QATAR | Page 20 SPORT | Page 1 Federer, Djokovic get free INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-5, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 REGION 6 BUSINESS 1–8, 14–16 passes at Eff orts on to ensure 21,430.00 8,895.64 47.08 ARAB WORLD 6 CLASSIFIED 9–13 -6.00 +40.88 +0.01 INTERNATIONAL 7–17 SPORTS 1–8 supply of foodstuff Wimbledon -0.03% +0.46% +0.02% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10505 July 5, 2017 Shawwal 11, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir meets German FM Qatar to boost In brief LNG output by

QATAR | Diplomacy 30% to 100Mta NHRC chief meets O Renewed gas Although QP is inviting internation- Dutch rights offi cials al players to be joint ventures, if it does The Chairman of the National development at North not materialise (due to the current eco- Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Field could give Doha a nomic blockade), then it would go solo, Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, met in competitive edge after he said in response to a query whether Amsterdam yesterday with the 2020 the “further sanctions” (as aired by Director of Multilateral Organisations one of the siege countries if Doha did and Human Rights at the Dutch not meet their 13-point demand) could Foreign Ministry, Peter van der Vliet, By Santhosh V Perumal dampen the project. his deputy, as well as human rights His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and the Business Reporter London Stock Exchange-listed Qa- off icials at the ministry. Dr al-Marri accompanying delegation at Al Bahar Palace yesterday. Talks dealt with the latest developments related to the Gulf crisis, its tar Investment Fund (QIF) had viewed said in a press statement after the repercussions on the region, and the proposed solutions to resolve it. Emphasis was on supporting the mediation led by Kuwait’s that Qatar’s renewed gas development meeting that he reviewed with the Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. The discussions dealt with the eff orts of Qatar and Germany in the fight against atar, which accounts for one- at North Field could give it a competi- off icials the reports of violations terrorism. The meeting also reviewed the strategic relations between Qatar and Germany. third of the global liquefi ed tive edge after 2020, when the global committed by the siege countries Qnatural gas (LNG) market, is LNG market is expected to tighten. on the citizens of Qatar and many of enhancing its LNG production by 30% This new project would further en- the citizens of those countries who to 100mn tonnes per annum (Mta), a hance Qatar’s leading position in the have presented their complaints to move that could substantially boost global gas industry, while at the same the NHRC. He said that the NHRC is the fastest growing economy and sup- time meeting its worldwide customers’ to mobilise international eff orts to port the exchequer. growing needs for the reliable and en- come out with the consensus of the The production boost comes vironmentally friendly fuel, according international community to condemn through doubling of LNG output from to al-Kaabi. the humanitarian violations caused Respect Qatar’s the new export-oriented gas project in “The planned production increase by the siege imposed on Qatar the North Field, which is expected to will also contribute to monetising Qa- through intensive meetings with the be completed in 5-7 years, Qatar Pe- tar’s resources and to stimulating the relevant international organisations troleum president and chief executive domestic economy as well as the coun- and off icial institutions of Europe, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi told reporters try’s overall development in line with Canada and the US. The meeting yesterday. the Qatar National Vision 2030,” he discussed the importance of the The new project would increase the said. exclusion of human rights issues sovereignty, says North Field’s production of natural gas, Asked what would be Qatar’s share from politics, especially in the society condensate and other associated prod- in the world LNG market once Doha of the Gulf region which witnesses ucts by 1mn barrels of oil equivalent achieves 100Mta target, al-Kaabi family and social interactions. per day to cumulative 6mn barrels of said it would be diffi cult to predict at oil equivalent per day. present since it would depend on vari- ARAB WORLD | Crisis In April this year, al-Kaabi had an- ous factors such as production from Arab intelligence nounced the lifting of moratorium on elsewhere. “We will still be market German FM North Field, which is the world’s larg- leader,” he added. chiefs meet in Cairo est non-associated natural gas fi eld, Analysts have said by the time Qatar The heads of intelligence from O Gabriel says Doha showed and disclosed the proposed gas project attains it, the output from the Australia Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab restraint in responding to in the southern sector of the North and the US would also fl ood the market. Emirates and Bahrain held a meeting blockade, urges neighbours Field but had not decided if exports will Global credit rating agency Standard in Cairo yesterday, Egyptian state be in the form of LNG, GTL (gas-to- and Poor’s had said Qatar has one of the news agency Mena said. The agency, to respond in similar spirit liquids) or pipeline gas. lowest costs of natural gas production citing “informed sources”, did not “After further assessment, we have at $1.6 to $2 per million British Ther- provide details of the meeting, which Agencies decided that the best way to develop mal Units, and hence state-owned QP took place one day before foreign Doha this huge project is by dedicating it – responsible for all phases of the oil ministers from the four countries to the production and export of LNG, and gas industry in Qatar – is expected were due to meet to decide whether thereby increasing the production ca- to remain “profi table”. to continue sanctions they imposed erman Foreign Minister Sigmar pacity of Qatar from 77Mta to 100Mta, Highlighting that Qatar’s low-cost on Qatar over baseless accusations Gabriel has said that Qatar’s which means a 30% production in- base gives it a competitive advantage it was aiding terrorism and courting Gsovereignty must be respected, crease,” he said. over other established LNG suppliers, regional rival Iran. Doha denies praising the country’s “restraint” in With the conclusion of further tech- QIF said this development could ben- the charges and has submitted responding to a blockade imposed by nical studies, it has been decided that efi t Qatar in maintaining a competitive to mediator Kuwait replies to 13 Arab states amid the worst regional the best option would be to double the edge after 2020, when the global LNG demands that the gathering will diplomatic crisis in years. size of the project to 4bn cu ft of gas per market is expected to tighten as current consider. He made the comments yesterday in day, which constitutes a 20% increase low LNG prices are anticipated to de- Doha during a joint news conference HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani shakes hands with German Foreign from the current North Field produc- ter investment in high cost competing QATAR | Aviation with his Qatari counterpart, HE Sheikh Minister Sigmar Gabriel after talks in Doha yesterday. tion rate, or about 1mn barrels of oil projects, leading to tighter supply and Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, equivalent per day,” al-Kaabi said. better prices. Business Page 1 Qatar Airways launches who insisted that Qatar is looking to Gabriel visited Saudi Arabia on sponse to Kuwait, which acts as a me- direct service to Nice solve the dispute through dialogue, Monday, before holding meetings in diator, and the Saudi-led group of Qatar Airways has launched direct but without compromising on its inde- the United Arab Emirates and Qatar countries is now expected to meet in service between Doha and Nice, pendence. yesterday. the Egyptian capital of Cairo today to the airline’s second destination “There are boundaries that you Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and discuss their next move. in France. Qatar Airways flight should not cross, that the sovereignty Egypt cut diplomatic and trade ties with Gabriel told reporters in Doha that QR 53 operated by a Boeing of each country and the respect of this Qatar on June 5, accusing it of support- whilst Germany was not going to take B787 Dreamliner arrived at Nice national sovereignty has to be there,” ing “terrorism” - an allegation Doha any sides in this dispute, it was com- Cote d’Azur International Airport Gabriel told reporters during the last denies. The four countries have also im- mending Qatar’s attitude towards the yesterday. Qatar Airways Group stop of a tour of the Gulf region, in posed a land, air and sea embargo. crisis, citing Doha’s repeated calls for Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said: the latest diplomatic eff ort to end the After more than two weeks, the dialogue in order to bring about a reso- “We are truly delighted to launch standoff . four countries gave Doha 10 days, or lution. direct service between Doha and “It has to be a basic condition and until Sunday night, to comply with a “Qatar has shown restraint in react- Nice. The new route is a sign of when that is there, even the most dif- 13-point demand list in exchange for ing to the blockade,” Gabriel said. “We our continuous commitment to fi cult questions can be talked about,” the end of the anti-Qatar measures. hope others will respond in a similar improving the travelling experience he added. Qatar on Monday delivered its re- spirit.” To Page 2 for our passengers, both in France and around the world. With five weekly flights operating between the two cities, passengers from the Saad Sherida al-Kaabi outlines Qatar’s intent to enhance LNG output. South of France can now connect to more than 150 destinations world-wide through Doha’s Hamad Dialogue the only way: FM International Airport.” Page 3 O ‘Combating terrorism’ was Gabriel in Doha, he said “no matter how the slogan of combating terrorism are AFRICA | Diplomacy used as a ruse to win global escalating measures taken by one party false and illegal measures that have Algeria renews call for sympathy for blockade against the other in any crisis or disa- been put in this framework to market Eritrea says Qatar must greement, it will end up at the negotiat- them to win international sympathy. mediate border dispute Agencies ing table in accordance with the agree- He noted that combating terrorism is talks to resolve crisis Eritrea’s ambassador to the African Doha ment and a specifi c framework showing not only done by weapons, but by arm- Union said yesterday that Qatar the rights and duties of each party”. ing young people with work, economic QNA undesirable repercussions on the re- must mediate with neighbouring The two ministers praised the medi- empowerment and the arming of chil- Algiers gion and the Arab world. Djibouti over the two countries’ audi Arabia and its allies used the ation eff orts undertaken by the Emir of dren with education, stressing the need Algeria’s position is clear, calling for disputed border. Qatar brokered slogan of combating terrorism as a Kuwait to heal the rift and reach a solu- to put the issue of terrorism in its prop- sitting down for dialogue and good- a peace deal between the two Sruse to win international sympa- tion to the Gulf dispute. er context of using violence against hairman of the Foreign Aff airs neighbourliness and understanding countries in 2010 over the thy for their unjust siege of Qatar, For- Regarding the fi nancing and com- civilians to change reality and not to Committee at the Algeria’s Na- to overcome the diff erences in order disputed Red Sea region of eign Minister HE Sheikh Mohamed bin bating of terrorism, the foreign minis- diff er on opinions and to call “political Ctional Assembly (Parliament) to avoid consequences that would not Doumeira, which has been the Abdulrahman al-Thani has said. ter affi rmed that Qatar is fully commit- opponents” terrorists. Abdelhameed Si Afi f has called on all serve us as an Arab nation and would site of disagreements and clashes Reaffi rming that dialogue is the only ted to all the international conventions “Qatar takes the issue of combating parties of the Gulf crisis to sit down and not serve the region as a whole, he between Eritrea and Djibouti for option to resolve any crisis or politi- in this regard and is an active member terrorism as a top priority. It is an is- start a dialogue that takes good neigh- added. decades. Qatari troops withdrew cal dispute between countries, Sheikh in the fi ght against terrorism and the sue of national security not only to the bourliness into account to resolve the With regard to any future role for Al- from the contested border last Mohamed said for Qatar “it is clear that curbing of its sources of funding and state of Qatar but to the entire region. crisis. geria to resolve the crisis, Afi f said that month when the Horn of Africa there is no solution to any crisis except has taken many measures to address However, the unjust siege imposed by In a statement to Qatar News Agency his country will “participate in any en- nations signalled their support for through sitting down for negotiations”. this phenomenon. the other states under the pretext of (QNA), Afi f said that all parties of the deavour aimed at fi nding a solution to Saudi Arabia after it cut diplomatic Addressing a joint press conference He pointed out that what was for- combating terrorism is totally false and crisis have to keep away from the lan- this crisis provided that there is will by ties with Qatar. Page 7 with German foreign minister Sigmar mulated in the form of a “siege” under fabricated,” he said. To Page 2 guage of escalation as it would have all parties.” Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 QATAR

Emir gets message from Kuwaiti leader Respect Qatar’s sovereignty: German FM

From Page 1 said, pointing out that Germany ing with any one party, stress- tor the fl ow of funds to such or- has economic interests in the ing that Germany was making ganisations. abriel stressed that Ger- GCC region and works closely eff orts to understand the real Earlier yesterday, Gabriel held many has good relations with its GCC partners. cause of the crisis to help in re- talks with Abu Dhabi’s crown Gwith all the parties in- Explaining what happened at solving the dispute in collabora- prince in the UAE, where he said volved in the crisis. Germany his joint press conference two tion with USA and other friends. that the Gulf crisis is an oppor- is also keen to maintain stabil- days ago with the Saudi Foreign On the issue of terrorism tunity for the region to strength- ity and security within the GCC Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Jed- funding, he said that some indi- en the fi ght against the funding countries. dah and the technical issues with viduals and individual organisa- of “terrorism”, before adding “Many Germans come to Qa- the translation, Gabriel pointed tions and not governments , in that the matter was not about tar as tourists. Many Germans out that the Saudi minister was some GCC countries are funding “questioning Qatar’s integrity or work and live here as is the case trying to explain the false im- terrorism and there are interna- sovereignty”. with other GCC countries,” he pression that Germany was sid- tional organisations that moni- Dialogue the only way, says Foreign Minister

From Page 1 Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, in the West, enough of hosting ing countries, he said the offi cial who was reported as saying to the Iraqi war criminals, enough response was prepared in ac- heikh Mohamed pointed Qatar “Enough of supporting of sponsoring outlawed militias. cordance with international laws His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received yesterday a written message out that Qatar’s eff orts in terrorism”, Sheikh Mohamed If we start with the word enough, and conventions and the princi- from the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. Khaled Yousef Abdulaziz al-Fulaij, Sthis regard far exceeded said: “We tell him enough of the list would be too long and we ple of state sovereignty. “It was adviser to the Kuwaiti emir, handed the message during a meeting yesterday with His Highness the those of the blockading countries. lies, slander and defamation of do not want to go into this.” handed to the Kuwaiti mediators Emir at his Al Bahr Palace off ice. Asked about the statements Qatar, enough of defaming the Regarding the Qatari response and it is up to them to disclose of the UAE Foreign Minister Islamic civilization and its fame to the demands of the blockad- its contents.”

Emir sends congratulatory cable to US President Donald Trump Minister: Qatar thwarts

QNA Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, Doha HE the Prime Minister and In- terior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani is Highness the Emir have sent cables of congratula- Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- tions to US President Donald plans of siege countries Hmad al-Thani, His High- Trump on the anniversary of his ness the Deputy Emir Sheikh country’s Independence Day. z Qatar is facing an unjust residents and people working in and displaced people suff ering blockade Qatar as well as disrupting its from poverty, hunger and mal- zQatar managed to national strategy that aims to nutrition”. Attorney General meets US delegation overcome threats, challenges achieve its food security, point- He commended the eff orts and adverse eff ects of the ing out that think tank centres and leading role of the FAO and HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri met a delegation blockade ranked Qatar in the fi rst position its fruitful co-operation with from a number of US think-tank institutions yesterday. zQatar has ensured among countries of the Near member-states with a view to They exchanged views on issues of common concern and discussed sustainable provision of food, East group and 20th among the achieving sustainable develop- means of cementing future co-operation. medicines and raw materials countries of the world. ment in order to attain one of the zSiege countries’ actions The Minister thanked all main goals of the third millen- represent clear and flagrant countries and organisations that nium: the eradication of poverty, violation of international withstood the pressure to par- hunger and malnutrition and laws ticipate in this siege. achieve global food security as a He called on the FAO and its common goal. QNA 40th Conference to condemn On the sidelines of the con- MEC cracks down Rome in its fi nal communique and re- ference, HE the Minister of port the unjust siege imposed by Municipality and Environment some countries in the region on Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Ru- E the Minister of Munic- Qatar, as well as to call on these maihi met ministers and senior on manipulation, ipality and Environment countries to lift it because of its offi cials participating in this HMohamed bin Abdullah serious adverse impact on food conference from several coun- al-Rumaihi said that the wise security in the region and global tries as well as offi cials of the policy pursued by Qatar’s politi- food security. FAO, including the Minister of fraudulent activities cal leadership has thwarted the This stems from the “Food for Agriculture, Water Resources plans of the siege countries. Peace” initiative announced by and Fisheries of the Republic Through its national food se- the director general of the or- of Tunisia, Minister of Awqaf he Ministry of Economy curity strategy, Qatar managed ganisation during the Regional and Islamic Aff airs and Minis- HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin and Commerce (MEC) to overcome threats, challenges Ministerial Conference for the ter of State for Municipal Aff airs Abdullah al-Rumaihi with the Director General of FAO José Graziano Tyesterday cracked down and adverse eff ects of the block- Near East last year, in which of the Kuwait and a number of da Silva in Rome. on fraudulent activities and ade and ensure sustainable pro- he called for all eff orts to as- FAO offi cials in the presence of manipulation of the “country vision of food, medicines and sist countries aff ected by crisis of origin” during an inspection raw materials in a short period of as well as from the 1996 World campaign at the central market time, he added. Food Summit and the relevant for vegetables and fruits in Abu In a speech before the 40th UN conventions, the Minister of Hamour, Doha. Session of the Food and Agri- Municipality and Environment Some traders had manipu- culture Organisation (FAO) con- said, calling on the FAO and lated the “country of origin” ference being held in Rome, the its conference to condemn the by wrapping some products Minister said Qatar is facing an unjust siege imposed by some using packages and bags unjust blockade as well as un- countries in the region. pertaining to products from fair and illegitimate measures The Minister also called on other countries, which is taken by the siege countries to the FAO to exert all eff orts to considered a fraudulent ac- prevent the arrival of food sup- lift the unjust blockade imposed tivity, the MEC said in a press plies and cut off the supply of on Qatar, saying “the eff orts we statement. The violation was detected food and medicines, noting that demand the FAO to take are part Accordingly, the ministry during an inspection all these unilateral actions jeop- of its mission and its principal fi ned shops for violating Arti- campaign yesterday. ardise food security in the entire function because they relate to cle 6 of Law No 8 on Consumer region. food security”, stressing that the Protection, which “prohibits and ministerial decrees to the He stressed that the measures right to food is one of the basic sale, display, promotion or ad- competent authorities, who taken against Qatar by the siege human rights principles which vertisement of corrupted and would – in turn – take appro- countries represent a clear and serve as a basis for international fraudulent goods”. priate action against perpetra- fl agrant violation of the rules of security and peace. An item is considered “cor- tors in order to protect con- international law, particularly “Through this forum, Qa- rupt or fraudulent if it is expired, sumer rights. the UN Charter and the foun- tar calls on the FAO and all its unusable or does not meet the The MEC has urged all con- dations of international human member-states to work hard prescribed standards”. sumers to report violations or rights law, the Charter of the and jointly to address all seri- The MEC stressed that it submit complaints and sug- Arab League and the Statute of ous challenges caused by climate HE al-Rumaihi with ministers and senior off icials participating in the FAO conference in Rome. would not tolerate any viola- gestions through the follow- the Gulf Co-operation Council. change and its severe impact tions of the Consumer Protec- ing channels – call centre: He pointed out that it is clear on the shortage and scarcity of Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki, operation between Qatar and ticipate in the 40th session of tion Law and its regulations 16001, e-mail: [email protected]. that the wider range of actions water resources, causing severe ambassador of Qatar to Italy these countries in the agricul- FAO conference which started and would intensify its inspec- qa, Twitter: MEC_QATAR, In- adopted by the siege countries adverse eff ects on food crops and its Permanent Representa- tural and environmental fi elds yesterday and will continue tion campaigns to crack down stagram: MEC_QATAR and the aimed at obstructing and dis- production, livestock, fi sheries tive to the United Nations agen- along with the most important until July 8 to discuss a number on violations. application of the ministry on rupting growth and construc- and farmland, and threatening cies in Rome. topics on the agenda of the con- of issues related to agriculture, The ministry said it would iPhone and Android devices: tion eff orts in Qatar and threat- global security as well as adding During these meetings, the ference. food security, water and other refer those who violated laws MEC_QATAR ening the lives of thousands of huge new numbers of refugees two sides discussed areas of co- The Minister in Rome to par- topics. German union IG Bau praises SC’s workers’ welfare eff orts

QNA eration. There is a lot to do to tions, including Human Rights Berlin improve the rights of workers in Watch, International Labour Qatar but also of course in other Organisation, IG Bau (Germa- Hassan al-Thawadi: parts of the world. Deitmar Schaefers: “In ny), UNITE (UK), UNIA (Swit- he continued progress on “The World Cup “We rely on people who are a short time we have zerland), NDLON (USA) and workers’ welfare at 2022 has created an open and are listening. There is been able to achieve Bayern Munich, also took part TFIFA World Cup Qatar environment for potential that this is something a lot, for example the in the BWI conference in Ger- sites — and the Supreme Com- enabling a working which can improve the workers’ agreement with Qatar many, where al-Thawadi spoke mittee for Delivery & Legacy’s agreement between rights but we of course have to about joint inspections of the important role which the (SC) willingness to engage in the Supreme see that these improvements are on the World Cup sites” fi rst FIFA World Cup in the Arab open dialogue has been high- Committee and BWI. sustainable.” world has to bring about sus- lighted by German union IG Bau This speaks volumes Meanwhile, IG Bau Vice- tainable change. after a recent conference in Ber- for our vision” President Dietmar Schaefers “The World Cup has created lin. concluded that the co-operation an environment for enabling a Speaking to www.sc.qa on between the SC and BWI was working agreement between the the sidelines of the BWI Global already bringing about positive Supreme Committee and BWI. Sports Campaign for Decent results. This speaks volumes for our vi- Work: Sports-Migration Nexus had good discussions, we have a The German offi cial added “In a short time we have been tions are going ahead as planned, that the Secretary General of sion. It is a platform for progress and Labour Inspections event, memorandum of understanding that other countries around the able to achieve a lot, for example and in addition our colleagues Qatar’s organising committee, and for bringing people together Fritz Heil of IG Bau said: “This which we jointly elaborated and world faced similar issues. the agreement with Qatar about are able to give insight on work- Hassan al-Thawadi, took part in from all sectors of global society,” conference was a good platform signed. We are open to this co- “Being open for dialogue is joint inspections on the World site safety. this conference.” al-Thawadi said in remarks to to exchange experiences. We operation.” always a good sign for co-op- Cup sites,” he said. “The inspec- “A positive sign is also the fact A wide variety of organisa- delegates from around the world. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 3 QATAR

Qatar Airways praises Qatar Airways launches German triumph in Confederations Cup

atar Airways, the offi - including the Formula E electric direct service to Nice cial partner and airline car races in Paris and New York Qof FIFA, has congratu- and the Sydney Swans. And, of atar Airways has an- lated Germany on winning the course, we are tremendously ex- nounced the launch of fi nal of the FIFA Confederations cited about the 2022 FIFA World Qa direct service between Cup 2017, which took place in St Cup, which will be held in our Doha and Nice, the airline’s Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday home country, the State of Qa- second destination in France. night. tar.” Qatar Airways fl ight QR53, op- Qatar Airways was announced As an offi cial partner of FIFA, erated by a Boeing B787 Dream- as the offi cial partner and airline Qatar Airways will have exten- liner, departed Hamad Interna- of FIFA in May as part of a spon- sive marketing and branding tional Airport (HIA) at 7.45am sorship lasting until 2022. Up- rights at the next two FIFA World yesterday and arrived at Nice coming FIFA events sponsored Cups, with an expected audience Cote d’Azur International Air- by Qatar Airways will include reach of more than 2bn people port at 1.15pm. both the 2018 FIFA World Cup in per tournament. It will also have Located on the French Rivi- Russia and the 2022 FIFA World visibility at competitions such era, Nice has a true cosmo- Cup in Qatar. as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, politan vibe with fashion- Qatar Airways Group chief FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cups, able boutiques and restaurants, executive Akbar al-Baker said: the FIFA Futsal World Cup, FIFA alongside magnifi cent beaches. “Qatar Airways is delighted to Beach Soccer World Cup and the The city is also the gateway to congratulate Germany on win- FIFA Interactive World Cup, the the south of France, including ning the FIFA Confederations world’s largest online gaming popular destinations such as Cup Russia 2017. As the offi cial tournament. Cannes, St Tropez, Antibes and partner and airline of FIFA, we In a statement, Qatar Airways the region of Provence, while understand the power of sport stressed it “is one of the fastest- also being within easy reach in bringing people together – growing airlines operating one of of neighbouring Monaco and something at the heart of our the youngest fl eets in the world”, northern Italy. own philosophy and core values. with 200 aircraft fl ying to more The Qatar Airways delegation Officials and dignitaries mark the launch of the new Qatar Airways service to Nice. “We are proud to support ma- than 150 key business and leisure travelling on the inaugural fl ight, jor sporting clubs and world- destinations across six conti- headed by senior vice-president benefi t from a new route for air seats in Business Class and 232 class events around the globe, nents. (Qatar Airways Europe) Jonath- cargo exports.” Qatar Airways in Economy. an Harding, was welcomed by recently announced its partner- Qatar Airways currently op- Nice Cote d’Azur International ship with the French Riviera’s erates 21 weekly fl ights between Airport chief executive offi cer premium helicopter operator Doha and Paris with the airline’s Dominique Thillaud, Nice Cote Monacair, providing passengers ultra-modern fl eet of Airbus d’Azur International Airport arriving in Nice on board the A380 and A350. The airline also chief operating offi cer Didier newly-launched direct service recently opened its Premium Monges, Tourism Commission with the opportunity to “seam- Lounge at Charles de Gaulle of PACA Region president Jen- lessly connect” onto a Monacair Airport in Paris. nifer Salles Barbosa and City of helicopter fl ight to Monte Carlo. Qatar Airways Cargo current- Nice representative Rudy Salles. Likewise, passengers travelling ly operates twice-weekly B777 Qatar Airways Group chief from Monaco to Nice by heli- freighters to Paris via Stansted, executive Akbar al-Baker, copter will be able to connect at UK, in addition to transporting said: “We are truly delighted A traditional water cannon salute greets the Qatar Airways flight. Nice Cote d’Azur International belly cargo on the airline’s three- to launch a direct service be- Airport to a choice of more than time daily passenger fl ights to tween Doha and Nice. The new gers from the south of France ing – one of the most complete 150 destinations on Qatar Air- the capital city of France. route is a sign of our continu- can now connect to more than among French city airports ways’ global network. The introduction of direct ous commitment to improving 150 destinations worldwide – and improves connectivity The fi ve weekly fl ights be- fl ights to Nice will off er 60 the travelling experience for through Doha’s Hamad Inter- out of the region via the Doha tween HIA and Nice Cote tonnes of weekly belly-hold ca- our passengers, both in France national Airport.” hub. This is, therefore, excel- d’Azur International Airport pacity and take the total cargo and around the world. With Thillaud said: “The Qatar lent news for tourism profes- will be served by the Boeing capacity out of France to over fi ve weekly fl ights operating Airways fl ight out of Nice en- sionals on the Cote d’Azur and B787 Dreamliner, which off ers a 560 tonnes, according to a press between the two cities, passen- hances our long-haul off er- companies in the area who will two-class confi guration with 22 statement. Qatar Airways is the official partner and airline of FIFA. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 QATAR

