3rd Best News Website in the Middle East

BUSINESS | 22 SPORT | 26 Mideast carriers A Champions post 10.8% traffic Trophy sans WI rise in April makes Sir Viv 'sad'

Sunday 4 June 2017 | 9 Ramadan 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7182 | 2 Riyals

OPINION UAE envoy's inbox reveals anti-Qatar campaign Collaboration between a pro-Israel think tank FDD and the The leak also includes a proposed agenda for an upcom- UAE to downgrade the image and importance of Qatar as ing meeting between the FDD and the UAE government a regional and global power. scheduled for June 11-14.

The Peninsula first series of emails taken from the orgnanisation ‘The Intercept’ funded by pro-Israel billionaire Shel- inbox of the UAE's ambassador to reported yesterday that the emails, don Anderson, and the Gulf country. he hacked emails taken the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba. show a close relationship between They also appear to show clear col- from the inbox of the Spokesman for the UAE embassy in Al Otaiba and a pro-Israel, neocon- laboration between the FDD and the Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi UAE's ambassador to the Washington has stressed that the servative think tank — the UAE on a campaign to downgrade the Editor-in-Chief United States have ambassador's email was hacked. Foundation for Defense of Democ- image and importance of Qatar as a revealed an anti Qatar The leaks ‘reveal how millions racies (FDD). regional and global power, including Tcampaign to downgrade the image of dollars were used to hurt the rep- The hacked emails, some of collusion with journalists who have and importance of the country. utation of American allies and cause which dated back to 2014, reveal a published articles accusing Qatar and Propaganda and A group of Hackers called "Glo- policy changes, reported Daily Beast high-level of backchannel cooper- Kuwait of supporting "terrorism". provocative media bal Leaks" yesterday released the newspaper. Another news ation between the FDD, which is → Continued on page 3 was hesitating to talk about the recent hacking of Qatar News Agency’s (QNA) Iwebsite which is an attack on my country, Qatar. The hesitation was not Real Madrid win Champions League Trophy Six members of Qatari because of fear of anyone but because of the amazing and shocking media Armed Forces wounded propaganda committed with immaturity SIX MEMBERS of the Qatari armed forces were injured and recklessness. Nobody knows whether in the course of their duty as part of the Qatari duty force it was a slip and the campaigners will defending the southern border of the sisterly Kingdom wake up from their slumber and face of Saudi Arabia, the Directorate of Moral Guidance at the the reality, or whether they will continue Ministry of Defence announced. These injuries took place their slander, fabrication and distortions as the Qatari armed forces stationed in the southern bor- of news and statements. As a media der of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were performing their professional who is aware of every continuing heroic duty along with their brethren to defeat detail of this profession, I realized that enemy forces from the Kingdom. The Directorate of Moral there is a plan hatched for a long time Guidance prays to the Almighty Allah for quick recovery for to target Qatar. We have learned from the injured of duty. our religion, tradition and culture and our wise leadership to have good faith and Qatar region's most peaceful nation not to treat people in the way they treat you and ignore minor issues and this is QATAR has topped the Middle East and North African the reason that made me hesitate and (Mena) region in Global Peace Index (GPI) in 2017 for the finally decided to respond to the attacks ninth year in a row. Qatar retained first place among the and media fabrications made at midnight. Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos lifts the trophy after they defeated Juventus in the Arab countries and placed 30th on global level among Media has a wide range of outlets UEFA Champions League final football match at The Principality Stadium in Cardiff, 163 countries. The country has scored a rate of 1.664, and versions including radio, TV, print south Wales, yesterday. Real Madrid won 4-1. → See also page 28 marking a (0.052) improvement compared to last year. and social media. Talking to the media → See also page 8 is something that requires preparations but fake media outlets like Sky News Abdu Dhabi and Al Arabiya did not take more than three hours to host eleven commentators live! It is a big scandal and Van rams people on London Bridge comedy that undermines the wisdom of LONDON:British police rushed to an incident on Lon- their audience and the public in general. don Bridge yesterday after witnesses said a van ploughed I am not here to disclose the prepaid into pedestrians and one woman said she saw people media game aimed at insulting Qatar who may have had their throats cut. because I know that the more the outlets British Transport Police said casualties were reported lie and fabricate, the more their rewards. after an incident that may have involved a van and a knife The GCC societies are aware of what attack, the BBC said, while the London Ambulance Serv- is going on and the wisdom of people ice said it was sending multiple resources to the incident. here should not be underestimated Police said armed officers were also responding to an inci- because they can differentiate between dent in the nearby Borough Market area of the city. what is false and fabricated and what is real. Anyone following the comments on social media (Twitter and Facebook) can realise how the people in the GCC have become fully aware and it’s difficult Surge in sale of for the mercenary media to cheat them. These are failed media outlets which will work for anyone who will pay them healthy food items regardless of their reputation, reliability and transparency on issues being Fazeena Saleem place known for variety of discussed. The Peninsula freshly extracted juices. Doubts have arisen about those Besides a large variety drum beaters and the beneficiaries of ore people are of fruits, many leading shop- the recent crisis that has been created making healthy ping outlets are also offering intentionally to divide the GCC states at Mfood choices during fresh juices, along with the a time of crisis when the region requires fasting as demand for canned and bottled ones. close cooperation between sister states. health friendly food items “People start buying fresh The major responsibility lies with such as fruits, fresh juices juices and fruits from the first the leaderships and the people of the and yogurt has surged in day of Ramadan, and we Gulf to stand united against conspiracies the last few days. Sale of have seen the demand and I am confident that the public can healthy food items has out- increasing sharply," said a differentiate between falsehood and stripped sale of bottled spokesperson at Quality truth. It is important to emphasize here drinks and flavoured bev- Group International. that the State of Qatar has nothing to hide erages with high level of A senior official at the regarding its relations with all countries sugar, say industry sources. Lulu Hypermarket said: “The as some provocative and corrupt media According to traders the demand for fruits like, avo- outlets are claiming. Qatar has a clear and demand for bottled juices cado, apricot, melon firm policy based on principles, values and increases between five to increases during Ramadan. ethics from which it will not deviate while 10 percent, while sales of → Continued on page 2 dealing with global affairs. fresh fruits go up by nearly Qatar will remain ‘a shelter of the 20 percent usually during RAMADAN oppressed’ as the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Ramadan. “The demand was bin Hamad Al Thani has said. May God as usual in the first few days TIMING save him and keep Qatar in peace and of Ramadan, but now it has Today’s Iftar 6:24pm stability. doubled,” said a represent- Tomorrow’s Imsak 3:05am ative at the Green Juice, a 02 HOME SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 QIC launches free Islamic app for Ramadan

The Peninsula

atar Insurance, the leading insurance Group in MENA, has launched a free QIslamic app as an offering to the community dur- ing the holy month of Ramadan. The QIC Islamic app can be downloaded free in both the Android and iOS platforms. Offering access to the verses from the Holy Quran and Islamic literature, the QIC Islamic app Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H E Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed provides guidance and religious bin Saif Al Thani, and the Permanent Representative of Korea to United Nations, Ambassador tips to promote Islamic culture in a modern and accessible Cho Tae-yul launch the initiative in New York yesterday. manner. The app which is bundled with many features allows its Qatar-South Korea initiative users to recite the Holy Quran, listen to the recitals of renowned Islamic readers, read the Tafsir (interpretation of the to form group on education Holy verses) and perform a search by the verse number Ayah. New York Global citizenship The Group aims to work In addition, the app offers QNA with Member States, academic free live streaming of the Quran One of the objectives community, civil society and 24 radio broadcast from Doha, atar and South Korea have of the Group is to private organisations that may invocations from Hisn Al Mus- launched an initiative to create an informal bring innovative and creative lim, a renowned Islamic book, Qform a group of Friends of space for Member approaches that will improve prayer time reminders and Education for Global Citizenship States to conduct the quality of education and assists the user to determine the in a meeting held in New York. consultations and uphold the principles of the direction of the Qibla from his Qatar's Permanent Repre- discussions on United Nations. sentative to the United Nations, education issues One of the objectives of the H E Ambassador Sheikha Alia Group is to create an informal The app which is within the Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, and the framework of global space for Member States to con- bundled with many location. Moreover, the app Communications Manager at Permanent Representative of citizenship. duct consultations and features allows its empowers the user with locat- QIC Group said, “Being a Qatari the Republic of Korea to United discussions on education issues users to read the ing the nearest mosque and company, we strive to ensure Nations Ambassador Cho Tae- within the framework of global follow the Ramadan time table that we uphold the tradition of yul launched the initiative. Global Citizenship aims to citizenship and to focus their Holy Quran, listen making it extremely valuable Qatar at all times. In view of this Addressing the meeting, establish a mechanism to dialogue on the purpose of to the recitals of during the Holy month. It also proposition, the launch of the Sheikha Alia said that the initi- address the threats facing our reaching policy-making meas- renowned Islamic allows users to locate QIC’s app especially before Ramadan ative was launched as part of world today through the rec- ures for education in order to branches in Qatar. aligns well with the company's Qatar's efforts to implement the ognition of cultural diversity, achieve the goals and objectives readers, and read the Speaking about the unique commitment and is a modern goals of the 2030 Sustainable intercultural dialogue, the pro- of the 2030 Sustainable Devel- Tafsir. feature of the recently launched and innovative way of giving Development Plan. motion of tolerance, the opment Plan. app, PR & Corporate back to the society.” She explained that educa- promotion of inclusive educa- The initiative was welcomed tion for global citizenship could tion and the fight against by majority of Member States. help to learn to live in peace terrorism and extremism, she The day of the initiative was and would promote respect for added. attended by a large number of all as well as a sense of belong- Sheikha Alia pointed out that delegates from the permanent ing to a common humanity Qatar had called for supporting members of the United Nations based on integration and education for global citizenship as well as those concerned with respect for human rights. The by making education a fertile strengthening the mechanisms initiative of forming a group of ground for cultural exchange of education for global Friends of Education for and constructive dialogue. citizenship. Qatar condemns bombing in Kabul

QNA death and injury of a number of regardless of motives or reasons. people. The statement expressed Qatar's atar has strongly con- In a statement yesterday, the condolences to the families of demned the bombing in Ministry of Foreign Affairs reit- the victims, the government and Qthe Afghan capital of erated Qatar's firm position the Afghan people, and wished Kabul, which resulted in the rejecting violence and terrorism the injured a speedy recovery. Intake of fresh juice recommended

Continued from page 1 The official also said that the demand for snacks and cooked food items also increases dur- ing Ramadan especially from people living here without families and those who aren’t fasting. The risks of heat- related health problems increase with fasting in summer due to a drop in body fluids and salt levels, say health experts. They have advised suf- ficient intake of healthy drinks during Iftar and Suhoor.Fasting people have also been advised to avoid caffeinated drinks and beverages with high artificial flavours and sugar. Healthcare Communi- cations Committee on its website has recommended half a cup of fresh juice or a piece of fruit for Suhoor and a cup of orange juice during Iftar. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 HOME 03

'Emails laid bare mechanism behind Laban flows in taps high-stakes campaign against Qatar'

Continued from page 1 called "the most charming man in the base then we'll move the hotel :-)" Ziad Jilani, one of the authors of Washington" - and has participated The leak also includes a proposed The Intercept report, told Al Jazeera in Pentagon strategy meetings at the agenda for an upcoming meeting the emails support previous allega- invitation of the defence officials. between the FDD and the UAE gov- tions "that there is a growing axis The leaked emails include an ernment scheduled for June 11-14. between some of the Gulf countries, exchange in which FDD senior coun- The agenda includes in-depth dis- like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and selor John Hannah - a former deputy cussions specifically on Qatar, Israel". national security advisor to Vice Pres- including Qatar-based Al Jazeera, and David Hearst, the Editor in Chief ident Dick Cheney - complains to its links to the Muslim Brotherhood. of Middle East Eye, told Al Jazeera the Otaiba that Qatar is hosting a meeting One item on the agenda is: "Al emails laid bare the "mechanism" of Hamas at an Emirati-owned hotel. Jazeera as an instrument of regional behind "a very high stakes campaign Otaiba responds that the UAE is instability". that is being launched against Qatar". not at fault and that the real problem "They actually discussed recast- Otaiba is well-known figure in US lies with the US military base in Qatar. ing Al Jazeera as a disruptive network, national security circles - he has been He writes: "How's this, you move a network that is causing instability and chaos, rather than recognised good journalism," The Intercept's Jilani told Al Jazeera. Attendees set to take part in the June meeting include former US Sec- retary of Defense Robert Gates and Mark Dubowitz, CEO of FDD. Other FDD emails ask for meetings with high-ranking figures including Mohammed bin Zayed - the crown A man collects laban, a cooling yoghurt drink, from a tap kept outside the prince who runs the UAE's armed forces mansion of Sheikh Ghanem Al Thani, near the Ramada Intersection. - as well as Mohammed Dahlan, a Pic: Salim Matramkot/ The Peninsula former strongman of the Palestinian Fatah group who now lives in Abu Dhabi. A large portion of the emails focus on "US/UAE polices to positively impact Iranian internal situation" and to "contain and defeat Iranian aggres- Qatar provides food sion". Another email in the leak shows the FDD and the UAE looking to pres- sure businesses to pull out of Iran. In early March, Dubowitz emailed aid to Yemenis in Aden Otaiba a listing non-US businesses operating in Saudi Arabia or the UAE Aden "looking to invest in Iran". QNA Aden is one of the most The Daily Beast was reported on important provinces for Friday that it had been approached by unded by Qatar Fund for Develop- which Qatar has allocated the hackers, who offered a sample of ment (QFFD), a programme of food the emails they said demonstrated "how Fassistance and Ramadan Iftar has a number of relief and a small rich country/company used lob- been launched at the Al-Sadagah Hospi- development projects. byists to hurt American interests and tal in the southern Yemeni province of those of it allies". According to the Daily Aden, as part of Qatar's efforts to allevi- support the Yemeni people in alleviating Beast, the hackers said the documents ate the suffering of the Yemeni people. the impact of the crisis raging in the coun- had been provided to them by a paid Executive Director of Development try. Aden is one of the most important whistle-blower in a Washington, DC Projects at QFFD, Mesfer Al Shahwani, said provinces for which Qatar has allocated lobbying group and contained emails that the project comes within the frame- a number of relief and development from Otaiba's Hotmail account. work of Qatar's continuous efforts to projects, he added. 04 HOME SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 Pregnant women urged caution while fasting

The Peninsula pregnant women should con- Case of exemption tact their doctor as soon as omen who Fasting during the possible if they are not putting have preg- Holy Month of on enough weight or are losing nancy Ramadan is one of weight; become very thirsty, are complications urinating less frequently, or if the five pillars of such as diabe- their urine becomes dark-col- Islam, although Wtes, high blood pressure or oured and strong-smelling. This anaemia are generally advised pregnant and is a sign of dehydration, and it to avoid fasting during the Holy breastfeeding can make them more prone to Month of Ramadan. Breastfeed- women are exempt if urinary tract infections (UTIs) ing women are also advised to it poses a risk to or other complications; develop have a general health check to their health. a headache or other pains, or a ascertain their fitness and However, some fever; become nauseous or start ensure their baby’s well-being Muslim women still vomiting. before undertaking fasting, choose to fast, She added that they should advised experts at Hamad Med- despite the health contact their doctor straight ical Corporation (HMC). implications. away if: There is a noticeable Fasting during the Holy change in their baby’s move- Month of Ramadan is one of the ments, such as if the baby is not five pillars of Islam, although moving around or kicking as pregnant and breastfeeding much; they notice contraction- women are exempt if it poses a like pains. This could be a sign A Qatar Charity volunteer handing over food to a needy in Somalia. risk to their health. However, of premature labour; they feel some Muslim women still dizzy, faint, weak, confused or choose to fast, despite the health tired, even after they have had QC gives food baskets to 4,633 implications. Some studies show a good rest. there is little or no effect on “If any of the instances newborn babies whose moth- above occur, women should ers fast during pregnancy. break their fast immediately and families in drought-hit Somalia Others suggest health problems drink water containing salt and later in life, or that fasting in sugar or an oral rehydration The Peninsula humanitarian situation they are studied the various aspects of pregnancy can have some effect solution. They should also con- going through.” the humanitarian situation on the intelligence or academic tact their doctor immediately,” atar Charity provided food “We hope that such assist- there. It has launched major ability of a child. Dr El Taher said. baskets to 4,633 drought- ance will alleviate the harsh relief projects, including the dis- “Pregnant women with Meanwhile, Dr Amal Abu Qaffected families in conditions they are experienc- tribution of daily meals for Expectant mothers have underlying health conditions been asked to exercise care Bakr Arbab, Baby-Friendly Hos- Somalia battling for survival. ing, Al Fahida added. The 7,000 families. should avoid fasting in order to pital Initiative Program Lead at The baskets consist of 25kg beneficiaries thanked the phi- As part of emergency relief while fasting. protect themselves and their Women’s Hospital, said if rice, 25kg sugar, 25kg flour, 6 lanthropists, Qatar, and QC for projects, QC dispatches medi- unborn babies from any further increase in the number of preg- women are exclusively breast- litres of oil, 2.5kg milk powder, their efforts and support. cal convoys to affected areas of unwanted complications. How- nant women visiting our feeding their babies, they are not and 2 kg dates. It is noteworthy that “Atta Somalia including Somaliland, ever, pregnant women who are Emergency Department during expected to fast during Ram- QC continues to provide Alkher from Doha Alkher” ini- Puntland, Mogadishu and south- willing to fast during Ramadan Ramadan due to fasting.” adan. She added that most support to drought-affected tiative had provided emergency west territories in order to should seek their doctor’s advice “Some studies suggest that Muslim scholars believe that areas in Somalia. With the relief during its last visit to reduce the spread of throughout the month to make more babies are born early if women who are breastfeeding beginning of Ramadan, it has Somalia, included food parcels, epidemics. sure that fasting is not affecting their mothers fast during Ram- have permission not to fast. implemented a number of relief medicines, and drinking water. Approximately 16,200 per- their baby,” cautioned Dr Faten adan. If Ramadan coincides with “However, if breastfeeding projects including the distribu- The initiative provided food sons benefited from these El Taher, Senior Consultant in the summer months, this means women choose to fast, their tion of food items o thousands parcels for 10,000 Somali fam- medical services especially in Obstetrics/Gynecology at Wom- hot weather and long days, baby will not be harmed because of drought-affected families, ilies as well as medical assistance the regions that lost many per- en’s Hospital. which puts pregnant women at they will be able to keep mak- said Faisal Al Fahida, from QC. including the distribution of sons and millions of livestock According to her, there are greater risk of dehydration due ing breastmilk while they are “A number of areas of medical solutions, administer- due to the lack of food, drugs some concerns that fasting may to a low fluid intake. This could fasting,” she said. Somalia have been severely ing medical examinations for and drinking water. affect how well a baby grows in induce premature labour and Dr Arbab noted that if a affected by drought including internal diseases, malnutrition, Artesian wells will be drilled the uterus (womb), or that fast- subsequently lead to preterm breastfeeding woman begins to Mogadishu and such assistance and dehydration. to provide drinking water for ing may be linked to premature births,” Dr El Taher said. feel unwell, she should break has to be both extremely timely A humanitarian delegation 4,000 persons of the cholera labour. “There is usually an She suggested that fasting her fast with water and rest. and essential given the difficult from QC has visited Somalia and and drought-affected areas. Ooredoo is official sponsor of Aspire Ramadan Sports Festival 2017

