BUSINESS | 17 SPORT | 24 ATA Carnet to Amir Cup win at Khalifa bbecomee operational Stadium is ‘crowning from August 1 glory’ of Nam’s career

Wednesday 23 May 2018 | 7 Ramadan I 1439 www.thepeninsula.qa Volume 23 | Number 7535 | 2 Riyals

PM meets Australian Minister Amir checks Despite siege, Qatar on Palestinian gives healthcare to President’s health QNA

DOHA: Amir H H Sheikh entire population Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a telephone conversation last evening with the Pres- THE PENINSULA Qatar continued providing ident of the State of Palestine healthcare services to Mahmoud Abbas to check on the entire population, DOHA: Minister of Public Health, his health. including the citizens H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al of the countries of the During the phone call the Kuwari has stressed that the blockade, based on our Amir wished Abbas speedy unjust blockade imposed on the absolute belief that health recovery and good health and State of Qatar since June 2017 is was a basic human right, wellness. contrary to international conven- and human rights should tions. not be affected by political “Although the blockade differences, Minister of suddenly targeted having Public Health, H E Dr impact on citizens in food and Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with Australian medicine but our country said at the 71st session Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud. They discussed aspects of joint worked to overcome this through of the World Health cooperation and means of supporting and strengthening them in various fields. →SEE ALSO PAGE 2 urgent plans to deal with the sit- Assembly in Geneva. uation with the aim of providing RAMADAN TIMING food and medicine by finding other alternatives,” the Minister development of healthcare Todays Iftar: 6:18 pm said in her speech at the 71st system, good health and well- Tomorrow’s Imsak: 03:09 am session of the World Health being of existing and future gen- Assembly in Geneva yesterday. erations. She said that Qatar was She said that Qatar con- committed to achieve compre- tinued providing healthcare hensive healthcare coverage. Rise of dollar benefits services to the entire popu- The Minister added that in lation, including the citizens of 2008, Qatar had launched its the countries of the blockade, National Vision, which empha- Asian expatriates based on Qatar’s absolute belief sized comprehensive healthcare that health was a basic human coverage to all residents in the Fahes renews right, and human rights should country. “Our country provides SACHIN KUMAR not be affected by political dif- government-subsidized extra, compared to at the strengthened recently supported contract with ferences. Al Kuwari pointed out healthcare services across the THE PENINSULA beginning of 2018, for every variety of factors. The ICE dollar that Qatar under the wise lead- country and is available to all cit- rupee they are remitting back index, which measures the MoI for 5 years ership of Amir H H Sheikh izens and residents.” DOHA: The recent rise in the to their families. dollar against a basket of six Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was value of dollar has given reason Pakistani rupee was trading other currencies, reached a five- THE PENINSULA working on the continuous →CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 to cheer for expatriates in at 30.10 per Qatari riyal on month high of 94.058 on Qatar, specially Asians. Most January 1 this year and now it Monday. of the Asian currencies have has depreciated to around 31.54 “The dollar has been DOHA: Woqod Vehicles depreciated by around up to 6 against one riyal, showing a gain boosted by the fact US data have Inspection (Fahes) percent in the past four of Rs1.44 per riyal. Similarly, Sri been positive, the Federal announced yesterday that it months, giving expatriates of Lankan rupee also weakened Reserve is expected raise has renewed its contract these countries extra value for around 1.4 percent since the interest rates further during the with Ministry of Interior their money. beginning of this year as the cur- year and the tensions between (MOI) for carrying out the Among the Asians, expa- rency depreciated from 41.80 the US and China on trade issues mandatory annual vehicle triates of Nepal, Pakistan and Sri per riyal at the start of the year have eased,” an analyst with a inspections for five years. Lanka have gained the most as to 43.21 now. local brokerage house told The “Woqod Vehicles currencies of these countries Indian rupee has depre- Peninsula. Inspection (Fahes) is pleased have fallen the most since ciated by around 6.5 percent The American currency is to announce that it has January 1 this year. as the currency has fallen from expected to strengthen in during renewed its contract with A depreciating currency 17.40 per riyal at the beginning the next six months. Ministry of Interior (MOI) augurs well for expatriates of the year to 18.53 now. “The dollar index has for carrying out the man- QIIB Extraordinary General meeting because they get additional The Philippine peso has gained momentum as US datory annual vehicle income because of decline. One fallen around 5 percent to 14.27 interest rates look set to con- inspections for a period of Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani (right), Chairman Nepalese rupee was trading per riyal now from 13.6 per riyal tinue rising and the US five years (2018 – 2023),” and Managing Director of Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB), around 27.9 per Qatari riyal at at the beginning of the year. economy remains on solid said Engineer Saad Rashid and Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, Vice- the beginning of the year while Euro, Bangladeshi taka and footing,” the analyst said. Al Muhannadi, Chief Exec- Chairman, during the third Extraordinary General Meeting of the currency is now trading at Egyptian pound have not shown Rising bond yield has also sup- utive Officer, Qatar Fuel → QIIB at Ezdan Towers, yesterday. REPORT ON PAGE 17 29.62 per riyal. significant fluctuations since the ported dollar. The10-year US (Woqod). PIC: BAHER AMIN / THE PENINSULA It shows that Nepali expa- beginning of this year. Treasury yield had hit the level triates are now getting Rs1.72 American currency has of 3 percent in April this year. →CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Material used at Al Bayt Stadium named after 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar

DOHA: The unique construction Bedouin tent, will be named after will greet fans once inside the Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which fabric used in Al Bayt Stadium the iconic 2022 FIFA World Cup stadium. The 60,000-seat hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Al Khor City to resemble Qatar. capacity venue, which is located final, and Allianz Arena, home of the inside of a traditional The state-of-the-art material 60km north of Doha, continues Bundesliga champions Bayern made by Serge Ferrari Group in to take shape with the recent Munich. France will be known across the completion of the primary roof The PTFE for the exterior of world as Bayt Line. steel structure and installation of the stadium was manufactured The stadium design is the inner and outer façade mem- in Germany by Verseidag before inspired by the bayt al sha’ar of brane advancing rapidly. being shipped to Turkey for fab- nomadic peoples who have lived The façade membrane – rication, a process which included WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT in Qatar for generations. Tradi- which will give the stadium its intricate cutting to deliver the Included with tionally, the tents of nomadic tent-like appearance – is made final tent shape. The interior tribes and families in Qatar could from an innovative material material was manufactured in today’s edition is a be identified by black stripes, like called polytetrafluoroethylene France before being shipped to those that will feature on the (PTFE), which has been used for Turkey for the same process. special supplement arena’s distinctive exterior, and similar developments around the A view of the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City resembling the inside by the vibrant sadu patterns that world, including the Maracaná →CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 of a traditional Bedouin tent.

→PAGE 14 →PAGE 15 →PAGE 15 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 Qatar and Australia review bilateral relations Minister meets outgoing Argentine Ambassador

Minister of Economy and Commerce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Mohammed Al Thani, met yesterday the visiting Australian Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, David Littleproud, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral relations and discussed aspects of joint cooperation, especially in the field of economic, trade and investment, and means of developing them. The meeting also discussed developments on the subject of Australian livestock exports to the Middle East. Minister of Municipality and Environment, H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, met yesterday with the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the State, Rossana Cecilia Surballe, on the occasion of the end of her term of office. The Minister also met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Hungary to Qatar, Fodor Barnabas, and discussed with him ways to enhance cooperation between Despite siege, Qatar gives Qatar and Hungary in areas of mutual interest. healthcare to entire population CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ‘Night Market’ to facilitate “Qatar has witnessed in last few years a significant expansion in the number of healthcare services and facilities meeting 60 start-up businesses high standards of quality,” said Minister of Public Health, H E Dr THE PENINSULA Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari. The Minister said that healthcare sector had achieved DOHA: Under the umbrella of important milestones through Bedaya Center for Entrepre- the implementation of the neurship and Career Devel- National Health Strategy 2011- opment (Bedaya Center), the 2016, adding that the next phase joint initiative by Qatar Devel- of the strategy 2018-2022, was opment Bank and Silatech, 60 based on the strong pillars and start-up projects took part at the focused on three objectives of “Night Market”, the first market better health, better care and Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, at of its kind in Doha, during the better value. the conference. nights of the holy month at the She also stressed that Qatar parking lot of the Al Duhail in its humanitarian and interna- to the health rights of people development goals set by all Sports Club. tional role, was providing devel- living in countries which suffer states in adoption of the United The “Night Market” is a opmental support to needed from long-term emergencies, Nations Development Agenda. unique concept set for the first countries, including contributing particularly in our region.” “We need to fulfill our com- time in the State of Qatar, which to supporting sustainable devel- She concluded by stressing mitment in each country and depends on the processing of opment projects such as health that ensuring comprehensive work together through concerted containers to be a distinct and education projects. “We also health coverage for all citizens international efforts to achieve location for selling products and emphasize here the need to was an essential element in this fundamental goal at the goods from different categories increase international attention achieving the sustainable global level,” she observed. and facilitates the work and reduces the cost to tenants, especially for SMEs and start- ups entrepreneurs. It also meets the needs of the local com- Fahes renews contract with MoI for 5 years munity by offering a variety of products at a special gathering CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Wakra Al Shahaniya and Al Egda) comprising 36 location during the holy month During its past tenure, has delivered distin- lanes and five mobile units”. of Ramadan from 8 pm to 2am. guished service by building more stations with latest He added Woqod recognises that the need to “Dukan Bedaya” is partici- global technology and making it more convenient build more stations is imminent with the constantly pating at the first edition of for its valued customers, through the implemen- growing population, in line with Qatar Vision 2030. “Night Market” throughout tation of single - window system. This resulted in Mindful of this, the contract for the construction Ramadan 2018 with 60 busi- The ‘Night Market’ at the parking lot of the Al Duhail Sports Club. reducing the travelling and waiting time for renewal Fahes Al Mazrooaa center has been awarded, and nesses working in different of registration certificate, enhancing customer sat- Woqod is currently engaged in the planning for industries varying between isfaction by investing in its workforce through tech- Fahes Mowater City project. spices, tea, coffee, clothing different categories and lines of of Ramadan where this partic- nical training to enable it to keep up with the latest “We thank the Ministry of Interior and the apparels, perfumes, accessories, business, but they are in tune ipation represents a unique developments in testing techniques and vehicle people of Qatar for reposing trust in us since our incense, kids clothing, etc. with the Ramadan atmosphere opportunity for them to display models and technologies. inception in 2003 and we feel proud to play an On this occasion, Reem Al- through the nature of their their products and their show Engineer Al Muhannadi further stated: “We active role in enhancing the traffic safety in the Suwaidi, General Manager of goods.” their abilities in promoting their started the inspection service in 2003 with one State of Qatar by ensuring safety and technical Bedaya Center, said: “We are “We have been able to business and projects, especially permanent station in industrial area, comprising fitness of vehicles used on our roads. We highly participating at the first night provide the best opportunity for with the Night Market’s special six lanes and three mobile units. Today we have value our partnership with the Ministry of Interior market in town taking place at entrepreneurs to showcase their timing and working hours that geographically expanded and have seven per- in pursuit of providing the highest level of service Al Duhail Sports Club with 60 projects and communicate are distinctive and suitable for manent stations across Qatar (Industrial area, to our beloved country and to all the people living businesses under Dukan Bedaya. better with a large segment of the whole family and segments Mesaimeer west, Wadi Al Banat, Al Wukair, Al across the country,” he added. Even though they work in society during the holy month of the society.” Material used at Al Bayt Stadium named after 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the delivery phase of this major facilities, including the new The construction of Al Bayt stadium,” said Dr Al Hajeri. “The energy centre building, which Stadium-Al Khor City, which installation of the roof and will provide innovative cooling will feature a retractable roof façade membrane takes us technology for the entire venue and state-of-the-art cooling another step closer to com- once completed.” technology, is being overseen pletion. Once this part of the Post-2022, the stadium’s by the Supreme Committee for project is finished, we will begin capacity will be reduced to Delivery & Legacy (SC), the fitting the retractable roof approximately 30,000, with the body responsible for delivering system that will be one of the upper tier of seats donated to the infrastructure required for hallmarks of this venue.” countries in need of sporting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Commenting on the pace of infrastructure. Aspire Zone Foundation is construction, Eng. Mohemed The upper concourse, responsible for the day-to-day Ahmed, the SC’s Al Bayt Sta- meanwhile, will be converted delivery of the stadium. Dr dium-Al Khor City Project into a hotel. A host of facilities, Nasser Al Hajeri, Project Manager, said: “Installing the including retail and enter- Director for Al Bayt Stadium- first roof and membrane panels tainment venues – as well as Al Khor City, said installing the at the north end of the stadium an additional branch of the membrane was a major mile- means the entire structure is world-leading sports medicine stone in getting the stadium now visible for miles around. clinic Aspetar – will be incor- ready for 2022. Construction is on progress porated into the venue in legacy The construction of Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor City. “We are heading towards across the precinct and related mode. WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 HOME 03 Transport Minister discusses ties with envoys Qatar Airways launches services to Gatwick Airport

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Qatar Airways’ inau- gural flight from Doha to London Gatwick touched down yesterday at London Gatwick Airport, where it was welcomed with a celebratory water salute. The new double daily service, operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, makes London Gatwick the award- winning airline’s sixth gateway into the United Kingdom and Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti, held separate meetings second gateway to London. yesterday with Malaysian and Argentinian Ambassadors to Qatar, Dato’ Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin and The new route will provide Rossana Cecilia Surballe. The two meetings discussed cooperation relations between Qatar and the even more flexibility and con- A water cannon salute to Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight at London two countries in the fields of transport and communications and means of further enhancing them. venience to passengers trav- Gatwick Airport. elling to London, and will offer enhanced connectivity for pas- sengers flying from the United The new double daily Edinburgh, alongside seven flights Kingdom to Qatar Airways’ service, operated per week to Birmingham. Minister inspects progress of examination at two schools extensive global route network by a Boeing 787 The Qatar Airways Boeing of more than 150 destinations. Dreamliner aircraft, 787 Dreamliner features 22 seats Over the summer period, flights in Business Class, and 232 in to London Gatwick will further makes London Economy Class. In addition, increase to 16 services per week Gatwick the award- lower altitude-equivalent on the popular route. winning airline’s sixth pressure, improved air quality Qatar Airways Group Chief and optimal humidity coupled Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: gateway into the with large, electronically dim- “Qatar Airways is delighted to United Kingdom and mable windows create dramatic be expanding its reach in both second gateway to vistas and provide passengers London and throughout the UK London. with extra natural light. Full- Earlier this month, we launched spectrum LED lighting also helps direct flights to Cardiff, the them adjust to changing time capital of Wales, clearly dem- zones, allowing them to arrive onstrating our continued com- Zealand and Asia. Qatar Airways at their destination feeling mitment to this market. We are is also one of the world’s refreshed. very proud of our strong and premier airlines and provides a The airline recently revealed extensive trade ties with the UK level of service that is sure to a host of forthcoming global and look forward to offering our prove popular with our pas- destinations in line with its loyal passengers the chance to sengers. This new route also expedited expansion plans, explore the newest and most strengthens Gatwick’s growing including the announcement exciting destinations within our long-haul network, which has that Qatar Airways will be the global network”. more than 60 routes and we first Gulf carrier to begin direct Gatwick Airport Chief Exec- hope to grow it further still in service to Luxembourg. Other utive Officer, Stewart Wingate, coming months”. exciting new destinations to be said: “I am delighted to mark the This summer Qatar Airways launched by the airline include Minister of Education and Higher Education, H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi, visited start of this double daily service will operate 95 flights to the UK Tallinn, Estonia; Valletta, Malta; Khalifa Secondary School for Boys and Omar Bin Al Khattab Preparatory School for Boys to inspect to Doha today as Qatar Airways’ per week, including six daily Cebu and Davao, Philippines; the progress of final examination. Dr Al Hammadi was briefed about the examination process and extensive route network offers departures to London Heathrow, Langkawi, Malaysia; Da Nang, facilities. The Minister also met with staff at the examination control room where he instructed to the passengers more choice of 16 weekly departures to London Vietnam; Bodrum and Antalya, officials to provide necessary facilities to the students so they could write their papers comfortably. onward destinations, including Gatwick and Manchester, and Turkey; Mykonos, Greece and those across Australia, New daily flights to Cardiff and Málaga, Spain.

