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THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10849 June 14, 2018 Ramadan 29, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Summer Entertainment In brief City at DECC all set to welcome visitors Amir to receive Exclusive this year: food and beverages and other exciting Eid well-wishers sport based activities. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim Summer Shopping “New off erings such as the ‘kids dig- bin Hamad al-Thani will receive Eid Souq, biggest virtual ital playground’ have never been here al-Fitr well-wishers at Al Wajbah before,” he added. “The world’s largest Palace on the first day of the Eid, the reality setup and bouncy castle is here and an 18-hole Amiri Diwan announced yesterday. football fan zone indoor mini gold course has also been The Amir will receive them set up for the visitors.” according to the following order: Ahmed noted that SEC also hosts Immediately after the Eid prayer he Summer Entertainment City more than 40 food outlets, which will until 6:15am, the Amir will receive (SEC) is all set to welcome Qatar off er a variety of fl avours. their excellencies Sheikhs, ministers, Tresidents and visitors tomorrow, This year’s SEC will also feature a the Speaker of the Advisory Council, with an array of entertainment and ‘Summer Shopping Souq,’ a premium ministries’ undersecretaries, cultural shows, and fun-fi lled activities shopping experience bringing more HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani meeting with members of the Advisory Council over Eid al-Fitr holidays. than 140 retail shops, he added. Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein in Amman yesterday. He delivered a verbal message of His Highness the Amir Sheikh and citizens. From 6:15am to 6:30am, SEC, organised by QSports as part of “We try to mix it up so that the Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to the Jordanian king. heads of diplomatic missions. the Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) 2018, whole family can enjoy, in addition to From 6:35am to 6:45am, the Armed promises to be the biggest indoor en- the live stage performances,” Ahmed Forces and police off icers as well tertainment facility in the country with stressed. Organisers will also engage as directors of departments and 75 activations and diff erent gaming op- 40 embassies such as the Philippines, national institutions. The Amir will tions at the Doha Exhibition and Con- Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, China, also receive immediately after vention Centre (DECC). Malaysia, and India, among others, the Asr prayer to 4:15pm their “This year we tried to bring a very who will hold cultural shows. Qatar pledges 10,000 excellencies Sheikhs and citizens. diff erent fl avour, with one of the most “There is a daily calendar (of activi- advanced virtual reality zones and ties and shows), we have a total of more there are about 12 skill games and a than 700 slots for performances and US Treasury yields rise dedicated football fan zone to celebrate we have lined up more than 300 so far,” as Fed raises rates the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia,” Ahmed noted, adding that roaming jobs and $500mn aid US Treasury yields jumped and Wall QSports founder and board member shows will also be entertaining visitors. Street reversed earlier gains to close Adil Ahmed, who is also SEC’s project In a statement, QSports deputy lower yesterday, after the Federal director, told Gulf Times. chairman Ghanim al-Mohannadi said Reserve raised interest rates and Football fans will be able to keep up SEC is a major family friendly, business signalled that two more hikes could with World Cup excitement at the fan and touristic event that brings together be coming this year. Ten-year US zone, which will occupy 1,000sq m of many locals and expatriates in a cool in- package for Jordan Treasury note yields hit a one-week space and features the robot goalie for door area amid the hot summer weather. high, while two-year note yields the fi rst time in Qatar. It will also off er To Page 28 QNA istry of Foreign Aff airs said the move ciples and genuine Arab values, the rose to a three-week peak after the Doha comes “in light of the diffi cult eco- statement underlined. Fed’s decision to raise its benchmark nomic circumstances and challenges Jordan plays a strategic, histori- overnight lending rate a quarter of a experienced by the sisterly Hashemite cal and popular role, especially in the percentage point, to a range between atar will provide 10,000 jobs Kingdom of Jordan”. preservation of Islamic and Arab rights 1.75% and 2%. Business Page 1 for Jordanian youth to help “The State of Qatar is focusing its in the Holy City of Jerusalem, which Mexico, Canada happy to host Qthem achieve their aspirations support on projects of a sustainable fall under the Hashemite Custody and and contribute to the economy of their nature to create a foundation on which the support of Qatar to Jordan at this Trump, Kim accept each country. the Jordanian economy has been based time is a support for this fi rm stand other’s invitation to visit 2026 World Cup with US Qatar also announced a $500mn for years, and focuses on supporting and steadfastness, the statement said. US President Donald Trump and investment package earmarked to young people who are the hope of the It expressed Qatar’s confi dence in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Reuters Trump, Mexican President Enrique support infrastructure and tourism future and the driving force of produc- the ability of Jordan and its brotherly accepted mutual invitations to Moscow Pena Nieto and Trudeau all took to projects in Jordan. tion, as demonstrated by the experi- people to overcome this stage, “which visit each other’s countries at the Twitter to post their reactions to the His Highness the Amir Sheikh ences of a number of emerging econo- will only increase their cohesion and Singapore summit, North Korean news. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sent a mies,” the statement said. determination to build their homeland news agency KCNA reported he leaders of Mexico and Canada “The US, together with Mexico verbal message to Jordan’s King Ab- Qatar’s offer include the creation beyond the challenges of the present”. yesterday. “Kim Jong-un invited gleefully cheered winning the and Canada, just got the World Cup. dullah II bin al-Hussein, pertaining to of employment opportunities for In recent days, Jordan has wit- Trump to visit Pyongyang at a Tright to host the 2026 World Cup Congratulations - a great deal of hard bilateral relations and means of boost- Jordanian youth and the implemen- nessed protests against price rises and convenient time and Trump invited jointly with the United States yester- work!” Trump said. ing them. tation of projects in Jordan through a proposed tax hike as the government Kim Jong Un to visit the US,” the day, emphasising unity at a time when Pena Nieto posted a video to his The message was conveyed by HE the establishment of an investment pushes austerity measures to slash the news agency wrote. “The two top US President Donald Trump has frayed Twitter feed in which he said: “Football the Deputy Prime Minister and Minis- fund for infrastructure and tourism country’s debt. leaders gladly accepted each other’s relations with the two neighbours dur- knows that Canada, the United States ter of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed projects. Jordan blames its economic woes invitation, convinced that it would ing his 18 months in offi ce. and Mexico are deeply united.” bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, during a Qatar, in its support and standing on instability rocking the region and serve as another important occasion Trump, who as part of a tougher US Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa: meeting with the king. alongside Jordan, government and the burden of hosting hundreds of for improved DPRK-US relations.” immigration policy has called for a wall “It’s an opportunity to bring the world HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sher- people, stressed the strong, historical thousands of refugees from war-torn Page 18 to be built on the country’s southern together and highlight how well things if al-Emadi attended the meeting. and fraternal relations with brotherly Syria, complaining it has not received border and paid for by Mexico, just work between Canada, Mexico and the In a statement yesterday, the Min- Jordan and its well-established prin- enough international support. days ago personally insulted Canadian United States.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over a The North Americans pledged their trade dispute. tournament would generate an $11bn US Soccer Federation President Car- profi t for FIFA - greater than any previ- los Cordeiro suggested to reporters on a ous World Cup fi nals - a fi nancial shot conference call that bringing the three in the arm for world soccer’s governing New inventory management system launched countries together was more of a chal- body, which has been rocked by a cor- lenge than any Trump eff ect. ruption and bribery scandal ensnaring QNA goods, determine the percentage of monitoring mechanism for the coun- “If you stop and appreciate for a sec- top offi cials. Doha imports, identify the sources of import try’s strategic food commodities and ond just the vast number of assurances, The tournament, which will be ex- of strategic goods, as well as identify- selected consumer goods. guarantees that we had to get from all panded from 32 to 48 teams, will take ing the sources of the import of stra- The ministry has established a three governments working together, place in three countries for the fi rst he Ministry of Economy and tegic commodities, identifying the mechanism for the management and that is a massive undertaking for one time as FIFA members chose a poten- Commerce announced yester- most important companies dealing in control of strategic stocks. nation, let alone three nations,” Cord- tially profi table competition based in Tday the launch of the strategic strategic commodities, identifying the It monitors and controls the mo- eiro said after the vote by the Congress existing venues over a second World inventory management and control internal trade movement, monitoring bile inventory through outlets (such of world soccer’s governing body FIFA Cup in Africa. system within the context of the min- the national production in the country, as consumer outlets), strategic stocks in Moscow, where the 2018 World Cup Of the 211 FIFA members, 203 were istry’s keenness to fortify the national and carefully monitoring the strategic of goods available in suppliers’ stores kicks off today. eligible to vote, with Ghana not present economy, achieve stability in local stocks and the effi ciency of recycling in (wholesalers) and national factories, “So if there were any complexity in the wake of a domestic corruption markets and help decision-makers and the market to maintain the quality and General Customs, Maritime and air- here it was three nations working to- aff air, and the four bidders plus the US offi cials make appropriate decisions. validity of the products. ports, where each of these entities en- RAMADAN THOUGHT gether which just raised the diffi culty territories of Samoa, Puerto Rico, and According to the ministry, the elec- The strategic inventory manage- ters the data regarding the goods and Whosoever disbelieves will suff er of getting stuff done,” Cordeiro said. American Virgin Islands not eligible. tronic system - aimed at partner- ment and control system serves of- materials available immediately in the from his disbelief, and whosoever The joint bid received 134 votes to 65 Of the 200 eligible votes, one ab- ship between the government and fi cials and decision-makers, institu- system. does righteous good deeds (by prac- for Morocco. One FIFA Congress mem- stained as the United 2026 bid got a big the private sector - is designed and tions and departments operating in The strategic stock management tising Islamic Monotheism), then ber voted for “neither bid.” majority. SPORT Pages 1-5 established according to the best in- this fi eld, private sector companies and control system covers a large such will prepare a good place (in ternational practices adopted in this and key suppliers, and national pro- number of commodity groups such Paradise) for themselves (and will fi eld, to monitor and control the stra- ducers. as rice, milk, sugar, meat, poultry, oil, be saved by Allah from His Torment) Russia, Saudi to play opening match today tegic inventory of food and consumer The system provides an accurate milk and fodder. [Qur’an 30:44] The Russian and Saudi teams will knockout stage for the first time. Prayer times meet today at the Luzhniki Stadium Russia are in Group A along with in the opening match of the 2018 Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay. Fajr....3.14 Zuhr....11.34 Asr....2.57 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Egypt will face Uruguay tomorrow. Security Council meets today on Yemen off ensive Maghrib.....6.28 Isha.....7.58 Russia, who are ranked 70th three Saudi Arabia have lost all their positions behind Saudi Arabia, are preparations friendlies ahead of the Fasting times he UN Security Council will meet today for urgent doors, marking the second time this week that the coun- keen on making a positive result World Cup, while the Russians have talks following the launch of an off ensive on the Yem- cil will have met on the crisis in Yemen. The UN has raised Iftar today ...... 6.28pm at home in front of their fans to won only one game against South Teni port of Hodeida, a lifeline for aid, by government alarm over the military operation, which could cripple de- Imsak tomorrow...... 3.04am boost their chances of reaching the Korea. forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition, diplomats said. liveries of commercial goods and humanitarian aid to mil- Britain requested the meeting to be held behind closed lions in Yemen who are on the brink of famine. Page 14 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, June 14, 2018 QATAR

Croatian honour for Qatar’s ambassador

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has met Qatar’s outgoing ambassa- dor to the country, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Thani in Zagreb. During the meeting bilateral relations between Qatar and Croatia and ways of supporting and develop- ing them, in addition to issues of common concern were reviewed. The Croatian president awarded the Order of Duke Branimir to ambas- sador Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Thani in recogni- tion of her excellent role in building friendly relations between Qatar and Croatia.

DIFI conducts study on impact of blockade on families in Qatar

QNA aff ected families more vul- challenges.” challenges, family fragmen- Doha nerable to individual and Data for this study was tation, instability, and fam- collective trauma and psy- collected from interviews ily confl icts; psychological chological stresses. with 22 adults, who be- challenges, such as trauma, he Doha Internation- This has necessitated longed to mixed-marriage fear, anxiety, sadness, grief, al Family Institute identifying the gaps in the Qatari families, in which one and insecurity; educational T(DIFI), a member of services provided to the af- of the spouses is a native of challenges, which included Qatar Foundation, in col- fected families and the in- the blockading countries. cases where families were laboration with research- terventions direly needed for These 22 participants in- afraid that their children — ers from Qatar University, bolstering the inter-family cluded 11 males and 11 fe- who are nationals of any of has conducted a study on relationships and safeguard- males (married and single) the blockading countries ‘The Impact of Blockade ing family social, psychologi- with or without children. — could not continue their on Families in Qatar’. The cal, and material well-being. Two focus groups were studies in Qatar; health study assessed the impact DIFI Executive Director, conducted with single and challenges; which include of the blockade by some Noor al-Malki al-Jehani married women. stress, its adverse impact neighbouring countries im- said: “The blockade has Individual interviews on individuals’ health and posed on Qatar on June 5, had unprecedented con- were conducted with each the related expenses related; 2017, examining the unique sequences not only on the of the male participants. and fi nancial challenges. experiences of the mixed- Qatari families, but also on The study is based on the DIFI is a global policy and marriage families, in which families where one of the basic principles of the con- advocacy institute work- one of the spouses is a na- spouses is a national of the structivist theory for directing ing to advance knowledge tive of one of the blockad- blockading countries and the interviews, using thematic on Arab families through ing Arabian Gulf countries, lives in Qatar. analysis of the interview and research, and promote evi- and relatives living in one of The study has highlighted focus group data in order to dence-based polices at the these countries. the various challenges that identify its fi ndings. national, regional, and in- The study concluded that these families face and the The study has identifi ed ternational levels. the blockade has adversely diff erent aspects of this seven types of challenges The institute has special impacted inter-family in- crisis. It has also proposed that these families have consultative status with teractions and relation- some mechanisms that help faced: They can be sum- United Nations Economic ships, and has made the families to overcome these marised as follows: social and Social Council.

Gulf Times 8 Thursday, June 14, 2018 QATAR

Some of the participants at the Iftar. Ezdan Holding Group organises annual Iftar gathering for staff

zdan Holding Group eral knowledge questions, co-operation among all ing appreciated the event. has held its annual took place during the event members of the Group and Ezdan Palace Hotel com- EIftar gathering at and prizes were awarded. its subsidiaries,” the state- prises 195 hotel rooms and Ezdan Palace Hotel, which A contest was also organ- ment noted. suites and around 12 luxuri- started operations recently. ised for Qur’an recitation The Group leaders ap- ous halls of diff erent sizes, The event was attended and chanting at the end of plauded the eff orts of the equipped with “state-of- by more than 300 employ- the ceremony. employees and their team the-art” technology and ees from diff erent depart- “Ezdan Holding Group spirit, which contributed audio-visual systems serv- ments and many of the perpetually shows its in- to the completion of many ing various purposes. Group’s leaders, according terest in engaging its em- projects the Group had There are three high-end to a press statement. ployees and benefits from embarked upon. They also restaurants: Red Orchid, During the ceremony, a the diversified religious stressed the importance of which serves traditional fi lm was screened to con- and social events to rein- solidarity and collabora- Asian dishes; Palermo gratulate the employees force social connectedness tion among all employees Restaurant for fans and on the occasion of the holy among employees outside to achieve the desired goals lovers of Italian cuisine; month of Ramadan. Enter- the workplace. Such ef- and best results. and Tolaitola Restaurant, tainment activities, includ- forts effectively impact The employees who par- which offers international ing a contest featuring gen- work progress and promote ticipated in the Iftar gather- cuisine.

QF opens registration for Education City Summer Camp

atar Foundation’s The camp, open to chil- The Education City Qur’anic Botanic Garden, (QF’s) Pre-Universi- dren aged 5 to 12-years-old, Summer Camp 2018 will a QF member; practical Qty Education (PUE) aims to engage students in include a visit to the Qatar fun hands-on scientific has opened registration for programmes and creative National Library to explore experiments; horse-riding its Education City Summer activities in a secure edu- its collections and attend lessons at Al Shaqab; and Camp 2018, sponsored by cational environment that workshops on technology; a workshop on the benefits the Supreme Committee for promotes character-build- a study of seeds and plants of teamwork delivered by Delivery & Legacy, to be held ing in them, allowing them through the ‘Young Farm- the Supreme Committee at Awsaj Academy from 24 to explore their talents and ers Programme’, which for Delivery & Legacy. - June to 19 July. diff erent capabilities. will be delivered by the QNA Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 9 QATAR Qatar Airways Privilege Club MoI, Fahes timings during Eid holidays he Ministry of Interior (MoI) has an- tion Department, and Nationality and Travel nounced that during the Eid al-Fitr Documents Department, will work from 8am Tholidays, which began yesterday and to 12noon. The ministry has also informed continue until June 21, the MoI’s service- through social media that Fahes vehicle unveils Eid shopping collection oriented departments such as General Di- inspection centres will work from 8am to rectorate of Passports, General Directorate 12noon during the Eid holidays, from June 18 of Traffi c, Criminal Evidence and Informa- to 21. atar Airways’ Frequent Flyer date changes, refunds and more, programme, Privilege Club, the Doha-based carrier has said in a Qhas announced that it is giv- statement. ing its members an exclusive off er Qatar Airways Privilege Club with its new Eid Shopping Collec- was named the ‘Best Rewards Pro- tion. gramme’ among airlines in the re- Until June 28, Privilege Club gion at the seventh annual FlyerTalk members can take advantage of awards 2018, for the second year in a 50% discount when using their a row. Qmiles on select products at Qatar At the sixth annual FlyerTalk Duty Free (QDF), both at Hamad In- awards 2017, Privilege Club also won ternational Airport (HIA) and Oryx the ‘Outstanding Benefi t’ award. Galleria, in Doha. Qatar Airways currently operates For more information and full a fl eet of more than 200 aircraft via terms and conditions, one can programme, and we are delighted range of programme enhancements. its hub, HIA, to more than 150 desti- visit: https://www.qatarairways. to offer our valued Privilege Club Privilege Club members can now nations worldwide. com/en/Privilege-Club/travel- members with our special new do all their account activities online, Earlier this year, the airline re- and-service-offers/QDF-Eid- Shopping Collection, just in time including purchasing award tickets vealed a host of forthcoming global offer.html Qatar Airways chief for the festive Eid holiday sea- using Qmiles, nominating family destinations in line with its expe- commercial officer Ehab Amin son.” members to join their membership dited expansion plan, including said, “Qatar Airways’ Privilege In March, Qatar Airways’ Privi- account, updating personal profi les Tallinn, Estonia; Valletta, Malta; Club has firmly established itself lege Club launched a refreshed and requesting services, includ- Langkawi, Malaysia; and Da Nang, as a leading frequent flyer reward brand identity, off ering members a ing cabin upgrades, excess baggage, Vietnam.

QC congratulates Qatari leadership, people on Eid

atar Charity (QC) has ex- mighty to grant to Qatar further people, al-Kuwari added. tended its sincere congratu- safety, security, stability, prosperity, The QC CEO took the opportu- Qlations and best wishes to peace and progress. He also wished nity to urge philanthropists in the the wise Qatari leadership, gov- for lasting peace and prosperity in country to continue supporting the ernment and people on Eid al-Fitr, the Arab and Muslim world. needy and poor with their generos- praying to Allah the Almighty that Al-Kuwari thanked all those who ity and charity. He also pointed out peace and harmony would prevail in interacted with QC’s Ramadan cam- that doing good was not limited the world. paign, including, donors, public and to Ramadan and should continue The charity has also congratulated private sector institutions, sponsors throughout the year, especially un- “charity makers, good-doers and and all those who provided support der diffi cult and exceptional cir- philanthropists” in Qatar in addi- to its projects and activities within cumstances, praying to Allah the tion to other benefactors who have and outside Qatar such as social fi g- Almighty to accept “our good deeds supported its projects worldwide ures, mediapersons and volunteers. and multiply our rewards”. throughout the year, and all those who He stressed that the seasonal At the beginning of the holy have contributed to the success of the projects implemented by QC with month of Ramadan, QC launched Ramadan campaign – “Giving is the Yousif bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, CEO of the support of the people of Qatar the “Giving is the Secret to Hap- Secret to Happiness” - launched for Qatar Charity. have had a positive impact on mil- piness” campaign, which included the current year (1439/2018), QC has lions at home and abroad, espe- several seasonal projects imple- said in a statement. bin Hamad al-Thani, the Qatari cially people in crisis and difficult mented by the charity within and Yousif bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, government, people, residents, and humanitarian conditions. Also, outside Qatar, such as Iftar, Eid CEO of Qatar Charity, expressed Arab and Muslim nations across the the projects helped bring joy to the clothing, food baskets, Zakat al-Fitr, his heartiest congratulations to His world on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. poor and needy, needy families, in addition to public programmes Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim He called upon Allah the Al- orphans, refugees and displaced and community initiatives. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, June 14, 2018 QATAR Vodafone powers Qatar Fan Zone odafone Qatar has part- This latest move is part of a It also includes a designated bring this summer’s tournament nered with the Supreme series of exciting activities and zone for children and families to the widest possible audience.” VCommittee for Delivery off ers that Vodafone Qatar is and an array of food and beverage As football enthusiasm reach- & Legacy (SC), the Ministry of launching. options. es fever pitch, fans’ interest in the Culture and Sports, and Qatar Together they were designed to “Football is one of the coun- country will increasingly turn to Tourism Authority as the offi cial celebrate one of the most antici- try’s favourite sports, and this the upcoming 2022 tournament. Telecoms Partner for the ‘Qatar pated sports events in the world. summer’s tournament in Russia Leveraging its international Fan Zone’ being organised at the The fan zone off ers football is a very special occasion. expertise which is deploying In- Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena enthusiasts the perfect opportu- We’re delighted to be so closely ternet of Things (IoT) solutions for this summer’s global football nity to take in the excitement and involved in this incredible fan- for a range of sporting events, tournament. passion of the tournament and is focused celebration and engage such as the London 2012 Olym- The Fan Zone activities will the ideal setting to keep up-to- with the community at this ex- pics or Spain’s La Liga, Vodafone kick off today and run until July date with all the action in Russia. citing time. Qatar is ideally placed to deliver a HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali presenting the award to K C 15. The fan zone has been spe- Vodafone supports the events unique end-to-end digital expe- Abdul Latheef as Noufal Abdurahman looks on. The converged digital serv- cially-designed to emulate the that matter most to the commu- rience using smart stadium tech- ices provider will be deploying celebratory atmosphere around nity and we’ll be working around nologies in 2022. a range of mobile solutions and the games and gives a foretaste of the clock to enhance fans’ expe- Vodafone Qatar’s customised services to power the fan zone what fans can expect to experi- rience of the games,” said Vo- off erings include the My Voda- and ensure high-speed connec- ence during the 2022 FIFA World dafone Qatar COO Diego Cam- fone App, social media, and the Minister of Culture and Sports tivity is available to visitors. Cup in Qatar. beros. company’s own website. This will be supported by Vo- In addition to screenings of all He added, “Digital technolo- For more information about dafone Qatar’s world-class mo- the matches, the fan zone will gies and social media are now an Vodafone Qatar’s #FootballFever fetes Radio Malayalam 98.6FM bile and fi xed network, which feature a range of live entertain- integral part of the fan experi- off erings, download the My Vo- was deployed in record speed es- ment options and concerts be- ence, and as a digital fi rst opera- dafone App or visit www.voda- pecially for the fan zone. tween games. tion, we are perfectly placed to fone.qa/footballfever E the Minister of Cul- tenership Measurement Study his offi ce where Radio Malayalam ture and Sports Salah carried out among the country’s vice chairman K C Abdul Latheef Hbin Ghanem bin Nasser Indian population by an interna- received the award. al-Ali has honoured Radio Ma- tional media rating agency. Radio Licensing Department layalam 98.6FM for one of its The ministry also honoured the director Sheikha Najla al-Thani, programmes highlighting the radio for its special video on block- Print and Publicity Department achievements of Qatar during the ade anniversary and also for its ex- director Hamad Zakeeba, Radio Boost for QIIB after Fitch last one year of economic block- cellent coverage of the Amir Cup Malayalam marketing manager ade. 2018, according to a statement. Noufal Abdurahman and staff The award was conferred on The minister presented the members were present on the upgrades rating to stable the basis of a recent Radio Lis- award to the radio at a function in occasion.

atar International Is- “The QIIB rating at this high lev- nancial results at the end of 2017 ISO certification lamic Bank (QIIB) has an- el, with a stable outlook, refl ects and the fi rst quarter of 2018 Qnounced that Fitch Rat- the strength of the Qatari econo- confi rm that these are consist- ings has upgraded its outlook to my, which provides an incredible ent with the development of the ‘stable’ and affi rmed the Islamic thrust to its banking sector that dynamic Qatari economy. Our bank’s Long-Term Issuer Default has proven to be highly effi cient net profi t in the fi rst quarter (Q1) Rating (IDR) at ‘A’. and resilient to the challenges of 2018 has grown beyond 7% These the bank said “under- and various market factors at and we have made a continu- lines the strength of the Qatari work.” ous improvement in several key economy, of which the bank is “In the world of Islamic fi - fi nancial indicators. Fitch’s rat- part of, and has based its various nance, we have established our ings affi rmation and stable out- strategic operations and plans fi nancial position for many look are a natural refl ection of on.” years. We have been able to be an these.” “The upward rating refl ects active part of the banking mar- “The bank will continue to fo- Fitch’s view that Qatar has suc- ket, locally and abroad. Our fi - cus on the local market and con- cessfully managed the fallout nancial position has grown sig- tribute to the fi nancing of various from last year’s rupture of trade, nifi cantly over the past years and projects, especially those vital to fi nancial and diplomatic rela- we have benefi ted immensely the development of the Qatar tions with the quartet of Arab Dr al-Shaibei from the rich opportunities be- National Vision 2030. And the nations,” QIIB said in a release ing off ered by the Qatari econ- bank is positively considering last night. The economy has reconfi gured omy. viable foreign investment oppor- “Public sector liquidity injec- its supply chains and continues “The Qatari economy is con- tunities that benefi t QIIB and its tions have stabilised the coun- to grow at a robust pace. There sidered one of the most effi cient shareholders alike.” Abmak Qatar, established in 2004, has achieved ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System try’s banking sector and stemmed has been no escalation of meas- global economies, and this has Dr al-Shaibei expressed his certification in sales, supply and installation of furniture products, furnishing, interior fit outs and the outfl ow of non-domestic ures against Qatar,” the interna- been recognised and endorsed confi dence that Islamic bank- storage systems. The certification with UKAS Management System Accreditation was presented by funding”, Fitch Ratings said. tional rating agency said. by experts, as well as attested by ing in particular and the Qatari Bureau Veritas certification manager Vinoth K P to Abmak’s assistant general manager K Thayalan “Qatar’s fi scal defi cit has nar- On the Fitch Ratings, QIIB the country’s measurable growth banking sector in general will and director Ameen Abubakker. rowed sharply and Fitch expects chief executive offi cer Dr Ab- fi gures.” maintain its upward growth tra- it to turn into a surplus in 2019. dulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei said: Dr al-Shaibei said: “Our fi - jectory. Doha Bank announces Eid operating hours Katara lines up fireworks, events for Eid festivities oha Bank has announced Festival City, Lulu (D-Ring, Al its sincere wishes for a blessed and atara Cultural Village has Children’s Eid gifts will be dis- second day of Eid on the drama of the beach provided various the operating hours of its Gharafa, and Al Khor) will be op- peaceful Eid to all our loyal cus- completed its prepara- tributed throughout the Eid holi- stage at 8pm, and the evening games to enjoy for all family Dbranches during the Eid erating from 5pm to 9pm, along tomers and the entire community Ktions for Eid al-Fitr cel- days for two periods, fi rst from will include a variety of shows members. al-Fitr festivities. with Bulk Cash Center, which in Qatar,” said Doha Bank CEO Dr ebrations to receive its audience, 8.15pm for 20 minutes and the ranging from poetry, singing and Katara’s visitors will enjoy the On the fi rst day of Eid, all will be operational from the third R Seetharaman. which will witness fi reworks second from 9pm. traditional music. opportunity to watch the World Doha Bank branches will re- day of Eid. For more information about throughout the four days of Eid On the sidelines of Eid al-Fitr, The Katara beach will be Cup in Russia on a huge display, main closed, while on the second The fourth day of Eid will see Doha Bank’s branches opening starting from 9.30pm on the Katara, in co-operation with the open from 9am to sunset, with and they will also enjoy a variety and third day of Eid, the bank’s all these branches resume regular hours, contact 5033DOHA on waterfront in front of the open Iraqi Embassy, presents an Iraqi a variety of games and water of cafes and restaurants off ering branches in City Center, Abu working hours as before Ramadan. WhatsApp or call 4445 6000 or theatre. artistic cultural evening on the sports, where the management the most delicious food. — QNA Hamour, Mall of Qatar, Doha “Doha Bank would like to extend visit www.dohabank.com

Football ‘workshop’ for Mind children

he Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) visited Mind Institute and organised a football Tworkshop for the latter’s children as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR). The workshop comes as part of the “One Family” initiative, and QFC’s “Road to Humanity” Ra- madan campaign, which aim to enhance skills within the community, while empowering and uplifting the community’s spirit. During the visit, several QFC Authority (QFCA) employees who are skilled football players engaged with the children and men- tored them in the basic football techniques as they played together in a fun supportive en- vironment. “The QFC’s ‘One Family’ initiative recog- nises that together we are all one community. We believe it is our responsibility to help oth- ers, and share our talents for a stronger soci- ety,” said Sarah al-Dorani, acting chief mar- keting and corporate communications offi cer, QFCA. Manal Hassiba, Director, Mind Institute Special Needs Centre, said QFC sets an ex- ample for businesses in the community to support, nurture and engage children of all abilities in Qatar. “By working collaboratively with QFC on initiatives like one family, we are further strengthening and promoting our core value of inclusivity in Qatar’s society,” she said. The QFC CSR and social investment strat- egy “United for Good” underscores commit- ment to its ethical, social and environmental responsibilities. One of the CSR’s main pillars at QFC is community development that en- tails focusing on the inclusion of all members of society. QFC’s CSR and social investment strategy also focuses on youth and education QFC football training for Mind Institute children. to help build a new generation of leaders.

