BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Grudge match as Rayyan INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-11, 32 COMMENT 30, 31 REGION 12 BUSINESS 1-7, 11-16 look to Doha Bank Q1 profi t 20,403.12 10,295.96 50.43 ARAB WORLD 13, 14 CLASSIFIED 8-10 -120.16 -40.34 -1.98 INTERNATIONAL 15–29 SPORTS 1–8 up 3% to QR364mn oust Sadd -0.59% -0.39% -3.78% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10429 April 20, 2017 Rajab 23, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir, Ugandan president hold talks Qatar Pharma In brief expands, adds

QATAR | Investment new lines for Ministry takes part in ‘Expo Turkey by Qatar’ The Ministry of Economy and Commerce is taking part in the “Expo Turkey by Qatar” event, which kicked production off yesterday at Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) and runs QNA For his part, Dr Ahmed Mohamed for three days. In a statement, the Doha al-Sulaiti, Chairman of Qatar Pharma, ministry said its pavilion showcases said the company had exported nearly initiatives and investment projects 90% of its production to all Gulf mar- that it made available for all sectors E the Minister of Public Health kets and some Arab countries such as so as to support and stimulate HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni held a session of off icial talks at the Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and Libya the participation of the private Emiri Diwan yesterday. They reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and means of enhancing them in all fields, Hinaugurated expansion works after covering all the needs of the local sector. Among these is a project especially in defence, politics, economy, investment and agriculture. The two sides also discussed the most prominent issues and new production lines of Qatar market. which provides 30 investment on the regional and international arenas. Page 11 Pharma company yesterday. He pointed out that Qatar Pharma is opportunities for small- and The expansion adds eight new pro- currently exporting to Europe after ob- medium-sized enterprises in the duction lines, bringing their total taining the European certifi cate of con- fields of managing and promoting number to 14. formity which qualifi es it for export to events, sports development, HE Dr al-Kuwari stressed the keen- European countries, adding that Qatar sporting facility contracting and ness of the Ministry of Public Health to Pharma is one of the largest exporting facility management. In the tourism support pharmaceutical industries in companies in Qatar and has managed sector, the ministry is giving the Marking Tarsheed celebration the State of Qatar and its high quality in to increase its sales since the start of chance to investors to learn about accordance with the best international the production process. a project to turn the old Doha standards. The plant started with two stages of Exhibition Center into a modern In a press statement, she highlighted production and witnessed an expan- entertainment city. Page 32 at Kahramaa Awareness Park the modernity of the pharmaceuti- sion, which reached currently 14 lines, cal industries in the country, stressing he said, noting that the board of direc- EUROPE | Politics nder the patronage of HH the the eff orts aimed at strengthening this tors which met in the fi rst week of April Turkish election board Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- strategic industry through construc- has taken a decision to become a public Umad al-Thani, Qatar Gen- tive co-operation with the private shareholding company in order to en- rejects vote petitions eral Electricity & Water Corporation sector, and thus contribute to meet an hance fi nancial, human and technical The Turkish Supreme Election Board (Kahramaa) is all set to celebrate the important aspect of the local market’s capabilities, increase market shares, (YSK) yesterday rejected petitions 5th anniversary of the National Pro- needs in this area. move to global competition with inter- submitted by three political parties gramme for Conservation and Energy During her visit to the factory, HE Dr national companies and revitalise the to cancel Sunday’s constitutional Effi ciency (Tarsheed) at the Kahramaa al-Kuwari was briefed on the new pro- stock market. referendum result. The petitions had Awareness Park (KAP) on April 24 with duction lines, stages of production and The total assets exceeded QR320mn, been filed by the main opposition the slogan “one promise, one journey’’. pharmaceutical industries. he said. Republican People’s Party (CHP), This celebration will be graced by Qatar Pharma started its production Dr al-Sulaiti said that the new ex- the Peoples’ Democratic Party the presence of HE the Prime Minister operations in 2009 and is currently pansions in the plant’s work and its (HDP) and the Patriotic Party. Ten and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah producing dialysis solutions, intrave- production lines are in line with Qatar out of 11 board members voted bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE nous solutions, dehydration solutions, National Vision 2030 and in response against the appeals, the YSK said the Minister of Energy and Industry ointments, eye drops, and medical sup- to the quest of many investors to par- in a statement. Voters went to the Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, Kah- plies that complement the production ticipate in this pharmaceutical facility polls on Sunday to decide whether ramaa’s president and senior engineer process. and opening new markets. to approve changes to the country’s Essa bin Hilal al- Kuwari, other digni- constitution that would usher in an taries, diplomats, high level offi cials executive presidency. Page 23 from government and private sectors, The Kahramaa Awareness Park. schoolchildren, stakeholders’ repre- LATIN AMERICA | Unrest sentatives and others. During the event, Kahramaa will with a number of organisations in- Through the celebration, Kahramaa announce Tarsheed’s new roadmap to cluding schools to give impetus to Venezuelan opposition will announce the offi cial opening achieve the objectives set out by Qatar the programme for its successful im- in anti -Maduro march of the KAP and its further strate- National Vision 2030 and extended plementation across the country. It Venezuelan security forces fired gies, projects and achieved targets for National Development Strategy. has also signed 54 MoUs with various teargas as demonstrators staged the ongoing programme. Kahramaa, The programme, which was initi- organisations to implement its objec- what they billed as the “mother through Tarsheed, aims at rational- ated as a National campaign for Effi - tives and help inculcate and extend a of all marches” against President ising the consumption of water and cient Use of Water and Electricity, was conservation culture in Qatar to pre- Nicolas Maduro yesterday, and electricity and intensify the culture of launched for fi ve years in 2012 on Earth serve country’s vital resources and re- a student caught up in a clash conservation of vital resources in Qa- Day, which falls every year on April 22. duce carbon emissions for the sake of died after being shot in the head. tar. Tarsheed, through its strategies and the environment. Opposition supporters protested Kahramaa will also felicitate the programmes, aims at reaching all seg- Kahramaa has also appealed to all in Caracas and other cities, winners (individual and corporate) of ments of the society to create aware- residents of Qatar to take an active role denouncing Maduro for eroding the three competitions organised by ness for conserving the precious re- in the programme, by adhering to the democracy and plunging the oil-rich its Conservation and Energy Effi ciency sources. country’s conservation laws and regu- economy into chaos. Page 26 Department. Kahramaa has also joined hands lations.

HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari opening the expansion works and new production lines of Qatar Pharma yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil Roundabout near Mall of Qatar to Parliament become signalled intersection backs May’s election plan he temporary roundabout near Mall of Qatar in Rayyan will Tbecome a signalled intersection Reuters on Saturday, Ashghal announced yes- London terday. In order to convert the roundabout into a signalled intersection, Ashghal rime Minister Theresa May will permanently close the temporary won parliament’s backing for road that connects between Dukhan Pan early election yesterday, a Highway and the roundabout. vote she said would strengthen her HE Dr al-Kuwari being briefed on the new production lines, stages of production and Traffi c heading from Umm Al Afai hand in divorce talks with the Euro- pharmaceutical industries. Petrol Station to Doha can use the pean Union and help heal divisions in road between Mall of Qatar and Al Britain. Rayyan Sports Club to reach the Cel- May surprised allies and oppo- Another windy, dusty day likely today ebration Road, and then to the Emiri nents on Tuesday when she an- Guard Roundabout, to Doha. nounced her plan to bring forward an Qatar is likely to experience another day inshore and 36 knots off shore at times, Traffi c heading from Doha towards election that was not due until 2020, of strong winds (in most areas), dusty with the sea level rising to 12ft in some Umm Al Afai Petrol Station can use saying she needed to avoid a clash of conditions and poor visibility today, the places. the lane leading to Mall of Qatar and priorities in the sensitive fi nal stages Met department has said. Today’s detailed forecast says it will be hot then use the left lane which leads to of the two-year Brexit talks. The weather offi ce has also issued a during the day and slight to blowing dust is the new intersection. Those heading After addressing a rowdy session warning for windy conditions and high likely in some places along with scattered from the Celebration Road can use the of the House of Commons, May won seas in off shore areas today. clouds. Visibility may drop to 2km or lower road located between Mall of Qatar the support of 522 lawmakers in the On Tuesday, the Met department had said in some places at times. and Al Rayyan Sports Club to reach 650-seat parliament for an elec- weather charts indicated the continuation The maximum temperature will be 37C the new intersection. Then they can tion on June 8, an easy victory for of northwesterly windy conditions in the in Doha, Wakrah and Mesaieed today. proceed to Umm Al Afai Petrol Sta- the entrances of roads leading to Mall requested all road users to abide by the prime minister who could see country, with the conditions expected to Yesterday, it was 39C in Mesaieed and tion (as shown on the map). of Qatar and Al Rayyan Sports Club to the speed limits, and follow the road her majority increase by at least 100 intensify today and tomorrow. Turayna, and 38C in Doha, Qatar University Traffi c signs will be installed near advise motorists. The authority has signs to ensure their safety. seats in the poll.Page 20 The wind speed may go up to 35 knots area, Sheehaniya, Al Rayyan and Batna. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, April 20, 2017 QATAR

Emir receives message from Ivory Coast leader

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from the President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara pertaining to bilateral relations between Qatar and Ivory Coast and means of enhancing them. The message was handed to HE the Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani by Ivory Coast Foreign Minister Abdullah Albert Toikeusse during a meeting in Doha. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them, as well as issues of common interest. Cabinet approves draft law on inventory of nuclear materials

QNA inventory and control of nu- The Cabinet also ap- tion, scientifi c research Doha clear materials, either used proved a draft agreement and technology between or produced in all activities, between the governments the governments of Qatar including researches. of Qatar and Uganda on the and Tunisia for the aca- he weekly Cabinet The draft law also set the regulation of the employ- demic years (2017/2018, meeting, presided terms of reference of the ment of Ugandan manpow- 2018/2019, 2019/2020) was Tover by HE the Prime Committee and the obliga- er in the state, a draft Mem- also approved by the Cabi- Minister Sheikh Abdullah tions of facilities and enti- orandum of Understanding net. bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- ties that use nuclear mate- (MoU) on economic, com- The Cabinet meanwhile Thani, yesterday approved rials. mercial and technical co- reviewed the draft decision a draft law on the national During the meeting, the operation between the gov- of the Minister of Interior system for the inventory Cabinet approved a draft ernments Qatar and Uganda to amend some of the pro- and control of nuclear ma- Memorandum of Under- and another draft MoU on visions of resolution No terials and referred it to the standing (MoU) on co-op- co-operation in the fi eld of 12 of 2008 on the insur- Advisory Council. eration in the fi eld of con- higher education and sci- ance fees on non-Qatari Giving details of the sumer protection between entifi c research between the mechanical vehicles and a meeting, HE the Deputy the governments of Qatar Ministry of Education and memo of HE the Minister Prime Minister and Minis- and Oman and another draft Higher Education in Qatar of Administrative Devel- ter of State for Cabinet Af- Memorandum of Under- and the Ministry of Educa- opment, Labour and Social fairs Ahmed bin Abdullah standing (MoU) on co-op- tion and Research in Swe- Affairs on the outcomes bin Zaid al-Mahmoud said eration in the fi eld of energy den. of the 86th session of the the draft law stipulates that between the Ministry of En- The fi rst executive draft Arab Labour Organisation the National Committee ergy and Industry in Qatar programme on the agree- (Cairo, March 2017), and for Prohibition of Weapons and the Ministry of Energy ment for co-operation in took the appropriate deci- (NCPW) shall undertake the in Bulgaria. the fi eld of higher educa- sion.

Gulf Times 4 Thursday, April 20, 2017 QATAR

Mercedes-Benz recall

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce repairs. The MEC will co-ordinate with the dealer (MEC), in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled to follow up on the maintenance and repair Automobiles, has announced the recall of works and communicate with customers. HBKU Mercedes-Benz C-Class, E-Class, GLC-Class 2016 The MEC has urged all customers to report any models because the audio command control violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti- panel is not calibrated according to factory Commercial Fraud Department through the specification. The MEC said the recall campaign following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: info@ celebrates comes within the framework of its ongoing mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and IOS: MEC_Qatar Saudi culture and heritage Off icials and dignitaries at the event. amad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in col- laboration with the Saudi Arabian embassy Hin Qatar, celebrated Saudi culture and herit- age on April 18 at a special event. The Saudi Culture Day event took place in the HBKU Student Centre. The event was held under the patronage of Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Aifan, Saudi ambas- sador to Qatar, and in the presence of Dr Ahmad Hasnah, president of HBKU; Maryam Hamad al- Mannai, vice-president of Student Affairs; as well as members of the HBKU community. A series of events and festivities that showcase Saudi Arabian art and culture remain open to the public until April 20. The Saudi Culture Day highlighted the ongo- ing partnership between the Saudi embassy and HBKU, and demonstrated the university’s contin- ued support extended to Saudi students studying at HBKU and its partner universities across Edu- cation City, according to a press statement. As a part of the festivities, Education City students were invited to experience Saudi Ara- bia’s history, heritage and contributions to the region. Celebrations marking the Culture Day kicked off with a traditional Saudi folk perform- ance, after which attendees were given the oppor- tunity to tour a traditional Saudi tent and view a collection of modern art pieces painted by various Saudi artists. Other items on display included handcrafted abstract art pieces and books authored by Saudi writers revealing unique aspects of the country’s cultural and social development. Visitors also got a taste of authentic, homemade Saudi cuisine. Ambassador al-Aifan said, “It was a pleasure to participate in the Saudi Culture Day at HBKU, and I was delighted to see the lively pres- entation put together by the organisers.” Dr Hasnah noted, “We are pleased to host Saudi Culture Day at HBKU, in collaboration with the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Qatar, with a common goal of building strong ties between the two com- munities.” Saudi Culture Day was the latest in a series of events to have taken place at HBKU during the current academic year. Most recently, the univer- sity celebrated the cultural heritage of the UAE, India, Japan, Korea and Yemen.

Gulf Times 6 Thursday, April 20, 2017 QATAR BMW M3, M760Li make debut at QMS

By Joey Aguilar genuine motor sports technol- Staff Reporter ogy in a way that was also suit- able for everyday road use,” he pointed out. “Since over 30 years he latest BMW M3 made then, the M3 has maintained its its Middle East debut in dominance with supreme han- TDoha at the opening of dling vicious power and business Qatar Motor Show (QMS) 2017 like looks.” on Tuesday. “The new M3 continues this “This year, we have the BMW legacy with a 3-litre and twin Ihab Allam, left, and Johannes Seibert showcasing the BMW 760Li. PICTURE: Jayan Orma M3 making a regional premier power turbo engine that makes for the fi rst time in Qatar. As the 425hp, and it speeds up from 0 to formance TwinPower Turbo in February this year, has an im- Sedan garnered the attention of biggest market for the M mod- 100 in just 3.9 seconds,” he said. technology under the bonnet pressive start in the international attendees at QMS. The 7th gen- els in the Middle East, this is a The car’s minor cosmetic reinforces the new car’s range- market, receiving a very strong eration 5 Series off ers industry- suitable location to make its fi rst changes have been infl uenced topping status. customer demand. fi rst assistance systems with a appearance,” said Ihab Allam, from the BMW M4. Adaptive The boldly dynamic driving “It perfectly embodies our sporty, elegant and stylish fi gure. general manager, Alfardan Auto- full-LED headlights will be fi t- The BMW M3 unveiled at QMS 2017. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil characteristics of M760Li xDrive Middle Eastern customers’ ex- According to Seibert, in spite mobiles. ted on the Life Cycle Impulse M3 also off ers a high level of superior pectations from a luxury sedan. of the general decline of the Mid- BMW Group Middle East man- along with updated M emblems Qatar, also showcased a brand- The BMW 7 Series is also a ride comfort, resulting in a com- It also points to the way into the dle Eastern automotive markets aging director Johannes Seibert on the front seats, chrome trim- new model from the 7 Series, the head turner at the QMS 2017. pelling statement and a com- future of BMW with more auton- in the fi rst quarter (Q1), BMW’s said the M3, introduced 31 years mings, electroplated detailing, M760Li at the prestigious event. It Headlined by its exceptional en- pletely new benchmark in the omous driving features than any regional sales performance ago, has become a legend. and updated taillights. underlines the ability of the brand hancement and supreme power luxury sedan segment. BMW before it,” he noted. closed Q1 with 6,837 customer “At that time, no other manu- Alfardan Automobiles, the of- to combine the highest levels of delivery at all times, the 12-cyl- Meanwhile, Seibert said the Launched in Doha earlier this deliveries – slightly above the facturer have ever developed fi cial BMW Group importer in both luxury and performance. inder petrol engine with M Per- new M5 Series, which came out year, the all-new BMW 5 Series fi gures in Q1 2016. New Mini Countryman big on features

By Joey Aguilar Exhibition and Convention Cen- now gives an additional boost to out having to press any button The Convertible has an exte- Staff Reporter tre until April 22. the brand’s advance into the pre- when you have luggage or shop- rior design that comprises a bal- “We are excited to have mium compact segment. ping bags,” he said. ance between top-class elegance brought another great model to BMW Group Middle East man- The latest generation of the and sporty fl air. Maintaining the ini enthusiasts will the region, further highlight- aging director Johannes Seibert Mini Countryman goes even classic Mini design features, it is have the opportunity ing the importance of the Qatar noted that this model is the larg- further in terms of the model’s further enhanced with circular Mto experience the all- market for the Mini brand,” said est Mini ever built – 20cm longer versatility, agility and premium headlamps and rear lights with new Mini Countryman, the big- Ihab Allam, general manager, Al- and almost 8cm wider than the character. Thanks to its powerful chrome surrounds, hexagonal gest and most versatile model in fardan Automobiles. predecessor model. proportions, it has a particularly radiator grille, black peripheral the brand’s 57-year history, at “Mini being present at QMS “Therefore it was possible to distinctive presence and its un- body surround, side turn indica- the ongoing Qatar Motor Show this year is a great step to fur- substantially increase the interi- mistakable aura is defi ned by an tor elements and a large selec- The all-new Mini Countryman at QMS 2017. PICTURE: Jayan Orma (QMS) 2017. ther highlight the brand’s strong or space for passengers and also extended ground clearance and tion of body fi nishes including Alfardan Automobiles, the of- presence in Qatar which saw the cargo space,” he said. “It also raised seating position, further the variant of Caribbean Aqua declining passenger car market, ures in the fi rst quarter of 2016. fi cial BMW Group importer in sales increase by 7% in 2016,” he features a pop out picnic bench emphasised by the Mini All4 ex- metallic. according to Seibert. “With our attractive new and Qatar, unveiled the Mini Coun- noted. and even an automatic tailgate terior look and high roof rails. Mini sales up 14% in region: He noted that from January to young models, we aim to build tryman on Tuesday during the The all-new Mini Country- with easy open function, which Alfardan Automobiles also In terms of sales, Mini has a suc- March, they delivered 285 Mini further on last year’s momentum inauguration of the fi ve-day man’s large tailgate, fi ve seats off ers an activation sensor to showcases the Mini Convertible, cessful start in this year in the cars in the region to the owners, worldwide and the ME region,” event, taking place at the Doha and optional all-wheel drive open and close the tailgate with- Clubman and 3-door Hatch. Middle East region in spite of the which is 14% higher than the fi g- the senior BMW offi cial added.

Gulf Times 8 Thursday, April 20, 2017 QATAR

US envoy fetes winners of Young Writers Contest

he US embassy, in forts of teachers, especially, cation’s steadfast dedica- The programme is a joint or non-fi ction) on one of partnership with the for their support. tion to the Young Writers partnership between the US the provided topics for their TMinistry of Educa- “I’d like to extend my Programme in its eff orts to embassy and the Ministry of grade using this theme as in- tion and Higher Education gratitude to all the amazing encourage Qatar’s youth to Education and Higher Edu- spiration. of Qatar and Virginia Com- teachers who make this pro- read, write and think criti- cation, with support from More information about monwealth University in gramme possible for their cally about important topics VCUQatar. the Young Writers Compe- Qatar (VCUQatar), celebrat- students. in society. The themes for the tition can be had from the ed the winners of the third The work of teachers is so In our eyes, all of the stu- 2016/2017 programme fo- Public Aff airs Section of annual Young Writers Com- often overlooked and under- dents are winners and we cused on ‘Shaping our World the US embassy at pasdo- petition yesterday at VCU- valued, but without them champion each one of them for the Better’. Students [email protected] or the Young Qatar in Education City. our societies would fail and on pushing towards their from grades 5, 8, and 10 were Writers Qatar website at Some of the winners with dignitaries. Nearly 300 essays were our youth would never real- goals.” asked to write a personal es- https://youngwritersqatar. submitted for the competi- ise their full potential.” The Young Writers Com- say, story or poem (fi ction com/ tion and the top fi ve writers She added that “the petition is the central com- from each grade were rec- theme of this year’s compe- ponent of the larger Young ognised at the event. The tition – ‘Shaping our World Writers Programme, which winning entries will also be for the Better’ – speaks di- strives to encourage Qatar’s featured in the Third Volume rectly to the importance of youth to read, write, and of the Young Writers Journal, education in shaping our think critically about key is- which will be published by world, and particularly our sues while improving their the US embassy in July. youth, for the better.” English literacy skills. US ambassador Dana Dean Akel I Kahera of Since the programme’s Shell Smith congratulated VCUQatar said, “We hum- inception in 2014, students all the students who partici- bly appreciate ambassador from more than 120 govern- pated in this year’s competi- Smith and the Ministry of ment schools in Qatar have tion and commended the ef- Education and Higher Edu- participated.

‘Big fall’ in catch of king fi sh

By Ramesh Mathew usual this year,” said one fall in the catch since No- Staff Reporter of them. There has been a vember last year and the steep fall in the king fi sh shortage is felt even more catch whenever strong now due to the annual re- here has been a ‘big winds prevail for a ‘rela- strictions. fall’ in the catch tively long duration’ across Unlike some other va- Tof king fi sh in re- the Qatar coast, accord- rieties, king fish and tuna cent months, according to ing to a fi sherman who has are caught using only large sources in the fi shing in- been working in Qatar for nets or specially made dustry, expressing concern more than 30 years. poles with hooks tied to that there may be a further King fi sh is among the them. drop owing to the annual most sought-after varieties Owing to the yearly re- restrictions on fi shing in for both locals and expatri- strictions, each fi shing ves- Qatar’s waters. ates. sel is allowed a maximum Every year, fi shing ac- The fi sherman said while of 12 days of operations tivities in the country are the period following the a month in the sea. Also, regulated between April 1 annual restrictions usually they cannot venture out and May 31. see a good haul of king fi sh, for more than 96 hours at a Elaborating on the issue, this time the community is stretch, it is learnt. the sources said the “low a bit wary that the situation The restrictions also catch” could be attributed may not improve signifi - are put in place as the two to strong winds aff ecting cantly as windy conditions months starting from April off shore areas on a number are aff ecting the country are considered to be the of occasions in recent frequently. breeding season for diff er- times. He claimed that fi sher- ent varieties of fi sh, includ- “It has been more than men have been observing a ing king fi sh. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 9 QATAR Sidra to accept 25 new retail shops open for ASD referrals business at The Pearl-Qatar

he Pearl-Qatar has welcomed 25 new retailers, including several hospitality outlets, providing residents and visi- from schools Ttors to the island with an “exceptional leisure experience”, United Development Company (UDC) said yesterday in a state- ment. By Joseph Varghese understand how the Also, from March 9 to April 8, a weekly average of 210,000 Staff Reporter child functions, and vehicles entered The Pearl-Qatar and more than 10mn vehicles why they behave in have visited the Island in the past year, according to a press state- a particular way, we ment from the master developer of the sprawling man-made is- he Sidra Medi- are teaching parents land. cal and Research how to take care of “Despite only having passed the fi rst quarter of 2017, a large TCenter (Sidra) the child in the right number of new outlets have come up in Porto Arabia, Medina will accept ASD (Au- way. This can prevent Centrale and Qanat Quartier, refl ecting the success of master de- tism Spectrum Disorder) Dr Mohamed Waqar Azeem many unavoidable veloper UDC in attracting businesses to meet the requirements referrals from schools, challenges for the par- of the island’s residents,” the statement noted. complementing the recently-launched ents and the child. If the child is happy These new outlets take the number of businesses at The Pearl- Qatar Autism Plan. and relaxed, this can help them to im- Qatar to well over 300. “Such a referral is the fi rst of its kind prove self-care and social skills. A subsequent pickup in retail activity across the island has in Qatar,” Dr Mohamed Waqar Azeem, “We recently partnered with our dy- been recorded, as witnessed by the number of vehicles entering chair of the Department of Psychiatry at namic health promotion team at Sidra The Pearl-Qatar. This is tracked through monitoring devices in- Sidra and the chair of the National Au- to engage with families and children stalled at the entrance of the island. tism Working Group the country, told visiting the Sidra Outpatient Clinic. The Pearl-Qatar off ers visitors a “beautiful alfresco experi- Gulf Times while elaborating on the The campaign was very successful as ence” with many shops, restaurants and cafes directly overlook- organisation’s approach to supporting we fi elded a lot of inquiries and interest ing the beach. children with ASD. from the families and visitors. Our focus “The variety of retail establishments will appeal to both Qatari “This referral service from schools is for the campaign was to help educate consumers and the expatriate community as the off erings cater unique to Qatar. Our teams have been visitors to Sidra about the importance of to a variety needs and tastes,” the statement added. working closely with diff erent schools identifying autism at an early age.” Porto Arabia, home to The Pearl-Qatar’s main marina, wel- across Qatar to provide education, guid- According to the offi cial, there is defi - comed David Morris, one of the world’s leading jewellery manu- ance and to help them with children who nitely an increased level of awareness facturers and an esteemed British brand, dating back to 1962. A pickup in retail activity across the island has been recorded, as witnessed by the number of are in need of evaluation and treatment about ASD in the country. Italian ice-cream cafe Gelarto Rosa; Sea & Deserts, a supplier vehicles entering The Pearl-Qatar. interventions,” explained Dr Azeem. “Families are more accepting of the of land and maritime equipment; and Dar Haa gift shop; in addi- “Our recommendation and approach condition and are becoming more open tion to Havana Cafe, Beauty Boutique, Pressto Laundry, Dr Shake for the school teachers is to use the about it. One reason behind this change and Luxury Living have all unveiled new outlets in Porto Arabia, SPELL (Structure, Positive Approach- is that they see the need for interven- bringing the total number of shops in that area to 213. es, Empathy, Low Arousal and Links) tion and are seeking services rather than Medina Centrale is now home to 80 shops, including the re- framework which recognises strengths shying away and hiding individuals with cently opened Crepe & More, Arabian fragrance store Ajmal Per- of the child and emphasises that inter- Autism,” Dr Azeem said. fumes and dnata Travel Services. ventions should be based on child’s life He felt that the national autism plan Qanat Quartier, the waterfront village reminiscent of Venice in and various components of the pro- can be a model for other countries – Italy, witnessed the opening of Regus Business Centere for offi ce gramme.” particularly the GCC. space rental; Henks Garden; Chimney Cake; and local state-of- The offi cial pointed out that Sidra has “In fact, I am citing some key con- the-art N.Zein Café; Fashion Outlet Modern, Mr Blend coff ee adopted a family centred approach to cepts of the Qatar National Autism Plan shop and Melia for Flowers & Gifts, bringing the total number of care for children suff ering from ASD. at a talk I am about to give in Bhutan this shops in the neighbourhood to 30. “Sidra’s approach to caring for chil- week, at the International Conference Eleven: Eleven, the specialised coff ee and cereal shop, also dren with ASD is to provide care for on Autism and Neurodevelopmental opened its doors to the public in the Oyster building, located near the whole family. By helping parents to Disorders,” he said. the entrance of The Pearl-Qatar.

