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Tuesday 25 April 2017 | 28 Rajab 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7142 | 2 Riyals

Emir meets UN chief's humanitarian envoy No change in Kahramaa 2016-17 final Awareness exam dates QNA

he Ministry of Education and Higher Education said the 2016- Park opens T17 final examination will be held on the scheduled dates and in accord- ance with the annual calendar of Irfan Bukhari Independent schools that the Minis- The Peninsula The most interesting try released before the beginning of the current academic year. rime Minister and part of the park Speaking to QNA, a senior source Interior Minister H E is “Dana Dome”, at the Ministry said the Ministry has Sheikh Abdullah bin no intention of changing dates of the Nasser bin Khalifa Al which shows a final examinations to take place Thani yesterday 3D film about before the month of Ramadan, not- Popened the state-of-the-art ing that the examination schedule is the importance Kahramaa Awareness Park, an prepared in line with the calendar ambitious initiative to promote of water, its and there is no need to change the the culture of conservation of conservation and schedule. electricity and water among recycling. The remarks came in the wake children. of rumours of a possible change in After inaugurating the park the examination schedule to take at a vibrant ceremony, the place before Ramadan. Prime Minister toured the facil- wind energy, solar power to Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met at the Emiri Diwan yesterday According to the annual academic ity. The event was also attended kinetic energy, gas turbine with UN Secretary-General's Humanitarian Envoy, H E Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al calendar of Independent schools, final by Deputy Prime Minister and models to water recycling, examinations are set to start on May Muraikhi. The official thanked the Emir for the aid and support provides for Minister of State for Cabinet every subject is there to be 25 and end on June 10 for the final year humanitarian and relief projects around the world. Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdul- taught to children with the help students of secondary schools. lah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, of games, cartoon characters, Minister of Energy and Indus- audio, video aides. try H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh The most interesting part of Al Sada, Kahramaa’s President the park is “Dana Dome”, which Eng Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari shows a 3D film about the QA flights to offer high-speed broadband and other dignitaries and importance of water, its con- guests. servation and recycling. In the The Peninsula on flights starting this summer. options. Qatar Airways also Greece; Malaga, Spain; Accra, The Kahramaa Awareness external yard of the park, wind The airline will also launch announced additional 12 new Ghana; Lisbon, Portugal; Abid- Park is a magnificent theme- turbines and solar panels have atar Airways said yester- a new graphic user interface and destinations to be launched in jan, ; Prague, Czech facility having all features been installed which will not day it has become the first a complimentary new entertain- 2018: San Francisco, US; Cardiff, Republic; Kiev, Ukraine and needed not only to educate kids only familiarise kids with alter- Qairline in the Middle East ment application for early access UK; Utapao, Thailand; Chit- Mombasa, Kenya. about water and electricity but native energy but, according to to launch high-speed broadband to thousands of entertainment tagong, ; Mykonos, → Continued on page 3 also teach them about the an official, are “already produc- importance of resources. ing electricity.” From life cycle of water to → Continued on page 3 VAT could lead to 2% rise in revenue Satish Kanady The Peninsula

ith the introduction of Value Added Tax W(VAT) by next year, Qatar, along with other GCC countries, is expecting its respective revenues to grow up to 2 percent. Addressing the International Monetary and Financial Committee’s (IMFC) meeting in Washington, the Qatar Group Countries said VAT could raise revenues any- Kahramaa Awareness Park decked up in lights for the where from 1 to 2pc of GDP. opening ceremony yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula → Full report on page 21 New health strategy eyes complete immunisation within six years

Fazeena Saleem nine goals will be related to vac- of the vaccinations free for eve- The Peninsula cination and they include ryone. Now Qatar has a 99 sustaining high immunisation percent immunization cover- atar aims to achieve hun- coverage, providing vaccina- age. We want to reach 100 dred percent immunisation tions for children, adults and percent and achieving the Qcoverage within the next six travellers and quality manage- remaining one percent is the years, in line with the 2017-2022 ment of vaccines. most challenging,” said Dr new National Health Strategy, To promote vaccination Sheikh Dr Mohammad bin says a senior official at the Min- among adults and travellers, the Hamad Al Thani, Director of istry of Public Health (MoPH). Ministry will provide 160,000 Public Health at the Ministry. The new strategy, which is vaccines during the upcoming “We are looking forward to expected to be launched next Umrah and Haj season. “The achieving 100 percent immuni- week, will have nine goals set immunisation programme in sation coverage as part of the to be achieved related to com- Qatar has been always leading new National Health Strategy." municable diseases. Three of the in the region. We provide most → Continued on page 2 02 HOME TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017

Emir honours outgoing ambassadors

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met at the Emiri Diwan yesterday with Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus, Charalambos Panayides (left), and Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia to Qatar, Ibrahim K Nyei, on the occasion of the expiry of their tenure in the country. The Emir granted Their Excellencies the Ambassadors the Decoration of Al Wajbah in recognition of the efforts they made for enhancing cooperation between Qatar and their respective countries and wished them success in their future missions and relations with their countries further progress and prosperity.

Unesco's regional training Croatian President leaves Doha on biosphere reserves starts

QNA Qatar praised about the approach followed in nominating Al Reem Reserve for he regional training Qatari experience the biosphere programme, the programme on bio- in drafting a contribution of the Qatari expe- sphere reserves and comprehensive rience in the preparation of the the "Man and the Bio- plan for the biosphere integrated management plan for sphere Programme" reserve praised. Al Reem Reserve, in addition to Tof the United Nations Educa- an initial review of reserves in tional, Scientific and Cultural 669 biosphere the Gulf region that are eligible Organisation (Unesco) started for nomination and the adop- reserves in 120 in Doha yesterday with the par- tion of an action plan for a countries, 16 of which ticipation of GCC delegations. regional program for man and Eng Ahmed Mohammed Al are cross-border and the biosphere. Sada, Aassistant Undersecretary 30 in Arab region. During the first day of the for Environment Affairs at the four-day programme, Tariq Ministry of Municipality and Envi- enhance the regional role in terms Mostafa Aboul Hawa, a regional ronment, kicked off the of exchanging knowledge and expert in natural reserves, gave a President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, left Doha yesterday after programme with a speech in expertise on the regional experi- presentation on the Man and the an official visit to the country. The President and the accompanying delegation were which he said the programme is ences of the Man and the Biosphere Program that Unesco seen off at Hamad International Airport by Minister of Culture and Sports H E Salah bin held with joint cooperation Biosphere Programme, Al Sada launched in 1971 as an interna- Ghanem Al Ali and other dignitaries. between the ministry's natural said, expressing hope that such tional and scientific programme reserves department and the efforts will culminate in outputs among governments in order to Unesco Office in Doha in order to that reflect the relevant priorities enhance the link between man carry out the national programme of the planning and management and the environment. to prepare a comprehensive of domestic areas at the regional He said that there are 669 administrative plan for Al Reem level and address the interna- declared biosphere reserves in 120 Biosphere Reserve. tional terms adopted by Unesco. countries, 16 of which are cross- Nod for draft law on 'National Address' He said that the participa- Anna Paolini, Director of the border and 30 are in the Arab tion of a number of specialists Unesco Office in Doha, high- region. He noted that the program QNA its previous meeting. The Coun- Kaabi during the council's 45th reflects the growing attention lighted the programme and strives to achieve the goals of pre- cil listened to the report of the regular session. paid to the planning and man- expressed gratitude about serving biodiversity and he Advisory Council held Internal and Foreign Affairs The committee continued its agement of reserves, stressing Qatar's efforts, represented by environment systems; enhancing yesterday its regular Committee on a draft law on the review of the National Service that the main pillar of the pro- the Ministry of Municipality and the chances of sustainable devel- Tweekly session during its "National Address". The Coun- draft law and decided to con- gramme is to review Qatar's Environment, in this regard, opment of for societies associated 45th ordinary session under the cil approved the draft law and tinue the process at another experiment in the Man and the praising the Qatari experience with environment systems; build- chairmanship of Speaker H E decided to submit its recom- meeting. The committee also Biosphere Programme and dis- in drafting the comprehensive ing knowledge, awareness, Mohammed bin Mubarak Al mendations to the Cabinet. reviewed a draft law on the cuss the lessons learned from plan for the biosphere reserve. education and communication in Khulaifi. THe The Advisory Council's work of expertise and decided the Qatari experience since Al She said the outcome of the support of preserving biodiver- At the outset of the meeting, Legal and Legislative Affairs to unanimously approve it as Reem Reserve was declared a programme aims to promote sity; and securing an opportunity the approved agenda of the Committee held its meeting received from the government biosphere reserve. awareness of the Man and the for future generations to enjoy the meeting was read out, then the under the chairmanship of its and to submit its recommenda- The programme aims to Biosphere Programme and learn natural and cultural heritage. Council ratified the minutes of Rapporteur Nasser Serayea Al tion to the council. Immunisation campaigns help prevent outbreak of infectious diseases

Continued from page 1 vaccines. He also said that 17 primary Dr Al Thani added: "It may The training workshop is healthcare centres provide vac- not take six years but it’s part of being conducted by World cines for children as well as for our strategy. We make sure that Health Organization (WHO) adults and the new travel clinic everybody is protected by tak- affiliated trainers from at the communicable disease ing the vaccination properly and and to coincide with the centre offers guidance for create awareness that vaccina- World Immunization Week travelers. tion is safe in Qatar as it is going which begins today. It is marked Separately, speaking about through the correct procedure annually in the last week of April the prevalence of MERS-CoV — with quality management”. and aims to promote the use of Middle East Respiratory Dr Al Thani also said that the vaccines to protect people of all Syndrome Corona Virus Dr Al continuous immunisation cam- ages against disease. Rumaihi said that the second paigns by the Ministry has Dr Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi, confirmed case of the virus also helped in preventing any out- Director, Health Protection and has been discharged from the break of infectious diseases in Communicable Disease Control hospital. the country. Department at the Ministry, said, “This year we had two cases He was speaking on the “Effective vaccine management and both have been discharged sidelines of a three-day train- is one of our objectives in line from the hospital. Due to proper ing workshop on ‘effective with the new National Health management of the cases we Dr Mohammed Al Thani (centre), Director of Public Health; with Dr Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi, management of vaccine’ yester- Strategy. Our ultimate goal is to have prevented any outbreak. Director of the Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Department, and Dr Soha day. The workshop aims to train deliver effective and safe vac- But we are still working closely Al Bayat, Head of Vaccination Unit at the Ministry of Public Health, with other officials during healthcare providers on meth- cines, assure proper storage and with research institutes to the Workshop on Effective Management of Vaccine at InterContinental Doha the City yesterday. odologies to be followed for delivery of vaccination and have understand the situation in Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula proper storage and delivery of a correct stock management.” Qatar,” said Al Thani. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 HOME 03 Qatar to host World Tourism Day celebrations

The Peninsula MoU signed atar Tourism Author- QTA and UNWTO ity (QTA) and the UN signed the official World Tourism agreement for Organization the event which Q(UNWTO) yesterday signed the official agreement will be held on through which Qatar will host September 27. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the World Tourism Day (WTD) celebrations later this year Qatar selected to State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud; Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohamed bin under the theme, ‘Sustainable host the celebrations Saleh Al Sada; Kahramaa’s President, Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari and other dignitaries at the inauguration of the Kahramaa Tourism – a Tool for by a vote of the Awareness Park, an ambitious initiative to promote the culture of conservation of electricity and water among children. Development’. 21st UNWTO The event will be held on General Assembly. September 27, under the Future strategies for Tarsheed unveiled patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh of national development plans,” Continued from page 1 Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khal- commented Al Ibrahim. “There occasion felicitated winners Musherib Properties won Energy Initiative”. ifa Al Thani. could be no more fitting a des- The park also has an Islamic (individuals and establishments) award for “Cultural Forum Al-Shiamaa Secondary Inde- The agreement was signed tination to carry this message corner which illustrates the role in various categories of three Building” in government sector pendent School for Girls won by Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief to the world than Qatar, and we of Islam in achieving sustaina- competitions which were organ- companies in “Conserving Build- award for its research on “Eco Tourism Development Officer look forward to working with bility. The park will be open for ized by Kahramaa’s ing Competition”. Qatar Friendly Green School Model” in at QTA and Taleb Al Rifai, Sec- the UNWTO to host a memora- school trips now and will be Conservation and Energy Effi- Foundation won award for “Best Renewable Energy Initia- retary General of UNWTO on ble World Tourism Day event.” open for public visits later. ciency department. “Northwestern University Qatar” tive” competition. Eng. Ibraheem the sidelines of the 2017 Ara- Al Rifai, said “We look for- Coinciding with the opening Supreme Committee for in education sector in “Conserv- Al Ali won award for his work on bian Travel Market (ATM) in ward to be celebrating World ceremony, the Qatar General Delivery and Legacy was ing Building Competition”. Qatar “Humidification, Dehumidifica- Dubai. Tourism Day 2017 on 27 Septem- Electricity & Water Corporation declared “2017 Best Government Gas won another award for tion, Desalination”. Qatar had been selected to ber in Doha, Qatar. World (Kahramaa) yesterday marked the Corporation Applying Tarsheed “CLPG Plant” in industrial sec- Tarsheed was launched on host the official WTD celebra- Tourism Day is the day set aside fifth anniversary of its ongoing Practices”. Ashghal won first tor for “Conserving Building the Earth Day in 2012 which falls tions by a vote of the 21st in the UN calendar to celebrate National Program for Conserva- place for its “Design of the Qatari Competition”. every year on April 22. Through UNWTO General Assembly, the transformative power of the tion and Energy Efficiency Centre of Social Culture for the Sheraton Hotel won award its multi- folded strategies and held in 2015 in Colombia. tourism sector. This year’s cele- (Tarsheed) with the slogan “one Deaf” in “In-design Competi- in tourism sector for “Green programmes, Tarsheed aims at “Qatar’s leadership has bration has an even greater promise, one journey ’’. tion”. Ministry of Culture and Hospitality with QNCC”. Minis- reaching all segments of the identified tourism as a priority significance as it happens in the With the annual Tarsheed Sports won award for “Lusail try of Interior won second society to create awareness for sector in the nation’s pursuit of scope of the International Year celebration, Kahramaa Sports Complex” in sports sec- position for “Design of Civil conserving the precious a sustainable and diverse econ- of Sustainable Tourism for announced future strategies for tor in “Conserving Building Defence and Protection in resources. It motivates the whole omy. We recognise that tourism Development.” Celebrated annu- Tarsheed programme. During Competition”. Wakra” in “In-design Competi- society to work together, con- has the power to drive this ally on 27 September, World the event, a film on the first Qatar Gas won award for its tion”. ASTAD Projects tributing to the envisaged goals growth, as well as enable us to Tourism Day is the biggest inter- phase (2012- 2017) of the “Headquarters Office” in com- Management won third place in and ambitions of the Qatar celebrate our culture and her- national event in tourism. The National Programme was mercial sector for “Conserving “In-design Competition” for its National Vision 2030. itage with the world, and is event, which is held in a differ- screened, highlighting its over- Building Competition”. Ministry “Design of Qatar University In order to achieve the tar- rightlytherefore at the forefront ent continent each year. all achievements and challenges. of Municipality and Environment Sports and Events Complex”. get set out by Tarsheed, The Tarsheed succeeded in won award for its “Ministry Qatar Foundation won another Kahramaa has signed 56 MoUs reducing per capita consump- Tower” in government sector award for “Solar Panel Units for in various sectors with various tion of electricity and water in corporations in “Conserving Irrigation System” in corpora- organizations is to implement its Qatar by 18% and 20% respec- Building Competition”. tion sector for “Best Renewable objectives. tively until December last year. During the event, Kahramaa also announced the commence- ment of the second phase (2017- 2022) of Tarsheed and its new roadmap to achieve the objectives set out by Qatar National Vision 2030 and extended National Development Strategy. During these years, Tarsheed will strive to reduce the per capita consumption of Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at electricity and water by 8% and QTA, and Taleb Al Rifai, Secretary-General of UNWTO, signing 15% respectively. the agreement. Kahramaa at this grand QA's redesigned website launched

Continued from page 1 The announcements were made at a press conference on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Middle East’s biggest travel show which kicked off in Dubai yesterday. Qatar Airways stole the show at the opening of ATM revealing its ground-breaking Qsuite. The airline had already announced 14 new destinations for 2017-18, further adding to the airline's global network of more than 150 destinations. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “Qatar Airways constantly strives Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President to create the ultimate passenger and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, being given experience. Seamless connectiv- a tour of the Qsuite by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive ity is part of our passenger’s Akbar Al Baker. lifestyle requirements on the ground and is fast becoming a world," he added. redesigned website, set to go live minimum expectation for travel The new high-speed broad- in early May. The new website in the air. In order to not just meet band in partnership with Inmarsat was developed to showcase the these expectations, but to exceed (GX Aviation) enables premium airline’s destinations and serv- them, I am delighted to announce and economy passengers the abil- ice, and features more than this partnership with Inmarsat, ity to stream content and browse 2000 new destination and fleet the leading provider of airborne the internet with the same speed images, and over 400 videos, broadband connectivity." and efficiency as if they were on including 360 degree videos and "This, alongside our recently the ground. Initially available on panoramic images. launched Qsuite, will offer pre- the Boeing 777 and Airbus 350, Sheikh Mohammed Bin mium passengers a new level of Inmarsat’s ‘GX Aviation’ product Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Pres- sophistication, privacy and con- will offer seamless connectivity ident and Prime Minister of the nectivity in the skies from this through its proprietary Global (UAE) and summer. The new destinations Xpress Ka-band satellite network, Ruler of Dubai and Sheikh Ham- announced today mean that we designed for use in commercial dan bin Mohammed bin Rashid can now bring these innovative aviation. Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of and world-class products to Qatar Airways also Dubai were given a tour of the even more travellers around the announced the launch of its Qsuite by Al Baker. 04 HOME TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 Punish perpetrators of crimes: Al Hammadi

The Peninsula chemical attack in Khan Qatar will spare no Sheikhoun in Syria as evidence ecretary-General of the of such violations and crimes and Ministry of Foreign effort in prosecuting the importance of protecting Affairs, H E Dr Ahmed perpetrators of civilians calling the international bin Hassan Al Ham- crimes in Syria, says community not to turn a blind eye madi, said yesterday Secretary-General of on such crimes. Sthat Qatar will spare no effort in The Secretary-General added, assisting in investigation and the Ministry of Foreign putting an end to those crimes prosecution of officials respon- Affairs, requires a commitment from the sible for the most serious crimes H E Dr Ahmed bin international community towards in Syria by supporting the Inter- taking clear measures by pre- national, Impartial and Hassan Al Hammadi, venting mass atrocity crimes. In Independent Mechanism estab- at the 7th Meeting addition to dealing with the Dignitaries at the 7th Meeting of the National Responsibility to Protect Focal Points. lished by the General Assembly of the National causes of conflicts and crises at of the United States. Responsibility to the roots through dialogue, rec- and its fixed policies towards the against civilians especially in the communities' awareness and Speaking at the 7th Meeting onciliation, transitional justice, need to implement Responsibil- Middle East, noting that Qatar is spread the culture of peace and of the National Responsibility to Protect Focal Points. involving minorities in the polit- ity to Protect, and its supports to the first Arab country to establish accountability amongst all. Protect Focal Points, which takes ical process, and enhancing the all global efforts to end violations a Responsibility to Protect focal For his part, Fabrizio Hoch- place over the course of two days responsible for crimes against mechanisms that monitor and of international humanitarian point, and is the first in the Mid- schild, the assistant secretary in Doha, Al Hammadi noted that civilians will send out a message warn of potential crises. law. dle East to host such an important general for strategic coordination the regime has escalated its to all violators of international Al Hammadi reiterated Al Hammadi concluded urg- meeting, having already hosted in the UN Executive Office, said severe violations of international humanitarian law, he added. Qatar's eagerness to implement ing all countries to work together a Gulf workshop that focused on the UN General Secretariat is humanitarian law and the inter- Qatar appreciates the role the initiative of the Accountabil- to implement the Responsibility Responsibility to Protect and looking forward to the results of national human rights law by played by the Global Center for ity, Coherence, and Transparency to Protect as it guarantees respect impunity. the Doha meeting discussions, adopting a policy of laying siege, the Responsibility to Protect and (ACT) of recording actions by the for human dignity and the Simonovic urged the use of noting that recommendations are starving, displacement, demo- the Group of Friends on the UN Security Council against gen- upholding of rights and justice. all communications possible to not enough because atrocities are graphic change, and the use of Responsibility to Protect and its ocide, crimes against humanity On the other hand, UN Sec- encourage countries to appoint increasing every day and stress- chemical weapons as reflected in efforts in promoting the princi- and war crimes and restrict the retary General's Special Adviser focal points to prevent the crimes, ing the need to take the necessary the recent horrible massacres ple said the Secretary General. use of the veto to prevent mass on Responsibility to Protect, Ivan strengthen the internal structure measures to protect civilians in committed in Khan Sheikhon. He said that regarding the atrocities. He emphasised Qatar's Simonovic, praised Qatar's efforts of the countries through issuing countries such as Syria, Prosecution of officials horrific images of victims of a commitment to international laws to fight violence and atrocities deterrent laws, raise the and South . Detour on Al Shamal Road for corridor project Temporary closure on

