an analysis from the London-based immaculately turned out offi cers and crew. get everything right. Kang Lim “We thought China would be a great International Institute for Strategic Underway, he peers into the distance As Charles Leclerc, their young sensation said: “We Reuters, Taipei pushover for way too long, and so we Studies published in May last year. from the bridge through bulky naval let them start the naval arms race while Between 2015 and 2017, China binoculars, climbs ladders between haven’t had four perfect weekends yet.” we dawdled,” said James Holmes, a launched almost 400,000 tonnes of decks and shares meals with sailors. Leclerc would generation ago, from mid- professor at the US Naval War College naval vessels, about twice the output Last spring, he watched a giant probably have won in 1995 into early 1996, China and a former US Navy surface warfare of US shipyards in that period, the IISS exercise in the South China Sea, where Bottas goes lobbed missiles in the waters offi cer. said. a fl otilla of 48 warships assembled in Bahrain but for an engine Aaround Taiwan as the self- For the United States, the stakes are The PLA navy now has about 400 formation. into the next problem late on, but it governing island prepared to hold now much higher in any operation to warships and submarines, according to Half of these vessels had been was his own mistake in its fi rst fully democratic presidential support its regional allies, including US and other Western naval analysts. commissioned since Xi took power, race with a one- election. Japan and Taiwan. By 2030, the Chinese navy could state-controlled media reported. crashing in qualifying Washington forcefully intervened to America now faces daunting have more than 530 warships and The highlight was the launch of point lead in the which compromised his support its ally, sending two aircraft obstacles to any eff orts to reinforce submarines, according to a projection in jet fi ghters from China’s fi rst aircraft carrier battle groups to patrol nearby. heavily outgunned Taiwan in a crisis. a 2016 US Naval War College study. carrier: the 60,000-tonne Liaoning, standings chances on Sunday. The carriers, then as now the Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade A shrunken and overworked US Navy, a refurbished Soviet-era fl at top that Ferrari’s tyre strategies spearhead of American power, province and is currently building an which has ruled the oceans virtually has served as a test bed for carrier have been questioned and Leclerc, who started eighth intimidated Beijing. amphibious force that could give it the unchallenged since the end of the Cold operations. The vote went ahead. capacity to launch an invasion of the War, had 288 warships and submarines The Chinese navy has launched a on the grid, had to make do with fi fth in Baku after the The missiles stopped. island. at the end of March, according to the second carrier as well, which is now in team, perhaps hoping for a safety car spell, decided Today, with tension again running Senior Asian defence and security Pentagon. sea trials and expected to join the fl eet high, Washington still backs Taiwan. offi cials say the PLA’s naval advances Globally, the US Navy remains the this year, according to US offi cials. on a long opening stint on medium tyres while those Chinese President Xi Jinping have introduced a new uncertainty dominant maritime force, the power A key message in the official ahead had started on softs. on January 2 renewed Beijing’s in such scenarios: If Beijing can that keeps the peace and maintains coverage of Xi’s voyages: A vigilant Vettel, who has now gone 12 races without a win – his longstanding threat to use force if sow serious doubt about whether freedom of navigation on the high seas. navy under his command will guard necessary to restore mainland control Washington will intervene against Chinese military and political fi gures against a repeat of the century of last was in Belgium in August last year – said he spent over the island. China, it would undermine the value of say that while their nation’s fl eet has humiliation that began with the much of the race trying to get the tyres to respond but But the United States is now sending US security guarantees in Asia. more ships, America has more powerful First Opium War in 1839, and during the team remains confi dent for the season. much more muted signals of support. In November, a bipartisan ones, and overall supremacy at sea. which European colonial powers On Sunday, American ships sailed commission set up by Congress to “The Chinese navy is at least three and Japanese