Gulf Times 12 Thursday, June 14, 2018 QATAR Messi kicks off Ooredoo’s Internet campaign oredoo and Leo Messi ple have fun, socialise, shop, and class networks help people to their experiences more widely.” and Zenn Kyi from Myanmar. have teamed up once express themselves online. experience the digital world and In the campaign, Messi and The campaign reinforces Oagain in a lively new The global campaign can have fun online. social media infl uencers from Ooredoo’s brand promise to en- campaign that shows how much be viewed via https://youtu. “In this playful and lively key Ooredoo markets become rich people’s digital lives and fun can be had off the pitch when be/9VwlQBrBKYo. Made up of campaign, Messi and the fea- the Internet content that they highlights the key role that it you dive into a digital world. localised TVCs, digital content, tured infl uencers have helped are enjoying on Ooredoo’s net- plays in enabling people to bet- In a series of immersive vid- and out-of-home placements, bring alive the power of our net- work. This unique content is ter enjoy the Internet through eos, viewers are shown a playful the campaign is set to run across work and the variety of share- tailored in individual TVCs to its world-class networks and in- side to Leo Messi and local social Ooredoo’s markets in the Middle worthy, digital content available. include local references for each credible, share-worthy content. Leo Messi in Ooredoo’s ‘Enjoy the Internet’ campaign. media infl uencers as they share a East, North Africa, and South- We’re very proud to continue our of Ooredoo’s markets to ensure Ooredoo recently announced series of unexpected moments. east Asia. It will run on interna- great work with Messi and thank maximum relevance for the au- the extension of its global brand est football player. He holds fi ve campaign, Together We Do The integrated ‘Enjoy the In- tional TV and digital channels him for his on-going support for dience in those specifi c markets. ambassador partnership with FIFA Ballons d’Or and is the only Wonders, was launched in 2016 ternet’ campaign features Oore- and will be live from June until our initiatives.” Representing the Mena and Messi for another three years. player in football history to have highlighting the possibilities that doo’s global brand ambassador August. Messi said, “This was a great Southeast Asian countries in Messi has been global brand won four of these consecutively. technology can bring about. and one of the world’s top foot- Ooredoo Group CEO Sheikh campaign to work on with Oore- which Ooredoo operates, so- ambassador for Ooredoo since Ooredoo launched its fi rst- As the company’s global brand ball stars, Leo Messi, alongside Saud bin Nasser al-Thani said, “I doo, showing how much fun can cial media celebrities include 2013, supporting the company’s ever global campaign with Messi, ambassador Messi has also social media infl uencers from am delighted that the Ooredoo be had off the pitch in the digital Madjid Bougherra from Algeria, vision of enriching people’s lives Simply Do Wonders, during the hosted special football train- key markets across Ooredoo’s family has come together with world. Ooredoo brings a world of Ahmed Khalil al-Khaldi from around the world. 2014 World Cup, which show- ing sessions for young people in global footprint. In a series of Messi to create this unique cam- fun to your fi ngertips; together I Qatar, Mohamed al-Araimi from Messi is the star forward for cased the skills and aspirations of Doha, and made dreams come unexpected and highly shareable paign, representative of each of hope that we help more people Oman, Bader Almotawaa Mu- FC Barcelona and Argentina’s young people around the world. true by meeting inspiring youth moments they bring alive a few our markets and showing just a to connect, encourage people to tawa from Kuwait, Ahmed Athif National Team. He is widely In a follow up to this award- from countries across Ooredoo’s of the many ways in which peo- few of the ways that our world- have more fun online and share from Maldives, recognised as the world’s great- winning campaign, a second global footprint. Premium ice Qatar Fan Zone to show live World Cup matches cream brand atar’s residents and artists, live bands and a spe- visitors will have the cial performance from Fahad Qopportunity to watch al-Kubaisi, one of Qatar’s and enjoy the Eid excitement favourite artists. at the Qatar Fan Zone, which Fans will be able to en- launched will be showing live matches joy three matches on Sun- from the 2018 FIFA World Cup day, starting with Costa Rica Russia starting today, it was vs Serbia at 3pm. After the atari businessman and announced. opening ceremony, defending managing director of Al The Fan Zone at the Ali Bin champions Germany will take QMorouj Dairy & Bever- Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al on Mexico at 6pm, followed by ages Co, Sheikh Thamer bin Sadd will also host entertain- Brazil vs Switzerland at 9pm. Mohamed bin Jabor al-Thani, ment and fun activities for the Qatar Fan Zone is organised has announced the launch of whole family. Entry is free. and delivered by the Supreme ‘Desire’, Qatar’s fi rst ‘packaged Organisers said the fun Committee for Delivery & premium ice cream’. kicks-off today and will con- Legacy, the organisation re- “Qataris as well as expatri- tinue all the way through to the sponsible for delivering the ates have a very discerning taste. FIFA World Cup fi nal on July 15. infrastructure required for the Therefore, we have partnered In addition to live football, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, with product and packaging ex- the fan zone will feature live the Ministry of Culture and perts across Europe and the US LuLu Hypermarket team holding packs of Desire premium ice cream. entertainment, concerts from Sports, and Qatar Tourism to deliver a world class product Sheikh Thamer bin Mohamed Arab stars, a gaming and acti- Authority. that will be manufactured in Qa- bin Jabor al-Thani ice-cream sticks and cones. will be used to craft exceptional markets as well via exports”. vation area, and more than 40 The fan zone is made pos- tar,” he said in a statement. “We have carefully sourced the quality ice cream in Qatar us- Some of the local retailers wel- food and beverage stalls. sible thanks to its offi cial tele- The initial range will include nut, and Triple Chocolate to fi nest ingredients from across ing Swedish production tech- comed the launch, stating that The offi cial opening cer- communications partner, Vo- some all-time classics like Pra- name a few, and will be avail- the globe including Belgium, nology. Also, with this quality, having secure supplies from local emony will be held on June dafone Qatar, and the offi cial line and Cream, Strawberry able in family packs as well Netherlands, the US, the UK, and we are confi dent to take Qatar- manufacturers was the preferred 17. Starting at 5pm, the daz- hospitality partner, W Doha Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Hazel- as single-serve formats like Switzerland. All this and more made products to international option. zling launch will feature aerial Hotel and Residences. QNB off ers Bentley in Katara Hospitality starts summer promotion package with discount

atara Hospitality has announced that it is bringing Qatar nationals and resi- on Mastercard Kdents an exclusive off er at destina- tions across three continents this summer with discounts up to 40%, starting from NB in partnership ‘We are very proud and way for us to connect consum- tomorrow until August 31. with Mastercard has pleased with the launch of this ers with priceless possibilities The destinations include Doha, Paris, Qlaunched its annual mega-campaign as it further while ensuring that they con- Cannes, Milan, Rome, Madrid, Amsterdam, “Cards Summer Campaign”, demonstrates QNB’s com- tinue to enjoy the convenience Lausanne, Bern, Lake Lucerne, London and under which a lucky winner mitment to bring about the and peace of mind they have Sharm El Sheikh. will walk away with one of best value proposition to our come to associate with Master- Katara Hospitality’s summer package in- most iconic motor vehicles in customers. QNB’s world class card, both at home and when cludes up to 40% discount subject to avail- the world –Bentley. award-winning cards products travelling abroad.” ability on luxury accommodation, daily In addition to the grand are built on very high levels of QNB is keen on continuing breakfast for two adults and two kids, Inter- prize, there will be an array of security and safety while deliv- to provide its valuable custom- net, welcome amenities off ering local delica- other exciting prizes and re- ering the most rewarding expe- ers with exciting off ers and cies, early check-in and late check-out. wards, including cash back rience to our loyal customers,” prizes to fi t their lifestyle. Locally, the off er is valid at Doha Marriott and vouchers from renowned said Heba al-Tamimi, general QNB Group’s presence Hotel; The Ritz-Carlton, Doha; Mövenpick brands in Qatar. manager, QNB Group Retail. through its subsidiaries and Hotel Doha; Sharq Village & Spa, a Ritz- Starting on June 15 until Sep- Pankaj Kathuria, Cluster associate companies extends to Carlton Hotel; Sheraton Grand Doha Resort tember 30, every cumulative head (Qatar and Kuwait), Mas- more than 31 countries across & Convention Hotel; Somerset West Bay Sharq Village & Spa. spend of QR1,000 on QNB Mas- tercard, said, “Mastercard is three continents, providing a Doha; Sealine Beach, a Murwab Resort; Si- tercard credit cards transacted delighted to participate in this comprehensive range of ad- maisma, a Murwab Resort and The Avenue, Madrid; Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Col- ences Lake Lucerne; Bürgenstock Hotels & locally will grant the cardholder campaign that gives our card- vanced products and services. a Murwab Hotel. lection Hotel, Milan; The Westin Excelsior, Alpine Spa Lake Lucerne; Residences at Ho- one entry to the draw, while holders in Qatar the once-in- The total number of employ- Internationally, guests may enjoy this off er Rome; Schweizerhof Hotel Bern; Renaissance tels & Resorts Lake Lucerne; and Waldhotel foreign currency transactions a-lifetime opportunity to win ees exceeds 28,000 operating at Le Royal Monceau – Raffl es Paris; Buddha- Golden View Beach Resort Sharm El Sheikh; Health & Medical Excellence, Lake Lucerne. performed on both Mastercard a Bentley car alongside a range through more than 1,200 loca- Bar Hotel Paris; The Peninsula Paris; Inter- Hotel Royal Savoy Lausanne; Adria Boutique Katara Hospitality is a leading global ho- debit and credit cards grant of other amazing rewards. Ini- tions, with an ATM network of Continental Carlton Cannes; InterConti- Hotel, London; Taverne 1879 at Bürgenstock tel owner, developer and operator based three chances to win. tiatives like this are a fantastic over 4,300 machines. nental Amstel Amsterdam; InterContinental Hotels & Resort; Palace Hotels & Confer- in Qatar. QIB to serve customers on Eid holidays in all mall branches

atar Islamic Bank Gharafa (Q-Mall), City Center, withdrawal and deposit services. and over 170 ATMs and cash de- (QIB) has congratu- Dar Al Salam Mall, The Gate Hamad International Airport posit machines spread across the Qlated its valued cus- Mall, Mall of Qatar, Doha Festi- (HIA) branch will remain open country. tomers on the occasion of val City, and Tawar Mall. Work- around the clock to serve all QIB has seen an extensive net- Eid al-Fitr and announced ing hours will be from Satur- customers. work expansion to place it closer that all its malls branches day until Thursday from 9am QIB’s electronic platforms to its customers in all vital areas will open its doors start- to 2:30pm and from 3:30pm to will remain available at all of the country. ing from the evening of the 9pm. On Fridays, the branches times (24/7) through QIB Mo- QIB extends the warmest second day of Eid to serve will be open from 4pm to 9pm. bile App, Internet banking, call greetings and wishes to all the customers. During the Eid holiday, these Centre 44448444, Interactive people in Qatar on the blessed The branches include Al branches will only off er cash Teller Machines (Live Teller), occasion of Eid al-Fitr. QIB Fanar branch. Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 13 QATAR Qatar Airways fl ight touches down at Turkish resort city of Antalya

atar Airways’ fi rst di- in Belek. Qatar Airways’ new rect non-stop commer- twice-weekly service to Antalya Qcial fl ight touched down off ers fi ve-star comfort on its Air- at the Antalya Airport yesterday, bus A320 aircraft, with 12 seats inaugurating the airline’s newest in Business Class and 132 seats in Turkish destination. Economy. The seasonal service The fl ight marks Qatar Airways’ will be operated every Wednesday seventh gateway into Turkey and and Sunday until September 30. the third new Turkish route for the Qatar Airways now operates airline in 2018. The seasonal serv- fl ights to seven destinations in ice to Antalya will be operated by Turkey, with separate services to an Airbus A320 until September Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokçen Airport 30. (twice a day) and Istanbul Ataturk “We are delighted to launch di- Airport (10 times a week), Adana rect services to Antalya, only one Airport (three times a week), day after we commenced direct Hatay Airport (three times a week) services to the Turkish resort city and daily fl ights to Ankara. of Bodrum,” Qatar Airways Group The award-winning airline chief executive Akbar al-Baker launched direct services to Adana said. in September 2017 and to Hatay in “These new routes reinforce February 2018. and deepen the already strong ties The new twice-weekly services that exist between Qatar and Tur- to Bodrum and Antalya increase key,” he noted. “Antalya is a major the airline’s total weekly frequen- destination during the summer cy to 82 fl ights a week between leisure season due to its prime lo- Turkey and the State of Qatar. cation on the country’s beautiful As well as enjoying the award- Mediterranean coast.” Qatar Airways’ maiden flight to Antalya receives a traditional water cannon salute. winning in-fl ight service on Antalya is the largest city on the board, passengers travelling to Turkish Mediterranean coast, and avocado plantations and the Tau- waters and ancient ruins attracts pendos, Termesoss, or the Duden Antalya will also have access to boasts a 400-mile sweep of white rus Mountains, all set against a tourists from around the world. Waterfalls. Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in- sand beaches and secluded coves. backdrop of yacht-fi lled marinas, Visitors can enjoy the many ho- Divers can explore the sunken fl ight entertainment system, of- The ‘Gateway to the Turkish traditional bazaars and Ottoman tels in the coastal resort towns of city near Kekova while golf lov- fering the latest blockbuster mov- Riviera’ off ers coastal scenery dot- architecture. Alanya, Side, Belek, Kas and Ka- ers can perfect their swings at the ies, TV box sets, music, games and ted with olive and citrus groves, Antalya’s beautiful turquoise lkan, or take a trip to Perge, As- various world-class golf courses much more.

Qatar Airways launches direct service to Malaga

atar Airways’ fi rst direct non-stop fl ight from Doha touched down yesterday at the Malaga-Costa del Sol QAirport, the airline’s third Spanish gateway. The fl ight was greeted by Qatar Airways country manager (Iberian Peninsula) Marimar Laveda, and Malaga airport di- rector Salvador Merino. Qatar Airways’ new four-times weekly seasonal services to Malaga will be served with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner until September 16. The aircraft features 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class. Passengers on board will be able to enjoy the airline’s superior entertainment system, Oryx One, off ering up to 4,000 entertainment options to choose from. “Qatar Airways’ new direct services to Malaga are timed Qatar Airways’ first direct non-stop flight to Malaga, Spain touched down yesterday. perfectly to coincide with the summer holiday season, al- lowing us to connect more visitors to this unmissable des- he noted. dalusia. The charming coastal city is known for its magnifi - tination,” Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al- “We look forward to bringing travellers to Malaga and cent climate all year round. Malaga off ers a wide variety of Baker said. enabling them to experience all the delights this charming activities for visitors to enjoy, such as exploring the historic “This new route also refl ects the strength of our commit- city has to off er.” Roman fort, basking on one of Malaga’s wonderful Mediter- ment to the Spanish market, which we currently serve with Malaga is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city nestled along ranean beaches or visiting one of its many museums. direct double-daily fl ights to both Madrid and Barcelona,” Spain’s Costa del Sol in the southern Spanish region of An-

Mowasalat hands out free Smartcards to workers

owasalat (Karwa), in partnership promote public transport usage among with the Qatar Charity (QC), has citizens and residents,” according to Mdistributed free Karwa Smartcards a statement. It also supports youth in during Ramadan as part of it social respon- schools and universities through the col- sibility. laboration with Qatar Transport and Traf- The cards were distributed to workers, fic Safety Center of the Qatar University who are frequent users of public transport and Faculty of Engineering. buses, at an Iftar gathering, organised by Mowasalat is collaborating with vari- QC. ous ministries and governmental organi- Mowasalat Government Relations man- sations through workshops and lectures ager Khalid Kafoud formally handed over to promote public awareness of road and the free transport cards to QC’s media and traffic safety. The company is also par- communication executive director Ali At- ticipating in exhibitions, and distribut- Mowasalat and Qatar Charity off icials at the Iftar where Mowasalat presented Smartcards to eeq al-Abdullah. ing posters, flyers and manuals at public frequent bus users among the country’s expatriate workers. “Mowasalat (Karwa) is always keen to facilities. Al Meera holds annual Suhoor gathering

l Meera Consumer Goods Company’s (Al Meera) annual Ramadan Suhoor Agathering at Wyndham West Bay Ho- tel was attended by management offi cials, along with senior employees and branch managers. The event came as part of the many social initiatives organised and sponsored by Al Meera during the holy month of Ramadan. The Suhoor follows the company’s com- mitment to preserving Qatari traditions and affi rms the human values, which pro- mote the feelings of unity and togetherness among various nationalities and cultures found not only within Al Meera but the whole of Qatar. Al Meera deputy CEO Salah al-Hammadi said, “We are gathered here tonight to cel- ebrate our solidarity as one family known for its continued support, dedication and faith towards our company’s vision and mission. “You are Al Meera’s true partners in suc- cess. It is your hard work and team spirit that empowered us to not only survive but prosper in a competitive and challenging marketplace. On this auspicious occasion, it is my pleasure to express my sincere and utmost appreciation for the contributions put Al Meera off icials and staff during the company’s annual Suhoor. forth by every one of you”. He added, “This gathering is an opportunity for all of us to its operations, products, and services as it than 20 prizes were given on the occasion, colleagues who honour one another and in- discuss the market prospects, especially strives to stay among the top business con- including the recognition of employees for spire each other to become a better version in light of the unjust siege imposed on our glomerates in Qatar.” noteworthy accomplishments. of themselves, while working hand-in-hand beloved country. Al Meera has seen better The event was highlighted by a light quiz Al Meera’s annual Suhoor presented staff towards realising the vision, mission, and market share and further improvements in on facts and fi gures about Al Meera; more members with an opportunity to reunite as core values of the company. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, June 14, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Watchdog says sarin, chlorine used in ‘two attacks in Syria last year’

AFP “Sarin was very likely used as a later, on March 30, Latamneh suff ered viously believed to have been the fi rst “are based on separate witness testi- fi ndings on the Latamneh attacks also The Hague chemical weapon in the south” of a third attack in which sarin was also use of Sarin by the Syrian regime since mony, epidemiological analysis and come as the results of the attack on the Latamneh on 24 March 2017, the used, OPCW director Ahmet Uzumcu the deadly August 2013 attack in and environmental samples,” the OPCW Syrian town of Douma is awaited. Organisation for the Prohibition of said last year. around Damascus which killed hun- said. The large mass of information There, medics and rescuers say 40 he world’s chemical weapons Chemical Weapons said in a state- The March 24 sarin attack comes al- dreds of people. Two days after Khan “required a longer period of time to people died in a chlorine and sarin at- watchdog said yesterday that ment. Its fact-fi nding mission “also most two weeks before the deadly strike Sheikhun, the US fi red 59 Tomahawk draw conclusions,” it said. tack on April 7. The Douma attack, at- Tdeadly sarin and chlorine were concluded that chlorine was very on the then opposition-held and nearby missiles at a Syrian airbase from The FFM’s report has been shared tributed to Syrian forces by the West, used in two separate attacks in the likely used as a chemical weapon” at village of Khan Sheikhun that left more which it said the attack was launched. with the organisation’s members and triggered missile strikes against al- village of Latamneh in northwestern Latamneh’s hospital and surround- than 80 people dead. The Khan Sheik- The latest conclusions by the has been “transmitted to the UN Se- leged chemical weapons sites in Syria Syria in late March last year. ing area on March 25, 2017. Five days hun attack on April 4 last year was pre- OPCW on the March 24 and 25 attacks curity Council,” it said. The latest by the US, Britain and France.

Minister Yemen forces launch assault escalates refugee row with UN on rebel-held Hodeida city agency AFP Al Jah, Yemen Reuters Beirut emeni forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition Ylaunched an off ensive ebanon’s caretaker foreign yesterday to retake the rebel- minister escalated his row held port city of Hodeida, a key Lwith the UN refugee agency aid hub, sparking calls from the UNHCR yesterday, accusing it at international community for a news conference of working to restraint. stop refugees from returning to Pro-government troops be- Syria. gan the assault despite mount- UNHCR has denied the ac- ing international fears about the cusation, saying it supports the humanitarian fallout, pressing return of refugees when it is safe toward Hodeida airport south of for them to go back to Syria and the city after receiving a “green helps those who choose to return light” from the coalition. with their documentation. By yesterday night, the off en- “Their policy is to forbid the sive remained on the outskirts return,” Foreign Minister Gebran of the rebel-held airport. Bassil said. “The Lebanese policy The Red Sea port, controlled is to encourage the return. For- by the Houthi rebels who hail bid, encourage. Stop, facilitate. from northern Yemen, serves as That’s it,” Bassil said during the the entry point for 70% of the news conference in the town of country’s imports as it teeters Arsal, where he spoke alongside on the brink of famine. Syrian refugees. Britain requested an urgent “UNHCR does not forbid refu- meeting of the United Nations gees from returning,” Rula Amin, Security Council over the of- Yemeni pro-government forces arrive in Al-Durayhimi district, about nine kilometres south of Hodeida international airport, yesterday. UNHCR’s Mena region spokes- fensive, and the top UN body is person sad in e-mailed comments expected to hold talks today. Federica Mogherini said in a Saudi Arabia, the United Arab “Hodeida port remains open won’t be fi nished in two days,” sentative Meritxell Relano said to Reuters. “UNHCR’s policy is The request came after the statement. Emirates and a bloc of other to shipping,” Emirati State Min- Taher said. on Twitter. clear on this matter: we respect UN envoy for Yemen, Martin In Hodeida, people waited countries intervened in Yemen ister for Foreign Aff airs Anwar The International Committee The Houthi leadership on people’s free choices to return.” Griffi ths, said he was still hold- anxiously for the fi ghting to the following year with the goal Gargash tweeted yesterday. of the Red Cross said any battle Tuesday called on the inter- “UNHCR is not the obstacle to ing negotiations on keeping the reach their neighbourhoods. of restoring the government to “We have also put contingen- for Hodeida would exacerbate national community to “pres- the return, the obstacles lay else- key port open to aid deliveries. Those contacted by AFP said power. cy plans in place to move aid by the suff ering of the population. sure a halt to the escalation”, where and in the complex situa- “We are in constant contact Houthi fi ghters had fanned out The coalition accuses the other methods to Hodeida and “Life-saving items cannot warning an assault on Hodeida tion on the ground,” Amin said, with all the parties involved to across the city. Houthis of using the port to points beyond,” he said, echoing be given to those in need while would put Red Sea navigation adding that the UNHCR recog- negotiate arrangements for Ho- Coalition sources said the al- secure arms, notably ballistic a statement by UAE Minister of fi ghting is ongoing,” ICRC Mid- at risk. nises the challenges Lebanon deida that would address po- liance carried out 18 air strikes missiles the fi ghters have in- State for International Co-op- dle East director Robert Mardini Yesterday, the Houthis said faces in hosting Syrian refugees. litical, humanitarian, security on Houthi positions on the out- creasingly fi red into Saudi ter- eration Reem al-Hashemi. said in a statement. they targeted a coalition war- As Syrian forces and their allies concerns of all concerned par- skirts of Hodeida yesterday. ritory. The Emirati diplomats insist- The UN children’s fund, ship off the coast of Hodeida retake more territory, Lebanon’s ties,” he said. According to medical sourc- Yemen’s government said ed that similar large-scale of- Unicef, has raised alarm with two missiles, with rebel president and other politicians The European Union’s foreign es in the province, 22 Houthi Tuesday that negotiations had fensives had improved the lives over the plight of Hodeida’s outlet Al-Masirah claiming a have increasingly called for refu- policy chief warned of the “dev- fi ghters were killed by coalition failed to force the rebels from of Yemenis elsewhere. 300,000 children and the risk direct hit. gees to go back to “secure areas” astating” impact the assault raids, while three pro-govern- Hodeida, and that a grace pe- Hassan Taher, the offi cial that drinking water supplies As the offensive got under before a deal is reached to end the would have. ment fi ghters were killed in a riod for UN-led peace eff orts Hodeida governor based out- will be disrupted. way, Saudi Arabia’s ambas- war. The international view is that “The latest developments rebel ambush south of Hodeida. was over. side the city, said yesterday that “Unicef has pre-preposi- sador to Yemen was defiant. it would not be safe for them to will only lead to further escala- The city, home to 600,000 The UAE, a pillar of the anti- Yemen’s government would en- tioned supplies in Hodeida: “Hodeida will be liberated, return yet. The UN has registered tion and instability in Yemen, people, was captured by the in- Houthi coalition, says crucial sure aid deliveries throughout over 20,000 basic hygiene and the Yemeni people will about a million refugees in Leba- thus undermining the ongoing surgents in 2014 along with the aid will not be halted by the of- the off ensive. kits...We hope we don’t need gain back a major artery of non — nearly a quarter of Leba- eff orts of the UN special envoy,” capital Sanaa. fensive. “We want a rapid war, but it to use them,” its Yemen repre- life,” he tweeted. non’s population.