The Peninsula Madinat Al Shamal Interchange Al Amir Street in Al Khor or Athba Interchange. he Public Works Author- Also, travellers heading for The Peninsula During this period, traffic on ity, Ashghal, is working on Doha from Athba area on the the closed part of the street Tfinalising the North Road western side of Al Mafyar Inter- he Public Works Author- known as Al Amir Street will be Corridor Enhancement project change will be able to use the ity, Ashghal, announces directed to the service road par- to be delivered soon. temporary routes illustrated on Tthat it will implement a allel to the closed road, as To facilitate the construc- the attached map. temporary closure on part of the shown on the attached map. tions, Ashghal will close Al Also, ‘Ashghal’ will close one street known as Al Amir Street This temporary diversion is Mafyar Interchange on North north-bound lane on North Road in Al Khor, for a distance of 350 required to enable the works of Road at Al Shamal Road tomor- main carriageway between metres in the two lanes head- laying Sewer rising mains as row. The detour, in collaboration Umm Al Ethnatain Interchange ing from the intersection part of design, build, operate with the General Directorate of and Al Zubara Interchange for a between Ras Al Qirma Street and maintain of Al Thakhira Traffic, will run 87km from Doha distance of 1,400-metre long. and the street known as Al Amir Sewage Treatment Works, and will be in effect for 45 days The road change, which runs Street, towards Al Khor Coastal Transfer Pumping Station and in order to conclude the con- at 56km from Doha, will be in Road. Associated Pipelines. structions in the areas of Athba place tomorrow. Ashghal stresses that traffic to 80km per hour. For their The closure starts on the The Public Works Authority and Jary Lehmaidat alongside Al The detour will enable the will not be affected by the new safety, Ashghal requests motor- evening of Tuesday, 25 April requests all road users to abide Mafyar Interchange. construction of service roads as diversion as the remaining three ists abide by traffic instructions 2017 and will last 35 days, in by the speed limit and follow During the detour, travellers part of North Road Corridor lanes will still be open as usual and the newly installed coordination with the General diversion road signs to ensure will be able to use the nearby Enhancement project. while the speed will be reduced signage. Directorate of Traffic. their safety. Ooredoo is Kite Sweden to focus on Qatar ties on National Day

The Peninsula frequently come for a visit and this development, smart cities, and one with our Vision Zero initiative, Festival's official village has now been called Little green technologies. Sweden has a has been a strong focus in the past he Embassy of Sweden in Doha. long history of stewardship of few years, with a number of Swed- Doha will celebrate growing The embassy’s celebration nature,” said the embassy in a state- ish experts having been employed telecom sponsor Trelations between Qatar-Swe- today will focus on sustainability, ment released yesterday. by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior to den with a magical Midsummer innovation, and tradition. The Sweden’s green technology, work on driver behaviour and con- themed National Day Celebration, embassy will highlight how close sustainable development experts, gestion solutions. Because of our The Peninsula today. The Embassy will put for- Swedes are with nature and the and SymbioCity solutions are highly strong commitments to both the ward the Swedish government and environment, during the event. relevant to infrastructure and city environment and Qatar, the oredoo has private sector opportunities to Hence the event will be themed planning projects being developed Embassy of Sweden in Doha is announced Qatar in its continued journey according to one of the most cele- in Qatar, in line with the highly proud to celebrate our National Day Othat it is the towards a diversified economy and brated Swedish traditions — the ambitious Qatar National Vision together with a multitude of inno- Official Telecom knowledge based society. magical Midsummer’s Eve, where 2030. Being a global leader in sus- vative Swedish private sector Sponsor of Aspire’s Meanwhile, the embassy after a long, dark, and cold winter, tainable urban planning, green representatives,” the embassy 1st International stressed that the visits from Qatar nature bursts into life. Swedes cel- construction, public transportation added. Kite Festival in to Sweden have increased substan- ebrate Midsummer with family and and corporate social responsibility A lucky social media user who Qatar. tially during the last year and it is friends outdoors — eating and danc- (CSR), Sweden has engaged in a tweets the embassy @SwedenDoha, The event, receiving more requests for tour- ing in harmony with the number of knowledge sharing or who posts on the Embassy’s which will take ism visas and Sweden tourism info surrounding environment. efforts with Qatar, focusing on Facebook page @SwedenDoha dur- place from April are pouring in. Sweden also hosts “A commitment to nature and research cooperation, green tech- ing the celebration today evening, 25-29 has been organised by Aspire Zone Founda- a small village close to Stockholm the environment founds the basis nologies, and smart connectivity. will win a trip for two to Stockholm tion and will be held at Aspire Park. where over 20 Qatari families have for Sweden’s strong focus on envi- “Additionally, road safety, in on Qatar Airways, including two The festival will feature a host of professional invested in summer homes. They ronmentalism, sustainable which Sweden is ranked as number nights at the new hotel At Six. international kite flyers from 13 different countries as well as kite workshops, roaming entertainers, food kiosks, F1 simulators and more. Talking about the event, Manar Khalifa Al Muraikhi (pictured), Director Community & Public QBRI team selected for Parkinson’s clinical trials Relations, Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Ooredoo is proud to sponsor such a family friendly event and we national research institutes. clinical development has been sup- encourage everyone to head along and check out the The Peninsula A research carried out by Dr El- ported by Michael J. Fox performers and what’s on offer. Aspire Zone is a great Agnaf’s team of scientists that uses Foundation. place to get fit, have fun and spend time with loved research team headed by Dr novel techniques to identify biomar- Using the team’s novel analysis ones and we’re happy to be supporting their com- Omar El-Agnaf (pictured), kers of Parkinson’s disease in human techniques, the researchers at HBKU munity events.” AActing Executive Director of blood and cerebral spinal fluid sam- will assess the product’s ability to This sponsorship agreement will also see Oore- Qatar Biomedical Research Institute ples attracted the attention of engage with the target, alpha-synu- doo ensure its award-winning Supernet is available (QBRI), has been selected by the Aus- AFFiRiS AG. The Austrian company clein. QBRI’s scientists will explore for all media and visitors to Aspire Park. trian biotechnology company, is a leader in the field of developing novel biomarkers discovered by On top of the activities, Aspire’s 1st International AFFiRiS AG, to evaluate selected immunotherapies that target chronic them that facilitate early diagnosis Kite Festival will hold three contests offering a range parameters in clinical trials on an diseases with unmet medical needs. and treatment of Parkinson’s dis- of prizes. The first is for school children, asking them innovative approach to treating Par- This led them to call upon the Qatar- first-of-its-kind Parkinson’s disease ease and use the technique they have to design a kite, the second a photography contest kinson’s disease that has been based team to use the tools and anti-alpha-synuclein immuno- developed at HBKU to assess the for everyone attending the event and the third a chil- developed by the company. expertise developed at HBKU to val- therapy approach . The product has magnitude of target engagement of dren’s drawing contest aimed to inspire people to QBRI is one of Hamad Bin Kha- idate the target engagement of been developed in Europe by a team this new immunotherapy-based attend. lifa University’s (HBKU) three alpha-synuclein for the company’s of scientists and its pre-clinical and compound. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 HOME 05 Non-oil sectors diversify economy: Minister The Peninsula liability companies representing its position as a key partner of eco- outlined that entrepreneurship 82 percent of the total commer- “The purpose of nomic growth in Qatar.” education contributes to economic atar has gradually man- cial activities in the country The Minister was joined by QU diversification which leads to eco- aged to move from witnessed a growth by 12 percent the conference is to President Dr Hassan Al Derham, nomic sustainability, one of the oil- based economy to in 2016 comparing to 2015. motivate entrepreneurs CBE Dean Dr Khalid Shams M A pillars of Qatar National Vision a diversified economy The two-day conference is to develop their Al Abdulqader, QDB CEO 2030. This requires the creation Qand the contribution of organised by Qatar University Col- Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, and Interna- of various curricula that prepare projects, which will non-oil sectors has increased lege of Business and Economics tional Council for Small Business students to become entrepreneurs. despite the decline in oil prices, the (QU-CBE) in partnership with have a positive impact (ICSB) Executive Director and "To achieve this goal, CBE has Minister of Economy and Com- Qatar Development Bank (QDB). on the economic Associate Professor at The George established collaborations with merce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin The Minister highlighted the growth in Qatar," said Washington University Dr Ayman many institutions from all over the (pictured) Jassim Al Thani , said importance of “entrepreneurship Minister of Economy Al Tarabishy, as well as CBE fac- world to boost its curriculum." yesterday. The growth of non-oil education”, and role of entrepre- ulty, students and staff. Al Khalifa said: “The research sectors has jumped from 21 per- neurship business in economic and Commerce, H E The event featured four panel studies conducted around the cent in the previous years to 61 development. Sheikh Ahmed bin discussions entitled “Economic world have shown that entrepre- percent, he added. The Minister said: “The pur- Jassim Al Thani Changes and Entrepreneurship neurship education and SMEs are Addressing the opening ses- pose of the conference is to Education”, “Fostering Entrepre- the cornerstone of economic sion of the 4th International motivate entrepreneurs to develop neurship Education in Schools”, growth. Hence, merging practice Conference on Entrepreneurship their projects, which will have a and diversity. In Qatar, the private launched many services using “Education, Innovation and Cre- with theory helps us to diversify in Economic Development 2017 positive impact on the economic and the public sectors play a piv- mobiles and applications that help ativity”, and “Practical Education the economy and to enrich the at Qatar University (QU), the Min- growth in Qatar. The private insti- otal role. The government entrepreneurs to fulfil their and Effective Industrial Collabo- knowledge of the community ister said small and medium tutions are key drivers of implemented many programmes dreams and establish their own ration”. Speakers were from members. At QDB, we are com- enterprises have become main economic development. Hence, that contribute to economic business." He concluded with Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Qatar, mitted to train new entrepreneurs partner in the comprehensive entrepreneurship has become a growth. In this regard, the Minis- thanks to QU for hosting this inter- , UAE, and the USA. through many workshops, facili- development, where limited cornerstone of economic growth try of Economy and Commerce national conference which reflects Dr Derham, QU President ties and services.”

Qatar Rail cycling event GREAT meet kicks to raise public awareness off today The Peninsula The Peninsula At 10km, with uneven surfaces and unknown territory it was an interesting atar Assistive Tech- atar Rail held a cycling event in col- challenge for any rider. Qatar Rail ensured nology Center laboration with the Qatar Cycling the highest standard of health and safety Q(MADA), will start QCommunity on Friday. The cycle during the challenge. its first Gulf Region Edu- challenge marks the launch of initiative Commenting on this exciting first of cation Assistive that will include many more events to its kind event in the region, Eng. Abdulla Technology Conference come that will be aimed at increasing the Abdulaziz Al Subaie, Managing Director, (GREAT) today, at the public’s awareness about Qatar Rail’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Qatar National Conven- developments. the Executive Committee of Qatar Rail, tion Center (QNCC) in Over 50 cyclists from the Qatar said, “The completion of this tunnel is a Doha. Cycling Community and members of key milestone for Qatar Rail, we look for- The event consists of Qatar Rail staff cycled from the Soudan ward to hold more events of this kind to education programmes, Station up to Sports City Station, back showcase the deliverance of Qatar Rail which will feature glo- again to Soudan Station and then up to projects and bring us closer to the com- bally recognised experts Aspire Park. The cycling challenge will munity, that’s the essence behind the “Rail delivering master classes took place in the Gold Line tunnel. Challenge” initiative.” and keynotes. The tunnel that makes up the Golden Eng. Hamad Ibrahim Al Bishri, Dep- Cyclists at the finish line. The event is designed Line is 30km in total, the route the uty CEO, Qatar Rail, who participated in to provide the necessary cyclists took was around 10km of a sin- the challenge, went on to say: “Qatar Rail the experience.” initiatives support the sport of cycling. We tools and knowledge for gle track tunnel. The Gold Line starts at is delighted to collaborate with the Qatar President of the Qatar Cycling Com- thank Qatar Rail Management, headed by attendees to solve the Al Aziziyah and concludes at Ras Bu Cycling Community for this event and give munity, Dr Abdulaziz Jeham Al Kuwairi, the Managing Director and CEO, Eng. toughest challenges Abboud, the line comprises of 10 stations them the chance to experience the tun- added: “We are delighted to collaborate Abdullah Al Subaie for ensuring the com- when it comes to the and passes through the main station in nels before they are fully operational. We with Qatar Rail for this unique cycling fort and safety of our cyclists. We also education of PWD and Msheireb. thank all the cyclists from the Qatar event. It’s an honour for us to be the first thank them for their efforts on the rail the latest AT practices. This was the first time the tunnel has Cycling Community who took part in the cyclists to ride in the recently constructed project that will benefit our beloved coun- The GREAT 2017 been opened for member of the cyclists. challenge and sincerely hope they enjoyed tunnel. We are pleased that such try Qatar." conference is the first of its kind in the region and will focus on education practices in Inclusive Computer Technology Sealine HMC clinic concludes activities as camping season ends and Assistive Technology (AT) in the Gulf Region. The Peninsula seventh consecutive year at the Ministry of Municipality and The clinic attended to 573 Industry experts will beginning of the camping sea- Environment for its constant and people suffering from a range of exchange information on amad Medical Corpora- son last November. continued support of the medi- ailments such as fevers, abdom- the best practices and the tion (HMC) has concluded Ali Al Khater (pictured), cal clinic throughout its inal pain, diarrhea, coughs and current trends when it Hits activities at Sealine Chief Communications Officer operations. colds while an additional 135 comes to the field of Medical Clinic as the camping at HMC and Sealine Medical During this time, the clinic people were treated for wounds, Inclusive Computer season in the area comes to a Center’s Project Manager received a total of 713 patients – burns, colds, stomach problems Technology and Assistive close. expressed his thanks to all clinic both adults and children and asthma. Five accident and Technology. The confer- Every year during camping staff including medical and nurs- — which included 451 Qataris bone fracture patients were also ence will also discuss season, HMC opens a medical ing staff, Ambulance Service staff and 262 expatriates. Twenty treated. current trends in the field clinic to provide medical serv- and clinic administrators for seven patients were transferred Despite the closing of the of Inclusive Computer ices to all campers in Sealine and ensuring the smooth running of to the Emergency Department clinic, the Ambulance Service’s the Sealine from Thursday to Technology and Assistive Khor Al-Udeid areas. The clinic the clinic.. at Hamad General Hospital by critical care paramedic team will Saturday at the existing Medical Technology. started operations for the He also thanked the ambulance. continue to operate at Clinic site. 06 HOME TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 Qatar to send large team for in

The Peninsula solidarity and brotherhood, to the highly appreciate the 2017 has been promotion of the youth and sport active participation of Qatari side atar will participate activity of Islamic countries, and in these events. Qatari participa- with a large delegation announced Year of to the consolidation of the Islamic tion will give an important asset in the Islamic Games to Islamic Solidarity values and principles among the that will contribute to the suc- be held in the city of in the Republic of youth of the Islamic Ummah, and cess of these activities and the QBaku, Azerbaijan from we are pleased that all 57 Muslim implementation of their objec- Azerbaijan and May 12 to May 22. Qatar will also countries will participate in this tives. Especially, the State of be represented at the Intercul- during this year a year's Games," said Abdullayev. Qatar today is one of the most tural Dialogue Forum in Baku number of events Around 5,000 athletes from important countries in promot- with a high-level official delega- will be organised in Islamic countries around the ing solidarity and a spirit of tion, Ambassador of the Republic world will represent their coun- cooperation in both, the region of Azerbaijan to Qatar, Towfik Azerbaijan, the most tries in 12 days of competitions and the world," said the Abdullayev, has said. important of which is on 21 different types of sport, ambassador. 2017 has been announced the fourth session of including athletics, water sports, Azerbaijan has historically Year of Islamic Solidarity in the the Islamic Solidarity , , , been one of the most important Republic of Azerbaijan and dur- , football and gymnas- centres of Islamic civilisation for ing this year a number of events Games. tics, , , zorchana, centuries and has played an will be organised in Azerbaijan, , and weight- important role in the spread of the most important of which is the Islamic world, will participate Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Qatar, Towfik lifting in 17 modern sport Islam and the establishment of the fourth session of the Islamic with a large delegation (which is Abdullayev. complexes in Baku. the Islamic Renaissance. This Solidarity Games. And also The expected to be one of the largest In addition to this, all meas- has led to the creation of a suit- Global Forum for Intercultural participating delegations) in the which we trust that will enrich the the youth of the member coun- ures have been taken for able ground for the formation Dialogue will be held at the begin- Islamic Games, as well as in other discussions," said the ambassa- tries and to unify their positions sport-lovers and tourists to visit of Islamic heritage in the terri- ning of May in Azerbaijan. activities that will be organised dor in a statement. in the international arena, now the Republic of Azerbaijan and to tory of Azerbaijan. "I would like to point out that in Baku within the framework of The Islamic Solidarity Games, became one of the most actual enjoy live watching of competi- Azerbaijan's reputation in the brotherly State of Qatar, the year of Islamic solidarity in which aim to strengthen Islamic and important issues for all tions, which is a mini-Olympics the Islamic world was reflected which is one of the most impor- Azerbaijan. Qatar will also be rep- solidarity among member states Muslims. in proportion to the large number in the declaration of the City of tant countries that always strives resented at the Intercultural and to consolidate unity, love, "We trust that hosting of Baku of participating countries from Baku as the Capital of Islamic to strengthen the pillars of Islamic Dialogue Forum in Baku with a brotherhood and the spirit of for this games will contribute to Africa, Asia and Europe. Culture in 2009 and the city of solidarity among the countries of high-level official delegation, cooperation and solidarity among the strengthening of the spirit of "We in the Republic of Nakhchivan in 2018. Qatar Museums People urged to take preventive hosting educational measure workshop with show against malaria The Peninsula