HBKU Press publishes new children’s story

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Press has a girl and her brother, and their relationship published children’s book Ghosoun and Her with a dog. Years later, when I started writing Brother the Gazelle by the local Qatari author for children, I remembered this tale, and knew Dr Kaltham Ali al-Ghanim, associate professor I wanted to share it with kids in a captivating WISE Accelerator start-ups of sociology at Qatar University. The book is a manner so that it would stick with them as it had classic story, which has a way of transcending with me after all of these years.” The tale depicts time and place, and possesses the ability to a brother and sister who live with their parents in touch the lives of generations. The year was 1989 peace and harmony, along with their loyal dog, when she first heard the story from a wizened, Salfa. But with the sudden death of their mother, introduced at EdTechX 80-year-old woman which stuck with her for over the children’s father marries another woman 25 years. “The woman who told me the story who quickly conspires with an evil crow to be he World Innovation Summit for Edu- the acceptance of failure as a key element in the knew a lot of traditional, Qatari folkloric tales rid of the children and faithful Salfa. The children cation (WISE) recently partnered with learning curve.” and was a master storyteller,” said Dr al-Ghanim. embark on a mysterious journey, away from TEdTechX Europe in London to present the The WISE Accelerator Programme, an initiative “She had a special way of bringing a story alive their home, fraught with hardships, deceit, and start-up enterprises from the WISE Accelerator of WISE, provides mentoring for promising new and this particular story stuck with me. I was magical enchantment, in the hope of someday programme. projects that have already shown good results in attracted to the special relationship between living, once again, happily ever after. – QNA The annual EdTechX Europe conference brings technology education, and aims at helping them together the international EdTech community progress to the next level with networking oppor- to showcase innovations and perspectives from tunities. around the world. EdTechX attendees joined fi eld trips across This edition of EdTechX Europe gathered more London, with behind-the-scenes interactive than125 speakers and 850 international investors, experiences at EdTech companies such as TES innovators, corporate leaders, educators and de- Global, Kano, Bloomberg Media, and Univer- cision-makers. sity College London (UCL). The EdTechX Europe WISE organised a panel discussion featuring Students working with the WISE Accelerator project conference featured distinguished speakers from the start-up leaders of the WISE Accelerator pro- Joko’s World interactive learning applications. leading education organisations, including Goog- gramme. le, TES Global, Noodle, 2U, University of Oxford, The 30-minute session included short presen- Rumie Initiative; William Zhou, founder, Chalk. Evernote, Volkswagen AG, Jisc, Tecnologico de tations from four leaders of the EdTech start-up com; Simon Bailey, founder of AFLATOUN; and Monterrey, UCL and Minerva Schools. projects that are supported by the WISE Accel- Peter Mousaferiadis, founder of Joko’s World. In partnership with other leading education erator programme. Touhami Abi, WISE programme offi cer, moder- groups as co-chairs, EdTechXGlobal produced The founders shared their inspiring entrepre- ated the session. London EdTech Week, a week-long celebration neurial journeys, highlighting their challenges He noted: “The WISE Accelerator founder sto- showcasing the Now and Next of Education Tech- and unique visions for education, according to a ries refl ect the dedication and determination of nology. press statement. these leaders and their willingness to take risks Over 30 connected, collaborative events across Among the presenters were Henry Motte- and even to fail. Their stories show that passion London brought together more than 6,000 at- Munoz, founder of the Philippines-based Edu- is not enough to change the world. It must be ac- tendees from the local and global EdTech ecosys- kasyon; Tariq Fancy, founder of Learn Syria by the companied by dedication, long working hours and tem. Jet Airways announces winner of ‘The Billion Miles Festival’

ndian carrier Jet Airways has announced Doha Kumar, who is from Patna in India, currently from our guests and we saw signifi cant additions resident Shantanu Kumar as the grand prize resides in Doha. Using the 1mn JPMiles, he can to our JetPrivilege programme. Guests earned bo- Iwinner of ‘The Billion Miles Festival’ held by make 100 return trips between Mumbai and Goa, nus JPMiles on every journey they undertook for the airline between February 21 and March 31. or 58 return trips between Mumbai and Delhi, or bookings made under the off er across our entire Kumar has won 1mn JPMiles, which can be re- 29 return trips between Doha and Mumbai/Delhi, network, and can now redeem those against future deemed for Award fl ight tickets on Jet Airways or 11 trips between Mumbai and London/Paris/ travel with Jet Airways and our partners.” Manish and partner airline fl ights across the globe, ac- Amsterdam, the airline has said. As a special ges- Dureja, managing director JetPrivilege, added: “We cording to a press statement. ture, all the JPMiles awarded under the campaign are delighted to celebrate the success of ‘The Billion Jet Airways has also announced 40 daily win- can be used for life and will not expire. Miles Festival’ with Jet Airways.” Guests who are ners – one for each day of the promotion – who Jayaraj Shanmugam, chief commercial offi cer at not yet members can enrol in the JetPrivilege pro- have earned 100,000 JPMiles. During the cam- Jet Airways, said: “‘The Billion Miles Festival’ was gramme by visiting jetairways.com or jetprivilege. paign, Jet Airways rewarded members of JetPrivi- our way of thanking our valued guests for fl ying com and start earning JPMiles on all the travels with lege, its loyalty programme, with 1bn JPMiles. us. The campaign received a tremendous response the airline and its strategic codeshare partners. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 5 QATAR Peers fete Tamuq dean Ooredoo, HMC r Cesar O Malave, dean of Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq), has received the 2017 John L DImhoff Global Excellence Award for Industrial Engineering Education from the American Society for Engineering Education in recognition of his accom- plishments. The award is presented annually to an individual who ready ‘remote has made signifi cant contributions to the industrial engineering discipline, who exemplifi es the highest standards of the professorate in industrial engineering, and who has demonstrated global co-operation and un- derstanding through leadership and other initiatives. Dr Malave was recognised at a ceremony at the soci- ety’s Annual Awards Luncheon during its 124th Annual care’ solution Conference and Exposition in Columbus, Ohio. “I am honoured to receive this award,” Dr Malave said. ollowing an announcement at Healthcare and Community Services people suff ering from conditions “It has been a great journey for me as an educator. I Qitcom 2017, Ooredoo and Ha- Department”, according to a press that prevent them from being physi- want to thank all my colleagues for their support and I Fmad Medical Corp (HMC) have statement. cally mobile, patients who need especially want to thank all my students for giving me confi rmed that work for the ‘Proof of “The introduction of telemoni- long-term management of their the opportunity to share my knowledge with them.” Concept for Remote Care at Home’ toring and remote care marks an condition, or people undergoing re- Before coming to Tamuq in July 2016, Dr Malave was initiative is moving forward. important step towards the imple- habilitation post discharge. professor and head of the Department of Industrial Ooredoo and HMC signed a mem- mentation of the Ministry of Public By reducing the need to travel to and Systems Engineering at Texas A&M University and orandum of understanding in March Health’s National Continuing Care hospital and enabling patients to holder of the Sugar and Mike Barnes Department Head to support the launch of an advanced Strategy and Hamad Medical Cor- remain at home with their families, Chair. mobile and digital solution to en- poration’s ongoing eff orts to en- remote care services will boost the His major career accomplishments are in the areas of hance the level of care and conven- hance the quality and effi ciency of “quality of care and quality of life”, manufacturing systems analysis, engineering education ience for continuing care patients in its home and community services. the statement notes. innovation, and diversity development for engineering Qatar. Our project with Ooredoo will sup- Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi, chief faculty and undergraduate student programmes. The service, which is described as port these eff orts and will facilitate operating offi cer at Ooredoo Qatar, He has been the principal investigator or co-principal the fi rst of its kind in the region, will the use of mobile and information said: “We continue to stand side-by- investigator of more than $35mn in sponsored research deliver home care for patients with technology to promote patient en- side with HMC in delivering cutting- and academic projects. diff erent conditions requiring moni- gagement and improved healthcare edge solutions to help enhance the Dr Malave is recognised internationally for his con- toring and support, and also provide self-management,” said Mahmoud expertise of HMC’s world-class car- tributions to engineering education. proactive care and support to help Saleh al-Raisi, chief of HMC’s Con- egivers and the experience of Qatar’s As lead principal investigator for Texas A&M, Dr patients become more independent. tinuing Care Group, Senior Respon- patients. Malave co-ordinated all activities related to curricula Since the signing of the agree- sible Owner, National Continuing “The remote care solution will be development, implementation, and outcomes assess- ment, both organisations have Care Strategy. powered by Ooredoo’s award-win- ment across partner sites. “worked solidly to outline the tech- Remote care services will enable ning Supernet network and be a truly He disseminated this educational model through nology required and the services patients in Qatar to access the care ‘smart’ service, enabling real-time workshops in the United States and many countries. HMC and Ooredoo can off er patients they need from their homes. connectivity and help to those who He joined the industrial engineering faculty at Texas receiving care from HMC’s Home It will be particularly useful for need it.” Dr Cesar O Malave A&M in 1987. QIB-UK woos customers with ‘convenient solutions’

ith an increase of Qa- The debit card is in the lo- rent, savings, notice and Wakala has gained is coupled with an tomer care, competitive pricing tari interest in Brit- cal currency GBP, allowing QIB deposit accounts off er “competi- existing experienced property and security of execution. Wain, QIB-UK, a wholly customers to access and use their tive rates” and are all Shariah- search service that puts the cus- In addition, the bank off ers a owned subsidiary of QIB Group, money without paying foreign compliant. tomer’s best interest fi rst. full suite of Shariah-compliant has said it is working closely with exchange charges or any other In addition, QIB-UK off ers its QIB-UK’s in-house property structured commercial real es- its parent company to develop Visa fees on international pur- clients the option of depositing specialists, who have a long ex- tate fi nancing products including solutions that suit the fi nancial chases and cash withdrawals. their Qatari riyals in cash. perience in the London prop- investment, residential develop- requirements of its customers. “Through its private banking QIB-UK recently received of- erty market and an in-depth ment and mezzanine fi nancing to Using the QIB-UK debit card, relationship management team, fi cial licensing to directly provide knowledge of the current market clients. customers seeking to explore Brit- with the support of product spe- Shariah-compliant Murabaha trends, will be dedicated to sup- Duncan Steele-Bodger, CEO of ain for tourism, education, or in- cialists in real estate fi nance, and Facilities for London properties, port customers fi nding the right QIB-UK, said: “Our range of Sha- vestment opportunities can enjoy treasury, the bank delivers tailor- which are intended for own use. property quickly and conven- riah-compliant products and serv- several benefi ts, including access made solutions that address the This new product enables iently. ices, delivered by a team of experts, to all ATM machines in the UK fi nancial needs of its customers, QIB-UK to fi nance a buy-to- QIB-UK’s residential invest- was created to enhance our clients’ 24/7 and a high limit on spend- whether they are based in the UK live property as well as refi nance ment fi nancing product has been banking experience in the UK.” ing, up to £15,000 daily, including full-time or are there for a visit,” customers’ existing properties in designed to off er tailored nanc-fi QIB-UK is located in the heart £3,000 in cash withdrawals, ac- the statement noted. London. ing solutions to astute clients of London’s affl uent Mayfair dis- cording to a press statement. QIB-UK multi-currency cur- The new licence that the bank who deserve distinguished cus- trict, at 43 Grosvenor Street. A view of the QIB-UK off ice in London.

LuLu Exchange Company celebrates 4th anniversary Qatar Charity in water project deal ulu Exchange Company celebrated the fourth with Indonesian education ministry Lanniversary of its opera- tions in the country on its D- Ring and Al Khor Mall branch QNA society organisations and humani- off ers drinkable water for the city premises on Monday and yes- Doha tarian charities due to their interest after years of its people suff ering terday. in the real needs of the society and and drinking water from ponds As a part of the anniversary the implementation of the projects causing many diseases. The 300sq celebrations, LuLu Exchange atar Charity (QC) signed a needed, Gufron added. km city of Garut, with a population conducted various activities co-operation agreement QC Country Director of Indo- of 2.5mn, relies mainly on agricul- for its customers — followed Qwith the Indonesian Min- nesia offi ce Karam Zeinhom said ture. by a cake-cutting ceremony to istry of Higher Education with the the Charity follows a well exam- QC continues to implement commemorate the occasion in goal of drilling 100 surface wells ined development vision when income-generating projects for the presence of dignitaries and to supply universities and colleges determining suitable areas to poor families in Indonesia, ben- senior management. suggested by the ministry with implement its projects. QC is al- efi ting 12,000 families so far. These The celebrations at D-Ring drinkable water. ways keen that its projects serve projects are part of QC’s eff orts in were presided over by Shaijan Lulu off icials and customers celebrate the fourth anniversary of LuLu Exchange at the company’s QC will bear the costs of drilling, a large number of people, hence Indonesia to contribute to the de- M O, regional director, LuLu D-Ring Road branch. installation of tanks with 100 litres the choice came after a fi eld sur- velopment of local communities Hypermarket, Arshad Hamza, capacity and installation of water vey was carried out to choose the targeted through these projects general manager, LuLu Ex- Company, said: “It has been a “We will continue to off er source of strength. We would lifting machinery. universities and colleges that suf- and to support international eff orts change and Krishna Kumar, great journey these past four the best of services and value also like to thank Qatar Central Directorate General of the min- fer from severe shortage of water, to achieve the current Millennium GM — LuLu Hypermarket, D- years. Through our high-cali- the customers’ trust with the Bank for being a guiding force istry Ali Gufron said the agreement Zeinhom added. Development Goals. In addition, Ring Road, along with other bre workforce backed by train- same vigour that we started in our success.” will have a huge impact on the QC has drilled 3,550 wells in QC works on contributing to the senior offi cials, staff and cus- ing and the latest technologies, the organisation with.” LuLu Exchange currently lives of the students and providing Garut City of Indonesia, as part of self-suffi ciency of poor families by tomers. we have been able to deliver the “I take this opportunity to has three branches in Qatar, drinkable water and will help them an agreement signed with its gov- providing a continuous source of Adeeb Ahamed, manag- highest standards of customer thank our customers and well- located at Al Khor Mall, D- to carry on with their studies easily. ernor Rudy Gunawan in September income for them to preserve their ing director of LuLu Exchange satisfaction over the years. wishers who have been our Ring Road and in Al Gharaff a. QC should be a role model to civil 2014. The QR1.75mn project now dignity.

Next chapter of Black Badge story dawns at Goodwood Festival of Speed

olls-Royce has announced Badge story,” the statement clients who have asked the marque the next chapter in the notes. for motor cars with specifi c, focused RBlack Badge family with The Goodwood Festival of characteristics that refl ect their dif- the global debut of the Dawn Speed celebrates machines “so ferent take on life, success and the Black Badge at the 2017 Good- beyond measurable limitations luxury they consume. wood Festival of Speed. that they have changed the land- The Dawn Black Badge at the At the Geneva Motor Show in scape in which they operate – an Festival of Speed was present- March 2016, Rolls-Royce pre- entirely fi tting stage on which ed in a deeply intense shade of sented a “truly transformative the third chapter in this truly black. moment on the luxury landscape transformative story can unfurl Multiple layers of paint and – the introduction of a perma- – the global debut of Dawn Black lacquer have been fastidiously nent bespoke family of motor Badge, the most uncompromis- applied and hand-polished in a cars called Black Badge, designed ing expression of open-top luxu- process that amounts to the most in response to the diff ering life- ry in the world”. exhaustive painting and polish- style requirements of a younger, Since it was launched in 2016, ing process ever used for a solid more dynamic patron of luxury”, Black Badge has become the paint colour. according to a statement from most commanding presence on The roof, which opens in a ‘Si- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. the super-luxury landscape. lent Ballet’ to allow in the sounds “Since its introduction, Black Its authentic bespoke engi- of the night, is also only available Badge has done much to attract neering and design approach has in black canvas, while the rear a new generation of Rolls-Royce answered the demands of those deck is fi nished in black leather. customers to the marque. As a customers who have said “Build In creating Black Badge, Rolls- result of overwhelmingly posi- us a Rolls-Royce like no other”. Royce’s bespoke designers have tive customer demand for Ghost Dawn Black Badge is now sought to create true signifi ers of Black Badge and Wraith Black available to commission. this more assertive alter-ego for Badge, the time is now right to Black Badge is Rolls-Royce’s re- the marque. Dawn gets this same add a new chapter to the Black sponse to a small and select group of treatment. The Rolls-Royce Dawn Black Badge. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD

REFUGEES CURBS CONFLICT DIPLOMACY IN CUSTODY Four detained after camp Egypt extends state of Fierce fighting as East Libyan Govt agrees to Iran Alleged torture victim raids die: Lebanese army emergency after blast forces close in on holdout consulates during Haj arrested: rights group

Four Syrian men arrested after deadly Lebanese Egypt’s parliament yesterday approved an exten- East Libyan forces battled to advance into a final Iran will be allowed to set up temporary consulates A Bahraini activist was arrested at her home late on army raids on refugee camps last week have died, sion of a nationwide state of emergency until area of Benghazi controlled by their opponents in Saudi Arabia during the Haj pilgrimage despite Monday by masked and armed state security off ic- the military command said yesterday, blaming pre- the end of September as a police off icer and two yesterday, clearing mines and roadblocks and tar- the absence of diplomatic ties, the foreign ministry ers, a month after she complained of being tortured existing conditions. Lebanese soldiers stormed two conscripts were killed by a roadside bomb in the geting snipers with cover from tank rounds. Khalifa in Tehran said yesterday. “Some off icials from the for- and sexually assaulted when she was summoned refugee camps on Friday near the border town of Sinai where Egypt faces a hardline insurgency. Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) says eign ministry’s consular section will be deployed to for questioning, a London-based rights group said. Arsal, but were met with a string of suicide attacks Parliament unanimously approved a three-month it is close to concluding a three-year campaign for Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah to provide consular Off icers believed to be from the National Security and grenades. They carried out a wave of arrests in state of emergency in April, giving the authorities control of Libya’s second city, having surrounded services to Iranian pilgrims during the Haj,” spokes- Agency (NSA) surrounded Ebtisam al-Sayegh’s the wake of the explosions, which killed one girl and greater powers to crack down on what it called rival fighters in a strip of the seafront district of Sabri man Bahram Ghasemi was quoted as saying by the home and arrested her, the London-based Bahrain wounded seven soldiers. “During the usual medical enemies of the state after two church bomb- little more than 2km wide. The campaign has been ISNA news agency. Iranians were unable to attend Centre for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said. It examinations conducted by the army’s medical unit, ings killed at least 45 people. The extension by a halting, with the LNA suff ering high casualties even the Haj last year after talks on security and logistics warned that Sayegh was at risk of further abuse. a number of them were found to be suff ering from further three months, ordered by President Abdel after gaining the upper hand early last year. A medi- fell apart. But an agreement was reached earlier this “The off icers, all masked, had body and head cam- chronic health problems that were activated as a re- Fattah al-Sisi, means the state of emergency will cal source said at least 16 troops had been killed and year to allow Iranians to take part in this eras and were armed. They demanded her mobile sult of weather conditions,” the army said yesterday. last at least until the end of September. at least 36 wounded in fighting since Monday. September’s Haj. phone and her CPR (national ID) card,” BIRD said.

Russia may deploy military in buff er zones within weeks US-backed forces breach IS Russia may deploy its military to police the borders of planned de- escalation zones in Syria within two to three weeks after finalising an agreement with Turkey and Iran, Russian negotiator Alexan- der Lavrentyev said yesterday. defences in heart of Raqqa Moscow hopes to sign the final documents with Ankara and AFP sieged civilians can leave,” he Tehran today, he told reporters Beirut said. after a series of meetings in the Activists were also concerned Kazakh capital, Astana. that as the SDF moved closer Russia and Iran, which back S-backed forces have to the heart of Raqqa, civilian President Bashar Assad’s penetrated the heavily casualties would rise. government, and Turkey, which Ufortifi ed heart of mili- “Now that they are in the Old supports some of the rebels, tant bastion Raqqa for the fi rst City, they’re in a much more agreed in principle to create four time, in a key milestone in the densely populated area,” said “de-escalation zones” in Syria in war against the Islamic State Hussam Eesa from the Raqqa is a previous round of talks in May, group in Syria. Being Slaughtered Silently ac- but put off a planned June meet- Air strikes by the US-led tivist collective. ing where they were supposed to coalition battling IS punched “We may be counting casual- work out the details. two holes in the medieval wall ties by the hundreds,” he said. Since the May agreement was surrounding Raqqa’s Old City, The coalition estimates that announced, the rebel-held allowing fi ghters of the Syrian around 2,500 IS militants are stronghold of Idlib province in Democratic Forces to breach the defending Raqqa. the northwest of Syria has been militants’ defences, Washing- That is far more than the 200 mostly calm. ton and the SDF said yesterday. or so IS fi ghters, most of them But fighting has continued on The advance — the culmina- foreign, that Iraqi commanders other frontlines in western Syria, tion of a nearly eight-month believe are holed up in Mosul’s including Eastern Ghouta of campaign — comes as the mili- Old City. Damascus and the southwestern tants face an expected defeat Iraqi forces were moving in city of Deraa, where government within days in Iraq’s second city on the last IS-controlled neigh- forces and their allies are trying Mosul, the other pivot of the bourhoods of the Old City from to crush remaining pockets of cross-border “caliphate” they all sides yesterday, command- rebellion. declared in 2014. ers said. “In the next two days, Lavrentyev told reporters that Coalition offi cials said a few we will announce the complete Moscow and its partners were hundred diehard militants were liberation of the Old City, and still discussing detailed maps and making a desperate last stand therefore...the city of Mosul,” other conditions related to the in just one square kilometre of Staff Brigadier General Haidar Idlib and southern zones, while Mosul’s Old City. al-Obeidi, a commander in the the borders of two other zones, In neighbouring Syria, the elite Counter-Terrorism Serv- in Homs province and near SDF said coalition warplanes ice, said. Damascus, had been agreed. opened up two breaches in Iraqi forces have been clos- “Overall, (the agreement) pro- the 2.5 kilometre Rafi qah Wall ing in on Mosul’s Old City for vides for the presence of Russian around Raqqa’s Old City, ena- months, but its maze of narrow military police in the buff er zones, bling its fi ghters to evade explo- A displaced Syrian man, who fled the countryside surrounding the Islamic State (IS) group stronghold of Raqqa, drives his tuktuk at a temporary alleyways combined with a large but once again this matter has sives laid by IS. camp in the village of Ain Issa yesterday. civilian population has made for not been agreed yet,” he said. “Daesh (IS) have used this an extremely diffi cult fi ght. “Depending on when the archaeological wall to launch fi ghters mobilising to the area,” marked a “key milestone in (the) it said. The United Nations for the SDF, which broke into Iraqi forces are facing a rising documents on safe zones attacks, and planted bombs and said Mohamed Khaled Shaker, a campaign to liberate the city.” has raised concerns for tens of Raqqa on June 6. number of suicide attacks, in- are signed, I think one should mines in its gates to hinder the spokesman for the Syrian Elite US Central Command, which thousands of civilians trapped But IS still controls 70% of cluding some by female bomb- expect concrete measures on advance of SDF forces,” the al- Forces, US-backed Arab fi ght- oversees military operations in Raqqa, where it says the mili- the city, according to the Ob- ers, in the fi nal stages of the the deployment of forces within liance said. ers allied with the SDF. across the Middle East, said the tants are using many as human servatory, and the toughest bat- more than eight-month-long 2-3 weeks.” The Syrian opposi- During three years of militant The Syrian Observatory for coalition air strike had allowed shields. tles are yet to come. campaign, commanders said. tion, some of whose delegates rule, Raqqa became infamous as Human Rights said US-backed advancing forces “to breach the The Rafi qah Wall that sur- “Today, the real fi ght for But coalition offi cials said the walked out of the previous the scene of some of IS’ worst forces “are clashing with IS at Old City at locations of their rounds the city’s historic heart Raqqa has begun. There are militants were now on their last round of talks in protest against atrocities, including public be- four points in the eastern part of choosing.” originally dates back to the late both many civilians and many legs in their two most emblem- Iran’s participation, has routinely headings, and is thought to have the Old City” as fresh coalition This prevented IS from us- eighth century. mines in the Old City,” said atic strongholds. criticised Russia for failing to been a hub for planning attacks air strikes pummelled other ing booby-traps, landmines The Syrian Observatory for Observatory chief Rami Abdel “#ISIS terrorists down to less enforce the ceasefire and was overseas. neighbourhoods. and suicide car bombs, “pro- Human Rights said the advance Rahman. than one square kilometre in sceptical of Moscow’s plan. “There have been fi erce The US envoy to the coalition, tected SDF and civilian lives, had been supported by US spe- “The biggest challenge for #Mosul and totally surrounded Armed opposition leader clashes (in the Old City) since Brett McGurk, said on Twitter and preserved the integrity of cial forces and constituted the the SDF will be opening up in #Raqqa,” tweeted US envoy Mohamed Alloush, who led the dawn today, with 200 of our that breaching the Rafi qah Wall the greatest portion of the wall,” “most important progress” yet humanitarian corridors so be- McGurk. opposition delegation in earlier rounds of the Astana process, is not attending the current talks. A Syrian opposition official said Saudi airline hopes US will lift laptop ban by July 19 the aim of Astana “is to set out the areas of influence between Saudi Arabian Airlines, known as Saudia, expects the in-cabin ban on laptops Iraq slows advance on last militant pocket the three states that sponsor it, and other large electronics on its direct flights to the United States to be lifted and it embodies the interests by July 19, state news agency SPA reported yesterday. But US authorities said of these states and their areas it was too early to say whether the carrier would satisfy the new require- Reuters Mosul this week, US-backed unit, called in air strikes just on Thursday, prompting Prime of influence on the ground, ments. The airline is working with the country’s civil aviation authority, GACA, Mosul/Erbil Syrian Democratic Forces an- 50 metres away from their tar- Minister Haider al-Abadi to unfortunately with an intended to implement new security measures for US-bound flights announced by the nounced they had begun an gets, and the fi ghting got close declare an end to the group’s American absence and suspi- US Department of Homeland Security last week, according to the SPA report. assault on Islamic State’s Syr- enough at one point for the “state of falsehood”. cious European silence”. David Lapan, a spokesman for the US Department of Homeland Security, said raqi forces slowed their ad- ian redoubt in the Old City militants to toss a hand gre- The number of Islamic State “It will succeed in the north in an e-mail it was too early to confirm Saudia’s compliance. Saudia flies to vance yesterday through of Raqqa. The Iraqi military nade at the troops. militants fi ghting in Mosul, by because the desire of the states the United States from airports in Jeddah and Riyadh. Dubai-based Emirates, Ithe last streets in Mosul has pushed insurgents into a It was from the pulpit of far the biggest city it has ever and their interests dictate that, the Middle East’s largest airline, said yesterday it was working to implement controlled by Islamic State shrinking rectangle no more Mosul’s medieval Grand Al- controlled, has dwindled from and if we want to interpret measures to lift the ban. On Sunday, the United States lifted a ban on laptops where militants and civilians than 300 by 500 metres beside Nuri Mosque that, three years thousands at the start of the it on the Syria-wide level, it in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the United States, saying Etihad Airways are packed in densely together, the Tigris river in Mosul; but ago, leader Abu Bakr al-Bagh- US-backed off ensive more than represents the strengthening of had put in place required tighter security measures. Turkish Airlines said on a commander said. the resistance has been fi erce. dadi declared a “caliphate” eight months ago to a couple of Russian and Iranian influence Monday it expected the ban to be lifted on flights from Turkey today. While Iraqi command- The Rapid Response Divi- over parts of Iraq and Syria. hundred now, according to the on the ground.” ers predicted fi nal victory in sion, an elite Interior Ministry Forces retook the mosque Iraqi military. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 7 AFRICA