Alliance UN to vote on condemning Iran says will begin uranium lowers Iraq’s Israel over Gaza violence enrichment if N-deal unravels political Reuters derground and Fordow is bur- the AEOI, announced last week AFP Beirut ied inside a mountain, which is that Iran had begun work on a United Nations widely believed to protect them facility to construct advanced temperature from aerial bombardment. centrifuges at Natanz. ran will begin uranium en- AEOI spokesman Behrouz The announcement appeared he UN General Assembly richment at its Fordow Kamalvandi said in an inter- at least in part to be an eff ort to Reuters was set to vote yesterday Iplant and will install new view published yesterday that pressure the remaining signa- Baghdad Ton condemning Israel nuclear equipment at its Na- new work would begin on the tories to preserve the 2015 deal. for Palestinian deaths in Gaza tanz facility if it withdraws nuclear programme on the or- Kamalvandi accused the in a resolution opposed by the from a nuclear deal with major ders of Supreme Leader Ayatol- United States and other West- leric Moqtada al-Sadr United States, which wants the powers, said the spokesman for lah Ali Khamenei. ern countries of applying and militia chief Hadi al- world body to blame Hamas for the Atomic Energy Organisa- He did not specify what kind double standards by oppos- CAmiri’s decision to choose the violence. tion of Iran (AEOI). of new equipment might be in- ing Iran’s nuclear programme, compromise over confrontation US ambassador Nikki Haley The fate of the 2015 nuclear stalled at Natanz. which he said was purely and strike an alliance, aiming to slammed the measure as “fun- deal is unclear after the United “Currently the Supreme peaceful, while accepting the form the next Iraqi government, damentally imbalanced” for its Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour States withdrew from it. Leader has ordered that the nuclear arms programme of Te- has eased tensions after elections failure to mention Hamas and addresses a United Nations General Assembly meeting ahead of a The other signatory nations programmes be carried out hran’s foe Israel. marred by fraud allegations. has proposed an amendment vote on a draft resolution that would deplore the use of excessive — Russia, China, Germany, within the parameters of the “The West doesn’t criticise Sadr’s bloc scored a stunning that condemns the Palestinian force by Israeli troops against Palestinian civilians at UN Britain and France — are try- nuclear deal,” Kamalvandi told the Zionist regime and have victory in the May 12 parliamen- fi ghter group. headquarters in New York, yesterday. ing to salvage the accord, which the Young Journalists’ Club even helped them,” the YJC tary election by tapping growing “Any resolution focused on imposed curbs on Iran’s nuclear (YJC) in an interview. quoted Kamalvandi as saying. public discontent with neigh- the protection of civilians in demning Hamas for “incit- Haley had warned at the time programme in return for a lift- “And when he gives the or- “Without the help of the West bouring Iran’s sway in Iraq and Gaza must recognise the desta- ing violence” along the border that Washington was “taking ing of some economic sanc- der we will announce the pro- and America this regime could promising to deliver what past bilizing and reckless actions with Gaza before the vote on names” of countries that sup- tions. grammes for operating outside never have obtained nuclear governments have not: jobs, bet- of Hamas, which endanger the the resolution. ported the resolution. The vote Iran has two vast enrichment of the nuclear deal for reviving weapons.” Israel is widely be- ter services and stability. lives and livelihoods of inno- Diplomats said Algeria, was 128 to 9, with 35 absten- sites, at Natanz and Fordow. Fordow,” he added. lieved to be the Middle East’s But beneath the surface there cent civilians,” Haley wrote in which presented the draft reso- tions. Much of Natanz is deep un- Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of only nuclear power. were fears that regional power a letter sent to fellow ambassa- lution with Turkey, could push Backed by Arab countries, Tehran, which before the vote dors on the eve of the vote. for a “no-action” motion to the Palestinians are lobbying said it would never let Sadr gov- At least 129 Palestinians have block a vote on the US amend- to win as many votes as those ern, would sabotage the mer- been killed by Israeli fi re during ments. cast in support of the Jerusalem curial cleric and set the stage protests near the border with Despite the manoeuvres, the resolution. for a showdown that could turn Gaza that began at the end of Arab-backed resolution is ex- Western diplomats, how- Troops arrest Palestinian fi ghter bloody. March. pected to be adopted, but it re- ever, expect a large number of In the end, an alliance has No Israelis have died. mains unclear whether a strong abstentions, including among emerged of strange bed-fellows: The text deplores Israel’s use majority will support it in the European Union countries AFP stairs window during a May 24 arrest raid in Am- Sadr who portrays himself as of “excessive, disproportion- face of strong US opposition. which are divided over the is- Jerusalem ari refugee camp in the city of Ramallah. a nationalist and Amiri, Iran’s ate and indiscriminate force” The General Assembly last sue. He died two days later and was eulogised by Is- most powerful ally in Iraq whose against Palestinian civilians held a similarly contentious “Gaza is not Jerusalem,” said rael’s president and prime minister. grouping came second. and calls for protection meas- vote on the Israeli-Palestinian a diplomat, arguing that there srael said yesterday its security forces have The Shin Bet internal security agency said that Their choice of pragmatism ures for Palestinians in Gaza confl ict in December, when is a stronger international con- arrested a Palestinian suspect in last month’s in a joint operation with the army it had captured has lowered the risk of violence and the occupied West Bank. it rejected President Donald sensus about the need for a ne- Ikilling in the occupied West Bank of a soldier the man it believed killed Lubarsky. among Iraq’s majority after a The 193-nation assembly Trump’s decision to recognise gotiated settlement on Jerusa- in an elite commando squad. It named him in an Hebrew-language state- costly confl ict war with the mili- is expected to vote fi rst on the Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and lem than on who is to blame for Staff Sergeant Ronen Lubarsky, 20, was struck ment as I Yusuf Hamid, 32, a resident of Amari tants of Islamic State. US-drafted amendment con- move the US embassy there. the violence in Gaza. on the head by a granite slab thrown from an up- camp. Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 15 RAMADAN/AFRICA Etiquette of Eid Kenya anti-graft evidence

ids or Festivals are moments of celebration common to all nations. The festivals of non-believing nations ‘too weak to prosecute’ Eare associated with worldly matters such as the birth of a nation or its decline, the appointment or crowning of a ruler, his marriage, or the beginning of a season like spring, Reuters to be able to prosecute,” said Haji, who of civil servants over the disappearance and so on. As for Muslims, their festivals (Eids) are associ- Nairobi was the deputy director of Kenya’s na- of nearly $100mn from the coff ers of a ated with their religious rituals. They have only two festi- tional intelligence service before his government agency. vals or Eids: Eid al-Fitr (celebration of the end of Ramadan) appointment by President Uhuru Ken- The EACC’s chief executive, Halakhe and Eid al-Adha (festival of sacrifi ce). enya’s public prosecutor said yatta in March. Waqo, was reported by Kenyan media When the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, came to yesterday several recent inves- He was referring to investigations by last week to have said that the investi- Madinah and found the people celebrating two days he said: Ktigations by the national anti- the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Com- gations into these offi cials been under “What are these occasions”? They said: “We used to cel- graft agency into alleged corruption by mission (EACC) into what that body way for a year or more and that he ex- ebrate them in Jaahiliyya (before the coming of Islam)”. He, offi cials had gaps and lacked strong ev- described to Kenyan media last week as pected Haji to make arrests quickly. sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, then said : “Allah has replaced idence, forcing him to return the cases three sitting county governors and one EACC spokesman Yassin Amaro told them for you with the two better days (i.e. Eid al-Fitr and to the agency for further work. who left offi ce last year. Reuters Haji had returned three of the Eid al-Adha)”. These two festivals which Allah prescribed Noordin Mohamed Haji’s remarks to Kenyatta pledged to stamp out graft four investigations that the EACC has to the Muslims are part of the rituals of Islam which should and young are even strongly commanded to observe it. the Kenyan Senate in a hearing high- when fi rst elected in 2013, but critics say transferred to him last week. be commemorated and the purposes of which should be un- 3. Eid prayer should be performed before the khutba of lighted the challenge facing the East Af- he has been slow to pursue top offi cials. However, he said, the body was con- derstood. Eid as is confi rmed in the hadith narrated by Ibn Amr, Abee rican government in its renewed push to Dozens of scandals related to the al- fi dent it could fi ll in the gaps pointed Sa’eed, and Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them. tackle graft through prosecution. leged theft of billions of Kenyan shil- out by the prosecutor’s offi ce. Rules Pertaining to Eid: 4. It is recommended that the Imaam makes Takbeer Though there are several government lings have been reported by Kenyan Speaking before the Senate yester- 1. It is forbidden to fast on the day of both Eids, as it is (Allahu Akbar) during the prayer, seven times in the first agencies working on various aspects of media since 2013. day, Haji said that his preferred ap- understood from the hadith narrated by Abee Sa’eed that Raka’at and five in the second. This has been confirmed the eff ort to investigate and prosecute Some court cases based on EACC in- proach would be for his prosecutors to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, forbade the fast- by the companions of the Salaf (our righteous predeces- the looting of public funds, observers vestigations are underway. work alongside investigators from the ing of the two Eids. sors). say the institutions are weak and some- But few high profi le convictions have EACC, instead of only receiving the in- 2. It is recommended that both men and women ob- 5. It is recommended that the Imaam recites in the times work at cross-purposes. occurred since Kenyatta took offi ce, vestigations after they are complete. serve Eid prayer in an open field as is clear in the hadith fi rst Raka’at Surah Al-A’alaa (chapter 87) and Soorah Al- “I’m not saying there’s no...case. leaving many Kenyans sceptical about “That’s what, moving forward, we narrated by Um Atiya, may Allah be please with her, who ’Ghaashiah (chapter 88) in the second. Other reports also The case is there, but I need evidence the latest moves to prosecute dozens are planning to do,” he said. said: “We used to be ordered to come out on the day of show that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to Eid and even to bring the virgin girls from their houses recite Soorah Qaaf (chapter 50) and Surah Al-Qamar (chap- and menstruating women so that they might stand be- ter 54) as is confi rmed in Sahih Muslim. hind the men and say takbir along with them and hope 6. There is no Sunnah prayer either before or after Eid for the blessings of that day for purification from sins”. prayer as Ibn Abbas, may Allah, be pleased with him, nar- Diplomacy at work Since menstruating women (who stay away from the rated that whenever the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sal- musallah) as well as those who are virgin are commanded lam, went for Eid prayer, he used to pray two Raka’at (of Eid) to observe Eid prayer, there is no doubt that the men, old but nothing before or after them. Eid prayer described

id prayer is a strongly recom- The fi rst Rak’ah begins with the of the Eid prayer other than the fi rst mended and important act of Takbeer [saying: Allaahu Akbar (Al- Takbeer (Takbeeratul Ihram), and fi ve Eworship in Islam and the Proph- lah is the Greatest)] as the case is in Takbeeraat in the second Rak’ah other et, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, never all other prayers. Then Imaam (fol- than the transmission Takbeer and all neglected it. The Prophet is reported lowed by the praying Muslims) re- before reciting (verses from the Glori- to have ordered men, women and cites seven Takbeeraat (plural of ous Qur’an). This was narrated from children to proceed to the Eid prayer Takbeer). In the second Rak’ah there Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Ali, may Allah be ground. are fi ve Takbeeraat other than the pleased with them, and others.” Even menstruating women are en- transmission Takbeer (i.e., the one When the Prophet, sallallaahu couraged to attend the Eid sermon but recited when the Imam and the pray- ‘alaihi wa sallam, was done with they should keep away from the prayer ing Muslims stand up to perform sec- the Takbeeraat, he used to recite the area. ond Rak’ah). ‘A’ishah, may Allah be Faatihah (the fi rst chapter) of the Holy It is highly recommended to have pleased with her, said: “The Prophet, Qur’an) then he recites “Qaaf, By the ritual ablution (Ghusl) and to wear the sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to Glorious Qur’an,” [chapter 50] in the most beautiful garments and the best recite Takbeer in (the prayers of Eid) fi rst Rak’ah and Al-Qamar [chapter perfumes one possesses. Al-Fitr and Al-Adh-Haa, seven Tak- 54] in the second one. It (i.e., the Eid Prayer) consists beeraat in the fi rst (Raka’ah) and fi ve Sometimes he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa of two Rak’ahs (unit of prayer). Ibn in the second one other than the two sallam, used to recite Al-’Alaa Surah ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with Takbeeraat that precede the Rukoo’ [chapter 87] in the fi rst Rak’ah and Al- him, said: “The journey prayer con- (bowing).” Ghashiyah Surah [chapter 88] in the Russian President Vladimir Putin hosts Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame at the Kremlin in Moscow yesterday. sists of two Rak’ahs, the Adh-Haa Imaam Al-Bahawi, may Allah have second one. prayer consists of two Rak’ahs, and mercy upon him, said: “This is the The rest of the acts of the ‘Eed the Fitr prayer consists of two Rak’ahs opinion of most of the well-versed prayer are as those of any other prayer; as well, and they are complete prayers scholars of the Companions, may Al- nothing is diff erent. not shortened according to what the lah be pleased with them all, and those It is of the Prophetic Sunnah that Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who followed them that there are the Eid sermon should follow the Eid said.” seven Takbeeraat in the fi rst Rak’ah prayer. Madagascar govt fails to end political strife

By Tsiresena Manjakahery, AFP “This new government does not will likely be at the end of September. Antananarivo solve anything. It does not respect the “The government is in place. Some decision of the Constitutional Court,” people won’t be happy — but that’s grumbled Julien Naina, a supporter of normal because you can’t please all the fter weeks of crisis and inter- ex-president Marc Ravalomanana. people all the time,” Ntsay said during a vention by the country’s top “We must continue the demonstra- visit to the north of the island. Acourt, Madagascar now has a tions until Hery Rajaonarimampianina But some question whether this very unity government supposed to bring is overthrown.” diverse team can carry out its mission rivals together and steer the island na- The protest movement, begun on in a country with a long reputation for tion to elections. April 21, initially sought to thwart pro- instability since it gained independ- But, among the opposition, the mood posed electoral reforms — a package ence from France in 1960. is sour and resentment still simmers. that critics said was crafted to ensure “The government has given birth to The government was unveiled on the president would cruise to victory in a seven-headed monster and must be Monday by President Hery Rajaonar- elections due later this year. buried unconditionally,” Honore Tsab- imampianina and his prime minister, The reforms were overturned by the otokay, an independent MP, told oppo- Christian Ntsay, the technocrat he ap- courts, but the protests continued, be- sition supporters late on Tuesday. pointed at the behest of the Constitu- coming a full-blown movement to oust “What we are seeing in the current tional Court. Rajaonarimampianina. context is evidence of just how super- But many opposition supporters Violence has claimed two lives and fi cial the agreements were that were have reacted with disdain, dismiss- left more than a dozen injured. cobbled together,” said Piers Pigou of ing the new cabinet as stuff ed with old Defence Minister Beni Xavier Ra- the International Crisis Group (ICG) faces tainted by corruption. solofonirina last month threatened to think-tank. “No recycling of ministers”, deploy security forces if political ef- Madagascar’s crisis has triggered screamed a large poster held by oppo- forts to resolve the crisis failed. international concern, with the Afri- sition protesters, who have been stag- The Constitutional Court then can Union (AU), the UN and regional ing a daily vigil at the May 13 square in stepped in, ordering Rajaonarimampi- Southern African Development Com- front of city hall. anina to form a government of national munity (SADC) bloc all sending teams The opposition secured a dozen min- unity with a “consensus” prime minis- to help resolve crisis. isterial posts out of 30 — but for their ter. “For Madagascar’s regional neigh- supporters, that is not enough. On June 4 he appointed the non- bours in SADC, and for the wider inter- “I’m very upset that we still have partisan Ntsay, whose government was national community, the key concern HVM,” said Hanta Razanadranaivo, 60, announced on Monday. is to see the island safely prepare and referring to Rajaonarimampianina’s party. Its main goal will be to lead the coun- conduct credible and fair elections,” “We demanded change, and we get a try smoothly until the general election, said Paul Melly of the London-based recycling of former ministers.” the date of which is yet to be fi xed, but Chatham House think-tank.

Mugabe stepson facing eviction over rent arrears

AFP “The claim is for the eviction of the 2014 as head of the women’s wing of the Harare defendant (Goreraza) and all those ruling ZANU-PF party and was seen as a claiming occupation through him and possible successor to her husband in the payment of the sum of US$65,801 be- event of his retirement or death. ormer Zimbabwean ruler Robert ing arrear rentals payable between She earned herself the sobriquet Mugabe’s socialite stepson is fac- the parties,” the property owners said Gucci Grace for her lavish lifestyle. Fing eviction from a property over in papers fi led by their lawyers Dube Her other two sons became famous rental arrears dating back three years, Manikai and Hwacha. for partying in high-end bars in Harare court documents seen yesterday by “In breach of terms of agreement, and neighbouring South Africa. AFP showed. the defendant failed to pay rentals from Her husband ruled Zimbabwe from The property’s owners — the Zimba- March 2015 to March 2018.” the country’s independence from Brit- bwe National Family Planning Council “Despite demands, the defendant ain in 1980 until he was ousted in No- — have applied to the High Court to failed to, refused or neglected to pay the vember 2017 following a brief military evict Russell Goreraza from a property arrear rentals,” said the organisation. takeover. in a posh Harare suburb of Highlands It was not immediately clear why He was replaced by his former deputy and recover nearly $66,000 in back the country’s family planning agency Emmerson Mnangagwa, a favourite of rent. had acquired the house and why it had the military who had been fi red weeks Goreraza, a businessman in his early leased it out to the former president’s earlier following a sustained verbal at- thirties with a reputation for parties stepson. tack by Mugabe’s wife. and luxury cars, is a son of Mugabe’s Grace Mugabe, 52, became increas- Gorereza and his lawyers could not wife Grace from her fi rst marriage. ingly powerful after her appointment in be immediately reached for comment. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, June 14, 2018 AMERICAS Republican Sanford Opioid epidemic loses in S Carolina

Reuters The upset of Sanford, a mem- Republican Representative Washington ber of the conservative House Justin Amash, Sanford’s fellow Freedom Caucus, was the latest conservative and House Freedom sign of Trump’s fi rm grip on the Caucus member, fi red back at S Representative Mark Republican Party. Trump after his attack on San- Sanford, a vocal critic of The onetime insurgent has ford. UPresident Donald Trump, made allegiance to his leadership “Unlike you, Mark has shown has lost a Republican congres- a litmus test in many Republican humility in his role and a desire sional primary in South Carolina races. to be a better man than he was after Trump urged voters to pun- Sanford had been critical the day before,” Amash said on ish Sanford’s disloyalty by toss- of Trump at times, saying he Twitter. ing him from offi ce. “fanned the fl ames” of intoler- Sanford is the second Repub- A few hours before polls closed ance and decrying his disregard lican member of Congress to lose on Tuesday, Trump tweeted that for facts. in a nominating contest this year, Sanford was “nothing but trou- But during the campaign, he following Robert Pittenger’s loss ble” and “very unhelpful to me.” ran ads saying how often he voted in North Carolina last month. He backed Sanford’s pro- with the president. But Sanford’s South Carolina Trump challenger, state legisla- That was not enough for district is considered a safe Re- tor Katie Arrington, for Novem- Trump, who also mocked San- publican seat, meaning the out- ber’s congressional elections. ford with a reference to a 2009 come is unlikely to play a role in Arrington, who made a cam- scandal when the then governor November’s battle for control of paign issue of Sanford’s criticism disappeared for days before sur- the House. of Trump, won 50.6% of the vote facing to say he was “hiking the In Virginia, a state legislator to Sanford’s 46.5% with almost Appalachian Trail.” favoured by the Virginia Demo- House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) speaks as photographs are held up of people aff ected by the opioid epidemic during a news all ballots counted. Later, Sanford admitted he was cratic Party establishment won conference following a Republican conference on Capitol Hill yesterday. That just crossed the 50% involved in an extramarital aff air a crowded battle for the right to threshold to avoid a runoff later in Argentina. challenge one of the most endan- this month between the top two Trump, who issued his tweet gered congressional Republicans contenders. as he returned from his summit in November’s elections. Raccoon conquers The South Carolina race high- with North Korean leader Kim Democrat Jennifer Wexton skyscraper and lighted primary voting in fi ve Jong-un, said Sanford “is better won a six-way primary race in a allows Americans states on Tuesday. off in Argentina.” suburban Washington district House Republicans stumble in bid to to breathe easier Nevada, North Dakota, Maine Yesterday, he congratulated and will take on Republican Bar- and Virginia also chose candi- Arrington in another tweet, bara Comstock, one of the Dem- America yesterday breathed dates for the midterm election saying his advisers had ear- ocrats’ top targets in their push to advance ‘Dreamer’ immigration bill a sign of relief after a scruff y on November 6, when Democrats lier told him to stay out of the pick up the 23 seats they need to brown raccoon was captured hope to capture a majority of the race but that he “had to give it claim a majority in the US House following a perilous climb up a US Congress. a shot.” of Representatives. Reuters House conservatives, said: “There’s not at this 23-story building in the northern Washington point anything to agree on.” state of Minnesota. Even if Ryan manages to write a compromise Thousands of Twitter users bill toughening US border security and ending followed the escapades of the epublicans in the US House of Repre- the threat of deportation for Dreamers, his so- raccoon on Tuesday as it slowly Unique George Washington gold sentatives failed to reach agreement on lution could be rebuff ed by Senate Democrats inched up the side of the UBS RTuesday on compromise legislation to whose support is needed for passage in that Plaza building in St Paul, Min- protect young ‘Dreamer’ immigrants from de- chamber. nesota. coin at auction in fi rst since 1890 portation and bolster border security, a lead ne- House aides familiar with the months-long Minnesota Public Radio gotiator told reporters. eff ort to dislodge immigration legislation from reporters and occupants of the By Jill Serjeant, Reuters There is “no deal at this point,” said Repre- a conservative blockade acknowledged that building posted pictures and Los Angeles sentative Mark Meadows, who heads a group Democrats were not part of the consultations. updates on the animal — dubbed of hard-right conservative Republicans as Some prominent Republicans viewed Ryan’s the #MPRraccoon — as it scaled he emerged from a 90-minute meeting with gambit sceptically. the rough surface of the sky- A one of a kind 18th century gold coin bearing the House Speaker Paul Ryan and other leading Re- Republican Senator Jeff Flake, a central gurefi scraper in true Spider-Man style. likeness of the first US President, George Washington, publicans. in eff orts to protect Dreamers now that Trump A local television station is expected to fetch more than $1mn when it goes up Talks will continue, he said. wants to end the Obama-era Deferred Action provided a livestream of the for auction in August, auctioneers said yesterday. Republicans are deeply split over immigra- for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) program that anxiety-producing journey of The 1792 Washington President gold eagle coin tion legislation and face a revolt by centrist temporarily protects them from deportation, the animal, which apparently was never circulated as money, but is instead thought lawmakers in their party who had set a Tuesday scoff ed at the idea of the House moving ahead had been scared by construction to have been presented to Washington when post deadline for reaching a compromise or achiev- with a Republican-only bill. workers at the building’s base. Revolutionary War plans were being drawn up for the ing substantial progress. He added: “If it’s anything like what was part Hollywood director James first US Mint. Without such progress, the lawmakers have of the Goodlatte bill, that’s just not going to fl y.” Gunn off ered to donate $1,000 Washington refused to have himself depicted on warned they will set in motion a rarely used House Judiciary Committee chairman Bob to charity to anyone who saved coins, considering the notion “monarchical.” “discharge petition” procedure that would Goodlatte has been pushing legislation to ex- the raccoon. Currency researchers believe that the Washington force votes in the full House on a series of im- tend Dreamers’ temporary legal status, but “I can’t handle this,” Gunn, the President coin, which has his head on the front and an migration bills. without any prospect for US citizenship. director of the two Guardians eagle on the back, was given to him as part of a sales They believe their bipartisan plan would pass That measure would also reduce legal immi- of the Galaxy movies, tweeted. promotion in a bid to obtain a contract to strike US the House, which would be an embarrassment gration and prevent US citizens from sponsor- “Poor dude.” coinage, and that Washington carried it as a personal A one-of-a-kind gold coin believed to have once for Ryan because that legislation is mainly sup- ing some relatives living abroad who want to The Guardians movies, memento. been a cherished memento of US President ported by Democrats. relocate to the United States. incidentally, feature a brash, The US Mint was authorised in 1792 and the first George Washington is displayed in this handout The No 3 House Republican, Representative A similar measure failed in the Senate last devil-may-care character known coins for public use were issued a year later in copper image released yesterday. Steve Scalise, left the meeting telling reporters: February. as Rocket Raccoon. and silver, with images of lady Liberty on the front “I would still hope that we don’t get a discharge On another front, US Attorney General Jeff The Minnesota raccoon and a bald eagle on the back. soared in recent years because of their scarcity and petition signed.” Sessions took actions on Monday that poten- paused at several points on The August 16 auction during the World’s Fair of the desire to own a piece of history. But supporters of the manoeuvre were tially could exclude foreigners seeking asylum narrow window ledges during its Money convention in Philadelphia marks the first The Washington President coin comes from the only three short of the 218 signatures needed because of gang attacks, domestic abuse and climb, even taking naps before time the Washington President coin has come to collection of the late Eric P Newman, who acquired it to force the full House to confront the issue other violence. continuing onward. public sale in 128 years, Heritage Auctions said in a privately in 1942. just months before November congressional The Trump administration has also ramped Well after midnight — when statement. Newman died in 2017 having amassed one of the elections in which Republicans are in a tough up the practice in recent months of separating most Americans had gone to Jim Halperin, co-founder of Heritage Auctions, said most significant coin collections in the United States. fight to maintain their congressional majori- immigrant children and parents who cross US sleep — the raccoon reached the the coin was “unique and monumentally important, Thousands of lots have been sold in recent years ties. borders without visas and holding them in de- roof and was captured in a trap being the earliest gold pattern submitted for consid- with net proceeds benefiting Newman’s museum Republicans have been battling among them- tention centres. set up by wildlife control off icials. eration as a United States coin.” operation, numismatic research and other charities selves over President Donald Trump’s demand Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior Senate Building managers tweeted a “Numismatic researchers widely agree that it is supported by him. for building a wall on the southwest border with Judiciary Committee Democrat, introduced picture of the raccoon in a cage almost certainly George Washington’s own pocket The Washington President coin will be publicly un- Mexico, the type of protections to be provided legislation last week to end the practice. yesterday morning. piece,” Halperin said. veiled today at the Coin and Collectibles Expo in Long to young Dreamers who were brought to the At a news conference on Tuesday, Feinstein “After a delicious meal of soft Heritage Auctions said the $1mn is a starting esti- Beach, California and will be displayed in New York country illegally as children, and conservative acknowledged she did not have any Republican cat food, #mprraccoon has been mate because the coin is a one of a kind piece. and Chicago before the Philadelphia auction. demands for clamping down on new immigra- backers. caught and will be picked up by Prices for Colonial era coins, which set the standard All the proceeds will go to Newman’s non-profit tion. “Children are terrifi ed, parents are heartbro- Wildlife Management. for the modern American banking system, have causes. Refl ecting their disagreements, Representa- ken and families are being destroyed,” Feinstein Goodbye friend!” it said. tive Mark Walker, who heads a large group of said.