The Peninsula festivities and avoid the summer event, Manar Khalifa Al temperature controlled Foundation’s ability to cater to hockey, table tennis and many heat. Muraikhi, Director of Commu- environment.” the varying interests of sports more. oredoo yesterday The festival will include a nity & Public Relations, Ooredoo Nasser Abdulla Al Hajri, enthusiasts in Qatar all year long In addition, to ensure there announced that it is the number of competitions for all Qatar, said: “Ooredoo is proud Director of PR and Communica- and especially in the Holy Month, are activities for every fitness OOfficial Sponsor of Aspire ages and genders to promote a to once again work with Aspire tion at AZF, said: “Ooredoo is one and we are confident that our level, a Ramadan-long walking Ramadan Sports Festival 2017. healthy lifestyle during the holy Zone Foundation to provide a of our strategic partners as we partnership with Ooredoo will competition will be held under The Aspire Ramadan Sports month of Ramadan. As Official truly family friendly event. It’s always work together for the make it even a more remarka- the umbrella of Aspire’s “step Festival started from June 1 and Sponsor, Ooredoo will be rais- great to know that along with benefit of community in Qatar ble event on the country’s into health” programme in runs until June 14. It will be held ing awareness of the Festival, as the many festivities that Ram- in terms of promoting healthy Ramadan agenda.” Aspire Dome for all ages and in Aspire Dome, Ladies Sports well as the importance of main- adan brings, you and your active lifestyle.” Al Hajri added: The Aspire Ramadan Sports genders. Hall and other outdoor facilities taining fitness levels during family can still stay fit and active “Year after year, our Ramadan Festival will include a host of The venue will be open daily at Aspire Zone, to ensure every- summer on its social media whilst having fun and spending Sports Festival has grown to activities such as football, vol- from 3:00pm to 5:30pm and one can enjoy the sporting channels. Talking about the time with loved ones in a demonstrate Aspire Zone leyball, basketball, cricket, 8:30pm to 11:30pm.

Vegetables on display at one of the winter markets. 5,113 tonnes of vegetables sold at markets

The Peninsula There are three such mar- products directly to customers kets — Al Mazrouah, Al Khor and without intervention from he winter vegetable Dakhira and Al Wakra — which middlemen. farmers’ markets have started selling products in Octo- The highest proportion of Tsold 5,113 tonnes of veg- ber 2016 to and closed at the end fruit sale was 181 tonnes in etables, 919 tonnes of fruit and of April this year December, while the highest over 142 tonnes of fish in The markets offered a wide proportion of vegetable sale was 2016/2017 season, according variety of vegetables and poul- 1,170 tonnes in March. to report issued by the Agri- try products sourced from The highest proportion of cultural Affairs Department at Qatari farms at attractive fish sale — 29.8 tonnes — was the Ministry of Municipality prices. They provide an oppor- in March, and the lowest came and Environment, yesterday. tunity for farmers to sell their in October. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 HOME 05

Ramadan Quiz Contest winners

First week winners of the Ramadan Quiz Contest organised by The Peninsula and Malabar Gold & Diamonds, with Acting Managing Editor of The Peninsula, Mohammed Salim Mohamed (second left); Deputy Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds branch, Yahiya (third left); and other officials at the awards ceremony held at the newspaper's office, yesterday. Pic: Kammutty VP/ The Peninsula

Social initiative 32 child heart launches monthly surgeries by RAF donation plan

team in Astana The Peninsula social support initiative The Peninsula heart surgeries and 20 cardiac “ZHAAB” has launched catheterisations were con- A its ‘Thokhor’ campaign medical team from ducted by RAF’s medical team — a monthly donation plan Sheikh Thani bin comprising 20 specialists in that commenced its activities Abdullah Founda- surgery, endoscopy, anaesthe- during the holy month of tion for sia and intensive care. Ramadan under the title: “To Humanitarian Serv- In addition, about 40 med- be the best you can be, give icesA (RAF) conducted 32 heart ical staff from Kazakhstan got all year round with our surgeries on children in Astana, the opportunity to interact with monthly donation plan”. the capital of Kazakhstan. the visiting medical team to ‘ZHAAB’ initiative was The project was part of gain practical experience. launched in February 2017 by RAF’s ongoing campaign “Al The project was imple- Qatar Charity Under the Qulub Al Saghira” (small hearts) mented in collaboration with patronage of H E Sheikh to provide health services to Al Baraka foundation, RAF’s Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, to children with heart diseases. local partner in Kazakhstan. provide support to local The medical team spent 11 “We collected the cases of communities. day from May 13 to 23 in Kaza- children with heart problems ‘Thokhor’, which means khstan to complete the surgery. from 17 states across the coun- generosity, on the part of the The surgery was conducted in try,” said Solomon of Baghdash, donor, is launched as part of Children’s Heart Surgery Hos- Director of Al Baraka founda- “ZHAAB” initiative, to help pital at National Scientific tion. The beneficiary children raise funds to help people in Medical Center in Astana. aged four days to 13 years. Qatar. The monthly dona- The project cost of For the first time such a med- tion plan is set up either by QR450,000 was financed by ical project has been sending an SMS or via people in Qatar by donations implemented, said Dr Shuhrat account transfer through to rescue the life of benefici- Marasolov, Director of Children's local banks to facilitate the ary children. A total of 32 Heart Surgery Hospital, National donation process, and make operations including 12 open Scientific Medical Center. it more convenient for the donor, said a release. ‘Thokhor’ campaign includes a donation drive which is rolled out through- out multiple Majlises across Qatar. The rollout consists of separate visits for men and women, with at least two visits occurring each day. The campaign intends to spread awareness of how people can give back to their community through “ZHAAB”, while facilitating their participation through A child after a heart surgery in Kazakhstan. its Zokhor programme. QIB holds Ramadan Ghabga dinner

The Peninsula

atar Islamic Bank (QIB), Qatar’s leading Islamic QBank, organised a Ram- adan Ghabga dinner for its employees. The Ghabga was attended by Bassel Gamal, QIB Group CEO, QIB’s executive man- agement team as well as the Guest of Honoor, Sheikh Suliaman Al Jubailan. The event, a regular fea- ture on QIB’s calendar, celebrates Ramadan traditions, strengthens QIB employees at the Ghabga dinner. relations between employees and brings to life the spirit of the Holy continue enhancing the commu- stressed on the importance of Month. nication between us.” respecting Islamic values that Commenting on the occa- “We are pleased to share the call for amity and love and ele- sion, Gamal said: “At QIB, we joy of Ramadan and the strong vate humanity, offering real-life understand that our employees sense of community that comes examples from his experience. are the beating heart of our bank with it with our employees,” he The evening saw an inter- and the annual Ghabga gather- added. active question and answer ing is a QIB tradition that allows Speaking at the event, session followed by raffle draws us to connect with them and Sheikh Sulaiman Al Jubailan and generous prizes. 06 HOME SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 Ramadan offers from NBK Automobiles on Mercedes

The Peninsula Mercedes-Benz with no further payments due until January 2018. o celebrate the holy The unbeatable prices Additionally, customers can month of Ramadan and on offer include CLA also benefit from Mercedes-Benz showcase its commit- from QR159,000, GLA Service Solutions offered by ment to the Qatar from QR139,000, GLE Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles. community, Nasser Bin Customers can choose from two from QR269,000, E TKhaled Automobiles (NBK Auto- customised packages. The first mobiles), the authorised general 400 from QR269,000 package is Mercedes-Benz Serv- distributor of Mercedes-Benz in and V-Class from ice SELECT that covers all Qatar, has launched special offers QR249,000. scheduled maintenance costs on many models. specified by the manufacturer, The great value deals are including filters, operational liq- Various Mercedes-Benz models on display. valid on the CLA, GLA, GLE, E 400 valued support during the holy uids, and labour. The second and V-Class Mercedes-Benz cars, month.” package is Mercedes-Benz Serv- providing customers with attrac- Available during Ramadan ice SELECT PLUS, which in The Mercedes-Benz CLA is market segment and established tradition into the future with a tive savings to allow them drive and June 2017, the unbeatable addition to the items included in distinguished with its sporty pro- itself there as a major player. The wealth of top-class innovations their dream car home with the prices are an excellent opportu- the Mercedes-Benz Service Select, portions and powerful, dynamic GLA has an engine of power that that take safety, stress relief and best specifications and highest nity for Mercedes-Benz fans to covers a range of wear-and-tear design idiom characterised by ranges from115 kW (156 hp) to comfort to a new level. It is with- standards of safety. drive the CLA from QR159,000, parts. sensuously rounded contours that 155 kW (211 hp). The GLE blends out doubt the most intelligent Khalid Shaaban, General GLA from QR139,000, GLE from Mercedes-Benz Service Solu- make it unmistakable. Its profile tradition and modernity with a sedan in the executive class. Manager of NBK Automobiles, QR269,000, E 400 from tions cover all scheduled is sleek like a coupé, yet it offers luxurious interior ambience and The V-Class Mercedes-Benz said: “In this holy month, Nasser QR269,000 and V-Class from maintenance procedures at a room for five. In undertaking the a sportier. is redefining the MPV. As the Bin Khaled Automobiles extends QR249,000. In addition, custom- fixed cost. Customers can pur- facelift modifications, the Mer- The new GLE is equipped youngest and largest member of its greetings and wishes health ers can benefit from free chase the package that suit their cedes-Benz designers have subtly with best on-road and off-road the passenger car family, it sets and prosperity to all members of registration, 3 years warranty needs and for varying time-peri- honed the distinctive look and handling, outstanding spacious- new benchmarks in its segment the community. We are proudly with unlimited mileage and flex- ods, giving them completely upgraded the interior. ness and high levels of active and with its design and a host of inno- providing customers with special ible internal and bank financing transparent maintenance costs The GLA is characterised by passive safety with driver assist- vations. The V-Class combines offers and benefits on Mercedes- options. which saves them from any its sportily dynamic design ance systems. room for up to eight people and Benz models to drive away one As part of this special finance unpleasant surprises. The differ- idiom, light-footed handling and The E 400 is the core of Mer- exemplary functionality with the of our cars at more affordable offer customers have to pay only ent packages, provide complete extensive individualisation cedes-Benz brand, and in the past high-class appeal, comfort, effi- prices. These offers reflect NBK 20% down payment at the time convenience and peace of mind, range. As the first compact SUV has repeatedly redefined the cient driving pleasure and safety Automobiles’ full commitment to of delivery of the vehicle and they offering customers service levels from Mercedes-Benz it brought standards in the executive-class that distinguish automobiles the Qatar society and to offer can drive the highly desirable that meet their expectations. a breath of fresh air to its segment. Now it carries this bearing the three-pointed star. Palestinian filmmaker invited to UN to screen her films on injustice

The Peninsula inhumane treatment is sadly injustices suffered by my peo- something which happens to ple. However, witnessing it alestinian filmmaker, more than 700 Palestinian chil- first-hand during a visit to the Farah Nabulsi, was invited dren a year. Occupied Palestinian Territo- Pto UN in New York to Farah's recently released ries changed me in a deep and Joyalukkas screen her three films, high- film "Oceans of Injustice" will overwhelming way and I lighting the injustice faced by also be shown. instinctively knew that offering unveils Shop Palestinians as 50th anniversary The films were introduced sympathy and the occasional of occupation approaches. by Farah and shown to ambas- charity was no longer enough. & Win gold Farah Nabulsi, the film- sadors and dignitaries from all "Over the past century, the maker and the daughter of over the world. This event is Palestinians have suffered promotion Palestinians living in diaspora, particularly poignant, as this oceans of injustice and when has screened her three short month, June marks the 50th you visit Occupied Palestine you THE world’s favourite films in the trustee council anniversary of the Israeli mili- truly come to understand the jeweller is gearing up for chambers at the United Nations tary occupation. depth and breadth of how delib- a sizzling summer with a in New York, where she also Ambassador Riyad Mansour, erate, systematic and 60kg gold giveaway. Joy- addressed attendees, by invita- Permanent Observer of the State institutionalised the occupation alukkas has consistently tion from Ambassador Riyad of Palestine to the United really is. You come to recognise launched massive pro- Mansour, Permanent Observer Nations, said: “We are honoured what is happening and has been motions during summer Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State Mission of the State of Palestine to share Farah’s work with the happening for decades is, at its since it opened its doors to the United Nations. United Nations community as it essence, a settler colonial enter- of Palestine to the United Nations, and Palestinian filmmaker 30 years ago and 2017 is The three short films that reflects some of the immense prise. I hope my films are able Farah Nabulsi at a meeting in New York. no exception. This year’s were screened on Thursday suffering, injustice and oppres- to give the audience even just a promotion will see lucky included "Today They Took My sion endured by the Palestinian glimpse into the very real Native Liberty, a not-for-profit attention to the injustices they shoppers go home with up Son", which focuses on a mother people under decades of Isra- humiliation, pain and suffering Media Production company, and face. to 1kg gold each in daily coping with her young child el’s brutal foreign military experienced by Palestinian men, Oceansofinjustice.com, an Farah continues to show- and weekly draws. being taken away by a military occupation.” women and children every day online educational platform, case her groundbreaking work “Historically summer system. This imprisonment Farah Nabulsi said: "I had at the hands of that ideology." that together aim to re-human- at film festivals, universities and is considered by retailers which involves cruel and always thought I understood the In 2016 Farah founded ise the Palestinians and draw events around the world. as the dead season, espe- cially residents often go back to their home coun- tries with the whole family for the school Centrepoint brings home and fashion range for Eid festivities break, but at Joyalukkas we consider this season the perfect opportunity to The Peninsula 2-piece skirt and well as hand bags and feminine give our loyal customers trouser sets. The backpacks. more reasons to smile. entrepoint, the region’s larg- collection for The Men’s footwear collection That’s why we reserve our est fashion retailer, is one of well-groomed focuses on casual summer style biggest promotions at this Cthe few brands to create a boys this season options in sporty sneakers, time. It’s our way of giv- special Ramadan collection keep- sees a more strapped sandals, casual loafers, ing back to the patrons ing in mind the needs of the relaxed and com- canvas trainers whose support for the past regional customer. This year, the fortable vibe Handbags in natural leather three decades has made brand has put together a selection keeping in mind in a range of tan tones are the pick Joyalukkas a global name of fashion, kidswear, footwear, the Summer heat. of this season. Floral prints and in high-quality jewellery accessories, cosmetics and home Pastel pinks, dove mineral and gemstone fixtures and service.” said John décor, that will have all eyes on grey and bur- and end pieces contrast with pol- Paul Alukkas, Executive customers. gundy along with ished metals add a touch of luxury Director, Joyalukkas the traditionally popular Oud and ground for a dramatic mood. The pin-stripes feature to minimalist hardware. Group. Be the perfect host at home Amber fragrances in a range of men’s collection for the season is in soft basket-weave fabrics. The Shoppers get one raf- The season of Ramadan brings products from essential oils to classic with modern tailoring collection highlights are collarless Must-have makeup for Ramadan fle coupon to enter the with a time for loved ones to come electric and reed diffusers to gift touches for a perfect sharp and and short collared shirts, turn up nights raffle draw for 60kg gold together as families and friends sets to make you the perfect host dressed up look. Shaded prints and shorts, washed chinos, half placket As the humidity and high tem- upon purchase of gold gather for Iftar and Suhoor. Make or delightful guest. new hardware trims lends pizzazz shirts, mock polos, shorts with peratures soar, City Lifestyle’s jewellery worth QR500 your home a setting of style and to the range. suspenders and pleated trousers range of colour cosmetics pro- and above. They also get elegance, with Lifestyle’s collec- Ramadan-ready modest fashion for an easy summer vibe. motes glowing skin, vibrant glossy two raffle coupons on tion of Ramadan inspired décor, for women and men Junior style for the season lips, and a soft nude colour palette purchase of diamond and furnishing and home fragrances. Dress to impress with Splash’s Dress your little princess in Festive footwear & accessories for the face and eyes. The range polki jewellery. Adding to Customised Arabic calligraphy has festive collection for the holy Babyshop’s beautiful collection of Ladies you can put your most of highlighters and illuminators this exciting opportunity been interwoven in to the design month and Eid celebrations. Mod- party dresses in summer whites fashionable foot forward this sea- add glow and dimension to are generous offers and of the collection that evokes the esty and grace play a key role in and soft pastel shades of peach, son with Shoe Mart’s selection of cheeks. For lips, while matte fin- 0% instalment plans from positive feelings one experiences inspiring the women’s fashion col- melon, pink and pale gold offset footwear styles that will ensure ish remains a popular choice, leading banks in partici- during Ramadan. lection that features long by brighter fuschia and green. The you can go through the day and glossy, shiny and glittery lip col- pating countries. The The fragrance of a home plays silhouettes with a modern aura range showcases tapestry- evening with ease and style. Beau- ours are on trend this season so summer gold giveaway an essential role in setting the and fresh colours and prints. Easy inspired vintage floral prints in tiful bows, Sequins and pearls shop now for a dewy day and started on June 1 and it mood for a perfect Iftar. Choose flowing lines are complemented mesh-enclosed floral dresses, embellish the season’s range of sti- evening look or a glamorous night will contiue till July 31. from a range of scents including by volume sleeves, setting the maxi jumpsuits, prom dresses, and letteos, sneakers and sandals as out. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 HOME 07 QU to celebrate graduation of 40th batch in October