AU to help resolve Eritrea-Djibouti border row

DPA Search on for Addis Ababa

he African Union is sending its security commissioner to TEritrea to help resolve its bor- der dispute with Djibouti following survivors the withdrawal of Qatari peacekeep- ers from the area, AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said yesterday. “I’ve sent a mission to Djibouti and now have made the decision to send the (AU) commissioner for after Ghana peace and security to Asmara,” Ma- hamat said at an AU summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The AU wants to decrease ten- sions after Djibouti accused Eritrea of occupying disputed land on the frontier. mine collapse Qatari peacekeepers had previ- ously withdrawn after Eritrea cut off AFP which prompted him to call for A “substantial” number of diplomatic ties with Doha. Accra them to stop and surface. people have stopped mining The mountainous border region “Some were reluctant be- under the directive but “others between Eritrea and Djibouti has cause they presumed it was are still doing it and these are long been a sticking point between escuers were scrambling nothing. Others understood the results we are getting”, he the two countries, with confl ict fl ar- yesterday to locate survi- and went out of the pit,” Ibra- added. “These reckless deaths ing up in 2008. Rvors after an illegal gold- him Musa told AFP, adding the should stop.” Qatar negotiated a peace deal in mine collapsed in western Gha- collapse began as they were Ghana is Africa’s second- 2010 and Qatari troops had been na, trapping at least 17 miners climbing out. largest gold producer and ex- Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf addresses the closing session of the 29th African Union stationed in the border region ever underground. “The guys who were taking ports of the commodity, along summit in Addis Ababa yesterday. since. The abandoned mine in the equipment out, unfortu- with minerals and oil, helped Prestea-Nsuta, which was nately, have been trapped on boost the country’s economic more than 80m deep, caved the way because where they growth until a recent slide. in on Sunday afternoon as the were passing had collapsed. The industry involves a miners were coming back to the “They were 17 in number and number of major global players surface. are still trapped there...We have but small-scale, illegal mining Boko Haram abduct 37 women in Niger “As of now, we are on the site not been able to pull them out.” has been a persistent problem with the rescue teams,” Nsuta ‘Galamsey’ has been banned and accidents are frequent. district police commander Su- in Ghana since earlier this year In 2010, at least 45 people AFP “The defence and security The village lies a few kilo- tion to the bloody Boko Haram perintendent Atsu Dzinaku told after a national campaign called were killed when an illegal mine Niamey forces are already in pursuit, and metres north of the town of insurgency. AFP. for an end to the practice be- collapsed after heavy rains. we hope that in the coming days Kabalewa, where there was a sui- Fifty-seven escaped in the im- “They saw a body which they cause of its eff ect on waterways Environmental expert Des- these women will be found and cide attack last Wednesday. mediate aftermath. are trying to get out,” he added. and forests. mond Amankwah said a lack of oko Haram militants have freed,” he said. Diff a, which as a population Of the 219 who did not man- “They assure us they will do Musa, however, claimed the safety measures and regulation kidnapped 37 women and The governor, who went to of around 600,000 people, has age to fl ee, 106 have either been their best to get them out from mine was not off -limits. were features of the illicit activ- Bslit the throats of nine Ngalewa on Monday, said the vil- suff ered a string of attacks by the released or found, leaving 113 still the pit, we are waiting to see Abraham Otabil, a spokes- ity, which can blight farmland other people at a village in south- lage had been singled out because Nigeria-based Boko Haram since missing. what will happen.” man for the Ministry of Lands for up to 30 years. eastern Niger, the regional gover- it was known for its resistance to 2015. The attack on Sunday coincid- The accident has been and Natural Resources, said the But at the same time he said nor said yesterday. the militants. Around 300,000 people dis- ed with a visit to Niger’s western blamed on small-scale gold site was not meant to be in op- mining provided jobs and de- The attack happened on Sun- The assailants came by foot for placed by militant attacks have neighbour Mali by French Presi- mining, known in Ghana as eration and the miners had “no velopment in Ghana, which day at the village of Ngalewa, greater stealth, he said. taken refuge in the region, which dent Emmanuel Macron, aimed “galamsey”, an industry that right” to be there. could explain a push-back near the border with Nigeria, the The village’s mayor, Abari El Hadj already grapples with grinding at boosting multinational eff orts has recently seen a government The ‘galamsey’ ban will last against the government crack- governor of Diff a region, Laouali Daouda, told AFP by phone that poverty. to fi ght militancy in countries crackdown. until September at the earli- down. Mahamane Dan Dano, told state the attack happened on Sunday In April 2014, the militants south of the Sahara. One of the miners who man- est and the ministry is looking “Wherever there is a mining TV. evening, “between 10pm and 11pm.” seized 276 schoolgirls from the The so-called G5 Sahel nations aged to escape said he heard at better regulation of the in- settlement it is more developed “Boko Haram elements...slit “About 30 or 40 women and remote northeast Nigerian town — Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, “unusual sounds” from the dustry across Ghana to make it than other villages that don’t the throats of nine people...they children were kidnapped...(and) of Chibok, triggering global con- Mauritania and Niger — plan to ground as they were working, “more professional”, he said. have these minerals,” he said. took women, 37 women,” he said. nine people killed,” he said. demnation and drawing atten- set up a regional force. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 AMERICAS Kin of Mexico ‘gangsters’ say they were executed

Reuters by in what appeared to be related record. Three relatives told Reu- Enrique Pena Nieto’s offi ce referred Chapo Guzman, a native of Si- The nephew of one victim said whose men fought in the gun bat- Mazatlan, Mexico shootings, the state attorney gen- ters they believed the victims were questions to prosecutors in Sinaloa naloa. Police chief Robles said of- his uncle had worked for a drug tle, welcomed the probe. eral’s offi ce said. killed in cold blood. Two of them state and the federal attorney gen- fi cers were alerted to two people cartel. “When I saw my uncle’s “They can come and ask and None of the suspects in the gun said their relatives had been shot in eral’s offi ce. injured behind a mall in the small body it had gunshots in the back,” speak to us. We’ll be here waiting,” elatives of 17 suspected gang battle were found wounded or ar- the back. The federal attorney general’s town of Villa Union on Friday said the man, who also spoke on he said. “This event was completely members killed last week by rested. “They murdered them,” said the offi ce did not immediately respond evening, and chased down the sus- condition of anonymity. fortuitous. There was nothing un- Rpolice in northwest Mexico Genaro Robles, Sinaloa’s head of sister of one victim as she waited to a request for comment, while pected assailants, sparking a gun One local policeman, who did toward.” fear the death toll refl ects a grim, police, attributed the outcome to outside a funeral home in Mazatlan. the Sinaloa prosecutor’s offi ce said battle. Blood was visible on the not want to be identifi ed, described In 2015, police executed nearly repeated complaint in recent years better police training and said there She declined to give her name for it was not investigating any rights road when a Reuters reporter vis- the shootings as “butchery,” unlike two dozen suspected gang mem- — summary executions by security was no excessive force or extrajudi- fear of reprisals. abuses, adding it could if human ited the scene over the weekend. other recent gun battles. bers in an ambush near the west- forces. cial killing in the exchange. Five of “They didn’t have a chance. This rights offi cials found evidence of Night-time footage later posted Miriam Hernandez of the Si- ern town of Tanhuato, the national The 17 men, who authorities said 11 police offi cers suff ered gunshot wasn’t a gun battle, like they say in wrongdoing. on social media, purporting to naloa state Commission for Human human rights commission found. were armed with 24 guns, were wounds. None died. the news.” Drug smugglers have been show victims, revealed bodies piled Rights said it had opened an inves- It was one of the worst abuses by killed by police near the coastal city Relatives said the dead men Local municipal police reject- fi ghting for control in the state in the back of pickup trucks, with tigation into whether the killings security forces in a decade of drug of Mazatlan in the state of Sinaloa were victims of a heavy-handed ed the allegation, though human after a power vacuum emerged more scattered along a road. involved human rights abuses. violence. Police killed 17 people for on Friday night. response by security forces that rights offi cials were investigating following the deportation of Reuters could not verify the au- Joel Ernesto Soto, head of the every offi cer lost in gun battles in Another two people died near- has stained Mexico’s human rights possible abuses. Mexican President feared drug boss Joaquin El thenticity of the videos. municipal police in Mazatlan, 2014, a university study found. Pressure on Endangered heritage Trump over Moscow ties The conspiracy theories doing the rounds president’s ability to manoeuvre with Russia, make better ties a dicey proposition foreign policy experts say. The US intelligence community has concluded Russia sponsored Reuters hacking of Democratic Party groups last year Washington to benefi t Trump over his Democratic chal- lenger Hillary Clinton. Russia has denied those allegations while Trump has repeat- uring his presidential campaign, Re- edly dismissed the idea of any co-ordination publican Donald Trump praised Rus- between his campaign and Russia as a “witch Dsian President Vladimir Putin as a hunt”. “strong leader” with whom he would like Still, just the optics of Trump meeting with to reset tense US-Russian relations. But as Putin, a former KGB agent, are fraught with Trump heads to his fi rst face-to-face meeting risk, foreign policy experts say. as president with Putin on Friday at the G20 “If (Trump) smiles, if he wraps his arm summit in Germany, he is under pressure at around Putin, if he says, ‘I’m honoured to A photograph distributed by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas showing one of the islands in the Gulf of California, in home to take a tough line with the Kremlin. meet you, we’re going to fi nd a way forward,’...I northwestern Mexico. The 244 islands and protected areas in the Gulf of California could be declared “endangered heritage” by Unesco. Allegations of Russian meddling in last think Congress is going to react extremely year’s US election have alarmed both Repub- negatively to that,” said Julie Smith, a former lican and Democratic lawmakers, who are national security aide in the Obama adminis- pushing to extend tough sanctions placed on tration. Trump has signalled an interest in co- Russia following its 2014 annexation of Cri- operating with Russia to defeat Islamic State mea, a peninsula belonging to Ukraine. in Syria and to reduce nuclear stockpiles. The Lawmakers including Republican Senator White House has been mum on what Trump Hot-dog contest, fi reworks, Cory Gardner are also concerned Russia has would be willing to give Russia in exchange for prolonged the civil war in Syria by backing that help. its President Bashar al-Assad, a strongman But there has been speculation he could whose forces have used chemical weapons ratchet down sanctions, or even return two against insurgents and civilians. The chaos has Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland beachgoing mark July 4 fuelled instability in the region and a fl ood of and Long Island. President Barack Obama migrants to Europe. seized those facilities and expelled 35 Russian “President (Trump) needs to make it clear diplomats just before he left offi ce as punish- Reuters Joey Chestnut won his 10th Nathan’s Famous that the continued aggression by Russia ment for the election hacks. New York Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing a record 72 around the globe...is unacceptable, and that While some administration offi cials, in- frankfurters in 10 minutes. they will be held accountable,” said Gardner, cluding Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, also In Washington, Molly Schuyler defended her who was among six lawmakers invited by the support engagement, others, such as Vice mericans celebrated the July Fourth hol- title by chowing down 21 Z-Burger hamburgers White House last month to discuss foreign President Mike Pence and US ambassador iday yesterday with the reopening of a in 10 minutes, Washington’s WTOP television policy with Trump over dinner. to the UN Nikki Haley, have taken a hawkish ANew Jersey beach closed to everyone but reported. Meanwhile, the appointment of a special line on Russia. The lack of a unifi ed strategy the governor after a government shutdown, a More than 13,000 people gathered for an in- counsel who is investigating potential links has left US allies anxious. And it has lowered record-setting hot-dog eating contest and fi re- formal peace-and-love celebration in Oregon’s between the Russian government and mem- expectations for American leadership to help works displays across the country. Malheur National Forest, where two people bers of the Trump campaign has weakened the resolve crises in Syria and Ukraine. Beachgoing, baseball and fi reworks, Fourth died of nonviolent causes, a spokeswoman said. of July traditions, were embraced throughout Professing no leaders and no organisation, the country, along with family cookouts that the Rainbow Family Gathering marked July favoured hot dogs and hamburgers. Winner Joey Chestnut in the final seconds of Fourth with “care-taking of mother earth, non- An informal peace-and-love festival in an Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog-Eating Contest. violence and living a compassionate and loving Oregon forest drew more than 13,000 people life,” according to a blog. including two men who died of apparently nat- the shutdown, prompting a barrage of Internet A 72-year-old man died on Monday and a ural causes. satires placing Christie in his beach chair at fa- 20-year-old man collapsed and died yesterday, The United States commemorated the Dec- mous beach scenes from D-Day to the Planet of forest spokeswoman Traci Weaver said. A doc- laration of Independence, adopted by the 13 the Apes. tor administered cardiopulmonary resuscita- American colonies on July 4, 1776. The docu- An unapologetic Christie told reporters he tion to the 20-year-old for 15 to 20 minutes but ment proclaims unalienable rights to life, lib- would rejoin his family in the governor’s resi- could not revive him, Weaver said. erty and the pursuit of happiness. dence at Island Beach State Park once the budg- There were 15 arrests, mostly for driving un- New Jersey and Maine ended partial govern- et was signed. der the infl uence, drugs, or disorderly conduct, ment shutdowns just in time for the holiday. A Major League Baseball had a full schedule of in addition to 108 violations and 432 warnings. deal between Governor Chris Christie and leg- 15 games in mostly packed stadiums across the Visitors were both rowdy and respectful, Weav- islative leaders allowed New Jersey to reopen country. er said, and the large crowd inevitably degraded parks and beaches, including Island Beach State Another type of competition, rapid-fi re the forest with trash, waste and trampling. Park, where the Star-Ledger newspaper on eating contests, also took place nationwide, “We’re concerned about redband trout that Sunday captured photos of Christie with family including one for hot dogs in Coney Island, are spawning in the creeks nearby,” Weaver and friends. Brooklyn, that was shown live on national tel- said. “Our big concern is what the long-term The beach was otherwise deserted because of evision. impact will be.”

App tracks gunfi re as Rio violence spikes

Reuters security secretariat. The number of people Rio De Janeiro killed by police in shootouts during the fi rst fi ve months of this year jumped nearly 50% com- pared to the same months the previous year, to- un violence is on the rise in Rio de Janei- talling 480 deaths. ro, with the sound of fi refi ghts echoing But Rio state authorities do not keep track of Gdaily across Brazil’s seaside city as drug the number of people hit by stray bullets, say- gangs battle each other and police offi cers pa- ing that since no such category of crime exists trolling slums. in Brazil’s legal system, authorities would not be Now there is an application that tracks in real- able to come up with an accurate way of measur- time how many gun battles there are and where ing it. they occur, based on eyewitnesses, media and But the number stray bullet reports in Rio’s police accounts. local press has been rising along with the over- The Fogo Cruzado, or Cross Fire, application all increase in violence. Last Friday, Claudineia created by Amnesty International and a local Policemen take up position after a resident was dos Santos, who was nine months pregnant, was researcher aims to let Rio’s citizens know where killed during a violent clash during an operation struck by a stray bullet that also hit the spine of gunfi re is taking place, in the hopes of keeping against drug dealers in Pavao Pavaozinho slum her unborn boy, Arthur. them out of danger. in Rio de Janeiro. Police and drug gangs had been in a fi refi ght While Rio is long used to random gunfi re in or in the northern Rio slum where the woman lives. close to its nearly 1,000 favelas, the city has been unteer who helps maintain the free app, said this After an emergency caesarean, doctors said stunned by a rash of stray bullets hitting inno- week. “Our focus is really to get people out of the the boy was on life support and left a paraplegic. cent bystanders — including a baby boy struck way of stray bullets.” The mother is in stable condition. last week while still in his mother’s womb. Murders jumped 11% to 2,329 in Rio de Janeiro On the same day, a 76-year-old woman and “Our job here is not to denounce anyone, we state in the fi rst fi ve months of this year com- her 42-year-old daughter were killed by stray do not have a direct focus on the police or on the pared to the same period last year, according to bullets in northern Rio’s Mangueira slum, as po- drug gangs,” Henrique Coelho Caamaño, a vol- the most recent data available from the state’s lice and drug gang members exchanged fi re. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 9 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

PEOPLE WILDLIFE INVESTIGATION ‘DERELICTION OF DUTY’ HEALTH Teenager weds 71-year-old Japan panda fans get Australia: Private data may 14 charged in wake of 11 people infected in new woman in Indonesia latest cub footage have been sold on dark web Vietnam hostage crisis Zika outbreak in Thailand

A teenage boy has married a woman over Japan’s panda-obsessed public got their latest Australian police have launched an investigation Vietnam yesterday charged 14 off icials in Hanoi over A new Zika outbreak has been reported in Thailand, half a century his senior in Indonesia’s South fix of cute yesterday as a Tokyo zoo released following reports of private medical data from the an alleged land grab that led to a week-long hostage with 11 confirmed new cases, the Department Sumatra province after threatening to commit footage of its 20-day-old helpless cub, who country’s public health care system being sold situation earlier this year. The 14 off icials — who are of Disease Control said yesterday. In Thailand’s suicide if he was not allowed to do so, local has ballooned in size since its birth last month. on the dark web, the government said yesterday. being charged for the vaguely worded crime of northern province of Pichit, 330km from Bangkok, media reported yesterday. Sixteen-year-old The tiny panda, still without a name, was the “Claims made in the Guardian newspaper that “causing serious consequences” for their “dereliction 11 people were infected with the Zika virus last Slamet Riyadi married Rohaya, a 71-year-old first to be born at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo in five Medicare card numbers are able to be purchased of duty” — are accused of misappropriating land week. No exact cause has been determined, with three grandchildren, on Sunday in Karang years to the delight of animal lovers and local on the dark web, are being taken seriously by the from farmers for development, reported the VN but the ministry has cautioned the public of Endah village of Ogan Komerin Ulu district, businesses. It can be difficult to determine government and are under investigation,” Human Express news site. The charges are related to a the spread of Zika during the current monsoon state news agency Antara reported. Darmi, the their sex but the zoo confirmed last month Services Minister Alan Tudge said in a statement. land dispute in Hanoi’s My Duc District on the rural season, as more mosquitoes, carriers of the virus, foster father of orphaned Riyadi, said Riyadi that the newborn was a female based on “The security of personal data is an extremely outskirts of the capital in April. Local off icials and are expected to breed. None of the 11 people with had wanted to marry Rohaya for two years but pictures sent to a research centre in China. serious matter.” The Guardian reported yesterday off icers were taken hostage on April 15 by local the Zika virus is pregnant. In September, Thailand his intention was rejected because of the age At two days old, she weighed just 147gm and that one of its reporters was able to buy his residents after a land dispute between villagers confirmed Zika-linked microcephaly in two diff erence. The minimum legal age to marry in measured 14.3cm in length, but zoo officials Medicare card number from a “darknet” trader for and the military-owned telecommunications newborns, the first cases in South-East Asia, and Indonesia is 19 years for men and 16 for women. have since said she is growing well. less than A$30, using digital currency bitcoin. company Viettel turned violent. the second in the world after Brazil.

Brother accuses N Korea test fi res ICBM Lee of AFP Seoul lying orth Korea yesterday declared it had successfully tested its fi rst AFP Nintercontinental ballistic mis- Singapore sile — a watershed moment in its push to develop a nuclear weapon capable of hit- ting the mainland United States. he brother of Singa- Experts said the device could reach Alas- pore’s prime minister ka, and the launch, which came as Ameri- Tyesterday accused him cans prepared to mark Independence Day, of lying in parliament about triggered a Twitter outburst from President the fi nal wishes of their fa- Donald Trump who urged China to act to ther, revered founding leader “end this nonsense once and for all”. Lee Kuan Yew, the latest in- The North’s possession of a work- stalment of an explosive fam- ing ICBM — something that Trump has ily feud. vowed “won’t happen” — would force a Lee Hsien Yang accused fundamental recalculation of the strate- Prime Minister Lee Hsien gic threat posed by the isolated, impov- Loong, 65, of falsely tell- erished state. ing parliament Monday that The “landmark” test of a Hwasong-14 their late father had been missile was overseen by leader Kim Jong- open to reconsidering plans Un, an emotional female announcer said to demolish a century-old on state Korean Central Television. family bungalow. The broadcaster showed his hand- The unprecedented row written order to carry out the launch, has shocked a tightly-con- and pictures of him grinning in celebra- trolled nation unused to divi- tion, clenching his fi st. sions among the elite. The rocket was “a very powerful ICBM During a second day of de- that can strike any place in the world”, bates in the legislature, the the announcer said, and “a major break- premier said the dispute was through in the history of our republic”. “not a soap opera” and called In a statement the North’s Academy of on Singaporeans not to be Defence Science, which developed the mis- distracted by it. sile, said it reached an altitude of 2,802km The house is at the cen- and fl ew 933km, calling it the “fi nal gate to tre of a political drama that rounding off the state nuclear force”. has simmered since the 2015 There are still doubts whether the death of the elder Lee, and North can miniaturise a nuclear weapon which has played out in pub- suffi ciently to fi t it onto a missile nose lic, with the premier and his cone, or if it has mastered the technol- siblings exchanging barbs on ogy needed for it to survive the diffi cult social media. re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. The patriarch had wanted But the country has made great the bungalow destroyed after progress in its missile capabilities since he passed away to prevent the the ascension to power of Kim, who has creation of a personality cult. overseen three nuclear tests and multi- But the prime minister’s ple rocket launches. siblings say their brother In response to the launch but before A South Korean soldier watches a news programme showing file footage of a North Korean missile launch at a railway station in Seoul. is attempting to block the the announcement, Trump asked on house’s demolition to capi- Twitter: “Does this guy have anything US Pacifi c Command confi rmed the spond on Twitter: “That’s it. It’s an told reporters: “This launch clearly warned the North against crossing a talise on their father’s legacy better to do with his life?” test and said it was a land-based, inter- ICBM. An ICBM that can hit Anchorage shows that the threat has grown.” “red line”. for his own political agenda, The United Nations has imposed mul- mediate range missile that fl ew for 37 not San Francisco, but still.” The US, Japan and South Korea will “I hope North Korea will not cross the including grooming his own tiple sets of sanctions on Pyongyang, minutes before splashing down in the David Wright, of the Union of Con- hold a summit on the issue on the side- bridge of no return,” he said. son as a future leader. which retorts that it needs nuclear arms Sea of Japan, adding the launch did not cerned Scientists, wrote on the organi- lines of this week’s G20 meeting, he Trump has been pinning his hopes “(Lee Hsien Loong) has to defend itself against the threat of in- pose a threat to North America. sation’s allthingsnuclear blog that the added. on China — North Korea’s main diplo- made convoluted, but ulti- vasion. Moscow’s defence ministry called it available fi gures implied the missile had “Also I will encourage President Xi matic ally — to bring pressure to bear on mately false, claims about Following the test, China and Russia medium-range in a statement to Russian “a maximum range of roughly 6,700km Jinping and President Putin to take more Pyongyang. Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes,” Hs- jointly called for a moratorium on fur- news agencies. on a standard trajectory”. constructive measures.” Last week he declared that Beijing’s ien Yang, a former brigadier ther North Korea missile and nuclear But Tokyo — in whose exclusive eco- “That range would not be enough to South Korea’s President Moon Jae-In, eff orts had failed, but returned to the general in the armed forces tests in exchange for an end to annual nomic zone it came down — estimated reach the lower 48 states or the large who backs both engagement with the idea on Twitter following the launch: who now heads the city- South Korea-US military exercises — a its maximum altitude to have “greatly islands of Hawaii, but would allow it to North to bring it to the negotiating ta- “Perhaps China will put a heavy move on state’s civil aviation author- formula Washington and Seoul have re- exceeded” 2,500km, prompting arms reach all of Alaska.” ble and sanctions, and met Trump for a North Korea and end this nonsense once ity, said in a Facebook post jected in the past. control specialist Jeff rey Lewis to re- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe summit in Washington at the weekend, and for all!” yesterday, which was shared by his sister Wei Ling, 62, a top neurologist. The dispute burst into the open last month when the PM’s brother and sister Thai junta suspends new labour law, extends deadline after exodus launched attacks on Face- book, which quickly went viral. Reuters with the transport,” said Aung Htay Win, In Monday’s speech, the Bangkok a Myanmar labour ministry offi cial. prime minister said that de- Migrants are predominately employed spite a “demolition clause” in low-skilled jobs in Thailand’s multi- governing the house in his fi - hailand’s junta yesterday delayed billion dollar fi shing sector, in agricul- nal will, his father was “pre- parts of a new labour law aimed ture, construction, manufacturing and pared to consider alterna- Tat regulating the foreign work- as domestic workers. tives”, and had even approved force after the decree sparked panic and Businesses have complained that the renovation plans should the prompted more than 60,000 foreign new regulations have caused a shortage government decide against workers to fl ee from the country. of workers in the construction and fi sh- tearing down the building. The military government, which has ing sectors. Property development and However Hsien Yang, 60, ruled since a 2014 coup, has invoked construction, which have had a stellar said that his father had been Article 44, a security order that gives it performance in an otherwise sluggish misled by the prime minister power to push through policy, to delay Thai economy, have felt the brunt of the into agreeing to the renova- the law that imposes heavy fi nes on em- departures. tion, with the elder Lee made ployers and employees who do not have “We lost 75% of our workers over- to believe the house had been work permits, a senior offi cial said. night,” an executive at a Bangkok con- listed as a national monu- The original decree was issued in part struction fi rm, who declined to be iden- ment so could not be torn to tackle human traffi cking concerns tifi ed, told Reuters. down — a claim of which the raised by the international community, In the fi shing port of Mahachai, founding leader’s lawyer had Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea- south of Bangkok and home to a many found no evidence. ngam told reporters. migrants from Myanmar, workers and The premier told parlia- “The government had to issue this business people said they were worried. ment, which is dominated law because we are being watched by the A Myanmar worker who identifi ed by his ruling People’s Action foreign community in terms of...human himself as Kway, 36, said he had a work Party, that “I did not deceive traffi cking. If we don’t issue this law permit but his wife and young child did my father” but he and his they will not buy our goods. So we have not have proper papers. siblings disagreed on wheth- to do it,” Wissanu said. “I sent my wife and child back to My- er the elder Lee was ready to The US State Department last month anmar because I am not sure what will consider alternatives for the left Thailand on a Tier 2 Watchlist, just happen to them”, he said. house. above the lowest ranking of Tier 3, in Other residents said they feared the Lee Kuan Yew, the coun- its annual Traffi cking in Persons (TIP) Myanmar migrant workers sort shrimp at a wholesale market for shrimp and other seafood in Mahachai, in Samut Sakhon economic impact. “The fi shing busi- try’s authoritarian fi rst prime report because it did not do enough to province of Thailand. nesses needs a large labour force and minister, ruled Singapore tackle human smuggling and traffi cking. it is work that no Thai wants to do so I from 1959 to 1990. Wissanu said the government would both workers and their employers more the number of foreign workers at 3mn Myanmar said that on Monday, it don’t know why the government has in- Many credit the family delay implementation of four sections of time to get their work permits. but rights groups say the real fi gure is far received more than 5,000 workers re- troduced this new legislation,” said Ton, patriarch with turning Sin- the law for six months. Thailand is a destination for many higher. Many work in Thailand without turning from Thailand across their 46, a shrimp vendor. gapore from a poor former He did not elaborate but the labour migrant workers from poorer neigh- legal documents, leaving them vulnera- border. “Many people are afraid to come out British colony into one of the ministry said it would suspend parts bouring countries, including Myanmar ble to exploitation by brokers and some- “Most of the workers went directly of their homes,” said the manager of a world’s wealthiest and most of the law until January in order to give and Cambodia. Offi cial estimates put times traffi ckers. back to their home towns. We help them grocery shop. stable societies. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 BRITAIN/IRELAND

FALLOUT DECISION LEGAL MUSIC LAW AND ORDER Government ditches EU ‘repeal bill’ to be Family of Lockerbie blast Lead singer Hadley Criminal freed early fox-hunting promise presented in parliament convict launches appeal quits Spandau Ballet after clerical blunder

The government has ditched manifesto Legislation to begin the process of transferring The family of the only person ever convicted Frontman Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet has A man who almost died in a knife attack is promises on fox-hunting and free school European Union law into British law will be of the bombing of an airliner over the Scottish announced that he has left the popular British furious that an alleged blunder by court staff lunches, as it limits its ambitions after last presented to parliament next week, Prime town of Lockerbie in 1988 has lodged a new bid electronic pop band. In an announcement meant his assailant served nine months in month’s disastrous election. One of the most Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said. The to appeal against his conviction posthumously. on Twitter, Hadley said he “will no longer jail rather than nine years. Jerrell Holland, contentious Tory plans was the promise to spokesman said Brexit Minister David Davis Lawyer Aamer Anwar joined family members of be performing with the band in the future”. 22, says he fears for his life after the error. allow MPs to vote on the future of the 2004 ban had given colleagues an update on the “Repeal former Libyan intelligence off icer Abdelbaset Ali Hadley off ered no explanation for his Ralston Dodd, 25, stabbed Holland in the on fox-hunting with dogs. “We are not planning Bill”, which will shift EU legislation into British Mohmet al-Megrahi, who died in 2012, to present departure but his announcement was followed back in a dispute outside a housing off ice in to bring forward a free vote in this session,” law as part of the Brexit process. “He said the their case to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review by a statement from the rest of the group’s Islington in September. Dodd was sentenced Environment Minister Theresa Coff ey said. legislation is expected to be tabled next week,” Commission in Glasgow. The commission will members that they had decided to “move on to nine years’ jail at Blackfriars crown court in The Conservatives also pledged to scrap free the spokesman said. Tens of thousands of review the files to see if there are grounds for an as a band”. “Much to our frustration, Tony had November after pleading guilty. But Holland lunches provided for children in their first three EU-related laws have made their way onto the appeal. “The only place to determine whether a made it clear in September 2016 that he didn’t said he was terrified after seeing Dodd driving years of school, off ering instead cheaper school British statute book during more than 40 years miscarriage of justice did occur is in the appeal want to work with the band anymore. This has around north London last week. It is believed breakfasts for more children. “We have decided of membership of the bloc and unpicking that court,” Anwar said. A Scottish court in 2001 not changed and 2015 was the last time we he was released early from HMP Thameside to retain the existing provision,” said Education complex legislative web is likely to take many sentenced the Libyan to 27 years in jail over the were able to perform or work with him,” the in south-east London as a result of a court Minister Nick Gibb. years. attack on Pan Am flight 103. group said on its website. incorrectly recording his sentence.