US disaster-response force stretched thin as hurricane season starts

By Andy Sullivan, Reuters oversees FEMA’s disaster work- fi ll out forms,” said Junior Shel- can pull in other types of workers employees. “They probably Washington force, said in an interview. ton, mayor of Central, Louisiana, when needed. should be sending us more peo- “We need to get people in here which experienced catastrophic Some 22,000 federal employ- ple with as much experience as who understand the system and fl ooding in 2016. “We’re still ees from agencies like the De- possible,” Mercader said. s Hurricane Irma bore adhere to the protocols.” sitting around waiting for that fense Department participated in FEMA offi cials say Congress down on Florida last Sep- With the 2018 hurricane sea- money to get here.” disaster-relief work with FEMA could help with recruiting and Atember, the top US disas- son already underway, FEMA is Hernandez said staffi ng issues in 2017, for example. retaining reservists by guaran- ter-response offi cial ordered all scrambling to hire more people have not aff ected FEMA’s ability “We rely on our reservists and teeing they can keep their regular hands on deck. who are willing to depart at a to get the job done. “I would not we love them,” said FEMA’s Her- jobs while on assignment, as is With 4,500 Federal Emergency moment’s notice for assignments agree with that statement whole- nandez. “But FEMA’s made up of the case with military reservists. Management Agency (FEMA) that can last months at a stretch. heartedly,” he said. a lot of diff erent elements.” Offi cials have also asked Con- staff ers already helping survivors Internal documents obtained The extraordinary string of FEMA also hires residents gress to change hiring laws to of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, through a Freedom of Informa- domestic disasters in 2017 con- of disaster zones to help out, a give reservists preferential status FEMA chief Brock Long told tion Act request show the agen- tinues to weigh on the US agency. practice that is widely praised for when they apply for a full-time managers in an internal memo to cy’s disaster-response force is With thousands of workers boosting employment and har- FEMA job. ready every member of the agen- understaff ed by 26%. still out in the fi eld, offi cial fi g- nessing local knowledge. Congress has yet to act on cy’s on-call reservist workforce And as last year revealed, many ures show that 33% of FEMA’s But some say it can hinder FE- those requests. for deployment. of those who sign up don’t always disaster-response workforce is A traff ic sign warns of hurricane season in Stowell, Texas. MA’s eff ectiveness. But FEMA’s own actions may In the following months, thou- respond when needed. available for deployment, down Carlos Mercader, Puerto Rico’s also drive away some who are sands of FEMA reservists, who That comes at a cost. from 56% at this time last year. they return home. Still, it remains 3,700 work- top lobbyist in Washington, said willing to serve, reservists say. account for about half of the At times, staffi ng shortages Some specialties are stretched As a result, most are retirees ers short of the 10,949 reservists he received numerous complaints Paul Seldes, 59, said he tried agency’s disaster-response per- force FEMA to shuffl e person- especially thin: Only 13% of the who don’t need steady work or it has determined it needs to be of poorly trained FEMA workers unsuccessfully since 2011 to fi nd sonnel, would descend on Flor- nel from one disaster to the next workers who direct federal aid recent college graduates who able to respond to several disas- who assess damaged houses in a an assignment that matched his ida, Puerto Rico, California and and in some cases rely on work- to pay for rebuilding costs after a don’t yet have a full-time job, ters at once. seemingly arbitrary manner. background in fi eld operations. elsewhere to help recovery eff orts ers who do not know how to do disaster hits are currently avail- current and former managers Some reservists say they While one might be declared a Instead, the agency repeatedly after an unprecedented string of the job eff ectively, according to able. say. are not in a position to accept total loss, another that appeared asked him to report to a telephone natural disasters. interviews with 15 current and “That’s a very low number, and Reservists are allowed to turn months-long assignments far to suff er similar damage might call centre to screen fi nancial-aid But not all would respond. former FEMA workers. that would be very scary going down up to three assignments from their homes. be denied reconstruction assist- requests from disaster survivors. About 500 reservists, or one Some local offi cials say the into more disasters,” said Eliza- each year, meaning FEMA cannot “I could get a phone call to- ance, he said. By last fall, he no longer both- of every twelve workers, ignored agency’s central mission — getting beth Zimmerman, a former sen- count on a full reserve force dur- morrow telling me to go to Puerto Local hires accounted for more ered to respond to such deploy- FEMA’s deployment request, federal aid where it is needed — is ior FEMA offi cial. ing peak periods. Rico, but the truth is I’m not going than half of the 2,878 FEMA em- ment requests, he said. current and former offi cials told undercut by the constant turnover. Unlike military reservists, According to internal fi g- to go,” said Alessandra Jerolleman, ployees in Puerto Rico in May, “I have this capability, I have Reuters. “They had no knowledge of the those who work for FEMA don’t ures, FEMA’s reservist corps has who said family obligations pre- according to agency fi gures ob- this knowledge, I have this train- “We didn’t even hear from system. They had no knowledge have a guarantee that their regu- grown by roughly 1,000 workers vent her from leaving Louisiana. tained by Reuters. ing — why don’t you want to lis- them,” Patrick Hernandez, who about how to do anything but lar jobs will be available when over the past year. FEMA offi cials point out they Only 100 are permanent FEMA ten to me?” he said. Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 17 ASIA

Maldives Rohingya refugees on escape ex-leader jailed for boat land on Myanmar shore 19 months AFP AFP A boat carrying 104 barefoot into Myanmar police Malé Yangon Bangladeshis and trucks with virtually no pos- Rohingya refugees sessions and drenched under ran into trouble off the heavy rains. court in the Maldives cores of Rohingya refu- coast of Rakhine state Passengers had paid peo- yesterday sentenced gees leaving Bangladeshi in Myanmar, eventually ple smugglers around $235 to Aformer strongman leader Scamps by boat have acci- breaking apart and ferry them to Malaysia with the Maumoon Abdul Gayoom to 19 dentally returned to the crisis- forcing the passengers to promise of another $2,100 once months in prison for obstruct- hit area of Myanmar they origi- head for shore they were able to fi nd work in ing an investigation into an al- nally fl ed from, after their vessel the Muslim-majority country, leged plot to oust the current broke up on the sea route south. “These Muslim people were Zaw Htay added. president. Around 1mn Rohingya have going from Bangladesh to Ma- Tens of thousands of Ro- The criminal court ruled that fl ed Myanmar army crackdowns laysia by the boat owned by a hingya and Bangladeshi eco- Gayoom, 80, interfered with the since 2016 for Bangladesh, Malaysian man,” spokesman nomic migrants are believed to probe into the attempt to top- where they live in cramped, Zaw Htay said yesterday. have died at sea in recent years ple President Abdulla Yameen, fl ood-prone camps now be- “Some are Bangladesh citi- trying to reach Malaysia. his half-brother, by refusing to ing battered by the seasonal zens, the majority are from The well-worn traffi cking divulge his phone details. monsoon. the camps... people from route collapsed in 2015, when Gayoom was arrested along On Monday morning, a boat Bangladesh who fl ed,” he said. shallow graves were found at with Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed carrying 104 Bangladeshis Myanmar denies the Ro- migrant holding camps across and Supreme Court Justice Ali and Rohingya ran into trou- hingya citizenship and offi cials the Thai-Malaysian borders. Hameed in February for their al- ble off the coast of Rakhine do not recognise the term, in- But boats still make the leged role in clearing the way for state, a Myanmar government stead labelling them “Bengalis”, journey south. an impeachment of Yameen. spokesman said, eventually shorthand for illegal infi ltrators After checks Myanmar will The three men are facing a breaking apart and forcing the from the neighbouring country. send back the Bangladeshis, separate charge of terrorism and passengers to head for shore. They were taken to Nga Zaw Htay added, and submit that case is still pending. The vessel was believed to Khu Ya camp in Rakhine’s the rest for repatriation proc- They were arrested soon af- be relatively close to the coast, Muangdaw district – a pur- ess to Myanmar “if they want to This handout picture released by Myanmar News Agency yesterday shows a group of Muslim women composed ter Yameen declared a state of enabling the refugees to survive. pose-built facility meant to follow it”. of Rohingya and Bangladeshis boarding police trucks in Rathedaung township in Rakhine state. emergency which removed par- For some it is likely to be an process refugees returning un- Rakhine state remains cut off liament’s power to impeach him. unexpected and unwelcome re- der a discredited repatriation from independent access, and ment with Myanmar last week Yesterday, the new UN Spe- It is the envoy’s fi rst visit to All dissidents in the Maldives, turn to a state they were forced deal with Bangladesh. the UN says conditions there to begin assessing conditions cial Envoy to Myanmar Chris- the country as relations between an upscale holiday paradise for to run from, carrying accounts Photographs showed the pas- are not right for a safe, volun- there – in a bid to help refu- tine Schraner Burgener met Myanmar and the UN show foreigners where poverty is rife, of atrocities by Myanmar’s army sengers – including women tary and dignifi ed return. gees make an informed decision Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung signs of repair following months have either been locked up or fl ed and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists. and young children – walking But the UN signed an agree- about returning. San Suu Kyi in Naypidaw. of recriminations. the country amid a crackdown on opposition activists. Yameen, 59, resorted to emergency laws to prevent be- ing impeached by parliament after he lost his majority in the Lanka moves Nepal’s PM to visit China on June 19 legislature. His move also curtailed the powers of the judiciary and par- IANS foreign ministry spokesperson This is Oli’s second China liament after the Supreme Court to compensate Beijing/Kathmandu Geng Shuang said in Beijing visit after 2016. Several agree- made a ruling which would have yesterday. ments and MoUs on connectiv- allowed former president Mo- This is Oli’s fi rst offi cial ity, brining Chinese rail up to hamed Nasheed – who lives in ex- epal Prime Minister K visit to China after returning Kathmandu from China border, ile in London – to return and chal- war victims after P Sharma Oli will pay a to power in February. He will cross border transmission line, lenge Yameen for the presidency Nfi ve-day offi cial visit to also visit Lhasa, the capital of energy, tourism, opening more in September elections. China from June 19, his second Tibet where he will meet the border points with China us- Yameen refused to follow the trip to a foreign country after provincial leaders. ing the Tibetan highway and court order and instead arrested years of delay India since taking power in the “The two countries have construction of petroleum res- the two top judges as well as Himalayan nation. been supporting each other on ervoirs among others will be Gayoom. Oli, who is considered pro- issues of core interests. Our signed. The political crisis has dented AFP era abuses, including punish- Beijing, has been invited by mutually benefi cial co-oper- The focus of his visit would the image of the nation com- Colombo ing soldiers and rebels accused Chinese Prime Minister Li Ke- ation has been accelerating on be on implementation of past prising 1,192 tiny coral islands of atrocities. qiang. He will hold talks with all fronts. As a fi rst visit by Oli agreements including trade as a popular tourist destination After years of delay the him and Chinese President Xi after Nepal fi nished its politi- K P Sharma Oli transit protocol with China. and has prompted alarm abroad, ri Lanka yesterday an- government bowed to inter- Jinping. cal transformation, it will off er Oli will also address the Ne- including at the United Nations. nounced the fi rst steps in national pressure in March “China and Nepal are com- important opportunities to two eration with Nepal under the pal-China Business Forum and Rights group Amnesty In- Sa long-delayed process and established an offi ce to prehensive and co-operative sides to make plans for further Belt and Road initiative and think tanks in Beijing. ternational yesterday criticised to compensate victims of the trace the tens of thousands partners and enjoy the friend- development of bilateral ties,” deepening co-operation in po- Nepal has approved China’s Gayoom’s sentencing as “politi- civil war, nearly a decade after still missing since the end of ship of generations. Their ties Geng said. litical, economic and building Belt and Road project and re- cally motivated” and the “prod- the end of the confl ict which the war. have been accelerating with a “China looks forward to infrastructure in the aftermath ceives its largest foreign aid uct of trials that do not meet claimed 100,000 lives. Sirisena’s pledge upon elec- sound momentum,” Chinese deepening its political co-op- of the earthquake,” he added. from Beijing. international standards”. The government said it had tion in January 2015 to inves- approved draft legislation to tigate the war and compen- set up an offi ce of reparations, sate its victims saw Sri Lanka a key demand from interna- narrowly avoid being slapped tional observers urging rec- with international sanctions. Roadside vendor onciliation in the ethnically The previous regime of Cambodian divided nation. strongman president Mahi- The offi ce would decide on nda Rajapakse, who ruled with potentially tens of thousands an iron fi st and crushed Tamil of compensation claims from separatist fi ghters in 2009, schools told those affl icted by fi ghting that refused even to acknowledge ended in 2009 with the defeat war-era abuses. of the Tamil Tiger rebels. Sri Lankan forces were ac- “It is proposed to give cused of killing up to 40,000 to stop using members of the offi ce of Tamil civilians during the fi nal reparations the right to de- months of the war when the cide on compensation where Tigers’ quest for independ- it is necessary,” said govern- ence came to a bloody end. bombs from ment spokesman and cabinet International rights groups minister Rajitha Senaratne. have called for the prosecu- President Maithripala tion of both the military and Sirisena has faced interna- the Tigers, who were notori- war-era as bells tional criticism for the lack of ous for suicide bombings and progress towards reconcilia- enlisting child soldiers. tion since his election three Sirisena has expressed AFP There are no known re- years ago. willingness to investigate Phnom Penh ports of the bells exploding, The United Nations Human specifi c allegations of wrong- but children have been killed Rights Council has led a cho- doing, but maintains he will in blasts on school grounds rus pressing Sirisena and his allow only a domestic in- ambodia’s government after playing with other kinds administration to take urgent quiry and oppose any foreign A Thai vendor sells fruits on a sidewalk while a child rests below a cart in Bangkok yesterday. has told schools across of dug-up ordnance such as steps towards addressing war- investigation. Cthe country to stop grenades and landmines. converting war-era ordnance In January last year, thou- into school bells to prevent sands of Cambodian villagers possible explosions. were evacuated after two US Nearly three decades of civil tear gas barrel bombs from the war and US bombing start- Vietnam war-era were found ing in the 1960s left Cambo- near a primary school in Svay US sanctions Cambodia PM’s top bodyguard dia one of the most heavily Vieng province. bombed and mined countries Heng Ratana, director of in the world. Cambodian’s Mine Action Reuters menace gatherings of protesters from engaging in transactions ernment and its allies ahead Turning bombs or shells Centre, said the ministry’s Phnom Penh and the political opposition go- with Hing Bun Hieng. of a July 29 election has tar- into bells was a widespread move was an extra step of ing back at least to 1997, includ- Cambodia’s defence minis- geted some non-governmental practice immediately after caution. ing an incident where a US citi- try condemned the sanctions as groups, independent media and the fall of the Khmer Rouge “We don’t allow them to use he United States has im- zen received shrapnel wounds,” a violation of Cambodia’s laws opposition lawmakers. in 1979, when Cambodia’s because some (deactivated) posed sanctions on the the department said in a and sovereignty. The government says it is education system was de- bombs may still have fuse in- Tcommander of Cambo- statement. “The Ministry of National De- enforcing the law and accuses stroyed and teachers used any side and when we hit it, the dian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Hing Bun Hieng was not avail- fence of the Kingdom of Cambo- opponents of conspiring with material available. bomb might explode,” he said. bodyguards, accusing him of us- able for comment but an assist- dia expresses regret, dismisses foreigners to oust it. The shells are normally de- He said it would also help ing force to menace opponents ant who answered his telephone and strongly condemns the US Hun Sen’s cabinet also criti- activated by the time they are “end confusion” among chil- for decades, the fi rst member told Reuters: Treasury’s rude action,” the cised the US sanctioning of Hing put into use. dren, who may also try to of the leader’s inner circle to be “He spends money on build- ministry said. Bun Hieng, referring in a state- But Education Minis- strike unexploded ordnance blacklisted by Washington. ing schools, roads and pago- The sanctioning of a Hun Sen ment to the US bombing of Cam- ter Hang Chuon Naron said when they fi nd it in day-to- General Hing Bun Hieng, head das, so let the United States loyalist comes amid increasingly bodia during the Vietnam War. demining authorities advised day life because they saw of the Prime Minister Bodyguard freeze these funds so students strained relations between the “The United States should him risks still remained when teachers hit the bell at school. Unit (PMBU), was sanctioned and monks can’t have all that, United States and Cambodia. also be asked about American the bells are struck or in the Unexploded ordnance has for “being the leader of an en- right?” In March, Hun Sen accused soldiers killing millions of Cam- process of being repurposed. killed around 20,000 people tity involved in serious human The sanctions, imposed under the United States of lying when bodians in the 1970s, which left Education authorities must and maimed tens of thousands rights abuse”, the US Treasury a 2012 law known as the Magnit- it blamed Cambodia’s military bombs for people to see until inform all schools to “stop of others since 1979, though Department has said. sky Act, block any property or and other entities for recent po- today,” it said. taking unexploded ordnance rates have declined signifi - “Bun Hieng and the PMBU interest in property held by the litical instability and suspended “Isn’t this a violation of to be improvised as bells”, he cantly and a number of dem- Hing Bun Hieng ... accused of have been connected to incidents general within US jurisdiction. aid to them. human rights by the United said in a letter seen by AFP ining organisations operate in rights abuses where military force was used to It also prohibits US people A crackdown by the gov- States?” yesterday. the country. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, June 14, 2018 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

S Korea ruling party sweeps local elections aft er summit South Korea’s ruling held simultaneously, with the Democratic Party (DP) won a remaining two seats going to landslide victory yesterday in the main opposition Liberty local elections held the day Korea Party (LKP) and an North Korea no more a after a historic summit between independent. the United States and North This will bring the number of Korea. The triumph in the first DP seats to 128 in the 300-seat elections since President Moon parliament, followed by LKP’s Jae-in took off ice around a year 114. The other seats are shared ago is widely seen as a boon by five splinter parties and five to the country’s leader, who independents. nuclear threat: Trump helped bring together the Cold The LKP secured only two War foes for an unprecedented posts, winning the mayorship in Reuters had promised to halt. The US- meeting. its powerbase Daegu City and Seoul South Korean exercise calendar Exit polls by three major the governorship of the nearby hits a high point every year with broadcasters suggested the DP province of North Gyeongsang, the Foal Eagle and Max Thunder won 14 of the 17 metropolitan according to the exit polls. orth Korea no longer drills, which both wrapped up mayoral and gubernatorial The liberal Moon was elected poses a nuclear threat, last month. Another major exer- posts contested in yesterday’s in May last year after former Nnor is it the “biggest and cise is due in August. The United vote. president Park Geun-hye most dangerous problem” for the States maintains about 28,500 These included the capital from the LKP was impeached United States, President Donald soldiers in South Korea, which Seoul, whose current DP mayor and jailed in a massive Trump said yesterday on his re- remains in a technical state of Park Won-soon was predicted corruption scandal. Moon, turn from a summit in Singapore war with the North after the to retain his post for a third who has prioritised seeking with North Korean leader Kim 1950-53 Korean War ended in a term — cementing his status rapprochement with the Jong-un. truce not a peace treaty. as a top presidential candidate North, played a key role in The summit was the fi rst be- Trump’s announcement on the when Moon steps down in arranging the summit between tween a sitting US president and exercises was a surprise even to 2022. US President Trump and the a North Korean leader and fol- South Korea’s President Moon The DP was also forecast to North’s leader Kim Jong-un lowed a fl urry of North Korean Jae-in, who has worked in recent secure 10 of the 12 National in Singapore this week, which nuclear and missile tests and an- months to help bring about the Assembly seats up for grabs focused on dismantling the gry exchanges between Trump Trump-Kim summit. in parliamentary by-elections North’s nuclear arsenal. and Kim last year that fuelled Asked about Trump’s com- fears of war. “Everybody can now ments, South Korean presiden- feel much safer than the day I tial spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom took offi ce,” Trump said on Twit- told reporters there was a need ter. to seek measures that would help “There is no longer a nuclear improve engagement with North threat from North Korea. Meet- Korea but it was also necessary to ing with Kim Jong-un was an confi rm exactly what Trump had interesting and very positive US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he arrives aboard Air Force One from Singapore at meant. experience. North Korea has Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US. Moon will be chairing a na- great potential for the future!” tional security meeting today On Tuesday, Trump told a news to discuss the summit. Trump’s conference after the summit that administration had previously he would like to lift sanctions ruled out any concessions or lift- against the North but that this ing of sanctions without North would not happen immediately. Korea’s commitment to com- North Korean state media plete, verifi able and irreversible lauded the summit as a resound- steps to scrap a nuclear arse- ing success, saying Trump ex- nal that is advanced enough to pressed his intention to halt US- threaten the United States. But South Korea military exercises, a joint statement issued after off er security guarantees to the the summit said only that North US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walks with US General Vincent K North and lift sanctions against Korea “commits to work towards Brooks, commander of United States Forces Korea, upon his arrival at it as relations improve. Kim and the complete denuclearisation of Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Trump invited each other to their the Korean peninsula”. respective countries and both US Secretary of State Mike US-South Korean joint exercises leaders “gladly accepted,” the Pompeo, who is to lead the US Equal turf and the US military presence in North’s Korean Central News side in talks with North Korea Critics in the United States South Korea as vital to security in Agency (KCNA) said. to implement outcomes of the said Trump had given away too East Asia,” Onodera told report- “Kim Jong-un and Trump had summit, arrived in South Korea much at a meeting that gave ers. “It is up to the US and South the shared recognition to the ef- yesterday, to be greeted by Gen- Kim long-sought international Korea to decide about their joint fect that it is important to abide eral Vincent Brooks, the top US standing. exercises. We have no intention by the principle of step-by- commander in South Korea, and The North Korean leader had of changing our joint drills with step and simultaneous action in US Charge d’Aff aires Marc Knap- been isolated, his country ac- the US.” achieving peace, stability and per. cused of widespread human Japan would only start shoul- denuclearisation of the Korean Pompeo had a meeting with rights abuses and under UN dering the costs of North Korea’s Peninsula,” KCNA said. Brooks before heading to Seoul, sanctions for its nuclear and bal- denuclearisation after the Inter- Trump said the United States People watch a news broadcast announcing the Singapore summit meeting between North Korean leader according to a pool report. He is listic missile programmes. “For national Atomic Energy Agency would stop military exercises Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump, on a giant television screen outside the central railway set to meet Moon today and hold North Korea, they got exactly restarts inspections, Japanese with South Korea while North station in Pyongyang. a three-way meeting with For- what they wanted,” said Moon Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshi- Korea negotiated on denucleari- eign Minister Kang Kyung-wha Seong-mook, a former South hide Suga told reporters. The sation. ing to China that you can’t just “At this time, everyone had is in line with all sides’ interests and Japanese Foreign Minister Korean military offi cial current Singapore summit did not get “We save a fortune by not do- take over the whole region. So I seen that North Korea has halted and can resolve all sides’ con- Taro Kono. On Tuesday, just af- head of the Unifi cation Strategy top billing in the main state news ing war games, as long as we are reject that analysis that it costs missile and nuclear tests, and the cerns.” ter Trump’s surprise announce- Centre in Seoul. outlets in China. The English- negotiating in good faith – which too much, but I do accept the United States and South Korea China, North Korea’s main ment, a spokesman for US Forces “They had a summit as a nu- language China Daily said in an both sides are!” he said on Twit- proposition, let’s stand down (on have to an extent restricted their ally, last year proposed what it Korea said they had not received clear state with Kim on equal editorial that while it remained to ter. military exercises) and see if we military actions. This has de calls a “dual suspension”, where- any instruction to cease joint turf with Trump, got the United be seen if the summit would be a US Republican Senator Lind- can fi nd a better way here.” facto realised China’s dual sus- by North Korea suspend nuclear military drills. Although the Pen- States to halt joint military exer- defi ning moment, the fact it went sey Graham said Trump’s rea- Speaking in Beijing, Chinese pension proposal,” he told a daily and missile tests, and South Ko- tagon said Defence Secretary Jim cises with South Korea. It’s a win smoothly was positive. soning for halting the exercises Foreign Ministry spokesman news briefi ng. rea and the United States sus- Mattis was consulted, current for Kim Jong-un.” “It has ignited hopes that they was “ridiculous”. Geng Shuang said he hoped all “When it comes to Trump’s pend military drills. and former US defence offi cials Japan’s Minister of Defence It- will be fi nally able to put an end to “It’s not a burden onto the parties could “grasp the moment statement that he would halt expressed concern at the pos- sunori Onodera said that, while their hostility and that the long- American taxpayer to have a for- of positive changes” on the pe- South Korea and the United Surprise sibility the United States would North Korea had pledged denu- standing peninsula issues can ward deployed force in South Ko- ninsula to take constructive steps States’ military drills, I can only There was some confusion over halt the exercises without an ex- clearisation, no concrete steps fi nally be resolved. These hopes rea,” Graham told CNN. towards a political resolution and say that China’s proposal is in- precisely what military co-oper- plicit concession from North Ko- had been taken and Japan would should not be extinguished,” it “It brings stability. It’s a warn- promoting denuclearisation. deed practical and reasonable, ation with South Korea Trump rea lowering the threat. not let down its guard. “We see said.