A view of the town of Trabzon in Turkey. Turkish Airlines unveils special fares to Black Sea urkish Airlines has until June 16 and valid for runs along Turkey’s Black announced new pro- travel between May 20 and Sea coast, bordering Geor- Tmotional off ers to the June 20. gia to the northeast. It is Black Sea region. Passengers from Doha home to a number of key at- The off ers can be availed “will benefi t from the pro- tractions, which include the to travel to fi ve Turkish cities motional 60% discounted Trabzon Muzesi, artefacts — Trabzon, Ordu-Giresun, fares and have the oppor- of artistic and historic value Samsun, Sinop and Kasta- tunity to buy their tickets and the Soumela Monas- monu – from Doha, the airline for as low as QR1,399”, the tery, which is built into a has said in a press statement. statement notes. cliff face and decorated with The off ers are available The Black Sea Region frescoes, among others. QIB enhances issuance of its debit cards

atar Islamic Bank therefore have invested to (QIB) has enhanced introduce the instant debit Qits services related card issuance enlarged to the instant issuance of services across all our debit cards. branches throughout the This new facility ensures country. Our investment that all QIB debit cards are in technology stems from produced within minutes the objective of servicing at all QIB branches for cus- our customers in the most tomers to avoid any hassle effi cient way in order to or delays. meet their fi nancial needs With the introduction of swiftly and allow them to this new facility, QIB be- enjoy simple banking with comes the fi rst lender in our new services,” D Anand, Qatar to off er customers general manager of QIB’s instant debit cards issuance Personal Banking Group through all its branches said. within minutes, whether As a leading card issuer for new or existing custom- in Qatar, QIB is constantly ers, who are requesting to looking for ways to enhance replace, re-issue or renew its off erings and last year, their card. it had announced that its A customer who visits customers may use their any QIB branch to open a debit cards, in addition to new current or savings ac- their credit cards, for secure count walks away with his/ online purchases and pay- her debit card produced in- ments, from travel arrange- stantly over the counter. ments and luxury goods to Similarly, if an existing utility bills or e-govern- debit card has been sto- ment services. len, damaged or will expire The online payment is soon, all QIB customers can provided and verifi ed in as- replace or renew their cards sociation with a 3-D secure instantly at any QIB branch feature that adds an addi- across Qatar. tional layer of security to “We understand our Internet-based credit and customer’s busy lives, and debit card purchases. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, April 20, 2017 QATAR NBK to launch new S Class Benz soon

By Joseph Varghese “We unveiled three new cars tomer experience and provide special scheme is going on now. Staff Reporter – Mercedes-Benz E Coupe, Mer- the best services to them. “Re- During Ramadan, we will start cedes-AMG E 43, Mercedes-AMG cently, we launched the AMG a new promotion. There will SLC 43 at the motor show this performance centre which is also be other promotional off ers asser Bin Khaled (NBK) year. In addition we will launch the best in the region as per the in the latter half of the year,” he Automobiles, the au- the upgraded version of our very AMG specifi cations. This dedi- pointed out. Nthorised general distrib- popular model S Class in the com- cated state-of-the-art centre is The offi cial said that the mar- utor of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, ing months,” said Shaaban. equipped with latest technology, ket is expected to register more will launch the upgraded ver- He added, “We are the leaders to demonstrate the specs and growth towards the third or last sion of its highly popular S Class in the luxury segment in Qatar features of Mercedes-AMG cars, quarter of the year. “We expect model in the third quarter of this with over 50% of market share and provide high standards of that there will be more momen- year, a top offi cial said yesterday. in the segment. S Class is the customer service,” he said. tum towards the end of the third Speaking to Gulf Times on most popular brand among our Shaaban noted that the com- quarter of the year. Qatar econo- the sidelines of the ongoing patrons and we have fantastic pany off ers the customers sev- my is very robust and several big Qatar Motor Show 2017, Kha- response on our other segments eral schemes and promotions to projects are well on course in the led Sha’aban, general manager, and models too.” make it convenient for them to country. The 2022 World Cup NBK Automobiles, said that the The offi cial stressed that the aff ord the luxury cars. “We have as well as Qatar National Vision company has unveiled three new company has recently taken sev- several schemes and in-house 2030 off er great opportunities models at the event. eral steps to enhance the cus- fi nancing for our customers. A for us,” he added. Khaled Sha’aban at the NBK Automobiles pavilion. PICTURE: Jayaram

A stellar ensemble of Maserati models Fabindia opens exclusive store today abindia, described as “Fabindia’s distinctive of- time the company came into lfardan Sports Motors, the with a top speed of 251 km/h. India’s iconic lifestyle fering extends from cloth- being, this approach was very offi cial dealer of Maserati in The Ghibli S is powered by the Fbrand, renowned the ing for women, men and kids, innovative and idealistic. AQatar, has marked its pres- twin turbo V6 engines. It boasts world over for its contemporary jewellery, bags and footwear to “Initially, Fabindia sup- ence at the ongoing Qatar Motor the highest levels of agility deliver- range of craft based products, is furniture, home linen, light- plied hand woven textiles and Show 2017 for the seventh consec- ing a powerful drive with a torque opening its fi rst exclusive store ing, giftware, organic foods and dhurries to a number of stores utive year by showcasing its latest of 550Nm with an acceleration of 0 in Qatar today. personal care products. abroad, including Habitat. model line-up at the Doha Exhibi- to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. The Fabindia store, in The “Fabindia was established Fabindia’s fi rst retail store tion and Convention Centre. The GranTurismo features a Center Shopping Area behind in 1960 by John Bissell, who opened in 1976 in Greater Kai- Maserati has displayed a stel- 4.2 litre V8 engine, which pro- Radisson Blu Hotel, will be in- came to India to advise All India lash in Delhi – this remains one lar ensemble of its models com- duces a maximum power of augurated by Indian Embassy Handicrafts Board and Cottage of the fl agship stores. prising of Maserati’s fi rst-ever 405hp and a torque of 460 Nm. deputy chief of mission Raj Industries on creating a mar- “In 1998, William Bissell SUV, the Levante, the executive Maserati Stand at Qatar Motor Show. With over 50 years of race Kumar Singh. The store launch ket for handloom fabrics. He took over at the helm of the sedan Ghibli S, the sporty Gran- breed engineering advance- will be presided by Golden Star developed a deep appreciation company, and shifted the focus Turismo and the new Quattro- and performance that Maserati on-road and off -road capability ment into a sophisticated luxury Group of companies’ chairman and respect for the genius of the to the domestic market in India porte GTS, the brand’s fl agship is renowned for,” said Charly alongside day-to-day comfort sedan, the sixth-generation Mohamed A al-Khater. Indian crafts and weaving, and and established the company model. Dagher, general manager, Ma- and practicality. Its distinctive Quattroporte GTS is the top of The Fabindia range com- decided to stay in India and help as it is known today: an alter- “We are proud to mark yet an- serati Qatar at Alfardan Sports design combines spaciousness the range. Its powerful V8 en- bines the elegance and comfort create a market for the craft. native to the mass produced, other successful year at the Qatar Motors. and coupé lines, while its range gine achieves a max speed of of a variety of natural materials “Bissell had a vision for the with products that appeal to Motor Show. Maserati achieved The highlight of the stand is of cutting-edge technology ad- 310km/h, sprinting from 0 to such as cotton and silk, with company that placed equitable consumers across all age and incredible growth in the region, the latest addition to the Maser- ministers new levels of safety and 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. traditional craft techniques – relationships at the centre of income groups. especially in Qatar, and this re- ati family, the Levante. Maser- entertainment on the road. The The entire Maserati model intricate weaves, patterns and the business model he chose “Presently, Fabindia has 242 fl ects our commitment to off er ati’s fi rst-ever SUV has become model is powered by the 3-litre range is available at the luxuri- vibrant colours that showcase for Fabindia. While ‘sustain- stores in 93 cities across India, our clients the exclusivity, luxu- the preferred vehicle of choice V6 engine with twin turbo, mak- ous Maserati showroom located the heritage of India, according able relationships’ is central to with 10 stores abroad – includ- ry craftsmanship, Italian design for clients seeking exceptional ing it to 100km/h in 6.0 seconds at The Pearl-Qatar. to a statement issued yesterday. a lot of companies today, at the ing three in the UAE.” Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 11 QATAR

HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser meeting Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, and Janet Museveni, the First Lady and HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni holding talks at the Emiri Diwan Minister of Education and Sports in Uganda, at her off ice in the Qatar Foundation Headquarters. yesterday. PICTURE: AR Al-Baker / HHOPL Qatar, Uganda sign raft of agreements QNA President Museveni. Doha Earlier on arrival at the Emiri Diwan, the Ugandan president was accorded an offi cial recep- atar and Uganda signed tion ceremony. a number of agreements Following the talks HH the Qand memoranda of un- Emir hosted a luncheon ban- derstanding (MoUs) following a quet in honour of President session of offi cial talks chaired of Uganda Yoweri Museveni by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim and his accompanying del- bin Hamad al-Thani and Ugan- egation. dan President Yoweri Kaguta The banquet was attended by Museveni at the Emiri Diwan several ministers. yesterday. Later yesterday HH Sheikha During the session, they re- Moza bint Nasser met Presi- viewed bilateral relations be- dent Yoweri Museveni and his tween Qatar and Uganda and wife Janet Museveni, the First means of enhancing them in all Lady of Uganda and Minister fi elds, especially in the defence, of Education and Sports, at her political, economic, investment Qatar Foundation office. and agriculture sectors. They discussed means of The two sides also discussed providing vocational education important regional and interna- and training for young people in HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni witness the tional developments. Uganda to off er new job oppor- signing of an agreement between Qatar and Uganda at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Following the session of tunities for them in their coun- talks, HH the Emir and the try. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni introducing his delegation to HH president of Uganda witnessed HE the Prime Minister and the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday. the signing of the following Minister of Interior Sheikh Ab- agreements and memoranda of dullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- understanding (MoU) between Thani also met with President of the governments of Qatar and the Uganda Yoweri Museveni on Uganda: the occasion of his visit to Qatar. 1. An agreement in the fi eld of During the meeting, which defence; was held at the Sheraton Ho- 2. An agreement on encour- tel, they discussed means of aging and protecting mutual in- promoting co-operation be- vestments; tween the two countries, and 3. An agreement on economic, reviewed a number of issues of trade and technical co-opera- common concern. tion; President Museveni held a 4. An MoU on co-operating in separate meeting with HE the the fi eld of agriculture; Deputy Prime Minister and 5. An MoU on holding politi- Minister of State for Cabinet cal talks between both countries’ Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Foreign Aff airs Ministries on is- Zaid al-Mahmoud. sues of common interest. During the meeting, they re- The session was attended viewed the peace, development HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet by a number Qatari ministers and stability achieved by the Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud holding talks with and members of the official Doha Document for Peace in HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani holding talks Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. delegation accompanying Darfur. with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Doha yesterday.

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the off icial reception ceremony at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, April 20, 2017 REGION Yemenis set out on ‘protest for bread’ march

Agencies The coalition accuses the Sanaa rebels and their allies, forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdul- lah Saleh, of using the port to group of Yemeni protest- bring arms into the country. ers set out from rebel- The UN urged warring par- A held capital Sanaa yes- ties in early April to “ensure the terday on a 225km to call for continued functioning” of Ho- unrestricted aid deliveries to the deida port as it is the country’s war-torn country. main point of entry for humani- The “protest for bread” tarian aid. marchers will head for the Red Meanwhile, a US drone killed Sea port city of Hodeida – also four suspected Al Qaeda mem- controlled by Iran-backed bers in an overnight strike as Houthi insurgents – which is the they were travelling through the main entry point for aid deliver- central desert province of Mar- ies to rebel-held areas. ib, local offi cials said yesterday. A Saudi-led coalition battling One said that authorities had the rebels launched an off ensive not been able to identify those early this year to re-seize con- killed because the bodies were trol of Yemen’s entire Red Sea so badly burnt. coast, including Hodeida. Marib, now under the control Around 30 protesters are of Hadi’s government, is one of marching to demand that the several regions where Al Qaeda US Defence Secretary James Mattis meets Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohamed bin Salman in Riyadh yesterday. port be declared a humanitarian in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) zone. and its local affi liate, Ansar al- “We are organising this march Sharia, operate and is east of so as not to be deprived of our Sanaa . means of survival, and to pre- “A drone hit a car carrying vent the capture of Hodeida four suspected Al Qaeda mem- port” by pro-government forc- bers near the town of Al Hami. es, protester Mahioub Hussam The vehicle was completely said. burned and the persons inside US wants to see ‘strong’ The war between Yemen’s were killed,” a second Marib of- government and Iran-backed fi cial said. Houthi rebels escalated in AQAP has exploited two years March 2015 when the Saudi-led of civil war to recruit followers coalition intervened in support and cement its dominance in of President Abedrabbo Man- the central and southern part of sour Hadi. Yemen. Saudi Arabia: Mattis The United Nations says that The United States has repeat- more than 7,700 people have edly attacked AQAP with air- AFP Mattis, a retired four-star That deal, signed in July 2015 in response to its support for the Arabian Peninsula. since been killed. craft and unmanned drones in Riyadh Marine general, earlier met King by the Obama administration, Yemen’s rebels. Pentagon offi cials have so far The country now faces severe what US offi cials say is a cam- Salman at Al-Yamama Palace in saw the lifting of international Prince Mohamed told Mat- remained cautious on what they food shortages and the United paign to degrade the group’s Riyadh, where he told the mon- sanctions in exchange for guar- tis that Saudi Arabia and the might do to support Saudi Ara- Nations has warned of impend- ability to co-ordinate attacks he United States wants to arch: “It’s good to be back.” antees that Tehran would not United States are working to bia. ing famine. abroad. see a strong Saudi Arabia, Mattis commanded troops pursue a nuclear weapons capa- counter challenges in the region, The Trump administration “This march is not political In late January, at least 30 TDefence Secretary Jim during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. bility. including “the malign activities could, for example, lift a freeze but humanitarian,” said Ezzed- people were killed in a US com- Mattis said during talks yester- He arrived in the kingdom on Saudi leaders worry about of Iran” and to bring stability “to on the delivery of precision ine Essoufi , head of the organis- mando dawn raid in southern day aimed at reinvigorating the Tuesday afternoon to listen to Iran interfering in Arab coun- the most important straits.” guided bombs to the kingdom. ing committee. Yemen, including at least 10 Riyadh-Washington alliance. Saudi leaders and learn “what tries by using local Shia com- The US military is watch- Obama’s government blocked Dozens of people gathered women and children, in the fi rst Mattis, meeting top offi cials are their priorities,” an Ameri- munities, as in Bahrain, Lebanon ing Houthi activities along the their transfer in December be- outside the United Nations such military operation au- in the Saudi capital, also hinted can defence offi cial said earlier. and Yemen. strategic Bab al-Mandab strait cause of concerns over civilian headquarters in Sanaa to see the thorised by President Donald that President Donald Trump The United States and Saudi Bordering Saudi Arabia, connecting the Red Sea with the casualties in Yemen. protesters off on a march ex- Trump. could visit the kingdom, a long- Arabia have a decades-old rela- Yemen has been torn for more Indian Ocean. Washington would also like pected to take fi ve to six days. The new US administration time US ally which has wel- tionship based on the exchange than two years by a civil war Yemeni rebels in late Janu- Riyadh to step up its participa- Organisers hung banners de- has not yet laid out a clear policy comed Washington’s fi rmer line of American security for Saudi between Iran-backed Houthi ary attacked a Saudi warship in tion in the campaign against the manding quicker aid deliveries on drone strikes, but Trump has against Iran. oil. rebels, their allies, and pro- the Red Sea, and they are also Islamic State group in Iraq and and the reopening of Sanaa air- said he would support an escala- “It is in our interest to see But ties between Riyadh and government forces aided by a believed to have fi red missiles Syria. port, which the coalition shut tion of the fi ght against Islamist a strong Saudi Arabia,” Mat- Washington became increasing- Saudi-led military coalition towards US warships in the area. Options include the kingdom down in August when it resumed militant groups. tis said at the start of talks with ly frayed during the administra- that receives some military The United States accuses the intensifying its aerial opera- air strikes following the collapse US drone strikes have become Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed tion of president Barack Obama. support from the US. rebels of deploying coastal de- tions or its humanitarian aid, the of peace talks. more frequent in recent weeks, bin Salman, the defence min- Saudi leaders felt Obama was The Saudis have found a more fence missiles and other weap- American defence offi cial said, The protesters also demanded with at least six reported last ister, pointing to the country’s reluctant to get involved in the favourable ear in Washington ons which threaten free naviga- describing the fi ght against IS as an international inquiry on war month. “military security services and civil war in Syria and was tilting under Trump, who has de- tion in the waters which are vital “our number one concern”. crimes. The previous administration secret services.” towards Iran. nounced Iran’s “harmful infl u- to global trade. After Saudi Arabia, Mattis The Houthis, who hail from regularly used drones to attack “What we can do here today The kingdom “felt marginal- ence” in the Middle East. Trump’s Yemen focus has so travels today to Egypt and then Yemen’s Zaidi minority in Islamic State, Al Qaeda and could actually open the door pos- ised” during international nego- In February, Trump imposed far been on a major escalation to Israel tomorrow before re- northern Yemen, have control- other militant groups in Syria, sibly to bringing our president to tiations on a nuclear accord with new sanctions on Tehran after a of attacks against militants turning to the Gulf on Saturday led large parts of the country Iraq, Pakistan and Afghani- Saudi Arabia,” Mattis said. Iran, the defence offi cial said. ballistic missile test launch, and from Yemen-based Al Qaeda in for talks in Qatar. since they seized Sanaa in 2014. stan. Emirates cuts fl ights to US

Agencies countries from visiting the Unit- heightened security vetting and be reduced to a daily service in Dubai ed States. restrictions on electronic devices June from two flights a day, the Although both moves were in aircraft cabins have had a di- statement said. blocked by US judges, some trav- rect impact on consumer interest Twice daily Los Angeles fl ights mirates, the largest inter- ellers have been deterred. and demand for air travel into the would also be reduced in July to national airline by pas- The US administration US,” an Emirates spokeswoman one a day, it added. Esenger traffic, said yes- also introduced new security said. However, the Abu Dhabi- terday it was cutting flights on measures in March banning Detailing changes to fl ight based Etihad Airways said it was five US routes after restrictions electronic devices larger than schedules, she said: “This is a not planning to reduce services imposed by President Don- a mobile phone from being commercial decision in response on its US routes. ald Trump’s administration on taking into aircraft cabins on to weakened travel demand to the Etihad, which fl ies to six US some air travel had weakened direct flights to the United US.” cities, has not seen a signifi - demand. States from several Middle Direct flights to Fort cant change in demand on US Since taking offi ce, Trump has East locations. Lauderdale and Orlando would routes in recent weeks, an airline twice signed executive orders “The recent actions taken drop to five a week in May spokesman said, despite restric- Yemeni men hold a banner during a “protest for bread” march from the capital Sanaa to the coastal town of banning refugees and citizens by the US government relating from daily flights, while Seat- tions imposed by Trump’s ad- Hodeida yesterday, demanding an end to the war that left millions of displaced and the danger of famine. from some Muslim-majority to the issuance of entry visas, tle and Boston flights would ministration.

Iran blocks Telegram voice calls

AFP Minister Mahmoud Vaezi told reform- Iranian offi cials have previously Tehran ist newspaper Shargh. said there were around 20mn Tel- “You should ask the judiciary for egram users in the country, which has the reason.” a population of some 80mn. ran’s judiciary has blocked newly Last month, the conservative- As well as a messaging tool, Tel- introduced voice calls on Tel- dominated judiciary blocked the on- egram has become the leading source Iegram, the most popular messag- line navigation app Waze because it of news for many Iranians, with some ing app in the country, state media was designed in Israel, which Iran channels boasting more than a million reported yesterday. does not recognise. subscribers. The blockage follows the arrest last Telegram CEO Pavel Durov con- The judiciary said the 12 Telegram month of 12 people who ran popu- fi rmed the blocking of voice calls. channel operators were arrested on lar reformist channels on Telegram, “In Iran, where Telegram has some security and obscenity grounds. ahead of a presidential election next 40mn active users, Telegram voice “Some of these people have been month. calls have been completely blocked by arrested on national security charg- It was not clear if the blockage of the country’s Internet providers and es and some for committing crimes voice calls, which Telegram intro- mobile operators following an order against public decency and publish- duced worldwide last week, was po- from the judiciary,” he wrote on his of- ing obscene content,” deputy judiciary litical or designed to protect the com- fi cial channel. chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie mercial interests of domestic phone “Telegram has historically had told the Mizan Online news agency companies. problems with regulators in some last week. “We gave the authorisation for the parts of the world because, unlike oth- Moderate President Hassan Rouhani, establishment of Telegram’s voice call er services, we consistently defended who will stand for a second term in the service on Friday but it was blocked by our users’ privacy and have never May 19 election, has criticised the arrests a judicial order,” Telecommunications made any deals with governments.” but has little power over the judiciary. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 13 ARAB WORLD

Syrians, some of whom were injured in a car bomb blast on April 15 during their evacuation from the sieged government-held towns of Men carry a stretcher of one of the evacuees, upon his arrival to government-controlled Aleppo, in this handout picture Kefraya and Al-Foua, are assisted by government forces and members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent as they arrive in Aleppo yesterday. provided by Sana yesterday. Damascus-area town under state control after evacuation deal

Reuters Under the agreement between Beirut ‘Incontrovertible’ sarin gas used in Syria: watchdog the warring sides, civilians and pro-government fi ghters were The head of a global arms OPCW-designated laboratories, being moved out of the two Shia he last rebel fi ghters have watchdog said yesterday that Uzumcu told delegates to the towns, in exchange for rebels left the Syrian town of “incontrovertible” test results OPCW’s executive council yes- and civilians getting bussed out TZabadani near Damascus from an alleged chemical strike terday, according to a statement of the towns of Zabadani and as part of a reciprocal evacua- in Syria showed sarin gas or from the watchdog. Madaya. tion deal for four besieged towns a similar substance had been Another set of bio-medical sam- The evacuations had been that had been interrupted after used. ples from seven people being stopped after a bomb attack on a bomb attack hit one convoy, Samples from 10 victims of the treated in hospitals were also a convoy of evacuees from Al- state media and a war monitor April 4 attack on Khan Sheikhun analysed in two other labs. Foua and Kefraya on Saturday said yesterday. analysed at four laboratories “While further details of the reportedly killed 126 people, in- Thousands of people also left “indicate exposure to sarin or a laboratory analyses will follow, cluding more than 60 children. the rebel-besieged towns of Al- sarin-like substance,” said Ahmet the analytical results already Alaa Ibrahim, governor of the Foua and Kefraya in Idlib prov- Uzumcu, head of the Organisa- obtained are incontrovertible,” Damascus suburbs, told state ince under the deal. tion for the Prohibition of Chemi- Uzumcu told the meeting of the television in Madaya that the “Al-Zabadani has become cal Weapons. body’s executive council which government would “gradually completely empty of militants” The suspected attack on the resumed yesterday at its head- restore all its services” now that who either evacuated or accept- rebel-held town in Idlib province quarters in The Hague. rebels had left the town. Medics assist civilians, who were injured on Saturday during a bomb blast that hit a bus convoy of evacuees, ed government rule, state televi- killed at least 87 people, includ- A fact-finding mission set up by The same would soon happen upon their arrival to government-controlled Aleppo. sion said, broadcasting from the ing many children, and images the OPCW is ready to deploy to in Zabadani, he said. town which had long been under of the dead and of suff ering the town “should the security Thousands of Syrians have and took them to hospital yes- 18, who suff ered eye injuries from eyes because he was sitting at siege by pro-government forces. victims provoked global outrage. situation permit,” he said, adding evacuated mostly besieged rebel terday, state media said. the blast. Yassin lost her brother the window of the bus when the State media said around 500 Samples had been taken from the team was continuing to areas in recent months under Several people from Al-Foua who had been in the convoy with explosion happened,” said al- rebels and their families depart- three people who died in the conduct interviews, and collect deals between President Bashar and Kefraya who were injured in her and “hadn’t heard anything Hussein, who had also received ed Al-Zabadani and nearby areas attack, and were analysed at two samples. al-Assad’s government and in- the blast told Reuters they had about him in days,” she said at a emergency aid in the opposition for rebel-held territory in north- surgents fi ghting for six years to spent three days in rebel terri- hospital in Aleppo. area near the Turkish border. west Syria. unseat him. tory, where they received fi rst Sharif al-Hussein from Ke- “They told us this morning to The Syrian Observatory for towards Aleppo city, which the government forces, the Britain- Ambulances brought wound- aid and food, before arriving in fraya waited at the same hospital get ready for the (Syrian Arab) Human Rights said 3,000 people government controls. based war monitoring group ed people from the convoy attack Aleppo. “My face was dripping for doctors to check his six-year- Red Crescent to come get us,” he left Al-Foua and Kefraya heading They included nearly 700 pro- added. into government-held Aleppo with blood,” said Fatmeh Yassin, old son. “There is shrapnel in his said. “We couldn’t believe it.” Trump to host Abbas Palestinians criticise Israel for on May 3: White House

AFP Israeli-Palestinian peace talks refusing talks with hunger strikers Washington have repeatedly run aground de- spite periodic US eff orts to revive them, most recently by former AFP son before soldiers opened fi re Palestinians, with polls sug- S President Donald secretary of state John Kerry. Ramallah and killed the assailant, Israel’s gesting he could win the Pales- Trump will host Pales- But Abbas, who met in Ramal- military said. tinian presidency. Utinian leader Mahmoud lah recently with CIA chief Mike The Palestinian health min- While many Palestinians Abbas at the White House on Pompeo and Trump’s special alestinian leaders yester- istry identifi ed the man killed view the 57-year-old as a hero, May 3 for talks on eff orts to re- representative Jason Greenblatt, day denounced Israel’s as Suheib Mashahrah, 21. Israelis point to the bloody vive the Middle East peace proc- has said Trump is “seriously Prefusal to negotiate with Israeli offi cials have vowed suicide attacks of the second ess, the White House said yes- considering a solution to the Palestinians on hunger strike in not to negotiate with the hunger uprising of 2000-2005 and his terday. Palestinian issue.” Israeli jails, warning of a “new strikers, with Public Security role in the uprising. “They will use the visit to re- The US president held talks last uprising” if any of them die. Minister Gilad Erdan on Tues- He was convicted of attacks affi rm the commitment of both week in Washington with Egypt’s Some 1,500 Palestinian pris- day being highly critical. that killed fi ve people, though the United States and Palestini- President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oners have joined the hunger Justice Minister Ayelet declined to defend himself and an leadership to pursuing and ul- and Jordan’s King Abdullah. strike that began Monday, ac- Shaked said that authorities did not recognise the court’s le- timately concluding a confl ict- Shortly after taking offi ce, cording to Issa Qaraqe, head of “would not hesitate to imple- gitimacy. ending settlement between the Trump alarmed Palestinians by detainees’ aff airs for the Pales- ment the law which authorises For Palestinians, the prisons Palestinians and Israel,” White calling into question his admin- tinian Authority. the force-feeding of detainees”. have become a stark symbol of House press secretary Sean istration’s support for a two- Contacted by AFP, Israel’s The controversial law passed Israel’s occupation. Spicer said. state solution, a bedrock of US prison service declined to com- in 2015 concerns hunger strik- Some 850,000 Palestinians The meeting would be policy. But he has since warned ment on the number. ers whose life is deemed in dan- have been incarcerated since Trump’s fi rst with Abbas, and Israel against “unrestrained” The hunger strike has been ger. the start of Israel’s occupation follows a series of US contacts building of settler homes in the led by prominent prisoner and Palestinian Authority off icial Issa Qaraqe gives a press conference in Defence Minister Avigdor 50 years ago, Palestinian lead- with the Palestinian leader. occupied West Bank. popular Palestinian leader Mar- the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday. Lieberman said he wanted to ers say. wan Barghouti, who is serving take the approach of former Palestinians allege that the fi ve life sentences over his role are currently detained by Israel met, more prisoners will join British prime minister Margaret imprisonments by an occupy- in the second Palestinian inti- for a range of off ences and al- the strike,” he said. Thatcher, who publicly refused ing force violate international fada, or uprising. leged crimes. “We have asked the interna- to accede to the demands of IRA law and have asked the Interna- He has been placed in solitary Of those, 62 are women and tional community and the UN hunger strikers in 1981, 10 of tional Criminal Court to exam- confi nement in a separate pris- 300 are minors. to intervene immediately.” whom died. ine the issue. on over the strike and discipli- Around 500 are held un- He added that if prisoners Qaraqe accused Israeli offi - “Countries that have signed nary measures have been taken der administrative detention, die, “that could lead to a new cials, including Prime Minister international accords must not against hunger strikers, though which allows for imprisonment uprising.” Benjamin Netanyahu, of “in- allow the occupier to be above Israeli authorities have not pro- without charge. While a wave of Palestin- citement” against the prison- the law,” said Palestinian law- vided details. Palestinian prisoners have ian car, knife and gun attacks ers. maker Khalida Jarrar, recently Qaraqe alleged that their mounted repeated hunger erupted in October 2015, the Shawan Jabarin of Palestin- released from prison after being lawyers and relatives were be- strikes, but rarely on such a unrest has greatly subsided in ian rights group Al-Haq said accused of encouraging attacks ing barred from visiting them. scale. recent months, though sporadic invoking the force-feeding law against Israelis. The prisoners have made a Qaraqe said the strike fol- violence continues to occur. would be “tantamount to tor- The last large-scale hunger range of demands, from better lowed months of attempts at Yesterday, a Palestinian ture” and could endanger the strike was in February 2013, medical care to access to tel- negotiations with Israeli au- rammed a car into a bus stop at lives of those who have been in- when 3,000 Palestinians re- ephones. thorities. a tense junction in the occupied gesting only water and salt. fused to eat for one day in protest Mahmoud Abbas: eff orts to revive peace process Around 6,500 Palestinians “If their demands are not West Bank, wounding one per- Barghouti is popular among at the death of a fellow detainee. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, April 20, 2017 ARAB WORLD Algeria parties cause outrage with ‘faceless’ election posters

Reuters National Liberation Front (FLN) Algiers and its allies who benefi t from association with the North Af- rican state’s government, which wo Islamist opposition spends oil and gas revenue heav- parties in Algeria have ily on a vast social welfare sys- Tposted faceless portraits tem ranging from housing to of female candidates for May’s subsidised fuel and food. legislative election, upsetting The FLN along with the RND state authorities which have or- and other pro-government par- dered them to show the faces or ties hold a majority in both be barred from the ballot. chambers of parliament. Ameen Mukdad, a violinist from Mosul who lived under IS rule for two and a half years where they destroyed his musical instruments, performs at Nabi Yunus shrine in eastern Election monitoring offi cials Opposition parties are weak Mosul, yesterday. Right: A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard. told Islamist opposition parties and split over how to challenge a on Tuesday they had 48 hours to system they say is controlled by a display the female candidates’ leftist old guard that dates to Al- visages on campaign posters or geria’s 1962 independence from their lists would be disqualifi ed France and backs the status quo. from the May 4 ballot. Still, a move by several Is- “They must show their faces,” lamist parties to join forces has Abdelwahab Derbal, the presi- spooked some Algerians with dent of the body in charge of memories of the 1992 election, Violinist plays in Mosul surveillance of the elections, when the Islamic Salvation Front told reporters on Tuesday. (FIS) was set to win only for the Leaders of several Islamist army to cancel the vote and ban parties criticised Derbal’s deci- the party, triggering a decade of sion, saying it was neither fair devastating war with militants. nor constitutional. The FIS remains outlawed but “Our candidates are politi- other Islamist parties are legal, as troops battle with IS cians not fashion models,” FNA along with secular and left-wing party leader Moussa Touati told parties. Violin player hopes people Islamic State for control. is known by Muslims, to sym- could not guarantee the public’s to avoid detection. “I stopped local media. “I will not tell my The poster debate has spilled will accept his music “This is a place for all, not bolise unity. safety. They later relented, and playing because I was too afraid candidate to show their faces on into social media, with conserv- just one sect. Daesh represents “I want to take the oppor- troops joined the applauding but Ameen kept going,” said the posters or fl yers.” atives arguing the position that Reuters no religion but is an ideol- tunity to send a message to the crowd. Hakam Anas, one of his friends Another political leader, Nai- their religion forbids exhibiting Mosul, Iraq ogy that suppresses freedom,” world and send a strike against “The performance was like a who founded a musical club ma Salhi, who has faceless wom- women’s faces in public, even in Mukdad told Reuters, using a terrorism and all ideologies dream,” said Tahany Saleh, who with the violinist. “We tried en candidates on her party list posters. Others on social media derogatory name for the mili- which restrict freedom that as a woman was forced by the persuading him that he could said “authorities should respect have mocked the “ghost wom- mid the bombed-out tants. “Everything about Daesh music is a beautiful thing,” he militants to cease her university get easily killed, but he kept Algeria’s religious traditions”. en” candidates. ruins of an ancient site is wrong.” said. studies. playing.” In one election list in Adrar, Algerian electoral law states Arevered by various reli- Mukdad, 28, fl ed Mosul after “Everyone who opposes mu- “I wanted to come to give One night the militants two women candidates are seen that each list of candidates must gious denominations in Mosul, Islamic State fi ghters stormed sic is ugly.” a message that war has not raided Mukdad’s house, tak- faceless with only their name include a minimum of 15% of Iraqi violinist Ameen Mukdad his house and confi scated his Mukdad advertised the con- stopped life in Mosul,” she said. ing his instruments and vowing and profession shown. women, a condition that aims yesterday held a small concert instruments, deeming his mu- cert venue and time on social “You can see all this damage but to punish him. He escaped to In another, a female candidate to boost female participation in in the city he was forced to fl ee sic a violation of their hardline media, a bold move in eastern still we still want to be happy, Baghdad where he still lives. has removed both her face and politics. by Islamic State militants. interpretation of religion. Mosul at a time the militants we want to listen music.” In a sign of how nervous Mo- family name. “How can these candidates As Mukdad played scores he Yesterday’s hour-long con- still control the Old City across Under Islamic State rule, en- sul residents remain six months Most of the cases have been reach out to their voters without had composed in secret while cert marked his fi rst return to the Tigris river. tertainment was banned. into the military operation to registered in rural areas where being visible?” the Collective living under the militants’ aus- the city that was overrun by Is- Soldiers guarding the venue, But in defi ance of the mili- fl ush out Islamic State, just 20 conservatism is more prevalent for Rights and Dignity of Alge- tere rule, explosions and gunfi re lamic State in 2014. which lies near the ancient tants, Mukdad continued to people, mostly young men, at- than in the capital Algiers and rian Women said in a statement. could be heard from Mosul’s Mukdad said he chose the Nineveh ruins, at fi rst refused play at home alone or quietly tended the concert. other cities. “One cannot tolerate such a drift western districts where US- Tomb of Jonas, or Mosque of access after the boom of a near- with a dwindling circle of fellow “This is what we young peo- The elections are most likely that undermines the dignity of backed forces are still battling the Prophet Younis, as the site by rocket rang out, saying they musicians, closing windows ple need,” said Abdullah Thaier. to be dominated by the ruling Algerian women.”