invaders took cruel “It’s boring, isn’t it?” he said. “We have to work through the Taiwan Strait. review the Trump administration’s decades behind the United States,” advantage of a vulnerable China. harder, work better. They (Mercedes) are doing This was the seventh passage of national defence strategy reported a retired Chinese naval offi cer told Every Chinese school child learns phenomenally well.” Pole-sitter Bottas and Hamilton US warships through the narrow, that in a war with China over Taiwan, Reuters, requesting anonymity. that China’s suff ering arose partly strategically sensitive waterway since “Americans could face a decisive “It is too early for the United States because of the lack of a modern navy. went wheel-to-wheel in the opening turn but the July. military defeat.” to fret.” Infamously, in the fi nal years of the teammates were careful to avoid a collision. Each time, though, just two US As China gains confi dence that it China, however, has established Qing Dynasty, the Empress Dowager Five-time champion Hamilton said he was “too vessels have ventured through; this can dominate its near seas, it intends dominance in the waters closest to its diverted funds earmarked for naval week, it was a pair of destroyers. to challenge the dominance of the coast. modernisation to building a new friendly and basically gave it to him” in Turn 1, the No powerful fl otillas and certainly no US Navy in distant waters, too, in the The regular, highly publicised launch Summer Palace. suggestion being that with any other opponent he aircraft carriers. Western Pacifi c and Indian Ocean, of new warships is a powerful political This contributed to China’s heavy It has been more than 11 years since according to US and Chinese military weapon for Xi Jinping. defeat in the 1894-95 war with Japan, in might well have taken a more aggressive approach. an American carrier traversed the offi cials. For a domestic audience, modern which a rising Japanese navy smashed Later in the season, if the two are serious rivals for the Taiwan Strait. Satellite imagery of Chinese aircraft carriers, destroyers and the Chinese fl eet. title, there might be a less gentlemanly approach. “The Trump administration faces a dockyards, reports in China’s state- submarines are hard evidence that what While Beijing’s repeated references dilemma,” said Chang Ching, a retired controlled media and assessments of US Xi describes as the “Chinese dream,” his to these past humiliations have Team principal Toto Wolff praised both drivers, Taiwan naval captain and researcher at and other foreign naval experts show vision of a strong, rejuvenated nation, is propaganda value, invasion is now saying they didn’t make any major mistakes during the Taipei-based Society for Strategic the PLA navy is expanding as fast as becoming reality. regarded as a highly unlikely threat, the race and that Mercedes won because of the Studies. shipyards can weld hulls together. Almost immediately after taking according to military strategy “They want to send smart, calibrated Since 2014, China has launched more power in late 2012, Xi began a series of documents published by the Chinese effi ciency of their car and their strategy calls that signals to Beijing without causing an warships, submarines, support ships high profi le visits to naval bases and government. proved right. overreaction or misunderstanding.” and major amphibious vessels than the voyages at sea on sleek, new warships. Instead, China needs to prepare for McLaren meanwhile continued their improvement, This caution is typical of the restraint entire number of ships now serving in In documentary footage and news high intensity confl ict in its near seas, the US and allied navies, including the United Kingdom’s fl eet, according reports, he is piped aboard to the salutes of these documents say. with both drivers in the top 10 for the fi rst time this Japan and Australia, now display in season, Carlos Sainz taking seventh and Lando Norris international waters near the Chinese eighth. coast, according to more than 10 current and former senior US and Mercedes have appeared a cut above the rest if Western military offi cials. the early results are any indication, but nobody can China now rules the waves in what it calls the San Hai, or “Three Seas”: the discount the possibility of surprises as the season picks South China Sea, East China Sea and up steam over the next few months. Yellow Sea. In these waters, the United States and its allies avoid provoking the Chinese navy. To Advertise In just over two decades, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese [email protected] military, has mustered one of the Display mightiest navies in the world. This increased Chinese fi repower 44466621 44418811 at sea – complemented by a missile force that in some areas now outclasses Classified America’s – has changed the game in 44466609 44418811 the Pacifi c. The expanding naval force is central Subscription to Xi’s bold bid to make China the preeminent military power in the [email protected] region. In raw numbers, the PLA navy now has the world’s biggest fl eet. Soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy patrol near a sign in the Spratly Islands, known in China as the Nansha © 2019 Gulf Times. All rights reserved It is also growing faster than any Islands, on February 9, 2016. The sign reads “Nansha is our national land, sacred and inviolable.” Gulf Times Thursday, May 2, 2019 27 COMMENT Ukraine sends in the clown

By Nina L Khrushcheva election in the United States, I While the pro-Western Tymoshenko Kyiv recalled Brave New World, in which would have delivered the change Aldous Huxley conjured a future in that Ukrainians want, he explained, which humanity had been destroyed this year voters wanted even more to n the 2000s, The West Wing was by ignorance and lust for mindless reject the existing system entirely. everybody’s favourite television entertainment. Trump, feasting on The fact that Trump is presiding show about an aspirational US burgers as he binge-watches Fox News over a booming US economy only Iadministration – one that fought stories about himself, embodies this strengthened their willingness to terrorism without waging war on disposition. gamble on a TV character. an entire region or religion, refused Whereas a combination of too much But even Zelensky may not be to trample on the rule of law, and amusement and too little knowledge the rebellious choice he seems generally made decisions that were contributed to Americans’ choice of to be. Some have questioned his in the country’s best interest. Many Trump, Ukrainians were reacting to relationships with oligarchs – in wished the show’s calm and collected politicians’ betrayal of the ideals of particular Igor Kolomoisky, the fi ctional president, played by Martin the 2013-14 Maidan Square protests, owner of the TV channel that Sheen, could replace America’s which sought to get Ukraine out from broadcasts his show. Many suggest cowboy president, George W Bush, underneath Russia’s thumb. Chief that Kolomoisky effectively bought and his war-mongering sidekick, Dick among the turncoats was President the election so that he himself could Cheney. Petro Poroshenko, a Maidan hero who rule Ukraine from behind the scenes. In a sense, that is exactly what ended up as a manifestation of the old There is also speculation, albeit is happening now in Ukraine. The oligarchic system. Most Ukrainians unfounded, that Zelensky is actually comedian Volodymyr Zelensky, whose now support radical changes to a project of Russian President only claim to fame up to now was economic, social, and foreign policy. Vladimir Putin. playing a teacher-turned-president Thus, with nothing but an appealing However he got to power, Zelensky in the popular TV series Servant of TV persona, Zelensky was able to now faces the monumental task of the People, won the presidency in a convince voters that his inexperience building a state that improves people’s landslide last month. But, far from the would be a better bet than another lives by providing quality services. As fantasy of an idealised president, this term of Poroshenko’s corrupt for the war in eastern Ukraine, even is yet another example of a distorted leadership. Despite having no political if Zelensky manages to end it, Putin reality – all too familiar to Ukrainians – team or discernable policy platform, he will not give back Crimea, which no in which characters, not leaders, defi ne won 73% of the vote – a share normally Ukrainian would allow the Kremlin politics. attained by authoritarians who stifl e to claim as its own. Can a comedian Zelensky is far from the fi rst their opponents and stuff ballot boxes. Zelensky, whose only claim to fame up to now was playing a teacher-turned-president in the popular TV series Servant of the with no experience, team, or platform charismatic non-politician to win It was a desperate choice. As People, won the presidency in a landslide last month. really be expected to navigate these political power in recent years. The a young Ukrainian lawyer friend challenges? most obvious example is the real- lamented, “Any thinking, pragmatic European Union for all Ukrainian independent-minded guards, were