The Peninsula successful in its accreditation ini- This year, around tiatives, earning the endorsement nder the patronage of numerous leading interna- of Emir H H Sheikh 4,000 students — tional accrediting bodies for its Tamim bin Hamad 1,000 men and 3,000 colleges and academic programs. Al Thani, Qatar Uni- women — will be Additionally, QU has notched up versity (QU) will graduating. This is a number of ISO certifications for Uhold the men’s graduation cer- its research labs and manage- emony of Class of 2017 on the 40th batch of ment systems. This had a positive October 10. The women’s cere- students to graduate impact on the level of compe- mony will be held on October 11 from QU. tency of QU graduates, and under the patronage of H H reflects the University’s commit- Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin ment to graduate Suhaim Al Thani, wife of the highly-qualified students who Emir. the Emir’s visionary leadership meet the labor market’s expec- This year, around 4,000 stu- and support for QU students, tations,” Dr Khalid Al Khanji said. dents — 1,000 men and 3,000 saying, “The graduation of the Since its inception in 1973, women — will be graduating. 40th batch of students comes QU has served as Qatar’s primary This is the 40th batch of students after years of dedication and institution of higher education. The Qatar University building. to graduate from QU. hard work during which QU has With more than 17,000 students Commenting on the upcom- accomplished many achieve- in its ranks, it is today a beacon areas of national priority. With tailoring them to meet the needs (CED); Engineering (CENG); ing event, Qatar University ments in regional and of higher education and aca- 79 specialisations at the under- of Qatari society. Health Sciences (CHS); Law Vice-President for Student international university demic and research excellence. graduate and graduate levels, QU QU hosts nine colleges — Arts (LAWC); Medicine (CMED); Phar- Affairs Dr Khalid Al Khanji rankings." QU is committed to provid- offers the widest range of aca- and Sciences (CAS); Business and macy (CPH); and Sharia and expressed his appreciation for "The University has also been ing high-quality education in demic programs in Qatar Economics (CBE); Education Islamic Studies (CSIS). 08 HOME / MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 Qatar tops Mena region in Global Peace Index

The Peninsula The report, issued by the relations and nonappearance of attempt to measure the relative second globally and the first Qatar retained first London Institute for Economics internal or external threats or peace status of countries and among Arab countries, the Glo- atar has topped the and Peace in collaboration with conflicts. regions. It is produced by the bal Competitiveness Index (18th Middle East and North place among the the Center for Peace and Con- The World Peace Index is Institute for Economics and globally and the second among African (Mena) region Arab countries and flict Studies at the University of based on a set of criteria that Peace, in consultation with an Arab countries), and the Arab in Global Peace Index placed 30th on global Sydney has listed Qatar as the comprise several aspects, includ- international team of peace Economic Competitiveness Index Q(GPI) in 2017 for the only country in the Middle East ing the internal and external experts, institutes and research (First in Arab). level among 163 ninth year in a row. and North Africa region among affairs of countries such as polit- centres in collaboration with the In 2017, Qatar scored 99.1% Qatar retained first place countries. The country the 50 most secure countries in ical stability, the extent of crime Center for Peace and Conflict in applying the guidelines of among the Arab countries and has scored a rate the world. This reflects Qatar's in society, the level of respect for Studies at the University of Syd- annex 17 on Safeguarding Inter- placed 30th on global level of 1.664, marking a global security status, which is human rights, terrorist crimes on ney, Australia. national Civil Aviation against among 163 countries. The coun- consistent with Qatar National the territory of the State, the Countries are ranked on a Acts of Unlawful Interference. try has scored a rate of 1.664, (0.052) improvement Vision 2030 and the Ministry of extent of participation in support scale of 1-5 degrees so that the Qatar also scored 96.76% in marking a (0.052) improvement compared to last year. Interior's strategy to enhance of peacekeeping forces, the mil- most stable country is 1 and the implementing safety manage- compared to last year. security and security at the state itary capabilities of the State, the least stable is 5. ment and a 100% in annex nine Qatar has maintained its developed countries. level. spread of corruption and the Qatar’s high ranking in the on facilitation. In addition, Qatar first ranking in the Middle East Iceland remains the most According to the report, available space for freedom of report for the last nine years con- was ranked first in the Arab and North Africa during the past peaceful country in the world, a Qatar has maintained its high information and participation of firms its superiority in many world and 33 globally in the years (2009 - 2017) and has position it has held since 2008. score in many indicators like low women in public life and politi- international reports and indi- Human Development Report been ranked best internation- Iceland is followed by New Zea- crime rates, low murder rates, cal life and the extent of health cators during the last period, 2016 of the United Nations ally in the same period by land, Portugal, Austria, and low prison numbers, stable polit- care provided to the people and most notably the index of the saf- Development Program. It also achieving high rates of evalua- Denmark, all of which were ical conditions and a society free education opportunities, etc. est and most peaceful countries ranked first in quality tion that outshined many ranked highly in the 2016 GPI. of terrorism, good international The Global Peace Index is an in the world that placed Qatar education. Qafco organises 'Layali Cannon at Wakra Souq Waqif Al Khair' with Eid Charity

The Peninsula during the programme to spread The winners of the Holy Quran awareness on the virtues of the competition will be announced afco welcomed the holy month. Apart from that, we on the last evening of the Lay- holy month of Ram- have also ensured many educa- ali Al Khair. Apart from that, the adan by organising tional and cultural programmes participants will pray “Al 'Layali Al Khair' in targeting children to help instil Taraweeh prayers” all through Qcoordination with the values embedded with the the six evenings of the pro- Sheikh Eid Bin Mohammad Al holy month.” gramme with Sheikh Ahmed Thani Charitable Foundation Mattar added: "The Qafco Taman from Egypt. The pro- (Eid Charity) here at Qafco’s Al- Ramadan programme has come gramme will conclude with Banush Club, Mesaieed. under the context of the com- understanding the definition of 'Layali Al Khair' started with pany's sense of its social Islam in different languages. a brief opening ceremony on the responsibility and in harmony In addition to the religious evening of Thursday, 6th Ram- with the spirit of the holy month and cultural competitions and adan. The opening ceremony of which aims to spread the values programmes, there will be many 'Layali Al Khair' was held in the of compassion among all soci- other fun activities, games and Children playing atop a cannon at Wakra Souq Waqif yesterday as parents and other presence of Qafco senior man- ety members.” competitions for children, and onlookers watch. Pic: Abdul Basit/ The Peninsula agement; the officials from Eid Mattar said: “Through such collections of prizes and gifts Charity, and general public. The events we can enhance the spirit from Qafco to the general event was also attended by a of bonding and further reinforce public. number of expatriates converted the relationships between com- In addition to Al Banush to Islam. munity members.” Club Restaurant, three well- Maryam Mattar, Public Rela- 'Layali Al Khair' is scheduled known restaurants and cafes in Battle for IS Syria bastion tions & Communications Manager to be held every Thursday and Qatar will participate in the Lay- at Qafco, said: “The company Friday evening,till the 28th day ali Al Khair activities by opening takes such religious events as an of the holy month of Ramadan outlets for food and beverages. opportunity to organise activities in Al Banush Club Mesaieed., It is worth to mention that Raqqa to begin 'in days' with the aim of increasing the The activities during the Qafco's events, celebrations of spirit of solidarity and brother- event will include a variety of religious, national and sports hood among people.” religious, educational and cul- events are not limited to the par- Beirut Raqqa from the north and east, assault on Raqqa begins. He said She further added, “Various tural programmes as well as a ticipation of its employees, but AFP and are close to doing the same the SDF had received "weapons lectures have been organised competition on the Holy Quran. extended to the general public. with the western approach after and advanced equipment from he battle to capture the new advances. the international coalition... as Islamic State group's Syr- The Britain-based Syrian part of preparations for the Tian bastion Raqqa will Observatory for Human Rights launch of the battle for Raqqa, begin "in days", a militia spokes- monitor said the SDF captured which is close". woman said yesterday after the town of Mansura late Friday An AFP correspondent in Ain fresh advances by a Kurdish- and the adjacent Baath Dam on Issa, a key staging ground for Arab alliance battling the the Euphrates River, around 20 SDF operations, saw a convoy militants. km west of Raqqa, yesterday. of armoured vehicles driven by The US-backed Syrian Dem- "This advance will allow the foreign advisers from the US- ocratic Forces (SDF) began an SDF to expand its control on the led coalition against the operation to capture Raqa last southern banks of the Euphra- militants group. Trucks carry- November and has gradually tes River and stabilise the ing bulldozers and other closed in on the city, seizing a western front of Raqqa before machinery were also in the con- town and dam to the west over- launching the final battle to voy. Sello said the SDF would night and yesterday. expel IS from the city," Observ- launch the attack from the Their fighters are now atory director Rami Abdel north, west and east of Raqqa. within a few kilometres of the Rahman said. "We're nearing the "The SDF has already com- militants stronghold to the major battle," he added. pleted the siege from the north, east and west, and are Abdel Rahman said comb- northern and eastern sides and expected to launch their final ing operations were ongoing in is working to complete the siege assault soon. "We will begin in Mansura and at the dam to "dis- from the west," he added. a few days," said Jihan Sheikh mantle mines and search for The SDF is fighting with Ahmed, spokeswoman for the remaining jihadists". broad support from the US-led SDF's "Wrath of the Euphrates" SDF spokesman Talal Sello coalition, which has provided operation to capture Raqqa. said the advances on the west- air cover, assistance from spe- SDF fighters have already ern front were part of the final cial forces on the ground and Officials cutting the ribbon at the opening of 'Layali Al Khair' at Qafco’s Al-Banush Club in Mesaieed. sealed off the approaches to stage of operations before the weaponry. Ramadan celebrations at MovenpickJ Hotel Al Aziziyah

The Peninsula lamb ouzi, complemented by from Qatar, Lebanon, Morocco, Hotel Al Aziziyah. “The hotel international cuisines and live Jordan, Syria and Egypt, as well offers families and corporate o mark the holy month this cooking stations, with Ramadan as the finest treats from Turkey. groups the perfect place to gather year and break the fast in beverages. Expect all the tradi- With so many choices in splen- around and celebrate the values Tstyle, Movenpick Hotel Al tional Ramadan festivities for did surroundings, all guests are that make Ramadan a truly spe- Aziziyah invites guests to an dessert, too, from umm ali to promised a journey of culinary cial occasion. Our hotel is proud authentic Ramadan Iftar in the baklawa and cheese kunafa. discovery and exquisite moments to be family-oriented and relaxed, family-friendly setting Every day the extensive buf- when breaking the fast. respectful of local culture, tradi- of Flavours restaurant. fet menu will feature a special “Movenpick Hotel Al Azizi- tions and all associated From sunset, guests will station, offering the most indul- yah celebrates the holy month celebrations.” enjoy the lavish Iftar menu, gent selection of culinary delights of Ramadan with traditional fes- Priced at QR180 per person, offering an extensive range of from across the Middle East. tivities that promise to delight the Iftar buffet is available from discounts. Meanwhile, suhoor is menus for Iftar and Suhoor are Arabic delicacies, including fam- Changing daily, a dedicated buf- everyone,” said Musa Al Nam- sunset until 9pm. Groups can served from 10pm to 1.30am at also available through room ily favourites such as biryani and fet corner will feature dishes mari, Hotel Manager, Movenpick take advantage of group QR120 per person. Special set service. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA 09 East Libyan forces take desert air base

Benghazi based in eastern Libya that have Reuters The move consolidates rejected a U.N.-backed admin- control for eastern- istration in Tripoli. ibyan forces loyal to Haftar met the head of the eastern-based com- based commander UN-backed Government of mander Khalifa Haftar Khalifa Haftar's self- National Accord (GNA) a month said they had taken the styled Libyan National ago in Abu Dhabi, pledging to strategic military base Army (LNA) over the calm tensions in the south and Lof Jufra yesterday after rival fac- producing hopes of a political tions withdrew. central desert regions deal that could stabilise the The move consolidates con- of Jufra and Sabha, country. trol for Haftar’s self-styled where they have But two weeks later violence Libyan National Army (LNA) over recently taken a string escalated in Jufra and Sabha after the central desert regions of Jufra dozens of fighters loyal to the Ahmed Al Mesmari, a spokesman of Libya's opposition armed forces which are made up of and Sabha, where they have of towns and bases. LNA were killed last month in a militias and some units of the national army based in the east of the country, speaks at a press recently taken a string of towns raid on Brak Al Shati air base conference in the coastal city of Benghazi, yesterday. and bases. near Sabha city. It could also be a key step in Brigades aligned with the the LNA’s stated goal of moving nearly 350km northwest of Jufra. GNA and the Benghazi Defence Mohamed Al Afirs, spokes- BDB then withdrew towards Mis- which it said targeted militants towards the capital, Tripoli. Jufra is just over 500km Brigades (BDB), a force that man for the LNA’s 12th Brigade, rata, LNA officials said. linked to an attack on Coptic On Friday, after the LNA southwest of Benghazi, and includes Islamists and other said his men had found Jufra The latest LNA advances Christians in the southern Egyp- entered towns just south of Jufra about the same distance south- fighters who have fled the LNA’s base deserted when they entered came after heavy LNA air strikes tian province of Minya. military base, its spokesman said east of Tripoli. advances since last year in the late in the morning. Local forces on Jufra. Egypt has also carried However, analysts say the its forces would gradually move The LNA is aligned with a eastern city of Benghazi, have aligned with the LNA had clashed out air strikes in Jufra, as well as strikes appear partly designed to towards the town of Bani Walid, parliament and government since retreated from the area. with the BDB on Friday, but the in the far eastern city of Derna, help Haftar, a close ally of Egypt.