Egypt says killed Sinai Style statement monastery shooter

AFP Security staff found an au- Cairo tomatic weapon and ammuni- tion, adding that “investiga- tions are ongoing to identify gyptian security forces the terrorist.” killed a gunman suspected St Catherine’s monastery, a Eof shooting dead a police- Christian site 500 kilometres man near St Catherine’s monas- southeast of Cairo in the south tery in the Sinai Peninsula, the of the Sinai attracts thousands interior ministry said yesterday. of visitors a year. Three other offi cers were Tuesday’s attack comes nine wounded in Tuesday’s attack in days after Palm Sunday servic- South Sinai province at a check- es at Coptic Christian churches point near the ancient site, the in the cities of Tanta and Al- ministry said. exandria were struck by twin The shooting, which the min- bomb attacks claimed by IS, istry said Tuesday was carried killing 45 people. out by “a number of gunmen”, IS has threatened to carry out was claimed by the Islamic State more attacks on Copts, which group. makes up about 10% of Egypt’s “Security forces in South population of more than 90mn Sinai, in co-operation with people. bedouin elements tracked the Egypt has battled a mili- perpetrators’ escape route and tant insurgency in North Sinai closed roads that would be province that has killed hun- used to escape,” the scene of dreds of policemen and troops the shooting, the ministry said since the 2013 ouster of presi- in a statement. dent Mohamed Mursi. It said the suspect began fir- In October 2015, IS claimed ing after he was found by se- the bombing of a Russian air- curity forces, “which required liner carrying holidaymakers the forces to quickly deal with from the popular South Sinai him, injuring him leading to his resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, kill- A model displays a creation by Lebanese fashion designer Abed Mahfouz during the Beirut Fashion Week. death.” ing all 224 people on board. Sombre mood as Yazidis celebrate New Year

AFP faithful gathered in Lalish, every one Most of the several hundred thou- the Yazidis, issued a statement urging Yazda statement said. Lalish, Iraq of whom was aff ected by the violence sand members of the minority live in the community to continue defending Nadia Murad, a prominent Yazidi that erupted nearly three years ago northern Iraq, mainly around Sinjar, a its faith, a unique blend of beliefs. human rights activists who has been when the Islamic State group took over large town which anti-IS forces have “Yazda calls on our people to con- campaigning worldwide to draw housands of Yazidis fl ocked to a their traditional homeland. now retaken but was extensively de- tinue to observe their religious events attention to her people’s plight, shrine in northern Iraq to mark “I’m not happy, it’s not like before, stroyed. to preserve the ethno-religious iden- stressed in a New Year message de- Tthe New Year yesterday, in the because there are those who are still IS militants captured Yazidi women tity and heritage of one of the most livered during a visit to Stanford minority’s biggest gathering since it in the hands of Daesh (IS),” said Zoan and turned them into sex slaves to be ancient peoples,” its director Murad University in California that the mil- was targeted for genocide by militants. Msaid, a Yazidi woman from the Sinjar sold and exchanged across their self- Ismael said. itants had not yet been held account- Wearing traditional Yazidi clothes, area who now lives in a camp for dis- proclaimed “caliphate”. Around 3,000 Tensions have recently escalated able. holding candles and paraffi n lamps, placed people. of them are believed to remain in cap- between Peshmerga forces which “Our hearts have been broken as they started gathering in the town of “We cannot forget our customs and tivity. A woman from the minority Yazidi lights form the main party in Iraq’s auton- we still seek justice, and we haven’t Lalish on Tuesday for celebrations traditions but I just want those who are “Of course, after three years under paraff in torches during a ceremony to omous Kurdistan region and forces found it yet,” said Murad, who last ahead of their New Year. still held to come back, that’s all. We the domination of the militants who celebrate the Yazidi New Year at Lalish from Turkey’s Kurdistan Workers’ year was nominated for the Nobel The event, known by the ethno- ask for nothing more.” killed Yazidis and imposed mass slav- temple in Shikhan in Dohuk province. Party (PKK). “This situation has re- Peace Prize and awarded the pres- religious minority as “Carsama Sari When IS swept across northern ery, nothing is like before because we sulted in creating the greatest danger tigious Sakharov Prize jointly with Sali”, is meant to celebrate nature and Iraq in 2014, it carried out massacres are all suff ering,” said Cheir Ibrahim situation in the camps is catastrophic,” facing the Yazidi community, which Lamiya Aji Bashar, another Yazidi fertility. against the minority which the United Keshto, a professor and expert in Yazidi he said. Yazda, a charity supporting may ultimately be more dangerous woman. But the mood was sombre among the Nations said qualifi ed as genocide. culture. “We live in sorrow now and the victims of the militants’ persecution of than the ongoing genocide itself,” the Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 15 AFRICA

TERRORISM PEST FINANCE JUSTICE GORY FIND 3 die in Cameroon border Crop-killing armyworm IMF paints bleak picture S African court drops case UN says 17 mass graves town suicide attack caterpillar hits Rwanda for struggling Burundi against penguin thieves found in DR Congo

Three people were killed and four others Rwanda’s government yesterday announced The International Monetary Fund has slashed its A court in South Africa yesterday dropped the case The UN said yesterday it had found a further wounded yesterday in a suicide attack in it had discovered fall armyworm on its crops, projection for Burundi’s economic growth this against two students who freed a penguin from a 17 mass graves in the Democratic Republic of Cameroon’s restive Far North, a local off icial making it the third east African country aff licted year to nil and projected just 0.1% in 2018. It gave marine park and released it into the sea as protest Congo’s central Kasai region, an area plagued said. “Just before 10am, a suicide bomber who by the plant-eating pest also recently spotted no specific reason for the 2017 revision from 2%, against animal captivity. Adrian Donian, 22, and by violence between tribal militias and security crossed from Nigeria entered Kolofata and in Kenya. Uganda confirmed last month that but Burundi has been suff ering from a severe Emile du Plessis, 24, were arrested in September forces. Fighting erupted in Kasai after troops blew himself up,” a source from the town’s fall armyworm had entered its borders after drought like much of the wider region. The poor, 2016, after they broke into Bayworld oceanarium last August killed tribal chief Jean Pierre Mpandi, vigilante committee said. “The blast killed three devastating crops in several southern African central African nation’s economy has also been in Port Elizabeth and snatched “Buddy”, an who had launched an uprising against President people — a police off icer and two civilians,” he nations in what the UN Food and Agriculture battered by almost two years of political instability endangered African black-footed penguin. The Joseph Kabila. Yesterday’s announcement by the said. The bomber also died in the explosion Organisation said was a “huge threat to food triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision magistrate said he had dropped the case because UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid which left another four people injured. The security.” Telesphore Ndabamenye, head of crop to seek a third term. He secured re-election in July the prosecuting authority had taken too long to Ra’ad al-Hussein, raises to 40 the number of mass toll was confirmed to AFP by a source close to production at the Rwanda Agriculture Board, 2015 but some of his opponents insist extension decide whether to prosecute the two or not. Their graves discovered in Kasai. Two United Nations the security services. The local off icial said the told AFP the harmless-looking brown caterpillar of his rule violated the country’s constitution. The lawyer, Craig de Lange, had argued that the two researchers, who had been sent to investigate bomber crossed into Cameroon through Kerawa, had aff licted most of Rwanda’s 30 districts but government expects the economy to expand by be placed in a “rehabilitation programme because violence in the region, were found in a grave 16 a town which lies on the border with Nigeria. said the outbreak was “not bad.” 2.9% this year after shrinking in 2016. they are students and not hardcore criminals”. days after they were abducted last month. Buhari orders probe into graft charges

Reuters PINE was set up to coordinate It said the National Intelligence Abuja the government’s response to the Agency had said the money be- humanitarian crisis in the north- longed to it. east where 4.7mn people, many of It said the investigation would igeria’s President Muham- them refugees from the Islamist inquire “whether or not there has madu Buhari yesterday insurgency by Boko Haram, are on been a breach of the law or security Nordered an investigation the brink of famine and survive on procedure in obtaining custody into corruption allegations against rations. and use of the funds”. a senior civil servant related to the Alleged corruption and mis- The Economic and Financial use of funds intended for handling management have threatened to Crimes Commission (EFCC) said a humanitarian crisis in the north- intensify the situation, one of the last week, on its offi cial Facebook east of the country. world’s largest humanitarian cri- page, it had discovered $43.4mn, A Durham University handout photo of a leopard resting in the Soutpansberg Mountains in South Africa. The director general of the Na- ses, say critics of the government’s £27,800 and 23.2mn naira in cash tional Intelligence Agency was also handling of the northeast. in the same Lagos apartment com- ordered to be suspended after the Analysts warned for years the plex identifi ed in the presidency discovery of more than $43mn in insurgency — which has killed statement. an apartment complex in Lagos in more than 20,000 people and The presidency statement said what the presidency described as a forced 2mn to fl ee their homes Buhari, who took offi ce in May 2015 on promises to crack down on cor- Key leopard population “related development”. since 2009 — would spill over, but Buhari suspended David Ba- critics say authorities and some ruption, ordered the suspension bachir Lawal, secretary to the Ni- aid agencies were slow to address of the director general of the NIA, gerian government, and ordered a humanitarian issues. Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the probe into contracts awarded un- The presidency statement said it outcome of the investigation. Reuters could not immediately ‘crashing’, study warns der the Presidential Initiative on had also ordered an “investigation the North East (PINE), his spokes- into the discovery of large amounts reach Oke for comment. man said in a statement. of foreign and local currencies” The NIA did not immediately By Marlowe Hood, AFP Leopards once roamed the forests of Sri Three were done in by snares, one was Reuters was not immediately by the fi nancial crimes agency in respond to requests for comment. Paris Lanka and Java unchallenged. shot by a local resident whose cattle had able to reach Lawal — a Buhari ap- a residential property in commer- A three-man committee, headed Today, they occupy barely a quarter of been attacked, and two went missing, pointee — for comment. cial capital Lagos, in what it called by the vice president, is to conduct this territory, with some sub-species tee- probably killed since they also disappeared PINE did not immediately re- a “related development”, without both investigations and submit its re- he leopard population in a region of tering on the brink of extinction, trapped from camera surveillance. spond to a request for comment. giving further details. port to the president within 14 days. South Africa once thick with the big in 1% to 2% of their original habitat. A statistical analysis of the results Tcats is crashing, and could be wiped Leopards were classifi ed last year as showed “a 66% decline over a period just out within a few years, scientists warned “vulnerable” to extinction on the Inter- over 7.5 years,” the study concluded. yesterday. Illegal killing of leopards in the national Union for the Conservation of Ironically, the bleak fi ndings helped Soutpansberg Mountains has reduced Nature’s Red List of endangered species, conservationists and local offi cials raise their numbers by two-thirds in the last which tracks the survival status of animals money to hire a “community engagement Uganda army claims LRA ‘neutralised’ decade, the researchers reported in the and plants. offi cer.” Royal Society Open Science journal. South Africa recently suspended trophy “One of the things he does is help local “If things don’t change, we predict leop- hunting of leopards, though experts agree people adopt non-lethal techniques” to AFP ers and has been left “weak and borders of South Sudan, Demo- ards will essentially disappear from the this is not a major cause of the population prevent leopards from attacking cattle and Kampala ineff ective.” Kony “no longer poses cratic Republic of Congo and the area by about 2020,” lead author Samual decline. other livestock, including the use of guard any signifi cant threat to Uganda’s Central African Republic. Williams, a conservation biologist at Dur- A 2008 census of leopards in the dogs, Williams added. security,” said Karemire. Ugandan troops have operated ham University in England, told AFP. 6,800sq km Soutpansberg Mountains But the clash between humans and big he Ugandan army said yes- Thirty-one soldiers landed yes- in the strife-torn eastern part of “This is especially alarming given that, found a robust population of nearly 11 carnivores, experts agree, is mostly due terday it has neutralised the terday in an airfi eld in Gulu, north- CAR since 2009 searching for LRA in 2008, this area had one of the highest adult cats for 100sq km. to humanity’s expanding footprint, espe- TLord’s Resistance Army, as ern Uganda, with more to follow, fi ghters terrorising the area. leopard densities in Africa.” To fi nd out how the carnivores had fared cially in Africa, whose population is set to troops began withdrawing from according to local media reports. “The Ugandan military operation, The number of leopards in the wild since then, Williams and his team set up expand by more than a billion before mid- the Central African Republic A self-styled mystic and prophet, with the assistance of US military worldwide is not known, but is diminish- four dozen motion-triggered camera traps century. where they had been hunting the Kony launched a bloody rebellion advisors, has played an important ing elsewhere as well. across the area, and left them in place from As a result, the habitats of most wild group’s feared leader Joseph Kony. three decades ago seeking to impose role in degrading the LRA, especially The “best estimate” for all of South Af- 2012 to 2016. megafauna are diminishing, and getting “The decision to withdraw his own version of the Ten Com- in encouraging defections of LRA rica, said Williams, is about 4,500. The cameras captured a total of 65 indi- chopped up into smaller and smaller par- was premised on the realisation mandments on northern Uganda. members,” said Washington-based What is certain, however, is that the vidual leopards during the four-year pe- cels. that the mission to neutralise the The UN says the LRA has researcher Ledio Cakaj, author of regions these predators roam has shrunk riod: 16 adult males, 28 adult females and “It is extremely alarming that the trends LRA has now been successfully slaughtered more than 100,000 ‘When the Walking Defeats You’, a drastically over the last two centuries. 21 younger cats. that we are reporting exemplify trends in achieved,” Ugandan army spokes- people and abducted 60,000 chil- book about Kony’s inner circle. The historic range of Panthera pardus, They also fi tted eight adults with GPS large carnivores globally,” Williams reiter- man Brigadier Richard Karemire dren since it was set up in 1987. However, Cakaj said that while which includes more than half-a-dozen collars to track their movements — or lack ated. said in a statement. The LRA was forced out of Kony is still at large the threat to sub-species, covered large swathes of Af- thereof. Studies in Africa of lions, black-backed The army said that Kony now Uganda in 2006 and has since the local civilian population re- rica and Asia, and extended well into the Only two of the GPS-tagged leopards jackals and bat-eared foxes have showed commands fewer than 100 fi ght- roamed the remote forests on the mains. Arabian Peninsula. survived the monitoring period. similar rates of decline.

Zimbabwean opposition leaders ally to challenge Mugabe Spat over electronic vote

Reuters that was formed after the party was tender goes to Kenya court Harare weakened by splits over how to con- front Mugabe. The MDC, evicted from the unity AFP parliamentary elections, and send re- wo of Zimbabwean President government after its crushing defeat Nairobi sults electronically to a central hub. Robert Mugabe’s chief rivals in the 2013 election, has been split The aim of the system is to prevent Tsaid yesterday they were allying over whether to dump Tsvangirai be- fraud through double voter registration to deny the 93-year-old another term fore the next vote in 2018. ix Kenyans urged a court yester- or impersonation which are rife when in offi ce. Mujuru, who formed a new Nation- day to suspend a controversial de- manual voter registers are used. Morgan Tsvangirai, 65, who was al People’s Party in March last year, Scision by election offi cials to scrap Accusations of fraud after 2007 elec- Zimbabwe’s prime minister in an un- said the two parties had worked on the a tender process and directly procure an tions fuelled post-poll violence that easy coalition government with Mu- agreement for the last six months and electronic voting system for the August left more than 1,100 people dead and gabe from 2009 until 2013, said he would now start negotiating specifi c polls. hundreds of thousands displaced. and Joice Mujuru, who was Mugabe’s details to strengthen their alliance. The petition is the umpteenth dis- Gemalto was the only company to vice president for a decade until she Critics accuse Mugabe of wrecking ruption to already chaotic election pass preliminary technical evaluations, was fi red in 2014, would seek to form one of Africa’s most promising econo- preparations, a sensitive process in a however on March 22 the electoral a coalition government to bring politi- mies through policies such as violent country where accusations of rigging commission (IEBC) cancelled the ten- cal change. seizures of white-owned commercial accompany almost every vote. der, arguing that Gemalto’s off er was “This is just the beginning of the farms and money printing. He and his The tender was awarded to French too expensive and that they doubted it building blocks towards establishing party say the economy has been un- defence and biometrics company Sa- would be able to deliver the technology a broad alliance to confront ZANU-PF dermined by western powers. fran last month, pushing aside another on time. between now and the next election in The turmoil within the opposition French company Gemalto, which was The IEBC then directly awarded the 2018,” Tsvangirai said, referring to the has been a boost for Mugabe, whose lined up to win the contract in a bidding contract to Safran. party led by Africa’s oldest leader. party has ruled Zimbabwe since inde- process launched in December. Safran is no stranger to Kenyan elec- Mugabe, one of the last of the gen- pendence from Britain in 1980 amid In court documents seen by AFP, tions. eration of African nationalists that charges of rigging recent elections. the six petitioners argue that the entire In 2013, the company provided kits sough the overthrow of white coloni- Mugabe has rejected the claims. process was “manipulated and rigged... to register voters — large black boxes alists, has run Zimbabwe since 1980. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace attend a rally on The southern African nation’s to culminate in an artifi cial crisis that equipped with digital fi ngerprint read- He was fi rst prime minister then, in Tuesday to mark the country’s 37th independence anniversary in Harare. economy stagnated last year following would then be used to justify the single ers. 1987, became president. a devastating drought while its budget sourcing”. However the country’s fi rst taste of In December his ZANU-PF party Tsvangirai, a three time loser to Mu- Tsvangirai, who lost the 2013 defi cit exploded as Mugabe’s admin- The two companies were among 10 high-tech elections turned into a fi - confi rmed him as its candidate for the gabe, said he expected similar deals to presidential vote against Mugabe, is istration struggled to pay its workers, vying for a contract to provide biomet- asco as massive technical problems on next presidential election expected in the one with Mujuru would be struck now leading MDC-T, a faction of the which helped fan anti-government ric equipment to identify voters on the voting day forced offi cials to revert to mid-2018, when he will be 94. with other political groups. Movement for Democratic Change, protests. day of the August 8 presidential and manual voter identifi cation. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, April 20, 2017 AMERICA

Presidential advisers Ivanka’s ties to Beijing causing new concerns This is a fresh controversy the ries brand, but still owns the business off ensive with China over the past few presidency could do without and is frequently seen wearing clothes months, often with her Mandarin- from her own collection. learning daughter in tow. Guardian News and Media She has put her business in a trust, Her fi ve-year-old daughter Arabella Washington run by family members. sang a traditional song for Xi during “Ivanka has so many China ties and his US visit, and the performance was confl icts, yet she and Jared appear later praised in Chinese state media. s Donald Trump and Chinese deeply involved in China contacts and The two also attended a Lunar New President Xi Jinping dined on policy. I would never have allowed it,” Year celebration at the Chinese em- Counsellor to the president Kelleyanne Conway and White House Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon walk across the ADover sole and New York strip Norman Eisen, a former chief White bassy in Washington. South Lawn upon return to the White House with President Trump in Washington. Trump returned to Washington steak earlier this month, thousands of House ethics lawyer under president But not all US business are benefi t- after visiting Wisconsin. miles away in China a government of- Barack Obama, told the AP. ing from the new administration. fi ce quietly approved trademarks that “For their own sake, and the coun- In a recent report, American busi- could benefi t the US president’s fam- try’s, Ivanka and Jared should consider nesses in China said they face one ily. stepping away from China matters.” of the toughest climates in decades, On the day the president’s daughter US law prohibits government offi - largely due to increasing animosity to- Ivanka Trump met the Chinese leader, cials from handling government mat- wards foreign fi rms and slowing eco- China granted preliminary approv- ters that could enrich their business or nomic growth. al for three new trademarks for her their spouse’s. Barriers to investment remain high, Man held for shootings namesake brand, covering jewellery, Ivanka Trump’s products are made the American Chamber of Commerce bags and spa service, according to of- almost entirely in China, and US pol- in China said, despite China’s at- fi cial documents. icy on trade or China’s currency could tempts to project an image of globali- Her company, Ivanka Trump Marks benefi t her fi nancially. sation and openness. LLC, has been granted four additional Jamie Gorelick, Ivanka Trump’s About 81% of the chamber’s mem- spoke of race ‘battle’ trademarks since her father’s inaugu- lawyer, said in a statement: “The fed- bers said they felt unwelcome in 2016, ration and has 32 pending, eral ethics rules do not require you to an increase from 77% in 2015. according to the Associated Press, recuse from any matter concerning a But Trump family brands increas- AFP Los Angeles Times that his son was Lieutenant Mark Hudson, a police which fi rst reported the new approv- foreign country just because a busi- ingly appear to be welcomed with Los Angeles convinced he was part of an ongoing spokesman, told AFP the weapon used als. ness that you have an ownership in- open arms in the world’s second larg- war between whites and blacks, and in the killings had not been recovered. Donald Trump’s White House has terest in has a trademark application est economy. that “a battle was about to take place”. Hudson said the FBI had been con- created a minefi eld of ethics concerns, pending there. Shortly after his election in No- man arrested for a shooting A Facebook page for a Kori Ali in Fres- tacted about the killings. according to critics, and the presi- “Ivanka will recuse from particu- vember and after a decade of fi ghting spree in the central California no featured images extolling black na- But a spokeswoman for the FBI de- dent and his top offi cials represent one lar matters where she has a confl ict in court, Donald Trump was granted Acity of Fresno on Tuesday in tionalism and making repeated referenc- clined comment, referring media in- of the wealthiest cabinets in history, of interest or where the White House trademark protection for his name in which three white men were killed saw es to “white devils”, the newspaper said. quiries to local police. with business empires spanning the counsel determines her participation the construction industry. himself as part of an ongoing race war, When he was a teen he legally The rampage is likely to reignite a globe. would present appearance or imparti- In February, the Trump name was according to family and police. changed his name from Kori Taylor, his long-running debate in the US on gun Ivanka Trump was appointed as- ality concerns.” granted an additional 38 trademarks The suspect is a 39-year-old Af- grandmother, Glenestene Taylor, told control, an issue that has dogged suc- sistant to the president last month, Gorelick did not respond to ques- for a range of uses including hotels, rican-American named Kori Ali Mo- the daily. cessive administrations. after previously saying she would not tions about the trademarks creating insurance and bodyguard services. hamed. Muhammad faces four counts of More than 30,000 people are killed join her father’s administration. the appearance of a confl ict of inter- Citizens for Responsibility and Eth- But Fresno police chief Jerry Dyer murder and two counts of attempted by gun violence in the United States Ivanka Trump no longer manages est. ics in Washington has launched a law- said indications were it was not a “ter- murder, authorities said. every year, half of them between the her clothing, jewellery and accesso- Ivanka Trump has been on a charm suit. rorist-related crime” and a probe was Dyer said Tuesday’s shooting spree ages of 18 and 35, according to statis- under way to determine if the murders began in downtown Fresno when one tics. qualifi ed as a hate crime. man sitting in a truck was shot through So far this year, there have been He said Mohamed was wanted in the the passenger window. more than 17,700 incidents involving killing last week of an unarmed securi- The other victims were shot nearby guns nationwide and 4,405 fatalities, ty guard outside a motel in the city, had during a rampage that lasted about Gun Violence Archive, a not-for-profi t indicated in postings on his Facebook a minute and during which up to 16 group, said on its website. page that he hated white people and the rounds were fi red. It said the victims include at least government. Dyer said the shooter surrendered to 184 children up to 11 years old and 914 “This was a random act of violence,” police at the scene, telling offi cers “you teenagers between the ages of 12 and Dyer said. “These were unprovoked at- guys are looking for me”. 17. tacks by an individual who was intent Dyer said he had a criminal his- President Donald Trump has yet to on carrying out homicides today.” tory including for weapons violations, spell out his policy on gun control. He said all the victims were white drugs and making terrorist threats. With Republicans in control of the males and there was every reason to He said he was known to be home- White House and Congress, some crit- believe he had acted alone. less at times, and had associated with ics fear his administration will ease re- His father, Vincent Taylor, told The gangs. strictions. Colorado ‘must refund ONE SMOKER. exonerated defendants’

Reuters “Colorado may not presume a per- in La Plata County in 2005 after he al- Washington son, adjudged guilty of no crime, legedly propositioned a 14-year-old nonetheless guilty enough for mon- girl who was a passenger on the trolley TWO PATIENTS. etary exactions,” Ginsburg wrote. he was driving, then pinned her against he US Supreme Court yesterday Shortly after January oral argu- a window and sexually assaulted her, struck down a Colorado law that ments in the case, Colorado officials according to court papers. He was giv- Tallowed the state to keep fees proposed a bill in the state legislature en prison time and more than $4,400 and restitution paid by criminal de- to fall in line with other states and in related fees and restitution. fendants even when their convictions make it easier to recoup conviction- His convictions were later set aside. are overturned, calling it an unconsti- related penalties. Both defendants’ bids to get back tutional violation of their rights. The bill passed last month and takes money they had paid failed in 2015 The court sided with two people eff ect in September. when the Colorado Supreme Court whose sexual assault convictions were The case involved two convicted de- said it could authorise repayment only thrown out. fendants who were later exonerated. if they sued under the Exoneration Act, TOBACCO KILLS The justices ruled 7-1 that a 2013 Shannon Nelson was found guilty in which was meant to compensate the Colorado law called the Exoneration 2006 in Arapahoe County of incest and wrongfully convicted. Act, which forced cleared defendants abuse of her four children. They appealed, and the US Supreme to prove their innocence in a sub- She was given a 20-year prison sen- Court rejected Colorado’s argument sequent lawsuit before getting back tence and ordered to pay more than that the funds belonged to the state money paid to the state after convic- $8,100 in court costs, fees and restitu- because the convictions were in place tion, violated the US Constitution’s tion. Her conviction was overturned when the funds were taken. guarantee of due process. due to trial error, and she was acquitted Conservative Justice Clarence Tho- Writing for the court, liberal Justice after a retrial. mas was the lone dissenter. Ruth Bader Ginsburg criticised the Colo- Nelson’s brother and his wife mean- Only eight of the nine justices took rado policy of keeping exonerated defend- while were convicted of sexually as- part in the ruling because the case was ants’ money because at that point they are saulting the children. argued before Justice Neil Gorsuch once again presumed to be innocent. Louis Alonzo Madden was convicted joined the court on April 10.

Stanford backtracks on Trump photo

AFP infamous leaked video in which Trump Dauber, who has been teaching at Los Angeles crudely boasts about groping women. Stanford for 16 years, said the univer- The screenshot used to publicise the sity’s attempt to block use of the photo May conference features Trump, TV on grounds it could be seen as “parti- tanford University has backed host Billy Bush and actress Arianne san” lacked credibility and amounted down in a months-long row with Zucker. to censorship. Sone of its professors over the use “I have been trying for months to get “Diffi cult content and diffi cult con- of a photo of President Donald Trump the university to allow the use of this versations about controversial issues for a fl yer promoting a conference on image,” Dauber told AFP on Tuesday. are what you are supposed to be able to sexual assault. The controversial post- “I’m disappointed that it took media have at universities,” she said. “That’s er created by Michele Dauber, a law reporting in order for the university to the point of academic freedom and the Issued in Public Interest by GULF TIMES professor at the prestigious California honour its obligation to protect faculty First Amendment principles that un- school, includes a screenshot from an academic freedom.” dergird it.” Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 17 AMERICA Fox ends Marine One lands ties with host Bill O’Reilly

Reuters O’Reilly or appeared as guests New York on his programme, according to the New York Times story. O’Reilly said in the state- wenty-First Century ment at the time that he had Fox Inc has decided to settled only to spare his chil- Tpart ways with star ca- dren from the controversy. ble news host Bill O’Reilly fol- O’Reilly’s show, The O’Reilly lowing allegations of sexual Factor, is the top-rated show harassment, the company said on Fox News. According to ad- yesterday. tracking fi rm Kantar Media, it “After a thorough and care- brought in $147.13mn in adver- ful review of the allegations, tising revenue in 2016. the company and Bill O’Reilly Twenty-First Century Fox’s have agreed that Bill O’Reilly last fi scal year, which ended will not be returning to the Fox June 30, 2016, brought in a total News Channel,” the company of $7.65bn in advertising rev- said in a statement. enue. O’Reilly said in an April 1 But after the New York Times statement that he had been report, advertisers including unfairly targeted because of his BMW of North America, All- public prominence. state Corp, French pharmaceu- Marc Kasowitz, O’Reilly’s ticals maker Sanofi SA and T. lawyer, said in a statement on Rowe Price, pulled their Children cling to their mother as Marine One carrying US President Donald Trump lands on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. Tuesday that the television advertising from O’Reilly’s host “has been subjected to a primetime The O’Reilly Factor brutal campaign of character show. assassination that is unprec- O’Reilly’s exit, which was edented in post-McCarthyist fi rst reported by New York America”. magazine, follows that of It is not known exactly former Fox News Chairman how Fox News would handle Roger Ailes, who was forced to O’Reilly’s exit or whether he resign in July after being ac- would be allowed to say good- cused of sexual misconduct by bye to viewers on the air, ac- a number of women, including Justices lean toward cording to the New York maga- former anchor Gretchen Carl- zine report. Representatives at son. Ailes has repeatedly de- Fox News and its parent, Twen- nied any wrongdoing. ty-First Century Fox, were not Twenty-First Century Fox immediately available for com- had tapped the law fi rm Paul, ment about how O’Reilly might Weiss Rifkind, Wharton & Gar- be replaced. rison, which also looked into church in critical case A representative for O’Reilly, the allegations against Ailes, to who has been off the air on va- investigate O’Reilly’s conduct. cation since April 11, did not The O’Reilly Factor has been immediately respond to a re- the most watched programme quest for comment. on Fox News and was com- A Vatican photograph ing off the highest-rated fi rst showed O’Reilly shaking hands quarter in its history, averag- on religious rights with Pope Francis after a gen- ing 4mn viewers, according to eral audience yesterday, but it Nielsen. The church appeared to have argument, referring to Missouri’s tion of religion” from receiving Missouri has said there is saying it was wrong for “govern- was not clear if the Pope knew Investors seemed to take the both liberal and conservative prohibition. state money, language that goes nothing unconstitutional about ment bureaucrats” to deny grants who the television host was. news in stride. support A ruling is due by the end of further than the US Constitu- its grant programme, noting that to “people of faith who wanted to The New York Times reported Shares of Twenty-First Cen- June. It is unclear how far the tion’s separation of church and Trinity Lutheran remains free to do things like make community on April 1 that Fox and O’Reilly, tury Fox were down less than Reuters justices will go in setting a prec- state. practice any aspect of its faith playgrounds for kids.” a 20-year veteran of the con- 1% at $30.50 in afternoon trad- Washington edent that would give states more Breyer questioned whether however it wishes despite being Missouri and the church both servative cable network, paid ing. O’Reilly’s departure will leeway to fund religious entities denying churches access to the denied state funds. urged the justices to decide the fi ve women a total of $13mn to not have any eff ect on Twen- directly. The dispute pits two playground grant money would The court’s newest justice, case anyway because of the im- settle harassment claims. ty-First Century Fox’s overall he US Supreme Court provisions of the US Constitu- be akin to refusing to provide po- Trump’s conservative appoint- portant issues at play and be- The fi ve women who received profi tability, said Brian Wieser, yesterday appeared poised tion’s First Amendment against lice or fi re services. ee Neil Gorsuch, is known for cause the governor’s action was settlements either worked for an analyst at Pivotal Research. Tto expand religious rights each other: the guarantee of the “What’s the diff erence?” an expansive view of religious not irreversible. and potentially narrow the sepa- free exercise of religion and the Breyer said. rights. The issue was discussed only ration of church and state after Establishment Clause, which re- Conservative Justice Samuel Gorsuch asked Layton why briefl y during Wednesday’s ar- liberal and conservative justices quires the separation of church Alito said several federal grant it is acceptable for Missouri to gument, suggesting the justices alike signalled support for a and state. programmes are open to religious ban religious entities in some are eager to decide the case on church denied Missouri taxpayer A broad ruling favouring the entities, including one that pro- instances, such as with the play- the merits. Inmates claiming funds for a playground project. church could bolster religious vides money to enhance security ground programme, but not A Trinity Lutheran victory A ruling in favour of Trinity conservatives who favour weak- at buildings where there is a risk in others, including safety and could help religious organisa- Lutheran Church in Columbia, ening the wall between church of terrorist attack. health services. tions nationwide win public dol- innocence try to Missouri in the case, one of the and state, including using tax- Synagogues, mosques and Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomay- lars for certain purposes, such as most important of the court’s payer money to pay for children religious schools have received or was the most outspoken in health and safety. current term, could pave the way to attend private religious schools funding under that programme, backing Missouri’s ban, noting It also could buttress the case stop executions for more public money to go to rather than public schools. according to a brief fi led by a the diffi culty states could face for using publicly funded vouch- religious entities. President Donald Trump’s ed- Jewish group supporting the determining whether funds go- ers to send children to religious Justices across the nine-mem- ucation secretary, Betsy DeVos, church’s position. ing to a religious entity are being schools. Reuters executions, which hit a quar- ber court’s ideological spectrum is a prominent supporter of such Alito asked Missouri’s lawyer, used for a secular purposes. A challenge to a 2015 court Little Rock ter-century low in 2016. indicated that Trinity Lutheran “school choice” plans. James Layton, if religious enti- “How do you separate out its decision invalidating a Colorado The last time two execu- should be allowed to apply for the Trinity Lutheran, whose le- ties would be barred from ap- secular function from its re- voucher programme is pending tions were attempted in one Missouri grant programme that gal eff ort was spearheaded by plying if Missouri had a similar ligious function?” Sotomayor before the justices, awaiting the rkansas plans to carry night was in 2014 in Oklahoma, helps nonprofi t groups buy rub- the Alliance Defending Freedom programme. asked. Three-quarters of the Trinity Lutheran case’s outcome. out its fi rst executions when prison staff bungled the ber playground surfaces made conservative Christian activ- Layton said they would be pro- USstates have provisions similar Trinity Lutheran sued Missou- Ain a dozen years today by fi rst and the state called off the from recycled tires. ist group, could be headed for a hibited. to Missouri’s barring funding for ri in federal court in 2012. killing two inmates who claim second one. Johnson was con- The church runs a preschool lopsided win, with liberals Kagan Trinity Lutheran argued that religious entities. The St Louis-based 8th US they are innocent and have victed in Arkansas of the 1993 and daycare centre. and Stephen Breyer joining con- Missouri’s policy violates its Missouri’s Republican gover- Circuit Court of Appeals in 2015 launched last-minute appeals murder and sexual assault of “It does seem as though this servative justices in signalling right to exercise religion as well nor, Eric Greitens, last Thursday upheld a trial court’s dismissal of to have their lives spared. Carol Heath. is a clear burden on a constitu- support. as the US Constitution’s prom- reversed the state policy that had the suit, and the church appealed Convicted murderers Stacey Prosecutors said he beat, tional right,” liberal Justice Elena Missouri’s constitution bars ise of equal protection under the banned religious entities from to the Supreme Court. Johnson, 47, and Ledell Lee, 51, strangled and slit Heath’s Kagan said during a one-hour “any church, sect or denomina- law. applying for the grant money, each are seeking DNA testing throat while the victim’s their lawyers argue could prove 6-year-old daughter watched. they did not commit the crimes Johnson’s lawyers said ex- that sent them to death row. perts have proven the child’s But the state is pressing testimony was unreliable. ahead with its eff orts to put the They also said the execution Georgia run-off sets new test for president men to death in back-to-back should be put on hold to allow lethal injections today at its for newer types of DNA testing Cummins Unit in the town of that were previously unavail- AFP Karen Handel, a Republican who win with runoff in Georgia. Glad out there is palpable and the vol- triumph for the Resistance and Grady, about 75 miles southeast able. Georgia won just 19.8% of the vote but to be of help!” he tweeted after unteers are out there. The DNC is for progressives.” of Little Rock. “Some items have never will almost certainly benefi t from the results came in. all in and other partners all in. I “The reason is clear: voters are If the executions are carried been tested,” said Jeff Rosenz- her party coalescing around her. Handel said Trump called to feel good.” rejecting Trump and his poli- out, they would be the fi rst dual weig, an attorney for Johnson. epublicans were dealt an Ossoff , a documentary fi lm- congratulate her and to let her Georgia’s 6th district is in the cies.” US executions in 17 years. “We think we should be able to unwelcome reminder of maker and former congressional know “it’s all hands on deck for relatively affl uent and conserva- Part of what is fueling Demo- Arkansas had sought to ex- use these new techniques, but RDonald Trump’s unpopu- aide, told energised supporters Republicans” going into the run- tive suburbs of Atlanta. cratic excitement about the race ecute eight inmates over 11 days we’ve been denied that so far.” larity yesterday after a young before all the returns were in that off . It has remained a Republican is that while Trump won Geor- in April, the most of any state in Lee was convicted of beating Democrat’s inconclusive but he and Democrats “shattered ex- Democrats still hope Ossoff fortress since 1978 when it was gia by six percentage points, the as a short a period since the US Debra Reese to death with a tire rousing fi rst round victory in a pectations” with their perform- can capitalise on Trump’s lack- won by Newt Gingrich. district that Ossoff seeks to win death penalty was reinstated iron in 1993. race for a congressional seat long ance. luster popularity — his poll num- The special election is being supported Trump by barely one in 1976. Governor Asa Hutch- On Tuesday, a state judge de- held by the president’s party. “There is no doubt that this bers lag at around 40%, a record held to replace congressman Tom point over Democrat Hillary inson set the unprecedented nied a motion from Lee’s law- Jon Ossoff , 30, fell just short of is already a victory for the ages,” low for an incoming president. Price, who resigned to become Clinton. schedule due to one of the yers for DNA testing. an outright win with 48.1%, but Ossoff said. As they see it, a win in Georgia Trump’s health secretary. It has many well-educated drugs in the state’s lethal injec- “This Court does not came in fi rst by a wide margin in Trump, his political brand at could jumpstart eff orts to retake In the run-up to Tuesday’s voters who are reliably Republi- tion mix expiring at the end of fi nd that the proposed test- a crowded fi eld of candidates in stake, jumped into the race as control of the House of Repre- vote Ossoff had marshalled an can but frustrated by Trump. the month. ing would raise a reasonable Georgia’s conservative 6th dis- voters went to the polls, attack- sentatives in next year’s midterm army of volunteers, and report- “This is a Republican district A blizzard of legal challenges probability that the defend- trict, where Tuesday’s vote was ing Ossoff and urging Republi- elections. edly amassed millions of dollars but it is not a strongly Trump resulted in three of the execu- ant did not commit the of- seen as an early test of strength cans to vote in a burst of tweets “I’d rather be Jon Ossoff than in out-of-state contributions by district just as there are Demo- tions being halted and raised fence,” state Circuit Judge for the president. and robocalls. Karen Handel right now,” Tom Democratic groups. cratic districts that are Trump broader questions about the Herbert Wright wrote in a That sets the stage for a battle “Despite major outside money, Perez, the Democratic Nation- Liberal advocacy group Mo- districts,” said Tom Cole, a Re- lethal injection drug mixes and ruling, which Lee’s lawyers royale June 20 when Ossoff faces FAKE media support and eleven al Committee chairman, told veOn.org in a statement called publican leader in the House of death chamber protocols in US have appealed. off against second place fi nisher Republican candidates, BIG “R” CNN.”The progressive energy Ossoff ’s fi rst-place fi nish “a huge Representatives. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, April 20, 2017 ASEAN