Trudeau visits Ireland LibDems may back govt on case-by-case basis, says MP

Guardian News and Media against the main government London bill. Farron’s likely replacement Vince Cable, the only declared iberal Democrat MPs will candidate in the leadership elec- consider supporting the tion, has likened going into coa- Lgovernment on key is- lition with May as “mating with sues such as housing and mental a praying mantis”. However, the health, but sources said the party former business secretary also would agree no formal deal af- suggested the party could decide ter Theresa May’s chief of staff , to support some legislation, out- Gavin Barwell, contacted his side of a formal deal. counterpart in Tim Farron’s of- “We’ve made a virtue that fi ce. we’re not going to coalition; we’re Last week, Barwell, the former not propping up this govern- MP for Croydon Central, con- ment,” he told the Guardian last tacted the LibDems to discuss week. “And after our experience, A woman takes a selfie with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he visits the Famine Sculptures at Custom House Quay, in Dublin, yesterday. Later at a press circumstances where the party who can blame us? conference with Ireland Premier Leo Varadkar, Trudeau said Britain and the US are “turning inward.”. Trudeau added there were “clear disagreements” with the US ahead of might back the government, but “I don’t know, in two years’ the G20 summit this week. yesterday LibDem sources played time the topography might have down the signifi cance of the changed, but our position is very meeting. clear and for the foreseeable fu- One LibDem MP described the ture that’s where we are. There’s meeting between Barwell and a diff erence between issue-by- Farron’s chief of staff , Ben Wil- issue collaboration and propping liams, as “a chat in the corridor, up a government, and we’ve made not a formal meeting” and said that distinction very clear.” the party would take each issue Mental health legislation pro- on a case-by-case basis if it fi tted posed in the Queen’s speech is Sinn Fein blames May as with their own programme. the most likely area of agree- “For us to sign up to aspects of ment between the two parties. the Tory’s programme for gov- The government has promised to ernment, there would have to be legislate to reform mental health one in the fi rst place and it looks provision, one of the priorities of pretty thin at the moment,” the the LibDem health spokesman, MP said. Norman Lamb, both in coalition N Ireland talks stall again “If there are liberal policies she as a junior health minister and as wants to pursue on areas we are an opposition spokesman. Reuters pro-British Democratic Union- tember. “Obviously we are dis- May. She has set back decades The DUP and Sinn Fein alike prioritising, such as funding for The LibDem manifesto pro- Belfast/London ist Party (DUP) have been in appointed that we don’t have of work that has been done here have been buoyed by historic the NHS, mental health, hous- posed a 1p income tax rise, with talks since a March election to an agreement and indeed we’ve throughout the years,” said Sinn electoral breakthroughs in re- ing, then yes, we’re up for talking £1bn of the additional income form a new power-sharing gov- been disappointed for quite some Fein’s Northern Ireland leader, cent months — Sinn Fein in re- about that. But it’s diffi cult to see raised ringfenced for improving he leaders of Northern ernment. time that we haven’t been able to Michelle O’Neill. gional elections in March and how we could get any consensus mental health services. The party Ireland’s two main politi- Each has blamed the other for reach an agreement,” DUP leader Commentators see little pros- the DUP in Britain’s general on Brexit and I suspect they know also backs keeping the ban on Tcal parties yesterday said missing repeated deadlines — Arlene Foster told reporters. pect of agreement during the election last month — and both that as well. We are not running grammar schools and fox hunt- talks on a new power-sharing most recently last Thursday. “However we are going to July marching season, when are reluctant to be seen to give around trying to do deals.” ing, proposals in the Conserva- executive in the British province The British government, keep working at it over the sum- pro-British unionists celebrate ground to their rivals. Farron has repeatedly insisted tive manifesto already ditched had broken down and no agree- which is jointly overseeing the mer and hopefully we can come the 1690 victory by Protestant “The Sinn Fein electorate will there will be “no pacts, no deals by ministers, as well as ending ment was expected in the near talks alongside Ireland’s govern- to an agreement later on in the King William of Orange over his not consent to be governed by and no coalitions” with either of the public sector pay cap, which future. ment, warned on Monday that it year.” Catholic rival at the Battle of the DUP on DUP terms,” Sinn Fein the parties, having seen the Lib- is under furious discussion in Northern Ireland’s political would have to step in to manage Sinn Fein blamed the impasse Boyne. leader Gerry Adams said. Dems burned by their previous Downing Street and the Treasury. scene has been in crisis since the public spending in the province, on Prime Minister Theresa May, Britain’s Northern Ireland The Irish and British govern- experience in coalition with the Were May to secure backing collapse in January of the coa- and might call new elections un- who struck a separate deal last minister, James Brokenshire, ments have warned that failing Conservatives. from the LibDems for any future lition mandated under a 1998 less a deal was reached soon. week with the DUP to support signalled he would be prepared to forge a deal would have “pro- Instead, the party has said legislation, the party’s 12 MPs peace deal that ended three Both parties yesterday said her minority government in the to wait for a deal. He said the found and serious” implications it will consider each propos- would give her a healthier parlia- decades of sectarian Protes- that no deal had been agreed and parliament — something they government wanted to remain and limit Northern Ireland’s in- al individually, so far back- mentary majority than the Demo- tant-Catholic violence in which that progress was not expected say has compromised the gov- engaged in the talks, and that the fl uence in Britain’s negotiations ing Labour amendments to the cratic Unionists party, with whom 3,600 died. in the near future. ernment’s neutrality. overriding priority was to reach to leave the European Union, Queen’s speech on remaining she has a supply and confi dence The Irish Catholic national- A source in Sinn Fein said a “What this constitutes is a an agreement on restoring the although no one is forecasting a in the single market and voting agreement. The DUP has 10 MPs. ist Sinn Fein and the Protestant deal was unlikely before Sep- monumental failure on behalf of executive. return to serious violence. Tory MP faces trial over Big Ben repairs Four out of 10 pupils fail to pass Sats exams election fraud charges Guardian News and Media writing and maths and are a tes- London tament to the hard work of teach- ers and pupils across England. Reuters MacKinlay appeared in London’s of UK Independence Party (Ukip), “Thanks to their commit- London Westminster Magistrates Court into second by 2,812 votes. our out of 10 primary ment and our new knowledge- yesterday alongside his election He then retained the seat in school pupils failed to reach rich curriculum, thousands more agent Nathan Gray, 28, and Mar- June with an increased majority of Fthe government’s expected children will arrive at secondary lawmaker from Prime ion Little, 62, a campaign direc- more than 6,000 votes as support standard in their end of primary school having mastered the fun- Minister Theresa May’s tor from the Conservatives’ head for Ukip collapsed with Farage, school tests this summer, despite damentals of reading, writing and Aminority ruling Conserva- offi ce who both also face charges who played a key role in securing a marked improvement on last maths, giving them the best start tive Party, will face trial after he over the expense returns. Britain’s vote to leave the Europe- years’ results, according to offi - in life.” yesterday denied making false All said they would plead not an Union last year, no longer the cial fi gures. There was signifi cant improve- declarations over his spending in guilty when the charges were party’s candidate. It is the second year of the ment in reading standards, with a 2015 election. read to them and they will now In May, prosecutors ruled out new, tougher key stage 2 tests for 71% of pupils reaching the ex- Craig MacKinlay, 50, who beat go on trial at London’s Southwark bringing more widespread crimi- year-six pupils, and government pected standard compared with leading Brexit fi gure Nigel Farage Crown Court. Their next hear- nal charges over allegations of ex- fi gures reveal a signifi cant rise in 66% last year. in the parliamentary election ing set for August 1 and they were penses fraud by the Conservatives attainment on last year’s results There was also an improve- for South Thanet in southeast- granted unconditional bail. during the 2015 campaign. among 10- and 11-year-olds who ment in results for the contro- ern England in 2015, is accused The case centres on accusa- The Crown Prosecution Service sat their tests in May. versial grammar punctuation of making false claims about his tions that MacKinlay should have had considered information from According to raw national data, and spelling tests, up from 73% spending during the campaign. included costs on his expenses 14 police forces across the coun- 61% of pupils met the required last year to 77%, and 76% of pu- Despite the ongoing case return relating to activists on try about whether the party had target in reading, writing, math- pils met the expected standard in against him, he won the seat again the Conservatives’ “Battle Bus” broken spending limits, which are ematics and grammar compared writing this summer, compared in this year’s June election. which was sent to campaign in governed by tight, complex rules, with 53% last year. The improve- with 74% last year. May’s Conservatives lost their closely-contested seats. but decided there was insuffi cient ment in results can be attributed Despite improved results, the majority in that ballot and remain MacKinlay reported a total evidence to charge any individuals. to teachers’ increasing familiar- tests remain controversial with in power only through an agree- spend of £14,837.77 against a The Electoral Commission, the ity with the curriculum and the teachers, unions and parents, who ment with 10 Northern Ireland maximum limit of £15,016.38 but independent election watchdog, demands of the new assessments. are concerned about the pressure MPs. If MacKinlay were to be prosecutors say other expenses in March fi ned the Conservatives Welcoming the results, the of primary assessment on young found guilty, he could be jailed were deliberately omitted. a record £70,000 for breaking Construction work is carried out on the Elizabeth Tower, School Standards Minister, Nick children and the consequences for up to a year and there would The 2015 election saw MacKin- rules by incorrectly reporting its commonly known as Big Ben, in London, yesterday. Gibb, said: “The results show for schools that are judged by the be pressure for a by-election. lay beat Farage, the former head spending. sustained progress in reading, test results. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 11 BRITAIN Most Grenfell residents still in hotels three weeks after fi re

Guardian News and Media matised to move into high-rise tlement. “The government gave sington). Some people really don’t ing off ered were made clear from intentionally homeless. As soon as those people who have lost their London accommodation, and some have undertakings about what type of want to go back and live in any type the beginning.” Vasey said lack of we complained, that was retracted. homes will be off ered housing by been warned they will be making housing would be provided and of tower block. clear communication was a serious People should not have to be going next Wednesday in the local area themselves intentionally home- some are quite positive,” Vasey “My understanding is that problem. “Promises made by the through this additional stress on either in Kensington and Chelsea hree weeks after the Gren- less if they do not accept housing said. “Now it’s a matter of trying to homes in this development have government don’t seem to be fi l- top of everything else.” or in a neighbouring borough.” fell Tower fi re, nearly all the off ers, according to the director of get it implemented. been off ered (for) one year rent-free tering down to the housing offi cers Immediately after the fi re, May, Vasey, whose law centre has pro- Tresidents evacuated from North Kensington Law Centre. “No one has moved into the and that it will be at a social rent dealing with people. pledged that the survivors would vided free advice to more than 150 the west London estate remain Victoria Vasey said hundreds of Kensington high street (private from then on. But will that be the “We had a client who was told be rehoused within three weeks at people since the fi re, said: “There in hotels despite Theresa May’s residents who had lost their homes development). A lot of people same cost as before? That has not that if they didn’t take the ac- the latest. Last week the Housing are some people who want to get promises to fi nd them permanent were still in temporary hotels and might not want to go there. It’s too been clarifi ed. It would be so much commodation off ered, which they Minister, Alok Sharma, told the away from the area, because they accommodation. did not have adequate informa- far away, they have schools and more workable and less stressful if considered to be inappropriate, BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire radio don’t want a daily reminder (of the Many survivors are too trau- tion about the terms of their reset- community here (in North Ken- the terms of the fl ats they are be- they would be making themselves show: “We are guaranteeing that tragedy) by seeing the tower.”

Grenfell fi rm being Govt defends probed for fraud appointment London Evening Standard London

he contractor responsible for fi re alarms at Grenfell TTower is being investigated of ex-judge as by fraud squad police after accu- sations that it installed defective safety equipment in hundreds of London properties, the Standard revealed yesterday. Housing services company Lakehouse is at the centre of a inquiry chair fraud inquiry following a three- year investigation by police and Guardian News and Media should be a judge-led inquiry into respected for his command of Hackney council. It relates to a London the disaster, and that the residents detail in a string of complex com- £184mn government grant to are consulted before the terms of mercial cases, has been greeted renovate council properties and reference are decided.” with scepticism by Grenfell sur- install fi re and smoke alarms and he government has de- Last week Moore-Bick sug- vivors. emergency lighting. fended the appointment of gested a narrow remit had already Dent Coad said: “How anybody The company was identifi ed Ta retired appeal court judge been determined by the govern- like that could have any empathy by the Standard last week as the to lead the inquiry into the Gren- ment. “I’ve been asked to under- for what these people have been contractor responsible for testing fell Tower fi re and hinted that his take this inquiry on the basis that through I just don’t understand. and maintaining the fi re alarms remit could be widened, after he it would be pretty well limited to We need somebody we can trust at Grenfell Tower, in North Ken- faced calls to resign from two La- the problems surrounding the there. A technocrat is maybe not sington. Some survivors said these bour MPs. start of the fi re and its rapid de- really what we need right now. failed to go off in the blaze last Five days after the appoint- velopment, in order to make rec- Yes, we need somebody who can month. ment of Sir Martin Moore-Bick ommendations as to how this sort do the detail, but we need some- Ten people have been arrested as head of the inquiry, the MP for of thing can be prevented in the body who can actually understand after Hackney council received Kensington, Emma Dent Coad, future,” he said last Thursday. He human beings and what they have allegations of “fraud and over- and the new shadow fi re minister, added: “I’m well aware that resi- been through.” charging” from whistleblowers. Chris Williamson, called for him dents want a much broader inves- Williamson, who was ap- Further investigation revealed that to resign, citing scepticism about tigation.” pointed as shadow fi re minister some of the fi re safety work was him from survivors and frustra- Lidington criticised politicians on Monday, also called for Moore- “defective, including incorrectly tion at the apparently narrow re- who had questioned Moore-Bick’s Bick to step aside. He told BBC installed alarms and emergency mit of the inquiry. appointment. “As lord chancellor, Radio Derby: “It important that lighting systems”. The justice secretary and lord I am clear that (judges’) motives we have a chair of the inquiry who Lakehouse denies any wrong- chancellor, David Lidington, de- and integrity should always be does have the confi dence of the doing. fended Moore-Bick’s appoint- respected and not impugned by community at the centre of this The council has now written ment and insisted he would con- politicians. I have complete confi - tragedy.” to 166 town hall chief executives sult residents before agreeing the dence that Sir Martin Moore-Bick Williamson questioned some of warning them to check work done scope of the inquiry. will lead the inquiry into this trag- Moore-Bick’s judgments, citing by Lakehouse and subcontractor After meeting residents and edy with impartiality and with a his decision to allow Westmin- Polyteck in case more homes could survivors, Moore-Bick said he determination to get to the truth ster council to rehouse a family 50 be at risk. The letter says council feared the inquiry would be too and see justice done.” miles away in Milton Keynes. bosses “immediately notifi ed the narrow to satisfy the community’s Earlier, Dent Coad, a former He added: “I know that the police” after discovering the work desire for a wide-ranging inves- Kensington and Chelsea opposi- survivors are unhappy about the was sub-standard. It says: “At all tigation into political neglect of tion councillor who was elected choice of Sir Martin Moore-Bick times, throughout this, our fo- housing. as MP for the Kensington par- as the chair. They are also incred- cus has been on the safety of our But Lidington said the terms of liamentary seat last month, said ibly unhappy, as I am, about the residents. We have no evidence the inquiry had yet to be fi xed and Moore-Bick would not be able to terms of reference for the inquiry, to suggest that work carried out Moore-Bick would consult resi- win the trust of a community that which is very restricted to sim- on contracts to other councils, by dents before his remit was set. felt betrayed. ply looking at the causes (of the Lakehouse, or its subcontractor “The public inquiry into the Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s To- fi re) and why it spread so quickly. Polyteck, was in any way at fault, Grenfell Tower disaster has un- day programme, she said: “I’ve What we need is a much wider in- so do not wish to cause undue derstandably been the subject of been speaking to hundreds of quiry looking at all the issues and alarm. much commentary. People have people who have been aff ected … some of the political decisions “However, we believe that as every right to feel passionate they need somebody they can talk that were taken in order to enable social landlords, after the Grenfell about this. The community – and to, somebody with a bit of a hu- us to learn those lessons.” Tower tragedy we must share any the whole country – want answers man face … I don’t think he should Jolyon Maugham, a lawyer ad- information with each other that following such a horrifi c tragedy,” do it.” vising many of the survivors, has could potentially help to keep our The blacked shell of Grenfell Tower is visible from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in he said. The appointment of Moore- urged them to boycott the inquiry residents safer.” London yesterday. “That is why it is right that there Bick, a former appeal court judge because its remit is too narrow. Opposing austerity puts Warehouse blaze Birmingham teen held after fatal stabbing

Britain at risk: Cameron Agencies ment and was taken to hospital in a London critical condition.” Local councillor Des Flood said London Evening Standard “weary” of austerity, but that Institute for Fiscal Studies, said there was a knife-crime epidemic London “we must hold our nerve” and “political discipline seems to 16-year-old boy has been in Birmingham. He said: “I am not simply borrow more. have fallen apart” in the Cabi- arrested on suspicion of shocked that another major in- Cameron took up the theme net. Amurder after a fatal stab- cident has come to the streets of avid Cameron yesterday by saying that borrowing would New demands for higher bing in Birmingham. Bartley Green, especially so soon waded into the Cabinet leave Britain more exposed to spending added to the pres- West Midlands police said the after the shootings a number of Dbattle over public sec- economic shocks. sures on Hammond yesterday victim, who is understood to be 22, months ago. Residents are ex- tor pay by attacking as “selfi sh” “The opponents of so-called as councils warned they faced a died in hospital after being injured tremely disturbed and upset about politicians who put the nation’s austerity couch their arguments £5.8bn funding gap by the end of in the Bartley Green area late on this recent murder.” fi nances at risk in their attempts in a way that make them sound the decade. Monday. This was the second stabbing in to appear “generous and com- generous and compassionate,” Local Government Associa- A cordon is in place while fo- the area on the same night. West passionate”. he told the Asia Leadership tion chairman Lord Porter said rensic experts examine the scene Midlands ambulance service con- The former prime minister Conference. that town halls should be at the in Woodgate Gardens. Offi cers are fi rmed it was called to a second used a speech in Seoul, South “They seek to paint the sup- “front of the queue” if the era of trawling CCTV of the surrounding stabbing in nearby Allwood Gar- Korea, to say that it was too soon porters of sound fi nances as austerity was ending. area to establish what happened. dens minutes after they attended “to let spending and borrowing selfi sh or uncaring. The exact Labour MP Frank Field warned Detective inspector Caroline the fatal stabbing in Woodgate rip” because of the danger of fu- reverse is true. Giving up on that the new universal credit Corfi eld said: “We are at the very Gardens. ture economic shocks. sound fi nances isn’t being gen- system would have a “Scrooge early stages of this investigation Flood said: “It is terrible that His intervention came after a erous, it’s being selfi sh: spend- eff ect” at Christmas. and are trying to piece together the another family have been hit with string of senior Tories, includ- ing money today that you may This weekend, Gove said tax- exact details of what took place.” this news and now have to deal ing Boris Johnson and Michael need tomorrow.” payers would not foot the bill for A West Midlands ambulance with this terrible and shocking Gove, urged the easing of the 1% Former chancellor Lord Law- ending the public sector pay cap, service spokesman said: “We were loss of life. Nothing warrants the pay cap on millions of nurses, son said it was “ludicrous” for which appeared to contradict called at 10.43pm to Woodgate loss of a life … knife crime appears emergency workers and mem- ministers to undermine the Hammond. Gardens. We were called to re- to be an epidemic in the south of bers of the armed forces. government’s keystone policy Johnson backed pay rises pro- ports of a patient who had been our city. Chancellor Philip Hammond in public. Former work and pen- viding they were done in a “re- attacked. We arrived on the scene “The police appear to be be- used a speech to business lead- sions secretary Stephen Crabb sponsible way”. Justine Green- and discovered a man in his 20s tween a rock and a hard place with ers on Monday night to call for suggested that Gove and John- ing, the education secretary, Smoke billows from a fire at the Desert Storm paintball who had suff ered a single stab regards to neighbourhood polic- a move to a “grown-up debate” son should quit if they wanted to wants an extra £1bn for school warehouse in Borough Road, St Helens, Merseyside. No wound to his chest. The patient ing, in trying to balance the priori- about how to pay for higher oppose the pay cap in public. funding to stave off a Tory rebel- casualties have been reported in the blaze. was severely injured as a result and ties of the bigger picture across the spending. He said the public was Paul Johnson, director of the lion. received emergency medical treat- city and local needs.” Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 EUROPE

ESPIONAGE ENVIRONMENT CORRUPTION HEALTH ELECTIONS Slovaks ‘lose’ 300,000 Green activists, rangers Germany’s Crime Off ice French at 10 euros a pack, Catalonia to split within 48 rounds of ammo face off over ancient forest says it has Panama Papers may finally think twice hours of secession vote