Qatar takes part in support 35 shops get notices for selling telecom devices illegally THE PENINSULA conference protect consumers and ensuring companies in Qatar who want that they get certified telecom- to import RTTE equipment are for Gambia DOHA: The Communications munications devices from required to grant the necessary Regulatory Authority (CRA) has licensed shops; consumers may prior approvals from CRA; QNA conducted, in April, its first round lose their rights if they buy tele- import authorization license, of inspections for 2018 of shops communications devices and type approval certificate and BRUSSELS: Qatar has partic- selling telecommunications equipment from unlicensed customs clearance certificate. ipated in the support devices and equipment and shops,” said Faisal Ali Al Shuaibi, Approvals are mandatory to conference for Gambia hosted issued a total of 35 written Public Relations & Communica- ensure the equipment meets by the European Commission violation notices for shops prac- tions Manager, CRA. certain safety and technical in Brussels. tising such activities without CRA issued notices were for standards. RTTE equipment Qatar was represented by having the required licence. a range of violations; the most includes, but is not limited to, H E Abdulrahman bin The inspection was con- common being was for shops mobile phones, wireless local Mohammed Al Khulaifi, ducted by CRA’s technical selling mobile phones without area networks and short range Qatar’s Ambassador to the inspectors to detect and to take valid license or authorisation devices, etc. Kingdom of Belgium and head appropriate actions towards from CRA. Anyone residing in Qatar can of its missions to the EU and shops that sale or use radio and The notice requires the non- request a CRA inspection if they the Nato. Federica Mogherini, telecommunications devices & compliant shops to regularize suspect a business is selling or EU High Representative for equipment (RTTE) illegally. their license in specified period using unauthorised radio and Foreign Affairs and Security Inspection covered 78 shops and of time to avoid CRA’s appro- telecommunications devices and Policy and Vice-President of showrooms, targeting popular priate legal action. Other viola- equipment at any location in the the European Commission, locations that sell these devices tions included selling RTTE country. To request an opened the conference in the including malls, souks, com- equipment without having Type inspection, or to apply for an presence of Gambian Pres- mercial areas, as well as neigh- Approval Certificate from CRA, import authorisation, type ident Adama Barrow and a borhoods’ grocery stores, the selling of illegal equipment and approval and customs clearance number of officials of the Gov- percentage of violation reached incorrect license for the prac- certificate, contact CRA by ernment of Gambia. Interna- 45 percent. ticed activity. e-mail at spectrumaffairs@cra. tional donations reached “Inspections are an It’s worth mentioning that gov.qa, or by calling CRA’s CRA’s technical inspectors conducting routine inspection. about €1.05bn. important part of CRA’s role to commercially registered hotline number 103. Qatar attaches great importance to preserve biological diversity

THE PENINSULA preservation of biological diversity as a International Biodiversity Convention in coordination with the competent supervised by the Ministry and their natural living capital supporting economic since 1996, The Convention on Combating authorities, it has implemented a number impact on the biodiversity of the envi- DOHA: Qatar, represented by the Ministry growth and its contribution to the pres- Desertification in 1999, the International of measures for the prosperity of the ronment, has emerged on Halul Island, of Municipality and Environment ervation of the natural vital system in Convention on the Regulation of Traffic marine environment and the protection where the distinctive presence of fish and yesterday marked the International Day terms of availability of water, food and in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna of marine biodiversity, including the coral reefs, as well as includes a nature for Biological Diversity which falls on May energy to live and stay on earth for all (CITES) in 2001, the Regional Convention inclusion of new reef sites within envi- reserve and beaches for turtles nesting . 22 under the slogan “Protecting Life on living things as well as ability to adapt to on the Protection of Wildlife of the Gulf ronmental protection, or the transfer of Qatar is one of the five Arab States Earth”. environmental disturbances such as Cooperation Council States in 2004 and new coral reefs or the landing of artificial parties to the Convention on the Sup- This year’s celebration coincides with climate change and others, said a the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in reefs. The Ministry has over the past year pression of International Traffic in Endan- the 25th anniversary of the Convention statement. 2007. The Ministry said that Qatar has the removed artificial reefs, the transfer gered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora on Biological Diversity Adopted on May The Ministry noted the important role worked to implement the terms of these and cultivation of 14 thousand square (CITES) and among the best countries that 22, 1992, with the aim of highlighting the that Qatar plays along with the countries agreements, accurately, through the meters of seaweed, and 11,595 units of were committed to the convention. achievements of States in the area of bio- of the world by working together to pre- implementation of the requirements, and natural coral hard, and 500 units of soft In order to develop laws on biodi- diversity protection. serve biodiversity through the ratification procedures applied on a daily basis. coral reefs , as well as the transfer and re- versity, the Ministry of Municipality and The Ministry of Municipality and Envi- of international and regional conventions Within the framework of the intensive cultivation of more than 31,600 trees of the Environment has adopted laws to ronment emphasized that Qatar attaches in this regard. efforts in the field of biodiversity pro- mangroves in the coastal areas. protect wildlife and natural habitats to great importance to the protection and The most important of these are the tection, the Ministry said that The environmental protection efforts serve the country’s biodiversity. 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 Minister of Awqaf honours imams, preachers New traffic change THE PENINSULA on F-Ring Road DOHA: Minister of Awqaf and THE PENINSULA Islamic Affairs, H E Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak Al Kuwari, honoured DOHA: The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has announced that the graduates of the 13th Sharia’h a traffic change on F-Ring Road will take place to enable the training course session for Qatari construction of an interchange linking F-Ring Road with G-Ring imams and preachers at a Road. The traffic shifting, held in coordination with the General ceremony held last night at the Directorate of Traffic, starts tomorrow. headquarters of the Ministry. Traffic will be realigned to the permanent lanes of the F-Ring The honouree were 18 Qatari Road for users travelling from Mesaimeer towards Hamad Inter- imams and preachers who national Airport. The new route comprises four lanes, replacing attended in the Sharia’h training the three-lane carriageway for a short distance of approximately course, held from March to May, 1,850 metres. By removing the detour, the F-Ring carriage will be covering a number of Sharia’h fully open in both directions since Ashghal had diverted traffic and linguistic courses, as well as coming from HIA towards Mesaimeer to the permanent lanes last memorising session of the Holy week. Ashghal has advised that the speed limit to remain at 80km Quran. per hour Speaking at the ceremony, instead of Mal Allah Al Jaber, Director of 100km per Da’wah and Religious Guidance, hour. Ashghal said that this training course is has also asked an extension of the series of all road users courses for Qatari imams and to abide by the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, H E Dr Ghaith bin Mubarak Al Kuwari, with newly-graduated preachers that started in 2005 new speed imams and preachers at a ceremony. and produced a constellation of and follow the imams and preachers who are new signage honoured to carry the message part of the Ministry’s plan to Sharia’h sciences in order to jurisprudence, Tajweed, as well installed by of the prophets. prepare the Qatari imams and perform this task, noting that the as a program on memorisation Ashghal for He added that this session is provide them with the necessary participants received lectures in of the Holy Quran. their safety. Ooredoo drives business innovation with hackathon winners

THE PENINSULA with an intelligent chatbot for per- Nine teams of sonalising customer DOHA: Ooredoo, one of the innovators, designers, relationships. region’s leading ICT providers, and developers In third place was the is driving business innovation made of Ooredoo Phoenix team, which won with the winners of its Battlefield QR5,000 for self-diagnosis and Hackathon, including an “Office employees competed network performance of con- in a Box” for small businesses, in three categories: nected devices, leveraging the an intelligent chatbot, and an financial capabilities power of artificial intelligence artificial intelligence-backed related to the and robotics. Al Kubaisi added: network management solution. “Ooredoo’s Battlefield Hack- As part of Ooredoo’s com- Ooredoo Mobile athon underscores our role as a mitment to employee ena- wallet, operational dynamic, agile, and innovative blement, talent development, excellence for next- organisation that is supporting and innovative business solu- generation digital our Ooerdoo Family in devel- tions, the company sponsored oping new ideas and ways of this adrenaline-packed 8-hour- experiences, and thinking. In one day, these three long internal hackathon to foster security ideas for winners developed breakthrough the development of innovative small- and medium- innovations that would normally business solutions. sized enterprises. take months to create”. Nine teams of innovators, Business customers can lev- designers, and developers made The participants of hackathon at the event. erage the Ooredoo Advantage, of Ooredoo employees competed making Ooredoo “Best for in three categories: financial medium-sized enterprises. solve the business challenges of brought to market by Ooredoo”. channels using services running Business”, thanks to its breadth capabilities related to the Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, tomorrow. By collaborating on The first-place team, Trans- on Ooredoo’s Qatar Data Centre. and depth of talent, best fixed Ooredoo Mobile wallet, opera- COO Ooredoo Qatar, said: “Our creative solutions to business chal- formers 1, won QR10,000 for its Virtuality, the second-place and mobile networks, broadest tional excellence for next-gen- largest-ever Battlefield Hackathon lenges, the participating teams “Office in the Box” solution aimed team, won QR8,000 for its portfolio of ICT services and eration digital experiences, and shows the strength of Qatar’s now have the opportunity for their for small- and medium-sized “Ooredoo Assistant,” which sim- solutions, and trusted partner for security ideas for small- and talent in developing solutions to solutions to be incubated and enterprises to open new sales plifies customer communication 60 years. QCS distributes Iftar boxes Translations of prize-winning Arabic novels THE PENINSULA on offer from Katara Publishing House

THE PENINSULA DOHA: Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) distributed Iftar boxes for fasting people, on the streets of Doha DOHA: Katara Publishing House, during the Holy Month of Ramadan. which officially opened last The Iftar boxes campaign by month, has already published QCS, was held in cooperation with around 16 novels both in English Al Meera Consumer Goods Co and and French, translated from Economic Zones Company Arabic. “Manateq”, which aims to facilitate These novels had won prizes the fasting of those who work out- at the annual Katara Prize for doors. The boxes also included Arabic Novel in its first and awareness about the importance second editions in 2015 and 2016, of a healthy lifestyle to prevent dis- respectively. eases, mainly cancer. A volunteer distributing Iftar boxes. Translated versions of Arabic novels that won the 2017 Katara Prize for Arabic novels are Some of the translated prize-winning Arabic novels published by expected to be released on the Katara Publishing House. occasion of the announcement of the 2017 awards later this year. English and French deal with Al Azbakia by Egyptian novelist “By translating the prize- diverse themes in the backdrop Nasser Iraq, among others. winning Arabic novels to two of the political and social turmoil The books, which maintain major foreign languages, English in the Arab world. high production quality, are on and French, we are giving an For instance, Blue Tongues, offer for sale at Katara Pub- opportunity to non-Arab readers a novel by Algerian writer Salmi lishing House building in Katara to know Arabic literature, espe- Nasser, is a narrative adventure Cultural Village, at reasonable cially Arabic fiction. Arabic liter- that revolves around the tragedy prices. ature, which was traditionally known in Algeria as Black Al Sayed said that Katara dominated by poetry is now wit- Decade. Publishing House has plans to nessing a transition in favour of Wind Rider by famous Pal- market the books extensively, novels,” says Khalid Al Sayed, estinian writer YahiaYakhlef is with the large foreign commu- Manager of Katara Publishing an intriguing novel constructed nities in Qatar in view, using all House. from the myth of Jaffa, the his- possible platforms and tech- Knowing Arab fiction means toric Palestinian city when it was nology including e-books. The knowing the life and culture of ruled by Sultans. It is the story of Publishing House also plans to the Arab people from across the an artist who came out of Jaffa’s hold a book fair exclusively for Arab world, with its different myths, sea and walls and lives in novels later this year. expressions and manifestations. a world of fantasy, love, and tales Besides the English and These novels tell stories of love, of intense human relations and French translation of Arabic human relations and tragedies, tragedies. novels, Katara Publishing House interspersed with social and Other titles include Shadows has published a number of books political realities and conflicts in of Body-Shore of Desire by Iraqi in Arabic, including fiction and the Arab world, added Al Sayed. writer Saad Mohammed literary criticism, and books on The novels published by Raheem, Throne and Stream by Qatari culture, heritage and Katara Publishing House in Iraqi novelist Maysalun Hadi and traditions. WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 HOME 05 Aspire Zone Foundation in deal with GORD for joint initiatives

THE PENINSULA The partnership Commenting on the MoU seeks to assess the signing, Abdulla Nasser Al Naemi, DOHA: Aspire Zone Foundation Director General of Aspire (AZF) has signed a Memorandum sustainability levels Logistics, said: “Over the years, of Understanding (MoU) with the of AZF’s facilities in AZF has implemented a number Gulf Organisation for Research preparation for the of successful joint initiatives with & Development (GORD), that will GORD in the area of sustaina- help prepare AZF facilities as per Global Sustainability bility and this MoU will further the Global Sustainability Assessment System strengthen our constructive part- Assessment System (GSAS) and certification, which nership. The signing of the MoU spread awareness about sustain- is administered by today frames all our existing ability among AZF employees. efforts under one umbrella, from The MoU was signed at AZF’s Gulf Organisation which we’re able to expand the headquarters in Doha by Abdulla for Research & base of our cooperation to Nasser Al Naimi, Director Development. include a multitude of projects General of Aspire Logistics (on and programmes.” behalf of Mohammad Khalifa Al Dr Yousef Al Horr, Founding A group photo of officials at the MoU signing. Suwaidi, CEO of AZF) and Dr facilities in preparation for the Chairman of GORD, remarked: Yousef Al Horr, Founding GSAS certification, which is “We’re delighted to partner with assist with Khalifa International country was awarded the 2022 sustainable and eco-friendly Chairman of GORD. administered by GORD. As part one of the most prestigious Stadium’s four-star rating from FIFA World Cup Qatar.” solutions to conserve electricity. The MoU paves the way for of the MoU, GORD will also work national organisations in Qatar GSAS, making it the first stadium The MoU also builds on AZF’s AZF has also recently built an a number of joint initiatives with AZF to organise training and one that seeks to promote of its kind to obtain such recog- existing efforts to support the eco-friendly wastewater between the two organisations sessions, workshops and sem- active and healthy lifestyles nition. That was thanks to the community in adopting a sus- treatment station, making it one in several areas, particularly sus- inars for AZF’s employees to among community members. organisation’s commitment to tainable lifestyle to benefit future of the first organisations in the tainability. Most notably, the train and spread awareness Our cooperation goes back years, adopt the best sustainability generations. AZF is taking a lead country to use an innovative partnership seeks to assess the about sustainability and other with one of our earliest initia- practices in the stadium’s design in the use of recycled materials, process known as ‘reverse sustainability levels of AZF’s relevant topics. tives being a project that saw us and construction after the solar technology and by adopting osmosis’.