Thai king’s cremation Muslim contender wins set for Oct 26

Reuters Bangkok

Jakarta vote: pollsters hailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be cremated on Oc- Reuters Ttober 26, a government offi cial said Jakarta yesterday, adding that the king’s funeral will take place over a fi ve day period. Confi rmation of the cremation date sets former Indonesian education a timeframe for the coronation of Bhu- minister yesterday won the mibol’s son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Arace for Jakarta governor yes- who ascended the throne in December but terday after a polarising campaign whose formal coronation has been put on that cast a shadow over Indonesia’s hold until after his father’s funeral. reputation for practising a tolerant Political observers say the new king’s form of Islam. coronation will formally kick-start poli- Anies Baswedan won with 58% of tics following a year-long mourning pe- the votes versus 42% for Basuki Tja- riod and a general election should follow haja Purnama, known by his Chinese soon after. nickname as “Ahok”, based on 100% “The palace has confi rmed that the of the votes in an unoffi cial “quick king agrees with the government’s plan. count” by Indikator Politik. The cremation day will be October 26,” a Other pollsters showed similar re- senior government offi cial, who declined sults. be named because of the sensitivity of the The national elections commission matter, told Reuters. will announce offi cial results in early “The funeral will take place over a fi ve May. day period,” Deputy Prime Minister Wis- The turbulent campaign featured sanu Krea-ngam, told reporters late on mass rallies led by a hardline Islamist Tuesday. movement, which has strengthened in King Bhumibol died in October 2016 at recent years in a country long domi- the age of 88 following a long illness. His nated by a moderate form of Islam. death ended a seven-decade reign that More than 80% of Indonesia’s pop- saw the king become a rare unifying fi gure ulation professes Islam. in an otherwise deeply polarised nation. “Going forward, the politics of reli- Thailand has been ruled by a junta gion is going to be a potent force,” said since a 2014 coup which saw the military Keith Loveard, an analyst at Jakarta- wrest power from an elected civilian gov- based Concord Consulting and an au- ernment. The military has said the coup thor of books about Indonesian politics. was aimed at ending months of unrest. Baswedan’s huge margin of victory The United States and others have was surprising since opinion polls in called for a swift return to democracy in the run-up to the election had pointed Thailand and the junta has said a gen- to a dead-heat. eral election will take place after the late Purnama won the fi rst round of king’s funeral. voting for governor in February in a But some have cast doubt over the three-way race. junta’s election timeline. “Political life is Indonesian social media users lik- Jakarta governor-elect Anis Baswedan (centre), his deputy governor-elect Sandiaga Una (left) and Hary Tanoe of the Perindo party hold hands together during a unlikely to resume until next year, after ened the election outcome to the press conference in Jakarta yesterday. the cremation and coronation,” a Western shock results of the US presidential diplomat based in Bangkok, who declined vote and the Brexit vote of last year. Baswedan is supported by a retired many took to be insulting to Islam. Members of hardline groups, in- sity and unity”. His platform has fo- to be named, told Reuters. One Twitter user, @fuadhn, said general, Prabowo Subianto, who nar- Hundreds of thousands of Muslims cluding the Islamic Defenders Front cused on improving public education, “There’s an understanding among politi- Indonesians “can feel what US and rowly lost to Widodo in a 2014 presi- took to the streets late last year to call (FPI), celebrated the election result at providing no-deposit home loans for cal parties that there will be no election this British citizens feel now. Welcome dential vote and is expected to chal- for his sacking and to urge voters not Istiqlal mosque in central Jakarta yes- low income groups and opposing a year. After the coronation seems the most populism...” lenge him again. to elect a non-Muslim leader. terday evening, praying and cheering giant seawall in Jakarta Bay that Pur- likely time for things to start to happen.” The election came on the eve of a Police said 15 people were detained One person died and more than 100 for the governor-elect. nama has advocated. Offi cials have said King Bhumibol’s visit by US Vice President Mike Pence, following reports of disturbances at were injured after one protest turned Baswedan and Prabowo were also Baswedan has denied he plans to cremation will be a lavish aff air befi tting as the Trump administration seeks several polling stations in the city of violent. expected at grand mosque to join the implement Shariah in Jakarta if elect- of a much-loved monarch. No budget to engage the world’s fourth-largest 10mn people, after what the Jakarta Some voters may have been reluc- prayers, according to media reports. ed. He will offi cially take over as gov- has been publicly released for the funeral nation and largest Muslim-majority Post this week dubbed “the dirtiest, tant to vote for Purnama because of Baswedan, a respected scholar ernor in October. which is expected to attract huge crowds. country as an emerging regional power. most polarising and most divisive” worries about “fi ve more years of pro- who many viewed as moderate, drew Purnama congratulated his rival in a Thai Buddhists often wait a week or Pence is scheduled to visit today the election campaign the nation had ever tests on the streets by Muslim hard- widespread criticism during the cam- news conference. more before cremating their dead but biggest mosque in Southeast Asia, Ja- seen. liners,” Loveard said in a telephone paign when he aggressively courted “We still have six months (in offi ce) royal funerals are exceptional. karta’s Istiqlal Mosque. Security appeared light at several interview. the conservative Islamic vote, ap- until the new governor is inaugurated The last royal funeral in Thailand was The Jakarta election will be seen as polling stations, though police said Ismail Yusanto, spokesman for one pearing publicly with hardline Islamic and we will fi nish up our homework,” in 2008 for King Bhumibol’s elder sister a barometer for the 2019 presidential 66,000 personnel were deployed of the groups, Hizbut Tahrir Indone- leaders during anti-Purnama rallies. Purnama said. “We hope that in the Princess Galyani Vadhana. That funeral election, given the city’s outsized im- across the city. sia, said the election showed that Ja- Baswedan, surrounded by his po- future everyone can forget the cam- followed a 100-day mourning period. portance as both the nation’s capital Religious tensions have been an karta voters didn’t want a non-Mus- litical patrons including Prabowo, paign period.” The king’s cremation will take place and commercial centre. undercurrent in the campaign, with lim leader. struck a conciliatory tone at a news Purnama’s blasphemy trial resumes at a public square in Bangkok, where an Purnama is backed by President Purnama on trial for blasphemy over “It is forbidden under Islamic law, to conference after unoffi cial results today and he faces up to fi ve years in enormous wooden funeral pyre is being Joko Widodo’s ruling party. comments he made last year that have an infi del leader,” he told Reuters. came in, pledging to “safeguard diver- jail if convicted. erected.

Flour trail shuts Singapore metro Ready for translation A running club yesterday admit- Malaysia Airlines ted leaving a trail of flour in a Singapore metro station which prompted a security scare and signs up for a three-hour shutdown of the station. In a statement the Seletar minute-by-minute Hash House Harriers, an all-male group that describes itself as a “drinking group with a running plane tracking problem”, apologised for the “alarm and inconvenience” caused to the public. Reuters Three members had sprin- Kuala Lumpur kled flour at several points in the underground Woodleigh MRT station, the statement said, alaysia Airlines has signed up to a new system to adding that it was the safest track its planes minute-by-minute, three years way to cross a busy road in the Mafter the unexplained disappearance of one of its suburban Serangoon district. aircraft carrying 239 people, the providers of the satellite- But the sight of white powder based system said in a statement. sparked security fears, which Flight MH370 went missing on its way from Kuala saw police and hazardous mate- Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. Australia, Malaysia, and rials units respond. China called off a two-year underwater search for the air- The station was shut for three craft in January. hours while off icers in protec- The new space-based tracking system, due to be op- tive suits searched the station erational from 2018, was developed by US-based Aireon, before it was determined that which is working with FlightAware on plane tracking. the white substance was flour. It will be delivered to Malaysia Airlines by Sitaonair, “Upon learning of the which provides connectivity products to airlines and works subsequent investigations at with FlightAware on tracking. Woodleigh station, our three Instead of sending tracking signals to ground stations — members stepped forward Mahdzir Khalid, Malaysia’s education minister (third left) and Goh Hin San, president of Malaysia Han Culture Center (second right) present which means planes’ locations can be lost over oceans or immediately to identify them- a Chinese book during a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. Nine Chinese literature works will be translated into Malay, thanks to an remote areas — the new system will beam them to satellites selves and have co-operated agreement signed between a Chinese publishing house and two Malaysian organisations. providing global coverage. It uses existing data from planes fully with the authorities,” the and so does not require any modifi cations to aircraft. statement added. “They are “Real-time, global fl ight tracking, anywhere on the sorry that their actions caused planet will further its safety goals, by allowing Malaysia public alarm and inconven- Airlines to track its aircraft anytime, anywhere,” Aireon ience.” chief executive Offi cer Don Thoma said in a statement. One of the group’s members, After the disappearance of MH370, regulators and air- a 69-year-old man, was arrested YouTube pulls videos critical of Vietnam leaders lines were criticised for responding too slowly to French for causing public alarm while tracking recommendations after the crash of an Air France two others, aged 59 and 70, are plane in 2009. The International Civil Aviation Organiza- helping police with investiga- DPA He added that the videos in question con- YouTube, which is based in the United tion (ICAO) in response set out plans to impose a 15-minute tions. Hanoi tained “slander of Vietnamese leaders” and States, has a long-standing practice of not standard for normal fl ight tracking, or more frequently in The Seletar Harriers is a “fake news that provoke enmity and hatred censoring content based on the wishes of for- case of emergency, by November 2018. chapter of a loose worldwide among people.” eign governments. Aireon is placing its data receivers on Iridium satellites. federation of ‘Hash House Har- he Vietnamese government says Under the rule of Vietnam’s single party com- Many Vietnamese dissident channels on The fi rst 10 of a planned 66 low-earth orbit satellites were riers’, a running group set up YouTube has removed 1,500 videos munist state, dissent against the government is the site appeared to be operating normally sent up in January 2017. The space-based system was initially by beer-loving British colonial Tdeemed off ensive to the country’s lead- broadly criminalised under vaguely worded pe- yesterday morning. conceived to help air traffi c controllers route planes more ef- expatriates in what was then ers, state media reported yesterday. nal provisions outlawing “propaganda against Vietnam has previously targeted fi ciently, thus helping to reduce fuel costs and improve safety. Malaya in 1938. “By April 2017 we had worked with YouTube the state” and “abusing democratic freedoms.” YouTube for being an outlet of dissident Aireon and FlightAware signed up Qatar Airways as the “Hares” are given the task of to delete 1,500 clips containing illegal con- There was no immediate comment from content. launch customer for their GlobalBeacon tracking service in marking a trail to direct runners, tent,” Information Minister Truong Minh Google, YouTube’s parent company, nor was In March, some of Vietnam’s largest brands September. usually using flour or chalk. Tuan told a parliamentary meeting, according it clear specifi cally which, if any, videos had pulled ads from the site following pressure Malaysia Airlines is the fi rst Sitaonair customer to sign to the Vietnam News Agency. been taken down. from the government. up to the scheme. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 19 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Australia, NZ step up nationalist rhetoric with visa curbs on workers

Reuters Recent population growth in fect, and replaced by two new “That’s just shifting deck chairs have called for a review of poli- co-operation pact between the temporary skilled visa category, Sydney Australia has been driven by stu- visas with a shorter skills short- on the proverbial sinking ship,” he cies, citing low wage growth and two countries. Leading IT lobby hangs in the balance. “There is dent visas, which off er a path for age list and a tougher English lan- added. soaring house prices spurred by group NASSCOM said it expected no clarity on the announcement, people to study, work and even- guage requirement, Turnbull an- In neighbouring New Zealand, the infl ux. limited fallout from the decision, the details have not been pub- ustralia and New Zealand tually become permanent resi- nounced on Tuesday. Additional the policy changes are expected Australia’s decision could up- though some fi rms among In- lished,” Ahmed added. “This has have tightened visa condi- dents. details are still awaited. Turnbull, to have a limited impact on net set India, its fi fth-largest export dia’s $150bn tech industry could increased our headache.” Ations for skilled migrants In the six months to December, who broke the news on social me- arrivals. Opposition members market and the single biggest lose exemptions they had before. Businesses have generally wel- in a bid to woo nationalist-lean- the country granted 156,453 stu- dia site Facebook, expects fewer were quick to accuse the ruling benefi ciary of the 457 visa, ac- “The occupations being pruned comed the decision but some in- ing voters, echoing the United dent visas. This compares with entrants to Australia under the National party of currying favour counting for one in four appli- in terms of jobs do not really im- dustries fear being on the receiv- States’ “America First” policy, just 12,866 of the so-called 457 new scheme, he said in a radio in- with voters in an election year, cants. pact our jobs in terms of the ICT ing end. Early stage start-ups will but critics have decried the move skilled work visas approved in terview on Wednesday. without making reining in immi- Australia wants to boost two- segment,” said Shivendra Singh, be hit hardest, said David Bal- as mostly political posturing. the year to September 2016. More “There will be a short-term gration numbers and unemploy- way trade with India, which now vice president of the grouping, lerini, a co-founder of restaurant Australian Prime Minister than 95,000 foreigners are now skills visa for two years and it ment. stands at nearly A$20bn, but its the National Association of Soft- discovery and cash loyalty app Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday employed under the 457 visa, can only be renewed once. And “National’s changes don’t ad- decision, just days after Turnbull ware and Services Companies. Liven. abolished a temporary work visa making up a mere 0.8% of Aus- then the person holding it has dress the huge numbers of peo- visited the south Asian nation, But companies might face “A shortage of relevant skills popular with foreigners, replac- tralia’s labour force. to go back to their home coun- ple coming here to do low-level could hurt ties. India is examin- more paperwork, he added. from the local market was the ing it with a new programme. “This is just a change of name, try,” Turnbull said, repeating the qualifi cations or low-skill work,” ing the consequences of Aus- “Companies will ... probably have main reason to rely on 457s,” said New Zealand also tightened ac- nothing else,” said Shamim “Australian jobs for Australians” said Labour party leader Andrew tralia’s new visa policy in con- to spend more time, eff ort and Ballerini, who employs such visa cess to skilled work visas, taking a Ahmed, a Sydney-based mi- rhetoric 16 times. Little. sultation with all stakeholders, a possibly money, also, to prepare holders, chiefl y for technology “Kiwis-fi rst approach.” gration agent at AIC Education Another four-year visa will A boom in new arrivals has foreign ministry representative in advance, and prepare on the and product development. The changes are likely to hurt Services. have stricter eligibility criteria. helped the New Zealand economy said in reply to a query. “This is ground, as well.” “While there is merit to sav- small businesses and Australian “They cannot really abolish Opposition leader Bill Shorten achieve some of the strongest also a matter we will be looking For Sydney-based Shamim ing jobs for Australian-born de- tech start-ups, industry offi cials this visa, because it is demanded has labelled the announcement gross domestic product growth in at in the context of CECA nego- Ahmed, the outcome of roughly velopers, the community is small said, but both countries will con- by employers.” The 457 visa has “cosmetic” and a “con job” that the developed world. But opposi- tiations,” the offi cial added, re- 10 applications fi led last month, and technical specialists are few tinue to see a surge in foreigners. been axed with immediate ef- will make no real diff erence. tion parties and the central bank ferring to talks for an economic mostly for Asian clients under a and far between.” Pence vows ‘eff ective’ response to N Korea

AFP Northeast Asia. “North Korea is The Navy had said earlier The United States, Pence said, Yokosuka, Japan the most dangerous and urgent this month that a strike group would be unwavering in its al- threat to peace and security in led by the aircraft carrier USS liances and unyielding in its re- the Asia-Pacifi c,” Pence said. Carl Vinson had been ordered solve. he United States will coun- But, “we will defeat any attack to “sail north” as a warning to In a veiled warning to China, ter any North Korean at- and meet any use of conventional Pyongyang. Pence added that “our treaty Ttack with an “overwhelm- or nuclear weapons with an over- Pentagon chief Jim Mattis (with Japan) covers all the ter- ing and eff ective” response, Vice whelming and eff ective Ameri- also said the Vinson was “on her ritory administered by Japan, President Mike Pence vowed can response.” way up” to the peninsula, while including the Senkaku Islands” yesterday, as he stood on the deck Pence’s comments come af- Trump said an “armada” had — a disputed and uninhabited of a massive American aircraft ter a senior North Korean offi cial been dispatched, adding fuel to archipelago in the East China Sea carrier docked in Japan. warned the regime had no inten- already rising tensions. that is controlled by Japan but Donald Trump’s deputy is tion of dialling down its missile But a defence offi cial told AFP claimed by Beijing. in the region to reassure al- programme, pledging weekly on Tuesday that the group of There was also a warning to lies fretting over Pyongyang’s tests and threatening “all-out ships was still off the northwest China regarding the South China quickening missile programme, war” if the US took any action coast of Australia and would Sea, where Beijing has built reefs and its apparent readiness to against it. soon begin heading to the Sea of and islets into fortifi ed islands carry out another banned nu- That kind of rhetoric has un- Japan (East Sea). But it would not capable of hosting military assets clear test in its quest to develop nerved allies in Japan and South arrive until next week at the ear- to bolster its claim to sovereignty an atomic weapon that can hit Korea, who would be at the sharp liest given the vast distance. over the sea. the US mainland. end of any North Korean re- At the time of the strike group’s Pence said the United States Pence, whose visit started in sponse. deployment, many media outlets would defend the right to free- South Korea the day after the Seoul, the South Korean capi- reported the ships were moving dom of navigation through the failed launch by North Korea of tal, is just 56km away from the towards North Korea, suggesting waterway, one of the most im- what analysts said could have military demarcation line that a looming showdown, when in portant shipping channels on the been a new missile, described the splits the Korean peninsula, and fact they had temporarily headed planet. threat from the isolated regime as is within easy range of North Ko- in the opposite direction. He also vowed that more of growing. rean long-range artillery. Wearing a green fl ight jacket, America’s most advanced mili- Aboard the USS Ronald Rea- The Ronald Reagan, whose Pence also sought to reassure tary assets would be deployed to gan, the vice president, adopt- home port is Yokosuka in Japan, jittery allies — who have seen the Asia-Pacifi c. About 47,000 ing a Churchillian tone, told is part of the Seventh Fleet and Trump call into question dec- US troops are stationed in Japan troops he was there as “storm is regularly deployed around the ades-old mutual defence treaties and a further 28,000 are in South US VP Mike Pence delivers a speech before US and Japanese soldiers onboard USS Ronald Reagan at the US clouds gather on the horizon” of western Pacifi c. — of America’s commitment. Korea. Naval base in Yokosuka yesterday.

Xi restructures military, Royalty in attendance consolidates PLA control

Reuters All 84 new units are at the searcher at the Beijing-based Beijing combined-corps level, which China Arms Control and Dis- means commanders will hold armament Association, said the rank of major-general or the restructure represented the hinese President Xi Jin- rear-admiral, the offi cial China second major phase of Xi’s re- ping has announced a Daily reported yesterday, add- forms. Cmilitary restructure of ing that unit members would “Since military reforms the People’s Liberation Army likely be regrouped from exist- started it has been one step at (PLA) to transform it into a ing forces given the Chinese a time,” Xu told Reuters. “The leaner fi ghting force with im- military was still engaged in high-level framework is now proved joint operations capa- cutting its troops by 300,000, in place, now this is the sec- bility, state media said. one of the wide-ranging mili- ond phase targeting the en- Centred around a new, con- tary reforms introduced by Xi tire mid-ranking levels of the densed structure of 84 military in late 2015. military.” units, the reshuffl e builds on Those reforms include es- Beijing has been moving Xi’s years-long eff orts to mod- tablishing a joint operational rapidly to upgrade its military ernise the PLA with greater em- command structure by 2020 hardware as it grows increas- phasis on new capabilities in- and rejigging existing military ingly assertive about its sover- cluding cyberspace, electronic regions, as well as streamlining eignty claims in the South Chi- and information warfare. troop numbers particularly in na Sea and as it seeks to expand As chair of the Central non-combat facing roles. its military prowess overseas. Military Commission, Xi is The previous seven military Chinese media reports have also commander-in-chief of area commands were regrouped speculated that the country’s China’s armed forces. “This into fi ve, and the four military second aircraft carrier — and has profound and signifi cant departments — staff , politics, its fi rst built at home — will be meaning in building a world- logistics and armaments — launched on Sunday, the navy’s class military,” Xi told com- were reorganised into 15 agen- founding anniversary. manders of the new units at the cies last year. Xi has also made rooting out PLA headquarters in Beijing, The 84 units will come under deeply entrenched corruption according to the offi cial Xin- the 15 agencies. in the military a top priority. hua news agency report late on Retired PLA Major-Gen- Dozens of senior offi cers have Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrive at the national theatre to attend the Japan Prize ceremony in Tokyo yesterday. Tuesday. eral Xu Guangyu, a senior re- been investigated and jailed.

Sydney man filmed over Denmark to extradite South Korea’s Choi Soon-sil 200 people in public toilets A Sydney man accused of secretly filming more than 200 people, AFP old daughter of the woman extradition, which the Danish has denied any wrongdoing, had university, with a state probe including children, in public toilets across the city did so for his own Aalborg, Denmark dubbed South Korea’s “Raspu- public prosecution authority ap- immediately fi led an appeal with revealing that the school had “sexual gratification,” a court was told yesterday. Benjamin Moor- tin”, is one of the fi gures in the proved on March 17. Chung then the court in Aalborg. An eques- admitted her at the expense of house, 40, allegedly placed secret cameras under the sink of toilets infl uence-peddling scandal that took her case against extradition trian who has reportedly bought better-qualifi ed candidates. at various train stations and a shopping centre in February and Danish court yesterday led to huge street protests de- to the Aalborg district court. horses and trained in Denmark in The revelation touched a raw March, the court was told. Moorhouse, arrested on March 22, has ordered the extradition manding the removal of presi- “The district court confi rms the past, she has told police she nerve in education-obsessed been charged with five counts of filming a person in a private act Aof the daughter of Choi dent Park Geun-hye. decision from the Director of was in Denmark because of her South Korea. Several professors for the purpose of “sexual arousal or sexual gratification,” with two of Soon-sil, the woman at the cen- Chung was detained in Den- Public Prosecutions. Ms Chung involvement in the sport. at Ewha Womans University, in- those categorised as aggravated because the alleged victims, a boy tre of a corruption scandal that mark on January 1 for overstay- is to be extradited,” the prosecu- Chung’s mother, a confi dante cluding a former school presi- and a girl, were under 16. His lawyer indicated he would plead guilty led to the impeachment of South ing her visa, after South Korean tion authority wrote on Twitter. of Park’s, is accused of using her dent, have been investigated for to all charges at Parramatta Local Court, according to Australian As- Korea’s president. authorities issued a warrant for Prosecution spokesman Simon infl uence to secure her daugh- allegedly giving Chung preferen- sociated Press. Moorhouse came to the court to appear before the Chung Yoo-ra, the 20-year- her arrest. Seoul then sought her Gosvig told AFP that Chung, who ter’s admission to an elite Seoul tial treatment. magistrate wearing a suit and fled wearing hooded jumper. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, April 20, 2017 BRITAIN Premier defends MPs probed over 2015 election spending

Guardian News and Media of spending limits being breached currently under investigation to ald asked May: “Doesn’t it take tage in elections. A spokesperson Allegations highlighted by their election expenses fi les were London during the 2015 general election stand again risked bringing about some brass neck to call a general for the CPS confi rmed that any Channel 4 News and the Daily among those passed to the CPS. campaign. The fi les are under- “the most squalid election cam- election when you are facing al- charges would have to be brought Mirror relate to busloads of Con- In a statement to the Guardian stood to refer to more than 30 in- paign that has happened in my legations of buying the last one?” before the date of the election. servative activists sent to key this year, McCartney said: “There heresa May has backed dividuals. lifetime”. May brushed the question All 14 police forces that sent fi les seats, whose expenses were re- is an ongoing police investigation Conservative MPs at the Some MPs could face the pos- May replied: “I stand by all the aside, saying it was “not worthy”. to the CPS last year applied for a ported as part of national cam- and, as such, I would prefer not to Tcentre of police inquiries sibility of being charged with of- Conservative MPs who are in this The CPS is currently review- 12-month extension to the pros- paign spending rather than con- comment directly on that as it has into electoral spending irregu- fences while they are in the middle house and who will be out there ing the evidence and consider- ecution deadline, which would stituency spending, which has a yet to be concluded other than to larities, after a call for them to be of fi ghting their campaigns for re- standing again, campaigning for ing whether to charge any MPs have otherwise elapsed last sum- lower limit. say I know I have done nothing barred from standing for re-elec- election in June. a Conservative government that with breaching spending limits. mer. Channel 4 News reported Karl McCartney, the MP for wrong and I acted honestly and tion. Fourteen police forces have Dennis Skinner, the veteran will give a brighter and better fu- The limits are intended to prevent on Tuesday evening that the CPS Lincoln, and William Wragg, who properly throughout my election sent fi les to the Crown Prosecu- Labour MP, said in the House of ture for this country.” candidates with wealthy backers was considering prosecuting more represents Greater Manchester’s campaign, as did, very important- tion Service outlining allegations Commons that allowing Tory MPs The SNP MP Stewart McDon- from gaining an unfair advan- than 30 people. Hazel Grove, have confi rmed ly, my election agent.”