barricades with a traditional Ukrainian Ukraine is a symptom, not a estate developer and reality-TV person would vote for Poroshenko, or citizens. Meanwhile, Zelensky inveterate performers, with their blonde braid wrapped around her head. specimen. In a world that increasingly showman Donald Trump. But in maybe (former prime minister) Yuliya joked around, irreverently spoke long moustaches, furry hats, and Another Ukrainian friend, a resembles Huxley’s dystopia, where Austria, Hungary, Italy, Russia, and Tymoshenko,” because, despite their Russian, and practically guff awed at exaggerated, almost carnivalesque, middle-aged scientist, observed that real political leaders – experienced yet elsewhere, characters have also used faults, “they did a lot for us.” But, my Poroshenko’s patriotic slogan, “Army, displays of machismo. Zelensky’s most direct antecedent honest, strong yet caring, charismatic populist rhetoric to appeal to ordinary friend added, “we are not thinking like Language, Faith.” Even when not particularly may be Andriy Danylko – Ukraine’s yet serious – are few and far between, people who feel ignored by the elites. a pragmatic society.” As my lawyer friend pointed out, clownish, showmanship has often best-known entertainer, a musical we all run the risk of being ruled by Another comedian, Beppe Grillo, co- The candidates’ debates were irrational politics are nothing new been a feature of Ukrainian politics. comedian who performs in drag under clowns. – Project Syndicate founded Italy’s Five Star Movement, revealing in this respect. Facing for Ukraine, whose history has been In the 2004 Orange Revolution, the stage name Verka Serduchka. In which is now the senior government off with Zelensky in a stadium – a “a constant carnival led by a bunch when Ukrainians rejected Viktor 2007, Danylko tried, unsuccessfully, to Nina L Khrushcheva is Professor party, though he stepped aside in non-standard venue chosen by the of clowns.” Prince Volodymyr, who Yanukovych’s victory in a rigged form his own political party. of International Aff airs at The New January 2018, weeks before the election comedian – Poroshenko highlighted brought Christianity to Kievan Rus’ in presidential election, Tymoshenko According to this friend, Ukrainians’ School. Her latest book (with Jeff rey that brought his creation to power. his own achievements, from fi ghting the early 800s, declared that “drinking did not just emerge as a political embrace of Zelensky was driven by the Tayler) is In Putin’s Footsteps: There are nuances to this trend. back against Russia in eastern Ukraine is the joy of the Rus’.” In later centuries, leader. She performed the role of a same revolutionary urge that fuelled Searching for the Soul of an Empire After Trump won the 2016 presidential to securing visa-free entry to the the Cossacks, Catherine the Great’s folk heroine, leading protesters to the the protests in 2004 and 2013-14. Across Russia’s Eleven Time Zones.

Creative disruption in healthcare and education Three-day forecast TODAY Many individuals in developed emerging economies. dipped its toes in EdTech waters, the Maximum Temperature : 370c By Stephanie von Friedeburg Minimum Temperature : 280c Washington, DC countries have taken to wearing Similarly, innovators in online path to commercial sustainability watches and bracelets that measure learning – a $165bn sector that was far from clear. Now, however, FRIDAY their activity, heart rate, and sleep is growing by 5% per year – are EdTech companies have successfully Maximum Temperature : 360c overnments are often more quality. By fostering a greater using disruptive technologies like developed profi table, scalable business Minimum Temperature : 260c eager to invest in physical awareness of their physical condition, artifi cial intelligence to develop models that can be applied elsewhere. SATURDAY infrastructure – such as such devices spur people to adopt advanced tutoring tools and improve Since its founding in 2011, for Maximum Temperature : 340c Groads, bridges, and airports healthier habits, potentially reducing personalisation. For example, BYJU’S, example, BYJU’S has become a major Minimum Temperature : 260c their risk of chronic disease, a major a learning app - and a client of the global player with more than 2mn – than in human capital, through Fisherman's forecast channels like healthcare, education, contributor to healthcare costs International Finance Corporation subscribers, 30mn app downloads, and a and skills training. This can be good worldwide. (IFC) – has taken advantage of new valuation of over $5bn. As we work with technologies