Bahrain foreign minister's Twitter Billions spent on settlers since Israel captured West Bank

account hacked Jerusalem for settlers and on their total costs since June 1967 as injected into settlements, several Israel favours annexation of the AFP security. $20bn. The total surface area activists favourable to the crea- large settlement blocs which are MANAMA: Hackers took over More than 600,000 settlers of settlements construction in tion of an independent home to 300,000 Jews. the Twitter account of the uccessive Israeli govern- live among 2.9 million Palestin- the West Bank has doubled in Palestinian state argue that set- "We have drawn up a Bahraini foreign minister yes- ments have invested ians in the West Bank and 18 years, according to the non- tlements are not irreversible. detailed and credible plan on the terday. The hack, which Sbillions of dollars over the annexed east Jerusalem, with governmental organisation. The Israeli economy has the removal of 100,000 settlers" purported to be carried out in past 50 years on settlements in frequent outbreaks of violence. As a financial incentive for means to finance the resettle- because the government has the name of a fringe militant the occupied West Bank, mak- The figures also do not the expansion of settlements, the ment inside the country of refused to do so despite an offi- group, came after the Bah- ing any withdrawal from the include the Gaza Strip which average settler receives three 100,000 Jews, according to cial recommendation dating raini authorities dissolved the Palestinian territory a costly Israel also captured in 1967 but times more in public subsidies Gilad Sher, a former close aide back to 2010, said Sher. kingdom's last major opposi- proposition. from where its army and settlers than a resident of Israel proper to ex-prime minister Ehud "Our conclusions are clear: tion movement and after There is no official overall pulled out in 2005. within its pre-1967 borders. Barak, estimating the cost at the situation is by no means irre- police shot dead five protest- figure for Israel's spending on The settlements, which are Shlomo Swirski of the $10bn. versible. Economic options exist ers while dispersing a Jewish settlements since the June deemed illegal under interna- Adva Center, another NGO, Sher, a founder of Blue- for the implementation of a solu- long-running sit-in. 1967 Six-Day War. tional law, are widely seen as estimates that Israel spent White Future which advocates tion of two states for two The foreign ministry con- Each year, the finance min- a key obstacle to peace between $15.2bn between 1988 and "the Jewish and democratic peoples." firmed the hack, blaming it on istry has published partial Israel and the Palestinians. No 2015 alone. future of Israel", was referring to Nathanson said it was "per- the "terrorist party," without figures, amounting to $3.5bn Israeli government, however, "This burden has contributed the number of residents of iso- fectly possible" to envisage a elaborating. Yesterday's over the 12 years up to 2015, but has turned its back on the to deepening social inequality in lated West Bank settlements withdrawal of 100,000 settlers hackers tagged their posts the sum does not include invest- settlers. as much as the money goes to which are considered the most in phases over a period of two to with the name and logo of ments before 2003. Roby Nathanson, head of the settlements and their defence at likely to be evacuated under any three years. Saraya Al Mukhtar, a Shia It also does not cover the vast Macro Center for Political Eco- the expense of social budgets," two-state peace settlement with "The problem is not an eco- militant group with a strong amounts spent on infrastructure nomics, which publishes reports he said. the Palestinians. nomic one, it is above all online presence. such as special roads reserved on settlements, estimates the Despite the huge sums The political consensus in political," he said. Many dead while fleeing IS in Mosul South Africa opposition Mosul suspends former leader Reuters

ozens of dead bodies of Johannesburg public statements "in connec- civilians killed while flee- AFP tion with colonialism Ding an Islamic State-held undermine our reconciliation neighborhood in Mosul were outh Africa's main oppo- project". lying yesterday in a street close sition party, the "Ms Zille's original tweets to the front line with Iraqi armed SDemocratic Alliance, yes- and subsequent justifications forces, a Reuters TV crew terday suspended former leader have damaged our standing in reported. Helen Zille over Twitter mes- the public mind," he said. The bodies belonged to men, sages in which she said "Our public representatives women and children. Bags in colonialism had brought ben- must, at all times, be sensitive which they carried their belong- efits to the country. to the legitimate anger that ings were strewn around the The DA, which won 22 per- people still feel about our past street leading out of the Zanjili cent of the vote in the last and its legacy." districts, one of three still in the general election, hopes to make The DA, which promotes a hands of Islamic State in Mosul. major gains in the 2019 elec- liberal, equal-opportunity mes- Hundreds others managed tion but it has struggled to shed sage, is pushing hard to broaden to reach the government lines, its image as a "white" party. its appeal among black voters. some wounded and some car- Wounded displaced Iraqi children who fled from clashes get treatment in western Mosul, Zille, who is the current But it has been bruised by social rying apparently dead bodies in premier of Western Cape prov- media scandals as the party yesterday. blankets. ince, unleashed fierce criticism tries to take advantage of the from her own party and oppo- declining popularity of the rul- nents. South Africa remains ing African National Congress deeply divided more than 20 (ANC). Lesotho votes in years after the end of white- "For those claiming legacy Beheaded Tunisian shepherd's brother dead minority apartheid rule, as stark of colonialism was ONLY neg- third election racial inequality leaves millions ative, think of our independent Tunis The Islamic State group caliphate), claimed that killing, of black people with poor hous- judiciary, transport infrastruc- in five years AFP claimed responsibility, accord- accusing the boy of betraying ing, education and job ture, piped water," Zille wrote ing to the SITE Intelligence their movements to the army. opportunities. on Twitter in March. he brother of a shepherd Group which monitors extrem- Nessma television said Kha- Mmusi Maimane, the DA's She was suspended from MASERU: Voters in the small whose beheading by ist organisations. It quoted the lifa Soltani's body was taken to first black leader, said Zille's the party until a disciplinary southern African kingdom of Tjihadists outraged Tunisia IS Amaq agency as saying the a hospital in the central Kasser- social media posts and other hearing is completed. Lesotho cast ballots yester- has himself been found dead man killed on Friday was a ine region for an autopsy. day in an election expected after being abducted, media "spy... who worked for the ben- Prime Minister Youssef to lead to another fractious reports and the defence minis- efit of the Tunisian intelligence Chahed has called for a man- coalition government and ter's spokesman said on Mount Mghilla". hunt for the perpetrators and Gambian protesters clash with troops the risk of deepening yesterday. Oueslati did not provide fur- asked Defence Minister Farhat instability. Khalifa Soltani was kid- ther details about the victim, but Horchani to head to the area, the BANJUL: A Gambian protester died of gunshot wounds yester- It is the third general elec- napped on Friday in the Mount media reports said he was the channel said. The leftist Popu- day, the day after being shot as supporters of former Gambian tion since 2012 in Lesotho, Mghilla area, and a security brother of Mabrouk Soltani, a lar Front, meanwhile, called for leader Yahya Jammeh clashed with West African forces. where years of political in- sweep recovered his body after 16-year-old shepherd who was a demonstration in Tunis "to Gambian information minister, Demba Ali Jawo, said that a fighting have undermined a "terrorist group" announced decapitated on November 13, denounce terrorism" and show group of people had protested on Friday in Jammeh's home vil- attempts to tackle dire pov- his abduction, Belhassen Oues- 2015. The Tunisian branch of IS, solidarity with the Soltani lage of Kanilai, 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the capital Banjul, erty and unemployment. lati said. Jund Al Khilafa (soldiers of the family. over the presence West African ECOMIG forces in the area. 10 VIEWS SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR MOHAMMED SALIM MOHAMED [email protected]

EDITORIAL A wise move S President Donald Trump has postponed his decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The pace of developments after Trump’s election and his pre- election U rhetoric pitching himself as the greatest friend of Israel had caused concern that he would act on his promise to shift the embassy to Jerusalem, Trump left the door open for thus creating extraordinary roadblocks in his own much trumpeted plan to find a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. So the postponement should come as a surprise and relief to Palestinians a Jerusalem embassy and the supporters of their cause all over the world, but at the same time the move is in line with Trump’s tradition of somersaults acquired in the brief period bad for you, then help me help you obstacles at the moment for getting he has been in office. Eli Lake avoid that, for the time being. peace talks going. To start, the But whatever the reasons that led Trump to the Bloomberg One White House official told me current Israeli government is new decision, there is no doubt that his visit to the Trump is eyeing current discussions comprised of political parties that region has helped him get a first-hand knowledge of between Israel, Jordan and Egypt in range from skeptical to hostile on the Middle East situation. Leaders from our region this respect. This would allow Israel to the idea of land for peace. Even if convincingly argued with Trump that shifting the US sell natural gas to its neighbors, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embassy at this stage would have disastrous pave the way for more agreements to wanted a final status solution to the consequences than benefits. He must have weighed onald Trump’s presidency so far allow Jordanian and Egyptian conflict, it’s unlikely his government the facts presented by these leaders against those has followed a pattern of nationals to work in Israel as well as could deliver it. presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin disruption. He snubs European deals to share water resources. Then there is Mahmoud Abbas, the Netanyahu and his supporters, and finally agreed allies. He tweets in atrocious Most important, though, Trump is president of the Palestinian Authority. with the Arab point of view. It’s also a fact that grammar. He pulls out of banking on Jordan and Egypt to He hasn’t stood for an election since Dinternational agreements. He shakes things pressure the Palestinians in the peace 2005. His political party was ousted Trump has rescued his own planned peace initiative up. negotiations his advisers would like to from Gaza a decade ago. by going back on his But in one important respect, Trump’s see restarted. And he has yet to make any misconceived promise. presidency appears entirely conventional. So far, there are signs that a new concession on Trump’s request to The relocation would That is in the Middle East. Like his recent peace process is in the works. The end incitement to violence against upend, even if it happens predecessors, he promised during the Palestinians are said, for example, to Jews, to say nothing of the later, decades of US presidential campaign to move the US have dropped their preconditions for authority’s program to pay off the Trump’s decision policy by granting de embassy to Jerusalem. And like his negotiations with Israel. families of suicide bombers and to delay the facto US recognition of predecessors, he violated that promise now That alone is progress. Under other terrorists. Israel’s claim to all of shifting of US that he is in office. President Barack Obama, the This is why most Middle East Jerusalem as its capital. So why did Trump do it? “To maximise Palestinians demanded at first a experts say the time isn’t right to push embassy in Israel After such a destructive the chances of successfully negotiating a settlement freeze and for a final deal that would create a from Tel Aviv to move, there would be deal between Israel and the Palestinians,” then later the return of Palestinian state out of the territory Jerusalem has nothing left to negotiate according to a White House statement Palestinian prisoners Israel won in the 1967 war. brought relief to between Israelis and issued Thursday on his decision to sign a — some of whom had Those same experts would Palestinians. And waiver of the Jerusalem Embassy Act, that killed US citizens. caution Trump against moving the Palestinians. Palestinians can’t be would have set in motion the process for the All of that said, embassy or otherwise signaling US expected to forfeit their US moving its embassy to Israel’s capital. It there are many recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s right to freedom and the doesn’t get much more conventional than capital. Given Trump’s defiance of right to their own land that. What modern president hasn’t tried to the experts on the peace process, confiscated by Israelis. maximize the chances of that ever-elusive Trump has left open it’s entirely plausible that A statement issued by peace deal? the possibility that he sometime in the future he will the White House, however, said that the president It would be easy to end the story there. will eventually keep his also defy them on Jerusalem. You still intends to relocate the embassy to Jerusalem and But in this case, Trump has left open the could say it would follow a the actual relocation was a question of time. In that possibility that he will eventually keep his campaign promise: “As pattern. sense, Washington’s decision cannot be called a campaign promise: “As he has repeatedly he has repeatedly stated victory for the Palestinian side, especially since stated his intention to move the embassy, his intention to move the The writer is a Bloomberg view columnist. He was the senior national Trump has aligned himself solidly with the Israeli the question is not if that move happens, but embassy, the question is not interests with total disregard for Palestinians. But it’s only when,” the White House statement also security correspondent for the Daily a small victory. It shows that collective bargaining by said. if that move happens, but Beast and covered national security and Arab countries and strong, persuasive diplomacy will With Trump, it’s never clear what only when. intelligence for the Washington Times, produce positive results. promises, if any, he intends to keep. This is the New York Sun and UPI. The path is now clear for Trump to launch his the same guy who campaigned on resetting peace initiative, though it’s not clear how he is going ties with Russia, only to reach out to Russia’s to do it due to the extreme complications involved in traditional rival, China, in his first weeks in restarting the peace process and secondly, due to office. During the transition he signaled he might recognise the sovereignty of Taiwan. Trump’s own problems at home, which are too Then, of course, he backtracked on that as many. But before he embarks on his ambitious plan, well. he will have to take a few more steps to gain the White House officials tell me that Trump, confidence of Palestinians and Arabs. for now, believes he can use the embassy issue as leverage. Normally this would mean holding out the prospect of moving the embassy as a carrot to the Israelis in QUOTE OF THE DAY exchange for concessions on settlements. In this case, however, it’s a little different: Trump is using the prospect of an embassy move as a stick with Israel’s North Korea and its Arab neighbors. nuclear weapons It has been reported that Jordan’s King programme pose a Abdullah, whose country enjoys a peace threat to us all. The treaty with Israel, warned Trump that an embassy move would mean riots. This is a regime’s actions are familiar refrain for anyone who has manifestly illegal followed this issue. The vaunted Arab Street under international will rise up if America deigns to recognize law. Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Let’s leave aside for a moment that this provides a heckler’s veto on US policy Jim Mattis A photo taken from East Jerusalem shows a view of Israel’s controversial toward the world’s only Jewish state. In US Defence Secretary another sense, it means that Trump is calling separation barrier dividing Jerusalem from the West Bank city of Abu Dis, and a longstanding bluff. If US recognition is so in the distance the Jordanian capital, Amman. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 OPINION 11 World’s most neglected conflict rages on in the CAR