PM mocked for ducking debates Party leaders have unveiled some of their general election arguments at Prime Minister’s Questions, with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Parliament Scottish National party mocking Theresa May for ducking out of TV debates and May lambasting Jeremy Corbyn as unfit for off ice. A sometimes raucous session began with May being teed up by a Tory backbencher, Alberto Costa, to explain what she felt the backs May country would be seeking from parties contesting the 8 June election. “There are three things that a country needs: a strong econo- my, strong defence and strong, stable leadership,” May replied. “That’s what our plans for Brexit plan for and our plans for a stronger Britain will deliver.” Turning to Corbyn, she added: “Whereas the right honourable gentleman opposite would bankrupt our economy, weaken our defences and is simply not fit to lead.” The Labour leader June polls responded by labelling May dishonest for calling the election Reuters Party in opinion polls. Scottish National Party in a snap after previously ruling one out, London She has also played up the election on June 8 would make it and saying she was afraid of strength of the economy, which impossible for May to stop a new facing up to her opponents in has so far defi ed predictions of referendum on Scottish inde- televised debates, which May has rime Minister Theresa a slowdown — a key campaign pendence. promised to not take part in. May yesterday won parlia- theme that her Conservative Party Scotland voted against inde- “We welcome the general elec- Pment’s backing for an early will use to try to undermine La- pendence in 2014, but voted to tion, but this is a prime minister election, a vote she said would bour in the election. remain in the European Union in who promised there wouldn’t strengthen her hand in divorce A victory would give May a 2016 while the United Kingdom be one,” Corbyn said. “A prime talks with the European Union powerful mandate extending un- as a whole voted to quit the bloc. minister who cannot be trusted. and help heal divisions in Britain. til 2022, long enough to cover the Sturgeon says this means Scot- She says it’s about leadership, yet May surprised allies and oppo- Brexit negotiations plus a possible land should have another chance is refusing to defend her record in nents on Tuesday when she an- transition period into new trad- to vote on secession. television debates.” nounced her plan to bring forward ing arrangements with the EU — a “If the SNP wins this election The pair exchanged blows over an election that was not due until prospect that has strengthened in Scotland and the Tories don’t, the economy, the national debt, 2020, saying she needed to avoid a the pound. then May’s attempt to block our the NHS and schools. After clash of priorities in the sensitive The Sun, Britain’s top-selling mandate to give the people of May passionately defended the fi nal stages of the two-year Brexit newspaper, splashed the headline Scotland a choice over their own Conservatives’ policies, Corbyn talks. “Blue Murder” — a reference to future when the time is right will responded: “If she’s so proud of After addressing a rowdy ses- the Conservatives’ colour brand- crumble to dust,” Sturgeon told her record, why won’t she debate sion of the House of Commons, ing and the prospect of Labour reporters in London. it?” May won the support of 522 law- losing dozens of seats. The Scottish parliament last May generally avoided Corbyn’s makers in the 650-seat parliament May formally notifi ed the Eu- month backed Sturgeon’s bid to direct questions and instead for an election on June 8, an easy ropean Union on March 29 of Brit- hold a new referendum in 2018 or hammered home what is likely victory for the prime minister who ain’s intention to leave, and has 2019, but May rejected the pro- to be a key Tory message in the could see her majority increase by said she is confi dent of reaching a posal. campaign: that Labour should at least 100 seats in the poll. deal on the terms of withdrawal in Polls suggest Scots do not be- not be trusted with the economy. “I believe that at this moment the two years available. lieve the timing is right for an- “People will have a real choice of enormous national signifi cance She said on Tuesday she had other referendum, and although in this election,” she told MPs. there should be unity here in “reluctantly” come to the decision support for independence itself “They will have a choice between Westminster, not division,” May to call for an early election because has been broadly steady at around a Conservative government told parliament. of political division in Westmin- 45% or more the SNP is predicted that has shown we can build a “A general election will pro- ster, criticising opposition parties to win most Scottish seats in the stronger economy and a Labour vide the country with fi ve years for trying to thwart her plans for snap poll. whose economic policies would of strong and stable leadership to leaving the EU. May’s decision to push for a na- bankrupt this country.” see us through the negotiations “What do we know that the tional ballot will exacerbate ten- Corbyn responded by mock- and ensure we are able to go on leader of the Labour Party, the sions within the historic union of ing May over the government’s to make a success as a result, and leader of the Liberal Democrats England, Scotland, Northern Ire- failure to eliminate the deficit that is crucial.” and the leader of the Scottish na- land and Wales. – “It’s always five years in the The former interior minis- tionalists have in common?” she Scots are disgruntled at the future” – and criticising her over ter, who became prime minister asked parliament. “They want to idea of a Brexit they rejected while school budgets and the NHS, without an election when her unite together to divide our coun- Northern Ireland, which also vot- which he said had been “put into predecessor David Cameron quit try and we will not let them do it.” ed to stick with the EU, is mired in an all-year-round crisis by this Prime Minister Theresa May greets Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko at 10 Downing Street in central after last year’s referendum vote Meanwhile Scotland’s First a political crisis made tougher to government”. London yesterday as he arrives for talks. May met Poroshenko after attending the parliamentary vote that for Brexit, enjoys a runaway lead Minister Nicola Sturgeon yes- resolve by the fray of campaign- confirmed her call for an early general election. over the main opposition Labour terday said that success for her ing. Labour MPs seek mayor’s Parties reject Greens’ help to save marginal seats call for electoral pact Guardian News and Media the SNP, at a meeting of Labour’s London national executive committee London Evening Standard He listed action on fares, hous- Former transport minister yesterday, a party source said. London ing, police, homelessness, equal- Karen Buck is defending a 1,977 Separately, a spokeswoman ity, jobs, growth and air quality. majority in Westminster North. abour and the Liberal for the party leader said there The Tories are set to win dozens Shadow sports minister Rosena Democrats have dismissed were no plans to talk about a pro- abour MPs facing tough bat- of Labour seats around Britain, Allin-Khan won the Tooting by- La call from the Greens for gressive alliance. “Labour will tles to cling on to marginal according to polls. However, they election, which was triggered by an election pact, after the par- be fi ghting for every seat in this Lseats are urging Sadiq Khan appear most vulnerable in London Khan becoming mayor, by a com- ty’s co-leaders wrote to Jeremy election,” she said. to bolster their campaigns. and the South West to a LibDem fortable 6,357 in June last year. Corbyn and Tim Farron to say At an event in Richmond in The mayor masterminded La- revival. But in 2015 Khan’s majority was this was the only way to keep the south-west London earlier yes- bour’s strong performance in the The Conservatives will have 2,842, down from 5,381 a decade Conservatives out. terday, Farron reiterated his own capital during the 2015 general their eyes fi rmly on a string of La- earlier. Caroline Lucas and Jonathan scepticism about the idea. election before winning the keys bour seats in the capital including The Conservatives are braced Bartley wrote to their counter- “I very much enjoyed working to City Hall last year. Now, with Ealing Central and Acton where for potential losses in south-west parts to argue that co-operation with Caroline Lucas during the Jeremy Corbyn’s unpopularity, Rupa Huq has a majority of 274, London to the LibDems, while between centre-left parties was referendum campaign, (she is) Labour MPs believe Khan is well Brentford and Isleworth, won in Corbyn was campaigning in Croy- the only way to “stop the Tories someone I’ve got a very high re- placed to rally support for the 2015 by Ruth Cadbury by just 465 don yesterday where housing min- from wrecking our country for gard for. She’s been a very pow- party in London and beyond at votes, and Hampstead and Kilburn ister Gavin Barwell holds Croydon generations to come”. erful voice in parliament,” he told the June 8 poll. where Tulip Siddiq’s majority is Central by just 165. Doing so could be the route to reporters. “But it’s worth saying One said: “He is the most pow- 1,138. Former LibDem business secre- seeing off an “extreme” form of that the only plausible route of erful Labour politician in the Labour’s Wes Streeting won Il- tary Sir Vince Cable will be seeking Brexit and to help deliver a fairer any kind towards the Conserva- country. I look forward to cam- ford North at the last general elec- to oust Conservative Tania Mathi- voting system, they argued. tives not winning a majority is a paigning alongside him.” Another tion by 589 votes, and colleague as, who won the Twickenham seat The Greens have previously Liberal Democrat group.” backbencher added: “Sadiq will Joan Ryan won by 1,086 in Enfi eld from him with a majority of 2,017. argued for a so-called progres- The Greens opted to not fi eld potentially be very helpful.” One North. Ex-energy secretary Sir Edward sive alliance in which centre-left a candidate in December’s Rich- Labour MP who asked Khan’s of- Demographic changes may Davey has to overturn a 2,834 ma- parties avoid competing against mond by-election, where the fi ce for his support was told there make it harder for the Conserva- jority to win back Kingston and each other in certain seats as a LibDems unseated the Con- have been many similar requests. tives to win in these two outer Surbiton from Tory James Berry. way of combating the Conserva- servatives’ Zac Goldsmith. At Writing in the Standard yester- London seats. Conservative Paul Scully is tives. the time, some Labour fi gures, day, the mayor said: “Over the last Former Labour minister Gareth likely to face an easier battle to re- However, Corbyn, who has among them Lisa Nandy, Clive year I hope I have proved to Lon- Thomas also faces a fi ght to hold tain Sutton and Cheam, as former previously expressed opposition Lewis and Jonathan Reynolds, doners what Labour can achieve in on to Harrow West, with his ma- LibDem MP Paul Burstow is not Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves his home in London to the idea, ruled out any pacts argued their party should con- power.” jority cut to 2,208 in 2015. standing again. yesterday. with the Greens or LibDems, or sider a similar move. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 21 BRITAIN

DECISION LEGAL ORDEAL PEOPLE POLITICS Ex-finance minister Magician who hit girlfriend Pregnant woman Cornwall teen disciplined DUP fined £1,000 by quits parliament with bottle spared jail attacked by dogs for ‘extreme hairstyle’ electoral commission

Former finance minister George Osborne, a key A professional magician who hit his girlfriend with A heavily pregnant woman and her soldier A teenager who shaved his head for a cancer The Democratic Unionist Party has been fined opponent of Brexit, yesterday said he was quit- a bottle following a row over her texting friends husband were savaged by two large dogs as they charity has been removed from classes. Taylor £1,000 for failing to notify the Electoral Com- ting parliament but would “go on fighting” for too much has been spared jail. Marcus Lewis, 30, tried to defend their pet Chihuahuas. Emily Vickery, Jones, 15, was told that his “extreme hairstyle” mission that Arlene Foster had become its Britain as editor of London’s Evening Standard left Catherine Mallett, 26, in “absolute agony” after 23, and Sam Myford say they were left covered in was inappropriate when he returned after the leader. Foster was elected leader of the DUP in newspaper. “I am stepping down from the striking her on the arm at the flat they shared in blood after the attack at the Westbury White Horse holiday. Launceston College, in Cornwall, says December 2015, following the retirement of Peter House of Commons — for now,” Osborne wrote Shepherd’s Bush, his trial heard. Lewis attacked monument in Wiltshire. Both were treated in hos- he is being given “individual specialist tuition” Robinson. The commission imposed the fine in a letter to his constituents, leaving the door her again four days later and then ate the police pital for multiple bite wounds, and there were fears for four days until it grows back. But Taylor’s because the DUP missed a deadline to notify it of open for a potential comeback. The 45-year-old letter sent about the earlier assault, Hammersmith she had entered premature labour. The owner of mother Lesley says he should not be punished a change in its registered leader. The independent was appointed as editor of the Evening Stand- magistrates’ court was told. Lewis denied two the bull mastiff -type dogs drove off without leaving for trying to help others. Lesley Jones said her watchdog oversees elections and regulates politi- ard in March. A week earlier, he had already counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm her details. Police say they are looking for a woman son had decided to raise money for Cancer cal finance in the UK. A DUP spokesperson said: drawn criticism for disclosing that he would but was found guilty and sentenced to 12 weeks in a green Mini over the “terrifying” attack. The Research UK after a friend was diagnosed with “Due to an administrative oversight the required receive £650,000 a year working as an adviser in prison suspended for 18 months. He was also council worker, who is 37 weeks pregnant, was terminal cancer. He had been growing his hair notification was filed late. The Electoral Commis- to the US asset management fund BlackRock ordered to attend a 40-day rehab programme walking with her 27-year-old husband and their two for months in preparation for the event, which sion have indicated to us that they consider the for four days a month. and pay £735 in court costs and fees. dogs when it happened. he had planned for June. matter closed.”

Combating stigma around mental health Driver sprayed with ammonia as carjackers fl ee with Audi

London Evening Standard hurt and have been moved to a London specialist burns hospital in Es- sex. Police say they are hunting motorist was sprayed in Arthur Collins, the 26-year- the face with a “noxious old boyfriend of reality TV A substance” in a carjack- star Ferne McCann, over the ing in east London. incident at the Mangle club The victim, in his twenties, in Dalston. McCann is best had been driving a high-pow- known for her appearances on ered Audi S3 in Bow when he The Only Way is Essex and I’m was bumped from behind by A Celebrity...Get Me Out of another car containing several Here!. men. Collins’s home in Broxbourne, As he got out to inspect the Hertfordshire, was raided on damage, a man sprayed a sub- Monday night by police carrying stance believed to be ammonia out an arrest warrant in connec- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge poses for a photograph with runner Alex Stanley, as she put a Heads Together headband onto the Kensington Palace post-box in support in his face before assaulting tion with the attack — and they of the Royal Mail wrapping 70 post-boxes that line the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon route. The duchess later attended a reception for Team Heads Together, at him. The suspect then jumped allegedly found a cache of fi re- Kensington Palace, in London. Along with Prince William and Prince Harry, Catherine is asking each marathon runner to wear a Heads Together headband on race day to into the victim’s car and sped arms, cannabis plants and culti- support the royal trio’s organisation, which aims to combat the stigma around mental health. off down Whitethorn Street. vation equipment. Two people, The victim flagged down a aged 54 and 52, were arrested on passing police car and was tak- suspicion of cultivation of can- en to hospital for treatment. nabis. His Audi was later found Scotland Yard yesterday said abandoned in Bluebell Avenue Collins was still wanted for in Manor Park. The suspects’ questioning as McCann ap- car was described as a “white pealed to her boyfriend to turn 4x4-type vehicle”. himself in. Detective constable Tom A spokeswoman for her said: Lockwood, of Tower Hamlets “Ferne is aware that the police Govt vows strong action CID, said: “This was a shock- wish to speak to Collins and ing attack that took place in the nature of the accusations broad daylight in the middle of against him. Obviously these a busy street. Thankfully the are highly shocking and Ferne victim’s injuries do not appear has co-operated with the po- to be serious but he is under- lice in their inquiries.” standably shaken up. She added that McCann was to rein in energy fi rms “I would appeal to anyone not with Collins on Sunday who was in Whitethorn Street night and had not attended the Guardian News and Media timing,” he said, but he reject- cause of the “fl agrant mistreat- bills plans published before the “We believe it quite likely that and witnessed the incident to Mangle nightclub: “As much as London ed MPs’ charge that the gov- ment” of loyal customers who dissolution of parliament on most, if not all will announce contact police. We would also anybody she wants to know the ernment would delay its long- default on to more expensive May 3, or whether they will be measures to intervene in the do- like to hear from anybody who truth and urges Arthur to co- anticipated intervention in the standard tariff s and are collec- held back as a manifesto pledge. mestic supply market in some saw the victim’s vehicle being operate fully with the police he government will energy market following the tively paying a billion pounds Analysts at Cornwall Energy way.” driven in Bluebell Avenue be- and attend a police station im- take muscular action to snap election announcement. more than they need to. said they believed the green An 18-month review by the fore it was found by officers.” mediately.” Ttackle rising electricity “There is no delay. The re- “For consumers who aren’t paper would be shelved ahead competition watchdog last year There have been no arrests. Towie stars Jamie Reed, Jade and gas bills because energy sponse you will see will be able to be so active or so fleet of the election, but a Whitehall ruled out a price cap, favouring The number of acid attacks in Lewis and Chloe Meadows were companies are milking disad- muscular and strong, and it of foot, they are being milked,” source said the possibility of ac- measures to encourage consum- London rose from 259 in 2011 among those forced to leave the vantaged people, the business will apply to all the companies he said. Clark’s comments tion before the government and ers to switch more instead. Clark to 431 last year. bank holiday LoveJuice event. secretary said. that are disadvantaging con- mark the strongest language civil service shut down for the said the government’s response The carjacking took place Among those hurt were Sadie Greg Clark said Theresa sumers,” he told the business, yet on the government’s plans election campaign had not been to the Competitions and Market at 4.40pm on Friday, before a Wright, the cousin of ex-Pre- May’s decision to call a sur- energy and industrial strategy to take regulatory action, after ruled out. Authority report was due very separate acid attack in a night- mier League footballer Jamie prise general election for June committee yesterday. Clark May recently promised to step Others said they expected the shortly. Five of the big six energy club in east London in the early O’Hara, and Australian model 8 meant events had intervened said the plans, which are ex- in against a market that was question of what to do about suppliers – EDF, E.ON, Npower, hours of Monday. Isobella Fraser, 22, who was in his plans, which were ex- pected to include some form “manifestly not working”. loyal energy customers paying SSE and Scottishpower – have Twenty clubbers were in- burnt on her arm and back, and pected to be announced as of price cap, would show “very It remains unclear if the prime over the odds to feature in the increased their prices recently, jured, including two men, aged her sister, Prue, 20, who was soon as next week. decisive action”. minister’s decision to call a gen- major parties’ election mani- blaming rising wholesale costs 24 and 29, who were seriously scalded. “We will have to reflect on Clark said he was acting be- eral election will see the energy festos. Experts at Barclays said: and other factors.

Flower show opens Entrepreneur dies on Police chief warns ‘paedophile hunters’

fi rst day of Thailand trip “We do have signifi cant con- Guardian News and Media London cerns about people taking the London Evening Standard than him really, it was more like iers at the Leicester Square Box law into their own hands and London a friend or being an older brother Offi ce and went on to launch the methods they use, and in and sister. It was a really nice re- Theatre Tickets Direct with him, olice have said self- some cases acting outside of the lationship for us. described him as a “great per- styled “paedophile law, and would strongly advise n entrepreneur was killed “He was only ever a phone call sonality” who “wore his heart on Phunters” are putting against getting involved in, or in a motorcycle crash a day away. Even after he moved out we his sleeve and had amazing cha- vulnerable individuals at seri- setting up activities to entrap Aafter arriving on a holiday always had a very close relation- risma”. ous risk of harm after a man those suspected of intending to island in Thailand. ship. He would come round at She told the Standard: “You suspected of grooming chil- commit off ences,” he said. Adnan Lotia, 36, from least once a week. His work was couldn’t help but like him — if dren was set upon by vigilan- He advised such groups to Northolt, was managing direc- his passion. Online is 24 hours so you knew him for one minute tes at a shopping centre on contact the police with their tor of Theatre Tickets Direct, an he never really switched off . But you would think he’s an amazing Sunday. suspicions. “Whilst police have online marketplace for West End he loved travelling, he was quite guy. He had so many plans for the Kent police charged a man resources and expertise to pro- shows. adventurous.” business, he was really happy and with grooming after an under- tect the vulnerable and peo- A keen sportsman, he had Lotia moved from Karachi looking forward to the future. cover sting operation by mem- ple with mental health issues, travelled to Koh Phangan for in Pakistan when he was 18 to “It’s still hard to come to terms bers of a Facebook vigilante members of the public generally three weeks of boxing training study systems engineering at with. But the business has to car- group known as The Hunted do not, and can cause such in- after which he was due to attend Richmond, the American Inter- ry on — that’s what Adnan would One. dividuals to be placed at serious a cricket tournament in Phuket. national University in London. have wanted.” Footage of the incident post- risk of harm,” he said. But he was injured in a crash on During his studies he lived with Richard Cullen, who coached ed by the group showed a brawl After the incident The Hunt- the island on March 27 and died his aunt and uncle in Hayes. young players with Lotia at Wy- in a car park at the Bluewater ed One group suggested it would that day. Ibrahim Vallijee, who fl ew to combe House, said the entrepre- shopping centre during which no longer confront suspects Yesterday his aunt Tasneem Bangkok to attend Lotia’s funer- neur’s “enthusiasm for the game of a man was seen being punched because of safety concerns. In and uncle Ibrahim Vallijee paid al, said it had been his nephew’s cricket was unparalleled”. He said: and kicked. a statement it said: “We will tribute to their “generous and fi fth trip to Thailand. “Adnan’s life was a joy. He would Kent police said it was no longer be going live for the humble” nephew. Tasneem Valli- Mohamed Vasi Shaikh, 33, a light a room up simply by walking Model Lauren Green wears a floral dress creation by New alarmed about the behaviour of stings, as we don’t want cases jee, 41, said: “He was a very hon- close friend and fellow member in. His smile, disarming manner Zealand artist Jenny Gillies on the eve of the opening day vigilante groups. and evidence ruined … The est, generous person who cared of Wycombe House Cricket Club and sense of humour made for an of the Harrogate Spring Flower Show at the Great Yorkshire Chief superintendent Tho- safety of our team as well as the about people. Now we’re getting in Osterley, said: “It was very sad. incredibly infectious character.” Showground in Harrogate, northern England, yesterday. The mas Richards said their ac- general public is paramount.” so many phone calls — every- He was a great guy, absolutely A Foreign Offi ce spokesman flower show, which features over 1,000 exhibitors and hosts tivities risked hampering police The case is the latest to ex- one has a story to tell about how fun-loving.” said: “We are providing support the UK’s biggest exhibition by flower arrangers and florists, investigations and potentially pose police unease about the helpful he was. Dominika Abel, who met Lotia to the family of a British man who opens today and runs until April 23, 2017. exposing innocent members of activities of self-described “We’re not that much older when the pair worked as cash- died in Thailand on March 27.” the public to false accusations. “paedophile hunters”. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, April 20, 2017 EUROPE France’s Le Pen campaigns for ‘dispossessed’ French Marine Le Pen stressed the threats of ing to pull France out of the 28-member immigration club and scrap the euro common currency. On Tuesday night, she insisted that the AFP TF1 television channel remove the blue- Paris and-yellow European fl ag from behind her before an interview. But Melenchon, her eurosceptic far-left ar-right presidential frontrunner opponent, sought to soften his position on Marine Le Pen said yesterday that Marion Marechal-Le Pen, French Tuesday night, stating that he did not seek FFrench people felt “dispossessed” National Front political party deputy, to end the European Union or the euro de- in their own country as she stressed the attends a political rally as she cam- spite criticising the “ultra-liberal” trading threats of immigration and terrorism in paigns for Marine Le Pen. bloc for years. the fi nal days of campaigning. “Don’t believe what they tell you, ‘He The 48-year-old former lawyer has FN top brass has decided to go full throttle wants to leave Europe, the euro’...let’s be spent years trying to broaden support for for far-right voters.” serious,” he told supporters. her National Front (FN) party, but she has After a string of Islamist-inspired as- The Communist-backed candidate has signalled a return to the core concerns of saults in France, security concerns moved pledged to renegotiate some of the found- many of her supporters in recent speech- to the centre of the campaign Tuesday fol- ing treaties of the bloc, however, which es. lowing the arrests of two French men sus- would cast serious doubt on the viability Speaking on BFM television yesterday, pected of preparing an attack to disrupt of the postwar project of integrating the Le Pen emphasised how she would pull the election. continent. France out of the European Union, slash The two suspects, who were detained Polls show that a majority of French immigration, make it harder to get French in Marseille with a cache of weapons and people still support the EU and the euro. nationality and crack down on suspected explosives, were being questioned in the Veteran centrist Francois Bayrou, who has Islamists. southern city yesterday where Le Pen is backed Macron, warned yesterday that “French people have the feeling of be- set to appear later at a rally. several possibilities were possible for the ing dispossessed of their identity, of their Le Pen has claimed that her proposals run-off vote on May 7. social security system and their sover- such as expelling any foreigner convicted The election has been one of the most eignty,” Le Pen told the channel. of a crime or suspected of being radical- unpredictable in decades and takes place Polls show a four-way race develop- ised would have helped prevent some of against the backdrop of Britain’s shock de- ing ahead of the fi rst round of the election the attacks since 2015 which have claimed cision to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s on Sunday between Le Pen, 39-year-old more than 200 lives. presidential victory in the United States. centrist Emmanuel Macron, conservative Left-leaning Le Monde newspaper said “A second round Melenchon-Le Pen, Francois Fillon and far-left fi rebrand Jean- her claim was “absurd” given that most of it’s terrifying for the country, for the im- Luc Melenchon. the attackers were French, many without age of the country and for its future, be- A new survey published yesterday criminal records. cause the choices proposed are extremely showed Macron leading on 23%, Le Pen “You don’t seek votes on the backs of risky,” Bayrou said. on 22.5%, Fillon on 19.5% and Melenchon dead people. It’s a sort of moral red line,” One-time frontrunner Francois Fillon, on 19%, but the gap between all of them is the newspaper said. a conservative ex-prime minister from closing. The top two will advance to a run- French voters have so far been more the Republicans party, got a boost from off vote on May 7. concerned about unemployment and their popular party heavyweight Alain Juppe Jean-Yves Camus, an academic and ex- spending power than terrorism or secu- who agreed to appear with him in public pert on the FN, told AFP that Le Pen had rity, polls show, though analysts warn in Paris. returned to the “fundamentals, and par- this would change quickly in the event of Juppe has avoided Fillon since January ticularly immigration” in the fi nal run-in. bloodshed. when a scandal broke about the candi- “It’s back to basics. We also heard the Some analysts have also depicted the date’s wife being paid hundreds of thou- old slogan ‘France for the French’ at the French election as a sort of referendum on sands of euros for an allegedly fake parlia- meeting (on Monday night),” he said. “The the European Union, with Le Pen propos- mentary job. French riot police secure a position during a demonstration against a campaign rally by Marine Le Pen. Do Italy’s debt and defi cit numbers add up?

DPA Padoan has his hands tied because try near bankruptcy in late 2011. Rome the ruling Democratic Party (PD) is But that programme is due to be trailing the populist opposition Five gradually wound down in the coming Star Movement (M5S) in opinion polls months. n Italy, a “sailor’s promise” is one and wants to avoid unpopular eco- Padoan spoke to lawmakers about a that is never going to be kept. nomic measures ahead of general elec- diffi cult balancing act: he said giving I There is growing concern that tions due by early 2018. up on budget discipline would be “a the country’s yearly pledges to get Former premier Matteo Renzi, who ruinous choice,” but warned that aus- to grips with its huge public debt are is expected to be re-elected PD leader terity “beyond a reasonable amount” turning into one. at the end of the month, issued a clear would risk triggering a new recession. Italy’s public debt burden — meas- diktat: “We will not raise taxes... the It will probably fall on the European ured in comparison to the size of its PD is no longer the tax party” he wrote Commission, the European Union’s economy — is the fourth-largest in the in a Tuesday newsletter. budget discipline watchdog, to come world, standing at more than 132% of The statement came two days after to the rescue by agreeing to a softening gross domestic product (GDP). The Padoan suggested, in an interview with of Italy’s fi scal targets. European Union limit is supposed to Il Messaggero, that raising some VAT Rome has consistently won such be 60%. rates to off set a cut in labour taxes, in concessions from Brussels in the last Last week, Economy Minister Pier order to boost Italy’s low productivity three years. Carlo Padoan unveiled new budget and growth, was a “textbook” solution But Padoan said he felt a hardening plans aiming to trim the annual defi cit “backed by good arguments”. of attitudes in some European circles, to 0.3% of GDP by 2019, from 2.1% this Renzi’s “no” leaves the minister — a with people saying “not at the offi cial year, thus helping reduce public debt respected technocrat who previously level, but in the corridors”, that Italy by 4 percentage points during that pe- worked at the International Monetary should be taught a lesson as a warning riod. Fund and the Organization für Eco- to others, even at the cost of kicking it Similar objectives — an annual defi - nomic Co-Operation and Develop- out of the eurozone. cit of around 0.3% of GDP and public ment — scraping for ways to plug the “There is a common idea that Italy debt in the region of 125% of GDP — budget shortfall and revive a stagnant is not credible on its budget policies, were heralded in 2014, when Padoan economy. reforms and handling of its banking took offi ce. They were supposed to be “The country is embarking on a crisis,” Padoan told Il Messaggero, honoured by 2017, but that never hap- narrow path,” Padoan told a parlia- adding that he was “strenuously pened. mentary committee yesterday, before fi ghting” others’ temptations to let “To reach the [latest] targets, a conducting a closed-door meeting Rome slide out of the common cur- $14bn cut in spending would be neces- with PD lawmakers who were ex- rency. sary. pected to stonewall belt-tightening “Not only because Italy has done Even children know it is not going requests. a lot to improve its situation, but be- to happen,” Roberto Perotti of Bocconi The European Central Bank’s cause if all this [a euro expulsion and University, a former government ad- bond-buying programme has national insolvency] were to happen, viser on public spending, wrote in the shielded Italy from the kind of mar- the consequences could no longer be La Repubblica newspaper. ket pressure that brought the coun- controlled,” Padoan warned.

Russia kills two men suspected of preparing attacks near Moscow

AFP The men, born in 1987 and 1991, The FSB did not say whether the ar- Moscow “were in contact with recruiters from rest attempt was linked to the April 3 international terrorist organisations” attack on the Saint Petersburg metro and “showed an interest in techniques that killed 14 people, which was alleg- ussia’s FSB security force said for homemade explosive devices and edly carried out by a bomber born in yesterday that it had killed two expressed readiness to commit terrorist Kyrgyzstan. Rmen from Central Asia suspected attacks in Russia,” the FSB said. The agency has detained another of preparing attacks, while trying to ar- The agency said it found bomb-mak- man born in Kyrgyzstan on suspicion of rest them in the Vladimir region east of ing ingredients and weapons during the helping orchestrate the metro bombing, Moscow. raid in the Vladimir region, about 200 who admitted to “some involvement” “As a result of clashes during at- kilometres (125 miles) east of Moscow. in the crime during a court appearance tempted detention, two citizens of a Local media outlets published a video Tuesday. Central Asian state were neutralised by of two men lying dead in a bedroom of Russia has also detained eight others FSB offi cers,” the agency said in a state- a large brick house in the countryside. from ex-Soviet Central Asia on suspi- ment. A Kalashnikov lies next to one of them. cion of involvement in the bombing. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 23 EUROPE Petry will Milestone not lead AfD in federal elections