Ooredoo distributes Iftar packages at Corniche NAMA launches

THE PENINSULA Ramadan campaign with families and our cus- tomers on Qatar’s beautiful THE PENINSULA DOHA: This week, a host of Corniche. We hope everyone Ooredoo volunteers had a great time and hope to distributed dates and water to see you all again during the DOHA: The Social Development Center (NAMA) people passing by the Holy Month. Ramadan launched its Ramadan awareness campaign to Corniche to kick off the Mubarak to all”. encourage young people to achieve and raise produc- company’s #RamadanWith- The volunteers, who rep- tivity in work during the holy month of Ramadan. Ooredoo CSR activities. resented some of the business The campaign includes a set of values and guide- The group of Ooredoo vol- units across the company, lines that can help young people, such as planning unteers arrived before were stationed at the end of daily tasks, managing time and prioritizing, and sundown to surprise people the Corniche near West Bay, healthy and sports habits that maintain the vitality driving by Doha’s Corniche to distribute the gifts at sunset and activity during fasting. The campaign also tackles with water and dates to break to passers-by as well as morals such as commitment, discipline, and strength- their fast for Iftar. people driving along the sea- ening relations with others in the surrounding Manar Khalifa Al front. For more details on environment. Muraikhi, Ooredoo Director Ooredoo’s Ramadan offers The campaign aims at educating young people of PR and Corporate Commu- and CSR events follow the about the importance of investing in time during nications, said: “We believe in #RamadanWithOoredoo on Ramadan and focusing on work in order to continue An Ooredoo volunteer distributing dates and water at Doha Corniche. the unity of breaking our fast Ooredoo’s social media. the process of community development. 06 HOME WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 Kazakhstan President floats ‘G-Global platform’ idea at AEF

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The capital of Kazakhstan recently hosted one of the most significant global events, the Astana Economic Forum (AEF): Global Challenges Summit 2018 from May 17 to 19. More than 6,000 participants from 111 countries discussed the present-day global issues in three-day summit. One of the main events of the forum was the speech of President of Kaza- Officials at the conference. khstan Nursultan Nazarbayev (pictured). At the plenary session, Kazakh President singled out five new economic model entailed the young talents abroad as well as major mega trends of the world’s digitisation not only of business, the establishment of universities QU-LAWC hosts conference on development, said a statement but people’s lives. “Self-taught such as Nazarbayev University, issued by the Embassy of Kaza- intellectual systems managing Kazakh British Technical Uni- khstan in Qatar. Opening the and improving production have versity, international IT Uni- The Rise of International Courts event, Kazakh President said the become common. The artificial versity, foster the nation’s efforts THE PENINSULA annual forum had evolved into a intellect will spur a $16bn growth producing high-quality labour. (QICDRC), and Prof. Lucy Reed under the autopsies of the Qatar “good tradition” and a platform of world economy by 2030,” he He said that with these global (Singapore National University), Financial Center for the resolution to “discuss acute issues in noted, adding that digitisation, trends becoming increasingly DOHA: Qatar University College and panel discussions by of commercial disputes.” economy, investment and inno- however, could also facilitate evident, additional vehicles to of Law (QU-LAWC) held, recently, speakers from QU, QIC&DRC, “The conference discussed vation.” He indicated five global cyber crime which last year address global challenges beyond a conference on “The Rise of Inter- HBKU, UK and elsewhere. They how to take advantage of the pos- trends and reiterated the need to became the “most serious threat current international platforms, national Courts” aimed to high- discussed a wide range of topics sibilities of commercial courts and establish G-Global platform to businesses.” such as G20 and G7, had become light the history and development related to the history of interna- how to develop their systems in under the aegis of the UN. The transition to clean energy necessary. of international commercial courts tional commercial courts, the line with the regulations of their The five global trends include is another global trend, according “We therefore put forward and the varieties that have factors that make such courts relevant countries to drive digitisation of all aspects of to Nazarbayev, with energy gen- G-Global that will take into emerged in different countries successful, the procedures used forward economic development. human activity, energy revo- erated by renewable energy account interests of all countries, around the world. in the courts, the relationship It also focuses on the compe- lution, rapid global population sources growing 13 times in 30 including sustainable devel- Organised under the auspices between the international com- tencies, procedures and role of growth, change in the pace and years. “Despite continuing opment, fighting poverty, famine, of Sir William Blair Chair in Alter- mercial courts and arbitration these courts in the settlement of nature of urbanisation, and trans- demand for natural resources, reducing economic inequality, native Dispute Resolution held by and the contribution of the courts disputes and their impact on the formation of the global labour their presence ceased to be an ensuring fair access to social Prof. Francis Botchway and in col- to the legal systems of the coun- economy.” market. advantage. All big players in tra- goods,” he noted. laboration with the Qatar Interna- tries in which they are located. Professor Francis Botchway, “Since last year’s forum, we ditional energy markets turned Francois Hollande, former tional Court and Dispute Reso- Prof. Faouzi Belkanani, rep- QU Professor of Law and Sir witnessed huge transformations to investments in green energy. French President also asserted lution (QICDRC), the conference resenting LAWC Dean Dr. William Blair Chair in Alternative worldwide. New confrontations Kazakhstan is not standing still. US President Donald Trump’s is in fulfillment of the memo- Mohamed bin Abdul Aziz Al Khu- Dispute Resolution, concluded have emerged, and it has become The share of alternative energy decision to withdraw from the randum of understanding, which laifi said: “Through organizing and the conference with emphasizing more difficult for states to find in our energy balance will reach climate agreement was a matter was signed between QU and hosting this conference, LAWC the importance of such courts agreement. Distrust and unwill- 30 percent by 2030,” said of concern. Noting positive deci- QICDRC on 21 February, 2016. demonstrates its role in actively and Qatar’s pioneering role in its ingness to understand the prin- Nazarbayev. sions made worldwide, Hollande The event’s program fea- contributing to the various legal development. He thanked the ciples of an opponent are He said that education was a also emphasised some decisions tured addresses delivered by sectors. The State of Qatar is speakers and participants and growing. This is a very difficult key to this end and Kazakhstan’s “raise concerns that can pose a Justice Kannan Ramesh (Sin- among the countries that estab- invited them to next year’s con- time for the world,” he said. Bolashak programme launched threat to our process of gapore International Commercial lished the Qatar International ference on March 2019 at Qatar The Kazakh leader noted a in 1993 and meant to educate transformation.” Court), Justice Frances Kirkham Court and Dispute Resolution University.

HBKU offers courses for advancement of education sector Holy Quran contest THE PENINSULA begins at Katara offerings – the Board Secretary Basics THE PENINSULA training. Rodolphe Boughaba, Exec- DOHA: Catering to both a local pool of utive Director of EEC, said, “The pro- self-driven professionals and local gramme structure was designed to DOHA: Fifty children aged 10 to 12 corporations alike, Hamad Bin Khalifa target professional development and years including girls are participating University’s (HBKU) Executive equip practicing and prospective sec- in the seventh Holy Quran memori- Education Center (EEC) is adopting a retaries with all required tools for man- sation competition for children which number of courses that seek to advance aging their board or committee. An began at Katara Cultural Village on Qatar’s continuing education sector with effective board secretary is ultimately Sunday. a growing range of executive trainings vital as the custodian of an organiza- Organised by Katara Cultural to be launched in Fall 2018 through tion’s accurate documentation records, Village on the occasion of the Holy Spring 2019. which in turn translates into bigger month of Ramadan, the contest will The upcoming range of courses questions of confidentiality and com- continue until May 31. The orien- explore subjects such as executive pliance. This is why we made sure to tation sessions for the participants leadership, policy leadership and law cover a full range of topics from com- which began on Sunday include basic training for corporate secretaries, pliance issues to common concerns and lessons in selected verses from the creativity and innovation accelerator practices the participants can expect to Holy Quran and the tradition of the EEC delivers professional training courses that are designed to address the training, transformational leadership face in their professional lives. This Prophet (PUBH) (Hadith), prayer, specific needs of their partner organizations and business clients across Qatar. and innovation training; information high-level program sets the stage for Islamic history and Islamic and records management in public subsequent programs with detailed etiquette. service and private corporations, digital focus on each of the covered topics.” Texas A&M University in Qatar Describing the objectives of the collab- Winners will be awarded prizes forensics, cybersecurity and food Owing to its successful pilot round, (TAMUQ), in Spring 2018. orative training programme, Rodolphe at the end of the competition. security. EEC is now planning to re-launch the During this time, EEC and TAMUQ Boughaba explained: “In recent years, The sessions for boys take place EEC delivers training courses that course in 2019, making it available to had opened an intensive, four-module cybersecurity has gained traction as a at the main mosque at Katara and for are designed to address the specific self-driven individuals as well as local course on Fundamentals of Cyberse- key academic discipline due to its real- girls at the Golden Mosque at Katara needs of their partner organizations and businesses and organizations that are curity to public registration. The pro- life applicability. EEC’s partner insti- after Asr prayers from Sunday to business clients. More recently, EEC has interested in an exclusive course gramme allowed 38 participants to tution TAMUQ has long realised the Thursday over two weeks. worked with the Qatar Foundation for delivery for their employees. delve into all core modules in-depth: implications of cybersecurity to the The annual competition aims to Education, Science, and Community The upcoming courses come against Open Source Intelligence in Cyberspace; country’s political and socio-economic keep children attached to the Islamic Development (QF) Board Management the backdrop of EEC’s successful con- Applied Cryptography and Data Privacy; stability, having led a similar course on identity and values, through the Office and added another recent high- clusion of its recent executive training Penetration Testing and Forensics; and the topic for Qatar Armed Forces in Feb- study, memorisation and recitation light to its growing list of professional programme, held in partnership with Mobile and Wireless Security. ruary of this year.” of the Holy Quran. QVPF hosts Iftar Experience rich Qatari heritage at Sheraton THE PENINSULA

Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel DOHA: Qatar Vanimal Pravasi Forum THE PENINSULA (QVPF), a group of Indian expatriates, — renowned in serving the best Um Ali in town recently organised an Iftar Meet at — offers a casual setting to savour freshly roasted Skills Development Centre. DOHA: Experience the charm and elegance of a coffee and a choice of sweet and savoury deli- More than 400 people from royal mansion reflecting the rich Qatari heritage cacies. “Sheraton Grand is iconic to Doha and it various backgrounds attended the with our lavish Turath Ramadan Tent set in Al is truly incomparable in every aspect. Sheraton programme which was aimed at pro- Majlis Ballroom at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort has grown with the nation and will continue to moting social relations and inter- & Convention Hotel. do alongside the advancement of Qatar. The action among compatriots residing Designed with the opulent setting of patterned Sheraton is synonymous with the past as it is with in Qatar. The annual Iftar Meet fea- colour scheme of burgundy, blue and gold, envi- the present. It is the hotel of choice for those tured different activities, including sioned to create an aura of traditional charm, wanting luxury and those wanting to experience the recitation of verses from the Holy Turath Ramadan Tent promises to rekindle fond more. Our spirit is to rekindle old memories and Quran, welcome speech, and general Ramadan memories. Our exquisitely decked create new ones that enliven the local traditions discussion on issues pertaining to dining areas offer the ideal setting to both a feast- of Qatar’s heritage while embracing the Holy Vanimal (a town in Kerala, India) like Iftar and an intimate Suhoor. Month of Ramadan with harmony and com- community. Welcoming the gath- Once the sun sets, guests can also have the passion,” said Saeid Heidari, General Manager of ering, Abdul Salam, President of option of two other outlets to enjoy informal holy Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. QVPF, said that the forum had been Ramadan gatherings. Serving up authentic taste As one of Qatar’s most iconic hotels, Sheraton organising the Iftar for the past 15 of Italy with calming sea views, La Veranda pro- Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel offers years to give the Vanimalians an The ‘Turath Ramadan Tent’ at Al Majlis Ballroom at Sheraton vides guests with a relaxed environment to eat guests a unique heritage element in sublime setting opportunity to meet and greet each Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. and socialise. Moreover, Atrium Lounge to this year’s holy Ramadan. other. WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 07 Palestinians call on ICC to probe Israel war crimes

AP member. The ICC has recognised THE HAGUE: Calling it a Speaking to reporters Israel intentionally targeted unarmed protesters: UNRWA “Palestine” as a member state. “historic step” toward justice, the at the ICC in The The ICC is a court of last Palestinian foreign minister Hague, Netherlands, GAZA CITY: Israel intentionally army had deliberately targeted more injured — mostly civilians resort— it is authorised to take asked the International Criminal Palestinian Foreign targeted Palestinian protesters protesters’ lower limbs, knees, — while leaving much of Gaza’s on cases where national author- Court yesterday to open an near the Gaza-Israel security backs and heads. infrastructure in ruins. ities cannot or will not launch “immediate investigation” into Minister Riad Malki fence last week, Pierre He added that the number Of the 13,000 Palestinians prosecutions. alleged Israeli crimes committed said he submitted the Krahenbuhl, head of the United of protesters injured since Pal- injured since the Gaza rallies While the ICC can indict sus- against the Palestinian people. “referral” to the court Nations Relief and Works estinians began holding rallies began on March 30, Krahenbuhl pects, it has no police force and The development was sure during a meeting Agency for Palestine Refugees near the Gaza-Israel fence on said, roughly 3,500 had been has to rely on cooperation from to worsen the already troubled (UNRWA), said. Mar. 30 now exceeded the struck by live ammunition. member states to enforce arrest relations between the interna- with the ICC’s chief Speaking at a press con- number of those injured during According to the UNRWA warrants. Richard Dicker, Director tionally backed Palestinian prosecutor, Fatou ference in Gaza City, Kra- Israel’s destructive 2014 mil- chief, the large number of cas- of the International Justice Program Authority and Israeli Prime Min- Bensouda. henbuhl described the nature itary onslaught on the coastal ualties — and the severe nature at Human Rights Watch, said Ben- ister Benjamin Netanyahu’s gov- of injuries sustained by Pales- enclave. Israel’s 2014 offensive of many injuries — had pushed souda, the chief ICC prosecutor, ernment. Peace talks have been tinian protesters as “shocking”. left more than 2,250 Pales- Gaza’s health sector to the brink should now “take steps to open a frozen for over four years, and con- settlement policies in the West Krahenbuhl said the Israeli tinians dead and thousands of collapse. formal probe aimed at holding per- tacts between the two sides are Bank and east Jerusalem, as well petrators of serious crimes to minimal. Speaking to reporters at as the recent round of bloodshed account and ensuring impartial and the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli into alleged crimes in the Pales- aftermath of the US Embassy tank fire after a group of mili- comprehensive justice consistent Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad fire killed over 100 Palestinians tinian territories, including move to Jerusalem and the tants briefly entered Israel and with the court’s statute.” Malki said he submitted the during mass protests along the Israel’s settlement policy and recent bloodshed on the Gaza set fire to an Israeli military post. The Palestinians appear to “referral” to the court during a Gaza border, Malki added. crimes allegedly committed by border. “This is a conduct that The army said there were no have an especially strong case in meeting with the ICC’s chief pros- “There is a culture of both sides in the 2014 Gaza con- requires that we take action and injuries on the Israeli side, and the matter of settlements. In ecutor, Fatou Bensouda. impunity in Israel for crimes flict. yesterday’s referral could this is why we moved in this no additional details were imme- 2004, the United Nations’ highest The referral sought an inves- against Palestinians,” Malki said. speed up a decision on whether regard,” said Palestinian diately available. judicial organ, the International tigation into Israeli policies in the “This referral is Palestine’s test to open a full-blown investi- Assistant Minister for Multilateral Israel is not a member of the Court of Justice, ruled in an West Bank, east Jerusalem and to the international mechanism gation that could ultimately lead Affairs Ammar Hijazi, referring ICC, but its citizens can be advisory opinion that the settle- Gaza Strip since the state of Pal- of accountability and respect for to the indictment of high-ranking to recent Gaza violence. charged by the court if they are ments breached international estine accepted the ICC’s juris- international law.” Israelis. The move comes with In new violence, the Israeli suspected of committing grave law. In late 2016, the UN Security diction in 2014, he said. The ICC has been conducting Israeli-Palestinian relations at army said it targeted a Hamas crimes on the territory or against Council also declared the settle- This includes Israeli a preliminary probe since 2015 their lowest point in years in the observation post in Gaza with a national of a country that is a ments to be illegal.