to make high-quality the private sector to close gaps in access WARNING politics, because it enables leaders to But these devices have even Inshore : Nil deliver concrete, visible results over greater potential to improve health, math and science tutoring available to to quality healthcare and education Offshore : Strong wind and high the course of a few years. But the best and today’s innovators are using K-12 students who would otherwise in emerging economies, such success sea at Northeast area way to ensure that economies grow cutting-edge technology to build on be excluded because they live in stories provide useful models. by afternoon and prosper in the long term is to these successes. Unlike traditional remote areas or have limited mobility. Of course, using technology to WEATHER ensure that citizens are healthy and patient records, stored in individual In higher education, Massive Open transform education and healthcare Inshore : Relatively hot daytime educated. doctors’ offi ces, the data collected Online Course (MOOC) platforms carries some risks. Safeguarding the with some clouds Offshore : Fine With technology’s continuing by such “wearables” are aggregated off er the fl exibility workers need to privacy of patient records and student advance, this is becoming easier for and analysed. This can improve pursue the lifelong learning required test scores must be a top priority. And WIND governments to achieve. As the Fourth diagnostics, while helping to by the 21st century labour market. One no one should think that AI-enabled Inshore : Northwesterly-North- easterly 05-15 KT Industrial Revolution transforms some compensate for skills shortages in such platform is Coursera (also an IFC diagnostic tools will displace doctors, Offshrore : Northwesterly 08-18/23 sectors (notably, manufacturing) and medical labour markets. client), which works with universities or that online learning platforms KT creates new fi elds (such as robotics, 3D The Singapore-based company and other organisations to off er online should supplant teachers – especially Visibility : 4 -8 KM printing, and autonomous vehicles), Tricog, for example, has developed courses. when it comes to developing Offshore : 3 -5/7 FT it is also enabling new approaches to algorithms to read electrocardiograms, After its launch in 2012, Coursera the socio-emotional skills that healthcare and education. fl agging problem cases for doctors. worked hard to expand into the tomorrow’s job market will demand. Already, technology has proved This effi ciency-boosting technology developing world. By 2015, almost half But the potential benefi ts of of the platform’s subscribers were disruptive technologies for economic eff ective for lowering costs, expanding – which enables doctors to initiate Around the region access, and improving quality in both treatment within minutes instead of located in emerging markets. Like growth, sustainability, and human Weather the education and healthcare fi elds. hours – is already proving useful in other MOOC platforms, Coursera’s wellbeing are simply too great to Weather tomorrow Max/min The Internet and mobile-phone India, where hospitals often suff er business model continues to evolve; pass up. Considering the payoff today Max/min M Cloudy 36/21 technology have enabled scarce from a lack of trained cardiologists. most recently, it added upskilling from today’s investments in these Baghdad Sunny 37/22 M Cloudy 37/27 medical specialists to serve patients in Big Data analytics and machine services for enterprises, and it has areas – particularly in the emerging Kuwait CitySunny 36/24 Sunny 32/26 remote places using telemedicine, and learning also enable greater been forging partnerships with economies – the risks are undoubtedly Manama Sunny 32/25 Sunny 33/27 facilitated the rise of distance-learning personalisation of health services. traditional campus-based institutions worth taking. – Project Syndicate Muscat Sunny 33/27 M Sunny 29/18 university campuses, giving students Among other things, these to develop online degrees. Tehran M Sunny 28/17 everywhere access to professors who technologies can help in treating non- Six years ago, when IFC, seeking Stephanie von Friedeburg is Chief previously were available only to communicable diseases like diabetes to mobilise early fi nancial support Operating Offi cer of the International those in major cities or on university and cancer, which are fast becoming for startups off ering products Finance Corporation, a member of the campuses. the biggest healthcare challenge facing relevant to emerging markets, fi rst World Bank Group.