The Peninsula Heritage sites inspired by the amad Medical Corpo- exhibition. ration (HMC) has urged atar Museums (QM) is run- The second workshop, titled Hpeople to take preven- ning an educational ‘Stencil on Wood’, is running tive measures against malaria, Qprogramme alongside its during the same timeslots every especially as many residents latest exhibition – JR – Réper- Monday morning at the QM Gal- plan their summer vacation. toire, aimed at inspiring an lery, Building 10, Katara. During In recognition of World indigenous culture of creativity this workshop, school students Malaria Day and in support of and educate the next generation examine photos where JR uses the World Health Organiza- of cultural audiences. stencils to create his artwork on tion’s (WHO) call to improve As part of the educational wooden boards. Students learn access to life-saving preven- programme, QM is hosting two the basics of making stencils, and tion tools, HMC has started workshops for schools, both run- apply it on their own wooden raising awareness. ning until May 31. The first, titled, boards, inspired by French art- Although malaria is not ‘Your Canvas Is Your Wall’, runs ist JR’s work. Children taking part in an educational programme. endemic in Qatar, hundreds of in two-hour blocks, every Dr Jelena Trkulja, Director cases are diagnosed every year Wednesday morning from 8.30 of Education at QM, said:“We as a result of residents traveling – 10.30am and 10.30am – have seen great levels of engage- stimulate students’ creativity and develop our future creative engaged actions through large- to malaria-endemic countries, 12.30pm at the QM Gallery, ment and enthusiasm from educate them on the role and generation.” scale outdoor installations, films, says experts. This year’s global Building 10, Katara. During this school children that have par- value of arts, heritage and crea- Presented by QM in collab- photographs and videos, using theme for World Malaria Day, workshop, students are taken on ticipated in these courses so far. tivity. We will continue to oration with Galerie Perrotin, JR the streetscape as his canvas and observed each year on April 25 a tour of the exhibition, and cre- We hope to see more schools organise educational pro- – Répertoire is on show at the his inspiration, which he claims (today), is ‘End Malaria for ate a collage of art works on come forward and take part in grammes like this one around all QM Gallery in Katara until May as the largest art gallery in the Good’. In the lead-up to the canvas using photos of Qatar these fun workshops, to of our exhibitions, to inspire and 31. JR’s work combines art and world. day, the WHO is highlighting the importance of prevention as a critical strategy for reduc- ing the toll of a disease that is thought to be responsible for more than 400 000 deaths VRF air conditioning system getting popular each year. Dr Hussam Al Soub, Sen- Huda NV refrigerant piping, running from buildings and major projects are and many more projects here central cooling system. ior Consultant of HMC’s The Peninsula the outdoor to all indoors and utilising the system. With higher utilise VRF. The main advantage Also they get much to gain in Infectious Diseases Unit said, communication wiring. demand, the prices also have is that it facilitates mix and use terms of efficiency and depend- “People who have resided in s Qatar moves towards The system can be used for fallen from an earlier QR4,500 of indoor units. People can opt ability. The system also has Qatar for a long time and other environment friendly and variable load hence, every space to less than QR3,000,” he added. for wall units, duct split, casket inverter compressors that allow malaria-free countries (coun- Aenergy efficient air con- can be have its own temperature VRF air-conditioning sys- type and so on according to their lowering power consumption tries where there is no ditioning units, a new technology controls. tems are cost-effective to install, own tastes,” said Azhar Maqbool with partial cooling loads. More continuing local mosquito- is becoming popular in the coun- “VRF system has been easy to use and economical to Ahmed, Deputy GM, Alrais over the system has an ability of borne malaria transmission) try. Variable refrigerant flow or around for some time, however, operate throughout the entire life Group. modular expansion, hence can may have lowered immunity volume (VRV/VRF) air condition- the popularity is now growing of the equipment. The compact “One of major advantage of be used for large projects, that to malaria and are thus vulner- ing system is continuing to make more than ever. It uses the new design and flexible layout in the system is the fact that the can grow in stages. able to serious illness.” inroads into both the residential eco-friendly gases,” Shoukathali, terms of outdoor to indoor units energy efficiency of these appli- “The demand for VRF sys- Malaria is caused by para- and commercial sectors, accord- GM, Marine Air Conditioning are the added benefits leading ances are usually higher the tem is starting and popularity has sites that are transmitted to ing to experts. Company, told The Peninsula. to its adoption in commercial as current. The units are 13 and been growing over the last few people through the bites of VRF system is the latest tech- “It has digital control system well as residential air condition- above star rated,” he added. years. Most attractive part is the infected mosquitoes. It can be nology in heating, ventilation connected to a number of inter- ing systems. Another key attraction for number of indoor units that can a deadly disease, affecting mil- and air-conditioning. This sys- nal units, which also have “The system has started to customers of the system is that be attached to it,” said an official lions of people each year and tem consists of one outdoor unit individual control facility. Cur- become popular and more peo- it requires lesser rooftop equip- of a major appliances resulting in hundreds of thou- with many indoor units, rently a number of residential ple have started asking about it ment than the conventional company. sands of deaths annually, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the WHO. Malaria transmission is more intense in warmer Al Aziziyah Youth Center regions closer to the equator. However, even in countries where malaria is endemic, the holds awareness lecture risk of transmission can be reduced by avoiding bodies of The Peninsula children between the age of 12 and water and staying in moun- 16. tainous regions. l Aziziyah Youth Center in The lecture also focused on “Simple precautions can collaboration with Qatar other issues related to child safety help prevent infection during AUnified Awareness Team such as what to do in case of a fire visits to malaria-endemic organised an awareness lecture for incident at home and also the dan- areas, such as using mosquito children on using mobile phones gers of using mobiles phones repellent creams and mosquito while driving and the correct way specially handling social media. nets (particularly insecticide- to follow while crossing roads. The lecture also highlighted that treated nets), wearing long The lecture was presented by children should know about the sleeves and long pants to cover Abdul Wahid Al Anzi, the QUAT legal issues related in publishing your skin, and avoiding going founder and about 25 students pictures or sharing videos on social outside at night,” said Dr Al Officials and children at the awareness lecture event. attended the event. It focused on media. Soub. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 HOME 07 QC extends support to Al Aqsa Hospital

The Peninsula humanitarian mission is to aid the Qatar Charity has most needy social groups in n cooperation with the Min- accordance with the principles of istry of Health, Qatar Charity opened the CT human dignity and social justice. (QC) has opened the CT department and Accordingly, they have been keen department at Al Aqsa Hos- rehabilitated the to pay particular attention to the pital in Gaza and restored its hospital's diagnosis needs of patients in areas where Idiagnosis department to provide there is a lack of health services. excellent medical services to department. He stressed that QC never 300,000 people in the central slacks on giving Palestinians a area in the Gaza Strip. helping hand. That is to say, he This is a part of 'providing Hospital and rehabilitate a full referred to their several achieve- medicines and medical and lab- section of it is such a great ments in many sectors through oratory supplies to the Palestinian humanitarian evidence and sup- QC’s programmes, especially Ministry of Health' project funded port for the health sector in the those related to the reconstruc- by QC at a cost of more than Gaza Strip. Besides, he pointed tion programme through the QR25m, aiming at restoring Al out that the reason behind imple- Islamic Development Bank. Officials opening the CT department at Al Aqsa Hospital in Gaza. Aqsa Hospital to bring it back into menting this project is the These sectors included health, perfect use, providing it with the responsibility for the sick and education and economic parts for the broken devices in the implementation and financing generous benefactors, stressing necessary equipment, in addition injured, especially residents of the empowerment, water and sani- Ministry of Health’s hospitals. of the projects that have been a that the CT scan is a quantum leap to alleviating the pain and suffer- Central Governorate who have tation; agriculture and industry; Bassem Naeem, Head of the distinct addition to health work, for the hospital, which serves a ing of the patients and the suffered from the lack of housing construction, schools, Health and Environment Sector wishing that the good people in large segment of the people of the overcrowded hospitals in Gaza. advanced diagnostic services, mosques and cultural centres. in the Gaza Strip, expressed his Qatar will continue to support Central Governorate. Dr Mahmoud Abu Khalifa, which increased their suffering Moreover, he mentioned that appreciation of QC's achieve- such projects in various health "We are grateful to QC for Director of the Sponsorship Pro- and endangered their lives, par- QC is about to offer Al Aqsa Hos- ments in supporting the health fields. carrying out the projects that sup- gram at the Qatar Charity Office ticularly at the time of wars and pital a new X-ray device, within sector and thanked the gener- Director of Al Aqsa Hospital, port the health sector, especially in the Gaza Strip, said that what crises. a project which supplies it with ous hands in Qatar who have Kamal Khattab, praised the efforts those that benefited Al-Aqsa Hos- QC has done to help the Al Aqsa Abu Khalifa assured that QC's many medical devices and spare been supporting the exerted by QC and the Qatari pital," Khattab stated. UDC updates its smart digital services bundle

The Peninsula services due to the integration of advanced telecoms infrastruc- public and private parking (retail, UDC's customer relationship ture. Subsequently, this residential and valet parking) as nited Development Com- management system. Residents significant digital step forward well as easily locate the wide pany (UDC), master can submit inquiries and raise will further strengthen client and range of retail outlets from Udeveloper of The Pearl- issues, such as those relating to resident relations through the beauty salons and banks to res- Qatar, has released a new and cleaning services and internal innovative use of technology. taurants and entertainment improved version of its smart- security, and keep up-to-date UDC launched the first venues. phone application for the Island’s with retailer offers and other release of its digital services in The Pearl-Qatar visitors also residents and visitors as part of news and happenings from The 2013. Its smartphone application enjoy free Internet access cour- its strategy to deliver a premium Pearl-Qatar. enables users to enjoy a variety tesy of an agreement between lifestyle including smart and The smartphone application of exclusive and unique smart UDC and Ooredoo to deploy pub- user-friendly services. bundle is another step toward services and solutions, comple- lic Wi-Fi across retail areas on The update enables users to UDC’s plan to create a smart city menting other systems across the the Island. The revamped appli- has already been launched on will soon be able to download access a far-reaching range of through the deployment of Island. Users can enquire about cation, titled The Pearl-Qatar, iOS platform and Android users the update.

Dignitaries at the event. QU-CAS hosts event to celebrate Qatar Family Day

The Peninsula Ghanim, CAS Dean Dr Rashid Al on “The 10 keys for a happy fam- Kuwari, Head of CAS Department ily” presented by Dr Hassan nder the patronage of Qatar of Social Sciences Dr Abdulnasser Albreiki, Head of the Family University (QU) President Saleh Alyafei, and Consultant and Rehabilitation Department at UDr Hassan Al Derham, the Vice-President of the Kuwaiti Family Consulting Center in Department of Social Sciences at Social Work Association at Qatar. QU College of Arts and Sciences Kuwait University Dr Malak Commenting on the event, Dr (CAS) recently hosted an event to Alrasheed, as well as CAS faculty, Alyafei said: “The event’s sessions celebrate Qatar Family Day 2017. students and staff. provided a comprehensive vision Organised in collaboration The programme included that contributes to a huge trans- with Family Consulting Center in three sessions that discussed a formation in social studies and to Qatar and Kuwait University Col- wide range of issues such as the new tracks in social services, and lege of Social Sciences, the event role of social institutions, the field to investing in the outcomes of aimed to promote the spirit of col- training exercises provided by theoretical studies to improve the laboration and student exchange social, medical, educational and quality of life and living.” between universities in the GCC psychological institutions, and an Dr Alrasheed said: “Our visit and to showcase the field train- overview on the Kuwaiti Social to Qatar University is part of the ing exercises provided by various Work Association and the under- many collaborative agreements institutions in Qatar and Kuwait. graduate and graduate between the universities in the Attendees included Chargé programmes provided by Kuwait GCC. These visits contribute to d’Affaires of the Embassy of University College of Social Sci- enriching the students’ academic Kuwait to Qatar Nasser Saqer Al ences. It also included a lecture and personal life.” 08 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017

Battle of Gallipoli remembered 20 sentenced SDF enters to death for slaying town held by policemen Cairo AFP

n Egyptian court yes- Islamic State terday sentenced 20 Apeople to death for the Mission Raqa Observatory head Rami Abdel killing of 13 policemen in the Rahman. He said US-led coali- aftermath of the ouster nearly The Syrian tion warplanes were carrying four years ago of Islamist Democratic Forces out "intense" strikes in support president Mohamed Mursi. (SDF) have set their of the offensive, but that one On August 14, 2013, a sights on Tabqa and raid had killed three women month after Mursi was over- the adjacent dam as and five children trying to flee thrown by the army, security part of their broader Tabqa. forces forcibly dispersed two offensive for the city "One raid killed eight civil- pro-Mursi protest camps in ians from a single family, Cairo in an operation that of Raqa. Turkish soldiers march during an international service marking the 102nd anniversary of including five children, who the WWI battle of Gallipoli, at the Turkish memorial in the Gallipoli peninsula in Canakkale, killed more than 700 were trying to escape in their people. yesterday. The assault on Tabqa car via the town's southwest," Hours later a furious began in late March. Abdel Rahman said. crowd attacked a police sta- In an online statement, the tion in the Cairo suburb of Beirut SDF said it had captured IS- Kerdassa, where 13 police- AFP held positions in west Tabqa, men were killed. including a roundabout, and A year later, a Cairo court US-backed alliance part of a southern district. Erdogan offended by former sentenced to death 183 Islam- of Arab-Kurdish "There are now clearing ists but a higher court forces entered the operations in the liberated posi- scrapped the verdict last year, key jihadist-held tions," the SDF said. French diplomat's remarks amid an international outcry, town of Tabqa yes- Tabqa sits on a key supply calling instead for the retrial terdayA as they pursued their route about 55km west of Raqa, of 149 suspects who were campaign against the Islamic and served as an important IS Istanbul had been shut off and that the petition to an Ankara prosecu- behind bars. State group in northern Syria. command base, housing the AFP only two options left were civil tor that the comments were not Of those 149, yesterday a The Syrian Democratic group's main prison. war or assassination. a simple expression of opinion, Cairo criminal court sen- Forces (SDF) have set their According to the Syrian urkish President Recep In the referendum the 'Yes' but were "clearly instigating the tenced to death 20 people, a sights on Tabqa and the adja- Economic Task Force, a Dubai- Tayyip Erdogan's lawyer camp won just over 51 percent of crime in question", the state-run judicial official said, adding cent dam as part of their based think tank, Tabqa is Thas lodged a complaint the vote, a narrower-than- Anadolu news agency reported. that a decision concerning the broader offensive for the city home to 85,000 people includ- against a former French diplo- expected victory, but 's top He said the comments others would be made at of Raqa, the Syrian heart of the ing IS fighters from other areas. mat accusing him of inciting an election board last week rejected showed how far the hostility another hearing on July 2. jihadists' self-styled "caliphate" The assault on Tabqa began assassination of Turkey's leader, opposition calls to annul it after against Erdogan had reached in The death sentences since 2014. in late March when SDF forces his spokesman confirmed complaints of vote-rigging. the West, and suggested issued yesterday will be sub- Supported by US-led coa- and their US-led coalition allies yesterday. Defarges said on French Defarges should undergo checks mitted to the mufti, Egypt's lition air strikes and special were airlifted behind IS lines. The move follows comments broadcaster BFM on Saturday for his mental health if he ever official interpreter of Islamic forces advisers, the SDF sur- 'The ensuing fight has been by Philippe Moreau Defarges that Erdogan's strengthened came to Turkey. law, as his opinion is legally rounded Tabqa in early April. intense, with IS dispatching sui- about the outcome of the April powers would lead "only to "And if he is in good health required but not binding. Yesterday, they entered it cide bombers daily to try to 16 referendum on controversial catastrophe". mentally, his alleged links with Egyptian courts have sen- for the first time, the Syrian slow the offensive and coalition constitutional changes that will "There will either be a civil the outlawed Kurdistan Work- tenced hundreds of Mursi Observatory for Human Rights warplanes intensifying their tighten the president's grip on war or another scenario... his ers' Party (PKK) or US-based supporters to death since his monitoring group said. raids. power. assassination," he said — though Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen overthrow, but many have "They seized control of sev- "The real battle begins Defarges, now a senior fel- later apologised for the blamed by the Turkish govern- appealed and won new trials. eral points in the town's south now," Abdel Rahman said yes- low at the French Institute of comments. ment for orchestrating the failed Mursi and other top figures of and were advancing on its terday, adding that IS fighters International Relations, said all Huseyin Aydin, a lawyer July coup should be his Muslim Brotherhood have western edges," said had "no way" out of the town. legal paths to challenge Erdogan representing Erdogan, said in a investigated." also faced trial. EU official says Funds drying out for aid bodies in : UN bloc could Oslo world has faced since 1945, the working on the crisis have so far Oslo as part of a tour of Nordic rations to 1.3 million people a review ties Reuters UN said in March. received only 19 percent of the countries to encourage donors month, said Lundberg. In Nigeria, 4.7 million peo- money appealed for, according to make good on their commit- “They may have to cut with Turkey id organisations working ple, many of them displaced by to Peter Lundberg, the UN’s dep- ments and will travel to the UN rations instead of scaling up as to stop the famine in the conflict with Islamist insur- uty humanitarian coordinator for in New York to discuss the issue they should ahead of the rainy Brussels ANigeria will run out of gent group Boko Haram, need the country. with other UN member-states. season,” he said. And the UN’s AFP money by June if donors do not rations to survive. Of these, an By comparison, aid agencies Without funding now, he Food and Agriculture Agency, give the cash they pledged at a estimated 43,800 people already working on the crisis in Cam- said, aid agencies cannot feed which helps farmers plant crops, he EU warned member- conference in February, wors- experience famine, the UN said. eroon have received 23 percent enough people, provide the has received only $12m of the ship candidate Turkey ening an already difficult Two months ago interna- of the money appealed for; those seeds and tools local farmers $60m it needs, he added. Tyesterday of a review situation, a UN official said tional donors pledged $457m at in Chad 4 percent and Niger 47 need to plant crops, or prepare Earlier this month Reuters and possible "redefinition" of yesterday. a conference in Oslo to address percent. “At it stands right now for the rainy season that starts reported that WFP’s funds could ties after a referendum The famine in the northeast the needs of Africa’s Lake Chad we believe we are running out in May, when deteriorating road run dry within weeks. granted President Recep of the West African country is region—Nigeria, Niger, Cam- of money by June-July,” Lund- conditions mean people will be The UN is unable to reach an Tayyip Erdogan extra one of four hot spots, together eroon and Chad—to go towards berg said in an interview, adding harder to reach. estimated 700,000 people, powers. with South Sudan, Yemen and the $1.5bn the UN says it needs that donors he had talked so far The most critical needs for mostly in the remote parts of The warning from Somalia, that constitute the this year. had cited bureaucratic reasons funding are for the World Food Nigeria’s Borno state, due to the Enlargement Commissioner worst humanitarian crisis the For Nigeria, aid agencies for the delay. Lundberg was in Programme, which provides presence of Boko Haram. Johannes Hahn came days before ministers from the 28 European Union countries are due to discuss the bloc's trou- bled relationship with Much-needed respite Israel probe clears cop Ankara. "The time has come for a thorough assessment of EU- who shot teen girls Turkey relations and perhaps redefinition," Hahn said. The "current situation is Jerusalem time the officer's response was not sustainable, neither for AFP disproportionate and the Jus- Turkey nor for us," he said. tice Ministry announced a "All options are open, n Israeli criminal inves- review. including continuation of tigation has cleared a Security camera footage accession talks, of course. But Apoliceman who shot two showed the two girls in school for the latter, Turkey has to Palestinian teenage girls when uniform chasing a man with fulfil the criteria." they stabbed a man with scis- scissors before being shot. Hahn, an Austrian, added sors in 2015, the Justice Ministry The footage showed both that this could include "a new said yesterday. girls shot and on the ground. format of cooperation", for Hadeel Awad, 14, and her The policeman ran back example an upgrading of the 16-year-old cousin Norhan towards one of them — appar- customs union between the stabbed the elderly man in a ently Norhan — and opened fire EU and Turkey. market in central Jerusalem in despite her being curled in a He said he would person- November that year, during a ball. Lawyers for the policeman ally prefer to keep the door spate of Palestinian stabbing argued he was concerned the open for Turkey, which attacks. girls may have been wearing applied to join the bloc in They were then shot by an explosive belts. 1987 but has seen its mem- off-duty police officer. A justice ministry review bership bid stall over issues Hadeel Awad died, while sided with the officer, conclud- of democracy and human her cousin survived despite ing his use of force was "not rights. being seriously wounded and unreasonable" since he Members of the Iraqi Federal Police rest in a shop used by forces fighting the Islamic The EU has criticised was later convicted of believed the perpetrators posed Erdogan's referendum earlier State, in western Mosul, yesterday. attempted murder. a danger to himself and this month. Rights groups said at the others. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 ASIA 09 Maoist assault leaves 26 CRPF soldiers dead