A total of 300,000 rounds of live ammunition Several hundred environmental activists and Germany’s Federal Crime Off ice (BKA) said The cost of lighting up at a French sidewalk Catalonia will declare independence from Spain have disappeared from the Slovak army’s forest rangers yesterday held rival protests in yesterday it had obtained a copy of the leaked cafe may finally dissuade even the most ardent within 48 hours if voters back secession in an warehouses, the news agency TASR reported southern Poland over large-scale logging in data known as the Panama Papers that last year smoker, if Prime Minister Edouard Phillippe October referendum, according to a draft bill yesterday. The final tally was determined the ancient Bialowieza forest, a Unesco world revealed how off shore firms are used to stash the gets his way. With 80,000 tobacco-related proposed by secessionist parties yesterday, through an inventory conducted after the loss of heritage site that includes some of Europe’s wealth of the world’s rich and powerful. Some deaths in France each year, “doing nothing though it remains unclear whether the vote a large quantity of hand and anti-tank grenades last primeval woodland. The demonstrations 11.5mn documents from the Panamanian law is not an option,” Philippe said yesterday, will go ahead. Spain’s Constitutional Court and was confirmed in April. Following the final report took place in the city of Krakow on the sidelines firm Mossack Fonseca were leaked to a German announcing a plan to raise the price of a packet the conservative government in Madrid have from the Defence Ministry, President Andrej of the annual meeting of Unesco’s World newspaper in 2016 and reports were published of cigarettes to 10 euros ($11.3) from the current blocked previous secessionist challenges and Kiska held an emergency meeting yesterday Heritage Committee, which is set to discuss the in co-operation with the US-based International seven euros. Tobacco “is the leading cause of the government has said it will block any further with Defence Minister Peter Gajdos and Chief of Bialowieza controversy today. Bialowieza boasts Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). preventable death, and daily use is growing attempt to hold a referendum. According to the General Staff Milan Maxim. “In the army, order unique plant and animal life — including the “These data are being looked into and evaluated among adolescents,” the premier said in a bill, written jointly by the parties which favour must prevail,” TASR quoted Kiska as saying. The continent’s largest mammal, the European bison with Hesse state’s tax authorities to pursue speech to parliament. Philippe did not give a secession, the referendum will pose a binary president added that the guilty parties must be — as well as one of the largest surviving parts of criminal and fiscal off ences,” the BKA said in a timeline for the price hike, which he said would question asking voters whether they want found and the whereabouts of the munitions the primeval forest that covered the European joint statement with Hesse’s finance ministry and be accompanied by “a merciless fight against Catalonia, a wealthy region in northeastern must be determined. plain 10,000 years ago. the public prosecutor’s off ice in Frankfurt. traff ickers who undermine this policy.” Spain, to become an independent nation. Austrians to Frozen dessert stop migrants on the border Austria is attempting to pre-empt a migration at the Brenner Pass, and Italian and Austrian police crisis were co-operating perfectly. “I am frankly surprised by the comments” from Doskozil, Minniti said in a statement. “This is an Reuters unjustifi ed and unprecedented initiative which, if Vienna not immediately corrected, will inevitably create repercussions on security co-operation.” An Austrian defence ministry spokesman said ustria is planning to impose border con- controls would include Brenner and that four ar- trols and possibly deploy troops to cut the moured vehicles had already been deployed to the Anumber of migrants crossing from Italy, de- area to block roads, with 750 troops poised to be Polar bear Milana dives for an ice cake at the zoo in Hanover, northern Germany. fence offi cials said, drawing a warning from Rome brought in within 72 hours to deal with emergencies. and reigniting a row over Europe’s handling of the “These are not battle tanks. These are armoured refugee crisis. vehicles without weapons which could block roads. Tensions between European Union countries These were already used during the refugee cri- over how to share the burden of migrants fl ared in sis of 2015/16 at the Spielfeld border crossing (with 2015 when hundreds of thousands, many fl eeing Slovenia),” he said. wars in Africa and the Middle East, began arriving Austria co-ordinated with nearby Balkan coun- in EU territory, mainly via Greece, and headed for tries last year to eff ectively close what was then Hundreds of militants got Germany, Austria and other nearby affl uent states. the main route into Europe for migrants. The move Austria took in more than 1% of its population in drew complaints at the time that it was undermin- asylum seekers at the time, which helped increase ing the EU’s principle of free movement, though support for the far-right Freedom Party. Vienna says it did what it had to do to safeguard its Keen to avoid another infl ux, it said it would in- borders. in with migrants: Germany troduce controls at the busy Brenner Pass border Italy, alongside other states on the bloc’s fringes, crossing with Italy if one materialised there. has complained it is now bearing the brunt and the That has not yet happened but Italy recently cost of the migrant crisis. Reuters pressions of concern from the general public lence-prone and terrorist spectrum...” asked other EU countries to help it cope with a It said last year that any plans to introduce con- Berlin about growing risks. The report said hundreds of “jihadists” surge in migrants reaching its southern Mediterra- trols at the Brenner Pass, a major road and rail link “Islamist terrorism is the biggest chal- had entered the country among the over nean shores from Africa, raising concern in Austria between northern and southern Europe, would lenge facing the BfV and we see it as one of 1mn migrants who had come into Germany that many will soon show up at its border with Italy. break EU law. ermany should brace for further at- the biggest threats facing the internal secu- over the past two years. That is a political hot potato in Austria, where a Doskozil said the EU was not doing enough to tacks given growing numbers of po- rity of Germany,” he said. Altogether, security offi cials were keeping parliamentary election is scheduled in October with stem the migrant fl ow. “The situation should stir all Gtential Islamist militants, top securi- The agency’s annual report for 2016 said tabs on some 680 potential Islamist threats, immigration shaping up as a central issue. of us into action,” he told ORF radio. ty offi cials warned yesterday, vowing to step there were 24,400 Islamists in Germany, most of whom were infl uenced by Salafi st Austrian Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil If the EU does not manage to jointly fi nd solu- up eff orts to prosecute, convict and deport including around 9,700 Salafi sts, and the ideology, Interior Minister Thomas de Mai- told the mass-circulation Kronen Zeitung in an in- tions, he added, “national measures will be neces- suspects. number of Salafi sts had increased to 10,100 ziere said. terview published yesterday that he expected re- sary”. Germany was hit by fi ve Islamist attacks this year. He said Germany had dramatically strictions would be introduced along the Alpine Doskozil’s spokesman said there was no concrete in 2016, including a December attack on a The total also includes some 10,000 stepped up its eff orts to combat Islamistic boundary with Italy “very soon”. timetable for the new controls on the Italian border. Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 peo- members of the Turkish Islamist Milliu militancy, with a record number of arrests, Other Austrian offi cials, including Interior Min- “But we see how the situation in Italy is becoming ple, while an additional seven attacks failed Gorus movement, the report showed. prosecutions and deportations seen over the ister Wolfgang Sobotka, who oversees crossings like more acute and we have to be prepared to avoid a or were thwarted, Hans-Georg Maassen, The total number of suspected Islamists past year. Brenner, said there was currently no reason to in- situation comparable to summer 2015.” president of Germany’s BfV domestic intel- marks a drop from the year earlier, but the Maassen said an estimated 930 people troduce controls and Austria remained vigilant, a European Commission Vice President Frans ligence agency, told reporters. report said that did not mean the threat had had left Germany to fi ght with Islamic State stance Vienna has repeated for the past year. Timmermans told a news conference in Strasbourg “We must expect further attacks by in- diminished. in Syria or Iraq, of whom about 20% were Echoing his counterpart, Italian Interior Minis- that Austria had not notifi ed the commission of any dividuals or terror groups,” Maassen said, “In fact the opposite is the case,” the re- women. An estimated 145 of the total people ter Marco Minniti said there was “no emergency” extra border protection plans. citing growing evidence and over 1,000 ex- port said, citing a shift towards “a more vio- had since died, he said.

Juncker tells EU parliament: You are ridiculous France ‘dancing on debt volcano’ Reuters “You are ridiculous,” the European Merkel, diffi cult as that is to imagine, Strasbourg Commission president told the gather- or Mr Macron...we would have a full ing called to listen to a speech by Malta’s house,” Juncker said, referring to the AFP Philippe, who heads a government new national service for young people Joseph Muscat, in a blunt public rebuke leaders of Germany and France. Paris drawn from the centre, left and right of and making dental and eye care free on U chief executive Jean-Claude of another EU institution. Parliament president Antonio Tajani the spectrum, also announced “a grand the health system. Juncker called European lawmakers “The fact that there’s about 30 mem- did not address the low attendance, investment plan” worth 50bn euros Other measures including raising the E“ridiculous” yesterday for failing bers of parliament present in this de- but told Juncker himself to take a more rench Prime Minister Edouard ($56.7bn) in areas including the envi- price of cigarettes progressively to 10 to turn up to an address by Malta’s prime bate only really illustrates the fact that respectful tone. “You may criticise the Philippe announced plans yester- ronment, health, agriculture and trans- euros from their current level of 7 euros minister, saying they should show more parliament is not serious,” he said. “The parliament, yes, but the Commission Fday to tame public spending and port. to fi ght smoking-related diseases, the respect for smaller members of the bloc. European Parliament is ridiculous, very does not control the parliament, it’s bring down the country’s “intolerable” Stressing the importance of “invest- biggest cause of preventable deaths in Juncker, himself from the small Grand ridiculous.” the parliament that should be control- public debt, warning the country was ing in the sectors of the future”, Philippe France. Duchy of Luxembourg, was visibly an- Juncker said Malta, the EU’s small- ling the Commission,” he said, to scat- “dancing on a volcano”. told parliament that the package would Macron, France’s youngest president noyed as he watched the proceedings in est country, which has just completed tered applause. Juncker later apologised France’s 2.147tn-euro debt makes the also focus on developing skills. at just 39, gave a state of the union ad- the near empty parliamentary chamber a stint running the bloc’s presidency, to Tajani, a parliamentary spokesman eurozone’s second-biggest economy “We are dancing on a volcano that is dress to both houses of parliament on in Strasbourg. deserved better. “If Mr Muscat was Mrs said. vulnerable to speculation, he said in his rumbling ever louder,” Philippe told the Monday, a novelty which he intends to fi rst general policy speech to parliament. newly elected National Assembly. turn into an annual event to present his “We are dancing on a volcano that “France cannot remain the champion vision for the country. is rumbling ever louder,” he said, an- both of public spending and taxes,” he He said he was not aiming for mere nouncing plans to wean the French off said. reforms but a “transformation” of the their “addiction” to public spending. Almost all of the measures confi rmed political system and the economy. He Philippe said centrist President Em- election promises from 39-year-old faced mixed reviews for his inaugural manuel Macron’s government would centrist President Emmanuel Macron address. aim to bring down public spending as a who was elected France’s youngest ever The French press noted his determi- percentage of GDP by three points from president in May after promising to nation to restore the prestige of the of- 56% currently — one of Europe’s high- modernise the country. fi ce of the all-powerful presidency and est levels. Philippe has already outlined one of said he appeared keen to stay above the Philippe said the savings would be the government’s biggest economic re- political fray. achieved by controlling the public sec- forms: an overhaul of France’s rigid la- “Macron is leaving the diffi cult work tor wage bill, scrapping all tax loopholes bour law which will enable companies to to Philippe,” wrote commentator Paul- and adopting a more results-driven negotiate working terms and conditions Henri du Limbert in the right-leaning approach to spending in areas such as with their employees. The measure faces Le Figaro newspaper. housing and professional training. resistance from leftist opponents. The But Macron’s style — he has used the He also pledged to slash corporate powerful CGT trade union has already former royal palace in Versailles twice taxes to make France more attractive to called for street protests and strikes in since taking offi ce and has given only investors. September. one media interview — has also seen him “France cannot remain the champion The government will face little diffi - criticised by some for being aloof, mo- both of public spending and taxes,” the culty in passing legislation in the lower narchical or even “pharaonic”. centrist premier said. house of parliament where candidates Yesterday, he visited a military base “Businesses must want to set up and from Macron’s new Republic on the in the northwest of the country, where develop on our territory rather than Move (REM) party won more than 300 he embarked for a four-hour trip on the elsewhere,” he told lawmakers, an- out of 577 seats in last month’s election. nuclear submarine “The Terrible”. nouncing a progressive lowering of the The upper-house Senate, where Macron also promised in his speech corporation tax rate from 33.3% to 25% rightwing Republicans hold a majority, on Monday to slash by a third the by 2022. will be trickier. number of MPs in the lower and upper He also reiterated the government’s Philippe said Tuesday that the gov- houses, telling lawmakers he would call ambition of bringing the defi cit within ernment would also honour other cam- a referendum if they do not agree to the an EU limit of 3% of GDP this year. paign pledges including introducing a measure. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 13 INDIA

OPINION CLAIM APPOINTMENT POLITICS HEALTH Govt not serious about VHP alleges plot to malign A K Joti named next chief Decision on R K Nagar Kerala reports highest China incursions: Congress ‘cow vigilantes’ image election commissioner bypoll soon: CEC number of dengue cases

The Congress yesterday slammed the government Calling the recent protests against lynching “a Election commissioner Achal Kumar Joti has been The Election Commission will soon decide Over 18,700 cases of dengue have been and said it was not serious about Chinese conspiracy by a section of society” to malign the appointed the next chief election commissioner, on holding the by-election to the R K Nagar reported in the country this year, with the health incursions. “On one hand, PM Modi goes on foreign image of “gau rakshaks” (cow vigilantes), the the law ministry said yesterday. Joti will assume assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu which was ministry attributing early onset of monsoon as trips, and on the other we have seen incursions Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) yesterday demanded off ice on July 6, the day the incumbent Nasim cancelled on complaints of bribing of voters one of the factors for spurt in cases ahead of from the Chinese side, and our government is not a central law for cow protection. Addressing a press Zaidi demits off ice. Joti, a 1975-batch former Indian in April, CEC Nasim Zaidi said yesterday. The the vector-borne disease season. The maximum serious about it,” said Congress spokesperson conference in New Delhi, VHP general secretary Administrative Service (IAS) off icer of the Gujarat commission, in consultation with the Tamil number of cases have been reported in Kerala Ajay Maken. “In reply to incursion, our government Surendra Jain said: “Some placard-carrying groups cadre, will have a short tenure of only about six Nadu chief electoral off icer (CEO), was assessing with 9,104 followed by Tamil Nadu with 4,174 says it is transgression. When you yourself are have been trying to malign our image. They are months since he is scheduled to retire in January the prevailing situation and looking at how it till July 2. On Friday, Union Health Minister J P downgrading the Chinese incursion, then how will the same people who sympathised with Yakub 2018 on attaining the age of 65. Joti joined the can devise a more eff ective strategy against Nadda held a review meet on preparedness for you fight,” Maken said. “They have to understand Memon, demanded proof of ‘surgical strike’, stood election commission on May 13, 2015. Earlier, he bribing of voters, pending legislation. “I think vector-borne diseases, which was attended by these are Chinese incursions and our government behind Kanhaiya Kumar and supported militants.” served as the Gujarat chief secretary under the that assessment will be completed soon and the health secretary C K Mishra, director general has to take aggressive steps diplomatically. But The campaign against the VHP was apparently then chief minister Narendra Modi. The next in line commission will take a call,” Zaidi said. The R K of ICMR Soumya Swaminathan, senior off icials our government is not accepting it as an incursion, sponsored by the meat exporters’ lobby, who were of succession to the top post in the poll panel is Nagar seat had fallen vacant after the death of of the National Vector Borne Disease Control they call it transgression,” he added. concerned over business losses, Jain said. Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat. chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Programme (NVBDCP) and other institutions.

Top court to examine India, Israel opening of temple vault vow to boost IANS New Delhi

he Supreme Court yes- terday said it cannot Tcontinue to monitor the ties as PM’s administration of Thiruvanan- thapuram’s Shree Padmanab- haswamy temple, but will ex- amine whether to open one of the vaults of temple, which is claimed to contain extraordinary treasure. visit begins A bench of chief justice J S Khehar and D Y Chandrachud IANS the welcome given by Netanyahu visit. “We have been waiting al- said the issue of whether to open Tel Aviv and his cabinet. most 70 years, in fact, because vault ‘B’ of the temple would be “I want to thank my friend your’s is a truly historic visit. It dealt with later. Prime Minister Netanyahu for is the fi rst time that an Indian Senior counsel Gopal Subrama- arendra Modi yesterday the invitation and receiving me prime minister is visiting Israel. nium, who is assisting the court became the fi rst-ever with so much warmth,” he said, We receive you with open arms. as an amicus curiae in the mat- NIndian prime minister adding this symbolises the cen- We love India. We admire your ter, argued that “Vault B should to step on Israeli soil, undertak- turies-old links between the two culture, your democracy and be opened immediately as it may ing a ‘ground breaking’ visit and societies. your commitment to progress.” have more than one chamber.” declaring co-operation in tack- India, he said, has maintained Recalling his fi rst meeting The court passed several di- ling terrorism, while his host a strong and sustained upswing with Modi three years ago at the rections relating to functioning Benjamin Netanyahu affi rmed in the ties after establishing full United Nations, Netanyahu said of the temple, security of the that they want to forge a historic relationship 25 years ago. both of them agreed to break- temple’s treasures and auditing partnership with India for which Modi said in India there were down the remaining walls be- of accounts among others, as even the sky is not the limit. 800mn people below the age of tween India and Israel. suggested by the amicus curiae. Israel rolled out a red carpet 35 years and they were the driv- “We shook hands and forged On the issue of the security of welcome as the Air India One ing force and propelling his vi- a historic relationship. We met the temple, the bench said that aircraft landed at Tel Aviv’s In- sion to transform India, its in- again in Paris and since then the current arrangements in place ternational Airport on a warm dustry, its economy, its way of we have spoken many times on should be “allowed to continue.” afternoon with Netanyahu set- doing business and its interface the phone. But I remember my On auditing the temple’s ac- ting aside protocol and receiving with the world. friend what you said in that fi rst counts, the bench said there Modi, who is making the visit Modi said the nation counts meeting. should be a government-ap- 25 years after India established Israel among its important part- “You said when it comes to In- pointed offi cer to see how the diplomatic ties with the Jewish ners. Both nations need to rely on dia-Israel relations, the sky is the expenses were incurred. nation, with a handshake and a science, technology, innovation limit. But actually my friend the The court said: “We request hug. and hard technical education sky isn’t the limit because today the Kerala government to nomi- Normally Israeli prime min- to overcome the developmental even our space programmes are nate a panel of three offi cials isters go to the airport to receive challenges common to both the working towards reaching even from the Indian Audit and Ac- only the US Presidents and a few countries, the premier said. greater heights,” he said. counts Service to oversee the au- western leaders. As Gujarat chief Modi stressed that alongside Netanyahu said the ties be- dited accounts of temple and to minister, Modi had visited Israel building a partnership for shared tween the talented and innovative submit quarterly reports to the on an earlier occasion. economic prosperity, India and people of both countries is natu- administrative committee for “My visit marks a path break- Israel are also co-operating to ral. “It is so natural that we can implementation of suggestions ing journey of engagement, a secure their societies against ask what took so long for them as given in the report.” journey that we are excited to common threats such as terror- to blossom. Well, it took a meet- The temple repair works undertake together for the good ism. “A progressive partnership ing of minds and hearts. It took a should be carried out by experts, of our people and societies. As in all these areas would share the commitment of our governments the bench ruled. The bench we march together a strong and scope of my conversation with we have that today,” he said. also appointed former Supreme resilient partnership with Is- the Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Netanyahu said in this visit Court judge justice K S Rad- rael will be my intent and focus,” he said. Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative hakrishnan as chairman of the Modi said in a brief speech after Modi said he was also keen meets his ‘Make with India’ pol- selection committee which was he was welcomed warmly by his to interact with the Indian di- icy. “We are setting up a $40mn constituted for temple works. host. aspora in Israel, including a large innovation fund as the seed for The court permitted the “It is my singular honour to number of Jews of Indian origin even greater co-operation on committee to employ the most be the fi rst prime minister to who have enriched both the so- technology between us,” he said. suitable individuals at the best undertake this ground breaking cieties. Hailing him as a great leader competitive prices for the work, visit to Israel,” Modi, clad in an In his welcome address, of India and a great world leader, subject to ratifi cation by the ad- Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) off -white bandhgala suit, said Netanyahu said Israel has been Netanyahu said, “Your visit to ministrative committee. visits the “Hall of Names” in the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem yesterday. in a brief speech to reciprocate waiting for a long time for this Israel is a testimony to that.”

Kashmir violence IAF copter goes missing Plan to turn Modi tea in Arunachal Pradesh stall into tourist site AFP One of six children, Modi, now Ahmedabad 66, is said to have spent much of IANS Sagalee following major land- ground in Itanagar yesterday, his childhood helping his father Itanagar slides in Papum Pare district in offi cials said. Damodardas Mulchand Modi Arunachal Pradesh. The chopper was to land at ow it is a rusting hulk who died in 1989. “We have not been able to a helipad at Raj Bhavan but in a small town railway As well as using his “chai wal- n Indian Air Force (IAF) locate the missing helicopter due to inclement weather was Nstation, but authori- lah’s son” roots during the 2014 helicopter with three despite a rescue team mak- forced to come down at the in- ties want the stall where Prime election campaign, Modi also Acrew members on board ing all-out eff orts to trace it,” stitute’s playground. Minister Narendra Modi sold tea held “discussions over tea” at has gone missing in Arunachal Arunachal police chief Sandeep “All people on board are with his father to become a glo- campaign stops to take ques- Pradesh’s Papum Pare district, Goel said. safe,” Goel said. “The weather bal tourist magnet. tions from the public. offi cials said. He revealed that rescue is turbulent in the northeast. The nationalist leader spoke District collector Alok Pan- Earlier yesterday, a Border teams of the Indo-Tibetan The whole state machinery is often during his election cam- dey said there are seven or Security Force (BSF) helicop- Border Police (ITBP) and the geared up to locating the IAF paign of his humble roots as a eight sites in Vadnagar, a town ter carrying Union Minister Arunachal Pradesh Police were chopper missing almost at “chai wallah’s son” and the au- of 25,000 people, which will be of State for Home Kiren Rijiju formed to trace the helicopter same time,” Rijiju tweeted. thorities plan a $15mn project developed under the tourism made an emergency landing at but the operation was called off In May, two pilots of the In- to spruce up those roots in his plan. a polytechnic institute play- due to bad weather. dian Air Force in a Sukhoi-30 hometown of Vadnagar. He said the culture and tour- ground in Itanagar, the capital Meanwhile, police offi cials fi ghter jet crashed near the As- “Looking into the historic im- ism ministry had given Rs1bn “to of Arunachal Pradesh. quoting eyewitnesses said the sam-Arunachal border. In 2015, portance of the stall, we have de- develop Vadnagar as a tourist at- The Advanced Light Heli- helicopter may have crashed at a Pawan Hans helicopter with cided to modernise it,” Culture traction”. copter (ALH) of the IAF went Hostalam between Borum and three people on board, includ- Minister Mahesh Sharma said as “The work has already begun missing around 3.47pm. It took Toru area in Papum Pare district. ing Tirap deputy commissioner he announced the project in the and most of it will be over by the off from Sagalee for Naharla- However, Goel said he had Kamlesh Joshi, crashed in a Gujarat town. end of September,” Pandey said gun heliport, a defence offi cial not received any such report. dense jungle. Joshi was killed in “We want to restore the tea without saying what would hap- said. “We suspended our search the crash. stall and develop it as a tourist pen to the stall. The helicopter lost commu- operations for the day due to In 2011, then Arunachal Kashmiri villagers walk near the debris of houses destroyed spot. This is being done to put He conceded that the railway nication with the Air Traffi c bad weather. We will resume Pradesh chief minister Dorjee during a gunfight between rebels and government Vadnagar on the world tourism station was in a “very dilapidat- Control (ATC) in Chabua, As- at daybreak on Wednesday,” he Khandu and four others died forces at Bahmnoo village in Pulwama, south of Srinagar map,” Sharma said in comments ed condition.” sam, minutes after taking off said. after their chopper crashed in a yesterday. Five homes were destroyed during the gunfight reported yesterday. Vadnagar’s Sarmishta Lake, a from Sagalee after fi nishing a Bad weather also forced a remote area of the state. in which three rebels were killed, and an army off icer and The tin sheet stall is currently clock tower, Buddhist excava- rescue operation, he added. BSF chopper carrying Rijiju to A few days later, another hel- one paramilitary off icer were injured, as well as dozens of unused and unloved on a Vadna- tion sites and the railway station The helicopter was on a sor- make an emergency landing at icopter crashed while landing protesters. gar railway station platform. will be renovated to keep tourists tie to rescue stranded people at a polytechnic institute play- in Tawang, killing 16 people. Most of it is covered with rust. interested, he said. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 INDIA

CONTROVERSY LEGAL EDUCATION SETBACK CRIME Parrikar mum on Shah Court urges extension of Mumbai University told Jet Airways off icial’s Man arrested as extortion meeting at Goa airport notes exchange scheme to declare delayed results bail plea rejected bid caught on tape

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday re- The Supreme Court yesterday asked the central Taking a serious note of delays in announc- The bail plea of a Jet Airways off icial who was A 31-year-old man has been arrested for threaten- fused to comment on the controversy surround- government and the Reserve Bank of India to ing the results of various examinations of the arrested on charges of grabbing municipal land ing a businessman and trying to extort Rs1mn, the ing a BJP meeting held by party president Amit consider, within two weeks, the option of grant- University of Mumbai, Governor C V Rao ordered in Ghaziabad was rejected by the chief judicial city police said yesterday. Sonu Khan, a resident Shah on Saturday at the Dabolim International ing more time to individuals having legitimate vice chancellor Sanjay Deshmukh to declare all magistrate’s (CJM) court in Ghaziabad yester- of Shaheed Nagar in Ghaziabad, had threatened Airport, which is operated from an Indian naval reason for not being able to deposit old Rs 500 pending results by July 31. In what was described day. The defence lawyer argued that since the Raja Khan, who owns an interior decoration busi- base. Asked to comment on the controversy, and Rs1,000 notes after these were demonetised. in academic circles as an unprecedented step, the accused possesses the legal sale deed papers ness in an east Delhi area, the police said. “Sonu which has resulted in a complaint filed with the The court asked solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, governor, who is chancellor of the university, also and the nature of crime is civil, he must be made phone calls to threaten Raja and demand Union Ministry for Civil Aviation against Shah and appearing for the central government, to take directed Deshmukh to submit a detailed strategy granted bail. However, the prosecution opposed Rs1mn as protection money from him. Raja the Goa unit of the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), instructions on the issue and inform the court. Ku- and roadmap for declaration of examinations and demanded the rejection of the bail since the initially thought the calls were a prank played by Parrikar said: “I do not want to comment on that.” mar sought time to get instructions for granting results on schedule. Additionally, Rao has asked applicant was found guilty of building and sublet- his friends. However, Sonu and his accomplices Goa airport director B C Negi has already said individuals an opportunity to deposit their money the additional chief secretary to depute an off icial ting the premises on the land whose ownership visited his off ice and threatened him at gunpoint,” that a probe would be ordered to find out how a on a case-by-case basis. The bench said there to monitor the progress in the university closely lies with the municipal corporation. Jet Airways an off icer said. “The crime was caught on CCTV party meeting was held at the airport, for which are people - like those in prison - who could not in real time and give a feedback to both, the state vice president, security, Avneet Singh Bedi was at Raja Khan’s off ice and Sonu Khan, was arrested permission no had been taken. deposit their currency notes before the deadline. government and the Chancellor’s off ice. arrested on Sunday. from Ghaziabad,” she added. Uproar as Floods submerge roads Netaji’s kin threatened by extortionists