Reuters Petry, a 41-year-old chemist Berlin from the former Communist East Germany, managed to se- cure a two-thirds majority on rauke Petry, co-leader of the party executive board in fa- the Alternative for Ger- vour of expelling Hoecke. Fmany (AfD), said yester- The far-right wing of the AfD day she would not lead the anti- supports him, however, and a immigration party’s campaign party arbitration board must for a September 24 federal elec- now decide his fate. tion — a shock announcement A Forsa opinion poll pub- from the woman seen as the lished yesterday showed the face of the party. AfD winning 8% in the elec- Opinion polls show the AfD tion, well above the 5% thresh- winning enough votes to enter old needed to win seats in the the Bundestag lower house of Bundestag. parliament for the fi rst time. Germany’s Der Spiegel maga- But the AfD has lost about a zine has reported that Petry’s third of its supporters as mi- opponents agreed at a secret grant arrivals to Germany have meeting last week to form a eased and the party has also team around 76-year-old pub- been hit by infi ghting and con- licist Gauland and 38-year-old troversy over its attitude to the economist Alice Weidel — who, Nazi past. like Petry, wants Hoecke oust- Petry caused controversy ed. by tabling a motion for a par- The AfD could not be reached ty congress next weekend in for comment on the report. which she said the AfD — which German Chancellor Angela is shunned by other parties — Merkel’s conservative political A snow man stands near the level crossing between Wernigerode and Schierke, eastern Germany. should be ready to join coali- bloc has maintained a solid lead tions in future. She also said in opinion polls published yes- some senior AfD members such terday — less than six months as Alexander Gauland wanted it before voters in Europe’s big- to be a “fundamental” opposi- gest economy go to the polls. tion party. The centre-left Social Speaking in a video message Democrats (SPD) had enjoyed posted on her Facebook page, a surge in support in opinion Petry said she had been accused polls in January after the par- of making the proposal solely to ty selected former European become the party’s top candi- Parliament President Martin Turkey offi cials reject date despite her not mention- Schulz to topple Merkel in the ing that idea in her motion. national election set down for “In order to put an end to all September. speculation in this regard, I am But voter surveys from the using the opportunity of this INSA and Forsa polling groups video message to clearly state pointed to the so-called Schulz that I am neither available for eff ect as having faded just as election challenges a lone lead candidacy nor for the SPD enters the critical stage participation in a top team,” she of its campaigns for elections Legal challenges against the rope rights watchdog denounced Sayek Boke vowed that the party decision by the electoral board, opened, to prevent anyone slip- said. next month, one in the small poll result are not expected the move, saying it “removed would use all means to challenge two hours before polling booths ping in bogus papers that Feyzi- The AfD, which rails against northern state of Schleswig- to fare well an important safeguard”. Bulent the result and called for a re-run closed, to accept votes on ballot oglu said could be printed off at Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Holstein, the other in North Tezcan, CHP deputy leader, told of the vote. papers that did not bear an offi - home. decision to allow more than a Rhine Westphalia, Germany’s AFP CNN-Turk the YSK’s decision Turkey’s leading satirical cial electoral stamp. He said the bar association had million migrants into Germany most populous state. Istanbul to reject the petitions sparked a weekly Penguen meanwhile took While foreign observers have taken thousands of calls about since mid-2015, is due to decide The survey from Berlin- “serious legitimacy crisis.” a light-hearted but cutting look said they did not witness specifi c unstamped ballot papers on the on its election leadership line- based pollsters Forsa showed There have been daily street at the situation by printing a cases of fraud, Feyzioglu said that day of the vote, but it is now too up at its weekend gathering in Merkel’s Christian Democrats urkey’s election authority protests in anti-Erdogan neigh- blank cover. decision meant the vote on the late to calculate how many were the western city of Cologne. (CDU) and their Bavarian- yesterday rejected oppo- bourhoods in Istanbul since “From now on, covers without biggest overhaul of Turkish poli- aff ected. Petry’s camp wants to expel based Christian Social Union Tsition requests to cancel a Sunday’s referendum, with cartoons will also be counted as tics since the 1923 creation of the “We cannot know the from the party a senior mem- (CSU) allies unchanged at 36% referendum that boosted Presi- thousands chanting slogans and valid,” said the caption, in refer- modern republic could have been number...There was one way of ber, Bjoern Hoecke, for calling of the vote with the SPD stuck dent Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s au- banging pots and pans in an an- ence to the controversy over the manipulated. knowing the number and that Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial at 30%. thority as police detained activ- gry show of discontent. counting of unstamped ballots. “I cannot know whether there was keeping record of those that a “monument of shame” and The INSA poll published in ists over street protests following Istanbul police yesterday de- The referendum has also was cheating. And if so, who did came out unstamped,” he said. saying history books should the daily Bild recorded a simi- the contested poll. tained 16 leftist activists involved caused new friction in Turkey’s this, was it organised, did eve- Up to 2.5mn votes could have be re-written to focus more on lar result with the CDU-CSU The narrow victory of the ‘Yes’ in demonstrations. relationship with the European ryone do it? I cannot know. You been manipulated — a number German victims of the Nazis. rising one percentage point to campaign in Sunday’s referen- Among them was Mesut Union, which it has long sought cannot know this either. Nobody almost double the margin of Er- 34% as the SPD dropped back dum handed Erdogan sweeping Gecgel, the Istanbul chairman of to join but which gave the ‘Yes’ can,” said Feyzioglu, who is seen dogan’s victory, a member of the to 30.5%. new powers — most of which will the Freedom and Solidarity Party victory the most lukewarm wel- as a potential future leader of the Council of Europe observer mis- If voters could directly elect come into force after 2019 — but (ODP), a leftwing movement not come. main opposition CHP, which is sion said on Tuesday. the chancellor 44% of vot- was bitterly disputed by his ri- represented in parliament. It will be impossible to tell how appealing the outcome of the ref- Feyzioglu said the decision ers would have backed Merkel, vals. The party said he was detained many unstamped ballots were erendum. by the YSK election board came while support for Schulz as The main opposition Republi- on accusations of “agitating the accepted in Turkey’s referen- “The only proof that (a ballot even though, in a ruling earlier in chancellor has slumped 3 per- can People’s Party (CHP) and the public” by claiming the ‘Yes’ vote dum, or their impact on the tight paper) has not been brought from the day about which side of ballot centage points to 31%, accord- pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democrat- was illegitimate. result, because no records were outside is the timely stamping slips should be stamped, it said ing to Forsa. ic Party (HDP) had on Tuesday Gecgel’s lawyer Deniz Demir- kept, the head of the bar associa- of the ballot sheet at the polling “the aim of stamping envelopes Both polls also point to the asked that the poll be scrapped dogen told AFP that anti-terror tion said. station,” he said. “There is no is to prevent the use of fabricated CDU-CSU along with fi ve par- over alleged violations. police raided the suspects’ homes Turkey’s main opposition par- other proof... If you use your im- envelopes”. Few people in Turkey ties gaining seats in the national Although the ‘Yes’ camp won before dawn, saying 16 people ties have called for the result to agination, you can write as many expect a successful challenge to parliament, the Bundestag, af- with 51.41%, it was a narrower- were detained so far but arrest be annulled, arguing that the scenarios of irregularities as you the referendum, which the YSK ter the September election, in- than-expected victory with the warrants had been issued for 38. decision to accept unstamped want.” said was won by the “Yes” camp cluding the pro-business Free opposition claiming the outcome Describing the accusations as voting papers was illegal and did Once the ballot boxes were with 51.4 % of the vote, accord- Democrats, the environmen- would have been reversed in a fair “strange”, he added: “They are away with a central safeguard opened, offi cials at many voting ing to preliminary fi gures. talist Greens and the hard-left poll. accused of provoking people to against voting fraud. stations stamped the unstamped However, Feyzioglu said that if Frauke Petry Die Linke. Ten members of the Supreme question the legitimacy of the But Metin Feyzioglu, head of papers in order to authenticate the YSK rejected opposition ap- Election Board (YSK) decided ‘Yes’ in the referendum. the Union of Turkish Bar Asso- them, without recording details, peals, the referendum could still against annulling the vote, while “But there’s no such crime ciations, said the decision had he said. be challenged in Turkey’s Con- only one voted in favour, the defi nition in the penal code.” untold consequences that under- “I believe this was with good stitutional Court or at the Euro- board said in a statement. Speaking in Ankara earlier, mined the referendum. intention... But it is in fact a pean Court of Human Rights. To the dismay of opposition Prime Minister Binali Yildirim “What makes any country a crime, you cannot do that. You If the ECHR ruled that there Reichsbuerger parties and ‘No’ supporters, the said the matter of the election democracy is the security of the are validating a ballot sheet that had been infringements in the YSK made a last-minute decision result was closed and warned ballot boxes,” Feyzioglu told Reu- should have been discarded,” said vote, the referendum would have on Sunday to accept ballot papers against further protests. “Turkey ters in an interview. “Everything Feyzioglu. to be held all over again, he said. extremist booked in envelopes without an offi cial is a state of law... and there can might be impeccable, but if your Standard procedure was for “If you’re carrying out such a big stamp. be no talk of anarchy, activities in ballots are unsafe that means ballot papers to be stamped by change to the system, one that International observers from the street,” he said. that regime is not a democracy.” offi cials at polling stations on impacts the regime, it must be DPA bly evict him from his property the OSCE and the Council of Eu- CHP spokeswoman Selin Argument centres around a Sunday morning before polls without a doubt.” Berlin in a village in eastern Germany. Only protective clothing saved the offi cer’s life, prosecu- former Mister Germany tors said. who more recently be- Ursache was also injured in Acame a prominent sup- the incident, which came after UN judges decline Ukraine request to order Russia to desist porter of an anti-government he declared his property a state. extremist group was charged The Reichsbuerger move- yesterday with attempted mur- ment and its about 10,000 Reuters national Court of Justice last tion that Russia has funded ter- Crimea and ensure Ukrainian way to litigate against Russia’s der. sympathisers believe that the The Hague month to order Russia to stop rorism. language education was avail- annexation of Crimea. Adrian Ursache, who was laws of both Imperial Germany backing forces in the confl ict, That issue will be considered able in the region annexed by Ukrainian deputy Foreign named Mister Germany in and Nazi Germany still apply in arguing Moscow was violat- when the court hears arguments Russia in 2014. Minister Olena Zerkal told re- 1998, had been facing charges the country, more than 70 years N judges yesterday re- ing a global treaty on terrorism from both sides, which could Moscow “must...refrain porters at the court that the of dangerous bodily harm, after the end of the Second jected a Ukrainian re- fi nancing and another interna- last years. from maintaining or imposing ruling was “a positive one” for weapons violations and resist- World War. Uquest to order Russia to tional pact on discrimination. The ICJ’s decisions are fi nal limitations in the ability of the Kiev. “We proved our position. ing law enforcement offi cers re- The events surrounding the stop supporting separatist forc- The ICJ, which handles dis- and cannot be appealed, but it Crimean Tatar community to We have a very good perspective lating to his involvement in the eviction of Ursache from his es in eastern Ukraine, saying it putes between states, ruled that has few means of enforcing de- conserve its representative in- for (the) hearings on the merits” so-called Reichsbuerger move- property were not the only time did not meet requirements un- Ukraine had not presented suf- cisions. stitutions”, the court ruled. in the case, she added. ment, which does not recognise that the Reichsbuerger move- der an international terrorism fi cient evidence on the question Russia has repeatedly de- It said Tatars must also have Russia’s ICJ delegation did the German state or court deci- ment has captured the head- treaty. of whether Moscow knew or nied sending troops or military access to education in the not comment on the ruling. sions made in its name. lines in Germany. Pro-Russian forces rose up intended that any alleged funds equipment to eastern Ukraine Ukrainian language. Russia’s takeover of Crimea German prosecutors added In October 2016 last year, a in Ukraine’s east in 2014 after a collected would be used to com- and was expected to challenge Russia has denied Kiev’s ac- brought East-West tensions attempted murder to the list of so-called Reichsbuerger had popular uprising centred in the mit terrorist acts on Ukrainian the ICJ’s writ in the dispute. cusations that it has mistreated to their highest point since charges facing the 42-year-old accused of shooting a 32-year capital Kiev toppled the former soil. The ICJ did grant another re- the Tatars since 2014. the Cold War, and subsequent Ursache after he was accused of police offi cer in the southern Soviet republic’s Moscow- The ruling was interim and quest by Ukraine by ruling Mos- Moscow argues Ukraine was fi ghting in eastern Ukraine shooting a policeman in August state of Bavaria. The offi cer lat- backed president. does not mean the court has no cow must halt alleged discrimi- misapplying the treaties on ter- since has killed more than last year during moves to forci- er died from his injuries. Ukraine asked the Inter- jurisdiction in Ukraine’s allega- nation against ethnic Tatars in rorism and discrimination as a 10,000 people. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, April 20, 2017 INDIA

HEAT WAVE POLITICS ELECTIONS CRIME EDUCATION Telangana advances Regional parties must Cabinet okays EC plan Man murdered in Assam to make Assamese summer holidays unite, says Mamata for paper trail machines fight over cricket mandatory till Class 10

The Telangana government has advanced Amid talks of a grand alliance to counter the The federal cabinet yesterday approved the Fight over a game of cricket on a street in Assamese will be made a mandatory subject summer holidays for schools due to a severe Bharatiya Janata Party, West Bengal Chief Minister Election Commission’s proposal to buy paper Vijayawada has led to the murder of a man, in all schools in Assam till Class 10, Education heat wave in the state. With the maximum Mamata Banerjee yesterday urged regional parties trail machines for the Electronic Voter Machines, police said. The incident occurred in Telecom Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said yesterday. temperature rising to 44 degrees Celsius in to unite. “All regional parties should come together Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. He said Colony off Mahatma Gandhi Road on Tuesday A legislation will be passed in the assembly in some places, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar and move ahead with greater strength maintaining 16,15,000 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) evening. According to the police, Kiran Kumar, August. Those not interested in Assamese can Rao directed the education department to good relations with each other. Our eff ort will be units would be needed for EVMs as per Election an engineering student, was playing with some opt Bodo or Bengali. “Students in Barak Valley declare holidays from yesterday in private to unite them,” Banerjee told reporters in Puri. Commission estimates. This would cost around children when the ball accidentally hit a woman. can opt for Bengali instead of Assamese. The and government schools. Rao felt it was better The chief minister is on a three-day visit to Odisha. Rs3,173.47 crore, he said. “If we place the order in He apologised but the woman’s son P Srikanth rest of the students must choose Assamese not to send children to schools as the weather She is likely to discuss the matter with her Odisha April, the whole supply would come by September reached there and picked up an argument. A or Bodo as a mandatory subject,” the minister conditions were severe, a statement from his counterpart Naveen Patnaik today. “I have sought 2018. Hence VVPAT machines will be available in scuff le broke out between the two. Srikanth went said. He said the legislation will make the off ice said. The education department had time for meeting with Naveen Patnaik. If permitted, all polling booths in the subsequent elections,” to his house and returned with a knife. He stabbed subject mandatory in all schools including earlier announced summer holidays from April I will meet him before leaving Odisha,” she said. Jaitley said. Several parties, including the Congress, Kiran Kumar in his chest, leading to his death. those under the Central Board of Secondary 24 to June 11. The meteorological department Janata Dal-United leader and Bihar Chief Minister Bahujan Samaj Party and Delhi’s ruling Aam Police quoted residents as saying that the two had Education (CBSE) and Kendriya Vidyalaya has issued a heat wave alert for the state. The Nitish Kumar and his colleague Sharad Yadav, who Aadmi Party (AAP) have alleged that EVMs can be past enmity. Kiran Kumar had many times raised Sangathan (KVS). The minister said a similar maximum temperature in most parts was four to attended the funeral of former Lok Sabha Speaker tampered with. “Voters have a right to know if their objection to Srikanth driving his bike in the colony legislation was in force in Kerala and Karnataka. five degrees above normal. Rabi Ray, had met Patnaik. votes are correctly registered or not,” he said. at a high speed in a rash manner.

Going with the flow BSF sacks trooper Sasikala and over video on bad food

IANS Dinakaran New Delhi

Border Security Force trooper who triggered a Apolitical uproar when his video clip on “substandard food” ouster fi rst served to security forces went vi- ral in January was yesterday dis- missed from service, an offi cial said. Tej Bahadur Yadav said he will approach the government and move courts if he fails to get jus- victory: OPS tice. He has the option to appeal his dismissal, which came after a AIADMK bowing to the wishes the war for justice will continue portant issues will need to be BSF court found him guilty of of party cadres, says minister “till the main goal is achieved”. sorted. indiscipline, in a higher court He reiterated that AIADMK Foremost among them is who within three months. Agencies founder and late chief minister M will be the chief minister. Pan- The video clip triggered an up- Chennai G Ramachandran and his succes- neerselvam’s camp is clear that roar across the country, with the sor Jayalalithaa led the party as a he must return to the post that Prime Minister’s Offi ce and the movement of cadres. he was forced to quit by Sasikala Home Ministry seeking detailed ormer Tamil Nadu chief He said that after Jayalalithaa earlier this year as she prepared reports from the BSF. minister O Panneerselvam died, the AIADMK had gone into to take over also as chief minis- A BSF Summary Security Force Fyesterday said the ouster the hands of Sasikala’s family. ter. Those plans were halted by Court (SSFC) in Jammu found of V K Sasikala and her nephew “The war for justice is to re- the Supreme Court handing her the constable, serving in the 29th T T V Dinakaran from the ruling trieve the party from the clutches a prison term and before she left Battalion, guilty of indiscipline. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra of that family.” Chennai, Sasikala ensured that “Yadav has been found guilty Kazhagam was his faction’s fi rst Panneerselvam said both fac- her proxy Palaniswamy became of all charges and awarded victory in the “dharma yudh” tions would now hold talks for a the chief minister. She also ap- dismissal from service today (crusade). merger of the AIADMK and a de- pointed Dinakaran as deputy (Wednesday) as per the provi- He was reacting after the ruling cision would be taken according chief of the AIADMK. sions of the BSF Act and rules. faction of the party late Tuesday to the wishes of the party mem- Palaniswamy proved that he The individual has options to ap- decided to sideline the now jailed bers. had the support of many more peal to higher court against the Sasikala and her nephew. Dinakaran meanwhile said the AIADMK legislators than Pan- verdict within three months,” an Sasikala is the general secre- state ministers decided to keep nerselvam to take over as chief SSFC statement said. tary of the party and Dinakaran its him out due to some fear. minister in February. His sup- The SSFC found Yadav “made deputy general secretary. Dinakaran said he did not know porters now want him be retained false allegations on the social Tamil Nadu Finance Minister what the ministers were fearing, in the post. Their off er is the post media regarding the quality of D Jayakumar on Tuesday night and the U-turn in their stand has of party chief to Panneerselvam in food and did not adhere to formal announced that AIADMK minis- happened in a matter of three place of Sasikala. grievance redressal mechanism ters had decided to keep Sasikala, days. But the OPS camp wants Pan- in the force. Dinakaran and their family mem- He also said as everybody de- neerselvam to be both chief min- “(He) neglected to obey the bers out of the party. cided to keep him out of the party ister and chief of a re-united AI- general orders of the force in He said a committee will be aff airs, he has decided to stay out. ADMK. They also want the post of which he carried two mobile formed to run the party. Dinakaran said Sasikala ap- AIADMK presidium chairperson phones while on operational duty, Jayakumar, who made the pointed him as her deputy and he to be returned to veteran leader (which goes) against the SOP announcement after meeting would resign from his post only E Madhusudanan, who was fi red (Standard Operation Procedure), Chief Minister K Palaniswami, after discussing the issue with by Sasikala earlier this year. They and also posted photographs in said the AIADMK was bowing to her. suggest that Palaniswamy can be uniform on social media in con- the wishes of party cadres, peo- According to Dinakaran those deputy chief minister. travention of instructions,” it said ple, lawmakers, ministers and in public life should not have any The two sides have so far not in its order. others. fear. budged from their positions. The BSF court said Yadav was “We will run the party and the He said he would not take any Earlier in the day, speaking to given all opportunities for de- government,” Jayakumar said. hasty decision and added that a news channel in New Delhi Lok fence during its proceedings. “We want to save the party and he would not act in any way that Sabha Deputy Speaker and AIAD- In his fi rst reactions, Yadav the government from the clutches would harm the party and the MK leader M Thambidurai urged said: “I was punished for telling of one family.” government. Dinakaran to respect the party’s the truth”. Sasikala was elected the AI- “I don’t have any expectations decision. “I will fi rst approach the cen- ADMK general secretary in De- from the party or the govern- He also said the families of Di- tral government for justice and cember after chief minister J Jay- ment,” Dinakaran said. nakaran and Sasikala had under- if I am denied justice there, then alalithaa died. The eviction from the party of gone suff erings and also contrib- I will go to the court,” he said in Dinakaran earlier said that as Sasikala and her family was the uted to the party’s growth. Jammu. everyone had decided to keep him most immediate condition laid The AIADMK split into two af- Yadav’s wife Sharmila also ex- out of party aff airs, he had decid- down by Panneerselvam for any ter the death of Jayalalithaa. One pressed dissatisfaction over the Labourers transport bamboo logs down the Longai River near Kanmun village in Mizoram, ed to stay out. talks on re-uniting the party. As faction is led by Sasikala and the BSF court’s order and took to so- northeast India. According to Panneerselvam, they hold talks now, other im- other by Panneerselvam. cial media to protest the decision.

44 killed as bus falls into French offi cial acquitted river in Himachal Pradesh of raping his daughter Agencies of trying to protect him. Bengaluru His lawyers Clement Witt and Agencies occurred is very tough. Without a Images of the scene showed Pierre-Olivier Sur said it was the Shimla probe, it’s diffi cult to say whether luggage strewn around the man- “end of a nightmare”. the accident happened due to hu- gled chassis of the bus on the ra- court yesterday acquitted “It is a victory of truth over man error or mechanical failure,” vine fl oor, as volunteers and local a French consular offi cial lies,” they said in a WhatsApp bus swerved off a moun- Thakur said. residents scoured the site. Aof raping his three-year- message. tain road and plunged into Naresh Chauhan, one of the D W Negi, senior police super- old daughter, the embassy in The court pronounced the Aa deep ravine in Himachal two survivors, claimed that one intendent of Shimla, said 11 wom- New Delhi said. judgement citing lack of evi- Pradesh killing 44 people, an of- of the leaf springs of the bus en and three children were among Pascal Mazurier was arrested dence to prove Mazurier guilty. fi cial said yesterday. snapped just prior to the acci- the dead. in June 2012 after his Indian- “It has been a long battle, but I Only two of the 46 people on dent. Local television networks re- origin wife accused him of raping am happy fi nally that justice has board the bus survived when it “The driver and the conduc- ported that the driver informed their daughter, and was tried in a been done,” Mazurier told re- fl ew off a cliff and into a river in tor got down from the bus when passengers shortly before the ac- court in Bdengaluru. porters outside the court. Shimla district. the leaf spring broke down. After cident that the bus suspension “We confi rm that (Mazurier) “My hope now is to recon- Ten others earlier believed to be inspecting the leaf spring, they was damaged. was acquitted in the fi rst in- struct a relationship with my aboard the bus had in fact alighted continued with the journey,” he Prime Minister Narendra stance by the Bengaluru court,” children, make up for the lost before the accident, said Rohan told the police. Modi offered his condolences said a diplomatic source, con- time,” he said. Chand Thakur, deputy commis- He said that at one point when to the families who had lost fi rming Indian media reports. Mazurier’s estranged wife Suja sioner of Shimla. the driver applied the brakes on a loved ones, and said he was Mazurier, who was working Jones told television news that “Unfortunately there are only turn, the bus tilted. “extremely anguished by the in the French consulate in the the acquittal “means my daugh- two survivors, including the con- “Sensing that the bus was accident. southern city when he was ar- ter did not get justice”. ductor of the bus who managed to about to overturn, I, sitting close Compensation of Rs200,000 rested, had always denied the Jones said she would fi le an jump out in time; 44 others have to the back door, jumped out,” he would be awarded to the families charge. appeal, which could add sev- died,” Thakur said. added. of those killed, and Rs50,000 for His trial had been going on eral months or years to the legal “We are now bringing the last Offi cials at the accident site the injured, Modi added. since 2014 and received much process if followed through. four bodies out.” near Nerwa village were trying to The accident site is one of the People and police gather at the site where a bus fell off a moun- publicity in India, with his wife The trial attracted attention in “The terrain where the accident identify the dead, he added. remotest places in the state. tain road in Shimla yesterday. and some media accusing France the domestic media. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 25 INDIA BJP veterans to face Babri trial Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti directions,” Supreme Court His trial, however, will be de- out of race for the president’s are accused of inciting Hindu judges said. layed until his stint as governor post.” He added that Advani was zealots to pull down the 16th The demolition of the mosque of Rajasthan is over because the a “scapegoat” (bali ka bakra) in century mosque in Uttar Pradesh sparked nation- position of governor gives him the demolition case. wide riots in which thousands immunity from prosecution. CBI prosecutors say it has Agencies were killed, most of them Mus- The opposition Congress said evidence that BJP leaders New Delhi lims. the ruling party had “tried every who made speeches near the It marked the culmination of a trick in the book” to ensure that mosque on the day it was razed virulent campaign led by the BJP, Advani, Bharti and Joshi did not were part of the plot to bring hree senior leaders of the which recently won elections in face charges. down the mosque. s ruling Bharatiya Janata the state, India’s largest. “What they (the Supreme Investigators say Advani and TParty should face trial Many Hindus believe the Babri Court) have said today means other BJP leaders met prior to over the demolition of the Babri mosque was only built after the there’s clinching evidence that the demolition and decided it be mosque in Ayodhya a quarter of a destruction of a temple and the needs to be now argued out in razed which meant its destruc- century ago, the Supreme Court issue remains hugely divisive. the court,” said party spokesman tion was a premeditated, delib- ruled yesterday. Some BJP leaders including Sanjay Jha. erate event. The three are accused of in- Bharti want a temple to Ram to The Congress demanded a BJP leaders, including Vinay citing Hindu zealots to pull be built on the ruins of the razed speedy trial while the Commu- Katiyar, another accused in the down the 16th century mosque mosque – an idea that horrifi es nist Party of India (CPI) and the case, however told reporters that in 1992, igniting one of India’s Uttar Pradesh’s signifi cant Mus- Indian Union Muslim League the mosque’s demolition was a most explosive religious dis- lim minority. (IUML) sought action against spontaneous action on part of putes in which thousands died. Bharti said after the ruling she Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti gestures as she addresses a press conference in New Delhi yesterday. Bharti and Kalyan Singh. the Hindu activists. The court said Water Resourc- was “ready to hang” for the tem- The CPI said Bharti and Kaly- The main Babri mosque ti- es Minister Uma Bharti and BJP ple cause. acy to destroy the mosque. but local media said the charges amined,” said I B Singh, a senior an Singh should step down on tle case being fought between veterans L K Advani and Murali “There was no conspiracy. He was in Ayodhya on the day could scupper his chances. lawyer who cross-examined Ad- moral grounds. The IUML said Muslim and Hindu litigants has Manohar Joshi should face trial Everything was out in the open of the demolition and his cam- The Supreme Court ordered vani for the offi cial inquiry into Kalyan Singh should not cling to been heard by courts for nearly on criminal conspiracy charges. for everyone to see,” she told re- paign for the temple came to de- that the case, which has dragged the Babri demolition. technicalities by speaking of im- seven decades, well before the The ruling came after a low- porters. fi ne his political career. on since charges were fi rst fi led “I doubt if this will anyway get munity, adding Bharti too should mosque’s destruction in 1992. er court dropped the charges “I am absolutely clear about But in a later interview with in 1993, should be completed over within the lifetime of Mr quit. BJP spokesman G V L Nar- brought against them by the one thing – I have always been the BBC, Advani said it should within two years. Advani.” Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu asimha Rao said he did not con- Central Bureau of Investigation very proud of my participation never have happened and de- However some legal experts The court also ruled that a Prasad said Advani’s dream of sider the ruling a setback for the (CBI), kicking off a series of ap- in the Ram temple movement. scribed it as the saddest day of expressed fears it would drag on fourth senior BJP politician, becoming phe President of India party but they would examine peals and counter-appeals. “I am ready to hang, to go to his life. longer. Kalyan Singh, who was chief had now been dashed. the order. “We have allowed the CBI ap- jail for this.” He has been tipped to be In- “There are hundreds of wit- minister of Uttar Pradesh at the Blaming Prime Minister “We are confi dent that the peal against the Allahabad High Advani, now 89, has consist- dia’s president when the role nesses in the case and now all time of the incident, should face Narendra Modi for the twist in leaders of BJP will come out un- Court judgement with certain ently denied a criminal conspir- becomes vacant later this year, of them will have to be re-ex- criminal conspiracy charges. the case, he said: “Advani is now scathed (from the trial),” he said.

SC throws out case no one could understand

Anyone dealing with India’s between a landlord and his matter to the country’s top India bans red car beacons to end elitist culture overburdened legal system tenant said they were unable to court after the Himachal knows that the wheels of justice understand the original order Pradesh High Court favoured Agencies swiftly through India’s notori- gance, is used by ministers and “It’s a huge democratic deci- move slowly. issued by a lower court. the tenant. New Delhi ously congested streets. top bureaucrats to cut through sion,” said Road Transport Min- But in one case, they have “We normally prepare an appeal But even that much would be hard “We are removing the rule traffi c while on offi cial business. ister Nitin Gadkari. ground to a halt completely in two days’ time. However, to glean from the original order. which allows state and cen- But often even lower-level Gadkari had the red beacon of after Supreme Court judges in this case I took more than “(The)...tenant in the demised ndia said yesterday it will ban tral governments to specify politicians and offi cials misuse his car removed soon after the said they were throwing out a week because the facts of premises stands aggrieved by ministers and senior offi cials who can use the red lights,” the beacons to show off their im- cabinet meeting. a lawsuit that used so much the case were unclear,” the the pronouncement made by Ifrom using red beacons on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley portance, especially in smaller “The government is of the jargon it was incomprehensible. landlord’s lawyer, E C Agrawala, the learned Executing Court their cars to cut through traffi c, said at a news conference in towns. considered opinion that beacons “We will have to set it aside told the Hindustan Times. upon his objections constituted a longstanding privilege that has New Delhi. It is also common for police- on vehicles are perceived sym- because one cannot understand The property dispute dates back therebefore... caused resentment and accusa- “From May 1, no vehicle will men to put up barricades and bols of VIP culture and have no this,” the Hindustan Times daily to 1999 when the landlord filed wherewithin the apposite tions of elitism. have a red light. There will be no block routes to allow free pas- place in a democratic country,” quoted M B Lokur and Deepak a petition to evict his tenant for unfoldments qua his resistance to From May 1 only emergency exceptions.” sage to dignitaries while the Gadkari said. Gupta as saying yesterday. not paying rent. the execution of the decree stood services will be allowed to use The red beacon, perceived as rest have to wait for the roads to “They have no relevance Even the lawyers representing In a nearly two-decade struggle, discountenanced by the learned the fl ashing beacons to move a symbol of privilege and arro- open. whatsoever.” the two sides in the row the landlord finally took his Executing Court,” it read. Gulf Times 26 Thursday, April 20, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

Demonstrators clash with riot police during the so-called “mother of all marches” against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas yesterday. Clashes erupt at anti-Maduro rally

AFP his grip on power escalated the Lopez, has pledged the army’s the deaths of protesters and urg- Caracas country’s political and economic “unconditional loyalty,” while ing the security forces to show crisis. Maduro blasted Borges for incit- restraint. “We have to end this dictator- ing a “coup.” US State Department spokes- lashes broke out yester- ship. We’re fed up. We want elec- The president has sought to man Mark Toner echoed that day at massive protests tions to get Maduro out, because rally his troops this week, send- call, urging the security forces to Cagainst Venezuelan Presi- he’s destroyed this country,” ing the army into the streets “protect, not prevent, peaceful dent Nicolas Maduro, as riot said protester Ingrid Chacon, a and ordering pro-government demonstrations.” police fi red teargas to push back 54-year-old secretary. militias to be expanded to half Maduro, speaking at a meet- stone-throwing demonstrators Maduro has urged his sup- a million members, “each with ing with high-ranking political and a young protester was shot porters, the military, and civil- a rifl e.” and military offi cials yesterday, and wounded. ian militias to defend the social- “The hour of combat has ar- denounced that as a “green light Violence erupted when thou- ist “revolution” launched by rived,” Maduro said. (for) a coup.” sands of opposition protesters his predecessor Hugo Chavez in On Tuesday night he activated The often fragmented opposi- tried to march on central Cara- 1999. a military, police and civilian op- tion has been galvanised since cas, a pro-government bastion Venezuela’s crisis escalated eration called the “Zamora Plan” the Supreme Court’s bid to seize where red-clad Maduro support- on March 30, when the Supreme aimed at combatting a supposed legislative powers. ers were massing for a counter- Court tried to take over the pow- coup attempt — which the presi- The court partly backtracked demonstration. ers of the National Assembly. dent says is being orchestrated by after an international outcry, but The marchers were forced back The assembly has been the Venezuela’s opposition and the tension only increased when au- by lines of soldiers and police de- only lever of power Maduro’s US. thorities slapped a political ban ployed to contain what the op- camp does not control since the In Latin America, where other on opposition leader Henrique position has vowed will be the opposition won a landslide in governments are increasingly Capriles on April 7. “mother of all protests.” legislative elections in 2015. alarmed by Venezuela’s instabil- According to a recent poll, sev- A demonstrator throws a teargas canister back at the police in Caracas. On the capital’s northwest Pressure on Maduro has in- ity, 11 countries including Brazil, en in 10 Venezuelans disapprove side, a 19-year-old man was shot creased as falling prices for Ven- Mexico and Chile issued a state- of Maduro, whose term does not in the head and badly wounded ezuela’s crucial oil exports have ment on Monday condemning end until 2019. by motorcycle-riding gunmen aggravated an economic crisis, who also threw teargas canisters creating severe shortages of food World Bank ready to help Venezuela if asked into a crowd of protesters, wit- and medicine in the state-led nesses said. economy. The World Bank Group stands lender would be ready to develop The opposition has repeatedly The centre-right opposition ready to assist Venezuela, a an engagement programme for accused the government of send- has called for the military — a member and shareholder of the Venezuela, but it would need to ing groups of armed thugs to at- pillar of Maduro’s power — to institution, if the government asks be “invited” to do so by President tack protesters. abandon him. for help in dealing with a punishing Nicolas Maduro’s government. “As The security forces “It is the moment economic crisis, the bank’s top with all shareholders of the institu- do nothing to stop for the armed executive for Latin America said. tion, if the situation were to arise, them and them- forces to dem- Jorge Familiar, World Bank vice we would be ready to engage with selves repress onstrate that president for Latin America and the Venezuela,” Familiar said. “What peaceful protest- they are with Caribbean, said in an interview that we would need is for them to call ers, opponents say. the consti- the bank has had no engagement us.” Familiar said that there would This is the largest tution and with Venezuela since it paid off be many steps required before day of demonstra- with the peo- past loans in 2008 under the late a World Bank loan to Venezuela tions in more than ple,” legislative former president Hugo Chavez. could be discussed, including two weeks of vio- speaker Julio But Familiar said the bank’s off icials re-establishing a dialogue with lent protests that Borges said. have been intensely watching government off icials and providing have left fi ve But the De- growing shortages of food and technical assistance and analysis. people dead and fence Min- medicine this year as the oil export- “We are far off from lending to Ven- more than 200 ister, ing country sinks deeper into reces- ezuela,” he said. “We could have a arrested since General sion, sparking violent protests. conversation that would start on moves by Ma- Vladimir Familiar said that the multilateral the analytical front.” duro to tighten Padrino Demonstrators carrying signs that reads “no more dictatorship” rally in Caracas yesterday.