many of the most serious crimes Lewis Mudge and priority areas for Al Jazeera investigations. The critical next step is ensur- ing that the court gets the full funding that it needs and becomes operational as soon as possible. ast month, I sat down with Monica, a This includes working to protect 30-year-old polio survivor in Bambari, a witnesses and to secure court war-torn town in the Central African personnel. Republic. She was living in a displace- The government has taken ment camp after intense fighting forced important steps in recent Lher to flee the town of Bakala, 110 kilometres months, including the appoint- away. “I went into the house to hide,” she said, ments of a chief prosecutor and describing the Bakala violence. “My husband told other senior personnel, but it me to stay there and he left with the kids to hide can do more to get the court up outside. They were chased into the bush and and running, such as appointing killed.” a point-person in the president’s In the camp, Monica — who can’t walk - is office. alone and struggles to find food. She is haunted by Governments have pledged the memory of her husband and three children, only $5.2m of a needed $7m for ages 2, 3 and 4. “I have lost everything,” she said. the first 14 months of the court. “These men who kill us …they treat us as if our lives Donors and the UN should back are worth nothing. Will they ever know what they the court over the long term, have done?” including technical and logisti- Violence in the Central African Republic cal support. And they should has fallen from the world’s radar, but that does ensure that amnesty for grave not mean the killings have let up. Over a dozen crimes is not part of any peace armed groups now roam the country commit- deals negotiated by the UN or ting a range of abuses. Violence is on the rise others. in the eastern provinces and impunity still Warlords and commanders Armed fighters of the UPC militia in the Central African Republic town of Bambari. reigns. need to be held accountable A comprehensive new report by the UN, for the killings and people like released this week, makes the extent of the devas- international humanitarian law from 2003 to Criminal Court (ICC) opened investigations in Sep- Monica should know their tation abundantly clear. It should draw urgently 2015, and in the Central African Republic the tember 2014 and this document will facilitate its lives, and the lives of their needed attention to this bloody crisis and spur task was immense. An eight-member team work. However, the ICC will most likely only target families, are worth something. action to help it end. conducted field investigations and combed a handful of suspects. The next report they see The 369-page “Mapping Report” documents through 1,200 documents. They cover 620 The task of dealing with many of the other should be a progress report on serious violations of human rights and crimes “of the most serious gravity” committed crimes falls to the Special Criminal Court(SCC), a justice. by various parties, including village burnings, unique judicial body established in the Central Afri- killings and rape. can Republic in 2015. The writer is a researcher in the The report establishes a timeline for the vio- With national and international judges and Africa Division at Human Rights Warlords and commanders lence from the rule of former President François prosecutors, the court has a mandate to investigate Watch focusing on the Central Afri- Bozize up to when the Seleka armed group that and prosecute grave human rights violations in the can Republic since 2013. need to be held accountable overthrew Bozize fractured into different armed country since 2003. Together with the ICC, the SCC for the killings and people bands. offers a meaningful opportunity to break the cycles like Monica should know But the report is not just an exercise for the his- of impunity that have plagued the country for their lives, and the lives of torical record. It was written with an eye towards years. ensuring justice for the crimes it documents: a road The special court, the government and the their families, are worth map for prosecutors to hold those responsible for United Nations now effectively have a road map for something. serious crimes to account. action. The mapping report does not establish indi- D-RING ROAD On the international level, the International vidual criminal responsibility, but it highlights POST BOX: 3488 DOHA - QATAR Trump’s withdrawal from Paris pact accomplishes nothing [email protected] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 Trump’s view of the world, less competition for a FAX: +974 4455 7758 Ben Adler finite supply of fossil fuels would help American The Washington Post businesses by restraining prices and aiding Trump’s MANAGING EDITOR “energy independence” goals. TEL: 4462 7505 And, as Secretary of State and former ExxonMo- bil CEO Rex Tillerson kept pointing out internally, DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR resident Trump’s decision to pull we can’t promote the interests of US fossil fuel com- TEL: 4455 7769 out of the Paris climate agree- panies within the agreement’s future negotiations ment serves no practical and implementation if we’re no longer part of it. So purpose. It has no benefit other even from the vantage point of protecting the inter- LOCAL NEWS SECTION than pandering to the conserva- ests of domestic fossil-fuel corporations, Trump’s TEL: 4455 7743 Ptive movement’s ideological opposition to action doesn’t make sense. multilateralism and environmental regu- This decision amounts to arbitrarily siding with BUSINESS NEWS SECTION lation. Even Trump’s own stated policy coal over other domestic energy sources. The pri- TEL: 4462 7535 goals would be better served by staying in mary beneficiaries of moving away from coal to the agreement. provide electricity are its competitors: natural gas, SPORT NEWS SECTION Set aside the argument that walking wind, solar and hydropower. All of those are abun- TEL: 4455 7745 out of the 2015 global deal to mitigate cli- dantly available on US soil. The natural gas boom is mate change is immoral. However benefiting oil and gas companies such as Exxon, ONLINE SECTION compelling, that point rests on assump- which may be one reason that Tillerson favored TEL: 4462 7501 tions Trump plainly does not share: that staying in the agreement. Renewable energy sources [email protected] climate science is real and that rich coun- produce far more jobs per kilowatt hour of electric- tries should not ruin the lives of the ity than coal, because the wind and sunshine are PUBLIC RELATIONS world’s poorest people. Trump ran on free to acquire but manufacturing and installing the Demonstrators protest President Donald Trump’s decision rejecting climate science and putting technology to capture them is more labor-intensive TEL: 4455 7613 “America First.” Although most Americans to exit the Paris climate change accord in Chicago, Illinois. than operating a few machines to conduct moun- [email protected] actually accept climate science and sup- taintop-removal mining. Solar and natural gas each port action to mitigate climate change, weakening their emissions reduction pledges or simply failing employ more than twice as many Americans as coal. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Trump won on that platform, and he can’t to meet them. Energy efficiency programs, which are part of the TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 realistically be expected to suddenly start Trump’s reasoning for pulling out rests on one demonstra- Clean Power Plan that Trump’s Environmental Pro- FAX: 4455 7870 caring about the planet. bly false premise — that climate change isn’t happening — and tection Agency is scrapping and are on the chopping [email protected] But he also ran on promises that were one premise that is, at best, very questionable: that burning block in Trump’s budget, save money for US energy not so much about a coherent policy pro- more fossil fuels would be better for growing GDP, employ- consumers — including the heavy manufacturing CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT gram as a set of results: faster economic ment and wages in the near and medium term. But even if you sector that Trump says he wants to revive. TEL: 4455 7857 growth, a stronger manufacturing sector accepted Trump’s premises, the nonbinding nature of the Trump himself used to believe in what the Paris [email protected] and enhanced American power and pres- agreement means that we could have stayed in it without accord is doing, so Thursday’s announcement can’t tige on the global stage. harming our economy. In his announcement of the decision be justified as a reflection of his deeply held convic- SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION And leaving Paris impedes, rather than Thursday afternoon, Trump referred to “the draconian eco- tions. In 2009, during the previous round of climate TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 achieves, those goals. nomic burdens imposed on our country” and “onerous energy negotiations in Copenhagen, Trump signed a public FAX: 44557819 Trump didn’t have to exit the climate restrictions.” Both of those are simply imaginary. letter to Obama endorsing a strong global climate agreement to live up to his promise to end But our withdrawal will cause real harm to US interests, agreement. [email protected] the “War on Coal.” He could just have including those that Trump claims to care about. Pulling out It makes sense only as a political statement: a removed President Barack Obama’s tells the rest of the world that there will be wild oscillations in middle finger to the scientific, environmental and domestic climate regulations such as the global diplomatic policy between administrations, which international communities. It is a sop to his base All thoughts and views Clean Power Plan, which he is doing any- reduces Trump’s own ability as president to influence other voters, ideological elements of the GOP donor class expressed in these columns way. Contrary to White House claims, countries. It also means that other countries are even more dis- and the right-wing media, for whom infuriating lib- nothing in the Paris agreement requires couraged from meeting, increasing or exceeding their own erals and foreigners is its own reward. are those of the writers, not any specific climate regulation in the US Paris targets for emissions reductions and transitioning to Unfortunately, the price for doing that is straining of the newspaper. The deal is, after all, entirely voluntary, clean energy. For the United States to fail to hit our targets is our relations with allies and unleashing catastrophic because Republican intransigence meant it one thing; walking away from the whole endeavor altogether climate change. All correspondence could never be ratified by the Senate. Each sends a much worse signal about the long-term prospects of regarding Views and The writer is a journalist in New York. He is a former country’s emissions targets are called successful global cooperation in averting catastrophic climate Opinion pages should be “Nationally Determined Contributions” change. reporter for Grist, the Nation, Newsweek and Politico and because they are nationally determined. And by any metric, the United States would benefit from has written for the New York Times, the Atlantic, the mailed to the There is no penalty for signatory countries other nations transitioning to clean energy. Even if you buy Guardian and the New Republic. [email protected] 12 ASIA SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017

CBI busts Army India & France to jointly work on climate change postings racket; New Delhi Promising visit Reuters arrests official The alliance seeks to New Delhi mobilise more than a ndian Prime Minister IANS trillion dollars by Narendra Modi and French 2030 and bring President Emmanuel he CBI yesterday said it Macron said yesterday their together well over has busted a transfer countries would cooperate 100 solar-rich Tracket at the Army Iin the fight against climate countries to deliver Headquarters here with the change, just days after the US solar energy to some arrest of a Lt. Colonel and a withdrew from the Paris climate of the planet’s middleman who took a bribe agreement. poorest. for the transfer of a Ben- Modi, whose country is the galuru-based Army officer to world’s third-biggest emissions The two leaders, who a choice posting. generator, said in Russia on Fri- Lt. Col. Ranganathan met for the first time, day that he would continue to Suvramani Moni, posted in announced no back the deal and Macron has the Personnel Department at said the 2015 Paris agreement is contracts or new the Army Headquarters, was irreversible despite US President initiatives. arrested along with middle- Donald Trump’s decision to men Gaurav Kohli from withdraw. “The protection of the said, adding that France would Moni's residence in the environment and the mother go above and beyond its Paris national capital on Friday fol- planet is an article of faith,” Modi agreement commitments. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) says goodbye to French President Emmanuel lowing a tip-off, an official said at a joint news conference He said he planned a visit to Macron after a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on the last leg of his four-nation said. with Macron in Paris. India before year-end for a first Separate CBI teams con- visit, yesterday. The two leaders, who met for summit of the International Solar ducted raids on the premises the first time, announced no con- Alliance, an initiative launched of the accused and others at tracts or new initiatives. by New Delhi and Paris during nations. The alliance seeks to The two leaders said they Internet. Ties between the two over 10 places in Delhi, Ben- “We are both convinced that the Paris climate talks. mobilise more than a trillion dol- had also discussed how to com- countries have grown in recent galuru, Hyderabad, and our countries have to do a lot for Macron said the alliance will lars by 2030 and bring together bat terrorism and that they years most notably in the Thiruvananthapuram and the ecological and environmen- lead to concrete measures in well over 100 solar-rich coun- would work on concrete initia- defence sector with New Delhi seized Rs 10 lakh and several tal transition and the fight favour of solar energy and com- tries to deliver solar energy to tives before the end of the year ordering 36 French-made Rafale incriminating documents. against global warming,” Macron mit the companies of both some of the planet’s poorest. to fight terrorism on the fighter jets. The arrested persons were presented in a Special CBI court on Saturday, which sent them to four-day CBI custody. The agency said Govt ready for talks with Kashmiris NIA recovers LeT letterheads both were arrested when Kohli visited the Lt. Col.'s and `1 crore cash in raids house to deliver him Rs 2 New Delhi lakh, a part of the Rs 5 lakh IANS Two soldiers dead in ambush Srinagar Ahmed Dar aka Bitta Karate, bribe, for the transfer of Army IANS and suspended Hurriyat leader officer S. Subhas. aintaining that the Kash- Nayeem Khan, and their aides. "With their arrest, the CBI mir issue cannot be Srinagar disputed region with India. he NIA yesterday seized In Delhi, raids were carried has busted a transfer racket Msolved in a "trice", AA One of the injured soldiers over `1 crore in cash, let- out in Ballimaran, Chandni in the Army Headquarters Home Minister Rajnath Singh is in critical condition, the Tterheads of banned Chowk, Rohini and Greater Kai- here that involved manipu- said the government was ready wo soldiers were killed source who wished to stay terrorist organisations like LeT, lash II areas, and at a cold lation of Army postings in lieu for talks with whichever section and four others anonymous due to restrictions and incriminating documents storage in Haryana's Sonepat, of illegal gratification," the of Kashmiris was prepared to Twounded when sus- on talking to the media, said; during two dozen raids con- a National Investigation Agency CBI official said. engage with the Centre, includ- pected militants ambushed an the injured soldiers were ducted across Srinagar, Delhi, official said. Of the Rs 1.15 crore Besides Moni and Kohli, ing the youths, but parried Indian army convoy in Jammu evacuated to a military hos- and Haryana in connection with money seized, about Rs 65-70 the CBI has registered an FIR questions on talks with separa- and Kashmir yesterday, pital in Badamibagh, terror funding by Pakistan- lakh was recovered from Sri- against a Secunderabad- tist groups. according to a military source. Srinagar. based groups to stoke unrest in nagar, and Rs 35-40 lakh in based Army officer He said the central govern- The attack took place in The attack came a day Kashmir Valley. Delhi, the official said. The NIA Purushottam, S. Subhas and ment wants a permanent Qazigund area, about 70km after the Indian Army Chief, The agency also registered also recovered property related other unnamed persons for solution to the Kashmir prob- from the capital, Srinagar, at Gen. Bipin Rawat, met five of a case against LeT founder documents, letterheads of criminal conspiracy under the lem by taking its people into around 11.15am when a mili- his top seven army generals Hafiz Saeed under the provi- banned terrorist organisations Indian Penal Code and the confidence and is moving ahead tary convoy was passing by a in Srinagar during a two-day sions of waging war against the such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Prevention of Corruption Act. in that direction. highway that connects the long meeting. country and criminal and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), "The CBI has conveyed "In democracy all the prob- conspiracy. pen drives, laptops and other that the arrest is due to per- lems can be solved through NIA officials conducted incriminating documents from sonal improper practices of talks. We want to evolve a solu- for that. Kashmiri youths are the Honestly speaking, we want this raids in 14 places in Srinagar, the premises of the accused. the officer. The CBI has indi- tion through talks. Whoever future of the nation," he said, permanent solution by taking including the houses of three The official said the agency cated towards seeking of wants to talk to us, we are com- addressing the media on three Kashmiri people into confi- separatist leaders -- Tehreek- would conduct raids at fresh monetary gratification by the pletely ready for it. If some years of the Modi government. dence. It can't be resolved in a e-Hurriyat leader Ghazi Javed locations revealed during ques- officer. The details are under organisations of youth would "We want a permanent solu- trice (chutki mein). It will Baba, Jammu and Kashmir Lib- tioning of the aides of the investigation," Army sources like to hold talks we are ready tion to the Kashmir problem. require time," Singh said. eration Front leader Farooq separatist leaders. said.

Ramadan prayers 97-year-old appears for MA exam

Patna an NOU official said. "He sat for trying to send a message to the IANS three hours like every other stu- youth that defeat should never dent, most of them younger than be accepted. I want to tell them t was a sunny day and Raj his grandchildren. It surprised not to get upset and depressed. Kumar Vaishya had trouble us all, including other exami- 'Mauka aur awsar har wakt Iwalking. But determined to nees," the official said. rehta hai, kewal khud pe vish- get a postgraduate degree, the Early this year, Vaishya was was hona chahiyea' (There will 97-year-old sat for a three-hour recognised by the Limca Book be always be opportunities for MA exam, along with students of Records as the oldest man to those who believe in them- younger than his apply for a postgraduate degree. selves)," Vaishya said in mix of grandchildren. A rare man, Raj Kumar Hindi and Urdu. Vaishya, who graduated in Vaishya has set an example for He was frank in admitting 1938, was appearing for his final millions of people who use age that it is not easy to follow the year MA (economics) examina- as an excuse to give up on their routine of a student at his age. tion at Nalanda Open University dreams. "I have decided to prove "It is really difficult for me to (NOU), Patna. The exams began that even at 97 years, one can wake up early to prepare for the on Thursday and will continue fulfil their dreams and achieve exams. My first exam was on Kashmiri residents pray inside the Sheikh Abdul Qadir Geelani shrine in downtown till next week. anything. I am an example," June 1." Vaishya enrolled for the Srinagar, yesterday. He wrote in English and Vaishya said here. course in 2015. He said he has used nearly two dozen sheets, Vaishya said: "I am also no plans to pursue a PhD. Ozone concentration at alarming levels in Delhi: CSE study

New Delhi February and May 2017, the days with unhealthy levels of per cubic metre) and one-hour with the onset of summer. Director, Research and Advocacy IANS ozone concentration was found ozone. standard is 180 units. "Delhi and NCR are in the and head of CSE's air pollution to be very high —3.4 times the Ozone, a more reactive form "The share of days violating grip of multi-pollutant crisis. programme. lready dealing with the normal standard. of oxygen, causes lung-related the eight-hour Cental Pollution Even before the health risk from Diesel vehicles are one of the high particulate matters in "Early deaths due to ozone issues and heavy breathing. Control Board (CPCB) standard particulate matter could be major sources of the nitrogen Athe air, the national capi- pollution are the highest in India. According to experts, its not of 100 microgram per cubic addressed, deadly ozone has oxides (NOx) and thus indirectly tal this summer has witnessed The new burden of disease study directly emitted but is formed in metre in February was 12 per raised its ugly head in Delhi and the ozone. "Diesel vehicles pro- an alarming build-up of ozone, by Health Effect Institute has a reaction between nitrogen cent -- this increased to 19 per NCR. "Without a time-bound duce five times higher the NOx a Centre for Science and Envi- shown that early deaths due to oxides emitted from diesel vehi- cent in March, 52 per cent in implementation strategy and than the petrol vehicles... The ronment (CSE) study said ozone have jumped by 148 per cles and hydro-carbons in the April and finally a whopping 77 preventive action, this can BS-6 standard fuel, which would yesterday. cent in India," it said. presence of sunlight. Its stand- per cent in May," the CSE said, deepen into serious public health be launched in India in 2020, According to the CSE find- Additional analysis also ards are based on hours -- the adding that the trend shows that crisis. This will spare neither the would drop this emission by 80 ings, on several occasions and shows heat waves and sunshine eight-hour standard concentra- the ozone pollution in the city rich nor the poor," said Anumita per cent," said Vivek Chatopad- several locations, between have increased the frequency of tion is 100 units (microgramme was worsening progressively Roychowdhury, Executive hyay of the CSE. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 ASIA 13 Deadly explosions rock funeral in Kabul Kabul Three blasts The funeral of Salim Ezadyar, AFP the son of an Afghan senator, was Witnesses reported attended by senior government t least 20 people were three blasts at the figures including Chief Executive killed and dozens burial site of Salim Abdullah Abdullah, but his office wounded as explo- Ezadyar, who was told AFP that he was unhurt. No sions rocked the among four people group has so far claimed respon- funeral of an Afghan killed on Friday when sibility for the attack. President politician'sA son who died during the protest Ashraf Ghani condemned the an anti-government protest over degenerated into bombings, saying on Twitter: "The spiralling insecurity in Kabul, street clashes with country is under attack. We must raising tensions in a city already stay united." police, fuelling anger on edge. The fresh killings are likely against the Witnesses reported three to further polarise a city that has government. blasts at the burial site of Salim been on edge since a truck Smoke rising from the site of a suicide attack after a blast in Kabul, yesterday. Ezadyar, who was among four bombing on Wednesday in people killed on Friday when the So far six dead Kabul's diplomatic quarter killed protest degenerated into street bodies and 87 90 people and wounded hun- demonstrators calling for Ghani funeral, authorities had sealed But dozens of people still clashes with police, fuelling wounded people dreds of others, in the deadliest to step down over spiralling inse- off roads in the centre of the city, gathered yesterday under a tent anger against the government. have been brought to attack on the Afghan capital curity clashed with police on citing the threat of new attacks close to the presidential palace The hilly, wind-swept site Kabul hospitals," since 2001. Friday, prompting officials to beat on large gatherings of people. calling for Ghani's government was littered with bloodied health ministry The bombing highlighted the them back with live rounds in the "We have intelligence reports to resign, but the assembly was corpses and dismembered limbs, spokesman Waheed ability of militants to strike even air, tear gas and water cannon. that our enemies are trying again largely peaceful. local television footage showed, Majroh said. in the capital's most secure dis- Kabul city was on lockdown to carry out attacks on gather- "Any government attempt to with one witness telling AFP that trict, home to the presidential yesterday with armed check- ings and demonstrations," Kabul disrupt our fair and just demon- "people were blown to pieces" palace and foreign embassies points and armoured vehicles garrison commander Gul Nabi stration will show their due to the impact of the blasts. brought to Kabul hospitals," that are enveloped in a maze of patrolling the streets to prevent Ahmadzai said earlier yesterday. complicity with terrorist groups "So far six dead bodies and health ministry spokesman concrete blast walls. a repeat of Friday's protests. "We hope that people will stay and the perpetrators attack," said 87 wounded people have been Waheed Majroh told AFP. Hundreds of angry Before the blasts at the away from protests." a spokesman for the protesters.