Raipur 2010 when 76 CRPF troopers AFP Deadly ambush were killed. Twelve CRPF men Prime Minister were killed in a similar Maoist undreds of Maoists Narendra Modi attack in Sukma early this year. yesterday massa- described the deadly Modi saluted the CRPF. cred at least 26 ambush on the 74th "We are proud of the valour CRPF personnel in of our CRPF personnel. The sac- Battalion in a forested Chhattisgarh's rifice of the martyrs will not go HSukma district in the bloodiest area in Kala Pathar in vain," he tweeted. "Condo- attack in the state since 2013. near Chintagufa as lences to their families. May Prime Minister Narendra Modi "cowardly and those injured in (the) attack described the deadly ambush on deplorable" and said recover at the earliest." the 74th Battalion in a forested the deaths of the The Prime Minister said the area in Kala Pathar near Chin- troopers won't go in government was monitoring the tagufa as "cowardly and vain. situation in Chhattisgarh closely. deplorable" and said the deaths Home Minister Rajnath of the troopers won't go in vain. Singh said he was "extremely Security forces stand guard during clashes with students in Srinagar's Lal Chowk, yesterday. The Central Reserve Police subsequent search of the area pained" by the killings and Force said the ambush began at led to 12 more bodies. Two more offered tributes to the dead and 12.30 p.m., leading to a gun bat- men died subsequently in hos- condolences to their families. tle between the troopers and the pital, taking the toll to 26. Congress President Sonia Gan- Police fire at student protesters in Srinagar Maoists who, survivors said, The 99-member CRPF dhi and party Vice President used hand grenades, automatic patrol assisting a Road Opening Rahul Gandhi also condemned Srinagar forces after taking to the streets "A few students were rifles and rocket launchers. Party was reportedly readying the killings of the CRPF AFP of the main city Srinagar. detained. Three photojournal- Troopers who survived the for lunch when it came under personnel. Reporter saw police fire live ists and eight policemen were horror said the Maoists, women attack, taking the victims by sur- "The sacrifice of 24 brave olice fired into a crowd of rounds as well as tear gas and injured with stones," a police included, emerged out of the prise. Air Force helicopters men is a big loss to the nation. stone-throwing students in water cannon to try to disperse officer said on condition of ano- blue before opening indiscrim- evacuated the wounded to hos- Such attacks will never deter our PKashmir yesterday, as vio- the protesters as shoppers fled nymity. Nearly 100 students and inate fire. pitals in Raipur, officials said. fight against extremism," Sonia lence in the disputed Himalayan the violence and retailers shut around the same number of CRPF Deputy Inspector Security forces launched a Gandhi tweeted. Former Home region intensified. down for the day.The clashes police were wounded in last General M. Dinakaran said 11 major search operation to track Secretary R.K. Singh blamed the Hundreds of student pro- broke out as colleges in the city week's disturbances, which bodies were first recovered and down the Maoists. massacre on "complete intelli- testers shouting "We want reopened following skirmishes prompted authorities to tempo- a 12th trooper succumbed to his This was the worst attack by gence failure on the ground freedom" and "Go India, go last week between students and rarily shut down schools and injuries in a hospital here. A Maoists in Chhattisgarh since level". back" fought with government government forces. universities.

SC reinstates Senkumar as Kerala DGP NEWS BYTES

Thiruvananthapuram Senkumar's removal saying he "I take this opportunity to In the assembly, Vijayan had Mumbai plans 8km sea ropeway IANS did not do a clean job in the thank my advocates, the media come down heavily on Senku- MUMBAI: India's first and longest ropeway to connect Mum- Puttingal temple cracker blast and all those who stood by me mar, saying he was not fit to bai with the famous Elephanta Island in the Arabian Sea is he Supreme Court yester- and in the Jisha murder cases. in the pursuit of my fight for head the state police force. planned to be constructed by the Mumbai Port Trust, officials day directed the Kerala Senkumar approached the justice." Former Chief Minister V.S. said yesterday. The 8km ropeway will begin from Sewri in Tgovernment to reinstate Kerala High Court but failed to get Senkumar added: "I will wait Achuthanandan said the state Mumbai's east coast and end at Raigad district's Elephanta T P Senkumar as the police chief, a favourable verdict. He then for the government to make the government should abide by the Island, globally renowned for Elephanta Caves, a Unesco dealing a blow to Chief Minister moved the apex court. Express- next move." ruling. Former Chief Minister World Heritage site. Mumbai Port Trust Deputy Chief Engi- Pinarayi Vijayan. ing his happiness, Senkumar, Vijayan told reporters that Oommen Chandy, under whom neer P.K. Sinha said there will be few stops en route and that Senkumar was removed as presently the Director of the state- now that the apex court had Senkumar served, called it a the cable height, capacity of cars and other technical details Director General of Police on the owned Institute of Management, given its ruling, "we are waiting huge morale booster for the are being worked out. day Vijayan assumed office on said in Thiruvananthapuram that for the entire verdict". officer and the verdict proved May 25, 2016. The officer is set justice had prevailed and this was "Once that comes, we will do that the cases he probed were India-France naval exercise begins to retire on June 30. The Kerala a boost to those who work with what needs to be done as per the investigated in the best possible government had justified commitment. law." manner. MUMBAI: India and France yesterday began their week-long bilateral naval exercise Varuna in France's Toulon port, a navy statement said. The Indian contingent comprises Indian Naval Ships Mumbai, Trishul and Aditya, part of Indian Navy's Overseas Deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and the west 101-year-old Water-saving scheme backfires in TN coast of Africa, and part of an anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden. Another Indian Naval Ship Tarkash, which is Man Kaur New Delhi also a part of this group, has proceeded to London, Navy said. bags gold in AFP Mumbai, Trishul, and Aditya, will be at Toulon for three days. politician who attempted Northeast's largest IT hub opens 100m race to cover a dam in sheets A of polystyrene has been AGARTALA: Northeast India's sixth and largest Information left red-faced after his bizarre Technology (IT) hub was inaugurated here yesterday to boost Chandigarh water-saving scheme employment and e-governance besides to export software IANS backfired. technology. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, accompa- Tamil Nadu state minister nied by IT and Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty and ndian Man Kaur, 101, won Sellur K Raju waded into the dam Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Director Gen- the 100 metres sprint at with dozens of sheets of polysty- eral Omkar Rai inaugurated the IT hub, set up at a cost of Rs Ithe rene, convinced they could help 50 crore. Sarkar said that this IT hub would help to create in Auckland yesterday. Hail- reduce water evaporation in the Tamil Nadu Co-operatives Minister Sellur K Raju (centre) and employment opportunities for the IT educated youths and to ing from Chandigarh, Man drought-stricken state. other officials using thermocol polystyrene sheets to attempt further extend the e-governance to the door step of people. Kaur was the lone contender But the noble yet puzzling to cover the reservoir at the Vaigai Dam in Madurai. in the 100-years-and-over effort went belly-up almost event which she completed immediately as strong winds tape, were seen washed up on flailing waist-deep in water with President of Cyprus to visit India in a minute and 14 seconds. lifted the lightweight sheets into the dam banks. The minister the unwieldy sheets attracted She will also compete in the air, tossing them across the defended the hare-brained widespread scorn on social NEW DELHI: Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will the 200 metres race tomor- surface of the water. scheme — which reportedly cost media, where Indians blasted be paying India a state visit from April 25 to 29, an official row, and has registered to Footage of last Friday's inci- one million rupees — saying he the botched experiment as a statement said. "This is the first visit of the President Anas- take part in the shot put and dent showed officials in rowing had been told "thermocol tech- waste of public money. tasiades to India," said the Ministry of External Affairs in a javelin throw events. boats pursuing the airborne nology" could reduce water "Instead of using thermocol statement. Starting his visit from Mumbai on April 25, Pres- Man Kaur has raced her sheets, while others used rocks evaporation. sheets to cover the entire dam, ident Anastasiades will have a meeting with Governor of way to glory in many cham- to try and keep them in place. "I learnt about this (technol- how about using a huge tarpau- Maharashtra C. Vidyasagar Rao. On April 26, he will address pionships with training from Elsewhere, broken chunks ogy) from a source," he told lin sheet to cover the sun. a business forum in the western metropolis and laterb in son Gurdev Singh, who lives of the white polymer plastic, reporters, without elaborating. Problem solved," one Twitter the day travel to Delhi. in Canada and is also a run- stuck together with coloured Images of the minister user wrote sarcastically. ner. She took to running at the age of 93 on encouragement of her son. She has won more than 20 medals in the Mas- ters Games across the globe. Tamil Nadu court orders police to rescue trafficked boys "I follow whatever my son does. I train every day with my Chennai special team to rescue the boys his younger son since 2013, when future,” Arumugam states in his factory in western city of Nashik son. I like to keep myself fit and Reuters and submit a report in three a “recruiting agent” paid him petition. Prakash was one of after he was burnt with hot oil. healthy. I will continue running weeks. Rs1,000, promised another many school dropouts from “The owner and his wife till the death," she said. court yesterday ordered “The order gives many Rs20,000, and took Surya Pra- Theni, Madurai and Dindigul dis- assaulted my son and other chil- World Masters Games police to rescue 50 boys hope,” said lawyer David Sun- kash, then 14, from his home tricts of Tamil Nadu who are dren many times if they did not 2017 chief executive Jennah A believed to have been der Singh, who represented the village of Kullalakundu. The trafficked to western and north- wake up on time or if they were Wootten said the Auckland trafficked from Tamil Nadu to petitioner. agent had promised the boys ern India, where they are resting due to illness,” the peti- organisers were delighted to sweet shops in western India, “Though it was the case of eight hour shifts in sweet shops, employed in shops - deep frying tion states. The boys were not host such an inspiration. While giving families hope of being one father and one missing boy, a place to stay, a monthly salary snacks and making sweets, say allowed to contact anyone or go Kaur was the only 100-plus reunited with their missing sons. the court in a rare instance has of Rs5,000, proper food and campaigners. In his petition, Aru- home till they had repaid the athlete to compete in Auck- Responding to a petition filed taken into account the plight of leave to visit home, Arumugam’s mugam pieced together the abuse advance amount - which the land, there are a surprising by the father of a missing teen- so many other families whose petition states. the boys go through based on the owner claimed was much higher number of spritely centenar- ager, the high court in Tamil sons have not returned home.” “We accepted it thinking it account of his nephew, who than the amount the father said ians still on the sporting stage. Nadu asked police to form a M Arumugam has not seen would be good for our son’s escaped from a sweet making he had received. 10 VIEWS TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL Great for Europe

entrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen have emerged as winners of the first round of presidential Cvote in France. The results didn’t throw any surprise. It’s often said that a country is at a crossroads during an election because of the crises it’s facing and the diverse visions of the parties contesting the polls, who can French election reveals chart a dramatically different course than the one it has been pursuing for decades. But this saying has an extra ring of truth in the case of French election. Europe and France are going through a period of a new political divide upheaval due to a number of factors which have brought about drastic shifts in popular thinking, bringing to the mainstream those parties which second round of the presidential election aimed at Macron — backed by Russian, were languishing on the sidelines until now, sending Anne Applebaum in 2002, Marine Le Pen is expected to alt-right and pro-Trump trolls — is shockwaves across the continent and the world. The Washington Post win more, maybe much more, in the going to be unparalleled in its vicious- But the French election results came as a relief May 7 runoff. Though she is far behind ness. It may well put people off voting because the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim, anti- Macron right now, a fluke victory cannot altogether. globalisation and anti-European Union Le Pen be excluded. Whatever the final result, Le Pen couldn’t muster the majority to rule, paving the way There is a part of the old left, includ- and her party will not go away. They for a straight two-way fight between the pair in a ing those who voted for the Trotskyist, stand for a set of feelings that are real, run-off on May 7, with opinion polls flagging rue to the spirit of 1789, the revolu- Jean-Luc Mélenchon, that exist in every Western country, Macron as favourite. Le Pen is a threat to the tionary French are a step ahead of who sympathise with and that are now best fought openly, existing order both in France and Europe. Her everyone else. On Sunday, they her objections to trade, point by point, argument by argument ascension to presidency, if it happens, would became the first large Western bankers and interna- — for they pose a genuine and power- unleash forces of hate and deepen divisions already country to ditch, in a major election, ful threat to liberal democracy as we Tthe center-right/center-left political-party know it. existing in the country. She would curtail and structure that has dominated European poli- Though the origins of the National restrict the freedom of tics since the Second World War. Front are indeed fascist — its founders the Muslim minority in Neither Emmanuel Macron nor Marine Le included Vichy sympathisers — it is no France and pull the Pro-European Pen, the two candidates who emerged from Though Macron favours good dismissing her candidacy on those country out of the centrist the first round of voting for the French presi- strong external borders grounds. The task now, for Macron and European Union at a dency, belongs to the old gauche or the old of the European Union, those who will now imitate him, is to Emmanuel Macron time when the bloc is droite. Neither will have a major parliamen- he expresses no special find solutions for the many people who has won the first going through multiple tary party behind his or her program. Neither, reject his “open” politics and his centrist round of French crises. Le Pen continued as president, would represent a continuation dislike of immigrants. vision. election, and is to spew hate even after of the status quo. The foreign politician he Security for the fearful; safety for the results, launching a If the most important political divide, in most resembles is the those who feel threatened, whether by now the favourite scathing attack on her France as almost everywhere else, was once young Tony Blair, who also immigration or unemployment; dyna- to win the second rival Macron, calling over the size of the state, the new political mism for static economies. On Sunday round. him weak in dealing divide is not really about economics at all. It is put together a centrist night, Le Pen called on French “patriots” with ‘Islamic terrorism’. about different visions of the identity of coalition, though it wasn’t to support her in the second round. In The continent France itself. called that at the time. response, Macron must now define new heaved a sigh of relief at Le Pen, best described as a national forms of patriotism, and new forms of the results. The European commission president socialist, would like to take France out of solidarity, for those in France who want broke the protocol to wish Emmanuel Macron well international institutions, including both the to remain French but embrace the in the second round of the election, as the EU rallied European Union and Nato; block borders; world. against those seeking its ‘destruction’. Leaders from curtail trade; and impose quasi-Marxist state- tional business; there is a part of the old European countries too hailed the victory of dominated economics. Her voters are right, including those who voted for The writer is an American journalist and Macron, while leaders of far-right and xenophobic pessimistic about the present and nostalgic François Fillon, who prefer her ostenta- Pulitzer Prize–winning author who has writ- parties heaped congratulations on their partner Le for a different France. tious endorsement of “traditional ten extensively about communism and the Pen. Stock markets and euro surged. Investors Her most important foreign ally is values.” development of civil society in Central and globally had been fearful that a wave of populism, Vladimir Putin, whose money funded her There are many who, confused by Eastern Europe. She is Washington Post col- which swept Donald Trump to the White House and campaign, but in recent days President Trump the new political divide, will abstain. umnist and author of GULAG and IRON saw Britain leave the EU, could lead to a win for the has made positive noises about her, too. Her The smear campaign that will now be CURTAIN, among others. anti-European Le Pen and put the future of the bloc party, the National Front, has been part of in doubt. French politics for decades, and has been his- Macron, a pro-European centrist who ran as the torically noisy in its opposition to head of his own political movement, topped the first immigration. round with 23.75% of votes, slightly ahead of the On the other side is Macron, whose brand- anti-immigration, far-right Le Pen, who took new movement, En Marche — the name 21.53%. Opinion polls suggest that he would easily means “forward” — represents the brand- new radical center. win the second round. It shows that despite all the Macron rejects political branding: challenges, a vast majority of the French are “Honesty compels me to say that I am not against the hate-filled policies of Le Pen. a socialist,” he has said, despite having served in a Socialist Party government. He embraces markets, but says he QUOTE OF THE DAY believes in “collective solidarity.” His vot- ers are more optimistic about the future, they support the European Union, they embrace France’s integration with the We agree that given the rest of the continent and the world: “You degree of confrontation are the new face of French hope,” and the volatility of the Macron told them in his victory speech Sunday night. situation, a negotiated Though Macron favours strong external solution is needed, borders of the European Union, he expresses and it must inevitably no special dislike of immigrants. The foreign involve giving back to politician he most resembles is the young Tony Blair, who also put together a centrist the Venezuelan people coalition, though it wasn’t called that at the their voice. time. In this sense, the second round of France’s Mariano Rajoy election has a clear agenda: open vs. closed, French presidential candidate for the En Marche ! movement Emmanuel Macron, integrationist vs. isolationist, future vs. past. Spanish Prime Minister speaks after winning the lead percentage of votes in the first round in Paris. Unlike her father, who won 18 percent in the TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 OPINION 11 Turkish citizens’ struggle for self-rule