Landslide kills 11 US Congress delaying Brazil lowers police retirement age

Reuters workers’ unions even after talks on Nafta: Mexico Brasilia Temer has repeatedly watered down the proposal, which aims Bloomberg News President Donald Trump and has “helpful,” and White House to reduce some of the world’s Mexico City pledged to take a tough stance on Press Secretary Sean Spicer said he Brazilian government most generous pension ben- trade talks. the administration will have a yesterday agreed to efi ts. Trump campaigned on a better idea when it can provide Tlower the minimum re- Earlier the Congress ap- he absence of a US trade promise to renegotiate Nafta to the 90 days’ notice once Light- tirement age for police offi cers proved the main text of a bill representative is delaying protect American jobs, and has hizer is in place. in its pension reform proposal, granting debt relief to cash- Tthe start of Nafta negotia- vowed numerous times - includ- The US “needs to adjust to a a day after members of their strapped states that adopt tions with Mexico, a top offi cial ing on Tuesday during a speech legal framework established by unions stormed Congress to belt-tightening measures, in from the Latin American nation in Milwaukee - to scrap the deal Congress,” Guajardo told report- protest the controversial bill. a victory for President Michel said. if he can’t get his way. During ers in Mexico City. Lighthizer’s In the reform draft, congress- Temer’s austerity programme. Without the lead US trade ne- the speech, the president com- confi rmation “is what has been man Arthur Maia, a government Lawmakers approved the bill gotiator in place, Mexico doesn’t plained it’s taking too long to delaying things. My colleague ally in charge of making changes that allows states to ask for a expect the White House to give start talks. Wilbur Ross has said that they’ll to the original proposal, reduced three-year suspension of their Congress the 90 days of notice While Trump announced in try to resolve these requirements the minimum retirement age for debt with the federal govern- it needs to open formal talks on early February that he wanted to before the end of April. That’s police to 55 from 60. ment if they freeze wages, in- the North American Free Trade speed up negotiations, his nomi- what we’ll be keeping an eye on.” After he revealed the de- crease pension contributions Agreement, Economy Minister nee for US trade representative, Guajardo, Mexico’s top trade tails of his proposal on Tues- and sell assets. Ildefonso Guajardo said. Robert Lighthizer, is await- negotiator, said in an interview day, hundreds of police unions Late last year, the lower Given the 90-day require- ing confi rmation in the Senate. earlier this month that a deal to dressed in black shirts broke house surprised Temer by ment, the nations have already Democrats say Lighthizer needs revise Nafta could be reached by the windows of the main en- scrapping those austerity re- missed the May start date origi- a waiver because he worked with the end of January if Trump noti- trance of the legislature in Bra- quirements, forcing him to re- nally outlined by Mexican For- groups connected to China and fi es Congress in time for negotia- silia and clashed with congres- introduce the legislation that eign Relations Minister Luis Brazil during his time as a lawyer. tions to begin by the end of July. sional guards. still needs to clear the Senate. Videgaray. “We want to start to negotiate Investors have shed their pes- The violent clash, during The bill is key for highly in- The delay increases the chanc- with Mexico immediately, and simistic outlook on Mexico in which the guards used pep- debted states such as Rio de es that negotiations will spill we have these provisions where recent weeks after White House per spray and stun grenades to Janeiro, which has suff ered into 2018 and get mixed up with you have to wait long periods of offi cials repeatedly said that disperse the protesters, illus- from falling oil prices and is election-year politics in Mexico, time,” Trump said after touring Mexico and the US stand to trated the unpopularity of the now struggling to pay doctors, something Guajardo has said a Snap-on Tools Corp. facility. benefi t from a renegotiation of reform proposal that is central teachers and police. should be avoided. “The whole thing is ridiculous.” Nafta. The peso has rebounded to President Michel Temer’s The legislation also reduces Populist opposition candidate Commerce Secretary Wilbur from a record low in January and At least 11 people have been killed and 20 are missing after a austerity agenda. debt payments and extends Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Ross complained earlier this is now the best performer of all landslide hit several neighbourhoods in Manizales, Colombia, The protest was the latest in the maturity on 427bn reais who has led some public opinion month that the delay in Light- currencies tracked by Bloomberg the government said yesterday. what is expected to be months ($137bn) of debt owed by all of polls, is an outspoken critic of US hizer’s confi rmation hasn’t been this year, up more than 11.4%. of street demonstrations by Brazil’s 27 states. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 27 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

HONOUR CONSTRUCTION MILITANCY REVENUE OFFENSIVE Deaf, dumb girl treated Maximum height sought Top Afghan police off icial Tax rates to go further up Three Al Qaeda members at Pakistan PM’s House for Islamabad skyscrapers killed in Zabul province for non-filers in Pakistan killed in Afghanistan

It was a memorable moment at the Prime The Capital Development Authority (CDA) of A senior police official was killed in an The government of Pakistan is set to increase At last three members of the Al Qaeda network Minister’s House in Pakistani capital, Islamabad, Pakistan has approached the Civil Aviation explosion in southern Zabul province of the rates of 56 withholding taxes (WHTs) for non- were killed in airstrikes in southern Zabul yesterday when a cochlear implant in a six- Authority (CAA) to set a maximum height Afghanistan, the local officials said yesterday. filers of income tax returns in the next fiscal year. province of Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence year-old born deaf-and-dumb girl, Nida Khan, for high-rise buildings in the capital city. The The district police chief of Shinkai Saifullah An off icial source privy to the budget-making said the militants were killed during the airstrike was activated in the presence of Prime Minister CAA is the authorised body which defines the Hotaki was killed after his vehicle struck an process said yesterday that the existing WHT conducted in Audaki village located in Tarang Nawaz Sharif and his wife Maryam Nawaz in the maximum height of buildings to ensure smooth Improvised Explosive Device (IED), KHAAMA rates will be further increased while the scope district. No further details were given regarding chamber of the premier. State Minister CADD Dr operation of the air traff ic. “In Islamabad, there is Press Agency reported. The incident took of these taxes will be extended to a maximum the air strikes and it is yet not clear if the air Tariq Fazal Chaudhary was also present. Nida, no defined maximum possible height rather the place in the early hours of Wednesday number of sectors. “We have decided to raise strikes were conducted by the US forces based using sign language, greeted the prime minister CAA and the CDA deal with the matter on a case- morning as he was on his way to assist the WHT rates for non-filers by 100% and (extend in Afghanistan or the Afghan Air Force. The at the function on behalf of all challenged to-case basis,” Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz said. security forces who were facing an attack from them to the) segments that were not covered latest air strikes against the Al Qaeda network children present on the occasion. Nida charmed “This ambiguity should be cleared so that during the Taliban insurgents in Seyuri area. previously,” the source said. The increase in the members came as at least 31 militants including everyone present as Prime Minister Nawaz and the auction of plots the buyers can be informed Four policemen also sustained injuries in the incidence of taxation will compel people to file 18 suicide bombers were killed during the Maryam Nawaz Sharif held her on their lap as about the maximum height of the building to be explosion and a security guard of the Police tax returns and come under the tax net to avoid clearance operations in this province earlier this she cut a cake to mark the occasion. constructed,” said Aziz. Chief was killed. higher rates meant for non-filers. month, according to Khaama Press. Pakistan braces Protest for SC decision on ‘Panamagate’

Reuters contempt of court case. that a verdict should be reached Islamabad/Karachi Pakistani stocks fell 1.5% in that is based on the evidence,” early trade after the news over- he said. night that a decision would be In 2014, Khan led a months- looming Supreme Court announced today. long protest that paralysed the decision that could dis- The benchmark KSE 100 later government quarter in the capi- Aqualify Prime Minister rebounded and closed up 1.6%. tal, Islamabad, after rejecting Nawaz Sharif over corruption Both the government and op- Sharif’s decisive election win a allegations had the country on position expressed confi dence year earlier. edge yesterday, as a drawn- yesterday. The case stems from docu- out investigation related to the “There is no chance that de- ments leaked from the Panama- “Panama Papers” leaks neared a cision will come against our based Mossack Fonseca law fi rm conclusion. leadership. Our government and appeared to show that Sharif’s Disqualifying Sharif would entire leadership are performing daughter and two sons owned leave his party in power, but it their duties as per routine,” Ta- off shore holding companies would cause intense turmoil at lal Chaudhry a prominent leader registered in the British Virgin a time when Pakistan is expe- of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim Islands and used them to buy riencing modest growth and League-Nawaz told Geo Televi- properties in London. improved security after years of sion. Sharif told parliament last Students from Peshawar University protest to condemn the killing of Abdul Wali Khan university student Mashal Khan, after he was violence, and the civilian gov- year that his family wealth was accused of blasphemy, during a protest in Peshawar yesterday. ernment and powerful military “There is no chance that acquired legally in the decades have appeared to come to uneasy decision will come against before he entered politics and terms. our leadership” that no money was siphoned off - Sharif has denied any wrong- shore. doing, but the Supreme Court Naeem ul Haque, a spokes- Khan, however, has argued agreed to investigate his fam- man for Khan’s Pakistan Te- that the prime minister’s law- ily’s off shore wealth late last year hreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said he ex- yers have changed stories on the after opposition leader Imran pected a verdict against Sharif, source of the off shore money Foreigners coming to Pakistan Khan threatened street protests. but he made clear the opposi- several times and that it is up The Supreme Court could take tion would not launch a new to Sharif to prove the off shore a range a of steps. street movement if they were companies were not used for It could clear the prime disappointed. money laundering. minister, or order a further “Imran Khan has clearly Corruption is endemic in Pa- without visa to be arrested judicial commission of in- stated that we will accept the kistan, which ranks a dismal quiry or even declare him in- decision of the Supreme Court, 116th out of 176 in Transparency eligible to hold office, as it did but we believe that enough International’s annual index of Internews Recently announcing the de- ordered the interior ministry, He said that the FIA, CAA and in 2012 with then-Prime Min- evidence has been presented to the world’s most graft-ridden Islamabad cision to suspend visas on ar- Federal Investigation Agency the ministry should ensure that ister Yusuf Raza Gilani over a remove the prime minister and countries. rival for foreigners, including and Civil Aviation Authority to no plane was allowed to land in dignitaries, the minister had put in place an eff ective system the country without prior clear- ays after banning the disclosed that some 34,000 vi- for streamlining and checking ance of the interior ministry. issuance of landing sas had been issued since 2007. any violation of law. The minister asked the avia- Dpermits, the Interior Before that the minister had He ordered his ministry to tion division and the FIA to also Ministry of Pakistan decided expressed his displeasure over identify all airports and landing ensure that landing permission Pakistan military chief signs yesterday to proceed against all the arrival of an advance team strips where delegations arrived be only granted after ascertain- aliens coming to Pakistan with- of a dignitary from the United for hunting, devise standard ing the number of people on- out valid visas. Arab Emirates, comprising In- operating procedures for im- board, their nationality and the It was decided during a meet- dian nationals, at a small airport migration and customs clear- nature of their visas. death warrants of 30 militants ing presided over by Interior in Sindh without visas, bypass- ance at the places lacking these He reiterated his call that no- Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali ing immigration processes. facilities and also to evolve a ro- body should be allowed to enter Khan that those entering the Taking note of visa irregular- bust mechanism of information Pakistan without completing AFP 24-48 hours. “These terrorists The order came almost three country without completing ities and breach of security pro- sharing among the immigration the immigration procedures. Islamabad were involved in committing weeks after Pakistan extended the immigration process would tocols by the advance teams and department, interior ministry The minister also reviewed heinous off ences relating to ter- for another two years a law al- be proceeded against under the accompanying staff of various and the aviation division. progress on his earlier directives rorism,” a military statement lowing military courts to try law of Pakistan, which could hunting parties, especially from He said the process should be regarding traffi c management in akistan’s powerful army said. civilians on terror charges in include arrest and prosecution. the Middle East, the minister completed within a week. Islamabad and Rawalpindi. chief has confi rmed the It listed a string of off ences secret, despite strong criticism Pdeath sentences passed by including a Taliban assault on from rights groups. military courts on 30 militants, a school in Peshawar in 2014 in The courts were established in some of whom were involved which more than 150 people – the wake of the Peshawar school in the country’s worst-ever ex- mostly children – were killed in attack, which traumatised a tremist attack, authorities said Pakistan’s deadliest-ever such country already grimly accus- Access to yesterday. assault. tomed to atrocities. Negligent power ministry The military did not give a date The statement did not name They were seen as an “excep- for the executions, but when the the militants, specify what role tional” short-term measure put site of US army chief has given such orders they had played in the attacks, or in place to give the government in the past the hangings have say who was involved in which time to reform the criminal jus- mega bomb offi cials earn PM’s wrath usually been carried out within assault. tice system. blast denied Internews the electricity actually reach- concerned” over the latest Islamabad ing the consumers was less than power situation that has put AFP 9,000MW after accounting for the government in an awkward Cool cat Jalalabad transformational, transmission political position at one of the s electricity shortfall and distribution losses. most challenging times and of Pakistan crossed a As a consequence, duration ahead of the Panama Leaks case ecurity forces were still Arecord 7,000MW, an of loadshedding increased to judgement. blocking access yester- angered Prime Minister Nawaz 14-16 hours in urban areas and The meeting reviewed fac- Sday to the site in east- Sharif ordered action against most of the time loadshedding tors behind lower power gen- ern Afghanistan where the offi cials who failed to make ad- was unscheduled in view of eration. US dropped a massive bomb vance planning for the season, system challenges. The Ministry of Water and on an Islamic State group causing problems to people. Loadshedding in rural ar- Power explained that an un- stronghold six days ago. “Why didn’t they plan in eas was even worse, rising to 20 expected surge in the intensity The US military dropped advance keeping in mind low hours. of hot weather suddenly in- its GBU-43/B Massive Ord- water availability in dams and The situation aggravated creased the demand having an nance Air Blast, dubbed the severe weather conditions,” an as one of the largest load cen- impact of more than 2,500MW “Mother of All Bombs”, in offi cial statement quoted the tres Lahore entered peak levels while dams did not have re- combat for the fi rst time on prime minister as saying when at 46 degrees centigrade and quired water level. April 13. he was informed about the joined the league of Multan, The ministry expressed the The target was caves and closure of a number of power Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and hope that the rise in tempera- hideouts being used by the ji- plants for maintenance. Dera Ismail Khan. ture would result in improved hadist group in the Achin dis- He was presiding over a spe- However, offi cial sources river fl ows, which would lead trict of Nangargar province. cial meeting of the Cabinet claimed the maximum gap to an increase in hydropower The blast triggered shock- Committee on Energy second at 7,000MW on the basis of generation. waves which residents said in less than 10 days. 19,500MW of demand and This did not satisfy the prime they felt miles away. Informed sources said the 12,500MW of production. minister. It was said by the Afghan power shortfall actually fl uc- They said hydropower gen- He expressed displeasure defence ministry to have killed tuated between 9,000MW eration peaked at 2,500MW, over the explanation of the at least 95 militants, including and 10,000MW as maximum along with 1,900MW produc- ministry and “directed that re- some IS commanders and for- demand went past 21,500MW tion from public sector compa- sponsibility be fi xed on offi cials eign fi ghters, but no civilians. against peak generation of nies and about 7,000MW from for not planning proactively so The statement could not be 12,700MW for only 35 minutes independent power producers. that the situation does not re- A tiger licks an ice slab to keep cool at Karachi Zoo during a heatwave in Karachi yesterday. independently verifi ed, with by ramping up water discharges While reviewing the situ- surface”, without realising that Heatwave conditions in Pakistan have brought temperatures in excess of 45 degrees celsius in reporters including AFP cor- from dams. ation, the prime minister ex- the chief architect of power many parts of the country. respondents turned away from Excluding peak, power gen- pressed “dissatisfaction over sector planning had already the site again yesterday . eration averaged 11,000MW, but the negligence of departments been eased out a few days ago. Gulf Times 28 Thursday, April 20, 2017 PHILIPPINES Turnover ceremony Approval for Duterte’s drug war slips

Reuters ti-drugs campaign included Manila questions on “extra-judicial killings”, a term the govern- ment and police strongly ob- atisfaction in the Phil- ject to, insisting no such kill- ippines with President ings have taken place. SRodrigo Duterte’s war The latest poll was conduct- on drugs declined in the fi rst ed from March 25 to 28 and quarter this year, a survey showed 73% of Filipinos were showed yesterday, with opin- worried that they, or someone ions split about police ac- they know, would be a victim counts that the drug suspects of extra-judicial killing. they killed had resisted arrest. Ninety-two percent said Seventy-eight percent of it was important authorities 1,200 people surveyed by So- captured drug suspects alive cial Weather Stations (SWS) rather than killed them. said they were satisfi ed by the About a fi fth of respondents government’s crackdown on felt police were “probably” illegal drugs, down from 85% telling the truth about circum- in a similar poll in December stances behind their killing of last year. drug suspects, while 14% be- The number of dissatisfi ed lieved they were “defi nitely” respondents rose from 8% to lying. 12 %. Forty-four percent of re- Almost 9,000 people, many spondents were undecided. small-time users and dealers, Those who said they “defi - have been killed in the Philip- nitely” believed police were pines since Duterte took offi ce truthful fell from 9% in De- on June 30. cember to 6% in the latest Police say about a third of survey. the victims were shot by of- “This is a black eye for the Soldiers Private First Class Samuel Garay (centre left) and Sgt Solaiman Calocop (centre right) are guarded by members of the New People’s Army guerillas, the fi cers in self-defence during Philippine National Police,” armed wing of the Maoist rebels, during a turnover ceremony to government officials and peace advocates in the hinterlands of Matanao town, Davao del Sur legitimate operations. said Ramon Casiple, head of province, in southern island of Mindanao yesterday. Negotiations between Manila and the rebels collapsed in February after the guerrillas killed several soldiers and Human rights monitors be- the Institute for Electoral and police in a series of attacks, spurring President Rodrigo Duterte to angrily call off the talks. Duterte later softened his stance and agreed to resume discussions with lieve many of the remaining Police Reforms. the communist-led National Democratic Front. two thirds were killed by paid “I don’t think this will im- assassins operating with po- pact on the president, it’s more lice backing or by police dis- on the police whose members guised as vigilantes — an ac- were seen and perceived to be cusation the police deny. more involved in crimes and in A Reuters special report the killings. published on Tuesday cited They should do more and two senior law enforcement convince the public about re- offi cials saying the police forms not by words but by ac- had received cash for execut- tions.” Senator calls for probe into ing drug suspects, planted Asked by reporters about evidence and had carried out the fall in satisfaction rating most of the killings they had for the anti-drugs campaign, blamed on vigilantes. Presidential Spokesman Er- Reuters was unable to inde- nesto Abella said: “There pendently verify if the police seems to be consistency in the police cash-for-kill claim are behind vigilante killings. way the public appreciates the The SWS survey on the an- eff orts.” Reuters onymity, said PNP officers re- look into these serious alle- was allocated,” he told report- Reuters was unable to inde- Manila ceived cash for killing suspects gations made by two officers ers. pendently verify if the police in President Rodrigo Duterte’s from within their ranks. While Close to 9,000 people, are behind vigilante killings. drug war, planted evidence at the charges lack documentary mostly drug users and small- One of the officers, an ac- Philippine senator crime scenes and carried out evidence, these cannot simply time dealers, have been tive-duty police commander, called for a probe yes- most of the killings they have be swept under the rug with a killed since Duterte took of- also said that officers plant Death toll after bus A terday into allegations long blamed on vigilantes. blanket denial,” he said. fice almost 10 months ago drugs and guns at the scene of by senior officers in a Reuters One of the men, a retired in- PNP spokesman Dionardo and promised an unrelenting deadly narcotics busts. report that police received telligence officer, authored an Carlos said he encouraged campaign to rid the Philip- Gatchalian said the officers plunge rises to 31 cash rewards for executing unpublished 26-page report the two police officers inter- pines of illicit narcotics. who spoke to Reuters should drug suspects, while a police that provides granular detail on viewed by Reuters to come Police say about a third of present concrete evidence to spokesman challenged the the alleged methods deployed forward and publicly air their the victims were shot by of- support their claims. AFP on Tuesday, also left 46 injured claims but said they would be in the drug war, as well as the allegations. ficers in self-defence during “Accusations of this kind Manila with four still in a critical condi- investigated. campaign’s masterminds and ”There’s no problem if they anti-drug operations. should have solid backing,” he tion, said Senior Superintend- Senator Sherwin Gatchal- perpetrators. will tell the truth, backed up Human rights groups be- said. ent Antonio Yarra. ian said in a statement that The report, which said it is by evidence,” he said. lieve many of the remaining Senator Panfilo Lacson, a he death toll from a “The wheel burst and that the Philippine National Po- based on the accounts of 17 Carlos said claims that cash two thirds were killed by paid former national police chief, Philippine bus that caused the bus to fall into a ra- lice (PNP) should take “drastic serving and former officers, rewards were being paid for assassins co-operating with said in a text message to GMA Tplunged into a ravine vine. It seems that it (the bus) measures” to verify the allega- does not contain any docu- killing drug suspects were the police or by police them- news, one of the leading me- rose to 31 with signs that over- was overloaded. Because of the tions made by two senior police mentary evidence. implausible, because police selves, disguised as vigilantes. dia organisations in the Phil- loading contributed to the overloading, it was beyond the officers, and punish those who Gatchalian said the “integri- would not have that kind of Police reject that. ippines, that unless Reuters crash, a police offi cial said capacity of the wheel to hold,” have “broken their vow to pro- ty” of the police was “at stake,” money at their disposal and The two officers said that identified the two police of- yesterday. Yarra, the provincial police tect the Filipino people.” and called on PNP chief Ron- such acts would be unlawful. most of the drug-war killings ficers and they could provide The accident, which saw the chief said. He said a count de- In a Reuters report published ald dela Rosa to “unmask the “First of all, that’s illegal, are orchestrated by the police, “convincing proof of their al- bus come off a winding road to termined there were 77 passen- on Tuesday, the two officers, truth.” prohibited. Second, we are including those they say are legations,” he would dismiss fall 24 metres into a ravine in the gers on board, much higher than who spoke on condition of an- “The PNP leadership should short on funds and nothing carried out by vigilantes. the report as “gossip.” upland province of Nueva Ecija earlier estimates.

President may launch Giant shipworm which lives in sea fl oor unearthed invasion of ‘Abu AFP confi rmed that,” said Margo Manila Haygood, a research professor at the University of Utah who Sayyaf’ island lair also took part in the study. n enormous black worm The discovery of the giant that lives in the mud of shipworm, a species never be- Reuters its reach.“I will, maybe, invade Athe sea fl oor and survives fore studied, marked the fi rst Manila Jolo,” Duterte told reporters after on the remnants of noxious time scientists had live speci- a security briefi ng in Tagbilaran gases digested by bacteria has mens in hand, according to an City, Bohol. been unveiled by scientists for article published this week in hilippine President Rod- “All army, navy, will go there. the fi rst time. American journal Proceedings rigo Duterte warned yes- It will be a fi ght. That’s what The slimy giant shipworm of the National Academy of Sci- Pterday he might “invade” they want, I will give it.” can grow up to 155 centimetres ences. an island stronghold of the Is- Referring to Abu Sayyaf’s (fi ve feet) in length, despite “This remarkable species re- lamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf strongholds, he said: “They living a sedentary life in ocean mains to be fully described and to “fi nish the game” following a must stay there, My order to the sediment and apparently eating explained,” the journal said. thwarted attempt by the group navy...is to blow them up, no nothing more than the waste Albano said the giant ship- to kidnap tourists on a resort is- surrender. Shoot cannons, de- products of the micro-organ- worm was found in the coastal land last week. stroy them.” isms that live in its gills. town of Kalamansig in southern Duterte off ered cash rewards Abu Sayyaf has its roots in “We are amazed. This is the Sultan Kudarat province and its for the capture, dead or alive, of separatism and the military says fi rst time we saw a shipworm bacteria are now being studied six Abu Sayyaf militants still at some elements are in close con- as large as this. Usually, ship- This undated handout photo made available yesterday shows the length of a giant shipworm, a species for possible pharmaceutical large following a day-long clash tact with Islamic State radicals worms are only as short as a never before studied, after removal from its shell, at a laboratory in Manila. use. last week on Bohol island, which in the Middle East. matchstick and are white,” Fili- While the odd-looking ani- killed six rebels and four mem- However, most of its activi- pino marine biologist Julie Al- lamia, the mollusc is radically to be largely redundant. sis in plants, where they take mals are new to international bers of the security forces. ties are banditry, like piracy and bano said. diff erent from its smaller ship- Instead, Kuphus Polythala- carbon dioxide from the air, use marine scientists, Albano said, The shootout on Bohol fol- kidnap. The shipworm is a not actu- worm cousins, which burrow in mia relies on bacteria that live the carbon to grow and expel local people have clearly known lowed warnings against travel It is notorious for beheading ally a worm at all, but a bivalve — and digest — wood. in its gills, which digest hydro- oxygen as a by-product. all about them for years. to central Philippine islands hostages when money for their — like mussels and clams — and Researchers who analysed the gen sulphide — a gas that smells “We suspected the giant “The shipworm is edible, by several Western countries, release is not paid. has its own brittle, tusk-like creature found that although it of rotten eggs — from the mud shipworm was radically diff er- tastes like an octopus,” she said. which cited unconfi rmed intel- Duterte said he wanted civil- shell. Also known by its sci- had its own digestive system, and emit traces of carbon. ent from other wood-eating “Locals eat it and it serves as an ligence of possible kidnap plans. ians to support the manhunt on entifi c name Kuphus Polytha- this was shrunken and appeared The process is photosynthe- shipworms. Finding the animal aphrodisiac for them.” The clash erupted after resi- Bohol and off ered a reward of dents tipped-off authorities 6mn pesos ($120,668) for each of about the arrival of armed men the six fugitives. OFFICIAL on boats. He warned Abu Sayyaf might Govt reappoints Lopez, three others after failed nod from commission The incident was highly sig- try to “create a disaster” at an nifi cant, coming during Holy meeting of trade offi cials of the President Rodrigo Duterte has reappointed basis along with Secretaries Rafael Mariano bypassed the president’s appointment of the spearheaded. She even told Rep. Ronaldo Week at a location far from Abu Association of South East Asian Environment Secretary Regina Lopez and of the Department of Agrarian Reform, Judy four Cabinet members due to opposition Zamora of San Juan, a member of the panel, Sayyaf’s traditional fi eld of op- Nations (Asean). three other Cabinet members who failed to Taguiwalo of the Department of Social Wel- from several sectors. that his brother Manny Zamora “killed a erations on remote Jolo, Tawi Duterte said he wanted to arm get the nod of the Commission on Appoint- fare and Development and Paulyn Jean Ubial But of the four, it was Lopez who was the mountain.” Lopez ordered the closure of Tawi and Basilan islands. civilians, and encouraged them ments (CA), Manila Times reported. of the Department of Health. The 25-mem- most controversial because of her order Hinatuan Mining Corp, a subsidiary of Nickel Duterte said Abu Sayyaf to kill not only Abu Sayyaf, but In a statement, the Palace announced that ber CA panel composed of senators and to close mining companies found to have Asia, as well as 21 other mining companies must not be allowed to extend drug addicts who were armed. Duterte reappointed Lopez on an ad-interim members of the House of Representatives violated laws during a mining audit that she due to violations of the Mining Law. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 29 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL President’s India visit very