Iran ‘ready to return to pre-nuke 26 pro-regime forces dead deal era’: Official in IS attack in Syria desert ANATOLIA TEHRAN: An Iranian official AFP ancient city that Islamic State (IS) has on Tuesday said that his overrun twice in Syria’s war. “It began country had made all BEIRUT: More than two dozen pro- with a car bomb targeting regime forces necessary preparations to government forces based in Syria’s desert that set off clashes that are still ongoing,” resume production of highly- died in a surprise Islamic State (IS) group he said. Five IS fighters were also killed. enriched uranium, according attack yesterday, a day after the militants’ “IS fighters launched their attack to local media reports. ouster from the outskirts of Damascus, a from a pocket they control in the Badiya, The semi-official Mehr monitor said. “At least 26 regime soldiers and which was the destination for IS News Agency quoted Ali and allied forces were killed in an IS fighters evacuated from southern Akbar Salehi, the head of attack at dawn today, against one of their Damascus on Sunday and Monday,” Iran’s Atomic Energy Agency, posts in the Syrian Badiya,” said the Abdel Rahman added. as saying that Iran was ready Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Syria’s government on Monday to return to the “pre-nuclear Among them were Iranian mili- seized a southern pocket of the capital deal era”. tiamen, said the Britain-based monitor. from IS, announcing that the regime was “We are ready to return The Badiya is a vast desert region back in full control of Damascus and its A destroyed tank in front of damaged buildings in the Hajar Al Aswad neighbourhood to the pre-nuclear deal era stretching from central Syria to the outskirts. The Observatory, as well as a on the southern outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus. The government seized earlier and produce highly-enriched eastern border with Iraq, where IS still military source close to the regime, said uranium if necessary,” he holds small pockets. Observatory chief the capture came after IS fighters were in the week the Yarmuk Palestinian camp and adjacent neighbourhoods of Tadamun said. He added: “But I hope Rami Abdel Rahman said the attack hit bussed out of the zone to desert and Hajar Al Aswad from the Islamic State (IS) group , putting Damascus fully under we never need it.” On the a small base east of Palmyra, the famed territory. its control for the first time since 2012. same day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a lengthy list of demands that the US wants to include in a new nuclear deal with Iran. No change at top for Lebanon House; Hezbollah ally seeks deputy post Earlier this month, US REUTERS President Donald Trump backed Hezbollah and its allies. Berri is running unopposed to be elected as deputy par- Parties and individuals who pulled Washington out of a Berri, 80, is head of the Shia for the post reserved for a Shia in liament speaker, reflecting a back Hezbollah’s possession of landmark 2015 nuclear BEIRUT: Lebanon’s parliament Amal Movement and has been a Lebanon’s sectarian power- shift in the political landscape in arms won at least 70 of parlia- accord between Iran and the is set to re-elect Nabih Berri as close ally of the heavily armed sharing system. In anticipation of favour of Hezbollah since the last ment’s 128 seats. The last time P5+1 group of nations (the five its speaker today, extending the Shia Hezbollah since the end of Berri’s re-election, his office Lebanese general election in Lebanon held an election, in permanent UN Security veteran politician’s tenure in a the 1975-90 civil war. Outgoing issued a statement urging sup- 2009. Ferzli, like Berri and Hez- 2009, an anti-Hezbollah Council members plus post he has held since 1992, Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri, a porters to avoid celebratory bollah, has close ties to the alliance led by Hariri and Germany). after a general election that Hezbollah opponent, has gunfire. Another Hezbollah ally, Syrian government of President backed by Saudi Arabia won a strengthened the hand of Iran- declared his support for him. Elie Ferzli, is a leading candidate Bashar Al Assad. majority. US in contact with ex-foe Sadr Burundi backs reforms that REUTERS could extend Nkurunziza rule BAGHDAD: The United States has contacted members of a AFP political bloc headed by former Election commission “No” in the vote which scored foe Muqtada Al Sadr after his chief Pierre-Claver Ndayi- a turnout of 96 percent. parliamentary election victory BUJUMBURA: Burundians cariye said 73 percent of Spoiled ballots made up four put the Shia cleric in a strong overwhelmingly backed voters had voted “Yes” in a percent of votes cast. position to influence the constitutional reforms that referendum last Thursday, The results -- which formation of a new bolster President Pierre which the opposition and exclude figures from the government, a top aide said. Nkurunziza’s power and rights groups said took place diaspora representing 0.27 Sadr’s surprise win puts allow him to seek another in a climate of fear and percent of the vote -- are pro- Washington in an awkward two terms in office, results repression. visional and must be vali- position. His Mehdi Army showed yesterday. Only 19 percent voted dated by the constitutional militia staged violent court within nine days. uprisings against US troops Observers had widely after Saddam Hussein was expected the reforms to toppled in 2003. If Sadr has a pass, partly due to support strong say in picking a new Nkurunziza still holds in prime minister, the United rural areas, but also due to States may have to work with a three-year crackdown on him to safeguard its interests in dissent, the media and civil Iraq. Dhiaa Al Asadi, a top Sadr society. A presidential aide, said there had been no decree ruled earlier this direct talks with the Americans month that anyone advising but intermediaries had been voters to boycott the vote used to open channels with risked up to three years in members of his Sairoon jail. Nkurunziza, 54, who alliance. “They asked what the has been in power since position of the Sadrist 2005, plunged his tiny east movement will be when they African nation into crisis in come to power. Are they going Burundian politicians and members of the National Independent 2015 when he circum- to reinvent or invoke the Mahdi Electoral Commission (CENI) react as the CENI chief announces vented a constitutional Army or reemploy them? Are the result of a referendum on constitutional reforms that bolster two-term limit, arguing his they going to attack American the president’s power and allow him to seek another two terms first term came after an forces in Iraq,” he said. in office, in Bujumbura, yesterday. election by parliament. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 Continued violation in Libya has devastating ESTABLISHED IN 1996 impact on health care sector: UN CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI QNA

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI United Nations confirmed [email protected] that continues violence in Libya to have a devastating impact on country’s health ACTING MANAGING EDITOR U care sector. MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED UN Human Rights Office and the [email protected] UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) indicated in a joint statement yesterday that hospitals DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR and other medical facilities MOHAMMED OSMAN ALI bombed, shelled and looted; [email protected] medical personnel targeted, attacked and even taken hostage or arbitrarily detained; and patients at times denied prompt life-saving care or attacked while getting treatment. “These attacks are a major vio- EDITORIAL lation of international law and a tragic disregard of our common humanity. All too often, there is no respect for the sick and no sanctity New impetus to a noble cause for those who provide care. This must end,” said Ghassan Salame, the o give new impetus to a noble cause in the blessed Special Representative of the Sec- atmosphere of the Holy month of Ramadan which retary-General for Libya and Head of is also a month of giving and charity, Education UNSMIL. T Qatar Red Crescent Society aid being delivered to the Ibn Sina Central Hospital and Above All (EAA) Foundation has launched a campaign Between 1 May 2017 and 1 May four main health centers in Libya. to raise funds with a noble aim to provide quality edu- 2018, the UN has recorded 36 cation to impoverished and marginalised children, youth attacks on medical facilities, per- and women around the world. sonnel or patients, although the to enter Derna. Between 1 May 2017 and Education Above All Foundation last month accom- actual number is likely to be signifi- Armed groups, including those 1 May 2018, the UN has plished a remarkable achievement when its chairperson cantly higher. formally integrated into Ministries, recorded 36 attacks on H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser announced that EAA’s Among the incidents cited, the have assaulted, threatened and even medical facilities, personnel Educate A Child (EAC) programme had succeeded in its Sabha Medical Centre in southern unlawfully deprived healthcare objective of helping 10 million of the most marginalized Libya was shelled or hit by stray workers of liberty. or patients, although the out of school children to receive quality, primary bullets 15 times between February Doctors and other hospital staff actual number is likely to be education. and May. face insults, intimidation and significantly higher. Doctors This well-timed campaign will raise awareness about In beatings by fighters seeking prefer- and other hospital staff face the challenges the world face in accessing quality edu- November ential treatment for injured members cation as well as collect donations at different locations 2017, the of their armed groups and their rela- insults, intimidation and across the country. Jalaa Hos- tives. In one case, a fighter beatings by fighters seeking Different programmes being run by Education Above pital in reportedly held a gun to a doctors Under international preferential treatment for All Foundation like Educate A Child (EAC), Reach Out Benghazi head, forcing the doctor to resus- injured members of their To Asia (ROTA), and Al Fakhoora, which include several humanitarian law, saw people citate his mother. projects across the world which applies to shooting in Under international humani- armed groups and their particularly education for the cor- tarian law, which applies to situa- relatives. Palestinian and Rohingya situations of armed ridors with tions of armed conflict, hospitals and refugees will benefit from the conflict, hospitals AK-47s. other medical facilities, medical per- funds raised through this and other medical On 18 sonnel and medical transport must of military operations to prevent, or newly-launched campaign of facilities, medical February, a be respected and protected at all at least minimise, the impact of hos- EAA’s Educate EAA. woman in times, while attacks targeting them tilities on medical facilities and A Child (EAC) At the time of announcing personnel and labour and are prohibited. workers. programme had the achievement of proving medical transport her unborn International human rights law It also calls on the Government succeeded in primary education to 10 must be respected child died also stipulates that everyone has the of National Accord to develop and million last month at New and protected at all when armed right to the highest attainable implement effective measures to its objective of York Public Library, HH men delayed standard of physical and mental prevent and address acts of vio- helping 10 million Sheikha Moza had stressed times, while attacks their passage health without discrimination. lence, attacks and threats against of the most that the next five years would targeting them are at a check- The paper calls on all parties to healthcare providers and to marginalized out see ‘Educate A Child’ work to prohibited. point as they the conflict to take all necessary pre- ensure accountability for such expand its existing programs were trying cautions in the planning and conduct attacks. of school children and implement new ones. to receive Her Highness had noted quality, primary that since this project began, education. Educate A Child had partic- ipated in 82 partnerships Yemenis resort to burning firewood to cook food across 50 countries. They lev- KHALID ALKARIMI eraged together a $1.8 billion & Fuel imports in March “She places two bricks the conflict will end, they are dollar investment; a third of that sum was from the FAISAL EDROOS were less than one-third, 30 slightly apart with a space languishing in desperate government of Qatar. percent, of the national between them. Then, the conditions. Now when EAA has launched a fresh fund-raising hen Yahia Al requirement, according to the firewood is cut into small “Many of the internally dis- campaign, it is duty of all of us to contribute generously Amari’s three UN’s Office for the Coordi- pieces and placed between the placed Yemenis are increas- to the cause keeping an aim in mind that no child should gas cylinders ran nation of Humanitarian Affairs bricks and then a cooking pan ingly being driven to rely on stay out of school in any part of the world. dry, he scoured (OCHA). is placed on top.” It’s a prim- humanitarian assistance, W itive way of preparing food EAA Foundation is also eligible to receive Sadaqah the entire Yemeni capital to Power shortages have indebting themselves or and Zakat donations. “We are elated to be eligible to find a place where he could caused a burgeoning rise in but it works, he added. resorting to other negative receive Sadaqah and Zakat Donations after a careful refill them. The 50-year-old demand for diesel and Standing at a busy inter- coping mechanisms such as screening process. Education Above All Foundation walked to nearly every petrol gasoline on the black market, change in front of a large pile begging to try and sustain believes education is the key to unlocking a human’s station in Sanaa, hoping to and young men and boys have of wood, Abdu Alghaili, a themselves while in exile. potential and a driver of human development. We work find enough fuel to cook his begun lining major thorough- firewood dealer, said the gas “Many are also drastically to support the world’s hardest to reach people who have family of seven their first hot fares, selling plastic water shortage had led to a spike in reducing their food intake as been affected by poverty, conflict, natural disasters, and meal of the week. bottles filled with bright red or his business, but left the their purchasing power has discrimination to give them the power to change their But he was turned away deep yellow fuel - at up to five poorest most vulnerable. reduced as a result of conflict lives for the better,” Mohamed Al Naama, Senior Rep- everywhere he went, either by times the normal price. “Customers are looking for and exile but food and fuel resentative of Fundraising Department at EAA, said the long queues or the Al Amari said he could anything as replacement for prices have also increased.” while launching the awareness cum fund raising cam- announcements that tanker afford to pay $17 (YR4,300) to cooking gas, and firewood is “Lots of commodities are paign of EAA. trucks had failed to arrive. fill one cylinder of gas in their best choice. “I used to sell no longer available, and if they “Cooking [propane] gas rebel-held areas, the cost in a bunch of sticks for $1.2 are, they’re very expensive,” completely disappeared,” he government-run areas is only (YR300), but they now cost $4 said Abdulla Almatari, a told. Since November, millions $3.8 (YR950). (YR1,000). “I have to fetch the 50-year-old resident of Sanaa. of Yemenis have been affected But, in a country where wood from outside Sanaa. I go “We keep protesting, begging by a chronic shortage of fuel. more than half the population to Hajjah [120km north of the coalition to lift the blockade, QUOTE OF THE DAY Attempting to force the lives on less than $2 a day, he Sanaa] or Tehama [200km but they have deaf ears.” Houthis, a group of Shia rebels quickly realised that cooking west] and spend around a Hani Mohammed, a con- who control large parts of the gas, like diesel, was a luxury week collecting the firewood struction worker struggling to North Korea has a north, into relinquishing their and an alternative was before hauling it back in the find work, said he resorted to chance to be a great grip on power, a major gas needed. “We resorted to truck. It’s not an easy job.” “using cardboard” he found on country and I think firm in Marib. buying firewood because Shabia Mantoo, UNHCR’s the streets after giving up on they should seize the The blockade, which has buying cooking gas became Yemen spokesperson, told cooking gas three weeks ago. only been partially lifted, had too expensive,” he told “We that at a communal shelter for “I’ve had to adapt to the opportunity. There a devastating impact on the now head to the market and Internally displaced persons, circumstance,” the father of are certain conditions civilian population, with only buy sticks [firewood]. That’s Yemenis had resorted to three told. “When we tried that we want. If they a sliver of goods entering the how we’ve learned to cook.” “burning rubbish to bake firewood for the first time, it capital of 4 million people. Al Amri said cooking with bread.” “There are two million was strange. But now it’s aren’t met we won’t The shortage of fuel forced firewood had become the people who have been dis- normal.” have the meeting. factories to lay off their staff, norm for several families he placed by the conflict, the vast Outside the capital, the taxi prices to increase astro- knew, with burning embers a majority have been displaced shortages are even more dev- Donald Trump nomically and hospitals, frequent sight on the city’s for more than a year, so astating, with more than 10 US President which rely on diesel to power rooftops at night. “My wife they’ve exhausted all their million people requiring their generators, to start prepares food on a make-shift resources and savings while in immediate humanitarian closing wards. stove on the roof,” he said. exile. Unsure of when assistance. WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 OPINION 09 Incidents happening in Palestine mirror South Africa’s apartheid