Australia keeps China Building bridges 13 dead as boat capsizes out of Internet cabling off Indonesia’s Sulawesi for Pacifi c neighbour AFP 15km northwest of the city’s Makassar, Indonesia coast. “The boat reportedly hit a large wave amid bad weather Reuters have off ered the Solomon Is- and capsized,” Amiruddin said. Sydney lands, and they have accepted, t least 13 people died The passengers were thought is an alternative to the off er, when a passenger boat to be Barrang Lompo natives and ours is cheaper.” Aoverloaded with holi- who work in Makassar and were ustralia has agreed to In April, Australia eff ectively daymakers celebrating Eid cap- heading home to spend the Eid fund underwater Inter- scuppered the Huawei plan sized off the Indonesian island al-Fitr holidays with their fam- Anet cables and a cyber with a promise to join the Solo- of Sulawesi yesterday, offi cials ilies. security centre for the Solomon mons, and neighbouring Papua said. Makassar police chief Aris Islands, forestalling plans by New Guinea to high-speed In- Twenty-four surviving pas- Bachtiar said the boat was Chinese telecom giant Huawei ternet via an undersea cable to sengers were admitted to hos- overloaded. “We are still inves- Technologies Co Ltd that could Sydney, setting aside roughly pital but dozens are believed tigating,” he said, adding that have compromised Australian A$200mn in its May budget for still missing, said local disaster the captain had been detained. Internet security. the task. agency head Amiruddin, who Almost 32mn Indonesians The arrangement was an- A Huawei spokesman told like many Indonesians goes by are on the move this week in nounced yesterday in a joint- Reuters it was never informed one name. the annual Eid exodus, offi cial statement from the two gov- of any security problems with The packed traditional fi gures showed yesterday. It ernments during a visit to its planned cables for the Solo- wooden boat — known locally was the latest deadly maritime Canberra by Solomons Prime mons. Huawei has faced scru- as a jolloro — left Makassar, accident in the vast Indone- Minister Rick Houenipwela. tiny from security authorities provincial capital of South Su- sian archipelago, which relies Houenipwela was quoted by around the world and especial- Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Aff airs and Trade Erywan Yusof (left) shakes hands with Chinese lawesi, in the afternoon for a heavily on boats to ferry people Australian Broadcasting Corp ly in the United States, where Foreign Minister Wang Yi before their meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China. short journey to the tiny resort around its 17,000 islands but as saying last week that the it was the subject of a 2012 island of Barrang Lompo, some has a patchy safety record. contract signed with Huawei in investigation over whether its 2017 was scrapped because of equipment provides an oppor- “concerns raised” by Austral- tunity for foreign espionage ia. Until Australia stepped in, — something the company has Huawei had planned to lay the consistently denied. cables for the Pacifi c archipel- It was blocked on security Australian PM to deliver formal apology to child sex victims ago nation, which could ulti- grounds from working on Aus- mately have given the Chinese tralia’s national broadband company access to a broadband system in 2012. AFP pain in exposing the scale of the mendations, including an offi cial “Now, I will deliver a national commitment to the future well- hub in Sydney. Analysts say Jonathan Pryke, a Pacifi c Is- Sydney problem. The decision follows a apology. “The survivors that I’ve apology to the survivors, victims being and safety of children in that would have raised a ‘red lands foreign policy expert with fi ve-year royal commission de- met and the personal stories that and families of institutional child Australia”. fl ag’ for Australian Internet se- the Lowy Institute, an Austral- tailing thousands of harrowing have been told to me have given sexual abuse on October 22 here In outlining Canberra’s formal curity. ian think-tank, said Australia’s ustralian Prime Minister abuse cases involving Australian me but a small insight into the in Canberra.” response to the commission’s “I would not elaborate on move also pushed back Chinese Malcolm Turnbull agreed churches, orphanages, sporting betrayal you experienced at the The apology will coincide fi ndings, the government said it security issues, that’s not ap- diplomatic eff orts in the Solo- Ayesterday to deliver a clubs, youth groups and schools hands of the people and insti- with national children’s week, will also set up an offi ce for child propriate, Australian Foreign mons, one of six in the Pacifi c formal apology to victims of in- over decades. tutions who were supposed to which Turnbull said was chosen safety to help develop a national Minister Julie Bishop told re- to have offi cial relations with stitutional child sex abuse, ac- Its fi nal report, released in protect and care for you,” said “to bring together our acknowl- strategy to prevent child sexual porters in Canberra. “What we Taiwan. knowledging their courage and December, included 409 recom- Turnbull. edgement of the past and our abuse. Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 19 BRITAIN/IRELAND

ROYALTY DECISION PEOPLE CRIME VERDICT 1,200 football fans banned Child killer back in UK after Cyber-criminals hack into Fireworks factory owner from travelling to Russia 25 years in Australia jail 5.9mn shoppers’ cards jailed over fire deaths

More than 1,200 Britons with a history of A British child killer has been flown to the UK after Personal details of millions of customers of the re- A businessman convicted over the deaths of two football-related violence or disorder have spending 25 years in an Australian jail. Arthur Greer, tail giant behind Currys PC World and Carphone men at a factory “rammed” with fireworks has been been blocked from going to the World Cup 80, was found guilty of murdering 14-year-old Warehouse have been hacked in one of Britain’s jailed for 10 years. Richard Pearson was found guilty in Russia after having their passports seized. Sharon Lee Mason, who disappeared in 1983 in Mos- biggest-ever cyberattacks. The company, Dixons of manslaughter by gross negligence last month, The Football Banning Orders Authority man Park, a suburb of Perth, western Australia. The Carphone, admitted yesterday it has uncovered after employee Simon Hillier and customer Stewart (FBOA), part of the Home Office, has ordered teenager’s body was found in 1992, buried behind “unauthorised access” to data on 5.9mn payment Staples died at SP Fireworks in 2014. The number of 1,312 individuals subject to banning orders a shop previously owned by Greer, who was jailed cards used by shoppers, as well as non-financial fireworks stored at the unit was “up to 10 times the who hold a passport to surrender the docu- the following year. The Belfast-born killer’s parole re- information such as home addresses of a further permitted limit”, Staff ord Crown Court had heard. ment to police. The latest figures, released quest was due to be heard in November next year, 1.2mn customers. However, it insisted that the Pearson, 44, was also injured in the fire in Staff ord. a day before the opening match of the 2018 but he wrote to authorities requesting it be brought access has now been closed down and an inves- Hillier, 41, and Staples, 57, both from Hednesford, Staf- Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of World Cup tournament and five days before forward due to ill health. Last month, western tigation had found “no evidence” that data has fordshire, died from inhaling combustible products. Cornwall, stand in the memorial garden for England’s first match against Tunisia, show Australia’s attorney general John Quigley said his been used fraudulently. The Information Commis- Pearson, of Holyrood Close, Staff ord, had denied the victims of the Omagh bombing, in Omagh, that police forces in England and Wales have release had been approved following a recommen- sioner’s Off ice, the Financial Conduct Authority failing to take reasonable care in the storing and Northern Ireland, yesterday. accounted for 1,254 passports. dation by the Prisoner Review Board. and the police have been informed. handling of explosives. Oxford students Anti-Brexit protest ‘cause of rise in number of rough sleepers’

Guardian News and Media from elsewhere is clearly acknowl- London edged. This is a credit to the city’s excellent facilities, but also, we believe, to the generosity of stu- xford University is facing dents, townsfolk and tourists.” criticism after offi cials Oxford University played Osuggested the generosity down the comments, insisting of students had led to a rise in the the e-mail was primarily aimed number of rough sleepers in the at curbing trashing. A statement city. said: “The overall intention of In an attempt to rid the uni- the proctors was to appeal to versity of its Bullingdon Club the social and environmental image, the university sent an e- consciences of Oxford students, mail to students in an attempt urging them to consider the im- to curb the practice of “trash- pact of the waste and inconven- ing”, an undergraduate tradition ience caused by trashing.” involving covering each other in Jane Cranston, a former high champagne and food after fi nal sheriff of Oxfordshire who now exams. chairs an inquiry into rough It has become so unruly sleeping in the city, said the A pro-EU demonstrator holds a placard during an anti-Brexit protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday. that the university says it cost proctors were right to highlight £25,000 each year in security the well-developed social con- and clean-up costs. science of students, but added: The e-mail also said the waste “To suggest that homeless peo- of food involved added to the ple are attracted to Oxford be- stress of people sleeping rough in cause of it is a more questionable the city, whose number has dou- statement. Oxford has a reputa- bled in the last year. tion as a ‘safe’ city for homeless It also implied, however, that people and many people, includ- the goodwill of students was a ing the city council, the county contributory factor in the increase. council, many charities, the Plumber wins landmark “Oxford’s students have a highly churches, students and members developed social conscience, as of the public contribute a great is evident from the number of deal of time, care and profes- homeless people who come to seek sionalism to tackling this dis- assistance in this city. Needless tressing social problem.” waste of food is an aggravation of Linda Smith, the deputy lead- their distress,” it said. er of Oxford city council, said the employment rights case The e-mail, which was sent by rise in rough sleeping in the city the university’s senior proctor, was driven by government cuts Guardian News and Media at every stage of the legal dispute, disputed Smith’s assertion that “We hold that the tribunal branded uniform, had a tracker Prof Mark Edwards, and the jun- to mental health and substance London had appealed to the UK’s highest he was sacked because he want- was entitled to conclude that the in his branded van and carried an ior proctor, Cecile Fabre, went addiction services. court, arguing that those it sends ed to work fewer days. company cannot be regarded as identity card. His contract made on to complain that trashing was “It is national problem. We out to repair leaking pipes and Delivering the judgment, Lord a client or customer of Smith. reference to “wages”, “gross harming the reputation of the didn’t have this problem on our heating engineer has won malfunctioning dishwashers are Wilson said: “Although the con- So Smith wins the case and the misconduct” and “dismissal”. university, as it portrayed “the streets of Oxford 10 years ago,” his claim against Pimlico self-employed and not “workers”. tract did provide him with ele- (employment) tribunal can pro- Outside the court, Charlie whole of Oxford (as) one giant she said. APlumbers, establishing Workers do not enjoy the full ments of operational and fi nancial ceed to examine his claims as a Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Bullingdon Club”. “Belatedly the government has that he was a worker and not range of employment protection independence, Smith’s services worker.” Plumbers, said he was consider- “This is unlikely to have a pos- woken up to this and Oxford was self-employed in a unanimous rights given to full-time staff but to the company’s customers were Smith’s application for com- ing taking an appeal against the itive eff ect on applications from awarded £500,000 last week. We decision by the UK’s highest are entitled to signifi cant ele- marketed through the company. pensation will go back to be re- decision to the European court underprivileged minorities,” it already fund 167 beds and we will court that will set a clear prec- ments such as holiday pay. “More importantly, its term considered by the lower court. of human rights in Strasbourg. said. be expanding our provision to edent for other gig economy The claim was brought by enabled the company to exer- The judgment acknowledged “It’s not over yet,” Mullins Students fl agged up the e-mail fund an extra 64 beds next win- disputes. Gary Smith, from Kent, who cise tight administrative con- that there were some aspects of said. “We are going to take it on social media to express their ter. We want to get to a position The Supreme Court’s judg- worked for Pimlico Plumbers as trol over him during his periods Smith’s conditions that resem- to the next stage if we can and incredulity at the suggestion that where nobody has to sleep rough ment is likely to infl uence the a plumber and heating engineer of work for it; to impose fi erce bled self-employment, such as prove this chap was self-em- homeless people were drawn to on the streets of Oxford.” outcome of protracted legal bat- for six years until 2011, when conditions on when and how the entitlement to refuse work, ployed. At the worst, we will go the city because of the generosity Asked if rough sleeping was tles such as those involving the he suff ered a heart attack. He much it paid to him, which were but other aspects of the contract back to the tribunal and fi ght it. of students. linked to the generosity of stu- cab fi rms Uber and Addison Lee, claimed that his subsequent re- described at one point as his with Pimlico Plumbers “be- “Around 4.8mn subcontrac- Defending the e-mail in Cher- dents, Smith said: “Everyone which are in dispute with their quest for a three-day week was wages; and to restrict his ability trayed a grip on his economy in- tors in the UK will be aff ected by well, the Oxford student newspa- is entitled to their opinion. I’m drivers over their employment rejected, the Pimlico Plumbers to compete with it for plumbing consistent with his being a truly this decision. The government per, Edwards said: “The fact that not going to suggest that people status. van he rented was taken away work following any termination independent contractor”. needs to step in and provide homeless people come to Oxford should not give to beggars.” Pimlico Plumbers, which lost and he was dismissed. The fi rm of their relationship. These included that he wore a clarity to the employment laws.” Victims of Grenfell School visit Anger over ban on fi re tragedy mourned burglar alarm boxes London Evening Standard One house without an alarm London was burgled recently. AFP As part of the commemorations, a public inquiry into the fi re, re- Community volunteer Ana London 72 white roses — one for each of minding Britons of the shocking Coats, 53, who has lived in the the people who perished, along scale of the tragedy. omeowners in an ex- road since 2000, said: “These are with one for a stillborn baby — Residents argue the wealthy clusive London street what is recommended by alarm ommemorations were held were placed at the so-called “wall borough neglected the less affl u- Hyesterday criticised a providers and the police. They yesterday to honour the 71 of truth”, near the tower. ent northern section that is home “petty” council ban on putting are all in keeping with what you Cpeople who died when a fi re There was also a 72 seconds of to Grenfell and surrounding public burglar alarms on the front of would expect to see on the side of ripped through the Grenfell tower silence at 12.54am in honour of the housing. their homes. a house. You would think com- block in London a year ago. victims. They also accuse it of cost-cut- Eight families in Hereford mon sense would prevail and The burnt-out tower was lit up “It was very much a local aff air,” ting on the refurbishment, which Road, Bayswater, have been told that keeping properties and resi- in green, along with Prime Minister said Samia Badani, co-chair of a included the installation of clad- they face a £20,000 fi ne or two dents safe would be the prime Theresa May’s Downing Street of- board that represents around 1,000 ding blamed for the fi re, and bun- years in prison if they do not re- objective.” fi ce, to mark the country’s deadliest local households. “We wanted to gling its overall response. move the “unsightly” boxes from Retail consultant Yaron Me- domestic fi re since World War II. have a private moment where we The fi re service has also come the Grade II-listed terrace prop- shoulam, 58, whose alarm was May told parliament yester- could recreate this community spirit under the spotlight over its ad- erties. installed by the previous owner, day the “unimaginable tragedy that we are proud of,” she added. vice at the time for residents to The furore began in 2013 when added: “The whole thing is like remains at the forefront of our The commemorations will con- stay put, which was only lifted two Westminster council received some Kafkaesque nightmare. We minds”. Grenfell residents held tinue today too with church servic- hours after the blaze began. one complaint about a sin- feel somewhat victimised. Bur- a series of events, starting with es, special prayers at a local mosque, Kerry O’Hara, a survivor from gle burglar alarm in the street, glar alarms are a part of modern a communal meal in the shadow wreath-laying and the unveiling of a the sixth fl oor, said: “I was glad that where townhouses cost upwards life. If they want to turn back of the charred apartment block community mosaic. I didn’t follow that advice and I just of £7mn. time to the Victorian era, they’ll at 6pm followed by workshops to A silent walk will also be held — hate to think what would’ve hap- Offi cers then wrote to more be telling people to get rid of create signs, bracelets and t-shirts similar to the ones that take place pened if I’d stayed put.” than 30 properties, warning the electric doorbells next.” for the anniversary. on the 14th every month — while Speaking in parliament, May Scotland’s first minister, and leader of the Scottish National alarm boxes should be removed Claire Tallis, 47, the co-chair- The fire broke out because of a banners in memory of the victims defended her government’s ac- Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, visits Largs Campus school or repositioned to create “mini- woman of Hereford Road associa- faulty fridge in the kitchen of a fourth- have been unfurled over the top tions. “We are doing everything building, in Largs, west Scotland, yesterday. The new Largs mal impact” on the stucco- tion, also inherited a burglar alarm floor flat in the 24-storey tower. four fl oors of the tower. that we can to see that the sur- Campus, which has been part-funded by the Scottish fronted buildings. when she bought her property in The fi re brigade received the Relatives of those who died have vivors of Grenfell get the homes Government’s Schools for the Future campaign, provides But residents claim that hiding 2001. She said: “It’s just a white fi rst call at 12.54am on June 14 last recently provided heart-rending and support that they need and a home for an early years centre, Largs Primary, St Mary’s the alarms prevents them from alarm box. It has to have been year, as the fl ames spread swiftly testimony about their loved ones’ the truth and justice that they de- Primary and Largs Academy. being a deterrent, making prop- there for at least two decades. It’s up the building. fi nal moments at the beginning of serve,” she said. erties “vulnerable to burglary”. just pedantic and ridiculous.” Gulf Times 20 Thursday, June 14, 2018 EUROPE

OUSTED BABY’S DAY OUT HISTORY BLACKOUT JUSTICE Georgia PM resigns Belgian zoo welcomes 1493 Columbus letter to be Crimea left powerless after UN refers Serb witness after mass protests baby giraff e Twiga returned to the Vatican incident at Russia station tampering case to Belgrade

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili Minutes after plunging 2m to the ground as his The United States yesterday announced Crimea was temporarily without electricity United Nations judges yesterday referred the case of yesterday announced his resignation after mother gave birth, baby giraff e Twiga was frolicking Wednesday that it will return to the Vatican a copy yesterday following an incident at a power station two Serbian lawyers accused of witness tampering a series of mass protests highlighted a round his pen as the newest arrival at Belgium’s of a handwritten 15th-century letter by Christopher in Russia, authorities in the peninsula Moscow during trials against radical Serb nationalist Vojislav dramatic drop in his government’s popularity. Planckendael Zoo. “They fall down 2m because Columbus in which the explorer recounts his annexed from Ukraine in 2014 said. “The whole Seselj to the Balkans country’s national courts. The In a televised speech, Kvirikashvili cited “a mother giraff es don’t lie down,” said zookeeper “discovery of America” to the Spanish royal family. of Crimea is without electricity. The power Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals number of fundamental disagreements with Sil Waumans. “It is always a scary moment to see The Columbus Letter, written in 1493, will be supply will be restored within three hours. Please (MICT) “orders the case against the accused to be the chairman of the (ruling Georgian Dream) whether they walk afterwards, but after 20 minutes handed back to the Vatican Library, described as remain calm,” Crimea’s pro-Kremlin leader Sergei referred to the authorities of Serbia for trial,” judge party,” billionaire tycoon and former premier he was already on his legs.” Twiga, already 2m high, the letter’s “rightful home”, today, according to Aksyonov wrote on Facebook. He added the Aydin Sefa Akay said in a court document. The now- Bidzina Ivanishvili, as a reason for his decision. is named after the Giraff e Conservation Foundation’s a statement released by the US Embassy to the blackout was the result of an incident at a power defunct International Criminal Tribunal for the former Kvirikashvili’s move after two and a half Twiga Tracker initiative, which follows giraff es’ Holy See. The statement says that US ambassador station in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region. Yugoslavia (ICTY) issued arrest warrants against Petar years in power comes amid growing popular movements across Africa using satellite tags. Twiga is Callista Gingrich will give the document to Vatican “Due to strong voltage surges, the emergency Jojic and Vjerica Radeta in 2015. They were charged in discontent over his government’s handling of Swahili for giraff e. The conservation charity estimates chief archivist Jean-Louis Brugues, accompanied system switched on and disconnected the line,” December 2014 with “having threatened, intimidated, the economy and after mass protests in recent the number of giraff es in the wild has fallen more by off icials from the US Department of Homeland Aksyonov said. Power was progressively restored off ered bribes to, or otherwise interfered with two months. than 40% in the last three decades to just 100,000. Security and Homeland Security Investigations. in the peninsula’s largest cities within two hours. witnesses” in two cases involving Seselj.

Flooding in France French MPs back Macron rail reform

AFP Paris

rench lawmakers yesterday overwhelmingly backed a Fcontroversial reform of in- debted state rail operator SNCF, handing President Emmanuel Macron a key victory in his bat- tle with trade unions. The vote in the National Assem- bly is a blow to the labour move- ment, which called three months of rolling strikes over the bill, the longest industrial action in over 30 years on French railways. Members of the lower house of parliament, where the rul- ing party has a large majority, adopted the bill by 452 votes for to 80 against and 27 abstentions. The bill now goes to the Senate for a fi nal vote today. Analysts have compared the standoff between the centrist Ma- cron and French railworkers with Margaret Thatcher’s showdown with British miners in the 1980s. It is being closely watched as a sign of Macron’s ability to face down France’s unions, which have had success in pressur- ing previous governments to withdraw, or signifi cantly water down, unpopular reforms. Train drivers particularly had resisted plans to deny job and A man takes a photograph of a woman yesterday as they stand in flood waters that swept through the streets following heavy rains in Salies-de-Bearn, south western France. pension guarantees to new rail recruits, as well as plans to turn the SNCF into a joint-stock company, which they see as a fi rst step toward privatisation. The government argues the loss-making SNCF — a bastion of the union movement — needs to cut costs and improve fl exibil- ity before the EU passenger rail market opens up to competition. Italy summons French envoy A poll showed voters largely on board with the changes, un- swayed by 30 days of strikes since early April that have caused headaches for millions of travel- lers on two days out of every fi ve. The SNCF has estimated the as migration row escalates cost of the walkouts at 400mn euros ($470mn). Reuters Salvini, who is also deputy premier er result in March national elections, it was committed to cooperating with gration) initiative,” Salvini said, adding Labour leaders yesterday re- Rome and the leader of the anti-immigrant partly on pledges to deport hundreds of Rome on immigration. that it would apply both to the EU’s fused to concede victory, an- League party, called on France to apolo- thousands of migrants and halt the fl ow The countries’ two economy minis- external borders and to how the bloc’s nouncing that the strikes would gise and said he was not prepared to take of newcomers, and has formed a coali- ters also spoke by telephone, French fi - countries manage migrants internally. continue as planned until June 28. taly yesterday summoned France’s criticism from a country which regu- tion with the anti-system 5-Star Move- nance ministry offi cial said, and agreed Refugees have continued to arrive as “This strike is far from over,” envoy and angrily rejected French larly stopped migrants on their shared ment. to reschedule their cancelled meeting. politicians trade blame. Philippe Martinez of the hard- Icriticism of its immigration poli- border. More than 1.8mn have entered Eu- But Italy’s foreign minister, Enzo Yesterday morning, an Italian coast line CGT, France’s biggest public cies, escalating a diplomatic standoff The row is centred on the charity ship rope since 2014, and Italy is now shel- Moavero, kept up the barrage by tell- guard vessel with 937 migrants aboard sector union, said. between the neighbouring European Aquarius, which both Italy and Malta tering more than 170,000 asylum seek- ing a French envoy that Macron’s com- docked in Catania, Sicily, as the Aquar- But the movement has been powers. refused to let dock at their ports. ers, as well as an estimated half-million ments were “unjustifi able” and had ius headed into increasingly rough seas showing signs of fatigue, with Italy’s economy minister, Giovanni It was carrying 629 migrants and is unregistered migrants. compromised relations between the on its way to Valencia, where it is due to the number of strikers steadily Tria, also cancelled a meeting with his now heading to Spain, escorted by two Successive governments have ac- two countries. arrive on Saturday. tapered off in recent weeks. counterpart in Paris, a day after French Italian ships. cused other EU states have ignored Salvini told the Senate he was open A Dutch-fl agged humanitarian ship, An estimated 12.78% of work- President Emmanuel Macron said Rome The case touched on one of the main pleas to take in some of the newcomers to a possible “axis” with Germany and the Sea Watch 3, was called by a US Navy ers walked off the job yesterday, had acted with “cynicism and irrespon- faultlines in European politics — how and share the cost of their care. Austria on immigration ahead of a key vessel to take on board 41 survivors and down from around 34% in April. sibility” by closing its ports to migrants. to share the responsibility of handling France yesterday tried to take a more EU summit at the end of June that will, 12 bodies recovered after a shipwreck on Union leaders can claim to “We have nothing to learn about gen- migrants trying to get into the bloc conciliatory tone. in part, consider changes to EU asylum Tuesday. have won several concessions, erosity, voluntarism, welcoming, and from war zones and poor countries, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman law to better share the burden of in- However, the Sea Watch is still wait- including job guarantees for ex- solidarity from anyone,” Italy’s interior largely across Africa and the Middle Agnes von der Muhll saying it was “fully coming migrants. ing to pick them up, asking for a written isting staff if they take a position minister, Matteo Salvini, told the Sen- East. aware of the burden that the migration “With my German and Austrian col- guarantee that it will be allowed to dock with a new operator arriving in ate. Salvini’s League scored its best-ev- pressure is placing on Italy” and that leagues...we will propose a new (immi- in an Italian port. France.

Greek PM faces domestic backlash over Macedonia name deal

Reuters says use of the name Macedonia ister without a clear parliamen- of yourself for a bailout and a dif- they doing it?” Katrougkalos told Athens implies a territorial claim on a tary mandate willing to commit ferent thing to sell off your land, Greek Skai TV. northern Greek province of the the country to a reality which will it hurts deeply.” Centre-left daily Ta Nea news- same name. not be possible to change,” Mit- However, Tsipras hopes the paper said that, while the histo- rime Minister Alexis Tsipras But the accord must still be sotakis said. accord will boost his legacy and rian of the future would have the yesterday faced accusations approved by Macedonians in a In a front-page editorial, con- help improve the international luxury of time to assess the deal, Pfrom opposition politicians referendum and by the parlia- servative daily Eleftheros Typos image of Greece as a problem- “until then one must keep in and media that he had surren- ments of both countries, where called the agreement “the sur- solver after years of being the mind that there are no compro- dered part of Greece’s national nationalist and opposition par- render of the Macedonian iden- “sick man of Europe”. mises without concessions”. identity by striking a deal with ties have vowed to resist it. tity and language”, while the cen- He told Greeks in a televised Activist group The Commit- neighbouring Macedonia to settle Greece’s main opposition cen- tre-right Kathimerini newspaper address on Tuesday evening that tee for The Hellenic Identity of a long-running name dispute. tre-right New Democracy party referred to “a deal with gaps and he was turning Greece into “a Macedonia said it would organise Under the accord, announced may submit a no-confi dence question marks”. leading power in the Balkans” protests in Athens and northern by Athens and Skopje on Tues- motion against the Tsipras gov- Such concerns over identity and “a pillar of stability in a Greece if the deal went ahead and day, the Balkan state offi cially ernment, a party offi cial said. have struck a deep chord with deeply wounded region”. urged lawmakers not to ratify it. known at the United Nations as New Democracy leader Kyri- many ordinary Greeks who feel Deputy Foreign Minister “We peacefully assert that ‘Former Yugoslav Republic of akos Mitsotakis called the deal they have lost their sovereignty George Katrougkalos challenged they have no right to sign (a deal) Macedonia’ would henceforth be “deeply problematic” because he after nine years of painful aus- the conservatives to submit a against the Greek people’s will,” called the “Republic of Northern said the majority of Greeks were terity under three international vote of no-confi dence. they wrote on Facebook. Macedonia”. against it and Tsipras lacked the bailouts. “If they believe this (that Mikis Theodorakis, who com- The deal will open the way for authority to sign it. “We have lost, we retreated,” the government does not have posed the music to the fi lm Zorba Skopje’s eventual membership “We are in a situation that is said 40-year old Stamatia Valta- the legitimacy), they have the the Greek, said the agreement Dancers wearing traditional costumes perform in front of the statue of Nato and the European Union, unprecedented in Greece’s con- dorou, a private sector employee. means...to question it with a no- would “stigmatise us forever” if of Alexander III of Macedon, commonly known as Alexander the long blocked by Greece, which stitutional history. A prime min- “It’s one thing to sell off a part confi dence motion. Why aren’t it went ahead. Great, in Thessaloniki. Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 21 INDIA Film spotlights slum dwellers’ struggle for land rights

Reuters played by Tamil superstar Ra- population, according to gov- Ranjith said he met with he chose Dharavi because it is so Arputham, who Ranjith the strict system of social hier- Mumbai jinikanth tells the politician: ernment data. residents of Mumbai slums to well known and is in the heart of spent time with while prepar- archy. “To you land is power, to us it “I was in Mumbai and saw the talk about their needs and con- Mumbai. ing to film Kaala, said older In one scene, the upper-caste means life.” city as vertical high-rises and cerns. Real estate in Mumbai is movies explored issues faced politician refuses a drink of wa- esidents of Mumbai’s Kaala has been making large horizontal slums. You can easily “The fi lm carries people’s among the most expensive in the by the urban poor, but a pop- ter at the home of the central sprawling Dharavi slum gains at the box offi ce, despite see that divide,” said the direc- voice - that land is their right,” world, and residents of Dharavi ular film on the subject, with character, who is a lower caste Rface down a powerful pol- focusing on a subject that is tor, who is based in Chennai. he told the Thomson Reuters have been resisting attempts to a famous lead actor, has not man played by Rajinikanth. itician eyeing their community rarely addressed in Indian cin- “That is why I wanted to make Foundation by phone. develop the slum, which sprawls been made in about two dec- “Caste is everywhere. It is at for a real estate development in ema. this fi lm. Bollywood is com- It is not the filmmaker’s first over 240 hectares. ades. the root of this divide. We need a blockbuster, which puts a rare Pa Ranjith said his movie was pletely diff erent and makes fan- take on social issues; his previ- “There is a lot of pressure In Kaala, Ranjith takes on In- to cut the root,” said Ranjith, spotlight on land rights of the inspired by a visit to Mumbai, tasy fi lms,” he said. ous release, Kabali, was about from builders, developers, local dia’s entrenched caste system, who is from the Dalit commu- urban poor. which is home to Bollywood as “Even in (Tamil movies from) exploited tea plantation work- leaders,” said Jockin Arputham, which he said is a key issue, as nity, which continues to struggle Audiences have been ap- well as more than 18mn slum Chennai they don’t want to dis- ers. president of the National Slum people fi ghting for land rights despite laws against discrimina- plauding when the character dwellers, or 60% of the city’s cuss these issues.” For his latest fi lm, Ranjith said Dwellers’ Federation in Mumbai. are often from the lower end of tion.