H M Ershad Ershad fruitful, says Nepal minister IANS He said India’s President in the honour the government and high-level meetings sched- Kathmandu Pranab Mukherjee, Prime of India accorded to Nepal’s uled for the president on the cleared of Minister Narendra Modi and president. fi rst two days of her visit in New leaders of various political “The guard of honour that Delhi concluded on Tuesday epal President Bidya parties, during their meet- India gave to Nepal’s President night. radar scam Devi Bhandari’s visit ings with President Bhandari, at Rashtrapati Bhawan is an Meanwhile, President Nto India has been very highlighted the signifi cance of important thing. The Indian Bhandari, who is on a fi ve-day fruitful and signifi cant, Foreign Nepal-India ties and extended president, prime minister and state visit to India, wrapped up DPA Aff airs Minister Prakash Sharan best wishes to Nepal in its ef- distinguished personalities her meetings and programmes Dhaka Mahat said yesterday. forts towards implementing were present on the occasion,” in the Indian capital and left for “This visit has been fruit- the constitution and holding of he said. Rajkot, the fourth largest city in ful in enhancing the relations local elections. Mahat explained that Presi- the state of Gujarat yesterday. Dhaka court yesterday and goodwill between the two “They have also expressed dent Bhandari went to the air- In Gujarat, the president will cleared deposed Bangla- countries,” said Mahat, who the commitment to support port when Indian President pay homage at the Somnath Adeshi military dictator H was a member of the high-level Nepal in its development en- Pranab Mukherjee arrived on a temple and other pilgrimage M Ershad in a long-running de- delegation accompanying Pres- deavours,” Mahat was cited by state visit to Nepal as Nepal has sites. fence corruption case, according ident Bhandari during her state Himalayan Times as saying. the tradition of presenting the She will also attend a lunch- to offi cials. visit to India. To a query on President guard of honour at the airport eon to be hosted by Gujarat A metropolitan session judge The minister, who returned Bhandari being received at the itself. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in acquitted Ershad, a military to Kathmandu yesterday, was airport by an Indian minister The minister for foreign af- her honour. chief who became president of speaking to reporters at Tribhu- of state, Mahat made it clear fairs returned home yesterday President Bhandari is sched- Prakash Sharan Mahat: “This visit has been fruitful in enhancing the the South Asian country in the van International Airport. that there was nothing lacking after the formal programmes uled to visit Odisha today. relations and goodwill between the two countries.” 1980s, and two others of a radar purchase scam, prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam said. “We will take the next course of legal actions after reviewing the full verdict,” he said. Bangladesh court sentences The prosecution failed to prove Lanka battles labour the charges brought against them, said defence lawyer Sheikh Sirajul Islam. two to death for war crimes Bangladesh’s anti-corruption agency fi led the graft case in May shortage amid massive 1992, accusing Ershad and three DPA doubt against the accused, Nizami, and its top-ranking others of causing the loss of more Dhaka who were member of an armed leaders Abdul Kader Mollah, than $7.8m to the national ex- militia group linked to the Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, chequer by awarding the deal to a Pakistan army. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mo- US company instead of a French Bangladeshi court yes- “The death sentence can be jaheed and Mir Quasem Ali, construction boom one during his tenure in offi ce. terday sentenced two executed either by hanging or and Bangladesh Nationalist Army chief Ershad took power Amen to death for crimes shooting as the government Party (BNP) leader Salaud- after a bloodless coup in 1982 committed during the coun- decides,” Afroz quoted the din Quader Chowdhury were AFP Lankans will be barred from “Foreigners are illegally em- and ruled the country with an try’s 1971 war of independence court’s decision as saying. among those executed. Colombo going abroad for work unless ployed like this because we iron fi st for nine years, until he with Pakistan, offi cials said. Prodhan is in custody and East Pakistan became Bang- they can show evidence of fu- have a shortage of workers,” was ousted in 1990. The special war crimes tri- Hossain is currently on the run. ladesh after the fi ghting ended ture earnings amounting to Urban Development Minister The trial remained suspended bunal handed down the penal- Six opposition politicians, with the surrender of Pakistani heap Sri Lankan labour more than $400 per month. Champika Ranawaka said re- for more than four years after ty to Moslem Prodhan, 66, and mostly from the Bangladesh forces on December 16, 1971. has built skyscrapers “We want to discourage cently. investigators pressed charges Syed Mohammad Hossain, 64, Jamaat-e-Islami party, have An early attempt to pros- Cand condos across the those who go abroad for low “I am proposing that the against Ershad, two former high- for killings and atrocities car- been hanged after being con- ecute the suspects was called Gulf for decades but now con- pay. Some of these workers can government come up with a ranking air force offi cers and a ried out on civilians during the victed of war crimes. off following the 1975 as- tractors at home are desperate get more money if they stay policy on foreign workers to businessman in 1994. nine-month war. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi- sassination of Sheikh Mu- for workers as the island nation back in Sri Lanka,” Finance regularise this sector.” The court also acquitted the Prosecution lawyer Tu- na set up the special tribunal in jibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s experiences an unprecedented Minister Ravi Karunanayake One company, which de- former air force offi cers. The reen Afroz said six charges, 2010. founding leader and father construction boom. said. clined to be identifi ed, said it businessman died during the including killing of unarmed The head of the Jamaat-e- of current Prime Minister The labour shortage has seen was employing foreign workers course of trial. civilians, were proved beyond Islami party, Motiur Rahman Sheikh Hasina. builders off er lavish incentives “There is a social perception illegally but noted that many ranging from cash to vehicles about construction industry others were doing the same. to keep workers from heading labour, and that is why Chinese fi rms, unable to overseas, and in some cases, young people prefer public source local labour, have moved illegally employ foreign trades- sector jobs even if they pay armies of construction workers men to man projects. much less” to Sri Lanka to man their mega Sri Lanka was left with a building projects. massive reconstruction task at But it is a risky strategy. Along one of Colombo’s the end of the civil war in 2009, Roughly one in ten Sri Lankans main promenades, hundreds of with large parts of the north left work abroad and their remit- Chinese workers wait every day in ruins by decades of fi ghting. tances are the number-one for transport home after fi nish- Annual investment in new foreign exchange earner for the ing a shift building towers for a homes, roads and ports - which island of 21mn. new Shangri-La Hotel. Across has hovered at around Rs- The pool of money fl ow- the street, their countrymen 600bn ($4bn) in recent years ing home is growing, with Sri toil on a vast $1.4bn real estate - is expected to almost triple to Lankans sending $7.24bn last year development. $11.6bn in 2017. compared with $6.98bn in 2015. Despite unemployment hov- But Sri Lanka needs 400,000 The push to recruit local ering at 4.5% at the end of 2016, new workers - a two-thirds jump workers has also suff ered due the crippling labour shortage from existing levels - to keep up to a cultural stigma surround- shows no signs of easing, rais- with this surge, said Nissanka ing blue-collar labour, mean- ing fears that it will put the Wijeratne, head, Chamber of ing that Sri Lankans living in brakes on economic growth. Construction Industry. the country often choose low- A large-scale Sri Lankan “We can’t get that many paying offi ce jobs over better contractor said he had stopped overnight and we will have to remunerated opportunities accepting commissions to import. We are now facing a in masonry, carpentry and build condos because he serious labour crisis,” he said. plumbing. couldn’t fi nd tradesmen to Private contractors are go- “There is a social perception fi nish the job. ing to extreme lengths to stop about construction industry The crisis is stretching be- the fl ow of tradesmen heading labour, and that is why young yond the construction sec- to the Gulf for construction people prefer public sector jobs tor. Sewage and water works jobs, off ering bonuses like mo- even if they pay much less,” projects are struggling to torcycles and cars to labourers Wijeratne said. “It is about so- fi nd labourers and are turn- who choose to work on projects cial acceptance.” ing to neighbouring India for back home. The dearth has spurred some workers. The government has taken a desperate contractors to look Sri Lanka’s lucrative garment diff erent approach and sought off shore themselves - not for industry is also facing a short- to put curbs on migration by work but workers. The gov- age of 50,000 machine op- raising the minimum wage re- ernment estimates roughly erators, and many companies quirements for workers head- 200,000 foreigners are em- have relocated to Bangladesh in ing overseas. ployed illegally in the con- search of cheap labour, accord- Cricketer Rangana Herath, right, meets with survivors and displaced people at a relief camp after a massive garbage mountain collapse in the Under their proposal, Sri struction sector. ing to industry offi cials. Meethotamulla suburb of Colombo yesterday. Lanka calls off search for Bangladesh e-governance services receive World Bank assistance dump collapse survivors By Mizan Rahman Another $35mn additional could save 1,200 lives annually Dhaka funding will be used for clean and avoid 80mn cases of diseases. air and sustainable project The additional fi nancing will AFP clearing operations,” said mili- nent housing within a couple of to 700,000 people, after the (SASP) to address Dhaka’s en- help establish fi ve additional Colombo tary spokesman Roshan Senevi- months. dump was shut down. he World Bank (WB) will vironmental, transport and air quality monitoring stations, ratne. He also promised to shift the The Colombo Municipal Coun- provide $74mn to improve traffi c challenges, and help im- in addition to the 11 monitor- “The fi nal death toll is 32 and a garbage dump and move the res- cil had promised to remove the Tthe e-government servic- prove the capital’s air quality. ing stations supported by the ri Lanka yesterday ended handful of people who were list- idents to safer locations. rotting piles of rubbish along the es and air quality of Dhaka city. Rajashree Paralkar, World project and a central air quality the grim search for survi- ed as missing are now accounted Parliament had earlier been streets by noon yesterday, but resi- Of the amount, $39mn will Bank’s acting country director laboratory. Svors fi ve days after a huge for.” warned that the vast tip posed a dents said it remained uncleared. be spent for the leveraging for Bangladesh, and Mahmuda The fi nancing will also help garbage mountain collapsed Hundreds of security forces serious health hazard, and that a There were sporadic pro- ICT for growth, employment Begum, additional secretary of establish mobile air quality onto a slum, killing 32 people have been working round the long-term solution was needed tests in the suburbs of Colombo and governance (LICTGEG) the economic relations division, labs at all divisional offi ces for and forcing the evacuation of clock to clear the debris at Kol- to dispose of Colombo’s trash. against the dumping of gar- project, which aims to scale signed the agreement yesterday. better monitoring and enforce- hundreds of residents. onnawa on the northeastern A night of heavy rain, followed bage in smaller landfi lls in their up the e-government infra- According to World Bank of- ment of air emissions from in- Another 11 people were in- edge of Colombo. by an outbreak of fi re, destabi- neighbourhoods. structure and services, through fi cials, poor air quality in ur- dustrial sectors. jured when the 300ft (90m) Authorities have declared lised the 23mn-tonne garbage Police were called to disperse which all government minis- ban area creates serious health Further, the project will con- dump partially collapsed on neighbouring areas unsafe heap at Kolonnawa, causing its protesters along a main high- tries and agencies will be able hazards, adversely aff ects envi- tinue support to operationalise Friday as Sri Lankans celebrated for housing. Yesterday, Prime collapse. way yesterday and allow garbage to avail shared technology in- ronment and quality of life. By the traffi c signals and address their traditional new year. Minister Ranil Wickremesin- Garbage has been piling up trucks access to new dumping frastructure for their systems reducing exposure to urban air mobility needs of people with “We are still carrying out ghe promised survivors perma- since Friday in the capital, home grounds. and services. pollution by 20%, Bangladesh disabilities. Gulf Times 30 Thursday, April 20, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Macri’s disappointing

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] fi rst year in Argentina Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) By Martin Guzman announced that it would follow an depreciation had a large impact on Reserve raise the costs of rolling over Fax 44350474 New York infl ation-targeting regime, instead consumer prices – as critics had debts. Unstable macroeconomic of continuing to rely mainly on warned. This reduced households’ dynamics are reproducing the same seigniorage to fi nance the fi scal defi cit. purchasing power and weakened imbalances as they did before. rgentina’s economy is Finally, Macri’s government reached aggregate demand, while diminishing For example, the capital infl ows struggling. Last year, the a deal with the so-called vulture funds the devaluation’s overall impact on the associated with external borrowing are country suff ered stagfl ation, and other holdout creditors that for country’s external competitiveness. putting upward pressure on the peso, Awith GDP dropping by 2.3% more than a decade had blocked the The central bank’s new focus on threatening sectors that are important GULF TIMES and infl ation reaching nearly 40%. country from accessing international infl ation is unlikely to help matters, for job creation. Poverty and inequality increased; credit markets. Once the deal was either, because it will undermine In the run-up to this year’s unemployment rose; and foreign debt concluded, Argentina pursued massive economic activity and exacerbate legislative elections, Macri’s grew – and continues to grow – at an new external borrowing, with the the pain experienced by the most government could try to stimulate alarming rate. For President Mauricio emerging world’s largest-ever debt vulnerable, for whom unemployment economic activity by taking on more Macri, it was a disheartening fi rst year issue, to help address its sizeable fi scal may be worse than rising prices. debt. But a debt-based recovery would Blunders make defi cit. In the interest of lowering Moreover, Argentina’s fi scal be short-lived, and would sow the in offi ce, to say the least. To be sure, Macri faced a daunting its borrowing costs, the authorities defi cit has increased, owing to the seeds of more acute debt troubles in challenge when he took offi ce in issued the new debt under New York drop in revenues brought about by the future. December 2015. The economy law, despite the expensive battle that the recession. And there were no To escape its perverse debt case for video was already on an unsustainable the country had just lost precisely signifi cant FDI infl ows, because, as dynamics, Argentina must reduce path, owing to the inconsistent because it had borrowed under that Macri’s critics had cautioned, the its fiscal deficit. But it can do so macroeconomic policies that his legal framework. uncertainty surrounding his policies only in the context of a sustainable predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Macri’s macroeconomic policy deterred investment. and inclusive recovery of economic referees stronger Kirchner, had pursued. Those policies approach – which also included The government has done one activity – and that requires a more led to imbalances that eroded the increasing prices for public services thing right: it rebooted the National competitive economy. Under economy’s competitiveness and that had been frozen by the previous Institute of Statistics and Census, current conditions, attempting to The case for video referees has become stronger foreign reserves, pushing the country government and implementing a tax which had lost credibility after resolve the problem through a fiscal after Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo scored toward a balance-of-payments crisis. amnesty programme that provided the interventions by the previous contraction would merely aggravate a controversial hat-trick to send Bayern Munich But Macri also pursued a fl awed government with more fi scal revenues administration. But the overall the recession. macroeconomic policy approach. His – rested on several controversial situation remains bleak. At the end of Macri’s government should be crashing out of the UEFA Champions League on administration needed to address assumptions. Above all, the radical Macri’s fi rst year in offi ce, Argentina working to develop a long-term Tuesday. The Portuguese star was narrowly off side the fi scal and external imbalances, change in policy course was supposed faced the same macroeconomic macroeconomic strategy based two times in extra time as he set Real on course to a 6-3 without undoing the progress in social to establish the conditions for imbalances that it did when he took on credible, not controversial, aggregate victory while Bayern were also left fuming inclusion that had been made over the dynamic growth. offi ce, but with signifi cantly higher assumptions. Without a substantial previous decade. His approach, based The currency depreciation, it was external indebtedness. mid-course correction, Argentina will after Arturo Vidal was wrongly given a second yellow on four key pillars, has not achieved assumed, would address external Furthermore, public anger is settle onto a destabilising debt path card for a clean tackle. that. imbalances, by encouraging, with the reaching fever pitch, owing to the that leads nowhere good. – Project The fact that such a high-profi le match ended in First, Macri’s government help of lower export taxes, increased eff ective redistribution of wealth Syndicate a massive controversy involving one of the greatest abolished exchange-rate controls production of tradable goods. The deal away from workers brought about and moved Argentina to a fl oating with the vulture funds was supposed by Macri’s policies. Demonstrations zMartin Guzman, a research associate names in football should result in the fast-tracking currency regime, with the Argentine to reduce the cost of fi nancing and abound, even causing the fi rst day of at Columbia University Business of the introduction of video technology at all big peso allowed to depreciate by 60% boost investor confi dence, thereby school to be delayed. On April 6, the School and an associate professor at tournaments across the world. against the US dollar in 2016. Second, attracting infl ows of foreign direct government faced its fi rst nationwide the University of Buenos Aires, is a On Tuesday, although Bayern Munich were hailed for Macri’s government reduced taxes investment (FDI). Investment- general strike. co-chair of the Columbia Initiative on commodity exports, which led growth would help the entire As it stands, Argentina’s prospects for Policy Dialogue Taskforce on a courageous performance but were left to refl ect on had been important to Kirchner’s economy. are uncertain. External borrowing is Debt Restructuring and Sovereign what might have been. administration, and removed a These assumptions haven’t becoming a serious problem – one Bankruptcy and a senior fellow at the “That’s football, that’s life,” defender Jerome Boateng number of import controls. Third, been borne out. Contrary to the that is likely to intensify, as continued Centre for International Governance said after the match. “It was magnifi cent football, but the Central Bank of Argentina government’s expectations, the peso’s interest-rate hikes by the US Federal Innovation (CIGI). unfortunately the refereeing decisions went against us,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. “The red card was a heavy blow of course. But if you blame the team today you’ve seen the wrong match. It was a superb game.” However, Bayern were also benefi ciaries from refereeing decisions as they were gifted a non-existent penalty in the fi rst leg and earned another spot-kick in the second meeting which was far from certain. And their own second goal in Madrid may also have been — fractionally. Ultimately Bayern went toe-to-toe with the reigning European champions, a side turned into a winning machine by coach Zinedine Zidane, and came up only marginally short. Ronaldo was Bayern’s eff ort in awarded two taking the game to a 3-3 draw after two sets of goals from an 90 minutes was despite missing key players Mats off side position Hummels and Robert against Bayern Lewandowski from the fi rst game. on Tuesday Teachers clash with members of Prefectura Naval Argentina who guard the entrance of Pueyrredón bridge in Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, during a 24-hour general strike Coach Carlo Ancelotti, on April 6. on paper, has not matched previous boss Pep Guardiola’s run to three Champions League semi-fi nals with Bayern but could not fault his players, saying, “We came very close to the semi-fi nals.” Planning for President Le Pen Ancelotti will also refl ect that his best eleven is very close to the required standard, even if depth in his squad to cope with two or three important absences is By Mark Leonard the world, Le Pen wants to introduce managed to escape the extreme-right Europe’s leaders must also begin London protectionist policies. In lieu of ghetto, with a grand strategy, shaped thinking about how they should not there. openness, Le Pen – who now casts by her ally Florian Philippot, that respond to Le Pen’s request to But Bayern can take hope from the fact that they can herself as a Gaullist – wants to deepen aims to broaden the Front’s appeal to renegotiate the terms of France’s EU still turn the season into a domestic success with two fter the United Kingdom’s “great power” relations with Russia key groups that previously avoided it, membership, and to what extent they titles. unexpected vote to leave and the United States, as she focuses especially civil servants, women, and should resist her eff orts to remove the European Union and on defending “traditional” Christian Catholics. France from the rest of Europe. Should They will have to do it, though, without goalkeeper ADonald Trump’s unexpected values and fi ghting terror in the As Philippot has advanced this plan, the European Commission develop its Manuel Neuer, who broke his foot in the game. triumph in the US presidential context of a multipolar world order. claiming that the National Front is own plans for a French exit from the Neuer, outstanding in both legs against Real, was election last year, you might imagine To support those objectives, Le Pen “neither left nor right,” he has also been eurozone and Schengen? injured in extra-time and will miss the fi nal stretch of that Europe’s chancelleries have promises to increase French defence working to lay the groundwork for a Le There may even be a case for developed detailed contingency plans spending to 3% of GDP (the Nato Pen-led government. To this end, he is Europe’s leaders to facilitate France’s the season with Bayern leading by eight points in the for a victory by the far-right National target is 2%), while making it clear seeking to build a new political elite to withdrawal from the EU, lest Le Bundesliga with fi ve matches remaining. Front’s Marine Le Pen in France’s to voters that none of that spending serve in a National Front government Pen attempt to dismantle the EU They also host rivals Borussia Dortmund in the presidential election. You’d be wrong. would support stabilisation missions and help overcome resistance to the from within, by building alliances German Cup last four next week. The thought of President Le Pen is in Africa. In this sense, a Le Pen party’s agenda from France’s “deep with the likes of Hungarian Prime so terrifying, it seems, posing such a victory would amount to a rupture not state.” And he has been exploring what Minister Viktor Orban. It is certainly a With only one win from their last three league threat to the future of Europe, that it just with the European mainstream, the president can and cannot do – possibility that must be considered. matches, Bayern know only victory will do against remains for many a possibility they but also with France’s strategic including calling referenda – without To say that these are diffi cult lowly Mainz 05 on Saturday to tighten their grip on a dare not entertain, much less plan for. orientation over the last few decades. permission from parliament. questions is an understatement. But record-extending fi fth straight league title and avoid But that threat is precisely why Europe To be sure, opinion polls still favour Compared to Le Pen and her team, that is precisely the point: bringing must address seriously the possibility the independent centrist Emmanuel Europe’s leaders seem woefully them out into the open demonstrates seeing second-placed RB Leipzig close in even further. of her winning, however unlikely it Macron in a second-round run- underprepared. Of course, with so just how disruptive Le Pen’s victory A domestic double would somewhat ease their pain of may seem. off . But many fear that Macron’s many unknowns, there is a limit to the would be. Indeed, from the EU’s missing out on the European title. There is no doubt that, as President supporters will not be as inspired as Le plans they can share publicly; indeed, perspective, a hostile president in of France, Le Pen could do serious Pen’s to turn out to vote. at this stage, specifi c statements may France, the country of Jean Monnet, damage to the European project. In fact, in recent months, Le even prove counterproductive. But would be far more destructive than She has positioned herself as the Pen’s popular support has remained that does not mean that EU leaders Brexit. To Advertise antithesis of German Chancellor rather consistent, with her lead in should simply warn that a Le Pen If we have learned one thing from Angela Merkel, and pledged to leave opinion polls for the fi rst round victory would spell the end of the EU the annus horribilis that was 2016, [email protected] the EU’s border-free Schengen Area remaining stable, even as French and leave it at that. it should be that opinion polls are Display and the eurozone. As for the EU politics is thrown into upheaval by Instead, EU leaders should be fallible. Rather than shut their eyes Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 itself, she promises to follow in the scandal and mistrust. This perfect considering to what extent they and hope that, this time, the pollsters UK’s footsteps, renegotiating the political storm has caused France’s would be able to work around a Le are vindicated, the EU should prepare Classified terms of her country’s membership, two-party system to fragment into a Pen presidency. Even if she wins, she even for the worst-case scenario. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 and then calling a referendum on four-party arrangement and has all will struggle to gain a parliamentary Such plans may never have to be the agreement. If the EU rejects the but knocked the favourites out of the majority, meaning that she may well implemented, but Europe’s leaders Subscription reforms Le Pen demands, she will running, while leaving Le Pen largely end up in what the French evocatively should make them now, rather than [email protected] campaign for a French exit. unscathed. call cohabitation with a hostile wishing later that they had. – Project But there would be important The reasons for Le Pen’s rise have parliament and prime minister. Would Syndicate diff erences between Brexit and Frexit. as much to do with her reinvention of other EU leaders be able to form an 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Whereas many UK Eurosceptics the National Front as with the external informal coalition with those elements zMark Leonard is Director of the envision a global Britain trading with political environment. She has of the French government? European Council on Foreign Relations. Gulf Times Thursday, April 20, 2017 31 COMMENT Theresa May rolls the electoral dice

Notwithstanding the union, so that the UK can impose committed to EU single-market immigration controls on EU citizens, membership. And, lastly, one cannot unpredictability of British free itself from the European Court discount the possibility that a new politics nowadays, May’s of Justice’s jurisdiction, and pursue centrist party will emerge before its own trade deals. At the same June. Conservative Party is time, a large parliamentary majority If May fails to win a big majority, expected to win the might give May more leeway to make her authority within the Conservative compromises during the Brexit Party will be weakened. But even if she election handily negotiations, because she will be less fails to win a majority, Brexit would vulnerable to pressure from hardline not be stopped, unless every anti- By Philippe Legrain Brexiteers. Brexit Member of Parliament were to London The timing of a Conservative back a temporary government and vote victory would prove highly opportune to hold a second national referendum. for May. She could claim her mandate With this outcome being extremely big election year for Europe to implement a hard Brexit before unlikely, the most one can hope for is just got bigger. With France’s the consequences hit home, while that the election will soften the blow upcoming presidential the economy is still riding high on from Brexit. Aelection becoming a nail- debt-fuelled consumption. And she May is also taking a much bigger biter, and Germans preparing to vote would not have to face voters again gamble with the survival of the UK. in September, British Prime Minister until 2022, giving her more fl exibility She recently rejected the Scottish Theresa May has now called a snap in implementing Brexit. government’s request for another election for June 8. The outcome If Britain leaves the EU as planned in independence referendum – the will have far-reaching implications 2019, there could be a further two- or second since 2014 – on the grounds not only for the United Kingdom’s three-year transition period before that it would be wrong for Scots to impending negotiations on withdrawal the 2022 election, during which the vote before knowing the outcome of from the European Union, but also for UK might remain in the single market the Brexit negotiations. But she is now the survival of the UK itself. and customs union – and maintain asking Britons to do precisely that. Notwithstanding the free movement – while it negotiates May’s position on Scotland is unpredictability of British politics a future trade deal. Most of the trade, scarcely tenable. Assuming that the nowadays, May’s Conservative Party investment, and migration losses that pro-independence Scottish National is expected to win the election handily. Brexit is likely to cause might thus be Party’s support holds up in the general A recent YouGov/Times poll predicted delayed. election, Scottish First Minister and that the Conservatives would receive But there are risks to May’s strategy. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will be 44% of the vote, compared to 23% for For starters, she is reversing a position in a much stronger position to renew the Labour Party, 12% for the Liberal she has maintained since announcing her demand for an independence Democrats, and 10% for the UK her candidacy to succeed Cameron referendum – perhaps as early as next Independence Party. Under Britain’s as Tory leader (and thus as prime year. fi rst-past-the-post electoral system, minister). “There won’t be an early With many Scots – 62% of whom the Conservatives would likely have a election,” she vowed a week after voted to remain in the EU – leery of hefty majority of more than 100 seats the Brexit vote. “There should be no being dragged into a hard Brexit by in the House of Commons – up from general election until 2020.” She has a Conservative UK government in 14 now. issued similar, seemingly ironclad thrall to English nationalism, the case May owes her position as prime assurances ever since. for Scottish independence could be minister to the parliamentary majority May’s justifi cation for calling an compelling. The future of Northern that David Cameron won in 2015, early election – that the current Ireland remains in question as well. before he resigned in the wake of last parliamentary opposition could block Little England, a state of mind, could June’s Brexit referendum. But if the Brexit – is nonsense. Parliament Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech to Conservative Party members to launch their election campaign in become the real thing. – Project election result vindicates the pollsters, unconditionally allowed May to Walmsley Parish Hall, Bolton, Britain, yesterday. Syndicate she will have a signifi cantly stronger initiate the EU exit process last month. popular mandate than Cameron did. If it tried to reject an exit deal, Britain By cynically breaking her promises, The Liberal Democrats, on the other his party’s decision to enter into a zPhilippe Legrain, a former economic To be sure, the Conservatives are would simply leave the EU without May could badly erode the public’s hand, have an opportunity to siphon coalition with the Conservatives adviser to the president of the European unlikely to win more than 50% of the one. Similarly, a big parliamentary trust in her. She obviously thinks she support from both the Conservatives between 2010 and 2015, which could Commission, is a visiting senior fellow vote. But May could still claim that a majority would not strengthen May’s can get away with it: even if swing and Labour, by campaigning against make him more palatable to voters at the London School of Economics’ big parliamentary majority amounts negotiating position vis-a-vis the voters have doubts about her, they May’s vision for a hard Brexit. fl eeing from Labour. European Institute and the author of to an endorsement of her pursuit of EU. If anything, the knowledge that are not about to bolt to the deeply Granted, the Liberal Democrat leader, In addition, the Liberal Democrats European Spring: Why Our Economies a “hard Brexit.” That entails leaving she had scope to compromise would unpopular hard-left Labour leader, Tim Farron, does not look particularly could appeal to more moderate and Politics are in a Mess – and How the EU single market and customs weaken it. Jeremy Corbyn. prime ministerial. But he did oppose Tory voters, because they remain to Put Them Right.

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TODAY New study High: 37 C Low : 29 C Inshore: Hot daytime and slight dust fi nds eating to blowing dust at places with some scattered clouds.

FRIDAY fruit cuts High: 33 C Low: 26 C Cloudy diabetes risk

QNA SATURDAY London High: 34 C Low: 23 C Cloudy ating fresh fruit can signifi cantly lower the risk of diabetes, according to a major Fishermen’s forecast Enew long-term study from OFFSHORE DOHA Oxford University. Wind: NW 18-28/36 KT Researchers monitored 500,000 Waves: 6-9/12 Feet Chinese adults from diverse regions INSHORE DOHA across a seven-year period. Wind: NW 16-26/35 KT Waves: 2-4/5 Feet Participants completed a detailed questionnaire and underwent Around the region physical measurements and blood Weather Weather tests, with their health tracked today Max/min tomorrow Max/min subsequently during the study’s time Abu Dhabi Cloudy 32/25 Cloudy 31/26 period. Baghdad Sunny 31/17 Sunny 33/19 Among those who did not have Dubai Cloudy 33/25 Cloudy 31/24 Kuwait City Sunny 33/22 Cloudy 34/23 diabetes at the start of the study, Manama Cloudy 29/24 Cloudy 31/25 daily consumption of fresh fruit was Muscat Sunny 37/27 Sunny 33/26 associated with a 12% lower risk of Riyadh P Cloudy 33/20 P Cloudy 34/20 developing diabetes, compared to Tehran Sunny 24/13 Sunny 24/14 never or rarely consuming fresh fruit. In those who already had diabetes, consuming fresh fruit more than three days a week was associated with a 17% lower risk of dying from any cause and were up to a third less likely to develop diabetes-related complications. The study was done because fruit is often not considered as healthy as veg for those with diabetes, given the relatively higher sugar content, researchers said. Results contradicted this, the study found, with higher levels of fruit intake likely to be benefi cial to prevention of diabetes. “To our knowledge, this is the fi rst large prospective study demonstrating similar inverse associations of fruit consumption with both incident diabetes and Around the world diabetic complications,” researchers Weather Weather said. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min “These fi ndings suggest that Athens P Cloudy 23/09 M Cloudy 18/09 a higher intake of fresh fruit is Beirut Sunny 23/18 Sunny 29/20 potentially benefi cial for primary and Bangkok M Sunny 37/28 M Sunny 37/27 Berlin P Cloudy 09/04 Cloudy 13/05 secondary prevention of diabetes.” Cairo Sunny 34/21 Sunny 38/20 Cape Town Sunny 32/14 Sunny 31/15 Colombo M Sunny 32/26 I T Storms 32/26 Dhaka T Storms 28/26 T Storms 30/26 Hong Kong T Storms 27/24 T Storms 27/19 Istanbul Rain 19/08 Showers 13/05 Jakarta T Storms 32/25 T Storms 32/25 Karachi Cloudy 35/26 Sunny 34/24 London Cloudy 14/08 M Cloudy 17/08 Manila I T Storms 35/27 S T Storms 34/27 Gulf Times 32 Thursday, April 20, 2017 QATAR

Q-Post signs MoU Luxury Ciftci Towers on with Turkish Post for e-commerce atar Postal Service Company (Q-Post) has signed a memoran- dum of understanding (MoU) with Turkish Post in the area of Qe-commerce. The agreement was signed by Q-Post chairman show at Expo Turkey and managing director Faleh al-Naemi and Turkish Post chairman and director-general Kenan Bozgeyik on the occasion of the opening By Joey Aguilar views of the Bosphorus from the of ‘Expo Turkey by Qatar 2017’ yesterday. Staff Reporter historic peninsula towards the Under the agreement, Q-Post and Turkish Post have agreed on de- Golden Horn. veloping a roadmap —designing a product sales plan from Turkey to TEM highway, Barbaros Av- Qatar and vice-versa and benefi ting their customers based in both iftci Towers, the most lux- enue, Fatih Sultan Mehmet and countries. urious residential towers Bosphorus bridges, as well as Building on its business growth, Q-Post is currently going through Cin Istanbul, is showcas- plaza centres and public trans- a holistic modernisation process involving its postal services and ing its monumental mixed-use portation, are all minutes away products, according to a press statement. project at the three-day ‘Expo from the property, providing res- “This transformation programme is aimed at turning Q-Post into Turkey by Qatar 2017,’ which idents with the greatest luxury to a world-class postal operator by embracing the digital age, a mod- opened yesterday at the Qatar savour life as they please. Okur ern economy and a changing society. Within this context, Q-Post is National Convention Centre. said the project’s design off ers currently developing a new e-commerce platform, allowing interna- “Everything is designed like the luminous and spacious spaces tional shopping and shipping service directly from Turkey to custom- Rockefeller Centre, it is a very spe- due to the high ceilings and fl oor, ers’ doorstep in Qatar,” the statement noted. The new service “is in cial project that provides unparal- and ceiling windows that provide the testing process in order to bring the best-quality product to the leled views of the city,” Ciftci Tow- unobstructed views. “The sun- market,” Q-Post has said, adding that the new e-commerce platform ers general manager Burçin Okur light blinds on the tower exterior will be launched at a later stage this year. told Gulf Times on the sidelines of provide controlled sunlight en- “This e-commerce roadmap is aimed at bringing our respective the event yesterday. try, which in turn reinforce ener- postal services closer for the benefi t of our valued customers and He said the project, designed gy effi ciency. Residents can fulfi l partners. Turkey and Qatar put a lot of eff orts in building a strong by renowned British architect all their needs and enjoy each Ciftci Towers general manager trade alliance in the last decades and we are glad to see this friendship John McAslan, features two tow- The Ciftci Towers pavilion at the Expo Turkey by Qatar 2017. apartment service with the use Burçin Okur. going a step further today in the fi eld of postal services. I would like to ers (45 fl oors each) with 288 resi- of the touch screen smart home PICTURES: Jayaram thank all the board members of Turkish Post for their trust and their dences, offi ces, and a 70,000 sq tigious people,” he stressed. welcome Istanbul from above, systems,” he added. precious collaboration. We are extremely proud of what we achieved m shopping mall below. Each Ciftci Towers, located at the which span across the European The senior offi cial noted that owned enterprises and investors. together,” al-Naemi said. fl oor has only four residences. heart of Istanbul’s residential, and the Asian sides. The towers they are anticipating a lot of in- Çiftçi Towers’ interior de- The e-commerce agreement with Turkish Post “marks a key mile- “It is for the wealthy and pres- business and fi nancial districts, also embrace the breathtaking terest from regional and interna- signer Francesca Muzio from FM stone” in this transformation journey and is being considered the tional investors “in this unique Interior Design fi rm will give a “beginning of a new partnership between Q-Post and Turkish Post”. development that will set a new 20-minute presentation today to Commercial Bank sponsors summit benchmark in Istanbul’s high- give an overview of the interior end residential segment.” design elements of this unique Commercial Bank is supporting ABank, both taking part in the Turkey through our wholly “We have not gone to foreign property. “We are pleased to join and sponsoring the Turkish- exhibition, are also sponsoring owned Turkish subsidiary customers before but now we participants at the exhibition and Qatari Business Leaders’ the Turkish-Qatari Business ABank and we are looking have a very good relation with present to them the most luxuri- Summit to be held during the Leaders’ Summit, set today forward to contributing towards Qatar and there are lots of Qatari ous residence in Istanbul set to Expo Turkey by Qatar 2017 at the Expo. As the exclusive the success of the event businessmen in Turkey, they are open soon,” Okur said. which opened yesterday. Taking sponsor of this business leaders’ together,” he noted. “This Expo investing in Turkey,” he said. Ciftci Towers is an invest- place until tomorrow at the Summit, Commercial Bank CEO and Summit come at a time The event provides Qatar ment project of Ciftciler Hold- Qatar National Convention Joseph Abraham will deliver when political, cultural and residents and visitors the op- ing Company, constructed by Centre, the Expo is being held to a speech addressing the high- trade links between Qatar and portunity to meet with the in- Türkerler Holding. The interior strengthen economic relations level participants. “We are proud Turkey are growing strongly, terior architect of Ciftci Towers design of the property is man- and investment opportunities to sponsor the Turkish- Qatari and Commercial Bank and and discuss various investment aged by FM Interior Design fi rm between Qatar and Turkey. Business Leaders’ Summit, in ABank are well placed to opportunities of this exclusive from Italy. The event gathers more what is set to be a key milestone capitalise on increased bilateral property. Turkey and Qatar’s Upon completion, the Ciftci than 300 prominent Turkish in business relations between investment by off ering door- strategic partnership is heading Towers project will mark its sig- companies and 3,000 our two countries,” Abraham to-door services to our clients to the world stage to strengthen nature on the city of Istanbul businessmen. Commercial said. in both Qatar and Turkey,” economic and commercial rela- with its outstanding modern de- Bank and its Turkish subsidiary “We have established links with Abraham added. tions at the Expo, which hosts signs inspired from contempo- The agreement was signed by Q-Post chairman and managing more than 300 Turkish compa- rary architecture and engineer- director Faleh al-Naemi and Turkish Post chairman and director- nies, along with Qatar’s state- ing wonders around the world. general Kenan Bozgeyik. PICTURE: Nasar T K