n May 2, representatives of of Israel and is engaged in applying its is a big difference between genocide between an occupier and the Afriforum, a controversial own racist policies. and colonialism. The holocaust was a occupied. South African organisation, Beyond lobbying against a law deliberate attempt to murder That Israel is finding such travelled to the US on a that could affect rich white land- 11-million people. There is a dif- staunch support in the Trump O ference between colonialism and a mission to lobby the US government owners in South Africa, Afriforum has administration and that Afriforum to take a stance against what they engaged through its public statements deliberate genocidal project.” thought they’d find understanding called a “racist theft” of land in South in systematic historical revisionism. In Historical revisionism is one of in Washington is unsurprising. TAFI MHAKA Africa. the past, the organisation has called many tools that the likes of Zille and Trump came to power riding on AL JAZEERA Afriforum had launched an inter- consequences of apartheid “so-called Kriel have to continue the fight to the wave of white fears that their national campaign to stop the South injustices”. maintain white privilege. What is privilege might be lost, and since African government from making con- In a recent interview, its CEO Kriel worrying is that their narratives find then has fostered them. He has also stitutional changes that would allow claimed that apartheid “was wrong” acceptance not only within South not been shy about his own racism, the state to appropriate land without but was not a crime against humanity. Africa but also abroad. Kriel and his making disparaging remarks about compensation and resettle thousands He also appeared to believe that associate were clearly well received people of colour and a whole con- of landless black peasants. The apartheid and the Holocaust could not in the US. tinent, and has sought to ban measure would affect predominantly be compared. He said: “[A] crime But beyond whitewashing the Muslims from entering the US. The white South African landowners. against humanity is the gassing of six reality we live in, these statements — far right and its revisionist agenda Afriforum CEO Kallie Kriel and his million Jews in gas chambers. In my “Apartheid in South Africa is not holo- have found plenty of support from deputy Ernst Roets met representa- view, you cannot equate that to the caust”, “Apartheid is not a crime his administration. tives from USAID, staffers with 700 people that were killed by the against humanity”, “Colonialism is not Curiously, there have also been Republican Senator Ted Cruz, and- security police during apartheid.” genocide” — have another sinister people of colour who have joined controversial National Security This wild, ingenious and unsym- goal. that project and have attempted to adviser and longtime Republican pathetic observation demonstrates an What this narrative aims to do is whitewash the history of slavery. hawk, John Bolton. anti-liberal attempt to amend his- to dissociate South African apartheid Housing Secretary Ben Carson As their tour ended with a media torical truths, manufacture new from other crimes committed in the referred toslaves as “immigrants” storm in South Africa, Gaza came into moralities and retain white economic name of white supremacy and priv- last year. This year, rapper and the international spotlight. The Israeli and social privileges. ilege and to whitewash them. Trump supporter Kanye Westde- government and its allies in the West To “remember” that apartheid They aim to cover up the truth clared that slavery was “a choice”. were rushing to gloss over the mass was much more than the killing of that apartheid in South Africa was just Indeed, one can see the same killing of peaceful Palestinian pro- “700 people”, one just needs to walk one of many expressions of a strategies of playing down crimes, testers who had marched to demand around the resource-starved black worldwide race-based system of of manipulating language, of sys- their occupied land be returned. townships like Tembisa, 40km north domination and privilege that to this tematically undermining estab- Western media rushed to parrot of Johannesburg, or visit an informal day feeds wealth and prosperity to the lished historical truths from South Israeli rhetoric that Hamas was settlement in Cape Town, where selected few whites at the top. Africa to Palestine to the United responsible for the civilian deaths. thousands of very poor and margin- It is for this same reason that States. Palestinians, Palestinians, just like South alised black people live. Then one Zionists (despite themselves suffering In the face of this powerful and just like South Africans and other dispossessed should visit a traditionally white from the crimes of white supremacy) deliberate campaign to recalibrate Africans and other peoples around the world, have been Johannesburg suburb like Randburg, rush head over heels to claim that collective and individual moralities, dispossessed facing a concerted effort by ever- Rosebank, or Bedfordview, and see what is happening in Palestine is not modify historical memory, and growing right-wing forces to what post-apartheid white wealth like South Africa’s apartheid and that justify heinous crimes, we have to peoples around the obfuscate their reality. This is part of a and prosperity looks like. the comparison is “malicious” and resist. world, have been broader campaign around the world Colonialism and apartheid created “slanderous”. It is for this reason that We have to insist that our expe- facing a concerted to normalise colonialism, white a massive underclass of poverty- they fear and vehemently denounce riences of white supremacy effort by ever- supremacy and privilege, and rewrite stricken folks who, despite welcoming the outreach between the US oppression are real and they don’t history. the policy of racial reconciliation movement Black Lives Matter and end with the end of slavery or the growing right-wing It is not a coincidence that it is Nelson Mandela supported, and Palestinian activists. collapse of the apartheid regime. forces to obfuscate now that an organisation like Afri- accepting the skewed economic situ- It is for that reason that they insist We have to make it clear that we their reality. forum is reaching out to a US gov- ation that accompanied the founding on presenting the Israeli-Palestinian know Gaza in 2018 is Soweto in ernment that is staunchly supportive of the new South Africa in 1994, must conflict as a “religious issue”, which 1976 is Selma in 1965. bear the incredible indignity of flimsy, needs “inter-faith dialogue”. It is for hurtful and inconsistent interpreta- this reason that they claim that it is tions of the violence bred through religious “extremists” who are colonialism and apartheid, and its responsible for violence, that it is “ter- effects. rorist Hamas” that is responsible for And Afriforum is not the first Israeli killings in Gaza. political actor to peddle this revi- Indeed, last week, Naftali Bennett, D-RING ROAD sionist brand of calculated recol- Israel’s education minister, went as POST BOX: 3488 lection. In March 2017, former Demo- far as saying that unarmed protesters DOHA - QATAR cratic Alliance (DA) leader, Helen Zille gathering at the fence near the border [email protected] celebrated colonialism and asserted should be treated as “terrorists”. how that historical injustice intro- The rhetoric caught on. White duced benefits that previously disad- House deputy spokesperson Raj Shah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE vantaged blacks should be thankful ascribedresponsibility for the killings TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 for. She tweeted: “For those claiming to Hamas and declared squarely that FAX: +974 4455 7758 legacy of colonialism was onlly neg- “Israel has the right to defend itself” ative, think of our independent judi- from unarmed protesters. Spokes- MANAGING EDITOR TEL: ciary, transport infrastructure, piped persons for various other Western 4462 7505 water.” governments mumbled the same Then, despite the public outcry accusations and called for “restraint” DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR TEL: against this and subsequent tweets, in on “both sides” as though this is a 4455 7769 June 2017, she went on to say: “There conflict between two equals and not LOCAL NEWS SECTION TEL: 4455 7743

BUSINESS NEWS SECTION slamic State is increasingly Politicians have pressured has “regular productive meetings” TEL: 4462 7535 turning to file-hosting web- social media companies — in par- with US and European govern- sites to spread propaganda in ticular Facebook, Twitter and ments about Islamic State content SPORT NEWS SECTION response to social media Google’s YouTube — to do more and how to deal with it. I TEL: 4455 7745 crackdowns by Twitter Inc., to keep extremist content off Google Drive remained a Facebook Inc., and Alphabet Inc.’s their platforms. The companies popular alternative, but Flash- ONLINE SECTION Google. have hired thousands of people point’s research showed the mil- JEREMY KAHN TEL: 4462 7501 New York-based threat analysis to manually review uploads, and itant group was also using a wide BLOOMBERG [email protected] firm Flashpoint published research have also adopted machine- array of smaller services to spread its message. Among the top ten learning systems to detect ter- PUBLIC RELATIONS rorist propaganda before it’s sites were 4shared.com, user- TEL: 4455 7613 seen by anybody. scloud.com and sendvid.com. [email protected] Flashpoint analysed links Wolf said this showed why it posted to Islamic State’s official, was important for groups such as Islamic State moving ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT password-protected web forum the Global Internet Forum to TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 and another private site closely Counter Terrorism — a con- FAX: 4455 7870 associated with the terrorist sortium founded by Facebook, Mi- [email protected] to digital lockers to organisation, between January crosoft, Twitter, and YouTube to 2015 and December 2017, and share information that helps the CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT spread propaganda found that Twitter had fallen out platforms identify extremist TEL: 4455 7857 of the top 10 sites referenced in the material — to partner with many [email protected] two Islamic State forums between more less popular or niche those dates. services. SUBSCRIPTION & But Wolf said the group seems He said that despite efforts to DISTRIBUTION showing the militant group has to be deliberately requesting that clamp down on Islamic State’s TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 instead been more frequently uti- certain pages be cached on the online propaganda, the volume FAX: 44557819 lising preserved versions of web Internet Archive in order to of content it shared, and the [email protected] pages on sites such as the Internet maintain access to the material places the group posted it, has Archive, file-storage platforms even if it’s removed by the site changed remarkably little over Google Drive and Dropbox Inc., where it was initially posted. the three years Flashpoint Google Drive French YouTube competitor Daily- Archive.org was the site most fre- examined. All thoughts and views remained a popular motion.com, and a variety of quently linked to by Islamic State “We do need be thinking about lesser-known online locker forums in 2017. broader efforts to get at the root of expressed in these columns alternative, but services. Chris Butler, a spokesman for the problem and not just crack are those of the writers, Flashpoint’s “They have had a lot more diffi- the Internet Archive, said that as down on the big name social net- not of the newspaper. research showed culty maintaining accounts on soon as it’s informed about the works,” Wold said. the militant group Twitter and distributing propa- presence of extremist content, Flashpoint has previously ganda over it,” Ken Wolf, a senior particularly Islamic State propa- received funding from Bloomberg All correspondence was also using intelligence analyst at Flashpoint, ganda, it either removes it or Beta, the venture capital arm of regarding Views and a wide array of said in an interview, but added that places it behind restricted barriers Bloomberg LP. Opinion pages should be smaller services to “it’s very easy for these groups to that only journalists or academic send to editor-in-chief spread its message. migrate from one platform to the resea-rchers can access. The author is a technology writer next.” Butler said the organisation for Bloomberg @business. office or mailed to the [email protected] 10 ASIA WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 Anti-Sterlite protests in TN turn violent; 9 dead IANS journalists covering the protests, People in Toothukudi were injured in the clashes. Many are demanding the TOOTHUKUDI: Nine people, of them were admitted to hos- closure of Sterlite including a girl, died yesterday pitals for treatment as their con- in police firing after the ongoing dition was serious. copper smelting plant anti-Sterlite protests turned Among the injured was a alleging that it was violent with thousands of people 16-year-old schoolgirl who was polluting the area. from nearby areas allegedly waiting for her bus when she was attacking the District Collec- hit by a bullet. torate demanding closure of the Opposition parties squarely According to a police officer Vedanta Group-run company. blamed the State government for on the spot, police swung into In the first major incident of the deaths with one of them even action when the protesters police firing in Tamil Nadu on demanding the resignation of torched some vehicles in the protesters and resultant deaths, Chief Minister E. Palaniswamy, area. When tear gas shells and they first fired teargas shells and who appealed to the people for the baton charge failed to dis- carried out baton charges to calm. perse the mob, police opened fire bring the protesters under The Chief Minister, who held to control the situation. control but passions were high. a meeting with his ministerial The protesters alleged that Police then resorted to firing colleagues and top police offi- police had used force without as thousands of people gathered cials including DGP TK provocation on the peaceful Indian police officials run towards protesters in the southern Indian city of Toothukudi, some 600km in defiance of prohibitory orders Rajendran, said action would be gathering. south of Chennai, yesterday during a protest rally to demand the closure of a copper factory due to on the 100th day of their agi- taken against the company. People in Toothukudi are tation ever since the company In a statement, the state gov- demanding the closure of Sterlite pollution concerns. announced the expansion plans ernment said it would respect the copper smelting plant alleging of the four lakh tonne per annum wishes of the people and nec- that it was polluting the area, and the state government. Actors Rajinikanth, who had some after people complained of irri- Sterlite Copper project and essary action in the matter. It leading to severe health Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, time ago tweeted on the Sterlite tation in their eyes after emis- attacked the Collectorate. said around 20,000 people took problems among the residents who recently announced their protests, said: “One can’t under- sions from the project. The area around the Collec- out a rally against the company of the locality, besides depleting entry into politics, have also stand why the government, It said in March this year, the torate resembled a battle-zone and became violent by attacking the water table. expressed solidarity with the which gave the nod for the plant, company had applied for with the protesters setting police and burning police Social activists have also protesters. The TN government is not taking any action and is removal of consent to operate vehicles afire and attacking vehicles while storming the Col- joined the protests against the must take action over the con- just watching.” Tamil Nadu Fish- (CTO) for its existing smelter policemen with stones. Plumes lector’s office. As police could not company. Heavy police cerns expressed by the pro- eries Minister D Jayakumar told plant. The application has been of black smoke emanated from control the crowd, they resorted deployment could be seen in testers, they said. reporters in Chennai that the loss rejected for want of more clari- the protest site. Police retaliated to a few actions, it said. Toothukudi and surrounding “The expansion (of Sterlite of lives was unfortunate in a state fications after the state pollution in a bid to bring the situation The statement said the gov- areas of the coastal city. Copper) should not at all be known for peace. control board found that the under control. ernment will take all legal steps Condemning the state gov- allowed. If possible, it will be The Tamil Nadu government factory hs not fulfilled some of Among those who died were in the matter and asked the ernment for the police firing that good to close down the (existing) also issued a statement in which the major factors including non- identified as Antony Selvaraj, people to maintain peace. Police claimed many lives, DMK unit,” Makkal Neethi Mayyam stated that Sterlite plant was submission of a detailed ground Kandiah, Gladson, Jayaram, from neighbouring districts of Working President MK Stalin chief Kamal Haasan said. He said functioning in the state for over water analysis, action not taken Maniraj, Tamilarasan, Shan- Madurai and Virudhunagar was said that police was committing there was no point in putting up 20 years and in 2013 the then to dispose waste and not building mugham and Venista. At least 60 rushed to Thoothukudi to bring atrocities. Other political leaders a plant near residential and agri- Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had a compound wall to arrest water people, including policemen and the situation under control. have also slammed police and cultural zone. ordered the closure of factory mixing in the nearby river