ED fi les charges against Karti in Aircel case

IANS als of over Rs6bn.”In this case, New Delhi FDI was projected as Rs180 crore, which was the par val- ue of the shares acquired by he Enforcement Direc- Maxis, whereas the FDI was torate (ED) yesterday actually Rs3,565.91 crore,” the Tfi led a charge-sheet ED said. against former fi nance minis- The CMSPL received nearly ter P Chidambaram’s son Karti Rs9mn from Maxis and its as- P Chidambaram and two com- sociate Malaysian companies panies in a case related to al- allegedly for software services, leged money laundering in the the ED said. Aircel-Maxis deal. The agency also said that the The charge-sheet was fi led software sold for Rs9mn was in a Delhi court which set the designed to be used for com- hearing for July 4. pliance with Indian laws and The Central Bureau of In- was not of any use for any of vestigation (CBI) and the the Malaysian companies. ED are investigating Karti The ASCPL received ap- Chidambaram’s alleged role proximately Rs2.6mn from in getting Foreign Investment Aircel Televenture Ltd, the Promotion Board (FIPB) clear- Indian company which sold ance for the Aircel-Maxis deal shares to Maxis. in 2006 when his father was “This payment was received A man walks across a road as the India Gate is seen partially behind as dust covers the sky in New Delhi yesterday. the fi nance minister. immediately after FDI approv- The investigation agency al,” the ED said. has charged Karti and two On August 29, 2014, the CBI companies - Advantage Stra- had fi led a charge-sheet alleg- tegic Consulting Pvt Ltd (AS- ing that between July 2004 and CPL) and Chess Management September 2008, Dayanidhi Services Pvt Ltd (CMSPL) - Maran, as minister in the Con- under various provisions of the gress-led government, used Delhi air quality falls to Prevention of Money Launder- his infl uence to help Malay- ing Act (PMLA) 2002. sian businessman T A Ananda Karti, who has been grant- Krishnan buy Aircel by coerc- ed interim protection from ing its owner Sivasankaran to arrest by a special court till part with his stake. July 10, has promoted CM- Sivasankaran alleged that SPL, the ED has said in the Maran favoured the Krishnan- ‘severe’ with dust storm charge-sheet. owned Maxis Group in the The directorate has also al- takeover of his company. In Agencies ported from Rajasthan,” said V K construction dust are the main 488, at Greater Noida 500, at and southern Afghanistan will leged that ASCPL was set up at return, he alleged, Maxis made New Delhi Shukla, the scientist in charge of pollutants of air in New Delhi, Bhiwadi 483 and at Bulandshahr continue till light rain showers the directions of Karti. investments through Astro the Air Lab at the Central Pollu- which worsens in winter months 500 - all considered “severe”. bring respite to Delhi and ad- Karti controlled and man- Network, a sister concern, in tion Control Board. due to illegal crop burning in “There was an anti-wind joining regions towards on June aged the aff airs of the com- Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDT- ir quality in New Delhi At the severe level, even the farm states surrounding the pattern towards Rajasthan, so 16 and 17. pany, the ED said, citing inter- PL), stated to be owned by the plummeted to a dan- healthy people will be aff ected landlocked capital city. the winds blowing about 30 to “At present, the atmosphere nal e-mails where it shows he Maran family. Agerous level yesterday, while those who have existing A damning report by the 40kmph had bought the en- from ground level till 20,000ft was controlling each and every However, a special court putting residents at risk, mainly diseases will be severely impact- World Health Organisation last tire region, including Delhi, has dust. This is due to the anti- aspect of the company’s busi- had dropped charges against due to dust storms from western ed, the board’s website showed. month said India was home to Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh cyclone formation in Iran and ness. the former communications India, a senior offi cial at the pol- “The situation is likely to re- the world’s 14 most polluted cit- and Rajasthan under the grip of southern Afghanistan, since Karti also arranged funds for minister, his brother Kala- lution control board said. main the same for the next two ies, with Delhi ranked sixth most dust,” Kuldeep Srivastava of In- the winds are blowing at lower the company. nithi and others in the al- The air quality index, which days,” Shukla said, citing the polluted. dian Meteorological Department level and speed had been good, The ED charge-sheet said leged kickback of Rs7.4bn in measures the concentration of weather offi ce’s forecast. According to the US embas- said. so there is still some clarity. Else that Maxis had invested the Aircel-Maxis deal, say- poisonous particulate matter in Air quality has worsened sy’s real-time air quality index He added that the situation the situation could have been $800mn (Rs35bn) as Foreign ing that the “perception or the air, hit the “severe” level of in New Delhi in recent years, (AQI), the air quality was so poor will continue for the next two worse,” Mahesh Palawat, direc- Direct Investment (FDI). The suspicion” was not backed by 445, on a scale where the maxi- prompting Prime Minister in some parts of Delhi yesterday days. tor of Skymet said. authority of the fi nance minis- concrete evidence. mum reading is 500 and where Narendra Modi’s offi ce to direct- that it was beyond the maximum “By midnight, the entire Uttar Delhi Chief Minister Arvind ter to give approval for the FDI Karti is also an accused in anything above 100 is consid- ly monitor measures to clean up level. Pradesh is likely to be under the Kejriwal called the city a “gas was limited to Rs6bn the INX Media case wherein ered unhealthy by the Central the capital’s air. It stood at 999, beyond which grip of dust storm,” Srivastava chamber” last year as levels of at the time. The Cabinet he has been charged with re- Pollution Control Board, its Vehicle exhaust emissions in no readings are available, for R K added. airborne PM 2.5, tiny particulate Committee of Economic Af- ceiving irregular FIPB clear- website showed. a city with limited public trans- Puram, Wazirpur and Okhla area According to private weather matter that can reach deep into fairs (CCEA) was the compe- ance for investments up to “Due to the high wind speeds, port, emissions from thermal among others. forecasting agency Skymet, the the lungs, far exceeded levels tent authority for FDI propos- Rs3.05bn. dust particles are being trans- power stations and swirling The AQI at Gurugram was dust raising winds from the Iran classifi ed as “hazardous”.

CBI seeks Interpol help Bend it like Modi: PM trots to nab Nirav’s brother

and treads in fi tness video IANS Modi, Nishal and Parab beside 18 New Delhi others in the fi rst charge-sheet that it fi led in a special court in Agencies “Apart from yoga, I walk on a ates on little sleep and his devo- Mumbai on May 14. New Delhi track inspired by the Panchtat- tees have bragged on his impres- he Central Bureau of The CBI has also named PNB’s vas or fi ve elements of nature - sive physique, including most Investigation has ap- former managing director Usha Prithvi (earth), Jal (water), Agni notably a rumoured 56-inch Tproached the Interpol to Ananthasubramanian in its rime Minister Narendra (fi re), Vayu (air), Aakash (sky),” chest. issue Red Corner Notice (RCN) charge-sheet. Modi, whose supporters Modi says in the video viewed A passionate yoga enthusiast, against jeweller Nirav Modi’s The CBI had fi led three FIRs Pboast of his physical prow- nearly 200,000 times within Modi has also touted the benefi ts brother Nishal and one of his between January and March to ess and indiff erence to sleep, has hours of being posted. of the ancient Indian practice executives in connection with probe the PNB fraud. Most of the shared the secrets to his morning “This is extremely refreshing via a cartoon avatar of himself its probe into the Rs135bn Pun- accused are common to these fi tness regimen in a video where and rejuvenating. I also practise performing sun salutations and jab National Bank (PNB) fraud, cases. The fraud was commit- he thrusts a staff , walks back- breathing exercises.” downward dogs. sources said yesterday. ted during 2011-17 by illegally wards and fl exes over a boulder. In one clip Modi, clad in a Government ministers were “The agency has approached issuing Letters of Undertaking Modi promotes the “refresh- black tracksuit, walks backwards quick to heap praise on Modi for Interpol to issue RCN against (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of ing and rejuvenating” benefi ts over a treaded lawn with his his “unparalleled energy levels”. Nirav Modi’s brother Nishal, Credit (FLCs). of his exercise workout in a video hands clasped in a prayer pose, But others were less im- who is a Belgian national, and his The CBI, in its fi rst charge- posted online yesterday that also before stretching over a large pressed. executive Subhash Parab,” said a sheet had alleged that Nirav included a meditative stroll over boulder. “Majority of middle-class CBI offi cial. Modi, through his companies, a special path “inspired” by na- He then proceeds to a special- citizens live amidst #stink from The agency’s action comes siphoned off funds to the tune of ture. ly-designed path around a large open defecation by #slumdwell- two days after it sent a request to Rs64bn using fraudulent LoUs It follows a trend of home- tree, balancing on its edges be- ers & smoke from waste burning Interpol to issue an RCN against issued from PNB’s Brady House made motivational fi tness vid- fore walking over pebbles, wood & fuelwood,” posted one Twitter Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul branch in Mumbai. Meanwhile, eos from prominent Indians, and water, as he pumps a wood- user, Naresh Minocha. Choksi of the Gitanjali Group. Choksi allegedly swindled Rs- including adored cricket cap- en staff from side to side. Congress leader and former An RCN is a request to locate 70bn. tain Virat Kohli, trying to tackle The teetotal vegetarian then Rajasthan chief minister Ashok and provisionally arrest an in- Nirav Modi left the country obesity and poor health in the stands before a Buddha statue Gehlot questioned his serious- dividual pending extradition. It along with his family in the fi rst country of 1.25bn. in his garden, breathing through ness towards governance. is issued by the General Secre- week of January, weeks before In the latest addition Modi, one nostril. Gehlot tweeted that the prime tariat at the request of a member the scam was reported to the 67, implores Indians to follow Later he sits on a rock, sharply minister was obsessed with his country or an international tri- CBI. his example in a two-minute taking quick breaths in a medita- own fi tness regime when the This screenshot taken from a video posted on Modi’s twitter bunal based on a valid national His wife Ami, a US citizen, left clip shot in the lush garden of his tive pose. country was battling many seri- handle shows the prime minister Narendra performing yoga fol- arrest warrant. on January 6 and uncle Choksi New Delhi residence. The premier claims he oper- ous issues. lowing a fitness challenge in New Delhi yesterday. The CBI has named Nirav on January 4. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, June 14, 2018 INDIA

PEOPLE CALLOUSNESS INDUSTRIES CRIME PEOPLE Vajpayee fine, likely to Tar laid on road over First lithium-ion cell Girl held for supplying Parrikar likely to return fully recover soon: hospital sleeping dog near Taj plant to be set up in AP narcotic drug to prisoner from US today: sources

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is Animal rights activists are up in arms after In line with the government’s “Make in India” A teenaged girl was arrested for allegedly Goa Chief Minister Manohar responding well to treatment and is likely to a video went viral showing how callously initiative, Munoth Industries, promoted by Chennai- trying to supply narcotic drugs in a box of Parrikar, who is expected to fully recover in a few days, the All India Institute a fresh layer of tar on a road to the Taj based Munoth group, yesterday announced talcum powder to an inmate in Dumdum return from the US today, of Medical Sciences said yesterday. “He has Mahal was laid burying a sleeping dog by the setting up of India’s first lithium-ion battery Correctional Home in Kolkata, jail authorities has summoned cabinet shown significant improvement with treatment. workers of a private company. Police said manufacturing plant in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, said yesterday. “The girl was caught by the ministers for a meeting His kidney function has improved with good a case had been registered. Social activist for the mobile industry. The plant will provide guards while trying to slip in a powder-like tomorrow, a minister said urine output. His blood pressure, heart rate and Naresh Paras said: “The dog was sleeping or employment to 1,700 people, the company said. narcotic substance, suspected to be heroin, yesterday. The minister, who breathing are normal. We are hopeful that he perhaps not well. Instead of removing it, the “The setting up of India’s first lithium-ion cell to an inmate, on Tuesday evening. She was requested anonymity, said should fully recover in the next few days,” the workers poured hot coal-tar from a hot mix manufacturing plant for mobile industry will handed over to the police,” a senior jail cabinet ministers have been told to remain in hospital said in a statement. He is being given plant to lay a new layer on the road. When improve competitiveness. It will create more value off icial said. The off icer said the suspect was Panaji. Parrikar has been undergoing treatment injectable antibiotics as well as slow dialysis to some people brought this to the notice of addition to the country and eventually it will drive known to the inmate, who has been in jail for advanced pancreatic cancer in a New York support his renal function, it added. Vajpayee the police, the response was not as prompt. down the pricing,” Pankaj Mohindroo of the Indian for two-and-a-half years on murder charges. hospital. The 62-year-old former defence minister was admitted to AIIMS on Monday and was But some activists took up the issue and Cellular Association (ICA) said.” Lithium-ion cells “The relatives of the jail inmates are allowed was earlier admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital diagnosed with urinary tract infection and demonstrated at the police station.” The are now imported and battery packs are assembled to meet them and provide certain items for and the Goa Medical College. He was shifted chest congestion. He was also having low urine private contractor said an inquiry was on. in India using the imported cells and with this day-to-day use under the supervision of the to the US in March this year for specialised output. A number of VVIPs including Prime An animal rights activist said: “Assuming the project, we will begin our journey to become a guards. The girl was trying to supply the treatment. Over the last one month, there has Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president dog was dead, they should have removed it, pioneer in this space,” Ajay Prakash Sawhney, narcotic substance in a case of talcum powder been intense speculation about the ailing chief Rahul Gandhi visited the hospital on Monday. instead of laying a road over it.” secretary, Ministry of Electronics and IT, said. but the guards caught her,” he added. minister’s return to Goa.

90 evacuated from blazing Mumbai tower; Sinha joins actress safe

IANS Mumbai AAP protest iremen succeeded in control- ling a major blaze in the top Ffl oors of a 33-storeybuilding after battling the leaping fl ames for nearly fi ve hours and evacuating more than 90 residents in Mumbai yesterday evening. march, slams However, at least two fi remen suff ered from suff ocation and were rushed to hospital. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who lives on the 26th fl oor of Beaumonde Tow- ers, tweeted that she was safe central govt and expressed her prayers for the well-being of the fi refi ghters. “I am safe. Thank You every- IANS “Delhi is not just a city, but the leading the march of his party one. Let us pray for our fi refi ght- New Delhi national capital. Anything hap- leaders from ITO in central Delhi ers who are at site risking their pening here will attract the at- to the Chief Minister’s Offi ce in lives,” she tweeted. tention of the world and the na- the secretariat. According to offi cials, the fi re ormer federal minister tion.” West Delhi MP Parvesh Singh erupted around 2.10pm on the Yashwant Sinha yesterday Showing his support to the Sahib Verma, Leader of Opposi- two uppermost penthouse fl oors Fjoined hundreds of lead- “struggle”, Sinha urged the party tion in the Assembly and party of the fi ve-year-old building, ers and workers of Delhi’s rul- workers to continue the struggle leader Vijender Gupta, MLAs sending thick black clouds of ing Aam Aadmi Party as they until the demands of the Delhi Jagadish Pradhan, Manjinder smoke billowing from the tallest marched towards the Lt Gover- government are fulfi lled, add- Sirsa and suspended AAP MLA residential tower in Prabhadevi nor’s offi ce where Chief Minister ing that it would be better for the Kapil Mishra also sat on a protest area of Dadar west. Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet country if a solution to the crisis in the waiting room of the Chief Later, after nearly three hours, colleagues had been staging a is found at the earliest. Minister’s Offi ce. the fl ames started spreading sit-in since Monday. Mishra, in a tweet, said: “We out on to the lower fl oors creat- Sinha, who resigned from the “Delhi is not just a city, have three demands: Kejriwal ing panic among the fl at owners Bharatiya Janata Party in April, but the national capital. should end his drama, return to who include several celebrities, recalled former prime minister Anything happening here work and provide water to the top share broker Anand Rathi Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while ad- will attract the attention of people of the city.” and Amisha Vora, business and dressing the crowd before the the world and the nation” Hundreds of Delhi BJP work- glamour world personalities be- march. ers marched towards the CM’s sides Padukone. “He (Kejriwal) is not just any- He also called the Lt Governor Offi ce, holding placards. They More than two dozen fi re- body, but an elected chief min- a “babu, who does whatever he also raised slogans like ‘Kejriwal tenders, including sophisticated ister who got 67 seats. He is beg- has been ordered”. drama band karo’ (Kejriwal stop lifts and cranes, were deployed ging for justice and nobody is Kejriwal and his colleagues doing drama). to fi ght the blaze. There is no re- taking note of the matter. I was were staging a sit-in at the L-G Taking a jibe at the sit-in pro- ports of any casualties so far. thinking if Vajpayeeji was the offi ce with demands - a direc- test by Kejriwal, Deputy Chief After around fi ve hours, the prime minister today, what he tion to IAS offi cers working in the Minister Manish Sisodia, Health fi re was brought under control would have done. He would have Delhi administration to end their Minister Satyendar Jain and La- and stopped from spreading to ordered the union home minister “strike”, action against offi cers bour Minister Gopal Rai, Tiwari other lower or adjoining fl oors. to sit with the elected chief min- who have “struck work” for four said: “Protest is against Kejriwal The fi re emanated from the ister of Delhi and fi nd a solution months and approval to his gov- and his team. Due to the neglect fl at whose owners are abroad, to this impasse,” he said. ernment’s proposal for doorstep by the AAP, water and electricity but their residence has been Sinha, who was also joined by delivery of ration to the poor. supply is in a state of crisis”. reduced to ashes, according to former diplomat K C Singh, said They have refused to leave until Slamming Kejriwal, the BJP some society members. he tried to meet the chief minis- their demands are met. leader said: “They are protesting Padukone, who owns a four ter and the L-G, but “was not al- The Bharatiya Janata Party inside an air-conditioned room, bedroom fl at, was out for a lowed” in the Raj Niwas – the of- meanwhile launched a counter but our MPs, MLAs and council- shoot but her personal staff were fi cial accommodation and offi ce protest against Kejriwal and his lors are sitting on protest for the among those who were evacu- of Lt Governor Anil Baijal. ministers. people of Delhi in this scorching ated as a precaution. He said he “wonders why the “He is betraying the people of sun.” There were confl icting re- central government, the prime Delhi. He betrayed them in 2014, He said the AAP leaders don’t ports on whether the safety and minister and the home minister then in 2015 and now again he is know how to govern. “Why did fi re-fi ghting equipment were are not able to hear and see what betraying them on all the prom- you guys promise if you cannot functional in the three-building all is happening” when the whole ises he made to the people of the fulfi l your poll promises? They complex constructed by Sheth nation “is concerned with the city,” Delhi BJP chief Manoj Ti- only know to protest. They should Builders in 2012. Smoke billows from a high rise building in Mumbai yesterday. situation here”. wari told reporters here, while resign and go,” Tiwari said.

Congress wrests Karnataka Sudheeran attacks assembly seat from BJP ex-CM Chandy again

IANS president by the Congress in 2015 IANS gowda on June 5 in support of ue to work for the constituency Thiruvananthapuram as he was keeping away from ac- Bengaluru the Congress made it easier for despite the defeat. “Democracy tive party politics since he was Reddy to take on Prahlad and 17 has its ups and downs. Setbacks defeated in the 2004 Alappuzha other contestants. give an opportunity to become rift in the Congress over Lok Sabha constituency. arnataka’s ruling coalition Amidst bursting of fi recrack- stronger. Myself and the BJP will the gifting away of a Rajya At that time Chandy was the partner Congress yester- ers and frenzied celebrations at continue to work for the people ASabha seat to Kerala Con- chief Minister (2011-16) and their Kday wrested the high-pro- home, Reddy said the victory be- of Jayanagar. We will rise again, gress (Mani) deepened yesterday, relationship worsened ever since fi le Jayanagar assembly seat here longed to all party workers. sooner than most think! Con- with former party president V M Sudheeran, with just six months from the opposition Bharatiya “This is a collective victory gratulations to Congress and Sudheeran lashing out at former left for the 2016 assembly polls, Janata Party, with its candidate of all the Congress workers and Sowmya Reddy,” he tweeted. chief minister Oommen Chandy went hammer and tongs against Sowmya Reddy winning by a guidance of my father,” an elated According to a poll analyst, for the third straight day. Chandy and his governance. slender margin of 2,889 votes. Reddy told reporters. Reddy won because of her con- Addressing reporters for close In 2017, Sudheeran surprised Of the total 111,580 votes A rights activist and former nect with the young voters. to two hours, Sudheeran said everyone by resigning as presi- polled, Reddy secured 54,457 member of the Animal Welfare “She won because many new Chandy always took a stand dent citing ill health. votes against 51,568 by the BJP’s Board of India (AWBI), she has and young electorate voted for her which portrayed a sense of “cruel “I was shocked when Chandy B N Prahlad, a poll offi cial said. been a member of the youth and and the withdrawal of JD-S candi- helplessness,” adding the former and our leadership in the pres- The vote was held on Monday women wings of the Congress’ date benefi ted her, as secular votes chief minister was the least hap- ence of then party president since after it was earlier post- state unit. did not get split between Congress py when he became the party Sonia Gandhi decided to put on poned following the death of BJP Reddy is the lone woman legis- and JD-S,” the analyst said. president in 2015. hold the clearance of the pro- contestant B N Vijaya Kumar on lator from Bengaluru’s 28 assem- With wins in Raja Rajeshwari “When I met him after I was posed Vizhinjam Port. But he ar- May 4, ahead of the May 12 as- bly segments and the youngest Nagar in Bengaluru southwest named the president, his body bitrarily gave the project to Adani sembly election. fi rst-time lawmaker in the state. on May 31 and Jayanagar now, language revealed everything. It Ports. This was a shocking deci- The BJP fi elded Kumar’s With her win, the Congress the Congress tally in the assem- has continued all through. I was sion,” said Sudheeran. younger brother Prahlad, 57, in has fi ve women legislators in the bly has gone up to 79, against 36 treated with disdain by him even “At yesterday’s party leader- the fray against Sowmya, 35, the 225-member assembly, against of JD-S and 104 of BJP. Of the 28 when he came to inaugurate two ship meeting, I was taken aback daughter of former state home three from the BJP and none from seats in Bengaluru, the Congress state-wide yatras,” said Sud- when two relatively junior party minister Ramalinga Reddy, who the ruling coalition partner JD-S. has 15, BJP 11 and JD-S 2. heeran. colleagues spoke against me. also won from the neighbouring Jubilant scenes were witnessed Former chief minister Siddar- He added that giving away the Such a thing has never happened BTM Layout segment. at Reddy’s home, while the BJP’s amaiah and several party leaders Rajya Sabha seat to Mani was a and I know they took on me as The withdrawal of Janata Dal- state unit offi ce was forlorn. and cabinet ministers congratu- Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy acknowledges the greetings “Himalayan blunder”. they have the blessings of ‘group Secular (JD-S) candidate Kale- Prahlad said he would contin- lated Reddy for her victory. of her supporters after her win from Jayanagar yesterday. Sudheeran was appointed managers’ in our party.” Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 23

LATIN AMERICA

Hundreds of Venezuela kids victims of child labour in Colombia

Under Colombian law, ezuela, the government said. dren under 15 are not allowed to teenagers can be seen working as food and medicine. The concerted public aware- Children toil in homes, mines, children under 15 are not While child labour rates have work and no child can be em- street vendors, and young chil- Those migrating to Colombia ness campaign against child la- fi elds and factories, carrying allowed to work and no fallen in recent years, overall ployed in a hazardous job that dren beg with their parents on without passports and work visas bour began in February, which heavy loads, working long hours child can be employed in a about 850,000 children aged fi ve poses a risk to health or life. sidewalks. are vulnerable to labour exploita- also aims to encourage people to and suff ering exposure to pesti- hazardous job that poses a to 17 are estimated to be working “We have found children tion, the United Nations refugee come forward and report cases of cides and other toxic substances, risk to health or life. and not attending school full- working in markets, in public “Child labour is a factory of agency (UNHCR) in Colombia children working. it said. time or at all, government fi gures spaces, at the traffi c lights, in ru- inequality because a child has said. “Child labour is a factory of “Their very lives can be at Thomson Reuters Foundation show. ral areas,” Karen Abudinen head who works does not have Along with poverty, driving inequality because a child who risk,” the ILO said in a statement. Bogota Of the 5,000 cases of child la- of ICBF, told the media. the same opportunities as child labour rates are local cul- works does not have the same The International Labour Or- bour found, more than a third The ICBF has identifi ed 350 those who are studying” tural attitudes. opportunities as those who are ganisation said latest fi gures were uncovered by govern- Venezuelan children who were Work is seen as building char- studying,” Abudinen said in a show from 2012 through 2016 campaign by Colombia to ment mobile units on farms and victims of child labour in Colom- About 672,000 Venezue- acter, as a normal part of devel- statement. that almost no progress was eradicate child labour dis- streets, while under half were re- bia since March, particularly in lans have crossed into Colom- opment and as a responsibility Globally, 152mn children aged made on reducing child labour Acovered nearly 5,000 chil- ported through a free telephone those provinces sharing a border bia, legally and illegally, since children have to contribute to the fi ve to 17 are victims of forced among the youngest aged 5 to 11, dren working in the past three hotline, according to Colombia’s with Venezuela, Abudinen said. 2015, according to Colombian home. labour, according to the Inter- and the number of young chil- months, including hundreds child protection agency ICBF. In Colombia’s northern bor- authorities, fleeing economic Abudinen called it “a cultural national Labour Organisation dren in hazardous work has in- from economically stricken Ven- Under Colombian law, chil- der city of Cucuta, Venezuelan turmoil and severe shortages of problem that we can’t ignore.” (ILO). creased.