(CUP) asserted influence, then Adam McConnel direct control over Ottoman Anatolia institutions. The CUP, of which Mustafa Kemal was a member, preferred European ideas such as Comtean t the heart of debates about democ- positivism, radical materialism, and racy are three contested principles, Gustave Le Bon’s anti-democratic popular sovereignty, autonomy, mass psychology. The CUP did not and equality; and three related, but see the “values and standards” pre- less visible, underlying premises, ferred by the vast majority of “Adeliberation, pluralism, and reciprocity…. This book Turkish citizens as an acceptable also explores two underappreciated aspects of North guide for political decisions. American democracy, its religious origins and its eth- In the 1920s and 1930s, the state- ical dimensions, which have profoundly influenced sponsored effort to suppress traditional its development.” (James T. Kloppenberg, Toward Turkish culture went to the extremes of Democracy: The Struggle for Self-Rule in European mandating certain types of Western and American Thought, p. 6) clothing, instituting a Turkish call to Now that Turkey’s referendum has passed, with prayer in place of the , and about 1.4 million more citizens voting to accept the encouraging the adoption of Western constitutional changes than to reject them, foreign music in place of traditional Turkish observers of Turkish political events need to calmly, musical styles, among many other sim- objectively evaluate the results, and begin looking ilar interventions. Since the 1950s, Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave national flags and shout slogans during towards the 2019 elections, when most of the Turkish political movements, generally changes will actually take effect. a rally in Turkey. mislabeled in Europe and North Amer- Since Turkish elections became democratic in ica with the derogatory term “Islamist,” 1950, Turkey has been plagued by intermittent military recent past, and then backsliding, usually blamed on was not under the direct control of any foreign have become the dominant political interventions and unstable, coalition governments. “the Islamists,” began. Those who have fallen victim power, popular sovereignty existed only on paper voice of the Turkish people. The switch to a presidential system ends the coalition to this error are then unable to comprehend that until about 10 years ago. In truth, Turkish citizens did The Democrat Party of the government problem. So the essential political task of Turkish democracy is still deepening and expanding. not have complete control over their own state. 1950s, the Justice Party of the 1960s the coming years is reform aimed at creating more Kloppenberg lists popular sovereignty, auton- The reason is that elections were not democratic and 1970s, the Motherland Party of effective, efficient, transparent, and democratically omy, and equality as the main points of contention for the first 25 years of the Turkish Republic’s exist- the 1980s, and now the AK Party of accountable state institutions. which democratic politics in the UK and the US ence. Then, after elections did become democratic in the past 15 years achieved electoral The systemic changes instituted by the referen- formed around. 1950, whenever the military-political elite’s control successes because the Turkish peo- dum should also finally strengthen citizen-based In the book’s introduction, he summarises these over state institutions was threatened, the military ple saw their aspirations, as well as democratic control over those state institutions. But concepts: popular sovereignty, for Kloppenberg, not stepped in to reassert their domination. This situation their values, expressed through this point is clearly lost on most foreign observers, only involves the right of a society’s citizens to exer- continued even into the initial years of the Justice those movements. whether those writing for the international press or cise authority over their own affairs, but also the and Development (AK) Party’s government. Religion was one aspect of academics. problems of representation and participation. The emergence of the other essential concepts those parties’ platforms, but only For that reason, I think that anyone who wants to To what extent should the people be able to par- stated by Kloppenberg, autonomy and equality, was one. Consequently, those parties understand the ongoing Turkish political process ticipate directly in making political decisions and to also stunted by the lack of popular sovereignty in should be understood as the should refer to Harvard professor James T. Kloppen- what extent is representation acceptable? In history, Turkish politics. Those who controlled the Turkish expressions of Turkish “community berg’s recent intellectual history of Western both topics have been realized across a spectrum state from the 1920s to 1950 did not see the mass of and traditions,” a fundamental democracy, titled Toward Democracy: The Struggle ranging from minimal to extreme. Turkish citizens as equals, which precluded the abil- aspect of a successful democracy, for Self-Rule in European and American Thought. Autonomy, as Kloppenberg describes it, “… ity of Turkish citizens to develop their own autonomy. according to Kloppenberg. Kloppenberg bases his analysis on several con- requires a self both psychologically and ethically, as Only after 1950 were the Turkish people slowly able cepts that he sees as fundamental to democratic well as economically and socially, capable of deliber- to begin the process of constructing their autonomy political processes. Even though his focus is on the ate action; and it requires the absence of control over and forcing the military, the state bureaucracy, and North Atlantic democracies, his analysis is eminently individuals by other individuals and by the state. the intellectual classes to begin accepting them as relevant to developments in Turkish democracy. Autonomy has meaning only if individuals are equals. It has been a long, difficult road. Along with A main obstacle preventing most foreign observ- understood as beings who act on the basis of con- increasing control of their political system, Turkish ers from comprehending Turkish politics is the sciously chosen goals developed in the framework of citizens also gained greater control over the ideas and D-RING ROAD widely held — and mistaken – assumption that Turk- community standards and traditions.” In other values guiding their political system. Kloppenberg POST BOX: 3488 ish democracy was fully formed at some point in the words, autonomy is an individual’s ability to under- notably refers to the “religious origins” and “ethical take political decisions that have both personal and dimensions” of the democracies he discusses. DOHA - QATAR social dimensions. In the long quote concerning autonomy quoted [email protected] Kloppenberg then describes equality, itself a prob- above, he also refers to the “community standards The switch to a presidential lematic concept, as posing apparent contradictions to and traditions” which are vital to an individual’s deci- system ends the coalition individual autonomy. The reason that all three of the sion-making. But have Turkish people had recourse EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE government problem. So the main concepts underlying democracy can coexist, to their own culture’s “standards and traditions”? In TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 according to the author, is that they function in dia- the Turkish case, a modernizing political vision, based FAX: +974 4455 7758 essential political task of the logue with each other as a society attempts to find on ideas that were not simply foreign but fundamen- coming years is reform aimed solutions to the problems that it faces. This approach tally at odds with Turkish culture, was imposed on MANAGING EDITOR at creating more effective, features “careful weighing of different values” and Turkish society beginning in the mid-19th century, TEL: 4462 7505 efficient, transparent, and sees democracy as a “way of life, not simply a set of during the reform era known as the Tanzimat. political institutions.” But Kloppenberg cautions that The initial attempts at Ottoman modernization DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR democratically accountable arguments over goals and compromises are an “inevi- were carried out by state bureaucrats who did not TEL: 4455 7769 state institutions. table” result of democratic processes. follow any deterministic intellectual outlook. But In the Turkish case, even though the Turkish state after 1908, the Committee of Union and Progress LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743

BUSINESS NEWS SECTION Emergence of new spontaneous media TEL: 4462 7535 SPORT NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7745 Aiman Abboushi ONLINE SECTION TEL: 4462 7501 ight years ago, online chatting [email protected] rooms on PCs were the old-fash- ioned application(s) for social PUBLIC RELATIONS interaction. They were a break- through of electronic tool of TEL: 4455 7613 Ecommunication instead of classic landline [email protected] telephones. Nowadays, people can scan their ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT mobiles for chatting, reading updates and TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 interacting instantaneously while dining, FAX: 4455 7870 working, laying on bed or even behind the [email protected] wheel. Hence, social media provided by these CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT sophisticated smart phones became major TEL: 4455 7857 motivation for changing the behavior and [email protected] thoughts toward events that people pass through. It is not merely a conversation SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION between two persons or among groups as TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 before but also, it is an individual media FAX: 44557819 outlet. Millions of up-to-the minute-news how far the text is revised. Moreover, comments as fast-moving events on news stream are transient in nature on online media confuse the scene with a developed style of chatting, takes in consideration and also not to mention the subjectivity of composing details [email protected] endless posts and tweets. the first and faster response to any post on social of certain topic depending on how ordinary people think Press used to impose traditional for- apps, as well as, the fact that reading or viewing about it and whether they are emotionally touched by its mat of writing news so journalists are materials on social media create various personal developments or not. All thoughts and views obliged to answer very well-known five reactions such as happiness, anger, disappointment No doubt, that the world witnesses emerging of new expressed in these columns questions; what happened, who is or grief... etc. These emotions are consequently dominant media or so-called spontaneous-media, which involved, where did it take place, when did reflected on the general dialogue among through already produce new writing style, may rely on someone’s are those of the writers, not it take place and why did it happen? stimulating interaction between Internet users. bad temper or his limited knowledge. This kind of short texts of the newspaper. Adding to that, the professional type of Thus, this written expression is a result of spon- influence not only media, but also standard languages and in media either reports published on news- taneous way of thinking and it is far away from the end, it will shape the heritage of humanity or at least the All correspondence papers or scripts transferred by Radios journalistic writing. literature that we are intending to pass it to the coming regarding Views and and TVs must be linguistically correct. Sometimes, on one single account on Facebook generations. Opinion pages should be However, the social media, more than or Twitter and within five minutes only, dozens of anything else, is a popular way of express- news-stories appear on timeline, but not like The writer is Arab media coordinator in Organisation of Islamic mailed to the ing ideas no matter what the structure is or reports people used to read on newspapers. Those cooperation (OIC). [email protected] 12 ASIA TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017

Solemn pledge Crack down on China urges restraint 'gutter oil' to be intensified Beijing amid N Korea's threat Reuters CHINA will intensify a crack Beijing 'Dangerous act' lated, impoverished neighbour. down on the use of recycled Reuters Xi told Trump in their latest "gutter oil", strengthen- China "hopes that all telephone conversation that ing controls on oil origins hinese President Xi relevant sides China resolutely opposed any and monitoring processing, Jinping called for all exercise restraint, and actions that ran counter to UN according to a document sides to exercise avoid doing anything Security Council resolutions, the released by the State Coun- restraint yesterday in to worsen the tense Chinese foreign ministry said. cil yesterday. a telephone call situation on the China "hopes that all rele- China has cracked down Cabout North Korea with US vant sides exercise restraint, and on food safety in recent years peninsula": Xi President Donald Trump, as avoid doing anything to worsen after a series of scandals, Japan conducted exercises with the tense situation on the penin- including the use of recycled a US aircraft carrier strike group North Korea sula", the ministry said in a gutter oil. headed for Korean waters. newspaper said, The statement, paraphrasing Xi. But the illicit production Trump sent the carrier US should not run "The nuclear issue could and sale of gutter oil has con- group for exercises in waters off amok and should only be resolved quickly with all tinued, the document the Korean peninsula as a warn- consider carefully any relevant countries pulling in the released said. ing, amid growing fears North consequence from its same direction, and China was The document added that Korea could conduct another foolish military willing to work with all parties, restaurants and meat proc- nuclear test in defiance of provocative act. including the United States, to essors must collect and store United Nations sanctions. ensure peace," Xi said. kitchen and meat waste sep- Angered by the approach of The issue has gained added arately, and dispose of it the USS Carl Vinson carrier exercises in the western Pacific, urgency as North Korea pre- properly. group, a defiant North Korea and South Korea said it was also pares to celebrate the 85th Beijing will also said yesterday the deployment in talks about holding joint naval anniversary of the foundation strengthen supervision of was "an extremely dangerous exercises. of its Korean People's Army on slaughter houses, meat proc- act by those who plan a nuclear The US and its allies fear Tuesday. It has marked similar essors, edible oil producers war to invade". North Korea could be preparing events in the past with nuclear and restaurants, the docu- "The United States should to conduct another nuclear test tests or missile launches. ment said, and online sellers not run amok and should con- or launch ballistic missiles. Trump was critical of China of fake edible oil will be sider carefully any catastrophic China is North Korea's sole in his election campaign but he punished. consequence from its foolish major ally but has been angered has in recent days praised its Gutter oil is a term used military provocative act," by its nuclear and missile pro- efforts to rein in what he called in mainland China, Hong Rodong Sinmun, the official grammes and is frustrated by the "menace of North Korea". Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to newspaper of the North's ruling Pyongyang's belligerence. A Chinese foreign ministry describe illicit cooking oil Workers' Party, said in a com- China, which has repeatedly spokesman said the call between The 15th King of , King Muhammad V, during which has been recycled from mentary yesterday. called for the denuclearisation of the two presidents was the lat- his coronation at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, waste oil collected from "What's only laid for aggres- the Korean peninsula, is increas- est manifestation of their close yesterday. The 15th King pledged to protect Islam and sources such as restaurant sors is dead bodies". ingly worried the situation could communication, which was fryers, grease traps, slaugh- maintain peace in the nation. Two Japanese destroyers spin out of control, leading to war good for both of their countries terhouse waste and sewage have joined the carrier group for and a chaotic collapse of its iso- and the world. from sewer drains. Hong Kong court grants bail to former leader Thailand okays $393m

Hong Kong Stanley Prison this month after negotiations with property tycoon purchase of submarine Reuters complaining of breathing prob- Bill Wong Cho-bau while his cab- lems, RTHK said. inet discussed and approved a Bangkok Naval security Hong Kong court yester- The devout Catholic is the digital broadcasting licence for a Reuters day granted bail to most senior city official to serve now defunct radio company, Public criticism and Aformer leader Donald time behind bars, bringing an Wave Media, in which Wong was hailand's cabinet has questions have arisen Tsang (pictured), who was jailed ignominious end to what had a major shareholder. approved the first of three as to whether in February for 20 months for been a long and distinguished Tsang, 72, had denied graft Tplanned submarine pur- Thailand really needs misconduct in public office, the career, before and after the 1997 and pleaded not guilty. chases from China worth new submarines. broadcaster RTHK reported. handover of the former British Jurors failed to return a $393m, a government spokes- Tsang, wearing his signature colony to Chinese rule. majority verdict for another man said yesterday. bow-tie, was transferred to A nine-person jury ruled in charge related to bribery, with The plan to buy the three unnecessary," Watchara Petch- court from hospital, where he February that Tsang had deliber- a re-trial tentatively set for Chinese-built submarines thong, a politician with the had been taken from the city's ately concealed private rental September. worth $1.05bn was confirmed Democrat Party, said in July, signalling warming ties yesterday. with the regional superpower Navy spokesman Admiral since relations with the United Jumpol Loompikanon said the American doctor States cooled after a May 2014 Thai navy owned four Japanese ANZAC day military coup. submarines nearly 60 years The first submarine pur- ago, so new submarines were ordered to pay chase was approved last week. necessary to protect the coun- "The cabinet approved one try's maritime interests. reparations over submarine purchase on April "Thai people can rest 18," spokesman Sansern assured that the navy's subma- highway crash Kaewkamnerd said, adding that rine spending will be worth it a budget of $393m has been and beneficial to Thailand". Wellington earmarked for the Yuan Class Thailand's navy chief, AP S26T submarine over a six-year Admiral Na Arreenich, will visit period. China soon to finalise the gov- A WISCONSIN heart surgeon "The media were not told ernment-to-government who was vacationing in New about the purchase following a purchase, a source at the Zealand when he caused a cabinet meeting last week defence ministry, who declined highway accident that killed because it was a matter of to be named because of the sen- two people and injured four national security," he added. sitivity of the matter, said others was ordered yesterday Public criticism and ques- recently. to make reparation payments tions have arisen as to whether Maritime security is a hot but avoided jail time. Thailand really needs new issue in , given A district court judge submarines. competing claims over the ordered Kenneth Wolnak to "In the current situation, South China Sea. pay a total of $116,000 to the Police officers patrol on the eve of ANZAC day at the Opera House in Sydney, yesterday. where the government cannot Thailand's defence budget victims or their families. Dawn services will be held across the two countries on the anniversary of the ill-fated successfully solve economic this year is more than $6.11bn, Last month, the 63-year- 1915 campaign of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. problems, buying expensive about 9 percent more than the old pleaded guilty to six submarines is completely year the military took power. charges of careless driving after attempting a U-turn on a coastal highway near the town of Nelson. Several vehi- cles were involved in the Constitutional changes may pave way for Nepal polls ensuing accident. As part of a legal process Kathmandu way for local elections in mid- “We have other demands on May 14 with a second stage to approved by the main political in New Zealand known as Anatolia May and followed a series of such as compensation to those be held on June 14, the govern- parties in 2015, saying it concen- restorative justice, Wolnak talks between government and killed in protest, the withdrawal ment said. trated power among the met with some of the victims he government yesterday opposition negotiators in Kath- of court cases against our cad- The voting will be Nepal’s dominant elite. and their families. He also tabled a constitutional mandu over the weekend. res. Our full withdrawal of the first polls in 20 years, a period A general election to the agreed at the request of a Tamendment as part of a Manish Kumar Suman, a protests depends on how these that has seen a 10-year Maoist national parliament must be held woman whose husband died breakthrough deal with opposi- spokesman from the opposition will be met.” insurgency in which more than by January 2018 to build a third in the accident to participate tion groups. Sadbhavana Party, said long-run- Early last month, five pro- 17,000 people were killed and government under the new in an interview with Radio The proposal is one of the ning protests had been postponed testers were killed in southeast the abolition of the monarchy by constitution. New Zealand. central demands of the Madhe- after the government agreed to Nepal, casting a shadow over the an assembly dominated by “This decision finally paves Wolnak said in the inter- sis people from Nepal’s southern table the amendment. local elections that are crucial former guerrillas. the way for healing the rifts view that while in New plains. They have been calling “We have verbally agreed on for implementing a new Groups like the Madhesis, between Kathmandu and Mad- Zealand, he had to concen- for changes to the electoral sys- this with the government but a constitution. whose region is home to more hesis,” The Kathmandu Post trate on driving on the tem to protect their rights. formal document is yet to come Elections for more than 700 than half of the 28.6 million pop- newspaper said in an editorial left-hand side of the road. The development paved the out,” he said. village and town councils are due ulation, rejected a constitution yesterday. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 ASIA 13

Man escapes Case against Duterte filed before ICC crocodile attack in The Hague Drugs crackdown self-defence during legitimate or state-sponsored," Abella said Reuters police operations. Rights groups in a statement. "The intent of this Attorney Jude Sabio say many of the remaining two- filing in ICC is clearly to embar- Queensland Philippine lawyer said in the 77-page thirds were committed by rass and shame the president, filed a complaint at complaint that vigilantes cooperating with the and undermine the duly consti- the International Duterte "repeatedly, police or by police disguised as tuted government of the Sydney Criminal Court (ICC) unchangingly and vigilantes. Police deny this. ." AFP yesterday against continuously" Duterte has persistently The ICC has no powers of PresidentA Rodrigo Duterte (pic- denied he is involved with any enforcement, and any non-com- A MAN who accidently snor- committed crimes tured) and senior officials, death squad and said that his pliance has to be referred to the keled headfirst into a crocodile against humanity. accusing them of mass murder orders to kill drug suspects come United Nations or the court's in northern Australia escaped in a nationwide anti-drugs with the caveat that police own oversight and legislative with minor injuries as wildlife crackdown. Ernesto Abella, a should operate within the body, the Assembly of States officers yesterday worked to Attorney Jude Sabio said in spokesman for bounds of the law. Parties. track down the reptile. the 77-page complaint that Duterte, dismissed the The complaint alleged that "We can confirm we have The complaint is only a pos- The croc, measuring up to Duterte "repeatedly, unchang- complaint as a Duterte and at least 11 senior received a communication," the sible first step in what could be two metres, "reacted defen- ingly and continuously" "cynical effort" to government officials were liable ICC Office of the Prosecutor said a long process at the ICC. The tri- sively" when the swimmer committed crimes against undermine the for murder and called for an in a statement. "We will analyse bunal first has to decide whether "inadvertently" swum into it humanity and that under him, president. investigation, arrest warrants it, as appropriate. As soon as we it has jurisdiction, and then on Sunday near popular Liz- killing drug suspects and other and a trial. reach a decision, we will inform decide whether it should con- ard Island in Queensland criminals has become "best Lawmakers found no proof the sender and provide reasons duct a preliminary state. practice". communication to the ICC of Matobato's Senate testimony, for our decision." examination. "The man suffered minor Sabio is the lawyer for Edgar against Duterte and is based on which the president's aides have Ernesto Abella, a spokesman It can then ask a judge to cuts and abrasions to his head Matobato, a man who has testi- the testimony of Matobato and dismissed as fabrication. for Duterte, dismissed the com- open an official investigation, and was treated for his non- fied in the Philippines Senate that retired policeman Arturo Las- Almost 9,000 people have plaint as a "cynical effort" to which could lead to a trial. life threatening injuries on the he was part of a hit squad that canas, statements from rights been killed since Duterte took undermine the president. Duterte has said he wel- island," a department of envi- operated on Duterte's orders. groups and media reports on the office last summer. Police claim "The so-called extra-judicial comed the prospect of the ICC ronment spokesperson said It is the first publicly known killings. a third of those killings were in killings are not state-sanctioned putting him on trial. yesterday. "Wildlife officers are trav- elling to the area and will search the area for the croc- Tight security odile responsible." Turnbull's satisfaction The waters surrounding Lizard Island are a known hotspot for crocs with signs rating on the rise: Poll in the area cautioning swim- mers of the threat. In a separate incident on Sydney are redistributed to the two Sunday, a crocodile was Reuters main blocs - Turnbull's govern- found decapitated near Inn- ment still trails Labor by a isfail, prompting authorities ustralian Prime Minister margin of 52-48," the poll to warn it was illegal to kill Malcolm Turnbull (pic- showed. reptiles. Atured) has recorded a Turnbull's move towards "Based on an initial rise in voter support just days more conservative politics may inspection, the four metre after tightening rules for for- have won some support, but his animal appears to have been eigners seeking work and position as leader remains on deceased for some time". citizenship under an "Australia a knife-edge with poor polling "(The Queensland first" policy, a newspaper poll a trigger for leadership spills in Department of Environment showed yesterday. Australian politics. and Heritage Protection) Turnbull has struggled to "Although the poll offers would like to remind the pub- stop a haemor- some support lic that it is illegal to rhage of voter for Turnbull's deliberately interfere with, support with far hopes of keep- harm or kill crocodiles with- right parties ing his job, he out authorisation." including Pauline has to arrest the Repeated attacks have Hanson's One clear movement Members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) stand guard lead to calls from some parts Nation on the rise away in support near the venue of the coming Asean Summit as they provide security for guests and VIPs of the community for a cull of and with his con- since the elec- at the convention centre in Pasay City, yesterday. the animals, but the state gov- servative tion last year ernment has so far resisted. government lag- and show that ging behind he can keep opposition Labor hold of it," said in opinion polls. Haydon Man- The next election is not due ning, a political science Interpol finds 9,000 infected servers in Asean region until 2019, but continued poor professor at Flinders Univer- polling could undermine Turn- sity in South Australia state. Singapore Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks Experts from seven private The operation also identified bull's leadership. Last week, the prime min- Reuters and distributing spam were firms also participated in the nearly 270 websites infected "Tightening immigration ister abolished a temporary among the threats posed by the operation run out of the Singa- with a malware code, among and citizenship rules last week work visa popular with foreign- n anti-cybercrime oper- infected servers, the operation pore-based Interpol Global them several government web- under the banner "Australia ers, replacing it with a new ation by Interpol and showed. Complex for Innovation (IGCI), sites that may have contained first", similar to US President programme, in a move critics Ainvestigators from seven "This operation helped par- with China providing some cyber citizens' personal data, Interpol Donald Trump's "America first", described as political southeast Asian nations revealed ticipants identify and address intelligence, the international added. boosted Turnbull's personal rat- posturing. nearly 9,000 malware-laden various types of cybercrime police body said on its website. The effort follows a breach ing four percent from early He also announced plans to servers and hundreds of com- which had not previously been DDoS attacks have always this year at Singapore's Ministry April," said a Newspoll by The raise the bar for handing out promised websites in the Asean tackled in their countries," said been among the most common of Defence, when personal Australian newspaper. citizenships by lengthening the region, Interpol said yesterday. Francis Chan, head of the Hong on the Internet, making use of details of 850 national service- "While support for the gov- waiting period, adding a new Various types of malware, Kong Police Force's cybercrime hijacked and virus-infected men and staff were stolen in ernment rose one percent on a "Australian values" test and such as that targeting financial unit and chairman of Interpol's computers to target websites what the defence ministry two-party preferred basis - raising the standard for English institutions, spreading ran- Eurasian cybercrime working until they can no longer cope described as a "targeted and where votes for minor parties language. somware, launching Distributed group. with the scale of data requested. carefully planned" attack. Dhaka factory-collapse workers seek justice Army seizes militant Savar camp in Lanao del Sur AFP