Renowned Scores flee Islamist gunmen in war-torn Marawi city guitarist Marawi city of 200,000 and the Islamic AFP capital of the mainly Catholic Amir Zaki Philippines. cores of people ran to free- "We laid on the floor in the passes away dom through a terrifying dark each night whenever we Sgauntlet of military air heard gunshots or explosions. Karachi strikes and Islamist gunmen yes- We barricaded the doors with Internews terday, nearly two weeks after furniture and a refrigerator," being trapped in a deadly battle high school teacher Jerona enowned Pakistani gui- for a Philippine city. Sedrome, 27, said. tarist Amir Zaki has They included one of Marawi But after two attempts, the Rdied of heart failure, city's most respected politicians, militants forced their way in and leaving behind a legion of who hid 71 Christians in his home the teachers hid in a tunnel fans shocked at his untimely and led 144 people through beneath the house, she added. demise. He was 49. He was downtown streets held by self- The rescued teachers buried yesterday. styled Islamic State fighters and recounted between tears and Zaki was one of the most strewn with rotting corpses. gulps of coffee and bottled water inspiring musicians of the Norodin Alonto Lucman, the how they survived on steamed country. Many believe he was former vice governor of a Islam- Philipine marines patrolling a deserted area on their way to assault an militants' hideout in rice and rainwater over nearly the best of his generation. He ist self-ruled area that includes Marawi city, yesterday. two weeks of air strikes, fires, emerged on the showbiz the now embattled city, said he and gunfire that destroyed many scene in the 1980s when the twice turned away gunmen, of the surrounding houses. face of popular music was some of them neighbours and bombed out downtown streets even the smell of rotting flesh," joined us," said Lucman. "If it didn't rain we had no changing in the country. distant relatives, at his Marawi at the mercy of Islamist he said of their two-kilometre Twenty-three Christian water and we didn't eat," said He played as a session home asking for food and weap- snipers. route. teachers and 15 other compan- Sedrome's younger sister and musician for many bands, ons. But supplies eventually ran "It's strewn with debris, dead "As we walked many people ions also ran to safety yesterday fellow teacher, Jane Rose including Vital Signs and out and they fled through bodies of chickens, rats, dogs, saw us on the street and they from another area of Marawi, a Sedrome, 25. Fuzon, and music companies, but earned recognition through his masterful solo renditions. His collaboration with Internet services to Pakistan claims lynching 5 Indian soldiers artists such as Alamgir, Gumby and pop singer Had- Karachi The Pakistani army spokes- civilian areas along the Line of iqaKiani in a band called cost more in Punjab Reuters man said yesterday that its Control, army to retaliate.” an Rough Cut did not garner troops had retaliated, killing five Indian defence spokesman said. enough accolades as far as the he Pakistani military said soldiers, wounding many, and Pakistani troops fired indis- mainstream music buffs go, Lahore receive Rs1,502bn under gen- yesterday its troops had destroying bunkers. criminately with small arms and but was acknowledged in cir- Internews eral revenue receipts in FY18. Tkilled five Indian soldiers India denied that any of its mortars along the Line of Con- cles that understand the finer From the divisible pool of taxes, in retaliation to Indian firing soldiers had been killed or trol in Krishana Ghati sector, the points of the art form. he government of Paki- it will get Rs1,154bn. along the Line of Control in dis- wounded in any cross-border spokesman said. Although Zaki had stan’s Punjab province is The provincial government puted Kashmir. attack. Tension over the Himalayan acquired a bit of fame when he Taiming to increase pro- has abolished the Capital Value Pakistan on Friday accused “A woman was injured as region has run high between the made a song titled ‘Money’ in vincial revenue receipts to Tax (CVT) and property regis- Indian troops of shooting with- Pakistani troops violated cease- two nuclear-armed neighbors a time period when a TV pro- Rs348.31bn in the next fiscal tration fee and merged both out provocation in Nezapir fire twice in two sectors of since a Pakistani military court gramme called Music Channel year 2017-18 by adding another into the stamp duty in order to sector, wounding two Poonch district by firing mortar sentenced an Indian accused of Charts was a rage among the service to the tax net. streamline the process for tax- civilians. shells on forward posts and espionage to death. younger audience, Now, internet services have payers, according to the come under the tax net, which Finance Bill tabled in the Pun- takes the total to 62 services on jab Assembly. which the provincial govern- At present, 2 percent regis- ment will collect general sales tration fee is being charged on Joint patrols off Mindanao to fight militants tax. However, internet services the value of urban property, under student packages, whose Rs500 in case of property value cost does not exceed Rs1,500, up to Rs0.5m and Rs1,000 on Singapore the three nations would kick off "So within Asean, we Islamist militant groups are still have been exempted. the value exceeding Rs0.5m, AFP on June 19, with air patrols start- decided at least these three able to operate with some free- According to the provincial which will be merged into the ing at a later date. countries, to avoid being accused dom of operation, run training budget for fiscal year 2017-18 stamp duty. The new rate of alaysia, the Philippines Philippine President Rodrigo of doing nothing, the three of us camps, and conduct frequent (FY18), which begins on July 1, stamp duty will be 5 percent. and Indonesia will Duterte has declared martial law took the initiative to have the attacks," said Otso Iho, senior the Punjab government is However, the exemptions Mlaunch joint patrols in in Mindanao in response to the joint patrol... initiatives in the analyst at IHS Jane's Terrorism expected to collect Rs230bn in already envisaged in Section 6 waters off the Mindanao region crisis, describing the attack on Sulu Straits," he added, referring and Insurgency Centre (JTIC). tax receipts and Rs117.32bn in of the Finance Act 2010 from this month to counter threats Marawi as the start of a major to the Association of Southeast "This level of lawlessness non-tax revenues. the payment of CVT will remain from Islamic State group mili- campaign by IS to establish a Asian Nations. and the fact that the space is dif- It has revised downwards intact. The definition of urban tants, Malaysia's defence foothold in the Philippines. Hishammuddin said Malay- ficult for government forces and the tax collection target to area has also been proposed to minister said yesterday. Security analysts say IS is sia, Indonesia and Singapore institutions to effectively govern Rs175bn, which was earlier set be included in the Stamp Act Hishammuddin Hussein planning to establish a "province" have carried out successful joint makes it the most likely place at Rs184.43bn, for the ongoing 1899. This step has been taken made the comments at a secu- in the southern island of Mind- patrols in the Malacca Strait bor- for a declaration," he told AFP. fiscal year 2016-17. In a major to promote ease of doing busi- rity conference in Singapore as anao as part of its efforts to set dering their countries to fight Hishammuddin and other move, the provincial govern- ness in the province. Philippine troops continued to up a caliphate in Southeast Asia. maritime piracy. Analysts have defence ministers who spoke at ment will float investment Recently, the Board of Rev- battle self-styled Islamic State "If you talk about Sulu Straits said the porous maritime bor- the conference also warned of bonds worth Rs25bn in the next enue Punjab had introduced an group gunmen who attacked the (it) ... would involve Malaysia, ders between the three countries the threat posed by returning fiscal year and spend the e-stamping project for facili- city of Marawi on Mindanao Indonesia and the Philippines," make it hard to detect the move- Southeast Asian militants who income from its sale on various tating the public and island nearly two weeks ago. Hishammuddin told delegates ment of militants. are fighting with the IS in Iraq infrastructure projects. eliminating the use of counter- Hishammuddin said joint sea to Shangri-La Dialogue, an Mindanao is "the primary and Syria where the group is los- The province is expected to feit stamp papers. patrols in the waters bordering annual security summit. area in the region where ing territory. 14 ASIA SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 Pentagon chief turns up heat on North Korea

Singapore denuclearisation on the Korean AFP Mattis reassures allies Peninsula," Mattis said. President Donald "The Trump administration entagon chief Jim Mat- Trump —who is encouraged by China's tis moved to reassure frequently denounced renewed commitment to work Asian allies yesterday China on the with the international commu- that the United States campaign trail — has nity toward denuclearisation," can work with China turned to Beijing to he added. Pon reining in North Korea's Pyongyang on Monday test- help pressure nuclear weapons programme fired another rocket, the latest Pyongyang, without compromising its oppo- in a series of launches and sition to Beijing's continued prompting broad atomic tests that have ratcheted "militarisation" of the South concerns that America up tensions over its quest to China Sea. will go easy on China's develop weapons capable of hit- President Donald Trump — maritime activities. ting the United States who frequently denounced China — something Trump has said on the campaign trail — has "won't happen". turned to Beijing to help pres- have a deep and abiding com- The defence chief spoke Japan's Defence Minister Tomomi Inada, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis and Australia's sure Pyongyang, prompting mitment to reinforcing the directly to concerns America Defence Minister Marise Payne before a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 16th IISS broad concerns that America will rules-based international order, might grant concessions to China Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, yesterday. go easy on China's maritime a product of so many nations' to ensure cooperation on North activities. efforts to create stability," Mat- Korea, saying the issue was not Longstanding partners are tis said in Singapore at the "binary" and that the United operation in the South China Sea, equipment. Summit delegates about Trump's decision to pull also mortified that Trump has Shangri-La Dialogue, a major States would continue to pres- when the USS Dewey guided- were clearly anguished by the out of the Paris climate pact. He seemed indifferent to traditional defence summit for countries sure Beijing elsewhere. missile destroyer sailed within South China Sea issue and did not address the issue directly alliances, and have interpreted from the Asia-Pacific region and "Artificial island construction 12 nautical miles of Mischief Reef Trump's intentions. but the Pentagon generally views his pulling out of a trans-Pacific beyond. and indisputable militarisation in the Spratly Islands. One questioner asked if the climate change as a security trade deal and the Paris climate Calling North Korea's nuclear of facilities on features in inter- China claims nearly all of the US president was an "unbeliever" threat, especially given its role accords as signs of broader ambitions a "threat to us all," national waters undermine South China Sea, despite partial in the rules-based regional order. in famines and mass American disengagement. Mattis asked the international regional stability," Mattis said, counter-claims from Taiwan and Another wondered if he could be relocations. Mattis, arguably Trump's community to come together on calling China out over its "disre- several southeast Asian nations trusted given his "America First" Japanese Defence Minister most important statesman as the the issue. gard for international law" and including the Philippines, Bru- pronouncements. Tomomi Inada later said she new president hopes to slash the It is "imperative that we do "contempt for other nations' nei, Malaysia and Vietnam. "Bear with us," Mattis said. placed "full trust" in the United State Department, tried to allay our part each of us to fulfill our interests". It has rapidly built reefs into "We will still be there, and we States, a sentiment echoed by the fears. obligations and work together to The US Navy on May 25 con- artificial islands capable of host- will be there with you." Australian Defence Minister "In the security arena, we support our shared goal of ducted a "freedom of navigation" ing military planes and other Mattis was repeatedly asked Marise Payne.

7 children Tiananmen Square protests anniversary Court frees daughter of drown in Vietnam South Korea's 'Rasputin' Seoul journalists and television cam- Hanoi AFP eras. Prosecutors say cash for QNA Chung's equestrian training he daughter of South came from electronics giant ight people, including Korea's "Rasputin", whose Samsung, which had handed seven children, died in Tlavish lifestyle in Europe over the money as part of an Etwo separate drowning saw her caught up in the coun- attempt to curry favour with incidents in central Vietnam, try's snowballing her powerful mother. state media reported yester- influence-peddling scandal, However, a Seoul court day. Van Tan Lanh, 68, took was freed yesterday after being ordered her released yesterday. his two granddaughters and extradited from Denmark. "It is difficult to accept the rea- one of their friends to help Chung Yoo-Ra is the equestrian son and the need for her arrest", wash the family's cattle in the daughter of Choi Soon-Sil, the the Seoul Central District Court Kut river in Binh Dinh prov- close confidante of impeached said, turning down the prose- ince's Tay Son district on ex-president Park Geun-Hye cution's request to formally Friday morning, the Tuoi Tre and the woman at the heart of arrest the 21-year-old. newspaper reported. the scandal which toppled Park. The court noted basic evi- When the cattle returned Choi— dubbed "the female dence had already been secured home unaccompanied, neigh- Rasputin" for her strong influ- by prosecutors and she was not bours rushed to the river and ence over Park -- is on trial an active part in the case. Fol- found Lanh floating dead in along with the ex-president. lowing the decision, Chung, who the water along with his Chung was arrested on a had been in custody since being grandchildren Nguyen Thi Visitors take photos in Tiananmen Square on the eve of the 28th anniversary of the Korean Air flight from Amster- extradited from Denmark Phuong Thanh, 14, and crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Beijing yesterday. The Tiananmen pro-democracy dam early Wednesday and was Wednesday, said: "I'm truly Nguyen Thi Tuyet Bang, 12, as movement ended in bloodshed on June 4, 1989 when tanks crushed the demonstrations, escorted off the plane at sorry for having caused so much well as 8-year-old Tran Anh killing hundreds of protesters. Incheon by a team of prosecu- concern to many. ... I will sin- Tuan. tors to face a handful of cerely reply to prosecutors." UN expands sanctions Sri Lanka targets unauthorised builders after landslides

against Pyongyang Colombo capital alone, according to the AFP spokesman. United Nations North Korea's strategic Decades of illegal construc- AFP rocket force, the Koryo Bank ri Lanka announced plans tion have worsened the flooding and two trading firms were also yesterday to prosecute a by blocking drains and eliminat- he UN Security Council added to the list. Sslew of companies and ing natural rainwater stores, has expanded sanctions The Koryo Bank was linked individuals behind illegal con- including marshland. Tagainst North Korea in to a party office that managed struction projects blamed for The official Disaster Man- response to a series of missile the finances of North Korea's landslides and flooding that have agement Centre (DMC) said the tests conducted by Pyongyang top officials, including leader killed at least 211 people follow- death toll from last week's rains this year. The measures Kim Jong-un. ing heavy monsoon rains last that triggered landslides and imposed a travel ban and asset Though US military exer- week. flooding rose to 211 after more freeze on four entities and 14 cises in the Korean peninsula The urban development bodies were discovered under officials, including the head of had been controversial in the ministry said they will press tonnes of mud. North Korea's overseas spying international community, US criminal charges against those Among those killed were 45 operations. Ambassador to the UN Nikki illegally occupying marshlands school children. Over 90 people The Council voted unani- Haley urged Security Council earmarked to absorb flood were still listed as missing while mously on Friday to back the members to enforce the new waters and structures blocking another 72 remained in hospi- sanctions after weeks of nego- sanctions. canals and storm drains. tal. Nearly 2,000 homes were tiations between the US and "The Security Council is "Much of the destruction was destroyed and over 10,000 suf- Sri Lankan residents clear debris from damaged homes China, CNN reported. sending a clear message to due to people building on moun- fered structural damage following flooding in Yatagampitiya village in Bulathsinhala, The new asset and travel North Korea today -- stop fir- tain slopes after cutting down reported the DMC. yesterday. freeze targeted senior officials ing ballistic missiles or face the trees and blocking waterways," The centre said the situation and its core military apparatus consequences," Haley said after a ministry spokesman said. across the country had improved also caused flooding and land- medicine to assist those driven that were directly responsible the vote. Prosecutors will kick off pro- but thousands of security per- slides, killing more than 100 from their homes following Fri- for the regime's illicit nuclear "Countries must also do ceedings Monday in Colombo sonnel were still assisting in people. Government spokesman day's monsoon deluge. and ballistic missile pro- more to break up North Korean against 18 individuals and com- relief and recovery operations. Rajitha Senaratne said additional "We also have a lot of grammes, South Korea smuggling rings, and cut off the panies, he said, as authorities The flooding is the worst medical teams were also being enquiries from other countries Ambassador to the UN, Cho sources of funding North Korea prepare to launch a nationwide since May 2003 when 250 peo- deployed to prevent the spread and organisations wanting to Tae-Yul, told the council. uses to pay for the development campaign to remove illegal ple were killed and 10,000 of waterborne diseases. know our immediate needs. We The list of expanded sanc- of weapons of mass destruction structures. homes destroyed after a simi- Foreign Minister Ravi Karu- are moved by the spontaneous tions also included state and the means to deliver them," There are some 10,000 larly powerful monsoon, officials nanayake said 16 countries had response," Karunanayake told officials and banks. she said in a statement. unauthorised structures in the said. Monsoon rains last year rushed relief supplies and reporters. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 EUROPE 15 May sees fall in lead in run up to UK polls