IANS and in front of cameras. This is Kolkata nothing but her clever attempt to fool people and portray herself as honest in front of the public,” he est Bengal opposition alleged. leaders and dignitar- Echoing Sinha, state Congress Wies yesterday strongly president Adhir Chowdhury said condemned the threats against the Trinamool was synonymous Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s with the state’s syndicate culture. grandnephew and Trinamool “The Trinamool Congress Congress MP Sugata Bose by and syndicates are synonymous. members of a construction syn- Before the last assembly elec- dicate. tion, some of their party leader The opposition termed the themselves admitted that the ‘syndicate raj’ as a deep-root- party would not be able to func- ed problem of the society and tion if the syndicate rackets are blamed the ruling party for pat- stopped,” Chowdhury said. ronising the off enders. Referring to the brazen behav- The state’s opposition par- iour of the miscreants who dared ties unanimously accused the to threaten a ruling party MP at Trinamool of giving refuge to his residence, he said: “When Villagers use a boat to cross a flooded road at Asigarh village in Morigaon district in Assam yesterday such “miscreants and extortion- you allow goons to thrive under ists” under their party’s banner your party banner, this is what and claimed several ruling party happens. Now the genie is out of leaders were involved in it. the bottle.” Painter Shuvaprasanna Bhat- “The chief minister tacharya expressed shock at the scolds her ministers audacity of the extortionists who and vows to take action intruded into the house to de- against the syndicate in mand money and insulted prom- public. This is nothing inent personalities like Sugata but her attempts to fool Bose and his mother and former Governor has threatened, the public” MP Krishna Bose. “These people have no respect “It is shocking that such in- for eminent personalities in so- cidents are happening to de- ciety. How could they enter the cedents of a statesman like Netaji house of a statesman like Netaji? inside the chief minister’s con- Or harass an eminent professor stituency. A Trinamool MP and like Sugata Bose,” he exclaimed. insulted me, says Mamata a former parliamentarian of the Around 10-12 motor-cycle party reside there. This simply borne youths entered Bose’s IANS “The governor told me many his mercy. I have not come to insult, at one point I thought I said the police had promptly ar- shows the audacity of these mis- residence on Monday and de- Kolkata things today. I have been deeply power due to the benevolence of would quit. I have not been insult- rested the person who wrote the creants,” BJP’s national secretary manded that construction ma- insulted and humiliated by the BJP, CPI-M or Congress. I have ed like this anytime in the past,” post but “ the other group put Rahul Sinha said. terials for the ongoing repairs comments of the governor... He come to power because of the said Banerjee, also the Trinamool up road blockades, attacked the “This shows even Netaji’s of the house be purchased only evelling a series of sensa- has threatened me and talked to mandate of the people, whereas Congress supremo. police, and burnt a police jeep”. family is not safe from these ex- from them. They spoke aggres- tional allegations against me like a block president of the the governor has been nominat- Banerjee said Tripathi spoke “Why are you on the streets tortionists. It is a deep-rooted sively with Krishna Bose and LWest Bengal Governor K N BJP. I have told him ‘you can- ed by the centre...,” she said. to her regarding some trouble and not countering it on Face- problem in the state,” he noted. even had an altercation with Tripathi, Chief Minister Mama- not talk to me like this. I hold an Holding that there should between two communities since book?” she asked. “If police had Accusing Chief Minister Sugata Bose. ta Banerjee yesterday accused elected constitutional post,” an be mutual respect between the Monday. opened fi re, 100 people would Mamata Banerjee of discreetly “These people wanted that him of threatening and insult- angry Banerjee told media here governor and the chief minis- Accusing religious leaders have died. I cannot fi re on the nurturing such miscreants for cement, and and other materials ing her and said at one point, she yesterday. ter, Banerjee said she had even of both communities of incit- masses. It is because of you that serving her party’s interests, Sinha be taken only from them. When was unable to take the “humilia- Revealing that Tripathi had thought of stepping down from ing the violence in exchange for I had to face so much insults. I claimed that Banerjee’s promises I asked them to leave the house, tion” and felt like quitting. called her on her phone, she the post after the barrage of “in- money, Banerjee said: “I warn am not here to be chief minister, to eradicate the ‘syndicate culture’ they left,” Krishna Bose said. Using unusually strong lan- said: “The post of the governor sults”. leaders from both communities, I am here to help the people. It were mere attempts to portray Following a complaint lodged guage, Banerjee said the gover- is a constitutional one, he has “We are not servants. He is a my patience should not be taken will take only a second for me to herself as honest in public. at the Ballygunge police sta- nor spoke as a functionary of the to follow constitutional norms. constitutional post holder, I re- as my weakness. I will not toler- leave the chair. “The chief minister scolds her tion, the six were arrested within Bharatiya Janata Party, and not Mine is also a constitutional spect him. He should reciprocate ate this hooliganism.” “I again tell the governor, ministers and vows to take action hours and produced in court yes- like the state’s constitutional post. by showing respect for me too. I Noting that a Facebook post ‘don’t behave like this’,” said a against the syndicate in public terday. head. “I have not come to power at run a government. After today’s had triggered the confl ict, she fuming Banerjee. President post above Film promo Kerala tycoon held party politics: Kovind over rape allegations By Ashraf Padanna “The doctor alerted the police, Thiruvananthapuram and we arrested Pillai. We then IANS Pradesh’s main opposition had been with the BJP. I had the produced him before the magis- Hyderabad/Vijayawada party YSR Congress and lead- privilege of working in the team trate.” ers of Bharatiya Janata Party of Venkaiah Naidu. Even after he Kerala Police has ar- The police said the maid could (BJP), an opposition party in resigning the governorship, I rested a prominent busi- only speak Oriya and hence ational Democratic Al- Telangana. did not join any party,” Kovind Tnessman on charges of had not told anybody about her liance’s presidential He spoke at the meeting of said. abduction and rape of his do- plight. Ncandidate Ram Nath the leaders of ruling Telangana For the president the well- mestic help. The police arrested It was the doctors at the hos- Kovind yesterday promised to Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Hy- being of every citizen of the J Rajmohan Pillai, 53, who owns pital who suspected something keep the offi ce of the president derabad and a joint meeting of country, irrespective of caste, the transnational Beta Group of was amiss and asked a colleague above party politics as he cam- Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and region, religion and geographic companies, late Monday night from Orissa to speak to the wom- paigned in Telangana and And- its alliance partner BJP in Vi- location was important, Kovind and produced him before a mag- an. hra Pradesh. jayawada. said. istrate here. Kerala-based Pillai also runs Speaking both in Hyderabad “Ever since I became gover- Stating that the president is Police commissioner G Spar- a charity in memory of his and Vijayawada, he said the of- nor of Bihar, I have been work- also the supreme commander jan Kumar told Gulf Times that brother Rajan Pillai, the “bis- fi ce of the president should be ing throughout in a non-par- of the armed forces, he said the magistrate had sent Pillai to cuit baron” who died in Tihar kept above party politics and tisan manner, treating every security of “our international 14 days in judicial custody and Jail in 1995. assured the parties support- citizen of Bihar with equal sta- borders should be our topmost the case was under investigation. The annual turnover of the ing him that he will uphold the tus without any discrimination. priority”. The 22-year-old woman from Beta group that also sells popu- highest esteem of the prestig- I can assure you that I will con- “I can assure you I will always Orissa told the judge that she lar dry fruit and nut brands Nut ious offi ce. tinue to keep the position of the strive for all round develop- was hired as a housemaid by King and Ole is an estimated Rs- Stating that he is not asso- president above party,” he told ment of the nation irrespective the billionaire businessman and 130bn ($2bn). ciated with any political party, the meeting attended by TRS of caste, creed, language, region claimed to have suff ered repeat- Pillai co-authored a book Kovind appealed to all members president and Chief Minister and geographical situations.” ed sexual assault for the last six with journalist K Govindan of the presidential election col- K Chandrasekhar Rao, Union Kovind said he would also do months. Kutty, A Wasted Death – the legium to support his candida- Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and his best to fulfi l the aspirations “When she came to a hospi- rise and fall of Rajan Pillai, on ture. some other BJP leaders in Hy- of youth and for the develop- Bollywood actors Shahrukh Khan and Anushka Sharma tal in the city for termination of the tragic life of his brother. Kovind addressed meetings derabad. ment of modern education. pose for a photograph during a promotional event for the her pregnancy she confi ded in a Released by the then chief min- of ruling parties in both the “As on today I am not associ- “We have to fulfi l the dreams forthcoming Hindi film Jab Harry Met Sejal written and doctor who also belonged to her ister A K Antony, in 2001, the Telugu states, besides meet- ated with any political party. Of of a new India which our prime directed by Imtiaz Ali (centre) in Mumbai. state what she had undergone,” book was translated into five ing MPs and MLAs of Andhra course my earlier background minister has been advocating.” the offi cer said. Indian languages. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5 , 2017 15 PAKISTAN Pakistan probing McCain calls for Islamabad’s Shell contractor’s co-operation against militancy AFP Kabul

S Senator John McCain oil tanker blast visited Kabul yesterday Uand warned neighbour- ing Pakistan that Washington z 209 people were killed in Thursday and we will then begin Cheema, said in the statement. was counting on its support to the oil tanker explosion that proceedings according to our At the time of the explosion, eliminate militancy and in par- occurred on June 25 rules and regulations,” a spokes- a spokesman for the Punjab ticular the Haqqani network, z The tanker was operated man for the Oil and Gas Regula- provincial government said the responsible for numerous at- by a contractor hired by Shell tory Authority (OGRA), Imran truck went off the road after it tacks on Afghan territory. Pakistan Ghaznavi, said. blew a tyre and the driver lost The relationship between Ghaznavi said the tanker was control. The driver survived the the US and Pakistan has been Reuters operated by a contractor hired by accident and the subsequent ex- strained at times, with some Islamabad Shell Pakistan to transport gaso- plosion. in Washington believing Is- line from the southern port city Fuel is a precious commodity lamabad has not done enough of Karachi to the city of Lahore, for villagers in Pakistan, where to bring its infl uence to bear to akistan’s oil and gas regu- the capital of Punjab province. more than 60% of the popula- persuade the Afghan Taliban to lator expects the fi rst re- tion survives on $3 a day, ac- renounce violence. US Senator John McCain (centre) speaks at a press conference at Resolute Support headquarters in Pport this week in an inves- “We are actively pursuing cording to a World Bank survey. McCain’s statement came Kabul yesterday, next to US Senators Lindsey Graham (right), Elizabeth Warren (2nd left) and Sheldon tigation into a tanker explosion the issue and expect our Shell Pakistan said in a report one day after he and a bi-par- Whitehouse (left). involving a Shell Pakistan con- third party investigators to it sent to the oil and gas regula- tisan Senate delegation visited tractor that killed 209 people, issue a report by Thursday tor, and seen by Reuters, that “to Islamabad, where Pakistani of- Pakistan has received billions for a devastating truck bombing earth in this world should be a spokesman for the regulatory and we will then begin avoid collision from behind, the fi cials said he reinforced the in US aid since the invasion of which killed more than 150 peo- able to win this confl ict,” he authority said yesterday. proceedings according to driver moved the tank lorry to country’s essential role in re- Afghanistan in 2001. ple in the capital in May. said, calling for diplomatic ef- The June 25 explosion took our rules and regulations” left hand side of the road on the gional stability. The Taliban-affi liated The Senate visit to Islamabad forts alongside a military push. place after the oil tanker went soft shoulder which resulted in “We made it very clear that Haqqani network, based in and Kabul comes as the US is The US currently has 8,400 off road to avoid a collision on a Shell Pakistan Ltd, a subsidi- roll over of the tank lorry”. we expect they (Pakistan) will the border areas between the gearing up to send more troops troops deployed under the Nato road outside the eastern city of ary of energy giant Royal Dutch Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif co-operate with us, particularly two countries, has long been to Afghanistan to support Af- banner, and is thought to be Bahawalpur. Shell, issued a statement short- announced Rs2mn ($20,000) against the Haqqani network thought to have ties to Paki- ghan forces straining to beat mulling sending up to 4,000 A large crowd of people gath- ly after the accident saying it compensation for the families of and against terrorist organisa- stan’s shadowy military estab- back the resurgent Taliban. more. ered around the truck and many would co-operate fully with all the victims on June 26. tions,” said McCain, chairman lishment. McCain called for more than Pentagon chief Jim Mattis began collecting fuel in contain- investigations. As of yesterday, the death toll of the US Senate Armed Serv- Led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, just troops, however, urging “a has stressed his new approach, ers when the tanker exploded in “Road safety is a priority at from the explosion was 209 with ices Committee, in Kabul. who is also the Taliban’s deputy strategy to win” the war which due to be presented to US Presi- a huge fi reball. Shell and we have already started 60 people being treated in hos- “If they don’t change their be- leader, they have carried out has dragged on for nearly 16 dent Donald Trump by mid- “We are actively pursuing the our own investigation into the pitals, a spokesman for Baha- haviour maybe we should change numerous operations deep in years and which even US gener- July, will have a broader “re- issue and expect our third party cause of the incident,” the com- walpur’s Victoria Hospital, Amir our behaviour towards Pakistan the heart of Kabul, and have als concede is at a “stalemate”. gional” emphasis, with no set investigators to issue a report by pany’s managing director, Jawwad Mehmood, told Reuters. as a nation,” he insisted. been blamed by Afghanistan “The strongest nation on timetable.

Results to be sent to students’ Govt to lay underground pipe mobile phones Nuclear power plants In a first, the Board of Intermedi- ate and Secondary Education faced funding cuts (BISE) in Pakistan’s northwest Peshawar has initiated a new to transport motor gasoline system whereby students of Internews ment had approved Rs800bn de- matriculation and intermedi- Islamabad velopment budget, but the Plan- ate will be informed about ning Ministry and Finance Ministry Internews will be the second White Oil tise required to undertake and “Under the second segment their results through SMS on sanctioned only Rs744bn till the Islamabad Pipeline in the country as the execute such kind of high tech of the project, at various points, their mobile phones. The BISE n a desperate attempt to last day of the fi scal year. fi rst one was laid down from Ka- project. FWO intends to develop or reno- has also introduced an online contain budget defi cit, the However, the actual spend- rachi to Kot Addu Pak-Arab Re- The documents showing the vate the strategic storages along retotalling system through Igovernment has had to cut ing is not known yet, as some ith a view to averting fi nery Company (Parco).” future plans of the FWO unfold with the white FWO will build at which any student can submit development expenditures of projects may receive even less the ghastly incidents The offi cial said that Managing that FWO also possesses the Port Qasim the storage facility an application. Previously, various ministries, includ- funding than their sanctioned Won the roads in Paki- Director of ISGS Mobin Saulat had plan to build the mammoth in- of 300,000 metric tons, Shikar- when the BISE announced the ing funds set aside for criti- budgets. stan on account of oil tankers’ played pivotal role in laying down frastructure of a billion dollars pur 50,000 tonnes, Faisalabad result, students checked it the cal projects of Pakistan Atomic According to offi cials of the movement, the government has the fi rst White Oil Pipeline which with capacity to store fuel re- 50,000 tonnes, Macheki 100,00 following day in the result book Energy Commission (PAEC), Ministry of Planning and Devel- decided to lay down the under- is why the decisions makers have serves of 810,000 tonnes for en- tonnes, Thalian 160,000 and at available at book shops and Gwadar schemes and water and opment, the main reason behind ground white oil pipeline start- asked ISGS to initiate the work- suring the smooth supply of fuel Tamujabba will erect facility to other places with each student power sectors. these radical cutbacks in devel- ing from Macheki to Tamujabba ing on the second white pipeline to keep stimulating the economy store 50,000 tons of fuel.” “FWO having to fork out Rs50 to Various government depart- opment expenditures was the (Peshawar) that will transport that will transport the petroleum across the country without any will, under the project, also lay Rs100. Similarly, the students ments and ministries were faced government’s desire to control motor gasoline and diesel up products from mid-country to up hindrance. down pipeline parallel to MFM visited boards for retotalling with cuts between 20% and budget defi cit from slipping be- country. country. And to this eff ect, FWO has proposed as MFM 2 (Mehmmod where they had to wait in a long 82% for the fi scal year 2016-17, yond the preceding year’s level. “And to this eff ect, the Min- To a question, the offi cial said carved out strategic but gigan- Kot-Faisalabad/Gatti-Macheki. queue for hours. Now the BISE showed offi cial documents of the Some projects were aff ected istry of Petroleum and Natural that the said project may cost tic plan to build the huge project And the fourth segment in- has initiated three new systems Ministry of Planning and Devel- because of their slow progress. Resources have assigned the $600-700mn depending upon that is the combination of four cludes the extension of MFM- — sending results on mobiles opment. The Finance Ministry was Inter-State Gas System (ISGS) the allied facilities and pumping major segments involving the 2 pipeline from Faisalabad to of students through messages Among the worst-hit projects pushed into a corner after the to initiate the working on the stations are attached to it. development of new motor Thalian and then up to Tamu- free of cost, applying online for were two nuclear power plants, foreign lending component of project with immediate eff ect,” The sources said the Fron- gasoline (petrol) jetty with the jabba.” Now the scenario is get- retotalling and receiving details Gwadar projects, power gen- the federal Public Sector Devel- top offi cial in the ministry con- tier Works Organisation (FWO) provision of diesel handling and ting changed as the Ministry of marks sheet on the results eration, water reservoir schemes opment Programme (PSDP) and fi rmed. is also interested in the said storage of 300,000 metric tons has assigned ISGS to initiate the day from their respective and allocations for terrorism-hit provincial Annual Development “The length of the pipeline project, but the experts are of the at Port Qasim for avoidance of project of second white oil pipe- schools and colleges. populations. Plans (ADPs) exceeded their will be around 450-500km. This view that FWO lacks the exper- demurrages to commuting ships. line. For fi scal year 2016-17, parlia- budgetary thresholds. Afghanistan’s Sesame Street gets proud brother muppet

Internews Islamabad

eerak the bespectacled orange muppet is the Zlatest innovation from Sesame Street in Afghanistan: a children’s TV character who reveres his educated older sis- ter, brought on to screens to show a new generation that a woman’s place is beyond the home. Producers are betting the new character — a four-year- old boy dressed in a traditional shalwar kameez and a waist- coast embroidered in Afghan national colours will inspire millions of children — and their parents — to see the value in education. Zeerak’s big sister Zari, intro- duced last year with great fan- fare as the fi rst Afghan muppet to join internationally cherished characters such as Big Bird and In this photograph taken on July 2, 2017, Afghan children meet Sesame street Muppet ‘Zari’ after a Afghan puppeteer Seema Sultani holds new Sesame Street Muppet ‘Zeerak’ during a recording at a Elmo, has already proved a suc- recording at a television studio in Kabul. television studio in Kabul. cess on the local version of Ses- ame Street, known as ‘Baghch- a remarkable reach — a recent people love to learn and it is great mary school, and 27% secondary address the issue and show it to attention to equality extends to says Anwar Jamilli, who runs the e-Simsim’. survey showed some 80 % of to use media as an education tool school. be normal. its casting, with two talented audio programmes. Massood Sanjer, head of Tolo children and parents with access for kids,” he said. The broadcaster is utilising Across its global iterations, female puppeteers, Sima and The producers also organise TV which airs the show, be- to television watch the show. That message still needs to be everything it can to help change Sesame Street has made a point Mansour, lending their voices to small mobile theatres that travel lieves introducing a boy, who Sanjer believes the show can, hammered home in many parts attitudes — the new muppet of inclusivity with its cast. Zari and Zeerak. to kindergartens in rural areas, adores and wants to emulate his from an early age, underline the of Afghanistan nearly 16 years Zeerak’s name means ‘smart’ in Earlier this year the American Zari is by far the favourite with Jamilli estimating that they school-going, older sibling, will importance of educated women after the end of the Taliban’s re- Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan’s version debuted a character with character on the show in Af- reached nearly 20,000 children “indirectly teach the kids to love in Afghan society, but also show pressive regime. two offi cial languages. autism, while in South Africa the ghanistan, according to the last year. their sisters” in a conservative, boys that a good education ben- A report published last year And even his trendy, black- programme features a HIV-pos- study commissioned by Tolo He says the show’s focus on gender-segregated nation which efi ts everyone. by the National Risk and Vul- rimmed glasses were chosen for itive muppet. which surveyed some 1,500 chil- friendship and sharing brings traditionally has invested more “People — kids and par- nerability Assessment Center a reason. “Sesame Street is proud to dren and their parents. a dose of happiness to children in its sons. ents, who have access to TV are showed that just 66% of boys Producer Wajiha Saidy ex- support families of all shapes, Just 60% of Afghanistan has living with the ever-present Baghch-e-Simsim is the only watching and know the brand of and 37% of girls aged 15-24 can plains that wearing spectacles sizes, and colors,” the offi cial ac- access to television, but Baghch- threat of violence. programme on Afghan television the character. read and write, while barely is seen as shameful for Afghan count said. e-Simsim is also broadcast on “This is very new for Afghan dedicated to children and has So it is a very good sign that 45.5% of Afghans attend pri- youngsters, so they wanted to In Afghanistan, the show’s the radio across 44 FM stations, children”, he says. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Army soldiers store seized combat weapons in bags after a news conference, as government troops continue their assault A displaced woman stays with her child, at an evacuation centre outside Marawi city, yesterday. against insurgents from the Maute group in Marawi city, yesterday. Top court backs martial law AFP jority of the justices dismissed repression and atrocities seen up to three days without prior Under the constitution drawn Manila that petition, Supreme Court during the 20-year rule of the court orders. up to prevent a repeat of Mar- spokesman Theodore Te told re- late dictator Ferdinand Marcos The government has detained cos-era abuses, the president is porters, but he did not give rea- that ended with a “People Pow- 66 people using these pow- allowed to declare martial law he Philippines’ Supreme sons for their decision. er” revolution in 1986. ers for their links to the Marawi only to prevent “invasion or re- Court yesterday endorsed Duterte stressed yesterday During the Marcos dictator- confl ict, including the parents bellion”. TPresident Rodrigo Du- he had made the right decision, ship, thousands of suspected of brothers who are key militant It is limited initially to 60 terte’s enforcement of martial saying “martial law should have communist and insurgents, as leaders. days, and Duterte must get con- law across the southern third of been declared a long time ago” well as his critics, were jailed, Duterte had repeatedly threat- gressional approval to extend it. the country, which he said was when militants began bombings, tortured or killed, according to ened to ignore the fi ndings of Philippine military chief Gen- necessary to defeat Islamic State kidnappings and beheadings historians. the court if it ruled against him, eral Eduardo Ano welcomed the group-backed militants. across Mindanao. When Duterte announced vowing only to listen to the rec- court ruling while warning in a Duterte imposed military rule “For as long as there is one martial law, he praised Marcos’ ommendations of the military. statement that “the mission is across the insurgency-wracked terrorist there in Marawi, this version while vowing his own “They are not soldiers. They not yet done”. region of Mindanao on May 23, (threat) will not stop,” he told would be “harsh”. do not know what is happening “The (military) takes this hours after hundreds of gunmen reporters, warning of a potential Duterte also warned martial on the ground,” Duterte said of as a vote of confidence that waving black IS fl ags occupied “spillover” to other areas. law could be extended beyond the Supreme Court justices, as we are doing what is right parts of Marawi city and trig- Militants continue to occupy 60 days and expanded across the he also threatened to put martial and what is necessary for the gered deadly clashes that are yet parts of Marawi, despite a US- country if he felt it necessary. law critics in jail. restoration of the rule of law, to end. backed military off ensive there “I urge you to remain stead- Renato Reyes, leader of the peace and order in the whole Opposition lawmakers ques- that has claimed more than fast and alert as martial law in leftist Bayan party, issued a island,” he added. tioned why a region of 20mn 460 lives and displaced nearly Mindanao will remain in eff ect warning about the court ruling. Maria Christina Yambot, people had to go under military 400,000 people. Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te gestures after delivering a to counter the persistent threat “We feel that the court has counsel for one of the lawmakers rule when fi ghters just struck Duterte said when he declared statement in Manila yesterday. of terrorism and insurgency,” he now made it easier to declare who petitioned the court, said Marawi, urging the Supreme martial law the militants had at- told troops. martial law nationwide, it has they would fi le an appeal ask- Court to strike it down for its tacked Marawi as part of a plan has endured decades of deadly In their court petition, oppo- As part of his martial law provided the legal basis for ex- ing the tribunal to overturn its “utter lack of suffi cient factual to establish a province for IS in confl ict involving communist sition lawmakers warned mar- measures, Duterte allowed secu- tending martial law beyond 60 ruling, which she described as a basis”. An overwhelming ma- the southern Philippines, which and separatist rebels. tial law would open the door to rity forces to detain suspects for days,” Reyes added. “dangerous precedent”. Group protests over US role in Marawi

By Jaime Pilapil annihilation of the Maute terror group, which at- Manila Times tacked Marawi on May 23 and forced Duterte to de- clare martial law. The government and the US embassy have clari- ilitant group Bagong Alyansang Makabay- fi ed that US troops were merely providing “techni- an (Bayan) yesterday trooped near the cal assistance” and won’t join combat operations. MUnited States embassy on Roxas Boul- The more than 100 Bayan protesters had no evard in Manila, to protest the American role in the choice but to hold a short programme at the corner war against the Islamic State-linked Maute terror- of the United Nations and Marcelo H del Pilar av- ist group in Marawi City. enues when some 200 anti-riot police barricaded Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bayan, said Roxas Boulevard, to prevent them from getting near the rally was held on the day the US marked its the embassy. 241st Independence Day, to criticise President Ro- “We started our walk from Kalaw Street only to drigo Duterte for allowing US troops to join the war fi nd out that the police have occupied this cor- against the Maute terrorists. ner,” Reyes said. “History tells us that the presence of American Reyes and his group arrived at Del Pilar Street military in all places almost always have bad ef- at 9.30am and after an hour moved to nearby Pa- fects,” said Reyes, citing the unstable situations in dre Faura Street, where they held another rally to Syria, Iraq and Libya. condemn Duterte’s declaration of martial law in He, however, clarifi ed that Bayan was for the Mindanao. Protesters try to push back police blocking their way as they march towards the US embassy for a rally in Manila yesterday.