housands of Bangladeshi Manila killed in three days of intense garment workers staged a AP fighting. Three soldiers were Ttearful demonstration yes- wounded," Herrera said. terday to mark the anniversary hilippine troops, backed Troops found homemade of a factory disaster that killed Pby airstrikes, captured a bombs, grenades, combat uni- 1,138 people, demanding justice jungle camp belonging to forms and passports of for the victims and better pay. an extremist band allied with suspected Indonesian militants Four years later, no one has the IS group yesterday and in the camp. yet been convicted over the col- killed several militants in the The Maute group is among lapse of the Rana Plaza factory country' south, military officials less than a dozen new armed complex in one of the world's said. groups that have pledged alle- worst industrial tragedies. Regional military spokes- giance to the Islamic State Another 2,000 people were man Lt Col Jo-ar Herrera said group and formed a loose alli- wounded in the disaster, which an army general raised the Phil- ance in the south in recent sent shockwaves across the ippine flag in the camp of the years. world and highlighted the fail- Activists chant slogans as they mark the fourth anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse Maute armed group near Pia- It has been blamed for a ure of many top Western fashion in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, yesterday. gapo town in Lanao del Sur bomb attack that killed 15 peo- brands to protect workers in the province a few hours after ple in southern Davao City, poor developing countries where the disaster, as she laid a wreath charged with murder. complex as safe. troops occupied the rebel base. President Rodrigo Duterte's their goods are manufactured. at the site. A court last year ordered that Thousands of textile work- "At least three bodies of hometown, in September last "If four years are not enough "I don't need any compen- Rana and 40 others, including ers were forced to enter the militants were recovered by year and a number of attacks to punish the culprits, bring them sation any more. I want Sohel factory officials and government building to start shifts even troops in the camp, which had against government forces in to us: we will find justice for our- Rana to be hanged," she said, inspectors, should face trial for though some expressed fears tents, bunkers and trenches, Lanao, although it has faced selves," said Marium Akter, referring to the owner of the fac- murder. They are accused of after noticing cracks in the although intelligence indicated setbacks from a series of major whose daughter Shieuly died in tory complex who has been falsely certifying the factory structure. as many as 36 militants were military offensives. 14 ASIA TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 Official accuses Russia of arming Taliban Kabul Wrongful act government — which Washing- AP ton has failed for years to A senior US military advance. he United States must official said in Kabul Russia also has promoted confront Russia for that Russia was giving easing global sanctions on Tali- providing weapons to machine guns and ban leaders who prove the Taliban for use other medium-weight cooperative. against American- weapons. Asked about Russia's activ- Tbacked forces in , top ity in Afghanistan, where it US military officials said fought a bloody war in the 1980s We'll engage with yesterday. and withdrew in defeat, Mattis At a news conference with Russia diplomatically. alluded to the increasing US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis at We'll do so where we concerns. his side, General John Nicholson, can, but we're going "We'll engage with Russia the American commander in to have to confront diplomatically," Mattis said. Afghanistan, wouldn't provide Russia where what "We'll do so where we can, but specifics about Russia's role in they're doing is we're going to have to confront US Defence Secretary James Mattis (right) and US Army General John Nicholson, commander Afghanistan. But said he would contrary to Russia where what they're doing of US forces in Afghanistan, hold a news conference at Resolute Support headquarters in "not refute" that Moscow's international law or is contrary to international law Kabul, yesterday. involvement includes giving denying the or denying the sovereignty of weapons to the Taliban. sovereignty of other other countries." over a massacre of more than wounding scores. The death toll few thousand more troops to Earlier yesterday, a senior US countries: Mattis. "For example," Mattis told 140 Afghan troops at a military was likely to rise further. keep Afghan security forces on military official said in Kabul that reporters in the Afghan capital, base last Friday. Nicholson also said that in track to eventually handling the Russia was giving machine guns "any weapons being funneled The insurgent assault was the view of the sophisticated plan- Taliban insurgency on their and other medium-weight Russia denies that it provides here from a foreign country biggest ever on a military base ning behind the attack, "it's quite own. weapons. The Taliban are using any such support to the Taliban, would be a violation of interna- in Afghanistan, involving multi- possible" that the -based Mattis yesterday offered a the weapons in the southern which ruled Afghanistan until the tional law." ple gunmen and suicide bombers Haqqani network was responsi- grim assessment for Afghan provinces of Helmand, Kanda- US-led invasion in 2001. Russia Mattis met with President in army uniforms who pene- ble. The Taliban claimed it forces fighting the Taliban. har and Uruzgan, according to says contacts are limited to safe- Ashraf Ghani and other senior trated the compound of the carried out the attack. "2017 is going to be another the official, who briefed journal- guarding security and getting the government officials just hours 209th Corps of the Afghan Nicholson, the top American tough year," he said. ists on intelligence information hard-line religious fundamen- after the nation's defense min- National Army in northern Balkh commander in Kabul, recently Kabul was the final stop on on condition of anonymity. talists to reconcile with the ister and Army chief resigned province on Friday, killing and told Congress that he needs a Mattis' six-nation, weeklong tour.

Punjab arrests woman for PTI seeks new allies to pressure Sharif to resign Islmabad pressure on the prime minister hold a public meeting in Islam- selling infant Internews to quit in the light of the Pan- abad on April 28, in a bid to Army vows transparency ama Papers judgement. mobilise the masses and Islamabad ncouraged by the legal fra- In addition, the party said it increase pressure on the prime Internews ternity’s ultimatum to would file a reference against minister to resign. in premier's fraud probe EPrime Minister Nawaz National Accountability Bureau PTI spokesperson Fawad POLICE arrested a woman, Sharif to resign within a week (NAB) chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry welcomed the state- Islamabad claiming to be a faith healer, or face a lawyers’ movement- Chaudhry before the Supreme ments made by office-bearers AP and her husband for selling a style agitation, opposition Judicial Council (SJC). of the Supreme Court Bar Asso- four-month-old child in Muz- parties have started flexing their In a statement, PTI informa- ciation (SCBA) and the Lahore akistan's army is pledging that the corruption probe of Prime affargarh yesterday. The doctor muscles. tion secretary Naeemul Haq said High Court Bar Association Minister Nawaz Sharif's family will be carried out in a "legal and his wife who bought the The Pakistan Tehreek-i- the party leaders would soon (LHCBA) that the prime minis- Pand transparent manner." child were also arrested. Insaf (PTI) of Imran Khan, the contact office-bearers of all bar ter had no moral authority to Military officials are to be part of the court-ordered commis- Police said the couple had main petitioner in the Panama councils and associations and stay in office after the verdict. sion, which has two months to complete the investigation. taken their son to a female Papers case, announced yester- enhance the scope of the par- The SCBA office-bearers have The allegations have been a serious blow to Sharif, with oppo- faith healer identified as Mus- day that it would contact ty’s anti-government movement endorsed the opposition’s view- sition parties demanding the premier, in power since 2013, resign sarat Bibi in Jhuggi Wala area representative bodies of law- to convert it into a countrywide point that PM Sharif should step over tax evasion and concealing foreign investment. of Muzaffargarh, where she yers, doctors, traders, teachers, agitation. down, at least until the investiga- Sharif has defended his financial record. His family has kept the child inside a room students, labourers, farmers and PTI chairman Imran Khan tions against him and his family acknowledged owning offshore businesses. for two hours. other professionals to increase has already announced plans to members are completed. After that she told the parents the child had died and later sold the infant to a doc- tor Muhammad Ali and his Michelin Guide wife for Rs75,000. The couple told the police Workers protest Sri Lanka-India oil deal the woman had administered to launch an injection to the child, after Colombo Union leaders said there which he fell unconscious. Reuters was speculation the deal could Thailand edition She asked them to bring a be finalised either when Sri cow so that she could do housands of Sri Lankan Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Bangkok something to bring the child motorists were queuing Wickremesinghe visits New Reuters ‘back to life’. But the parents Tfor fuel yesterday after Delhi on Tuesday or Indian had suspicion over Mussarat workers at the state-run oil firm Prime Minister Narendra Modi THAILAND will be the lat- Bibi’s behaviour and informed went on strike, demanding the comes to Sri Lanka on May 11. est country to have a Michelin the police about the matter. government scrap a deal which Lanka IOC already operates Guide, its state tourism agency The police acted on the they say would give India too 15 of the oil tanks; the rest have said yesterday, taking its place complaint and arrested the much influence over fuel prices. not been used for decades. on the culinary world map accused woman, Muhammad Unions said the strike was For its part, IOC has agreed just days after authorities Ali, his wife and others. to stop a deal that puts 99 oil to build a second refinery with announced they would shut A few weeks ago, a fake tanks in the island nation's east- a capacity of at least 100,000 down Bangkok's vibrant street faith healer in Sargodha tor- ern port city in the hands of barrels per day (bpd) in Sri food scene. tured over 20 people to death Lanka IOC, a subsidiary of Lanka, while Modi in 2015 The dining publication over fears they would poison Indian Oil Corporation. pledged to establish a petro- was introduced by the French him. It was later revealed the Sri Lanka has agreed with leum hub in Trincomalee. Michelin tyre company in man had feared they would India to jointly develop and The unions at state-run 1900 to encourage people to not let him take over as in- operate all oil tanks in the oil Ceylon Petroleum Corporation take road trips. Its star sys- charge of a shrine in the area, storage facility located in the (CPC) said handing the tanks to tem began in the 1920s. A man waits until a fuel truck from Ceylon Petroleum Corporation where he was the custodian port town of Trincomalee near Lanka IOC would give it too The guide to hotels and and the people he had killed arrives during an islandwide CEYPETCO strike at a fuel station the world's second deepest nat- much influence over fuel restaurants, which will be were his followers. in Colombo, yesterday. ural harbour. stations. released in Thai and English, will be the company's sixth in Asia. It has guides for China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore. The news comes days Dispensing speedy justice: Mediation centres paying off in Punjab after authorities in Bangkok said they would banish some Lahore Lahore High Court Chief Sessions Judge Tajammul Shah- reference was referred to Medi- mediation centres II and III from of its world-famous street Internews Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah zad Chaudhry was established ation Centre-II on March 15 and March 15 till April 10 shows the food vendors as part of a ordered setting up these alter- a few days ago, the other two was decided within 10 days. facilities received 110 cases. clean-up drive by the military he Lahore High Court’s native courts and a notification mediation centres were inau- One case pending since May Out of them, 60 were suc- government, outraging food- recent initiative to set up for their establishment was gurated on March 7. 22, 2014 in a civil court was cessfully mediated while 13 ies and threatening the Tthird-party mediation issued on February 23. Mediation centres II and III referred to the same centre and remained unsuccessful. Eleven livelihoods of the city's road- centres is paying dividends if the The decision to establish are headed by senior civil judges was decided in just 12 days with references were sent back to the side cooks. number of cases resolved within these ADRs at district courts Imran Nazir and Aisham binte the consensus of both parties. relevant courts owing to the The guide could end up the past month is to be believed. came after observing results of Sadiq, respectively. According to officials, sev- absence of parties. The centres featuring some of Bangkok's The newly established Alter- similar initiatives in other coun- These ADR centres, with their eral references at these ADR still have to decide 26 cases. street food. In 2016, Singa- native Dispute Resolution (ADR) tries to dispense speedy justice. motto ‘No Litigation but Recon- centres have been decided on The alternative dispute res- pore made history when two centres have decided several Three ADR centres have ini- ciliation’ and the main objective the same day whereas the cases olution centres work via a modest food stalls – one serv- references pending for several tially started working in Lahore. of dispensing speedy justice have had been pending in courts for neutral third person helping the ing chicken rice and the other years in different civil and fam- While Mediation Centre-I being resolved a record number of several months. rival parties reach a voluntary pork noodles – were among ily courts in a matter of days. run by Additional District and cases in the past 30 days. The first Consolidated data from resolution over a dispute. dining venues featured in the Singapore guide. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 EUROPE 15 France awaits clash of visions on May 7

Paris AFP French election results Centrist Emmanuel Macron took a big step towards the French presidency on he battle to become Sunday by winning the first round of voting and qualifying for a May 7 runoff France's president alongside far-right leader Marine Le Pen. comes down to a clash of two visions — FIRST-ROUND RESULTS Emmanuel Macron is Leading candidates per Tpro-globalisation and pro-EU, department, final results. while Marine Le Pen rages MACRON against both. LE PEN As the rival camps celebrated reaching the decisive second MELENCHON round of the election, Le Pen said FILLON on Sunday that voters will have "a very simple choice" on May 7. "Either we continue on the path of... off-shoring jobs, unfair OVERSEAS foreign competition, mass immi- TERRITORIES gration and free movement of (Not to scale) terrorists... or you choose France Guadeloupe and borders that protect," she told her supporters. Martinique Macron, 39, had a starkly dif- Guyane ferent message: "I will be... the La Reunion voice of hope for our country and for Europe," he told thousands Mayotte of his followers. Nouvelle Caledonie The photogenic former investment banker, who had Polynesie Francaise never before stood for election, Saint Pierre et Miquelon started his centrist movement LEFT: Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and Wallis et Futuna only 12 months ago. Yet polls currently show he candidate for the French presidential election run-off on May 7, waves to people as he leaves his Saint-Martin/Saint-Barthelemy will easily become France's home surrounded by policemen in Paris, yesterday. RIGHT: Marine Le Pen, French National Front youngest ever president, beat- (FN) leader and rival candidate in the run-off, arrives at her campaign headquarters in Paris. Source: French Interior Ministry. ing Le Pen by more than 20 G. Cabrera, 24/04/2017 percentage points. husband and married the young His meteoric rise began Polls show Macron easily prodigy in 2007. "At the age of her younger rival appears to patriots" has been propelled by when President Francois Hol- 17, Emmanuel said to me: 'What- attract a broader spectrum of the anti-globalisation, anti- lande chose him as an economic ever you do, I will marry you!'," voters. establishment fury that drove advisor and then parachuted him beating Le Pen in run-off Trogneux told Paris Match mag- She also goes into the runoff Britain's vote to leave the EU and into his Socialist cabinet as econ- azine last April, summing up a with several investigations hang- Donald Trump's election in the omy minister. PARIS: New opinion polls carried out after the announcement of story that has captivated the ing over the FN and her United States. Now a twice- But shrewdly sensing his the first round results of the French presidential elections sug- French media. entourage for alleged funding divorced mother of three, she chance, Macron turned his back gested that Centrist Emmanuel Macron would easily beat far-right Unlike Macron, 48-year-old scandals, while she is also being guards her private life zealously, on Hollande when he quit the leader Marine Le Pen in the second round, due on May 7. Le Pen is steeped in hard-edged probed after tweeting pictures in contrast to Macron. cabinet in August to concentrate The two polls by Ipsos Sopra Steria and Harris Interactive politics. Her pugnacious father of Islamic State atrocities. She appears rarely as a cou- on building up his own centrist showed that Macron would win 62-64% against 36-38% for Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the In the last presidential elec- ple with her current partner, who political movement "En Marche" National Front leader Le Pen if the run-off was held today. runoff of the 2002 presidential tion in 2012 Le Pen finished third is the FN's vice-president Louis (On the Move). The French Interior Ministry announced that centrist election, but was roundly beaten with just under 18 percent. Aliot. Since then, he has amassed Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen led the by the centre-right Jacques She has worked assiduously Le Pen developed her flair 250,000 members and con- first round of France's presidential election, qualifying for a sec- Chirac. to try to rid the party of its more for sharp putdowns as a lawyer founded critics who said his ond-round runoff in two weeks. According to the final voting Fifteen years later his gravel- extreme anti-Semitic edge — and defending illegal immigrants fac- appeal would not reach beyond figures released by the Ministry, Macron got 23.75% of votes and voiced daughter believes she can kicked her father out of the party ing deportation as a young, urban professionals. Le Pen got 21.53%. become France's first woman after he repeatedly described the state-appointed attorney. In politics as well as his per- president, and the first from the Holocaust as a "detail of Despite that experience she sonal life, Macron has also from a middle-class family in teacher. Brigitte Trogneux, a National Front (FN) party that her history". blames migration -- and the broken traditions. Amiens, northeast France, fell for mother of three and 25 years father founded. Over the past six years, Le European Union — for France's The theatre and poetry lover his secondary school drama older than Macron, left her She faces an uphill task as Pen's rebranded "party of economic woes.