London “What people will know predecessor David Cameron won Reuters Taxation row when they go to vote on Thurs- in 2015, her electoral gamble will Comres found the day is that it is the Conservative have failed and her authority will ritish Prime Minister Conservative Party’s Party that always has been and be undermined both inside the Theresa May is on lead stood at 12 is and always will be a low-tax Conservative Party and at talks course to win Thurs- percentage points, party,” she said. with 27 other EU leaders. day’s election by a unchanged from a Her comments were echoed The decline in support for the much smaller margin by her finance minister, Philip Conservatives coincided with a week ago but far Bthan previously predicted, opin- Hammond, though May has surprise announcement by May below the 21-point ion polls showed yesterday, as stoked speculation about Ham- last month that she would make her campaign stumbled again, lead it recorded just mond’s future by refusing to say elderly people pay more for their this time over taxation for the before she called the whether she will reappoint him social care, despite concerns that wealthy. election on April 18. if she wins the election. it could undermine support In a sign of how far her snap Labour leader Jeremy Cor- among ageing, wealthy home- election gamble has soured, May insisted nothing byn, a radical socialist who has owners - a core source of May’s personal rating turned had changed on her run an unexpectedly strong cam- Conservative votes. negative for the first time in a tax policy after her paign, said the Conservative May later softened the pro- poll conducted by research firm defence minister said leadership was in disarray. posal by saying there would be Comres since she won the top job that income tax “There’s complete chaos a limit on the amount people in the turmoil following the June would not increase going on at the top of the gov- would have to pay. 23 Brexit referendum. for higher earners. ernment,” Corbyn told The Comres polling firm Comres found the Conserv- reporters. found May’s personal net Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during an election ative Party’s lead stood at 12 When May stunned financial approval rating had fallen to percentage points, unchanged top earners, an issue which the markets and political opponents minus 3, down 12 points from a campaign visit to Horsfields Nursery in Silkstone, South from a week ago but far below Conservatives are sensitive about by calling the snap election, her positive 9 point approval rating Yorkshire, yesterday. the 21-point lead it recorded just because the opposition Labour poll ratings indicated she could in February. Corbyn’s net per- before she called the election on Party casts them as the party of be on course to win a landslide sonal rating was minus 15, up 18 open the possibility of higher workers. It was then forced into April 18. the rich and privileged. majority on a par with the 1983 points from a minus 33 score in income taxes by promising only a U-turn after Conservative law- An Opinium poll for the May insisted nothing had majority of 144 won by Marga- February. that there would be no rises in makers, wary of alienating small Observer newspaper suggested changed on her tax policy - she ret Thatcher. The latest confusion over value-added tax and dropping a businesspeople, protested that it May was set for a substantial par- has kept open the possibility of But since then, May’s lead has income tax underscores the chal- Conservative pledge under Cam- broke the 2015 pledge. liamentary majority on June 8, tax rises - after her defence min- been eaten away to as little as 3 lenge facing the next government eron - made in the 2015 election Labour said Fallon’s com- though her lead over the oppo- ister, Michael Fallon, was quoted percentage points, according to to meet the growing costs of pub- campaign - not to raise income ments showed the Conservatives sition Labour Party has fallen to by a national newspaper as say- opinion polls, meaning she might lic services at a time when tax, national insurance contri- were protecting higher earners six percentage points from 19 ing that income tax would not no longer score the thumping Britain’s budget deficit remains butions or VAT. at the expense of the less well- points at the start of the increase for higher earners. victory she had hoped for ahead large, and with Brexit-related The constraints of that pledge off. “The mask has finally campaign. “Our position on tax hasn’t of this month’s launch of formal uncertainty likely to weigh on the became clear earlier this year slipped,” John McDonnell, a law- Just five days before polls changed,” May said while on a Brexit negotiations. economy. when May’s government tried to maker who would be finance open, May’s campaign sent con- visit to West Yorkshire in north- If she fails to handsomely When May unveiled her elec- increase national insurance con- minister if Labour win the elec- flicting messages on taxation for ern England. beat the 12-seat majority her tion policies last month, she left tributions on self-employed tion, said in a statement.

Royal visit Macron presses Turkey to Italy police under fire for letting mob free French photojournalist boss greet fans

Paris nearly a week later when he Rome AFP learned a consular visit would AP be allowed. rench President He was later visited by a olice in southern Italy Emmanuel Macron yes- French consul representative are under fire for allow- Fterday again urged Turkey at an immigration department- Ping one of Italy's to release a French photojour- run centre in the southeastern most-wanted mob bosses to nalist held for nearly a month, city of Gaziantep. greet his fans after his arrest saying he should be freed The visit followed Macron and let them kiss his hand. urgently. broaching his case with Police arrested Giuseppe In a phone call with Turk- Erdogan during a NATO sum- Giorgi early Friday in a bun- ish President Recep Tayyip mit in Brussels on May 25. ker inside his home in San Erdogan, Macron "restated his Erdogan promised he would Luca, the base of some of the call to see (Mathias) Depardon "rapidly" look into the issue. most notorious clans of the brought home as soon as pos- Another visit by French Calabrian 'Ndrangheta mob. sible", Macron's Elysee Palace embassy representatives had A video shown on Sky office said. been scheduled for Friday, the TG24 showed police jumping Depardon was detained on same day that the French for- for joy after the arrest. But May 8 while on assignment in eign ministry said it was another showed them letting Hasankeyf in the southeast- "actively working" on Depar- an un-cuffed Giorgi greet ern Batman province for don's release. well-wishers outside his National Geographic maga- Depardon was detained home as they escorted him zine. He has been held ever over "propaganda for a terror out. One reached out for Gior- since despite reports he would group" -- a reference to out- gi's hand and kissed it to show be deported. lawed Kurdish militants respect. Britain's Queen Elizabeth during the Derby Festival, yesterday. Wings of Eagles rallied to Two weeks after he was -- which could lead to a judi- Italian magistrate Feder- win the English Derby at 40-1 odds, giving trainer Aidan O'Brien his sixth victory in the race. detained, Depardon, 36, went cial investigation, according to ico Cafiero de Raho says on hunger strike, only stopping Turkish authorities. police couldn't have foreseen the gesture and insisted the arrest was a sign of police strength even amid such German rock festival to resume after terror scare "tribal rites." Relics of St John Berlin Police said three people sus- AFP pected of being members of a Bosco stolen Salafist group in the neighbour- ermany's biggest rock fes- ing state of Hesse were detained from Italy church tival will resume after but released yesterday. Gbeing disrupted by fears "One person who is not of Rome of a possible "terrorist threat" German origin and is known to AP which have proved to be the police as having links to the unfounded, the organisers said Islamist terror network had talian news reports say yesterday. access to" backstage areas, police police are looking for the Police said searches at the spokesman Wolfgang Fromm Ithieves who stole relics of three-day "Rock am Ring," held said. The three had been hired St. John Bosco, founder of the near the southwestern city of to set up security barriers at the Salesian religious order, from Koblenz were over. Live music venue. a basilica east of Turin. will resume at 1:30pm. Security for the festival had The ANSA news agency Some 90,000 people are already been stepped up, with quoted Turin Archbishop expected to attend the event an additional 1,200 staff, in Cesare Nosiglia as appealing which ends today. response to the May 22 Manches- to the bandits to "return it "After a series of intensive ter bombing which occurred immediately, without condi- searches across the site the fears after a concert by US singer Ari- tion." The reliquary was of an imminent danger were not ana Grande. apparently stolen Friday night confirmed," the organisers said. The region's interior minis- from the basilica of Castel- "The police gave the go- ter Roger Lewentz defended the nuovo Don Bosco, so named ahead" for the festival to restart, decision to evacuate the festival, for the town's most famous Festival goers hold up signs that read "Terror is not good" and "No terror for nobody" as they they said. saying: "We cannot take risks." son. Don Bosco was a 19th cheer for a rock band at the open-air weekend "Rock am Ring" concert at Germany's Formula The festival was evacuated Last year's Rock am Ring century priest and educator on Friday evening after Koblenz programme was curtailed by One race track Nuerburgring, Germany, yesterday. whose name graces Salesian- police said they were in posses- violent storms in which dozens run schools around the globe. sion of "concrete elements, in the of people were injured by alert after a jihadist attack on a 24-year-old Tunisian, hijacked through the market, claiming 11 Relic thefts are not uncom- light of which a possible terror- lightning. Christmas market in Berlin on a truck, killed its Polish driver more lives and wounding mon in Italian churches and ist threat cannot be ruled out". The country remains on high December 19. Anis Amri, a and ploughed the vehicle dozens. shrines. 16 EUROPE SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 Malta decides future in bitter election battle Valletta Results today offshore companies after being AFP exposed by the Panama Papers. Voting was brisk Muscat came under fire for altese voters even by the not firing the two men and the flocked to the standards of an allegations against his inner cir- polls yesterday in island nation where cle have since broadened to an election seen as more than 90 include more detailed claims of a confidence vote percent of the kickbacks linked to an invest- Min Joseph Muscat's government, ment-based citizenship scheme, electorate generally which has presided over a thriv- a gas supply deal with China and turns out to vote. ing economy but been rocked by the granting of bank licences. serious corruption allegations. Muscat and his wife Voting was brisk even by the A result is expected appeared relaxed as they cast standards of an island nation around midday today their votes. Before announcing where more than 90 percent of in an election battled the election he asked a magis- the electorate generally turns out dominated by the trate to look into the allegations to vote. fallout from the against her and vowed to quit if Pre-election polls pointed to so-called Panama any evidence of wrongdoing 43-year-old Muscat's Labour Papers. emerged. Party (PL) retaining power but a "It would have been the eas- Prime Minister and Labour Party leader, Joseph Muscat, casts his vote during Malta's snap high number of undecideds iest thing in the world for me to general elections at his home town of Burmarrad in Malta, yesterday. meant a surprise could not be ded by a series of scandals. weather the storm on the seat of ruled out. "We were promised the best power, while waiting for the A result is expected around in the EU, instead we got Pan- magisterial inquiry to clear my main parties, which experts say an investigation is another thing than the eurozone as a whole -- midday today in an election bat- ama in the EU," Busuttil name before calling an election," partly explains why Muscat and being found guilty or inno- predated Muscat. tled dominated by the fallout supporter Angele Pulis said after he said earlier in the campaign. appears to have been unscathed cent is the final verdict. I'm 100 "He is doing well with what from the so-called Panama voting yesterday. "However, in those few by the deluge of charges against percent convinced he (Muscat) he found. It's not on his merit," Papers, data leaked from Pana- Muscat went to the polls a months the economy would have people close to him. is clean. Regarding the other Attard said. manian law firm Mossack year early after his wife Michelle been damaged and jobs would "I have been Labour since I people, we will find out in due Postgrad student Marie Fonseca about offshore compa- Muscat was accused of being the have been lost." was born, and I will be Labour course." Claire Finger said the premier nies and bank accounts set up by beneficial owner of a secret Pan- Ballot stations close at 10pm till I die," said Muscat supporter Charlene Zammit said she should have sidelined any offi- wealthy individuals all over the amanian shell company used to (2000 GMT). An antiquated man- Frank Abela, who is about to had voted for Muscat because cials with the shadow of world. bank unexplained payments ual vote-counting system, being retire after a career in the oil "Malta has one of the lowest corruption hanging over them. Simon Busuttil, leader of the from Azerbaijan's ruling used for the last time, means no industry. unemployment rates in Europe "Personally I think that it is opposition Nationalist Party (PN), family. reliable indicator of the result But he said Labour loyalists and I want to keep it on the right embarrassing... to say I come has framed the vote as a choice The premier's chief of staff will be available before midday were not indifferent to the cor- track in the next five years." from a country going through between change and allowing and a government minister have on Sunday. ruption claims -- they just want But pensioner Louis Attard these things at the moment," she Malta's international reputation, separately admitted having their Many Maltese have lifelong to see proof. said Malta's economic success -- told AFP. "I hope there will be a and its prosperity, to be shred- own, previously undeclared allegiances to one of the two "An allegation is one thing, it is growing three times faster change."

Christening of the ship Charles Taylor's Austrian court jails ex-wife charged parents who took with torture London AFP kids to live under IS n ex-wife of Charles Taylor, the former ALiberian leader who is Vienna he said. The dream soon went in jail for war crimes, was AFP sour, however, and the families charged in Britain with tor- fled Syria in April 2016. Turkey ture over her alleged n Austrian court sen- then extradited them to Austria involvement in his rebellion, tenced to up to 10 years and the children were taken police said. Ain jail two couples who into care. Agnes Reeves Taylor, who took their children to live in an All four -- Hasan O. and his lives in Dagenham in east IS-controlled part of Syria and wife Kata O., Enes S. and his London, faces four allegations showed them execution wife Michaela S. -- were con- dating back to December videos. victed of belonging to a terrorist 1989, when forces loyal to her A new Russian Arctic LNG tanker, Christophe de Margerie, is seen moored during its naming The two men and their organisation and of mistreat- former husband launched ceremony in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday. wives travelled to Syria with ing and neglecting children. their first attack on Liberian their eight children -- the They were sentenced to 10 territory. youngest of whom was two years behind bars except Kata The 51-year-old is in cus- years old -- in December 2014, O. who was given nine years. tody and will appear in court the trial in the southern city All except Austrian-born Mus- in London, according to a Spain rescues 173 migrants in a day Graz heard. lim convert Michaela S. were statement from the capital's Housed by the Islamic State from Bosnia but all had Aus- Metropolitan Police. extremist group, the children trian citizenship. Two charges relate to Madrid Gibraltar before connecting with sub-Saharan Africa were res- had to watch the gruesome vid- The judge said that the sen- claims that between Decem- AFP the Atlantic Ocean. cued and taken by ship to the eos for initiation and one tences were intended to show ber 23, 1989, and January 1, As rescuers set off, they Spanish ports of Almeria and seven-year-old boy was even "that the state of Austria won't 1991, Taylor "intentionally panish coast guards res- were told that three other boats Motril, a coast guard spokesman present at a beheading. accept something like this". inflicted severe pain or suf- cued more than 170 carrying migrants had also been said. Defendant Hasan O., 49, Austria has so far been fering on an individual in the Smigrants crossing the Med- seen in the same area. According to the Interna- denied in court being a mem- spared the spate of Islamist performance or purported iterranean to Europe from One of them was spotted by tional Organization for ber of IS and said that he extremist attacks suffered in performance of her official northern Africa in four separate a plane helping EU border Migration, 2,426 migrants worked as a masseur treating recent years by other European duties" in the central Liberian boats, they said yesterday. agency Frontex with surveil- arrived in Spain by sea between injured fighters. countries. However some 300 city of Gbarnga. Morocco notified Spain's lance, the other by a ferry, and January 1 and the end of April. "I heard in the mosque (in people from the 8.7-million- Gbarnga was the base of coast guards that a boat had the third by people on a Span- This still represents a small Graz) that you can live accord- strong nation have travelled to Taylor's rebellion against been spotted trying to cross the ish naval base on Alboran Island, percentage of the more than ing to Islam there, with freedom Syria since the civil war there President Samuel Doe, which Alboran Sea, the westernmost which lies between Morocco and 45,000 who crossed the Medi- for the women and children," began, one of the highest num- deteriorated into one of Afri- portion of the Mediterranean Spain. terranean to Italy, Greece, Spain he told the trial. He just wanted bers per capita in the European ca's bloodiest conflicts. that ends with the Strait of In all, 173 migrants from and Cyprus over the period. to spend "10 or 12 days" there, Union. Another count relates to the same period and the same allegation, but this time in Gborplay, on the border with Ivory Coast. France 'corrects' White House video on climate pact facts The fourth count claims that between the same period, Taylor "agreed with others" Paris which said the agreement It refers, for example, to of the French language, and its accord and coined the "Make our on a course of action that AFP "undermines" US competitive- major companies such as Exx- leaders are always under pres- planet great again" slogan. "would necessarily amount ness and jobs, was "badly onmobil and Microsoft which sure to speak only in French, He also invited American sci- to or involve the commission n an unusual move, France's negotiated" by former president "disagree" that the accord will even if they are fluent in English, entists, businesspeople and of the offence of torture". foreign ministry issued a Barack Obama and "accom- "undermine" US jobs, and quotes when they are in the public citizens who are frustrated by the Charles Taylor, once Ipointed fact-check of Donald plishes little." the Massachusetts Institute of arena. White House's stance to "come Liberia's most feared rebel Trump's claims about the UN's In its response (https://tiny- Technology (MIT) on the urgent But newly-elected president and work here with us" on find- fighter who served as presi- Paris climate agreement. url.com/y9vs8775), the foreign need to fight carbon emissions. Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year- ing a solution to the climate dent from 1997 to 2003, is The ministry issued a tweet ministry tweeted, "We've seen The tweet includes a now- old former banker, has made a crisis. serving a 50-year sentence in with an embedded link to a video the @WhiteHouse video about popular hashtag "make our point of speaking in English, "They will find in France a a British jail for his role in that amounted to a wry but very the #ParisAccord. We disagree planet great again" -- a cheeky apparently seeking to make second homeland," Macron said. fuelling the civil conflict in public rebuttal of Trump's -- so we've changed it." adaptation of the nationalist slo- direct contact with a wider His remarks were retweeted neighbouring Sierra Leone. assertions. Its own video uses the same gan used by Trump on his audience. more than 140,000 times and Geneva-based organisa- On Thursday, the White format -- background, font, election campaign trail. On Thursday, he released a "liked" by more than a quarter tion Civitas Maxima said the House had tweeted, "The Paris images and music -- as the White The video is also notable for video in English as well as of a million users, according to charging of Agnes Reeves Accord is a bad deal for Ameri- House version but adds facts to being in English. France is French in which he criticised Twitter figures as of Friday Taylor was highly cans," and linked to a video debunk the White House claims. famous for championing the use Trump for pulling out of the Paris afternoon. significant. SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 AMERICAS 17 Trump to push for overhauling infrastructure