IMF hails Argentina Nationwide economic reform proposal strike today

AFP Washington as anti-Ortega

MF chief Christine La- garde yesterday applauded IArgentina’s economic re- form plan proposed to secure $50bn in financing, but made it anger grows clear it was designed in Buenos Aires, not imposed from Wash- AFP after the country underwent a Ortega, called it “foreseeable” ington. Managua sharp escalation in violence in re- that the leader would refuse cer- The programme, which she cent days, as police and pro-gov- tain “concessions in terms of jus- said paid particular attention to ernment paramilitaries attacked tice and democratisation” from protecting the poor and vulner- icaragua’s top civic alli- activists wielding slingshots and the bishops. able, will go to the IMF executive ance has called for a na- homemade mortars in an attempt Then “it will only be possible board for fi nal approval of the Ntionwide 24-hour strike to trample the uprising against for Ortega to resign,” he wrote in three-year loan deal on June 20. to protest “extreme conditions” Ortega. an analysis of the crisis, “and all IMF staff reached an agree- under President Daniel Ortega, The din of rifl e blasts and mor- the forces within Nicaragua — ment with President Mauricio who has yet to decide on reviving tar explosions echoed through- Sandinistas and non-Sandinistas, Macri’s government last week on talks over the crisis that has left at out the streets of Managua, even institutional and non-institu- the standby fi nancing arrange- least 148 dead. after government security forces tional — must converge, and seek ment which aims to bolster mar- The day-long strike was set to forcefully cleared the barricades. to end the massacre.” ket confi dence in the govern- begin today at noon (1800GMT) Activists have erected the But some Nicaraguans appear ment’s fi nances. “in solidarity with the victims” of blockades on more than two ready to take up arms. “For me, But the announcement was the two months of unrest, which thirds of the country’s roads in a what is happening is a staggered greeted by vocal protests and has seen brutal clashes between bid to fend off anti-riot forces and civil war,” said a student leader threats of yet another labour anti-government activists and pressure Ortega into dialogue. known as “El Gato” who is among strike. security forces loyal to Ortega. But the makeshift roadblocks the hundreds who have occupied The country has a bitter his- “This is a national and peaceful also have wreaked economic hav- Managua university grounds in tory with the Washington-based civil strike that covers the entire oc: even in the unlikely scenario protest for more than a month. lender, seen in Argentina as im- country and all economic activi- that the government “accepts an “Most of us don’t want to see posing tough conditions that ties, except those related to the early negotiated exit” by the end it like that, but personally I think worsened economic pain during preservation of life and the cover- of July, the Nicaraguan Founda- there is going to have to be a mo- a crisis 17 years ago. age of basic services for the popu- tion for Economic and Social De- ment in this story when we’re go- Lagarde and other IMF of- lation,” announced the National velopment (FUNIDES) estimates ing to have to arm ourselves to be fi cials have stressed that their Alliance for Justice and Democra- the country would post losses of on the same level as them,” he said. role is a supporting one, and the cy, a key player in the now stalled $404mn and bleed 20,000 jobs. The situation is particularly economic plan has fl exibility to crisis talks. Assuming Ortega continues acute in Ortega’s former strong- maintain social spending. The coalition also demanded determined to stay, FUNIDES hold Masaya, a city of some “As I have said before, the pol- an “immediate” decision from anticipates Nicaragua would 100,000 people just southeast of icy plan underpinning the IMF’s Ortega on the prospect of reviving lose $916mn in added value and Managua. fi nancial assistance is owned and negotiations mediated by Nicara- 150,000 jobs by December. The department of the same designed by the Argentine gov- gua’s infl uential Catholic bishops. The protests that began April name birthed the country’s ernment, one aimed at strength- The country has not heard from 18 over controversial pension re- famed rebel Augusto Sandino, ening the economy for the ben- its leftist leader since last week, forms have exploded into a mass who launched a popular uprising efi t of all Argentines,” Lagarde when he met with top clergy eff ort to pressure the president’s against US military occupation in said in a statement. members, who presented him exit. the 1920s and 30s. “I particularly welcomed with a plan to expedite the poll At least 148 people have died in He in turn inspired Ortega’s the emphasis placed by Presi- and institute electoral and con- clashes with security forces and guerrilla army — the Sandinis- dent Macri’s economic team on stitutional reforms — key activist armed gangs loyal to Ortega, ac- tas, today the name of Ortega’s supporting the most vulner- demands. cording to the Nicaraguan Center party — which overthrew dictator able in society,” she said, not- “Dialogue is the way to review for Human Rights (CENIDH), Anastasio Somoza in the 1970s. ing the “concrete commitments the political system of Nicaragua which also said well over 1,000 But activists across the coun- to preserve the current level of from its root to achieve an au- had been injured. try are now turning on Ortega in social spending and increased thentic democracy and justice,” Nicaraguan politician Edmun- a similar fashion, in a mass move- resources for social assistance Costa Ricans demonstrate in San Jose in solidarity with the students arrested and killed in the recent the civic alliance said. do Jarquin, who in the past had ment that kicked off with strong programmes.” protests against President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. The announcement comes formed political coalitions with university student leadership. Colombia’s Duque eyes ‘Newly-weds’ Brazil accuses US fi rm of ‘biopiracy’ Reuters company’s website says. tax cuts to boost growth Rich in antioxidants and amino Brasilia acids, acai is thought to be one of Reuters the other hand, has pledged to conditions of Colombians,” he the most nutritional fruits of the Bogota maintain crude and coal produc- said, adding that he would guar- razilian prosecutors said Amazon basin and has become a tion, reduce taxes on businesses antee the rule of law and clear in- they were investigating a favourite for health-conscious and raise government fi nances by vestment rules. BUS company for alleged Californians. van Duque, the frontrunner cutting tax evasion. The additional investment ‘biopiracy,’ accusing it of illegally The Brazilian government’s to win Colombia’s presiden- “First of all, I want growth and a crackdown on tax evasion using genetic components of the environmental agency Ibama Itial election on Sunday, said triggered by a high rate of invest- would help compensate for cuts tropical berry acai in nutritional fi ned Sambazon 75,000 reais tax cuts he is proposing would ment, more than 30% of gross in business duties, Duque said. supplements it sells. ($20,000) last year for not ob- bolster investment in the Andean domestic product,” Duque said at He also plans to reduce gov- The federal prosecutors offi ce taining permission to use acai nation by a third over the next his campaign headquarters. ernment spending and make it for the northern state of Amapa, genetic material for technologi- four years and help stimulate “I know it’s ambitious, but more effi cient. a main producer of acai, said that cal development. sluggish economic growth. that has to be a goal we set, do- Duque said he believed his the company Sambazon Inc had In its defence, the company The right-wing 41-year-old mestic investment and foreign administration could cut value used the genetic material of the said its products were made by lawyer and former senator, run- investment.” added tax and income tax evasion fruit without permission. simply adding ingredients to ning almost 20 points ahead Total investment reached by 50%, allowing overall tax rates Biopiracy is the unlawful appro- acai pulp. The new investigation of leftist rival Gustavo Petro in 23.1% of GDP last year, up 0.6% to come down and in turn attract priation or commercial use of bio- seeks compensation for the com- polls, said in an interview that from the previous year, according more investment. logical materials, such as medici- munities that produce acai in the he hopes to attract fresh in- to the DANE statistics depart- Duque, who worked at the In- nal plant extracts, that are native Amazon rainforest in Amapa vestment to help lift economic ment. ter-American Development Bank to a particular country without state, from where Sambazon im- growth to as much as 5% from Duque, who is backed by pow- in Washington until 2014, said providing fair fi nancial compen- ports the fruit, the federal pros- 1.8% last year. erful former president Alvaro he would abide by the so-called sation to its people or government. ecutor in charge of the investiga- Petro, a former mayor of Bo- Uribe, said he would seek invest- fi scal rule, which obliges the Sambazon representatives in tion, Rodolfo Lopes, said. gota and one-time rebel from the ment from infrastructure, agri- government to reduce the fi scal Brazil and its headquarters in Besides failing to get authori- now-defunct M19 insurgency, culture, the service industry and defi cit, as well as cut debt levels California did not immediately sation from Brazil’s council for has spooked investors with plans tourism. in the $320bn economy, Latin reply to requests for comment. the management of genetic bio- to overhaul Colombia’s market- “Investors can have absolute America’s fourth largest. Husband and wife Ademir Avelino, 52, and Glaucia Sudan, Privately-held Sambazon diversity, Sambazon had not ful- oriented economic model and clarity that my goal is for them Colombia registered a fi scal 45, pose in wedding clothes for pictures in Sao Paulo. The makes fruit juices, fruit packs, fi lled a promise to share profi ts gradually abandon dependence to come to the country and that defi cit of 3.6% of GDP in 2017 Brazilian couple have the unusual hobby of travelling frozen desserts and snacks, pow- from using acai genetic mate- on the production of oil and coal. their investments translate into and is expected to see it fall to around the world pretending they’ve just got hitched again. ders and energy drinks based on rial with the communities that Business-friendly Duque, on an improvement in the living 3.1% this year. acai imported from Brazil, the picked the berries, he said. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, June 14, 2018 PAKISTAN Poll panel denies Scrutiny of nomination registration to group linked to papers underway: ECP Mumbai attacks Internews 10,000 nomination papers has women and non-Muslims. for Provincial Assembly seats. from Punjab, 110 from Sindh, 73 Islamabad been done with the help of on- According to the fi gures re- Moreover, a total of 436 peo- from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and line data scrutiny system and leased by the ECP, 6,063 candi- ple have fi led nomination papers 56 from Balochistan. AFP charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), these nomination papers have dates are contesting for the 342 for the seats reserved for women As per the election schedule, Islamabad a wing of the militant group he Election Commis- been forwarded to the returning seats of the National Assembly. in the National Assembly. They the scrutiny process will con- Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). sion of Pakistan (ECP) offi cers concerned for further They include 5,473 candidates include 236 candidates from clude on June 20 while appeals LeT is accused of master- Tyesterday said that the action. for general seats, 436 for seats Punjab, 76 from Sindh, 88 from against rejection or acceptance Pakistani group linked to minding the 2008 Mumbai at- process of scrutiny of nomina- Hundreds of candidates, in- reserved for women and 154 can- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 36 of nomination papers by return- the deadly 2008 Mumbai tacks that left 166 people dead tion papers fi led by candidates cluding Manzoor Wattoo, Ha- didates for non-Muslim seats. from Balochistan. ing offi cers can be fi led by June A terror attacks was denied and brought nuclear-armed In- for forthcoming general elec- roon Bilour, Hina Rabbani Khar, There are 2,700 candidates in A total of 1,255 candidates 22. The appellate tribunals will permission yesterday to register dia and Pakistan to the brink of tions was underway and data of Faisal Wada and Amanat Ali are the fi eld for the National Assem- are in the electoral arena to decide the appeals by June 27, as a political party, just weeks war. over 19,500 candidates had been among those, who either have bly and 6,747 for Provincial As- contest for reserved seats for after which the revised list of before national polls, offi cials Six Americans were among shared with the related agencies. to pay back bank loans worth sembly from Punjab, including women in provincial assem- candidates will be published on said. those killed during the three- The election commission said hundreds of millions or their Islamabad; 1,346 for National blies. They are; 665 from Punjab, June 28. The Milli Muslim League day rampage in Mumbai, when that details, contained in nomi- spouses. Assembly and 3,626 for Provin- 213 from Sindh, 262 from Khy- Candidates have the option (MML) was launched last August gunmen who arrived by sea nation papers were shared with A total of 21,482 nomination cial Assembly from Sindh; 992 ber Pakhtunkhwa and 116 from to withdraw their nomination to contest the July 25 elections, fought pitched battles with the NAB, Nadra, FBR and the papers have been fi led by candi- for National Assembly and 1,920 Balochistan. papers by June 29 and the elec- which will be only the second Indian commandos. State Bank of Pakistan through dates across the country for gen- for Provincial Assembly from There are 471 candidates vy- tion commission will announce democratic transfer of power in JuD head Hafi z Saeed carries an online system, having its cen- eral elections, including those Khyber Pakhtunkhwa includ- ing for seats reserved for non- the fi nal list of candidates on the Pakistan’s history. a $10mn US bounty on his head. tre at the election commission for the National Assembly and ing Fata; and in Balochistan 435 Muslims in all the four prov- same day. The electoral symbols But the group was blacklisted Saeed was declared a global secretariat. the four provincial assemblies, candidates are contesting for inces. Out of them, 232 people will be issued to candidates on by the US in April as Washington terrorist by the US and United So far, verifi cation of about including reserved seats for National Assembly and 1,400 have fi led nomination papers June 30. ramped up pressure on Islama- Nations over his alleged role in bad to crack down on extremist the attacks and is accused of groups operating in the country. links to the Al Qaeda terror net- Yesterday, the election com- work and Taliban militants. mission offi cially rejected their He has denied involvement application to register as a po- in terrorism and the Mumbai litical party. attacks. Imran Khan and “The Election Commission Pakistani offi cials to begin of Pakistan (ECP) today rejected seizing JuD assets earlier this the registration request by the year, following a vote by mem- Milli Muslim League as a politi- bers of the Financial Action Task cal party,” spokesman Altaf Ah- Force – a global anti-money Abbasi to face off mad said. laundering watchdog – to place He said that a detailed order Pakistan on a list of nations would be issued later stating the which are not doing enough to reasons for the commission’s combat terror fi nancing. decision. The task force is due to meet for Islamabad seat The MML was founded by again this month.

Internews number of nomination papers in Rawalpindi, which he hardly Prisoners get presidential amnesty Islamabad fi led from the three constitu- ever visited) means that he will Imran Khan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi encies of the city. be spending more time with his On the advice of the caretaker Remission will be admissible Apart from Imran and Ab- constituents. ner in this mix, fi elding women’s forth Afzal Khokhar Chaudhry. Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, provided that the convicts number of political basi, other notable candidates However, Imran has also fi led rights activist Ismat Shahjahan, While PTI has awarded a ticket the Pakistan president has have undergone two-third of heavyweights are set to to have fi led papers from this papers from NA-35 Bannu, NA- from this constituency. to Nawaz, its local leader Chaud- announced a special remission their substantive sentence of Acompete against each constituency are Pakistan Peo- 95 Mianwali – his ancestral Zubair Farooq Khan, who hry Ilyas Mehrban – miff ed at in sentence up to one year imprisonment. other in the capital as a total ples Party’s Syed Sabtul Haider hometown, and NA-131 left the Jamaat-e-Islami a being ignored – has fi led papers for general prisoners and a Total remission has been of 136 candidates fi led nomi- Bukhari, the brother of former Lahore. few weeks ago, has also fi led for this constituency as well as total remission for the elderly granted to male prisoners who nation papers with the elec- Senate chairman Nayyar For NA-54, a total of 39 papers as an independent for NA-53. and juvenile prisoners, on the are 65 years of age or above tion authorities for the three Bukhari. Up against these gi- candidates have fi led papers. candidate to contest from the His papers were accepted by occasion of Eid al-Fitr. and have undergone at least national assembly seats up for ants is Awami Workers Party’s The constituency comprises constituency. the returning offi cer yesterday According to a notification from one-third of their substantive grabs in the federal capital. Ammar Rashid. some urban areas and some The constituency of NA-52 but he was told to submit to party the interior ministry yesterday, sentence, except those involved The urban core of Islama- “Turns out my opponent rural areas of the capital, mostly comprises rural areas ticket details by June 19 if he President Mamnoon Hussain has in culpable homicide and acts of bad in NA-53 will witness the from PTI in NA-53 will be Im- from Sector G-10 and on- of the capital including hous- wishes to contest the elections granted special remissions. terrorism. juiciest of political clashes ran Khan. This should be fun,” wards towards Tarnol as well ing societies located along the with PTI. A special remission of 90 days A total remission has also been with former prime minister Rashid had tweeted after the as Sector I-10. Islamabad Expressway all the Yesterday, the returning offi c- has been granted to prisoners given to female prisoners who Shahid Khaqan Abbasi going PTI announced its fi rst round The main contenders in this way up to Rawat on the edge ers also initiated the process of convicted for life except those are 60 years of age or above up against prime ministerial- of tickets. constituency are PML-N’s An- of Rawalpindi. The delimiters, scrutiny of nomination papers, convicted for murder, espionage, and have undergone at least hopeful Imran Khan in one of Some candidates, though, jum Aqeel Khan and PTI’s Asad however, seem to have broken which would continue till June anti-state activities, sectarianism, one-third of their sentence, the biggest clashes between have fi led papers for more than Umar who returns to the capi- the Patwar circle of Bani Gala, 19. robbery, dacoity, abduction and except those involved in culpable arch-enemies Pakistan Mus- one constituency while there tal for the second time. PPP’s splitting it in two. On the fi rst day, the return- acts of terrorism. homicide and acts of terrorism. lim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are also covering candidates. Raja Imran Ashraf a brother of A total of 27 candidates have ing offi cers accepted papers Special remissions of 45 days for A special year-long remission has and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Prime amongst them is PTI another former premier Raja fi led papers for this seat includ- of Mehrban, Khurram Nawaz, all convicts except condemned been given to female prisoners (PTI). chief Imran. While NA-53 can Pervaiz Ashraf, and Muttahida ing the likes of former Capital Mian Aslam as well as Malik prisoners and those convicted of who have children with them in The constituency, which be considered his ‘home con- Majlis-e-Amal’s (MMA) Mian Administration and Develop- Noor Awan of PML-N (Awan murder, espionage, subversion, anti- prison and are serving sentences consists of most of urban Is- stituency’, given his palatial Muhammad Aslam are also ex- ment (CADD) minister Tariq is the man who had confronted state activities, acts of terrorism, of imprisonment for crimes, lamabad as well as Bhara Kahu, Bani Gala mansion falls within pected to grab their share in the Fazal Chaudhry. Sheikh Rasheed and demanded robbery, dacoity, abduction and except those who were convicted has attracted as many as 70 it (unlike the last parliamen- vote bank. The PTI has fi elded Khurram his money back at the parliament those undergoing sentences under on charges of culpable homicide aspirants, more than half the tary seat he had won, NA-56 The AWP has thrown a span- Nawaz, while the PPP has put house a few months ago). the Foreign Act, 1946. and terrorism. Over 9,000 Handful designs Railways to upgrade apply for 30 stations Internews ETEA test Islamabad he ministry of railways is planning to upgrade an- Internews and Islamabad. Last date for Tother 30 railway stations Pehawar registration is July2, 2018. across the country. At Islamia Collegiate School Pakistan Railways had already ground Peshawar, 5,747 can- submitted a plan for upgradation he Educational Testing didates got registered for the of railway stations, an offi cial said. and Evaluation Agency test whereas at Haripur Uni- He said that a project of re- T(ETEA) Entrance Test versity, Haripur 551 students, habilitation of stations has been 2018 for admissions in pub- at Grassy Ground Saidu Sharif initiated under which 18 railway lic and private sector medical Swat 660, Abdul Wali Khan stations are being upgraded under and dental colleges of Khyber University Mardan 1,030, various public sector development Pakhtunkhwa province un- Malakand University, Chak- programme (PSDP). der the auspices of Khyber dara 329, Cadet College Kohat The railways stations being up- Medical University (KMU) 471 and at Gomal Medical Col- graded include Karachi Cantonment, Peshawar will be held July 15. lege Dera Ismail Khan Centre Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur, La- According to a release, 576 candidates got themselves hore, Rawalpindi, Bhawalpur, Rai- the test will be conducted registered for appearance in wind, Gujranwala, Narowal, Nakana simultaneously at seven the ETEA Entrance Test to be Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Khanewal, Oka- diff erent centres including held on July 15 for admission to ra, Sibi, Harnai and Kohat. Islamia Collegiate School medical and dental colleges of Out of them, the offi cial said ground Peshawar, Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. that Okara, Narowal, Sahiwal and University Haripur, Grassy It is pertinent to mention Beauticians apply henna designs to customers at a beauty salon ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday which marks the end of the holy Yusufwala railway stations were Ground Saidu Sharif Swat, here that fi rst time the overall month of Ramadan, in Karachi yesterday. inaugurated by the former railways Abdul Wali Khan University number of centres has been minister Khawaja Saad Rafi que. Mardan, Malakand Univer- increased from fi ve up to seven Rs210.8mn had been spent sity Chakdara Dir, Cadet due to the increasing number on the construction of Sahiwal College Kohat and Gomal of the applicants. Petition filed against appointment of KP caretaker chief minister railway station, Rs104mn on Yu- Medical College New Build- To minimise the burden sufwala and Rs359.8mn had been ing Dera Ismail Khan. of round about 20,000 can- The Peshawar High Court lawyer said the caretaker chief unless a period of two years has an appointment, which is lower spent on the construction of A total of 9,365 candidates didates in Peshawar, it was was moved yesterday against minister’s appointment was in elapsed since he ceased to be in to his status or dignity, including Narowal railway station. including 5,282 male and decided that the students of the appointment of Khyber violation of Article 63 (i) (k) of the such a service.” appointment as a presiding off icer The Raiwind railway station is 4,083 female have been reg- Board of Intermediate and Pakhtunkhwa (KP) caretaker chief constitution. The lawyer claimed in the petition of banking court, customs court or being constructed by the Nation- istered in various parts of the Secondary Education, Pe- minister Dost Mohammad Khan. Article 63 (i) (k) reads, “A person shall that the respondent does not fulfil administrative tribunal. al Logistic Cell (NLC) and about province, last week. shawar will appear at the Pe- A Nowshera-based lawyer, be disqualified from being elected or the requirement of Article 62 and The petitioner claimed that as 85% work has been completed. The registration will also shawar centre on fi rst come Azizuddin Kakakel, filed the writ chosen as, and from being, member 63 of the constitution as he retired per the National Judicial Policy, Pakistan Railways will spend continue in Eid al-Fitr holi- fi rst serve basis up to 10,000 petition. He sought an order of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament), as a judge of the Supreme Court the respondent caretaker chief Rs977.32mn for upgradation of rail- days without any interval. registrations. The rest of Pe- from the court to declare the if he has been in the service of on March 20 this year. minister stands disqualified way stations in Punjab, Rs1,242.93mn The card is available at spe- shawar board students will be appointment of Khan as void and Pakistan or of any statutory body or The petitioner stated that as per the because the present status of his in Sindh, Rs442.71mn in Khyber-Pa- cifi c branches of Allied Bank registered at Kohat or Mardan against the law. body which is owned or controlled National Judicial Policy, no judge post is lower in grade than the khtunkhwa, Rs243.49mn in Balochistan Ltd throughout the province centres. In the four-page petition, the by the government or interest, of the superior court shall accept one he retired from. and Rs66.5mn in the federal capital. Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 25 PHILIPPINES Judge wants Robredo says Beijing’s remarks over fi shing China to face areas in shoal ‘insulting’

Manila Times court over reef Manila he Rodrigo Duterte ad- ministration should file Ta strongly-worded dip- lomatic protest against China over its insulting statement destruction that Filipino fishermen were just free to fish in Panatag Reuters coral reefs in Scarborough Shoal, verse our diplomatic gains”. Shoal (also known as Scarbor- Manila a rocky outcrop, Relations between China and ough) out of China’s goodwill, 200km from the Philippines, the Philippines have improved Vice President Maria Leonor claimed by both China and the markedly under Duterte, while Robredo said yesterday. Philippine Supreme Philippines. his ties with the United States Robredo, in a chance in- Court judge has called on “The Philippines should de- have been strained, after he ob- terview in a community visit Athe government to bring mand damages from China for jected to US in Tanay, Rizal, was refer- China to court for violating the the destruction of the coral reefs concerns about rights viola- ring to the statement by the UN Convention on the Law of by Chinese fi shermen in har- tions in the course of his cam- Chinese Embassy in Manila, the Sea with the destruction of vesting the giant clams”, Carpio paign against drugs. which read “China has made coral reefs in a disputed part of said in a statement dated Tues- China allowed Philippine fi sh- appropriate arrangement for the South China Sea. day. ermen back onto the shoal in late the Philippine fishermen to Acting Supreme Court Chief The Philippine national secu- 2016. China’s Foreign Ministry fish in relevant waters out of Justice Antonio Carpio, a rity adviser confi rmed the report did not immediately respond to goodwill. This policy remains staunch critic of President Rod- about the Chinese activity on the a request for comment on Car- unchanged.” Robredo: expressing concern rigo Duterte’s business-focused resource-rich shoal which China pio’s call. “I feel that such statement rapprochement with China, said seized in 2012. In 2016, the Permanent Court is a big slap to our faces. It in The Hague in 2016, which we are filing a (diplomatic) Harry Roque tried to downplay the government should seek It then blocked Philippine of Arbitration in the Hague re- is insulting because why do found China’s denial of ac- protest, it should done in the incident by saying that the arbitration and compensation fi shermen from approaching the jected China’s extensive claims we have to get their permis- cess to Panatag Shoal to Fili- strongest terms so that we Chinese Coast Guard gave the from China. area. in the South China and ruled sion? Based on the UN rul- pino fishermen as illegal and will be heard,” Robredo, a Filipino fi shermen noodles, It was not clear what prompt- Duterte’s spokesman, Harry that Scarborough Shoal was a ing, we have traditional fish- determined that it was a tra- lawyer, said. water and cigarettes in ex- ed Carpio’s call but broadcaster Roque, said the government traditional fi shing ground of ing rights there. Why do we ditional fishing ground for News footage aired on GMA change for the catch. GMA News reported on Monday would rather discuss the coral Filipino, Chinese and Vietnam- need China’s permission? the Philippines, China, Viet- Network last week showed The fi shermen, presented that Chinese fi shermen had har- destruction with China than fi le ese fi shermen. China refused to Their statement is a slap and nam and Taiwan. members of the Chinese Coast by the Palace in a news brief- vested giant clams and destroyed a case as that would only “re- recognise the ruling. insult to all Filipinos,” Ro- “We have been too soft in Guard taking the catch of Fili- ing, maintained that while they bredo said. dealing with Chinese incur- pino fi shermen at the Panatag could fi sh at the Panatag Shoal, Robredo was referring to sions. We should make our Shoal, reducing them to tears. it was under the control of Palace downplays petition against ICC withdrawal a UN Tribunal ruling issued voice of protest louder. If Presidential spokesperson China. Malacanang yesterday downplayed a petition filed fective” Duterte’s announced withdrawal from the by a non-government organisation (NGO) asking Rome Statute with the concurrence of at least 2/3 the Supreme Court (SC) to void the Philippines’ of the Senate. notice of withdrawal from a United Nations treaty The high court set the senators’ petition for certio- that created the International Criminal Court (ICC), rari and mandamus for oral arguments on July 24. Manila Times reported. In its petition, the coalition argued that Duterte Govt aims to arm community In a statement, Palace spokesman Harry Roque gravely abused his discretion and violated the insisted that there was no need for President constitutional system of checks and balances by Rodrigo Duterte to consult with the Senate on his unilaterally deciding to withdraw the Philippines’ government’s decision to withdraw from the Rome membership from the ICC, whose establishing leaders to help fi ght crime, drugs Statute. “We reiterate that the president is the treaty was ratified by the Senate in 2011. chief architect of the country’s foreign policy. The Duterte ordered the Philippines’ withdrawal from Constitution makes no mention that concurrence the Rome Statute after the ICC announced in Feb- Reuters in the performance of their duty. targeting users and small-time peddlers of the Senate is necessary to validate the Philip- ruary that it would begin its preliminary examina- Manila Martin Dino, the interior department in poor communities and accuse police of pines’ withdrawal from the International Criminal tion into charges of mass murder against him in undersecretary responsible for the coun- systematically executing suspects, often Court (ICC),” Roque said. “Again, this is not an issue connection with his controversial war on drugs. try’s 42,000 barangays, said handguns based on weak intelligence. The authori- that can be addressed by a certiorari. Hence, the The president said the ICC’s “politicised” nature has he Philippines’ interior ministry said would be provided for free, or private ties reject that and say all those killed were courts must defer matters on foreign aff airs to the prompted him to withdraw the country from the yesterday it plans to acquire pistols purchases subsidised, but only for baran- drug dealers who put up violent resistance Executive,” he said. Roque made the statement statute. He also cited the supposed failure of the Tfor community leaders willing to gay captains not involved in illegal drugs. and left police with no choice but to shoot after the Philippine Coalition for the International previous government to publish the treaty in the fi ght crime and drugs, prompting concern it Duterte has repeatedly said thousands them. The plan to arm civilians is supported Criminal Court yesterday asked the Supreme off icial gazette or newspaper of general circulation could fuel even more violence in the coun- of community officials were involved in by the association of barangay offi cials, ac- Court to declare as void from the beginning the as reason why it is “not eff ective nor enforceable” in try’s notoriously bloody crackdown. the trade, without elaborating. cording to its president, Edmund Abesamis. country’s withdrawal from the ICC. “Petitioners had the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday “The condition is that the barangay Barangay captains without fi rearms were been shut off a process that should take place in Duterte, known for his tough language, previously said he was considering arming community captain should fight drugs and crime. If reluctant to report illegal drug activities, for public deliberations that the Senate is supposed to said he was ready to face the ICC and answer all leaders, known as barangay captains, after he is conniving with criminals, he could fear of being targeted by gangs, he told CNN undertake precisely on the question of abnegat- the allegations against him. consulting with the police and intelligence be the one shot,” Dino told Reuters. Philippines yesterday. ing our international obligations under the Rome He even said, albeit in jest, that he was willing to be community. Duterte’s signature war on crime and Activist group Rise Up for Life and for Statute,” according to the petition. This pleading executed through a firing squad if proven guilty. He last week vowed to provide the same drugs has killed thousands of people and Rights, said the government was obsessed followed that of six opposition senators who asked Later, the president said the ICC could never have legal protection to barangay captains as he caused international alarm. with instilling fear among communities, the high tribunal to proclaim as “invalid and inef- jurisdiction over him. did soldiers or police, and they “will never Activists and Duterte’s political oppo- rather than tackling the root causes of drug go to jail” if they shot suspected criminals nents say the campaign is overwhelmingly addiction. Duterte says nation unlikely Senate bill seeks to simplify to be rice self-suffi cient marriage annulment process Reuters Manila By Bernadette E Tamayo July 2016, prescribing an addi- chological fees can be “even is both ineffi cient and ardu- Manila Times tional ground for annulment by more expensive.” ous depending on the nature of he Philippines is unlikely to become self- amending the Family Code of “Apart from the fi nancial the case and the available evi- suffi cient in rice production, President Ro- the Philippines. burden, seeking annulment dence.” Tdrigo Duterte said yesterday, appearing to enator Paolo Benigno Under Legarda’s measure, a is also a tiring, cumbersome “As a result, the annulment contradict his agriculture minister who had set “Bam” Aquino has fi led marriage may also be annulled and time-consuming process,” process can take years to con- a 2020 target to produce enough rice to meet the Sa measure that seeks to if the parties have “been sepa- Aquino said. clude. On September 8, 2015, country’s needs. simplify annulment procedures rated for at least fi ve years.” Her “Although not known to Pope Francis released two motu The Southeast Asian country is a frequent buyer by recognising an annulment of proposed amendment will “ca- many, the Catholic Church propio documents that were of rice mainly from Vietnam and Thailand, usually marriage by any church or reli- ter to those who cannot aff ord introduced reforms in 2015 to meant to make the annulment importing more than one million tonnes of the sta- gious sect upon order of a com- legal services by making litiga- streamline and hasten their process more effi cient. The date ple grain every year to meet domestic demand and petent court. tion as simple and expedient as annulment procedures. Pope of eff ectivity for the documents maintain stockpiles. Duterte: not confident on rice self-suff iciency Senate Bill 1815 aims to recog- possible.” Francis also stated that the an- was December 8, 2015,” Zubiri Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said last nise the annulment of marriage “Every Filipino must have nulment procedures “should be said. year the country could produce enough rice for its tion, or about 1.92mn tonnes. by a religious sect by amend- equal access to annulment pro- free,” he said. He added, “Given the strides own needs by 2020 with the help of free irrigation The NFA has so far bought 500,000 tonnes ing Article 36 of Executive Or- cedures, regardless of fi nancial “Taking a cue from the Cath- taken by the Church to improve and other state measures to boost output. mostly from Vietnam and Thailand and is set to im- der 209 or the Family Code of capacity,” Aquino said. olic Church and the Pope him- the effi ciency of the annulment “I do not believe we can be rice suffi cient,” Du- port an additional volume of up to 805,200 tonnes. the Philippines. Aquino’s bill is “With the process of an- self, the Philippines must take process and the State’s princi- terte said in a speech to offi cials of state universities Duterte said yesterday he wants NFA warehouses to similar to the measure fi led by nulment being both tedious steps to improve its laws on ple of equality before the law, at the presidential palace. “If you’d ask me, in the be fi lled “up to the ceiling” with rice. Senate Majority Leader Juan and expensive, it has become annulment, beginning with the this bill proposes to recognise next how many years, we will just have to import “I do not care if we have to sell it at a lower price Miguel Zubiri in March that a privilege for the rich rather recognition of religious annul- church annulments to have the rice,” Duterte said.He said shrinking farmland and someday if there’s a glut in the market,” he said. Re- proposes to recognise church than the right of every Filipino ments,” the senator added. same eff ect as an annulment a growing population made it diffi cult to produce tail rice prices in the Philippines have risen stead- annulments to have “the same citizen,” he said. Zubiri said that although di- declared by a competent court.” enough rice to meet domestic needs. ily since the start of the year due to the absence of eff ect as an annulment declared He noted that a lawyer’s ac- vorce remains a contentious Legarda noted that in 2012, In April, Duterte ordered the National Food Au- government-subsidised supply in the market. by a competent court.” ceptance fee alone can cost at issue in the Catholic Church, the Offi ce of the Solicitor Gen- thority (NFA) to build up its depleted rice stockpiles This has fed infl ation which hit its highest level in On the other hand, Sen. least P80,000 while pleading annulment of marriage is al- eral (OSG) received 10,528 an- to the equivalent of 60 days of national consump- at least fi ve years in May. Loren Legarda fi led SB 410 in fees, appearance fees and psy- lowed. “However, the process nulment cases. Senator Hontiveros demands foreign policy ‘audit’