Duterte-linked bishop top contender for post New ID for overseas workers planned

By William Depasupil The CBCP will convene this Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, Commission on the Liturgy and By Catherine S Valente “With the introduction, my their ID, the iDOLE, and that Manila Times weekend for its biannual plenary Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of member of the Permanent Com- Manila Times dear friends, of the iDOLE, will serve as their license to go assembly to elect a new set of of- Jaro and Bishop Nereo Odchimar mittee on the Cultural Heritage we will be doing away with abroad, come back here, and fi cers who will have a two-year of Tandag. of the Church. the OEC,” Bello told report- then go back anytime,” he said. he Archbishop of Davao, term, according to CBCP News, The CBCP presidency will be The CBCP has 131 members, he government is set to ers, referring to a requirement Bello said the DOLE is also said to be close to Presi- the conference’s offi cial news a fi tting gift to Valles who will be with eighty-three of them ac- launch an identifi cation for OFWs departing from the eyeing to adopt a system that Tdent Rodrigo Duterte who service. celebrating his 66th birthday on tive. Tcard specifi cally tailored Philippines to their employ- the iDOLE can serve as the is also from Davao, is among Villegas and Valles are on their July 10, a day after the end of the An outspoken former CBCP to make it easier for overseas ment destination. OFW’s passport. the top contenders to replace second and last terms as CBCP biannual plenary assembly. chief, retired Lingayen-Dagupan Filipino Workers (OFWs) to “Because under this pro- “Maybe given another six Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop president and vice president, re- Pope Benedict 16th appointed archbishop Oscar Cruz, ex- avail of government services gramme, all bona fide OFWs months, we . . . will talk to Socrates Villegas as president of spectively, and under the rules, Valles as the fourth archbishop pressed alarm over Valles’ im- while in the Philippines, Labour will be given iDOLE. That is Department of Foreign Affairs the infl uential Catholic Bishops’ they are ineligible for re-election of Davao on May 22, 2012. He pending election to the presi- Secretary Silvestre Bello an- the ID of the Department of and, of course, the Depart- Conference of the Philippines to the same posts. replaced Archbishop Fernando dency of the bishops’ conference nounced yesterday. Labour and Employment, at ment of Justice, through its (CBCP). Traditionally, the vice presi- Capalla, a former CBCP presi- as early as August last year, not- In a media conference in no cost to the OFW and this agency which is the Bureau of Davao prelate Romulo Valles, dent succeeds the president, dent. ing that the latter was “rather Malacanang, Bello said OFWs will serve as your OEC,” he Immigration,” he said. who baptised Duterte’s latest who is allowed to serve two Valles has another Palace con- close” to Duterte. will no longer need to secure added. “That to me is a major gift grandchild Stonefi sh Duterte- terms. nection – he is a native of Mari- “The closeness is nothing to an Overseas Employment Bello said the OFW IDs can of the president to our OFWs Carpio in March, is vice presi- But CBCP News quoted Vil- bojoc, Bohol, where Cabinet do with what is right or wrong. Certificate (OEC) before their be claimed from the Philip- who we always call as the ba- dent to Villegas, who had been legas as saying: “Everybody is a Secretary Leoncio Evasco, a key It will have a relevance on how work deployment. pine Overseas Employment gong bayani (new heroes)… at the receiving end of the presi- candidate. Only those who have Duterte aide, served as mayor CBCP will look at the overall Instead, he said, OFWs will Administration (POEA). The president has seen to it dent’s tirades against Church been president for two terms are from 2007 to 2016. value of the actuation of the be given a “free” identifica- “So they don’t have to go that their life is more com- leaders for their strident oppo- disqualifi ed.” Valles, who was ordained president of the republic,” Cruz tion card, known as the ID of to the POEA every time they fortable, more secured, and sition to the government’s anti- Previous CBCP presidents priest on April 6, 1976, was told the ABS-CBN News Chan- the Department of Labour and come home to get their OEC. their stay abroad is properly drug war. who remain active are Cardinal chairman of the CBCP Episcopal nel last year. Employment or iDOLE. All they have to do is show attended,” Bello added. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Nepal’s Dy PM meets Bangladesh probes factory Sushma

IANS New Delhi

explosion as toll rises to 11 xternal Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj has met AFP, Reuters was being readied to resume killed more than 1,100 people, ENepalese Deputy Prime Dhaka operations yesterday, when the and a fi re at a garment factory in Minister Krishna Bahadur Ma- accident occurred. 2012 that killed 112 workers. hara, who was on a three-day “We’re looking for my broth- The Rana Plaza disaster visit to India, an offi cial said. angladesh authorities er. We checked all the hospitals, sparked demands for greater This is the fi rst high-level yesterday launched an but have not found him,” said safety and put the onus to act visit from Nepal after the for- Binvestigation into a blast Nazim Uddin, whose brother on foreign companies sourcing mation of new government led at a factory that killed at least Ershad Ullah worked as an elec- clothing from Bangladesh. by Prime Minister Sher Baha- 11 workers, the latest disaster trician at the plant for the last A spokeswoman for Stock- dur Deuba. It is also the fi rst to hit the country’s lucrative decade. mann said it was investigating visit abroad by Mahara since but notoriously unsafe garment Multifabs has many clients in the disaster, but was still seek- he assumed the post of deputy industry. Europe, its website says. ing more information. prime minister and minister Dozens of workers were The company started operat- She said Stockmann is a for foreign aff airs in the newly inside the factory on the ing in 1992 and reached $70mn member of the industry body formed government. outskirts of Dhaka when the in exports in 2016. Its top buy- Business Social Compliance Sushma and Mahara held dis- boiler exploded on Monday ers include fashion chain Lin- Initiative (BSCI), and that said cussion on a wide range of bilat- evening, causing a section dex, which is part of Finland’s Multifabs had cleared a BSCI eral matters of mutual interest, of the six-storey building to Stockmann, German super- audit in May 2016 that was valid including the ongoing connec- collapse. market chain Aldi, and Rexholm for two years. tivity and development projects, It was unclear what caused of Denmark, Faruqui said. Lindex said Multifabs was said a statement. the explosion, which occurred The company said the plant one of its main suppliers and Both the ministers reiter- during maintenance work on was functioning well and the said it was monitoring the ated their commitment to the boiler at a time when most six-year-old boiler, procured situation. further strengthen bilateral workers were off for the Eid from Germany, had just been The Multifabs site hurt by the co-operation in diverse sec- holidays. serviced. blast made 100,000 garments a tors and to deepen the tra- “We were meant to open “The boiler was running day, generated around $6 mil- ditionally close and friendly the factory today after the Eid well,” Mahiuddin Faruqui, Mul- lion of revenue a month and relationship between the two holiday so we were check- tifab’s chairman said. “After employed about 6,000 work- Firefighters take part in a search and rescue operation at a destroyed garment factory in Gazipur yesterday, countries. ing the equipment yesterday,” servicing when workers were ers, said Mesba Faruqui, factory after a boiler explosion at the complex on the outskirts of Dhaka. They also expressed satisfac- said operations director Mesba trying to restart it, it went off .” and operations director in the tion at the bilateral engagement Faruqui. Firefi ghter Faruk Hussain family-run business. ed by fi re-rated construction. next inspection had been due Still, critics say more work at various levels, including po- “If it had happened today, said a body had been retrieved Two international coalitions As of last week, however, the this month. needs to be done. litical exchanges, and reviewed God forbid, there might have from the rubble in the morning were formed after Rana Plaza Accord’s updated corrective Sulav Chowdhury, chief ex- “There is still an enormous upcoming high-level exchanges, been more casualties.” and that the search was still on to help fund improvements plan on the facility listed that is- ecutive of the Bangladesh Knit- amount to be done to improve a statement said. The government said it had for more victims. to building and fi re safety at sue as having been corrected. wear Manufacturers and Ex- safety in the Bangaldeshi gar- Mahara spoke about the re- formed a committee to inves- Bangladesh’s roughly $28bn thousands of garment factories But the coalition itself does porters Association, of which ment industry” said the Indus- cently concluded second phase tigate the explosion, the lat- garment sector, the biggest across Bangladesh. not inspect boilers, which are Multifabs is a member, said triALL Global Union, a signa- of local level elections in Nepal est disaster to hit the country’s in the world after China, em- One of the coalitions, sig- monitored by the Bangladesh the industry had gone through tory to the Bangladesh Accord and his government’s eff orts to $30bn garment industry. ploys 4mn people and gener- natories to the Accord on Fire government. a “huge shift” since the Rana and a member of the Steering take all stakeholders onboard in Families scoured the scene ates about 80% of the country’s and Building Safety in Bangla- Bangladesh’s chief boiler Plaza disaster. Committee. the constitution implementation for missing people. The plant export earnings. desh, inspected the Multifabs inspector Mohammad Abdul “There has been structural It added that union signa- process. had been shut for 10 days for Eid It came under scrutiny after site in 2015 and noted among Mannan said his department change, and we’ve worked hard tories to the Accord would de- Sushma Swaraj also hosted a holidays at the end of the Mus- the collapse of the Rana Plaza numerous concerns that Mul- had inspected the Multifabs’ for it,” he said. “So I’d say this is mand that it be expanded swiftly dinner in Mahara’s honour, the lim holy month of Ramadan and factory complex in 2013 that tifabs’ boiler was not separat- boiler a year ago and that the a stray incident.” to include boiler safety. statement added. Maldives president Police fi nd ‘missing’ loses majority after government critic

IANS trace of Mazhar’s mobile phone Dhaka after his wife said she had re- ceived a call from him saying lawmakers defect he was being taken away and Abdulla Yameen ... setback well-known columnist feared for his life. z Defection by 10 the 85-seat parliament, with a spread corruption, the politici- and government critic She also told police she had lawmakers sees the four-party opposition coalition sation of independent institu- ering once again,” Yameen’s A has been found safe a received a ransom demand of president lose his 48-seat now holding 45 seats. The rea- tions, mismanagement of the spokesman Ibrahim Hussain day after his family reported 3.5mn taka ($43,300) for her majority in the 85-seat son for the defections was not economy, brutalising of citizens said. him missing, the police said husband’s release, Bdnews24. parliament immediately known. and encroachment of individual Yameen’s plans to run for a yesterday. com reported. The largely Muslim island liberties”. second fi ve-year term in 2018 Farhad Mazhar, a prominent After word of his disap- Reuters chain, which has a population “We urge the independent in- have been dogged by allegations poet, writer and human rights pearance was out, law enforc- Male of 400,000, has a reputation as stitutions, the judiciary, security of corruption and undemocratic activist, sparked a police hunt ers expanded their search to a tourist paradise but has been services, our international de- behaviour. after leaving his Dhaka home the southwestern region of mired in political unrest for velopment partners to respect His administration has ar- on Monday morning. There the country. Police tracked his Farhad Mazhar being escorted aldives President Ab- years. the wish of the people and the rested most of the opponents were reports of a ransom de- mobile phone to the area in the by law enforcement off icers dulla Yameen lost his The opposition coalition, decision of the majority of the who might challenge him in mand, BBC reported. evening. in Jessore, upon being found Mmajority in parliament which includes the party of ex- parliament,” it said. 2018, and his government de- Police said Mazhar, 69, was Hours later, he was brief- hours after his reported after opposition lawmakers de- iled former leader Mohamed A parliament sitting sched- nies opposition allegations his eventually found late on Mon- ly spotted at a restaurant in disappearance. fected and launched a new at- Nasheed and former president uled for yesterday was cancelled administration is trying to cover day on a bus around 200km Khulna city, about 250km from tempt to unseat an ally accused Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said soon after the impeachment up corruption, including money from the capital Dhaka. It is Dhaka. But the police could not He was taken to the court of ignoring allegations of cor- Mohamed had been deliber- motion was lodged, Maldives laundering. unclear if he had been fi nd him. yesterday afternoon following ruption, mismanagement and ately ignoring requests to sum- news website Mihaaru.com Nasheed, the fi rst democrati- abducted. He was eventually found on a hours of questioning at the De- rights abuses, offi cials said. mon government offi cials for reported. cally elected leader of the Mal- He was brought to the capital bus in Jessore travelling back to tective Branch offi ces in Dhaka. An exiled former leader called questioning. Mohamed survived a bid dives, was ousted in 2012 and from southwestern district of the capital. Mazhar is a supporter of the on Yameen to resign yesterday Nasheed said on Twitter: to impeach him amid chaotic was later sentenced to 13 years in Jessore around 9am yesterday Despite the family’s claim of opposition Bangladesh Na- after 10 lawmakers from the “President Yameen has lost scenes in the Indian Ocean is- jail on terrorism charges after a morning. abduction, law enforcers said tionalist Party (BNP). Human president’s own party joined op- parliament, lost local council land nation’s parliament in widely denounced trial. Mazhar was led away by uni- they believe the poet-column- rights groups say enforced dis- position lawmakers in launching elections, lost the coalition that March and Yameen brushed The Maldives has other loom- dentifi ed men into a microbus ist “staged a drama” citing the appearances and abductions an impeachment motion against brought him to power. He has aside the latest attempt. ing problems, including sig- when he left home to buy med- circumstances. are rising in Bangladesh. his close ally, Speaker of Parlia- lost and should resign.” “The opposition has mounted nifi cant numbers of radicalised icines, the police said citing his Police said he was found in a Party offi cials also say many ment Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed The coalition said in a state- several such political challenges youths who have enlisted to fi ght version of the disappearance. stable condition and was car- of their activists and support- The 10 defections saw Yameen ment it backed public demands in the past, which the adminis- for the Islamic State group in the Bangladesh’s elite Rapid Ac- rying a bag of clothes, money ers have been detained illegally lose his 48-seat majority in for reform “following wide- tration is confi dent of weath- Middle East. tion Battalion (RAB) began a and his phone’s charger. since 2014.

Nepal VP to visit trade fair in China Nepali Vice President Nanda Govt has no mandate to Bahadur Pun will participate in Lanka ends decades-long the 23rd Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair in China as the guest of reform charter: Rajapakse honour, an aide said yesterday. Manoj Gharti Magar said the high- Agencies stitution. They only have the profile delegation to the July 6-9 occupation of Tamil port Colombo mandate to abolish the presi- event in China’s western city of dential system,” Rajapakse Lanzhou will comprise of off icials said. from the ministry of foreign aff airs AFP nal lands and resume their fi sh- President Sirisena appoints new army chief ri Lanka’s former president The current government and the vice president’s off ice, Colombo ing livelihood after an absence Mahinda Rajapakse has launched their action for a Xinhua news agency reported. of nearly 30 years,” the army Sri Lankan President army,” Sirisena said in a statement. Swarned that the constitu- brand new constitution in The Nepali delegation will leave for said in a statement. Maithripala Sirisena yesterday Senanayake was also promoted tional reform process undertak- early 2016. Several committees China today to attend the event with ri Lanka’s military said yes- Sri Lanka’s 37-year-long Tamil appointed Mahesh Senanayake to the rank of lieutenant general, en by the government would end comprising members of all po- a theme highlighting the China- terday it has ended its oc- separatist war ended in 2009, but as the new army chief. reports Xinhua news agency. up with a federal constitution litical parties were appointed. proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Scupation of a major fi shing government forces still maintain a “A proud son of Mother Sri Lanka, Senanayake will take over from for the country replacing the The committee will report The high-level participation of harbour after 27 years and allowed large presence in the former con- Mahesh Senanayake took off ice Chrisantha De Silva, who was last week current unitary charter. to the parliament soon with its Nepal in the fair is an opportunity Tamil civilians in the former war fl ict zones and keep a close watch as the commander in chief of the appointed to the rank of general. Speaking at a political gather- fi nal recommendations. to jointly push forward the Belt zone to take back their land. on the local Tamil population. ing at Bibile in the central region Rajapakse said the joint oppo- and Road Initiative as well as Security forces withdrew The military, which is domi- of the country, Rajapakse said, sition (JO) members will join the cementing the age-old China- from the Mayliddy harbour in nated by the island’s Sinhalese na peninsula, the heartland of japakse, who refused to investi- “It will be a federal constitution. constitutional process only if the Nepal friendship, off icials said. the Jaff na peninsula on Monday, majority, also runs hotels, minority Tamils. gate allegations that up to 40,000 We are all opposed to it”. local council elections are held. Nepal and China are expected bowing to the long-standing transport services and other Tamil rebels fi ghting for a minority Tamil civilians perished Rajapakse alleged that the Tamil The government has been to promote co-operation demands of fi shermen and their enterprises in competition with separate homeland for the eth- in the fi nal stages of the war. National Alliance (TNA) had said postponing elections for over in connectivity, free trade families from the minority Tamil local Tamil businesses. nic minority were defeated in a His successor, Maithripala that in Tamil-dominated region in 300 local councils since 2015 for arrangements and post-disaster community who have been The UN has been pressing fi nal military push after decades Sirisena, came to power after the North, the new constitution want of electoral reforms. But the reconstruction under a co- living in camps for displaced Colombo to step up recon- of confl ict. promising reconciliation and ac- will be a federal constitution even JO has dubbed the postponement operation agreement signed on people since June 1990. ciliation eff orts and reduce the Sri Lanka faced international countability for war-time atroci- if it will not be named so. as one taken for political reasons May 12 within the framework of “Accordingly, 187 families... military’s presence in former censure during the regime of ties, but rights groups say progress “This government has no as the government feared losing the Belt and Road Initiative. are able to return to their origi- war zones, including the Jaff - former president Mahinda Ra- on both fronts has been slow. mandate to create a new con- the election to JO. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Egypt ‘worse off on every Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar indicator’ since 2013 coup [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), After a revolution and a 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) military coup, Egypt faces Fax 44350474 abuses to a degree unseen in the Mubarak years, analysts say

GULF TIMES By Zena Tahhan Doha

our years ago, Egypt witnessed the overthrow of Teething GST woes its fi rst democratically elected Fpresident, Mohamed Mursi, in a military coup. The Muslim Brotherhood member apart, India growth had been in offi ce for just a year when army chief General Abdel Fattah al- Mohamed Mursi (left) and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Sisi announced his overthrow on state television, along with the suspension described it as “one of the largest from travel and having their assets Sinai, where armed groups, affi liates trajectory is intact of the constitution and the instalment killings of demonstrators in a single frozen. A new law, signed in May, of ISIS, have launched an open war of an interim government. day in recent history”. criminalises the work of many NGOs against the government, security In just over two years, Mursi became And, in a widely criticised mass and places them under the direct forces and civilians. India is facing teething problems with the rollout the second Egyptian leader to be trial, Egypt sentenced hundreds of surveillance of the country’s security “While Egypt did experience bouts of the landmark goods and services tax (GST). Over overthrown. During a wave of popular alleged supporters of the Muslim bodies. of terrorist violence under Mubarak, uprisings that swept across the Arab Brotherhood to death – “the biggest “Under Mubarak, there was not the insurgency in Sinai is now more a decade in the making, the “one nation, one tax” world in 2011, the Egyptian people also mass sentence given in modern much room for dissent, but there were protracted and attacks are continuing principle will unify the country’s 29 states and at least overthrew the 30-year dictatorship of Egyptian history”, according clear red lines,” Yerkes said. “People against civilians and security forces 17 state and federal levies into a common tax regime. military leader Hosni Mubarak. to Amnesty International. The could mostly go about their business, regularly on the mainland,” Allison The social and political upheaval movement, which is Egypt’s oldest, as long as they did not criticise McManus, research director of the But with less than 2% of India’s estimated 60mn during those years plunged Egypt into most infl uential Islamist group, was Mubarak, Islam or the security forces. Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, small traders seen using computers, the GST has an economic crisis and deeply divided also banned and had its assets seized Today, no one is safe. The government told Al Jazeera. created a digital panic for those who still rely on the nation. before being declared a “terrorist is fractured, so there is no clear line “In response, the government traditional thick ledgers. Under the new regime, But Sisi’s rise in June 2014 was organisation” by the government. of control, and anyone can become a has carried out a widening range of supposed to herald a new era of “The violent repression of Mursi’s target of the regime at any time.” security, legal and political actions in businesses must register with the GST network and fi le stability. He introduced rapid supporters sent a stark message to all Despite electing him to power, the name of a war on terror that have invoices and tax returns online at least once a month. economic reforms, such as slashing Egyptians that under the resurgent millions came out against Mursi’s targeted and ensnared not only violent Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s immediate priority, fuel subsidies and raising taxes in authoritarian rule of the Sisi regime: moves to grant himself broad actors, but also opposition fi gures an eff ort to ease unemployment and dissent will not be tolerated. Along with legislative and executive authority. and others, to a degree unseen in the for sure, is to make sure the GST implementation goes generate long-term revenues. He also the mass imprisonment of over 50,000 Many people, mainly secularists and Mubarak years.” smoothly and does not lead to a spike in infl ation or initiated several new infrastructure people, this has ensured that opposition members of the old guard, feared that And while the government claims it sustained economic chaos. In a wider sense, however, projects, including the expansion to the regime has remained limited in the uprising could end badly. The has the issue under control, its eff orts of the Suez Canal and the country’s the years since,” Abdullah al-Arian, chaos that gripped Syria and Libya to contain the violence in the Sinai, Modi is now likely to turn his focus to job creation and farmland area, which he said would a professor of history at Georgetown after the Arab Spring served as a stark which dates back to before 2011, have smaller reforms, including on administrative measures, make Egypt more self-suffi cient and University’s School of Foreign Service in warning to the public. been largely unsuccessful. anti-corruption policies and tax evasion. generate jobs. As violence dwindled, Qatar, told Al Jazeera. “With 30-40% of the country living Among what have now become tourism revenues increased. A few months into offi ce, Sisi on $2 a day or less, there is very little almost systematic attacks, the group While India remains the world’s fastest-growing Yet, experts say the temporary passed a law banning demonstrations room for manoeuvre for them,” Mark downed a Russian passenger jet, killing major economy, employment creation was the slowest stability, which has begun to erode, without prior police approval, leading Levine, a professor of Middle East 224 people in 2015, and this year, on record in 2015, with just 135,000 net new jobs in came at the cost of public freedoms. the protest movement to practically history at University of California, targeted churches and buses carrying “Some Egyptians have accepted dry up. Such oppressive measures, told Al Jazeera. “If the country grinds Christians in Sinai province, killing the formal sector of the economy against the 12mn the return of some of the ‘old guard’ analysts say, were bound to tighten the to a halt with new protests, literally close to 100 people in recent months. estimated new entrants to the workforce. But as the because they believe that, for all its noose on the country and bring in a millions of people face fi nancial ruin “The government has faced a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has its eyes fi xed on the faults, the Mubarak regime brought facade of stability. and even hunger very quickly.” serious terrorist threat and received them more stability than the Mursi “Many Egyptians just wanted While Sisi’s public standing went some criticism for its handling of it. next federal election in 2019, further big structural regime,” Sarah Yerkes, a fellow at economic and political stability; largely unchallenged during his fi rst The country is clearly less secure, but steps, such as revamping India’s land acquisition and the Washington-based Carnegie hence, the support for the Sisi two years in power, a series of recent this is also a result of regional trends, labour laws are unlikely before the polls. Endowment for International Peace, coup. Immediately after Sisi took decisions have tested his popularity especially the rise of ISIS,” Issandr The sweeping GST is set to gradually reshape India’s told Al Jazeera. “In the long run, power, Saudi and Gulf money began and grip on the country. el-Amrani, head of the North Africa this type of thinking is irrational – to fl ow into Egypt, temporarily Last year, the government section at the International Crisis economic landscape, making the world’s 10th largest Mubarak was only able to control stabilising the Egyptian economy and announced a maritime agreement Group, told Al Jazeera. economy an easier place to do business with. It’s likely Egypt for so long – but in the short winning for Sisi the support Mursi with Saudi Arabia to transfer control Though Egypt’s position on the to raise government revenues by widening the tax net run, some people are willing to put had squandered,” James Gelvin, a over two Red Sea islands, leading international front seems to be up with more repression [and] less professor of Middle East history at the thousands to take to the streets in strengthening as it forges closer ties in the largely informal $2tn-plus economy. India could freedom in exchange for what they University of California, Los Angeles, peaceful protests. In response, the with the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel, spend more on desperately needed infrastructure and perceive to be greater stability.” told Al Jazeera. government sentenced 71 people to analysts say that domestically, Egypt training programmes for a workforce that is growing Shortly after Mursi’s removal, the “Egypt is much more authoritarian two years in prison. is on the decline. military-backed interim government today than it was under any leader Cracks in the economy have also “On virtually every indicator, Egypt by 1mn people each embarked on a crackdown on Muslim since Gamal Abdel Nasser.… Under resurfaced. In May, Egypt’s infl ation is worse off today than it was under The sweeping month, laying the Brotherhood supporters, many Sisi, all oppositional activity has been rose to 30%, the highest in three Mubarak,” Yerkes said. “The security groundwork for of whom who continued to stage outlawed, the Muslim Brotherhood decades. Under a $12bn IMF bailout situation is far worse, the economy GST is set to counter-protests and express their banned, and political opponents – loan to support Egypt’s economic is worse, the levels of repression longer-term growth. support for Mursi. whether Islamist or secular – killed, reform plan, the government fl oated are far higher and the ability of the reshape India’s While ratings agency In August 2013, the army imprisoned and tortured.” the currency and raised the price of government to deliver basic goods and ICRA says the GST and security forces attacked a Human rights defenders, civil fuel by 55% for the second time in services has declined.” economic demonstration in Rabaa al-Adawiya society groups and NGOs have months. transition could weigh Square, killing some 1,000 Mursi also been targeted, systematically The other large domestic threat zZena Tahhan is an online journalist landscape on the competitiveness supporters. Human Rights Watch summoned for questioning, banned Egypt is facing is the violence in the and producer for Al Jazeera English of the informal sector, Moody’s Investors Service believes GST would boost productivity and economic growth. Some seven decades after independence, India’s growth trajectory is fi rmer and potential more Containing the Trump threat in Europe conspicuous. India could grow faster than 8% in the medium term, says Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The By Guy Verhofstadt Warsaw this week as an “enormous refused to co-operate with the EU’s those in Central and Eastern European GST could boost growth by as much as 2 percentage Brussels event” and a “huge success” for collective response to the refugee countries who still uphold and defend the Law and Justice Party (PiS) crisis. While polls suggest that EU ideals. We need to change public points, he said. government, which has continued Western European electorates are opinion and build bridges in policy The economy will expand 7.3% in fi scal year 2018, S President Donald Trump to rage against the European coming back around to supporting areas that are currently creating 7.7% in fi scal year 2019 and 7.7% in fi scal year 2020, is clearly no leader of the Commission and alienate Poland’s European integration and pro- divisions, including migration, posted free world. According to a European allies. European reformers, this positive workers from one country to another according to a Bloomberg survey. Unew Pew Research Centre Under the PiS, Poland has mood has not yet reached Central within the EU, and energy policy. India is what money managers have begun to call study, he is deeply unpopular in been drifting steadily toward and Eastern Europe, where suspicion With respect to the last of these a “consensus trade,” meaning almost every fund is most countries, and has already done authoritarianism and has become toward the EU remains strong. issues, the EU urgently needs to create serious damage to the United States’ increasingly isolated within the Unfortunately, the political a true energy union to reduce its bullish on the market. The S&P BSE Sensex Index reputation. European Union. So, it is not environment in Central and Eastern dependence on outside, increasingly reached a record high in early June and now trades Pew fi nds that three quarters of surprising that Trump would want Europe is ideal for populists who hostile countries, not least Russia. around 18 times the projected earnings of its members the world has little or no confi dence to visit the country. After all, this refuse to participate constructively And we should development a credible in Trump, whose favourability in is a president who campaigned in the European project. Given this, European Defence Union within Nato, in the next 12 months, a 19% premium to the average most countries is now below that of on a platform of “America fi rst” and the very real danger that other which would strengthen co-operation valuation in the past fi ve years. George W Bush when he left offi ce. nationalism, bet on the far-right countries could pursue their own across the EU and alleviate eastern India now needs to take bolder measures to anchor By that time, Bush had invaded Iraq French populist Marine Le Pen, and exit from the bloc, Trump must not member states’ security concerns. and presided over the beginning of applauded the outcome of the Brexit be allowed to exacerbate existing Within the EU, there is room for long-term growth and employ a workforce that will the 2008 global fi nancial crisis. Even referendum, even musing that other divisions. Central Europeans must compromise on all of these issues. If become the world’s largest by 2030. The shallow, in neighbouring Canada, just 22% of countries should consider following understand that moving to Europe’s we can fi nd common ground, we can short-term economic thinking should give way to a those surveyed expressed confi dence the UK out of the EU. periphery will harm their own vital start to bring Central and Eastern sustainable growth vision to lift millions of Indians out in Trump. Given his track record, Trump interests, by undermining their European public back on board. It is in Sentiment toward Trump is even will undoubtedly try to deepen the ability to infl uence the future of the no one’s interest – except, of course, of poverty and ensure social inclusion. more unfavourable in Western Europe. EU’s internal divisions, by playing continent. It is up to these countries Putin’s – to allow any EU member In Germany, only 6% of respondents its eastern fl ank against its western to seek a compromise that enables states to be pushed into a corner, and think he is qualifi ed to hold his current members. The Hungarian and Polish them to continue participating in and potentially toward the door. offi ce, and 91% regard him as arrogant. governments are both eager to advance infl uencing common policies. It is now up to Europe’s leaders To Advertise Similarly, 89% of respondents in their projects of “illiberal democracy.” No one has more to gain from and the Trump administration’s the United Kingdom think Trump is And we can expect to see Hungarian a divided Europe than Russian more responsible members, such as [email protected] arrogant, and only 50% still believe Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Vladimir Putin, who has Secretary of Defence James Mattis, Display that the US and the UK have a special Poland’s unelected de facto ruler, long sought to disrupt the EU by to prevent the US president from Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 relationship now that he is in offi ce. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, gladly indulge destabilising countries on its eastern harming the EU. To do otherwise This may help to explain why Trump’s Trump’s bigotry; indeed, it will be periphery. For this reason, the would be to risk weakening the Classified scheduled state visit to the UK has music to their ears. European Commission, the European Western alliance, upon which global Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 been postponed indefi nitely. Trump’s simplistic, xenophobic Council, and the French and German stability and order rests. – Project The countries where Trump has the rhetoric will also fi nd a sympathetic governments need to use all of the Syndicate Subscription most widespread support are Poland audience among Poles and Hungarians means at their disposal to ensure that [email protected] (73% see the US favourably) and who fear large-scale immigration. In the rule of law in Central and Eastern zGuy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian Hungary (63%), which are both led recent years, large swaths of Central Europe is maintained. prime minister, is President of the by populist right-wing governments. and Eastern Europe’s electorates have At the same time, the European Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Poland’s defence minister has already been mobilised by populist rhetoric, Commission and leading member- Europe Group (ALDE) in the European described Trump’s planned visit to and the region’s governments have state governments should reach out to Parliament. Gulf Times Wednesday, July 5, 2017 19 COMMENT Can ‘Mercron’ deliver for Europe?