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Around the world Patients value convenience of telemedicine Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 22/12 M Sunny 23/13 By Lisa Rapaport was very little research evidence had household income of more than ence improved their relationship with Beirut Cloudy 26/18 M Sunny 21/16 Reuters Health about primary care video visits, $100,000 a year. their provider. Bangkok M Sunny 38/29 M Sunny 38/28 especially when the visits are with a Patients who had to take time off However, 41% of participants said Berlin Cloudy 16/06 M Cloudy 12/04 patient’s own primary care providers from work or other responsibilities they preferred an in-person visit, 24% Cairo M Cloudy 36/18 Sunny 31/16 atients who have real-time (the ones they also visit in-person) for an in-person visit reported more expressed concern about making their Cape Town Showers 17/14 M Cloudy 17/13 video visits with their primary as a part of their ongoing clinical often that the video visit reduced their home or video visit space presentable Colombo T Storm 30/27 T Storm 29/27 care providers instead of in- care,” said lead study author Dr Mary in-person visits. for the checkup, and 21% of patients Dhaka P Cloudy 34/27 S T Storms 32/27 Pperson exams are generally Reed of Kaiser Permanente Northern There were many reasons pa- worried they might not get adequate Hong Kong Cloudy 24/19 S Showers 23/21 satisfi ed with the convenience and California. tients cited for having video visits: treatment. Istanbul P Cloudy 18/11 Sunny 21/12 quality of their checkups, a new study Reed and colleagues surveyed 87% found it more convenient; 82% Overall, however, nine in ten pa- Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 P Cloudy 33/26 suggests. 1,274 patients at Kaiser in Northern liked that they could have the video tients said they would consider a video Karachi Sunny 36/25 Sunny 37/25 There’s a lot about these telemedi- California who had a scheduled video visit with their regular primary visit in the future, even if they didn’t London S Showers 16/07 S Showers 13/03 cine visits that can sound appealing: visit with a primary care provider in care provider; and 70% were not go to their scheduled visit during the Manila S T Storms 36/27 S T Storms 35/27 no need to get stuck in traffi c on the autumn 2015 to see how well the tech- sure they needed to go see a doctor study. Moscow Showers 14/08 Cloudy 15/07 way to the doctor; no long stretches nology and the medical care worked in person. One drawback of the study is that New Delhi M Sunny 39/26 M Sunny 38/26 in the waiting room before the exam; for them. After the video exams, 93% of it’s old – the video visits happened New York S Showers 23/11 S T Storms 15/13 no missing half-a-day of work for an Nearly all of the participants had patients felt the checkup met their several years ago and technology used Paris Showers 15/08 P Cloudy 16/06 appointment that’s over in the blink some previous experience using video needs; 92% felt the provider was in 2015 may look a lot diff erent than Sao Paulo Cloudy 27/18 P Cloudy 28/19 of an eye. But research to date hasn’t calling, although it might have been familiar with their medical history; what’s possible today. Patients in the Seoul Sunny 22/06 Sunny 23/07 off ered a clear picture of how the real- for personal or professional meetings and 90% were confi dent in the quality study were also fairly affl uent and Singapore S T Storms 33/28 S T Storms 33/27 ity of virtual visits matches up with and not for a medical checkup. Most of their care. educated, and it’s possible results Sydney M Cloudy 24/18 Showers 22/14 patients’ expectations. of them also had undergraduate or ad- In addition, 84% of patients who would look diff erent for people with Tokyo Clear 23/14 Cloudy 24/11 “Prior to the current study there vanced degrees and more than a third had video visits thought the experi- lower income and education levels. Gulf Times 28 Thursday, May 2, 2019 QATAR

An exterior view of KidZania. KidZania City fl agged off in Doha idZania, the fastest grow- ing kids’ interactive edu- Kcational entertainment brand in the world, was formally opened at Aspire Park yesterday. With the indoor family enter- tainment centre becoming func- tional, Doha has joined KidZania as the 27th international loca- tion. KidZania, which has a pres- ence in over 21 countries, pro- vides children with the space to do role-play activities through several exciting tasks. The formal foundation cer- emony of the new KidZania City was on Tuesday. Government offi cials, industry partners, rep- resentatives from the diff erent KidZania franchises around the world and company’s collabora- tors were present. During the foundation cer- emony KidZania Doha keys were handed to the industry partners Kids open KidZania in the presence of off icials yesterday. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Thani, chairman of Sharaka Holdings and Qatar Entertainment (Tasali); who invested in KidZania as a Xavier Lopez, KidZania president; and Ric Fearnett, KidZania Doha governor addressing the media. Corporate Social Responsibil- KidZania features edutainment embrace and learn about real ity and learning platform. The working life and how the econ- partners include QNB, Qatar that integrates education and omy works. Airways, Ministry of Defence, entertainment. Kids can learn Through ultra-realistic role- Qatar Rail, Kahramaa, Al Azizi- play, children at KidZania can yah Boutique Hotel, Qatar Red through direct experience. The learn about diff erent careers, Crescent, Ministry of Com- facilities will promote professional the inner-workings of a city and merce and Industry, Qatar Ca- the concept of managing money reer Development Centre of Qa- learning and entrepreneurship, and while having fun. tar Foundation, Qatar National will provide an opportunity to Each experience at KidZania Library, Al Rayyan Water, and is designed to empower kids by Ghadeer Dairy. acquire financial literacy giving them confi dence to be The grand opening ceremony their best selves and inspiration was entirely handled by kids. opportunity to learn, engage in Besides, KidZania gives civic to be great global citizens. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed physical activities, explore their learning and help children grow KidZania Doha governor Ric al-Thani, chairman of Sharaka careers and acquire values. as ideal citizens,” he said, add- Fearnett said they have plans Holdings and Qatar Entertain- “KidZania features edutain- ing the centre will also ensure to expand KidZania and launch ment (Tasali); Xavier Lopez, ment that integrates education experiential learning through new facilities. KidZania president; and Ric and entertainment. Kids are developing skills and inspiring Dr Ger Graus OBE – KidZa- Fearnett, KidZania Doha gov- made capable to learn through good values. nia global director of education, ernor attended the function. direct experience. The facilities The concept of KidZania spoke about how the concept While addressing the media, here will promote professional aligns with the Qatar National brings learning and entertain- Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed al- learning and entrepreneurship, Vision 2030 to build a sustain- ment together to strategically Thani said KidZania will pro- and they will lend an opportu- able and harmonised society by teach children values through vide children in Qatar with an nity to acquire fi nancial literacy. enabling kids in Qatar to fully role-playing activities. An inside view of KidZania. Book highlights achievements of 42 mentors in Qatar

By Joseph Varghese The mentors come Staff Reporter from diff erent walks of life and atar UTM (Unlocking the Mentors) event 2019 was include CEOs to Qheld yesterday at Qatar chefs, artists, National Library, highlighting the achievements of 42 mentors sportspersons, in Qatar. entrepreneurs, The event also saw the launch of a book titled, Connect- leading women ing today’s doers with tomor- among others row’s achievers that features the achievements and activities of “The focus is on the empow- the 42 mentors. erment of youth and our men- The event was held in col- tors have achieved several things laboration with the College of that can inspire the youth. We Humanities and Social Sciences had chosen more than 42 but of Hamad Bin Kahlifa University many of them were not comfort- (HBKU). able talking about their personal “We started this initiative lives,” continued Figares. “We some months ago and we wanted selected people who had some to do something for youth em- inspiring stories to tell. powerment. Along with my col- “They had to be of diff erent league, we planned something ages and from both genders. about Qatar as we have lived in The book has equal number of Some of the mentors at the Qatar UTM 2019 event yesterday. PICTURE: Nasar K Moideen Qatar for sometime. male and female achievers. The “Qatar has an amazing youngest among them is 19 years entrepreneurs, leading women kha is one of the 42 mentors, fea- shaped the youth for the bet- of her profession as a university diversity of our society which is number of inspirational stories old while the oldest is in the among others. All of these men- tured in the book. Several of the ter. Dr Amal al-Malki, founding professor. “The book features 42 essential for shaping and ar- from across the board and we 50s,” explained Figares about the tors have a real tale of success to mentors who were present on dean of the College of Humani- mentors and many are pioneers ticulating its modern identity. It thought that Qatar should be the selection criteria of the mentors. inspire the youth in Qatar and the occasion narrated their jour- ties and Social Sciences, HBKU in their fi elds. While some are introduces new experiences and fi rst country to start with this According to the book, the with true restless minds behind ney so far and highlighted how as well as one of the mentors fi ghters and trendsetters, many emerging realities that would book,” Clara Figares, co-founder mentors come from diff erent each life story. they had done something dif- featured in the book said that others are inventors and innova- help the young generations to and content producer of UTM walks of life and include CEOs Gulf Times Editor- in-Chief ferent in their lives which might mentorship is something that tors and all of them are worthy of break free from the outdated re- told Gulf Times. to chefs, artists, sportspersons, Faisal Abdulhameed al-Muda- have helped the community and comes naturally to her as part admiration. It also highlights the strictions,” added al-Malki.