EU's Moscovici warns Le Pen remains threat in French polls Newpapers predict likely win for Macron

Brussels Paris their ballots for the far-right or AFP AFP far-left. "Macron's victory is so nar- U Economy Commissioner Pierre Moscovici warned yester- he results of France's first row that in the two previous day that although pro-Europe centrist Emmanuel Macron round of presidential presidential elections, he Ewon the first round of France's presidential election, far- Telection made front page wouldn't have won a place in right leader Marine Le Pen is still a contender. headlines around the world the second round," it said. Moscovici, a former French socialist finance minister and now yesterday. Many newspapers The BBC said France was EU commissioner for financial affairs, told reporters Macron's vic- noted that a likely win for pro- "entering unchartered political tory was welcome but there was "bad news" too. European centrist Emmanuel water" and noted that whoever "Le Pen qualified for the second round; she may have scored Macron in the May 7 run-off won the next round, the coun- less in percentage terms than was expected but it is frightening would be good news for the try was "deeply divided". that she still got 7.6 million votes," he said. European Union but warned And Switzerland's Le Temps "It is too early yet to heave a sigh of relief, the election is not that his far-right rival Marine said the result showed the over," he said. Moscovici said he believed Le Pen would not be the Le Pen could still pull off a sur- French republic was "broken" next French president but feared that she could still garner about prise victory. with the run-off "set to oppose 40 percent of the vote. "That would show a country deeply divided two visions of France -- one and we must remain on guard — We must not claim victory yet, 'Le Pen threat not over' - inclusive and open to the world we must fight against the false claims of the FN," he said. Media in neighbouring Brit- and its concerns, and the other Macron "will have my vote," he said, adding that his victory ain hailed pro-European cut off behind its borders and was essential to the future of France and Europe. Macron's strong showing while its old myths". "The European Commission is ready to work with the new adding that Le Pen's second- French president on how we can re-launch Europe," he said. place success should not be Front pages of various US newspapers reporting on the Insider or outsider? ignored. French presidential election, yesterday. "Congratulations to the art- "The threat from the French ist! Eight months have seen Kremlin denies favouring candidate extreme right is not over," the will defeat the wicked bigger surprise than the Emmanuel Macron stage his centre-left Guardian said, stepmother." Tweeter in Chief. Yuge, in fact." takeover bid in the world of pol- THE KREMLIN yesterday said it respected the result of the first describing Macron as the "best French communist paper itics," enthused Xavier Brouet round of the French presidential election, and denied favouring hope of a deeply-troubled but L'Humanite had a picture of Le 'A house divided' in the regional French paper Le any candidate in the polls. "We respect the choice of the French great country". Similar caution Pen with the words "Never" Many papers pointed to the Republicain Lorrain, in a nod to people. We are in favour of building good and mutually benefi- appeared on the front page of across it. "Let's rally together to historic defeat inflicted on tra- Macron's business cial relations," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted France's leftist daily Liberation block her way," it said. ditional parties, with the Wall background. by state-run RIA Novosti news agency. which ran a picture of Macron The Financial Times pre- Street Journal calling the vote a The New York Times noted Russia has been seen as a keen backer of Kremlin-friendly with the headline: "Just one dicted May 7 would be an "act "stunning rebuke of France's Macron's strange status as both far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who met President Vladimir Putin more step." of coronation" for him, but mainstream political forces". someone who has set himself in a surprise visit to Moscow ahead of the vote. "The FN won its highest warned that governing would "A huge leap into the apart from establishment par- But Peskov insisted to reporters that Russia did not have a pre- ever score in a presidential not come so easily, saying unknown," wrote the French ties but who also hails from the ferred candidate in the election. election. And if the fight turns Macron could be forced into economic daily Les Echos which political elite. "These are incorrect assertions, they are quite primitive," into a confrontation between "hard bargaining" to implement described the vote as an expres- "His profile is that of an Peskov said. "In this case to say that Russia more or less supports people and elites, who can be his reform agenda. An opinion sion of people being "fed up to insider, but his policies are one candidate or another would be wrong." sure of the outcome?" it said. piece on America's rightwing the back teeth with the 'system' those of an outsider," it said. "If Pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron and Le Pen claimed "In this new world, anything Fox News website said Le Pen (and) making a clean break with the ever-precocious Mr Macron the most votes in the election Sunday to progress to a second round is possible. In other words, stay was still in with a good chance the past." is to succeed, his first challenge run-off on May 7. Macron is clear favourite to become France's vigilant," the paper said, while and referenced US President But Germany's Frankfurter is to sell a product still largely youngest president after topping Sunday's ballot with 23.75 per- voicing hope that the "young Donald Trump's shock win, say- Allgemeine Zeitung noted that unfamiliar to almost everyone: cent of votes, slightly ahead of National Front (FN) leader Le Pen leader of the (first round) vote ing: "She may pull off an even more than 40 percent had cast himself." on 21.53 percent, according to final results. 16 EUROPE TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 UK seeks court nod to delay pollution report

London opposition Labour Party, Reuters Draft copy by June 30 accused the government of “dithering and delaying”. he British government Following Prime “In the meantime, every is seeking permission Minister Theresa day delayed means another to delay a report on May’s decision to call young child will grow up hav- tackling air pollution an early election for ing under-developed lungs and until September 15, June 8, the another adult will be dying Tbreaking a court deadline for it government has prematurely,” he told Sky to comply with European Union asked the court for News. legislation. permission for an “Low income families, small Concern over air quality has extension. businesses, charities were grown since the Volkswagen encouraged to buy diesel vehi- emissions scandal in September cles over the last few years. They 2015 and reports that real-world Environment minister should be given assistance emissions exceed those Andrea Leadsom said through a national diesel scrap- UK Independence Party (UKIP) Deputy Leader, Peter Whittle (left), leader Paul Nuttall (second recorded during laboratory tests the government page fund to help them move left), Party's Women and Equalities Spokesman, Margot Parker (second right) and Education have put pollution high on the would publish a draft from diesel.” Spokesman David Kurten, pose for photographers after a policy announcement in London, political agenda. copy by June 30. ClientEarth, the environ- The British government had mental law firm which brought yesterday. until yesterday at 4pm (1500 the original case, said it was GMT) to produce a plan to considering a legal challenge to improve air quality and meet Leadsom said the government the extension. UKIP calls for ban on face-covering nitrogen dioxide limits set by the would publish a draft copy by "The unacceptable last EU after London’s High Court June 30. minute nature of the govern- ruled a calculation of future Earlier this month, the ment's application late on Friday veils and new Muslim schools vehicle emissions was too Financial Times reported that night, after the court had closed, optimistic. May had asked officials to has meant that we have spent But following Prime Minis- develop plans for a scrappage the weekend considering our London face-covering veils in public, remain relevant now that it has ter Theresa May’s decision to scheme for diesel cars as part of response," said chief executive AP and a call for the prosecution of achieved its main goal. call an early election for June 8, proposals to improve air James Thornton. parents of girls subjected to UKIP's only lawmaker in the the government has asked the quality. "We are still examining our ritain's anti-EU UK Inde- female genital mutilation. House of Commons recently quit court for permission for an Major cities such as Paris, next steps. This is a question of pendence Party says it will Whittle also said there the party. UKIP leader Paul Nut- extension. Stuttgart, Athens, Brussels and public health and not of politics Bpromote social unity by should be a moratorium on tall has so far declined to say “In light of the general Madrid are proposing bans, and for that reason we believe banning face-covering veils and Islamic faith schools "until there whether he will run for Parlia- election, on Friday (April) 21 fines and restrictions particu- that the plans should be put in barring the opening of new is far better integration of the ment in June's election. we sought an application to larly on diesel cars and London place without delay." Islamic schools. entire Muslim community." Polls give Prime Minister consult on the draft air qual- will introduce a levy on the Air pollution contributes to The right-wing party yester- Green Party lawmaker Theresa May's Conservatives a ity plan after the general most polluting vehicles enter- the death of more than 40,000 day unveiled what it calls an Caroline Lucas accused UKIP of big lead on the main Labour election and to publish the ing the city centre from people per year in Britain, "integration agenda" ahead of "full-throttled Islamophobia." opposition and other parties in final plans by 15 September,” October. according to official figures, with Britain's June 8 election. UKIP played a major role in an election likely to be domi- May’s spokesman said. Envi- London Mayor Sadiq Khan, nitrogen dioxide a particular It includes bans on Shariah Britain's decision last year to nated by Britain's decision to ronment minister Andrea a member of the main problem. law and on wearing leave the EU but is struggling to leave the EU.

Boy dead in blast UK law firm accused of allowing false claims against troops at Russian school

London £29m ($37m, ¤34m) inquiry. MOSCOW: A grenade blast AFP Head of the law firm Martyn Day yesterday at a school in Rus- along with senior lawyers Anna Crowther sia's restive Dagestan region disciplinary tribunal opened a and Sapna Malik were present at the killed one student and injured hearing in London yesterday into opening of the hearing, which is due to 11 others, the police said, add- A law firm Leigh Day for allegedly last for seven weeks. ing that it was set off allowing false claims of murder and tor- Leigh Day, which secured millions in accidentally. ture against British soldiers. compensation for Iraqi clients claiming "According to preliminary Leigh Day and three of its solicitors they had been abused by British troops, information, one teenager face 20 charges and are accused of know- said it would contest "all the allegations died and 11 were hurt due to ing that their clients were insurgents and made against us". careless handling of a gre- not "innocent bystanders", as claimed. The "The case against us primarily relates nade," the regional interior firm denies the charges. to allegations that were made by Iraqis ministry said in a statement. The accusations revolve around the regarding an incident in May 2004 known The blast during a com- 2014 Al Sweady Inquiry, which found Brit- as 'the battle of Danny Boy', where ulti- puter class at the local school ish troops had mistreated nine Iraqis mately a public inquiry found that many in Agvali, a village about captured after a fierce firefight, but of the allegations were untrue," the firm 115km in the mountains west rejected claims of murder and torture as said in a statement. of the regional centre of "deliberate lies, reckless speculation and "We believe that it is essential for our Makhachkala, the ministry ingrained hostility". democracy that lawyers can bring claims said. Leigh Day allegedly shredded a vital before our courts, whether on behalf of A student who claimed to FROM LEFT: Solicitors Anna Crowther, Martyn Day and Sapna Malik of solicitors document that showed the claimants service personnel or civilians, against the have found the grenade in the Leigh Day arrive at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in central London, were militant fighters, which would Ministry of Defence or any other govern- street brought it into the yesterday. potentially have brought an end to the ment entity," it added. classroom, the ministry said, adding that an investigation had been opened. An advisor to the Dag- estan health minister, Zaira UK election cuts time for Kaplanova, told the Tass news agency that a 12-year- old boy had died, while other victims were being airlifted Brexit talks: EU lawmaker to the regional hospital with shrapnel wounds. Brussels Hubner, whose committee must Reuters approve the deal before it goes to parlia- ment for a final vote, said a trade deal Kremlin denies he snap general election called by would take many more years, as formal military hacking British Prime Minister Theresa May talks could not start during the two-year Twill reduce the already limited divorce negotiations while Britain is still MOSCOW: Kremlin spokes- time available to negotiate a Brexit deal, an EU member. man Dmitry Peskov dismissed an influential EU lawmaker said It usually takes about five years for allegations that Russia had yesterday. the EU to reach a trade deal and several hacked the Danish military, a Britain has only two years from March more for it to be implemented, so transi- day after a Danish newspaper 29 to get a wide-ranging divorce settle- tional arrangements may be needed in cited Danish government ment and the June 8 election will take a the interim, she said. members as making the alle- chunk of time away, said Danuta Hubner EU negotiators have repeatedly said gation. “Russia as a state does who chairs the constitutional affairs com- they want substantial progress on a not do hacking attacks,” mittee at the European Parliament which Brexit deal on citizens’ rights, the Irish Peskov told reporters on a con- has the power to veto any final Brexit deal. border and financial liabilities before ference call. “There will be an issue probably of ... any discussions on future relations with Answering a different how much time the elections will take Britain. question about the presiden- Liberal Democratic Party leader Tim Farron speaks at a campaign event in away from the time that we have for nego- Hubner said she did not expect “a tial election in France, Peskov tiations. That’s a challenge. I think we can major disagreement” on the amount Brit- London yesterday, in the build-up to the June 8 general election. Tim Farron, also denied allegations that all hope that this will not mean a big ain would have to pay to settle its financial whose centre-left party holds just nine seats, hopes to make gains. the Russian state had inter- delay,” Hubner said. liabilities, but guaranteeing the rights of fered in France’s electoral The European Commission, which EU citizens living in the UK and of Brit- resolution on citizens’ rights, most raised after the Brexit referendum. process, saying allegations it will lead the talks with Britain, has said ons in the EU could be trickier as that will likely in September. Even without Brit- “It’s hard to imagine that another lan- had were “primitive and the negotiations were always meant touch on social security and pensions, ain, English will remain the most guage will replace English as the most wrong.” He said the Kremlin to start in June and the snap election among other things. common language in EU meetings, commonly used in meetings in Europe,” had not taken sides in the will not change that. Parliament will adopt a new Hubner said, discarding doubts she had she said. French election. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 EUROPE 17

Mogherini tells Malta for cash Russia to protect citizens rights

solution to end Moscow Agencies

THE EUROPEAN UNION'S for- migration row eign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said yesterday that Russia had a duty to protect the human rights of all of its Brussels Vital for EU's future citizens. Reuters Mogherini, on her first offi- With anti- cial visit to Russia in her current uropean Union gov- immigration role, made the comments after ernments could get sentiment boosting being asked at a news confer- ¤60,000 for each nationalists in ence about the alleged asylum-seeker they elections across the persecution of gay men in the take in above their bloc, and Britain’s southern Russian region of Equota, or chose to pay that Chechnya. decision to quit the amount if they fall below their EU, dealing with the "Our expectation is that the share, Malta proposed, in a bid Russian Federation does its unprecedented wave to end a row over migration part to protect its own citizens of people fleeing the that has sharply divided Europe. in full respect of human rights Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and European Union's Foreign Policy chief Frederica Tiny Malta, where Middle East and principles," she said, adding Mogherini arriving for a meeting in Moscow, yesterday. migrants land after crossing Africa is vital to the that she had discussed the issue the Mediterranean, hopes to EU’s future. during a meeting with Russian persuade eastern European Foreign Minister Sergei by profound disagreements on Crimea in 2014 and support for two sides had reiterated the need countries to end their refusal Lavrov. subjects including Ukraine and east Ukrainian rebels. to fulfil the stalled European- to take in asylum-seekers the proposal. The figure is The top diplomats from Syria. Moscow responded with an brokered Minsk peace under a system aimed at ambitious, given that EU states Russia and the European Union "It would be quite surreal to embargo on agricultural prod- agreements to end the conflict relieving the pressure on the only managed to relocate some struggled yesterday to over- consider ourselves as strategic ucts from the West. in eastern Ukraine. southern frontline states. 17,000 asylum-seekers over come deep rifts that have partners and to have respective Mogherini said the EU's He also called for a "thor- With anti-immigration sen- nearly two years under a pre- plunged ties to a post-Cold War sanctions," Mogherini said after sanctions against Russia were ough, quick and transparent" timent boosting nationalists in vious programme meant to deal low despite calling for closer talks with Lavrov. "not an objective in themselves" investigation after an American elections across the bloc, and with 160,000 people, which has cooperation. "We share the interest to but were meant to help end the monitor with the Organization Britain’s decision to quit the EU, collapsed in acrimony. Mogherini insisted that make our relations better," she crisis in Ukraine, which has for Security and Cooperation in dealing with the unprecedented That system formally cooperation between the sides added. claimed more than 10,000 lives Europe was killed Sunday when wave of people fleeing the Mid- expires in September and was "not frozen" but said that The EU imposed sanctions since it erupted in 2014. a patrol vehicle hit a landmine dle East and Africa is vital to the several EU leaders are push- progress was hampered on Russia for its annexation of Lavrov meanwhile said the in the rebel-held east. EU’s future. ing for a new agreement by The proposal from Malta, the middle of this year. If that which holds the rotating EU fails, as seems likely, the EU presidency, will be discussed is set for a big showdown by EU states’ representatives in over migraiton in the second 16 drown as migrant boat sinks off Lesbos Brussels on Wednesday. half of 2017. It suggests that at times of Under the Maltese proposal, particularly high migrant arriv- EU states would be obliged to Athens Citing survivors, the United Union for nearly a million Syri- migrants in Greece has swelled als, the distribution of take in at least half of their Reuters Nations refugee agency UNHCR ans, Iraqis and Afghans. to about 62,000 in the last asylum-seekers across the bloc quota and could meet the other said 25 people were on board. A deal in March 2016 year, about 13,000 of whom would kick in “quasi-automat- half by providing help such as t least 16 people, includ- Two survivors, one of whom is between the EU and Ankara has are in camps on five eastern ically” and each country would money or staff to help with the ing a child, drowned pregnant, were from all but closed the route down Aegean islands waiting for their be obliged to take a number of screening of people arriving in Awhen an inflatable boat and the Democratic Republic of and just over 4,800 refugees and asylum applications to be them based on its size and frontline states. carrying refugees and migrants Congo, the agency said. migrants have crossed to Greece processed. wealth. Countries hosting more sank off Greece’s Lesbos island, Though fewer than 10 nau- from Turkey this year, accord- Violence has broken out in “In order to overcome the people than they are due would officials said yesterday. tical miles separate Lesbos ing to UNHCR data. An average overcrowded camps on several political obstacle to receive an receive 60,000 euros per extra Eight bodies were recovered from Turkish shores, hundreds of 20 arrive on Greek islands occasions, as have protests unknown number of persons ... person over five years. Those in Greek territory and another of people have drowned trying each day. against asylum delays. Twelve an EU overall cap for alloca- who take in fewer people than seven in Turkish waters, a Greek to make the crossing since the At least 173,000 people, Syrian Kurds living in Lesbos’s tions could, for example, be set their quota, would pay the same coastguard official said. The boat refugee crisis began in 2015. mostly Syrians, landed in Greece Moria camp for months began a at 200,000 applications per amount for every asylum- is believed to have set sail from In that year, Lesbos was the in 2016. hunger strike on Friday, the Ath- calendar year,” says seeker they fail to take. Turkey late on Sunday. main gateway into the European The number of refugees and ens News Agency reported.