Nipah virus claims 10 lives Congress’ in Kerala, two serious Parameshwara IANS both animals and humans, to be Karnataka Central Animal Husbandary KOZHIKODE: The toll due to the Commissioner SP Suresh, who Deputy CM Nipah virus (NiP), presently is part of the Central team here, IANS identified in Kerala’s Kozhikode said that after their examination and Malappuram, rose to 10 of animals in the affected areas, yesterday even as the Central no incidence of virus in animals BENGALURU: The Congress’ and state governments has been identified and instead Karnataka President G. scrambled to contain its it is the humans that have been Parameshwara (pictured) outbreak. affected. would be the Deputy Chief State Health Minister KK “No domesticated animals so Minister in the Janata Dal- Shailaja, who is now based at far have been affected. Other Secular (JD-S)-Congress Kozhikode and shuttling to aspects should be now probed coalition government, a Malappuram, told the media that as this has been now found in party leader said yesterday. till yesterday, 18 samples have only human beings,” he said. “Party President Rahul been sent for investigation. National Centre for Disease Gandhi has approved the “Of these, 12 have been iden- Control Director Sujeet K Singh, name of Parameshwara for tified - of which 10 sufferers who is also part of the Central the Deputy Chief Minister have died and two are serious. team, told the media that all Medics wearing protective gear examine a patient at a hospital in Kozhikode in the southern state post in the coalition gov- The medical professionals are technical assistance and support of Kerala, India. ernment,” Congress General doing their best, even as two is being extended by to the state. Secretary K C Venugopal patients with this virus passed “With regards to the financial medical professionals who are Department here who will make “All the tourist locations and told reporters. away this morning,” said assistance, that is not decided by willing to come to the state to the necessary arrangements,” he the state in general are safe as Parameshwara will take Shailaja, yesterday,and added me. The second team of ours is take part in controlling this virus. said. usual for holiday activities. oath after JD-S legislative that 11 in Kozhikode are under reaching here tomorrow and “There was a request from Meanwhile, the tourism Tourism industry partners in the party leader H D Kumar- observation. things are well under control,” one doctor - Kafeel Khan from industry represented by the state are more vigilant and swamy is sworn-in as the The virus first claimed the he said, yesterday. A team of Uttar Pradesh - that he wish to Confederation of Kerala Tourism equipped to provide a hassle- Chief Minister today evening lives of two brothers and their medical professionals from serve the people who are suf- Industry (CKTI) led by EM free holiday to the visiting trav- in front of the Vidhana aunt in Perambara near here. AIIMS Delhi is expected to arrive fering in Kozhikode. I wish to Najeeb, in a statement issued ellers. The airports, railway sta- Soudha. Even though Nipah virus, today. state that all professionals with here, said they wish to convey tions, hotels and places of visit The 34-member min- spread by direct contact with Meanwhile Chief Minister a mind to serve the sufferings to all that the concern now pro- all are following the right pro- istry will have 22 cabinet infected fruit bats, pigs or from Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday said are more than welcome and they jected was larger than the tocols and are free of problems ministers from the Congress other infected persons, infects that he welcomed all those can get in touch with the Health reality. as usual,” he said and 12 from the JD-S. “Speaker of the Legis- lative Assembly will be from the Congress and Deputy Congress leader Speaker will be from the Air passenger ‘charter’ promises relief from cancellation charges JD-S,” said Venugopal. The Speaker and Deputy seeks structural IANS release by the ministry in the between 4 and 12 hours, the delay and Rs 1,000 per kg for Speaker will be named on audit of bridges early afternoon, with officials compensation will be Rs 10,000 damage of baggage”. In addition, Thursday and names of the NEW DELHI: Domestic air saying they will issue the draft A delay of more than 12 hours airline will not levy any addi- cabinet ministers and their passengers will soon be able to rules “after correction.” A will lead to a liability of Rs tional charge for “correction in portfolios will be announced IANS avail full refunds and additional revised statement from the min- 20,000 per passenger. name of the same person when after the floor test in the compensation for flight delays istry was released later in the Besides, passengers would name correction is required up hung House. PANAJI: In the wake of and cancellations as the evening. be de-boarded if the flight is to three characters only and “A joint coordination collapse of an under- government yesterday put in the As per the proposed entitle- stationed on the tarmac for when error in the name spelling committee with members construction flyover in Uttar public domain a new ‘passenger ments subject to conditions, more than 90 minutes “plus no is pointed out by the passenger from both the parties will be Pradesh’s Varanasi district charter’ for eliciting comments, “when flight is expected to be possibility of departure in next to the airline within 24 hours of set up in the next couple of that claimed 15 lives, the suggestions before notifying delayed for more than 4 hours” 30 minutes”. making a reservation”. days,” added Congress Congress yesterday demanded them. airlines will offer an option of In case of flight cancella- “Under no circumstance will General Secretary a thorough structural audit of The new air passenger full refund. tions, if the passenger is the airline (including the online Venugopal. two under-construction charter seeks to amend current “When delay is more than informed less than two weeks or offline agent) levy cancel- bridges across major rivers in norms for charges incurred by 24 hours from published before and up to 24 hours of lation charges that total more Goa. In a letter to Union travellers on cancellation and scheduled time of departure departure time, then the con- than the basic fare plus fuel sur- Minister for Road Transport, rescheduling of air travel, among and involves flight to fly on the cerned airline will be asked to charge,” the ministry said. Highways and Shipping Nitin other things. next day i.e. beyond 0000 offer an alternate flight or a full “Passenger allowed lock-in Gadkari, former state However, the new compen- hours, passenger to be offered refund. option for 24 hours (after Congress president Shantaram sation structure will apply only free-of-charge hotel accommo- “In case the passenger is not booking ticket) in which the pas- Naik said an audit was if it is found that the flight delay dation (including transfers),” a informed up to 24 hours of the senger can cancel or amend the essential in order to fix or cancellation was caused by revised statement from the min- scheduled departure time, the ticket without any additional responsibility of the officials the airline concerned. istry said. airlines must refund the full charges.” in case of a disaster. The new norms are expected On account of missing a value of the air ticket,” the min- Apart from the charter, the “This audit along with to be notified by July 15 after connecting flight on the same istry said. ministry informed that the quality control steps are public comments on the draft PNR ticket number, the charter Besides, liabilities for Department of Telecommuni- essential and there should be charter have been sought by the proposes that the concerned baggage lost, delayed or cations (DoT) will soon able to no room to shift the blame as Ministry of Civil Aviation within airline will pay Rs 5,000 for a damaged have been mooted at give out licenses to airlines and was done in Varanasi,” Naik a month. The ‘passenger charter’ delay of more than 3 hours. “Rs 3,000 per kg for loss of service operators for the com- said in his letter to Gadkari. was withdrawn soon after its Subsequently, if the delay is baggage, Rs 1,000 per kg for mence on-board Wi-Fi facility. WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 ASIA 11 Project for Pakistan’s first National Centre for Cyber Security launched

INTERNEWS growth and national competitiveness. ISLAMABAD: A project for Worth Rs1.23bn, the project establishing the first National will focus on building national Centre for Cyber Security of Worth Rs1.23bn, capacity for carrying out Pakistan was inaugurated the project will research and development in yesterday by Interior Minister focus on building the emerging field of cyber Ahsan Iqbal. national capacity for security by solving at least a The centre is being set up at small number of hard cyber the Air University and will carrying out R&D in security problems identified and consist of affiliated laboratories the emerging field of mutually agreed by a scientific in 10 various universities in the cyber security. committee comprising of local country. According to docu- and international experts. It will ments for the project, cyber- also offer solutions to the market space, a fifth domain for country,” he said. Cyber security though technology commercial- warfare, has recently attracted has been recognised as a global isation and licensing. the attention of many developed problem, transcending national The centre is designed for and developing countries. boundaries. It is estimated, also developing a vibrant cyber “Reports of government according to a working paper of security ecosystem and with a websites being hacked and sen- this project, that cybercrime highly skilled workforce in Cooling down sitive data being stolen by costs the global economy cyber security and IT and an foreign groups is not new $400bn annually. advanced infrastructure. Men and children cool off from the heat wave, as they are sprayed with water jetting out from a anymore,” the document says, “Cyber security is a rapidly Pakistan can build a cyber- leaking water pipeline in Karachi, Pakistan yesterday. adding that affective cyber growing challenge with new security ecosystem to become attacks can cripple an entire sophisticated zero-day attacks a leading nation in this field in nation’s infrastructure and can costing economies billions per Asia and the Middle East. damage the economy. year.” The headquarters of the The inauguration of the The scale of the problem, centre will be in Air University project was held at the Air Uni- rapid technology advancement, while some universities are Peshawar High Court digitalises versity and was attended by a and technical nature of cyber- going to be partners such as large number of experts, attacks widens the cyber Bahria University Islamabad, teachers and students. security skills gap. UET Taxila, Lums Lahore, Arfa process of copying judgements Speaking on the occasion, “Hence, there is a need for Software Technology Park, Nust, INTERNEWS the interior minister said the new initiatives that cannot only University of Peshawar, Uni- photocopy and one soft copy of Branch with objections to be country’s security situation has produce skilful people in this versity of Technology Nowshera the petition along with his/her removed. improved significantly during area but make Pakistan self-sus- and the University of Engi- PESHAWAR: In order to facil- contact number and email at the Likewise, Copying Branch the last five years. He said ter- tainable in the area of cyber neering and Technology Lahore. itate litigants and their counsels, Institution Branch to initiate the instantly provides verified court rorism has been curtailed and security,” the paper reads. Higher Education Com- Peshawar High Court (PHC) has process. Upon receiving the orders and judgments upon that the war against terrorism According to the document, mission Executive Director Dr digitalised the entire process of petition a case entry number is receiving the application. is ongoing. this project is mainly focused on Arshad Ali said the project is institution and copying. given to the litigant and the Now the reader and print He said the establishment of research and development and being funded by the HEC. These steps are taken to petition is sent to the Fixation section of the concerned court the centre was a dream of his human resource development “The future of any country expedite the entire process Branch for further scrutiny. uploaded, scanned judgments and that cyber security issues in the specialised field of cyber is nowadays dependent on cyber which was earlier carried out Fixation Branch responds to in the system which is available are a new phenomena. security and its practical appli- security as even the best missile manually with many loopholes the litigant about the result of online to Copying Branch to “We earlier inaugurated the cations, which are important systems can also be breached,” making it extremely time scrutiny within 24 hours through cater applicants. Centre of Mathematical Sciences components of Vision 2025. he said. consuming. SMS alert. The text message is Moreover, keeping in view at PIAS while a centre of excel- It says the role of cyber He said work on the estab- Under the newly installed received either when the problems of the litigants, Infor- lence for artificial intelligence, security is growing in many lishment of the centre has automated system now the lit- petition is accepted for the mation Kiosk has been setup at cyber security and robotics is business applications and is already been started and that it igants and counsels only provide hearing or when an incomplete the entry gate to answer basic also being established in the becoming vital for economic will be completed in three years. one original copy, one file is returned to the Institution queries regarding cases.

China to continue concessional Tajik clerics recommend financing under CPEC dam-builders INTERNEWS concessional financing in upcoming government could Pakistan under CPEC. “The resume CPEC work without any skip fasting ISLAMABAD: China yesterday CPEC review meeting con- further delays. “We have so far AFP assured Pakistan that Beijing sidered Master Plan for Gwadar energized $30bn projects in would continue financing under which it was projected period of 3 years and it could projects after conversion of that population in Gwadar have touched $40bn if PTI had DUSHANBE: Muslim clerics concessional loans from domain would touch 2 million from not wasted one year in the wake in ex-Soviet Tajikistan have of its Ministry of Commerce 2035 to 2050 from existing of sit ins in 2014,” he added. advised workers building (Mofcom) to newly established slightly over 0.1 million. On establishment of Special what will become the world’s China Aid just like on the pattern This population will go up Economic Zones (SEZs), the min- tallest hydroelectric dam not of USAID. to 0.3 million by 2025 and will ister said the Board of to observe Ramadan, echoing This process of conversion be increased to 0.4 million by Investment and other concerned comments from the country’s has caused some delays in exe- 2035,” Federal Minister for agencies were directed to secular authoritarian ruler. cution of some crucial projects Planning Ahsan Iqbal told analyse incentive package being A spokesman for the reli- like ML-1, Karachi Circular reporters after CPEC review offered by other countries like gious affairs committee told Railway and others under China meeting held here on Tuesday Cambodia, Vietnam and others AFP yesterday that the fatwa Pakistan Economic Corridor evening. so that relocated industry from (directive) “was issued pri- (CPEC) in Pakistan but now this Regarding ML-1, the minister China could be incentivized. marily for the safety of conversion was done and there said that Pakistan had sought He said the SEZ in Islamabad workers engaged in con- would be no more delays. concessional funding for con- would be constructed along with struction” of the Rogun dam. Chinese Ambassador in struction of over $8bn railway newly established Islamabad “They work at a great Pakistan who participated in line from Peshawar to Karachi Airport as scarcity of land in the altitude in difficult conditions, last review meeting for ana- but conversion from Mofcom to federal capital had become as well as underground,” said lysing progress on China China Aid caused delay in final- major problematic area as land the spokesman. The Rogun Pakistan Economic Corridor ising of this project but now in the range of 100,000 acres dam is a signature project of (CPEC) before completion of China assured them to execute was not available at one place President Emomali Rakhmon PML-N led regime five year projects in speedy manner. in the federal capital. and its Italian contractor is in a tenure under chairmanship of He said the ministries/divi- “We have instructed to con- race against time to get the first Myanmar journalists’ hearing Federal Minister for Planning sions and departments were struct SEZ in jurisdiction of New unit online by November. Ahsan Iqbal here yesterday, directed to complete feasibility Islamabad International Airport Rogun, which at 335 Detained Reuters journalist Wa Lone arrives with his wife Pan assured Pakistani side that the studies and other procedural even outside Islamabad territory metres will become the world’s Ei Mon, escorted by police, before a court hearing in Yangon, newly established China Aid requirements till holding of next in order to align cargo with tallest dam, is a $4bn project Myanmar, yesterday. had become operational and general elections in next two to newly established facility” he that Rakhmon views as vital to they would continue three months so that the added. lifting Tajikistan out of poverty. Earlier this month Rakhmon said that “fasting without thinking about tomorrow” is “not the quality of a true Calls for restraint as Bangladesh drug war claims 11 more lives Muslim”. Ramadan, one of Islam’s AFP methamphetamine pills known opposition party the Bangladesh activists” before a general spearheaded the push against most revered holidays in which as “yaba” that are being sold by Nationalist Party (BNP) said one election in December. extremists which ended with at Muslims around the world fast DHAKA: Bangladesh police the hundreds of millions. of its student activists, Amjad Rights activists also least 80 alleged militants dead. from dawn until dusk, began yesterday shot dead nearly a Prime Minister Sheikh Hossain, had been unjustly tar- described the killings -- all con- Bangladesh has been strug- last week and ends on June 14. dozen more alleged drug dealers Hasina has vowed to fight the geted in one of the sweeps. ducted late at night -- as ques- gling to control a huge surge in Authorities in the Central Asian officials said, as its no-holds “drug menace” with the same Police in the northern dis- tionable and showing disregard yaba crossing its southeastern nation have struggled to keep barred offensive drew accusa- intensity as a previous campaign trict of Netrokona told AFP that for the court system. “Drug border from Myanmar, where up with a religious revival fol- tions of murder from rights that pursued homegrown mili- Hossain was a prominent dealer dealing is a heinous crime. Yet the cheap pills are manufactured lowing independence from the groups and opposition parties. tants and left dozens of Islamic facing 13 charges related to drugs everyone has the right to stand in enormous quantities. Soviet Union in 1991, clamping At least 33 people have been radicals dead. and violence. “He was illegally before a court for trial rather Authorities last year seized a down on headscarves and long gunned down in late-night Police said four “top drug murdered in cold blood,” BNP than being a victim of these inci- record 40 million yaba pills but beards in recent times. shootouts since Bangladesh dealers” were gunned down in spokesman Rizvi Ahmed said. dents,” activist Nur Khan Liton said an estimated 250-300 million Rakhmon, a former col- declared an all-out war on drugs the rural districts of Comilla and The opposition welcomed told AFP. others managed to enter the lective farm chairman, also a week ago. Nilphamari, and seven more the push against drugs, Ahmed Thousands of alleged market. Nine million yaba tablets exhorted agricultural workers The country has been strug- were killed elsewhere in said, but feared the crackdown dealers have been arrested by were seized in less than three not to spare energy needed for gling to contain a surging trade Bangladesh. could also be used as a “witch the Rapid Action Battalion, the months earlier this year, including sowing the fields in the coming in illegal drugs, most notably But the country’s main hunt against anti-government same elite police unit that nearly two million in a single haul. weeks during his speech. 12 ASIA / EUROPE WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 Najib questioned in corruption probe