By Bernadette E Tamayo foreign policy. The senator said a She wants to know “what dip- which is within the country’s ex- larly the arbitral tribunal ruling sessment of its foreign policy vis-a-vis China.” Hontiveros Manila Times foreign policy audit would scru- lomatic platforms and channels clusive economic zone (EEZ). on the WPS. directions and implementation,” was referring to the claim of For- tinise the diplomatic actions were used” to address Chinese Hontiveros said a foreign “Amid the timidity, silence she said. “It’s time to audit its eign Aff airs Secretary Alan Peter taken by the Department of For- incursions, as well as the report- policy audit would determine if and opacity about how govern- foreign policy, especially the so- Cayetano that his department enator Risa Hontiveros has eign Aff airs against China’s mili- ed harassment of Filipino fi sher- the foreign policy framework is ment carries its foreign policy called 50-100 diplomatic pro- fi led 50 to 100 diplomatic pro- called for an “audit” of the tarisation in the West Philippine men by the Chinese Coast Guard in compliance with Manila’s in- work, we need a public, partici- tests and actions undertaken by tests against China but opted not SDuterte administration’s Sea (WPS). in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, ternational obligations, particu- patory and comprehensive as- the foreign aff airs department to publicise them. Gulf Times 26 Thursday, June 14, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Singapore show for Trump and Kim, or progress to peace?

No details, no timetable, no verifi cation, no mention of human rights, too many concessions, too little in return. There was nothing conventional about the face-to- face meeting between Trump and Kim or the feverish run-up to the summit in Singapore on June 12. Trump is not practising anything like traditional diplomacy anywhere. His style has been obnoxious, disconcerting World Cup pirates threatening and, at times, disagreeable. But when it comes to North Korea, consider: Decades of orthodox diplomacy led to exactly what American negotiators wanted to prevent – a nuclear-armed North Korea. future of sports broadcasting So who’s to say getting unorthodox won’t work? There are concerns whether this process will lead By Professor Daniel copyrights because of the immense would simply be unavailable, and KSA beoutQ service, ArabSat’s facilitation to long-term peace. But one also understands the Gervais value that rests within the exclusive authorities would be expected to take of that service, and the failure of Saudi summit was the fi rst inning of what always was going London right of broadcasting.” action to enforce the ban. Arabia (including its judicial system) The international legal framework is However, the beIN signal isn’t to take action against this piracy to be a long and tedious game. Follow-up is everything. relatively straightforward. censored in the KSA – after all, the likely amount to multiple violations Details will be critical. That will require discipline ommercial- Copyright law must comply with signal is simply broadcasting football of the TRIPS Agreement: by failing and commitment, not qualities typically associated scale piracy is rules contained in the Agreement on matches and other sports content. to provide national treatment; by a plague. Trade-related Intellectual Property Instead, beIN’s content is made failing to protect copyright rights in with Trump. Then again, the sitting leaders of the two If tolerated, Rights (TRIPS Agreement) of the World available by a service widely available broadcasts and works contained in nations had never met before this week. To borrow C over time it can destroy an industry. Trade Organisation (WTO), of which in Saudi Arabia known as beoutQ, those broadcasts; and by failing to from the president’s patter, we’ll see what happens. A particularly troubling example is both Qatar and the KSA are members. which has found a way to decrypt the provide adequate enforcement options It certainly was strange to hear Trump praise Kim starting to take root in international A fundamental principle of the TRIPS beIN signal, which it then transmits via to beIN. sports broadcasting – particularly Agreement is that countries cannot ArabSat to its subscribers. It is beIN that has been targeted repeatedly as “talented” football. discriminate against foreigners. To do so, it sells decoder boxes for now for political reasons, but any and a man who “loves The widespread piracy currently Under a rule known as ‘national embossed with the beoutQ logo, and international broadcaster could be next. Any agreement, his people” – when spreading throughout the Middle East treatment’, WTO members must subscriptions to the beoutQ service. If this situation continues, the logical he has killed family has largely been ignored. provide ‘no less favourable’ treatment Tweets promoting the beoutQ consequence will be that the sale of in the end, It has been overshadowed by a to nationals of other WTO members service use the rhetoric of professional exclusive broadcasting rights to sports members and has a wider diplomatic dispute between the than they provide to their own pirates who describe all intellectual and other events will be signifi cantly hinges on what deplorable record of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and nationals. property rights, especially patents or more diffi cult in the future. human rights abuses. It Qatar, and including the United Arab WTO members must also protect copyrights, as “monopolies” that must Devaluing the key asset of rights- Kim wants Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain. copyright and provide adequate be dismantled. holders in the fi nancing of many was odd to hear Trump Regardless of this geopolitical enforcement options. And the satellite broadcaster, ArabSat important events is self-evidently say he trusted Kim, one of three generations of North context, if left unchecked, the piracy How are these rules applicable (headquartered in the KSA), has a threat to fans, athletes, and the Korean family known for reneging on promises. And it we are seeing perpetrated threatens to the situation emanating out of reportedly refused to take any action to organisations that support them. the future of international sports the Middle East? FIFA has granted discontinue the pirated transmission. Allowing pirates, and those was jarring to hear Trump talk of the special bond he broadcasting around the world. exclusive World Cup broadcasting beIN has tried to enforce its rights facilitating those pirates, to get away has with Kim, just days after he blew up relationships Let’s start with the basics. rights in the Middle East to Doha- in Saudi Arabia only to fi nd that it with large-scale piracy for political with actual longtime allies in the G7. But that was Professional sports organisations, based beIN Sports. and other Qatari-headquartered reasons creates a poor precedent. such as the Fédération Internationale beIN also has exclusive rights to the international companies have no access Multilateral rules are meant to avoid partly show to demonstrate strength to Kim. Trump de Football Association (FIFA), which Premier League, Champions League to the legal system in that country. these unfair situations. understands optics better than anyone. organises the World Cup, depend in and FA Cup fi nal, among others. There is little doubt that the Those rules are being openly fl outed That’s why he showed Kim a video that placed the large part on the ability to sell exclusive beIN uses encryption to protect professional broadcast of a match, and the future of international sports North Korean leader at a “what-if” moment, choosing broadcasting rights to generate income. its signal and make it available to with creative choices made as to broadcasting is at stake. Without this stream of income, those subscribers, as satellite and pay-per- which camera and which angle to use, between isolation and prosperity – and included organisations and the professional view services do all around the world. the editing and selection of clips for zProfessor Gervais is the Milton R renderings of new beachfront condos and hotels. sports they support likely could not The diplomatic dispute between replays, selection of shots, the use of Underwood Chair in Law at Vanderbilt It’s why Trump agreed to suspend military exercises exist. Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which began split screens, commentary, etc., merits University; president, International This is also true of sports events last summer, led to what is eff ectively a copyright protection. Association for the Advancement of with South Korea, drills he can always reinstate – he that require massive infrastructural ban of the beIN service in the kingdom. As the World Intellectual Property Teaching and Research in Intellectual understood Kim needed to bring back to his people investments—the Olympic Games, for This normally would mean that this Organisation’s (WIPO) (again, of which Property (ATRIP); and author of a some tangible sign of success to keep negotiations on example. signal would not be available in the KSA. both Qatar and the KSA are members) leading treatise on the history and track. That’s the charitable interpretation. The other The ability to sell broadcasting rights, Under international rules, WTO guide makes clear, “rebroadcasting interpretation of the WTO TRIPS in turn, depends on the existence of members are allowed to censor content, or cable distribution of a broadcast Agreement. take is that Trump got rolled by the callow Kim. exclusive rights of copyright. eg for moral reasons, but this is not without authorisation and usually The author is writing in a personal It’s too early to know whether these are the intuitive As the noted international legal censorship. for commercial purposes including capacity and was asked by beIN to strokes of a master salesman, or the seeds of disaster. scholar Charles McManis rightly stated, If there were grounds for legitimate ‘bootlegging’ are acts of piracy. provide his objective opinion on the The continued existence of the Did Trump sign an agreement with Kim so full of “sports organisations must police their censorship, the censored content situation described in the article. holes as to be useless? Or is it so fl exible that it can lead to more specifi c agreements? Will it bring about complete, verifi able, irreversible denuclearisation and an improvement in living conditions for North Korea’s people? Or was Singapore just a photo-op for a man who craves accolades on the world stage? Trump acknowledged he could fi nd out in six months that he was wrong about Kim. One hopes he’s not. Because any agreement, in the end, hinges on what Kim wants. The two nations have tried to walk together before, but those journeys went nowhere. It’s up to Trump to make sure this new path doesn’t hit the same dead end. – Tribune News Service

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved FIFA has granted exclusive World Cup broadcasting rights in the Middle East to Doha-based beIN Sports. Gulf Times Thursday, June 14, 2018 27 COMMENT Belgium hopes to shine at World Cup: envoy

oday, the FIFA World Cup in Russia will be kicking off . Excitement is tangible in all Tparticipating countries, with favourites already been designated left right and centre. To many observers, one of the participants, the star-studded Belgian squad, is considered an important outsider, a dark horse that stands a good chance of running an excellent race. With 12 appearances so far, Belgium has been a regular contender in the fi nal stages of the World Cup. Their best result was a 4th spot in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, with superstars Jean-Marie Pfaff and Enzo Scifo. Belgium hopes to repeat or indeed surpass this exploit in Russia. The signs are promising: the Belgian squad hurled through their qualifying matches like a whirlwind, losing not a Bart De Groof, Belgian ambassador in single match, scoring a record 43 goals, Doha. and qualifying as the fi rst European team for Russia. team, commonly known as the Red What makes the Belgian team stand Devils, is immensely popular. They out, and what is the secret of Belgium’s act as a catalyst for the promotion of success? Questions for Bart De Groof, football in the country. This way, it the Belgian ambassador in Doha. becomes a self-fulfi lling prophecy. Q: Why does Belgium have such Many young children are inspired a good team ? by their great idols and are keen to A: Belgium is a small country of start to play football themselves. The 11mn inhabitants, and yet we are Belgian football federation is highly witnessing a proliferation of very professional and steers all this young talented players, competing with the talent in a remarkable yet judicious absolute world top. We can certainly manner, starting from the very basics, speak of a ‘golden generation’. Partly, fostering young kids’ enthusiasm, this is just due to good luck, but there’s accompanying them all the way, which more to it. in return yields new talents for the next Firstly, Belgium has sports in its generation. genes. Football is the most popular Next to this, Belgium has an Belgium’s defenders Thomas Vermaelen, Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Meunier disembark from a plane upon the team’s arrival at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport sport at the moment but it’s not excellent sports infrastructure and a yesterday, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. the only one. For instance, Belgians lot of technical expertise, so that young are smitten with cycling, where players are coached in the most ideal emblematic Fellaini haircut wig. Public as Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, dynamic country. considerable soft power, through its we have an unparalleled tradition. circumstances. Many Belgian sports screening is organised everywhere Thibault Courtois or Kevin Debruyne In a way our team epitomises what achievements in culture, science, Cycling legends such as Eddy Merckx companies are also active in Doha, and people are extremely enthusiastic are already widely known. we stand for as a nation. We are open and now sports. In our latest tourism are well known in Qatar, as he was off ering world class services, expertise about their squad. It’s a moment As Belgium, we are very proud of and outward looking, bridge-builders promotion campaign, we describe involved in the organisation of the and materials in the run-up to the that makes us come together as the team that is a perfect example by nature. These characteristics ourselves as a uniquely phenomenal Tour of Qatar and the World Cycling World Cup in Qatar. Belgians and we support our country of the Belgian multicultural society. translate into our diplomacy, which country. This is certainly true for our championships in 2016 in Doha. More Q: How proud is Belgium of its unreservedly. The parents of some of our top is multilateral to the core. Last week national team: not only do they stand recently, swimming and especially national team? Belgians are modest people, players came to Belgium from Belgium, together with Germany, was out for their individual talents, but hockey have become very popular, A: At a moment like this, with but this time nobody can deny the Mali, Congo, Indonesia, Portugal, chosen for the European group to serve they’re also very typical Belgians in and our hockey team, the Red Lions Belgium expected to give a good intrinsic quality and pure class of Martinique or Morocco, offering on the UN Security Council in 2019- the sense that they’re excellent team have won silver in the Rio Olympic show in Russia, the ‘Red Devils fever’ the Belgian team. All Belgian players their talents to our country. It’s 2020, a challenge that we will take on players. games in 2016. is reaching new heights. People are are active in the most demanding a source of great pride for us that eagerly. The team has grown a lot over the But undoubtedly football is king dressing up in Red Devils outfi ts, competitions in Europe: England, their sons are showcasing Belgium Last but not least, the World Cup last years and I’m sure they will be a at the moment, and the Belgian including caps, tridents and the Spain, Germany and Italy. Names to the world as an inclusive and reminds us that Belgium yields force to be reckoned with. Live issues

Three-day forecast

TODAY Genome-editing Maximum Temperature : 450c Minimum Temperature : 340c tool could raise FRIDAY Maximum Temperature : 430c Minimum Temperature : 320c cancer risk

SATURDAY Maximum Temperature : 420c QNA Minimum Temperature : 320c London Fisherman's forecast

WARNING herapeutic use of gene Inshore : Nil editing with the so-called Offshore : Strong wind and high CRISPR-Cas9 technique may sea at places at times inadvertently increase the WEATHER T Inshore : Hot daytime with slight risk of cancer, according to a new study dust at times. from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, WIND and the University of Helsinki, Finland, Inshore : Northwesterly-North- published in Nature Medicine. easterly 05-15 KT Researchers say that more studies Offshrore : Northwesterly 08-18/25 are required in order to guarantee the KT at places at times safety of these ‘molecular scissors’ for Visibility : 04-09 KM gene-editing therapies. CRISPR-Cas9 is a molecular Offshore : 3-6/8 FT at places machine fi rst discovered in bacteria attimes. that can be programmed to go to an exact place in the genome, where it cuts the DNA. These precise ‘molecular scissors’ can be used to Around the region correct faulty pieces of DNA and are currently being used in clinical trials Weather Weather for cancer immunotherapy in the US today Max/min tomorrow Max/min and China. New trials are expected Baghdad Sunny 43/31 Sunny 43/32 to be launched soon so as to treat Kuwait City Sunny 43/32 Sunny 43/32 inherited blood disorders such as sickle Manama Sunny 41/32 Sunny 40/33 cell anaemia. Muscat Sunny 38/34 Sunny 39/34 Two independent articles published Tehran Sunny 33/22 M Sunny 33/23 in the journal Nature Medicine now report that therapeutic application of the genome-editing tool may, in fact, increase the risk of cancer. In one of the studies, scientists from Karolinska Institutet and the University of Helsinki report that use of CRISPR- Cas9 in human cells in a laboratory setting can activate a protein known as p53, which acts as a cell’s ‘fi rst aid kit’ for DNA breaks. Once active, p53 reduces the effi ciency of CRISPR- Cas9 gene editing. Thus, cells that do not have p53 or are unable to activate it show better gene editing. Around the world Unfortunately, however, lack of p53 is Weather Weather also known to contribute to making today Max/min tomorrow Max/min cells grow uncontrollably and become Athens M Sunny 34/22 Sunny 32/20 cancerous. Beirut M Sunny 27/23 Sunny 27/24 Bangkok P Cloudy 33/27 T Storm 32/27 Berlin Sunny 23/14 Cloudy 24/13 Cairo Sunny 38/25 Sunny 41/29 Cape Town Rain 16/12 Showers 15/11 Colombo T Storm 29/26 T Storm 29/26 Dhaka S T Storms 34/27 P Cloudy 36/28 Hong Kong Rain 31/27 S Showers 31/27 Istanbul Sunny 29/19 P Cloudy 30/21 Jakarta P Cloudy 33/26 P Cloudy 33/26 Karachi Cloudy 33/29 P Cloudy 32/29 London S Showers 21/11 P Cloudy 22/12 Manila T Storm 30/26 T Storm 30/26 Moscow M Cloudy 19/08 P Cloudy 21/11 Gulf Times 28 Thursday, June 14, 2018 QATAR

Farewell for Argentine, Pakistani envoys SEC brings fun-fi lled shows for holidays

From Page 1 Individual game prices range from QR10 to QR35. Other Spread over 29,000sq m of the space at DECC, the City’s options are also available for unlimited gaming experience. key features include the world’s largest bouncy castle, syn- SEC is one of the biggest events lined up for the fi fth edi- thetic ice skating rink, bungee trampoline, 12 skill games, tion of QSF, organised by Qatar Tourism Authority. QSF virtual reality setup, amusement rides, video games, and 2018, held under the theme “Colour Your Summer,” will live entertainment shows, among others. kick off tomorrow (June 15) and will run until August 31.

HE the Secretary-General of Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi held a farewell ceremony yesterday in the honour of Argentine ambassador Rossana Cecilia Surballe and Pakistani ambassador Shahzad Ahmad on the occasion of the end of their terms in the country. The ceremony, held at the Diplomatic Club, was attended by heads of diplomatic missions, and off icers accredited of the State of Qatar, and directors of departments of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. Adil Ahmed QSports has set up a huge virtual reality zone. PICTURES: Jayan Orma

Snapshots from the MEC’s inspection campaigns. The MEC had announced round-the-clock inspection campaigns before, throughout and after the holy month of Ramadan. MEC launches intensive inspection drive for Eid he Ministry of Economy order to protect consumer rights, features, characteristics and price, crees to the competent authorities, 90 fi nes and Commerce (MEC) has the statement notes. The inspec- issue complete invoices in Arabic, who will, in turn, take appropriate Tannounced that it is car- tion campaigns come within the comply with the fruits and vegeta- action against the perpetrators in Inspection campaigns during rying out intensive inspection framework of the ministry’s Ram- bles price bulletin, off er a warranty order to protect consumer rights. Ramadan targeted more than campaigns before and during Eid adan initiatives under the theme for a period that corresponds with The ministry also aims to pro- 7,000 shops across the country al-Fitr. The initiative targets vari- ‘#Aqal_Min_Al_Wajeb’. the nature of the service and to re- mote awareness among consum- and resulted in 90 fines, the ous commercial activities across The MEC had announced fund consumers or off er the service ers about their rights and duties by Ministry of Economy and Com- Qatar, including shops selling Eid round-the-clock inspection cam- properly, refrain from displaying continuously off ering tips in this merce said yesterday. Violations accessories, the MEC has said in a paigns before, throughout and after and selling expired and substand- regard. included missing price tags, statement. the holy month of Ramadan. The ard products. This comes within the frame- non-compliance with the veg- The activities covered by the campaigns target all commercial Also, it has asked merchants to work of its eff orts to educate the etables and fruits price bulletin, campaigns include men’s and activities and sectors across Qatar refrain from charging consumers community on various life aspects off ering unlicensed promotions, women’s accessories shops, to ensure the compliance of sup- higher than the advertised price, and promote a culture of sound misleading weights, missing readymade garments and chil- pliers with laws and implementing refrain from off ering promotions consumption in the State. invoices, charging custom- dren’s clothing, perfumes and regulations governing commercial without obtaining a licence from In this context, the MEC has ers more than the advertised accessories, shoes, textile shops activities in order to uncover and the competent department, refrain urged all consumers to request price, missing country-of-origin for men and women, tailoring crack down on violations. from increasing prices without ob- for a detailed invoice, check the labels, failing to display product shops, gold and jewellery stores The ministry has urged mer- taining the approval of the compe- product’s quality and compare its descriptions in Arabic, failing as well as fruits and vegetables chants and retail outlets to tent department and refrain from price before and after discounts. to Arabise bills and posting two shops, stores selling sweets, sa- comply with laws and minis- falsely describing or advertising a Consumers should also check for price tags on the same product. lons for men and women, and car terial circulars and to provide product in a misleading manner. product-related data such as the The MEC had announced round- washing centres, according to high-quality products and serv- Violations of Law No 8 of 2008 production and expiry date, coun- the-clock inspection campaigns the ministry. The campaigns are ices to consumers while caution- on Consumer Protection result try of origin and price, as well for before, throughout and after aimed at ensuring the compli- ing against taking advantage of in penalties ranging from admin- clear price tags and be aware of the the holy month of Ramadan. ance of suppliers (retail outlets) events and holidays to raise pric- istrative closure to fi nes between data required to fi le a complaint The campaigns target all com- with their obligations under Law es and exploit consumers. QR3,000 and QR1mn. against the shop or supplier. mercial activities and sectors No 8 of 2008 on Consumer Pro- It has advised merchants to The ministry has stressed that it Consumers have been advised to across Qatar to ensure the com- tection. advertise the price of products will not tolerate any violations of report violations or submit com- pliance of suppliers with laws The MEC traditionally inten- and services, display explana- the Consumer Protection Law and plaints and suggestions through the and implementing regulations sifi es its inspection campaigns tory product labels, use Arabic in its regulations, and will intensify call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@ governing commercial activities before and during Eid to monitor product labels and ads, clearly label its inspection campaigns to crack mec.gov.qa, Twitter: MEC_QATAR, in order to uncover and crack markets and commercial activi- discounted products and show the down on violations. Instagram: MEC_QATAR and the down on violations. ties in a bid to crack down on price price before and after the discount The MEC will refer those who ministry’s app on iPhone and An- manipulation and violations in period, clearly specify the service’s violate laws and ministerial de- droid devices: MEC_QATAR Barzan Holdings-Milaha deal to enhance logistics co-operation

n line with the vision to en- president and CEO, Milaha and holding commercial registration Through its work, Barzan hance Qatar’s defence and Nasser Hassan al-Naimi, man- number 1, and we have a long Holdings seeks to promote and Isecurity capabilities, Barzan aging director, Barzan Holdings, history of supporting the various enhance research and develop- Holdings has signed a memo- along with a group of senior of- military sectors in the State of ment in Qatar’s defence and se- randum of understanding (MoU) fi cials from both parties. Qatar. We are pleased to sign this curity sectors in order to achieve with Milaha (Qatar Navigation) Al-Naimi said: “We believe in memorandum today with our the invention of country names in Doha yesterday. the importance of developing ac- partners at Barzan Holdings, and in order to achieve its mission to Barzan Holdings - 100% curate plans for projects before we look forward to a fruitful co- invest in human capital. owned by the Ministry of De- they are implemented, requiring operation, through which we will Milaha was established in July fence - was established in 2016 as extensive research with our stake- off er comprehensive solutions 1957 as the fi rst public share- a limited liability company head- holders to ensure the best results. using our strong capabilities and holding company registered in quartered at the Qatar Science “The signing of this MoU with expertise in the maritime and lo- Qatar and its current activities and Technology Park (QSTP) and Milaha forms part of our strate- gistics sectors for the benefi t of include marine transportation in is responsible for empowering gic plan to form close links with the State of Qatar.” gas, petroleum products, con- the military capabilities of the offi cial organisations in Qatar Barzan Holdings conducts a tainers and bulk; off shore sup- Qatar Armed Forces. and operate as an integrated sys- wide range of projects, including port services; port management The signing ceremony was tem.” supporting Qatar’s various mili- and operations; logistics serv- held at Barzan Holdings’ head- Al-Mannai said: “Milaha tary sectors (air, land and sea) as ices; shipyard; trading agencies; quarters and attended by Ab- is proud to be the fi rst public well as projects related to com- real estate investments; and asset dulrahman Essa al-Mannai, shareholding company in Qatar, munications and software. management. Al-Mannai (left) with al-Naimi following the MoU signing between Barzan Holdings and Milaha yesterday.