Ukraine opens German court orders 10 be probe into death tried for 2010 festival deaths

of OSCE monitor BERLIN: A German court gave the go-ahead yesterday for 10 peo- ple to be tried over a deadly stampede at a German “Love Parade” Moscow music festival in 2010, overturning a lower court’s decision last Reuters year. Twenty-one people died and 500 were injured on July 24, 2010, when panic broke out in a packed underpass that was the UKRAINE has launched an only entrance route to the festival venue in the western city of investigation into the death Duisberg.Six private event organizers and four city workers have of an American working for previously denied wrongdoing in the disaster, in which eight for- the European security watch- eigners — from Spain, Bosnia, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy and dog OSCE, whose vehicle hit China — were among those killed. a landmine in the country’s The Duesseldorf higher regional court approved the trial of conflict-hit east, the general the 10 organisers, who face charges including involuntary man- prosecutor’s office (GPU) said slaughter and bodily harm, saying in a statement there was yesterday. “sufficient probability” of convictions. The paramedic was on an Accustomed to a high degree of efficiency and organization at OSCE monitoring mission such events, Germans were dumbfounded by the chaos and by patrol near the village of Pry- media reports that officials and organizers did not heed warnings shybin, controlled by about the problems such a massive crow would cause. pro-Russian separatists, in Supporters of Albania's opposition Democratic Party demonstrate in Tirana, yesterday. the Luhansk region when the blast occurred. Romanian court upholds leader's sentence The United States called Albania oppn wants technocrat govt for a transparent, timely BUCHAREST: A Bucharest court upheld yesterday a two-year investigation. suspended jail sentence of Liviu Dragnea, the leader of Romania’s Regional prosecutors in ruling Social Democrats, rejecting his challenge. Tirana calling for a caretaker govern- vet the new judges and kick- the government-controlled Dragnea was sentenced last year for illegally using his influ- Reuters ment to oversee the next start a reform of the judiciary part of Luhansk will handle ence within the party to sway a 2012 presidential impeachment election because it says Prime that Brussels has made a step the probe. The GPU said referendum. Earlier this month, his lawyers challenged the con- upporters of Albania’s Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist- before starting accession nego- Ukraine was treating the viction on a technicality, saying the court’s argument was not opposition Democratic led coalition will reshape the tiations with Albania. incident, which wounded written and signed by the same judges who issued the sentence. SParty blocked several main judiciary to its liking and it can- At the end of the hour-long two others, as a “terrorist Dragnea is also on trial in a separate abuse of office case. roads yesterday for one hour, not be trusted to ensure a fair protest, Basha repeated his call act”. escalating their two-month-old vote. for a technocrat government Sunday’s killing was the protest for a caretaker govern- The government, which is that could purge officials with a first death of a member of the Albanian citizenship to former Kosovo PM ment to oversee the June 18 trying to reform the judiciary as criminal past and pass the vet- Organization for Security and general elections. part of its drive to join the Euro- ting laws. “This is a warning that Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) TIRANA: Albania's president has granted citizenship to the former Party leader Lulzim Basha pean Union, rejects this the determination of this peo- in Ukraine, where over 700 prime minister of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj. Bujar Nishani yes- joined supporters sitting at a accusation. ple’s movement is unbreakable observers report on the three- terday issued a decree granting Albanian citizenship to Haradinaj crossroads on the outskirts of The protesters have been in its resolve to hold free and fair year-old conflict that has and his wife Anita. Tirana where traffic comes off holding a sit-in for the past 65 elections,” he told the crowd on strained ties between Russia Many Kosovars have been granted Albanian citizenship in a main highway, and praised days at a tent pitched in the the road. and the West. order to profit from the country's visa-free regime with the Euro- their peacefulness and “Euro- main street below the govern- Police had earlier warned In Moscow, Russian For- pean Union's Schengen member countries. Kosovo is the only pean culture”. ment offices. Efforts to solve the the protest was illegal but it did eign Minister Sergei Lavrov country in Western Balkans whose citizens still need a visa to visit There were other sit-ins deadlock have so far failed. not try to disperse the crowd. also called for a careful inves- the Schengen zone. Haradinaj is in France on judicial supervision near highways in northern, cen- The opposition is also boy- Except for minor altercation in tigation into the incident, awaiting a court decision on whether he will be extradited to Ser- tral and southern Albania. cotting parliament, stalling the the south, the roadblocks passed saying those guilty should be bia. He was detained in January following arrest warrants from The opposition has been passage of laws that would help peacefully. brought to justice. Serbia on war crimes charges. 18 AMERICAS TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 Gunmen Better you than me: Trump to astronaut rob millions Washington AFP Nasa's record from vault “This is a very special S President Donald day in the glorious in Paraguay Trump congratu- history of American lated Nasa astronaut spaceflight,” Trump Asuncion Peggy Whitson for said in a phone call AFP setting a new space to space, broadcast Urecord yesterday, but expressed uspected Brazilian gang- live on Nasa disdain for a particular rigor of sters blasted into a space life — drinking recycled television. Ssecure vault in south- urine. eastern Paraguay yesterday Whitson, 57, marked 534 Peggy Whitson, 57, and robbed millions of dol- days in orbit and counting yes- marked 534 days in lars, leaving a policeman terday, beating Nasa’s previous orbit and counting dead in what officials called record-holder Jeff Williams, but yesterday, beating the “robbery of the century”. remains still far short of the Nasa’s previous Some 50 gunmen with explo- world title, which belongs to record-holder Jeff sives and heavy arms left the Russian cosmonaut Gennady Williams. city of Ciudad del Este look- Padalka with his 879 days. ing like a warzone after a “This is a very special day in two-hour overnight assault the glorious history of American seven years before starting as an on a security firm and police spaceflight,” Trump said in a astronaut in 1997. She flew to headquarters, authorities and phone call to space, broadcast live space for the first time in 2002 witnesses said. on Nasa television. “That’s an aboard the space shuttle Endeav- Officials said it was an incredible record to break,” he our, staying for a six-month stint Us President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka holding a video conference call with unprecedented attack even added from the Oval Office, at the International Space Sta- Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Jack Fischer of Nasa on the International for Ciudad del Este, a key flanked by daughter Ivanka and tion, which orbits some 400km Space Station from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, yesterday. trading hub near the borders Nasa astronaut Kate Rubins. above the Earth. of Brazil and Argentina in an Reading from a prepared state- She became the first female career. She is married to a fellow be at Nasa,” she added, mention- approximately in the 2030s,” area linked to drug gangs. The ment on his desk, Trump also commander of the research out- Nasa biochemist, Clarence Sams. ing Trump’s support for manned Whitson responded. robbers set vehicles on fire to asked Whitson and her Nasa col- post in April 2008, during her Her hobbies include weightlifting, missions to Mars in the coming “As I mentioned, we actually block roads and detonated league Jack Fischer “What are we second, six-month tour of duty. biking, basketball and water ski- decades. After Fischer described are building hardware to test a explosives near the city’s learning from being in space?” Her latest, third, trip to space ing, according to her Nasa drinking coffee in space in new heavy launch vehicle and police headquarters as a After Whitson described tech- began on in November. She is biography. “floaty ball form”, Trump asked this vehicle will take us further diversion. They blasted their nology to support long-duration scheduled to return to Earth in “How does it feel to have the astronauts about the plans than we have ever been away way into the premises of Pros- manned trips to space — includ- September after an extended broken such a big and important for Mars. from this planet,” she added, egur, a firm that specializes in ing a system that converts urine nine-month mission. record?” Trump asked at one “Tell me. Mars. What do you referring to the Space Launch securely transporting cash. to drinking water for astronauts The oldest woman ever in point during his call. “It is actu- see as timing for actually send- System (SLS) rocket. “The noise rang out around the — Trump went off script. “Better space, Whitson also set a new ally a huge honor to break a ing humans to Mars? Is there a “Well, we want to try to do it city like bombs in a war,” one you than me,” he said. record for most spacewalks by a record like this,” Whitson said, schedule and when would you during my first term or at worst man who witnessed the attack, After earning a doctorate in female astronaut earlier last month thanking her Nasa colleagues for see that happening?” the presi- during my second term so we Antonio del Puerto, said. biochemistry in 1985, Whitson when she floated outside the space making it possible. dent asked. “Well, I think as your will have to speed that up a lit- Television images from the worked as a Nasa scientist for station for the eighth time in her “It is a very exciting time to bill directed, it will be tle bit ok?” Trump said. scene showed the Prosegur building was virtually destroyed, with missile casings lying around and burned-out vehicles in the streets. Brooklyn to help minor Police reports said the attackers included members offenders avoid expulsion of the Sao Paulo-based First Capital Command, one of Bra- New York — as well as “reasonable mod- zil’s most powerful drug gangs. AFP ifications to the sentence Public prosecutor Denise recommendation.” Duarte said the men wore he public prosecutor’s But Gonzalez added that masks and spoke Portuguese. office in the New York such alternatives should, when Tborough of Brooklyn will possible, “be similar in level of Man jailed for change the way it deals with offense and length of sentence minor infractions by undocu- to that offered to a citizen starting LA blaze mented immigrants to lessen defendant.” their risk of expulsion under the Gonzalez’s announcement Los Angeles Trump administration, it said was welcomed by the New York AFP yesterday. Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Brooklyn’s acting district a non-profit working to defend 58-year-old man who attorney, Eric Gonzalez, said in immigrants’ rights, which has started a massive fire a statement that his office denounced Trump administra- Ain Los Angeles in anger would do everything possible tion threats to cut federal over police killings of African- to help those accused of minor funding to cities that fail to Americans was sentenced to crimes “avoid disproportionate cooperate in deporting the 15 years in prison yesterday collateral consequences such undocumented. following a plea deal. as deportation.” But Gonzalez insisted that he Dawud Abdulwali admit- The attorneys in his office was not attempting “to frustrate ted to starting the December Opposition supporters attending a rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in will be instructed that when the federal government’s func- 2014 blaze at the unfinished Caracas, yesterday. possible, “if an appropriate dis- tion of protecting our country seven-storey downtown Da position or sentence by removing noncitizens whose Vinci apartment complex, recommendation can be offered illegal acts have caused real causing damages in excess of Venezuela protesters up the that neither jeopardizes public harm and endangered others.” $100m, the prosecutor’s safety nor leads to removal or He said his office recognized office said. No one was to any other disproportionate that many felons, and particu- injured in the spectacular fire collateral consequence,” they larly violent felons, would face that charred the complex that ante; vow to block roadways should recommend that option, “appropriate collateral immi- was being built along a free- Gonzalez said. gration consequences.” way. According to witness Assistant district attorneys The administration in early testimony, Abdulwali bragged Caracas opposition’s drive to remove socialist leader won the 2013 are being told to “consider April instructed law enforce- about setting the fire as a AFP him for more than a year. His election by a narrow margin alternative offenses the defend- ment officials to be much more response to protests that critics brand him a dictator, over Capriles. But Maduro’s ant can plead to” — different stringent in dealing with undoc- swept the town of Ferguson, rotesters rallied yesterday while he says the crisis is a US- popularity has since dropped. A from those a citizen might face umented immigrants. in Missouri. vowing to block Venezue- backed capitalist conspiracy. survey by pollster Venebaro- Pla’s main roads to raise “Peaceful protests across the metro indicated that seven out pressure on President Nicolas country will continue until Mr of 10 Venezuelans disapprove Maduro after three weeks of Maduro respects the constitu- of him. deadly unrest that have left 21 tion and ends his internal coup,” The opposition blames Trump pushes party on border wall people dead. senior opposition leader Hen- Maduro for the unraveling of the Riot police fired rubber bul- rique Capriles tweeted oil giant’s once-booming econ- Washington White House-backed bill to gut Democrats will have to get lets and tear gas to break up one yesterday. “If there is no answer omy. Falling oil prices have Reuters former President Barack behind the bill. of the first rallies in eastern from Maduro’s corrupt drug- slashed its revenues, leading to Obama’s Affordable Care Act, “The Wall is a very impor- Caracas early yesterday while trafficking leadership, at the end critical shortages of food, med- S President Donald popularly known as Obamacare, tant tool in stopping drugs from other groups were gathering of the day we will announce fur- icine and basic goods. Trump tried to press failed to gather full party sup- pouring into our country and elsewhere, the opposition said. ther action.” Maduro resisted the oppo- UDemocrats yesterday to port and imploded last month. poisoning our youth (and many It called for crowds to fill the A presidential election is sition’s efforts last year to hold include funds for his controver- If no deal is agreed on others)! If ... the wall is not built, main route into the capital and scheduled for 2018. Elections for a referendum on removing him sial border wall with Mexico in spending, parts of the federal which it will be, the drug situa- other roads around the nation. regional governors due in from power. spending legislation as lawmak- government will shut down at tion will NEVER be fixed the way That raised fears of fresh vio- December were postponed. Vatican-mediated negotia- ers worked to avoid a looming 12:01am (0401 GMT) on Satur- it should be!” Trump tweeted on lence in an oil-rich country Maduro said on Sunday that he tions between the two sides shutdown of the federal day. Trump is demanding that Monday. wracked by food shortages and wanted the regional elections broke down. Late last month, the government. Congress include funds for the Trump has said Mexico will political tension. “now” but did not indicate a authorities moved to seize the The battle offers the Repub- construction of the wall, which repay the United States for the The center right-led oppo- possible date for those or local powers of the opposition- lican president, whose approval he made a key theme of his 2016 wall if Congress funds it first. But sition is demanding elections to ballots that are due this year. “I majority legislature, before ratings have slid since he took presidential campaign and the Mexican government is ada- get rid of Maduro, blaming him am ready for whatever the elec- reversing the measure. They office, a chance to score his first which he says will stem the flow mant it will not finance a wall for the crisis. It is furious at toral authorities say,” insisted later banned Capriles from pol- big legislative win or to be mired of illegal immigrants and drugs and Trump has not laid out a recent moves by authorities to Maduro. itics. The moves sparked in a Washington stalemate as he into the United States. plan to compel Mexico to pay. curb his opponents’ power. Each The government has ruled international condemnation and marks 100 days in the job on The funding bill will need 60 Department of Homeland Secu- side has accused the other of out an early presidential elec- a wave of opposition demon- Saturday. votes to clear the 100-member rity internal estimates have trying to mount a “coup.” tion this year as opposition strations from the start of the Republicans control both Senate, where Republicans hold placed the total cost of a border Maduro has been resisting the leaders have demanded. The month. chambers of Congress, but a 52 seats, meaning at least some barrier at about $21.6bn. TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017 AMERICAS 19 Obama says ready to train new leaders

Chicago He has tweeted a few times AFP Post-presidency and issued a few statements The 55-year-old through a spokesman, notably ormer US president Democrat, who to defend his signature domes- Barack Obama ended his two terms tic policy achievement, health returned to the public at the White House care reform — which Trump’s spotlight yesterday, in January — handing Republicans are now hoping to saying he hopes to dismantle. power over to Fspend the next phase of his life Obama also spoke up when Donald Trump — said helping to “prepare the next gen- his billionaire successor accused eration of leadership”. he was “incredibly him of personally ordering the After three months off, optimistic” about the wiretapping of Trump Tower Obama broke his silence in his future, and that during the 2016 presidential adopted hometown of Chicago, problems facing campaign. speaking to high school and col- America could be But for now, he has abstained lege students about the need for solved. from any substantive commen- greater civic engagement. tary on how Trump is doing, in The 55-year-old Democrat, University of Chicago, where he keeping with presidential pro- who ended his two terms at the once was a lecturer at the law tocol which dictates that past White House in January — hand- school. residents of the White House do ing power over to Donald Trump “What I’m convinced is that... not step on the toes of the cur- Former US President Barack Obama (centre), meets with youth leaders at the Logan Center — said he was “incredibly opti- the single most important thing rent occupant. for the Arts at the University of Chicago to discuss strategies for community organisation and mistic” about the future, and that I can do is to help in any way I That silence comes in the civic engagement in Chicago, yesterday. problems facing America could can to prepare the next genera- face of accusations by Trump on be solved. tion of leadership to take up the everything from Syria, with the heart of the mission of the Side to discuss gang violence, gone kitesurfing in the Caribbean “On the back end now of my baton and to take their own Republican all but accusing Obama Center, which is located jobs and training, according to with British billionaire Richard presidency, now that it’s com- crack at changing the world.” Obama of bearing responsibility on Chicago’s South Side, where The Chicago Tribune. Branson. pleted, I’m spending a lot of time Until yesterday, Donald for chemical weapons attacks by Obama started his career as a The Obamas are currently He then spent nearly a month thinking about what is the most Trump’s Democratic predeces- the Damascus regime, to gang community activist. renting a house in Washington, in French Polynesia, where he important thing I can do for my sor had not given a public speech violence in America. On Sunday, America’s first where their youngest daughter vacationed on media mogul next job?” Obama said in his or an interview since leaving the Youth civic engagement and black president privately met Sasha is finishing high school. David Geffen’s yacht — and was opening remarks at the White House on January 20. community organizing are at the with at-risk youth from the South Since leaving office, Obama has reportedly working on his book. New Orleans removes first of four Confederate monuments

Washington government following the Civil War — in a statement. “The decision to remove — choose a better future,” Landrieu said. AFP in order to minimize protests by vocal these statues was made after a lengthy “We can remember these divisive chap- opponents who had been staging vigils, public process,” the statement added. ters in our history in a museum or other ew Orleans took down the first local media reported. The city will remove three more stat- facility where they can be put in context— of four controversial Confeder- Some city officials in the majority ues — to Confederate Generals Robert E and that’s where these statues belong.” Nate monuments (pictured) under African-American city say they have Lee and P G T Beauregard and Confeder- The mayor had issued an order call- cover of darkness early yesterday morn- received death threats. Workers were ate States of America President Jefferson ing for the four monuments to be ing, the latest removal of a widely seen wearing flak jackets and helmets as Davis — in coming days after a court relocated in February 2015 after the city perceived racist symbol of white police snipers observed from the roof of struck down legal challenges. They will council approved the plan in a 6-1 vote. supremacy in the South. a nearby parking garage. “The removal be relocated to “a place where they can In June that year, a white supremacist Workers arrived shortly after 1am of these statues sends a clear and une- be put in historical context”, the city said. fatally shot nine African-American (0600 GMT) to remove the Battle of Lib- quivocal message to the people of New “This is about showing the whole parishioners at a black church in South erty Place statue — an obelisk first Orleans and the nation: New Orleans cel- world that we as a city and as a people Carolina, prompting a national debate erected in 1891 to commemorate a failed ebrates our diversity, inclusion and are able to acknowledge, understand, over Confederate symbols in the for- rebellion against a racially integrated tolerance,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said reconcile — and most importantly merly slave-owning South. 20 HOME TUESDAY 25 APRIL 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS

FAJR 03.43 am 400 solar artworks by students on display SHOROOK 05.03 am Raynald C Rivera preserve our environment for ZUHR 11.32 am MAGHRIB 06.03 pm The Peninsula future generations and suc- ASR 03.01 pm ISHA 07.33 pm cessfully reduce greenhouse atar Solar Technol- gas emissions. To achieve this, ogies (QSTec), a education is essential, and to WEATHER TODAY member of Qatar this end, we must all play a Foundation, yester- proactive role in shouldering Qday opened Shams our respective responsibilities o o Generation 3 Collective Exhi- to protect our environment," 26 C 39 C bition at the Fire Station said Al Hajri. Minimum Maximum featuring 400 solar artworks He added: “QSTec devel- by students as young as eight oped Shams Generation as a from over 20 schools and uni- part of an integrated strategy versities across Qatar. for solar energy innovation to Chairman and Chief Exec- take root amongst the youth of utive Officer (CEO) of QSTec, the nation. Through our initia- Dr Khalid Al Hajri opened the tive, we have fostered an exhibition with dozens of environment where students, teachers, parents, and stu- from an early age, are encour- dents in attendance. This aged to develop creative ideas, year’s edition of Shams Gen- solutions and applications for eration is driven by its solar energy. We all need to be Dr Khalid Al Hajri, Chairman and CEO of QSTec, during the inaugration of the Shams 3rd motivation to address a criti- more sustainable and by famil- Generation Collective Exhibition at the Fire Station yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula cal concern: global warming. iarizing our youth with “One of the most funda- environmental protection, sus- mental issues faced by all tainability and solar energy, open until May 1, displays a including Abu Bakr Assedeeq Museums, to address the countries across the planet QSTec is playing a vital role in wide variety of art creations Preparatory Independent knowledge gap in the region is effectively combating cli- protecting our planet.” by students from 18 Inde- Boys, Al Bayan Primary Inde- on the use of solar energy and mate change—we need to The exhibition, which is pendent and private schools pendent Girls, Qatar its applications. Shams Gen- Academy Doha, Awsaj Acad- eration educates the nation’s emy and ACS International younger generation about the School Doha among others. use of solar energy and the This year’s exhibition also importance of environmental features solar art and engi- sustainability through an neering collaboration between interdisciplinary approach to students studying at Virginia education combining science, Hazy at places at first becomes hot daytime with slight dust at places Commonwealth University in technology, engineering, art and some scattered clouds. Qatar and Texas A&M Univer- and mathematics. sity at Qatar. In the lead-up to the exhi- HIGH TIDE 03:30 - 16:45 LOW TIDE 10:15 - 22:30 Since its launch in 2014, bition, each participating school Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department the Shams Generation initia- hosted in-school workshops, tive has reached over 16,000 during which students created LATEST NEWS students through its outreach artwork using solar-powered UPDATE programs. On its third year, kits and recycled materials. The this multi-award winning best solar artworks were then hands-on learning initiative shortlisted and are now show- www.thepeninsulaqatar.com was developed by QSTec, in cased at the Annex Room collaboration with Qatar gallery at Fire Station.