By Mark Leonard and west, north and south, or centre capital, similar to Barack Obama after Berlin and periphery. Issues such as Russia, grassroots enthusiasm brought him to refugees, austerity, military action, power in the United States in 2008. and Brexit would continue to challenge At the same time, Germany is in a onfi dence has returned European solidarity. weaker position than it was during the to Europe’s chancelleries The second vision for Europe’s Merkozy era, which is good news for just in the nick of time, future emphasises coalitions among the Franco-German relationship. The Cwhat with US President countries that are willing and refugee crisis has rendered Germany a Donald Trump due in Europe in a few able to work together. In a largely demandeur, rather than a supplier, of days. During the annus horribilis of intergovernmental EU, smaller European public goods. And although 2016, many feared for the European coalitions could be an effective Merkel seems indispensable on the Union’s survival. But in 2017, there governance tool and mitigate the international scene, plenty of people is renewed hope for the European veto power that currently exists in in Germany are starting to plan for project, owing to Emmanuel Macron’s formal EU meetings. They could the end of her mandate, which is now election as president of France, and even sign treaties to formalise going on 12 years. electoral defeats for populists in the their arrangements – such as the Most important, Merkel and Macron Netherlands, Austria, and Germany, as Schengen agreement on border-free both need the Mercron partnership to well as Trump’s plunging popularity travel. work if they are to succeed in building at home. Under a coalition model, country a stronger Europe. The Europe of the The recently forged “Mercron” groupings might change, depending future must be capable of protecting partnership between Macron and on the issue at hand, thereby allowing its citizens from global threats; but German Chancellor Angela Merkel for more fl exibility. And, although to defi ne those threats, it will have has European policymakers talking Germany and France would probably to consider all EU member states’ excitedly about a reinvention of the be at the centre of many of these perspectives, not just that of France eurozone. There are now proposals groupings, other countries could and Germany. for a shared eurozone budget and take the lead and share the limelight, Fortunately, Merkel and Macron fi nance minister, and for an EU-level making the EU re-launch less divisive. are both well aware of the limitations security union to tackle terrorism and For example, in an earlier era, Poland of the Merkozy tandem, and with the strengthen border controls. and Sweden spearheaded the EU’s need to improve on the relationship Moreover, the European “eastern partnership” strategy toward between Merkel and Macron’s Commission last month launched countries such as Ukraine. predecessor, Francois Hollande. Above a new defence fund to close the gap “Mercron” partnership between Macron and Angela Merkel has policymakers talking excitedly about a reinvention of the The Mercron partnership has a all, their realism about the bilateral between Europe’s aspiration to defend eurozone. better chance of building goodwill relationship and its possibilities itself and its ability to do so. The hope within Europe than the Merkozy will be essential, because Europe’s is that 510mn Europeans will no longer in Berlin last month, 250 former and exclusive role of France and Germany because French and German leaders partnership ever did. For starters, the most powerful asset has never been have to depend on 320mn Americans current prime ministers, foreign in developing EU- or eurozone- are torn between two competing balance of power between France and a detailed vision of the future, but for their security. ministers, policymakers, and thinkers wide solutions, which were then visions of Europe’s future. Germany will probably now shift a rather its collective willingness to In the past, many EU member states convened to discuss the state of presented as faits accomplis to the One vision favours a union of bit toward the former, given that the improve upon past failures. complained that the “cold peace” European aff airs. Many of them were rest of the bloc. To take one notable concentric circles, with a Franco- French economy is strengthening, and If Macron and Merkel keep this between France and Germany was torn between excitement about a example, Merkel and Sarkozy once German-led eurozone at its core. will be positioned for renewed growth historical perspective in mind, they hampering eff ective governance of European re-launch and fear that the held a summit to forge closer ties with This idea is appealing, at least on the after Macron’s promised reforms. can turn their relationship into the Union. Today, those countries new “Mercron” arrangement will leave Russia without bothering to consult surface, because it would allow the Moreover, owing to his knack for an open political marriage from have expressed renewed faith in other member states behind. or include the EU member states in core countries to continue integrating, transcending traditional divides which all of Europe will benefi t. An the ascendant Franco-German For France and Germany, it is worth Russia’s immediate proximity. while leaving behind perceived (which I previously described as the exclusive partnership will breed relationship, though if France and remembering that the “Merkozy” The challenge for France and troublemakers such as Poland and “Macron method”), Macron might be more resentment than goodwill, and Germany fail to give others a stake in era – when Merkel and former French Germany now is thus to capitalise on Hungary. able to build new, better relationships probably will not survive for long. - their success, many countries may end President Nicolas Sarkozy tried to the recent victories for pro-European But this strategy, though meeting with member states that have not Project Syndicate up with buyer’s remorse. forge an alliance – evoked hostility governments without provoking a the need for deeper eurozone previously had close ties to France. At the European Council on Foreign in other European capitals. Other backlash in the other EU member integration, would not address Europe’s And, last but not least, Macron has a zMark Leonard is Director of the Relations’ annual council meeting EU member states resented the states. But this won’t be easy, not least longstanding divides between east huge store of soft power and political European Council on Foreign Relations. Weather report Trump is neither feared nor loved Three-day forecast TODAY High: 45 C supporting the changes they sought. In a recent television interview, Trump’s scattershot approach, Low : 33 C By Doyle McManus Inshore: Hazy at places at first Tribune News Service No Republican dissident has been Trump criticised the House bill he his chaotic management style, his becomes hot daytime and humid punished for straying from the White had earlier praised, calling it “mean.” inattention to detail, his failure to by night. House. If anything, they’ve been The message to members of Congress bring GOP dissidents into line and his iccolo Machiavelli wrote rewarded. was jarring: I want you to cast a vote sagging popularity are all making it THURSDAY that a ruler should seek to So much for fear. What about love? that could risk your career, but don’t harder for Republicans to enact their High: 43 C be both loved and feared Since he came to the White House, expect me to protect you from the entire legislative agenda. Low: 32 C N- but if a prince must Trump hasn’t enlarged the number of consequences. “The central challenge for Sunny choose one, he should opt for fear. US voters who support him; he’s reduced And on Friday, Trump undercut Republicans is how to make it clear President Donald Trump has managed it. His job approval rating has slumped his chief negotiator, McConnell, by that they are focused on the No. 1 issue the opposite: Among Republicans to about 40% and stayed there. suggesting it might be time to throw in - the economy, jobs and incomes,” FRIDAY in Congress, he is neither loved nor He’s still backed by more than 80% the towel. David Winston, a GOP strategist who High: 44 C feared. Instead, at least when it comes of Republicans, and that should count “If Republican Senators are unable has advised congressional leaders, told Low: 33 C to legislation, he’s made himself for something. But he hasn’t even to pass what they are working on now, me last week. “They’re spending a lot Sunny almost irrelevant. mobilised his own base to help the they should immediately REPEAL, of time talking about other things.” Last week, Trump called GOP healthcare bill. and then REPLACE at a later date!” he Including tweets? “Including holdouts to the White House to The president is often described as a tweeted in apparent frustration. tweets,” he acknowledged. Fishermen’s forecast That’s exactly what conservative “They need to defi ne the outcomes demand their support for their party’s “master salesman,” but he’s not using OFFSHORE DOHA healthcare bill, a traditional exercise his talents much. He’s given no Oval holdouts would like - but it wasn’t the of their agenda items, including Wind: SE-NE 03-12 KT of presidential muscle. None of them Offi ce speech telling Americans why solution McConnell was labouring for. healthcare, in a way that people Waves: 1-3 Feet switched sides; they saw nothing to be they should embrace this healthcare Part of the problem is that Trump will support them. And that’s not INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 05-15/20 KT afraid of. bill, made no presidential tour to tout often appears unaware of the content happening.” Waves: 1-2 Feet Before that, a pro-Trump group its advantages. of his own party’s legislation. Five centuries ago, Machiavelli announced that it would run attack The bill isn’t in its fi nal form, which According to one report, he didn’t concluded that what a ruler needs Around the region ads against Dean Heller, a GOP senator makes it hard to sell the details. But seem to realise the healthcare bill looks most is a quality he called, in Italian, Weather Weather from Nevada who had the temerity Trump hasn’t done much to promote to many voters like a giant tax cut for “virtu.” The word doesn’t mean today Max/min tomorrow Max/min to denounce the Trumpcare bill’s its premises. That’s one reason even the wealthy. “virtue” in our moralistic sense. Abu Dhabi M Sunny 43/32 Sunny 43/31 deep cuts in Medicaid. The Senate Republican voters aren’t sure they That makes it harder for him to be Instead, it means something more like Baghdad Cloudy 49/33 Sunny 48/32 Dubai Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, support it, according to recent polls. an eff ective salesman, in public or in “prowess,” a combination of boldness Sunny 41/31 Sunny 41/31 Kuwait City Sunny 48/33 Sunny 48/33 told Trump to stop the negative When the president spoke at a private. When he does talk about the and skill. Manama Sunny 42/32 Sunny 45/33 campaign. Heller was afraid of Nevada rally in Iowa last month, he barely legislation, he describes it breezily as Trump clearly owns the fi rst half Muscat Sunny 37/33 Sunny 37/32 voters, not the White House. mentioned healthcare - and instead “great healthcare,” providing better of that equation, boldness. But he Riyadh M Sunny 46/30 M Sunny 46/31 When a similar bill was in trouble of talking the bill up, he suggested he insurance at a lower price. That’s has shown little skill. If he’s ever read Tehran Sunny 39/26 Sunny 38/26 in the House, Trump warned still wasn’t happy with it. “Add some a promise the bill, with its massive Machiavelli - an unlikely proposition, conservative hard-liners that they’d money to it!” he said. spending cuts, can’t possibly keep. to be sure - it doesn’t show. He’s lose their seats if they didn’t vote Trump hasn’t done much to build There’s more at stake here than neither feared nor loved. As a result, yes. They ignored the threat, voted amicable bonds of loyalty with GOP this month’s version of a Republican whether he realises it, his power as no - and Trump promptly caved, members of Congress, either. healthcare bill. president is already eroding. Live issues ‘Brain training’ app improves memory

Reuters Health symptoms - which include declining London memory, thinking, behaviour, navigational and spatial skills and Around the world the gradual loss of ability to perform Weather Weather brain training computer everyday tasks. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min game developed by British Publishing his results in Athens Sunny 32/22 Sunny 33/22 neuroscientists has been the International Journal of Beirut Sunny 28/26 P Cloudy 28/25 M Cloudy T Storms 32/26 shown to improve the Neuropsychopharmacology, Savulich Bangkok 32/26 A Berlin S Showers 19/11 M Cloudy 22/13 memory of patients in the very earliest said that as well as improving their Cairo Sunny 37/24 P Cloudy 36/24 stages of dementia and could help memory scores in the game, patients Cape Town P Cloudy 22/14 Sunny 18/12 such patients avert some symptoms of who played it retained more complex Colombo S T Storms 31/27 T Storms 30/27 cognitive decline. visual information than those who Dhaka T Storms 31/26 T Storms 31/26 Hong Kong T Storms 29/27 T Storms 28/27 Researchers who developed the didn’t. Istanbul M Sunny 27/21 Sunny 28/19 “game show”-like app and tested its Independent experts said the Jakarta S T Storms 32/24 P Cloudy 32/24 eff ects on cognition and motivation study’s fi ndings were encouraging, but Karachi Cloudy 33/29 S T Storms 32/29 in a small trial found that patients that the app needed be tested against London P Cloudy 27/16 S T Storms 28/17 Manila T Storms T Storms 33/26 who played the game over a period other forms of brain training in trials 32/26 Moscow S Showers 19/12 S Showers 18/09 of a month had around a 40% involving more people. New Delhi P Cloudy 35/27 P Cloudy 34/27 improvement in their memory scores. “While this type of brain training New York M Sunny 27/19 Showers 24/21 “We hope to extend these fi ndings will not ultimately be able to prevent Paris M Sunny 31/18 P Cloudy 32/21 in future studies of healthy ageing or cure memory diseases like Sao Paulo M Sunny 21/09 Sunny 22/11 Seoul P Cloudy 32/22 S T Storms 32/23 and mild Alzheimer’s disease,” said health problem. The World Health expectancy increases and societies dementia, (it is) a promising way to Singapore S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 George Savulich, who led the study at Organisation says some 47.5mn age. improve early memory symptoms of Sydney M Sunny 19/08 Sunny 17/06 Cambridge University. people had dementia in 2015, and The condition is incurable and there the disease,” said Tara Spires-Jones of Tokyo Clear 31/23 Cloudy 30/22 Dementia is a huge global that number is rising rapidly as life are few drugs that can alleviate the the University of Edinburgh. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, July 5, 2017 QATAR All eff orts on to ensure supply of food products

By Ramesh Mathew nent foodstuff s importers said thanks to more shipping lines On the issue of fruit prices, Staff Reporter they were working out “more operating cargo vessels to Ha- he expressed optimism and said eff ective strategies” and look- mad Port from diff erent parts some of the South American ing to fi nalise new sources of of the world, procurement of countries, especially Chile, have oncerted eff orts are being procurement. food items from new sources and begun exporting bulk quantities made by the government, A manager at an import fi rm overall streamlining of the im- of fruits. This will help further Cimporters and retailers to said the prices of some prod- port process, the sources point improve supply and bring down ensure the smooth supply and ucts, including certain types of out, while also acknowledging prices, he notes. “Already, the availability of food products in fruits and vegetables brought and lauding the assistance pro- prices of diff erent varieties of the local market. from abroad, had seen a “slight vided by the government and its apples have started falling after Steps are also being taken to increase” owing to the block- relevant agencies to ensure that going up marginally for a while,” keep prices under check and ade. This was because supply normal operations continue. he said. prevent manipulation by sellers, from some traditional sources Besides, the “increased com- Another company offi cial said it is found. stopped and importers had to in- petition” among shipping fi rms they have stocks for at least two The launch of shipping lines cur extra expenses on transpor- will help reduce container costs more months even as procure- and the continued arrival of car- tation to bring stuff from other in the coming weeks, they feel. ment is continuing. He said go vessels have helped stream- places or through longer routes. Meanwhile, a wholesaler said spices are arriving from India line the import of foodstuff and The offi cial said increasing they were trying to supply es- while cereals and pulses are A number of vessels have arrived in Qatar over the past few weeks, bringing in more cargo from diff erent ensure adequate supplies after shipping costs aff ected import- sentials at the “lowest prices coming from Turkey. parts of the world. Picture courtesy of Milaha some neighbouring GCC coun- ers who had to place orders ex- possible” keeping in mind the With the land route blocked, tries imposed a blockade on peditiously in view of the urgent requirements and concerns of items such as eggs and sun- the representative of a wholesaler. normal fl ow of goods,” said a country are not aff ected,” he added. Qatar, according to sources. requirement. While a container Qatar inhabitants. He also said fl ower oil are now being Similarly, some importers supermarket staff member. Also, locally made high-qual- Further improvements in the of foodstuff from India could be companies are directly procur- brought from places as Ukraine. are exploring the possibility of Echoing similar views, a resi- ity farm produce is available at supply process are likely in the booked for $400-450 a month ing goods from sources such as Some stuff is also coming from bringing long-life milk from a dent said things have normal- reasonable prices at the central coming days, which whole- ago, the cost went up in some India, Turkey and Iran, which has Georgia, it is found, as retail- prominent Indian manufacturer ised over the past few weeks due market in Doha as well as in re- salers and importers of food- cases after the blockade began enabled to them to keep prices ers and importers look for new and off ering them at reasonable to the availability of new brands tail outlets around the city and stuff believe will allow sellers on June 5, he claimed. Higher under check. “Besides, we are sources. “Our aim is to make rates. of dairy and poultry products beyond. Besides, locally pro- to off er diff erent food items at costs were reported for some also sourcing goods from places eggs available for around QR15 “The steps taken by the au- as well as vegetables and fruits duced dairy, poultry and other competitive prices. other routes as well, sources like South America, Australia and for a carton of 30 and we are thorities and co-operation by from new sources. “The govern- food items are also available in Sounding confi dent, repre- said. Canada to meet the requirements hopeful it will be done shortly key players in the foodstuff sec- ment is taking all necessary steps adequate quantities in the local sentatives of some of the promi- But that is gradually changing of the local market,” he added. if ships arrive on time,” said tor have helped maintain the to ensure that the people of the market.

German leaders deny Saudi Qatar being punished for embracing ‘reports’ attributed to them German Parliament President Tensions between Qatar and Norbert Lammert and German other countries in the Gulf Parliament’s Deputy Speaker region, led by Saudi Arabia, are Claudia Roth have both denied indicative of strong conflicts, American ideals: ex-ambassador rumours circulated in Saudi Roth said. media of statements attributed Al-Awwad had said By Patrick N Theros the reply was always the same: American universities to estab- of what free speech and free press to them by Saudi Minister he provided Roth with Washington, DC “We are afraid of the Saudis.” lish branch campuses in Doha. can accomplish. He established Al of Culture and Information, information proving Qatar’s Fortunately for Qatar, it dif- Qatar insisted that they come Jazeera out of the remnants of the Awwad bin Saleh al-Awwad, on involvement in supporting fered from Saudi Arabia in one as true branch campuses hav- BBC Arabic service, which had been the Gulf crisis. terrorism, and Roth found that n June 21, the US Depart- other crucial aspect: governance. ing a seamless relationship with shut down by the Saudis. Al Jazeera quoted sources information convincing. ment of State announced Unlike the al-Saud family, the the home campus, with complete He made Qatar the hub for a inside the German Bundestag Call for halt to supply arms Oit was “mystifi ed” by the ruling al-Thani family adhered academic freedom teaching the decade-long series of interna- as denying any meeting to Saudi: Omid Nouripour, bullying of the State of Qatar by, more closely to the traditional same curriculum exactly as at the tional conferences where Arab between the Parliament member of the German among others, Saudi Arabia and constitutional order. The fam- home campus (for example, mixed intellectuals could meet and ex- President and the Saudi parliament and foreign policy the United Arab Emirates, who ily chose the ruler through con- classes). Qatar welcomed Georget- change views without fear of the minister. spokesman for the Greens, had broken diplomatic relations, sensus with the governed. Qatar own University to set up its fabled secret police of their countries. For her part, Deputy has called for a halt to Berlin’s closed all borders, airspace and sea had already declared its de facto School of Foreign Service in Qatar. We all failed to anticipate the Speaker Claudia Roth supply of German arms to lanes in an attempt to shut down independence in 1990 when it Since then, Qatar Foundation Arab Spring because we were look- dismissed the statement Saudi Arabia. their neighbour’s economy. realised that Saudi Arabia could has established many educational ing for the intellectual ferment in by the Saudi Minister of His call came in view of what Senate Foreign Relations chair- Patrick N Theros not defend itself, let alone the and social institutions that have the wrong places. Qatar had as- Culture and Information he described as the “hostile man Robert Corker (R-Tenn.), GCC, after Iraq invaded Kuwait. brought Qatari women into a more sumed the intellectual role and we on the Gulf crisis, stressing policies of Riyadh and its taking a cue from the State De- nalism tradition at Al Jazeera — Rather, Saudi Arabia had to call equal status than any of its neigh- never noticed. When the counter- that it has not stated at financing of extremism and partment, announced he would has been to create people-pow- the Americans, something the Qa- bours. Seventy percent of all Qa- revolution violently overthrew any time her being in extremists”, Al Jazeera said. block all future arms sales to Gulf er: training millions at home and taris could do themselves. Relations tari graduates are women. Qatar Egypt’s fi rst democratically-elected favour or her agreement In a statement to Al Jazeera, Co-operation Council (GCC) across the region to think, debate with Saudi Arabia deteriorated and established a municipal council government, Doha made the cardi- or her understanding of Nouripour said the current countries until they resolved and challenge the status quo of then turned toxic when Saudi Ara- with elected members early in 2000 nal sin of agreeing with the United the embargo imposed on Gulf crisis further complicates their diff erences, a move that lays autocrats who buy American bia, Bahrain and the UAE conspired under universal suff rage. Women States publicly by expressing con- Qatar by its neighbouring the situation in the Middle the onus mostly on Saudi Arabia, friends while supporting repres- to support an attempted plot by par- got the vote on the same day as the cern about this backward step. countries. East, stressing that Saudi which has large, pending arms sion and extremism at home. tisans of the former Emir to assas- men. This, in a society that remains The repressive states of the In a statement to Al Jazeera, Arabia seeks to infringe on the deals still to be contracted. Long unhappy with Qatar’s sinate Sheikh Hamad and restore his as privately pious and conservative Arab world, meanwhile, all Roth added that Germany national sovereignty of Qatar. Senator Corker also recognised modernisation, its neighbours old cronies to power. It failed. as any of its neighbours. sought American protection must make it clear that it Such infringement should end, that the accusation that Qatar created the current crisis to undo Qatar then embarked on the Religious freedom also thrives while subliminally fostering ha- stands at equal distance he said. funds terrorism was only a pre- what they perceive as a threat to most radical modernisation in Qatar. In early 1996, the Min- tred toward the liberal values from both sides of the Nouripour added that the text for punishing Qatar for its the regional status quo. Their list policies in regional memory by istry of Foreign Aff airs offi cially about which we lectured them. conflict, asking the German demands of the Saudi-led bloc strongly pro-American policies; of demands would, if accepted, choosing the institutions and allowed a priest to come to Doha The hatreds they created inter- government to immediately were tantamount to pushing policies that the neighbours view reduce Qatar to a vassal state liberal values of the United States to celebrate Holy Week and Easter acted with repression to formu- stop all arms exports to all the Qatar into “surrender and as a threat despite their need for of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a model. By early 1996, the and tend to his communicants. late a deadly mix that led to 9/11, Gulf States. submission”. American protection. worse than what it endured from Emir lifted all press censorship The Foreign Ministry arranged Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. The countries that ganged up on independence in 1971 to 1990. and even abolished the ministry for the priest (now the patriarch Now that the American lec- Qatar, a long-standing American Qatari society in that period could of information, making Qatar the of Jerusalem) to meet with the tures are offi cially over, the re- ally that is home to a US military best be described as a “lite” ver- only Arab state without a minis- Prime Minister and have an audi- pressive countries turned all Croatian journalists condemn demand base, fear that the Gulf Coast state sion of Saudi Wahhabism. try responsible for censorship. ence with His Highness the Emir. their fury on Qatar as a surro- had embarked on a path to mod- With few exceptions, Qatari To improve education, Qa- Today, seven churches openly oc- gate for espousing the values and for closure of Al Jazeera channel ernisation based on the American women could not get a driver’s li- tar enlisted RAND Corpora- cupy a large plot donated by the institutions of the US. Ameri- model that could upend the estab- cence, and churches were banned. tion to advise on reforming K-12 government in a Doha suburb. cans should not stand idly as its The Croatian Journalists’ and Herzegovina and Serbia, as lished regional autocratic order. Following my arrival in late 1995, schools. After explicitly stating To the dismay of other regional neighbours punish Qatar for its Association (CJA) condemned well as in other countries. They saw that the aim of the several senior clerics told me that that American universities were ruling families, His Highness the belief in these American values. the siege countries’ demand of CJA said, “Countries should Qatari experiment — from the they chafed under these restric- the world’s gold standard, His Emir Sheikh Hamad never dis- (Patrick N Theros previously closing Al Jazeera channel, QNA not use interstate disputes for US universities housed on the tions, which they described as Highness the Father Emir’s wife, guised his unabashed love for being served as US ambassador to Qatar reports from Zagreb. attacking media pluralism and Qatar Foundation’s Education against the real teaching of Mo- Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint an Arab and his belief that the peo- in the second Clinton administra- The association supported its freedom of expression; therefore City campus to its invention of a hamed Abdul al-Wahhab. When Nasser, led an eff ort that brought ple of the Arab world deserved bet- tion and is currently president of colleagues in regional centres of insisting on closing down Al pan-regional investigative jour- asked why they tolerated them, six of the most prestigious ter governance. He set the example the US-Qatar Business Council.) the network in Croatia, Bosnia Jazeera is not admissible.” PM ‘sitting’ on report on foreign funding of UK extremists z Green Party co-leader fl uenced by our diplomatic ties”. In written answers to Lucas ing advice on what is able to be During the election, the Liber- report may never be seen in public. Caroline Lucas suggests Since the beginning of her this week, both the Home Of- published and will report to par- al Democrat leader, Tim Farron, Lucas said the terror attacks ‘astonishing’ delay in premiership, May has sought fi ce and Downing Street said liament with an update in due said Cameron had committed to in London Bridge and the Man- publication is down to to deepen the UK’s relation- the prime minister was person- course”. publishing the report by spring chester Arena said people were reluctance to criticise Saudi ship with the Gulf, visiting ally responsible for deciding Lucas called the delay “aston- 2016, but the Home Offi ce later “quite rightly asking questions Saudi Arabia as one of her fi rst whether to release the report. ishing” and said the government suggested it would never be pub- about routes to radicalisation, By Jessica Elgot, Political trips after triggering the formal Home Offi ce Minister Sarah should reveal the advice which lished, calling the contents “very and the funding of terror is reporter Brexit process in March, a highly Newton said: “The review into has prevented the publication of sensitive”. central to this. Guardian symbolic move. the funding of Islamist extrem- the report – and whether it was The Labour leader, Jeremy “I urge Theresa May to reveal The whereabouts of the re- ism in the UK was commissioned for diplomatic reasons. “The Corbyn, and Scotland’s fi rst immediately whose advice they report on the foreign port into foreign funding of by the former prime minister government is sitting on this minister, Nicola Sturgeon, also are following as to whether or not funding of extremism in extremism and radicalisation and reported to the home sec- report but refusing to publish demanded that the report be to publish this report, and to do Athe UK was given to 10 in the UK became a controver- retary and the prime minister it or give any reason for their published, while the Lib Dem all they can to put the facts into Downing Street last year, it has sial issue in the fi nal days of the in 2016. continued secrecy,” she said. foreign aff airs spokesman, Tom the public domain if it is safe to been revealed, but Theresa May general election after the ter- “The review has improved the The Brighton Pavilion MP said Brake, wrote to May restating the do so.” is still to decide whether to make ror attacks in Manchester and government’s understanding of it was crucial to determine if party’s demand for it to be made Farron said the written state- its fi ndings public. London Bridge. the nature, scale and sources of the report’s delay was linked to public. ment showed the power was in The Green Party co-leader, It was commissioned by David funding for Islamist extremism British Prime Minister Theresa whether it was critical of Saudi However, despite Far- May’s hands to release the report. Caroline Lucas, said the delay in Cameron and approved by May in the UK. Publication of the re- May ... intriguing silence Arabia. “To defeat terror it’s vi- ron’s insistence that publica- “It is a scandal that the govern- publishing the Home Offi ce inves- as part of a deal with the Liberal view is a decision for the prime tal that politicians have full view tion had been part of the deal, ment is suppressing this report. tigation, believed to focus on Sau- Democrats to secure the party’s minister.” on the review’s whereabouts to of the facts, even if they are in- both the home secretary, Am- The only conclusion you can draw di Arabia, “leaves question marks support before a crucial vote on air This week, Lucas resubmit- May, who wrote back to confi rm convenient for the government,” ber Rudd, and the foreign sec- is that they are worried about over whether their decision is in- strikes in Syria in December 2015. ted her parliamentary question ministers were still “consider- she said. retary, Boris Johnson, said the what it actually says,” he said.