AFP through a scrum of about 100 journalists. PUTRAJAYA: Former Malaysian Najib was summoned by the leader Najib Razak was ques- Former Malaysian MACC to give a statement over tioned by anti-corruption claims millions of dollars from authorities yesterday over a leader Najib Razak SRC International, an energy financial scandal after his shock was summoned by company that was originally a election loss, as the country’s top the MACC to give subsidiary of 1MDB, ended up in graft fighter revealed he faced his personal bank accounts. harassment and threats during a statement over It is just one small part in the an earlier probe of the contro- claims millions of graft scandal, which is being versy. dollars from SRC investigated in several Najib’s coalition suffered a International ended countries. defeat at the May 9 poll, beaten up in his personal As speculation swirls about Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (centre left) speaking to the media after being questioned by a reformist alliance led by an imminent detention, the new at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office, in Putrajaya, yesterday. Mahathir Mohamad, which broke bank accounts. MACC chief, Shukri Abdull, said their six-decade stranglehold on Najib would not be charged. 2015, and said he faced har- As pressure mounted, Shukri and on Monday the new gov- power. The toppled regime went to assment which reached a “very decided to retire in 2016. ernment set up a task force Mahathir, who first served the country, and police have great lengths to suppress scrutiny frightening” level. According to an investigation headed by high-ranking current as premier from 1981 to 2003 seized handbags, jewels and cash of the problems surrounding “Our witnesses were by the Wall Street Journal, and former officials to probe the and came out of retirement aged during raids on properties linked 1MDB, closing down domestic abducted. Some of them were $10.6m originating from SRC was controversy. 92 to take on Najib, campaigned to the couple. probes, sacking critics from gov- questioned by others as to what transferred to Najib’s personal Following the fall of the cor- on claims that the former leader Public disgust at the cor- ernment, jailing those who spoke they revealed to us,” he said. “I bank accounts. ruption-riddled regime, which and his cronies looted sovereign ruption allegations swirling out and muzzling the media. was asked to retire early.” Hundreds of millions of had led Malaysia since inde- wealth fund 1MDB. around them at a time middle- Shukri, a long-time senior He said friends informed him dollars from 1MDB allegedly pendence from Britain in 1957, Billions of dollars were class Malaysians were suffering figure in the anti-graft agency that he could be arrested, ended up there. figures linked to the 1MDB allegedly stolen from the fund in due to rising living costs and who retired but has been brought prompting him to head to the Najib and 1MDB have denied scandal have been making a sophisticated fraud, and used stagnant salaries was seen as a back by Mahathir, shed tears at United States for a while. any wrongdoing. A domestic appearances. to buy everything from artworks major factor in Najib’s defeat. a press conference as he told “The allegation was that I investigation launched during his Mahathir met at the weekend to high-end real estate. The ousted leader arrived at how he came under “tremendous conspired to topple the gov- premiership concluded that the with Xavier Justo, a former exec- Najib and his reviled, luxury- the Malaysian Anti-Corruption pressure” during an earlier probe ernment,” he said. “Despite the money in his accounts was a utive with PetroSaudi, a loving wife Rosmah Mansor have Commission (MACC) head- into 1MDB. threats and harassment faced by donation from the royal family. company that was allegedly had a swift fall from grace. They quarters in the administrative He was part of a team that my officers during the investiga- Mahathir has vowed to fully involved in corrupt deals with have been barred from leaving capital of Putrajaya, walking originally investigated SRC in tions, we never gave up.” investigate the financial scandal 1MDB.

Indonesia raises Duterte urges drug alert for volcano on Java island suspects to stay in jail AP AP Duterte said. “Look for your own reason to be in jail. Do not JAKARTA: Indonesian author- MANILA: The Philippine pres- go out of that facility. It would ities raised the alert for the ident told drug suspects in a not be healthy for you.” volatile Mount Merapi volcano central province yesterday to There has been at least one on the densely populated look for a way to get arrested high-profile drug suspect, island of Java and ordered and then stay in jail if they want however, who was shot to people within 3km to evacuate. to live longer, in his latest threat death by police in his jail cell in Merapi has erupted four in his bloody anti-drug what was suspected of being a times since Monday, sending crackdown. rubout. out a 3,500 metre column of President Rodrigo Duterte Police killed town mayor volcanic material and dusting (pictured) did not identify the Rolando Espinosa inside a jail in the surrounding region in ash. targets of his warning in a tel- central Leyte province in 2016 Indonesia’s geological evised speech, but referred to in what they said was a gun- agency raised Merapi’s alert people who grew rich through battle, but government investi- from normal to “beware,” illegal drugs in Cebu province. gators declared it a murder. Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg (third left) answering questions about the improper use of millions because of its increased “You know if I were you In a speech during the Phil- of users’ data by a political consultancy, at the European Parliament, in Brussels, yesterday. activity. guys in Cebu, stay in jail. You ippine navy’s founding anni- want to live longer? Stay in jail,” versary he issued a veiled threat to policemen involved in drugs Suspect in German Zuckerberg apologises over data leak and acknowledged the national force has been infiltrated by REUTERS backpacker “Whether it’s fake news, an ally of German Chancellor criminals. foreign interference in elections Angela Merkel, asked Zuck- “Some of them, sadly, are murder case freed BRUSSELS: Facebook boss or developers misusing people’s erberg why Facebook shouldn’t really into drugs ... most of all Mark Zuckerberg apologised to information, we didn’t take a be broken up as a monopoly. the policemen because they are AP European Union lawmakers broad enough view of our Zuckerberg declined to aplenty. I’m just warning them yesterday for a massive data responsibilities. That was a answer specific questions on the that if you are into it, you will leak, in his latest attempt to mistake, and I’m sorry.” cross-use of data from be the first to go.” LONDON: Police in Northern draw a line under a scandal that His comments, sitting at a Facebook, its WhatsApp mes- “It is no surprise that you Ireland have released one has rocked the world’s biggest circular table with EU Par- saging service which has more are just also falling down one man and continue to question social media network. liament leaders, echo an apology than one billion daily users, and by one and the mayors and the a second after the two were Zuckerberg agreed to meet last month to US lawmakers. the blocking of target ads. village captains,” he said. arrested in connection with leaders of the EU Parliament to But questions remain over As he did with a series of the death of a German back- answer questions about how how Facebook let the leak happen questions from US lawmakers packer three decades ago. political consultancy Cambridge and whether it is doing enough to last month, Zuckerberg said he A 61-year-old suspect Analytica improperly got hold prevent a recurrence. would send follow-up answers Asylum scandal: Germany was released pending further of the personal data of 87 million Zuckerberg’s appearance in later. inquiries into the death of Facebook users, including up to Brussels comes three days However, he said Facebook probes migration offices Munich teenager Inga Maria 2.7 million in the EU. before tough new EU rules on expected to be compliant with REUTERS Hauser, whose body was In his opening remarks, data protection take effect. the EU rules, called the General required criteria has resonated found in Ballypatrick Forest Zuckerberg said it had “become Companies will be subject to Data Protection Regulation, politically in Germany where a in County Antrim in 1988. clear over the last couple of fines of up to 4 percent of global when they come into force on BERLIN: Concern that more flood of migrants, mostly from The two men were years that we haven’t done turnover for breaching them. May 25, stressing the company’s than one thousand people were the Middle East, is seen as arrested after a series of enough to prevent the tools In the session, Manfred commitment to Europe where wrongly granted asylum by having helped boost support for appeals marking the 30th we’ve built from being used for Weber, leader of the centre- it will employ 10,000 people by Germany’s migration agency the far right. anniversary of the murder. harm as well.” right in the EU Parliament and the end of the year. may lead to personnel changes “A great deal must be done, at the agency, the interior not only in Bremen,” Seehofer minister signalled yesterday. said, adding that the agency had The minister, Horst See- received initial tipoffs about hofer, told a newspaper an problems in the agency’s London ranks low in sustainable urban mobility investigation was underway at Bremen office as early as 2016. the Bremen office of the agency, Der Spiegel magazine ANATOLIA “Overall, London ranks 10th Regarding road safety, the alarming rates of pollution and and he would make decisions reported that BAMF Director for sustainable urban mobility report said “London ranks 12th to curb carbon emissions about “organisational and, if Jutta Cordt was informed about LONDON: London has been performance among the 13 cities in road safety or second most rampant in the city. necessary, personnel changes” problems as early as February ranked as one of the worst analysed,” the report said, unsafe city to walk or bicycle”, The government has come next week. 2017 . capitals in Europe for environ- adding: “London ranks well in further adding that “London had under increasing criticism due “I’m doing all I can to get to BAMF did not comment on mentally friendly, cost efficient mobility management practices, eight bicycle fatalities, third to its lacking performance in the bottom of it,” Seehofer told the number of offices being and safe public transport, a study average in public transportation, highest, and 61 pedestrian fatal- tackling air pollution in the city. Mittelbayerische Zeitung, investigated but confirmed the has shown. below average in active mobility, ities in 2016, the second highest Earlier this week, the European saying that an internal report agency’s leadership had The study, commissioned by and poor in road safety and air in the analysis”. Commission referred the U.K. to by the Federal Office for received an initial email about Greenpeace and undertaken by quality.” Furthermore, London ranks the European Court of Justice Migration and Refugees (BAMF) reviewing the Bremen asylum the Wuppertal Institute, con- When looking at public 8th in terms of air quality and is over its failure to meet EU limits showed that mistakes had also applications. ducted an extended research on transport, “London scores the tied with Rome, Berlin and regarding emissions of Nitrogen been made at other offices Seehofer told the news- 13 European cities, looking at 7th place” alongside Madrid. Budapest. Dioxide. besides Bremen. paper he would welcome a par- factors such as public transport, However, “the cost of public Sadiq Khan, the mayor of City leaders and doctors have The report that one liamentary investigation, but road safety, air quality, mobility transport in London is 89% of the London, is considering intro- branded the government’s recent thousand migrants may have would also investigate the issue management and active cost of daily food, making it the ducing car-free days days in the air quality plan as “woefully inad- been granted asylum even with “no regard” for reputations mobility. most expensive in the analysis”. capital in a bid to tackle the equate” and “inexcusable”. though they fell short of the of people or institutions. WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 EUROPE 13 Macron unveils new plan against poverty

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen — who lost to Macron in the final round of last year’s election — said his strategy had failed to address the issues French President Emmanuel Macron (centre) taking a selfie with La Republique en Marche (LREM) of migration. party members of Parliament after the presentation of the French government’s urban policy, at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, yesterday. AFP People demonstrate during a nationwide day of protest by French against ethnic minorities via daylight on Monday in the beaten to death by a gang of public sector employees and public servants against the overhauls undercover testing of their southern port of Marseille, which teenagers on Friday evening. PARIS: President Emmanuel proposed by Macron, in Toulouse, yesterday. recruitment processes, Macron were broadcast by French tele- Reacting to the speech yes- Macron outlined what he called promised. vision channels. terday, far-right leader Marine Le a “new method” for improving have concentrated over decades Instead, he outlined a series France has already trialled The assailants, dressed in Pen — who lost to Macron in the lives in neglected and poverty- — along with seething of smaller initiatives, insisting random testing which involves black and carrying Kalashnikov final round of last year’s election wracked areas of French cities resentment about racism. throughout that civil society sending out several identical machine guns, recalled some of — said his strategy had failed to yesterday after a series of shock- Before his speech on the so- groups, companies and local offi- applications for job vacancies the homegrown jihadists who address the issues of migration. ingly violent incidents thrust called “banlieues”, Macron had cials needed to find solutions at with traditional French-sounding have spread terror in France over Stephane Gatignon, a former urban crime into the spotlight. signalled he did not intend to the grassroots level. names and foreign ones — then previous years. mayor of the Sevran suburban From thousands of extra announce a grand new strategy A modest increase in local monitoring the reaction. “By the month of July, I want area north of Paris, said he was places in daycare centres to cor- backed by a pledge of increased policing and extra resources for The lack of new figures for us to have finalised a roadmap disappointed by the “small steps” porate internships for students, public spending — as many of his schools in deprived areas have investments or landmark new to fight against drug trafficking,” announced by Macron during his Macron pledged to quickly successors have done. already been outlined by the policies led to criticism from Macron said. “It’s an absolutely speech. implement “a different method, “This strategy is as old as I centrist’s government, but he some political opponents yes- essential component.” But former minister Jean- a different rhythm”. am,” the 40-year-old former announced a new effort to fight terday that Macron’s strategy Elsewhere in France, police Louis Borloo, a respected figure France’s major cities are investment banker told an discrimination. was too feeble. in the southern city of Pau were in the French suburbs who often ringed by crime-ridden audience of 600 lawmakers, France’s biggest companies His address coincided with still investigating the murder of recently prepared a major report public housing estates where company bosses and associations will all be tested in the next three shocking images of masked a 32-year-old man in another for Macron on the issue, offered immigrants and social problems at the Presidential Palace. years to see if they discriminate gunmen opening fire in broad poverty-ridden area who was praise for the vision.