Washington Director James Comey — who is AP Modernisation scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill on Thursday. resident Donald Trump Trump plans a series And other policies on the is launching a major of events this coming agenda, such as health care and push for a $1 trillion week to highlight his taxes, come first on a fast-clos- overhaul of the effort to modernise ing legislative calendar. nation's roads and American But modernising the nation's Pbridges, a key item on his agenda infrastructure. infrastructure remains a challenge that's been stymied in Congress with broad public support. and overshadowed by White Trump is set to Trump's push to revamp House controversies. outline his legislative deteriorating roads, bridges, air- Trump plans a series of ports and railways aims to principles for events this coming week to high- unlock economic growth and overhauling air light his effort to modernize succeed in an area where his American infrastructure — the traffic system. predecessor, former President highway, waterway, electrical Barack Obama, was repeatedly and airway systems on which the Trump has said he has tax legis- thwarted by a Republican-led nation operates. His campaign lation moving through Congress Congress. "It doesn't matter who for public and private funding for but his effort has been stalled and you are, whether you are farmer the projects is expected to run no bill has been written. His in the Midwest, or a mother driv- from the Rose Garden, where budget plan released during his ing your kids to and from school, he'll speak about upgrading air foreign trip included math errors or a worker or a college kid fly- Supporters of Donald Trump and his policies demonstrate during a "Pittsburgh Not Paris" traffic control, to Ohio and Ken- that enabled the White House to ing back and forth to school, rally in support of his decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Accord, in Lafayette tucky on inland waterways and falsely claim that its tax plan you're affected by infrastruc- through meetings with mayors, would deliver both faster growth ture," said White House Square, next to the White House, in Washington, DC, yesterday. governors and Transportation and a balanced budget. economic adviser Gary Cohn in Department officials. Trump's agenda has been a conference call with doesn't want to push these liabil- separating air traffic control improving levies, dams and locks The Trump administration overshadowed by ongoing probes reporters. ities into the future." operations from the Federal Avi- along inland waterways that are has struggled to gain traction on into whether Trump campaign Cohn said the nation was "fall- Trump on Monday is set to ation Administration, a key crucial to agricultural exports. many of its economic policies. officials or associates colluded ing behind and the falling behind outline his legislative principles priority for US airlines. His visit is expected to include a Job growth has slowed in recent with Russian officials to influence is affecting economic growth in for overhauling the air traffic The president plans to travel speech expected to touch on months instead of accelerating the 2016 election, as well as scru- the United States. The president control system, using a Rose Gar- to Ohio and Kentucky on partnering with states and local as the president predicted. tiny over Trump's firing of FBI wants to fix the problems and he den address to propose Wednesday to address ways of governments. Trump 'may not block' Farmers decry plans to cut agriculture subsidies

Comey's testimony Iowa The proposed budget would sector, which makes up about 11 we panic. It's going to be hard AP cap the amount of money the US percent of US employment, or for Trump to get anything done. government provides to help about 21 million jobs, and contrib- That's become really obvious," Washington said that they did not know yet arm groups and some farmers pay insurance premi- utes nearly $1 trillion to the said Brent Gloy, a former Pur- Reuters whether President Donald members of Congress from ums and eliminate insurance nation's domestic productivity. due University agriculture Trump would seek to block Ffarm states are decrying coverage for lost revenue when "The strength of the agricul- economist who now works full- S President Donald Comey's testimony, a move that proposed cuts to crop insurance crop prices and per-acre yields tural economy has implications time on his family's corn, Trump does not plan to could spark a political backlash. and other safety net programs fall. That would reduce the fed- for rural America, but also for the soybean and wheat farm in Uinvoke executive privi- "I have not spoken to counsel yet. for farmers included in President eral insurance program's budget larger U.S. economy," Robert southwest Nebraska, where lege as a way to block former I don't know how they're going Donald Trump's budget. by $28bn over 10 years. Johansson, the USDA's chief econ- Trump had strong support. FBI Director James Comey from to respond," White House The proposed cuts come Trump has also proposed omist, told senators last month. Indeed, Republican US Sen. testifying to Congress next spokesman Sean Spicer told even as farmers are facing their reducing subsidies to farmers, Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabe- Charles Grassley, who owns a week, the New York Times said reporters on Friday. fourth straight year of falling cutting those programs by $9 bil- now, the leading Democrat on farm in Iowa and is a member of citing two unnamed senior The former FBI chief is due income, and could particularly lion by decreasing the maximum the Senate Agriculture Commit- the agriculture and budget com- administration officials. to testify on Thursday before the affect farm states such as Iowa, income level from $900,000 to tee, warned that the proposed mittees, doesn't expect the crop Yesterday, a White House Senate Intelligence Committee Kansas and Nebraska that $500,000 for a farmer to be eli- cuts "would have a dispropor- insurance cuts to make it through spokesperson referred a ques- as part of its own Russia-related helped Trump win the Novem- gible. The budget would also cut tionate impact on small towns Congress. Grassley considers tion about the Times' story to investigation, and his remarks ber election. 5,263 jobs at the US Department across our country and leave Trump's budget a non-starter, outside council. Outside coun- could cause problems for the "Clearly, this budget fails of Agriculture, a 5.5 percent those communities in crisis." much like the budget proposals cil did not immediately respond Republican president. agriculture and rural America," reduction in staff. But some people say there's of Presidents George W Bush and to a request for comment. Presidents can assert execu- American Farm Bureau Feder- Farmers, economists and no need for farmers to worry just Barack Obama, who also sug- Comey was leading a Fed- tive privilege to prevent ation President Zippy Duvall said agriculture experts say it is impor- yet. "What I've been telling farm- gested farm program cuts that eral Bureau of Investigation government employees from in a statement. tant to support the agriculture ers is let's just relax a bit before never materialized. probe into alleged Russian med- sharing information. However, dling in last year's US presidential legal experts say it is not clear election and possible collusion whether certain conversations by Trump's campaign when the between Trump and Comey that AA aircraft president fired him last month. the president has talked about Floods in Mexico On Friday, White House officials publicly would be covered. veers off Texas runway; Man arrested for stealing stuck in mud San Antonio attack victim's ring AP n American Airlines Los Angeles recovered Best's backpack, plane veered off of a AFP which had also been stolen, but Arunway at the San his wallet was missing. Antonio airport during take- homeless man was Best, 53, and Taliesin Myrd- off on Saturday morning and arrested on Friday on sus- din Namkai-Meche, 23, were got stuck in the mud, author- Apicion of stealing the fatally stabbed on May 26 as ities said. wedding ring and backpack of they intervened to stop a man No injuries were reported one of two men fatally stabbed hurling racial and anti-Muslim on American Airlines Flight on a commuter train in Oregon slurs at two teenage girls, one 2214, said Federal Aviation last week. George Tschaggeny, of whom was wearing the hijab. Administration spokesman 51, was wearing the wedding Another man on board the Lynn Lunsford. Commercial band of army veteran Ricky Best commuter train who intervened flights at San Antonio Inter- when he was arrested under an was also stabbed but survived. national Airport were overpass in Portland, police Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, Government officials tour an area flooded by the rains of Tropical Storm Beatriz in suspended until the aircraft spokesman Pete Simpson said. was arrested and charged in the Juchitan, in Oaxaca state, Mexico. could be removed. He said detectives had also stabbings. Thirty-eight passengers and six crew members were bused back to the terminal. The Boeing 737 bound for Dallas-Fort Worth Interna- Judge briefly bars Muslim kids' visit to courtroom tional Airport aborted takeoff for undetermined reasons and veered off the runway at New York government is trying to seize a The judge said she thought the teachers who chaperoned the Forrest had already admon- a low speed, Coello said. The AP skyscraper it claims is secretly students' presence was "games- students, said, "The judge is out ished the charity's lawyer once flight had originally left Albu- owned by Iran. An Iranian-Amer- manship" and she barred them of line here." Musawi said he had for saying during his opening querque, New Mexico, on ome Islamic school students ican charity, the Alavi Foundation, from entering while she spoke urged the school to permit the arguments that the US govern- Friday for Dallas-Fort Worth in New York City got a sur- owns 60 percent of the Fifth Ave- with lawyers. She ultimately let field trip before exams started ment wants to impose the "death International Airport, she Sprise civics lesson when a nue office tower and is fighting the the children in, just in time for later in the week and the pur- penalty" on the foundation. She said. But she says the flight judge briefly barred them from a US government's attempt. them to hear a lawyer ask if the pose of the trip was to learn labeled it "gamesmanship" that was diverted to San Antonio public courtroom, saying she sus- US District Judge Katherine white scarves worn by 10 students about the legal system, not to students from the school arrived Friday because of storms in pected their presence was a ploy Forrest halted testimony when were to blame for the snub. His build jury sympathy for the Alavi the next day. The judge said she the Dallas area. to get sympathy with the jury. 16 students in uniforms and head comments angered the judge, who Foundation. would let testimony resume if Lunsford says FAA inves- The unusual move came coverings arrived on a field trip called them "so inappropriate that "The lawyer didn't even the lawyers "are content to send tigators are on their way to Wednesday at a federal court- from the Razi School, a private it is breathtaking." know me or any of the students," these folks away," and view the the site and the National house in Manhattan on the second school in Queens that is sup- Afterward, Sayyed Musawi, he told The Associated Press in proceedings on a TV feed in Transportation Safety Board day of a civil trial in which the US ported by the charity. one of two social studies an interview on Friday. another part of the building. has been notified. 18 HOME SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017 AMERICAS 19 Close aide to Venezuelans protest food shortages Caracas Brazil President Reuters anging empty pots and brandishing signs saying B"only the government is held for graft growing fatter," Venezuelan activists in Caracas yesterday protested food shortages in the Brasilia crisis-stricken country. Reuters Cash bribe The march by a few hundred In a police video, people, quickly halted by secu- ormer Brazilian lawmaker Loures was seen rity officials firing tear gas, built Rodrigo Rocha Loures, a running out of a Sao on two months of near-daily Fclose aide and friend of Paulo restaurant demonstrations against leftist President Michel Temer, was carrying a bag with President Nicolas Maduro, who arrested at his home yesterday critics say has plunged oil-rich $154,000. in a corruption investigation that Venezuela into its worst eco- also targets the president, a fed- nomic crisis in history. eral police spokesman said. Temer's office had Protesters are demanding In a police video released on no immediate early presidential elections, free- May 19, Loures was seen running comment on the dom for jailed activists, and out of a Sao Paulo restaurant car- arrest of his humanitarian aid to allow in Opposition activists take part in a protest against President Nicolas Maduro's government rying a bag with 500,000 reais former aide. scarce medicines and food. banging on empty pots, in Caracas, yesterday. ($154,000) in cash that prosecu- Currency controls that crimp tors say was a bribe from the imports, as well as ailing local markets are now a common can't just stay home watching this and National Guards. owners of the world's largest resignation or impeachment. farms, have left many supermar- sight, while more and more peo- country fall to pieces," said Con- "It's time for Nicolas Maduro meatpacker, JBS SA. An electoral court investi- ket shelves empty. ple are salvaging food from the suelo, a 60-year-old protester to listen to the people and finally Plea-bargain testimony by gation of possible illegal Around 93 percent of Vene- trash. Many in the middle class banging two spoons together at leave," said Consuelo, adding two executives of JBS's holding campaign funding in Temer's zuelans cannot afford to buy have hadto cut back on meat or the march in western Caracas. that she prays every day for an company J&F Investimentos SA 2014 election as vice president enough food and 73 percent of vegetables and instead get by on Traditionally a poorer, pro- end to the crisis. implicated Temer and other could also oust him from office. them have lost weight in the last cheaper starches. government area, parts of But Maduro, a former bus politicians in graft and led pros- Loures, a businessman- year, according to a recent study "Sometimes I only eat once or western Caracas are now home driver and union leader elected ecutors to accuse Loures of turned-politician, could seek a by three universities. twice a day. Today I couldn't find to road barricades, graffiti read- in 2013 to replace the late Hugo being a middleman for Temer, plea bargain, some sources in Children begging in front of bread (for breakfast) at any bak- ing "Maduro dictator!" and Chavez, says he is not going which the president has denied. the prosecution team told Reu- bakeries, restaurants, or ery, and I came here because I clashes between hooded youth anywhere. Temer's office had no ters this week. That could immediate comment on the damage the president's case arrest of his former aide. that he did nothing illegal. The Supreme Court author- Loures' lawyer, however, ized the investigation of Temer said yesterday that his client Colombia police closing in on drug gang boss and Rocha Loures for corrup- will not seek a plea deal. "My tion, criminal organization and orientation is against it, and his Apartado fighting on another front to sta- anti-narcotics police division. them from a helicopter over the obstruction of justice, trigger- family supports that," the law- AFP bilize the country after decades "He has had to run for it at the town. ing the worst political crisis yer, Cezar Bitencourt, said. of violence: the gangs that make last second, more than once." The US State Department has since Temer took over from Bitencourt called the arrest olice are using Black Hawk Colombia the world's biggest The general spoke following offered a $5m reward for Usuga's impeached leftist Dilma Rous- "unnecessary" and said it was helicopters to scour the source of cocaine. search operations in the town of capture on a 2009 indictment seff last year. part of a strategy by prosecu- Pgreen banana fields of Their top target is Dairo Apartado, where the force for- by a New York court. Since the leaking of a tors to pressure Loures into northern Colombia in a newly Antonio Usuga, alias Otoniel, mally launched a major search In its profile of Usuga it calls recording of a late-night con- opting for the plea bargain. Last intensified search for the coun- leader of the country's biggest operation on Thursday. his gang "a heavily armed, versation with a JBS executive week, Loures turned over to try's most-wanted drug boss. drug gang, the Gulf Clan. He gave out leaflets this extremely violent criminal in which Temer appeared to police the cash-filled bag he With peace initiatives under "We have him within strik- week offering rewards for infor- organization comprised of condone corrupt practices, the was seen carrying in the leaked way between the government ing distance," says Jose Angel mation about Usuga and his former members of terrorist president has faced calls for his video. and rebel groups, authorities are Mendoza, head of the gang, and dropped stacks of organizations." 20 MORNING BREAK SUNDAY 4 JUNE 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS New York art show 60 artist-painted

FAJR 03.15 am SHOROOK 04.43 am pianos to be ZUHR 11.32 am MAGHRIB 06.24 pm ASR 02.56 pm ISHA 07.54 pm installed in NYC

WEATHER TODAY New York AP o o ixty pianos painted by artists and perform- 31 C 41 C ers will be placed around New York City for Minimum Maximum Sanyone who wants to play them. A kick-off event for the street pianos will be held tomorrow in lower Manhattan. The ban- dleader for CBS' "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Jon Batiste, will lead 60 pianists in playing Bach's "Prelude in C." The pianos will be in place through June 25. They are a project of Sing For Hope, a non- profit organisation that works to bring the arts to underserved communities. This summer will mark the sixth anniversary of the Sing For Hope pianos in New York. This year's pianos have been decorated People attend the first New York art show by French writer Michel Houellebecq in Manhattan, by artists including Roberta Flack, Kate McKinnon New York. of "Saturday Night Live" and the casts of several Broadway shows. US Navy recovers cannon to identify 200-year-old shipwreck

Providence Watch Hill in Westerly in 1811. recovered the cannon May 24. desalinated and stabilized. It's back through naval history," AP Oliver Hazard Perry ordered It's the first artifact the Navy encrusted with bits of sea life he said. Strong wind at places daytime with expected poor visibility. Hot daytime his men to jettison guns, masts has raised from the site. and calcium carbonate from Schwarz said he has a high with slight dust to blowing dust at ow that a cannon that and the anchor, but lighten- Buffum said it was exhil- the interaction between the level of confidence that the places at times. rested in waters off ing the vessel didn't free it. It arating to see the cannon iron it's made of and salt cannon is from the Revenge. Rhode Island's shore sank. The treacherous reefs, brought ashore. "To see it water. There are not many Perry's career languished HIGH TIDE 00:15 – 15:00 LOW TIDE 07:45 – 19:30 N for two centuries has been rocks and poor visibility kept finally break the surface after examples of early naval guns after the wreck until he was

Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department raised, US Navy archaeologists the cannon and other artifacts being down there for 206 of this type, said George sent to the Great Lakes during are hoping to confirm that the hidden until 2005. years, it was just really, really Schwarz, an underwater the War of 1812. He's remem- LATEST NEWS ship that sank at the site was That year, recreational cool," said Buffum, a brewery archaeologist with the Naval bered as the Hero of Lake Erie UPDATE a schooner commanded by a divers from Connecticut, owner from Stonington, History and Heritage Com- for defeating the British navy. War of 1812 hero. Charlie Buffum and Craig Connecticut. mand. The command oversees He was famous for reporting In thick fog and heavy Harger, found what's believed The cannon was taken to the identification and man- simply, "We have met the www.thepeninsulaqatar.com swells, the USS Revenge to be the naval schooner's a conservation lab at the agement of sunken naval enemy and they are ours," after became ensnared in a reef off wreck site. Navy divers Washington Navy Yard to be vessels. "It's a tangible reach the decisive battle in 1813.