Boris Johnson shows interest in tough sanctions on Putin’s allies Chinese vase likely to fetch $590,000 BLOOMBERG included Oleg Deripaska, the bil- Putin who may have illicit or ill- pressure to crack down on illicit Russian counterpart, Sergei lionaire founder and majority gotten wealth.” Russian cash flowing through Lavrov, had decided to stay at Sotheby’s auction LONDON: Britain is looking with shareholder of En+ Group Plc. The UK isn’t free to develop London after the poisoning of away. “I don’t know why Lavrov AFP envy at US President Donald “The truth is actually that I its own sanctions regime as it former spy Sergei Skripal and his hasn’t come,” Johnson said. “He Trump’s freedom to hit wealthy think the effect of some of those must co-ordinate with the rest daughter in March. would have had the opportunity Russians with tough sanctions in sanctions particularly on some of the European Union, Johnson Diplomatic relations to hear my views. He obviously PARIS: A Chinese vase the aftermath of the Salisbury individuals has been very said. between the UK and the Kremlin has decided that he doesn’t want discovered in a battered nerve agent poisoning. marked, and I’ve noted that, but Once the country leaves the are virtually frozen in the to hear them.” shoebox stuffed in an attic in Foreign Secretary Boris we have our own systems and bloc in March next year it will aftermath of the incident, which The foreign secretary France is set to be the star of Johnson said he is paying close our own approach,” Johnson told have the ability to take a tougher prompted a wave of expulsions declined to comment on the case a Sotheby’s auction next attention to the Trump’s decision reporters traveling with him to line, he said, pointing out that from Russia’s embassies around of Chelsea Football Club owner month. in April to target dozens of Buenos Aires. European nations have been the world. Roman Abramovich, the Russian Experts have identified tycoons, companies and key “There is a broader question slow to act against Venezuelan Johnson, who is in Argentina billionaire who’s unable to travel the find as an exquisite por- allies of Russian President about what the UK can do to President Nicolas Maduro. for a meeting of G20 foreign to the UK at the moment because celain vessel made for the Vladimir Putin. Those caught crack down on people close to The UK government is under ministers, pointed out that his of delays in renewing his visa. 18th century Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong and the guide price for its auction on June 12 starts at a modest $590,000. German court again rejects It was found by chance among dozens of other pieces bid to rearrest Puigdemont of Chinoiserie. “We didn’t like the vase AFP But the Schleswig-Holstein too much, and my grand- court released Puigdemont on parents didn’t like it either,” BERLIN: A German court bail on April 6 after finding that said the owner of the piece, yesterday rejected a second he could not be extradited for who got in touch with request from prosecutors to put rebellion. It has yet to rule on Sotheby’s auction house three deposed Catalan leader Carles whether to send him to Spain months ago. Puigdemont behind bars to face another, lesser charge “Porcelains with such pending a decision on his extra- of misuse of public funds. elaborate and challenging dition to Spain. Prosecutors yesterday said designs are exceedingly rare Prosecutors had re-applied the information they received on Qing imperial porcelain” for his detention on May 9 after from Spanish authorities and is decorated with “an receiving “new information” included videos that showed idyllic landscape with deer from Madrid suggesting there “acts of violence against and cranes,” Sotheby’s said in was a greater risk that he may Spanish police” by pro-inde- its auction website. try to flee Germany. pendence demonstrators, It is also said to be in But the court in Schleswig- which they said could be used perfect condition. Holstein said it “did not see an to justify the rebellion charge. “This vase is the only increased risk of flight for Rebellion is not punishable known example in the world People looking at a fence covered in hearts and offerings to mark the one-year anniversary of the Carles Puigdemont”, ruling under German law and German bearing such detail,” Olivier Manchester Arena bombing, in central Manchester, yesterday. therefore that he should remain judges earlier ruled that the Valmier, Asian arts expert at free on bail while his extra- closest legal equivalent, high Sotheby’s, told reporters dition request is pending. treason, did not apply because yesterday. Puigdemont was detained Puigdemont’s actions were not “This is a major work of Manchester remembers attack victims in northern Germany late accompanied by violence. art.” March after Spain issued a The prosecutors’ statement The only other similar AFP up outside the venue, but an writing on the club’s website European arrest warrant added that they were preparing vase that has come to light, investigation into how the attack about the “unimaginable” against him for his role in Cata- a formal application asking the though without the cranes, is MANCHESTER: The city of came about is still ongoing. attack. lonia’s failed bid to break from court to allow Puigdemont’s in the Guimet museum of Manchester yesterday marked “The targeting of the young “Nobody will ever forget Spain last October. extradition. Asiatic arts in Paris. the first anniversary of a bomb and innocent as they enjoyed a what happened but the way attack outside a pop concert by carefree night out... was an act Manchester pulled together teen idol Ariana Grande that of sickening cowardice,” shows you everything you need killed 22 people with flower Theresa May wrote in the city’s to know about the people here. tributes, a concert and a local paper the Manchester Seeing how everyone reacted Skripal’s mother demands access to son memorial service. Evening News. made me so proud to be a AFP Prime Minister Theresa May “It was designed to strike at Mancunian.” broadcaster Pervyi Kanal. intelligence officer who passed and Prince William joined fam- the heart of our values and our Rashford and teammate “I am 90 years old. I do not information on Russia’s agents ilies of the victims — seven of way of life in one of our most Jesse Lingard visited survivors MOSCOW: Russian television pose a danger to anyone. Please, in Europe to British security whom were children under the vibrant cities, with the aim of of the attack shortly showed an interview yesterday let me just make a phone call to services, resulting in impris- age of 18 — for a ceremony to breaking our resolve and afterwards. with a woman purporting to be my son,” she added, shown onment in his homeland. remember the May 22 Man- dividing us. It failed.” Yesterday’s remembrance the mother of poisoned Russian sitting in a nightdress. He moved to Britain as part chester Arena attack. The prime minister said that service shown on a big screen double agent Sergei Skripal, “Why don’t they allow a of a spy swap deal in 2010 and They attended the service at “such appalling acts of wick- in nearby Cathedral Gardens, as demanding British authorities call? Why? For what reason? has lived there ever since. Manchester Cathedral alongside edness” would strengthen Brit- well as at churches in York, Liv- let her to speak to her son. After all, when he was at home Skripal and his daughter first responders, civic leaders ain’s resolve “to defeat such erpool and Glasgow. It was “I have not seen my son in we talked every week... I Yulia, visiting from Moscow, and some of the scores injured twisted ideologies and beliefs.” incorporated a minute of silence 14 years. I want to meet him. I demand he be allowed talk to were discovered unconscious in the bombing. Manchester United and at 2.30pm, which was also want to hold him close to me, to me,” she said tearfully to a talk on a park bench in the southern Salman Abedi, a British man England striker Marcus Rashford marked at British government my heart,” the woman, intro- show. British city of Salisbury on of Libyan heritage, blew himself paid tribute to his home city, buildings nationwide. duced as Elena Skripal, told Skripal is a former military March 4. 14 HOME WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018 AMERICAS 15

Passengers & crew Trump casts doubt on N Korea summit safe after private jet crashes in Honduras BLOOMBERG AP WASHINGTON: US President MEXICO Donald Trump casts doubt as to Trump said that CITY: A private jet whether his planned summit crashed off the end of the with North Korean leader Kim the US is prepared runway of the international Jong-Un will take place. to guarantee Kim’s airport in Honduras’ capital “Whether or not it happens safety as part of yesterday, but the crew and you’ll be knowing pretty soon,” passengers were rescued and Trump said yesterday during an a deal aimed at reportedly out of danger, Oval Office meeting with South denuclearising the according to Honduras’ emer- Korean President Moon Jae-in. Korean peninsula. gency management agency. “If it doesn’t happen, maybe it Photographs posted show will happen later.” a white Gulfstream jet that Moon’s visit to the White overthrown and killed by US- appeared broken in half near House — three weeks ahead of backed rebels. the center. Firefighters Trump’s scheduled June 12 Trump said yesterday that sprayed foam onto the crash summit in Singapore with Kim the US is prepared to guarantee and part of the plane — comes amid renewed uncer- Kim’s safety as part of a deal appeared to lie across a street. tainty about Kim’s intentions. aimed at denuclearising the The FlightAware website Kim declared “an era of Korean peninsula. If they reach said the flight originated in peace” at an April meeting with an accord, Kim “will be very Austin, Texas, yesterday Moon but Pyongyang abruptly proud” of what he did for North US President Donald Trump (right) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a meeting at the morning. canceled a subsequent round of Korea 25 years in the future, Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, DC, yesterday. Federal Aviation Admin- talks last week, pinning the Trump said. istration records show the decision on the US and South “South Korea, China and “There’s a chance” it will North Korea and intended to use Denuclearisation “all in one plane registered to TVPX Air- Korea moving ahead with long- Japan — and I’ve spoken to all work out, and also that it won’t, his session with Trump to keep would be a lot better” than in craft Solutions Inc. in North planned military exercises. three — they will be willing to Trump said. But that “doesn’t the US president on board. phases, Trump said yesterday. Salt Lake, Utah. The North Koreans also help and I believe invest very, mean it won’t work out over a The biggest sticking point Moon continued to express The emergency agency voiced concern about Trump very large sums of money into period of time.” appears to be the definition of optimism. said through Twitter that first National Security Adviser John making North Korea great,” said Trump has otherwise been denuclearisation. “I am very much aware there responders rescued pas- Bolton’s suggestion that North Trump. “His country will be publicly insistent that the Kim US officials have repeatedly are many skeptical views” in the sengers and crew. It did not Korea would follow the “Libya rich.” meeting will take place, though said they expect North Korea to US about whether the summit provide the number of those model” of arms control. While Trump has previously he has privately expressed con- accept “complete, verifiable, will be successful, Moon said aboard, but said all were After surrendering his coun- acknowledged uncertainty cerns about the risks of moving irreversible disarmament,” while yesterday through an alive. try’s nuclear programme in around the planned summit, his ahead with the summit, the New Pyongyang is seeking a phased interpreter. Honduras firefighters exchange for an easing of eco- remarks yesterday went further York Times reported on Sunday. process that could include a “I have every confidence that posted photos of the crash nomic sanctions, Libyan dictator by suggesting that the meeting Moon has long been an reduced US military presence in President Trump will be able to and said there were nine Moammar Qaddafi was could fall apart. advocate of engagement with the region. achieve a historic feat.” people injured. Congressional leaders to review information on Russian probe AP President Donald Trump made will broker the meeting between Director Christopher Wray also FBI source in the Russia investi- misconduct took place in the FBI an extraordinary demand that congressional leaders and the reiterated an announcement late gation. And Trump has taken up and the Justice Department. WASHINGTON: Ratcheting up the Justice Department inves- FBI, Justice Department and Sunday that the Justice Depart- the cause as the White House Trump tweeted on Sunday, “I pressure on the Russia investi- tigate whether the FBI infiltrated office of the Director of National ment’s inspector general will tries to combat the threat posed hereby demand, and will do so gation, the White House his presidential campaign. It’s Intelligence. expand an existing investigation by special counsel Robert Muel- officially tomorrow, that the announced that top FBI and unclear exactly what the She said the officials will into the Russia probe by exam- ler’s investigation into potential Department of Justice look into Justice Department officials have members will be allowed to “review highly classified and ining whether there was any ties between Russia and the whether or not the FBI/DOJ infil- agreed to meet with congres- review or if the Justice other information they have improper politically motivated Trump campaign. trated or surveilled the Trump sional leaders and “review” Department will be providing requested,” but did not provide surveillance. Yesterday, a group of con- Campaign for Political Purposes highly classified information the any documents to Congress. additional detail. Rep Devin Nunes, a Trump servative House lawmakers — and if any such demands or lawmakers have been seeking White House press secretary During a meeting on Monday supporter and head of the House planned to call for the requests were made by people on the handling of the probe. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said with Trump, Deputy Attorney Intelligence Committee, has been appointment of a second special within the Obama The agreement came after Trump chief of staff John Kelly General Rod Rosenstein and FBI demanding information on an counsel to investigate whether Administration!” 16 MORNING BREAK WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR 03. 20 AM Conservationists fight SHOROOK 04. 46 AM

ZUHR 11. 31 AM MAGHRIB 06. 18 PM to save animals as ASR 02. 56 PM ISHA 07. 48 PM

WEATHER TODAY mass extinction looms

AFP as invasive species such as cats, mon- gooses and crab-eating macaques with PARIS: Animal and plant species are a taste for the birds and their eggs. vanishing at an accelerating pace But a combination of captive around the world — sometimes even breeding, food supplements, nest before we know that they exist — but improvements and predator control conservationists are pushing back has increased the bird’s numbers to against the juggernaut of mass about 400, making it one of the most extinction. successful bird restoration projects in From captive breeding to satellite history. A panda eats food at the Shenyang Forest Zoological Garden in Shenyang, tracking; restoring habitats to On nearby Madagascar, the greater China’s northeastern Liaoning province. removing predators; shaming multi- bamboo lemur — aka the broad-nosed nationals to nursing baby pandas and gentle lemur — has also made a fairy- orangutans — in all these ways, scien- tale comeback. Unfortunately the lemur is still — are threatened with extinction, tists and others have given a second Long thought to be extinct, the hanging by a “critically endangered” including 41 percent of amphibians, chance to creatures under threat. dark-furred primate — which has thread, isolated in four percent of its 34 percent of conifers, 33 percent of Take the Mauritius kestrel, a svelte tufted, white-tinged ears — was “redis- historic range. But the creation of a reef building corals, 25 percent of and dappled falcon reduced to a pop- covered” in 1986 in the island nation’s national park around the area where mammals, and 13 percent of birds. ulation of just four, including one southeastern Ranomafana region. it was found has boosted its chances “The sixth mass extinction is hap- breeding female, in 1974 by a perfect True to its name, the lemur is a of survival. pening now,” Craig Hilton-Taylor, storm of human meddling. “bamboo specialist” that feasts almost Across the board, biodiversity is Head of the Red List, said ahead of the The keen-eyed predator lost much exclusively on a single species of the declining. To date, the International International Day for Biological of its natural habitat when settlers fibrous, quick-growing plant. Scien- Union for the Conservation of Nature Diversity on May 22. clear-cut the Indian Ocean island’s tists are still trying to figure out how (IUCN) has evaluated nearly 80,000 “But these conservation achieve- o o forests in the 18th century. the brown-eyed tree-dweller metab- animals and plants, cataloguing their ments highlight that there is still reason 26 C 38 C What pushed the bird to the brink, olises the quantities of cyanide -- conservation status on its famous Red to be hopeful for the future of our Minimum Maximum however, was the widespread use of enough to kill a human adult -- found List of endangered species. planet, and that conservation does the pesticide DDT in the 1950s, as well in a day’s diet of bamboo shoots. Some 23,000 — nearly a third work.” Relatively hot daytime with slight dust and at places at times.

HIGH TIDE 13:00 – 00:00 LOW TIDE 07:15 – 16:30 An egg a day may keep the doctor away: Study Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department AFP egg consumption was associated with of CVD deaths are caused by heart moderate level of egg consumption (up lower risk of CVD.” Risk of haemor- attacks and strokes. Smoking, not exer- to 1 egg per day) and a lower cardiac rhagic stroke was 26 percent lower cising enough, and eating an unhealthy event rate,” the authors concluded. PARIS: For decades, experts warned among egg-eaters, the Chinese-British diet high in salt and low in fresh fruit But experts not involved in the that eating eggs raises levels of research team reported in the journal and vegetables, increase the risk. study, said the results fail to prove that unhealthy cholesterol. But a study Heart. And daily egg consumption was Eggs are rich in dietary cholesterol, eating eggs actively lowers CVD risk. yesterday said an egg a day may associated with an 18-percent lower long linked to a higher CVD risk, but “An important limitation of this actually reduce the risk of heart risk of death from CVD, and a also contain crucial protein and present study is that the people who disease and stroke. 28-percent lower risk for death from vitamins. In the study group, 13 percent consumed eggs regularly were much While outside experts cautioned haemorrhagic stroke. reported daily egg consumption, while more affluent than those who avoided against reading too much into the CVD, a group of disorders of the nine percent said they never or hardly them,” University College of London study, its authors claimed that Chinese heart and blood vessels, is the leading ever ate them. nutrition specialist Tom Sanders said. adults who ate an egg every day had cause of death and disability By the end of the study period, “Indeed, rates of stroke have been a lower risk of cardiovascular disease worldwide, including in China. almost 84,000 cases of CVD and falling in Japan, Australia, North (CVD). Studying half-a-million healthy According to the World Health 10,000 CVD deaths were recorded, and America and Europe for several adults aged 30-79 over almost nine Organisation, about 17.7 million people compared among the different egg- decades for reasons that remain years, researchers concluded that die of CVDs each year, almost a third intake groups. “The present study finds uncertain but may be related to “compared with non-consumers, daily of all deaths worldwide. Eighty percent that there is an association between increasing affluence,” he said.